The Maiden's Rhapsody

==Plot Summary==
* On Eorzea, the setting of FFXIV, rumors of a mysterious Far Eastern traveler caught the attention of the Warrior of Light by way of a reporter, Remumu. They intended to search for her on Vylbrand, but Iroha approaches them instead, asking for directions to locations such as Selbina or Mhaura.
* Iroha explains that she is on a vital mission and needs to return to her Master, but is hopelessly lost and seems to have also lost her memories. The last thing she can remember is recalling Master's teachings and trying to learn the Amatsu: Kyori technique, certain that it is essential to her mission.
* Remumu suggests that continuing her training may enable her to remember her mission. The Warrior of Light agrees to accompany Iroha as a guide.
* Iroha recalls a story she heard of fledgling adventurers fighting Crabs along the shoreline, and decides to try it alongside the Warrior of Light, whom she tries to emulate to improve her form. 
* Taking a break in the city-state of Limsa Lominsa, Iroha is still unable to recall who told her about the weirdly effective training method. Sensing some connection to Iroha's lost memories, the Warrior of Light presents Iroha with a strange slightly luminous green shard of rock from the beach, an Optistone like the one that gave the Master a vision of the Multinational Expedition.
* A vision of the Shadow Lord appears, and Iroha recounts a battle in the bitter cold against a resurrected evil tyrant, but she is doubtful about the memory relating to her mission.
* Seeking very tough foes fit for training, Iroha and the Warrior of Light head to a manor where unusual voidsent have been causing trouble. They are able to dispatch the group of Taurus and Dark Kindred, but although the training was valuable, Iroha seems no closer to being able to use Amatsu: Kyori.
* Regrouping in Gridania, Iroha is presented with a glowing blue Aurastone shard, this time experiencing visions of a long journey with a young blue-haired girl and numerous other comrades. This vision too, seems rather unbelievable for a pupil still in training.
* In search of an even greater foe for training, a story of a terror in the desert with a strength that's impossible to gauge peaks her interest. It's there they run into the legendary Serket and endure the ferocious beast's venom storms. Yet Amatsu: Kyori is still not within her grasp.
* With the Orastone shard in hand comes another vision: a mortal struggle and a great mage unleashing a great rampaging wolf with forbidden magicks for their last chance at salvation. At last the visions became clear, these were a glimpses into the past of a hero, not her own memories. 
* And just as quickly, her true memories start to return. With an understanding of the key to wielding Amatsu: Kyori, she sets out to put theory into practice and also hopefully restore a memory of the path home to Vana'diel.
* Iroha and the Warrior of Light come to the aid of Bronze Lake, and find the dark presence terrorizing them: a Dread Dragon. It's not alone, but neither is Iroha. Iroha goes face-to-face with the dragon and asks the Warrior of Light to deal with its flying Spotter companion.
* As the Spotter is brought down, Iroha has reached her limit and is thrown to the ground. After she's come so far, no, not returning home, not returning to her Master is not an option. Iroha gets up, welling up with a power from within, the power of Amatsu: Kyori! A spherical magic crest starts to appear around Iroha, growing larger until it reaches a blinding intensity. The enchantment around the Dread Dragon is broken!
* With a renewed strength and the help of her new mentor, the Dread Dragon is defeated. Satisfied that her training is complete, Iroha thanks the Warrior of Light again for keeping her on the path.
* Back in town, Iroha tells her tale to the reporter, of her world's destruction and fateful leap into the past to avert the tragic end alongside history's heroes, the greatest of which being her Master. But some memories are still missing, Iroha's last memory before awakening in Eorzea was a fierce battle and a strange light, torn away from her Master when she was needed most.
* Remumu wants to know more about Iroha, her Master, and their world. Iroha could go on and on, but it's best to start at the beginning. It all begin with a stone, or so the story goes....
* As she finishes her story and looks at the Warrior of Light, she accidentally refers to them as her beloved Master. She quickly apologizes and prepares to take her leave, promising to meet again either on Eorzea or the waking world. She closes her eyes and tries to wake up from this dream. Anti-climatically, she finds herself still standing in the tavern among the Eorzeans. Perhaps she is not yet ready to return after all, or perhaps it is the will of the Goddess. But Iroha will not be deterred from her mission. She departs to continue to work hard to become a worthy warrior until she eventually awakens back in her world. 
* With a sigh, Remumu sadly shelves the story. A traveler from another world going back in time to save her people? No one would believe such a story.
==Timeline==
* Since The Maiden's Rhapsody released the day after RoV Chapter 3, it's not for certain which they intended for players to see first. This may have happened out of order because FFXIV schedules their version updates on Tuesdays.
* This event seems to fit into the gap between the end of RoV Chapter 2 and RoV Chapter 3.
** Iroha's description of her last memory before awakening on Eorzea appears to be the battle in Both Paths Taken (Rhapsodies of Vanadiel Mission 2-39), after which her whereabouts are unknown.
** You reunite with Iroha in FFXI in The Brewing Storm (Rhapsodies of Vanadiel Mission 3-2).
* Due to the story revolving around Iroha losing her memories, her story may be unreliable and she may have already known the Amatsu: Kyori technique and finished the mission but had forgotten about it.
** The first battlefield where Iroha is seen using Amatsu: Kyori is Rhapsodies of Vanadiel Mission 3-34.
** Amatsu: Kyori is available to the Iroha II trust, but not Iroha.
==References==
Category:Lore Category:FFXI in Other Media