There is a small region neighboring the great kingdom of Lyraea called Aurius. Ruled over by the Council of Aurius, it is a collection of small towns that has a history with the goddess Thaliann. For after the War of Origin, Thaliann would aid in the creation of smaller areas, towns, and sanctuaries for survivors to live in. Additionally, she had blessed several people with a minor Brand of Thaliann, giving them the power to more effectively wield magic and use divine healing magic. 

Aurius is the home of Aria, a fighter who works diligently to defend her people – as one who descended from a line that bore a minor Brand of Thaliann, she would use her power to the best of her ability. She often does mercenary work and odd jobs as a member of a mercenary guild. Helping out others within the area was her specialty. 

“Always hard at work, aren’t you, Aria?” A fellow mercenary would jab at her. “Come on, you gotta take a break sometimes.”

“I’m quite alright, Ran. I know my limits, and I haven’t quite exhausted myself yet,” she would reassure him. 

“H-hey! Don’t call me Ran here – that’s embarrassing…” He shifted his gaze away quickly.

“Hee hee! Sorry, I can’t help it,” she smiled at him.

“Do you really think of me as a mere boy still?” He retorted.

“Hm, if you wish for me to call you Neiran more, that’s fine by me!”

Aria and Neiran were close-knit allies and friends, and often worked together – although Aria had much more energy and passion to extend to her work. Neiran always worried over her because of this, wishing she wouldn’t overexert herself so much. Of course, helping people was good and all, but there’s only so much one person can take on, isn’t there?

Around the area, Aria was known for her kindness, her hardworking nature, and her efforts to help others. Always there and ever reliable, one could count on Aria for the more difficult tasks and jobs. But of course, she simply felt it was right to do, and when set to certain tasks and work, she would be able to devote all her focus into it, and it gladdened her to be able to do so all for sake of doing things.

One night, when Aria was returning from a commission, she heard a singing voice in the town. It was extremely late, and almost no one should’ve been up. She went to go investigate the voice.

“Bring me back to the waters that I came from, bring me back to the shadows of my birth…”

At the lake nearby, Aria noticed a woman standing there, clad in a bard’s outfit. But unlike most bards, her song was that of melancholy… and upon further listening, grief. It pulled at Aria’s heart, and she was entranced by the way the bard’s masterful and emotive voice projected over the calm waters and the moon’s reflection.

Partway through the song, the woman turned around and took notice of Aria. The latter was shocked, and in a small panic, tried to compose herself. 

“U-uh– I’m sorry ma’am– I didn’t mean to intrude–”

“You bear the Brand of Thaliann,” she said softly. Her gaze was not one of offense, but one of curiosity and intrigue. “And your heart is more distinct. Pray tell me, what is your name, young lady?”

Aria stood there, stunned, wondering how in the world this mysterious bard easily picked up on her Brand’s nature – and what exactly did she mean by a “distinct heart?”

“My name is Aria. And yours?”

“Aria… Ehehe. Call me Cordelia.” She walked towards Aria and extended her hand. “Come now, with me.”

“Where to? We have only just met.”

“Ah, skepticism. That is a good trait indeed, Aria.” Cordelia closed her own hand and held it to her heart. “Perhaps we should speak a bit more, get more acquainted?”

By the gods, this lady is a bit weird, Aria thought. “Just who are you, anyways? What do you do?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m just a simple bard who travels around…”

Aria eyed her with suspicion.

“…Of course, is what I tell most people. I’ve seen many things – far more things than you.”

“And how come?”

“I am not mortal. I don’t tell just anyone this, but you… You bear my Brand, and your resolve is strong.”

Huh?!

“So you… You…?!” Aria stepped back in disbelief.

“Yes. I am the goddess Thaliann herself.” 

“Oh…! I… I don’t know what to say… Thank you for your continued blessings and efforts to protect us, O Thaliann!” Aria knelt down.

“Please stand. Simply call me Cordelia. I walk among humans to share in their lives, because I want to. That is all.”

“A… Alright then. Cordelia.” Aria stood up. “Now then… What did you mean by… My heart and resolve? What did you want from me?” 

“Come with me.” 

Cordelia led the way through the fields, into the wilderness areas of Aurius. In the dark of night, it would be a bit unsettling, but Cordelia’s calm, refined demeanor put Aria at ease. 

Eventually, they would make their way to what seemed to be a dead end in a forest. Aria looked around, looking for where they were supposed to go. Then, Cordelia recited an incantation, a magical glow radiating from her, as the stone in front of them began to respond to her magic and glowed in a mysterious pattern that Aria had never seen before. The stone gave way to a staircase, and Cordelia continued forth. Aria followed behind, and the stone shut behind them as they continued.

As they made their way down, Cordelia began to speak. 

“I’ve been waiting for one such as you. I was thinking, maybe I should take someone under my wing to carry on my work with me. But that is not a burden I would share with just anyone – I needed someone of strong heart and resolve.”

“There you go again. What does that mean?”

“Mmm… I simply believe you are strong enough to be able to carry this power I would grant unto you.”

“P… Power?” 

“Indeed. Ah, we’ve reached the bottom of the staircase!”

It was a room, with a bed, a desk, several bookshelves – but the most striking thing was a glowing lance at the center of the room. 

“I wielded this lance years ago in the War of Origin… And I would now give it to you, Aria.” Cordelia turned around to look at Aria, who was behind her.

“Me? Really? I… I don’t know what to say…” Aria stared at the lance. It glowed so radiantly… “Can I truly wield a lance that a goddess wielded?”

“If I say so, then yes.” Cordelia gave a reassuring smile. “Come on! Give it a go.” 

Aria walked towards the lance, and grabbed it in one hand. A burst of energy radiated from the contact – it was as if the lance was reaching into her heart. It was an inexplicable sensation – one that could not ever be described as it plunged Aria into its light. 

“So? How do you like it, Aria? Does it suit your wield?”

Aria gazed off into space as the energy from the lance continued to resonate with her soul. 

I was only working constantly to distract myself, wasn’t I? How did I really feel about everything, deep down? I never really confronted those feelings, and yet it feels like this light is fighting an unknown darkness within me. Feelings I didn’t know I had… But I think… If I’m to take up this duty, and this light…

Maybe I’ll be okay. No matter what the darkness… Even if it’s within myself… I will fight for this light. 

“Cordelia…”

“Mmm?”

“I… Thank you. I’ll do my best with this lance. I promise.” Aria gripped the lance a bit more tightly, now that the light energy reaction had cooled down a bit. 

“To help others; to illuminate their path is to likewise illuminate your own heart. That is what I believe. As long as I know there is more good in the world… I can feel at ease. And I hope you can feel that way, too. Now, go forth. Let’s see this world together.” 

And so, shortly after Aria left a note at home announcing she would be embarking on an expedition, she and Cordelia would travel the world together. 

Unknown to Aria, Cordelia had chosen a successor to her lance because she had heard from a prophecy that there would soon be a calamity upon the land, and she had hoped by taking in Aria, there could be someone of such strength to fight against that calamity. A prophecy she had heard from the Oracle of Lunaer, Diora, that is. However, the calamity that was yet to unfold would be one neither of them could’ve ever expected.