It becomes very clear, very quickly, that Lyra hasn't ventured outside of Insomnia before. Her eyes are wide with wonder as she scans the surrounding landscape, lips parted slightly at the vastness of the emptiness around her. Aera and Rangi share a look, both of them shaking their heads at the teenager's unabashed joy as she runs towards the sounds of the waves breaking.
"I mean, I know what the ocean looks like, but—wow."
It's such a drastic change from the reserved, observant girl Aera's known since the attack that she can't help but grin at the teenager.
And it's not as though Aera can blame her. It's certainly not her first time seeing the ocean, but after their numerous days and nights spent huddled in Rangi's cozy but small apartment, and a tense journey through the claustrophobic underground of Insomnia—the water really is a sight for sore eyes.
"Hey, don't go too close to the edge." Rangi jogs to catch up with the girl, stopping when he's certain she's not about to tumble over the cliff.
That sense of urgency has dissipated with the rising sun, though Aera—like Nyx, it appears—maintains her guard, even as she relishes the warmth of the sun on her face and the ability to just stretch her arms.
"Imagine how she'll react when we actually get to the water," Nyx muses, watching the teenager with a fond expression Aera doesn't expect.
"Rangi might want to put one of those leash backpacks on her." With a laugh, Aera jogs to catch up to the others, shouldering the backpack that Lyra had dropped as she ran to get a closer look at the crashing waves. "C'mon kid," she calls out, "we've got a long walk ahead of us."
The path down to the footbridge is a precarious one, with the wooden steps partly rotted and the stairs obscured by wild foliage. Rangi takes lead—he's the least graceful out of all of them, he'd announced, and figured that if he loses his footing, at least he wouldn't be falling into the rest of them. Aera figures he's mostly joking, because he traverses down the uneven steps with ease.
"How do you know about these stairs?" Nyx's voice is right beside her ear, and by this point, Aera can't decide if he's expressing his suspicions with her just as a means to pass the time.
"My parents used to take me to a beach down there all the time when I was a kid." Mention of her parents no longer elicits the same grief as it had years ago, but even now, it causes a tightening in her chest. "I wandered off while my dad was chasing after one of my...more wayward school friends. Ended up at that storm drain."
The expression she catches out of the corner of her eyes speaks to Nyx's doubt, but she only shrugs. She hasn't lied to him yet, and this is no exception.
And sure enough, a stretch of pristine beach circles the grounds beneath the steps, with the ocean to one side and the rocky cliff to the other. It's clear that the beach has been untouched by people for a long time; what had once been a tranquil vacation spot for Lucian families who know of it, is now abandoned as the war encroached ever closer to Insomnia.
The wooden steps melt into a path cutting through the tall grass, and the trail diverges; one leads to a precarious climb down to the beach, and the other ends at a set of metal stairs. To Lyra's disappointment, they take the path to the second set of stairs.
While their journey out of the city had been tense and silent, their walk beneath the bridge—and over the ocean—seems to mirror the sunny skies and glistening water. There's small talk and banter, and a couple of awfully cheesy jokes that has Aera grimacing. And even while the grief of leaving their homes behind still lingers, it plays second fiddle to the collective sense of relief, the weight of a difficult escape being taken off their shoulders.
They're having lunch when Aera checks her phone again, feeling just a tad anxious when she sees that they're close enough to another cell tower that there's signal. A number of missed notifications appear on her phone, and she glances up at Rangi, motioning towards her device to remind him of his.
He nods and stands, pulling his own phone out of his pocket. Aera watches him as he moves away from the group to make his calls before glancing down at the screen on her phone. She can feel Nyx and Lyra's eyes on her as she scrolls through the text messages, but she ignores them.
I made it out of the city. Sent the day after the attack. More followed, spanning the next few days following the siege.
Did you make it out? Call me.
I'm at Hammerhead. Meet me here.
I caught up with Noctis. Did you leave Insomnia yet?
Please tell me you're still alive.
Aera can't deny she feels nervous as she taps the icon to call, though she's not sure why. Perhaps the prospect of finally hearing a familiar voice now seems so unlikely, that Aera's trying to prepare herself for disappointment. But the phone only makes it to two rings before someone picks up.
"Aera?"
Stubborn bastard, of course he's alright. "Yeah. Just made it out of Insomnia." She sounds breathless even to her own ears.
"Took you long enough." And despite his perpetual, stoic tone, Aera can hear the relief in his voice, the small breath he lets out before speaking again. "Where are you now?"
"Just outside the city walls—under the bridge." She glances up as Rangi rejoins them, his expression curious as he glances over to her. "We should be at Hammerhead tomorrow."
"...'We'?"
"Yeah, there's four of us."
A brief moment of silence, as though he's processing the information. Knowing him, she's pretty sure that he's eager to get her started on the task that has been given to her, and that civilians would mean a delay. He's going to have to deal with that.
"Alright. I'll meet you at Hammerhead." There's a pause, then, "stay safe, Aera."
"You know I will." She hangs up, the way her companions are not-so-subtly trying to hide their curiosity not lost on her. Lips quirk into an amused smile as she slides the phone back into her pocket and she picks up her sandwich. "Rangi, are you friends okay?"
"Yeah...looks like the Empire only hit Insomnia." His voice is an interesting mixture of relief and bitterness, and Aera can only respond with a tight-lipped nod. "They offered to let us stay with them, at Lestallum."
"That's pretty far…" Nyx pauses mid-bite, frowning.
"I know...They offered to pick us up at Hammerhead, but I couldn't ask that of them. I figured we could hitchhike, or rent some Chocobos."
"...Can we please rent some Chocobos?" Lyra glances at them furtively over her sandwich, eyes wide as though bracing for a 'no'.
"I don't understand what is with everyone's fascination with those giant birds," the Glaive mutters in response, shaking his head. His lips are pulled into a smile, though, and he glances at Aera, as if asking for a consensus.
"I don't see why not." With a chuckle, Aera finishes the rest of her sandwich. "We're going to get sick of walking pretty soon, anyway."
"You guys are the best."
...
The journey takes longer than Aera initially thought it would be, though in retrospect, she should have accounted for the fact that Lyra and Rangi are still civilians. In spite of their cheerful start, it's clear the journey is wearing on them, and they've had to stop for breaks more frequently than Aera would have liked.
Night had begun to fall before they'd reached the nearest Haven—so of course, when they finally did arrive, both Rangi and Lyra were exhausted by the hectic run through the darkness. Both had all but passed out without bothering to set up the tent, so it was perhaps fortunate the forecast hadn't called for rain.
The remainder of their journey the next day is quiet, with Rangi and Lyra both looking as though they've pulled all-nighters. At their pace, the group doesn't reach the outpost at Hammerhead until early afternoon, and Aera swears that Rangi is tearing up at the sight of the diner and the smell of greasy fast food.
It's not as though they've been living on the rationed sandwiches and protein bars for that long, having packed more than enough for the two days, in case they should be without normal meals for longer. But the sight of other people and buildings, even if the region outside of Insomnia is more or less foreign to Lyra and Rangi, is clearly a huge relief.
But it's not the diner that Aera has her eyes on. She recognizes the figure even at a distance, and the sense of relief feels like a solid wall. Her steps falter, but Aera doesn't pay attention to her companions' curious gazes. She takes another second to confirm that she's not just hallucinating, before running towards the man at full speed.
"Cor!"
He turns, and though his expression remains neutral, Aera can see the shift in his posture as soon as he catches sight of her. She stops just short of running into him, pausing for a moment before she throws her arms around him. His chest rumbles with a low chuckle, and he puts one arm over her shoulders; it's as close to a hug as she'll get.
"I'm glad you're alright," he tells her, the corner of his lips twitching into the barest semblance of a smile. His gaze shifts over her shoulder to her companions, but his attention remains on Aera. "I knew you would be."
"Picked up that stubbornness from you, you know." Aera pulls away, her smile small but lopsided and light.
"Good, it means I've trained you well." He's looking past her once more, brows furrowing as the others draw closer. "A Glaive…?"
When Aera turns, she sees that Nyx has straightened his posture, looking every bit the soldier his uniform suggests him to be. If he's surprised to see the Marshal here, he hides it well. "Sir."
Beside him, Lyra and Rangi share a look, and while their expressions are curious, they keep their questions to themselves. Cor gives them his usual silent acknowledging nod, and turns to Aera with a brow raised.
"You guys go on ahead, before Rangi threatens cannibalism." A hand motions them towards the diner, and there's another shared look between them before they agree. When her companions are out of hearing range, Aera turns to Cor. "Something tells me you want to talk business."
A tiny smile graces his otherwise stony features, and he motions towards the vast landscape behind the outpost. Aera keeps pace beside him, caught between wanting for nothing but small talk, for some semblance of normality—and being eager to carry on with her plans.
"You already know the Glaives were deployed outside of Insomnia on the day of the treaty signing." And of course, the Marshal puts work as top priority. Aera's not terribly disappointed, though; she's grown up with this man, and she's used to his cold countenance.
"Yes. And no, I do not know how Nyx ended up back in Insomnia. We found him near the body of General Glauca." Or, what's left of the body. It had begun decaying much quicker than it perhaps should, and Aera has to wonder if what had granted him his unnatural strength might have had an unpleasant side effect.
She's careful not to mention that Nyx wasn't exactly alive when she first found him. Though his composure remains steadfast, Aera doesn't need Cor to worry more than she knows he already does.
Cor's expression shifts, only slightly. "Nyx Ulric?" When her brows raise in surprise, Cor simply shrugs. "He has quite the reputation among the Kingsglaive. His skills are said to be quite impressive."
"Well, he can certainly hold up his own, even without the King's powers to aid him anymore."
"I trust that you haven't told him anything of your mission."
Aera frowns, her steps pausing as she turns to face Cor. "No, of course not." Her question sits unspoken on her lips, trusting Cor to elaborate.
And he does, shoulders heaving with a sigh that seems uncharacteristic for him. "I came upon the ruins of some of the Niflheim vessels which the Glaives were to be infiltrating. It was meant to be a rescue operation, for the Lady Lunafreya."
Having been privy to this information already, Aera nods, silently urging Cor to continue.
"The Oracle has escaped, fortunately. However, many Glaives perished on those ships." He casts a gaze over to the dusty lands of the Leiden countryside, brows furrowing for a brief moment before continuing. "I found the body of one of these Glaives; he had an Insomnia-issued dagger plunged into his back."
Her head cants, brows knotting together at the implications of this information. "Only MTs were on those vessels?" The Marshall nods, and Aera begins piecing the information together. The Magitek operatives hold some sort of base instinct, but they are largely only capable of following the orders programmed into their system—however that worked. No MT soldier would have the mind to take a Glaive's blade and use it against him.
"Traitors." The word tastes bitter on her tongue, her hands closed into angry fists. It would explain how Niflheim was able to infiltrate the Citadel; an inside job, or at least a task done with insider information. It at first seems inconceivable that the stalwart soldiers would be capable of this sort of treason—but Aera also understands from where their hatred may stem. She's witnessed firsthand how some of Insomnia's natives view the city's immigrant population. And she's experienced it herself, as her mother hadn't been born in Insomnia either.
"You think Nyx is one of them?"
"No. He was the one who helped Lady Lunafreya escape, and she seems to think quite highly of him."
This time, Aera's surprise is unabashed, and she can't help but think that Cor was setting her up for such a reaction. The look she gives him is mildly unimpressed, and he gives her that microscopic, half-smirk again before looking out into the distance again.
"He may be a valuable ally."
Aera frowns, the implication of his words not at all lost on her. "You're telling me to let him in on this whole...thing."
"Don't tell him everything. But though I have confidence in your skills and your training, your task is dangerous. You can't expect to manage it alone."
Her frown deepens. "You're not coming with me."
The Marshal shakes his head, and for a moment, Aera catches something like regret flash over his usually impassive countenance. "The Prince has a ways to go before he is ready to reclaim the throne. And there is much to be done in the meanwhile."
It seems unfair that Aera would be reunited with Cor—the only person left whom she considers her family—only so that they would part ways again. Perhaps even worse is the knowledge that both of their roads are wrought with danger. But such are their duties, and both she and Cor are nothing if not dutiful.
"You do what you can, then. And I'll do what I can." It seems to satisfy Cor, who places an encouraging hand on her shoulder.
"I've made preparations for your travels, though I wasn't expecting you would be accompanied by civilians." She gives him a half-hearted, apologetic shrug, but if it bothers Cor, he doesn't let it show.
"Rangi has friends in Lestallum. He was able to get a hold of them, so that's where they'll be headed. It's on the way, so…" The Marshal is not heartless, yet Aera knows what he thinks of her distraction from her task. The tight-lipped look he gives her doesn't disappoint, but the response he provides elicits genuine surprise.
"There should be enough room in your vehicle then."
That gives her pause. "My vehicle?"
"I did mention that I've made preparations, didn't I?" He gestures to the Hammerhead lot, where a couple of vehicles were parked. Aera recognizes Cor's bike, and assumes the rest belong to the other patrons of the outpost. "I've gathered some additional supplies, and the tank is full." Without looking at her, Cor motions for Aera to follow.
He stops in front of a boxy black jeep, and fishes a set of keys out from one of his pockets. "It's all I can do for now."
"Is this a belated sweet-sixteen present?" She accepts the keys, gaze jumping to the jeep before pocketing them.
The man snorts, but Aera doesn't miss the smile on his face. "I'm only eight years too late." The smile dims, and he glances over to the diner. "Go eat with your friends. I'll see you off tomorrow."
She nods, surprising the Marshal with another hug before leaving him with a mock salute.
When she enters the diner, the air is heavy with unasked questions, but Aera's companions respectfully refrain from asking about the Marshal (though she's pretty sure they did not hesitate to drill Nyx on the enigmatic man while she was away). They settle into the small caravan parked outside the diner, conversations once again returning to small talk and jokes—topics that, Aera noticed, have little to no relation to the lives they had in Insomnia.
And while the others are content to settle into their bunk beds in the caravan, Aera remains outside, eyes on the constellations above. They've always been a comfort to her, especially when she had to leave Insomnia to fulfill her duties, and they remain a comfort, still. She remains in her chair for a moment longer before quietly entering the caravan, smiling at the sound of steady breaths and quiet snores.
Aera carefully, silently retrieves a blanket from Lyra's backpack, and returns outside with it wrapped around her shoulders. Both Lyra and Rangi were elated to learn that they now have a means to reaching Lestallum, and their demeanors seem even lighter than before. It must seem to them that things are truly looking up, in spite of the devastating loss of their home and their loved ones.
But for Aera, her work is nowhere near done.
Deftly, she climbs to the top of the caravan, and settles by the front. She's cross-legged, eyes on the stars when she hears the door open. Lyra's light footsteps are easy to recognize, and when the teenager lowers herself to the spot beside her, Aera's brows furrow.
"I can't sleep," she girl says simply, and Aera can hear the coarseness in her voice, the way it trembles. It's hard to forget how difficult a tranquil night can be, how insistent the silence sounds to a mourning mind.
For her part, Aera remains silent, putting an arm around the girl's shoulders and pulling her closer. Lyra's body shudders with a single, stifled sob, and feeling her own grief surface, Aera lowers her gaze, pressing a kiss to the top of Lyra's head.
"Am I—am I ever going to stop missing them?" Lyra's voice shakes, and Aera knows she's holding back tears.
Oh, how Aera wishes she can tell her that it will be okay, that one day, she won't ever have to wish she could go back to how things were, or yearn to hear their voices again, feel the warmth of their presence. She wishes she can tell Lyra that at some point, she will stop feeling guilty for being the one who lived, that she will stop punishing herself for it.
But Aera doesn't want to lie.
"No," her voice is barely a whisper, "it's going to be a constant companion for a long while, lingering in some corner of your mind. But you'll get used to it, and it'll stop hurting." It's the only thing Aera can say that she knows is true, though she can only hope Lyra has the strength to make that so.
"But it hurts so much now."
And Aera remembers just how much it had hurt, how it felt as though her heart was gripped in a barbed vice, how it darkened and steeled and nullified any and all of the light from her. It's startling, how similar that is to her emotions now. There may not have been many people to whom Aera felt close, in Insomnia—but that was her home. And now it's gone.
"I know."
…..
Feathered lashes flutter open as the dark of the night wanes, giving way to the glow of sunrise. Her body feels stiff, arms locked in position so that Lyra wouldn't accidentally fall off the top of the caravan in her slumber. The girl is still sleeping, so Aera remains in that position still, as her gaze sweeps out to the rising sun.
She hadn't cried, though her eyes feel puffy and her chest tight.
It's almost funny how the landscape in front of her feels almost more familiar than Insomnia does at times; she's spent so much of the last few years outside of the Crown City's borders. And if she really wants to fool herself, Aera might pretend that this is simply another assignment, that when this is over, she'll have a home to return to.
The caravan shifts slightly below her, and the slight creak of the door opening announces that someone else is awake. She's unsurprised to see Nyx leaving the doorway, sans jacket. He takes a moment to stretch before looking around, apparently looking for her and Lyra.
It takes him a moment before his gaze finds the top of the caravan, and his expression is set into a small frown. Aera returns it with a tight-lipped shrug, her expression no doubt mirroring the exhaustion she suddenly feels. Her slumber was not a restorative one, her mind replaying her losses—all of them—well into the night.
She can see the way his expression shifts as his eyes move to Lyra's sleeping form, curled up beside Aera. There's a sadness, a look of haunting that alludes to something in his past, much further back than Insomnia's fall. But Aera's curiosity takes a back seat to her fatigue, and her attention returns to the sunrise.
She watches until the sun crests, until the silence of the dawn dissolves to the noises of human activity, of the garage's proprietor—an ally of the Crown, Aera knows, and old friend to the King—opening up his shop. The caravan's door opens again, and Aera knows that Rangi's awakened as well.
He looks up at her, his expression sympathetic. For her part, Aera manages a small smile, one that lasts mere seconds. It's not quite enough to quell her companion's concern, and his face remains set in a frown even as he walks away, rummaging in his backpack for the ingredients of their breakfast.
The meal itself is a quiet affair, stifled by the remnants of sleep and the apparent need to tiptoe around Lyra. Her expression appears carefully neutral, and in spite of the occasional smile they've managed to elicit from her, it's clear that Lyra is still working through her grief.
She leaves the table almost immediately after finishing her meal, announcing in a quiet voice that she'll start packing up for the next leg of her journey. Rangi watches her departing figure with a frown, taking a moment to share a look with Aera before he follows.
Aera heaves a sigh as she watches the two of them leave, gaze dropping to the remnants of her breakfast when they disappear into the caravan. It remains quiet for a while, before Nyx finally speaks.
"Is...she okay?" There's a crease between his brows, punctuating the concern on his features as he looks from the caravan to Aera.
She responds with a tight-lipped expression. "When Rangi and I found her…" It's an unsettling memory, even worse with how Aera seems to recall with utmost clarity. "She was in a store with her family, where some others had gathered for shelter during the battle. The building had collapsed." It had been near silent, the only thing alerting Aera and Rangi to Lyra being her quiet cries. Getting her out had been a precarious endeavour, and when Aera had intended to search within the building for more survivors, she'd been stopped by a shaking hand on her arm.
"She was the only one who'd survived."
The look on Nyx's face reflects her own, and again, her gaze simply drops to her food, appetite gone. There had been a sudden change in Lyra's demeanor after they'd arrived at Rangi's apartment; she'd been determined, utilizing quick thinking and strategizing that impressed even Aera to help prepare them for an escape. It had been obvious even then that she was merely setting her grief aside.
Aera doesn't look up when she hears the pair exit the caravan, swallowing the last of her breakfast just as Rangi approaches. He's shouldered his backpack, his brows remain drawn together as he regards her. "Did you sleep at all?"
"Yeah…" For the first time in perhaps forever, Aera doesn't sound convincing even to her own ears.
Rangi's frown only deepens.
"Maybe you should nap in the car. I can drive." She doesn't miss the apprehension in his voice, as though he's testing the boundaries of their trust.
Aera considers it anyway, because though she's confident she'll remain alert enough to drive if she has to, it might at least put everyone else at ease if she doesn't. "Thanks, Rangi." She fishes around in her pocket for the keys Cor had given her, dropping them in Rangi's open palm. Appearing somewhat relieved, he nods before heading for the parked jeep.
She can still feel Nyx's eyes on her as she stands from the table, pausing only to rub the sleep from her eyes as she joins Rangi at the jeep. Lips quirk in mild amusement when she notices him eying the curatives in the trunk as he stacks their own supplies beside the crates. "This car looks like it's stocked for battle."
"Cor's a big fan of preparation," she replies, shrugging as though Rangi hadn't guessed correctly. Her companion gives her a pointed look before closing the trunk, motioning for Lyra and Nyx to get in.
Aera slides into the back, head resting against the window as she watches Nyx open the front passenger door for Lyra, bowing at her with a flourish. It's enough to bring a smile—albeit small—to the girl's face. "Milady."
"Oh, stop." But there's laughter in her voice, and the sound of it eases Aera's concerns.
Nyx slides into the remaining seat, the smile still on his face even when he looks over to Aera. It's clear that he retains some of his prior distrust, though seeing Cor must have eased that somewhat. She replies with a lopsided smile of her own, before releasing the yawn that's been building in her chest.
"I promise I won't make you too motion-sick," Rangi teases as he pulls out of the parking spot.
"If I have to throw up, I'm leaning over to throw up on you." Her smile widens at the disgruntled sound she elicits from him, and allows her eyes to close.
They're barely an hour into the drive when Aera feels her phone vibrating in her pocket, its buzzing merging with the music Rangi put on the radio. Without opening her eyes, she accepts the call and puts it to her ear. There's only one person who would call her, anyway.
"Did you leave Hammerhead already?"
"Yeah, not long ago." Her eyes open and her brows draw together, ignoring the look she's receiving from the Glaive beside her.
There's a brief pause, one that only piques Aera's curiosity and concern further. "The Empire recently began construction of a new base on the road to Duscae."
Aera sits up straighter, sleep finally leaving her. "Of course they have." Said in a low grumble, a hand rises to pinch the bridge of her nose. Even after leaving the city, it seems the Empire remains standing firmly in their way.
"I've tasked Noctis with taking it down." Her brows raise, but she waits for Cor to continue. "The Glaive may be helpful. And there may be some useful information at the base."
The smile spreads, slow and sure. "Got it. Where am I meeting you?"
"You can drop your companions off at the Prairie Outpost. The hunters there will ensure their safety until you return, and they will provide you with the directions to the base." Aera nods, recalling the outpost as one she's visited more than a few times in the past. "Noctis and I will meet you at the base."
"See you soon, then." The phone is returned to her pocket, and she can see Rangi's gaze flickering up to meet hers in the rearview mirror.
"A detour?" He doesn't sound too pleased, clearly eager to see his friends in Lestallum.
"The road west is blocked by an Imperial base." Her attention leaves Rangi, drifting over to Nyx whose brows are already drawn deeply together. "We'll need to clear it out before we can continue to Lestallum."
The Glaive doesn't hesitate even for a moment before nodding, determination already set into his features, lips set into a serious, almost grim line.
Rangi simply sighs in response, and Aera can imagine his grumpy expression even if she can no longer see his face. Lyra reaches out to pat him on the shoulder, as though in silent reminder that some things will always be well out of their control. "Alright, where are we heading, then?"
"The Prairie Outpost. You guys can rest there for a bit while Nyx and I meet up with Cor."
She can see Rangi nod, setting the destination on the jeep's navigation system to the aforementioned outpost. Relieved to have met little resistance from him, Aera leans back into her seat, casting a surreptitious glance at Nyx.
His eyes are on the passing landscape outside, but there's a determined set in his jaw and a tension in his shoulders that hadn't been there earlier. It's clear that the Glaive never intended to lay down quietly once they've reached Lestallum, that his ill-will towards the Empire will not rest.
Aera wonders briefly if he's realized the same with her, but says nothing as she gazes out the window again. It'll feel good to be back at her job again.