" what happened to Ignis ? " Prompto begins to wonder as Gladiolus checks the scene.
" seems like a battle has taken place , It is likely Ignis either taken away or... " then falling silent.
Gladiolus did not want to think that Ignis had died in this battle. " but that worries me Ignis is nothing if not resourceful. He has covered us in many battles. He has taken down daemons and half an army to get here. And Ravus is no slouch either. To find Ravus and Noctis like this and Ignis gone is troubling. "
He was right about that. Ignis had been fiercely protective of his future King from a young age, and his determination was unmatched by most of Regis' Crownsguard. With the head start he'd had, he should have reached the altar well before them.
Sora squinted in the failing light. The sun was almost down, and it was raining on top of that. Sora summons his keyblade focusing on Noctis as he draws on magic
" heal... " casting cure on Noctis. A green aura then covers Noctis' body healing him a bit. Seeing the horrors of war for the first time. To him it seem no different then fighting the heartless that attacked his home.
" that's all i can do for now , I am not strong enough to heal him completely. its up to him now "
Gladiolus moves to Ravus and presses a potion into his hands and squeezes the bottle till the glass cracked.
" we have to get these two back to the Leville and get a doctor. How bad is Noct hurt ? "
Prompto had turned his friend around and lifted him into a sitting position.
" He doesn't have any obvious injuries, but he's out cold , most likely because of exhaustion. "
The local hospital was overflowing with people. People searching for their loved ones, injured being treated, families reunited or torn apart by death.
The local headlines on a newspaper read...
The Oracle , Lady Lunafreya of tenebrae , lost her life when her summoning of the Hydraean went terribly away.
Lady Lunafreya was swept under the Altissian waves alongside her fiance. Crown prince Noctis of Lucis.
Despite falling unconscious for several days , the prince has made a miraculous recovery and is currently being treated.
The world was entirely too bright as Noctis tried to open his eyes. He groaned softly, blinking a few times. Looking around the room he found Prompto , Gladiolus , Sora , Donald and Goofy.
Taking note that one person is missing his oldest friend and advisor. Instead he sees Ravus , who has now cut his ties to the empire after his sister's passing. He can no longer return to the empire otherwise he may be sentenced to death. Without the Oracle , Noctis is the only one left who can save their world. Ravus now pledge his aid to the true king.
Ravus approaches Noctis , but then decides otherwise knowing he will reject it , instead he decided to safeguard Regis's glaive for Noctis until he is ready.
" I have a feeling I know where Ignis is taken , come with me "
Ignis awaken on the cold , hard floor of the Zegnautus Keep.
" where are we ? "
" you have to ask ? "
" why , Zegnautus Keep of course. The current home of your crystal. You must have many questions. Seek the answers yourself if you dare. "
Getting up and looking around Ignis narrows down the list of areas he could be brought to. One place comes to mind the imperial capital Gralea.
" the question is why ? whats his game... "
As he approaches the crystal his head begins to throb and Ignis is given a vision...
Blessed was the man born for the throne , yet he so impure of heart was denied by the stone and cast into ignominy.
Feeding on the dusk and embracing the darkness , he spurned the dawn , effecting a life untouched by time.
And though the coming of night eternal , he now seeks to enact vengeance upon his own blood.
" 'vengeance upon his own blood' is that why he is after Noct ? "
The stone , chrysalis to the soul of our star , cradle to the king destined to serve as vessel of its light. Gods and men alike awaited the coming of the chosen as they fought to fend off darkness blight... for he and he lone would process the power to purge our star of its scourge.
" Noct really must be the chosen king after all "
Once the sacred ring is replete with power , the true king will complete his ascension. only then can he banish the blight upon our star. By the power of the light alone is the chosen king made manifest. with the glaive of kings , the stone of legend , and the ring of light in hand. the chosen's power will surpass that of even the gods themselves. by that selfsame power , with the true king as its vessel the darkness shall be purged from our star...
And dawn shall return to our world ounce more.
" this is it "
Ignis then turns to see Ardyn approach. " why are you after Noct , for revenge "
" In a sense yes but my aims extend beyond the boy , he is also the means to an end. I never revealed my proper name so allow me to introduce myself Ardyn Lucis Caelum "
" the founder king ? "
" if only , no that will be my brother who snatched the throne and cast me into exile. I never been called your majesty before , will you do me the honor "
" my alliance lies with the true king alone "
" well then off with your head "
A fight then breaks out between Ignis and Ardyn.
Meanwhile Ravus has brought Noctis and his remaining retainers to Zegnautus Keep. They find the keep swarming with daemons as they fight their way to the crystal...
Ravus questions Noctis " my sister has the ring did she give it to you ? "
" no "
Noctis' answer can only mean one thing either the empire has taken it or Ignis. If Ignis did there is no telling what condition they will find him in should he decide to use it.
" we must hurry " Ravus then tells the others.
Ignis is forced to the ground by Ardyn's attacks and he could not even scratch him with his weapons. Ardyn then approaches Ignis.
" you see , the revenge I see is not upon the boy. I only wish to punish the crystal that cast me aside in favor of that insufferable fool "
" he is certainly taking his sweet time ascending as its champion. will there be a way to expedite the process "
Ardyn proceeds an attempt to kill Ignis right then and there but fails. Ignis pulls out the ring of the lucii.
" this world means nothing to me , do with it as you wish. But I refuse to let Noct sacrifice his life to save ours I won't let you take him away. even if it cost my own life to save him. I will pay that price "
Ignis dons the ring of the lucii. The ring scars his vision as the contract is forged. All Ignis can think of at this point was to save his friend's life and nothing else. He summons his daggers and begins slashing away at the darkness before him. The Spirits residing in the ring know Ardyn is someone who must be defeated , so they grant Ignis their power.