Chapter 28: Throne
{Citadel: February 5th 2006, 4:05pm}
"Damn, it's hot today…" Noctis shook his hair out, feeling the sweat from being outside in the training fields get to him a bit.
"Well, what do you expect?" midnight-blue eyes looked to Gladio.
"For it to be cold, you know? Seeing as its winter," he stated. Ignis looked to him.
"Despite that, you may wish to consider that the Cauthess Disc did shift at the end of January this year. A heatwave is to be expected." Noctis sighed, not quite liking the statement.
"Doesn't mean it has a right to be mid-summer heat in the winter," he mentioned as Prompto blew his bangs out of his eyes.
"I'm with ya there buddy."
It had been over six months now since their first field session, and Marshal Leonis had passed the four of them with flying colors. However, King Regis had elected for more training before sending them on their second tier session. Since then, Noctis had been put through more training than he thought was possible, as had Ignis, Gladio, and Prompto; however, their training had varied around as much as his own had. Prompto had taken marksmen classes and found himself quite capable of handling the mythril gun that Marshal Leonis had presented to him as a gift for passing the first tier – not that he still didn't use the Ruger that Noctis had gotten him – but Prompto hadn't been the only one to be given new equipment.
Gladio had received a pewter-mythril based broadsword that had been forged upon his father, General Clarus Amicitia's request while Ignis had also been issued a series of copper-mythril based daggers, and then there was Noctis who had received a sword as a gift from his father. It was an interesting weapon that seemed to have parts of an engine as a part of the guard with a gleaming tube of mythril energy. The grip was long and black, capped in copper-mixed-pewter and wrapped in thick leather while at the center of the guard was a large gear that braced the metallic parts before it curved downward into a thick, and slightly wide blade with runic letters inscribed upon it. Noctis had learned the name of the blade from the letter left to him by his father: the Engine blade.
Taking in a deep breath, Noctis now adjusted his grip upon the weapon in his grasp. The Engine blade was much heavier than the Airstep Blade – which was practically weightless – however, the Engine blade handled magic better and it also dealt heavier blows, therefore he found himself liking the blade; but still using the Airstep blade on several occasions. Noctis looked at the others as they prepared their weapons again and they resumed their sparring session. It had been an idea of Marshal Leonis's to put them through a four-way-verses, in which each of them were going against one another and no one was on their side. Noctis knew it was in preparation for when they would be dealing with multiple enemies at once while alone. Using his leg strength, Noctis leapt above Prompto's attack before he kicked the blonde across the face, jumping higher as he slid his hand across the blade of his sword before it lit aflame, and he charged forward, only to lock blades with Gladio.
"Neat trick, where'd you learn that one Noct?" he asked as he pushed the Lucian Prince backwards, causing him to slid across the ground before coming to a stop, the Engine blade's fire enchantment still in place.
"Marshal Leonis…and Nyx taught me a few tricks about the weapon I was given. What about you? Is that all you got?" the taller teenager charged forward, striking him directly before being parried while Prompto and Ignis were caught in battle.
"Shall we end this at sunset?" inquired Ignis.
"Yea, we should…" Noctis ducked a swing of the sword and then, he spun on his heel, using the dagger he carried for his warping practice to hold Gladio's next movement in place.
"Dammit all," he muttered as Noctis moved when Gladio did and jabbed the end of the hilt upon his sword to his abdomen before gripping his hand and wrist in a painful manner that caused him to drop the sword in his grasp. Gladio at that point had a dagger and a sword held on either side of his throat with no way of stopping the Lucian Prince while Ignis found himself out of weapons and options as Prompto held is gun at the other blonde's head.
"Checkmate!" Prompto said as he cheered and put the gun down, holstering it while the others sent their weapons away before looking to one another.
"That was a good match guys…" Ignis looked between the two youngest of their group.
"You've both improved, it was quite impressive," he stated as Noctis nodded, taking in a deep breath.
"What times is it?" Prompto looked at his watch.
"Around five-forty, why?" he questioned as the boy felt his eyes grow wide.
"Crap! I gotta go guys!" with that he ran off towards the Citadel doors before taking off inside at top speed.
"Where's he runnin' off too?" asked Gladio.
"Dinner, he was supposed to have dinner with his father tonight. Something important apparently needed to be discussed." Prompto frowned.
"That seems pretty serious, are we supposed to be there?" he inquired.
"No, however….I do believe Noctis would feel better if we were waiting for him after his meeting with his father. He'll have to be getting himself cleaned up and dressed right now. Shall we take to a meal ourselves and wait for him in his room?" Prompto nodded.
"That might be a good idea…" he stated as Gladio started towards the building.
"Then let's make this quick. I get the feeling Noct isn't going to like whatever King Regis has to say." Ignis glanced to Prompto as they started after Gladio while the younger blonde looked down.
"Yea…me too…"
{Dining Room: 6:59pm}
King Regis sat at one end of a table near the gardens of the Citadel waiting for his son. The last year had been nothing less than wearing upon the King of Lucis as he had aged greatly in just a short time. His once dark colored hair had faded to gray, his youthful face weathering and showing his toils as small scars had gathered upon his face in randomized areas from the years of battles he had aided in until he no longer could. His eyes had started to grow tired, and signs of illness had slightly set in despite his efforts to keep up appearances whilst in the eye of his subjects.
However, when it came to events behind closed doors, his trusted friends were highly aware of his suffering health and physical strength deteriorating, and it had never become more clear when he found his hands, once steady and strong, had begun to shake, displaying his weaknesses as the powers that he commanded -which had never truly been his to command - slowly continued to eat away at his life. Taking in a deep breath the King of Lucis looked towards the door as it opened and his son entered the room.
Noctis had grown greatly in these last two years; becoming a skilled warrior, finding companionship in his teammates, trust in those of the Kingsglaive, and learning more about the way Insomnia, and Lucis as a whole worked. Still, King Regis knew that Noctis was very young; almost too young, to deal with the realities he would face in coming years despite the efforts that he had personally made to keep his son safe from the truths that threatened to rear their heads.
Sighing, King Regis beckoned his son in, the boy dressed in formal attire for this evening – which was something the boy quite honestly detested – as he moved forward and took a seat at the table, remaining quiet as the King looked him over and then waited as the server put down a plate in front of him before placing one in front of his son.
The boy always remained silent at their meals together, yet tonight it couldn't be such an event only because he had to let the boy know of what turning the age he was meant. Taking in a deep breath once more, feeling his lung desire to shutter at the air that came into them, the King turned to his son, as he took a sip of the red wine presented at the table with the boy slowly cut up the meat present in silence.
"You seem quite tired today, did training go well?" King Regis asked as the boy took in a steadying breath and looked to him.
"It was fine….but it was very hot today…" King Regis looked to his son.
"So it was, rather odd weather for February," he stated as the boy nodded, taking a bite of his food before chewing.
"Yes…" King Regis picked up his glass with a smile.
"Happy Birthday, Noctis," he stated as the boy smiled ever so slightly.
"Thank you…" the man took a sip of his drink as Noctis remained quiet, and ever so slightly somber.
"You seem upset, is something the matter?" he inquired.
"It never gets easier….does it? Not having mom here…" King Regis looked down at his plate.
"No, it doesn't. Time does indeed heal all wounds, but it cannot mend the scars the passing of someone you love has left upon your heart," he stated as Noctis nodded slowly, taking another bite of the meal before him as he tried to contemplate what the entire reason was for this meeting as he felt it was.
"I've noticed….but, why did you want me here with you tonight?" Noctis looked to his father this time, meeting his gaze as King Regis took in a steady breath.
"You know, my son….when you were born I feared so many things for your future. I wanted you to grow knowing you were loved, but protect you from the harsher realities of this world, and yet here you are, having lost so many things and endured such suffrage despite my attempts to shield you from them," King Regis said.
"These things were supposed to happen…you couldn't change that, you're a King…not a God…" the man nodded to his son.
"Wise words for one your age, my son. However, it has come the time for me to realize I cannot shelter you as greatly as I wish I could from not only the realities of this world that we reside within, but with the responsibilities that hover above you now that you are almost of age," the King of Lucis told his son this as Noctis felt a knot twist within the pit of his stomach.
"What does that mean exactly?" he looked to the side, and the King took in a steady breath.
"You are soon to be sixteen, in precisely a year…and I remind you that it is when you should at least consider finding a potential bride," King Regis stated. Noctis felt his heart skip a beat at the words as he realized that the entire reason behind this dinner was to discuss a potential marriage.
"So, did you choose someone?" the King looked to him.
"Absolutely not, I wish for you to choose someone," he explained as Noctis looked down.
"I'm not sure if I'm ready for that…" King Regis shook his head.
"It's your obligation as Prince of Lucis to find a suitable bride; she will one day become your Queen, the person who rules beside you, and will be the mother of your children….so, please Noctis, make your choice first and foremost," King Regis stated as his son looked down.
"There's no one I can think of…." The King of Lucis looked his son over.
"Except perhaps, Princess Lunafreya Nox Fleuret?" he probed as the boy looked away.
"She's the Oracle of Eos, I can't ask her to take on the burden of becoming a Princess again atop one day becoming a Queen." King Regis sighed.
"Just remember Noctis, I shall not be here always, and I must caution you in not preparing ahead of time. Find a suitable bride, prepare yourself for one day Insomnia, and Lucis will fall to your hands," the King stated.
"I hope I can bear the weight of that crown…" King Regis looked down to his plate and then returned his gaze towards his son.
"You shall, that much I am certain of. You are the Prince of Lucis, you have the blood of ancient Kings thick within your veins and powers that go beyond what you know now. Listen to me, Noctis…" midnight-blue looked to him, appearing tired and detached from the entire situation.
"He at times appears to weary for his own good. As if a thousand years have passed him by and he was frozen as a singular pigment in the time that went by him, unable to do anything more than watch."
"You are far more irrepressible than you see now, and your abilities are just the basis for a greater talent that lays beneath the surface. You are fearless Noctis, far stronger than the old man who sits before you now, so please….remain indomitable and face your oppositions with all the might of you and your ancestors who came before you," King Regis stated. The boy took in a deep breath, feeling as if he was drowning in everything that was slowly being placed upon him.
"I understand…." the King nodded.
"Very well, just remember what I have stated to you tonight, am I clear?" he inquired.
"Yes sir…" Noctis said nothing more.
{Prince's Room: 8:03pm}
Prompto had been browsing through the titles of the different books Noctis had on a shelf next to his desk while Gladio stood around looking at the room as Ignis eyed the crystal wind-chime by the window, contemplating it as they remained in silence when the door slammed open and snapped shut just as swiftly, startling the three of them as Noctis stood there looking as though he wanted to cause damage to something within the next few seconds. Prompto slowly went to him as the boy sighed, tugging off the jacket he had worn before tossing it to the bed alongside the frustrating tie he had been made to wear. Ignis eyed him momentarily, wondering why he had elected to wear such attire whilst Gladio hummed, surprised at seeing the boy dressed so formally as the fifteen-year-old Prince of Lucis leaned against the door as if he couldn't bear the weight of what he had been told and closed his eyes, knowing that the others were there, but not caring at the moment as he tried to reign in his emotions whilst Prompto came to his clearly destressed friend who only seemed interested in banging his head against the door right then.
"Noct?" the boy flinched at his name being called.
"What do you want?" he snapped.
"Whoa, friendly fire man! I just wanted to make sure you're okay…" Ignis looked the boy over as he turned away from the door and started to walk past them, undoing a few of the buttons on the dark-gray button-up shirt he wore as he ran a hand through his hair.
"I'm fine…." The boy never once met their eyes.
"Noct? Come on man, you're anything but fine," Prompto stated. The boy took in a shuddering breath, holding in the panic that wanted to swell within him.
"What did King Regis talk to you about?" Noctis looked to Ignis slightly.
"About my responsibilities as the future King of Lucis…" the boy removed the belt from his dress-slacks and sat it on the bed before flopping back against the black comforter.
"Wow, that's gotta be a sucky conversation for your birthday," Prompto stated as he looked at is friend.
"You have no idea…" Gladio leaned against the black-stained oak of the bedframe and looked at the boy.
"What kind of responsibilities did he talk to you about?" he probed as the boy shot him a glare.
"How I would one day become the King and that I needed to know what I was doing, but on top of that he also talked to me about something else…." The three teenagers looked at the boy as he sat up, taking in a deep breath as he tried to pinpoint what to do about the situation his father had placed upon him.
"What else?" asked Prompto as Noctis kept his gaze down at the ground.
"He wants me to start thinking about finding a bride…" the three boys looked to him in shock.
"Isn't that a bit much to ask of someone at your age?" Gladio questioned.
"Guess not…" Ignis shook his head.
"Come, get up," he stated as he walked over and pulled the boy to his feet.
"What?" Ignis fixed his glasses with a cool expression.
"Change into something less formal. There are three people who also wish to celebrate your birthday with you," he explained as Noctis blinked in confusion.
"Okay…" Prompto grinned.
"Put on your field clothes and meet us outside your room. We're bustin' you outta here for tonight buddy," he told him as Noctis looked to Gladio who nodded.
"Alright, fine…I'll bite…"
{Downtown of Insomnia: 9:30pm}
"You're kidding me…" Noctis muttered as he looked at the pub he had been brought to.
After dressing in his field clothes - the same style as the ones he had worn on his first field session – Noctis had been dragged out the backdoor of the Citadel down a street, and onto an air-trolley before being brought to the downtown slum district of Insomnia where he was dragged further out of the area he knew and deeper into a part of the downtown zone he'd never been to before. As soon as they'd rounded the tenth corner, they were at a pub that Noctis had heard some of the people talking about before but had never really paid much attention to it before; however, it wasn't the pub or location that shocked him, it was who now stood inside the pub that caused him to nearly fall over. Marshal Leonis, Captain Drautos, Nyx, Crowe, Libertus, Luche, and several others were waiting for them there, dressed in casual attire and prepared for what seemed to be quite the celebration.
"W-Wha…." Libertus laughed.
"Look at 'im, completely stumped he is," he stated as Nyx shook his head.
"Your buddies there contacted us as soon as they heard about the dinner meeting with your father, and well…here we are." midnight-blue eyes looked to Nyx as he explained this and then the boy shook his head.
"But….why?" at this Captain Drautos smiled to him.
"Because, even the future King of Lucis needs to enjoy some time off…besides, your father used to be the same way," he said as Noctis was pushed forward, and directly towards the others as Gladio, Prompto, and Ignis walked in further to the pub.
"T-Thanks…everyone…" he looked at them, a wiry smile appearing upon his features as Luche raised a glass a bit in silence while Noctis once again met their gaze.
"Well, you're almost an adult now…and we heard about your dad's topic at dinner so we figured, what the hell! Time to let loose a little bit and enjoy your time as a teenager before you get strapped with something that grown-ups deal with. So have a little bit of fun kid, okay?" stated Marshal Leonis. Noctis nodded, deciding to see what the night brought.
The group of people present had gone out of their way to have just a normal get-together for his birthday instead of a formal event. Prompto and the others had convinced him to try a few of the foods that the pub had, and Noctis had stunned the people with choosing to eat something that even the great Captain Drautos couldn't bear to put more than one bite in his mouth of – some type of remarkably hot nachos that the pub was famous for- Luche had thrown in some funds with the other members of the Kingsglaive and gotten him a secondary dagger to work with that Marshal Leonis stated was for him learn close range kill-shots. It was ornate, more so than the one he currently used and had a series of charms of mythril chains that looked to be stars and crescent moons while a moonstone was embedded into the blade itself.
Noctis had thanked them for it and put it away in the secondary holster on the belt of his pants before the rest of the night continued onward into something that Noctis was a bit surprised to witness and endure himself. The adults had elected to let Noctis try his first bit of alcohol – which he was positive his father would never hear of – but while it didn't knock him over, he wasn't fond of the taste, finding the brew to bitter.
It was as the evening wore down, the group of four teenagers were escorted back to the citadel by Marshal Leonis and the Kingsglaive members, saying goodbye to each of their party as they went before only the original four and Marshal Leonis were left. By the time of three in the morning, Noctis was back in his room with Prompto electing to stay the night while Gladio and Ignis said goodbye for the evening.
The day had gone from rather normal, too burdensome, and remarkably hard to bear, to something that Noctis never expected, yet had loved all the same. It was now that he had gotten cleaned up and in the bed to sleep that a small smile graced his features as he looked forward to the rest of the year, thankful that he had such remarkable allies at his side. Midnight-blue eyes glanced to Prompto who was lying on the other side of the bed, sound asleep as Noctis smiled and closed his eyes.
"As long as I have allies like this on my side…..I think I can handle the struggles of becoming King one day…"
{….}
If you're lost out where the lights are blinding….
{….}
Author's Note: This is the only chapter where Noctis is 15 except for the next few chapters that lead up to the departure from Insomnia and the semi-beginning of Kingsglaive events. I hope that everyone has enjoyed these chapters, and I will look forward to your reviews.
Have a wonderful day or night, wherever you may be.
Sincerely,
ShadowDragon94.