A/N: Just a small heads-up. Updates will be every other day now that my schedule is slowly getting filled because of the upcoming Fall semester. Once the semester does begin, updates will most likely become scarcer and I won't have a set updating schedule. To check on the state of this story, you can check my profile as I will make sure to post messages about any delays in this story there. Besides that little information, I hope you all enjoy this next chapter! Love you all!!!
~✨Celestial✨~
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|| Rosalith ||
|| Western Rosaria ||

Clive, Jill, Lyra, and Torgal had infiltrated Rosalith with Gav. They hadn't been spotted as they found a place to hide from the Republic soldiers who were looking around town and killing anyone in sight. The scout had gone off on his own to analyze the current situation.

Lyra was leaning against what remained of the wall in the destroyed house they were hiding in. Torgal was standing next to her and she stroked his fur while listening to the crumbling of buildings as Hugo's forces continued to destroy the former capital.

Soon, Gav returned and hopped through a window that was miraculously still intact. "Hugo and his men have been busy. They've already breached the castle's outer wall." He walked over to his companions. "The imperials are holding their ground for now, but it's only a matter of time before the keep falls."

Clive was distraught with the current situation. He abhorred seeing his home slowly crumbling before his eyes.

"Those fuckers really went to town on this place," Gav said. "Almost like they want to wipe it off the map..."

"Just a means to an end," Clive stated.

Jill picked up a dirtied wooden chocobo that was once a child's toy. "All this for one man? They didn't have to go so far."

Gav put a hand on her shoulder. "If you keep your wits about you, I reckon you can make it up to the castle without raising the alarm. I'll sniff out any townsfolk who haven't escaped yet and send them on their way."

"I'll accompany you," Lyra said, stepping forward. "My healing ability will be useful if someone is injured."

"Are ya sure you don't want to go with Clive 'n Jill?" the scout asked.

"Yes. I would like to help as many as possible."

Gav glanced at Clive, who nodded in approval. "All right. If you're ready, my lady."

"Be careful," Clive told them.

"Likewise. Don't do anything we wouldn't do." Gav vaulted out of the window he entered through.

Lyra followed him. She allowed him to take the lead since his specialty was moving around undetected. They made their way through the streets of Rosalith, checking any buildings they could for survivors. Most of the buildings were still intact, but many were empty while others were littered with bodies. It was clear Hugo's men had been on a killing spree and no one had been spared.

After a while, Gav and Lyra located a partially destroyed building where some civilians were hiding. They were frightened at seeing them, but Lyra was quick to reassure them that she and Gav were here to help. Before escorting them out of the building, she made sure all of them were uninjured and capable of walking.

While Gav escorted them to safety, Lyra checked the building to ensure everyone was gone. To her dismay, she found a child cowering in the kitchen behind a box. She carefully kneeled down in front of the little girl and offered her a gentle smile. "What is your name? Are you injured?"

"M-My name is Harper. I'm o-okay, but..." The little girl sniffled as tears streamed down her cheeks. "M-My mommy and daddy..."

Lyra didn't need the child to continue. She placed a gentle hand on the girl's head. "I too have lost my parents because of the brutality of others. It...is not a sorrow that is easily overcome, but I had so many people to support me through such a difficult time. Is there anyone you know?"

"F-Friends..." The little girl wiped her tears away. "Rosie and Lulu are my best friends."

"When did you last see them?"

"We got separated when one of the buildings collapsed near the marketplace," she told the woman.

"I will look for them." Lyra then saw Gav had returned. She waved at him before looking back at the child. "This here is one of my good friends. He'll show you to safety while I search for your friends."

The woman held out her hand to the little girl. When she accepted her help, she carefully pulled her to her feet. She then walked over to Gav. "Take her with you, Gav. There may be more children trapped in the marketplace."

"Aye," the scout replied. "I'll catch up with ya after I take 'er to the others."

"Thank you, Gav."

When the little girl was safely in Gav's care, Lyra ran out of the building and to the marketplace. She stormed through the streets and alleyways to reach the marketplace. It was difficult with all of the destruction, but she eventually made it to her destination. She hid when she found Republican soldiers wandering the area and didn't move from her hiding spot until they were gone.

Once the marketplace was vacant of enemies, Lyra began searching for Rosie and Lulu. She discovered more dead civilians, but none of them were children. This made her feel hopeful the two little girls were still alive. She searched every possible hiding spot a child could fit until she found a stack of crates with two kids hiding behind them.

"Are you Rosie and Lulu?" Lyra asked softly. "Harper told me you were separated."

The two little girls crawled out of their hiding spot at hearing the familiar name. "Harper's safe?" the brunette—named Rosie—asked.

Lyra nodded with a small smile. "Yes. I will ensure you both are reunited with her."

Rosie and Lulu trusted the woman and accepted her help. She took them to where Gav had taken the other survivors and met him along the way. She delivered the two children to the other poor innocent people who had been caught in the middle of Hugo's invasion of the city.

Continuing to search for survivors, Lyra and Gav were forced to hide in a house when a large squadron of Republican soldiers entered the area they were currently scouring.

"Fuck..." Gav cursed under his breath. "They're everywhere."

Lyra peered out of the window to watch the enemies. She looked away when they started to break up into smaller groups to search the area.

"What should we—?" Gav looked over at the woman and saw the look of fear before it changed into a familiar scheming expression. "Oh, no. I know that look. Your schemes get as crazy as Cid's!"

"This entire attack was a trap to lure Clive out of hiding. The first rule of a trap is knowing it is a trap, and the second rule is setting your own trap," she said before her eyes locked with his. "Go find Clive and Jill."

"Hold on!" Gav stopped her before she left the building. "What scheme's brewin' in that napper of yours?"

"If I tell you, you'll try to stop me."

"Which means it's crazy! Clive'll have my head if your crazy idea doesn't work!"

Lyra summoned her spear, startling the scout. She handed the weapon to him. "Clive would surely not approve of what I'm about to do. It would be best not to tell him. For now, take this and rendezvous with him."

"I, uhhh..." The scout took the spear hesitantly. He had learned of the weapon after she and the others returned from Drake's Breath and was hesitant to touch it. He sighed in defeat and gripped the weapon tightly. "Oh, fine! I know when I'm going to lose an argument!"

"Thank you, Gav." She patted him on the shoulder. "And don't concern yourself with me. Whatever happens, just promise to protect Clive and Jill. No plan is perfect, after all."

The scout watched Lyra leave the building. From where he was hiding, he continued to watch her as she made her presence known to the Republic troops. He could hear their shouting and knew they recognized her immediately. When the battle between the goddess and the troops began, he realized she wasn't putting up much of a fight with her talismans.

"Oh, bloody hell..." Gav muttered to himself when he noticed what she was planning to do. She wasn't fighting well because she was planning on being captured to get behind enemy lines. He didn't stop watching the battle until she was overwhelmed by the enemies and was captured. The Republican soldiers knocked her unconscious and shackled her hands behind her back before dragging her away.

Gav sighed in disbelief. "This better go as planned..."

. · : · . ✧ • ✦ • ✧ . · : · .

After their victorious fight against the coeurl, Clive and Jill stood before the beast's corpse. They were prepared to infiltrate the castle when all of a sudden...

"We meet at last, Cid."

Hearing Hugo's baritone voice, Clive and Jill turned around. They saw the large man surrounded by his troops, but what horrified them was seeing an unconscious Lyra by his feet. Her arms were shackled behind her back and there were bruises and cuts on her face.

Hugo grinned arrogantly at seeing the furious look in Clive's eyes. "Or should I say, Lord Rosfield. I've been looking for you for a very long time." To antagonize Clive more, he kneeled down and grabbed Lyra by her hair and yanked her off the ground. The pain was enough to pull her out of her unconscious state. She yelped when he tugged harder on her hair and pulled her to her feet with him.

Clive felt his blood boiling with anger. His blade was drawn and he was ready to stab the man. "Let her go, Kupka!"

Jill glared at Hugo as she too had her sword drawn.

Hugo gazed down at Lyra before looking back at Clive. "I'm so glad you accepted my invitation. I went to some trouble with the decorations. Do you like what I've done with the place? Perhaps..." He released her hair and grabbed her by the back of her throat. His large hand wrapped entirely around her slim neck, but he didn't squeeze. "I should paint the outer walls with the blood of a goddess."

"You...!" Jill shouted angrily. "How dare you!"

"Bastard!" Clive yelled angrily, his heated glare boring into the burly man. He raised his bloodied blade and was about to charge at him, only to freeze when Hugo tightened his grip around her neck to choke her. He couldn't bear to listen to her gasping for air.

"Such a pity your predecessor couldn't join us.
But I am sure you will prove compelling company," Hugo said, loosening his hand just enough to allow Lyra to breathe. She coughed and gasped when he suddenly turned her around to face him. His hand went back around her throat to ensure Clive stayed where he was. He grinned down at her. "I know who you are, Gaia. Never did I expect an all-mighty goddess to be this man's heart. But you must not be too mighty if you were easily captured by mortals."

Overcome with anger, Clive semi-primed and his arm changed to reflect Ifrit's power. Jill was about to semi-prime but stopped when Hugo lifted Lyra off the ground by her throat. She choked and gasped for air as her body helplessly dangled in the air.

Knowing they couldn't risk Lyra's life, Clive and Jill retracted their fighting stances. The silver-haired woman tossed her sword to the ground.

"Fuck!" Clive's arm returned to normal as he dropped his sword in defeat alongside Jill's.

Satisfied, Hugo lowered Lyra and tossed her body to the ground. As she coughed and desperately tried to fill her lungs with air, he gestured to his men and they promptly apprehended Clive and Jill. The shackled their hands behind their backs with crystal fetters, which prevented them from using any magic or accessing their Eikons.

Hugo was more than pleased with the capture of all three of them. "Now, on to the festivities!"

Before being shoved around by Hugo's men, Clive made eye contact with Torgal. The canine had taken cover in the shadows before the enemies had arrived. He was then taken to the dungeons below the castle while Jill was taken to the courtyard.

Arms and legs shackled, Clive sat helplessly in the dark cell he was forced into. He wasn't sure how long he'd been captured, but he tried to break free from the crystal fetters. However, it was useless. Slumping forward in defeat, he attempted to come up with another plan to escape. He looked around the cell, only to stop when he heard members of Kupka's private guard talking.

"It's no more than she deserves for getting into bed with an outlaw," one guard said. "How the hell did he even manage to get a goddess anyway?"

"Heh, no idea," the second guard replied. "Perhaps we can convince Lord Kupka to kill her after we've had a little fun with her ourselves."

Clive yanked on his shackles at hearing the way they spoke of Lyra. He wanted to plunge his blade through both of them.

"What about the other girl?" the first guard asked.

"She's to be executed in the courtyard," the second guard answered.

Clive couldn't believe what was happening as the two guards reached his cell.

"Lord Kupka commands your presence," one guard told him as he started to unlock the cell. "You're to bear witness to the girl's execution."

"Such a waste—" the second guard was cut short as his throat was slit.

The other guard had finished unlocking the cell by the time he realized his comrade was dead. He turned around, only for a sword to plunge through his abdomen.

Clive heard the commotion and lifted his head to see the scout had killed the guards. "Gav!"

Gav quickly entered the cell and got to work picking the lock on the shackles around Clive's wrists. "Crystal fetters are a bastard to open, just so you know. But don't worry, I'll have them off before you can blink."

"Where's Jill and Lyra?" Clive asked, more worried about them than himself.

"Jill's in the courtyard," Gav answered. "I don't know where Lyra is, though."

"Shit," Clive spat in anger and annoyance. The shackles fell to the floor and his hands were free. He rubbed his sore wrists before unshackling his ankles. "We have to hurry."

"The imperials have sounded the retreat and cleared out of the castle..." Gav walked out of the cell, "but the place is still swarming with Kupka's men. If I had to guess, that's where they're keepin' Lyra."

"Leave them to me," Clive said, standing up.

"I'll make my way up top and circle round the back. Quick as you like, eh? Ah." Gav was about to leave when he remembered something. He ran out of sight before returning with not only Clive's sword but Lyra's spear. He tossed the sword to his friend. "Nearly forgot."

Clive caught the sword, but his eyes were focused on the spear in Gav's possession. "That spear..."

The scout glanced at the holy weapon. "Ah, right... Ehhh..." He didn't want to betray Lyra's trust and told the best lie he could conjure up. "She may have dropped it after bein' attacked by Kupka's men, so I picked it up for 'er. Have to say...it's light and gets the job done. I'm havin' too much fun with it."

"Keep it until I find Lyra." Clive sheathed his sword.

Gav nodded before departing from the dungeons.

"Hold on, Jill," he spoke to himself. "I'm coming for you and Lyra."

Not wasting a moment, Clive dashed out of the dungeons. He headed to the surface, avoiding the bodies of the dead guards whom Gav slew to reach him. "Don't you let them die..." He muttered angrily to himself.

He ran up to the door that led to the courtyard. It was cracked open. Slowly, he pushed it open to see what was happening on the other side. Jill was being forced to her knees with her head on a log as an executioner loomed over her with his large axe. She struggled against the man pinning her down, but she was too weak and couldn't use her magic.

Knowing time was short, Clive searched the courtyard while trying to come up with an idea to save Jill. To his surprise, he found Torgal lurking in the shadows. Their eyes met and he understood the canine was ready to pounce. "Go," he whispered.

Torgal didn't hesitate. With a growl, he ran as fast as he could to Jill. His body began to radiate with aether as he ran past Kupka's men, distracting them in the process.

"What the—?!" one guard shouted in shock.

"It's a bloody wolf!" another yelled.

With the guards distracted, Clive pushed open the door and ran through the courtyard at the same time as Gav. They both ran toward Jill.

Torgal jumped into the air and transformed. The powerful flow of aether discharged, knocking away all of the guards who were surrounding Jill.

Clive was gobsmacked. "Torgal?!"

Torgal, fully transformed, landed and stood protectively in front of Jill.

Clive reached the woman. "Jill. Can you stand?" He pulled her off the log and unlocked the crystal fetters to free her arms. Jill weakly leaned against him as she tried to calm herself down from how scared she was.

"Come, come, Lord Rosfield! Don't tell me you tire of my entertainment?" Hugo's booming voice echoed across the courtyard.

Clive looked up to the balcony above at the same time Hugo appeared. The large man had dragged Lyra out and shoved her against the railing. Her eyes met his, but the expression on her face remained calm. She saw the distraughtness and fury in his sapphire eyes and could tell how desperate he was to save her.

She was about to mouth something to him when Hugo suddenly came up behind her and hooked an arm around her shoulder. His large hand grabbed her face and forcibly lifted it up so she could no longer see Clive. Because of the way he was grabbing her, her shackled arms were pinned between them.

"Enough!" Clive shouted angrily, glaring at the brute.

Hugo tightened his grip on Lyra's face, causing her to wince. "Yes, perhaps it is time we served the main repast. But first..." His other hand came to roughly trail down the front of her body, sickening her and infuriating Clive.

"Kupka!" Clive shouted at the top of his lungs, his eyes burning with flames of hatred. He handed Jill over to Gav and drew his sword, pointing it at the burly man on the balcony. "How dare you touch her!"

Hugo laughed darkly. "It's not every day a goddess falls into my lap. I'll have my fun with her before I deliver her head to you. Until then, I trust you are hungry!"

At his booming voice, Hugo's private guard recovered from Torgal's attack. They got to their feet and surrounded Clive, Jill, Gav, and Torgal.

Clive's heated glare never left Hugo until he dragged Lyra back into the castle. He gripped his sword tightly. "Damn you...!"

"Need this?" Gav asked, handing Jill her missing sword.

She took her weapon back. "Much obliged."

"Don't leave a single one breathing," Clive said.

"We'll cut through 'em and make a path to the castle," Gav replied, wielding Lyra's spear. "I really am havin' too much fun with this thing."

"We will save Lyra," Jill declared. "Let's hurry."

The battle against Kupka's private guard began.

When Gav struck a guard down with Lyra's spear, he shouted, "Care to explain what the fuck your dog just did?!"

"Later! Everyone—with me!" Clive yelled. "That includes you, Torgal!"

Torgal barked in response.

They cut down the weaker enemies before focusing their efforts on the executioner. Jill was more than happy to bring him to his knees. It was only minutes before the large man was dead. However, more of Kupka's men appeared. They poured from the castle and charged at them.

"Fuck me! Where did this lot come from?!" Gav hollered.

"Jill, can you still fight?" Clive asked, knowing she was still pale from earlier.

"I can try!" Jill replied, slicing through one of the guards. "I will try for Lyra's sake! Kupka nor his men will get away with what they have done."

The battle continued.

The group was more than capable of taking down the extra men Hugo sent their way. They sliced each and everyone down, even the two stone headsmen that arrived last. They were all dead and the way to the castle was clear.

Clive gripped his sword tightly as he stared at the castle.

"Go," Jill urged him. "Gav and I will hold off any more of Kupka's men if they show up."

"Better hurry," Gav said. "Who knows what that bastard's done to Lyra."

Clive nodded. "All right, but be careful."

The scout smirked. "Try not to cut him up into too many pieces. Wouldn't want too much of a cleanup job."

Clive sheathed his sword. "That all depends on Kupka." Stepping over the corpses of Hugo's men, he walked to the castle and entered. "I promise you, Cid...he'll die by my hand."

Pushing open the doors to the throne room, Clive entered. He saw Hugo sitting on the steps leading up to the throne with Lyra curled up on the floor, arms still shackled behind her back. Blood trickled from her lips and her golden locks were stained with dirt and blood. The anger he felt earlier returned tenfold as he shouted the man's name. "Kupka!"

"You're late. Trouble on the way?" Hugo asked sardonically.

"Just enjoying your "entertainment"," Clive spat.

"How gratifying." Hugo stood up and walked up the stairs. "Have you come to reclaim your goddess or to defend your father's throne, Lord Rosfield?" He came to a stop in front of the throne and gazed at the stone's finer details. "The "Grand Duchy of Rosaria"... A realm without a ruler, an army, even a people... A veritable kingdom of dust." He walked over to the side of the throne, his hand trailing across the stone. "Truly, I see no throne to defend."

Hugo's hand gripped the stone before he reeled back his fist and surged forward. He punched the throne, causing it to crumble and slide across the floor. It was destroyed.

Clive was pained at the sight of the shattered throne his father once sat upon. "No..." He was more than tired of running in circles because of this man. "Enough of your games, Kupka. Just tell me what you want."

"Cid's head in a box." Hugo slowly turned to face him. "Imagine my disappointment when I learned that he met his end at the hand of another. And my relief to learn that you had taken up his thrice-damned name." He descended the stairs and stepped over Lyra's unconscious body. "Your master slew Benedikta Harman, and defiled her body! If you choose to bear that murderer's name, then you shall answer for his crimes!"

"The only crimes I shall answer for are my own. Cid did everything in his power to save that woman, though she was long past saving," Clive growled, stepping closer to the man. "And so I did what he couldn't. It was me all along, Hugo."

Hugo was surprised at the confession. "It was...you...?" Overcome with anger, he raised his hands as he shouted, "You! You killed her!"

"I did," Clive replied coldly.

Hugo lowered his hands and head. "Then I am fortunate indeed. I had thought the most I could wish for was to take the life of one he loved, just as he did to me. But it seems I was wrong. And I shall have my revenge!" Raising his head to reveal his overwhelming anger, he channeled the Eikon within him. "We...we shared a dream! I would be the king of the world! She would be my queen, and together, we would rule like the gods we are!" His body transformed as he semi-primed, his features taking on a less-greater version of Titan. "But you crushed that dream—ground it into dust! Hear me, Rosfield! You will pay for what you've done! I'll tear you apart with my bare hands!"

"And what of you? How many people have you killed? How many dreams have you crushed? You're not the only one who has seen their world fall apart around them. You'll get no pity from me, Kupka," Clive snarled. "No pity...and no mercy!"

Hugo's devious smirk returned. "The first head I shall claim is that of the goddess!" With his transformed hands, he quickly turned around and hauled the unconscious Lyra off the ground by her throat. He held her body up in the air and started to squeeze her throat with a dark chuckle.

"Let her go!" Clive shouted. He drew his sword and charged at the man, only to stop when a familiar spear flew past his head. The sharp tip plunged into Hugo's back, causing him to choke in pain.

Hugo coughed as he felt some of his energy being sapped from him. "Th-This...!" He looked at the woman just as her eyes flew open. They were burning a bright emerald. Veins matching her glowing eyes crawled across her face and the rest of her body.

Unable to hold on to her any longer, Hugo dropped her and grunted in pain when the spear was torn from his back. He stumbled away from the woman.

Lyra landed on her feet and pulled at her shackles, successfully breaking them. She caught the spear in her hand and stood strong.

Clive stared at her in awe at what he had witnessed. "Lyra..."

The woman's spear vanished as a powerful wind surrounded her. "Come to me, Cronus." The wind picked up and obscured her form from view. When the wind dissipated and blew outward, a wolf was in her place.

With a mighty howl, the wolf lowered her body and was ready to fight. Her form was about the size of three Torgals, making her a worthy opponent to Hugo's large stature. "Shall we, Clive?"

Clive smirked at hearing his name. "Yes."