Untold Omens
Chapter Nine: Unspoken
Autumn M.E. 749
"Am I reading this wrong? You want to change your application request to where?" The school coordinator gapped, her eyes widened at what was written on Aracelis' internship request application.
"Kingsglaive HR," replied Aracelis evenly.
"Why?" asked the woman in disbelief. "With your grades and class ranking, the internship application you submitted for the treasury department would have been approved. Someone with your qualifications would do great in financing. Why would you change your request to human resources? And for Kingsglaive of all places?"
Any other time, Aracelis would have agreed wholeheartedly. You do not willingly choose to work for Kingsglaive if other options are available to you, especially not with the public disparity against the immigrant populated military force. As most Valetis graduates were more or less ensured a position in the Citadel, third year students are required to submit an internship application form to their department of choice.
Those who ranked lowest were relegated to unpopular departments with lower salaries and non-existent opportunities. Those who ranked higher in academic performance were granted greater priority. The Kingsglaive Department was a dead end avenue for anyone graduating from the prestigious Valetis Institute, offering little to no upward mobility.
Aracelis had originally intended to apply to Treasury as that was the most inconspicuous branch. Apart from financing, city planning and trade, it had nothing to do with Crownsguard, Kingsglaive or the politics outside of Insomnia. Treasury would have saved her from all the unfortunate events yet to come.
…That was before everything went to hell and Gladio was dismissed from Crownsguard and subsequently transferred to Kingsglaive. She wasn't sure how or why he was transferred, her childhood friend was rather dismissive about the details when pressed. If she wanted to find out anything she would have to take it into her own hands.
Hence the sudden desire to work for Kingsglaive. With her current academic performance, wealth and social standing she could easily choose from a buyers' selection of vocations, all of them promising greater prospects. However, none of those things mattered if the world was to abruptly end.
"I enjoy the challenge," lied Aracelis. "If I can excel in a difficult environment such as Kingsglaive, then I know I will be able to handle anything beyond that."
"But you are aware that once you're enlisted, it's nearly impossible to transfer. It's very unlikely for you to acquire any sort of advancement within Kingsglaive…" reasoned the woman. "If it's a challenge you want, there are better places for you to prove yourself."
When her childhood friend told her he had been transferred, her heart sank. Had he been transferred to any other department, she might not be as apprehensive. However, Kingsglaive are frequently deployed as the frontline unit in the war against Niflheim.
"I understand, but it's a challenge I'm willing to accept. Please amend my request form."
"…If you insist." The coordinator sighed, her brows raised in disbelief as she grabbed her stamp to approve the change.
Goal secured, she had successfully acquired a surefire way to keep updated on the ongoings of Kingsglaive and a means to keep an eye on Gladio.
She could not afford another unpredictable circumstance unfolding beneath her nose. He could well be deployed and possibly die before she finds a way to get him back into Crownsguard. A seemingly unfeasible task, according to the coordinator. It was near impossible to advance out or even transfer once you're conscripted. The woman may have been speaking strictly in terms of the Kingsglaive Bureau; but that would hardly stop her, even if it applied to the combatant division as well. She will get Gladio back into Crownsguard, one way or another.
Incidentally, there were two other individuals that must also join its ranks… In her attempts to solve the ever evolving disparities around her, Aracelis was becoming increasingly inundated. Now much more involved than she ever initially planned, she has yet to secure an opportune moment on confronting either Ignis or Prompto on their prospective futures.
As she left the coordinator's office a small gaggle of her classmates murmured as they walked past her. Attention focused on walking to her morning classes, she didn't take note of the passing glances and quiet whisperings behind her back. Though she paid no mind to the giggling, she was not blind to the ongoing within the school.
Due to spending more and more time alone with Ignis for lunch at the alcove, gossip and rumors have begun to spread that the two of them might possibly become an item. Not unexpected, after all they are the top students of their year. Based solely on appearances, they weren't making it easy for people to think otherwise. Ignis often brings her homemade meals and she in turn shares her mother's decorated baked confections, all tied with a ribbon.
Aracelis could safely ignore such high school gossip as there were much more dire circumstances at hand. Though, Ignis on the other hand was another story. While they still shared lunch together, she has the sinking suspicion that something is amiss.
"Are you upset with me?" Aracelis questioned him while he was packing away his things at the end of their morning classes.
The majority of their classmates had left for lunch already. A few stragglers lingered to talk with their friends. Somewhere in the midst of still finishing up their note taking. Barely any of them paid any mind to the conversation unfolding between them.
"We're about to have lunch together, what makes you think I'm upset with you?" replied Ignis evenly.
"Well, the fact that you're actively trying not to make eye contact with me is rather telling," quipped Aracelis.
"I'm not upset with you," repeated Ignis, pointedly making an effort to look her in the eye as he spoke.
"Hmm… Are you sure you're not upset because of the stupid gossip floating around the whole school about us being a couple?" Aracelis hummed, not quite believing him.
"It's merely gossip and nothing more," insisted Ignis, though the slight flush on his face hinted otherwise. She could see the gossip did bother him to some extent.
"Okay then, what did you tell my mother when you two spoke on the phone the other day?" As she won't be able to get a straight answer out of him, Aracelis went off on a tangent.
Ignis paused, puzzled by the sudden change in question. "I told her you fell asleep and that it would be unsafe for you to drive in your tired state…Why do you ask?"
"Ugh, of course that's all you said…" Aracelis dipped her head in exasperation.
"Was she unhappy that you stayed over?" Ignis' brow furrowed in confusion at the girl towering over him.
"Unhappy isn't quite the right word…" muttered Aracelis under her breath. "My mother…"
Taking in a deep breath through her nose, she claimed the abandoned chair from the desk in front of his, turning it around before sitting down to face him. Once seated, she rested her elbows on his desk, her slender fingers laced loosely beneath her chin. He stilled in his movements, looking expectantly at her.
"Remember what I said about my mom being passive aggressive?" continued the brunette.
His knuckles curled thoughtfully against his chin as he recalled the previous conversation they shared.
"You mentioned her rather enthusiastic approach regarding your relaxation methods," replied Ignis, carefully omitting her smoking habits while on school grounds. "And… That she had odd tactics in attempting to sway your choices… Dare I ask what she did this time?"
Aracelis stared pointedly at him as she deadpanned the answer. "…She left me a box of condoms."
"A box of…" Ignis repeated slowly before he finally processed what was said. His face grew exponentially redder as he suppressed a nervous laugh. "…She doesn't really think we're… um…" He scrambled to regain composure before offering, "Surely your mother did that in jest."
"You really don't want to know what else she left on my desk if that's what you think," scoffed the brunette as she angled her face away and pressed her lips against the crook of her laced fingers.
Ignis paused briefly, uncertain on how to respond. An amused snort escaped Aracelis as she fought the smile creeping onto her face. In addition to the box of condoms, her mother left her several pamphlets on safe sex, as well as booklets on child rearing and motherhood.
"I'm glad my discomfort amuses you," noted the other teen dully.
Her smile widened even further, body shaking with restrained laughter the moment her eyes met his unamused half-lidded gaze.
"I'd apologize, but I'm honestly not sorry," grinned Aracelis, shifting her posture. She tucked her legs underneath her chair, leaning forward to rest her chin on her clasped hands.
"How delightful for you," Ignis stated, trying his best to ignore Aracelis he resumed packing the rest of his things.
"…Ew, what is it with you two? Are you guys seriously dating or something?"
Flabio's unexpected interruption drew both their attention to their confused the sight of her self-proclaimed rival, her good humor all but disappeared. Aracelis leaned back in her seat, her smile fell flat and her gaze disinterested.
"As per usual I see you've fallen prey to the school's gossip ring," stated the girl with a dismissive sigh. "And here I thought you had more than three brain cells. Such a disappointment."
"Well excuse me for asking." He retorted.
"You may be excused, so run along now." Aracelis shooed him away with a disparaging flap of her hand.
"Insulting as usual," noted Flabio before he slung his bag over his shoulder. "By the way, I saw you coming out of the coordinator's office earlier this morning."
"And?" Aracelis droned dully.
"It didn't look like she was happy when she walked you out. Did something happen with your internship application?" frowned the redheaded lord-in-waiting.
"I honestly don't think that's any of your business," dismissed the brunette haughtily.
"Come off it," huffed the other teen. "In short of Ignis and myself, there isn't anyone that can actually compete with you for the most desirable vocations. Even if you applied to the same professional departments as either of us, they still wouldn't reject your application. What's going on?"
"…That does sound concerning," murmured Ignis in agreement, turning his gaze towards the shorter girl. "I know it's probably none of my business either, but I am rather curious as well."
Now that Ignis asked, Aracelis found herself conflicted to provide an answer. It wasn't so much that she wanted to keep her interest in Kingsglaive a secret, but rather she simply didn't want their disbelief to draw further attention to her actions. She knew full well how strange it was for someone of her status to show interest in Kingsglaive.
At the potential risk of the tentative friendship she's gained with Ignis, she could keep it to herself and remain elusive. However, it's not worth losing the progress she's already gained with him to avoid the minor inconvenience of explaining herself.
"It's nothing to be concerned over," stated Aracelis. "She's just overreacting because I switched my application to Kingsglaive. That's all. It's no big deal."
"Okay, first!" Flabio cut in, raising his index finger to make a point. "How come when I ask you a question, you ignore me, but when Ignis asks the same question he gets an answer? And second!" He raises another finger. "What the hell do you mean you changed your application to Kingsglaive? Are you crazy? Why would you apply there? You're wasted there!"
Aracelis rolled her eyes, leaning the crook of her elbow on the back of her seat and resting her chin on the back of her hand. This was exactly what she didn't want to deal with.
"In the order of your asinine questions," replied the girl succinctly. "You demanded an answer whereas Ignis asked. It's not my fault that you lack the proper etiquette to be treated civilly. As for your next string of questions regarding my sanity and competence in choosing Kingsglaive, I have to note there is nothing wrong with working for Kingsglaive."
"There's everything wrong with working there!" argued the other teen. "First, it's a dead end position. Everyone knows that! Only the bottom of the barrel of the worst class in Valetis would get dumped there! I mean just look at how disorganized and poorly managed they are…"
"More the reason that I should go," challenged Aracelis. "What most people don't understand is how important of a role Kingsglaive plays in our military. They are our first line of defense. The only military force capable of using magic in combat. I would also like to note, it's ranks are comprised of mostly immigrants from the outer territories of Lucis. If you've kept up with current events, there are numerous issues concerning immigrant discrimination.
Bearing that in mind, if working conditions are the worst in that department, that implies Kingsglaive is understaffed, insufficiently funded, and not achieving its full potential. Our most important military unit is not working at maximum efficiency. If someone capable doesn't step in, this level of mismanagement will spiral into a never ending loop of chaos. Lucis could well lose the war."
While true, Aracelis didn't actually believe in half of the things she spouted. Once she gets everything back on track, Kingsglaive will once again betray King Regis and the city will fall to ruin. Any political conflict in Insomnia will become obsolete. Hard for someone to discriminate against immigrants when they themselves become refugees, the ones desperately fleeing to the towns outside their native city.
"So you think you alone can fix it? Come off it Aracelis, you're good, but not that good. Hell, I bet even if Ignis and I joined you in Kingsglaive, we still wouldn't be able to change anything."
"True, but change requires a catalyst," challenged the brunette. "And unless someone starts it, nothing will ever change."
"You do that then, rebel girl. Tell me how that goes," stated Flabio wryly before puffing up his chest with self-importance. "While you play in the sandbox with Kingsglaive, I'm going to be joining Crownsguard."
"…You're joining Crownsguard?" Her voice raised in disbelief. "Pft. Can you even fight?"
"Just because your family works for the Amicitia doesn't mean that you know everything there is to Crownsguard. Unlike Kingsglaive, there are many opportunities within Crownsguard. Not all of which involve fighting." Flabio practically spat the word in disdain. A second later his face lit up. "Actually, my father tells me there might be an opening soon to be the prince's advisor. It's just a passing rumor, but they're looking for candidates that are close—"
"—Like hell you're going to be his advisor!" snapped Aracelis before he could finish speaking. "If anyone's going to be his highness' advisor—that's Ignis!"
"Pardon?" Flabio stared at her, dumbfounded by her outburst.
Ignis blinked, caught off by the sudden loudness of her declaration. While this was not the first time he's heard Aracelis declare his suitability to be the prince's advisor, her bold declaration took him by surprise.
"As you are, you... can't handle the prince." Aracelis took a breath as she attempted to defend her adamant claim, so as to not look completely insane. "The prince needs someone calm and composed to guide him. Someone capable of steering him into making the right choices. Not a self-centered imbecile like you."
"You offend me, hon." Flabio alleged, raising his fingers yet again to make a point. "First, you claim I'm not fit for Crownsguard and then you claim Ignis can do a better job at everything than I can. How much do you want to bet that Ignis can't fight either?"
Aracelis sighed in defeat. She knows full well that Flabio has her locked in a ceaseless loop of annoying questions and that reluctantly, she must admit this is actually a very good point. In the original timeline Ignis was a skilled combatant, no doubt groomed for the role. Perhaps with the exception of a kitchen knife, it was entirely possible that this Ignis has never so much as touched an actual weapon.
"So you admit fighting is a factor in joining Crownsguard," noted Aracelis, simply to wipe the smug look off Flabio's face.
"Let's ignore the combat factor of Crownsguard for now." Flabio groaned, continuing his one-sided debate. "Let's say that Ignis can fight or that he'll learn how to later. Barring combat prowess, there are still other determining factors on suitability to be the prince's advisor. Diplomacy for example. While I agree with you that Ignis is overall the calmest and most collected student in our year, it does not mean his diplomacy skills are superior to mine."
"And there goes that narcissistic attitude," inserted Aracelis offhandedly.
"What you call narcissism, I call healthy self-assurance," countered the smirking redhead. "Diplomacy isn't necessarily all about maintaining peace. It's also about knowing when to put your foot down and stand your ground. While peace is ideal, we must never allow ourselves to be exploited in order to appease the masses. Otherwise it's no different to rolling over and surrendering to the enemy. What do you think, Ignis?"
"…It really depends," noted Ignis with a slight apologetic glance to Aracelis. "However, I'm inclined to agree with you if the situation calls for it. Out of context, it's only a matter of speculation."
"Naturally," agreed Flabio flippantly. "But this is in the context that as long as someone is capable of seeing the big picture and reaching the desired outcome, they don't necessarily need to be calm and composed to do it."
The world might as well end now. Flabio was being an overall pestilence with his inane questions and riddles, as usual. Whereas Ignis was misusing a quintessential skill of his for thrill seeking in street races. To make matters worse, she wasn't sure what to make of the baroness-in-waiting, Lady Claire Auburn.
Aracelis worried that she might be irrationally paranoid regarding the future baroness. On the one hand, she seems like any other rich nobleman's child, reckless and uncouth. On the other, her mannerisms bore an uncanny resemblance to a certain accursed immortal. Worse yet, Claire's stripped red car matched the one Noctis drove to follow on the drive to the Disc of Cauthess in the original timeline.
With Ardyn's ability to replicate anyone's appearance in the eyes of others, it was hard to dismiss the possibility. Still… she mustn't assume every single person who comes across Noctis and his retinue was the villain in disguise. Not that she could do anything if she were to come across Ardyn, but if Noctis does not acquire the sharp, discerning, combat ready version of Ignis by his side, she can't imagine what's to come.
"We're all doomed," muttered Aracelis under her breath.
"Whatever," dismissed Flabio casually, losing all interest in Aracelis and the previous string of arguments. "By the way, you never did say where you applied to for your internship."
"Ah… I haven't handed mine in yet," admitted Ignis quietly.
"Serious? Between you and Aracelis, I thought you of all people would have handed it in ages ago. Why the delay?"
"That's… because I'm still rather undecided on where to apply," replied Ignis honestly.
Aracelis perked up at that revelation. If Ignis hasn't chosen yet, she now has a chance to convince him to apply to Crownsguard. However, before she could even attempt to take advantage of the golden opportunity, Flabio hastily cut her off.
"Ah! Bup-bup!" The redhead nearly shouted as he slashed his hand down to interrupt her. "You claimed you're not his girlfriend. Let the man choose on his own, woman!"
If a glare could kill, Flabio would be six feet under, his corpse charred beyond recognition.
"I don't care what either of you say," grinned the redheaded teen cheekily, oblivious to her rage. "I bet you guys just aren't the sort to kiss and tell. I see how this is."
"And I bet you're not the sort who can properly assess reality," countered Aracelis through gritted teeth.
"Ignoring what you have against me—because by this point I think it's your default reaction regardless of what I do or say." Flabio pressed a hand against his brow in annoyance. "Have you ever considered where Ignis wanted to go or what he wanted to do? It sounds to me like you're bossing him around, forcing him into things against his will."
Aracelis froze, warily glancing at Ignis. She's done well to avoid casting suspicion behind her intentions, but if Flabio plants a seed of distrust, she will not be able to fatefully maneuver him. Everything depends on Ignis getting onto the prince's payroll.
"…It may seem that way," admitted Ignis after a moment. "But I don't believe it's out of malice. Aracelis has… an odd way of showing concern for others."
Relief flooded the brunette, melting away her tension. She just needs to shut Flabio up before he ruins everything.
"Contrary to your insinuation," stated Aracelis evenly, fighting back her desire to snarl at the lord-in-waiting as she attempts to mend the situation. "Unlike us, who are certain of what we want to do with our futures, Ignis needs more time to decide. It would be unwise for him to decide recklessly… even if I think he is more than capable of outperforming you in Crownsguard."
"Again?" Flabio draws his hand away from his brow angling his hand aside. "Why do I stand here and take this?"
"Because you never learn," quipped Aracelis.
"...I'm leaving." Flabio bristled, finally bored with the conversation but not before shouting one last thing to Ignis. "Don't let her dictate what you do, Ignis! That is… unless she is your girlfriend. Then, best do what the lady says!"
With that, he skipped out of the room slamming the door behind him, leaving Ignis and Aracelis with the scant few confused classmates that caught the tail end of their exchange.
"…Must you antagonize him every time you two talk?" Ignis inquired curiously once everything settled down.
"Yes, he's insufferable," griped Aracelis before she got up to grab her bag and the daily box of her mother's confections. "Let's go. I don't want to talk about him anymore."
Ignis shook his head as he finished packing up his bag and followed her out of the room to their usual spot.
"Your transfer is a bit unorthodox," stated Drautos as he and Gladio walked along the colonnade halls of the Citadel. "Normally, Kingsglaive are chosen for their proficiency in wielding his majesty's magic. You are… a rather odd exception."
Gladio frowned, following his newly appointed Captain.
"Your combat proficiency is promising and is much higher than most of our new cadets, but as you cannot wield magic, we cannot exactly set you up in a regular Kingsglaive unit. Most of them are meant to engage in aerial-based combat with warp-strikes or magic attacks," explained the older man. "If we send you out on the field, you'd likely become a liability."
"…Then what exactly will I be doing?" asked the former shield curtly, clenching his fist tightly at the belittling notion.
"It's best I allow your squad leader to explain that to you," noted Drautos. "He'll go into further details with you."
"And that would be—" Gladio paused when he spotted a familiar Galahdian Kingsglaive leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and a shit eating grin on his face. "You?"
"Heya kiddo," greeted Nyx playfully as he pulled his hand away to give a friendly wave. He pushed away from the wall, arms uncrossed and his body casually slipped into the standard Kingsglaive stance. His arms folded uniformly behind his back as he came to a stop in front of them.
It's been quite some time since he last saw the older glaive. Though they parted on good terms with an open invitation for further cross training sessions, the Amicitia heir never took up their offer. Between training the prince and worrying over the teen's royal assessments, Crownsguard duties had dominated his life. Until his father informed him of this impromptu transfer, Gladio hadn't thought at all about Kingsglaive.
"Impatient as always Ulric," sighed Drautos exasperated at the rugged glaive.
"You know me, sir," replied Nyx in good humor, but his focus remained on the disgruntled teen. "Thought I'd pick-up the newbie. I requested for him after all."
"Since it seems that you're both well acquainted, I'll leave him to you," noted the captain before he glanced towards Gladio one last time. "Welcome to Kingsglaive."
"Sir!" Reflexively, the teen all but saluted to the man with how stiffly he stood.
The two stood at attention until Drautos was out of sight. Once gone, Nyx held up two fingers and gestured for Gladio to follow him, the smirk never leaving his face as he began to stroll on ahead. Begrudgingly, the teen trailed after him. Even though he's walked through the Citadel a hundred times over during his interim as Crownsguard, it felt different now as Kingsglaive. Following the older glaive … was disorienting.
The uniform was not heavier than the one he previously wore, but the weight it bore on his shoulders felt comparably different. For one, it was uncomfortably weightless. The differences only continued to grow as they left the cool sterile air that circulated the building and entered the courtyard, tainted with the faint scent of city air pollution. It was a far cry from an open field surrounded by nature, but being outside was not something Gladio hated. In fact, it was almost preferable compared to being indoors all day.
"Look who I brought!" Nyx announced with a hearty sing-song tinging his voice.
Gladio came to a stop as the older man jostled him with a friendly arm hook over his shoulder pulling him into an unwanted headlock. A scowl crossed the young Amicitia's face. He reached up to push the man's arm away, but paused when he spotted the group of laid-back glaives lounging casually about the courtyard.
Streaks of blue light and soft explosions flitted above the courtyard as the more active glaives went about their warp training. Those on the ground level trained at their own pace with either magic manipulation or physical combat. Unlike Crownsguard's pristine training rooms that are well-equipped and frequently maintained, Kingsglaive's training grounds are open to the elements with nothing but the ruined pillars situated in the middle.
"Long time no see!" greeted Libertus affably turning to the rest of the glaives. "Drinks' on Luche! Nyx got the kid!"
A mix of cheers and playful jeering rang out through the courtyard. Standing in the shadows, the glaive Luche scowled, upset at a bet decided prior to Gladio's arrival. Others around him snickered and elbowed him gleefully. The young man scoffed, roughly shrugging off the playful jesting. He threw up a single hand acknowledging his defeat, fingers curled as if signaling a drink. Grouchy, Luche stormed off with two other glaives following him.
It was no different from the last time he was here.
"So, looks like you're Kingsglaive after all," commented a familiar smug voice.
Gladio turned his attention to the speaker, a dark haired woman idly flipping a dagger in her hand. He immediately recognized her as Crowe, the woman who had mistakenly dragged him off to Kingsglaive the first time.
"Crowe!" Libertus hissed, raising a hand in a quick cutting gesture.
"What?" retorted the woman in annoyance at being scolded.
Libertus turned towards a set of glaives engaged in the middle of a spar. "Elea! Take five, the kid's going to train with Gutsco for a bit!"
"Guess he's just going to toss you in, kid." Nyx snorted in amusement. He released his hold on Gladio and slapped the teen's shoulder to usher him forward. "Go get 'em!"
"Get what?" Gladio frowned, grounding his feet so he wouldn't tumble forward from the shove. "You haven't told me what I'm supposed to do."
"I thought it was obvious," grinned the older man. "Beat 'em until they get good. You can do that much, can't you?"
"What Nyx is trying to say," interrupted Libertus in an exasperated huff. "Today, you'll be helping out with training the glaives that are lacking in close combat skill."
Gladio paused in order to process the irony of this placement. First, they dismissed him from Crownsguard for failing to train the prince properly. Now, he is in Kingsglaive training his seniors in this department. This must be a sick joke.
"You know where the weapons are, hop to it!" demanded Crowe as she sauntered off.
The stash of battle equipment laid in a discreet corner. Gladio broke away from the three older glaives in silent discontent to make his way to the weapon rack for the great sword. From what he remembered, the quality of the weapons were poor and unwieldy. It was difficult for even the likes of him to handle. All the blades in Crownsguard were well-crafted and balanced to perfection. He didn't need to think twice about adjusting and working around those weapons.
As Nyx so crudely stated, all he needed to do was beat them until they get good.
Forward strike
With a new task to focus on, Gladio allowed the weight of the sword and the rhythm of the fight to take over. Everything about his placement in Kingsglaive was unconventional.
Guard
If this was Crownsguard, a new recruit like him would not be in charge of training his seniors. They would be the ones to train him… Kingsglaive's strength lies in their ability to use magic and warp-strikes. Take that away and it becomes a laughably one-sided fight in Gladio's favor. However, since he cannot use magic and his combat prowess is above the majority of them, it makes sense for them to assign him to combat training.
Parry, side-step
One after another, he executed the moves with perfected practice. The glaives facing him did the same in varying levels of successes and failures.
Overhead strike
Whereas he was fully aware of every second spent while training Noctis, he barely noticed the passage of time with Kingsglaive. Unlike the prince, they were far more receptive of critique actually using his advice to improve during their sparing. He hadn't realized how easy it was to get lost in the motions until Libertus called for a break and the glaives broke away for lunch.
Before Gladio could go off on his own to the cafeteria Nyx caught his arm, turning him around.
"Woah there." The older glaive hastily steered him from the path. "Where do you think you're going?"
"The cafeteria." He answered tersely, swatting off the man's hand.
"Yeah… you're not going to want to eat from there," warned Nyx, slapping a wrapped protein bar into the younger glaive's abdomen. "Trust me. You're going to want to start packing lunch from now on. It's a bit of a trek for somewhere half decent around here."
Gladio took hold of the unsolicited offering. "…Why are you doing this?"
Nyx arched a single brow.
"…You requested me for Kingsglaive! Tell me why?" He demanded, eyes simmering with the threat of rising anger.
"Why not?" countered Nyx. "Not like you have anything else better to do."
Gladio glared at the older man, his nose flared in agitation. His fists clenched tightly at his sides. "Stop shitting me." Gladio snapped, and with a single hand he crushed the token, dropping it at Nyx's feet.
The older glaive glanced at the discarded gift on the ground. His brows furrowed pensively and his lips puckered with interest. Decisively, Nyx returned his gaze to the younger glaive, crossing his arms and leaning his weight onto his back leg discarding his previous carefree stance.
"I don't know what the hell you're getting out of this, but enough of this comradery!" continued Gladio. "I may not be in Crownsguard anymore, but I don't need you to pity me!"
"Fair enough," nodded Nyx in agreement. "What do you want then?"
What did he want? Gladio pauses, not expecting the question.
At this, Nyx smiles knowingly.
"Go back to Crownsguard?" supplied the older glaive. "Not sure why you'd want that. I mean, they practically threw you out on your ass despite all you've done."
Red suddenly filled his vision, and before Gladio could stop himself, his fist pulled back and he swung at the older glaive. In a second, Nyx sidestepped, leaving a soft blue after image behind. The Galahdian grabbed the offending arm and looped a leg around to kick the other behind the knee. Within seconds, the Amicitia dropped to the ground. The experienced soldier sat on his back, locking his arm at an angle that made it impossible to move.
"Woah, woah! Easy there…" Nyx murmured, as if pacifying a wild animal.
"Shut up! What do you know about Crownsguard!" Gladio screamed, thrashing and struggling against the older man's hold. His chest burned and his face reddened with exertion.
Nyx patiently kept a firm hold on the younger glaive as his words became incoherent denunciations. By the time the other glaives returned, the teen had all but exhausted himself, face planted on the ground in defeat.
"…What's up with the kid?" asked Libertus in concern, being the first to return from the group.
"… He's just getting something out of his system," supplied Nyx casually. "Don't worry about it. He's about done."
"You sure?" Libertus pressed, not quite trusting Nyx at his word.
"Of course!" answered Nyx readily as he glanced down to the trapped teen beneath him. Gladio's breathing was beginning to even out. "You're good now, right kid?"
Not trusting his voice, Gladio reluctantly nodded.
Certainty never leaving his face, Nyx gave him a firm pat on the shoulder before he hopped off. With the weight lifted, Gladio shuffled onto his arms and knees. He was in the middle of shifting onto a crouch when a gloved hand reached out to him. A frown pinched at the bridge of his nose as his gaze followed it back to Nyx's smiling face.
Instead of accepting the offered hand, he broke eye contact to get up on his own. At the rejection, Nyx silently pulled back with both hands held up in surrender. Gladio privately scoffed at Nyx and his unbidden goodwill. He will handle himself, Crownsguard or no.
Noctis stood in front of the large ornate doors to the training hall. Between the royal assessments and his past experience with Gladio's unyielding training, he's grown to despise the sight of the domineering doors. Regardless of how much he wanted to be anywhere besides here, today was not a day he could simply skip out on. Taking a deep breath, Noctis steeled himself as he pushed the sturdy doors open. The loud creak from the latch opening echoed the halls. On the other side, Cor waited expectantly with his arms crossed and his expression stern.
"Your highness," greeted the Marshal, his voice rumbled in a low baritone. "Glad to see you're on time."
Noctis returned the greeting with a silent nod, not quite accustomed to having the man as his new handler. In the ironic clarity of hindsight, he wanted Gladio back as his trainer. However, until he's proven himself to his father that may not become a reality for some time. The king's personal condition for reinstating Gladio as his Shield was for him to train Iris Amicitia demonstrating real proficiency, leadership and growth. The very notion filled Noctis with tension.
His gaze drifted about the stark training hall anxious to make her acquaintance. When he didn't immediately spot the little girl, a tinge of discouragement flooded him. He wondered idly if perhaps this was what his former shield endured whenever he skipped out.
"BOO!" shouted a girlish voice as a small child of ten popped out from behind Cor's earnest and stiff frame. A bright smile spread across her face, her small hands gripped lightly at the hem of the man's blazer.
Noctis paused, blankly staring at the small excited child.
"Aw!" Iris pulled away from Cor, her cheeks puffed up indignantly. "I didn't scare you at all!"
Not truly bothered by her failed attempt, the bright smile quickly returned to her face.
"…You're nothing like your brother Gladio at all," muttered Noctis under his breath, noting more so to himself than to anyone else.
"Dad says Gladdy got suspended. So, does that mean I get to be your brand new Shield? Do I get to beat up bad guys and kick butt?" Iris hopped from foot to foot with her hands bunched up and ready for mock punches.
Noctis looked to the Marshal for guidance. The man remained stoic, unaffected by the little girl's childish antics. In his opinion assigning Cor, the Crownsguard Marshal to this task was overkill; however, the council had demanded a more stringent taskmaster to formally oversee his training.
Expression strained, the prince abandoned hope that Cor will come to his rescue. Iris seemed like she might actually enjoy being a Shield if given the chance. His father mentioned Iris had been hounding people for training prior to this arrangement. So much for ripping a little girl away from the carefree life she knows.
Noctis paused, recounting the routine of his former sessions with Gladio. The older Amicitia always started with warmups by going through the basic stances. As stringent as the older teen was with him, he always made certain that Noctis never injured himself from carelessness.
"…How about we start with the basics?" suggested Noctis after a moment.
"Basiiiics?" whined Iris. Her hands dropped to her sides in disappointment. "But that's soooo boring!"
"If you swing a sword without learning how to properly hold it, you'll get hurt," noted Noctis bluntly. "Do you want to get hurt?"
At his words, Iris turned indignantly to Cor for help, much like he did barely a moment ago. As with the prince, the Marshal remained stoic and unmoving, determined to stay neutral through and through. Seeing she wasn't going to get the man's help either, she deflated with a pout.
"…Fiiine." Iris kicked the tip of her shoe petulantly at the ground.
The younger Amicitia was nothing like how Noctis imagined. While he really didn't expect Iris to be as disciplined as her older brother, the girl was easily distracted, prone to fits of boredom and highly energetic. If she wasn't dragging the wooden practice sword on the ground, she was swinging it wildly and without care. It was a feat just to keep her focused, let alone teach her.
By the time the session finished, Noctis wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and sleep the rest of the week away. To make matters worse, he reluctantly gained a newfound respect for his shield. Gladio had made it seem so easy.
Iris skipped ahead, speeding down the Citadel steps with her arms held out for balance. At the last four steps she braced herself, crouching briefly before leaping off. "Whee!"
"Iris!" Noctis yelped when he saw her jump.
However, his concern was unnecessary. Iris landed on her feet then twirled around to face him with a curious tilt to her head.
"What?" She called back, wondering why he sounded so worried.
"…Never mind," breathed Noctis, his shoulders slumped in exhausted relief. The steps, while not steep, were much wider and longer than average stairs. Just because he had tripped over them on several occasions when he was a child, didn't mean Iris would.
"Well, well, well… isn't this a rare sight?" drawled a faux playful voice. "Good day to you, your highness."
Noctis turned to the source of the voice. A royal guard was dragging Baron Auburn's daughter by the arm with handcuffs chained to her wrists.
The dark haired young woman slowly meandered towards the steps despite the guard's attempts to hurry her along in another direction. She was clearly being obtuse with her sly grinning and blasé attitude. When her gaze drifted away from him towards the younger girl, Noctis found himself tensing and speeding up his pace.
He stiffly lengthened his steps, attempting to clear the rest of the distance between him and Iris without appearing too obvious.
"…Lady Claire," greeted Noctis rigidly.
Noctis couldn't quite put his finger on exactly what it was about the future baroness that disagreed with him. He's only met the older girl a handful of times, and she always seemed wild and free-spirited. Had Noctis acted like her in any manner, Gladio's dismissal would've been the least of his troubles. Anyone who attempted to tell her what she can and cannot do was dismissed or purposefully annoyed.
Even so, he cannot forget what his father tasked him with. If he was to train Iris properly, he needed to get the younger Amicitia away from her potential bad influence.
"I see you have company today," continued the older girl.
"Hi! I'm Iris! Nice to meet you, Lady Claire!" Iris waved.
"And you," replied Claire with a playful lilt to her voice.
"What brings you to the Citadel?" asked Noctis evenly once he made it to Iris.
"Oh, you know, the usual. A little chaos here, a little mayhem there. It's all in good fun, the guards seriously have no sense of humor around here," sighed Claire with mock drama.
"Right. I see you've kept yours through and through," noted Noctis as he slipped a hand around Iris' shoulders. "I'd like to talk more, but I'm afraid we'll have to cut our conversation short. Iris needs to get home before her curfew."
"No I—" Iris began to deny his words, but the prince had already ushered her along.
"Good day Lady Claire," concluded Noctis, not giving the smaller girl a chance to say more.
"And we've only just begun talking, such a pity," sighed Claire. "Another day then, highness… little miss."
"Uh… bye then!" said Iris before she glanced back to shout one last thing. "BY THE WAY! I like your hat!"
"Do you?" The grin widened on Claire's face. An oversized out of place fedora sat atop her head. "I nicked it off Lord Flavius on the way in."
"Enough!" grumbled the royal guard as he tugged the cheeky young woman away.
Noctis did his best not to pay attention to the Auburn heir as he ushered Iris away. Thankfully, the younger girl seemed to have picked up his urgency and said nothing more until they were well out of range of the older girl.
"…Why are we avoiding Lady Claire?" asked Iris quietly. "Did I do something wrong?"
Noctis paused, his gaze dropped to Iris' earnest and confused face. She seems so excited at the prospect of becoming his new shield, he didn't want to confess that he was only training her to get her brother back for the position. He longed to avoid broaching the subject for as long as possible, but he found himself unable to continue the farce.
Encountering Claire made him realize he mustn't treat Iris the same way he treated Gladio. Unlike her brother who was raised and groomed to be Noctis' shield, Iris was clueless to the inner workings of the Citadel. He couldn't expect her to follow him and accept his words at face value. He needed to teach and guide her much like how Gladio had tried to do for him.
"…No, you didn't do anything wrong," started Noctis gently as he knelt down to her eye level and took hold of her hands. "But... I do have to tell you something."
"What?" asked Iris, worry clear on her face.
"I'm the reason your brother got terminated," admitted the prince. The girl's eyes widened in surprise. "I didn't take my lessons as seriously as I should have and Gladio was punished for my mistakes."
"Oh…" Iris' brows furrowed in thought. "So… were you just making sure we don't get in trouble then?"
"Sort of." Noctis shrugged his shoulders in an uncertain gesture before he squared up. "Look, I'm… trying to fix things and get Gladio back as my shield and for that to happen, I have to train you to prove that I can be trusted. I know you were excited about possibly becoming my shield but—"
"It's okay." Iris swiftly cut him off. She pulled her hands away from his and planted them firmly on his shoulders. "Gladdy's definitely the better shield, the bestest even!"
"You're… okay with this?" Noctis faltered in confusion.
"Uh-huh," nodded the younger girl brightly. "I'm not a very good shield if you have to protect me. So, let's help you get Gladdy back!"
Noctis was at a loss for words. Iris was far more understanding and mature than he initially took her for. Maybe training with her wouldn't be as bad as he figured.