[ Would that Joshua could say he were right, would that he could bring himself to believe that, that this is just like one of Clive's favorite storybooks from when they were children, of heroes and villains where the hero makes it back from their grand battle alive... that Tarja, for all her hard work making medicine for him (and that he refuses to take--) could help, but... all he could offer are false reassurances. That Clive -- that they would make it home, even though Joshua's long since accepted what awaits him at the end of this path.

But he would do anything to see Clive live, that he might see the future, the future Cid and their father strove for, saved. Because that's all he's ever wanted.

Light blue eyes flicker over to Gav curiously as he mentions bad memories, but decides not to ask him, not yet, at least, and gives a small nod. ]

I thought the same. There are few who would've dared to believe otherwise. I too traveled here not long ago to see for myself what had become of the North, to see with my own eyes how quickly the Blight spread. And I believed it to confirm what I had thought to be true... that the North had been lost.

[ A soft frown pulls at his lips. It was nothing short of devastating, to see blackened lands stretch across the horizon, as far as the eye could see, no birds, no insects, no life left. And in truth... it scared him, made him question that what he was doing was the right thing. To chase after Ultima's shadow to learn more of him and whatever plans he had, that Joshua might get ahead of him, might be able to stop him, all while the world rotted away ever faster with each passing moment.

But, as they approach the cliffside, he gestures ahead of him with a smile, beyond the edge of the cliff to the impossible green vista that stretches out before them for miles, across the mountains and coastline of the bay that couldn't be seen from the boat. ]

But, as you can see, much of the North still remains.