Book Three: The Children of Fate

IV - {EDITED}

Soon after Prompto and Sera made it to the throne room, Sera came to a halt, causing the blond to stumble into her as she stood at the bottom of the staircase, the princess frozen in shock due to the sight before her. Her grasp tightened around that shaft of her Trident, her knuckles practically turning as white as the cloth around her waist. Looking up at the throne, Sera saw the woman that had tormented her in her dreams and visions standing in front of the throne, a ghost-like figure behind her, its features resembling that of Ardyn's pre-empire appearances.

"Why are you here, Romelle? Come to take revenge for Aera and Ardyn's death? Don't you know that I'm not to blame for either of them. They were both destined to die," Sera said, holding her Trident tighter, her temper rising. Sera then turned back to Prompto and said, "Get Gladiolus and Ignis. I might require their assistance." And with that, Prompto ran out to get Gladiolus and Ignis, leaving Sera to stand off before Romelle.

"You're quite right, you damned brat!" Romelle hissed in response. "It's time that I bring Lucis to ruin for bringing shame to the only man I ever loved and for killing my beloved sister."

"My sincerest apologies, but Lucis will not fall to a dead woman," Sera retorted. "This kingdom will continue to prosper so long as the Oracle of Night remains on this Star!" Then, as if on cue, Prompto burst into the throne room with Gladiolus and Ignis behind him, all three gentlemen standing at the Oracle's side, awaiting further instructions on what to do. The princess turned to the three gentlemen and said, "Stand at the ready, she poses a threat and I may need to detain her." And with that, Sera turned back to Romelle, finding a smirk on her face. She had to hide her thoughts as she tried to think of a way to prevent killing the sister of the first Oracle.

"Hear me, Romelle. Do not choose the path of darkness and destruction. Once chosen, you cannot turn back. You will forever live the life of darkness," Sera said to her, trying to keep her faith unwavering.

"You're quite pitiful, Serafina. And to think, the Gods chose you to bring peace to this unforgiving world and stand alongside Lunafreya as their voice to mankind. But you have brought shame to the Gods and every soul you have delivered from death," Romelle said as she attempted to get a rise out of Sera. Somehow, Sera felt as though she was right. She felt as though she had failed the Gods, her father, and Lunafreya the moment she had fallen to her brother's feet. The ravenette knew she couldn't save the world from the Scourge, she couldn't save Lunafreya from the death she faced, nor could she have saved her father from the death he faced either. Sera couldn't have saved any of them from anything.

"You're right. I know I have brought shame to the Six and everyone who I've tried to save. But, there's one thing that makes me different from you. I have a reason to live, a reason to fight for my life, and more importantly, a reason to continue even after all that has gone wrong in my life. I am the last living Oracle on this Star, the one the people call the Savior of the Starscourge. And I will deliver this world from a terrible fate, including the destruction that you will cause in your path. I refuse to allow insolent daemons remain on this Star now that the prophecy has long since been fulfilled. For my family, my loved ones, and for Ardyn, so that he may finally rest easily now that the hope he once had for Lucis has been met." As Sera spoke, determination rose in her tone, her eyes showing that she would stop at nothing to protect the world from whatever came to destroy her home. Suddenly, her crystal shard started glowing, catching her eye. Not the time, she thought, her hand reaching to hide the glow within her grasp.

"How touching. I was so moved by your little speech. But unfortunately, I have no interest in living the life I once had before Somnus became King of Lucis."

"I'm well aware of the situation." Sera then turned to her brothers in arms and her fiance, giving them their next instruction. "I need the three of you to fight off Romelle and cover me while I take care of matters with that specter... Prompto, I ask that you fire as many of these specially made bullets as you can at her. Daemons are extremely vulnerable to holy light, which is what these are infused with." As Sera spoke, she placed the bullets in his hand, closing his fingers over them. "These should be enough to paralyze her until I can get to her."