The following contains spoilers from the MSQ of Final Fantasy 14: Endwalker. If you don't want to be spoiled, don't read.

Alastair Sol keeps a smile on his face. Even when he is not truly happy, he wants to assure his friends that he is fine. He has taken on numerous hardships, faced evil that he never anticipated on his quest, and yet he walks on. He wants to let those unable to defend themselves that he will gladly protect them, presenting a smile to show that he will not break and will do everything in his power to save them.

But, there came a time where he lost his smile. Where he broke.

After Zenos had stolen his body and attempted to murder his friends with his own hands, Alastair was left shaken to the core. He knew he was not in control, but he can't shake the despair he felt, that his friends and loved one were almost killed by someone using his own body. He was anguished and sunk in a state of depression that he has never been in before.

"It was not your fault," a voice inside his head told him. "That was not you. It was him. Let not despair take hold of you, but instead temper it with desire. A desire to kill him. Zenos cannot be allowed to go unpunished. Find him. Destroy him."

It was the voice of Fray, Al knew. And some deep part of him did relish crushing Zenos' head in his hands. To utterly wipe him from the very fabric of this star would be the only way to end him.

But Alastair was stirred from these thoughts by his friends. They came to him this time, to make sure he was okay. They comforted him, assuring him that they were fine. They were the ones with smiles on their faces this time. And Alastair knew that he must move past this. The Final Days were fast approaching, and he could not wallow in darkness. Zenos would get his in due course. But saving the world must come first. Zenos will have to wait.


This is my headcanon following the "In from the Cold" quest, and  SilentDeathFootsteps brought it to life in fantastic fashion!