The following day, Noctis and Ignis sat at a table in the dining car. Their gazes were focused on the passing scenery. "Feels good to ride the rails," Ignis commented, shattering the silence between them.

"Sure does," Noctis replied, his eyes never leaving the beautiful scenery.

"Eager to drive once we're in Gralea?" The strategist inquired.

"If they'll let me."

"We're fortunate to have the Regalia at all. We owe the first secretary our thanks."

"She'd get more thanks if she gave us a discount."

"Those transceivers are top-notch. I recall when the Hydraean raged-In the midst of the empire's retreat, one conspicuous craft remained behind: the chancellor's. The last thing I remember seeing was his ship, heading for the altar. I fell unconscious...and was powerless to stop him," Ignis said.

"I'm just glad you're alive," Noctis spoke his true feelings. "And what happened (Y/n). I can't even imagine what it was like for her."

"Indeed," the tactician sighed sorrowfully. "I failed to protect you both."

"Are you really still talking like that?" The younger boy huffed. "I don't see why you're so hung up on it. I mean, we're both okay."

"Noctis is correct," (Y/n) said as she appeared out of thin air, standing at the end of the table. "There are moments where we are powerless and unable to protect those we cherish. What truly matters is Noctis and I are here with you, Ignis. The fault lies with the chancellor. He is a twisted man and is responsible for what transpired in Altissia."

"I cannot deny your words, (Y/n), for they hold truth," the tactician confessed.

"Let's rid ourselves of such a melancholic topic," she said. "How's your eyesight?"

A giant smile appeared on the bespectacled boy's face. "Blurry, but shapes and colors are prominent."

Noctis looked toward the Horseman. "That's good, right?"

"Very," she giggled. "Although, I am rather flabbergasted at how brisk the remedy is working. It's possible there's a small amount of energy left within your body from wielding the Ring which is aiding your body in healing."

"Does that mean Specs could regain his sight in a few days?" The raven-haired boy asked with a hopeful tone.

"If he's able to see shapes and colors by now with only two treatments, it's highly possible he'll regain his eyesight in a couple days." She turned her gaze back toward Ignis. She climbed into the seat beside him and placed a hand on his cheek, turning his face toward hers. A smile morphed on her face when she took off the visor and analyzed the scars marring his eyes. "The scars are also mending. You will most likely regain your eyesight before they vanish."

As Pestilence dropped her hand from Ignis' cheek, a cold sweat washed over her body as a familiar pain arose in her chest. Unconsciously, she fisted the fabric covering her chest as her breathing became shallow. With shaky arms, she pushed herself out of the booth. She didn't make it far before collapsing to her knees.

Noctis was the first to notice her state and went to her side. "H-Hey, what's wrong?"

"Noct, what is it?" Ignis asked when hearing the boy's worried tone.

"I don't know!" He shouted as he caught the girl before her entire body crumpled to the floor.

(Y/n) bit her bottom lip to keep herself from crying out in pain, but she was unable to hold the whimpers at bay. Ignis heard and carefully maneuvered out of the booth, using his hands to guide him. While his eyesight was returning, it was only mere shapes and colors at the moment. Fortunately, that was enough for him to reach his beloved's side. Carefully, he took her body out of Noctis' grasp and pulled her close. He held her gently as he asked, "What ails you, (Y/n)?"

She closed her eyes as she leaned against him. "A-Ardyn..."

Noctis' eyes narrowed at the mention of the chancellor's name. He clenched and unclenched his fist, tempted to slam it against the ground in anger. "The hell did he do to you, (Y/n)?"

"I-I know not of what he's accomplished, but King Aeshema has detected a dark entity residing within me. I fear it is the "gift" the chancellor mentioned."

Ignis remembered all too clearly what Ardyn spoke of on the day of the rite. While he was unable to see her current state, he imagined how much pain he inflicted upon her without laying a hand on her. "There must be a way to purge it from your body."

With shaky hands, (Y/n) conjured up the glass vial containing the healing remedy. She handed it to Noctis, who was perplexed as to why he was receiving such a thing. "Please, Noctis, take this. Could you be the one to administer the rest of the remedy?"

The raven-haired boy hesitantly took the vial. "Why does it sound like you're leaving?"

"I fear the worse is about to happen," she confessed. "If what Ardyn said is true, then I should be as far away from you and the others as possible."

"What nonsense do you speak of, (Y/n)?" Ignis hissed.

"This entity dwelling within me will soon flourish and I will no longer be in control of my own body." She broke free from Ignis' tender touch and forced her body away from his. With feeble legs, she pushed herself off the floor and set her sights on the adjoining car. She stared through the window on the door and her eyes widened in horror when spotting the man behind her tainted body.

Ardyn grinned at her before spinning on his heels and walking way. Pestilence dragged her legs forward, but she only made it a few steps before someone latched on to her wrist and stopped her from leaving. Before she could argue, she was spun around and pulled against a toned body. One arm snaked around her waist while fingers secured her chin and tilted it upward, forcing her (e/c) eyes to lock with emerald ones.

As (Y/n) was about to make a remark, Ignis slammed his lips against hers. Her eyes widened in shock at the ferocity behind the kiss and would have stumbled back if his other arm wasn't wrapped around her waist. She debated kissing back but feared if she did her conviction to leave would shatter. Placing her hands on his chest, she tried to push him away. Unfortunately, he didn't budge an inch. The kiss dragged on and the pain in her chest became bearable and soon extinguished.

When the needy and intoxicating kiss ended, Ignis' opened his scarred eyes. He kept ahold of her chin as his foggy eyes could make out her gleaming (e/c) ones. Though blurry, he knew exactly what his eyes were focused on. "The Astrals themselves will have to strike me down before I let what happened in Altissia repeat. I refuse to lose you again."

(Y/n), eyes still wide as saucers, scanned the advisor's face. His words made her heart thump wildly inside her chest, but she had to chase after Ardyn. "Ignis, I..." Her eyes darted toward Noctis before returning to the strategist. She grabbed the wrist of the hand holding her chin hostage and pried his fingers from her face. "I hope you'll forgive me." With those final words, she vanished into a cloud of smoke.

She reappeared in a random car, looking around for the chancellor as the pain from earlier returned. When spotting the man, she followed him. A few people aboard the train eyed her strangely as she hurriedly ran down the aisle and toward the connecting car. As the distance between her and Ardyn shrunk, the pain in her chest festered.

Entering the next car, (Y/n) summoned her staff and casted a shadow spell. Black tendrils barred the door located in the back, preventing the man from exiting the train car. The small group of people saw the appendages and quickly ran to the previous car in fear. Now it was only Pestilence and Ardyn.

The chancellor chuckled as he swiveled on his heels to face the girl. A wicked smile blossomed on his face as he removed his hat and politely bowed to the Horseman. "Ah, a pleasure to see you again, (Y/n). I presume I've the honor of using such an alluring name, correct?"

"I've no time for formalities or idle chitchat," Pestilence snapped. She held her staff in one hand while the other remained over her chest. She was still weak from the earlier pain and was having issues standing on her own feet when it returned tenfold. Fighting through it, she jabbed her staff in the chancellor's direction. "Your plans will fail, Ardyn."

Another menacing chuckle emitted from him as he took a single step toward her. "You sound quite certain, my dear. Although, my plans have already been set in motion. I'm afraid you're too late."

(Y/n) backed away from him as he slowly closed the distance between them. She was sweating bullets from the increasing pain, her legs shaking. She lowered her staff, using it as a crutch. She was unable to keep the tendrils alive as they disappeared in a black cloud of smoke. Her back collided with the door, gritting her teeth in agony.

Ardyn came to a sudden halt, covering his face with his hat. "You are the last remnant." He lowered his hat, revealing daemonic features. An eerie black substance oozed from his mouth and cloudy eyes, his skin a sickening pale hue. The black veins within his body were prominent against his pale complexion.

A gasp of horror came from the Horseman at the frightening sight. She tried to cast a spell, but his hand lunges out and wraps around her throat. The moment his hand began squeezing her throat, the pain in her chest reached an unbearable level. She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs, but no sound came from her throat as it was constricted by Ardyn's hand. "Shall we depart, my dear?" He chortled, enjoying watching her writhe in pain as she tried to fight against him.

(Y/n) dropped her staff. It 'clacked' against the floor by the chancellor's feet. Even in her frail state, she tried to pry the man's hand from around her throat. Due to the pain in her chest and the lack of oxygen, her strength was greatly diminished. She tried to kick him, but she couldn't swing her legs hard enough to do some damage and force him to release her. Her vision slowly began fading to black and eventually, she lost consciousness.

<-----------<<<<<

Noctis, who remained in the dining car after Ignis left to search for (Y/n), stared out the window and admired the scenery as he sat back down at the booth. He tore his gaze away from the passing scenery and glanced down at the glass vial in his hand. He fiddled with it for a few minutes before placing it in his pocket.

After a while, Gladio visited the dining car and told him what he learned on his reconnaissance mission given to him by Ignis. Each passing day, the night grew longer. Sunlight was slowly vanishing from Eos and no one knew how long it would take for the darkness to consume the entire planet.

Once the brute left, Noctis was soon visited by Prompto as the train passed by a snowy mountain range shrouded in mist. They discussed the strange phenomenon for a few minutes before the raven-haired boy felt a chill down his spine. He looks around the dining car and suddenly realizes that no one else is moving. Everything is blanketed in gray and everyone is frozen in place. Seeing Prompto was missing, Noctis stood up. "What's going on?"

Noctis suddenly hears Ardyn's voice behind him. "It's a real mystery."

He promptly turns around to find the chancellor standing not too far away.

"I'm not liking that snow cloud. Kind of gives me the chills. Like, who comes up with this stuff? I couldn't dream something like this if I tried. It's a wondrous world," the man said.

Noctis glared at him as he growled, "The hell are you doing here?!" He springs forward to punch Ardyn in the face, but he dodges.

"Whoa, what's going on?! Easy there, buddy. Didn't see that coming. You alright?"

The raven-haired boy conjures a sword and swings it at the man, who steps back just out of range. "Shut up!" Noctis hissed.

"Be careful there! Wait-is this for real?" Ardyn questioned with a worried tone. He turns on his heels and begins to run away. Noctis pursues him into the cabin car. The chancellor runs into one of the cabins and shuts the door.

Noctis walks down the aisle toward the cabin and jerks the door open. "Show yourself!"

Suddenly, Ardyn leans over from behind Noctis. "Uh...Noct?"

Said boy swings around with his fist, hitting nothing but air. Once again, Ardyn has vanished. The young boy clicked his tongue in frustration. "That son of a bitch..." He runs to the next car, where he sees his target backing away.

"C'mon, Noct. You're scaring me! Seriously, man, cut it out!" Ardyn wailed in fear. He passes to the next car, where Noctis continues to pursue him. "It's not safe. Plus, you're causing a scene. Quit playing around, okay?"

Noctis catches up to the man and conjures a sword once again, which he immediately takes swing with, attempting to bisect him horizontally. "You think this is funny?!"

Ardyn ducks the blade, then quickly scrambles to his feet and runs toward the next car. "Dude, are you seriously trying to kill me?!"

Inside the next car, Noctis was distracted when his foot kicked something. Looking down, he saw a strange object. He kneeled down on one knee to get a better look at it. When he picked it up and analyzed it, his eyes widened once recognizing what the object was. It's (Y/n)'s staff. He pushed himself up, taking the weapon with him. His eyes trailed up and down the staff before looking back in the direction Ardyn vanished. Gripping the staff tightly, his knuckles turned white. He knew something had happened to the Horseman and who the culprit was. "Damn bastard... I'll make sure you pay!"