From the Heavens (Final Fantasy XVI)

𖥸 IV 𖥸

In the middle of the night, Lyra was startled awake by the sound of shouting. She flew up with a sharp gasp and stared at the door. She clutched her necklace when she heard a blood-curdling scream from down the hall. Torgal, who had been curled up by her feet, was also wide awake. He whimpered at the sound.

She petted the top of his head to soothe him. "Stay here," she whispered to him. As she crawled off the bed, the pup hopped off and hid underneath. She tiptoed to the door and pressed her ear against the thick wood. She listened closely and heard the sound of clashing metal among the shouting and screaming.

Suddenly, all fell silent. This frightened the girl. She was about to open the door when she heard a man's voice shout, "Leave the dominant and the archduke to the others. Find the girl!"

Lyra quickly retracted her hand and backed away from the door. She knew they were talking about her and needed to find an alternate escape route. Looking around, she located the window next to her bed. It was her only option.

Before escaping, she ran over to where Torgal was hiding. "I know you can be a good boy so I need you to listen to me. Stay here and don't let the intruders find you. I'll come back for you once this is all over with."

Torgal whined, his ears laying flat against his head.

She offered him a small smile. "Stay safe, little one."

At hearing the sound of heavy footsteps running down the hall outside her door, she ran to the window and climbed out. With her feet on the narrow ledge, she scooted away from the window when she heard the door to her room being kicked in. She held her breath and listened to the intruders search her room.

"She's not here," one man said.

"Then find her!" another shouted.

"Right away, Sir!"

She exhaled a shaky sigh when she heard them run out of the room. Knowing she couldn't go back, she carefully scooted across the ledge. She had to stop a few times when she felt parts of the ledge were unsteady. Her legs were shaking out of fear and she tried to will herself to move. She closed her eyes when a breeze that carried the scent of smoke blew past her.

Opening her eyes, she looked around to see fire was consuming parts of Phoenix Gate. She didn't understand what was happening, causing her fear to skyrocket. Taking a few deep breaths, she tried to compose herself.

"Lyra!"

The girl looked down when she heard Clive shout her name. With him was Lord Murdoch. She was relieved to see them both.

"Head to the ramparts!" Lord Murdoch shouted to her. "If you come across any intruders, hide!"

"All right!" She yelled back to her father. "Please be careful, both of you!"

When Lord Murdoch and Clive disappeared, Lyra managed to make it safely across the ledge. She climbed over the stone railing and looked around. Seeing no one, she ran as fast as she could. She hadn't found any of the intruders, which didn't sit well with her.

She maneuvered past flames and over piles of rubble to reach the tower that would take her all the way up to the ramparts. She didn't stop running until she reached the top of the tower and stepped outside on the ramparts. When she arrived, Clive and Lord Murdoch had yet to reach their meeting point.

Eventually, she heard the sound of metal clinking against metal from the tower. Seconds later, the door flew open and the intruders that had been searching for her found her. Seeing the white armor, she realized the intruders were imperial soldiers.

Not letting her confusion stop her, she ran the other way. She didn't make it far before more imperial soldiers poured in from another tower. She was surrounded with no other way to go. She didn't have the ability to shapeshift into a creature that had wings.