"Why is it that the existing social order of Hyrule is so important?" Edelgard asked Impa, after the others sans Hubert had left.

"Because the social order of Hyrule is the only way Hyrule can survive," Impa told her. "The power to seal Ganon away is passed through the royal family. Without the royal family, Hyrule is doomed."

Edelgard wanted to argue against that. A goddess-ordained social order went against everything she believed in. But on the other hand, it did make sense from a practical perspective.

"You have big dreams, do you not?" Impa asked. "I look at you and I see someone who wants to change the world."

"I don't think what family one is born to should be able to determine one's path in life," Edelgard said. "There is no reason that because of the accidental circumstance of birth that one person should rule and another should serve."

"Then why do you rule and why does Hubert von Vestra serve you?" Impa asked. Hubert gave her a glare, which she ignored.

"I will not lie, the system has its uses for the moment," Edelgard admitted. "But I don't think it is the way the world should be."

"It is the way Hyrule must be," Impa insisted. "It is not your place to attempt to force your ideals upon others outside your own nation, Princess Edelgard."

Edelgard didn't answer. Impa might have a point that pushing her ideals onto other nations was wrong. It was a question she battled with herself over back in her homeland. But did she have a choice?

Here in Hyrule, she did, she decided. There was little chance she would ever see her homeland again. If Hyrule's social order was so important, she would accept it.

That didn't mean she had to like it.

Flayn couldn't help but feel a bit unsettled by the story Impa had told.

The war machines themselves might have been different, sure. And the majority of the Sheikah had not turned against the king. But there were uncomfortable parallels to be drawn with the Agarthans.

Claude's opinion didn't help her discomfort. "Am I the only one who thinks the king who told the Sheikah to bury their weapons was a coward?"

"What do you mean?" Dimitri asked.

"The Guardians could have been an asset for Hyrule," Claude continued. "They could have kept settlements and roads safe from monsters, they could have easily crushed rebellions..."

"They could have been used to oppress the citizens of Hyrule," Lorenz countered.

"I'm not suggesting that," Claude defended.

Lorenz shook his head. "Even if the Sheikah remained loyal to the king, I don't like the idea of a king having that much power over his own people. As a noble of the Alliance, I am surprised at you, Claude. Should you not be opposed to such a dramatic centralization of power?"

"Sometimes I think the Alliance's power isn't centralized enough," Claude admitted.

"What makes the Alliance great is that no one person has the power to decide to fate of the nation," Lorenz protested. "It may be inefficient, but the government of the Alliance protects the people from tyranny by ensuring that no one figure can make decisions for the entire Alliance without the consent of their fellows."

"And yet, the commoners don't have a voice," Leonie said.

"I beg your pardon?" Lorenz asked.

"Whether one noble makes the decisions or not, it's still the nobles who have all the power," Leonie said. "Commoners have to do as their lords tell them, and they don't get a voice in the government."

"You think the commoners should rule the Alliance," Lorenz said.

"Why not?" Leonie asked. "The nobles don't understand the struggles we face on a day-to-day basis."

"And the commoners understand the issues nobles must deal with better? Trade disputes, provincial security, and the like?" Lorenz asked.

"Let's all calm down," Hilda suggested. "Maybe there's a solution. Maybe the commoners could elect a council of burghers to advise their liege lords on the issues the commoners are facing."

"And summarily get ignored," Leonie said cynically.

"Actually, the idea might have promise," Claude said. "We'd need to work out some details. Maybe have the nobles be answerable to a king if they don't listen to their burghers."

"We're not crowning you king," Lorenz insisted.

"Damn! You saw through my clever plan," Claude said, smiling.

"He's not joking," Flayn thought. "He genuinely wants a crown."

"Train us," Felix insisted.

"What?" Impa asked.

"We're not ready to face the dangers of Hyrule yet," Felix told her. "We need more training before we're ready to free the Divine Beasts."

"You might be right about that," Impa admitted. "Most Sheikah fighting styles center around swords or knives. Anyone who specializes in either can stay and train here in Kakariko while the rest of you go to Hateno."

"Good," Felix noted. After some discussion, it was decided that Petra, Ignatz, Felix, Lysithea, and Monica would stay behind for training. (Honestly, it was kind of surprising that so few of the party were sword wielders.)

As the others left, Impa warned the five of them. "I will not go easy on you."

"We wouldn't want you to," Felix assured her.

"I wouldn't be too sure about that," Paya said nervously.

"Ah, Paya. Excellent timing. You will be training with them," Impa told her. Paya's shoulders slumped.