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[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

[Vague apology is going to be vague, but that's how Kain does these things. He'll leave it public partially as an act of penance, partially because he's still readjusting to these devices and their filters. He isn't even sure that all of these people are here- he's been gone from Gaia for only a couple weeks, but to him it feels much, much longer. Don't worry Zidane, when he realizes you're not here, he'll bother you when you arrive.]

Cecil. Squall. Onion Knight. Bartz. Firion. Zidane. I apologize to all of you, especially.

I should also extend that apology to the other warriors of Cosmos as well.

I'm... sorry.

[He's still recovering, but he can't finish this without offering:]

...and if anyone has need for another fighter, I can be there at once.

Comments

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[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

[Kain hadn't thought it would be too easy... but at least they'd made it. He's glad his faith in them was not misplaced- he'd never thought it was. But then he gasps quietly at the last part. He'd hoped the sacrifices were over with his group.]

What...? Who?

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[trinitycrusades.livejournal.com]

Cosmos herself. The crystals we each earned were manifestations of her power, but in obtaining them, it cost her the last of her strength. Chaos destroyed her and the world was plunged into darkness.

We would have faded with her, were it not for the light of those crystals. They gave us each enough time to travel to the lands of Chaos and put a stop to him.

[He pauses, as a thought occurs to him.]

Perhaps... it was your selfless sacrifices that inspired her to do the same.

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[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

...Cosmos...

[Kain speaks her name quietly, with a great deal of respect to his tone. They'd... come very close to losing it all from the sound of things and yet... thanks to Cosmos herself and the crystals, they'd prevailed.]

Perhaps it was... [He's so not willing to accept the credit for that himself though, he thinks his comrades deserve more of it if anything.] ...Yet it was her own decision in the end, to give her life for the greater good.

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[trinitycrusades.livejournal.com]

[Kain's never an easy one to read, but the respect in his voice is clear. Cecil knows that respect isn't something easily given, reserved for only the likes of his father or the previous King of Baron.]

Those actions were hers alone, yes... but she placed her hopes in us, just as each of you did.

And Golbez... I wonder if he told you all that he did, because he felt the same way?

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[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

And I see that my trust in all of you was not mistaken. I knew you would have it in you to end Chaos.

[Despite how weary he is, he also sounds... almost glad... knowing they brought an end to the cycles, even if it had cost them Cosmos herself...]

I believe that Golbez's true loyalty was with us. [And he doesn't say this lightly, with all of his memories restored, it's difficult to say this of someone he's usually barely sure he trusts, who he has so many memories of when he controlled him.] If anyone deserve the credit for helping you bring about the end... it's him most of all.

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[trinitycrusades.livejournal.com]

His loyalty was with us. He guided me to my crystal, and then tested my resolve before we fought Chaos. He was never truly fighting for Chaos at all.

[Yet still even now, Cecil doesn't realise the full extent to which his brother helped the warriors of Cosmos from behind the scenes.]

...I asked him to join us in our fight, but... he believed himself unworthy.

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[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

He was worthy. Surely more worthy than I am.

[Kain understands that, because if he weren't brought by Cosmos he'd feel the same way.]

He chose his own path, despite what fate had set out for him. We all owe him much. Had he not informed me of the truth... we might never have had a chance.