[He almost laughed again, but stopped himself. That sound wasn't him--it was cold, and bitter, belonging to the hatred of ages wearing a human face. When he spoke, it was a distant recitation; something he had memorized long, long ago.]

'O'er rotted soil, under blighted sky, A dread Plague the Wicked hath wrought. In the Light of the Gods, Sword-Sworn at his Side, 'gainst the Dark the King's battle is fought.'

The prophecy dictates the king should fight the darkness with trusted allies at his side. I didn't know how to eradicate the Starscourge when I was younger. I'd convinced myself that all I had to do was stall it; act as shield against the coming endless night until I understood how to properly wield the Crystal's power and banish it completely alongside my Shield. So I stalled for time, healing the afflicted no matter what it did to me.

...Church had been saying for weeks that the Astrals might have had more of a hand in it. When our abilities were switched around, he and Junpei confronted me with an idea that...I'm forced to admit I may have overlooked for two millennia.

The Chosen King is fated to fight the darkness, Yuuri. And I think what they assumed was something I never wanted to truly consider: that Bahamut needed a darkness for his king to fight.