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The worst thing for Titus Drautos was to fail. Not to die. To fail. And as he lay there, in the dust, between the ruins of the formerly Jewelry of Lucis - Insomnia - the only thing he could think of was YN.
To send YN away was one thing. The only thing Drautos could do to keep the young man out of harm.
And nevertheless, the Captain had failed YN. Not as his Captain.
But as a Glaive, as a soldier and as a father.
***
As YN joined the Kingsglaive, he was scared. He was tough enough to get picked out to fight with the Glaives but no matter how tough he seemed to be, how great his ability was to handle the King’s magic or how impressive his fighting skills were already - YN was feeling like a scared kid as he joined the committed group of soldiers.
Or, maybe, it was just Captain Titus Drautos who scared him. At least, this would be an understandable reason. Captain Drautos was a tall, impressive and proud man with broad shoulders, scars in his face and an ice cold demeanor. The stories that got told about Drautos were as impressive and honorable as his armor and sword.
With a strong hand and attitude, he led the Glaives fearlessly into fights against Niflheim. Every time, the unit was successful. The Captain was known for his mercilessness against his enemies when he fought for his oppressed home. YN had heard all these as rumors and since then, he felt intimidated even if he hadn’t met the Captain yet.
“Listen, Glaives. Even if we live in peace at the moment, this can change at any time. So, all of you will train, train, train. I will team you up. Libertus and Pelna. Nyx and,”, Drautos stopped and looked at YN. He was the new one. A guy who was compatible with the King’s magic. The Captain was about to pair him up with Nyx but then, he saw something in the guy’s eyes that let him pause before he spoke up again, “Nyx and Furia.”, he continued until everyone had a partner.
The room got cleared as the pairs left to start with the training. Just YN was left and with each passing second where the Captain stayed silent, he became more and more insecure. He waited patiently but as he saw Drautos even leaving the common room, YN swallowed and stepped forward, “Sir, I- I think you forgot me, Sir.”, he said and cursed himself for sounding so insecure.
Drautos stopped in his tracks. A faint smirk on his lips before he pushed it aside to turn over to the new recruit with a stone cold expression, “First of all, one ‘Sir’ is enough and second, cut this shit.”, he said serious, crossing his arms over his chest before he closed up on the young man to size him up. Once again, Drautos looked into YN’s eyes and this time, like a thunderstruck, he recognized the feeling that got woken by the sight - home. Somehow, YN reminded him of his home. Even if the Captain couldn’t grasp what exactly triggered this melancholic feeling, it was there. Drautos was already clinging to the past and now, to have someone in front of him who was a living reminder of everything he had lost as his home got attacked wasn’t easy to endure. At the same time Drautos was hoping to feel more of this bittersweet pain that reminded him why he was fighting. He had lost so much - his family, his origin … He even had lost the wish to raise an own family. And just like that, YN reminded him of a son he never had and he never will have.
“Uhm, what 'shit’, Sir?”, YN asked insecurely, and cursed himself once again.
By the soft sound of the man’s voice, Drautos got dragged back into reality like an elastic band that got snapped back. He stepped forward, towering above YN, “This whole frightened behavior. Stop being insecure or whatever you do there. None of that will impress neither me nor the enemy. You’re a Glaive now. Behave like one.”, Drautos said serious.
YN swallowed thickly once again, “Yes, Sir.”, he said and tried to sound more confident than before. YN already had nightmares about meeting the Captain for the first time but reality was something different - now, he couldn’t wake up.
Drautos wasn’t pleased about this weak behavior but he saw potential in this young man. Potential he had seen before in someone else - Nyx Ulric. Slowly, Drautos crossed the room, stopping at a handrail to look out at the training area, “I trained Ulric, one of my best fighter.”, he said and watched how Nyx warped quickly from point to point to escape Furia who chased him.
YN was unsure what to do but on the other hand he was also curious how the training of the others looked like. He had heard almost as many things about Nyx as he had heard about the Captain. Stepping next to Drautos, YN watched how Nyx and Furia changed their roles and now, Furia escaped from Nyx over the area. Unfortunately, Furia made a small mistake and Nyx reached him quickly, attacking him from behind to bring him back to the ground. Before Furia could hit the ground, he threw his blade away and warped into safeness. YN watched them amazed. He knew he was good but this was a whole different level.
Drautos watched YN and how interested he seemed to be in the movesets and the skills. There was a hungry fire to learn these things in YN’s eyes and so, Drautos made a decision, “I will train you.”
YN was surprised and tried to hide it but it wasn’t that easy as he just stared at the Captain.
“The training won’t be easy. You have to show me that you really want this and if you can convince me, I will show you a few things and tricks.”
**
“First training with the Captain, huh?”, Nyx asked, leaning with crossed arms against the doorframe, watching the new recruit lying dead-like on a bench in the locker room drained in his own sweat.
Very slowly, YN turned his head to the new voice, recognizing him as Nyx Ulric, Drautos’ former trainee. YN sat up and nodded, “Yeah… It was the hardest I ever did so far.”, he admitted, rubbing the sore muscles in the back of his neck.
Nyx chuckled, walking over to him, “Oh, yeah. I know how you feel. I was in your position before.”, he said and sat down on the bench, slowly opening his gloves.
“Captain Drautos told me about it that he trained you before me.”, YN said and suddenly, he asked himself why the Captain had picked him out instead of someone else.
“Yeah… Listen, here’s a tip. Drautos wants to test you. He wants to see what you’re capable of. I learnt it the hard way but I’m thankful for everything he taught me. You gain his respect with blood, sweat and tears. Show him that you really want this and he will teach you a lot of things.”, Nyx explained.
“Alright, yeah…but… Why me? He could have picked someone else.”, YN asked frowning.
Nyx stood up, undressing his jacket while aiming for the door to leave, “I guess, he saw potential in you. Just watch out. Others might become jealous. I… Learned that, as well.”, he said and left YN alone with his thoughts.
***
YN kept Nyx’ advice in mind but on the other hand, Captain Drautos was demanding when it came to the training. And once again, YN asked himself what he got himself into as he laid on the ground, panting for air and with pain throbbing in his ribs from the latest punch Drautos had given him to send him on the mat.
“Get up! Again!”, Drautos demanded, kicking against YN’s shoe, waiting impatiently and still with his sword in his hands.
Slowly, YN got up on his feet, taking position in front of his Captain and raised his blades, getting ready for the Captain’s next attack.
Drautos was impressed. He saw the fire in YN’s eyes. He wanted to learn. Since the beginning of the week, Drautos put YN through the mill and the Glaive was still going. So, Drautos relaxed, satisfied with the result the new one had made so far, “Okay, it’s enough.”
“Captain?”, YN asked confused, half expecting that it was just a trick.
Drautos stepped forward, placing his hand on YN’s shoulder, “You did a good job the last days.”, he said before turning around to leave a confused YN behind. Then, he stopped once again, “Take the day off, son.”
Dumbfounded, YN watched after the leaving Captain and let his blades sink.
***
First, YN thought it was just a mistake by the Captain that he had called him 'son’ but quickly he noticed that Drautos did it several times. Luckily, Drautos just did it when he and YN were alone. Because as Nyx had warned YN, others started to become jealous because of the bond between the newbie and the Captain.
Tredd Furia was the worst. Whenever the Captain was out of sight he tried to find ways to bully YN even if there was no reason to do that. YN was good with a bunch of Glaives. Nyx and his friends liked the new recruit and helped him from time to time while the Captain watched the scenes closely.
Drautos wouldn’t intervene, but he observed how YN reacted. First, the boy was intimidated. The others were longer part of the Kingsglaive and YN didn’t want to have problems with any one. But slowly, the longer the training with the Captain lastet the tougher YN became and he even talked back. The longer YN trained with him the more courage he got and Drautos was pleased with the result. In YN, he had found something he didn’t even know that he was missing - an heir.
Drautos had called him 'son’ by accident. The first time had just happened and as Drautos had noticed what he had said, it was already too late. But as he had heard himself saying it, Drautos noticed that it felt right. With Nyx, he had hoped he would have a confidant but the Galahdian was too strong minded with his own will.
YN seemed to be different. He was listening to Drautos. He was eager to learn from him and Drautos knew how to use that as an advantage for his own plans. Furia and his friends, also some others, were already on the Captain’s side. They were following Drautos’ plans and gave him back-up. But if YN would be on his side too, Drautos was sure to have more leverage on even more Glaives to get them on his side because he got liked by so many.
One evening, YN leant against the handrail and watched the setting sun. The sky, slightly sparkling with the magical shield created by the King, showed off beautiful colors. The clouds were illuminated by orange and red light which was an impressive contrast to the blue firmament. All in all it was a beautiful and peaceful sight to watch. It was this kind of peace YN and the other Glaives had sworn to protect and now, after all these weeks of training and time with the others, YN felt as one of them. Much to the thanks of Captain Drautos, who had helped him a lot.
Drautos walked over to YN, joining him at the handrail and also watched Insomnia in the light of the setting sun. He was about to introduce him into his plans as YN was faster and cut him off before he even could start.
“I want to thank you for everything you have done for me, Sir. I know I wasn’t the quickest learner but you… You didn’t give up on me. You showed me many unknown things and I… I will use them to protect all this as a dutifully Glaive. So, thank you, Captain.”, YN said honestly and offered Drautos his hand.
Drautos, who stared at the young man, was kinda speechless. First, he took the man’s kindly behavior as weakness but yet, it seemed to be his biggest strength because he was able to protect his kind heart against everything and everyone. And just like that, Drautos decided that he wanted something else more than to have YN on his side as just another ally. Titus Drautos wanted to protect this man he already had called son. YN was exactly like this: his son. And as such, Drautos felt the desire to shield him from any kind of harm. At least, as best as he could.
Finally, the Captain stepped forward, grabbing YN’s hand to shake it, “You know, you weren’t the worst trainee I ever had. You did a great job-”
The sudden sound of the siren let both men look up in surprise. It was the sound that Niflheim started a new attack on Insomnia’s border.
*
Just five minutes later, everyone was suited and ready for departure. YN, who talked with Pelna about his first battle, got called back by the Captain, “Yes, Sir?”, YN asked, slightly confused.
“Get into the car with Luche.”, he just said, turned around and left to give a few more orders to others.
“Special treatment by the Captain, huh? Well, not everyone is this blessed.”, Pelna said half jokingly, half annoyed and left YN behind.
YN was confused but obeyed. He followed Luche to the Captain’s car and entered it. A few minutes later, the konvoi hit the road to the battlefield.
As YN saw the wall and the area behind it for the first time, he was flashed. Ruins, sand, destruction: there was nothing beautiful in this place anymore. In the distance, Niflheim shuttles were in sight. The first infantry followed by demons got released and the Glaives got sent to stop them.
Helplessly, YN just watched the scene to his feet because Drautos demanded from him to stay where he was, by the Captain’s side.
Drautos observed the battle from a safe distance to give new orders. Crowe and some others casted a fire tornado to defeat the Niff’s but no matter what they did, it wasn’t enough to keep the enemy at bay.
“Luche! The Glaives shall retreat and regroup!”, Drautos ordered.
“Sir, what shall I do?”, YN asked, watching the scene in concern.
Drautos hadn’t forgotten him but still, he felt the urgency to protect this guy even if he knew that it wasn’t fair to the others. So, the Captain turned around as he had made a decision, “YN, I need you somewhere else. I have another mission for you.”
**
Everything seemed to be a mess. The Glaive had lost a few men, everyone seemed to be down even if Niflheim had retreated itself from Insomnia again. YN wanted to help and yet, he was helpless. All the training he had had with the Captain just to stay back and to do nothing? For YN it wasn’t fair that his comrades had risked their lives while he had just watched them from a safe spot.
So, as they were back in the headquarters of the Glaive, YN ignored his manners and some rules as he stormed into the office of the Captain. The door slammed into the wall and bounced back on his way in what caught Drautos’ attention. He was indeed surprised to see this fiery glance in the young man’s eyes.
“Why did I have to stay back? All the training you did with me for- what? To let me watch how the others get killed? I thought you would trust me. You said I’m good so why couldn’t I fight with the others?”, YN called out angrily, clenching his hands into fists.
Drautos was both: shocked and surprised. Shocked because no one ever dared to speak with him like this and surprised because he never expected YN to react emotionally in such a way just because he couldn’t fight. The Captain recovered quickly, crossed the room and slammed the door shut, “Glaive, this is not a suitable behavior in front of your Captain.”, Drautos said serious with as much authority as he could.
YN eyed the taller and older man and scoffed, “I don’t care about suitable behavior! I didn’t sign up to become a Glaive just to watch the others die! I should have been on the battlefield as well but you held me back!”
Drautos notices how anger rose inside of him that YN was talking back to him this easily but on the other hand, he was extremely proud, “And as I already told you, I need you for something else! And for this task, I’m sorry to say that, but I need you alive for it! That’s why I didn’t send you into the fight!”, Drautos said serious and watched how YN relaxed a little bit, “So, calm down and listen to what your next task will be.”
***
Crowe and YN stood at the same corner in the outskirts of Insomnia. Dust and sand was already covering them as Crowe turned her head over to YN, “So, I guess our paths are dividing now. Stay safe.”, she said and smiled softly.
“You, too. Watch out, the streets could be dangerous when you’re all alone.”, YN said and smiled encouragely.
“You know me. No one will try to touch me. I see you later.”, Crowe said and nodded one last time as YN put on the helmet and started his engine to drive down the opposite street she had to take.
Now and then, YN looked back through the rearview mirrors of his bike to Crowe’s position but after a while, he couldn’t see anything else than dunes and he just hoped that his friend would stay safe so he would see her back in the Crown’s City. YN continued his way to a meeting point somewhere near Hammerhead, which was strange in the first place but the Captain had made it clear that everything was extremely secret. As secret as Crowe’s mission because YN also had no idea what her task had been.
As YN reached the meeting point, no one else was to be seen. So, he waited because the Captain had made it clear that YN had to wait till the contact person would arrive. The person would carry something important for the king and therefore, it was of exceptional urgency for YN to wait till he got the certain item, contract or whatever it was because this was the only information YN hadn’t gotten from Drautos, what it was YN should bring back. He had a name, a description of the guy and the meeting point and still, YN had the feeling that something was odd. Mostly, because the Captain couldn’t tell him when this ominous man would appear.
Impatiently, YN walked up and down, waiting for hours for the informant to arrive. On the radio, he heard about the peace treaty between Niflheim and Insomnia and even for him, it sounded odd. Insomnia had fought so long for their resistance against Niflheim and now, the King was just obeying the request of the enemy? And why were they even discussing anything when the Glaive had defeated the opponent in the last battle?
YN had a bunch of questions and the longer he had to wait, the more questions popped up in his mind.
Maybe the ceremony was just an intelligent trick by the King to gain some more time until YN would arrive with whatever he had to receive? For YN, this was the only explanation. Whatever was in the package he had to get, it was something important to save Insomnia against Niflheim.
Then, Niflheim attacked Insomnia and YN was still waiting. It was a torture. The informant took his time to arrive and YN had to wait because of Drautos’ order. It demanded YN’s willpower just to wait and to listen to the radio to hear how his home, or at least the closest thing to a home, got attacked by the enemy he had sworn to defeat with his life.
As the informant finally arrived, YN just took the package, jumped on his bike and drove as fast as he could back to Insomnia but as he closed up on the wall, he already saw the destructions, the fires spreading through the Diamond of Lucis and thick columns of smoke were erupting to the sky. YN noticed the Niflheim ships hovering above the city and only then, he saw that the wall was gone. The wall, built and fed by the King’s magic was gone - gone like the King?
Quickly, YN tried to find a way back into the city but it was almost not possible. The streets were flooded with people who tried to escape the living hell while he tried to get in. As YN reached the end of the road because there was no road anymore, he left the bike and stepped forward as far as he could to look at all the ruins Insomnia had been once.
A single tear was rolling down YN’s cheeks which he wiped away violently, crying wouldn’t help anyone. Maybe the fight was still going, YN just had to find a way in. He was just about to walk down a fragile path as someone drew him back the second a huge piece of debris was falling down.
“YN! What are you doing here? Where have you been?”, Libertus called out as both men looked at each other.
“Sorry, Libertus, but I have no time for smalltalk. I have to bring this package to the King. It’s important.”, YN said, stood up and was about to go again but Libertus held him back once again.
“You can’t go in there. I mean… there is no in there anymore!”
“What do you mean?”, YN asked angrily, pulling his arm out of the man’s grip.
“Hell, have you been sleeping during the past few days? Niflheim had attacked Insomnia! The King is dead! And the peace treaty was just a trap. Even Drautos had deceived us! Nyx was fighting against him until… until-”, Libertus stopped because he couldn’t still accept the end of his friend. Of all his friends.
“The King… is dead?”, YN whispered in shock but as his brain processed the rest of the information, he drew his brows together, “What do you mean with 'Drautos had deceived us’?”
Libertus scoffed, “Drautos was on Niflheim’s side all the time. He was just waiting for the right moment to show his true face.”
“No! That can’t be right. You’re wrong! It’s still our Captain you’re talking about.”
“Ha! Our Captain! Maybe this liar is still your Captain but he wasn’t mine anymore since Crowe got killed on her escorting mission-”
“C-Crowe got killed? She- she’s dead?”, YN whispered in shock. His head was spinning with all the new information.
“Yes, Crowe is dead. She died because of King Regis and Draut- oh, you know what? I call him by his real name. I guess, he was proud to be General Glauca. Being the General of the troops of Niflheim.”
“No… No! I don’t believe you! You make this up because you also were one of them who were jealous because of the bond the Captain and I had-”
“Jealous? Me? Because you and the Captain had a strange father-son bond going on? What?”, Libertus asked as he saw YN’s expression, “You thought no one ever had noticed when Drautos had called you 'son’?”, Libertus asked amused with a smirk.
“I just… I- where is he now? And where’s Nyx and the others?”, YN asked, looking around for the hero or Pelna who wouldn’t be far away from Libertus.
Libertus’ expression darkened once again, “Well, I’m not sure about Pelna but I guess, he’s dead like all the others. Murdered by some traitors who had gathered around General Glauca-”
“Don’t call him that!”, YN defended the broken honor of his former Captain - or still Captain? Even YN became confused.
“It doesn’t matter anyway how you will call him because he’s dead by now.”
“Dead?”, YN called out.
“Yes, dead! He died! He’s gone! He’s no longer alive! Because that’s what people like him deserve. Nyx had fought against Glauca to give Lu- to provide some of us the time to leave the city.”, Libertus explained, raging with anger as he thought once again about his friend who had sacrificed himself.
“Nyx? Wait- where is he?”, YN asked but as he watched Libertus’ reaction, he already knew the answer without hearing it.
There was nothing else one of them could say. It wasn’t that words would change anything of what had happened. Not one single word would bring back anyone - no matter if good or bad. They were all dead. Everyone YN had considered his family during the last weeks had died. Insomnia was destroyed. The King was gone. The Prince was wherever. There was nothing left but destruction, pain and death.
Slowly, YN slumped down on his knees, too weak and too sad to keep standing up. He knew Drautos would hate it to see him like this. But he wasn’t there anymore to complain. YN realized that his mentor was gone and just like that, YN was alone again. YN never had a real father figure in his life. His own dad had died as he was too young to understand anything. And now, the only person that was like a dad to him had left him as well. But YN wasn’t just sad. He also was mad about himself - if he hadn’t left Insomnia, if he had disobeyed the orders - maybe he could have helped Drautos by whatever plan he had had in mind. Maybe he could even have stopped the Captain to save him.
“Hey, newbie! What’s even in this package you carried with you?”, Libertus asked and nudged the small package with the toe of his shoe.
“Nothing of your concern, Libertus.”, YN answered and picked the package from the ground. Libertus shrugged with his shoulders and went away without another word. YN watched his former friend and as he was out of sight, YN turned the package over and over in his hands. Something was moving around in it. YN was about to open the package and stopped before he chuckled low because he still had his Captain’s voice in his ears. But his mentor was gone and so, there was no one left who could YN interrupt in opening the package. Carefully, YN loosened the tape and opened the flaps just to stare disbelievingly into the cardboard box. With a shaking hand, YN took the item and the paper out of it. He had no idea what exactly he had expected to find in the package but certainly not one of Drautos’ medals.
Drautos got the medal from King Regis as a reward for his excellent work with the Kingsglaive. YN had seen it countless times glittering proudly on Drautos’ chest. Now, it laid in YN’s open palm and was sparkling in the soft light of the rising sun. YN took the paper and unfold it just to find the Captain’s neat handwriting on it which said:
YN,
I won’t make this too emotional. Yes, you will hear a lot of things about me and yes, they’re all true. There’s no need to lie anymore. I had a vision. I wanted to know that my homeland is safe - a wish every single one of us has! I wanted my people safe and Regis wasn’t able to provide this security therefore, I had to do something else. I won’t justify my actions. Not in front of you nor someone else. I regret nothing. I considered making you part of my plans but as you can see, I decided against it. Maybe it’s a sign of my weakness that I saw something like a son in you. But maybe, if I don’t make it, you can try to fight for my homeland to be safe. I promise, you will find a home there as well. You did a great job, son
Titus
YN let the letter sink. His head was occupied with different thoughts. His heart was filled with different emotions. But there were no tears running down his cheeks - because they would be just signs of weakness Drautos hated to see. There was no hatred - because YN knew Drautos had had his reasons to act how he did. And there was no disappointment because the Captain did not deserve it.
YN felt proud that he had met this man who had seen enough in him to train him. The Captain had supported him as no one else was there for him. And no matter what Libertus had said, for YN Titus Drautos would always be the honorable Captain of the Kingsgliave.
YN looked down at the medal and swore that he would fight for the Captain’s homeland and for his good name to endure for evermore.
Because, even if he wasn’t the real one, YN felt like the son of Titus Drautos and was proud about it.
YN would defend Drautos’ legacy.