Archive of Our Own

It had been a long past three days.

Mainly because Nyx had lived them about five times by now.

He’d heard stories about time loops—who hadn’t? They were surprisingly popular in Lucis, where some people seemed to believe they actually happened. Nyx had never really given it much thought.

He was giving it a lot of thought now.

It was the last thing he’d expected. Closing his eyes on a setting sun, knowing it was the last thing he’d ever seen—and then opening his eyes to Crowe’s voice. Crowe, who he’d seen dead in a morgue.

“You better come see this.”

Somehow, he was back next to the Glaive training course, watching Libertus limp to his feet—still wearing his uniform—and follow Crowe into the building.

He knew this moment. He’d already lived it.

The entire briefing with Drautos, he’d been quiet, numb with shock. The fight had pulled Nyx out of his confusion, and when it was over, he was left with a strange, stark reality.

He’d been thrown back in time. Which meant he had a second chance.

Nyx swore not to waste it, at any cost.

To him, that meant sneaking around, trying to prevent anything he could. This promptly got him caught and stabbed—by Luche, of all people, which was a little insulting.

It would have been a lot more irritating if he hadn’t woken up again to Crowe’s words.

This wasn’t a second chance, or even a third. It was a loop, and it would keep going until he got something right.

The only problem was, Nyx had no idea what that something was. Or to a more accurate degree, he didn’t know how to fix everything.

There was way too much. Drautos, the traitorous Glaives, the princess, the king. He could save some people, but not all of them. He didn’t even know how to save Crowe, and had borne her death twice more, heart breaking.

There wasn’t enough time, or enough allies—any allies, really. He was on his own. Who was going to believe that he was stuck in a time loop? Libertus would laugh in his face, Crowe would suggest getting his head checked, Pelna would suggest the same thing but with actual concern. The king…Nyx didn’t know what the king would think. Probably that one of his Glaives had gone mad.

So, five loops deep, he did the logical thing and tried to kill Drautos.

With the benefit of hindsight, he probably shouldn’t have done that in a room full of Glaives.

It was really only thanks to Libertus that he was still alive. Regardless, he had a black eye, a split lip, enough bruises to make him think he was still out in the field, and a knife wound in his arm that was still leaking blood.

They’d arrested him after Tredd stabbed him, which could have happened a little earlier, in his opinion. The arrest, not the stabbing, He could have done without that. And now he was sitting against the wall in a cleanish cell, staring at the far wall and waiting.

He’d thought repeating Crowe’s death and a hundred other things was bad. This, stuck with no way to help? This was much worse. The princess won’t make it out of the city without my help. And what am I supposed to do from in here? One hand tightened into a fist, but he took a long deep breath, trying to release some of the frustration.

It only kind of worked.

There has to be a way out of here. Even if this was a loop, he couldn’t count on that every time. Nyx had never been the type to sit down and give up. So, pushing himself to his feet with a wince, he started examining the bars before him. If I had my knife…but I don’t. Or a bench for leverage. He snorted a little despite himself.

There was the click of a door opening, and Nyx looked up to see a tall figure entering the dungeon. With long, even strides, he made his way to the cell, stopping to cast an impassive look at Nyx.

Nyx straightened a little under the gaze. “Marshal.”

Marshal Cor Leonis gave him a slight nod of acknowledgement. “Ulric.”

Everyone knew of the marshal. Head of the Crownsguard, the elite force who protected the royal family and the Citadel. More than that, he was something of a legend—Cor the Immortal, who’d survived going up against the Blademaster, and fought the empire at fifteen. He was an imposing figure, stern and quiet, with piercing blue eyes that seemed to slice right through you.

He was also…not supposed to be in the Crown City today. Nyx distinctly remembered him not being around, during any of the battles. If he had been around…maybe things would have been different, he thought with a twinge. Maybe he could have stopped Drautos.

Or maybe not.

Then again, he’s here now. If he’ll only listen to the guy who tried to stab his own boss, things might actually work out.

The marshal was speaking, deep voice echoing against the walls. “I hear you tried to kill Drautos.”

Going right to it, then. “If that’s what you hear, Marshal, then it must be true,” Nyx said, bracing his hands against the bars. Even with his full weight leaned on them, they didn’t budge. Blast it.

One of Cor’s brows lifted slightly. “Apparently, he’s in the infirmary, getting stitched up. You must have come close.”

He had, which brought a combination of satisfaction and irritation. He’d been so close, but a knife to the side wasn’t going to stop General Glauca. Maybe without his armor, if I’d had two more seconds…

No sense in wishing now. “Why are you here, Marshal?” Nyx asked instead. “Last I saw, this wasn’t your jurisdiction.”

“I’m making it my jurisdiction. I want to know why.” Cor folded his arms, gaze locked on Nyx. He didn’t flinch. “Why try and kill your captain? Why now?”

There was no answer that would sound sane, that the marshal would actually buy. But Nyx couldn’t sit here and not try. “Because he’s a traitor,” he said, gripping the bars with more force than strictly necessary. “He’s sending Crowe out to die right now, and when the empire comes—” he broke off, all too vivid images flashing before his eyes.

Lord Clarus, dead.

The king, barely fending off Glauca and in the end, staying behind. Being run through by the general.

Luche’s venomous words about Crowe.

The moment when he knew that he wasn’t walking out of this city alive. And Libertus knew it, too, whether he admitted it or not.

And there was still nothing he could do to change any of it.

But there can’t be nothing. I can’t have been put here for no reason. Unless this is some kind of afterlife, put together to torment me because it knows I won’t give up.

It wasn’t that. If it was that…Selena’s face flashed before his mind, and he blinked it away, turning to stare at the wall. “Marshal,” he said quietly. “You have to believe me.”

Unfortunately, he didn’t. But when Cor didn’t say that right away, Nyx looked up, just enough hope sparking in his chest again. The marshal wore a narrow frown. “How do you know?”

“How do I know what?”

Cor made an impatient gesture. “You make a lot of claims, Ulric. I want to know how you know it.”

He’s…not asking for proof. And there was an odd glint in his eyes, one Nyx couldn’t read. Doubt bubbled in his chest—was this a trap?

No. Not the marshal. He’d served Lucis since he was 13 years old. Drautos had a bone to pick, however stupid it was. Cor didn’t bear any grudge, at least not that Nyx was aware of. And the idea of him working for the empire was almost enough to make him laugh, despite the situation.

“Ulric.” There was steel in Cor’s voice. “I need an answer. Now.”

Screw it. Looking straight up into the marshal’s face, he said, “I’m repeating time.”

The marshal went still. His eyes actually widened, and Nyx wished he could have appreciated the fact that he’d managed to surprise Cor the Immortal.

Well. He was appreciating it a little.

But along with it came a realization, smacking him right between the eyes.

Cor looked surprised, not confused or scornful.

His questions had been strange and almost pointed.

He hadn’t been here the first time around.

Staring at him, Nyx said, “But you already knew that. Didn’t you, marshal?”

He held Cor’s gaze for a moment, waiting to see any disdain, confusion. But there was nothing. Just a slight narrowing of the eyes, followed by a nod. “How long have you been looping?”

“This is my fifth time through. You?”

A brief hesitation, followed by, “Same.”

Nyx released a stunned laugh, shaking his head. I knew it. “And you only just decided to come back?”

This earned him a scowl. “Not all of us view the king’s orders as suggestions, Ulric.” But there was hesitation behind the look, and Cor added, “I tried to come back. A few times. This was the first time I moved quickly enough.”

“Where were you?” Nyx crossed his arms, mirroring Cor’s stance. The marshal raised a brow. “Hey, you asked your questions.”

Inclining his head briefly, Cor said, “The king sent me to oversee evacuation of citizens from Insomnia.”

Nyx’s eyes widened. He evacuated people right under our noses. One of these days, I’ll learn to stop underestimating His Majesty. Not even Drautos knew about that. “Who’s taking care of that now?”

“I have people on it,” the marshal said, which…answered approximately nothing, but was on brand. “I need you to tell me everything.”

There were half a dozen wisecracks to be made about that, but Nyx let himself focus instead. “To fix things?”

“I can’t imagine we were brought here for any other reason.” The marshal reached into his pocket, withdrew a key. Nyx frowned at it.

“How are you planning on explaining what I did?”

A grim smile crossed the marshal’s face as he unlocked the door. “Luckily for you and unluckily for him, that is a problem for His Majesty.” When Nyx frowned, he elaborated. “I’m bringing you to him now.”

Well. That could be helpful. The door sprang open, and Nyx hastened out as the marshal strode for the exit. “And what’s your plan for explaining it to him?” he asked as they ducked out into the hallway. Half a dozen guards, but Nyx ignored them as they proceeded to the nearest elevator.

“Easy.” The marshal pressed the summon button. “I’ll tell him the truth.”

Nyx contemplated telling the marshal he was insane, reconsidered, then re-reconsidered. “You realize you’re gonna sound crazy?”

“I’ll just let you talk.” The elevator doors slid open. “Next to that, anyone would sound rational.”

A laugh slipped out. “Marshal, I didn’t know you could make jokes.”

“Don’t let that encourage you.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

They made it up to the top level, and were almost to the throne room before anyone tried to stop them. But the guards who stepped forward were immediately brushed aside by a single look from Cor. There were perks to working with the Immortal, Nyx supposed. Better than having to push my way in like the first time. Not that he had particularly minded that.

The king was there, with his Shield, and a few other advisors. They all looked up at their arrival, and the king’s eyes locked onto Cor. There was a flash of something sharp that Nyx knew well. It was the same feeling twisting in his gut at the memory of Crowe on the table, eyes sightless and cold.

Clarus’s gaze followed the king’s, and his brows went up. “Marshal.” There was a note of question paired with warning in his tone. “What brings you here at this hour? As I recall, you had a task to attend to.”

The marshal didn’t flinch. “Yes, Lord Amicitia. I bring important news that his Majesty will want to hear. Privately.”

There was the swiftest exchange of glances between king and Shield, and then King Regis spoke, voice low but powerful. “Gentlemen, give us the room.”

The advisors filed out without protest, though there were a few glances shot at Nyx. He met the stares evenly, without flinching. Royalty had never intimidated him, and they weren’t about to start now.

That said, he knew how to be respectful, contrary to common rumors. So when the doors boomed shut behind the advisors and the king’s gaze locked onto them, Nyx bowed.

Cor did the same, briefly, then strode forward. “My king, we have a problem.”

“We do, in fact, have a problem.” Nyx had never heard the king’s voice like this. The usual iron serenity was strained, burning with fury. “You were sent—” his gaze flashed to Nyx— “on a mission, and have returned despite my direct orders. Do you not recall our conversation about this?”

For a moment, Cor actually seemed to falter. Then his head bowed, voice respectful even as his hand went tight around his sword hilt. “I do. I have someone on it. I would not have disobeyed your order for anything short of this.”

He disobeyed the king’s order to leave the city? Nyx restrained a couple comments about hypocrisy as the fire in the king’s eyes ebbed a little.

“Forgive me,” he said quietly, passing a hand over his face. “I should know better than to question you by now, Cor. You always have a reason for what you do.”

“The question,” Clarus said, voice just a little sharp, “is what that reason is.”

Cor’s response was succinct. “Time loop.”

Their reactions were startlingly swift. Clarus swore vehemently, and King Regis groaned, dropping his head into a hand. “Again? It’s been years.”

Before Nyx could even think to prevent it, a laugh slipped out. “You deal with them that often?”

“For a while there,” Clarus said, looking deeply grim. “It’s an Amicitia curse, I’m afraid. I’ve trained Gladiolus and Iris on proper procedure, thankfully.”

“That is insane,” Nyx muttered.

“That,” King Regis said, “is being the king of Lucis. What part do you play in this, Nyx Ulric?”

Straightening a little, Nyx said, “I’m also in the time loop.”

“Ah,” Clarus said. “I take it Drautos’s arrival in the infirmary is about to make a lot more sense.”

“You could say that.” Taking a deep breath, Nyx plunged into an explanation of what he knew, recapping the next three days. The king and his Shield listened intently, with a few muttered curses from the latter. By the end, Clarus was actively pacing.

Hand clenched around the hilt of his sword, he growled, “I will end Drautos.”

“It’s not as easy as it looks,” Nyx said. “But I’ll help you give it a shot.”

But the king shook his head. “We cannot give ourselves away. Not if it risks Lunafreya. You said that she will come to the Crown City?”

Nodding, Nyx pressed back the waves of memories even as he answered. “Yes, Your Majesty. Crowe—the Glaive you’re sending. She won’t make it. Drautos sees to that.”

He felt Cor glance at him, even as Clarus said, “At this point, Your Majesty, hiding our intentions may be a forgone conclusion. Ulric acted rashly, and finding an excuse that Drautos will buy is going to be difficult, to say the least.”

“Based on my experiences, you’re right,” Nyx said, with a wince. “The one time I tried to prevent him from taking the princess, it went…not well.”

King Regis’s jaw tightened slightly. “We will have to be careful. But we cannot fail.” He paused, a thoughtful look crossing his face. “Well. We cannot, but the two of you—” he nodded at Nyx and Cor. “You can.”

“Trial and error,” Nyx guessed, and the king nodded. “Unless we can figure out what breaks the loop. My guess is that it involves the marshal being here.”

“There is one fairly obvious option.” This came from Cor himself, arms folding. Looking at the king, he said, “Your Majesty. If this is when we’re repeating.”

Shaking his head, Regis said, “Cor. We’ve spoken about this already. Your duty now is to help Noctis, and mine…” he trailed off, but Nyx could see his intention in his eyes. “This is the only way.”

His duty is to die. To distract the empire from the prince, and protect the princess.

Nyx understood that. And he could tell that Cor did, too, despite the grim set of his mouth and the look in his eyes. “Fine,” he said. “Then perhaps we should start with taking Drautos into custody. At the very least, we can lower the amount of damage he does.”

“You’re welcome to try,” Nyx muttered, and Cor gave him a sideways look.

“What makes you think you’re not coming with me, Ulric?”

Now that sounded more like it.

~~~

They did not manage to lower the amount of damage.

They did, however, cut off Drautos’s arm. Or rather, Cor had, which was immensely satisfying to witness. Nyx had planted a knife in Luche’s chest—well deserved—and fended off the other traitorous Glaives as long as he could. Until, finally, Drautos—or rather, Glauca, put an end to the whole thing.

He awoke to Crowe’s voice again, and cursed under his breath.

When the briefing finished and he’d helped break up the fight again—and it was so tempting to not take the moral high ground, but he’d tried that last time—the marshal was waiting for him outside. Lifting an eyebrow, he said, “We’re going to need to try something a little more circumspect.”

“Clearly,” Nyx muttered with a grimace. “Take it to the king again?”

“It’s best if he knows what’s going on.”

“Drautos is briefing Crowe right now, so it’s as good a time as any.”

They started down the hall together, drawing considerably less weird looks than last time. This time, however, as they reached the elevator, Cor said, “Your friend. Crowe Altius?”

Nyx kept his gaze fixed on the elevator door. “Yeah. She’s not just a friend, though. More like a little sister, even if she hates it when we say that. Libertus and I have known her since she was just a kid. Didn’t have anyone else, but…she had us.”

The worst part of each loop was knowing she would die. And short of leaving the city and going after her, he couldn’t do anything about it. Couldn’t send Libertus—he needed him here, to save the princess. Couldn’t go himself.

There was no response for a moment. Then, Cor spoke. “Tell me everything you know about where and when it happens.”

That’s…interesting. Nyx didn’t argue. After so many times, the details were seared into his brain. “Just outside Insomnia, not far from Ostium Gorge. Should be in a day or two, when Lady Lunafreya arrives. At least, that’s when we found her. She leaves this afternoon.”

Cor nodded once, eyes narrowing as the elevator door slid open. “Do you have coordinates?”

“Yes.”

“Alright.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone, dialing a number as they boarded. A few heartbeats later, he spoke. “Lilian. I need a favor.”

Lilian? Nyx knew that name. A medic who worked with the hunters, she’d assisted the Kingsglaives post mission often over the last year or so. She’d stitched up Nyx a number of times, accompanied with a judgemental glare.

A glare that was suddenly feeling familiar…

“I need you to go to the exact coordinates I send to you. When a woman on a motorcycle arrives, make sure she gets out of there alive. Understand?” As Nyx watched, Cor rolled his eyes in a manner that was almost theatrical. “Now is not the time for questions. I will give you answers tomorrow. Just do it.”

Without waiting to hear the reply, he hung up, opened up a text thread, and handed the phone to Nyx.

Nyx very briefly contemplated asking. Since when is Lilian your sister? Does this mean you know the secret boyfriend? But as Cor was right about how little time there was, he entered in the digits that were seared into his mind, hit send, and returned the phone.

He did, as they exited the elevator, say, “Thanks, marshal.”

Cor nodded. “Not a problem. I understand.”

It was becoming more and more apparent that he did.

~~~

“Have you tried setting him on fire?”

“Funny you should ask.” Ulric’s drawl was wryly amused, and Cor glanced up from the map of the city he was pouring over, trying to find the most direct route from the Citadel to the city limits. The faster they could get Lady Lunafreya to safety, the better. Particularly if it kept them out of the line of fire.

Clarus, who’d asked, frowned at Nyx’s response. “Should I take that as a yes?”

“Kinda. It was a decent distraction.”

Shaking his head, Clarus said, “If being set on fire is a distraction, I can’t imagine what would take him out.”

“A few dozen hand grenades, perhaps?” There was humor in the king’s dry response, and Cor could almost have smiled. Almost. 

But there was too much tension snarling in his gut, twisting around a thousand other feelings he didn’t have time to name. All borne from not only being caught in a time loop of the destruction of Insomnia—something he hadn’t even been there for the first time around—but the fact that, for the first time in a long time, he was back at his king’s side.

Not just the king of his country. His king. Regis, the man he’d fought and expected to die alongside. Who he was loyal to above all else, and who was the closest thing to family he had.

Seeing him and Clarus again was both a balm and like a knife to the heart. It had been so long, after all.

For Ulric, his loop had started as the sun rose, in the ruins of Insomnia..

Cor’s had also started in the ruins of Insomnia. But it had been a lot later than Nyx’s. A subject he wasn’t about to bring up.

“I have a feeling I know what you’ll say to this,” Regis began slowly, “but is there a chance we could reason with him?”

Cor grimaced as he answered, though the question was directed at Ulric. “Doubtful.”

Nodding, Ulric said, “He’s right, Your Majesty. Drautos has spent so long convincing himself that you’re the root of every problem he has, he won’t listen. There’s nothing we can do, short of killing him. Send him out of the city, and he’ll just come back as Glauca. Try to reason with him, he’ll ignore you or play along or maybe even try and take a swing at you early.”

Seeing Clarus’s hand tighten around his sword hilt, Cor said, “The key word here is try.”

The king smiled slightly. “Your loyalty is always appreciated. Perhaps we should try it, though. At the very worst, you’ll have a chance to stop him in close quarters—”

“No.”

There was a pause at Cor’s words, eyes moving to him. Nyx frowned a little, Clarus’s eyes narrowed like he thought he should have been scolding Cor for talking back to the king. A habit that he had yet to shake.

The look in Regis’s eyes…understanding. Far too understanding. “We will risk what we must,” he said quietly, “to stop what we can.”

There was no arguing with that. No matter how much he wanted to. So Cor nodded, briefly. “Your Majesty.”

Another moment of silence hung around them painfully. Only to be shattered by—no surprise—Ulric. “Maybe we fake him out,” he suggested. “Make him think there’s someone else we don’t trust, then go after him when he least expects it.”

“Possible,” Clarus murmured, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “What do you have in mind?”

“Framing me for murder.”

Releasing a long sigh, Cor said, “One of these days, Ulric, you’ll come up with a normal plan.”

Nyx grinned. “Don’t get your hopes up, Marshal.”

~~~

“You put on the Ring of the Lucii??”

Nyx winced. Glancing to where the marshal was stalking toward him, he said, “You were there, but…yeah.”

“Have you lost your mind?” Cor glared, blue eyes crackling with fury. Nyx thought the answer to this one was pretty self evident. To him, anyway.

They’d tried for a little more subtlety in this past loop. Staying under Drautos’s nose, working to sabotage who they could. But it hadn’t been enough, even with Cor there. Crowe had lived, but the king had still sent them ahead without him, they’d still been chased. Drautos had still shown up, been hit by a car, and transformed into Glauca.

So Nyx did the only thing he knew how to do.

He put on the Ring of the Lucii.

The look on Cor’s face could almost have been amusing.

“Did the princess make it out?” he asked, folding his arms. Cor had gone with Libertus and Lunafreya, to make sure they’d escaped unharmed. He had not been pleased with this turn of events, and the look on his face was reflecting this.

Cor gave a sharp nod. “Yes. You did that in the original timeline, didn’t you?”

“Yup.”

Swearing under his breath, Cor said, “So, in essence, you’re repeating your death over and over again and doing nothing to change it?”

“It’s the only way.”

It was the wrong thing to say, judging by the way Cor’s eyes darkened even further. “And you never thought that the loop might be happening to prevent you putting on the Ring?”

“I’m not the kind they start time loops for,” Nyx told him. “I’m just here to fix whatever needs to be fixed, and save as many people as I can. If I see an out, I’ll take it, but…” he shook his head. “It’s about more than just me, Marshal. You know that, too.”

“What I know,” Cor bit out the word, “is that your dramatics cannot be the only way to fix this. There’s another way, where you make it out alive.”

Nyx stared at him, the words ringing in his ears. “What?” Cor snapped.

“You sure it’s me you want to say this to?”

Instead of more anger, Cor’s expression slackened a little. Not much, but enough for Nyx to see a flash of the emotion behind it. Worry, frustration, helplessness, and a weight of loss that Nyx knew all too well.

“We don’t have to give up,” he told the marshal quietly. The words he would have wanted to hear, if it was Selena. “If we can get him away from Drautos—”

“He won’t listen.” Cor’s tone was weary. “No matter how we play this out. He’s determined to protect the prince.” He took a deep breath, shoulders squaring. “As he should be. As we both should be.”

It was a good point, but not one Nyx was all together willing to accept. “You talk to him about this?” he asked.

Cor gave him a sharp look. “Did you tell Libertus the truth after you put on the Ring?”

Ouch. “Point made,” Nyx muttered as they started toward the throne room again. “So what’s our play this time?”

Eyes narrowing, Cor rubbed his chin, lost in a wave of thought that swept him away from the open, painfully raw emotion of earlier. “Drautos is still our biggest problem, but taking him out is—”

“Life threatening, to say the least,” Nyx offered, and Cor nodded. “Maybe it’s time to fill Drautos’s bedroom with C-4 or something.”

Cor snorted. “At this point, I’m actually considering it.”

~~~

When Nyx woke up this time, he was trying to break up the fight between Libertus and Luche. The loop is shrinking, he realized as Tredd started speaking, his voice sneering.

And then the memories of the previous loop hit him like a truck, and his stomach twisted.

The princess was hurt. Badly.

Libertus killed by Drautos before Nyx could put the Ring on.

A final stand where he and Cor knew they couldn’t protect the Oracle.

Everything had gone so, so much worse than usual. And at Tredd’s snide ‘hero’ comment, Nyx had nearly taken a swing at him. You did this. You and the other traitors, who sided with Drautos. You have a home out there, but you have people here. Did that mean nothing to you, this whole time?

He’d felt Crowe and Libertus watching him, but couldn’t bring himself to explain. So instead, he stalked out, leaving the Kingsglaive and as much of the palace as he could behind him.

Reaching the front steps, he sat, elbows resting on his knees, head dropping. Nyx took a deep shaking breath, trying to banish the memories. The sight of Libertus’s blood, the sound of Lunafreya’s cry—far, far too similar to his sister’s.

He barely registered the footsteps he heard until they stopped, and someone sat next to him. After so many loops, he had a feeling he knew who it was, and didn’t look up.

Cor didn’t speak. Neither of them did, at first. Then, quietly— “We have a better idea of what not to do now.”

Nyx nearly snorted. “That’s a pretty optimistic way of looking at it, Marshal.”

“No one’s ever accused me of optimism, Ulric.”

Lifting his head, Nyx let it tilt back, the sunlight dancing in fractaled rays before his eyes. “Yeah, well, you’re better off than me. I’m…” he shook his head. “That’s how you feel, huh? Every time we leave that throne room.”

He felt Cor stiffen next to him, then he spoke, voice level. “We both know what it’s like to lose people, Nyx. No matter when or how, it never gets easier.”

That much was true. His sister’s voice still echoed in his mind, and his dreams were lined with fallen Glaives. One appeared more than others, but he tried desperately to not think of her.

Still. All at once like that, seeing his best friend fall and knowing that he could have done something… “I’m sorry,” he told Cor. “About the king, and Clarus.”

Finally looking at the man, he caught the flash of grief, deeper than the Wennath River, before it was closed behind a wall of impassivity. And yet, his words were soft when they came. “I’ve tried to tell them in every loop. Tried to convince them. But Regis is stubborn, and he cares too much. Like his son.” Cor let out a low, bitter laugh. “The one time I ever wanted my king to be selfish.”

“He wouldn’t be the king we serve if he was,” Nyx said.

“No.”

“Doesn’t make it better.”

“Not at all.”

They sat in silence for a little while longer, both lost in their thoughts and their grief. But Nyx felt his grief change, shifting into something else. Sitting up, he looked at Cor, who met his gaze with a lifted eyebrow.

“We’re not letting that happen again.”

“Agreed.”

Another promise was forged between the two of them, and as one they stood, ready to take on another loop.

~~~

The loops were getting old.

Or maybe Cor was.

Ten years earlier, and he may have felt physically younger, but his heart was still tired. Tired of losing battle after battle, watching his friends die time after time.

It was enough to break anyone.

But he was the Immortal—though he did still hate that name—and he didn’t break for anything.

Eventually, however, he knew it would start to show.

And it did, when he called Lilian on what was their eighteenth loop. He always called her, right after putting Monica in charge of evacuations and making for the Crown City at top speed.

Mostly, he called her to save Nyx’s friend. He didn’t know Crowe Altius well, but he knew enough, as he did for many of the Glaives. They were brave, fighting for a home that wasn’t theirs and protecting people. He respected it.

Lilian always agreed to help, and had saved her almost every time since her involvement. This time, however, after she agreed, she asked quietly, “Are you okay?”

How to answer that question? His immediate instinct, to say he was fine, faltered in the face of his impossible task. Cor paused, hand curled around his phone as he took the exit for the palace. He’d memorized the most efficient route to the Citadel years ago, time loops notwithstanding.

“The fact that you’re not answering tells me everything I need to know.” Lilian had always been smart, and she knew him better than almost anyone. There were, Cor supposed, consequences to being the one who’d raised her since she was fifteen.

As he often did, he defaulted to honesty where he could. “You know things aren’t good. I wouldn’t be asking for your help otherwise.”

“True. But you sound worn out, and not your normal version. Anything you need to talk about?”

Yes. But the king wouldn’t listen to him, and if he wouldn’t listen, what was the point? “It’s complicated.”

“Cor.” Lilian’s voice was dry. “That just means you don’t want to talk about it. Which means you probably need to. Give me the condensed version.”

He should have told her not to worry about it. But if there was one person who always had a way of thinking her way through impossible situations… “There’s a time loop,” he said, and heard her faint groan of sympathy. “And I can’t save everyone.”

The overall breakdown of the situation took until he reached the palace, and when he got there, Cor sat in the car for a moment, listening to the silence on the other end of the speaker.

Finally, Lilian spoke slowly. “So you don’t know how to break the loop?”

“Not a clue. We’ve just been trying to save whoever we can, and stop Drautos somehow. I’ve thought—” Cor broke off, rubbing a hand over his face. “I’ve hoped that if I could convince the king to run, to escape, that would work. But he won’t listen.”

“He’s as stubborn as you are.” Her voice was soft. “I’m sorry, Cor. Have you…talked to him about this?”

“What would the point be?”

Lilian snorted. “You’re such a guy sometimes. At the very least he’ll know how much he means to you. At the most, maybe you’ll convince him and/or break the loop.” She paused, then said, “The fact that you and Nyx are in this loop tells me that you both have something to do. Figure out what it is, and don’t die trying.”

Easier said than done. “There’s only been a handful of things that stayed consistent,” Cor said. Nyx hadn’t even put the Ring on every time, so it wasn’t that.

That said, if they hadn’t gotten that far, it was because they’d died before they could. So maybe the Ring did have something to do with it. Good to know.

“Then try and change them, and see what happens,” Lilian said matter of factly. Like it was the easiest thing in the world.

If nothing else, it was worth a shot. “You’ll handle Crowe?” he asked.

“Duh,” she said. “Be careful, and if you break it, come stop by and see us.”

“I will.” Cor paused, weighing the wisdom of his next words. But if this was just another loop… “I know about you and Gladio,” he told her, and heard a choked yelp on the other end. “I approve.”

“What—how long have you—”

Holding back a laugh at the stammers from the other end, Cor said, “I’ll call you later.”

“WHAT? Cor don’t you dare—”

He hung up, turned off the car, and got out. Time for another loop. There was no time for tired, nor anything else. But there was time to plan. And plan he did, as he made his way up into the Citadel.

~~~

They’d made it so far.

From the Citadel to the imperial fleet, where Lunafreya had been held captive for hours. And from there, once the Glaives arrived, head first into a whirlwind of chaos. Despite it all, Nyx had stayed close to her, and they’d made it back to the Citadel, where the king, his Sworn Shield, and the marshal of the Crownsguard were fighting Glauca.

They’d escaped the Citadel. But the king and his Shield hadn’t. Lunafreya had barely been able to force herself to leave King Regis behind, her heart aching at his last words. But there was no choice, in the end. The Ring had to make it to Noctis, and she was the only way.

She, Nyx, and Marshal Leonis fled into the streets of Insomnia.

They were chased, of course. But Nyx and the marshal seemed to anticipate most of it, fending off the daemons and taking the tracker she’d been given. The marshal took off with it, with one warning for Nyx. “Don’t do anything stupid without me.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Nyx said, with a half grin that promised otherwise. Marshal Leonis looked less than comforted, but left anyway.

When the call from Captain Drautos came in, Lunafreya saw Nyx hesitate. Recalling the fights with the Glaives on the ship, a chill went over her. “Can we trust him?” she asked softly.

Slowly, Nyx shook his head. “No. But if he goes after Cor alone…it won’t be good. And we have to stop him, one way or another.”

“Your plan is to lure him out of hiding.”

“By using ourselves as bait.” Nyx grimaced. “I know. But it’s that or leave Cor to die, and we’ve tried that before.” Lunafreya blinked, surprise and confusion sparking through her mind, as he continued, “So we’re gonna try something a little different. How are you with a gun?”

“...passable.”

“Nice.”

They made it to the square where Drautos was waiting for them—and, according to Nyx, so was Luche, one of the traitorous Glaives. “I don’t need you to kill him,” he told her quietly. “Just wing him if you see him moving in. Enough to distract him.”

“I can do that,” Lunafreya said, taking a deep breath. She never anticipated violence with any particular joy, but the alternative was more death. And she wouldn’t let that happen.

What I fear is doing nothing, and losing everything.

The metal of the gun they’d stolen from a magitek trooper was cool and heavy in her hands, and Lunafreya focused past it, eyes sweeping the square. Nyx was calling out, and she knew it couldn’t be long before—

There! Movement, a dark coat and a gun lifting. Lunafreya aimed before she had to think, fired before the doubt could kick in. The recoil nearly made her stumble back, but she held her ground as the man crumpled with a cry.

Nyx had dropped at the gunshot, then rose, knives out, gaze locking onto the figure. He actually grinned, briefly and bitterly. “Not much luck in the killing people area this time, eh, Luche?”

A curse was the only response, and Lunafreya exhaled, lowering the gun. She heard a low whistle, and then another shape moved into view—the marshal, hand on his sword hilt. “Drautos?” he asked quietly.

“Not yet,” Nyx answered. “But he should be here soon. Then we can—”

The sharp retort of a gunshot cut off his next words, and Nyx jerked backward. The marshal lunged forward, pulling him down and out of the way so the second shot clipped his shoulder, not Nyx. Behind them, Luche began to laugh, and Lunafreya cursed herself for not realizing he still held the gun.

“Fools,” he sneered. “You thought you could win against—”

Cor rose, so swiftly Lunafreya barely saw the movement. But a heartbeat later Luche’s words choked into silence, and Cor was cleaning his sword on the dead man’s jacket. Then he went still, head lifting.

A car. Which meant their enemy was here.

Lunafreya moved toward them, even as Cor lifted a hand to beckon her over. “Take him,” he said quietly, and Lunafreya knelt next to Nyx, who was trying to push himself up from his kneeling position. “Ulric, stay down.”

“Not a chance, marshal. We both know what I gotta do.”

Cor shook his head. “Not this time.” A car pulled up, and Drautos stepped out. Lunafreya saw the way they both tracked his movements, and then Nyx’s gaze flicked to the side. To another street, where headlights could be seen. Back up. But for who?

A car shot forward, aiming directly for Drautos. Lunafreya’s eyes widened as it smashed into him, and she was so distracted she almost didn’t feel someone take her hand and gently claim the Ring of the Lucii.

But then it registered, just as General Glauca burst to life from where Drautos had been crushed by a car. The man inside was trying to pull himself out, shouting Nyx’s name. And Nyx was reaching for her hand—

But Cor had gotten there first. The look in his eyes as he met hers wasn’t apologetic. It was more like a shrug, a ‘what can you do?’ “Keep an eye on him,” he said quietly, and Lunafreya choked back a gasp. He can’t. Not after—

“Cor! DON’T!”

Nyx’s shout came a heartbeat too late. Cor put on the Ring of the Lucii, and the square seemed to explode with light.

~~~

“Remind me what we’re waiting for again?”

“The marshal,” Nyx said, not taking his eye off of the door that led into the antechambers of the Citadel.

“Right.” Libertus sounded mildly skeptical. “And you know he’ll be here now? To add to that, why are we waiting for him? Crowe’s leaving in an hour or two, shouldn’t we be—”

“We’ll have time for both.” Nyx had no intention of missing his goodbyes with Crowe. But first, he needed to have a word with Marshal Leonis.

Libertus was giving him a Look, he could tell. One of the ‘what are you up to this time, hero?’ looks. “Well, then, why do I gotta be here for this?”

The door opened, a familiar figure stepped inside. Nyx rose from his seat. “Posterity.”

With three long strides, he crossed the room, and, just as Cor looked up to see him coming, punched him in the face.

Libertus’s yelp of shock almost covered the sound of the marshal hitting the ground, barely catching himself before his head cracked against the marble floor. Slowly, deliberately, he picked himself up, glare locked onto Nyx. 

In a heartbeat, he was standing, fury at full force when he spoke. “Ulric. What do you think you’re—”

“You put on the Ring? Are you CRAZY?” Nyx knew his voice was rising, and didn’t particularly care. “That is not your job, that’s mine.”

“It’s your job because you happen to be there. I’m just as capable—”

“NO.” Nyx spat out the word. “You just don’t want to face what happens next.”

It was cruel, and he knew it, but Cor didn’t flinch. “I am tired,” he said, voice low and holding some emotion Nyx wasn’t sure how to name, “of watching my friends die.”

“That’s not about me.”

“It is now.”

And that, of all things, brought Nyx up short. He stared at the marshal, who looked right back without flinching. “Didn’t know I’d grown on you that much, marshal.”

Cor’s return expression was so deeply Cor in its exasperation that Nyx grinned, and some of the irritation softened. “We can’t keep doing this,” he told the marshal, who nodded.

“Do you have any better ideas?”

Nyx paused, weighing his response. “Might be time to start involving some other people.”

An eyebrow lifted. “Who do you have in mind?”

Nyx shot a glance back at Libertus, who was still watching them like they were crazy. “Anyone who’ll listen. I gotta go say goodbye to Crowe. Go talk to the king, and we’ll meet after.”

Cor nodded briefly. “Good luck.”

“You, too.”

As the marshal left, Nyx turned back to Libertus, whose eyes were wide with concern. “You just punched Cor the Immortal.”

Flexing his hand experimentally, Nyx said, “Yep.”

“Wanna tell me why?”

“You ready for things to get really weird?”

Libertus snorted. “Weirder than you punching the marshal and getting away with it? Try me.”

Nyx grinned despite himself, offering Libertus a hand. “I’ll tell you on the way to see Crowe.” Just the name brought a flash of the things that Libertus wasn’t going to like about this. 

But he’d spent enough time keeping his friend out of this to know that it wouldn’t guarantee his safety. Looping him in, on the other hand, just might save him. Maybe we can save a few other people while we’re at it, Nyx thought.

~~~

The last thing in the world that Regis expected to see was Cor Leonis stepping into the throne room. Today of all days.

He exchanged a quick glance with Clarus—they’d sent the marshal out of the city, to evacuate as many as possible. At least, that was what Regis told himself. What they’d both been telling themselves.

In his heart of hearts, Regis knew how this would end. He would bear the grief of watching Clarus fall if he must. He knew what awaited his son, and that had aged him more than the Wall had, in truth.

But Cor had not been tied to his side, nor to fate. Was it so selfish to save a friend and brother if he was helping his people at the same time?

They hadn’t told Cor that. But if he was here…

“I know,” Cor said as Regis opened his mouth, ready to demand answers as to why he was here and not doing his duty. “I shouldn’t be here. But there is a time loop—” Clarus groaned audibly— “and since we both know what the empire intends in a few days, this is where I need to be.”

Well. That threw a few things into chaos. Regis opened his mouth, closed it, then said, “How many loops?”

Cor looked so tired, Regis couldn’t help but wonder which of them was the old man in that moment. “Twenty-one. I don’t know for certain how to break it, but…” his head bowed. “Much though I wanted it to be. I don’t think it’s saving you.”

So this is it. He’d thought as much. Rising from his throne, Regis moved to where Cor stood. Gently, he put a hand on his shoulder. “There’s nothing you can do, Cor.”

“There should be.” His words were fierce, hand locking into a fist around his katana. “Some Immortal I am, unable to protect my king when he needs it most.”

“You know that’s not what I need,” Regis told him. “What I need is for you to guide Noctis. To let him know…how much I regret. And to lead him down the path you saw me take.”

He didn’t expect this to lift Cor’s spirits, and it didn’t. Eyes closing, grief etched on every feature, Cor said softly, “Every day that I have served you, Your Majesty—Regis. It has been an honor.” Opening his eyes, he looked over Regis’s shoulder, to where Clarus stood. “Clarus. Both of you. I couldn’t have hoped to have served with better men.”

“Nor I,” Regis said quietly, as Clarus joined them, a hand resting on Cor’s other shoulder.

They were silent for a long moment, sharing in grief and regret in equal measure. Finally, Cor took a long breath. “I’ll look out for them,” he told them, eyes moving from Regis to Clarus. “Noctis. Gladio. Iris. However I can, I will guide them and protect them.”

“I could not have chosen better,” Clarus said. “Take care of yourself, too, Cor. Don’t forget you have a life to live.”

Something dipped through Cor’s gaze, swift as a thunderroc in flight. It was gone the next moment, as he took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders for battle. “I have a lot to tell you, and not a lot of time.”

Recognizing the sign that the moment was over, Regis released the man, frowning a little. “Dare I ask?”

“Well, I’m not in this loop alone.”

Oddly, it was encouraging. To know that Cor would have someone looking out for him when they were gone. “Do tell,” Regis said.

~~~

“Watch your back out there.”

Nyx had said the words so many times by now, but he still meant them, just like Libertus meant what he said about Crowe being a little sister. They both did. She was family, and had been for years, no matter how much she complained.

Even now, she was grumbling about being sick of hearing it as she climbed into the van. “Just make sure you come back in one piece,” Libertus ordered, a little waver in his voice.

Crowe was unimpressed. “Says the guy in two pieces.”

She went to close the van door, but Nyx caught hold of the door, holding it open. “Hey. Take this.”

Crowe frowned as he pressed a flip phone into her hand. “What—”

“Just in case,” Nyx told her. “Everything should be fine, but…if it’s not, call the number on there.”

Lifting an eyebrow, Crowe said, “This isn’t captain sanctioned, is it?”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Nyx gave her a grin that she met with an unimpressed frown. “It’s higher up than him, if you must know. Just looking out for you. Keep your head on a swivel, and don’t be afraid to run for it.”

He still didn’t know the exact scenario of what had happened to Crowe. Not like some of the other things coming up. But he’d give her every edge he could. They’d lost enough people.

There was something wary in Crowe’s eyes, which was mildly reassuring. Slipping the phone in her pocket, she said, “Okay. You’re getting paranoid, you know that?”

“Hanging out with the wrong people,” Nyx joked, and Libertus snorted.

Crowe rolled her eyes. “Don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone.” And with that, she pulled the door out of his hand and closed it. Seconds later, the van was pulling away, leaving Libertus and Nyx to watch it go.

“And you’re sure this’ll work?” Libertus’s voice was on edge, to say the least, and Nyx prayed he’d done the right thing in telling his friend. Knowing someone might hurt Crowe would have him ready to fight. If he knew exactly who, he’d be even angrier.

Save that for later. “I’m sure,” he told him. “Lilian’s got it handled.”

Sighing, Libertus said, “Yeah, okay. I trust her. So, what next?”

“We wait for the signing. Don’t trust anyone. And be ready to get the news that she’s dead.” Nyx saw Libertus shudder. “Yeah, you don’t get used to it. But she’ll be safe. When that comes in, you get to trick a bunch of treaty haters.”

“And you’ll be springing a trap.”

“Bingo.”

~~~

It had been a long past three days.

Nyx and Cor had spent every minute of them trying to change things. Working out a plan with Libertus and the king and Clarus that would give Lady Lunafreya (and as many people as possible) a chance to live. There was also, Nyx couldn’t help but notice, a lot of factors that would prevent him from putting on the Ring of the Lucii.

If they could get their people out safely, he didn’t care. He’d do what he had to, or he wouldn’t.

Crowe was reported dead, and Libertus’s distress was barely faked. “The only reason I’m not losing it right now,” he told Nyx, “is because I trust you. So come through, hero.”

“I will,” Nyx promised, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “Now go quit your job. And make it look real.”

Libertus’s grin was more like baring his teeth. At this point, he knew that Drautos was a traitor, and that over half of the Kingsglaive was, too. Thankfully, he had something to hide the anger behind. “Oh, I will. Where’s Drautos?”

Nyx had barely had a moment to warn the princess at the rooftop party. It was less of a warning and more of a promise, anyway. “Things are going to seem like they’re going bad,” he told her quietly, and saw her eyes narrow. “I know you don’t know me, but I’m asking you to trust me. We’ll be there for you.”

She watched him intently for a moment, then nodded. “Then I will trust you, Nyx Ulric.”

No pressure. Nyx could live up to it.

Cor stayed in the shadows, pretending to have returned to the outer limits of the city and keeping Drautos unaware of his true intentions. It was almost a pity. Nyx had gotten used to having the marshal around.

The day of the signing came. The princess was missing. And Nyx took the bait.

Carefully.

After a few loops, he knew which Glaives he could and couldn’t trust. Cautiously, he and Libertus had warned some of them, and would keep others close. It still hurt that so many of them had and would betray them again.

But he didn’t have time for that. He had a fleet to infiltrate, watching his companions carefully.

As they approached the door where the princess was being kept, Nyx pulled up Pelna’s comm. “Pelna.”

“Yeah?”

Keeping his voice low, Nyx said, “When you get the Oracle out, move. Don’t hesitate. Things are about to go south, and unless you want to get up close and personal with some tentacles, you should listen to me.”

There was a pause, then Pelna said, “This have something to do with the vague comments about trust Libertus made before he left?”

Trust Pelna to catch on. “It does,” Nyx said. “I’ll explain later.”

“You better.”

This time, there were three of them escaping from the burning ruins of the ship. Despite Pelna’s mild terror and confusion, he kept up without flinching. Even when they crashed into Insomnia.

The throne room turned out about the same as usual. Nyx sometimes felt a little bad that he didn’t make it in time to stop the princess’s brother from putting on the Ring. But if he wanted to be an idiot, that was up to him.

Besides, considering what would happen to Luche, it was actually kind of impressive that he only lost an arm.

They escaped the Citadel with the king—not Clarus, and Nyx found himself grieving even more every time. He’d gotten to know the King’s Sworn Shield over the past loops, and respected him as much as he respected the king.

When they reached the room where the king would leave them, Nyx saw the intention in his eyes, and knew they couldn’t stay and watch. 

Meeting Nyx’s gaze, King Regis said, “Tell them I’m sorry. Noctis, and Cor. And see her to safety.”

“I will,” Nyx promised, knowing that he’d make it the truth if it was the last thing he did.

They didn’t stay to watch the fight. Nyx hated himself for it, but every minute counted this time around. He could see shock in Pelna’s eyes, tears in the princess’s. But neither of them faltered, and Nyx was glad to have them both.

Getting rid of the tracker was the first thing they did. Nyx chucked it off a bridge, and was contacted by Drautos not two minutes later. Impeccable timing, sir, he thought bitterly.

They headed for the sector, which Pelna questioned. “If he wants the Ring, we should be going the opposite way,” he protested.

“He cannot be allowed to have it,” Lunafreya agreed, but her eyes were on Nyx in a way that made him think she knew he was up to something. “Why go to him?”

“Because he’ll come for you either way,” Nyx said grimly. “This way, we have control over where and when. And we can stop him.”

“Tell me ‘we’ isn’t just the three of us,” Pelna said.

At that, Nyx couldn’t hold back a grin. “No way. I got back-up on the way.”

After so many times, he was almost used to being shot by Luche. Who still went after the princess, and Pelna went after him. Nyx knew they’d be fine, but the moments building up to it were still painful. In more ways than one.

The plan had been that Cor would stop Luche before he got here. So where was Cor?

Regardless, it meant one thing for sure. He needed the Ring.

And, sooner rather than later, it was there. Right next to him as Glauca revealed himself, and Pelna scrambled to help Libertus. And Nyx? Well, he knew what his choice was. He always did.

He put on the Ring.

The world stopped, and Nyx spoke. “Kings of Lucis, show yourself.”

The glowing outlines flashed to life, and there was a long, loud sigh. “You again.”

Nyx laughed despite himself. The only thing funnier than picking a fight with ancient dead kings was doing that with kings who remembered the time loop as well as he did. “You know,” he said, “you could just tell me how to break the loop if it bugs you that much.”

“You truly do not know, even now.” Now the kings sounded amused. “Perhaps you haven’t learned your lesson.”

“I’ve learned the only lesson I need to,” Nyx told them steadily. “That I’ll do whatever it takes to protect the future. And my friends.”

“Hmm.” The tone was thoughtful. “Worthy, as has been established. Time after time.”

“I’m consistent like that.”

“Still, we would like to see this Ring in the Chosen King’s hands sooner rather than later, as this is getting a little old. So we will give you a little assistance.”

Nyx raised both eyebrows. “More than usual?”

“Your king has argued passionately on your behalf.” Nyx grinned a little as the kings continued, voices echoing against the void. “You will have the power of the Ring until the sun rises. If you complete your task in that time, and leave Insomnia behind, we will let you live.”

What? “That’s how I break the loop?” Nyx knew he sounded dumbfounded, but didn’t care. “By not dying?” It was the last thing he’d expected, considering his goal had been, well, the opposite.

“Keep in mind,” the kings said wryly, “we did not create this loop.”

“Right.” That made a little more sense. Though he still had plenty of questions. “Okay. Easy mode it is.”

“Oh, young Glaive.” The kings laughed and it ricocheted past the stars. “No one ever said this would be easy.”

“Wouldn’t be as much fun if it was.”

Reality snapped back into focus, and Nyx pulled up a shield just in time. Lightning blasted from his palm, and Glauca went flying. He crashed through a nearby wall, and didn’t move.

A grin pulling at the corner of his mouth, Nyx said, “I could get used to this.” It was what he said every time. But in his defense, it was always true.

Pelna and Libertus moved to meet him, Libertus’s brows knitted in concern. Nyx forestalled any comments with a hand on his shoulder. “Thanks for the save,” he told him. “Wanna do me another favor?”

The princess needed to be brought to safety, and he knew just the pair to do it. They agreed, though Nyx could see the concern in both of their faces. But Libertus wouldn’t admit it, and Pelna was willing to go along with it for now.

And maybe, this time, he wasn’t lying when he told Libertus, “I’ll see you on the other side. Head to the Hunter outpost up near Keycatrich, and I’ll meet you there.” With any luck, it wouldn’t be only him waiting. Crowe and Lilian would be waiting, too.

I just need to beat him in time. He hadn’t been anywhere close to it the first time.

But the first time, he’d been alone.

As they climbed into the car, Nyx heard the sound of clattering rubble, and knew Glauca—Drautos, really. There was no sense in giving him the dignity of anonymity, not when everyone here knew what and who he was, what he’d done—was rising. He spun around, drawing his knife.

In the same moment, he saw a dark figure drop from seemingly nowhere. His blade glittered in the street light and it sheared through Drautos’s forearm, sending his sword clattering to the ground with it.

Drautos let out a cry of shock and rage, lashing out and sending Cor stumbling backward. Nyx was at his side in an instant, pulling him to his feet. “You’re late,” he said.

“Believe it or not, there are a lot of Niffs in the capital right now.” Cor’s gaze focused on him, frown darkening. “The Oracle?”

“On her way out with Libertus and Pelna.”

“And you?”

Despite himself, Nyx grinned again. “Would you believe that I managed to annoy the Lucii into giving me a way out?”

“Actually, yes.”

“Good. I was worried my game was slipping.” Flexing his grip around his knife, Nyx said, “If I’m outta the city by sunrise, they let me live.”

Cor didn’t frown, didn’t even blink. “Then we’ve got some work to do.”

And that is why he’s in this loop with me. “Let’s get to it.”

~~~

The sun was rising.

Lunafreya watched it, heart twisting in her chest, from where she stood next to the car.

They’d escaped Insomnia, though it had been far too close a call. The thunderous battle between the empire and the Old Wall had raged around them, with three figures at the center.

General Glauca, sans left arm. Nyx Ulric, crackling with the power of kings. And Marshal Leonis, cold and fierce at his side.

All too soon, they’d gotten out of range of the battle. But the fire and lightning was visible even from a distance, even as they followed the road out of the city.

Libertus had taken them to the outpost, but was all but radiating impatience to return to the city, to look for Nyx. Lunafreya couldn’t blame him, no matter how sick at heart she felt. She’d seen the Ring’s effect on the Glaive Luche, on her brother. How could Nyx survive it?

And yet. There had been a glint in his eyes. Not the fatalistic acceptance that he’d worn when he’d taken the Ring. But, when he told them to leave, there had been something else. Something almost like hope.

Let it be true. She knew what it was to hope for far too long. All she could do now was pray that this wasn’t empty hope, but something true.

“He’ll be okay.” 

Lilian’s voice made Lunafreya jump, and she looked back at the woman, who was only a year older than her. She seemed far more comfortable in her place in the world, though. Perhaps it came from being sister to Cor the Immortal.

“They’ll both be okay,” she continued. “They’re two of the toughest men I know. With one exception.” A half smile flickered across her face. “If anyone can walk out of that alive, it’s them.”

“I pray you’re right,” Lunafreya said quietly. And she did, while she watched Libertus pace and Pelna’s knee bounce up and down, and listened to Crowe argue about all the reasons they should go back for them now.

(knowing that this was the Glaive who’d been sent for her, Lunafreya was quite sure that a near death experience was the only thing that could have stopped her. She was as fierce as the firestorms they’d left in Insomnia, and reminded her a little of Ravus in her intensity of opinion and loyalty, even shrouded behind biting sarcasm.)

“There!”

Pelna’s shout drew Lunafreya’s attention, and she glanced to see him pointing. Following his gesture, she caught her breath. A cloud of dust. Someone’s coming.

That someone resolved themselves into a car, battered and scratched, seconds later, and Lunafreya moved toward it. The others followed, Lilian clutching a shotgun and Libertus taking the lead in seconds.

The car door swung open, and the battered, ash and blood stained form of the marshal stepped out. He looked exhausted, but there was a distinct air of satisfaction as he gave them a nod, gaze slipping over them all.

But is—

The other car door popped open, and Cor moved to it to help Nyx out. Lunafreya could have wept with relief, even at the sight of the pain twisting his face. He was grinning, though, his gaze sweeping over the outpost around them.

“This,” he said, “is new.”

Lunafreya barely had time to wonder at the triumph in his words before Libertus was pulling him into a rough hug, Crowe hovering nearby. Pelna discreetly swiped away a tear, and Lilian let out a long, satisfied sigh.

“Good,” she said. “Now, let’s get you patched up. Move, before one of you has to carry the other.”

“I’d like to see him try,” Nyx said as Libertus took his other side and they moved to the nearest building. Cor snorted dryly.

“Coming from the man who set himself on fire.”

“Only a little bit this time.”

As they limped onward together, Lunafreya heard Crowe muse, “When did those two become friends?”

Lilian was the one who responded. “Past couple days, I believe.”

Strange, Lunafreya mused, watching them move together. You’d have almost thought it was a lifetime.