[Thread; Closed]

[eidolon_soul]

Characters: Rydia (wandering into Ceodore, then Kain)
Progress: On-going
Summary: In-progress
Location: Troia, around the castle and town
Date: October, 1804
Warnings: Nah

Comments

[dragoon_rising]

Kain was seated right near the large window and staring out, a place he so often was lately. Despite it being a somewhat cool fall day, that window was currently wide open. At the moment, Zephyr was out getting some much needed flight and Kain was watching her as she soared gracefully through the air.

He glanced over on hearing Rydia. Mostly, he still wondered why she would want anything to do with him right now. "If you want..."

[dragoon_rising]

"No. There's no other way." Kain's answer was immediate, and he looked at her. "If you remove the stone away from its host, the connection may weaken, but it's unlikely you'd ever have an opportunity to take a stone away. Even then... that could still adversely affect the host, and the demons still won't disappear from this world until they're destroyed. When they take over a host, the connection is all-consuming, and death is the only way to fully separate the demon from its host's soul."

His expression was unwavering as he added, "There was nothing else you could have done for me and I deserved death by then anyway. I'm glad that I was stopped before I did worse damage, although I'll always bear the burden of what I did."

[eidolon_soul]

Rydia sighed deeply, staring downward. She didn't speak for a long moment. "I wanted to hate you...especially when I saw Cecil sprawled out like that. But...the fault isn't yours alone. We should have noticed something was off long before. Maybe if we had, that thing wouldn't have gotten to you."

She then paced, glancing up sharply. "And don't you dare say it's easy for me to forgive, because you know damn well it's not." If she said it, she meant it, and it better not be dismissed.

[dragoon_rising]

"There was nothing you or anyone could have done. I didn't even realize what was happening for the longest time. I just thought that my darkness was taking over of its own accord. That I had finally lost to it. After I found the stone, I barely remembered that I even had it. That side of me was too eager to become dominant by its presence."

Kain sighed. His dark self had been the one who'd made him keep that stone, and who had essentially made him forget about holding it until it was too late. "...and I know. I know it's not easy for you to forgive. I probably deserve worse than Titan this time. But... thank you, for that."

[eidolon_soul]

That provoked a faint smile. At least Kain knew well enough to not push the issue. That wouldn't end anywhere remotely pleasant. "We still need your help, though. Anything and everything regarding these stones is important, if we're to stop this from happening again."

She stared out the window, at Zephyr. For a moment, the summoner was content to watch the young dragon soar about.

[dragoon_rising]

Kain followed Rydia's gaze, enjoying the sight of his Zephyr as she glided through the air. Her motions were graceful yet strong. He was amazed at how much she'd grown.

"...and you'll have my help." Kain clenched his hands into fists. "I'll do anything to take them down. I won't feel avenged until I can help tear one of them apart." There was no changing his warrior's mind on that.

[eidolon_soul]

"We'll make sure that happens. You're owed that. But, I want you to promise me something." With that, Rydia crosses her arms and levels her firm gaze at him.

[dragoon_rising]

"I can't promise anything if I don't know what it is." There was also the unspoken statement that he might not even make the promise anyway, depending on what she asked of him. There were many things which Kain would outright refuse to promise, after all.

[eidolon_soul]

"Fair enough." Rydia heaves a sigh. She wasn't going to snap at Kain and risk him not even listen, so phrased her words as calmly as possible. "Don't try to go behind our backs to do it. Yes, I would think you crazy for trying while...as you are now. I'm not going to lie about that. Still, I'd rather know what you're up to than have you try and pull anything without our help."

[dragoon_rising]

Kain at least listened, but it was clear from his tense expression that he in no way intended to make that promise. "Only if you promise me you won't stop me from doing as I want. Otherwise... I can't promise anything. I won't."

[eidolon_soul]

There was a tense moment, as Rydia considered that. She hated the thought of being honor-bound to let him do as he wanted, but realized that there was no other way. Short of turning him into a toad for a few months, Rydia knew Kain would find a way around that issue. "...fine, I promise. I just don't want you to get killed."

[dragoon_rising]

That left Kain just as awkwardly honor-bound. Especially given how seriously he took such things and the fact that he was trying to move past the recent events by shaping up his behavior. He was quiet a moment, watching Zephyr.

"Then know that I refuse to sit here idly while the world is in peril. I don't plan to die again, but... I would prefer death to remaining here like a prisoner doing nothing. I'm a warrior just as Zephyr is a dragon and just as you're a Summoner. If none of you can respect that, then I'll find some way to leave Troia and go about my plans without any of you involved. I'm sorry, Rydia... but that's how it will be."

[eidolon_soul]

Rydia crossed her arms and frowned. "I promised, didn't I?! No one said anything about you being idle, so you can knock that off. You'll get what you want, as long as you don't try to hide it from us. That's all I expect."

[dragoon_rising]

Kain glanced at her, uncertainly, but then he looked back toward the window again. "Then I'll begin training and preparing for battle. I'm not useless as long as I can hold a spear." And Kain definitely meant all that he'd just said. It would kill him more than actual physical death not to be involved in the inevitavble fight with the Lucavi. He knew he'd been dealt a rough fate from the Tree, but as with any injury he would find some way to fight despite it. He had to. This revenge was important to him.

[eidolon_soul]

As long as Kain didn't doubt her word again, Rydia began to relax. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Kain. And I'll be going back to Alfitaria soon, but expect to see me around here often enough. It's not that long a trip."

[dragoon_rising]

Kain wouldn't doubt her, as long as she did nothing to stop him from carrying out his desires. He hadn't been sure how she would take it, after all. "...Good. As long as you understand that I won't be held back from battle, not even now." He sighed. "I suppose I can't keep you from visiting as you wish. I can't promise I'll want to remain here for very long... but we'll see what happens." Trouble with getting around or not, if he felt too stifled by being here, he'd seek a means to leave.