The tower was massive, probably large enough that Leviathan could comfortably wrap herself around it. Prompto was inspired to shoot numerous pictures before they even got out of arm's reach of the car. There didn't appear to be anyone else, but chances were that they were all waiting inside. Once he was content with his pictures, Prompto readied his guns.

Getting Iris was the prime objective, though unharmed or not would be a little problematic. If picking off the quartet one by one was the necromancers' goal, then they might be unpredictable. Then again, they were most likely banking on Gladio coming here alone for her. What a surprise they were going to be in for.

Screw with one of the gang, then you'd better be ready for the rest!

Prompto followed as third in line once the group made their way in through the only accessible door. They were instantly met by a set of winding stairs. From there, the only way was up.

More stone. More walls. And a whole lot of cracks. There really wasn't much of interest here. It was such an old building, it was remarkable it was still standing. Then, at the top of the stairs, the area opened up into a large, entrance room. There were numerous archways leading to different rooms, but there was no certainty as to where to go next. Blowing his blond hair out of his face, Prompto didn't move right away. He was partially waiting for someone to come at them from out of the blue. There was no way they made it this far unnoticed.

"I can hear them further upstairs," Ignis said in a hushed voice, that Prompto almost missed it. He couldn't be sure if this made him feel any more comfortable or not. What was waiting for them up there?

"They know we're here," he then heard Nyxia say. "They're waiting." She conjured her staff, one of many that she kept for various uses. This one held a black and gold hilt, and at its head, a spiked half-star surrounding a crescent moon, painted in gold and red chrome. She always did have a cool collection of magic staves at her disposal. He assumed different ones were used for different elements - not just earth, air, fire, and water, but many other things.

"This way," she added, taking one of the apertures to another set of stairs that would send them further up. Prompto really hope that Iris was okay. However they approached this, it was going to have to be done so with care.

The next flight of stairs took them in an upward spiral, but Xia stopped short before the doorway, tucked against the wall to stay out of sight. The other three followed suit, thought it probably was pointless, if their company was already acknowledged. The witch wasn't the first to move, however. As Prompto should have anticipated, it was Gladio whose patience broke first. He bolted into the room. This one was occupied with a couple of hooded figures. Behind them was a restrained girl huddled up in the corner and against the wall.

"Iris," Gladio's concern showed strongly, but just as he took a step forward, one of the necromancers drew a long staff, pointing it towards his face. It spoke, but in a language that could not be deciphered, at least not by Prompto. He never did learn the Tongue of the Dead, as some called it.

"He says trade," Ignis stated. "I imagine he means you for her."

"Why?" Gladio demanded.

"He wants to lessen our numbers. We're weaker when we're singled out," Nyxia said.

"Idiots," Gladiolus hissed, his sword swinging into view. "You don't know who you're fucking around with." The necromancer hissed a few words angrily, and the other moved like a black mist towards Iris. It all happened so fast, and not even Prompto could keep up with how quickly Nyxia reacted. She ran for Iris, though as she did, the stone began to crumble beneath them both. The necromancer had already done its damage. The tower began to collapse, and a terrifying scream pierced the air.

Prompto began firing at the necromancers (more out of reflex than planning a solid approach), though not a single bullet landed. He was just shooting at black clouds.

"I got you, Iris!" He heard Nyxia's voice, and as he followed it, he saw that she was hanging tightly onto the other girl's wrist, being the only means keeping her from falling to her death. Iris was usually pretty tough, but this was the first time Prompto had ever seen this sort of horror on her face.

"Iris!" Gladio yelled, but as both of the necromancers swarmed around him, obviously intending to keep him separated from his sister, there was no way he could assist. Beneath Xia's crouched body, the floor was giving in, rock shattering bit by bit. Ignis was running for the pair, but one of the dark entities zipped before him to block his path, throwing him back into the wall with little effort.

Suddenly, Iris was yanked up with what seemed to be a fair bit of might. Just as she recovered, she hurried over to Prompto. A third shroud of gray rose in front of chasm of the broken wall, faced with the sorceress as she pulled herself up. "Get her out of here!" Nyxia hollered. Prompto grabbed Iris by the arm and hurried her back towards the stairs that they had taken. Bits and pieces of the tower were continuing to break apart, and it took a few, careful leaps for the two of them to descend. Prompto didn't bother to look back until they had reach the car, but there was no sign of his other companions coming. The prime objective was a complete success, but...

"Oh, no... Gladdy..."

"Wait right here. I'm going back in." Prompto speedily went back through the entrance, though as he came into the first room again, it was swarming with an innumerable army of necromancers. There was no way he was going to be able to get back up those stairs.

Thankfully, the other three were already coming down towards him, like clockwork. Nyxia was at the front of the line as they were being targeted by the ghostly attackers.

"All of you, get out!" Nyxia demanded. They all staggered as the tower shook violently beneath their heels. "Get Iris far away from here!"

"Nyxia, don't be-"

"There's only one way to stop them, Ignis, but I need you to get everyone else out. Now!"

Ignis didn't hesitate any longer as he validated the orders to the other two. "You heard. Let's move!"

Unsure of what Xia was setting up to do, Prompto looked over his shoulder as the three of them left her behind. Her staff swung left and right, beams of yellow light keeping the necromancers at bay long enough for the boys to flee the scene. They zipped around her like angry wasps, and they cut into her clothes and skin. Prompto couldn't stand to leave her behind...

Iris was right where he left her, though she seemed confused as to why Nyxia was not with them.

"Where is she?" she inquired in a panic, though before any of them could answer, a loud explosion emerged behind them. Rock and smoke erupted into every direction; even the vehicle had taken a few hits from the rubble.

They all took cover, shielding themselves either with the Stella or by turning their backs to the blast. After a few moments, the smoke cleared. Prompto coughed as he failed to keep out the air that was thick with dust. The necromancers were most definitely gone, but Nyxia couldn't simply vanish like the others did. The red Carbuncle bolted past the crew and towards the heap of rubble - all that was left of the tower. She looked frantic, as if she knew that her caretaker was hurt... Or maybe even worse.

Please, no... Not now...

"Help me uncover her!" Prompto insisted, grabbing boulders and throwing them aside. Some were easier to lift than others. Ignis was close behind, and finally, Gladio joined on the fray. Then, after moving probably a dozen, large rocks, he heard Rubia's yelp of alarm. "Over here!" He pulled off a few more rocks where Nyxia's companion had indicated, finally spotting a lock of black hair sprayed across the debris. "Xia, no!" More and more stones were removed, but the one that anchored her legs was too large for Prompto to lift. "Gladio, help!" He was quick to respond, though Nyxia didn't give any physical or verbal response.

Rubia perched herself on her chest, the top of her obsidian horn just barely touching Nyxia's chin. There was a soft glow, but the only response that they got from the witch was a small grunt. She would be okay, but it was all they could do for now. Prompto felt a small bit of relief, but his worry was still strong. How much of a toll had she taken for making such a sacrifice? As Gladio checked on his sister, Prompto and Ignis partnered up to get Nyxia sat down in the passenger's seat of the beaten Stella. He adjusted it in hopes to keep her somewhat comfortable. It probably made no difference, as she seemed unresponsive. As he was smaller, he was fine with sitting behind the stretched out car seat.

He wasn't fine seeing the burgundy exterior of the car so torn up, though. It was almost as nice as the Regalia.

Three weeks wasn't very long, he understood that, but it had been enough time for him to really develop a liking towards her. Nyxia, not the car. She was incredibly beautiful, and perhaps it was the black hair that went for miles that he found most attractive. No, it was definitely the green eyes. They were like fresh grass - no, that was terrible. Like emeralds. Yeah.

But she was also a very sweet person to be around. She typically wasn't very ferocious in battle, which was why it had been a big surprise to him that Nyxia had sacrificed herself the way she had for Iris. He remembered the first day they set out from Curia, she literally jumped out of the car - while it was going at fifty miles per hour - to help a baby owl that had fallen out of its nest. He realized then that not only was she an animal lover like him, but that they were meant to be.

Then, he grew up a little and realized that wasn't happening. Although, he could still admire her.