Ryella swiftly tied her sandals. Having used another elixir, she was able to take on her human form again. With the boys still on the bridge above the pit, the girl was out of sight and getting dressed. Noctis impatiently tapped his foot, his arms crossed. He was eager to leave Costlemark behind and never return to those accursed ruins.

"Are you done yet?" he called to the girl on the other side of the wall.

"Noct, don't rush the lady," Ignis chided.

Ryella was quick to come out from behind the wall, waiting for them at the end of the bridge. "It's okay, I'm ready." The boys made their way over to her. Prompto immediately remembered to pass her pendant back to her. "Thank you, Prompto." She slipped the necklace around her neck and smiled sweetly. "I'm glad I can always rely on you to hang onto this for me."

The boy's freckled cheeks turned pink. "N-no prob, I'm happy to help."

Noctis abruptly marched past the two, already descending the stairs. "Let's go already. I'm sick of these damn ruins."

Everyone quickly followed behind him. He headed in the direction of the nearest haven. Oathe Haven was located just southwest of Costlemark, and it was very close to the road where the Regalia was parked. Seeing the blue glow of the haven's runes beyond the trees, they knew they were close, just in time too, before it got dark enough for daemons to come out. Before going all the way to the haven, Noctis turned to head for the car so they could get their supplies to set up camp. Making it to the parking spot, Ignis and Gladio immediately opened the trunk to get their things. While the boys were gathering up bags of supplies, Ryella meekly moved between them, snatching up her lyre in its protective casing.

The girl suddenly snapped her head up, her eyes darting to the sky. "I hear something," she said, earning the attention of her friends. "It sounds like...an engine?"

A magitek engine suddenly came into view, its lights flashing in the growing darkness. Noctis groaned. "Dammit! Now we have to deal with them?!"

Hovering over the road, the hatch of the ship opened up and magitek soldiers poured out, leaping to the ground below. The boys dropped their things and summoned their weapons while Ryella cautiously backed up behind them. Prompto went to her side, flashing her a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry, Ryella. We'll take care of this."

The girl nodded in understanding and moved safely to the other side of the car. The boys rushed in, taking down the small horde of MT's swiftly and effectively. Ryella watched from her spot, still wishing she had the combat capabilities they had. In no time at all, the magiteks were taken care of. The four males returned to the car and picked up their supplies again. Ryella smiled, clutching her instrument in her arms.

"You guys are so cool," she told them. "I've never seen such skilled warriors."

"Give yourself some credit," Gladio replied, slinging a pack of items over his shoulder. "None of us could take down a jabberwock in less than two minutes."

"Indeed," Ignis agreed. "You're quite skilled in your own form of combat. None of us have the capabilities of a mighty dragon."

Ryella blushed in embarrassment at the compliments. With all of their supplies in hand, the group walked through the wooded area, arriving at the haven right before daemons began emerging. The five set up everything and got a fire going. Ignis immediately got to work on supper. Noctis was quick to get on his phone and play some King's Knight, taking his mind off the frustration of Costlemark Tower. Prompto and Gladio decided to join him for a bit, leaving Ryella to look over their shoulders at the game they were playing.

"Um, if you don't mind me asking," the girl spoke up, "what exactly were those things you fought back there?"

"You mean you've never seen MT's before?" the gunman inquired. She shook her head in response.

"They're empty humanoid soldiers, soulless and merciless," Ignis explained. "Mass-produced by the empire as weapons of warfare."

"That's terrible..." Ryella mumbled.

She suddenly recalled what had happened 12 years ago. Magitek troops had attacked alongside the high commander of Niflheim. She had completely forgotten about those hollow suits of armor that ruthlessly destroyed everything in their path. She hadn't seen any of them after that incident, only normal imperial troops. It was difficult to fathom how such things even existed.

Before long, the group enjoyed a delicious supper. Once she finished eating, Ryella stepped away from the fire, taking a seat at the edge of the haven with her lyre in hand. She played a sweet melody that captivated the others. While they finished up their meals, they listened to her music. She gazed out at the dark forest beyond the camp while strumming a tune she was familiar with. Prompto slowly got up, set his empty plate on the table, and approached the Guardian. He had a request for the girl---a request he hoped she'd grant. The girl paused, looking up at the gunman as he walked over and took a seat beside her.

"That's a sweet tune," he said with a friendly smile. "You're music's really good."

"Thank you." She smiled back. "It's from a song Luna and I made together. It sums up all our prayers for a future of peace and tranquility."

"Well if it's a song, could you sing it for us?"

Ryella turned her gaze away shyly. "I-I don't know... I'm not good at p-performing in front of others."

"Pretty please?" Prompto begged. "I know you have a beautiful voice. And it's just the four of us here, no one who'll judge you. C'mon, we all wanna hear it, right, guys?"

The two both glanced back at the others still seated around the fire. They all nodded, wanting to hear a lovely voice accompany the magnificent music she made. Ryella gulped, her freckled cheeks turning red and her eyes fixing on the lyre in her hands. She sighed in defeat.

"O-okay... I guess I can...give it a try."

Feeling everyone's eyes on her, Ryella nervously plucked the strings of the lyre, repeating the tune she was previously playing. But as she began, her tension faded away as she focused solely on the rhythm. She took a deep breath, preparing to sing aloud for the first time in front of the boys.

The song is called "One World" by Celtic Woman. I absolutely love this song, by the way.

"I hear a baby crying
A sad sound
A lonely sound
I want to take her in my arms
And then I'll dry away all her tears"

Ryella's voice started out quiet, but she became more comfortable as she sang. Her voice grew louder and clearer. Smiles spread across each of the boys' faces, enjoying her light, angelic voice.

"I see a boy who's frightened
A young boy
With cold eyes
I long to say you're welcome here
You can be happy now that you're home

"We're all a part of one world
We all can share the same dream
And if you just reach out to me
Then you will find deep down inside
I'm just like you

"Loud voices raised in anger
Speak harsh words
Such cruel words
Why do they speak so selfishly
When we have got so much we can share

"So let your heart be open
And reach out with all your love
There are no strangers now
They are our brothers now
And we are one

"We're all a part of one world
We all can share the same dream
And if you just reach out to me
Then you will find deep down inside
I'm just like you

"We're all a part of one world
We all can share the same dream
And if you just reach out to me
Then you will find deep down inside
I'm just like you
I'm just like you"

Once the song had ended, the guys clapped for the girl, turning her into a nervous wreck again. "You were reluctant for nothing," Gladio said. "Your voice is amazing."

Noctis nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I don't think I've ever heard anyone who can sing so well."

"Your voice is beautiful," Ignis added. "You have quite a gift."

A bashful smile accompanied the girl's blush. "Th-thank you."

Prompto grinned. "See? You don't have to be so embarrassed about it. You've got a pretty voice, and that song was so deep."

Ryella giggled. "Like I said, Luna and I wrote that song together. We always dreamed of a time when wars would cease, and peace would reign over our world. No matter where you're from, we're all human, and Eos is our home." Her smiled faded. "But the empire has proven quite malicious. Many of those in power live off of spite and hatred. They feed off of war like parasites, and they construct monstrosities beyond the gods' designs." She gave a soft sigh. "Sometimes I fear our ideal future will never come to pass."

Prompto placed a hand on her shoulder, and Noctis replied, "It will." Ryella looked back at the prince. "I swear, I'll do whatever it takes to end all of this conflict. We're all here, striving for a better future."

Ryella smiled slightly. "I know you will. The Crystal chose you for a reason. I have faith in you, Prince Noctis."

Gladio abruptly stood from his seat. "Anyone up for some cards?" His change of subject hinted at his hope of taking Ryella's mind off of everything.

"I'm in," Noctis answered.

"Let's head inside," Ignis advised.

The three climbed into the tent, one by one, and got out the deck of cards from one of their bags. Prompto looked to Ryella. "You wanna play to? We have room for one more."

Ryella shook her head, politely declining. "You can go ahead. I might join you in a bit."

The blond nervously turned his head away, remaining seated. "Well, if you don't mind, I'd like to stay out here a little longer, then. Y'know, to keep you company."

"That's fine, I don't mind."

"So...you really believe Noct can change the world?" the boy quietly inquired, keeping his tone down so the others wouldn't hear.

Ryella nodded. "It is ordained. Noctis will ascend as this world's savior. His power alone can banish the darkness."

"Did Tenebrae have the same troubles with daemons?"

"To some extent," the brunette replied. "Mostly in rural areas. We never had much of a problem with them anywhere near Fenestala. Perhaps the light of the Oracle kept them at bay. Arriving here in Lucis though...I was surprised to find that daemons were a great menace to the residents. With the nights growing longer, daemons are increasing in strength and number." She fixed her emerald gaze out into the dark woods in front of them. "Even now, I can sense their numbers. I can hear them skulking about in the dark close by, waiting for unsuspecting prey."

Prompto lightly placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, they won't be coming anywhere close to us. The haven's power keeps us safe. And besides..." Prompto gave a playful wink. "Even if they did reach us, I'd shoot 'em down before they could even lay a finger on you."

Ryella giggled at the gunman, watching him puff out his chest like a mighty hero. "I wish I could be as confident as you are..." She suddenly remembered one of the things he told her back when they'd first met. "You were shy like me, but you found a way to be more bold and assertive."

Prompto's face lit up. "Eh, y-you still remember that?"

Ryella giggled more. "Oh, that's right. That was before you knew I was a person too. You were so open with me..." She smiled sheepishly, staring down at her lap. "You placed your trust in me, even though I was merely a beast."

A bit flustered, the blond rubbed the back of his neck. "That's because, even then, I didn't see you as just an animal. You were always like a person to me."

"That makes me...happy."

Ryella couldn't explain it, but Prompto always seemed to have a way of filling her with joy. He reminded her so much of Clement. He was fun and playful, making her smile through depressing times. He was so kind-hearted, but there were times when he could be quite courageous, doing his best to help his friends. The Guardian didn't want to admit it, but deep down, she felt an odd connection to the boy. But she was still far too afraid to let herself love again. She'd rather close off her heart and keep it safe than let others in and have her heart shattered again. Not only that, no one could replace her brother and her first love.

"So..." Prompto's voice brought the girl out of her thoughts. "Um, when you confronted that jabberwock in Costlemark, it got me thinking..." Ryella tilted her head to the side, puzzled by what he was trying to say. "I guess what I'm trying to ask is, what would've happened if you'd remained a dragon from the beginning? If you'd never shown us your power?"

Ryella stared at him for a moment, trying to come up with an answer. "Then...I would've flown away...far away," she replied honestly. "I could've hidden myself away from humans, and lived peacefully until the end of my days."

Prompto hummed lightly, turning his gaze to the dark scenery. "Sounds lonely."

"At the time, solitude was all I wanted. I just wanted to fly away from everything, and pray that I could cope with the pain I felt."

"What stopped you?"

Ryella wasn't going to lie. "You." The gunman's eyes grew wide and he swiftly met her gaze. "You and Noctis both made me rethink my decision. Now here I am, and I'll follow through with my duty as a Guardian."

A cheerful smile slowly spread across the boy's lips. "Well we're all really glad to have you with us." Prompto rose to his feet. "Wanna play some cards with us now?"

"Yeah, okay. Just give me a few more minutes. I'll be there in just a moment."

Flashing her a grin, the gunman walked to the tent. He bent down and stepped inside, seeing his friends sitting in a circle with cards in their hands and on the floor of the tent. The blond casually took a seat, snatching up some random cards from the deck. When he looked up from his cards, he realized that both Noctis and Gladio were giving him devious smirks.

"What?" Prompto asked.

"You two looked to have a nice chat," Noctis said. "You couldn't stop smiling at each other."

"Dude!" the gunman quietly yelled, his face turning bright red. "You were watching me?!"

"How could we not?" Gladio retorted. "You and Ryella, sitting all alone. Can't blame us for wondering what you were doing."

Ignis sighed in exasperation. "I warned them of invading the privacy of others. Clearly, neither of them listened."

Noctis leaned forward slightly. "So, Prompto, did you take advantage of the opportunity and ask her out?"

"N-no," he stuttered out. "What makes you think I'd do that?"

"Because you've got a thing for her," the shield replied dryly. "And don't even argue about that. I can tell you like her."

Prompto groaned lightly. "Can we just drop it? Seriously, even if I did like her, she surely wouldn't like me in that way."

"You can never be certain," Ignis chimed in. "The two of you certainly get along well enough."

The gunman fell silent, pursing his lips together. It was true, Prompto really liked Ryella. He couldn't explain it, he just felt a sort of connection to her. But the last thing he wanted was to move in and take advantage of her while she was sad and hurt. That wouldn't feel right to him. Not to mention that Ryella had already loved another, and Prompto didn't want to be a replacement. He hoped that maybe, in time, she'd warm up to the idea of being with someone again.

Ryella suddenly stepped inside, smiling at her friends as she sat down, tucking her legs under her. "So, um, I don't really play a lot of cards."

"That's alright," Ignis told her, scooting the deck of cards over to her. "You're still welcome to join us."

The girl placed her lyre back in its case and set it aside. Sitting between Prompto and Ignis, she picked out some cards and looked them over, ready to try her hand at the game. Unfortunately for her, she gained more cards than she lost, which cost her the game. She was the last player with several cards still in hand. Despite the difficulty, she still had fun though. But soon enough, the group cleaned up the area and got situated for bed.

Ryella curled up at the far end of the tent, and Prompto was lucky to take the space beside her. Although he laid on his side, he was turned away from her, his mind wandering while his eyes refused to close. He couldn't stop thinking about the possibility of having Ryella as his girlfriend. It made his heart flutter at the simple idea. He placed a hand over his rapidly beating heart, a look of content on his face. Ryella...you're always on my mind now. You've gotta be the kindest, sweetest girl I've ever met. You're strong and fierce and determined, and everything about you is beautiful and amazing.

The gunman did his best to shake the thoughts from his head, knowing he needed to get some sleep. He quietly shifted and rolled onto his other side, suddenly coming face-to-face with Ryella. The boy held his breath, his cheeks warming and his nose nearly touching hers. He slowly exhaled, realizing the girl was asleep. He took the opportunity to look over her features. Her gorgeous emerald eyes were closed, but he did take note of her naturally long lashes. Her little nose and cheeks were littered with the cutest freckles. Her lips were a light pink and looked extremely soft. Her long hair was beautiful and shiny, definitely well-cared for. Her skin looked so smooth, and the blond almost wanted to reach out and touch her cheek, just to feel it for himself.

Prompto laid there, staring at the girl, enamoured with her. He knew he should scoot back and give her more space, but he couldn't seem to make himself move. Before he even realized it, his eyes were beginning to close on their own. A comfortable feeling had washed over him, as if being close to Ryella calmed his restless mind. He steadily dozed off with a faint smile on his lips.