Nodessa

The Tower of **Nodessa,** also known as the **Cornerstone of Fate,** or the **Heart of the Light**, is a location and dungeon in *Final Fantasy XVI.* It is the true home of Vizian Izara and the final dungeon of *Final Fantasy XVI.*

## Background

Once a dilapidated ruin transformed into a new imaginary world by Vizian Izara himself, one can only enter Nodessa through their dreams if they: wield an esper orb and seek to change and impact reality in a positive manner, or have a co-existing ruptured life that needs guidance. It is a towering structure that resembles a mansion, with the top of the structure resembling a gigantic levitating and rotating esper orb (assumed to be Bahamut's). The interior resembles a chrome themed warmly-lit home combined with a laboratory, a school-like interior setting, an auditorium, a theater, an an inner transforming entity that shape-shifts the environment into the **Ticonderoga Cliffs**, the last time Vizian saw Kin face to face.

Unlike the majority of foes and monsters fought in Olion, (ie. the Edelian Xreva, or beasts that roam the continent) the monsters that roam Nodessa are black colored graphite stick figures with red eyes serving under Vizian's control. They are manifestations of Vizian's doubt, hatred, and negativity created to protect Nodessa from intruders. Unlike the monsters and foes that are encountered throughout Olion, these monsters are unaffected by elemental attacks, Libra, and can only be slain by June or Halen.

The term Nodessa is a branch off of "Odessa," which translates to "long journey", and is the materialization of Vizian Izara's version of reality. As an area that can only be dreamed of due to it being a representation of perfection in life, Nodessa is unlike other dungeons within *Final Fantasy XVI* because it cannot be accessed in person. June, Baron, and Halen access this after defeating Tenebris.

## First Visit

It first appears after the Battle of Corselia, where June Asmius dreams of the area after defeating the Edelians in combat. June wakes up within her chambers in Galacye where she dreams of the location where whiteness fades the entire city. She enters Vizian's chambers and catches an invisible stairway leading to Nodessa. Upon entrance, June encounters the monsters of negativity and flees towards an auditorium, where she encounters multiple cardboard cutouts of an audience laughing and cheering at a fictitious and cloned version of Halen Terumi. After June accidentally kills the image of Halen, a mysterious voice calls upon June and congratulates her for finding the location, promising her that he will restore the world to order, along with her friends. June then awakens from her slumber, lost in thought.

## Second Visit

Upon discovery of the entire world changing after the defeat of Tenebris and Enkidu, June encounters a younger version of Baron Remlet in Rosaria. Upon his arrival, Halen ambushes the two, revealing she obtained the Alexander esper orb from Ylstaya months ago when they had first met. Using the last known esper orb, they track down a secret pathway to Nodessa, floating among Galacye that can only be seen by the three.

Upon entering, fragments of Halen's true memory are gradually restored as June recalls her co-existence within Nodessa during her first visit. In the main hallway, the black creatures attack them, and they are unable to defeat them after they surround the trio. They escape back to the auditorium where distorted audio recordings of Halen's pleas and cries are heard in the auditorium's speakers, causing Halen to collapse. After Baron destroys the speakers, the same mysterious voice cries out to the three, asking them to leave the area as the final process of a perfect world is about the unleash itself. When June denies the voice's request, the voice calls upon them to meet him within a theater where they shall negotiate terms.

As they enter the theater, the creator of the Tower of Nodessa, along with the instigator of the abnormal things happening within Olion is revealed; Vizian Izara, the researcher of espers in Galacye. He explains that the pain of him losing Kin haunted his past and because of his undermining and envious actions of wanting to be with Lidia, he has chosen to create a perfect world where Lidia is free, Kin has been revived, and the world has no espers, no evil, and no monsters with the hopes of becoming the only god to delegate safety for society. He explains that throughout June's journey he has harnessed the true power of Bahamut's soul to alter the minds and fates of reality itself, causing the world to eventually lead to its prominent peace. He claims to have sent multiple signals and flashbacks within June and her friends' heads with the hopes of leading them to success, along with altering the actions of the Edelian Empire and the villains that have fought against the party. After June denies him once more, Vizian reveals that he transformed Halen into a much more successful individual with the hopes of giving her a new identity as a famous celebrity rather than a nobody.

The little girl once named Claire had no last name, and during a visit to a neighboring city in Corselia, Vizian encountered a young Halen outside of a homeless shelter begging for money. He decided to take her in and use his powers to alter her mind, naming her Halen Terumi, and giving her a fake yet wealthy path to stroll upon for success. Upon realizing that her life had been an entire lie, Claire breaks down, searching for her worth in life. She fades away in Nodessa, and Vizian explains to June that her soul has been lost within limbo as she has no purpose to live. Following his explanation, he attempts to persuade June that he can bring Claire back to life by taking control of the world, but June denies his method and believes there is another way to nurture her soul back. The two attack Vizian, but he escapes after gaining control of Claire's soul.