Valeria staggered into the Quicksand and dropped into a seat at the bar. Her armor was dented, and she could smell the monster slime sticking to her breastplate. Momodi set a cup of ale in front of her before bustling off to help some other patrons.

Valeria took off her helmet and stared into the cup of ale. She had survived an encounter with the primal Ifrit and been recruited by the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. She should be able to handle anything without running back here like a novice. She flinched when she felt someone touch her hand. She looked up into Momodi’s ruby eyes. "You all right?"

Valeria took a shaky breath and began taking off her gauntlets. "Momodi.. I don't think I can do this job. Everyone in the party expects to know exactly where to go in a place I've never been. I’m supposed to rush in and stand strong while some horror pummels or poisons me. I can’t...” She stopped halfway through taking off the second gauntlet, face scrunched up and holding back tears.

“Sometimes, when the road gets hard, it helps to think back to why you started in the first place. Why did you become a gladiator?”

“I.. I don’t really know. When I first came into Ul’dah, I saw them recruiting outside the Coliseum and figured I could do it.”

“And you have done well for yourself. I’ve seen many adventurers try to be a gladiator. Quite a few come back here after an hour with so many cactuar spines they can’t sit down.”

Momodi patted Valeria’s hand. “Don’t doubt your skill, Valeria. You have the talent to defend Eorzea. But maybe it’s time to try a different road. Have you ever considered trainin’ for a different role? Y’say you don’t much like being front and center in combat. How about off to the side in a support role? There are guilds out there who would love to have a skilled adventurer train with them for a spell.”

“I’m allowed to do that?”

“Oh, yes. I’ve seen plenty of folks do it when they find that their first guild wasn’t the best fit. Maybe you have the skill for healing. Many folks the wild rose picks have some skill in that area. Even if you don’t have the talent, the conjurer’s guild in Gridania is a good place to go to take a break from the rough adventurin’ life.”

“Conjuring.” Valeria echoed, turning it over in her mind as she finished taking off her gauntlets. Healing others instead of waiting to be healed while she felt her life drain away. Taking a step back from the battle to see the battlefield. Valeria felt a spark of hope. She wasn’t a total failure. Maybe there was a better road. “Yeah, maybe I’ll give that a try. Thank you, Momodi.”

Momodi smiled, opening her arms wide. “That’s what I’m here for.”

[bluebird earring]