That confession has Sylvain's head coming up, his gaze narrowed as he contemplates that. "Have they showed evidence of considering that? Or is it more your fear from home lingering?" Because if the army here was contemplating moves like that, they all had to be careful. But even more...
He reaches out, cupping a hand against Jesper's cheek as he presses a chaste kiss to his jaw. "You know none of us would stand idly by if they tried to take you, right? Not just speaking for myself here, but you have many friends who think highly of you. Who would fight to keep you free and safe. And beyond that, if they start coming for Summoned in such a way, none of us would be safe for long. I can't see any of the others standing for such a thing, even if they're not friends."
That was a far more 'captive' fate than Sylvain was willing to let anyone bear, let alone someone he thought so highly of.
"Magic's not quite treated the same, back in my world. It's envied. Elevated. Those who don't have it want it, though. The power and status of it, not understanding it's as good a collar wrapped around our throats. Or we're resented for what we've been 'given'. Never mind that none of us ever asked for it and I think many of us wouldn't have, if given the choice." He pauses, glancing down for a moment as his gaze turns distant, thoughtful.
"I'm the second-born son of my house." That he knows of, anyway. He wouldn't have put it past his father to try elsewhere in his many attempts to beget a Crest heir. "My elder brother - Miklan - he was meant to be the heir. But he was born without a Crest. So my birth displaced him. Took away everything he felt was his birthright. He's hated me all my life for that. Resented it so heatedly that he wanted me dead. Tried a few times, too. He was disowned, lost everything - his name, his wealth, his family. All because of a simple misfortunate chance of birth."
"I ruined his life with my first breath. And yet, had I the chance, I would have passed it all to him, if I could. I didn't want it. I would do my duty, because my house relied upon my existence, but all my Crest meant for me was a life I didn't really want, no real say in who would be chosen to carry on my bloodline for our house, and all the responsibility and expectations that came along with it." He pauses, giving a quiet, humorless laugh as he shrugs. "I resented being born with a Crest just as fiercely as he resented me for it in turn. I can't help but wonder, how it might have been different if it had been the other way around?"
Although if Miklan had fulfilled his father's need for a Crest-bearing heir, Sylvain might never have existed at all, so that was probably a moot point anyway.
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He reaches out, cupping a hand against Jesper's cheek as he presses a chaste kiss to his jaw. "You know none of us would stand idly by if they tried to take you, right? Not just speaking for myself here, but you have many friends who think highly of you. Who would fight to keep you free and safe. And beyond that, if they start coming for Summoned in such a way, none of us would be safe for long. I can't see any of the others standing for such a thing, even if they're not friends."
That was a far more 'captive' fate than Sylvain was willing to let anyone bear, let alone someone he thought so highly of.
"Magic's not quite treated the same, back in my world. It's envied. Elevated. Those who don't have it want it, though. The power and status of it, not understanding it's as good a collar wrapped around our throats. Or we're resented for what we've been 'given'. Never mind that none of us ever asked for it and I think many of us wouldn't have, if given the choice." He pauses, glancing down for a moment as his gaze turns distant, thoughtful.
"I'm the second-born son of my house." That he knows of, anyway. He wouldn't have put it past his father to try elsewhere in his many attempts to beget a Crest heir. "My elder brother - Miklan - he was meant to be the heir. But he was born without a Crest. So my birth displaced him. Took away everything he felt was his birthright. He's hated me all my life for that. Resented it so heatedly that he wanted me dead. Tried a few times, too. He was disowned, lost everything - his name, his wealth, his family. All because of a simple misfortunate chance of birth."
"I ruined his life with my first breath. And yet, had I the chance, I would have passed it all to him, if I could. I didn't want it. I would do my duty, because my house relied upon my existence, but all my Crest meant for me was a life I didn't really want, no real say in who would be chosen to carry on my bloodline for our house, and all the responsibility and expectations that came along with it." He pauses, giving a quiet, humorless laugh as he shrugs. "I resented being born with a Crest just as fiercely as he resented me for it in turn. I can't help but wonder, how it might have been different if it had been the other way around?"
Although if Miklan had fulfilled his father's need for a Crest-bearing heir, Sylvain might never have existed at all, so that was probably a moot point anyway.