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It was a disaster. Everything.

While intelligence relating to Niflheim's military capabilities was indeed true, no one upon the High Council ever suspected they would be powerful enough to defeat a God. The Draconian's defeat echoed across Eos in the form of a sundering that would metaphorically change the fate of this Star forever. It would also be the day the beloved Crystal hidden within the Citadel would crack.

It all happened so fast. One moment Regis was praying before the Crystal to seek the Astrals guidance and the next, it shatters. It was sundered right down the middle, cracked open for its guardian to behold with wide eyes. Several jagged translucent shards struck Regis as a blinding white light suddenly emitted from the Crystal. He summoned forth the Shield of the Just to protect him from the onslaught but as the light dimmed and the danger passed, a look of awe lingered within his weary gaze.

It's a person. Not just any person but a man clothed in white forming out of the Crystal. It's a miracle that the Crystal still stands but chunks of it were blown apart by an unseen force. Maybe a sign of Bahamut's defeat or perhaps an ill-omen of things to come, Regis quickly summons away his shield as the man fell from the Crystal. He rushes over towards them in hope of breaking their fall despite the injuries he suffered earlier. The king reaches out to him, catching the man within his arms with a pained grunt. He gently sets him down upon the floor, careful not to drop them despite his bad knee. While Regis might not be as young and vibrant as he once was, Regis is still quite strong. He needs to be in order to be king but sometimes the crown weighs heavy.

"Summon a doctor!" He yells towards the guards once he hears their approach. "Summon them at once!" Regis doesn't bother to look up to see if his demand was met. Instead, his green gaze lingers upon the face of the man who emerged from the Crystal.

Edited 2021-10-02 05:11 am (UTC)

Ardyn had been asleep for a very, very long time.

The last thing he remembered before being taken by the Crystal was approaching, kneeling, and waiting for confirmation from the gods that he had done their will and would be named as the chosen king of Lucis.

After that- darkness.

The next thing he knew he was falling.

A pair of arms caught him and lowered him gently to the floor. There was shouting, the echoing of footsteps and the clanging of metal nearby. What a rude awakening.

With a mind still heavy from such a long slumber, although he as of yet isn't aware, Ardyn blinks rapidly as his eyes are forced to adjust to light once more. He turns his head slightly, expecting to see one of his bodyguards, or perhaps Somnus. The man he lays eyes on is completely unfamiliar, however, and the armored guards rushing over to them are wearing nothing he has ever seen before.

Come to think of it... where is he?

Ardyn's mind is slow to take in his surroundings and interpret them, but even at a snail's pace, he still knows this place is foreign to him. Where have the gods taken him? Who are these people? He has so many questions, but he won't be able to ask any of them amidst the clamor of people running in and out of the chamber.

Whatever this is, he doesn't like it. None of this feels right.

And yet his limbs feel numb, heavy as stones when he tries to move them. Overwhelmed with confusing and feeling far too helpless, he fixes amber eyes on the man who had broken his fall. Perhaps he will have answers.

While Regis has borne witness to many strange feats throughout the long years, he has yet to see a man emerge from the Crystal. That is until this evening. He stares down at the disheveled entity with a look of pure surprise as he slowly awakes. Confusion marred his aged features as he regards the envoy with a skeptical gleam.

Was this man some sort of messenger? Perhaps an envoy of the gods judging how he just magically appeared out of thin air. That certainly seems to be the case considering the odd swirl of magic that clings to him. It's a magic that feels oddly familiar to Regis but also foreign in the same breath. After what seemed to be an eternity, the king finally speaks.

"Greetings," He welcomes once the room falls deathly silent. There are over a half dozen guards here, most of which are members of the Kingsglaive. However, Regis speaks to the entity as if there isn't an audience watching their every move. "You almost had a nasty fall earlier," Regis states with a faint grin before attempting to help the man up into a seated position. It's then that one of the medical staffers rushes over to assist the king followed by a squirrely old physician who wants to get a better look at their guest.

"I'm Regis Lucis Caelum, King of Lucis and Guardian of the Crystal." He introduces with a shockingly warm smile. "I bid you welcome, messenger."

Ardyn stares as the man greets him, as though he somehow expected his arrival. If not for how very clearly he feels hands on his body, helping him sit, he would wonder if any of this was at all real.

He knows he should try to keep calm, despite how unsettled he is by all the unfamiliarity around him. He doesn't recognize any of these faces. And then two other people step closer, and Ardyn unconsciously leans away from the strange old man peering at him with such focus.

His head is swimming with a overwhelming mix of questions and new sights and sounds, all blanketed with a lingering haze of exhaustion. It's as though somebody woke him up in the midst of a deep, deep sleep.

And then the man who greeted him says a series of words that abruptly silences all the noise in his head.

He blinks at this king who claims to be a Lucis Caelum. He blinks again when being addressed as 'messenger.' Is this somehow the will of the gods? Another test, perhaps?

Finally, he breaks his gaze away from Regis and looks around himself. The state of the Crystal causes his chest to tighten with worry. No, no. This isn't right!

"Your Majesty, I-" Ardyn pauses, surprised by the weakness of his own voice. Just how long had he been unconscious? "I am Ardyn Lucis Caelum. I am not a messenger, but just another mortal." So he still believed.

Whispering is heard after Ardyn Lucis Caelum's startling introduction. The medical personnel whisper among each other in surprise as the guards look on in confusion. Even the king himself looks positively befuddled as he stares down at this seemingly mortal man who claims to be a Caelum. The silence that ensues is almost deafening. All eyes are focused upon this stranger to the crown. Thankfully, Regis is the first to break this silence as the realization washes over him.

"Forgive me," He begins with a somewhat strained smile. "But there's no one within the long-lived royal line with such a name." He explains with utmost sincerity. While others would think of this man as blasphemous, Regis regards him with sympathy. Something feels amidst here, almost as if there's a missing piece linking them together that he somehow cannot see. There's no record of there being an Ardyn Lucis Caelum and Regis would know since he has long committed names of his royal house to memory. However, he's willing to be wrong since the man before indeed just come out from the Crystal. That's why Regis doesn't allow the guards to snatch Ardyn away. Instead, he briefly speaks with the doctors and has them fetch a stretcher for the poor man. Something is amidst here but Regis doesn't view this man as a threat.

"Caelum or not, we need to get you off this cold floor." He says with utmost concern. "We'll take you to the infirmary, for now, just in case." If there's a chance that Ardyn is suffering from some sort of amnesia, then the doctors will most likely figure it out. However, the last thing Regis wants is for this man to linger within this room with so many eyes upon him.

His eyes grow wide at King Regis' assertion that not only is the royal line 'long-lived,' but his name is not among the records. If this is not a nightmarish vision, then he fears the gods might must have tricked him. The thought makes his breath catch as another fragment of memory resurfaces.

'-tainted soul...'

"No..."

He doesn't like any of the implications in the King's words. Ardyn doesn't care about the people watching him, but he does flinch away heavily from anyone else who tries to get to close to him. Confusion and panic won't allow him to think clearly, and for the moment, he fears being taken away from the Crystal.

"Please, don't let them come any closer."

When he speaks, his words are directed at Regis alone. The edges of the room seem to slowly fade, Ardyn's breathing punctuated by heavy gasps. He feels like he might pass out, and then what? What will these people do to him?

Just when the medical team assembled here is poised to take Ardyn away, the king signals them to halt. Something must be amidst here for this mysterious man to refuse medical treatment. Regis can sense that much judging from the wild look within those peculiar amber eyes. If Ardyn is really of the Caelum bloodline, then why does he look so different from other members of his royal house?

The Caelums are known for their dark hair and sometimes blue or green eyes. Despite there being a few queens to have ruled in place of kings, most of the Caelums share these unique features but here's Ardyn claiming otherwise. Regis cannot help but stare at the man with a pensive expression. Is there a possibility that the man's lying? If so, then why would the Draconian permit him access inside of the Crystal? No one outside of the Caelum bloodline could've possibly convinced Bahamut to touch the sacred stone nevertheless enter it without his divine consent. Regis cannot help but frown as he regards Ardyn with skepticism. Something isn't right here and he needs to know why.

"You are unwell?" He questions as he stares at Ardyn, his gaze searching for any answers to be had. "We mean you no harm, Ardyn. I will not permit anyone here within this room to hurt you but this is no place for such an interlude." He all but whispers as he speaks with Ardyn.

"You have my word both as a king and a Caelum."

Is he unwell? Ardyn genuinely isn't sure. He feels wrong in so many ways, but that might not be an illness any healers can detect or handle.

Breathing is becoming harder and harder. Ardyn keeps edging away, toward the damaged crystal, his reason fading as panic rises within him once more. If he cannot be sure to trust the gods, how can he trust anyone else? Regis may seem kind, but right now Ardyn just wants to go back to where he was.

But where exactly was that?

He can't think clearly, and the room begins to tilt. Something dark, something vile blankets his mind and tightens around his heart. Ardyn can hear whispers, a thousand voices all at once, prodding at him. Testing his resolve.

It is probably for the best when Ardyn slumps forward, unconscious. Best for everyone in the room, including himself.

Panic replaces silence as Ardyn makes his way towards the sundered crystal. While the stone itself still thrums with magic, unlikely happening caused much of the crystal to break apart. Chunks of the darkly glowing crystal float aimlessly around its blue crystalline core like little stars flickering within the night. It's a hauntingly beautiful image but one that Regis cannot help but feel is ominous.

"Don't touch it!" Regis warns out as he reaches for the man. "The Crystal's power is unstable. If you try to touch it--" The king trails off once Ardyn slumps forward, his mind blank once he realizes the man's unconscious.

The doctors rush over to get a better look at Ardyn but something tells Regis to send them away. Whatever is going on here cannot be fixed by medicine science or treatment. That much is apparent considering how sickly Ardyn truly appears. Instead of allowing the doctors to take him away, Regis orders for a bed to be made for Ardyn in a guest room not too far from his chambers. His promise to the man remains sound. No harm shall fall unto him here within the Citadel. As far as Regis is concerned, Ardyn is a guest here and should be treated as such despite his bold claims earlier. He will see the truth of this matter sooner than later but for now, Ardyn deserves better than a cold floor.

By the time Ardyn awakens next, he'll find himself surrounded by luxury within a dimly lit room in a plush bed that threatens to swallow him whole. He'll be alone here for a time with only the faint ticking of the golden clock resting high across the wall from him. The dark curtains are closed in hopes of preventing the sunlight from peeking through. It's a beautiful room, one worthy of a king and his many guests. The room comes completely furnished with everything one could need including a pitcher of water upon the nearby table.

Ardyn sleeps through the rest of the day and night, only awakening well into the afternoon. When he opens his eyes, he hopes he will be back home, surrounded by familiar faces.

It's a foolish hope.

He spends a few minutes lying still on the shockingly soft bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to recall everything from the moment he was thrown out of the crystal until he woke up in this room. He has never experienced such luxury before. It only takes a quick scan of his surroundings to know he's out of place here, out of his own time- King Regis clued him in on that much.

And then there's that discomfort within his own body. He feels filthy beneath his skin, and although his mind is quiet now, Ardyn recalls the whispers from the day before.

Poison. He feels like he had been poisoned.

Another handful of minutes pass before Ardyn forces himself to climb out of bed. The floor is soft beneath his bare feet, and everything looks new and freshly cleaned. Everything looks foreign, even though he is supposedly near home.

He walks over to the table with the water pitcher. At least this is ordinary.

Ardyn pours himself a full glass of and before he knows it, he's ready for another. The water is cool and tastes perfectly clean, and suddenly it feels like he hasn't had a drop to drink for a long, long while. He's busy on his second glass when he hears a gentle knock on his door.

Approaching with some lingering caution, he slowly turns the knob and opens the door just a crack to see who is there.

That gentle knock at the door is none other than the King of Lucis himself. It's been well over twenty-four hours since Regis has last checked on his ethereal guest. While the manner of Ardyn's appearance within the crystal chamber caused quite a conundrum, all has been quiet within the Citadel since. He has made it a point to keep the bureaucrats at bay as Ardyn recovered in solitude, only allowing a handful of the most trusted physicians to see him. While all seems to be well, Regis knows he cannot stall the High Council for long. The Council is very curious about Ardyn, too eager to lob questions at him in hopes of unearthing Lucis's fate. While he shares their sentiments, Regis isn't here to interrogate Ardyn.

"Greetings," Regis says with a faint smile once the surprise ebbs away. He didn't expect his guest to be awake so soon. "It seems that your feeling better." He states before gently suggesting that they talk inside.

There are a few guards stationed nearby, all Kingsglaives judging from their iconic black uniforms. While there are quite protective of their king, Regis has ordered them to allow him a private audience with Ardyn. Therefore, they'll remain outside for the time being. As for Regis, he has forsaken his royal raiments for a handsome black suit decorated with slim silver pinstripes. Regis looks like a man in mourning wearing so much black but this is common for the royal family. The only hint of color on him is the dull gray of his tie and the hints of silver from his horn-like circlet. He looks nothing like the kings of yore but Regis still carries himself regally as a king should.

"Pray, forgive me if this seems forward but I would like it would...converse privately." He all but whispers in hopes that Ardyn will be more willing to talk now.

He is quick to step back out of the way and open the door wider when he sees that the king himself has come to visit. However he might feel, he will show a king, and his generous host, due respect.

Well, he probably could have done better regarding respect. Ardyn is caught off guard by the king's outfit, so unlike what he wore the other day. He still has a very regal, handsome appearance, even if the clothing looks like nothing he's ever seen before.

"I... will try, Your Highness," he says after rudely staring for a few moments too long. Ardyn's voice is soft from disuse, though the water is helping him feel more alert in general. Odd, though, how he doesn't feel any need to eat or drink. He should be ravenous, and yet his stomach is completely settled.

"Please, come in." Next, he notices the lack of guards following their liege. Interesting. He wonders if Regis might know how to fight on his own, just like Ardyn and Somnus know.

"Forgive me for arriving so unannounced," Regis couldn't help but notice that stare. "I just returned from a press conference a moment ago and thought to visit you." While he owed Ardyn no explanation, he decided to give one anyway.

The last thing he wants is for his guest to realize he's being monitored to a certain degree. While he vowed not to let the physician poke and prod, he certainly did have them keep an eye on him during the conference. Not because he thought Ardyn would try to escape but because he feared the man could die. While Ardyn looks hale and whole now, he certainly didn't look that way for the last several hours.

"I trust your accommodations are to your liking then?" The king questions once he notices the half-empty pitcher upon the table. "I would be remiss to offend the man who proclaims to be of my bloodline." Yes, Regis didn't forget that part. How could he? Those fateful words started a myriad of rumors here within the Citadel. Rumors that Regis thought to pay very little credence to them until he decided to the number of kings throughout the ages. That's when those baffling words suddenly began to ring true.

"Let us speak plainly," Regis all but whispers as he paces towards the windows. "Who are you?"

Edited 2021-10-07 03:25 am (UTC)