Hello, friends! Welcome to Chapter 16 of Frozen Heart. I know I'm back a little earlier this time than I have been the last couple chapters. I just had lots of fun with this chapter, and I had one of the scenes half written already, so the writing part didn't take quite as long. Hope you enjoy!

Thanks for all your support!

Disclaimer: I don't own FFXV.

Chapter 16: The High Commander

The Second Summer...

"My Mother once told me, long ago, that each star is unique. They all have their own personalities, their own stories. And when I was young, I would lie out under the stars just like this, and imagine backstories and lives for each of them. It was so much fun."

Viessa smiled wistfully as she looked up at the sky, letting her head fall back lazily in the grass. It was the perfect clear night for stargazing, and she was thrilled that they had finally met on an evening like this. She and Ardyn had been planning this event between the two of them for weeks, but something always seemed to get in the way. Whether it was rain, wind, or a schedule conflict, something foiled their plans at every step. But finally, fortune seemed to smile upon them.

Ardyn, who was lying next to her with his hands crossed behind his head, listened to her story with patient ears. Once she was finished, he said with a good-natured laugh, "The more I hear of your mother, the more I think she must be far more interesting than my own."

"You shouldn't worry," Viessa said with a half smile. "My Mother is one of a kind." Then, pointing up at a group of stars above her, she added, "Look, there's the constellation of the Archaean."

She was met with silence.

"Do you see it?" she asked.

He was hesitant when he raised his hand. "Hm... well, maybe-" After a few seconds of awkward deliberation, he dropped his hand and said, "I suppose not. What does it look like?"

Viessa tore her gaze away from the sky and turned her head toward him in disbelief. "What does it look like? Does no one teach astronomy anymore?"

He turned sheepish. "I may have neglected to pay attention during my studies."

"Oh, this won't do," Viessa murmured, shaking her head. "This won't do at all. Now come, look here." Without missing a beat, Viessa reached over to take Ardyn's wrist, and she manually extended his finger so she could point it in the correct direction. "He's holding up the meteor there. See?"

"I—believe so," Ardyn said, sounding like he was probably squinting even though Viessa wasn't watching his expression. Then the lightbulb went off. "Ah! Yes—those four stars there, and then... I see it."

Viessa smiled. "The Archaean is almost always visible this time of the year. Unfortunately, Leviathan and Bahamut only appear on this continent during the winter, so I won't be able to show them to you. But I can show you Glacies! Here." With a quick motion, Viessa moved Ardyn's hand again so he was pointing directly at the constellation of her Mother.

"Hm," he said softly. "I see it—that's Shiva. Isn't it?"

She nodded. "Yes. But long ago, 'Glacies' was also an acceptable name for the Ice Goddess. It was what the people of Solheim originally named the constellation—in honor of her strength. Although I suppose it's become rather outdated since the fall a few hundred years ago."

"I like it," Ardyn told her with a smile.

Pulling her hand away from his, Viessa rolled flat onto her back and looked straight up at the sky. "Well, in that case, you should memorize it," she joked. "I expect you to know all the constellations by heart and sight by next summer. I will remember to ask."

"I suppose that's something I can manage in nine months," he said, laughing. Then, turning to face her, he asked, "Does that mean you'll come back?"

His expression was serious enough to make Viessa uncomfortable, and she looked away as quickly as possible. "Of course I will. We travel here every year—so I'll visit again in June."

He didn't answer.

After a few seconds of silence, Viessa turned her face back toward his, to see him gazing blankly at the stars. "Ardyn, are you all right?" she asked.

He blinked. "Oh—yes, I'm fine. I was just thinking that June seems dreadfully far away."

"Don't be ridiculous," she said with a small laugh and a sigh. "It will come before you know it."

"This has been my escape," he admitted. "As the eldest child of House Caelum, I'm expected to be—I'm not sure—greater than I am. Everyone always wants something from me, and my brother doesn't understand." Then, pushing himself up abruptly into a sitting position, he continued, "But you... you have never asked for anything of me but my time. I will be sorry to lose that."

Viessa smiled ruefully as she followed suit and sat up as well. The grass felt cool beneath her fingertips as she used her hands to adjust position. "Goodbyes are difficult," she said, putting a hand on his shoulder affectionately. "But we'll meet again. Let's do our best this year and be glad we will have something to look forward to."

Ardyn lazily rested his elbow on his knee. If he was still sad, he didn't show it as a teasing smile crossed his face. "Very well, next time we meet, I'll know the name of every star in the sky—on one condition."

"Oh? And what's that?"

"Next summer, let me teach you to properly play chess."

Viessa burst out laughing and pushed his arm playfully. "Stop it, now. You can't blame a girl for having humble origins."

"Nonetheless, you should learn it," he said. "What was it you said when I asked if you played? 'Oh yes—the table top game with all the rules.' I think you would enjoy it if you tried it—and perhaps even prove a formidable opponent for me."

Rolling her eyes slightly, Viessa replied, "All right—next summer, you can teach me all your ways. I always enjoy a challenge."

Ardyn grinned in the dark. "Then it's settled. In June, I'll bring my chess set." And Viessa couldn't suppress the light feeling in her chest at seeing him happy.

Present Day...

If there was anything Ardyn had learned in all his years on this planet, it's that human beings were much like animals. They were split in two—predator and prey. To get what he wanted, he'd had to learn to become a predator. And in time, he found he liked it.

From the moment he met her, Ardyn suspected Lydia would be entertaining prey. But he had the sneaking suspicion that she was not accustomed to that role. She was used to being powerful—in control. He wondered how she would adjust to being the hunted. Would she run straight for Altissia, or would she stand and fight?

Ardyn found himself unexpectedly eager at the thought as he pulled his vehicle into the car park at Galdin Quay. It was already midday, and he was a tad behind schedule after having to find his car and "interrogate" a young man who'd been unfortunate enough to offer Lydia a ride last night. He was more than accommodating of course, thanks to Ardyn's power to daemonify.

Now, Ardyn had the man's entire conversation with Lydia in his head. It was a shame she didn't tell him much—but then, that also meant she wasn't a fool. And she would be a very interesting opponent if she was.

As he was shutting the front door to his car, Ardyn heard an unpleasant ringing noise coming from his pocket. After letting out an annoyed groan, he reached inside and pulled out his mobile. Verstael Besithia appeared on the screen.

Oh, how he wished he hadn't let that man convince him to invest in a mobile device. Gone were his days of peace now that he could be accessed from anywhere in the world at all hours of the day or night.

Nonetheless, Ardyn sighed in resignation and lifted the phone up to his ear, knowing he would still be forced to explain himself later if he didn't answer. "Verstael," he said in a drawn out tone. "Your timing is impeccable as always."

A deep, gravelly voice responded on the other end of the line. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Oh, you know me," Ardyn said, leaning his back against the door of his car to talk. "I'm a busy man. What can I do for you, my inquisitive friend?"

Verstael wasted no time before continuing. "As you know, I'm well on my way to putting the finishing touches on my crowning achievement. But I've run into a snag and could use your assistance to run a few tests—it shouldn't take up much of your time."

"And what are you doing that requires my presence?"

"My work is very nearly complete, and I've managed to nearly perfect the fusion of armor technology and daemon energy," Verstael said. "But the full preservation of consciousness is proving a bit more of a challenge. Your help would be much appreciated."

Ardyn absently swung the ring of his car keys around his finger as he mulled over Verstael's proposal. He'd willingly acted as the radical scientist's lab monkey, confidant, and professional counsel for over 30 years—and in the past, he'd put a great many activities aside to help with the research. While Ardyn was virtually unstoppable physically, he had to admit he likely never would have reached this point if not for Verstael's unique capabilities and willingness to press the boundaries of science and magic.

Yet Insomnia was taken, and Noctis was practically in the palm of his hand—what need did he have to continue humoring Verstael's delusions of daemonic superiority and immortality? Oh, if only he knew how foolish and misguided his ideas were. This pitiful man looked at Ardyn and saw everything he aspired to be.

If Verstael ever truly achieved what he was after, Ardyn wondered how long it would take him to realize his mistake. He hardly dared to hope a day might come when he would taste mortality again.

After letting a second or two to pass between them, Ardyn reached up to rub his chin and said, "Unfortunately, I'm a bit tied up today. Perhaps later in the week I could pop over to Gralea and lend you a hand."

"Oh? Playing hard to get this time?" Verstael replied. "What exactly is it that has you so preoccupied? Certainly not orders from the Emperor."

Ardyn smiled. "You're well aware I have my own interests to attend to. I make no excuses."

"Ardyn—I daresay you've been attracting too much attention recently. The higher-ups are starting to become suspicious of your absence. I worked hard when you rose to this position to make sure you had as much freedom and mobility as you wanted, but you shouldn't be so reckless."

And after all these years, Verstael was the only one who dared speak to him so freely. He was the only person who didn't fear him, despite knowing the extent of his power better than almost anyone. Ardyn didn't mind it, but he found the attempt to look out for him amusing.

"Oh, please," Ardyn said playfully, with a little bit of reproach in his tone. "You know what I am. Your concern is touching, truly. And I am grateful for every opportunity the Empire has given me." He continued on, imagining the scientist's expression on the other end of the line. Ardyn knew this would grate on him—which is precisely why he was saying it in the first place. "But I do believe we made an arrangement when I became Chancellor. If you and his Excellency wanted someone who could be easily controlled, perhaps he should have chosen someone else for the position. I'm not a pet, Verstael."

Pause. "You know that isn't what I was suggesting, Ardyn."

"I know what you were suggesting," Ardyn said. "All I'm doing is making myself clear. If the Emperor has questions or concerns about my whereabouts, he can feel free to reach out to me himself. I've complied with every request, every command, for the last 35 years—I daresay I've earned the right to play when I want to."

And just imagine—if I were a normal man in this era, I'd likely already be of retirement age.

Verstael made a grumbling sound over the phone and replied, "As long as your idea of 'play,' doesn't stand in the way of our goals, Ardyn. I have little interest in what you do with your spare time. I was merely offering some friendly advice."

"And I deeply appreciate it," Ardyn said. "You're not to worry about a thing, my good man. I always honor my commitments, so I'll see to it that you have everything you've always wanted."

He decided he might as well. Although Verstael was no longer of much use to him, it was a bit premature to make an enemy of the Empire. Especially when they still had control of the Crystal. He wouldn't need to worry about them for long—Iedolas and Verstael were both ticking time bombs, and they'd likely destroy themselves with or without his help. But on one front, Verstael was right—Ardyn couldn't be too rash.

And so he continued with a diplomatic, "Just a little bit of time is all I ask. Another week at the most. Then I'll return to Gralea to assist with your final experiments. Is that satisfactory?"

"Please don't rush on my account," Verstael said, not sounding the least bit sincere.

Ardyn, on the other hand, pretended not to notice the irritation in the man's voice as he said, "Thank you, Verstael. You are so understanding. Now I have some business to attend to, so I hope you won't mind me cutting this little conversation short."

"Ardyn—"

"Until next time, Verstael."

Then he hung up. And after slipping his phone back into his pocket, Ardyn locked his car and strolled up the beach of Galdin Quay. The sun reflecting off the water and the sand was especially bright, causing his eyes to sting. It was the most difficult time of day for him to be out due to the strength of the sun, but as always, he ignored it and went on his merry way.

Still, he couldn't help feeling relieved when he crossed the walkway and entered the shady refuge of Galdin's Mother of Pearl. It was bustling with people, but Ardyn maintained a safe distance from them as he scanned the room. Hunting was much more challenging in public than it was from the shadows.

When the server at the counter had a free moment, he decided to approach her in hopes that he might glean some information. He put on his lazy, easy-going demeanor to show he wasn't a threat, and she regarded him with a polite smile. "Can I help you?"

Out of respect, he spared a moment to temporarily remove his hat from his head. "Actually, I'm looking for a woman," he said.

With a raised eyebrow, she replied, much to his surprise, "Is that supposed to be a pick-up line?"

Pick-up line...?

It took him a few a seconds to catch her meaning, as he had to reach back in his mind to remember what "pick-up line" meant and how it might apply in this context. But once he realized, it made him smile and he gave a small chuckle before replying, "Oh, no. My apologies—I'm looking for a specific woman. Long, dark hair, gray eyes, purple jacket—about this tall, perhaps?" He lifted his hand next to him so it was about level with his shoulder.

The clerk turned her head away and placed a finger on her chin to think for a moment. "Hm... I see a lot of people throughout the day, so I'm not sure. I don't think I've talked to her though. If she's here, it's possible she's checked into the hotel, or someone down at the beach might have seen someone with that description. Sorry I can't be of more help."

Ardyn smiled sweetly. "No trouble. Thank you, milady."

Unexpectedly, the low rumble of thunder somewhere in the distance caught his attention, causing him to look up. "What's that?" he asked absently.

The server, who was currently drying off dishes at her station, said, "I think there's a storm off the shore somewhere. Odd, since the weather didn't call for any rain today—hopefully it doesn't force us to close up early this afternoon."

Now preoccupied with his own thoughts, Ardyn brushed past the counter and headed out toward the dock so he could see the ocean. The light blinded him when he stepped outside. He blinked a few times and placed his fedora back atop his head, letting his vision come into focus before looking out to sea.

While the sky was as bright and blue as any other pleasant day in Galdin Quay, there was a storm raging several miles out. From his position, he could faintly see swathes of rain coming down on Angelgard. Dark, ominous clouds threaded together over the sea, and small flashes of lightning danced in them, causing little rumbles that carried quickly across the water.

Ardyn could only think of one explanation for such a phenomenon. The Oracle had successfully awakened the Fulgarian, and he was in a bit of a foul mood.

Fascinating that she managed to secure passage to the island in such a short amount of time. He wondered—what were the odds...?

In a gesture that was quite unusual for him, Ardyn pulled his mobile phone out of his pocket for the second time today and dialed a number. After a few rings, a voice spoke on the other end of the line. "I certainly hope this is important—Chancellor."

"High Commander!" Ardyn said, a slow smile spreading across his face. "I'm so glad you picked up. Tell me—how is your search for the Princess going?"

Hours went by before the rain finally began to subside. In the meantime, Lydia and Lunafreya had both managed to get a little bit of sleep, but woke up feeling no less exhausted and uncomfortable. Lydia was hungry and sore, and the effect this island had on her still hadn't completely gone away. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so hopeless and alone, and she knew it was at least, in part, due to what she'd just learned about Ardyn.

As she'd always hoped, Ardyn found someone else to love after she left. But he lost her—and then had everything taken away from him, just so Bahamut could use him as some sacrificial lamb to get rid of the Starscourge. She'd spoken to the Draconian only once, and at the time, she'd believed what he told her about Ardyn's destiny and hers. That's why she left him behind in the first place.

But this revelation made her question everything more than ever. Had he misled her just so he could keep them apart for the sake of this cruel, twisted plan? Did Ardyn even know?

No, he had to. If he was connected to Ifrit, and it was true that he could absorb the memories of those he daemonified, then he had to know the truth of his destiny. And that meant—he had to know about Lydia, too—didn't he?

She couldn't be sure. All she knew was that for some reason, he wanted to kill her, or was "testing" her in some way. The question was, did she even stand a chance against an unstoppable force of darkness with thousands of years' worth of memories and the power of Kings?

As much as she would have liked to say yes, the reality was probably quite different. Meaning that unless she could find some way to reason with him, her best chance was to run and hide—not fight.

She couldn't afford to spend any more time at Lunafreya's side. She'd hoped joining with her would lead to Shiva, but there was still no sign of the Glacian. It was non-negotiable at this point—Lydia had to get to Altissia before Ardyn found her. It was her only chance to make it through this alive.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Lunafreya asked as she and Lydia stepped out of the shadows and into the warm evening light. The entire island was shining with newly fallen rain, and the smell of the air was refreshing. Even so, Lydia couldn't possibly escape this place soon enough. She hoped she would start to feel more like herself once she was far away from here.

With a frustrated sigh, Lydia led them back down the hill toward the shore. "The longer we wait, the harder this will be. So let's just get it over with, shall we? I'd rather get past this rough patch of ocean before nightfall."

"All right," Lunafreya said with a nod. "In that case, I'll carry Pryna this time."

"We'll have to be fast," Lydia added. "But I'll try to cover a broader area than I did earlier today—that should offer more protection."

"Wait," Lunafreya said suddenly, coming to a halt.

Lydia stopped as well and turned around to look at her, confused. "What's wrong?"

"We've been found," she said softly, pointing in the other direction.

And sure enough, when Lydia turned around, she saw a Magitek Engine heading toward them from the mainland. It was moving fast, and Lydia cursed under her breath, wondering whether they were here for her or Lunafreya.

Whoever they were, they had to be someone who wasn't afraid to approach the island—and she imagined there were few individuals who fell within that category. The wonders of modern Magiteknology was that Nilfheim garbage could easily access places by airship that weren't accessible by car or ship.

First thing was first—get out of their line of sight. So Lydia tapped on Lunafreya's arm and bid her to turn around. "Let's go back—hurry!" And the two women rushed back toward the cave where they could stay better concealed. As they fell into silence, Lydia could hear the low sound of the engine as it descended on the island. She heard it open up, and Lunafreya tensed up next to her, likely preparing herself mentally for a fight.

Lydia channeled some magical energy into her fingertips. She could easily blast someone long-range from here before they saw her, but she had to be ready. On the chance that it was Ardyn, perhaps she could at least stun him long enough for them to make an escape. They were at a slight disadvantage while isolated on the island—but being a half-goddess and an Oracle, she had a feeling they would stand a chance.

A few moments of silence passed before Lydia finally saw someone in the distance, headed toward them on the path down to the cave. Lydia's eyes narrowed, and she prepared to strike.

But much to her surprise, Lunafreya's hand gripped her arm and held her back. "No, stop—please."

Lydia turned and looked at her incredulously. "What are you doing?"

"That's my brother," the Oracle said simply, before leaving a confused Lydia's side and rushing out of the cave like a complete idiot. Unfortunately, there was no time to stop her—so Lydia just released a frustrated sigh and cautiously followed.

The man who came into view as she walked up the path was imposingly tall and broad-chested. His shoulder-length hair was so long that it was almost white, and he had a steely look in his eyes that softened just a little when he saw Lunafreya.

Lunafreya didn't stop until she had hands on both his arms—one of which appeared to be a prosthetic. "You're here—how are you here?"

"I've been searching everywhere for you," he said in a firm tone. Then, with a quick scan of her condition, he added, "You look dreadful."

She laughed, pushing messy hair out of her eyes. "I suppose it's been a difficult week."

Lydia stiffened automatically when the man's eyes flickered toward hers a second later. His gaze was cold and penetrating—untrusting, as if he had already branded her an enemy in his mind. "And who, may I ask, is this?" he asked, looking at her disapprovingly.

"Lydia Glacies, at your service," she replied, returning his critical stare. "And you are?"

"Ravus Nox Fleuret," he said. "High Commander of Niflheim." Then, turning back to Lunafreya, he said, "I'm here to bring you home, Sister."

Lydia raised an eyebrow as she looked back and forth between the two siblings. Well—isn't this unexpected?

So, what do you know? We got a little Ardyn POV in this chapter. Actually, the conversation with Verstael wasn't originally planned. But I actually think their relationship is quite interesting, and it's a shame that it isn't explored more in the main game. So I thought it would be fun to have a little dialogue between them here - especially since I am expecting Verstael to return later on.

And that's that! In the next chapter, we'll be seeing a bit more of Ravus - and more importantly, we'll find out whether he's a friend or foe to Lydia!