Chapter Text
Somnus came to the door in the late afternoon.
Aera was not yet up, and Ardyn had not yet put in an appearance, so Noctis did as he’d said he would.
“I’m afraid if you’re here to speak to Aera, you’ll have to wait,” He said, firmly, “She’s resting.”
Somnus did not argue ― he put his hands up in surrender, and replied, “I had hoped she’d be awake by now, but if she isn’t, then it can’t be helped. Would you mind terribly if I waited here?”
Noctis snorted, but allowed him in.
Made tea.
Prepared an early dinner as he and Somnus waited for Aera to wake ― neither spoke much, though Noctis noticed that Somnus seemed to be toying with some sort of figurine as he sat at the table. He hummed, too, a bit. A song Noctis didn’t recognize… Which wasn’t a surprise, given that he didn’t know many of the local songs.
He’d spent most of his time at sea, truthfully, or running errands, so he didn’t get much of a chance to really bother with the ancient pop culture.
The only ones he’d really heard were the shanties Titus belted as they fished and the one that Aera sometimes sang while she cooked.
Just before he finished the food, Aera emerged from her room, looking considerably more awake than she’d been when she’d arrived home. She didn’t seem surprised, thankfully, by Somnus’ presence ― she gave him a somewhat tired smile and wave, and sat down without a word. When Somnus opened his mouth, she held up a hand in a ‘wait’ gesture.
“Ardyn’s back, as well,” Noctis explained, for her, “I think he’d like to be present for this.”
“Of course,” Somnus said, almost too easily, “I can wait for my elder brother to arrive if that is the case.”
Aera gave him an odd look, at that, but seemed to decide to keep whatever thoughts she had over how easily he’d rolled over to herself. Somnus, for his part, looked a little nervous at the lack of comment.
Poor guy.
But, on the other hand, he probably deserved to be a little nervous. Noctis didn’t think he’d really ever considered how badly he’d potentially damaged the relationship between he, Aera, and his brother before the other day. Or, if he had, that he likely hadn’t bothered to concern himself with it, maybe even justifying it as a necessary evil.
People would do stupid things when they really, truly thought that they were right.
“Dinner is finished,” He informed the two, a few moments later, “I’ve made enough for all of us, so please help yourselves. I’m going to go fetch Ardyn.”
Two affirmative noises, and he quietly stepped out of the house.
Ardyn didn’t live terribly far from Aera, ultimately ― in fact, he shared a home with Somnus just outside the market. It was a little surprising that Somnus hadn’t noticed he had come home, but it was entirely possible that Ardyn had snuck in while Somnus was occupied and hadn’t emerged before he left.
He knocked quietly at the front door rather than barging right in, although he was certain Ardyn wouldn’t have cared if he had walked all the way into his room and flicked him in the nose to get his attention, and waited a few moments for a response. There was a tell-tale shuffle, then a small thump, and the door was opening.
Ardyn looked very tired, still, but significantly more awake.
“Ah, Noctis,” He said, “I suppose you’ve come to get me for dinner?”
“Among other things,” He confirmed, “Your brother has joined us for the meal.”
A vague sort of grimace, but Ardyn nodded, stepped out, and closed the door behind him.
They headed back in silence, and Noctis did not bother to break it.
Despite some tension in the atmosphere, the meal was a quiet and comfortable affair.
When they’d finished, and Noctis had done the dishes, again forbidding Ardyn and Aera from helping him, to their clear annoyance, he prepared to excuse himself. Somnus seemed to be waiting for something before speaking. It was likely what he was waiting for was privacy.
“I’ll take my leave, if you’d like to have that talk, now,” He said, casually, “I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
Somnus, somewhat more nervous than Noctis really thought suited him, swallowed and said, “If it’s all the same, Sir Noctis, I think I’d like if you were a part of the discussion.”
Ardyn and Aera exchanged a glance, and Noctis considered it.
… Was Somnus asking him to stay for moral support?
Did Somnus, after all the blustering he did to begin with, truly trust him that much?
What a surreal experience this last week had been.
“Very well,” He said, taking his seat at the table once more, “I don’t mind to stay.”
Ultimately, his presence was almost certainly only requested in order to allow Somnus some measure of comfort ― he contributed little to the conversation, only piping in to offer his input when addressed and otherwise watching the scene unfold with interest.
Rather than being at all opposed to the idea, Ardyn and Aera truly seemed delighted, though shocked, to hear that Somnus wished to ally with them and allow them to take the lead in treating the scourge.
When they heard it had been Noctis’ suggestion, of course, they seemed somewhat less surprised. Aera, in particular, however, gave him a knowing look. A knowing, and happy, look.
Within an hour, they’d settled most of the terms.
Somnus would not, necessarily, step back from what he was already doing ― he and his people would continue to hunt daemons. It was simply that they would only act when there were no other options and the existence of a daemon was confirmed. Ardyn could not purify a daemon, nor could Aera, due to the fact a daemon would rather tear them limb from limb than allow them to try, so they all agreed that fully-formed daemons were a lost cause, though reluctantly. They also agreed that Ardyn and Aera, even working as openly and as quickly as they could, could not possibly purify everyone who was afflicted, so it would be best if Somnus or one of his people stayed close in case things got out of hand.
Noctis, truly, felt that he was witnessing the beginnings of something great.
… If, of course, it worked out as they were hoping it would.
And Six did he hope that it would work.
That it would be okay, in the end.
That, if he had changed anything, he had ultimately changed it for the better.
A thought occurred to him, though, as they discussed the finer details ― he had already given his life for the Light of Providence, had he not?
Was it possible, was there even a chance, that he could still use that power? That, should he find himself face to face with the source of the scourge in this time, he could stop everything before it even began?
Purge the sickness from their Star without ever having to let Ardyn be taken?
… Tempting, truly.
Very, very tempting.
But he had no way of knowing if it was even possible, if he did still have that power. It wasn’t as if it had been a physical feeling, when he’d earned the right to use it. And, if there had been a feeling, it had been overshadowed by the feeling of being stabbed.
The only way to find out was to try and use it, and he couldn’t imagine the toll it would take on his body to do so.
It was possible dying would be the price, regardless, or at least coming close to it when his body really hadn’t ever been particularly conducive to him advancing in his magical development. His magic was well behind his father’s and his grandfather’s ― he’d never been able to reach his potential because of how badly he’d been hurt and how completely he’d withdrawn afterward.
If he wanted any hope, assuming he did still have that power, of using it without putting himself into a coma, he’d need to strengthen his magic.
The issue, of course, was that only the Lucis Caelums and the Fleurets naturally had magic of their own. Displaying the use of magic, and especially the form that the Lucis Caelums used, would only lead to bigger problems.
While Aera knew, and he could very well practice in her presence, there wasn’t any other time or place where he could do so safely.
Besides ― given his duties as a fisherman, he hardly had the time to do something like that.
For the best, he imagined.
His personal interference really should be kept to a minimum.
“Noctis,” Said Aera, suddenly, drawing him from his thoughts, “You say you have combat experience, yes? Do you have any experience fighting daemons?”
“I do,” He confirmed, almost automatically, “As my memory has returned to me, I’ve recalled that our people had so-called ‘hunters’ among them who specialized in such things as out of control game and small daemons. My friends and I were briefly among them.”
She nodded, turning to Somnus, “If you or Ardyn were to offer Sir Noctis access to your magic, as you have with Gilgamesh, I believe he could be of great help in an emergency.”
At this, it was Ardyn and Somnus who exchanged a look. Something passed between them, silent, before both nodded.
“It would not be a bad idea.” Somnus agreed, “Especially given his place in the village. Knowing there is another among us who will protect them will set the people immensely at ease.”
Something, something he hadn’t realized had been unsettled, settled back into place at the thought of protecting the people of the village. At being known as a protector.
“I, for one, would be delighted to share my magic with you,” Ardyn added, smiling.
Somnus chuckled, “I was just about to suggest you be the one to do it ― I’m not so certain I can stretch mine much further.”
Oh, you have no idea just how far you can stretch it, if you need to. He thought, suppressing a laugh.
His father, and grandfather, and those before them, had frequently shared their magic with hundreds of others for extended periods of time.
He’d only ever done it with a handful of people, himself, but he knew he had it within him to do the same, and that Somnus did as well.
He’d figure it out eventually.
“I have no arguments,” He said, instead of any of that, “I’d be honored, truly.”
Ardyn grinned.
He smiled back.
Two separate active armigers were an interesting sensation, Noctis found, after Ardyn came to share his with him.
Ardyn didn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary, though, so evidently he wasn’t able to feel that Noctis had his own available.
He made a show, when Ardyn and Somnus tried to teach him how to use the armiger, of having some trouble before finally getting it. He did have trouble, because he had to remember to send the sword Somnus had given him to Ardyn’s armiger instead of to his own, but he certainly played it up more than that. It wouldn’t do for them to get suspicions about how adept he was at using their magic already. Had to pretend to have some issues.
But he didn’t want to continue pretending for too long, so he had to fake a natural progression of skill.
Learning magic went much the same way.
Although he did have some genuine trouble using magic naturally, rather than through the use of flasks.
He’d never been taught to use his magic naturally ― there had been an attempt, when he was well enough to train, but he’d had such trouble that his father had simply moved past it to the use of flasks and elemental energy.
Getting a handle on it filled him with such a sense of accomplishment that he didn’t quite know what to do with it.
Aera seemed amused, when he settled himself down at the table with her the next evening, after he spent most of the day training with the brothers.
“I presume it’s a relief for you to be able to use your abilities again,” She said, gently, “You seem happy.”
“Oh, certainly,” He replied, “It allows me to be of more help, I think, to not need to limit myself as I’ve been doing.”
She hummed an agreement, nodding. Asked, “Do you miss it? Fighting, I mean.”
He considered that ― did he miss it?
Well…
Yes, he supposed, he kind of did.
Fishing was plenty fulfilling, as was helping out around town, but none of it really felt the same to him. He’d been training to fight for a long time, and by the time that he had woken up here he’d become so accustomed to it that not fighting feels strange. The peace was good, and he was glad for it, but he felt as if he was merely waiting for the other shoe to drop.
And, in a way, he guessed he kind of was.
The peace wasn’t going to last forever, after all.
“Yes,” He chose to say, “I do miss it. I’m glad that I’ve not had to fight, but training relieves a lot of anxiety that not fighting has left me with.”
She seemed to consider that for a moment before nodding.
Then, after another moment, she nodded again, as if affirming something to herself.
“I suppose that does make sense,” She said, “If you’ve been a warrior for very long at all, it must feel strange not having anything at all to fight.”
“Exactly,” He confirmed, “So, while I hope I never have to lift the sword I’ve been given, I will not hesitate to raise it if the need arises.”
She smiled, nodding again.
When Ardyn joined them for dinner a while later, she said, “You know, Noctis, I do think you’ve managed to sway me. I’ve never understood why someone would want to fight when there is no need, but… You made a good point, earlier.”
Ardyn seemed a bit confused by the comment, but didn’t question it outright. He just glanced over to Noctis in question.
Noctis only smiled, and said, “I’m glad to have been able to give you some perspective on the subject, but keep in mind that… Well, not everyone probably feels the same way about it that I do.”
Ardyn raised his brow higher, turning now to Aera, who nodded her agreement.
“I don’t suppose I’ll be betting context?” He finally asked, after a couple of moments where neither of them bothered to explain it to him.
Aera fell into a fit of giggles ― more amused, Noctis thought, than was necessary. But she probably needed the levity, so he said nothing of it. Just chuckled, then explained.
“We were discussing my feelings about having a weapon on-hand again,” He told him, “And she happened to ask if I’ve missed fighting. And, truthfully, I have missed it a bit, but it’s more that I feel strange not having a need to fight after being raised as a warrior.”
Satisfied, Ardyn nodded and made some comment about that making sense.
And when he left, and it was just Noctis and Aera getting ready for bed, Noctis chose to change the subject before it could get back around to his powers.
Since he was obviously going to be here for a while yet, and the village residents had taken such a shine to him already, he thought maybe it was about time he actually got acquainted with how things really worked here. He knew plenty about fishing, and about healing, and even the currency, but what about local traditions? Songs, dance, festivals ― things like that.
So while she doused the fire, he asked if she might teach him some of that in the morning, if she wasn’t busy.
“I’d be happy to,” She said, and she sounded more like she was delighted, “For now, how about I teach you a couple of songs?”
“That sounds lovely.”
And so they stayed up a while later than they normally would, singing back and forth at each other until he had the words to one of the local folk songs firmly embedded in his memory.
He fell asleep still thinking them.
“So come, faithful people, come gather ‘round,
Sit by the fire and raise your hands high,
Give thanks to the Astrals, who, by duty bound,
Have given us knowledge and safety.”