(at Galdin Quay)
Prompto: You always have that book in your hand. Is it that good?
Gladio: Wanna borrow it?
Prompto: Just run down the major plot points.
Gladio: Yeah, that's gonna happen.
(conversation in Lestallum)
Old Woman: Sure I got shut out. Regis shut everybody out.
Old Man: Wow, that's awful. You must've felt betrayed.
Old Woman: Of course. We hated him for keeping the wall for himself and for his city. But there’s not much left to hate now—just piles of rubble.
(on the way to the first runestone)
Gladiolus: Lady Lunafreya doing alright?
Noctis: Probably. She pasted in a little nature stamp.
Prompto: A stamp?
Ignis: She's opted for simpler modes of communication to indulge our indolent prince.
Noctis: She usually sends pictures and flowers. I send back stickers and stuff.
Prompto: Sounds like you two have some riveting conversations.
Gentiana: Finite is the Oracle's strength, and great is the toll of the covenant. Without the King, it will be too much to bear.
Ignis: What is it?
Noctis: Apparently all this is taking a toll on Luna, and I should go to her.
Ignis: In dealings with the gods, life is often the currency.
Prompto: So where exactly have you been all this time?
Gladio: I can't say, I'm afraid.
Noct: He's afraid to say!
Prompto: He can't—it's unsayable!
Noctis: Wow—it's one hell of a battle they waged here.
Prompto: What a mess.
Gladio: Ten years of neglect will do that to a city.
Noctis: Good luck building it all back up.
Prompto: Hey! Don't count yourself out so quick!
Noctis: You know it's gonna be up to you guys.
Ignis: But we'd rather not remember.
Gladio: You really got it all out, didn't you?
Noct: Said all I have to say.
Prompto: You're starting to sound like a real king.
Noct: That's because I am a real king.
Ignis: Yes... Our king.
Ardyn: Even were the dawn to break now... ...it would only bring the horrors to light! The truth offers only despair.
Noctis: Yet the people will live on.
Ardyn: You know those kings will not protect you.
Noctis: I know—I am the protector.
Ardyn: The Crystal uses you. Drains you of life. It plays you all for fools.
Noctis: I accept it... ...if it means driving out the darkness.
[Ardyn cackles]
Ardyn: You should all thank me. In the dark, you would know peace.
Noctis: I will drag you from that darkness. Out of solitude. Out of emptiness.
Ardyn: Will you?
Noctis: You are a slave to the dark. Until you are free—you suffer alone! Return as you were... ...a kind and noble king!
Ardyn: You claim to know me. You fancy yourself benevolent and worthy... Yet when your father died... ...you were off playing with your friends! When your beloved died... ...you lay watching, powerless to stop it! And now you dare speak down to me? You think ten years is a long time!? It is nothing to me! I have lived in darkness for ages!
(as Noct delivers the final blows)
Ardyn: Have you made your peace, king? If darkness shall die, so shall you! Curse you kings and your iniquitous Crystal! Vengeance was to at last be mine! If not for you. I hate you—with all my being!