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savage-rhi · 2 years

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Immortal Shield Chapter 22: Hunted

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Tagging: @seradyn

The morning breeze on the highway outside of Lestallum’s city limits was rather warm. Caelan’s hair blew in the wind, sometimes blocking her field of vision from the road while her hands firmly grasped the steering wheel of the Scepter. Taking the car when the windows were broken was probably not the brightest idea, especially if this calling would result in an ambush. However, she didn’t feel she had much choice. Caelan told herself repeatedly that her hands were tied while traveling to the destination point Tempus selected.

Caelan breathed deeply. Her nerves felt wired as she felt guilty about not being entirely truthful with Ardyn via their texts. Nevertheless, if this was a trick, she didn’t want Ardyn to get hurt. Her heart thudded rapidly in her chest when she had an intrusive thought of him being attacked. As his shield, Caelan knew his safety had to come before her own and as a person who had grown to love him, there was no question about her choice being right in mind.

Speaking of Ardyn, Caelan couldn’t cast him aside in her head. She was constantly thinking about last night while she drove. How wonderful everything had been, the parts she could remember. His words from last night about death struck a chord. Making her contemplate her own mortality. Sitting on the edge of Lestallum's walls with Ardyn at her side replayed quite frequently. Especially when he held her to his body. Caelan's mind would pause here and there, remembering the subtleties of his gestures. How his lips seemed to press absentmindedly on her skin. The way he breathed along her neck as he spoke. How firm his arms had been at her waist while he kept her from falling to certain death. It made her heart skip, hoping he cared for her in the way she did for him.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Caelan muttered bitterly to herself. She thought of him storming out of their room and how he seemed hurt by her. Her brows furrowed. There was no way the marks on her skin could’ve come from Ardyn. No. Not with how upset he was. She had a suspicion if it had been Ardyn, he would’ve bragged about it. It didn’t seem out of character for him.

Sighing to herself, Caelan pulled off the freeway and onto a dirt road. The tires of the Scepter bounced a little as it hit the new terrain. She took a path through the woods, and eventually came upon the spot. Tempus was standing in the middle of an abandoned field. The current farmers were not touching the land for a season, so it seemed. Caelan could see to her left that there were many markets close by, a couple hundred feet away. If Tempus and her caused a scene, people would be alerted. She took some comfort in that while she looked straight at him through her front view. Caelan exhaled then opened the drivers side door to exit.

When Caelan was out, she took a few steps forward and leaned against the front of the vehicle with her arms and legs crossed. Her eyes roamed and scanned, checking for traps or other members of the Einherjar lurking in the shadows. So far no red flags turned up. She also appreciated the distance between herself and Tempus. He was a good twenty feet away, give or take.

“I told you I didn’t bring anyone,” Tempus hollered. He stepped towards her. “And it seems you kept your promise as well.”

“That’s close enough,” Caelan gestured her right hand up for him to stop. “I can hear you plenty from this point.”

Tempus was about to take another step until Caelan made the call for him to quit. His face wore reluctance, but he did as she requested. His brows furrowed as he scanned her over for weapons until eventually settling on her face.

“Is it truly just you?” Caelan asked bluntly.

“Just us. With how long we’ve been chasing you, I’d think you’d know by now we would’ve taken a shot. That’s how we always fought in the Einherjar. You too once upon a time.” Tempus said. He didn’t bother hiding the smirk that slowly began to make its way across his lips. Memories from all the times he had come close to capturing Caelan played in his head, along with moments they had fought side by side when her father controlled the unit.

“Color me impressed you decided not to be a conniving asshole, for once.” Caelan retorted bitterly while she looked him over. Tempus had weapons on him. A few axes and two guns, but from his position and standing, he was vulnerable. If he were stupid enough to try and reach for one, Caelan could already see four points of weakness ready to be exploited. This calmed her down some, knowing she had an advantage over him.

“It’s rather disheartening hearing you speak,” Tempus began. There was a softness to his voice while he looked upon Caelan with familial fondness. “You sound like Julian. His voice is strong within you, and yet you're so different. I must admit I’ve always been jealous you had his commanding presence. I miss your father as do many of us. It’s a shame things had to end up the way they did.”

Caelan’s eyes were mindful to watch out for how close he was. Tempus was someone in her experience that loved to weasel his way into someone’s personal bubble before taking them out. He loved buttering up people when it was a one on one fight versus in group. It was a signature move of his. He could do it naturally and no one would be the wiser he was intending to kill them.

“If you brought me out here to waste my time, you’re doing quite a number, now speak.” Caelan’s words were firm as her glare deepened. The last person she wanted to be compared to was her father, regardless of how true Tempus's statement had been.

“To the point as usual,” Tempus gestured his arms out for emphasis before they lazily fell to the side. He began to pace, walking in a straight line back and forth while he laid out his deal.

“Since the Einherjar caught you escorting the Adagium to Insomnia, there’s been debate amongst the group. Some of us considered abandoning the chase for you all together because of how powerful of an entity the man is.”

“I thought you guys would've given up after you foolishly attacked him when trying to arrest me. Mind you, despite him admitting to you all that he was dangerous. He gave you a chance to stand down when he was outed as the Adagium. You didn't take it. I'm assuming because of your pride, and it got several killed.” Caelan said as a matter of fact, pointing out how Tempus allowed his rage to get the better of him when the Einherjar first encountered Ardyn. She purposefully wanted to rub salt in the wound, and didn't hide it.

Tempus flinched but kept his composure. He was bold in his convictions as he spoke to her point.

“Loyalty to one’s own will make a man do crazy things to ensure the safety of his tribe, including attacking an anger. Something you should try humbling yourself with.”

Caelan didn’t say a word. She knew he was right to a degree. Even when she was an Einherjar soldier, Caelan struggled with loyalty. Before Insomnia fell, there were members of the Einherjar that broke protocol, and indulged themselves because of loopholes within the laws. Caelan remembered turning them in to the primary branch of the crownsguard given the severity of the issues. Three men and two women who had been at her father’s side for years were stripped of their titles and dismissed. Julian was furious. He went on a two day tirade about loyalty to one’s own. Pointing out that Caelan should’ve come to him regarding his unit and not the primary branch, though she had been trained otherwise.

“Nevertheless,” Tempus continued. His voice snapped Caelan out of her thoughts while her gaze focused on him. “We have decided that the Adagium being involved in our personal affairs is a rather good opportunity for us all to mend our broken bonds. To unite together against a common enemy.”

Caelan raised her brows and scoffed. “You can’t be serious. After all these years of trying to shoot, maim, butcher, and kill me, I’d crawl back to you because of one man?”

“Not just any man, the Adagium. If I weren’t certain of our offer, I wouldn't have swallowed my pride and met you here without telling the Einherjar.” Tempus said firmly.

Caelan, as much as she didn’t want to admit it, knew he was telling the truth. Previous years working alongside the man her father considered a son told her to listen carefully. For a brief second she was distracted by a rustling sound from the right. Her eyes peered over to the vegetation, head tilting out of curiosity. A part of her wondered if Tempus had a person listening in on the conversation. It wouldn't surprise her. So long as the person stayed put, she would have no qualms. When nothing emerged, Caelan's attention went back to Tempus.

“Our proposition, Cae, is a simple one.” Tempus began. He could see his old nickname for Caelan struck a nerve as her shoulders tensed up. She hadn’t been called that in years. A small gimmer of pride radiated in his gaze at that.

“We take the Adagium together. Present him to King Noctis and the world, and demand we be granted pardons for our war crimes. You and I will split the credits for his capture, and in return we the Einherjar will let the past and your father’s death be at peace. The world knows he’s alive Cae, that the Adagium is--”

“No you’re wrong, the public thinks someone of his likeness is lurking around.” Caelan interrupted.

“Be as it may,” Tempus grabbed a hold of the conversation with his hardened tone and shot Caelan a warning glare. “You know as well as I, that the Adagium can’t hide forever and neither can you keep running. I don’t know what sort of pact or deal you two have, or better yet, how the hell you came across his path, but I promise that this truce I am offering will blow anything he offered you out of the water.”

Caelan shook her head, letting out a discontented sigh. “Even if I were to say yes, turning him in has no guarantee any of us would get full pardons. Last I checked, genocide is the most heinous crime one can commit in Lucis. When we are all caught eventually, we’ll be lucky keeping our heads if that.”

“This is the Adagium we are talking about though, Cae. Not some war criminal or rival politician. This is the man who cast Eos into darkness and aided in the killing of King Regis and our comrades. A two thousand year old monster. Not to mention, he worked with the Nif Rats to add further insult to injury.”

“Imperials. Whether you like it or not, those are human beings you are referring to.”

“Whatever,” Tempus scoffed. He was visibly becoming angry. He stopped his pacing and stood in front of Caelan. Though they were still several feet away from each other, he remained imposing as he desperately tried to get Caelan to see reason.

“Our current king may have redeemed what little honor that creature had left, but Accordo, Tenebrae, and Niflheim itself will want the Adagium to answer for what he’s done to the world. You’ve been traveling with him this whole time. I’m sure you of all people know how dangerous it is to keep him around.”

Caelan averted her gaze, looking off towards the farmer markets. She could feel Tempus’s eyes on her while she sighed deeply.

“Zamfir, your family suffered so much at the hands of the Nifs.” Tempus began as he watched Caelan turn her head to face him. The sorrow in her eyes gave him hope she had consideration for his words.

“Had it not been for the Adagium aiding Niflheim to sate his own lusts for power, Hector and the rest of our crownsguard would be alive. Your father never would’ve began his conquest to rid the world of imperials. You never would’ve had to take a knife to Julian’s throat. You never would’ve lost your dear mother and brother. None of this had to happen. The man responsible for all of our suffering is in the palm of your hand. We can end this. Together. You and I, we were once the best of friends. We’ve been through hell. Let’s leave it behind. I ask as your brother in arms to trust me as I once trusted your father.”

Caelan swallowed. In many ways, Tempus was right. Ardyn had caused Eos to fall and her own world too. Indirectly or not, everything led back to him. The plans, the sieges, all of it. Caelan was certain Ardyn too was responsible for what became her mother and brother. He didn’t say anything when she spoke of what happened to them, but his silence was enough of an answer. As she recalled sharing what happened with Ardyn last night, so did she remember that he listened with an open heart. How he embraced and grounded her when she felt like falling, and how he never once made her feel bad despite telling him she should hate him for what he had done. For these past months, Ardyn had been the first person in years who had truly been there for her. She loved him.

The answer to Tempus’s proposition was a simple one.

“Stop calling him Adagium. His name is Ardyn Lucis Caelum. Founder King of Lucis, and I am his shield until last breath,” Caelan’s voice grew firm with each word that fell from her mouth. She glared directly at Tempus, never once blinking.

“He played a hand in our fates, but we had choices. You chose to follow my father on his path to genocide. Julian chose to kill Niflheim innocents despite knowing civilians had nothing to do with the war. The Einherjar chose to follow Julian despite how unhinged he had become. I chose to kill innocent people, in order to pacify the Einherjar and lure my father to his death to prevent further bloodshed. You can’t use Ardyn as a scapegoat for your sins nor mine. And you can take your plans, and shove them up your ass.”

“Why do you care for a 2,000 year old freak?!” Tempus shouted, his calm and collected ruse now cast aside in full. “You hunted us in the Einherjar for two years before our numbers overwhelmed you because of the atrocities we committed against the Nifs, and here’s a person who nearly destroyed the entire god damned planet, and he won’t face your wrath?! You’re a hypocrite!”

“I’m not going to pretend Ardyn doesn’t have blood on his hands, because he'll never wipe them clean! But he never took me by the hand as a child and had me hurt other kids and their families! You and dad did that!”

“Cae,”

“Don’t call me that. You don’t have the honor.” She growled under her breath.

“I’m giving you a final chance: help us turn over the Adagium, make peace with us, and be pardoned. We can be done with this foolishness!” Tempus beseeched her. His eyes were desperately pleading as he attempted one last time to come across as even tempered.

Caelan’s expression softened as her eyes conveyed a sadness even she wasn’t certain about. Her heart thudded deeply in her chest as she shook her head.

“I’ve let you take many people in my life, but I’m not letting you have Ardyn.”

Tempus, who was certain he had Caelan hook, line, and sinker, was distraught. His face went through several emotions. Shock, frustration, and pure anger. Nevertheless, he began to chuckle.

Caelan didn’t think her brows could get any tighter while she glared at him. She uncrossed her arms, right hand out preparing to summon her blade if need be. Tempus however wasn’t bracing himself for a fight. He continued to laugh. The denial in his eyes had Caelan second guessing her own instincts.

"What's so funny?"

“Everyone in the unit told me I was insane to not believe you carried a torch for him. I even thought I was making myself mad. No, its clear as day. You’re infatuated with him. I should’ve known considering the close proximity you two have enjoyed as of late.”

Despite knowing Tempus was right about her infatuation, Caelan was more concerned about the latter in which he referring to. Puzzlement struck her features while she looked over Tempus as if he had been doused with glue and feathers; appearing ridiculous.

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, Zamfir,” Tempus spat. “I saw you and the Adagium together last night when we arrived in the city. Drinking at a pub. Someone in the group claimed they saw you and him kissing in an alley hours later. A date night was it not? You looked quite delicious in that purple dress. I’m assuming he bought it for you. Gotta wrap up his present before taking a bite.”

“You’re lying,” Caelan seethed. Ardyn’s behaviors from the morning flew back into her mind along with her conflict about what happened last night. The fact she was still in the dark about it all made the current situation more aggravating and dangerous.

“So it seems you’ve conveniently forgotten. Too many drinks? Or perhaps he couldn’t perform well and that’s why you blocked it out. I heard that your body was oh so desperate for his. Even as you stand before me, the stench of him is on your person.”

“You’re sick.” Caelan unceremoniously decreed. Her glare returned.

“I’m sick?” Tempus gestured at himself and chuckled. “I’m not the shield who is sleeping with a client.”

“There is nothing between him and I.”

“Don’t make me laugh!” Tempus bellowed. His eyes were simmering with contempt as he stared daggers straight through Caelan. “Heavens above--if your father--if Julian saw you in the arms of Niflheim’s chancellor, the poor man would've had a heart attack. Knowing the chancellor was the Adagium too? I can't fathom it. His own daughter, a monster fucker and a traitor to her country? Julian would never stand for this. He would've put you both in the ground. You already crushed his heart getting your brother and mother killed. Why do you continue to spit on his grave?”

“Julian is dead,” Caelan’s voice grew cold. The hypocrisy in Tempus’s words echoed through her ears. She remembered a time, before Insomnia's fall when she was seven, how he cared for a Niflheim woman. The romance couldn't blossom any further because Julian pruned it before the relationship could root. There was a part of her that pitied Tempus, but no more.

“Julian is a ghost you cling to because you know deep down you'll never be him. My father’s opinions no longer matter and this conversation is over.” Caelan leaned up and away from the front of the Scepter, opening the drivers side and getting in. She started the engine up, not before pointing directly at her former comrade.

“I’ll ensure you join my dad in death if you try harming Ardyn. Considering you miss him so much. Leave us alone, and tell the rest of the Einherjar to fuck off.”

“You’re making a mistake!”

Caelan laughed, shaking her head in disbelief. “My biggest mistake in life Tempus, was not killing you when I had the chance all those years ago. You were my fathers favorite and I spared you for his sake. Consider this your final shot to leave me be. The next time we see each other, you’ll be in the ground. I’ve had enough.”

“If you kill me, and the rest of the Einherjar, you know anything that could protect you from the death penalty is gone. That’s why you gave up hunting us. That’s why you’re a coward.”

Caelan didn’t say a word as she listened to him. Nonchalantly, she adjusted the clutch of the Scepter, and spun the car around. Driving quickly out of the area before giving Tempus nor anyone a chance to catch up. By the time she entered the highway, Caelan was surprised that no one had been following her. A conflict began to resonate within herself, wondering if she made a bad decision just now throwing more wood onto the fire that was Tempus’s anger. It didn’t matter though. None of it. As long as she had to leg to stand on, Caelan wasn’t going to throw Ardyn under a bus.

She was willing to die for him if it meant Ardyn could meet death on his terms.

Caelan felt great relief when she made it to the Lestallum parking lot. The city had grown into a warm comfort during the time of her and Ardyn’s stay. The familiar sounds of people and businesses coming and going eased the adrenaline her body was recovering from. A series of thoughts were on her mind: find Ardyn, tell him what transpired, and create a getaway plan. Since Tempus revealed that he and the Einherjar had been in the city, and had witnessed them enjoying the founding celebrations, Caelan knew it was no longer safe to remain here. Regardless of whatever sanctuary had been found. A part of Caelan feared maybe the Einherjar already bumped into Ardyn. The thought she wasn’t there to protect him had her frightened on his behalf. She had to find him. She had to get them both out of here.

Caelan sprinted towards the plaza, fully intending to make it to the hotel assuming Ardyn had made it back after taking time to himself. She had to hope at least. Down alleys and streets Caelan ran, until she stopped in her tracks upon seeing Ardyn by the fountain where they met for the night. He was sitting down on one of the ledges, absentmindedly looking to the ground. He was slouched forward, his hands rested underneath his chin while his elbows met his knees.

“Ardyn!” Caelan exclaimed. She smiled as she skidded to a stop, panting to catch her breath. She watched while he stood and faced her, his arms crossed and his expression neutral.

“Ardyn, we have to leave. The Einherjar arrived last night. They’re looking for us,” Caelan said in between breaths.

“I know.”

“We can’t waste any time. Let’s head back to our room, get what we can, and go.”

“You lied to me.”

A cold chill ran down Caelan’s spine at how numb his voice sounded. There was no emotion in his tone. Nothing to indicate what he was feeling, yet as Caelan met his yellow eyes she could see utter contempt. They were dull, as if the life had been taken from them.

“Ardyn?” Caelan murmured. She watched with surprise as he averted his gaze, glaring. He couldn’t look her in the eye.

“I got your text. Checking out a car part for the Sceptor. I know you told me to stay behind, but I felt foolish for my earlier outburst. I wanted to apologize for my behavior. I wanted to see you. I figured you were already outside the city limits, so I teleported closest to you. And what do you know? I found you out in the woods with your former compatriot, making plans to hand me over to the king and going back on our arrangement.”

Caelan let out a gasp. That explained the feeling she and Tempus were being watched, the rustling. She felt foolish for chalking it up to someone from the Einherjar standing by to make sure no altercations happened between her and Tempus

“Ardyn, I don’t know how long you were there but--I want to explain that’s why I came looking for--”

“Don’t lie to me!” Ardyn yelled. The pain in his eyes grew as Caelan stepped back from him. “You went behind my back and met up with an enemy to save your own hide. You were going to make a deal with him! Admit it!”

“No, I wasn’t!” Caelan stood her ground as she yelled back. She was already on edge from dealing with Tempus, and now Ardyn’s anger had her tipping as she pleaded to him.

“Tempus sent a letter to come alone at our hotel. You were so upset I didn’t want to disturb you! I went alone just in case it was a trap. I didn't want you in the crossfire. I care about you. I would never throw you under a bus like that!”

“Liar! At the very least you thought of it! Why else listen to the ramblings of a dishonorable fool when you could’ve killed him?! Are you that stupid, Cahl?! You could’ve stopped him from chasing you, and you heard him out, do you know how idiotic that is?! Do you see why its so difficult for me to take your word?!” Ardyn shouted. “After everything I’ve done for you, everything we did last night--!”

“Last night,” Caelan interrupted, her voice grounded as she prevented him from speaking further. “What the hell did happen last night, Ardyn?”

Ardyn’s lips parted, ready to unleash another fury of words but he blinked several times. He could feel his brain short circuiting and his expressions stammered. Gods, he wanted to tell her. Admit to what happened and apologize for it all. He wasn’t even sure why he was so mad. Had the shoe been on the other foot, Ardyn wouldn’t have had Caelan go with him while meeting with someone who could potentially harm her. He knew it to be irrational. He cared about her. Angry, and put on the spot he sighed.

“It was nothing,” Ardyn muttered begrudgingly. “None of it was. It meant nothing.”

“That’s a load of horseshit and you know it.” Caelan countered.

“It doesn’t matter!” Ardyn felt his face turning red as his glare returned. “You were going to sell me out! That’s what matters!”

“If you stayed long enough or even better yet, came out from where you were hiding and helped me deal with Tempus, you would’ve known I told him to go kick rocks! I don’t remember a lot from last night, but I remember I vowed to be your shield until last breath, and I meant that! Did you even mean it when you gave me the rites, or was that just done out of pity for a drunken idiot?” Caelan said in her defense, taking a step towards him.

“Of course I meant the damn words! I did it for you! I wanted you to be happy!” Ardyn exclaimed.

“Then why are you treating me like this?” Caelan pleaded, her voice softening.

“You were going behind my back like Aera did with my brother! It’s all the same. I can’t trust no one! Not my wife, not my shield, the gods, no one! Everybody keeps secrets from me! Why?! What have I done to deserve people going behind my back?!”

“Ardyn, I’m not Aera--”

“Of course you’re not!” Ardyn hissed. “And you never will be! You’re just---you!”

The words were so simple, and by comparison to all the things he could've screamed at or called her it was tame, yet it had cut Caelan deep. He sounded so insulted by her mere presence that Caelan wanted to shrivel up and hide. Though her body remained grounded, as she wasn’t going to be intimidated by him, her eyes told a different tale. She looked elsewhere, anywhere but him. She couldn’t see that Ardyn’s gaze was fixated upon her, watching the edge of her eyes fill with tears. A pained grimace hit him like a ton of bricks.

“I’m--” Caelan tried to speak, but found it difficult to form anything. She could hear Ardyn sigh as he took a few steps towards her.

“I--” He stammered.

“No--”

“You--”

Caelan shook her head. “Forget it.”

“Don’t come back to the hotel for a while,” Ardyn spoke softly. There remained an unpleasant anger behind his words but he tampered it down. For both their sake. “I need to think. Then we’ll leave.”

He didn’t give Caelan a chance to say anything as he turned and left for the road leading to the establishment. Caelan watched him leave, feeling like she was an utter fool. Had this been any other person, any other man, she would’ve given him hell. She would’ve broken their contract on the spot and not lower herself to feeling weak over an argument. This hit differently. Caelan knew where she stood when it came to his feelings, and it hurt knowing it wasn’t going to be requited, but she couldn’t stop caring for him even if she tried. Regardless of what happens, Caelan knew she was in this for the long haul. Even if only as a friend because that was what Ardyn was to her first and foremost. Their friendship was more important than her crush and this fight they had.

Caelan could feel her feet walking and then her legs carried her into a jog. She wasn’t going to let Ardyn walk away. Space, she could agree upon granting him that, but with the danger they were both in, it was ridiculous to not be in the same establishment together.

“Ardyn, wait--!” Before Caelan could finish the last of her sentence, she felt herself trip forward. Something entangled around her legs. The yells and shouts of people in public getting out of the way caused quite the commotion. Caelan shielded her body from being trampled, and then quickly attempted to rise. She looked down at her legs, seeing that she had been ensnared by two bolas. And at the moment she registered two Einherjar running towards her, Caelan felt her world turn black. Her eyes rolled back into her head, feeling something sting the side of her neck and she stopped breathing.

Ardyn, who had heard Caelan call out to him had turned around and witnessed what went down. The bola shot from the left alley, and with no hesitation he sprinted for her.

“Cahl!” He shouted, pushing people aside who were running away from the altercation. He braced himself to teleport to her mid run as soon as he saw Caelan being dosed by a third assailant, until he too felt himself trip forward. Ardyn rolled over a few times, landing on his stomach. He almost sneezed from the debris on the road while he forced his upper body up. His eyes widened seeing Caelan being hauled by two Einherjar members, and a familiar face beside them. Barking orders to ensure his ‘product’ wouldn’t be spoiled.

“Serpo!” Ardyn’s teeth grit as he sneered. A wave of righteous anger came over him. He snarled, ripping at the bola and getting on his feet before another Einherjar couple could sedate him. Ardyn quickly shifted around the men. He grabbed a hold of one by the back of their neck, slamming his face into a brick wall several times until bloodied screams of a nose being broke echoed through the streets.

Ardyn ducked his head when the second man tried lunging for him. He turned and hit him square in the chest, the man let out a sharp wheeze, unable to register Ardyn grabbing his face and slamming his body to the pavement. A loud crack in the man’s lower spine could be heard accompanied by his pained yells.

As much as Ardyn wanted to stick around, and daresay torture his potential captives further, his eyes looked for the trio that ran off with Caelan. He sprinted to where he last saw them, paused, rapidly turning his head as more people who were spooked by the ambush fled. His heart pounded heavy in his chest. Blood rushing to where he couldn’t hear a thing, and felt a sense of dread.

“Cahl!” He yelled out again. “Cahl, where are you?!”

Ardyn wasn’t sure why, but he made a left and sprinted down an alley. Midway through, he closed his eyes to concentrate on Caelan’s energy so he could teleport near. It was almost impossible. Whatever happened to her, her life force was faint. Fears that she had been killed came to mind, until he remembered that wasn’t Serpo’s way of doing things. No. He liked to hunt for his experiments. The bolas were a signature tool Serpo implemented to ensure his test subjects wouldn’t get away. As Ardyn shifted into darkness, covering more ground and stopping near the tunnel towards the highway leading out of Lestallum, it dawned on him what was going to happen to Caelan. Project Oraculum. He felt panic course through every fiber of his being as he suddenly came to a halt. He ended up in the middle of the highway, and a few feet ahead was a white truck. The two Einherjar that had Caelan were in the back of it while Serpo drove, speeding out of the area.

“I’ll kill him!” Ardyn shouted towards the truck that had her in tow. He could sense her energy pulsing from the vehicle. Ardyn desperately tried to run after it, but he knew even with his powers there was no way he could catch up given the speed. His body grew tired as he stopped and panted, his eyes forming into a glare as he barred his teeth and sent daggers right at the vehicle as it disappeared into a speck in the distance.

“Cahl!” He screamed her name so loud his throat strained. Rubbing the back of his neck, he paced back and fourth for a time. There were many things Ardyn knew he shouldn’t have done moments before Caelan's capture, but the one thing he truly screwed up on was leaving her side. His heart ached, his mind traveled a million miles a second, and he once more yelled out of frustration until his lungs hurt.

Back in Lestallum, the man whose face had been busted into was at the fountain. He sunk his head into the water, feeling a stinging relief as blood pooled from his broken nose. He rose up and gasped several times, his hands reaching for his face to assess the damage. Before he could panic at how bad it was, he felt a foreboding presence behind him.

“What the--!”

Ardyn grabbed him by the throat, crouching down to get on his level. The whites of his eyes began to turn into a putrid black as he stared with unrelenting rage at the Einherjar soldier. Ardyn's cold gaze was almost enough to make the man pass out from shock.

“You’re going to tell me where they took her.” Ardyn’s voice was daemonic. He applied more pressure to the throat, delighting in how the man tried to pry his fingers off of him but to no avail.

“I--I---okay!---okay---! P--Please----!” He managed to choke out between blood, spit and bile. “A lab---there’s---a lab in-th--the--near the--Daurell Cave--rns--S-Serpo paid--Tem--pus to--use--Zamfir--for--project--that’s all I know, I swear it! I swear it!” Words fell past his lips rapid fire as Ardyn allowed the man a moment of reprieve upon hearing what he requested.

“P-please---don’t---”

“Don’t what, kill you?” Ardyn mocked. He let out a disappointed huff, grabbing the man’s collar this time around and hoisting him high as he himself rose to his feet. Ardyn delighted in the soldiers screams, and he hadn’t even touched the surface of what he intended to do to him and everyone involved.

Ardyn’s daemonic eyes traveled to the other Einherjar, the one with the broken back. He had been desperately trying to crawl away the entire time but barely put a dent in the distance. Ardyn smirked at this before turning his attention back to his current captive.

“You’re both in for a treat for I’m feeling quite generous,” Ardyn began. “You’re going to lead me to this lab. I’ll let you go if Cahl is safe and sound. However,”

Ardyn could see the hope rise and quickly fall from the man’s face as his tone changed, and his words held seething rage.

“If a single hair on her body is harmed, you’ll pray that death finds you alive because the suffering I’ll inflict upon you will be monumental. First things first.” Ardyn grabbed the sword off of the man’s person tossed him aside like a ragdoll. He smiled seeing him flail about then approached the secondary one with the broken back. His hands searched through his clothes, eventually procuring a gun and he took it away.

Ardyn walked until he was in the middle between the two, and calmly placed each weapon on the ground. He stood back up and cleared his throat, gesturing between the two as they looked at each other with utter fear and confusion.

“I only need one guide for the journey. Show me which one of you is worth it. If either of you run, I’ll kill you. If you team up to defeat me which I doubt you’ll pull off, I’ll kill you. If you hesitate to kill the other, I’ll kill you. Call for help, I’ll kill you. Simple as that.”

“Why are you doing this?!”

Ardyn didn’t say a word. The amusement on his face shifted as Caelan’s startled expression from earlier ran across his mind. Fear, agony, desperation, and happiness at one point visited Ardyn's eyes for the briefest of seconds while he composed himself. He would find her, and he would find Serpo and Tempus and by the mercy of the Astrals, he was going to tear them limb from limb and consume what was left.

“You lot put my poor girl through hell. I’m returning the courtesy by giving impossible choices, the likes of which you bestowed upon her. Wouldn’t you call it justice? I certainly would. Now, who is going to be the lucky winner?"

#immortal shield #chapter 22 #ardyn izunia #ardyn #ardyn lucis caelum #ffxv #final fantasy xv #fanfic #fanfiction #story #original characters #shits going down

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