At the start of the next moon, You wake up, and Seraphine speaks to You.

Seraphine: This is where the official search begins… I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to potentially having a bit of a break before the next fight. We can't afford to wait for too long, but it feels as if we haven't had the chance to catch our break since before all of this started.

You say that You agree.

Seraphine: Let's see if they've received any updates in the search. I know I'm looking forward to hearing what's been happening since we last met up.

You nod as Seraphine stops speaking. You move to the cardinals' room, and the rest of the Golden Deer are already there when You arrive.

Raithius: Alright, everyone's here now. How about we get the meeting started?

Lev: Have we found any clues so far about where your father could be?

Novalee: So far, our search has come up short. We're going to keep looking though.

Wolfgang: This meeting is going to primarily discuss what I've learned, actually. I know it's not what you expected, but that's what you're going to get.

William: I suppose this means that you've learned something new and important then…

Wolfgang: You caught me. I've gotten more updates from Faerghus and Adrestia. I'll start with Faerghus since we've been thinking about Magnolia quite a bit on the down low since what happened with her a few moons ago. She's managed to take care of most of the Malice influence in the territory.

Sofia: She sure does work quickly… Then again, I suppose that we really did clear up the path for her by taking out House Goneril.

Jill: If she's been able to take care of Faerghus, then maybe she's finally going to be offering us her assistance soon.

Wolfgang: As a matter of fact, I've heard rumors that say that she'll be offering us her aid soon. Of course, these are only rumors right now, so it would be best not to get too caught up in believing them, but it's something to note.

Adeline: I know that we could certainly use the assistance… She could help us look if our target escaped across the Alliance border.

Cedric: We'll just need to get help in Adrestia if we're really getting Magnolia's aid soon… Speaking of, you said that you had heard something new from the Empire, yes?

Wolfgang: I did, yeah… Everything's been coming together at long last down there, but we still don't know who the leader of the rebellion is. I hope that you weren't trying to ask about who's behind the resistance, because I don't know.

Raithius: Still, the point is that the Empire is officially entering a new era… It's odd to think of, but I guess that a lot has been changing while we've been focusing on our next step all this time.

Novalee: I'm going to send a message out to Enbarr to see what's going on then. We could use some extra eyes in the Empire.

Cedric: I'm rather curious as to what we could stand to gain from both sides… Of course, any help is appreciated, but I'm sure that they'll be able to aid us in different ways.

William: All we can do is wait and see what happens next. Is there anything else that we should hear about, Wolfgang?

Wolfgang: I'm afraid not. Like I said, we haven't found any clues regarding the activity of the Malice leader… Wait! I almost forgot!

Adeline: Why do I have the sneaking suspicion that we aren't going to like whatever you're about to tell us…?

Wolfgang: Probably because you are going to hate it… The Empire has been taken under new control, yes, but there is one person who has evaded captivity…

Jill: Of course… Nothing ever works out perfectly, so there has to be some crack in the armor…

Wolfgang: Thaddeus Bazler has managed to avoid being taken into Imperial hands. We don't know where he is.

Sofia: Great… Of all the people to still be out there, it just had to be him… I wonder where he could even be.

Lev: That's rather worrying to hear about, but there isn't much we can do to try and find him right now. We have our own priorities.

Wolfgang: Yeah. As much as I hate to say it, we really aren't going to be able to find him unless we get lucky. It would be best for us to stay on track and hope that perhaps the Empire is able to figure out where he disappeared to.

Raithius: If we cross paths with him on the way, we'll take him out. After all, even if he isn't directly in our path, he's someone that's been at the top of my hated people list for quite some time.

William: I can't tell if I want to see him so that we can get rid of him or avoid him for the sake of our safety… Either way, we had best stay focused on the task at hand.

Sofia: I agree… There's still a lot for us to take care of, and I don't think we should let ourselves get too caught-up in thinking about him.

Adeline: I'm sure that we'll hear news about him sooner or later, and when we do, we'll know what to do about him.

Wolfgang: I agree completely. That's all that I have to tell you this time around, so I guess the meeting is ending there.

Novalee: Raithius and I are going to keep looking around to see if we can find a way to track down his father. If we find anything noteworthy, we'll be sure to let you all know.

Jill: Thank you. Let's get going, everyone. We don't want to bother them any longer than we have to.

Cedric: Of course… Good luck to you both. If you need anything, all you need to do is call on us.

Lev: Exactly… Well, I'll see you all later on then. We'll be looking forward to hearing any updates from you two.

The Golden Deer leave the area, and You head back to your room as Seraphine speaks to You.

Seraphine: The news about Bazler still being out there bothers me… I don't like the idea of him still being able to wander around the world, but I suppose there's nothing for us to do about it right now.

You say that You feel the same.

Seraphine: For now, I suppose we should make our rounds here in the monastery. I'm sure that the good news is bound to spread quickly… With that said, let's get right into it.

You nod as Seraphine's voice fades from your mind. You begin your exploration of the monastery soon afterwards. You start by going to the Officers Academy, and You find Callisto in the courtyard.

Callisto: The system of nobles in the Empire has been eliminated… I never thought I'd see the day something like that happened, and yet, here we are. I don't know what I'm supposed to think about it, but… I suppose I don't need to think about it yet. We've still got work to do here.

You move next to the training hall. Inside, You find Kaeta speaking with Nesreen.

Kaeta: We're supposed to be getting eyes in both Faerghus and Adrestia soon. Doesn't that sound great?

Nesreen: It would give us a stronger possibility of finding out where Lady Aisa disappeared to…

Kaeta: Chin up, Nesreen! I'm sure that everything is going to work out in the end!

Nesreen: Yeah… Alright.

Kaeta: Deny my optimism all you want, but it would do you some good to think positively every once in a while.

Nesreen: Sure… I'll keep that in mind, I suppose.

You also find Yuliya and Derric engaged in conversation.

Derric: It's been a while since we've had the chance to hear more about what the rest of the Knights of Seiros are doing, huh?

Yuliya: You act like that's a bad thing… I suppose that they can do whatever they want. It doesn't matter to me.

Derric: Still, it would be nice to catch up with Captain Torryn…

Yuliya: Maybe.

Derric: I hope things are going well with her… She's still searching for Lady Aisa as far as I know.

Yuliya: I don't know why she's bothering, but I suppose I can't stop her…

Derric: I'm sure she's doing okay… That's what I'm telling myself, anyways…

You leave the training hall and head to the bottom floor of dorms. You encounter Falon in the area.

Falon: I'm looking forward to seeing Magnolia again… I hope that nothing stops her from coming out to see us this time. I know that I've been missing her, and I want to make sure that she's doing alright… A lot has happened.

Further down the row of dorms, You cross paths with Adeline.

Adeline: Knowing that my brother is in Derdriu is already making me feel a lot better. He's never been great at fighting due to how sickly he is… After the war ends, I want to introduce you to him properly. He's really nice, and I think you'd like him.

Near the staircase to the second floor of dorms, You see Adrian.

Adrian: Nobility isn't something that we have in Brigid, so when I first came here, it was odd to think about. However, I've learned a lot about it since my arrival, and Adrestia has depended on it for ages… I don't know what's coming next now that it's gone.

On the second floor of the dorms, You find Illona standing alone.

Illona: I hope that there's nothing to get in the way of Magnolia coming to see us this time around… It sounds like she's really come into her own, and I want to see that for myself. It's been too long since I last saw her.

You go back downstairs and enter the nearby greenhouse. You find Wolfgang standing inside while speaking to Calypso.

Wolfgang: I really thought that Bazler would be easier to track, but… He's just out of reach.

Calypso: Even with your influence, he's on the run… Perhaps he knows that you've turned on him.

Wolfgang: Still, I doubt he would be able to completely escape my grasp. It's beyond a fool like him.

Calypso: Underestimating him doesn't seem like a good idea, Wolfgang. Be careful, would you? For once in your life.

Wolfgang: You don't have enough faith in me, Calypso… I'm always careful.

Calypso: Yeah, sure… And the sky is yellow. Nice going.

Wolfgang: Ouch. Feisty, aren't we?

Calypso: Only because of you…

You move to the fishing hole. You see Zelhira standing on the edge of the dock looking out at the water.

Zelhira: The nobility has been dismantled… I know that my father was on the side of the rebellion, but I still don't know what to think of all this. Nobles have done more good than bad, yes, but… I'm worried about my father. I hope he's alright…

You also find Nora in the area of the fishing hole.

Nora: I hate the idea of someone like Bazler still being out there… I don't know how he was able to get away, but the second I see him, he's going to wish that he was dead already… It's the least he deserves after all of his crimes.

You move to the marketplace. You find Sofia and Conrad talking once You arrive.

Sofia: I guess that you've heard everything is finally calming down, right?

Conrad: Yeah… I don't know what we're going to be doing after this is over though.

Sofia: I'm sure we'll be able to figure something out. I've got to look after you and all that.

Conrad: You don't even have a plan? Why am I not surprised…?

Sofia: You have no faith in me, Conrad. I'll figure something out. Promise.

Conrad: That's not a plan, but… Fine. I trust you.

You also find Jill in the area.

Jill: It's good to know that we're going to have some time to rest before our next major battle, but I still don't think we should relax too much. You never know what could happen… Anything could change in the blink of an eye.

You head to the dining hall next. Inside, You see Aestlyn.

Aestlyn: The Crest of Noa is nearly gone from the continent now with the fall of House Admoderor… I don't know exactly what I should think about that, but I can't get it out of my mind… Maybe I'm just feeling melancholy. Who can say for sure?

You also find William in the dining hall.

William: Lord Bazler escaped after our mission in his territory five years ago too… I have to wonder what he's doing now. It sends a shiver up my spine, to be honest. He's capable of so many terrible things. I hope he's brought to justice soon.

You move to the entrance hall. Inside, You cross paths with Herwig.

Herwig: The future of the Empire is undoubtedly going to be different from here on out. So much has changed in a short period of time, and I'm incredibly curious about what's coming next. I suppose only time will be able to tell what the future holds…

You also find Florence in the entrance hall.

Florence: I wonder if the rest of the continent will follow the example of Adrestia… I mean, a lot of noble houses have been knocked out already by our work here, and I bet the same has happened in Faerghus. That would be quite the change, hm?

You run into Cassia in the area last.

Cassia: I'm not sure how my family is doing in Faerghus, but I don't think I particularly care to find out either… A lot has happened in these past few moons, and I trust Magnolia to keep everything there under control.

You move into the reception hall next. You see Niko standing alone inside.

Niko: I'm sure that all that has taken place recently will be in the history books for generations to come. Everything is changing around us, and as scary as that is, it's interesting too… Imagine the possibilities of this new world we're creating. They're infinite… It's amazing in a strange way.

On the other side of the hall, You find Karim.

Karim: I'm glad that Magnolia has been able to bounce back, but I'm still a bit concerned about her… Then again, I suppose there isn't much I can do until she finds the chance to meet up with us. This lack of activity from her is already bothering me though.

You go to the stables. You find Hegias standing in the area.

Hegias: I don't know what to think of all this sudden change, but I can say for sure that it's dizzying to imagine… How much can the world shift beneath your feet in one lifetime? I would expect that we've seen more than enough.

You head to the knights' hall next. You find Wynne inside.

Wynne: House Admoderor always rested on the border between Almyra and Leicester… Maybe relations between the two countries will change with the fall of House Admoderor. I suppose that's up to Raithius now.

You also run into Rodain in the knights' hall.

Rodain: The loss of nobility in Adrestia is a surprising move… After all, that was the nation to establish the system of nobles serving the ruler. I wonder what is set to replace it… I'm sure whatever it winds up being will be interesting.

You head to the cathedral next. You find Kyle on the bridge into the area.

Kyle: Magnolia pulling everything together so quickly seems like a miracle… Then again, I suppose we shouldn't be surprised. She's always been capable of incredible things. If you blink, you're bound to miss something with her.

You run into Miriam inside the cathedral itself.

Miriam: If the Kingdom has truly changed so much, I wonder what this could mean for the future… There is a lot to reform at this point, and it's a great task for one queen to take on. We'll simply have to see how she handles it.

You also find Cedric in the cathedral.

Cedric: I can't stop thinking about the search for Julius Origo… The sooner we can find him, the sooner everything will draw to a close, but at the same time… I don't know. We're in a strange state of limbo right now, and it's already grating on my nerves…

Finally, You cross paths with Piers.

Piers: The loss of nobility really doesn't seem like such a terrible thing. You're hearing this from an outsider's perspective, but I don't think that they've accomplished all that much over the years. Feel free to call me pessimistic, but that's simply my opinion.

You decide to head into Abyss before moving upstairs. You head to the library first and find Grey standing inside.

Grey: I come from a fallen noble house within the Empire, you know… Granted, it crumbled many years ago, and I don't think that it would have ever lasted to this point, but… I suppose it's just ironic to me how everything fell apart for everyone else too.

You also find Ernst in the library.

Ernst: Before the nobility system was established, this continent was ruled over by the goddess and her children. Without a figure of that magnitude, I wonder how the government will function… Then again, I suppose that's the job of the rebellion to think about. I'll leave it in their hands.

Next, You walk into the Wilting Rose Inn. You find Ansel inside.

Ansel: Nobility falling apart… Hmph. I can't say that I'm too disappointed. This was bound to happen eventually. Everyone was walking on sticks, and that's been the case for as long as anyone can remember. This is a victory in my eyes.

You also find Magnus in the area.

Magnus: I was never a fan of the idea that placed some people above others simply by birth. It simply didn't sit well with me… Perhaps that's a personal issue. Either way, it rings true. Now, I suppose my wish for equality has come true. How intriguing.

You move to Burrow Street. You find Gabriel alone on the road.

Gabriel: The escape of Bazler bothers me for many reasons… I don't think I could ever get through them completely in this lifetime. I pray that he's caught and prosecuted for his countless crimes. He deserves that at the very least… What an aggravating man.

You head to Chrysalis Row next. You find Saias standing in his room by himself.

Saias: So much is changing everywhere… Each country is acting as its own machine right now. We helped out the Kingdom once, but that's all we've seen as far as interaction between the nations. I can't tell if that's for the best or not, but… It's certainly happening.

You walk to the Ashen Wolves' classroom. Inside, You find Taiyin.

Taiyin: I don't know about you, but I'm certainly enjoying the idea of everything being almost over. I feel like I'm going to jump out of my skin at every moment during this war. What a headache… Please, let us catch that man as soon as possible…

Finally, You go to the Pagan Altar. Tsubasa stands in front of it silently.

Tsubasa: The rebellion in the Empire has come a long way… They had best know what to do next though. This is a dangerous balance they're in right now, and if it falls down, everyone will feel the consequences… Not even Raithius could prepare for something like that.

You move to the second floor of the monastery. In the audience chamber, You find Aquillus standing alone.

Aquillus: I've been trying to find out what is happening with my siblings in the Empire… I pray that they're safe. It's difficult to learn what two young people are doing in Adrestia these days though. May they be alright wherever they are…

You find Reese sitting in his room.

Reese: When we meet up with Magnolia, I know I'm going to have a few questions for her… She's done a lot, and I want to hear what she's accomplished from her own lips. Perhaps it's a personal matter, but I'm not giving up until I get the full story.

You head to the library next. Lev stands by himself inside.

Lev: Everyone was so upset last moon after we figured out who the culprit behind everything was, but… Spirits have swung so dramatically since then. The knowledge that we might finally be free of this hell is making everyone feel better. I simply hope that it winds up being true…

You move to the commons' room. Tuncay is waiting for You within.

Tuncay: I've hated nobles from the very beginning just like everyone from my village… The system is corrupted and flawed by nature. I know I'm going to be more than happy to go home knowing that it's all gone now. Whoever did this most certainly has my approval.

Finally, You walk into the cardinals' room. Raithius and Novalee are engaged in a deep discussion regarding the search for Julius Origo.

Raithius: You know, I was once proud to have gotten my scheming tactics from my father… These days, I just think of it as frustrating.

Novalee: We haven't found anything from him yet, but we can't give up hope. We've still got a lot of ground to cover, and he's going to turn up.

Raithius: You always know just what to say to cheer me up, Nova.

Novalee: Plus, you can be just as much of a thorn in his side as soon as we figure out where he is and what he's doing.

Raithius: And you just proved my point again! Thanks a lot.

Novalee: You're welcome, Raith. Now, let's keep searching.

Raithius: Of course, my lady.

With your search of the monastery finished, You head back to your room.

Seraphine: It doesn't seem like there have been any updates on the search yet… I suppose that's to be expected given that they haven't had a long time to look, but I'm still getting antsy. This might be our chance to hang back from the fighting, but that's not helping my nerves in the slightest. I feel so weirdly jumpy today.

You say that You understand her nerves.

Seraphine: I guess that's a relief… Still, there's nothing we can do to find out more about where he disappeared to right now. Let's call it a night, okay?

You nod your agreement and settle down for the evening. Seraphine stops speaking to You, leaving You alone with the silence and your own thoughts. You wonder about if Magnolia will truly be willing to provide your party aid, and You find yourself curious about the events taking place in the Empire. You pray that Bazler does not become an issue in the future, but You know that there is no way to keep him at bay until he is found. When You fall asleep, your slumber is dreamless, but You still cannot help your curiosity regarding the future even in sleep…


Chapter twenty has arrived!

-Digital