Sketch Two: Izlude and Kletian
shortly before Izlude leaves for Orbonne

"Who is it?"

"Izlude Tingel, sir. May I come in?"

"By all means. What brings you here?"

"I have a message for you. From my father."

"What does he say?"

"He's calling a meeting in two hours."

"That's going to interfere with my studies."

"He knows that, sir, but..."

"But?"

"Well, he, uh, said something to the effect that you spend way too much time in the library anyway."

"Sounds like something he would say. Vormav never seemed to understand the value of a good education. Once I show him this, maybe he'll change his mind."

"I wouldn't say that, sir. He sent Meliadoul and me to Murond to get a very good education--"

"What do you think?"

"Pardon?"

"Vormav gets on my case about this because he thinks I should train up to the same level as the other Shrine Knights. Personally, I think I can be much more useful as a sorcerer, given how many sword-swingers we already have. Your opinion?"

"Well...I..."

"Don't be afraid to speak your mind, Izlude."

"I don't want to be disrespectful--"

"Don't worry about it. Anything you say stays in this room, and I don't mind the odd blow to my ego if you disagree with me."

"Well, I think you may be right."

"Your father doesn't seem to get that. We've got some of the best swordsmen in Ivalice working with the Shrine Knights already, between your father, Rofel, Wiegraf, you and your sister--"

"I'm not that good."

"No?"

"Every time we spar, Wiegraf...well, slaughters me. Mel has always been better than me. And I wouldn't even think of comparing myself to Father or Rofel."

"Wiegraf was the leader of a renegade organization that successfully defied the nobility of Gallione for years. Rofel and Vormav were in training before you were even born. I hardly find it surprising that they would be better than you. You're still quite good."

"No..."

"You're too modest, Izlude."

"I'm not trying to be, sir."

"Exactly how much time have you spent outside of Murond?"

"Very little...why? I don't understand why you're asking..."

"I believe you've just made my point."

"I don't quite follow."

"Let me put it this way. Only the best of the best are accepted into the Shrine Knights. Since your father leads us, you've been groomed for this since you were born; thus, you've never really been among the regular military. And now, because you're the worst in the group, you think you're no good."

"I still don't--"

"You've been comparing yourself to a group of elites, Izlude. If you were to go observe the regular army, you'd get a better perspective of your own skills. The worst Shrine Knight is by any standards one of the most formidable opponents in Ivalice."

"Perhaps, but--"

"And if that doesn't convince you, do you really think Vormav would make an inferior, or even an average, warrior into one of the new Zodiac Braves? You may be his son, but he's never given you any advantages among the Knights because of it, correct?"

"I probably wouldn't be so highly placed if I wasn't his son."

"Not true. He's been harder on you and Meliadoul than anyone."

"But--"

"Answer me honestly, Izlude. Has your father even given unfair advantages to anyone?"

"No."

"Then, there you go."

"I suppose."

"Too little self-confidence can be perhaps deadlier than too much. Never forget that."

"I won't sir...if I may ask, what's that you're reading?"

"A spellbook."

"Spellbook?"

"Yes. I've been researching ancient magic. Some of the most powerful spells in existance are still around, if you know where to look."

"I thought they'd all been lost."

"Not all of them. Some of them were lost. Some were reported lost, but I've been able to find them. For example, take a look at this."

"Summoning of...ultima demons? But...y-you weren't thinking of using this, were you? Ultima demons are evil! They serve Lucavi!"

"I won't be using this spell, Izlude. Don't worry."

"I'm glad to hear that, sir."

"This one, on the other hand..."

"Dark Holy? But isn't that also evil?"

"Yes."

"Then why use it?"

"Sometimes one must fight fire with fire."

"Even so--"

"How old are you, Izlude?"

"Eighteen, sir. Why?"

"You'll understand when you're older. Once you've grown a bit and gotten more experience, you'll realize that things aren't always in black and white. The lines between good and evil can become rather blurry sometimes."

"With all due respect, sir, that's not what the Glabados Church has been teaching us. And if the Shrine Knights don't uphold the ideals of the church, than what are we there for?"

"The church means well, but we're the ones charged with guarding Ivalice from evil. We have a perspective the priests don't get. Which would you count as the lesser evil--making use of a dark magic spell or allowing heretics free reign in Ivalice?"

"Well, when you put it that way..."

"Besides, I've already cleared this with Vormav. You trust your father's judgment, right?"

"Yes."

"Good."

"I should be going, sir. I still have to give the message to Wiegraf and Rofel."

"Of course. My apologies for detaining you, Izlude."

"I don't mind, sir. I'm glad we had this talk."