Beyond Utility

Got this plot bunny in my head, so I'm taking a break from Octopath Traveler: Crusaders of Justice to start this Triangle Strategy Fix-it fic. Its set after the Utility Route ending, so there are major spoilers. Sorry I couldn't think of a better title. OCs will be involved. Apologies in advance if there's any OOCness, canon characters aren't one of my strong points as an author.

Disclaimer: Triangle Strategy was published by Square Enix.


A Fateful Rumor

It was a sunny day in Whiteholm, the former capital of Glenbrook. The war had ended a year ago, but House Wolffort had forsaken the Rosellians in the process. As a result, Serenoa and Frederica had parted ways before House Wolffort marched with Hyzante to defeat Gustadolph. Aesfrost is no more, but at the cost of Hyzante having complete control over the continent.

Serenoa was presently in his new study in Whiteholm Castle, going over paperwork. Of the allies and friends he had during the last war, Quahaug, Anna, Benedict, Erador, Roland, Hughette, Quahaug, Picoletta, Milo, Hossabara, Jens, Decimal, Archibald and Maxwell had stayed by his side since after the war ended and he had become Consul of Glenbrook.

Corentin, Narve, Ezana and Medina had moved to the now-abandoned Roselle Village in the former Wolffort Demense after Serenoa had been forced to put the Roselle, there to work in the Grand Norzellian mines so that they would have a bit more freedom under the Consul. Benedict had taken over management of the former Wolffort territory so that Serenoa can focus on his newfound duties in Whiteholm.

As the young Consul went over reports regarding productivity in the salt crystal mines, he heard a knock on the door to his office and looked up"Yes?" Though he'd hardened somewhat after his former beloved had left him, he still retained his old kindness and helped people when he could.

The blond, former king of Glennbrook and current Minister of Salt, Roland entered the room, followed by his sister, Cordelia and a certain white-haired woman dressed in dark brown clothes.

Roland greeted his friend"Been keeping busy?"

"Yes" Serenoa nodded"After I finish going over the reports, I plan to go check on how things are faring in the city. How is everything at the Salt Crystal Mines?"

"Same as last month, my friend" Roland replied, he had been busy overseeing the mines and the source as Minister of Salt"A few Roselle and some others were overworked, but I've given them time to recover."

Serenoa was relieved that the overworked workers in the mine were at least being treated fairly by Roland, though they couldn't show much favoritism towards the Roselle, lest the rest of the Saintly Seven deemed them heretics"At least they're alive, right?"

"They are" The Salt Minister nodded"I had to argue with few of the slavedrivers that a dead worker is of no use and to convince the soldiers to allow Medina in to tend to the sick and injured, Minister Lyla has enough 'material' to get from the Source as it is." He said that last bit with distaste, knowing how the Alferic crystals were made from a conversation with Lyla.

"Its good that you are at least a decent minister for the miners and salt harvesters to work under" Serenoa smiled"I expected nothing else, my friend." He then looked at the white-haired woman"What brings you here today, Anna?"

Anna, who was still serving as a spy and a scout for the old Glenbrook territories, replied"Over the course of my rounds in the Capital and the former Wolffort Demense, I happened to overhear a few people speaking of rumors of an odd sect."

"A Sect?" Serenoa's curiosity was piqued"What sort of sect? I was under the impression that Hyzante's teachings were the only religion that has taken root on the entire continent."

"Roland and I couldn't believe it, either, and neither could Benedict when Anna told him last night" Cordelia said.

Anna continued her report"The sect is rumored to be led by a nun who has no hair, but is still beautiful, if not deemed crazy."

Serenoa thought about this new information, he couldn't say he was entirely surprised, for he knew that Hyzante had built its teachings on a lie, but he had embraced the lie rather than reject it for the sake of bringing peace. After a moment's silence, he asked"Why was this nun deemed insane?"

"People were saying its a bunch of nonsense, something about the existence of Centralia, the birthplace of the Roselle and the source of a great abundance of salt" Anna replied.

Roland and Serenoa exchanged looks of surprise as they processed this, only a few people were aware of Centralia's supposed existence, including themselves. Roland was the first to speak"Serenoa, didn't your former beloved have a book that mentioned Centralia?"

"Of course, Lady Orlea's diary" Serenoa nodded after a second's contemplation"And come to think of it, Frederica must have had to hide when word got out that Hyzante now has full control over the continent."

Cordelia knew full well from hearing about it from her brother that Frederica was adamantly against handing the Salt Crystals to Hyzante which further doomed the Roselle to their fate. She looked at Anna"Even if that strange nun is who we think she is, the sect isn't being taken very seriously, is it?"

"Actually, I hear that the sect has amassed quite a few ardent followers, so I imagine there's quite a few members" Anna replied in her usual stoic tone.

Serenoa processed this information silently, it had pained him to lose Frederica due to Roland's plan going against her conviction, but then again, he had gone along with Roland's plan because it seemed like the best way to end the war with as few casualties as possible, even though it meant disregarding the Roselle and tossing away their best hope of toppling Hyzante's regime"So, Frederica is still fighting for the sake of her and her mother's people. At least we know that she's all right."

"The fact that she is possibly now bald must have meant that she has had to hide her Rosellan heritage" said Cordelia, sympathetically"Brother" she turned to Roland"Do you think that perhaps it was a mistake to turn our backs on those who are suffering from persecution for the good of the many? If this sect gets enough momentum, we could have a war of religion on our hands."

"So, you're saying that my plan to bring about peace by handing the reins of rule to Hyzante was only a temporary solution?" Roland asked as he was shocked at the thought"Even if that is so, its far too late to go back on our decision. Unless you think Quahaug can send us back in time to that moment when we voted with the Scales of Conviction on whether we handed the salt crystals to Aesfrost or Hyzante or gone on a risky mission to save the Roselle and searched for Centralia? I wouldn't have agreed to side with Gustadolph, anyway."

Cordelia shook her head"From what little we know about time magic, its not that convenient."

"We certainly can't change the past, but we can plan for the future" Serenoa pitched in, thinking on what actions he could take. He felt a twinge of sympathy for Frederica's situation, but what is there to be done? They might have been able to save the Roselle had the decision to side with Aesfrost against Hyzante been voted on, but Archduke Gustadolph and Lord Svarog are now dead and the Death Knell was essentially destroyed. There is no safe way to free the Roselle from bondage either, Minister Idore would be sure to catch on.

"I don't know if I like whatever it is you are thinking of, Serenoa" Roland commented"Besides, there is no way some silly sect is gonna become a problem, at least I don't think so."

Cordelia felt like slapping her brother for that comment, but refrained from doing so. Instead, she retorted"Listen to yourself, Roland. We both know your confidence was shattered after we dealt with the corrupt Royalists and even further on when Hyzante threatened to invade Glenbrook if we didn't give them the salt crystals. Even if you can't show the Roselle any favoritism, we owe it to them to at least try to make amends for that awful choice we made to abet their suffering if this sect is going to start another war, anyway."

"Why are we even talking about this, now?" Roland shook his head and let out a heavy sigh"And knowing Frederica, she would prefer to save the Roselle with as little violence as possible, she doesn't have the heart for a war."

"Silence" Serenoa told the two siblings firmly, still in a calm voice as he spoke"I know that Frederica would not allow violence if it is avoidable, but who is to say that one of the sect's followers will not get the idea to resort to bloodshed? And just now, I was planning on whether to take action and help Frederica, or stay out of the Sect's affairs." He did not have the heart to turn Frederica in, knowing that she could face further persecution or be outright executed for speaking against the holy state's teachings.

"So, what's the plan?" Cordelia asked, curiously.

Serenoa looked at his friends with determination"We all know that choosing to help Frederica and her sect could invite a whole new set of problems for us. Yet if we do nothing, the Hierophant could eventually send Marshal Exharme to silence her if Minister Idore caught onto what she is doing. I am aware that, the Sect won't be taken very seriously for a long time yet, but the Heirophant has little mercy for the enemies of the holy state. Have Benedict bring forth the Scales of Conviction, Anna."

Roland looked at Serenoa, incredulously"Are you planning on abandoning the goddess's teachings? That would be suicide, and what makes you think that I would help you with this?" He didn't want another war, especially not so soon after they had brought peace to Norzelia, but he didn't want to lose his friend to recklessness, either.

Serenoa nodded, grimly"If necessary, and we won't be entirely lacking in military power if we must resort to violence. We could convince the Rosellians and the other prisoners of the mines to revolt, there may even be a few soldiers who will sympathize to our cause, should we choose to do so. And it is not a decision I am taking lightly, that is why I will hear from our allies what their opinion on the matter is, and we will vote on a course of action with the Scales of Conviction. If we choose to help the Sect, we could use Orlea's diary to expose Hyzante's deception to the people in the city."

"I will let Benedict know, but I wouldn't expect him to support the idea of taking such a heavy risk like what you are proposing, Lord Serenoa." Anna headed out of the room.

"And another thing" Roland reminded his friend"The people won't take it lightly if they knew of our part in spreading Hyzante's teachings upon learning of the Roselle's possible innocence, if they would even take your word for it."

Serenoa nodded, resolutely"Yes, I expect that we will take quite a bit of criticism. But with Frederica potentially putting herself in danger, as Consul of Glenbrook, I am obligated to assist her if I can. Even if it means I may end up making an enemy of the rest of the Saintly Seven."

"You're not going to be easily dissuaded, are you?" Roland commented with a small smile"Very well, then. For you my friend" he looked at Serenoa, resolutely"Whatever we decide on, I'll stand by your side. Just know that I might not agree should you decide to launch a bloody coup."

"Loathe that I am to resort to violence, there is no way to free the Roselle, peacefully. We would have to expose the truth hidden within the Goddess Statue at the source, which will not escape Minister Kamsell's notice" Serenoa nodded"Thank you for your support, however reluctant you are, Roland."

Roland shrugged"I just don't think I can take it if I end up losing you and Cordelia, Serenoa. Too many suffered from the last war. And if I hadn't known any better" the former king gave a sly, teasing smile"I would say you are contemplating trying to help Frederica because you wish to win back her heart."

Serenoa flushed in embarrassment at that statement"It is still her own path to walk, I am merely going to offer my support. Whether she'd want to return to my side or not would be entirely her decision."

"Well, never let it be said that you lack conviction" Roland commented"Even if you do tend to abide by other people's decisions rather than thinking for yourself, with or without the use of the scales."

Both Glenbrook siblings walked out of the room for a brief stroll while Serenoa returned to going over paperwork.

'Frederica, while I do not expect to earn your forgiveness for my decision to abandon the Roselle to their fate, I will set things right as best I can.' he thought as he glanced out the window for a moment.


Life as a fugitive and a missionary to the Sect of Centralia, which it had been dubbed, was not easy, but the young man in a red and black Aesfrosti soldier's uniform knew that when he agreed to partake in what may be a futile attempt to expose Hyzante's lies and spread the word about Centralia. He had brownish-blond hair with blue eyes and wore a tunic with pants underneath his armor.

Arriving at a originally forsaken manor in what used to be Falkes Demense, the young man removed his helmet as he approached the rest of his group. Though aware that his armor would give him away as a former Aesfrosti soldier, he would not cast aside that which reminded him of his former homeland.

"Welcome back, Caeden" a young woman with red-hair and greenish eyes greeted him, she wore a blue dress and was a member of the Glenbrook Nobility who didn't agree with how Hyzante foisted its teachings onto the rest of Glenbrook after Aesfrost had fallen.

"Alexandra, how is everything going?" Caeden greeted with a smile. Despite their countries having been enemies, both Alexandra and the leader of their sect had understood well that he was only following orders and wasn't among the soldiers who took part in the invasion of Glenbrook.

Alexandra smiled"Fairly well, thank you." Only Serenoa and Benedict had known that she had been appointed to Falkes as the demense's new leader, which means that so far, Hyzante was unaware of her role as the primary supporter of the Centralia Sect"I've been seeing to the growing of crops and seeing them distributed as evenly as I can."

"It hasn't been easy for me, our leader and I had attempted to spread the word of Centralia and the true origin of salt crystals at one of the other villages outside the Wolffort and Telliore Demenses" Caeden shrugged with a slight frown"Only a handful of people believed it, mostly impressionable teenagers, a few young adults and kids. Sir Daren got us away safely, though."

"But all they did was toss rocks at you guys, right?" the young Noblewoman pressed.

Caeden laughed"Got me there. Anyway, Sir Daren is planning to see if he can get word of our sect's teachings into the salt crystal mines. Lady Aesfrost was against it though, its about as dangerous as trying to sneak into Hyzante's so-called holy-city."

"Daren is a dedicated man, isn't he?" Alexandra asked, thoughtfully"Our leader wants this revolution to be as peaceful and bloodless as possible with casualties kept to a minimum, but I understand that Sir Daren thinks, differently."

Caeden shrugged"Don't remind me, Captain Daren is a very ambitious man, if not dedicated." Daren had been the only high-ranking officer of the Aesfrosti army left, unless one were to count General Avlora's possible survival which had been in question since no one had found her body after Whiteholm was reclaimed by Genbrook, and there were barely any people left in Aesfrost who were willing to join the sect"I think he's really planning on starting a civil war."

"One cannot change the world with ideals, alone" Alexandra murmured, she remembered having that discussion with Sir Daren at one point after the sect was founded. She shook her head after a moment's pause"I think war is inevitable either way if we are to overthrow the "Goddess's" teachings. But Lady Aesfrost is correct that we should try to spill as little blood as possible and only use violence if it is unavoidable. Daren's heart is in the right place, but his methods are... Different."

"No kidding" Caeden agreed"But don't forget that the sect doesn't just have former Aesfrost soldiers, we do have mercenaries and former bandits among us. It was mostly for protection, though, as I understood it when I signed up. The Saintly Seven's troops are very touchy about anything that goes against their phony beliefs."

Alexandra nodded in agreement"Well, since you are here, would you mind keeping an eye on Daren during his aggressive missionary run? Just tell him that I asked you to provide backup."

"Piece of cake" Caeden saluted"Though I wouldn't mind helping to save as many of the prisoners as I can while I am at it."

"It might attract Consul Serenoa and Minister Roland's attention, either way. I want to avoid making enemies of them if I can" Alexandra said, she was still doubtful about this impending outbreak of violence.

"Aren't they kind of our enemies, already?" Caeden asked with a skeptical tone in his voice"They did prevent Archduke Gustadolph from possibly doing away with Hyzante's salt monopoly."

"Gustadolph was a madman, anyway, we both know that" Alexandra reminded him"And I haven't forgotten about House Wolffort's deeds. I think the former Lord Serenoa and King Roland were ultimately just misguided and wanted a way to end the war with as little casualties as possible."

"Yeah, I heard Gustadolph was a rotten snake when I heard from Sir Flanagan that he had framed Glenbrook for Lord Dragan's death" Caeden replied, thoughtfully"I was only because of Lord Svarog that I stayed in Aesfrost rather than leave it. I guess I am just a little bitter that the chances of ending the salt monopoly got worse and Lord Svarog was murdered, he was a good man, despite how much his family's deaths had affected him."

"I felt the same way after hearing from Lady Aesfrost that Hyzante has everyone fooled" Alexandra nodded in understanding"Well, I have a meeting to go to with Sir Aden." Aden was the noble assigned to help look after the former Telliore demense"Good luck."

"I'll report back when I can" Caeden smiled as he turned to go. While he agreed with Frederica's policy of low-aggression, he had a bad feeling that Glenbrook was in for another bloody war, regardless of how he'd manage to keep Daren in check.


Gonna cut this here for now. Sorry if there isn't a whole lot of action in it. Not sure yet which direction to take the fic beyond Serenoa and Roland's reaction to Frederica's sect. Any constructive criticism would be appreciate, right now, to be honest.