Hearth and Home | Nyx Ulric | FFXV

Chapter 5

Aeliana let out a long, quiet yawn as she walked through the busy streets of Insomnia. She and Crowe returned from the Hammerhead just a couple days earlier. Aelia remembered the look on Libertus' face as Crowe described their encounter with their talented mechanic. Lady Aelia, if your father needs to do business there again, please tell him I volunteer. She lightly shook her head and smirked to herself as she remembered his request. Aelia was still curious about the envelope to Cid and the reasoning for the out-of-city excursion, but decided to leave it alone... for now. Father is just as stubborn as his children.

Aelia admitted to herself that she in fact had a fun time with the female glaive. Even though their trip to Leide was the only time that they had spent together, it was nice to have an adventure with someone that she could consider a friend.

You are of royal blood. Be wary of who you keep close.

Words of the King. Growing up, Aelia didn't have many friends. Many of the citizens saw her mainly as a princess; King Regis' only daughter. They even regarded her as the "Princess for the People," due to her kind nature and what seemed to be a sort of innocence that she portrayed. However, this was only a front. Aelia was often fighting her own battles. With the loss of her mother, Queen Aulea, when she was a little girl and the growing distance between her father, brother and herself continuing to be further apart, she felt alone. After Queen Aulea passed and Niflheim continued to terrorize the region, the King put up more defenses, especially when it came to his children. With these defenses came exile and seclusion to inside the Crown City for Aeliana and Noctis after his return from Tenebrae, until they were old enough to travel on their own, with protection. Trust was a concern for the Lucis Caelum family and it often became an issue when it came to outsiders. The friends that Aelia thought she had were no longer there. The only friend that didn't leave her side was Nyx.

Nyx... Aeliana thought back to her restless nights. Another night, another nightmare. The illusions have been happening more frequently now. When the dreams first began, they only occurred once a week, which then turned into a few times a week, and now almost every night. All the same, each more vivid than the last. What if this is some sort of foretelling? Father, Noct, Nyx... Nightmares can be stopped... but prophecies...

Aeliana kept walking towards her destination. She remembered back to a few nights ago when she and Nyx were at their hideout. The night that she confessed these tormenting dreams to him. Aeliana... it's just a nightmare. She remembered his touch as he wiped a tear away from her cheek and the look on his face of pure irrevocable concern. If it's just a nightmare, then why did you look at me as if you didn't believe it either?

She finally arrived at her destination. It was a tall, cemented apartment complex. Aelia walked to the side of the building and continued up a flight of stairs. She read the numbers on each door as she walked past. No... not that one... not you either... I think it's this one. She stopped in front of a dark gray door with a metal handle. Aelia held her breath as she raised her hand and knocked gently. Silence. If I remember correctly, this should be it. She knocked again, harder this time. She then heard a rustle on the other side of the door, followed by a low growl. After a moment, the heavy door opened. Aeliana parted her lips as her cheeks began to flush.

Nyx stood in the doorway in nothing more than his black sweatpants, leaving only the top half of his body bare. Aeliana stood silent as she couldn't help but examine every angle that defined his broad shoulders and chest. She slowly trailed her eyes down to his abs, following every line, every curve, every definition. He has the body of an Astral...

Nyx's brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed, as if the light from the outside was irritating his gaze. A look of irritation and grogginess shadowed his face as he took a moment to comprehend who was at the door. After the realization that it was none other than the princess of Lucis, his expression softened and turned into surprise. "Aelia?" he croaked.