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year 5, quarter 3
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Caius had become a changed man in the time since he had last seen Prompto, and in the even longer time since he had last seen Aranea. But that wasn't on his mind right now. Instead, he had made plans to follow up with Prompto after they had met on a job concerning a haunted mansion. Caius had found out that Prompto was the Prompto from His Majesty's retinue... And Prompto had found out that Caius was a former member of the Kingsglaive. Which was quite useful when it came to having Prompto to explain for Celes the specifics of some of Caius' abilities. He was more sociable than the Glaive was, so he was better at explaining it than he would have been. It made their jobs easier.
But Caius had remembered Aranea's hunt for the members of the King's retinue, and he wanted to discuss with Prompto regardless the details of how he had gotten to this world. If Caius' powers were intact... That meant that the King had to be here somewhere. If Prompto knew where he was... He needed to find Noctis. He needed to verify that His Majesty was safe. More importantly, he needed to find him before Cortez did.
Prompto had mentioned being held up in an inn at Provo, and so the arrangement had been to meet there. He was curious to have a good chat with the kid, considering who he was back in his world and if he would happen to know where his Majesty would be. He had to be somewhere, there was no way that he couldn't be considering his circumstances. But Prompto would be a solid ally as well, and the pair had already proven they could work well together as well.
Of course, as Caius stepped into the inn and began to look around for Prompto, he wasn't aware of just who had plopped Prompto into this inn to begin with.
Even though him and Noctis were together again, it felt as though they were functioning while he was still in the Crystal — each of them had their own individual duties to attend to.
Of course, that was not something Prompto could remember. Noctis had helped me catch up with whatever his memories seemed to be lacking and although Prompto had accepted the information with a forced grin, he still had broken down as he was forced to come to terms with the fact that his best friend had died in order to save the rest of the world.
If the world gave them a choice, Prompto would be more than happy to sacrifice himself so that everyone else would live. At the same time, he knew that even if he did, he would not be able to fulfil the prophecy; he had no ability and it was not his place to do so.
It was as though the Astrals raised a pig to the slaughter.
The events of what happened at the Linister Manor has had Prompto wanting to get away from all things dead, whether they were already dead or going to be dead. Noctis dropping the news on him hadn't done much to alleviate his frazzled nerves. Celes and Terra were great companions but it seemed that Caius was the one who was more than familiar with his world, considering that he knew how to warp. Prompto had eventually found out, during their time together, that he was a Kingsglaive.
However, King Regis had long fallen, according to Noctis. Then, who was he serving? As far as Noctis was concerned, he had died before he even got the chance to rule and rebuild whatever that was left of Insomnia.
The two of them kept in contact and agreed to meet here to discuss further details: about where they came from or whether there was a way to return home.
Just as he emerged from him and Noctis' room and down to the inn, Caius had just walked in. "Hey dude," he greeted with a cheery wave, clearly excited to meet him under better circumstances.
TAGGED // Caius Dragelion @dustwa NOTES // Sorry for the late reply.
Things had gone from not good to bad to worse in rapid fire succession. "Are you kidding me, what now" she groaned as the caravan she was traveling in came to a standstill. She was making her way back to Provo after a long time away. She needed to make sure Prompto was at least where she had told him to stay. Running into Ardyn again and having just put Luna and Iris in a safe place was making her paranoid that she'd come back to see him in trouble as well And now this roadblock was the last thing she needed. Getting up out of her seat, she exited the caravan to see exactly what had happened.
The sun was beginning to set and the first sprinkle of stars hinted in the sky. Aranea rounded the caravan to see a long stretch of other wagons waiting to be allowed through the gates to the city. "What's the holdup?" she questioned the driver as she walked up to his side. She had seemed a friendly enough woman when Aranea met her at the pub. She was bringingin her family's crop to sell at market, and Aranea had been able to hitch a ride as a result. It beat walking all the way back that was for sure. "Oh they're just checking all the product, mam. Ever since that nasty illness cropped up, they're more adament about making sure everything's clean."
Aranea's eyes narrowed at the mention of an illness. She wondered if it was that illness but didn't voice her concerns seeing as she didn't want to worry the woman. "I'm in kind of a time crunch, I think I'll go up ahead," Aranea said as she walked away, "Thanks again for the ride. Be safe." She just waved off the woman saying she'd not get past the guards quickly. Aranea didn't plan on going through the main gate if it was going to take that long. She made her way along the trail of caravans before veering slightly off course until she was sure there wouldn't be any guards. Bracing herself, she jumped high landing against the wall and used it a base to jump again over the wall.
Once on the other side of the wall, Aranea made quick work of making her way to the inn bustling through the crowd almost knocking people over in her fervor to make it in faster time. The door of the inn slammed open as she rammed into it. She did a quick scan of the pub part before her eyes honed in on Prompto coming down the stairs waving. Taking the wave to be meant for her she elbowed her way past a tall blonde and short brunette woman standing near the entrance before crossing the remaining few steps in leaps.
Her relief to see he was okay caused her to wrap him into a hug. "You're okay, short stuff." she mumbled before quickly letting him go and pulling herself together. "You know no one will believe that just happened, so I guess I don't have to threaten you to not tell anyone," she joked with a small laugh as she stepped back from him. "C'mon kid, we've got a lot to talk about. I need to know if you remember anything more than last time we met."
"Prompto!" Caius would greet the spiky-haired lad warmly when he heard his voice, striding over to reach over and shake the man's hand. His expression was warm, friendly, as was his voice. Caius was completely different from the man that Prompto had met at that mansion. But a lot of things had happened... A lot of things had changed. But it was true that he had been writing to and keeping contact with Prompto since. They had been making plans to meet up and learn a bit more about one another's roles back home - the both of them were venerable Kingsglaive after all, but Prompto had arguably the more important role. Directly serving and guarding the King himself. Caius had been curious about whether the King was safe. But he didn't want to ask him this in letters. That didn't feel proper. No, he had to ask this in person. There were questions just better suited to be asked in person. Person he was a bit old fashioned... But it just felt right.
"How have things been with you?"
Of course, Caius barely got those words out of his mouth before he was practically shoved out of the way by a very familiar sight who immediately charged toward poor Prompto and pulled him into a big hug. Acting like Caius literally did not exist, Aranea continued to talk to Prompto, which led to Caius letting out a sigh.
"Good to see you too, Aranea" He spoke gingerly from behind her.
He waited a moment for it to register he was there, before he continued on. He could sense the level of care between them... Or was it one-sided? He wasn't sure yet.
"You two know each other, then?" Caius would ask. "Or are you two, uhh... You know."
As if to explain, he flicked his finger around between one of them to the other. Caius may not know much about relationships, or love or anything of the kind... But the level of affection he was seeing here certainly wasn't far off from his readings.
When the night has come And the land is dark And the moon is the only light we'll see No, I won't be afraid Oh, I won't be afraid Just as long as you stand, stand by me
❞
He awoke in tears, a sharp intake of breath causing him to realize that he was in the waking world again. He would lay there for a moment longer, a shuddering breath escaping his lips as he would fight to sit up, fight to not close his eyes again in hope that she would be there waiting for him. The dreams were getting more and more bleak, a darkness consuming them both each time they would connect in sleep. Slowly sitting up, Noctis raised his hand up to his face, brushing the back of his hand across his nose. As he looked down at his hand, his eyes widened, startled and confused.
Blood smeared the space between his thumb and index finger, gleaming in the moonlight through the window. Noctis swung his legs off of the bed, grabbing a handkerchief and promptly wiping the rest of the nosebleed, finally standing to look in a mirror. His hair was mussed, laying flat instead of spiking in the middle and back like he usually had it. Save for the beard he had grown, his hair had fallen much like it did when he had awoken from his crystal nap. He rested both hands on the table that sat in front of the mirror, closing his eyes and focusing. He had still felt the weight of the ring, though it stay powerless on his hand. Noctis hadn't tried to use it in so long, but, he felt that the presence of the ring was what linked him to Luna, in a way, as well was whatever had assailed him in the last dream.
He needed to find Luna, and soon, so he could find out what was causing so much… pain.
He stood back up, and proceeded to get dressed, opting into leaving his jacket hanging on the door. He figured that he would feel better after breakfast (in spite of the time of day, he hoped they wouldn't mind), so, he would step out of the room, walk down the hall, and work his way down the stairs. Rubbing his eyes, he emerged into the main bar area, only to look up and see Prompto, another blonde man, and-
"Aranea?" he said, his hand dropping back to his side. He stepped over to the three, clapping a hand on Prompto's shoulder before looking to Aranea. "It's good to see you again." he said with a grin, before looking over at the man with them. A familiar air had surrounded the man, but Noctis gave a nod in greeting, just in case they hadn't truly met before. "Hey, I'm Noctis." he said, stretching out a hand in greeting before he would return to the matter at hand.
Having as much to catch up on as they had, Noctis would then turn to Aranea, knowing that she would have figured out what he would ask next. All he needed was an answer.
"Looks like we all got dragged into this, one way or another... Even Luna. Have you seen her?"
Just as Prompto was about to answer, he was cut short by a familiar silver-haired lady pulling him into a hug. It took him a moment to realise that it was Aranea, the first person he had seen since he arrived in this new place — the place that she said wasn't part of Eos.
"I'm not that short," Prompto wailed in an exaggerated manner, puffing his cheeks in frustration. He could hear Caius conversing with Aranea at the same time and he could only wonder how they already knew each other, unless...
It was only when Caius inquired about their status (or rather or the implications of it) that Prompto found himself incredibly embarrassed. His hands flailed about in self-defense as he attempted to explain himself, "No no, it's not like that! I met her a while back."
Noctis' voice broke through the animated conversation all three of them were having and he turned around, a grin spreading from ear to ear at the sight of his best friend awake at such an early timing. Just as he was about to greet him with a cheery "good morning", he paused in his movements to scrutinise the young man before him.
Prompto found himself narrowing his eyes at his best friend. Even though Noctis was not the sort to wear his heart on his sleeve, he could still feel that something was incredibly off about his best friend. However, he could not quite see it this time around and he wondered whether it was because the Noctis in front of him wasn't the same one he was familiar with.
As Noctis questioned about Luna, Prompto found an opportunity to ask about the rest.
"Yeah, Aranea. Have you seen the rest? Gladio and Iggy? I know there are others we have to look for," his words faded off, his sentence unfinished, but it was enough to let the other two know what their current predicament was.
TAGGED // @dustwa Caius Dragelion @noctisluciscaelum NOTES // There you go. Apologies for the incredibly late response.
"Sure, sure whatever you say," Aranea hmphed as Prompto defended his height. Just seeing that he was okay after everything that had gone down in the last few days. He looked so young here as if the events of the years of darkness hadn't taken their toll on him and his child like wonder of the world. If only things weren't so dire, she'd let him regain his memories slowly and on his own time, but with a certain daemon roaming about the streets, she needed to jump start the process faster than she would rather like. She was about to begin pressing the issue when someone else began to speak.
Aranea turned to see someone who looked somewhat familiar. She tilted her head as the memories of her recovery in the temple came to the forefront of her mind as she studied the blonde man. "Caius, right?" She knew she was correct, but it did better to keep people at a distance until she could learn to trust them better. After all they had only met when both of them had badly injured. Still his cock and bull story she had taken with a grain of salt seemed much more viable now that had dealt with an amnesiac Prompto and Luna and a daemonic Iris.
She was about to affirm she knew Prompto when Caius indirectly asked is she and Prompto were a couple. "Please," she scoffed rolling her eyes and crossing her arms. Aranea was going to comment more but Prompto seemed to be adamantly denying that such an arrangement was happening. "What I'm not good enough for ya?" she teased mockingly acting offended a smile playing at her lips the next words coming out dry and sarcastic. "And here I was planning our elopement for this evening."
Aranea was planning on ribbing him a bit harder, but they were interrupted once more by the approach of another. Aranea turned quickly to see Noctis approaching them and coming to rest near them. Fear and relief swirled together inside her as she wondered what he would remember but his non antagonistic approach and greeting were enough to convince her he knew something. Still, she wasn't about to lay everything out on the table until she could be absolutely sure. "Well, if it isn't the pretty boy himself," Aranea smiled noticing Noctis rubbing at his eyes, "Just catching up on your beauty sleep, your highness?" The last word said irreverently as she always had said it in his presence just to make sure he didn't get a big head.
"Don't you worry," Aranea said waving her hand near her head. "Your girlfriend is safe and sound thanks to yours truly." Aranea pointed to a table a bit away from some of the other patrons before crossing her arms again and sitting down in the seat near the wall waving the three of them over. "Still, until she's feeling a bit better and has a chance to remember a few more things or well anything, I think a reunion can wait a couple more days." It was the truth too, she had taken a lot out of herself to repel the Starscourge from within Iris. Her lips pursed as she remembered the incident, but now was the time to move forward not dwell on the past.
"And sorry kid, I've not the seen the big guy or four eyes. Still, Iris is with Luna right now so that'll be a comfort if Gladdy shows his mug," Aranea answered Prompto. It probably wasn't the answer he wanted to hear but it was the truth. "Well, as much as I'd love to sit here and just gossip with you boys," her eyes turned from Caius, to Prompto, and finally to Noctis who she hoped would understand how bad things were as soon as she said them, "there's a certain walking disaster that needs taken care of sooner than later." She waited for a few seconds for any recognition before she explained more fully. "Ardyn's here Noct. First time I wasn't sure until he kicked my ass from here to Niflheim. Just ran into him again up in that snowy city, but I was more prepared. I dealt with his daemons but he had obviously run away terrified after seeing what I'd done to them," She lied with a small self knowing grin. Ardyn had left precisely when he wanted to and that was that. She knew that Noctis and probably Caius would know that was the last part of her story was a lie, but she wasn't going to show that she was scared or helpless. Aranea sat back in her chair and waited for the reactions to come forward.
Aranea seemed to finally realize that Caius existed, which did remove the need for reminders. Which was good, Caius didn't feel the going through the whole thing again. The Glaive smirked lightly when Prompto would adamantly deny his question, while Aranea would tease him in turn. "Could have fooled me" He spoke dryly toward Prompto.
But it was the next entrant that changed everything.
Someone called Aranea's name, and Caius would turn his head with curiosity.
"Hi, I'm Noctis."
Caius had stopped dead the second he had turned, coming face to face with a face that he'd only seen in his dreams in the last... What had it been, nearly two years? But to hear the name, to know for sure that this was the one he'd worried about for so long. Had he been safe? Had there been other assassins? Had Caius only gotten the one and been sent here before he and the other Glaives could stop any others? These questions had continued to run through his head all this time, no longer how much he had resigned to the fact that he would most likely never be going home. That he would never be able to return to the Kingsglaive. He had carved out a life here, but he could never forget home, the Glaives he served with... The King that he served.
"Your Highness...?"
Caius couldn't believe his eyes. His brown pupils shrinking, the former Glaive couldn't help but stare for a few moments. This was the face he remembered. Sure, lacking a bit in hair compared to before, but there was no mistaking this was the same man.
He was safe.
Perhaps the Caius a year or so ago would have simply saluted and greeted His Highness with confidence, but... That Caius had died some time ago. Caius couldn't find any words. He felt a lump in his throat as he tried to form something, anything... But nothing came. Everything he felt was just... Just...
Overwhelming.
Caius couldn't explain this feeling. It was like a world of worries had lifted off his shoulders, like... Like he was home again. It didn't even matter that he didn't seem to recognize him. His Highness had plenty of people he worked with, and Caius had been just one of many. He hadn't worked super closely with the King as his three retainers did. But even then... It wouldn't have mattered anyway. He was here. He was safe. All those nights with what remained of loyalty to the man behind a Kingdom and creed that had given him meaning and purpose... All of the worrying, all of that time spent wondering for nights on end, wondering if the King was safe, if he could have done something more if Caius had stayed. It had all come crashing down here and now.
Caius felt something spilling down his cheek and he brought a hand to it.
It was wet.
Was... Was he crying?
Realizing that Noctis had held out a hand to shake, Caius would do his best to recollect himself, wiping his face with the sleeve of his Glaive quickly and putting on the best "Ok" face that he could, as he would reach out and shake his hand in turn (with the dryer hand.)
"Caius."
As he released his hand, Caius felt his balance beginning to weaken. His legs were shaking, hell, his entire body felt like it was going to fall apart at the seams. Finding a chair nearby, he would quickly find a place to sit down. While he was listening - sort of - to Aranea's report and stories, Caius was still trying to process everything for the time being.
When the night has come And the land is dark And the moon is the only light we'll see No, I won't be afraid Oh, I won't be afraid Just as long as you stand, stand by me
❞
In spite of her usual "business as usual" attitude, Noctis had sensed an understanding in Aranea's words. Caius' reaction to Noctis' arrival had sparked concern for the man, but Noctis also felt a swelling respect from the man that said one thing to him.
A Glaive.
Yes, the Power of Kings was within this man, even so far from their own home, having sensed it before shaking the man's hand. Noctis had figured others, even the reformed Kingsglaive, were here, but he soon realized that there were four (five, counting Luna) in this world so far from Eos.
Six, if he dared to count Ardyn the same way.
Aranea had briefed him that Luna was safe, thanks to her, and he felt his heart swell, the nightmare fading even more from his reason as he gave a small smile in thanks, knowing that this was the friend he left behind that day.
One of them.
He listened further to her story of Ardyn, nodding slowly as everything around him, the bustling of people, the voices, seemed to fade away.
So, we failed him, after all. he thought, eyes thinning as he fell into a thousand yard stare. If he let his mind wander just slightly, he could just barely feel it. He could feel him right behind-
Noctis had looked behind him, seeing nothing but the usual patrons drinking and talking jovially. He looked back to Aranea, his eyes going from the usual sleepy expression to a new one.
Aged. Worn out.
Tired.
"At the end of it all, I tried to allow him rest from his immortality." he leaned on the table with his hands, his head tilting forward. "It took everything I had to do it. It took everything we had. But we saved our home, all of us." he motioned to Prompto.
"The problem is, it took all of us, all of the Kings of Old, to do it. My connection with the Arms is limited, but it's slowly coming back… But I'm not sure if it's enough. If he's immortal in the way he was back in Insomnia… We can strike him down as many times as we please, but he's just going to get back up somewhere else."
"There's another threat I have to help take care of… Something I promised someone right after I first got here. A powerful ally had been taken, and I'm going to help save her." he looked up to Aranea, then over to Prompto. "We need to try to find Gladio and Ignis. I know they're here. Right now, with all of us, Luna, and my friend Lightning… We'll stand a good chance at putting Ardyn down, for good, and being done with this."
Saying those last words, the finality of it, weighed on his heart. He was here because of Ardyn again, the ending that he had accepted, that he had chosen, the willing sacrifice… All for nothing. Being done with it meant so much to him. Allowing Ardyn to rest in peace. Allowing his father, and his ancestors to rest in peace.
Even deeper was his realization that maybe he just wanted to rest in peace as well. The fate of this world was on the shoulders of everyone that wanted to protect it, and one of the largest threats out there was his responsibility.
He was fully aware that this time, there was no prophecy to fall back on. There was a real possibility that he could fail.
But he certainly didn't plan to. The lingering sound of a voice… her voice hung on his mind.
Would that I could join you... but this moment will have to be enough.
"Lady Lunafreya," Prompto breathed. He hadn't gotten the chance to meet the young woman face to face. All he knew about her was through the letter she had sent to him when he was all but a mere child, unworthy of standing next to Noctis. According to Noctis, there was a high chance that she was alive because Ardyn was alive.
Whatever information that Noctis had told him – about them dying to bring back the dawn – was still reeling in his head, but Prompto had more than enough time to absorb everything. However, his memories had yet to return to him. Prompto allowed his gaze to linger upon his friend, feeling the faint ache of something beneath his ribcage, before he forced himself to return to the task at hand.
"If the power of all kings aren't enough, what makes you think we have a chance?" Prompto inquired, doubt in his words. "The last thing we need is for you to walk in there without a plan."
The unspoken message was subtle, but it was there: he wasn't going to let his best mate go through this alone again, not for a second time.
TAGGED // @noctisluciscaelum Caius Dragelion @dustwa NOTES // There you go. Short for now because I'm sleepy.
