Part 1: https://www.reddit.com/r/FFXV/comments/7z71ns/spoiler_a_kingsglaive_and_his_comrades_part_1_a/

Part 2:https://www.reddit.com/r/FFXV/comments/80e8gp/spoiler_a_kingsglaive_and_his_comrades_part_2_a/

I know I said Part 3 would be actual battle and the first introduction of images but story took a different turn. But next chapter for sure will be the battle and the introduction of some action shots.

Travelling by Cable Car was interesting despite how slow it was. But time seemed to pass by chatting with Delilah and Gutsco, “So I noticed it’s only the three of us. Who’s the fourth person we’re venturing out with?” Gutsco looked at me and replied, “Captain Yura is already at the Camp Site settin’ up for the night. He’s one of the best Captains for trainin’ the newbies.”

Gutsco started telling us how Yura was the Veteran Glaive leading this mission. He’s one of Libertus’ squad mates amongst the surviving Glaives. He’s well known amongst them as “The Unbreakable Captain Yura” for having led a mission and drawing all the Daemons attention towards himself so the rest of his team could pick them off one by one. Apparently, he’s taken so many hits from enemies by drawing their attention to him that it’s a wonder that he’s still breathing.

“Captain Yura sounds impressive.” Delilah chimed in her thoughts from what she heard about him. He goes on that rumours say Yura once got swatted by a Behemoth into the side of a cliff and got up like it was nothing but a little love tap. I look at Gutsco and say, “Sounds like you really admire him.” Gutsco grins, “Yeah man! I’ve been trainin’ under him for a while. I may not look it but I’m a former Crownsguard!” I feel like Gutsco was explaining everything for my sake since I could barely remember everything. Terminology, Geography, and Life’s Essentials still seemed stuck in my head but anything personal still felt like being surrounded in heavy fogs. Gutsco was telling us how before he joined this fight he left the Crownsguard to become a Hunter. He felt his purpose in life was required outside the Crown City as opposed to inside it. He wanted to make the world a safer place his way and killing one Daemon at a time felt like his calling at the time. When he first met Captain Yura after the Hunters, Glaives, and Crownsguard joined as one force he wanted to learn how to use some of the Glaives Magic to become a stronger warrior. It turns out that Gutsco was actually pretty gifted in offensive spells after training under Yura. Gutsco’s gift in magic has earned him the nickname Maverick for his use of magic to the point he drains his reserves pretty quickly and frequently but there’s something charming about that bravado of his.

I looked over to Delilah to hear her humming a tune. Something about it was soothing but also entrancing to which I immediately ask, “That’s a nice tune. Is it from home?” Dee stops humming and looks at me with that cute smile of hers and says, “Nah. One of the Glaives wrote it.” She goes on saying that a Glaive named Tobul had written the song and how she had first heard it when she arrived she told Tobul that it sounds like a song that will really motivate everyone when it’s finished.

“So what are the lyrics or even the name of the song?” Dee smiles again and answers with a casual but whimsical tone, “Doesn’t have any or a name yet.” I smirk at her, “Sounds familiar. You gonna give it a name too?” Dee laughs, “Maybe. I was thinking of telling Tobul next time that Choosing Hope sounded like a nice name.” Gutsco crosses his arms, “Choosin’ Hope huh? I dig it. We’re gonna need lots of Hope with the comin’ days.” I nod my head, “I honestly can’t help but look at the sky and wonder if today will be the last sunset I’ll ever see is.”

We all look out to the sky in the Cable Car and for the briefest of moments it’s quiet save for the sound of the Cable Cars engine. The Cable Car finally stopped and we all jumped out and climbed down the ladder. We we’re quite a ways out of Lestallum but you could still see it a fair distance away. Gutsco led the two of us to the Campsite before nightfall. We would be camping out for the night before taking on the mission in the morning where we’d at least have some advantage against the Daemons.

As we arrived at the Campsite Yura was just putting the finishing preparations on the tents. I looked at the Haven as they were often called to see that it was packed to the brim with short range radio equipment, Camping gear, Cooking ware, and a few portable headlights for extra protection at keeping the Daemons at bay. Campsite’s or Haven’s as their more often called are old cliff formations from the olden days with protective runes carved into them that seemed to have a connection to the Oracle’s powers of keeping the Darkness at bay. But with Lady Lunafreya’s death the mystical properties that made Havens what they were was beginning to dwindle. Scientists theorize that the Haven’s mystical properties may be directly linked to the light of Day acting a short of fuel towards recharging the Haven’s power of warding and with the Day’s growing shorter and the nights growing longer it’s only a matter of time before the Haven’s cease functioning indefinitely hence why we have these heavy duty generators and flood lights as backup.

Captain Yura makes his way to me and shakes my hand, “It’s a pleasure to meet you recruit. Libertus told me your situation. I’m sorry about your loss but it’s good to have a fellow Glaive joining the fight again even if he can’t remember his past.” Yura’s words were reassuring and comforting despite my disadvantages he sees potential and hope in the form of one more ally joining the fray. Yura asks everyone to gather around the campfire. “Alright. So our mission in the morning will be about 2km hike to the nearby Shacks that have been infested by Daemons. Besides the obvious elimination of those Daemons we’ll be procuring whatever remaining rations are available for Lestallum and any Meteor Shards we happen to come across along the way. For the newest recruits let me breakdown the three basics of our job. Hunting, Procuring, and Expanding.”

Hunting was simple. All hunting entailed was during our mission if we’re met with any hostile resistance that threatens us or Lestallum then we have permission to immediately engage or if the mission entailed killing a target then to sum it up briefly we go fight it and kill it. Procurement was also an important mission in the long run. While Lestallum is rich in supplies currently and is a well-known trade town these rations are ultimately in demand with the growing number of refugees coming to the city it’s up to the Hunters, Crownsguard, and Kingsglaive to secure as many supplies as possible for what we have started calling The Long Night. Finally, Expanding was a unique mission of ours. EXENERIS is planning to expand the electrical grid along the whole continent. The plan is if we have consistently provide power and light to routes and locations we can fortify as Bases of Operation in our defence of The Long Night we might have a chance of lessening the burden of defending Lestallum solely from the Daemon horde.

After Yura had finished explaining he told Delilah to go radio to Monica that we had arrived at the Haven and will proceed with Mission Operations at first light of the morning. Gutsco was asked to prep dinner for the night. Rations were scarce with us given that priority is given to the refugees but at the least we had enough for a simple meal between the four of us. Meanwhile, Yura asked me to join him for a private conversation. I stand with the Glaive and ask him, “What do you want from me sir?” Yura looks at me seriously, “How much do you remember of your skills as a Glaive?” I look down to my hands and breathe deeply, “At best the basics seem intact. I can summon my weapons and my skills in combat don’t feel too rusty, I also remember how to warp as well, and I know Glaives are versed in Magic as well but I can’t remember even how to cast a basic Ruin spell or a Barrier.” Yura pats my shoulder, “Well I’m going to give you a crash course right now. A barrier spell is probably going to be the most important right now since for the Mission I’ll want you to run support alongside Delilah while Gutsco and I do most of the heavy lifting.” I nod my respectably to my commanding officer, “Understood Commander Yura.” Yura smiles, “Take it easy with the formalities please. I know we’re both Glaives and military has its ranking and stuff but we’re still people so it’s okay to be a little more casual.” I scratch the back of my head…it seems to be my habit for whenever I feel embarrassed. Yura begins explaining how to cast a Barrier spell. Similar to summoning a weapon it’s a visualization technique but at the same time concentrating and focusing my magic into the shape of a physical but at the same time ethereal construct. The Barrier slowly forms around me at first but it’s red in color indicating it’s extremely weak in durability. According to Yura, a strong barrier takes on an almost clear blue color similar to the blue crystal light our weapons take on when we summon them. I continue my training for the next hour until finally I manage to form a proper barrier but completely burn my mana reserves. Yura summons his weapon to quickly test the barriers strength and throws three large Shuriken that all get deflected by the barrier and fly off in different directions before disappearing in that familiar crystal light. I collapse to the ground unable to hold the Barriers shape anymore and Yura speaks to me, “Good job. It took a while but you managed to get it. Remember that feeling well. Now…” He holds his hand out to me to help me up, “I think dinner is just about ready. Let’s go eat.” I sigh quietly and smile to him before taking his hand.

Dinner was still cooking in a pot over the campfire. Gutsco didn’t have much to work with but what he had was enough and it smelled delicious. He had used some Saxham Rice, a Can of Mystery Meat, and a Leiden Potato and had them all cooking nicely together in the pot for a simple but plentiful stew for the four of us, “Just in time you two. Dinner’s just about done. Dee can you pass me the bowls?” Delilah nods as she goes to grabs the bowls and utensils. We all take a seat in the chairs around the campfire to enjoy what is probably the first meal I’ve had in a long while.

As we sit by the campfire Yura begins explaining the mission in full to us. According to the intel gathered by the Hunters the shack were heading to is an old Hunter safe zone that a nest of an Arachne and her brood have taken refuge in to hide from the light. Our job is to completely wipe out all the Daemons in tow. Delilah and myself were the newest recruits involved in this mission Yura wanted to have us taking care of the Tarantula’s and avoid the Arachne if at all possible but still serve as backup if Gutsco or the Captain himself get overwhelmed. It was a sound strategy. The two strongest at the front of the lines, I would act as Delilah’s Shield or potential backup, and Dee provides covering fire and support from afar with her Crossbow. I was informed that Delilah also served as the squads main Healer so she was definitely a target of interest, “I’ll do my best to heal you guys if you get injured.” The Captain nods, “We’re counting on you Delilah. I know it’s a big responsibility but out of all the new recruits you are healing prodigy amongst the Glaives.” Dee smiles with confidence “Don’t worry about coming to me for healing. I’ll warp to any of you who require immediate aid plus I can use Healing Light too.” Healing Light was an advanced Glaive healing spell. It was a high potency spell that could cover a wide radius from the caster. To think she mastered such an advanced technique so early really speaks to her status as a prodigy in the Healing Arts.

Captain Yura told us to get some sleep soon but I wanted to practice my Barrier spell a couple more times till it was instinct again and Delilah decided to join me since she was still relatively new with the basics. As I formed a barrier a second time it felt a little bit easier, “It’s hard maintaining this spell…” I thought out loud. The strain of forming the barrier alone was taxing but maintaining it was the hard part. The biggest trouble with the barrier is I’m unable to move once I form it so I need to be able to unleash it quickly to block my opponent and quickly dissipate it to perform a counter strike. Delilah looked at me with that curious look of hers and I can’t help but feel nervous as she stares at me, “Is…something wrong?” She smiles, “No. You just look like you’re always so deep in thought.” I drop the barrier spell and fall to the ground having burned my mana reserves again and smile somberly, “Can you blame me? I’ve been thrust headfirst into the battle of humanity’s survival and without a single clue towards my identity save my Kingsglaive crest and Crown City phone which is locked and busted I might add. It’s just…” before I can even finish my thought she says it for me, “Too much to handle?” I laugh at how pathetic and obvious I must sound to which she smiles and laughs with me, “It’s not fair huh? None of us asked for this but here we are. I’m not much of a fighter if we’re being honest…I hate Daemons…they scare me. But me and my two best friends from home Jenica and Sadda...” I look her as she starts telling her life’s story to me with interest, “Well together we’re known as the Galahd Trio. Three rookies from Galahd who didn’t want to sit and do nothing so we decided to fight. Some called us crazy and some feared for our lives but the three of us decided we wanted to make a difference so we could go home to Galahd when it was all over.”

She hugs her legs into her chest staring out into the distance of the wilderness. The occasional Daemon or Animal passing by the Haven and as I look at her I can’t help but notice she’s visibly shaking. She’s just as scared as me and yet she’s still trying to her hardest despite how frightened she is. I decide to help take her mind off her worries, “So Delilah? Have you come up with a name for me?” She looks at me surprised and immediately laughs, “You know I have been workshopping a few…” I’m genuinely intrigued, “And?” She smiles, “How about…Jeremy?” I chuckle, “I don’t feel like a Jeremy to be honest…” Delilah pouts, “Not feeling it? Okay okay…how about…Andy?” I laugh even harder, “Generic name number 2 has less appeal. Got anything a little more…I don’t know unique?” Delilah laughs, “How unique we talking here?” Hmmm she raises a good point…what’s unique enough to fit my name, “How about…something from home? Any legendary warrior names from home?” Dee put a finger to her lip and then took a look at me studying me as always before taking a close look at my hair, “You’re hair honestly stands out the most. Dyed your hair red?” Odd question but I guess it warranted an answer, “I guess so…Black beard but red hair…Red was always my favorite color…” Huh…Now there is something I definitely didn’t remember till now. She noticed my change in expression too and smiled, “It’s not much but it’s a piece of you right?” I smile, “Yeah…” She looks at my hair one more time, “In that case…How about Agni?” The name ringed a bell, “Agni huh? I like it…Who is Agni?” She looked out to the wilderness and said, “Not much is known about the legend of Agni but they say he was a Galahd Warrior clad in Red Armor who fought hundreds of battles alone to protect the two most precious things in his life his home and his family.” I couldn’t help but smile at that thought, “Sounds like my kind of hero…I like it Delilah.” She smiles feeling proud of herself no doubt. As we both stood up she held her hand out for me to shake, “It’s a pleasure to meet you…Agni.” I firmly grasp her hand with both of mine and smile as I shake her hand, “The pleasure is all mine Delilah.”

TO BE CONTINUED