Book Three: The Children of Fate

V - {EDITED}

Sera rushed to the conference room, Prompto on her heels, worried about her. While in her coma, Shiva had come to her as the High Messenger, Gentiana, conveying a message regarding the meeting she was late to. To make sure that there weren't any suspicious looks, Sera was dressed in her formal Oracle attire. Her heart was pounding as she soon started running at full speed towards the conference.

The Accursed One roams the Star once more, in hopes to wreak havoc on the world. Hidden behind a mask, the Usurper will shroud the Star in darkness when the sun is at its highest.

"Sera, stop!" Prompto called out, coming to a halt, grabbing Sera's wrist to force her to stop as well. "What's so important that you have to run off like this?"

"I have to explain later," Sera said. "We don't have much time. We have to put the meeting to a standstill, for the safety of not only Lucis but all of Eos itself." And with that, Sera warped out of Prompto's grasp, doing her best to make it to the conference room before noon. Moments later, Sera casually entered the room, attempting to calm her breath as she gracefully made her way over to her seat. Before her, seated at both sides of the table where her father's council once sat thirteen years ago were the First Secretary Camelia Claustra, her right hand, King Regis's old friend, Weskham Armaugh. On the opposite side of them, Aranea Highwind, former commodore of the imperial nation of Niflheim, and alongside her was the last living heir to the Imperial throne, Solara Antiquum Aldercapt, Iedolas's only granddaughter. All four rose to their feet, bowing before the Lucian princess.

"Your Highness, I trust you had reason for your tardiness," Weskham spoke up, sounding a lot like the princess's father.

"I do and I greatly apologize for my tardiness. I believe that either my advisor or the head of my Crownsguard has informed you of my recent yet former condition," she said, her Tenebraean accent sounding heavenly to the Niflheim soldiers. "Now that I am here, I wish to address a matter that could essentially alter the fate of our beloved Star."

"You may address it, Your Highness," Camelia said as they all had taken their seats once more, bowing her head to the queen-to-be. Sera took a deep breath, knowing that if she didn't choose her next words carefully, she would come off as a lunatic.

"Ladies and gentlemen, as you may know, I am the last living heir that possesses the ability to bridge mankind with the Gods that safeguard our Star though the blood of the Oracle. While in my coma, the High Messenger stood before me, conveying what was to take place in this very conference. She foretold that once the sun reaches its peak in the sky, the long since dead Niflheim Chancellor is to shroud the world in darkness once more." Sera could tell that when she took her seat that she had made a fool of herself. "I'm well aware that it's impossible for Chancellor Izunia to stand as a mortal, seeing that he's been dead for three years, but I assure you, I'm not one to lie about something so crucial to the safety of our world and our nations." Suddenly, as if trying to warn Sera, Ardyn's specter appeared behind Aranea, causing Sera to raise an eyebrow a bit.

"You're joking. I think you're still dreaming, Princess," Aranea said, causing Sera to look at the former commodore with a suspicious look in her eyes. The Oracle of Night knew that Aranea wasn't a part of the empire any longer, having sided with the Hunters and the remaining Kingsglaive, as well as the Crownsguard when darkness was the only thing that people knew. Seeing her back in the position of being a part of the fallen empire sent up multiple red flags in the Oracle's mind, knowing that she had clearly stated that she would be a mercenary for anyone in Lucis or Niflheim.

"'Behind a mask, the Usurper will shroud the Star in darkness,'" Sera muttered to herself, soon speaking up again. "Madam Secretary, Mr. Armaugh, Lady Solara, I ask that you follow my lieutenant, Prompto Argentum, to our throne room. It would appear to me that you are no longer safe in this room." With worried and confused expressions on their faces, the three left the room with Prompto, who had asked for Gladiolus and Ignis to join them in the throne room over comms, leaving Sera with the false Aranea.

"My, was I that transparent?" Ardyn said, shifting out of his time stitch, revealing himself to the young queen.

"Ardyn Izunia, hiding behind the image of former Commodore Aranea Highwind. How shameful and only believable for a mere moment." Sera smirked a little as she rose to her feet. "You see, you're missing out on two factors that made it easier for me to figure out that Aranea was a fake." She made her way over to the Adagium, a grim look in her eyes. "First factor being that once you entered the Beyond three years ago, your soul remained, taking the shape of your younger self, when you were going to be the founder King. Second, I am close acquaintances with Miss Highwind and to see a false image of her in the very position she had left behind when the empire fell tipped me off, making me realize that sending you to the Beyond wasn't enough. Taking that Starscourge from you will be the only way for me to ensure the safety of my kingdom and put your terror to an end."

"Ah, if it isn't the Oracle, Serafina. Do correct me if I'm wrong. You were sent to the Beyond as well, were you not?" Ardyn asked, his voice sounding slippery, causing the Oracle to shudder ever so slightly. "How are you standing before me now?"

"I could ask you the same thing, you know. The Gods do not necessarily favor you, Izunia." Sera made it practically impossible for her to let her guard down anytime soon. "For a short amount of time, I walked alongside the Oracles that came before me. But the Bladekeeper himself graciously brought my soul back to the mortal realm where I could stand alongside my betrothed."

"Such a pity. You continue to put your faith in the very Gods that used you, your brother and Mommy dearest as puppets that they eventually grew tired of. I was once the savior of this cursed world but the Gods you so desperately believe in threw me aside like I was nothing but a mere puppet with cut strings."

"I know all too well about what the Gods did to you. I know everything that occurred prior to this day. While I do not believe what they did to you was right, I do not believe that your response was right. A look of irritation made its way onto Ardyn's face. "While your 'comrades' are staying among the Citadel's walls, you are not to so much as lay a hand on my brother or do anything in your power to destroy the kingdom, I won't hesitate to end you."

"I'm afraid that I cannot make any promises, young Oracle." As Ardyn spoke, a smirk etched its way onto his features with a tip of his hat.

With a quick motion, Sera was beside Ardyn, a dagger against his neck, her eyes narrowed as she looked at the wall.

"There will not be any of that. You will not be Ardyn Lucis Caelum while within these walls. You will return to being Commodore Aranea Highwind. No 'ifs,' 'ands' or buts' about it. After all, it would be a great shame if a war was to break out between Altissia and Lucis." And with that, Sera dispelled her dagger and left the room, 'Aranea' following suit.

"The palace is safe now. Have Lady Solara, First Secretary Claustra and Weskham join me in the throne room," Sera texted Prompto, soon putting her phone away. She then headed to the throne room, finding Prompto, Camelia, Weskham and Solara standing before Sera and Ardyn.

"What was it?" Solara asked, a look of concern on her face. Sera quickly glanced over at Ardyn, who, to everyone else, looked like the Niflheim dragoon, Aranea. Her gaze then met the worried one on her friend's face before speaking.

"It was a bomb. It would appear to me that Romelle placed it upon her arrival and had it set to explode today. Luckily, I was able to disable it and dispose of it properly." After speaking, Sera noticed Ardyn gave her an impressed look, having never seen Sera lie to her friends before. "On your word, and with the permission of my first officer, Aranea and I will search the Citadel for any other threats that may remain unnoticed."

"Thank you." As she spoke, she bowed and motioned for Ardyn to follow. Once the two were out of the room, Sera turned to Ardyn, a serious look on her face. "Wander out of my line of sight and you will die. Touch anything and you lose a hand. Do not do anything to destroy this kingdom or there will be a quick death if you disobey my orders."

After days of keeping an eye on Ardyn, the troops and Camelia headed back to Altissia, but Ardyn was nowhere to be found. Where is he? she thought, searching all over the Citadel for him, soon finding him atop the throne, the image before her was the very same as the night Noctis took his ascension.