At the start of the next moon, You rise from your slumber and begin to move in the direction of the cardinals' room. You find that You are still feeling the pull of exhaustion from the last battle, and Seraphine speaks to You through the haze.
Seraphine: I wonder if Raina was able to get back to Fhirdiad safely… I mean, I'm positive that she did, but I'm still a bit concerned about it all. Then again, I guess that comes with the territory. With the war and everything that's been happening, it feels like we never have a chance to rest.
You say that You feel the same way as You arrive at the cardinals' room. The rest of the Blue Lions are already there.
Magnolia: After our last mission, we have questions about what should be coming next in our fight against Malice within Faerghus.
Cassia: Our victory in Schweighen territory was a significant one, but that alone is not going to be able to push us in the direction of complete triumph.
Luciana: I'm afraid that we have yet to find a specific area to target in the coming moon when we next set out.
Nora: That does make sense… It's not as if we have any notable leads on the assassins that have been causing so much grief to our forces.
Reese: I'm sure that they'll come to the light soon enough, and when they do, we're going to be ready for them. Nothing is going to be able to save them from what we've got in store for them.
Kyle: I guess that all we can do for now is try to fortify our defenses in case of an attack. I doubt it'll happen, but it never hurts to be prepared.
Karim: I suppose so… Is there really nothing else that we need to handle for the time being, Magnolia?
Magnolia: That's all that we needed to discuss as a group. I'm going to do everything that I can to find a strategy, but there is no easy way forward right now.
Aestlyn: That's alright. Maybe we can use this as a chance to rest… You know, as much as we can for the time being.
Illona: I don't think that I'll be able to relax even if I want to. The war has had me so tense for so long.
Falon: I can't say that I'll be able to rest either… But this is something, so I'm still going to try and take advantage of it.
Magnolia: As soon as we find out what we're doing next, I'll be sure to tell all of you. That much you can count on. I don't want to leave you in suspense for any longer than I have to.
Luciana: If you want to hear one other interesting thing though… I will say that we have received minor progress reports involving the resistance force in the Empire.
Karim: I already like the sound of that. So, what all has happened since we first heard that this was happening at all?
Magnolia: The resistance has charged through Bazler territory and is moving closer to the capital of Enbarr.
Kyle: Wow… That's an impressive speed for everything to be moving at, especially given how fortified the Empire has been for the past five years.
Aestlyn: We might wind up with backup from the south before we realize it. That certainly would be helpful.
Cassia: As far as I can tell, there are rumors that the Leicester push has grown stronger recently as well.
Reese: That certainly wouldn't surprise me. They have a crafty leader at the helm, and they know how to handle this.
Falon: The fall of other Malice forces will make it easier for us to push forward. It'll destroy enemy morale.
Nora: Even if we don't have any news specifically related to our cause, at least we got this new helpful information.
Illona: We're bound to hear something soon enough. Besides, that's all good stuff to hear about. Things are getting easier for us to take care of as each day goes by.
Luciana: With that information shared and out there, that should end our meeting for the time being. I trust that you'll all stay out of trouble and keep from causing any problems.
Reese: Oh, you know us. Huge troublemakers, we are.
Magnolia: Of course. I'll see you all again later.
You watch as the Blue Lions leave, and You find yourself frowning as You leave. Seraphine speaks to You.
Seraphine: I don't like this at all… Even if there isn't an easy way forward, I'm sure that there's going to be something that goes wrong. I guess it's just a gut instinct. We can't afford to rest quite yet.
You say that You feel the same way.
Seraphine: Then again, I suppose that we can't actually do anything until we have a lead on where we should be directing our forces… Faerghus seems to be a difficult place to infiltrate at the moment. That would certainly explain all of Magnolia's weird secrecy on the subject of what she's been through in the past five years, wouldn't you say?
You nod your agreement.
Seraphine: For the time being, let's just sweep through the monastery. I want to distract myself from the nagging feeling that comes with all of this. I feel like there's something going wrong that we aren't seeing yet… If it hasn't happened yet, then it will soon, and I need to find a way to stop from thinking about it. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. I guess that's what war does to you.
Seraphine falls silent as You arrive back at your room. You begin to walk through the monastery by moving in the direction of the Officers Academy. You find Falon in the courtyard of the academy.
Falon: Ugh… The suspense of not knowing what we're doing this moon is already starting to get to me. I feel like I'm going to lose it if I don't get some clarity soon. We can't do anything about it now, yeah, but… I don't know how to describe it. The idea just kind of bothers me, you know?
You find Illona and Aestlyn speaking within the Blue Lions' classroom.
Illona: I feel like those assassins from a while back are planning something.
Aestlyn: I agree. I somehow doubt that they would just plan a siege on Chevalier territory and then disappear with no intentions of returning.
Illona: The fight was far too easy. We're going to see them again soon enough, and when we do… Who can say what's going to happen? I just know that the idea doesn't sit well with me at all.
Aestlyn: It's good to know that I'm not the only one worried about the idea… The waiting is excruciating.
You go to the training hall next and find Tuncay within.
Tuncay: I don't think I can even begin to express how glad I am that the resistance force is chopping through the Empire already. There are a few houses in there that I want to rot in hell. It's the least that they deserve, and I'm sure that the afterlife has more than a few harsh punishments in mind for them already. That's what I'm hoping for, anyways.
You also cross paths with Miriam in the training hall.
Miriam: I can promise you that this is only the eye of the storm. There is always another battle to come. Complete peace is impossible to reach, and those who yearn for it are seeking that which only exists in fiction and fantasy… There will be another battle soon, and we have no way of knowing how it will end.
You move towards the bottom row of dorms. There, You see Lev standing alone.
Lev: The charge within the Alliance is certainly a good thing. I'm happy to know that everything has been going somewhat well there. Raithius and Novalee sure are proving themselves to the world as a whole. Everyone's watching to see what they'll do next, and as far as I can tell, they haven't disappointed yet. In fact, I doubt they ever will.
You also find Niko in the area.
Niko: The incredible speed of the resistance force within the Empire makes me sure that my house will fall soon enough… Then again, it isn't as if I was ever particularly attached to the place to begin with. My parents made many mistakes to reach this point… I can't say I'm particularly sympathetic towards their potential plight if they do fall during this war.
You climb the stairs to the second floor of dorms. There, You cross paths with Aquillus, and You see him looking out the window at the end of the hall.
Aquillus: I'm concerned about what will happen when the rebellion forces inevitably reach my home territory… I've been struggling against my parents for quite some time, and I used the smallest gap in their hold on me to make it here for the meeting in the first place. They're going to try and exact their revenge… And if they don't do that, they'll unleash their rage against the rebellion. I hope they aren't crushed in the process of taking Einem territories.
You also find Cassia on the second floor in her own room.
Cassia: One of the stronger Malice lands right now is House Goneril, a territory settled on the border between Faerghus and Leicester. When Leicester split away from Faerghus, Goneril territory was caught in the middle and was divided among the countries… It's a dangerous place to go. I know that we'll have to go there one day, but I'm not looking forward to it.
You go downstairs once again and enter the greenhouse. There, You find Jill examining the plants.
Jill: There have been more people in need of medicine and assistance in recent years than ever before. Making new treatments for new injuries and illnesses is a requirement. The war hasn't only been hurting the soldiers involved. It's destroyed the whole damn continent… I hope the ones responsible are happy with what they've done. They're the ones to blame here.
You leave the greenhouse and move in the area of the fishing hole. You find Nesreen there.
Nesreen: I'll be the first one to admit openly that I don't like this sudden gap in activity. This is going to find a way to explode in our faces, and we'll have to find a way to cope with that. It seems like that's how life always is. There's a push for every pull, and the aftermath is bound to be bloody.
You also cross paths with Yuliya in the fishing hole's vicinity.
Yuliya: I don't understand the nobles that are continuing to try and fight within Albinean lands. The queen doesn't want anyone initiating combat there and continuing the war, but there are a few people who just don't listen… They never seem to get the idea of us not being their little puppets no matter how much you want to ram it into their thick skulls…
Finally, You find Derric there.
Derric: House Bazler has already fallen… With the sudden brutality the resistance forces must have used, you would expect it to be a revenge trip. I can't say that I know much about exacting vengeance, but I doubt that it was a pretty picture… House Bazler deserved to fall though. That much can't be debated. The world is free of one more piece of scum, and that's what matters most on the matter.
You move to the dining hall next. There, You see William.
William: It's been nice to hear that everything is moving well within the Alliance. I don't know how Raithius does it, honestly. He finds new ways to impress me each time that he moves forward. I hope that he'll be able to move towards us soon so that we can have his help. That would mean a lot to us.
You also find Wolfgang in the dining hall.
Wolfgang: You know, I've heard a few whispers about the one who's been leading the Empire's rebellion. Of course, they're nothing more than rumors, but I still have reason to believe that the one behind it is a young woman with incredible power. That's all that I can say at the moment, I'm afraid, but it's still neat to hear about, I suppose.
Lastly, You cross paths with Taiyin.
Taiyin: So much has happened as of late… After the war was nothing but a stalemate for five years, we've finally reached our stride where things are actually happening. I'm so happy to have the ability to see all of this unfolding around us. This is history in the making… You know, for better or worse.
You move to the marketplace next. There, You see Hegias.
Hegias: I'm glad to see that House Schweighen has been toppled. I've been able to see the difference already in everyone's demeanors. This is a major victory, and everybody seems so happy that we were able to find success in such a key territory. I hope that we'll be able to continue riding this high well into the future.
You also find Nora in the marketplace.
Nora: The assassins still roaming the world at large doesn't sit well with me in the least. We can't grow complacent as we wait for a weak point to appear in the enemy's forces. There's too much riding on our victory for us to back off now. Soon, we'll have to defeat them, and the ensuing battle won't be easy.
Finally, You cross paths with Herwig.
Herwig: House Bazler has already fallen to the resistance in the Empire… That might be some of the best news that I've heard in quite a while. I don't know what sort of power the rebellion has under their belt, but it must be significant if they managed to kill a man known for his monstrosities.
You go to the stables next. There, You find Cedric standing by himself.
Cedric: Hearing that Thaddeus Bazler has perished brings me no small amount of joy. After everything that he has done, he's finally being forced to suffer the consequences of his sins. Someone like him does not deserve the right to live. He's killed and hurt so many people… I owe my thanks to the Adrestian resistance.
Your next destination is the knights' hall. Kaeta can be found inside.
Kaeta: Captain Torryn sent me a letter earlier, and she's apparently closer than ever before to finding Lady Aisa! I can't believe that we might actually get both of them back soon. Imagine how incredible it would be to have that sort of backup… It would be just like old times, wouldn't you say?
You also find Piers in the area.
Piers: It finally feels as if the end of the war is within our grasp. Pardon me for being a bit eager for all of this to end, but I'm tired of the constant combat. I don't want to see anything like this ever again, though I don't think that any of us do. We've taken great strides towards the end already, but we still have a long way to go… It's a strange paradox after all this time.
You move to the graveyard near the knights' hall, and You see Reese standing there.
Reese: Knowing that Raina is safe at long last… You have no idea how relieving this is for me. I've been waiting for years to finally see her again, and now… We're finally going to be able to get to know one another. I don't know how to express my joy. Maybe things are starting to look up for us after all…
You move to the entrance hall of the monastery next. There, You find yourself encountering Wynne.
Wynne: I'm hoping that we'll be able to see the captain soon. Kaeta's been practically buzzing with excitement since hearing the news that she might have found Lady Aisa, and I have to say that I'm looking forward to seeing them both again. Maybe we'd finally be able to end the war with them at our side… Imagine that.
You see Ansel in the entrance hall next.
Ansel: Hearing that Bazler is dead has changed the whole atmosphere of Abyss. I bet that a bunch of people there are going to be moving out since it'll be safe for them to breach the surface world once again. Who would have guessed that such a cowardly man held so much influence?
You also find Zelhira in the area.
Zelhira: The death of Thaddeus Bazler is certainly helping me to feel a lot better about what's happened. So many people have died over the course of this war, but at least he's gone… That won't bring back his victims, but it's a start to returning to peace. It's an important thing for us to see done.
You move to the reception hall. There, You find Karim.
Karim: There haven't been any recent reports of the assassins from before stirring in Chevalier or Faren territory. I think that they realized that their plans have been exposed, and that makes it harder for them to launch any attacks. I'm happy to know that my home is safe, at least for now, but I fear what they could possibly be plotting now…
You also see Ernst in the reception hall.
Ernst: It feels incredible to be able to take a step away from Abyss. So many people finally feel safe enough to give us defenders of Abyss a chance to take a deep breath. I didn't realize how much the tension of the war was influencing me until it started to disappear… I don't mean to be harsh here, but I hope that Bazler rots in hell for all that he's done to the people living in and out of Abyss.
You cross paths with Adrian last.
Adrian: All of this sudden silence from the opposing side of the war isn't sitting well with me at all. It feels like there's just something that we aren't seeing. Soon, everything is going to blow up in our faces… Or maybe I'm just getting paranoid. I suppose that it's something that war can do to you.
You make your way to the cathedral, and You find Sofia standing on the bridge.
Sofia: My brother is supposedly in the capital under the care of Raithius and Novalee… That's what they've been saying in letters to me, anyways. We don't communicate much because of the war taking up all of our attention, but they still told me about this, and… I'm really happy that they did.
You see Callisto in the cathedral proper.
Callisto: Imagine that: the Empire is getting closer to being reclaimed! I don't know what to do with myself now aside from jump around and dance! Who cares if people give us weird looks?! After spending so long just waiting for something good to happen, I need to enjoy this as much as I can!
You also cross paths with Florence in the cathedral.
Florence: I wonder what's going to happen with the ruler of the Empire after the current emperor is dead… It's not as if there are any people remaining from the royal bloodline after everything that's happened. Maybe the leader of the resistance will take over the throne. That sure would be an interesting shift of power.
Next, You see Kyle in the cathedral.
Kyle: I'm hoping that the assassins from before will show themselves soon. They can't hide forever, and I'm going to make sure that they don't get away with what they've done. It's the least that I can do for my parents to honor their memory. They've been gone for a long time, but… They still deserve justice.
Finally, You encounter Adeline.
Adeline: My house will likely be eliminated in the coming charge in the Alliance. Raithius likely noticed that we were turning the tides and decided to use the drop in morale to turn everything around on his enemies. I've been trying to not think about it to the best of my ability, but… It still slips into my thoughts sometimes, you know?
With your business on the first floor of the monastery finished, You move towards Abyss. You find Tsubasa standing near the entrance.
Tsubasa: It feels like there's been a huge weight lifted from everybody's shoulders already. The news about Bazler spread like wildfire, you know. Everyone wanted to celebrate as soon as they heard. The war isn't over yet, but… In a way, it feels like Abyss' fight has already been finished. After so many years of struggling against Bazler's forces, we're finally free of him… Thank the goddess and every other higher power out there.
You find Grey in the library of Abyss.
Grey: I think that Eli and Quinn are going to be coming back here soon. They haven't sent back any word, but I just have a feeling that they'll be returning to Abyss. We've been doing our best to hold down the fort without them, but people are starting to ask questions more often… They had better return soon…
You encounter Saias on Burrow Street.
Saias: I'm still anxious about the fact that our fight isn't over yet… I just want to know what I should be anticipating. I need to work myself up for all of these battles, you know? There's a lot riding on them, and I want to be prepared. There has to be something waiting for us… I just hope it isn't too awful.
You move to the second floor of the monastery after speaking with the Ashen Wolves in Abyss. You make your way to the audience chamber first and see Rodain inside.
Rodain: Lady Aisa returning to us… I don't know what to say about such an idea. I wonder why she would try to leave in the first place though. The continent needs her to lead them right now more than ever. The Church of Seiros is a pillar of stability… Where in the world could Lady Aisa be?
Your next destination is the library, and You find Magnus within.
Magnus: This library truly does have incredible volumes… I haven't spent enough time here over the past five years. I somehow doubt that this will be the case, but imagine if there's a secret to ending the war found in here. That certainly would be a unique experience, wouldn't you say?
You set your sights on the commons' room. There You see Gabriel.
Gabriel: With the death of Bazler, I'm finally safe to leave Abyss. He's the reason that I was there in the first place, you know. I'm glad that he's gone… He deserves all of the hell that the resistance gave him and more. My parents feel at peace as well. This is the best I've felt in a long time.
Finally, You make your way to the cardinals' room. Magnolia and Luciana are standing together inside.
Magnolia: The assassins that attacked House Chevalier and made plans to lash out in Faren territory have to be hiding somewhere. It's just a matter of tracking them down now.
Luciana: I've already deployed as many informants as possible to give us the intel that we need to find their location.
Magnolia: Thank you, Luciana… This implies that Malice forces have been in play to some degree for a long time, especially with the information that we have about House Dragoste.
Luciana: They may have a long history, but we're going to find a way to stop them regardless. We have to succeed and win this war.
Magnolia: I feel the same way. Soon… It'll all be over. We just have to take it one day at a time.
With your exploration of the monastery finished, You make your way back to your room. Seraphine continues to speak to You along the way.
Seraphine: I don't know how to describe it exactly, but I feel like all of this peace is going to be shattered soon… Something is going to happen, and I don't know if we're going to be ready for it or not. As much as I appreciate the news that the Empire and Alliance are getting closer to being reclaimed, I'm still nervous about it all, and I'm hoping that we won't have to put up with this sort of thing again soon. The suspense is already starting to get to me about what we're going to have to deal with next.
You nod your agreement as You settle down for the night.
Seraphine: All we can do for now is hope that this next battle goes well… It's so strange how quickly we got used to this cycle of battle and waiting. We have to be patient, and then everything feels like it's going to fall apart. It's nauseating to have to endure for so long, but I guess that there's really nothing that we can do about it for the time being… Let's try to get some rest before the next mission starts. I don't think you're going to object to that, huh?
You lay down on your bed at her words, and You find yourself drifting towards the world of sleep early. You are also worried about what could happen while You are waiting for information, but You force yourself to keep from thinking about it to avoid crumbling under the weight of the stress. When You finally fall into slumber, You lack any dreams, and all of your thoughts regarding the future feel strangely ominous in a way You are unable to describe…
PROMOTION CHAPTER TIME
-Digital