Deeper in the mines, the party came across more Akashic enemies. Everyone, minus Lyra, cleared the area. The more they fought, the more she felt the urge to join them. She abhorred just standing on the sideline while they faced danger. She just hoped whatever Cid had her on standby for was worth it.

They followed the tracks and crouched through collapsed portions of the mine until they fought more Akashic enemies. They cleared the way and passed through a gate.

Suddenly, a strange sense of dread washed over Lyra. She didn't understand where this feeling was coming from or why it was happening all of a sudden. She didn't allow it to hinder her and did her best to keep up with the others, hoping she would be able to push past it. She took a few deep breaths while avoiding drawing the attention of the others.

Eventually, they entered a side tunnel that had been used for storage. They located an area that was blocked off by metal bars.

"I see they replaced that wooden door with something a little more sturdy," Cid said.

"Did you break the wooden door?" Lyra asked.

"Perhaps."

Clive yanked on the metal bars to see just how sturdy they are. Realizing they could break through, he had an idea and received help from Cid.

"On the count of three?" Cid asked.

Clive nodded and waited for the countdown. However, he was surprised when it didn't come and the man skipped straight to three. Their kicks were out of sync. He glanced at him. "What happened to two?"

"Ask one," Cid replied before he and Clive delivered another kick to the metal bars. They were making progress when the metal was starting to bend.

"Once more?" Clive asked.

"Aye, seeing as you're trying now."

They delivered one final kick and the metal bars collapsed. They now had access to the area beyond.

"As if that was going to keep us out..." Cid commented.

The party entered the area beyond the now-dismantled metal bars. It was dark, but Clive used the blessing of the Phoenix to conjure a fireball to light up the darkness. They navigated through the tunnel with him acting as leader.

"The Mothercrystal's just up ahead," Cid said.

"Is it?" Jill asked. "I can't see a thing."

"Well, unless someone's moved it."

"Not even Titan could move a Mothercrystal," Lyra commented.

"But could a goddess?" Cid hypothetically asked.

"In my current state, doubtful," she replied. "But even if I did possess the power to move a Mothercrystal, I wouldn't dare touch one."

He chuckled. "You know something's bad when not even the gods themselves want to touch it."

A few minutes later, the party arrived at a large hole in the wall. Clive extinguished the fireball as the Mothercrystal came into view and all was lit up by its brilliance.

Cid peered out of the hole to search for any enemies. "There's no one about."

They jumped down from the hole and gazed at the Mothercrystal. All of them were in awe at its size and beauty.

"I knew it would be big...but this?" Jill asked. She placed her hands on the marble railing and stared at the Mothercrystal.

"Beauty can hide even the darkest of intentions," Lyra commented.

Cid cast a smirk in her direction. "Should we worry about you then?"

His question caught her off guard. It didn't make her angry because she was all-too-familiar with his teasing remarks. She crossed her arms and didn't bother to face him. "You're a free man. Think what you will."

"Oh?" Cid watched her walk toward the stairwell leading downward. "And here I thought you would deny it."

She turned back to meet his gaze. "If your insistence on me standing on the sideline does not pay off, I will ensure you are on the opposite end of my magic."

Cid grinned in amusement at her response. "Then I better pray to Greagor those rumors are true."

Jill and Clive had been listening in. They too were surprised yet entertained by the banter between Cid and Lyra. Torgal walked over to the blonde.

The others were about to follow her when Cid took another glance at the hole in the wall. "You'd think they'd have patched that up by now. A sorry state the empire's in."

"Wait..." Clive spoke up. "You don't mean..."

"Aye, my little game of hide and seek with Bahamut ended here—at tragic cost to this remarkable architecture. Don't blame me. He started it."

"But how did you make it out alive?"

"I walked. You should try it."

Walking down the stairs, they jumped over a destroyed section and came across a large chamber. They simply thought nothing of it until creatures appeared out of thin air and prevented them from proceeding.

Cid and Lyra have never seen such enemies before, but Jill and Clive have.

"Oh no..." Clive muttered as he drew his sword.

"Them again," Jill said as she too unsheathed her blade.

Cid joined the fray and swung his sword at a wraith. "Is there something you two want to tell us?"

"Save it for later," Lyra spoke up, keeping her distance. "Focus on fighting or I will do it for you, Cid."

Said man let out a hearty chuckle. "As you command, oh divine one."

She groaned and stepped a little further away when one of the wraiths got too close to her. Clive, Jill, Cid, and Torgal finished off the strange enemies and all was silent again.

"But how could those creatures from Phoenix Gate be here in the mines?" Jill asked.

"Are the two places connected somehow?" Clive pondered.

Lyra walked over to her childhood friends. "You both fought these enemies at Phoenix Gate?"

Jill nodded. "Yes. After the spirits took you, we soon encountered these strange beings. By the sound of it, you never saw them."

"No," she responded. "Now that I reflect on it, where I was taken did not feel...real. It almost felt as if it was detached from this world."

"As much as I would love to hear the details of this story, we still have a Mothercrystal to destroy," Cid butted in.

"Right. Let's go," Clive said. He took the lead and pushed open the heavy doors leading to the next stairwell.

They continued down, fighting more enemies along the way. They repeated the process a couple of times before arriving at the end of the spiral stairwell.

"When I was in the imperial army, soldiers assigned to the Glass Gate would tell stories about something they called the Guardian," Clive spoke up.

"Can't say I saw anything like that when I was last here. Then again, I can't say I made it this far," Cid responded. "But I have heard the rumors."

"These rumors are the ones you mentioned earlier," Lyra said.

"Aye," he said. "They're not confirmed, but be prepared."

"If this Guardian is just a mere rumor spread by bored soldiers, you will face my wrath. I do not enjoy being pushed to the side."

"You've behaved this far. Just behave a little longer."

"Regardless if the rumors are true or not, let's be careful," Jill said.

Clive pushed open the last door that kept them from reaching the inner sanctum. Everyone stepped through to cross the bridge. They were halfway across when a thunderous roar shook the sanctuary. They were nearly knocked off their feet because of the ground shaking beneath them.

"Where did that come from?" Jill questioned.

From the depths below, an Akashic dragon emerged. It soared around the sanctuary.

"If I had to guess..." Cid said, watching the beast.

Clive couldn't look away from the poisoned dragon. "Poor beast. Another victim of the flood."

As the dragon soared overhead, Cid looked over at Lyra with a grin. "I believe it's your time to shine, my lady."

She met his gaze. "You truly have that much faith in me that I can stand against this beast on my own?"

"Why, of course. I also know you're itching to do this by yourself with all that aether you absorbed earlier."

A smirk made its way onto her face. "Perhaps a little."

"Don't hold back."

"Like I ever."

The moment the Akashic dragon swooped toward them, Lyra dashed forward. Clive tried to stop her but Cid held him back. He then looked back at the woman just as her body was consumed by a familiar bright light. In a flash, another dragon appeared.

Jill gasped in surprise. "A dragon... What other beasts can she take the form of?"

"You name it, she probably can turn into it," Cid remarked. "We best leave it to her. Wouldn't want to get in the way now, would we?"

Clive and Jill couldn't tear their eyes away from Lyra as she faces off against the Akashic dragon. Her form was just as big as its, making it a fair fight. She lunged at the Akashic beast and sunk her sharp teeth into its neck, causing it to roar in pain before swiping its tail at her and knocking her away.

The Akashic dragon flapped its wings and took off. Lyra flew after it and used her body to slam into it. It crashed into the wall and large crystal shards pierced its scales. She flew away but the tainted beast was quick to follow. It blew flames at her and singed her body. However, the attack wasn't enough to knock her out of the air.

With a roar, Lyra flew directly at the Akashic dragon. She used her weight to shove it down again the bridge leading to the inner sanctum. Pinning it underneath her, she blew flames directly into its face as her claws dug into its flesh. At the same time, she absorbed some of the aether from its body to weaken it further.

Weakened significantly by her attacks and the siphoning of its aether, the Akashic dragon could barely push her off. It tried to fly off again in a desperate attempt to gain the upper hand, but it didn't make it far before she grabbed its tail in her jaw. She dragged it down and slammed its body against the bridge.

Lyra roared as she outstretched her wings. Spears of light formed around her before surging forward. Each one pierced the Akashic dragon's body. It didn't even get to make a single sound because of the single spear that impaled its head. Seeing the beast's body crumbling into nothingness, she knew her job was done.

Reverting back, she stretched her arms into the air with a satisfied groan. Even after using a significant amount of aether to transform, she felt fine, almost as if she could transform into another large beast.

"Ha ha!" Cid laughed. "I'll never get tired of seeing beasts brawling."

Lyra turned around and found Cid, Clive, Jill, and Torgal behind her. She glanced at the man who had seemed to plan out the battle. "Was I free entertainment?"

"Perhaps a little."

She couldn't help but smile.

"That was..." Clive began.

"Magnificent," Jill concluded.

Clive took a step toward the emerald-eyed woman. "And you're...all right?"

Lyra cast her smile at him. "Yes. Any injuries sustained during the battle have already healed." She then looked at Torgal when the canine ran up to her with a bark. She petted the top of his head and scratched behind his ears.

Cid's joyous expression fell as he remembered why they were here. "The inner sanctum lies just beyond. Chances are the palace guard knows we're here. We should move. Not that any sane commander would send his men into a place awash with this much aether." He winced and grabbed his left arm.

Lyra noticed his painful expression and grew concerned. "Cid?"

The man forced a smile. "Don't look so concerned. You already know what it is."

"The crystal's curse..." She lowered her head.

"Can you not reverse it?" Jill asked.

She shook her head with a regretful frown. "I'm afraid not. In my current state, I cannot reverse the effects of the crystal's curse. If only I was at my full potential could I be of more help..."

Cid lightly tapped his finger under her chin. "I feel honored the lady of life is concerned about me, but you've done enough for these old bones already so chin up."

She still felt guilty even after hearing his words.

Cid then turned his attention to the sapphire-eyed man. "Clive. If this all works and the Blessing fades, things are likely to get worse for our kind before they get better. Being the last to wield aether will make our talents that much more sought after... By which I mean "hunted." I just hope, in the end, they'll see that we didn't have any other choice. That it was the only way to get us to a better place."

"And here I was thinking I was the uncertain one," Clive replied. "Luckily, three out of four of us have faith in you."

His eyes drifted to the entrance of the inner sanctum after feeling a sense of confidence. "Then it all starts here. Time to earn that menacing title. "Cid the Vicious," was it?"

Lyra placed a hand on her hip with a teasing grin. "There are other things we could call you."

"Oh, I'm sure," Cid chuckled lightly. "But keep them to yourself because most of them are probably not nice."

|| Inner Sanctum ||
|| Drake's Head ||

Crossing the bridge, they enter the inner sanctum.

"Anyone having second thoughts?" Cid asked out of curiosity.

"Isn't it a little too late to ask that question?" Lyra asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Perhaps a little," he confessed. "You love late questions, though."

Lyra smiled in merriment. "I do, don't I? But no, I am not having second thoughts."

"Neither am I," Clive answered.

"We're with you to the end, Cid," Jill said.

Cid was more than elated with all their responses. "Then what are we waiting for?"

Climbing multiple stairwells, they drew closer and closer to the Mothercrystal. They arrived at the top and were greeted by the mesmerizing sight of the glistening core.

Cid stopped Clive by pushing his shoulder and walking past him toward the core. He strode up the stairs with his intention clear in his mind.

"It's beautiful," Jill gaped in awe.

"The heart of Sanbreque," Clive muttered in astonishment.

Lyra found herself glaring harshly at the core. She couldn't deny its beauty, but she could feel just how powerful it was.

Cid examined the core before drawing his sword. He swung it with all his might, but the crystal didn't shatter. Not even a chip was made by the sharp steel. He withdrew his sword, resting it against his shoulder. "Well, that didn't work. I think we're going to need a bigger sword."

"Mine's bigger." Clive grabbed the hilt of his sword but was immediately stopped by the man.

"Thank you, Clive—but I meant that figuratively. The core's clearly made of sterner stuff." Cid sheathed his sword. "Tarja's going to have a fit when she hears about this... Stand back. It's about to get cramped in here."

Clive, Jill, Lyra, and Torgal backed away as Cid walked down the stairs. He stood before the core and released the Eikon within him. Lightning struck the ground and in a blinding flash, Ramuh appeared. "Aye, that's more like it." Using his staff, he destroyed the crystal with a powerful lightning strike.

The core shattered.

The crystal discorporated and the shards swirled upward. When everyone thought the shards would simply vanish, they suddenly surged downward toward Lyra. Her eyes widen as the shards were absorbed into her body. She held out her hand as she felt like a piece of her had returned. "This..."

"You absorbed the shards," Jill gasped. "Why...?"

"I... I don't know. The Mothercrystals are not created by the hands of the gods. I cannot explain why my body absorbed the shards."

"How are you feeling?" Clive asked, concern etched across his face.

"As if a missing part of me has returned," she answered.

All of a sudden, a dark void appeared where the core once was. Jill was the first to notice it. "Clive, Lyra, look!"

"What is that...?" Clive asked, confused.

The sense of dread Lyra felt earlier returned. She placed a hand over her heart as she felt lightheaded from the overwhelming sensation.

From the void came beams of light, which hit Ramuh. The Eikon cried out in pain as he fell to the ground.

"Cid!" Clive shouted.

Lyra heard the painful cry of Ramuh, but she couldn't look away from the void as a hand broke through the darkness. She felt as if her blood had been frozen within her body as the horrifying creature inside the rift appeared. Her eyes widen in fear as all she could hear was the sound of her pounding heart echoing inside her ears.

Memories of the slaughter of the gods resurfaced in her mind. She stumbled backward, now remembering this creature had been at the center of the slaughter. She could see all her fellow gods falling one by one as the strange creature had appeared from nowhere and caught them off guard.

If they had been able to sense its presence before it arrived in the heavens, the gods would have been able to annihilate it. However, they didn't and many gods fell by its hands. Blood was all she could smell and the sound of screaming resounded in her ears.

Lyra was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the painful cries of Clive. She looked to find him on his knees, gripping his head. What horrified her was seeing the creature of the void reaching out toward him in an attempt to grab him in its large hand.

Torgal dashed over to Clive and tried to protect him. He growled and barked at the hand that was drawing closer, ready to attack when it was close enough.

"Hold on!" Jill shouted, running toward Clive.

Lyra ran over to stand in front of Clive just as Ramuh used the last of his strength to throw his staff at the creature. The lightning-infused staff pierced its chest and sent it back into the void. Even as it was forced back, it still reached out to grab Clive before disappearing on the other side of the rift. It sealed and the creature was gone.

Hearing Clive collapse, Lyra turned and rushed to him. She fell to her knees and placed a hand on his back. When she attempted to provide him healing, she could sense his mind was elsewhere, almost as if his soul wasn't in his body. It was just like what happened at the Fallen ruins at Phoenix Gate. She was able to connect to his mind, but when she tried to this time, she was blocked by something. She tried multiple times, but she was barred from entering his consciousness.

"Lyra!" Jill shouted.

She looked over to see Jill cradling a severely-injured Cid. Leaving Clive, she dashed over to him to tend to his wounds. She could see the growing pool of blood underneath him as she examined his injuries. That creature from the void had attacked him with a power she wasn't familiar with, but that didn't stop her from trying to heal him. She held her hands over his chest and tried to heal him.

However, his wounds weren't mending.

"Why...?" Lyra tried harder to heal Cid. To her horror, she couldn't. She gazed at her hands in pure disbelief. "Why is my healing magic not working?"

Cid grabbed her hand to stop her from trying again. He smiled weakly at her. "That means it's about time I go."

Lyra's eyes began to fill with tears, but she tried to keep them from falling. "Don't say that."

"You've done enough for these weary bones already," he said, releasing her hand. "I must say... Having you as my ally made me feel like I could conquer the world. Never in my lifetime did I think a goddess from the heavens would want to work with me."

"Cid, please..." she begged, a single tear trailing down her cheek.

Just then, Clive regained consciousness. Hearing Jill shout his name, he rushed over when he saw how bad Cid was injured. The bleeding man teasingly smirked at him. "Ah... Enjoy your nap?"

Clive couldn't believe the amount of blood he was seeing. "You're wounded!"

"This..? It's only a scratch. Alright, a hole."

Clive turned to the goddess. "Lyra, your healing magic!"

She lowered her head in shame. "I have tried all that I can to heal him. I'm sorry, Clive..."

Clive looked back at Cid in a panic, only to sense a strange presence behind him. He stood up and turned around, coming face to face with a strange man.

Seeing the man, Lyra sensed the same presence as the creature from the void. She got to her feet just as he reached out his hand toward Clive's face. Frozen in fear, she didn't move until she heard Cid say, "I know who you are. And if you think I'm going to let you have him..." He managed to get to his feet and draw his blade. He stabbed the strange man in the neck. "Think again."

Lyra caught Cid in her arms as he fell for he was too weak to stand any longer. She gently returned him to the floor where Jill was at the same time Clive grabbed Cid's blade and finished the job. She stood back up and witnessed the strange man's body collapse. She heard him use the language of the gods before his body vanished.

Hearing Cid violently cough, Lyra returned her attention to him. She stood over him and Jill as Clive rushed back to him. She couldn't help but feel drowned in a sense of uselessness while watching Cid pull out a cigarette from his pocket. She didn't hear their words as they spoke. She had been drowned in sorrow. It wasn't until she saw Cid give Clive part of Ramuh's power did she snap out of it.

"No... Don't do this!" Clive tried to refuse Ramuh's power, but he couldn't.

"The rest is in your hands," Cid said as he passed a portion of Ramuh to him. "The crystal's blessing is a prison, Clive...and if it's an outlaw the world needs...
to help it break free..."

"Stop... Please...!" Clive begged, his voice shaking with sorrow.

"I can think of none better...than you." Cid's arm fell limp. The cigarette between his lips fell.

Cid was dead.

Clive and Jill cried for the man. He hugged Cid while she clung to Torgal.

Lyra couldn't comprehend the death of Cid. She was the goddess of life so why couldn't she heal his wounds? She took a few steps away from the others as her own tears fell. She felt as if the world around her disappeared.

"Lyra!" she heard Clive shout at the top of his lungs.

She didn't understand what was happening until she felt a sword being thrust through her back. She gasped and choked as the blade went all the way through to her chest. She slowly looked down to see the bloodied tip of the blade protruding from her chest. It was then harshly yanked from her body.

Stumbling forward as blood poured from her back and chest, she managed to turn around to see who had stabbed her. She couldn't believe who she was seeing. "Indra...?"

"You're in the way, Gaia," Indra coldly said.

Lyra stared at the god in disbelief before she collapsed to the floor.

Clive drew his sword with a battle cry and ran toward Indra. "I'll kill you!"

The god's blade clashes with his. "That is yet to be foretold." He pushed Clive back before vanishing into thin air.

Clive looked around for Indra, but he couldn't find him. When he heard a choked cough from Lyra, he sheathed his sword and rushed over to her. He fell to his knees next to her. "No... No, no, no!" He didn't know what to do.

Lyra could feel her body beginning to grow cold. "I'm...sorry, Clive..."

"Don't...!" He begged her, placing his hand on her pale cheek. Tears were streaming down his cheeks. "I cannot lose you too...!"

Lyra managed to smile weakly. Her vision was beginning to fade. She feebly lifted her hand and placed it on his cheek. "I love you, Clive..."

Clive grabbed her hand and pressed it against his cheek. Tears continued to fall as he felt how cold she was. When he felt her hand go limp, his eyes widen in horror. "Lyra...?"

She wasn't responding.

He saw her eyes were closed. Panicking, he dropped her hand and grabbed her face with both bands. "Please...! Come back to me...!" He leaned his forehead against hers, his tears falling onto her face. His body shook with anger and sorrow.

Pulling her body into his arms, he desperately clung to her. He refused to let go. Feeling as if his world was crumbling even further, he cursed the beings who took Cid and Lyra. He would make them both pay.