Chapter 24: River of Regrets

Opening

narrator

Renais has fallen once again, for good this time.
With its defeat, all but the farthest reaches of Magvel belong to Lyon.
The twins of Renais, Lyon's childhood friends, flee towards Rausten, the final safe haven from Grado, with Lyon pursuing close behind.
Lyon resolves to halt their advance before they can reach Rausten...
No matter what he may need to do to accomplish that.

(Tana and Syrene meet Eirika and Ephraim at the riverbank.)

ephraim

Tana! What are you doing here?

tana

We were on our way to Rausten when we heard about Renais.
If you're all the way here, that means... They won, didn't they?

eirika

Yes...
Wait-- Tana, where's Innes? He's not with you?

tana

I was... rather hoping he'd be with you, actually.
He was at Jehanna, when...

ephraim

Jehanna? But wait, Jehanna has also...

tana

Yes, Ephraim. It has fallen as well.
I had hoped he would've fled to Renais, but...
Of course not. His stupid pride would never have let him...

(Eirika shakes.)

eirika

N-No... Not Innes too! It can't be...!

ephraim

I can't believe it.
I always thought Innes would outlive us all on spite alone...
What a fool I've been... I'm so sorry, Innes!

syrene

My lords, this is hardly the place to mourn.
I can see them coming. We need to move at speed.

tana

You're right, Syrene... Come on!
You need to get to Rausten, and fast!

eirika

Rausten is so far away... Do you think we'll make it?

tana

We know of a really quick way to get there.
The path is a bit tricky, but you'll manage, I'm sure.
Plus, it will be easy for you to lose them in the peaks.
Just as long as you can cross the river quickly...

ephraim

Wait, "you?" Surely you mean "we," right, Tana?

tana

If we all run, they will catch up to us for sure.
Somebody needs to stay with our few remaining troops and buy time.
...It's got to be me. You know that as well as I do.

(Syrene balks.)

syrene

What?! Princess Tana!

tana

Princess? Of what? Frelia is finished.
Monsters overrun our lands as we speak.
Our army is decimated, our people subjugated.
My father is a traitor and my brother is dead.

syrene

But you still live, Princess! There's still hope for Frelia!
As long as you draw breath... It is my duty to protect you!
Please, Princess, carry on with the royal twins.
I shall remain here and cover your retreat.

tana

Titles have long since stopped mattering, Syrene.
Right now, all that counts is our ability to fight.
Of us four, I am the weakest warrior by far.
You three will be of more help in Rausten.
So it should be me that stays behind. It makes sense, right?

eirika

Tana...

tana

Please, Eirika.
I know you understand, more than anybody.
Don't try to dissuade me... I have to do this.

eirika

...Yes... You're right, Tana.
C'mon, Ephraim, Commander Syrene! We have to hurry!

syrene

But--

ephraim

Eirika! We can't just...

eirika

Remember our father's words, Ephraim.
No sacrifice is too great in the face of the world's end!

ephraim

...Dammit! Dammit all!

(Ephraim rides off.)

syrene

...Lady Tana...
I want you to know that I am proud beyond words of you.
You have grown into a formidable young woman.
I'm certain your brother is also quite pleased...

tana

(smiles) Syrene... You have no idea how much it means to hear you say that.
(serious) Now go! Quickly! Keep Eirika and Ephraim safe, Syrene!

syrene

...Godspeed, Princess. It has been an honor.

(Syrene leaves.)

eirika

......
Goodbye, Tana.

(Eirika rides off.)

tana

Goodbye, everyone.

valter

Where are they? Where are they?!
Come out of your hiding hole, you cowards!
Face the Moonstone!

lyon?

Peace, Moonstone. You'll have your chance.
But... What is this? It appears there are many...
Reinforcements? At this stage?
Riev, could Rausten have sent an army this way?

riev

Heh heh heh... It is a possibility, but...
That does not look like Rausten's banner to me.

selena

It's... Frelia's banner? But how?

Ah, but of course...
Princess Tana of Frelia was unaccounted for.
These must be the last remnants of their army.

lyon?

Persistent little cockroaches, aren't they?
I never imagined Frelia would give us this much trouble.
We beat them down at every turn, and they just keep on rising back up.
Very well... One more time. Let's teach them who their betters are.

valter

Bah! These vermin are not who I came here for.
Give me the brave Ephraim and the fair Eirika!
They are the only ones worthy of my attention!

riev

Heh heh heh... After you, friends.

selena

Forward march, everyone!

(Selena and Riev leave.)

lyon?

Valter. An instant.

valter

Oh? What do you require of me, my lord?

Oh, you want to talk about what happened in Renais, right?
(grins) Hahahaha... You worry over nothing, my dear lord.
It matters not to me who you are or what you are...
As long as you keep the bodies coming, I will serve loyally.
That is all I require. Not too steep a price, is it?

lyon?

(smiles) I did not doubt you for one moment.
Go, Moonstone. Feed upon their carcasses.

valter

With utmost pleasure. Hahahahahahaha!

(Valter leaves.)

lyon?

(frowns) ......

(Glen and Caellach eavesdrop from a distance.)

glen

...Hmm...

caellach

Wha-- Oh, c'mon, Glen! What now?!
You need to stop giving the emperor those glares, man!
At some point he's going to run out of patience!

glen

What could Valter possibly mean...
It doesn't matter to him who or "what" he is?

...Perhaps I shall have to get some answers out of him.

caellach

You deaf, Glen? I'm talking here!
Sigh... Damn, I picked one reckless fool to side with...

(Tana notices civilians in the river valley and flies down to speak with them.)

tana

Wait! Who are you people?!
This place is about to become a warzone!
You have to go home, now!

young woman

W-We live in a village nearby...
We need to get the village elder this rare staff.
How could we have known this was going to happen?!
Why are they here? There's nothing this way...!

old man

You Frelian fools brought those guys here...
Now you'll be wiped out by them, and we're next!

tana

Stay calm! Don't worry. We'll keep you safe.
Just focus on getting home safely.
Run and don't look back! We've got this!

young woman

A...All right...

Chapter Tips

The civilians

Kill all of the civilians for a reward.

Conversations

Melina & Selena

melina

General Selena. I have an important question.

selena

...I can surmise a guess.

melina

That does not surprise me. You are not stupid.
...Are the rumors true, General? Did General Duessel truly betray us?

selena

......
Not now. Not here, Melina.

melina

Are you worried I'll defect as well?

selena

I'm worried what they'll do to you if you do.
The truth is... I could not blame you.
Duessel's path, it... it will never reconcile with ours. With mine.
But... I know no other, and I do not have Duessel's courage.

melina

What does that mean, General...?

selena

......
His last message to you was, "follow your heart."
He told me the same words, last we met.
I would be wrong to try and stop you.
But not yet. If you escape now, you won't make it far.

melina

General, you misunderstand.
This talk of treason, you're the one speaking it. Not me.

selena

But...

melina

General Duessel saved me, 'tis true.
But my life doesn't begin and end at that.
I also love my homeland, and admire our emperor.

selena

Emperor Vigarde?

melina

Of course. And, well... I'm willing to give his son a chance.
Emperor Vigarde himself abdicated the throne to him.
I won't claim to comprehend or agree with all we're doing...
Frankly, there are times I want to curl into a ball and stay there.
But the emperor always treated his people well.
You know this better than anyone, I believe?

selena

......

melina

General Duessel... It saddens me.
But he asked that I follow my heart, and so I shall.
Besides... I have made a good friend here.
If I went to Duessel's side, I would be betraying you.

selena

...I-I...

melina

G-General?! You're... crying...?

selena

I envy the strength you possess, Melina.

(smiles) Thank you. It gladdens me that you'll remain with us...
I have come to rely greatly on you, these days.
You've become a splendid warrior.

melina

(smiles) Please, this is not necessary...

selena

Let us... Let us now return to battle.
It would not do to lose focus here...

melina

Very well, General.

(Melina leaves.)

selena

......
Follow your heart... (frowns) Hah...
(smiles) If only I were strong like you and Duessel.

[Selena and Melina's support rank increases.]

Zabba & Bone

bone

Yooo, Zabba! Guess what!

zabba

Bone? What's the matter?

bone

I found it! Look, look!

(Bone bounces with excitement before handing something to Zabba.)

zabba

My, you're excited... What's this?

(Zabba starts.)

Huh?! What is this thing?!

bone

I-It's a gift!
Uh... Don't tell me. It's garbage.

zabba

You kidding me? I've only seen one of these once!
They're extremely rare. Extremely expensive, too...
Where'd you get it, man?

bone

It's the first thing I ever pillaged when I joined Bazba's Bandits.
Happiest moment of my life as a bandit, too.
We didn't have to crack any skulls or risk our necks that time.
We just went to these ruins and looked around for stuff to sell.

zabba

How come you still have this sword, then?

bone

Bazba was furious. There was basically nothing there.
I found this big mural with pretty pictures, though...
'Fore I knew it, the rest of the gang had left without me.
I just kept on looking at the drawings...
There was text, but I can't read, and I don't think it was even in our language.
But I followed the story being told in the pictures, more or less.
It was about a big dragon fighting with five heroes to defeat a big bad... thing!

zabba

Sounds like the legend of the Five Heroes to me...

bone

I never went to school, so uh... I'll take your word for it.
Whatever it was, I got really into it.
Then I noticed there was a sort of button on one of the drawings.
I pressed it and... Boom! I found a secret room!

zabba

And the sword was there, huh?
You hid it from your gang? You cheeky devil, Bone.

bone

Actually, I told Bazba. He threw it back at my face.
Luckily I got hit by the hilt. Then he said something like...
"We don't need this fancy stick! We got plenty of axes!"

zabba

This Bazba was a real moron.
Couldn't tell profitable treasure if it sat on his face and farted.

(Bone guffaws.)

bone

(smiles) Ahahahahahaha! That's so funny!
(serious) A-Anyway, since Bazba didn't want it, I just kept it.
It's a nice keepsake to me. Reminds me of that day.
The fun I had looking at those pictures, exploring those ruins...

zabba

That's a really nice story.
Thanks for telling me, man. Here, take it back...

bone

Well, you know... One of those heroes I saw in the mural was a woman.
A woman with a sword...

zabba

If I recall the myth right... That'd be the hero Ahinoam. Jehanna's founder.

bone

Holding this thing right now... You look just like her.
It's perfect. I can't take it back! You've gotta keep it!

zabba

(smiles) Wow... Expensive gift, comparing me to one of the Five Heroes?
You're a real charmer behind the buck teeth, you know that?

bone

C'mon, don't make fun of me...

zabba

Sorry... But seriously, I mean it. This is great.
Thanks, Bone. I'll use it well and keep you safe out there.

bone

(smiles) A-Aw yeah! Let's watch each other's backs!
'Aight then, catch you later, pal!

(Bone leaves.)

zabba

...Incredible... That guy's a bag of surprises.
(frowns) Hmm... All of this got me thinking, though...
Perhaps... Who knows...

(Zabba receives a Runesword.)

Zonta & Tirado

tirado

Still alive, Zonta?

zonta

There's that hint of disgust in your tone.
You really need to do a better job of hiding it.

tirado

I do, when I deem it necessary.
In this case, you can hazard a guess as to why I do not.

zonta

You know something, Lord Tirado?
I misjudged you. I see that now.

tirado

Might you elaborate?

zonta

I always thought you were just a horrible bastard.
But now... Well, I understand you.

tirado

Somehow I doubt that.

zonta

No, really! I get you, man.
It's not easy, living with your... condition.

tirado

...You have lost me.

zonta

You know. Your "condition."
Your, uh... top-o'-the-dome situation.

tirado

......

(Tirado runs up and grabs Zonta threateningly.)

zonta

Gack-- Wait! Wait...!

tirado

I will maintain the secret, regardless of the cost.

zonta

No...! H-Hold it! Look! Look!

(Zonta removes his wig, revealing he is bald underneath. Tirado is shocked.)

tirado

Wha--?!

...You as well, Zonta?

zonta

Aye...

(Tirado backs off.)

tirado

I... I can't believe it.
I never noticed... I thought I had a keen eye for this...

zonta

Spent a lot of money on this.
Glad it was worth the investment.

tirado

......
I must say the same to you that you said to me, Zonta.
I, too, erred in my judgment of your character.
We may have more in common than we thought...

zonta

I was so young when I lost too much to salvage it.
My girlfriend broke up with me and I became my village's laughingstock.

tirado

People turn monstruous where this topic is concerned.
It is such a natural thing, and yet... Human cruelty knows no bounds.

zonta

Ain't that the truth.
Anyway, it was then that I decided to become a sellsword.
I knew I needed riches enough to obtain one of these.

tirado

...Where did you get it? It's far more convincing than mine...

zonta

I shall refer you to my hairdresser.

tirado

(smiles) My thanks, Zonta. I am glad that you have survived thus far.

zonta

(smiles) Heh! Let's help each other keep it that way, huh?

tirado

Yes... That is agreeable to me.

[Tirado and Zonta's support rank increases.]

Jude & Saaga

jude

Dame Saaga, might I bestow a gift upon you?

saaga

A gift? For me?

(smiles) Oh, my! This is a quality staff!
What a charmer you are, Sir Jude.

jude

(smiles) I merely wished to give you a token of my appreciation.
As one of the few with sense in this army.

saaga

Hm hm hm... Thank you, truly.
I shall have to ponder on how I may repay you.

jude

Please, there is no need for that.

saaga

I insist! If there is something I have learned in my time...
It is the importance of gratitude.
Our respective emperors showed us none.
I shan't be like them.

jude

(frowns) Hmph... I suppose you do have a point there.

saaga

(serious) Pray tell, and pardon me if I am prying where I shouldn't...
You mentioned you were friends with General Duessel.

jude

Aye... He acts so solemnly now that he is top dog, but...
He was a worthless layabout when we were children.
I suppose that's what drew me to him. I pitied him.
I granted him my friendship... And then he backstabbed me!

saaga

How so?

jude

All our youth I had been such a good friend to him.
When we joined the army, that did not change.
We climbed the ranks together, fought many battles together...
Until one day, the old General Obsidian retired.
We were his highest-ranked lieutenants...
His successor would be him or me. Everyone knew it.

saaga

And then, you were passed over...

jude

I don't know what possessed Vigarde that day.
I have no doubt that my skills were superior.
In combat, leadership and management, I was superior.
So why?! Why choose HIM over me?!
He was always a worthless layabout...

saaga

Life is often unfair.

jude

Sigh... Too true... Too true.

(Saaga receives a Recover staff and her support with Jude increases to rank B.)

Carlyle & Rennac

carlyle

Urrgh...
What to do... What to do...

(Carlyle starts.)

...!
Thief!

(Carlyle pulls Rennac out of the shadows.)

rennac

G-Gahh! Let go of me, man!

carlyle

...You are quite the deft rogue. I almost could not hear you.
Hmm... Very well, I'll let you go. But in return...
You must help me with a matter of utmost importance!

rennac

Fine... But please, ease up!
I can't help you with an arm out of commission!

carlyle

......

(Carlyle releases Rennac.)

rennac

(smiles) Phew... That's better.

(frowns) All right, what do you want?

(Carlyle steps closer.)

carlyle

I need this missive delivered to someone...
Someone in this army.

rennac

And... why do you need my help with that, exactly?
Why not deliver it yourself?

carlyle

I cannot. I am not allowed to see her...

rennac

Unrequitted love, huh?
Look, pal, I'm not in the business of helping out creeps.

(Carlyle fumes.)

carlyle

I am not a creep! My love for her is pure.

rennac

Yeah, right...
All I'm saying is, I'm not going to be too motivated to do this job.
Unless... You can compensate in some other way?

carlyle

Blackheart! You're trying to extort me?!

rennac

Extort you? Perish the thought!
(smiles) I am merely proposing a mutually beneficial transaction.
Just part with some of your gold, and I'll do your little errand for you.

carlyle

......
Very well... But I'm not paying you until you've completed the job.
You just tried to rob me. I have no reason to trust you.

rennac

(frowns) What a drag... Guess I can understand, though.
Fine. Give me the thing. Who's the lucky gal?

carlyle

My queen... Ismaire...

rennac

Ah, the queen of Jehanna. Setting your sights high, huh?
Should be easy to find. I'll get back at you when it's done..

carlyle

Be swift.

[Rennac and Carlyle gain C-rank support with each other.]

Boudica & Monica

boudica

...Mooooother...

monica

Darling...

boudica

Noooo... Not moooother...
Before moooother... Yoooou... Yoooou...

(closes eyes) Soooo sooorry...

monica

Darling... Darling...

boudica

(opens eyes) Daaaaarling...?
Whooo... Daaaaarling...?

monica

......
Darling. Darling. Darling...

boudica

...Loooooove...
Luuuucky...

monica

(smiles) Darling. Darling. Darling. Darling. Darling. Darling.

boudica

...But loooove... Unluuuucky.
Liiiiiight... Goooone...

monica

(frowns) ...Darling... Darling... Dar...ling...

tana

I may not be the strongest fighter...
I'll probably lose today.
But you'll never see me beg!

Combat w/ Hayden

tana

......

hayden

Tana... You were always my favorite child.
Graceful... Kindhearted... Obedient...
You respected me and knew your place.
Not like everyone else...

tana

I know my place, yes.
My place is here, fighting to stop all of you.
And if that includes my own father...
I'll have time to hate myself when it's all over.

hayden

(smiles) Oho! So you have grown a backbone, Tana.
Good. That will make this much easier.

Combat w/ Agrippina

tana

Mother, you too...
I didn't think... you'd do this as well...
I became a pegasus knight because of you!

agrippina

Oh? I thought you learned all you knew from Syrene.
Now you credit me? How desperate you are.
Let me teach you your place, whelp!

tana

Mother, no!

Combat w/ Ismaire

tana

Queen Ismaire?! W-What are you...?

ismaire

Do you recall what I told your brother?
About one's kin vanishing forever, never returning?

My son is alive. He returned to me...

tana

That's... That's a wonderful thing, Queen Ismaire!

ismaire

Yes, he returned... or rather, he was returned to me.
In the worst way possible...

tana

What...?

(Tana starts.)

Wait, you don't mean Grado...!

ismaire

Yes. Grado has my child. And thus...
If you wish to live, you must defeat me...

tana

Oh, no... Does Grado's cruelty know no limits?!

Death

tana

I've long been prepared for this day... Too long...

Locations

Western House

man

Man, this war is such a drag.
Every day, I go fishing in the river with my boy.
Just yesterday we caught a big carp! It was great!
But since you lot are here, we can't go fishing today.
My boy's been inconsolable all evening!
Do you see the consequences of your warmongering?!
Get out of my house! You disgust me!

Eastern House

old woman

We get some real unsavory visitors around these parts.
Smugglers and the like. It's all that blasted mountain path.
They trip over themselves to get to Rausten through there.
I don't know why the theocracy doesn't guard that path better...

Oh, by the way, you're from Grado, right?
I just wanted to tell you that your country's real g-rad-o!
Get it? It's rad! Rad, Grado... Oh, forget it.
My grandchildren never visit. I get so lonely...

Ending

If all civilians were killed

glen

...These people were mere civilians...

caellach

Wrong time, wrong place. Happens all the time.
What? Don't tell me you've never seen anything like this.

glen

In another life? No, I did not.
But things have changed so much...
This should not have surprised me.

caellach

...Oh, look! I found something!

glen

And you couldn't care less. You're just looting their bodies.
Incredible.
Truly incredible.

caellach

Hey, not like they need their earthly possessions now.
C'mon, Glen, you've got to relax. You'll die young with all this stress.

glen

Perhaps it would be for the best.

(Glen leaves.)

caellach

Yeesh... Poor sod.
Well, whatever. Finders keepers!

(The army gains a Fortify staff.)

riev

Heh heh heh... Looks like that's it for Frelia's loyal knights.
What a way to die. So young, so far from home...

lyon?

Blast... We wasted far too much time.
Accursed Frelian mongrels. I hope they rot in oblivion...

selena

...Our trackers are doing what they can.
But with this terrain, and nightfall approaching...

riev

(smiles) Heh heh heh... Perhaps it's best that we give up.
It is fine. They only have one place they can go...
It's time to take on Rausten. Heh heh heh...

lyon?

And I'll bet that pleases you greatly, Riev.
Hmph...

(Valter flies in.)

valter

I have spotted them, Emperor!

lyon?

What?! Where?!

valter

They're well into the mountains.
Shall I give chase?

lyon?

What are you waiting for?! Go!
I'll be right behind you. Just make sure you don't lose them!
The rest of you, gather the army and follow suit!

selena

Wait! Up into the mountains?

(Valter flies off and Lyon warps away. Glen and Caellach arrive from behind.)

glen

Selena! Where are Valter and the emperor?
I have need to exchange some words with them both.

selena

...You just missed them.
They left in pursuit of Renais's royal twins.

glen

Alone?

...Dammit! I can't see them... Which direction did they go?!

riev

Heh heh heh... We have our own orders, Sunstone.
We must regroup and give the order to march.
A mountain trek awaits us. Let us not tarry.
Go do your job, General Glen.

(Glen fumes.)

glen

......
Fie!

(Glen leaves.)

riev

...Well, Tiger Eye? Anything to say for yourself?

caellach

What? I haven't done nothing! It's all Glen!
Glen's completely off his rocker lately.
I've seen it happen before.
Newbie mercs, in over their heads.
After witnessing how dirty the job can be...
Well, sometimes they can't really stomach it.
Wouldn't have expected that from a veteran, though...

selena

......

(Eirika, Ephraim, and Syrene have made it further into the mountains.)

syrene

Just a little further.
There's a cave a short distance ahead.
We need to cross it, and we'll be in Rausten.

ephraim

Can you manage, Eirika?

eirika

I'm fine, but my horse is exhausted...

ephraim

Mine's not doing so well either...

syrene

At ease, milords. There should be no cause for worry.
We have come too far. They'll not find us fast.
...Princess Tana... She ensured our safe escape.

ephraim

...Tana...

eirika

Commander Syrene, will you not let your pegasus rest?

syrene

My pegasus hasn't had to endure the grueling trek your horses have.
She'll get all the rest she needs in Rausten... as shall I.

ephraim

In that case, please take a look at the cave ahead.
There shouldn't be anything there, but...
We can never be too sure. Especially when it's just us three...

syrene

You make a fair point, but will you be all right on your own?

ephraim

Please, you just said it. We've long since lost them.
Besides... We have our weapons. Worry not on our account.

syrene

...Very well. I should return in a short while.
Try to make the most of this opportunity to rest.

(Syrene flies ahead.)

ephraim

Eirika... Are you all right?

eirika

I should ask you that question.
Ephraim... There's no need to put on a strong face.

Father, Seth, Innes, Tana... And everyone else along the way.
Now that we have a moment, we should mourn them properly.

ephraim

...Yes. You are correct...
Let's just... be silent for a moment, all right, Eirika?

eirika

Mm...

???

Well, well! What have we here?

(Eirika and Ephraim jump.)

eirika

What?!

ephraim

No! Impossible!

(Valter flies in.)

valter

Ahh... The mountain air is truly refreshing.
Take it in, my friends. Breathe in deep...
Soak your lungs with the scent of nature!
For it shall be the last you ever smell.

eirika

You again...! How did you...?

valter

Next time, tell your friend to fly lower.
Now... Which one shall I start with?

I'm thinking you, my dear Eirika.
I let you go twice before... The time wasn't right.
But this remote, desolate corner of the world...
It will make for a beautiful ballroom for our final duet.
Would you not agree, my dear Eirika?
Hahahahahahahaha! Come! Let your master tame you!

eirika

Ah!

ephraim

Eirika!!

(Valter strikes Eirika, who misses her counterattack. He strikes again, badly wounding her, but Eirika retaliates with a critical hit, inflicting lethal damage.)

valter

Urggh... Gaaaah!

(Valter dies. A moment later, Lyon warps in.)

lyon

......
An impressive display, Eirika. You've grown so strong...
Not that I could ever beat you, but that was... magnificent.

ephraim

Demon King!

eirika

No... Wait, Ephraim... I think it's...
It's you, isn't it, Lyon?

lyon

Yes... It's me. Lyon. Your friend.
...I don't know how long it will be me, though.
You should get out of here before the rest arrive.

eirika

Hold on, Lyon! While you're in control...
Can you think of anything we can do to help you?

ephraim

There has to be a way to save you, and we'll find it. Together.
Please, Lyon! Lend us your wisdom while you can!

lyon

......
There... There may be a way...
But, no. No, I can't ask that of you...

eirika

What is it? Tell us, Lyon!

lyon

...I asked for your bracelets once, and you...
You didn't trust me...

ephraim

...!

lyon

I can't blame you, of course. You were smart...
After... all the awful things I've done, you shouldn't--
Urrgh!

(Lyon writhes.)

Gah...!

...Go! Just go, quickly! Before it... comes back...

eirika

Lyon, no! Hold together...!

lyon

Go... escape... quickly... Gaaahh!

(Lyon curls in on himself.)

eirika

Lyon!

ephraim

(smiles) Lyon... Thank you.
Any doubt I may have ever had is now fully gone.
You're still there. You can still be saved.

eirika

Ephraim...

ephraim

(serious) Come, Eirika. We ride for Rausten.
I'm certain the pontifex and L'Arachel will know what to do.

eirika

......

(Eirika and Ephraim ride ahead. A moment later, Glen arrives from behind.)

glen

...Blast! I am too late...

(Lyon changes to his Fomortiis face.)

lyon?

Glen... What are you doing here?

glen

What do you think? I followed Valter.

(Glen approaches Valter's body.)

glen

An explanation, Emperor?

lyon?

You have eyes, don't you, Glen?
Your colleague the Moonstone has met a grisly end...

glen

And not one soul shall shed tears for him.
But...

lyon?

Well? You're not satisfied? You despised him, did you not?
And he killed your brother. You know that as well as I do.

glen

Yes, and once again, everything lines up so conveniently for you.
Valter got what he deserved, and no doubt.
Thus he takes any secrets he may have known to his grave...

lyon?

...I do not appreciate your tone, Glen...
Inspect his body if you wish. Look at the gash upon his breast.
That is not the kind of damage dark magic would've inflicted... Is it, Glen?

glen

......

lyon?

The Renais twins fled north.
Bring the rest of our forces here and track their movements.

glen

You won't come with me, Emperor?

lyon?

I'll stay here for just a bit longer. Don't dwell on it.

glen

More secrets, eh?
Very well. Your will be done, my emperor.

(Glen leaves.)

lyon?

......
Hmph... You have so little imagination, Sunstone.

Character Descriptions

Tana
A young lady of Frelia. She is both cheery and sociable.

Remnant
The last remaining soldiers of what once was Magvel's most prosperous country.

River Folk
A citizen living on the river Narube who has been caught up in the war.