Avina warped back to San d’Oria and she didn’t stay long. She was panicked, and didn’t want to be found, and so after clearing everything with her Moogle, she set off for Bastok on her chocobo.

She was running from something, but she wasn’t sure of what… her mind was clouded with mixed emotions… a part of her believing that the anger she had been harboring inside of her was justified, and that perhaps her companions had been limiting her, but she was constantly finding herself in doubt of that conviction. The truth… she didn’t want to think about the potential truth.

As she road through Ronfaure memories flooded back to her, of better times… she thought of Zetireti, being propelled through the skies after being rammed by one of the huge buffalo… and Kaolla’s “moos” as she skillfully charmed the buffalo with comical simplicity…

Crossing the La Theine Plateau, Avina remembered the argument that took place at the Crag of Holla, between her , Daltan, and Obtili… the words that Obtili had said to her still caused Avina’s heart to burn in defiance. Avina felt perhaps this was the best solution. She wasn’t a good fit. They would always be ever cautious of her, and if Avina wanted to become stronger… it wasn’t going to be the way….

But after nearly a day of riding, Avina came to the Valkurm Dunes, stopping for a drink at the tavern in Selbina. Standing outside and watching the ferry come in, Avina became haunted by the memories of her first time riding the ferry… to travel to Windurst on behalf of Bastok, with her companions Daltan and Zetireti. She rode the ferry back alone that day, she had been reckless then too… and sought to make it better by becoming stronger. Was this just another one of her failures, after all? Avina stared at the ferry until it departed, but remained looking out at the sea for hours. She knew something was wrong… that something wasn’t right… but instead of answering her own questions she ran from them, since she didn’t want to hear what answer was. Using her chocobo whistle she called her bird once more, and set off.

But there was no place she could go where she wouldn’t be haunted by what she had lost. Traveling into the Konschtat Highlands, she remembered the first time she had ventured out here, the first time she had ever seen a crag with her own eyes, alongside Zetireti. How long ago that was… and how different things were now… passing by the Crag of Dem she always remembered accompanying Kjara into Oldton Movalpolos, on her mission to take out the Goblin Wolfman.

Passing by the North Gustaberg outpost, she remembered preparing to fend off the outpost against its assault from Quadavs alone, when Kenjii arrived bringing members from the Tenshodo and other adventurers from Bastok. Why…? Why had he…?

Passing through the fumaroles she thought back to the time when she had first learned Daltan’s name, in Dangruf Wadi… when she had been ambushed by goblins and Daltan, then a Monk who had come there to train, appeared and unleashed Hundred Fists to save her life. An act that… started it all… Avina couldn’t help but feel weak after that. A feeling that had persisted, and had yet to fade.

They passed by a small hill… where it had all started for her, Charmant Vert, her chocobo, stopped and looked back up at Avina, sensing her gripping the reins harder and harder. It gave a weak “kweh…” when it saw the tears that were coming down Avina’s face. Avina shook her head and commanded, “No, just go please…” and Charmant Vert gave a more forceful “Kweh!”

“Just keep going, don’t make me think about it…!”
Just what the hell had she done?

“I said go!”

Had she lost her mind?

She swung herself off her bird, and began to run up to the top of the hill.

She had tried to kill one of her friends!

She came upon the fire, where she, Daltan, and Zetireti had all camped one night to roast some galkan sausage, and defended their camp from goblins. And it was after this that the three of them had decided that they would travel together, and Daltan had handed Avina her linkpearl… which she had treasured, and protected, up until a day ago.

Avina fell to her knees in front of the campfire and broke out weeping, feeling herself fall apart. She was weak. And now, she had no one. She couldn’t manage to get back to Bastok on time, and her father was injured because of it. And she had just cast away all the others that she had left.

She cried out into the night, apologizing to everyone, “I’m sorry…! I’m so sorry…” and cried out all the stress that she had been building up for the past several months.

Pseudo-RP scene:
Avina enters into Bastok Markets from South Gustaberg, making her way towards the center of the town. As she makes her way through the square though, she is approached by someone familiar…

Cire: Hey there! Ms. Avina!
Avina : *Looks up* Oh… the White Mage? Cire wasn't it?
Cire: How are things? I haven't seen you in a while
Cire: *notices Avina doesn’t look so well *
Avina : I… things have been better.
Cire: I see…
Cire: I see you are here alone. What happened to the others you were traveling with?
Avina : *Visibly disturbed by that remark* We've separated… *looking away* It wasn't a good fit…
Cire: I see… well, at the very least, I have some good news for you
Avina : Oh?
Cire: *nods* It seems that your old man has overcome his ailment ^^
Avina : *Her face goes blank* Excuse me…?
Cire: What you just heard is true.
Avina : So he… he is okay? He's going to be alright?
Cire: He will make a full recovery soon.
Cire: It took many variations of my curative spells to finally get it right
Cire: as well as some help from the Alchemist's Guild
Cire: but he has awakened now
Avina : You mean, it was you who found the cure?
Cire: …I don't want to take full credit, but it was me who performed the spells necessary
Avina : I… don't know what to say… can you take me to him?
Cire: Absolutely
Avina : Wait… *Looks down at her chaos armor* I think I'm going to change into something different, I'll hurry
Cire: Alright

Avina had quickly changed out of her Chaos armor, worried about what her father might think… and quickly changed into her red Custom Vest set. Cire led her to the medical ward, and eventually to the room where Ederick Burkhardt, her father, had been resting.

“F-Father?” Avina said when she saw her father sitting up in bed reading a scroll, almost in disbelief.
Her father looked up at her and smiled, and chuckled “So you finally showed up huh?”
Avina ran over to her father and they both hugged each other, and Cire quietly stepped out the door to let the two of them reunite.
“You don’t know how relieved I am to know that you are okay… I was so worried…”
“What a silly thing to be worried about, I was just napping,” her father said smiling, as he took his hand and ran it wildly through Avina’s hair, messing it up. It was something that she hated but on a moment like this it was permitted.
Stepping back from the hug, Avina asked, “How are you feeling father?”
Ederick stretched his arms and said, “I’m feeling alright, but my body feels weak… it seems my muscles have gotten somewhat fatigued, oh well, what can you expect when you’ve been out as long as I was,” he said laughing. “I’d like to be able to get out right now so that I can get rid of this stiffness but that mage said that he wanted me to stick around for a couple more days.”
“But if you are fine, you should be able to leave… especially if you are uncomfortable.”
“It’s fine, Avina, don’t worry about it.”
“No, don’t worry, let me just talk to him,” she says as she is standing to leave, but Ederick grabbed her arm before she can get too far away.
“Sheesh, just simmer down for a moment, Avina. Lets just do as the mage says, he has been right when it comes to everything else so far with regards to helping me recover,” Ederick said laughing. “It won’t hurt me to sit around for a couple more days…”
Avina looked back at her father, with a slight irritation, but she worked to quell it. He was right.
Looking back at her Ederick said, “Honestly you are just like your mother back when she was young… boy that girl was a terror sometimes,” he glanced and trailed off in a thoughtful way indicating that there was some real truth to that statement. “Well anyways, Avina, how go your adventuring days?”
She lied. “They are going well, I think,” she said, nodding almost too enthusiastically.
“I see. Weren’t you doing something crazy like going to San d’Oria?”
“Yes, I was there just up until a day ago.”
“Incredible… only in your first year of adventuring and already you’ve traveled to all the nations. And not even an airship pass yet. There’s so much more to the world than Grauberg. Indeed, tell me all the things you’ve seen!”
Avina suddenly began to feel the distance that one feels when their path splits from another loved one, when a child leaves home for the first time. So much has passed, so much is different, and it is difficult to find a common place to start. “Well I’ve… seen lots of things.”
“Well okay, I’d expect that’s true. Alright, tell me about those friends of yours.”
Avina paused and looked away, “They are… well, I think.”
Ederick’s eyes narrowed on Avina and he said, “Alright Avi, spill it.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Something has you troubled, I can tell.”
“I’m just relieved that you are okay…”
“That’s not the whole story… are you going to tell me or not?”
Avina frowned and looked away saying, “I’ve just been having some trouble, that’s all.”
“Your skin is pale, and shadows under your eye…”
“I wear armor most of the time”
Ederick sighed. “You look worse than I do even…, what happened Avina?”
“You’d be ashamed of me…”
“I doubt that,” he said reaching out to her and holding her hand. “You are very cold Avina. And I can tell that you have been practicing magic… but its… its just cold. I’ve only met a handful of individuals in my life who have had this aura about them.” Avina simply sat there in silence, and Ederick continued, “I want to say that I am impressed, I… I never foresaw you even learning magic like I had, especially not to this level. But… it doesn’t seem like its been treating your body well…”
Avina shook her head, “This isn’t what I wanted to talk about.”
Ederick shrugged, “Well sorry, Avi. Some things are too important to ignore.”
“Trust me, if I could completely ignore it, I would. I’ve tried…”
Ederick sighed and leaned back, “And now you are like your mother after the war was finished…”
“And what’s that supposed to mean!?”
“Don’t snap at your father like that, Avina, I didn’t say anything you should take offense to.”
Avina grew quiet and said softly, “I know, I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. You have my passion, and powerful emotions. But it would do you well to keep them in check. It can be your strongest ally, or your greatest enemy.”
“In my case it seems to be the latter.”
“Yes, maybe so, but you are young yet, and I know there is much room for your growth. So just calm down.”
“I’m trying… what did you mean that I’m like mother after the war?”
Ederick didn’t look at Avina, he just looked straight at the wall from his bed. “I don’t know if you were old enough to remember… your mother changed after the war. Or maybe that was just how she had always been, it just was more visible after the war. After so much awful things had happened. Both of you are feisty, but your mother in particular… well when the war ended, some things changed. Your mother was only verbally irritated by some of the less important things, less affected by some of the more important things. We… well, I don’t know about your mom, but I struggled after the war, after having lost so many friends. But your mother… if she had felt something, she didn’t talk about it. I mean, at least my family had survived the war… your mother’s hadn’t. And yet, she was always there for me when I was hurting, but showed no sign of pain herself.
“I don’t mean to make it sound like your mother wasn’t passionate. I… I had always felt that she must’ve been hurting worse than me. But I wasn’t able to talk to her about it… because trying to bring up the subject with her would just remind me of the horrors of the war and I’d break down. She’d end up comforting me. But I wasn’t able to comfort her. And she wasn’t about to make it easy for someone to help her either. I always felt that she took the responsibility of the family onto herself, that she alone had to be strong, for the sake of us. So she acted like nothing was wrong… I know that she had to be acting…”
“Dad… why are you telling me this?”
“Because your mother died, Avina…”
“I… I know that she did…”
“No but I think that is what killed her, Avina. She… she wouldn’t let herself be helped. And I wonder every day if I had been a little bit stronger and been able to force her to open up, maybe she’d still be here today. Maybe her body wouldn’t have grown so weak. I think there was just too much for her to handle. And now I see you, struggling.”
“I’m not…”
“Avina… the way you look right now isn’t from physical suffering… it is mental suffering. Something is wrong, and once again… I can’t make the person I care about most open up….”
“It isn’t your fault what happened to mother….”
“Sometimes, Avina, we have to let ourselves believe the difficult things, in order to hope to improve ourselves in the future. To not make the same mistake twice… and I know one thing for sure. Wherever she is, she is furious at me for letting our daughter look as troubled as she is now. I know that she died when you were so young… but please believe me when I tell you that she loved you very, very much. I think, more than anything… that’s why she kept so much of her suffering to herself, to keep it from you.”
The two of them were quiet for a long time, listening to the bustle of Bastok in the distance. Avina finally said, “You can’t just give up Dad. Mom loved you too. She wouldn’t blame you for this, and you know that she’d have wanted you to forgive yourself.”
Ederick thought hard about Avina’s words for a moment, and finally responded by saying, “I’ll give forgiveness another shot. But only if you do too.”

Leaving the department of industry, after changing her nation

<Avina> *sighs as she feels her wallet weigh significantly less after changing nation…*
<Kenjii> Naji!
Avina stares at Kenjii…
<Kenjii> Where's Ayame!? This blade won't…
Kenjii stares at Avina…
Avina looks at Kenjii and sighs dejectedly.
<Kenjii> I felt this was gonna be a bad day…
<Avina> Not what I needed today….
<Kenjii> Oh and what are you doing here?
<Kenjii> Got tired of Windurst?
<Avina> I'm returning… from San d’Oria actually.
<Kenjii> (She's different… somehow. Something must be wrong.)
<Kenjii> Right…
Avina nods.
<Kenjii> (Let's see if her feisty spirit is still up…)
<Avina> Anyways I just changed back… sounds like the want me to be in Jeuno now.
<Kenjii> Oh good to know, I was afraid to see your sorry face around town now.
Kenjii stares at Avina…
Avina shakes her head at Kenjii.
<Kenjii> (Where's her weapon?)
<Avina> Is that all you have to say…?
<Kenjii> You look a bit too weird today..
<Avina> You sure are quite the charmer. -.-;
Kenjii looks at Avina, shocked!
<Kenjii> That's not what I ment.
<Kenjii> Where's your friendly scythe instead?
Kenjii points at Avina.
<Kenjii> I never thought I'd see you without it.
<Avina> I was visiting my father… I thought he would be worried.
<Kenjii> Who wouldn't..
<Avina> So I decided to wear something more casual
<Kenjii> So you still follow the way to the darkness..
Avina looks at Kenjii and staggers.
<Avina> Are you just going to stand here and poke fun? Because I'm not in the mood right now.
<Kenjii> (Was hoping the elves taught her a lesson about meleeing in battle..)
Avina points at Naji.
<Kenjii> You shouldn't care about what I'm doing.
Avina shakes her head at Kenjii.
<Kenjii> At least I don't have the look of who has been giving up on everything.
<Avina> I never said I was giving up on anything.
<Kenjii>People don’t say a lot of things.
<Avina> Well, I'm not.
<Kenjii> But you said you were here to visit your father..
<Avina> I already saw him.
<Kenjii> How is he? *looking distant*
<Avina> He's… cured.
<Avina> I don't know how but that White Mage did it…
<Kenjii> I guess that's a good news for once.
Avina nods to Kenjii.
<Kenjii> I honestly can't say. I don't rely much on magic.
<Avina> Personally I didn't either… not after my mother. But I don't know anymore.
<Kenjii> Your.. mother? Avina nods to Kenjii.
Kenjii falls silent in front of Avina.
<Avina> She died of an unknown sickness when I was young.
<Avina> The mages didn't know what was causing it so…
<Kenjii> There was nothing you could do too..
Avina nods to Kenjii.
<Avina> Your parents… haven't they also passed on?
<Kenjii> …
<Kenjii> They are… at least my mother sure is.
<Kenjii> (I guess rumors in town aren't dead yet…)
<Avina> Your father too, right?
Kenjii stares blankly.
<Kenjii> Who cares about that coward..
Avina shakes her head at Kenjii.
<Kenjii> How did you hear about him?
<Avina> That isn't what I heard…
<Avina> A friend of mine, she told me some things…
<Kenjii> A friend?
<Avina> Well… maybe
<Avina> I don't know anymore.
<Kenjii> My father was nothing but a traitor and a coward. That's all everyone must know.
<Kenjii> It's the only truth for me.
<Kenjii> Whoever told you otherwise, they must be wrong.
<Avina> Why would you want to believe something like that?
<Kenjii> Because it's true!
Avina shakes her head at Kenjii.
<Avina> I heard he died bravely…
<Kenjii> He left his country and family in time of need.
<Kenjii> Bravely..
<Kenjii> He doesn't, or didn't, even know what that word could mean.
<Kenjii> Your father might even be a good person, but mine wasn't.
Avina looks at Kenjii and sighs dejectedly.
<Kenjii> And whoever your friend is, is a lier.
Avina shakes her head at Kenjii.
<Kenjii> Do you think she could know it better than me?!
<Avina> She seemed to… she travels with your brother.
Kenjii stares at Avina…
<Kenjii> That's right… she's the only one who could ever dare to say those things…
<Kenjii> So that criminal is still alive.
Avina stares at Kenjii, confused.
Avina shakes her head at Kenjii.
<Avina> Criminal?
<Kenjii> You're talking about Kjara the wyrmkeeper ï'Mercenaryï(, right?
Avina nods to Kenjii.
<Avina> Yes, we've been travelling together.
<Kenjii> You should get out of here and fast.
<Avina> What?
<Kenjii> That elvaan is a spy and a criminal wanted in Quon and Mindartia.
<Kenjii> She's very good at fooling people, I tested that myself.
<Avina> A spy…? But for who?
<Kenjii> We thought for ï'San d'Oriaï(, but she works for no one but herself.
<Kenjii> Although, it seems she has an accomplice within the royal walls.
<Avina> That doesn't seem right… she's done a lot for us.
Avina shakes her head at Kenjii.
<Kenjii> But whatever, if you had any contact with her, you should go and report. Or leave before you get arrested.
Kenjii bursts out laughing beside Avina!
<Kenjii> Are you sure?
<Kenjii> And how much have you done for her instead?
<Kenjii> How many informations and secrets were she able to grab from you and your other companions?
<Kenjii> A lot I bet…
<Kenjii> Exactly how she did with me and the republic.
<Avina> …
<Kenjii> She pretended to protect me and my brother till she got all she needed to know from us.
<Avina> She still travels with your brother though.
<Avina> She says you are the one who won't have anything to do with her.
<Kenjii> Of course, after she shaked his brain for good and managed to make us argue.
<Avina> …
<Avina> I… I don't believe it.
<Kenjii> Zenji was all my family.. and she stole him away!
<Kenjii> Those are exactly the last words in the letter he wrote to me.
<Kenjii> Have fun becoming a puppet just like him.
Avina shakes her head at Kenjii.
<Kenjii> But don't come back crying once you realize she has been fooling you around for her gain all the time.
<Avina> My you are stubborn…
Avina looks at Kenjii and sighs dejectedly.
<Kenjii> I might be stubborn, but at least I know the truth.
<Kenjii> That's all I care about.
<Avina> …
<Avina> Well if you have said your part, I have to be leaving.
<Avina> I don’t know when or if I’ll be seeing her again anyways…
<Kenjii> Good luck… hopefully next time we meet you'll have your eyes opened.
<Avina> ..
<Kenjii> Naji you idiot, is Ayame still not here!?

Later scene in Metalworks, Avina runs into Cire
Avina : Cire…!
Cire: Oh, Avina!
Cire: How were things with your father?
Avina : He's doing well… thank you.
Avina : I realized I hadn't thanked you before… you brought someone really special back to me…
Avina : even after I had treated you so badly.
Cire: Don't worry about it
Cire: the point is he is safe now
Avina : Yes but… *kneels before Cire respectably* I don't know what I'd do without him… so once again, thank you.
Cire: *bows to Avina*


After changing her allegiance to Bastok and being assigned to work in Jeuno, Avina once again found herself standing on top of that same hill where she, Daltan, and Zetireti had joined together. Standing in her chaos armor, her hair swayed as a dusty wind made itself across Gustaberg. She remembered the details of that night, vividly, the fun that she had… back in the beginning. She looked down at her hand… what she was now was different. She had been happier then, before… all of this.

Some things don’t change. But sometimes… they do.

She looked at the campfire, many of the logs had been moved and scattered. She stood up and began to walk around, picking up the scattered logs.

As far as she knew, she was still dangerous to her friends. She knew that this wouldn’t change overnight. But… a part of her really hoped that she could change. She didn’t know if anything would ever be the same again for her and the others… but she recognized that she would like them to be. Even if they didn’t treat her exactly as she would like… sometimes sacrifices are necessary for those who you care about. She could only hope to avoid making the same mistakes.
As she arranged the logs on the campfire, there wasn’t much burnable firewood left… but perhaps just enough for one more night.

And with that thought she called her chocobo and made her way towards Jeuno.


On the way to Jeuno however, Avina passed through the Pashhow Marshlands… and there was a calling from Beaudeux. She remembered… Zeid would be meeting her there, at the place where her path as a Dark Knight began. Zeid… it had all started with him. And he had a task for her that only she could accomplish.

It was time for her to grow, if only a little.