∞ The Blood Of Lucis ∞

“…What?  But vegetables are good for you, Noctis.”

No wonder he’s so short.

-But Terra wasn’t about to tell Noctis that little thought.  Still, listening to him carry on and speak of Ignis fondly, the serene atmosphere was nothing short of infectious.  Now Terra would argue the point that she had nothing to do with it, but she was not blind to this character trait of hers.  She just made it a point to let others know it wasn’t that big a deal.  Though in the days to come, it would prove to be one of their greatest strengths.-

-That, and the Magic that Terra wielded.-

“…Hey, Noctis?  How come you’re so cheerful lately?  There’s still no word from Lunafreya, or Maria and Sceada.  Gladiolus seemed worn out.  And it’s been some time since we saw Prompto and Ignis.  Aren’t you worried?  Don’t you miss home?”

[Ambience: Safe Haven] 

“More or less,” Locke snorted. “You make it sound like you was going to the corner store. How old are you, anyhow? You can’t be a day over 21…” Shaking his head, he caught the bottle. Curious, he sniffed it before taking a long drink. Magic of any type still left him wary, despite his now having some proficiency with spells. The way his guts prickled made him feel a mix of relief and unease. “Picking up a polearm on the way to your wedding… Okay. And now you’re out here swinging it around. Your wife must be thrilled.”

Did he really want to know? A kid that got gifted a sword at the age of sixteen likely had stories of the tragic kind. If wifey wasn’t around, there had to be a reason for it, right? Likely not a pleasant one.

“If I’m overstepping, you can tell me to shut the fuck up. I have a bad habit of running off at the mouth sometimes.” How often had he felt his stomach twist when some clueless dude made a joke that reminded him of Rachel? All this time, and the pain could still be sharp if he was caught off-guard.

[Ambience: Bonds of Sea and Fire]

     “Nah that’s fine.  We...well it isn’t exactly official yet.  Like I said it’s a long story.”  Lengthy though it might be, Noctis didn’t feel a need to keep certain aspects of it a secret.  Furthermore, he no longer doubted Edgar and even Terra might have dropped tidbits of information to Locke about his origins, and seeing as how he trusted the treasure hunter as much as his royal retinue, he could at least tell him that much.  “In a nutshell, something important was taken from me.  I aim to take it back.  That doesn’t mean I’m doing it for myself though.  I’m doing it for everyone who depends on me.  Everyone that’s supported me all this time.  I can’t let them down.  Not when I owe them so much.”  I need to get back soon.  First things first though.