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Chapter Text

When Noctis had his father’s sword plunged into his chest and met Ardyn in the hereafter to finish their duel, he had expected everything to summarily come to a close with Ardyn’s death.

But… No.

Apparently not, he surmised, as he came to.

He was sore ― familiarly so, he dared say. A steady spark of pain flickered up and down his spine, down his hip, through his leg. His knee ached. It was just the same as he had felt every morning for many years prior to his time in the Crystal.

However, oddly, he could not quite place where he was. Certainly not the throne room, where he had done away with himself in order to do away with Ardyn. The light beating down on his closed eyes was too bright, the ground too soft beneath him where he lay. Someone must have moved him.

He spared no thought toward who, because it was too likely to have been one of his retinue.

That was… Fine.

He laid there with his eyes closed several moments longer, waking himself as gently as he could given the pain.

The thought occurred to him he may well be dead, in the afterlife, but he dismissed it ― any afterlife where he still felt this pain was an afterlife he wanted no part in. He’d not been a bad enough person to warrant it, he didn’t believe.

He considered calling out for his retinue, but something stopped him.

It occurred to him that everything was quiet around him ― too quiet.

He strained his ears for the sound of something, anything familiar. The sound of Prompto taking pictures, Ignis cooking, Gladio working out… But no such sounds came. He heard only the soft buzz of insects an unknowable distance away, the whisper of wind somewhere above him, and his own tense breath.

Finally, peeking his eyes open, he saw trees above him, then the open sky past them. The sun beat down on him through the foliage, and he squinted.

Odd, the closest forest to the capital was miles away. Surely he hadn’t been moved that far? It just didn’t make any sense.

It didn’t make any sense at all.

Finally, his straining ears picked up on footsteps. The swish of fabric.

A gasp startled him, and it took a strange amount of effort to turn his head to the side, to look toward who had found him. The voice had sounded almost like…

He found himself staring at a blonde woman, dressed in white. She could have been Luna’s mother, he thought ― if only he hadn’t known what Queen Sylva looked like, he may have thought she was.

“Oh, my,” She said, and she sounded a bit like Luna as well. “Are you― are you alright?”

His mouth was dry, but he managed to swallow. Open his mouth and say, “Yeah, I’m… I’m fine.”

She approached, then, kneeling at his side with concern evident on her face. The concern only seemed to grow when she’d gotten a good look at him.

Her hand came to brush his hair from his face, brow creased. The worry looked out of place on her features, but the subtle wrinkles in her forehead and at the sides of her mouth spoke of a lot of it. He couldn’t help just watching her in turn as she felt his forehead, then pressed the back of her hand to his throat.

“You don’t seem to be ill,” She uttered, softly, “Are you able to stand?”

“Given time to get to my feet, yes,” He said, joking by instinct because he’d long-since learned to make light of his pain, or ignore it entirely, to reassure Ignis.

This woman reminded him of him a bit, as well.

The joke seemed to work, because she smiled a bit.

She offered a hand to help him into a sitting position, and despite making light of it for years, ignoring it for years, the pain was still enough to have him wincing through the experience. This was precisely why he hated camping ― not that he’d ever tell Gladio that. Better he thought Noctis was merely acting prissy.

The ground always made his back ache like one wouldn’t believe.

The concern had returned to her face by the time he was upright.

“Are you injured?” She asked, resting a hand on his shoulder as if to steady him even though he was still only sitting.

“Not recently,” He replied, because he felt no pain where he’d been stabbed or where Ardyn had landed strikes on him ― only the old pain of a wound that never quite healed right despite the best efforts of most involved, “The pain is… It’s an old wound. Nothing to worry yourself about.”

That didn’t seem to stop her.

He gently waved her off as he got to his feet, and found his footing stable even if he was still oddly sluggish. And perhaps he was slow on the uptake, but he was realizing as he looked down that he was not wearing what he’d died wearing. This looked more like his old clothes ― the fatigues he’d worn ten years ago. With purpose, he reached a hand up to scratch his chin. He felt no facial hair.

So, he was ten years younger again, in an unfamiliar place, with an unknown but familiar woman. Was it a stretch, then, to assume he might be dead after all?

Maybe.

“This… Old wound,” The woman said, carefully, “Where is it?”

“My back,” He answered, easily, “I was struck in the spine as a child. It’s long-healed, but I’m rarely without pain.”

A low hum. But she seemed to accept it as fact.

She came to stand before him, looking into his eyes.

“Oh,” She said, looking surprised suddenly. “Your eyes, they… You have Somnus’ eyes.”

Somnus?

The Founder King?

Suddenly, he found himself wondering if perhaps he might not actually be all that far from where he died… In distance, at least. In time…

In time, he suspected he might be a long way off.

Perhaps it was outlandish to assume something like that, but… No one in Lucis referred to the Founder King by his name in casual conversation, and there was no record that said he was the source of the Lucis Caelum line’s blue eyes. Only someone who knew him in person was likely to know that. It had long been assumed by the family, in fact, that the eyes had manifested later on, through a union with an Oracle, who were also known to have blue eyes.

“Somnus?” He asked, nonetheless, just to be certain.

“Mm,” She hummed, nodding, brushing his hair from his face again, “His hair, too. How… Odd.” A small frown tugged at her lips, “You could pass for a third brother.”

Not only had she not answered his question, she had given him several more.

He hadn’t known Somnus had any siblings, and he had to wonder if by ‘third brother’ she meant a third Lucis Caelum, implying two brothers, or an actual third brother, implying four Lucis Caelums.

The fact she felt no reason to elaborate told him he was meant to simply know. It must be common knowledge.

“Come, let’s get you into town,” She said, taking one of his hands and tugging him away, toward where she’d emerged from.

He didn’t fight it, but he did decide he’d need to fib like his life depended on it if he wanted any answers, “Wait,” He said, “Who is Somnus? For that matter, who… Are you?”

She paused, turning to look at him. She seemed doubly concerned now.

“I had thought you recognized me,” She said, not accusingly, “I take it you had mistaken me for… Someone else?”

“I had,” He confirmed, “You… Closely resemble a childhood friend of mine. I thought, maybe…”

She nodded, understanding and patient. Then, as she gently tugged him along once more, she said, “I am Aera Mirus Fleuret, and the Gods have chosen me to act as their Oracle. It is my duty and honor to use my power to assist the people of the world in every way that I can.”

He smiled at the answer, and he found himself thinking, Luna would have liked her.

But it rung true ― Luna had told him about her forebear, Aera, the First Oracle. Told him her name, at least.

Like Somnus, not much was remembered about Aera.

“Somnus,” She continued, “Rather, Somnus Lucis Caelum, is the younger of the Caelum brothers. He is… A war hero, I suppose.” She didn’t seem… Happy about it, truly. Something about Somnus seemed to bother her. But then she was continuing, “Were you not so old, one would almost think he was your father ― the resemblance is truly uncanny.”

He wondered how true that was, but he supposed if he was here terribly long he would find out.

… More importantly, though, he had to wonder about the fact that Somnus was the younger brother. He had an elder brother?

Something Ardyn had said to him before the Crystal ― though the memories of the moments before entering the Crystal were foggy at best ― occurred to him. Ardyn’s name had been Ardyn Lucis Caelum.

He wondered.

“Allow me to put your mind further at ease on the subject.” He said, lightly, instead, “My father’s name was Regis, and I’ve been told I got my hair and eyes from him.”

Aera chuckled. “I don’t treasure how much that relieves me, truly.” She said, then, “It occurs I neglected to ask your name.”

Ah.

Well, he couldn’t very well tell her he was Noctis Lucis Caelum.

… What was mom’s maiden name? He wondered, Wasn’t it Arceo?

Yeah, he was fairly certain.

Aulea Arceo sounded… Correct.

He reflected for a moment on the irony of her name’s translation being, more or less, “I close the curtain,” while his could be taken to mean “last night of the sky’s light” ― though his father had preferred “light of the night’s sky” ―, because, truly, both of their names seemed to prophesy his end.

He shook away the thoughts.

“Noctis Arceo.” He answered her, a little delayed.

“Noctis,” She said, as if testing the name on her tongue, then laughed softly, “The similarities to Somnus continue ― that means night, doesn’t it?”

“It does,” He confirmed.

They stepped out of the trees at last, and Noctis found himself breathless. Was this what Insomnia had looked like, once? So… Rural, but so homey. So comfortable and quiet. People greeted Aera as soon as they saw her, all smiles, and even offered him smiles. Some of them did double-takes, but none seemed surprised or angry to see her leading him out from the woods and into the town. He stayed at her side, still holding her hand as he limped along with her patient steps.

“You mentioned Somnus was the younger brother,” Noctis finally said, after a long silence, when she’d brought him to a little house and gotten him to sit down at the table by the front window, “Who is the elder?”

Aera smiled ― warm, radiant, happy. Her voice was soft with adoration when she answered, “My fiancé, Ardyn, is the elder.”

He swallowed the instinctual reaction, the instinct to laugh at the very idea of someone loving Ardyn. The fear that bubbled in his stomach didn’t heed his attempts to quash it, but he had little doubt he managed to keep it off his face. Emoting freely was something he wasn’t good at, thank the Six ― he didn’t think he’d ever been grateful for his inability to express his emotions properly before, but he had plenty of reason now.

For whatever reason, Aera was obviously very deeply, truly in love with Ardyn.

He had more tact than to laugh in her face about someone he didn’t even know, someone she adored.

Truly, he had no way of knowing what Ardyn had been like as a Lucis Caelum. He had only ever known him as Izunia.

Perhaps, though it felt foolish to hope for, Ardyn had been a kinder person before the founding of Lucis.

“Congratulations,” He said, instead, giving her the best smile he could.

“Thank you,” She said, seeming truly pleased by that response.

Then, she set about… Making tea?

“So, Noctis, where are you from?”

“I’m… A little unclear on that, if I’m honest.” He said ― unfortunately, fibbing to her was the only way to avoid revealing too much. Though she was an Oracle and would likely come to know the truth whether he told her or not, he felt it best not to tell her outright that he was Somnus’ distant descendant, that he was from over two millennia in the future, born probably not two miles from where they sat, “I recall my father and my childhood friends, but little else.”

Aera frowned, but nodded, “Is it possible you came from across the ocean, I wonder?”

“Anything is possible,” He said, maybe too sagely for his twenty year old face, “Though I wish I could understand how and why I ended up in the woods.”

“As do I.” She sighed, but then shook her head, “No matter how or why, you have a place here ― that much, I promise. Are you skilled at all in any sort of labor?”

Mostly, he’d admit, he was only good at fighting.

It was what he’d been trained for since childhood, and what most paying jobs required outside of Insomnia. That said, he did have a couple of other skills… May as well lay it all out for her.

“I know I was trained to fight,” He said, carefully, mindful of the distaste she seemed to hold for Somnus and his ‘war hero of sorts’ status, “I believe I mostly used that skill to hunt large game, but I know I was trained to fight other people to protect myself.” She nodded her understanding, seeming to consider that, so he continued, “I also know how to cook, and how to fish. I’m not unskilled in menial labor such as cleaning, either.”

“Does any of that… Aggravate your back injury?” She asked, still seeming to consider something.

“Hunting and fighting do, at times.” He admitted, “As I recall, at least. I believe I’ve learned to adapt my fighting to put the least possible strain on my injury.”

A nod. “If you wouldn’t mind, I can ask around and see who might need assistance with the skills you have.”

And seeing as he had no idea how long he’d be here, and he knew he had to earn his keep somehow, he smiled at her. “Sure, however I can help out, I’m happy to.”

Things were moving so quickly. He’d probably only woken a half hour ago.

It was a good thing his adventure had taught him to take things so quickly in stride, he supposed, otherwise he might still be floundering over what to say to Aera. And more than that, it was a good thing he’d gotten used to working for his food and a place to stay, because he might have some unkind things to say if it hadn’t.

Nevertheless, she smiled at him in turn.

Then, handing him a cup of warm, amber liquid, she said, “Here, this may help ease the pain.”

“Thank you,” He sighed, taking an odd amount of solace just in the warmth of the drink.

He sipped at it carefully over the next few minutes, and Aera sat across from him quietly. He imagined he may have, once, felt some discomfort at being watched as he tried to drink, but now it was hardly even something he felt the need to give much thought to.

When he’d sipped down about half of the tea, he felt the ringing pain in his spine recede into a dull throb. It was better than nothing, and he sighed his relief.

“Thank you,” He said, again, just for good measure.

“Of course,” She said in turn, smiling warmly at him.

By the end of the day, Aera had given him a comfortable little cot off behind some hanging fabric in her home, which he thanked her profusely for. He imagined that come the following afternoon he would have some sort of job.

As he laid himself carefully into the cot, listening to Aera go about extinguishing the lanterns in the rest of the house, he took stock of what all had happened since he woke this afternoon. It was… Difficult to swallow.

He’d found himself, evidently, some two thousand years in the past ― and not only that, but he’d found himself ten years younger, as well ―, he had met Luna’s forebear, he’d learned something he’d never known about the Lucis Caelums, and he’d had to lie his ass off about who he was, where he was from, and why he was here the entire time. It was like something out of a novel Gladio would have liked.

It was worth wondering if maybe that was all this was ― some pre-death dream based on the plot of a book Gladio had told him about during one of the late nights where his Shield had sat up with him when he couldn’t sleep.

If it was, then what was the harm, he wondered, in playing along?

If it wasn’t, if this was real, then how horrifically would things be changed by his presence alone, let alone whatever meddling he got up to?

He took a deep breath.

Ramuh’s beard.

This was a lot.

He let the breath out, slowly. Sat up a bit to lean over and extinguish his own lantern ― no use lying awake with the lights on.

Thank the Six for Gladio’s camping obsession. He’d have no idea how to work the old thing if not for his Shield insisting on using lanterns.

He settled back in.

Listened for the sound of Aera putting herself to bed.

Okay.

For now, he supposed, he would play along. He would let Aera help him, help out around town, and keep his head down.

Should he encounter Somnus or Ardyn, he would feign ignorance of their identities, pray Ardyn hadn’t also been transported back and that he was a nicer person before Lucis was officially founded, and refrain from asking Somnus any stupid questions about his questionable ruling practices and family traditions. He’d also have to avoid asking Aera any stupid questions about the Six.

… Although, if he were to ask anyone those stupid questions, Aera would certainly be his best bet, and she would likely humor him on account of his spotty memory.

Alright, forget that step, then.

Truthfully, there wasn’t much he could actually do, for the moment, so playing along was really all he had in his repertoire until he figured out how he’d gotten here, why, and how to get back to where he was meant to be without ruining anything in the process.

Still, putting that aside did leave him wondering something.

Why, he wondered, had the younger brother been the one who was made King, while Ardyn ended up a two thousand year old genocidal daemon? Had the two events been related? Was there a correlation? Did one cause the other?

He didn’t like the idea of that, no matter what way he spun it ― if Ardyn becoming the embodiment of the Starscourge had made Somnus become the King, then why had Ardyn become the Scourge? If Somnus becoming King had made Ardyn become the Scourge, then why had Somnus become King? And if they had happened separately, but at the same time, then what had caused that?

More concerningly, he thought, with a pit growing in his stomach, what had happened to Aera?

The history Luna had been taught, and thus the history he’d learned, had been vague as to what happened to the first Oracle. There was no clear fate written for her for them to study. As far as they knew, she had simply remained the Oracle until she had a daughter who was old enough to do it in her place… But that didn’t necessarily mean that was what had actually happened.

Clearly, someone, somewhere along the way, had covered up the existence of Ardyn. It wasn’t impossible that someone had decided to lie about what happened to Aera, as well.

He could hope she survived, but was that truly something to hope for when he knew what happened to her fiancé, who she seemed to love so dearly?

Losing Luna had nearly killed him, and truth be told he’d never been sure that he loved her as a husband ought to love a wife, so he could only imagine how devastating it would be to Aera to lose Ardyn.

It would destroy her, he thought.

She was much stronger than he was, of that he was certain, but even the strongest person has a weakness.

He wouldn’t be surprised if hers happened to be Ardyn.

… But, then, he guessed he couldn’t be surprised if Ardyn’s was her.

He wondered how much that had to do with his descent into ‘madness’, if anything at all.

He shuddered, a cold chill seeping into his bones.

He tried to turn his mind to lighter subjects, but none came to him. Instead, he found himself dissecting his last days of life. A foggy recollection of the brief moments before the Crystal, a recollection he couldn’t seem to make clearer no matter how hard he tried. An immeasurable time in the Crystal ― an instant and an eternity all at once. Two or three dark, dark days reunited with his friends, forever changed by the ten years he had been gone, the ten years that Ardyn had blanketed the world in bitter darkness. A battle that lasted nowhere near as long as it should have.

A moment of hesitance.

His father’s sword pinning him to the throne.

His consciousness flitting away.

Meeting with his ancestors, with Luna, and vanquishing Ardyn.

And then waking up here.

And when he drew his mind away from the topic, from analyzing each second of each of those memories, he found no happier musings waiting for him. He found only heartache, wondering what would happen to his country, to his people, in the absence of the royal family and the Oracle. Wondering what would become of his dear, loyal friends.

He felt tears stinging his eyes at the thought of them, drawn and solemn, overseeing his burial. A knot in his throat grew, tightening further as he wondered if Prompto’s cheer would ever return to him, or if he would forever be the serious, quieter man he’d become. If Gladio would be able to handle not having the one purpose he’d been raised for, or if grief would consume him. If Ignis would hold steady, hold strong, or if he would finally, finally break and give himself over to despair.

He laid in the darkness and wept for them, for the unsure future laid out before them, for the mess they still had to clean up before anyone could hope to rest.

He kept a hand over his mouth, chest tight with the effort of keeping quiet.

He had never been one to cry loudly, to cry hard, but the sobs wracking his body as he laid there would not be silenced, only muffled.

He didn’t know how long he laid there crying. He had no way of measuring the time in the darkness. He only knew that by the time he was done his throat ached and his eyes hurt.

He removed his hand slowly from his mouth, wiping still-hot tears from his still-hot cheeks with a distinct tremor in his arm. He swallowed, sniffed, swallowed again. He scrubbed his eyes and hoped Aera hadn’t heard him.

He turned onto his side slowly, closed his eyes, and stubbornly tried not to think about anything at all until sleep took him.

Chapter Text

He woke to the smell of food, sore eyes blinking at the wall in front of him.

Truth be told, he’d half-expected to wake up in the afterlife, or in his bed in the Citadel back before everything went horribly wrong.

He was unsurprised when neither happened, or when he processed the little corner of Aera’s home he’d been given for the time being. He could not even find it in himself to be surprised that he was already resigned to this happening.

He laid there a long moment, until he had managed to compartmentalize the pain in his back.

When he emerged, he saw that the sun was hardly in the sky. He felt… Less irritated by his early awakening than normal ― he preferred to sleep in much later than this, but that wasn’t always possible. And waking this early… May well be a boon, in this time period.

When he caught sight of Aera, she was cheerily cooking a breakfast over the wood stove in the corner. She seemed in good spirits, and it was nearly contagious ― he felt his own melancholy start to lift.

“Ah, Noctis!” She said, when she glanced up and caught sight of him lingering by the curtain that hid his bed from view, “I was just about to come wake you. Would you mind to help me with breakfast?”

He was reminded of a moment with Ignis, while they were starting their journey out all that time ago. It hurt, but it also made him feel… Warmer. More at peace.

“Of course,” He said, and crossed to her immediately.

He spent a second investigating the stove as he approached, but once he was there, he was able to confidently step into place where Aera opened a spot for him, and take the wooden spoon from her. She smiled gratefully, and he smiled in return.

She swiftly swept back across the room, snagging the kettle from over the fire in the hearth just as it began to whistle.

They worked together quietly as he finished the food for her, and she prepared tea for the both of them ― the amber colored tea she’d made him yesterday for him, a darker orange tea for herself.

He noticed, as he was working, that there were three portions made, and Aera had a third small cup of tea leaves waiting. He was nervous, he’d admit, at the thought of meeting Ardyn so soon. He wasn’t ready to find out… Pretty much anything concrete about him.

But he’d have to meet him eventually, if he stayed here, so he may as well prepare himself for it.

Here was hoping, though, that he didn’t also end up meeting Somnus.

Still, she may well just be keeping a portion back in case either of them was still hungry, or she may be expecting someone who needed healing, so it would be better to just… Ask her.

He set the small table with her and broached the subject when she went ahead and set a third place.

“Are you expecting someone?” He asked, “If that’s not an intrusive question.”

Aera laughed softly, “My fiancé should be returning within the next couple of hours. I am hoping he’ll be here before the food grows cold.”

“That would be… Ardyn, correct?” He asked, since he knew it’d be more suspicious for him to remember than for him to need clarification.

He was supposed to know the man only in name. And with two Lucis Caelums, it’d make more sense for him to want to ensure he was thinking of the correct brother.

“Yes,” She said, smile brightening, though he wasn’t sure how that was possible, “He’s been away for several weeks, so it will be… Very nice to see him again.”

“And he won’t misunderstand my presence here, I hope? I would hate to cause you any trouble.”

“Oh, no, not at all.” She assured him, “Ardyn is very understanding, and he knows well my responsibilities. You are not the first to be housed here, nor will you be the last, if the Gods will it.”

He couldn’t help smiling.

Somehow, her manner of speaking, her very presence… He found it to be very comforting.

He wondered if that was because she reminded him of Ignis, or because she reminded him of Luna.

They had scarcely sat down afterwards before the door swung open.

And in walked Ardyn.

He looked…

Different.

His hair was longer, with two long pieces falling over his shoulders ― his face was softer, kinder, eyes warm as they slid over the little house. The smile on his face was even warmer than his eyes were, somehow.

“Aera,” He greeted, as she all but jumped from her seat, opening his arms and pulling her into a tight embrace.

“Ardyn!”She greeted in turn, as she settled against him.

There were no other words said, but somehow he could tell that there were no words needed.

He stood from the table, wincing minutely at the returning ache in his back. It was out for blood, these past two days, he swore… But he could ignore it. He was good at that.

He approached, keeping an acceptable distance away, until they parted.

“Ah,” Ardyn said, noticing him there once he and Aera had released each other, “Hello, there.”

“Hello,” He said, trying for a smile, “You must be the fiancé she’s been talking about.”

He offered a hand, and Ardyn gave him a warm look as he took his hand and shook it, “I am proud to say the answer to that is ‘yes’. I imagine that she must be… Assisting you with something. Do let me know if there’s anything else you may need as well, alright?”

It was bizarre.

Seeing Ardyn so open, so kind. Seeing, he thought, a whole different person merely wearing the same skin.

Still, he was nothing if not adaptable. He nodded and said, “She has been incredibly helpful, and I appreciate it. I’ll keep your offer in mind as well, of course.”

“So polite,” Aera giggled, and he puffed a laugh in spite of himself.

“Certainly more polite than the one I initially mistook him for,” Ardyn agreed, still smiling, as he followed Aera to the table. Seeing the cup of amber tea sitting at Noctis’ place, he hummed and glanced up at him, “Ah, you must be injured.”

He managed a somewhat tight smile in reply to that, sitting down with a wince and deciding he may as well give the same story to Ardyn that he’d given Aera ― the truth.

He took a sip of the tea, first.

“Not recently.” He said, “It’s a very old wound, but I was struck in the spine as a child and it never really healed correctly.”

Ardyn gave a sympathetic grimace.

Funny, Noctis thought, when he was almost certain that Ardyn had had a hand in the assassination attempt in Tenebrae.

He shook the thought away ― this Ardyn was not yet that Ardyn. He couldn’t blame him as he was now for what he would do later. It was… Unfair. He wasn’t the same person now as he would be then.

Aera poured some water from the kettle into Ardyn’s cup, and he smiled up at her with so much adoration in his eyes that Noctis almost felt like he needed to look away. It felt private. Sweet and soft and not meant for his eyes.

… So he turned his gaze on his food and waited quietly for Aera to join them.

They all dug happily in, and it was a quiet, simple breakfast.

Like yesterday, by the time he’d drank about half of his tea, the pain in his spine had receded to a far more manageable level and he couldn’t help but sigh with relief even as he continued eating. Aera and Ardyn eventually started chatting, and Noctis listened in as discreetly as he could.

It seemed to him that Ardyn was something of a healer as well ― as far as he could tell from their quiet discussion, Ardyn had been away assisting the people of the world with the Starscourge problem, cleansing them. Something he, apparently, had to do in secret.

It was then that he learned why Aera held such distaste for Somnus.

Somnus and Ardyn had very different approaches to dealing with the Scourge: Somnus would rather purge it by removing the infected from the world; Ardyn would rather do what he could to cure them of it.

Suddenly, the fact that Ardyn had eventually become the Scourge was beginning to make sense. Was it possible that, in cleansing it from his people, he was taking it into himself? And was it possible that, after doing that for too long, he could no longer control it?

If that was the case, it would certainly make sense for Somnus to become the king instead.

Noctis knew how Bahamut felt about the Scourge, and he knew that he would never tolerate a Founder King who was tainted with it.

It was a simple enough equation, if this was the case ― Ardyn becomes tainted, Bahamut washes his hands of Ardyn, Somnus ascends the throne ―, but Noctis somehow doubted that that was the whole story… Let alone the truth. Everything was always more complicated than it seemed at the outset.

That was something his journey to becoming the Chosen King had taught him.

When one is dealing with Gods and sentient plagues, one can never become too reliant on the things that they can see. One must always be prepared to look deeper.

Still, if he was here, he wondered if perhaps he could change things.

If he could save Ardyn and Aera the heartache, and prevent Ardyn’s descent into madness.

It may well prevent his own birth in the aftermath, may well prevent the birth of any of his friends, but if it meant the world itself would be better off… He was willing to sacrifice that.

He’d already given his life for the world once, he wasn’t afraid of doing it a second time.

“Is something on your mind, Noctis?” Aera’s voice broke through his musings, soft and gentle. “You seem troubled.”

“Ah,” He said, feeling caught, looking up to meet her earnest blue eyes, “I… Well. Yes.” He sighed, looking back down, “I was just… Thinking of my family and friends. I can’t help but worry for them.”

“Of course,” She said, understandingly, “Perhaps, given some time, they will find you, or you will find them.”

“Perhaps,” He said in return, glancing back up to smile at her, “And perhaps not… But thank you.”

He was quick to help her clean up when they were done, something that seemed to amuse Ardyn. After that, Aera disappeared into the bedroom, leaving them sitting silently together at the table.

“I do not mean to make it sound as if you need to be watched, Noctis,” Aera said, as she emerged back out of her room some time afterwards, “But Ardyn, love, would you mind to stay here with him? I must go and check on Ilya’s daughter, she’s caught herself a nasty sickness.”

“Of course,” Ardyn said, immediately, “It’s no burden on me to keep our guest company, my dear. Go and do what you must.”

She paused at the table to give him a quick, tender kiss, then turned to Noctis. “If you don’t mind, I will also ask around about what we discussed yesterday.”

“Do what you must,” He echoed Ardyn, “I’m happy to help however I can.”

She smiled, then hurried on out the door.

Being left alone with Ardyn had goosebumps rising on his arms. He tried to shake it off, but… Well. The last time he’d been left alone with Ardyn, it hadn’t gone well.

“You seem uneasy,” Ardyn pointed out, not unkindly, eyeing him with a deep, soft concern that just seemed out of place on him after having known him as the Scourge, “Are you feeling well?”

“I’m… Fine.” He lied, “Nothing to worry over.”

Ardyn hummed, but didn’t argue with him or probe him further. Not on that, at least.

The next thing that Ardyn said, in fact, was, “Very well, then. While we’re here, would you mind terribly to tell me a bit about yourself?”

He supposed, ultimately, that couldn’t hurt him.

So he sighed and said, “I don’t mind to, no.” And wondered where he ought to begin.

Well. The beginning was usually a safe bet, and when talking about himself the beginning was usually his name.

“My name is Noctis Arceo,” He said, carefully, “I believe I turned 20 just a handful of months ago. My parents were Aulea and Regis Arceo. I was trained to fight from about the age of ten onward, and I’ve learned a variety of useful skills since.” He paused, “There’s not much else to say, to be honest with you.”

Ardyn hummed, leaning forward a bit in his seat as if in interest, “That seems young, for someone to begin training to fight.” He said, “Do you come from a warring kingdom?”

Noctis wondered how Ardyn would feel knowing he’d actually started training late.

“We were at war during my childhood, yes,” He said, “At least from what I can remember. I can’t imagine my father having me trained so intensely if that wasn’t the case.”

A nod and a second considering hum. “And these other useful skills?”

“I’ve been taught how to hunt and fish, and a dear friend of mine assured that I know how to cook, another that I know how to survive in the wilderness, and I’m used to doing a great deal of cleaning.” He let himself smile a bit.

That was something he’d have to get used to, he guessed ― thinking of his friends was a bittersweet feeling. There was comfort in the memories he’d made with them, but so much pain in knowing he’d left them all behind and likely would never see them again. So much pain in the idea that, even if he did something that prevented the suffering they would otherwise face, he may very well prevent them from ever existing at all.

“I see,” Ardyn gave a third hum, “That must be what my darling starlight was talking about then, hm? Talking to the people about what they may need help with in those areas.”

Something in Noctis’ chest twisted.

Gods.

He called her his starlight.

That was a grand enough pet name in Noctis’ time, when everyone was a little less religious and some people didn’t even know the implications of being equated to the light of their Star. Back in this time period, when the Six still cavorted with humans to a degree, when the Prophecy was written, calling someone Starlight would be equivalent to calling them a member of the Hexatheon.

And the word slipped from Ardyn’s mouth in reference to Aera with a familiar, comfortable ease that said he meant it with all his heart.

Every moment he spent with these two made him wonder more and more what had happened to change Ardyn from this into the daemon he’d met.

“Yes,” He managed to say, but he couldn’t stop himself from sounding unhappy about it, “As I said, I’m happy to help however I can.”

“Are you?” Asked Ardyn, lifting a brow.

A fair question.

“Yes,” He sighed, trying for another smile, “Truly, I’m glad to help. I just… I can’t stop worrying for my friends and family, and I…”

Quickly, he needed to come up with a lie ― some way to explain why he was worried for Ardyn and Aera. Why he felt the need to be concerned over their well-being despite having only just met them.

“... I had a dream, last night, of something awful happening to Lady Aera. My memory, right now, isn’t the best, but I know I’ve had dreams of this sort before, and they tend to be… Prophetic.”

Not even necessarily a lie, as unfortunate as that was.

He’d certainly had a few dreams that seemed to foretell the future in some manner, and never anything good. Dreaming of something bad happening to Aera wasn’t outside the realm of possibilities, though it may well be the most straight-forward prophetic dream he’d ever had.

Ardyn seemed to consider him for a long moment after that, eyes now sharp and discerning. That felt more like the Ardyn he knew, and it frightened him far more than he expected it to. The coldness in his eyes, the ghost of what he would become later…

He suppressed a shudder and met Ardyn’s gaze unflinchingly.

“How cruel of the Six,” Ardyn finally said, sighing and sitting back in his seat ― the cold, calculating look was gone in an instant, “To give such an ability to one so young.”

“For a moment there,” Noctis decided to admit, sitting back a bit himself, “I was worried you didn’t believe me.”

A small smile in reply, soft and understanding. Then, “So, Noctis, how is it exactly that you met my Starlight?”

He appreciated the change of subject more than he would ever admit to.

He recounted it for Ardyn, leaving out any detail that may have implied he remembered more than he had admitted to so far. No point in poking holes in his own cover story if he didn’t have to.

He could only hope that Aera wouldn’t go speaking to any of the Six about him, because even as their Chosen King, they weren’t too likely to cover for him at this point in time. They wouldn’t even know him, yet.

A bit startled by a sudden thought, he glanced at the backs of his hands as subtly as he could ― the left was covered, but the right still bore the Mark of the Draconian in stark black against his skin.

He felt nauseous.

He hoped no one here realized what it meant, and more than that, he hoped no one ever saw the others.

Feeling a bit self-conscious, he lifted his left hand to rub at the back of his neck ― the location of the Mark of the Fulgarian, conveniently enough. He wondered if the Marks would mean anything now. If merely having the Marks would allow him to still call on the Six for help.

A thought for later, and hopefully one he wouldn’t need to humor.

“Is something wrong?” Ardyn asked him, when he spent a moment too long rubbing his neck and staring at Bahamut’s Mark on his hand, “You seem… Troubled.”

He didn’t think the genuine concern was ever going to stop taking him off-guard, coming from him.

He sighed. Flexed his fingers and breathed a laugh. “Still the same old trouble, I’m afraid. I’m only worried for my friends and family, that’s all.”

“And your worry has nothing at all to do with the way you’re staring a hole in the back of your hand, yes?”

He laughed again, cheeks flushing as he realized he’d been caught. Oh, well.

What was the worst that could happen?

Genuinely?

There were few things left in life that he was truly afraid of, at this point. What could happen because of Bahamut’s Mark that he wouldn’t be able to handle?

Instead of outright admitting anything, though, he chose to simply lay his hand on the table and say, “You see the marking there, yes?”

Ardyn glanced at it, then nodded, “You’ve been marked by the Draconian.”

Damn, he thought, They do know what it means.

Oh well. He could hide the others. Two of them would never see the light of day when anyone else was around to view them, and two were unlikely to be noticed or seen. Only Bahamut’s would ever be on display, and he could come up with something to use as an excuse for why he had it.

He was adaptable. He could work with this.

“I don’t recall why,” He lied, and part of him was mournful of how easily the lie came to his lips, “But yes. And it contributes a significant amount to my worries to not know why the Mark was given to me.”

An understanding nod.

But Ardyn offered him no comfort, and truthfully he was thankful for that. This was already surreal enough. More comfort coming from someone he still had a hard time seeing as a person ― as he should, given how much longer he’d known the daemon wearing this man’s face than he’d known the man himself ― may well just give him a headache.

He couldn’t wait for another chance to consider today’s events on his own, and it wasn’t even noon yet.

When Aera finally came back, she seemed tired, but happy.

Noctis hopped to helping her as she prepared lunch, which Ardyn seemed both amused by and appreciative of, and he offered his help as well.

It was strangely comfortable, even with Ardyn added to the mix.

He worked at the stove at Aera’s request, and pointedly did not eavesdrop with Aera and Ardyn sat at the table chopping vegetables and talking in hushed tones. It wasn’t any of his business, even if they did keep shooting him worried glances.

He could worry about it later, even if it was his business.

After the food was ready and they’d all sat down, he and Aera discussed who all had been in need of assistance he could provide. For now, it looked like the local fisherman was the only one who was looking for long-term help, which Noctis imagined he’d be around to provide for quite some time.

Not to mention, it had been a long time since he got to just sit back and fish. Even if he was doing it as a job, even if he was fishing for other people, he still enjoyed doing it. He wouldn’t mind doing it in the company of someone else who actually fished as well, either.

Would he miss the commentary of his friends? Yes.

But that would be fine.

“How soon would you be able to start?” Aera asked of him, while he helped her clean the dishes they’d used, “There is no shame in needing time to gather your wits first.”

“I can start as soon as he’d like me to,” He assured her, “I may actually find more success gathering my wits while doing something with my hands.”

She giggled, though he wasn’t sure exactly why that was funny to her. And he must have looked perplexed, because she glanced pointedly at the fact that he was still busily drying off a bowl.

Ah.

He felt his cheeks flush a little as he glanced away. “I’m not used to sitting idle. It feels… Foreign.”

Truly the only time it was safe for him to just sit idle was when he was traveling with his retinue in a vehicle, until now. Just the last two days had felt strange, when he considered that, discounting his ten year meditation and when he laid down to sleep each night, he’d been unable to go more than an hour or two without actively needing to at least get up and do something for any reason in quite some time. His last few days prior to fighting Ardyn, especially, had been blurs of action with no time for rest.

Being caught in the act of very pointedly not sitting idle despite being given the option embarrassed him a bit.

“A busy life, in your home, then.” Aera chuckled, wiping her hands as he set aside the bowl and grabbed the next dish from where it sat waiting, “I certainly know the feeling.”

He and Ardyn gave matching chuckles in response, and he tried to ignore the way Ardyn’s laugh sent a shiver down his spine.

Just another thing that he would have to adapt to during his time here.

“I imagine you could go now and catch him before he heads back out,” Aera mused after a moment, “If you’d like that.”

“Would you mind terribly to show me where to find him?”

“Of course not, I was planning to escort you there regardless.”

And so, when he had dried the last dish, he said his farewells to Ardyn and followed Aera out of the house.

Seeing as he would be here for the foreseeable future, he did his best to mentally map out the town as he was led through it. It was easier than he’d have expected ― many of the houses were constructed similarly, but not identically. A benefit, he supposed, of each of them being built by hand by the occupant, and not by a sprawling team of construction workers. He would be able to use each house individually as a landmark, for the most part.

The mental map built itself fairly quickly.

And then they arrived at the little dock, where an elderly man sat untangling a net on the deck of a small fishing boat. He glanced up, giving a bright smile at the sight of them.

“Miss Aera!” He greeted, “This the one we were talking about?”

“Yes,” She said, “Titus, this is Noctis. Noctis, this is our local fisherman, Titus.”

“Nice to meet you,” He greeted, trying for a smile.

“A pleasure to meet you as well,” Titus greeted in turn, giving a grin bright enough to almost put one of Prompto’s to shame, “You wantin’ to get started today?”

“If you’d have me,” He replied, “I’d like to start whenever it’s convenient to you.”

“Today’s fine for me,” Titus said, standing slowly as he sat the nets he’d been working on aside, “Shall we?”

“Sure,” He glanced to Aera, ignoring the way he wanted to hug her and ask her to be careful, and instead said, “Thank you, Aera, for escorting me.”

“Of course,” She said, “Shall I have Ardyn retrieve you when the two of you arrive back?”

“I wouldn’t want to trouble either of you. I can find my way back.”

She nodded, but Noctis got the feeling that she’d be sending Ardyn to pick him up anyway. He couldn’t help the smile as he turned and followed Titus onto the boat. No matter how bittersweet it was each time she did something that reminded him too much of Ignis or Luna, it was still a comfort he very much needed.

He took a deep breath, and he stepped into the first afternoon of his new life with as much determination as he could, listening intently as Titus somewhat off-handedly taught him how to sail as they pulled away from the dock.

Chapter Text

Titus kept their first outing short.

Noctis, though he was loathe to admit it, was glad of that fact ― he enjoyed the afternoon,a nd the bustle of working alongside the old man as they fishes, but by nightfall his midn was churning witht hings that he woudl really rather not entertain in company. He would really rather prefer to think in the relative privacy of the ‘room’ Aera had been kind enough to provide him with.

They returned to port just after nightfall.

Noctis stayed a while, helping Titus haul their catches ashore and prepare their suplies for the next outing, but after some time Ardyn appeared on the dock with a lantern.

“Best if ya go,” Titus said, chuckling, “We start at dawn, so you’ll need your rest.”

“should I be prepared for a long trip?” He asked, finding himself smiling.

The smile he got i reply answered that question very well.

He said his goodbyes, then hustled over to where Ardyn was waiting for him.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting,” He said, “I told Aera she didn’t have to send you.”

Ardyn chuckled, “It’s no trouble to me, really. Did you find the work to your liking?”

He coudln’t help the amused sigh that left him at the dismissal and immediate subject change. Was Ardyn always like this, he wondered? If so, he might find it far easier than he’d thought to get used ot him.

“I did,” He answered, instead of mentioning that, as they headed back toward Aera’s home, “We’ll be setting out again it he morning.”

A nod, understanding and maybe a little relieved, “I hope it brings you happiness. Titus is a lovely fellow, and I’ve heard fishing doesn’t allow muchi the way of idling.”

He smiled to himself.

They continued to talk as they walked, and against all oddds it almost felt safe. Almost familiar, even.

He found himself wondering if maybe this wouldn’t be so bad, after all. If maybe, despite how much it was going to hurt for a while, he might be able to get used to this.

Noctis settled into a routine, eventually.

Over the next couple of months, he went with Titus for two weeks at a time, only docking during the excursions to drop off what they’d caught so far before heading back out, and then they stayed ashore for two weeks. Noctis got to know Titus’ brothers, who sold their catches, and his sisters-in-law who made all the netting by hand, and his nieces, and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews, who were all in varying stages of learning to take up one of their parents’ trades.

He got familiar with the other townsfolk, too, to varying degrees.

Rel and Amira ran the bakery, so he saw and spoke to them often as he was always eager to run errands for Aera when she was too busy and was often sent to them for bread. Their son, Claude, had married a farmer’s daughter and now ran the farm with her, and he saw him mostly in passing.

Such was the way he became acquainted with most of the residents ― in passing, or through errands to their shop.

Some of them, after a time, began to joke that he was a secret third brother to Ardyn and Somnus, and he didn’t bother trying to discourage them ― if they wanted tot hink of him that way, he wouldn’t complain. Everyone adored the Lucis Caelum brothers, and the rumor of him being their brother did little except endear the townsfolk to him, whether it was true or not.

Of those that made the joke, some seemed to be tickled by the idea of it almost entirely because he would complete the set of jobs the two had started. With is inclusion, the Lucis Caelum family would have produced a warrior, a healer, and a fisherman ― all professions that provided for the people in some way or another, and all professions that the town ultimately wouldn’t survive without.

His resemblance to the brothers also didn’t help his case, where the rumors were concerned, and the more his hair grew out the more he was told unprompted that he was beginning to look a lot like Ardyn.

He found he didn’t necessarily mind it, if he was honest.

In those months, he came to be rather fond of Ardyn. The memory of what he would become never became any less off-putting, but he learned to set it aside, and when given a chance, Ardyn really was a lovelly person. He was almost too kind, and incredibly soft-hearted at his core, and very, very easy to get along with.

They spent hours at a time talking each time they ended up alone together, or with Aera, and it became part of his routine.

His routine served him well through the weeks, until the day it was finally interrupted.

He and Titus had arrived back in port in the earlly morning, as usual, and by midday they had finished sorting everything out that needed sorting, also as usual. Noctis collected his wages, said his goodbyes, and started off toward Aera’s house, where he was still staying. His intention was, of course, his usual one ― make conversation with Aera and Ardyn (if Ardyn had not, in fact, gone off to heal the masses while he was gone) while he rested up. Lunch was also on the agenda, if he were able to come up with anything to eat.

He arrived at the home without fanfare, quietly letting himself in…

Only to stop in the doorway as he processed the scene before him.

Somnus Lucis Caelum sat at the table with Aera, and Ardyn was nowhere to be found.

And Noctis, though he’d never met him or seen his face before even once in his life, was certain that the man at the table was Somnus. He looked far too much like his father and grandfather to be anyone else.

Somehow, probably because of how much time he’d been spending with Ardyn, the presence of Somnus alone made him feel immensely uneasy. The absence of Ardyn was only more worrisome ― had Ardyn left to avoid seeing his brother? Or had Somnus, perhaps, waited until Ardyn was not here to visit?

He tried to shake off the uneasy tingle crawling up his spine and make use of the precious few seconds he still had before his presence would inevitably be noticed by Aera and Somnus. He stepped the rest of the way inside quietly, pulling the door silently shut behind him, and allowed himself to eavesdrop.

“They’re sick people,” Aera was saying, tone dangerously close to being angry, “Not criminals, Somnus. You know that I don’t condone you killing them any more than you condone Ardyn and I helping them.”

“Help them all you like,” Argued Somnus, in a similar tone, “But even you cannot deny that there comes a time when they become too dangerous for you to treat!”

“Perhaps if we did not have to work in secret, hiding from your people, then that time would come less often.”

Somnus opened his mouth to reply at the same moment Aera glanced over and saw him. She froze, as if she had been caught doing something wrong, and Somnus turned his head to follow her gaze.

“Ah.” He said, simply.

“Pardon the intrusion,” Noctis said, before either of them could say anything else, “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, I simply didn’t want to interrupt.”

“And you are?” Asked Somnus, instead of actually acknowledging that he’d spoken.

“My name is Noctis Arceo,” He said, “I’ve been staying with Aera these last few weeks.”

He did not elaborate any further. If Somnus wanted more information than that, he could ask.

It felt odd, now he was confronting the fact, that he had come in such a short amount of time to resent his forebear with such intensity, and to cherish his greatest enemy to the same extent.

But, well, he’d already made peace with the fact that nothing was ever as it seemed at first glance. Changes like this were to be expected.

“Noctis,” Aera finally said, “I apologize, I forgot you would be arriving back today. You must be exhausted.”

He was, but she didn’t need to know that, so he said, “Nothing to apologize for, I assure you. I can occupy myself elsewhere if you’d like to continue your discussion.”

Aera glanced toward Somnus, who met her gaze with a frown.

“That won’t be necessary.” Somnus said, getting up from his seat, “I’ll be going, now.”

“A good day to you, then, sir.” He replied, giving him a respectful nod as he brushed past him to exit the house.

It was silent for a moment after the door closed behind him. Noctis eyed the door out of the corner of his eye for a time before directing his gaze to Aera. She seemed… Tense.

“I truly didn’t mean to eavesdrop,” He told her, as he approached, “I swear, I won’t repeat a word of what I heard to anyone.”

Her shoulders slumped, at that, and she leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. “I… Appreciate that, Noctis. Thank you. It would…”

She trailed, heaving a sigh.

“It would reflect badly on the familiy if the general public knew for certain there was such a strong disagreement between the brothers as to how to manage this starscourge,” Noctis supposed.

She nodded, sighing again.

“I understand,” He assured her, and sat down carefully in the seat that Somnus had vacated, “It’s not my place to say anything to anyone, anyhow ― I’m just a fisherman.”

She breathed a laugh, then, and opened her eyes. “You were something else, where you came from, weren’t you? Something more.”

Giving her an answer was dangerous.

But, well, not giving her one was dangerous, too.

He decided to be vague, giving her a small smile and saying, “I wouldn’t say I was something more, necessarily. In the end, my job has always been to provide for the people around me.”

She gave him a look ― one that told him she knew he was purposely not giving a direct answer ―, but after a moment it dissolved into a smile as she shook her head.

“Entirely too much like Ardyn, you are.” She said, but she sounded more fond than anything, “It’s refreshing, I must admit, especially when he’s away.”

A subject change.

He’ll take it.

“I take it he’ll be away a while?” He asked, “Will you need any help while he’s gone?”

She laughed, “You’ve already got a job, Noctis, surely you don’t need more to occupy yourself with?”

“Please, two weeks on shore between excursions is plenty of time to grow restless.”

He spent the rest of the afternoon with her, there, talking.

He noticed, though, that she spent a good deal more time than usual referencing who and what he’d been before he came here. Could it be that she’d already found out, he wondered? Or was she simply growing curious after a few months of no real answers?

It wasn’t until they were preparing dinner that she seemed to give up on beating around the bush, so to speak.

“Noctis,” She said, chewing at her lip as she chopped a carrot into thin slices, “I must apologize. I’m afraid I’ve put my nose somewhere that it doesn’t belong, so to speak.”

His first thought is to internally grimace about the use of carrots in this dish, although he’s come a ways in being willing to eat vegetables only when prepared certain ways.

Then, the words themselves processed, and he found himself thinking, Well, that was fast.

He’d expected it to take at least a couple more months before anyone started doing any digging, or before one of the Six gave him up to Aera. Although, he wasn’t necessarily surprised to find that she’d already apparently snooped into his past.

He wondered how much she’d been told.

“What do you mean?” He asked, even though he knew full well what she meant.

She sighed, “I communed with the Draconian this morning,” She admitted, “And he told me of your origins.”

“Ah,” He said, “And what do you think of them?”

A moment of silence, as he set his eyes back on his own task.

Then, “You are not angry?”

He glanced at her once more, and she met his gaze with an unsure expression.

“No,” He admitted, and looked back down at his work, at the bubbling pot of broth he was tending for her, “I knew this would happen one day, I was only wondering when.”

Another silence.

Then, “He told me you are from two thousand years from now,” She said, “That you are distantly related to Ardyn and Somnus, though he did not tell me which of them is your forebear, or what you were in your time. He said you were a warrior, like Somnus, and that your aim was to erase the scourge from our star.”

He nodded along, though he wasn’t sure if she was looking at him, “Yes,” He said, “All of that is true.”

“I cannot help being… Disappointed,” She said, after another moment, “That you are more like Somnus than you are like Ardyn.”

He knew what she meant.

A warrior trying to purge the world of the starscourge, and not a healer.

He sighed.

How to explain it to her in a way that didn’t downplay the truth, but helped her understand the necessity of what he’d done. Or, rather, would do in the future.

“The ability to heal those afflicted by the scourge has been all but lost, by my time,” He told her, carefully, “Ardyn did not pass it on to anyone, and as such only your descendants are capable of doing so.” He paused, then, “Your descendant in my time, Luna… She did her best to heal the afflicted, and she did so openly, but there was only so much she could do. It fell to the warriors of the world to deal with the daemons she was unable to prevent the creation of.”

Yet another silence.

“I won’t pretend I didn’t think there was no other way but the way I’d been taught,” He added, sighing, “Because I truly thought killing the daemons and the source of the scourge was the only way to save my world. Now, I know better, and I find myself wishing there was something else I could have done. And yet, I don’t blame you for being disappointed.”

A small sigh from her.

Another silence.

She came to drop the carrots into his broth.

He resigned himself to eating them.

“I do not ask you forgive my ignorance,” He said, lightly touching her shoulder before she could walk away, “Or the pain I no doubt caused as a result of it. I only ask that you not tell anyone else what you learned ― even where and when I’m from. I fear it would change things that should not be changed.”

Another sigh, and she said, “I do forgive you, Noctis, I only need time to come to terms with the bleak future you and Bahamut have given me a vision of.”

“Of course, take however much time you need.”

When the stew was finished some time later, they sat down to eat together, and Aera gave him a soft smile as she reached across the table to take his right hand in both of hers. He let her, and watched as she traced a finger over Bahamut’s mark there, on the back of his hand.

“Ardyn told me…” She said, softly, “That you said you were given visions by the Six. That you had one about us. Is that true?”

“That’s…” He took a breath, “A half-truth. I have had prophetic dreams, in the past, but I worry for the two of you for other reasons. You have both been so kind to me, and I would hate for anything to happen to either of you.”

Still not the whole truth, but it was obvious enough that even Bahamut hadn’t given her that.

And it was safest this way.

“Are you… Unwilling to change the past?” She asked, softly, “Or unable?”

“I’m neither unwilling nor unable,” He answered, “I only… I only hesitate, because I have no way of knowing if any changes I bring about will ultimately better the lives of the people now, or in my time.”

Not a lie.

… For once, since coming here.

She laughed ― not a happy sound, by any means, but she didn’t actually seem terribly upset as she said, “You’re quite adept at bending the truth, aren’t you?”

“It was a skill that came in handy during a time when I had to travel in secret.” He shrugged, and that was a half-truth.

Another laugh.

They lapsed into silence, but it was a more comfortable one than the others that had preceded it tonight.

Noctis allowed it, and when he finally laid down in bed he found himself occupied only by thoughts of how best to proceed. Surely, if Aera didn’t tell anyone who or what he was, and if he continued on as a simple fisherman, then his affect on the world would be minimal? He hadn’t lied when he said that he was hesitant to change anything because he wasn’t sure if he could actually change anything for the better. The idea of potentially damning both Aera and Ardyn and the entire world to a worse fate in a misguided attempt to help…

He hated it.

If he were to try and change anything… Well. He would need to talk to the gods, he guessed, and plan it very, very carefully.

He couldn’t leave anything up to chance.

Which was why, truly, it was probably best if he did nothing.

Perhaps, by simply being here, he had changed things enough.

… He would have to hope.

Chapter Text

Inevitably, within the two weeks that he was ashore, he ran into Somnus in public.

He didn’t even notice, at first, to be honest ― he was collecting some herbs for Aera, and as such was focusing more on quietly discussing the list with the apothecary than on the people around him. He was standing well out of the way of the path, so there was no real reason for him to be paying attention.

But, as he was squinting down into his basket, gratefully placing what Aera had needed into it, someone behind him said, “Well, I’ll be! You two could be twins.”

Confused, he’d lifted his head and turned to find Somnus standing a little ways away.

“Oh,” Noctis said, turning further to see who had spoken, throwing a smile onto his face, “So I don’t look like Ardyn now, huh?”

The villager laughed, “You look like both of ‘em, Noctis. Y’really could be another brother!”

He chuckled a little, shaking his head, and turned back to the apothecary to hand over the payment. When he glanced at Somnus again, the man was staring at him with such intensity that he almost wanted to shrink in on himself.

But only almost.

He’d seen that look before, on his father’s face ― his royal glower was legendary, after all ―, and he refused to cower away from anyone who looked that much like his father.

“Sir Somnus,” He greeted, with a nod, and started to head away, back toward Aera’s home, “Lovely day, no?”

Somnus only scowled more, and fell into step next to him. Noctis winced, internally. This was likely to be an ordeal, if that look on his face was anything to go by.

He wiped it off for brief moments, smiling and nodding and greeting the various townsfolk they encountered as they walked, but when they were on the straightaway to Aera’s house, it solidified further.

“Who are you?” He demanded, with no preamble.

Noctis winced internally once more, but outwardly he smiled. “Well, you already know my name, and that I’m staying with Aera. There isn’t much more to tell you.”

Apparently, that was the wrong response, because Somnus’ lips twitched in a very unflattering way before he said, “Do not play coy with me. Who are you and what are you planning by spreading rumors?”

“I’m not spreading any rumors,” He sighed, letting the smile drop, “If you’re talking about the rumor of my being related to you, I’m afraid the townsfolk started that one. My name is Noctis Arceo, I’ve been displaced from my home and family, and I’ve settled in for the time being here, with Aera, as a fisherman. Nothing more.”

A silence.

“And Bahamut’s mark upon your hand? Do you have a dismissal for that, as well?”

“Sir Somnus,” He said, more forcefully than he’d intended, stopping and turning to face him, “Just what, exactly, are you trying to accuse me of? You may as well come out with it now.”

Somnus stopped, turning to face him as well, although he looked somewhat taken aback.

He did not seem to have a response ready.

And Noctis, well ― he could almost hear Ignis’ voice. The cool reprimand he’d likely be giving, telling Somnus that it’s not proper for someone of his position to accuse a stranger of anything without proper proof. That it isn’t proper to be so prickly with someone who has, as of yet, not done anything wrong.

And that, Noctis thought, was something Somnus probably needed to hear.

How long had it been since anyone but Aera or Ardyn stood up to him, he wondered?

A moment passed, and Noctis decided to go ahead with it ― and why not? If Somnus was going to accuse him of anything, it had better be insolence.

He could be very insolent.

“Someone of your station,” He began, finding himself mimicking Ignis’ tone, “Shouldn’t be so quick to accuse anyone of anything. I’ve done nothing to you, aside from walk in on a conversation I’ll not repeat to anyone, and yet you seem convinced that I’m somehow scheming. Do you understand how immature that is, and how badly it would reflect on you should someone overhear you making baseless accusations?”

He paused, then added, “Moreover, how does Bahamut’s mark on me concern you? Is it any of your business who he chooses to mark and why?”

Somnus stared.

But then, quietly, “You make a good point.”

“I know I do.” Noctis couldn’t help scoffing, turning away, “But if you’re going to act like I’m scheming, you may as well be upfront about whatever it is you think I’m doing, alright?”

“Well,” Somnus scoffed in turn, although when Noctis glanced over he did still look a little sheepish, “That’s the very thing. I don’t know what you’re scheming, but I have the most overwhelming feeling there is something off about you.”

“I’m only here to fish,” Noctis assured him, with another sigh, “Though I imagine you’ll be the first to know, aside from Aera, if that changes for the worse.”

A silence, and Noctis began to walk once more. Somnus followed.

He resisted the urge to huff in annoyance.

It seemed their conversation was not yet over.

“You say you are displaced.” Somnus said, finally, “And then you say you are only here to fish. Despite this, you carry the mark of the Draconian. Forgive me if I am receiving mixed signals.”

The huff fought its way out of his mouth against his will, and he reached up with his free hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. How troublesome.

How very, very troublesome.

Had he not just explained that it was none of Somnus’ business?

“Your inability to see to your own affairs instead of troubling yourself over mine is not my problem, Sir Somnus.” He said, firmly, “I owe you no explanations, and especially no further explanation than what I have already given.”

Somnus stopped.

Sighing, Noctis turned to him once more, but not before casting a glance back toward the main square. People were certainly watching their retreat…

“Besides, Sir Somnus,” He said, leveling his tone, “People will talk if they think we’re fighting. Surely that isn’t the sort of gossip you want spreading? It will only make life difficult for both of us.”

At this, Somnus’ angry and surprised face melted into one of realization.

He glanced behind him, then cursed.

“... Once more, you are correct.” Somnus admitted, a flush rising in his cheeks, “I… Apologize.” He put a hand over his heart and, to Noctis’ surprise, bowed at the waist, “Please, forgive me for overstepping. I simply worry for my people, and I am not quite so… Diplomatic in my concern as my elder brother. I will do better in the future.”

He eyed him for a long moment, frowning, before laughing a little, relaxing.

Ah, he forgot sometimes how young Ardyn and Somnus were.

Somnus, especially.

This man was not a king, yet ― he was a young man, and a warrior. While he was expected to have much control over himself as the paragon of the country’s defense against the daemonic threat caused by the Scourge, he wasn’t expected to be good at talking to people, or handling nonviolent conflicts delicately.

Despite the distaste he did have for him, it wasn’t hard to put it aside when he reminded himself that he’d been bad at this once, too.

“I forgive you, Sir Somnus,” He said, reaching out to place a hand on his shoulder, “We cannot all be as level headed as Ardyn and Aera. That is their strength, and I imagine our strengths lie elsewhere. I do appreciate your concern for your people, but I assure you that I, too, want nothing but the best for the people here.” When Somnus finally met his eyes, he smiled, “So please, let’s not argue over this. And, should you need my help, I do have combat experience, and can offer some help in a pinch.”

No point, after all, in making enemies.

Might as well try to foster a healthy, kind relationship between the two of them.

Although he had vowed not to change anything if he could help it, maybe small changes like this could have far-reaching, positive consequences.

It was a risk that he was going to have to take.

If nothing else, being friendly with Somnus would likely prevent any major problems where Somnus was concerned.

Somnus slowly nodded to him, smiling almost anxiously in return.

Noctis squeezed his shoulder, then drew back and turned away again, “Will you be accompanying me to Aera’s?”

“Ah.” Somnus said, “No. But do give her my love, won’t you?”

“Of course. A good day to you, Sir Somnus!”

“... And the same to you, Sir Noctis.”

When he glanced over his shoulder again, Somnus was heading back into the market.

He sighed, continuing on as she shook the tension he’d not realized he was holding out of his shoulders. Hopefully that would be the end of that ― while he could surely argue with Somnus without getting into a real fight with him again if need be, he’d prefer not to.

This had seemed to garner some, perhaps temporary, fragile peace between them.

If he could keep it that way, then all the better for everyone.

Though, part of him did wonder if that had been the right move. If inserting himself further into the equation didn’t cause more problems than it would prevent. If, perhaps, he may well be the catalyst that causes things to go horrifically wrong in the first place.

He could certainly see the possibility of his presence driving a significant enough additional wedge between the brothers that they may, in time, come to fight over the situation. And, in that case, were Somnus to be victorious, then his name in the history books would be par for the course.

It made him uneasy to consider the possibility of that.

He would simply have to have faith that he’d not been sent back here for nothing, and that his presence alone could not possibly be the cause of anything that had happened.

And that, should he take as little action as possible, moving only when he was reasonably certain that it would not do more harm than good, he may change some outcomes for the better.

He arrived back at Aera’s in short order, realizing, blessedly, before he got to the door that he was frowning.

That wouldn’t do.

He didn’t want Aera worrying herself over his state.

He scrunched up his face, then relaxed it, and hoped that impassive would not, by now, cause nearly so much worry as visibly frustrated.

Not, he imagined, that it’d take terribly long for a smile to find its way onto his face when he was with Aera. He cared for her a lot, and he’d long since decided he’d be more open about such feelings.

Being around the people he cared about made him happy, so he likely wouldn’t be faking impassiveness for more than a couple of minutes at most.

He stepped inside, and the impassive mask found its way off his face in record time as the smell of what was surely their lunch met his nose. He breathed deep, smiling, and knocked the door closed with his hip.

“Smells divine,” He told Aera, when she turned to him.

She giggled, “My thanks for the strong compliment, you truly do my cooking a service by being so eager to flatter me.”

“To not call it divine would be an incredible disservice,” He replied, shrugging, but met her gaze with a smile as he placed his basket down, “Oh, Somnus asked me to send his love.”

Blessedly, that didn’t seem to put a significant distress on her ― though, she did frown a little before covering it with a smile.

“How sweet of him,” She said, truly sounding like she was happy to hear it, then, “He did not trouble you, did he?”

“Of course not,” He lied, smoothly, “In truth, we had a very lovely chat on the way here from the market.”

She relaxed, sighing in relief, and returned to her cooking with a wide smile.

So, while they were at odds, there did seem to truly be love between them.

He could relate.

And, truthfully, it was only all the more reason to make an attempt to be on better terms with Somnus than he’d been to begin with. If Aera didn’t hate him outright, then there was likely little chance that he was truly a bad person. More possible was that he was simply bad at projecting calmness.

Ardyn, truly, would make the better king, but Noctis knew that, one way or another, that was not how things were meant to play out.

May as well foster a kind relationship with Somnus now, and try to guide him, if he could, into practices more befitting the benevolent ruler he’d been told about his entire life.

To soon to truly say ‘so much for not interfering’, but he imagined he’d be saying it one day soon. For now, he was merely making plans to make small, subtle moves. Things that would, if fate would allow, result in a happier ending for everyone.

Taking a deep breath, steadying the smile on his face, he began to put away the herbs he’d retrieved, along with the other things he’d been asked to get while he was out. Medicinal herbs here, spices there, meats and veggies right here. A slow, methodical process that did more than he’d admit to calm his mind.

Sitting idle, even after so long, did not sit right with him.

Having something to do with his hands soothed him.

He set out again, as usual, the following week.

The two weeks at sea soothed his frazzled nerves ― being away from the village, and away from all the things reminding him of where and when he was, helped. At sea, time did not matter, except that at night they slept and after two weeks they had to return to shore to rest. At sea, there was no Ardyn, no Somnus, no Aera, and, most importantly, no scourge. He was not a displaced king, or prince, or hero. He was just a young fisherman, eagerly tending the nets and running hither and thither across the deck to see to the sails and the anchor and the barrels of fish.

It was only he, Titus, the fish, and the ocean.

He kept busy enough, most times, that he didn’t really have time to think.

He didn’t have time to miss his friends, or worry for the future.

All that mattered, and all he had time to consider, was the task at hand.

Although, truth be told, at night, he did spend more time than he liked thinking of the past. He laid in his hammock and went back over his adventure more times than he could count, sometimes simply focusing on one event at a time and going over it with a fine toothed comb, others considering the journey as a whole. Often, he wondered how his friends would have felt being here with him, instead of left behind in a world without him.

Sometimes, he wasn’t ashamed to admit he cried.

The grieving process for his friends and family was odd.

But, more often than not, by nightfall he’d exhausted himself.

By the end of this particular venture, he’d come to realize that he’d come a long way since he’d started. The first time he’d come back from his fortnight away, he’d been bone tired, sore from head to toe from using muscles he’d never had to use before. Worse had been reacclimating to standing on solid land.

This time, four or so trips in, he hopped off the boat feeling refreshed. He still felt a bit unsteady on solid land for the first several minutes, of course, but he’d learned how to handle that.

Not sore at all, and not tired, and adjusting quickly enough to rival Titus himself, he realized that he’d acclimated very well to the work.

And he felt, for want of better words, accomplished.

There was a simple, primal pleasure to be found, he thought, in realizing he was good at something other than what he’d been raised to do for his entire life.

He caught a barrel as Titus rolled it carefully onto the dock, righting it, and dragging it easily to Titus’ eldest brother’s hands. The train continued, of course ― the eldest, then the middle, then the eldest of Titus’ nephews all dragging it along to the next person, before the nephew and his cousin hefted the barrel together and placed it inside the back door of the little shop.

Easy, simple work, by now.

He certainly understood, as well, how Titus was so well-muscled, despite his age.

He was starting to feel he looked more like Gladio than himself, to be honest, given the way that the sleeves of his shirt were beginning to cling uncomfortably to his arms.

He might have to take up sewing and learn to make himself clothes here soon ― his prince’s fatigues were getting to be very worn out.

Not to make mention, of course, of the fact that he stood out like a sore thumb wearing them.

With everything settled, he prepared to head back to Aera’s, only to be stopped by Titus calling to him.

He turned back to face him, approaching when he was motioned over.

“Noctis,” Titus said, in a tone Noctis had learned over the last few months meant he was being serious, “What do you think about takin’ the boat by yourself next time?”

He blinked.

Oh.

Oh, Six, that was sudden.

“Are you not feeling well?” He asked, brows furrowing.

Titus laughed, shaking his head. “No, see, that’s the very thing ― I’m fine, for now. But I’m not as young as I used t’be, Noctis, and I’ve got no youngin’s of my own to give the boat to when the time comes that I’m too old to do this. I’d like t’see if you can manage it on your own while I’m still around.”

Well, that certainly made more sense.

He nodded, slowly, considering it more carefully. Could he handle it on his own? He’d certainly like to think so. The Fulcinia was an easy enough ship to sail, and although it would keep him running to manage all the daily tasks of an outing, he didn’t think he’d really have any trouble handling it on his own.

“Alright,” He said, “I understand why you’re asking. I’d certainly like to give it a try.”

Titus smiled, wide and happy, patting him heavily on the shoulder, “There’s a good lad. Meet me back here in two weeks, as normal. I’ll see ya off.”

He smiled in return, “Thank you, Titus. I can’t tell you how much the trust you’re placing in me means to me.”

He returned to Aera’s place almost in a daze. To think that Titus would even consider entrusting the Fulcinia to him, let alone after only four trips with him… If he had to put a word to how he felt, he might well choose giddy to describe it. For the first time in his life, he was being asked to take on a responsibility not because he had to, but because someone trusted that he was capable of it and wanted to see him succeed.

“You seem in a good mood,” Aera said, when he finally got inside, “What happened? Did you meet a pretty girl?”

He was taken so off-guard by the comment that he nearly choked on a laugh.

“Goodness, Aera, trying to marry me off so soon?” He asked, laughing.

Aera laughed along with him ― she was clearly about to be on her way out, if the trident in her hand and the state of her dress were anything to go by. She surely had duties.

“Not at all,” She assured him, when both of them settled a bit, “I just so rarely see young men so happy for any other reason.”

Only teasing, then.

He breathed another laugh.

“No pretty girls,” He said, “But Titus has asked me to try taking the boat out on my own, so perhaps it’s similar enough.”

At once, Aera lit right up.

“Oh, Noctis, that’s wonderful to hear!” She said, clutching her hands in front of her, “Did you agree?”

“Of course,” He said, “I was honored to be trusted so much, I couldn’t have said no if I’d tried.”

She startled him, then, by dragging him into a tight hug. After a brief second, he relaxed into the touch and hugged back just as tightly. How long had it been since he’d been hugged? He’d not even hugged his friends before going off to die, so it had to have been a very long time. It felt like the world shifted a little on its axis, to be honest.

“I’m so happy for you,” Aera said, so sincere and soft, “I hope it makes you happy.”

“Thank you,” He replied, and if his voice shook a little he chose to ignore it, “I hope so, too.”

Chapter Text

Aera was gone for the first week that he was ashore.

What little explanation he’d gotten was that Ardyn had sent word that he needed assistance, and she’d rushed to his aid without asking why it was necessary.

It seemed everything was changing, this month.

During Aera’s absence, despite Somnus’ presence, the people of the town seemed to turn to him for guidance. He considered it lucky that he’d watched Aera enough during his time here to know many of the remedies she would have administered, because he wasn’t sure that he’d have been able to be of any help, otherwise.

And, truly, he wasn’t sure why the people turned to him.

He was not necessarily a pillar of the community like Aera and the brothers, or at least he hadn’t thought that he was, so it didn’t make any proper sense to him. Why not turn to Somnus when they needed guidance? The remedies he understood ― he lived with Aera when he wasn’t at sea, so they could assume, correctly, that he’d picked up a little of her expertise along the way. But for them to come to him, as they did, with questions like, “I hear the harvest will be bad this year, what should we do?” and “My brother and I are feuding, could you help us reach a compromise?” felt far more like being lifted to the position of a king than it did like them simply asking the local fisherman for his thoughts.

Though he was equipped to handle it ― he’d not spent his entire life being trained to become a king for nothing ―, it still unsettled him.

What had he done, he wondered, to be deserving of so much trust?

On the fifth day of Aera’s absence, even Somnus stopped by the house.

He seemed thoughtful as Noctis let him in, considering him critically as he took a seat.

Thankfully, the consideration on his face didn’t seem to have any deeper feeling than curiosity and, perhaps, confusion. He didn’t seem to be angry.

“You’ve slotted yourself quite well into a place of leadership, Sir Noctis,” He said, once they’d both settled in and Noctis had prepared tea for them both, “I have to say, I’m impressed. The people adore you.”

Noctis laughed, a little. “I do not know why, or how,” He admitted, “But I’m not so blind as to say you’re wrong. It’s become very obvious to me over the last couple of days.”

“You seem accustomed to such expectations.”

It wasn’t an accusation ― not really. Somnus seemed more curious than like he was accusing Noctis of scheming again. It seemed their last conversation really had done them some good.

So he sighed another laugh, and he said, “I am. I’ve been in such a position before.”

“So you were a leader, then, before you came here.” Somnus gathered, still seeming more curious than suspicious.

“I was,” He confirmed, “Though much of my past remains a mystery to me since coming here, I do remember that my father trained me to be both a warrior and a leader, and I recall leading our people after his passing.”

Ha.

‘Passing’ made it sound so much more peaceful than what it had been.

His ‘passing’, as if he hadn’t been murdered in cold blood.

It was odd, how sometimes the grief blindsided him like this.

He tried not to let it distract him.

“I’m sorry to hear he’s gone,” Somnus said, so very sincerely, “I’m sure he was a wonderful father.”

He had been, though he’d certainly had his faults.

He smiled, a little, “I certainly loved him.” He said, then, “Regardless, might I ask what brings you here today, Sir Somnus?”

Somnus laughed, then, glancing sheepishly away. “Actually, I’m afraid I’ve come for much the same reason so many others have come these last few days. I’m in need of advice.”

Oh.

Wow.

“Of course,” He said, “How can I help?”

“... The people have been talking,” Somnus replied, quietly, “They’re beginning to worry that fighting the scourge is doing more harm than good, and I… I am beginning to worry, as well. I do not know if what I’m doing is… Right.”

To repeat, oh.

He considered that for a second, trying to quiet the part of his mind telling him he’d already changed something irreversably, that this could be bad.

For a moment, just a moment, he thought that he might need to forget the future he came from and start focusing on what would help the most in the moment. What did Somnus need to hear? What was right to tell him?

“Sir Somnus,” He finally said, carefully, “I believe that physically pushing back against the scourge is a method that has its own time and place. I’ve fought it, myself, in the past ― it’s effective, but perhaps not what each case needs.”

He paused, to be sure Somnus was following.

Seeing him chewing his lip and slowly nodding, he continued.

“I cannot tell you if fighting it is ultimately right or wrong. What’s important, and what I can tell you, is that you have to exercise both caution and common sense when deciding what to do. It may benefit everyone far more to partner with your elder brother and with Aera, acting as a sort of enforcer when things become dangerous, instead of purposely seeking cases in which things have gone wrong already.”

As much as he tried to forget about the future, about what he was trying so hard not to change for the worse, he couldn’t help considering it. What ramifications would this advice have? How was he changing things by telling Somnus to consider letting Ardyn and Aera be more open in their endeavors? Would this benefit the world, or would it doom it?

Would Ardyn, now able to practice openly, take too much scourge too soon, and become its host?

Would Somnus, one day, tired of only protecting his brother and sister-in-law and never making any real progress, seize control for himself?

His stomach rolled anxiously.

“Use caution and common sense,” Somnus echoed, softly, “Yes, that’s precisely the sort of advice I expected from you. I… Have to admit that I’m relieved.”

“Relieved?”

“I think you’re right,” He amended, “When Aera returns, I’ll speak to her. Hopefully… Things have not dissolved so completely between us that she might hear me.” He stood, “Thank you, both for the tea and for the advice.”

And he left without another word.

Leaving Noctis, bewildered, to wonder why all of these people held his advice in such high regard.

He hadn’t even done anything, to his knowledge.

Surely it couldn’t be purely that Ardyn and Aera were helping him ― he imagined they did that quite a lot. And it couldn’t be the mark of Bahamut on his hand, because it couldn’t have possibly put him in a position of authority over them, could it?

But, mm, there was always the possibility.

Ugh.

He was going to have to commune with Bahamut, wasn’t he?

And pray he still understood Astral.

He put his head in his hands and sighed.

Aera returned three days later, with Ardyn at her side.

Both, truly, seemed exhausted.

He almost didn’t want to tell them that Somnus wanted to talk to them now that they were back ― but, ultimately, not telling them would do them far less good. It’d be worse for them to be caught off-guard by it. And, surely, if they trusted him anywhere near as much as the other people in town did, then they’d trust him when he said that it would not be a bad talk.

When they got into the house, it was barely sunrise. As was his custom since he’d first arrived here, he was already awake.

“Aera, Ardyn,” He greeted, not questioning how early they’d arrived or whether Ardyn would be sleeping here despite having his own home, “Sit, sit. You look exhausted.”

They both sort of chuckled tiredly and, tellingly, offered no greeting as they did as they were told.

Far more tired than he’d thought, then, but that wasn’t necessarily surprising.

He got to work on breakfast, firmly insisting that both of them remain seated as he did so, and got them some tea. Aside from some quiet complaints and quiet thanks, it was all but silent until well after he’d gotten them fed.

“So,” It was Aera who finally spoke, sounding worn out but satisfied, “What did we miss, dear Noctis?”

“Oh, not terribly much,” He said, rather than telling them he’d spent the last week sorting through petty squabbles he was certain the locals didn’t even go to them for help with, “I helped out around town, spoke a bit with Somnus here and there… All in all rather peaceful.”

“With Somnus?” Ardyn asked, looking a little surprised but not, necessarily, upset, “He didn’t trouble you too much, I hope?”

“Not at all,” He assured him, and decided this was as good a time as any to tell them, “Actually, we had some very pleasant conversations, and he asked my advice on something. Last we spoke, he’d wanted to speak to you two.”

They traded a glance.

“I imagine it’ll be a good conversation,” He said, “I believe it pertains to what we talked about ― if so, then you’ve nothing to worry over.”

They didn’t seem sure, and he couldn’t fault them that.

He, for one, still wasn’t entirely sure that this was going to ultimately be a good thing.

“Anyhow, don’t fret over it.” He told them, refilling their tea, “Get some rest. If he comes by today, I’ll tell him he has to wait.”

Ardyn accepted the new tea with a heavy sigh, but smiled, just a little. “Of course you would hold no fear of standing up to my dear brother. It seems nothing of this world frightens you at all.”

He cracked a smile of his own, “I have fought men before, and in the end that is all that Somnus is. Should he take offense to me telling him to wait, I can handle the aftermath. You truly needn’t worry.”

“I’m not worried,” Ardyn told him, firm but gentle, “I trust you can handle him, if you’ve had pleasant conversation with him already.”

“I, too, trust you’ll have no trouble out of him,” Aera said, pausing to yawn, “I think he will respect you as a fellow warrior, if nothing else.”

Ardyn glanced between them, very briefly, but whatever the reason for the look was, he didn’t bother to comment on it. He merely seemed to let it go, returning to his tea. And, when he’d finished, he heaved himself slowly from his seat, kissed Aera’s forehead, said his goodbyes, and left, presumably for his own house.

Noctis took the cue to begin cleaning up their breakfast dishes as Aera finished her cup of tea.

If either of them had noticed he’d specifically chosen chamomile in hopes of ushering them off to bed, neither had commented.

“Noctis,” Aera murmured, sounding not far off from simply falling asleep at the table, “Did Somnus truly come to you for advice?”

Seeing no point in lying to her outright, as having secrets between them would do little at this point, he hummed.

“Yes,” He said, “Along with most of the other townsfolk. It seems, in the absence of you and Ardyn, they’ve all decided I know best.”

A very small, very sleepy giggle. “What did they ask you about? Somnus, especially. I find the idea of him asking for advice… Funny.”

“Oh, this and that.” He told her, putting away the dishes that he’d now dried before heading to the table, “How to resolve a conflict without further arguing, what to do about the crops, whether or not the cattle should be moved from this farm to that one… Simple things, really.”

He offered her his arm, and she gratefully accepted the help up, leaning heavily upon him with a hum. She did not pursue the other part of her question. He wasn’t surprised ― with her eyelids drooping so heavily, he imagined she was having a hard time even focusing on keeping them open.

He helped her quietly into the bedroom, settling her into bed and covering her up before sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Somnus had a more serious inquiry,” He told her, and she hummed to show she was listening, tired eyes still watching him, “He wanted to discuss what I thought would be best, concerning the starscourge. And it is our conclusion that he wishes to speak to you and Ardyn about. I have… High hopes for the result.”

“I thought,” She mumbled, “That you didn’t wish to interfere.”

He sighed.

Patted her hip.

“I don’t.” He admitted, “And I’m not sure that this was the right path to take, because I do not know if I’ve changed things by getting involved. Perhaps the conclusion I hope for would have been reached without my influence ― the information I have about how things were supposed to go is… Severely limited.”

He paused.

Patted her hip again.

“Sleep, Aera. We can discuss this when you’ve rested. All I’m doing now is keeping you awake.”

She hummed, frowning a little, but ultimately closed her eyes.

Her breathing evened out within the next two minutes, and he slowly rose from his seat to exit the room.

When, he wondered, had he gotten so attached to her that he would sit at her bedside until she fell asleep?

To think that, even amongst grieving the loss of his friends and the fates they were likely suffering, he’d come to cherish new people so dearly… It almost felt like a betrayal. And yet, he knew that his retinue would never feel that way. He knew, truly, that they would be delighted that he’d branched out, made friends. That he cared so deeply for people he likely would have kept at arm’s length before.

He sighed, tidying up idly around the house as he thought. There were no tasks he could complete that were involved enough to keep his mind from wandering, so all he could do was keep his hands moving while his mind did the same.

Thankfully, today, he felt less grieved to think of his friends.

Instead of fretting over the mess he’d left for them, or their emotional states, today all he could imagine was how they’d react to seeing him as he was now.

Ignis, he thought, would be proud. To witness him so much more open, so much less impassive… There would be no greater joy to his Hand. He had always wanted Noctis to branch out, though he’d never really pressed the issue. He’d been overjoyed when Prompto had joined their group for that very reason, and of course eventually came to like Prompto for himself ― he thought it would be much the same, here. Ignis, though wary of Ardyn, would come to love Aera, and Somnus, and Ardyn, and Titus, just as dearly as Noctis did, given enough time.

Gladio would tease him. There was no question about that ― though he, like Ignis, would be delighted that Noctis was no longer hiding himself behind a wall of ice, he’d never say it aloud. Instead, he’d heckle him over being overly helpful. And he, too, would come to love the people Noctis loved, in the end, in his own way.

Prompto… Well. Prompto would just be happy that he was happy, plain and simple. He’d love Aera, and he’d adore Ardyn once he got over the discomfort of him sharing a name and face with the daemon that had tormented them. Somnus might take some warming up, but ultimately he didn’t doubt Prompto would end up loving him as much as he loved Gladio.

Ah, if only he could bring them here.

If only he could spare them all the pain and sorrow, or at least some of it.

But he would not dwell on that. Not now.

Instead, he would simply imagine Ignis and Aera bonding over cooking, and over worrying over him. Imagine Ardyn and Prompto joking quietly by the fireplace as they watched the kettle. Imagine Gladio wandering in after a heated and fulfilling round of training with Somnus.

He would imagine it, and he would content himself with the imaginary world in which it was possible while he passed the time.

Chapter Text

Somnus came to the door in the late afternoon.

Aera was not yet up, and Ardyn had not yet put in an appearance, so Noctis did as he’d said he would.

“I’m afraid if you’re here to speak to Aera, you’ll have to wait,” He said, firmly, “She’s resting.”

Somnus did not argue ― he put his hands up in surrender, and replied, “I had hoped she’d be awake by now, but if she isn’t, then it can’t be helped. Would you mind terribly if I waited here?”

Noctis snorted, but allowed him in.

Made tea.

Prepared an early dinner as he and Somnus waited for Aera to wake ― neither spoke much, though Noctis noticed that Somnus seemed to be toying with some sort of figurine as he sat at the table. He hummed, too, a bit. A song Noctis didn’t recognize… Which wasn’t a surprise, given that he didn’t know many of the local songs.

He’d spent most of his time at sea, truthfully, or running errands, so he didn’t get much of a chance to really bother with the ancient pop culture.

The only ones he’d really heard were the shanties Titus belted as they fished and the one that Aera sometimes sang while she cooked.

Just before he finished the food, Aera emerged from her room, looking considerably more awake than she’d been when she’d arrived home. She didn’t seem surprised, thankfully, by Somnus’ presence ― she gave him a somewhat tired smile and wave, and sat down without a word. When Somnus opened his mouth, she held up a hand in a ‘wait’ gesture.

“Ardyn’s back, as well,” Noctis explained, for her, “I think he’d like to be present for this.”

“Of course,” Somnus said, almost too easily, “I can wait for my elder brother to arrive if that is the case.”

Aera gave him an odd look, at that, but seemed to decide to keep whatever thoughts she had over how easily he’d rolled over to herself. Somnus, for his part, looked a little nervous at the lack of comment.

Poor guy.

But, on the other hand, he probably deserved to be a little nervous. Noctis didn’t think he’d really ever considered how badly he’d potentially damaged the relationship between he, Aera, and his brother before the other day. Or, if he had, that he likely hadn’t bothered to concern himself with it, maybe even justifying it as a necessary evil.

People would do stupid things when they really, truly thought that they were right.

“Dinner is finished,” He informed the two, a few moments later, “I’ve made enough for all of us, so please help yourselves. I’m going to go fetch Ardyn.”

Two affirmative noises, and he quietly stepped out of the house.

Ardyn didn’t live terribly far from Aera, ultimately ― in fact, he shared a home with Somnus just outside the market. It was a little surprising that Somnus hadn’t noticed he had come home, but it was entirely possible that Ardyn had snuck in while Somnus was occupied and hadn’t emerged before he left.

He knocked quietly at the front door rather than barging right in, although he was certain Ardyn wouldn’t have cared if he had walked all the way into his room and flicked him in the nose to get his attention, and waited a few moments for a response. There was a tell-tale shuffle, then a small thump, and the door was opening.

Ardyn looked very tired, still, but significantly more awake.

“Ah, Noctis,” He said, “I suppose you’ve come to get me for dinner?”

“Among other things,” He confirmed, “Your brother has joined us for the meal.”

A vague sort of grimace, but Ardyn nodded, stepped out, and closed the door behind him.

They headed back in silence, and Noctis did not bother to break it.

Despite some tension in the atmosphere, the meal was a quiet and comfortable affair.

When they’d finished, and Noctis had done the dishes, again forbidding Ardyn and Aera from helping him, to their clear annoyance, he prepared to excuse himself. Somnus seemed to be waiting for something before speaking. It was likely what he was waiting for was privacy.

“I’ll take my leave, if you’d like to have that talk, now,” He said, casually, “I wouldn’t want to intrude.”

Somnus, somewhat more nervous than Noctis really thought suited him, swallowed and said, “If it’s all the same, Sir Noctis, I think I’d like if you were a part of the discussion.”

Ardyn and Aera exchanged a glance, and Noctis considered it.

… Was Somnus asking him to stay for moral support?

Did Somnus, after all the blustering he did to begin with, truly trust him that much?

What a surreal experience this last week had been.

“Very well,” He said, taking his seat at the table once more, “I don’t mind to stay.”

Ultimately, his presence was almost certainly only requested in order to allow Somnus some measure of comfort ― he contributed little to the conversation, only piping in to offer his input when addressed and otherwise watching the scene unfold with interest.

Rather than being at all opposed to the idea, Ardyn and Aera truly seemed delighted, though shocked, to hear that Somnus wished to ally with them and allow them to take the lead in treating the scourge.

When they heard it had been Noctis’ suggestion, of course, they seemed somewhat less surprised. Aera, in particular, however, gave him a knowing look. A knowing, and happy, look.

Within an hour, they’d settled most of the terms.

Somnus would not, necessarily, step back from what he was already doing ― he and his people would continue to hunt daemons. It was simply that they would only act when there were no other options and the existence of a daemon was confirmed. Ardyn could not purify a daemon, nor could Aera, due to the fact a daemon would rather tear them limb from limb than allow them to try, so they all agreed that fully-formed daemons were a lost cause, though reluctantly. They also agreed that Ardyn and Aera, even working as openly and as quickly as they could, could not possibly purify everyone who was afflicted, so it would be best if Somnus or one of his people stayed close in case things got out of hand.

Noctis, truly, felt that he was witnessing the beginnings of something great.

… If, of course, it worked out as they were hoping it would.

And Six did he hope that it would work.

That it would be okay, in the end.

That, if he had changed anything, he had ultimately changed it for the better.

A thought occurred to him, though, as they discussed the finer details ― he had already given his life for the Light of Providence, had he not?

Was it possible, was there even a chance, that he could still use that power? That, should he find himself face to face with the source of the scourge in this time, he could stop everything before it even began?

Purge the sickness from their Star without ever having to let Ardyn be taken?

… Tempting, truly.

Very, very tempting.

But he had no way of knowing if it was even possible, if he did still have that power. It wasn’t as if it had been a physical feeling, when he’d earned the right to use it. And, if there had been a feeling, it had been overshadowed by the feeling of being stabbed.

The only way to find out was to try and use it, and he couldn’t imagine the toll it would take on his body to do so.

It was possible dying would be the price, regardless, or at least coming close to it when his body really hadn’t ever been particularly conducive to him advancing in his magical development. His magic was well behind his father’s and his grandfather’s ― he’d never been able to reach his potential because of how badly he’d been hurt and how completely he’d withdrawn afterward.

If he wanted any hope, assuming he did still have that power, of using it without putting himself into a coma, he’d need to strengthen his magic.

The issue, of course, was that only the Lucis Caelums and the Fleurets naturally had magic of their own. Displaying the use of magic, and especially the form that the Lucis Caelums used, would only lead to bigger problems.

While Aera knew, and he could very well practice in her presence, there wasn’t any other time or place where he could do so safely.

Besides ― given his duties as a fisherman, he hardly had the time to do something like that.

For the best, he imagined.

His personal interference really should be kept to a minimum.

“Noctis,” Said Aera, suddenly, drawing him from his thoughts, “You say you have combat experience, yes? Do you have any experience fighting daemons?”

“I do,” He confirmed, almost automatically, “As my memory has returned to me, I’ve recalled that our people had so-called ‘hunters’ among them who specialized in such things as out of control game and small daemons. My friends and I were briefly among them.”

She nodded, turning to Somnus, “If you or Ardyn were to offer Sir Noctis access to your magic, as you have with Gilgamesh, I believe he could be of great help in an emergency.”

At this, it was Ardyn and Somnus who exchanged a look. Something passed between them, silent, before both nodded.

“It would not be a bad idea.” Somnus agreed, “Especially given his place in the village. Knowing there is another among us who will protect them will set the people immensely at ease.”

Something, something he hadn’t realized had been unsettled, settled back into place at the thought of protecting the people of the village. At being known as a protector.

“I, for one, would be delighted to share my magic with you,” Ardyn added, smiling.

Somnus chuckled, “I was just about to suggest you be the one to do it ― I’m not so certain I can stretch mine much further.”

Oh, you have no idea just how far you can stretch it, if you need to. He thought, suppressing a laugh.

His father, and grandfather, and those before them, had frequently shared their magic with hundreds of others for extended periods of time.

He’d only ever done it with a handful of people, himself, but he knew he had it within him to do the same, and that Somnus did as well.

He’d figure it out eventually.

“I have no arguments,” He said, instead of any of that, “I’d be honored, truly.”

Ardyn grinned.

He smiled back.

Two separate active armigers were an interesting sensation, Noctis found, after Ardyn came to share his with him.

Ardyn didn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary, though, so evidently he wasn’t able to feel that Noctis had his own available.

He made a show, when Ardyn and Somnus tried to teach him how to use the armiger, of having some trouble before finally getting it. He did have trouble, because he had to remember to send the sword Somnus had given him to Ardyn’s armiger instead of to his own, but he certainly played it up more than that. It wouldn’t do for them to get suspicions about how adept he was at using their magic already. Had to pretend to have some issues.

But he didn’t want to continue pretending for too long, so he had to fake a natural progression of skill.

Learning magic went much the same way.

Although he did have some genuine trouble using magic naturally, rather than through the use of flasks.

He’d never been taught to use his magic naturally ― there had been an attempt, when he was well enough to train, but he’d had such trouble that his father had simply moved past it to the use of flasks and elemental energy.

Getting a handle on it filled him with such a sense of accomplishment that he didn’t quite know what to do with it.

Aera seemed amused, when he settled himself down at the table with her the next evening, after he spent most of the day training with the brothers.

“I presume it’s a relief for you to be able to use your abilities again,” She said, gently, “You seem happy.”

“Oh, certainly,” He replied, “It allows me to be of more help, I think, to not need to limit myself as I’ve been doing.”

She hummed an agreement, nodding. Asked, “Do you miss it? Fighting, I mean.”

He considered that ― did he miss it?

Well…

Yes, he supposed, he kind of did.

Fishing was plenty fulfilling, as was helping out around town, but none of it really felt the same to him. He’d been training to fight for a long time, and by the time that he had woken up here he’d become so accustomed to it that not fighting feels strange. The peace was good, and he was glad for it, but he felt as if he was merely waiting for the other shoe to drop.

And, in a way, he guessed he kind of was.

The peace wasn’t going to last forever, after all.

“Yes,” He chose to say, “I do miss it. I’m glad that I’ve not had to fight, but training relieves a lot of anxiety that not fighting has left me with.”

She seemed to consider that for a moment before nodding.

Then, after another moment, she nodded again, as if affirming something to herself.

“I suppose that does make sense,” She said, “If you’ve been a warrior for very long at all, it must feel strange not having anything at all to fight.”

“Exactly,” He confirmed, “So, while I hope I never have to lift the sword I’ve been given, I will not hesitate to raise it if the need arises.”

She smiled, nodding again.

When Ardyn joined them for dinner a while later, she said, “You know, Noctis, I do think you’ve managed to sway me. I’ve never understood why someone would want to fight when there is no need, but… You made a good point, earlier.”

Ardyn seemed a bit confused by the comment, but didn’t question it outright. He just glanced over to Noctis in question.

Noctis only smiled, and said, “I’m glad to have been able to give you some perspective on the subject, but keep in mind that… Well, not everyone probably feels the same way about it that I do.”

Ardyn raised his brow higher, turning now to Aera, who nodded her agreement.

“I don’t suppose I’ll be betting context?” He finally asked, after a couple of moments where neither of them bothered to explain it to him.

Aera fell into a fit of giggles ― more amused, Noctis thought, than was necessary. But she probably needed the levity, so he said nothing of it. Just chuckled, then explained.

“We were discussing my feelings about having a weapon on-hand again,” He told him, “And she happened to ask if I’ve missed fighting. And, truthfully, I have missed it a bit, but it’s more that I feel strange not having a need to fight after being raised as a warrior.”

Satisfied, Ardyn nodded and made some comment about that making sense.

And when he left, and it was just Noctis and Aera getting ready for bed, Noctis chose to change the subject before it could get back around to his powers.

Since he was obviously going to be here for a while yet, and the village residents had taken such a shine to him already, he thought maybe it was about time he actually got acquainted with how things really worked here. He knew plenty about fishing, and about healing, and even the currency, but what about local traditions? Songs, dance, festivals ― things like that.

So while she doused the fire, he asked if she might teach him some of that in the morning, if she wasn’t busy.

“I’d be happy to,” She said, and she sounded more like she was delighted, “For now, how about I teach you a couple of songs?”

“That sounds lovely.”

And so they stayed up a while later than they normally would, singing back and forth at each other until he had the words to one of the local folk songs firmly embedded in his memory.

He fell asleep still thinking them.

“So come, faithful people, come gather ‘round,

Sit by the fire and raise your hands high,

Give thanks to the Astrals, who, by duty bound,

Have given us knowledge and safety.”