Book Three: The Children of Fate

III - {EDITED}

The moon had just risen that night when Sera had finally put her book down to find that the Citadel was completely silent, at least, compared to any normal day. As she headed to the door of the library, she heard her hand maid's footsteps stop at the door and knock.

"Come in!" Sera said, loud enough that the maid could hear her. Her maid entered the room, wearing a dress that wasn't her traditional maid uniform that had been established by the king.

"Your Highness? Master Prompto has sent for you. He requests that you wear the dress he had made for you, which has been placed at the foot of your bed in your chambers," the maid said as she bowed to her mistress.

"Thank you. Please inform him that he will have my presence shortly." And with that, Sera headed to her bedroom and changed into the dress that laid on the foot of her bed. She stood before her full-length mirror next to her closet. The dress that had been left for her was a simple black pencil dress that came just above her knee with a long sheer robe-like shrug that came together with a white cloth belt, a gold buckle adorning it.

Not knowing why the Citadel was so silent, she made her way downstairs to the main hall, where a surprise birthday party was held. Then, before she knew it, the introduction music started as she made her descent.

"And here comes the woman of the hour, Serafina Lucis Caelum, princess of Insomnia," Prompto announced.

As Sera descended the stairs, the people of Insomnia applauded and sang "Happy Birthday." When Sera reached her boyfriend, who was standing at the bottom of the stairs, Prompto said, "You look beautiful. And happy birthday, Sera."

"Why, thank you, Prompto," Sera said, bowing her head to her boyfriend.

"Ignis, can we have the cake brought out?" Gladiolus asked, somewhat getting impatient.

"Of course," Ignis said. As the cake was being brought out, everyone, including Ignis, Gladio, Prompto, and Iris sang Happy Birthday once more.

Once the cake was placed on the table, Sera blew out the candles and made a wish.

"I know, don't worry about it," Prompto said.

"Then, don't ask," Sera said with a playful smirk.

"What did you wish for?" Iris asked.

"If I told you, then it wouldn't come true, now would it?" Sera asked.

What Sera wished for was to have her loved ones return to the living world, having been years since any of them had been alive, leaving the princess to feel alone. Many of Sera's acquaintances had often told her that she looked much like her mother, Queen Aulea. Although she had never known her, Sera still missed her mother. As for her father and her brother, she missed them far more than anyone in her life, living most of her life without them once more. She had often wondered what it would have been like if she had been able to cast off her father's protection spell and stepped in front of the blade that took his life and had fought the General off to the very end. She remembered that fateful day so clearly, one of the many memories that would continue to haunt her until her death.

~~~~~

When it got late, Prompto and Sera sent everyone home because they wanted their people to have a safe trip home. When everyone left, Sera said, "Good night, everyone and thank you so much for throwing such an amazing party. Just leave the mess, I shall clean it up."

"Are you sure?" Ignis asked.

"Yes. I'm no different from any of the servants here. Despite my title, I am still human and have no right to force others into cleaning up after me," Sera said before bowing her head at last. "Well, I'm off to bed. Good night." When Sera entered her room, she quickly changed into her nightgown and headed for her desk to write in her journal. In her journal, she wrote:

Dear Journal,

The birthday party my friends threw for me was amazing. Although, it felt wrong, like something was missing. And, naturally, I knew what it was upon blowing out my candles. My family is what I had wished for. My mother died 33 years ago, my father 13 years ago, and my brother 3 years ago. I'm the last living heir to my bloodline, the royal line that will soon end if I continue on the path that I am going. I have foreseen a death that will not be caused by the Light, but rather the same blade that killed my father. Only this time, it will be in the hands of Romelle Mirus Fleuret, Aera's younger sister. For now, I can only hope that I will be prepared for when they make their move.

- Serafina Lucis Caelum, Crowned Princess and Oracle of Lucis and Tenebrae

It wasn't long after Sera finished her journal entry that she got in her bed, pulled the covers over her, and once her head hit her pillow, she was out once more, this time, in a deep slumber.

While Sera slept, she dreamt of the dark-haired woman she had seen the day before, her death being brought to her by the hand of Ardyn and the mysterious woman, the two bringing eternal darkness to the world once more. But, Sera couldn't dream anything more because she was jolted awake by Prompto.

"What do you want, Prompto?!" Sera exclaimed, sitting up, somewhat . "How did you get into my room?"

"We've got intruders!" Prompto said in a panicked voice. "Come quick!" Without saying anything more, Sera and Prompto ran to the throne room, Sera dressed in her Glaive uniform to show she was the captain of the Kingsglaive.