Hello! Sorry for the long absence but this sickness spreading around and how its affected school and my life has been crazy. Hopefully it won't be as long before my next update! Currently, I'm working on several plans for where the story will head next and I'm thinking of how I want to expand certain things in the first part of the story. I started that process by adding more stuff to the scene where Noctis talks to Lunafreya in Chapter Two, so feel free to check that out! Other than that, I'm thinking of adding a prologue back into the story, this one being about the childhood accident Noctis received that brought him to Tenebrae. Please let me know if you think that will be interesting to read.

As ever, all feedback is welcome. This chapter is the shortest so far but it features some nice set up for some future ideas I want to implement. This is the start of me trying to implement the old kings and queens of Lucis to the story to give it some more flavor. I want this story to focus a lot more on the lore that didn't feel all that well explored in the game, so I've been doing some research to help me come up with ideas. Feel free to let me know if you want to see more of the Rulers of Yore. Thanks very much for reading this story and for being so patient!

Chapter Eight

The Calling of the Chosen King

Built in much the same way as the gothic architecture within Insomnia, the royal tomb stood out amongst the banality of the rest of Leide. The building was white, shaped like a dome. In front of its large door were two statues, crying black tears. As Noctis left the Regalia parked on the dirt road and approached the tomb, he felt a sensation within. A part of him that wanted immediately to connect with the ancestor he felt resting within. He also knew he was approaching something far beyond the mortal world. They were crossing from reality into the stuff of legend.

"Whoa," Prompto said when the tomb came into view.

The four marched into a small canyon, high walls of stone all around. The tomb itself was at the end of a winding path, encircled by said walls of stone.

As they approached, Noctis's stomach rumbled.

"Oh," Noctis said, embarrassed.

"You haven't eaten in days, I suppose," Ignis replied. He reached into his pocket, producing a small bar of energy protein. "This will have to do until we get to a proper restaurant."

Noctis happily took the bar and unwrapped it, quickly munching on the stuff as they walked up to the door.

"Just how deep are your pockets, Iggy?" Prompto asked.

"Never hurts to be prepared for everything," Ignis replied.

"That you are," Gladiolus said.

As they approached the door, Noctis noticed it was open slightly. Gladiolus pushed it aside the rest of the way and the four walked inside, to see Cor standing behind the tomb of the Ruler of Yore. None other than Somnus Lucis Caelum himself.

"Welcome, Your Highness," Cor said.

"You wanna tell me what I'm here for?" Noctis asked, looking around at the white curved walls.

"The power of kings, passed from the old to the new through the bonding of souls," Cor replied. "One such soul lies before you. To claim your forebears' power is your birthright and duty as king."

"My duty as king of what?" Noctis asked. "Lucis? Insomnia? The city is gone."

"Now is not the time to question your calling," Cor interjected. "A king is sworn to protect his people."

Noctis scoffed. The act made Prompto gasp in surprise.

"Yet he chose to protect only the city and myself," Noctis said. "Was that his calling? Forsake the masses and protect only me? Feed these people out here to the wolves?"

"Noctis..." Cor began. "The king entrusted the role of protector to you. I know that right now, you can't see all he had planned, but..."

"Then why didn't he warn me?" Noctis exploded. "Why didn't he prepare me for this? Why did he smile at me that morning and act like everything was alright?"

"Because he wanted to be your father, Noctis," Cor calmly replied. "He knew it would be your final true conversation with him in this world, and he wanted it to be the words of a father to his son. And... he has prepared you. You are more ready than you realize. Ready to accept this power, and the other of its like spread throughout Eos."

Noctis looked down at the tomb, observing its intricate white marble carvings in the shape of the late Founder King.

"I guess he left me no choice..."

Noctis held up a hand, outstretched toward the tomb. After a moment, it glowed. A spectral light raised from the tomb and took form. Noctis recognized it; it was a Royal Arm. It hovered in place for a moment, bobbing silently. And then, suddenly, it rushed at Noctis. Before the prince could react, it crashed into his body and disappeared completely.

There was a flash of light.

When Noctis opened his eyes, he was no longer inside the tomb.

Confused, the prince looked around. He was standing on stone. There were tall stone columns nearby, on the four corners of the square-shaped stone platform he was standing on, but there was no ceiling. He could see the blue skies high above, cloudless.

All around, he could see open sky, and the air was rough. Harder to breathe.

The wind blew cold and when he looked around, he saw why he didn't see any clouds above him as he watched with awe as white wisps passed by him at eye level. He was standing amidst the clouds, far, far above the land.

He took several steps forward to reach the end of the platform and looked down. Noctis realized then he was on top of a mountain as he saw a grassy plain hundreds of feet below. It felt almost like standing at the edge of the roof of the citadel, observing the ants so far, far below. Noctis shivered then, but not from the cold. He took a step back as he felt the openness of the edge of the platform inviting him to leap off the mountain.

From behind, he heard a clatter. The prince turned and saw an armored human standing several paces behind him with its back turned, looking off into the distance. The being seemed to pay him no mind.

His armor was shaded with grey steel and intricately designed, with several sharp horns protruding from shoulders and helm. He appeared almost dragon-like in design. There was something familiar about his design. He had seen it before. In fact, several times before, in paintings hanging through the citadel and chiseled statues that once stood proudly throughout the city of Insomnia. This was Somnus Lucis Caelum.

Noctis wordlessly approached the man, unsure if it was a statue or not. He stood next to him and looked up at the man, who stood a good three feet higher than him. With a tilt of his helm, the man regarded Noctis, and the prince nearly gasped as he realized this was no statue.

"Noctis Lucis Caelum," he said, his voice deep and muffled beneath the helm. He turned, facing the prince. "You have done well to find my gift. It would seem your journey has just begun."

"You... you're," Noctis began.

"Somnus," the man replied. "The Founder King, as they refer to me in your time."

"Where am I?" Noctis asked. He looked out at where Somnus had been staring and saw, several hundred feet below, what looked like a distant town.

"This," Somnus said, sweeping his arm over the wide open skies and land, "is the kingdom of Lucis."

"No way..." Noctis muttered. "When am I?"

"Approximately two thousand years before your time," Somnus answered. "At least, the memory of a time two thousand years before your time."

"A... memory?" Noctis asked, scratching the back of his head. "Why am I here, then? I remember being in your tomb and seeing your sword, and then..."

"There is a darkness spreading across this land, Noctis," Somnus replied. "The Accursed One has awoken and he intends to ruin this world."

"The... Accursed One?" Noctis asked. "Who is that?"

"I... cannot say," Somnus replied. "All will become clear eventually, chosen one. For now, stay the course. Collect the Arms and use their power to vanquish the darkness."

"That's what everyone keeps telling me, but I have no idea what the darkness is!" Noctis exclaimed. "How am I supposed to fight something I don't understand?"

"Chosen King," Somnus said. "In order for you to fulfill your calling, you must do this. I know you don't understand yet, but you will. When the time is right, all will be revealed."

Somnus held out a hand and a blade flashed into the air in front of him. The same that brought Noctis to this place. The sword was ancient and very traditional, missing all of the purely cosmetic features Noctis flourished his own Engine Blade with.

"Collect the Royal Arms," Noctis said. Somnus nodded. "Vanquish the darkness." Somnus nodded again. "You make it sound so simple."

Somnus let out a chuckle. "Take this: the Blade of the Mystic. I grant you my power and hope you find it useful in the struggle against the encroaching darkness."

"Are the other rulers gonna talk to me like this?" Noctis asked.

"I'm afraid not," Somnus replied. "I was chosen to communicate this task to you by the Astrals."

"Right," Noctis muttered. "You must feel so special."

"Hold out your hand, prince," Somnus said, ignoring the remark. "Accept the power and accept your role as savior."

Noctis held out a hand and the blade vanished from in front of Somnus, appearing in Noctis's grip. With the blade in hand, there came another flash of light and the prince was back in the tomb.

He looked around at the others, who watched him expectantly, and then back at his outstretched hand. It was empty, the sword having disappeared somewhere inside of him. He could feel its power, ready to be summoned like his Engine Blade.

"I... think I got it," Noctis said.

"Awesome!" Prompto exclaimed. "And I mean like really awesome. Like the dictionary definition of awesome. Like, to be in awe!"

"I get it," Noctis replied.

"That's not the only power your forebearers left you," Cor said. "There are several tombs, but many have been raided many years ago. We have managed to locate thirteen scattered across Eos that remain untouched. Much are on Lucis but a few are on the other continents. Your journey has just begun, Noctis."

"My journey," Noctis muttered, "to vanquish the darkness."

"Darkness!" Prompto exclaimed yet again. "How epic! It's like the stuff of fantasy stories!"

"Yeah, epic," Noctis muttered. "Too bad these damn Astrals and ancestors like to keep everything so vague."

"Perhaps you'll learn the answers at a later time," Ignis said. "Maybe when you're ready to hear it?"

"Funny," Noctis replied. "That's exactly what he said. You kinda remind me of him."

"He? Who are you talking about?" Ignis asked.

"Never mind," Noctis replied. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around all this stuff."

"I know it's a lot, Highness," Cor said. "I'm sure you're very hungry for answers and solutions. I trust you will find them eventually."

"Then maybe we should get a move on?" Noctis suggested. "Where's the next Royal Arm?"

"Nearby, actually," Cor replied. "Keycatrich Trench. Unfortunately, the empire is also posted nearby."

"Perfect," Noctis replied. "I just so happen to have a new weapon I'm dying to try out."

"Now that's what I like to hear!" Gladiolus exclaimed. "Let's go cave some Niff helmets in!"

"Oooh... Head bashing!" Prompto replied. "Sounds fun."

"There's something else, Highness," Cor said. Noctis turned to him. "About Lady Lunafreya. She is alive, moving across Lucis. No one has been able to track her down, but she has been sighted several times."

"She's... alive..." Noctis said, relieved.

"Indeed," Cor replied. "She intends to do as she was instructed in this struggle against the darkness. It is your time now, Noctis."

"Right," Noctis replied. "For Lunafreya... and for my father..."

"The key Cid gave you can be used to open the other tombs," Cor said. "At least the ones that haven't been destroyed. When you're done with the trench, come back to the outpost and talk to Monica. We'll have your next task, okay?"

Noctis nodded. "We'll be back, Marshal."

"Good, highness," Cor said with a bow. "Give them hell."

"Believe it," Gladiolus replied.

The four left and Cor stood silently in the tomb, a hand placed on the coffin of the Founder King. He smiled as he watched Noctis leave.

"I've done as you've asked, my king," he whispered. "I will do what I can to ensure your legacy will not be undone."