Blood was smothered on the blade as the hands that held it trembled in shock. He tried to stop it, tried to prevent it, but it all happened too fast. There lay the body, still and lifeless, and it was his fault.

Sol didn't realize at first how much he had been thrashing in his sleep, tossing and turning like a tidal wave as nightmares plagued his mind and forced him awake in a cold sweat.

He found himself on a large, comfortable bed in a clean and lavish room decorated with colorful ornaments and figurines of animals, people and objects. Not far from him was an open patio with white curtains blowing gently in the wind as they revealed a grand white city below, its beautiful architecture shining in the afternoon sun. It was a very peaceful atmosphere, but he did not feel at peace.

Sol concluded that he was in a tower that overlooked the Holy City and capitol, Geofu, and that the convoy had made it. He took a moment to gather himself, recollecting the past events. He remembered the fanatical rants of Father Gaul, the first of the traitors, as he fought alongside Alicia. He remembered leaving her side as she stayed behind to fight Red, the second traitor. He remembered saving Prim from Johan, the third and last traitor, and he remembered being stabbed by his poisonous dagger.

Sol eagerly removed his sheets to look at where he had been stabbed but saw that he had been covered in fresh bandages.

A woman's voice then called out. "The poisonous effect may have worn off, but I advise you not to move around too much, considering you've only just arrived yesterday,"

Sol looked to where the voice came from and he saw a young woman kneeling in front of a small golden statue resembling an angel, though it was no deity he recognized. She was dressed in a red and white robe that appeared ceremonial. Her short black hair was decorated with a strange golden ornament that resembled the sun. She was certainly beautiful in appearance, though she displayed little emotion. Everything about her seemed foreign, which intrigued Sol.

"Guessing you're my healer," Sol remarked as he sat up and rubbed his face, surprised that his red scarf had remained on the entire time. "You are Lady Kaguya, another Princess Knight, are you not?"

His assumption was correct as Kaguya stood from her position and faced him, bowing in respect.

"It is my calling to help those in need," she said. "I've dealt with my fair share of patients, but you certainly were a case. The dagger you were stabbed with was covered in the venom of a basilisk. It took a tremendous amount of effort to save you, and you would have died if your comrades had not brought you to me."

Sol nodded, relieved that he had cheated death once more, though he counted on losing his luck eventually.

"Speaking of whom, where are they?" Sol asked.

"You mean the Kuroinu, or Lady Prim?" she retorted. Sol was surprised that Prim was mentioned. "All of them were eager to get you to safety, but I'm sure they'll be relieved to hear you're doing well. Your band of mercenaries are resting in the nearby guild. And Lady Prim is with Lady Alicia at the hospital. She was also wounded, but has made a quick recovery."

Sol was surprised that so much had happened in a relatively short amount of time. He was slightly concerned that Alicia was hurt, but also found it mildly annoying that he would think about her well being.

Relieved to hear that all was well, he grunted in satisfaction as he stared out the open patio, looking down on the white city. Though he was rarely one to praise, he couldn't help but feel enamored by it's glory.

"Before you awoke, you were having nightmares, no?" Kaguya asked Sol. "You were moving around profusely in your sleep, as if you were being attacked."

Her question threw Sol off, but he couldn't deny that the guilt still gnawed at his conscience.

"I was just hot, thats all," Sol answered as he tried to brush off her question.

Kaguya stared at Sol curiously, seeing his answer as a means of hiding his true feelings. "You appear to harbor feelings of distress or guilt. As a result, you give answers of irreverence and snide when asked about your abnormality. I've seen cases like yours before, Sir Varron."

Sol scoffed as he replied with a sharp tone. "Well, in my case, its just thick blankets and heated body temperature. I'm not suffering from any traumatic experiences, so stop assuming things you know nothing about."

Kaguya had no reaction to Sol's remark. Instead, she calmly paced towards the open patio, looking outside as she stood beside his bed.

"Before I became a Princess Knight to Lady Celestine, I was but a simple priestess," she explained.

"Then one day, God's voice called out to me and told me to travel here and give my service. I had no idea what to expect, but I obeyed nonetheless, and so my journey has led me to this broken country. In the time spent here, I've helped many who were affected by the war. I gave shelter to those who lost their homes. I grieved with those who have lost loved ones. I gave encouragement to those who had lost all hope. But even with my aid and the aid of the Alliance, there were those who had felt they were simply beyond any kind of help."

Kaguya then turned her gaze towards Sol, her strong brown eyes meeting his crimson dull ones.

"If I may, Sir Varron, instill some words of encouragement. Behind that red scarf and the sharp tone you give, I sense you hide strong feelings. I do not wish for you to burden yourself with negative feelings, for it will only lead you down a path of self destruction."

Sol shrugged off Kaguya's words as he turned away to avoid her stare. "You'd quickly change your opinion if I confessed everything to you. Which, if you're trying to make me- don't. So save your generosity for someone else."

Kaguya saw behind his dead expression a kind of sadness, one that harbored guilt, but sensing that she could do no more, she did not press any further.

The bedroom door suddenly swung open, startling Sol and Kaguya, as a petite girl rushed in. She wore a brown leather one piece with a large green cape draped over her back and a large green hat that covered her short, curly orange hair. Her joyous and eccentric expression terrified Sol as she rushed to greet him.

"Hey!" she shouted gleefully. "Is that him? Is that the thug who fought off the orcs in Halem?! He's the one that saved Lady Prim from the mean bad guys too, right?!"

"Lady Lulu, please," Kaguya tried to calm her. "Sir Varron is still recovering from his wounds, and you mustn't call your guests such slander. You need to better behave yourself as a Princess Knight."

"Bah, who cares about any of that?!" she snorted. "I wanna see how tough this guy is! He looks like a scrawny little worm though!"

"Talk about who's little," Sol said deadpanned.

The stories he heard about the Princess Knight Lulu were true. Despite being the second oldest of Lady Celestine's knights, she was also the most childlike, in both appearance and personality. Dwarves aged considerably slower, and so their mindset matured just as slowly, but their tenacity and ferocity in combat was uncontested, not to mention their incredible craftsmanship.

Lulu stuck her tongue out at Sol as she taunted him. "You should fear me, the all mighty Lulu, for I have the strength of a thousand men! A simpleton such as yourself cannot comprehend the majesty in front of you!"

Sol groaned in annoyance. "Don't think I can comprehend your egoistic nature either."

Kaguya sighed as she refrained Lulu from getting any closer to Sol.

"I'm sure Sir Varron appreciates your enthusiasm, but you must let him recover. And you know we must meet with Lady Celestine soon."

Lulu heaved as she conceded. "Alright, fine, I'll let the worm be in peace. I just have one question for him though."

She marched up to Sol, her carefree expression turning a bit more serious as she showed him a shard of broken steel charred black with soot.

"Recognize this?" she asked him.

Sol nodded. "I do. It's the fragmentation of a used Grapeshot."

Lulu grinned at Sol's answer. "I knew it! You're quite familiar with my inventions then, aren't you?"

Kaguya was confused by Lulu's enthusiasm. "Why so happy, my lady?"

"The little worm here has proven that my inventions work!" Lulu explained as she leapt for joy. "I've combined several alchemical properties to invent these new weapons I call 'bombs', and they come in many variety. The Samum bomb, for instance, can blind opponents when the orange chemicals contained inside are rapidly exposed to oxygen. Or the Devil's Puffball that releases a white cloud of suffocating smoke. My particular favorite is the Grapeshot- just a huge, giant explosion strong enough to destroy even castle walls!"

Sol shrugged nonchalantly as he added on to Lulu's explanation. "They are expensive to make though, given the alchemical properties needed to produce them, and dangerous if used incorrectly. However, they're valuable in situations that call for stealth operations and unorthodox tactics. Your inventions have proven useful to me time and again, Lady Lulu."

Lulu grinned at Sol's praise. "I'm happy that someone appreciates and understands their usefulness. So, I have a proposition for you- come find me once you've recovered, and we shall discuss supply and demand for your arsenal! I'm sure you're gonna need to restock on them again."

Sol's face beamed in delight, his dull crimson eyes becoming slightly brighter than usual and his dead expression becoming more lively. "I'd be honored, my lady."

Lulu grinned one final time before leaving Kaguya and Sol alone.

"Seems she's very fond of you," Kaguya remarked, to which Sol simply brushed off.

"At any rate, it seems you've recovered some of your strength. I must attend to other matters but will return to check on you. Is there anything you request from me upon my return?"

Sol took a moment to think before giving an answer.

"Strawberries would be nice."

Everyone had told Alicia that it was not her fault, that it was a soldier's duty to die. Yet it did not make her feel any less guilty.

She watched as the medical wards and nuns carried a stretcher containing the body of Raysocki, one of her most devoted soldiers, from the emergency room towards the morgue. He had succumbed to his wounds before they could reach Geofu. Raysocki was one of many soldiers who had lost their lives under her command, but to have him die in such agonizing and cruel circumstances overwhelmed her with survivor's guilt.

Though they were successful in rescuing Prim and dealing with the traitors who sought to kidnap her, Alicia was still shaken up by the battle, particularly against Red, who had left her with many questions. Just who was he when he was still an Alliance soldier, what was his relationship with Maia of Ansur, and could his former relationship with her father also solve the mystery of who killed him?

Questions filled her mind as she looked at the ruby amulet Red had given her. She had received word upon arriving that all the Princess Knights had already gathered upon Lady Celestine's request, and since Maia would be there as well, she would ask her about it.

"My lady, are you sure its okay for you to be walking around?" Vera asked Alicia. She had stayed by her side ever since they arrived in Geofu, paranoid that someone else may make an attempt on her commander's life. Despite the trauma Vera went through, she recovered from it quickly, displaying her strong mental aptitude.

"Relax, lieutenant," Alicia reassured her. "My injuries have fully healed, so you don't need to be concerned for me. You should check on Mayfield though."

"Prim is tending to him," Vera said. "His left arm is still broken from the attack, but he is expected to make a full recovery in a few days. The poor boy was lucky to have survived."

Alicia nodded. "I'm relieved to hear. I'm also glad that you're okay, Vera."

The female knight blushed at her commander's praise. "I only live to serve you, my lady. Thank you for your kind words."

Alicia smiled at her lieutenant, thankful for her service. "I'll leave you in charge of Prim and Mayfield. Right now, I must go speak to the Church."

"Lady Prim will not come along?" asked Vera.

"This is a matter that I must deal with alone," Alicia insisted. "Besides, she'll be in much better care with you than me."

Vera bowed in respect, though she grimaced at the thought of Alicia going to face the Church alone.

Alicia stepped outside the hospital to be greeted by the Dawn Templars, elite knights who served the fortress of Ken and the Levantine family, who waited for her. Leading them was a tall and confident woman, clad in silver armor etched in magical runes, say for her head, which revealed her strong but beautiful face and her light brown hair that she kept in a bun. She had a calm, gentle demeanor, but even a blind person could tell she was a hardened veteran of war.

She was none other than the strongest Princess Knight and the commander of the Dawn Templars- Claudia Levantine.

Alicia regarded Claudia as a close ally, but she was intimidated by her. She is the daughter-in-law to Grave Levantine after all, the former general of the Alliance and the strongest warrior in Eostia. Few boasted such powerful titles, and Alicia herself felt insignificant compared to him or Claudia. Even still, the commander was a kind woman who treated Alicia with respect.

Claudia bowed as Alicia approached, who responded in the same gesture.

"I'm glad to see you are well, given the circumstances of the past few days," Claudia said to Alicia. "I would have personally allowed you a few more days of respite before heading to meet with Lady Celestine."

"No need for concern, Lady Claudia," Alicia waved off. "I must speak to Her Holiness and the Church to address this issue once and for all."

"As you wish," Claudia said. "I, too, am curious to know your reason for sparing the enemy, but I trust in your judgment, dear Alicia."

"My judgment may be clouded, Lady Claudia," Alicia said as doubt filled her mind. "Even if Her Holiness will forgive my actions, the people will not, as I have failed them."

"You are the Princess Knight of Feoh," Claudia reassured her. "The people admire you for your virtues. Do not think so lowly of yourself."

Claudia's smile was enough to give Alicia a boost of confidence as they set off.

With the Dawn Templars and Claudia as escorts, Alicia made her way through the city to where she would meet Celestine. It was not the first time she had been to the capitol, yet she was still captivated by its majesty, its white splendor and mighty architecture representing the power of the Church and Celstine's grace. Her own fortress and home, Feoh, was much smaller and it's architecture more simple in comparison.

Even with all its might and power, however, Alicia felt something was off about the city, like it's grand walls and mighty towers hid an ugly truth, a truth more sinister than the Dark Queen herself, lurking in the shadows. She thought about Father Gaul's rants about the Church and how it had operated for the last few decades, and for a moment, she had actually believed in the former priest's words.

She quickly pushed aside the maddening thoughts as she reached her destination- the White Citadel, home to Her Holiness.

It stood well over 300 feet tall, overlooking even the tallest of towers, a symbol and beacon of hope, in contrast to the Dark Queen's tower in her Black Fortress. The palace guards swung open the mighty doors, allowing entrance to Alicia, Claudia and her knights. The grand hall was white as snow and deep as the water as each step Alicia took with her armored boots echoed like thunder. Tall statues graven into the likeness of Larentia lined up along the corridors that led into the throne room. Upon it's white marble throne sat none other than the high elven priestess, the revered queen and leader of the Seven Shield Alliance, Her Holiness and the Goddess Reincarnated- Celestine Lucross.

Celestine smiled warmly as Alicia approached, who kneeled and bowed low.

"Come, Alicia, you do not need to show such formality," Celestine said as she urged her subject to rise. "In fact, it is I who should be bowing to you. You have shown true courage and valor in the battle of Halem."

Alicia rose, but remained in a posture of respect.

"Your Holiness, it is only my duty to protect you and the people of this country. I deserve no praise."

Celestine smiled in admiration of Alicia's humbleness. "Your father always showed the same act of humility when he served me. I told him the same thing I'm always telling you, 'you bow to no one'."

Even as holy as she was, Celestine was always caring and humble towards her people. To Alicia, it was easy to see why so many revered her.

"While you were recuperating, I spoke with Prime Minister Beardsley about your heroic deeds," Celestine said. "You have done so much for this country and for the people. And so, with the Church's approval, I have decided that a celebratory feast shall be held tomorrow night, and you shall be the honored guest."

Alicia was at a loss for words. "T-thank you, my lady. I am unworthy of such an honor."

"Again, Lady Alicia, you do not need to be so courteous and humble," Celestine corrected as she held in a chuckle. "The respite shall do us good in this time of crisis. It is a time to celebrate all that you have done."

Alicia appreciated the gesture and goodwill Celestine bestowed, but she still felt a certain uneasiness lingering in the back of her mind.

"Your Holiness, forgive me if my tone becomes abrasive," Alicia stated, "but I am not here to talk about my heroic deeds. There is a reason why I came here in the first place."

Celestine saw the serious look on Alicia's face and quietly listened as she began to explain.

"During the battle, the orc general was captured by the Kuroinu. I confronted the enemy, prepared to slay it and bring justice once and for all. However, it expressed emotions that made me hold my sword. It conveyed sorrow and regret for its actions. It also stated that the Dark Queen is actually trying to help them become civil."

Celestine nodded her head, her deep emerald eyes expressed with curiosity.

"I see. And did you believe it?"

Alicia gritted her teeth, angered by her actions and her muddled thoughts as she gave her answer.

"I did not believe a single word of it."

Celestine pondered on Alicia's answer. "So then why release it? Did you, perhaps, find something in them that you deemed was worthy of forgiveness? That even a small ounce of goodness in their hearts was enough for you to forgive them, and for you to forgive Olga?"

Alicia's eyes burst with tears of anger as she expressed her emotions aloud. "Forgive? I am willing to forgive that witch for what she has done? How long has she waged war against you?! How many of your subjects have been killed by her aberrants?! Thousands have died because of her, my father included! She murdered my father! I will never forgive her for the suffering she has brought on to me!"

Alicia was breathless as sweat broke across her face. There was a long, awkward silence that filled the throne room before Claudia stepped in to intervene, placing a comforting hand on Alicia's shoulder and gently pulling her back to prevent further escalation.

"Enough, Lady Alicia. We all grieve for Lord Arcturus, but now is not the time to dwell on his passing. We must focus on ending this war, and when we do, we will find your father's murderer."

Alicia calmed herself, finding truth in Claudia's words. She deeply apologized for her act as shame and guilt overcame her.

Celestine looked on with silent curiosity, though she was saddened towards Alicia's predicament. She was not convinced, however, that Eos's death was the doing of the Dark Queen, but refrained from saying anything more.

"Thank you, Alicia, for expressing your concern to me," Celestine told her gently. "It is also my fault for allowing Lord Arcturus's death. Had I the power to foresee his fate, I would've done everything I could to make sure he was still alive. I have failed you as your Goddess and as your friend."

Alicia shook her head. "It's not your fault, your Holiness. I know my father would not want me to dwell on it. I will take pride and continue to do good."

Celestine smiled as she looked upon Alicia's resolve, with Claudia doing the same.

"Forgive my intrusion," a male's voice called out. "I see the hearing has already started."

All three women turned back to see an old man dressed in blue and purple robes approaching. Alicia already knew who he was, given the insignia on his robe bearing the highest order of the Church.

He was Pontiff Samael, head of the Church and advisor to Celestine. Alicia felt a sense of uneasiness as the pontiff approached them, his uncontested power and status within the Church made him intimidating.

Two other prominent figures were in the Pontiff's presence.

The first man was Klaus Levantine, a slim and meek looking man, dressed in fancy garments and wore thin spectacles. He was the husband to Claudia and son to Grave. Though he was not a combatant, he was an exemplary scholar and a good friend.

The second man was his father and none other than the famed general, Grave Levantine. He was well aged, but it did not denote his warrior presence, as he was still able to wear the golden armor of Mahkin, forged by the first dwarves when Eostia was founded.

Following them were the rest of her comrades and the other Princess Knights- Kaguya, Lulu, and the Queen of Mercenaries herself, Maia.

Lulu was not pleased to be a part of the hearing, acting very much like a child, while Kaguya tried to be the voice of reason and explain her importance of being present. Maia also shared Lulu's reluctancy, but she was much more reserved than the halfling.

"We've barely begun the meeting," Celestine explained. "Lady Alicia was told of the celebration that is to be held tomorrow night."

"Your Grace, we all know this hearing is not about tomorrow's feast," Samel told her. "I understand Lady Alicia's motives to spare the enemy, to uphold the chivalric virtues in remembrance of Lord Arcturus. But the aberrants dwell on different principles, and harsh as it may sound, do not deserve the same mercy as us humans would."

"The Pontiff is right," Grave added as he stepped forward. "Never once has the enemy spared any of our people, so we must also do the same for those wretched beings."

"Lady Alicia does give a newer perspective on the aberrants, however," Klaus spoke up. "She has shown that they are capable of reason and understanding, showing that they do not act on raw instinct alone."

"But this does not justify Lady Alicia's actions," Grave argued, ignoring his son's statement. "Countless civilians and soldiers have died because of those monsters, and countless more will continue to die now."

"This issue adds on to a larger predicament at hand," Samel explained. "The people have slowly started to lose faith in the Church, weary from war and the Alliance's incompetence. Lady Alicia's actions at Halem have sown doubt in Her Holiness and her subjects, and as such, has stirred a rebellion amongst the people. We cannot quell them without causing a civil war."

Anger stirred in Alicia as she clenched her fist. True, the war had gone on for too long, and the people had a right to be upset, but to outright protest against Her Holiness and begin rebelling was something that upset her.

Celestine finally spoke up after keeping silent during the bickering between her subjects.

"Lady Alicia has shown us what it means to uphold the moral virtues and to remain righteous, no matter how bleak the situation becomes. As long as you remain faithful to yourselves, the people shall also begin to believe in hope once more. That is why we must quickly end this war so that this rebellion may end as well."

Silence fell on the council, but they respected Celestine's word and power. Alicia could not help but feel troubled with the arising conflict. Not only was there the war against the Dark Queen, but people had now begun to rebel against Celestine, and fear began to creep into her mind.

As the meeting concluded, Alicia approached Maia, who didn't seem to care too much for the meeting. Many questions filled her mind, and perhaps her comrade could give some answers.

"Ya know, I don't know how you do it," said Maia without a care in her voice. "Attend these hearings, listen to old man Samel bicker, and so on. Its such a bore. I can understand why Lulu is reluctant to attend these meetings."

"It's not the most pleasant thing, true," Alicia agreed. "Everyone determines that meetings like these are important, but between you and me, I couldn't care less about any of it."

Maia laughed at Alicia's unexpected words as she greeted her comrade with a hug. "I'm glad to see you're doing well. Heard about what happened to you and Prim. I always knew that Johan guy was a creep."

Alicia grimaced at the mention of his name. "Yes, that cur kidnapped my cousin and tried to use her as a bargaining chip. He killed one of my men and nearly violated one of my knights."

"I'm sorry," Maia said, sympathizing with Alicia. "Well, I'm glad that he's finally dead now, him and Father Gaul. That fat man was always rambling about religion and stuff and it was super annoying."

She then grew quiet as her tone saddened.

"Too bad Red had to die. At least it was you who took care of him. If it was me, I don't think I'd be able to do it."

"You knew him well?" asked Alicia, curious about their relationship.

Maia nodded as she explained. "He was somewhat of a mentor to me, showed me the ropes when I first joined Kuroinu. Strange guy though, always kept everything professional, never liked drinking or celebrating like the rest of the guys. And he always seemed to keep a distance, never wanting to get close. He wasn't a bad guy. Just chose the wrong friends, I guess."

Alicia somewhat regretted her decision to kill Red, seeing how Maia showed remorse towards her former comrade.

She then pulled out the ruby amulet and showed it to Maia. Immediately, her face turned pale white, as if she had seen a ghost.

"You recognize this?" Alicia asked, curious to know how it relates to her.

Maia was overcome with emotions as she stared at the amulet.

"Where did you get that?" Maia demanded.

"From Red," Alicia explained. "He said… for me to take care of you."

Maia was confused with the cryptic explanation, and Alicia could only hand the amulet back to her as some means of comfort.

"My mother had given this to me," Maia began. "I don't remember much of her though. She died when I was too young to remember anything, but she did give me this amulet and I've kept it with me ever since. Spent much of my childhood in an orphanage, but instead of playing with toys like other kids, I played with swords. I became good at it, and so when the time came, I became a mercenary."

"And that's how you joined Kuroinu," Alicia concluded.

Maia grew quiet again as she reflected on her time with her former mercenary band. "I had thought that being warrior would be fun, that there would be glory and riches. I was stupid back then, and it nearly cost me my life. But that's when Vult saved my life. Everyone sees him as a brute, a ruthless warrior who lives for the thrill of combat, but he's more than what he shows. He was a kind and caring commander and a friend, and I owed him everything. So I gave him my mother's amulet as a gift."

"Strange," Alicia pondered. "How did Red obtain it then?"

"I don't know," Maia said. "Perhaps you can ask Vult."

"Why not ask him yourself?" pointed Alicia.

Maia hesitated at the thought. "I left the band on bad terms. There's no way he would ever talk to me."

"You know, Red told me he used to be a knight of the Alliance," Alicia said. "That he served alongside my father under Grave Levantaine."

"I think it's a little far-fetched," Maia said skeptically. "Red was a strong warrior, true, but there was no way he could be compared to the likes of Eos or Grave."

"Mention my name?"

Both women looked to see Grave himself approaching them.

"Who is this 'Red' you speak of?" he asked.

"The mercenary I fought," Alicia answered. "He told me he used to serve you."

Grave scoffed. "I know no such man. Every soldier who has served me were honorable men like your father was. This 'Red' you mention, the reports about him described to me- there is no way he was ever a knight of the Alliance. He's just another mercenary, a filthy rat from the slums. I'm glad you were the one to end his wretched life."

Alicia saw Red as an enemy, true, but even she found Grave's words to be too harsh towards him.

"Congratulations on your victory in Halem, by the way," Grave told her. "Be warned, though- your decision to spare the enemy will have unforeseen consequences. As a knight, you must be prepared to accept these responsibilities."

Grave was never a man to mince words. His words were blunt, but they served as a reminder to Alicia about her actions.

She could only bow in response. "I understand, general. Thank you."

Grave nodded. "You are the daughter of Eos. You'll make a fine knight, unlike my useless son, Klaus."

"Woah there, old timer," Maia stepped in. "Klaus isn't a fighter, but that doesn't mean he's not useless."

Grave scoffed. "That fool married Claudia, been together for more than 10 years, yet they aren't even able to bear one child, let alone a son who can carry on my legacy. He's a disgrace to the Levantine family."

Claudia then appeared, unaware of his rants against her husband.

"Father, we must leave to discuss other matters," she told him.

Grave nodded as he bid Alicia and Maia farewell and the both of them left.

It was then Klaus approached the two women, who had overheard the entire conversation.

"Forgive my father," he told them. "He's always been straightforward with his words."

"You shouldn't let him talk down on you like that," Maia said. "Speak up to that old man!"

Klaus laughed nervously. "I appreciate your kindness, Lady Maia. But we all have our roles to play. My father is a revered warrior, while I am a simple scholar. I have no right to speak against him."

There was a hint of sadness in Klaus's tone. Alicia could not bear to see the man berated by his own father. She was glad her father was much more caring towards her, though the thought of him made her miss him even more.

"Lady Alicia," Klaus asked. "You mentioned that one of the Kuroinu was a former member of my father's soldiers?"

Alicia nodded. "Yes. Red was his name, and he also claims to have known my father as well."

Klaus pondered for a moment. "I know of Red the Stoic of Kuroinu, but I can't recall any soldier with that moniker who served my father."

Klaus was silent for a moment before speaking again. "Although, when I was a child, I was assigned a personal bodyguard. Sir Millan Alfendol. He was a kind man, acting as a second father figure to me and always providing words of encouragement. Him and Eos were great fighters and even greater friends. However, he and my father did not see eye-to-eye at times, so there was always tension. Then one day, he left. He was not banished from the Alliance, nor did he give a reason for leaving. He was just simply gone. It upset me greatly that he disappeared, but your father was even more upset about it. And this was long before you were born, Lady Alicia."

"I see," Alicia muttered, pondering on Klaus's backstory. "It can't be a coincidence Sir Alfendol was also Red, could it?"

Klaus shrugged. "I can only speculate. My father refuses to mention anything about Sir Alfendol. Something must've happened between them that he does not speak of him."

"But what does this all have to do with me?" Maia asked.

"I'm not sure," Alicia answered. "But we need to find out who Red was and what his motives were."

"If I may, Lady Alicia," Klaus asked, "why go through all this trouble? He's dead, so he should pose no threat to anyone."

"Because Red is not who he appeared to be," Alicia answered. "Finding out who he was may give us answers to his motives and what he had planned. And… he may also give me clues on who murdered my father. Plus, you may find out what had happened to your body guard, Sir Alfendol, and see if he and Red are somehow connected."

Klaus nodded, understanding Alicia's perspective. "Then I shall do some research. There's an archive in the Levantine library that contains personal documents and historical records. Perhaps I may find something there that relates to all of this."

"Thank you, Klaus," Alicia smiled.

Suddenly, Claudia returned to the three, her eyes filled with concern and anger.

"Lady Alicia," she started, "there is trouble at the front."

Alicia rushed towards the entrance of the White Citadel and looked down the steps leading up towards the doors. A small but fierce mob had gathered below, cursing and shouting slanders and heresy. Claudia's Dawn Templars stood between them and the front entrance, preventing them from entering but they could not risk attacking first, lest they would escalate into violence. Pontiff Samel had warned them about the rebellion, and it seems now they had begun their plan of action.

"The incompetent wenches have made us bleed for too long!" a man in front of the mob shouted. "They have failed us! And now the Knight of Iris herself has taken to side with the Dark Queen! This is why we cannot trust these women to rule Eostia any longer!"

Anger grew inside Alicia's heart as she placed a hand on her sword, the sapphire in the hilt beginning to burn bright, ready to put an end to the mob.

Suddenly, Celestine stepped out in front of her, not saying a word as she marched down the stairs towards the angry crowd with full determination.

"My lady, stop!" Alicia shouted, but to no avail.

She and the rest of her comrades could only watch in shock as Celestine approached the mob.

"Step aside," Celestine ordered the Dawn Templars.

"But my lady," they protested, but Celestine ignored their pleas.

They looked up to Claudia, who only responded with a nod.

"Let her through," she ordered.

The knights reluctantly stepped aside and Celestine approached the man in front. He glared at her with disgust, but she showed no signs of hate, and instead only gave a sympathetic smile.

"My good sir," Celestine started. "I humbly request, as your goddess and your servant, that you calm this chaos and reassure the people that hope is not lost."

"You speak of hope, yet there is no end to this war in sight," the man growled. "You side with the Church who forces us to offer what little we have. The Church has become corrupt because of your arrogance! And you prolong this war that lead our fathers and sons to their deaths!"

A young woman then came forward from the crowd, bearing a toddler in her arms. Her eyes were red from tears, her face full of sorrow and anger.

"My husband, Raysocki, was killed because of your subjects," she interjected. "He served Feoh faithfully, yet justice was not served for him. How could Alicia let my husband die? How could you let thousands of husbands die?!"

The crowd roared in anger against Celestine, and it appeared all hell was about to break loose. Celestine, on the other hand, simply closed her eyes and reflected on their words. Suddenly, sparkles of light resembling small beacons began to emit around the crowd. The noise grew quieter as they watched Celestine clasp her hand in prayer. Alicia watched as tears began to stream down Celestine's green eyes that were full of sympathy, and she saw that the high elf was using her magical influence to calm the crowd.

"I have failed you as your goddess," she cried. "I have failed in my duties to protect and serve you who were wronged by the actions of me and my ancestors. I cannot undo my mistakes, but I can use what strength I have left to make sure that this tiresome conflict comes to a swift end. If you have lost faith in me, do not lose faith in the Princess Knights, and do not lose faith in yourselves."

Instantly, the woman bowed her head in respect and the man fell to his knees as he begged for forgiveness. It wasn't long until the crowd finally dispersed and peace had returned for the moment, but Celestine knew that it was not the end of their troubles. She returned to Alicia and the others, who stared at their goddess in reverence, awed by her powers.

"I have made my promise," she said to them. "Now I trust you to fulfill yours."

The sudden knocking on Sol's door made him drop the plate of fresh strawberries covered in chocolate on the bed he laid on, lamenting that he couldn't catch them in time as he drew up the red scarf to hide his face.

"Who's there?" he asked rather irritated.

Entering his room was the mercenary leader himself and his commander, Vult.

"Why is it that lately, we've been having our conversations while you're injured?" he joked as he greeted him.

Sol shrugged nonchalantly. "Don't know. But I've won every engagement so far. You could say they were pyrrhic victories, or pyrrhic injuries."

Vult chuckled slightly at the rogue's monotone puns as he walked over to pick up the fallen plate of strawberries and set them aside.

"You don't realize how close you were to death when that traitor, Johan, had stabbed you," Vult grimly explained. "I'm not the type of person to lose my cool- it's not my nature. But when I found you laying on the ground, pale white as a corpse, blood seething through your armor, I panicked. You didn't breathe, didn't move, and I was scared you were gone then and there. I cursed as we rushed you to Geofu as quickly as possible, hoping that there was some chance in hell that we could save you. And now here you are, alive and back to your terrible puns."

Sol grunted as he grabbed the fallen strawberries that Vult had picked up, examining them to see if they were covered in dirt.

"You have literally thousands of men who could replace me and do my job," Sol pointed. "So why go through so much trouble for me?"

Vult gave a hearty laugh, which confused Sol.

"Do I really need to explain?" Vult asked. "How many times have we fought together? How many stories and secrets have I shared with you? Will you always be doubting me, even when I lay down my life for you?"

Vult grabbed one of the strawberries off of Sol's plate, inspecting it briefly before consuming it.

"I told you that I had a dream," Vult explained. "A dream that I can only achieve with you. Together, we will turn Kuroinu into a legend."

Somehow, Johan's words crept up on Sol's thoughts. What is it he truly wants, Sol asked himself. And why was he so vital in Vult's plans?

He sees you only as a means to an end, a stepping stone that will lead him to his ultimate goal.

Surely, Johan's words were just there to instill doubt and to spare his wretched life in the heat of the moment. So why, Sol thought, was he now thinking about this?

"Something wrong?" Vult asked, noticing Sol's grim expression.

Sol grunted. "It's nothing. I just want more strawberries, that's all."

Vult stared in confusion for a moment. "I heard from the Princess that Johan tried to convince you to join his side. What did he say, exactly?"

Did it never occur to you exactly what it is he wants?

"That he wanted Prim or Alicia for himself," Sol told him, convincing himself that keeping the entire details hidden for now was the safest bet. "He wanted to marry them so that he could restore his fortune and reclaim his noble title."

Vult raised a brow. "That's it? Surely his motives weren't as shallow as that if he were able to convince Father Gaul and Red to side with him."

Sol shrugged. "Who knows. At least it's what I can gather from my reports. On our way here, when I scouted ahead, I learned that those bandits weren't just random thugs, but paid killers meant to obstruct our path. That concluded to me that someone in our group meant to betray us, and I had to find out who. After the unfortunate incident with Mike, I tracked down the remaining bandits to learn that they had been hired by Johan, so I disguised myself as one of them and learned of their plan to kidnap Prim and Arcturus."

Vult nodded, impressed at Sol's intel gathering. "Why not come back and report that to us? Could've saved a few lives from that."

"True, but Johan was cunning," Sol pointed. "He would not have revealed himself if we acted too rashly. Besides, no one would ever believe me, seeing how I killed Mike and marked myself as a suspect."

"Well, I would have," Vult said with a sincere smile. "I never doubted you, not once."

Sol grunted in response. He was not used to this. At the same time, it did seem suspicious- perhaps Johan was right, but Sol tried his best to shake the thoughts off.

"At any rate, its in the past now," Vult said. "Once you're ready, come find me. We'll be moving out soon."

"Got another mission?" asked Sol.

Vult nodded. "It's not what you think. There's a party held tomorrow for the victory in Halem. And we're invited."

Sol let out a heavy sigh as he brought a palm to his face, severely irritated at the thought of attending.

"Fuck."

Not going to lie, this was an incredibly difficult chapter to write, and one that has long been overdue. Obvious problem in subplot with Red needs major revision, and the talks of politics are boring. Forgive me if this was a tough read, so any comments or criticism are welcomed. You can even spam "this is a terrible chapter, and you're a terrible writer!". Thank you for reading, and until next time, take care!