Chapter 1
Two millennia ago, lived two brothers. Two brothers that would shape the clay of Eos in their volatile hands.
The sons of Caelum, Ardyn, the eldest, and Somnus, the youngest, though bound together by their noble bloodline lived two very separate lives. In a world slowly being consumed by the Starscourge where demons run rampant, Ardyn chose to live as a humble healer, traveling the countryside and curing victims of the Starscourge. Somnus, however, lead armies against the daemons and showed no mercy against those ailed by the infection.
As each son was favored by the Crystal and soul of Eos, only one could rule its people. Oracle and middle-man to the gods, Aera Fleuret faithfully loved and followed her fiancee and rightful heir to the throne. However, her betrothed had no interest in the throne, unless ruling was required for him to better serve his people.
Alas, the youngest son was also a jealous one.
Being preferred by both the people and the Crystal, Somnus knew he stood no chance against his brother in holding the right to the throne.
That was something he had to change.
As the purest of men grew tainted by the Starscourge, the Crystal was shifting its favoritism. Somnus concocted a plot of fratricide and when acted upon, Ardyn was rejected by the Crystal.
In the final battle between brothers, the Oracle was murdered and Ardyn was left incapacitated to be hidden away for many years to come.
Somnus was crowned king.
Although the Crystal rejected the peoples' true king, it still felt the imbalance, for there cannot be one oracle to be shared among two kings.
Thus the Astaroth line was created.
"Drix! I have a new assignment for you." Cor caught her on her way from the training hall. Vedrixia wasn't surprised, being a Kingsglaive meant spending very little time in one place, always being dispersed across Lucis.
"Where to this time, sir?" She asked, wiping the bead of sweat from her brow that threatened to fall directly in her eye.
"This one isn't a stagnant location like your other assignments, it's more of an… escort mission." Cor's brows were furrowed and Vedrixia knew there was a rather large catch that Cor was withholding. Turning her back to Cor, she began to remove her personal belongings from the gym locker, not fully wanting to face the questionable news Cor was about to unleash.
"And? Who am I escorting?"
Cor sighed, "Prince Noctis." Vedrixia ceased all movement. "You are to escort him to his wedding to Lady Lunafreya Fleuret in Altissia."
Vedrixia released the breath she had been holding and slowly turned to face Cor, a whirlwind of questions in her head. "But isn't his Crownsguard crew supposed to be his escort? Why would they need a Glaive on top of those three?" Everyone was quite familiar with the Shield, the Strategist, and the Guns (trigger-happy with both a camera and a weapon) and knew they could certainly handle themselves and were more than enough to protect the king-to-be on a simple drive to Altissia. The request for more protection was more than enough to spark suspicion and concern in Drix.
"Listen," Cor huffed. "All I know is the King is thorough and just wanted some extra hands on deck." He pinched the bridge of his nose, furrowing his brows in barely contained frustration, "I don't need one of your interrogations today."
Vedrixia sighed.
Cor Leonis was lying.
Badly.
In joining the Kingsglaive during her teens as a naive attempt to avenge the death of her parents (a casualty of the war with Niflheim), Vedrixia found a father figure in The Immortal as he had taken her under his wing. Always bristling with questions from an insatiable hunger for knowledge, Cor was often the receiver of her many questions or "interrogations" as he would put it. In those years of questioning everything she encountered, Vedrixia also encountered many liars. And with liars, come tells.
Vedrixia had discovered and memorized each of Cor's tells by the age of seventeen.
However, simply catching Cor in a lie rarely made him very forthcoming with information. With this knowledge, Drix accepted her fate of ignorance.
"Alright," she sighed. "When do I take my leave?"
Cor's gaze met hers and a sense of finality thickened the air.
"Tomorrow."
The Citadel had never been so tense as on the day of the Prince's departure.
The farewells of Father and Son looked regal as ever and awkward as ever.
Vedrixia stood to the side, separate but still with the Crownsguard trio as the King expressed his wishes to his son.
"The hour has come," King Regis began in all his formality. "Set forth with my blessing, Prince Noctis."
Noctis bowed stiffly to his father, "Thank you, your majesty."
It seemed as though today, the lines of age and stress were more prominent in the King's weary face than ever before. "Take your leave and go in the grace of the gods."
"Right," Noctis rose to his full height and swiftly departed.
Vedrixia could not contain her shocked expression toward the young prince's lack of decorum, suspecting he would be receiving a lesson in propriety from his astounded advisor.
The trio began descending the steps, each muttering their own discontent about the proceedings as Vedrixia still kept a slight distance.
"Well, princes will be princes."
"So much for royal protocol."
"Not like you had to deliver a formal address…"
"Wait!" The Kingsglaive Captain shouted from the Kings side, effectively catching everyone's attention.
"What now?" Noctis whined.
Vedrixia watched in pity as the crippled King began to make his way down the steps after his son. Years of keeping the Wall stable had certainly taken its toll on the King of Lucis.
"I fear I have left too much unsaid," the King began. "You place a great burden on those who would bear it with you."
The young prince scoffed, "You're one to talk."
King Regis slowly looked to the royal retinue, "I ask not that you guide my wayward son, merely that you remain at his side."
Vedrixia continued to grow suspicious with the urgency and seriousness emanating from the King.
"Indeed, your Grace," Ignis Scientia uttered with a bow.
"We'll see the prince to Altissia if it's the last thing we do."
"Yeah, that!" said Prompto.
Vedrixia dropped to her knee, bowing her head, "Harm must bring us each to our knees before he lays a hand on the Prince, Your Majesty."
The four protectors left the father and son to a final goodbye and convened at the Regalia.
"Ms. Astaroth," Ignis began. "We were informed this morning that you would be joining us, although I'm sorry to say it may be a bit of a tight fit in the Regalia."
"Yep, you don't get to keep your 4-foot wide personal bubble anymore, Glaive," Gladio chimed in.
"I assure you that's quite alright, Mr. Scientia. I was given a bit of short notice as well, however it should be fine considering it will be a fairly short trip. And my distance, Mr. Amicitia was to ensure I did not brashly invade your own ranks," Vedrixia stated as professionally as she could muster.
With an indignant huff, Gladio turned away. Ignis began making his way to the driver's seat and Prompto was taking pictures of the Prince's farewell.
The King was the last to be heard before their departure, stating:
"Walk tall, my son."