Thank heavens for distractions in the form of a stuffed toy like creature. Pulling herself out of her depressing thoughts and sheathing Promise and Betrayal in their scabbards, Nyxia watched the moogle’s antics in amusement. When things finally settled down and Julian led the group towards the direction of the camp, she fell into step with the rest of the group although she kept a small distance away from them.
Molly fluttered along, still mumbling disgruntledly to herself as the group made its way through the dark of night. Why anyone would think it was okay to throw a small fluffy animal who was certainly
not cute in any way was beyond her. However, during her grumbling, she noticed that one of the group was keeping to herself more than normal. Molly fluttered over towards Nyxia. “Moogle got your tongue, kupo?” she asked.
The time it took for Molly to head on towards her, Nyxia’s thoughts had turned back to her predicament. Marked and hated, just like what the PSICOM Tracker said. Was she really still human like what Julian said? Or was she slowly turning into a monster?
She was brought out of her reverie by the moogle’s question. She looked up.
“I don’t think there’s anything to talk about,” she replied with a shrug.
“Oh of course,” Molly replied, nodding thoughtfully. “Today has seemed like a completely normal day, after all. Nothing out of the ordinary. No wars, no Cie’th trying to kill us. I hear that the price of corn might be rising soon.” The moogle turned back to Nyxia and shook her head emphatically, which in turn caused most of her body to waggle back and forth. “Of course there are things to talk about! Like that brand of yours. If you
don’t talk about it, you’re more likely to end up like one of those things you just fought, you know?”
Nyxia’s expression turned dark at the mention of her brand.
”If I turn into one of those monsters, then someone better make sure to put me down,” she said, letting a bit of bitterness and anger seep into her words. That was her fate now, was it not? She unconsciously lifted her hand and clutched the arm where the brand was. Even though she had hidden it from sight, it was there. There was no denying that. She sighed and looked at the moogle.
”I suppose it is best to make the most out of the time that I’m still human.”Molly nodded. “I can’t pretend to know what it’s like to be a l’Cie,” she said sympathetically, a paw reaching out to lightly tap Nyxia’s shoulder. “But if you don’t keep your chin up, I do know that the power your brand gives you will be worthless. It hurts, but you have to keep a smile on. You haven’t lost yet, so don’t give up on me now.”
Keep a smile on… Nyxia repeated silently to herself. No, there was nothing to smile about. Nothing at all. She stopped smiling a long time ago. She would have told the moogle off. What did she know about hurting, about losing and giving up? The resentful words were already on her lips but the lighthearted creature was only trying to cheer her up. She didn’t deserve the words. So instead, the Pulsian scout gave her the smallest of smiles that she could muster.
“There we go!” Molly replied, a wide grin appearing on her face. “I knew you could do it!” The moogle seemed utterly pleased with her ability to cheer someone up, and utterly oblivious to the minimal extent of cheering her comments had made. “You can always talk to Molly,” she said happily. “I’m a great conversationalist, you will find. Quite knowledgeable on many subjects, from fal’Cie to mass production of food systems in Cocoon to aerodynamics and AMP technology. I would be glad to share anything I know!”
Had Nyxia been the same as she was before she lost her family, she would have found the moogle’s cheerfulness infectious. But not now. Not anymore. And as always, she downplayed her emotions and pretended to be fine. She nodded.
”I’ll keep that in mind,” she said simply.
“Of course you will!” Molly replied cheerfully. “I like you, Nyxia! You’re much nicer than that other mean guy. Did you see him throw me? The nerve! You’d never do that though.” Molly again patted Nyxia’s shoulder and hummed a quiet tune to herself as she floated along, doing her best to keep Nyxia company.
”I hope you weren’t hurt,” Nyxia replied, giving the floating ball of fluff a quick glance. It must be nice to be so carefree like her.
”Have you…” she started and then paused in hesitation.
”...come across a lot of Fal’Cies?” she finsihed. Molly did say that she can ask anything.
“Nope!” Molly replied, just as enthusiastically as before. “But I’ve read about a lot of them. Fal’Cies are responsible for nearly everything you see here in Cocoon, from maintaining the temperature to the food supply, even providing a light source and the day/night cycle! On Pulse, they are just as important. I hear some even create and destroy entire species as required by the local ecology! I wonder what the fal’Cie you faced was responsible for. Did it tell you its purpose?”
Wrong topic. Nyxia didn’t really care much for Fal’Cies as Molly appear to be. She was only interested in one thing. Killing them. While Shemhazai’s death didn’t really make much of a difference, she figured hunting down and killing more would satisfy her lust for retribution. She tried to keep her tone of voice neutral. “No, it didn’t.”
“A pity. Knowing the fal’Cie’s motivation is a good way to figure out its Focus,” Molly replied. “Hopefully we can figure out the Focus before it’s too late.” She was suddenly quiet, nearly as quiet as Nyxia had been, and her face looked like she was pondering the deepest questions of the universe. “So, if you’re from Pulse, and Julian is from Cocoon.... I wonder why you all got recruited by the same fal’Cie. Usually they only recruit people from their own world.”
...Usually they only recruit people from their own world. Molly’s words echoed in Nyxia’s head. It
was a curious thing why the Fal’Cie would do that and for the first time since being branded, the violet haired Pulsian felt less hostile and a little bit curious.
”That is something to think about.”“Either way, I'm sure you will complete your Focus and get your reward of eternal life!” Molly continued exuberantly. “And I'll do whatever I can to help you all out. It's the least I could do after you all saved me back there. I think we'll all be best of friends!”
Nyxia looked at the moogle and merely nodded.
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