Fragments - episode 5 part 2 - early access

Raha already can choose his allies wisely. Not only Vivi never expected a betrayal from Cid, but he also can't do anything to him afterwards.

Early access lasts until Friday, September 9, 2022. The episode goes public on that day.

This post has a pdf file if you're having issues with the normal view.

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Bonus text content \o/

Behold my pro writing that I'm also gonna include in the Fragments series. This scene takes place directly after the comic above.

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- But of course Cid wouldn't go! There's this special errand boy who looked for you till dawn, was allowed to catch only a few hours of sleep before being woken up and told that you're still missing, and spent the rest of the day in a chocobo seat.

Vivi takes a breath and rubs his face with both hands. G'raha's unmoved. He methodically picks off the last bits of baked dodo from its carcass.

- Why here, anyway, of all places?

- I didn't have much time to think. Mayhap I should've simply stayed and faced the consequences, but I found amusement in the idea of teleporting. Revenant's Toll was too obvious of a choice. You would've found me too soon and you would've still been too upset.

- And now I'm chill and safe to mess with, once again?

- And now you're too tired to do anything.

Vivi drops his head on the table and makes a whining sound.

- I fucking am.

The sudden resignation throws G'raha off.

- Alright, uh... I may have overdone this. Why did everyone make such a great deal out of this, anyway?

- Because you're some smartypants scholar playing an integral part in this expedition? The camp isn't safe, people feared that you strayed too far away and got eaten by a beast or something.

G'raha snorts and winds up to brag about his combat skill, then reconsiders, shamed by the still-deflated look of the elezen.

- How are you coming back? You must've wasted a ton of aether on this.

- Ah, well, yeah.

- Do you at least have gil?

- Yeah.

- You DO have the gil to pay for this, right?

Vivi jerks his head up. He doesn't like the way G'raha starts grinning while averting eyes.

- All of this.

Vivi gestures at the pile of emptied plates.

- I'm paying for all of this, and you're only telling me now.

- To be fair, I didn't plan to te-

G'raha bites his tongue, realizing that he's just sabotaged his own grand scheme to finish dining and quietly sneak off again.

To his surprise and relief, the Warrior huffs a harmless laugh and shakes his head.

- What a character. I bet this isn't your first, or last shenanigan?