Gulool Ja Ja's Legacy: A FFXIV DT Rewrite + Expansion Concepts [Fanfiction]

Ch3: The Feat of Reeds

The very moment he glanced at the Warrior of Light, he collapsed onto the ground. A trickle of blood leaked down the corner of his left eye.

"Radiant. More than two souls. Yet unlike your father, fused into one in perfect unison. How many more, I cannot tell!" Sareel Ja gasped.

"Hah!" Zoraal Ja pointed his right blade at the Warrior of Light. "If I overcome you, that will prove that the mamool ja's obsession over the two-heads of two-souls to be pointless!"

Alisaie, attracted by the sound of clashing blades, discovered the Warrior of Light engaging in a heart-wrenching combat against Zoraal Ja.

Her initial response was to raise her rapier, but she was stopped by Estinien.

"Don't. This is Zoraal Ja's tribulation," the dragoon said before leaning back against a tree to observe the battle.

"Hmph." Alisaie could still remember the dragoon mistaking her for Alphinaud.

The battle between the Warrior of Light and Zoraal Ja raged ever on. Their blades clashed again and again, and for some time, the battle seemed even.

And yet...

Gradually, Zorral Ja could feel the battle slipping away from him. It was the very same feeling he felt when sparring with his father, Gulool Ja Ja. An energy seemed to exist within the Warrior of Light's twinblades.

"It can't be," muttered Zoraal Ja to himself. The Warrior of Light was able to use the very same energy that his father was famed for-- the energy of resolve, at perhaps even a greater scale!

Similarly, the Warrior of Light was surprised that Zoraal Ja could last so long. Wuk Lamat stated that Zoraal Ja had gained some mastery of Gulool Ja Ja's head of resolve techniques. Supposedly, an ability named the energy of resolve.

During combat against Zoraal Ja, the Warrior of Light could sense this energy of resolve to be identical to dynamis.

Regardless, a few more clashes later, Zoraal Ja could no longer maintain his pace and dropped down onto one knee.

The Warrior of Light, naturally, had no intention of taking Zoraal Ja's life.

"Hmph." Once recovered, Zoraal Ja left, flanked by Sareel Ja and Estinien.

"How strong is he?" Alisaie asked.

"Enough to tire me," the Warrior of Light replied as he sat down against a tree trunk. "His techniques are perfect. But... something is missing in his heart. I cannot say what that may be. Thus, his will weakened before mine."

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"The Warrior of Light traveled to the ends of the universe and returned. There is no shame," Estinien advised Zoraal Ja.

"However, it is known that the Warrior of Light only recently picked up the twinblades, techniques of the viper. Even in battle, I could sense the Warrior of Light's techniques to be flawed. But I could not fully take advantage of those gaps. It's as if..." Zoraal Ja was disheartened by his defeat. Are the mamool ja right after all? That two-heads carrying two souls is simply superior?

"The Warrior of Light has mastered many techniques, experienced many tribulations, and thus has an uncanny ability to overcome disadvantageous situations." That was all that Estinien could say.

"A pity that we could not disqualify Wuk Lamat." Sareel Ja sighed. One of the soul seer's eyes was still closed in pain from gazing at the brilliance of the Warrior of Light's soul.

"My stepsister cares not for the throne. " Zoraal Ja repeated again. He could not understand Sareel Ja's obsession with removing his sister from the rite of succession. After all, it was only with his father's threats that Wuk Lamat had even arrived at Kozama'uka in time.

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So it was that Koana revitalized the reeds of the Hanu Hanu with a unique mixture, followed by the beginnings of the Harvest Festival, with Wuk Lamat raised upon the repaired float.

Though the reeds had been somewhat revitalized, the harvest season had already been somewhat harmed. With the delay in the growth of the reeds, they would not have as much harvest compared to better years.

Though no longer at the brink of disaster, the Hanu Hanu remained downhearted. That was until Linuhali and a few others paraded the float carrying Wuk Lamat as per yearly tradition.

Though some were initially irked, the Hanu Hanu soon recalled their fond memories of the previous years, and they let down the burden of their hearts as they became infected by the other dancing and chirping Hanu Hanus.

The procession grew and grew during the march.

With their spirits lifted, one Hanu Hanu seemed to awaken.

"Though our harvest may still be reduced, at least we will have a method to resolve the issue of a similar occurrence in the future!"

Another Hanu Hanu laughed. "I felt so downhearted before, but I had forgotten our many allies! We are all citizens of Tullioyal! The Pelupelu..."

"Nono, the Pelupelu might squeeze us like a lemon!"

"Most do arrange fair deals."

"Did the foreigner not briefly mention having met our long-lost cousins before? The Gundu, Zundu and Vundu of the Vanu Vanus? The Dawnservant, too, received aid from over the seas during his journeys."

"That can be arranged," Alphinaud glowed in elation. He wasn't just thinking of the bird-like race, but also Garlemald. Supposedly, cerulean is being employed in Shaaloani. A potential for the future.

Alisaie rolled her eyes. Her twin brother was finally useful.

The procession finished at the shrine of their worship with an almighty roar of the crowd. Zanuhali observed her people and their reignited vigor sparking their minds with renewed determination to seek solutions to their problems.

And suddenly, the clouds above her head, too, lifted.

Wuk Lamat, having enjoyed herself prancing upon the float, gently conversed with and fed the rroneeks before entering her precious caravan, preparing to return to Tullioyal empty-handed.

"Wait," Zanuhali chirped. "Here."

Wuk Lamat peered out of her caravan, and barely caught a stone with her cat reflexes.

"You passed the Feat of Reeds," Zanuhali stated. "We have grown too reliant for heroes to come and save us. Perhaps our dependency on the Dawnservant has grown too much after he brought peace to the region."

"You reminded me and my people to have the determination to sweep away the clouds in the sky and look beyond the horizons. To seek unexpected possibilities. And for that, I hope you will continue to stand at our side. Even should the Dawnservant be another."

The two bid farewell, and Wuk Lamat carried a funny look upon her face.

"That, I did not expect," she muttered.

"I think she's just stated her allegiance," Alisaie said.

"I was just lucky..." Wuk Lamat laid down to nap as the rroneeks pulled the caravan along the slightly bumpy path back to Tullioyal. "After all, I have no interest in the rite of succession."

Bakool Ja Ja would eventually obtain his passing stone by imitating Koana's mixture. A guess of Wuk Lamat when Koana informed her of being followed by Bakool Ja Ja's minions.

As for Zoral Ja? It was unknown to the party as to what he accomplished to pass the Feat of Reeds.