Spring Rains - Part 10
Near the end of the Myrlwood was an especially deep and dark grove, which under normal circumstances was merely damp. More than half flooded now, even high up as it was and the surrounding cliffsides bursting over with even more water made this grove a microcosm of the Vesperpool itself, rapidly filling up. Only this time it wasn't just rain water, but a thick mudslide which made for a nigh impassable section of cliff. The familiar marble white dome was only barely visible beneath all of this, the doors were shut but there was no way they would hold out the water for long.
Gladiolus moved quickly, diving into the water and swimming towards the Tomb. He grabbed on to the last visible section of the roof and used the small momentum he could build in the flood to kick the doors open. Water came gushing in and, for a moment, the overall water level lowered. He saw Noctis's head bobbing up in the water, carried by Dave.
"When did you get here?!" Dave shouted over the torrent.
Gladiolus grabbed onto him and tried to make his way out, but the influx of water once again made it too difficult.
"You above using a good trick twice?" Gladiolus asked.
"Not if it works," Dave grunted.
For the second time in two days, they allowed themselves to be completely submerged by water and then made their way out through a gap - this time dragging Noctis along with them. A short swim later and they were back on temporarily dry land, alongside Ignis and Prompto.
"You know, I'm just going to say it," Dave groaned. "I don't think I'm gonna like rain much after this."
"You're hilarious," Gladiolus replied, coughing out some water himself. "Iggy, is Noct okay?"
Ignis had been checking on Noctis who appeared to be breathing. "He seems to be okay. Just unconscious."
"Yeah that big guy knocked him out," Dave explained. "Didn't want him using his magic to escape. No handles on the inside of those doors, they just look like rock walls when they're closed. Craziest thing. Anyway, he slammed him up against the wall and Noct went out like a light."
"Well if it makes you feel any better I laid him out just as pretty," Gladiolus said.
"Shoulda killed the bastard. He's an MT," Dave said.
"That's what I said," Gladiolus concurred.
"I suppose all that's left is to do what we originally set out to do. Find the monster that's been summoning the rains and defeat it before the entire area floods," Ignis observed. "Well," he added taking a look around. "Moreso than it already has."
"That's the other thing," Dave announced as if suddenly remembering. "The Sahagin Chieftain is the one calling the rains. He was out here a while ago talking about using the rains for something."
"Something?" Prompto asked. "Any chance you can be more specific."
Dave shook his head. "Well I don't exactly speak Sahagin, kid. But that MT was sure interested in it. I only got the gist of it because the two were conversing. A name came up… Kraken I think he said. Apparently it's been living in the Vesperpool for a real long time and the Sahagin want to wake it up."
"That tentacle thing that attacked us," Gladiolus said.
Dave nodded. "Yeah. Only I reckon it's plenty awake now. Not sure what else is going on. Or why the Empire wants anything to do with it."
Ignis snapped his fingers. "Of course. They've been collecting daemons. You remember the ones they unleashed upon Insomnia. This Kraken must be an especially powerful-"
Ignis trailed off. Something had caught his attention and he became entranced by his own hands for a few moments.
"Iggy?" Gladiolus asked.
"You still with us?" Prompto prompted.
Ignis shook his head and returned to reality. "I'm sorry, I only just realized now. If the Empire is planning on using this daemon they would be waiting for a signal of some kind. They would have sent their scouts in to keep an eye on the situation and when the moment was right they would have airships at the ready to capture the fiend."
"Oh," Prompto exclaimed before turning his head back over to Dave and Gladiolus.
"And we let them live," Gladiolus grumbled.
"Right," Ignis nodded.
There was a moment of awkward silence before Ignis felt compelled to add something in his own defense.
"I suppose if we'd killed them the Empire would simply show up sooner to try and handle matters themselves-"
"Look, can we just cut to the chase and say the Empire is probably on the way and we'd better find this Sahagin Chieftain and stop him before things get any uglier," Dave said, ever the practical hunter.
Ignis sighed. "Right. They've moved out of the Myrlwood and headed back towards the lakeside. I imagine our MT friends have probably joined them by now, except perhaps Alcander."
"If you've been talking as long as it feels like I'm sure he's woke up by now," came the groggy voice of Noctis, slowly lifting himself onto his knees.
Prompto scoffed. "Great. And how long have you been awake."
Noctis stretched his arms out. "Long enough to hear something about us being screwed."
"You'll have to be more specific," Dave replied.
The group made their way down through the Myrlwood path only to find that Noctis's sarcastic statement had come true. Alcander was no longer present. However a long trail from where Gladiolus left him gave the impression that he had not been removed under his own steam.
"You reckon his friends came to bail him out?" Dave asked.
"Must have," Gladiolus nodded. "I guess I'm not as good at knot-tying as I thought."
"Guess you'll need to get some practice out at sea," Prompto teased. "Or get a kinky girlfriend."
"You're the salt of the earth, Prompto," Noctis sighed.
The group continued through the thicket back out to where the battle with Leta and Savio had occurred. Standing amongst the ruins was a veritable horde of Sahagin numbering nearly a hundred by Gladiolus's estimate. In chief position was an especially tall, especially muscular looking specimen, shrieking out to the gathering in its shrill tongue.
Sitting off on the side were Leta and Savio who were tending to their incapacitated leader. Alongside them was another body who appeared to be on her knees. A body cloaked in a green poncho and red sun hat.