Nothing left save hollow prayers for the dead,
[cdb]huh? Hmph.
Whatever. Right now we have to prepare so the
[cdb]enemy doesn't catch on to what we're doing.
If you spot anyone suspicious, apprehend them
[cdb]immediately. I'll be keeping an eye out as well.
Though I have to say, being a commanding officer
[cdb]is a ton of work. Guess I'm learning the hard way
[cdb]what he has to deal with.
There's no blaming Duke Ifan and Gustave.
Cornelia just got the better of us this time.
And if they use those strange weapons to hold the
[cdb]people of the city hostage, we'll be totally helpless.
I just hope everyone who went back to the capital
[cdb]is all right.
Nod in agreement.
Encourage him.
Agreed. We've gotta get back to Fhirdiad as soon as
[cdb]possible.
Agreed. We've gotta get back to Fhirdiad as soon as
[cdb]possible.
So long as Cornelia and the rest of them don't get
[cdb]in the way, we'll be able to head there soon. Ugh,
[cdb]how much more irritating can this get?
Don't worry. I'm sure Rodrigue, Dimitri, Dedue,
[cdb]and the others are all OK.
Don't worry. I'm sure Rodrigue, Dimitri, Dedue,
[cdb]and the others are all OK.
Pretty annoying that those empty words are the only
[cdb]hope we have to cling to. I guess it's all we can do
[cdb]right now, though.
Most of our soldiers will stay behind in Arianrhod.
This battle will be a display of skill, a fight between a
[cdb]small group of elite warriors.
None of the invaders breached Gautier territory...
Which means we received false information, right?
And then there's the matter of Count Rowe's escort
[cdb]getting attacked... I can't quite put my finger on it,
[cdb]but I've got a bad feeling about all of this.
I hope His Majesty and everyone else in Fhirdiad
[cdb]are safe.
It's just like His Majesty to let himself get captured to
[cdb]protect the people.
He never takes his own life into consideration when
[cdb]thinking things through.
Agree with him.
Express doubt.
Yeah, I can see that. Why do you think Dimitri's
[cdb]like that?
Yeah, I can see that. Why do you think Dimitri's
[cdb]like that?
Like most things with him, it all comes back to
[cdb]the Tragedy of Duscur.
You might be right, but...I wonder. I don't really get
[cdb]what's going on inside his head.
You might be right, but...I wonder. I don't really get
[cdb]what's going on inside his head.
That's fair. I was just guessing, anyway.
His Majesty might not care about his own life...
But we have to make sure he knows we can't afford to
[cdb]lose him.
Hey, so... I know this might sound a little tactless,
[cdb]but let's suppose for a moment that His Majesty dies
[cdb]in an enemy trap.
Can you imagine what would happen to
Faerghus then?
Can you imagine what would happen to
Faerghus then?
Say you can.
Say you can't.
I think so. I'm guessing the war would drag on,
[cdb]and there'd be a struggle over who takes the throne.
I think so. I'm guessing the war would drag on,
[cdb]and there'd be a struggle over who takes the throne.
Bingo. Now, His Majesty has entrusted his affairs to
Felix and Duke Ifan in the event of his death,
[cdb]and he goes to the front lines safe in that knowledge.
Not really. And I don't want to have to think about it
[cdb]either.
Not really. And I don't want to have to think about it
[cdb]either.
Hah, I don't blame you. In the event of his death,
His Majesty has entrusted his affairs to Felix and
Duke Ifan.
But the problem is that right now, nobody else
[cdb]possesses the Crest of Blaiddyd.
So there'll be disputes no matter who takes the
[cdb]throne. Unless an illegitimate child of royal blood
[cdb]conveniently pops up, of course.
It'd be simple if we were only fighting the Empire or
[cdb]the west, but throw a war of succession into the mix,
[cdb]and things'll get messy real quick.
That's why I want to get to Fhirdiad before
[cdb]something truly terrible happens.
We're one step away from the worst-case scenario.
We've got to rescue the king—and fast.
Hah! Looks like I'll be lecturing him for once.
I wonder if my father is safe. Duke Ifan is in Fhirdiad
[cdb]too, so he has to be OK, right?
Ugh, my stomach is in knots.
I wanna rush back to the capital, but there are an
[cdb]unusual number of bandits in Geraint and Enid
[cdb]territories.
It's almost like someone's trying to stop our
[cdb]journey north.
...
Oh! Sorry about that. I was just thinking about my
[cdb]father.
Express concern for Annette.
Express concern for Gustave.
It's OK, Annette. It's only natural you'd be
[cdb]worried in a situation like this.
It's OK, Annette. It's only natural you'd be
[cdb]worried in a situation like this.
Thanks for saying so. I'm sorry to make you stop and
[cdb]comfort me like this.
Yeah, I'm worried about Gustave. We've gotta get
[cdb]over there and help him.
Yeah, I'm worried about Gustave. We've gotta get
[cdb]over there and help him.
Yes. And of course, there's also His Majesty, Dedue,
Rodrigue, Duke Ifan, and all the people in the
[cdb]capital.
They just have to be safe! I know it!
When we were fighting in Arundel territory,
[cdb]there was a knight in black armor among the enemy.
The Death Knight... I feel as though I've heard his
[cdb]voice somewhere before.
It sounded so familiar. Maybe from a few years ago...
or no, further back than that.
Suggest she knows him.
Laugh it off and claim she's imagining it.
Well, he does cover his face. He could be someone
[cdb]you know, Mercedes.
Well, he does cover his face. He could be someone
[cdb]you know, Mercedes.
You're from the Empire, right? It's not a stretch that
[cdb]you could've run into him somewhere.
You're from the Empire, right? It's not a stretch that
[cdb]you could've run into him somewhere.
Hehe, not everyone who was born in the Empire
[cdb]knows each other.
You think you know that creep? Haha, there's no way.
It's gotta be your imagination.
You think you know that creep? Haha, there's no way.
It's gotta be your imagination.
Hm, I wonder if that's the case. Of course, that's what
I hope it is.
If we come across him again, I would like to talk with
[cdb]him to know for sure.
I wonder if Dimitri is safe. And all the people of the
[cdb]city as well.
It would be just terrible if someone ended up injured,
[cdb]or worse.
And...what in the world are those strange weapons
[cdb]we heard about?
I was just thinking about the eastern front.
The fighting between the Empire and the Alliance
[cdb]seems to have calmed for the time being.
In that case, we'll have to pay close attention to the
Empire's movements.
If they discover we've left Arianrhod and are making
[cdb]our way to the capital...
They would surely mount an attack straight away.
We must all work together to keep the enemy in
[cdb]the dark.
It seems we were correct to suspect Cornelia and
[cdb]her ilk for Count Rowe's abduction.
Manipulating him as the intermediary for the western
[cdb]lords, stirring them up to oppose His Majesty...
She is truly a vexatious adversary. I certainly hope
[cdb]we're able to strike her down in Fhirdiad.
Sreng is being the Kingdom's neighbor, yes?
Why are they having a violent relationship?
Brigid is being the Empire's neighbor, but we are
[cdb]having peace between us.
Is Sreng being too powerful for the Kingdom?
Say you don't know.
Sorry, I have no idea. I don't know much about them
[cdb]either.
Sorry, I have no idea. I don't know much about them
[cdb]either.
I am thinking of reasons. Maybe there is no point in
[cdb]demanding allegiance from Sreng.
There may be an alternative. I will be thinking it
[cdb]over.
I don't know for sure, but couldn't this be a trap?
My gut's telling me something's off.
So it was a trap after all. I knew something was off.
Dimitri probably shouldn't have gone out there.
Though I guess I don't have any room to talk on
[cdb]that front.
I'm honestly relieved we're going to fight people
[cdb]who aren't the Empire.
I just wanted to flee the entire time we were marching
[cdb]toward Imperial territory.
And what's worse, we ended up taking Bern's life...
Try to cheer her up.
Sympathize.
Hey, I know you're feeling down, but there's still so
[cdb]much to fight for. You think you'll be OK to keep
[cdb]going?
Hey, I know you're feeling down, but there's still so
[cdb]much to fight for. You think you'll be OK to keep
[cdb]going?
Yes... I think so.
It's tough fighting old friends. There were times I had
[cdb]to do the same thing when I was a mercenary.
It's tough fighting old friends. There were times I had
[cdb]to do the same thing when I was a mercenary.
You too, huh? Yes. I suppose as long as we have to
[cdb]keep fighting, it's just a reality we have to accept.
You too, huh? Yes. I suppose as long as we have to
[cdb]keep fighting, it's just a reality we have to accept.
Why am I suddenly part of the Kingdom army?!
I'm not supposed to be here! You can't force me to
[cdb]fight! No way, no how!
I'm not supposed to be here! You can't force me to
[cdb]fight! No way, no how!
Comfort her.
Persuade her to fight.
Yeah, you got the short end of the stick there. I guess
[cdb]you looked like you could be convinced to join us.
Yeah, you got the short end of the stick there. I guess
[cdb]you looked like you could be convinced to join us.
What's that supposed to mean?! I was fighting for
[cdb]dear life out there too, you know!
What's that supposed to mean?! I'm fighting for dear
[cdb]life out there too, you know!
Why not fight to put an end to the war? Then you
[cdb]won't get dragged into battles anymore.
Why not fight to put an end to the war? Then you
[cdb]won't get dragged into battles anymore.
Wait? Would that work? Hmmm...
Reports say that all is quiet in Camulus, where the
[cdb]archbishop currently resides.
However, we cannot keep the Knights of Seiros
[cdb]stationed in Arianrhod.
If something is happening in Fhirdiad, we must
[cdb]move to protect our adherents.
It appears Cornelia has led the western nobles in a
[cdb]surprise attack on royal territory.
Moreover, she is in possession of some strange
[cdb]weapons. How terribly concerning...
Talk about Cornelia.
Talk about the weapons.
Why does this Cornelia person hate the royal family
[cdb]so much?
Why does this Cornelia person hate the royal family
[cdb]so much?
Who knows? What is certain is that she has greatly
[cdb]changed from the times when she was called a saint.
Those weapons... Who could've made such things?
Those weapons... Who could've made such things?
I could not say for certain unless I saw one in person,
[cdb]but perhaps it was... Ah, but no. I will leave it there
[cdb]for now.
In any event, this matter is much more than a civil
[cdb]war. If we do not deal with it promptly, the Kingdom
[cdb]will fall into ruin.
There has been much talk about the Sreng region as
[cdb]of late.
For some reason, every time I hear it, the word sticks
[cdb]in my brain.
I end up repeating it so many times the word ceases
[cdb]to have any meaning. Sreng... Sreng... Sreeeng. See!
There I go again.
Cornelia was the one who attacked the royal capital.
I heard that she fled westward.
The Western Church wields great influence in
Western Faerghus, so it is difficult to ascertain the
[cdb]situation.
The people of the Western Church have always been
[cdb]uncooperative with Lady Rhea...
But their recalcitrance has become all the more
[cdb]pronounced since the beginning of the war.
Why can we not just get along? Lady Rhea is surely
[cdb]sad about this state of affairs as well.
Any attack from the Sreng region is an attack on
Faerghus, but people in the south feel pretty removed
[cdb]from it all. Like it's someone else's problem.
But it's a matter of life and death for the houses in
[cdb]the north.
So even if we receive suspect information, if there was
[cdb]the slightest possibility it's true...
The king would have to return to the capital.
The enemy likely knew that when they set their trap.
Strife has broken out in the capital, but it seems like
Camulus is safe.
Even so, if Dimitri is killed, the church folks under
[cdb]his protection will likely be in danger too.
So we're putting forth every effort right now...
Oh, speaking of which, I put the word out to a
[cdb]powerful merc I know.
Say you have high expectations.
Ask who it is.
They must be a serious fighter to impress a knight of
[cdb]your caliber. I'm expecting great things.
They must be a serious fighter to impress a knight of
[cdb]your caliber. I'm expecting great things.
Oh yeah, expect away. I'm sure you two will be
[cdb]thick as thieves.
A powerful merc, you say? Who is it? Do I
[cdb]know them?
A powerful merc, you say? Who is it? Do I
[cdb]know them?
Doubt it.
She was my old partner in the knights. Her name's
Shamir.
I don't like any of this.
We got no idea what's happening in royal territory,
[cdb]and no insight into what the Empire's up to.
If we're not careful, they could deal a serious blow to
[cdb]us while we're caught up fighting each other.
But the situation with the war in the east is... What?
You look like a pigeon caught in some wind magic.
Tch, what? If you don't need anything, quit slacking
[cdb]and get to work.
I'm gonna be staying in Arianrhod. No need to worry
[cdb]about things here.
You all just hurry up and rescue the king.
If something goes awry in royal territory, Her Grace
[cdb]could be at risk as well in Camulus.
All is fine there at present, but I worry nonetheless.
She is the shining light of Fódlan.
Goddess, please watch over Her Grace the
Archbishop...
It appears Fhirdiad has fallen into turmoil.
And Cornelia is sending troops out here to
Arianrhod.
I imagine she's trying to predict our movements.
Or maybe she already knows exactly what they are.
Journeying north will be treacherous, so please,
[cdb]be careful. May the goddess bless you all.
Hello there, friend! What are you looking for today?
Looks like you're in a tight spot. I don't know if I
[cdb]have anything that'll be useful...
But I'd be in a real mess if I lost a valued customer
[cdb]like you, so take your time and look around!
I would have thought it impossible that the margrave,
Fódlan's famed Wall of Ice, would let the Sreng army
[cdb]invade so easily...
And it turns out I was exactly right! Heh.
That aside, just what in the goddess's name is
[cdb]happening in royal territory?
Beneath the royal castle in Fhirdiad lies a staunch,
[cdb]inescapable dungeon.
If Gustave and our allies were captured, that's where
[cdb]they'd be held.
By the by, there are rumors that the prison connects
[cdb]to the capital's underground waterway.
I've never seen any evidence of that myself, but it
[cdb]could be cleverly hidden.
Members of the royal family have possessed
[cdb]superhuman strength for generations. They could
[cdb]break free from the sturdiest of prisons.
A person has two options if they wish to capture
[cdb]a member of the royal family: lock them in an
[cdb]enchanted cell, or somehow sap their will to escape.
I am concerned about His Majesty's health and the
[cdb]safety of the capital's citizens. We must return to
Fhirdiad posthaste.
The Sreng region sits on the northernmost edge of
Fódlan. Their people are unusual folk, and we cannot
[cdb]even understand their tongue.
There is a rocky desert in the southeast, but most of
[cdb]the peninsula is covered in snow.
They have fought with Faerghus for a long time over
[cdb]their warmer lands.
For my money, I think the Kingdom's lands are cold
[cdb]and poor, and not in the least bit worth stealing.
But that's just my opinion.
People from Sreng did attack, but the raid
[cdb]was small enough that our forces were enough to
[cdb]contain it.
Cornelia may have exaggerated the particulars so
[cdb]she could confuse our movements and cause chaos in
[cdb]the capital.
Or...it's even possible that she instigated the attack in
[cdb]the first place.
That commander, Miklan or whatever. I hear he used
[cdb]to be a bandit.
It's wild that a guy like that could turn over a new
[cdb]leaf and become a respected commander.
Though some folks are none too pleased about it.
Some stuff happened in my past that made me turn to
[cdb]thievery too. So in a way, his story gives me hope.
I wanna show folks from all over the Kingdom that
[cdb]people can change and start anew.
Answer me this. If we knew something fishy was
[cdb]going on, why'd the king and his people bother
[cdb]returning to the capital?
OK, sure, even mercs sometimes go chargin' into
[cdb]battle knowin' full well they'll lose.
But it feels like the king and those guys are just a
[cdb]buncha fools. I really don't get it.
Greetings, Commander! Nothing to report!
Though actually, it seems like there are some strange
[cdb]goings-on in royal territory.
Though actually, it seems like there are some terrible
[cdb]goings-on in Fhirdiad.
I'm worried sick about the people in the capital and
[cdb]everyone from the church. I just wanna head up there
[cdb]right now!
But I've been charged with protecting this gate. And I
[cdb]won't abandon my duty.
Solve one problem and another spawns in its place.
It just never ends. And everyone has their own
[cdb]reservations about the situation as well.
Isn't there something you can do to put an end to
[cdb]all this?
hopes.fedatamine.com
