~Zodia's POV~
As morning came, I woke up before Ignis and scooted out of the room without waking him. Walking down the stairs, I saw Iris was already up. She seemed worried about something the way she was hunched over in her seat. I sat next to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong, Iris?"
"It's just... well... this morning, Gladdy left. He kept talking about how he had to get stronger and he wouldn't tell me why."
"He left? Why..." Thats when I remembered when we were in Hammerhead before heading to Balouve Mines. Gladio had told me of how Ravus' words seeped into his mind when they were trying to retrieve the Regalia from an imperial base and the former prince attacked my brother.
I decided to tell the young girl of why he departed since she is his little sister and deserves to know. Hearing my explanation, she had finally calmed down. She thanks me and sends a smile my way.
The two of us chatted up a storm until the others were up. As usual, Noctis was the last one to wake. Everyone gathered around the table, even Talcott was curious about the loud noises last night. I explained all what transpired the night before, my hands folded in my lap.
"How the hell did he get in without anyone noticing him?" Noctis asked. I stayed silent, staring at my hands.
"Then, those markings..." Prompto said, pointing to the base of his throat. I nod, one of my hands running over the handprint on my neck. They all fell silent and I didn't blame them. It was hard to believe, but the Chancellor of Niflheim had attacked me with the intent to kill.
The door opens and Cindy walks in with her normal bright smile. She walked over to my brother and her smile fell. "We've gotta small problem."
I didn't care to eavesdrop and stood from my seat to get some fresh air. Stepping outside onto the small porch, I inhale the refreshing sea breeze. My midnight locks gently float with the breeze as I fiddled with the pendant around my neck. The door behind me opened, but I didn't even bother to check who it was. Then, I felt two arms encircle my waist, pulling me against a lean chest.
"How are you fairing this morning?"
Hearing the familiar accent, I sigh and lean against him. "I'm fine. I can't wait for all of this to be over. Then, we can have a normal life."
"As do I," Ignis agreed.
The door opens again, Noctis and Prompto emerging from the house. The two groaned in unison, signaling what Cindy had to say wasn't good news. "We need to find some mythril ore. The only place I know we can find some will be in-"
"Steyliff Grove," I finish my brother's sentence.
"Swear to the Astrals, you're a mind reader," Noctis chuckles.
"No, you're just my brother, that's all," I remark with grin. He rolls his eyes and Ignis releases me from his embrace. We trekked down the path to reach the Regalia. Prompto decided to sit in the back with Noctis while I sat in the front with Ignis. We departed from Cape Caem and headed to the Vesperpool. All four of us agreed to head to Thommels Glade after our business with the mythril ore was completed.
Within the hour, we arrive at Steyliff Grove just north of the Vesperpool. Ignis pulled the car over, his eyes locked on something in the distance. Following his gaze, I spotted a woman with silver-blonde hair. She wore what seemed to be black and red armor that didn't cover her entire body. "Know her?" I ask the tactician.
"Indeed. She toils with the empire."
"She attacked us when we were tryin' to get the car back," Prompto said.
"Why is the empire out here?" I question.
"I don't know, but if their damn Chancellor is out here, I'm gonna kill him myself," Noctis growls.
We leave the car and walk up to the woman who seemed to have been waiting for us. "So, you're the "new recruits" they sent over for "special training". Nice cover, runaway prince," she said.
"Thanks!" Prompto cheerfully responds.
"Oh, c'mon!" Noctis groans, elbowing his best friend in the stomach.
"At ease, "recruits". There's nothing in it for this ex-mercenary to turn you in. Let's get the show on the road."
When I passed the woman, she eyed me with curiosity. "Who's this?"
Noctis crosses his arms. "My sister. And if I find Ardyn-"
"He's not here, but he's the one who gave me the orders," she said. "So, what's your name?"
"Zodia. And you are...?"
"Aranea. Never thought I'd actually see the rumored princess."
With Aranea in the lead, we followed her down the narrow dirt path. As we entered the swampy area of Steyliff Grove, the number of imperials rose significantly. Aranea guides us to mysterious ruins and suddenly stopped. "Good luck tryin' to find an entrance. None of my men have been successful."
"I can get us in," I declare.
Aranea grinned and patted me on the back. "I like you already."
Now with me leading the group, we trudge through the murky shallows. Prompto gasped in amazement as we weaved through collapsed pillars. "Wow, wonder what this place used to be. Any idea, Ignis?"
"None," Ignis simply responds.
"What about you, Zo?" The blonde flipped his gaze to me.
"Hmm... the structure is similar to that of the Costlemark Tower. It's highly possible whoever built these ruins were the ones behind the tower. I'll need to see more to come up with a conclusion."
"Gee, I wonder what happened to the locals," Prompto comments.
"Why not head inside and look for 'em?" Aranea asked. I couldn't help but laugh at her response. She grinned when she heard my laughter.
We arrived at what would have been the entrance, but it was sealed shut. What caught my attention were the runes carved in the stone door. "Zodiac runes. Why would they..." That's when I realized what this place was. "These ruins were once home to a civilization that worshipped only one of the twelve zodiacs."
"How can you tell?" Aranea asked.
"The runes on the stone door form the constellation of Scorpio. A creature that's half human and half scorpion is also carved on the door. This must mean her temple lies within."
"Temple?" Noctis asked.
"The zodiac ruins. They were once temples of worship, but their power could not be contained in the ancient structure. Henceforth, they were destroyed and now are known as ruins."
"Makes sense. So, how are we gonna get in?" Aranea puzzles.
"The door only opens at night, unless..."
"What? Unless what?" Prompto eagerly pestered.
"The blood of a zodiac is offered."
"Where the hell are we gonna get that?" Aranea scoffs.
"From me."
She froze just as the others did. My eyes traveled over to Ignis, and I could tell he knew what I was trying to convey. "Zodia." His tone was full of warning and concern.
"Ignis, please. We can't wait here all day and we'll miss our chance to visit Thommels Glade."
Reluctantly, he summons one of his daggers and places it in my hand. Tightening my grip on the hilt of the dagger, I drag the sharp blade across my palm. I saw the others wince as I gasped in pain from the deepness of the wound. I watch as blood pushes past the broken skin and begins to cover my entire palm. I gave the dagger back to Ignis before turning my full attention to the door. I place my palm against the door, my blood being absorbed by the zodiac runes.
An azure light began filling the runes, creating a beautiful radiating design. The radiance filled the air around us, rivaling the sun's bright rays. Once the light had dissipated, the door gradually opened.
"Talk about dramatic," Prompto snickers.
With the path before us revealed, I healed my hand and stepped inside. The immense mana I felt almost knocked me off my feet. "Guess we won't have to worry about our mana consumption, Noct."
"Yeah, I felt it, too," he said.
Aranea didn't question how I opened the door with my blood, which I'm glad she didn't. Prompto began to complain about how long the descent into the ruins was but finally ceased when he saw the bottom. The room was completely quiet, making the air even more tense.
"Take care not to get lost, Brother," I scoff.
"No promises, Sister," Noctis smirks.
The ruins were filled with twists and turns. Stairwell after stairwell, we descended further into the ancient civilization. Zodiac runes were carved within the walls of every room, which made me wonder where the door was. It would be difficult to find, especially with how enormous this place is.
We defeated a wave of Skeletons and Reapers, who were blocking an intricately designed door. Walking through the door, we all gasp in amazement at the sight before us. "Beautiful beyond words," Ignis gaped.
"That is pretty neat," Aranea stares in amazement.
"Look up!" Prompto points to the ceiling.
"Whoa... if that's the water's surface..." Aranea starts.
"Wait, what? Does this mean we're underwater? Whoa. There's even fish," Prompto stares in surprise.
"Technically, we're not underwater. There is no oxygen, but here, there is. It possibly could be a suspended body of water due to all the mana surrounding it," I explain.
"Where did all of the mana come from?" Aranea asked.
"Most likely, it came from Scorpio herself. Zodiacs possess high levels of mana, which they use to cast powerful spells. They can also excrete it if there is enough within their bodies. The extra mana will affect the zodiac's surroundings and begin to manipulate what is closest to them. In this case, it's a body of water."
"Fascinating," Ignis comments.
"But, how come the other zodiacs didn't have such high concentrations of mana?" Prompto peered at me with a questioning gaze.
"Unlike the other zodiacs, Scorpio's Temple was located underground. When the people who worshipped her built this place, they didn't realize they were trapping her mana flow. It's possible all these people died because of her incarcerated mana. After many years of exposure to uncontrolled mana can kill a person within seconds."
"I'm impressed. My men have been here for days and they don't even have a single clue. You've been here for two hours and already figured everything out," Aranea smiles.
"That's our Zodia for ya!" Prompto chants. I smile at the blonde before walking closer to the stone railing to get a better look. When I did, a swarm of Crème Brûlées dropped in front of me. I quickly summoned my staff and annihilated them with a shadow spell in one fell swoop.
"Well, you're just full of surprises," Aranea comments as I dispel my weapon.
"Just making our journey quicker. I sense a strong presence, and it's not a daemon."
Aranea, Noctis, and Prompto groaned at hearing my words. Ignis, on the other hand, remained silent. I could tell by the look on his face that he wished not to encounter the powerful beast. We shared the same expression as we pushed forward.
Our next obstacle brought back memories of Greyshire Glacial Grotto. A narrow ledge was our only way to reach the other side of the collapsed walkway. Noctis offered to go first to test it out.
"Huh. Something bothers me about this spot," Prompto murmurs. "Have we been this way?"
"Something overlooked?" Ignis puzzled.
"Can I just-"
"It'll hold you," Noctis reassures.
"Famous last words," Ignis remarks.
I giggle and nudge the royal advisor lightly. "You're horrible." Ignis smiles at me before crossing over. I follow with Aranea behind me. Safely on the other side, we peered down to see more daemons below.
"Daemons. 'Til death do us part," she said.
"Practicing your vows?" Ignis eyes the ex-mercenary.
"The army swore their oaths a long time ago."
"What does the empire seek here?" The tactician asked.
"Specimens-and we're stuck harvesting them?"
Prompto tilts his head in confusion. "Specimens?"
"Daemons."
"For their army," I chimed in.
Aranea faces me with a stoic expression. "Exactly. By your expression, I can tell you already know about the Magiteks."
I cross my arms with a sigh. "Yes, I'm aware they are of daemon descent. Their malicious auras are hard not to sense."
"Something's not quite right with the empire lately. Maybe it's time I left."
Ignis pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "What about the empire strikes you as "not quite right"?"
Aranea took a deep breath. "The emperor and new high commander, for starters. Then there's that charmer of a chancellor. I really can't stand that guy. What was with the death threat earlier?" Her gaze fell upon my brother.
"Bastard tried to kill my sister yesterday. He'll pay for that," Noctis growls, eyes brimming with hatred.
"Wouldn't put it past him. He strikes me as a man who killed those in his way."
We all fell silent and I stopped in my tracks, feeling the familiar sensation of Ardyn's hand on my throat. I traced over the mark with delicate fingers, my gaze plastered to the ground. Then, I felt a warm hand against my cheek. Gazing up, I stare into Ignis' warm and gentle eyes. I could tell without asking what he was thinking. "I'm fine. It'll take time for the sensation to go away." I sent him a smile in an attempt to defuse some of his worry.
"Alright, but if this persists-"
"I'll be fine. Just watch out for Noct. Who knows how careless he'll get down here."
Ignis smiled faintly, laying a gentle kiss on my forehead. We stayed side by side as we delved deeper into the ruins.