With the advantage of a little altitude and Ignis' eyes it turned out they were indeed able to locate the shed. After zeroing in on their target, Ignis was even able to point out the dilapidated structure to be seen by their own, unenhanced vision.

Still, by the time they'd recovered the key for the generators it was already growing late; a time made all the more dangerous by their current surroundings. Accommodations for the night would need to be decided on as soon as current shenanigans came to a close.

Ravus watched on stoically, reclined against an oversized boulder rising up from the inescapable slough that covered nearly the entirety of the dismal landscape and valiantly attempted to avoid dwelling on the state of his soaked footwear as Prompto finally harassed Ignis into posing alongside Noct. Apparently the blond was determined to document the two royals endeavoring toward a common goal despite Fleuret's admittedly extreme aversion to being immortalized on digital film: one of the former high commander's more bizarre quirks to be sure. But one Prompto seemed to have taken on as a personal challenge to overcome. It was a battle of wills now.

Normally, Ravus wouldn't pay such antics any mind beyond their base effects on the group's morale, however, he couldn't help but notice Noct's growing amusement and decided the incident may be worth noting after all.

Pulling out the unassuming black notebook from its dry resting place, safe in the inner right breast pocket of his leather jacket, Ravus considered the positive influence the Fleuret siblings seemed to be encouraging in his charge. Though his misguided, chivalrous behavior on the battlefield may soon prove the advisor's end, Noct was happier now than Ravus had seen him in quite some time. The young man was far easier to wake in the mornings and keep on task, more focused and engaged with the people around him. Even his smiles came more freely.

"Would it be amenable if I were to join you?"

Ravus glanced up from his neat shorthand to find one of said influences standing before him now, hands folded primly and bright blue eyes belying her ever present fatigue. Lady Lunafreya must have somehow escaped Prompto's mania without notice and now sought refuge from which she could peacefully observe the display. "It bothers me not, rest here if you wish."

Lunafreya gratefully eased her back against the slanted plane of stone at his side. "I must admit, you did not strike me as a scribe."

Before Ravus had the chance to reply, Gladio called out from his post closer to the impromptu photoshoot, "Oh yeah, he's always filling up that little diary of his."

"Must be writing about my exceptional photography skills," Prompto chimed in between shots.

Ravus scoffed as he snapped the small notebook shut. "Don't be asinine."

He turned to actually address Lunafreya's original statement, but on facing the lady he witnessed the color dramatically drained from her pale visage. Ravus narrowed his eyes, assessing. Had she somehow been injured despite the near smothering attentions of both Noctis and her brother? "Are you –"

Ravus never got to finish his question as the oracle struck him across the left side of his face – an impressive feat considering their severe height difference. The advisor struggled to compose an appropriate response, managing something along the lines of a strangled "What?" The blow hadn't been particularly damaging, at least not beyond his bruised pride, and confounded him more than anything else.

But the sound of skin on skin had reeled in the attention of the entire group. Thankfully, before the eerily protective look could more than surface on the younger Fleuret's features, Lunafreya began pouring out apologies in a nervous rush, a flush coloring her skin all the way up to the tips of her ears. "Oh, please forgive me! I'm so sorry, it's just – a spider, it – it was rather large and crawling up your face. I do apologize."

Prompto, of course, wasted no time in turning his lens toward the latest spectacle. "Dude, smacked by the oracle herself! What an honor."

Ravus squinted against the subsequent flash. "Prompto, if you do not wish for me to assist Fleuret in the dismantlement of your camera, you will delete that image this instant."

The threat only encouraged another round of apologies from Lunafreya and uproarious laughter from both Noct and Gladio. Even Ignis seemed to be subtly amused, the smug prick.

Ravus was quite certain that by the end of this journey the insistent twitch afflicting his left eye would become quite permanent. He strove to keep in mind that he'd worked hard for this position – ridiculously so, in fact – and all that effort would be wasted should he murder his charge, his fellow retainers or any of the allied Tenebraen royalty. The mantra wasn't especially helpful, but when Prompto suffered a bout of clumsiness up ahead and squawked in panic due to nearly dropping his camera below the murk, Ravus felt marginally better.

They were fortunate to locate a haven near the shed. With the late hour it was agreed that they take the opportunity to set up camp and not tempt the dangers of the mine after dark.

After much coaxing, Lunafreya begrudgingly relented, resting in one of the foldout chairs by the fire while the Lucians left camp to scout ahead for the generators they'd need to activate in order to move the mining equipment. Mollified, Ignis began preparations for a warm and filling pasta dish. The day had been taxing on them all, but Noct and Luna in particular would be in need of a hearty meal conducive to replenishing their magic reserves.

With little else in way of distraction, Luna found her eyes drawn to her brother and his ministrations over the portable stove as he set noodles to boil before moving to sear minced garula meat. It was a recipe she was familiar with, yet it was clear her brother's competency had only grown in the past years. The sight filled her with a fond sense of nostalgia. "Do you recall our first soiree in the kitchen?"

"Ah, how could I forget? As I remember it, we'd sequestered one of Maria's handwritten recipes for the task." In spite of his mounting anticipation to speak with Lunafreya alone, Ignis felt his lips quirk up in amusement at the memory. At the time he'd been hard pressed to translate their old caretaker's leaning scrawl – not to mention the rather liberal use of cooking terminology. "And I believe you'd become rather involved in decorating the counter with flour and sugar."

"Yes, well, some of us weren't quite able to reach the counter top as of yet." Luna hardly attempted to contain her teasing smile, the expression lit her features aglow with a playful revelry rarely seen nowadays. How Ignis had missed it.

The younger Fleuret gave an ungentlemanly snort at the reminder of his bygone need of a step stool. "Come now, I'd experience a growth spurt worthy of note soon enough."

"Yes, I often wonder where the little brother I used to carry to bed after finding him nodding off in the library has wandered off to." Luna hummed, lost to memories of happier times. "It's a shame the cookies had been unsalvageable."

"Considering the results, it was most certainly for the best." The experience really had been one disaster after the other, from losing eggshell shards in the batter to being unable to separate the charred dough from the pan. Ignis smiled over his shoulder. "The cleanup took hours."

"We did make quite the mess." Luna laughed, the sound cheerful and light, recalling their governess' exasperation. "Maria scolded us so."

"Yes, though she did allow us to observe on occasion after the burnt cookie incident." Ignis in particular had taken quite a fascination with the lessons. It was knowledge that became quite useful down the road.

"That was quite the mishap. It's hard to believe how far you've come in regards to the culinary arts. One could hardly imagine such a humble start." Luna smiled wistfully.

"Indeed. I shutter to think what Noct and the others might do with the information. Perhaps we best not share this particular anecdote." Luna's eyes suddenly darkened with regret and it took Ignis but a moment to pinpoint the likely cause. It turned into the segue he'd been looking for. The pleasant atmosphere brought about by their shared reminiscing of childhood misadventures had been shattered; there was no point in trying to preserve what had already been lost. "I don't like keeping the truth from him."

Luna let out a heavy sigh. "Ignis, we've spoken about this –"

"And I've held my silence at your request." Ignis turned away from the stove and faced his sister head on. "Luna, please. You know the prophecy, heard my visions – Noct's fate is clear. How long do you intend for us to carry on leaving him in the dark?"

The accusation seemed to drain the weariness right out of Luna's too thin frame as she took on a stern countenance that to this day Ignis still loathed to see turned against him. "Such a course of action would only burden him unnecessarily. His destiny shall be made known to him when the time is right, any sooner would be a cruelty."

"You would have him ignorant till the hour is upon us? You call knowing a cruelty but I cannot see how ignorance could possibly be considered a comfort." Ignis rarely challenged his sister, in affairs of the Astrals or otherwise, but this was one matter in which he could not yield. "Noctis is strong. He doesn't require your protection in the ways you believe."

Luna abruptly stood from her chair. "Is it truly so wrong to want to take this from him?"

When Ignis did not have an immediate answer for her she pressed on, her words weighted with stubborn conviction. "There is happiness and joy still to be had. To tell him now would cast an ill light over what time he has left. Please understand, this is not a calling that can be lifted from his shoulders, but it is one I can bear, if only a brief while longer. There is so little I can do for him."

Ignis' frown was a hard line across his face. "For the time being, I will forestall judgment on the matter."

He made no promises as for how long.

Fun tidbit about the little spider encounter in this chapter: it's actually based off a life experience of mine and, well, let's just say I was Ravus. XD

Anyway, hope your day is going great and if you liked the chapter I'd love to hear from you in the comments! :D