Chapter Text
“Oh, there you are!”
It was Ashera who greeted Noah as he walked back into the Whitewing Palace, her tone prodding as always.
“You know, we didn’t see you at all yesterday after our spot of imprisonment. Where’d you end up?
“I stayed with Eunie,” he answered simply. “It seemed a better idea than sleeping in here.”
Judging by Reyn’s sigh, he seemed to agree. “Yeah, no kidding. It’s not like we don’t get showers and stuff, but the bedding is pretty obviously put-on for us.”
“Well, while we’re asking each other where we’ve ended up, what did you guys end up getting up to yesterday? Naturally we didn’t see you either.”
“Oh, that was a whole thing. Someone burst in here after Alvis left, asking for help to deal with some Kromar in Eryth Sea, so that ended up being the rest of our day.”
Noah chuckled at that. “Rather generous considering our circumstances. Guess you can’t help yourselves from helping others, huh?”
“Hey now,” Sharla contended, “don’t make it sound like some sort of condition. We’re just doing what’s right.”
“Don’t worry, I know. I’d be a hypocrite if I got on your case for that.”
“Well, glad to see you’re self-aware,” Ashera joked. “But speaking of getting on your case… You made it sound like you knew what was up with Melia yesterday, and you’ve seen Eunie since. Got anything to tell us?”
Noah frowned, well aware their patience was probably wearing thin. “I… don’t think I do. But I also think you won’t have long to wait.”
“Indeed,” Riku agreed, piping up to join the conversation. “Friends will know of Melia when the time is right.”
Ashera couldn’t but notice one particular thing about what he said… but it definitely wasn’t the important part. “Huh, that’s funny. Riki enjoys that nickname for her, but you’re being proper about it.”
Riku glanced towards his father before he shared a look with Noah. “Riku could do no different,” he answered with a shrug.
That line of questioning seemingly quashed, Ashera didn’t bother to answer beyond a hum. It wasn’t long before Shulk and Dunban joined them, sparking a new angle of conversation about what their next plans were… or more accurately, what they rested upon.
“We can’t do much without Melia’s help,” Dunban considered. “I don’t know Eunie very well, but something tells me she doesn’t hold the same power here.”
“Well, you know her well enough to be right,” Noah confirmed. “She's something of an outlier - we’d best await Melia’s assistance.”
Reyn couldn’t help but sigh. “We’re really just hoping for the best, huh? I kinda miss when we didn’t have to worry about where we were going. Your visions have left us with a lot of detours, Shulk.”
Shulk looked like he understood his friend’s frustration well as he stood by the window. But despite that understanding, he remained undaunted… perhaps because of those same visions. “Don’t worry, Reyn. We can trust Melia.”
Noah could tell Reyn wasn’t exactly impressed with his show of faith, but didn’t say anything to disparage him, his groan sounding more like a begrudging acceptance. But perhaps the reason he didn’t speak was less to do with his own opinions, and more to do with what Shulk suddenly noticed out the window.
“Hey, look out here! There’s so many High Entia gathered outside.”
Reyn quickly joined him at the window, followed by Noah and Ashera. The soldier couldn’t help but feel left out. “How come we didn’t get invited?!”
Noah saw the gathered crowd and grimaced, memories unintentionally resurfacing of Agnus Castle. “I don’t think it's a social gathering, Reyn. This looks more like a ceremony. But whatever for?”
“Even you don’t know, Noah?” Ashera questioned.
Noah shook his head. “Eunie didn’t mention anything either. I knew she had somewhere to be, but I don’t think she knew the details.”
“Plenty of faith in her, as always.”
Before long, the scene shifted. In addition to the floating screens of light that were a hallmark of the city’s entrance district, many new ones appeared… alongside a much smaller one within their room. It showed an aged High Entia man, his attire regal and face composed, standing on a balcony, flanked on his right by a woman with a strange outfit, wearing an eerily familiar mask. Noah’s eyes widened.
Her Majesty? he questioned internally. If that’s really her, then… I suppose we don’t have long to wait after all.
His thoughts were cut off by a wizened voice, conveyed throughout the city by devices unseen.
“My loyal and beloved subjects… Sorean Antiqua speaks.”
Noah held back a gasp. This could only be Melia’s father in the flesh.
“I have been your Emperor for little more than twenty years. But today, I stand before you in celebration.”
Dunban, who was in a very relaxed seated position with his legs on the table, regarded the figure of authority with little more than curiosity. “So that’s the High Entia Emperor…”
“Sorean Antiqua…” Shulk repeated, seemingly in awe.
“I will remain your Emperor for years to come… but now is the time to announce my successor. May I introduce your crown princess… Melia Antiqua!”
Dunban had barely had a chance to say “And there’s the lady herself,” before Shulk stepped backwards at the revelation, “It’s her!” being all he could say. Reyn found a much more substantial point to focus on.
“She’s a princess?!”
Dunban, who clearly had figured things out before the rest, smiled with lidded eyes. “Took you long enough.”
Sharla, by all accounts more generally reasonable than the boys, still found it hard to believe. “Her silver spoon accent was a clue, as were her guards… but royalty?”
The long moment of silence from the Emperor seemed tailor made specifically to encourage this sort of revelatory discussion, but he still wasted no time in continuing his address. “My daughter, Melia Antiqua, will depart immediately to face the Tomb. She will seek the approval of our ancestors, and become your crown princess!”
Melia, hearing those clearly momentous words, turned to her father and knelt, her head cast downward. She didn’t say a word before the broadcast concluded, and the screen disappeared with it… but Shulk gasped in alarm. “Melia…”
The wielder of the Monado didn’t deign to give Noah an explanation. Instead, Dunban was the one to speak next, having raised himself back to a more socially acceptable way of sitting, a hand to his face in contemplation. “I don’t doubt that was Melia. But why the mask?”
Noah fought back the memory of seeing a mask so very similar fall from the face of the false Queen, but couldn’t prevent the frown from reaching his face. Ashera noticed, but didn’t say a word.
“I don’t know…” Shulk answered in their stead. “But she’s different from the other High Entia.”
Noah knew exactly what Shulk had picked up on, but Sharla wasn’t so sure. “How do you mean?” she asked him. “What makes her different?”
Riki chimed in to agree with Shulk, surprisingly… even perhaps offering the explanation. “Melly not like other Bird People. Melly like Hom Hom friends! Eunie and Zeon too!”
“You may be right,” Dunban agreed, rising from his seat now. “But there are things at play here we can’t understand.”
“Maybe not,” Noah considered, having had his fair share of world-changing revelations in just a few short weeks… less than that. “But I don’t think it’d hurt to try.”
“Indeed. Understanding the situation she’s in could help us actually achieve our goal of reaching Prison Island. We’ve got a long way to go… but at least we have somewhere to start.”
And then Shulk suddenly jolted with alarm. “Wait a minute!” he shouted, shattering any sense of calm in the room.
“Oi!” Reyn immediately reprimanded. “You’ll give a Homs a heart attack shouting like that!”
“Look, we’ve got no time to lose!” Shulk contended impatiently. “Melia needs our help!”
And there it is, Noah realised at the same time as the rest of the room. “You had a vision just now, didn’t you?”
Sharla zeroed in on finding their plan of action instead. “What did you see?”
But before Shulk could explain himself, or acquiesce to Reyn’s demand to be “Out with it already,” the unmistakable noise of the door to their room opening was heard. Twisting immediately to their new guests, Noah found they were… five High Entia women in strange red uniforms, with dual bladed weapons, long wings and white masks different to Melia’s.
Even as he found himself bracing for combat, Dunban only leant to one side and cocked his head. “Excuse me,” he taunted, “we ordered room service an hour ago.”
Shockingly, their ringleader seemed to delight in playing along. “I’m afraid you’ve already had your last meal,” they answered maliciously, just as their compatriots readied themselves into a combat stance.
Noah didn’t need to be told twice. He immediately drew Lucky Seven from his hip, turning to his allies and signalling them to grab their weapons. Shulk was lucky enough to already have the Monado on his back, and drew it immediately, but Dunban and the others broke for the back of the room, where their weapons had been placed in a makeshift pile.
The assassins did not see fit to make that task easy, fanning out to try and prevent any interception. But what they didn’t know couldn’t hurt them could still be enough to make them stop. And so Noah immediately tested that theory, jumping over the table and drawing his true Blade from its sheath to create a shockwave in order to cut off three of the High Entia. They stopped out of self-preservation, giving Noah enough time to land and contest the one furthest forward.
His attacks were aimed intentionally in order to hit their weapons. The strikes were simple to guard, but without grazing their body, there was no way for the assassins to know of the shared weakness. Pure power was not truly his wheelhouse though… instead, Noah acted to use the bind against them, pushing the twin weapons aside to kick the woman down. When one of her compatriots rushed him from the left, Noah batted away one slashing blade with his armoured fist and the second with his sword, before using that same gauntlet to land a gut punch.
The last of the trio was not so incautious, opting for a much more measured offence in order to not leave herself open for counterattack. But in this battle, time was precious, and that moment of hesitation did not go unpunished, as an ether bullet from Sharla streamed across the room to land on her shoulder, causing a gasp of pain. Ashera and Riki immediately joined him in the fight, and Noah took the brief reprieve to check on Shulk, seeing Dunban and Reyn assisting him posthaste.
Still, he couldn’t be so hasty as to claim victory. All three of his foes returned to their feet, one of them grasping her shoulder but the others only winded. Without incentive to stop what had already occurred, they seemed to revert to a more thought-out plan, attempting to surround the trio of heroes to give an opportunity to move towards Sharla, but Ashera quickly foiled that plan, striking out swiftly to break their makeshift chain. Without Noah’s necessary restraint, the Undying Blade was much more dangerous.
In the end, while Noah was more of a defensive force, and Riki found his attention divided with making sure they never reached Sharla, it was the swift dispatching of the duo targeting Shulk by Reyn and Dunban that ended the fight. Ashera could probably have taken them eventually, but with the help of the others, the trio of assassins were much sooner down for the count leaving five mysterious unconscious interlopers on the floor of their once calm room.
“What on the Bionis was that about?” Reyn immediately questioned, still panting as he returned his driver to his back. “Who are these guys?!”
The next voice to speak did not answer him, but seemed like to be the one to give the answers judging by yesterday. Alvis suddenly walked into the room, “Shulk!” being the first words to leave his lips. He initially seemed somewhat rushed, but slowed to a walk once he realised the threat had been dealt with.
To answer Reyn’s question, he knelt at the side of one of their would-be killers, before coming to a conclusion. “These are… Inquisitors?”
Before anyone could ask what that meant, their door opened once more, and a vaguely familiar figure entered the room with two guardsmen at his sides. His words were clearly concerned, if very confused. “What is this?”
Reyn, who was understandably somewhat rattled, was about to draw his weapon at the approaching High Entia before Alvis held his hand up to stop him. “Wait. This is His Highness Kallian. Brother to Her Highness Melia.”
“Melia’s brother?” Shulk repeated, dumbfounded, a feeling Noah would have shared if not for Eunie’s earlier explanation.
So that’s where I saw him, Noah realised belatedly, in the background of the broadcast.
“Do not concern yourself, Your Highness,” Alvis reassured the prince. “The matter appears to have been resolved.”
“Seer Alvis?” Kallian questioned, using his title with familiarity.
“I foresaw the danger. I rushed here, but seemed to have missed the fun.”
“They do not look like mere thieves.”
Alvis took this opportunity to explain himself. “I am presuming that they are Inquisitors of the Bionite Order… A group of assassins long devoted to the Imperial family.”
Kallian found this hard to accept. “Ridiculous! The Bionite Order are a mere…”
“Myth? The order existed before records began. I, like many others, believed they had long since died out. Yet here they are before us.”
“Is Father aware of this?!”
“I suspect he knows very little. He may not even be aware of their existence… They live amongst the shadows. Never revealing their true faces.”
It seems his resolution was not so strong as to ignore the proof his eyes prevented, and so Kallian found himself grappling with the truth… and coming to a strange realisation as he did.
“But that does not explain why they would attack these people- Wait. Could that have been… No! There’s no way!”
Shulk took his chance to plead their own case. “Kallian! Melia is in danger! She’ll be killed at an altar if we don’t find her soon!”
This did not help Kallian’s struggle, seemingly. “Killed?! How can you be so sure?”
Alvis remained a font of knowledge for the prince by explaining this part to him. “Shulk and I share the same gift.”
“Another seer? Which would mean that… You can see the future?!”
Shulk nodded. “That’s why we have to find her, now!”
And so the wielder of the Monado petitioned the prince for the right to save his sister… but as soon as they realised Melia’s imminent death was to happen in the so-called Tomb, Kallian was stalwart.
“Unacceptable. Those who enter the Tomb must do so alone. Her life, or death, is in the hands of fate… Those not worthy of the throne are exactly that.”
Noah, who had almost a whole life of conditioning to fight in honour of Queen Melia, found himself unable to hold back his disbelief. “You would dare to stop us?! We’re talking about Melia, Your Highness! I’m not going to sit back and let her die just because you-”
Dunban put an arm across Noah to stop him from going any further. “Easy, Noah.”
Realising he’d lost his cool, Noah settled on a frustrated groan and stepped backwards, but Reyn didn’t want to let it go.
“But Dunban!”
Of course, Dunban had a very good explanation. “This ritual holds a special significance… It is wrong for us to interfere. But am I right in saying that the rules of this ritual affect only High Entia? And if some strange Homs happened to get involved, it wouldn’t cause a problem? Or is there some rule that prohibits Homs from entering the Tomb?”
Kallian looked briefly to Alvis, as if making sure he wasn’t misremembering something, before answering Dunban with hesitation. “No… I suppose not.”
“Then look at it this way; I don’t need to know how big a deal this ritual is to your people. What I do know is that your sister’s life is at stake. Cut us a break, and we’ll save her.”
Kallian took this answer seriously, but something else seemed to catch in his mind. He walked up to Dunban with a question he needed answered. “Who are you?”
“My name is Dunban,” the Hero of the Homs answered. “I’m sort of the protector of the Mechon-bashing band of Homs.”
To Noah’s surprise, this name rang a bell. “Dunban… I know you. At the Battle of Sword Valley, you held back an entire wave of Mechon with the Monado.”
Dunban took this recognition not as a compliment, but an admission. “You know a lot about a battle you never showed up to.”
This combative tone seemed to cause some remorse from the royal High Entia. “My apologies,” he began, sounding almost rehearsed. “We do not concern ourselves with the wars of others. Be it against the Mechon, or otherwise.”
Noah narrowed his eyes at this assertion. It reminded him of something he’d heard before, perhaps from the City’s Conservatives, who chose their own safety over the wellbeing of others. It was not inherently a malicious ideal, but had the whole City held their stance, they would have only been able to watch as Aionios slowly eroded to nothing. He wondered if the same was true of the Imperial High Entia.
Shockingly, while Noah was interrogating Kallian’s values, Dunban was far less serious. “I was only joking. You had your reasons - I can see that with all these defence systems, you don’t really need to fight.”
Kallian frowned at the admission, partially relieved but still weighing his words. But when no further attempts to dissuade them came, it was Alvis who made the call.
“Then it is decided. You can reach the Tomb by transporter from the Centre Gate. Her Highness has already entered - We should hurry.”
As the group made noises of agreement, Noah’s thoughts drifted to the footage he’d seen of the Princess wearing that familiar mask, and to those worn by the Bionite Order.
I think this will be a fraught reunion.
~~~
Sena marched with Mio, Taion, and their Blade friends into the sunlight, following the Special Inquisitor as they made their way to a shortly-awaited reunion. The question of what would happen next still lingered in the air, but it was still relieving to not be in the interrogation room any longer.
As their new friends came into view, Rex, Tora and Poppi eagerly waved them over, and that was a refreshing sight. Mythra was also present, affixing them with a look of muted relief, suggesting she would in fact be a more regular fixture going forward. By contrast, Nia was not anywhere near as impish as her usual attitude. She looked the most relieved to see them of the lot, and Dromarch remained close by her side.
“Hey Mórag, hey Brighid!” Rex greeted, caring little for any pretense of formality. “Glad to see you’ve bought Mio and the others with you.”
Aware of just how much his current mood was the result of this choice, Mórag seemed to decide to give the conversation some levity… at least as much as she could manage. “Yes, I imagine this conversation would be very different had I not. Still, we have interviewed them thoroughly, and though some questions still persist, I have received answers that will be satisfactory for now.”
Nia seemed to pick up on the lacking humour and laughed hesitantly. “No such thing as a joke with you, huh.”
“Regardless, my purpose here is to outline our next plan of action. I could easily argue this current predicament should be an issue resolved by the Empire, but considering other factors, I would be remiss to not enlist your help at this juncture.”
With her relief now spent, Mythra’s expression had returned to a firm line, and it did not budge in the face of the Special Inquisitor’s slow reveal. “So what’s the plan then?”
Mórag repressed a wry smile. It seemed she appreciated the Aegis’s blunt response. “Your group had previously expressed a familiarity with the other Artificial Blade we witnessed last night, but my discussions with these few revealed little. Would you care to explain yourselves?”
“Tora can do that,” the Nopon engineer volunteered. “Simplest explanation is that Lila was first Artificial Blade created by Tora’s Dadapon Tatazo and Grampypon Soosoo. But Grampon was killed, and Tora thought Dadapon was too… until Tora saw Lila last night.”
“I think I understand what you’re getting at,” Brighid considered. “You’re saying that whoever is behind Lila’s appearance has captured your father, and is using his expertise to create the Artificial Blades.”
Poppi, one such Artificial Blade, looked confused by her choice of words. “Meh meh? Poppi and friends only know of Ino and Lila. Is that what Brighid mean by saying Blades?”
Unsure if the Special Inquisitor would answer her friend, Mio opted to explain for her, whether she liked it or not. “No, it's more than that. Ino’s memory isn’t the best, but she knows that she was considered a faulty unit on a larger production line. Lila’s just the beginning… whoever they are, they want more.”
Mórag looked at her with a disapproving stare, as expected, but didn’t reprimand her outright. “Yes, that is exactly what we believe. And that is exactly where your group comes in.”
Rex’s eyes immediately widened. “Hold on, are you saying what I think you’re saying? You want us to go after them?”
“Not quite. Ino spoke of a secret factory in the wastes, and with our new context for the raids on Alba Cavanich, there can be no other explanation for the stolen parts. I would have your group determine the factory’s location. Once you have done so, convey it to me, and we will make plans from there.”
“Ah… Yeah, that makes more sense.”
While Rex was busy feeling embarrassed by his own words though, Nia was interrogating something the Special Inquisitor briefly alluded to. “Hold on a minute, Mórag. When you say ‘our group’, who are you even talking about?”
Mórag’s eyes immediately switched focus to the future Queen. “And that is what I was just about to explain. You see, Nia, I am present in Alba Cavanich for reasons beyond the larceny of a few Artificial Blades. Though they were a concern in their own light, and have only become more so in light of recent information, the first point of concern was that they revealed the weaknesses in the security of the Emperor’s seat of power. As continued efforts failed to make headway on apprehending the threats, I began my own investigation, and found evidence of an anti-imperial faction using the commotion to further their own ends.
“Further prodding has revealed an organisation with a name. This group, whose objective appears to be unseating the Emperor by any means necessary, calls themselves ‘Brionac.’ And it is this group that will be the focus of my own investigation, for which these six will accompany me.”
Mio and her friends couldn’t help but make a startled noise as they realised who ‘these six’ referred to. Mythra had much the same thought, but spoke first, giving the Special Inquisitor an unimpressed look. “So… you still have no intention of letting them go.”
When faced with the accusation, Mórag seemed unsurprised, but still denied it. “I would not be so callous as to say that. Rather, that I wish to observe the quality of their character before making any further judgments.”
“Doesn’t change the fact that you’re holding them on a leash. Taion may be your subordinate, and Ino may still be under investigation, but you’re keeping the rest of them tethered as if they were in the same boat.”
“And I would consider that a mercy. You would do best not to turn the other cheek to such hospitality.”
Mythra made a frustrated noise, but didn’t push further. Mio couldn’t blame her, what with how tense this confrontation had already been. In hopes of at least pushing things along, she addressed the Special Inquisitor directly.
“Okay, fine. We can help you with your Brionac problem. We’ve got a common enemy for now, but we’re not going to be your mercenaries forever.”
“Of course, Mio,” she agreed. “I would expect nothing less.”
The conversation continued after that, the begrudging alliance discussing exactly how their plans would play out. But in the distance, a different pairing eavesdropped on the conversation… their concerns far further opposed than those of the Aegis’s party to the Special Inquisitor.
“That nosy blue-blooded snob…” Dirk cursed. “Sticking her bloody fingers where they don’t belong.”
“And cavorting with the Aegis to do it, no less,” Zahak rumbled. “They’ll want to know about this. If she’s got her sights on us, it’s only a matter of time.”
“You’re probably right. Damn them… we better not waste our chance.”
And so they scurried away once more.
~~~~
Eunie wasn’t sure what she expected today. Getting the message to come early for an important job was one thing, and considering her previous exploits it was obviously going to involve Melia. But still, she was rather surprised when the Emperor revealed her status as heir to the throne to the whole populace… and then very confused by the concept of the trial of the Tomb.
“What the heck are they making her do now? Surely she’s already proven herself with the Telethia nonsense?”
“She’s proven herself to us, certainly,” Zeon agreed, “but the majority of Alcamoth has only just officially learned of her existence. The trial of the Tomb is a way of quickly proving her worth to all… though I will admit I’m not exactly sure what it involves.”
Eunie frowned at that admission. “You what? From what I could tell, everyone else knew what it was, like it was always part of the ascension process. Why would you of all people not know what it is?”
“I’m hardly the oldest High Entia in the Empire, you’ll find. But more importantly, what I know about the trial is likely very similar to what most people know about it, that being where it takes place… and the fact it is incredibly dangerous. The Tomb of the High Entia is off-limits to all but the royal family, but even were it to be open to the public, many would avoid it. As far as I know, it is because of that risk that the Trial has not been conducted in many years… generations, in fact.”
“Well that’s great! We’ve got no idea what Melia’s gonna face in there, but we do know she’s in mortal danger! Seriously, why are they doing this?!”
Zeon sighed, but didn’t chastise her like he might normally. Perhaps, in their brief solitude as they awaited their charge to return from her lofty vantage point, he felt more comfortable to share her views. But he didn’t get to say anything to confirm it before Melia emerged from the transporter, out of her more formal attire but still wearing the mask, with the Minister of Research following close behind.
Her two guards immediately stood to attention, even as Eunie pushed down memories of seeing a mask so similar on the false Queen in Keves Castle.
“Your Highness, Minister,” Zeon swiftly greeted. “We await your orders.”
Lorithia smiled in a way that Eunie didn’t really like, for some reason. “Very good. If you are both prepared, then your job is simple - escort us to the Tomb, posthaste.”
Eunie offered a nod in time with her Guardsman partner, but made sure to give him a look with a very clear message. You’re leading the way, bud.
Judging by his unimpressed expression, he got the gist.
---
Melia’s decision to return to her travelling getup turned out to be very useful at dissuading attention. Melia could not even shed the mask as they walked through the crowd outside the palace, leading to her guards effectively acting as the best defence; Lorithia, who was much more likely to be spotted, followed them from a distance until she could rejoin the trio. Once they’d landed in Eryth Sea from the transporter, they waited for the Minister, and began the journey.
It was obviously a very formal and serious task… but Eunie didn’t want Melia to get psyched out by the weight of her task, so she decided to bend the rules a little.
“You know, I am a little confused, Lady Melia. Surely the Emperor could lend you a transport to the Tomb or something, yet here we are, walking again! Seems a bit rude to me.”
Despite her masked face, Eunie could hear the princess sigh. “Eunie, as much as I would love to give your legs a rest… It is customary for those who undertake the trial of the Tomb to make the journey unassisted. I suspect it is an extension of the custom that all those who undertake the trial must do so alone.”
Eunie scoffed lightly. “Yeah, sure, guess that makes sense. But you’re not really travelling alone if we’re with you, right? Seems like it wouldn’t be that much of a stretch just to nix the walking part too.”
“Well, as I’m sure you’ll be disappointed to learn, there’s a trick to that as well. Officially participants undergo the journey alone, as I said, but the Minister is to bear witness to my entry, confirming that the trial has begun. You are therefore here to ferry the Minister, not me. At least, that would be the explanation were someone to truly interrogate the Imperial family’s conduct against the rules of investiture.”
“…Yeah, that actually is a little disappointing. Guess you can always count on the leader types to make silly rules and sillier ways around them, hey?”
Melia held a hand up to her masked face in mock alarm. “Eunie! Such language around the princess… You truly have no respect for authority, do you?”
“Is that a trick question?” Eunie joked in return. “I’ve got plenty of respect for you, Your Highness. I can take or leave all the stuff you’re connected to.”
“I suppose my brother made a curious first impression.” The silence that followed her contemplative response suggested the conversation had finished. But, surprisingly, the princess spoke up once more, her tone far more serious. “But, Eunie… can you promise me something?”
The soldier’s gaze returned to her charge with confusion. “Uh, sure. What do you need?”
“If the Tomb reveals me to be unworthy… do not blame His Majesty for it.” Before Eunie could speak up to protest, Melia soldiered on. “I know you do not see a purpose for this ritual. But my father is a wise ruler. If he has chosen this as the path I must follow, then it has been chosen for good reason, even if it is not readily apparent to you.”
Eunie felt compelled to retort, but held her tongue. This was partially because she could not dispute her words, and partially because, despite her overly familiar mask, Eunie could imagine Melia’s eyes boring into her. In the end, all she could do was agree.
“Okay, Melia. I promise I won’t kill your brother if this goes badly.”
“Ha. I suppose that’s all I can ask for.”
Though the conversation had turned serious, it did still have the desired effect - they arrived at the Tomb much sooner than Eunie would have otherwise expected. Just a few steps down from the transporter, Lorithia stopped, letting Melia continue ahead, and Zeon and Eunie stayed at the threshold with her.
“Your Highness,” the Minister began. “As agreed, you will face the ritual alone.”
“I thank you for escorting me,” Melia responded, turning back to face them briefly.
“We wish you a safe return. As history has proven, all those who stake claim to the throne without merit will spend eternity as fallen spirits.”
“I must prove my worth as the next ruler. And I am no less prepared to sacrifice my life than those who have fallen before me.”
As the princess turned away one more to face the Tomb, Lorithia gave her one last modicum of praise. “Most wise, your Highness.”
For reasons Eunie did not understand, she elected to blow the princess a kiss as a farewell. Then, without another word, the doors to the Tomb vanished, and Melia walked inside, before they reappeared with a whoosh to close her in. Silence briefly reigned before Lorithia turned to her escorts once more.
“We have done our duty. Now you’d best return me to the capital, so we might prepare for her triumph, or her failure.”
Eunie couldn’t help but smirk. “Nah, she’s gonna ace this. I can’t imagine anything in there that would stop her.”
The Minister regarded her as if she was a curious animal. “Such confidence in the princess. I imagine Melia’s father must be glad she found a friend. Still, it would do you good to keep your expectations in check. No matter how competent your liege is, she is still a young woman in a dangerous trial. One would hope that she watches her back.”
There wasn’t anything in particular Eunie thought she should say to that beyond a dissatisfied hum, but Zeon remained focused on their business. “Shall we make haste, Minister?”
“Yes, we shall.”
Eunie had expected that to be the end of the talking for the trip. But to her surprise, Lorithia elected to speak up once more as they crossed the hovering reefs.
“You are both curious as to why, aren’t you?”
It was Zeon who responded first. “I’m sorry?”
“The trial. You’re both young enough to not know the method of it, but you at least know how dangerous it is said to be. So, you both want to know why the Emperor would do such a thing, sending his daughter into a death trap.”
She was correct, but Eunie didn’t give her an affirmation. “I don’t think I like your tone, Minister.”
“Oh please, there’s no need to be cute with me,” Lorithia dismissed. “If you’re both so eager to know… it was simply a matter of time. There are plenty of safer methods to win the approval of the public, and some formalities have already been skipped with Ministry approval… but if I wanted notoriety quickly, then I’d choose the Tomb every time. And the Emperor does not have the luxury to wait.”
Before Eunie could even ask the woman what the spark she was on about, a whirring sound filled the air, and a two-winged hovering vehicle descended to meet her. Without even sparing them a glance, she walked aboard, nodded to its driver, and then gave one last glance to explain herself.
“Thank you for your escort, Eunie, Zeon,” Lorithia acknowledged with little compassion, “but your services are no longer required. Farewell.”
With that, she jetted off, leaving the two soldiers alone. There was a disbelieving silence before Eunie could finally put words in her mouth.
“And of course, she just left us here. That arsehole.”
She would have been furious for longer if not for the steady approach of familiar faces.
~~~
“I hope you don’t expect us to forgive you.”
Sena couldn’t help but wince at the unfortunately understandable scorn coming from Kyrie, the first words to come from this meeting of Ardainian and Agnian soldiers. Though Finch didn’t seem to remember her attackers enough to hold a grudge, her Driver was having no such memory issues, and neither were her compatriots - Jac seemed conflicted, but Yachik, recently awakened as he was, could not so easily forgive a sleight against his master.
Taion found himself in the unenviable position of attempting to smooth things over. “I’m sure Mio and Sena can accept that their actions were harmful towards you, regardless of their altruistic intentions. And I do not expect you all to forgive me right away either. But we cannot afford to waste the day squabbling over bygones - Lady Mórag remains expectant of us as always, even with new company. Perhaps even more so.”
“You are referring to the events of yesterday with your so-called ‘bygones’, Taion,” Jac’s Blade countered. “If we were given the choice, I would rather we not interact in the slightest. Some wounds are simply too fresh, especially when their cause walks among us, expecting to be treated as an equal.”
Taion caught Yachik’s gaze heading towards Ino and sighed. “Ino is many things, Yachik. Apologetic is one. But she is more importantly willing, and able, to help us stop these Artificial Blades at their source. A soldier should not expect to enjoy their work… you three should know this by now.”
Though Sena had thought Taion’s words were rather coarse, as they often were to those he didn’t know so well, it seemed that his appeal to duty was just the thing to get them to relent at least a little.
“Yeah…” Jac sighed in acceptance. “I know that. We just want you to understand that this was a pretty big breach of trust. It takes a lot to let that go.”
“Of course. I hope that, in time, you’ll be able to understand why I was willing to stake such a claim.”
An uneasy silence settled between the two parties. The one to speak first ended up being Kyrie, whose more recognisable self seemed to shine through for a moment.
“Uh, well, now we’ve made that very clear… What was it exactly that Her Grace asked us to do again?”
Sena opted to answer this one, eager to have some level of normalcy. “Oh, she told us to look around for information on Brionac, that anti-Imperial faction she’s been chasing. So we’re gathering intel, really.”
“Ah! Well, I suppose we better get to it?”
Taion nodded. “Quite. But we’d be better served in groups… preferably evenly sized.”
Mio raised an eyebrow at that. “Are you sure we need to?”
By way of explanation, Taion spoke under his breath such that only Mio would hear him. “Mórag is expecting us to be supervised even now. If we want that to be true, each trio will need a soldier with us.”
Yachik narrowed his steely eyes at the mumbling. “Care to share with the class, Taion?”
“I was simply going to explain that Mórag would doubtless prefer us to stick to our training. We best remain in groups of two Drivers, as she has previously directed.”
Jac, who was perhaps a little more trusting than the rest of them, found it reasonable enough. “Yeah, that’s fair. Who’s with who?”
---
“Forgive me for prying, Adenine, but I feel compelled to at least ask. Who is Taion’s new Blade?”
Adenine was somewhat surprised to be addressed at all, but even more so by Yachik as they continued their patrol. Considering his frosty reception to her Driver, she found the measured tone rather a surprise. Perhaps he was assuming she had little to do with Taion’s rouge turn… which was the truth, in a contorted sense.
“Oh, you mean Nimue?” she answered, looking ahead to the Blade just behind her Driver. “Yes, she’s a delight. I hope you two get a chance to get to know each other better.”
“That is not exactly what I meant. Perhaps it would be best elaborated on by asking why she is only here now?”
“Lady Mórag had exactly the same question. The answer, as it turns out, is an unfortunate twist of fate - the two had been separated for far longer than I have been awakened. Their reunion last night was nothing short of a miracle, facilitated by the return of his two closest friends.”
Yachik grumbled a little at her answer. “I don’t suppose you have an explanation for her absence, then?”
Adenine couldn’t help but smile knowingly. “Not one you’d be happy with, I suspect. Though in return, I have to ask - why are you so concerned about her? Not holding on to some lingering concern for my Driver, are you?”
“Ha. I suppose it is silly to assume that my suspicions would be more grounded than those of the very same Special Inquisitor who approved of her presence here.”
“Just a little bit, yes. But I meant what I said before. You really would like her, I think - she’s very much a thinker.”
“What?” the Blade wondered aloud. “You mean to say she is like you?”
Now Adenine had to laugh. “Haha! No, no, she isn’t the overtly studious sort like I am. Her attitude resembles Taion’s much more than my own. I can tell already that she puts a lot of thought into her actions. And, as Jac’s voice of reason, I know you can relate to that.”
“Are our roles that obvious?”
“Yachik, please. Young master he may be, but the young part of that equation weighs heavily on the ratio. I can tell that you’re wishing he was just a little less trusting of Taion’s apparent betrayal right now.”
Yachik hummed, agreeing reluctantly. “I feel like one of your books, Adenine. You truly do cut to the heart of the matter.”
Adenine couldn’t deny it. “I see no reason to do otherwise. There’s not enough time in the world to dance around things when you could be spending it understanding what makes the world tick. I have better things to do, you could say.”
“Hm.”
As their conversation drew to a close, Jac turned towards the duo, walking slightly at the back of the pack, and tilted his head. “Hey, Taion? What are those two talking about?”
Taion briefly glanced their way, but could sum no guess. “Not something to worry about, I’d say. It seems Adenine and Yachik both have cheered up from it.”
“Huh. So they have…”
---
“Soooo… How do you know Taion?”
Kyrie’s not-so-subtle question was aimed Mio’s way as their team was walking through Alba Cavanich, continuing their reconnaissance efforts.
“I’m not sure what he’d want me to tell you, Kyrie,” Mio dismissed, not exactly willing to dump the truth on someone she’d barely met even despite her familiar face.
“Come on, that’s no good,” Kyrie pressed on. “Really I just need a crumb! I can’t figure out what would possibly make him want to do this if I have no idea what your deal even is.”
Mio just about cursed when she saw Kyrie’s pleading eyes, and found herself reminded of times in Colony Gamma. In the end, her resolve predictably faltered, and she found herself giving an even more simplified version of their origin.
“It’s nothing so complicated, really. We were in a military force together for quite some time, and we’ve been through a lot together. If our positions were reversed, with me finding my way into Ardainian military service, I would probably have acted the same.”
Kyrie was kind of shocked by that. “Really? And here I thought Taion standing up to Lady Mórag was unheard of. You’d really do that again?”
Mio frowned and remembered their previous encounters. “At this point I have something of a history doing just that.”
“Ah… Right.”
But then Mio narrowed her eyes at the soldier and realised something. “Hang on a minute. You weren’t even there last night… you couldn’t have been! How’d you know about what happened?”
“Well…” Kyrie trailed off awkwardly. “Regardless of what Her Grace could have wanted, word about last night’s scuffles has travelled far through the troops. Taion’s apparent betrayal is common knowledge amongst the soldiers now, even if most don’t know who he is.”
“Ah… That is a shame. I suspect he’ll shrug off anything thrown his way, but I still don’t feel good about torching his reputation.”
“You really think he won’t care?
Mio’s memory returned to what she’d slowly learned of his past in Colony Lambda, and the lessons he’d learned from it, good and bad. “He’s the sort to dismiss the opinions of those he doesn’t care for. Your words could reach him, but I doubt the average rank and file would give him grief now.”
“Goodness,” Kyrie shook her head. “I’m not sure whether or not I should be impressed. Especially considering I’m supposed to still be mad at him.”
The frankness of her wavering resolve made Mio laugh. “You know, if you told him that, he’d have a decent chance of telling you that you need to hold your grudges for longer. Not because it’s something he’d actually do, but because he thinks it makes more sense for you to do. Rules for thee, and not for me, as I heard someone say once.”
“Haha… yeah, maybe. Sometimes I wonder why I’m even in this job, y’know? I can’t be that bad at it, considering I’m working with Lady Mórag now, but every time I get lost when I shouldn’t, or struggle with Finch, it makes me wonder.”
Mio held her tongue on questioning why exactly she was telling a relative stranger this to ask a more sympathetic question… one that was weighing on her mind too. “Well, if you don’t think you’re cut out to be a soldier… what would you do instead?”
Kyrie frowned at that question. It was a look all too familiar to Mio, but not one she remembered from her old friend’s face. “I… don’t think I know. I’m not too sure how to explain it, but it kind of feels like… it was the only option I ever had.”
“…Yeah.”
---
When Taion finally saw Mio and Sena again, slowly walking towards his own group, he got the feeling the results of their expedition were much the same as his own. But theories would do him no good, and so he elected to at least ask the question.
“Status report?” he directed to Mio, a little smirk on his face as he mimicked old rituals.
“Volffwater,” Mio returned, a groan escaping her in frustration. “I’m not sure what Her Grace expected us to achieve, but we’ve failed miserably regardless.”
Nimue nodded. “What a coincidence. We have also failed to obtain much of anything useful to our cause. If anything, we’ve learned more about the Artificial Blades instead.”
“Oh, so that wasn’t just us,” Sena commiserated. “Why do all these random people have opinions on abandoned factories?! Was it because Ino was with us?”
“Considering our similar lack of success, I doubt it,” Jac disagreed. “Taion’s being a little disingenuous though; I’d say we have a couple of tidbits to note.”
“And I was gonna say the same thing about Mio here,” Kyrie echoed. “I don’t think we’re as out of luck as she’s saying. Do you guys want to do the honours first?”
Taion just sighed. “Okay, we’ll at least review the morsels. The most obvious thing we learned was that while some people are displeased with the Empire, they are not all on the same page. One person with frustrations about the lingering threats of war mentioned an instance where he received an invitation to a meeting of ‘like-minded’ individuals. Unfortunately, he didn’t attend, after he probed the messenger for their opinions on the war and they sounded likely to support it.”
“We had a similar experience,” Mio considered. “The anti-war contingent seems numerous enough to at least have some sort of gathering, but as far as I can tell, this ‘Brionac’ group we’re chasing seems to be exactly the opposite. A couple of the people we talked to seemed frustrated with the Emperor for not doing more to crush the Empire’s opposition, and were perfectly happy to tell me about it.”
Sena frowned at her description. “I don’t think they were just clueless, Mio. I think they were actually trying to… scare you, maybe? Hold the Empire’s power over your head? It confused me, that’s for sure.”
Taion didn’t react, but Jac grimaced. “Oh, right… with my uniform I suppose I look ‘ingratiated’ or something, but I guess they think you’re ‘just a Gormotti’, Mio. They were definitely trying to talk down to you.”
At this revelation, Kyrie turned to Mio with visible disbelief. “You… didn’t notice they were trying to do that, Mio?”
Mio considered this question carefully. “I suppose I just ignored it. I’ve seen that sort of aggression before, and it didn’t scare me then. A couple of people who’ve never seen a battlefield won’t scare me now.”
“…Wow. You’re, uh, pretty hardcore, aren’t you Mio?”
Taion hummed, reminded again of how stark the difference was between Aionios and Alrest. “Mio and Sena have been through just as much as I have, if not more. I can’t say I’m surprised.”
Unsurprisingly, it was Nimue who got them back on track. “Well, we should at least return to base and tell Mórag what we know. If it truly will make no difference in her investigation, then we should at least find out sooner rather than later.”
“You’re right, crystal lady,” Finch agreed. “Morage would love to hear from us! She wanted us to get her… uh, the info, right?”
“Yes, Finch. The info.”
And so they were off, intending to convey their results to the Special Inquisitor… But it was at this moment that they found themselves being watched. Nearby, a fraught acquaintance’s expression darkened as he realised his limited opportunity, and began to intercept.
~~~
“And thus I conclude my report on your nascent anti-Imperial threats, Emperor Niall. I hope it will be of some use to the Empire.”
In the throne room of Hardhaigh Palace, the young Emperor of Mor Ardain regarded his guests with earned gratitude. “It will indeed, Sir Teach. I must thank you and your Blade for your peerless investigation - it will go a long way towards making the Empire a safer place for all its citizens.”
Teach returned his grace with a smile. “You need not thank me, Your Majesty. The goals of His Eminence align with your own, and he will be just as pleased as you to see these fiends swiftly dealt with. Would time permit, I would gladly offer our services to complete such a task, but I am afraid that duty still calls back in the Praetorium. I will not overstay my welcome within these hallowed halls.”
With his piece said, Teach began to rise to his feet and turn away, motioning for Isurd to follow him. But it seemed the Emperor had yet more to say. “Forgive me, my guest, but I still have one more thing to ask you.”
Teach kept his feet towards the door as he turned back to the Emperor. “Go ahead, Your Majesty.”
“You were rather quick to gloss over your reason for being here, Teach. Am I to assume you believe this ‘Brionac’ group is responsible for the missing shipment of Core Crystals, and that is the reason you came here?”
The steward of the Praetor’s will considered his words carefully against the Emperor’s discerning gaze. “In the interest of transparency, I will divulge that the Praetor was not aware of any specific cause for the missing shipment prior to my arrival. It was only with my investigation that I became aware of Brionac, and thus found a more reasonable explanation than a national conspiracy.”
Niall Ardanach regarded this honesty with narrowed eyes. “Does the Praetor have so little faith in the Empire?”
“Perhaps not. But you are a smart man, Your Grace. You know as well as I do that this is unprecedented, not only in its disruption… but in its audacity. The enemies of order are growing bolder by the day, and it stands to reason that one so eager to uphold may waver in trust. Even now, though my doubts about the Empire are quashed, doubt remains as to the true culprit of the attack. I fear we may not know the truth until it's too late.”
“I see. I suppose it would be foolish of me to ignore the signs - the Empire will take your warning to heart. Now, farewell, Teach, and safe travels.”
Teach nodded in acceptance and turned away, letting the guards open the elevator. As the glass doors closed behind them, Isurd let out a sigh of relief.
“Why, it looks like you were rather nervous, Isurd,” Teach noticed. “It seems unlike you.”
“Perhaps it is,” his Blade agreed. “But I’m afraid that meeting the Emperor is a remarkably different feeling than I’m used to. After all, Miyabi and I don’t tend to be present for your meetings with the Praetor.”
“So you aren’t… I suppose I haven’t exactly given you the experience you would need, then.”
“Well, it’s nothing to worry about now - we have more important things to consider.”
Teach’s face darkened. “Indeed. We best begin our search for Nimue immediately. The sooner that we locate her, the better; Amalthus’s directive remains to avoid contact with the Aegis wherever possible.”
Isurd nodded gravely as the doors opened. “Understood, Sir.”
Their journey out of the Emperor’s sanctum was not yet complete, as they still had to traverse to one more elevator, but once they had returned to street level, they left the limits of the Palace with renewed purpose. Walking through Nharil Central Plaza, it was not long before they entered the streets of the Mor Ardain… and found what they were looking for.
Nimue was far from alone this time. Mio and Sena remained with her, but three soldiers also accompanied the trio of familiar faces, along with a Blade for each. And then there was another Blade by Mio’s side… something about which irked his senses, even at the distance he was, standing in shadow.
Isurd noticed shortly after he did. “Sir! Is that-”
Teach held up his hand to silence his Blade. “Yes, Isurd. We’ve finally found Nimue… and she’s not with the Aegis.”
“But those look like Ardainian Troops with her, too. Should we engage?”
For most, reason would dictate that the answer to Isurd should be ‘no.’ But for Teach… it didn’t take long for him to consider his options. In lieu of an answer, he simply began walking out of the shadows into the middle of the street, before turning towards his target… who stopped walking, a shocked look on her face.
“Teach?!”
He regarded the lost Blade with a paper-thin smile. “Ah, Nimue. How fortuitous it is to see you once more. And, unlike our last encounter, you’ll be pleased to know that Isurd is present for our reunion.”
Nimue’s face briefly looked defiant in the face of what she must have seen as a bluff, but her confidence fell immediately upon seeing his Blade join him from those same shadows. Her old companions reacted to this news just as severely… along with one of the soldiers. How curious.
Teach could see Nimue trying and failing to get words to leave her mouth, but Mio roared in her stead. “You heartless mudder! You tried taking her back by force the last time, but you failed, so now you’re resorting to emotional blackmail? Really acting like the good guy here, Teach.”
“Bold words coming from someone who left Miyabi unable to stomach the thought of seeing you again, Mio,” Teach returned with gusto. “Regardless, Isurd is not here to force the issue. It was his wish all along to be part of my efforts to return Nimue to the Praetorium, and it just so happens that you made my initial judgement moot. Surely, you are not so cruel as to deny him the chance to speak?”
Mio gritted her teeth, but did not disparage him. Strangely, it seemed that his words on Miyabi were more effective than anything else he said. Curious once again.
Isurd had to gather the courage to speak, but eventually, he found the words. “Nimue… I can’t claim to know what you were feeling when you left. But, whatever the reason was, surely we can make it right! It may be hard to believe, but Teach, and the Praetor, sincerely have your best interests at heart. Please, Nimue… come back with us. We don’t need to fight over this!”
Though he undoubtedly was speaking from the heart, Teach couldn’t have come up with a better speech to manipulate her actions if he tried. He could tell that the thought of further conflict was weighing on Nimue, not necessarily because she believed his words about the Praetor, but because she didn’t want to inconvenience others… which likely went doubly so for the girls who’d fought him off in her name. And yet, before Nimue, Teach or Isurd could say anything more… a new voice entered the conversation.
“Sir!” that same disgruntled soldier cut in, his curly hair and darker skin making him stand out from his peers. “You can’t seriously believe that this is what’s best for her?! If Nimue had remained in the Praetorium, she would never have found me again. She would still be wracked by a phantom pain that could never be healed! If you really wanted what’s best for her, you would have let her leave Indol… Maybe you would have even joined her.”
Teach’s eyes narrowed on this mysterious newcomer, who now seemed so connected to Nimue. His mind searched frantically for an answer, when suddenly… it finally occurred to him, adjoining to his understanding like a long-missing piece.
“Taion’s right,” Nimue concurred. “I won’t go back.”
And as his target’s resolve returned, it seemed that he would need to leverage that answer for his own ends. It was not necessity that had brought Isurd to Mor Ardain, after all.
“So it’s you…” he spoke, as if receiving a revelation. “All these years of searching for the thief who stole what’s missing from her Core Crystal, and now he simply reveals himself to me. A stroke of luck, at last.”
The soldier, Taion, could not help but gape as he realised his folly. But it was Isurd who was most shocked of them all; he was bewildered… and enraged.
“What?” his Blade growled. “No… that soldier, surely he isn’t…”
“Nimue’s Driver,” Teach answered with a deadly stare. “The one who stole her immortality all those years ago. The one who left her in such pain that now, she feels no other choice but to stay by his side. Her judgement has become clouded by his wickedness, but if we return her to Indol, there may still be a chance to fix this.”
“…What would you have me do, Sir?”
Oleg held back a smile. “Show no mercy. Repay his folly one-hundred fold with your own righteous violence. He must live… but only to regret it.”
Isurd offered one last nod before his face contorted with rage, paying no heed to the horrified expressions of those before him. The Dawnhero was eclipsed… replaced with an avatar of wrath.
“You… you bastard! I’ll make you wish you never even spoke her name… Taion!”