The battle against Valigarmanda followed.

Erenville put his gleaner skills to good use, leading Tural’s potential future leaders and their aides to Valigarmanda’s location in the Many-Colored Mountains.

With the battle underway, Zoraal Ja’s eyes were inadvertently drawn by the Warrior of Light’s increasing mastery of the twinblades.

Zoraal Ja had originally somewhat dispelled his unsettled heart by essentially guaranteeing what he thought to be Bakool Ja Ja’s inevitable fall-- it was now impossible for Bakool Ja Ja to represent Mamook after causing devastation to the Yok Huy. The two-headed should no longer challenge Zoraal Ja as a Mamool Ja leader.

However, upon seeing the Warrior of Light’s quick progress with mastering the twinblades, he could not help but feel an unease in his heart. That he was of one soul, and not more, like his father.

As for the Warrior of Light’s attention? The Warrior of Light’s eyes were drawn to Wuk Lamat. The hrothgar demonstrated her ability with the axe, and the Warrior of Light could only wonder why none in Tural spoke of Wuk Lamat’s ability. The Warrior of Light’s best guess was that Wuk Lamat rarely drew her weapon, and even when she did, often fought with a lackluster heart. Not today.

Regardless. That, combined with Zoraal Ja’s achievements with the landsguard, must have influenced public perception of Wuk Lamat’s ability.

As the battle neared its apex, the Warrior of Light felt an all-too-recognizable fire within the heart that surged forth in an explosive strike. As a viper, this strike manifested in the form of a serpent swallowing the world, the twinblades as two fangs piercing the enemy, sending Valigarmanda into its deathroes.

Zoraal Ja once again felt unease in his heart upon witnessing this sight. He himself could not fully activate such energy.

However, Zoraal Ja had to quickly bury his unease, for Valigarmanda still writhed before their eyes. In a bid to preserve itself, Valigarmanda activated its own ice magic to once again preserve itself in a block, hoping for the narrow possibility of its survival and freedom in a far future.

The party confronting the Skyruin frowned-- Only one of two souls and two heads could coordinate properly together to undo such magic, so it is said.

“The correct response doth lie before our gaze,” Urianger said as he gestured at Alphinaud and Alisaie. “Master Louisoix hath long wrought the preparations.”

“You cannot be serious,” Alisaie groaned as she covered her face with a hand.

“It would seem that it is necessary.” Alphinaud simply nodded in agreement with Urianger’s words.

“Fine. Fine!” Alisaie’s facial muscles twitched in a pained expression. “Let’s get this over with!” She raised her arm, and her rapier rose towards the sky in a shining brilliance.

“I see that your discovered resolve has not waned,” Alphinaud muttered. “So let me join my strength with yours once again! In this place, in this--”

“Brother! Is this really necessary?” Alisaie protestations were ignored.

“-- moment, our purpose has become one once again!” Alphinaud announced triumphantly as his four nouliths rose into the air and spun in an orbit around Alisaie’s rapier.

The combined weapons of the twins spiraled forth and punctured Valigarmanda’s newly-formed ice prison, the lasers from the four nouliths focusing power into the tip of the rapier.

A single crack formed in the block, but Valigarmanda remained protected within its iceberg.

Alisaie was stone-faced, while Alphinaud appeared sheepish. Zoraal Ja’s eyes narrowed, his heart wavering in shock at twins’ ability to cooperate with one another without interfering against each others’ magic.

Then, a gun sounded in a loud bang. Koana had fired his weapon.

“Drill,” the miqo’te monotonously stated as he adjusted his glasses.

The drill struck a similar position to Alisaie and Alphinaud’s combined weapon. That was all it took for the single crack, previously created by the twins’ combined assault, to radiate like the roots of a tree.

Then, the ice block preserving Valigarmanda in its final moments, shattered in high-pitched groans and shrieks.

“Now, brother!” Wuk Lamat charged forth and held up a fist with an extended thumb.

Zoraal Ja instinctively understood this signal, and hid his body behind the hrothgar.

Wuk Lamat leapt forward as she swung her axe, and Valigarmanda, despite being on its last legs, undulated its serpentine form to barely dodge Wuk Lamat’s axe. But then, Zoraal Ja’s form suddenly appeared from Wuk Lamat’s shadow, and his twinblades struck true into the Skyruin’s neck, an area which had become exposed due to the strenuous battle.

So Valigarmanda fell, its serpent-like body and attached feathery wings writhing and twitching as the light within its eyes dimmed until it was forever extinguished.

As a result, the Three Promises left Urqopacha as heroes, and Bakool Ja Ja’s fate was placed in Zoraal Ja and Gulool Ja Ja’s hands as previously agreed with the Yok Huy.

All three were also rewarded for completing the Feat of Ice, originally meant to test each Promise’s ability to strengthen Valigarmanda’s now unnecessary seal.

_____________________________________________________________________

They traveled to Yak T’el for the next feat, once again bouncing about within the caravan above a bumpy forest path, softened by the internal cushions and mattresses. The Warrior of Light could not resist asking Wuk Lamat one question.

“Why did you not deliver the final blow yourself?” In the Warrior of Light’s eyes, Wuk Lamat should have been able to finish off Valigarmanda if she adjusted herself to the Skyruin’s movements.

“When we were young and trained together against our father, this was one of the tricks we created. I would perform a signal with my hand, act as the feint, such that my older brother could deliver the final blow,” Wuk Lamat explained.

“It worked well initially, but soon became ineffective. Our father does have two heads and can look left and right at the same time, heh!” Wuk Lamat chuckled as she laughed at the memory of her young naive self.

“Yes, but you could have--” Alisaie’s bluster was promptly interrupted.

“I wanted him to have the glory,” Wuk Lamat gazed at the roof of the caravan with a sigh. “The mamool ja worships the two-headed. I know my brother struggles somewhat when dealing with his cultural roots. Perhaps when he visits Mamook once again as the slayer of Valigarmanda, his heart will be at peace.”

Her words silenced Alisaie, and all their minds thought of the few two-headed Mamool Ja they had encountered. Some had, of course, crossed over to Eorzea in the past.

“So…” At length, Wuk Lamat turned to the Warrior of Light. “That final move of yours was splendid. I must know-- how are you able to gather such… energy? I have only seen my father consistently control such strength.”

The Warrior of Light’s head tilted upwards with eyes closed. The Warrior of Light recalled the past, and recalled that even during the early years, a weaker form of said strike could still be driven from the heart within.

“Limit break, I call it,” the Warrior of Light replied in a slow voice, immersed in thoughts.

“How?” Wuk Lamat curiously asked.

The Warrior of Light struggled to come up with an explanation, until thoughts of the existence that is Venat rose within the mind.

“I once met someone in a dream,” the Warrior of Light began. “In another time, another place.”

“She once cast her gaze into the vast expanse and uttered these words to me: ‘Lands that stretched on forever. Skies one could drown in. The heartbeat of nature, silent yet strong. And amidst it all, a people-- Beacons of light and life. Laughter that warmed my heart like naught else before.’ “

“Before, I could never give words to the energy that rises within my heart, often lifting me above my perceived limits. However, I believe that these words from a mentor and a friend explain it the best,” the Warrior of Light concluded.

“I see… A people. The many tribes and the warmth that they bring into my heart…” The often languid eyes of Wuk Lamat sparkled at the Warrior of Light’s words. Perhaps the fight against Valigarmanda had ignited something within the hrothgar, and the Warrior of Light’s words further fanned the young flames.

“Oh please,” Alisaie interjected with a scoff. “Look. Whenever your heart feels like it… just unleash it. Bam! Simple really.”

“Is… is that it?” Krile dubiously questioned Alisaie. Krile, too, was relatively new to the whole adventuring business.

The Warrior of Light could only sigh before deciding to check on Erenville. The Viera had chosen to occupy the front seat for the caravan, preferring solitude as the driver of the caravan.

They arrived at Iq Br’aax soon enough, and were surprised to discover Zoraal Ja, Koana, Bakool Ja Ja and followers to all be waiting for their arrival. They had all expected to be left behind due to Wuk Lamat’s continued insistence on traveling using her beloved caravan.

“Took you long enough,” Zoraal Ja grumbled.

Wuk Lamat shrugged and instead glared at Bakool Ja Ja.

“And how is this… criminal still allowed to compete?” She snarled. Bakool Ja Ja’s actions had ended the hopes and dreams of a number of Yok Huy. The left eyelids of both Bakool Ja Ja heads twitched at her words.

“Father stated that judgment will come upon the end of the succession rites,” Zoraal Ja replied as he glanced at Bakool Ja Ja with a mocking sneer

His words all but confirmed that it has become impossible for Bakool Ja Ja to become the dawnservant. At this point, Bakool Ja Ja was only completing the remaining feats for, likely, bureaucratic reasons.

Wuk Lamat and her companions soon discovered why the other three contestants had to wait for their arrival. The Feat of Repast required cooperation between two contestants.

Hunmu Rruk drew from a pot.

“Wuk Lamat will be paired with Bakool Ja Ja,” the host announced.

“Oh, by the twelve,” muttered Krile.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“What is it that you Eorzeans like to say?” Wuk Lamat’s shoulders drooped. “Thal’s balls, was it?”

“Well,” Alphinaud corrected the hrothgar. “Primarily those from the Thanalan region.”

“So, it’s the scared little kitten!” Bakool Ja Ja the Mystic said.

“Perhaps she has some talent in cook… cooking. That damned… Zoraal Ja surely does..not.” Bakool Ja Ja the Mighty carried a confident tone, but a slight stuttering accompanied by tonal tremors leaked through his speech.

Perhaps this ‘blessed sibling’ does understand the gravity of their actions in Urqopacha after all, and was currently putting on a brave front.

Xibruq Pibil was the dish that they needed to make.

“A dish created from marinating ibruq meat in spices wrapped in Ja Tiika banana leaf from below the canopy,” Wuk Lamat explained to her helpers. “Borne out of the established peace between the Xbr’aal and Mamool Ja peoples.”

Wuk Lamat’s repeated travels across Tural within her caravan proved useful, her accumulated knowledge in this region a boon to the current task.

“Hah. Tales of peace. An absolute joke,” Bakool Ja Ja the Mighty jibed

“Without the two-headed Gulool Ja Ja’s strength, the power of the blessed sibling, there would be no peace in Tural!” Bakool Ja Ja the Mystic declared.

“What a stupid… feat.” Bakool Ja Ja the Mighty finished.

“As for the exact method-- amount and composition of the spice, meat, cooking time in the earthern oven-- those details I have never determined. Let us search for these answers.” Wuk Lamat ignored Bakool Ja Ja’s words. She once found the two-headed Mamool Ja to be somewhat intimidating. After the events in Urqopacha, she now found the two-headed Mamool Ja to be well… farcical.

“Go ahead, little kittie,” Bakool Ja Ja the Mystic ordered as Bakool Ja Ja stood unmoving, deciding to not participate in the search for information on the exact cooking process.

Wuk Lamat frowned for just a single second, then she relaxed and laid down onto the grass to the side, closing her eyes to take a nap.

The Warrior of Light, the Leveilleur twins, Krile and Erenville all shrugged as they too sat down onto the grass for a break. These five had gotten used to Wuk Lamat’s casual pace and disinterest in the overall rite of succession.

“What are you doing?” Bakool Ja Ja the Mighty asked with wide eyes.

“Since you don’t seem to be interested in assisting in the search for the cooking method, I thought I’d have some rest first,” Wuk Lamat mumbled. “Got to gather energy to do the work of two, you understand?”

“No! You’re meant to do the pointless cooking and complete the task and--”

Wuk Lamat began snoring.

“I’ll kill you!” Bakool Ja Ja the Mighty roared in frustration.

“But then…” Wuk Lamat opened one eye. “Who would do the cooking if I’m dead? You? Oh yes. Your minions, I suppose. But this feat is meant to be a cooperation between you and I. You might as well fail and not bother with the feat if my life is forfeit.”

Krile couldn’t help but giggle, drawing Bakool Ja Ja’s glare.

“And you! What do you--”

“I think you would be a good mount,” the normally soft-spoken Krile couldn’t resist following Wuk Lamat’s pace. “I belong to the Students of Baldesion. We have many explorative ventures that could use your ability to navigate the environment.”

“Only for a lalafell,” Erenville snorted to withhold a chuckle, barely maintaining his flat facade.

Bakool Ja Ja the Mighty and Bakool Ja Ja the Mystic were both momentarily stunned. However, Bakool Ja Ja the Mystic soon managed to regain some pride.

“I must inform you all that the passageway to Mamook has been blocked by a landslide,” Bakool Ja Ja the Mystic mysteriously smiled. “Thus, it is impossible for any to find Ja Tiika bananas and their leaves.”

Bakool Ja Ja reached into his pouch and withdrew an item. In his hand was the specific ingredient of Ja Tiika banana leaves!

“This is our contribution. The other team, your two brothers, will not be able to find these currently unobtainable ingredients. We will permit you to use our minions to search for clues of the exact cooking method.”

“Yes. That is a fair deal, no?” Bakool Ja Ja the Mighty had calmed down somewhat as well.

“A landslide? What could have caused it?” Wuk Lamat questioned as she stood back onto her feet with a stretch to the back and two arms.

“Hah!” Bakool Ja Ja the Mighty laughed. “My father is the autarch of Mamook, and the elector of a feat.”

“So,” Bakool Ja Ja the Mystic finished his sibling’s words. “Naturally, only we can access Ja Tiika banana leaves for this feat!”

“That damned treacherous one-head doesn't deserve a place in Mamook!” Bakool Ja Ja the Mighty declared. It was obvious to Wuk Lamat that Bakool Ja Ja’s words meant Zoraal Ja, her older brother.

Wuk Lamat snatched the Ja Tiika banana leaves from Bakool Ja Ja’s hand.

“Fair enough,” she grinned. “I’ll do the cooking then.”

“Indeed you should,” Bakool Ja Ja the Mystic replied.

Soon, Wuk Lamat’s team spread themselves to search for answers. That was when Hunmu Rruk approached the Warrior of Light. It was this conversation that gave the Warrior of Light awareness regarding Wuk Lamat’s adoption by Gulool Ja Ja. Wuk Lamat is Hunmu Rruk’s biological daughter!

Not that it matters-- Hunmu Rruk explained his desire to know how Wuk Lamat had been faring during her journeys, and had no desire to now insert himself back into Wuk Lamat life. The way he saw it, he failed to protect Wuk Lamat when she was kidnapped as a baby, and it was far better for her to be with the dawnservant that is Gulool Ja Ja.

Unknown to the two was that one of Bakool Ja Ja’s minions had accidentally overheard this conversation while searching for the cooking method and ingredients of Xibruq Pibil. This information made it back to Bakool Ja Ja, of course.

The two-headed simply shrugged after hearing of this new knowledge. As far as Bakool Ja Ja was concerned, this information was not important. Wuk Lamat had already promised to do the cooking, and with that, the two of them should gain the reward from completing the Feat of Repast.

For Bakool Ja Ja, it was far more important to ‘flatten’ Zoraal Ja. That damn one-headed had injured his ribs. That damn one-headed had tricked him into releasing Valigarmanda-- Well, it was Sareel Ja, but likely at Zoraal Ja’s behest-- leading to his current wanted status in Urqopacha, and a potential looming war between the Mamool Ja and the Yok Huy.

The beginning of Bakool Ja Ja’s revenge would start with Zoraal Ja’s inability to complete the Feat of Repast due to the inaccessible lower canopy of Yak T’el, guaranteeing the lack of Ja Tiika banana leaves.

Unknown to Bakool Ja Ja though, was that Wuk Lamat had chosen to meet up with her brothers. She cared not about winning the rite of succession. She had always seen her older brother to be more capable, having led the landsguard to protect the people of Tural against many threats in the recent past.

She also had no interest in becoming the dawnservant, which she viewed as a dreary task compared to her lovely travels across Tural on her caravan.

She did care about fairness, and suspecting Bakool Ja Ja of having had something to do with the landslide that blocked access to the lower canopy, she approached Zoraal Ja and Koana, providing the two with some Ja Tiika banana leaves.

“Why?” Zoraal Ja growled. He did not take kindly to this ‘charity’.

“It’s a matter of… fairness,” Wuk Lamat smiled. “I believe Bakool Ja Ja created the landslide with assistance from his father. A competition must be fair, no?”

Zoraal Ja’s eyes narrowed. In his heart, he began to consider truly taking the life of Bakool Ja Ja. It seems that the two-headed will continue to remain an obstacle to his ambitions within Mamool Ja society.

“Thank you, Lamaty’i,” Koana’s ears twitched in joy. “I would not have blamed you even if you did not share these leaves with us. I’ve come to think of myself as inadequate. My talents lie in calculation and innovation. To be dawnservant, one must see the hearts of the people. But I thank you nonetheless.”

Koana’s words bewildered Wuk Lamat’s heart. Then again, she herself always felt Zoraal Ja to be the lead runner anyway.

The siblings bid each other farewell.

Soon, the judging of Xibruq Pibil began. Both of Bakool Ja Ja’s heads were dismayed to find that somehow, Zoraal Ja and Koana had successfully obtained Ja Tiika banana leaves for the dish!

Though the dish created by Wuk Lamat and Bakool Ja Ja-- well mostly Wuk Lamat-- was considered more authentic, Zoraal Ja and Koana were still rewarded for their completion of the feat.

During the whole assessment, Bakool Ja Ja the Mystic’s eyes kept returning to glare at Wuk Lamat. After all, it was impossible for Zoraal Ja and Koana to have gotten their hands on Ja Tiika banana leaves. The only way was if Wuk Lamat…

After the Feat of Repast, Wuk Lamat performed a joyous stretch before reentering her caravan for the trip to Mamook.

The lumbering caravan suddenly stopped.

“Incoming beast,” Erenville monotonously drawled.

The group descended the caravan, and the Warrior of Light discovered Bakool Ja Ja and his minions to be blocking their path.

In Bakool Ja Ja’s minions’ hands was a tied-up Hunmu Rruk. They backed away and began escaping with Hunmu Rruk’s body in tow once the confrontation began.

“The Ja Tiika banana leaves were not meant to be shared,” Bakool Ja Ja the Mystic stated.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Wuk Lamat feigned innocence.

“Drop the act! You are as treacherous as your older brother,” Bakool Ja Ja the Mighty roared. “Did you know? Hunmu Rruk is your biological father. Give me all your stone slabs, such that I will return to Mamook triumphant over Zoraal Ja. Or he,” Bakool Ja Ja pointed one of his twinblades’ gleaming tip at the body of Hunmu Rruk being carried away by his minions, “will suffer.”

Wuk Lamat wasn’t sure of what to think or feel, to suddenly have a biological father revealed to her. True? False? Who knew? But there was one thing that she was certain of.

“To capture an innocent party, an elector to boot? You must be mad.” Wuk Lamat reached into her caravan and lifted up a floorboard to reveal a hidden compartment. Then out of this compartment, she withdrew a mostly black axe, decorated with tinges of orange and cream cloth.

This was the first time that the Warrior of Light would feel a tempestuous raging energy from Wuk Lamat’s body.

Throughout their journey, the hrothgar had been mostly lackadaisical, displaying little to no interest in the rite of succession. That has remained true. However, the necessity of defeating Valigarmanda brought out a spark from Wuk Lamat’s heart. And now, Bakool Ja Ja’s uncouth methods caused the normally-calm hrothgar to become a blazing flame.

“I trust that you will deal with his minions and rescue Hunmu Rruk?” Wuk Lamat requested the Warrior of Light and accompanying scions in a low tone.

“Leave it to us,” the Warrior of Light replied.

“As for Bakool Ja Ja?” Wuk Lamat harrumphed. “He’s mine!”

The Warrior of Light and accompany scions set off after the minions, who had begun fleeing with their captive.

Bakool Ja Ja wanted to give orders to his minions as to how to respond with the captive against these ‘outsiders’, but his attention was quickly drawn by Wuk Lamat’s holler.

“Bakool Ja Ja!” The hrothgar snarled. “You wanted my stone slabs, yes?”

Bakool Ja Ja was shocked to find that Wuk Lamat now had a stack of stone slabs laid out in front of her feet, while her right hand clutched an ominous black axe with its weight supported upon her shoulder.

“Here you go!” Wuk Lamat yelled as she threw the first stone slab at Bakool Ja Ja.

Bakool Ja Ja caught the first one, and discovered it to be authentic. He was completely befuddled as to why Wuk Lamat seemed all too happy to give him all of her stone slabs.

The second stone slab cut through the air as a flying card, and Bakool Ja Ja was ever more confused as he caught this stone slab and discovered it to be authentic as well.

Then, the third.

The fourth stone slab should be the Feat of Ice. That was what Bakool Ja Ja needed.

The fourth stone slab came, and Bakool Ja Ja caught it with a triumphant grin on both heads. Only to find the stone slab within his hand to begin shuddering a second later. He turned over the stone slab to find a device attached to its back.

“A leftover gift from Koana’s tinkerings,” Wuk Lamat smiled.

“No!” Bakool Ja Ja’s two heads simultaneously yelled as the completed Feat of Ice stone slab exploded, shattering into a million pieces.

Bakool Ja Ja’s body bore the brunt of the force, but it was not the blast that pained him the most, nor the pieces of stone that dug into his scales and lightly injured his tough body What pained him the most was that he had lost the Feat of Ice stone slab that he needed!

“Are you mad?” Bakool Ja Ja the Mystic howled, his mind a jumbled mess. “You could have just fought it out with us! Perhaps your friends would have saved that hrothgar! Even if I gain the stone slab, you could have attempted to recover it at another time! You crazy hellcat! Are you dense in the head?! Now neither of us will have the Feat of Ice slab!”

At that moment, a black axe swung down and Bakool Ja Ja, through the smoke, barely reacted in time to block the axe with his twinblades.

“I never cared about becoming the dawnservant, nor the rite of succession,” Wuk Lamat answered as they crossed weapons. “Who would want to be cooped up in that stone building? Fools, the lot of you.”

The two separated after their first clash, glaring at one another at a distance of a few arm’s length.

“Now for the hard part,” Wuk Lamat said to herself. She knew of the two-headed’s supernatural abilities. The two-headed are able to track many more details within battle. Increased strength, dexterity, coordination and more. She knew this after sparring against her father many times.

Then, there’s the fact that she was never as good a combatant as Zoraal Ja either.

But, perhaps…

“What were your words again, O Warrior of Light?” She muttered to herself as she raised her black axe in a ready stance. “A people. The many tribes of Tural. They are-- my beacons of light and life. Their laughter fills my heart with warmth and joy like nothing else before.” Humnu Rruk, a citizen of Tural, should not have been kidnapped. And for Bakool Ja Ja to use his status as her supposed biological father, as a method to steal stone slabs? Despicable.

Resolve gathered within Wuk Lamat’s breast, a swirling storm compressing into a single eye that she had never felt before.

And finally, she followed Alisaie’s words, and simply unleashed her heart.

Her black axe smacked down towards Bakool Ja Ja. The two-headed Mamool Ja reflexively blocked once again, only to discover Wuk Lamat’s strike to be heavy as a mountain. Not only that-- even the very ground below his feet opened up to swallow him whole!