Chapter 4

We walked through the pastures of beautiful big trees in the forest of Tenebrae, trying to catch up with the farewell ceremony that will be held for the return of the Lucis Royalty to Crown City of Insomnia after the successful healing of the young prince of Lucis. But this was not what was on my mind as I silently follow behind Gentiana.

A bloody fight will soon to happen in today after all, and I who has not seen a single instance of such violence and death in real life can't think of a good plan to save more people. I look at the sacred sword I've been holding this whole time, it's beautifully designed sheath and handle of the sword could be seen as something even in the eyes of a commoner as an exceptional sword.

But, to someone like me who've never even wielded a sword in his life, I think I can't be of much help for the battle that's about to come. I can't even warn the Tenebraen or the Lucians of the Nilfhiem army inbound to this land. They might think of me as a spy of the Nilfhiem Empire and imprison me or worse. Even to the Astral in front of me I still haven't told her the truth of what's about to come.

"I sense fear from your heart, young Aciel." Gentiana spoke while continuing walking without turning her head towards me. "You have no need to fear, the Lucian and the Fleuret Royalty are not tyrant kings or queens. They're good rulers, they care a lot for their people, you can choose which kingdom to go to after talking to them."

I felt the tension from my body lessen a bit after hearing her worry about my wellbeing and looking out for me even though I've just meet her earlier.

"…Thank you very much for worrying about me Lady Gentiana. I look forward to meet his and her highnesses." It looks like Gentiana does not really know of the events that is about to come, meaning the Astrals doesn't have the ability to see the future like goddess Gaia.

As we walk a bit deeper in to the forest, I could hear the voice of a cheerful girl and boy talking cheerfully with each other. I looked around to find the source of those voices which I have no doubts belongs to the main characters of the game.

Just a few meters away from us, along road beside the waterfalls of the forest, a young girl is pushing a wheelchair where a young boy sits as they both laugh at the each other. The young Lunafreya and Noctis, future Oracle and 'True King', the destined ones to carry the fate of this world.

I stopped at my tracks as I watched the two children laughing at their hearts content, the weight of the world still not felt on their shoulders. They were just two happy children enjoying each other's company the joys of their youth shining brightly on their faces. I felt really happy when I saw these children, I'm glad I've got to see them like this… this was how they're meant to be… to live happily.

"Princess Lunafreya and young prince Noctis, you'll both be late for the farewell ceremony." Gentiana walked towards the two children as stay where I am. "Come join us, we are off to go to the ceremony as well."

The two children looked past Gentiana as their eyes landed on me. My mouth turned to smile as I wave my hand as a greeting.

"Let me introduce to you two, Aciel. A traveler from a faraway place." Gentiana gestured her hands towards me to introduce me.

"Hi! Nice to meet you two." I smiled at the two curious face of Luna and Noctis.

"And this the young prince of Lucis, Noctis Lucis Caelum and Princess Lunafreya Nox Fleuret of Tenebrae." Gentiana then turned to introduced to me the two young children as they bowed their heads when their name was said.

"Please to make your acquaintance sir Aciel." Luna greeted back like a princess with while holding the hem of her dress as she bowed elegantly.

"L-likewise! …N-nice to meet you t-too..." Contrary to the calm and composed Luna, the much younger prince appeared to be nervous when he greeted back. I laughed a bit in my head while just smiling on the outside to prevent embarrassing the young prince. Luna covered her mouth to hide her laughter from behind the prince, while Gentiana gently smiled at the nervous prince.

From behind them I saw a man walk majestically near us, the resemblance of the face to the young prince was remarkably similar.

"Haha, forgive the nervousness of my son, he's always been a shy one." King Regis laugh heartily as he playfully brushed the head of the pouting Noctis on his wheelchair. "Pleased to meet you, young man. I am King Regis Lucis Caelum."

The king held out his hands for a handshake, for a man of his stature to shake hands with a stranger like me made me thankful for his humility. I took the outreached hand of the king vigorously.

"It's an honor to meet you, your Majesty." A feeling of gratefulness filled me to finally meet this great king, and a great father. "Aciel Mercer. A …travel from a faraway land." I went with the introduction Gentiana made for me, thankful that the king accepted it with a smile.

King Regis eyes then turned to the sacred sword I was holding with my other hand. "A fine sword you have there." Our handshake was done, as he turned to observe the sword, I held it with my hands to let the others see it more.

"…Thank you. It was a gift from someone I'm extremely indebted to…someone I'll forever be thankful to." I caressed the sword longingly as I thank the goddess that gifted me the sword.

"I see… Treasure it well then, to uphold his or her legacy in their honor." He patted my shoulder, his hand firmly holding but gently, like he was comforting me. "Now, we still have a ceremony to attend to. Come along children, and please do join us Aciel and Lady Gentiana."

I thank and accepted the offer as we walked through the forest to where the ceremony will be held. I felt the resolution to do my best in the upcoming fight.

…

Along the way Gentiana has created some kind of story for my travels, which I abashedly go with the flow. King Regis happily offered his willingness to let me visit his kingdom as an honored guest, I thank the king for his kindness and happily agreed. We talked some more along the way to the ceremony, Lunafreya and Noctis sometimes asked about my hometown to which Gentiana and King Regis showed interest in listening attentively so. Of course I didn't mention exactly where I've come from, just some vague explanations here and there.

Soon enough we could see the venue of the ceremony, Gentiana and I parted with the royalties and excused ourselves. Knights wearing full armor-clad wielding spears and standing in ceremony for the Royal King that walk to where the party of Tenebrae Queen and her Nobles await. On the side, Lucian nobles and a few Crownsguard standing in wait as they stand by the side. Gentiana and I where looking from a couple meters away from the Royalties and Nobles as we await as well for the ceremony to start.

But, for me it was not the ceremony I was concerned about. Anxiousness was painted all over my face as I stared at the sky, waiting dreadfully for the Nilfheim army to come. Unknowingly to me, Gentiana by my side was looking worriedly at me as well, she reached out for my hand and held it firmly without saying a word.

The hurrying Luna and Noctis who was catching up with King Regis stopped at their tracks as both of them looked up the sky. Everyone at the ceremony awaiting for the prince and princess stared at the sky as well and saw it, a four huge Nilfheim battleships hovered the skies above them closing up where to their position.

"…I see... this was what have got you so anxious all this time." Gentiana finally understood why I've been feeling all these negative emotions ever since earlier before. I didn't answer her but smiled bitterly at her as I free my other hand from her grasps, she seems to have understood me as she step back and regrettably disappeared from there mysteriously.

I lightly closed my eyes as I lifted Excalibur with both my hands in front of my face. Holding it tightly as I prayed to the goddess to help me see this through… to help me save these people… to have the strength to fight.

Time slowed down around me, as I felt a vast amount of magical power flowed inside my body. With my eyes closed, I didn't notice the sheath of the sword turning into fragments of light as it was rapidly absorbed unto my body. Bright lights of magical energy surrounded my entire being as it slowly gathered around the golden sacred sword. I fall into this mysterious trance in silence when I heard the familiar voice of the goddess Gaia.

"Ohh child of earth, the time has come for you to call its name…remember and pray these words…" The holiness of her voice was so calming yet filled me with more power as both our minds synced.

Like something I have known right from the start, my closed eyes opened as the surroundings starts to come to life. I readied the sword for an upwards swing aiming for one of the battleships, as my mouth started chanting the words right out of the goddess Gaia's mind.

Gaia&Aciel:

"Born of Mother Earth, lend me your strenght… ohh guiding light of shining life. Answer my call...Excalibur!"

As if a concentrated beam of the sun has descended to the earth and bursts its bright light, the beam of magical power smashed through one of the battleships as it completely obliterated it in half, and continued to sailed past through the sky as it parted the clouds. Everyone in the area saw its power and awed at the sight, all eyes turned towards me as I breathed roughly after that brief burst of huge magical power.

However, I didn't get the chance to celebrate my newfound power as droves of magitek infantry landed from the remaining battleships, and started to attack the knights of Tenebrae and the other Lucians. But the more concerning thing is the monstrous full clad armored knight that landed in front of me, with his huge broad sword planted on the ground as he held it with both hands. The knight, no… General Glauca raised his sword as he readied his sword for a charge, his target; was me, still recovering from my previous power release.