From the Heavens (Final Fantasy XVI)

𖥸 Echoes of the Fallen: IV 𖥸

The lift carried the party to the area of the Sagespire known as the landing. They were more than surprised to find untouched airships still residing within the tower.

"There's an entire fleet," Jill gasped in awe.

"I wonder if any are still capable of flight," Joshua pondered.

"Mid will want to see this," Clive said, gazing at the nearest airship.

Walking down the landing where the scenery of Rosaria was on full display from the current level of the tower they were exploring, Clive came to a stop. Joshua, Jill, and Torgal did as well, but they didn't understand why.

The familiar scent of flowers was why Clive stopped. It was a smell he was all too familiar with and so happened to love. At the same time, he noticed a green ribbon on the ground. Before it could blow away, he picked it up and saw the Golden accents. It was the ribbon Mid had given Lyra. He wrapped the ribbon around his wrist and tied it, knowing he would give it back to his beloved soon.

Suddenly, Clive sensed a chilling presence and looked up just in time to see Morana appear from a cloud of darkness. In hand, she wielded Lyra's spear. The goddess of death surged downward with the sharp tip aimed at him. Quickly drawing his sword, he deflected the attack and pushed her away.

Landing nimbly on her feet across the way from him, Morana clicked her tongue in annoyance. "You're more perceptive than I thought."

Although Clive was looking at Lyra, the being occupying her body was not that of the woman he loved. He would have thought the goddess of death would have headed straight for the heart of the Mothercrystal. "Come to play, have you?"

Morana grinned. "Why, of course. How could I possibly miss the chance to toy with the one mortal who is courting the goddess of life?" She dispelled the spear, taking a couple of steps toward him. "Diving into sweet Gaia's memories was all too tempting. It took no effort at all to learn the truth of your relationship. The night of Phoenix Gate, the reunion at Greatwood... Oh! And how could I forget Drake's Head?"

Clive gripped his sword tighter as he recalled the events of Drake's Head. Cid had been killed by Typhon and he almost lost Lyra to the blade of Indra. He glared at the woman who was taunting him. "I would say I'm surprised, but that would be a lie. Of course a being of death would find joy in the moment a life was nearly extinguished."

Morana closed the distance that was left between her and Clive. Without hesitation, she grabbed the sword he had lowered at his side and situated the sharp tip just below her heart. Black blood seeped from her palm as she gripped the blade tighter to keep him from pulling away. "I do believe Indra plunged his blade here if I recall correctly," she smirked wickedly. Slowly, she raised the blade a little higher to where her heart was located. "A god can only be truly slain by piercing the heart. If only he had driven his blade through her body a little higher, then the goddess of life would have been no more."

Clive remained strong. He didn't allow Morana's words to get to him. "Your taunting words are hollow, Morana."

Her smirk twitched slightly in dissatisfaction. "My, my. Your mental prowess is quite sturdy. But..." She took a single step closer and the blade pierced her chest. Her grin twisted further at seeing the flash of panic in his sapphire eyes. "I know you wouldn't dare allow any harm to come to this body, and yet one blissful thought came to mind. What if I could get the mighty Lord Rosfield to pierce his blade through the flesh of the woman he loves?"

Clive, as Morana predicted, yanked his blade away. Black blood seeped down, droplets dripping from the sword. He glared harshly at the woman, his sapphire locking with her lilac. "I will never allow what happened at Drake's Head to transpire again. If you insist on these games, I will personally see to it that I am the one to rip your essence from Lyra's body."