there hadn't been all that much time for him to write milla letters once he was back on eos; with one thing happening after the other, his letters were brief, somewhat formal in a way that was forced... mostly because he hadn't wanted for her to worry about how bad the situation truly was. and it was bad.
he never even stood a chance.
there wasn't even a chance for a last true letter—just one that informed milla that he was going to busy, because he had to save prompto from a dangerous situation. he had no idea it would culminate in the crystal—in finding the crystal he swore to protect, and being eaten alive by it for him to rest and gain his powers. but as he did that, the astral bahamut informed him of what his duty as a true king—the king of light—meant. he would have to sacrifice it all once he was strong enough to restore light to a world that had fallen to eternal darkness; one where the sun stopped rising and the scourge would slowly take humanity and turn them to daemons, leaving only glimmers of humanity to congregate in the safest, brightest parts of the world.
and so ten years passed, and for only a couple of days did noctis live—long enough to see the crown city one last time (albeit in ruins) and never long enough to see the sun rise. he would cause the light to return to eos, but not without giving his own life for it. but noctis knew what awaited him in death, and it was easy for him to accept, both for what awaited him, and what it meant for the people who were so dear to him in eos.
...which is why he's now somewhere in rieze maxia—in the spirit world, of course. he differs from those who reincarnate naturally into the world of spirits, though, retaining his sense of self and the life he lead beforehand, but as he looks around at the unfamiliar landscape, he can at least see one thing for certain:
his wish had been granted. where to go from here, he isn't sure, though. it's not as if he knows the lay of the land, of how things work—but he can see he's got a hike ahead of him, with not a car in sight. where does one even look for a lord of spirits? he's not sure...
but he's that they'll find their way to each other sooner or later.]
how did this tag get so long I SWEAR MY TAGS AREN'T USUALLY THIS LONG?
[ten years is, as Milla put it, the blink of an eye from the perspective of a spirit. but ten years has never dragged on so slowly]
[despite her request for a human vessel upon returning to Rieze Maxia (and Elympios now, of course), Milla still spends the majority of her time in the spirit world. she can't personally oversee the birth of new spirits and monitor the spirit population from the realm of man, after all. but with a human vessel that doesn't need mana to exist and Muzét's power, she can travel between the two realms freely and without restriction]
[and she definitely takes advantage of that. one of the first things she does is reunite with her friends, and oh how good it was to see their faces again. Leia's, bright and happy and a little teary as she clasped Milla's hands and babbled on and on about her new job at her parents' inn. Elize's, still shy but beaming brightly as she described her new group of school friends. Rowen's, soft and gentle and wise as he joked about his work at Gaius's palace. Alvin's, sly and cocky as he attempted to promote to her the new business he was opening with Yurgen. And Jude. . .]
[she cared about all of her friends of course, but Jude-- his gentle smile and the passion burning in his eyes that never went out-- she had missed the most of all]
[she is happy. she can't deny that. this is what she wanted. well. . . most of what she wanted, anyway. because as happy is she is, her heart and her mind are still preoccupied with someone she can't visit nearly as easily as she can her other friends]
[she writes, and she writes often. her letters aren't nearly as formal and brief as his, if only because she has the time to tell him everything that's on her mind. Everything from, "The spirit population is slowly recovering! Jude's research is really coming along; I'm proud of him. He's grown so much," to "I told Leia about you. She wouldn't stop asking me questions, and squealing in a high-pitched manner every time I answered them. I assume this is. . . 'girl talk,' but she could stand to be a little less loud." His short letters only spur her to write more, perhaps because she could read between the lines of his]
[things weren't going as planned for Noctis, were they? she worries about him, but she also has faith. he's okay, right? right. all she can do from this end of the universe is have faith]
[and then the letters stop. at least, from Noctis's end. Milla continues to write even when she doesn't receive any replies, although the longer the silence stretches on, the more anxious she becomes. she knows he isn't dead (he still isn't here, so he must be alive somewhere, anywhere), and she briefly wonders if he simply lost interest. or perhaps his duties as king kept him far too busy? that's something she certainly couldn't fault him for. they were two people who put their duties above anything else, weren't they? perhaps. . . this is how things were supposed to be between those driven by duty]
[she finally stops writing, when Origin's Trial begins to come to a head and the fractured dimensions of her universe become far too much to ignore. she spends some time in the Dimensional Abyss, only to be re-summoned to the realm of man to assist Ludger in his quest. she sees that mission through to the very end, breathes a sigh of relief when the world calms down again, but reminds herself that this is just one fight of many. Maxwell's work is never done]
[she doesn't pick up writing again, but she does think of him often. it distracts her a bit too much for her liking, so she pours her energy into other things. things such as overseeing Jude as he perfects Spyrite technology and wins the Howe Prize, or finally learning how to properly cook with Elle.]
[but even that isn't enough to keep her mind from wandering, and every so often, she finds herself wondering. did he really forget?]
[ten years pass, and nothing else nearly as catastrophic as Origin's Trial happens again. Elymipos and Rieze Maxia are still working through a tentative peace, but Milla has come to believe in the strength of the leaders of both countries. her interference isn't needed. for once, humanity seems to be taking care of itself]
[and that is the world Noctis wakes up in when his spirit reincarnates into the spirit realm of Rieze Maxia. the Kijara Seafalls are beautiful, positively brimming with water-based spirit energy (that he can absolutely feel considering, you know, his own status as a spirit now). but as beautiful as Noctis's surroundings are, the spirit world isn't completely devoid of monsters]
[. . . and there's a pack of scythed merfish barreling in his direction already. are you equipped to fight monsters while your Lord of Spirits girlfriend figures out you're here, Noct!1 because the presence of a soul that didn't go through the soul purification process with Origin and Chronos is definitely not going to escape Maxwell's attention]
[of course, he can't know for sure. he can't know how many letters she sent while he was gone, if she stopped them. he can't know if she even still thought of him; if she was angry for his sudden silence.
of course, he couldn't help it, no matter how much he wanted to—if he'd known, he would have written to milla, he would have told her that he wouldn't be able to write, that he'd be thinking of her—that it's just his duty and it can't be controlled, because the world is depending on him. but there wasn't time, and he knows that if she finds him, if she even remembers or wants to speak with him again...
he'll have plenty of apologies to make.
he's older now, weathered and worn by ten years; that naive 20 year old is now 30. those faint hints of scruff and unkempt hair and exhaustion that had taken his last few weeks in whole ass have been... well, further enhanced. his face has filled out, he's aged clearly, and that scruff is now a proper beard, and longer hair styled in a way that suits his older features. he's changed a bit; maybe a bit more weary, but still of the same heart and desire he's always had, even back then. and he's grateful, of course, that his wish had been granted, and he can remain himself.
even if he is now a soul that came in unnaturally, shifting the mana balance in a way that the lord of spirits certainly couldn't miss.
he needs a moment to figure out his surroundings, and there's little denying this beach and the cliffs are... beautiful. he can sense the spirit energy, unlike anything else he's ever known, and he gets a sense of how harnessing mana naturally should feel. it's different that his power of kings—
so it takes him a moment to get his focus in hand when he sees the merfish coming his way.]
Work's really never done, huh? [but hey. they're not daemons, so he's sure it'll be fine. he gets his daggers in hand—somehow—and warping towards them to get in a strike.
yeah. mana manipulation is definitely different, but he can make it work; if nothing else, his combat prowess has improved enough for that much.]
[the merfish aren't particularly powerful enemies, honestly; a few strikes from his weapons and they fall easily enough. but there are a lot of them, some even coming at Noctis from behind. and he's left to his own devices to fend them off, until--]
Efreet!
[the commanding, authoritative voice that rings out is awfully familiar, even after ten years. the large fire spirit that materializes out of thin air and sends a wave of flame at the merfish behind Noctis proooobably isn't, though. either way, the fiery assault is enough to send most of the merfish packing, although Noctis may have to finish off the last few on his own. and should he look up, and seek out the source of that voice. . . well]
[the same old Milla, different outfit, stands on the edges of the beach with one hand propped on her hip and the other holding the Balanced Blade at her side. other than the initial cry of Efreet's name, she remains silent, gaze steady, unwavering, expression impossible to read]
[. . . she also has a bit of an entourage, considering Undine, Sylph and Gnome all hover behind her, each one poised for battle. and a fourth spirit (fifth, including Efreet) pokes her head out from behind Milla's shoulder]
Ooooooh, he's a cutie~ ♥ Milla, can we keep him?
[NOT FIVE MINUTES IN THE SPIRIT WORLD AND HE GETS TO MEET THE WHOLE FAM congrats??]
Edited (APPARENTLY I SPELLED ENTOURAGE WRONG thanks for nothing spell check!!) 2017-03-09 22:53 (UTC)
[the sound of her voice is familiar, even if her abilities aren't—he'd never gotten a chance to see them, after all.
(then again, she hadn't seen his either, right?)
still, he has to finish what merfish are there, and once he's sent a warp strike throug the last of them, he dismisses his daggers and turns to look at where the sound of that voice came from. and of course, it's who he expects.]
Milla... [it's not the first time they've reunited, but...
well, she's absolutely a sight for sore eyes. there's a long moment where his tired gaze is fixed on her... though it doesn't last too long. meeting the whole fam is definitely unexpected, and while he takes that moment to look at the four—well, muzét speaking up gets his attention to.
[it isn't the first time they've reunited like this, although the time apart had been a lot longer than a mere twenty-four hours. whatever Milla's thoughts and feelings are in this very moment, whatever she might be thinking now that she's standing in front of the man she wasn't sure she'd ever hear from again, she's keeping them under a tightly closed lid]
[the other spirits, however, react. especially when this strange person calls Maxwell by her name]
Milla? Who is this chump, anyway?
Uuuum. . . I don't know, but he certainly isn't a lesser spirit. . . you guys can tell that too, right?
Indeed. But what I'm most curious about is-- how did this soul slip past Origin and Chronos? He seems to have retained his sense of self, which is unusual. Even Milla wasn't whole, when we first brought her soul back before it could be purified. . .
But this time, we certainly weren't involved.
[while the four chatter among themselves, Muzét's gaze flickers towards her stone faced sister. Milla's eyes slip shut, and she finally speaks again, voice still firm]
May we. . . have a moment of privacy? If you will.
[she phrases it as a question, but her tone suggests otherwise. the Four are immediately silenced, and they obey her command without question as they flicker into nothingness. Muzét, however, pouts]
Well, that certainly isn't any fun for me. You better give me the full report when you're finished, dear sister!
[with a wink, Muzét blows a kiss at Noct before she finally disappears herself, which leaves the two to their long-anticipated reunion]
[there's silence. nothing but silence as Milla looks up at him again, and takes a step forward]
noctis is definitely a bit bewildered by the conversation among the four; even with the things milla has told him, he doesn't know much about "lesser spirits" or origin, or chronos.
(he also doesn't appreciate being called a chump, but he'll figure out that sylph is just always a punk and sass him appropriately for it later.)
muzét is definitely equally confusing, and though he doesn't seem fazed by the fact the spirits disappear in front of him. he's mildly fazed by the kiss blown in his direction, though it's only in a mild shift in his expression as opposed to what it once might have been.
noct... has grown up a lot. and even as silence fills the air, what once would have been a sense of terror, of fear that maybe he should expect the worst is met instead with resolve. this is the fate he chose for himself, and he's always known that there was a possibility that things wouldn't work out. so even if their reunion were to end in a goodbye, he doesn't feel fear in the face of it.
but it's a possibility and not a definite. and the events that led to his untimely end? somehow, they've restored a bit of hope and light to noct, something that had been gone for the better part of those ten years.]
I... really owe you an explanation, huh. [he says, quietly. it's reserved, it's tired—but there's a sense of peace and acceptance there he may once have lacked. but noctis remains still otherwise, waiting to see what milla will say and do....
and also just watching her, absorbing this sight because it's one he hasn't seen in a decade—somehow, she looks even better than she did the last time they met.]
[he definitely owes her an explanation. a whole lot of explanations. but somehow, as she approaches, an explanation is the farthest thing from her mind. in fact, the words barely leave his mouth before she lifts a hand and presses her fingers against his lips to silence him, as she had done all those years ago on the train. explanations can come later]
[. . . right now, she just wants to watch him]
[she studies his face carefully. takes in every single feature and compares it to her memory. he's definitely older. more exhausted, more weathered than she expected him to be. but the resolve in his eyes speaks more of a king than a young prince, and she can tell he's grown in more ways than just physically]
[. . .]
[aaaah. . . she missed that face. she missed it so much it tugged at her stupid heart even when she was trying not to think about him. how unbecoming of a Lord of Spirits, right?]
[there's something else in the way she looks at him. something that isn't just her scrutinizing and memorizing his every feature. something softer, a silent question, maybe. it's been so long-- and now you're here. where do we go from here?]
[so many explanations are owed, but it starts only with a look of warmth in his expression at milla's familiar actions; being silenced by her this way is familiar. in a way, it feels like it's only been a flash since the last time she was able to do that.
he remains quiet for as long as she needs him too—he can watch her fondly until then. and it's fond. he may be tired, but he's not unhappy. he did what he needed to back home, to protect his world and end its strife—and now milla is here in front of him.
noctis has grown, and he's sure that in ten years' time, milla has as well.
he's grown. he'd already so much before they even parted ways, but ascending properly to his throne, reclaiming it and living up to exactly what the prophecies needed him to be has made him bolder. he's still definitely a reserved, sensitive person beneath it all, but he doesn't hesitate like he once did—much of that awkwardness has been shed.
so noctis lifts his hand, brushing her bangs away so he can look at her better. he doesn't know where they go from there either—but he does know that whatever happens next, he wants to be near her. he has a lot to learn about this world if he's going to be inhabiting it, after all.]
[perhaps that small, bold tenderness is what she needed. perhaps it's the feeling of his fingers brushing against her skin that puts her worries to ease. perhaps it's the fondness in his eyes, or the fact that the way he looks at her now is exactly the same way he used to look at her before they parted ten years ago. the stony expression she was wearing melts away, and she smiles]
[relieved. grateful. overjoyed]
[she drops her hand from his mouth and grabs him by the collar to yank him forward in a kiss. it's totally a "god damn it, you didn't talk to me for ten years, I was worried about you, where did you go I thought you forgot about me DID YOU KNOW IT'S BEEN TEN YEARS??? GAWD!! kiss]
[somehow, it seemed more plausible that she'd do this—it's not nearly as surprising as it had been when they'd reunited on that train after only a day.
but all the same, noctis can read the emotions in her kiss; he can tell that his decade of silence worried her, that he'd done wrong by not being able to say anything in all that time. he knows.
and noctis absolutely accepts that.
and that's why his kiss in return is much more gently. it's softer and more understanding; it's accepting of the fact that he has a lot to apologize for—but also that he's thrilled to be able to kiss her again at all. he's missed it. he's missed her, and he's persistent enough to not break that kiss until milla is ready to, because—well, he needs it right now too.]
[it's funny, how one doesn't even realize they're craving something until they actually have it. that's kind of what it feels like for Milla now-- it's a sensation similar to when she ate her first meal and discovered the wonders of food. only this is way better than food!! she lingers in that kiss, hungrily drinking him in as much as she can, not willing to let go so easily. especially since it's been so long]
[when she finally pulls away, it's not out of a need for air, although she does inhale deeply. she doesn't go far, and she doesn't let go of the collar of his shirt, either. she's still smiling, and her expression is soft. content]
It's rude to stand up someone for an entire ten years, you know. Just because I said a human lifetime is like the blink of an eye for a spirit doesn't mean you can treat it like it is.
[. . . her annoyance softens, but she huffs again. just for good measure. she really had thought he had forgotten about her! but in hindsight, those thoughts seem silly.]
[it must have been something completely out of his control. especially when she thinks about the fact that it was just ten years, which means that Noctis had had an exceptionally short lifetime as a human]
[but he's here, and he seems resolved and content. so. . . something must have gone his way?]
Of course I will. I would have let you explain immediately, but--
[except for the part where she got kind of mad at him and scolded him in the end. but he still seems pretty soft and content—
he's much less fussed by it than he would have been a decade earlier.]
There's... a lot for me to tell you. But I guess more than anything... I didn't forget. Not ever.
[there wasn't a moment where he'd forgotten.]
I needed to get stronger. And to get stronger, I had to rest in the Crystal. [you know, that super important crystal he'd been trying to get back after it had been stolen from his family's protection?]
It took ten years, and it happened so fast, I didn't get to say goodbye to anyone. [not even his friends. nobody. there was never even a moment where he had control over that timeframe.]
Because I wasn't just the king. I was the True King. My job... was to save the world. Bring light back and end the Starscourge.
[you know, just a plague on their world, destroying it to the point that the sun stopped rising and humanity was falling to daemons.]
The Crystal... is the soul of Eos. And to use it's power to bring back light, I needed to wait until the ring passed down through my family—that had the power of my forebears—was strong enough. And I needed to be strong enough to wield it.
[rude's definitely an understatement.]
It took ten years for that to happen. Ten years... where everyone lived in darkness and had to fight to stay alive. [he couldn't protect them at all in that time, and even dear friends of his had been lost because of that.
but... it was a sacrifice he had to make for the greater good.]
[his situation was a lot worse than she had thought. a lot worse than he had hinted in his letters. it's no wonder he looks even more exhausted than he did at the end of that mutual killing game they were forced to take part in so long ago]
[she reaches out to ghost her fingers against his cheek. a cheek rough with the stubble of his beard; it's different, but she finds she likes it.]
. . . you've been walking a difficult path.
[one chosen for him, not by him. no wonder he emphasized how important it was for him to decide what would happen to him after death]
And did you succeed in bringing back that light, as the True King of Eos?
[so much of that he hadn't learned until it was too late to tell her—and of course, that's why he couldn't until now.
he leans so easily into milla's touch; even though it's light—it's warm, it's comforting in a way he hasn't experienced in a long while. and to that, he nods.]
I think so. To fulfill that prophecy means... to give my life. To end the line of Lucis. I did my part—I can only hope my friends got to see the sun rise when it was all over.
[he can never truly know for certain, but he knows he did everything that he was suppoed to; if what bahamut told him was true in that guidance, then the world should be safe.]
No more Lucian kings, no more Oracles. No more endless nights, the Starscourge, and no more daemons. No more Crystal to war over. That—that was my role as king.
[and he gave his life to ensure his world would be safe from what plagued it for thousands of years. eos, and all the life it still held, would be able to rebuild anew from his sacrifice, and that includes his precious best friends.
...he's tired, but he's satisfied. to die twice for the greater good of people he cares for, he's okay with that.]
It's finally over. And... I'm free. [it's still bittersweet, but it's very obvious that it was a role noctis accepted and came to terms with over the last ten years.]
[her hand hovers by his cheek, and she makes sure she watches his expression carefully as he speaks]
It seems unfair, for your fate to require you to die in order to save the lives of your people.
[he knows her own situation. knows that she was created for a specific purpose that she bucked against until she could fulfill her own desires. but she also knows what it's like to be in his position. to know that your death will protect those you love so much]
But. . . as long as you can say you're proud of your choices. . .
It... was a fate I couldn't fight. A prophecy that I was meant to fulfill. It may not be fair, but...
[even though it's tired and a bit melancholic, he smiles.]
It's not something I regret. Too many lives were lost because I wasn't there, but too many more would've been if I didn't do that. I... can hardly imagine it myself, the world falling apart because the sun wouldn't rise. Living that way for ten years.
I was able to end that for my people, for my whole world.
[so... he's definitely proud of his choices.]
I almost wrote you to tell you all of it when I woke up. But... I thought it would be easier. To tell you this way.
[since he'd already known by the time he was on his feet again that he'd be giving up his life in only a couple of days' time.]
[that much was obvious, but somehow, his words make her marvel at this fact. he has grown so much, even if he spent the majority of the past ten years asleep]
But even so, you're still a do-gooder until the very end. Aren't you?
[but deep down, he's still Noctis. and that's what she likes the most about him. the fondness is evident in her words, and in the way she smiles up at him, slightly teasing]
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reunion;
there hadn't been all that much time for him to write milla letters once he was back on eos; with one thing happening after the other, his letters were brief, somewhat formal in a way that was forced... mostly because he hadn't wanted for her to worry about how bad the situation truly was. and it was bad.
he never even stood a chance.
there wasn't even a chance for a last true letter—just one that informed milla that he was going to busy, because he had to save prompto from a dangerous situation. he had no idea it would culminate in the crystal—in finding the crystal he swore to protect, and being eaten alive by it for him to rest and gain his powers. but as he did that, the astral bahamut informed him of what his duty as a true king—the king of light—meant. he would have to sacrifice it all once he was strong enough to restore light to a world that had fallen to eternal darkness; one where the sun stopped rising and the scourge would slowly take humanity and turn them to daemons, leaving only glimmers of humanity to congregate in the safest, brightest parts of the world.
and so ten years passed, and for only a couple of days did noctis live—long enough to see the crown city one last time (albeit in ruins) and never long enough to see the sun rise. he would cause the light to return to eos, but not without giving his own life for it. but noctis knew what awaited him in death, and it was easy for him to accept, both for what awaited him, and what it meant for the people who were so dear to him in eos.
...which is why he's now somewhere in rieze maxia—in the spirit world, of course. he differs from those who reincarnate naturally into the world of spirits, though, retaining his sense of self and the life he lead beforehand, but as he looks around at the unfamiliar landscape, he can at least see one thing for certain:
his wish had been granted. where to go from here, he isn't sure, though. it's not as if he knows the lay of the land, of how things work—but he can see he's got a hike ahead of him, with not a car in sight. where does one even look for a lord of spirits? he's not sure...
but he's that they'll find their way to each other sooner or later.]
how did this tag get so long I SWEAR MY TAGS AREN'T USUALLY THIS LONG?
[despite her request for a human vessel upon returning to Rieze Maxia (and Elympios now, of course), Milla still spends the majority of her time in the spirit world. she can't personally oversee the birth of new spirits and monitor the spirit population from the realm of man, after all. but with a human vessel that doesn't need mana to exist and Muzét's power, she can travel between the two realms freely and without restriction]
[and she definitely takes advantage of that. one of the first things she does is reunite with her friends, and oh how good it was to see their faces again. Leia's, bright and happy and a little teary as she clasped Milla's hands and babbled on and on about her new job at her parents' inn. Elize's, still shy but beaming brightly as she described her new group of school friends. Rowen's, soft and gentle and wise as he joked about his work at Gaius's palace. Alvin's, sly and cocky as he attempted to promote to her the new business he was opening with Yurgen. And Jude. . .]
[she cared about all of her friends of course, but Jude-- his gentle smile and the passion burning in his eyes that never went out-- she had missed the most of all]
[she is happy. she can't deny that. this is what she wanted. well. . . most of what she wanted, anyway. because as happy is she is, her heart and her mind are still preoccupied with someone she can't visit nearly as easily as she can her other friends]
[she writes, and she writes often. her letters aren't nearly as formal and brief as his, if only because she has the time to tell him everything that's on her mind. Everything from, "The spirit population is slowly recovering! Jude's research is really coming along; I'm proud of him. He's grown so much," to "I told Leia about you. She wouldn't stop asking me questions, and squealing in a high-pitched manner every time I answered them. I assume this is. . . 'girl talk,' but she could stand to be a little less loud." His short letters only spur her to write more, perhaps because she could read between the lines of his]
[things weren't going as planned for Noctis, were they? she worries about him, but she also has faith. he's okay, right? right. all she can do from this end of the universe is have faith]
[and then the letters stop. at least, from Noctis's end. Milla continues to write even when she doesn't receive any replies, although the longer the silence stretches on, the more anxious she becomes. she knows he isn't dead (he still isn't here, so he must be alive somewhere, anywhere), and she briefly wonders if he simply lost interest. or perhaps his duties as king kept him far too busy? that's something she certainly couldn't fault him for. they were two people who put their duties above anything else, weren't they? perhaps. . . this is how things were supposed to be between those driven by duty]
[she finally stops writing, when Origin's Trial begins to come to a head and the fractured dimensions of her universe become far too much to ignore. she spends some time in the Dimensional Abyss, only to be re-summoned to the realm of man to assist Ludger in his quest. she sees that mission through to the very end, breathes a sigh of relief when the world calms down again, but reminds herself that this is just one fight of many. Maxwell's work is never done]
[she doesn't pick up writing again, but she does think of him often. it distracts her a bit too much for her liking, so she pours her energy into other things. things such as overseeing Jude as he perfects Spyrite technology and wins the Howe Prize, or finally learning how to properly cook with Elle.]
[but even that isn't enough to keep her mind from wandering, and every so often, she finds herself wondering. did he really forget?]
[ten years pass, and nothing else nearly as catastrophic as Origin's Trial happens again. Elymipos and Rieze Maxia are still working through a tentative peace, but Milla has come to believe in the strength of the leaders of both countries. her interference isn't needed. for once, humanity seems to be taking care of itself]
[and that is the world Noctis wakes up in when his spirit reincarnates into the spirit realm of Rieze Maxia. the Kijara Seafalls are beautiful, positively brimming with water-based spirit energy (that he can absolutely feel considering, you know, his own status as a spirit now). but as beautiful as Noctis's surroundings are, the spirit world isn't completely devoid of monsters]
[. . . and there's a pack of scythed merfish barreling in his direction already. are you equipped to fight monsters while your Lord of Spirits girlfriend figures out you're here, Noct!1 because the presence of a soul that didn't go through the soul purification process with Origin and Chronos is definitely not going to escape Maxwell's attention]
IT'S FINE BECAUSE IT'S BEAUTIFUL
of course, he couldn't help it, no matter how much he wanted to—if he'd known, he would have written to milla, he would have told her that he wouldn't be able to write, that he'd be thinking of her—that it's just his duty and it can't be controlled, because the world is depending on him. but there wasn't time, and he knows that if she finds him, if she even remembers or wants to speak with him again...
he'll have plenty of apologies to make.
he's older now, weathered and worn by ten years; that naive 20 year old is now 30. those faint hints of scruff and unkempt hair and exhaustion that had taken his last few weeks in whole ass have been... well, further enhanced. his face has filled out, he's aged clearly, and that scruff is now a proper beard, and longer hair styled in a way that suits his older features. he's changed a bit; maybe a bit more weary, but still of the same heart and desire he's always had, even back then. and he's grateful, of course, that his wish had been granted, and he can remain himself.
even if he is now a soul that came in unnaturally, shifting the mana balance in a way that the lord of spirits certainly couldn't miss.
he needs a moment to figure out his surroundings, and there's little denying this beach and the cliffs are... beautiful. he can sense the spirit energy, unlike anything else he's ever known, and he gets a sense of how harnessing mana naturally should feel. it's different that his power of kings—
so it takes him a moment to get his focus in hand when he sees the merfish coming his way.]
Work's really never done, huh? [but hey. they're not daemons, so he's sure it'll be fine. he gets his daggers in hand—somehow—and warping towards them to get in a strike.
yeah. mana manipulation is definitely different, but he can make it work; if nothing else, his combat prowess has improved enough for that much.]
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Efreet!
[the commanding, authoritative voice that rings out is awfully familiar, even after ten years. the large fire spirit that materializes out of thin air and sends a wave of flame at the merfish behind Noctis proooobably isn't, though. either way, the fiery assault is enough to send most of the merfish packing, although Noctis may have to finish off the last few on his own. and should he look up, and seek out the source of that voice. . . well]
[the same old Milla, different outfit, stands on the edges of the beach with one hand propped on her hip and the other holding the Balanced Blade at her side. other than the initial cry of Efreet's name, she remains silent, gaze steady, unwavering, expression impossible to read]
[. . . she also has a bit of an entourage, considering Undine, Sylph and Gnome all hover behind her, each one poised for battle. and a fourth spirit (fifth, including Efreet) pokes her head out from behind Milla's shoulder]
Ooooooh, he's a cutie~ ♥ Milla, can we keep him?
[NOT FIVE MINUTES IN THE SPIRIT WORLD AND HE GETS TO MEET THE WHOLE FAM congrats??]
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(then again, she hadn't seen his either, right?)
still, he has to finish what merfish are there, and once he's sent a warp strike throug the last of them, he dismisses his daggers and turns to look at where the sound of that voice came from. and of course, it's who he expects.]
Milla... [it's not the first time they've reunited, but...
well, she's absolutely a sight for sore eyes. there's a long moment where his tired gaze is fixed on her... though it doesn't last too long. meeting the whole fam is definitely unexpected, and while he takes that moment to look at the four—well, muzét speaking up gets his attention to.
uh.
what now?]
... swaps accounts so icons are accurate
[the other spirits, however, react. especially when this strange person calls Maxwell by her name]
Milla? Who is this chump, anyway?
Uuuum. . . I don't know, but he certainly isn't a lesser spirit. . . you guys can tell that too, right?
Indeed. But what I'm most curious about is-- how did this soul slip past Origin and Chronos? He seems to have retained his sense of self, which is unusual. Even Milla wasn't whole, when we first brought her soul back before it could be purified. . .
But this time, we certainly weren't involved.
[while the four chatter among themselves, Muzét's gaze flickers towards her stone faced sister. Milla's eyes slip shut, and she finally speaks again, voice still firm]
May we. . . have a moment of privacy? If you will.
[she phrases it as a question, but her tone suggests otherwise. the Four are immediately silenced, and they obey her command without question as they flicker into nothingness. Muzét, however, pouts]
Well, that certainly isn't any fun for me. You better give me the full report when you're finished, dear sister!
[with a wink, Muzét blows a kiss at Noct before she finally disappears herself, which leaves the two to their long-anticipated reunion]
[there's silence. nothing but silence as Milla looks up at him again, and takes a step forward]
a fair plan
noctis is definitely a bit bewildered by the conversation among the four; even with the things milla has told him, he doesn't know much about "lesser spirits" or origin, or chronos.
(he also doesn't appreciate being called a chump, but he'll figure out that sylph is just always a punk and sass him appropriately for it later.)
muzét is definitely equally confusing, and though he doesn't seem fazed by the fact the spirits disappear in front of him. he's mildly fazed by the kiss blown in his direction, though it's only in a mild shift in his expression as opposed to what it once might have been.
noct... has grown up a lot. and even as silence fills the air, what once would have been a sense of terror, of fear that maybe he should expect the worst is met instead with resolve. this is the fate he chose for himself, and he's always known that there was a possibility that things wouldn't work out. so even if their reunion were to end in a goodbye, he doesn't feel fear in the face of it.
but it's a possibility and not a definite. and the events that led to his untimely end? somehow, they've restored a bit of hope and light to noct, something that had been gone for the better part of those ten years.]
I... really owe you an explanation, huh. [he says, quietly. it's reserved, it's tired—but there's a sense of peace and acceptance there he may once have lacked. but noctis remains still otherwise, waiting to see what milla will say and do....
and also just watching her, absorbing this sight because it's one he hasn't seen in a decade—somehow, she looks even better than she did the last time they met.]
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[. . . right now, she just wants to watch him]
[she studies his face carefully. takes in every single feature and compares it to her memory. he's definitely older. more exhausted, more weathered than she expected him to be. but the resolve in his eyes speaks more of a king than a young prince, and she can tell he's grown in more ways than just physically]
[. . .]
[aaaah. . . she missed that face. she missed it so much it tugged at her stupid heart even when she was trying not to think about him. how unbecoming of a Lord of Spirits, right?]
[there's something else in the way she looks at him. something that isn't just her scrutinizing and memorizing his every feature. something softer, a silent question, maybe. it's been so long-- and now you're here. where do we go from here?]
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he remains quiet for as long as she needs him too—he can watch her fondly until then. and it's fond. he may be tired, but he's not unhappy. he did what he needed to back home, to protect his world and end its strife—and now milla is here in front of him.
noctis has grown, and he's sure that in ten years' time, milla has as well.
he's grown. he'd already so much before they even parted ways, but ascending properly to his throne, reclaiming it and living up to exactly what the prophecies needed him to be has made him bolder. he's still definitely a reserved, sensitive person beneath it all, but he doesn't hesitate like he once did—much of that awkwardness has been shed.
so noctis lifts his hand, brushing her bangs away so he can look at her better. he doesn't know where they go from there either—but he does know that whatever happens next, he wants to be near her. he has a lot to learn about this world if he's going to be inhabiting it, after all.]
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[relieved. grateful. overjoyed]
[she drops her hand from his mouth and grabs him by the collar to yank him forward in a kiss. it's totally a "god damn it, you didn't talk to me for ten years, I was worried about you, where did you go I thought you forgot about me DID YOU KNOW IT'S BEEN TEN YEARS??? GAWD!! kiss]
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but all the same, noctis can read the emotions in her kiss; he can tell that his decade of silence worried her, that he'd done wrong by not being able to say anything in all that time. he knows.
and noctis absolutely accepts that.
and that's why his kiss in return is much more gently. it's softer and more understanding; it's accepting of the fact that he has a lot to apologize for—but also that he's thrilled to be able to kiss her again at all. he's missed it. he's missed her, and he's persistent enough to not break that kiss until milla is ready to, because—well, he needs it right now too.]
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[when she finally pulls away, it's not out of a need for air, although she does inhale deeply. she doesn't go far, and she doesn't let go of the collar of his shirt, either. she's still smiling, and her expression is soft. content]
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[and now she lets herself be annoyed]
It's rude to stand up someone for an entire ten years, you know. Just because I said a human lifetime is like the blink of an eye for a spirit doesn't mean you can treat it like it is.
[HUFFS!!]
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at least this time noct's prepared. he doesn't seem to be nearly as alarmed, and he really doesn't blame her for being mad.]
...I know.
[he's not going to even try to deny any of that.]
I wanted to tell you before that. I just... didn't have time. Things didn't go the way I planned them at all, and—
[he was fucked.]
I'll explain everything. You'll hear me out, right?
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[it must have been something completely out of his control. especially when she thinks about the fact that it was just ten years, which means that Noctis had had an exceptionally short lifetime as a human]
[but he's here, and he seems resolved and content. so. . . something must have gone his way?]
Of course I will. I would have let you explain immediately, but--
[talking would've ruined the moment]
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[except for the part where she got kind of mad at him and scolded him in the end. but he still seems pretty soft and content—
he's much less fussed by it than he would have been a decade earlier.]
There's... a lot for me to tell you. But I guess more than anything... I didn't forget. Not ever.
[there wasn't a moment where he'd forgotten.]
I needed to get stronger. And to get stronger, I had to rest in the Crystal. [you know, that super important crystal he'd been trying to get back after it had been stolen from his family's protection?]
It took ten years, and it happened so fast, I didn't get to say goodbye to anyone. [not even his friends. nobody. there was never even a moment where he had control over that timeframe.]
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[what]
[what!!!]
Did the crystal eat you alive?
[Milla plz. but yeah, that's what she's picturing here. a crystal jumping out and devouring him whole]
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...Yeah. That's pretty much how it happened.
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That's very rude of it.
[rude is such an understatement??]
But that would explain your ten year silence. Why did you need to rest inside the crystal to get stronger?
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[you know, just a plague on their world, destroying it to the point that the sun stopped rising and humanity was falling to daemons.]
The Crystal... is the soul of Eos. And to use it's power to bring back light, I needed to wait until the ring passed down through my family—that had the power of my forebears—was strong enough. And I needed to be strong enough to wield it.
[rude's definitely an understatement.]
It took ten years for that to happen. Ten years... where everyone lived in darkness and had to fight to stay alive. [he couldn't protect them at all in that time, and even dear friends of his had been lost because of that.
but... it was a sacrifice he had to make for the greater good.]
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[his situation was a lot worse than she had thought. a lot worse than he had hinted in his letters. it's no wonder he looks even more exhausted than he did at the end of that mutual killing game they were forced to take part in so long ago]
[she reaches out to ghost her fingers against his cheek. a cheek rough with the stubble of his beard; it's different, but she finds she likes it.]
. . . you've been walking a difficult path.
[one chosen for him, not by him. no wonder he emphasized how important it was for him to decide what would happen to him after death]
And did you succeed in bringing back that light, as the True King of Eos?
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he leans so easily into milla's touch; even though it's light—it's warm, it's comforting in a way he hasn't experienced in a long while. and to that, he nods.]
I think so. To fulfill that prophecy means... to give my life. To end the line of Lucis. I did my part—I can only hope my friends got to see the sun rise when it was all over.
[he can never truly know for certain, but he knows he did everything that he was suppoed to; if what bahamut told him was true in that guidance, then the world should be safe.]
No more Lucian kings, no more Oracles. No more endless nights, the Starscourge, and no more daemons. No more Crystal to war over. That—that was my role as king.
[and he gave his life to ensure his world would be safe from what plagued it for thousands of years. eos, and all the life it still held, would be able to rebuild anew from his sacrifice, and that includes his precious best friends.
...he's tired, but he's satisfied. to die twice for the greater good of people he cares for, he's okay with that.]
It's finally over. And... I'm free. [it's still bittersweet, but it's very obvious that it was a role noctis accepted and came to terms with over the last ten years.]
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It seems unfair, for your fate to require you to die in order to save the lives of your people.
[he knows her own situation. knows that she was created for a specific purpose that she bucked against until she could fulfill her own desires. but she also knows what it's like to be in his position. to know that your death will protect those you love so much]
But. . . as long as you can say you're proud of your choices. . .
Then I'd like to say that I'm proud of you, too.
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[even though it's tired and a bit melancholic, he smiles.]
It's not something I regret. Too many lives were lost because I wasn't there, but too many more would've been if I didn't do that. I... can hardly imagine it myself, the world falling apart because the sun wouldn't rise. Living that way for ten years.
I was able to end that for my people, for my whole world.
[so... he's definitely proud of his choices.]
I almost wrote you to tell you all of it when I woke up. But... I thought it would be easier. To tell you this way.
[since he'd already known by the time he was on his feet again that he'd be giving up his life in only a couple of days' time.]
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[that much was obvious, but somehow, his words make her marvel at this fact. he has grown so much, even if he spent the majority of the past ten years asleep]
But even so, you're still a do-gooder until the very end. Aren't you?
[but deep down, he's still Noctis. and that's what she likes the most about him. the fondness is evident in her words, and in the way she smiles up at him, slightly teasing]
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