selena
Za'albul Marsh...
Despite the circumstances,
it is good to be back here.
I wonder how the villagers
are doing...
Perhaps I shall pay them a
visit, if time allows.
riev
Heh heh heh... Selena. You have
asked many questions of me.
It is only fair that I should return
the favor, don't you think?
selena
You wish to ask me something,
General Riev?
riev
Valter, he's easy to understand.
He is a wild animal. No, worse
yet, for animals hunt to eat.
Valter lives for nothing more
than the suffering of others.
A meaningless existence that
will claim his life before long.
You are more interesting, General
Selena. You have a purpose.
I have long believed loyalty to
be just one of man's many lies.
But you are convincing enough to
make me doubt that conclusion.
What drives you, Selena? Why do
you so fervently follow the emperor?
selena
......
I'm a commoner, General.
Did you know that?
riev
I never paid much attention to
humanity's petty hierarchies.
...But yes, I knew. The prince
told me once.
selena
The village where I lived...
It was the height of desolation.
We struggled just to pay our
taxes to the empire.
Then there was a bad harvest.
And then another...
We grew desperate. Some considered...
the worst things to make a few coins.
riev
This can be a remarkably
cruel world.
selena
Then one day, a caravan arrived
at the village.
We expected it to be some clueless
seller hoping to make some money.
But they said, "Emperor Vigarde sends
these supplies with his best wishes."
They just... began to hand out food,
clothing, tools... Asking for no pay.
He saved us. A poor frontier town
that couldn't even pay their taxes.
Neighboring kingdoms must have
thought him mad, I can only guess.
But His Majesty did not care about
his standing among kings.
riev
I think I see...
You made it your life's mission
to serve your home's savior.
selena
That spring, I went to the capital and
became a soldier, then a knight.
And when I met him for the first time...
When he granted me this fluorspar...
I felt I understood him. His dream,
his vision for Grado...
I knew I had made the right choice.
And thus it was settled.
For the rest of my life...
I shall serve him faithfully, always.
riev
Heh heh heh...
It is all clear to me now.
Love... A pure, unbreakable
bond of true love.
selena
You mock as well, General Riev?
riev
I do not mean it as a cruel jest
like that mercenary, General.
I know something of people's hearts,
and yours I can read like a book.
Love drives you.
Not lust, or even simple affection.
Yours is the purest kind of love there
is. Words fail to describe it...
selena
...I...
riev
Heh heh heh... I would not call
it a good thing, General Selena.
It is a blinding, desperate
feeling, this love of yours.
It has placed a powerful curse on
you. The only thing that can lift it...
True despair.
Boundless pain. Heh heh heh...
selena
Do you speak from experience?
riev
Wherever did you get that idea?
selena
The way you spoke before of
your dreams and ambitions...
You truly believed mankind could
do great things, should they work together in a
harmony foreign to us as of now.
In a way... It wasn't such a dissimilar
feeling to mine, was it, General Riev?
riev
......
Heh heh heh...
You are not incorrect.
Look well, General. You may be
gazing upon your own future...
selena
......
(Lyon reveals he already warped in and has been eavesdropping. He approaches.)
lyon
Selena... Do you believe I
am a worthy heir to him?
selena
Ah, Prince Lyon! I did
not hear you arrive...
riev
Heh heh heh... What reason
have you to ask that, Prince?
lyon
You speak so highly of
my father, Selena.
Listening to you, he seems
less a man and more...
Some manner of benevolent
deity.
selena
Well... I don't know if I would
go that far, but...
He is everything one destined
to lead should strive to be.
lyon
And yet, you're saddled
with me...
A weakling with none of his
wisdom and kindness.
selena
Don't say that, Prince...
You are his son.
Part of him lives on in
you. Therefore--
lyon
And that's the only part of me
that's worth anything, is it?
They say I inherited his eyes,
his hair, his nose...
Is that all I'm good for? A few traits
and the memory of someone else?
It's cruel, and yet...
It rings true.
selena
Prince Lyon...
lyon
I cannot be as strong as my
father. I know this now.
All I can do is seek ways to
compensate for my lacks.
I'll never be Emperor Lyon. I'll
always be Emperor Vigarde's son.
Isn't that right, General Selena?
selena
......
riev
Heh heh heh... Come now, Prince.
That has not been decided yet.
With time and help, you may prove
to be a greater man still than he.
Who knows. Perhaps even...
the greatest man of them all.
Heh heh heh...
selena
I... Yes, of course.
I believe in you, Prince...
lyon
Mm...
Well, I must speak with Valter.
The way I see him grinning from
here, I'd say we'll have to face one
more skirmish before the capital.
(Lyon leaves.)
riev
...Heh heh heh...
See, General Selena?
This is what I meant. Your pure
love... It makes you cold.
You couldn't tell him what he so
desperately needed to hear.
It is good I was here to cover
for you, is it not? Heh heh heh...
selena
What? I never meant...
...Urgh...
(Lyon approaches Valter.)
lyon
What's the latest, Valter?
You seem concerned.
valter
Concerned? Far from it,
my dear prince.
There's a group of deserters here...
But they don't look hostile.
I don't know exactly why
they are here, truthfully.
lyon
Can you be certain they
are traitors, Valter?
valter
Who else would so openly wear
Grado uniforms in these times?
lyon
...Then we kill them.
Being struck from behind at Grado
Keep would spell our doom...
It's a risk I won't take.
We cannot afford any loose ends.
valter
Hahaha... Music to my ears, Prince.
Allow me, your most diligent general,
only a few minutes to rally the men!
lyon
......
(The camera focuses on one of the villages.)
artur
...And as such, Regent Knoll would
like to extend an invitation.
To the capital, that you may hear
the truth of this terrible war.
All that reside in Grado's soil are
welcome to attend this event.
young woman
The truth about the war...
What could that mean?
young man
Here's hoping we can
afford the trip.
Thanks for the message,
Father Artur.
(The civilians leave.)
artur
That should do for this town...
Next one over is close by.
Are you holding up all right,
Lute?
lute
......
artur
Come now, Lute. There is
no shame in being tired.
We've been traveling all
over Grado.
Do you wish to take a few
hours to rest?
lute
Please. I'm supposed to protect
you, not the other way around.
I'm a prodigy. I'll be fine.
Don't worry about me.
I'm sure if I take a moment to
look through my tomes...
I'll find some spell to increase
my endurance.
artur
(smiles) Hah, whatever you say...
(A solider suddenly rushes in.)
soldier
H-Hey! Everyone, run to safety!
The prince and his elite troops
are in the area!
(Artur starts.)
artur
What?! Blast! They must be
making for the capital...
But we are not here to
fight, are we?
We're merely acting as envoys.
Surely they would not...
......
soldier
...The regent was wise
to send us with you.
We'll cover your retreat,
Father Artur.
artur
Let us stay and help!
soldier
This is not your fight.
The war is Grado's fault.
Let us of Grado fight to
undo our sins.
artur
I was sent by the church
on Master Garcia's request.
Our goal is the same as yours.
Working to fulfill it, our duty as well.
lute
Besides, with me on the field,
victory will be assured.
You'd have to be fools not to take
advantage of this opportunity.
soldier
Er... Bah, very well!
But please, stay in the rear.
artur
That would be wise... I can
best assist from there.
lute
Relegating my magic to the
last line of defense? Please!
That's just not rational.
It won't do at all.
I'll take the fight to them and
finish this momentarily.
artur
Lute!
lute
Are you going to try and
stop me?
artur
...Just be careful.
lute
Ah... A-All right, Artur.
(Artur moves to the central fort while Lute remains near the village.)