After defeating Martel and making it through the woodlands, Jin and company face the blizzards common of Ilia's winters. Ilia's harsh weather has in the past served as a natural defense against invaders. In this blizzard, Sigune, captain of a pegasus knight squad working for Bern, makes preparations to attack Jin and his troops...

(Inside the castle.)

Pegasus Knight: Captain! The enemy has arrived. They are just beyond the mountains.

Sigune: It begins.

Pegasus Knight: Captain, are you sure?

Sigune: About what?

Pegasus Knight: The Eturian Army says they will liberate us from Bern. They say they'll give us our independence...

Sigune: You can't be fool enough to believe that. No one fights a war without gain. Once they defeat Bern, they intend to take over. It will be the same.

Pegasus Knight: But...

Sigune: Bern are the better allies. They are more experienced in warfare.

Pegasus Knight: ...

Sigune: Come now, we have more immediate problems. We Much eliminate the enemy that lies before us. Are the ballistae ready?

Pegasus Knight: Yes, the archers are all at their stations.

Sigune: Good! Fire at them from a distance. They'll be floundering around in the dark of this powerful blizzard. Observe nature's wrath...

(Outside.)

Jin: Such powerful wind and hail... I can barely see in front of me.

Niime: Ilia's winters are always like this. If you want to fight in this weather, you'll have to put up with it.

Jin: We can't allow Bern time to regroup. We must attack now.

Niime: You're right. If the demon dragon is victorious, it could be the end of us all.

Jin: I've been wondering... Do you think the demon dragon is in human form as well?

Niime: It seems probable. It could be that all dragons in this realm are in human form. I've even heard stories of dragons in human form living with people.

Jin: Arcadia...

Niime: Hm? What did you say?

Jin: Er, nothing.

Niime: I don't know much about the details, but I've read that dragons only began to take human form after the Ending Winter.

Jin: The Ending Winter...

Niime: I expect you've heard of it.

Jin: Yes, but only in legend. I learned that in the Ending Winter, the laws were all warped. Day became night, and summer became winter.

Niime: That's it. The scrolls I read are so timeworn that I couldn't decipher all of them. But one thing is clear. The Ending Winter was a disaster powerful enough to bend and twist the whole planet.

Jin: What caused it?

Niime: Nobody knows for certain... Legends say it happened when the dragons released vast amounts of magical power, but nobody is sure what really happened. In any case, it is a certainty that dragons began to take human form after the Ending Winter. I don't believe it is mere coincidence.

Jin: I agree.

Niime: Either way, the truth lies in Bern.

(A Battle begins. 13 minutes pass. Inside the castle.)

Pegasus Knight: Captain! Other pegasus knight squads are on their way to assist us!
Sigune: Really? They will help immensely. I almost feel bad for the enemy... They'll be in a panic when they're suddenly attacked from all directions. They won't see them coming in this snowstorm...
(A few minutes pass. Jin vists a Village.)
Village: You would come to such an isolated place as this...? The prophecies were correct... When the world is covered in darkness... A single blade of wind will slice through the darkness, allowing the light to shine again. (Jin received Aircalibar. A few minutes pass. Jin vists another village.)
Village: I've pondered a lot about whether I should give in to Bern... But I've made up my mind. I'll hold strong. Take this ring. It brings out your inner strength. ... Please bring peace back to this land.
(Jin received Energy Ring. A few minutes pass. Jin vists a house.)
House: You know about the ballista to the east, right? We're out of range here, but that shop over there isn't...
(A few minutes pass. Jin vists another house.)
House: You go up against the Ivory Devil Sigune. I wish you luck. The Ilian pegasus knights can fly through the blizzard. You'll be blinded by the white... and then they'll suddenly appear out of the swirling snow. But when that happens it's too late... You're already dead...
(A few minutes pass. Jin vists another house.)
House: Bern's headquarters's in Ilia? Um, I think it was Edarza... Edetta... Edessa! That's it. It's to the northeast.
(A few minutes pass. Jin approaches Sigune.)

Sigune: So... You've made it through the blizzard. Congratulations. Unfortunately, the only prize that awaits you is death.
(Jin and Sigune fight. A few minutes pass. Jin defeats Sigune.)
Sigune: ... Dear me... I didn't anticipate perishing here... But perhaps... I was already dead... Perhaps I died... a long... time ago."

(A few minutes pass. Jin Seizes the gate and ends the battle. Inside the castle.)

Jin: Merlinus, I need you to send this letter to Father Yoder in Etruria.
Merlinus: A letter? May I ask what it says?
Jin: It has the information I learned from Niime about the dragons.
Merlinus: Oh? What did you learn?
Jin: It would take too long to tell you. I haven't sealed the letter yet, so you can look through it if you'd like.
Merlinus: Very well, I think I will...
(Merlinus leaves, Guinivere appears.)

Guinivere: ...
Jin: Is there something wrong, Princess Guinivere?
Guinivere: ... I wish to tell you about my brother.
Jin: ... You don't mind?
Guinivere: No... I want you to know before we enter Bern... I want you to know the tragedies that have occurred. You asked before if my brother murdered our father.
Jin: Yes...?
Guinivere: To be frank... he did.
Jin: King Zephiel killed his own father to seize the throne...
Guinivere: No!
Jin: No?
Guinivere: Our father tried to kill Zephiel first.
Jin: What?! Then King Zephiel...
Guinivere: He couldn't bear the abuse he took from our father. So he...
Jin: What...? Why did-
(Merlinus appears.)

Merlinus: The dragons are mysterious creatures indeed... Hm? What is the matter?
Guinivere: It is nothing... Perhaps later...
(Guinivere leaves.)

Merlinus: ... Did I appear at a bad time?
Jin: No, It's fine. Did you send the letter?
Merlinus: Yes, I sent it off after reading through it.
Jin: Thank you.
(Merlinus leaves.)

Jin: ... Why did the king try to murder his own son...?