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year 5, quarter 3
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Beatrix found the tavern distasteful. She never had much time for disorder or chaos, and this grotty bar seemed to thrive on it. Even the chairs were arranged in a scattershot approach, to such an extent she had to quell an urge to go and ensure that each table was evenly spaced and had its correct number of assigned chairs. If she ran this place, it would be completely different. The rowdy atmosphere she also had little time for. Men being men was not something she appreciated. It was crude and repulsive.
There had been merciful silence when she had entered, for the clientele, mostly covered in dirt and worn worker's clothes, had turned to observe the woman who had just entered in a pristine duster, shining armour, and with flawless hair. Beatrix clearly did not belong, not in a place like this, and eyes drew to her, with a range of expression. Some with envy, some with lust, and some with anger. They viewed her, Beatrix knew, as a typical wealthy lady, who had no place being in this drinking establishment. This was a place for the workers. They didn't want nobility there.
It wasn't a reaction Beatrix was used to. She was known everywhere in Alexandria. If she entered a tavern such as this there, people fell silent, and immediately filed to the walls until she had made her demands of them. But in this city, on this world, nobody knew her, and they seemed to view her as another rich snob. At least, until they caught glimpse of her sword, which caused them to reconsider.
She approached the bar, and curtly called for attention. "Barkeep. Red wine. Your finest, please," she said simply. Beatrix didn't much believe in drinking, particularly when she had duties to attend to, but she was here for information, and it wouldn't do to just interrogate workers. Not here, not without authority. It would draw too much attention. She would have to be crafty. She would have to try and blend in. Ironically, it was something that Garnet had learned to do, travelling with Zidane, but not something Beatrix knew herself. There was definitely a level of amusement that the trained warrior and bodyguard was the one who didn't know how to talk to the common folk, and the Queen of Alexandria did, but dwelling on that did little good now.
"Well, well, well, what's a fancy lady like yerself doin' in a joint like this?" came a rough sounding voice from her side. With a sigh, Beatrix turned, facing a man in scruffy leathers, with thick stubble and an unwashed face. "Purchasing a drink. What does it look like I am doing?" Beatrix replied, trying to hide the irritation in her voice. Her voice remained calm, of course, but she did find moments like this trying. "That's a very fancy sword fer a lady like yerself. Y'sure you don't want me to carry it fer you? Wouldn't want you to chip a nail on it," the man continued with a grin. Beatrix's eyes wavered to Save the Queen at her side. It was, indeed, a 'fancy sword', as this man had proclaimed. "I assure you, there is no threat of that," Beatrix answered, turning back to the bar and wondering where her drink was. "Still, doubt a fancy lady like yerself knows how to use it. What could you do to stop me takin' it from you?" the man's tone grew more sinister. Beatrix sighed. So far, the people of this town had been smart enough not to try and mug her. But it seemed alcohol was making a fool of this man. Well, more foolish than he was naturally, Beatrix was sure. "If I was incapable of preventing you from taking my blade, I would not deserve to wield it," Beatrix answered matter-of-factly, still not turning from the bar. The drunk man laughed at this, a lecherous laugh, and began to turn away, before spinning, lunging for the hilt of Beatrix's blade to take it. Beatrix, in a flash, moved aside, and gently pushed the man's back, causing him to collide with the bar and fall onto his back.
The crash was loud enough to silence the bar, and the man scrambled back to his feet, now looking genuinelly angry. "You'll pay for that, bitch! Get 'er, boys!" he ordered, and she noticed as five more men, similarly scruffy and ragged, stood from their stools, taking up sides beside her aggressor. Several drew knives. "I assure you, it means very little to me whether you pursue this course of action or not, but I would give you one opportunity to walk away..." Beatrix offered calmly. She still hadn't turned fully from the bar. "My wine, please?" she asked the barkeep, as if completely unconcerned. "Listen, bitch, you mighta got the drop on me before, but this time, there's six of us! What's a pretty little princess like you gonna do against six of us!?" he growled. Beatrix simply flicked her hair back, and allowed a light smirk to appear on her lips. "Six? Ah. Come back with ninety four more men so that I may equal my personal best," she replied. There seemed to be a moment of hesitation from the others. "What?" was all their leader could ask. She turned, flicking her hair back again and this time drawing her sword. "You do not know me here, so I will give you one opportunity to learn. I am General Beatrix of Alexandria. I once felled a hundred knights single handed. I have stood against an army of dragons and powers from beyond the walls of our reality. You... are six drunk men in a tavern, only four of whom are armed. I would do a disservice to insects to compare you to them compared to me, and yet, alas, I am afraid no other comparison comes to mind, so I must remind you that you are ants before a boot." "Fancy words from a fancy lady, but we'll see how fancy yer are when we gut ya an' take everything yer own fer ourselves," the leader growled, but Beatrix noticed his number had dropped to four. Two had fled, obviously concerned by her words. "I'll take that wine now," Beatrix said calmly, lifting the pewter cup in one hand, sword in the other. The cup was filled, and she took a sip.
At the same time, she brought the flat side of her blade around in an arc as the first man charged her, and dropped him to the floor with an incredible WHAM!. The second circled her, dancing for a moment, tossing his knife from hand to hand with a cocky grin. She simply slapped it out of the air as it passed between his hands with a lightning swish of her sword, and it clanged to the ground. "Showing off is only advisable if you have the skill to back it up, and you do not," she said calmly, holding her blade to his throat. He turned to run, and she took another sip of wine. The leader of the thugs, now obviously concerned, picked up a chair and charged her, lifting it over his head. Beatrix struck out with the pommel of her sword, breaking his nose and moving so fast she stepped into him before he could bring the chair down. He had no option but to release it over his head, meaning the chair fell and shattered against his own head. Dazed and confused, she grabbed him and guided him by an arm, tossing him out of the tavern doors.
She sheathed her sword and returned to the bar. There was still a man standing, watching her, knife in trembling hands. Again, she sipped her wine. She simply turned, and she stared, holding a gaze with her single eye, wine held casually in one hand.
The man ran.
She turned back to the bar, finishing her drink and placing the goblet back on the bar. She sighed, tossing her hair back. She sighed. So much for being inconspicuous here. She doubted she'd learn anything now...
Post by Caius Dragelion on Aug 7, 2020 17:58:16 GMT -6
The Dragonglaive
@beatrix Word Count: OOC: Dialogue Color: 196fd1
Back in the game again, Caius had finished at least establishing somewhat of a foundation for the Dragonblades in Sonora. To be perfectly honest, it hadn't gone as well as he had liked. He had expected it to be hard, but the strict regime of Sonora made it difficult to find work as a mercenary period, much less get a proper foothold and reputation for an entire guild. But at the least, he had started things out. But before long, the yearning for home had taken him back to Torensten. He hadn't made as much progress as he would like, but Caius knew that Sonora was going to be something that was going to take a long time, and even then he might never make a serious foothold in the city itself. No, instead they would have to regroup and take on the surrounding areas of the regime, working up a reputation outside of the capital of Sonora's territory to earn that trust. That way, they would be able to work their way up until they reached a more solid and stable point, and maybe then they could make a dent in the main city.
With the foundation complete and a trip home to relieve Celes for awhile though, Caius had rested and was eager to get out and about again. He and Celes had talked, and the idea of trying to make some headway in Provo was brought up. It was far more welcoming than the icy Sonora, even if it wasn't as much as the "Adventurer's Paradise" known as Torensten. And with Yuna primarily working in Provo, they had someone responsible to keep building the momentum of the Provo branch of the Dragonblades once they made enough progress to establish it. But Yuna was going to need all the help she could get. Strong and capable warriors -- but most importantly people who understood why they were here. People who actually wanted to help people.
Making camp outside the city, Caius had found himself inside a tavern that night to whet his appetite and look for rumors and possible jobs in the city. It was a tried and true practice that had served the young man well many times over across his tenure in this world. Caius belonged perhaps a little more, for while his jacket was armored and there was additional armor underneath, it was still a black jacket that blended into the shadows of this dusty old place. The dragon symbol on the back piqued some looks though.
As the bitter beverage drenched his lips, the young man's ears perked when he heard the all-too familiar sound of another man talking up a lady in the typical bold and callous way that Celes had lamented her hatred of so much. Caius let out a low sigh. Typical in places like this, but no less annoying. He knew one thing he probably wouldn't find in here. Warriors of the caliber he was looking for. Ones who carried themselves with as much honor and compassion as they carried in skill with a sword.
The woman that answered back sounded so much like a certain someone he knew though, that his head jerked up and he placed his drink down. Celes? It couldn't be, could it? While Celes was her own independent woman who could go wherever she liked, if she had intended on taking a trek to Provo at the same time as him, she'd have surely brought it up. Even if for whatever reason she didn't want to go together (Which he doubted. Despite recent tensions, Celes wasn't one to ignore the practical benefits of the two of them working as a team. She was too resourceful and business-minded for that) surely there would have been proper communication. He strained to look at her. She certainly looked like Celes... Except browner in the hair. And blinder. 50% blinder at that.
That was definitely not Celes.
"3... 2... 1...."
The inevitable crash that Caius would expect from someone that even resembled her followed soon after when it was clear the drunkard was trying to mug her. And oh look at that! The man had backup! How original! Having seen enough, Caius gingerly rose from his seat. Picking up his mug, he polished off his drink in a long gulp as the men started yammering at her. The woman seemed perfectly calm, which told Caius enough. She had this in hand. But it wouldn't hurt to handle this a little faster. Caius let out a yawn as the man, deceivingly lithe for one his size and build, gingerly sashayed through the gathering crowd while the woman made some kind of declaration about Beatrix of Alexandria, General, something something... Standing against an army of dragons (Vordun wouldn't like that), yadda yadda. Either an egotistical boast or fact, who knew? The ants before a boot part shifted the impression towards the former, though. This lady was full of herself, to say the least.
The yammering continued. Oh my god, just get to the fighting already, he thought to himself as he continued to quietly make his way through. Two fled, and Caius had no reason to stop them. Apparently some men were afraid of a woman with confidence. Who knew? But it was soon after that he saw perhaps there was some truth to her egregious boasting. Down went one, then another... And then the leader took a chair... And then once he was gone, the last one just ran. Caius was a little disappointed that he couldn't get involved (he had drained his drink so quickly for nothing!) but it was fine. Since any stools next to her were now conveniently vacant, he figured he might as well place himself next to her and order a new drink.
"Do you usually boast before fights?" Caius remarked offhandedly as he watched his drink be filled. "You could have a new drink in your hand by now if you hadn't taken five minutes to talk about how great you are."
There was a playfulness to his tone that indicated he wasn't being serious, at least. With a military woman, Caius would typically be formal. And he would be, in a minute. But considering she had just leveled a few guys, the least he could do was warm the mood after she had turned the tavern completely frosty.
A man approached her after the chaos, and Beatrix had to bite back a sigh. She had just defeated six men in order to be left alone; why would that draw further attention? This man, at least, seemed not to be there to initiate combat. Not that Beatrix minded having to educate the denizens of the bar in exactly who she was, but it was a frustrating waste of time, and one she would rather not have to do if it could be avoided.
The man who approached was at least different from the thugs she had dispatched. He was armed, but carried himself not with the cocky assurance of a street thug, all swinging shoulders and arrogance to try and make himself look bigger, but with the quiet confidence of a trained warrior. Beatrix could, at least, respect that, even if the question hung in the air whether or not he could back up said confidence. She had met many warriors in her time who held themselves that way, ready for battle, but had only been disappointments once steel was in hand.
"That was not a 'fight'," Beatrix replied casually, her one eye turning to observe him. "There is no honour and not anything to be gained from battling untrained thugs. A true knight does not seek to harm others, but protect those that need it," Beatrix wished that she had learned that sooner. "If I could dissuade them from seeking battle, I would. It is just a shame that they did not listen to me," she remarked. There was a certain truth to that. Beatrix knew that she could come across as arrogant; although was it really arrogance when it was the truth, but if it dissuaded those challenging her from a meaningless death, then so be it. Sadly it so rarely worked. At least on this occasion she had not had to kill the men before they had turned and fled. Death was a waste, Beatrix rarely liked killing her enemies, merely educating them.
"The pace of my drinking does not concern me," she went on, given he had suggested that she could have a second drink by now. "The night is young, and only just beginning." Beatrix didn't drink heavily anyway, here it was just to fit in. She saw no need to rush, after all. She would rather remain sober and seek evidence regarding Garnet's whereabouts than become drunk anyway.
"So, who may you be, who are so quick to criticise a General of Alexandria?" Yes, she was growing aware such a title was meaningless here, but it was still a lack of respect Beatrix felt to not offer respect to a held rank. "Where I am from, it is customary for one to introduce oneself, before joining another for a drink," she pointed out, as it seemed he had chosen to sit next to her.
Post by Caius Dragelion on Aug 8, 2020 11:32:48 GMT -6
The Dragonglaive
@beatrix Word Count: OOC: Dialogue Color: 196fd1
A smile brushed his lips at her remarks, and he nodded his head in approval when she cited that a true knight does not seek to harm others, but protect those that need it. And citing that she desired to dissuade the drunkards from attacking her, but it did not work. That was fair enough. "As much as I respect the idea behind it, words typically don't phase the impaired or the prideful. They only value what they can see" he brought up, his voice dialing down to the more curt and serious tone that was more customary for Caius. He studied her face as she spoke, watching her one-eye especially. There was conviction behind her words. He could see that. Whatever it was there was to her, they were things she truly believed in.
"The night is young, but time is precious. What time you have should be enjoyed in full. I doubt you enjoyed trying to dissuade those men with boasts of your deeds. Time better served enjoying the night while it's young" he suggested, his smile soft and his tone calm and quiet, perhaps a little solemn. He watched his new drink arrive before taking a sip. It was bittersweet. Kind of like how he was feeling right now as memories of days far gone washed ashore. "Most don't understand how precious time in a place like this is. Quiet, calm... And how you'll miss it if a day comes that it's not so serene anymore."
Ten years. He had spent ten entire years in a world where nowhere was safe. Where time served as only a benchmark... Passing endlessly without meaning as only the struggle to survive mattered. There had been nothing left to enjoy.
Talking about things like that made him feel old. He wasn't all that old, but... By the gods did he sometimes feel like he was. He had no real grasp of how much time had passed since he had come to this world. His complexion hadn't changed one bit, despite the passage of time. Physically, he looked the same as the day he arrived here. But mentally... Well, he had to grow up fast a long time ago. Now he felt even older.
She asked who he was, to criticize a General of Alexandria and he laughed a little. She was right, it was custom to introduce oneself. He nodded his head. He agreed. "I understand, Beatrix of Alexandria. Forgive me for not doing so sooner" he apologized in a more formal, militarized tone as he looked back to her. "I'll do my best to respect and emulate your homeland's customs of formality" he then promised as a hand curled into a fist. He placed it over his heart. The salute of Lucis' military. Of the Kingsglaive.
"Caius of Lucis, or Caius Dragelion as some call me" he introduced as he bowed with the upper half of his body and head. "Leader of the Dragonblades Mercenary Guild. Formerly Kingsglaive to His Majesty, King Noctis Caelum of Lucis."
It was incredibly rare for Caius to introduce himself as the Dragonblades' leader right off the bat. He didn't like to posture, or boast, or stroke his ego. But if a full introduction was the best way to respect the General's customs, he would readily oblige. Caius raised his glass to her then, as a further show of respect and formality. This time, in toast to her abilities. "To meeting one as skilled and dedicated to her convictions as Beatrix of Alexandria" he toasted before taking a drink.
Beatrix knew that he was correct, often people didn't listen to the words or warnings of others. At least, not when there was no evidence to back them up. But in Beatrix's experience, her reputation usually meant that she did have that. Back on the Mist Continent, once somebody realised it was General Beatrix they were challenging, they would usually be sent scampering for cover instantly. She rarely had to fight those who weren't either suicidal or desperate anymore, or monsters, of course.
"You must excuse me, I'm not entirely used to this realm as of yet. Back in my own kingdom, my name and reputation carries some weight. My opponents usually are not so keen to engage me once they realise who I am. It is a matter of some... adjustment... to recall that my reputation is not the same here as it was on my home continent," she explained briefly. Ten years of earning such a formidable reputation most quaked just to hear her name, that entire squads of soldiers would throw down their swords and run as soon as they realised it was Beatrix of Alexandria challenging them, all of it, lost here. Something she would have to adapt to. She was still learning, it seemed.
"I am afraid that I am not here to enjoy the night. Rather, gather information. My presence here was not voluntary. I was ripped from my home, and worry that so were those in my charge. I must locate them as soon as I can, and yet, so far my search has proven rather fruitless," she explained. She wasn't sure why she had chosen to share this information with this man. So far, he had only sought to criticise her. Perhaps the wine had dulled her edge, or perhaps she sensed something in his attitude that suggested he may be of assistance. She listened to his introduction with note. Kingsglaive? She wasn't familiar with the term, but service to the crown was something she recognised. "A pleasure to meet you, Sir Caius of Lucius. I too, serve my crown, General and leader of the armies of Alexandria, and servant of Queen Garnet Til Alexandros XVII of Alexandria," she introduced with a little more information and formality.
"To meeting a fellow knight, as understanding and wise as Caius of Lucius," she replied, raising her own goblet. "So, pray tell, Caius, how does one of your stature go from Kingsglaive to mercenary?" she asked. She didn't know what a Kingsglaive was, of course, but she could assume and make a safe guess. And she assumed it was similar to her duty as General, albeit perhaps without leading an army. More like a bodyguard, perhaps? Beatrix balanced both roles, but she knew many royals did not. Who was this King Noctis that Caius served? Was he local? Connections to the local crown could come in useful in Beatrix's search for Garnet herself, after all...
Post by Caius Dragelion on Aug 11, 2020 20:34:27 GMT -6
The Dragonglaive
@beatrix Word Count: OOC: Dialogue Color: 196fd1
Caius actually smiled a little as Beatrix brought up that she had been ripped from her home and from her charges. Not that he was smiling about her predicament, but because of just how familiar the whole thing was. Caius slowly nodded his head as he absorbed what was being said, and it dawned on him just how many times he had been there to hear this story, time and time again. Though it was also amusing that Beatrix was able to handle issues just based off her reputation as a warrior alone. She must have been quite mighty, indeed, to earn that sort of distinction. Cassius had been through many battles, but he hadn't encountered anyone who had fled at the sight of him. Only people who wanted to kill him, typically. But everyone had their ways of handling conflicts. The challenge for her now would be how to handle them now that she was in uncharted territory.
She claimed she was here to gain information, and he nodded his head as he smiled warmly. "You're in luck. I think I have a pretty good grasp on your situation. I can probably answer a fair bit of what you're thinking right now" he admitted, though he frowned a moment after that as he realized the gravity of it. It wasn't going to be easy to hear, and it was never an easy thing to tell. But it would help in the end, that he knew. "I would buy yourself a stronger drink, though" he pointed out. The reason why would be clear shortly.
"I can tell you about your situation on account you share mine. You're in Provo, a country existing on the continent of Zephon. If any other places exist beyond Zephon, I couldn't tell you. But what I've grasped from the people I've met throughout my travels is that Zephon is a melting pot between worlds. It's hard to say what decides what worlds are picked, or who is picked from them, or even why they are taken. But every single one I have met is a warrior in some form. Some have been snatched from the jaws of death, given new life here. Others were in the middle of great quests, now unable to finish them for the time being. Others have been taken from completely different time periods within the same world. I've even met the great ancestor of my own King, the founder of Lucis himself. He's a d!ck, by the way."
He took a great drink from his tankard, as his expression grew serious. This explanation would also answer her own question. "A monster with mastery over the undead tried to assassinate my King, hoping to turn him into one of their own soldiers. I was able to subdue them, but I was suddenly sent here during the struggle. If I was to guess, I was killed in the process, or it was simply my time to be sent here. Though as the assassin has also found their way here, I appear to have fallen doing my duty either way. I no longer have a King to serve, and am in a world where none I have met appear to have found a way back. With my duty finished, I had looked to find a new one. So, with the allies I've made, I formed the Dragonblades. A mercenary unit committed to jobs that focus on the ability to help people who need it. The funds allow us to serve as a proper peacekeeping force when necessary. For all the warriors Zephon has brought, it's also brought along its share of problems. From the daemon Ardyn that has spread a plague through Provo, to the monster Kuja, who once served the Lich before we put his master down."
He took another drink, giving Beatrix time to take it all in, and see if she had any questions. Though he did note one thing before that.
"There's a chance your charges were brought here as well. If you name them, I may be able to find them in my travels."
Finally, she had some information. After so many encounters, somebody was willing to tell her a little about this world. But it was not good news. It seemed, as Beatrix was beginning to suspect, people from many other worlds had been pulled there. That was to be expected, she knew other worlds existed; Terra had been proof of that, so she wasn't too surprised to learn of this place. No, the problem was as Caius told his story, she realised that he had never found his way back. He had formed his mercenary band to survive here because he was trapped.
And that was not a good sign.
"I was not taken from within a great quest, nor the time of my death. I was..." she hesitated for a moment. "...happy. I was... happy. We all were. And then... I was here..." she confessed. It was even worse, she realised, for her Queen. Beatrix and Steiner had been in a happy relationship for months now, but Garnet had only just been reunited with Zidane when Beatrix had been taken. If she had been taken too, her heart would be broken.
Still, she listened attentively. Different time periods? That sounded ominous. Did that mean that perhaps Garnet had been stolen, but earlier in her timeline? If so, she might be less able to protect herself, even more in danger. What would that mean for Beatrix? Could history be changed? If somebody was taken from the past and never returned, how could events unfold as they did? Suddenly, Beatrix felt like not only was her Queen threatened, but the entire timeline of her homeworld. It was more important than ever that she found her way back.
Something that clearly Caius had not achieved.
But then everything changed. He began to list other threats. Things that had come to this world to cause problems. And he said a name. For a moment, Beatrix froze. She felt her blood run cold.
Kuja.
Her one eye looked steadily back at him. "Did you say Kuja?" she repeated icily. She swallowed, taking a sip of her drink to clear her throat. "You... stopped his 'master', but not Kuja himself?" she said, understanding what he said. "You must listen to me very carefully. Kuja, he is of my world. And... if he still lives here, then this entire world is in extreme danger. Kuja serves no master but himself. He does not answer to any Lich. He has only his own goal, and it is complete destruction. He once destroyed an entire planet using only his magical power. My charge.... she is... Queen... Queen Garnet Til Alexandros XVII, she travelled with a team of adventurers and put a stop to Kuja's plan. We thought him killed, but not before tens of thousands lives were lost, entire nations destroyed, cities reduced to rubble..." Beatrix trailed off, looking back at her drink, before getting to her feet. "Where did you encounter Kuja? You must tell me. If he still lives, every citizen, every person, is in danger. He could attack at any moment. His power is matched only by his greed and his insanity. He believes that he will die soon, and therefore he believes everything should die with him. I was known as our world's most powerful warrior, and I have never encountered a being more dangerous," she finished explaining.
"If your Dragonblades are working to stop him, I would join and work with you, and do whatever is necessary to see the job done. Regardless of whether or not my charge, the Queen, is here, stopping Kuja must be my priority. For the good of all the people of this world," she swore, placing a fist on her chest in salute to make it a vow. "Will you assist me in finding him?"
Post by Caius Dragelion on Aug 13, 2020 9:33:49 GMT -6
The Dragonglaive
@beatrix Word Count: OOC: Dialogue Color: 196fd1
Caius expression was serious as he looked deep into the eyes of Beatrix. Brown eyes scanned brown, searching every inch, reading her face, reading her lips. His ears worked fine, but he still read the details of her lips as she paused. And then... She was here, she said. She was...
"... You were a warrior at the end of your adventure, thought to have beaten the main source of strife for yourself and your people. A life ahead of you that you were excited for at the end of your struggle. And then you were here" he spoke softly, his eyes never being taken off hers. He took a breath, before closing his eyes and quietly lowering his head a moment in a small bow before looking to her once more. "I understand. And I empathize."
Perhaps it was a story that he would tell later, when there was more time. But Caius had been in the same boat. The assassin had been in his post-story, in a sense. When the skies cleared, the clouds gave way... And the darkness was gone. They had defeated the evil ones and restored peace to Lucis. But Caius did not have long to enjoy it. That was his cruel reality, and by the looks of her, she had a look that said she suffered that same reality. It was a look he knew all too well. It was a look that he had seen in the mirror time and time again for months, struggling with his grief. At one point, he had nearly taken his own life upon coming to the conclusion that he would never be able to return, and would never serve again. He had no purpose. But in the end, he couldn't do it. Back then, he had been spineless. But he had eventually found the strength to keep going... With a decision to find his own purpose. A purpose he now had. One for himself. One of his own making.
But when he said a name, her expression changed. He listened, recognizing the change in her tone. She was an iceberg before (why did this seem very familiar?) but now? Well, it was pretty clear the name Kuja had triggered something. And all of a sudden, he had answers of his own. The world that Kuja had come from. What he had done... And what he may do again if left unchecked. While he remained calm in the face of this revelation, as well as her whirlwind desire to join the Dragonblades and do whatever it took to find Kuja and put an end to him, he slowly nodded his head.
"I see. Then he is a greater threat than I had thought" he admitted quietly, biting his lip. This was a problem. Ardyn was enough, but apparently Kuja had far more power than he had known. It was a miracle that Caius had survived the encounter, if he was capable of destroying entire planets like that. "A group of fighters was dispatched to stop the rise of one of the four Fiends, being the Lich. Kuja was amongst our traveling party. He was a dick, but he was strong. He and this poor excuse for a knight called Vossler abandoned me when I was stricken by a curse and Vossler had taken the cure for himself. I caught up to them on my own and reached the Lich, but it turned out that Kuja was working for the monster the entire time. He turned on us, and we had been forced to fight him and the Lich off together. I was able to slay the Lich, but its last ditch attack sent us outside of the temple before I could kill Kuja. If what you say is true... Then it sounds like Kuja would not have been slain easily."
He got lucky. That was all it was. He had slain the Lich before Kuja could potentially overwhelm them and had been saved by its last ditch attack. Not that Caius was in any state to fight after the lich was dead. It had been Vordun with the Phoenix Down that had kept Caius alive period.
Well, that was a blow to his pride. But it just meant he needed to redouble his efforts.
He had an interesting backstory too, but Caius didn't care much about that. What mattered was he was a threat, and not one that would be talked down by words. That meant he needed to be ended.
"I had meant to kill him the next time I saw him. But it sounds like I won't be enough alone" he admitted. That was vexing. But that's just how it be sometimes. "I don't know where he is now, but..." he trailed off as he watched her get to her feet. He joined her, then. Her salute was familiar, and he smiled lightly. "I accept your request gladly, Beatrix of Alexandria." Her boasting was a bit problematic but now that she knew it wouldn't do anything, perhaps she would focus on the task at hand going forward. With that in mind, he could tell she had a good heart, and a fine sense of duty. Willing to put her personal desires aside to help people and protect people. Potentially, she would make a fine Dragonblade.
Caius's words seemed interesting to her. The end of her adventure? Was that how it was viewed? She supposed that she had won a great victory, and finalised her decision to remain in Alexandria, but she had never felt like it was an end. Rather... something else... "No, it was the not the end of my adventure. I have fought many battles, and seen many things.... This was... something else. I like to think it was the start of my adventure. An adventure that was not just about the sword and who I defeated in battle, but... something more. I... had found a purpose. A family. I have fought so many battles... but... I had finally found something worth fighting for. A Queen I truly believed in, and a man by my side that I..." she hesitated. "I suppose that you are right. I had a life that I was hopeful to start, and then it was all but lost to me," she acknowledged. It was true. Standing with Steiner to defend Garnet had been a dream come true. Brahne, even in her more peaceful days, when she had been a fair monarch, hadn't been like Garnet. Garnet had been a young woman Beatrix had seen grow up, had seen find her feet, had seen become a wonderfully strong woman, and become somebody that Beatrix would happily follow through anything. And with Steiner by her side? It felt like...
...more than she deserved. Perhaps that was why she was now here. Perhaps Caius was right. Perhaps it had been a happy ending, and General Beatrix, the Slaughterer of Burmecia, did not deserve a happy ending...
Perhaps it was fortunate then that the conversation shifted on to the more immediate threat of Kuja. She listened as he recounted his tale of Kuja's activities. The information was disturbing. It seemed that Kuja had been here for quite some time; certainly possible, it had been over a year since Kuja's death, and that left the possibility that he had come here, if he had survived. But the story mystified her. She could not imagine Kuja ever working for a lesser being again. "You spoke of... four fiends? One of whom was a Lich? On my world... Gaia... My charge and her team of heroes encountered four beings who called themselves Chaoses. One of them was a Lich. They sound very similar, and may indeed be the same, only, Kuja brought those under his control. I suspect that Kuja was not working for this Lich of yours, but rather the opposite was true. He is deceptive and capable of great manipulation. You would not be the first to be misled by him..." she warned.
"Thank you," she saluted again, before resuming her seat. "Then I shall tell you what I know of our opponent," she nodded. "He hails from yet another world, not mine, nor this one. A world known as Terra. From the stories I have been told, Terra was a dying world, and to survive, its leader wanted to merge it with my world, Gaia. To do so, he needed to eliminate as much of the population as possible to enable some form of soul transference. To that end, he created a magical being, Kuja, to lead these wars and kill as many as he could. However, Kuja rebelled against the people of Terra, with the intention of using his power for his own. He... manipulated my Kingdom into war, fuelling it with magical puppets he created capable of great destructive powers. I... served under the Queen of the Kingdom, Brahne... and led our forces into war. I did.... terrible things... in her name..." Beatrix paused, awkwardly, looking down at the table with her single eye. She looked back up and resumed. "....But his ultimate goal... was to secure the power of what we know as Eidolons. Powerful entities that can be summoned. They resided within the woman who was then our Princess, Garnet. He convinced the Queen to take them from her, even if it meant the Princess's death. It was... then I realised how far our Queen had fallen, and I stood with the Princess again Kuja. Ultimately, Kuja usurped the power of these Eidolons, and used them to kill the Queen and devastate the Kingdom. But he was only beginning. He used his power to return to Terra, where he discovered that his lifespan was limited by his creator. He... found the power to destroy all of Terra, and journeyed into a new realm, to find the Crystal, the source of all creation. He intended to destroy it. To kill everybody who ever was, ever is, and is ever to be. To end all life in the universe. He was... stopped... and I thought slain..."
Again, Beatrix trailed off. "I failed once. To protect my Kingdom, to protect my Princess, the best person I had ever known, from his machinations. I cannot fail another world. It is vital that we find him," she announced. She knew that Caius already agreed, but she hoped her summary would lead him to understand exactly why.
Post by Caius Dragelion on Sept 11, 2020 1:01:24 GMT -6
The Dragonglaive
@tag Word Count: OOC: Dialogue Color: 196fd1
The start of her adventure, that was an interesting way to put it. Defeating Kuja seemed like it would be the end, but it sounded as though it were both. The end of one struggle, the beginning of the next adventure. He supposed he could see that. A purpose, a family... Yes, yes he could see that. Wasn't that what he was experiencing right now? He had met the end of his struggles with the Kingsglaive and contributed in some small way to the salvation of Lucis. It may have been the King of Lucis who had saved them all, but Caius liked to think at the least he did a little bit to help. In the end, though, that salvation would be the end of that adventure. He had been given a purpose, in protecting the King and helping rebuild Lucis... Only to have it taken away. Now he was here. Forming the Dragonblades here... That had given him purpose once. And thus, begun a new adventure of his own, after having the first new adventure taken away. So perhaps he did understand the meaning of her words.
He couldn't imagine losing the one you cherished most, though. The man at her side... He couldn't imagine how she felt. He didn't really want to. He didn't want to think of that ever happening to him. "You could say it's both, and more. One adventure ended... Another began. And then ended before it could really start" he brought up. "In a way, I'm the same. Adagium had held Lucis hostage for ten years before the Chosen King and his Kingsglaive routed them and brought light back to our world. I had gone from an impoverished hunter with no purpose but to survive the darkness... To a Kingsglaive with a duty and a purpose. That was taken from me."
Except he had found a new purpose. She had not.
"I can't speak for losing that who you most cherish, but... I hope you find a new purpose here. It's not easy, but... It's what has to be done if we are to move forward and keep doing our duty, in any way we can."
When it came to Kuja, though, it appeared that Beatrix had a great deal more to say about him.
"It's clear he's going to have to be a priority, if we can find him" Caius admitted. Kuja had been the one controlling the Lich? That would explain a lot, but… God, how powerful was Kuja truly? How lucky had Caius been to even be alive right now? It sounded as though he had caused a great deal of suffering in her world, but he had already guessed that. Her feeling she had played a part in that suffering hit home. He sighed.
“You’re not alone there.”
He bit his lip. That was a hard admission to make. He had told Celes bits and pieces of his past, but… Not that part. He had left that out. For a long time, he had been ashamed of it. In a way, he still was. He had moved forward since, but… It was a ghost he knew he’d never truly escape.
But Kuja… The terrifying power he possessed, able to destroy worlds… And being fully willing to out of spite due to his mortality. He was possibly the most dangerous individual on the list. This was a problem. A serious problem. One he had no idea where to even start on tackling. But with Beatrix around… At least they had some information. Some background, and perhaps even possible leads.
And she was resolute in her plan to put an end to it. Determined, fiery… That was good. He managed a smile.
“We’ll find him. No matter what it takes” he promised. “And I look forward to the chance to fight by your side.”
He tried to lighten her mood, just a little. He was completely serious and truthful in his words, but he hoped that with the attempt at a smile, the reassurance, and telling the truth about his eagerness to work with her, that her mood would improve at least a little. He didn’t know how efficient it would be, but the least he could do was try. Caius was no general, but even he knew morale was important. Though in his case… He just wanted to see her happy. She’d clearly had enough bad days lately.
