Not my pic.
"You fucking asshole, where the hell have you been?" I asked in frustration at the moment. The reason being is because Ardyn forced me to ride with him in the car and now, we are currently on the road. Thankfully, we can talk in private and not be bothered.
"I've been busy of late, my child." Ardyn simply answered
"I can see that, you fucking parasite. Please tell me I have new orders? I can't take much more of these children."
"I'm afraid there aren't any new orders for you, my dear. You are no longer required." Ardyn said as my head slowly turned to Ardyn, he is focused on the road but I felt the energy of something inside him however my abilities as a machine disappeared again and asked,
"What do you mean by that?"
"Just as I said, my child. You are no longer required. Those are the words of Medusa who kindly put a mandate on you."
"...what? You're lying." I muttered in fear for the second of knowing what a mandate means in Niflheim.
"No, my dear. I'm not lying this time." Ardyn said as he smiled but my eyes spotted the smugness of his smile.
Fuck him! Fuck this!
"I've tried to contact Medusa, I swear! Can't you reason with her?! I bet you didn't, did you?!" I asked in a state of panic
"My dear, Medusa is no longer interested in your activities. I think that is a good thing. Yes, I didn't bother to stop Medusa at all."
"What the hell you mean it's a good thing? You can go to fucking hell and stop calling me your child!"
"Think, my child. If Medusa put a mandate on you, what does that tell you?"
I thought for a moment and my mind clicked.
"I'm almost...human, right?" I whispered but I knew Ardyn hear me and replied
"Yes, because of that reason, you are nothing to the empire."
Nothing to the empire? I worked so hard to proved my usefulness and I didn't mind the orders. My heart beating rapidly now as a human heart is strange. The words had no effect on me before but now it does.
I'm no longer required? Nothing to the empire? Why?
"My child, the reason I come is to help you became what you are again but I see you already have them." Ardyn snapped me out of my thoughts and I gave him a look.
"Them?"
"The spirits, dear. Don't you feel them?" He asked in curiosity as my ears hear their faint voices telling me danger from Ardyn and I asked,
"You knew about my spirits? How? Only the Marshal would know that. How?"
"Well, let's just say I know more than anyone else. I want to use my knowledge to help you, ÁSTRÍÐR."
"...Are you going to kill me or send an army to kill me?" I asked to know what his actions are. The sooner I know that I can plan and try to...survive. I know what they will do to me now that the mandate is on me. Come to think of it, Loqi knew about me a little and yet, attacked me. Did the mandate start then? Too many questions in my thoughts and I had no answers.
"My child, you have nothing to fear from me but Medusa. As I stated, I want to help you. For starters, when you reach your destination; be careful of the one who rests there. You will have a grand reunion." Ardyn chuckled as I was about to say something until we pulled over to a resting area and Ardyn parked the car.
"Remember this, keep your friends close but your enemies closer. You should really chat with your spirits at times. I'm sure they will be happy or angry with you." Ardyn added as I wanted to say more but the boys pulled up and I keep my mouth shut.
Chocobros in the Regalia- Following Ardyn's car
"First Gladin and now, Lestullam..." Prompto said as he was sitting in front with Noctis driving the Regalia, Gladiolus, and Ignis in back. "What a coincidence, huh?"
"Way too convenient to be a coincidence," Gladiolus added on, not liking the stranger one bit or their situation. "I reckon he's be following us around."
"But to what end? That question bothers me deeply as does his origin." Ignis said as his mind is working on what information they had on Ardyn.
"It's hard for me to picture that guy in the empire," Prompto commented
"But it's even harder to imagine that guy as a Lucian," Gladiolus added on
"I'd sooner not rely on him," Ignis stated trying to figure out the stranger
"But he may be our only way to the Disc of Cauthess." Prompto stated to Ignis but still worried
"What's his highness's opinion of this 'Ardyn'?" Gladiolus asked
"Don't really have one. He's nothing more than a creepy old dude to me. I'm more worried about why Alice has to ride with Ardyn." Noctis said as he gritted his teeth not trying to sound angry but his friends knew better.
"Hm, that is a concern but I'm more worried about Alice killing him," Ignis stated as the boys sighed in agreement, they remembered the first meeting...didn't go well with Alice and Gladiolus said,
"You noticed that Ardyn has taken a liking to Alice, right? It's weird."
"Huh?" Prompto said in confusion
"I have to agree with Gladiolus on that. Miss Alice seems to..connect with Ardyn in a way." Ignis said and Noctis replied,
"What is that supposed to mean, Ignis?!"
"Calm down, Noct. It means something is between those two. I can't place my finger on it but something feels..."
"Like Ardyn and Alice have always been together in a way, right? Man, I thought I was the only one feeling that." Prompto said as he finished Gladiolus's words, he scratched his head and continued,
"You mean...they know each other?" Noctis said as he is trying to understand the point, they continued to drive on the road and following Ardyn.
"You hit the nail right on the head right there, Noct." Prompto commented
"Exactly, Noctis. Remember when she called Ardyn his nickname? Her tone sounded off to me as if she has done this before with Ardyn." Ignis said
"Not only that; when she looks at him, she shows anger but there is a softness to it. She has never show softness with anyone except King Regis."
"Whoa, that some observation skills, Iggy." Prompto said as he is impressed, Gladiolus nodded in agreement and asked,
"Did you think Alice truly knows the guy?"
"Hmmm. Difficult to say, she either knows him or not. I'm still can't shake off the feeling that they deeply know each other." Ignis commented
"Well, that is why we come up with a plan," Gladiolus stated
"Gotta 'watch our backs' the whole way. If she knows him, she would tell us." Noctis said
"Yes, she would but remember, she doesn't have much memory of her origin either, Noctis. Noct, how are the headaches?" Ignis said getting away from the topic of Alice for a bit.
"Fine for now but they come without warning," Noctis replied
"Wouldn't want to have one behind the wheel." Gladiolus said
"Stop if you need to alright?" Prompto said in worry of his friend
"So, any havens along the way?" Gladiolus asked
"Oh, somebody wants to camp. Somebody wants a proper bed." Prompto stated in frustration
"Nice firm ground's much better for your back." Gladiolus retorted
"Can't we at least make it a caravan? I don't get why you like camping so much" Prompto whined
"Under the stars, at one with nature. What's not to like?" Gladiolus said as they saw Ardyn pull over to a gas station area, Noctis pulled over as well and the boys got out of the Regelia.
Coernix Station (Back to y/n's pov)
"Let's say we call it a day here," Ardyn said as he and Alice came to the boys, I went to Noctis and took his hand. Noctis is a bit confused at first but it seemed he didn't mind. Well, except for Prompto who is glaring at us.
"What say we continue to Cauthess?" Gladiolus stated
"The Archean not going anywhere," Ardyn commented playfully
"Neither are we, under your stewardship," Ignis said
"So we camp with Ardyn," Prompto complained not liking the idea.
"Hell no," Noctis said as he tightened the grip on my hand, Noctis lightly pulled me behind him and glared at Ardyn.
"Might as well get the tent up." Gladiolus sighed
"Oh, I'm afraid I've never been the one for the outdoors. I shall foot the bill, so let us stay at the caravan over yonder. Now this feels like a road trip." Ardyn
"Yeah, go figure," Prompto said in disgust and everyone went to the trailer up ahead. My feet remained on the ground as Noctis started to walk but I pulled him back. Noctis looked at me and asked,
"Are you alright, Alice? You look pale. That is a first."
"...No," I said in a small voice
"What's wrong? Did Ardyn do something?" Noctis asked in worry
"..." How can I tell him that a mandate is on my head? He doesn't know I work with the empire...well, worked. Honestly, I wanted to hide or run now.
"Alice, please talk to me." He whispered in my ear and I replied,
"I'm...scared."
Noctis looked at my face to confirmed my words and his face looked like it pity me.
"Of what?"
"...my spirits...told me that Ardyn's dangerous." I lied again but this time, I felt the truth in my own words this time "Goth, I'm worried about when we get to our destination, something will happen and I don't like it."
"I know, I feel that way too," Noctis replied as he took both my hands, his blue eyes locked on to my eye color and continued,
"We stick together, Alice, ok? I promise I will be there to help you as an ally. Don't be afraid, ok?"
I had no words as he kissed both my hands as if to deliver comfort. Strangely, it works for me. I nodded my head in approved and we started to walk to the trailer.
The comfort Noctis gave me hope...and affection, I believe is the term. My spirits, however, said another word in whispers,
"Love"
Oh man! What a chapter and I'm happy I typed it up! Ardyn showing up with bad news to Alice, OMG. Now, what will Alice do next? Once again, I'm sorry for the updating so late. As you know, work is work, right? So, what do you think will happen next? Please give me your feedback on the chapter and look forward to updating soon.