Author's Notes:

Guest- Thank you so much for the review! Fleshing out the world has been a lot of fun! I honestly wish I could do more, but the story is already so long. Maybe I need to put together some appendices at some point haha!


Chapter 39


Day 12 of the Pegasus Moon, Year 1175 (Fódlan Calendar)

Florian knocked on the door to Aurelian's chambers incessantly, even as no response came.

"You promised you'd come with me, don't you remember?" he entreated. "I'm not leaving until I see you."

Aurelian was the closest family Florian had left, and he would do anything to restore his uncle to his former self. Aurelian had been weaponized at far too early of an age by Meteoran leadership for his talents, so it was about time that someone show concern for him just as a regular human.

The door finally opened, though an exhausted Aurelian immediately returned to his seat by the window. The room was almost completely dark, as most of the window was covered by a heavy curtain. Aurelian was peering through the small gap, though, which suggested that there was some hope for his mental state.

Florian was pretty sure Aurelian rapidly uttered something along the lines of, "You can see me, but it's best not to listen."

"Oh, come on… you know I don't mind," Florian replied as he sat down next to him.

Aurelian shook his head and said something that unfortunately came out incoherent.

"Sorry… could you, umm, repeat that? Just a bit slower…"

"I said…" Aurelian began with obvious frustration before continuing less clearly, "I'm full-grown adult, but I'm talking like a child forgetting to breathe between his words. It's humiliating."

Aurelian struggled with troubled speech since childhood, even prompting a surgeon to cut part of his tongue to try alleviating the issue. His annunciation improved as he got older, but he had unfortunately regressed ever since the end of the Dékhomai campaign. Aurelian never spoke of the experience, but it was evidently more traumatic for him than the full-fledged war that preceded it. He began to limit his time in public, and the isolation almost certainly exacerbated his slurring. Florian already heard rumors begin to circulate- that Aurelian was actually a halfwit, and that his so-called achievements were clearly misattributions. It was offensive and unfair, of course, but he found it difficult to stop people from judging things they did not understand.

Florian sighed and told his uncle, "How about you let me do all the talking? You'll still get to go outside, but there won't be any pressure. If people ask, I'll just tell them that you've been sick, and your throat still hurts." When Aurelian continued to hesitate, the nephew insisted, "Come on… you actually promised me this time. You never break a promise, right?"

Aurelian groaned as he finally stood and mumbled, "Fine."

"That's more like it!" Florian cheered.

Florian's plan centered around a visit to the market. A festival was fast approaching, and unusual items would be available as an influx of merchants arrived. As they left the room, Florian suggested, "I think I'm going to buy a lantern for you, Aurelian. I saw some really charming fawanees from Saba the other day. I'm hoping you'll give one a chance since you apparently don't like to use the window very much."

They had nearly reached the door to the arcade when someone else approached from down the hallway.

"Florian! Florian, can I talk to you?" Juliana asked. When the two men let her catch up, she said quietly, "Justinian is trying to make me spend the afternoon with Artabasdos again."

"You can't be serious…" Florian muttered. "I told Justinian that you're still too young for that just the other day."

"He says Sardar Soraya was around the same age when she married Lord Methodius, so I shouldn't make such a fuss."

Florian sighed. "Alright, well… how about you spend the afternoon with us instead? We're going to the market, so your eye for quality would be helpful. I'll say I was very insistent that you come, so Justinian won't have any grounds to be mad at you."

"But he'll-."

"I'll be fine, Juliana. Aurelian… is it okay if she comes?"

When Aurelian nodded his assent, the princess smiled bashfully and whispered, "Thank you so much."

Florian was not a prince or princess, nor was he a celebrated general. However, he always found himself in the midst of all the drama. He was somehow simultaneously the least important royal that no one took seriously and the one everyone went to for help. It could be exhausting at times, especially for someone only seventeen, but it was one of the few roles in life that gave him some sense of purpose.

This trio received more than a few quizzical glances as they perused the stalls of the market. Cramped spaces actually made Florian uncomfortable, but he maintained a bright smile for the sake of his companions. It was important that the outing reduced their stress levels, not add to them.

When they reached the aforementioned fanous stand, Florian held up one of the lanterns for the others to behold. "See what I mean? I think this would look great in your room, Aurelian."

Juliana shook her head and forced Florian to set it down. "It's all red and yellow glass. Someone is going to see the reflection from outside the window and think the room is on fire." She instead picked up another with green and blue glass and declared, "Much less confusing, wouldn't you say?"

Florian prepared to agree, but Aurelian unexpectedly began to laugh. The others were so shocked that they did not react as he took the lantern and pointed to a pattern on it.

"See this here? It's iconography of the Almyran Old Ways. This thing would quickly be proscribed if someone found out." He put it back and selected another. "Looks like I'll have to make the pick if we're going to avoid a controversy. It's supposed to go in my room, anyways, so it really should be my choice."

Aurelian paid for the fanous all on his own without thinking to ask for assistance, the noise level in the market forcing him to speak slowly and loudly. The merchant had no trouble understanding him, much to Aurelian's relief. For the first time in a long time, the general seemed to be at peace.

This initial purchase set a long afternoon of spending into motion. By the time they returned to the palace, all three were struggling to control the mountains of souvenirs in their arms.

"Uncle Philemon is not going to be happy when he finds out about our gross indulgence in worldly delights," Juliana joked.

Florian laughed alongside her. "Hey, we paid fair value for the work of the common artisans. We didn't waste gold buying from the royal galleries of the Dunya."

The purchases were actually of little interest to Florian. What truly brought him joy was that Aurelian was not lingering on impaired speech or casualties of war, nor was Juliana worried about unwanted advances.

The two men continued on towards Aurelian's chambers after dropping off Juliana. Florian cleared his throat as he prepared for an uncomfortable topic.

"You know, Aurelian… I don't think you meant for me to be listening, but I overheard you say something about a month that made me really sad. You said you went to bed every night not caring if you woke up the next morning. Do… you still feel that way?"

Aurelian shrugged. "I don't know… but… this was a good afternoon. I'll try to come with less resistance next time, Cherrytop." When he noticed Florian's confusion, Aurelian chuckled for the second time that day. "Sorry… you didn't mishear that. I don't know why I suddenly remembered it now, but that's what your mother used to call you when you were little… because of your hair, I assume. I wish you got to learn it from her instead of me."

"Thanks, though I feel worse for you, Aurelian. I don't remember her very well, but you lost a sister far too early." He intentionally bumped into his uncle's shoulder. "Though I guess we still have each other, right? Genealogy aside, I always like it when people confuse us for brothers. And not just because they often assume I'm also some military genius in the process!"

Aurelian said slowly, "You provide plenty of important qualities without relying on me… some that I wish I shared. But… I'll try to be a better 'brother' going forward."

"Could you modify that into a promise? It's the only thing that seems to carry any weight with you."

Aurelian smiled. "Very well… it's a promise."


Interlude: Perfidy of the Lance - Day 3 of the Harpstring Moon, Year 1187 (Fódlan Calendar)


Waves of soldiers sprinted about the palace as Florian and Juliana made their way towards the dungeon, but the two royals were given very little attention. Juliana remained hidden under her cloak, and no one cared much about Florian.

It was only at the entrance to the dungeon that they were finally accosted by sentries.

"Halt. No one is to enter," one of them said.

"Do you know who I am? I am Nobilissimus Florian. My mother was the elder cousin to His Majesty," Florian announced with exaggerated authority. He hated to leverage his heritage, but it needed to be done.

The soldier shook his head. "I know who you are, and that is precisely why you cannot enter. You may attempt to free General Aurelian."

"With what key? Do you think I'd risk angering His Majesty like that? And would Aurelian even agree to leave?" Florian asked in rapid succession.

Florian's pleas were having no effect, but sentry's expression changed when he finally recognized the woman under the cloak. The guard spoke to his companion in a low voice. Once they reached an agreement, the first sentry finally relented, "Very well. You may see him, but only so long as I accompany you."

As he withdrew a set of keys, the other guard left her post and began walking down the corridor. Their intentions were not subtle. Florian had been called naïve by almost everyone he ever interacted with, sometimes more than once, but he was not outright stupid.

He whispered to Juliana, "She's calling in backup to come collect you and subdue me if necessary. They're only allowing this visit to make sure we don't run."

"I know, but we still have to do this," she replied.

The royals offered the remaining sentry fake smiles as they were ushered down the stairs into a hallway lined with cells. Only one of them appeared to be occupied, prompting Florian to ask, "Have you not taken any of the Sentinels alive?"

"Not on the palace grounds. I've been told that non-militarized members that surrender peacefully will be given full trials, but they will be held elsewhere," the guard explained.

Aurelian was detained in a cell halfway through the hall. He sat on a cheap bed and stared at a lone, flickering candle on a wobbly table in the center of his prison. He was probably debating which would burn out first- the candle, Meteora, or his life. He did not look aside even as he heard people coming.

Florian had tried projecting composure for Juliana's sake, but he was rendered speechless upon witnessing his uncle doing a reenactment of his lowest years. Juliana, however, wrapped her hands around the bars and cried out, "Aurelian! Are you alright?"

Aurelian finally turned his head towards them. "They have not hurt me, if that's what you're asking."

"It's a start. Do you know what will happen to you? Has my brother made any threats?"

"No, I've been told nothing." He faced Florian and said gravely, "But I do know that it was a mistake to come here."

Florian wilted inside but replied, "I'm sorry, but leaving you here was never an option. We're going to-."

Their discussion was interrupted by some activity down the hall. Everyone turned to watch, assuming that backup had finally arrived. Instead, the body of another royal guard limply rolled down the steps.

Though he had hitherto remained silent, the guard accompanying Juliana and Florian shouted as his voice cracked, "Who's there?"

There was no reply other than the deliberate footfalls of someone trudging down the stairs and the sword they dragged behind them that scrapped and clinked against the floor with each step down. Florian did not immediately recognize the newcomer, even after their face was illuminated in the candlelight. Her cheeks were splashed with blood, and her expression was so utterly devoid of emotion that it did not look human. She was not wearing armor, but her almost ghostly appearance granted her the illusion of invincibility.

"… Master Xanthippe?" Florian uttered when he finally identified the terror.

Xanthippe lifted her sword and pointed it at the guard. She growled, "I've already had a long night. So… will you come fight me, or will you make me come to you?"

The man's lip quivered for a moment. "… Stay back," he finally told the royals before drawing his weapon and approaching the Sentinel.

It was a brief contest. There were only two missed swings and a single block before Xanthippe's sword ran through the man's unprotected throat. She snatched the set of keys off the guard before letting his body sink to the floor. Florian grabbed Juliana's hand to pull her away, but Xanthippe ignored them in favor of trying the different keys on Aurelian's cell door.

"What are you doing?" Aurelian asked.

Xanthippe paused as her face finally adopted an expression- a confused one. "What does it look like? I'm getting you out of here. You need to address the army and end this madness."

Aurelian probed calmly, "Should I take that as a confession of your conspiracy?"

"What conspiracy?!" Xanthippe shouted with anguish. "I keep hearing about some terrible plot from everyone that's tried to kill me, yet none of them ever explained what they were talking about."

"The Sentinels stand accused of colluding with Elam to assassinate King Justinian and install me in his place," Aurelian answered directly.

"What? On what evidence?" Xanthippe gasped in what seemed like genuine confusion. She trembled when she glanced down at the keys and recognized that her actions were fortifying the supposition, but she insisted, "I swear, I don't know anything about this! It's a cruel lie!"

Florian spoke up, "I'm willing to hear you out, but I think it's too late to stop Justinian. You need to hide if you want to live."

"No… no, it's not too late for us," Xanthippe muttered. She addressed Aurelian again, "There was never any plan, but if this is how the king enacts his justice, I say we make it one now."

Aurelian shook his head. "Justinian is the rightful ruler."

"We'll declare him to be illegitimate, then. Everyone has heard the stories of how Stephanos treated Helena, and she went many years without a pregnancy. Is it really so hard to believe she'd look for comfort elsewhere?"

"You won't convince anyone of that if you're still trying to convince yourself."

"Enough with the self-righteousness!" Xanthippe pled as she banged her hand against the bars. "Look at what he's done to both of us! We need to work together if we're going to survive."

"Together? The Sentinels only want me as a puppet since Justinian wasn't interested in the role. You were fools if you ever thought you could replace Lord Philemon."

"We don't want a puppet; we want a leader capable of both virtue and strength. That person is you. If we wanted a puppet, wouldn't we throw our support behind her?" Xanthippe reasoned as she pointed to Juliana. It was surely a foul conversation for princess to overhear, but like her mother before her, Juliana weathered slights in silence.

"No, you wouldn't. If the plan was to declare Justinian a bastard, Juliana would necessarily also be deemed illegitimate," Aurelian contended. He adopted a sterner expression. "If you sought to make me an ally, you should have started wooing me a couple decades earlier. I haven't forgotten what the Sentinels started with the Dékhomai, and you dragged the rest of us down to your level. Your order has proven time and again that it can never be the custodian of order."

"So you would destroy our future in memory of some long-dead apostates!" Xanthippe turned to the other two and requested, "Will either of you talk sense into him? Or do you drink from the same wellspring of sanctimonious drivel?"

"I already tried. I'm not sure what more there is to say," Florian answered. "You should flee while you still can, Xanthippe."

Before anyone else could speak, more commotion reverberated from above. This was followed by new footsteps racing down the stairs. The noise was more hurried this time and also came from both ends of the hall. Within seconds, a dozen soldiers blocked each exit. Justinian himself along with Artabasdos and Eudocia stood behind one of the sets.

"Well, this is a delightful surprise!" Justinian heralded. "I only came to speak with my family, but I called for more support when I heard the din echoing from down here. It looks like my greatest adversary has done the favor of serving herself up on a platter. Perhaps the Sentinels are not completely devoid of honor after all."

Xanthippe quickly assessed the situation and concluded that her best chance of survival was taking a hostage. Florian could not react fast enough as Xanthippe prepared to step behind Juliana and raise a blade to the princess's throat.

Aurelian also deduced her intentions, however, and grabbed Xanthippe's collar through the bars with astonishing speed. Her temple pounded against the metal as he yanked her towards the cell. The Sentinel briefly dropped her sword, and Florian used the opportunity to drag Juliana away from the scene. Florian and Juliana were both seized by the guards on the opposite end of the hall from Justinian. It was not a desirable outcome, but it was a better fate than being cut open by the desperate woman.

Xanthippe managed to clutch her sword and slip away from Aurelian's reach before anyone could capitalize on her vulnerability. She tossed the keys aside dismissively. Her gaze darted between both ends of the hallway before the grip on her sword tightened.

"Fine… die like the fool you are, Aurelian. You deserve it. But I don't plan to bow out quietly," she warned.

She launched herself in Justinian's direction without further ado. Despite the abundance of protection, the king still took two steps back in fright. Artabasdos and Eudocia likewise showed no interest in engaging in the struggle.

Xanthippe dispatched the first guard quickly. She then downed another, though this one managed to slice her left shoulder. Several of the guards on Florian's end of the hall sprinted to attack her from behind. Xanthippe turned around and ran her sword through a woman using a gap in the armor under the armpit. She could not withdraw the blade before the next attack, however. Xanthippe narrowly avoided having her right arm cut off, but the limb was instead pinned within someone's grasp.

With her sword hand neutralized, Xanthippe reached into her belt and pulled out a dagger with her left. She slashed at someone's throat, but her left arm was quickly clutched by yet another opponent. She kicked the guard away to free herself, but more enemies swarmed in right behind him.

Xanthippe finally realized that the game was up. Preferring to leave on her own terms, she took the dagger and drove it into her own stomach. She winced in pain but still found the strength to viciously twist the blade for good measure before pulling it out.

The soldiers let go and backed away in surprise as Xanthippe collapsed against the wall and then down to the floor. Justinian masked his loss of composure once certain that his foe was rapidly bleeding out. He stepped closer as if hoping to take credit for the kill by right of proximity.

The dying woman instinctively tried to cover the pulsating hemorrhage before letting her hand drop to her side. She silently studied the fatal wound for a few seconds, almost snorted, and then looked up at Justinian.

"H-Ha… all believers should have their final confession, right? I never conspired against you, but… your uncle Philemon… he survived that first blast on the ship. I killed him." Xanthippe's face contorted with disgust as she added, "Though… if I'm honest… my only regret is that it wasn't you instead, you pathetic bastard."

It was not the confession anyone expected, but Xanthippe said it so resolutely that Florian had no doubt of her honesty. Justinian was furious, and he ripped a sword away from Artabasdos so he could personally finish her off. When he raised the weapon above Xanthippe's head, however, he realized that she was already slipping out of consciousness. He slinged the sword against the wall in frustration and declared once the rattling stopped, "Escape from your earthly retribution like the coward you are, but I vow it will be poured out instead on everyone that you loved."

"Xanthippe was raised at an orphanage run by the church because her parents didn't want a daughter," Aurelian said from his cell. "She had no one but the Sentinels, and I believe the judgment on them is already being dispensed."

Justinian doublechecked that Xanthippe had expired before circling the pools of blood and continuing down the hall. He seemed uncertain as to whether Aurelian was trying to mock him but ultimately decided to let it drop. He instead addressed his sister.

"Are you unharmed, Juliana? That must have been upsetting to watch." When she was too afraid to answer, he sighed and said, "I sincerely hope you weren't hiding from us, but at least you are safe. The guards will now take you to your chambers, but I promise to keep sentries posted for your protection."

Juliana futilely tugged at the arms holding her back and asked, "What is going to happen to Aurelian? Why does he need to be locked away? He was just trying to help!"

"Don't worry, sister… there are things I need to discuss with Florian and Aurelian alone, but you will understand once it is all over. Just… don't worry. Everything is going to be just fine."

Juliana looked to Florian for help, but once again, there was nothing he could do. "… Be gentle with her," he told the guards as she was hauled away.

Justinian asked most of the remaining guards to leave, allowing Florian to finally move freely again. The king kept only Eudocia and Artabasdos for protection, which was a grave sign that he intended to say something that no one outside his inner circle could hear.

"Master Xanthippe was the last serious threat here in the capital. It's unnerving to think how often I stood within reach of her blade," Justinian said as he briefly glanced at the deceased woman being carried away. "It will take a few days to finish the job in the other cities, but the vast majority with military experience were stationed here. For all intents and purposes, the Sentinels are no more. Let the memory of them be short-lived. I don't know what Xanthippe told you, but we received a confession from one of them. There is no doubt of their guilt."

The "confession" was almost certainly made under duress and was far less compelling evidence than Xanthippe's actions. Florian avoided that debate, though, and instead asked, "Does that mean you'll let Aurelian go now? The crisis is over."

Justinian shook his head. "Is it? In the morning, there will be outrage over the fate of the Sentinels. That will spawn another uprising. When we put that one down, it will spawn yet a third. Our people are always looking for the next source of outrage." He chuckled grimly and added, "I was raised by bishops telling me that I had to live as an unblemished saint and by nobles telling me that I had to restore Meteora's glory. How could I ever please everyone? They only agreed on one thing- that I was Nabataea's Chosen. The only true path was my own path, then, and yet everyone is suddenly questioning their faith in my authority. I thought the ways of the divine were supposed to be immutable…"

Florian was not entirely unsympathetic to Justinian's plight. Other than losing his parents while still a child, which was very common after the plague, Florian had enjoyed a relatively carefree life. Justinian, however, was subjected to intense pressure from birth, and he was frequently provided dubious advice. It was enough to make Florian less enthusiastic of primogeniture than his uncle.

However, it was not the time to worry about any of that.

Florian told him, "Your Majesty, leaving Aurelian here will create one of those outrages you speak of. Even if you're worried that he's the favorite to replace you, our army might refuse to leave the city without him."

Justinian laughed, "It won't make any difference."

"What are you talking about? Narses is su-."

"Narses isn't doing anything. An envoy arrived around half an hour ago. Apparently, his forces somehow got surrounded by the Elamites in some sort of scheme, and most of Faruq's army will be at our walls by morning. I told the messenger to report back that I expect Narses to fight to the death anyways, but…well… who hasn't betrayed me by now? The point is, though, that we'll never get the army assembled in time to prevent the siege."

Florian was too stunned to reply, but Aurelian did not sound terribly surprised by this development. He told Justinian, "Our walls are strong. We may be able to hold out until Elam's court is willing to make concessions. But if I'm not free, the army will lack the unity required of the task."

Justinian shook his head. "I needed you for your mind, Aurelian… I never needed you as a symbol. I am the symbol. By competing for that spot, you are serving as a liability, not an aid. Your mind is obsolete when our army is bottled up here, yet you still function as a symbol for internal dissent… not just for the Sentinels, but for the army and the commoners, too. Which is why… I'm afraid… I have no choice but to have you put to death."

Eudocia and Artabasdos were ready to catch Florian's arms as he attempted to charge at the "king." It was difficult to make Florian angry enough to lash out at family, but Justinian had exceeded the threshold several times over.

"You sick coward!" Florian accused. "You would really kill your own cousin to quell your delusional fears? Aurelian has done everything you could possibly ask for!"

"I know he has, but that doesn't change basic realities. So… I hope he can do me this one last favor." Justinian turned towards the prisoner. "It will happen in the morning on the palace lawn. I need witnesses so there's no rumors that you escaped, but I'll keep it limited to only the nobles from the capital. No commoners."

Aurelian had somehow remained calm through all of this. He said in an almost kind voice, "Justinian… everything I've done is for the sake of our people. Maybe it was a mistake. But I can promise you this- if you execute me, this city will fall. It will fall quickly, and you will not escape."

"Not quite, Aurelian. Don't be so arrogant to think our fate hinges on you. Either Nabataea is real and we will be protected, or she is not and we will die. And that's how it should be." Justinian gripped the bars until his knuckles turned white. "Don't you get it? This is how we'll be immortalized. If not for our triumph, then it will be for our thunderous ending. Our land, our people, our culture… all relics of a foolish past. We'll be a cautionary tale for future generations to not put hope in false gods. It will a beautiful coda for our family… a candle that is snuffed out rather than slowly flickered into oblivion."

"… Coda for our family?" Florian repeated uneasily.

"Aurelian will be gone, and if the city falls, they'll kill us both." Justinian's face contorted some. "And Juliana? Well… she'll be kept safe in the heart of the palace, but should the throne room be breached, I will ensure that her ending is quick and painless."

Florian managed to press a step closer before his captors reestablished control. He still shouted, "You can't be serious!"

"It's a better fate than being taken. Do you really think I'd let those brutes ravage her and sell her off to the highest bidder? No… this story needs to end here with us. Together. I won't let them take me alive, and I expect you to ensure the same, Florian."

When Florian did not immediately reply, Eudocia said in his ear, "You might want to say, 'Yes, Your Majesty.' You've already been belligerent enough."

"Florian…" Aurelian said gently. "Do as His Majesty says. You should go now."

Giving up on his uncle seemed impossible. But what was he supposed to do? The Sentinels were gone. He might have the army's support if he went to them, but Justinian would just execute Aurelian sooner if the palace risked being overrun.

Florian felt his entire body slump, and Justinian's friends released him in unison with the understanding that the junior royal had been tamed.

"Can I… at least say goodbye to him in private?" Florian asked despairingly.

Eudocia and Artabasdos were both about to comment on the ridiculousness of request, but Justinian held up a hand.

"Very well, Florian. But make it quick… I don't want you hatching some elaborate escape plan together," Justinian said as he waved his friends down the hall.

Watching the execution would be too much to bear, so Florian knew in his heart that this would be the last time he ever saw Aurelian alive. He squeezed the bars hatefully and muttered, "If I had the strength of the Tempest, I'd rip these apart and shove the fragments down their smug throa-."

Aurelian interrupted, "Florian… I need you to calm down. I also need you to forget about me. You and Juliana shouldn't be punished for my mistakes. I don't know what you can do for her, but as for yourself, hide wherever you can when the city falls and stay there until it's over."

Florian tried to steady himself as requested. Such outbursts were out of character, and they were only going to make the situation worse. Aurelian's other commands were more problematic, however. How could Florian simply cower and ignore the voices of his people being trampled by an invading army? But unlike Aurelian, he knew when to lie.

"Alright. But Aurelian… I just…"

His words were dammed behind his tears, so his uncle held his hand from across the bars. It was impossible to maneuver into a hug from their positions, but Aurelian never cared much for those anyways.

Florian closed his eyes and focused on keeping his breath from hitching. It was a long embrace, but not long enough. Aurelian eventually patted his hand one final time and told him, "Goodbye, Cherrytop. Thank you for everything. I think I'll be a little sad to go after all."

"Goodbye, uncle…"

Justinian was already looking over suspiciously, so Florian pulled away. He and Aurelian exchanged final sad smiles before the younger man turned and walked towards the others.

"Are you good now?" Artabasdos asked.

Florian nodded. "As good as can be expected. If it's alright to ask, Your Majesty… what do you intend to do with the Tempest of Fódlan?"

Justinian frowned and replied, "I didn't want to harm him, but parading him around as a war prize won't offset the fear generated by Faruq's army camping right outside our walls. The Tempest's best function now might be as leverage to get our enemies to back off. We'll threaten to kill him if they don't leave."

"Powerful as he is, I don't think they'll go home for the sake of a single foreigner. What will you do when they don't listen?"

"I see no option other than making good on my word. We won't be taken seriously otherwise, and he is still a threat to us. … Is that a problem?"

Florian summoned all his strength to reply evenly, "No, I understand. … May I retire for the night now, Your Majesty?"

"Of course," Justinian confirmed. "Artabasdos, Eudocia… you should do the same. It's been a long day, and tomorrow won't be any kinder."

Florian left without listening to the rest of the conversation.

Everything felt out of balance during the walk back to his room. The candles were unusually bright, his head was ringing, and the floor seemed to roll under him with each step. Nothing made sense anymore. Florian half-expected to find his door torn apart and Dimitri to be missing, and frankly, he wouldn't have even cared.

What Florian actually found came as a complete surprise. Dimitri was huddled in the corner of the room while shaking and mumbling under his breath. His shackles were unharmed.

"Umm… Dimitri?" Florian spoke.

The prisoner did not look up or answer, but he did at least stop murmuring and trembling.

"I, uhh… understand if you need some time in peace. A lot has happened, but I'll jus-."

"What happened?" Dimitri asked suddenly.

Florian sat down at the table, and Dimitri soon followed suit. His eye was red from anguish, but he listened to Florian's story closely.

"Where to start? Well, for one, you'll be happy to hear that King Faruq's army is on its way. They could be at our gates as soon as tomorrow. The Sentinels are gone… I watched Master Xanthippe die in front of me. And Aurelian…" Florian had stayed calm, but his voice finally cracked as he covered his mouth with his hand. "Justinian has lost it. He's going to have Aurelian executed tomorrow, and… and… damn it, he's even going to kill his own sister!"

Dimitri was startled by this last claim. "Princess Juliana? But why?"

"I'm not going to repeat Justinian's manic rambling, but his plan is to hold her in the throne room if the city falls. He'll have her killed when the chambers are breached." Tears of frustration began to roll down his cheeks. "What am I supposed to do? Aurelian has doomed us with his obduracy. There's nothing that can stop Justinian now."

Florian felt it best not to mention the threat to Dimitri's wellbeing yet- even if the prisoner was a decent man, someone called "The Tempest" might act unpredictably upon realizing that his life was in the balance. Even just based on what he had already heard, Dimitri stood and began to pace the room in obvious distress. Florian silently watched but had no idea what was going through the prisoner's mind.

"Losing Princess Juliana would be a tragedy in and of itself, but her death would have greater implications, wouldn't?" Dimitri finally asked.

"That's true. Juliana may well be the final member of the royal family before long. If she dies, it could launch yet another succession crisis. Who knew those could compile so catastrophically?"

Dimitri sighed and said something under his breath that sounded like, "I'm sorry." He then sat down and said commandingly, "There might be a way to save her… but… you'll have to let me go free."

"What does that have-."

"Prince Khalid will listen to me. The Elamite royals won't want the princess to die, either. If I can tell them Justinian's plan ahead of time, we can take actions to try saving her."

It… made some amount of sense, which calmed Florian enough to at least listen. He observed, "I might be royalty, but no one is going to let me walk you out the front gate. Do you have a plan to get out of the city?"

"Maybe, but I'll have to ask you a few questions to be sure."

"Before you do… is there any way that you can work saving Aurelian into the plan?"

Dimitri frowned understandingly. "I'm sorry, but breaking him out would require a fight. I'll never make it out if I'm swarmed by soldiers in an unfamiliar place."

"I assumed so, but I had to ask. Alright… go ahead. What are your questions?"

"Firstly, I know this palace backs up to the sea. Is it serviced by a boathouse or something similar?"

"A small one with a few rowboats in case the royal family needed to make a fast escape. The landing is deliberately too small to allow a warship to deboard. You would never make it past the guards, but even if you did, you'd best be careful. Did you notice the warships beyond the bay on your way here? If you go too far out to sea, you'll risk getting blasted by your own blockade."

"I only need to clear the city, not go on a deep-sea fishing trip. How many guards are we talking about?"

"I'm not sure. Justinian has them posted everywhere right now, though, so it's not like I can make up an excuse to get a couple guards to temporarily leave the gate unattended. You'd either have to kill them all, which we agree is an awful idea, or you'd need quite the distraction."

"… I see. Another question, then. Artabasdos and Eudocia… they aren't closely related to the royal family, are they?"

"Not as far as I know. Why are you asking?"

Dimitri shook his head rapidly. "Forgive my wording… I was only curious if they live here at the palace."

"Oh. Umm… well, yes, they do. Not because of their lineage, but because Justinian gave them rooms."

"And does this palace have any kind of training facility?"

Florian answered, "Sort of. Not on the main palace structure, but there's a separate building at the end of the grounds. It's basically a barracks for the royal guards."

"I see… that will make this easier in every way," Dimitri muttered. He then asked louder, "Do you think you can find Artabasdos and Eudocia?"

"Justinian told them to get some sleep, so I'm sure they're in their rooms."

Dimitri nodded and announced, "In that case, the plan just might work. But… I'll need your help, and if we try it, I must ask that you follow my every command without question."

"Without question? Why?"

"Because if I tell you what will happen, the plan won't work. Now… if you agree, that was your final question." When Florian hesitated to answer, Dimitri promised, "I swear to do everything I can to save the princess and prevent unnecessary suffering for your people. I have my failings, but I take promises very seriously. So please, Florian… let me help you."

Florian was slow to reply, "If Justinian finds out I let you go, not only will I be punished, but he'll start to ask questions why."

"I promise that he won't discover your involvement if you stay. Though… I'd rather you come with me. You shouldn't die here."

"Still the same problem. Justinian is smart enough to know that rescuing Juliana will be my top priority if I betray him, so he might kill her sooner to be on the safe side."

"Very well, Florian," Dimitri replied sadly. "But… can you agree to the rest?"

The ban on questions was deeply suspicious. The most likely motivation for it was that Dimitri feared Florian would not go through with the plan if he knew the cost. Would be dangerous? Would someone be hurt? Killed?

But what was Florian supposed to do? He had no alternatives, so there were only two choices- let Juliana die, or trust Dimitri. The Tempest of Fódlan had not lived up to his name so far. Dimitri had been calm, kind, and honest. He had never made a single escape attempt, even when left entirely alone with his weapon. He accepted Aurelian's apology. Dimitri was not even going to raise the topic of an escape until prompted by Florian's despair, so just how devious could this plan be? Surely not devious enough to outweigh Juliana's life. Besides, it would likely spare Dimitri a terrible fate, too.

Perhaps there were other explanations for the restrictions. Maybe Dimitri was going to utilize some kind of magic from Fódlan that could not be spoken of aloud.

Yeah, that had to be it…

"Alright… I'll do it," Florian muttered.

Dimitri walked into one of the bedrooms and returned with his lance. He extended it to Florian and began, "We'll start by delivering this to Artabasdos and Eudocia."

"What are-."

"No questions. I know what Aurelian said about protecting the lance, but this is the only way. You're going to deliver this to them, and you're going to tell them exactly what I say."

Florian had more questions by the time Dimitri finished his explanation, but perhaps he had a few answers, too. At least, what Dimitri was saying did at least make some degree of sense. Florian still had no idea why Dimitri would entrust such power to those two, but he accepted Dimitri's orders without much resistance. Aurelian would have been too stubborn to ever agree, but after witnessing where that got him, Florian was at peace with trying something different.

Dimitri stayed behind while Florian navigated the halls with the strange lance in tow. He continued to rehearse his lines up until he arrived at the quarters of Eudocia and Artabasdos. Their rooms were adjacent, so Florian knocked on each door sequentially. The occupants opened the doors at the same time. Eudocia looked annoyed by the visit, while Artabasdos was too tired to provide much emotion.

"What's this about, Florian? We're not going to appeal to His Majesty about Aurelian, if that's what you came here for," Eudocia told him.

Florian shook his head and held forth the lance. "No, that's not it. I came here because I finally got the Tempest of Fódlan to talk. I think hearing about what happened to Aurelian scared him into compliance. As you probably know, this lance holds special power when he uses it. He says its properties are unlocked by harmonization between the user's blood and the lance's magic. This is achieved by repeated and intense usage. If we hurry, we might be able to release its full potential by morning. It could help us turn the tides."

Eudocia noted warily, "So it's magic. That's against Nabataea's laws, Florian. His Majesty won't approve."

Florian grimaced and prodded, "Come on, work with me here! His Majesty has resigned himself to Nabataea's judgment, but are you comfortable with that? I don't know about you two, but I'd like to add a little weight to our end of the scale."

He could tell that his words were beginning to get through. Artabasdos asked, "Why not handle this yourself?"

"Ha! It's no secret that I'm not much of a fighter. I know our relationship hasn't always been, uhh, smooth sailing, so this request probably seems a little unusual. I'd give it to Aurelian if I could. But His Majesty values your opinions, so if you can prove yourselves capable of wielding this, it's our best chance of convincing him to use it."

"… What exactly would we do?" Eudocia queried.

"Like I said… train with it nonstop until morning. Don't hold anything back. If you get too tired to continue, hand it over to the other. Without Aurelian or the Sentinels, our future rests in your hands now."

Justinian's friends silently debated the proposal. Finally, Artabasdos reached out and took the lance. He said more alertly, "This really is a weird weapon. I always wondered what it would be like to use."

"I'm glad you've trusted us with this. Now go get some sleep already, Florian," Eudocia ordered.

Florian said his thanks and left as requested. He squirmed in revulsion as soon as he rounded the corner. Nabataea forgive him for it, but being civil with those two pushed him to his limits every time.

Dimitri was sitting right where Florian left him. He was once again talking to himself, but he snapped to attention without needing help this time.

"How did it go?" Dimitri asked.

"I was about ninety percent accurate to your line readings, which I'm pretty happy with. They agreed to use the lance as you asked."

"I see." Dimitri glanced out the window and commented, "I've been stuck in this stuffy room all day. Maybe your prisoner would be more inclined to talk if he could spend some time outside. Perhaps somewhere close to the ocean?"

"Oh, I'm sorry! I should have thought to ask a long ti-." Florian stopped himself in realization. "Except… you don't actually care about that, right? That's just what we're going to say if someone asks us?"

"That's two questions, Florian. But yes. I don't know how long we'll need to wait there, so we should find somewhere comfortable."

Florian did not dare ask what exactly they were waiting for, so he instead said, "There's a pavilion not too far from the gates to the boathouse. I can't imagine anyone else is making a rendezvous out there at this hour."

"Lead the way," Dimitri instructed as he stood.

Before leaving, Florian cut a chunk of cheese off their roll and wrapped it in a small pouch. "To help keep you alive until you find your friends," he explained. Florian held onto it since Dimitri's hands were still shackled.

The pair ran into a sentry at the bottom of the staircase. The guard tried to turn them back inside by citing lingering security risks, but Florian eventually talked his way through the situation by utilizing Dimitri's reasoning. They then finished the walk to the pavilion uninterrupted. The outlines of patrols along the palace walls could just be made out, but they were otherwise alone. The barracks were visible across the lawn, and Dimitri intermediately glanced in its direction nervously.

"You know… I always wanted to travel," Florian said wistfully after a minute of silence. "What is Fódlan like? I've heard the horror stories from people who signed up to fight on the Throat, but what is it really like?"

Florian knew he would probably never live long enough to see the world, so hopefully Dimitri was a good storyteller. Thankfully, the somewhat taciturn prisoner did spectacularly. Dimitri seemed to be avoiding certain details of his life, but he still managed to share tales about his home and his time at Fódlan's Officers Academy with great warmth. He clearly loved Fódlan, but something else was obvious to Florian- the man deeply, deeply missed it.

Dimitri asked a few questions of his own, and they somehow eventually reached the subject of their romantic history. Dimitri's story was rather brief. Apparently, his first infatuation was profoundly problematic in hindsight for a multitude of reasons, and the second misadventure involved an outing with a fellow student that went a little too far.

Florian laughed as he told Dimitri, "Your friend sounded like quite the character, but at least he helped you out in the end. But what made you think it was a good idea to attempt such coquetry in the first place?"

Dimitri chuckled wistfully. "I didn't expect her to actually find any of it that charming! I was just going through the motions to hold up my end of the bargain. I was worried Sylvain would say it didn't count as a date if he found out all I did was buy the girl a meal."

Florian continued to chortle, though now at his own expense. "Well, I have no right to judge. I've also gotten involved in two courtships. The first was with, believe it or not, Eudocia Tornikios." He shook his head in shame when he noticed Dimitri's nearly judgmental surprise. "Yeah, yeah, I know, it was a uniquely terrible match. Not my idea, though. Justinian is always trying to set up his friends in favorable marriages. He gave up on Aurelian pretty quickly since he was intimidating and never showed any interest in relationships, but Juliana and I weren't so lucky. Juliana does her best to avoid the people her brother throws her direction, but I figured the quickest way to end the charade was to agree and then scare Eudocia off. I probably didn't need to try as hard as I did, though, since I don't think she particularly liked me to begin with, either."

"In that case, sorry for making you show up at her door late at night," Dimitri apologized. "If he's that desperate, why does Justinian not marry her himself?"

"Ha! Because he has unrealistic expectations for what a Queen of Meteora must look like- expectations that no mortal will ever meet. But don't worry… visiting Eudocia was far from the worst request I've been given today." Florian's smile wavered a little when he continued, "I was genuinely interested in the other girl, though. Things seemed to start well until I, uhh…"

Florian paused when he heard a strange sound in the distance, perhaps coming from the barracks. An… animal? He could not process the noise before it got drowned out by a terrible chorus of screams, crashing, and crumbling.

He was suddenly pushed to the ground as Dimitri yelled, "Get down!" The prisoner jumped over him to cover his body, but Florian still raised his head enough to watch as the entire wall of the barracks erupted in a plume of dust. Debris rained from the sky for the next several seconds as a horrific creature let out a deafening roar. A few chunks were launched far enough to crunch shingles on the main palace, but most of the rubble landed short of the pavilion. The pavilion's roof blocked the majority of the storm that threatened the two men, though Florian heard Dimitri grunt after taking a hit in the back from a rogue brick that slipped through their defenses.

Dimitri rolled off and helped Florian stand once the immediate danger had passed. They watched as the entire surviving garrison rushed towards the ruined barracks. It was too dark to make out details beyond a pair of glowing red eyes, but the cause of all the destruction cast a large profile against the night sky.

Florian had almost managed to forget during their conversation that he was still in the midst of the worst day of his life, one so terrible that all other troubles seemed petty by comparison. This new development was a sudden, cruel reminder of that reality.

"What have you done?" Florian uttered in terror.

"… I provided the distraction we needed. There's no undoing it now," Dimitri said in a straightforward and resolute manner. It could have come across as coldhearted, but Florian knew the prisoner was also disturbed by the scene. Dimitri probably spent so much time stressing over the decision before finally proposing it to Florian that he was already numb to the consequences by the time it unfolded.

"What is it called?"

"We call them demonic beasts in Fódlan. They can be killed, but they won't go down easy."

Florian nearly retched. "Y-you've put their blood on my hands, Dimitri."

"I know… but… you knew from the moment I avoided your questions that this was possibility, even if you won't say it."

Dimitri was right. Florian had willfully chosen ignorance, but that ignorance could not last forever. And now, Artabasdos and Eudocia were surely dead, among a host of royal guards. Despite any terrible dates or threats involving rusted bars, he would never wish such a death on anyone.

Maybe Florian really was outright stupid. Dimitri was an enemy of Meteora with no motivation to spare their lives, and for some reason, Florian decided to instead treat him as a friend. His miscalculation resulted from a tragic mixture of idealism, sympathy, and even a tinge of loneliness, but that was no excuse. They could have been friends in a different world, but circumstances were not so kind in this one.

Despite his disgust, could Florian really say it was the wrong decision even after knowing the truth of the plan? Did raw utilitarianism justify it? He could not make such a judgment in the moment.

Dimitri shook him back to his senses by reminding, "Come on… it's not safe here, and we don't have time to waste. Take me down to the sea, Florian."

Florian was too upset to speak, but he did eventually comply. The gate was left completely unattended in the wake of the calamity, so the two men quickly worked together to get it open. It was only a short hike to the shore from there.

"The rowboats are down in that building," Florian explained on the way, trying his best to ignore the continued shouts from behind them. An expletive slipped from his lips when he remembered, "I think I dropped the keys for your irons back at the pavilion. We need to go-."

Dimitri stopped walking, briefly closed his eyes in concentration, and then yanked his hands in opposite directions. The chains of the manacles were quickly severed in submission. That answered that question, at least. Dimitri could presumably find a way to get the rings removed later.

It became clear that assisting Dimitri would only slow the process, so Florian helplessly waited at the beach as his prisoner grabbed a set of oars and carried the rowboat over. After setting the craft down in the shallows, Dimitri said, "It's not too late for you to join me."

"I already told yo-."

"Circumstances have changed. They may well assume you were eaten or buried somewhere underneath all that rubble instead of helping me. That means nothing will change about Princess Juliana's situation."

Florian smiled sadly. "Maybe, but that's not a chance I'm willing to take. And besides… I can't leave. I'm a Meteoran, Dimitri. You were right… I've been too trusting. I still don't think you're a bad person at heart. But even in trusting just you, dozens are probably dead, and my home is in shambles. What will happen when thousands of angry soldiers storm this city? I know what happened last time Elam marched on Meteora, and I can't willingly accept that. I'm going to defend this city, come what may."

Dimitri nodded slowly. "… I understand. There was a time when I would have felt the same. Perhaps I still do. I would tell you that Elam's army is different this time, but I doubt my word means that much to you anymore. I honestly don't know what will happen… especially since many of them will now be looking for revenge."

He was about to get in the boat when Florian suddenly remembered something. The Meteoran pulled out the pouch of cheese.

"I can't go with you, but it would be rude to forget this. Hopefully it didn't get crushed too badly when you tackled me," Florian said with a rueful chuckle.

"Thank you…" Dimitri exhaled as he took it. Florian could tell that his companion was on the verge of tears as he got in the boat and pushed off.

"Goodbye, Dimitri. You will hear of my death when the city falls. Don't mourn me too much, if the idea crosses your mind. Whatever happens to me is the result of my own choices. Just… try to take better care of these people than my family did, alright?"

"I promise to save her, Florian. And… I wish you well."

The calm ocean thankfully did not reflect the turbulence of the city that night. Florian watched as Dimitri quickly faded into the dark. He had never felt so alone.

The shouts from beyond the walls were not as panicked or terrified as before. The soldiers responding to the emergency had clearly wrestled control and were nearing victory over the demonic beast.

Even so… the only thing that awaited Florian up that path was death. He swallowed, apologized to Aurelian, and took a step towards that fate.