♡

He'd just happened to notice it at random as she returned. A particularly spiteful shade of red that just oozed hatred for all living things in the world, more that of a rabid beast filled with venom.. That was Nidhogg's aether. It was unmistakable. Very few beings in his life had ever harbored the sheer amount of rancor that Nidhogg did. It tainted him, twisted him, until his soul was a dark red cloud of pure hatred and fury. Of course, he knew it was the eyes, or at least an eye. Nidhogg himself would... well, Midgardsormr's son would have announced himself in a more dramatic fashion.

Then of course, there was the how. Nidhogg's eyes were accounted for and destroyed by Estinien. This was confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt. They'd been used as catalysts for the primal Shinryu, and exhausted of their aether, were destroyed. So how did such a relic appear in this world? It left one answer; time. And that told him the world; time was of no import to whatever puppetmaster pulled the strings of who came and who left. Any point in time for a world was fair game to pass into this world, and that was telling.

And once again, he felt that anguish burn in his breast, that he tried so hard to bury. The fact that she was here did nothing but help to rekindle his dream of eld.

From any point in time...

Of course, this warranted up close and personal examination. Meaning, that, Eillien was going to have company in very short order. The owner of the eye naturally warranted interest. He imagined it was simply Estinien or one of Alexander's companions. They'd been cropping up recently, stood to reason another would appear sooner or later. And so, he waited for that fleeting moment of a glance, and when he saw her... nothing. He recognized nothing about her. Very obviously a Dragoon, but where in the world did she get the eye? There were gaps, holes he wanted to fill with understanding, everything was beginning to hinge on it. Everything.

So that was why Eillien found herself next to a rather tall man. Not towering, no, he knew to shrink ever so much. But the rest, well, he couldn't be around her as Solus zos Galvus. Even if she wasn't a historian, the third eye would give him away. She was from the Source, Nidhogg's eye made it that obvious. No, Hades kept his natural appearance, finding that in some cases, it made a better disguise than the actual disguise. A return to the old, wearing naught but simple black robes, though he kept the mask off. That might be a red flag.

"Are you looking for something?" It was a soft, gentle voice. Long white hair flowed through the openings in his hood. Amber eyes gave her a curious look, making sure not to drift to the bag that held the eye. Oh, but he could feel it, and even staring at the woman he could see brief traces of that clouded rancor.

♡

Ah, Lahabrea. If only one knew how much time had passed since that day on the Source. Hades could only quirk an eyebrow as he took in her features. Red hair, green eyes. Something... no, this wasn't right. He had no memory of this woman. There were no records, Elidibus had given him no knowledge. Everything about this seemed wrong. To have the Eye, had she perhaps been one of Alexander's earlier companions? No, that couldn't be it. Things didn't make sense. She put on a cheery enough facade. But the anxiety rolled off her. He put her into an uneasy state. Was there something about him that was making her uncomfortable?

He listened to her tale, and simply allowed her to unload. One could learn much by simply letting another say what they pleased. The Azure Dragoon of Ishgard. Well, that provided a possible connection as to the how, but that still didn't make sense. Estinien was the former Azure Dragoon, and the other, well... he didn't recall it being the woman in front of him. But, he accepted the hand all the same and gave it a decent enough shake. Honestly, he wasn't all that physically imposing. But, a name to give, yes. "Solus. Unfortunately I have no such elaborate titles here." Here, of course, being the keyword. He may have once been the Honorable Emet-Selch, Architect and Angel of Truth, but those titles did not quite carry over here.

Here, he was just Hades, or Solus. Strange, that.

Of course, the first name of the Garlean Emperor may have been an issue, but it was the name he had given to Cissnei, and he was leaning on the lack of a third eye to deflect suspicion. "And from my perspective, you definitely sound lost. Perhaps you should set a goal for yourself. A long term ambition to push towards. Something for your own gain, for you speak with pride of your homeland, but you don't look to be in a hurry to return, so something else must drive you, surely." But her burdens, yes. Why did she retain such a burden like the Eye of... Oh there was no need to ask that, the answer was obvious enough. It was a trait he had pegged in Alexander as well. Adventurers were by nature a proactive and often ambitious lot, even if at times they seemed aimless, there was usually some vague motive at work.

The reason to hold onto an artifact like the Eye of Nidhogg was obvious.

♡

A unique name. Well, he'd give her that, as the corner of his lips curled upward ever so slightly. "Thank you. You're not the first to think so." And he was once again content to be the listener, the one who simply allowed those to express themselves. Within their words, no matter how carefully guarded, was always a little piece of themselves. Innocent words said aloud that, to most people, would simply speak a little of her world, of her faith. Visitors to and from different worlds seemed to be a common thing, so it wasn't like it would seem all that unusual for them. However, for a member of her world--no, the Unsundered Star, from which all of those worlds came, he found her story... well he found it unusual.

Everything lined up with events that he knew, except the actors had changed. Then again, with that little stunt of the Exarch's... perhaps she came from...? Would whatever puppetmaster of this world have that ability? But he now had a point in time at least, well, he felt so anyway. Nidhogg was ramping up his attacks in her world. He'd always been active, but he was getting more serious, pressing further in. Still, he looked to the sky above. Had a horde of dragons appeared? An eyebrow quirked. "I wonder if anything had drawn them here. They are drawn to power." He wistfully commented. Just that tiny little suggestion, just that tiny little thought. The Eye, that ever present item with all its hatred and rancor.

But it explained her demeanor as well. To be bitter and hateful would expose her to Nidhogg's grasp. Always within the eyes, always nearby. Yes, just one slip and this world would know Nidhogg's Fury. He changed the subject though, "I wouldn't put much stock in your god here. None seem to have any influence in this world. If returning home is your wish, I would begin with understanding this world." Hades shrugged. He would not allow himself to dwell on the primal that sundered his world, but this world itself. There wasn't even a lifestream. This world was fragile, feeble, and frail, moreso than any of the Shards. Unsundered it may have been, but the aether was faint, save for several overflowing pockets. In truth, that Eye probably had more Aether than any object for a good distance. Well, barring himself, of course.

♡

"There is no lifestream here." Hades said solemnly. No, he would have seen it by now if there was. This planet was dry, feeble. That was an issue. That was no small detail to simply be glossed over. A lifestream was vital, it gave the star strength, supported it when people used its energies. A star with no lifestream was uniquely fragile, uniquely vulnerable. In this state, if this world were the Source, he would not need to trigger a rejoining to cause a calamity, he could just do it by his lonesome. That was a problem. He let out a sigh as Eillien continued to talk. In all honesty, he was just dropping the facade out of pity at this point. Not even Alexander had been this... He looked Eillien over once more. She was identical to him. Well, the soul was. Hers may have been a little dimmer, but it was the same soul, no doubt.

Was she a reflection then?

He turned to face Eillien. It was in her good fortune that Hades had no desire to wreak havoc and mayhem on this world. "And you really shouldn't tell strangers you have Nidhogg's Eye on your person. That trusting attitude will come back to bite you, someday." Honest advice; why would she tell him? Why would she tell anyone? While it was always nice to let things out to someone you'd never meet again, some things just placed a target on your back. "An artifact filled with aether? Many would kill to get their hands on that, fueled even further by Nidhogg's rancor." Things however, were falling into place. She was Alexander, or rather, a different version of him. A world where he'd never existed, but she existed in his stead.

Fascinating.

He pointed to her bag. "The Eye has been calling out to anyone that will listen. In truth, it would be best to either destroy it, or toss it where it cannot be claimed." Not that it mattered when it came to the Warriors of Darkness Elidibus had recruited, but, well, they were already dead. The extreme hostility of such an environment did little for any of them, but that was beyond the point. "Instead you take the 'selfless' route that so many others with powerful artifacts before you have taken, because the simple truth is you have no desire to be rid of it." Hades shrugged.

He understood, truly. There were a myriad of reasons to keep the Eye, especially for Eillien. "It's undeniable proof of who you are, which you take obvious pride in, it's one of your last connections to your world." What was she without the Azure Dragoon? She'd placed so much emphasis on that role before even a Warrior of Light, that to lose one of her strongest connections would undoubtedly affect her mental health, but of course, there were other, more practical reasons. "But aside from that, it's an undeniable Ace in the Hole. If you are pushed, simply bring out the Eye, bask in Nidhogg's Fury, and show the world your Dragonsong." It was a trump card to even the odds against most foes.

Crossing his arms, he simply gave Eillien a look. "And before you rebuff me, I will say this; I can easily extract the aether and disperse it, allowing you to pierce the empty vessel and destroy it. If you truly wish Nidhogg's threat gone, then it can be gone in just a few moments." Of course, he was almost certainly outed now. Not that it mattered. There wasn't really much he could think to do with Nidhogg's eye that proved beneficial. With no plots, there was no need to scheme. No point in rejoining a world that was never sundered to begin with, and if she was openly suspicious of him, then so be it.