At the start of the next moon, You make your way to the cardinals' room. Seraphine speaks to You as You move across the monastery.

Seraphine: It seems like this is going to be it… We had best spend our time getting ready this moon. After all, this is going to be the end of everything that we've been working towards all this time.

You nod your agreement. When You arrive, You find the Golden Deer waiting for You.

Raithius: Well… We're here, and it seems as if everything is about to end.

Cedric: We've come so far already, and… I believe that we'll be able to do great things after the war is finally over.

Sofia: Still, we have to actually pull off the invasion of Derdriu before we're able to finish it.

Novalee: I've already sent a message back to the capital of the Alliance. The city is being locked down to make sure that nobody gets out. I believe that we'll be able to slide in and take care of everything without any issues.

Jill: That's good to hear… I don't see much of a reason to prolong this meeting though. We've got a lot to prepare for.

Lev: I must agree with Professor Tysera. There's a lot for us to manage for the coming battle, and we need to be ready for it.

William: In that case, I'll see all of you later. I trust that you'll take care of everything that needs to be done.

Adeline: I'm glad we're all in agreement then. I'll talk to you soon.

Wolfgang: Good luck, everyone. Remember to stay out of trouble!

The Golden Deer leave the room, and You are left alone with Raithius and Novalee.

Raithius: You know… I can't help but wonder about everything that's been going on.

Novalee: I believe I know what you mean… You're wondering about your father's motive, aren't you?

Raithius: I am. I know that he's betrayed us, and nothing is going to change that… Still, I have to wonder what it was that pushed him this far. I never would have thought this would happen before he went missing, and yet…

Novalee: I don't know if he'll be receptive to our questions the day of the battle, but we could at least try to get it out of him.

Raithius: It's worth a shot, I suppose. We've got nothing to lose by trying.

Novalee: I'm sure that everything is going to be alright though. Everyone is behind us, and they're not about to back away when everything is so close to being over.

Raithius: You're right… I hope that we're able to get rid of him though. I know that what he's done is awful, but… I'm a bit nervous about facing him in battle.

Novalee: You've been putting up an awfully brave front to the rest of the group.

Raithius: I think I would be able to deal with it better if I had an idea of what sparked this sudden change. He was always so kind to the people of Leicester, and then he went missing… You saw how it all turned out from there.

Novalee: We'll ask him about it the day of the fight. Even if we don't get an answer though, do you think you'll be able to fight with us? Everyone is going to be looking to you for leadership.

Raithius: I believe I'll be able to… Even if I'm not fond of the idea, I know that this is the only way to end everything. Besides, I may not have an idea of his motives, but I know for sure that our reasons behind fighting are pure. We want to get rid of him and help the people who have been left to suffer. That's enough for me.

Novalee: You know that fighting against him is right, but you're worried that you might back out at the last minute. That's what's going on here, yes?

Raithius: Yes, but… I'm determined to get through it. The future is waiting for us, and I'm not going to deny it when we're so close because of personal qualms. You, Sofia, and Adeline have already been forced to fight against family, and you didn't have a choice. I can't back out when I'm in the same situation.

Novalee: It means that we all understand how you're feeling and what you're going through. You can come to us if something is bothering you.

Raithius: You're right. Thanks, Nova. I guess we should start the final preparations now.

Novalee: That would be for the best, yes. I believe that we'll be able to take care of everything perfectly fine when we're working together.

Raithius: I bet my doubts will go away the instant we start actually moving. That means we should get to it, so let's start looking around.

Raithius: Professor, could you do one last check on everyone in the monastery? I want to make sure they're all prepared for this coming battle. We don't want anyone backing out at the last second, and you bring out the best in people, so you're the perfect person to do it as far as I'm aware.

You nod and say that You would be glad to.

Novalee: Thank you. Now, Raithius… Let us begin.

You leave the cardinals' room, and Seraphine speaks to You as You move back to your bedroom.

Seraphine: You know… I'm proud of how far they've all come. I know that we've been thinking about this a lot as of late, but it's true. Raithius is growing into a fine leader, and I'm proud that he's able to push past his personal reservations to take care of business.

You say that You are going to be there for him each step of the way since he is fighting against his father.

Seraphine: Yeah. Fighting against family can't be easy… It's not like we would know that given that our past is still a mystery, but… It still applies. Now, let's go and check up on everyone like he asked. I'm sure that everyone is prepared for this fight, but it never hurts to make sure morale is high.

You nod your agreement as You arrive back at your room. From there, You move to the Officers Academy to begin your sweep of the monastery. You find Nora and Aestlyn speaking in the courtyard of the Officers Academy.

Nora: The war is set to end within the next moon… After more than five years of hell, we're finally going to be free.

Aestlyn: So many people have died for the peace that we have now… I don't want to waste it at all.

Nora: We're going to make a world that they would be proud of. It's the least we can do to honor their memories.

Aestlyn: You're right… I hope that my parents are watching us now… I wish I could have done something more to help them.

Nora: I'm positive they're proud of you, Aestlyn.

Aestlyn: Thank you, Nora… Thank you.

You cross paths with Conrad and Sofia in the classroom of the Golden Deer.

Sofia: So, the war is almost over… I guess that pleads the question of what you're going to be doing next.

Conrad: I… I think I want to see our mother again. It's been far too long since I got the chance to see her.

Sofia: I'm sure she'd be happy to see you one more time… She really missed you after the split happened, you know.

Conrad: I missed her too.

Sofia: She's going to be really happy to hear that… I'll set things up. How does that sound?

Conrad: Perfect. Thanks, Sofia.

Sofia: You're welcome, Conrad.

You move to the training hall. Inside, You find Kaeta and Cordelia engaged in conversation.

Cordelia: After the war ends, we're going to have to do something about the Knights of Seiros… They've been in disarray for so long.

Kaeta: I want to help you out. It's the least I can do after all that you've done to help me out.

Cordelia: Thanks, Kaeta… I'm going to reserve a position for you in the new Knights of Seiros for sure.

Kaeta: I won't let you down, Captain!

Cordelia: You never could…

You also find Miriam and Yuliya in the training hall.

Miriam: Bazler and all those who associated with him are finally dead… Tch. It took long enough.

Yuliya: So many people suffered under his influence between his own ring and the Canis group… What a pathetic man.

Miriam: He's gone now, and that's what matters… If he had a grave, I would spit on it.

Yuliya: You're not the only one…

You move next to the lower floor of dorms. You speak with Polly and Morgana once there.

Morgana: It's been months since our brother died, but I still don't feel like it's real. I got so used to hating his existence, and knowing that he's dead…

Polly: I don't regret fighting against him, just so that we're clear. And you shouldn't feel bad about it either.

Morgana: I guess I'm just used to hearing about how he's the superior one out of us kids. That's all.

Polly: Not anymore. We're the ones who are changing the world for the better, and he was just a pile of trash made human. We deserve this.

Morgana: Yeah… You're right. We do… And… I'm glad he's gone.

Polly: You're not the only one.

You also encounter Florence and Callisto further down the row.

Florence: Derdriu is on lockdown now, and all we can do is get ready for the final battle…

Callisto: After this, we'll be able to go home and be hailed as war heroes.

Florence: It feels like we're too young to receive that praise though…

Callisto: Yeah… In a way… I guess we are.

You move to the second floor of dorms. There, You find Aquillus speaking with Zelhira.

Aquillus: I can't believe the war is really almost over… There's still so much for us to do.

Zelhira: I want to know why the former archduke of the alliance betrayed everyone who had ever trusted him.

Aquillus: I feel the same, but we can't forget our mission.

Zelhira: You're right… We're going to end the war soon. I promise.

You also find Liram in the area.

Liram: Zelhira really has grown up since she first came here… She barely ever wanted to speak to me before she decided to come to Garreg Mach, but she's come into her own and opened up to me along the way. I don't know what to say about it, but… I'm proud of how far she's come.

You return to the main floor of the monastery and move to the greenhouse. You find Nesreen standing inside.

Nesreen: The Church of Seiros has been left as a shadow of its former self because Lady Aisa was gone for so long. It's hard to say what they're going to be doing next, but… I'm going to stay here each step of the way. That's a promise.

You find Herwig standing on the edge of the fishing dock.

Herwig: The entire continent is shifting beneath our feet… This is going to be a moment for the history books. For generations, our children are going to be speaking about what happened these past few years… For better or worse.

You also find Illona and Cassia together in the area of the fishing hole.

Illona: So, Cassia… What are you planning on doing after the war is over?

Cassia: I'm going to keep fighting with the Knights of Seiros. With or without the church, I belong with them.

Illona: I see… I'm glad to see that you're so confident.

Cassia: What about you?

Illona: I'm not sure, but… I hope to figure it out soon.

Cassia: Good luck, Illona.

Illona: Thanks.

You move to the dining hall next. Inside, You find Cedric speaking with Adeline.

Cedric: Raithius has been putting on a brave face, but I can tell that he's not liking the idea of fighting his father.

Adeline: I don't think that anybody would want to be in his position right now, honestly.

Cedric: I know for sure that I'm glad to not be in his shoes… I can't imagine what he's going through.

Adeline: But we're going to pull him through it. It's what we've always done, and we're going to do it again.

Cedric: You're right… We can do this.

Adeline: He can count on us.

You also find Piers in the area.

Piers: The Church of Seiros is going to need to take time to reconstruct itself after this… Who can say how many people will return to it? After all, it's been gone for so long… We'll simply have to see.

Finally, You run into Taiyin in the dining hall.

Taiyin: With Eli and Quinn back, Abyss is returning to the way it was before. I doubt it'll ever fully return to how things were before we were invaded five years ago, but… We're making progress, and that's what matters.

You move to the marketplace. There, You encounter Niko and Derric, who are engaged in conversation.

Niko: The war is finally going to end…

Derric: I believe that we owe it to everyone to finish this conflict.

Niko: Yeah… Our parents were heavily involved in how everything started.

Derric: Even if they're gone, we have a lot to do…

Niko: But we're going to be fine. We've made it this far, right?

Derric: Right… It'll be fine. I'm sure of it.

You also find Saias in the marketplace.

Saias: I heard that the Kingdom has been changing lots… Magnolia has been trying to alter public opinion of Albinea after Faerghus and Albinea were at war for so long. It's good to see… But I have to wonder if the damage will ever truly be undone…

You move to the stables. There, You find Lev and William speaking to one another.

Lev: It's so strange to think that this might be our final fight.

William: It's going to be the end. We have to believe that.

Lev: After spending so long fighting, we're going to be free…

William: I'm starting to wonder if I'll remember how to live on my own after spending so long at war.

Lev: We're going to go back to normal. I'm sure of it.

William: Yeah… I hope so.

You head north to the knights' hall. You find Rodain standing inside.

Rodain: I still don't know what to say about the former archduke being our foe… He was assumed gone for so long, and when he comes back, he's hell bent on the destruction of everything he helped to create… What happened to him?

You also find Wynne in the knights' hall.

Wynne: It's sort of funny how people have been looking down on Almyran culture for years because of how violent it can get… And yet, here we are, fighting in a war because of some people being obsessed with violence. Hm. It's rather ironic if you think about it.

You move to the entrance hall next. There, You find Kyle and Karim speaking.

Kyle: I've gotten too used to seeing people suffer, and I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to look at a wound again without feeling sick.

Karim: I get it. Once you step away from it, going back to seeing a bunch of blood is going to make you feel awful.

Kyle: Exactly. I know that the war is going to end soon, but fighting will always exist… Damn it.

Karim: We can't change that, but we can still do our best to help others. That's significant no matter how you look at it.

Kyle: I guess you're right, but… I don't know. It's just given me a lot to think about.

Karim: Yeah… War tends to do that to you.

You also find Wolfgang and Calypso speaking in the area.

Calypso: What are you going to do after the war ends?

Wolfgang: I don't know. My whole life's purpose of taking out Canis… It's been finished.

Calypso: You could do anything you wanted to. You're pretty close with the archduke as it is.

Wolfgang: I guess that's true, but… I don't know. There's just a lot for me to think about.

Calypso: Hm… Such is the way of life, I guess.

Wolfgang: I'm sure I'll figure something out though… And maybe I'll stick by you the whole way through.

Calypso: Somebody has to keep you out of trouble…

Finally, You find Falon and Luciana together.

Falon: I honestly don't think I would recognize Magnolia if I saw her five years ago. She's grown up so much.

Luciana: I feel the same. I've been with her ever since she came back from the monastery, and she's developed into a fine young woman. I'm proud of her.

Falon: I'm sure that she knows that she's done a lot, but… Wow. Sometimes, I just feel the need to tell her again.

Luciana: I understand… You've grown up a lot too… I'm sorry it had to be this way.

Falon: It's alright… You couldn't have changed this. None of us could have.

You move to the reception hall. Inside, You find Reese.

Reese: The idea of the war ending soon has me antsy to go and see my sister in Fhirdiad… It's been so long since I saw her last, and I don't know what I'm going to say. What can even be said in a situation like this? Maybe words won't work… Silence is effective as well.

You also find Magnolia in the room.

Magnolia: Once the fighting ends, I'm going to be returning to Fhirdiad. I want to help usher in a new era for Faerghus that doesn't run off the suffering of others. I'm tired of seeing people wind up hurt and downtrodden because of the selfishness of a few. No more of that… From now on, it's all about my future, and I'm going to make it a good one.

Finally, You run into Adrian.

Adrian: At long last, I'm going to be able to fulfill my dream of traveling the continent. I've been waiting for the chance to do this for so long, and it's within my grasp. I'm sure that I'll run into many interesting people along the way… And I'm going to do what I can to help those who suffered during the war. It's the least I can do.

On the bridge to the cathedral, You find Hegias and Tuncay speaking.

Tuncay: The Empire has changed so much since we were last suppressing rebellions there five years ago…

Hegias: Bazler is gone, the emperor is dead… It's almost hard to believe that it's the same place after all this time.

Tuncay: If you ask me, this change was for the better. I'm tired of corrupted nobles running the show and stomping on us commoners.

Hegias: I can't blame you… The death of the emperor is still a mystery to most of the continent, but… I think that it's alright. He's gone now, and that's what matters.

Inside the cathedral, You cross paths with Jill.

Jill: Janae is recovering well. She's been doing much better since she first woke up, and I imagine that she'll only continue to get better… Chris came by earlier and said she wanted to speak with her alone though. I wonder what the two of them could have to talk about.

You also find Gabriel in the cathedral.

Gabriel: With Bazler gone, I feel comfortable coming above ground… I don't think I've felt safe doing this in years. My parents are so much less stressed as well. It's like a weight has been lifted from all of our shoulders… It doesn't even seem real.

Finally, You run into Roy.

Roy: It's so nice to come back here again after all this time. The space is just as peaceful as I remember it, and I don't think I'll ever get sick of seeing the light stream in through the windows… After the war ends though, we'll have to take care of the debris from the large statue though…

You decide to head into Abyss before moving to the second floor of the monastery. First, You go to the library, and You find Ansel inside.

Ansel: The war has given us all a routine for the past five years. What are we supposed to do once it's gone? Are we meant to have an answer? I'm not sure, but I guess we'll just have to see how it all plays out. Only time will tell… And I hate that.

You find Tsubasa in the Wilting Rose Inn nearby.

Tsubasa: The fall of the Canis Mafia means that the two largest centers of crime, Bazler and Columbus territories, are freed. This is going to change the rest of the continent too… Who would have expected this turn of events? I always thought both of those groups were invincible, but I suppose not.

You move to Burrow Street next. There, You cross paths with Grey, who is standing alone.

Grey: I can already feel the atmosphere here in Abyss loosening… Canis was a huge cause of people being forced to come here, and it's possible for a few of our residents to leave now. It's sad to see them go, but… I'm glad to see them happy at long last.

Your next destination is the classroom of the Ashen Wolves. Eli and Quinn can be found together inside.

Eli: After the war ends, Abyss is going to be in need of recovery. Still, I suppose it's better than the alternative of everything collapsing beneath us.

Quinn: The residents have been waiting for your judgement for quite some time. It's clear to see that they care about you a lot, Eli.

Eli: Thank you for being so kind, Quinn… I don't know what I would have done all this time without you.

Quinn: It's been a pleasure. I'll continue to stay by your side well after the fighting ends, and that's a promise.

You move to the second floor of the monastery. You first walk into the audience chamber, finding Aisa standing by herself inside.

Next, You walk past the infirmary. Inside, You see Chris and Janae are engaged in conversation.

Chris: I wanted to clarify a few things before the war ended. Is that alright?

Janae: Of course… What is it?

Chris: …I believe that we were already aware of this, but I am not your child. Even though I share a name with the one you care so much for, it isn't me.

Janae: I know… I've found Crescent on my own, believe it or not.

Chris: I'm glad to hear it…

Janae: ...I may not know what happened to your mother, but… If you need anything, feel free to reach out.

Chris: No. I can't do that. My existence took everything from you.

Janae: And yet, it brought me here where I found joy once again. Don't blame yourself for things that are out of your control. I mean it when I say that you can lean on me.

Chris: I… I'll keep it in mind. Thank you.

Janae: You're welcome.

You walk to the library next. You see Magnus standing inside.

Magnus: I'm not sure if I'm looking forward to the monastery seeing further occupation again… It's been so peaceful around here, and the people of Abyss are able to come up here without issues… The library here is incredible, and I don't know if I'm ready to let go of it or not…

You also find Ernst within the library.

Ernst: As much as I appreciate the library in Abyss, the books found here are truly something special. I'm going to have to make more frequent trips up here after the war ends… After all, I believe I have a right to visit this place after working so hard to save it.

Finally, You move to the cardinals' room. There, You find Raithius and Novalee speaking with one another.

Raithius: You know… I've been thinking a lot about what happened to the Stomm family recently.

Novalee: I see… We still don't know the truth of what happened to them or why they fell.

Raithius: I'm hoping that my father will have those answers for me, but… There's no way of saying for sure.

Novalee: I'm sorry this weight is hanging over your head.

Raithius: It's going to be alright though. Answers or no, I'm going to be fine. I've got you and the rest of the Golden Deer with me, after all.

Novalee: I'm glad to hear it.

Raithius: …Thanks for everything, Nova.

Novalee: You're welcome…

With your search of the monastery finished, You decide to return to your room.

Seraphine: The war will be ending soon… All we need to do is hold on for a little bit longer.

You nod and say that You hope answers arise regarding why Julius started the fight in the first place.

Seraphine: I'm sure that it has to do with his disappearance so many years ago, but… We really don't know anything about that. He went missing, and he was declared dead before he could return. Supposedly, that drove him over the edge somehow… Nothing else notable happened in Leicester at the time aside from the massacre of the Stomm family that we heard about five years ago, but we still don't know what that could possibly mean. For all we know, it has nothing to do with this.

You say that You are unsure of what happened back then, but You are determined to find out for Raithius' sake.

Seraphine: He really seems to want to know about why all of this is happening… He took the betrayal so well at the time, but now that he's finally being confronted with the reality of having to fight his father, he's starting to get nervous… To be fair, I can't exactly blame him. I just hope he's able to go through with it when push comes to shove on the battlefield.

You assure Seraphine by saying that You believe in him.

Seraphine: I'm glad to hear it. If you have faith in him, then so do I. Now… How about we catch a bit of sleep? I feel like we're going to need it given that this upcoming battle is the final one… Plus, we have no idea what we're going to be finding out during the fight.

You admit that You have no idea what could have caused the sudden shift in Julius' personality.

Seraphine: There simply isn't enough information… The only person who could possibly answer that question for us is likely the man himself. If his own son doesn't have enough information to go off, then we sure as hell don't. All we can do is wait and hope that it turns out alright. This is going to be an intense battle… I'm just glad that it's happening on home turf for the Alliance.

You nod your agreement.

Seraphine: Now… How about we crash for the night?

You agree and lay down on your bed as Seraphine stops speaking. You wonder again about what could have made Julius change so suddenly and drastically, but You are forced to agree with Seraphine that there simply isn't enough information for the truth to be uncovered. You pray to the goddess and all other higher powers out there that Raithius is able to find the answers that he seeks. Soon afterwards, sleep takes You in its embrace, and You drift away from consciousness…


Only one chapter this week since we're getting closer to the end woo

-Digital