[ Cree laughs, but it's terribly hollow one. The flames of the fireplace reflect in his eyes as he elaborates, and there's a restrained anger seeping into his tone despite his efforts to keep himself collected. ]

You have me on all but one thing, dear boy—I did not leave. I was ousted. My relationship with the Empress became strained as years went by, as I had seen all that these "civilized" people would do out of senseless hate and became weary while she remained indifferent. I finally suggested we stop this cycle, she suggested I stand down. Of course, Ashti was always strangely silent about the conflict, and seeing as she would never oppose Simwe's word... she took my place almost immediately.

These tensions are not to be taken lightly, Prompto. She is wrong to do so. There will come a time that they will make it seem you have to make a choice of where your loyalty lies, and there will be people you know on the other side of things. Only there will be no chance at redemption, as the fugitives have had. They will get hurt. They will die. It may become your fault.