BOOK 2: THE TALE OF THE CHOSEN KING
CHAPTER 22 – END OF DAYS
When he regained consciousness, the first thing Noctis noticed was his face pressed against the hot, dusty car's roof, and that the train moved at a very high speed.
"Damnit," he gasped, getting to his feet.
The landscape had changed again. If they had been traveling through plains with the sea at their right and the mountain ranges far to the left, with lush vegetation at each side, now a steep rocky slope rose to their left, and the view opened to their right, showing a grey-brown plain with the coast line far beyond. Vegetation had disappeared and the rails had been built over high bridges to overcome the difficult terrain. No villages existed on these lands, though one could see the occasional halt scattered along the line. Noctis saw with desperation how the buildings and the power plants weren't there anymore, and wondered how long he had been unconscious.
He called Ignis, who answered almost immediately.
"What's wrong?"
"Ignis, you've gotta stop this thing! Prompto fell off the train. I pushed him… I mean," he nearly chocked. "Ardyn made me. I don't know where he is, but we can't leave him!"
"Stay calm, Noct. I'm as concerned for Prompto as you are, but stopping the train would endanger everyone on board. We'd be sitting ducks for the daemons."
Ignis had a point. Even as he stood on the train roof, Noctis could see the sun hiding behind the horizon. They might have maybe half an hour of light left.
"What do we do!?"
"First, we drop the passengers off at Tenebrae. We'll be arriving shortly."
"What about Prompto!?"
"Given the chancellor's involvement, it's probable he's no longer where we left him. In any case, he may try to contact us. Let us wait and hope for now. Can you make your way here? Gladio is with me."
"Are the two of you okay at least?" Noctis lowered his voice, but he couldn't stop it from quivering.
The train turned left to enter a tunnel deep into the mountains. According to what Ignis had told him, beyond that tunnel was Tenebrae.
"Yes."
"Okay, on my way."
They were already inside the tunnel, and Noctis saw something moving in the distance. The shapes were unmistakable.
"I'll be there as soon as I take care of these stowaways!"
Small daemons climbed up from the rails and fell from the tunnel's ceiling. Not only small, imp-like ones, but giant demon-looking gargoyles, bigger than a man and with claws which could cut iron as if it was butter.
When he thought things couldn't get worse and that he would be finally overrun by the imps, two half-spider, half-women daemons jumped on the engine and started clawing at it. Even with the noise of the train and the fighting, he could hear the screams of the passengers below.
The train finally got out of the tunnel. There was still daylight, yet the daemons seemed immune to the sunlight. The green forests of Tenebrae and its floating islands greeted them with their waterfalls and lakes. Noctis prayed then, and from the lake a giant serpent arose. With it more creatures like her, made of water, which threw themselves against the daemons.
Leviathan roared as water columns rose as she launched an attack against the train. She dragged all the daemons with her, in a whirlpool of screams and roars, and the train was free of the monsters.
Exhausted, though relieved, Noctis looked around. He saw Fenestala Manor, the ancestral home of the Lords of Tenebrae, in the distance. It was on fire.
xxxxXX-0-XXxxxx
Dusk had caught up with them as they reached the lights at the station, and night was quickly upon them. Noctis saw the thick smoke columns rising from the Manor and the buildings around it.
The station was crowded with passengers from their train and those fleeing the villages near the Manor. Some people had lost everything that day, and sat patiently with what little they could salvage, waiting for a train that would take them somewhere safe. Others had fallen prey to desperation, and stared silently into the void.
Noctis observed that not many seemed seriously injured, and he stopped dead on his tracks at some point when he saw what he thought was an MT, calmly explaining a civilian that al doctors were with their hands full down at the field hospital.
He looked around, and saw that there were no MTs at all. All soldiers were human. There was even a small group of them, off the clock and ways away from the crowd, who had removed their helmets and sat together, chatting and eating the gruel from the cafeteria.
At least that was one thing they didn't have to worry about.
Noctis sighed, dropping heavily on the stairs. He had hoped to sneak quietly into imperial territory; he never wanted to have so many people involved. Tiredly, he buried his face on his hands for a moment, wishing he could lie down and rest like the other passengers. But he had much to do still, and Prompto's fate weighted on his conscience.
He heard footsteps behind him. Clicking of high heels over concrete.
"Well, look who's here."
"Aranea," Noctis said without turning, mocking a tone of delighted surprise. "Guess we've got you to thank for this mess?"
"More to it than meets the eye."
Noctis turned, shooting a venomous glance towards that woman. She stood some paces away, looking at them with her usual air of confidence. It was infuriating.
"You wanna know who to thank? Come with me."
Reluctantly, Noctis got up. "Can't wait to hear this," he smiled wryly.
Aranea offered him her trademark cocky smile but, when she saw Ignis walking with a cane, that smile vanished.
"Uh? What did you do to your eyes?" she asked him.
"Oh, uh… Just a flesh wound."
"Can you see?"
"I'm… afraid not."
"Wow. That sucks." The Commodore simply said, making a face. "It's a cruel world."
They followed her down some stone steps into a bridge which connected the station to one of the islands. Noctis noticed that, though she spoke to him, her green eyes shoot glances towards Ignis, especially when they had to climb down some stairs or were obstacles in the way.
"Uh, wasn't there one more of you guys?"
"Yeah… there was," Noctis said through gritted teeth.
"We… lost track of him," Gladio sighed.
"Is he dead?" her tone grew serious.
"I…" That was a though Noctis didn't want to entertain. "I don't know."
"Then quit moping, keep hoping. And in the meantime, handle what's at hand."
They crossed the bridge. Two assault crafts had landed beyond, and the soldiers were supervising weapons and food supplies. The existence of those islands was what had charmed Noctis so much about Tenebrae when he was a kid. Aside from the meadows and forests, there were floating islands where people could live and walk on. What was more important, they stayed in the same place and allowed the construction of roads and bridges between them.
"So," said Gladio. "If it's not you we thank…"
"Thank the daemons, pawns of the imperial army."
"The army that you fight for," he jabbed at her.
"Fought for." That was the only time Noctis could distinguish a hint of annoyance in her voice. "My men and I are in the search and rescue business now."
"You mention being part of the relief effort," said Ignis. "We have a favor to ask."
"Ask away."
"In light of what you've told us, we can't allow the other passengers to continue on."
"Sure, leave 'em to me… but, who's gonna drive the train?"
"Now that you mention it, yeah," the Shield mused. "You know anyone?"
"I do. In fact, I know two."
As they approached two of the officers, Noctis recognized them. They assisted Aranea at the ruins where they recovered the mythril.
"Your new engineers. Biggs and Wedge. No need to worry… they can take a lickin'."
"Only if we 'ave to," said the man called Biggs, who wore a white uniform. "What's all this about?"
"Driving a train. To Gralea."
"That all?"
"Well, who would you have me ask?"
"You got us there."
"We'll do it," said Wedge, who was dressed in the dark colors of lesser ranks.
"Hey," Gladio saluted them. "Really appreciate you going out of your way."
"Yeah. No sweat."
While Gladio and Ignis talked to Aranea and his men, Noctis followed the next bridge into another island.
Biggs had directed him there, saying that there was an old lady, a retainer from House Fleuret, who wanted to talk to him.
The old woman stood at the other side of the island, looking at the fires devouring Fenestala Manor. Yet, when Noctis approached, she smiled warmly at him.
"My word… Is that you, Prince Noctis?"
"Uh, yeah… have we…?"
"Oh, blessed be the Stars. Just look at what a fine young man you've grown into." The old woman gushed. "I am Maria, a retainer in service to House Fleuret. I doubt you'll remember me after these long years."
"I… uh…" Noctis scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "Can't say I do."
"Don't worry. Who I am is of little import… in light of that I wish to discuss. Lady Lunafreya risked everything to spirit the Ring of the Lucii away from the Citadel. Did she deliver it to you?"
He nodded.
"Stars above! My fears have been assuaged. Lord Ravus, too, will be overjoyed to hear this news."
"Ravus, too?" he echoed, incredulous.
Noctis then knew about Ravus' change of heart, and how he helped Luna so that she could deliver the Ring to him. He also learned of the prize she had to pay for the covenants, and how her health was already failing her when she arrived at Altissia. Ravus had wanted nothing but her well-being, and that was the reason why he sought to kill the Astrals before her sister forged the covenants, and why he had tried to wield the Ring's powers back in Insomnia. All out of love for his younger sister.
That put Ravus' character under a very different light, and had Noctis rethinking everything that had happened until that moment, including what little Ignis had told them of what transpired in Altissia while Leviathan raged.
"I understand you will go hence to the imperial capital," the retainer asked.
"Yeah."
"Lord Ravus had King Regis' glaive in his safekeeping, and it was his wish to return it to you, my Prince. Though I imagine it will not be easy for you to find each other."
"I'll get it from him somehow."
"I pray it shall be so," said the woman, bowing as deeply as her bad back allowed.
That was more than he wanted to see and to know. He thanked the old woman, wishing her safe travels, and returned to the train. On his way back, Aranea stopped him.
"About the Crystal… Remember how I said it was locked away?"
"Uh… yeah?"
"They really don't allow anyone near the thing. The emperor himself never got close to it. The lab rats had a theory the Crystal posed some kind of… threat to the daemons. The way they see it, that's the reason the chancellor had the emperor go after it in the first place. Dunno, but that theory holds water in my book.
"Certainly explains why the kings have always guarded the Crystal, and how they kept the daemons at bay. Long story short, we're stuck in this rut until you go and take back what's yours."
He already knew the Crystal was important and that it had been bestowed by the gods but, he didn't know if it had a direct effect on daemons. Did his father know?
Gladio and Ignis had returned to the train already, accompanied by Biggs and Wedge, and were probably waiting for him. Noctis asked the soldiers in charge of the supplies if they could sell him something. He stocked up what he could and returned to the station.
A little girl stopped him on his way to the train. She might have been eight or nine.
"Prince Noctis!" she greeted him.
"Yeah?"
"Prince Noctis, were… were you excited to marry Lady Lunafreya?"
Childish curiosity, what could you do?
"Because she was really excited to marry you!" She beamed. "She looked so happy the day her dress arrived! She really loved you, Prince Noctis."
Probably some servant's child. Her innocent enthusiasm felt like a jab of ice through the chest, but he couldn't bring himself to do anything that wasn't smiling for her.
"I… thank you," he managed to say, squatting to meet her eye to eye.
The girl smiled, but then her expression dropped slightly.
"Lady Lunafreya worried she was burdening you with the wedding," the girl's voice was tinted with sadness. "That's not true, is it?"
"No, not at all," the words came out instantly.
He thanked the little girl and went on his way. As he crossed the station to where Biggs and Wedge stood, he had the feeling he had seen the last sundown in a long time. People at the station shared that fear, and they huddled together as scared little animals. The only ones seemingly in high spirits were Aranea's men.
"Ready to depart," said Biggs. "Just swapped out the damaged cars for some new ones."
That was all he needed to know. He gave the order, and they prepared to depart.
"Don't worry about the civilians. They're in my good hands," Aranea grinned, but then her expression became serious and Noctis noticed her green eyes fixed on Ignis. "Can't say the same for you. Watch yourselves in the capital."
"We will," the retainer answered, as if feeling her gaze on him.
They heard the bell calling them to board. Noctis remained at the station just enough time to ask Aranea if she would be up for a search and rescue mission.
"Get your ass on board!" Gladio hollered from inside the train.
"Yes, sir," he murmured, climbing into the car.
Outside, small snowflakes had begun to fall.
xxxxXX-0-XXxxxx
The three friends occupied the dining car while they traveled. Sharing a table was more comfortable than sitting on a normal car, and there was food and drinks at hand. It was pitch black outside, and they could only heard the train moving at a high speed over the sleety rails.
"Oi!" Bigg's voice sounded through the speakers. "Uh… attention all passengers! We're on our way to our final destination in the imperial capital. Enjoy the ride. I'll be in touch if anything comes up."
Lack of humor wasn't something one could hold against that man, that was for sure.
"Look at all that snow," said Gladio. "No wonder it's so cold in here."
"We must be approaching the Glacian's cadaver," Ignis pointed out.
"Won't be a blessing if all we got's a body."
"Let us hope we pass through the gorge without incident."
"It's what's after the gorge I'm worried about," the Shield grumbled.
Aranea had already told them, but even the newspapers covered the news. Noctis read aloud an article for Ignis which said the following:
The fall of the Empire?
After his forces suffered crippling casualties against the Hydraean in Altissia, High Commander Ravus Nox Fleuret was sentenced to capital punishment. However, the imperial army has yet to appoint a successor to the late Lord Fleuret. Moreover, waves of magitek troopers gone haywire have fled Haulhex Armory and begun assaulting the citizenry. Could this be karmic retribution of those who turned their back to the gods?
Those were more than worrying news, and a far worse scenario than what Aranea had described to them.
As the train advanced, frost started covering the windows and they felt small lurches when the engine had to break through snow mounds on the rails. Several times they had all to get off the train and shovel the snow away from the tracks.
Another stop. This time Biggs' voice sounded less cheerful.
"Attention, eh! You might have noticed we've stopped. As for the cause… Outside, ya think?"
"We'll take a look," Noctis sighed, going for the door.
"Hope it's just a quick snow-shoveling job," Gladio wished.
The three of them got off into the freezing cold. Soon their hands lost sensitivity and they had to keep moving to preserve the warmth.
"The Glacian did this," Ignis pointed out.
Even after death, Shiva's magic still had an effect on her surroundings. A everlasting deep-freeze had settled on Ghorovas Rift, once known as Shiva's sleeping place, now her tomb, and that of those unfortunate who ended up stranded in that valley.
Gladio and Noctis could see the outline of Shiva's corpse from the railway. In fact, they could also distinguish her face through the snowstorm.
"It's a shame," Gladio lamented. "She's lying dead."
They heard a screech, followed by many howls, as a floating figure appeared in the distance. A magic wielding daemon with its cohort of imps appeared, bathing everything in the sickening green light of the will 'o wisps floating around it. Thanks to Ignis' magic, they could save a bit of strength for the next, unexpected round. A giant monster people had named "Death Claw" climbed up to the railway. It was a bulking daemon with claws as big as its own body, and famed for killing entire squads of soldiers and seasoned hunters. Fire hurt him, but he counter attacked with its own magic.
Noctis' warp ability was useful to avoid being killed instantly, but Ignis had to remain at a good distance and assist from time to time infusing the king's weapons with fire magic.
The battle was a harrowing one, and more than once Noctis had to assist Gladio with a healing potion.
They sighed in relief when the daemon finally fell. It had been the first time in their travel that they felt they had truly courted Death.
The cold wind froze the sweat drops on Noctis' brow, and it hurt to breath. Gladio had already taken Ignis inside the train and was calling for the king.
"You'd better get in here," Gladio yelled over the howling wind. "Something's not right."
Tiredness made Noctis stagger to the door but, when he looked up, he saw Ardyn casually walking past by.
"No way," the king gasped.
He hopped inside and ran after the chancellor.
"You! Hold it!" Noctis screamed through chattering teeth. "That son of a bitch."
In the first car a thick mist poured from the far door and gathered inside. The space in between cars didn't look better but, when he opened the next door, a strong gust of wind and snow hit him with full force. Ignis had discussed with him the possibility of the empire bestowing magitek powers to the chancellor but, could he conjure a full snowstorm?
Noctis labored against the gale, feeling his forearms going numb. It took all his strength not to lose his footing in the growingly slippery floor. A lone figure waited for him at the far end, impervious to the storm, his black coat billowing around him like dark wings.
"Stop!" Noctis hollered above the snowstorm. "Stop, damnit! Where is he? Where's Prompto?"
"Oh, there you are!" Ardyn saluted cheerfully, leaning casually against the back of a seat. Then his tone turned mockingly mournful. "I'm worried about your friends. They've fallen and they can't get up. Why not lend them a hand?"
Struggling to open his eyes, Noctis recognized his two friends on the ground, behind the chancellor. He wanted to rush for them, but the cold was paralyzing him, and he could only watch and shiver in desperation.
"A coldness that can only be hers," Ardyn smirked.
Noctis fell on his knees, his sight already blurring. He gazed at Gladio and Ignis, trying to think what could he do, but his eyes distinguished a dark figure beyond the far door. He saw the unmistakable dark hair of Gentiana and her dark robes. Neither the wind nor the cold seemed to affect her, and she slowly strode towards them.
Ardyn didn't expect the Messenger to appear after Lunafreya was dead. Even so, he greeted her with an unctuous smile as she passed by his side.
"Ahhh, the face you wore the day you-"
Gentiana put her finger to her lips and then to Ardyn's. The man froze solid at that instant.
She stood before Noctis, who looked up at her without understanding.
"Ley it now be done," she said in her soft, whispering voice. "As promised to the Oracle."
Her hands made a sign, and a blue light engulfed her. When it dissipated another figure stood before him, a smaller copy of the giant goddess outside, with skin as blue and pale as a winter morning's sky, and hair as white as snow. The snowstorm was gone, but not the cold.
"Gentiana… it's you. You're the Glacian."
"Tales of the past and hope for the future are manifest in the King of Kings. The Frostbearer's blessing shall be his," she said.
Shiva moved her hand to touch his brow, and bestowed upon him the whole story of the Six Astrals, the ascension of Solheim, the war against Ifrit and how they all fell into a deep slumber. Then she showed him how a man drew the Pyreburner away from the light.
"His peril is sensed by the Frostbearer," she recounted. "She rushes to his aid, only to be felled by the foreign hordes. Those masses are now one with the darkness… darkness that, before long, will swallow the Six and the star they protect. This star's fate no longer rests in the hands of the gods. It sits on the shoulders of the Chosen. Deliver this world from darkness… and grant my love release."
"I promise I will."
She smiled.
"The Oracle is no longer of this world, but her thought remain… and they must be known."
Noctis nodded. If there was something he wished to know, it was that.
"When the boy begins his existence on this star," Shiva recited. "The girl is met by the High Messenger. It is ordained that she will work with him to return the Light. The girl reaffirms that promise. The High Messenger is moved by the girl's determination, her heart warmed by the girl's benevolence. Her faith in humankind is restored once more."
She touched his forehead a second time, and he was assaulted by a myriad of images. Slowly, they began to order themselves until they formed a scene from Luna's memories.
He saw her standing among the sylleblossoms at dusk. Someone was approaching her but Luna didn't turn around, for she knew who it was.
"Sister, cease this madness. That boy will never be King."
"Noctis is chosen," she affirmed. "It is ordained. You of all people should know."
"I know that you are throwing your life away!"
"That may be!" she raised her voice, turning defiantly to face her brother. Then her voice softened as tears filled her eyes. "But… it's my choice. If only…"
His brother disappeared from the memory, and she stood alone among the flowers, bathed in the warm light of dusk.
"If only I could… hear his voice once more…" Her voice broke as she wept. "If we could laugh together as we did as children." Tears rolled down her cheeks. "If we could… live out our days together as we once dreamed…"
"Wherefore does the lady weep?" she heard Gentiana's soft voice near her.
Luna checked herself, straightening her back.
"Forgive me," she said, hurriedly wiping away her tears. "I vowed to only cry where prying eyes cannot see the tears in mine."
"Yet others need not hide their grief. Is she so different from them?"
"No," she shook her head. "She is no different at all. She wants exactly what they do: to be with the one she loves. But want though she may, it is not to be."
"The lady's thoughts nave been heard," Gentiana assured, going to her and brushing a tear off her cheek. "The love she bears the king shall never fade… and, in time, her feelings shall be known unto him. And if the words are not spoken from her lips, then the Messengers shall see that they are heard. The god's favor and the lady's love shall be with him evermore."
Gentiana took Luna's hands between hers.
"Thus it is promised between the Oracle and her familiar."
"I am undeserving of your kindness," Luna whispered in a hoarse voice and squeezing the Messenger's hands. "Thank you."
Gentiana smiled back at her charge, her golden eyes open, tears rolling down her cheeks, for the Oracle's suffering mirrored hers.
In a flash of light, the memory ended, and Noctis saw himself kneeling before the Frostbearer.
"And so the promise is fulfilled," Shiva declared. "As her words go with him, so shall my blessing."
She made a gesture with her hands, and the Trident of the Oracle appeared between them. Noctis took it, muttering his thanks to the goddess.
"O, King of Kings, restore the Light unto this world," Shiva pledged, as she bestowed her blessing.
The snow had gone, as did the goddess. Noctis felt his chest tightening. Luna knew, somehow, that they would never see each other again. She knew, and still carried on with her duty.
"Luna," he whispered, feeling warm tears rolling down his cheeks. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you. Not even when you needed me the most. There was so much you wanted to say. So much I wanted to say… And now I'll never have the chance. I'm so sorry…"
A blue petal floated into his field of vision. He raised his eyes: white sandals, the hem of a white dress…
Luna stood before him, smiling as she had done in Altissia before the crowd. Or maybe she had been smiling at him. More blue petals, sylleblossom petals, fell over them.
He stretched his hand and she vanished, leaving him alone again. But his hand caught the last petal, and he held it close to his chest.
"You and I will be together again someday," he sworn, wiping away the tears. "I promise."
Getting up, his eyes fell on the ice statue Shiva had left behind. Without thinking, he summoned his sword and shattered it in a thousand shards. Thus was the unexpected and unceremonious end of the chancellor's life.
Staggering, he reached his friends and shook them awake.
"Hey. Wake up," he managed to say between chattering teeth.
His friends stirred and groaned.
"The hell happened?" Gladio grumbled, shaking his head.
"Yeah. I saw the Glacian. It's okay, she's gone now. You guys check on our drivers."
"Got it," Gladio turned to Ignis and helped him up. "You good?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Let's go."
It took his some minutes until he could get on his feet. When he did, Noctis wobbled towards the engine room. On the next car, however, he felt his hair standing on end. He turned slowly to see him there, leaning nonchalantly on back of a seat, smiling at him.
"I feel I've earned the right to call you Noct," Ardyn said. "For a moment I felt death's chill wind, such is the might of the gods. But then, I remembered I'm immortal. Such is my blessing and curse. Your attack hurt me, nevertheless… My feelings, at least. And after all the memories we've shared. Remember this?"
Noctis' eyes widened when he saw the chancellor waving Prompto's gun around.
"Ah, I should have asked if you remember him. Truly a blast from the past, nay?"
The king made to grab at the gun, but Ardyn was quicker.
"Ah, ah, ah!" he scolded him holding the weapon out of his reach. "You mustn't take what's not yours."
"Where is he!?" the king roared.
"He?" Ardyn echoed, smirking maliciously. "The little gunman's a short shot away."
"Where?"
"Where else but Gralea, the seat of the empire? I'm sure he'll be delighted to see you. And you might even find your Crystal. With all these daemons about, you could certainly use it."
He walked past Noctis, who clenched his fists in anger and who didn't notice the faint click of the device in Ardyn's hand.
"Off you go, then. I wouldn't want to keep you from your friend."
He went away, laughing softly. Noctis would have wanted to summon his sword once again, but he was too exhausted to do anything.
It didn't matter. They could deal with that weasel later, but for now reaching Prompto and then the Crystal should be his prime concern.
