A Bouquet of Nymeia Lilies
Aug. 15th, 2016 01:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ourtinymomentsTime to show this sparkly new journal some love! Might as well jump right in, so - as promised on plurk I went ahead and translated the German version of Final Fantasy XIV's latest short story into English because the two are just so different. It could probably use some more polish (and fewer commas) but you get the idea. (Trying to imitate the style and its occasional inconsistencies was probably not my brightest idea, admittedly.) Overall, this translation is a bit more literal than what I'd usually go for because the goal was specifically to highlight the differences between the two versions and let me tell you, all those times the narration jumps from one scene to the next and you find yourself wondering "Shouldn't this line be in a different tense?" are just as baffling in the original. (It's still quite possible that I snuck some brand-new errors in of course.)
Translation notes:
And with that, I (finally) present to you
A Bouquet of Nymeia Lilies
Words, Deeds, Beliefs (English version) | Ein Strauß Nymeia-Lilien (German version) | the Japanese version
An Azure Dragonrider picking fruit. I can't let anyone back in Ishgard know about that.
Indeed, Estinien had muttered something like that to himself. The memory of that moment made Alphinaud laugh out loud.
He was sitting in a private room of the Fortemps estate that the count had made available to him. The Dragon War had come to an end, and Estinien had left Ishgard a few days ago. The hour was late, but Alphinaud, who had resigned himself to sleeplessness, was sitting at a wooden desk and thought of the day when he had lost everything as a result of vanity and pride.
He opened his diary. It was Haurchefant who had inspired him to keep one. His words at the time, at Camp Dragonhead, had shaken him deeply, and he had suddenly felt the urge to write his thoughts down.
- - -
So then, dear Alphinaud, are you really willing to end as a broken blade? Is there no flame capable of forging you anew?
During the events of the Dragon War, after the escape from Ul'dah and the arrival in Ishgard, Alphinaud had begun to notice a quiet change within himself. Remembering his conversation with Haurchefant in the Sun Snow, remembering his former self, all he felt was shame. Back then, he had been content to address problems only superficially.
Haurchefant had called the Warrior of Light a friend, and that friendship was clearly mutual, of that, Alphinaud had no doubt. But Haurchefant had not helped only his friend, but Alphinaud too. He had welcomed him with the same kindness and warmth he had shown the Warrior of Light. Only now did Alphinaud realize just how good Haurchefant's friendship had been for him. Now, when it was too late to show him his gratitude.
But a few days ago, he had climbed up the hill that overlooked Ishgard, and at Haurchefant's grave, he had talked to his friend.
Alphinaud kept flipping through his diary. The Warrior of Light, Estinien, Ysayle and he himself – what an odd group of four. But the experiences on that journey, in that group of four, had changed Alphinaud profoundly.
Easy for you to say, boy. After all, you can just lean back and let the Warrior of Light do the dirty work. Or had you intended to face the Primal yourself? Then, I won't say anything.
Estinien had thrown those words at him at the Gnath Colony. They had shown to him quite clearly the arrogance that he had thought he'd overcome already. Aside from his grandfather Louisoix and his sister Alisae, there was no one but Estinien who spoke to him so bluntly. Alisae's reprimands, however, had always fallen on deaf ears, and it begun to dawn on him why that was the case. In his heart of hearts, he had always looked down on his sister. And yet it was he who deserved contempt. He who had promised himself after the Crystal Champions incident to take a more active role in things and who had already forgotten the promise so soon after it was uttered.
Never had he felt more unworthy of the Warrior of Light's friendship than he did in that moment at the Gnath Colony.
Alphinaud's weapons were his sharp mind and clever words. But his words only carried weight because he was descended from Louisoix. Without that blood connection, they were feeble and had no impact on anything. Whether it was the grandchild of Loiusoix Levellieur who said something or a lad called Alphinaud made a fundamental difference.
To follow one's words up with deeds – that was important. He himself had to get down to action and prove that he really deserved his friends' trust. If he left it at just words, they were nothing but a sequence of sounds. Words of thanks passed his lips easily, but if they didn't come from the heart, then they were better left unspoken.
On that day, the Warrior of Light and Ysayle had set out to subdue Ravana, and Alphinaud had stayed behind with Estinien at the Gnath Colony. The time until their return seemed endless. He had always thought of the Warrior of Light as invincible and now he realized that maybe they weren't. Estinien's words weighed heavily on him. He was ashamed, and because he could no longer bear sitting around idly, he decided to work on some of his magics. It wasn't his first magical exercise, of course, but up until then, he had never quite practised for an emergency. Besides, Ysayle had encouraged him.
I am certain that Alphinaud can become an able mage. He only has to apply his magics to battle for a bit.
Ysayle's words, addressed to the Warrior of Light, gave Alphinaud courage. He was on the right track. Maybe it would take a while, but one day he'd be a real mage, acknowledged by his companions.
Alphinaud turned the page and paused again.
The Churning Mists. An entry about the last day before the Chalk Temple, about how they'd made camp. Never had he eaten anything that tasted better to him than Ysayle's stew. He had collected the firewood. Looking for wood was one of the things he'd learned on his journeys.
Alphinaud thought about his encounter with the mogries who lived in the Cloud Sea. They had even managed to catch Estinien off guard sometimes and had pushed his patience to its limits with their pranks. He thought about their encounter with the dragons, too, and in all of these memories, the Warrior of Light appeared, always protecting him.
The journey into the Cloud Sea had shown him how powerless he was, how little he knew. Yes, Ysayle and Estinien would later say that they, too, had felt clueless, but there was a world of difference between them and him. For him, knowledge of his ignorance made him feel helpless. For Ysayle and Estinien, it merely meant that they had to try even harder. In contract to him, they possessed the will and the power to achieve something with what little knowledge they had. He, too, had to develop that power to act. For the sake of Ysayle, who could act no longer.
- - -
A knock, followed by a quiet voice, interrupted Alphinaud's thoughts.
“Are you still up, Master Alphinaud?”
Jumping with fright, Alphinaud snapped the diary shut.
“Yes. Come in, please.”
The door opened, and the face of the old count Edmont Fortemps appeared. In his hand, he held a lamp.
“I couldn't sleep and was going to prepare a cup of tea when I saw that the light in your room was still on. I thought maybe you had fallen asleep over a book and needed a blanket. The nights here are cold.”
“Thank you. That's very considerate of you.”
When the count found out that Alphinaud couldn't find sleep either, he returned to his room to fetch a blanket. Taking no heed of Alphinaud's protests, he placed the blanket on his knees and poured him a cup of herbal tea. Asked about the type of tea, the count explained that it contained the boiled roots of Nymeia lilies that he grew in his own garden. Alphinaud was surprised, since he had heard that growing Nymeia lilies was quite difficult. That side of the count was new to him. He thanked him again, but Count Edmont only looked at him sadly.
“I assume you're going to move on soon.”
Alphinaud struggled for words, but before he had a chance to answer, the count continued, smiling:
“I wish you could see your face at this moment, Master Alphinaud.”
Then, he left the room, pulling the door shut behind him.
Alphinaud took another sip of the herbal tea. The Nymeia roots were very bitter, but the count had sweetened the tea with enough honey. Alphinaud was sincerely grateful for such warm-hearted hospitality. Suddenly, something occurred to him. Nymeia lilies... didn't they mean something? What did they signify again?
- - -
Alphinaud returned to his desk and opened his diary once more.
The peace celebrations at Falcon's Nest. They had been meant to mark the beginning of a new era of peace between dragons and Ishgardians. The sudden appearance of Estinien under Nidhogg's influence had destroyed everything. The celebrations had to be cancelled. And everything had looked so well before: the unrest after the truth about the Dragon War had become public knowledge had finally calmed down, and people had started looking towards the future instead of living in the past.
Never would Alphinaud forget the sight of Estinien's blood-soaked armour. Nidhogg's eyes had sunken deep into the metal as if they were trying to eat their way through the armour. Even though Estinien was a friend, Aymeric had been right to loose an arrow at him. To protect the people. But in that moment, Alphinaud had only felt the burning wish to help his friend. When he later confessed this to the Warrior of Light at the Sun Snow, they smiled and said they had the same wish. He thought about the Warrior of Light and that it was a good thing he had told nobody else about the powerful aetherial aura that seemed to flow through him as he touched Nidhogg's eye. That secret should stay between the two of them.
Now, it's all over. But I do not feel joy... my heart remains heavy.
After the festivities surrounding Aymeric's inauguration, Estinien had uttered these words before vanishing from his sickroom – and from Ishgard. He left the crimson armour behind. Such a departure was a lot like him, really. Blunt and straightforward, like Estinien himself. He had not cared one iota about Alphinaud's heritage or his position in society. Maybe he was even the first adult who saw him for who he really was. Alphinaud realized later that he loved him like a brother.
Diary in hand, Alphinaud travelled around Ishgard but he could never stay long in any one place. Something always happened to make him move on. He even fended off a few dragon attacks - his years of magic practice benefited him greatly.
The view from Sohm Al's summit, down into the Cloud Sea, had sent a chill down his spine with all its magnificence. He trembled at the sight of Hraesvelgr too. What a tremendous presence! What a tremendous dragon! The mere memory made him feel as if his legs were still shaking.
Hraesvelgr told him the true background of the Dragon War and then one thing happened right after the other. Estinien and the Warrior of Light's battle against Nidhogg, the assault on the archbasilica, Ysayle's act of self-sacrifice...
When Alphinaud later visited that place in Azy Lla, he discovered a bouquet of Nymeia lilies. Estinien must have put them there. For sure.
The Warrior of Light, Estinien, Ysayle and Alphinaud himself – an odd group of four indeed. They had certainly not always seen eye to eye, but the journey had bound them together as true friends.
Now, his friend Estinien was on the road on his own, with nothing but memories of Ysayle for baggage. Alphinaud was certain that they would meet each other again though. After all, Estinien had not yet said goodbye to him.
- - -
Alphinaud finished his cup, closed his diary and crawled back into his bed. He closed his eyes, and then it came to him.
The name “Nymeia lily” could be traced back to the star goddess Nymeia. The stars showed travellers the way, and that was why Nymeia lilies were regarded as flowers of mourning. With a bouquet of Nymeia lilies, you wish someone a safe last journey.
With this thought and a smile on his lips, Alphinaud fell asleep.
~fin~
There we go! If you have any questions or comments or want to just squee about languages, or give Alphinaud a cup of hot cacao, I hear the comment section is a very cosy place to hang out in~
Translation notes:
- I kept the names instead of changing them to their official English equivalents just so you can all join me in wondering what the hell the chalk temple is supposed to be.
- The Sun Snow = The Falling Snows
- Crystal Champions = Crystal Braves
- The Chalk Temple = Zenith
- mogry = moogle
- archbasilica = the Vault
- If you compare this translation to the original German text you'll notice that Edmont doesn't actually address Alphi as Master Alphinaud. He does, however, use the formal you when speaking to him that doesn't quite exist in English so I put the English version's "Master Alphinaud" back in anyway to get that across in some way at least.
- gdi text stop meandering and making me look up five synonyms in the same paragraph this is getting awkward
And with that, I (finally) present to you
Words, Deeds, Beliefs (English version) | Ein Strauß Nymeia-Lilien (German version) | the Japanese version
An Azure Dragonrider picking fruit. I can't let anyone back in Ishgard know about that.
Indeed, Estinien had muttered something like that to himself. The memory of that moment made Alphinaud laugh out loud.
He was sitting in a private room of the Fortemps estate that the count had made available to him. The Dragon War had come to an end, and Estinien had left Ishgard a few days ago. The hour was late, but Alphinaud, who had resigned himself to sleeplessness, was sitting at a wooden desk and thought of the day when he had lost everything as a result of vanity and pride.
He opened his diary. It was Haurchefant who had inspired him to keep one. His words at the time, at Camp Dragonhead, had shaken him deeply, and he had suddenly felt the urge to write his thoughts down.
So then, dear Alphinaud, are you really willing to end as a broken blade? Is there no flame capable of forging you anew?
During the events of the Dragon War, after the escape from Ul'dah and the arrival in Ishgard, Alphinaud had begun to notice a quiet change within himself. Remembering his conversation with Haurchefant in the Sun Snow, remembering his former self, all he felt was shame. Back then, he had been content to address problems only superficially.
Haurchefant had called the Warrior of Light a friend, and that friendship was clearly mutual, of that, Alphinaud had no doubt. But Haurchefant had not helped only his friend, but Alphinaud too. He had welcomed him with the same kindness and warmth he had shown the Warrior of Light. Only now did Alphinaud realize just how good Haurchefant's friendship had been for him. Now, when it was too late to show him his gratitude.
But a few days ago, he had climbed up the hill that overlooked Ishgard, and at Haurchefant's grave, he had talked to his friend.
Alphinaud kept flipping through his diary. The Warrior of Light, Estinien, Ysayle and he himself – what an odd group of four. But the experiences on that journey, in that group of four, had changed Alphinaud profoundly.
Easy for you to say, boy. After all, you can just lean back and let the Warrior of Light do the dirty work. Or had you intended to face the Primal yourself? Then, I won't say anything.
Estinien had thrown those words at him at the Gnath Colony. They had shown to him quite clearly the arrogance that he had thought he'd overcome already. Aside from his grandfather Louisoix and his sister Alisae, there was no one but Estinien who spoke to him so bluntly. Alisae's reprimands, however, had always fallen on deaf ears, and it begun to dawn on him why that was the case. In his heart of hearts, he had always looked down on his sister. And yet it was he who deserved contempt. He who had promised himself after the Crystal Champions incident to take a more active role in things and who had already forgotten the promise so soon after it was uttered.
Never had he felt more unworthy of the Warrior of Light's friendship than he did in that moment at the Gnath Colony.
Alphinaud's weapons were his sharp mind and clever words. But his words only carried weight because he was descended from Louisoix. Without that blood connection, they were feeble and had no impact on anything. Whether it was the grandchild of Loiusoix Levellieur who said something or a lad called Alphinaud made a fundamental difference.
To follow one's words up with deeds – that was important. He himself had to get down to action and prove that he really deserved his friends' trust. If he left it at just words, they were nothing but a sequence of sounds. Words of thanks passed his lips easily, but if they didn't come from the heart, then they were better left unspoken.
On that day, the Warrior of Light and Ysayle had set out to subdue Ravana, and Alphinaud had stayed behind with Estinien at the Gnath Colony. The time until their return seemed endless. He had always thought of the Warrior of Light as invincible and now he realized that maybe they weren't. Estinien's words weighed heavily on him. He was ashamed, and because he could no longer bear sitting around idly, he decided to work on some of his magics. It wasn't his first magical exercise, of course, but up until then, he had never quite practised for an emergency. Besides, Ysayle had encouraged him.
I am certain that Alphinaud can become an able mage. He only has to apply his magics to battle for a bit.
Ysayle's words, addressed to the Warrior of Light, gave Alphinaud courage. He was on the right track. Maybe it would take a while, but one day he'd be a real mage, acknowledged by his companions.
Alphinaud turned the page and paused again.
The Churning Mists. An entry about the last day before the Chalk Temple, about how they'd made camp. Never had he eaten anything that tasted better to him than Ysayle's stew. He had collected the firewood. Looking for wood was one of the things he'd learned on his journeys.
Alphinaud thought about his encounter with the mogries who lived in the Cloud Sea. They had even managed to catch Estinien off guard sometimes and had pushed his patience to its limits with their pranks. He thought about their encounter with the dragons, too, and in all of these memories, the Warrior of Light appeared, always protecting him.
The journey into the Cloud Sea had shown him how powerless he was, how little he knew. Yes, Ysayle and Estinien would later say that they, too, had felt clueless, but there was a world of difference between them and him. For him, knowledge of his ignorance made him feel helpless. For Ysayle and Estinien, it merely meant that they had to try even harder. In contract to him, they possessed the will and the power to achieve something with what little knowledge they had. He, too, had to develop that power to act. For the sake of Ysayle, who could act no longer.
A knock, followed by a quiet voice, interrupted Alphinaud's thoughts.
“Are you still up, Master Alphinaud?”
Jumping with fright, Alphinaud snapped the diary shut.
“Yes. Come in, please.”
The door opened, and the face of the old count Edmont Fortemps appeared. In his hand, he held a lamp.
“I couldn't sleep and was going to prepare a cup of tea when I saw that the light in your room was still on. I thought maybe you had fallen asleep over a book and needed a blanket. The nights here are cold.”
“Thank you. That's very considerate of you.”
When the count found out that Alphinaud couldn't find sleep either, he returned to his room to fetch a blanket. Taking no heed of Alphinaud's protests, he placed the blanket on his knees and poured him a cup of herbal tea. Asked about the type of tea, the count explained that it contained the boiled roots of Nymeia lilies that he grew in his own garden. Alphinaud was surprised, since he had heard that growing Nymeia lilies was quite difficult. That side of the count was new to him. He thanked him again, but Count Edmont only looked at him sadly.
“I assume you're going to move on soon.”
Alphinaud struggled for words, but before he had a chance to answer, the count continued, smiling:
“I wish you could see your face at this moment, Master Alphinaud.”
Then, he left the room, pulling the door shut behind him.
Alphinaud took another sip of the herbal tea. The Nymeia roots were very bitter, but the count had sweetened the tea with enough honey. Alphinaud was sincerely grateful for such warm-hearted hospitality. Suddenly, something occurred to him. Nymeia lilies... didn't they mean something? What did they signify again?
Alphinaud returned to his desk and opened his diary once more.
The peace celebrations at Falcon's Nest. They had been meant to mark the beginning of a new era of peace between dragons and Ishgardians. The sudden appearance of Estinien under Nidhogg's influence had destroyed everything. The celebrations had to be cancelled. And everything had looked so well before: the unrest after the truth about the Dragon War had become public knowledge had finally calmed down, and people had started looking towards the future instead of living in the past.
Never would Alphinaud forget the sight of Estinien's blood-soaked armour. Nidhogg's eyes had sunken deep into the metal as if they were trying to eat their way through the armour. Even though Estinien was a friend, Aymeric had been right to loose an arrow at him. To protect the people. But in that moment, Alphinaud had only felt the burning wish to help his friend. When he later confessed this to the Warrior of Light at the Sun Snow, they smiled and said they had the same wish. He thought about the Warrior of Light and that it was a good thing he had told nobody else about the powerful aetherial aura that seemed to flow through him as he touched Nidhogg's eye. That secret should stay between the two of them.
Now, it's all over. But I do not feel joy... my heart remains heavy.
After the festivities surrounding Aymeric's inauguration, Estinien had uttered these words before vanishing from his sickroom – and from Ishgard. He left the crimson armour behind. Such a departure was a lot like him, really. Blunt and straightforward, like Estinien himself. He had not cared one iota about Alphinaud's heritage or his position in society. Maybe he was even the first adult who saw him for who he really was. Alphinaud realized later that he loved him like a brother.
Diary in hand, Alphinaud travelled around Ishgard but he could never stay long in any one place. Something always happened to make him move on. He even fended off a few dragon attacks - his years of magic practice benefited him greatly.
The view from Sohm Al's summit, down into the Cloud Sea, had sent a chill down his spine with all its magnificence. He trembled at the sight of Hraesvelgr too. What a tremendous presence! What a tremendous dragon! The mere memory made him feel as if his legs were still shaking.
Hraesvelgr told him the true background of the Dragon War and then one thing happened right after the other. Estinien and the Warrior of Light's battle against Nidhogg, the assault on the archbasilica, Ysayle's act of self-sacrifice...
When Alphinaud later visited that place in Azy Lla, he discovered a bouquet of Nymeia lilies. Estinien must have put them there. For sure.
The Warrior of Light, Estinien, Ysayle and Alphinaud himself – an odd group of four indeed. They had certainly not always seen eye to eye, but the journey had bound them together as true friends.
Now, his friend Estinien was on the road on his own, with nothing but memories of Ysayle for baggage. Alphinaud was certain that they would meet each other again though. After all, Estinien had not yet said goodbye to him.
Alphinaud finished his cup, closed his diary and crawled back into his bed. He closed his eyes, and then it came to him.
The name “Nymeia lily” could be traced back to the star goddess Nymeia. The stars showed travellers the way, and that was why Nymeia lilies were regarded as flowers of mourning. With a bouquet of Nymeia lilies, you wish someone a safe last journey.
With this thought and a smile on his lips, Alphinaud fell asleep.
~fin~
There we go! If you have any questions or comments or want to just squee about languages, or give Alphinaud a cup of hot cacao, I hear the comment section is a very cosy place to hang out in~