Chapter Text
So the lost Oracle lives.
Ardyn finally has confirmation that the young woman traveling to Altissia is in fact Lunafreya. He could arrange for her death, it would be simple enough, but he has a better idea. Let the princess have her happy reunion for now. In time, it won’t matter once he has what he wants.
~.~
A Heartbroken Prince
In the confines of his suite, a tall, lean man with light, pale blonde hair looks out over his balcony to the bustling city streets below. Behind him a woman with blond hair and blue eyes drolls on about how much she loved to dance and how every summer they would take a trip to the coast. The same rehearsed story he’s heard a hundred times before for the past 14 years. He lets out a heavy sigh and turns to face the young woman, piercing her with his gaze.
“And when we were at the coast, we would stay in a lovely villa surrounded by flowers and vines. Yes, I’ve heard it all before. Don’t you have anything better to do than waste my time?” he asks sharply, shocking the young woman.
“The young lady should go now,” urges gently a tall woman with long, straight black hair who had been sitting silently off to the side. “Apologies, Lord Ravus. There was something about her…” calmly states the woman, as she sits across from the distraught prince. “Next time there will be harder questions. The princess will be found,” she assures him.
Ravus shakes his head in dismay, weariness overtaking his body. His eyes look tired as he gazes at a framed picture of his beloved sister, Lunafreya. “No, Gentiana, no more. My heart can’t take any more of this. I will not see any more girls claiming to be Lunafreya,” he declares absolutely, placing the picture face down with a heavy weight in his heart.
~.~
Time For Your Test
Nothing could have prepared Stella for the great wonder that was Altissia. The pamphlets simply did not do the magnificent city justice. When they departed the ship, she couldn’t contain her excitement. Towering ornate buildings sit above the sparkling water, gondolas float by through the canals as people mill about the bridges with street vendors trying to sell their wares.
“Come on your highness, this way. We don’t want you getting lost,” instructs Libertus as he guides her through the crowd by the wrist.
“Where are we going?” Stella asks gleefully, trying to see as much as she can.
“To The Leville. Only the finest accommodations for the princess.” Nyx explains with a wink. This makes Stella excited. She’s heard of The Leville, the finest hotel in Altissia, a place where government officials and celebrities often stayed. But wait a minute, if they were heading there, that must mean…
“Nyx, we’re not going to see Gentiana right now are we!?” Stella asks, worry clear on her face.
Nyx lets out a laugh. “No, not right now. We’ll see her in a couple hours. She usually stops at the hotel around 11 a.m.” he reassures her, placing a hand in the small of her back. He leans in close and says into her ear, “You’ll do fine. I have faith in you.” Her face turns bright red and she brushes some hair back behind her ear to try and hide it. But he sees it and it brings him a slight joy.
They finally make it to The Leville and check into their room. With a few hours to spare, the trio decide to get in some last minute studying before meeting the High Messenger.
“And what was your mother’s most famous act as Oracle?” Nyx asks
“What if Gentiana doesn’t recognize me?” Stella asks nervously, the hour drawing near for the meeting.
“She will because you’re Lunafreya,” Nyx assures her. The pair sit together on one of the beds while Libertus inspects his axe at the window. They never did figure out where Umbra had acquired the weapons.
“It’s just…” To say she was apprehensive was putting it mildly. All the work they’ve put in has led up to this moment. She doesn’t want to blow it. “Five days ago I had no past and now in a few minutes I’m about to find out if I do. And I’m meant to remember a history book’s worth of information on myself and my family.” Her heart felt like it was about to leap out of her chest and she would be just fine with that. At least then she wouldn’t have to face the High Messenger.
Nyx takes a hold of her hand and says calmly, “Hey, that’s why you have me here, okay? You’ll get through this.” Stella looks at his determined expression and finds security in it. She nods her head with a small smile. “Good, now your mother’s most famous act?” he continues with their studying.
“She trapped a snake daemon who was stealing children in Fociaugh Hollow in Duscae,” she answers fluidly.
“Correct,” he says with a smile.
“It’s time you guys,” Libertus announces, heading for the door. Panic sets in once again for Stella. With a considerate smile, Nyx guides her off the bed, laces their fingers together, and they walk out of the room together. Stella finds comfort in Nyx’s touch and she takes slow deep breathes as they head downstairs.
When they enter the lobby, Libertus scans the room until his eyes settle on a woman in a black gown with white wraps around her sleeves sitting at one of the couches with a white dog at her feet.
“There she is,” he points out.
“Don’t worry, we’ll be right here with you,” Nyx whispers reassuringly.
The trio walks up to her with Libertus stepping forth to make the introductions.
He clears his throat and addresses the High Messenger. “Excuse me, Lady Gentiana, I hope we’re not disturbing you, but may we have a moment of your time?” The woman turns to acknowledge the three of them, looking over each individual carefully. Her serene face does not betray her thoughts, neither of them can make out what she’s thinking.
“And what are the names of the individuals?” she inquires.
“Oh, I am Libertus Ostium, that there is Nyx Ulric, and may I present to you Princess Lunafreya Nox Fleuret.” Stella takes that as her cue to bow, just as she was taught. It’s then that Umbra suddenly appears walking past the group and sits in front of the High Messenger. The white dog gets up and approaches Umbra, sniffing him with a wag of her tail.
“Umbra?” the trio asks in unison. They were certain they left him in the room. Gentiana looks down at the black pup, a small smile forming on her face.
“Look who is here, Pryna,” she says. Pryna gives a bark and the two pups walk off together.
“I’m so sorry. I was sure we —” began Nyx but Gentiana stands and faces the group, silencing him.
“It’s all right,” she directs her gaze at Stella now. “The girl claims to be Lady Lunafreya. She certainly looks like the princess, then so did the others. But there is something different about the girl…” Gentiana trails off, looking deep into Stella’s eyes. Finally she says, “come sit. Where was the girl born?”
Stella is caught off guard by the question. The test has begun. She sits up straight, facing Gentiana fully. “I was born in Fenestala Manor in Tenebrae.”
“Correct. How does Lady Lunafreya like her tea?” Gentiana continues.
“With honey and lemon,” Stella answers confidently.
“Good.” The questions go on for nearly an hour. Finally, Gentiana comes to the last question, “The question may seem impertinent, but it is necessary. How did Lady Lunafreya escape the manor during the siege of Tenebrae?”
Oh crap. Neither of them prepped her for that question. Nyx’s stomach sinks, there is no way she would know the answer.
Stella ruminates for a moment and images fill her thoughts, almost like memories. “There was a boy…” she begins, plucking at distant pieces in her mind and fitting them together like a puzzle. “He was the son of a Crownsguard for King Regis. He was sent to protect me and when the Magitek soldiers came, he opened a wall…” Nyx stands behind Stella and he looks down at her with a realization. “I’m sorry, it must sound strange. Walls opening,” Stella chuckles nervously. But it wasn’t strange, it’s exactly what happened. It was him, he was the boy. And if she remembers that then…
“So, is she Lunafreya?” Libertus asks anxiously.
“The girl answered all of the questions,” Gentiana states simply.
Libertus’s face lights up, “You hear that, you did it!” he embraces Stella excitedly. Nyx, however, quietly excuses himself from the group.
“Libertus, I can’t breathe!” Stella muffles a plea from within her friend’s arms.
“Sorry! Sorry! It’s just, you’re her! You’re actually her,” Libertus apologizes, feeling absolutely elated at the outcome. Here sat Lunafreya, the next Oracle, the one who can purge the world of the Starscourge. Oh if only she had been around all those years ago, maybe then his parents would be alive today. He gives her a compassionate smile, as if all his hopes and dreams have finally come true.
He turns his attention back to Gentiana, “So when can we see the prince?”
“That is not possible,” she replies steadily, giving no indication of sympathy or indifference in her voice.
“What do you mean?” Libertus asks incredulously. They came all this way to reunite the prince and princess, but now she tells him it’s not possible?
“The prince will not allow it.”
“But, if you believe she is the princess then surely you can find a way to have them meet.” Gentiana considers them for a moment, she senses something within Stella, something that cannot be ignored.
“Prince Ravus will be attending the monster fight at the coliseum in three days. He never misses it,” she explains.
“Okay. Okay, this is good. We can meet him then,” Libertus confirms. Gentiana simply bows her head and rises from her seat. At that moment, Pryna and Umbra return.
Gentiana kneels to pet Umbra. “The messenger has done a good job of protecting the girl,” she states. Stella and Libertus are puzzled by what she means by “messenger.” Umbra, however, wags his tail and appears to hold his head just a little higher, in a proud way.
~.~
A Miscalculation
Libertus leaves Gentiana and Stella to speak while he searches for Nyx. He finds his friend just outside the hotel, looking over the railing into the canal.
“Nyx! Hey, what are you doing out here? She did it man! We’re going to see the prince in three days!” Libertus shares with enthusiasm. Nyx however has a contemplative look on his face and does not share in the excitement. “Hey, are you okay? Staring at gondolas give you motion sickness or something?” Libertus jokes in an attempt to get his friend to open up to him.
“She’s real… she’s actually Lunafreya,” Nyx shares sorrowfully.
“Yeah…at least that’s what Gentiana thinks. We still have to prove to the prince,” Libertus is bewildered by Nyx’s behavior. This is meant to be a joyous occasion, why is he behaving this way? “But hey, once we do that, we’ll be getting our 10 million gil and we’ll be —”
“No, you don’t get it…Never mind.” Nyx doesn’t want to share his thoughts at the moment, mainly because he’s not sure how he feels. He knew this would be the outcome, they present Stella, get the money, and say goodbye forever. It was meant to be simple, straightforward. But he made a miscalculation.
He didn’t anticipate falling in love with her.
When they return to the lobby, Stella approaches them excitedly, “Gentiana just offered to take us shopping tomorrow for the coliseum. Apparently it’s a formal affair. Who would have thought that watching monsters fight would require a suit and tie?”
“Really? That’s generous of her. What do you think Nyx?” Libertus inquires of his friend.
“Hm? Oh, yeah that’s nice. Hey, how about we take today to explore the city? Get familiar with the place since we’ll be staying a few days,” Nyx suggests, wanting to distract himself from his revelation.
“Oh I’d like that!” Stella is nearly jumping with joy and her excitement brings a smile to Nyx’s face. How could he have ever thought it would be easy to leave her? With Stella being who she is, it would never have been possible. But in three days he’ll have to say good-bye, so until then he’ll enjoy his time with her while he still can.