Chapter Text
Deus dormit
Et liberi ignem faciunt
Numquam extinguunt
Ne expergisci possit
Omnia dividit
Tragoedia coram
Amandum quae
Et nocte perpetua
In desperatione
Auroram videre potest
Mane tempus expergiscendi
-Somnus
"Goddammit!"
Gladio roared in frustration, slamming his fist onto the railing. The three of them could only watch the chancellor stroll away, care-free and whistling. The wounds inflicted from his sword and Prompto's bullets faded away in black, oozing mist.
"Ah, here for the king? I'm afraid you are too late, the Crystal has taken him now. Who knows when he'll awaken? Perhaps soon, perhaps when you are all dead."
If only he had defeated the daemons faster and ran up quicker, he might've been able to grab hold of Noctis before he was eaten by the Crystal. He never wanted to see such fear on his face ever again. Gods, wasn't the Crystal suppose to purge the daemons and the Starscourge?
Gloved hands touched his arm, startling Gladio out of his self-reprimanding. Ignis murmured softly that he could hear the railing creaking under his fist and gently pried his fingers away from it.
"What...what should we do now?" Prompto said quietly, examining the Crystal in hopes of finding his best friend. It was terrifying seeing Noctis slowly being sucked into it and that final scream...Prompto shuddered.
"How does the Crystal look?" Ignis calmly asked, already his mind was trying to remember everything he read regarding the Crystal. It was the source of power to the Lucis family, he had never heard of the Crystal consuming one of the royal family members.
"It looks like a huge rock." Gladio answered.
If this was another place and time, Prompto would've giggled. The great Crystal merely depicted as a rock. "It's about as tall as Gladio, it sort of has a crack on the side so you can see the inside...but it's not glow-y anymore. Before..." Prompto swallowed, "Before Noct...it was blue and shiny but now it's dull."
"I see."
Prompto shifted on his feet, biting his lips. "Should we...move it? That Ardyn guy said Noct might wake up soon! So, if we moved the Crystal to somewhere safe and wait for Noct to wake up-!"
Gladio cut in sharply, almost snarling. "And did you forget that he said Noct might wake up when we're all dead?"
"But...we still got to try, right?" Prompto said. Ignis didn't need his eyes in order to see the tears ready to fall from the youngest. "He's still alive, right?"
"He is."
Like a snowflake fluttering softly to the ground, Gentiana appeared in front of the group. With her appearance, the temperature in the hanger dropped suddenly.
Ignoring the fact that the Glacian's incarnation popped out of nowhere, Prompto stepped forward, eagerly seeking answers. "Noct really is alive!? Why did the Crystal eat him? When will he wake up?"
Gladio reeled back Prompto with a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it in comfort but also to calm the blond.
"The King of Kings enters Crystal Stasis to gather the Light to vanquish the plague. He is still very much alive, however to gather the Light it must be done within the Crystal's realm." The Messenger glided to the Crystal and held up a hand. A small, but soft glow emitted from the Crystal.
All that could seen was just the ethereal light, but then Prompto could see a small black figure in the midst of the teal light. "Noct!"
Prompto rushed forward, almost throwing off Galdio's hand off. Eyes glued to the curled-up figure of Noctis floating he didn't notice Gentiana moving. With Gentiana's hand away from the Crystal the light was cut off, making the Messenger's eyes all that more evident as she stared down at him.
"Only the King of Kings may touch the Crystal."
The blond nodded, words caught in his throat.
"Milady, what do you propose we do? How long must we wait for Noct to awaken?" Ignis stepped next to Prompto, Gladio on the other side.
At this, Gentiana became remorseful. "The Accursed speaks true, only the Gods know when those in Crystal Stasis will awaken."
"But aren't you a god?" Prompto questioned.
The Messenger gave a small rueful smile, answering without an answer. "We are only Astrals." Gentiana raised a hand and gestured to the three. Spheres emerged and floated towards them and into their bodies, they could feel their injuries and fatigue vanish. "This is all I can do. Make haste, with the Oracle slain and the True King asleep, the plague will only increase."
"And what about Noct? What if he wakes up and we're not there but the bastard is?" This time Gladio spoke up, staring down at Gentiana.
"Fear not, shield. When the True King awakes, The Accursed will await him in Insomnia. The Lord of Dragons will place the True King in a safe haven, an area The Accursed most despises." Gentiana smiled, "Have hope, your King will awaken and vanquish the dark. At his time of Ascension, please do be at his side."
At Gentiana's last words, her figure slowly started to fade. Her skin changed to pale blue, black hair to white and her robes vanished into clothing made of frost. "The Astrals shall also slumber until the day the True King awakens."
She then vanished, leaving the three alone in the hanger.