From the Heavens (Final Fantasy XVI)

𖥸 XXIII 𖥸

|| Inner Sanctum ||
|| Drake's Breath ||

The bridge leading to the inner sanctum was littered with the Ironblood. However, that didn't stop Clive, Jill, Lyra, and Torgal. They cut through the men and didn't waste any time infiltrating the inner sanctum. As they walked through the gate, they could hear the sound of men chanting. Up the stairwell, they saw a group of men on their knees surrounded by guards. They were worshipping the Mothercrystal.

Jill's eyes scanned the men until she found the Patriarch standing before the bloodied altar. She glared at him and shouted his name. "Imreann!"

The high priest, along with all the other Ironblood, turned to the group. He met the woman's hateful gaze. "Shiva's Dominant. Come to beg forgiveness for your failure?"

Jill's eyes only reflected with more rage. "For years, I followed your orders. Fought your wars. All to protect the children you took, just as you took me. And what did you do in return? You put them in chains, and you slit their throats!"

"Fiend," Clive growled.

"A demon indeed," Lyra commented, her gaze remaining calm as she eyed the high priest.

Imreann was quick to defend his actions. "Their souls were sullied with the stain of aether! I merely cleansed them of their corruption! A penance paid. Just as the Holy Mother wills it." His eyes narrowed, his gaze never leaving the silver-haired woman. "Repent, abomination! For a monster like you to set foot in the holy Comraich is in itself a crime deserving of death!"

Jill lowered her head and gazed at her hand. "You're right. I am a monster. And my soul is stained black... Though not by aether." She lifted her gaze and glared at the man. "But by the evil of men like you, who made me close my heart and drown in darkness, when I should have raged against it!"

Jill turned to her childhood friends. "This is my penance."

Lyra nodded. "We're with you, always."

Jill smiled gratefully at her before she cast a glare at the high priest. "I will be your monster no more nor will I suffer you to create another." She drew her blade, ready to kill the man.

"Does the beast bare its teeth at its master?" Imreann spat. "Come then, Dominant-rage! Be as you have ever been... A monster!"

"And what are you, Imreann?!" Jill shouted angrily, swinging her blade down. "I was forced to kill—you do it by choice! But never again. I bowed to you once. Now it is you who shall bow to me!"

"Kill them," the high priest commanded.

As the Ironblood attacked, Jill semi-primed and jumped behind them to strike a few down. Clive swung his sword and pushed back the enemies while Lyra used her talismans to blow the men away.

In the middle of the fight, Jill and Lyra were distracting the enemies to draw their attention so Clive could destroy the Mothercrystal. Using the power of nature, Lyra created roots using aether that batted away the Ironblood to clear a way for him. He charged forward, only to come to a stop when lava spewed and blocked his path. Some of the Ironblood were caught in the lava and killed instantly. Lyra's roots were also burned to a crisp.

"What?!" Imreann shouted as his men fell victim to the lava.

Lyra was surprised by the strange activity of the lava until she noticed the being that formed from the molten rock. Her eyes narrowed when she sensed a familiar presence for a split second before it disappeared.

With the Ironblood dead, Jill set her sights on the liquid flame. She lunged at it with her sword and attacked. A burst of mist was created when she and the enemy collided. Lyra and Clive covered their faces as she transformed into Shiva. The Eikon hovered above and used her ice to target the liquid flame.