From the Heavens (Final Fantasy XVI)

𖥸 VII 𖥸

Lyra tied off the thread and clipped the string to free it from the needle. She put the needle down and checked over the sewing job she had just finished. A little girl had been crying because her plush chocobo's wing had been torn and she offered to fix it for her. She smiled in satisfaction at her stitch job and handed the plush back to the little girl. "Sir Choco is feeling much better now."

The little girl gasped and happily took her stuffed animal back. It had been a gift from her late mother and was afraid she would have to get rid of it because of the torn wing. Now that it was fixed, she didn't have to get rid of it. "Thank you so much, Lady Edelweiss! I-I was really sad when I thought I would have to throw it away..."

"I am always happy to help," Lyra replied. "If you or another child needs anything, please come see me. I may be a healer, but I must say I am quite a seamstress. Toys, clothes...I can help with anything that requires thread and a needle."

The little girl nodded with a bright smile. "I will. Good day, my lady!"

Lyra waved farewell as the child ran out of the church. She gathered the sewing supplies so she could give it back to Quinten.

"Taking care of the kids, eh?" Cid asked as he entered the church.

"I'm only doing what I can," she replied. "It might not be much, but..."

"This village loves you because of everything you've done for them regardless of how big or how small," he said.

"But if I had been branded, I doubt they would feel the same. I hope one day, people will see past the mark that was forced upon Bearers and see who they truly are."

Before Cid could reply, Torgal ran into the church with a happy bark. Behind him was Clive. The canine dashed over to the golden-haired woman and she scratched the top of his head.

Cid saw the look on Clive's face. "Tell me that scowl means you've got good news."

Clive told them what he was able to learn from the villagers about the possible Dominant who was taken by Benedikta and the other royalists.

Cid mentally sorted through the information. "So...a shady lad with a hood, and his equally shady lass. Not much to go on, but..."

"But?" Clive parroted.

"I've been thinking. If our friend is a Dominant, why not just burn the royalists to a crisp? There's a reason he's holding back...and I reckon it has something to do with his partner."

"What makes you say that?" Clive asked, crossing his arms.

"One of the villagers I talked to said the two were separated. If the Waloeders have her, our Dominant's like to think twice before starting any fires. Whoever he is, he's shown himself to have a level head. He's careful, cunning, and he doesn't want to be found. This could spell trouble...for us and the royalists both. Still, it'll be a whole lot worse if we set off after them with bleary eyes and empty bellies. There should be some pallets waiting for us back at the inn. Shall we?"

"I'll skip the meal," Lyra said. "You two should eat, though."

"You should eat as well," Clive said, not knowing the truth.

"It seems you haven't told him everything," Cid said, looking at the woman.

"There may have been some small details I have yet to mention," she confessed.

Cid put a hand on the woman's back while looking at Clive. "Our lady of life here doesn't require sustenance. No food, no water...but she does require sleep."

Something seemed to click inside Clive's head. "That's why the Lord Commander mentioned how stubborn you were when it came to meals."

Lyra laughed as she recalled her father becoming frustrated when she wouldn't eat. "I drove him and my mother crazy more than once when it came to eating. I never truly appreciated a meal for many years until I understood what it meant to be a family. A meal isn't just where you sit down and eat. It's a moment to sit down with friends and family and enjoy their company."