XXV

Home

"...And then we travelled back to Atherna, since it was closer and faster for us to reach on our own, where Captain Cid and engineer Valan agreed to fly us back to Lucis." Noctis swallowed, his throat dry from talking continually for so long. The Councilmen stared at him, their expressions rather blank despite all they had just heard. The Prince tried to straighten, to keep his presence and rightful air of authority around him, but he was too weary to manage even that.

After they had returned home, the Crystal was immediately restored before anything else was allowed to happen. Lucis had actually been in better condition than they expected. Thanks to the efforts of the King and the Councilmen, negotiations had begun with their neighbours, ensuring the safety of their people despite the powers of Lucis dwindling away to nothing. There was even talk now of the cold war coming to an end. Noctis would only believe that when it happened, however, and did not let himself get caught up in the hope for the future he had dreamed of for so long.

When their Crystal was restored to its rightful home, the power had drained from Noctis, returning back to what it used to be before the remnant of the fal'Cie had shattered. The Crystal had hung there, silent once more. There was no more voice of Niveus with him to keep him company. Ever since leaving the Underworld, she had been quiet. No matter how much he called out to her, she would not respond. That new weight of sorrow and confusion added to his already weary state. Coupling on not being allowed to rest before giving his report made him feel like he was now going to fall asleep on his feet.

Noctis blinked his drowsiness away, keeping his gaze emotionless as long as he was pitted against the Councilmen. It was hard enough for him to believe all they had gone through, he did not want to think about how hard it would be for those who were not there to believe or even understand. The Prince could feel the gazes of the old men boring into him. It was always one matter he dreaded having to deal with whenever he took the throne: dealing with these men in the near-sterile room on a much more regular basis.

"That is quite the tale," said the King after a moment of silence. With a sigh, he leaned forward and rested his chin against his laced fingers. "Almost impossible to comprehend. But our Crystal is restored, and Creon and his followers are dead. However, the Obruo and any other experiments may still be troubling. Since Moriens Valley is not part of our kingdom, we will have to enter further negotiations to see that they are not misused. The ones inside that factory can wait for now."

"They should be destroyed!" called out one of the Councilmen.

"That would be a waste! Not only are they a part of history, they could be useful tools when used correctly."

"Tools? From what I've heard, they are weapons. These Obruo could wind up lengthening the cold war despite all our recent efforts, or very well turn it into a full-blown war."

Voices rose as the Councilmen began to argue over the Obruo they had only heard of. Even the matter of what should be done about Erebus arose. Noctis closed his eyes and tried to block them out, hoping to keep the imposing headache at bay. Arguing. Was this all these men were good for? To think decisions that affected every single one of his people came from such arguments.

"Prince Noctis." The strong voice of King Regis easily rose above the others, causing the Council Room to fall silent. "Is that all there is to your report?" Noctis looked up, barely able to keep eye contact with the King before lowering his gaze and nodding. That was all he had to say to the ruler of Lucis and the Councilmen about the events of the last several months. "Then you may be excused." A sigh of relief was muffled as it escaped through his nose, the Prince trying to keep it from being to audible. "Wait outside for me. There are some personal matters I wish to discuss with you once I finish here."

Holding back a groan, for Noctis simply wanted to rest now, he bowed low. "Certainly, my liege." Shivers crawled up his spine as he turned his back on Regis and the Councilmen. Their gazes were always so judging. He would rather be back in the Underworld with the curious gazes of morbid fascination from the dead souls on him than be forced to deal with the Councilmen again soon.

Massive doors opened before him and the Prince took his leave of the sterile room that brought him nothing but discomfort. They closed behind him, sealing away his tension within. Burying his face behind his hands, Noctis found the nearest wall and leaned against it for support. How he just wanted to curl up on his bed now and rest. But he would not be allowed to find sleep just yet while the King yet wished to speak to him. A request from Regis was never one to cast aside.

To help keep himself awake, Noctis began to pace around, following the path he created of a loose circle. It would wobble, becoming more elliptical at some points, but always remained circular. When even that action began to lull him to sleep, the constant action being rhythmic to a point where it became counterproductive to what he desired, Noctis ceased and stood in place. He did not have to worry about falling asleep on his feet for long, for the doors finally opened to allow Regis through.

Noctis cleared his throat and bowed curtly to his father. Regis eyed him, the gaze not at all comforting. "Follow me." Short and to the point, Regis' voice was firm in his command as always, even when it came it matters with his son. From all his years of upbringing, Noctis jumped to attention and fell into pace behind his father. They walked through the halls of the building, Regis' speed a bit faster than Noctis would have liked at that time. But still he kept in tow of the King.

Eventually, they wound up outside, but even then they did not stop. Noctis stared at the city around them, glad to see it was not in the ruined state he had feared to witness. People continued to live, and that was what mattered most to him.

"No guards?" asked Noctis, suddenly being assaulted by a unsuspecting yawn. Raising a hand, he quickly tried to mask it and was not at all successful. While Noctis did not enjoy having more people around him, for he had always been confident in his powers, to a fault, and did not feel he needed the extra protection flanking him while on his own, seeing the King without some sort of protection was a rare sight.

"Your powers are strong enough," the King answered easily. "Plus, while I do not have the same abilities as you, I'm not a weak old man just yet." Something akin to a laugh came from Regis. Noctis raised a hand to his ear, surprised to hear such a sound. When he looked to his father, the Prince had to rub his eyes and shake his head. He must be becoming delirious from his lack of sleep, for he just saw the King smirk, and the King never smirked, let alone give an amused smirk.

Falling silent, Noctis remained by the King's side. People that passed by and recognized who the two were immediately bowed before continuing on their way. The Prince could only manage numb nods in return. Even with the noise from the traffic, Noctis was still on the brink of sleep. How much farther did they have to walk? How could this be considered a personal matter to the King? The Prince only thinned his lips, never quite able to understand what inner workings went on behind his father's thoughts.

Startled to attention, Noctis backed up after nearly colliding with his father who had come to a stop. He stared at Regis who was focused on something in the distance. Noctis followed his father's gaze, and saw the top of the Crystal's Temple. It rested there, back in its proper home. This was where he had stood, what now felt like a lifetime ago, for a moment before racing towards that Temple in the Crystal's defence. He would do it all again in a heartbeat.

"There is a legend of the Crystal, passed down through the royal families for our ears only." The King started slowly, his voice much calmer and quieter than Noctis ever remembered hearing it, yet it still could command the attention of a full room even now if needed. "It speaks of the soul of our Crystal, of the life within it. Even back when the other Crystals were in existence, our ancestors knew that ours was special, that it was alive in such a way that was different from the rest. It is that soul that decides to protect us, to continue to defend our kingdom and the lives within. And, in return, it is that soul we protect. It was never clear why ours was different, or where this soul came from—perhaps a being from an age long since passed. Whoever it is, it is said that she only showed herself to those she trusts the most during times of great need. This was something I would have told you when you were older, Noctis." The Prince could not help but snort lightly at that remark. Even now, as old as he already was, his father still treated him like a child most of the time. "But you already know this now. You probably know more than any legend I would have passed down to you contained."

Noctis gasped and looked to his father who still stared at the Temple, almost longingly. Unlike the Prince, Regis had not been chosen by the Crystal, he was not a Protector, not a l'Cie. All he knew of that life was what the legends and the tales from the Protectors told.

"The Crystal was with you on your journey. And not just metaphorically."

Casting his gaze down, Noctis swallowed. It had been the discussion between him and his friends on the ride home, whether or not Niveus should be revealed.

"What will happen to our Crystal now?" asked Prompto. His gaze looked at them searchingly in turn, unable to hide the worry he felt.

"It'll be restored." Gladiolus crossed his arms and huffed. "Simple."

A sigh came from the blond as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "No, no. I mean what will happen to Niveus? What will happen to her when we return home?"

"That's still simple! She's...she's part of the Crystal... A remnant of Osana..." Even their scarred friend still seemed to have a hard time wrapping his head around that notion. Unlike Noctis, none of them had seen her return to her true state with their own eyes. They only had Noctis' word to go by. "She'll be put back into place. That's that..."

"No. It's no longer so simple," remarked Ignis. "Prompto is right to be concerned. The same concern for Niveus exists now as it did before: she may still be experimented on, our Crystal or not. They may seek to learn more about her and the fal'Cie that once existed."

"Then we just...don't tell them," stated Noctis. His raised his sight, daring his friends to challenge his opinion. "As far as the Councilmen are concerned, they need only know that our Crystal was restored and that the ancient fal'Cie are completely dead. They don't need to know of Niveus." His thoughts drifted back to what Madame Akemi told of Niveus' future, how she had none. Though her time as Niveus had ended, he still vowed one thing: "We keep her future safe."

And so the plan was devised to erase Niveus from their accounts.

It was tricky. They had to make sure all their stories were the same before returning to Lucis, for they knew they would each be questioned separately. It was that factor that made it feel much more like an interrogation than a simple retelling of events. But the friends, and even Cid and Valan, for that matter, swore not to speak of Niveus. Other matters were left out as well as a result, like Chinoka and the people she still protected, and their entire discussion with the Goddess Etro.

Yet, here was Regis, able to take what had been altered and the knowledge he held, and was able to discern the truth to an extent. Noctis bit his bottom lip and cast his gaze down. Keeping secrets from his father, from the King, would not end well.

"Though the fal'Cie are long since dead, part of Osana lives on in our Crystal. It was her that was with us on our journey to collect the shards. Even when shattered, she still helped us, to the very depths of the Underworld itself." Noctis still kept his gaze averted. It was the partial truth, and enough of it that it should satisfy the King.

It was selfish, much more so than he wanted to admit to himself, but Noctis wanted to keep the knowledge of Niveus between him, his friends, and those who had happened to cross paths with her. The Niveus he knew had been shaped by the experiences they had shared; and it was only those memories of the time spent together that now kept her alive. He did not want to share them, to share her, with anyone else.

"Tell me, Noct, did you see her while you were there in the Underworld?" Noctis stared at his father, not knowing which to attempt to comprehend first: why Regis would be interested in whether or not he saw Niveus in the Underworld, or why, all of a sudden, Regis called Nocts by his nickname. Noctis was only ever able to see Regis as the King. Sometimes he would refer to the man as his father, but that was more to save face when around many people. Regis never felt like a dad to Noctis any more. In turn, Regis always called Noctis as Prince, his full name, rarely as son, but never by his nickname.

Pushing that aside, Noctis pondered over why Regis had asked about her, about Niveus. Though the King now knew that part of Osana's soul had been with them, he still did not know of Niveus. There was no reason why he should be asking about her sighting in the Underworld. No reason, so why had he? Noctis furrowed his brow, unable to read his father's mask of a face. While the expression gave nothing away, Regis' eyes, upon closer inspection when he looked to his son, did betray his true feelings, his sorrow and his yearning.

It was then Noctis realized he had been completely mistaken in thinking that his father had been referring to Niveus. She was the Queen of Lucis, Noctis' mother, Regis' wife.

"No," answered Noctis. Of the many faces he remembers seeing in the Underworld, in any of the different places, his mother's had not been among them. He suddenly felt guilty when he saw the look of pain break past the King's mask for a second. While Noctis felt the grasp on the memories of his mother slowly fading away, his father did not suffer the same fate. It was clear from that single expression that the King of Lucis still loved his Queen, and held his memories of her close. "I didn't see her there." The Prince bit his bottom lip, the thought of her somewhere in the tormented land with the tortured souls unsettling his stomach. But she had always been so kind, the likes of her did not deserve to be in such a place like that.

Regis placed a hand over his face. Noctis felt uncomfortable, it was strange to see his father so raw. Emotions were never on the King's sleeves for the rest of their kingdom or others to see. He always stayed strong, a rock of stability for those looking on. "I'm glad you're not in the Underworld, Noct." Sighing to push away his uncontrolled emotions, Regis reached out and placed a steady hand on Noctis' shoulder. Unused to such a gesture from his father, the Prince nearly pulled away. Instead, he managed to accept his father's touch. "I wouldn't..." Regis even faltered with his words, another event that never occurred. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you as well."

Noctis felt his throat tighten. Ever since his mother's death, this was the first time his father showed so much concern for Noctis and his life. Nodding, he glanced down, no longer able to hold Regis' gaze with all the paternal feeling swelling behind those eyes. "Me too...dad..."

Regis' hand slipped from Noctis' shoulder, and his mask was put back up, suddenly seeming like he was standing three inches taller. "You need your rest now, Prince Noctis. Return home, sleep, and don't worry about anything tomorrow." Before Noctis could even thank his father, a car came to a stop beside them with nothing more than a simple hand gesture from the King. The Prince smirked a little; of course his father would always have someone nearby.

As soon as Noctis got into the dark car and closed the door, he nearly fell asleep right on the seat. Regis did not join his son in the ride home. The driver was silent, letting nothing but the radio being the only noise to fill the vehicle. It was a news station, discussing the matter of the Crystal's restoration. Noctis tuned out the voices over the radio as he gazed out of the tinted window, savouring the sight of Lucis as he traversed its streets. It was safe, for now.

Noctis was quiet when he was dropped off at the old castle. Guards and others that also worked there greeted him, but he did not even nod in return. He weaved his way through the ornate halls, shutting off his phone as he went. He wanted rest, and no disturbances. When he entered his room, Noctis breathed out in content. He was finally home; now he could rest.

A loud yawn escaped him as he threw off his clothes, not caring at all about hanging them up neatly. They littered the floor in a rough line towards his bed. Rays of the setting sun (that would actually set) temporarily woke him up as he passed through them while sitting down on his bed. Light glinted up at him, reminding him of the one thing he still wore.

Niveus' necklace now hung from his neck rather than hers, normally remaining hidden under his clothes. The blue gem now looked like a lifeless stone, no longer carrying the pulsing light within like it used to hold. It saddened him, to see it like that, but it was still a part of her—the one physical piece he could keep with him that kept her close.

Noctis grasped the crystal of Niveus' necklace between his fingers. Holding it up to the window that let in the evening light, it glimmered in the dying rays of the sun, regaining some of its previous life-filled glow for a moment, even if it was merely an illusion. Staring at its simple beauty, he managed to smile.

"Can you hear me, Niveus...? Do you listen still?" He rotated the shard around, letting the light refract through it in different ways as he awaited a response. Even now, only silence met his calls. Despite that, he still had hope. Just because she could not answer him now did not mean she never would. "Thank you..." he whispered into his hand as he brought the shard back and let it hang from his neck once again. For all she had done, for all she would still do, he thanked her from the bottom of his heart.

His eyelids now felt like lead weights and he could no longer leave them open. With a deep sigh, he fell back against his bed, the mattress, pillows, and sheets feeling almost too soft for him now. Noctis welcomed the sleep that washed over him, for it was in those distant lands of dreams that he knew he would be able to see her again. Even if it was just a manifestation of his memories that lasted but for a fleeting moment that somehow felt like a lifetime, he would be happy as long as she was there.

For Noctis would never forget the time he had spent with the soul behind their Crystal—the time he had spent with Niveus.

FINEM

A/N:

2 years, 1 month,

25 chapters,

215,943 words,

Lux Crystallis has come to its end.

I can hardly believe it's actually reached its end. What started off as a simple little story I wanted to write in anticipation for the game somehow became this. I never thought I would love this story as much as I do now, and am saddened for it to have reached its conclusion. But everything must come to an end.

To everyone who has read this story, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I didn't expect such warm love for this story; all your words and views kept me going and helped the story reach this point. An even bigger thank you to those that have been reading this since the first chapter was posted, and to those that joined us through the story's progress. You have stuck through this with me, and so we made it here together. And to those that have started reading after its completion, thank you for taking a look at this story and deciding to read through till the end!

I really can't thank you all enough.

On a serious note, would anyone be interested in a sequel to this story? I've had some ideas in my head for one already, and if I get enough people wanting one, I would definitely try to work out the plan for a sequel that's as good as this, or (hopefully) better. Granted, this wouldn't happen for a while since I have other stories to write now, but I would definitely see to it happening. So please let me know if you'd like to see a sequel or not, either in reviews or through PMs.

If you have any questions about this story, feel free to ask me. Just keep in mind that all of this was made when there was not so much information available on the game, so I'm sure many things will be "disproved" once the game is released, but I will explain how it all related in my story.

I...do believe that's all I have to say. So, thank you all!