Hearts as One/Tibarn: Lord of the Air


Alfonse	Seems you've been having some nice conversations with Heroes in the hall, King Tibarn. Enjoying yourself?
I have been in fact. I was surprised to see so many beorc kings here.		Tibarn
Alfonse	Yes, there is no shortage of kings among the Heroes who have been summoned here to our world...
In my world, the laguz kings came together to talk once upon a time... There was a diplomatic king who sought to overcome race, a hardened king that kept his borders closed... and a king that would strike at any country that showed signs of its weakness, however slight. All of them had nerves of steel. I get the feeling the beorc kings here are drawn from the same sort of fiber.		Tibarn
Alfonse	It could be the very thing that makes them worthy of their thrones...and worthy of being Heroes.
Perhaps... And you—you are in line to take the throne, are you not?		Tibarn
Alfonse	I am. But...there is much I still have to learn about what it means to be a king before I'm ready.


Tibarn	You seem to be awfully excited, Alfonse. What do you have there?
This volume contains all sorts of information about governing a large country as king!		Alfonse
Tibarn	I see... And how will you govern your people when the time has come for you to take the throne?
Hmm... If I were to strive for my ideal vision of a king, I would... Well, I want my people to know peace...and for everyone, even the unfortunate, to live happily! I imagine I must seem quite naive from where you stand.		Alfonse
Tibarn	Not at all. In my world, there was a beorc king that thought as you do. So then, do you have a plan for achieving these goals of yours?
N-no... I am still just learning theory— and so much of my efforts go toward fighting with the Order of Heroes... It may be some time before I am able to more clearly see how to reach the future of my dreams.		Alfonse
Tibarn	Well, there are many shapes an ideal country can take, but it is the leader's charge to show their people the way.
I understand... I will be sure to keep that in my mind. Thank you.		Alfonse


Tibarn	You're asking what I would do if I had to choose between saving my people and the lives of others?
That's right. Oh, and the lives you do not choose to save will be lost.		Alfonse
Tibarn	I would choose to save my people, without question or hesitation. My people have placed their faith in me, so I must repay their trust by acting in their best interest.
Of course, as royalty, you must put the lives of your people first. You're obligated to protect them, after all. Yet, when I ask myself the same question...I would do everything in my power to save others as well. I want to protect my people, but wouldn't the best course be to seek to save the most lives? ...You mentioned before that there was once a king in your world who thought as I do. What would he do?		Alfonse
Tibarn	Well, I can tell you what I heard. That king, he... An invading force put him to the sword. His country was conquered, and his people suffered...
...I see.		Alfonse
Tibarn	I think you already understand this, but a country cannot be protected by words and ideals alone. If your opponents see you as weak, your country will be invaded, and your people will die...as mine did.
Wait—your country was invaded too?		Alfonse
Tibarn	Now you understand why I choose to save my people. I refuse to let it happen again. Ever.


Tibarn	I must admit, I didn't tell you the whole story about the beorc king I spoke of before... He was killed, yes, but...he was succeeded by a new queen. And she did not shrink from any challenge. She rose in the face of the turmoil that consumed the continent, and she protected her people and ideals.
How inspiring to be able to do both!		Alfonse
Tibarn	Yes, well, I was thinking how I view my role of king of Phoenicis as being able to protect my people's lives. But your ideals, what you want to protect...they seem much larger than even a whole people. I wonder if it could be because you were born where connections to other worlds are so commonplace...
Hm... I hadn't thought of it that way, but that could certainly be part of the reason I feel the way I do. I know I am still young, but...I hope to grow into a king who can hold up his ideals even in the face of adversity.		Alfonse
Tibarn	Beorc really are something else... You can grow into entirely new people in the space of a moment. I look forward to watching you grow into the king you will become.