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Not Enough Chapter 3

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Summary:

A prequel to 'Not Just a Feeling'. Prompto and his clone family meet Ravus and Luna for the first time. Ravus Nox Flueret has always had to deal with a feeling in the back of his mind. One that keeps becoming more and more pervasive. Haunted by the death of his mother; unable to help his Nanny when she gets critically injured. Ravus just has to admit it: he is not good enough to protect those around him. Luna has just turned 13 last month. She's supposed to be becoming adult. She SHOULD be taking up the mantel of the Oracle. However Gentianna seems disappointed with the development of her powers. Ardyn equally says that she is far from ready to take up the position. Luna feels that she should be more than capable of going out into the world to help others. To help prepare Noctis rid the planet of the scourge... The way everyone treats her though... It's almost like she isn't good enough. Its been three years since the Astral Ifrit chose Prompto. Giving him magical powers, as well as a purpose. He knows that he still has a lot to learn. He just hopes that he can be enough too guide those around him.

Ch. 3: Lost and Found

"Alright Doves, gather around. Here are the Rules while staying in the Nox Fluret Manor." Ardyn spoke with all of them together after breakfast. Which had been quite an interesting affair. Prompto and his other brothers rarely got to meet human children their own age, much less human teenagers. Lady Lunafreya's outbursts so far had really been... something.

People actually talk to adults like that? 57, Prompto, thought, as she had stormed out. He thought that TVs shows had been exaggerating. Something felt wrong about the whole exchange. Especially... there was a static feeling at the back of his mind. Something 57 couldn't place a finger on.

I thought Luna would be a lot more reserved, and mature. 57 thought to himself. Even though he had never met Lunafreya before in his life... he felt like he knew her from somewhere. He felt that she was acting strange... childish even.

57 supposed it was just because she WAS a human teenager. They had a lot of emotional issues, his father Verstael would often warn them that they would go through something similar. Prince Ravus seemed polite enough, however- but he was older than Luna by two or three years.

His Dad raised a hand, counting off on his fingers. "One. No going into bedrooms that are not your own. Two. If the Guards or Servants tell you not to go somewhere, or not to do something listen to them. Three. No climbing up on anything taller than you are. Four. Stay within the grounds, and if you are going to explore somewhere let one of your other brothers or an adult know first. Try to stick together as well."

56 raised his hand, wanting to ask a question. He was standing next to 57 on his left. "Is there a library?" he asked excitedly.

"There is. On the second floor, I believe." Ardyn informed them.

"Yes." 58 bounced excitedly. On 57's other side. They were all standing in number order, as per usual.

Prompto, 57, rolled his eyes. His brothers were such nerds. Only 58 and 56 would be whisked away to a different country with little to no announcement- get choose to spend the day reading books in a dusty room.

"60 is going to have the cell phone." Ardyn handed their eldest brother said deceive. "I am going to be doing some investigating today. So if you see me sneaking around..." Ardyn directed his words pointedly at Prompto.

57 tensed under the scrutiny. Nervousness bubbling in his stomach. His Dad winked, and placed a single finger on his lips. 57 nodded anxiously to show that he understood.

57, after all, was the only one of his brothers who could see their father when he was invisible. His Dad had been teaching him to be able to see through magic illusions, as a basis to casting said illusions. Twice this month 57 had accidentally revealed his father's location to others, each with a rather disastrous result. The first time he had skipped right up to his father, greeting him without realizing he was invisible. The second time he had noticed the spell, but had stared so much at his Dad that he revealed his location.

57 was the only one of his brothers with magic. Gifted to him by his Patron, Ifrit. Something that put him under a lot of pressure. Especially since it was clear by now that 57 was the least fitting of his brothers to have such power. 57 wasn't the smartest. Nor the strongest. Neither was he good at the magic itself. 57 might be able to reliably see through through illusions- but he had yet to cast a proper one.

Their Dad left the small room aside, and 60 turned. Immediately taking charge, as he so often did. "Alright. So 56 and 58 want to go to the library, I kind of would like to go as well. But what do the rest of you want to do?" he asked.

"I want to go outside!" 51 declared, raising a hand.

"Yeah! it's not even snowing today! That's wild." 52 agreed.

"That's because we're not in Niflheim." 53 pointed out, "Shiva's not blasting ice all over the place."

"Yeah, let's go outside." 54 agreed. "We can play a game or something."

"We might even get the chance to touch grass! What an as-os-auspicious occasion." 53 pointed out. Struggling with a word they often heard their Dad use on occasion, but had only just learned the definition of last week. It reminded 57 that he was way behind on their vocabulary work.

"So you four outside, us three in the library." 60 surmised, he looked to 55 and 57. The only two who had not made their decision

"I'm still tired." 55 admitted, "I might just go back to bed."

"Are you not feeling well?" 58 asked critically. He was the most medically conscious out of all of them.

55 considered this, "I don't think so. I don't have that headache I usually get right before I get sick."

"Ugh. I get the same thing, its the worst." 51 remarked. Looking up and rubbing his head.

"We all do." 53 reminded him, arms crossed. "So does father. We get it from him."

58 placed the back of their hand on 55's forehead, and hummed. 58 was the most interested out of all of them in biology- and had recently evolved from playing doctor, to actually doctoring them. They always came to him if they had cuts or bruises now. "I don't think you're running a fever. I should check your blood sugar, as well as your blood pressure. You've been sleeping in a lot more the last few days, and this is something I should document."

"Do you have any of that equipment?" 55 asked with confusion. They had all been instructed to pack and then leave rather suddenly. Ardyn had gotten a phone call, and then canceled their weapons training session. Having them all change out of their practice clothes, pack some necessities rather quickly. Then pile all of them onto on an air ship. Their other father, Verstael, was out of town already on a business trip. So Ardyn had no choice but to bring them all along; since no one was available to look after all nine of them so suddenly.

"Of course I do. Its in my stuff upstairs, come on." 58 took 55 by the hand and started to lead the way. 56 following along.

"Wait up. I'll come with you guys." 60 called after them, he turned back however,

"57? Which group did you want to go with?"

"Uhm." 57 kind of didn't want to go with either. He had seen a vehicle garage on the side of the building when they were coming in- and he had wanted to go see what kind of cars the Nox Fleurets had, if any. They were rich, so hopefully something cool. "I kind of have to go to the restroom." he admitted, "And then I wanted to explore the house?"

"Okay. Go to the restroom, then meet us in the library." 60 instructed. Following 55 and 58 out of the room. "If 55 isn't too sick, I don't mind going exploring with you for a bit."

"I don't feel THAT bad." 55 reminded them grumpily, "I'm just still waking up." He allowed himself to be pulled along by 58 though. 60 following behind. The lower four numbers split off to go do their thing. Leaving 57 alone.

Relatively. There were a lot of human adults walking around the Nox Fleuret Manor. Some of them wore armor with Niflheim Emblembs on them. Others dressed as Butlers, or Maids. 57 asked one of the servants cleaning up the dinning room where a restroom was, and they were happy enough to point him in the right direction.

Tenebrae restrooms were strange. 57 and his brothers had visited the foreign country before. When their fathers took them on a vacation trip to see 'something other than snow and concrete walls'. Tenebrae people had toilets that were very different from Graelean ones. They were deep, and a singular bowl. Missing the shelf that Niflhiem and Gralean ones usually featured. They didn't have heat radiators that you could hold your hands up too either. For drying your hands, and warming them up. Instead you had to use fancy hand towels, a foreign idea that always seemed a little unsanitary to him.

57 considered these differences as he washed his hands. Then dried them off. Wondering what he was supposed to do with the cloth towel after he used it. Surely not throw it away? That seemed like such a waste. But what if someone else used it? Their hands would be dirty with his germs... was there a hamper for used towels? Where did he get a fresh one from?

"My spark." A voice called to him.

57 looked up from where he was opening a cabinet below the sink. Up to the round mirror handing above the sink. His reflection looked back at him. Not mirroring how he was standing one-to-one. Rather pushing themselves up on the sink to be seen better. The figure within the glass was darker as well. Their eyes a fiery orange, skin slightly darker.

Ifrit. His patron God. The Astral who had chosen him to wield his magic- and who had given him his second 'true' name.

"My Patron!" Prompto jumped to attention. It was not uncommon for Ifrit to speak to him through reflections. But something about his sudden appearance felt... significant. "Is something wrong?" He asked.

"Someone is in need of you." The God informed him.

There was the slamming of a door nearby. Prompto turned his head to look towards the noise . When he looked back, his reflection urged him, "Go."

Prompto carelessly threw away the hand towel. Then opened the restroom door and looked up and down the hall. The sound of foot steps could be heard going up the stairs. 57 turned the corner, just in time to see Prince Ravus landing at the top of them.

The Prince was very clearly upset, and looked to even be crying. Prompto swallowed, glanced back at the mirror, and then left the bathroom. Following Prince Ravus. It was not hard to do. The older boy was leaving smudged foot prints on the floor. Like the Prince had stepped in some dirt or thing. This was incredibly inconsiderate of the house workers, 57 thought.

See this is why we take our shoes off in Niflheim. Prompto thought to himself. Still remembering the shock of their first time visiting a Tenebrae establishment. Watching people walk inside without taking off their outside boots or crampons. Or rather, that people did not use such things. Their fathers explaining to them that sometimes other places had 'cultural differences' and did things differently had not really made sense to him and his brothers. Until they went to the southern coast for the first time and realized that there were places in the world that were not buried under 15cm of now all year round.

Prince Ravus walked into one of the rooms upstairs, and Prompto hesitated. It looked like it might be a bedroom, and his Dad said not to enter them... but this was not Ravus' bedroom. Ravus stayed in the other wing of the building. When Ardyn had brought them into the house through a side entrance last night, their Dad had set 57 and his brothers up to stay in rooms that were on the same hallway as Ravus was. 51, 55, 52 and himself had actually stayed up late last night, teaching Ravus how to play dice. 55, the more sociable of his brother pulling the awkward, acne riddled teenager in from lurking in the shadows.

Prompto looked around. This wing of the building looked a lot fancier. Better taken care of than the one Ravus stayed in. 57 wondered if this was Luna's room. Movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention. Prompto saw his reflection in a silver mirror- giving him two thumbs up.

57 exhaled. Then shook out his hands. Ifrit had given him his magic power three years ago. He had been training for moments like this. Both with his Patron, and his Dad.

I'm a beacon. Prompto, 57 reminded himself, I'm supposed to find people who are lost- and guide them. 57 finished shaking himself out. Then knocked on the door. Hoping that his training would be enough to help Prince Ravus.

Ifrit had asked him to talk to people before. Usually some of the younger Lab assistants who worked at his father's lab- they usually just needed someone to talk to and have someone listen to them. Even if it happened to be the six year old clone child of their boss. Once though, Prompto had helped a lost kid his own age get home- Ifrit guiding him through reflective surfaces. 57 was still getting used to being called on so suddenly for these things. Thankfully his Patron had never asked him to do anything that he was not capable of dealing with. 57 hoped he had enough training to help Prince Ravus... who was a PRINCE. Not just some random person of no consequence. There would be major repercussions if he failed... and Prompto didn't have much experience dealing with nobility. Didn't they have fancy rules to abide to? Or something? A memory of a dream surfaced in Prompto's mind. A man with grey hair, glasses and a stern expression. Telling him something. Then straightening Prompto's tie... He couldn't remember who the man was though. Prompto shook his head. Dismissing the fantasy.

57 knocked twice, then opened the door. Poking his head in just so. The room was big, and fancy. It had a four poster bed, with heavily embroidered cloth hanging from it's rails. There was an attached room, that looked to be some kind of wardrobe or changing area. 57 could see some vanity tables with ghostly mirrors. It looked like an adult's room. A very important adult's room.

It was also unused. There were white sheets covering the chairs, and some of the furniture. The curtains were drawn to keep the sun out. Things seemed put away. The air was stagnant. Whoever had been living here had been gone for a while.

There was someone inside though though. A lump under the duvet of the giant bed. Ravus had crawled under it. Like a cat crawling underneath a bed for warmth. The Tenebrae Prince was not trying to hide, apparently. He sat up, holding the covers around his shoulders. "Who's there?!" Ravus asked angrily.

"I-it's me." 57 opened the door further. He actually had another name 'Prompto'. Which came to him in that moment. His 'actual' name- which his Patron had given him. 57 vaguely wondered which name he should use for a moment- then realized he was over thinking this. Ravus already knew him by a name.

"I'm 57. We played dice last night? I'm the one with the spiky hair- but not the spikiest?" Prompto pulled on his bangs. Both him and 52 often got mistaken for each other. They both had cow licks similar to their grandfather. Not that Prompto had ever met the man. Just seen the pictures Verstael had shared with them.

"Oh." Ravus sniffed. Dropping his guard just a little. "Yes. I recognize you now."

"I heard you crying," Prompto explained. He entered the room, gently closing the door behind him. "So I wanted to check in on you."

"I'm fine." The older boy grumbled. Wiping off his cheek with his hand. "Just upset."

Prompto took off his shoes at the doorway to the bedroom, and approached the bed. His feet sinking into the plush carpet that surrounded the bed. "If you are upset, then you are not fine. That is, in fact, the definition of not fine." He informed Ravus.

Ravus looked down at him with red eyes, tears gathering at the corners of them. "Look. I just don't want to be bothered right now. Go away?" Ravus requested. There was anger to his voice, but instead of giving the man power, it dragged him down. Ravus looked nothing more than just alone. Sitting in the dark, crying to himself.

"We don't have to talk. Not about what is making you upset, or anything for that matter." Prompto reached the bed, and placed his hands on the side. "It's not any fun to be alone when you're upset. How about I join you for a bit; keep you company?"

Ravus gave him a sour look. Then looked to the side. Wiping off his cheek. "I am a bit too old for cuddling- I can take naps on my own." he pointed out firmly.

"Nonsense. Naps are always better with other people- and everyone needs comfort now and then. Scootch over." Prompto told the older boy, and patted a hand on the beside. Pressuring Ravus to move over.

Ravus did so, as the teenager was clearly not as opposed to having company as he said he was. He moved backwards. Picking up the heavy duvate, and making room for Prompto.

"Why is?" Prompto was confused when he jumped up on bed and found his hand was slightly damp. He looked at Ravus, and then downward. "RAVUS! Your feet are wet!"

"Oh" Ravus sniffed. As if he had forgotten, "Yeah. I just came from outside."

"You were outside?! Without shoes?!" Prompto asked with horror.

Ravus shrugged.

"And you came inside?! Without cleaning your feet?!" Prompto was officially disgusted. That was contamination! Or the worst kind! His father would be furious if any of his lab workers did something like this. They had to double wash their hands anytime they went into the labs, or came home from them. "You're in a bed as well!"

Ravus huffed. Sounding less sad, and more amused. "You Niffs are such germaphobes."

"Given that we have standards!" Prompto jumped out of the bed. 57 walked through the side room- figuring there was a bathroom. Sure enough there was one, and it still had some towels stashed in the cabinet, thankfully.

57 took three and threw two at Ravus. "Clean your feet off!" He told the Prince, and then started to clean off the duvet. Wiping away the moisture, and hoping that the thoughtless Prince had not stained the sheets or damaged them in some way. They would need to be washed, for certain. Who knew what the Prince had stepped in-

Ravus huffed with amusement, and sat on the side of the bed. Cleaning off his feet with a towel. While 57 checked and double checked the duvet and sheets. The clone wasn't angry, more aghast and paranoid- something Ravus was amused by more than anything.

Once his feet were dry, Ravus ask 57 if that was good enough for his standards. The scourge child inspected the Prince's feet with comedic seriousness. Something that made Ravus secretly smile. Since it was simply absurd to him that anyone would care about slightly dirty feet. Sheets and floors could be cleaned after all.

"Okay. NOW we can lay on the bed." 57 declared, when he was satisfied that Ravus and the bed was clean. He set all of the towels aside on a table to be laundered later, and climbed back onto the bed.

Ravus moved aside and held the duvet up, so that the younger boy could join him. Then two finally settled down. Ravus, despite his earlier claims that he was too old for cuddling, immediately pulled 57 into a hug. Curling up with him.

"Oh. You are warm." Ravus remarked. Pulling the scourge child up against his chest. Just like he had used to do with Luna back when they were younger. 57 allowed himself to be pulled in like a teddy bear. His back pressing against Ravus' chest. Prompto often slept with one or more of his brothers. Sometime his Dad as well- and on the extremely rare occasion his father... Verstael always joked that that any time he nodded off while on the couch, he always woke up with three or more of his copies suffocating him. Like clingy cats.

"I am?" 57 asked with confusion at Ravus' remark. Then remembered that his source of magic was literally from a primordial being of fire. "Oh. Yeah. I do run hotter than average."

"Is that a clone thing?" Ravus asked curiously.

"No. It's a me thing." 57 shifted and reached into his shirt. Taking out a pendant that hung around his neck. A gold disc with flames etched into it. The center of which was a large and vibrant ruby. "I have a blessing from Ifrit." 57 showed Ravus the pendant.

Ravus tensed. Arms locking around 57. Recalling that the aforementioned God had been brought up before, at the hospital. "Ifrit? As in the Astral of betrayl?"

"And of fire." 57 reminded the other, "As well as Wisdom, and Creation. That was what he was before he got exiled from the hexatheon, at least."

"Oh." Ravus's voice wavered. Still wary, "I did not know that. I was just told about how he destroyed Soulheim- and then got exiled for killing so many humans."

"Most people only know that." 57 sighed, and set the pendant back inside of his shirt. Where it pressed against his heart. "Honestly I'm starting to wonder if I should stop telling people. They give me weird looks, or get scared."

"You... really should not tell people so readily." Ravus advised, "Everyone who has been associated with Ifrit in the last few centuries... are kind of dangerous. Cults and terrorist groups, and things of that nature."

57 looked upwards, his purple eyes meeting Ravus' mix-matched ones. "Have you met my father? Fathers?"

Ravus opened and then closed his mouth, "You know? Fair enough."

"Ifrit's probably the least evil of the three, to be honest." 57 sighed, sinking back into Ravus' chest. This was nice. Prompto always liked sleeping with other people. The more the better. Just something about sharing a sleeping space... he often dreamed of sleeping in a tent with friends... driving around in a vehicle. The roads open before them, and the sky shinning brightly above them. Stopping to take pictures...

Ravus made a noise as 57 settled down into his arms. The Prince was tense for a few moments, then slowly relaxed. As the tension in his chest started to unravel, and nothing more came from the scourge child who had volunteered to cuddle with him. For Ravus felt nice to have something warm to hold against his chest. It was like he had his own personal candle. Creating a bubble of safety in the cold, dark halls of the Fenestala Manor. Ravus and Luna had used to share beds when they were younger. The two of them sneaking over to the other's room when they had a nightmare or couldn't sleep. Eventually the two had grown out of cuddling with each other though- and every day now it seemed that they were getting farther and father apart... It was nice to have someone with him for once. Instead of being on his own.

"Thank you for this." Ravus sighed after a while. Basking in the feeling of just having someone THERE. Without any sort of arguments or questions being pestered at him. He had felt alone for the longest time now. He was sick of it, he realized. Sick of being apart from not only Luna, but people in general. He tightened his grip on 57. Wanting to hold the scourge child in his arms, just a little longer.

"It's no problem." Prompto said somewhat tiredly. Not asleep, but threatening to drift off into it. "It's what my Patron asks me to do sometimes."

"You mean Ifrit?" Ravus furrowed his brow.

"Yeah. He says I'm supposed to help people who are lost find their way."

Ravus did not understand. "I'm not lost though." He picked himself up just a bit, so that he could peer down at 57's face.

57 had his eyes closed, his hair was a riot of golden spikes, which almost seemed to make a halo around his head. "It doesn't always mean in a physical sense." 57 mumbled sleepily. "People can get lost in their own minds. Or Souls get conflicted, and all tangled up in themselves. Like, lost in a metaphorical sense."

"... you sound like Ms. Moneta." Ravus noted with some worry. She often said that she was glad to have 'found' him.

"She's your nanny, the one who was hurt?" 57 cracked open his eyes. Looking out from beyond the bed curtains, "Is this her room?"

Ravus' lowered himself back down. His grip tightening around Prompto's torso. Finger's curling into the younger boy's stomach, "No."

"It does seem rather fancy for a nanny's room- and unused," 57 observed

"It was my mother's." Ravus informed Prompto quietly, whispering into the boy's back. "She died 2 and a half years ago."

"Oh." 57 felt as if someone had just punched him in the stomach. "I'm sorry."

"You shouldn't be." Ravus muttered. He buried his face into Prompto's back. Then released the other entirely. No longer wanting to be comforted. He turned. Moving to lay on his stomach.

57 turned. Laying on his back and looking to the side at Ravus. "Why should I not?"

"Because your country killed her in an attack." The Prince informed him, face down in a pillow. "It secured the victory in the Tenebrae War; and allowed you guys to take over the capital. You Niffs are all about National Pride right? Why would you mourn someone who was your enemy?"

"Oh." 57 looked at the top of the canopy bed. Where there cloth pattern featured birds and flowers. "Is that why Luna doesn't like us? Because Dad was involved in your mother's death?"

"...Yes, and no." Ravus did not seem so sure of this, he lifted his face just a little, "I think what upsets her more is that you guys are made of demonic scourge- even if you guys look and act mostly human. It's kind of considered a taboo. Unnatural. I don't know why she is upset though." Ravus glanced over and looked 57 over, "You guys aren't THAT demonic. Not compared to Ardyn at least."

"Well our Dad is THE heart of the scourge." 57 rolled to lay on his side, facing Ravus, "Kind of impossible to have any more than him."

"True..." Ravus trailed off. He crossed his arms beneath him, and rested his head on them. Looking at 57 from he side. "Hey. If he's the- you know- Demon King or whatever. How come he can heal people with Oracle magic?"

"Oh. That's because he wasn't always the heart of the Scourge." 57 explained . Shifting to use his arm as a pillow, "Just like Ifrit wasn't always a God of Betrayl."

"Oh..." Ravus fell silent for a long. As if weighing if 57 was or was not lying. Prompto didn't shy away from the scrutiny. He had nothing to hide by telling the truth; or at least the truth he had been taught. After a moment Ravus looked down at the pillow under his crossed arms. "I never considered that entities like that could change. I guess they can though. Bahamut used to be called the 'Blade Master' -but now he's considered more a general 'God of Metal'. Not swords specifically."

"Nothing is permanent, the universe in flux." 57 yawned tiredly, "At least, that is what my Patron says."

Ravus made a contemplative noise in the back of his throat. As an uncomfortable sensation settled in his stomach. That of jealousy. 57 seemed to know so much more about Gods. To interact with them more. Who was he? A scourge child. Meanwhile Ravus was a Nox Fleuret. The family chosen to literally act as the mouth piece for the Gods.

Granted Oracles were only female, so that meant he had a lot less responsibilities- but that did not mean he was without any. Ravus recalled all of the lessons his mother had given him. How he was supposed to act, and behave. How his mother had told him that Luna would need all the support she could get; and his job was to be there for her; for whoever the next Oracle happened to be. After all if anything happened to Luna... or if Luna didn't have any children... any daughters of his daughters were going to be the Oracle instead.

Ravus clenched jaw. It was upsetting. That the God's paid so much attention to everyone around him, and never seemed to take interest in HIM. It was almost like they outright ignored his existence. The ONE time they had shown up- between his mother dying, his country being taken over, him and Luna being imprisoned- it had been yesterday of all things. And Gentianna, she had come to take Ms. Moneta AWAY from him. The only adult who even looked in his general direction. The person he needed more than anyone else.

It seemed almost like the Gods wanted him to be abandoned.

Ravus clenched his hands, and clenched his fists. Then choked back a sob. Pressing his face down into his mother's pillow. 57 slowly sat up from, and then reached for him. Sitting beside Ravus, and rubbing circles into his back. Ravus started to cry in earnest. Holding onto, and sobbing deeply. Ravus didn't know how long he was there for. He cried until he ran out of tears, and then shook, struggling to breath in anything but sobbing gasps. 57 stayed with him the entire time. A hand on his back. Moving the hair out of his face and behind an ear. A warm prescience at his side. An anchor to keep him form getting too lost in his grief.

Ravus eventually quieted down, and his breathing steadied. It felt cathartic to empty himself out. It was exhausting though. Ravus turned over on his back, then sat up. Wiping off his cheeks. 57 raised his arm out of the way, and then shifted to sit next to him. Handing him a cloth hankie.

"I-i think I know why you Patron sent you to me." Ravus accepted the handkerchief. Wiping off his nose.

Ravus looked down at the cloth, unfolding it. "I've been betrayed. Haven't I?"

57 tensed, eyes widening, "Have you?" he asked with concern.

"I think so." Ravus felt exhausted. Like he had just finished carrying a bunch of weights up a set of stairs. Lies he had been carrying, apparently. For years it seemed.

57 scooted closer, and wrapping him in a hug. Ravus sniffed, and buried his face into the offered shoulder. Leaning into the warmth 57 was offering him.

It was so obvious now. Gentianna might have been their family's Patron. But she didn't care about him. She appeared to Luna almost every day. Gave his sister lessons. Spoke with her. Guided her. Meanwhile all Ravus got was a cold shoulder. Gentianna' appearance as a death omen was a damning implication. A goddess did not need to show up to someone so insignificant's death. Sure Ms. Moneta meant a lot to Ravus... but if all the gods cared about was killing her off... If Ardyn had not come and interfered... Ravus didn't know what would have happened.

Ravus would still be sitting in that damned hospital, he supposed. Ms. Moneta would have passed during the night- and no one had even been LOOKING for him when he came back to the manor the other day. Something that stung even though he had kind of expected it..

There was a difference between having your faith tested- and then there was being abandoned. Ravus could very clearly see now which applied to him. Ravus was didn't matter. The only reason Gentianna had probably even showed up was because Ardyn had been present. Knowing that he could prevent the outcome she wanted.

They both sat in silence for a long time. "I'm sorry for crying so much." Ravus wiped off his face with the hankie, "Thank you for being here."

57 looked up at him with his big, purple eyes, "What do you plan to do from here?"

"I don't know." Ravus exhaled. He looked around. He always came to his mother's room when he was feeling miserable. It felt like a comforting place for him. However in reality it was just dark, and empty. Filled with the memories of everything he had lost, or what made him miserable. Coming here for comfort was a real double edge sword. It was nice to have someone beside him though. It made getting through things easier.

"Well. I was planning on meeting my brothers in the library." 57 offered, "Why don't we go see what they are doing? At the very least you might be able to help them find what books they want."

"... Alright." Ravus allowed 57 to guide him out of the bed, and then out of the room.

The light of the hallway made him wince, as the late morning sun punctured through the windows. This summer was a hot one. It looked like it was going to get into the 30s today. As they walked, Ravus saw some movement out in the back garden. It looked like some of 57's brothers were playing kick ball in the field Ravus trained in. He wondered briefly, if the scourge children would be okay out in the intense sunlight. He had heard that people from Niflheim tended to burn easily. Given they never got any sun because of the climate.

Demons also burned in the sun as well. Ravus worried if they should be brought in side... until Ravus turned to ask 57 and realized how silly his train of thought was. The boys were already outside. In direct sunlight. They clearly weren't vampires. Otherwise they would not have gone outside in the first place.

It struck Ravus though. About how much he cared. About this strange group of children Ardyn had so randomly brought into his life. They were so straight forward, to the point, and bright. In a world that had been far too dark for too long for Ravus... Ravus realized then. That he had been drowning in loneliness- and it had taken nine kids crowding into his life- into his room last night. Asking him if he wanted to play dice. Then waking him up for breakfast. To make him realize this. Ravus felt like he was breaking above the surface for the first time in a long time. Able to breath, if just for this moment.

"This way, right?" 57 asked, pointing down the hallway.

"Yes." Ravus looked away from the window to lead the way. 57 reached out to holding his hand as they started walking. Ravus glanced down at 57 with surprise, but the blond didn't even seem to have noticed he had reached out. 57 too busy looking at the scattered decor as they walked through the mansion. Ravus looked, and adjust his grip. Holding onto 57's hand like a life preserver. Not wanting to go back under anytime soon.

-----

"What do you mean that Lord Ravus is going to a PUBLIC military school???" Ardyn asked sharply. "Who even ventured such an idea?!"

"Well, Chancellor, I was under the impression that the priority care was to be given to Lady Lunafreya." The sniveling man behind the desk made yet another excuse. "Private tutors are quite expensive you see- and the budget given to us was inadequate. Just the manor alone requires significant funds."

Ardyn glared down at the lawyer. He snapped the file he had open in his hand closed. Then tossed the file aside. The man's assistant diving forward to catch the papers before they went scattering everywhere.

"And by that admission you saying that Ravus Nox Fleuret- the boy who would be KING of your nation- had my country not dethroned them-"

"Well, actually it would be Lady Lunafreya taking the throne," The man dared interrupt him. Fixing his glasses, "A common mistake. Most countries follow male lineages, but Tenebrae's is Maternal, you see."

Ardyn exhaled through his nose, "Regardless. When I placed you and your office in charge of the Fenestala Manor I told you very specifically to make sure that BOTH children were taken care of. Properly."

"And they are." The man argued, despite the evidence of his inadequacy littering the desk in front of them. "Lord Ravus goes one of the oldest military schools Fenestala has to offer. Many of the boys who go there become captains, or majors-"

"Fodder. For people with actual ranks to walk over." Ardyn growled, hands on his hips. It was a school people sent their SECOND sons, or cast offs. The roster was filled with children whose Parents who couldn't afford to send them to a proper school. The credentials would mean Ravus wouldn't have to attend a boot camp- he would go straight to a guard or foot man position, with no chance of promotion. The Lawyer before him knew this. Ardyn knew this. They ALL knew this. Yet the Lawyer he had put in charge of the manor seemed to not even care about Ravus' possible future.

Ardyn pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's illegal for me to kill you; you now this. That you are not a Niflheim Citizen means that I can not exercise my noble right to immediately remove you for your position for failing at it so soundly."

"Such are the laws." The lawyer agreed, and folded his hands in front of him on his desk. Safe behind the laws that he was skimming with. Safe behind a series of rules that- in most Tenebrae's minds- was protected by the will of Ramuh himself.

Ardyn stared down at the man. "Well if I can not have your head. I will simply turn you into a demon instead then." Ardyn decided.

"I-i beg your pardon?!" The man stuttered with confusion and horror. Understandable. Ardyn's true nature and reputation were not as well known outside of Niflheim. Most people in Graela- more specifically the nobles and politicians- knew what Ardyn was, what he could do. They

Most outside of that only thought they were rumors. Most outside of Niflheim thought they were exaggerated tails tales.

Ardyn leaned his head to the side, smile growing longer than it should have been naturally. Eyes widening. "Oh. Surely you do not think that you could mishandle the affairs of the Oracle's family- and get away with anything less than Divine Punishment?" Ardyn asked. He let the shadows around them gather. Becoming solid. Dripping. His eyes began to bleed. His irirs flashed, rings of gold.

The man started to hyper ventilate, looking around at the shadows growing claws and reaching out for him. "What is this?! You can't do this?!"

"Any last words?" Ardyn stepped forward.

"You're a monster!" The man realized to late.

Ardyn reached out. He simply touched the man on his forehead.

The man cried out. As if he had been stabbed. His flesh beginning to rot and decay. His face melting like wax. He stumbled backwards and slammed into a book shelve. Choking. When he cleared his passage way, Black scourge dribbled out out of his mouth and onto the carpet.

The assistant of the man screamed, and ran out of the office. Many others in the office peered through the door. The mounting panic and horror building and then spreading through the office like fire.

The lawyer Ardyn had put in charge of Ravus and Luna fell to the ground. Struggling and failing for help. Like a fish out of water. His body turning into demonic sludge, while also fusing together. Painfully changing shape into a demonic form

Ardyn didn't bother to stick around to find out what type of demon he was going to become. He turned and left the office, unbothered by all the other people running, screaming and acting as if they had never seen someone turn into a demon before. Or perhaps this was their first. Tenebrae might not have had the wall of Lucis to keep it's citizens safe from the demons. But it had the Niflheim Empire- it had all of the safety measures, medical help, hunting teams, and infrastructure required to keep a substantial population safe. Safe from being infected in mass.

Ardyn left the building, just as a response team for the Scourge arrived. Hopping off a came about. All of the people fleeing out of the office were being corralled and put into a temporary quarantine. UV lights being shinned onto them to kill any scourge. A medical person went around to each of them and shinned a black light into eyes, checking to see if anyone had been infected. A team of hunters wearing filtered masks pushed past Ardyn into the building. None of them even looking in his direction.

Ardyn, invisible to all of those around him sighed, "I'm going to have to find a whole replacement for someone to look over the Manor, aren't I?"

Behind him there was an explosion. Glass fell from an office above, black smoke billowing out the window. Similar to a Bomb demon self-destructing. People screamed and backed away from the building as Glass rained down. Ardyn looked up then to the side. "Well. At least I won't have to burn it down myself." He concluded to himself.

#ff15 ravus

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