From the Heavens (Final Fantasy XVI)

𖥸 XIX 𖥸

A/n: Picture above is an ogopogo. I tried to recolor it to reflect Lyra, but it turned out awful! I imagined the black portion being gold, the underbelly white, and the spikes (other yellow parts) to also be white. And of course, green eyes. Hope you all enjoy this next chapter! Love you all!!!
~✨Celestial✨~
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|| The Hideaway ||
|| Central Storm Deadlands ||
|| Year of the Realm - 878 ||

"Over this way, my lady!"

Lyra, who was currently in the form of an ogopogo, was swimming through the murky waters of the deadlands around the hideaway. She was assisting in the movement of some cargo. The people of the hideaway would fill boats with goods and she would use her large form to easily move it through the water to reach where it needed to go.

Once the boat was safely where it needed to be, she shifted into a griffin and used her strength and flying ability to deliver any cargo that needed to be dropped off on the upper decks of the hideaway. She grabbed one of the boxes that would go to the atrium and flew there. She dropped the box off, receiving a thank you from the young woman who was waiting.

She flew down just in time to see the boat was empty and landed on the pier. "Is a second trip required?"

The man sighed. "I'm afraid so, my lady. But if you are tired—"

"Not at all. I want to help." She transformed back into an ogopogo and dove below the water's surface. She took the empty boat back to where it was first filled and repeated the process again.

By the time she was finished transporting cargo, she was a little exhausted and idly floated in the water to relax herself. Although it was tainted, she enjoyed the floating sensation. With a sigh, she closed her eyes for a few minutes. It wasn't until she heard her name being called did she open her eyes. Looking to the pier, she saw Clive had returned from Kostnice.

Diving under the water, she swam toward the pier. She raised her head out of the water once she was near the edge of the pier. Her emerald eyes gazed down at him. "I didn't notice your return." She noticed the troubled look on his face and could tell things didn't end well in Kostnice. She lowered her head and nuzzled her snout against his chest. "If everything went our way, this world would be perfect. Please, do not let this one failure dampen your spirit."

Clive placed a hand on top of her snout. "It would be a dream world to get what we want when we desire it..." He pushed what happened in Kostnice aside and said, "Otto told me how hard you've been working in my absence. I only ask you not to push yourself to the brink of exhaustion."

"This coming from the man who does just that?" Lyra reverted back. Clive helped her out of the water and she dried herself off with a bit of wind magic. She then looked questioningly into his sapphire eyes. "I can tell you're exhausted. Best you rest for now." She grabbed his hand and pulled him along all the way to their room. Inside, she escorted him to the bed and gently pushed him down onto it.

Just as her fingers were about to slip through his, Clive grabbed her hand. He was about to ask her to stay with him but held his tongue. "Apologies, Lyra." He let go of her hand. "I was about to make a selfish request..."

Smiling, she combed a few strands of hair out of his face. "You are the most selfless person I know. There is no shame in being selfish at times."