Title: Word of the Day v. FFIV
Author: Garnet Eyes
Archived: fanfiction .net, livejournal .com
Last Updated: 18 Jun 2011
Summary: 09 October 2000 edition.
Rating: K+
Characters/Pairings: Cecil
Author Notes: rictus, noun;
1. The gape of the mouth, as of birds.
2. A gaping grin or grimace.
Disclaimers: Final Fantasy IV is owned by Square-Enix and I in no way, shape, or form profit off of my writing. This is simply for my own pleasure, and may at any time be removed and/or modified as I see fit.

...

Cecil could admit that it was incredibly perturbing to stare head on at any of the archfiends. Not even the lady of the wind was disassociated from his revulsion. She, actually, may have been one of the worst offenders. No man should ever find pleasure in the death of others, and yet it was very clear to the young knight that these creatures drew strength from the pain and suffering that they inflicted on those who could not even fight back. Their gleeful expressions were enough to make him ill, and Cecil was forced to choke down the bile that burned the back of his throat as these monsters threatened to savagely destroy all that surrounded them. He had never pictured himself as being capable of taking pleasure in the death of an opponent, and the grotesque satisfaction that those elemental beasts derived was far too depraved for him to accept. Although Cecil did not particularly enjoy killing, these were creatures who he knew had to die.