From the Heavens (Final Fantasy XVI)

𖥸 XIII 𖥸

|| The Dim ||
|| Northern Rosaria ||

"I am still in disbelief you walked among the Fallen," Jill said as they were walking back to Eastpool. "And were their deity no less. Though, it is frightening to know you are the last living god."

"If this being is responsible for all your deaths, then we must be wary," Clive stated.

"I have become too weak to sacrifice more aether to be reborn. If I am killed, the gods will be no more," Lyra explained.

"All the more reason to ensure your safety," the man replied. "Do not sacrifice yourself, Lyra."

"I...cannot promise that. We don't know what the future may hold. As the goddess of life, I shall do everything I can to protect those I cherish even if it means my downfall."

Clive sighed. "You are...too good for this twisted world..."

Lyra decided to tease him. "I so happened to help create this world. Are you saying my handiwork is awry?"

"That's not..." Clive looked over his shoulder and saw her smirking. He sighed a second time. "Cid was right. The gods have a sense of humor."

She laughed. "What can I say? I enjoy a good chuckle. And at times, you make it too easy to pass up. I think I've made it a hobby of mine to tease you."

Her words made him grin. "Perhaps I shall pay you back for all the teasing."

"Oh, I look forward to it." Lyra then changed the subject. "Now that our visit to Phoenix Gate is concluded, there is something I wish to say. I would like to bring my mother back to the hideaway."

"We were thinking the same," Jill confessed.

"Yes. Though she may be loath to leave, I can't help thinking she'd be safer with Cid too," Clive said. "I'll speak with the mayor in regard to Lady Hanna, I promise."

"Thank you, Clive," Lyra said.

As they drew closer to Eastpool, Torgal started to growl. This alerted the others.

"Torgal? What is it?" Jill asked.

The canine took off down the path.

"Nothing good, I'll wager. Come on!" Clive shouted as he pursued Torgal. Jill and Lyra were right behind them.

When they arrived at the gate to Eastpool, they could smell smoke.

Clive pushed open the gate to reveal a frightening scene. Flames burned brightly and imperial forces loomed over bloodied corpses. He stared in horror. "No...!"

"What happened here?" Jill gasped.

Lyra's wide eyes couldn't look away from the faces of the corpses. She grew up in Eastpool and knew everyone. And now, they had been killed. She didn't realize she had attacked the imperial forces until she had killed one with lightning.

"It's the miracle healer! We've found her!" one imperial soldier shouted. He ran toward her to subdue her, but Jill intercepted him and used the power of Shiva to knock him back.

In minutes, they wiped out the imperial forces by the gate.

Lyra's talismans still burned brightly when she saw more imperial forces in the village. Worried for her mother, she ran toward them and used her talismans to create a flaming vortex. The enemies were swallowed up and tossed around before being singed to death. Clive, Jill, and Torgal caught up and joined the battle.

They fought countless of imperial soldiers of different varieties. It almost felt like their numbers weren't decreasing as more showed up.

Still having yet to find her mother, Lyra noticed her home and saw a large hole had been created by the door. From it, she could see flames inside the house. "Mother..." She was about to run up the stairs when she saw a large imperial soldier exit through the large hole.