Disclaimer: SquareEnix owns Final Fantasy Versus XIII
"Oblivious Fate"
By: rorudesu-chan
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Chapter 24: The Crystal
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Deep, indigo irises gazed. Noctis strangely admired how Stella's blue colored evening dress matched her warm, blue eyes.
"Miss Fleuret," a voice called.
'He came. But did he, maybe, look for her as well?'
Stella secretly liked this thought. She liked how he started the talk and how he was just right there before her.
"Miss Fleuret," her fellow diplomat repeated, gently grasping the blonde's right arm. At last, Somna caught her attention after another repetition of her surname.
The young Tenebraean Ambassador tilted her head.
"I'll be around if you need me," Somna softly said. Stella watched as the brunette politely excused herself from her and the Caelum Prince.
Now they had privacy, if ever one of them felt like they needed one.
"You did well in the speech, Noct." She began after a few moments.
He had wanted to hear what she thought about his fifteen-minute chatter even before it was his turn with the podium. But all that he could say now was, "Thanks,"
"Well then," the diplomat replied. "Don't get so laidback. There's more to come."
"Yeah, I know."
A gruff voice echoed from the speakers of the huge hall. It was the Duke's, announcing the next speaker of the night.
"…Ambassador Spargo of Tenebrae!" Thibault said, using the podium's microphone. Claps were heard throughout the place, welcoming the man with curly red locks and a well-shaved chin.
With a questioning façade, Noctis glanced at the girl beside him.
She felt his stare and she gave her response, "A fellow and wiser ambassador."
Noctis understood. He gazed upon the figure of the man who now stood behind the podium. Spargo had officially begun his speech after greeting everybody another 'good evening'. But the Prince could only hear his words, not listen, for his thoughts were quite preoccupied at the moment.
"Stella," he called.
She glimpsed at him and asked, "Yes?"
'Noctis thought:'
"Would you…"
'Should he?'
"Hm?" she asked again, wondering what he wanted from her.
'Or should he not?'
"…like to come with me?"
'He shouldn't.'
"Pardon?" Stella said, surprised.
'But,'
"I want you to know the reason why I refused to go."
'He wanted to.'
"How will I know that, Noct?"
'So,'
"I'll show you."
'He did.'
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'Where do want me to start, my curious little sneak?' He demanded. His eyes glared upon the helpless lad who was held down mercilessly on the floor.
'The Crystal…' Salsus mumbled. 'It's the reason for all of this, isn't it??'
'Yes. It is.' The officer sternly replied. 'You see, all the riches of the Caelum family were because of the Crystal which Prince Noctis' forefathers discovered many, many decades ago. But…'
'But…?'
'In exchange for such luxury and fine living, the Caelum legacy was cursed in a way.'
Curiosity painted Salsus' face. He listened eagerly for more.
'In order for their fortune to remain as dominating and powerful as it is now, a sacrifice must be made.' Arkenis' eyes glared.
'The sacrifice you're talking about is…'
'Yes. The sacrifice of a human life.' The officer continued. 'The Crystal literally feeds on human life once it reaches its total depreciation.'
'How does it feed on a life?'
'Simple,' Arkenis smirked. 'When a person steps inside the Crystal, he immediately becomes one with it. Slowly, his life will be painfully taken away by the Crystal until there isn't anything more to take.'
'And after the person dies?'
'After he dies, the Crystal once again illuminates and empowers anything it comes in contact with.'
'But the cycle…? It repeats, right?'
'Exactly. The life of the rock is uncertain. Its power is determined by how much vitality there is in the person who was sacrificed.'
'So that is why you want Tenebrae… You want the lives of its people! Not the land itself!'
Arkenis laughed. The boy was smart enough to figure out things on his own even by the smallest of clues.
'But why Tenebrae? Their population is not that great.'
'I've known that fact even before I sent that letter to King Eneas!' he claimed. 'Let's just say that my research has shown that the life spans of Tenebraeans are longer compared to the citizens of other nations. How that fact is possible is something I don't plan to dig deeper into.'
'How can you be so sure of your research?'
'Like I said, I'm old… I've dedicated much of my life to researching things people are too ignorant to elaborate.'
Salsus paused for few moments before spurting out another question.
'What would happen if there isn't any life to be fed to the Crystal?'
A frown came across the man's face and he firmly said, 'We die.'
'How?' Salsus asked, as if the dying part wasn't something to be shaken about.
'I honestly don't know how to answer that. But, according to what King Neleus has theorized in the past, the Crystal could… explode.'
A bead of sweat flowed down from his forehead. 'That's quite ridiculous…' Salsus contradicted.
'Maybe so. But I'm not planning to wait for that moment to come just so King Neleus' theory could be proven. There are still much more things to be done, Salsus.'
'Like what?'
'Oh,' Arkenis chortled. 'You'll see. Just sit back and enjoy the show.'
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Staring past the prison's concrete floor, he sat there, his back flat against the wall. Lethargic—one word that could appropriately describe Salsus' current condition. His mind felt like that of a film projector, playing flashback clips of the events that had happened just yesterday. His questions have finally found its answers. Although not all, the truth that Arkenis had blurted out was enough to leave Salsus in a state of analysis. What, why, when and how things came to be for the Caelum Prince and his family.
"Hungry?" a voice asked. "I can offer you something to ease your pain."
Salsus was surprised. He did not notice that the officer, responsible for putting him in a criminal's cage, had gone to the palace's prison tower to pay him a visit. He was too caught up with staring at the iron shackles cuffed around his wrists.
He didn't bother raising his head to look at him. Salsus simply mumbled, "I thought you said that you'd kill me after confessing your dirty deeds."
Arkenis stood before the metal bars. With the stillness of the place, he was able to hear his soft spoken reply.
"Killing you will make things a lot more complicated. Prince Noctis will realize that one of his friends is missing. He will begin an investigation which might eventually lead him to knowing what I've done. Now, we don't want that to happen."
"What are you planning to do with me now?"
"I'll be honest. As of this moment, I'm convinced in keeping you alive."
Salsus felt his breathing loosen with Arkenis' decision.
"However," the officer added. "For the days to come, you will be staying in this tower where my secrets will be kept along with you. You will only be released if I find it the need to do so… Don't worry, Salsus," Arkenis laughed. "You'll eventually find this place to your liking.
"Now if you'll excuse me," the military official turned around. "I still have a conference to go back to."
"He will find out all of this sooner or later, old man." Salsus turned his eyes to Arkenis. He glared and continued. "You'll be trapped in your own, selfish game as well."
Arkenis gnashed his teeth. "When will that happen, my disciple? If ever that time comes, Prince Noctis has already decided upon something he will forever regret. Remember, he barely knows anything about the real trouble that the Crystal had caused upon his family and his beloved father. What more can he fight with against me?"
Salsus abhorred his words. In fact, he now abhorred the man he once thought as the noblest of all the Caelum advisers.
The military officer headed straight for the stairs going down. "Be sure he eats something." Arkenis said to the two soldiers who guarded the top floor of the prison tower. "We don't want any corpse stench leaking in this place. Use force if he refuses."
The subordinates saluted Arkenis as a response to the military officer's order. Eyes staring past the floor again, Salsus remained still, processing and analyzing the other things which Arkenis had revealed to him a day ago.
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She wasn't so sure why she didn't even refuse coming with him. Stella knew Spargo had seen them walk out of the conference hall by the time his speech was over. After all, their movements could clearly be seen from the podium where the Tenebraean speaker was. She speculated that Spargo must've been thinking something differently from the looks of his doubtful face when she glanced at him from afar.
But he shouldn't worry about a thing, right? After all, being close to Prince Noctis was the very core of her mission.
Anyways, even if the male Ambassador indeed doubted something with what Stella has done, he could no longer do anything about it. For the Tenebraean was already seated on the backseat of the Caelum limousine with the Caelum Prince himself.
The car passed by a highway sign which stated, 'Nihilsomno'.
"Do you have any plans at all of telling me where we're going?" Stella asked. A perplexed look came across her face as she glimpsed to her right.
His elbow was propped upon the door handle while his cheek was pressed against his knuckles. He heard Stella's question, but he had no plans of answering it at all. Noctis figured that she would find it out soon.
Stella sighed, looking away. "Alright. Be that way, Noct."
Noctis couldn't help but grin a little. Was the Tenebraean Ambassador actually annoyed with his no-response?
"We'll be there at the company soon, Stella." He said, gazing at the vehicles that passed by.
"Company?" she asked. "What do you mean?"
Again, silence.
"Fine." She groaned. He grinned once more. Maybe he should annoy Stella more often, Noctis thought.
Approximately after twelve more minutes of silence in the backseat, the driver finally stepped on the brakes. A man wearing a classy tux recognized the limousine and went down from the stairs of the huge entrance door.
The door on Noctis' side opened without his effort. "Good evening Prince Noctis!" the man greeted. "I thought that you'd be in the conference?"
"Don't worry, Julio." Noctis replied as he stepped out of the car. "We won't be here for long."
Julio raised his eyebrows. "We?" He glanced to see who was with the Prince.
Stella slid herself out of the backseat, gently clutching the bottom part of her blue evening dress. She smiled at the secretary who was completely stunned by the beauty that the Prince's companion possessed. He knew he'd seen that face before.
Julio pushed the car door close. He ambled quickly towards the Prince.
"Prince Noctis, I'd like to ask who is with you. She's rather familiar."
"Stella Nox Fleuret, an Ambassador of Tenebrae." Noctis replied.
"Ah!" Julio exclaimed. "No wonder! You're the youngest Ambassador of that kingdom, right? Er…" he leaned to the other side. "Ambassador Fleuret?"
Stella grinned politely. "Yes, I am."
Noctis entered the company lobby as the automated door slid open. It was already past working hours so most of the employees have gone home, leaving only those who chose to work overtime and the nice-looking lady behind the receptionist desk at the center of the lobby. Only half of the first floor was lit. That particular wing was where the Prince was going with Stella following behind.
The three stopped before an elevator. Noctis pressed the button that had an arrow facing down.
"I'll take it from here, Julio." He said.
"Is that a good idea, Prince Noctis?" the secretary whispered, a hesitant look on his face. "I think I should really come with you. In case… you-know-what happens…"
"Don't worry." Noctis assured. "I'll know beforehand if she tries anything funny."
Julio was still reluctant. He wanted to persuade Noctis into making him come with them. But he had lost his chance in doing so as the lift tolled itself open. The Prince stepped inside with Stella on his trail. She still had no idea where Noctis was taking her. She really liked to ask but her efforts would be fruitless. Stella knew that Noctis was still a stubborn person even in the smallest things.
"Be careful, Prince Noctis." Julio reminded. The Caelum son nodded in full certainty before the elevator door glided shut.
Noctis reached for the control panel and pressed the button designated for the basement. He felt the stare of the girl on his left.
He glanced and said, "Something wrong, Stella?"
"'Tries something funny', Noct?" she raised a brow. "I don't even know where you're taking me."
"Are you… angry?" he asked, clueless.
Stella averted her stare from him. "No. Just a little bit annoyed."
"I see." Noctis replied, looking away as well. His hands grasped his black suit and he began to un-coat himself.
Stella, seeing this from her peripheral vision, felt awkward. Reluctant in glancing at him, she asked softly, "What are you… doing?"
"Take this for now," he said, holding his satin coat before her. His free hand was now loosening the tie around his neck. "You'll need it later." He added.
"For what?" she looked, with a wondering face.
"It's a very cold place down there." He said. "You might not be able to handle the basement's temperature, Stella."
Noctis unhook the first two buttons of his white blouse. He gestured Stella to take the coat off his arm. But she didn't feel like doing so.
"No thanks, Noct." She feigned a grin. "I'll be fine. I've been to colder places before."
"It's quite different from what you think."
"I told you, I'll be fine. If you think that it's so cold down there, then why don't you just use it then?" Stella persisted. "It's yours anyways."
"Your loss," Noctis sighed. She was a rather stubborn person as well.
Stella glanced swiftly. She wondered what he just meant by 'her loss'.
The elevator toll was heard again. Its door glided open, revealing the Caelum Prince and the Tenebraean Ambassador. The pair stepped out and entered a new place where it was filled with computers, settled in sections. Stella hunched that the room was some kind of 'control center'. Something important was definitely being produced or maintained in that area. Noctis continued to walk without saying a word. They made a left turn here and a right turn there before arriving at the opening of another hallway.
A soldier who wore a black military stood suit stood at the entrance. He approached Noctis the moment he saw him.
"Good evening Prince Noctis," he said, eyes darting towards the girl behind the monarch. He suddenly propped the gun he held in his hands.
Noctis was aware of this. He raised a hand and said, "It's alright. She's with me."
The soldier was hesitant at first. But after recalling that the Prince's word is law, he nodded his head and led the way. Stella followed Noctis from behind. She constantly looked at the soldiers who stood attentively along the hallway. What was this place exactly, she thought.
As the three reached the end of the long corridor, a wide titanium door greeted them. The soldier began pressing a secret code upon the control panel that hung beside its frame. After entering the correct digits, the door slowly opened.
They entered another long hallway. Stella was getting a little more annoyed with the fact that she still had no idea where was taking her and what he was going to show her. Knowing that Noctis wouldn't tell her even if she pleaded, Stella decided to kill the time until then.
Noctis felt a pair of azure irises staring at him from his side. He glanced and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
The diplomat averted her gaze and replied, "I was just wondering. But it's nothing at all."
"You may ask whatever you like."
"I know," Stella had a smug expression on. "But I'm not that sure about how you'll take it."
Noctis shrugged. "Just get on with it."
She made a humming sound before finally finding the confidence to ask him. "Natalia is," she began. "your fiancée, right?"
He halted on his feet. Stella turned around and waited for his reply. "How did you know that?"
"Natalia's mother is the Queen of Tenebrae." She replied, smiling. "Her Majesty and I are quite close actually. I've heard a lot of things about her. And Natalia's also a good friend of mine."
"Really now?" he said, resuming his walk. Stella began walking beside him again.
"So? Are you engaged with each other or what?"
"What did she say?"
"The two of you are... Well? I'm asking for a confirmation."
"Why do you need a confirmation?"
"Just answer my question, Noct."
"Yes," he confirmed. "We are engaged… technically."
"Technically?" Stella raised her eyebrows.
"Arkenis, my father's right hand, thought about the idea of the Caelum kingdom having good ties with the Vahalis kingdom since the latter is also a powerful nation next to ours."
"And that eventually led to an arranged marriage with Natalia, the daughter of the Vahalis king."
"Yeah,"
"Well then. Isn't that wonderful news?"
Noctis' forehead creased. "Wonderful?"
Stella laughed. "Noct, you sound as if you dislike the sound of getting tied down with a Princess."
He didn't bother replying her statement. Stella's head shook in disappointment.
"Just don't tell her about what I think, Stella."
"It's not really within the boundaries of my concern." She went on. "Sooner or later, you're going to have to tell this to Natalia."
"I know."
"But you have to let her know before it's too late."
"Yeah." Noctis replied, letting another one of Stella's reminder sink within him. He had found her advices pretty useful in the end.
"So, wait… You're saying that you don't want to be engaged with the person you like?"
He glanced at her and replied, "She's not the one I like, Stella."
Noctis stopped before another secured titanium door which was carefully guarded by two soldiers.
"If she's not the one you like, Noct," Stella said. "Then who?"
He lifted his right hand and pressed it against the scanner beside the door. A red beam examined his handprint. Having the perfect match, the computer automatically opened the entrance. Noctis glanced at the girl on his right, ignoring her question.
"Let's go,"
"Go?" Stella's eyes trailed Noctis as he went inside another hallway. It seemed like an endless walk in the corridors for her.
He paused and looked over his shoulder. "Aren't you coming, Stella?"
"Coming? To where??" she asked as she softly raised her tone. "Not once have you even told me where you're taking me!"
Noctis smirked and he continued to walk forward. This, at last, has completely annoyed Stella.
"Noct!" she cried out. "Tell me where we're going, please. What does this have to do with me knowing the reason why you didn't—"
"Stella," he strongly interrupted. "I'm going to show you the Crystal."
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a/n: I hope this chapter is good enough for a Review/Comment! THANK YOU SO MUCH! :D
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*~REVIEW REPLIES~*
(23. First Words of Reconcilliation)
ken08002: Stella? Drunk? Nah... I seriously can't imagine her being so... Although in a fanfic, anything can happen, right?
Cesia: Hmm.. I wonder if you were able to enjoy what NxS has talked about in this chapter.. :)
SilverIceDragon: Hello Kalli. Thank you so much for reading this story. I really do acknowledge the fact that you appreciated how I'm writing this fanfic's plot. I'm glad you're enjoying it as well. I'll be taking your words as part of my inspiration to write more on this fic. Oh! And yes. A writer can turn the tides of his/her story. *wink* I hope I'll be able to know more of your reactions/comments/suggestions in the future updates to come. Thanks for the review! :D
drifter17: Hmm. I wonder if you'll also think of ch24's ending as a cliffhanger.... :D Am I bad for doing such thing? Hehe!