Book Two: The Journey of the Lucians

XIII - Redemption

The light had faded beyond the west horizon, the only sounds were that of the wind outside the cave and the fire crackling as the flames danced, producing both light and heat for the couple as they patiently waited for the former Imperial Commodore to join them again. Prompto sat before the fire as he ate food from a can, watching the flames. Sera stood near the entryway, watching for any sign of Aranea, or any possible Imperial troop that may have tracked their stolen snowmobile.

"You should eat, Sera," Prompto said, worried for her, seeing that she hadn't eaten for quite a while. "It's almost as good as what Iggy used to make." Sera kept her gaze on the snowy hills outside the cave, noticing the tracks that had been left from the snowmobile. She didn't say anything, just moved in the cave, closer to the fire so she could warm her hands before returning to her spot. "Sera. Please eat, you'll starve and you need to regain your strength."

"As part of an Oracle's training, she must endure periods of time, fasting, in case there isn't enough food for everyone. She will use the strength she has to keep going until she needs to rest again," Sera said, her sapphire eyes now amber as she used her daemon senses to watch their surroundings. "I will eat again when I feel I need to." Sera then walked over to Prompto, kneeling beside him, this time gently taking his right arm in her hand, not minding the already scratched barcode on the back of his wrist, her fingertips grazing the barcode.

"Well, at least it's quiet for a change..." Sera stayed silent, not wanting to add to his mood, as her fingertips healed the claw marks over the barcode. "You were about to tell me where I really came from and who I really am before things went south. You saw his memories, didn't you?" Sera stayed silent a moment longer, moving her hands away slowly.

"I did..." Sera looked at the blond as she spoke, falling back to sit on her heels while she prepared to tell him what she saw. "Twenty years ago, Besithia came up with the so-called 'revolutionary' idea to infuse daemons with the perfect human specimen. Even then, having thought so highly of himself, Besithia decided that the perfect specimen was that of his own genetics, so he took it upon himself to clone his very genetics to create billions of soldiers that were clones of himself in his younger years that he would one day use to fight for the empire's sake. Essentially, all of those clones were indeed his sons, including you." She could tell Prompto was processing everything she was telling him, slowly believing every word she said. "Some of these clones were, in fact, used in the military to help take down the Lucian Crown. Others were seen as defective and thrown away. Then there was one that had yet to have his abilities determined useful or defective; you. King Regis caught rumors of Besithia cloning himself and sent one of his men to steal you away from the empire. That's how you came to be a Lucian like me." Prompto lowered his head as she spoke, taking his arm away from her grasp, not wanting the scratches to heal.

"I don't want them to heal..." Sera gently reached to place her hand on his cheek and stopped before she could actually touch, waiting patiently to be able to comfort him, the blond leaning into her touch.

"Prompto. You don't have to see this barcode as a curse. You're the first Niflheim born child to ever be trusted by the King of Lucis, and befriend his heirs. The only thing that makes you the same as them is your genetics, nothing else. My father chose you. My mother saw the good in you long before you were even born. No ordinary man can say that, especially not a Niflheim born child." Prompto then turned his head away, with a quiet "Damnit!" Sera, knowing no other way to reach out to him, rose to her feet and made for the cave's entrance, turning to look back at Prompto, who was staring into the dancing flames. "You need time without me... So I'm hoping to reunite with Noctis and the others in Tenebrae. I just pray that I'm not too late.." And with that, she headed out, remaining in the shadows to prevent any unwanted attacks from the Imperial army as they were still on the lookout for their escapees.