Did you miss me? Cause I sure missed not being able to write but University decided to cripple my progress by asking me to rewrite every single assignment I've handed in because it sounded too similar to another student's work. Well excuse me, but if you give the entire Course the same assignment with the same texts to read, then some assignments might end up with similar results...It's almost like common sense evaporates the moment you're handed your PhD...
"Are you alright, my boy?" Noctis flinched when a voice spoke up behind him, once he'd closed and locked the door to his apartment. He spun around only to see the woman from the apartment next door peer into the hallway. She was an elderly woman, around her late sixties if Noctis' memory didn't betray him, and always had been kind to him. She'd even made him dinner on occasions when Ignis hadn't been able to make it.
"Why do you ask?" Noctis finally replied to her question when he realised that the woman was expecting an actual answer. She gave him a patient smile.
"There are a lot of scary looking men barging into your apartment, lately. The young man with the glasses from last week was nice enough, but with the man from yesterday, I was about to call the police, Glaive-outfit or no. He looked terrifying. Such anger, I don't know what you did to deserve that, but I thought I'd better go and check if you were still breathing."
Noctis huffled.
He watched as Nyx burst through the door the moment Noctis had opened it. With practiced routine the Glaive-member scanned the change of surroundings for possible threats, making sure that there was nobody here to overhear what Nyx probably wanted to tell Noctis this urgently. The former Chosen King and current Crown Prince flinched when Nyx focused his angry look solely on him.
"It's good to see you, Ulric. Any special reason you're here? There's some coffee brewing if you -"
"I was sent here to ask just why the newly elected Chancellor of Niflheim would be interested in an audience with the Prince." Well, straight to the point then...Noctis didn't remember the member of the Glaives to be quite so frank, but he surely wouldn't voice that thought out loud when Nyx' expression already screamed murder. For a moment Noctis was sure that his journey into the past would end then and there. How disappointing. After a life of battling gods and immortal Oracles, he'd be strangled by one of the usually most mellow people of his father's guard.
"What are you talking about?" Noctis asked, pleased with himself that his voice didn't display any of his unease. Nyx sighed, although it sounded more of a growl in his current mood.
"I'm asking why Ardyn Izuna is asking for a meeting with you. A 'private audience' as he'd called it. Away from prying ears. Do you have any idea why he'd do such a thing?"
"Well, from what I've heard," Noctis said, making sure to keep his opinion of the ancient Oracle based on apparent hearsay only. "Ardyn is rumored to be crazy. Who knows why he's doing anything. But why would an audience necessarily be a bad thing?"
Noctis watched with amazement (and faint amusement) how Nyx's face grew pale, only to flush in anger.
"Why it would be...Of course it would be bad! Do you have any idea what the royal advisors are currently talking about? There were whispers of treason coming from high-ranking members of the Court. Treason from the King's son! His own son that's apparently all for forging bonds with the Nifs. Now you tell me what exactly would be so bad about that?"
Noctis shook his head to clear it from the anger the conversation yesterday evening had caused both of them. In the end, Noctis had sent Ulic home with a steely tone in his voice that had the physically older man straighten his posture instinctively, telling him that he'd deal with the situation himself come morn.
"It wasn't anything bad," Noctis assured the elderly lady. "Just some nasty rumors people kept spreading. The guy from yesterday was a...friend who wanted to make sure I was okay."
'That was nicely put, actually. You might become a good diplomat yet' Luna added her five Gil into the conversation, effectively distracting him.
"- really sure, then I suppose I shouldn't keep you from going to school. You'll be late because of me and that would just be a shame. Ignis has been telling me that you were doing so well, lately. You should really keep up the good work."
Wait what? So she knew Ignis by name? Then what guy with glasses had she been talking about just now? He voiced his questions out loud. The elderly woman blinked in confusion.
"Why, he has been coming here a few times over the last few days. He's told me that he was here to clean when you were too busy with school and all that." Now Noctis was worried. There definitely hadn't been anyone but Ignis who would even have the motivation to clean after Noctis' chaotic, lazy self.
"Maybe I just forgot. Did he tell you his name by chance?" Noctis asked, trying to subtly getting her to tell him everything she knew without making her worry too much. He'd learned that from Cor, who told him that once people started worrying too much, they were less likely to reveal too much information as to not get into trouble.
"Why, yes, he did actually. His name was Accius. He looked an awful lot like your friend, the blond one, now that I think about it. A bit more muscle on this one though, your friend really should eat more, and the glasses of course. Does he sound familiar?" Noctis shrugged.
"Not really, but I'll ask Cor if he had anyone come here to clean."
"Cor? Is that the lad from yesterday evening?" Noctis shook his head.
"No, he's a friend of my father's."
"Oh dear, so many names. You'll have to forgive me when I won't be able to remember any of them. I'm afraid my memory simply isn't what it used to be, anymore."
Noctis thought about these new bits of information on his way to school, not there was any point in going. Had something like this happened the first time he lived? He'd found out through pure chance, so it was definitely possible for him to have missed this. Then again, he had people for these kinds of things, that were supposed to make sure his home was safe.
And what was this about some Prompto-lookalike in Insomnia, in his own apartment, for crying out loud. He needed to sit his father and Cor down, in one room, and have a little chat, it seemed.
'We could always refer to Nyx, dear. He's surprisingly talented in gathering information. And with the way he yelled at you yesterday, he's sure to be eager to make up for the show of disrespect. Then again, with everything that's bound to happen today, it might be best to worry about this particular problem some other time,' Luna spoke up and Noctis scoffed.
"There is someone digging through our apartment, maybe on a daily basis, when I was in fact still in said apartment. Of course our neighbor next door would assume that I'd gone to school, as would that snoop, apparently. So how is it that someone can enter the apartment and do whatever in the blazing hells he came to do, without any of us noticing? How can you tell me to worry about that later?" Noctis hissed angrily. The streets were mostly empty due to it being early in the morning, so nobody witnessed the heir to the throne apparently berate himself in such a manner.
'Because you'll be announced as new Oracle today, and because you'll have to defend yourself against the Court's accusations of treason...or have you forgotten already?'
"Ah shit." He absolutely had.
It had to be one of the most awkward days in Noctis' existence. And that was saying something, keeping in mind his track-record. Yet never before had he felt such an urge to fidget in unease as he stood in front of his father's throne, surrounded by high ranking individuals of the Royal Countil, being scrutinised as if he were nothing but another one of Niflheim's experiments. He did not like it, reminding him of the things Prompto had told him about his time in Niflheim. He hadn't told Noctis much, most of it apparently too traumatic to share, yet Noctis distinctly remembered Prompto's breakdown as he talked about the days he spent shackled in his cell before Noctis and the other found him. Connecting these memories with the stares he felt now, so similar to the ones that Prompto would have experienced a lifetime ago, caused Noctis' mood to suffer dramatically. It was a miracle that he hadn't summoned Ifrit yet to make good on the favor that devil still owed him.
"Noctis." Almost unconsciously Noctis straightened his posture as his father spoke up, the fury in his eyes softening as he looked at the aging man. "Do you know the reason why we've summoned you today?"
There was an urge to retort with a smartass answer, but this was his father sitting in front of him, very much alive and not hanging from the ceiling as a rotten corpse, so it didn't even require Luna playing his voice of reason to bite back any spiteful comment he could have thought of.
"I can think of many things, actually, why you could have," Noctis retorted, falling into his royal role with practiced ease. "Word reached me yesterday that people were accusing me of treason, something I will put a very definite end to, today. Maybe you've summoned me because of my stress-related episode last week. And maybe it's because the Astrals have decided to make me Oracle-"
"Champion," sounded the voice to his right. Noctis glanced over, eyebrow raised at the reprimanding tone. The man in question was a white-haired man that Noctis faintly remembered seeing back in his father's original Court. He was a bitter man, yet skilled tactician and deeply suspicious of everyone and everything. A shame that Noctis couldn't put a name to that face…
Seeing that he had Noctis' attention, the man now sneered and repeated: "Champion. You're not Oracle yet. If ever." Noctis graced him with a smile that would have made Shiva proud: Bright and beautiful and filled with the promise of agonising pain.
He could almost taste the unease that quickly saturated the air around the unfortunate fool.
"Indeed, I'm not. But I am apparently Champion to the Astrals and I am Crown Prince, so I'd like to know why you think you could address me with such blatant disrespect?"
The man spluttered indignantly. He obviously hadn't expected such a retort. Not that Noctis could really blame him for it. Before the prince had left for Altissia in his first life, he'd cared very little for politics.
"Actually, General Roderick, my son does have a point." Noctis turned his head to look at his father, surprised the man had decided to intervene. Noctis would have expected Regis to wait and see how his son dealt with the situation. "Even if you were to accuse my son of treason, something which I would strongly suggest not to, then I'd still demand that you show him the same respect that you show me." Roderick looked scandalised.
"But, your highness, we have proof that the boy converses with high-ranking members of Niflheim's -"
"This boy outranks you, General. Either you show him respect or I will have to ask you to leave," the king snapped with barely contained irritation. Noctis felt the urge to clap. However he held back, both as to not pick up habits that Ardyn would have displayed and as to not gain the ire of more members of the Council.
"If it helps, I have not actually spoken with this Chancellor Izuna. I only know that he even knows of my existence because a member of the Glaives decided to inform me about Ardyn's request to speak to me. He also told me that he was sent by the council to inquire why I'd talk to Ardyn. Am I correct in assuming that you gave direct orders to Nyx Ulric to spy on me to uncover my dirty little secrets, General, therefore ignoring instances of higher rank than you, including the King himself? Instances that you usually would have been supposed to consult before taking action...No, by all means, you don't need to answer. I am certain that questioning Ulric should provide enough proof to find you guilty of such actions."
"How dare -"
"How I dare?" Noctis asked, tilting his head at the enraged man. His eyes long since had lost the amused spark, replaced with the cold, hard fury of Ifrit-incarnated. "I dare because I am, frankly speaking, sick of being used as a doormat. I am not a tool for you to use to increase your standing with my father. I am Crown Prince and I will hereby inform you that the easy days are over. I will accept the role as Champion and I will finish my training to become Oracle. Furthermore can I assure you that I will not neglect my role as future King. I will start attending the meetings concerning our situation with Niflheim and I ask of you, your Highness, to allow me to give my own input concerning certain matters. I understand that I might act foolish or naive in certain situations, yet I assure you I am willing to learn."
Noctis bowed to his father as a sign of respect, as it was expected of him. When he looked back up he saw that his father had a pleased and almost proud look gleaming in his eyes. The surrounding men appeared to be a bit less pleased.
"My King!" Advisor Tempestas called out. "The Prince is barely sixteen yet. While it is admirable that he suddenly shows such interest, I do not think it wise to include in such delicate matters just yet." Noctis barely managed to conceal his sneer.
"You make it sound like we have the luxury of time," he instead said. "Tell me, General Roderick, how many Niflheim troops are stationed at our borders? How many more have our spies counted back in the Niflheim-bases?"
"We...we haven't positioned any spies within Niflheim..."
"Why ever not?!" Noctis asked, grimacing as his voice broke a little in his honest surprise. Right. He was sixteen. He decided to ignore the embarrassment of the situation and continued on. "Do you think we can win this war with niceties? If we send them gifts and flutter our eyelashes, they'll just up and leave?"
"Do you realise what you're suggesting? If Niflheim catches wind of this, we might as well have written them a formal declaration of war! People crossing the border would never go unnoticed."
"Maybe not. But we already have people within Niflheim that hold certain ranks. Should we play our cards right, we can corrupt Niflheim's system from within."
"Oh, please, your royal highness, share your wisdom with us mortal men," Rodrick sneered. "What makes you think you know more than we do? Men that have trained decades in the art of war and diplomacy."
"General Roderick, I will not have you disrespect my son again," Regis warned the man. Noctis shook his head.
"No, this is fine. I'd rather he says what he actually thinks. To answer your question, there are several people within the Niflheim army that hold important positions, yet originally have been people of Lucis. Take Loqi Tummelt for example. Once an inhabitant of one of the outskirts of Insomnia, he was taken by Niflheim forces during one of the early raids, right under the eyes of Cor Leonis, who'd been unable to save the few children that were victim of said raid. He'd been outnumbered and had to focus on keeping our losses tolerable, even if that meant giving up Loqi and the rest of the children to Niflheim. Loqi harbors a rather impressive hatred against Cor, a weakness that we can exploit. He's a petty child, hellbent on revenge, but he's also highly ambitious and loves intrigues. We could offer him a position of equal or higher standing within our own army, he's capable enough, as well as the position of spy within enemy territory. We could promise compensation for our incapability to keep him safe as a child, as well as either an apology from Cor, or a showdown between him and Loqi, should it come to that. Maybe he'd even accept working under Cor, who knows."
'My brother,' Luna mused after Noctis had finished his rant. He raised an eyebrow, mentally signaling that he was listening. 'Leave the details to me, but I am certain that my brother would come to your aid. After all, he's vowed to keep me safe back when I was Oracle. Now that I am part of you and we as one are Oracle, Ravus will be drawn to fulfill that promise. Tell them that Ravus will help us, should you request it.'
"Furthermore," Noctis started once more. "We already have Ravus -"
"Who?" interrupted someone from Noctis' left. The Chosen King sighed dramatically.
"Ravus Nox Fleuret, who's sworn to protect the current Oracle from harm. He is supposed to take the role as the Oracle's shield, very much like Clarus Amicitia is the King's shield and Gladiolus Amicitia is mine. The Astrals will hold him to this promise. He's loyal, strong and intelligent and a force to be reckoned with. He's also infected with the Starscourge like so many others. If not for honoring his vows, then at least desperation will bring him to the side of the current Oracle; or Oracle-in-Training, Champion, however you wish to call it."
"And you know all of his how?" Noctis shrugged.
"I have my sources, and no, I don't mean some supposed alliance within Niflheim. I am Champion and have the honor of asking the Astrals for advice."
"And the Astrals told you to recruit Loqi?" The man that had spoken looked positively ancient. It made Noctis itch to ask if he'd known Ardyn personally during his childhood years.
'Noctis,' Lunafreya warned, although there was amusement in her voice at Noctis' unspoken thoughts. 'Don't ruin the remarkable impression you just made by showing that you sometimes have the mental age of a teenager.'
Well, technically he was a teenager. The broken voice he begrudgingly called his own was proof enough of that.
'Noctis,' came another warning and Noctis sighed, pulling himself together. He'd refrain from teasing the relic that called himself a man.
'Technically, you yourself are a relic. We're older than everyone else on this planet, other than Ardyn. So, really, you're in no position to judge. Now let us wrap this up, so we can talk to your father in private.'
Wait, what?
'Noctis! We might be ancient, but we do not have much power yet. Not nearly enough power to change fate, for certain. We need to inform your father of what we've seen will happen, so he can help us. He needs to trust our decisions over what his gut, experience and council would have him do in certain situations. We need him to let us go on the pilgrimage as soon as possible to buy us time and we need to make preparations to prevent the fall of Insomnia.'
"What is the matter? Can't you tell us? Or are you, by chance conversing with the Astrals, asking how to answer this simple question?" Noctis was brought back to the present, away from Luna's carefully crafted battle-plan, to hear the old man sneer at him. Concentrating, he drew from the well of magic deep inside of him to summon one of the Royal Arms. Yet as the pommel of Scepter of the Pious hit the floor with an almighty crash, it wasn't Noctis that wielded it. Regis patience had worn thin, it seemed. Scepter in hand, he turned to cast his eyes over the men present.
"Today has shown me, that maybe I haven't chosen the men of this Council with as much care as I've previously thought. If grown men are not capable to deal with the antics of a single teenager, then I fear for Insomnia's future. You all will hereby be suspended from your duties and everything your current position entails, benefits included. For the duration of your suspension, the Citadel will be off limits to you, as is my son's apartment, if you think about petty revenge for an imaginary slight. The suspension will last for a fortnight, until I reevaluate who is suited for the position as council-member; and who is not. This also counts for those of the Council not present for this session. You are dismissed."
At least they had the foresight not to try and argue. With tails tucked between their legs, the members of the Council left the throne room. Soon, it was only Noctis, Regis and the guards. With a wave of his hand, the latter left as well. As soon as the heavy doors fell shut behind them, Regis dismissed the Royal Arm and leaned heavily against the armrest of the throne.
"You did remarkably well, facing the council members during an actual, official meeting. I know I remember my first time facing the Council. It wasn't nearly as...dignified." Regis swiped a hand over his tired face, sighing heavily. He looked so tired. Within a heartbeat, Noctis warped to his father's side, effectively ignoring having to climb the stairs. Regis jumped a bit, raising an eyebrow at his sheepishly smiling son.
"What did you even attune to this time to get up here?" he asked.
Noctis was briefly reminded of the time back when he originally had been fifteen and had just begun his warping-training. Caught in a tidal wave of sudden motivation, Noctis had begun to attune to every single piece of cutlery within the Citadel, driving the staff up the walls in frustration. In the end, Regis had banned Noctis from using anything to warp other than his training-sword. Naturally, that hadn't stopped Noctis at all.
"Your ring, of course," Noctis replied with a grin. "You can't expect me to walk all of these stairs."
"You could have stayed down where you were. You know, where people that have been summoned are expected to stand." Noctis shrugged.
"The council members have gone and you wouldn't have dismissed the guards if you didn't want to talk to me. You know, father to son." Regis gave a tired chuckle.
"You're starting to sound a lot like your mother. She had a smart answer to everything as well…" He trailed off, staring ahead of him, a blank look on his face. No matter how much time had passed since the last time Noctis talked to his father, he'd always recognise it as the look on his father's face that told him Regis was reminiscing. During these moments, he'd think of his wife, the time before Noctis' accident, the time before Niflheim became an actual threat.
'Should we give him a moment? He looks like he needs it.' Noctis sighed, nodding at Luna's question and took a seat on the floor, right next to his father's legs, Noctis' back leaning against the armrest of the throne.
'Are you well, Noctis?' sounded the soft voice of Luna after a few moments. He sighed. Sitting near his father was calming. He felt more at peace than he had in a very long time. Sitting here with everyone alive and well, he felt like he could relax for a moment, while time stood still. The warm light of autumn filtered through the large arched windows, filling the room with blissful warmth. For a moment, Noctis bent his face to meet the warm rays, realising just how cold his bones felt.
He jumped, halting his thoughts when he felt a familiar hand rake through the crow's nest Noctis had called hairstyle at that age, wincing as an equally familiar ring snagged on a few of his strands.
"Sorry, son." Noctis had a feeling that Regis wasn't just talking about Noctis' hair.
"I'm sure I'll live," was Noctis' reply and he winced as Lunafreya made a choked, nearly pained sound somewhere inside his skull. Suddenly, the warmth of the light seemed barely enough to keep him from shivering.
"Possibly. But will you be alright?" Noctis shrugged at the question.
"I don't know...I mean what with Ignis hovering around me at literally all times and Gladio trying to more or less kill me with practice to make sure I perform adequately, I'm pretty sure I have no other choice but to be alright." Regis hummed in thought, still combing his hand through Noctis' hair in a calming gesture.
"Yes, they will keep you safe even if all else fails. Still...you said that it was Ulric that came to you to inform you of their plan?"
"Well...inform might not be quite what he did...he mainly screamed into my face to be careful," Noctis deadpanned. Regis chuckled at his son's dry words.
"I knew that, when Cor came to me with a smug smile and the reports about the new recruits, that Ulric was going to prove himself as irreplaceable. And it would seem that I was right...for once. But I suppose it's good that at least a few people still put their trust in the crown. Much unlike the Council; I'm certain that at least one of them will try something stupid." Regis paused for a long while and Noctis was unsure whether he should speak up or not. Finally, before he could gather his thoughts, Regis gathered his'.
"I will assign someone as your guard, to keep an eye on you on all times."
"But Ignis -"
"Ignis can't keep a sharp eye on you all the time, nor is he suitably trained to be your sole bodyguard. Your Shield and he would be too few people to handle such a straining responsibility...Guards!" Regis called out and immediately, the heavy set of doors was flung open and members of the Guard stormed the room, searching it for a possible threat. Regis waved off their concern.
"If one of you would fetch Cor and Clarus for me, please. Tell them to drop whatever they are doing right now, this is important." The Guards, trained to be ever dutiful, bowed and scurried back out of the hall, even going so far as to close the doors behind them again. Noctis arched a brow. Usually, they weren't that considerate. Craning his head, Noctis looked toward his father, throwing the questioning look at him. Regis looked amused.
"Now," the old king began, looking down fondly at Noctis, "do you want to tell me what's really happened during the last days or will you leave an old man to wonder just why his son became a completely different man over night."
"What -"
"Noctis, don't insult me now. I might be an old bumbling fool, but I'm still your father. A parent knows their child and they know when something is different. Your sudden interest in precarious diplomatic issues, the experience in spotting and exploiting an enemy's weak points, information about the inner workings if Niflheim, detailed information at that. Son, you were vicious…"
"I was not!" Noctis defended himself. "They were the ones that were in the wrong and just assumed that they knew everything..," Noctis was about to go into a full-blown tirade on just why the members of his father's Court were imbeciles when he noticed the expression on the older man's face.
'It would appear that we've been had. The old You wouldn't have even started to rant about...well...anything, really. You hardly cared about anything other than your friends, fishing or sleeping…'
Well...that probably was true. Noctis remembered that, despite the fact that his schedule always had been crammed full, he rarely did something actually productive with his time, intent on getting as much sleep as humanly possible. His father had often offered for Noctis to join him during these political gatherings to observe and learn, yet Noctis had always refused. The rapid change in Noctis and his sudden capability seemed all the more prominent now.
Noctis sighed. Now what to do? He could hardly tell his father that he'd returned from the dead, a millennium older and a little bit more wise than before.
"You don't have to be worried about my reaction, son." Regis mused. "I doubt there is anything that you could have done that might actually disappoint me. You might not be the most invested in all of this, but your intentions were always the right ones."
An idea struck Noctis.
"I've...been visiting the crystal." Locked away in the deepest parts of the Citadel, Noctis remembered having been asked by his father time and time again to not go and look for it. Yet memories of that magic, sentient stone also brought painful memories with it. Ten years worth of complete darkness, isolation and searing pain as its magic burned at his skin like radiation, eating away at his sanity as Noctis tried not to drown in it. Unconsciously, Noctis shivered, yet he marched on with his thoughts, intent on getting results this time around. "I know you've told me to stay away from it. But...I don't know. One moment I'm standing in one place and the next moment, I'm in the darkness, hand outstretched and touching it. It's gonna sound ridiculous, but I've literally heard it beckoning."
"What happened then?" Regis asked, his voice decidedly more worried now. His hand had once more found its way atop of Noctis head, combing through the already messy hair. Noctis wasn't quite sure who his father was attempting to calm with this gesture now; himself or his son…
"The next thing I know is that I...see things. Things that were, things that might come to pass eventually. I felt them happening, saw places I've definitely not been before...and then I was back, lying in my bed with what felt like years-worth of information running through my head and my magic - well, the Crystals magic, really - going haywire…"
Noctis wasn't quite sure what had been a lie and what had been memory, when he'd said that. The events before and after he'd been absorbed by the Crystal may have happened centuries ago, yet the memories were as fresh as the moment they'd happened.
"The next time I close my eyes, trying to make sense of everything insight my head, Shiva is standing in front of me, telling me of becoming the next Oracle."
"It sounds like you had an...eventful couple of days. I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me, son."
"It's hardly your fault!" Noctis immediately rejected the apology. "You might do a good job at pretending to be omniscient, but fact is: You're not. There is no way you -"
"I should have sensed a change, the moment your hand touched the Crystal. But I did not. I did however sense the change within your own magic, something I dismissed as yet another thing that puberty does to one's body. Dismissing something that concerns you is something I shouldn't have done and that's why I'm apologising. Allow me so much peace of mind, at least. Please."
Noctis sighed, the feeling of guilt gnawing on his insides. "You're forgiven," he mumbled after a few moments. A few minutes passed like this, where neither of them spoke a word, too busy with sorting out their own thoughts to form an articulate sentence. Then, without so much as a knock, the door to the throne room swung open and Cor stepped inside, followed by Clarus Amicitia, Gladiolus' father. It was then that Noctis realised that this hadn't been a full gathering of the Council, that Noctis had just witnessed. And it slowly dawned on him just who he'd subconsciously been looking for amongst all these unfriendly faces: Titus Drautos aka General Glauca.