Chapter Text
“Alright, I’ve finally found them. Well, G’raha’s missing from our old trio, but I’ve at least found the twins.” I think to myself while in Gridania, listening to the Elder Seedseerer go on about the calamity, the same one I was in five years ago. It was a stupid mistake nine-year old me made.
After I heard the twins were in Eorzea while I was on the ninth, also known as Earth, I went to go find them, somehow making a name for myself in the process. Now here I am meager weeks after arriving in Eorzea, and my goal’s complete, but for some reason, I feel as if I can’t tell them I’m still alive. To the public eye, I’m still dead; one of the many victims of the calamity, and the youngest. A side effect of having my soul changed out with one about to die, perhaps. A hand waves in front of my face, snapping me back to the present; Alphinaud’s hand, to no surprise.
“If I may ask, what is your name?” He questions, innocent enough, but it feels as if he could hear my thoughts. That’s what I was just contemplating; if I could tell the twins I am still, somehow, alive.
“Uh, you should at least say something, you silent dumbass,” my head echoes, trying to find out what to say as I grip the cowl hiding my ears closer to my head,” just make up a name if you need to, just speak for once.”
“Lotus. My name is Lotus.” I respond, trying to sound unsurprised. I just named myself after a flower, the same flower I’m wearing on a necklace, for heaven’s sake!
The two look confused for a second, as if not believing me before they say their names as if I didn’t already know. The remembrance ceremony ends with a final remembrance to the two who supposedly helped the most, Louisoix, who did in all fairness for the fact that I’m not dead, and a child named Akira- me – even though I didn’t do much. The speed I use to sprint off after is frightening, making it back to the waking sands within minutes. I walk through the doors and instantly take off the blinder over my eyes and pull the hood down, letting myself silently cry as I walk back to my chambers, never alerting the others to my presence, but somehow, I feel as if I’m being followed. The steps are faint, but I pick up on them, nonetheless. Even as I walk into my chambers, I feel them there, so I look behind me. Crap.
“Thancred, why did you follow me here?” I ask, voice frighteningly soft.
“Are you okay Akira? Something’s clearly wrong. Anyone with eyes can tell that.” My dad responds, calm as ever.
“Heh, nothing gets past you. Well, I saw Alphinaud and Alisaie today, but I lied to them, and gave myself a gods dammed alias. Even being silent won’t help with that.” A sob rakes through me as I realize the truth for once. That name is going to last until I start to talk.
“Oh. Are you planning on leaving it like that, or are you planning to do something about that?”
I want to stop talking so badly, but I feel that I at least owe him this much. “I might as well leave it now,” I wipe my tears, slowly calming down,” Besides, it’ll be interesting to see where this leads, I guess.”
“That it shall, but rest for now, there seems to be much to do on the morrow.”
That’s all the conformation I need before I fall asleep, dreaming of what I could’ve changed about that day.
Even now, the name Lotus definitely stuck.