"Oh, I see. Then that's settled then. Guess there is nothing I can do?"
Annoyed, Soleil says, "You really do show incredible faith in random things, don't you?"
"Just because I won't do stupid, impractical, and performative things doesn't mean I won't die at the slightest request of our rulers. But can I at least know why?"
Waving a book with Captivant's name on it, he says, "It seems she has found a new favourite person."
Gritting his teeth, Throne says, "That snake? I guess that must've been why Raro was always giving him a murderous glare."
"You fool! That must've been why Raro did something as stupid as picking a fight with that Sieg Bisumod? You should've made sure to check his mind."
"If he is too stupid to let his pride get him killed, it's better that he died there instead of trying to prove something when an entire military strategy was built around him."
"Heartless, it's a good thing she put a stop to your antics."
"Hey, the pope is supposed to be her favourite person, yet it seems like you have gotten beaten out by an incubus."
"I have long since accepted that title simply won't be mine."
"Your son in Molstoria must be doing well."
"Hey! How do you know about that?"
"Did you really think I don't monitor the movements of all military personnel. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. But you're a rather popular pope; I am sure you won't have any assassins coming for your family. Neck."
"Let's just say my actions are a direction from someone with great foresight."
"I don't really see any place safer than the next centre of humanity."
"You may be right, but that sentiment can cause issues. It's when people thing there at the height of God's will, when they are most likely to spit on his principles. The Devil's were all once the most exalted of angels."
From around his body, Throne forms two cups of throne and says, "That doesn't sound very patriotic of you."
Making water flow from his staff to the cups, Soleil says, "It is far more than you know."
"Then let's hope you are correct. But on that note, can I at least get a strike team to assassinate Siegrund?"
"You know that Sieg Bisumod's are is the Christós's 3rd favourite people; do you even want to try?"
"Oh, come on! They overstepped this time. Can't I just assassinate one of them?"
"No. Besides, why even bother with all of this? It seems that the tension leading people to war is calming down; we should ride a similar wave and fully implement your curriculum and procedures to bring our forces to the brink of strength."
"I understand that, but an important target might have increasingly become far more out of reach than it ever has before."
"What do you mean?"
"The voices of the people have grown to the point where we can no longer ignore them in this life."
-Break-
-Age 36-
Location: Abundance Kingdom, Zaad Ziener
Φ Dropping another basket of food in front of the large house, Ring, staring at Versi, says, "Another heap have come in from abroad. The gifts don't end."
Versi, with Domita at his side, looks over the massive container filled to the brim with produce and looks at the letter attached to it, as it reads, "Thank you for keeping us safe; we will never forget."
Ring, smiling, says, "It seems your bet's paid off in the end."
Domita, walking forward, says, "The first collaboration between father and son Nightfalls in 3 generations. And looks at the strength it brings."
With tears falling from his eyes, Versi turns to Domita and says, "It seems our son has finally become Captivant?"
They both hug, and turning, Ring looks back out to the overflowing lush fields of Zaad Ziener, and says, "Beautiful."
-Break-
The life I lived was filled with so much I hated, so much that made my eyes wish they had vanished from my existence when I was young, so I wouldn't have to look upon this filth any longer.
But at the same time, it has rewarded me unlike any other, with friends, family, dreams, stories, hope, and challenges that allowed me to reach the point where I can be truly happy with myself.
I am happy I experienced it, but more than that, I am happy I experienced it with everyone else, and more than anyone, with you, Draga. There is so much more I wish I could've told the world, yet the experiences I had with you are mine, and I would like to keep them to myself even if it doesn't let people understand your glory, Draga. It's the one sin I am okay with living with.
Since, at the end of it all, loving you, loving Dragoste, Viata, Liina, Intrare, Versi, Domita, Siegrund, and even you Ai, has filled me with a universe of joy that could never be taken from me, and I would never allow anyone else to ever be robbed of that in front of me.
-Age 82-
Continent: Fimbulwinter
Location: Orb's Mansion
Φ Staring at the giant wolf of snow and ice that has formed through the door, he hears it say, "Your presence here has become bothersome; leave or die."
"Well, I guess you must be Wolfie. Nice to meet you. I am Captivant, but I guess you've heard all of mine and Orb's conversations".
Φ The Wolf launches forward at me, and I send spirit energy through my body before lunging towards the side, and quickly rush into the library as I say, "You must be Orb's Legacy; it's why his temperature started skyrocketing just a few moments ago."
"If you care for his health so much, let your poisonous existence be frozen solid," Wolfie says, moving over towards me.
He slams his hand towards my head, yet I quickly grab a book and say, "Luckily for me, you happen to have stories of countless legends here."
Using my Regalia on one of the books, I manifest a giant arrow and say, "Hou Yi, the archer who shot down dragons who aimed to destroy the lotus, leaving nothing but flaming ash. Let's see how this goes for you."
As I release the arrow from the bow, a large sphere of flames bursts out from it, slamming right into the body of snow, yet none of it melts. "Even if your temperature doesn't change, its force should be enough."
The snow quickly scatters in every single direction as the sphere implodes. Looking at the snow on the ground, I say, "Didn't expect that, did you? Too bad for you; I was cautious to keep my Regalia under wraps till I found the perfect momen-."
An impact slams against my stomach, sending me flying back; then, looking up, I see the snow formed into a humanoid shape, with two wolf-like ears and a tail. Causing me to send my Regalia through all the books around me, as I say, "A Beastkin?"
I quickly manifest whatever I can from each of their pages, yet they all freeze, and my right arm flies into the sky. Moments later, my neck is grabbed by the figure, and I say, "What ungodly speed. I doubt Dumitra herself could end your life easily."
The ice slowly crawls up my neck, and as it does, I say, "You do realise what you are doing to him? This is nothing more than a prison."
"It's a haven where no harm shall fall onto him. Defended and protected from the hell that lies below."
"Is that what you think? The hell that lies below is what we were made to deal with; it's what we were born capable of living through and excelling. Each human being has laid their bodies down building up a path for us to follow, and yet you stand here to deny it."
"Because there is nothing at the end of it all. No hope, no joy, no happiness, only suffering for those who remain, the majority who never gain the ability to tell their harrowing tales to the rest, unlike the joyful. Even if you wish for love, if you wish for peace, if you wish for everything that is good in this world, it matters not because, at the end of it all, it will all fall to nothingness, buried underneath the snow as the tales of your suffering are forgotten by the blinding light of heroes. I won't allow such delusions to take hold of his eyes, as this world has already had him before, as the child born outside this land was brought here to my cold embrace, and there he shall lie till the end of his time."
Staring up as the ice approaches, I say, "The language we speak is strange; in fact, it has so many little quirks and oddities that it can make the mind go mad. But in all that confusion, stupidity and hatred, I see humanity. I see the lives that once lived, the suffering that was once experienced, the trials overcome, and the core of their hearts all expressed over and over again.
Each person who lived experienced a life special to them; what right do I have from my place to deny such? Even in hell, the aspects that give life flavour can still be felt as long as you seek them out. Even a worker on a farm who has never left since birth can experience a full life.
And the accumulation of it all leaves an impact on this life that, for better or worse, passes down to the future. Thanks to them I speak these words, thanks to them I live a wider life through this existence, and thanks to them I can worry about shining things each day. Their lives had value, even the worst and lowest of them all."
The ice crawls up further, encasing my body, so with all the strength I have left, I say, "As adults, we have no reason to cloud others in our hatred, fear, or regrets. What we need to do more than any other is grant them the blades to slay the world with. To forge all of what we are into one of many daggers for them to wield. Because we simply don't know what could happen.
If deep in your heart you believe yourself to be flawed, to be weak, to have ever bee wrong in life, do not cast yourself over the child today, and allow them to grow standing by their side as their legacy. Take my life if you wish, but the greatest tragedy that would make even the heavens cry is if you killed that boy as well."
Φ Around Captivant's body, the ice fades as the man drops to the floor, and walking away, Wolfie says, "If one day despair overcomes him, I will travel no matter how far, high, or below and take your soul for my own."
"If anyone of us is going to upend the laws of this world, it won't be you or me; it will be the shining star."
Wolfie vanishes, and standing up, he walks slowly over towards Orb's room
Φ I'm jealous, so jealous, because even though I know it will be hard, even though I know your life will be full of suffering. The light that shines throughout your eyes is sure to illuminate a generation of people to come, and just like Dragoste, I wish I could've been your peer.
Still, even now knowing where your path will one day lead you, I know that you'll make Captivants all across the world far greater than I am, and to that glory, all I can say is.
Rubbing his hands against Orb's forehead, Captivant opens his mouth, and says, "Thank you, Orb, thank you for being born into this world with us all."
I can already see all the smiles across the faces of those who will one day meet you, Orb.