Mending Shadows // Chapter 20
Summary:
Y/N was a simple Scavenger of Lucis, until meeting a deadly blow at the hands of an infected creature. At the crossroads of death, they are found by Niflheim’s cryptic Chancellor with his own agenda. Now bonded to Ardyn Izunia, and tossed into the world of Niflheim, Y/N struggles to cope with their new life as an Imperial Icon all the while battling their feelings toward their fate and that of Ardyn’s.
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The palace halls to the residency were quiet. Save for the shuffling of Imperial Help preparing to turn in for the night. Ardyn made note how there was not so much a peep while he ventured to his dwelling. He sighed while adjusting the large grocery bag he had been carrying with his left arm. The contents rattled, and at first Ardyn assumed something had gotten loose. He paused in his stride, lowering the bag to look over his wares. There was nothing amiss, and thus he pressed onward.
After fumbling with his keys--and nearly dropping the bag--Ardyn closed the door behind him once he reached home. He sat the grocery bag down at his feet while he tended to locking up. Once that was settled, did his eyes land on the large clock in the living room. Seeing that it was 10:45pm, Ardyn furrowed his brows. He knew he had been out long, but could’ve sworn it was 8pm just moments ago. Sighing, Ardyn knew it was useless to dwell on such mishaps. He still struggled with conceptualizing time although it had been decades since he had been awakened from Angelgard. Not that he would be bold enough to admit that to anybody. The thought of it made him grimace before he picked up the grocery bag, and carried on with his mission.
Ardyn pressed the kitchen doors open quietly. He nearly jumped when he saw Tuti at the counter, putting away some dishes from the sink. She in turn gasped, and fumbled with one of the plates in her possession. It was by the fortune of the gods she didn’t drop it, having caught the edge at the last second.
Once the initial shocks were worn, Tuti glared at Ardyn with contempt then went back to cleaning.
Ardyn breathed through his nose, making a face while he tried to uphold some sort of civility. He walked over to the kitchen island, and sat the bag down while clearing his throat.
“I won’t be needing your services for the rest of the night.”
“Noted,” Tuti replied with a flat tone.
“That goes for Y/N as well. You’re dismissed.” Ardyn added. He observed Tuti stiffen, and with a defeated sigh, she put away the last of the plates she had been cleaning. Once done, did she begin to dry her hands off with a towel hanging from the arm of the oven in front of her.
“How is Y/N fairing?”
“Y/N’s resting right now. The flares today were dreadful.” Tuti wiped the last of the suds off her hands with her apron, and approached Ardyn. She was careful not to get too close to him.
Tuti let out a breath. “Will that be all, excellency? I have much work to do outside of your quarters. I don’t want to keep the Palace Warden waiting.”
If she was going for subtlety, she’s failing at it… Ardyn bitterly thought. Tuti’s disdain wasn’t easy to cloak. She wore it on her sleeve much like her bubbly persona. Ardyn fought against his instinct to shoo her off for insubordination, but he reminded himself that although he didn’t like her, both he and Tuti cared for Y/N.
“Before you leave, I have something for you.” Ardyn took a few steps toward the kitchen island. His right hand rummaged through the grocery bag, and he pulled out a small pink rose and an envelope.
“What’s this?” Tuti whispered, raising a brow as Ardyn approached and handed off the items to her. Her fingers pinched at the envelope, feeling how full it was. Conflict brewed in her eyes while she admired the pink rose. As much as Tuti wanted to throw it back at Ardyn’s face, she appreciated the beauty of the flower too much to insult its radiance. She carefully tucked the flower behind her right ear, and began to open the envelope.
“Consider it tip for taking care of Y/N on my behalf.” Ardyn watched as Tuti’s eyes nearly bulged out from her skull. He faintly smirked before going neutral.
“That’s almost five months of salary.” Tuti murmured under her breath. By the mercy of the gods did she gather strength to peer up at Ardyn, and glared at him. “I’ll have you know, that you can’t just buy someone’s forgiveness.”
“I’m well aware,” Ardyn said as a matter of fact and sighed. “Is it working though?”
“Well,” Tuti breathed. She counted the bills in the envelope and shook her head. “If I remember, the gods forgive all sin on Sundays. Including someone selling their virtue.”
Ardyn let out an amused huff, watching Tuti carefully tuck the envelope into the back pocket of her apron. He was about to say something, until Tuti held up a hand and cut him off.
“Please, I don’t wish to have a conversation anymore Chancellor. I want to perform my duties, and turn in for the night.”
“Very well,” Ardyn gestured with his head toward the exit. “Don’t let me keep you.”
Tuti offered a bow, and walked over to the doors. She paused for a moment, turning her head to the side to watch Ardyn go back to pulling things out of the grocery bag. There was a lot of food from what she could gather. A soft sigh left her lips, and Tuti cleared her throat.
“Chancellor,”
“Yes?”
“Y/N was adamant about speaking with you despite…well, what happened. You needn’t worry.” Tuti murmured. The face she wore was a mix of disappointment and awe.
Ardyn gave a firm nod after he hummed in reply, then continued to carry on, not paying heed to Tuti as she finally left.
Hours later, Ardyn carefully approached a large bed. His eyes combed over Y/N’s resting form that was draped under the blankets. He paused when he saw their feet dangling off the edge, noting the scourge veins bulging out. Ardyn could only imagine what the rest of their body looked like. The thought nerved him and Y/N’s shallow exhales didn’t help. If anything, he felt worse about what happened this morning.
Hovering above Y/N, Ardyn canted his head while examining their features. They were lying on their side, half their face buried into the large silk pillow below. The scourge marks pulsated when Y/N drew in breath. Ardyn closed his eyes, focusing his own darkness on the daemonic aura that coursed through Y/N’s veins. A crackling sound echoed against Ardyn’s ears, and whispers began to rise and fall. His own conscience was nearly drowned out by the noise, but he firmly repeated in mind for the shadows to cease. When he opened his eyes, the world became silent again.
Though Y/N’s infection was not even a fraction of Ardyn’s ailment, he could feel the toll it had on their body and the struggle to remain alive despite the horrendous pain. With resentment, Ardyn glared at the dark webbing on Y/N's skin. He crouched down until he was on his knees. His face now level with Y/N and the mattress.
Thoughts ran through Ardyn as he sighed through his nose. He wondered if Y/N would be upset with his presence near considering what happened. Ardyn wasn’t one to apologize, especially in this incarnation as Chancellor, but even with all his justifications he couldn’t let this slide. Not when he knew in his heart of hearts, that he was in the wrong.
“Y/N,” Ardyn murmured softly. His right hand reached to touch their neck, fingers gliding over skin until his palm gently cupped their cheek. He watched the scourge veins begin to recede; the darkness having listened to his plea from before. His features perked when Y/N groaned, and their eyes fluttered open briefly.
“Y/N,” Ardyn leaned forward. His nose pressed to their skin, inhaling their scent before drifting up to their ear. A tired mix between groan and giggle left Y/N’s mouth, and he couldn’t help but smile like an idiot.
“I have something for you.” He whispered into the shell of their ear.
“That’s a lie,” Y/N muttered exhausted while they stirred more from their rest. “We both know you don’t like charity.”
Ardyn chuckled against Y/N’s hair. His lips gently pressed against the side of their head before he pulled away. He met Y/N’s weary gaze, and the marks he had left upon their skin. He felt nauseous gazing over the black and blue texture.
“I’d like for you to join me at the table if you have the strength. I made us a meal.”
Despite how drained Y/N felt from the scourge, their brows raised in surprise. “You didn’t have Tuti do that on your behalf? I’m shocked.”
“No. Not this time.” Ardyn admitted with a smirk. “Believe it or not, I can perform menial tasks by myself. I just choose not to.”
“What’s the occasion? I thought I was in the hot seat.” Y/N’s voice trailed off and they swallowed.
“You’re in no such position with me,” Ardyn shook his head. He moved a stray strand of hair out from their eyes, his touch lingering. “I...wanted to do this for you.”
“This morning--”
“No, let’s not speak on it right now. Later we will. You have my word. ” Ardyn interrupted. His amber eyes lingered between Y/N’s mouth and their hair. Before he got too lost, Ardyn retreated his hand away from them and he gestured with his head to the chamber doors.
“Let’s get you out of bed. I don’t want the food to run cold. Do you need assistance?”
“Yeah,” Y/N nodded and winced when they moved their left foot.
“I can carry you?” Ardyn offered.
“I’d like to do this myself. Just let me lean on you.” Y/N murmured. They didn’t notice the hurt that crossed Ardyn’s face at their decline.
Taking in a few deep breaths, Y/N let out a cry and forced the upper half of their body to rise from the bed. The motion felt as if they had run their entire body through a thicket of barbed wire. With every movement they made in the trench, it only ensnared them further into the spiky ends that dug into flesh. When Ardyn attempted to help, Y/N shook their head and gestured for him to stand down. They were surprised at his compliance, given the fierce look that carried through his eyes.
Y/N started to flex their fingers, getting them to wake up. After the wave of pain died down, did they gather the strength to stand. On their feet, Y/N wobbled like a bookcase whose shelves were not properly lined up. Their feet felt static as did their blood. The scourge constricting around their calves like snakes didn’t help with their balance, and caused them to fall forward into Ardyn’s chest. Through a muffled yelp, Y/N felt their body adjust as Ardyn gently pushed them back and went to their side. He coaxed Y/N’s body into leaning against his own, while his arm went around their waist for support. After finding their balance, did Y/N motion for Ardyn to move and begin their trek to the kitchen.
The walk was a quiet affair, minus the whimpers and occasional groans that fell past Y/N’s lips. Every once in a while, Ardyn glanced down at Y/N to assess them; noting that their body had been severely taxed. He started to second guess waking them up in the first place, seeing the grey bags under their eyes. There was also the proximity piece that had his blood quake with each step. The texture of their skin, the sweet smell of their own scent intermingling with the essence of the scourge, and the weight of their body against him had Ardyn worried he’d go haywire. His pulse rose unsteadily, wondering if perhaps he himself was becoming ill.
The second Ardyn felt Y/N’s breath faintly tickle the underside of his jaw, he stopped and let out a disgruntled sigh. “This is taking far too long.”
“We’re almost there,” Y/N protested, and gestured with their chin to the kitchen doors. All they had to do was cross through the living room space. From Y/N’s perspective, it felt like miles of uncharted territory laid ahead given how much they ached. Nevertheless, they didn’t want to throw in the towel just yet.
“I don’t understand the insistence of prolonging your suffering.” Ardyn countered, furrowing his brows at them.
“It’s not that I don’t want your help,” Y/N gritted through their teeth while feeling the scourge slide across their legs. It felt like their skin was being flayed. “If I can’t do this on my own, I'll--”
“Y/N,”
“Yeah?”
“While I admire your tenacity, I’m imploring you to let me help.”
Y/N sighed in defeat. “Ardyn--”
“I tire of hearing you moan in my ear every second.”
Of all the things he could’ve said, Y/N didn’t see that coming. Sensing his discomfort, Y/N felt blush rising in their cheeks. Whether it was from their embarrassment or wanting to play off the severity of the scourge flare, they felt emboldened to make a jest.
“You know,” Y/N coughed. “Most guys would be into that.”
The look he wore was priceless. A mixture of disgust and intrigue traveled across Ardyn’s face, and Y/N couldn’t help but snicker.
“I didn’t take you for a minx.” Ardyn huffed.
“Between the two of us you’d fit the bill of that better than I.”
“Oh, that’s quite sinful! It’s rather sweet you acknowledge my prowess.” Ardyn teased in a sinister fashion.
“I...” Y/N struggled to speak. “I wasn’t complimenting or--”
“Then what we’re you implying, darling ?”
He held Y/N’s gaze for several seconds, watching their laughter turn into nervous chuckling. Ardyn couldn’t help but smile at how pink Y/N’s face had become. When they were at the precipice of expressing fear--at how he lurked over them like a serpent hypnotizing it’s prey--did he strike.
“H-hey!” Y/N exclaimed, feeling their body and the world shift as Ardyn swept his arms underneath their form. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m speeding things up,” Ardyn teased, smirking proudly when Y/N instinctively wrapped their arms over his shoulders while he carried them like a newlywed bride. “By the way, you’re quite welcome.”
“Damn you…” Y/N muttered under their breath, trying to ignore the laugh he let out at their expense. Their pride was wounded, but Y/N would be lying if they didn’t appreciate Ardyn pulling off that little stunt. Their aching body certainly respected what he had done, giving a much needed break.
As Ardyn walked them both to the kitchen, Y/N felt their face grow warm when they caught a whiff of his scent. He always smelled rich, like sandal and rosewood; strong and earthy. The sweet undertone that intertwined with his usual musk had Y/N feeling an impulse to bury their face into his neck. It reminded Y/N of the fermented smell the scourge gave off, without the rotting stink. Whatever it was caused by, be it the long day at work or if he was trying something new, Y/N felt their nerves tremble as scourge and blood rushed through them.
“Here we go,” Ardyn’s playful declaration stopped Y/N from succumbing to their urge as he gently plopped them into a chair. He was careful to push it in toward the table once Y/N got comfortable, and he ventured to the chair next to theirs and took a seat.
Y/N's eyes widened, gazing upon the meal that Ardyn had laid forth. There was a fish of some sort on their plate, topped with a brown butter sauce. It was well seasoned with a nutty fragrance akin to hazelnut. The bed of salad it was placed upon looked just as delectable as the main course, and quite unusual. Y/N could see a mixture of apple slices with gouda cheese, red onion, olive oil, sunflower seeds, and another vegetable that smelled similar to a turnip.
Y/N had never seen a meal like this before, not at the Gala, and certainly not when Tuti or other Imperial Help delivered meals to the residency. Y/N could scarce believe that Ardyn played a hand in this concoction.
“What is this?” Y/N asked while using their fork to poke the meat. They couldn’t help but let out a laugh, shaking their head. “This has got to be take out.”
“I assure you, it’s no such thing.” Ardyn chuckled with pride, glancing between the meal and Y/N. “It’s grilled bass, and the salad is made with kohlrabi. I haven’t made this in over 2,000 years. Try it, and tell me what you think.”
2,000 years…? Y/N almost had the audacity to jokingly ask Ardyn if this was his first time making anything in his life. Alas they relented, but the message sunk in how long ago that was. It certainly explained why the dish looked unknown, and just like it’s creator, otherworldly in a sense.
At feeling their stomach rumble, Y/N eagerly and with caution took a chunk of the bass meat with their fork and brought it to their mouth. They blew on the meat a few times, feeling the steam rise off the scales before consumption.
Different tones of flavors exploded against their tongue, and Y/N had no idea how to label each and every taste; for it blended together in a beautiful dance. Their expressions must’ve been concerning, for Ardyn looked worried. That is until Y/N went ravenous and began to eat more of it.
“Wow,” Y/N murmured in between chews.
“Well?”
“It could be poison and I’d still eat it!” Y/N exclaimed in between bites, causing Ardyn to laugh.
“Where were you 2,000 years ago?” He mused.
“Somewhere in the dark. Not even an egg or sperm yet,” Y/N teased, blushing when Ardyn snorted at the crude remark. “Why do you ask?”
“Well,” Ardyn began to carve the meat on his own plate, taking a small bite himself. “This was a poor man’s feast by the standards of yesteryear. Not many cared for it.”
Y/N furrowed their brows. “I thought you said you were royalty?”
“That’s correct.”
“But you ate poorly?”
“Hmm hmm,” Ardyn nodded. His expression softened, almost appearing morose. “When I became a healer full time, I had forsaken royal decadence and relied upon the charity of those I serviced. Many didn’t have the means to pay, so if they offered food and shelter, I took it with grace. Overtime, I grew to love dishes like this one and I learned to prepare it myself.”
“Why did you put yourself through that?” Y/N watched Ardyn’s amber eyes curiously roam over them. They couldn’t tell if he was intrigued or appalled by the question.
“I mean, the way you are now or what I’ve come to know of you, it’s like you’re speaking about another person.”
There was a long pause as Ardyn mulled over Y/N’s statement. He himself was puzzled at his own discernment. Furrowing his brows, he carefully reached for a bottle of wine that was in the middle of the table between himself and Y/N.
“Do you remember our conversation long ago in Lucis, when you asked how I became as I am?”
Y/N nodded. Their eyes darted to the wine bottle as Ardyn popped the top open, and poured himself a glass.
“You said your kindness cost you everything.” Y/N murmured in reply.
“Correct,” Ardyn met Y/N’s eyes, and gestured to their empty glass, offering to pour a round for them. He smiled faintly when they gave a nod, and proceeded.
“Back then, the blight or what became known as the star scourge made it’s debut when my brother and I were both young men. As it grew, Somnus believed that culling the flock was a necessary evil to prevent the spread. I found through my practice that certain people were predisposed to the scourge, while others were not even if they were around the infected. Alas, they were still carriers. My brother justified more sacrifices because of what I had discovered. Even with the knowledge that I could cure the infected myself, he wouldn’t budge from his stance.”
Once he topped off Y/N’s wine, Ardyn gently slid the glass to them. “One day, I excommunicated myself from the kingdoms council under the guise that I was going on a pilgrimage, in honor of mine and Somnus’s late mother. I was to be gone for six months, but six became nine and nine became twelve. I traveled across Lucis healing those afflicted; trying to show the people, and Somnus that there was another way besides bloodshed. Hence, I became quite acquainted with peasantry and cuisine.”
While Ardyn gave no reason to lie, there were some things that didn’t add up for Y/N. If it was true, that he could cure the scourge, then why did he drag them through this whole mess? It was one of the many questions that fired off in Y/N’s mind. They mulled over his story while taking another bite of the fish while he nursed generously from his own wine glass.
“There’s no cure,” Y/N shook their head. They glanced over him, trying to find a hint of deception behind his confused gaze.
“Pardon?”
“How did you heal people from the scourge?”
“How do you think I became Adagium?” Ardyn huffed with a smirk.
“I don’t know, you tell me.” Y/N countered with a laugh. It seemed Ardyn was more or less amused by the banter. Alas he sighed, as if preparing himself for a long winded speech before the Imperial council.
“Well, I…” Ardyn bit his bottom lip while contemplating his choice of words. It had been a long, long time since he reviewed his past history. He had purposefully tried to dispose of his old self, letting the daemons inside his body eat away at him, and Ardyn was shocked he had quite a vivid recollection the longer he dwelled on it.
“If it’s not something you want to discuss--”
“No, no,” Ardyn shook his head, gesturing with his right hand for Y/N to cease. “I assure you I have nothing to hide."
“I can tell you’re lying.” Y/N snorted. “You’re nervous about it.”
“Am I that obvious?” Ardyn raised a brow. He smiled amusingly, seeing Y/N nod to his remark.
“I have an idea.” Y/N suggested.
“Let’s hear it then.”
“If you don’t think you can tell me in five sentences or less how you became Adagium, then it’s probably something we shouldn’t discuss.”
To say Ardyn was perplexed as an understatement. He chortled before speaking. “I must’ve already drank one glass too many. Did I hear you correctly, five sentences or less?”
Y/N nodded with a smile. “You sure did.”
“I’m afraid I’m not following?”
“In my experience, if a person is open and willing, they can get to their point within five sentences or less. Anything more, and they’re either lying or it hurts too much.”
Ardyn hummed in thought at Y/N’s proclamation. He took another sip from his wine glass.
“I suppose this mentality comes from your days as a Scavenger, no less?”
“You’d be correct.” Y/N smiled, fiddling with their fork against some of the apple slices beneath the grilled fish.
Ardyn was quiet for a time. Neither he nor Y/N said a word to each other while the latter continued to eat. Once they finished off the fish, and began working their way to the salad, did Ardyn let out a breath.
“Challenge accepted,” He proudly mused, earning a double take from Y/N. He chuckled at their expense, eyes glancing at his own meal he had barely touched.
“The gods blessed me with the power to cure the scourge at the expense of my own health. I thought it was a worthy sacrifice, to forsake one for the many. Each time I took the darkness into myself, a little bit of my soul withered away. I fought it off as long as I could, but Somnus brought out the worst in me. He took away the only anchor I had left, keeping me human.”
Each word was a pebble, which evolved into jagged rocks. By the time Ardyn finished his five sentences, Y/N could hear the pain in his voice that he desperately tried to cover with loathing. It all made sense how he got from point A to point B, and it should’ve been so obvious. Y/N felt like a fool for not putting the pieces together sooner.
“Your anchor was Aera, wasn’t it?”
The gasp left Ardyn so abruptly, it startled Y/N. They carefully watched him, seeing how every muscle in his body tensed as if he had been struck. The way his eyes bore into Y/N, had them wondering why he hadn’t screamed nor yelled yet.
“Where did you hear that name?”
“I think I saw a memory of yours this morning.” Y/N replied cautiously. They could tell he was trying hard to keep himself together, and decided not to leave too much hanging for Ardyn’s sake. “After you struck me, I blacked out and woke up to a battle. There was a lot of blood, and I was losing. The man I fought, he was going to deliver the final blow until Aera got in between us. She died in my arms.”
Ardyn was silent for what felt like ages. He never once blinked nor took his eyes off of Y/N.
“What did you feel, when you held her?”
“What?”
“Answer the question, please.”
His demand was neither imposing nor was it gentle. Y/N was beside themself while they tried to recollect those tender feelings they experienced. It was so hard to describe, yet the memory felt as if it had always belonged to them.
“I didn’t feel real anymore. All I felt was my heart, and everything about me, shatter. I kept so many from dying, yet I couldn’t keep the one person I cherished most alive. I felt all of Eos crumble in my arms.”
Y/N hadn’t realized they had been crying until Ardyn had passed them a napkin. They sniffled, feeling their face flush and murmured a quiet thank you under their breath. After wiping their eyes, did they swallow back the remaining tears. Y/N felt foolish. This was after all, a memory of Ardyn’s, but they felt some ownership of the weight.
“I saw what your friends did to you, back at the Quay. Everything.” Ardyn finally spoke up. It was now Y/N’s turn to handle the shock of such a declaration. He could see the fright in their eyes, and slowly began to regale. “I see why you were so miserable when you showed up to the inn. You really loved them all, didn’t you?”
Y/N nodded. “And you really loved Aera.”
Ardyn sighed through his nose. He made a fist, knowing this wasn't something he could shelter away. Y/N knew too much.
“Was this a bleed through?”
“Yes, yes it was.” Ardyn admitted. There was no use in trying to lie for the sake of pacifying. He knew deep down that Y/N knew the truth to begin with, but they needed validation for it to feel legitimate. He lingered on what happened in the morning, and everything he had experienced up to this point.
“Y/N,”
“Yeah?”
“The sylleblossoms weren’t your fault, nor were they Tuti’s or even Commander Pierce’s boy.” Ardyn averted his gaze, fixating at what was left of his wine. “I had a night terror about Aera, among other things. There was much blood in it.”
“So the flowers did make you crazy.”
“I'm not good at apologizing,” Ardyn bit the inside of his cheek, reminding himself that he needed to set things right even if it cost him his pride. He turned his full attention to Y/N, letting the shame that had been bottling up inside of himself come through his tired eyes.
“I know I’ve attempted to rectify the situation with a meal, but I know that can’t suffice for what I’ve done. A sorry won’t sit well with me, and I doubt the same on your end. So…name anything, and it shall be yours.”
Y/N was taken aback. “Anything?”
“Anything,” Ardyn emphasized. “It can be at my personal expense or not. It’s only fair.”
“Would you mind if we did a raincheck?”
Ardyn was visibly confused at first. In the rare event he had found himself owing someone a favor, said persons jumped the gun in a heartbeat without thinking twice. There was always something to be gained from cornering the Chancellor. That had been Ardyn’s experience in Niflheim for decades, up until now. Y/N had puzzled him many times, but this was a moment that Ardyn filed away in his subconscious; there was no hidden motive with them. Perhaps there never was. Not even when he was so certain in the early stages of their partnership.
He searched Y/N for any sign of deception, and alas was met with a smile. It was simple and conveyed enough to give him grounds to return one in favor before speaking.
“Just say the word when the time comes. I’ll honor it.”
“I’ll hold you to that.” Y/N mused. Their body tensed for a moment as they eyed the rest of their plate.
Y/N would be lying to themself if they didn’t feel at odds with the situation they were in with Ardyn. They had their share of physical altercations. It was something that unfortunately Scavengers would come across at one point or another, be it petty disputes between fellow workers or fighting off folks who had no legitimate claim to treasures. Had this been anyone else who had struck them down, Y/N knew redemption would be off the table. Had anyone acted like Ardyn, Y/N wouldn’t have stood for it. They swallowed, realizing the vast number of exceptions they allowed for him. The epiphany was both enlightening and held alarming context.
Y/N couldn’t afford to dwell on their leniency any further. Not when the scourge pinched at their swollen eye where they had been hit. They scanned over their plate. For as good as the food was, Y/N didn’t know if they could stomach anything further. At the very least, Y/N decided to eat a little bit more of the salad and finish off the wine; out of courtesy for the labor Ardyn had put into it.
The rest of dinner went on quietly as Y/N and Ardyn ate. Neither party said a word, nor paid much heed after the conversation died down. It was only when Ardyn saw Y/N displaying obvious signs of fatigue did he finally pipe up.
“Tired?”
Y/N smiled. “Exhausted and full.”
“That’s quite unfortunate,” Ardyn mused. “I made dessert, but I suppose that can wait for morning.”
“Well,” Y/N hummed in thought. Their stomach felt like it was going to distend, but much like Ardyn, sweets were a temptation they couldn’t overlook so easily. “Maybe I can have a little bite?”
Ardyn chuckled, shaking his head. “There’s no need to force yourself. Besides, there is another matter I need to discuss with you before we depart for bed.”
“Oh?”
“How do you feel about weddings?”
Y/N made a face, unsure what he was driving at. The question came so far out of left field, that he might as well should’ve asked if Eos was flat or spherical.
“I’ve…never really been to many. Well, huge ones. I’ve attended small unions before. Why?”
“You and I are needed for an engagement in Accordo, an arranged marriage.” Before Ardyn could express anything further, he saw the shocked terror that danced across Y/N’s face along with a blush that could rival the richest of burgundy silks that Aldercapt owned. He did a double take, making a face before the dots connected and he cackled like a child who had gotten away with stealing.
“Oh come now!” Ardyn said in between fits. “I wasn’t implying us!”
“Oh damn the six…” Y/N let out a breath in relief, shaking their head as Ardyn continued to laugh at their expense. They shot him a glare, their face feeling warm from misconstruing the situation.
“You know, you could’ve worded that better.”
“The fault lies with me there, I’ll admit that.” Ardyn snorted. He let out a breath, and smirked. “I suppose it wouldn’t be so bad, considering we seem to know each other inside and out at this point, quite literally…”
“What?!”
“Moving on!” Ardyn raised his voice with a snicker, taking hold of the reigns before Y/N had the chance to verbally beat him down for the tease. “The betrothal is between an Accordian Senator, and a Niflheim Lead of Office. The Accordo envoys are hopeful this union will quell any rebellious tendencies in their own countrymen. Given the prestige of both parties entering the marriage, the engagement not only requires the presence of my company but that of yours.”
After Y/N got over the embarrassment of Ardyn’s not so clever flirtation, did they listen carefully. Something didn’t add up for them.
“Not that I’m opposed, but why do I need to go?
“Being an Imperial Icon, it’s imperative you attend and leave a good impression; not only to make Niflheim look generous for taking you in, but to perhaps sway public opinion about Lucis and the monarchy.”
“What you’re saying is, you want me to talk shit about my homeland.”
“Maybe not so vulgar in language, but yes.” Ardyn could see the reluctance in Y/N’s features. “I had a feeling you’d have a qualm, therefore I’ve already put together a script of sorts. We can go over it along with your other obligations this week.”
“Alright,” Y/N murmured. This shouldn’t have surprised them, but there was an uneasiness in Y/N’s stomach that refused to go away.
“Given what I know now,” Ardyn cleared his throat, earning Y/N’s eyes. “I understand this isn’t easy. However, we both have parts to play in this theatrical piece until the dust settles and I can make due on my oath.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I get it.” Y/N remarked, feeling the weight somewhat shift off their shoulders at what Ardyn said. “That doesn’t mean it won’t be hard. You were once a Lucian. I’m sure it was difficult for you to fully cut ties despite what happened in the past.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” Ardyn replied nonchalant. He let out a huff while his mind briefly recalled his 2,000 year exile, and the months after Verstael had freed him; only to chain him to a different cage. “Be grateful Verstael isn’t the one mentoring you. He certainly ensured my wings were clipped when it came to sentiment for Lucis, whatever was left of my adoration anyhow.”
“Trust me, between an immortal monster and a guy who ages like a balding goat, I’d take the immortal any day.”
Although initially appalled, Ardyn laughed at the candid remark. He felt some relief as well hearing Y/N join him in that regard.
“Ah, you flatter me so!”
“Eh, don’t get used to it.” Y/N countered with a giggle.
“I’ll make note of that.” Ardyn grinned. He soon faltered when his eyes locked on Y/N’s. For a split second, there was a look of awe in their gaze that had his knees shudder; as if they would buckle though he was sitting down. It occurred to him Y/N must’ve caught on that something was amiss, for they shyly looked away.
“I’d…like to try something.” Ardyn whispered, earning Y/N’s attention once more. He himself wasn’t sure where this was coming from, and although composed, inside he was petrified. “Is it alright if I touch you?”
“Touch me?”
Ardyn gestured to his own face to emphasize where.
“Oh,” Y/N swallowed. Their stomach twisted in a painful knot, only soothed by nerves that seemed to be running amok in bliss. The contradiction was so strange. “I guess so…”
“No, this won’t do.” Ardyn shook his head. He scooted his chair so he could get closer to Y/N. Once settled, he continued. “It’s either an enthusiastic yes, or nothing at all.”
“I didn’t take you for a consent type of guy.”
“In some circumstances, it certainly calls for it.” Ardyn mused, trying to not venture into territory that could land him in hot water. Although he was certainly tempted to make a flirtatious jest at Y/N’s expense, it wasn’t worth making his heart rock further against his ribs.
He gestured his hands out to Y/N, palms up, as if he was making an offering to the six; all the while demonstrating there was no weapon to be had. Y/N couldn’t help but notice that some of his fingers were shaking.
“May I?”
The softness of his voice pulled Y/N away from studying his palms any further. With another gulp, they nodded before giving a definitive answer.
“Yes.”
His hands slowly reached out. Y/N’s shoulders tensed as did the rest of their muscles. Their eyes fluttered shut. Trembling, Y/N could feel Ardyn's hands cup their face, thumbs smoothing over fears of endangerment while pressing firmly yet gently against their bruises. They couldn’t help but wince, letting out a pained grunt. Ardyn’s soft hush made the trembling worse, but more so in their legs and feet. It was so strange, the power a voice could have over someone.
A voice… Y/N furrowed their brows. For the briefest of seconds, they could hear an inhuman sound cradling the inside of their skull. There was no way to decipher what was being said, but Y/N felt on a primal level, that they understood what it meant. The image of Outpost 98 and the explosion flashed behind their eyelids, and then a tender bout of pain radiated against their face; causing Y/N to grimace.
Before their mind could follow the voice any further down its dark path, they felt something warm under their skin; as if the life force of Eos had been taken into their blood and massaged all the knots and pains away. This felt different from when Ardyn would redirect the scourge. This was something else entirely.
The chain of events lasted for a minute, but to Y/N, it felt like forever. Their eyes fanned open, meeting Ardyn’s deep amber eyes as he carefully looked them over; his hands remained in place, daring not to let go of them.
A crooked smile fell upon his lips, and Y/N couldn’t help but mirror him. It was bizarre, seeing him in the state of awe he was growing into.
“You’re healed…” He muttered as if he himself couldn’t believe it. “I never thought I could do that again.”
“The blackeye, its gone?”
Ardyn quietly hummed with a nod.
“How did you--”
“I’m not sure,” Ardyn whispered to himself. He adjusted the placement of his hands on Y/N’s face, brushing some strands of hair out from their eyes before his thumbs began to rub small circles into their cheeks. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah,” Y/N murmured, faintly nodding against his touch. The sweet scent that had been whiffing off of Ardyn’s body began to make a comeback, and Y/N couldn’t help but lean in. If they didn’t know better, he was having a similar reaction. There was a look in his eyes that was intense, as if he had been put under a spell and couldn’t withhold the reactions his body was going to have.
Y/N could feel the air from his nose hit their flesh. The hitch in his breath gave way he was inhaling their scent. Somehow, Y/N knew this had to be the scourges doing; drawing them together like two magnets. Fear and something else intertwined in Y/N’s chest as they tilted their chin up, their face gently pressed against the stubble on Ardyn’s cheek. His breath hitched again, Y/N heard him swallow, his fingers shuddered against their face, and then his strong nose brushed against theirs.
“Ardyn--”
In a split second, the spell was broken and he let go. Ardyn hastily retreated, albeit not in a manner to suggest he was disgusted. His eyes blinked several times, seemingly confused at his actions.
“I...I don't--”
Y/N breathed out. “That was…”
“Peculiar?”
“Yeah.” Y/N nodded.
They both acknowledged one another, as if trying to see if each had been hurt before Ardyn made his move. He let out a sigh then forced himself to his feet and began to gather up the plates and silverware, no longer wishing to indulge Y/N.
Y/N furrowed their brows. “Ardyn?”
“You go on to bed,” He replied gently. “I’ll get this cleaned up.”
As much as Y/N wanted to pry further, they found themself frozen; unable to say a word. Whether it was from their own nerves, the scourge bubbling in their stomach, or something else entirely it didn’t matter. Y/N whispered a good night, got to their feet, and somehow through the pain, coaxed themself to return to their dwelling within Ardyn’s residence.
They didn’t realize he had long stopped collecting the dishes, and watched them walk away. Ardyn's fingers grasped the plates with a firm grip as he fought against calling Y/N back to him.
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Mending Shadows // Chapter 5
Summary:
Y/N was a simple Scavenger of Lucis, until meeting a deadly blow at the hands of an infected creature. At the crossroads of death, they are found by Niflheim’s cryptic Chancellor with his own agenda. Now bonded to Ardyn Izunia, and tossed into the world of Niflheim, Y/N struggles to cope with their new life as an Imperial Icon all the while battling their feelings toward their fate and that of Ardyn’s.
Click here to read on AO3
Ardyn stretched his arms and yawned. He was leaning up against the front of the Vixen while casting a scrutinizing glare toward the gas meter. The sound of the ocean near the road, and the distinct calls of birds swayed against his ears. He watched as the pump slowly continued to fill the car, and he hummed in thought. The price of fuel these days was abysmal. Then again, the Lucian economy had taken quite a hit due to Niflheim’s war.
“Suppose I can’t blame the royal family for wanting to rob everyone dry,” Ardyn chuckled, amused with himself. The total came to around 2,500 gil. Barely a dent in his pocketbooks, yet he could imagine how trifling that would have been to a small family. Choosing between food and fuel was a product of the modern world that Ardyn didn’t care for. Gone were the days of living within one’s means, and trading goods for other products. His mind started to wander, recalling simpler times and pleasures. As much as Ardyn adored his car and modern world decadence, nothing could ever beat the freedom of riding on the back of either a horse or chocobo from the days of yore. He smiled thoughtfully to himself, remembering the first time he rode such beasts. He shook his head and grimaced when he lingered for too long.
“Sentiment will get you nowhere, old boy.” He muttered to himself with contention.
Ardyn’s eyes peered over to the market next to the fuel station, and he debated with himself about getting a snack and a drink. Furrowing his brows, Ardyn let out the most dramatic sigh one could muster and waltzed to the entrance. There were present-day indulgences that he was addicted to, and he both loathed and prided himself on the fact.
Once inside, Ardyn wasted no effort in creeping around at every item, even down to the little knick-knacks that tourists often bought for keepsakes. He raised a brow at a row of snow globes next to a bag of chips. Each piece contained the Crown City’s iconic towers of the citadel. The temptation to break them all itched at Ardyn’s spine. His eyes cast a glance at the cashier who was counting money in the till. It would be so easy to play the scenario off as a clumsy mistake. Alas, he reminded himself he came here for one thing and one thing only, and sighed in defeat.
After meandering, Ardyn smiled big when he saw row upon row of Ebony in the back fridge. His amber eyes carded over all the black cans with awe when he approached the glass doors. Ever since Accordo put an embargo on Niflheim, he had been months without the brand. Ardyn wasn’t normally one that enjoyed coffee. Caffeine had an unpleasant effect on his mind. With there already being thousands of other occupants behind the wheel, the last thing Ardyn needed was his brain frying under the weight of daemonic energy, and having a high. Ebony was the one brand he made an exception for.
Spotting an unsweetened version of the brand, Ardyn opened up the glass door and crouched down. His fingertips touched the cool texture of the can. The charismatic smile he carried into the market faded.
In what felt like a bad flash from a camera, Ardyn witnessed his fingers touching the chilled texture of a corpse. He saw a woman with her jaw nearly cleaved off. Two men nearby were mangled in a similar fashion. A feeling of dread jolted his nerves.
Ardyn blinked several times, and the can of Ebony came back into view. He paused. His fingertips lingered upon the can, hesitant to pick the beverage up. The deep glare he cast toward the fridge could’ve cut through steel.
In all his years of acting upon the scourge’s influence, and taking the souls of the unwilling into himself, Ardyn believed he’d never get spooked when it came to absorbing the memories of his trespassers. He had performed the action so many times, that it became second nature. This new development troubled him a great deal.
Y/N’s face came to mind. A deep exhale left Ardyn’s nostrils. His eyes closed.
Smoke and chemical grime burned the inside of Ardyn’s nose. Wheezing, he took several steps back from the epicenter of the explosion. His right hand covered his lower abdomen. Blood oozed from a horizontal slash by a sword that cut through his clothes like butter. He gasped in an agonizing groan, feeling a wave of nausea hit. A throbbing sting coming from Ardyn’s neck had him shaking his head back and forth every so often in a vain attempt to tamper down the sensation.
Fingers trembling, Ardyn felt his vision begin to fade in and out. He nearly buckled under his own weight. This shouldn’t have been happening. He was immortal. The godforsaken Adagium. Physical pain was something he was more than accustomed to after 2,000 years of solitude, and then additional years of experimentation. He had been shot, stabbed, burned, peeled, and maimed without so much of an expression. Yet here he was near weeping while desperately trying to find a way out of the flames and debris.
As Ardyn stumbled, slouching against a wall nearby, he let out a dry heave upon feeling a heavy object hit the middle of his back. He fell forward and caught himself from tumbling at the last second. Ardyn turned around to face his attacker and ducked his head when a long spear attempted to strike his face. This dance played out for a time. His black and yellow eyes flared with vengeful contempt as he inhumanly screeched at the foe. The bottom end of the spear struck his jaw, and the impact sent him flying. Ardyn rolled over a few times before his back slammed against a wall of glass. Shards cascaded around him.
Weakly, Ardyn groaned while attempting to bring himself back to his feet. He panted heavily while blood and scourge leaked from his nose and mouth. He gargled on his own bile, feeling the tip of the spear press firmly to his throat. The owner of the weapon had venom in their eyes. The likes of which even made Ardyn’s daemonic expression look almost human in vulnerability. He had “died” before when people attempted to strike him down. The fear of death was lost on him, but at this moment he felt a dread that should never have gained prospect.
“It seems the Gods have favored our side today, Chancellor!” The MedZin guard proclaimed in an exhaustive yell. He prepared to put his full weight against the spear so that the blade would slice Ardyn’s neck and spine in half.
A bellowing screech emerged from the flames as did Y/N’s body, jumping into the air and landing on top of the MedZin guard’s back. Y/N’s legs locked around the guard’s waist, and sickle claws began to rip and maim at the back of the man’s skull. The guard fell backward in a desperate attempt to fling off Y/N, and their legs around his abdomen tightened like that of a snake fully dedicated to squeezing the life out of its prey.
Ardyn’s eyes widened as he witnessed the altercation. The carnage happened so fast, that he barely registered Y/N being thrown off after the guard had pierced them through several times with the spear and flung them. The yellow in his eyes constricted as he let out a scream; finding motivation to shadow step and deliver the killing blow to the guard by striking their abdomen so hard, that bones cracked.
Spurting out blood and spit, the guard looked up at Ardyn fading eyes, and somehow through adrenaline or pure spite, the guard managed to throw his final words out to Eos.
“You may live today, Adagium, but the world will know who and what you are soon. You---can’t keep hiding as Niflheim’s Chancellor---may Ifrit lay waste to----” The guard’s skull cracked and split open upon Ardyn’s left foot kicking downward in a fell swoop. He dug his heel into the cavity for good measure, sneering while his teeth grit.
“Pathetic waste, the lot of you,” Ardyn muttered bitterly. His breath became ragged as more smoke began to pool into the heart of the MedZin labs. By his calculation, Ardyn figured he only had ten minutes to get out before being consumed in flames.
Turning on his heel after removing his boot from the guard's entrails, he started to limp away, leaving Y/N behind. It was only when he got to the entryway did he stop. His head turned to the side and his eyes lingered on Y/N’s semi-lifeless form. Leaving Y/N to die in the flames of destruction was part of his plan. He’d literally kill two birds with one stone. The information MedZin had stolen about the scourge would perish and he’d keep his promise to Y/N with a quick death. The cherry on top of it all was that Y/N would be framed for Ardyn’s trespasses and crimes in the aftermath. The public would never know of his instigation and true identity. Once the bodies were found, and the evidence planted at the stronghold connected Y/N to both locations, any proof of Ardyn’s interference, of his godforsaken mission, would burn and die with them.
It was as perfect as a bow on top of an extravagant gift, yet Ardyn hesitated to accept it.
Through the bond of the scourge, he felt Y/N clinging to life. For someone that wanted to die so badly, their instincts to hold out were powerful. Ardyn could feel their blood running hot and cold as if it was happening in his own body. His conscience was almost made up until he heard it. The faint murmur of a plead left Y/N’s mouth.
He made a fist so tight that his fingers trembled from the pressure.
Ardyn opened his eyes and he was staring again at the can of Ebony. A morose contemplation traversed his tired gaze. He grabbed a can for himself and hesitated before taking another. Holding onto them with one arm, he closed the fridge door with his free hand and made his way to the cashier to purchase.
Two hours later, the Vixen was parked in a rather large area inland from the coast. From the distance, Ardyn could make out a smaller imperial airship. Several soldiers greeted him with a wave from afar, and he returned the gesture. Nonchalantly, Ardyn exited the vehicle and approached his fellow countrymen with a lopsided smile.
“My, my, aren’t I popular these days?” Ardyn said mischievously. He saw one of the younger men of the group swallow nervously and chuckled. “I do hope that your crossover to Lucis wasn’t turbulent!”
“The travel was not an issue, excellency,” The commander of the group, a man no later than fifty-five spoke up. “We made sure to keep tracking and communications to a minimum so Lucis wouldn’t detect our presence with their magic.”
Ardyn nodded. “About how much longer do you believe that’ll last?”
“Chief Besithia determined forty-eight hours. That being said, the ship is ready for departure at your command, Chancellor. We can have your vehicle and belongings out of here in ten minutes.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Ardyn shook his head and waved the commander off.
“Sir, Chief Besithia mentioned that time was of the essence. We are in enemy territory and understand the great risk involved in assisting this mission. For your safety, I’d like to implore you to consider departing now.”
“You need not remind me,” Ardyn sharply replied. His gaze was so stern that the old man apologetically gave a bow with his head, not feeling up to snuff challenging the Chancellor himself.
“I am awaiting a guest to join us on the journey home,” Ardyn began. He kept his tone neutral, so as to not convey whatever ties he had to Y/N. “I anticipate their arrival will come at dawn. Word of mouth says we should have a fog coming in at that time. What better way to sneak past the Lucian Armada than to take cover in a hazy shroud?”
“I suppose you are correct,” The commander muttered. He cleared his throat. “In any case, we would be honored to get the Vixen on board along with whatever you have.”
“Sounds riveting,” Ardyn mused. He playfully tossed his keys to a young soldier nearby, resisting a smirk when said soldier almost tumbled over himself trying to catch them.
While walking past the group, and heading for the dock of the ship, Ardyn hollered. “If you fine gentlemen need me, I will be in the ship's quarters having a discussion with Chief Besithia on the network!”
“Yes sir!”
Once aboard, a sigh of contentment left Ardyn while he had a look around before traversing to the main quarters. These newer models were less like mazes inside, and Ardyn mentally patted himself on the back for convincing Verstael to invest in a better layout. It didn’t take long before he was alone in a wide room, with windows looking outward toward the land.
Ardyn stopped for a moment to take in the scenery and his brows furrowed into a glare. It wouldn’t be long now until the rich and fertile lands of Lucis would be replaced with the desolate snowscapes that notoriously covered Niflheim. Although he held great contempt in his heart toward the Lucian people and the kingdom as a whole, Ardyn would be lying to himself if he didn’t feel somewhat homesick for his former country. He was going to miss the view.
Sighing deeply through his nose, Ardyn shook his head. He ventured over to a desk with a computer and began setting it up so he could have a face-to-face conversation with his colleague.
“I take it that the war room meeting hasn’t been postponed?” Ardyn made a face as Verstael tiredly rolled his eyes and nodded on the other end of the screen.
“Unfortunately for the two of us, Aldercapt wishes for the meeting to commence when you are verified as healthy to continue to work,” Verstael bitterly stated. “There is also another trivial matter that you and I must contend with upon your return.”
“Oh?” Ardyn perked his eyebrows up. For the first time in the last two hours of conversing with Verstael over the Imperial Network, he felt legitimately curious. “Now don’t leave me on a cliffhanger! I do so hate it when you put on dramatic pauses for effect.”
Verstael’s dry lips curved into a smirk. “You’re lucky I don’t have the strength to call you a hypocrite right now. Alas, I don’t think you will be singing a happy tune to this matter. Aldercapt wishes to proceed with the empire's name day, and all the festivities that it entails.”
“You can’t be serious?” Ardyn’s bluntly said while his brows knitted into a glare. “Not that we don’t have the coin for such extravagance, but this will put a damper on the weaponry budget. Not to mention compensation for security will be tight.”
“There is also the issue of the Tenebrae Ambassadors,” Verstael continued. “Aldercapt invited them over for the ceremonies in the spirit of ‘showing off the splendors of the empire’.”
“More like showing off how much of Tenebrae’s resources we are wasting,” Ardyn snorted. He sighed, rubbing the spot between his eyebrows. “Looks like I have my work cut out for me when I return home. So many fires to put out, so little time.”
“Speaking of putting out a fire,” Verstael began. “You said you were combing over an idea. What has become of that?”
Ardyn remained neutral, even as he heard the eagerness in Verstael’s cadence. “I find myself ruminating on a few concepts. I haven’t made up my mind yet, sad to say. Alas, considering the fact the empire needs to make a good impression on our esteemed allies of Tenebrae, I believe this Lucian souvenir I picked up may come in handy for such an occasion!"
Verstael raised a brow, understanding Ardyn's playful hint and the dangerous implications it entailed. “Not that I don’t believe your twisted mind has conjured up a fool proof plot, but if you recall, you know the penalty of an uninvited Lucian setting foot on Niflheim soil while the empire is at war.”
“I’m well aware,” Ardyn said as a matter of fact and smiled. “However, I’m the Chancellor at the end of the day. I’m confident I can get Aldercapt to lift the penalty just this once for my generous offer.”
“Consider me intrigued,” Verstael chuckled darkly. “How exactly do you intend to use this Lucian?”
“It’s rather simple, I--”
Before Ardyn could finish his sentence, the airship began to violently shake. Through the metallic walls, Ardyn could hear the echoes of explosions going off.
“What in the six hells is happening?!” Verstael yelled from the other end of the screen.
“Obviously, it appears I am under attack,” Ardyn sarcastically quipped.
“Gods, it better not be crownsguard reinforcements!” Verstael’s tone slightly quivered with fear.
“I don’t believe that’s the case,” Ardyn reassured. “If the guard knew of my whereabouts, my being and the ship would’ve been nuked to kingdom come by now.”
“Whoever they are, don’t let them take you into custody!”
Another quake came, nearly knocking both Ardyn and the computer over as the ship tilted more to the left. He gathered himself, remaining composed while an array of chaotic yells and gunfire began to sound off from afar.
“I do so hate to drop our conversation, but duty calls!” Ardyn chimed and ended the call.
Alarms and sirens began to go off within the ship, and a stoic voice on the overhead intercom began to alert everyone on board:
Under attack. Under attack. The East side of the ship is under attack. Reinforcements sent. Under attack.
Ardyn immediately sprinted out of the room and bounded for the airship dock, wanting to assess for himself how dire the situation was. It wasn’t long before he arrived and received an answer in the form of dodging a round of bullets at the last second.
Ardyn sprinted and on his third step, his body molded into a dark mist that transcended over and through supplies and goods. Time came to a grinding halt, but for Ardyn's victims, he might as well been the only living creature that was moving abnormally fast. The yellows of his eyes turned a fiery orange while he zeroed in on several of the intruders.
Jumping into the air, Ardyn summoned his red blade Raksasha, and his assault began. The intruders had no idea what had hit them until their own bodies had tumbled to the floor. Not long after, Ardyn stood over a pile of corpses. Glaring begrudgingly, he crouched down and began to rummage through the clothes of one of his victims. His right hand gripped upon the shoulder pad on the soldier’s left side, and he sneered at the red patch.
“MedZin,” Ardyn muttered and sighed. He thought of Y/N for a split second. “It seems you and I weren’t as thorough as we thought.”
“Chancellor!”
Ardyn immediately turned his head to the sound. He stood up as soon as the commander came into his proximity and quickly waved him down, seeing the fear in his eyes.
“I’m quite fine,” Ardyn firmly stated. “I want a status report, quickly!”
“Y-yes sir!” The commander gestured for Ardyn to follow him outside of the ship.
Another round of explosives went off, making both men nearly lose their footing.
“They came from the North and then started to shoot off explosions to our East wing! Team three and Team ninety-nine are outside, fending them off! There’s two small aircraft! I think we can take them out once they get in range!”
“How many would you estimate are trying to kill us?” Ardyn mused.
“A dozen or so!”
“Concentrate on taking the carriers down. I’ll deal with whoever survives the aftermath!”
The playful yet sinister end of Ardyn’s remark had the commander freeze in his steps, taken back by the sudden change in demeanor. Before he could stop Ardyn, and beckon him to stay close for his safety, the latter pushed past and took off into the fray of battle.
Rushing by several infantrymen firing off explosives and other advanced weaponry, Ardyn kept his eyes on the sky. Sure enough, there were two carriers as the old timer said. One to his left and right, respectfully.
With an eager gaze, like that of a predatory animal watching for weak prey to fall, Ardyn observed the ships go down in a dazzling display of fire and grime after a sixth round of explosives were launched from the imperial troops.
The left carrier was the first to perish, it's pilot unable to dodge a rocket that destroyed its entire front. The ship sunk to Eos like a heavy rock to a large body of water. The right craft met a similar fate. The underbelly of that ship was torn apart by magitek weaponry, a powerful ray that emitted a concentrated amount of energy from various crystals that had been corrupted via the scourge. The carrier spun around several times in freefall before it exploded violently against the soil of Lucis.
Ardyn smirked with pride, getting to see one of his creations in action. He briefly thought back to a time when Verstael had opposed such an invention.
“I told that senile fool it was a grand idea!” Ardyn laughed. His moment of fame was cut short when he zeroed in on survivors making their way out of the debris from the left carrier. He could practically smell the fear emitting off of men and women who scrambled away from the wrecks.
“Oh, we’re going to have some fun!” Ardyn menacingly hissed. He once more shadow-stepped at a lightning pace and drew his red sword out of thin air. With a violent twist of his body, Ardyn began his onslaught.
Blade against blade, and pained howls against steel erupted throughout the battlefield. There was a point in time when Ardyn could scarcely hear the crackling roar of the fires nearby, too focused on the carnage at hand to take in how the environment was becoming hostile. Every so often, he had become burnt from debris that was being utilized as weaponry from the MedZin operatives. The pain was more than enough to keep fueling Ardyn’s anger toward his enemies.
Years of knowledge in fighting that Ardyn had under his belt from 2,000 years ago, on top of memories from the souls of the damned came to his aid while he made quick work of the intruders. He was an efficient killer, and Ardyn relished in the cold fact of the matter. The ego stroke began to awaken another beast inside himself. The scourge hummed in his body with a violent urge to consume. The sensation was so powerful, even Ardyn felt tempted to bend to its will as he approached who would be his twelfth victim.
Ardyn stabbed Rakshasa through the woman’s back, yanking her body upward in the process. She slid down the sword to where Ardyn's left palm could touch her shoulder.
“Let’s get a peek of what’s in your head!” Ardyn menacingly whispered.
A dark cloud of purples and blacks began to dance through his fingertips, and particles of light pooled from the wound he had inflicted. Little by little, Ardyn could feel the woman’s essence, her very life, become integrated with his. His whole body felt like a straw that was sucking up raw nectar, and his brain flooded with visions.
Euphoria in the kill began to sway Ardyn while he grinned, and just as he reached a precipice where the transfer was almost complete, a sudden wave of nausea hit him. He stumbled backward, pulling Raksasha out of the woman’s spine. Her body dropped to the grass, and Ardyn fell to his knees. He began to throw up. Scourge and bile desecrated the soil in front of him. Vertigo began to plague Ardyn’s peripheral soon after.
So lost in his misery, Ardyn didn’t notice a MedZin soldier taking aim for his head, having snuck up behind to take advantage of Ardyn’s moment of weakness. The soldier raised his long sword, intending to impale him until a thundering sound radiated in the air. The soldier dropped his weapon. His body collapsed, having been shot in the head from afar.
Ardyn jerked his head around. With astonishment, he observed the body at his side and gave a hesitant slap to it. When no reaction had come, he sighed in relief.
“Well played, friend. You almost had the jump on me!” Ardyn mused mockingly. He grimaced and lurched forward.
An electric shock cascaded down Ardyn’s nerves, causing his fingertips and spine to ache. His right hand instinctively reached for his neck, near the site where he had been injected all that time ago when he ransacked Outpost 98. He closed his eyes, remembering all too well what it felt like when his body short-circuited, and he lost control of himself.
Ardyn wasn’t one to feel dread, much less become scared. With 2,000 years to his name, and having been imprisoned in darkness, little could deter a creature such as himself from seeking his ends. Right now though, he’d be lying to himself if he wasn’t frightened. This wasn’t normal by any stretch. It became abundantly clear that something was wrong, but he didn’t have enough information to aid his woes.
Shouting from the distance began to grow, snapping Ardyn out of his thoughts. He squinted his eyes to get a better look at the horizon. Niflheim soldiers were coming to his aid. For now, his personal concerns needed to take a backseat.
Ardyn quickly wiped away at his mouth and internally worked on silencing the scourge. The last thing Ardyn needed, was to be discovered with his mask off. No one could know he was Adagium. It was years too soon for such a thing.
“Chancellor! Chancellor Izunia! Are you alright!?”
“You can silence your ruckus! I’m over here!” Ardyn hollered back, getting onto his feet to wave down his lessers. He coughed a few times and walked toward the large group after dismissing Rakshasa back into whatever plane of existence it dwelled within.
The commander came running up, panting heavily while he gestured for ground troops to scout the area for survivors.
“Are you hurt, sir?”
“No,” Ardyn shook his head and huffed. “At least, not in the way one would assume. I’m quite winded, however.”
“Sir, you should go back to the ship. Let us handle whoever is left. I don’t imagine there are many now,” The commander then saw the burns and winced on Ardyn’s behalf. “You need rest and to get those patched up.”
As much as he remained compelled to continue the hunt, Ardyn knew it would be foolish considering the odd symptoms at play in his body.
“I suppose I can concede this time around,” Ardyn murmured. He coughed again. “What are our losses?”
“We lost eight men thus far, and we are out of energy cores for most of our weaponry. The ship wasn’t well stocked, to begin with. As for the carrier itself, I have team ninety-nine working on repairs as we speak. From the damages, she might not be able to fly until evening tomorrow.”
Ardyn tilted his head back and sighed in defeat. “Grand of a time as any I suppose.”
“I’ve taken the liberty to notify Chief Besithia of the situation after the carriers had been shot down. He wanted me to relay a message to you to take shelter near an inn not far North. The owner is a Niflheim immigrant who will keep quiet about us being in Lucian territory. Two soldiers are to be assigned to you for protection, while the rest of us work on getting the ship back up and running. After we’ve combed through and determined the enemy is defeated, we’ll ransack their aircraft for anything that might speed up the process.”
“You talk too much and too fast,” Ardyn irately stated. He raised a brow at the commander, his gaze sizing him up.
“My apologies, I am only being thorough, sir. For everyone’s sake.”
Ardyn made a fist with his right hand until his knuckles turned white. As much as he was bothered by being commanded, he didn’t feel it quite right to take his anger out on the old man. Not when Verstael was using him as a puppet to bark orders.
“I will seek shelter at the inn at once,” Ardyn gave a half bow with his head out of respect toward the commander. “My phone will be on my person. I expect concise updates on the repairs while I recoup.”
“Yes sir, and what of your guest?”
Y/N...Ardyn froze for a moment, having nearly forgotten about them given the chaos. He made a face and waved off the concern. “They know to arrive here. When they come, give them the coordinates to the inn and I’ll take it from there. Escort them if necessary.”
“Yes sir!”
Ardyn began his descent back toward the airship. Every so often, he wiped away the sweat across his brow while deep in thought.
“They should all be dead,” Ardyn muttered to himself. He was so sure of it, that his mind had difficulty letting the truth of the matter sink in: that MedZin was after him. "Everything was destroyed. The whole facility burned to rubble. How could I overlook a mistake such as this?"
Such questions plagued Ardyn as did his thoughts about what MedZin had injected into his body the day Y/N and he attacked. Whatever the serum was, it greatly hindered his dark powers. Speaking of which, Ardyn felt depleted in a manner of speaking. The unlimited reservoir of power at his disposal was no longer tapped into. He had a limit, like any other mortal, and it both worried and angered him.
Feeding off Y/N got him somewhat back to normal, but Ardyn realistically wondered how much longer that would last. He then burdened himself with the painful truth, that he would have to confide in Verstael about the injection. Ardyn dreaded that as much as he dreaded eating cloned meat when Aldercapt ordered it for the imperials of the court. He didn’t like it one bit.
“I seem to be on a losing streak these days,” Ardyn mused with contempt, making his way to the dock to check on the Vixen to make sure her integrity wasn’t damaged.
Twenty minutes into inspection, Ardyn checked near the tailpipe of the car and raised a brow when he came upon a peculiar object. Bending down, he crouched and pulled at the flat round piece. A grimace left him, feeling the object had been stuck on there quite tightly with a paste of some sort. A few tugs later, and he had it off.
Ardyn carefully blew away the dust on the item. There were two lights at the top, blinking yellow and red, and a list of serial numbers toward the bottom. It didn’t take long before he realized it was a tracking device.
“Gods be damned,” Ardyn sneered as he broke the piece with his bare hand, putting all of his frustration into it. Once it cracked in half, he turned his head when a Niflheim soldier approached.
“Do you need help sir?”
“As a matter of fact I do,” Ardyn gestured for the soldier to have his left palm up and then placed the tracker into his possession. “Decipher any information left on this device, and report your findings.”
“You got it, Chancellor!” The soldier sounded a little too enthusiastic for Ardyn’s liking, but he applauded the boy’s efforts.
After the soldier departed to check on the ship elsewhere, Ardyn worriedly looked out the dock entrance. His eyes combed the road, leading back to Galdin Quay. A heaviness in his heart came and went, wondering if Y/N was fairing better than he was.
Coming around to the drivers side of the Vixen, Ardyn grabbed the paper bag that had the two cans of Ebony: one for himself, and one for Y/N. He then sought out his escorts for the inn.
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