When the start of the next moon arrives, You rise from your slumber and move towards the cardinals' room. Seraphine speaks to You all the while.
Seraphine: It's still so strange to think about… Everything changed so quickly for us, but I think this is the best possible outcome we could have seen.
You nod, saying that You are glad so many people have returned to the monastery at long last.
Seraphine: It feels like everything is the way it should have been from the beginning, and I love it… Now that we have this opportunity, we can't waste it no matter what. The others are counting on us, and we have to keep fighting for their sake.
You say that You intend to do everything You can to end the war for everyone that has recently arrived at the monastery.
Seraphine: And it all starts with marching south to find Evenor and Samiya and bring justice to them both… I get the feeling we're going to have a lot more success this time around though.
You nod your agreement as You arrive at the cardinals' room to speak with the rest of your allies. Cordelia looks up from the map at the center of the room when she notices your arrival.
Cordelia: Alright. Now that we're all here, I think we can solidify our plan for the next battle. I believe everything is in place now.
Herwig: We're still going to need to march south after all of this, right? We can't just stay where we are even if Argades is gone.
Niko: Honestly, Argades' death probably makes things easier for us more than anything else. We need all the advantages we can get when it comes to fighting the Empire.
Nesreen: Without a leader though, Samiya could try to take over. That's the risk we run by getting Argades off the throne.
Reese: There's no going back no matter what now anyways. He's dead, and we need to take this chance to charge into the Empire and take it back.
Jill: The good news is that most of the generals who once fought under Argades are gone now. The rebellion made sure of that much over the last few moons.
Roy: And that means all we need to do now is stop Samiya and Evenor before installing the Imperial princess on the throne.
Aisa: Samiya will not let us claim victory so easily. It simply is not in her nature. She is going to fight with everything she has until she can find the upper hand.
Adrian: Then we'll do everything we can to push back against her and stop all of this as soon as possible. She won't be able to keep up the defensive act forever.
Herwig: In fact, I believe our previous plan may still work out… It might not be what we initially intended, but I think it could work if we made a few minor adjustments.
Jill: We could start in Gronder and spread outwards from there to see if we can find anyone who might be able to point us in the right direction.
Nesreen: If we're lucky, they'll choose to confront us there and cut out all of the searching before it can even start. After all, once we get a hold on the Empire…
Niko: Everything should just fall right into place. It's not like they're going to be able to hold us off forever, you know?
Reese: In that case, we should tell everyone to prepare for a march to Gronder, and we'll see what comes of everything after that's been finished.
Adrian: I never would have thought everything would change direction so swiftly… As soon as Argades fell, it felt as if the entire tide of the war shifted course.
Roy: It did. We were originally planning on marching into the Empire for the primary purpose of getting rid of him and then using our newfound power there to find Evenor and Samiya. With him already gone though…
Cordelia: We don't need to worry about his forces yet. Even if Samiya tries to pull together an army from the remnants of the Imperial Malice forces, that's not going to be enough right away. She's going to need time to organize, and we can use that to make our next stand.
Aisa: We have been granted many powerful allies, and we must use them as much as we can as we press onwards. Samiya will not make this war an easy battle for us, and we need to proceed with caution.
Roy: We'll do all we can to prepare to face her as we make for Gronder. I don't know if she would be willing to step into the light to fight us so soon, but we need to be ready for anything.
Cordelia: She's unpredictable, and with the death of one of her closest comrades, she's on her back foot. We need to press the advantage, and it all starts with us pushing through Gronder and seeing what we can do from there.
Aisa: You are right… Everyone, we know what must be done now. Please… Do all that you can to remain safe as we prepare for this next battle. Samiya is not a woman of mercy, and I do not want any of you to be lost to the flames of her old wars of vengeance.
You shake your head and say that You will do all that You can to prepare and remain safe in the battle ahead.
Aisa: Thank you… Please spread the message to everyone else in the monastery. We will need as much help as we can get to reclaim the southern half of Fódlan from the grasp of Malice, and everyone must put in the effort to make that dream a reality.
Cordelia: It shall be done, Lady Ais.
Aisa: Thank you… The meeting is dismissed. Have a nice day, everyone.
You go to leave the cardinals' room from there, but You are stopped when You feel Aisa's eyes boring into the back of your head. You turn to face her, asking what is wrong.
Aisa: Perhaps it is simply my imagination, but… You seem lighter than before, as if a weight has been lifted from your shoulders.
You hesitate before saying that You have come to understand much more about your history since the last battle.
Aisa: I suspected as much… I saw you speaking with Chris in the cathedral late the night after the battle.
Your eyes go wide, and You ask if she overheard anything.
Aisa: No. I was too far away to hear anything, but… I could tell the discussion you were having was incredibly intense.
You nod, saying that You were discussing matters of great importance.
Aisa: I see… Regardless of what you were talking about, I am glad to see that you are feeling better today. I did not anticipate it, but… You deserve to feel better after all that you have been through.
You smile, thanking her for the kind words.
Aisa: But of course. It is the least I can offer to you.
You leave the cardinals' room from there, starting your walk back to your room.
Seraphine: I suppose all we have left now is to find out just what Evenor can tell us… After you were pulled away from Janae and the other occupants of the palace, you were with Evenor for a few years. She has to be the one to fill in the rest of the gaps.
You say that You can sense You will face off against her soon.
Seraphine: Yes… I can feel that as well. I can only hope that we are ready to face it when the time arrives. She's waiting for us… And we need to be the ones to strike her down for the good of all we know and love.
You arrive in your room soon after and set out for your exploration of the monastery. You first find Zelhira and Liram in the courtyard of the Officers Academy.
Zelhira: Ah, Professor. Perfect timing. I was hoping I could take this chance to introduce you to my father, Liram von Schlarzer.
Liram: It's a pleasure to meet you. I've heard a lot about you from Zelhira.
Zelhira: He's been spending the last few months helping out with the rebellion in Adrestia, and now that all of that seems to be taken care of for now, here he is.
Liram: I'm glad we were able to wrap up all the loose ends by taking Argades out of the picture. We still have a long battle ahead of us in Adrestia, but this is a step in the right direction.
Zelhira: I agree. This is exactly what needs to be done.
Liram: And I'm happy to be able to do it with you.
Zelhira: Gods above… You're really never going to stop embarrassing me, are you?
Liram: Not as long as I can help it.
You also see William in the area.
William: It's nice having so many people back in the monastery again. It's almost hard to believe this place was completely abandoned just a year ago… Who would have thought we could bounce back like this? It's amazing.
You move to the training hall from there, finding Kaeta inside.
Kaeta: I don't know who I thought would be leading the rebellion in the Empire, but it certainly wasn't the princess herself, back from the dead. I suppose that's what all of us get for making assumptions after the Battle of Garreg Mach. At least we've corrected that mistake now, and we're all together again as we should be.
You also cross paths with Yuliya there.
Yuliya: I'm impressed everything turned out the way it did after a battle like that. I was honestly under the impression that last fight was going to do us in, but it seems I was wrong… We got lucky above all else, but I'm certainly not complaining.
Your next destination is the lower floor of dorms, but along the way, You see Florence near the set of stairs leading up to the sauna.
Florence: Now that Argades is gone, I suppose everything in the Empire is going to return to the way it was before all of this. You know, a dead emperor and a princess to succeed him… Though I think this time is going to end much better than the last one. We won't let something that awful happen again.
You see Karim just outside the sauna.
Karim: I'm glad we were all able to come together again. If I'm being honest, things were a bit dicey there in the Kingdom. I don't know how the Alliance was faring specifically, but Magnolia had to deal with a lot of attempts on her life over the last few years. I'm glad she was able to push through it each time though… For her sake and everyone else's, that is.
You walk back down the stairs, and You speak with Sofia and Conrad near the dorms.
Sofia: I suppose now is as good a time as any to do this. Professor, this is my younger brother, Conrad.
Conrad: Uh… Hello, I guess.
Sofia: He's not exactly used to all of this, though I suppose no one is. He's been staying in Derdriu ever since House Ruden fell, and now… Here he is. Though I would prefer it if he didn't fight given the circumstances…
Conrad: I do know how to handle myself in a battle, you know. I've grown a lot from the little kid you once knew me to be.
Sofia: I know, I know… Just try to stay out of trouble, alright?
Conrad: Ugh… You're being really annoying about this.
Sofia: What else are sisters for?
You also find Nesreen here.
Nesreen: We have a lot of spies currently in the field trying to figure out where Samiya and Evenor are hiding, but to the surprise of no one, they're much better at keeping themselves hidden than any of us would have liked. It's going to take a while before we can track them down, as much as I hate to say it… How obnoxious.
You cross paths with Nora next.
Nora: Pooling the resources of every ruling power in Fódlan is going to make these upcoming battles much easier. I mean, we don't have much from the Empire, but it's a start. The campaign south should increase our supplies as well. It seems the days of constant budgeting and worrying on all fronts are behind us at long last.
You enter the greenhouse and speak with Aestlyn inside.
Aestlyn: It feels like the world is a lot brighter now that everyone is here together again. We planned that class reunion so long ago, and now… It feels like a lifetime ago, but we still all found our ways back to the monastery. It's not what we expected, but I'm glad for it… Finally, it feels like things might be okay again one day.
You also approach Adeline in the greenhouse.
Adeline: Putting off this Gronder campaign is just making me antsy… I don't think I'm looking forward to going back there after all this time because of how much has changed since we were last there, but I can't change it now… We just need to grin and bear it.
You ascend to the second floor of dorms, finding Aquillus in his room.
Aquillus: Now that all of us are back together, we should have a bit more effort in pushing through to the end of this war… Or so I'm hoping. We've had no luck in finding Evenor after all this time, and I'm starting to worry that we may not find her easily… She's an irritating woman, isn't she?
Cassia can also be found in her bedroom.
Cassia: News of Samiya's existence has spread quickly throughout the new arrivals. Everyone seems to have a lot of questions about it, myself included, though I suppose that comes with the territory… Perhaps Lady Aisa will open up about her more one day. I'm hoping for that, at the very least.
You go back downstairs and walk towards the fishing hole, crossing paths with Erika there.
Erika: It's nice being able to meet all of the students my brother once taught here at the Academy. He's told me quite a bit about them, but seeing them in person is something different entirely. I must confess that it's nice though, and it's a great break from all the chaos we've seen recently.
You also speak with Hegias here.
Hegias: A lot of spies have been coming and going as of late… I know exactly who they're trying to find, but that doesn't help my anxiety much. I want to speak with Evenor the same way you do, but… I don't know. I can't seem to stop my nerves no matter how hard I try.
Last but not least, You approach Lev.
Lev: I honestly anticipated the combined forces of Fódlan's northern half leading a long, gruesome campaign in order to finally reach Argades… I'm glad we don't need to do that now, but it still feels strange to say that he's gone. After all the suffering he's caused… It's just over. I never thought it would come to this.
Inside the dining hall, You find Raithius and Novalee engaged in conversation.
Raithius: With Argades out of the picture, it should be much easier for us to win this war.
Novalee: I'm hoping for that as well. Still, there are a few rogue elements for us to plan around…
Raithius: Then let them come. I have no idea what specifically this Samiya character is up to, but Evenor won't be able to do much as long as she's on her own.
Novalee: She's the sort who won't take kindly to being cornered.
Raithius: It's a shame we're not going to give her a choice in the matter. We'll see how she likes that.
Novalee: It's going to require quite the impressive plan in order to pin them both down… Do you think you're up to the challenge?
Raithius: Ha! You don't need to ask at all.
Novalee: Perhaps I wanted to.
Raithius: Just to get under my skin? You wound me, Nova!
Novalee: I need to have a little bit of fun every once in a while.
Raithius: You're heartless…
You also see Wolfgang speaking with Calypso here.
Wolfgang: Ah, Professor! Just the person I was hoping to see! As long as I have you here, I'd like you to meet Calypso. She's an old friend of mine.
Calypso: It's a pleasure to meet you… Though friend is certainly an interesting way of phrasing our relationship.
Wolfgang: It's complicated. What did you want me to say?
Calypso: I don't know. You've always had a flare for the dramatic, so why not spice it up a bit?
Wolfgang: You're ridiculous sometimes, you know that?
Calypso: Perhaps.
Wolfgang: Fine then. This is Calypso, my valuable companion and informant in all matters of war and love.
Calypso: That's more like it.
Wolfgang: Of course it is.
The last person You speak with here is Rodain.
Rodain: It's going to be nice fighting alongside the Alliance army. I haven't had the chance to do that in a long time despite coming from the Alliance. It'll be like a little taste of home before the war ends, and I think that's something all of us need.
You move to the marketplace from there, finding Callisto in the area.
Callisto: You can only imagine how shocked I was when I first learned Chris was alive. But… Now that Argades is gone and we're all here… I'm really glad we were given the chance to fight together again. A lot has changed since the last attack on the monastery Argades led five years ago, but this is the way it should have ended. It's a shame it took us five years to get here.
You also speak with Illona here.
Illona: I've been asking around in the nearby town to see if anyone has any hints about where Evenor could be. It might not be much, but I need to at least do something. I'm going to feel restless if I don't try. Besides… I have a bit of a score to settle with her, at least in the vaguest sense possible. It's complicated.
Your next destination is the stables, and You find Cedric in the area.
Cedric: The final battle in the Alliance was a personal one for Raithius… It was a bitter ending to the fighting there, but at least we were able to prevail. Now, Leicester will finally have a chance to know peace… It's a shame it came at such a high price.
You also speak with Wynne here.
Wynne: It's nice to see so many new mounts here in the stable. I mean, they're not necessarily new, but since everyone from the Kingdom, Alliance, and Empire rebellion are back here, we've got a few old faces back where we can see them. It's sweet, I must admit.
You make for the knights' hall, and You speak with Cordelia upon arriving.
Cordelia: Meeting up with the other leaders should make things much easier for us from here on out… Though I do worry about the Empire even now. Samiya remains at large, and the Empire hasn't had the time to stabilize itself again after Argades' death. The last thing I want is for her to slide in and try to take advantage of the chaos, though I suppose we'll just have to see where this goes in time.
You speak with Piers here as well.
Piers: It was only by some serious stroke of luck that the Alliance and Kingdom forces passed close enough to the monastery to save us when they did. It's the fastest way to get to Gronder, yes, but it could have been catastrophic had they not come at that time… We owe a lot to them, though I suppose neither one of them plans on keeping score given the current circumstances.
Outside the knights' hall near the graveyard, You see Adrian and Luciana engaged in conversation.
Adrian: It's nice to be able to see you again, Luciana. It feels like it's been ages since we were last able to talk this way.
Luciana: I agree. I was glad to see that you were doing alright during that last battle, though we didn't truly have the chance to talk about all that has happened in the last few years.
Adrian: I never would have expected to find you again under a situation like that. You've spent the last few years in Fhirdiad then, huh?
Luciana: I have, as a matter of fact.
Adrian: Then tell me all about it. I'd love to know.
Luciana: Of course, but only if you would be willing to share your story of the last few years in return. It feels like it's been much too long since we had the opportunity to speak this way.
Adrian: That's something we can agree on.
You move to the entrance hall next, finding Magnolia speaking with Falon there.
Magnolia: It's nice to finally be back here in the monastery again. I feared it would be much longer before I was able to return.
Falon: I feel the same way. It's nice to have everyone in the same place the way we were five years ago.
Magnolia: So much has changed since then, but seeing them all here once more… It puts a smile on my face.
Falon: No matter how much changes, it seems like a few things will always remain the same.
Magnolia: Precisely… And I hope we can find peace together sooner rather than later.
You also move to speak with Miriam in the entrance hall.
Miriam: The search for Evenor is taking much longer than we would have initially liked, though I suppose that's what comes with the territory as far as dealing with her is concerned. She's always been just out of reach… But I'm going to try my best to find her as soon as possible. I swear it.
In the reception hall, You approach Raina.
Raina: I don't think I've ever seen this many different people in one place… My life back home was rather sheltered, no doubt because of my uncle wanting to cover his tracks, but it's nice to be able to step beyond that for a short while. It's not under the best of circumstances, but this is still nice, so I'm going to enjoy it as long as I have the opportunity to do so.
You find Polly and Morgana speaking here as well.
Morgana: You must be the professor I've heard so much about… It's a pleasure to finally meet you.
Polly: This is my older sister, Morgana.
Morgana: I… I heard you know our brother as well, and I want to take this opportunity to tell you that you don't need to worry about him anymore. We're all going to be safe from him from here on out.
Polly: Let's just say that he's been taken care of and leave it at that.
Morgana: You don't need to fear seeing him again. That's what matters most.
Inside the cathedral, You find Kyle.
Kyle: I still can't believe Argades is really gone… I don't think I would have actually been ready to lead a massive campaign into the Empire, but that's what I thought we were in for. It feels so strange to know that it's all ending before it can even begin because… Well… He's gone. I can't tell if we lucked out or not given all the uncertainty we're facing now.
You see Tuncay as well.
Tuncay: Chris and I have done a lot of talking since we first met up again. It was nice to be able to see her again, and… I'm glad that we can fight side by side after all the time spent apart.
You comment on how Tuncay said Chris' name correctly.
Tuncay: What are you talking about? I've always said her name like this.
You attempt to protest before realizing that Tuncay has already made up their mind, stopping your protests immediately.
Tuncay: The point of all this is that I'm really glad she didn't die five years ago. I… I don't like thinking about where I would be now if that was really how it had all ended.
You find Chris looking up at the fallen statue of the goddess just as she did during your previous conversation.
Chris: You seem lighter now that we've had the chance to talk about all of this. I'm glad we were able to share the truth, but… I hope it doesn't drag you down too much when you have to fight Evenor. I might not be able to tell you much about what your time with her was like, but we can't hold back when we finally find her… In the name of all the children she tortured for the sake of her twisted greed.
You assure her that You will not hold anything back when the battle arrives.
Chris: Good. I would expect no less.
You approach Janae next.
Janae: I hope Chris and I can get to know each other a bit better in the future. Our circumstances make it seem as if we would be enemies, but I refuse to let our different relationships to Hendrix get in the way of our lives now. He's been gone too long for him to continue to drag us down… We deserve better than that.
You descend into Abyss from there, having finished your business on the main floor of the monastery. You see Grey soon after arriving in Abyss.
Grey: Things have already started to calm down now that Eli and Quinn are back. This was just what everyone needed… And it's nice to have everyone back here in Abyss again. It's been much too long, and we've more than earned it at this point. Plus, we'll be stronger when it comes to pushing forward into the Empire. No matter who tries to counter us, we'll give it our all. I promise you.
You also find Gabriel near the entrance to the underground town.
Gabriel: I guess the one responsible for Bazler's death must have been Chris… She was the one behind the rebellion in the Empire, after all. I might have to go and thank her for that later… I mean, I'm certain everyone is grateful for his death, but I still think I need to say something to her personally. It's important to me that I do, at the very least.
In the library, You speak with Ernst.
Ernst: I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders now that Eli and Quinn have returned. It's nice to have everyone back together again, and I doubt we're going to be splitting up again for quite some time. It's like everything is back to the way it should be, and… I love it.
You move to the Wilting Rose Inn, finding Tsubasa there as usual.
Tsubasa: Now that we have so many important figures at the monastery, I imagine we're all going to have a much easier time getting our hands on supplies. The war might be nearing its end, but we still need all the help we can possibly get until then. Even if we run short though, we have our good old defenders back to boost morale, and that has to count for something.
On Burrow Street, You approach Saias.
Saias: I didn't realize how much anxiety I was constantly carrying around until after all of the Ashen Wolves reunited. It's like being away from each other was dragging me down… I suppose that's the power of friendship, huh? Once you find people, you never really want to let go of them.
You find Ansel here as well.
Ansel: It's nice having all of the Ashen Wolves back here… I was never really as much of a professor to them as I could have been, but I still missed not having everyone here in Abyss. Seeing everyone here again was certainly a pleasant surprise, and I hope nothing happens to break that now… As ridiculous as it sounds, I missed them a lot, and I know I will again if they ever leave once more.
On Chrysalis Row, You find Magnus.
Magnus: All that remains for us is to defeat Samiya and Evenor at this point. It all sounds so simple when you say it that way, but I think we all know it's not going to be that easy. Nothing ever is these days… But they're not going to be at large forever. We simply won't allow that.
You speak with Taiyin just outside the trash room.
Taiyin: It's going to be strange heading to bed tonight with an extra person there. I got so used to resting on my own, but now that we're all back here in Abyss… Quinn finally gets to join me in our room again. It's nice, and… I've really missed that, a lot more than I would have ever expected myself to.
In the Ashen Wolves' classroom, You find Eli and Quinn speaking with one another.
Eli: It's nice to be back in Abyss again after all this time. I didn't realize just how much I had missed the people here until I returned…
You ask what he and Quinn have been doing over the last few months.
Quinn: We were doing all that we could to pursue the people behind the attacks in Abyss five years ago. We finally managed to defeat them, and we were thinking of turning our attention towards Evenor next, but…
Eli: We couldn't find her no matter how hard we searched. In the end, we decided to return here, and I'm glad we did. It seems everyone else is having trouble finding her as well.
Quinn: At least we can help here from now on.
Eli: Exactly.
After speaking to all of the Ashen Wolves, You make your way to the second floor of the monastery. You enter Roy's office and speak with him first.
Roy: I initially feared Samiya would take advantage of the power vacuum left behind by Argades to try and claim the Adrestian capital, but it seems she's not moving in that direction yet… She must have something else in mind for now. If only we knew what it was…
You also find Herwig in his office.
Herwig: I'm really happy Chris is alright… I truly did fear she was gone forever after the battle five years ago, and… Living with the guilt was getting to be too much for me. At least she's here now… Thank the goddess for smiling upon us today.
Reese is in his room as well.
Reese: I heard from Jill that Quail is improving as of late. She's still staying with him as much as possible, but he's doing much better. It's going to be a while before he's fully recovered from what happened to him previously, but it's a step in the right direction at least.
When You find Jill, she is sitting beside Quail's bed in the infirmary.
Quail: I'm glad you were able to take care of the attack on the monastery before it could get any worse…
Jill: You were afraid of the invaders getting inside, weren't you?
Quail: It's not like there's much I can do right now. I can't fight when I'm in a state like this.
Jill: That's true… But I'll be here to look after you for as long as you need it, alright? You don't need to fear anything else now.
Quail: I know… You've always been good at looking after people…
You move to the library, finding Niko and Derric engaged in conversation there.
Niko: I feel like I should thank Chris, Polly, and the rest of the rebellion for getting rid of our parents before coming in our direction.
Derric: I never would have thought they of all people would be behind our parents' deaths, but… I'm glad to finally understand the truth.
Niko: I feel the same way… Though I don't know if this is ever really going to get any easier to deal with.
Derric: These things take time. Nobody is going to dare to imply otherwise.
Niko: No… I suppose not… It's just a lot to think about, you know?
Derric: Yes… I understand completely.
Lastly, You move to the audience chamber, speaking with Aisa there.
Aisa: Samiya is going to move soon enough. We have not seen any activity from her or Evenor, but I am certain that she is planning something. I want to try and remain one step ahead of her, but when we understand so little about her actions… I suppose we will simply have to wait for her to move first and then react accordingly.
With your rounds of the monastery complete for the day, You retreat to your room, your eyelids feeling heavy.
Seraphine: It still feels strange to walk around the monastery and see everyone back here after five years… I really didn't think this would ever happen again, but here we are.
You nod and say that You are glad to have finally reunited with everyone as well.
Seraphine: I feel much stronger now that everybody is back here as well… I can only hope that will be enough for us to end this war.
You say that You will ensure that is the case no matter what.
Seraphine: That's the spirit!
You settle down for the night soon afterwards, your eyes fluttering shut along the way. You can sense a large battle is waiting on the horizon, and You can only hope that it will lead You back to Evenor after all this time spent searching. From there, You will only need to seek out Samiya, and even if that is bound to be easier said than done, You are satisfied with where You stand at the moment. You have never been closer to peace, and You want to enjoy this glory for as long as You have the chance…
finished first batch of supports over on ao3 (digitaldreams)
-Digital
