Noctis fidgeted impatiently. He wanted to go. His friends were waiting for him, Luna would be joining them any minute, and he was tired of being fussed over by the attendant who had adjusted his tie three times already. Noctis thought it looked fine the first time. It's not like anyone from the empire cared if his tie was in the perfect position.
"Lady Lunafreya is being escorted over by the Glaives now, Your Majesty," Clarus said, hanging up his phone.
King Regis, who was sitting down in a chair already looking tired, nodded. "Good."
"Does that mean we can go now?" Noctis asked with irritation.
From his position standing next to King Regis, Cor chuckled. "Someone's eager."
"Well, it has been years since he's seen Lady Lunafreya," Clarus observed. "I imagine he's keen on spending more time with her."
Noctis hoped that the warmth on his cheeks wasn't visible as the king's Shield determined the exact reason he was so eager to make it to the Caelum Via. "I just want to get this over with so I can take this off," he said, adding a layer of annoyance to his voice. But a knowing glance exchanged between Clarus and Cor, which Noctis decided to ignore.
King Regis gave the two men a slightly amused look. Then he asked, "Could I have a moment alone with my son?"
"Of course, Your Grace," Clarus said. He, Cor, and the attendant bowed their heads and then left the room, although Noctis knew that they didn't go far.
King Regis stood. Leaning on his cane heavily, he walked over to the prince. Noctis watched him warily, his hands ready to reach out if they were needed. But the king came to stand in front of him, straightening to his full height.
"The suit fits well," King Regis said.
Noctis barely suppressed a snort at the only compliment his father could come up with. "Your Majesty's as well," he said, unable to keep the sarcasm from his tone.
If the king was bothered by Noctis's behavior, he gave no indication. He just studied Noctis, making the prince feel like fidgeting again, although he managed to avoid doing so under his father's gaze. Eventually, King Regis said, "You look…" His face softened before he continued. "I wish your mother could have seen you like this."
Noctis was slightly taken aback. It's not that they avoided talking about his mom specifically. They just never really did. Maybe it was only from lack of opportunity, considering that Noctis didn't see his dad often. Whatever the reason, the mention of her all of a sudden was surprising.
"Yeah," Noctis mumbled, his eyes moving to the floor. "Me too."
A pause. "I'm sure Lunafreya will be glad to spend some time with you before the wedding tomorrow. Do try to mind your manners around your bride-to-be tonight."
Noctis rolled his eyes. The persistent nagging, though, he was familiar with. "You don't have to worry about that," he said. "I haven't driven her away yet, have I?"
King Regis's lips tugged into a slight smile. "No. I suppose not." Then, his father's face sobered. "Noctis...if something happens while the empire is here, I need to know that you're ready to leave home behind."
Noctis raised his eyebrow at the graveness in the king's voice. "I mean, yeah, that's the plan, right?"
King Regis fixed him with a serious look. "It is more than just leaving the city. Once you depart, you cannot turn back. There are many dangers out beyond the Wall with enemies who would seek to stop you from fulfilling your destiny. Be sure to keep your friends close. And remember, wherever you should go, the line of Lucis goes with you."
Noctis's face went neutral. His preordained fate from the gods had hung over his head for most of his life. As if being next in line to the Lucian throne wasn't enough pressure. It was frustrating, always having this weight on his shoulders when he never asked for any of it. But it's not like it was something he could ever forget. Not with everyone constantly reminding him of his duty.
"I got it, Dad. You've said all of this before. Why worry about it so much until it happens? This is supposed to be a celebration, you know."
The serious look disappeared, and the slight smile returned to his father's face, although it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yes, you're right. You should enjoy the reception tonight with Lunafreya and your friends. Just remember that everyone, from our kingdom and the empire, will have their eyes on you."
His father's hand came up to squeeze his shoulder.
"Walk tall, my son."
Noctis was jarred from the memory as the car suddenly jerked. He felt himself being thrown into Gladio while Prompto's body fell against his left side. Noctis reached out blindly, trying to grab onto something to steady himself as they went off the road, the movement throwing them forward in their seats. They all had barely recovered before the car lurched again, Ignis quickly re-directing them back onto the pavement. As soon as they were back on, a low growl came from the engine as Ignis pressed on the gas pedal, making the vehicle accelerate.
"So, that's a daemon?" Gladio asked, looking out the back window. "Never seen one this close in real life."
Noctis also turned to look and saw that a massive, muscular-looking, gray-colored monster was standing in the middle of the road, holding an enormous sword. It was looking after them as they sped away but, thankfully, was not trying to follow.
"Yes. An iron giant, if I'm correct, although I'm not as familiar with the daemons of Lucis," Valyria said from the passenger seat. "I've heard that they appear and attack travelers on the road at night."
"It just climbed out of the ground like some undead zombie," Prompto said with a slight shudder.
"Most daemons do." Valyria turned to Ignis. "We need to get off the road and find somewhere with lights."
"Our destination should be coming up," Ignis said.
Almost as soon as the words left his mouth, they saw the lights appear in the distance. The first sign of civilization outside of Insomnia was a small collection of buildings with a gas station. A large sign above it said: Hammerhead.
Ignis pulled up next to a gas pump. When they all got out of the car, he observed the exterior, frowning.
"I'm no car expert," Ignis said, "but I'm guessing that we shouldn't be taking the Regalia off-road like that too often. We'll have to avoid traveling at night."
Gladio frowned. "That's going to make things more difficult."
"Hey..." Prompto was reading the sign on the gas pump. "What's a gil?"
"Currency for everywhere outside of Insomnia," Ignis explained.
"You've never been outside of the city before?" Valyria asked Prompto.
Gladio shook his head. "None of us really have. Not this far, anyway. Well, except Noct, when he was eight."
She looked surprised. "Oh."
"Valyria..." Ignis glanced around them, but at this time of night there was nobody around outside except for them. "Perhaps now might be a good time to explain why we weren't told that you are also a Leviathan?"
"We didn't know when the Niffs would make their move," Valyria said, crossing her arms. "Camelia wasn't convinced that the empire wouldn't make an attempt on Prince Noctis's life, even after the treaty was signed. Since I was in the unique position of being able to serve in two roles—as an ambassador and an operative—I was chosen to stay in Insomnia and keep surveillance. King Regis and the First Secretary agreed that only a few should know of my dual purpose. We couldn't be sure the empire didn't have spies in the city, so it was more convincing for none of you to know. At the same time, if something were to happen, your proximity to Prince Noctis would ensure I'd be able to reach him quickly and get him to Altissia, where he could be hidden."
"A backup plan to the backup plan." Gladio nodded in approval.
"It's a good thing the First Secretary knows what she's doing," Ignis acknowledged.
"We're used to dealing with the empire," Valyria said, dryly. "I didn't expect I would need to reveal myself so soon, but it seems that the Niffs didn't care to actually sign the treaty."
"If they were willing to break the treaty, why wait when they can just break the ceasefire..." Gladio muttered.
Valyria nodded. "Exactly."
"So, what now?" Noctis asked, looking at all of them. "Aren't we supposed to meet up with Luna?"
"This was the designated meeting spot," Ignis said. "We were told that the mechanic here would provide us assistance. But, seeing as the garage is closed, it looks like we'll have to wait."
"But what if Luna's car gets attacked on the way here?" Noctis asked, his voice tense.
"Kestrel and the others will protect her," Valyria reassured him. "They have more experience with the daemons than I do. I've already sent confirmation of our arrival to both Kestrel and my father. For now, we should wait to hear from them and figure out our next steps here." She gave them all a glance over. "A good start might be changing out of those clothes."
The men were still in their dress attire from the reception, looking a lot less pristine than they had at the beginning of the night. They were covered in dirt and dust, with small smears of blood where a bullet or blade had grazed them.
"Good idea." Ignis walked to the trunk of the car and pulled out a bag. "There's a change of clothes for each of us," he said, bringing it back over to the group. He glanced at Valyria. "Although I'm afraid we hadn't anticipated your company."
She shook her head. "Don't worry about me, I'll manage." She turned toward the nearby mini mart. "Let's see if this place has any facilities we may use."
Valyria led them into the store. It was completely empty except for the clerk, a middle-aged man who was leaning down on the counter, reading a book. He looked up when they walked in and eyed them curiously. He didn't seem bothered by the fact that they were all covered in dirt and blood.
"Are you guys hunters?" he asked.
"Yes," Valyria said, before any of them could answer. "We are."
"Huh. Interesting choice of combat clothing, but whatever works for you," the clerk said with a shrug before turning back to his book.
"Would you perhaps have a bathroom that we could clean up in?" Valyria asked, her voice returning to its usual soft tone. "It's been a long night."
"Sure, right back there," the man said, gesturing to the back of the store. "We've got potions if you need to restock."
"Thank you," Valyria said, before leading the group to the back. She disappeared into one of the bathrooms while the men all piled into the other one.
As they changed out of their ruined dress clothes, they wiped themselves down with damp paper towels. It was far from a hot shower, but at least they were able to get some of the blood and grime off themselves.
"These Crownsguard outfits are super comfortable," Prompto said lightheartedly, as he looked down at his clothes. "Don't ya think, Noct?"
"Yeah...I guess," Noctis mumbled noncommittally, his mind somewhere else.
"As they should be," Ignis said to Prompto. "They were made especially for us. The material should help provide us with some protection against what enemies we may face."
"Functional, comfortable, and stylish," Prompto said, keeping his voice bright despite Noctis's mild brush off. "Lucian royalty really know how to do it up."
"Only the best for His Highness," Ignis asserted.
When they finished changing and cleaning up the best they could, they returned to the car. Valyria was standing beside it, her phone held to her ear.
"Yeah, we're all okay," she was saying as they walked up. She looked at Noctis as she said, "They're back now. Do you want me to put him on?" After the person on the line responded, she offered her phone to him. "Someone wants to talk to you."
Noctis hesitantly took the mobile from her.
A gentle voice came through. "Noctis?"
"Luna!" Noctis instantly felt relief go through him. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she said, although her voice didn't sound as calm as it usually did. For the first time in his life, Noctis heard her sound shaken. "We're leaving the city now."
"How far are you from Hammerhead?" he asked.
"I think we aren't that far," Luna said. Then her voice turned hesitant. "But Noctis…we won't be joining you there."
"What?" Noctis was bewildered. "Why not?"
"There's something I need to do first. It will help you on your journey."
"I don't understand," he said, exasperated. "Why can't we do it together?"
"You have your own task to see to," she said, gently. "Traveling together will only slow both of us down. And time is already against us."
"Luna—"
"We will see each other again," she said with certainty in her voice. "But we should focus on what needs to be done. I promised your father I would do this. So, I must."
Noctis froze. For some unknown reason, a slight feeling of dread gripped him. "You spoke to my dad?"
There was a brief silence. "Yes, I did." Her voice had turned somber. The shift in tone had his chest tightening painfully as the fear inside him spiked. "Noctis, your father…" Luna trailed off.
Noctis knew what she was going to say before the words left her mouth. His grip tightened on the phone as he steeled himself, although it did nothing to lessen the anguish he felt when she confirmed what he already knew.
"I'm sorry…he's gone."
"Val?"
"I'm here," she said, watching as Noctis, who had silently handed her the phone, staggered over to the side of the car and then slid down it to sit on the ground, his back leaning up against one of the tires. He looked down at the pavement, his face pulled into an expression mixed with anger and disbelief.
"We have new orders. We're escorting Lady Lunafreya to Lestallum. Dominus wants you to stay with them."
"Stay with them?" Valyria was surprised. "So, you're not meeting us here?"
"King Regis asked us to help the Oracle. I'm not exactly sure what that entails just yet, but Dominus agreed that we should provide assistance. You're to help the prince get to the tombs. Talk to the mechanic. He can point you in the right direction."
Valyria paused. She hadn't anticipated being separated from the other Leviathans like this. But she supposed now that Insomnia was under imperial control, things were about to get a lot more complicated. Still, she was surprised that her father wanted her to remain with the prince instead of traveling with the others. It wasn't a problem, just…unexpected.
"Okay," she said. "I will."
"Val…" Kestrel's tone changed. "I'm sorry. About Anya."
Valyria drew in a breath as a sharp pit of grief formed in her stomach. She turned away from the group beside her, focusing on some point far off in the distance as her throat tightened, making it harder to get out her next words. "Yeah…me too." She exhaled deeply. "Are you and the others okay?"
"Dina has a concussion, but she should be able to recover now that we're out of the city. Kit and I are fine. Just the normal wear and tear of the job. Nothing a potion can't fix."
"Good." She closed her eyes, relieved that nobody else had been lost. "Just be careful out there."
A hesitant beat of silence indicated that Kestrel wanted to say something else, but he didn't. "You too," was all he said. "Call me if you need us."
When they hung up, Valyria continued to stare off in the distance for a moment. A memory floated to the front of her mind, Anya's voice echoing in her head.
"I know it hurts a lot right now, but...it'll eventually get better. You know that she'd want you to keep moving forward instead of dwelling on what you can't change."
Anya wrapped an arm around Valyria and leaned against her. The warmth and weight of her body were comforting and helped usher away the empty feeling that Valyria found difficult to shake when she was alone. Her friend's head came to rest on her shoulder.
"Just remember that whenever it gets too overwhelming, you're not alone. I'm here for you."
Her other arm came up to fully embrace her.
"We all are."
Valyria drew in another breath, pushing away the memory and the ache that came with it. This time, her friends couldn't be beside her, but they were all relying on her to continue the mission.
She wasn't going to let Anya's death be for nothing.
Valyria turned back to the men. "Looks like we're on our own for the time being," she informed them. "The others have new orders from King Regis to escort Lady Lunafreya to Lestallum and assist her with her own undertaking. We're to proceed with our task here."
Gladio and Ignis exchanged glances. Ignis frowned slightly, but then he said, "Alright. Well, hopefully the garage opens soon so we can determine what our next course of action is."
"Let's hope this mechanic is as trustworthy as Cor said he was," Gladio muttered.
"Hey!" a voice called out to them. "Are y'all here for a tune up?"
They all turned to see a woman approaching them. The red hat she wore over her short, curly blonde hair and her cropped yellow jacket both had the Hammerhead logo on them, indicating that she was an employee of the garage. She gave them all a polite, professional smile that came practiced with providing customer service. It disappeared into a slightly stunned look, however, as she got closer and laid eyes on the car.
"Yikes. I could spot that she was in bad shape from over there, but this is worse than I thought. She looks like she's been through hellfire and back." The woman frowned as she studied the vehicle. "Poor girl. A custom-made beauty like her shouldn't be left in this state. She looks sort of familiar. Have I worked on her before?"
"I believe it's been a while since the Regalia has been out of Insomnia," Ignis replied. "It would be unlikely."
"The Regalia?" The woman's brow furrowed. "That name rings a bell..."
"Not to be rude," Gladio said abruptly. "But we're sort of in a situation. Is the garage open? We were hoping to speak to the mechanic."
"That would be me," the woman said, brightly. "Cindy Aurum, at your service."
Gladio and Ignis looked at each other uncertainly. Cindy frowned at their reaction.
"Apologies, Miss Aurum," Ignis said, realizing they had offended her. "You weren't quite who we were expecting. We were led to believe that the mechanic we were directed to speak to was quite a bit older."
"Oh, you must be talking about Paw-Paw," Cindy said, nodding with understanding. She jerked her thumb at the building behind her. "He's fiddlin' around in the garage. I can take you to him."
"That would be most appreciated," Ignis said. Then, he glanced at Noctis, who was still on the ground, staring at nothing.
"Noct." Gladio nudged his boot.
Noctis slowly lifted his eyes to him and then turned to the rest of the group. When his eyes landed on Cindy, his mouth twisted. But then, he got to his feet.
The woman led them through a side door into the garage. Inside, an elderly man was standing over by a workbench. A red hat similar to Cindy's was on top of his silver hair and he wore a matching red jacket, both of which were adorned with the Hammerhead logo.
"Paw-Paw, these people outside said they needed to talk to ya," Cindy said.
The old man looked up. When he saw them, his expression was surprised, but then a huge smile crossed his face.
"Well, I'll be. If it isn't Reggie's boy."
Noctis looked slightly taken aback. "You know my dad?"
"Know him? I'm only one of his oldest friends. Emphasis on old," he added with a chuckle, "but I'll try not to take offense that you don't know that." The man tipped his hat at them. "Name's Cid."
Valyria tilted her head, suddenly remembering where she had heard the name of this garage before. "Cid Sophiar?"
The old man looked at her, surprised. "Why, yes. Have we met before? Seems that I would remember someone like you."
"No, we have not," she said, giving him a kind look. "I believe we share a previous acquaintance. Weskham Armaugh has spoken very highly of you."
Cid's face lit up. "You know ole Wes? Well, I guess it makes sense that Reggie would be reaching out to him, too." As soon as the words left his mouth, a realization seemed to hit him. His face darkened. "But if you're outside the city…that means…"
"The empire made their move last night," Gladio confirmed. "Insomnia was attacked."
Cid's face fell further. He shook his head. "I knew it was a dirty trick," he said, bitterness lining his voice. "There was no way those Niffs were just all of a sudden playing nice. They've wanted that Crystal and the king's ring for far too long to give up now."
"Then why did my dad agree to the treaty?" Noctis asked angrily, startling everyone with his sudden outburst. He glared at Cid. "If everyone knew that the empire was going to betray us, why did he even let them into the city? How could he just let all of those people die?"
"Don't be naïve, boy," Cid snapped. "Lucis has been standing on its last leg for a while now. If there was a chance to end the fighting and the killing, your old man was going to take it. Especially if it meant that you might never have to let that Wall suck the life outta ya." Cid gave a slight shake of his head. "This war has never been easy. It's been one tough decision after another. And while I haven't always agreed with Reggie, one thing I know for sure is that he always did his best to protect the people and the things that he loved."
"Then why isn't he here?" Noctis's voice had changed in pitch. Valyria could hear the pain and grief in it. "Why didn't he even try to protect himself? If he had just come with us, then maybe he'd still be—" He cut off abruptly. Then, Noctis's fists clenched as he looked at the ground. "Maybe he'd still be alive," he finished, his voice flat.
There was a brief moment of stunned silence as everyone registered his words. A heavy somberness fell over them at the news that the king was dead.
Cid eventually sighed. "I'm sorry, son. I really am. But there's no way Reggie would just abandon his city and his people like that. He wasn't going to go down without a fight."
Noctis scowled. "So he's allowed to sacrifice himself while I'm supposed to just run away like a coward?"
"He sent you away so that you could continue to fight," Cid shot back. "Your daddy believed you had a bigger purpose. Which didn't include throwing your life away by fighting a losing battle by his side. As for running away like a coward, well…that's up to you."
Noctis didn't say anything to this as Cid walked over to his desk and then opened a drawer. He reached to the far back and pulled something out.
"Here," he said, tossing the item to Noctis. "You'll need that for where you're going." Cid gave him an unimpressed look. "If you're so eager to fight, I suggest being smart about it instead of rushing in and getting yourself and everyone around you killed."
Noctis stared at the key in his hand. He refrained from giving a reply as his fingers closed around it in a fist.
"Cindy can get you a map of the area," Cid continued, looking at the rest of them. "The royal tombs you're heading for are to the northwest of here, just past the outpost. I'd suggest resting up before you go, though. You all look like hell."
"In the meantime, I can fix up the Regalia," Cindy offered. "No point letting her go around looking like that."
Ignis cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Unfortunately, our funds are limited at the moment," he said. "We wouldn't be able to pay you. While we had prepared some of your currency for an emergency trip, it seems that the costs of things outside the city are higher than we anticipated."
"You can thank the empire for that," Cid said bitterly. "Prices go up each time they put together one of their blockades, or worse, pop up one of those bases." The old man sighed, a reluctant but resigned look on his face. "Don't worry about the money. Cindy may run this place, but it's still my garage. Consider it a favor for an old friend."
"A thoughtful gesture we are most appreciative of," Ignis said graciously.
"If you're looking to earn some money," Cindy said, "I heard that some varmints have been causin' a ruckus in the area. Ya'll look capable enough to clear 'em out. Takka at the diner can set you up for the job, and he'll also pay you when it's done."
"Sounds easy enough," Gladio acknowledged. "We'll do it."
"Great!" Cindy said. "I'll get started on your ride, then." She gave them a reassuring nod. "We'll have the Regalia tuned back up in no time."
"She certainly won Cid over fast," Gladio said. He was looking out the window of the diner to where Valyria was still talking with the old man as Cindy inspected the car.
As soon as Cid had laid eyes on the Regalia, a string of curses had left his mouth. "At least it's better than last time…" he'd grumbled to himself before waving them off. Valyria, however, had stayed behind to chat with the old man and his granddaughter. The next time Ignis had looked out the window, Cid seemed to be in a considerably better mood than before, a pleased look on his face as he and Valyria talked.
"Yes," Ignis said, taking a sip of coffee. "It appears that her charm rivals that of yours."
Gladio snorted. "I know how to talk to people. I wouldn't say I charm them." He turned to look at Ignis. "You really had no idea she was one of them?" Gladio asked.
"I've hardly spent more time with her than you," Ignis reminded him. "And there was nothing to indicate that she had special training." He glanced back over at her as she turned and started to head for the diner. "Although, that was likely what she was trying to make everyone believe."
"It's a good thing she's on our side," Prompto said, as he scooped some eggs onto his fork. "Her and the other Leviathans. That Kestrel guy seemed pretty tough when he was facing off with the Glaives."
"True," Gladio admitted. "It's good to know that Lady Lunafreya is in good hands while she's off doing whatever King Regis asked her to do. Although I wonder why he didn't tell us about her separate task."
"I'm sure he had a good reason," Ignis said as Valyria walked into the diner and made eye contact with him. "Let's just hope there's no more surprises."
"Cindy says it'll take a day to get the Regalia ready to go," Valyria said, once she reached their table. "We can spend the night at the caravan and then leave first thing in the morning. Here." She handed Ignis a map and some gil.
"They gave you money?" Gladio asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Cindy insisted that we take it to help pay for food and lodging," Valyria explained. "She said that if we want to pay her back, we can be on the lookout for a man named Dave while we're out. Apparently, he went off on a hunt in the same area we're heading but hasn't returned."
"Alright," Ignis said. "We should look for him then. They've gone out of their way to help us. We should return the favor by helping clear out these beasts and by finding this hunter."
"What do you think, Noct?" Prompto asked, nudging Noctis, who hadn't said a word the entire time they ate. His food was barely touched. "Up for some monster hunting? And, uh...person hunting?"
"Might as well make use of the extra time," Gladio pointed out. "Not like any of us are going to be able to relax right now."
Ignis had to agree. While none of them had gotten any sleep the night before, he had a feeling that any attempt to do so at the moment would be futile.
Noctis stared down at his plate, his face emotionless. But he nodded. "Let's go."
It took them several hours before they managed to complete their tasks. Several hours of trekking around in the desert heat with the sun bearing down on them. By the time they stepped back onto the pavement of Hammerhead, Noctis was covered in sweat, his clothes sticking to his body. The uncomfortable feeling did nothing to help his mood.
"Just got a message from Iris," Gladio said, putting away his phone. "She's with refugees heading for Lestallum."
"That's good to hear," Ignis said. "That she's safe and that others also made it out."
"Have you heard from your uncle, Iggy?" Prompto asked.
Ignis's face turned grim. "There's been no answer from him, I'm afraid."
A few somber seconds passed where no one said anything.
"Maybe he just lost his phone?" Prompto finally offered.
"Perhaps," Ignis said dryly. "But considering the state of the Citadel when we left it, I'm not entirely optimistic." He cleared his throat. "Let's just focus on the task at hand and turn in this hunt to Takka. Hopefully, as the day goes on, we may learn of others who managed to escape."
Noctis stopped in his tracks as they walked by the caravan. "I'm gonna wait here," he said at everyone's questioning looks.
Gladio frowned. Noctis knew why. He'd let the others take the lead when they were out hunting. While Noctis had been quick to join in eliminating the reapertails and taking out the sabertusks that had the hunter, Dave, trapped in a shack, he hadn't contributed much toward anything else, including the conversation. Gladio no doubt thought that he should be doing more. But although his Shield felt this way, he hadn't said anything directly to Noctis. Which was unlike him.
"Fine," Ignis said quickly, giving Gladio a look. "Just stay within sight. And don't wander off by yourself."
"Right."
Noctis felt the weight of everyone's eyes on him, all of which he avoided meeting. Thankfully, Valyria spoke up. "I'll go let Cindy know Dave is alright. We can meet back here."
After they all agreed and departed ways, Noctis slunk over to one of the chairs that was in the shade of the caravan but still in view of the diner window. While he'd much rather be somewhere with air conditioning, he hadn't felt like joining his friends. He was just so tired. Physically and mentally. He wished he could sleep, but he knew that if he tried, his mind would just spiral into thinking about his dad being dead, worrying about if Luna was okay, and wondering if he was even capable of doing what everyone expected of him. It was a vicious loop of thoughts that he desperately wished he could turn off, but so far, it was all that he could fixate on.
He settled into the chair. And then, while he knew it was a bad idea, he pulled out his phone.
The news was everywhere. Almost every website that he checked had some headline about the fall of Insomnia. It seems that while they were out hunting, the rest of the world had finally caught on to the nightmare they had all endured the previous night.
Knowing better but unable to stop himself, he scrolled through article after article about the attack. Most were pinning the blame on terrorists. Noctis scoffed in disbelief. As if anyone would truly believe that. Other articles simply speculated that peace negotiations had failed, although none directly wrote that the empire had attacked first. One thing was the same in all the articles though...
They all reported that the king of Lucis was dead.
Noctis finally put his phone away and stared sullenly down at the table. It was official now. Everyone knew. The empire had succeeded in taking over Lucis. Which meant that they now controlled the entire star. Or at least they would soon.
An overwhelming feeling of despair came over him, and he wished more than ever that his dad was there to tell him what to do. Noctis knew that the mechanic couldn't possibly have known the answers he had demanded from him that morning. And yet, Cid's reasoning behind King Regis's choices had made sense. It wasn't any easier to accept, though. Not with his dad gone and people now looking to him to somehow save everybody. It had been easy to think he was prepared for this when the empire's betrayal had only seemed like an unlikely possibility, of which, Noctis was now realizing others had not seen as so improbable after all. But when King Regis had asked Noctis if he was ready to leave home behind, Noctis hadn't thought that it meant also leaving his father behind too...
He was brought out of his thoughts as he heard footsteps approach the table he was sitting at.
"Where are the others?" Valyria asked him.
Noctis's eyes only briefly met hers before he looked away. "Still talking to Takka, I think."
"I see." Valyria was silent for a moment. She remained standing across the table from him. It seemed like she wanted to say something but was contemplating what her next words would be.
"I'm sorry…about your father."
Noctis looked back up at her, his face tight. "Thanks," he mumbled.
When she spoke again, her face and voice were hesitant. "It may not be my place to say this, and I don't mean to overstep, Your Highness, but...try to fight the impulse to withdraw into yourself. And to turn away from them." She looked in the direction of the diner where his friends were. Her voice became softer. "I know that it can be difficult, but they're grieving too. And they care about you too much for you to have to go through this alone."
Noctis stiffened as guilt suddenly gripped him. He averted his eyes as he considered her words. Valyria was right. His friends had also lost people. And yet, they were here, doing everything and taking care of him as usual, while he sulked and wallowed in self-pity. Not only was he not being helpful, he'd brushed off any attempt from anybody to distract him from how bitter and hopeless he was feeling. Maybe it wasn't fair, the position he'd been put in. But it wasn't fair for them either. Especially when his friends were clearly setting aside their own feelings while trying to make the best of their situation.
Before Noctis could come up with a response, he caught sight of Prompto heading toward them from the direction of the mini mart.
"Hey look!" he said excitedly, showing them a can in his hand. "They have Ebony here. Ignis is going to flip."
Noctis glanced at Valyria before turning to Prompto. "Are you sure he's okay with you spending the money we just earned?" he asked.
"It wasn't that expensive," Prompto said defensively. "He's the one who gave me the money, anyway. Plus, he loves this stuff. Figured it'd cheer him up."
"I'm sure he'll appreciate the thought," Valyria reassured him.
"Yeah," Noctis agreed, remembering the conversation earlier about Ignis's uncle. It was very much like Prompto to go out of his way to find something that might lift Ignis's spirit. "Nice thinking," he added.
Prompto seemed pleased by their responses. He turned to Valyria. "Um, do you need anything? I could get it for you."
She shook her head. "I'm alright for now. Thank you, Prompto."
Prompto gave a small, nervous smile. "Sure! Just let me know if you change your mind."
Noctis turned back to Valyria as Prompto took a seat next to him. "Have you heard anything about Luna?"
"Not yet," she replied. "The others will send word once they reach their destination."
Noctis gave a resigned sigh. "Alright."
"They'll make sure she's protected and taken care of. You don't need to worry, Your Majesty."
Noctis grimaced. While Valyria had dropped the formality while they were fleeing Insomnia, now that they were out of immediate danger, she had reverted back to formally addressing him. He always disliked when people did that. While it was tolerable from those he didn't see often, the thought of Valyria continuing to address him that way for the entire time she was with them, for however long that was, sounded exhausting.
"You don't have to call me that," Noctis said, his expression pained. "I kind of hate it, actually."
A slight look of surprise crossed her face.
"Noct's never been one for titles," Prompto explained. "I don't think I've ever called him that. Not seriously, at least."
Valyria seemed a little unsure, but then gave a nod. "If that's what you wish."
Right then, Gladio and Ignis returned. Both of them had apprehensive looks on their faces.
Valyria raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong?"
"They just broadcast an announcement on the radio," Gladio said.
"Announcing what?" Prompto asked.
"Reports of the attack and the death of the king. Not only that..." Ignis's face turned solemn. "They're claiming that both Noctis and Lady Lunafreya are dead."
The news broadcast had unnerved Noctis. It couldn't be easy hearing about his own supposed passing, or knowing that now, everyone else outside of their group thought he was dead. Ignis had tried to spin it positively. That it meant the empire might not know that he and Lady Lunafreya had escaped. It seemed to comfort Noctis a little. But not by much.
Although they were all exhausted, Ignis didn't think any of them slept very well. All night, the sound of one of the others shifting in their bed could be heard, which Ignis only knew because he awoke often enough to hear them. Eventually, he decided to just get up, even though the sun hadn't risen yet.
He went to the diner and sat drinking coffee, trying to keep his mind busy by reading through the traveler's guides they had available. While he had brushed up on his knowledge about the Lucian outlands when they were previously meant to go to Altissia, it seemed more important than ever that he knew as much information as he could about the area, considering that they had no idea where they might end up.
The others slowly joined him, the conversation kept light around the table as they ate. Ignis was glad to see that Noctis didn't appear to completely tune them out as he had before. He even made a slight effort to contribute to the discussion, although he still refrained from saying too much. They were all nearly done eating breakfast when Noctis's phone went off.
"Cindy said she's finished," Noctis said after he hung up, making to rise from his seat. "Let's go."
"Not before you finish your food," Ignis said sternly.
"But the car—"
"Will be there when you're finished," Ignis interrupted. "You should eat while you can. There's no guarantee when our next meal will be while we're out here."
Noctis scowled, but then reluctantly sat back down. He continued to eat his breakfast, although visibly sulking. From her seat next to Noctis, Ignis could see Valyria hiding a small, amused smile behind the coffee cup she was sipping from.
Shortly after, they were all piled into the Regalia and on the road, heading in the direction Cid had pointed them in.
"Wow, can you believe what Cindy did with the car in one day?" Prompto asked, after they left Hammerhead behind. "It looks brand new. She's the best!"
"The Regalia is in much better shape than when we brought it to her," Ignis agreed.
"Plus, she probably had loads of other work to do, but she put it aside for us. She's so sweet. And helpful."
"I know that look." Gladio smirked. "I think Prompto's fallen in love."
Noctis gave a small snort. "It's a good thing he doesn't do that often," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"What can I say? I'm a lover...and a fighter. I'm a pretty versatile guy."
"Perhaps more of the latter for the time being," Ignis said. "At least until we get a better handle on the situation we're in."
"Right, so...what exactly are we doing, anyway?" Prompto asked. "I mean, I know we're looking for these royal tomb things, but what's the endgame here?"
Ignis looked at Noctis in the rearview mirror. While the advisor had his own ideas about what their goal should be, ultimately, it was up to him to decide. "Noct?"
For a moment, Noctis didn't respond. He sat in his seat, his eyes downcast.
"Luna said they took the Crystal," Noctis finally said. His eyes hardened when they met Ignis's in the mirror. "So we take it back. And bring down the empire once and for all."
The resolve in his voice, replacing the dull tone he'd had for the last day, was heartening to hear. Ignis's lips twitched up into a small smirk.
"That sounds good to me," Gladio said, approvingly.
"Hell yeah!" Prompto enthused.
Valyria didn't say anything but was regarding Noctis in the rearview mirror, a thoughtful look on her face. Ignis wondered what she was thinking, but wasn't going to ask. Instead, he focused on getting them to their destination, the mood in the car lifted as they all felt a little more motivated. And hopeful.
When they reached the designated outpost, they got out of the car, not quite knowing what to expect. They saw a bunch of men and women in black vests with dog tags around their necks milling around.
"They're all dressed like that Dave guy," Noctis commented.
"They're hunters like him," Valyria said. "Cid said that this outpost is a local hub for them."
"So, what exactly are hunters, anyway?" Prompto asked. "Are they like the Crownsguard for outside the city?"
"Similar," Ignis answered. "The organization was created by former Crownsguard members, although that was a long time ago, so they've evolved into their own entity at this point. They help protect citizens by hunting daemons and aggressive creatures, although that's not all that they do."
"Living out here, they've definitely seen a lot more action than we have." Gladio motioned for them to follow him. "Come on, let's see if someone can point us in the direction of these royal tombs."
They walked into the main outpost building. Ignis was surprised when they immediately ran into someone they recognized.
"Monica!" Gladio quickly strode up to her.
Monica looked relieved when she saw them. "Thank the gods you made it. Cor knew that you would."
"Cor's alive?" Noctis asked.
"Yes, Your Highness," Monica said, "although the same can't be said for most of the Crownsguard. We did manage to get Lady Iris out of the city. Dustin is with her now, escorting her to Lestallum with other refugees."
It was Gladio's turn to look relieved. Dustin was one of his father's best, so he would rest easier knowing the Crownsguard member was with his sister. "Thanks. I owe you guys."
Monica shook her head. "Not at all. We tried to get out as many as we could." She turned to Noctis. "Your Majesty, Cor went to look at the royal tomb nearby. You should go meet him. He'll explain everything."
Noctis nodded. "Sure. Thanks, Monica."
They followed the directions she gave them down the dirt road leading out of the outpost. When they found him, the marshal was standing outside a large, elaborate structure. He turned around when he heard them walk up.
"Good, you're here," Cor said.
"How did you know we were coming?" Noctis asked.
"Got a call from Cid," Cor said. "Would have called you myself, but we were busy trying to find a way to get refugees to Lestallum." His eyes landed on the female in the group. "Valyria," he said in acknowledgement.
"Hello marshal," she greeted.
"You don't seem surprised to see her," Gladio observed, his arms crossed in front of him.
"Your father and I were the only ones outside of King Regis who knew who she really was," Cor said. "We thought it'd be best if it was kept between us."
Gladio's arms unfolded. "And...my dad?"
Cor's mouth pressed down into a hard line, his eyes softening with remorse. "I'm sorry."
Gladio looked away, his face hard. "I figured, if the king is dead." He sighed before turning back to him. "Thanks for getting Iris out of there."
Cor gave a nod. "Of course."
"So, why are we here?" Noctis asked, his voice and demeanor subdued by the exchange.
The marshal's eyes met Noctis's.
"For you to reclaim your throne."
"Hey, I've been looking for this!"
Prompto pulled a camera out of the bag of supplies he was rifling through as he sat on the ground of the haven. His face scrunched in confusion. "How did it get in here?"
Ignis looked up from the leftover ingredients he was packing away. Monica had supplied them with a small box of food items. Combined with the grains and vegetables they had scavenged out in the wild, it had been enough for Ignis to put something together for dinner. He was organizing what was left, taking mental stock of what he'd need to purchase in the morning before they left the outpost.
"Is that the new one Noct got you for your birthday last year?" Ignis asked. "Must have accidentally been packed with the emergency supplies. Probably when we were preparing for our original expedition."
"Huh," Prompto said, as the device came to life in his hands. "Well, now that our trip is back on..." He lifted the camera and shot a picture of Noctis, who was sitting in a chair, staring into the campfire.
"Hey, cut that out," Noctis said, glowering at Prompto. "If you're going to take photos, at least make them interesting."
"Come on, I'm supposed to document the entire journey. That includes capturing moments of your brooding by the fire."
"Yeah, like we really need a picture to remind us of how moody Noct gets." Gladio's voice floated over to them as he walked up from the entrance to the haven.
"Where've you been?" Noctis asked, ignoring his comment as Gladio took a seat in the chair next to him.
Gladio lifted an item in his hand. "Got a sleeping bag for Val. Luckily, I just happened to run into Dave, who was able to swing a donation from one of the vendors who sells to the hunters. Apparently, that guy has some pull around here."
"Well, it's good to see we've made ourselves another ally," Ignis said as he walked over to take the other chair beside Noctis. "Even if the only perk is a free sleeping bag."
"Is the tent going to fit all of us?" Prompto asked.
"We'd originally sprung for a slightly bigger tent than necessary," Ignis answered. "It might be a little less roomy with a fifth person, but it won't be terribly uncomfortable."
"Where is Val anyway?" Noctis asked Gladio. "Wasn't she with you?"
"She's trying to find some extra clothes."
"Unlike us," Ignis pointed out, "she only came out here with what was on her person when we left Insomnia."
"At least she came prepared for a fight," Gladio said, eyeing the katana she'd left beside her chair. "How do you think she knows so much about fighting the empire's tech, anyway?" he asked Ignis.
Earlier that day, Valyria had demonstrated her ability to quickly dispatch the magitek infantry once again. On their way to the second royal tomb in Keycatrich Trench, they had run into imperial forces. Even Cor had seemed surprised at how fast Valyria disabled the MTs, barely lingering on them for a moment before moving on to the imperial infantry. Then, when two MAs appeared, she had scanned the area, looking for a high point where she might get to their backs. Valyria was about to rush forward when Ignis stopped her.
"Perhaps you should let Noctis do it," he'd suggested, remembering what had happened the last time she took one down.
At Ignis's words, Noctis had turned to her. "What do I do?"
Thankfully, Valyria hadn't argued. "Aim for the back, upper left quadrant," she'd instructed. "It may take a couple of hits, depending on if this model has a core or just an energy source box. Either way, it's likely to explode. Once you destroy whatever's inside, get out of there. You'll know it when you've hit it."
Noctis raised his sword. "Got it."
It had taken a few tries, but with the others causing a distraction and drawing fire away from him, Noctis had been able to take down both MAs, safely warping away as they self-destructed. The fact that Valyria had been able to tell Noctis exactly where to strike showed that she must know their enemies well.
Ignis shook his head at Gladio. "I couldn't say." His eyes caught movement at the entrance to the haven. "You could ask her yourself, though."
Valyria walked up to join them at the campfire, a backpack slung over her shoulder. She was wearing new clothes now, her attire similar to that of the hunters. Her dark hair, usually pulled up, was now in a long braid down her back.
"I see your search was successful," Ignis observed.
She nodded as she put the backpack down and took a seat. "Monica was able to get me one spare change of clothes. It's enough for now. Hopefully, I'll be able to get something else when we get to Lestallum, but I know our funds are limited at the moment, so I'll make do with what I have."
"Are you sure?" Ignis asked. "While I'm hopeful we'll reach the city soon, the route there may not be so straightforward."
"You're probably right," Valyria acknowledged. "I'll be fine though. I've been in worse situations."
"Really?" Gladio asked, raising an eyebrow. Like Ignis, he was likely wondering what situation Valyria could have been in previously that was worse than the one they were in now. Gladio glanced at the advisor before he asked, "Would those situations have anything to do with how you know so much about taking down the empire's magitek?"
Valyria briefly hesitated at the question. Her face seemed uncertain, like she wasn't sure if she should—or could—tell them whatever information she had. But then, her face shifted, and she seemed to come to some internal decision. She leaned forward in her chair, her voice low as she spoke. "A couple of years back, some of my comrades and I infiltrated an imperial base in Niflheim."
A surprised silence filled the air as they all took this in. Ignis suddenly recalled the note in her file about Valyria being sick for an extended period of time. From what he'd remembered reading, that had also been a couple of years ago. It looks like her illness had been a cover-up while she was off doing non-diplomatic related duties.
"Accordo was sending spies to Niflheim?" Noctis asked. Even he knew how odd that was. Relations between the empire and the Accordian government must have been worse off than they realized.
"Camelia was getting concerned about the empire's actions," Valyria explained. "While they have always been your enemy, terms between the empire and Accordo used to be reasonably equitable. It could be tedious having to run every decision by them for approval, but as long as we followed their rules, paid their taxes, and let them come and go as they please, they let the First Secretary run our nation as she saw fit for the most part, provided that Accordo remained commercially prosperous."
She sighed. "But in the last ten years, the emperor has become obsessed with expanding his magitek army, funneling much of the empire's money into more magitek research and production facilities. While our government could handle the higher tax burden by the revenue generated from tourism in Altissia and maritime trade on the other islands, Camelia was not happy with having much of our money taken to be put toward robotic soldiers. Ultimately, though, that wasn't what pushed her and the Legislative Council to espionage."
"The daemons," Ignis said, remembering what King Regis and Clarus had told him. "They started appearing in Accordo."
Valyria nodded. "First in the outlying areas and then Altissia. It was previously unheard of, especially in the city, but they lurk in dark alleyways, sometimes even emerging from the water, and attack citizens and tourists at night. On top of that, people started disappearing. At first, we thought it was the daemons getting them, but sometimes even those who never came near one just vanished." Her face darkened. "Eventually, we realized that the daemon attacks seemed to get worse any time the empire came around. Not the general citizens, but their higher up officials. While delegates weren't sent in a formal capacity incredibly often, there's been a correlation between their presence and the number of daemon sightings."
"So, you think the empire has something to do with them," Noctis said.
"Yes," Valyria confirmed. "Although we didn't know for sure at first. Since we couldn't exactly confront the empire about it, we sent a Leviathan to Niflheim to gather information." Her face hardened. "She never came back."
Although it was subtle, Ignis caught the brief flash of emotion in Valyria's eyes. From that, he surmised that she must have had a personal connection to the Leviathan who had disappeared. It seemed that Valyria's dislike of the empire stemmed from more than just the duty to protect her people.
"After that, it was clear that they were hiding something," Valyria continued. "I was part of the team sent to look for the missing operative and to finish gathering intel. We broke into a facility and found evidence that they were experimenting with daemons, and, somehow, creating them to use in the war against Lucis. In the process, we managed to pull some information about their magitek weaponry. Unfortunately, the imperials at the facility we infiltrated didn't have high enough clearance to have access to all the details, but it was enough."
"So that's how you know so much about them," Gladio said, the pieces falling together. "And why you were sent to Insomnia to help."
"Yes," Valyria said. "We could no longer trust the empire. Not after everything we'd seen. While there was no hope for us to stand against them outright, we learned how to arm ourselves against them. Using the intel we stole, we built on the experience we gained having to fight MTs while infiltrating the facility, knowing that one day we may need to know how to face them in combat again." She leaned back in her chair, a reflective look on her face. "Some of what we'd learned was only in theory though. I'd never fought a magitek armor prior to the night we left Insomnia. I'd just read about the location of the core in some of their models and took a stab at it."
"Literally," Prompto pointed out.
"Fortunate that it worked," Ignis said appreciatively. "Would you be willing to teach us what you've learned?"
"Of course," she said with a nod. "I'll share whatever knowledge I have. I imagine we'll be running into a lot more imperial forces, so it'll be best if we're all prepared."
At her words, Ignis couldn't help but frown inwardly. He still didn't know how he felt about Valyria traveling with them. It was a bit irrational to be worried, he knew. She had proven capable of defending herself, and all of them as well. Not only that, she had skills and knowledge that would undoubtedly be helpful while they searched for the rest of the royal tombs Cor had tasked them with finding.
But despite the advantages, Ignis still felt uncomfortable with the idea of bringing her on a journey that would be both arduous and dangerous. He thought back to the anguish in her voice when the other Leviathan, Anya, had been killed. Valyria had already lost someone close to her while protecting them. Someone who had likely had the same skills and knowledge as Valyria, but was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. All of the Leviathans were risking a lot by providing them aid, especially considering that this wasn't entirely their fight.
Then again, after what Valyria had told them, Ignis realized that maybe they were making it theirs.
"Since Cor asked us to take down that imperial blockade tomorrow, I'd say you're right," Gladio agreed.
"Best save the lesson for the morning," Ignis proposed right as Prompto gave a yawn. "Tomorrow may be difficult, so we should get some rest."
"I managed to find you a sleeping bag," Gladio said to Valyria, standing up with the mentioned item in hand. "I'll go ahead and roll it out next to the others."
"That's very kind of you. Thank you, Gladio."
Noctis also stood up with a yawn. "I'm beat. Guess I'll head to bed."
"Don't you mean lay in your sleeping bag and play King's Knight on your phone for several hours?" Gladio asked.
Noctis shrugged. "Pretty much."
"Tch. And you wonder why you're so tired in the morning."
Prompto also got to his feet. "I could go for some King's Knight."
"Don't stay up too late," Ignis called after them as they walked away. "We're meeting the marshal as soon as it's safe to drive."
"Sure thing, Iggy!" Prompto said over his shoulder as they all went into the tent.
Valyria had a slight smile on her face as her eyes moved from the tent entrance, where the others had disappeared, to Ignis, who was shaking his head. "I can see why you were so busy back in Insomnia," she said. "The four of you certainly have an...interesting dynamic."
"That's a nice way of putting it," Ignis sighed.
"Well, I think it's wonderful that Noctis treats you three more like family than just his retainers. I don't imagine many kings can be scolded into finishing their food by their royal advisor," she observed.
Ignis smirked. "I suppose you're right. Then again, I've been taking care of Noct for a long time now, and it's not like he always listens to me. Not when it comes to anything non-royalty related, at least."
"Still, he clearly values your opinion and relies on you very much, as do the others. It's good that he has close friends he can trust to help him through this."
"Yes," Ignis agreed. Then, he hesitated, considering his next words before he spoke. "Although, since that is the case, are you sure that you wish to continue with us? Not that your assistance isn't appreciated," he added quickly. "It's just…I can't hope to predict where this journey may lead. I'm sure wherever it does, it'll be extremely dangerous."
Valyria's lips quirked. "Thank you for your concern, but I accepted the potential dangers of standing against the empire long ago. I'd rather be doing something, even knowing the risks, than do nothing for the sake of being safe." She inclined her head at him. "That being said, I'll stay as long as you would have me."
"Of course." Ignis had expected her answer but had felt obligated to ask the question all the same. "Although no one would blame you if you ever change your mind, we certainly wouldn't refuse help, especially from someone of your skill." He gave a small smile. "I do have to say, you're certainly more than I was expecting when our marriage was arranged. In a very good way, of course."
Valyria gave a light laugh, and Ignis was glad to see that for a moment, her eyes gave off a slight sparkle.
"Well, I'm glad to hear that," she said, her gaze meeting his over the fire in between them. "You're certainly more than I was expecting as well. When they told me I was marrying the prince's advisor, I was expecting a stern, boring, old man with a bald spot or two."
Ignis chuckled at the imagery. "I'm hoping that the reality was slightly more palatable?"
"Well…" she said, with a glint in her eyes. "I wouldn't kick you out of bed."
Ignis was momentarily caught off guard by the sudden suggestiveness in her tone. Involuntarily, the image of her standing in front of him on the night of their wedding flashed in his mind. He scrambled to push it away as a heat that had nothing to do with the campfire in front of him rose up around his face.
At his apparent loss for words, Valyria gave him a small, sly smile before she reached down to pick up the backpack and katana at her feet and then stood up. "I'm going to turn in. You should get some rest as well. I'm sure we'll be having an eventful morning." She dipped her head at him. "Goodnight, Ignis."
She was already turning away when he finally found his voice.
"Goodnight."