When the next moon begins, You wake up and start to move to the cardinals' room. When You arrive, the Blue Lions are already gathered inside.
Magnolia: It's good to see you, Professor. We were just about to discuss our mission for the coming month.
Luciana: A report has come back from the soldiers that were left behind to investigate the scene of the field that we charged through in our last battle. If everyone is ready, I think we're ready to share our findings.
Falon: Judging by the look on your face, I'm willing to hazard a guess that we found more than we bargained for.
Magnolia: You could certainly say that. We found out that there was indeed an entrance to a set of underground tunnels beneath the ground of the field where our last battle was held, but we haven't been able to move closer quite yet.
Aestlyn: I understand… It's best to not take a risk like that for the time being. We don't know what's waiting there, after all.
Kyle: If there's really a Malice general somewhere beneath the ground, they're going to have to come out sooner or later.
Luciana: As of now, we actually don't know if anybody is hiding there… Perhaps there were simply plans to move to the location in question. We aren't going to be sure until after a bit more work is done to investigate the scene.
Karim: So… What I'm hearing right now is that we still don't know anywhere near as much as we're going to need to be aware of in order to charge the place.
Nora: While we're waiting on the next string of information, then we'll just do everything we can to get ready for the fight at hand then. We'll have to charge into combat one of these days.
Reese: We can totally do that… Though I do have to admit that I'm curious about what we're going to wind up finding when the time to investigate does arrive.
Cassia: I already have a bad feeling about it… You can call me paranoid all you want, but there's clearly something strange about this area that we've stumbled upon.
Illona: You know, it almost felt familiar to me… I know that's a weird thing to say, but… I don't know. I guess I'll have to think about it more in the future.
Magnolia: For now, we're going to focus our attention on continuing the investigation. We're going to have to keep fighting soon enough, but we should take a break while we can.
Luciana: This battlefield is a stepping stone to our next destination. We're going to start mapping out the best route through the territories of Faerghus that will net us the best results in reclaiming the country. After we've figured that out, we'll know where our attention would be best spent, and that should make the next step of the war far easier to carry out.
Magnolia: I don't think that there's really much of anything else for us to talk about for the time being though. We're just going to have to see what comes next in our investigation, I suppose. I'll talk to you all another time.
As the Blue Lions begin to leave behind the cardinals' room, You decide to linger for a short while longer. You manage to catch Magnolia alone after Luciana departs, and You ask her if there is something wrong.
Magnolia: Something… Wrong? I don't think I would say so. Why do you ask?
You say that something about her has simply seemed different since the group first came back together.
Magnolia: Ah… I see. I understand that the sudden change must be rather jarring to you. Everyone else has been at least somewhat aware of what has taken place in Faerghus, though I suppose that doesn't apply to you.
You ask her what has been happening.
Magnolia: I… I believe it's a story that would be best shared another time. Let's just say that everything has changed, and I'm doing what I can to adapt along with the rest of the world… Though it would perhaps be more accurate to say that I'm forcing the world to adapt whether it wants to or not. The point is that I'm getting things done, and for right now… For the time being, that's more than enough.
You nod slowly.
Magnolia: We can discuss this again in the future. For right now, I think that we both have more important things to focus on. I'll be looking forward to speaking with you again, Professor.
You leave the cardinals' room carefully as Seraphine speaks to You.
Seraphine: It seems to me like something big happened while we were gone… But it's something that everybody else has already forgotten about or doesn't want to discuss it. Given that nobody has mentioned it yet, chances are that it happened a while ago. Either that or they simply don't want to bring it up. I don't know for sure, but I have a bad feeling about all of this… I guess all we can do is be patient for now and discuss this later when she's ready to talk.
You nod your agreement and head back to your room before beginning your exploration of the monastery. You start by moving towards the Officers Academy, and You find Wolfgang standing alone in the courtyard there.
Wolfgang: It's so strange to think that our old stomping grounds have devolved into something so… Empty. We don't have much of a reason to come into the classrooms these days, but it's weird that this part of the monastery has just been ignored. On the other hand… Maybe that's for the best.
You find Zelhira standing in the Black Eagles classroom.
Zelhira: Even after all this time, it's like this place is still a snapshot of how we left it. Back when we were last here, we were getting ready for our graduation. The last few sets of classes were taking place, and… All of the books are still here where we left them. I set this one down here right before the war started, and it's still where I left it. How strange to think of.
You move to the training hall next. Inside, You find Kaeta.
Kaeta: I don't know what sort of enemies we're going to wind up fighting in this next fight, but I'm determined to find a way to win! The war has been so dreary, though I suppose that is just the nature of war. It's unfortunate, but I want to find a way to turn it around. I think we could all use something like that.
You also find Wynne in the training hall.
Wynne: It's kind of ironic how all of us have spent the past five years absolutely dreading the presence of Malice, and now, we're almost happy to see that their forces are gathered together somewhere. We're upset that they aren't doing what we expected. It's funny, but… Not exactly in the funny way.
You start to move down the bottom row of dorms next. There, You find Cassia and Falon engaged in conversation.
Cassia: The tunnels beneath the ground… They remind me a bit too much of Evenor.
Falon: I feel the same way. The only times that we've found any underground tunnels, they were somehow tied in with the Crest experimentation.
Cassia: She's been missing for the past five years, but maybe she has something to do with this… It wouldn't surprise me.
Falon: She never seemed affiliated with Malice before, but these days… Who can say?
You also find Florence standing on the bottom row of dorms.
Florence: I don't know if this is just an issue for me, but… Everything that we've learned about in the past few weeks has really reminded me of the tunnels beneath the monastery. I'm hoping that it's nothing like that, but knowing our luck, that's exactly how it's going to end… Please don't tell me anybody else was hurt.
You move to the second floor of dorm rooms briefly and find Karim and Aestlyn engaged in conversation.
Karim: Malice's soldiers have been a real thorn in all of our sides for ages now… It's nice that we're finally back together so that we can stand up to them.
Aestlyn: This is what all of us needed whether we choose to admit it or not… I've been wanting this for a long time.
Karim: Me too. I missed all of you. I want to go back to old times, but since that's not an option, we'll just have to make the most out of what we've got.
Aestlyn: Yeah… Imagine if we could travel back in time… Sure would be a magical feeling, huh?
You head back downstairs and enter the greenhouse. There, You find Lev standing alone.
Lev: I've been hearing more from the Alliance in the past few days. Raithius and Novalee are still charging right through all of the Malice forces that come their way. I don't think they've made too much progress, but the idea that they could do anything has got to be scary enough for our enemies.
You move to the fishing hole next. You see a few people scattered about, and the first of them is Herwig.
Herwig: I think that we're going to need to start searching for supplies soon. The war has brought a lot of key industries down, and prices are starting to rise. Maybe we'll be able to figure out something when we take out the next group of Malice forces… That's what I'm hoping for.
You also find Cedric standing on the dock.
Cedric: I still don't feel like this is entirely real. We've been here for a moon now, but I can't seem to ram it into my head that this is actually happening and not a dream. Maybe I was hoping for us all to reunite more than I initially thought… Regardless, it's nice that we're all here again.
Near the entrance to the dining hall, You cross paths with Niko and Nesreen.
Niko: I know that you've been doing a lot of miscellaneous spy work in the past few years. Do you think you know anything that could help us with the coming mission?
Nesreen: I'm afraid not. The closest thing that could relate has to do with Evenor Hepius, but tracking her has been impressively difficult. It's like she's vanished off the face of the planet.
Niko: I suppose that's not too surprising, but… Oh, I don't like the sound of that at all. She has to be somewhere out there…
Nesreen: And wherever she is, she's causing problems for us somehow. That much I'm sure of. We have to catch her as soon as possible and figure out what's going on.
Inside the dining hall, You find yet another cluster of figures. First, You approach Callisto.
Callisto: It's impressive to me how quickly the monastery was able to clean up after we all first started to gather here. I would have expected it to take far longer, but everything seems to be in working condition already. We're all soldiers, but maybe we could make some extra money fixing things too… I'm kidding, I'm kidding. No need to look so frightened of the idea.
Next, You walk up to Kyle and Nora.
Kyle: You know, I've been thinking a lot lately about that strange man that we saw with Evenor five years ago.
Nora: Hm… I almost forgot about him.
Kyle: He disappeared as soon as we started to fight with the victims of experimentation, but we never found him again.
Nora: I don't know how he factors in with all of this, but he has to be out there somewhere, especially given that he escaped during our first fight against him. All we have to do is find a way to track him down.
Kyle: It's too bad that's easier said than done…
You approach Adrian once You are finished speaking with Kyle and Nora.
Adrian: The Empire's recent struggles have apparently been having a large impact on both Brigid and Dagda. It doesn't surprise me given how close they are in proximity, but it's incredibly unfortunate… I can't help but wonder what the new emperor is even up to these days… You know, aside from fanning the flames of war.
Last, You approach Piers.
Piers: It seems like most nations are split down the middle for if they're involved with Malice or not. All of this is a mass coup to try and get rid of the current sources of power. I don't know who in the world would want to cause all of this, but I'm positive those people exist. Finding them is the hard part.
You decide to travel to the marketplace next. There, You find Tuncay.
Tuncay: Getting together supplies from the forge is far harder than I remember because of the war… But I'm still finding a way to make it work. Making weapons always helps to take the edge off, and I think that's what we all need right now. Plus, I think it's cheaper than buying them elsewhere, so that's an added bonus.
You move to the entrance hall. Inside, You find Reese speaking with Derric.
Reese: All of this is so exhausting to put up with… I was hoping to have a bit of time off, but it seems that wasn't meant to be.
Derric: If you ask me, none of us have had a chance to rest since the fighting first started five years ago.
Reese: I'd argue it's been longer than that… The world was just better at hiding the conflicts back then.
Derric: Yeah… A lot of people were good at hiding things in those days.
You also find Yuliya in the entrance hall.
Yuliya: Lots of awful things have been happening in Faerghus lately… I don't have much sympathy given the fact that it's Faerghus that's responsible, but it's bad for Magnolia. She has to try and keep all of that held together in times of war. She doesn't have an easy job, to say the least.
You walk to the reception hall next. There, You find Illona and Luciana engaged in conversation.
Illona: Hey, Luciana… Not to intrude or anything, but have you noticed that Magnolia has seemed… Off lately?
Luciana: Magnolia has… I'll just say that she's been through a lot in the past five years, though I suspect that you've heard about it.
Illona: That's exactly the point I'm trying to make here. I have heard about it, and that's why I'm worried.
Luciana: Well… You aren't the only one.
You also find Grey in the reception hall.
Grey: With all of you coming back to the monastery, people from Abyss feel safer traveling above ground. Of course, there are still some people who are too nervous to try it, but the option is there. That's more than we could have said in the past five years, so it's some progress at least.
Last, You cross paths with Sofia.
Sofia: Raithius and Novalee have been doing their best to keep the Alliance from falling apart these days. I heard that they're even planning on starting an assault on some of the treacherous territories… Huh. Imagine that.
You move to the cathedral next. On the bridge there, You see William standing by himself.
William: As strange as it is to say, I don't think I've seen so many people gathered together and happy like this in a long time. Sure, we were brought together by unfortunate circumstances, but we're all here, and that's what matters. Times are tough, after all.
You find Saias in the cathedral as well.
Saias: I haven't bothered to come up here in a long time… Heading into the monastery was too dangerous as long as all those thieves were roaming about, so I stayed in Abyss. The place has cleaned up surprisingly well… Though I suppose we have you to thank for that.
Finally, You see Ernst in the cathedral near the pile of debris at the back of the room.
Ernst: The monastery is impressively intact after all this time. When I heard of bandits moving in, I feared that its lengthy history would be lost, and yet, most of the important regions were primarily untouched. It is only by luck that this place managed to survive.
You decide to go to Abyss next. You move to the library first when You arrive, and You find Magnus there.
Magnus: There's been lots of shuffling between Abyss and the surface as of late. New people are moving in or out now that it's safe to depart. I don't know why any of them think motion is a good idea. We're still in the middle of a war. There's no time to rest.
You go to the Wilting Rose Inn next. There, You find Gabriel.
Gabriel: I've been wanting to head up to the surface to investigate the monastery for a while, but… I still don't think I can risk it. I don't want to check it out unless I absolutely have to leave Abyss. The risks are just too great, and I know better than to step on those lines unnecessarily.
You make your way to Burrow Street. There, You see Taiyin.
Taiyin: Seeing everybody come back to the monastery is still strange for me. I know it's been a month already, but… I don't know. I got so used to not seeing everyone that it's weird to have them here again. I'm not complaining, but it's still odd.
You head to Chrysalis Row, and You find Tsubasa there.
Tsubasa: Eli and Quinn left Abyss a few months ago to travel the continent. They've been too busy to return as far as I can tell. I believe they're trying to find more information regarding the attackers who attempted to invade Abyss five years ago, but who can say for sure?
Finally, You make your way to the classroom of the Ashen Wolves. There, You cross paths with Ansel.
Ansel: There hasn't been another class of Ashen Wolves in the past five years. Some were expecting it to become a tradition, but I suppose the war prevented that. What can you do? None of us could have seen this coming, so I guess we just have to roll with it.
You move to the second floor of the monastery. You head to the audience chamber and see Hegias standing inside.
Hegias: Coming in here when Lady Aisa and Roy aren't here is still strange to me. I wouldn't say that I was ever particularly close with them, but it's still unfortunate that they can't be here anymore… And I don't think they ever will be again…
You also find Miriam in the audience chamber.
Miriam: The most recent battle was just the beginning. We're attempting to end a war that has been raging mercilessly for the past five years. It isn't going to be easy, but I commend you for trying. It's all that we have at this point.
You move to Jill's room next, and You find her inside.
Jill: I've been rather curious about what happened to Janae McCreary after we were separated from her in the Battle of Garreg Mach. She's been missing ever since, and I wonder who could have taken her from the monastery… Somebody must have.
You decide to explore the third floor of the monastery. There, You see Adeline standing alone in the garden.
Adeline: I didn't realize that there was anything up here… Well, I knew that there was a third floor, but I didn't expect it to be so bright and cheerful, especially given that the rest of the monastery feels… I don't know… Lifeless.
You head back down to the second floor and make your way to the library. You find Aquillus inside.
Aquillus: The monastery's library seems to have been untouched in the past five years. I spoke with Niko to make sure, and he agreed with me on the matter. Thank the goddess that the thieves didn't destroy any of the precious volumes found in here… Most of them are one of a kind.
Next, You move to the commons room. You find Rodain there.
Rodain: Up until recently, I was working with Captain Torryn to try and track down Lady Aisa. Captain Torryn is determined that Lady Aisa is still alive, and she's been searching feverishly ever since the last battle. I'm hoping for the same thing, but… I guess there's no way to say for sure yet.
Finally, You make your way to the cardinals' room where Magnolia can be found.
Magnolia: The plans for the coming battle are going swimmingly… Professor, you can stop looking at me like that. I already told you that there's nothing to be concerned over. Besides, we have more important subjects to dwell on than the past. The battle at hand isn't going to wait for us, after all.
With your exploration of the monastery finished, You decide to return to your room. Seraphine speaks to You on the way there.
Seraphine: I still think that something is off about Magnolia… If she doesn't want to talk to us about it yet, then we're just going to have to force it out of her. I don't like the idea of getting too overly pushy, but it's not like we have much of a choice at this point. I just want to be able to help her…
You nod your agreement as her voice vanishes from your mind. You settle down for the night, and your thoughts wander to the mission for the month. You wonder if perhaps there is something that You can do to make this war easier on Magnolia given how stressed she seems to be. You find yourself curious on the subject of the coming battle as well, and You hope that there are no significant issues that arise as a result of what is to come. When You fall into slumber, it is restless and weary, and your thoughts never seem to leave the strange shift of behavior that has befallen Magnolia since You were last her companion…
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-Digital