From the Heavens (Final Fantasy XVI)

𖥸 XVIII 𖥸

A/n: I can't believe I never thought of this until now, but I imagine Lyra being voiced by Camilla Luddington, the same voice actress who portrays Lara Croft. I'll have to add that to the character biography for anyone who is good at visualing and hearing characters in a story like this. Hope you all enjoy this next chapter! Love you all!!!
~✨Celestial✨~
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|| The Hideaway ||
|| Central Storm Deadlands ||
|| Year of the Realm - 877 ||

Lyra's eyes opened. She looked at the unfamiliar ceiling before slowly sitting up. She felt sluggish, almost as if she had overslept.

"Ah!"

She heard someone scream. Looking to her right, she saw the twins were staring at her as if they had seen a ghost. She noticed they were older than when she last saw them.

"She's awake!" Crow shouted before she and Tett ran around the partition.

Lyra scooted to the edge of the bed and placed her bare feet on the wooden floor. She looked down at her attire to see she was wearing a simple white gown. Her hair was down and she combed a few golden strands behind her ear.

Hearing running footsteps, she looked up and saw Tarja. She blinked in surprise at how different she looked. "Is that truly you, Tarja?"

The physician stared at her in shock. "By the gods... You are awake." She rushed over and checked on her. "How do you feel?"

"As if I slept too long," Lyra replied.

This made Tarja laugh. "Well, you have been unconscious for four years."

Her eyes widen in shock. "What?"

Tarja sat down on the bed next to her and explained what happened in the past four years. From the destruction of the first hideaway by Titan to the building of the new one, she told her everything.

"What is the last thing you remember?" Tarja asked.

"I..." Lyra searched her memory. She placed a hand over her chest where she saw the sword exit her body. Shock consumed her as she recalled who stabbed her. "I-I was stabbed by Indra..."

"So, that is the man's name... Clive couldn't tell who stabbed you because he didn't recognize him, but you do. Who is he?"

"A god I had thought perished..." She lowered her head. "But he's here..."

"May I give you an examination?" Tarja asked.

Lyra nodded. "Please do."

The physician began to examine the goddess' body. She was more than surprised at seeing or finding nothing wrong. "You're perfectly healthy. That wound of yours has healed nicely and not even a scar remains. I wouldn't expect anything less from a goddess, but...it is still shocking how your body healed so well. If you were human, you would be dead. I couldn't believe Clive when he brought you to me saying your heart was still beating. Speaking of Clive, I should send him a stolas to let him know you're awake."

"How has he been these past four years?" Lyra asked.

"Devastated," Tarja replied. "But that doesn't stop him from doing his duties. Every time he comes back from a mission, the infirmary is always his first stop. Now that you're awake, maybe he'll learn how to smile again."

"What about Jill?"

"She's doing well. Busy, but well." Tarja grabbed a set of clothes that had been neatly folded on a table. She handed them to her. "We had to get rid of your other clothes, but I made sure another set was waiting for you. Once you get changed, you can explore the hideaway and get your bearings."