His aging hand reaches out to me. A single ring rests on his middle finger, it's a golden band with a shimmering blue gem embedded on the top of the ring.
I look back up at his face. His smile calms me yet frightens me at the same time. I didn't forget what happened last time I took this man's hand.
That violent power. That sense of frailty.
I didn't want to feel it again but I had no choice, like last time -- all I could do was take his hand.
I reach out, grip his hand and shake it for a few moments. A weight is lifted off my shoulders when nothing happens.
"My name is Roman." I say with an awkward smile.
"A wonderful name, my name is Alain." The King says to me with an assertive smile.
"So Roman, do you know of the current plans? Many things have been decided in your absence."
Plans? What could be happening right now? We're still training...
"No I don't, what plans?" I ask.
The King proceeds to tell me about these plans. Lanue is in a frenzy due to a rebellion. It's the perfect time to infiltrate the kingdom. The King has also decided to give me a gauntlet. It's apparently the ancient weapon of an old Noctis war squadron. It's made for stealth and infiltration. We're leaving in just a few hours...
"Don't worry Roman, I will fight for us if needed, I know you aren't ready to face anyone but this might be the last chance for us to go and see if this king is the result of what happened to you. You and your family." Liliana said to me, I think she could sense my anxiety about this.
I sigh, this is scary...
This is the reality of this world. Fighting, killing, war, rebellions. Will I have to be surrounded by all of this?
My worrying thoughts are interrupted by the King sending us off.
"I would advise you to ask your maid friend to go with you. I'm sure her services will be of help to you." The King says to me as he hands me a map
I look back up with him in confusion, I was expecting a green crystal. After all, that's the only way we've been coming here.
The King laughs heartedly, "Sir Vaneer has gotten angry at my over usage of the teleportation crystals, don't worry, it's only a ten minute walk from here."
I want to question him but I'm in no position to. My fear of him is still fresh. When my anger disappeared, my natural instincts of fight or flight kicked in and I'm definitely not winning a fight with him.
I nod, grab the gauntlet from the gauntlet from the woman and I walk out of the throne room. Outside the room is a large decorated hallway. The walls are lined with old-fashioned paintings of what I assume to be the old King's. They sit in a medieval stance, wearing robes similar to King Alain..
As I continue walking down the hall we pass a certain King's painting. He looks like all the others to me but I can feel an internal urge to look at his painting. I can't fight the urge and I stop walking to look at the painting. The man's brown hair is neatly slicked back, his bright smile seems infectious just from the canvas. He wears the same type of blue robes as the rest of the King's but his overall presence is different from the rest of the them. Or at least, from this painting.
"Do you feel that," Liliana asks me "though this has happened before by accident, this is me sharing my feelings with you." Her voice is similar to when we first arrived to Noctis. When she talked to me about this Kingdom. Her old home, how she wanted me to protect it. This must be the 10th King then, the way she is speaking, her feelings. It has to be.
Thinking back now, why would she ask me? I don't have the power to protect such a place. I don't have the strength...
"This is the 10th King?" I ask, shaking away my thoughts.
"It is, I miss him dearly." Liliana says with sorrow.
"What was he like?" I ask her as I continue to analyze the painting, I realize now that I know nothing about this man. Even though he's such an important person to Liliana.
"He was the kindest person I knew. Without him, I wouldn't be who I am today. My journey with him was life changing." Liliana says to me.
As I spend more time with her I've gotten better at judging her emotions purely on her voice, after all, it's the only way I can do it. I can't see her face, I can't see her body.
Every word she speaks is riddled with emotion. I can feel her thoughts about this man.
Thoughts of admiration, friendship, companionship.
"He seemed like a man worthy of your strength." I tell her.
"It wasn't that Roman. I graced with his strength." She says, her voice trembles slightly.
Was this man as strong as Liliana? Stronger? Even if he was, I doubt Liliana would have so much warmth for him simply because of strength. It's something else. I just don't know what.
"Let's keep moving. We have a lot to discuss with Camila, no time for reminiscing!" Liliana suddenly switches up her mood, focusing on the task at hand.
I laugh and glance one more time at the painting as I walk away.
"You're right, let's go."