⛦Final Fantasy XV⛦The Divine Necromancer

Chapter XVIII - A Precious Source of Power

"Ah, fresh air!" Prompto exclaimed the moment they found themselves at dusk standing outside of the Steyliff Grove.

"Congrats. That concludes your 'training'." Aranea spoke as she walked before the four of them. "You've still got a hard path ahead, but don't let anyone tell you how to walk it."

"You may have been hired under false pretense, but your assistance was invaluable all the same." Ignis said.

"Hmph. Tell me something I don't know. You can spare the pleasantries." She crossed her arms across her chest with a gentle smirk upon her lips.

"Take care walking your path, Aranea." Ignis told her.

"I will." Her eyes went onto Ignis completely then. "And I'll 'train' you some more if our paths cross again." She winked his way before she turned on her heel, leaving Ignis to hide his blushing alone. "Oh, and before I forget, His Excellency instructed me to give you a ride back." She informed them as she walked towards her red airship in the distance.

"Isn't he just thoughtful...?" Kat commented suspiciously, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Noct." They three of them looked at Ignis who glanced from his phone towards them. "I have just received word from Cindy."

"And?"

"We're to return to Lestallum. Her friend works as an engineer at the power plant. She'll take care of the mythril."

"And that'll take care of our boat problem!" Prompto happily concluded.

Thanks to Aranea, the four of them went on board of the ship, but not before they drove Regalia inside. Aranea subordinates, Biggs and Wedge drove her red airship towards Lestallum. Noctis was sitting on the ground with his back against the Regalia and his eyes slowly closing. Ignis and Prompto were on the other side, speaking to each other.

Kat stood by the wall of the airship, looking down at her nails that have grown long. Her eyes glanced from time to time at Noctis, whose head was hanging as he was taking a nap. Sweet yet gentle smile appeared on her lips while she stared at him. Aranea walked out of the cockpit and examined Kat's expression while she was looking at Noctis. Brief grin appeared on her lips and she leaned against the wall next to Kat, causing her to look away from Noctis and back at her nails.

"You like him?" Aranea asked her quietly as she crossed her arms and placed one foot against the wall.

"Doesn't really matter whatever I do or don't." Kat honestly pointed out. "He's engaged to the Oracle."

"And why is that keeping you away?" Aranea questioned her. "That part of the peace treaty was broken when Niflheim turned the tables."

"But people still look forward to it." Kat told her. "The two of them represent peace."

"And what do you represent?" Aranea asked and Kat stayed quiet to think about good enough answer. "Surely you are no longer just a Necromancer. That what happened in Steyliff Grove was completely out of your decision, wasn't it?" Aranea asked, completely in the right track. "Souls never protect the Necromancer if it doesn't ordered them. They never appear in a form of human. What kind of bonds are you forming in your Ascension?" Aranea questioned.

"Those souls...those were the souls of Kings of Lucis." Aranea's eyes were mixed with shock and confusion. "Last time when Starscourge came, the mortal world was cleaned from it by the sacrifice of the Chosen King, but it still lingered in the Beyond. Only a Necromancer, chosen by the Kings of Lucis and the Gods, can destroy it."

"And that is you?"

"Yes." Kat nod. "When times comes, it will be me who will enter the Beyond and purge it, so then it never returns again. The Chosen King will continue living with duty to keep the Caelum's bloodline alive and the Crystal safe."