From the Heavens (Final Fantasy XVI)

𖥸 XVI 𖥸

|| The Pleasure Houses ||
|| Oriflamme, Holy Capital of Sanbreque ||

Lyra was being held in Jill's arms. She was not pleased with their current hideout. Her emerald eyes scanned the room before darting to the bead curtain when she heard the sound of giggling courtesans walking by. Her tail flicked back and forth.

Jill, while still holding the feline, cleared her throat to draw Cid's attention. The silence lingering around them was becoming awkward because of the sounds coming from the brothel.

Cid had been leaning next to the archway of the balcony. He looked away to glance at the others. He saw their displeased expressions. "Cheer up, you three." He walked over and sat down on the sofa located by the bead curtain. "I can't think of a safer place in the empire than a—"

Suddenly, the sound of sensual moaning echoed from the room above theirs.

Cid awkwardly cleared his throat. "Brothel. Hm."

"Really? It doesn't seem very private," Jill argued.

"The only thing keeping others from not hearing us are strings of beads," Lyra groaned. Her eyes landed on the woman who was standing outside the room. "Not to mention, there is a courtesan waiting right there."

"Then it's a good thing only the three of us can hear the magical talking cat," Cid commented. He got to his feet and walked over to the courtesan. He leaned against the archway with a charming smile and handed the woman a pouch of gil. He then playfully winked before placing a finger over his mouth to indicate to her what he wanted her to do. He waved at her as she walked away.

With the courtesan gone, Lyra jumped out of Jill's arms and reverted back. She watched Cid closely as Clive asked, "So, then, how do we proceed?"

Cid poured himself a cup of wine that had been provided to them when they arrived at the brothel. "We'll be using the Glass Gate. Tonight, just after sunset." He grabbed the cup and sat down on the sofa in front of the window.

Clive was flabbergasted at the answer and walked over to the couch. "Where the shards are loaded for transport? That is one of the most heavily guarded points in all of Sanbreque."

"But not the most, which is a start. Besides, I know a shortcut straight to the heart."

"A shortcut," Clive scoffed, all too familiar with the man's shortcuts. "And how exactly did you come to know about this fatal chink in the empire's armor?"

He took a sip of the wine. "Let's just say I...may have attempted something similar before. And may have ended up running for dear life after being discovered by Bahamut. But that's not important."

Lyra crossed her arms. "How is a near-death experience with the Eikon of Light not important?"

Cid lowered the cup. "All you need to know is that I survived."

She sighed and decided to drop the question.

Jill was the next to chime in. "Cid... If the Mothercrystals truly are the cause of the Blight—"

Cid sat up. ""If"? You wound me, Jill. If you can't believe me, believe Lyra. If the goddess of life hates the Mothercrystals, they must be bad for this world."

She provided some clarity. "What I'm trying to say is if the powers that be know all of this, why do they sit idle and allow it to continue?"

"In case you haven't noticed, the godfearing people of this realm, and their pious leaders, care for but one thing—themselves. And they'll do whatever it takes to hold on to power. The rest of us are just a means to an end. The moment you raise your voice against them, you're decried as an outlaw, clapped in irons, and slung in a cell to rot."