Chapter 1 ~ A New World
The first thing I felt when I woke up was - again - pain. As much as I wanted to get up, even the slightest movement I make felt like something was punching me back down. "You're awake!" That voice... it was the same one that spoke to me before I arrived before the gateway of Etro. Out of nowhere something wet licked my right cheek, causing me to sit up and scoot away upon seeing the creature. It was a white fox that had a ruby attached to its forehead. Confused, I leaned closer to the fox only to jump at the sudden ring of my cellphone, which I'm surprised to still have. The message read:
I was worried that you would never wake up. When I heard about your arrival, I was sure that you were dead when you suddenly fell from the sky!
"Is this... you?" I ask, pointing to the screen. The response I got was a chocobo emoji popping up. "What a strange creature. What are you exactly?"
I'm a Carbuncle. A creature that only exists in the dream scape. Your goddess, Etro, sent me a message and explained to me about the entire thing and asked me to help guide you until you actually wake up.
"Am I dreaming right now?"
Yes. When you first entered, something sensed your presence and dove into your dreams before you were about to wake up. Now it's trying to keep you asleep after it sensed something was off about you. It won't do anymore harm to you since you've been regressed back into a child.
"A child?" I glanced down at my body and nearly thought my heart would stop at what I was looking at. True to what the Carbuncle said, I had indeed been turned into my child self.
Etro thought this would be best in order to make up for the childhood you lost long ago. She also wanted to give you time to grow before your mark activates.
'My childhood... huh?' That was lost the day I had returned from Etro's gate with a lot of my memories taken from me. They came back to me in the form of dreams, only the memories I had of Noctis returned after our reunion.
Are you friends with Noctis?
I was surprised at the sudden question. Do I still have the privilege to call him as such? Forcing a smile, I respond in a weak tone, "We were back when we were children. But because of the war Niflheim waged and my brother taking a part of their cause, I don't think I have such a privilege anymore."
But you're no longer in that war.
"Indeed, but nothing will change the things I had done. All I did was cause harm to many under the false pretense that my brother would finally be at peace once he had taken their crystal. I never would have thought he would take the king's life and attempt to take the throne and their Kingdom's crystal as his own..."
All you were doing was fighting for what you believed in.
"What I believed in came at the cost of so much death! I was a fool for allowing my brother to give into his desires for revenge. Instead of using the powers I was blessed with to make things right, I just allowed him to have his way with me like some tool. A tool that only brings despair."
There was both love and hate that swirled around in my heart as a few memories of Ravus appeared in my mind. Some were good, the rest were something's I'd rather suppress. Despite how much I tried to retained hope for my brother to abandon his quest, his final act only proved that he was never coming back - the Ravus I knew will continue to only be a mere memory.
Do you want to see him?
"Huh?" I look up from the phone to see that I immediately stood up in surprise to see where I was - Insomnia. More precisely the Citadel. It felt so different just being here. Although I know this is all but a dream, seeing that the city was no longer in ruins had further reminded me of the tragedy I had taken a part in causing.
I know he isn't exactly the same Noctis, but maybe it's a good thing. The Noctis you knew would definitely want you to be happy!
I can hardly believe that. After what I had put him through, how could he ever wish such a thing for an enemy.
I don't think he ever thought of you as an enemy.
After reading the message sent from Carbuncle, my phone starts to buzz and a link appears under the contact of... "Noctis." As I got down on my knees, I immediately tapped the screen and patiently watched as the video starts off with a shaky view of Tenembrae. The camera became steady when it was placed down by none other than the Prince himself, who took a few steps back with a smile on his face. "Heya Stell! No not like that... I mean-" I giggle as he starts to nervously fumble with his words. "Hi Stella. Ugh..." He scratches the back of his hand and nervously kicks the ground. He lets out a nervous laugh, "This isn't how I wanted to start it."
It brought warmth to my heart to see him smiling up at the camera, a smile that I had seen a few times and had wished would stay on his face. "I remembered you mention during the party and our private calls about you wanting me to visit Tenembrae some time." He spreads his arms out. "Well, here I am! As promised. But it seems that you're not able to make it." On that day, I had called him one last time to meet me in my home country to fulfill my promise in guiding him. It also happened to be the last day he ever trusted me with anything. When Ravus found out that I was contacting him, instead of punishing me, he took advantage of this to make sure that both Noctis and I would remain on opposite sides.
Ravus manipulated him into thinking that I had set up the whole thing as a trap.
"I know you've got your home to protect and I have my own which I have to reclaim... so I want to promise you this. Once I reclaim the throne and my country, I will help you reclaim yours. What Niflheim has done to you and your family is unforgivable. That's another promise I am willing to make to you."
This was most likely before of the incident and his sudden final call to me - his declaration that he was going to take back Insomnia. "You don't want to be a part of this war, and Gentiana was kind enough to give me a nice insight on a bit of your family history." I watch him sit on a nearby tree stump, bowing his head as clasped his hands together. "I never knew it was that bad..." His gaze goes back to the camera - his eyes fill with determination. "I really want to see you again Stell, no phones and no weapon aimed at my head. There's something I also want to tell you. Look I-" An inaudible voice was heard in the distance. "I'm still here! Sheesh talk about timing... seems like I have to do this another time..."
I nearly cried out for him to stop and want him to continue what he wanted to say, but I knew it was futile as the video was cut the moment he stands up.
I was planning on showing you this when you were older but I can't help guide if you continue to unconsciously deny my help. The more you dwell on the past, the harder it is for me to help you wake up.
"I'm sorry... I don't know what's gotten into me. There's something that keeps plaguing my thoughts with-" I couldn't finish as a sound of tapping metal echoed all around us. Carbuncle suddenly twirls around and protectively stands in front of me as I got back on my feet.
Get to the car.
Before I could ask what it meant, I fell backwards from the sudden quake and shield my face as shattered pieces of class from the skyscraper comes falling down on us. I part my arms and gasp at the creature that hovers above. If you didn't look at it carefully it simply appears as a large storm cloud that was looming over the top of the tower. In actuality it was a creature that was beyond anything that I have ever encountered. Now that I'm a child again, I am at a great disadvantage. Carbuncle suddenly changed into a body of light which shot straight up to the creature. I cover my ears when it lets out an ear piercing cry after Carbuncle flies past and leaves a deep cut on the creatures eye.
This was the only chance I have in escaping, but no matter what my legs just wouldn't budge. For the first time in years I am finally afraid of death. Is this because my body has been regressed to the weakest point in my life? It doesn't matter. With one last strike by Carbuncle, I watch in horror as the creature easily swaps the small fox away like a bug just as he was about to return to my side. "No!" I was about to move to where I last saw Carbuncle only for a hand suddenly grab mine and force me to run the other direction. "Wait! I can't just leave him there!" This scenario feels so familiar. Except this time I'm the one being dragged away.
I turn my head and let out a gasp upon seeing the owner of the hand. The boy lets go of my hand to pull the car door open. "Come on!" He urges me to get in the car while keeping his eyes on the creature behind me. Looking over my shoulder, I watched as the creature harshly lands on the ground, changing into a much more solid form. What appeared first was a pair of glowing eyes, accompanied by two more as it rose up. Carbuncle appears in front of me just as the creature takes a step out of the smoke. I recognize that monster anywhere... It's a Cerberus, though it was a much more demonic version compared to the one I had faced in the past. The Cerberus looms over us.
You have to go! You won't be able to fight in the state you're in!
That may be true... but... but... "If I run from my nightmares-" I recite to myself as I felt a surge of energy flow freely around me. "Then I will never be able to stop trying to truly get away from it. I'd rather look death straight in the face before I allow fear to consume me." As if something had awakened inside, I found my vision at a much taller height after a bright light surrounds my body.
Stella, is that how you looked before?
My rapier appears in my hand - albeit in a different manner then from what I'm used to. I gaze down and stared at my reflection. Although I knew it was me, the reflection I was staring at was a bit different. Getting into my stance, I answer in a stoic tone, "Not entirely." Just one attempted bite from one of the heads made me reflexively jump over it and slice the back of it's neck multiple times. Although it wasn't my first time to face the species, something was obviously off in terms of appearance and strength. With each slice to it's skin, I noticed that it would heal in a split second. I land next to Carbuncle.
"I can't defeat it without magic but..." My eyes automatically turn to Noctis, who was silently debating to himself whether to hide in the car or remain and watch. I shake my head. This is not time to be hesitating. Dream or not, I need to set things right with Noctis. Which starts by making sure no harm comes to him. I used an ice spell in hopes of slowing it down. All I could cover was its legs before one of the heads breathed a long stream of fire while the other head attempts to gnaw at me. The ice seems to have an effect on the Cerberus - however, it only seemed to slow it down. I flip over the head, barely making a dent in its thick hide as the tip of my blade slides across the surface.
I warped myself back to the ground behind it's large body when another one of it's heads breathes fire. Getting into a stance, I take in a deep breath and close my eyes. 'Etro... if you can still hear from where you are, please continue to lend me your strength as you have done so many years ago.' I open my eyes just in time to the Cerberus bring its tail down on me. I take one step back as it slaps against the concrete floor, nearly shattering the surface on impact. I took this chance to run from it's tail to the center head as I dig the blade of my rapier behind my back. All three heads let out an unrecognizable cry.
Ignoring this, I rose my rapier up and stabbed the head straight through the skull. However, despite the success in killing it, the force was enough to snap the weapon's blade in half. Without magic, without a weapon, I'm completely defenseless. "Hehe... this is so unlike me..." I painfully chuckles as the two remaining heads bare their teeth at me. "Noctis would also agree it's not like me to just give up. I wonder what he'd say if he saw me now." I watch with a blank stare as the heads move straight towards me for the attack. I was moment away from having my life taken when a sudden flash appears before and blinds me of the view of Cerberus.
By the time I regained my sight, I was speechless at who it was that came to my rescue. 'Noctis!?' my thoughts scream at his sudden change into an adult. He blocks both heads with his engine blade and struggles against their force. "Get out of here Luna!" Luna? It didn't take me a second to realize why he didn't call me by my name. There's only one reason, because this isn't MY Noctis but the one of the reborn world, meaning that the person called Luna is the one who exists in my place. I shake my head, 'No... he was never mine to begin with.' Going against Noctis' wish, I ran straight past him and took this chance to cut off the remaining heads while they weren't looking.
My rapier glows and the blade reappears the exact moment both heads were cleanly separated from its body and dies the moment the heads fall to the ground. "Luna?" I had to fight back my tears and ignore the aching in my chest as I slightly turn to look at the new Noctis. I flash a sad smile at him as I confess, "I'm sorry, but I'm someone else." Carbuncle takes this chance to distract Noctis, allowing me to run to the vehicle. "Wait, Luna!" The moment I shut the door behind my back, I found myself being engulfed in a sudden body of light.
"I welcome thee... champion of Etro."
I violently gasp for air and scan around this strange new area. Sitting up, my hand automatically reaches up to my face to feel the mask I had been gifted by Etro. It was firmly attached to my face. "Who's there?" I instinctively hid behind the nearest object and silently listen as footsteps start to echo all around me, then stops at the spot where I last was. "What's wrong?" a different voice questions. There was a slight pause before the latter answers, "Nothing. Thought I saw someone. Must have been my imagination." After the footsteps disappeared, I cautiously step out and noticed that I hid behind what appears to be a control panel.
"It seems there are still advantages in being a child again..." I said to myself, letting out a relieved sigh.
"Champion..."
My heart jumps at the ominous aura. I turn around and gap as my eyes fall upon something that I'd never dream of seeing in person. "Champion chosen by Etro... Are you as strong as she claims you to be? Do you regret your choice?" the crystal questions, glowing bit by bit as it spoke. Regaining my composure, I firmly stood in place and held my head high. "No, but I do not regret accepting Etro's offer in becoming her champion and your first L'Cie of this world. I've already become familiar in divine beings using human beings as collateral damage in repairing the mess by manipulating their fate so whatever you plan to use me, I no longer have no qualms over it."
The Crystal's light glows, reflecting in is own way that it was... thinking.
"Then you shall heed my warning when I say this, this 'new' Eos shall not welcome someone who was not reborn like all the others before you. Because your existence was replaced with another, it will try various ways to eject you from it. Nothing can be done once the only thing protecting your existence is removed before that day comes for you to cement your existence in the new world. Are you ready to face such hardships till then?"
I was about to answer when a sudden flashlight shone in my direction. "You there! Stay right where you are!" I step back and accidentally ran into the control panel; my elbow inadvertently pushing against a switch that had turned on certain lights in the large room. This not only allows me to see how many guards were present, but for them all to see me. There were two coming from the left and one from the right. Just as I was about to aim for the right - as it had one easily dodge-able guard - a fourth made his sudden appearance at my side through warp. "Stay right where you are kid if you know what's good for you," the guard warns.
I slowly back away until I notice him pick up a dagger from the floor and spot a spare that hanged on the belt of his uniform. Unsure on the extent of my own abilities, I dove past his arms and quickly snagged the dagger.
"Hey!" Before he could touched me, I tossed the dagger to the exit once I see a soldier burst in without closing it behind him. I clutch my head in pain as a familiar voice spoke into my thoughts.
"The Crystal has agreed to lend you the temporary abilities you will need that will be somewhat similar to those around you. Magic can only be used by those of Royal Blood and his Vassals. Your abilities as a l'cie shall remain while the skills you learned prior to your passing. Not only is your identity concealed, but also those said abilities. You are only given a short amount of time reuse those abilities when feel you are in mortal danger. The mask can only be removed by your hands, but know this, the longer it is off the more your presence will be known the the gods of this realm."
If what was said true, then judging by the dagger then that must mean that the warp ability is still in use, except now by individuals who have their abilities lent to them by the king himself. As I am marked by this new Eos' crystal, that should mean I too can use it albeit in a different manner of execution. If not then this might be the end of me before I get the chance to take at least a small glimpse at this new world. Tossing the dagger and watching it stab the metal surface of the wall close to the exit, I felt a sudden surge take over my body and soon found myself when the dagger was planted after my vision was briefly blinded by an unfamiliar light.
"Stop that kid!" one of the soldiers order. Without a second to spare, I forcibly pull take the weapon from the wall and ran. 'If this is the only way for them to enter their Crystal's chamber, then it should lead me to the lower levels of what I hope is the Citadel!' With that thought in mind, I refused to make any turns as to not accidentally stray from my potential path to freedom. "I see her!" I have no clue as to where the new voices were coming from, but it is now certain that most of the Citadels guards were notified of my presence and were focused solely on my capture. There was finally an elevator in view which seemed to be in use as the number above continued to rise.
Without any choice, I stood in place and waited for the elevator to arrive on my floor, ignoring the approaching shouts and footsteps behind my back, patiently standing mt ground and fighting off every nerve in my body that told me to run. Just as I had hoped the elevators destination was thing very floor and opened up to two unsuspecting guards - both of which were oblivious of my presence as they continue to chat away with one another, most likely unaware of the alert of an intruder during the long period of time they must have spent before they arrived to this level.
Carefully tossing the dagger once I see a perfect gap between their heads, I used my warp ability one last time and appeared inside the elevator the exact moment the doors were about to close and foe the guards to take notice of me. I randomly pressed one of the buttons as I kept my eyes focused on the approaching army of guards, one of the being the one who had nearly caught me due to him being the only one to lack an extra dagger amongst the rest. Sweaty and tired, I lean against the wall and slid to the ground to catch my breath, my body shaking all over from the strain I put myself through after using warp two times in the same hour or so.
Now that I'm a child again, there is much that my body is limited to handle. It had taken me years of practice to hone my skills upon my first reawakening after my near-death, to carefully learn just what it is I am capable of, with a little help from some whom I saw as my mentors before I took part in the war. Now I'm alone. I have to learn again the limits of these new abilities and separate them from the ones I earned under Etro's divine grace. Etro, Yeul and the Crystal separated them and it is now my obligation to be the one to figure out how it is I can regain my old skills while using what I can determine is normally used in the New World.
"Etro... please guide me..." I breath as the elevator reaches my chosen destination. Standing up on shaky legs, I grab the dagger and carefully trudged my way out. There were no guards this time to greet me - just empty halls that looked somewhat similar to that of the temple Insomnia built in honor of Etro, with a little but more light added to the area. Foot steps began to echo from theother end of the hall. Spotting a nearby couch, I dash and slid under it just in time to miss who I think are servants of the king.
"I heard other Crownsguard found a kid roaming around the Crystal Chamber not too long ago."
"Is it one of the Prince's friends again?"
"No, from what I hear it was a little girl. I don't know much but I heard they're still searching for her as of this very moment. The Crownsguard warned the rest of security to watch out and capture the child before the king and prince's return. The king has enough to deal with."
"Just what is the Crownsguard doing? Letting a child in... how did she even get in, in the first place?"
"No one knows, but we have to remain vigalent."
Once I heard the voices fade and their footsteps have ceased, I crawled out of my hiding spot and dust off the skirt of my white dress. "I need to find a way out before I'm found. I'd rather not confront anyone before I see just how different Eos is." Just as I was about to leave the area, I suddenly heard a barrage of cheering from outside the building, accompanied with what I think was... "Music," I said and found myself moving towards the large window. Pressing my hand against the glass, I watch as nearly every citizen in Insomnia cheer for - from what I heard earlier - the arrival of their King and Young Prince. Just the thought of it caused my chest to tighten.
This place, these people - all of it is still new to me. I was supposed to die and yet here I am, standing in a kingdom which I previously had a helping hand in destroying. 'If only there was a way to help prevent such destruction,' I thought as I glare at ny reflection. "Maybe there is," a woman's voice spoke from behind. I didn't even need fo turn to see who it was. With tears brimming from my eyes, my voice slightly cracks as I utter her name, "Gentiana. You're here as well." After what had happened in Galdin Quay, I was so sure that I would be reunited with my friend in the afterlife like so many of my lost comrades.
"I believe you have mistaken me for someone else." Her words stung my chest. Biting my lip, I force myself to turn and sadly smile at the woman before me. She indeed wasn't the Gentiana that had raised me since childhood. "Right... I should have expected things would turn out this way," I said, bitterly cursing at fate. I was warned by Etro, but I never realized how broken the war had left me until now.
"You are called Gentiana, correct?" I ask, earning a short nod from the woman.
"I act as the messenger of the gods to the mortals. As High Messenger, I remain at the current Oracle's side to help guide her in fulfilling her destiny to guide the Chosen King."
"Where is she right now?"
"In Tenembre under the watchful eye of Niflheim and her brother."
The mention of 'brother' made my blood boil. "So Ravus still exists..." I mutter as I glare at the ground. My brother had killed me. Whose to say he won't do it again to another version of me. Then something dawned on me, why is Gentiana here? If her duty is to act as a Messenger then there's no reason she should be here to tell me these things. "Why did you come here?" I question, preparing to run if she's here as an enemy. Smiling, Gentiana finally opens her eyes and states, "A friend of yours requested I watch over you as she can no longer be by your side." My eyes widen. I turn back to face the glass and stare up at the unfamiliar bright blue sky.
"She also wanted me to pass a message, 'I'm sorry I was never able to see the blue skies with you. I'm sure they're as beautiful as I beautiful as I've told you." Gentiana was always there even when I didn't need her. I promised her I'd free her one day from her immortal vessel, and in return she'd show me what the sun looks like, how clouds would change color whenever the sun would set. But I wanted to see it with her. I wanted to see it with everyone. Covering my eyes, I sob and slowly crumble to the ground. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." I apologize to her, despite knowing the Gentiana before me wasn't the same person. "I wasn't able to keep my promise..."
That's right, I should have realized what I was getting myself into sooner. The moment I agreed to become Etro's champion and enter the new world, I was going to enter it alone. Everyone I knew either has no memories of who I am or never existed to begin with. Here I gained a new existence, but in exchange I lost everything. I stop crying the moment I felt a hand gently touch my shoulder. Gentiana stares down at me with sympathetic eyes, saying, "What happened was beyond your control. Do not blame yourself. Fate is always cruel, but it solely depends on you how you are to allow it to affect who you are" Oh how I wish it was that easy. My arms drop to my sides and I grip onto the fabric of my skirt as I struggle with my conflicting emotion.
I spoke while holding back my remaining tears, "My mother... my father... they both died because of their refusal to tell those bastards where our Kingdom kept the homeland's crystal. All that because of their duties as protectors of one of the very few Crystal's left in the world that kept us in touch with the gods."
"They protected me in hopes that I would grow up to protect the world."
I shook my head and let out a bitter laugh, "But that's not what I did. I threw that all away in the hopes of saving a brother that forgot I was his sister." I turn look at her straight in the eye. "So how is this not my fault?" Gentiana spoke softly, "You allowed yourself to be here for a reason. Sins cannot be paid unless you chose a way to do something. You chose to enter this world over staying at what was left of yours before its destruction. That shows you want to continue fighting." She hold my hands and guides me back to a balcony. "I may not be the same as your guardian, but delivering her message wasn't the only thing I accepted."
She gestures me to look at the city, which made me eye her curiously for a moment before I turn to the direction she was pointing at. There were several black cars driving through the road that lead directly to the citadel. The crowd roars upon the arrival of a certain vehicle that held a familiar crest on the hood. "Noctis..." I utter his name and instinctively outstretch my small hand towards it. I could feel Gentiana eyes on me. And when I look up, I could feel the warmth coming from her dark brown eyes as she smiles down at me. "Would you like to see him?" she asks. I didn't even think about it.
Ignoring the consequences of acting brash, I nod, the urge of wanting to see him again overwhelming my sense of reason. Gentiana's smile broadens, pleased at my answer. "Then go," she said, much to my confusion. I blink and look around to realize I was now amongst the citizens that were awaiting for the arrival of their King and Prince. Stunned, I was about to question the messenger as to how she brought us here without notice only to find I was alone. "Amazing... I guess the different forces work in different ways to govern this world," I said to myself, still feeling astonished at what just happened.
"Look! They're almost close to the Citadel!" one of the people shout through the cheers. Once I notice the direction in where they were facing, I use my current stature to my advantage and push my way through the tall bodies, earning much disapproved looks in the process. I ignore them and continue to push my way through until I come face to face with a metal fence. Straightening myself so I was at a proper level to slightly peer over the fence, I watch as people began to throw confetti over the car which I now recognize as the Regalia. It was a bit different from the one I remember. Far more... elegant looking compared to the standard cars I'm familiar with.
The car passes me, and for a brief moment, I could see the young boy's head through the shaded window and the King right beside him. "Bark!" I jump and look around for the source of the sound. Nobody else had seemed to have noticed. I was about to ignore it until I felt something lightly scratch my leg. My heart jumps at the familiar small pup that was scratching my leg. "Pryna!" I cry out, overjoyed to see her. I go on my knees and open my arms, which she responds by jumping into my arms and licking the tears - which I never noticed - from my cheek. "You're alive! I can't believe-" I stop myself and immediately held the pup away from me.
"Are you really the Pryna I know?" She barks and lifts her head so I could get a better look at her neck. It didn't take me long to find a familiar scar beneath her neck.
"Pryna... It is you!"
I pull her back to my check and cried, which prompts her to lick me again. I wasn't alone. Pryna is with me again, MY Pryna. The little pup that once belonged to a friend that promised he'd keep an eye on Noctis and his friends while I continue to play the role I chose. "Is Umbra with you? Is he alive?" I ask, excited to know if there were others that had followed. Her ears lowers in response. "He's... not? Heh... that man did say he'd rather be in hell than to not be with his favorite hunting dog." I place her back on the floor after she attempts to wiggle out of my hands. "So you're a pup again?" I ask in between giggles.
She backs, tapping her foot on the ground - a familiar gesture that she used to do whenever she wanted me to follow her.
"Is there somewhere you want to take me?"
Barking in response, she turns to (much to my surprise) the direction of the Citadel. "Wait, Pryna!" I call out when I see her break into a run. I struggled to catch up with Pryna as the people started to push forward to get a closer view of the returning royals, some nearly kicking me before they realized I was a child. "Pryna slow down! I'm going to lose you!" Despite my desperate cries, Pryna pushes forward, leaving me to fight through the rowdy adults. "Pryna...!" My body was slowly starting to become sluggish. The strain I put myself through by using magic excessively was now starting to affect me.
"Wait for me! Please! You're going too fast! My body-" A man roughly shoves me, causing me to trip and fall over. Hitting the floor, I hiss as my right arm radiates in pain as I felt the skin scrape against the rough cement. "My apologies little one," a man's voice spoke as he holds his hand down to me. As irritated as I was that I have now lost Pryna, least this man was decent enough to apologize. I was about to take his hand when I sensed something was off about him. My eyes slowly travel up to him hand, then his arm, and his... face. I attempt to bring up the dagger to his neck only to be caught with his free hand.
"Now now~" Ardyn lifts his hat up to reveal his mocking smile at me. "You know what will happen if you draw your weapon out in public." My face hardens as I reluctantly accept his hand. Once I was back on my feet, I immediately take my hand back and wipe my hand on my skirt in disgust. "You've definitely shrunk," he taunts. "And that mask is a nice touch. Definitely something a nice way to hide your shame." I refuse to waste my breath on such a vile creature. Although he may appear as the man that made my brother the way he was, I could tell even without looking at him that there's something far more different about him.
"What... are you?" I said as I step away from the man. For the first time since I met Ardyn, his smile sends a shiver down my spine, his eyes change to an all too familiar white glow. "No... It was you. You did this!" Just as I was about to draw the dagger, a sudden ear-piercing scream caused many to go silent. I turn to find many of the same guards from the Crystal chabger holding their guns to a man, a man who had surprisingly took down two other cars with I could only tell was by his bare hands. Thanks to the fear that spread through the rest of the people, many started to run away to avoid being caught in the crossfire, allowing me to gain a much better view of the situation.
"If this is your doing I swear-" I held my tongue after turning to find he had disappeared without a trace. Angered that he too had arrived in this new world, I felt the urge to go after him when the sudden sound of gun shots being fired. "Stay where you are!" one of the guards order. I take a deep breath, forcing myself to set aside my search for Ardyn and deal with the problem at hand. I push down the fence with all my might as I kept my eyes on the man, who seemed to be behaving in an strange manner. It's almost as if he's hurting on the inside. "No..." My eyes widen upon realizing what was happening. And, much to my horror, I watch as the man takes several bullet.
I stop upon spotting a familiar mark become revealed after a bullet grazes the mans arm, his sleeve tearing open just enough for me to see the black markings embedded into his skin. King Regis steps out of the car after having enough watching. "Stand aside," he orders his other guards. Panicking, I shake the bars and scream, "Get away! You have to get away from him now!" Thankfully the King noticed me, and just as he seemed to consider my words, he and his men defensively stood their ground as the man stops and wails in pain.
"You and your god damn son did this! He's the reason why Insomnia suffered! I will not allow it to happen again!"
Etro told me those that survived were given the choice to either stay behind and await the complete destruction of Eos or cross her gate, retaining the memories of their old life. 'Does that mean he's like me?" I didn't have time to think on it as the man was becoming the last thing I ever wanted to ever see again. My hand automatically reaches up to where my own brand is as I am forced to watch a fellow l'cie transform into a Cie'th, his body deformed and crystallized starting from his l'cie brand then to the rest of his body. Once the crystallization was complete, the 'skin' hardens and a red light begins to pulsate on its chest. The last thing I saw before turning my head away in disgust was the man's face becoming covered, leaving on his mouth.
"My fellow crownsguard! Protect the king!" There's no denying it. That powerful voice could only come from one man alone. "Clarus Amicita..." I utter his name. His aged appearance may differ from when I last saw the man, but it is undoubtedly him, the Shield of the King, his most trusted right-hand man when delegating King Regis' armies. Clarus readies his arms while many of the Crownsguard surround the king. "Stop!" I cry as I desperately reach my hand out of the bars. Clarus was - as expected - unable to deal a single blow as the cie'th disfigured hands sharpen on the spot and claw across the man's chest. There's no use fighting against the creature. A cie'th may no longer have emotions, but its still as strong as it was as a human.
"Not only is your identity concealed, but also those said abilities. You are only given a short amount of time reuse those abilities when feel you are in mortal danger. The mask can only be removed by your hands, but know this, the longer it is off the more your presence will be known the the gods of this realm."
That's it. My mask. I look around and saw many were to focused on the cie'th rather than their surroundings. It's risky and a bit too reckless for my liking, but there's no other choice. I have to something! My hand reaches up for the mask but I stop, questioning myself for a moment if now is the time to act. And so soon. "Protect his majesty!" I snap out of my thoughts when I see several Crownsguard appear only to be easily swept away. Ignoring my previous hesitation, I tore off the mask and felt a sudden surge envelop my body. The fences that blocked my path were blown away from the immense force. "Hey!" I shout, gaining the cie'ths full attention. I held the dagger and aim it at its head.
"You..."
I was stunned to hear it speak. Cie'th should no longer be capable of such. I shake this off and proclaim, "You shall not touch them! It is not your choice whether or not they shall live or die in this world!"
To Be Continued
I just met Leon Chiro IN PERSON at apcc 2018! Sorry for being a total fangirl... but holy shit seeing an awesome guy like that- Ah! Anyway... I recommend you look him up on fb or instagram. He's definitely ho- awesome! I mean awesome! *cough* Well... this is awkward. Just look him up... Please so I can cool down from my fangirl mode... Anyway, I am pleased to tell you that I have decided to continue this. I usually release just one chapter and wait for a certain amount of reception to decide whether I should pursue it or not. That's why many of my other fanfics are untouched due to that. Anyway, I'm sorry if the spacing isn't to your liking. I have tried to make it so that it doesn't appear too long (as I've noticed from past experience nobody doesn't like chapters that that lengthy) or too short. I'll try to fix that while keeping my style intact. I won't promise that I'll change much of what happened in the actual game as it is my policy not to change too much, but I want to at least fill in the gaps. But with Stella.
