From the Heavens (Final Fantasy XVI)

𖥸 Foreboding Reunion 𖥸

Small Update: I am still working on my Joshua x OC story. It's taking longer than I thought due to a couple of rewrites. I am also jumping between it and these short stories while also replaying the game in hopes of reaching the first DLC.

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|| Information ||
This short story takes place at the beginning of the first time skip months before the battle between Shiva and Titan at the Nyssa Defile.

|| Plot ||
Having been captured by the empire and forced into their ranks as a Branded soldier after the events of Phoenix Gate, Clive thought his life couldn't get any worse until he was sent to capture the miracle healer of Rosaria.

PS—I did not proofread this chapter for any grammatical/spelling errors. I'm hoping to get around to it soon!

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|| Claireview ||
|| Northern Sanbreque ||
|| Year of the Realm - 873 ||

Sheathing his sword, Clive looked around at the bodies of the thieves who tried to ambush him and his fellow imperial soldiers. They were on their way back to Oriflamme when they were sidetracked by the sudden attack.

He searched the foliage for any more enemies but found no one. Looking toward Tiamat, he wondered when they were going to continue their march to the Holy Capital. However, a stolas arrived to sidetrack them even further.

Tiamat crackled as he received the message. "Grab your blades, gentlemen. Our next destination is the valley."

Aevis' eyes narrowed in confusion. "What is so important it hinders our return to the Holy capital?"

What Tiamat said next were words Clive hoped to have never heard.

"The miracle healer of Rosaria has been captured. Our duty is to see she is delivered to Caer Norvent for proper transportation to Oriflamme."

Clive's entire body went rigid. His sapphire eyes were as wide as saucers as he attempted to wrap his head around what the man said. In the thirteen years of being a Branded in the ranks of the empire's army and a member of the Bastards, there were many times he would think about Lyra after learning she was alive. There were a few times he and the other men of his unit were sent to apprehend her, but she would disappear before they arrived. It always made him happy to know she escaped before being apprehended, but now his worst nightmare had come true.

Biast crossed his arms. "It sounds like another squadron could do this. Why us?"

Tiamat turned to him. "His Radiance demands the girl to be delivered to the capital discreetly. We have orders to kill her if she proves to be too much trouble."

Aevis grinned. "And who better to do that than us?"

Clive, who was still horrified and in shock, didn't move when the others started to trek in the direction of Caer Norvent. It wasn't until Tiamat shouted at him did he unwillingly follow the other members of the squadron. With each step he took, he felt his body grow rigid even more and the dreaded sensation rise.

He feared the safety of the woman whom he was still deeply in love with and was trying to come up with a plan to ensure she was neither killed nor delivered to Oriflamme. Even though he knew he would be deemed a deserter if he was successful, he was more focused on Lyra than his own safety. He promised to protect her and would do everything in his power to keep her safe.