“Has it really been four years?”

Taking a seat in the once unfamiliar, now comforting house in the Mist, I couldn’t help but reminisce on just how long it had been since the day I truly entered the lives of the people in this Free Company. Despite joining the Company long ago, it wasn’t until that one challenge that I made myself truly known. It was the ordeal that needs no introduction, the unique and unquestionably terrible force that wreaked havoc on friendships, companionships, relationships, and the overall lives of adventurers across Eorzea and beyond.

I joined in after the rest of the group had nearly given up hope. They had been trying to overcome this hurdle from the Fourth Astral Moon all the way back around to nearly the First of the next year, and the team was broken, beaten, and exhausted.

“Hey adventurer, we’ve seen you around the house and our Paladin recently decided the ordeals of saving Eorzea were too much for him. As such… we’ve got a spot open now and… anyroad… we were wondering if you’d be interested in helping to save the world!”

I jumped in and in no time at all knew I had found friends for life. Despite countless failures, we didn’t give up. We figured out how a tornado works, which way to point disembodied hands, and even learned the ins and outs of magnetism. After all of that and accompanied by a last minute Blade Dance and a Warrior Sacrifice, the unbeatable monster was finally beaten.

To this day, heroes across Eorzea wake up in cold sweats from nightmares from those days, and cower at the very mention of his name.

I shook myself as Terra’s voice woke my from my reverie.

“Sure has, can’t believe you’ve stuck with us for this long ya nitwit.”

“Nitwit? At least I don’t wet myself every time I hear the name ‘Living Liquid’!”

“THAL’S BALLS!” shouted most of the room, as they hid behind various pieces of furniture.

I shook my head, smiled silently, and hoped for another four years and beyond.


(Thank you for reading! If I am selected, I would like the Gaelicap!)