"Look at them, Rosado, all lovey-dovey and fawning over each other…"

"Yeah, they're definitely in love alright. Why're we watching them from the bushes again?"

Hortensia looked at Rosado as if he had just asked the dumbest question she had ever heard. The bushes they were squatting in were uncomfortable, yes, but the Divine Dragon Stewards made it their life's goal to take care of the Somniel, so they'd thank them for ruining a small rose bush, wouldn't they? It meant they would have something to do! Other than preparing for war, obviously - but that was besides the point.

"If we are to do it, must we be in the bushes?" Goldmary asked, sighing as she felt the thorns against her perfect skin. "I am afraid that I will be picking these thorns out of my hair and clothes for the rest of the day…"

"This is the closest spot, so we're staying here," Hortensia ordered, narrowing her eyes and she peered out of their hiding place to spy on Jack and Ivy. They were eating dinner, ostensibly - they didn't invite her, obviously, because it was all about the two of them, laughing and smiling at each other. It was sickening.

"Is this a prelude to breaking them up?" Goldmary asked boldly, crossing her arms before she thankfully rebalanced herself. Falling into the bed of thorns was not on her to-do list. "If so, then - as much as I hate to say this - I do not think we should do so, Princess Hortensia. I do not like that Jack, but I cannot deny that Princess Ivy seems… happier in his presence."

"They look as adorable as buttons, I'd say," Rosado chimed in with a chipper smile. "Not as cute as us when we strike a pose, of course, but cute in their own right."

Hortensia shook her head. "I'm not gonna break them up. Look, guys, I know this is creepy, but as long as Ivy is happy, I don't mind it. I guess I'm just-"

"Jealous?" Goldmary finished.

Hortensia sighed. "Yeah, jealous, like he's taking her away from me. I know I shouldn't feel that way but I can't help it. Only good thing for me that'll come outta this is good food…"

"Princess Ivy did speak highly of that," Rosado noted.

Goldmary scoffed. "I am much better."

"Oh? Should we put that to the test? Why don't we go and ask him?" Rosado said, a smug grin showing up on his face.

Goldmary shook her head. "No, because that would be a waste of food during a time where rationing will soon be the norm. As much as I would like to prove my superiority here, that's just not feasible. I won't do it at the expense of the army."

Rosado blinked. "Wow. I actually didn't expect that. I guess we really are growing up, huh?"

"Oh, I think they're about to kiss again…" Hortensia hissed. "You better treat her right, Jack, or I'll find you, and I will end you…"

"Ah, and now I'm feeling creepy instead of cute again…" Rosado mused, "though, this scene would make a beautiful sketch or painting, though. If only I brought my materials."

"You'd find a much easier and prettier time drawing me instead," Goldmary said, "not to detract from their moment, of course, but there is simply no way to contend with perfection."

"I take it back," Rosado said, silently laughing to himself. "We haven't grown up at all."

"Oh, Diamant is coming around! Maybe he'll- no, he just walked away," Hortensia noted, "Damn you, prince of Brodia. This will heavily impact the relations between our nations…"

"Ah, I'm being ignored. Though right now, that doesn't feel too bad," Rosado said, trying his best to not laugh loudly. He didn't want to blow Hortensia's cover, after all.

"All the soldiers are ready for battle, Queen Lumera," Vander said, his arms behind his back as he addressed his liege. She was at her desk, a veritable mountain of papers by her side.

"Thank you, Vander," she sighed, rubbing her forehead. "And the rations? Have they been prepared?"

"Our side of the army should be able to supply itself for the duration of the conflict, so long as Sombron's forces do not specifically target our warehouses further inland," Vander reported, "As for the Brodian and Solmic fronts, I have precious little information. I know that Queen Seforia is gathering her troops and setting out for the border, and that the council that's ruling Brodia while Princes Diamant and Alcryst remain here have also committed their forces to the border, but beyond that, their situations allude me."

Lumera sighed. "Then I suppose I will just have to trust that the last thousand years of fostering relations has not been for nothing. Holding together a Lythosian and Elusian alliance on this small island is already enough of a headache as it is."

Vander nodded. "True. I am terribly sorry that I cannot help you in any other meaningful way, Queen Lumera."

Lumera laughed. "Were it anyone else to say that, Vander, I would assume they are being sarcastic. Ah, but perhaps I should not be complaining. Despite the difficulties, I have never seen the people of Elyos so united in a common cause, not even during the last war with Sombron. It is rather… surreal, to put it bluntly."

"Yes, I agree. Despite the difficulties, I would not trade this alliance we have forged for anything. That the Elusians have agreed to fight for us, even if it is only to retake their fallen homeland, is nothing short of incredible. There will be a very different Elusia by the time this is over."

"Princess Ivy has the makings of a fine leader. It is… a shame, that I shall not be around for long once she is crowned, but these last few years will make all of eternity worth living," Lumera said softly.

"Queen Lumera… I-"

"Please, Vander, you do not need to say anything," Lumera interrupted. "I will still be here a while yet, should fate permit it. And with the hopes of prayers of the Lythosian people, it is possible my lifespan shall be partially restored - but in the end, I gave everything to my child, and they will one day take my place."

"I… I can only hope that, even now, that day is not soon," Vander said, and though his face and stance did not change, the tone of his voice conveyed all Queen Lumera needed to know.

"As I said, I will be with you for a while," Lumera assured. "I am not so weak now as to simply crumble to dust at a moment's notice, you know. It is thanks to a certain someone that I am even able to have this conversation with you right now."

Vander nodded. "And I thank the Divine Dragon every day that remains true."

"Ah, are you thanking me, Vander, or my child? Or perhaps the Divine Dragons that came before me?" Lumera asked, a teasing lilt to her voice as she leaned back in her chair.

Vander hummed. "I could try praying to the Architect, if what the Divine One said is true. I have been meaning to ask about that, by the way. That is, if you do not mind."

Lumera's smile faded, but she nodded nonetheless as she repositioned herself on her chair. "I do not mind. Truthfully, that such a figure would be beneath Solm Palace, or the Solmic capital in general - my… my people never spoke of them. I had known that Elyos was created by a pact between the Divine Dragons and the Mage Dragons, but to see the progenitor themselves-"

"Elyos was created in a pact between…?" Vander said before trailing off.

Sighing, Lumera rubbed her forehead. "Yes. There are many truths about this world that I did not include in the holy scriptures, if only because I could not find the proper place for them. Nonetheless, lies of omission are still lies, and I apologize that I have led you and our people otherwise, Vander."

Vander was silent for a moment before, slowly, he placed his hand on Lumera's shoulder.

"I understand, Queen Lumera," Vander said, "Still, if it is alright with you, I would still like to hear it. How our world was created, or as much as you might know. I promise that it will not leave this room."

Lumera shook her head. "I am not worried about it leaving this room, Vander. You have been a loyal knight of Lythos and a stalwart Steward for many years. Ah, but where do I begin? There are so many different places I could take us. Perhaps I shall start with the Somniel itself. There used to be a city in the sky, the second homeland of my people…"

Diamant looked out over the sea, and knew that just beyond his sight, Sombron's forces gathered their strength. However, just by looking at it, it was difficult to believe that within a few short hours, the waves would be awash with fire and blood, depending on how Sombron's invasion panned out. The sun shone down on the crystal blue waters, sparkling as if it was a sea of liquid gemstones. Diamant himself stood on the seawall of the coastal town Sombron would make landfall in, according to reports from the few riders they sent out.

The fortifications were sturdy, and they had an ample number of men and women of fighting age and skill, but with the inclusion of the weapons from Jack's homeworld, Diamant didn't know how the battle would turn out. He supposed it all depended on the amount Sombron had.

Diamant looked at the ring on his finger, the golden band shining and the red inlaid gem like a captured fire.

"I've heard that ending someone's meditation like this can be considered funny. Can you confirm that for me, Prince Diamant?"

Diamant turned to see Jade, armor-clad, staring at him with pensive eyes. He let out a deep breath.

"It might've been, if I was spooked by your intrusion and fell into the sea. Were you planning on putting that into your novel, Jade?" Diamant asked, rolling his shoulders.

"Only if it actually happened," Jade replied, shrugging. "Clearly, it didn't, and I'm not writing fiction. Not this time, at least."

"Even if you describe our adventures explicitly as nonfiction, I'm almost certain future historians will have a hard time believing it. Metal birds from the sky? A city of contrasts buried beneath the capital of Solm? It's all so… crazy. Unreal," Diamant said, rubbing his forehead. "And in just a few hours, one of the biggest battles of this conflict will be fought. And if we lose because of these new weapons… I do not know what might happen."

"Is that the reason why you asked Jack to teach Alcryst how to use those weapons?" Jade asked. "They are really sinister-looking, I'll admit. I'd prefer to use my battleaxe, but I have a feeling, once this is all over, we'll be entering a new age of warfare."

"That is probably the most terrifying thing you have ever said, Jade," Diamant said, "and also true. We will have to deal with that later, however - there is too much at stake with Sombron still walking this world."

Roy appeared beside him, his arms crossed and nodding his head. "And we'll be with you the whole way. Been with you this long; I don't intend on going anywhere until this deed is done."

"I was hoping you might stay a while longer after that," Diamant said, chuckling to himself. "There are so many things I have wanted to ask you, with little time to actually indulge my curiosity. Ah, but we will talk about that later, I think."

"Yes… later," Roy said, looking unsure of himself for a moment before patting his chest. "Just remember that I'm here. I don't know how being Engaged with me will affect those weapons' damage, but there's always time to test everything, huh?"

The thing that Alcryst held in his hands nearly flew out of his grasp when he pressed the trigger. Even though he kept a steady grip on it, it felt horrible. It was like he was holding a giant wasp, only slightly less temperamental.

Nonetheless, it was effective. It had completely shot off the head of the training dummy he had shot at. A terrible smell filled the air, and Alcryst sighed and placed the gun on a nearby wooden table, before looking at the sky and noticing the cloud cover.

"It's going to happen soon," Alcryst noted. "I promise I'll protect both of you, whatever the cost."

Lapis and Citrinne were there, thankfully. Citrinne shook her head, holding her ears even as Alcryst spoke.

"I'll answer whatever it is you just said once the ringing in my ears stops, Alcryst," she said, "ah, but what is that smell? It is like… like the inside of a sulfur mine."

"I'm actually surprised you know what that smells like," Lapis said, her hand on her sword's pommel even though danger wasn't imminent. It must've been the sound of the weapon, Alcryst thought. It was unlike anything any of them had heard. It had the loudness of thunder directly in your ear. He had no idea how anyone on their side would be able to use them - or, indeed, if there were other weapons like it scattered across Elyos. Looking at the damage a single shot fired from the weapon did to the training dummy, if Brodia and Elusia continued their wars in particular, the casualties would be catastrophic.

"I can't use this…" Alcryst finally said, pushing himself away from the table and away from the weapon. "This… this thing isn't right. It looks like something Sombron would make. I am… too weak."

"Well, I heard that, and it is blatantly untrue," Citrinne said, "I will not say something as unhelpful as 'have more confidence in yourself, Prince Alcryst!', but I will tell you that not using this weapon is not a weakness. A bow and arrow may not have taken that dummy's head off, but it would have been a kill all the same. These weapons are finite - its ammo cannot be replaced with anything we have. A bow and arrow will be as versatile as ever."

"Y-yeah! What she said, Prince Alcryst," Lapis said, nodding sagely.

"But there's no telling how many of Sombron's forces have something like this," Alcryst pointed out. "What if they have dozens? Hundreds? What we saw was only a small taste of what's to come. I can't help but feel my legs quake thinking about what could happen to us. If it can take off a man's head from dozens of yards away, then what will it do if it hits someone in the chest? The leg? It's horrible to think about."

A brief flash of fire erupted from Citrinne's hand. "And we still have magic. For all of this technology's advantages, never forget that there are many people with the power to conjure flame and lightning from mere books."

"Even if you can't use magic, Prince Alcryst… well, I believe in you," lapis said encouragingly. "We will find a way to counter these weapons, even if we don't make use of them. And, well, if they can't kill a bear…"

Citrinne let out an almost undignified snort. "Dear, are you comparing yourself to one of these weapons?"

"N-no! I'm just saying, a good boar spear can-"

"Where would I be without you two?" Alcryst said aloud.

"W-what? Prince Alcryst…" Lapis stammered out, hiding her face behind her hands.

"Look at what you've done to her, Alcryst. You can be really terrible sometimes, you know?"

"W-what? I was just saying something nice, I thought - but that's just like me, isn't it? To make everything worse…" Alcryst said, running a hand down his face. "I'm sorry, Lapis. I'll be leaving your presence now."

"N-no! Wait! I'm offended, Prince Alcryst! I just-!" Lapis said, reaching out before Alcryst was gone.

Calm down, Ivy, calm down…

Ivy looked out over the crowd gathered before her. There was a small amphitheater near the coast of the village that would soon see Sombron's landfall. The sky went dark with clouds longer before Sombron's ships could be seen on the horizon, and before long, the sun gave way to a starless sky. Lightning could be seen on the horizon, in the direction of Sombron's forces, and within mere hours, there would be the first battle of a massive war, that threatened to engulf all of Elyos in a sea of blood.

And before Ivy, were her citizens. Soldiers and carpenters. Generals and fishermen. Half of them had never seen combat before, and the other half were probably thinking of deserting. After all, Lythos wasn't their homeland. And they did not worship the Divine Dragon - though Ivy doubted there were very many who worshiped Sombron much either.

They were looking for a leader, to guide them towards their sundered homeland. And Ivy - Ivy was the only one who could provide that.

And so, she walked into the middle of the semicircle, facing everyone gathered before her and above her. She could feel the tension in the air, like a clogging humidity that refused to go away. She could feel the sweat on her brow, and the light was blinding. She had foregone her fascinator - the people needed to see her face, know that their future queen was with them.

"People of Elusia - my people," Ivy began, in a voice that didn't sound quite like her own. "The situation is dire, I will not lie. We are in a land that just a year ago, our people considered the land of decadence and greed, and a people who were ever so willing to abandon us to the wolves of Brodia."

Small murmurings in the crowd echoed through the theater before Ivy continued.

"And what's more, our god has turned against us," Ivy continued, and the crowd grew so quiet she would've been able to hear a ring drop to the ground. "Sombron has killed our king, corrupted the nobility, and forced us off of our land. There has never been a darker time in our history."

Ivy began pacing, then, moving to the right as she held her arms behind her back.

"But this is not the end of Elusia."

The silence was deafening as Ivy continued.

"The corruption that has rooted itself in our country's aristocracy has been excised. You, the common people, wisely followed my lead and saved yourselves from the foolishness of our former leaders. There has never been a more united Elusia than ever before. And that is why I am not worried about Elusia's future. Sombron was a false god, and his worship nearly led us to ruin - but we are still here, and I will fight for Elusia's future, for all of our futures!"

"See not these Lythosians and these Brodians and these Solmic as heathens to be feared, or soldiers marching on our land - from this day forward, they are our brothers-and-sisters-in-arms. Brother and sisters who will help lead us to our ultimate destiny: the death of Sombron, and the remnants of his cult! Together, we will create a new Elusia, one that does not rely upon the Fell Dragon's machinations to protect itself! One that does not allow its youth to be corrupted by the foul worm's influence! I will fight with every fiber of my being to see this through to the end. Who will join me?"

A resounding cheer rang out from those gathered, so loud that Ivy nearly bolted. However, she stood her ground, keeping herself firmly rooted on the stage. She held her hand up, the Ring of the Lady of the Plains glowing on her finger.

"Then I shall lead you to a glorious future, Elusia!" Ivy said, "Just a stone's throw across the Inner Sea, there lies Sombron. In a few short hours, he will be upon us. This is our chance. Who will help me crush him? Who will help me avenge the fallen!?"

The crowd became even more raucous than before, sounding more like the roar of a tiger than that of a crowd of human beings. Ivy let out a deep breath.

I do this for you, people of Elusia. And I do this for you, Hortensia, Jack, Connor… my son-

"How did you two meet, Seadall?"

It came as a surprise to hear a question like that from Jack, Seadall thought. It wouldn't have been if they had just met, but considering he and Jack had known each other for months, it was like being poked.

The docks of the village looked particularly dark and foreboding then, but it was where Jack wanted to meet, so Seadall acquiesced. He had a feeling that Jack simply didn't want to be seen - even if being out in the open was so dangerous. Across the dark waters, Sombron's Elusian ships could be seen, like dreadnoughts of death.

"It is the same way he found that axe he lugs around," Seadall began, trying to avoid looking at the harbingers on the bleak horizon. "Long story short, I danced, a bandit clan coveted me - and now they are gone. I suppose now I covet him."

Jack hummed, nodding. "And back then, he was… well? Not like he is now?"

Seadall shook his head. "It was a gradual process at first. He would ask me about things I hadn't said, act shocked at a villager for something they never did. It was strange, but it did not interfere. But the moment we both joined the Divine One's army, it changed."

"So, it's gotten a lot worse," Jack said, rubbing his forehead. "And we still haven't found anything that can help him. Nothing like medicine, at least."

"I have been thinking," Seadall began.

Jack raised a brow. "Well, let's hear it. At this point, trying anything is better than nothing."

"Even though he had his moments, in the village, with everyone else - people who cared for him, people who accepted him - he seemed to be… content. Even though his condition was a problem, it was manageable."

Narrowing his eyes, Jack asked, "So, we're, what, supposed to accept him? We have been."

"Lionel talks to me and you, and that is it. He has no connection to anyone else in the Divine One's army," Seadall noted sadly, looking down into the inky depths before him. "Nor does he want to. He thinks they are all out to get him, somehow; he believes that he will always be outcast from them, because of who he is. Because he is not you."

"I have no idea what that means," Jack said, shrugging his shoulders. "I really don't. I just…"

"It isn't your fault, I think," Seadall continued.

"You made it sound like it is. If I'm the reason that Lio is getting worse, then…" Jack rubbed his forehead as he began pacing. "I don't think I'd be able to handle that."

"We need to support him, through all of this," Seadall said, "especially if we cannot find a medicinal solution to it. I also believe he shouldn't be on the front lines anymore. All the violence, all the death… there is little doubt in my mind that it is partly responsible for his current state."

"Having Alear take him off the front lines will just make him believe that his delusions are justified," Jack pointed out. "I don't know, Seadall. I just don't know. I want to help him. He's the last person from Earth who actually remembers Earth and isn't… well. I just- I just don't know how to deal with it, and I know that's an issue with me."

"Speaking about this on the eve of battle probably is not a good idea either," Seadall said, looking up to finally stare down Sombron's encroaching army. "But… think about what I have said here. I believe there will come a time where we have to make a choice, and it is one that may have dire consequences."

"Did you… did you read that from a tarot card?" Jack asked hesitantly.

"You may call it my dancer's intuition," Seadall replied. "Now, come, let us prepare for the battle ahead…"

"There she is," Céline said, pointing behind Alfred to the pegasus that soared around the Somniel. "I told you she wouldn't fail us."

"I wasn't worried about it 'failing' per se…" Alfred said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was just wondering if she might've been… waylaid."

"You wouldn't have chosen her as our chief courier too if she'd let one of Sombron's minions kill her," Timerra stated proudly. "You Firenese are made out of sterner stuff than that. I've got faith!"

"Tough as flowers and twice as nice," Fogado said, hitting his chest once. "I can respect that."

"Not as tough as you, Prince Fogado," Céline said, looking down at his prosthetic leg before cringing to herself. "That was an awful thing for me to say. My apologies."

Fogado waved a hand. "Nah, it's alright. And it's also true! Let's go see what your retainer has to say either way. I've got a… feeling that it'll be interesting."

Chloé landed, and the first thing Alfred and Céline noticed was that she was haggard and sweaty, but still alive. Her pegasus wasn't in much better shape, and her eyes were still wide, as if she had seen the phantom of Sombron himself appear before her.

"Chloé? Are you alright?" Céline asked, running forward and not even bothering to ask if the message they sent to their mother had reached her.

"Ah, Princess Céline, I…" Chloé shook her head. "I'm sorry, but of the pegasus knights and griffon riders sent out to carry your messages, I… I am the last one standing."

"B-but- there were over a dozen with you! How is that possible?" Alfred asked, his voice particularly high-pitched for a moment.

"It is… it is hard to explain," Chloé said. "There was this creature of gray metal that came roaring out of the dark. Before we could even pinpoint it, it killed several of us. It was like a jagged wyvern, and it… the only reason I stand before you right now is because I was able to hit it with a javelin in what must have been a weak point. But I swear to you, that I will hear that creature's roars in my dreams. It was as if the air around it was screaming…"

Timerra's lips thinned as she turned to look at the Somniel. The islands that had been used to assault it still remained as a small ring around the main structure, nearly doubling the available area. If one such creature attempted to attack the Somniel, perhaps it could be warded off?

It was difficult to tell, especially with Chloé's no doubt embellished account.

"Ah, more things from Jack's world," Fogado said, rubbing his forehead. "As if having explosion sticks wasn't bad enough."

"I suppose it would be remiss of me to ask if these are under Sombron's control?" Céline asked.

Chloé rubbed her dirty forehead before shaking her head again. "I don't know how the Fell Dragon was able to intercept us with one of those creatures. Only you knew where we were going, Princess Céline."

"It must've been an accident, which explains why it was only one," Alfred theorized. "But that begs the question… how many more of those things does Sombron have?"

"Are you ready, Alm?" Veyle asked, holding her staff close to her. "We'll need to convert as many of the Corrupted to our side as we can. And if we can convert those… ash zombies, too, then we'll do it."

Alm was by her side, even as the last vestiges of light disappeared over the horizon, replaced by dark clouds and lightning.

"I'm with you, Lady Veyle," Alm said, bowing his head. "Honestly, I'm just glad I can be here right now. I never thought I would be able to see outside of the city… I wish the others could be here."

"The others? Oh, right…" Veyle said, "I'm sorry, Alm. But, maybe there's a way we can bring them back? They were Emblems, right?"

Alm shook his head. "Not as you understand them, although I doubt a regular person would be able to tell the difference. The Architect - they told us we were not as stable, not as strong, but we traded for it by being able to move of our own volition. Even if nobody wielded this staff, I would be able to fight and defend myself, almost like I am really here. But the others… they just faded away. Or was it that I woke up, and they were gone? I actually can't remember."

"We'd probably have to go back to the Ancient City to even do that, huh?" Veyle supplied, looking down at her feet.

"Maybe. I think they're gone, and maybe that's for the best. Being like this, it's not the greatest, huh?" Alm said, shrugging as a self-deprecating laugh left him. "I can only imagine what it's like for the others, trapped inside rings and bracelets without any way to move around unless you're being worn by someone. But, maybe now's not the time to be thinking about stuff like that. It's not your fault we're like this, and no matter what happens, I'm sure the others will agree that we will help you defeat Sombron and his allies."

"Whatever few allies he has left," Veyle said, trailing off before nodding her head. "Thank you, Alm. Let's go get ready. Maybe it's about time I got some armor."

Sombron's ships were either the most beautiful thing Zephia had ever seen, or the most terrifying. A perfect accompaniment to her lord, who looked out over the wine-dark sea toward the 'holy' land of Lythos. Not a shred of human life remained on any of those vessels, even though they bore the colors of Elusia.

"We will be in the harbor within the hour, Lord Sombron," Zephia reported, standing behind him. "Shall I send the wyverns and wyrms out?"

"No," Sombron said, turning around. Zephia felt herself jump when he looked at her with those glowing red eyes. "Send in… the new recruits first. I wish to see them in action. This pact I have made has already proven fruitful, but I need more proof of its ultimate design."

"The… metal wyverns?" Zephia asked.

Sombron nodded. "Yes. Let the Ashborn pilot them, and send them against their defenses before we make landfall."

"We only have six. What if they fail?"

"There must be others. These are the only ones we have found, and I doubt those fools in Lythos have figured out how to use them. I am done playing games. The time for my ascension is now."

Zephia bowed her head. "Of course, Lord Sombron…"

She didn't like making use of such strange technology. Watching the flying contraptions soar through the air earlier was almost enough to make her feel obsolete. At the very least, it meant that Griss and Marni were partially successful in their mission. She just needed to wait for confirmation that they were alright.

Zephia was sure it would come eventually, once they invaded.

Bit of an experiment here, but decided to do something that was completely divorced from Jack's perspective. Playing around with time, too, although that's bound to get confusing so I won't do that again.

Anyway, here's a link to our Discord server: discord. gg/u89gs745fn

See you guys next time!