Hello, all! Welcome to Frozen Heart, Chapter 13. Sorry about the wait - it's been a busy week.

Anyway... this chapter is a little bit different than other ones I've published recently. It marks the story's debut of Lunafreya the Oracle! I'll be honest, up until I finished the last chapter, I hadn't quite decided whether I wanted to introduce her yet. But I think this was the right place to do it. While I'm not planning on writing from Luna's point of view super often, she is going to play a role in the story. I've always felt that she was one of the greatest examples of wasted potential in FFXV - so I'm hoping to spend a little more time developing her, as well as her relationship with Noctis.

As you're probably going to see, this chapter takes a slightly different approach to what happened during this time period than you might expect. Lunafreya has always been portrayed as someone strong-willed, but also pretty naive and lacking in "street smarts," if you will. But sometimes I felt her creators went a little overboard with these traits in the movie and the book. So I'm going to try to stay true to the character we were given - while possibly taking a few liberties here and there.

Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own FFXV.

Chapter 13: Love is Precious

Lunafreya Nox Fleuret marveled at the sight before her as she looked out over the hill at the ocean below. She could see moving vehicles and people in the distance, although they looked incredibly small from her vantage point.

Galdin Quay looked much smaller and less extravagant than the famous City on the Sea. But despite the circumstances, she felt blessed to see one of Lucis's most famous destinations for the first time. She only wished he had the freedom to enjoy it. The sights, the sounds, the food—she could only imagine how lovely it would be to live among them day in and day out, meeting individuals and enjoying the simplicities of modern life.

But alas, she had a duty to fulfill—and it would do no good to dwell on the unattainable.

She had to press on. There had to be someone here who could help her secure safe passage to Angelgard.

"Come along, Pryna," she said to the small dog beside her, feeling a bit ridiculous as she placed a sporty-looking cap on her head and covered her eyes with dark sunglasses. The clothes she had bought a few days ago in a shop were not exactly her style. But she knew she had to appear inconspicuous if she wanted to avoid attracting unwanted attention. Lunafreya was too well-known, even within Lucis. If she revealed herself, her mission to awaken the Gods so Noctis could realize his true power would be all for nothing.

And so she ventured down to the resort, trying not to look too formal as she watched people laugh and play along the white beaches. It was a hot day, but the light breeze coming off the water felt refreshing on Lunafreya's face. The soft trotting noise of Pryna's feet nearby combined with the sounds of the sea gave her confidence while they walked down the long dock. People walking by seemed to pay her little mind, which came as somewhat of a relief. If the last week had taught her anything, it was that she knew next to nothing about the world or its people. But she was eager to learn as much as she could while she still had time.

"I'm sorry, Miss," a man said, holding out his hand to halt her as she walked under the pavilion. "No dogs allowed."

Lunafreya looked down in surprise, realizing Pryna was still next to her. Her sweet friend whined softly, prompting Lunafreya to reach down and scratch her ears. "It's all right, Pryna. Wait out here for me?"

The dog sat obediently, and Lunafreya gave her a reassuring smile before standing back up and heading inside.

The restaurant, called Mother of Pearl, was not as busy as she expected. Although she supposed it was a bit early in the day to be bustling with customers. That didn't stop her, however, from accidentally bumping into someone from the side when they rose from their seat. She murmured a timid, "Excuse me," when she brushed against them. But they seemed to be in a world of their own and paid her little mind.

She kept going until she reached the order counter, where a woman in a red uniform was multi-tasking between speaking to a customer and cooking something on the grill next to her. Lunafreya's stomach growled, and she realized she was hungry—but time was of the essence, and she wanted to chart her new direction right away. So she reluctantly passed by the counter and walked out on the other side of the pavilion.

When she came out into the open, she looked out over the lonely, empty dock with a sigh. Nothing. And the only other soul outside was a lanky, clean-looking young man with blonde hair and a disheveled mint green tie. He was sitting on a bench under the nearby overhang, but didn't seem to notice her at first. Perhaps he would have information that could help her.

He was texting or typing something on his mobile device, which made Lunafreya hesitant to approach. "Excuse me?" she asked, holding her arms closely to her side as she focused on moderating the sound of her voice. "Do you—know when the boats come through here?"

The man looked up from his phone in mild surprise, and then raised his eyebrows as he looked her up and down. A smile spread across his face, and his phone disappeared inside his jacket. She held her back straight despite her discomfort under his gaze.

"Well, now," he said, his voice sounding oddly pleased. "What have we here? A pretty young thing from outta town!"

Lunafreya startled, backing up slightly. "How would you know I'm from out of town?" she asked.

The man leaned forward, resting a hand on his knee. "For one—that getup."

Lunafreya's face fell. Of course she knew her clothes looked ludicrous—but she had hoped she was the only one who thought so. Did she stand out that much?

He seemed to notice her nervousness immediately. "Hey, no worries," he said, leaning back against the bench. "I'm not here to judge. Just to observe. Anyway, you were asking about the boats? I think you'd have to be from out of town or living under a rock not to know—and no ferries are coming in or out. Niflheim's orders."

All at once, Lunafreya felt very stupid and small. She should have suspected as much. Empire presence in Lucis had been growing exponentially since the fall of Insomnia. It only made sense that they would be restricting travel in and out of the Kingdom.

But if that was the case, she had no idea how she would get to Angelgard. All it took was a quick glance out to sea, and she could spot the island just a few miles off-shore. It seemed so close, and yet it was just out of reach. Without some sort of vessel, she was trapped here unless she could find someone who was able and willing to help her.

But if no ferries were entering or leaving the resort, Lunafreya saw no reason to linger here. She would find a way. She had no choice.

So folding her hands behind her back, she gave a slight head nod to the man in front of her. "I understand. Well—thank you for the information. I'll be going now."

But to her surprise, when she stood up and started to leave, the man in the chair shot up. "Hold up, not so fast," he said, moving in front of her to block her way.

She started, backing up instinctively before looking back up at the man and standing her ground. "I'm sorry, but I'm in a bit of a hurry."

"Oh, I can tell, I can tell," he insisted, a big grin forming on his face. "I didn't mean to startle ya. Listen—my name's Dino. I'm real familiar with what goes on in these parts. I pay attention. So I was just thinking, maybe I could help you out. Looking for a way out of Lucis?"

She hesitated, wondering if she should trust him. When she was young, her brother always scolded her for being too trusting and naive. But she couldn't think of any reason he might have to harm her. There was no indication that he knew who she was, or any sign that he was affiliated with the Empire. If he was telling the truth, it might a mistake to dismiss him.

So after a few seconds of deliberation, she nodded slowly and said, "Yes..."

"Then I might have a little insider info you'd be interested in," he replied, raising an eyebrow.

"All right. What is it?"

The man suddenly laughed, causing her to start. She felt a slight irritation creeping up on her as she watched him. Her patience was typically limitless, but today all she wanted were answers. And a few seconds later, disappointment overcame her when he stopped laughing and said, "Aw, well—nothing comes for free, sweetheart. If I'm gonna help you out, I'll need a little something in return."

"I—I'm afraid I don't have much to offer," she said softly.

"Oh, it's no big deal, really! I'm not asking for your money, or anything like that. Just a—let's call it a favor."

"A favor?"

He stepped aside, leaving the path up the steps open and leaning his arm against the railing. "Yeah—how about you have dinner with me? A little bite at the Mother of Pearl here, and I'll tell you anything you want to know."

Lunafreya wasn't the most worldly person. And it wasn't in her nature to be immediately suspicious of anyone, no matter the situation. But even she thought that was quite an odd request, and she wondered what he could possibly have to gain from it. Was he asking her on a date? If so, wouldn't it be kinder to politely decline now rather than feign interest?

"It's nothing serious," he said, as if to reassure her. "Sometimes a guy just gets lonely, you know? Just give me your company for an hour—I'll even pay for your meal. How's that?"

She stopped to consider for a moment. Well, if it was only an hour or so, she supposed it wouldn't do any harm. She saw no immediate threats nearby, so maybe she could afford to stop and take a rest—especially if it meant this man, Dino, would help her.

So after some deliberation, Lunafreya nodded and gave a small smile. "All right. I accept. An hour, and no more."

His face lit up at her reply. "Of course, of course," he said, gesturing for her to head up the stairs. "Nothing to worry about. You won't regret it—this place has the best cuisine in the Kingdom."

As they walked back under the pavilion, Lunafreya laughed and said, "I don't doubt you."

Despite Dino's claim that they were having "dinner," it was still quite early. That meant that while there were a few people buzzing about the restaurant, business was slow and the chef seemed to be at complete peace while she cleaned the countertops surrounding her. Lunafreya almost felt guilty for disturbing her when she and Dino approached.

While the chef had her back turned, Dino crossed his arms and leaned them on the counter, gesturing for Lunafreya to come closer. She hesitantly obeyed and stood next to him, careful to maintain at least a few inches of distance between them. Self-consciousness wasn't an emotion Lunafreya experienced very often—but she was quite sure she was feeling it now.

Lunafreya didn't have to stew in silence for long. Dino fully relaxed against the counter, and as he did, he appeared to give the woman across from them a knowing smile. "Hey, Babe—"

"I thought I told you I didn't want you bugging me at work."

Lunafreya stared at the woman's back, wide-eyed. She hadn't even turned around, and yet she knew they were there and reacted in an instant. I suppose these two must know one another...

Dino's smile fell for perhaps the first time since Lunafreya had seen him. And with a quick sigh and a scratch at the back of his neck, he said, "Yeah, I know—but this is important. There's somebody I want to introduce you to."

Rag in hand, the woman in the red uniform turned halfway toward them. Her eyes fixed on Dino's at first, looking thoroughly unimpressed. Then she turned her attention to Lunafreya. Her smile was not warm or kind, although it seemed like it was intended to be. "And who is this?" she asked.

Dino shrugged. "Aw, just a new acquaintance I wanted you to meet. You know me—I attract all the cool celebrities."

Celebrity?

"Great," the chef said. "So, did you want something to eat?"

Shaking his head, Dino continued, "No, no, you got it all wrong, Coctura. I brought her here for you." Then, leaning in closer and lowering his voice, he added, "I know how much you've always wanted to meet the Lady herself. It's Princess Lunafreya, Baby."

Suddenly, Lunafreya paled and felt sick to her stomach. Did he really just say her name out loud?

While the woman's eyes widened, Lunafreya backed away from the counter slightly and shook her head. "Wait—no, I... please..." Panic overcame her, and she didn't even know what to say. Dino had given no indication that he recognized her when they met—how did he identify her so easily? What would she do if anyone else found out? Suddenly she felt that everyone's eyes must have been on her in that moment, and she could barely breathe.

Of course, Coctura didn't seem to believe Dino's words at first, lowering her eyes before looking back at Lunafreya. "Somehow, I highly doubt that Dino..." But then when she looked at Lunafreya, she paused and took a moment to study her face. Now that the seed had been planted in her head, it only took a few seconds for her to see through the disguise. She lifted her hand to her mouth slowly, as some sort of shock overcame her. "No..." she said. "Oh my Gods, you can't be—Princess Lunafreya?"

Lunafreya stepped forward frantically and made a quiet motion with her hands to shush her. "Please—please not so loud. Please don't tell anyone."

"Aw, relax," Dino said, not looking concerned in the slightest. "No one in here is gonna notice us."

"I'm sorry," Coctura said softly, lowering her hand from her mouth. "I'm just—I'm just so amazed to be talking to you right now. You have no idea how much I admire you. Of course I totally—completely understand if you want to stay discrete. But could I make you something? It would be an honor to serve you—truly."

Lunafreya felt rather silly being spoken to in such a way, especially while she was dressed in this attire. But even on a normal day, she often felt strange when people idolized her. She'd been taught from youth to respond graciously to that sort of attention, and she loved all the people of Lucis and Tenebrae equally.

But Lunafreya didn't feel special, or powerful. She only did what she felt she had to. And by allowing people to fawn over her, some part of her felt she was being—dishonest, in a way.

Still, she found herself reacting to Coctura's words with a smile. "That's very kind of you. I wouldn't want to impose." Then, pressing her lips together, she reached into her bag. "I'm afraid I don't have much money with me..."

"Don't worry about it," Dino said. "I told you I'd pay for your food—and I always follow through on my deals."

Lunafreya still wasn't sure what to think about Dino, considering she was fairly certain she had just been used. But she didn't yet understand why. It seemed he had wanted to get Coctura an audience with her. But was there more to the story? She was afraid that if they wanted more from her, she had very little to give. And if she lingered here too long, she feared not only putting herself, but also the people near her, in danger.

In response to Dino's insistence that he'd pay, Coctura shot him a glare. "You'd better not have been trying to blackmail her, Dino."

The man threw his hands up in protest. "What, me? I would never! Geez, a guy tries to do something nice, and he gets scolded."

"Yeah, well—you usually deserve it," she said. Then, her face brightened back up a bit when she looked at Lunafreya. "What would you like? We have a menu if you want to take a look."

Lunafreya looked down at the counter, and then quickly glanced back and forth between Coctura and Dino. "Oh, um... perhaps you could surprise me?"

Coctura's eyes widened slightly, and then her expression turned thoughtful. She brought her fingers up to her chin and then took a few seconds to think. "Hm..." she said. "All right, sounds like a fun challenge. I'll whip you up something special! Okay? You're welcome to have a seat anywhere you'd like in the meantime."

Lunafreya nodded, her spirits lifted after seeing how happy Coctura seemed to be. Perhaps her being here wasn't such a terrible thing, if it meant she could bring smiles to a few faces. And when she glanced over at Dino watching Coctura with unreserved adoration in his eyes, her frustration with him seemed to fade immediately. She wondered if Coctura noticed him looking at her like that as she went to work.

A few minutes later, Lunafreya found herself a seat nearby and sat down. While she felt it was rude to wear a hat at the table, she didn't dare remove it, for fear that others would recognize her. She instead distracted herself from the discomfort by gently smoothing out the tablecloth at her fingertips.

She also tried very hard not to eavesdrop, but found herself partly listening to Dino nearby as he continued speaking to Coctura. "See, huh?" he said. "Wouldn't have bothered ya if it wasn't a big deal."

"Yeah," Coctura replied, her voice smaller and harder to make out from this distance than Dino's. "And what did you say to get her to come talk to me?"
"Nothin' much," he insisted. "I'm helping her out, that's all. Honest. Cross my heart. Come on, I thought you'd be thrilled."

"I am. And it was sweet of you to think of me like that—it's just... oh, nevermind. I'm busy. Let's talk later, okay?"

He tapped the countertop eagerly, looking triumphant when Lunafreya glanced over. "Talking to me again—that's progress, darlin'. I'll take it."

Coctura scoffed and looked back at her work, signalling that she was finished talking. Dino let out a long sigh and pushed away from the counter, turning to head back down toward the dock. At first, Lunafreya thought he might stop and join her, but instead, he simply gave her a wink as he walked by.

Despite the fact that there were people moving about the restaurant and music playing not far away, Lunafreya felt isolated as she sat and waited for Coctura. And while she knew Pryna was waiting for her just outside, there was a sense of loneliness creeping up on her that she simply couldn't shake. Oh Gentiana, is it selfish that I wish you would offer me words of comfort today?

She never thought a day would come when she would miss her brother so much. As impulsive and stubborn as Ravus could be, he was the only the family she had left. If word came back to her that he didn't survive the fall of Insomnia—well, she dared not consider it.

Fortunately, it wasn't long before Coctura waved from the counter and pulled Lunafreya out of her lonely thoughts. With a smile on her face that outshone the sun itself, the chef held a plate out to her as she approached. "One Sea Bounty Risotto! Eat it while it's hot. I also have a special dessert surprise for you when you finish."

Lunafreya took the food gratefully and headed back to her seat. And much to her pleasant surprise, the meal was as delicious as anything she'd ever eaten at home. She didn't even realize how hungry she'd been until she started eating, and suddenly she felt glad that she decided to stay.

As Lunafreya finished up her meal, Coctura had someone take her post temporarily so she could bring a dessert plate directly over. Lunafreya smiled as she stopped in front of her, setting the plate down. "This is very kind of you." Upon looking more closely, she saw a rich, decadent chocolate pastry with berries on top. "What is it?" she asked softly.

"This," Coctura said, sounding extremely proud of herself, "Is a special dessert made for you. Well—for you and Prince Noctis, that is. I made this to commemorate your wedding."

Lunafreya glanced back down at the dessert, baffled by Coctura's words. There was a whole dessert dedicated to her planned wedding with Noctis? She didn't know what to say.

"I... you made this for us?" she asked, not even caring that the wedding was cancelled and the fleeting dream of marrying her beloved Noctis was past. She had known Coctura for less than an hour. Yet Coctura knew her, and had been pulling for her and Noctis all this time. Why did that feel so—comforting? And sad at the same time?

"I know things are rough now," Coctura said, lowering her voice. "But the marriage announcement between you and the Prince was an inspiration to everyone. And the fact that you're here is just incredible."

Lunafreya softened, despite a happy reunion with Noctis seeming so impossible now. "Well, I certainly wasn't expecting to meet such a talented chef during my travels, so—I admit, I'm just as thrilled."

Coctura laughed. "Oh, your flattery is sweet, but unneeded." Then, with a slight shrug, she added, "Although I like to think I'm pretty good at what I do. My restaurant is my pride and joy."

Lunafreya gaped. With wide eyes and a renewed level of appreciation, she looked around at the tables and décor. "This restaurant is yours?" she asked.

"Yep," Coctura said while folding her arms across her chest. "Opened up four years ago. I was young and impulsive back then, but fortunately it's been well worth the investment."

"I can see it has," Lunafreya said.

Coctura didn't answer right away, instead tilting her head and regarding Lunafreya with attentive eyes. The silence between them lasted a few seconds, but not quite long enough for her to start feeling awkward. Finally, Coctura sucked in a breath and said, "Listen, um—I hope Dino didn't say anything too off the wall, earlier. Sometimes he can be a little—intense. He means well. Usually."

It was a curious thing, listening to people talk about those they loved. Moments ago while speaking to Dino, Coctura had seemed so cold and impatient. But in that instance, Lunafreya could hear a touch of endearment in her voice and see a glint of softness in her eyes. Somehow, that alone was enough to improve her opinion of Dino almost instantly.

"That's all right," Lunafreya said, carefully folding her hands on top of the table. "I can tell he is very fond of you."

Coctura looked away to consider, and then gave a tiny shoulder shrug. "Hm... yeah, he is. Sometimes he just has a strange way of showing it. He acts tough, but he's always trying to impress me." A low chuckle escaped her lips. "As if he even needs to."

Lunafreya tilted her head, regarding Coctura thoughtfully. In light of this revelation, she wondered if Coctura had ever told that to Dino. She didn't know what was currently coming between them, but the solution seemed exceedingly simple to her. They were both alive and well—and most importantly, together. What was holding them back from simply telling one another how they felt?

She found herself on the verge of voicing these thoughts, but closed her mouth at the last second. Perhaps it wasn't her place to comment on the situation. After all, she barely knew these people. The best she could do was lend an ear if it was needed or a bit of encouragement. While her Mother was long passed now, Lunafreya did remember a few of the most important things she'd taught her. And one of those was that in most cases, when people spoke of their troubles, they weren't looking for advice. Only provide advice when asked—otherwise, simply listen and offer compassion.

"Anyway," Coctura said with a small huff, as if suddenly realizing she'd shared too much, "I should be getting back to work. But you're welcome to stay as long as you'd like, and please—let me know if there's anything else I can do for you. I'll be around all day."

"You're too kind, Coctura," Lunafreya said, pulling her pastry toward her so she could finally try it. She did like the occasional flavor of chocolate in her diet. And as expected, Coctura's dessert was delicious—in fact, the first bite made Lunafreya blush with joy and remember her childhood, when she and her brother would sneak off to the bakery and bribe the chef for fresh desserts.

They were simpler times, indeed.

After finishing with her dessert, she delivered her compliments to the one who made it and then timidly made her way back down to the dock, where she found Dino sitting in the same place she'd found him earlier that day. "I was wondering where you ran off to," she said with a smile, casting a shadow over him with her body as she approached.

Dino squinted from the light of the sun when he looked up. "Eh, I didn't go anywhere. Just thought I'd let you and Coctura have some quality time. Hey, you know, I'm sorry about any confusion that may have caused. See, she's a big fan, and I knew she'd just be over the moon to see you."

"Oh, I understand," Lunafreya said, walking over to sit on the bench next to Dino. He raised an eyebrow, and for a moment she thought perhaps she'd been too forward. But she continued, nonetheless. "I admit, you surprised me, though. I am trying to keep a low profile—for a variety of reasons."

He made a dismissive gesture with his hand. "No one was gonna recognize you."

Lunafreya shot him a disbelieving glance in return. "Not to be rude—but you did."

"Because that's what I'm trained to do, Princess," he replied in a nonchalant voice. "I'm a reporter. I'm good at recognizing people. See, most people would never pay enough attention to see through that little disguise you got going on, but you can't fool this guy. Trust me."

She took a moment to consider his words, realizing that perhaps her disguise hadn't been the issue. She was just unfortunate enough to speak with someone who was more observant than the average individual. And now she had to be concerned about the press chasing her.

"You said—you're a reporter?" she asked. "I hope you won't tell anyone—"

"Oh, don't worry about it, sweetheart," he interrupted. "I said I'm a reporter, but—that's all in the past, really. I'm leaving the job behind and going into the jewelry business. So you can imagine I'm not really looking for any big stories at the moment."

Lunafreya regarded him thoughtfully. "Jewelry?"

"Yeah," he said with a shrug. "It's been kind of a rough start because materials are kinda scarce, but I'm committed to making it work. Once I get things going, I'm hoping to make something special for Coctura. But I haven't been able to find the right kind of gemstone yet."

Something about Dino's desire to craft a piece of jewelry for his loved one struck Lunafreya as incredibly romantic and sweet. If he made something from the heart, she had to think there was no possible way Coctura could turn him away.

If she had time, perhaps she would try to think of something to make for Noctis. While she had no idea what she could offer him, she felt inspired enough to do almost anything in that moment.

A strong impulse them came over Lunafreya, and she reached behind her head underneath her hat to remove the decorative hair clip she'd worn since she was a child. The sunlight reflected off the deep green gemstone, causing the clip to shine brightly under the late afternoon sky. "I'd like you to have this," she said, holding the piece out to him.

After studying it closely without touching it for a few seconds, his eyes widened. "Is that real emerald?" he asked. "And you're just giving this to me?"

She nodded.

Dino took the piece and held it up to the light in admiration. "Damn, are you sure? This is pretty valuable."

"I'm completely sure," she said. "With that, I imagine you could create something lovely that would suit Coctura."

There was a pause, and then Dino burst out laughing, although he was careful not to drop the hair piece. "Wow, way to make a guy feel guilty there."

"I'm... sorry?" Luna said, confused by his reaction. She thought he would be pleased.

But Dino just laughed again and shook his head. "Nah, I don't mean you need to be sorry. It's just—that's a really nice thing of you to do—especially after I embarrassed you like that."

"Well," she said softly, "You did pay for my meal. And you agreed to help me, so... I rather think of this as more of a 'give and take' relationship, don't you?"

The amusement was plain on his face as she spoke, but she willed herself to continue even under his gaze. "Besides," she said, folding her hands together thoughtfully, "I believe love is precious. It should be cherished. That's why I'm happy to help—with what little I can offer you."

When she glanced up, he was still looking at her. But his eyes seemed a little bit softer now, somehow. "I think I'm starting to see why the people love you so much, you know that?"

"And I'm starting to think you're a much kinder person than I first realized," Lunafreya responded.

He scoffed and leaned back in his seat. "Well, we can't all be experts at judging character," he joked light-heartedly. Then, with a more serious look on his face, he lowered his voice and said, "All right... so you're really serious about getting out of Lucis?"

Lunafreya nodded. At this point, she was desperate enough that she was willing to accept any lead she could find.

Much to her surprise, Dino suddenly seemed hesitant to speak. But after a few seconds, he leaned in close to her and said, "All right. You didn't hear it from me—but word on the street is there's a guy—Devlin. Once upon a time, he was a pretty big deal around these parts for his angling skills."

"Angling?" she asked.

"Yeah, fishing," he elaborated, causing her mouth to form a wide "o." Then he continued, "Anyway, he's got a few boats stationed a few miles west of here. I hear he helped somebody smuggle something out of Lucis a few days ago. Maybe he'd be willing to lend you a hand."

"How far west is it?" she asked.

He shrugged. "I don't know, six or seven miles, maybe. You stay on the coast, you'll probably find the guy."

It wasn't much to go on, but she had to try. She couldn't waste more time sitting and doing nothing.

With a quick nod, she touched Dino's arm and said, "That's wonderful. I can't thank you enough."

But when she shot up to take her leave, Dino turned in his seat abruptly. "What, you're leaving already?"

"I'm sorry," she said, smiling back at him ruefully. "I must. No time to waste. But I do appreciate your help—and I wish you all the best of luck with Coctura and with your jewelry business. I'm sure it will be marvelous."

She didn't give the man any more time to reply before heading back up the stairs. On the way out, she smiled and thanked Coctura one more time but kept her momentum going as she exited the pavilion. Pryna, who waited for her the entire time, fell into step with her—and they made the long walk back across the dock together.

A renewed sense of perseverance came over Lunafreya despite the long journey still lying ahead of her. She knew she was fighting, not only for the one she loved, but so that others like Dino and Coctura could live and love freely as well. She wasn't afraid to face the darkness.

I will be with you every step of the way, a voice whispered in the back of her mind. She smiled, knowing it must have been Gentiana, providing those words of comfort she'd asked for earlier.

Wherever she had to go—whatever challenges she had to face—she wouldn't let Noctis down. It was her duty to awaken the Gods and convince them to stand at the King's side, whatever the cost. Lunafreya would gladly give her life to ensure destiny was fulfilled—even if it meant her own dreams of expressing her love and becoming a bride were dust.

So yeah... I brought back a couple familiar characters, like Dino and Coctura. As Luna is someone who doesn't have much experience with people in the real world, I wanted to give her a chance to watch and think about other people's relationships - particularly how she can identify with them. Interestingly, it feels a bit strange to write from her viewpoint, since I'm usually writing from the more jaded view of Lydia. They're kind of opposites in a lot of ways, don't you think?

In the next chapter, we'll be following Lydia again - but we'll definitely be seeing more of Luna in the near future as well! So until then!