At the start of the next moon, You wake up and start to move towards the cardinals' room as Seraphine speaks to You.

Seraphine: It still doesn't feel real, to be honest… So many people have come back after we thought they were gone. I don't know what to say about it all, but… I don't think this is the sort of thing that really requires words. We should just be given the chance to enjoy finally being back together. This war has taught us a lot about how precious life is, and I don't want to let anyone go now that we finally have them back. I'm sure that you feel the same way.

You nod your agreement.

Seraphine: Let's go and see what the Golden Deer have figured out about our next move.

You nod once again as You arrive at the cardinals' room. The Golden Deer are gathered in the room when You walk inside.

Raithius: Hey, Professor. We're all here, so we might as well get this meeting started.

Lev: Where are the others? I would have at least expected for Lady Aisa to join us…

Novalee: Everyone else has volunteered to start searching for information about Bazler.

Wolfgang: The search to find Julius Origo isn't going all that well quite yet, so I'm glad that we have something else to do.

Cedric: Bazler was the one who ordered the invasion on the monastery last moon, yes?

Wolfgang: Yeah. He and the Canis Mafia have been allied for a long time, and when everyone got sick of me working with Raithius, they went running back to him. Either that or he was able to slide his way under the radar for long enough to get people to work for him. It doesn't matter all that much now.

William: Our first priority needs to be finding and stopping him. I'm sure that he's going to keep attacking us until we're able to finish the battle against him.

Jill: That's what I fear as well. I'm glad to have all the extra people here to help us find him.

Adeline: If all goes well, it'll be easier for us to find him than Raithius' father. After all, he doesn't have nearly the reach or hiding places.

Sofia: I know that I'm certainly looking forward to being able to defeat him after all this time…

Raithius: I'm glad you're so excited for it, because that's going to be our aim in the coming moon. Of course, we're still going to be trying to find my father to end this fighting, but we also need to get rid of Bazler. As long as he's out there, he can plan another attack, and we barely scraped by last time.

Novalee: It would take immense preparation to be ready for another attack of that magnitude. If not for the reinforcements, I doubt we would have figured out a way to win the day.

Jill: The rest of us can focus on making the monastery into a bunker of sorts then. We're going to need to be ready in case he decides to pull anything else. It's best to be safe rather than sorry.

Cedric: That sounds like an incredible idea. I know that Chris and the other members of the rebellion have been searching for Bazler for quite some time leading up to now, so she'd probably know how to find him again.

William: It's good to have everyone back here again… It feels almost like life could get back to normal once all of this is over. The monastery is nowhere near as busy as it once was, but I think it's a step in the right direction.

Lev: I agree that it's a wonderful thing… I know that there's been a lot of heartache these past few years, but we're moving towards normality again after all this time. It's incredible, honestly.

Adeline: First, we're going to have to find a way to find both Raithius' father and Bazler. The war isn't going to end as long as they're still around. Bazler has the Canis Mafia on his side now, and that's not a good thing at all.

Wolfgang: I'm not going to be able to rely on my network of informants anymore. I don't want him to find out what we're searching for. He could become even stronger if he found a way to ally with Raithius' father, and I don't even want to imagine the nightmare that could spawn if the two of them worked together.

Sofia: It's probably a good idea to pull back then… Unless you have any people that you can trust with that sort of sensitive information, we're going to have to search on our own now. It's safer this way, but I don't know when we're going to make any progress.

Wolfgang: Calypso is the only one I'd want to trust with something like this, but I'm not going to put her at risk like that. We'll just have to keep searching. With all of these extra eyes and ears, maybe we'll be able to figure something out.

Lev: I hope so… If we can divide our attention in the coming moon, we should be able to prepare for any potential invasions on the monastery and search for Bazler and Raithius' father. It's all about being careful.

Cedric: I'm sure that you have a plan for making sure that we're able to find out all of this, yes? It seems like something you would take great joy from planning.

Novalee: That's probably because you're right. We did determine a system that would allow us to find out everything we need to know in the coming battle.

Jill: I'm willing to assume that you've already passed out the orders then… Since we're closest to you, we're likely going to be trying to find the truth about Raithius' father, yes?

Novalee: Exactly.

Adeline: I'm ready to get started, to be honest… The sooner that we're able to find him, the sooner we can escape the damn war. I've had more than enough of all this.

Sofia: You aren't the only one… I can't wait to offer a formal greeting to everyone who's come back to the monastery too. Plus, there are a few new faces that I don't remember seeing before.

William: We'll help everything stay in line. You focus on our next task, Raithius. You can trust us.

Raithius: I know I can. I trust you all above everyone else on this continent, and I know that you won't let me down. I'm looking forward to hearing your results in the coming weeks. Until then, this meeting is dismissed. Good luck.

You watch as everyone leaves the cardinals' room. You start back to your room as Seraphine speaks.

Seraphine: I'm willing to bet that Aisa is settled in now. That means that we can ask her about how Janae is doing. We've been distracted with the war all this time, but we can finally afford to take a moment to breathe and see what happened to her… Evenor's dead, so her attack has been avenged, but… I still want to see her with my own eyes.

You nod your agreement and make a mental note to stop by the infirmary as soon as You get the chance to check on how Janae is doing. Seraphine's voice halts its echoes in your mind as You arrive back at your room, and You begin your search of the monastery. You begin by going to the Officers Academy, and You find Florence and Callisto engaged in conversation there.

Florence: It's so nice to have everyone back here again… I wish that we could have met under better circumstances though.

Callisto: We're a few moons late, but it's almost like we were able to hold the reunion festival after all. Who would have guessed?

Florence: I'm glad that it happened though. I was so sure that I wouldn't see some of these people again, but here they are… I don't know if I'll ever stop smiling!

Callisto: Yeah… It shows me that perhaps there's hope after all that's happened, and I've been looking for something to latch onto for years. It's incredible… I just hope that it bears fruit in the end…

You walk into the Blue Lions' classroom and cross paths with Luciana and Adrian.

Adrian: It's been far too long since we last saw each other, Luciana… It's good to know that you're alright.

Luciana: The same to you… In a way, I sort of wish that our class had thought to meet up for a reunion the way that the current generation did.

Adrian: I must admit that I agree… Perhaps we'll be able to plan for that after all of this is over. Ending the war should be our first priority though.

Luciana: I agree completely. I'll be looking forward to seeing how much you've grown over the past five years, Adrian. I'm sure you're an incredible fighter.

Adrian: You're just as kind as always… Good to know some things never change.

You move to the training hall. You find Yuliya standing inside.

Yuliya: The monastery is so busy now… It's good to see that these people haven't died, but it's a bit of whiplash compared to how things were before. I guess it's better than the alternative though… They had better stay safe from here on out…

You also see Wynne in the training hall.

Wynne: I'm really hoping there's not a need for us to defend the monastery again. The fight last time was more than large enough, and I'd like to take a breath for a moment… There's only so much constant battling that someone can take these days, you know?

Finally, You run into Cedric.

Cedric: We've successfully secured the monastery in case of any other attacks. I desperately hope that we don't wind up needing any assistance in fending off the enemy though… We've had to deal with more than enough already, I believe.

You move to the bottom floor of the dorms. You start walking along the row, finding Lev in the area.

Lev: I was so sure that the dead couldn't come back to life, but… Here we are. I know that none of them technically died, but we've seen three people return from what we assumed was destruction. It's so strange… I never would have seen this coming…

You also find Aestlyn and Cassia talking further down the row.

Aestlyn: I'm glad that everyone is back together again… It's like we're students like before.

Cassia: Do you want to go back to those times?

Aestlyn: In all honesty… Yes. I want that more than anything else.

Cassia: In that case, I'm glad you're being given this chance.

Aestlyn: It's good to have all the Blue Lions together here again… I'm sure you feel the same.

Cassia: Yes, I do… It's amazing to see…

You head to the upper floor of dorms, and You find Zelhira speaking with one of the newcomers from the fight. He's a man who appears to be a few years older than You. His name is Liram.

Zelhira: Ah, Professor. It seems I have yet to introduce you. This is Liram von Schlarzer. He's my adopted father, and he's been working with the rebellion in the Empire as of late.

Liram: It's a pleasure to meet you. I've heard a lot about you from Zelhira, and it's a pleasure to see you in person at long last.

Zelhira: He's going to be working with us from here on out.

Liram: I hope that you'll find my skills useful in the coming months.

Zelhira: I'm sure that will be the case… You're an incredible fighter.

Liram: You flatter me far too much…

You also find Polly in the hallway, and she is speaking with an unfamiliar woman who looks quite a bit like her. The newcomer's name is Morgana.

Polly: Professor, I'd like you to meet Morgana. Morgana, this is my professor.

Morgana: It's a pleasure to meet you…

Polly: She's my older sister, and she's going to be acting as the leader of what remains of House Riverbane.

Morgana: Now that Arthur is dead, that duty falls to me… I pray I don't disappoint.

You head back down to the first floor of the monastery. You walk into the greenhouse next, and You find William and Adeline standing together inside.

William: No matter how much we search for him, it seems like Raithius' father always escapes our grasp…

Adeline: We've got to find him sooner or later… I'm sure that we'll be able to figure out what happened to him with time.

William: I hope so… All this searching is starting to get dizzying, and dealing with Bazler on top of that…

Adeline: I understand what you mean. It's beyond exhausting, but… We're making progress, and that's what matters.

You find Herwig standing in the area of the fishing dock after You leave the greenhouse.

Herwig: My younger sister, Erika, disappeared when the war began five years ago… She was found at long last, according to Magnolia. These days, she's taking up residence in Fhirdiad until the war is over. I can't wait to see her again after all this time…

You also find Reese in the area.

Reese: Magnolia said that she wanted me to go back with her after the war is over… She told me that she could really use my help with organizing what's still standing of the country's old structure. I'm sure that will be an interesting task to undertake…

Finally, You encounter Falon, who is standing between the fishing hole and the marketplace.

Falon: Bazler may have escaped his crimes up to this point, but he's not going to be so lucky for much longer. There are many people out there who deserve hell, but he has to be one of the worst… I can't wait to finally catch him.

You head to the dining hall next. You find Kyle and Nora speaking inside.

Kyle: Most of Malice's influence has already been taken out in the other nations. That's a relief to hear.

Nora: I feel the same… Still, it seems as if we can't slack off yet. We have quite a bit of work ahead of us.

Kyle: I know, but… I suppose I'm just excited for this war to finally be over. It feels like we've been fighting for ages.

Nora: That's because we have been… But it will be over soon. That's what we need to focus on most.

You also find Sofia and Illona talking in the dining hall.

Sofia: Now that I know everybody is alright, I can finally take a deep breath…

Illona: You've been worried about others, huh…?

Sofia: Yeah, I have been. I didn't want to think that any of them were hurt.

Illona: How sweet of you…

Sofia: You can't tell me that you've been any different, Lonnie!

Illona: Okay, maybe not… Still, it's sweet to see you like this.

Sofia: Same to you!

Illona: Thanks, Sofia…

Finally, You find Rodain in the area.

Rodain: Everything is starting to change around us… I don't know what the Kingdom is planning on doing next, but many noble houses have fallen, and the future is going to be uncertain for quite some time…

You move to the marketplace next. You find Tuncay standing there.

Tuncay: I'm glad that everybody's back here… For a long time, I didn't think that was going to be happening, but here we are. I don't know what everyone else is planning on doing, but I can say confidently, that Chris is going to have my loyalty for all that she did down in the Empire.

You also find Karim in the marketplace.

Karim: Magnolia turned everything around so quickly after the assassination attempt… I know that she's capable of a lot when she puts her mind to something, but it's still shocking to see such a quick turnaround. That's Magnolia for you though.

You move to the stables next. You find Nesreen there.

Nesreen: I never gave up hope that Lady Aisa was alive, and here she is at long last… Others might have lost faith, but I didn't, and I'm glad that I never gave in. It's so nice to see her here again, safe and sound…

You also find Derric and Niko talking in the stables.

Derric: It's good to know that Lady Aisa is back here at long last… I was worried.

Niko: I was convinced that she had died in the aftermath of the fight five years ago, but it seems not.

Derric: I should have known. She's not the type to fall before anyone, especially not Malice.

Niko: She is an incredibly powerful woman… This is such an incredible relief…

Derric: And she's going to be there to help us change everything from here on out.

Niko: Exactly. The future sure is going to be something special…

You move to the knights' hall. There, You find Cordelia and Kaeta engaged in conversation.

Kaeta: Captain Torryn! It's so good to see you again!

Cordelia: You too, Kaeta. I'm glad to see that you've grown up.

Kaeta: I've wanted to follow in your footsteps all this time, and I was going to have to step up my game if I wanted to do that.

Cordelia: Aw… You're just as much of a sweet little rascal as always, I see.

Kaeta: Rascal? Me? You must be mistaken.

Cordelia: Damn… I really did miss you. It's really good to see you again, Kaeta.

You also find Piers in the knights' hall.

Piers: Everyone's back just like how they were five years ago… Even if there are just as many people here, the monastery feels so empty. I'm sure that you know what I mean… The war has hurt a lot of people, to say the least.

You move to the entrance hall next. Once there, You find Hegias standing alone.

Hegias: The Knights of Seiros defeated Evenor… I don't know what to say… There's too much on my mind for me to properly express it right now, but I… I think I'm going to need some time alone to process all of this…

You also find Aquillus in the area.

Aquillus: My younger brother and sibling are taking up residence in Enbarr until the war is over. It's the safest place for them to be… Still, I wish I could be there for them right now… They're undoubtedly terrified…

You move north to the reception hall. Inside, You find Conrad standing alone.

Conrad: It seems that the rest of the nations are toppling noble houses the same way that we have been. Everything is going to be different from here on out, but I don't know what it's going to mean…

You encounter Roy next.

Roy: I spent ages searching for Lady Aisa, and I only found her by pure luck. Still, I'm glad that I did. She was hesitant to return to the monastery, but I'm relieved I was able to convince her. She really has changed in the past five years…

You move to the graveyard near the cathedral, and You find Miriam there.

Miriam: With the return of Lady Aisa, there's a chance that the Church of Seiros is going to rise once again. I don't know what it's going to mean for the future, but I can say that it gives me an awful feeling…

You go to the cathedral, and You find Magnolia standing inside.

Magnolia: I wish that I had been able to help you and Raithius out sooner, but at least I was able to come and help out now. I've really missed you all, and it's good to see that you're all still doing alright.

You also find Wolfgang and Calypso engaged in conversation.

Wolfgang: The betrayal of the Canis Mafia… I'm going to kill Bazler for this.

Calypso: This is one of about a thousand reasons to go after him. You're not going to be the only one out for blood.

Wolfgang: I know that, but I'm still tired of him. My father might have been willing to work with him, but that doesn't apply to me at all.

Calypso: We'll just have to keep searching for him then.

Wolfgang: Yeah… I guess so.

You move to Abyss now that your business on the first floor of the monastery has been finished. You find Ernst and Magnus speaking inside of the library, your first destination.

Ernst: I'm glad that Eli and Quinn are finally back here…

Magnus: Everybody's been panicking since they left. Those two help a lot more than they realize.

Ernst: Maybe life will go back to something akin to normal… We won't be able to say for sure yet though.

Magnus: We'll just have to give it some time then.

Ernst: Yeah… Patience is a virtue, after all…

You enter the Wilting Rose Inn next. There, You find Taiyin.

Taiyin: With all of these people being on the run, you would expect to hear something about them here in Abyss, but we haven't gotten any notable information. It's a shame, but there's nothing we can do to change it… We'll simply have to keep looking.

You also run into Saias in the tavern.

Saias: I hope that we're able to catch Bazler soon… Gabriel has been so stressed ever since hearing that he's still out there. I don't know what could be bothering him so much, but it's worrisome…

You move to Burrow Street. You find Gabriel standing near one of the vendors.

Gabriel: I don't know where Bazler is hiding, but I want to find him and end his pathetic life. It's the least that we can do in the name of all those he's made suffer. What a miserable, sad little man…

You also find Grey in the area.

Grey: I know I'm looking forward to seeing what the Empire does from here on out. I know that nobility has been tied to the existence of Adrestia ever since it was created, and it's strange to think that it's being let go of so suddenly…

You head to Chrysalis Row. You find Tsubasa standing in the hall there.

Tsubasa: Bazler is the master of all underground crime rings… He has influence in all of them. He's probably trying to use his reach to escape us, but he isn't going to get away with it. We're going to catch him, and when we do, he's going to suffer.

Next, You make your way to the Ashen Wolves' classroom. Inside, You find Eli and Quinn speaking.

Eli: Quinn and I have been doing a lot to try and find out the truth behind Abyss' invasion five years ago.

Quinn: We were able to take care of those responsible at long last, and we believe that Abyss will be safe from here on out.

Eli: Everyone missed us while we were gone, but at least we were able to keep them safe.

Quinn: Besides, we won't be leaving anymore, and that's what matters most.

Finally, You move to the Pagan Altar. Ansel stands before the podium by himself.

Ansel: Bazler is so damn frustrating… I don't know who gave him the idea that it was alright for him to act this way, but I'm going to have to kill him for it, and I bet a lot of people feel the same way. The real battle will be over who gets to strike the killing blow.

You head to the second floor of the monastery. You head to the audience chamber, encountering Chris when You arrive.

Chris: After the Battle of Garreg Mach, I went into hiding alongside Polly. We worked in the shadows to free the Empire from Argades' control. The story is long-winded and complex, but we got it done. I simply wish we had been able to catch Bazler before everything spiraled to this degree…

You move to the infirmary next, finding Aisa and Jill inside. They are standing over the sleeping form of Janae. Note: this scene will play out before You go to sleep for the night if You do not come across it naturally.

Jill: Ah, Professor… You're here to check on Janae, I see.

You nod.

Aisa: She's been improving, but the injury she suffered from was still grave…

Jill: Evenor's been taken care of now, so she's been avenged. I'm sure that will be a relief for when she wakes up.

Aisa: I pray that she is alright when she does… After all, she has been unconscious for the past five years…

You promise to look after her as soon as she awakens.

Jill: That's good to hear. I know you two were close before she was attacked.

Aisa: I am sure that she would love that, Professor…

Jill: If anything happens, we'll be sure to update you as soon as possible.

You thank her for such.

Aisa: You are welcome… Feel free to enjoy the remainder of your day. We will take care of her.

Finally, You move to the cardinals' room, finding Raithius and Novalee inside.

Raithius: Thanks to Magnolia and Chris being back, we're going to be able to expand our reach significantly.

Novalee: As soon as Bazler or your father appears, they're going to be spotted, and everything will be one step closer to over.

Raithius: You have no idea how excited I am for this… I mean, the idea of fighting my father is twisted, but with Bazler… Oh, I'm going to enjoy this.

Novalee: You won't be the only one. Everyone else has been discussing it the same way.

Raithius: He deserves what's coming to him…

Novalee: That might be an understatement…

With your exploration finished, You decide to go to sleep for the night.

Seraphine: Seeing everyone here truly is a joy… I was so sure that we would never be able to go back to how everything was before, but here we are. It's beautiful.

You say that You feel the same way.

Seraphine: We have a lot to deal with right now between the search for Julius Origo and Bazler… On top of that, we need to be ready in case one of them decides to plan an invasion on the monastery. I'm sure that we'll be able to take whatever they try to throw at us, but I still think it would be best to be safe rather than sorry.

You agree with her sentiments.

Seraphine: I really hope that we can find something soon though… After all, everybody is gathered here again. That means that they could plan to form peace after this is finished. The sooner we're able to end the war, the better. I know that these kids have had their youth stolen from them, but… They deserve to at least enjoy the last little bit of innocence they have.

You remark on how tragic it is that the war has stolen so much.

Seraphine: I feel the same… I hope that Raithius' father is proud of himself, because he's hurt a lot of people. Then again, that appears to be his point… But that doesn't make it any better. For now though, I guess we should stop talking and head to sleep. I'll see you in the morning.

Seraphine's talking stops, and You lay down for the night. You close your eyes, still filled with hope from the revelation that so many of your old companions are alive. You know that everyone is going to be working hard to find the truth behind where Raithius' father vanished to, and You are firm in your decision that Bazler will not be escaping his crimes. You drift into slumber soon afterwards, wondering what You will be doing next. You pray silently for the war to reach its conclusion as soon as possible, wondering distantly if the goddess is listening to your nighttime pleas…


Chapter twenty-one is here!

-Digital