#eheh...ended up bein a bit of a canon rewrite but cowol stuff good

[lavenderleblanc]

Prompt #13: Oneirophrenia

End of Stormblood/Start of Shadowbringers spoilers.

At last, after a long and bloody battle, Luka and Laila had managed to fell Elidibus. Had it not been for the aid of their allies, he was sure he would’ve been the one to fall. As Zenos--Elidibus, he chided himself--collapsed before him, he fell to a knee himself. He was certain he was mostly healed from their fight with Seiryu, but it wasn’t the same as before. He hit his limit so much sooner. Was this truly the best he could do?

He could tell it took Laila what little she had left to remain standing, her gun visibly shaking in her hand. But as he looked to her face, he realized it had been from shock--for Elidibus had risen again before them.

“Your Mother chose her champions well. But it will not be enough.”

Damn it. He had hoped that had been enough to slow the Ascian, of course it wouldn’t slay it, but for him to rise again so easily? His grip on his sword tightened.

“Laila, you need to take the others and run,” Luka rose unsteadily, taking a staggered step in front of her.

“What, are you joking? I’m not leaving you.” He felt a hand on his back as she stepped beside him, shooting a smile full of projected confidence. “We’re in this together.”

“How quaint. It seems you will die together as well.” The moment was broken by Elidibus, stepping forward once again with sword drawn. Luka steeled himself, took a deep breath and stepped forward--

Only to be struck by an intense, dizzying vertigo, and a sharp ringing filling his head. He barely managed to drive his sword into the dirt to keep steady, trembling hands trying to hold on to his sword as it felt as if his mind was being torn away from the world. He turned to see Laila suffering the same fate. As if this, whatever it is, hadn’t taken enough from them already, and now it would cost them their lives.

“Oh? It would seem someone is calling you. Unfortunately, it is too late.”

The spinning intensified, so much he felt as if he were being torn apart. Gods, please… he barely managed to form a silent plea, and fell atop Laila.

-----

It seemed as if he were everywhere and nowhere all at once.

Luka opened his eyes, not sure if it was moments or years later, surrounded by an inky blackness. Is this death? He turned, looking for any sign of anything at all--and as he blinked, eyes becoming accustomed to the faint, distant light of countless shimmering shards. Just as he began to get his bearings, he felt himself being pulled--yanked, really--towards them.

In an instant, he was surrounded by crystals of all sizes. Moving too fast to see any one too clearly, he could make out environments and faces in the facets as he flew by. Some repeated enough for him to recognize: Alphinaud and Alisaie, the other Scions, Aymeric...yet there were many and more of his partner, Lailathwen. As he was pulled towards one, it seemed within reach; he threw out his hand, just barely catching the tip of it with his finger. A scene flashed through his mind, clearer than a memory.

He found himself in the Waking Sands, watching from afar as a much younger version of himself sat at a makeshift desk busying himself with paperwork. He watched as Lailathwen entered, confident and carefree, and scanned the room before going over to bother his other self. Through the din of the other Scions, he managed to hear the conversation as though it was right in his ear.

“I’m occupied.”

“Well, hello to you too!” She huffed, sounding playfully hurt as she sat on the desk beside him. “I haven’t seen you around here before.”

“I keep to myself.”

“Well! Allow me the liberty to introduce myself. I am Lailathwen Nerayna, hero of Gridania, possessor of the Echo, conjurer extraordinaire! You may have heard of me?”

His other self seemed to pause, before turning to glare at the girl. “So you’re the one I’ve been waiting on for hours!”

Luka held back a laugh. They really hadn’t gotten on well at all at first, but now, he truly...loved her. Yet as suddenly as he had entered the memory, it was gone, as a bright light swelled into blinding. He tried to reach out again, pull back that memory, but he felt it slip away.

-----

He came to as quick as a blink.

“At last, I found you.”

The dark marble floor below him felt refreshingly cool, but even so, he pushed himself up to see a room of gold and crystal. The concern and confusion must have been clear on his face, as the hooded figure before him spoke once more.

“There’s no cause for alarm. The battle is over, your danger passed. But your work is not yet done.”