Restored

by Quantum Leek

[Shattered Dreams vol 3] Reina Lucis Caelum lived ten years of darkness awaiting her brother's return, at the end of which time... she woke up on May 15th, 756. The day before her father died. Now, against her father's orders, she returns to Insomnia with Noctis and co in tow, armed with the knowledge of everything that will occur in the next two days.

57. Regis, Feeling Helpless

From aboard the Magitek engine, they had watched as the colossal daemon tore through ranks of Crownsguard and Kingsglaive alike. And then Reina had come, a streak of blue ever dogging Drautos, and summoned the Lucii to her. Centuries it had been since the statues of the Old Wall had last drawn their blades; Regis had not thought to live to see the next time they did, but here they were. He could not decide if that was a blessing or a curse.

They could see some little of what followed: the imperial fleet was in full retreat following the loss of their army, but one drop ship lagged behind the rest and a man dangled from the closing hatch. It wasn't until he had fallen and been caught that Regis realized it was Cor.

They lost sight of both Reina and Cor after they warped from the sky. When Ravus landed the ship, neither were anywhere to be seen. Or so he thought, before Ignis indicated the burning Magitek ship and those figures that skirted around it.

Thirty years he had willingly sacrificed for the good of Insomnia and Lucis. He wished them all back. If only he could have moved more quickly. If only he could have reached her in time. If only he had some of his old strength and youth back.

He might have saved her.

It didn't matter that his spent years had bought life for Insomnia. What was all of this without his little girl?

Crownsguards and Kingsglaive alike surged past him while he struggled with cane and knee. He reached the burning ship well after the others. He watched Ignis and Iris climb aboard at the last moment, and the blue streaks as Kingsglaive blades sliced through the air, searching for purchase and failing to find it.

"Reina—!" Regis' cry was lost in the roar of the fire and the grind of the Magitek engine.

He watched Noctis, screaming after his sister, throw his blade as hard as he could. He watched the blade clash against the metal of the ship and fall with Noctis attached. He watched the Glaives try again and again, throwing their knives mid-air, only to slide off the smooth side of the ship. He watched that ship rise up until it was but a red star in the black sky.

And all he could do was limp after—five feet, ten feet, twenty feet behind the Crownsguard—then stop and stare with the rest of them.

If only he was stronger.

He would have given Lucis for her.