He noted the loft of his brow when he mentioned death being something one might pursue. He didn't seem all that happy about it, and he was curious as to why. Caius was referring to himself, and had admitted that in some fashion. Caius quirking a brow himself in response might indicate that Ardyn had mistaken his intent, perhaps not. Was there something under the surface that Ardyn had mistaken it for? He had dismissed the small bits of information - was it information or written-down speculation at this point? - that Caius had found back in his own world, but the idea that Ardyn might be lying was clear in his mind as a likely possibility.
But it was clear that Ardyn had taken interest in the idea that the King had survived. Survived what? What exactly had the King survived? What information was he missing here? Caius straightened in his chair as he hoped to ask for a bit more on the matter, but Ardyn would give credence to a suspicion that Caius had all along.
That Noctis was here. Noctis was here on this plane with them.
Caius had thought of two possibilities. That either Noctis was here, or that so long as the King was alive somewhere, his powers would remain. But Ardyn's interest was chilling, as Caius recalled just who had stopped his madness in the first place. Had he unintentionally confirmed Noctis being here to Ardyn? It wouldn't surprise him if he wanted revenge for his prior defeat, but Ardyn could also be chasing a red herring if he did - for Caius had already thought of the possibility that Noctis only needed to be alive, and not here, for his powers to work. He had never actually lost them, after all.
Of course, both of Caius' hypothesis' were wrong. There was a Noctis here, but not the one that Caius knew. And that Noctis had been here for longer than Caius had. That was why he had retained his abilities. But Caius did not know this. The idea of alternate realities hadn't crossed his mind.
Ardyn would decide to leave almost immediately after seeming to have found something in their discussion, but it was that wide smile that told Caius for sure what he was after. But the Glaive kept his calm, nodding his head as he would watch him get up.
"You know..." He spoke calmly, tapping his fingers on the tapping.
"I don't know what wrongs were enacted upon you in the old world to cause you to do what you've done. You refused to divulge, after all" He remarked.
"But... Your abilities, by what I know of them, are impressive. And there are a lot of people out there that could use the help from someone like you. This world has seen it's fair share of troubles, after all. World that has some bads, sure... But also a lot of good people that haven't done wrong to a soul.
I won't push, but if you end up considering the idea... I depart for the outskirts in the morning to see if I can't assist with the town's dragon problem. You're free to join me if you wish, and half the payment will be yours for the assist as is proper. If you don't, well..."He shrugged, and shot a grin.
"I'll manage."He was stronger than he had been the last time he had fought these creatures. He had a better knowledge of their strengths and weaknesses. He could manage on his own. He had gleamed some information on an area where some of them were making what seemed to be a temporary resting place before the next attack. If he could at least weaken their numbers before the next attack... He felt like he could at least do that.
And if he did get in over his head? Well, he could always send a letter to his partner.
"But who knows? Maybe in the process, you'll find your calling in this world. Just as it helped me find mine."
Even if Ardyn had already just found his, unbeknownst to Caius.
He didn't know why he wanted to help Ardyn, despite knowing full well he was likely about to hunt Noctis down considering the circumstances and Noct's destroying the Darkness that Ardyn was apparently linked to by what of the whole thing he knew. He knew that a goal of his now would be to have to find Noctis before Ardyn did, if he was here, but... There was something about the things he said and the way that he said them, that resonated with him. He came off as so bitter, so full of rage, like the world around him had given him nothing but pain.
Maybe in a weird way, he almost identified with it? What had the old world given Caius? It had destroyed every person that he loved, it had robbed him of his childhood and forced him to grow up quickly. It had brought daemons to his door and forced him to fight to survive at every turn for most of his life. He didn't know any other life except fighting, because between looters, daemons, bandits, monsters, and just overall horrible people... He'd never had the chance to really have any semblance of a life. That had been stolen from him. He still felt it's effects now, as at every turn his inadequacy in social skills that the turn of events had robbed him of an opportunity to learn appeared to hamper him everywhere that the Glaive went. And his purpose? He'd found purpose eventually, yes... But to help the very people that had hurt him. Sure, it was the loyalty to the Crown and the people that hadn't done a thing to him that was where that purpose had merit, but...
What if he hadn't taken that path as gracefully as he had? What if he hadn't rolled with the punches as much as he had? Caius had every right to be bitter and angry, and despise the hand that had been dealt to him.
While he didn't know what had led Ardyn down this path... In a way, he wondered if that could have been Caius had things been different. No, not even things... Just him. Just a decision here, a decision there, a feeling here and there... A whim there...
He thought back to the altercation he'd had not long ago. Had Celes not brought him to his senses, what would have become of him? Would he have become just like Ardyn?
Not that he knew truthfully what Ardyn was truly like, he could only go by the impressions he got from him, and the words he spoke. But... There was just so much of what he had seen, he couldn't help but wonder. Even still, he wondered what had possessed him to try to help. Sure, he could identify a bit with what he had interpreted... But the man had given him no real reason to try and help.
As he placed a hand on his chest though, the motion which shifted his jacket a bit and caused the sleeping Vordun within to start snoring loudly, he knew.
Celes.
She'd had no reason to help, but she had. And it'd changed everything for him. This was her damned influence.
Not that he had any actual thought that Ardyn would ever take the offer. He knew the chance was, odds were, virtually non-existent. So with that, he would give a ginger lowering of his head in farewell.
