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His brother had not been wrong.

Perhaps wrong in his actions, and while his heart had been in the right place, Pollux had acted as was and should be expected of the brother of Castor. Both as mortal and as senshi. The rift invasion had nearly cost everyone their lives, and they had little, if anything to show for it. Castor had been abducted and assumed dead. Metallia lost one general queen but they failed in all other aspects.

From the stance of war, they were at a low for morale, they failed to secure a great victory for Order, and the one who had enabled them had effectively gone into hiding. It did not bode well for senshi or knights, nor, for the future.

All the same, Pollux had a good reason to distrust the crystal wielder, and Castor could not fault him. Sadly, Castor was just as much the politician his sibling was, if not so openly. Cadeus was to great a potential ally to chase off, not when they had so much to lose... and potentially gain.

Settling at the edge of the wood where the alien was known to dwell the royal waited, wings down and stance patient. There was much to answer for, and much to discuss. Thing had changed and no longer could Castor afford the same passive acceptance of that which was.

A crackle of foliage, a voice the cut through the silence of the winter night and empty wood. A heavy breath and the royal let his anxieties eb away. Show nothing but the man who once had marched to his own death- a leader was what he had to be.
"Forests are a dime a dozen, kings from distant worlds are of another matter entirely." Blue cuts locked onto the being before Castor looked around, a nearby boulder offering a suitable place as any to sit. But first-

He faced Cadeus and bowed his head.
"I owe you my sincerest apologies, both from myself and on the behalf of my brother. I was told of his actions towards you and they were uncalled for, even with the situation being what it was. He knew better. I had told him he is to have no contact with you going forward." Eyes drifted up from the bowed head.
" I had hoped we might discuss what has transpired."

Not just Pollux's actions but the revelations of what had been learned.

There was a dismissive, humored snort from the prince.
"All beings hold grudged Caedus. We remember slights. Just why I imagine if I brought Pollux with me, you would not have shown yourself or have even entertained an audience with me. Even animals recall those who have wounded them. We went to the rift as a desire to see your grudge fulfilled. Please."

Fingers laced in front of him, Castor leaned back on the rock, allowing himself to relax. It would be best to perhaps, keep himself somewhat exposed. Hands in the open, posture non hostile- the unassuming prince.
"I am many things Caedus, but entirely ignorant of your more human traits is not one of them. You would hold a grudge over my brother, and that is something that as an ally, I cannot afford. For more than one reason." Pollux was just as precious to him as he was his brother. Caedus was too valuable an ally to drive away. Too powerful a being to risk having no connect to.

"Must say, though the few weeks I spent in Alkaid and Metallia's gentle care were most enlightening. Having one's wings ripped off and put on display and sent to your only kin puts a few things into perspective." His back left wing fanned out, some of the longer feathers falling shorter than they once had.

A somber look passed over him. "We have run out of time Cadeus. I fear this life- this rebirth, shall be the last for the senshi if things remain as they are."

Castor laughed. "Ah, he's more thinking the same as I do. You are far too enigmatic. It's practical but a poor ground from which we might stand as equals. He regrets doing you disservice but not entirely. He justifies it because I was missing." A shrug.
"Family. Cannot live with them, cannot live without them as the saying goes."

Silence as Caedus spoke, a small almost happy smirk tugging Castor's mouth.

"I want to make an offer I doubt you can refuse." He felt slightly ecstatic. It might not work. It might. He was also just tickled he got say such a cheesy line.

"My crystal and all it's energy, more than enough for you to leave earth and and see to your world- in exchange for one thing."
Knowledge was power and it would be all he would seek.
"You take me with you as your guest and guard. Temporary. I want to see your created world with my own eyes. It has been many years, you do not know what waits for you. What better defense than a senshi prince who could return you to his home in the event things sour? If you would trust me, I would show it to you. I want an ally Caedus. I want the support of a being that survived chaos untainted. We need allies. We need more than anything hope. An ally in space, with a world that could sustain life without a senshi? If this world falls, there will be an exodus, a vast scattering of souls who will be set adrift once more. If we survive and earth falls we must know we will have a refuge."

He smiled.
"I want to pave the path Caedus. I am not foolish, but I am someone who looks past a single life. What I want is not something I can ask for as we are. You do not trust me. I do not trust you. But we must trust each other if we ever hope to push back against Metallia. I am willing to offer you a near limitless energy, however long it takes, and all I want in return is to see your world. See what hope you might give us."

"If there is one good I might do for them, it is ensure they will be able to save themselves and those they can if and when the time comes. To see they will not suffer their last moments feeling helpless as all they loves is taken from them."

Castor watched each reaction, his breath slow at points, held at others. Then, he leaned back, eyes watching Caedus like he was something of a curiosity. Which he was in a way- he'd not taken the offer. Castor would need to change what he sought to do to solidify the alliance he desired, to get results he wanted. Determination was just another word for stubborn and he was born to live up to that trait.

"I am desperate Cadeus." He shifted, hand coming up to support his chin. "I don't see a way out that does not end with us reaching out. Not just to our worlds, but to others. If that means I must put myself into debt, risk my soul? I will do it." His free hand was far more tense than it should have been. It betrayed his emotion better than his face. Voice and expression resuming an impressive neutral facade, his hand betrayed the frustration.

"I cannot guide them to salvation but... But if I can create a foundation for them to have hope? Then that is enough. If knowledge is all you can offer, then I will accept that for now."

Grass and earth under him cool, he let his mind drift to earth. It was so unique and to know, to understand it would not last forever was.. tragic. This would be a lifetime filled with tragedy and loss. That much was certain.
"You were utterly certain they had survived last we spoke." Castor hadn't missed the change.
"Something has given you doubt in your conviction, in your own hope." He no longer thought of the tragedy of earth but of other worlds.
"I was pessimistic of it, but if I were to guess- pragmatism and reality has begun to settle hasn't it? I am sorry." Wings drooped a fraction.

"How long would it take- for you to gather the energy you'd need to make a trip there and back? Without the aid of a crystal like my own supplicating energy draining?"

"Being alone does that." Castor said, briefly making eye contact. "Having to hold out hope when you know you must even as you face the knowledge of what works against you. I can sympathize."

Leaning back he paused.
"Then how much energy you think would be needed for you to go and make a trip back?" It was an open question.
"Last thing I'd want, or wish for anyone, is to go to their world and find themselves isolated. I have contacts, allies abet scattered who'd be willing to aid in the efforts of getting you home, but the possibility of a lack of energy to draw from once there could very well exist. Allowing you to leave without any offer to aid in a return is simple a poor decision. Alien you might be, and while I want you gone, I am not so callous."

Castor pursed his lips, eyes closing as he thought.
"A fair enough reason of my offer. Still, relative to how many senshi gathering energy for the portal to the rift, how many gathering energy would be necessary to ensure a safe voyage for you and, worst case scenario, a return." Pragmatic, he huffed.
"Your knowledge would do us no good if you were stuck in deep space."

"Asking for help or for more power isn't greedy or foolish Caedus. If senshi or knights would rather you away not to return, they are shortsighted and ignorant of their own position. I might want you gone, but even I understand you're too valuable an asset to us to risk cutting off completely. You do not control destiny or fate anymore than I do."

Castor paused, hand cupping his chin in thought. If the alien had gathered only half the energy needed in a years time, it would be a long while before he'd manage to make it off of earth let alone return.

"I'll see what I can do by ways of gathering power for your trip and your return. And while I understand you want for optimism?" The royal motioned to the city.

"We once thought our situation was isolated, that we were not the lone center for those of order, but we were wrong, and now we face the price of our ignorance. Optimism is good, but not when it blinds to the reality or the possible outcomes."