(Nora and Ravus storytime. Set when they return to Tenebrae after Noctis found them in Gralea - yes, Ravus is alive in my version - and Ravus and Nora managed to escape from there.)
“What have they done?” Ravus whispered, his words barely audible, as he fully realized what had happened in the land where he was born. “How could they… this is… how could they destroy the home of the Oracle?”
Nora glanced back at him over her shoulder. "You know as well as I do that it was Ardyn's order. And we both know he hates the Oracle's lineage."
Ravus was fully aware of that. He knew Nora was right. And he knew there was nothing more he could say on the matter. But a question, one, that required an answer, was weighing on his mind.
"You were born here. Grew up here. How can you be so calm? How comes you feel nothing when you see this?”
She laughed briefly, then took a deep breath, searching for the right words. “I feel things. I feel anger, rage, sadness and disbelief. That is the truth. But the truth is also that I left this place years ago and lived in Duscae and Cleigne. Do you have any idea at all what kind of damage the Daemons—and the MI, too—have caused there? I’ve seen it all. I know it all. And I learned to conceal my feelings so I can carry on. You, of all people, should know that people lock away their emotions when they get in the way. My behavior shouldn't surprise you.
“I… apologize. For misjudging you. And for... I apologize…” His response was sincere. He knew that he, too, concealed his feelings in the same way. He just hadn’t realized that Nora had been forced to do the same by now. And he knew he’d commanded more than one of those attacks in Duscae and Cleigne. He couldn’t take back the orders, and it had been a necessity for his military career, but he felt genuine remorse for the losses they had undoubtedly caused.
Nora took another deep breath, followed by all-too-serious words. “And after Luna’s death… Ardyn hates the Oracle, the Oracle’s lineage, Tenebrae. It doesn’t surprise me that he sent his Daemons here.”
It has been almost 5 years since Emilia saw her cousin Gladio - and roughly 10 years since she saw him on a daily basis when her parents still lived in Insomnia with her - and she almost didn't recognize him - not because of his look but because of his behavior.
And Emilia couldn't help but feel that he starts to drown in his duties as Shield of the King. She was fully aware of the burden he had toi carry for the group - now, after Niflheim invaded Insomnia, even more - but she also felt, it was her duty to talk to him about her observation. She was his older cousin after all.
She caught up to him when he was wandering around in Lestallum and asked him to walk a few steps with him. He wasn't too eager to talk to anyone in that moment, but agreed.
She tried her best to get through to him, to make him see he could talk to at least her, should he need someone to talk to about the current events. And beside the burden Noctis has to carry now and Gladio having to protect him, there was also the death of his father, Emilia's uncle, hanging above them. Emilia was mourning her uncle, she could only imagine how Gladio must be feeling. Not to mention the worries about Gladio's younger sister Iris, who had barely escaped from Insomnia.
Emilia offered an open or and a shoulder, if needed. But Gladio refused and left her standing there.
Emilia, Nora's best friend in Lestallum, suggested, they would take a few days off and visit Galdin Quay. It would be a nice change from the heat in Lestallum and their duties for the Meldacio Hunters, she said.
It has been roughly two years since Emilia found Nora in the surroundings of Lestallum and brought her to safety and Nora still had trouble adjusting to the weather in summer. Her body was still used to the climate in Tenebrae and that would probably never change. Leaving Lestallum for these really hot days was am idea Nora was convinced to pretty easily.
So, Nora was excited to visit the beach and go swimming as much as she liked. Sadly, Emilia was the sportive and active person she was and let her blonde friend run on the sand a few times a day. Nora still lacked the personal fitness she needed for her duties as a Meldacio Hunter - at least according to Emilia. Nora didn't agree to 100%, but she agreed to a degree.
Still, next time she would travel there alone, Nora promised to herself as she ran on the hot sand, wishing she could just swim in the sea or rest somewhere away from the sun.
(couldn't find a way to include two Avatara characters in one scene so, no pictures with Emilia and Nora and instead only Nora.)
