Thanalan, he had been there before, a dry, hot and harsh place.

Those who knew him well would never expect for him to be in a place such as this, nor had he expected to be setting foot here out of his own whims.

Kei could hear the sand rustling below his feet as he walked with sluggish steps, the place didn’t suit him, he did not like it and to be honest, he felt out of his element. He hadn’t even reached his destination and already he felt a sense of discomfort, he had left Limsa—his friends, all at the behest of his whims. Whims that were fueled by the words of a stranger.

His mind drifted back to the chance meeting, it had been short, yet…

The person’s words had resonated with him so thoroughly, almost like a calling. He had been tall, most of the stranger’s facial features were concealed within the darkness of the night, further concealed by a hood.

Azure eyes closed as they remembered the voice of the person, a small rueful smile settling itself on his lips.

He was no fool.

He knew that it had been him, it had been the very person that he had been looking for. The moment he had heard the voice of the ‘stranger’ he was certain. It was just how he recalled after all, soft, extremely calm, yet ruthless at the same time.

The luminous silver eyes that even one with his vision couldn’t miss had further enhanced his certainty. The sight resonated through him with a definite sense of familiarity. It had been the reason for his own name after all. He had always compared this person to the wind, gentle and calm under the correct circumstances, but unpredictable and dangerous in others.

Kei Silverwind, it is his name.

Yet it was not.

How contradictory, unnecessarily complex and ridiculous.

His eyes landed on a boulder in the distance, moving closer to it, he sat himself down and surveyed the vicinity, he had taken a small detour in order to familiarize himself with the landscape, a foolish plan now that he thought back on it. Who knew what dangers the local wildlife could pose to him.

He couldn’t bring himself to actually care, however.

With slow movements he opened one of the many pouches that were bound around his thighs and rummaged in it for a few seconds, only to pull out a small object, a linkshell.

He faintly recalled one of his first meetings with a dear friend of his. It had been attuned back then in order to stay in contact with eachother, yet, despite it all, he had never actually used it. A small smile appeared on his features as he inspected it. He hadn’t realized it, but just because of the memory of a pink-furred miqo’te, the object had become something dear to him.

Azure orbs closed as he let out a wince, not of pain, but of slight regret.

He felt sorry for leaving his friends behind, only telling one of them specifically that he would be leaving. It was selfish, he knew. He had selfishly left Limsa Lominsa, his friends and all of his acquaintances, all in a deliberate attempt of leaving behind the past.

Yet here he was, clinging to a small memento, his last potential form of contact with his friends.

Kei shook his head wildly, raven hair dancing around his face, tussling it slightly.

He did not want to hold on to the past, it would completely remove the point of his self-imposed isolation. Therefore, he had only one choice. It was obvious really.

The miqo’te sighed to himself and stood up, linkshell in hand. Dull azure eyes looked out into the distance and he grimaced. He did not like the thought of what he was about to do, he really didn’t. But… he felt that he had to take the leap. He would do it. No matter what.

It was his calling.

Closing his eyes deliberately, he moved his hand behind him and lashed it forward, throwing the linkshell out into the far distance.

It was done.

He turned and faced the opposite direction. With slow steps he made his way from the vicinity.

To Ul’dah, he would go, he had no choice after all.