[Ardyn x Reader] After Insomnia's Fall

Chapter IV: Lucid Dreams [Edited]

The sun caresses your features with its warmth. The soft, fresh breeze of the morning slowly waving your (h/c) hair. The day is splendid, and your mood a reflection of it. You don't remember sleeping so well in so long. Oh, no, in the end, Ardyn didn't sleep with you. Just after you had had dinner he excused himself, taking with him his jacket and returning your backpack with all your belongings, the reward for the hunt included. The clothes were washed, of course, although you dare not say if he washed them or if the hotel employees did it. Ardyn is not an evil man; you could say it just by looking into his eyes. But you also noticed that there is something in them that reflects the deepest darkness, such is it that the jet itself could envy his eyes if it had a soul. You could see shadows that make you shudder. And yet, you wanted to sleep with him yesterday. My mind was cloudy, you tell yourself, but in the deepest of your being you know that there is something else beyond desire and lust, something that Ardyn is aware of. And yet he does not deign to answer any of your questions.

You take out the note you found when you got up almost an hour ago, and you mentally review it for the umpteenth time. It's a note from Ardyn, written on a yellow paper, that he must have slipped under your door while you rested.

Good morning, (y/n). I hope you slept well. I set off for Lestallum; we will not see each other again for a while. For your information, I know you know I'm the chancellor; you do not have to hide it. I also know you have questions, but my game would lose meaning if I answer them now. And I want us to have fun. Try to find out for yourself. Use your head. At the end of the note I leave you my phone number, but do not expect me to respond. If you need anything leave a message.

Until our next meeting,

Ardyn.

Do not get too close to the meteorite. It's dangerous.

"This man is going to finish me off," you say aloud and sigh. You still can't explain how your world seems to revolve around a person you met less than 24 hours ago. You keep the note in your pocket, crumpling it in the process. With a very basic mental scheme you try to organize the day. Okay, first of all: Getting home.

You take out the map and read it. You are heading to the Meldacio HQ, the most similar place to a home right now. It would take at least two days if you were to walk, but less than 3 hours by car. Why couldn't Ardyn take me to Lestallum with him?

You decide then to try to get Aer's help. Oh, Aer. You haven't seen her for almost 6 years, but you hope she remembers you. She must be around this area. If she lends you her help, you could reach the Meldacio League in less time than it takes for a Kingatrice to crow. With the backpack on your shoulders and renewed energy, you move away from the Old Lestallum until you reach a terrace. The green meadow, the colorful flowers decorating it and the scarcity of beasts in the area really contribute to the improvement of your mood. You could even say that, at this very moment, you are happy. That's why you trust that Aer will come to you.

From the backpack, you take out a metallic-blue old whistle, whose use can be noticed in the worn metal. It is a family heirloom, an object of immeasurable value. You fill your lungs and blow it, hard. The sound cuts off the wind and expands in every way. Several seconds pass and you sound it again, this time with more energy, increasing the acuteness of the sound. And it is now when you see in the distance a huge griffon flying in your direction, swiftly, the reflections of his feathers adding him a touch of elegance.

You approach her, the great bird descending and alighting on the ground in front of you. A feeling of happiness floods your body when you recognize your old friend, and she seems to remember you as well, since she approaches you and bends her head to match your height.

"Oh, Aer ... I missed you so much!" You tell her as you run your hands through her beautiful golden plumage, ranging from the most striking yellow to the darkest brown, with small areas of pure white. Her big pupils fixed on you, and the wings spread on what would be a human "hello". Pure bliss runs through your body as you embrace your other friend. Of course, between her and Nebula, the second has always been the apple of your eye, but Aer was not much far behind. The only difference is that Nebu could live in Insomnia, while for Aer flying in the city was quite a difficult thing, so you decided that it was better for her to be free and fly wherever she wanted to.