From the Heavens (Final Fantasy XVI)

𖥸 VI 𖥸

Lyra couldn't comprehend what was happening. She knew the man who stood before her was none other than the boy she fell in love with thirteen years ago. Though he was much older, she could tell it was him. The origami phoenix landing on his shoulder before unfolding and sliding underneath his armor made her doubly sure it was Clive Rosfield. All she could do was stare wide-eyed at him in complete silence.

Lyra eventually managed to speak the man's name again after finding the strength. "Clive..." She wasn't sure what else to say as all the memories of Phoenix Gate flooded her mind. The images were vivid and she shook her head when she suddenly felt as if those flames from that night were burning around her.

After ridding herself of those images, she took a step toward him before stopping when she remembered she didn't even try to stop the imperials from taking him. She froze and was about to back away until she heard him say her name.

"Lyra," Clive called out her name softly, his tone laced with disbelief and joy. He took a step forward and slowly closed the distance between them after seeing how petrified she was. Once he was close enough, he wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace. His larger form engulfed her petite frame.

"Heavens..." Lyra shakily sighed. "This is real, not some hallucination..."

"I'm here," he whispered to her.

She hooked her arms around his torso, placing her hands on his back. "How...?"

"Courtesy of me, of course," Cid said, making his presence known alongside Torgal. "Your sweetheart here was asking about you the moment I told him about you. I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting the strange imperial soldier I found to be your long lost beloved."

Lyra glanced at the man while remaining in Clive's embrace. She gradually pulled away from him, the last of her shock vanishing. "I am not surprised..."

Cid arched a brow. "Oh?"

She stepped away from Clive and turned her back to the two men. "Thirteen years ago, on the day Phoenix Gate was destroyed, I let fear control me. I witnessed the imperial soldiers drag the one I love away and I did nothing. I ran with my tail tucked between my legs."

"You did the right thing," Clive told her. "If you had tried to fight, those soldiers would have captured you. I don't even want to imagine what they would have done to you if they had."

"You were working for them—unwillingly, I must say," Cid responded. "Did you not discover why His Radiance wants the miracle healer of Rosaria?"

Clive sighed heavily. "No. I had been sent on missions with other imperial soldiers whenever rumors regarding Lyra reached the ears of the empire. A part of me wanted to find her, but the other was relieved when we could not locate her."

"If you couldn't find her, you couldn't deliver her to His Radiance," Cid said.

Lyra turned to the men. "If we keep talking, the royalists have more time to reach Lostwing. Let's continue this chat on the way, shall we?"

Cid nodded. "To Lostwing."

Continuing through the Greatwood, Cid took the lead with Torgal behind him. Lyra and Clive were walking side by side as they picked up the rear of the party. There was a silence lingering between them until Clive shattered it. "What happened to you, Lyra?"

"A lot," she replied. "After I escaped from Phoenix Gate with Torgal, I wasn't sure where to go. I couldn't return to Rosalith or Eastpool out of fear of the Holy Empire. With Duchess Anabella's betrayal, all of Rosaria was unsafe. I had no choice but to remain on the run."

"How long?" He asked.

"Eleven years," she muttered just above a whisper. "Cid found us two years ago and took us to the hideaway. It became our new home. Ever since then, I've dedicated my time to curing the Blight and restoring the deadlands. I haven't made any breakthroughs, but I hope I do soon."