[It's a terrible feeling, the idea that after their deaths it might not be over, that someone else would have to take on the mantle of this awful, awful responsibility. The line of kings will die with him, the family of Oracles and the emperor are dead- with that, aren't all of the royals in Eos gone? People will be free to live the way they want, form their own leadership. The world might one day be in danger again from something else, but it won't be daemons or starscourge, it won't be the wrath of the fire god who hated mankind. It would (he hopes) be a danger of their own making, something normal for any other world, something that wouldn't require centuries of preparation and suffering or the gods' interference or kill millions before it's over. Conflict will always happen. This conflict was made worse because the supernatural dug their fingers in and humans didn't stand a chance against that. He'd felt what it was like to be powerless, and he never wants that again. Everyone feels like that, though. That's what it means to be human. They can live on. Magic needs to die. He-
His hands twist together in his lap, grip tightening- though still weak from his condition, his knuckles go white.]
That was- their promise, wasn't it? They promised. They kept so much a secret, but- they kept their word to me. Once we do this, the world's supposed to be free and safe. People can live without magic, they just... need the daemons gone, and the war over. I have to bring back the light. I have to- I can't do this unless I believe that the world will be better for it after. [He lifts his head to look at Ardyn, blinking back tears, quietly desperate despite knowing he doesn't have the answer any more than Noct himself.] Won't the world be better? Without daemons, without us?
no subject
[It's a terrible feeling, the idea that after their deaths it might not be over, that someone else would have to take on the mantle of this awful, awful responsibility. The line of kings will die with him, the family of Oracles and the emperor are dead- with that, aren't all of the royals in Eos gone? People will be free to live the way they want, form their own leadership. The world might one day be in danger again from something else, but it won't be daemons or starscourge, it won't be the wrath of the fire god who hated mankind. It would (he hopes) be a danger of their own making, something normal for any other world, something that wouldn't require centuries of preparation and suffering or the gods' interference or kill millions before it's over. Conflict will always happen. This conflict was made worse because the supernatural dug their fingers in and humans didn't stand a chance against that. He'd felt what it was like to be powerless, and he never wants that again. Everyone feels like that, though. That's what it means to be human. They can live on. Magic needs to die. He-
His hands twist together in his lap, grip tightening- though still weak from his condition, his knuckles go white.]
That was- their promise, wasn't it? They promised. They kept so much a secret, but- they kept their word to me. Once we do this, the world's supposed to be free and safe. People can live without magic, they just... need the daemons gone, and the war over. I have to bring back the light. I have to- I can't do this unless I believe that the world will be better for it after. [He lifts his head to look at Ardyn, blinking back tears, quietly desperate despite knowing he doesn't have the answer any more than Noct himself.] Won't the world be better? Without daemons, without us?