Chapter Summary: It takes an unlikely alliance to breach the eye of the storm.
Once the rite began, Ignis had to admit to thinking of little else beyond the business of removing what he could of the imperial presence from the hadn't been able to afford distraction since taking down that first fortress ship in what he'd made certain to be a most explosive display. The warship had lowered its forward canon, the barrel aglow with that same sickly red he'd come to associate with the Empire's most wretched creations and growing brighter still with each passing moment. It made for an easy mark. Just before the blast fired a fat bolt of lightning elemancy tore into the mouth of the canon and sparked a devastating chain reaction that saw raw energy imploding outward, crackling across every surface as the remnants of the ship plummeted to the ocean below in a heap of smoking wreckage.
Ashes and tendrils of dark smoke swirled in the air, setting the stage as Ignis issued his challenge with a fierce roar, full of reckless bravado for all to see. Though not on par with the level of mass destruction the Tidemother herself was surely capable of, his theatrics had the desired effect and in no time at all he'd held the attentions of half the imperial fleet.
For much of his life he'd wondered what it would entail to face them head on, holding nothing in reserve. Now, finally, the opportunity was afforded him to portray the bloodthirsty beast the Niflheim Army so believed him to be. In truth, he found it an easy role to play. There was still much anger in him over all the pain and suffering the Empire had wrought. He drew on that anger now with each fresh wave of enemies, letting the blazing embers stoke his rampage.
Already, the next contingent of dropships formed up to open fire. Bullets whizzed past as he dove, wings pressed in close and feathers sharp. He led his pursuers on a harrowing chase low to the water, easily weaving between Altissia's infamous architecture, ducking beneath her arching bridges and slipping through cracks and crevices the bulky airships simply could not follow. This proved effective for thinning the herd, so to speak, as the city's unique infrastructure allowed him the advantage.
Doubling back through the narrow canal aisles, he snatched up a lone ship that dared lag behind. With his claws buried in armor plating he swung the ship about, using his momentum to toss the vessel at the tight formation of his pursuers ahead. Aged stonework cracked and chipped away as the ships bashed into one another, forced against the high walls at either side in such close quarters. Falling debris took some of the ships down to the turbulent waters below. Ignis helped the rest along, targeting engines, fuel lines and any vulnerable point he could sink his teeth into.
But just as quickly as he took down one squadron of ships another moved to take its place. He couldn't afford to linger. Truly, the Empire's airships were an undeniable feat of engineering; swift and nibble, the dropships in particular had dogged their steps from the skies practically since the onset of Insomnia's Fall. Perhaps they were no match against a dragon's wings, but that didn't negate the fact that he was vastly outnumbered and now played a deadly game of cat and mouse in which his life depended on staying one step ahead of the Empire's forces swarming him on every side.
In spite of all this, Ignis was not so preoccupied as to miss when one of Prompto's flares went up. Though most of the starshell's utility was lost against opponents not of the daemon variety, it still served its most basic of functions, making the perfect beacon as it lit up the dreary sky. They'd agreed it was the best signal in the event Gladio and Prompto should find themselves in need of, as Prompto had put it, "air support."
It was a contingency they'd hoped to go unneeded. Now Ignis could only be thankful that the flare wasn't too terribly far. Gladio and Prompto must be having a rough time of it to resort to calling for assistance and he would rather arrive sooner than later.
Not that the imperials would make it easy for him. The moment he broke cover he was dodging bullets with more dropships on his tail. He did his best to shake them without losing speed. Rounding one of the city's angelic sentries, he was nearly clipped by shrapnel as stray fire beheaded the towering figure and broke through the chain keeping her stone lantern aloft. It came crashing down in the path of one of the dropships and sent the vessel tumbling off course. The remaining two kept on his six, persistent.
Growing frustrated, he twisted mid-flight, back turned to the battle torn city below he sent out a blast of frigid cold at each ship, frosting over their visuals and wreaking havoc on their aerodynamics with ice weighing them down by the nose. Facing forward once more, Ignis was easily able to stretch the distance between them from there and focus back on the path ahead. It was as he closed in on the location marked beneath Prompto's flare that a peculiar scent grabbed his notice, one that didn't fit, not with the stench of smoke and gunpowder – of burning machine oil bled into the surf – nor with the salt tinged ozone carried in on Leviathan's storm. It was quite reminiscent, however, of their earliest decent deep into the Nebulawood.
A guttural roar sounded off amidst the sharp report of artillery and Ignis redoubled his efforts, having some idea of what sort of trouble had befallen Gladio and Prompto. Moving as quickly as his wings could carry him he was soon able to confirm his suspicions as the Empire had indeed unleashed a Behemoth on the battlefield.
Gladio and Prompto had been separated in an open courtyard – Gladio with his back to a wall, pinned down by a troop of imperial soldiers backed by two MA Pisces magitek armors, and Prompto just out of reach of the behemoth, trapped a top a precarious pile of rubble. Undeterred by Prompto firing down at its head, the behemoth struggled to climb up the unstable debris as it slid and shifted beneath its bulk.
Taking all this in at a glance, Ignis let loose a fiery stream of red hot embers that peppered the ground and forced the imperials advancing on Gladio to take cover. The commotion drew the behemoth's attention but Ignis moved faster than it could react. He latched onto the creature's pelt and heaved on the way down, launching the mass of fur and lean muscle over his head and across the courtyard – away from where Gladio and Prompto now had some breathing room.
The behemoth didn't stay down, of course. Practically incensed, it scrambled up on all fours and charged without an ounce of hesitation. Ignis sidestepped the move easily, catching the beast along the flank with a quick burst of flames. The stench of charred flesh immediately assaulted the air as the behemoth howled in agony. It swung its large horns and struck out blindly, stomping over more than one unfortunate imperial in its fugue state.
Ignis was braced to put the behemoth out of its misery when a magitek armor homing beacon embedded itself in the cracked stone at his feet. Knowing a missile payload would be soon to follow, he moved on reflex, hurriedly snatching up the strobing homing device before it could detonate and launching it back toward the magitek armors. The beacon bounced off a battered patch of greenspace and rolled between the legs of the furthest magitek armor before coming to rest under the colonnade bordering the courtyard.
And that was the last Ignis knew before Leviathan's presence spiked. A surge of vicious intent rolled over him, drowning out his awareness of the courtyard, the behemoth and everything else – so potent was her malice.
He couldn't help but wonder at what Noct had possibly done to anger the Astral so but that hardly made a difference now. A series of explosions tugged at his focus, turning it outward. The magitek armor had fired its missiles and, of course, they'd followed the beacon. As a result, the colonnade was barely standing. Only a single support column still remained intact at the backs of the two magitek armors, both primed to open fire once more – unheeding of the large crack snaking its way around the width of the column.
But the next missile came from behind, shooting past him and taking out the damaged column. With the last of its support gone the colonnade came crashing down over the magitek armors, bringing about an explosion that rung in his ears and rattled the courtyard. As the smoke cleared and he further came back to himself, he took stock of the few survivors staggering to their feet in the surrounding ruin. Curiously, one adversary of note was not among them. "The behemoth's not here."
"Hey, big guy, did you see where it went?" Prompto spoke into his comm device as he slid down to join Ignis as the base of his rubble pile, stowing a rocket launcher into the armiger as he went. He had been the one to fire the missile it seemed. At some point he must have scavenged the weapon off the Empire's foot soldiers.
"Dunno, but it couldn't have gotten far." Gladio's response was muffled through the comms and the man's own heavy breathing as he rushed to join them from the far side of the decimated courtyard, having finished off the last of the imperials.
"Seriously," Prompto continued, fishing out a potion to hand off to the larger man, "how did we lose something that big?!"
Ignis strongly suspected the behemoth had fled through one of the passageways leading out of the courtyard, now collapsed beneath the remains of the colonnade. But he found himself far more concerned with the darkening sky above, building up to what would doubtless be a storm to end all storms as Noctis began his bout against Leviathan in earnest. "I fear we've more pressing matters to attend to."
He'd had reservations, of course, at leaving an Astral to Noct alone, even with the oracle close at hand. But there'd been little choice in the matter considering the secretary's demands for aiding in the city's evacuation and the Empire's own unwelcome involvement. There were simply too many variables for them to remain a singular unit. That didn't stop the sense of unease Ignis felt at the sight of Leviathan's gargantuan wall of water rising higher still, practically sealing herself and Noct away from the rest of the conflict and any prayer of backup.
"By the Six," Gladio breathed.
"Noct! Do you copy?" Prompto spoke urgently into his comm. Ignis could hear nothing but static on the other end. "Interference from the storm you think?"
Gladio frowned. "That or he's too preoccupied."
Before he could try again Prompto yelped, nearly losing his footing as the wind began to rage as well. Dust and debris all around them was being snapped up in a powerful gale that ravaged the city in the wake of the Tidemother's fury.
Even the Empire's airships weren't faring well, many being swept up into the tempest or sent careening toward the city below. Some, Ignis noted with alarm, would be crashing down uncomfortably close to the docks where people were still being ferried to safety. "I need to mitigate what damage I can."
Bracing himself and Prompto against the wind Gladio glared up at him skeptically. "Can you even fly in this?"
"I'll manage," Ignis said with more confidence than he truly felt. He'd never flown in such a tumultuous squall, and certainly not with the enraged presence that loomed darkly at the edges of his conscious. But now wasn't the time to sit idle while lives were at stake. "I'll do what I can from the air but the Empire will still have active forces on the ground –"
"Yeah yeah, we'll keep 'em busy," Gladio cut in. "Just worry about yourself up there."
"And let us know if you need a hand," Prompto insisted.
"Right. We'll reconvene at the altar." Without further delay Ignis took to the sky and then very nearly found himself quickly reacquainted with the ground. He was able to catch himself, but only just. The winds were brutal, demanding in a way he'd never known as he struggled to maintain a heading toward the docks. By the fifth time he was almost thrown into a wall or chunk of flying debris he started to question the sanity of this course of action.
It was then that a fortress ship hovering over the city came too close to Leviathan's wall. Drawn in against such an enormous water funnel the ship began to crumple, its starboard turbine and a large portion of the stern savagely ripped away in seconds as the bow of the ship began to tip forward in a rapid descent, one that if unaltered would fall over the very area Ignis hoped to protect.
Needing speed he couldn't achieve fighting this blasted wind, elemancy sparked to life at his call and in a flash of lightning he bolted for the crashing ship. Not wasting a moment, he hurriedly latched onto the roof and began to pull, wings straining for all he was worth in a bid to turn the ship against the storm and the path gravity had set forth. Metal groaned and shuddered beneath him as the remaining turbine broke away, scraped off in the wind. But ever so slowly the ship changed course and he was able to guide it out over the ocean.
Many more ships were dealt with in this manner, the skies kept clear above the docks as he fended off the remainder of the fleet. They certainly hadn't forgotten about him, even in the midst of Leviathan's tantrum, but with the storm there was an added element of chaos that hadn't been there before and their coordination suffered. This made things easier to a degree, and despite the treacherous conditions he was able to hold them off.
He tried to keep an eye on the rite as well, but with nothing further to go off than the dogged sense of Noct's determination and the recurring pang of outrage from Leviathan, he couldn't discern much of what was happening. That was, until it felt as though a knife had been plunged into his heart.
Agonizing dread stuttered the breath in his lungs, summoning up painful memories of Noct so very young, laying broken and still, defenseless against a darkness poised to snuff out his light. Just as before Noct was gravely hurt. And there was no way for Ignis to reach him. It was his worst nightmare realized.
Close to panic, he fought to catch his breath as he sought out Leviathan's wall – searching for a way through – but it was like sucking in through a pinched straw. He couldn't tell if he was getting any air at all. The world was growing faint around the edges when the crippling pain taking up residence in his chest suddenly faded to white noise as something else rose up to override his senses.
His every nerve was set ablaze by a foreign power, both familiar and foreboding, its pull far more potent than any he'd ever experienced. Was this the true strength of the Lucii?
Ignis pushed his monetary relief aside as he tried to process this new drain on his reserves. Noct had never taken on so much all at once before. And he was still taking. To require such energy he had to be wielding far more than just the paltry few royal arms they'd managed to collect along their journey. If Ignis had to guess he'd wager this must be the combined might of all kings past.
Regardless of how such a thing was made possible, backed by the power of the Lucii Noct should be able to make do without him for a while longer. Ignis would use that time to breach the barrier Leviathan had erected between them.
The only question was how. Blitzing through with lightning elemancy may be an option but it would be risky and might just require more magical energy than he could afford to spare at the rate it was being depleted. Perhaps flying up and over was the solution. Even Leviathan's wall couldn't rise above the heavens.
He was nearly at the wall of standing water now, deciding whether to start working his way higher into the storm when there was a shift in the air. Too late he tried to move and a net unlike any he'd ever seen slammed into him with all the might of the Archaean's fist. With constricting, claw-like arms that crackled with wrongness and sapped at his strength, the net squeezed. He tried to force his way free but with his wings pinned he dropped like a stone.
He crashed down half submerged in the crumbling plaza below. On impact something gave in his left wing and he couldn't quite contain the roar of pain he let out as he scrambled to keep from slipping further beneath the water's surface and drowning.
The strange net made things difficult. He could hardly move and he wasn't eager to learn if the spiked energy nodes sprouting along the arms would react like normal electricity should they touch the sea. He tried to pinpoint a weak spot, anything that could help him get loose, but there seemed none to be found. And the longer he remained trapped the weaker he felt. Already suffering depleted reserves, it was as if he was being cut off from his magic entirely. He couldn't even shrink down to his human facade to slip through the gaps between the metal arms that barred him in from his midsection up to his neck.
He wasn't left to his struggle for long. MTs and imperial soldiers began to arrive on the scene as a lone airship descended over the plaza, its hanger doors peeling back to reveal a face most unwelcome.
"You've certainly given us quite the chase," Commander Caligo gloated from the safety of his ship, "but now you are mine. And with you out of the way the Ring of the Lucii will soon follow. Then even that upstart Fleuret will know his place."
"No," Ignis snarled, his own voice practically unrecognizable with Crystal's influence bleeding dry. "It'll never be yours. I'll make sure of it."
"Please, the Empire is your master now. And I think it's time you were acquainted with the reality of your new station," Caligo sneered before turning away to bark at his men, "hurry up and sedate it!"
Ignis renewed his efforts to break free, but no matter how hard he writhed and thrashed his bonds refused to loosen their grip. Soldiers armed with tranquilizer weapons he recognized from the ambush in Lestallum lined up to take aim. Desperate, he bared his fangs, his thoughts racing. If only he could conjure even a spark of flame.
But before the first shot was fired a sudden explosion rang out over the plaza as a sizable hole was blown from the side of Caligo's airship. The vessel lost control and Ignis watched yet another airship meet its demise, one of the few not caused by Leviathan or himself today. It came down hard over the armed soldiers below and through the resulting haze of smoke and ash he soon spotted the commander crawling free of the wreckage, clutching his side as one leg dragged uselessly behind him. It was a pity the man hadn't been crushed along with his men on the ground.
Ignis found himself distracted from his disappointment by an unexpected arrival. He scented the newcomer on the acrid air well before the smoke parted for a figure in white. Like a vengeful wraith, Ravus Nox Fleuret strode through the aftermath of the crash with purpose, closing in on his fallen commander. And with a deft hand he drew his sword and ran the older man through.
"…Impossible," Caligo gasped out as he collapsed, breathing his last.
Palming something small off the body, the Empire's High Commander then turned his full attention to Ignis. His eyes lingered on the cursed contraption keeping him immobile. "Hmph, it would seem Besithia was right to assume a connection between dragons and the Astrals after all."
The Astrals? Ignis was not certain what to make of that. He'd assumed his connections with the Six were so present only due to his bond with Noct. However, he couldn't deny the red energy that even now drained away his strength resembled what he'd seen brought to bear against Titan and now Leviathan as well.
As though privy to these thoughts, Ravus continued, "The innovation that now holds you captive is made from the very same technology the Empire engineered to subdue the Six. I do wonder if you really are a child of Bahamut. If so, perhaps more reverence is due you, but I'm afraid I haven't the time or care for such frivolities."
"And what is it you have come for?" Ignis rumbled back, his curiosity piqued despite the direness of the situation.
"You will require my aide to attain your freedom," Ravus said, not paying any mind as MTs began to swarm the area, taking up positions across the plaza and further boxing Ignis in.
"I would acquiesce on one condition," he continued. "I have no doubt at the first opportunity you'll make haste for the altar. I will be accompanying you."
Ignis didn't know what the High Commander's angle was but he could certainly guess. Metal creaked warningly as Ignis strained against his restraints, but did not give. "I'll not allow you to harm Noct."
"Yes, yes. My interests lie not with the boy if that will satisfy you," Ravus relented with what seemed to be his typical air of annoyance. Hardly the most sincere of reassurances, but if Ignis were to be honest he'd only be further suspicious had the man suddenly thrown on a more friendly demeanor.
"And how do I know I can trust you?" He asked begrudgingly.
"You have other options?" Ravus gestured with his flesh hand and the MTs moved in, four riflemen units taking up positions on a fallen column overhanging the water's edge with weapons drawn and sighted on their prey. The tension on the air ran thick and Ignis lashed out with the only part of his body not immobilized, his tail springing from beneath the water to slap down on the end of the column. The unfortunate MT's were sent flying and he locked eyes with Ravus, his gaze filled with unspoken threat as he agreed, "you have a point."
"Then it's settled." Ravus held out the small device he'd taken off Caligo and pressed down on the button at its center.
The net contraption immediately deactivated, its red glow dying out with barely a flicker. Ignis didn't waste time in tearing himself free. Gripping the net by one of the metal arms he hefted its bulk across the plaza and watched in satisfaction as it rolled over a number of the MTs, crushing them flat. He could feel his strength beginning to return bit by bit and he was keen to unleash it upon the very ones who would have taken him as their captive.
Surprisingly, Ravus joined in the fray as well. And the heir of Tenebrae quickly proved to be a fierce ally, his blade spitting sparks with each devastating blow. Between the two of them the MTs were taken care of with ease and soon they stood alone in the plaza.
Ignis eyed Ravus closely for any sign he might renege on their temporary truce. Instead the man took one look at him before zeroing in on the wing hanging limp at his side. "Are you still able to fly?"
Ignis hesitated. He was loathe to admit to such weakness in his present company but this was hardly something he could hide. No longer occupied in the heat of battle it was difficult to ignore the sharp pain radiating from his broken wing. Without further investigation he couldn't be certain but he suspected a coracoid fracture as the culprit. The break didn't penetrate, which was a relief, but moving it unnecessarily would risk further damage. "That would be inadvisable," he finally settled on.
"Hmph, in any case, it's likely best we keep to the ground," Ravus revealed. "I've ordered a full retreat but should you return to the skies it'll make little difference. There are few who would not risk life and limb to lay your hide before the emperor. The senile fool has placed much import in your capture."
All the more reason to stay wary of this unexpected alliance. Still, it would be best not to draw the surviving imperials straight to Noct. "You propose stealth, then?"
"Unless you have some other method of getting us to the king and oracle our only alternative is to proceed on foot," Ravus huffed with a distaste for stating the obvious. "Attracting unwanted attention will only slow us down further."
Which meant Ignis was better off not appearing as the very creature on which the emperor had promised so steep a bounty. It pained him to let down his defenses even further and reveal his human identity, but he couldn't deny Ravus' logic. "Then it's best I make myself less conspicuous."
Already he could feel the magic shared between Noct and himself stabilizing. He could sense Noct more clearly as well, that he was severely drained and weakened from delving so deeply into the immense power of the Lucii. Meanwhile, Leviathan's presence had receded and in her place Titan had come forth to defend the king in his time of need. That much was a relief, but there was no telling how long such protection would last.
His transformation took longer than normal, the flash of magic taking hold somehow duller. As expected, changing form did not make his injury vanish. Though his wings were now absent the pain lingered, teething at his shoulder should he move just the wrong way. Inconvenient, but he'd certainly fought in worse shape.
He frowned when he noticed Ravus staring. "What is it?"
"I suppose it's fortunate we won't be needing your disguise to fool anyone up close."
The implications of that statement did not bode well. Ignis took a quick look around but the plaza was practically in shambles with no intact reflective surfaces to be found, and despite the storm having died down with Leviathan's departure the water was too choppy still to act as any sort of serviceable mirror.
Like the magic that kept his human appearance in place, the armiger was slow to answer his call but he did finally manage to free his phone. He quickly activated his camera and flipped the perspective to see what exactly Ravus had meant. It was immediately apparent the evidence of his harsh landing had carried over into this form in more ways than just his broken wing. Disheveled hair, cloths dripping with sea water and rumpled – but far more worrisome were the thin reptilian slits of his pupils staring back at him. His eyes had not changed. And it seemed the panes of his face were just a bit harsher than could be considered normal. He could feel with his tongue that his teeth were a tad more sharp than a human's should be, the canines in particular coming to rather prominent points. He had to resist the urge to smooth down his hair to check if the beginnings of horns lay hidden underneath.
The impurities in his disguise would surely fade with time, but for now he would have to make do and hope no one else noticed. "There's nothing for it," he reported with a sigh. "We should move on."
Ravus hardly needed to be told twice. "Very well. Follow me – if you're ready."
Ignis fell in behind the man as they pressed for the altar. Many questions over the sudden shift in loyalties hung heavy on his tongue but for now he swallowed them back. If his disguise was this faulty who knew what else he might have difficulty with and he needed to know for certain without advertising further weakness.
As he slipped his phone back into the ether he tried reaching for his weapons next. When his trusted daggers came easily enough, if slower than he'd like, he thought of summoning a curative for his wing. But rifling through the contents of the armiger revealed their stock had waned concerningly since the fighting had broken out. He was loathe to waste what little they had left on a minor injury with Noct in such a vulnerable state and Gladio and Prompto out risking their own lives. Even so, he knew the battle was not yet done. It would be most irresponsible to diminish his usefulness now.
He settled on a compromise, even a single potion would take the edge off the pain and expedite the healing process. After crushing the vial in his fist he then tried for the comm device he'd stored safely away the night before. Once retrieved, he stuck the small receiver in his ear and switched it on. "Gladio, Prompto, do you copy?"
The response was immediate. "Iggy! You're okay!" Near hysterics, Prompto's voice blared over the radio waves and Ignis quickly dialed down the volume setting.
Gladio managed to avoid getting quite so worked up but his relief was equally palpable. "Thought we saw you go down. Blondie worried you were a goner."
"It'll take more than a nasty fall." Ignis pointedly didn't inform them of how close he'd come to being taken captive by the Empire. "I'm more worried about Noct. I'm headed for the altar now."
There was a sharp retort of gunfire in the background before Gladio's reply. "Go, we'll catch up when we can, which probably won't be for a while."
"There's something else," Ignis spoke up before they could sign off. "Ravus is with me."
"You mean tall, pale and broody? Doesn't he kinda, you know, want us dead?"
Ignis winced, grateful Ravus couldn't hear Prompto's reaction. "I believe we've come to an understanding of sorts."
"I dunno, Iggy." Predictably, Gladio wasn't so easily put at ease. "Smells fishy to me. I don't trust him."
"Nor do I," Ignis reassured, glancing ahead at Ravus who appeared no more irritable than usual as he pretended to ignore the one-sided conversation happening behind his back. "But for now we could use his help."
"Just watch your back, okay," Gladio all but growled, clearly unhappy with the state of things but not having much choice in the matter. His focus was needed on the conflict happening right in front of him, just as Ignis' was needed in reaching Noct. "And don't let him try any funny business."
"Of course," Ignis agreed. "Stay safe, the both of you."
After ending the call Ignis found Ravus hunkered down behind a section of collapsed wall. Ahead he could spot multiple magitek armors being loaded onto airships for transport out of the area. It seemed Ravus' order for retreat had not been a lie after all. "They'll be gone soon enough." The man promised, as though perfectly content to wait them out.
Waiting did not sit so well with Ignis, knowing Noct was in danger and not being able to fly to his aide this very instant was practically torture. But there were still answers he needed from the High Commander and now was a good a time as any to get them. "Tell me, if you're not after Noct then why turn against the Empire? Why now?"
"My sister's life is at stake. Is that not reason enough?" Ravus snapped before visually reining in his temper. "The paths we tread may differ, but the blood coursing through our veins is one. So, too, is our calling. I must protect her."
Ignis was reminded of what Noct had shared of the words he'd overheard the night they'd tried to reunite him with Lady Lunafreya. Whatever strife lay between them, it seemed Ravus' care for his sister was genuine. Knowing the lengths Ignis himself would go to keep Noct from harm, he wondered if perhaps they might find common ground after all. "Is it safe to assume this means you'll lend Noct a hand?"
"Don't be asinine."
Or perhaps not, as Ravus was rather quick to deny the very notion of any allegiance with Noct. And asking after the circumstances under which he received his prosthetic arm offered up little little insight in challenging this. A pity that his failure to prove himself worthy to take the place of the Chosen seemingly did nothing to convince him of Noct's own validity in his calling. At this point Ignis wasn't sure anything would. For now having their interests aligned in keeping both the Ring and their respective charges out of the Empire's hands would simply have to be enough.
Ignis didn't ask further questions and they once again pressed forward. It was too much to hope for all the magitek armors to be removed from their path to the altar in so little time but their number had been thinned out enough that they could be dismantled quietly. They also served as a rather convenient target for Ignis' mounting frustrations over his lack of progress with Ravus and simply how long it all was taking.
Titan's presence had already begun to wane, and the absence left behind a hollow ache of exhaustion that bled out from Noct's very pores like an open wound. Time was running short. And the slower pace demanded of them to avoid winding up on the Empire's radar set Ignis' nerves on edge.
Ravus watched on with far too much judgment as he hurled his lance into a magitek armor with enough force to impale the reinforced cockpit and render the machine inoperable. "How it is you've managed to fool a single agent of the Empire is beyond me."
Ignis very graciously refrained from rolling his eyes at the man. "Best to prioritize expediency over up keeping appearances. We haven't the time to draw this out." Exercising restraint now would only serve to delay them more. And since Ravus truly had no room to talk he made sure to add, "besides, you don't seem to be holding back yourself."
"I know what's at stake." Ravus followed up the remark with a powerful and precise strike of his rapier Ignis doubts many humans could pull off, disabling yet another magitek armor. "It's your so-called savior king that worries me."
It was as if the man had no concept of just how easy it would be to set the hem of his meticulously tailored coat ablaze. Holding himself back from spitting fire – both literal and figurative – Ignis said what he believed without question, "make no mistake, when the time comes Noct will rise to the occasion and fulfill his destiny."
"So you say. But the boy's father has hardly set an encouraging precedent, so quick to abandon his allies after leading the flames of war to Tenebrae. He left us to burn from behind the safety of his magic Wall. For the Chosen to be born of such cowardice, it's unthinkable." The words were spat with such vitriol it was easy to see Ravus' hatred for Regis ran deeper than any passing grudge. It was personal. And doubtless why he was so adamantly against giving Noct so much as a chance to prove himself, as if he bore his father's perceived shortfalls all his own.
"You pass judgment for circumstances outside his control – as though he had any choice in the matter. Noct was but a child when the Empire invaded Tenebrae." And he'd been utterly crushed. The repercussions from what transpired that day had entrenched themselves in his very being, changing him more than Ravus would ever know lest he learned to look beyond his own suffering. "Open your eyes and see him for his own merits. You may well be surprised at what you find."
"And your eyes are so much clearer?" Ravus scoffed, leading him further through the broken city's remains. "With such blinding devotion how could you possibly see to the truth of your beloved Chosen?"
If only Ravus knew what it was truly like to witness the depth of Noct's heart – if he could feel for himself just how desperately Noct cared. Ignis wouldn't deny there were still aspects to his calling that Noct failed to grasp the gravity of, but never for lack of compassion. He often wore apathy much the same way Ignis wore a human face – a mask to both conceal and protect. But such things were irrelevant in the face of the bond they shared. "On the contrary, there is very little I do not see. Rest assured, he will not fail."
"One can only hope you're right," Ravus said, seemingly unmoved. A pity. Working alongside the man was otherwise far less an outright disaster than Ignis ever would have predicted. Together the two of them cleared out the residual stain of imperial presence with ruthless efficiency. It might have even been considered something of a cathartic experience if only the running commentary hadn't left much to be desired and his worry for Noct not weighed on his every thought.
But soon the altar was in sight as they came upon the last bit of resistance the Empire had left behind. It was apparent more than a behemoth and magitek armors had been given free rein in Altissia. The two coeurls were smaller, of course, but no less deadly for it thanks to the powerful charge stored within their long whiskers. Though they seemed to have some sense between them as well, allowing Ignis a notably wide berth, rightfully wary of approaching an agitated dragon. They paid Ravus no such courtesy.
Not that it deterred the man in the slightest. He rushed for the coeurls without an ounce of hesitation, his sword held high with lightning rallied at the blade's edge. Ignis stared after him and couldn't help but overlay the scene with a memory of another prince making a similarly bullheaded charge for similarly dangerous adversaries. How many times had Ignis' heart leapt into his throat as Noct yet again threw caution to the wind?
Ravus didn't have Noct's connection to the Crystal nor his ability to flit about the battlefield untouched, however, it could hardly be said he wasn't capable of his own flashy moveset. The lightening channeled through his sword was poured into the ground, rippling out in a shock wave that knocked the coeurls off their feet. But as impressive as it was to behold Ignis knew the large felines would be quick to recover, lightning was largely ineffective against them as a rule.
He couldn't help but quietly wonder as he moved to assist if all royals were so woefully lacking in self-preservation instincts. Lady Lunafreya, at least, seemed perfectly reasonable. Not that Ignis could say for certain, he'd yet to formally meet the oracle and any bearing he had on her character came secondhand.
That would be changing soon, he realized as he nailed one of the courels in the shoulder and ended the other, piercing its heart with fire imbued daggers. Noct was with Lady Lunafreya now and he'd made his intent quite clear. Though Ignis imagined Ravus might throw a wrench in things; it seemed unlikely that the man would ever willing release his sister into their care. But that was a bridge they'd have to cross once they got to it. Ensuring Noct and Lady Lunafreya's safety was what mattered most at present.
Summoning his lance, he and Ravus struck together and cut down the last coeurl before turning their attention to a set of magitek armors lumbering up behind them. They split ways under a hail of missiles, each seeking out their own target. Ignis choose to take his from above, skewering the armor on the tip of his lance and using its own momentum against it to topple the mechanized monstrosity sideways. Tearing through vulnerable circuitry was child's play from there.
Allowing Ravus to handle the remaining magitek armor, Ignis took the opportunity to clear out the few imperial troops still milling about and pull together his recovering reserves. They were mere steps away from their goal and the bone deep exhaustion permeating his connection with Noct was getting harder and harder to push aside.
But the moment to catch his breath would have to come later. With the last opponent felled they were finally able to set foot on the ancient altar of the Tidemother and there was simply no time to waste.
"Lunafreya!" Ravus called out to his sister and Ignis was right on his heels, Noct's own name escaping him with unmasked worry. But before he could confirm the state of his charge something small and unexpected stumbled into his path.
"Are you her dog?" He'd never laid eyes on Umbra's fairer counterpart personally, but even with her typically pristine fur coated in soot and grime Pryna wasn't difficult to identify. He kneeled at her side as the poor thing collapsed, reaching for a potion to help, but his fingers never closed around the cool glass.
Instead the altar on the rolling sea vanished in a flash of blinding light. In its place he was bombarded by wave after wave of blue tinged visions of Noct, but somehow older, accompanied by a booming voice that spoke of a power greater than the Six – a purifying light bright enough to spare their star. He could only look on in awe as Noct reclaimed the thrown and the bygone ghosts of his forebears rose up before him, like fangs their glaives gleaming in the night.
And then he watched Noct die.
And on that happy note, May the 4th be with you all! Hopefully the hefty size of this update makes up, at least a little, for the long wait. I've got a bit of a head start on the next chapter so if all goes to plan it will be coming a little faster. Thanks to everyone who's hung with the story and especially to those who've left reviews and other encouragement. I've been so hyped to finally get to the events of Altissia and Episode Ignis and hope the coming chapters will be as exciting to read as they have been to work on.