You awaken at the start of the next moon and begin to prepare for the day ahead. Seraphine speaks to You along the way as per usual.
Seraphine: I feel much better now that we've had a bit of time to rest, but… I can't help feeling as if we should be continuing the search for Evenor, especially after everything we found last moon.
You nod your agreement, saying that You want to do all You can to help those who have been left to suffer by her past actions.
Seraphine: Maybe the others will have heard of any rumors that might point us in her direction. At this point, I think that anything would be helpful.
You nod once more before starting to move towards the cardinals' room. When You arrive, Cordelia and Roy are each holding a single piece of paper that You notice is a letter upon closer examination.
Nesreen: What I'm hearing from all of this is that Raithius and Magnolia have been in correspondence as well.
Niko: It certainly seems that way, though if you ask me, that's just going to end up helping us in the long run.
You ask what they are talking about.
Roy: We've received letters from both Magnolia and Raithius about potentially meeting up to provide reinforcements to one another.
Herwig: It seems as if they've finished with cleaning out the powers of Malice within Faerghus and Leicester respectively.
Reese: Which means that we've won the alliances we've been looking for, and we have a plan to get them too.
Jill: Both armies are going to need a bit more time to recuperate before we can fully come together and start charging forward, so we're going to meet up in a few weeks.
Cordelia: They suggested that we meet up in Gronder Field in the Empire before marching back to the monastery.
Adrian: In other words, we're going to be preparing ourselves for a battle in that area to try and free the Empire from Argades' control.
Aisa: The rebellion has been making more progress as of late, but we still must tread carefully if we wish to see victory in this battle.
Roy: That's true. We have no idea what he's going to do when we find ourselves in Empire territory, and we need to be careful.
Nesreen: Then we'll do all that we can to prepare for marching south over the next few weeks. With three armies combined, we'll be able to make quite a few significant strides.
Adrian: The plan has been settled. I think this is a great way for us to prepare for our proper march on the southern half of Fódlan.
Niko: As long as we're moving south, we might run into the rebels that have been trying to fight back against Argades up to this point too.
Herwig: As soon as they realize why it is that we're in Adrestia to begin with, I have no doubt that they'll try to help us out where they can.
Reese: Getting to Enbarr to eliminate Argades isn't going to be easy, I'm afraid. His defenses are simply too strong for us to charge ahead recklessly.
Jill: Then we'll handle this with all the care it merits even though it's not going to be simple. We need him gone sooner rather than later… Him and all of his accomplices.
You ask if any of them know where Evenor has disappeared to in the aftermath of her departure from the experiment building from the last battle.
Cordelia: I'm still trying to do all I can to learn more about her, but I'm afraid I haven't been able to track her down yet. The longer she remains at large, the worse our chances are, but finding her is much easier said than done.
You nod your understanding even though You do not like the idea of Evenor still being able to roam freely.
Roy: We're going to make sure that she's found soon enough though. Someone like that can't just remain at large. We can't let that happen.
Nesreen: I'll do what I can to keep extra ears across the Empire. I imagine that's where she's fled to as of late.
Jill: If Malice forces have been taken care of in both Faerghus and Leicester, that's her only option.
Reese: Given the fact that she's working with Samiya and Argades as part of this massive attacking force, it's not all that shocking.
Herwig: We can try to find her as we press towards Enbarr to get rid of Argades once and for all. Perhaps we'll run into Samiya along the way too.
Aisa: I have no doubt that Samiya will do all that she can to obstruct our path as we pursue Argades and the end of this war. She will not let us win any battle so easily.
Niko: So be it then. She should know what she's getting into, and she'll have to face it soon enough.
Adrian: Until then, all we can do is take things one step at a time, and right now, that means getting ready to meet Faerghus and Leicester's armies in Gronder.
Cordelia: You're right. Everyone should take the time we've been given to prepare themselves for a massive attack. I doubt that the Empire is going to let us get away with all of this without any pushback, so we need to make sure they don't come after us.
Roy: They're going to do that no matter what we try. Our best option is to simply be ready for whatever they decide to send in our direction, and that means that everyone must summon their strength and resolve before this gets out of hand.
Aisa: I am counting on all of you. Do all that you must in the name of securing your safety in the battle ahead. We need the aid found there, but we must tread carefully at the same time. Please… Be cautious.
You nod your understanding before leaving the cardinals' room behind. You retreat to your room, and Seraphine speaks to You along the way.
Seraphine: I'm glad that we've finally managed to get our hands on an alliance. This is going to make an attack on the Empire much easier… Though I suppose there's no way for us to avoid a full-scale war with the southern half of the continent.
You shake your head, saying that ship sailed the instant Argades came to sit upon the throne.
Seraphine: I suppose you're right… I hate that this is the path we've been forced to walk, but as long as we have no other choice, we must give the fight all that we have.
You nod your agreement.
Seraphine: Argades is going to rue the day he ever attacked Garreg Mach. Five long years have passed since that bitter battle, but we still feel its aftermath each day… As long as he still lives, this land cannot know peace.
You say that You are ready to fight him no matter what.
Seraphine: Even knowing what you do now? He claims to be the sole heir to the throne of Adrestia, and that means… You're related to him through your father.
You shake your head and say that blood and parentage mean little in these times. You will defeat Argades for all that he has done regardless of the blood You share.
Seraphine: Good. I'm glad to hear it. I don't think we have much of a choice no matter how you look at it, so at least you're prepared.
You say that You will give the next fight all that You have to secure the alliance as well.
Seraphine: I'm glad to hear it. I can already tell we're going to need all the fighting strength we can get… So for now, let's do all we can to ready ourselves.
You nod and begin your search of the monastery for the day. You start by moving towards the Officers Academy, finding Erika standing there.
Erika: I always wanted to come here as a student… The Officers Academy, that is. I never got the chance for a variety of reasons, but it's nice to think of what could have been had I been given this chance even though I know it can never be real now.
Herwig can be found nearby as well.
Herwig: I'm glad that Erika has been settling in well at the monastery. She may wind up staying here permanently after the war is over given how much has happened over the last few years… I suppose we'll simply have to see.
You move towards the training grounds, seeing Piers along the way.
Piers: It'll be nice to have a few other familiar faces around here with the alliance with Leicester and Faerghus. We're certainly going to be able to use their help. I hope they enjoy what we've made of this place over the last half a year.
You enter the training grounds, finding Kaeta inside.
Kaeta: It's going to be great to see Magnolia and Raithius again. It's been so long since we've had so many students here at the monastery at the same time… I suppose this is the closest we're going to get to a full reunion, huh? It's tragic, but… I know it's true.
You also speak with Falon here.
Falon: I hope Faerghus will be alright with Magnolia here. I know the country has been struggling a lot as of late… She's been doing her best to keep it afloat, but that's much easier said than done. I hope she can get a break from it all soon…
Lastly, You approach William.
William: Gronder Field… We haven't been there since the second mock battle we did as a class. It's been so long since then. It almost seems like we forgot about it in the haze of everything else that was going on… But we'll all be back together there soon. I know it.
You next set your sights on the lower floor of dorms, running into Florence along the way.
Florence: I feel like a massive weight has been lifted from my shoulders now that we've got other people coming to help us. I didn't realize how tense I was until now, but I'm going to take this as a victory… We're going to need it in order to take on the Empire's full strength.
Once You arrive there, You approach Kyle.
Kyle: I wonder how everyone has been doing over the last five years. I've spoken with Magnolia somewhat recently, but everyone in Leicester is a bit of a mystery to me. It's going to be nice to talk to them and finally catch up after the last five years.
You also speak with Illona here.
Illona: I really do want to be happy about being able to meet up with Magnolia again, but… I have a bad feeling about this. Argades still hasn't done anything, and I feel like it's just a matter of time. I'm hoping that I'm wrong, but… Only time will tell, I guess.
You talk to Adrian as well.
Adrian: I don't think I've ever seen Professor Tysera this stressed… But I know it's because she cares about her brother. I want to give her all the space she needs… I just hope she also understands that she can count on us whenever she needs anyone.
You ascend to the second floor of dorms and see Zelhira with a letter in her hand.
Zelhira: I've told my father all about what our current plan is. Perhaps it's a bit risky, but… I want to meet up with him and the rest of the rebels as soon as possible. They'll be helpful in marching south and taking on the Empire, and we could use the extra assistance even after all of this.
You return downstairs and enter the greenhouse, finding Raina examining the plants.
Raina: We don't have many plants like these in Faerghus… The land is mostly pretty desolate and cold, so we can't cultivate too many crops. It's nice to see how much variety the rest of the continent has… I barely ever left my estate before now, so this is refreshing in ways I never imagined.
You move toward the fishing hole, speaking with Nesreen once You arrive.
Nesreen: Argades has practically been ruling over the Empire with an iron fist the last five years… Though I suppose it's not all that different from how the previous emperor was handling things. Ironic, isn't it? Even with the throne and crown changing hands, some things just never change… Their hostilities are just a bit more apparent now.
You also find Cedric here.
Cedric: It's been far too long since I last had the chance to speak with Raithius. I'm looking forward to being able to see him again. I hope that he's been well… Especially given all that he's had to face over the last few years with the Canis stragglers. It's nice to have that mostly taken care of both between the last battle and the work he's already been up to.
Your next destination is the dining hall. There, You find and speak with Callisto.
Callisto: It's so strange… The last time we were in Gronder was five years ago when everyone was still a student. Everything seemed so happy and peaceful back then, but now… Well, I guess a lot can change in five years. I had been hoping we wouldn't reunite quite like this, but I suppose all we can do now is deal with the hand we've been given.
You see Yuliya here as well.
Yuliya: I guess all of our constant work towards this alliance is finally starting to pay off. About time if you ask me… Though this still does leave a lot of things up in the air. Here's to hoping this doesn't end too poorly for us… Marching on the Empire, that is.
You move into the gardens near the dining hall, finding Reese in the area.
Reese: I have an awful feeling that we're not going to be able to escape Argades' grasp for much longer. He hasn't done anything, but he's probably going to start pushing back when we go to Gronder. I mean, that's going to be the start of our campaign to march south… Ugh. Not a fan of that idea.
You next shift your focus towards the marketplace. Upon arriving, You speak with Wolfgang.
Wolfgang: My friend from Leicester, Calypso, is coming with Raithius when he arrives in the monastery. I'm looking forward to being able to see her again. It's been way too long since we last had the chance to talk in person.
You also talk to Aquillus once You arrive.
Aquillus: Marching into the Empire is no doubt going to earn us the attention of that rebel group that's been raising hell for Argades as of late. I wonder if they would be willing to help us in the future… We could certainly use the outside assistance.
You walk towards the stables next, seeing Cordelia there.
Cordelia: Once we meet up with the Kingdom and Alliance armies, we'll finally be ready to launch a coordinated attack on the Empire… I hope Magnolia and Raithius' forces will be enough for us to fully push back against Samiya. She's not going to let us win this war easily, and we need to be ready for whatever she decides to throw at us. We won't survive even a week without the help of Faerghus and Leicester.
You also find Miriam in the area.
Miriam: I've been working with a few spies among the Knights of Seiros to try and track down Evenor since she keeps getting away from us. I haven't found any traces of her yet, but I feel like we're getting closer to a breakthrough… She'll be gone soon. I can feel it.
You start towards the knights' hall, crossing paths with Rodain once You are inside.
Rodain: Back when I was a student at the Officers Academy, I fought in the Battle of Eagle and Lion in Gronder Field too. That was one of the best days of my life… It really is incredible how much things can change. I never thought I would be going back there… Much less under circumstances like this. But this is our new hope for the war, and we're going to fight for it.
You find Karim looking over the graveyard.
Karim: I can't help but wonder what's going to happen to the monastery after all of this is over. The war is changing everything about Fódlan, and there's no way of saying if anything will ever be the same again… I hope the Officers Academy reopens one day though. I think the next generation deserves something like that at the very least.
You move back towards the entrance hall, easily crossing paths with Wynne once You arrive.
Wynne: Argades isn't going to be happy about us marching into the Empire. I think the only reason he's left us alone at all is because he doesn't want to get into any skirmishes with us, but if we initiate… Well, diplomacy is about to be tossed out the window. Here's to hoping it doesn't end too poorly for us.
You also speak with Nora here.
Nora: I can only assume Luciana will be joining Magnolia when she comes our direction. It's going to be nice to be able to talk to her again. She's a nice woman. We haven't spoken much, though I suspect that's going to change as soon as she arrives here with Magnolia.
You find Lev next.
Lev: It's nice to know we have so many people on our side again. It's going to be just like old times when we were all still students in a way… You know, with the added downside of the war. It's the closest we're going to get, so I'm taking it.
You see Cassia tucked away on her own in the entrance hall.
Cassia: I can't stop thinking about what Argades might do if he decides to push up in our direction. The fact that he's been silent for so long tells me that he has to be planning something. I hope we aren't caught in the crossfire, but I think I already know exactly how that's going to end. Everyone else has to know as well.
Last but not least, You speak with Gabriel.
Gabriel: Now that I have a bit more freedom to explore the monastery, I'm seeing just how lovely this place is. Abyss is still my home through and through, but… It's nice to be able to step into the sunlight every once in a while, you know?
You move towards the reception hall from there, finding Adeline in the area.
Adeline: My parents were taken out of the equation in Leicester by Raithius. That means I can return there whenever I so desire… Though I don't know how I'm going to feel about returning home after all this time… It just doesn't feel right to me. I suppose I can think about that more in the future though… After all of this is over.
You also see Aestlyn here.
Aestlyn: I wonder what's going to come of the end of this war… I mean, we can't exactly call for peace right now. There's so much happening in the Empire, and Argades isn't going to come quietly as far as negotiations for peace are concerned… Maybe Fódlan is going to be without an Adrestian Empire for the first time since its founding. Imagine how different that would be…
You speak with Tuncay next.
Tuncay: My home village has luckily been spared under the current emperor's reign, though I think that's more chance than anything else. A lot of other people are still miserable. It's funny, in a way. No matter who's sitting on the throne at the peak of the Adrestian Empire, the people still hate them. It happened before, and it's happening again now. It's twisted, but it's hilarious.
You talk to Saias as well.
Saias: We've given Samiya enough time to lick her wounds now as far as I'm concerned… I hate having to say it, but she might come back soon. She's not going to just give up on fighting us that easily, so she has to be waiting for the time to strike… Ugh, I hate having to sit here in all of this suspense while I can't do a thing to fix it…
You shift your focus towards the cathedral from there, finding Derric on the bridge leading there.
Derric: When I was growing up, I never would have thought Fódlan could be swallowed by war so completely. I always thought continental war was something we had moved ages ago, that we could find common ground in other ways, but… War is what feeds the desires and coffers of the selfish and greedy. I was foolish for ever believing otherwise. This is simply where we stand now, and we have to fight to change it with all we have.
You see Sofia in the cathedral proper.
Sofia: Raithius says he's bringing my younger brother here to the monastery… I don't know how I feel about Conrad being placed in so much danger, but I suppose it's better than leaving him to his own devices back in Derdriu. I just hope he doesn't get into too much trouble once he gets here…
You make for Abyss next, finding Grey near the staircase bridging the above and below ground areas.
Grey: As it turns out, our big alliance might turn into an even bigger deal than we thought. Eli and Quinn are on their way back in our direction. We're going to be meeting up with them again in a few weeks. You have no idea how happy I am to hear that… Everyone else in Abyss feels the same way too. We've been waiting for ages, and I'm glad our patience has paid dividends.
You see Tsubasa in the Wilting Rose Inn next.
Tsubasa: Rumor has it Eli and Quinn are on their way back. It's been a while since most of us last saw them, so it'll be nice for them to be back here in Abyss again. We're all going to have to talk to them about how long their mission lasted though…
You also find Taiyin there.
Taiyin: I want to be excited about Eli and Quinn coming back, but I'm too worked up about Argades' constant silence. I can't seem to settle on being happy or terrified… Ugh, can't I just pick one for five seconds?
You see Magnus on Burrow Street near a stall.
Magnus: Hm… I know this is likely me being a touch dramatic, but I have to wonder what would happen if the monastery found itself under attack from the emperor once more. He likely won't launch an attack on us again so soon after Samiya's charge, but… It's something to consider.
You also find Ansel in the area, albeit a bit farther down.
Ansel: All of the Ashen Wolves are going to be back together here in Abyss soon… That's going to be nice. It's going to be a great way to break up the regular routine… After they get back here, I mean. We still need to wait a bit longer. Unfortunate.
You move to the second floor of the monastery from there, seeing Jill in the infirmary beside Quail's bed.
Jill: Are you feeling any better?
Quail: This is the best I've slept in years, so… Yes.
Jill: Good… No matter what happens, I want you to stay right here in the infirmary for a while longer. It's going to be a while before your energy fully returns, and I'm not going to let you push yourself.
Quail: Ever the type to suck out all of my fun, huh?
Jill: Fun can come after you can walk without stumbling.
Quail: I hate it when you're right…
Your next destination is the library, and You see Niko alone there.
Niko: The Empire is probably completely different from what we remember it being like. Bazler is gone and a bunch of other noble houses have fallen just in the last few months… It's certainly a lot to think about at once, though I hope this change sticks around. I don't want to go back to how things were before.
You find Hegias in the common room.
Hegias: We keep coming close enough to touch Evenor, but we can't ever quite see her ourselves… That record is going to break soon, I'm sure… She's probably hiding out in the Empire. That's the main place we've heard her being previously. I just hope we're ready to face her…
You see Roy in the cardinals' room.
Roy: I haven't been to Gronder in five years… Not since the mock battle all that time ago. Things have changed so much since then, and everyone who participated in that fight is now a full-fledged soldier… Time certainly enjoys playing tricks on us, doesn't it?
You move to the third floor of the monastery from there, seeing Janae in the garden looking out over the monastery.
Janae: As awful as this is for me to say, I can't stop thinking about Argades… I wonder if perhaps there would have been anything that could have changed the way he looked at the world. Maybe he didn't have to wage this war… I don't know. Perhaps I'm simply losing myself to the war's constant chaos. Pay me no mind.
You lastly make for the audience chamber, seeing Aisa staring up at the stained glass window found there.
Aisa: Our defenses have been fortified as much as possible in preparation for the march to Gronder Field. The last thing we can take is for someone to strike us from behind, so we must be ready… We will only have one chance to turn the tides while morale is this high. We must not waste the opportunity we have been granted.
You return to your room with your exploration of the monastery completed for the day.
Seraphine: It seems like the pieces are finally starting to come together… And if all goes well, we're going to take a chunk out of the Empire by the time the month draws to a close.
You nod, saying You are glad there finally appears to be a strategy in place.
Seraphine: All will be resolved soon with the war… I'm certain of it. Argades, Samiya, Evenor… They will fall with time, and we will act as the reaper's hand.
You settle down for the night soon afterwards, your mind drifting back to Gronder Field from five years prior. So much has changed since the Battle of the Eagle and Lion, and You have no idea what to make of it all. You wonder what the grand reunion will be like when the time finally comes, and your dreams are filled with the youthful faces of students both at your side and away, alive and dead…
This story is so close to 1.5M words with supports
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