Final Fantasy XVI: Lion King Edition

Elwin's Wisdom

Ten years later

Things hadn't changed much since that wonderful day, but Joshua Rosfield was no longer a baby. He was a growing ten-year-old who spend some of his free hours wandering around the same halls, looking about the curtains that never changed and the table settings being in their proper perfect places. Tapestries and paintings were done in his honor, some of him riding a horse, others of him fighting an oversized enemy and an official portrait of himself with his parents.

It was such a shame that none of them depicted another boy living amongst them.

Clive Rosfield was still there, sleeping his chambers. It was the sound of the door opening and Joshua's pattering little feet that made the first noise of his day.

"Clive! Borther! Come on, Clive! Father's gonna take us out today!"

Clive moaned and turned his blanket over.

"Five more minutes, Joshua. Please."

Taking this as a "yes", Joshua rushed downstairs to meet up with his parents, who were having a hot porridge for breakfast. Clive took his five minutes, then got up and got dressed after making the necessary hygienic exercises. Hair, teeth, body wash, before selecting his usual clothes of black, white and red. He joined his family at the table moments later. Father would always greet him warmly. Mother would pretend he wasn't there, or rather he was something repulsive. Uncle Byron would always say a quick hello before munching on his bigger pieces of meat.

"Where are we going to today?" asked Joshua, hopping up and down in his seat.

"Out into the plains," said Elwin. "Good fresh air and exercise does the body good."

"I'll be doing still-room inspection," said Anabella monotonously.

"And I'll be eating out at the tavern if you need me," smiled Byron.

If there was one thing Anabella could not stand about Byron, it was behaving like a commoner, rubbing elbows with the drunks and the low-lives. But she wisely kept silent about it and left the room, flanked by a troupe of handmaidens.

Once she was completely out of the way, the three Rosfield males, Clive, Joshua and Elwin left the dining room, headed to the stable and each got out on their respective chocobos. They all had black and grey feathers, Joshua thought they were as black as coal. Clive's, whose name was Ambrosia, twittered warmly at the sight of his master.

Off they set past the gates, and further inwards to a distance of two miles away from the castle. At the open field, the party of three stopped. Elwin directed his sons towards the vast expanse.

"My sons. Everything the sun touches is our kingdom."

Joshua's eyes followed the horizon, growing wide.

"Wow, really."

"Yes," said Clive. "Father told me that an archduke's time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day the sun will set upon our time and when we have children, they will be the next archduke....and possibly even the new Phoenix. When we die, the Phoenix finds it's next host, one who is of noble blood."

"Noble blood..." Joshua mused for a moment. "Does the light touch the other kingdoms as well?"

"All except the Empire of Sanbreque," said Elwin. "You two must never got there."

"Never?" asked Joshua, a bit of disappointment in his voice. "I always thought an archduke can do whatever he wanted."

Clive chuckled and gave his brother a side hug.

"I used to think the same thing, but Father taught me that there is a lot more to being archduke than getting your way all the time. It's called responsibility."

"I can be responsible," said Josha.

"Only when we teach you," smiled Clive.

The three males made their way further back to the castle, watching the many animals mating and grazing among other activities. Joshua was impressed by all that he saw around him.

"Everything you see exists together to create a delicate balance," explained Elwin. "From ants to chocobos, even us humans, we must all understand that balance is the ultimate respect to everything around us."

"Father, I hate to say this, but...don't we eat chocobos?"

"Yes, Joshua, but legend has it that when we die, our bodies turn into grass and the wild animals eat the grace. It's called the circle of life."

"And the Phoenix has run more laps around it than anyone else has," Clive joked.

The three laughed, eventually meeting up with Rodney Murdoch near the castle gates.

"Good morning, sirs," he smiled proudly.

"Good morning, Sir Rodney," said Elwin. "Any report this morning?"

"The weather is exceptional, if that is what you mean. We also have three hunts planned for today, I'm sure the young majesties will appreciate you having a day out together."

As Rodney continued on, Joshua noticed a chocobo and cart full of wooden materials coming their way. Among the drivers was a young man with the most curious tattoo Joshua had ever seen. Upon closer inspection, he saw that it was a bearer, a person who bore the power to harness magic. They were feared by the common folk for many reasons, among them not being able to control their magic, but Elwin always assured them that they would be treated as any other human being. But Joshua was not afraid. He was about to walk away when Clive stopped him.

"Surely, they cannot be all bad," Joshua said with pleading eyes.

"Still, be cautious," warned Clive.

Joshua approached the bearer, who had blonde hair and wore a brown burlap. He was helping his master with the wood. Joshua seemed more than eager to lend a helping hand.

"Excuse me, but can we help you?"

"Do not concern yourself with this cur, Lord Marquess," said the man's master. "Bearers need to know their place."

The bearer and his master walked off, leaving the two alone.

"He sounds worse than Mother," said Joshua. "If I was Archduke right now, I'd declare equal rights for all bearers."

"You're starting to sound a lot like Father, do you know that?" asked Clive.

Speaking of their father, he was speaking with a soldier from the army came up to them.

"News from the fort by Dhalmekia. The soldiers are Sanbreque are on the move. They're going after Bearers."

"On what charge?" asked Elwin.

"Search me," said Murdoch. "But we had better get going."

Clive and Joshua heard this, perking at the chance.

"Father can we come?" they cried.

"No, sons. You're no match for the Imperial soldiers."

Clive pouted.

"Father, this is what you and Murdoch have trained us to do, let us fight!"

"Yes," said Elwin, sternly. "But when you're older."

And he hopped on his chocobo, galloping away at full speed. Clive and Joshua, dejected, staggered back to the palace.

"Will we ever get to fight?" Joshua asked Clive.

"Maybe we will," Clive said. "And maybe we can show those bastards what real brothers can do. Perhaps you can send a fireball down their throats for all I care."

The brothers shared a hearty laugh.