Behind it? Oh, whatever helps him sleep at night. I’m sure he would love for it to be so simple, but the plague that ravaged the land until recently precedes even me. This world was bound to rot beneath a blighted sky no matter what I did, but it’s certainly easier to shoot the messenger. I certainly didn’t stop it, in all fairness.

[Ardyn shrugged, with a harsh and cold laugh utterly lacking in humor.]

I died when your blessed Founder drove a blade through my chest. The fact that I am still here is no more than the cruelty of the gods and proof that worthless Bahamut cares nothing for keeping his word. If someone were to drive a stake in my chest just to be rid of the monster of legend, I would commend their initiative and perish cursing House Caelum and my own bloodline.