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Not Enough

Chapter 1/3

Read the whole thing HERE on Ao3. Don't forget to reblog. It makes me wiggle with excitement.

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.

Chapter 1: Hospital Visit

Ravus decided very quickly that the hospital was not a good one.

The ceiling was low, and there were no windows, and every surface looked in need of a proper clean. The nurses seemed too busy to be anything but useful. Overworked and understaffed. Even the non-medical staff were in a rush. The social worker assigned to him had told him to sit in the waiting room about one hour ago, and had not bothered to check in on him since.

Ravus could have wondered off into any part of the hospital, or even out the door; and she probably would not have even noticed. For this reason Ravus doubted that the social worker had even called the proper authorities. Making it a good thing Ravus HAD. Knowing the severity of the situation, he had decided to take things into his own hands. Because no one else seemed interested in taking responsibility, or doing their jobs. That made Ravus anxiously nervous about whether the hospital would even help, or just make things worse.

Usually Ravus, as a crown prince, would not have been sent to a public hospital- however he was not the one in need of medical attention. His care taker, Juno Moneta, was the one who had been hospitalized. Ravus and Ms. Moneta had gone to one of his cricket games- and his care taker had been hit by a vehicle as they walked from the parking garage to the park field. The car had not stopped of course, and Ravus had been left pretty much alone to deal with the situation. His coach had run over when the sirens and police arrived, but by then Ravus had already called emergency services, and was getting into the ambulance to go with his nanny to the hospital. The coach had seemed concerned, but not enough to follow up and check on them. Nearly two hours later, and no other adults had come to talk to him other than the social worker.

Ravus gripped his nanny's phone tightly in his hands. The screen cracked from the impact the woman had suffered. The only adult who probably cared for him in any capacity was severely hurt- and that made Ravus incredibly upset. His mind kept replaying the moment the car ran the red light in his mind. Just as his mother jumping in front of him haunted his dreams each night.

Ravus did not understand why people around him kept getting hurt so brutally. Maybe he was cursed? That was a very distressing thought. Ravus tried not to think about it too hard. He was in public after all, and emergency or not he WAS the crown prince. It would not be appropriate to have commoners see him upset.

So Ravus pulled his feet up onto the chair- and crossed his arms over his knees. Waiting. Ardyn had told Ravus over the phone, not to move or go anywhere with anyone. To stay in the hospital and wait for his arrival. As much as Ravus hated the man, he saw the logic in this. Watching the coming and goings of the emergency room with suspicion.

After his mother had been burned to death, and the Niflheim Empire had seized control of the country; Ravus and Luna had been put under the care of the Imperial Chancellor. Ardyn choose not to directly take care of them; thankfully. Instead he hired teams of proper care takers to raise them instead. Even though their government had been overthrown, both Ravus and Luna were allowed to live in the palace still. Though they might as well have been living in different worlds.

Luna stayed in the east wing, and was being home tutored by several of Niflheim's finest governesses. Ravus meanwhile stayed in the West Wing of the palace, and attended a military feeder school. Luna had several personal attendants, and staff that made sure the future Oracle had everything she could ever need. Ravus meanwhile only had Ms. Moneta as his one consistent care taker, and only two more general servants who helped her clean do his laundry.

Ravus and Luna only saw each other on the weekends. In the last few years, Ravus had found it increasingly harder and harder to find things to talk to his sister about. Sometimes if felt like his sister lived in an enchanted dream. Ravus did not resent her for this, however. He did not want to drag Luna down to his level of misery. To burden her with his suffering. No; more than anything he never wanted Luna to realize that she was on an elevated pedestal. Knowing that his sister would naively jump down to be with him in the mud and misery.

The thought of his sister weighed heavily on Ravus' mind. As far as Luna was aware, Ravus would be at the field all day playing his match; and they would have a quiet dinner that night. A dinner that would inevitably be ruined by the Chancellor's presence. Anytime Ardyn came to Fenestalla, he imposed himself on what little private time Ravus and Luna had together. Making them both uncomfortable with questions that had no easy answers.

Ravus hated the man for many reasons; unfortunately he had no choice but to call the man though. There was some lawyer, or financia- something who was supposed to be immediately in charge of both Luna and Ravus for Ardyn. Ravus did not know their number however, nor had he ever met the person. Ravus had Ardyn's phone number though, and someone had to know.

What could he do after all? Ravus had no way to pay the hospital bills. He didn't know if his Nanny had any family that needed to be contacted- a father or a mother, or any siblings or the such. Ravus knew she was not married, nor did she have any children. That was part of why she was a Nanny. Ravus... did not know what he would do if Ms. Moneta was hospitalized. Who would take him to school? Or to practice? Who would make sure he ate his food? Who would talk to him about his day whil he was doing his homework? Or listen to him discuss the books he was reading? There would be no one to play chess with him before bed. No one to wake him up from his reoccurring nightmares. No one to even notice that he was THERE.

Everyone except for Ms. Moneta usually outright ignored him. Ravus felt tears gather at the corner of his eyes. He clutched the woman's broken phone tighter in his hands, and blinked away the salt gathering at the corner of his eyes. He did not want to think about the woman being hospitalized. Or worse- losing her. Just as he had lost his mother only a couple of years before.

Four hours after the car accident, there was some commotion around the hospital in general. As an Imperial ship landed in the parking lot outside, without any sort of prior clearance. Ravus, still sitting in the ER waiting room, watched numbly as everyone scrambled to watch the ship land. Feeling disconnected from everything happening around him.

Ravus recognized who would be coming in though, and stood up. Only then realizing that his legs had gone to sleep from sitting so long. While everyone flocked to the windows to stare out of them, he stretched his legs with a wince, and then made sure his appearance was presentable- a little hard to do when he was still wearing his jersey uniform and knee pads.

The door to the ER opened and Ardyn Izunia; the Chancelor of Niflheim walked in. Everyone already staring at him with wide eyes. Ardyn was a man unlike anyone else Ravus had ever met. Taking the center focus of the room immediately, effortlessly. Despite his horrid personality, Ardyn carried an arsenal of charisma. Being able to manipulate people, make them agree to things with just a smile and a little nudge.

Ravus wondered though, how much of this was because Ardyn was not human. The man oozed demonic energy. Constantly trailing it like a black oil sludge. When Ardyn was around the shadows grew thicker- and they took on the consistency of blood. He wasn't just infected with the dark scourge- but the very heart of it. Sick and disgusting. Ravus had to hold back a revolting gag just looking at the man.

Most people couldn't sense magic, so they did not bear witness to what Ravus saw. A blessing they would never appreciate. Most people could instinctively feel that something was off about the man though. As Ardyn came in everyone went from fascinated to wary. Backing up to give the Imperial man room.

Ravus opened his mouth to greet the man as he entered, but the words died in his throat. As Ardyn did not enter the room alone.

Walking in two, single file rows behind the man were a near dozen children. All the same height, all with Niflheim flaxen hair. There were minor differences here and there, but for the most part they all looked similar in appearance. The same round faces, weak chins, and freckles. Their identical appearances was not helped by the fact that they were all wearing the same thing. They were all wearing dark gray, long sleeve sweaters. With white button up undershirts, and black knee-length shorts. Ravus would have thought they were an elementary school class- had they not had NUMBERS stitched into their sweaters, instead of a school crest.

What the hell were these things? Why was Ardyn walking around with so many kids? Why had Ardyn even brought them here? Ravus had so many questions.

Ravus could also feel inside each of them- a measured amount of demon scourge. More than enough to corrupt a normal human, but the demonic energy inside these children was contained and almost... neutralized. As if it was meant to be there. Ravus felt his mouth dry up. As he highly suspected that he was not looking at a normal group of elementary students- rather a group of clones. Because they felt very similar to the MT soldiers the Niflheim army deployed.

Ardyn got the children's attention with two snaps of his fingers. "Wall." the demonic man commanded, and all of the children complied. Obediently lining up against the wall he had pointed to. Some leaning against the walls, others standing with a hand on it. They whispered amongst themselves, like they were normal children of their apparent age.

Ardyn made sure the children obeyed him, then looked up and over. Making eye contact with Ravus. "Prince Ravus." Ardyn greeted, taking off his his hat. Using that same saccharine sweet tone the man always did. False and pretentious. Ravus hated it.

"I am sorry for the late arrival. I got here as quickly as I could." The demonic man walked around the waiting chairs, and a man with a sprained wrist, to reach him. Ravus stared at the children across the room, and then up at Ardyn. Uncertain of what to make of this strange development. Ravus knew that Ardyn liked to catch people off guard and confuse them. This was a whole other level, however.

"It was nothing at all." Ravus defaulted to what his mother had taught him to do. Use polite words- even if his tone was sour. "Thank you for coming."

"Five hours is hardly anything." Ardyn disagreed with a scowl unhappily. Putting his hat and gloves into his outer jacket pockets. "Wait- are you here alone?" He looked around. At the empty chairs on either side of Ravus.

Ravus furrowed his brow with confusion. He thought to mention the social worker who had stopped by for all of two seconds, but decided that did not count. "Yes."

"Who approved of that?" The man asked with some surprise. The man took out his phone, but abandoned it to ask him. "First- are you hurt at all?" Ardyn asked. As if he was actually concerned. He reached out with one hand towards Ravus' shoulder.

Ravus took a bit step back, keeping the demon from touching him. He shook his head. "No. I got some scrapes- but... I healed myself already." Ravus had some measure of magic to his own. Along with this came the ability to cure people of their ailments- and over time the magic would also address any minor cuts or bruises he suffered.

Ravus clenched his fists, which still had dried blood under his nails. Not enough magic to heal Ms. Moneta though.

Ardyn kept his hand out for a moment, before lowering it. "Tell me what happened." He asked with a serious, yet gentle tone.

Ravus did so, "I had a cricket game at the nearby field today. My nanny took me there, like she usually does. We parked in the garage across the street from the field. When we were crossing the road... a vehicle ran the red light."

"Where were your guards?" Ardyn asked him critically.

Ravus stared at the man, then slowly shook his head, "What guards?"

"Do you not have guards usually accompany you?" Ardyn's brow furrowed. The shadows around them rolled unhappily. Ardyn was angry... angry that Ravus had been left alone?

Ravus felt confusion, and a very bad feeling trickle down his shoulders. "No. I have never had guards with me." He was not lying. The only time he saw armed guards was when Luna and he were attending public events. Which made sense. She needed protection after all, not him. The Nox Fleuret line moved maternally. Luna was the next in line to inherit both the Oracle title, and the throne. Ravus was just a spare heir. There to assure the bloodline would continue on, if anything happened to Luna, or his sister decided not to have her own children.

Ardyn was quiet for a long, long time. He could feel the shadows rippling around them. Ravus resisted the urge to shift uncomfortably. After an extended pause, the shadows settled, and Ardyn spoke.

"I see. Ravus. It seems I owe you an apology." Ardyn leaned back, "I have not been monitoring how your care has been handled nearly as much as I should have. I am sorry that I let this incident occur."

Ravus was taken back, "You are not responsible in any way for what has happened."

"It very easily might have been prevented though." Ardyn tilted his head to the side. Looking pointedly down to Ravus' hands.

"You tried to heal her. " Ardyn observed quietly, "But it did not work."

Ravus inhaled sharply. Blinking back tears. He felt as if the man had just punched him in the stomach. He tried to control himself, and trembled from the effort.

Ardyn read his reaction like Ravus was a book. Yet his words were hardly what Ravus expected them to be. Instead of cutting or sarcastic. Ardyn spoke to him with gentle sincerity. "That kind of helplessness. Having magic- but still not being able to help people. It can drive a person mad. I'm sorry to put you through that so unexpectedly."

Ardyn sounded like he was talking from experience. Ravus did not know how that could be though. Ravus looked at the dark, corrupted man before him, and for the first time wondered... how Ardyn had ever gotten his powers.

Ardyn did not give him much time for Ravus to digest this new thought. He stepped back and pointed towards the wall with his hat. Indicating towards the not-children standing against the wall. "Go stand with the others." Ardyn instructed him.

Ardyn then swept his coat back. Placing one hand on a hip, and the other putting his black fedora into place. Approaching the main counter to the ER like a man with a purpose.

Ravus watched the maroon haired man go, and looked back at the children. Who had all been standing against the wall and amusing themselves for the most part. Two or three of them were watching their father though. They all looked at Ravus with dark purple eyes, which all felt a little... unnatural.

Ravus licked his lips. Then disobeyed Ardyn, following him up to the counter. Ardyn glanced at him, and scowled briefly, but then allowed it. Focusing on the nurse behind the glass window instead. "Excuse me."

The nurse looked up from their computer with a blank expression. It had to be a feat of true benightedness to not notice Ardyn entering, or approaching the counter.

"Are you aware that you have had a fifteen year old sitting here- unaccompanied for the last five hours?" Ardyn asked her tartly.

The woman looked up tiredly at Ardyn, then over at Ravus.

"He was here when I came in for my shift." The woman stated, then frowned at Ravus, "Did you not check in? Where are your parents?"

"His parents are both QUITE dead, thank you very much." Ardyn told the woman, with far to happy of a tone. The way the woman flinched however. Ravus drew some satisfaction from it. "His care taker was admitted into the ER. You did not think to once check in on him? Not even once?"

"I'm sorry Sir, but the social worker-" The woman began.

Ardyn waved a hand. "No. You can dismiss yourself for today, and actually, from the medical field for the rest of your life."

The woman's eyes widden, but then they went blank. Ravus felt the magic that accompanied Ardyn's hand wave. Shadows reached out and latched onto the woman. Black strings embedding themselves into her mind, and winding around her limbs, and then pulling her up like a marionette. The woman rose up out of her chair, jerkily. Head hanging as if she had lost all consciousness.

Ravus flinched at the sudden use of the magic, and the immediate seizing of someone's whole autonomy in such a violent manner. Ardyn, lowered the hand he had waved, and pressed it into the center of Ravus' back. As if to keeping him in place to witness everything first hand.

Ardyn didn't so much as move, nor did his expression twitch. Ardyn's fingers resting on Ravus' back moved, like he was playing a piano. As the nurse was manipulated by the black strings. The woman was placed on her feet, but she leaned to one side in a way that made Ravus uncomfortable. The woman looked almost like she was sleep walking. Or being puppeted.

Ardyn's fingers continued lightly tapped on Ravus' back. The woman reached forward, hand limp. She hit the buzzer to let people into the back hall. Ardyn's hand moved from his back to his shoulder, and he pulled Ravus along towards the door. Opening it up with his other hand, and then pushing Ravus through the entry way.

Ravus went reluctantly, terrified to his very core. He had never known the man could just seize a hold of someone like that. Take away their autonomy and free will. It was the stuff of nightmares- and something Ravus would have thought impossible. To think that Ardyn could take people's free will on a whim as well. The man didn't have to negotiate with anybody. Which made all the games Ardyn tended to play with people even worse.

Ravus felt like he was going to be sick. We are all just his play things.

"Boys." Ardyn, still holding the door, called over his shoulder. The blonde kids all extracted themselves from the wall and walked single file around the corner and through the door. Ardyn held the door open for them all counting heads as they passed under his breath. There were nine in total.

Ravus watched the children brush past him. Each of them just a little younger than Luna- he would say they were all about ten years of age. Nine ten year old children. All vessels filled with demon scourge. A feeling of dread grew in Ravus stomach. He wondered what Ardyn's planned to do with them.

A door opened, it was right beside the one they were entering through. The nurse who had been at the counter stumbled out. Shambling like a zombie from a horror film. The not-quite children parted to let her pass. Breaking apart then regrouping like a school of fish. All looking at her curiously.

"Have a good day." Ardyn told the woman cheerily, holding the door for her. She walked zombie-like past them and out towards the automatic door. "Where are you making her go?" Ravus asked fearfully.

"Just for a walk." Ardyn told him innocently. Closing the door behind her. Ravus knew that the man was lying. The woman was going to die, or worse become a demon. Ravus felt sick to his stomach. Realizing that he had indirectly sealed her fate. He was the one who called Ardyn here after all. Ravus had brought the demon here. Along with his nine spawns from hell. Anything that they did at this hospital today would be on his shoulders.

"Alright who are we looking for again?" Ardyn asked Ravus as the door closed behind the nurse.

"Moneta." Ravus supplied dryly, "Juno Moneta."

"Alright, you boys heard him." Ardyn announced and clapped thrice. "You're up. We are looking for a 'Juno Moneta'."

The blonde children broke apart like Ravus' cricket team after the coach rallied them. The children split off into three teams of three, and then scattered. Two groups went down the halls into the hospital, and one team pushed into the receptionist room the nurse had left from. Leaving Ravus to stand alone with Ardyn.

Ardyn watched the controlled chaos he had unleashed for a moment. A proud smile on his face. He then followed the three children into the receptionist room. Ravus, drawn in like someone witnessing a building collapse, warily followed Ardyn. He watched from the doorway as one of the children jumped onto the chair and let it spin him around, before adjusting it to access the computer there. The second of them started opening and closing cabinets. The final one hopped up onto the counter and started looking at the forms and paperwork that were kept there.

Ardyn watched his minions tear through the room from the doorway. Arms crossed and a proud smile on his face.

The boy on the computer spoke up after a moment.

"Juno Moneta exited surgery about 2 hours ago. She is in the ICU, room 2053." the child read off, sounding more like a prompter than an actual child. "She is still in critical condition."

"I found the fire plans." Another child stated, holding up a laminated sheet of paper, from where they had found it in a cabinet. They looked for the room number on the map, "Second hall on the left, go past the circular area, and then take a right."

"I have her admission file here." The child going through the files on the counter thumbed through a vanilla folder handed it over to him.

"Good job boys." Ardyn took the file, and thumbed through it. "Hold down the fort, 60 is in charge." He pointed to the child in the computer chair.

The boys each gave affirmatives. A chorus of 'yes Dad' that made Ravus blink. Then look at the maroon haired man. Wait. Ardyn was their DAD?! He had children?? Ravus looked to Ardyn, eyes wide, as a whole new level of fear being opened up in his chest.

Ardyn gave the boys a thumbs up, then indicated with the file he had been given. "Prince Ravus, come with me."

Ravus nervously glanced at the room of blonde children, and then followed Ardyn. He wanted to ask the immediate question- if these boys were really his children. Though he already thought the answer was obvious- otherwise why would they call him 'dad'. Ravus was having a hard time wrapping his head around this though. Ardyn. A Father? They... they had to be adopted or something- right?

Three of the scourge children rounded around the corner of the hallway, excitedly calling out to them. Ardyn slowed his steps.

"Dad!" One of the children ran up to him, breathless. His two brothers on his heels. "She's not in the morgue!" he informed them excitedly.

Ravus could not helped the choking noise he made at such horrible words being said with such a cheery tone. He placed a hand over his mouth, feeling sick. One of the scourge children looked at him curiously, before looking back to Ardyn.

"Good idea to check that." Ardyn praised the child, even ruffling their hair, "We found her room in the computer system. Good work though."

"Okay." The child fixed his hair, bouncing on his heels excitedly. "Can we go back and look at the bodies?" They asked, as if the prospect were exciting.

Ardyn smiled, as if this were a perfectly normal request. "Of course."

The child who had spoken pumped their fist excitedly, and ran back the way they had come. Their brother, a little on the heavier side, followed after them. "58! Wait up!"

The third child lingered behind, apparently not as eager to gawk at dead corpses as much as their other brothers, apparently.

"Do you not want to go with them 55?" Ardyn asked gently. He offered the child his hand.

"Not really." The child reached up to Ardyn. Wrapping their hand around the older man's.

"Come with us then." Ardyn took the child's hand, and they began walking in the direction of the trauma unit. Following the directions they had been given. There were signs posted at each intersection of where people ought to be going- but the hospital was something of a maze.

Ravus stayed a few steps behind Ardyn, watching him walk while holding his child's hand. The kid glanced behind at him, and they made eye contact. The kid immediately looked away. Grabbing the wing of Ardyn's trench coat and burying his face in it. As if they were shy. Ardyn didn't seem to mind this, though he did slowly his steps so as not to run the child over. He gave Ravus what could only be interpreted as an apologetic look for the slower speed.

They came to the circular area they had been told about, and took their right turn. Soon coming upon the main desk for the Trauma wing. Ardyn approached with little hesitation. His child still attached to his side.

"Hello, we are here to see Juno Moneta?

"Are you immediate family?" The nurse at the desk asked.

"Yes. We should be allowed in." Ardyn waved the hand still holding the file they had taken. The motion summoned another wave of magic. Ravus tensed. The nurse's eyes glazed over. This was not the same puppeteering spell- thankfully. Instead of strings, sparks of magic popped around the woman's ears. Just the smallest of a shimmer. She blinked once twice, then stood up.

"Yes of course, room 2053." She showed them where to go, with a bit of a daze. Ravus gave the woman a wide berth as they walked around her. Soon arriving at the room they needed.

Ardyn placed a hand on the door and turned back to Ravus. "This is probably going to be very hard for you to see." Ardyn remarked quietly, "It is okay if you don't want to go in just yet. Or if you need to leave." Ardyn cautioned.

Ravus shook his head. He was already here. He had waited long enough. Ardyn gave him an assessing look, and then opened the door.

Ms. Moneta was laying on the hospital bed and she looked awful. They had her hooked up to multiple machines. One which had a tube shoved down her throat and seemed to be breathing for her. What little skin Ravus could see was red, or purple. One half of her face was wrapped in bandage tape. There were splints on both of her legs, and one of her arms. There were IV tubes and cords hooked up everywhere. Ravus didn't want to look at it. However, he also did not want to look away. Ravus slowly approached her bedside. Feeling the magic rising inside of him. He wanted to reach out to the woman. To heal her. He knew that it was more complicated than just applying the healing energy, however. Ravus remembered his mother showing him and Luna how she had to walk her fingers along Prince Noctis' injured back. How there were certain points that you had to touch, and manipulate the magic just so. Proper healing took patience, and skill.

Things Ravus's mother had been teaching them, before she was killed.

"What happened?" The child with Ardyn asked quietly with a whisper.

"She got hit by a car." Ardyn replied quietly, "This is why we don't play in streets. Sit here, okay?" He indicated that the boy should sit down in the chair against the wall. Once they were settled Ardyn joined Ravus at the bed side. He looked at Ms. Moneta for just a moment. Then reached forward. Cupping his hand, the man reached for her unconscious face.

Ravus grabbed Ardyn's arm. Keeping the demon from actually touching her. His holy magic sparked against Ardyn's demonic Aura. Specks of light began to flake away from him. Ravus felt how much of the demonic power was inside of the man and balked. It was like standing at the bottom of a dam. Containing all of the waste water in the world. Ardyn wasn't just one soul- he was many. A literal hell's worth of demons condensed into one being. Ravus by comparison was just a single rain drop.

Ardyn didn't seem affected by the fact that Ravus was actively purifying parts of his scourged soul. Probably because it wasn't even a scratch compared to what the man actually was. Ardyn slowly turned to look at Ravus. "I am here to help, you know."

"Is that so?"

The voice made both Ardyn and Ravus turn. They became aware of a fourth person joining them in the room. Though not by conventional means. Instead of walking in, they opted just to appear suddenly by the window. As if existing was an option for them. Said person was a woman, wearing black robes, with a white shawl around her shoulders. The room they were in became a few degrees colder. Ardyn stood up properly, taking his arm back from Ravus. "Always lovely to see you, my lady." He raised his hands in greeting. As if she were an old friend and he was offering her a hug.

The woman regarded Ardyn with closed yes. "Adagium."

"Lady Gentiana." Ravus whispered reverently, he recognized the holy messenger immediately. The black haired specter had visited his mother once or twice, and Ravus had seen the woman at a distance. Luna had said that the holy messenger had been appearing to her since their mother passed. Teaching her what she needed to know in order to full fill her duties as an Oracle.

Lady Gentiana was their family patron. The guide to them communicating with the Gods. This was the first time Ravus had ever met her in person however. "I am honored that you have come." Ravus took a step to the side, and bowed low.

"You should not be." Ardyn reprimanded Ravus, his tone cautious. The demon took a step forward. He stood to stand between Ravus and Gentiana. "This is a house of healing, and recovery. An act of kindness and charity." Ardyn pointed at the holy messenger accusingly.

"I will not have a messenger of death here." Ardyn told Gentianna firmly.

Ravus' eyes widened, and he jerked up from his bow. He looked at Gentiana. Silently beseeching the truth. He knew that was one of the tasks of Gentianna- to ferry souls on behalf of the deceased Shiva. That was... surely she was here to help though. Right? to help him save Ms. Moneta?

Lady Gentiana turned her head just ever so slightly away from him. As if ashamed. Ravus felt like someone was stabbing a knife into his heart. He stumbled backwards. Feeling as if the floor just dropped a few centimeters.

"You would once again intervene?" Gentiana asked Ardyn, instead of explaining herself. "Prevent something that was meant to be?"

Ardyn made a rumbling noise. It was not a human one. Nor was it something he made local to himself. The shadows around them deepened. The very foundation of the building shifted in its bedrock. The lights of the room flickered and blinked. Ardyn pursed his lips.

"PISS OFF!" He told the holy messenger of the Oracle and gods.

Gentianna disappeared.

Whether of her own will, or out of offense at Ardyn's words. Ravus was not sure. Either way Ravus stood, stunned. He had just witnessed the most powerful being he knew in existance- be banished as simply as one might blow out a candle.

Ardyn turned on his heel. "We must work quickly." He declared, moving to stand over Ms. Moneta's bed side. Looking the woman over critically.

"What do you mean?" Ravus felt incredibly overwhelmed. He did not know what to do. The Gods apparently wanted everyone he cared about dead. There was no changing their will once it was decreed. He knew more than anyone else.

Ardyn began to shrug off his coat. First lifting the whole thing up and off his shoulders, then extracting himself an arm at a time. The man looked down at Ravus. "Despite what your teachings might say. I am not an inherently evil entity, my boy. Sometimes defying the gods, means doing something good in spite of them."

Ardyn finished taking off his black coat. Revealing the white pleated undershirt he wore underneath, with a vest to keep himself looking slim. How he had not gotten all of his scarves tangled up in his jacket, Ravus was not quite sure. Ardyn looked almost like an entirely different person from the simple change of wardrobe. It felt as if Ravus was actually SEEING Ardyn for the first time. As he handed his jacket off to his strange son for safe keeping. Then placed his hat on their head. Something the scourge child seemed amused by.

Ardyn then circled to the other side of the bed. Moving some of the equipment out of the way so that he would have room to work.

"If Lady Gentianna appeared, that means this woman was meant to die this day." Ardyn explained, rolling up his sleeves. "And I am going to prevent that from occurring."

Ardyn hopped up into the space he had made at Ms. Moneta's bed side. Sitting himself right beside the unconscious woman.

"How though?" Ravus asked. Feeling suddenly like his whole life was a lie. Everything he had been taught was in opposites. The embodiment of a walking nightmare was the only adult he could apparently turn too and rely on. Meanwhile the being who was supposed to answer his prayers and protect him, was taking away the only good thing he had left besides his sister.

Ardyn looked at him, from where he was sitting at Ms. Moneta's side. "I need to concentrate for this." Ardyn explained, very seriously, "Do not interrupt me. Just watch for now, and I can explain this to you after."

Ravus did not know what other choice he had- other than to let Ardyn do whatever he was doing. All the common sense in him said that he should not have let the demonic man anywhere near Ms. Moneta. However... if they didn't do something then Ms. Moneta would pass away.

Ravus watched as Ardyn produced a hair tie from around his wrist, and pulled back his maroon hair. Pulling it away from his face. Ardyn then settled himself, and closed his eyes for a moment. Before getting started.

Ardyn leaned over Ms. Moneta. He placed a hand against the side of her undamaged face, and hovered his forehead just above hers. The other arm reaching over, to keep him balanced above the unconscious woman.

For a long moment Ravus feared that he was going to kiss Ms. Moneta- however thankfully Ardyn maintained a very clear distance. The demonic man closed his eyes again. He inhaled, then exhaled. The shadows within the room rippled. Once. Twice, and then just for a second; a golden glow appeared in the space in between Ardyn and Ms. Moneta's face.

Ravus inhaled sharply with surprise. Recognizing the HEALING magic in that light. It was the same one he could produce. The same one that Luna was mastering. Though Ardyn's was much stronger than his sister's. More potent. Almost like... almost like his Mother's had been.

In the same second the light disappeared. Ardyn's shadows washed back like a viscus liquid. Submerging the light. The shadows rippled again, pushing away from Ardyn once again. This time with a little more momentum- and the light stayed for just a second longer, before it swirled back towards Ardyn.

The shadows were gravitating towards the light. Ravus realized. Swallowing that golden hue- swallowing ARDYN. Ravus felt his mouth dry.

The shadows rippled out again, and this time they rotated just ever so slightly. That golden light appearing once more. Ardyn all the while concentrating with his eyes closed. The shadows to wash back inwards. The next time Ardyn pushed them out there was even more of a rotation- and Ravus realized he could physically SEE this happen in the room around them. The shadows cast by Ardyn's light now rotating around the room. Like a carousel.

Ravus had never seen anything like it before- or felt such a thing be done with magic. It was fascinating to watch from an objective view. Ravus had never seen his mother do anything like this with her magic. Though she didn't have shadows, like Ardyn did. Ardyn was juggling not one but two different types of magics. Things which were inherently at odds with each other. Light and dark.

Before the shadows could circle back into Ardyn, he pushed and rotated them out once more. This time the Shadows had enough momentum to be kept back. They spun around the room. Traveling across the walls, ceiling and floor. The golden light of Ardyn's healing casting said shadows. A tiny bead just in between his forhead and Ms. Moneta's. Golden like the sun.

It was a sight Ravus had not seen in a long while. Proper healing magic. It reminded him very much of his mother. Though Ardyn's light was slightly different. Just enough to be distinguished as his own.

A small hand reached out and grabbed Ravus by the hand.

Ravus blinked, and realized that unconsciously he had been drawing closer to the light. He turned, to find not one, but three of the blonde children had come into the room.

"Don't distract Dad while he's doing magic." The child holding his hand advised Ravus, his voice just a whisper. He clasped both hands around his, and gently pulled him away from the hospital bed.

Ravus allowed himself to be lead him to the edge of the room. The boys all lining up against the wall where their other brother was sitting. They lined up against the wall, talking quietly to themselves.

Ravus lined up with them, and they all watched as Ardyn healed Ms. Moneta. Already her skin was less bruised, and he suspected several cuts under her bandage were closing up as well, the smaller things first. Ardyn leaned away from her. The light dimmed, but it did not go away. The two of them now glowing like candles. Ardyn placed a hand on her chest gently, and then began extracting the breathing tube out of Ms. Moneta's throat. It was a rough sight to see. Ravus had to cover his mouth to keep himself from gagging at the noises his nanny made. Ardyn set the oxygen tube aside and started focusing on healing her chest. Light gathering and radiating from his hands.

After his chest he worked on her stomach. After her stomach he focused on each of her limbs. The whole process took almost an hour, bit by bit and piece by piece. Ardyn piecing Ravus' Nanny back together like she was a puzzle. One he treated like delicate porcelain. The scourge child who was still holding his hand gently squeezed his occasionally. As if to reassure him.

After about an hour and a half Ardyn seemed to have finished. The golden healing light faded, and he checked Ms. Moneta over one last time. "That is all I can do for now." He declared turning and packing away several of the machines he had disconnected her from.

Ms. Moneta still was not conscious- and she still looked injured as well. Ravus let go of the scourge child's hand and approached the bed side. He could see her breathing steadily- and calmly. She looked as if she were sleeping peacefully. He pulled over one of the guest chairs, and sat down at her side.

"Is she still going to die?" One of the children asked.

"Not today," Ardyn reached for his side, and then seemed to realized, "Inside my jacket, 55. Can you please hand me my scissors?"

"Yes." They stood up and started looking through the many pockets. Ardyn specified which one, and then walked over to retreive the item.

Ravus stayed sitting at Ms. Moneta's side. Clasping his hand with hers. He looked at her- and still could see the image of her being hit by that car in his mind. Her body lying on the pavement. Him trying to heal her- in tears as he held her life in her hands until the ambulance arrived. Ravus cupped both of his hands around Ms. Moneta's. Knowing now that just having magic power was not enough. That HE had not been enough. Tears gathering at the corner of his eyes, as well as the feeling of how inadequate he was. To be a Prince, an older brother.

The door opened- and five more blonde look-alike children spilled into the room. Officially overcrowding it.

"Father! We got kicked out of the mourge!" One complained loudly.

"It took them forever to find a replacement for the ER Nurse." Another remarked. The three boys they had left in charge of the ER office returning to them.

For lack of nowhere else to stand in the small room, one of the boys accidentally bumped into the chair Ravus was sitting in. They blinked at Ravus with round purple eyes. "Who is she?" They asked, looking at Ms. Moneta.

"My Nanny." Ravus tried not to sound so angry. However he really would have rather had some time alone instead of the chaos of a near dozen children crowding him suddently.

"Oh. Are you're upset that she's hurt?" They child asked. Looking up at him with... a look. Like he didn't quite understand something.

What sort of question was that? Of course he was. It took all of the diplomacy skills Ravus had been taught not to snap at the young child. He inhaled, and exhaled his answer. "Yes."

"I see." The kid reached out. And then patted him on the head. Only able to do so, given that Ravus was currently sitting down. Like Ravus was a dog. "There there."

Ravus stared at the kid with confusion. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"Comforting you." The kid shrugged, "Dad said we got Empathy points if we comfort people who are upset."

Empathy Points? what the hell was that supposed to mean?

The clone child standing next to the one talking to Ravus turned. "Is someone upset?"

"Of course he's upset. That's his mom." A taller clone remarked.

"No, not his mom. His nanny." Another joined in, and Ravus had officially lost track of which child was which. He was sitting in a sea of blonde hair and freckles. All putting their two cents in.

"Is there a diffrence?" "Of course there's a diffrence." "What's the diffrence?" "Blood, I think. Or adoption papers." "Nannies are hired by parents. So are Butlers." "But if that's the case then why would you care about them?" "It's not THAT hard to care about people, 58" "But why would you?" "Do you care for Ms. Aranea?" "Yes." "It's like that." "Oh. I see."

"Boys." Ardyn stood over the swath of flaxen haired children. Holding a pair of ornamental silver scissors. "Settle down. You're crowding Ravus." Ardyn made a guesture for all of them to break up, "Wall please."

All of the clones backed off. Finding spots against the wall to stand. As there was only two chairs to sit in, and Ravus had one. While 55 seemed to now be sharring with another of his brothers, and their father's coat.

Ardyn, made sure all of his children were behaving, then returned to the hospital bed. Ravus felt the hairs on his neck slowly rise. Ardyn's shadows had returned to him in the chaos of all the children arriving. He was as dark and corrupted as ever. Ravus tried to sense any of the golden healing light underneath all of the black and tar- but it was too thick to see anything.

Ardyn placed down a red ribbon on the bed side, and then the pair of silver scissors he had fetched. "Did your mother ever teach you how to sever someone from fate?" The man asked. Ravus pulled his shoulders in and spoke sharply. "Excuse me?"

"We need to cut this woman's tie to the life stream." Ardyn explained to Ravus, as if he were teaching him something, "Even healed, death will still follow her- and it will continue to do so until it claims her. By cutting her from fate itself Shiva- Death- will not be able to see her. Or any god, for that matter." Ardyn explained. "If we want her to live. This is something that needs to be done."

"But if we do that..." Ravus felt confusion and dread build up in his stomach, "Where will her soul go when she... if she dies?"

"Instead of joining the life stream, she will fade into nothing." Ardyn told him simply, "This will be the end of her existence."

Ravus looked at Ardyn, and down at Ms. Moneta. He hung his head in his hands.

What had he done? This was not what he had asked for- only he HAD asked for it. He had asked for Ardyn to come. Summoned him from the cold hells of Niflheim. Asking for him to save Ms. Moneta's life.

Ravus had made a deal with the devil himself- and Ms. Moneta's soul was going to be the cost.

"Now. Now." Ardyn reached out and placed a hand on Ravus' shoulder. He flinched slightly, but Ardyn kept his hand on his shoulder. "She's going to live a long and satisfying life after this." Ardyn tried to assure him, "It is not such a bad thing for it to be her last. It is natural for things to move on. All souls fade from the life stream, eventually."

"You realize that she will never reach heaven then." Ravus rose his head up. His words shaky. Eyes turning red. "That she will exist in eternity alone, and with no hope of ever rejoining with her loved ones."

"That is far from the truth." Ardyn corrected him. With a sort of unwavering certainty that made Ravus doubt that the man was even lying, "There will simply be NO eternity for her. However, there will be this life at the very least. That is what you have given her."

"This was selfish of me." Ravus could not longer stay sitting. He rose up from the chair. Blinking away tears he knew were not allowed to be falling.

Ardyn scowled and reached over with his long arm. Pulling him back to the bed side. "Ravus." Ardyn spoke seriously, an arm around his shoulder. The other holding the scissors, pressed forward. Cold silver laid over Ravus' heart. Ardyn asked him a very stern question. "Do you want Ms. Moneta to die here? Right now?"

Ravus could hear the threat in the man's voice. If Ravus didn't do what he said... who knew what the monster would do. He inhaled shakily, "No."

"Then then that means for her to LIVE, she needs to be severed from fate." Ardyn reached with the scissors, and placed them in Ravus' hand. Giving Ravus no choice but to take them. Even though hands were shaking. Ardyn gave him the scissors, and waited for just a moment. Watching him, with one arm still loseley around his back. To make sure Ravus would not back down.

Ravus stayed at Ms. Moneta's side blinking tears from the corner of his eyes.

"Now." Ardyn's voice softened, his arm moved from his shoulders, to being a firm brace at his center back. "The soul is a tricky thing. A living being consists of three elements. Mind, Body and Soul. The Mind is located in the brain. Centered here, on the fore head. The Body is centered on the heart, of course. As it sends blood through out the body." Ardyn pointed to each part of Ms. Moneta. Who was resting obliviously resting on her hospital bed. Ardyn's finger trailed lower. "The Soul is located here. In the lungs. That is why a person is not truly born until they take their first breath. Why they die once they take their last."

Ardyn took his hand off of Ravus' back. Rolling up his white shirt sleeves. Securing them them at his elbows with snaps that were built into the shirt itself. "Now. I am going to grab her soul, and you are going to cut it from fate. Then using this ribbon, we tie her soul back to her mind- that is the trickiest thing about this whole process. So I will do that. You should observe how I do this though. It is not something I get to demonstrate often."

Ravus nodded, accepting that this was now something that was going to haunt him until his end days.

"First you place your hand on the diaphragm. Like so." Ardyn gently placed a hand over Ms. Montea's stomach, "Then using your magic you pull up. Through the lungs- the trache- and out." Ardyn swept his hand over and up Ms. Moneta.

Ms. Moneta exhaled. It was a horrid sound. Like a death rattle. A white, wispy fog exuded from her lips. "And that is her soul." Ardyn said simply. Holding the ghostly mist in place with a magic hand. "Now, look at this." Ardyn seized Ms. Moneta's soul, and twisted it. Like he was wringing out a cloth rag. Ravus reached forward with concern. Not at all happy to see a part of someone he loved treated with such force.

"Oh, don't worry." Ardyn assured Ravus, "Souls are VERY durable- it's actually almost impossible to break them." He twisted the white mist in his hands a few more times, and pulled. Looking at it.

Not satisfied, he repeated the motion. "There. Do you see this?" Ardyn asked and presented the white mist to him. Hands slightly apart, with the soul pulled between them.

The white mist had elongated from his ministrations. It was like a white veil of cloth in his hands, pulled taunt. Ravus looked, and saw with his magic. How one end of the soul had a green tinge to it- not her soul. Ms. Moneta seemed to end at this point and... something else began.

"Is that the life stream?" Ravus asked with wonder.

"Yes. This is where her soul is beginning to be reabsorbed by it." Ardyn adjusted his grip so that he could get a clearer view. "Do you see how the two are touching like this? Like a cloth with just a corner dipping into water." Ardyn described, letting Ravus look at the soul.

Ravus could see what the man was saying. He nodded again.

Ardyn looked at him, making sure that Ravus was paying attention. "This is what it looks like when someone is out of time."

Ravus felt a slow, cold dread slip down his spine. "Oh."

"Usually, there is a small thread that connects someone to the life stream- but there is no thread in this case. The closer you get to your death, the shorter the thread becomes. The closer to the life stream the soul gets. Then when someone's time comes, they just get reabsorbed. It's like a doily unwraveling back into thread." Ardyn explained, then adjusted the soul in his hands. Manipulating it as if it were silk and not mist.

"You are going to cut here. Not where they two meet, but just a little beyond. On the life stream side. That way you don't accidentally cut part of her soul away." Ardyn pointed with his thumb.

"Oh." Ravus' hands began to shake. He was holding the scissors Ardyn had given him still. "Okay."

"A separation like this needs to be done with something that is made out of a pure material. Those scissors I gave you are pure silver. Gold works as well- those metals are ironically the easiest things to purify. That's why they are valued so much."

"Would a dagger work?"

The small voice at Ravus' side made him jump- he turned to find one of the scourge children at his elbow. Watching the procedure and what Ardyn was saying with interest.

Ardyn paused and then answered the questions. "Scissors are a better tool for something like this. More of an even cut- but also the symbology matters." He explained to the child, "What we are doing here is more like a ritual surgery- rather than a fight or sacrifice. Daggers are dangrous weapons. If we care about people we do not use daggers on them."

Ravus looked down at the ornate scissors in his hand. He didn't quite understand- but he kind of could see what Ardyn was thinking. When it came to religious ceremonies and what not, what you used and did durring them mattered. There was significance to the smaller details, that shaped magic. That was why they cut ropes when sending off ships, instead of tying them down. But in marriages you braided ropes, or filled cups. His mother had told him about these things... this was the first time Ravus was actually realizing what she meant in practicality though.

"Oh. Okay." the child raised up on the balls of their feet and then plopped back down. They looked up at Ravus almost expectantly.

Ravus chewed his bottom lip. "So I need to just... cut it?" He asked Ardyn, "It is... that simple?"

A touch of a smile appeared at Ardyn's lips. It wasn't sarcastic or mean for once. "It is." He said as if he were sharring some sort of secret "The hardest things generally are."

Ardyn made sure the soul in his hand was taught. "When you are ready." Ardyn offered out his hands to Ravus. Like he was a tailor presenting Ravus a selection of cloth. Only it wasn't cloth. It was mist- and it was a soul. The soul of someone he loved. Ravus inhaled and closed his eyes.

The soul of someone he wanted to live.

Ravus opened his eyes, placed the scissors where Ardyn indicated him too. With a singular snip it was done. The silver scissors cutting through Ms. Moneta's soul like it was nothing- there was no resistance. Just the sound of scissors closing. Then green threads of the life stream faded away into nothing. As if they had never existed.

"Very good." Ardyn held Ms. Moneta's soul in one hand tightly. "And now we take this ribbon." He picked up the red ribbon he had placed beside her.

"Watch closely now." Ardyn wrapped the two up. So that instead of connecting to the life stream- Ms. Moneta's soul was connecting to the ribbion. Ravus watched. He could feel Ardyn twisting the magic around. He wasn't just doing it physically. He was using his own magic to fuse the two together. It looked like a complicated task. Like tying a fishing line.

The younger scourge child leaned in, as well. Seemingly studying the motions. Another had joined them. They multiplied seemingly out of nowhere. Ravus looked at them, then back to Ardyn. He wondered how much the child could see of what was going on. Ravus had magic gifted to him from his blood line. The children standing beside him had measures of scourge within them. He was not sure if that constituted as magic or not. Was that what Ardyn had been trying to do? Make humans with magical power?

When Ardyn was done he showed both Ravus and the curious children the end result. Ms. Moneta's soul was now linked to her, and the ribbon.

"There. Now we connect it to her body and mind." Ardyn turned to Ms Moneta. He picked up her right hand.

"The ring finger is very important." Ardyn told Ravus, as he picked up her hand. "Do you know why?"

Ravus shook his head. He did not know.

One of the scourge child beside him popped up again. "It is a major junction! Right?"

"Correct." Ardyn glanced at the child with a smile, then looked back to Ravus. He explained, "Your ring finger is a major junction, where the three elements of what makes a person whole intersect." Ardyn gently tied the red ribbon around Ms. Moneta's ring finger. Once the knot was done Ms. Moneta inhaled. He soul didn't go back into her mouth it kind of just... sank back into her overall.

"There is a nerve that runs down, from the brain, to the spine, and directly into the ring finger. That is your connection to the mind. There is also a blood vessel. That does the same."

Ravus looked down at Ms. Moneta's hand, "How does the soul reach her hand? The lungs are only in the chest."

Ardyn's eye twinkled with something. Pride? Ardyn was pleased that he was paying attention. Ravus did not know how to feel about that.

"Souls work a lot like strings, and form webs." Ardyn explained, "Have you ever hear of the red string of fate?"

Ravus stared at Ardyn, "Regardless I am aware of them. I... didn't know they were real though."

"Yes. Sometimes souls become linked." Ardyn surmised, and guestured to his own hand. "Souls are not as static as most people think. They are moving around and changing constantly. Tangling, untangling. Not just with themselves, but other people. They typically branch out through the center of your hand, where your ring finger is located."

"So your ring finger is a major juncture. Where your mind, body and soul connect." Ardyn surmized, "So we tie her severed connection to the life stream back to herself, and now her body, mind and soul are reconnected in a solid loop." Ardyn gestured a circle over Ms. Moneta. Who was unconscious, but breathing steadily. Looking miles better than she had before.

"Ms. Moneta is now her own person, in control of her own fate." Ardyn declared. "The Gods won't be able to control, or interfere with her. If they even try to look for her soul, they will not be able to find it because it is disconnected. Which should keep the witch from doing anything drastic."

The man stepped back and crossed his arm, but then raised a finger as a point. "Now bonds like this are not permanent." Ardyn warned, "Not immediatley. I would say we do not want her to remove this ribbon until tomorrow morning. If it gets taken off, just tie it back on. After tomorrow this will be a permanent connection and we won't have to worry about it as much."

"Oh." Ravus wondered why that was. How Ardyn knew these things. How he was so sure. A question that had flickered in Ravus' mind earlier circled back around. This time with more weight. Just what IS Ardyn? he wondered. How does someone so demonic end up with so much power? But also the power to cure people as well?

Ardyn reached out for him. Opening and closing his hand. It took a moment for Ravus to realize Ardyn was asking for his scissors. Ravus handed Ardyn back the silver implements. Ardyn tucking them into his back pocket. Ardyn then reached back out, and placed a hand on Ravus' shoulder.

"Sit with her a while." The man advised, looking Ravus directly in the eyes, "I will take care of the doctors, paper work and such."

Ardyn left the room soon after, telling his sons to behave themselves. "Ravus here is in charge. So listen to him, okay?" He directed the boys. One of the boys scrunched up their faces at this, and another asked who Ravus was. Even though the same child turned and looked at him- already knowing the answer. More questioning WHY he was being put in charge.

Ardyn closed the door. Leaving nine kids looking at Ravus, and Ravus looking at nine nearly identical kids.

"Do what you will, just don't cause any trouble." Ravus instructed them. This seemed to satisfy the lot. Who all gathered in groups and started whispering with each other. There was the trading of items from pockets, and the rolling of what Ravus suspected were dice.

Ravus let them be. He just sat and looked at Ms. Moneta. Exhausted from everything that had happened that day. After a moment he reached out. Holding her hand in his. It was warm, and she didn't seem to be in any pain. He ran his thumb along the red ribbon around her finger.

Hoping that all of this had been worth it.

One of the scourge children who had been watching the proceedings came over and placed two hands on his chair arm. Ravus noticed that the number on his blaizer- which seemed to be unique to each of the boys was the number 57. "Don't worry. Dad's the best at magic stuff." They assured him. "He's even better than Ifrit, sometimes."

"Ifrit?" Ravus asked with several stacked layers of concern. Maybe that was some clue as to how Ardyn was so powerful though. The source of demonic power working alongside an exiled Astral god might explain why the man acted as he did. It raised more questions for Ravus though- such as how the two had come to meet.

"Yeah." The scourge child bounced up and down on the balls of his feet. Excitedly, "So don't worry! I'm sure this lady will be just fine!"

The child's bright optimism was bright, and warm. A little reasuring- even to someone was jaded as Ravus was. He felt the smallest hint of a smile twitch at his lips. As something kindled in his chest.

Something that felt... just a little bit like hope.

#off the moon

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#off the moon