Author's Note: Yep! I'm still writing Momentis. I finished one of the 5 stories I had to write. (One has been on a back burner since 1997!) So I sat down and found some time to write a short chapter/scene. Before I lost my job. Yeah, sucks. Not the job. I could have gladly quit that particular job. But we just lost the majority of our income. That sucks. Well, don't have to go to bed early now, do I?
Momentis
Part V: The Beginning of the End
A New Routine
by Philippe de la Matraque
Ignis signed the last document of the day, then leaned back and rubbed his hands over his face. There was so much more to organize now, more to administrate. Even with Bina handling half of it, he was tired. It didn't help that his so-called coffee was getting cold. He couldn't stomach it cold and he need the caffeine. He was up early every day since the attack, just to get some quiet training on his own in before he started the day. Then, before dinner, he trained with Cor or one of the Glaive. Although that was getting harder and harder to set up. They claimed he hurt their confidence. If a blind man could beat them day after day...
Ignis wasn't about to ease up or apologize. Blind or not, he was going to fight at Noctis's side. He had to be ready, to stay ready.
There was a soft knock on the door. "Mr. Ignis, Miss Bina," Mikael said, "one more visitor. This is Castor Venda. He's been chosen to represent the residents of the north residence."
The north residence housed mainly factory workers and their families. Ignis sat up straight then stood and offered his hand. Mr. Venda shook it and Bina offered him a seat. "What can we help the north residence with this evening, Mr. Venda?" she asked.
Venda cleared his throat. "The attack was months ago. Nothing has happened since. We work long hours in the factories, making things that bring a little civilization back to the world. Those of us who decided to be fighters are doing that full-time now. The rest of us still have to spend two hours four times a week training. We're not an army. We can't all be fighters."
Ignis had sat back down. He steepled his fingers in front of him. "We understand that, Mr. Venda, and we don't expect everyone to be fighters. Thirty-six people have contracted the scourge since Ardyn's attack three and a half months ago. Twenty-nine of those people contracted it in our streets here in Lestallum. Only eight of those people were fighters. I don't need you to be an army. But I do expect everyone to be able to fight for their own lives and the lives of their families should our defense forces fall short as we did on that day."
"Do you think there'll be another attack like that?" Venda asked.
Ignis could hear a hint of fear in his voice. But he didn't intend to sugar-coat it. "It could. Ardyn Izunia has as much magic as the line of Lucii did, maybe more. He can just appear anywhere on his whim alone. And he can bring a host of enemies with him. We must all be vigilant. We must all be ready. And it's not that he hasn't been busy outside our gates. Hunting has been greatly curtailed due to the dangers. Surely you've noticed almost all the meat served is now seafood."
"How-how long is this supposed to last?" the man asked.
Ignis hated that question. If only he knew! "Until the King returns and defeats him."
"It's been nearly eight years since the world went dark. Are you sure he's coming back at all?"
Oh, I am more sure than anyone other than Ardyn at this point. "I am. I was there when the Crystal took him in. As were Gladiolus Amicitia and Prompto Argentum. And Ardyn, himself.
"Then I hope he returns soon," Venda finally said.
"As do we all," Bina replied.
"I understand that extra training is an extra burden," Ignis told him. "But Ardyn changed things that day. He's impatient now and that makes him that much more dangerous. I assure you that every healthy adult has the same requirement for training. Including the staff here in Administration, myself included."
Venda sighed, then leaned forward and stood. Ignis offered his hand again and Venda took it. "I wasn't sure, you know, back then, that you were the right man to lead us. I haven't always agreed with you. But you have always been fair, open to criticism, and well, a damn fine leader in the worst of times." He finally released Ignis's hand and Bina led him out.
Ignis tidied his desk, then he bent and picked up his bag.
"You weren't lying," Bina teased. "Who's your training partner today?"
"Won't know until I get there," Ignis admitted. "You offering?"
Bina laughed aloud. "Uh, no! I've seen you fight for real. With and without your sight. I am more on the level of Mr. Venda there. But I will walk you out."
Ignis took her up on the offer. She chuckled as they went downstairs. "When you were kidnapped, didn't they tie your hands to the legs of the chair?"
"Ostensibly to keep me from calling any weapons from the armiger," Ignis affirmed.
"They outnumbered you, tied you to a chair, and were still scared of what you could do."
"I did almost die," Ignis pointed out.
"That was due to other factors," she held. "My point is no one underestimates you anymore. And they shouldn't." They parted in front of the gym. "You may have a partner after all."
That intrigued Ignis. Who might she be talking about?
"Hey, Iggy," Iris called out before hurrying to his side. "I heard you were having a hard time finding training partners."
Ignis smiled. "I've exhausted most of them, I'm afraid."
"Well, I'm an Amicitia," she replied with obvious pride. "I think I can take you." She led him inside.
"You may be right," he offered.
"Get changed," she said. "I'll be waiting for you in the southwest corner."
