"I'm not a spy," Adri's voice cracked, her tongue sticking to the roof of her mouth, revealing the extent of her thirst.

How many days at it been? Two? Three? A week? She didn't know...she didn't know anything anymore. She didn't know where she was, much less how she got here. And then there were the people...their uniforms were alien at best.

The zip lock that bound her hands together dug into the tender flesh of her wrists. The chair she currently sat upon offered no support for her ass, the mere thought making her wiggle, hoping to alleviate the pain. It hadn't helped her for the past hour or so, so it came as no surprise when nothing changed.

A door to her left suddenly opened, the sound reverberating off the sterile walls, startling her. The same man from before entered, his imposing frame slowly walked around her, placing a cigarette and glass of water on the table before her. Gooseflesh speckled her skin at the sudden breeze as he walked around her. There was a tug on her wrists, and like that, her hands were free.

Surprised by the act, she hesitantly rubbed at a particularly sore spot, shoulders protesting at the stiff movements. The man, who had yet to give her his name, took a seat in the opposite chair, his long legs crossing casually. He picked up the cigarette, hands producing a lighter from a hidden pocket before lightening it up and offering it to her.

Adri shook her head, eyes of hazel darting towards the full glass of water. Her throat constricted, feeling like sandpaper. The man shrugged, suit yourself." His gruff voice sounded before sticking the butt between his lips. "State your name for the record."

She swallowed forcefully, "Adrianna Grace Kingston."

He hummed, taking a drag, "how old are you?"

She licked her lips, unsuccessfully producing saliva. The glass of water began to sweat, a bead of perspiration slithered down the glass...as if mocking her. "Twenty-five."

The man stopped his writing, the clipboard lowering slightly as he extended his free hand towards the glass, "by all means."

That was all the encouragement she needed. Adri surpassed a sigh as she took greedy mouthfuls, the cool liquid slid down her parched throat. When the cup was empty, her gaze rotated to the left, taking in the tall tinted window. She felt multiple eyes watching her from the other side. She's seen enough spy movies to understand the concept of a double mirrored window. Slight embarrassment ghosted her cheeks as she sat the empty glass down, arms folding protectively across her middle.

If the man noticed her discomfort, he made no show of it as he asked, "Where are you from?"

Adri cleared her throat, feeling somewhat better now that the dry ache was gone, "Austin, Texas."

Taking another puff, the man sighed, a cloud of white smoke momentarily filling the space between them when he does something she least expected. He laughed.

Why did he laugh?

"You said that last time."

She blanched, "because it's the truth." Why did that sound like a question?

Evidentially he caught onto that as well, "you don't sound too sure this time. Rethinking your story?"

Her story?

Adri shuffled, legs going numb from sitting for so long, "I don't understand...why am I being detained? I haven't done anything wrong."

The look of ire across his face suddenly had her squirming. "What I don't understand," he flicked the ashes into a nearby bin, eyes hardening, "is why Niflheim would send the worst possible assassin into the most secure facility in all of Lucis."

She froze at the accusation...assassin?!

"Was it not your intent to kill the king?"

"I-"what could she possibly say to that? "King? Is this some kind of joke?"

From the look on his face, that was the wrong thing to say. "You were discovered in the Crystal's chamber. You didn't happen to slip inside with the king?"

Despite the fact it was a question, it sounded more like an accusation. "No," Adri sputtered, blood turning into ice.

"Don't lie."

"I'm not."

"Your heart rate declares otherwise."

She glanced at the device circling her bicep, the heart meter revealing a skyrocketing rate. Adri countered, "Only because I'm being accused of things that aren't true. I'm just a simple girl from Texas. I graduated from St. Edwards University a month ago...believe me, when I say, I have no idea what your raving about."

The man stilled, a finger reaching up to press at something against his ear. Adri's eyes sharply regarded the window again. Someone was speaking to him. After a moment, "understood." His gaze returned back to her, "It's your lucky day princess, looks like you'll get your moment with him after all."

Adri frowned...with who?

Before she could ask, the door suddenly opened, men dressed in those same strange military cloaks entered, one taking to each corner of the room. The man stood from his chair, striding back towards the door. Following him, Adri sees him nodding at an unseen person, uttering hushed words before a different man breached the threshold. This new figure was shorter and older than the first man, yet the second wore expensive clothing. Green and black slacks, freshly pressed from the looks of it, complemented his matching jacket. A long black cloak hung prestigiously across his thin shoulders. Adri circled up to inspect his face. A greying beard clung to his cheeks and his hair was styled back.

The elderly man, with his head held high, slowly headed towards the unoccupied chair, each step he took making Adri feel smaller and smaller. He sat down quietly, calculating eyes watching her with an edge of cautiousness. Finally, after a moment," nothing on my surveillance systems reveal anyone entering the crystal's chamber except for me...so tell me," his voice deepened, "how exactly did you manage to make it inside?"

Adri noticed how everyone in the room stood slightly taller at his voice, heads turning in attention, ready for anything. Was this...was this the king?

"I..." her mind tumbled, throat tightening at the sudden realization as to whom she spoke to. "I've told you everything already. I had been walking home from work," she licked her lips, not liking all the attention, "I began to feel sick. A-a light seemed to engulf me when I felt vertigo and when I came to, I was here and that is the truth."

The king sighed, eyes appearing weary when he opens his mouth to speak-"My king!"

The sudden interruption made Adri jump, her hazel orbs darting towards the door when a man wearing glasses darted inside, his long legs carrying him quickly as a look of worry marred his features. He bowed slightly, "forgive the interruption," his green eyes met hers for a half second before uttering, "but you need to hear this." Glasses produced a tablet from behind his back, fingers deftly working away before a different screen, located on the opposite wall, illuminated before revealing the face of a woman. Only her face and shoulders could be seen in the frame, her pale blonde hair falling gently across an exposed shoulder.

"Lady Lunafreya," the king spoke the name slowly, almost reverently as he nods his head. She returned the warm smile. The king continued, "while it's always a joy to see you, I must ask, what brings such urgency?"

"My king, the gods have spoken," the woman, Lunafreya declared matter-of-factly, "they have revealed a small piece of the future...of our future...and hers. "For emphasis, her cerulean eyes settled on Adri, making her still in her seat.

Quiet murmurs sounded throughout the room, multiple eyes darted between the woman on the screen and Adri. "And what have they declared?" the king asked, voice breathless.

"I'm afraid that information is only suitable with a more private audience."

Without missing a beat, the king flicked his wrist. Immediately, one by one, every guard obediently made their leave, footsteps soundless against the linoleum floor. A palm latched onto Adri's bicep, hauling her off the steel chair. "She must stay," Lunafreya spoke gently, "for she is the reason for this hearing."

A moment of silence when, "...Clairus."

The man, Clairus, eyed the king before giving a quick affirmation. Adri, hesitantly, sat back down, joints stiff. A movement to her right revealed Glasses, his gaze watching her with open curiosity.

The king spoke again, "Ignis..."

Seeming startled, the man nodded, "my king," and like that, took his leave. The door closed, leaving only the king, Clairus, and Adri.

"It happened in a dream..." Luna began, "the gods did not dispel to me exactly how these events are to occur...it could be tomorrow, next week or perhaps years from now but what was revealed to me is this..." Luna steeled herself, "the line of the Oracle is coming to an end. An age of darkness will descend on the hearts of men, the one true king, chosen by the gods, will rid the land of the eternal night but the one who bears the light will bring forth an age of peace."

The king made a show to speak but Lunafreya cut him off, "the gods refuse to let the line of the Oracle cease...without an Oracle, there can be no bridge between man and the divine...hence her summoning."

Finally, the king spoke, "are you insinuating that this woman is to inherit the title of Oracle?"

Luna smiled, "no...but to be the mother of one."

Adri's sense suddenly halted, her ears growing deaf as her heart lodged itself in her throat. Mother?!?! I can't be a mother...I'm only twenty-five...my life has only begun.

"-of us all," Luna's voice broke through Adri's internal panic, "and this child will lead all of Eos into a time of peace and understanding."

"And who, pray tell, would the father be?"

Luna's eyes turned downward, a small breath escaping her before declaring, "my brother."

Ravus Nox Fleuret stared incredulously at his sister. For the past half hour, she had explained to him the very thing she'd shared with that king of Lucis nearly three days prior. Her tale foreboding the future had him sitting on the edge of his seat, a bitter taste coating his tongue.

"Ravus?" He blinked, once, twice, before turning his gaze back. "You don't believe me, do you?"

No...that was the problem...if there was anyone in all of Eos whom he could trust, it was Luna. Hence the sick feeling blossoming in his stomach.

His state of mind must have shown on his face as she went on to say, "I realize you don't want this-"

That was an understatement.

"But," she continued, those blue eyes of hers softening, "it's for the greater good. This is what our family has been entrusted with, to serve Eos and its people."

Finally, the question that had him chewing his lip for the past ten minutes hissed through his teeth, "why me, of all people, to be chosen?"

Luna smiled, "the gods wish to preserve the Oracle line through the Fleuret bloodline," her smirk turned impish, "it's either you or no one...as it obviously can't be me."

He gave a half smirk at her light-hearted banter. "At least meet with her, brother," Luna sobered, "she's not so bad."

His reaction was immediate, "she's a simple citizen from an enemy nation, but of course, aside from that, she's not so bad."

Luna remained calm, a quality he both equally admired and detested. He was fully aware of her admiration when it came to the country of Lucis...and its royal family. He scowled at the thought.

"Please," Luna placed a loving palm over his hand, squeezing slightly, her gaze pleading, "just meet with her. If not for the gods, then perhaps for me?"

He sighed, dammit...