The Sole Star (Final Fantasy XV Fanfic)

Chapter XI

The gang got out of the Regalia, looking around at the sights. Lorelai stretched her arms above her head. "You know, I don't get to ride in vehicles very often." She gazed down at the car lovingly and glided her hand across the side. "This car is amazing, and it's so stylish."

"Don't go falling for her now," Noctis joked. Lorelai rolled her eyes but couldn't help giggling at him.

"Let us go," Ignis instructed. "We passed a waterfall before arriving here. That must be the one Iris mentioned."

The group walked down the rode a short ways. They caught sight of the waterfall and a small flight of stairs that led down to a dirt path. They left the road and descended the stairs. They followed the dirt path around to an open area next to a river. With the rapid moving water, they knew it had to lead to the waterfall. The only problem was that a midgardsormr patrolled the area. The five quickly took cover among rocks and bushes, out of sight of the large snake.

"How are we supposed to get past that?!" Prompto quietly exclaimed. "It's huge!"

Ignis pushed up his glasses. "Best to avoid it. No need for unnecessary risks."

"What if it comes after us?" Noctis questioned.

"Then we kill it," Gladio answered simply.

Lorelai smirked. "Don't worry, I've dealt with these beasts before. Let's just say, my time as a hunter has taught me a few tricks. Here's the plan - stay behind me and don't make any sudden moves."

The four men nodded in understanding. They slowly came out from hiding and entered the area. Lorelai summoned her scythe and stayed between her friends and the monster. The serpent took notice of the trespassers in its territory. It slithered toward them, hissing and flicking its forked tongue. Lorelai concentrated and clutched her scythe tightly, imbuing it with her magic. After a moment, the blade on each end of the weapon had a white glow to it.

Lorelai held her weapon horizontally in front of her, and almost instantly, the midgardsormr froze and its hissing ceased. "Now, guys, go," the girl quietly ordered. The snake before her stared intently at the glow of the blades.

With the men all creeping away toward the waterfall, Lorelai slowly backed up, tilting her scythe from side to side. The serpent tilted its head each time the weapon did, following the movements precisely. With each step Lorelai took, the snake inched closer, watching the glow of the scythe. Everything was going as she planned.

"Lora, look out!"

The girl jumped in surprise at Prompto's voice. She looked back, seeing a shieldshears coming at her. She swiftly dodged its pincers and sliced them clean off. The hiss of the midgardsormr brought her attention back to it. It spit a stream of venom that Lorelai barely managed to roll out of the way of.

"Run!" she shouted to the boys.

The group took off toward the waterfall, dodging shieldshears as they fled from the snake and crab-like monsters. They finally stopped at a small path that led up to the side of the waterfall. Thankfully, the monsters hadn't followed them. They all caught their breath.

"Woohoo! We made it out alive!" Prompto cried happily.

"What was that you did back there, Lora?" Ignis asked, curious as to why the midgardsormr behaved so strangely. "You had that beast completely immobilized."

"I just used light magic to make my weapon glow," she answered, resting her hands on her hips. "I don't know why, but for some reason those overgrown earthworms are mesmerized by the light."

"That's weird," Noctis stated.

"Never mind that, I think I see a cave," Gladio pointed out.

The group followed the small path around to a cave entrance right behind the edge of the waterfall. Inside, the air instantly felt cooler, and with each step further, the temperature seemed to drop. Everyone turned on their lights while Lorelai created an orb of light in the palm of her hand, the lack of sunlight giving the cave a dark, eerie atmosphere. Lorelai shivered, noticing the others were beginning to feel the cold too. She watched the way the rock walls of the cave steadily became encased in ice as they traveled deeper inside.