#somnus-lucis-caelum

[holyguardian]

That had been a test in more ways than one. Her mother watched on to see whether she could make level-headed decisions. Her husband approached her with something important to him, trusting in her to give his request the weight of respect it deserved.

Honestly, Aerith didn't know who or where to turn to. She thought she did well... and she thought Roran made for a good distraction, one where she could finally glance up from her plate, her lips twitching with a smile.

She briefly glanced around. Her father was in good enough spirits that he didn't go pointing his fork at Roran to settle down. He must have liked the dessert too. Even her Uncle had his brows raised. He wasn't much for sweets, but this was different, the rhubarb gave what would have been a creamy and sweet tarte a nice... well, tart flavour.

When Aerith felt a nudge at her arm, she turned her head to glance Somnus at her side again. He was smiling. And it seemed he had found his challenge, something new from the farmlands.

Her lips spread in a wider smile. Honestly, his expression tickled her, and the amusement in his tone only added to the effect. "I can show you tomorrow." she uttered quietly, even as she stole up a piece of her tarte and subtly held it for him to look. "It's a lot like a stalk of celery." she offered, hoping Lucis had seen those crops before. "Rhubarb is crunchy when it isn't cooked. It can be sour on its own but we use it in desserts to calm the sweetness down."

The remainder of the dinner was quiet. Not silent, but the royal family certainly enjoyed the indulgence before them, and not one scrap of the tarte remained on any of their plates. Though Aerith did give a small nod to Roran who reached across with his fork when she nursed the last bite on her plate for longer than anyone else. She was full. Stuffed like a zucchini flower.

Her mother stood from the table. She was ever observant, and she understood even here in a small and intimate setting, eyes tended to fall to her on matters like when they could be excused. "I hope this dinner has been a welcoming one." she offered to Prince Somnus with a smile and a tip of her head. "After a special meal like that, we usually retire to the drawing room for some light conversation. However, it has been a long journey for half of the table. You may retire to your rooms for some well-deserved rest."

"Mum! Will you read me a bedtime story?" Roran practically crowed. "Dad will snore louder than Nidhogg if I ask him!"

Aerith huffed a breath and glanced to Somnus, giving a small nod for them to take their leave. Though she did pause, giving each of her family a quick hug in passing, only complaining when Roran gave her a squeezing hug.

"I'm so full, I could burst." she muttered to Somnus, fighting a groan at the mere thought of climbing stairs. Whose idea was it to have the dining room on the first floor.

Somnus note the small glance Aerith exchanged with Queen Ifalna, though his focus was entirely back on his wife, when she started to speak. Promised and explained. She did it well, the words were perfect and Somnus could not even have found an issue in them, if he would have been looking for one.

 Leander would get his own room. That much was secured. And the other closest friends might get better accommodations. Not that Somnus took any issue with the barracks here, not at all. They were comfortable. And the soldiers treated well. But… these comrades were his closest circle. And especially Leander deserved it, they all did. After coming here on this journey… they had volunteered immediately to accompany him.

“Thank you. I hope I can repay your generosity.”, he replied with his head bowing down in a small nod. He knew to have his eyes wander to the Queen at this, too, though his smile was infectious in this moment. It was clear this had been very important to the Prince.

Trying the tarte alongside Aerith, with the first wary bite, Somnus gained a glint in his eyes. This was unlike all desserts he knew from back home. Young Roran was already declaring loudly, with the fork raised up in the air like a sword to battle, that this tarte was his new favourite and he would never have enough of it.

Though Somnus was a lot quieter, his fingers trying a small nudge against Aerith’s arm and he could finally declare it: “I never had something like this… and it is amazing. This is my new dish of the evening…”

Though then he had to lower his voice more, because that next question was a little embarrassing, but Somnus could barely hide the amusement in his own tone: “What even is rhubarb anyway?”

[rebelichor]

@somnus-lucis-caelum | X

It wasn't often that Ariadne inspired such an expressive reaction from her godfather and mentor. Somnus turned on her and tasted the word in his mouth, reacting as if the 'no' was an audacious flavour.

Ariadne crossed her arms over her chest and held his gaze, long and steady. Of course she deeply respected him. Enough for her to give pause and listen to his explanation of the situation at hand as if it meant anything. But it didn't. Not one bit.

In fact, it was altogether a waste of time, and an exhausting one at that where Enok and his stubborn pride were concerned.

"No." she repeated, fingertips of her dominant hand subtly tapping at her elbow as she held her arms-crossed stance. They were all the signs laid out bare for him. She was defensive. On edge. Embarrassed to admit it to him.

"I already took care of him." The scene was plucked from her mouth and no doubt inserted directly into her godfather's racing mind. It wasn't a plucky no that he had to worry about. Oh no. Boy trouble was upon his doorstep.

[madeofthreads]

@somnus-lucis-caelum | X

If he wanted to.

Leander knew a half-veiled order. So, even the Prince could sense something about this place? He was more inclined to scout on ahead alone. Less chance of being seen if there were people behind the hair-bristling caution that permeated the area.

Then Somnus said the quiet part out loud. Something about outrunning a spell. He sensed magic, then. Unknown magic. "Of course, my liege. I wouldn't miss our rationed meal even if Marcos is the cook."

Hand over his heart, he dipped at the waist in a short but respectful bow even if the grin on his face was anything but. There was a renewed spring in his step as he called a half-dozen names — his favourite shield wall, no less.

There was little banter then. He gave a brief description of their mission at hand. Scouting before nightfall. Looking for signs of what haunted the nearby villagers under the cover of night.

Hours later, Loukas returned to the camp alone. He was the brother of Nikolaos. Once a whelp in training, now a young man carrying the same armour and weapons his brother once had — and he had an uncharacteristic fear colouring his expression when he came to a long-sliding stop in front of Prince Somnus, chest rising and falling with hard breaths.

In his arms, he carried... a pig. "Thewomanturnedthemall!" he blurted, and a few other soldiers gathered, curious about the commotion. It was a joking remark about bringing back dinner that made the small pig in his arms belt out a series of protesting squeals, struggling, trying to get down — and then the damn thing warped with familiar blue magic, butting into the Prince's chest.

[writermich18]

@somnus-lucis-caelum x

Sonia gives a short shout out of shock from getting kicked off and then blocked by a shield. She drops to the floor, having already been on her knees, from getting kicked.

She goes to yell at her twin to get rid of the shield and stop being stubborn but stops. She knows the black ichor just as well as Somnus does, flashbacks nearly dragging her under. Somnus would see her eyes go distant in memory and he would know she is thinking of the time the twins got kidnapped by a cult. When they witnessed an entire village's worth of people become consumed by the Starscourge. As if the experience of witnessing that happen every night with their own soldiers, and being forced to kill them, hadn't been traumatizing enough. Sonia slaps herself, snapping her out of the flashbacks.

"How did they even get past Mom's Wall?!" Sonia hisses then shakes herself. "No, never mind that. Current priority: Your wounds."

"Okay. Okay, okay, okay," Sonia breathes. "Like I said, Ardyn-nii is on his way. We just need to hold out until then. Somnus, take a cloth and wrap it around your upper arms, cut off circulation." She rips her own toga with her dagger she keeps holstered to her thigh, creating a mask which she wraps around her nose and mouth. Keeping it tight around her face.

"Release the shield, Somnus. Look," she raises her arms and turns in a circle. "No open wounds, no blood touched my skin. I covered you with my cloak before touching you, remember? Please, I need to see the damage and we need to staunch the bleeding or else you'll bleed to death. I can see your other wounds beside the bites from here."

When he stubbornly keeps the shield up but at least listens to her words about cutting circulation, she grunts in frustration and stands up. Then she looks behind her, moving further up the alleyway, searching the crowd past the alleyway entrance. Nope. Their older brother is no closer to where they are.

Sonia doesn't know how long Somnus has been lying here, bleeding out in an alleyway, alone and scared, but unable to move. Wondering how a daemon managed to get past the barrier, if a traitor had so wanted to destroy the kingdom they'd willingly expose the people to a terrible illness - no, curse. She didn't know if cutting off circulation will actually buy him time or if the black ichor is already circling through his body. Not that that matters for the twins, it won't work anyways, but Somnus doesn't know that. Yet.

But what she does know is this: Sonia isn't leaving her brother to suffer through this alone. She moves back to where the shield is held, and kneels down, putting a hand on the translucent shield. What she does know is that he deserves to learn of what those cult members had done to them after he had gone unconscious, before their family had found them.

She opens her mouth, closes it. Biting her lips, the guilt of keeping this secret crushing through her once again. Then she takes a breath.

"Big brother, let me through," she says quietly. "I'm going to be okay. You will be okay." She slowly moves the right sleeve of her toga up, unwrapping the cloth that has been wrapped around her arm for years. Somnus would know she's been wearing long sleeves for a long time since the kidnapping. She moves her arm up within Somnus's view. "Immune. I'm immune, Somnus."

Her arm has a white and pink bite mark scar, with red veins and faded markings Somnus would recognize as old Starscourge markings. A scar and illness that has never grown or taken root inside of her. "I got this years ago, when we got kidnapped by that cult. They experimented on both of us, my twin. Where they died by Starscourge, transformed into monsters, we survived. We remained human. Remember that scar on your back where it looks like lighting-filled claws slashed you? The one where the scar has long faded into white but the surrounding area remains red and purple like my bite mark here?" She watches the moment realization comes to his eyes.

"We're both immune. Drop the shield," Sonia says, "Ardyn will arrive soon anyways and this will all just be one big nightmare."

When Somnus finally drops it, she immediately pulls him into a hug. "You must have been so terrified. I'm sorry I wasn't beside you. I'm sorry I kept this from you. I wasn't even fully certain myself until just last year." She ignores the wetness on her shoulders just like he will ignore the wetness on his own shoulders. "I'm here. Your twin is here. We're okay. We're gonna be okay."

After a while she moves back, allowing him to take a look at her old scar while she looks over his immediate wounds.

[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?”

[madeofthreads]

Leander threw Somnus a grin of his own. The cheeky kind, like he were about to challenge the Prince — instead he got a face full of blue material!

His hand immediately raised. It was a simple thing, he would just pull the shawl away and toss it back. But what he hadn't counted on being bowled over and wrapped in the softer fabric. "Hey! There won't be any of this colour left if I have to eat my way outta this shawl!" he 'threatened', briefly considering whether such a thing was possible.

Though he was holding back. Not because he handled the Prince delicately, oh no. He couldn't see. And he wouldn't forgive himself if he went to toss the other boy off and hurt one of the eggs! So... he struggled against this attack much more tamely. For now. He just had to wrestle it down from his head, almost...!

Then both boys stopped in unison.

When the shawl was finally lowered from his head, Leander looked wide-eyed, almost spooked. He checked down the length of his own body. No. No he hadn't somehow kicked an egg, thank the Gods!

Though before he could think much else, a hand planted the back of his head and shoved him all but face first to the red 'bo egg. "Eh?!" he asked, looking to Somnus with a furrow in his brow, before he checked the egg proper.

More than a crack. There were fierce protests from the little baby bird inside. Blinking, Leander watched in wonder as the chick tried again, and again and again! His amazement turned to a grin. It was a fierce little thing, though that same grin slowly dropped away when the shell was broken and the first thing that little red 'bo saw was him.

"... shit." The little boy swore. "Hey, listen, I'm not your Mater." He started to explain with his hands lifted up and away. Not that the baby could understand a word as it struggled to chip the rest of its egg.

He heaved a sigh and looked over to Somnus, who all but had his nose pressed against his own egg. He couldn't help a small smile. "... ey, there's a crack over on the other side, yours is trying to sneak escape!"

Leander was… joining in on his little game! Even more than that, he dared to tease Somnus for his shawl, his favourite colour!

Though instead of getting prideful angry, like Somnus would so often if anyone questioned his choices in faves, this time he looked back to Leander with a grin and then chuckled laughter.

“You’re just jealous! It is a great colour! My favourite!”, Somnus proudly declared, easily untying the shawl before he simply threw it at Leander’s face, trying to wrestle him down in that. Silly child’s play. Playing rough with a ton of giggles and attempts to wrap Leander in the finely crafted fabric.

And that could have escalated – if it wasn’t for a sudden cracking noise. And another.

Somnus held still and gasped looking wide-eyed at the eggs. There! There were fine lines and cracks in them! The red one right in front of them  had a big one running all the way down its side. And there was a loud protesting chirping coming from inside.

Somnus immediately shoved Leander to this egg, all wild-tousled-hairs on their heads.

“Quick! Yours is hatching!”, he proclaimed before stumbling over to look at the pale egg Leander had chosen for him, all too excited for these little baby birds.

[owarinaki]

Somnus Lucis Caelum [Final Fantasy XV]

[wondrous-eos]

Spirit Birds I This was supposed to be a serious artistic endeavor but that intention flew out of the window once Ardyn got involved. Anyway, I present to you ffxv characters with their spirit birds. Part II 🚫 Do not repost. ⬇️4K wallpapers here.

[noctglaive]

For ‘Bish’ 🖤

[naidleen]

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

[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."

[rebelichor]

‘Hush now, Ariadne, Vergil. Be quiet. And be brave. Soon you will be home again. But the king can’t know. You have to play hide and seek. And you have to win. I will find you. But he must not.’

It was an echo of thoughts inbetween all the others. But this voice stood out to the little silver twins. It was their godfather’s voice. They still remembered. And he was close. He wasn’t alone, either. One by one more minds filtered into their perception. Calm ones, quiet. Lucian soldiers infiltrating the Dragonlord’s castle. They all had one goal: secure the twins. Save them. 

The children were a product of their age. Rather than subtle hints, Ariadne visibly looked around with turns of her head while Vergil perked up with his shoulders raised. Something had their attention. It could have been the shouts of men as King Jacob's chosen soldiers mobilised against a breach of the castle walls.

But it was likely something else.

Ariande and Vergil looked at each other in unison. Their conversation was in silence but their eyes told a tale of bravery trying to win against being frightened.

They both decided that they couldn't hide in their room. It was bold and incredibly naughty of them as they forced open their locked door with splintering force — and that was the climax of their show of power.

Towering at the end of that hall was the King himself. He had ran the length of the spiralling staircase to check on his wards, and there they were, breaking down the door.

"We have to run for the trees!" It was Vergil's voice. The quiet boy spoke up, cutting through the tension of the moment. He was intelligent even at their small age. Intelligent, with a healthy fear for the man that stood between them and a promised home. It was a fear that faded a little when his sisters hand found his with a squeeze.

The old dragon King eyed them both a moment longer. Then he made a motion with his head. "Come."

Hand-in-hand, the twins hurried to his call. They knew better than to challenge him. At least out loud.

'He already found us.' Ariadne's little voice carried to a familiar mind. 'Save yourself.'

[madeofthreads]

Somnus had taken a mad liking to this farmboy after just one day of playing together. It was more than obvious. He asked daily and “subtly” when the farm-leaders would come for a meeting again. As if the boy cared about that. No, he just wanted one specific farmer to bring his son around again.

And when, a week later, it finally was time again, the young prince basically ran like a bull towards the farmboy, arms thrown up “Leander! You have to come with me! The Chocobos laid eggs and I am allowed to pick one, so I can ride the Chocobo in it one day! But I don’t know which is good! I need a fast one! One that can run as fast as you! You are the expert!”

The first time Leander had come to the castle with his father, he had walked at his side and grumbled complaints peppered here and there. That it was BORING, he would rather be OUTSIDE, couldn't he just PLAY in the town they walked through? It was a rare circumstance. His mother and his grandmother were out of the home, there was a birth happening, he wasn't allowed to go with them and he wasn't allowed to remain at the farm unsupervised. So, he had to come with his father, who claimed it would be a good learning experience. The young boy had never mentally checked out of something as fast as he had here.

He stood in front of the King and the Queen in his rough spun tunic and worn down sandals. He glanced at his father when he bowed, gave him a funny look, and only bowed too when his father cupped the back of his head and 'guided' him. He would have been more unremarkable and quiet from then on had another boy not poked his head into sight. The King asked if anyone else had proposals to make. Leander took a massive step forward. "Yeah!" He pointed at the kid Prince. "I propose a game of tag!" There were smiles and a few chuckles around the room, Leander's father grabbing for his boy, quietly uttering not to be disrespectful to the Prince. Leander hadn't gotten the message, when he instead thumbed over his shoulder at the kid. "What, the Prince doesn't know how to play? I'll show him!"

Just like that, the rough and tumble little farm boy made a new friend. He had fun running around with Somnus, so much fun that he pestered his father again and again to come along for the 'learning experience' next visit to the palace! Was it today? Was he sure he didn't have to go to the palace yet??

The second time Leander came to the castle with his father, he jogged ahead the moment the palace came into sight. The guards didn't stop him — of course they didn't, though they threw amused looks towards his father who jogged behind catching up with his wayward son. One moment he had been speaking with a farmer about rotating crops, the next he looked and his son was practically a dot on the horizon. Fast little shit.

There was no hope when Leander spied Prince Somnus, who ran towards him with the same excitement. "Pater, you hear that?! I have official business at the palace!" he crowed, much to the amusement of anyone and everyone within earshot. "Let's pick a good egg! And if it hatches and the chick doesn't measure up, no one will know which belonged to what egg anyway. You will have the fastest 'bo!"

[akirakirxaa]

Brother from another Mothercrystal.

I've been playing FFXV again and it reminded me of how much I absolutely am convinced that Noctis is an Azem shard and how good of friends he and Akira were in the short time they had to hang out. So I had to make a pose for them. Fun fact, I consider him in Akira's canon to be one of the 'heroes from beyond the rift' that heeded G'raha's call to aid her against Hades at the end of ShB.

LEE DO NOT READ BEYOND THIS POINT UNTIL YOU'VE FINISHED XV.

LEE I STG THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO LOOK AWAY.

I also like to imagine that Akira was able to visit his shard again (Eos? I think Eos was Noctis' world's name) but because of how time passes differently, it's the post game. She finds out via echo vision that he's dead and how he died. 🙃 Yes, I can't even give Akira a friendship without finding a way to make it tragic it seems.

Also I personally have it that Akira suggests the Blade of Light to Noctis, since the final scene vs Ardyn is so close to the whole Blade of Light thing that it might as well be.

[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! ❤️❤️❤️