At the conclusion of the moon, You rise from slumber with a heavy sigh. Seraphine's voice rings in your mind.
Seraphine: Alright… Here it comes. We're almost ready for our first mission with the Knights of Seiros. How are you feeling?
You tell her that You want to do everything You can to make this go as smoothly as possible.
Seraphine: I'm glad we feel the same way about that. I wonder what we're going to find at this fort… Do you think we'll cross paths with Evenor again?
You hesitate before saying that You are not sure but that You are nervous about it. You are not sure what You should think about seeing her again.
Seraphine: Me neither… Our memories, even if they're minimal as can be, make it seem as if she was the one who raised us. But… She still caused so much harm to the rest of the world. She has the truth of the past that was sealed out of our reach, but…
You tell her that You hope to find the answers from Janae first.
Seraphine: I do as well. I hope that she awakens soon. I want to hear everything that she knows about our past… But for now, the best that we can do is simply push forward and see what we can do today.
You nod before making your way to the cardinals' room. The members of the church are standing inside alongside Cordelia just as You anticipated.
Cordelia: Alright. It seems as if all our preparations are in order. It won't take us long to get to that fort, and as soon as we do arrive…
Herwig: We'll try our best to break through. I hope that this will be relatively painless for us… We can use any victory we can find.
Jill: I wonder if Evenor will be there. Given that she got away the last time that we attacked a fort, she could be in the area…
Reese: But she could have also run far away to ensure that we wouldn't catch up to her. It's hard to say where exactly she's going to be right now.
Niko: We're going to find her eventually though. I'm sure of it. She won't be able to run from us forever.
Adrian: Right now, I think we should concentrate on our current goal of simply taking this fort. If all goes well, this should earn us the attention of a few certain international figures.
Roy: That's what I'm hoping for as well. I'm sure that our continued work around the monastery will be enough to at least get the other country leaders to see what we're up to.
Nesreen: Unfortunately for us, that also means that we're going to be at the mercy of Argades if we're not careful. He could try to lead an attack on the monastery.
Cordelia: I'm hoping that's not the case. Maybe his hands will be too full with that unknown rebellion in the Empire to bother acknowledging what we're up to.
Aisa: Regardless, we have a lengthy battle ahead of ourselves. We should try to reclaim this fort as soon as possible. It may not be large, but it will still be a significant help to our cause in the future.
Roy: Precisely. After we return, I can try to send a letter to the leaders of the Kingdom and Alliance to tell them what we're up to. Perhaps they'll be willing to help us when they hear that we're back here.
Nesreen: Though I'm willing to assume that we're going to have to keep our true motivations for being here a secret… Is that correct, Lady Aisa?
Aisa: Yes… It is. My apologies for pushing you all in such a way, but… I would ask that we keep my survival hidden for a short while longer. I will reveal the truth when the time is right.
Niko: Alright… I'm glad that you're at least willing to talk about it now. That's a step above what the last five years have been like.
Adrian: Either way, if we tell Raithius and Magnolia that the Knights of Seiros have returned to the monastery, that should be enough to earn their trust.
Jill: That's what I'm hoping for as well. Raithius has a lot of faith in us, and he's going to want us on his side as soon as he hears.
Reese: I'm sure Magnolia will feel much the same way. We shouldn't have any issues with finding their trust as soon as we tell them what we're doing here.
Herwig: It's a shame that we can only reach out to two of the three leaders of the nations though… It shouldn't have ended this way.
Cordelia: We can worry about it after we've finished taking back this fort. We still have another problem on our hands, and we can't afford to hold off resolving it for too long.
Roy: In that case, let's get out there. We've done enough standing and talking for one day in my book.
Aisa: Of course. Let us depart.
You watch as most of the occupants of the room leave, but Herwig lingers for a short while longer alongside Aisa, Roy, and Cordelia. You ask him what is on his mind.
Herwig: It's… It's nothing. We should get going.
Cordelia: This is about a certain student of yours, isn't it?
Herwig: …We shouldn't be reaching out to only the queen and archduke. It shouldn't have had to end this way.
Roy: I'm sorry… It seems as if words are never quite enough in situations like this.
Herwig: I suppose that standing around here and feeling like a failure for the battle five years ago won't do anyone much good now though. We have to get going. This battle won't finish itself.
Cordelia: You're right… Unfortunately. Let's get down to business.
You frown sadly to yourself as everyone else leaves, and You find yourself wishing as well that the Battle of Garreg Mach had not ended the way it did five years ago. Still, You have other matters to resolve for the time being, so You force yourself out the doors and off towards the battlefield, Seraphine's words briefly ringing in the back of your mind.
Seraphine: We're going to make this right one day… We're going to defeat Argades and get revenge for everything we've lost. I promise.
A few hours later, You arrive in the area of the fortress You intend to take. You are not far from where You were the previous moon, and You glance around the area with a frown on your face. You pray with everything You have that Evenor will be there despite your anxieties about facing her once more. Around You, the other members of the army begin to speak.
Aisa: This is it then… That certainly is a small fort. It has been so long since I last saw it… I forgot the details of its size.
Cordelia: It's connected via a series of underground tunnels to a few other fortresses in the area. As far as I can tell, Malice's forces have certainly enjoyed having the places to themselves.
Herwig: Let me guess… We're taking this fortress in particular because it's the center of the passageways, yes?
Cordelia: Exactly. If we can cut them off at the center, then we can expand our reach from there using the knights we've gathered.
Reese: I wonder what we're going to find in there… If I had to guess, there's going to be at least something of interest inside.
Jill: We won't know until we actually get in and have the chance to search the place from top to bottom, so let's get to it already.
Niko: Even if this fort is at the center of the operation, it seems to be one of the smallest… That should give us at least some advantage here, right?
Nesreen: I'm hoping so. This is going to be important as we get ready to expand our reach outwards from here.
Adrian: In that case, I think we should get right to the heart of things. We don't have a moment to lose.
Roy: Everyone, get into your positions! The battle awaits us all!
Aisa: We march at once.
You prepare for the battle ahead by finding your position. Your forces surround the fort on all sides, and your foes are gathered in the fortress at the center of the area. However, because of how small the fortress is, You still have the upper hand in a few ways. As soon as the cue is given, You and the rest of your allies move towards the fort to reclaim it in your name.
Much of the battle goes rather smoothly, and your goal of seizing the building remains the same all the while. Eventually, your forces begin to close in on your foe, and the woman standing in front of the fortress' entrance, Sanura, shouts to You.
Sanura: You may have made it this far, but I won't allow you to claim this fort! You will die by my strength for trespassing into our territory!
From there, the rest of your forces continue to grow closer to Sanura, eventually beginning to fight her so that the fortress may be seized.
If You initiate combat with Sanura, the following dialogue plays out.
Sanura: You… You're the one that Evenor… She mentioned you a time or two. She said that you were the commander of these forces, or at least had been close to that position in the past. Even with your changed hair color, you're the same as before. Evenor told many people about you… But that legacy will not save you now. You chose the wrong side of this war, and you will understand that you have sealed your fate here and now!
If Aisa initiates combat with Sanura, the following dialogue plays out.
Sanura: You… You live?!
Aisa: I am still alive… And I have come here to stop you.
Sanura: You're supposed to be dead! You died five years ago!
Aisa: The truth is much more complex than that… But we do not have the time to go into detail. You began this fight, and I am more than happy to finish it here and now… Assuming you are ready to fight.
Sanura: If you didn't die before, then I'll simply have to defeat you this time. You won't be able to escape alive as long as I have anything to say about it!
If Cordelia initiates combat with Sanura, the following dialogue plays out.
Cordelia: You look just like her… Evenor. Tell me, where is she now?
Sanura: Do you really think I would be foolish enough to let information like that slip? It doesn't matter what you do to me or how we fight here. I will not tell you the truth.
Cordelia: That's certainly a shame… It would have saved me a lot of trouble, though I should have known better than to believe that you would listen to what I have to say. So be it. If this is how you want to play it, I have no qualms with ending this now.
Sanura: I invite you to try.
If Hegias initiates combat with Sanura, the following dialogue plays out.
Sanura: You… You're Hegias, are you not?
Hegias: I am… What of it?
Sanura: I heard about you from Evenor. I had been hoping that she was mistaken when she said that one of our own had betrayed us… Though I suppose that was a vain hope.
Hegias: I can't stand by and let you hurt so many people. Not anymore. I will never return to your side of this war regardless of what you say next.
Sanura: How unfortunate… I would have thought that you would know better than this. Your efforts will prove to be in vain, and if you don't see that now… I suppose we're simply fated to be put against each other.
Hegias: I know where my loyalties lie, and it will never be with you or Evenor ever again. Now, stand aside before I take this fort by force!
Sanura: Come at me yourself, boy. Let's see if you're really as strong as Evenor claimed you were.
If anyone else initiates combat with Sanura, the following dialogue plays out.
Sanura: You have no idea what you're up against, and you won't understand the truth until it's too late. You still have time to run away and forget everything that's happened here today… But as long as you choose to not do that… I will ensure that you burn in hell myself.
When Sanura is defeated, the following dialogue plays out.
Sanura: Y-You will find… Nothing here… You have… F-Failed…
When the fort is seized, the following dialogue plays out.
Cordelia: Victory is upon us, everyone! Let's search the fortress at once and clear out any lingering enemies!
You gather with the rest of your comrades of the church just outside the fortress once the area has been cleared from the outside.
Aisa: It appears that victory is in our hands now… With this, we should be able to claim the surrounding fortresses with a bit of extra power.
Cordelia: Let's search this place top to bottom while we're here. We need to make sure that they didn't leave anything behind that could point us to our enemies… Evenor or the leader of Malice would be fine with me.
Reese: We'll need both of them gone eventually, so it doesn't matter what information we find as long as we can figure something out.
Jill: In that case, let's split up and try to see what we can find. There has to be something in here.
Niko: If you ask me, they probably had to leave in a rush, so it wouldn't surprise me if at least one thing was left behind.
Adrian: Then it's settled. Nesreen, would you like to come with me? It would probably be safer for us to not move alone in case any soldiers are left inside.
Nesreen: You're probably right… Okay. Let's get this over with. The sooner we can take care of this, the better.
You watch as the others begin to scatter to enter the building, and You turn to Herwig before asking if he would like to look with You.
Herwig: Alright. I do hope you're not too disappointed to be stuck with me of all people.
You shake your head before walking inside. He follows You, and both of You fall silent for a long moment before You turn to face him with a light frown on your face. You ask if he is feeling any better than he felt before You set off for the battle.
Herwig: I… I think that the battle has offered a much needed distraction. It's still a shame that the situation is not what we would have wanted it to be, but…
You question him if he's still thinking about what happened five years ago.
Herwig: It's… It's a complicated situation. Much happened in the Battle of Garreg Mach, and there were so many people that we couldn't save. Now, Argades has the full run of the Empire because he managed to succeed in his mission of killing the princess. I wish I had been able to do something more… I was her professor. It was my duty to look out for my students, and…
You shake your head and say that he did everything he could. Nobody could have seen the situation five years ago coming.
Herwig: I know. Still… It makes me think, and not in ways I would like to acknowledge.
You say that You will stand by him no matter what happened during the Battle of Garreg Mach.
Herwig: Thank you… Though I wish that it wasn't necessary for us to have this conversation at all.
You pause immediately when You hear what sounds like a voice from elsewhere in the area. You ask if Herwig heard that.
Herwig: I did… Somebody is here. Who goes there?!
?: H… Herwig…?
You watch as Herwig immediately goes tense and runs ahead. You trail after him before asking what is wrong. However, You do not receive an answer as Herwig stares into a cell that has been built into the fortress. A young woman is sitting on the floor of the cell, her eyes wide, and it becomes clear to You that she was the one who spoke.
Herwig: Erika! Is that really you?!
Erika: Herwig!
You strike at the lock on the cell, forcing it open a moment later. Erika jumps to her feet and throws her arms around Herwig, and You watch their embrace from afar, realizing the familiarities and similarities in her facial structure and the way she carries herself. You remember the name from a past conversation You shared with Herwig five years prior, but You cannot quite put a finger on what the connection between them is.
Herwig: I'm so glad to see that you're safe… But what are you doing here?
Erika: It's… It's a long story… Who is that?
Erika looks to You at that, and You introduce yourself.
Herwig: This is one of my coworkers from Garreg Mach… But enough of that. How did you get here, Erika? I thought you were in a church elsewhere in Fódlan.
Erika: I was… But after the war started… The church was attacked by the people who were operating out of this fortress, and I was taken captive. I… I'm so glad you're here…
Herwig: It's alright… We're going to take you back to Garreg Mach, alright? There are going to be people there who can help you.
Erika: Thank you, Herwig… Thank you so much.
You start to walk back towards the entrance of the fort, deciding that You do not want to say anything and risk making Erika uncomfortable. You remain silent until You arrive outside the fort, though You are a few feet ahead of Herwig and Erika. You approach Aisa, Roy, and Cordelia before telling them that You must return to the monastery as soon as possible.
Aisa: Is there a reason for your sudden rush?
You say that Herwig found a captive in the fortress, and You need to care for her as soon as You can.
Roy: I understand. We'll move out at once.
Cordelia: I'll command the knights to take control of the area, and we can go back in the meantime. We shouldn't linger for any longer than we have to if we managed to save a captive who needs medical attention.
Aisa: I agree. Let us go at once.
You and the rest of your comrades retreat to the monastery in the hours that follow. You eventually make your way to the infirmary, and You stand with the central members of your group's alliance around Erika's bed. Janae remains motionless in the other bed, and You do your best to not look at her because of the pull of guilt it brings to your heart.
Jill: Alright… That should take care of the minor scrapes you got in the fortress. Do you feel any better?
Erika: I do… Thank you.
Reese: I can't believe that we managed to find you in that fort. What were you doing there in the first place?
Erika: I… I was taken captive around the time the war began. Malice forces attacked the church I was living in, and I was dragged back here. I suppose that everyone ran when they realized that you were attacking the fort, though they forgot to bring me with them.
Niko: I'm just glad that we decided to search through the area. I don't even want to imagine what would have happened if we elected against it.
Herwig: Erika, I… I want to know exactly what happened while you were in that fort. You've seemed… So different from how you were the last time we spoke.
Erika: I must warn you in advance that this isn't for the faint of heart… I'm sorry.
Adrian: You don't owe any of us an apology. We want to know what's going on so that we can help you.
Erika: Alright… I… It was experimentation. Crest experimentation, that is.
Herwig: What?! What did they do to you?!
Erika: N-Nothing too bad… Not like the other people who were in there, at the very least. As soon as they figured out who I was–a descendant of a Crest bearing household that didn't have a Crest–they got to work… Trying to figure out why some people have Crests while others do not.
Nesreen: In other words, you were the base they were looking at when they turned their attention to others.
Erika: Something along those lines… I didn't ever expect to be rescued though. I thought that was… That was going to be the end for me.
Herwig: No… You're alright now. We're going to do everything we can to look after you from now on. Just do what you need to in order to recover, alright?
Cordelia: I have one more question for you though… My apologies for pushing you, but I need to know… Was there ever a woman by the name of Evenor Hepius in that fort?
Erika: Yes… There was. She left a few weeks ago, but… She came in and out rather often. I think she was the one who was teaching the others how to conduct the Crest experimentation, but I can't be sure.
Roy: Given what we know about her, I can say with certainty that's what she was doing… But we're going to do everything we can to track her down and catch her soon.
Aisa: Precisely. In the meantime… We simply ask that you be careful with yourself and take your recovery as seriously as possible.
Erika: I'll be alright… I just need some time to try and recuperate. I'm… Tired, but I'll be fine with time.
Herwig: Perhaps you should try to get some sleep then. We'll all still be here when you wake up. I promise.
Erika: Thank you, Herwig… I appreciate it.
You remain silent as Erika drifts off to slumber soon afterwards before glancing up to the rest of your allies. You ask what they intend to do with this information.
Cordelia: First off, we know that Evenor has been continuing her experimentation work, and it sounds like she's had quite the chance to expand her knowledge to proteges.
Roy: It's unfortunate, but it gives us all the more reason to track her down and make sure that she pays for her crimes. She's done enough damage, and this is just another arrow pointed squarely at her back.
Herwig: I'm going to stay with Erika for the rest of the night… I want her to have someone here when she wakes up.
Reese: It's getting late… We should try to get a bit of rest before we plan what our next move is going to be.
Jill: I agree. I'm going to stay here for a bit longer too. I want to make sure that she doesn't need anything when she wakes up.
Niko: Alright… In that case, I suppose we'll just have to see what we can do tomorrow morning.
Nesreen: The knights should be able to claim the surrounding forts over the next few days, so we can focus on other things.
Adrian: We should stop for tonight either way though. We won't be of any use to anyone if we're exhausted.
Aisa: Of course. Goodnight, everyone.
You watch as everyone leaves, though You watch Janae for a few moments in the silence. You wish that she would wake up even though You know that such hopes are ultimately in vain. Aisa's hand comes down on your shoulder soon afterwards.
Aisa: She will awaken soon… I am certain of it.
You nod and leave the infirmary soon afterward. You make your way back to your room and sit on your bed as Seraphine speaks.
Seraphine: I certainly didn't expect that to be the way that today ended… But I suppose nobody would have ever anticipated this.
You say that You are glad Erika is back with her brother now.
Seraphine: We can talk to Herwig about her more tomorrow. For now, we have to try and sleep. I can tell that we're going to need the rest.
You nod before laying down, closing your eyes along the way.
Seraphine: Even if we didn't find Evenor, I can tell that we're getting closer to something… What it is I can't say for sure, but we'll figure it out with time.
You allow yourself to drift off to sleep soon afterwards, exhausted from the lengthy day that You have just endured. You think of how close You were to finding Evenor, and even though You did not cross her path, You know that You will find her soon. You pray silently for Janae's swift recovery, hoping that You will finally be able to see her open her eyes again soon…
boo
-Digital