Chapter 24: Proposition
{Citadel: April 21st 2005, 4:45pm}
"No, absolutely not!" stated Gladiolus as he looked at the fourteen-year-old Prince.
"How come? There's nothing against the rules saying that…" Gladiolus narrowed his eyes at the boy.
"He can't enter into the training program," he said while Marshal Leonis stood off to the side while Ignis watched the interaction between Noctis and Gladio.
"Um, Noct….what have you got me here for?"
Prompto had been dragged into the Citadel after school today - a week after Noctis had gone through his sudden illness and recovered – now that he was better, a plan that had clearly been brewing within his mind for the last week was being put into motion. Noctis had thus, brought him to the training hall and then informed Marshal Leonis that he wanted Prompto to be the fourth and final member of the Crownsguard team that he would be on. The blonde-haired, green-blue eyed, soon-to-be fifteen year old was nothing short of terrified when the others present merely looked to him and then Gladiolus had begun his current refusal to accept him into the program.
"I brought you here because we need one more teammate for our group, and thought you would be the best person for the job, Prompto," Noctis said as he looked at the blonde.
"R-Really?" Gladiolus narrowed his gaze once more.
"I still don't want nothing to do with a plebian being brought in for this. We don't know your background, nor your skillset: you are too far behind," he stated.
"Prompto is skilled with a gun Gladio, I've seen him shoot…" a glare reached his features at Noctis's statement.
"Are you telling us that you've gone out to a shooting range with him? You can't pull that bullshit! You're the future King of Lucis, and…" Noctis gave him a glower at the statement.
"I was seeing how he did with the gun I got him. On top of that I was using the range as well, I figured learning how to shoot could come in handy," he stated as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Noct….um…." Ignis stepped forward at that.
"I personally find this idea without complication," he said.
"Are you serious?" the blonde nodded, fixing his glasses.
"Yes, quite serious," Ignis explained before Gladiolus looked to Noctis.
"My biggest problem isn't his background or anything like that: it's the fact that the Prince only wants him on our team because their friends…" Marshal Leonis interjected with that.
"Is there a problem with becoming friends with those who are your teammates?" he probed.
"No, I just…" Noctis sighed.
"The real reason why I want Prompto on our team isn't just because he's my friend….I want him on our team because I trust him. Teamwork starts by forming a good trust between one another and in order for us to that we have to fully trust one another. I already have my faith on the two of you and Prompto: I don't need anything else past that," he said. Marshal Leonis smiled as he looked at the scene before him.
"Bravo my Prince; that statement was wise beyond your years. Gladiolus, you have been overruled, as of tomorrow, Prompto Argentum will become part of our training and I will personally double up with him in order to become a teammate with you, Ignis, and Gladiolus in precisely a year." Noctis smirked at Gladiolus before looking to Prompto.
"You're in," he said with a bright gleam in his eyes.
"S-Seriously?" Ignis nodded, smiling.
"Welcome to the team Prompto," he stated as Gladiolus sighed.
"You're gonna die within a week of this kinda training…" Prompto grinned.
"I'll boss this like it's nothing…" Marshal Leonis looked between him and Noctis.
"Noctis, take him on a tour of the Citadel. We'll take care of your training tomorrow, am I clear?" he asked.
"Yes sir!" the boy's voice rang out in the area as he saluted the man and grabbed Prompto before leaving as the Marshal shook his head.
"He most certainly is growing quickly," he stated.
"You think so? Seems like he's pretty childish still…." The Marshal laughed at Gladiolus's statement.
"Noctis is going to do just fine out there, no worries; between the four of you I'm sure you'll tackle things with little trouble," the Marshal said as he grabbed a wooden sword and tossed one each to his students.
"Sparring?" he nodded.
"We better get to work," Gladiolus stated.
"Come at me you two…." The two teenagers wasted no time swinging into the attack.
{Citadel Upper Levels: 5:15pm}
Prompto stared at the ornate halls and glossy floors that made up the Citadel as he followed Noctis through the place on a tour. It was as they grew further into the place that Prompto finally realized the kind of life that his friend led. Noctis never acted like it, but he had grown up in the kind of place that most people only dreamed about. At current, Prompto was being lead through a chamber made of black marble with golden accents and the Caelum family crest upon the floor with murals of the Goddess Eos bestowing the right of the Kings upon the Caelum linage.
"This is intimidating…."
Green-blue eyes looked around as Prompto tried to take it all in while Noctis leaned against a pillar with his usual detached expression. The blonde whistled as he stared at the beautiful ancient paintings and considered what he was dealing with as he looked onward at the room and then at the young Prince who tilted his head towards a door and Prompto followed as they left the room and went back into the hallway before heading up a set of beautifully crafted black-marble stairs before they reached the upper floor until finally, Noctis made it to the top and Prompto looked around in curiosity while he waved him over once more until finally the two of them came to a heavy-looking black door and he opened it to show the blonde a room that he instantly recognized as a bedroom.
"Um….Noct? Where are we?" Prompto asked.
"My room. I was figuring that you were feeling overwhelmed by the size of the place…." The blonde nodded as he looked at the enormous room.
"This place is the size of my apartment," he stated as he entered the room and Noctis shut the door as he kicked off his shoes and toss his jacket onto a hook before removing his time as he stretched a bit, feeling the bones give a satisfying crack as Prompto continued to stare at the door while Noctis laid his briefcase – the ones the school issued – onto his desk while he waited for his friend to come out of his daze.
"Are you gonna get comfortable? Take your shoes off, relax for a bit…" Prompto blinked, returning to movement as he kicked off his shoes and hung his jacket up as well before moving around the room a bit.
"So, this is where you hang out most of the time?" he questioned.
"Yea, I guess so. I just work on things or write out letters to Luna…." Prompto looked to him at that while he walked towards the window.
"You mean Lady Lunafreya?" he questioned.
"Mhmm…" Noctis started reviewing his notes for their science test on Monday.
"I guess you guys are pretty close then huh?" Prompto continued his questioning while he looked at the crystal wind-chime-like object near the windows that lead out to the balcony.
"Well….we haven't seen each other since I was nine, but I've sent letters and received letters to her since then so I know she's safe…." He stated while Prompto sighed as he looked out at the view from the windows.
"It's beautiful, the view here." Noctis stood, stretching as he looked at the sunlight.
"Yea, but you'll like this if you step back. Come here," he said as he dragged Prompto back from the window just as the sunlight caught the crystal chimes and the room filled with the fractured light from it.
"Whoa…." Noctis smirked a bit rolling up the sleeves of his button-up shirt before he folded his arms across his chest.
"Luna sent me that from Acrylia. It's the tramonto crystals that form in the village in Tenebrae….we were supposed to go there when the Nifs attacked," he explained while Prompto pulled his camera from his pocket and snapped a picture of the sight while his friend only smiled at his wonder.
"I've heard stories about those crystals but I never thought I'd get to see them." Prompto looked around the room once more, seeing the brilliant colors of the sunset scattered about the room.
"Well, now you have," Noctis stated as he pulled up his seat against his desk and went to doing his homework.
"We should go sometime…" the fourteen-year-old looked at his friend.
"If the Nifs ever choke we can," he mentioned while Prompto sighed and moved his camera towards his friend before taking a picture of him working diligently at his desk.
"And then you can see Lady Lunafreya again…" the boy looked to him, the sunlight catching his eyes, causing them to glow a bright, and alluring shade of blue as Prompto shot another picture.
"Prompto, what are you doing?" Noctis asked as he rubbed his eyes.
"Taking pictures for you to send to Lady Lunafreya…" Noctis looked to him before sighing.
"Prompto, I don't know if…." The blonde smirked.
"Can I do a few shots? Please? I think she'd find them sweet. Besides, you have a crush on her don't you?" the black-haired fourteen-year-old felt warmth scrawl across his cheeks.
"No, I don't have a crush on her…" he muttered, covering his face with a book while Prompto took a shot of it, finding the scene funny.
"So….you're in love with Lady Lunafreya?" the boy looked to the side, his blush growing warmer as his heart rate picked up while an image of Luna's most recent photo flashed within his mind.
"I-I…um…." Prompto swerved the chair around to face him as he looked at Noctis's embarrassed state.
"My sweet Shiva! You're in love with Lady Lunafreya," he said as a smile reached his features broadly while Noctis glanced down, fisting the hem of his shirt as he found his embarrassment escalating.
"S-So? What if I a-am?" Prompto grinned.
"You're cute when you stutter," he stated as he clicked another picture.
"H-Hey….Prompto….d-don't just…" the blonde took one more picture before smiling.
"Noct, just let me take some pictures. We'll make a scrap-book and send it to Lady Lunafreya for her sixteenth birthday as a present from you and all of us," Prompto's suggestion gathered a slight smile upon his friend's face.
"Okay, then we'll take pictures of the four of us and Insomnia over the course of the next year and by the time her birthday arrives, it'll be ready." Prompto smiled.
"Now we're talking…"
{Conference Room: April 30th 2005, 2:15pm}
Marshal Leonis looked to King Regis and General Clarus as he awaited their verdict upon the team that he had assembled around Prince Noctis. While the four students were still a year shy of graduating from their training courses – and one could never truly be done with learning how to further their combat experiences – he had to submit the finalized team before the Prince's fifteenth birthday, and because of that Marshal Leonis was rushing, hoping to prepare the four of them for a field practice before everything was finalized; however, he did question the answer he would receive due to the faces that the King and the General and Council Elder were making while he read over the profiles of not only Prince Noctis, but Gladiolus Amicitia, Ignis Scientia, and now Prompto Argentum.
"Marshal Leonis?" questioned Clarus as he looked to him.
"Yes sir?"
"Are you certain you wish to submit this team for the four day field session?" he probed.
"Yes, I am sir." King Regis remained silent, his age beginning to show a bit in his graying hair.
"Even though this unit of the Crownsguard is one that Prince Noctis is also assigned to?" he inquired.
"General Clarus, please be reminded that your own son is present in this team as well as the late Arms Master Scientia's son who was the advisor to Queen Aulea and King Regis until his death." King Regis looked to him.
"I find no problems with this team personally; we are merely questioning whether or not you view these four youths as prepared for the field," he stated.
"King Regis, with all due respect the field area is controlled with minimal Daemons, and in addition these four youths are showing progress on a great scale. Gladiolus and Ignis are more than prepared." Clarus looked to him.
"And what of Prompto Argentum? And Prince Noctis?" Marshal Leonis took in a steady breath, hating the formality in these situations only because their friendship meant little in political and militaristic matters.
"Like it or not I'm the leader of the Crownsguard, and it is my job and my duty to be certain that I have formed a solid team for each unit…." He thought.
"Prompto Argentum has been receiving specialized training with Prince Noctis; the young Prince had taken gun training in his own hands and Prompto Argentum is a natural sharp-shooter. In addition to that, Prince Noctis has completed his poll-arms training and his secondary level sword-skills, he has aced his medical and field aid, his medicinal treatments, tracking, mapping, and he has developed quite the skill with fishing thanks to Ignis and Gladiolus's guidance; therefore, I do not see anything to worry about."
"While it is true that Prince Noctis has done well with this, what of Prompto Argentum? Is he qualified enough to be placed in this session?" inquired General Clarus.
"Yes, I believe all four of them to be proficient in their skills and prepared for the first session." King Regis nodded.
"Very well, we shall see how they handle this session. Please inform them that their session will take place on May fifth at five-forty-three in the morning hours. They must leave the city by then and head to the outer area. I am certain that they will meet those demands," the King stated.
"Yes, Your Majesty…" King Regis looked to him once more.
"Oh, and Marshal Leonis?" he asked.
"Yes? Your Majesty?" the aging King smiled.
"Do make sure they have proper attire for these events. I am certain that Ignis has already gained a step ahead of you," he stated.
"That I am certain of."
With that Marshal Leonis left the room and let out a sigh of relief. It was always a terrifying point during the times where he was forming new teams for the Crownsguard; however, when it came to this particular team he feared the worst. His first hurdle was getting the four teenagers up to a high enough level that they could be properly gaged for their first field session – one of four they would have to pass before being cleared for actual field aid for Lucis – then he had to go face the second hurdle that was made up of getting the team he had assembled approved. Gladiolus had passed with flying colors, getting even Captain Drautos's approval in addition to that of Lady Cordelia Freccia's who was over him in seeing the approval of the special skillsets developed by each member.
That was the third hurdle in getting a team to the final two who would give an agreement or not to the team: the skillset exam. Thankfully, the skillset exam took place during the field which meant that once the four teenagers returned, Lady Freccia would deliver her ultimatum and then once more, he would stand before General Clarus Amicitia and King Regis Lucis Caelum. Taking in a deep breath Marshal Leonis headed towards the training hall where he knew the four were going over archery lessons in order to further their weaponry skills. The Marshal would be heading into the room and to inform them that they would be going on their first field session.
However, despite all this, the Marshal had one more concern to cross his mind in addition to all the red tape he had to cut, and the ropes he had to jump. Prince Noctis's strange powers were still developing and growing stronger every time he watched the boy use them; nonetheless, his strength was increasing, his control was growing slightly stronger, but he still had a great deal of training to endure before he gained the ease and procession that he would require to use it in the field perfectly. The man sighed as he considered the prospects of what would happen if the boy was forced to use the warp ability in the field in front of his teammates when he wasn't prepared to. As the thought crossed his mind, the man considered the time he had brought it up to the young Prince and how the boy had refused to let the Marshal convince him to tell the others.
"Alright you four, heads up!" he called as he opened the door and watched as Noctis let loose an arrow that hit a direct bullseye.
"Oh My sweet Rahma! You're good at this!" Prompto's voice called out in the training hall as Noctis looked to him.
"No big deal…" Noctis responded in a slightly dull tone, showing that he was tired despite the fact that they were in the midst of training.
"It'll be a big deal come May fifth," Marshal Leonis stated as the four teenagers looked to him.
"What's that supposed to mean?" the man smiled.
"The four of you are going through your first field session as of that exact date at five in the morning," he answered as the four of them stared onward in nothing short of shock.
"Wait a second….so we passed the first ring?" Marshal Leonis nodded as Noctis hooked another arrow, drawing back as the other three began asking about the session while he continued focusing on the target ahead of him.
"Yes, you passed the first tier. Now you just have to get through the first session and then you'll be onto your secondary tier," Marshal Leonis stated as he glanced towards Noctis who loosed the bow before Prompto came to him.
"Did you hear Noct?! We did it!" the blonde jumped on the Lucian Prince's back, startling the boy a bit.
"Prompto! Get off!" he said as the blonde let go before looking towards the Marshal.
"Enjoy the excitement Prince Noctis, this took a lot of convincing…" the boy sighed, looking at the quiver next to him as he walked forward and started to the target to remove his arrows.
"Oh I'm sure it did…but are you sure we're ready for it Marshal Leonis?" he inquired as he jerked the two arrows out of the way and walked back to the quiver.
"Fairly certain….Prince Noctis, I may be speaking out of term, but you don't seem very thrilled with this…" Marshal Leonis watched the black-haired boy who only looked down.
"Of course I'm thrilled! Why wouldn't I be?" he asked.
"You're trying to avoid the subject, that could be it," stated Gladiolus as sharp blue eyes narrowed at him.
"No, I'm not! I'm perfectly fine with going outside the wall and into the forest for this. I think it'll be a great preparation for when we go out there dealing with the damn numbskull Nifs who think they own the whole fucking world!" Marshal Leonis felt his eyebrows raise.
"Well, nice to see your bloodlust is in the right place; however, I do not believe your father would be pleased to hear such coarse language coming from you at your age," he pointed out.
"So?" Marshal Leonis smiled.
"Mind your language, Prince Noctis," he said.
"Yes sir…" another eye-roll and a half salute got Gladiolus looking at him as if he was ready to throttle him; however, Marshal Leonis took one look at the fourteen-year-old and slowly put the pieces together as Ignis, Prompto, and Gladio watched him.
The boy's form was slightly tense, but relaxed as he had drawn another arrow and notched it before letting it loose once more, hitting it dead on. Marshal Leonis smiled, somewhat impressed by his marksmen skills; however, he knew it had a great deal to do with his training in his warp ability, seeing as most of it accounted for whether or not the boy could keep an eye upon the dagger or weapon he'd thrown. Nonetheless, the Marshal was reading the boy's body language, and very easily came up with the answer as to why the Prince was so aloof when it came to the subject of venturing outside the safety of the walls.
"This is about the accident, isn't it?" Marshal Leonis inquired as the boy reached for an arrow, his finger-tips stopping just at the tops of the feathers.
"Why would you think that?" the three other teenagers looked between one another before turning their attention back to the Prince and the Marshal.
"Because, you've grown bold in these last few years. No longer are you meek and willing to do as any requests of you just because of your station: you retaliate, and desire knowledge for their reasons," Marshal Leonis said.
"Your point?" the boy was tense, on guard and clearly displeased with the subject at hand.
"It's quite refreshing to see the shy little boy I'd know for so long melt away into a strong young man; however, there is still lingering doubt of your own capabilities within the depths of your mind. You are, after all, a survivor of a Mirilith, not many have that fortunance," he stated as Noctis let out a frustrated sigh.
"Whatever you're trying to trump up I don't feel like biting, sorry." The boy never once met his or the others eyes and Marshal Leonis knew why.
"Look at you, already learning how to play the political game of your forbearers. However, despite that, the four of you will still be venturing outside the walls of Insomnia this May. That is an order from the King, General Amicitia, and myself: I suggest you make peace with it Prince Noctis," he avowed in a slightly firm tone.
"Once more, no choice…figures…" the Marshal sighed.
"He's entering that rebellious teenage streak. My, King Regis is going to have his hands full with this boy; especially if he's anything like his mother…"
"Choice or not, it is an obligation as the…" the boy shot him a withering glare.
"As the future King of Lucis; yea, I've been told that since I was old enough to walk," he said.
"Then you should…" Marshal Leonis looked him over as he was cut off.
"Adhuc non placet…" the boy muttered this as he put the bow into the quiver, and started towards the door.
"Prince Noctis, it is fine to be fearful of something happening again," Marshal Leonis stated.
"It's not that! I just don't want to watch anything else slip away!" he snapped as he slammed the door shut behind him.
"What did he mean by that?" the Marshal looked to Prompto.
"Do you remember the accident he endured at age nine?" he inquired.
"Yea, I think just about everyone knows about that." The other two nodded, remembering the state the boy had been in after it.
"He watched all who were with him that night die…..and then he watched the death of Queen Sylva Nox Fleuret, King Acheron Nox Fleuret, and then he watched a person he cherished dearly slip away from him in nothing short of a disaster…what you must understand is that Prince Noctis has endured a great deal of suffering; his life is no fantasy," Marshal Leonis explained.
"So, he's scared of being attacked again and everyone dying?" the man nodded.
"The notion is somewhat ludicrous to us, but to someone who's a sufferer of post-traumatic-stress, the idea of reliving the thing that caused them such pain….it mutilates their progress and maims the semblance of peace they've managed to stitch together. You must also remember, he was only a child at the time and he is still just a child," he clarified.
"Then we'll have to show Noct that it's okay!" Ignis looked to Prompto.
"Convincing him of such notions may take some time; that of which we do not possess," he said.
"We'll think of something. We're his friends first, and his handlers second guys; come on, we gotta help him overcome this….think of how happy Lady Lunafreya would be to know that he's not scared of the past repeating and he's not letting it inhibit him!" Marshal Leonis smiled.
"He carries a good argument, wouldn't you think so? Ignis?" the blonde sighed.
"I concede the point to you Prompto. We shall try to allow the boy to relax and grow as a best he can with this struggle. Regardless, it will take some time," he stated.
"I'm sure the three of you can concoct something whilst on the session. Have a bit of fun while you're out there: it doesn't have to be entirely serious." Prompto grinned.
"That information has been stored away; thank you very much Marshal Leonis," he said as the Marshal nodded.
"I leave it to you three." With that he left, hoping that they could convince the young Prince to not take this upcoming event so seriously.
{…..}
Calls you home, Calls you home….
{…..}
Author's Note: This is another day in the life kind of chapter; however, it does help to show you that the things Noctis went through didn't leave him unaffected and he is still dealing with it. But, there will be more to come as we get closer to the events of Kingsglaive and the game itself.
Now, a bilingual bonus:
Tramonto – Sunset. This is an Italian word that is the granted name for the crystals that grow in Acrylia, if you remember from chapter nineteen that was where Noctis, Luna, and the others were supposed to head before the Empire invaded.
Adhuc non placet – still don't have to like it. Is the translation from Latin.
Freccia – Arrow. It is an Italian word that I used for the female council woman we see in Kingsglaive. I felt it would be a good fit.
Hope everyone is having a good day or night wherever you are!
Sincerely,
ShadowDragon94.