A Heart Of Fire (Final Fantasy XV)

Chapter 19

"All patched up," Ignis says as he finishes tying up the gauze on my arm. I flex my arm and stretch it out, only to have it feeling as good as new. I turned to Ignis and gave him an appreciative smile.

"Thanks, Iggy," I said.

"You are welcome, Raya, but do make sure to be more careful from now on," he advises as he puts the medical supplies back in it's box and gets up from his chair. "Now then, shall we start preparations for dinner?"

"Sure, I'll help get everything ready!" I said as I hopped up from my seat and made my way over to the Regalia to unpack for the night. Gladio was busy pitching up the tents while Noct and Prompto got the fire started. I would help Ignis with getting the needed ingredients ready to help him make tonight's dinner.

I pushed open the trunk of the car and pulled out the groceries Ignis needed for this new recipe he wanted to try. Carrying them back to the camp I watched as Prompto started taking pictures of Noct, making him grumble and playfully shove his camera away. I giggled and set the groceries down on the table just as Ignis got everything else set up in his make-shift kitchen. We got started right away and began prepping the ingredients. Ignis had come up with a new recipe and wanted to try it out as soon as possible.

We got the food made in no time and soon enough everyone was gathered around the camp fire with steaming bowls of soup and growling stomachs, and it only took one sip of the soup to satiate that hunger.

"Mmmm, this...is...delicious!" Prompto hums with a happy grin.

"Yeah, Iggy. You really outdid yourself with this one," Gladio nods in agreement. Noct simply nods his head with a "Hmm" as he shoves another spoonful of soup in his mouth.

"I'm very glad you all like it," Ignis says as he sits in his chair with his helping of soup. "I'll be sure to add it to the list."

"Please do!" I nodded. "It's way too good not to. Thanks Iggy."

"I appreciate the praise everyone. And Raya, thank you for your help, by the way," Ignis says. I quickly shook my head as I swallowed the warm soup.

"Please, you did most of the work, and it was your recipe," I said. "I just helped prepped the food for you."

"It was a joint effort," he replied, "nonetheless, I appreciate the help."

"So, where's our next stop from here?" Prompto asks before sipping the broth in his bowl.

"We're heading to a city called Lestallum next," Gladio answers. "Iris texted me earlier. It's a little way's away from here, but we should get there tomorrow if we leave early enough."

"Iris? So she's okay, then!" Prompto says excitedly. Iris is Gladio's younger sister by eight years. I've known her for as long as Noct and Ignis has, and she and I have been especially close over the years. She was my first girl friend closer to my age that I was able to play with when we were younger. I loved spending time with the boys, but Lilian constantly insisted that I start playing with girls my age. Since then, Iris has been like a sister to me, and I love her to death, so to hear that she made it out of the city safely was a huge relief to me.

"Man what a relief," I sighed with a grin, but then silence washed over us like a tidal wave. "Did...did she say anything about the Crown City?" I asked.

"She said she'll tell us when we meet her in Lestallum," Gladio says, setting his now empty bowl in his lap.

"..Right."

"Hey, it's awesome she made it out alright," Prompto brings up with a cheerful smile. "I can't wait to see her again!"

It's been a while since I've last seen her, I thought. Prompto's right, it'll be good to see Iris again.