[ ardyn had saved many people, too, while hanging others out to dry. and for that, somnus had offered no compassion from his end.

somnus knows what ardyn did to the last oracle, who so deeply resembled the first and gave her life for the future of humanity. yet what of it? noctis said it himself: ardyn has taken many more lives than that of just one blessed woman. the monster will be given his due punishment once fate catches up to them, finally laying all of them to rest.

and how close that fate had seemed, until now.

the chosen king stands tall. somnus, unflinching, returns the gesture. ]

Everything was as the gods bade. The daemons could not be allowed to remain. Adagium was the most egregious of these monsters, though there was nothing I could do but to seal him away.

[ his adam's apple bobs faintly. the label he gave ardyn millennia ago feels wrong and like ash on his tongue. ]