⛦Final Fantasy XV⛦The Divine Necromancer

Chapter XVI - Party of Four

Ignis was furious, of course, to wake up and learn the two of them, Kat and Noctis, were not at the camp site. However, he managed to calm down by the time they left towards the location where mythril can be found. Prompto was overly excited for Kat and proud as well, when he learned she caught quite a tough fish. And not to mention it was her first fish. Noctis didn't know if he should feel jealous or proud that she managed to do so good for the first time. But every time he through about her reeling in the fish, he remember what happen a second before.

I almost kissed her...He felt her breathe gazing his lips and her lips feeling his on the surface. He wanted to slap himself for thinking in such a way, but he couldn't help his feelings. Unknown force stood between the two and it was pulling him to her and her to him. Noctis was never the one for relationships since he never had any interest in dating girls, but now, as dumb as he sounded to himself, he wanted to "date" Kat. It would be strange since they've been friends for so long, but he had hard time ignoring his attraction towards her.

However, Kat managed to hide that quite well. Ever since they left the fishing spot, her eyes barely looked at him. He did not know is she was regretting what happened or she just wanted to be like him and avoid facing her feelings. Kat never had a problem around people, but now it was different. Having feelings for a Prince who is meant to be with someone else was in her way, among many other things. The future that will come is changing and Kat's role in that future if dangerous, for her own well-being.

Their thoughts were soon interrupted when one particular car at the end of the road caught their interest. It was a red car without a roof and had one white stripe pulled all the way in the middle.

"Isn't that Ardyn's car?" Prompto questioned, already knowing the answer but he wanted to share the same annoyment with the rest of his friends.

"Of course he is the reason...." Ignis silently hinted on the fact that the gates opened for them only because of that man.

They made their way further ahead the wet path. A man, familiar to all of them caught their attention with purplish red short hair and mysterious grin on his face. Kat immediately recognized him as Ardyn Izunia, a man with aura of mystery and secret intentions. She did not trust him at all. Kat tried to read his soul, but for a strange reason, she found herself finding nothing and seeing only blank space. The three boys around her held annoying look in their eyes and she could tell they weren't glad to see him.

"Gentlemen, what a pleasant surprise." The mystery laced man's voice as he spoke to them, not yet noticing Kat, or just purposely avoiding her presence. Whatever it was, Kat didn't mind. She certainly didn't want to be in his presence.

"Ugh! Told you he'd be waiting." Prompto commented, crossing his arms across his chest with irritation written on his face.

"Oh...." Ardyn however ignored his comment and looked towards the only lady in their company with pleasantness filling his amber eyes. "Hecate Lumen. Necromancer of Eos is in my presence once again." Ardyn immediately made a graceful bow. "I am glad to see you are well." Ardyn told her. "I was afraid I had lost you in all the racket during the signing ceremony."

"Trust me, you're lucky you did." Kat gave his a forceful smile, giving him a clue that she wasn't happy to see him, but that only made the grin on his lips spread.

"Have you reached your Ascension?" Kat tilted her head to side, giving him a suspicious look and wondering why he questioned her about it.

"Yes..." Kat's voice came out slow. "But what those that matter to you?"

"Only presence of a Necromancer can bring peace to the departing souls." Ardyn answered, the smirk lingering on his lips. "Once I depart I won't to receive your blessing as every other soul and be sent to Heaven's realm and not into the Daemon's realm." Kat narrowed her eyebrows at the man.