Narrator: Mysteries abound! Though most stars will still glimmer in the crisp winter air, the blue sea star has gone back into hiding. Legend states that the goddess prays for peace from her home in the heavens. In the town of Garreg Mach, the anniversary of the monastery's completion nears, and the people's prayers intensify ahead of the millennium festival, still five years hence.
Rhea: We are planning a grand ball for this month. I am sure the students will be most pleased.
Seteth: Yes, certainly. However, we must not devote all of our time to frivolity. We have a new mission for you. We have found evidence of someone sneaking into an unused chapel.
Haruto: Was something stolen?
Rhea: No, there is nothing of value in that building. We do not yet know what the intruders' objectives are.
Seteth: This month, your class is tasked with guarding the chapel and investigating these intruders. With the recent state of affairs surrounding the holy church, we cannot afford to overlook any abnormality, no matter how seemingly trivial.
Rhea: I am ordering a seasoned knight to assist you to ensure the safety of the students. In times like these, I am afraid we must always expect the worst.
Haruto and Takumi: Which knight?
(Jeralt joins them)
Jeralt: Reporting for duty, Lady Rhea.
Rhea: I thought you could use the time to bond. And to speak of important matters...
Jeralt: Appreciate the thought.
Seteth: Bear in mind that Jeralt has a separate mission of his own. He will join you once he has finished it.
Jeralt: It's true. I'll be away from the monastery for a while. But when I return... I'll come and watch you work. I'll be looking forward to it.
Haruto: Same.
Fukamiya: Wait! One moment. Sorry I'm late. Three days to cross the desert. Three more to face the Valley of Torment. And almost one more spent trying to get through all these worshippers. Men like us are nearly spent just thinking about it, aren't they friend?
Kumon: Of course.
Rhea: Excuse me, but who are you?
Fukamiya: Ah, right. Hayato Fukamiya, and this is Kaito Kumon. We've come as allies, hoping to aid you in your mission!
Haruto: Just don't get in the way...
Sothis: Tomas... No, Solon, was it not? And the Flame Emperor... It is most clear that something has transpired. And it relates to you somehow. Or is the fault my own, and you're just caught inside the wave... Sothis, the goddess of this world... I bear her name... Hmm... How confusing. I feel as though my head has turned to mush!
Edelgard: Everyone's in such a festive mood. I feel a bit out of my element here. I can't help but worry something might happen while we're all distracted... After all, our enemies are always plotting. Still, this air of levity is much more agreeable than the grim atmosphere of late.
Dimitri: It seems the dastards who set Remire Village aflame have yet to be apprehended. Monsters. Trampling mercilessly over innocent lives. They deserve a gruesome end...
Claude: Someone entered the old chapel... I think the townsfolk used it for feasts and such in the past. With that whole Tomas business, you can't blame the church for being on edge.
Hubert: Another month full of chaos. I've barely had time to catch my breath. What is the objective of Tomas and his ilk? And what makes Flayn so special–does that not bother you?
Ferdinand: Ah, the ball. It reminds me of my first such event, back in the Imperial capital. It was held by my father, the prime minister. I really showed off my dancing skills! Everyone was quite impressed with me.
Linhardt: You know, Professor, I used to think I would be comfortable with all manner of experiments, so long as they provided usable results. But when I heard of Solon's work, well, I realized I'd not consider the moral and philosophical limits of what "all manner of experiments" might mean. Urk... Sorry. I'm not great with blood, even when I'm just thinking about it. I feel a bit ill now.
Caspar: I can't believe this... I'm so angry right now! First it's the Death Knight, and now Tomas, and neither of them are in custody! I can't stand the thought of such evil lurking in the world. We have to do something about this! I have to do something about this!
Bernadetta/Kamikiri Inves: The ball. A grim reminder of my sad reality. The other nobles will be fine, I'm sure. They've all been to events like this before. But me? I'm a noble, and I've never even been close to one of these things!
Dorothea/Siren: I wonder if Remire Village will ever be the same again. How do you recover from such a terrible event? So many dead, so much destroyed... I can't see how the whole village doesn't just end up abandoned.
Felix/Jaguar Undead: Argh... Too much merriment. The librarian betrayed us. The Death Knight is back. Is this the time to be throwing a ball?
Takumi: The ball... And there's a contest too. I'll bring Annette.
Haruto: My hopes are on Marianne.
Gentaro: And I volunteer Bernadetta.
Bernadetta/Kamikiri Inves: What is a White Heron Cup, anyway? Wh-what?! A dance competition?! That's terrifying! W-we need a representative for our class?! Please, anyone but Bernie! You're just trying to humiliate me, aren't you?
Annette: Really? That's fantastic! I'll try as hard as anyone's ever tried, you can count on it!
Marianne: I see, well... Um, I'm sorry. What did you say?
(The three hopefuls practice, especially with Haruto/Kamen Rider Wizard using the Dance Wizard Ring, all until the time comes)
Reception Hall-Evening
Alois: Ladies and gentlemen! My sincerest apologies for the wait! Thank you for gathering here on the eve of the highly anticipated ball to bear witness to... The academy-wide dance competition! Welcome to the White Heron Cup!
(Cheering)The competition will be judged by...me! Your humble servant, Alois Rangeld! And also... The acclaimed former songstress of the Mittelfrank Opera Company, Manuela Casagranda!
Manuela/Pelican Orphnoch: Yes, yes, thank you. Oh, and it should go without saying, but I swear to show no bias to my own house. Got it? Good.
Alois: Last but not least, the glamorous assassin who does all of her dancing in the dead of night...Shamir Nevrand!
Shamir: Hmph.
Alois: The three of us swear on our honor to judge the following proceedings with utmost impartiality and fairness! And with that, will the representatives of each house please make their way to the stage!
(Contestants come forward)Contestants! Are you ready to dance? And is the band prepared to play? Very well... BEGIN!
(The three contestants dance)TIME! That's all, folks! Splendid! All three of you were fantastic! Now, let's hear what the judges have to say...
Manuela: Oh my, let's see. I suppose I have no choice but to vote for... The Golden Deer House. Your performance was...exhilarating. My heart is still beating a mile a minute.
Shamir: I vote for... The Golden Deer House. The way you carried yourself was striking.
Alois: Great feedback, both of you! Well then, let's see... Factoring my own humble opinion... Yes! We have a winner! And I will announce who it is...right now! Without any delay! The winner of this year's White Heron Cup is... The Golden Deer House!
Marianne: Oh dear... This is a bit embarrassing.(Afterward)I... I still can't believe it. How could someone like me have possibly won?
Golden Deer Classroom-Evening
Claude: The time has come for the annual ball. But first, an eve of merriment! OK, I'll admit it. The Officers Academy isn't as uptight as I thought.
Hilda: Ooh, I adore such things! Dancing is the only thing I'm really good at anyway.
Raphael: There's a feast tomorrow, isn't there? Isn't there?! Ah, I can't want a moment longer!
Leonie: Dancing, singing... I'm not good at either of those things.
Hilda: So? Dancing is fun! Oh! And remember, you can't dance with the same partner multiple times. It's tradition! That means you have to dance with all of the gentlemen in all of the houses, swapping dance partners as you please...
Lysithea: How scandalous. I, for one, plan to simply behold the pure essence of dance.
Marianne: I'll, um... watch. From a distance.
Hilda: You can't just watch, Marianne! If a boy asks you to dance, you simply must accept. It's only polite.
Ignatz: You can ask...anyone? To dance? Gah, whatever should I do?
Lorenz: Hahaha! Lucky you, Ignatz! Tomorrow, if only for a day, you may live out your dearest dreams of an exalted existence! As for me, I am surely to be overwhelmed with the propositions of desperate ladies. I will doubtless have little time for partners of my own choosing.
Leonie: Which one of you is dreaming now, Lorenz?
Claude: Everyone! Listen up. To no one's surprise, I have a brilliant idea. Teach, you'll want in on this too.
Haruto: What's your idea?
Claude: This may sound impetuous. Perhaps irresponsible. Almost certainly impossible. But we're gonna do it anyway. In exactly five years' time, let's promise to meet again, right here at the monastery.
Raphael: A reunion? There's usually food at reunions. Count me in, Claude!
Marianne: Five years from now... will be the monastery's millennium festival, celebrating 1,000 years since the founding of Garreg Mach.
Ignatz: I hear the millennium festival will be the largest celebration in the monastery's history.
Hilda: Oh, I get it! It'll be easier for us to all get back here with the millennium festival as an excuse.
Lorenz: How true. As the new leader of the Alliance, I will certainly have the occasion to attend and pay my respects to Lady Rhea.
Lysithea: That almost certainly will not transpire.
Claude: And you, Teach? I guess it's hard to imagine that you'll still be teaching here five years from now... But I'm sure no matter where you end up, you'll come running at the chance to see your adorable little Golden Deer again, right?
Haruto: Probably so.
Claude: Ahem... That was your cue to promise everyone you'll return. Go on, set a good example, Teach. If you promise, everyone else will, too.
Lysithea: Hahaha! I'm already excited! After five years, we'll all be whoever we're going to become!
Leonie: Please, Professor! Invite Captain Jeralt too! I want to show him how well his apprentice turns out.
Hilda: It's settled, then. What do you say, Claude? Is it official?
Claude: The promise is sealed! That means we're all obligated to keep it. Five years from today, all of us will meet again at the monastery. Don't forget it, Teach. You and I will meet here again...
(The reception hall is filled with students on the night of the ball. Couples dance in the center of the hall. Gentaro and co stand by the tables in a crowd of students. Claude approaches and takes Haruto's hand, leading him to the dance floor.)
Courtyard-Evening
Sothis: Running away? I understand. You hardly had the time to breathe in there. It must be hard to be the favorite teacher at the ball! Poor, poor Professor!
Haruto: It is difficult.
Sothis: So you do think you're the favorite! I might have known. But where is there to run? This place is filled with joyful students looking for a dance. Ah... I see. The Goddess Tower waits for you...(As Gentaro, Haruto and Takumi head over to the tower, Hongo and Hayato are in the reception hall)
Hayato: It seems that everyone is having a delightful time. Will you not dance some more?
Hongo: I'd rather not.
Hayato: Partner, I don't think you're... I hear...someone singing. From over there...
Rhea(singing): In time's flow...see the glow of flames ever burning bright... On the swift river's drift, broken memories alight...(Haruto comes over to his predecessors)
Sothis: That song... I feel I have heard it in the past... Actually... It is not that I have heard it. I... Did I once sing that song to someone? No. There's more. I wrote this song... Oh, but how could that be so? If that were true, then how could she be singing it? Unless... No, no. I am suddenly so exhausted... As are you, no doubt? Quickly then. To bed with you.
(The next day)
Alois: Captain? Captain! Where are you? Hey, Professor. Have you seen your old man?
Takumi: No.
Alois: Too bad. I guess it will have to be you, then...
Jeralt: I'm back. Sorry for the delay, my last mission took longer than expected.
Alois: Captain! Thank goodness you're here. There are reports of Demonic Beasts near the chapel!
Jeralt: Nonsense. I haven't heard anything about the monastery's walls being breached.
Alois: That's why I'm heading there now, to see what's really going on. You'll join as well, won't you?
Jeralt: Of course. We're both sworn to protect this place.
Takumi: Where did they come from?
Haruto: Demonic Beasts?
Alois: It's odd. Just before they appeared, someone saw a number of students heading toward the chapel. They were apparently acting strange, as though they weren't in their right minds. Shortly after, Demonic Beasts started to appear, one after the other.
Takumi: Were the students killed?
Jeralt: Hm... The students... There's no way those Demonic Beasts got in from the outside... But none of that matters right now. We need to act. Go summon your students.
Riders: Right!
Jeralt: Damn it... I wanted to talk to you about something important, but there's no time. There's never any damn time. But this is much more urgent, so it can hold for now. I'll meet you there.
(They arrive at the chapel)
Haruto: What the...
Jeralt: There really are Demonic Beasts here... They're emerging from the chapel! I'll head that way. The rest of you, protect the students who weren't able to get away.
Student (South-west corner): Help me! These beasts... They're...
Student (North-west corner): Argh! Somebody help me!
Student (North-east corner): You stupid beasts! Don't you dare come over here!
Shotaro: Let's go!
Jeralt: That beast... There's a stone or something on its forehead...
Monica: ...(Fukamiya and Kaito smirk as all three of them watch the heroes try to save the children)
Student: Thank you! But my friends who couldn't get away... Are they OK?
Student: I was so scared... I'll find a way to repay you, I promise!
Student: Sorry. That was a close one...
Student: Phew... You saved me. Thank you!
Jeralt: There isn't a trace of evidence to be found in the chapel. This must have been something to do with Remire. Perhaps...
Monica: Wait!
Jeralt: Huh? Another student? Run along now.
Monica: Thanks for all your help, sir.
Fukamiya: Heh, you really are the famous Blade Breaker, aren't you?(He motions to Monica and the other members of Nebula's gang)No, I mean it. No warrior stands a chance against you, not even a Demonic Beast.(Wielding daggers, the others come closer)
Jeralt: I don't know about all that, but...
Dan: Give our regards to your goddess, incredulous fool!(He stabs Jeralt, and one by one, his cohorts do the same. Haruto tries to stop them, but a mysterious figure, named Thales, blocks the sword. Soon enough, Monica has stabbed Jeralt. Monica turns around and sees Thales.)
Monica: Huh? What are you doing here?
Thales: You must survive. Merely because there is a role that I require you to fulfill.
Apocalypse(teleporting near his cohorts): Our work is done as well. Move out!
(They all disappear in a flash of red light. Haruto runs to Jeralt and pulls him into his lap, just as Takumi and the others join him.)
Jeralt: Sorry. It looks like...I'm going to have to leave you now.(Haruto cries. Tears fall on Jeralt's face.)To think that the first time I saw you cry...your tears would be for me. It's sad, and yet...I'm happy for it. Thank you...kid.(Jeralt dies. Rain begins to fall as Haruto continues to cry and cradles Jeralt's body.)
Captain's Quarters-Daytime
Sothis: So this is where your father lived... Hm? Are you still crying? If turning back the hands of time was not enough to save his life, you must accept what came to pass was fate.
Isamu: Maybe. But there's one thing I can get behind... Our enemies will pay.(The other Riders agree)
Sothis: Agreed. We cannot let the wicked ones run free. Oh! Your father said to look for something here. He must be referring to whatever is behind that bookcase there... Your father's diary... Huh, his handwriting is prettier than his face would suggest. Well, well! These entries here are from before your birth. He seems to have been writing this for quite some time. Hm? Ah... Read that part there. Horsebow Moon, Year 1159...
Aruto(reading): Day 20 of the Horsebow Moon. All is cloudy. I can't believe she's dead. Lady Rhea said she died during childbirth. But is that the truth? And still, the child she traded her life for doesn't make a sound. Didn't even cry at birth. Day 25 of the Horsebow Moon. It's raining. The baby doesn't laugh or cry. Not ever. Lady Rhea says not to worry, but a baby that doesn't cry...isn't natural. Had a doctor examine the child in secret. He said the pulse is normal, but there's no heartbeat. No heartbeat! Day 2 of the Wyvern Moon. Sunny. I feel I must take the child and leave. But the church is always watching us... I don't know what Lady Rhea has planned. I used to think the world of Lady Rhea. Now I'm terrified of her. Day 8 of the Wyvern Moon. More rain. I used the fire that broke out last night to fake the child's death. Lady Rhea is in a state over the news. But I can't change what I've done. I've got to take the child and leave...
Sothis: Well now! That baby must be you! That means... Hm? Someone is approaching us.
Dimitri: There you are. Lady Rhea is looking for you, Professor. And after your audience, why don't you join me at the dining hall? You haven't eaten since...since it happened. Have you?
Isamu: Don't...
Dimitri: Forgive me... I suppose it's too soon to try and coax you back into the normal swing of things. As for what happened to Jeralt... I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't do anything to stop it. Stay here until you've found some peace. I'll cover for you with Lady Rhea and everyone else.
Takumi: Thank you.
Dimitri: We'll be waiting for you whenever you're ready to return to us. I don't believe it's a sign of strength to just keep going forward no matter what. Taking the time to grieve for those we've lost...there's strength in that too. That's what I think, anyway. That said... It's also important to remember that no matter how sad you are, eventually your tears will dry up. That's when you have to figure out what it is you're living for. Then you can cling to that, with all your might, and start moving forward again.
Takumi: What I'm living for?
Dimitri: Four years ago, in Duscur, I experienced the same pain you're feeling now. My father...was the strongest man I knew. Someone I loved and admired deeply. That day, he was killed before my eyes. His head severed clean off. My stepmother, the kindest person I had ever known, left me behind and disappeared into the infernal flames. Everyone who I considered precious...my family and my closest friends...I couldn't save any of them. Not a single one. Now, the burden of the work they left behind falls on me. I must ensure they have no regrets. That's my duty, as the sole survivor of the tragedy. It's a heavy burden, but accepting it gave me the strength to pick myself up off the ground and start moving again. Start living again. Jeralt is gone... So, what will you do now, Professor? What must you do? Look deep in your heart and I'm certain you'll find the answer there...indelible and inescapable. I've probably bothered you enough for today, but I have just one more thought to leave you with. Even now, Seteth is gathering the knights to begin a full scale search for the enemy. It may not be right away, but before long they will find their trail. No matter what happens or what anyone may say, know that I plan to stand by you, Professor. Through anything. Until the bitter end.
Alois: To think that Captain... that Jeralt would meet his end like that. I hope you know that you were the most important thing in the world to him.
Momotaros: What do you want?
Alois: He wasn't the most emotional guy. I'm sure expressing his affection wouldn't have come naturally to him. After what's happened, it's up to me now. I, Alois, swear to protect you in the captain's stead. (sighs) Sorry. This isn't the time for my blathering. Lady Rhea is looking for you. I came to tell you that. I'll take my leave now.
Rhea: Professor. I have been waiting for you. I am filled with grief at the loss of our most celebrated knight. Jeralt was an ally of many years...and also a dear friend.
Haruto: Many years?
Takumi: When did you meet?
Rhea: It was a long while back. At the time, Jeralt was a soldier of the Kingdom. He was injured in battle, and I saved him just as he was about to perish. That was our first meeting. After that, he became a Knight of Seiros. He gave his all to the service of the church.
Haruto: Why did he leave the knights?
Rhea: He...fell in love with one of the nuns here at Garreg Mach. Their love produced a child...whom she died giving birth to. It was her decision. She weighed her own life against that of her child's and, in the end, implored me to save the child.
Alois: Sorry for the interruption, Lady Rhea. There's something you must hear immediately. A report from the knights patrolling the area...
Rhea: Very well. Professor, you are dismissed for the day. Please rest and focus only on mending your heart. Understood?
(Outside)
Ryusei: Dan seemed to take pleasure in watching Captain Jeralt die, while Jin was less so.
Gentaro: Understood.
Ryusei: For all we did, Gentaro. This time...this time I think we took it way too far! They'll hunt us down like animals, they won't be merciful either.
Gentaro: I know, but even we know there can be no turning back from here.