Creature of the Lake

The creature itself is not directly described. The lake contains a "vast and sprawling shadow" that Sunny can sense beneath the water. He describes the shadow as "ancient, deep… unfathomable".^[1]

During the encounter with Cassie, however, two hands emerged from the lake.The first was a "pale, white hand" holding the Ruby Knife. The knife appeared to be "made of solidified blood". The second was a hand "black as coal". It held nothing and moved toward Cassie before softly caressing her cheek.^[1]

“	Ah, I wish that I could. But… well… I might have said some nonsense about how my friend should only give the knife to someone of pure thought and heart… or something like that. And sadly, while I am the most outstanding person in all of the Kingdom of Hope in many regards… uh… purity is not my strong suit. You and your friends, however! You reek of purity… well, one or two of you, at least… for now…	”
― Noctis to Sunny about the whereabouts of the Ruby Knife, Chapter 691 Heresy

The Creature of the Lake was entrusted with the Ruby Knife by Noctis centuries earlier.^[1] Noctis gave the knife away after discovering that Hope was driving the Chain Lords mad. He feared what Hope might do with the knife "should the worst happen".^[1]

The knife could be retrieved only by someone who fulfilled the condition described as: "Pure heart, pure thoughts".^[1]

• Sunny and Effie approached the lake and asked for the Ruby Knife, but nothing happened.^[1]
• Cassie was eventually chosen to receive the knife. She approached the shore and simply stated: "I am here for the Ruby Knife".^[1]

A ripple appeared on the surface of the lake. Although the vast shadow beneath the water did not move, a pale, white hand emerged holding the Ruby Knife and offered it to Cassie. Cassie initially stepped back in panic, but then returned to the shore, knelt down, and took the Ruby Knife from the hand. The hand released the knife and disappeared back into the water. A second hand subsequently emerged from the lake. This hand was "black as coal" and held nothing. It moved toward Cassie and softly caressed her cheek before retreating back into the lake.^[1]

According to Kai, the others had misunderstood what "pure heart, pure thoughts" meant. Kai explained that what mattered was not how they personally interpreted the phrase, but how Noctis had understood it centuries ago when he entrusted the knife to the creature.^[1]

For Noctis, purity of heart and thought meant:^[1]

• The ability to remain of clear mind^[1]
• To remain true to his oath^[1]
• To remain loyal to his sacred duty^[1]

Kai stated that although none of them was perfect, Cassie is the most clear-headed and dutiful person he knows.^[1]

• The creature was a friend of Noctis which resides on a particular island in the Kingdom of Hope, the island of the tranquil, clear lake that Sunny had previously been advised to never approach. The reason for avoiding the island is the creature living in its lake, which is described as being so terrifying that even Sky Tide did not dare to venture there. Sunny believes that the creature is surely Corrupted, but as for its Rank, no one even had a guess.^[2]
  • The tranquil lake was home to a creature so terrifying that one did not even dare to approach its clear waters.^[3]
• The creature is still associated with the island near the Sanctuary of Noctis. In a later visit, the island is described as very close to the Sanctuary and as an extremely dangerous place. Even when Awakened dared to cross the island, they would always stick to the edge of the isle, never approaching the tranquil lake.^[4]
  • Sky Tide had been known to avoid this place and also the place where Cassie had been bestowed the Ruby Knife by the creature of the lake in the Second Nightmare. The creature was long gone when Cassie visited the place outside of Nightmare.^[4]