Cor bid farewell to Sylva and Prompto, and sent a quick text to Ventus to know if he and Clarus could talk. Ventus replied with their location and Cor quickly made his way to the royal adviser's office where it was beside the King's own office. The Marshall knocked on the door once before opening it without waiting for an answer. ''How is his Majesty?'' Clarus asked in way of greeting as his fellow crownsguard entered.
Cor chuckled striding to drop down in a chair beside the larger man, he glanced at the table where an empty glass stood beside a bottle of whisky. He poured himself a glass as he answered, ''Napping with his son.'' Clarus was drinking from his own glass as Cor answered his question and the words made him choke as he slammed the glass down on the table between them before exploding in laughter. Ventus as briefly meet the woman at the welcoming part held in honor of her son but had spent most of his time with Lance.
Cor laughed, lifting his drink up in a toast, '' To Sylva, wrangled of overworked kings!'' Clarus grinned and raised his own glass to join in on the toast before both man took a long drink of the whisky. Ventus looked at both man, he had been told about the matriarch of the Argentum family and had looked into her past when the question of the family living in the Citadel had been brought up and yet there was obviously something that reports couldnt explain if she had such a strong impact on the 2 man who carried the responsibility of the King's safety.
The royal adviser listened as Cor told them about the busy afternoon and how Sylva had managed to get Regis to do exactly what she wanted him to do. Clarus' laughter continued as the shield imagined the various expression that would have been on his charge's face. Ventus waited until Cor had ended his tale before asking, '' You said you had something important to discuss?'' The light mood changed instantly, as Cor straightened in the chair, putting away the drink and moving to give Ventus the reports he had picked up from his office.
''Niflheim has started to move a lot of funds into the exclusive control of Verstael and the new Chancellor Izunia. My spies have not found what this latest project is but considering the Emperor has moved almost half of their normal fund to that particular project, I think we can safely assume its something big and dangerous for Lucis.'' Ventus took the report, quickly looking through it. ''This is very worrying indeed. Its been over a decade since Verstael's project was started and the arrival of Ardyn Izunia in the political world of the Empire and yet we have no more of an idea on what is being researched or built by them.''
Clarus rose up to walk over to his friends, ''We need to find out what's going on in Zegnautus Keep. '' Ventus rasing his eyes to stare at Clarus, '' And how would you suggest we do that? None of our spies have been able to get into the Keep at all since its construction and there have been no Niflheim defectors that have had any knowledge concerning what goes on inside.'' He sighed heavily, feeling a headache start.
Cor nodded, '' I think the only thing to do at this point is simply keep an eye on the movement to and from the Keep and see if we can figure out what is going on from what is brought in and the garbage that is sent out.'' Ventus and Clarus both frowned, unhappy at the suggestion but knowing that Cor was correct. While they were currently at peace with the Empire, that peace was tentative at best and any number of things could restart the long and costly war.
The two soldiers left soon after, biding the adviser a good evening before making their way back to their respective home. Cor was halfway to his apartment when he had a sudden inspiration. The Marshall sent a quick message to Ventus, asking the man to grant Sylva access to all the research about the Crystal and its magic. The nurse's argument with his King about the burden the Wall placed on his old friend had him thinking that Sylva might have thought about something that others had overlooked. It wouldnt surprise him considering her ability to think up wild but workable ideas at the snap of a finger. To see it apply to her current profession rather then simply pranks would surely be impressive and worth the effort. Ventus was a bit puzzled but agreed to it once Cor explained himself.
The rest of the week passed by quickly as the King found himself filled with energy and able to follow the meetings with more ease then he remembered from the past year. That meant that he was able to do more work, dragging Ventus and Clarus around with him from meeting to meeting. He took Clarus' teasing about his new found energy with good natured grace; Regis knew he owed the nurse Sylva an apology and thanks for her help and advice.
Noctis was also feeling much better since that afternoon, waking up to the sight of his father napping beside him with a rarely seen worry free expression on his face and been a welcomed shock. He had spent the time waiting for his dad to wake up thinking about Prompto, Ignis and Gladio, worrying about how they would act now that he had told him all his worries and fears. When he had been woken up by Ignis the next morning, after a full evening with his dad and no talk of work or duties, with a soft touch and a smile; the prince realised how foolish his worries had been.
Ignis had spent the evening with Gladio, doing some much needed research into chronic pain and back injuries, feeling guilty for not having done so before hand. Between both of them, they were able to come up with various ways of helping the prince lessen the burden on his body. Ignis vowed to keep track of Noctis' good and bad days and see if he could find a pattern of behaviors or things that would either increase or decrease his pain. He greeted the prince the next morning with a soft touch and a smile, having brought up the temperature of the bedroom to a bit higher then normal and asked Noctis how he was feeling that morning. The Prince's schedule didnt need to be changed by much, Ignis had simply added some extra breaks throughout the day to allow the prince to stretch at regular intervals. The future adviser did make a point of asking the prince how he was more often, asking for more details about his pain level as the days went by.
Ignis even took the time to go talk with Mrs Sylva as she went about her job at the infirmary. Sylva listened to his questions and answer them as fully as she was able too. When Ignis had a question she couldnt answer, she helped the younger boy to find someone who could. She freely praised the teenager for his questions and interest in caring for his charge, leaving Ignis blushing as he left the infirmary to go to his lessons or to join Noctis.
Gladio had joined Ignis in his research, feeling equally guilty about his disregard for the young boy's previous injury while he had been training said boy. While Ignis looked into the details of chronic pain and back injuries, Gladiolus spent most of his evening looking through physiotherapy books and training books for people with limited movements. The more he read, the more he found himself stunned at how Noctis had been able to keep up with his expectations when he was also dealing with the left overs of a serious back injury. He felt anger rise both towards the stubborn prince who had not complained about the pain the training caused, only his boredom and dislike of it, and towards himself for not noticing or even thinking that the prince might be dealing with chronic pain. Gladio should have known or at least considered it when his own father dealt with the leftover of an injury to his sword arm during his trip with the King to Accordo. The trainer borrowed a pen and some paper from Ignis and started planning his new training regiment for the prince based on the suggestions he found for various things that would improve or at least not increase the pain felt from such chronic injury.
Prompto found the week to be peaceful as he was drawn into a schedule set up by Ignis and Gladio. Every morning while eating breakfast, the boy would text them a cheerful good morning. Within the hour, either Ignis or Gladio would arrive at his apartment to bring him to spend some time with Noctis before the prince had his lessons. Prompto had found himself following the prince to his lessons about various subjects. While the tutors werent happy by the sudden addition of the clueless commoner in their tutoring; Noctis found having Prompto around to help him learn more then he could have manged by himself. The blond boy was a constant source of questions and energy, asking questions that Noct wouldnt have dare do himself for fear of being looked down upon by his teachers. When the morning tutoring was done, Noctis would bring Prompto to one of the gardens and be joined by Ignis and Gladio for a picnic lunch if the weather allowed it. When Prompto had to go to his physio session, Cor had joined the boys, bringing the King, Clarus and Ventus to join in.
The afternoon was divided by more tutoring and training for Noctis while Prompto would go read in the library until his parents were done with their work. The boys' evenings were often spent in the Prince's quarter playing games all together even if Ignis spent mos of that time working on his lessons. Prompto had been able to convince him to join in on the games quite a few times, to the cheers of the other 2.
Sylva and Lance had no problem starting their new jobs. easily falling into the new pace of things that was more then welcomed to the small family as it allowed both adults to be there for supper with their son. They had no problems allowing Prompto to enjoy his days surrounded by his new friends and seeing the young boy be more involved and outgoing. A few days after her sudden mothering of the King, Sylva was visited by the royal adviser late one afternoon just before she was leaving to return to her home
Ventus Scientia arrived bearing a box filled with various documents and files. the man dropped it unto her desk and offered the nurse a grin. '' Cor has spoken highly of you and has asked me to give you these.'' He motioned to the files. Sylva rose up and tookk the one of the top for a closer look, her eyes widening in surprise as she read the title, 'Resume on the Crystal's effect on human body and the royal line' Ventus nodding to her wordless question. '' These are all of the King's health files, all the tests done throughout the years as well as those of the prince's. In addition you will find documents pertaining to the Crystal and its magic. Cor has told me of your argument with the King and believes that this may prove useful to your interest in his health and continued well being.'' Sylva grinned, her eyes shining in excitement and she thanked the adviser for his trust before diving right into the files. That night, she arrived back home late, with a tired but thoughtful expression as she was greeted without a word by her husband.
By the end of the week, the atmosphere of the Citadel had changed quite a bit as all the staff and members of the various councils noticed the renewed energy and concentration that followed the King and his son as they went about their days. On friday evening, Noctis went to find his father, bringing with him some of Ignis' snacks. He knocked politely and waited for his father to answer him before entering the office. His father was leaning back on his chair, reading reports. Regis put them aside as he noticed his son enter, '' Is everything alright Noctis?'' Noct approached his father, nodding and then extending the box of snacks to him. '' Do you want some?'' he offered.
Regis chuckled, putting way the reports to turn his attention to his son. The young boy looked a lot better then a month ago, a small smile resting on his lips easily replacing the apathetic expression the prince used to wear. '' Some of Ignis'?'' he reached into the box to take on of the pastries out and taking a quick bite. Noctis nodded and made himself comfortable beside his father. '' I was thinking... Can we invite Prompto and his family to eat with us on sunday?'' Regis glanced at his son, pondering the suggestion. The King had been trying to find a proper way to thank and apologize to Prompto's mother since he had realised how much the simple evening off had helped him recover from his exhaustion.
He finished swallowing the tasteful treat before answering, ''That is a wonderful idea, Noctis.'' The proud father reaching over to teasingly mess up his son's hair with a chuckle. ''Shall it be an official invitation?'' Noctis hurried to shake his head side to side as he said, '' No! Prompto hates that kind of thing.'' Regis chuckled again and reassured his son, '' Thats fine. I suggest you extend the invitation then.'' He spent a bit more time talking with his son before Ignis came to pick the prince up as it was a bit late.