[He faltered again after that first sharp insistence, a very real and very human uncertainty snaking its way into his words.]
...I was chosen by the Crystal. [His right hand brought in close to his chest, Ardyn reminding himself that replica or no, the Ring of the Lucii was still on his finger.] The king foretold in the prophecy, to banish the night and save the world. No one else had this power. Even true healing magic-...a simple Cure or potion couldn't take the plague off the shoulders of the people. So of course I was doing what I was meant to do--saving the innocent and forestalling the night until it could be banished completely!
[He wasn't wrong. Ardyn kept telling himself that, over and over and over in his mind. The gratitude of those he saved, the elation when he told them that yes, of course he could help relieve that pain--he refused to betray any of that and say 'I made a mistake'.]
[But even so, said a dark corner of his mind, was the price to be paid worth the result?]
I was...accomplishing what everyone needed. Gods and mortals alike--I was saving the world--!
no subject
[He faltered again after that first sharp insistence, a very real and very human uncertainty snaking its way into his words.]
...I was chosen by the Crystal. [His right hand brought in close to his chest, Ardyn reminding himself that replica or no, the Ring of the Lucii was still on his finger.] The king foretold in the prophecy, to banish the night and save the world. No one else had this power. Even true healing magic-...a simple Cure or potion couldn't take the plague off the shoulders of the people. So of course I was doing what I was meant to do--saving the innocent and forestalling the night until it could be banished completely!
[He wasn't wrong. Ardyn kept telling himself that, over and over and over in his mind. The gratitude of those he saved, the elation when he told them that yes, of course he could help relieve that pain--he refused to betray any of that and say 'I made a mistake'.]
[But even so, said a dark corner of his mind, was the price to be paid worth the result?]
I was...accomplishing what everyone needed. Gods and mortals alike--I was saving the world--!