From the Heavens (Final Fantasy XVI)

𖥸 XI 𖥸

Disregarding the apples, Hanna ran over to Lyra and immediately hugged her. Tears of joy streamed down her cheeks as she held her daughter. "Oh, my little starlight... You're here."

Lyra hugged her mother back tightly. She too was crying. "I've missed you so much..."

"I received all the letters you sent me. How I wish I could have written back to you." Hanna pulled away and wiped the tears off her cheeks. "When I couldn't, I left a letter at Martha's Rest in hopes you would visit."

"I got it," Lyra smiled. "Thank you, Mother."

Hanna was about to open the door when she remembered the apples. "Oh, Founder! How clumsy of me."

"I'll pick them up for you." Lyra stopped her mother and picked up the apples for her. She held the basket and entered the house when Hanna held the door open for her. She placed the basket on the table. "There are quite a few apples here. Are you making something?"

"Oh, no," Hanna replied. "Ever since the incident at Phoenix Gate and you and your father vanished, I...haven't had much of an appetite. Fruit is all I have been able to stomach outside of what few dishes I cook every few days."

Lyra's happiness faltered. She sorrowfully gazed at the floor. "I...I cannot express how sorry I am that I was not able to protect him. I know it's been thirteen years, but I understand if you are angry with me."

Hanna shook her head and grabbed her daughter's hand to give it a reassuring squeeze. "Not once have I blamed you for your father's death. I could have lost you both that night, but I didn't. I still have you, darling." She moved her hand under Lyra's chin and nudged her face upward. "Oh, the Founder truly has blessed me with your arrival."

Lyra was able to smile again. "There is so much I have to tell you. Is now a good time?"

"Of course! Please, sit down."

Lyra and Hanna sat down at the table and talked for a while. She told her about the incident at Phoenix Gate and how she couldn't come home for thirteen years because of the Holy Empire searching for her. However, she had left the part out about being Gaia, the goddess cast from the heavens searching to heal the world. Her mother had been silent the entire time, trying to comprehend everything.

"I'm sorry it took me so long to come and visit," Lyra apologized. "I was afraid the empire would have come here first after the events at Phoenix Gate."

"It is a good thing you didn't come home," Hanna replied. "A couple of days after that night, imperial soldiers knocked on my door asking for you. Even after I told them I hadn't seen you, they stormed in and searched the house. They left everything in disarray before leaving. After that, they would return every couple of months before their untimely visits ceased two years ago."

"I'm glad they didn't hurt you." Lyra glanced at the apples and an idea came to mind. She smiled at her mother. "How about we go to the marketplace and buy some proper ingredients? We could make a meal like old times."

Hanna was more than happy at the suggestion. "I would love to, darling. Let us head to the marketplace."

Lyra left the house with her mother. They arrived at the market minutes later and started to buy ingredients to prepare a meal. She noticed the scarcity of the food being sold, but she knew why. The Blight was creeping toward Eastpool and affecting the soil, making it difficult for the people of the village to grow anything.

When she was caught buying extra ingredients with the gil she had, Hanna asked, "Isn't this too much for the two of us, darling?"

"Oh," Lyra faced her mother, smiling. "We'll be having a couple more guests coming. They should be here soon."