From the Heavens (Final Fantasy XVI)

𖥸 II 𖥸

A/n: Reading all the amazing comments from the first chapter and the messages I received made me so happy! It makes me extremely excited and happy to know so many of you are already interested in this story! I'll stop rambling now. Enjoy the next chapter! Love you all!!!

PS: Even after proofreading, there still might be mistakes I have missed because of lovely autocorrect. Hopefully, they are few and far between. Also the same spoiler warning is in effect since the game is still brand new.

~✨Celestial✨~
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⚠️WARNING: SPOILERS OF FFXVI AHEAD⚠️

After a brief encounter with a Bearer and his master, Clive, Jill, and Lyra arrived at the Down Gardens just outside the castle. While Clive had a small chat with Joshua, Lyra overheard Duchess Anabella speaking to two of her servants. She hid from sight to avoid drawing her attention until she, Jill, and Clive entered the castle. The knights stationed by the throne room stood at attention in the presence of Clive.

Lyra gazed nervously at the grand doors leading to the throne room. It was only when she felt a wet, cold nose nudge against her sleeve did she look over at Torgal. Smiling, she petted the top of his head. "We'll see you later, Torgal. Make sure to watch over Jill until then."

Jill giggled. "I know he will." She gently grabbed one of his paws and used it to wave at her friends. "Good luck." With Torgal in her arms, she left the castle.

Clive looked over at the golden-haired girl. "Are you prepared, Lyra?"

She took a deep breath to compose herself. "Yes."

Clive opened the door to the throne room. He and Lyra entered, the door closing behind them. Halfway across the room, Clive bowed to one knee while Lyra curtsied.

"You commanded our presence, Your Grace," Clive addressed his father. "How may we serve you?"

Archduke Elwin leaned forward in his throne. "All right, you can stop licking my boots. Your mother isn't here."

Clive stood up. "Do the territories fare any better?"

The archduke shook his head in displeasure. "More lie under a pall of black. In just these few moons, the Blight has taken nigh on all of the northern reaches. It is only a matter of time before it crosses the border."

Clive was in disbelief. "By the Flames..."

"Nearly every available bed in the capital is already occupied by those fleeing the deadlands. Even if we were to send them south, to Port Isolde, more would only follow in their wake. Every day we delay brings us closer to disaster. We must move now."

"Against the Iron Kingdom?"

"We have traded blows with them for too long. It is time to end it," Lord Murdoch said.

"At the very least, we must secure Drake's Breath," the archduke explained. "Without the blessing of the Mothercrystal, we cannot defend our realm from the spread of the Blight."

"The Ironblood will not relinquish it easily. This will be a bitter fight," Clive responded.

"We ride for Phoenix Gate tomorrow. There we will listen to the Words of Our Ancestors, as tradition dictates."

"Am I to go with you as Joshua's Shield?"

"There is something else I would have you do first. It is why I have summoned Lyra." Archduke Elwin gestured to his friend and Shield. "Rodney."

Lord Murdoch descended the stairs leading up to the throne and stood before the two teens. "You both will have heard the reports, I am sure—of beastmen from the north being sighted within our borders."