Is enforced benevolence truly being benevolent? I wonder…
Lunafreya was tending to her garden filled with sylleblossoms in Fenestala Manor. She gently plucked a sylleblossoms flower and swirled it in her hand absentmindedly.
'To love is to sacrifice.'
'People sacrifice their desires to achieve their goal.'
'Parents endure physical and mental hardships, they sacrifice their comfort and their wellbeing, so their child could have a better future.'
'We often sacrifice our likings, habits, or hobbies to accommodate our loved ones. We often go out of our ways to make the ones we love happy.'
'There is perhaps no greater quantification of love than the strength of one's sacrifice.'
'It is a blessing to find people who are willing to sacrifice their needs to make you happy. Is it not my moral obligation to do the same for them?'
'My mother sacrificed herself so Ravus and I could live. Shouldn't I do the same to save the lives of everyone in Eos?'
'Ravus sacrificed his safety to keep me safe all these years. Shouldn't I sacrifice my health so Ravus and the world can see a better tomorrow?'
'Noctis has lost his father, his kingdom, and yet he keeps walking on the path ordained. Shouldn't I do the same?'
'Leon has saved my life many times. Shouldn't I do the same for him?'
'Yes. The answer is yes to all of them. Walking on the path ordained has so many cascading benefits to it. How can I be selfish to even consider deviating from that path?'
'Perhaps Bahamut is right to impose his will on this matter. There is far too much at stake to chase a fantasy. Maybe Draconian forcing my hand is a blessing in disguise.' She tried to justify it to herself.
'Just do what you are told to do and everything will be fine,' she assured herself.
'If me burying my feelings for Leon can save his life, then I will do it,' she determined. 'He might hate me for it, but at least he will be safe.'
'No more talks of Leon. No more thoughts of Leon. Just focus on Noctis. Remember the fond memories of our time together as kids.' She steeled her resolve. 'This is what's best for the world, for Ravus, for Noctis, and for Leon. I can't falter now.'
She brought the sylleblossoms flower, which she was still holding in her hand, close to her heart and closed her eyes. "Oh, the Gods above, please hear my plea, please grant me strength to do the role I've been assigned and save the ones I love," she wished. She blew on the flower and its delicate pestles detached from the stem and danced away in the wind.
She heard familiar clanking of the boots approaching her and braced herself for a tough conversation.
"Sister, cease this madness. That boy will never be King." Ravus cut to the chase.
"Noctis is chosen. It is ordained. You of all people should know," she tried to justify her stance.
"I know that you are throwing your life away!" claimed Ravus, unable to contain his frustration.
Lunafreya turns and uncharacteristically shouts back at her brother, "That may be!"
"But…it's my choice," tears welled up in her eyes.
Ravus could not bear to see his sister like this. He was at a loss for words. Fearing that anything he might say might hurt her more, he chose to stay quiet.
Luna had made her stance. Walking on this perilous path was her final verdict. There was nothing he could do anymore to persuade her. He turned around and walked away in resignation.
With no one in sight, tears fell from her eyes uninhibited. All her resolve was on the cups of falling apart. But she forced her mind to think of Noctis and only Noctis.
Lunafreya continued to lament, "If only…" she struggled to continue. "If only I could… hear his voice once more… If we could laugh together as we did as children…"
She grips her hands together and continues to cry. "If we could…live out our days together as we once dreamed…"
Was that truly her desire or just the right thing to say? Even she did not know.
Suddenly, a melodic voice addressed her, "Wherefore does the lady weep?"
"Forgive me. I vowed to only cry where prying eyes cannot see the tears in mine." She replied, trying to control her tears.
"Yet others need not hide their grief. Is she so different from them?" Gentiana wondered.
Lunafreya shakes her head. "No… 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."
Gentiana slowly walked up to her. "The lady's thoughts have been heard. The love she bears the king shall never fade." She wipes away a tear from Luna's left eye, "—and, in time, her feelings shall be known unto him."
"Gentiana…," she said amidst her cry.
"And if the words are not spoken from her lips, then the Messengers shall see that they are heard. The gods' favor and the lady's love shall be with him evermore."
Gentiana smiled at her, then took Luna's hand with one of her own and places her other hand on Luna's upturned palm. "Thus, it is promised between the Oracle and her familiar."
Luna composes herself and takes hold of Gentiana's hands with both of her own, "I am undeserving of your kindness… Thank you."
Luna smiles at her; Gentiana smiles back and a single tear streak down Gentiana's cheek.
Later that day
Ravus stood by the balcony of his room, looking at the familiar yet alien visage of Tenebrae. He stood there motionless for minutes, while his mind worked in overdrive.
'How could Luna not see her folly? This will get her killed!' His emotions raged inside, but his exterior remained stoic.
'I cannot tolerate her imprudence anymore. She has done Astral's bidding unquestioningly, and it is that devotion that will bring her demise. I will kill every Astral in existence if I have to, to save her.'
'She is all I have left in this world. I love her dearly. I can't allow her to die like this. I will save her whether she likes it or not.'
The rage in his heart manifested in the form of a punch to the wall.
It took him some time to subside emotions and regain clarity of thought. It was then, his earlier thought echoed in his mind.
'I will save her whether she likes it or not.'
'What a fool am I?' He shook his head as the gravity of his earlier thought sunk in.
'The Astrals forced their will on Luna. Since childhood, the Empire forced its will on Luna. She never asked to be an Oracle, but her accursed fate forced its will on Luna. I have hated the Astrals, the Empire, and her fate because they stripped Luna of the most fundamental human essence, to have a free will.'
He remembered Luna's words, "But…it's my choice."
'By forcing my will on Luna, I have become that which I have hated the most.'
He sat down on the sofa closest to the window and held his head in his hands in resignation. He was trying his best to contemplate his newfound revelation.
'She has not lived the life of her choosing, at least give her that dignity in her death.' He tried to convince himself.
'But how can I when I know she might die from this ordeal?'
'Even if she does not forge the last covenant and were to live her life normally, she still has a very limited time left. The strain on her life is irreversible. Allow her to fulfill her calling and let her attain that satisfaction, fleeting it may be.'
'She has sacrificed far too much. No more.' He wished.
'And if she backs out now, then all that sacrifice would be for naught.' He rationalized.
His mind went blank for a while. The calm before the internal storm.
'If I were on my deathbed and had one final wish, wouldn't Luna move heaven and earth to fulfill it?'
'Of that, I have no doubts.'
'Should you not do the same for her? Grant her, her final wish?'
'By assisting her in forging the covenant with Astral and helping Noctis ascend to the throne?' He was repelled by his own thoughts.
'I have no love for the Astrals and I have no faith in Noctis. I truly believe that Noctis is not fit to be the king who delivers us from this encroaching darkness to light. I have observed him extensively so I can say with reasonable certainty that he will fail in the end.'
'But does any of that matter? The question is, do you want to grant Luna her final wish?'
'Hmm…' He leaned back against the sofa and closed his eyes.
"Luna's final wish…" He trailed off.
In the evening
Squall and Gentiana were out for their usual stroll in the evening.
Squall had an inkling that something was off with Gentiana. Usually, she has an innocent smile playing on her lips, but today it was replaced with a frown.
"Stop copying me," Squall chided out of the blue.
"Huh? What did I do?" Gentiana wondered aloud.
"You are frowning. That is my specialty," he complained in a serious tone.
"Haha, then I owe you an apology. I was just lost in thoughts," she admitted.
"What has been troubling you lately?" he asked.
"It's complicated."
"Hey, that's my line as well," he claimed, trying to lighten the mood.
"I… I think I have made a big mistake," she stopped in her tracks and confessed. "But I lack the strength to correct it."
"Doing the right thing is always the hardest, but it must be done."
"But what if I don't want to?"
"Then find the courage to do it. What separates good and evil is not the knowledge of distinguishing right and wrong, but the courage to walk on the righteous path in the face of all adversities."
"But if I did, then Bahamut will—" she caught herself mid-sentence. "Pay no attention to my words. I must go now."
As usual, she disappeared out of sight, leaving behind a trail of ethereal ice particles.
"Bahamut?" he wondered.
Next day morning
Squall had just returned from training when one of the retainers informed him that Ravus would like to meet with him in the Situation room in 30 minutes.
Squall freshened up and made his way to the Situation room. 'I wonder what this is about.'
Upon entering, he was greeted by Ravus and Xu.
"It is always good to see you, Squall," Xu cheered.
"Please, have a seat," offered Ravus.
In the center of the room was a large table surrounded by many chairs. Squall sat down on a chair closest to him.
Soon after, the door to the room opened once more, revealing Luna. She was greeted by Xu and Ravus and offered the same courtesy as Squall. Luna sat next to Squall.
Their eyes met briefly, and Luna smiled gently at Leon. His lips curled up in response autonomously.
"Xu, please lock the door," ordered Ravus, sitting across from Luna.
"As you wish," Xu obliged.
Once Xu had returned to the table, Ravus started the meeting.
"Luna, I ask you one more time. Do you wish to continue down the path dictated by the Six?"
"Yes, Brother. Nothing can change my mind," she replied resolutely.
"This is a perilous path and should anything go awry, your life would be in grave danger," he surmised the threat of her decision.
"I am fully aware of the risk, Brother. But it is my duty and I will see it done." Her tone left no room for doubts.
"If that is your final decision, then it pains me to say this," he paused, "but you will have my full support."
"What?" Luna could not believe her ears.
"Though I have my reservations, I will do everything within my power to see you succeed in your trial with Leviathan."
"Why the sudden change of heart, Ravus?" she inquired.
"I…" He struggled to formulate a response. "I don't trust the Astrals. I don't trust Noctis. But I do trust you, Luna."
"Brother."
"If my sister is willing to wager her life on this, the least I can do is to trust her judgment." He explained. "In your hour of need, I had the choice to be with you or against you. And I chose to be with you."
"Your words mean the world to me, Brother." She said, fighting back her tears. This was the first time Ravus had acknowledged her views.
"While I still struggle to resonate with your cause, I'll do anything to ease your burden." He clarified.
Luna got up from her chair and rushed towards Ravus. He too stood up as Luna flung herself into his arms.
"Brother, I never thought you would aid me on this path. I never thought you would acknowledge that my plight is for a worthy cause. Thank you." This was the validation she had sought from Ravus for the beginning.
Ravus broke Luna's hold and gently held her at arm's length. "You have sacrificed yourself for the world. All I had to do was to sacrifice my views on certain matters for your sake. If doing so can bring you happiness, however ephemeral it may be, then it is all worth it."
"You have no idea how much joy your support brings me." She confessed while whipping her tears.
"Now then, let's talk about the details of your next mission. Xu, if you will." He invited.
"The Oracle's next mission is to forge a covenant with Leviathan, an Astral resident in Altissia. To get to Altissia, you will need this," she said, handing out something to both Luna and Leon.
"These are your passports. You can use them to board the merchant ship leaving for Altissia tonight."
Leon looked at his passport and his name was listed as Basch fon Ronsenburg. Luna's passport showed her as Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca.
"I have to meet with Emperor Aldercapt today, so I will be leaving shortly. Once I leave, a squad MTs would be deployed at the entrance. Two more squads would be securing the perimeter of this manor. No one would be allowed to enter or exit the manor at that point. You have to use the secret tunnel beneath the castle to sneak out safely. Luna knows that way too well. Make your way to the port and you should be able to board the ship to Altissia using these passports." Addressed, Ravus.
He gave an earpiece to Leon. "This earpiece would be your direct line to me, should you need it in an emergency. Its frequency changes every 30 seconds and the transmission is on an encrypted line, so it is very secure."
"Luna's safety is in your hands now. Please keep my sister safe," Ravus pleaded, looking at Leon.
Leon just nodded in acknowledgment. "What is the plan once we get there?"
"First is to wait for Noctis to complete his covenant with Ramuh. Once that is done Luna would have to convince secretary Camelia to allow her to awaken Leviathan. We were lucky that the previous two Astrals were in an isolated location. Leviathan, on the other hand, lies in the heart of Altissia, awakening it there would cause massive numbers of casualties to civilians. Not to mention that it has the power to lay waste to the entire city. Once Camelia agrees, you would have to wait for Noctis to show up. If Noctis can subdue the Astral as soon as the covenant is formed, then it would have a minimum impact on Luna's health. The longer the covenant lasts, the more she loses her life. This is where we come into the play. Once Luna decides to forget the covenant, we will be ready to subdue Leviathan. The official word would be that the Empire will try to subdue Leviathan before Noctis can forge a covenant, but in reality, we would weaken it so Noctis can defeat it sooner."
"Brother, if you attack and fail to subdue Leviathan, wouldn't that be deemed as treason?"
"Don't concern yourself with that triviality Luna, we have a plan," he lied, hoping Luna wouldn't catch. "You have till evening to make your final preparations."
"Understood."
Afternoon - Luna's room
Ever since taking over the duty of the Oracle, Luna's life was that of a nomad. She packed a few things she deemed essential for their journey ahead. Everything else was properly organized and stowed away.
Knowing that she might never be able to return, she took one final look at her room. It was within these four walls that she was confined for most of her life. Ironically, it was within these four walls that she could be free to be herself. This room held both joyful and harrowing memories alike.
While surveying her room one last time, her eyes lingered on one thing which stuck out from the dull background. It was her wedding dress.
She approached it hesitantly. Each step felt heavier the closer she got. Her feet refused to get any closer. She eyed the dress carefully. She noticed the soft fabric, the intricate patterns that were carefully woven, and the unmatched craftsmanship of the dress.
'Pity I would never get to wear this.' She thought yearningly.
"At first, the father had mourned the fate of his chosen son. Yet in Tenebrae, the two found solace. It was not the Oracle who assuaged their fears. But the girl…she holds…the true power." A familiar voice warbled.
"I have little to offer a king, other than the voice afforded the Oracle. Nevertheless…" Luna turned to look at the wedding dress. "And—I'm afraid he might find this foolish… But…to be together with Noctis again, even if only for a short while… It…would mean the world to me."
Did she say what she was supposed to or what she wanted to? Even she wasn't sure.
Luna turns back to Gentiana and says, "I do not seek to guide him, merely to stand beside him."
'Or so I hope. I don't know if fate will even grant me that opportunity. Perhaps returning this dress to the designer might be an honorable thing.'
Evening - Library
As per the plan, they meet in the library. Xu removed a few books in a particular order, which caused one of the bookshelves to slide, revealing a trapdoor. Xu opened it with an ancient-looking key.
The door opened with an eerie creak.
"This is it, my lady. Your journey ahead is filled with dangers, but we have faith that you will return here one day. And until that day, we shall all be waiting." Xu coveted.
"Thank you, Xu. You have been a dear friend. Please take care of everyone here."
"Worry not, Princess. That is my duty." She assured.
"Take care, my dear. My prayers will always be with you," wished Maria.
"Thank you, Maria. I will miss you cooking."
"Come back safe and I'll make you your favorite food every day." She tempted.
"I shall try my best. In my absence, please take care of my garden," Luna urged.
"I won't let a single sylleblossoms wither," Maria promised.
Luna hugged all the retainers and thanked them individually.
Leon noticed that she was struggling to fight back tears under her mask of a pleasant smile. It seemed as if she was never going to see them again, and saying her final goodbye.
Deep down inside even Squall knew that he too would never be back here, so before they left, he handed something to Maria and said, "Matron, can you please deliver this to Aranea?"
He recalled his memory with Aranea.
"Here, you should keep this," she said, handing him something.
He looked at it and was shocked to see it, "Frozen tear! Why are you giving it to me?"
"Think of it as a token of our friendship. Keep it safe until I ask for it."
"Yes, I'll keep it with me so I can return it to you someday."
"Sure, Master Squall," she said, accepting the small package from him.
"Thank you," he said politely.
"You guys should hurry," Xu urged.
"I am ready to go," Luna replied, taking one final look at the library and everyone present there as she recollected years of fond memories.
"Lead the way," Squall said, stepping away from the trapdoor.
They each grabbed their bags, and after saying their final farewell, they descended down the shaft to a rusty elevator.
Chorus of goodbye, farewell, and come back soon echoed through the library as they made their way in the secret tunnel beneath the castle.
The elevator, which looked as if it would break any moment and plunge them to their untimely death, took them down many flights. Squall wondered how this elevator was even functioning. After what felt like an eternity, the elevator door opened. Everywhere his eyes could see was covered with wild veins, plants, and roots.
He walked ahead, cutting through veins, making a path for Luna. Neither of them had said a word as unidentified sadness lingered in the air. Squall noticed that the sound of running water was increasing as they walked further down this path.
Eventually, they came to an open area. The trees there seemed to reach the sky, almost blocking the Sun. Sunlight seeped in from any crack it could find, illuminating the place. Seemingly floating islands on which Tenebrae City resides were hundreds of feet above them.
As they walked further, Squall noticed that the water flowed through the roots of many trees and gathered in a small lake. There was a broken arch in the middle, a relic of the past.
As Squall was intaking the view when Luna said, "These are giant redwood trees. They can grow over 300 feet. The one over there is the famous Tenebraen oak tree. This place used to be a site of worship and rituals during my mother's time." Her tone shifted from informative to personal as she continued on, "Noctis and I used to come here every day when he was here. We would sometimes just sit here ideally, or play or daydream about how our future would be."
There was a visible sadness on her face as she recollected those memories.
"You'll be with him soon," Leon assured and started walking away.
There were multiple forks in the road, but Leon chose the right one and kept moving.
"How do you know where we are going?" She inquired.
"Whenever you are looking for an exit, always follow the water," He informed, pointing at the stream coming out of the lake.
"Good to know," she took a mental note of her newly learned information.
The path they were walking on came to an end. Squall jumped over to the other side of the stream. He offered his hand to Luna for support. She almost lost her footing while crossing over for stepping on a very slippery rock. Squall was there to catch her in time and pull her over to the other side.
They traveled down further as the visibility was starting to reduce. "Leon, wait!" she said from the back.
He drew out his gunblade instinctively and turned around.
"Look! It's an Ulwaat berry," she announced gleefully.
Leon facepalmed. "And here I thought it was a monster."
"No, this is sacred ground. There are no monsters here," she said, putting him at ease. "This is the rare Ulwaat berry indigenous to this region. It's a type of strawberry from Ulwaat that is rich in vitamins. It has almost miraculous healing properties. When Noctis was injured, we used a cocktail of Ulwaat berry and other herbs to make a healing potion for him."
She plucked a few berries from the tree and offered them to Leon.
"I am not hungry," he said.
"I am sorry, I shouldn't bring up Noctis in front of you," she apologized.
"You have nothing to apologize for." He promptly responded. "The smallest flicker of light can guide us through the darkness. Noctis has been that light for you all these years. Even when I am gone, he will continue to be that light for you. The one who provides you hope in the face of despair will always have a special place in your heart. I understand that now."
'But what about the one who accompanies you through that darkness? Does he not warrant a place in the heart?' asked her conflicted mind.
"Thank you for understanding, Leon. Your words soothe my troubled heart." She admitted, regaining her composure.
Leon nodded and continued walking ahead.
The rest of the journey was spent in silence as they eventually came out under a waterfall. They carefully navigated over rocks covered with moss to come to the solid ground. They could see the port now.
"I hope everything goes smoothly," she prayed nervously as they approached the port.
A security guard from the Empire stopped them and asked, "Hold, where do you think you are going?"
"We are from Altissia. We need to go back home," Leon replied calmly.
"Show me your passports," the guard demanded. Leon handed him their passports, and the guard inspected them carefully. "Go to gate number 8. Your ship leaves shortly."
"Thank you," Luna replied courteously.
They cleared one more security checkpoint and boarded the ship successfully, without any hiccups. Once inside, they were greeted by the staff and the captain.
"Hello, my name is Nida and I am the captain of this ship. It is my pleasure to welcome you aboard our ship Balamb," said the man wearing a white uniform.
Squall clutched his head as he tried to remember where he had heard the names of Balamb and Nida before. Luna rubbed his arms gently, instinctively.
"Please make yourself at home. We pride ourselves on being the epitome of service. If you need anything, just alert our staff and we'll do anything to accommodate your needs," Nida added.
"Thank you, Captain Nida," Luna said as they entered the ship. It was a majestic ship with multiple floors housing hundreds of people.
"Next stop, Altissia," announced Captain Nida.
Author's Notes:
To write the exact same dialogues from the game, but to evoke a different meaning out of them turned out to be lot harder then I initially anticipated. Hope you enjoy this chapter.
We are off to Altissia. The end is near. I am hoping to wrap up this story by the end of 2021. Thank you everyone who has been with me on this ride and still supporting this story. A big shoutout to KimmyGhoul, darkpaladin89, p6lishb6kser, and YuukiAsuna-Chan for their support and encouragement.
Let me know what you think about this chapter in your comments, I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks :)