"Are you ready, Sera?"
The way he looked at me as he asked such a simple question made me panic. I didn't notice him there, I didn't realize I was no longer alone. His eyes showed so much pain and fear, emotions I understood completely. It's been months since Noctis had been taken by the crystal. Months since the world began to be taken over by darkness. Months since that faithful day on top of the hill. I stared out from the high roof top I sat on. The air was cold and the days were becoming shorter. Dawn had turned to dusk in only a small amount of hours. The view of our sun was coming to an end. We predicted it would last by the end of this week. Which is what brings us to this sudden situation. I could see the people standing patiently, waiting for the announcement we had called them to hear. Half of the city of Lestallum was filled with people from around the nations. I was trying hard to keep my composure. To keep my breathing steady and calm. How could I show my face in front of all these people? I couldn't help but bury my face into my palms. What must they all think of me? I was a coward and hid for months from my duty. They must hate me, it was only logical. Ever since the incident I didn't show myself to the world. I could feel Prompto's presence behind me, the amount of strength he was using not to touch me. Those words repeated inside of me, those awful words I could never forget. "it's all your fault, the king came this far because of you". Then I almost killed myself right after. I have become so delusional, I have imagined my parents to justify my wanting towards death. The image of my parents became too hard to remove, it haunted me. Ardyn...I wonder where you are right now? If you're somewhere watching us, laughing at how pathetic I am right now. I did lead Noctis into that trap. All my visions, where manipulated by you. I was nothing but a puppet. Yet here I remain, the last person with any royal blood in their veins. The one the gods have chosen to become the new Oracle. The only person left to lead the people. Where could I lead them to? Deeper into the darkness. I turned to look at my dear friends. The people who believed in me and stand by my side. Prompto waiting for me to stand in respond of his question. I looked back at the people, the survivors of what we had started. I am a royal, I kept telling myself that. A royal that was looked down upon, called awful names and treated like nothing. I had no right to speak on behalf of those who have passed. King Regis, Lord Ravus and Lady Lunafreta, Noctis...I was nothing compared to them. My light dimmed compared to their shine. I had nothing to offer, nothing to give these people hope. I held onto my necklace tightly. The single blue flower pendant indented into my palm. Noct, is this why you hated it so much? Their eyes on you, the way they expected so much from you. Being a prince was never something you liked, I remember clearly. Yet I never understood why; everyone loved you, unlike me. They thought great things about you and praised you, unlike me. I envied you and Luna so badly, but now I'm so afraid. I hate it! The twisting feeling inside of me, constantly wanting to throw up. Thinking that one false move will be my end. Having to become a strong pillar for the people of the nation. It's so suffocating, so much pressure put on a single person. I'm sorry I didn't see it before, how much stress had piled up on you. How much was forced upon you. We were only children, young teens wanting to have a little fun and freedom. Where did all of that go wrong. I wrapped my arms around my body, it had begun shaking from the cold. How could people I didn't know be so scary. The thought of confrontation, of having to win their trust and support, could I truly do that? Mother...and father, what did you two die for. King Regis, Luna and even lord Ravus, did you really have that much hope in people like us. I was taken aback as I felt a warmness hover over me. The feel of manly arms wrapping around my body. His breath on the back of my ear, so warm. His hair gracing my cheek as he laid his face on my shoulder. He held me so tightly and I felt so safe. Prompto didn't make any noise as he held me. Then I realized he was shaking too. I laid my hands over his, I didn't want him to let go. I felt so selfish, so terrible for I didn't think what the others were feeling. Did it matter what these people thought about me in the past? They just needed a leader, someone that could give them even the smallest ray of hope. I wasn't the only one who was afraid, we all were. I am the Oracle, the last of the royals who remained standing. The outcast of Tenebrae and the survivor of Lucis. I am who I am and they will have to accept that, I will have to accept that. I turned my head slightly and kissed the head that belonged to my dear blondei. He looked up and we stared at each other for a minute. His eyes asked me the question once again. Was I ready? I think I could give him an answer now. Prompto I might never actually be ready, but right now it is my duty to be ready. I'm no longer walking away, that stopped today. He wrapped me in his arms one last time. A quick tight squeeze and a kiss on the forehead to show that he was here with me. We stood up and walked down from the roof top. He led me up to a podium they had set up for me. We walked hand in hand, and I could have sworn I didn't know I had so much strength in me. I knew it hurt him, how tightly I was holding onto him. When I reached the podium and let go of his arm, I felt so vacant. I stood nervously in front of everyone. Their eyes burning into me, they all looked so tired and afraid. I could hear the voices of everyone whispering under their breath. I thought once again how I couldn't do this, but then I heard other voices within me. The many times King Regis and Noctis told me to walk tall. Noctis always yelling at me to look up with pride, because that's what royals do. I couldn't runaway, not anymore. It was time to finally take their advice and stand up to this fear that's been eating me up as a child. I took a deep breath and proceeded to look up at everyone.
"Are you ready, Sera?" Prompto asked once again.
"As ready as I'll ever be" I finally responded.
He stepped down from the podium and joined the guys. Taking another weak breath, it was finally time.
"Everyone..." I was shock at how loud my voice had become. Or at how silent everyone was. "Thank you all for coming here today. Many of you might not have the slightest idea of who I am. You must all be terrified at the fact that a woman like me is all you have left. I am Seraphina Evaden Kallisto, of the Kallisto family. I am the last royal that remains" they whispered among each other, I didn't bother to think of what they were saying. "Thank you to all that are listening in, who could not make it. The reason for this is to inform you all of a prediction concerning our light. The days have grown shorter and we believe that by the end of this week, that will be the last we see of our sun" They all began to panic. "The energy will soon be running out and the last place that will remain standing any longer will be here in Lestallum. We are setting up for refugees as we speak and getting ready until then..."
I turned over to the guys, they looked at me proudly. Yet I could feel the fear in everyone around me. The fear that I caused and I wanted to do something about it. I needed to make them trust me. Yet as I spoke the words I have practice so many times. The words Ignis had assured me would work, I felt no change in our people. I looked over and couldn't escape the glares of the kingsglaives. They were sweet people to me as a child, but now they stared at me with great disappointment. I began to step back slowly from the podium. They stared questionable as I stood beside it now. My hand softly sliding off and drifting down to my side. It was a rather quick motion as I bowed down in an apologetic manner.
"I'M SORRY!" I yelled out, my voice quivering. "I'm so sorry..."
"Sera..." I looked from the corner of my eye as Prompto tried to reach over to me. He was stopped right away by Ignis. I stood back up tall and stared at the people before me.
"This is all my fault" I could hear their confusions and some showing their shock. "I was the prophet, I was to lead the king to the light. But I became clouded and manipulated so easily by the dark, I was weak. Everyone put their trust in me. My father, my mother...and my dear friends. I let you all down...still I want to fight. For a long time I wasn't very loved as a royal. I always thought to myself, what's the point in trying. I have no reason to keep such a title. Honestly I wanted to run and hide, and I did until now. I always kept everything to myself, I was always afraid that people wouldn't want me around anymore. I don't want to hide, I don't want to run. I...uhhh..."
I felt myself begin to shake. The guys slowly walked over to my side in reassurance. I let out the only smile I could manage.
"I have spent so much time with wonderful people. People who have taught me that I belong. Yet I have lied and kept secrets from them. I was very ill as a child and my father would do just about anything to keep me from dying. I had darkness coursing through my veins, the blood of daemons keeping me alive. It was because of this weakness that I was used by the enemy"
People let out gasp and I closed my eyes. I couldn't look at them, I didn't deserve to. I felt a warm hand tangle itself with mine. The tight hold of Prompto, kept me calm as always.
"I had been cleanse by our gods. I am no longer the prophet, but your next oracle. Lady Lunafreya and King Noctis had entrusted everything to me. I intend to see it all through. To fight until our King resurfaces our world. It will be a long and hard journey ahead, and I need the help of all of you. We are no longer separated by nations or race. We all are afraid and we all must protect one another. I stand here asking for your forgiveness and for your strength. I wish to fight beside all of you and show those daemons that this is our land. We will not give up, we will not surrender. We will fight till our last breaths" I had gotten all their eyes on me and I let out a deep breath. I stared at the Kingsglaives that lend a listening ear. "For heart and home"
I squeezed tightly into Prompto's hand. No one was moving, or saying anything. I was nervous and honestly felt like crying. But after a couple of minutes it soon began. The glaives clapped and cheered in agreement of my speech. I let out a deep breath and threw myself into Prompto's arms. I was shaking, but I was happy that my words had come across to everyone. He held me tightly and dug his face into my neck, whispering what a good job I just did into my ear. They all came up in order to talk to their new Oracle and Kings retainers. We began to speak of a plan. I was highly thankful that Prompto did not let go of me, it was as if he refused. I began to imagine that his hold was probably the only thing keeping me up. Ignis and Gladio handled all of the glaives with such ease. I was only the image they needed, a person of high standards. Yet I figured these men and women didn't really need any of that. In reality I would think this was a way for the guys to test me. To get me back to my hopeful self and save me from the despair I was drowning in. Prompto lead me away from the crowd and towards the energy building at the back of Lestallum. I always admired the beauty of the light crystals. They were huge and so far from human reach, yet they always stood out to the human eye. That was of course before they began to dim. It was heart clenching looking at the low lighted crystals. The sun was setting over at the horizon. It split into many directions when it's light hit the crystals. It soon shined at my face and the warmth made my body shiver in content. I wrapped my arms around my body and thought about how cold Noctis must be. I remember full well the feeling of darkness. It felt isolated and freezing to the core. The crystal is not darkness, but it also was not filled with warm light either.
Years passed as we fought for our lives. Daemons roamed the streets every hour of the day. We had begun to lose track of time. What day was it now? What hour or minute? We no longer had seasons as the air stayed permanently cold. The trees and grass dry out and never grown again. People have come from across the map to find refugee in a safe place. The Kingsglaives and I fought to restore more energy around safe zones. We expanded ourselves around the map. Checking on each others well being every couple of weeks. Ignis and Gladio stayed close together. As for Prompto and I we stayed together as well, but split up from time to time. He didn't like it, when I would go off with the glaives by myself. Still it had to be done, for the fight to bring back the light. Yet after so long we've finally come back together. We have chosen to wait for our kings return. We have taken refuge at hammerhead and protected the people that now surrounded the area. It wasn't that I saw a vision, I just had a strong feeling that this was the place we would see our dear friend again.
"Hey..." Prompto greeted me quietly. "Looking up at the stars again?"
"Yeah, the last of the remaining light. The moon and the stars...The light never really leaves us, as long as we stand and fight together"
"You've really gotten into this whole leading the people thing, huh?"
"It is my duty"
"Have you ever wanted to abandon your duty?"
"Prom...what are you saying?"
"Haha..." He laughed nervously. "I'm not saying to do it, i'm just asking...have you ever wanted to?"
"I have in the pass. It's all I ever dreamed of, actually. It's all I ever did, but I can't do that now. I'm the only one left and the world needs me. It has finally accepted me"
"And at what cost!?" His voice raised unexpectedly. I couldn't help looking at him with shock. "We lost so many. Everyone is suffering..."
"We're all working hard, including you"
"It's been ten years now...Don't you wish we could settle down? Have a home, a family..."
"I see..."
"Haven't you ever dreamed of that?"
"This world is too dangerous for that right now. As long as we fight, perhaps one day, those dreams could come true. It's just not the right time"
"It's been years...I wonder if Noctis is really coming back"
"You of all people should not lose hope in him...The heart of the crystal, wherein lies the soul of the star. It is in that place the king will gain the power to fulfill his calling"
"Is that what you've seen?"
"The covenant has awaken and the six have seen the prophesied hour. We shall stand against the darkness and abide in hope. Sustained by faith unfaltering that our king shall arise and bring deliverance...you have to believe in Noct"
"How much longer will we have to wait. I miss him, I just want to see him again"
"As so do I and the guys as well. That is why we fight every day. It's all for a chance to see him again. He'll come back to us, I know he will. We're almost there, just a little while longer"
"Are we really that close to seeing him again?"
"Once the crystal sheds the entirety of it's light onto the ring, only then can the king complete his ascension"
As I was speaking I haven't noticed the change in me. I was caught off guard as Prompto whipped at my cheek.
"You're crying"
"For some reason I just really want to tell you...How much I love you, Prompto"
"I love you too, but why are you saying it like a goodbye"
We have worked on each other in these many years. We kept one another together, barely leaving each others side. I questioned what he meant when he asked about a family. I thought back to all the children we have saved. To the ones we had to take in due to terrible loses. A family, we had one already. Me, him, the guys and all the people that have stood by our side. Everything we had worked for would be payed off. The time was coming, I could feel it. The feeling that made me want to tell him everything. The feeling of knowing everything we worked for would be taken away. It was our destiny to fight until the very end. Yet hearing Prompto's words, I wanted to run away once more. I watched from the roof top as people returned from a hunt or prepared to leave for one. The children telling them goodbye and trying their best to help the hunters prepare. I imagined how great he was with those kids. How amazing a family would have been, but our family was already crumbling down. He saw that perfectly well and it terrified me. I turned back to the night sky and it was then when I noticed it. The bright like coursing through the stars. One brightly illuminating from a simple place. I grabbed a hold of Prompto as I lead his attention away from the sight. His eyes that ounces shined were so dimmed. Looking into them, I couldn't have thought of a better time for Noctis to show up. I leaned forwards and kissed him. I didn't know what type of kiss it was. A kiss of joy? A kiss goodbye? I just felt that I had to do it. To remind him of how much I have began to love him one more time. Of how thankful I am of him for standing by my side.
"You taught me what love truly is" I cried once more. "Thank you"
"What's wrong Sera?"
"It's time..."
"Time for what?"
"I do want a family. A home to call our own. If we survive promise me we'll have that"
"Of course we will..." I kissed him once more before standing up.
"I'm going to go check on the children" I walked off the rooftop without another word.
As I reached the ground floor I looked up at Prompto. He sat there staring in wonder, as so did the others. The time we have been waiting for was finally upon us. I turned at the sound of a low bark. Umbra, lady Lunafreyas trusted companion sat before me. It whimpered at me as I knelled down to him. I took a sheet of paper and pen that I have been holding on to all night. I scribbled the words that we will be waiting in Hammerhead.