two weeks passed...
Serah awakens under the watchful eye of Ignis.
For a long while Serah was only aware only for the minor throbbing on the side of her head. Her sense of time had been skewed she cannot tell if weeks had gone by or only a few minutes. At first he thought he had slept late , after a long unpleasant dream that hovered on the edge of memory. Or perhaps she had been ill ?
" Where am I ? "
A voice then tells her " You are in Altissia about two weeks after the imperials had attacked the city and the awakening of the Goddess of the tides , Noctis was here a short time ago till I sent him off to get some rest. He hardly left your side. But enough of that how you feeling now ? "
" I feel ok now " she responds sitting up on her own.
" I will be right back " Ignis replys then gets up and walks out of the room a few minutes later he walks back in with Noctis in tow. Noctis immediately goes to her side taking her hand " dear sister , I thought I had lost you "
" Brother I will always remain with you , no matter what. "
" Across the water and onto the rails, the royal retinue makes for Gralea, the imperial capital. Their objective; reclaiming the Crystal, that they might reclaim their homeland. However, the ring's weight proves too much for Noctis to bear. "
While on route by train to their next destination this time joined with Serah who sits down next to her brother attempting to cheer him up to no avail. All Noctis did is sigh and look out the window. Their plan is to head for Tenebrae but not before visiting a royal tomb in Cartanica. Prompto then asks if Ignis is certain.
" my wounds had healed but eyesight is a matter of time "
Gladiolus then walks up to Noctis " What the hell is wrong with you ? "
Noctis then looks up with a annoyed tone " What ? "
" We are not stopping at Tenebrae. You need to grow up and get over it "
" I am over it I am here am I not ? "
Gladiolus then grabs Noctis by the shirt " Maybe when you are not too busy mopeing you can look around and give a shit about someone worst off then you "
" let go of me "
" How does that ring fit ya ? you rather carry it around then wear it look at your sister she is younger and yet she carries her duty better then you. "
Eyeing the matching silver ring worn on Serah's left hand called the Astral ring by the royal family and is also known as the Summoner's ring mostly worn by and passed down from mother to daughter. Because there has not been one for many years the ring had been kept in the palace treasury since the passing of Serah and Noctis's mother. The ring was then taken by Vaan but now is returned to Serah.
Gladiolus continues to talk to Noctis with an enraged tone as if trying to slap some sense into him.
" She give her life so you can do your duty , not so you can sit around feeling sorry for yourself. "
" You don't think I know that. "
" Ignis and Serah took one for you too "
Ignis then tells Gladiolus to stop but he continues calling Noctis a coward. Which seems to hit a nerve causing Noctis to use force responding with a fierce tone and pushing him back " Shut up "
Prompting Serah and Prompto to get up " don't do this " they beg attempting to break up the fight. They are both pushed aside by Gladiolus. Noctis then pushes Gladiolus back responding in a harsh " I get it ...I get it alright. "
" Then get a grip and pull your head out of your ass already "
Noctis lets out a huff and storms out of the train car he was in while Prompto calls out his name. Gladiolus then tells his teammate to leave him. Serah then address the group " you can at least show some sympathy for him " goes after Noctis.
Noctis settles down on a empty seat in the next train car and looks at the ring in his hand. He is then approached by Serah " hey are you ok ? " she asks and sits down next to him. Serah can tell that Noctis is trying to hold back tears , so she comforts him " its ok to cry , just let it out "
Noctis silently weeps while Serah puts her head on his shoulder and begins singing , in memory of her fallen companion and now she sings it for her brother...
Alone for a while I've been searching through the dark,
For traces of the love you left inside my lonely heart,
To weave by picking up the pieces that remain,
Melodies of life - love's lost refrain
Our paths they did cross, though I cannot say just why
We met, we laughed, we held on fast, and then we said goodbye
And who'll hear the echoes of stories never told ?
Let them ring out loud till they unfold
In my dearest memories,
I see you reaching out to me
Though you're gone,
I still believe that you can call out my name
A voice from the past, joining yours and mine
Adding up the layers of harmony
And so it goes, on and on
Melodies of life,
To the sky beyond the flying birds - forever and beyond
So far and away, see the bird as it flies by
Gliding through the shadows of the clouds up in the sky
I've laid my memories and dreams upon those wings
Leave them now and see what tomorrow brings
In your dearest memories,
Do you remember loving me?
Was it fate that
Brought us close and now leaves me behind?
A voice from the past, joining yours and mine
Adding up the layers of harmony
And so it goes, on and on
Melodies of life,
To the sky beyond the flying bird - forever and on
If I should leave this lonely world behind,
Your voice will still remember our melody
Now I know we'll carry on
Melodies of life,
Come circle round and grow deep in our hearts,
As long as we remember
Noctis then asks where she learned the song she responds that she cannot remember but it had always given her strength. The train soon announces that they will arrive at the next stop shortly.
When the train arrives at the Cartanica stop , the group gets off. The group consisting of Serah , Noctis , Gladiolus , Ignis , and Prompto uses this time to stretch their legs while Noctis gathers supplies. Serah was back with her childhood friends all was here except Lunafreya who had passed on. Ignis then taps Noctis on the shoulder asking if they are ready to set out.
Serah did not want him to get hurt hearing that his eyesight is damaged in the last battle and this may be a severe handicap since they are in a hostile environment. But Noctis chooses to bring him along saying that they can use another sword arm. Ignis on the other hand remains confident that he can manage.
