0. They descended upon us like a storm.
1. I've never seen the people of Sreng fight with [cdb]such ferocity—and their leader was a pure terror.
2. Still, I'd thought that man more discerning than to [cdb]simply attempt to batter his way into Faerghus.
3. Assume that someone incited the Sreng forces.
4. Claim the Sreng forces underestimate your strength.
5. Sounds like someone lit a fire under them.
6. Sounds like someone lit a fire under them.
7. Probably convinced them this was their chance to [cdb]take out the Kingdom, what with our being occupied [cdb]with the Empire and all.
8. Probably convinced them this was their chance to [cdb]take out the Kingdom, what with our being occupied [cdb]with the Empire and all.
9. But who would this flame-stoker be? Someone from Adrestia, perhaps?
10. We can't discount Cornelia and her ilk. They're like a [cdb]bad rash that won't go away.
11. Probably didn't realize how outmatched they were. I mean, they never could've expected that the king [cdb]himself would show up to stop them.
12. Probably didn't realize how outmatched they were. I mean, they never could've expected that the king [cdb]himself would show up to stop them.
13. But the three northern houses have always fought as [cdb]one against the forces of Sreng.
14. Plus, they know the entire Kingdom will fall on them [cdb]if they press the issue too far.
15. Sylvain is right. This was no miscalculation—instead, I think someone was whispering suggestions in their [cdb]collective ears.
16. Espionage by the Empire? Or perhaps Cornelia's [cdb]fell group.
17. It will take time to pin down the truth.
18. But even if this is the result of some outside influence [cdb]on the Sreng clans, the fault still lies with me. I never [cdb]should've educated that man.
19. Don't blame yourself, Father.
20. The people of Sreng do not speak the language of Fódlan. Had he never learned it...
21. Yet Sylvain was only able to get through to him as a [cdb]result of your teachings.
22. And though his words lacked compassion, it was still [cdb]quite remarkable to hear him speak at all.
23. I was raised to think of the Sreng people as demons [cdb]who emerged unbidden from the snowy tundra.
24. Considering that, exchanging even a few meager [cdb]sentences with them feels like a miracle.
25. ...
26. I agree with His Majesty. We will never achieve peace [cdb]without understanding each other.
27. And you know we can't end this through sheer force [cdb]of arms alone, Father.
28. We already understand our enemy perfectly well. They fight for a port that is not choked with ice, [cdb]and for land that is warm and fertile.
29. Yet Faerghus is hardly a region of abundance, [cdb]and there is nothing we can spare them.
30. So how exactly do you hope to achieve peace amidst [cdb]such scarcity?
31. I don't know—yet. But I'll keep searching for a way, [cdb]even if it takes my entire life.
32. Pah! You remain as naïve as ever, boy!
33. Matthias, wait! Apologies, Your Majesty. I will go [cdb]speak with him. You should make ready to head back.
34. What the margrave says is reasonable, yet I sense an [cdb]earnestness in your words as well, Sylvain.
35. Oh, I'm earnest, all right. I'll drag our people kicking [cdb]and screaming to peace if that's what I have to do.
36. Encourage Sylvain.
37. Express concern for his plan.
38. Peace with Sreng doesn't sound like some hopeless [cdb]ideal to me. I'm sure you'll find a way to pull it off.
39. Peace with Sreng doesn't sound like some hopeless [cdb]ideal to me. I'm sure you'll find a way to pull it off.
40. Heh, thanks. That...means a lot.
41. Are you serious? They fought us to the last, and the [cdb]only one we could even talk to was the commander. How do you make peace with that?
42. Are you serious? They fought us to the last, and the [cdb]only one we could even talk to was the commander. How do you make peace with that?
43. This will probably come as a shock, but I actually [cdb]speak a little of the Sreng language.
44. Regardless, we must eliminate this threat if we ever [cdb]hope to free ourselves from the power of the Relics.
45. Still, there's no reason we must do so through military [cdb]might and bloodshed if another way will suffice.
46. I appreciate the way you think, Sylvain. I truly do.
47. And I'm always impressed with how much you hate [cdb]warfare, considering how good you are at it.
48. Is your father going to be OK? He didn't exactly [cdb]take well to your opinion back there.
49. Is your father going to be OK? He didn't exactly take [cdb]well to your opinion back there.
50. Trust me, I've been his son for long enough to know [cdb]that the feelings he keeps private can fill a library.
51. If he really thought I was some kind of naïve idiot, [cdb]he'd have kept it to himself.
52. There's something else weighing on his mind here. I'm certain of it.
53. There you are, Matthias.
54. Do you remember the night of the ball, Rodrigue? Back in our days at the academy?
55. You, me, and Lambert grew weary of the festivities [cdb]and stole away to train by ourselves.
56. How could I forget? The stars in that sky were a true [cdb]sight to behold.
57. We talked about all sorts of things that night. It was [cdb]the first time we ever discussed our dreams for the [cdb]future—and the last, as well.
58. Lambert told us how he hoped to forge a peace [cdb]between Faerghus and the people of Sreng [cdb]and Duscur.
59. Ha! He certainly did. And once he was named king, [cdb]the man did his best to see it through.
60. Sreng may have been a lost cause, but he worked [cdb]tirelessly to bring Duscur into the fold.
61. I called him naïve that night. His dream sounded like [cdb]the thing of childhood storybooks and cradle tales.
62. But these days, I wonder if I wasn't the naïve one.
63. He always took the long view of things—saw the [cdb]whole continent unfolding before him.
64. But me? I've lost too many over the years, and their [cdb]blood clouds my vision. I could never see things now [cdb]as he once did.
65. Could there really be a pathway to peace?
66. You haven't changed one bit, Matthias.
67. If you regret what you said to Sylvain, I suggest you [cdb]find him and apologize before this goes any further.
68. Yes... Yes, you're right.