The only time she need not watch her back was when her subjects wove flowers in her hair as she donned a silk dress to meet with her lover atop a hill. Spring was in the air and for the first time in a while she felt her worries would just melt away. It was a private ceremony, befitting for the Rogue.
“Being a Lucis Caelum is to suffer. But remember those who are close to you and most importantly, trust in them. I will see you at the end.”
Noctis felt the ground beneath his feet crumble away, the vision of the Queen disappearing. Panic filled his heart, for her words were ominous.
“At the end? What does that mean?”
“Goodbye, young king.”
“Wait, there’s still so much I want to know-! “
He fell, feeling the wind rush past his face. Then all he saw was white.
***
“…Noct…Please wake up…”
The king’s face contorted in pain as he regained consciousness. Adjusting to the light, he opened his eyes slowly, vision swimming. Apparently communing with ancestors really takes a toll on one’s person. Groaning, he flexed his fingers, feeling stiff all over but glad his vision was clearing up.
“Iggy! Gladio! He’s awake!”
He blinked twice, coming face to face with his worried best friend, his advisor and his Shield.
“Hey kid, good to see you’re alright. You’ve been out for two days. We’re at a motel.”
“What happened in there, Noct?” his advisor assessed him, checking for signs of memory loss or hysteria.
Shock settled in. Two days? Where were they and how- He rubbed his face, feeling like he had been run over by a herd of stampeding garula.
“Easy buddy. Take your time.” Prompto pat his arm reassuringly.
Noctis slowly sat up, accepting the glass of water from Ignis. He felt something cold and smooth under his left hand and inspected it, recognising it as a meteorite fragment. It evoked such a familiar feeling as he turned it in his palm. Then he realised was it was. It was the same jewel from the Rogue’s dagger in the vision he had.
He smiled, watery at the memory of his father’s storytelling and the Rogue’s gift, willing himself not to lose composure in front of his retinue. His voice cracked as he spoke, staring at the jewel.
FILL: Black Chrysanthemums [9/9]
“Being a Lucis Caelum is to suffer. But remember those who are close to you and most importantly, trust in them. I will see you at the end.”
Noctis felt the ground beneath his feet crumble away, the vision of the Queen disappearing. Panic filled his heart, for her words were ominous.
“At the end? What does that mean?”
“Goodbye, young king.”
“Wait, there’s still so much I want to know-! “
He fell, feeling the wind rush past his face. Then all he saw was white.
***
“…Noct…Please wake up…”
The king’s face contorted in pain as he regained consciousness. Adjusting to the light, he opened his eyes slowly, vision swimming. Apparently communing with ancestors really takes a toll on one’s person. Groaning, he flexed his fingers, feeling stiff all over but glad his vision was clearing up.
“Iggy! Gladio! He’s awake!”
He blinked twice, coming face to face with his worried best friend, his advisor and his Shield.
“Hey kid, good to see you’re alright. You’ve been out for two days. We’re at a motel.”
“What happened in there, Noct?” his advisor assessed him, checking for signs of memory loss or hysteria.
Shock settled in. Two days? Where were they and how- He rubbed his face, feeling like he had been run over by a herd of stampeding garula.
“Easy buddy. Take your time.” Prompto pat his arm reassuringly.
Noctis slowly sat up, accepting the glass of water from Ignis. He felt something cold and smooth under his left hand and inspected it, recognising it as a meteorite fragment. It evoked such a familiar feeling as he turned it in his palm. Then he realised was it was. It was the same jewel from the Rogue’s dagger in the vision he had.
He smiled, watery at the memory of his father’s storytelling and the Rogue’s gift, willing himself not to lose composure in front of his retinue. His voice cracked as he spoke, staring at the jewel.
“Well, do I have a story for you guys.”