| — .¸ ♕ ¸. — | Oh, how charming; the Advisor truly was a strong man, brazen with willpower. That was admirable, in it’s own right. Not that Ardyn had ever doubted any of that for a moment, though. Frankly, he would find himself questioning anyone who did. So few could actually back their poised confidence with ability.
“Cruelty?” Ah, my dear boy, we haven’t yet reached that point yet. In fact, I’m finding myself to be rather generous, at the moment.” The dialect and cadence had to sound odd when spoken in Noctis’ voice, but he wasn’t even bothering to cloak his manner of speech, as much as he might find a thrill in what expression it would contort Ignis’ face to…
No… He wasn’t here to prove the other’s loyalty to Noctis, though. This was about himself. The facade had merely been something to stir a spark- perhaps a warning, in a way, reminding that he was capable of doing more, but opted not to.
With a weighty sigh, his eyes closed and in a fluid gesture, he was himself again, standing tall, his hat now held in the palm of his hand.
“But right you are. Fine. You declare your loyalty and wish to serve? Find a way to prove this to me. Show me that this is not some grand scheme in that pretty little mind of yours. No one likes false servitude, after all, and I am no exception.”
“Generous. But your trust is won no easier.”
Could a man, a monster, like Ardyn trust?
In the way the coeurl did. The behemoth, all creatures who knew the slithering, crawling things upon their star posed no threat. No trust in lesser beings.. Permissions that allowed them to pass and live.
Ignis had been permitted to live. He was given a choice and permitted to make a decision, one that landed him here.
So close to the Crystal. So close to their enemy.
We have bested creatures far more terrifying than a man.
The Ring of the Lucii burned in his pocket, weighed heavier than his guilt. A breath in- one, two, three- and out.
“If you wish for me to prove myself, you’ll permit a question for clarity’s sake: why offer this to me? This-” Ignis gestured between the two of them, traced out whatever feathery connection existed that drew Ardyn to extend his hand back in Altissia. “-has no benefit for you. You’ve all the resources of the Empire at your back, Lucis has fallen, Noctis marches to his destiny. You must have a scheme.. but I fail to see how I factor into it.”
