#somnus-lucis-caelum

[rebelichor]

@somnus-lucis-caelum | x

You do not belong here. Your parents entrusted you to the care of King Somnus of Scholar's Hearth.

The secret message had plagued Ariadne's thoughts for days. She had withdrawn into her own inner world, had cast her power far and wide to figure out what this all meant. She thought it a cruel joke. Or a test. King Jacob had no such thoughts about it, nor his most trusted elite... until she touched upon the healer Queen's mind... she lived in fear and worry, so much so that it gave a chill up her own spine.

The healer Queen had snuck a message to them. It was a lose-lose situation for her, because if Ariadne revealed the secret message, she lost. And if she listened to it, everyone lost, didn't they?

But she was still only a child. Even though she thought it through and considered the consequences, there was a selfishness in her heart. The desire for something better for herself and for Vergil.

Like thieves in the night they snuck from their rooms with only the clothes on their back. The King's castle was a fortress, but for all the walls and for all the men, there was still just enough opportunity for two young children to slip away from the inside to the outside.

Parchment crumpled in her hand, Ariadne led them into the heart of King Somnus' camp. He had been stationed nearby, and yet so far for little feet, it was impressive that the children had made it there before sunrise. Their time within the forest had served them well.

No one dared to stop them in their march. No one quite knew how to react. The twins walked right into the King's tent like they had the god given right to, and Ariadne outstretched her hand, passing her crumpled note to the King himself.

[holyguardian]

@somnus-lucis-caelum | X

Aerith openly smiled.

It was the second time meeting with the recluse King — after all, his was a secular kingdom built upon the knowledge of scholars. Most others decried his lack of a religion as a weakness, others claimed that he was a mystic who worshipped a savage god.

The rumours mattered little. Upon meeting him for herself, she found him to be thoughtful and well-mannered. Rare traits among the nobility.

"Ah, and here I thought my face an unwelcome one." Her own head tilted the opposite to his. "After all, I was recently one-half of your unruly neighbouring kingdom. My words did little to sway my husband."

Most thought the former wife of King Emmanuel must have been likeminded. That she should suffer for the sins of her former husband through association. It was only King Jacob who promised sanctuary for herself and for her daughter, blood of the mad King.

"What exactly is it that you are hoping to achieve? I must admit I am curious why King Jacob is so bothered by your presence, you are remarkably level-headed. Not at all the brutish type that I was braced for."

[rikavirkow]

@somnus-lucis-caelum | Small Starter

Lestallum had been her big chance. There was no Galahd to return to, and living inside the walls of Insomnia as a refugee had never been the life for her. Yamachang learned of her big move and paid her triple in her last paycheck — good thing she never shoved it back to his face, because the beginning had been rough.

But once she set up proper? Her stall ran like a dream. Even got a proper name too.

MAHASRA’S BOUNTY.

The sign was a little worse for wear now. It hung crooked, and the days of fresh seafood and Galahd spice were long gone. Now it was only good for ration packs and gossip.

A dull electric hum of the lights overhead meant they were safe for another day. Or night. The long dark made time blur together into one neverending loop.

So, when the dark-haired hunter approached and waited a polite distance for a word, she had half a mind to curse him out and demand he come babysit the vegetable mush if he was going to keep appearing like clockwork. Last time he stopped by for gossip the bottom of the pot nearly burned — and they couldn’t afford waste.

“Uncle, you got this? Ta. — Hey, fancy man.” Rika stopped short of him with her hands on her hips. “Well spit it out. If I stand here lookin’ pretty all night it’ll get to my head, what do y’ need?”

[ofsparta]

@somnus-lucis-caelum​ | X

Kassandra cast her eyes around in a wary glance. That feeling of men closing in around her didn’t sit well... she could handle it, of that she felt confident, but she always preferred a more peaceful outcome.

While she was a trained warrior, it didn’t mean she found enjoyment in the bloodshed. Especially when it was clear she wouldn’t escape unscathed from such a large camp with so many eyes trained onto her.

Though this leader appeared level-headed.

He looked serious. Probably didn’t know what it meant to party with laughter, song and flowing wine, but he wasn’t coloured with anger.

“Perhaps a bit of both,” Kassandra answered easily, a smile pulling at her lips. “I am a misthios from across the seas, I hail from the Greek world. A woman from Sparta tasked me with tracking down her brother. He fled the agoge when he was a paidiskoi — but I’m not here for blood. Only a helmet.”

And more importantly a clue. It was alluded to that the ship he escaped on may have belonged to the snakes she hunted but that was best kept close to her chest.

Her arm extended and she motioned with a point to where the prisoners were held. “I have good intel that leads me to believe he is among the common folk ‘ravaging your land’. Or, he died, and I have to go pick among the ashes for my drachmae. Thought it easier to check among the living first.”

[holyguardian]

The Lucian King had helped guide her hand to betrayal, and yet he was blameless. All he had done and all he had said was proof that Ariadne and Vergil had a sanctuary in this gods forsaken land. He spoke of them as missing members of his family — not as objects, not as their power, but as the children that they were.

She had lived within the castle too. Had witnessed and experienced first hand what life under Jacob Seed meant. He was a stone wall and the children were desperately huddled for safety. He had the same emotional range as a stone wall too. Call her sensitive, but it hurt to witness him offer some mimicry of affection, only to take it away and withhold it. That was no way to teach a child. Ariadne seemed to grow colder, angrier, while Vergil shrank more into himself.

How many times had she herself been barred from them? She coddled them, or she fussed too much, whatever excuse suited the mood of the day. What Jacob could never put a stop to was their fascinating power, the one most tucked away, where they visited upon the minds of others. In the end that was what guided her hand that fateful day. Guided her to pen the ultimate betrayal, tuck it away into the folds of her sleeve and deliver it into the hand of a child. All because Vergil had whispered a secret to her mind. 'I'm scared. When can we see you again?' Ariadne might not have believed her words or her thoughts. But that incriminating parchment spoke the loudest message, it carried a heavy consequence with it, one that a child shouldn't understand. And yet she did.

The fact that Vergil was afraid in the very place he was supposed to feel safe, the fact that Ariadne knew the weight of a penned message? Aerith could comfort herself, that her betrayal had been the right choice, for the right people.

Her brow furrowed when he spoke of his power in passing... she knew nothing of it. Or far too little. He could manipulate a blue crystal, or through crystals he was able to manipulate weapons? Magic? There was a gaping hole in her knowledge, and far too little time to fill in the blanks. "I won't pretend to understand what you are capable of. I fear the time for questions isn't now, but if you would permit me just one. Please tell me that they are far away?" she uttered. That he sent them into hiding, with the people he trusts the most in this world, and that they weren't within the walls of his own castle like sitting ducklings. He was smarter than that. He had to be. If he failed, Jacob would search high and low, and his kingdom would be the first to burn. Followed by her parents, she suspected.

Aerith's eyes widened a fraction when Somnus continued to explain. He asked for something... terrifying. She understood his reasoning, understood that Jacob's chosen could track her down for the fun of it more than any challenge, but still she found herself swallowing back her own fear. "I have been bathed in his ash once, I won't wilt away..." the horrors she had glimpsed in the streets on that weary march out of the city. "Just know if he sets me afire where I stand and I burn to my death on this day, my spirit is going to haunt you from here unto eternity."

She accepted. That was... all he could have asked off of her. He knew that this was a leap of faith for her. And her life had proven that such could be fatal most of the times. Or land her in worse situations at best. But he had no ill intention towards her. She had been the key in getting Ariadne and Vergil back to safety. A feat he had not mastered in years.

Watching the gentle glow of her green blessing, Somnus could feel the tickle of her magic. It felt so... clean, pure and warm. Healing. Like a warm summer wind caressing his skin.

It was almost too good for him. Him and his powers.

An opposite again. Her powers were so much more like those of his brother had been... and for a moment Somnus felt a strange mixture of guilt and fear. And envy. But this was not the place nor the time.

"Thank you.", he replied, his other hand coming forth to cove rover one of hers. This was a pact now.

There was slight shake of his head following.

"I know it's only me between them and him. That is why I will not lose. I can not. And you gave me the ability to use my powers here... formerly I did not dare to. I feared for the children being in harms way. I would not put it beyond Jacob to use them as shields."

And I could never forgive myself, if I hurt them. Even by accident. Even if I just lose control.

No, his powers did not allow for any accidents or collaterals.

"There is also something you need to understand... you will have to stay at my side in this. My men are strewn outside the forts walls in the forest and undergrowth. They can divert attention. But I will face Jacob... and I can't afford to lose sight of you. I can only ensure your safety when you stay with me. This means you will also have to stand across from him. Can you handle that? Can you stand in that ash and be sullied by it too?"

[noctglaive]

For ‘Bish’ 🖤

[naidleen]

Ardyn Izunia & Aera Fleuret (Final Fantasy XV: Episode Ardyn)

[happy-orc]

[he6o]

My two full art contributions to Caelum zine - a zine celebrating the kings of Lucis.

I was fortunate enough to take on the role of art mod/cover artist, and later distribution mod, plus filling in a last minute artwork for a missing king 👑 It’s been a fun ride, and we’ll be launching leftovers this month so keep a lookout on the zine’s Twitter for updates (@ ffxvcaelum) if you want to pick up books/merch, including my Noctis print and washi tape 🥰.

I’ll probably drop posts to spread the word on other platforms too when it goes live. Incredibly proud of all our artists and writers, and I hope you guys check out their works as they post their contributions going forward! ��️❤️❤️

[verseleth]

When you are much shorter but much more evil.

Somnus mod

[rebelichor]

✋

✋

The touch was a conformation of what her guardian already suspected. It was a pleasantly warm day in his kingdom — and yet his young ward remained bundled up, absent from breakfast, displaying no sign of arising anytime soon.

The extra blanket piled on top of her was thanks to her brother. Vergil had approached Somnus with his lips pressed in a thin line. "Something is wrong with Ari." Those were the most words some of the King's soldiers had ever heard from his mouth. All eyes shifted to Somnus and watched him march out of his feasting hall with one of his little ducklings in tow.

Lo and behold, Ariadne's forehead felt like she had shoved her face too close to a fire. When she swallowed her throat felt like she had pieces of broken glass stuck, scratching and hurting her. Then came the shuddering cough that wracked her little body. The sound would have concerned any healer.

The way her silver hair clung to her face, she almost looked like she had been drowning.

Her eyelids peeled barely-open after a long moment of his hand testing her forehead. In her immediate recognition she started to push herself up, sat with a rigid posture as if she were in trouble. If she went to say anything it was lost to her next bout of coughing. At least she covered her mouth.

[holyguardian]

-> give a Historical-Drama Hand Touch™

Love is in the air?

The Mystic King was a mysterious man. He was renowned for his military prowess, and for his knowledge about the occult, but little was known about his character.

Whether he was a kind man. Or a man with a cruel touch. If people loved him, hated him, or simply existed under his rule so long as he protected them. There were rumours he had the power to destroy realms. King Jacob himself had confronted her with the fact that he even had a healer close to him once upon a time... a healer that had been killed at best, sacrificed at worst.

Aerith was left confused and desperate.

It had been the fire of King Jacob that freed her from her binds. He was a warmonger, and a man obsessed with power. Many called him a monster. People were either with him, pledged to him and his banner, of use to his cause. Or they were cast out and declared an enemy.

She thought herself lucky to have escaped a pending death sentence. Though now she wasn't so certain, even less-so when a familiar face stood in waiting within the small chapel she was permitted to visit. It was deep within the castle walls, one wall away from the very inner-sanctum. It should have been impossible to reach...

Shocked, she openly stared at the Lucian King. This was courting danger. This was a fire ready to lose control. Aerith turned on her heel and made to leave —

And then she felt Somnus grab for her hand.

— her head turned and he stood impossibly close. For him to close that distance in a blink? It was unheard of.

The breath that left her was a little bit shaken. "Don't." she whispered. Her hand pulled free of his gentle hold. That hadn't been a simple touch. It had spoken multitudes about how much he cared for the stupid woman caged in yet another castle. There was an instant regret in pulling away from him, but it had to be done. She had to spare him from himself. Enough blood had been spilled in her name, no more. "Leave this place."

[sol-lyann]

@ignoctgiftexchange for @twistmyleg 💜🖤

@twistmyleg , hello , I hope you like the gift I prepared for you 😊

Specific Prompt :

Noctis is king, but he can not sleep (nightmares, overworking as king to make up for ten years, etc.) and pushes away from the idea of rest. Ignis aims to fix that.

I also came up with a short story about this :

Somnus , as the god of sleep , is torturing Noctis. Noctis who used to enjoy sleepying , now he can't close his eyes peacefully. Every time he tries to sleep , he experiences nightmares about losing his loved ones. He has no idea about the meaning behind them. Ignis tries his best to find an answer to Noctis's unusual problem. After reading ancient texts , he randomly comes up with a theory that Noctis is actually seeing visions of what the Founder King went through. He reads in the ancient texts that the Founder King once had a beautiful lover. He deeply loved her. But after the Founder King sealed away the Adagium , the king's mysterious lover left him for some reason, and it broke his heart. Knowing that Somnus is the god of sleep , Ignis assumes that Somnus is envying Noctis that Noctis is living happily after the prophecy is fulfilled, and that's why he's making Noctis suffer. How is Ignis supposed to fix that ?? He looks for any information about Somnus's lover. It turns out that her descendants still live to this time. Surprisingly , Ignis is one of them. He makes a promise to the Mystic that he will never leave Noctis. Ignis will always stay with Noctis, and they'll be a happier version of Somnus & his lover. Somnus slowly starts to come to his senses and let Noctis rest. Whenever Ignis holds Noctis in his arms , Somnus calms down and lets Noctis know peace.

[devilhacker]

Somnus living RENT FREE in Ardyn's head for 2000 years.

[teapots-and-hats]

"The people adored you as their savior. I was neither powerful nor popular...just envious, perhaps." Many years later Somnus would regret his actions Week 2 of #XVdeadlysins - Envy

[krisssssssy]

This was the moment I was like wait this dude is hot