⛦Final Fantasy XV⛦The Divine Necromancer

Chapter XXXI - The Hand of the King

Kat stepped outside of the train once it stopped and she took a deep breath of the fresh air. However, the air she breathed in was filled with feelings of depression. She felt the shift in the balance ever since Lunafreya died. The darkness had begun to consume the light faster and everyone could notice how the days have become smaller. Sun lasted only for six hours before it fell down and starless night took over.

The sun was already lowering behind the horizon, painting the sky in orange color. Small sigh left her lips before she followed after Noctis, Prompto, Gladiolus and Ignis who wished to tag along, even though it was not smart for him to go there were monsters lurk.

They headed towards the mine with the elevator. Silence was still lingering in their circle and Kat silently glanced at them before she looked down at the floor and waited for the elevator to reach the lowest level. Once they reached the bottom, Gladiolus pushed the door open and stepped outside, moodily as ever with other four following after him.

"Feeling a bit out of my element."

Prompto immediately felt how the atmosphere around them was quite different from the one back at home. It felt like enemy was lurking just behind a corner. However, Kat was not surprised. They were in enemy's territory.

"We're a foreign species in this environment. Mind we don't end up prey." Ignis advised.

"Right, good tip." Noctis answered with crude tone.

"Ignis..." Kat's hand wrapped around Ignis's left arm while the other he used to hold the cane made by Altissian Government. "The terrain is bad, so walk at your own pace how you feel safe. I will walk with you."

"Thank you, Kat." Ignis answered slowly, yet gratefully.

Noctis stared at the two before he turned around and continued walking at slower pace so Ignis could catch up. Kat didn't let go of Ignis's arm as they walked and watched the road so she would be able to stop Ignis from taking a wrong step. It pained Kat to see him in such a state. She always knew he wanted his world to be "crystal clear" and now, to see him like this, broke her down knowing all he saw is darkness.

They walked down the road into a foggy area covered with water and was swarming with Gurangatch monsters. Noctis, Gladiolus and Prompto went to defeat them and get them off their way. Ignis wished to fight as well, but Kat held him back. She understood he felt like a burden, but Kat was sure as hell that she won't let Ignis go into a fight without a sight. He could only get hurt and Kat won't let anyone harm Ignis.

"Iggy, you alright?" Gladiolus asked as he cut down the last monster.

"Yes..." Ignis answered with unpleasant emotion.

"Good."

Gladiolus nod and looked at Kat, but did not say anything since he didn't want to hurt Ignis's emotions. But the look he gave her, Kat knew he wanted her to make sure no harm comes to him. They continued walking forwards with water barely reaching their knees. As they walked, they found themselves before a machine that was once used for digging the mine, until it started to be crawled with monsters and Niflheim left it behind.

"They parked here?" Gladiolus grumpily asked as he stared at the machine in the ground that closed their path.

"Wish we could write 'em a ticket." Prompto joked, making Kat admire him for  trying to lighten the mood with his cheerful personality. "If we get its motor running, perhaps we can more it out of the way."

"Or..." Kat pointed towards the small opening behind the green grass that hide the passage. "We just squeeze through."

"Or that." Prompto added.