Stars in the Night Sky [NOCTIS X READER]

CHAPTER 21 - COMRADES

You were almost too late.

Even after telling Ravus to floor the gas and getting back to Lestallum in record time, it was already overrun. You could tell just by the amount of smoke that flooded the dropship as you landed. You barely waited until the ramp unfolded before you were sprinting down it, Libertus was hot on your heels. He wasted no time drawing a weapon and warping into the fray to save a few refugees being advanced upon by a daemon. Quickly after, Ravus made a beeline for the north side of town to ensure Lunafreya was still safe while everyone else split up to fend off the daemons and ferry as many people to the relative safety of the dropship. Leaving everyone to their jobs, you set out to do yours. After all, your family's lives were at stake.

You took off at a dead sprint, the smoke filling your lungs and chest. The fires from several buildings lit up the night, making it hard to see and think beyond the panic. Screams filled your ears. It was far too reminiscent of that horrible night in Galahd, when you were nine and naive. But now you were nearly twenty and could do more to help.

You cut down daemons and rescued civilians, leaving them in several other Glaives' care as you pressed onwards. You had to get to the Leville. Had to find your family.

Picking up the pace, you ran down the stairs and over the debris of the door you used to section off the Leville from the rest of the town. The alleyway you were making your way through was narrow and your shoulder caught more than once on the concrete walls, but you pressed forward. The smoke burned your eyes.

Emerging into the Leville square, the fountain (that had already been dried out) was in pieces with daemons chasing after terrified refugees. There were already hunters and Glaives doing what they could, but the sheer amount of daemons made it hard to differentiate between which fight needed your help the most.

And there, amidst the chaos, you saw a familiar set of Galahdan braids and hair and jolted into action.

"Mom! Guys!"

"[Name]!" your mom gasped, shepherding Jadin and Charlotte ahead, the latter of which was wielding a wrench and shouting obscenities at the daemons on their heels.

Your hand flew for the kukri at your hip and you threw it between her mother and Charlotte's heads with expert precision. Your magic tugged you along, warping you into the daemon that was swinging a deadly-looking sword at your family. Immediately, you pressed all of your weight forward, jabbing the kukri into the daemon's chest. Dragging it down, flesh split open under the sharp blade and the daemon shrieked as it flailed, sword scraping loudly against the ground. Blood spurted over your hands and clothes.

As soon as the daemon stopped struggling against you, you yanked the kukri out and planted your boot on the corpse, shoving it over. It turned to smoke and miasma that filtered up into the sky.

"Are you guys okay?!" you asked, your breath catching in your throat. The miasma covering your front smelled rancid.

Your mother's hands were trembling. "Yes, we're fine, but-"

"The Crystal!" Jadin blurted out. "We saw someone going to the basement for the Crystal!"

You froze.

Oh no.

"What did they look like?" you demanded.

"I dunno--he had a fedora and was wearing a lot of heavy clothes," Jadin said, looking perturbed by the terrified expression that was undoubtedly spreading across your face. You swore colorfully under your breath. Your hunch back in Galahd had been horribly correct.

"Head to the town square!" you ordered. "Find Addy! She'll get you out of here. I'll deal with the Crystal. Go!"

"But-" your mother tried to argue, but Charlotte immediately took charge, nodding firmly and guiding your mother towards the alleyway.