Of Life and Light
Game: Final Fantasy XV
Rating: M+
Pairing: Gladiolus Amicitia X Original Character
Romance X Adventure
Disclaimer: All rights and characters belong to Square Enix and Hajime, Tabata along with Tetsuya, Nomura.
Previously in Chapter 1: Under Orders
"Today has been a long day for all us, but tomorrow we'll set sail for Altissia for the prince's wedding to Lady Lunafreya. A man named Dino Ghiranze is organizing for a ship to take us there, but in return we had to hunt down a certain gem for him in exchange of his services." Ignis informed her as they both continued to gaze up at the night sky in companionable silence.
It was starting to get late and he soon excused himself, making his way back to the hotel room where he and the others were staying the night. Nai'lia watched him as he went, but was stopped in her tracks before she could to do the same herself. Images started to appear in her mind at an alarming rate, and she had to lean against the railing for support. The Crown City of Insomnia was being invaded by Niflheim. She saw the explosions that went off outside the citadel followed by the fight that took place in the treaty room. The treaty was nothing but a ruse so that the king would lower the wall; allowing them to invade the Crown City and take the crystal that lies behind the safety of its walls.
Watching as the king was struck down at the hands of General Glauca angered her, but she couldn't do anything about it due to her being with Prince Noctis and his friends. How could she tell them that their home had fallen into the hands of the Niflheim Empire, and that along with the crystal being taken the king was dead? Pushing away from the railing she made her way back to her own room, collapsing onto her bed and wept for the loss of her king, and the fall of Insomnia.
'This is why he ordered me to accompany the prince. He knew that this was about to happen.' She thought to herself falling asleep with unshed tears in her eyes.
Chapter 2: The Journey Begins - Part One
Galdin Quay: 6:00 A.M.
Leaning against the railing, and looking out across the Vannath Coast; Nai'lia had a clouded look in her eyes as the newspaper she held hung loose in her hand, news of the fall of the Crown City of Insomnia had made the headlines overnight. Hearing Ignis heading towards her she had to look away from him, and close her eyes so that he wouldn't see how bloodshot they were from crying she did the night before, or the look of loss that shown on her face as clear as day.
"Good morning, Nai'lia. How are you doing today?" He greeted joining her out on the boardwalk that overlooked the ocean. When she didn't move to pull out her phone, he looked over and saw that she was looking away from him with her eyes closed. He saw the trail of dried tears that remained on her face and how exhausted she looked. He laid his hand on her shoulder, and when she pulled away from his touch he knew that there was something wrong.
"What's wrong?" He asked with an unsettled look on his own face and apprehension in his voice. Afraid to look him in the eyes Nai'lia hesitantly handed Ignis the newspaper that she was holding, and he hesitantly took it from her watching as her hand fell limply to her side. The moment he saw the headline that was printed on the front of it, he knew at that moment why she was afraid to look at him upon his arrival. Once he was done reading about Insomnia's fall and the death of the king, he took off his glasses covering his eyes with his hand deep in thought about what to do.
"His Highness won't take this news too lightly, but he has to know about what happened." Ignis informed Nai'lia in a serious voice after five minutes of going over what they were going to do in his head. Nai'lia looked over at him with a grim look on her face, and nodded at Ignis in silent agreement. She watched him put his glasses back on, and stood at attention once Ignis looked back at her with a composed look on his face.
"We mustn't keep His Highness waiting. Come with me Nai'lia." Ignis stated in a collected voice, and she followed right behind him back to the hotel room that he was staying at with the others. Once they arrived Ignis asked Nai'lia to wait outside, and opened the door heading inside. Nai'lia stood at attention outside with her arms behind her back, and listened to what was going on inside the room attentively.
She heard Prince Noctis questioning Ignis, and listened as Prompto read off "Insomnia Falls" followed by the prince asking what he meant, and Ignis telling him to calm down before proceeding to explain what happened followed by Gladio reading the newspaper out loud so that everyone could hear what was written in it.
Ignis then continued to explain to them that they had no way of knowing that the signing of the treaty had taken place the night before; outside waiting next to the hotel room Nai'lia had closed her eyes and tuned out the rest of the conversation, already knowing what needed to be done.
'King Regis, Lord Clarus, your sons have a long and hard road ahead of them. But I will fulfill the duty that was given to me, and continue to accompany them on their journey to Altissia.' She proceeded to make a silent oath to them, and slowly opened her eyes when she heard the door opening next to her. Looking over she saw Ignis coming out with a serious look on his face, and she walked over to him; looking over his shoulder, and into the room she saw Prompto standing in front of the window with his arms crossed, and the prince sitting down in a chair with his head bowed.
Gladio glared at her with an angry look on his face, and she felt Ignis placing a hand on her shoulder to draw her attention away from him and the others. She gazed back at him and he shook his head, informing her that they were going to set out for Insomnia soon, and that she needed to head to back to her room to grab her bag and check out of the hotel.
He made no mention of why Gladio was angry, but in her heart she knew the reasons why he had looked upon her in anger; bowing her head in acknowledgement Nai'lia headed back to her room to grab her bag and check out. Once she was done with that she made her way out to the parking lot where her motorcycle was parked beside the Regalia to wait for the others to arrive.
Ten minutes later she saw the prince and his friends heading her way, and got on her motorcycle waiting for them to arrive. Watching her closely as he approached, Gladio put their bags in the back of the Regalia while Nai'lia watched Prince Noctis get in the back seat without saying a word to anyone. Prompto acknowledged her with a short wave of his hand, and took his place in the passenger seat while Ignis got in on the driver's side.
Once all of them had gotten in the Regalia and Ignis had started the engine, they pulled out if the parking lot followed behind by Nai'lia on her motorcycle. It had begun to rain ten minutes after they had left Galdin Quay, and it came down harder the closer they got to Insomnia. As they continued past Hammerhead towards Insomnia they saw Imperial dreadnaughts and dropships flying overhead making their way to the Crown City.
'This is where the true journey begins, young one. Are you ready for what lies ahead?' Nai'lia heard the goddess exclaim in a serious voice, and she nodded her head and began to speak with Etro, but kept her eyes expertly trained on the road as she drove behind the Regalia as it made its way to Insomnia. 'Fui praesto diu domina. Nescio quid agendum et videbo illum ad finem.' She stated dutifully, and felt Etro's approval satisfied with the answer that she had given.
'The king and his shield have heard your oath, and can be at ease knowing that you're accompanying their sons on this journey.' Etro clarified and Nai'lia felt the goddess' presence leave her. She brought her motorcycle to a stop behind the Regalia upon their arrival at the checkpoint to the Crown City of Insomnia; cars were stopped ahead of them with people standing outside their cars, and there were Imperial soldiers, and Magitek troopers stationed at the gates guarding it allowing no one in or out of the city.
She backed up and followed behind the Regalia as it took a different route. Coming to a stop five minutes later, she killed the engine on her motorcycle and got off of it at the same time the others stepped out of the Regalia. She made her way over to them and they made their way up a set of stairs and saw some Imperial soldiers patrolling the area nearby. Calling upon their weapons they began to fight their way through the patrolling soldiers, and taking out the sentries that were stationed near the hill overlooking the Crown City.
It took them ten minutes to take out all of the Imperials soldiers and Magitek Troopers, but that was out of the way they stood out on the hill overlooking Insomnia, and saw with their owns eyes that the Crown City had fallen into the hands of the empire. Nai'lia stood apart from the others looking at the city with despair in her eyes. On Prompto's phone the news was going, and as they continued to listen to the broadcast it announced that along with the king being dead the Oracle and prince were now pronounced dead too.
Gladio told Prompto to keep it on, but he lost his grip dropping the phone on the ground. He was about to pick it up when Prince Noctis told him not to bother with it. Ignis knelt down picking it up and handing it back; while Gladio pulled out his own followed by the prince pulling out his too as Imperial dreadnaughts and dropships flew overhead. She heard him greet the marshal, and watched as the prince began to move around speaking with him. She bowed her head when he started raising his voice, and ran a hand through her hair to brush it out of her face.
She heard the prince let out a sharp exhale, and looked up to see him looking back at the city and watched as he lowered his phone to his side. Ignis walked up to him asking him what the marshal had to say, and he told him that the marshal was waiting for them in Hammerhead; followed by Gladio asking him about the king, but took the prince's grave sigh as proof that it was true about the king being dead.
Walking over to Ignis Nai'lia laid her hand on his shoulder to gaining his attention along with the others, and motioned for him to follow her; the others stood there watching as they walked off to the side and waited for them to return. Pulling out her phone without delay Nai'lia began to type out a message on it, and once she was done typing it out she handed the phone over to Ignis to read.
I'll meet all of you in Hammerhead, Scientia. I need to speak with the marshal in private about important Crownsguard matters.
Ignis looked up at her with a serious look on his face, and handed the phone back to her watching as she put it away, and as a despondent look appeared on her own face. He nodded as she turned around walking away from, and the moment she was out of sight Ignis turned around and walked back over to the where the others were still standing.
"Where is she going, Ignis?!" Gladio asked in an angry voice and crossed his arms over his chest glaring at him. Ignis informed them that Nai'lia would meet them in Hammerhead, and explained in a serious voice that she had to speak with the marshal about important Crownsguard matters in private. Prince Noctis nodded in understanding along with Prompto, but Gladio continued to glare not buying a word that his friend told him.
"Your anger towards Nai'lia is highly uncalled for, Gladio. What did she do to make you angry with her?" Ignis exclaimed in a firm voice adjusting his glasses and gave a pointed look at the shield. Gladio uncrossed his arms looking away from the advisor. Prompto and Prince Noctis sighed in exasperation asking if they could move out now, and head back to Hammerhead to speak with Marshal Cor Leonis and join up with Nai'lia again.
"Don't think I'm not done with you, Gladio. You will answer my question once we've met with the marshal!" Ignis stated pointedly as they made their way back to where they parked the Regalia earlier. After everyone had made it back they climbed in without saying a word to each, and Ignis started the engine before turning the car around and started driving back to Hammerhead to meet with Marshal Cor Leonis and Na'lia.
Author's Note: This will be broken down into two parts; the next part will be focused around the time they go to Hammerhead, and then set out for the Prairie Outpost to meet with the marshal so Prince Noctis can obtain the royal arms followed by helping the marshal take out the imperial soldiers that the empire set up at the Norduscaen Blockade. They also learn about the relationship between the marshal and Nai'lia. Sorry it took this long to upload the chapter, this is a busy time for me; with Christmas coming up, and then moving to a new city at the start of the New Year is going to keep me occupied.
Translations:
'Fui praesto diu domina. Nescio quid agendum et videbo illum ad finem' is Latin for 'I've been ready for a long time, my lady. I know what must be done, and I'll see it through to the end.'
GoddessofWisdom2018
