“Sorry to bother you. Just wondering if I could ask you for a favor?” Aranea said.
“Me?”
“Yeah, I’ve got something you can help out with. Won’t take more than a few minutes. The kid here’ll watch the room till we get back.”
Sol’s head was already bowed low, in a most likely vain attempt to keep her tear-stained cheeks out of sight. She dipped it a bit farther in a curt nod.
“Thanks, Sol. Keep a sharp eye out, all right?”
Aranea casually slipped something into Sol’s pocket, then led the guard out and down the hallway. Sol closed the door behind her with one hand and walked deeper into the room. Finally, she saw her.
“Luna!” she exclaimed. “I’m so sorry, Luna. I wanted to get here sooner.”
“Sol!”
Luna lay on the bed, hands and feet still bound as before. Sol stuffed a hand into her pocket. She’d had a hunch about Aranea’s little gift, and it proved correct. The locking device. Her mother must have planned it all out ahead of time.
“This is all my fault, Luna. I―”
“You needn’t apologize. You believed in me, Sol. That was enough.”
Tears traced their way down Luna’s cheeks, black as ink. The ebony patches of skin once peeking out from her sleeves and collar had now crept down the backs of her hands and across her face.
“Of course I did. Obviously. What kind of friends don’t trust each other?”
Sol pressed the button on the locking device. Luna’s restraints snapped open with a dull click.
“Can you run?” Sol asked. “We need to get out of here before the watch returns.”
“Won’t letting me free cause more trouble for you?”
“You gave me my mother back. Now it’s my turn to help you. You need a way to get to Insomnia, right?”
Luna nodded. Her hesitation was gone, and now determination shone through, clear as day.
Regina was parked at the edge of the city. They ran together through the streets. Finding Luna within the unfamiliar layout of the hotel had been trickier than she imagined, but when it came to the city itself, Sol was in her element. Nobody knew Lestallum better than she did. Every shortcut, every corner to turn and alleyway to use to keep out of sight; she navigated them all without even having to think.
As they neared the bike, Sol explained, “Regina’s already loaded up with food and equipment. A map, too. You’ve got this, right?”
She placed the helmet on Luna’s head and adjusted the straps.
Luna lowered the goggles over her eyes. “I am in your debt, Sol.”
A wrinkle formed at the bridge of Sol’s nose.
“We’ve been over this already. That’s what people say before they up and die on you.”
“I know.”
“So why are you―”
“Do not worry. I will not die. I swear it. So please, just let me say my thanks.”
“All right, fine. Well I’m not gonna die, either. So when you get back, you better make me another cup of tea, okay? I’ll be waiting.”
Regina’s engine roared to life. Sol saw Luna’s lips move but couldn’t make out the words. Then Luna and Regina were off, and Sol was waving with her arm held high as they rode into the distance.
When she could see them no longer, she turned around and drew her gun. Nobody would be following Luna. She’d see to that.
As she made her silent vow, the blare of emergency sirens began to fill the city of Lestallum.
On the road from Lestallum, Lunafreya was forced into occasional skirmishes with daemons. But she was thankful to find no trace of hunters or Glaives pursuing from behind. And, though she was still very much a novice on the motorcycle and her travels hardly swift, the skyline of the Crown City was growing undeniably closer. She realized she was now traveling the same road she’d walked along with the other evacuees the day Insomnia fell. Back then, she’d been so anxious to get out. Now, she was just as desperate to get back in. It was a strange feeling.
She stopped for a brief break just before the bridge leading across to the city proper. There, she added one final message to the notebook. Somehow, Umbra seemed to know. He was there before she’d even readied herself to call him.
“Hello, Umbra,” she said. “When the time comes, please give this to Noctis.”
The dog lifted his tail high, as if to say, It will be done. And then he was gone, vanished into the surrounding darkness.
Preparations were complete. She’d sorted out her feelings, and her mind was made up. Lunafreya’s steps into the desolate Citadel were quick and sure.
On that day years ago, the Citadel had been filled with bullets, explosions, and the incessant drone of magitek engines. Lunafreya recalled the stench of gunpowder and blood. Those things, at least, had been evidence of people. Of life. Now she found only daemons as she made her way to the heart of the edifice. It was eerily quiet. There was no scent of blood anymore.
Slowly, she pushed open the final doorway.
Though ten years had passed, to Lunafreya, it seemed but a few months since she last stepped foot inside the throne room. But the vast space now looked drastically different.
“I’m afraid you’re out of luck.”
Ardyn’s voice floated down from on high. Scant days ago, she might have been angered to find him lounging in smug satisfaction upon the throne. But not anymore. Now his boorish posture and lack of propriety were simply those of a tragic jester. She felt pity for the man.
“The one you hope to see is not here.”
The erstwhile chancellor seemed to assume she had come for Noctis.
“Ah, but do pardon my surprise at this most unexpected development. How very nice it is to see you again, Lady Lunafreya.”
Contrary to his words, Ardyn’s tone lacked any trace of surprise. He seemed wholly unconcerned to find the woman he had killed with his own hands now returned to life.
Her words came measured. Precise. “You misunderstand. The one I am here for is you.” The statement implied more: she was well aware that she would not find Noctis here. It was not yet time for them to be reunited.
“I have something I should like to discuss with you,” she announced.
Ardyn’s lips twitched ever so slightly.
“Ah! The Oracle would have words with me. And here I thought the gods had sent their pretty little marionette to do their bidding.”
Wrong, she thought. I do not desire to kill you, for you are as much a puppet to their will as I am. And now, I seek to clip my strings just as you do.
Lunafreya stared into Ardyn’s eyes.
Now came the gamble.
“I wonder if I might ask for your aid.”