Hello all! Welcome to Chapter 15 of Frozen Heart. This chapter covers the journey of Lydia and Lunafreya as they start making their way to Angelgard - it was an entertaining chapter to write, so I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own FFXV.
Chapter 15: His Suffering
The sun was high in the sky by the time Lydia and Lunafreya reached the shore. There was a slight breeze, and Lydia could hear water gushing as the tide moved in and out. Angelgard sat in the distance, looking ridiculously far away from this angle even though she knew it was only a few miles off-shore. It must have been her tired eyes and legs distorting the view.
Luckily, the beach appeared desolated, which meant they likely wouldn't be bothered. But Lydia knew they couldn't linger for long. She didn't imagine Ardyn finding her that easily, but the last thing she wanted was to get complacent. And now that she wasn't traveling alone, she had to stay extra alert.
"So," Lunafreya said as they walked out onto the beach, "What exactly did you have in mind? The island looks so far from here."
Lydia tried not to laugh when Lunafreya slipped and nearly fell while walking on the sand. In an effort to suppress her emotions, she waited a few seconds before answering. "It'll be a long walk," she admitted, holding up her hand like a visor to peer out at the island. "But it'll probably still be safer and faster than trying to find someone to get us a boat at this point."
Then, without waiting for an answer, Lydia kicked off her shoe and stood at the edge of the water. She stepped forward, and the instant her foot connected with the water, a layer of ice formed and shot out in all directions. Suddenly, the every inch of water laid out ten feet in front of them fell deadly still. Lunafreya's eyes widened as she stared at the newly formed path of ice in front of her. "You propose we walk across?"
Lydia nodded. "I can create a path for us the whole way. Like I said—long walk—and possibly a little rough once we get closer to the island. But it'll get us there. Are you ready for this?"
For a moment, Lunafreya turned and looked out over the sea. She glanced at Lydia, and then down at Pryna. Then she pulled her bag more tightly over her shoulder and gave a confident nod. "Yes—I'm ready."
Lydia clapped her hands once and started moving forward, not minding the cold sensation against her newly bare feet. It was much easier for her to use magic when not restricted by shoes or gloves. She did, however, have to make sure that she and Lunafreya watched their steps on the uneven ice path formed over a sea of rolling waves.
"Are you certain this is stable enough to walk across?" Lunafreya asked, watching her feet anxiously as they walked along. When they reached the edge of the platform, Lydia stepped over the edge and extended the path another twenty feet or so.
"Seems a little bit late to be asking important questions like that," Lydia remarked with a laugh. Then, giving Lunafreya a reassuring glance, she added, "But yes. Believe me, if I wasn't 100% confident, I wouldn't be doing this."
Lunafreya nodded, seeming to trust her answer. "You have quite the gift, Lydia," she said. "I can't thank you enough for your help."
"Eh, it's nothing," Lydia murmured. "It's not like I'm being noble or anything. I'm just taking advantage of a fortuitous situation. I need to speak with Ramuh—can't exactly do that if he's passed out on Angelgard."
Lunafreya looked at her in confusion. "You're seeking an audience with the Stormsender?"
With a laugh, Lydia replied, "You make it sound so formal. There's just something I need to ask him, that's all."
In return, the Oracle kept her head high and her eyes forward, seeming pensive but clearly not wanting to pry. After a quick nod, she added, "Then I pray you have your question answered. I'll do everything in my power to ensure that happens, just as soon as I awaken him and call upon him to forge his bond with Noctis. We'll succeed." And then, under her breath so that Lydia could barely hear, she whispered, "We have to."
The poor woman had no idea what she was doing. She'd probably been preparing for this her whole life—but it was one thing to practice combat in a controlled environment and develop her abilities in the safety of her own homeland. Lydia imagined it was another beast entirely to face the real deal. Especially while out in the world on her own for the first time. Given how out of her element the Princess appeared in the wilds of Lucis, Lydia had to admit she was impressed she made it this far. Sheer willpower, determination, and devotion.
Lunafreya reminded Lydia a bit of Ignis in that way.
The two women continued on in silence for what felt like hours. As the sun moved higher and higher into the sky, Lydia kept a steady momentum going that allowed her to create pathways with ease. She didn't want to seem anxious while with Lunafreya, but she took every chance she could get to sneak a glance back toward the shore to make sure they weren't being followed.
Alas, the bulk of their journey was quite uneventful overall. The challenges arose when they came within half a mile or so of the island. As Lydia suspected, the water became more restless near Angelgard, with a strong current and powerful waves making it more difficult to form a path that could stand up to the physical abuse. She found herself having to create wider platforms and bend down to reinforce the ice with her hands so they didn't get swept away.
When Lydia crouched down and dug her fingers into the ice, she pushed her magic out in all directions, forcing a thick layer of ice to still the unforgiving waters. But a few seconds later, a massive wave beat against the platform and washed over their feet, almost knocking Lunafreya over.
"You okay?" Lydia asked, pulling herself into a defensive standing position so she could hold her ground if she had to.
Lunafreya nodded. "Yes, I just lost my balance for a second—"
Before she could finish, Lydia cut the Princess off by shouting, "Look out!" and pushing her aside. As a wave nearly as tall as Lydia herself approached, the Half-Goddess threw up her arm and erected an ice barrier to protect them from the blow. She heard a massive crack as the wave struck her barrier and the side of the platform, and Lydia shielded her face as water and ice crystals rained down on them. Her feet were soaked and freezing, but they managed to escape the worst of it.
But Lydia never had a chance to breathe her sigh of relief before Lunafreya's voice rang in her ears. "Pryna!"
When Lunafreya whipped around, she saw the little dog struggling to tread water as she was swept away by waves. Even worse, Lunafreya was reaching down to take off her shoes and dive in after her.
A sigh of frustration escaped Lydia's lips as she ran past Lunafreya and tapped her arm. "I've got this. Just keep to the path and don't stop!" She didn't turn around to check whether or not Lunafreya listened, instead focusing on her feet took as she ran out onto the open water. Ice formed under her feet with every step she took, although it didn't last long. Waves on the summer sea broke up her thin layers of ice quickly, and she had to keep her footsteps light and move with the flow so she didn't get dragged under. Her eyes stayed fixed on the dog as much as possible—but she quickly found it was difficult to keep track of her when the waves kept pushing her down. She hardly had any time to come up for air thanks to the relentless beatings of the ocean.
Lydia knew it was a matter of timing, and she didn't have much to work with. So rather than taking the time to think, she just acted. The instant a wave came within reach, Lydia hopped on it and used the ice under her feet to propel herself forward. As she surfed the length of the wave, she picked up speed and closed in on Pryna, who was just barely treading water.
Without slowing down, Lydia reached into the water when she raced past and grabbed the dog by the back of the neck. She let the sea carry her back toward the path with Pryna securely under her arm, but wiped out near her destination, slamming into the edge of the platform hard enough to make her dizzy. At the last second, she managed to toss the dog onto the platform, where Lunafreya was now waiting despite her earlier instructions.
"We're almost there!" Lunafreya exclaimed as she reached down to help Lydia up. Another wave hit, nearly knocking both of them into oblivion. Luckily, the Oracle was able to grab the dog with enough time to protect her from the blow.
"Come on, stay together!" Lydia said, getting a grip on Lunafreya's hand. She pulled her along, not bothering to take the time to create thick layers of ice as they weathered the last few hundred feet of their journey. The ice she formed under her broke apart almost immediately, leaving little room for error. The shores of Angelgard were so close, and Lydia didn't look back. Once they were within range, she pulled herself and Lunafreya onto a small platform and let a large wave push them right onto shore.
A low grunt escaped Lydia's lips as she felt her face collide with sand and rock. With her heart pounding and adrenaline high, it took her a few seconds to realize they actually made it. And when she turned her body over and looked out to the sea, she saw that it had nearly destroyed the entire path she made. Good Gods, she wasn't looking forward to the journey back.
But she couldn't focus on that now.
"Hey, you two still hanging in there?" she asked, turning her attentions to Lunafreya and Pryna, who were both lying sporadically on the ground next to her. "Sorry," she added. "That was a little rough toward the end."
Looking dazed, Lunafreya pulled herself into a sitting position. "Exhilating, to say the least," she said after a few seconds, shaking her head. "But we all made it—thanks to you. That was amazing."
"Oh, you flatter me," Lydia said with a dismissive wave of her hand. Although she initially thought she was okay to stand, it took her a few seconds to right herself. Feeling a bit winded, she had to rest her hands on her knees temporarily to catch her breath.
It also occurred to her once she was on her feet that her bag was gone—meaning she had no curatives, no money, no water, and no personal items left with her aside from the clothes on her back. That realization alone was enough to ruin her entire mood. Sure, she could always get new stuff, but she was miles away from civilization, and without her cellphone.
Maybe this was a mistake after all.
Nevertheless, it was too late to second guess her choices now. So she decided to push that particular issue to the back of her mind so she could narrow in on the one in front of her. And it became perfectly clear as she turned her face up and gazed upon Angelgard up close for the first time.
The strangely shaped island was completely barren of any vegetation or life, and she could hear nothing but the sounds of birds squawking above and waves crashing against the shore. Angelgard's jagged peaks reached high into the air, giving Lydia a peculiar sense of forboding as she stepped forward. Her feet were bare, but the rock underneath her felt warm compared to the searing chill of her ice path.
Out of the corner of her eye, Lydia saw Lunafreya pull herself to her feet. The young Princess seemed properly mystified as she lifted her head and looked up in the same direction. "This place," Lunafreya said in little more than a whisper. "It looks so empty... and yet somehow, it feels almost—alive."
"Angelgard has a rich history," Lydia said. "This is where it all began, after all. This is the birthplace of all magic on Eos—I just can't believe I'm actually standing here right now."
"That is what they say," Lunafreya said softly, causing Lydia to turn and look at her.
The half-goddess smiled and said, "Oh, it's true." When Lunafreya tilted her head, Lydia continued, "One of the benefits of being the daughter of an Astral is that you get to hear a lot of amazing history. This is where the Crystal was formed—and it's where the Astrals first emerged from the Beyond. Of course—that was thousands of years before I was born."
She received only silence in return, but didn't wait to see Lunafreya's expression before turning away and starting up the hill toward the center of the island.
But she didn't make it far before stopping once again in her tracks. It hit her like a freight train, and she would have doubled over if she hadn't dug her heels into the ground. The feeling of inexplicable loneliness and anger, darkness and emptiness—it clouded her vision and her thoughts to the point where it was difficult to concentrate, or even remember why she was here.
She closed her eyes, putting a set of fingers to her throbbing forehead as a cold, sick sensation washed over her. It wasn't an "I'm going to throw up" kind of sickness—but something that ran far deeper and punctured her very soul. It was as if something inside her was being crushed and torn apart. And underneath all the white noise, Lydia was sure she heard a voice.
"Lydia?"
Emptiness...
"Lydia! Are you all right?"
Nothing matters...
"Lydia, please speak to me."
Give me death...
"Lydia!"
A hand grabbed Lydia's arm, shocking her out of the dark thoughts that were not her own. The sick feeling remained, but she was fully aware when she turned her head to glance at Lunafreya's fearful eyes. "What happened?" she asked breathlessly. "You look so pale."
Lydia swallowed and put a hand on her chest, feeling strangely heavy inside. Disoriented, she looked down at her feet in the hope that it would help her reorient herself. But the aching in her heart and the haze in her mind didn't subside.
"I don't know," she finally said slowly, wrapping her arms around herself for comfort. "I just—don't feel right, for some reason."
"It must be Angelgard," Lunafreya said, still touching her. "We both agreed there was something peculiar about it—perhaps it's affecting you differently. If what you say is true—and you really are the child of a God... then you must have a special connection with them."
Lydia laughed. "You catch on quickly. But you are right. It must—it must have something to do with Ramuh. But if so, then I can only think he's in terrible pain for some reason. I've never felt anything like this."
With great effort, Lydia managed to take another step forward. But it surprised her how much she struggled to do something so simple—as if something massive was weighing down both her body and spirit. And when Lunafreya saw how much trouble she was having, she asked, "Are you sure you wouldn't like to sit and rest? I could take a look around—or stay here with you if you'd like. If there's anything I can do..."
But Lydia shook her head. She couldn't give up now. She feared that if she allowed herself to sit down, she wouldn't be able to convince herself to rise again. There was no choice but to keep going, even if every step killed her inside.
"I can do this," she insisted. "Let's just find Ramuh."
Of course, Lydia very much doubted they would find the Stormsender just lying around somewhere on the island. At least not in his natural form, anyway.
As they made their way up to the center of the island, Lydia's spirits didn't improve. But she kept her intrusive thoughts to herself, instead trying to focus on what was directly in front of her. At the center rested a set of nine ancient staves pressed into the ground, surrounded by a crystalline structure that blinded her when her eye caught it at the right angle. Not far away, there was a path that led down into the interior of the island. Shiva once told her this used to be the site of a prison designed to hold some of the most dangerous defiers of fate and humanity.
She had to guess that's where the path led—but she dreaded to approach it. The eerie sense of familiarity she felt while here was... almost paralyzing.
Lunafreya, appearing much more confident than Lydia felt, slowly stepped forward the island's spiritual center and reached out her hand, letting out a gasp as it seemed to react to her presence. "I think this is it," she said softly. "This must be Angelgard's link to the Beyond."
"Maybe that's why we can't see Ramuh," Lydia murmured. "He's only partly here in the mortal realm." Then, glancing at Lunafreya, she asked, "Do you think your spell, or incantation, or whatever you do will still work?"
With a solemn expression on her face, the Oracle pulled her hand away and then summoned her trident. She looked oddly regal in her position, despite wearing only jeans and a button-down shirt. "I have to try," she said resolutely before motioning for both Lydia and Pryna to stand back. Despite her own feelings of physical weakness, Lydia found herself leaning down to pick up the dog so that she would be safe if anything happened.
She had to admit, she wasn't 100% sure what to expect.
With her back to Lydia, Lunafreya clutched the trident between her fingers and took a deep breath. Then, positioning the long weapon next to her, she held out her arms and—began to sing.
It started soft, but slowly rose in volume until Lydia couldn't hear anything else. The sound of Lunafreya's crystal clear voice echoed throughout the entire island, overshadowing even the sound of waves below or wind in Lydia's ears as the wordless tune rang forth. For a few seconds, Lydia even thought she felt the heaviness in her heart ease just a little.
But as Lunafreya proceeded with her song, the sky began to darken. Clouds closed in, and Lydia felt a slight chill in the air, causing her to hold Pryna just a little bit tighter. She blinked when she felt a raindrop fall on her nose.
That split second was all it took. A flash of light assaulted her eyelids, followed instantly by a deafening crack that shook the whole island. When her eyes opened again, Ramuh was before them, and the singing stopped.
Lydia sucked in a breath as she stared up at Ramuh's colossal form, his stone-cold eyes that appeared to penetrate both flesh and soul. A long, white beard flowed down from his face, while a staff in his hand made its way to the ground and caused the island to rumble again on impact.
"Who awakens me from my slumber?" he asked, his voice low and resounding against the towering peaks of Angelgard.
Although most humans would have trembled and lowered their heads before such an almighty being, Lunafreya did not. She stood tall, looked Ramuh straight in the eye, and declared, "I am Lunafreya Nox Flueret, Oracle to the King—and one who would have your allegiance as darkness ravages our star. I have come to see to your awakening, that you may guide and aid the one True King to fulfill his calling."
"I know of the so-called 'True King,'" Ramuh said coldly. "Through the power of the Stone, I have become wiser—and I have seen much. It is bold of you to think such an impudent, mewling child is ready to harness the strength of the Gods."
"The darkness is growing," Lunafreya insisted. "Believe my words—the King has much to learn, but he is ready to face whatever comes his way. He will rise and face his destiny, just as the legends have foretold. You must know this if you are truly as wise and all-seeing as you say."
Lydia raised her eyebrows. Keeping it real, I see. Go, Lunafreya.
Ramuh, who was not kind but also slow to anger, took a second or two to craft his response. "So self-assured," he said finally, sounding vaguely impressed. "How intriguing, that you, a mere mortal, would speak in such a way to a God. You exceed my expectations, Oracle."
"I will fulfill my duty, no matter the sacrifice," Lunafreya replied. "I beseech you to work alongside us—forge a covenant with the King—so we may better do our parts to bring peace."
"Peace is not in my nature," the God of the Storm said. Then, leaning down so he hovered over her and Lydia's heads, he continued, "But with respect to my duty toward Eos, I will lend the King my power—if he successfully overcomes my trial."
"He will," Lunafreya said without missing a beat. Lydia had to admit, the Oracle's confidence in Noctis was striking.
A few seconds later, Lydia held in place when the Stormsender turned his gaze directly toward her for the first time. "But first," he said in a rumbly tone, "You. It has been a long time, Astra."
Lydia swallowed. No one had addressed her by that name—the name her Mother gave her at birth—in nearly two millennia. She had let it die with her relationship to Ardyn.
"Hello, Ramuh," she managed with uneven breaths. A small weight was lifted from her when Pryna jumped out of her arms.
"You come to me in desperation, I see," Ramuh observed. "And sorrow. You seek knowledge, which only one connected to the Stone can provide."
It hardly seemed fair that the Astrals could look inside her without permission, but she couldn't do the same. While Ramuh couldn't just stand there and read her thoughts, she knew he could sense her emotions and intentions—and that feeling of vulnerability made her tense.
But she didn't deny it.
"After all these years," she said, "You are one of the most powerful and most spiritually connected of all the Astrals. That's why I've come to you hoping you'll have answers. Answers about someone who I believed to be dead until recently."
"And who is this 'someone' you speak of?" he asked.
"Ardyn."
There was silence.
"You wish to learn of his fate? It is true, there are few among the living to this day who know his name, or would dare speak it. Among the Gods and the family of Lucis, he is known as only 'Adagium' or 'the Usurper.'"
"The... Usurper?" she asked, confused.
Ramuh nodded slowly. "He who was once destined to be King, cast aside in the wake of his corruption, to return seeking vengeance against his bloodline. The Usurper walks in eternity, spreading darkness—that one day, he may be defeated by the King of Light. His death is fated to rid the world of Starscourge forevermore."
For someone who usually put details together in her head rather quickly, she was having a hard time wrapping her mind around this one. Ardyn's defeat was destined to destroy the Starscourge? But that would mean—that would mean she was wrong the other day. Ardyn wasn't a daemon. He was the freaking walking entity of the Starscourge, and he was after her life.
But that just brought forth more questions. How the hell did he end up that way to begin with? Gods, where did she go wrong?
With a shudder and a deep breath, Lydia cast her gaze up at Ramuh. She had to know. "Show me," she said. "Show me what became of him."
The Stormsender's eyes narrowed slightly, and he regarded her with a sudden inquisitiveness. "Why are you so invested in the past of the Fallen King?"
If Ramuh knew of her past relationship with Ardyn, it should have been obvious why she was so invested. Although he'd spent all these years in slumber, she was under the impression that he had extensive knowledge of the royal family and the history of Lucis due to his connection with the Crystal. So why did he have genuine curiosity in his eyes right now? Why did he look at her as if he had no idea she left the new kingdom of Lucis and stripped Ardyn of his memories of her all those years ago?
She almost opened her mouth to ask him. But she stopped, fearing that if he didn't know, telling him would only lower her chances of getting what she wanted. Instead, she decided to take a different approach. "I just want to know the truth," Lydia insisted. "I deserve that much."
Ramuh looked solemn. For a moment, she worried he might refuse her entirely—but he looked undecided as he said, "Some truth is not for mortals to see."
Lydia straightened her back. "I'm not mortal," she replied. "I'm the daughter of Shiva, and I'm not so weak as you think." Then, after a pause, she added, "Show me."
She ignored the odd raindrop falling on her head and shoulders as she waited under the dark sky for Ramuh's decision. She knew the Astrals had never truly respected her before, but she was demanding respect now, and she hoped it would be enough.
After a long moment of deliberation, the Stormsender hovered closer to her, his massive body dwarfing hers on this island. "So be it," he said with a slow nod, "Daughter of Shiva."
Lydia didn't have time to prepare before a bright light overcame her vision, and she found herself flooded with new memories that were not her own.
She saw the long-haired, exhausted Ardyn fighting the Starscourge with his divine power. She saw the bitter fights he had with his younger brother, the love he shared with the first Oracle, Aera, and Ardyn's slow descent into darkness. She watched helplessly as it consumed him, as Somnus plotted to put an end to it. Ardyn's rage, his rejection by the Crystal and immortality.
She witnessed his rescue from Angelgard by Niflheim his subjugation of Ifrit and thousands of mortals as he sought to increase his power and learn about the kingdom his brother built. All for the sake of vengeance against the Crown.
What she did not expect was the flood of emotions that came along with it. While receiving Ramuh's memories of Ardyn, she experienced a familiar sensation—one that she'd first felt when she stepped onto Angelgard. Crushing emptiness, loneliness, hopelessness, that threatened to suffocate her where she stood. Once again, she forgot where she was, or even why she was there. She only knew she was cold and desperately alone, and that her entire body felt numb—as if she'd been in pain for so long that it no longer mattered.
Those few seconds felt like an eternity, and when she finally returned to her senses, the shock brought her to her hands and knees. Suddenly, Lunafreya was at her side, unintelligible words falling from her lips as Lydia tried to recover from what she'd just experienced.
Were those... Ardyn's emotions? From when he was trapped here on Angelgard?
Lydia could only think Ramuh must have absorbed some of Ardyn's memories directly while he was here. That's why she could feel them when she arrived on the island—she just didn't realize where they came from then.
But now...
Lydia was surprised when she blinked and realized it wasn't raindrops falling on the backs of her hands. It was tears.
Abruptly, she sat up and wiped them away before turning her gaze back up at Ramuh, who had no emotion on his face. As the sick feeling in her soul slowly faded into a dull ache, Lydia felt another sensation bubbling up inside her. It was anger, and she had to fight to keep it contained as she regarded the Astral in front of her.
"All those years," she whispered, "You felt what he felt?"
Ramuh nodded. "You experienced mere moments of his suffering. I absorbed 2,000 years of it." Yet he seemed unfazed by this.
His cold response prompted her to ask, "How could you possibly lie in sleep for two millennia and let that happen—knowing that what you were feeling was his pain?"
"It is not the place of the Gods to stand in the way of fate," he replied simply.
That response made Lydia grit her teeth. Exhausted both physically and emotionally, her self-control was tested. "See—you say that," she told him, pushing herself to her feet despite Lunafreya's careful attempts to keep her still. "But when you 'Gods,' as you so self-righteously call yourselves, talk about a little thing called 'fate,' you're actually talking about screwing with people's lives to get your way."
"The Starscourge must be destroyed," Ramuh said, "At any cost. You know this, so what difference does one sacrifice make?"
"One sacrifice?" Lydia asked with a dark laugh. "You call it 'one' sacrifice? And what about all the other people who are sacrificed because of what Ardyn has become? Do they not count?"
Ramuh didn't answer the question. "What you have seen is nothing compared to the devastation the Starscourge would bring unchecked."
"Lydia, please," Lunafreya whispered, imploring her to back down. But Lydia wasn't listening, and didn't particularly care if she pissed off Ramuh at this point.
"It doesn't matter," she said defiantly. "You toy with people like they're disposable. You're not making these sacrifices because humanity matters to you. As far as you're concerned, one is no different to the other. You encourage mortals to respect and admire you, and yet you've never once bothered to ask what they want."
Ramuh fell silent for a few seconds, and then asked, "Tell me—is there any value in understanding the desires of a people that is so keen to follow blindly?"
"You underestimate them," Lydia retorted.
"And you are foolish," Ramuh replied. "It appears time as not changed you so much as I first thought. You claim not to be mortal, and yet here you are—still thinking as one."
Lydia felt tears in her eyes again, but she held them back this time. "Is that so terrible?"
"It means you have no place speaking of that which you cannot and will not ever understand," he rumbled, lifting his head up and looking out toward the shores of Lucis.
But Lydia wasn't finished with him yet. "Don't you dare talk down to me!" she shouted. "I have lived and died among these people dozens of times over! I may not fully understand the burden on your shoulders, but you can be damn certain you don't understand mine. I refuse to let Ardyn or anyone else be a pawn in your twisted game."
With that, Ramuh turned his head and looked back at her. This time there was a storm raging in his eyes when he spoke. "I pity the soul that would dare attempt to resist his fate."
A few seconds later, a flash of lightning came down from the heavens. It struck the other side of the island, causing an explosion while knocking both Lydia and Lunafreya off their feet. When Lydia righted herself and glanced back up, Ramuh was gone.
"Well, that was a bit intense," Lunafreya said, about half a second before the sky opened up and it started to pour. Both women and the dog were soaked almost immediately, and when they heard another rumble of thunder in the distance, they realized it was probably a good idea to find shelter from the storm.
Unfortunately, the island was mostly barren—meaning they had no choice but to run down the path and venture into the dark cave below. The same prison Ardyn had been trapped in for millennia. The sick feeling Lydia had while Ramuh was here had mostly subsided, but another kind of uneasiness gripped her when they walked inside. As soon as they were safe, Lydia refused to venture any farther and sat down against the wall where she could still feel a little bit of spray from the downpour outside.
Lunafreya sat down across from her, looking just as drained as she felt—if not, more so. "Are you okay?" Lydia asked softly, watching as Pryna plopped onto the ground and put her head in the Oracle's lap. "I have to think that takes a lot out of you."
"It's all right," Lunafreya said, granting her a shadowy smile. "I'm sure I will feel better after a bit of rest."
Lydia nodded and looked away. "I get what it's like, you know," she murmured. "Having powers that drain you like that. You need to be careful you don't overdo it. It could kill you."
Lunafreya took a deep breath and replied, "I am willing to accept the price for my actions. I know my path—and I'm not afraid."
Another thunder crack caused Lydia to flinch. "Well, good for you, I guess," she whispered, leaning her head on her knees.
Unexpectedly, Lunafreya left her spot on the other side of the wall and crawled over to her side with bag in hand. Pryna followed and lazily sat down in between them. "Are you all right?" Lunafreya asked.
Lydia prepared herself to say "yes," but when she opened her mouth, she found herself closing it again. It was such a massive lie that for some reason, she couldn't even bring herself to say it. Instead, she just shook her head lightly and hugged her knees. She looked up again a few seconds later when Lunafreya held out a bottle of water.
"I saw that you lost your belongings earlier today," the Oracle said. "I don't have much with me, but I thought you might be thirsty."
She was, but had been trying not to think about it. And without giving it too much thought, Lydia found herself taking the bottle with a quick, "Thank you," and taking several grateful sips. Once she was finished, Lunafreya also drank some and offered a little bit to Pryna.
"I hope the storm will subside soon," Lunafreya said, looking at the heavy wind and rain outside.
"I suppose that's my fault for pissing him off," Lydia replied with a weak laugh. "Should have kept my mouth shut."
"Did you at least get the answers you were looking for?"
"I got answers. They turned out to be a lot worse than anything I was looking for."
There was a pause. "I'm so sorry, Lydia." The half-goddess looked up with a curious expression, prompting Lunafreya to clarify. "I mean—I don't fully understand your situation, but I can see that it hurts you deeply. So I'm sorry."
Lydia shrugged. "It's not like it has anything to do with you. Now I just need to decide what I'm going to do—that's all."
A few more seconds of silence passed. During that time, Lunafreya kept looking at Lydia and seemed pensive, as if she had something to say. Lydia could tell that Lunafreya was torn, as if she wasn't sure whether to speak or not. Lydia was finally about to tell her to just spit it out when she began, "I—I've heard legends. Of the Usurper, I mean. The one Ramuh spoke of. But you called him 'Ardyn.'" When Lydia just kept staring at her, Lunafreya asked, "Who is he, really?"
What a question.
It wasn't one that she could answer in a single sentence. But the easiest part of the answer was who Ardyn was to her. That much was simple—it always had been.
"Someone who made me want to be human."
So yeah, this chapter was kind of complicated for me from an emotional standpoint. Now Lydia knows the truth about Ardyn's fate and what he was meant to do... as expected, she's not happy about it. She's had a pretty difficult relationship with the Astrals over the years, and I think soon she's going to end up having to face some difficult choices. Now, she's involved in this war for the world, whether she likes it or not. But the question is, what will she do about it?
I'm looking forward into digging deeper into this story! Hope you've enjoyed so far, and see you next time!