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Chapter 23: The Ghosts of Lycia

Opening

narrator
With Guinivere's death, Bern is once again under the iron grasp of Zephiel.
The great war that rattled the foundations of Elibe is over.
The entirety of the continent now belongs to Zephiel.
Zephiel's battle, however, is not over.

Zephiel continues his search for the Binding Blade and its thief, Roy.
Following the legendary weapons' light, Zephiel heads for the Dragon Sanctuary.
However, waiting for him at the entrance to the sanctuary are the final remnants of Guinivere's troops, as well as Roy's remaining knights.
And, alongside them, a foe Zephiel never expected to face...

wolt
Ah, Sir Marcus. You have returned.
...But where is Lord Roy?
marcus
I could not convince him to leave the Sanctuary with me.
He is doing... something with the Binding Blade in there.
I put my hand on his shoulder, and the way he looked at me...
Well, I thought it best not to push my luck further.
wolt
...I do not like this, Sir Marcus.
Manaketes have begun flowing from the Sanctuary.
But they are not attacking us.
On the contrary, they stand with the soldiers the queen gave us.
marcus
Why, that's a good thing!
wolt
No, it isn't.
Zephiel handily proved nobody should have this kind of power.
And Lord Roy... He is not well.
You know that as well as I do, Sir Marcus!
marcus
......
wolt
I will go inside, and--
offscreen
Alarm! Zephiel's coming! Zephiel is here to kill us!
(Wolt starts.)
wolt
No... That means Queen Guinivere is...
marcus
Curses... All right, go to Lord Roy's side.
I will stay here, and--
wolt
No, you go, Sir Marcus.
marcus
But I already--
wolt
Among us that remain, you are the strongest.
And... I don't think I could bring myself to fight Roy.
If... that's what it came to.
marcus
...Very well.
Be careful, Wolt! Don't get yourself killed!
(Marcus leaves.)
wolt
I hope not... Roy can't lose more friends.
If he does... I shudder to imagine what he might do...
(Wolt approaches Bors.)
wolt
Sir Bors...
bors
Well? Has something happened?
wolt
No, I just...
I'm just rather surprised you're still here.
You have no obligation to Roy... to Lord Roy.
There is no need for you to risk your life here.
bors
And where would I go? What do I have left?
Everyone I ever loved, everyone I ever admired, everyone I served...
They're all gone. It's all been reduced to ashes by him...
I can't even muster the energy to hate him.
I just... I just want it all to be over, at this point.
wolt
......
bors
We are all going to die here. You know that, right?
wolt
Let's... Let's assume our positions now.
bors
Hmph...
brunnya
King Zephiel, the troops are prepared.
zephiel
Did the messenger return?
brunnya
Yes, but as expected, the enemy refuses to surrender.
zephiel
Very well. Then we exterminate them all, to the last.
Go, soldiers of Bern!
(Brunnya salutes.)

NPC Turn 1 (if Karel's village has not been visited)

Village

old man
S-Sir Karel!
This place will be a battlefield...
karel
So I see.
I thought I could be free of war in this isolated land...
old man
What should we do?
karel
Please don't fret. I will protect the village.
old man
Thank you, Sir Karel!
You are truly worthy of the title of Sword Saint!
We have nothing to fear with you protecting us.
karel
I am just an ordinary swordsman.
Stories grow with time, so don't trust all that you've heard...

...This war seems to be even greater than I realized.
I wonder how my sister Karla fares...

old man
I never knew you had a sister.
karel
I haven't seen her in years, but she fell ill some time ago.
I only hope she leads a peaceful life with her husband and daughter...

Conversations

Olthoff & Galle

galle
...Everyone... Everyone I ever loved...
They're all gone... I have nobody left...
W-What have I done...?!
olthoff
General Galle... I would extend my sympathies.
galle
Sympathy...? I deserve no such thing!
I am a loathsome coward. How can I live on?
I betrayed the ones I loved... I chose my worthless duty!
If only I'd had the courage... If only I had fought with them...
They might've survived... They might still be...!
olthoff
You speak of treason.
With your actions, you avoided an early death and a shallow grave.
Is that not worth celebrating?
galle
Fie! A shallow grave would've been better than I deserve...
olthoff
...Hmph... Cease your wallowing!
(Galle balks.)
galle
What?!
olthoff
I would not follow an order if I knew it would lead to my death.
It's as simple as not doing what you're told, General.
I should not have to explain something so simple to you.
galle
You... You would disobey orders for your loved ones?
Throw away honor and loyalty both, Father Olthoff?
olthoff
Pah, loyalty. Honor. Who cares about that drivel?
Those concepts are only manipulation tactics.
To keep gullible fools like you nice and complying.
galle
...I...
olthoff
Do you know why I fell back in line with the king?
It's because I expected he would win.
If that wasn't the case, I would have slipped away.
But the world was always going to become his.
The only question is, will I still be on it when it does?
My answer is affirmative. What is yours?
galle
......
...I'm not certain.
olthoff
Hmm...
Come to think of it... Who ARE my loved ones?
I've always just looked out for myself...
...W-Will anybody mourn me, when I'm gone...?

Blast! You're making ME depressed!
I'm leaving. Do not follow me. I need brighter company...

(Olthoff leaves.)
galle
...U...Urgh...

Marla & Damas

damas
Baaah... There ain't no treasure out here!
And that temple looks like a poor people place!
There ain't gonna be riches for ol' Damas today...

(Damas huffs.)

So why am I even here?!

marla
(smiles) My, my... Such a cantankerous little boy...
Little, very little... Among all the boys in our big family,
you might just be the littlest. How adorable!
damas
Oi! I don't like how yer eyein' me!
Don't like the look on my face, do ya?
marla
Hee... Would you like to find out?
damas
...E-Er...
(Whoa, this gal's pretty scary, now that I'm getting a good look at her...)
(L-Look at those dead, hollow eyes...! Oh my goodness, what have I done?!)
(...Dammit, how did I manage to do this to myself AGAIN?!)
marla
Aww, you look so afraid. Tee hee...
I'm not going to do you harm. You're not worth the effort.
Not enough meat on the bones...
damas
Wha-- Hey! Look at these bulgin' muscles!
I got plenty of meat!
marla
Oh, I don't mean your flesh... I'm talking about your soul.
Don't feel bad, though. I still think you're adorable.
But that obsession with riches... Greed is so unsightly.
damas
Yeah, well... I'll be glad to become rich in yer place, then!
I'm a simple guy. Ya gimme riches, ya make me happy.
marla
I once fretted so over material wealth.
But I've since found a higher calling...
damas
Higher callin'? I ain't frettin' 'bout nothing!
I just focus on fillin' da belly and makin' the pockets sound nice!
Y'know that real nice jingle coins make in a purse? Cling cling?
That's the sound of life, mate.
marla
Mm... Indeed you are simple, my child.
Ah, well. I grow bored of your company now.
I must find new children to tuck into bed...
He hungers.
(Marla leaves.)
damas
...Pffffffft...

(Damas lets out the tension he's been holding.)

Uuuuuuuuooooooooohh!! Ahh, man!
I thought she'd never leave... Ahah... Ah, I... hahaha...!
Oh, brother. What an absolute creepshow.
I-I think I may've stained my pants... Lesse... uhh...
(smiles) Hah! Nope! Good as new! Good going, me!
(frowns) Damn, though. She looks like a demon from the depths...
She really ought to do somethin' 'bout that.
She should get a hairdo like mine. Don't I look so dashin'.
Yes you do, Damas, ya handsome devil. Yes you do...
Hwahahahahahaha!

Acheron & Arcado

acheron
...I must slip away before we wrap things up here...
It will be risky, but if I wait any longer...
arcado
Don't mumble your thoughts. They will hear you.
They have ears everywhere. Especially around the likes of us.
acheron
Oh, Lord Arcardo. Well met.
arcado
Well met to you as well.
If you are going to escape, I suggest you do it after this battle ends.
Slip away while they're busy in the sanctuary...
acheron
Be that it were so easy. But as you said, they have ears everywhere.
And eyes. It seems like there's always someone staring at me!
It's like they fear I'll defect!
arcado
And they are wise to do so, considering you were just thinking about it.
acheron
W-Well, that's beside the point!
We are nobles! We deserve better than this deplorable treatment!
They treat us worse than some of the mercenary scum!
arcado
We aren't as strong, nor as experienced in combat as them.
Nobility is irrelevant here. Just ask the former General Narcian.
acheron
Right, well... Leaving that aside.
I'm sure you have similar intentions to mine...
arcado
Me? No, I'm staying put.
An old horse like this could never outrun a squadron atop wyverns.
I'm sure that's why they haven't given me a faster steed.
So, I will remain, and see if I can stay alive by serving loyally.
acheron
There was a time you would've scoffed at the idea of bending the knee like this.
arcado
Those days are long past. Everything is lost now.
All I can do is focus on keeping my heart beating.
No matter how low I may have to fall to ensure it.
acheron
Hmph... Well, I for one believe Bern won't get away with this.
You saw the state of their capital.
Even among his own citizens, King Zephiel loses popularity.
And murdering his peace-seeking sister? That won't go down well.
Unrest brews in the horizon, even now.
There will be opportunies there, for those bold enough to chase them...
arcado
Then in case we don't see each other again...
Allow me to wish you good luck, Lord Acheron.
acheron
Thank you, Lord Arcardo.
I shall take my leave. I cannot afford to be distracted now...
(Acheron leaves.)
arcado
...if anyone could weasel his way out of this mess unscathed...
It might just be you, Weathervane.

Catalena & Mary

mary
Hey... You're the one called Catalena, right?
catalena
That's me. A humble servant of the Goddess.
mary
Yes... That's what I wanted to talk about.
Your faith... I'm interested in it.
catalena
(smiles) That's wonderful! Not enough people are, these days.
mary
Yes, well... I've gone through some bad times.
Terrible times. I've lost so much... so many people.
Each day, I feel... less and less reason to go on.
I hate everyone. I hate everything.
Please... Tell me I can find salvation in your faith.
catalena
(serious) Of course! St. Elimine is the answer to all questions.
You see, all those people... They don't matter.
(Mary balks.)
mary
W-What?! How dare you!
catalena
Hush. Listen to me.
Those people do not matter. None of us do. I don't, either.
Humans are like specs of dirt to be tread upon.
By the Goddess's divine feet...
mary
......
All right, I'm regretting this already. I'll just be on my--
catalena
The Goddess is supreme, omniscient and all-encompasing.
We live our lives in expectance of Her eternal mercy.
That we may be allowed a small part of Her providence...
Thus, it is not your lot to concern yourself with the lives of others.
All that matters is the Goddess and her hallowed kingdom.
mary
So the sacrifices of mortals are just nothing to you?
My brother, my love, my parents... I shouldn't care that they're gone?
catalena
You claim you've lost a lot. Well, how about this.
I watched my mother burn alive at the stake.
I watched my father's head roll down a flight of stairs.
I watched my brother be torn apart by beasts.
I watched my infant sister get--
mary
Hold! H-Hold it! Stop!
No more! Please, say no more... No more!
catalena
...It did not matter to me. None of it, not in the slightest.
I also feel no regret for the lives I have taken.
They were all meant by the Goddess to die.
All you do is ordained by Her. Simply focus on that, and serve Her.
mary
...I see...
catalena
(smiles) I am glad to have made you see the light, friend.
We'll talk more about the Goddess when opportunity allows!
Oh, it's so exciting to have a fellow believer among this rabble!
(Catalena leaves.)
mary
...Yes, I see, all right.
I see that, perhaps...
King Zephiel is not wrong.

Morgan & Mieu

morgan
Uh, hello! The little girl! Here!
mieu
...Don't try anything.
You know what will happen if you do something bad to me...
He's watching.
morgan
N-No, no! That's not what I... Er... Ahem!
Listen, I'm Morgan. I'm a knight of--
mieu
You're the Warden of the Isles...
You're a really, really bad man! Lot told me!
morgan
...Yes. It's true.
I-I was a really, really bad man... No better way to put it.
mieu
...Was?
morgan
I know my word is worth less than nothing.
All the same, I have to try.
The war's almost over now... This might be my last chance.
mieu
Your last chance to do what...?
morgan
To pledge my undying loyalty... To you.
(Mieu balks.)
mieu
What?!
morgan
You will fight back against Bern, right?
You'll need allies. Nobody wins a war alone.
I... I would like to fight them, too.
Alone, I am nothing but a useless dastard...
But perhaps I could be of some small use to you.
mieu
...I don't know what you're talking about.
morgan
Afraid I'm going to run to the king and tattle if you admit it?
Of course. The Warden of the Isles is not to be trusted...

Then I offer all I have left to give.

(Morgan kneels.)
mieu
Why are you... kneeling...?
morgan
You are from the Western Isles... You know all I've done.
You know how the Islanders suffered because of me.
For my crimes, I should have died... But I made it.
I offer you the chance to right that wrong!
I offer my life to you!
mieu
You're... asking me to kill you?!
morgan
I refuse to continue escaping my sins.
Either kill me here, and let justice be served at last...
Or recruit me, and let me atone by fighting in the service of good.
mieu
......
morgan
I only beg that you do not leave without choosing.
Whatever your decision, my life belongs to you now.
(Mieu hugs him, making Morgan sputter.)
morgan
Wha-- You're hugging me?! Why would you hug me...?!
mieu
You aren't bad anymore. You've changed...
That's enough for me.
(Mieu pulls back.)
mieu
(smiles) It'd make me really happy if you'd come with me!
We can't go now, they'd definitely stop us, but...
When this battle is over... Sir Morgan...
(Morgan jumps.)
morgan
(smiles) Yes... At last, a cause truly worth fighting for...
I will fight until I have not a drop of blood left in me!
mieu
No... Until King Zephiel can't hurt anyone ever again!
morgan
Aye!

Bors

Combat

bors
We both know how this ends.
Run me through and be done with it.
I will simply try to bring you down with me...

Combat w/ Legance

legance
Bors. I see you yet live.
bors
If you can call this living.
But you seem entirely unfazed by all this.
legance
(smiles) Heh... You know nothing.
There is no future for those who oppose absolute power.
For me, on the other hand? A bright future awaits...
I expect I will be granted a fiefdom in Bern for my deeds!
bors
I would wish you luck, but I'd be lying.
Let's just get this over with...
legance
(scowls) Hmph! My thoughts exactly, you hideous fool!

Combat w/ Jahn

bors
......
jahn
You are not afraid, human?
You stand before the last true dragon.
A thousand years I spent, in that building there.
Recovering... That I may again wage war on man.
bors
Why would I be afraid? I have nothing left.
When I die, I will be reunited with the ones I loved.
Everyone that you killed... I will see them again.
jahn
......
A thousand years, yes... And in all that time...
I did not take a moment to reflect.
Alone with my rage in this prison, I could not see.
All that now seems so obvious...
bors
......
jahn
For what little it's worth, human... I am sorry.
This should never have happened. I see that now.
bors
...Apologize by delivering me to my eternal rest.

Death

bors
A pitiful end to a pitiful life...

Wolt

Combat

wolt
This is all your fault!
You're the ones that have destroyed Roy's life!
I... I will punish you for your crimes!!

Death

wolt
Lord Roy... I beg of you...
Do not do... something you will regret...

Locations

Village

karel
This village has none who wish to join your fight.
Please leave us in peace.

...You will not relent?
Then I shall have to drive you out by force.
Pray forgive me.

(Karel joins the battle.)

Ending

zephiel
That boy we slew outside... I remember him.
He was with the Pheraen lordling in Ostia, I believe.
That means he must be hiding in the Sanctuary...
jahn
Zephiel, I have a bad feeling about this.
They could not possibly have made it here so fast.
We started marching right after the flash of light.
Such a large army could not have formed up here that quickly.
zephiel
You mean to suggest they were already here?
jahn
The Binding Blade has a great many powers.
Even I never learned the full extent of them...
It's possible it, itself, led the boy to this place.
zephiel
What makes you think that?
idunn
...The war dragons...
jahn
Exactly. We fought dragons out there, Zephiel.
And not like the dragons in that Nabatan village.
War dragons, like Idunn's.
zephiel
What?! They were war dragons...?
But how can that be?
jahn
It's the blade that vanquished the Demon Dragon, in days of yore.
In spilling her blood, it might have been imbued with her power.
Combined with the Sanctuary's magical aura...

He must have gained Idunn's abilities. It's the only explanation.

zephiel
A mere human, gaining the power of the Demon Dragon?!
Impossible!
jahn
Possible, actually... If he has dragon blood.
zephiel
...The spawn of a dragon... and a human?!
Such a grave mistake of nature cannot go uncorrected.
I will take his head with my own bare hands if I must!
Let us go. We will crush the foolish child, here and now!
(Zephiel storms off.)
idunn
......
jahn
What, no "yes, Your Highness" this time?
idunn
I... Ever since we were at the shrine, I...
I've felt... so strange...
This... dark, oppressive burden on my heart...
jahn
...I see.

You have to go with him, Idunn.
Go, and see for yourself...
The depravity that this man is capable of.

idunn
Jahn...

Character Descriptions

Wolt
An archer serving Pherae. Was raised like a brother to Roy.

Bors
A knight who served Ostia. He has lost everything.

Karel
The famed Sword Saint. Known far and wide.

Traitor
The last of the soldiers that answered to Guinivere.

Manakete
Manaketes that oppose the Demon Dragon for some reason.