Three years ago I first set foot in Eorzea, a land that was, at the time, strange to me. I remember my first wide-eyed steps into the busy streets of Ul’dah; I remember being lost in the endless sands of Thanalan, the fathomless forests of Gridania, the bustling quays of La Noscea.

But then I met someone, a fellow adventurer who had been down the path I was walking, and who was kind enough to stop and lend a hand. They showed me my way around, helped me get started in my own adventuring career, even introduced me to their companions, of whose number I was glad to join.

I remember the rush of adrenaline as a group of us stood atop the Crystal Tower, looking at the throne we had just wrested from Xande’s grasp. I remember the thrill as we boarded the Void Ark, and the desperation as we faced the High Seraph in the depths of the Necrohol of Mullonde, knowing that one false step could lead to untold death and destruction.

Together, we fought primals and dragons, pirates and ghosts, fiendish creatures and Imperial menaces. Together, we forged forward, exploring new lands, new cultures, and even entire new worlds. Together, we conquered sea and sky, and nothing between them could hold us back. Although we were not without failures or losses, always we prevailed.

And there were good times amongst the fateful and desperate ones. I remember our awe as we looked out at the glorious sunset of the Sea of Clouds. I remember the flickering lanterns and myriad delicacies of the Ten Thousand Stalls as we tasted the first fruits of the Domans’ efforts to rebuild their home. I remember the glittering halls and untold treasures of the Lost Canals of Uznair. I remember the thrill of the Great Hunt, as four of us faced down - and tamed - one of the mightiest creatures in Eorzea’s history.

But the most important memory I have of my time in this land is of meeting you, my friend. Thank you, partner, for always being by my side.

-letter from Souji Hanamura to Allie Svent, adventurers extraordinaire

(Bluebird Earring)