Heeeeey. This chapter brought to you SUPER LATE because beta's computer issues and me being out of town. SORRY.
"Seriously, Scientia?" Loqi said dryly, reclined in his seat with his feet up on top of his desk. "All your time in the wilderness, and even you couldn't identify the damn thing?"
As irritating as the comment itself was, Ignis was thankful for it. If Loqi was testing him in such a way, he was in higher spirits. "Indeed. Hence the reason for being cautious."
Among other reasons Ignis was currently wary…
It was crowded with the lot of them up in Loqi's little area, and Ignis was sure he'd never felt quite so claustrophobic in his life.
Loqi tapped his fingers on his knee. "So… we don't know what it is, or how it fights, or any weaknesses, or if it's even a daemon at all…"
Ignis tilted his head. "You expect it to be anything else? What do you consider another possibility?"
Loqi shrugged. "Ardyn getting bored? We haven't seen him in a while. Must be dull not having someone to tolerate him."
"Technically I believe Ardyn counts as a daemon," Ignis noted, leaning away from Dino, who was shifting a lot in place.
"Oh, don't start with the technical babble." Loqi groaned. "You know perfectly well what I meant."
Ignis shook his head, amused. "It wasn't Ardyn. I'm quite familiar with the sound of an Armiger, in case you've forgotten."
Loqi sighed exaggeratedly. "Very well. We'll be certain to take precautions against… something we don't know enough about to take precautions against."
"Are you lot done up there yet?"
The amount of uniformity they all had when they leaned to look down from their risen area was honestly impressive for having no rehearsal.
Of course it was Ravus. Ignis would have recognized that voice anywhere.
He suspected Ravus would have already been up there with them had there been any room.
"Just about," Ignis called down.
"Yay! Can I go knit now?" Dino bounced in place. "I barely ever have time anymore."
"Yes, most definitely." Ignis cringed inwardly at how that had dropped out of his mouth just a bit too quickly. Perhaps he could attempt a recovery. "If you hurry, you'd should have plenty of time before our next supply run."
Dino didn't need to be told twice. He threw himself over the railing to land on the bottom level with a roll before scampering off. "Later, brothers!"
Finally. Ignis could breathe a bit easier now.
"…I'd like to go write a letter," Evan said quietly.
Ignis glanced over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow. "We're going to Lestallum. Why do you need to write her?" Perhaps he hadn't divulged the particular details of the receiver, but… it was Evan. There was only one person he ever wrote to.
Evan ducked his head, his cheeks flushing the same red Prompto's always had when he was mortified. "…I leave one with her every time we go, so she has something to read after I leave."
"…That might be the most adorably sickening thing I've ever heard," Loqi said.
Ignis reached over without looking to flick his outstretched leg. "Leave them be."
Iris probably treasured the gesture and the letters themselves. Especially now that she was out in the field fighting herself lately.
And thinking of that, Ignis wondered how Gladio was fairing with that development. He probably had a minor stroke every time she left the city, even if he was supportive and confident in her abilities…
So much seemed to happen in each city so quickly now that Ignis relied mostly on news blasts every time they made it from one city to another.
"All right, I'll harass you instead." Loqi gave him a mischievous smirk. "How's Aranea?"
Ignis sighed. "That is not what I meant."
"Too late."
Ignis sighed deeper. "Go write your letter, Evan. Take your time."
"Thank you!" Evan chirped before following suit after Dino.
"For Astrals' sake, Scientia." Loqi dropped his feet off the desk. "Marry the woman already."
"My relationship is not of your concern, thank you," Ignis said sweetly.
"It concerns everyone because it's painful to watch!" Loqi shot back, picking up a pen to scribble down something.
Ignis rolled his eyes, looking at Echo. "Don't you have anything you'd like to be doing?" Ice skating was the only thing Ignis had really seen him do for fun his entire life. Though apparently he'd been studying somewhat on speech without anyone realizing. Mischievous little bugger. They should have known he could speak given that he understood them all. There was nothing physically wrong with him.
Echo gave a shrug. Then he jumped after his brothers.
"Well, I do believe there's enough room for you up here now, Ravus," Ignis said. Four was still a tad crowded, but Delilah was small. They'd manage easier then they just had been.
Ravus grunted and headed for the ladder.
Ignis folded his hands behind his back while they waited. "…Did you know Echo could speak?"
Loqi paused his scribbling. "…I suspected he could. But it seemed rather clear he didn't want to. Why? Did he actually say something to you?"
"Just one word. As a joke, I believe."
Loqi grinned. "Trolling little rascal."
Ignis hummed in agreement. "And he's likely proud of it. What have you done?"
Loqi looked entirely too pleased with himself.
…Good. Honestly, good. It was genuinely nice to see him in such an improved state of mind. Ignis had been concerned for a while, and Ravus even more so.
"So, what is this I hear of a new menace in the city?" Ravus asked as he climbed the last rung of the ladder.
"Well, what you've heard is probably about it." Delilah leaned back against the wall, putting just a tad more room between her and Ravus. "Dangerous monster. All beware."
"…Very helpful."
"Better than not having a warning at all," Ignis said dryly. This was growing old. No, they hadn't gotten a lot of details, but he was hardly going to stick his head out the door and take pictures.
…Prompto likely would have, perhaps, but not Ignis. He preferred sticking with the tactics that generally granted higher life expectancy.
"All right, Scientia," Loqi said. "I'll issue a warning to all those going into the city to watch out for… death, basically. I guess."
Ignis sighed. Again.
"I am both irritated and relieved," Ignis noted as he walked alongside Ravus to the main area.
"I'm not certain what you were expecting with so little information. What's the cause of the relief portion?" Ravus folded his hands behind his back as they walked. For once, they weren't in a hurry. Their stroll was nice and leisurely.
"Have you not noticed?" Ignis gestured back the way they'd come. "He seems to be doing much better."
"Ah." Ravus nodded. "Yes, Loqi is quite resilient, and I believe the lessening of the his number of burdens has helped somewhat. He misses the freedoms of the wilds, though. And he most definitely misses his connection with his team."
Ignis winced. "I would gladly step aside to allow him the position I took, but we've established that particular arrangement isn't the best for the city. If he were to meet the same fate as Crestholm's other leaders…"
Honestly, Ignis wasn't fond of Loqi being so irreplaceable. It was all well and good that he was so excellent at running things, but no one's safety was promised these days. Prophecies aside, that was.
What if something did happen to Loqi? What would they do then? Things had fallen apart when he'd taken a mere break…
Loqi had somehow managed to accidentally make himself into an asset the world could not afford to lose.
"Indeed," Ravus agreed, his lips pursed. "We appear to have been rather backed into a corner regarding him. We need him for everything, yet cannot use him for half of what he's good at, without risking losing him and all he does for us…"
Ignis shook his head. "Why do I always feel as though we're living with a ticking clock that only counts down to the next tragedy?"
Ravus snorted. "Because that is a rather accurate comparison. Your mystery monster might as well be an omen."
"Let us hope not..."
There was only so much more they could afford to lose before everything was lost.
It wasn't the first time he'd thought that. Or the second. But each time it felt truer. Closer and closer the fall of humanity itself seemed to be creeping…
Over seven years of this darkness. Seven years with only one year of any good tidings – and that year now seemed so far behind them…
How much longer was it going to take for Noct to be… ready…
…Ready to come back and die.
Ignis let his eyes slide closed for a moment.
No matter how long he'd known the facts, the pain at that thought would never go away.
Funny. So many had already died. So many kept dying. But Ignis knew Noct's would hurt the most. He was already mourning and it hadn't even happened yet.
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