All righty. Not sure what you're talking about
[cdb]though.
All righty. Not sure what you're talking about
[cdb]though.
You've taken a weight off my shoulders. I'm grateful
[cdb]for that.
You and Judith really let me have it after I let
Randolph die.
That gave me the push I needed to stop getting
[cdb]caught up in my own ideas and discuss them with
[cdb]people.
I'm counting on you, you hear? And not just for your
[cdb]brawn, but your brains too.
Hmph. Well, I am certainly glad Claude abandoned
[cdb]that self-righteous attitude of his.
However, he has yet to earn my full trust. This is but
[cdb]a mere step down the path to true kingship.
I will be immensely disappointed if the coming battles
[cdb]do not mold him into the kind of king I want to serve.
If that does not come to pass, it will be exceedingly
[cdb]difficult for me to accept his plans for Leicester.
I knew we'd eventually have to fight the Kingdom,
[cdb]but I really don't want to.
I've just been thinking of all the times I visited the
Blue Lions classroom at the academy.
Agree with her.
Tell her it's too late to think about that.
Yeah, I know what you mean. It's never easy to fight
[cdb]people you know.
Yeah, I know what you mean. It's never easy to fight
[cdb]people you know.
I already went through all this when we battled the
Empire. Just thinking about having to do it again
[cdb]makes me sick to my stomach.
Isn't it a little late for second thoughts?
You've already fought against your friends in the
Empire.
Isn't it a little late for second thoughts?
You've already fought against your friends in the
Empire.
That's exactly why I feel sick about it. I've gone
[cdb]through it once already.
Wars are seriously the worst. I hope we can put an
[cdb]end to all this soon.
I'd been pretty anxious to go against the Central
Church.
Everyone in my territory believes in the teachings of
Seiros, even if they aren't all devout followers.
Thank goodness there weren't any riots. I suppose
[cdb]that's all due to the bishop of the Eastern Church.
Speaking of which, apparently Judith had a word with
[cdb]her before all this happened.
I hear they've been good friends for a long time.
That probably helped smooth things over too.
I was flabbergasted that a commoner like me was
[cdb]allowed to participate in the roundtable.
I guess we're really starting to see some changes now
[cdb]that we're the Federation.
Agree with him.
Disagree with him.
Yeah, it's hard to believe that commoners can have a
[cdb]say in the government.
Yeah, it's hard to believe that commoners can have a
[cdb]say in the government.
Claude held that roundtable on a whim. It's not like
[cdb]the rest of them will always be like that.
Claude held that roundtable on a whim. It's not like
[cdb]the rest of them will always be like that.
But at least it feels like commoners will have an easier
[cdb]time expressing their opinions.
But at least it feels like commoners will have an easier
[cdb]time expressing their opinions.
Yes. I need to get accustomed to espousing my own
[cdb]viewpoint as well, instead of just following orders.
Hey, you're better at studying than me, right?
Could you teach me how when you've got the time?
I've been wanting to get back to it. Y'know, since we
[cdb]didn't get to finish the school year at the academy.
Express amazement.
Encourage him.
Whoa, what's gotten into you, Raphael? You have a
[cdb]fever or something?
Whoa, what's gotten into you, Raphael? You have a
[cdb]fever or something?
No, but I might once my brain gets going!
That's great, Raphael. I'll do whatever I can to help.
That's great, Raphael. I'll do whatever I can to help.
Thanks! I get absolutely nowhere when I try to study
[cdb]on my own.
I probably won't ever be as smart as the others, but I
[cdb]wanna make sure I'm not holding 'em back.
I cannot definitively say that Claude made a mistake
[cdb]during the battle in Ailell.
He sacrificed one person to ensure the rest of us
[cdb]would survive. If he hadn't done that, my friends
[cdb]might not be here today.
As long as the war continues, people will suffer.
Both our enemies and our allies.
I think it's only natural to want to at least protect
[cdb]those closest to you.
But in truth, no one person's life is more valuable
[cdb]than another's. It is never right to sacrifice someone.
And so, all I can say is that I want the war to end as
[cdb]soon as possible. That is all.
Jeralt's Mercenaries should still be working for the
Imperial army.
We might not get another chance to battle them now
[cdb]that we're fighting the Kingdom and the church.
Agree with her.
Disagree with her.
Yeah, you're right. I'm not sure whether to be
[cdb]relieved or disappointed.
Yeah, you're right. I'm not sure whether to be
[cdb]relieved or disappointed.
I wouldn't say that. Mercenaries can always change
[cdb]employers, so we don't know for certain they won't
[cdb]ally with the Kingdom.
I wouldn't say that. Mercenaries can always change
[cdb]employers, so we don't know for certain they won't
[cdb]ally with the Kingdom.
Sure, but I doubt the Empire would let such a
[cdb]valuable asset go.
Wait a sec. We might fight alongside the Imperial
[cdb]army at some point.
Which means we could end up fighting with them as
[cdb]allies! That would be amazing.
I'm glad to see His Majesty's in a much better mood.
He should be fine now.
Hah, you act like his older sister.
Older sister, eh? You flatter me.
She's more like a mother.
She's more like a wife.
She strikes me as more of a mother figure. She's got
[cdb]this maternal love thing going on.
She strikes me as more of a mother figure. She's got
[cdb]this maternal love thing going on.
Hah, it's true. I'm certainly always scolding him like
[cdb]a parent.
She strikes me as more of a wife, since she's always
[cdb]there for him.
She strikes me as more of a wife, since she's always
[cdb]there for him.
Hah, you think so? To me it feels like I'm always
[cdb]scolding him like a parent.
The mere thought makes me think of His Majesty's
[cdb]true mother...Lady Tiana. She was a woman of
[cdb]exceptional beauty.
And if I recall correctly, she was a close friend of
[cdb]yours, Judith.
That's an understatement. We were like sisters.
I could talk to Tiana about anything.
It was such a shock when little Claude just turned up
[cdb]one day with a letter from her.
Ah, so that's why you've always supported him,
[cdb]even before he became the Alliance leader.
Of course. My best friend asked me to help him.
But he hardly needs me anymore. That boy's gonna
[cdb]do just fine.
How's our leader holding up? Or I guess I should call
[cdb]him "king" now.
It was a tough call to sacrifice his allies like that.
But he can't start second-guessing himself because
[cdb]of it.
There's nothing to worry about.
He might still do that.
No worries there. He got the message loud and clear.
No worries there. He got the message loud and clear.
He could still slide in that direction, but we really let
[cdb]him have it. I'm sure he'll be fine.
He could still slide in that direction, but we really let
[cdb]him have it. I'm sure he'll be fine.
I certainly hope so.
Because if he makes a mistake, we're all dead.
I don't understand people who choose to bicker
[cdb]about the whys and hows of battle when the
[cdb]outcome is always the same.
No matter what choices are made, blood will always
[cdb]be shed and countless lives will always be lost.
In my opinion, people have an unfortunate tendency
[cdb]to overthink the means while woefully underthinking
[cdb]the ends.
Argue that means are important.
Concede he might have a point.
But the ends don't always justify the means. Bigger
[cdb]problems'll come up if we only focus on the results
[cdb]without reflecting on the methods used.
But the ends don't always justify the means. Bigger
[cdb]problems'll come up if we only focus on the results
[cdb]without reflecting on the methods used.
Perhaps, but my point remains the same. No matter
[cdb]what means we use or ends we seek, this is war.
People will suffer, and people will die.
You've got a point, yeah. The nice thing is, Claude's
[cdb]keeping his door open for anyone who has something
[cdb]to say. Trust me, I've already spoken my mind.
You've got a point, yeah. The nice thing is, Claude's
[cdb]keeping his door open for anyone who has something
[cdb]to say. Trust me, I've already spoken my mind.
Good for you. I, however, have no desire to question
[cdb]our leader—only all the worry surrounding his
[cdb]decisions. The end result is the same either way.
You know, the longer I'm in this army, the more I run
[cdb]into people I don't want to see.
It'd be bad news if they figured out where I am...
Offer to pay off his debts.
Offer to mediate any fights.
Hah, you're talking about debt collectors, right?
I'm happy to help pay off a bit of what you owe.
Hah, you're talking about debt collectors, right?
I'm happy to help pay off a bit of what you owe.
A "bit" isn't gonna do much, you know. I don't think
[cdb]you appreciate just how up to my eyeballs in debt
I am.
Hah, let me guess. You busted someone up. I can help
[cdb]mediate any fights if you want.
Hah, let me guess. You busted someone up. I can help
[cdb]mediate any fights if you want.
Nah, I like my brawls big and loud. I don't care how
[cdb]many buddies my opponent brings, I'll take 'em
[cdb]all down.
Anyway, that's not what I'm talking about. It's people
[cdb]from my old home.
But let's just forget about all that. Wanna go grab
[cdb]some food? Your treat, of course.
A bunch of stuff changed all at once and now I have
[cdb]no clue what's going on.
Why can't our enemies just stay the same?! I can't
[cdb]keep up.
Why can't our enemies just stay the same?! I can't
[cdb]keep up.
Don't say it! I know, I know. You're right. It's my
[cdb]fault for shutting myself away!
Don't say it! I know, I know. You're right. It's my
[cdb]fault for shutting myself away!
The easiest time to be hunting a mighty beast is when
[cdb]it is stalking other prey.
Then you can be hunting both together. Claude is
[cdb]thinking like a good hunter.
But people here are thinking this strategy is not
[cdb]good? In Brigid, we would be giving him praise.
I see we were the only ones whose lives were so
[cdb]graciously spared.
Yeah, but we weren't really part of the Imperial army
[cdb]or the Knights of Seiros.
We'd probably be dead right now if we hadn't sided
[cdb]with the Federation, huh? Pretty scummy if you
[cdb]ask me.
Deny it.
Give a vague reply.
That's not true at all. Though we're obviously
[cdb]grateful you decided to help us out.
That's not true at all. Though we're obviously
[cdb]grateful you decided to help us out.
Refusal was never an option to begin with. But in any
[cdb]case, we will do our utmost to support you.
Uh, maybe let's not promise that, Coco?
You'll change your tune as soon as it gets cloudy.
I don't think that's a forgone conclusion. Not that it
[cdb]would've been up to me.
I don't think that's a forgone conclusion. Not that it
[cdb]would've been up to me.
That's not nearly as reassuring as you think it is.
And here I thought you had our backs.
We are like a pathetic little boat that has been tossed
[cdb]into the stormy tides of war.
The fact that I alone survived must mean the goddess
[cdb]has yet more trials for me.
Is there no way to escape this ceaseless torment?
Death is the only escape.
Survivial is the only escape.
What do you even want me to say? That death is the
[cdb]only escape? You're free to think whatever you want.
What do you even want me to say? That death is the
[cdb]only escape? You're free to think whatever you want.
So you are essentially telling me to find my own
[cdb]answer. How cruel.
The only way to get through this is to focus on
[cdb]staying alive. That's what's helped me at least.
The only way to get through this is to focus on
[cdb]staying alive. That's what's helped me at least.
In other words, there is no escape. You see no respite
[cdb]even for yourself.
What do you want from me? I'm not any use to
[cdb]anyone.
And now Coco's dead.
...
...
Oh, sorry. I know stuff like that happens all the time
[cdb]in war. There's not much to do about it.
I'm not particularly loyal to any region, so feel free to
[cdb]toss me into battle against whoever.
I've been dashing all around Fódlan for work.
But it's gotten harder to get into the Kingdom.
Well, the Kingdom's not great for business anyway,
[cdb]so it's no skin off my nose.
My lord, Baron Albrecht, has an older brother who's
[cdb]gone missing.
His mother is offering quite a tidy sum to anyone
[cdb]who finds him, dead or alive.
He is the son of a previous wife, so I imagine the
[cdb]baron's mother thinks he poses a threat to their
[cdb]position.
I heard that General Randolph was actually the
[cdb]nephew of Count Bergliez, the Empire's Minister of
Military Affairs.
And that he'd been trying to elevate his family's
[cdb]position through his military accomplishments.
I think his younger sister is in the Imperial army too.
She must be devastated right now.
Opinion is split on whether the Empire or the
Kingdom is stronger.
The Empire wins is terms of pure military might,
[cdb]but the Kingdom has a strong tradition of knighthood
[cdb]that makes them formidable in their own right.
Plus, they have the Knights of Seiros on their side.
They won't be an easy opponent.
This change from Alliance to Federation will be but a
[cdb]tiny footnote in Fódlan's long history.
Leicester used to be under the Empire's control,
[cdb]but then the Kingdom took them over.
Eventually they rebelled and became independent.
So it would hardly be a surprise if the Federation now
[cdb]expanded further into the Kingdom.
Our employer Erwin ordered us to look after
[cdb]his son.
All while he's off fishing on the Great Bridge of
Myrddin without a care in the world.
I wish my life was that free and easy. But the pay is
[cdb]good, so I guess I can't complain.
The Eastern Church doesn't keep an order of knights
[cdb]because we do not believe in using force to chastise
[cdb]our believers.
House Nilsson is charged with keeping order within
[cdb]church territory. They have forbidden the use of
[cdb]any soldiers, even for self-defense.
I hope it is now abundantly clear how different we are
[cdb]from the Central Church.
I traveled through the three territories on the western
[cdb]edge of Leicester. They were rife with chaos.
Though apparently the nobles have started working
[cdb]to restore public order.
Can't say I know what changed their attitudes so
[cdb]suddenly.
I had been in the Empire until I heard the Alliance
[cdb]recently became the Federation.
I came hoping to see what interesting things
[cdb]might occur.
I have a feeling that Fódlan's future hinges on what
King Claude does next.
Greetings, Commander! Nothing to report!
Maybe it's just my imagination, but everyone's a lot
[cdb]more chipper now. That's great!
I'm gonna do my best to keep this positivity going!
It's quite difficult to get people to band together for a
[cdb]common cause.
Each person is their own entity, which means they
[cdb]have differing desires and goals.
And yet, since ancient times people have thought it
[cdb]wise to try and unify all those viewpoints under a
[cdb]single king.
I wonder how long it will be until we break free from
[cdb]that custom.
hopes.fedatamine.com
