A/N: Welcome to the first DLC! I'm unsure how many parts there will be at the time I write this, but it will definitely follow the DLC with added/altered plot to fit the story I have in mind. I won't give any information/plot considering the DLC explains itself if you've played it and I also don't want to spoil anything. I hope you all enjoy! Love you all!!!

PS—I lost track of who was Marnek and who was Halek. So sorry about that!

✨~Celestial~✨
•••••••••••••••••••

"A shame, truly."

"Such a body is wasted on you."

"I shall take it as my own!"

Startled awake, Lyra's head shot up. She was in her cat form and curled up in Clive's lap while he was busy responding to missives. The strange dream she had plagued her mind as all she could hear was a female voice in the midst of darkness. The disembodied voice sounded familiar to her, but she couldn't think of who it belonged to.

Her emerald-slit eyes scanned the room and saw it was only her and Clive. She didn't realize how tense she was until she felt a gentle hand on her head. Turning her head, she looked up at him.

"Are you all right?" he asked, petting the top of her head.

She tilted her head as his fingers trailed down to scratch underneath her chin. "Yes. How long was I asleep?"

"An hour," he answered. "You can rest longer if you'd like."

"I would, but now I am wide awake." She stood up in his lap and hopped onto the desk. She was careful not to knock over anything. Sitting near the edge of the desk, her tail dangled off the side. "Seeing as you are working hard, I should return to reading Mimir's writings."

"You've read plenty for the time being," he said. "I should take you away from the hideaway for a change of scenery considering how long your nose has been buried in that book."

"It's only been a day," she argued.

"It's been three, Lyra," Clive remarked.

Her slit eyes widened in shock. "It...has?"

"I'm not surprised you haven't realized. You only require sleep when you have exhausted your magicks, allowing the days and nights to blur." He got up from the chair and walked around to the other side of his desk. "What was the name of the red flowers you would often grow in Rosalith?"

"Oh, they are called scarlet whimsias. If I remember correctly, they only grow in Rosaria. Why do you ask?"

"The last time I visited the backyard, I don't recall seeing them among the seeds available. We should travel to Rosaria and search for some."

Her ears perked up. "Are you certain? Would it truly be all right?"

He smiled at seeing the excitement glimmering in her eyes. "Of course. It will be the perfect distraction for you."

Lyra jumped off the desk and reverted. She smiled enthusiastically at him. "To Rosaria, then."

The couple left their chambers and walked down the stairs. They walked through the main deck with the intent to reach the lift, but they both heard a heavy sigh from Charon. Wondering if something was wrong, they approached the elderly woman.

"Charon?" Lyra called out, her tone laced with concern.

"Is something the matter? You seem...perturbed," Clive said, grabbing the merchant's attention.

Charon gazed at the couple, a lit cigarette resting between her fingers. "Do I now? How clever of you both to notice. But yes, summat's come to my attention, and I'll be damned if I know what to make of it."

Lyra placed a hand on her hip. "It must be quite troublesome if it has you concerned."

"It's probably quicker if I just show you. Here." The merchant took something out of her pocket and placed it on the counter.

"Some sort of crystal," Clive observed. "Though...I don't remember seeing one that color before."

"It is a rather unsettling hue," Lyra commented.

"Aye, well...that makes three of us," Charon said. "In all my long years of trading—both over and under the counter—I've never seen anything quite like it. They're calling 'em "dusk crystals," on account of the color."

"A fitting name," the goddess commented.

"And they can be used to cast magicks?" Clive questioned.

"That they can—just like their brighter, shinier cousins. Difference is, they don't last as long. After a couple of goes lighting your pipe, they crumble away to nothing. That's how I heard about them—from crystal traders moaning that someone's been flooding the market with dodgy goods. And after asking the right people the right questions—and paying the right price, of course—managed to get my hands on a sample," Charon explained.

"Hm. We see why you're perturbed."

Lyra gently picked up the crystal to examine it. As her fingers wrapped around it, she felt a strange and cold sensation radiating from it. Her eyes narrowed in confusion until she heard the same disembodied voice from her dream.

"What a good little goddess. How sickening..."

Blinking in confusion, she stared at the crystal in puzzlement. "Who are you...?" she muttered for only her ears to hear.

Suddenly, the airship began to shake. However, it wasn't just the hideaway. It was a powerful tremor shaking the entire continent.

"Ey up. Do you both feel that?" Charon asked.

"Yes..." Clive looked around as the tremor shook everything before slowly fading. "I've never felt a tremor this far inland before."

"Me neither..." The merchant crossed her arms. "...but then I'd never seen skies like these till a few moons ago, and it's been all change ever since. Come to think of it, the first anyone ever heard of these dusk crystals was after you lot came back from the Dominion and brought this bloody weather with you."

"Do you think the two things are connected?"

"Who knows? Could just be that with Drake's Tail gone, the black market was running short of the good stuff. The Dominion's mines were the only source of new shards left in Storm, after a certain evil outlaw decided to do away with the other Mothers." Uncrossing her arms, Charon places her hands on her hips. "And with the price of decent crystals going through the roof, traders turned to dealing in stuff they'd never have touched before."

"The question is, who's selling these crystals, and where are they—" Clive stopped midsentence at noticing the trance Lyra was in as she stared at the crystal. He placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. "Lyra?"

The goddess blinked repeatedly. The sound of her name causes her to snap out of the strange trance she had been in. Looking away from the crystal she was holding, she gazed at her beloved. "Yes?"

"What's wrong?" he asked, worriedly.

"I...I don't know, truthfully. This crystal does not sit well with me. The color, its fragility..."

"They couldn't be from Origin, could they?"

She shook her head. "No. The timing is off."

Clive recalled the timeline of their journey. "You're right. We saw it form in the sky, and that was long after we returned from the Dominion. But if they didn't come from Origin or any of the other Mothercrystals, then...does that mean—"

"That you missed one? Aye," Charon stated. "That were my thinking, anyroad—another Mothercrystal we didn't know about."

"I'll speak with Joshua," he replied, meeting the merchant's troubled gaze. "If you're right about this, we need to find it."

"And quick, I'd say. On account of which—Lyra," Charon addressed the goddess. "Take this shard over to Tomes for us. Get him to give it a once-over, too, 'case it rings any bells."

Lyra nodded. "Of course. Could you speak to Jill for us, Charon? We will be needing her help."

"Aye."

"Let me go and find Joshua, and we'll meet in the shelves," Clive said.

As Clive and Charon walked away, Lyra gazed worrisomely at the dusk crystal. She didn't know who was speaking to her and couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of dread. Shaking her head, she headed to the shelves with the crystal and told what Charon told her to Haropcrates.

Eventually, Charon arrived with Jill and was filled in with the story of the dusk crystal. Minutes later, Clive and Joshua walked into the shelves. Lyra put the shard on the table and stepped back for everyone to get a good look at it.

"It's hard to believe such a lusterless shard could conjure much of anything," Jill commented. "And you truly think this came from a Mothercrystal? One we never knew existed?"

"Every other shard in the Twins did. Why should these "dusk crystals" be any different, dim though they may be?" Clive remarked.

"We know they first appeared on the black market shortly after Ultima cast Primogenesis, darkening the skies," Joshua said. "So might the two be connected? Could the spell have created a new Mothercrystal, perhaps? A replacement for the ones we destroyed?"

Clive crossed his arms and eyes the loresman. "What do you think, Harpocrates?"

"I think there may well be a connection," Harpocrates responded. "Yet, if we are to believe that the original Mothercrystals were of Ultima's making, does it seem likely that he would have need of anything so palpably inferior?"

"No, he wouldn't," Lyra spoke up. "Ultima is the creator of the original Mothercrystals. He would never forge something so tenuous. If he desired another Mothercrystal, he would have fabricated one just as strong and powerful as the original eight."

Harpocrates smiled at her. "You are correct, my lady. I hazard that it was not Ultima who created these crystals, but humanity. More specifically, our Fallen forebears, whose wonders litter the land even now. Legend holds that the Fallen challenged the gods in order to win their power—and came tantalizingly close to doing so. It seems only reasonable that they should wish to learn the secrets of the crystals which the gods bestowed upon them."

"So they could make their own," Clive deduced.

"Precisely. You may recall that the tale of the Sins of Dzemekys begins with the colloquy of the sages—a council wherein humanity sought to uncover the last secrets of the gods, before waging their war to learn what little remained. It is perfectly possible that an understanding of how to craft crystals was among their many achievements."

"Among their many achievements...prior to their fall," Joshua said.

"Indeed. The same enlightened souls forged great and terrible weapons called the Eikonoklastes—from which Eikons derive their name—and turned them against each other in the Magitek War. A pointless conflict which served only to make its victors more confident of their right to supplant the gods on high. And when at last they ventured to do so, the resultant imbalance in the aether is said to have been so great that the skies themselves turned black and began to boil. The first recorded "Arche sky," I suspect. Which brings us back to the matter at hand. It is my belief that these shards are the product of a long-slumbering Magitek Mothercrystal, stirred to life by a similar atheric upheaval to the one which accompanied its creators' fall."

Joshua looked over at the goddess in their midst. "Lyra, you once walked among the Fallen. Do you recollect any mention of this Magitek Mothercrystal?"

Lyra cupped her chin between her thumb and index finger as she searched her memories. "There were whispers among the Fallen, but those who followed me believed they were merely rumors. However, many of those who worshipped Ultima spoke of reaching godhood to annihilate the one who abandoned them. Alas, I cannot confirm such creation or use of this Magitek Mothercrystal. When those who believe you to be a false deity refuse to share information, there is much truth missed. I cannot even confirm the whole truth of the war as I was cut down by Ultima before its conclusion."

Jill smiled reassuringly at the golden-haired woman. "It's all right, Lyra. Though you are a god, we do not expect you to possess all our answers."

Lyra smiled back at her childhood friend before saying, "We can find our answers if we investigate the dusk crystals. Our first step will be to track down the people selling them."

"Charon, where did you buy this one?" Clive asked.

"Down in Port Isolde, when I were scratching around for supplies," Charon answered. "Since the imperials buggered off and took their tariffs with them, you can find all sorts of interesting stuff on the docks. Go and have a chat with the mercenaries guarding the gates. Your uncle's got some good lads there—know when to keep a watchful eye, and when to turn a blind one. Oh, and take the crystal with you. Might be your key to the underworld."

"Thank you. I will." Clive picked up the dusk crystal and put it into his pocket.

"Shall we, then, Brother?" Joshua inquired.

"I'm coming, too. If there is another Mothercrystal out there and it's anything like the others, you'll need all the help you can get," Jill said.

Lyra smiled softly. "Our little flower hunt can wait until we solve this mystery."

Clive smiled back. He glanced between the three of them. "I was hoping you'd say that. One more time, then—together."

|| Port Isolde ||
|| Southwestern Rosaria ||

Passing the Lazarus, the party of five was drawing closer to Port Isolde. Lyra was walking next to Jill, her eyes focused on the city gates ahead. She was wondering just how deep they would have to go to learn the truth behind the dusk crystals. The goddess was pulled from her thoughts when she heard yelling.

"Famiel! Slow down!"

"Not bloody likely!"

She and the others came to a stop after seeing three men running down the path toward them. Behind the trio was a sellsword, who was chasing after them.  The three men ran past the group. When the men passed her, she followed them with her eyes at hearing the disembodied voice again.

"What fools..."

Lyra's eyes narrowed at the fleeing men. It was the same voice she heard when she touched the dusk crystal, making her even more puzzled. Looking away from the hooded trio, her eyes turned to the exhausted sellsword when he huffed out, "Fuck me, they're fast on their feet..."

"What's going on here, I wonder?" Clive spoke up.

Joshua stepped forward and stood next to him. "What indeed? Let's ask."

The party approached the sellsword. Clive was the one to address him. "Excuse me. Who were those men just now?"

"Bloody troublemakers, that's who. Soon as I asked them to present their packs for inspection, they turned white as a sheet and legged it," the man explained. "I chased them all the way from the gates but they were swift as hares. Still, at least we kept the bastards out. Don't need their kind stirring up any more strife."

"And what manner of strife have they been stirring up, exactly?" Joshua asked.

"Eh? Are you joking? This business with the crystals."

Clive, with crossed arms, replied, "Sorry, we've been away for a while. What's been going on?"

The sellsword sighed. "All right, I'll humor you. After the paltry rations the imperials left behind dried up, folk started trading crystals out in the open. We turned a blind eye at first. Lord Byron's orders. The way he saw it, it weren't right to deny people the one thing they was all clamoring for. Till the duffs started turning up, that is. Dusk crystals, they're called. Ill-favored shards that crack as soon as you look at them. Not that the folk who bought them by the bucketload knew that—and they were baying for blood when they found out. In the end, His Lordship had to step in and ban the blasted things—and we've been searching the pack of every trader who's darkened our gates ever since."

"I see. And you think the men you were pursuing might have been trading in these dusk crystals?" Joshua questioned.

"Why? You in the market for some? Anyway, I wouldn't rule it out. In fact, I'd put a few gil on it."

Joshua turned to his brother. "We might still be able to catch them."

Clive met his gaze. "We might."

"If you are heading up that way, you'll want to keep your sword handy—there's more than dodgy traders plying the roads these days," the sellsword warned.

"Understood. We'll be careful."

Turning their backs to the gates of Port Isolde, the party walked in the direction they came.

Once they were far enough away from the sellsword, Lyra spoke up. "I could fly ahead and locate those men."

"That would be most helpful," Clive responded. "Be careful, Lyra."

"I will." The goddess transformed into a hawk and flew across the sky. Her eyes scanned the Silken Strand and the Quietsands for the men while flying toward Bewit Bridge. She didn't spot them and continued past the bridge to the Auldhyl Docks. She did note a large group of men heading to the village, but she dismissed them since they weren't the ones she was looking for.

Flying around the small village, she caught a glimpse of a familiar blue robe. She landed in a tree, eyes laser-focused on the three men below. She was eavesdropping on their conversation and learned their names as they were attempting to catch their breath while checking their supplies. She flew to a lower branch and saw the man named Marnek remove a single dusk crystal from his pack. Swooping down, she grabbed the dusk crystal with her talons and flew toward another tree.

"O-Oi!" Marnek shouted, chasing after her.

She landed on another tree, perched on a single foot. She gazed down at the man who stood at the base of the tree.

"Ya bloody bird! Give it back!" he shouted at her.

With a powerful screech, she frightened the man. He stumbled away from the tree. She thought he was going to try again until she heard someone shout, "Turn the whole place upside down if you have to!
They're here somewhere!"

Head snapping to the left, Lyra spotted the large group of men she had seen earlier. From what they shouted, she figured they were after the three robed men.

"Run!" Famiel shouted.

"B-But what about—?!" Marnek tried to protest, having yet to obtain the dusk crystal that was snatched out of his hand.

"Let the bloody bird have it!"

Lyra watched the three robed men dash off as the bandits searched the village. She followed them while keeping hold of the dusk crystal. They didn't make it far due to still being exhausted from their previous sprint from Port Isolde and came to a stop to catch their breaths. She landed atop the bridge that connected the Auldhyl Docks to Sorrowise—Riddock's Jump.

"I don't think I can go on, Chief," Halek huffed out.

"Me neither..." Marnek panted.

"All right. This should be far enough," Famiel said.

Sensing the presence of her companions, Lyra saw them approaching the trio. She wondered how this would end and kept a watchful eye on the parties below.

"Uh...Chief? They've found us," Halek said after spotting Clive, Jill, Joshua, and Torgal. He, like his companions, was frightened by the group.

"It's getting so a man can't even catch his fucking breath," the leader of the trio huffed out.

"Gentlemen. A word," Clive said. "We understand you've been selling some crys—"

"And like I told your thieving mates, you're not fucking getting them," Famiel interrupted, taking a few steps forward before pointing at him. "So you can take your massive sword and shove it."

"I'm sure I could, but...we're not thieves."

Before the conversation could continue, they heard shouting. It was one of the bandits. "Over here! I can smell the one who shat himself!"

Halek glanced worriedly at the leader of their trio. "Erm...if you've got a plan, Chief—"

"Tell us you've got a plan..." Marnek said, glancing toward the direction of the encroaching bandits.

The leader glanced between his companions. "Of course I've got a bloody plan. Good things and all that..." With a plotting smirk, he spoke to Clive. "Let's start again, shall we? You say you're interested in the crystal trade."

"Not exactly." Clive pulled out the dusk crystal Charon had given him. "In actual fact, we were hoping to talk about this."

He placed his hands on his hips. "Is that all? Well, then I know just how to help." He then turned in the direction of the bandits and shouted, "If you're after the shard shifter, he's over here!"

Clive glared at the man. "Are you mad?"

Having heard Famiel, the bandits located them.

"Slippery little pricks," one bandit spat, stalking toward the group with his accomplices. "Clinkers on the ground, quick as you like."

The leader of the crystal traders raised his hands in panic as the bandits approached. "Gentlemen! You've got it all wrong! Do we look like merchants?" He then immediately pointed to Clive. "He's the one you want! Just look at what he's got in his hand!"

"What, him?" a bandit asked.

Clive glanced down at the crystal in his hand and attempted to explain. "Wait. I'm not—"

The crystal traders slipped away as the bandits intercepted Clive, Jill, Joshua, and Torgal.

"Do let us know if you need any more help!" Famiel shouted, waving at them with a victorious smirk before running across the bridge with his companions.

"They won't get far, Clive," Jill said, drawing her sword.

"No. But they'll wish they had," Clive remarked, preparing to fight against the bandits.

Finished with being a spectator, Lyra swooped down and dropped the crystal on the head of one of the bandits to grab his attention. She then transformed into a coeurl, landing next to the enemies. Lowering her body to the ground, she bore her teeth and growled at the assailants.

The bandits, frightened at seeing the large beast, backed away at seeing her stalk toward them. "Wh-Where the bloody hell did this thing come from?!" One shouted.

"How the fuck should I know?!" another hollered.

Lyra was prepared to pounce on the bandits, only for her to retract her threatening stance when they ran off in fear. She was surprised considering she thought they would have attacked due to their large numbers. However, she was fine with avoiding the fight entirely.

Reverting, she walked over to the dusk crystal she took from the crystal traders and picked it up. She then turned to her companions, showing it to them. "There is no doubt in my mind those men are indeed crystal traders. They had quite the collection."

"You stole one?" Jill asked.

"I was hoping they would attempt to reclaim it so I could lead them to you all, but I wasn't aware those bandits were after them." She put the dusk crystal away. "We should pursue them."

"Did you see which way they went?" Joshua asked.

"Toward Sorrowise. They may be attempting to escape Rosaria."

"The quickest way out of Rosaria is through Three Reeds," Clive said. "Let's hurry."