plays: "wastelands — Theme from all Aleonia Fields."

"(...run…)"

“...urghh…”

“(...Arianna, run now…!)”

In a shock, Arianna wakes up from an intense nightmare. Breathing heavily, he observes the scene around him, a compact room made of wood, and a bed that is not at all comfortable.

Arianna gets up and starts to get ready, combing her hair in front of a broken mirror, taking off her nightgown, and changing into more modest clothes, something she wasn't used to.

Upon leaving his room, he goes downstairs and ends up meeting Rudra, Edgar and Lloyd, who were waiting for Leslie and Gael to return.

“Good morning, my lady.” – greeted Rudra.

Arianna notices the implication in Rudra's greeting, but decides to ignore it and greets him in the same way.

“Where’s Uncle Leslie and the rest of the guys?” – Arianna asked.

“Leslie is arguing with the farm owner along with Gael, while Augustus, Humbert, Caspian and the rest are weeding the field.”, replied Lloyd.

A good amount of time had passed since the departure of the FIDELIUS group back to the bunker, they had to pass through long regions, which did not favor their crossing. At one point, the group found a farmer who allowed them to stay for a while, as long as they helped him.

The group was also preparing to leave the farm and return to the route.

Leslie and Gael are talking to the farm owner, and thanking him for allowing them to stay for a few days. The owner says he is also grateful for their help weeding the field.

The view cuts to Edgar, Humbert, Caspian, Alyfir, Edmond, Connor weeding, who are working themselves to death, and begin to mutter among themselves. Augustus says:

"The sooner we finish, the sooner we can rest...! huff! huff!",

Connor responds: "Damn, I don't know which is worse! Weeding hectares, or fighting with the barbarians of Galèsia!",

Edmond emphasizes: "Fuck! Just shut up and weed!"

Humbert screams whiningly: "I just want to get out of here–!"

The vision returns to Leslie and Gael, who return inside the house, and greet Arianna, Leslie says:

"Miss Arianna, I see you are already awake and ready."

She responds: "yes."

Leslie gathers everyone at the table and says they will leave as soon as possible to avoid the heavy rain in the afternoon due to the excessive heat.

Soon, the farmer's wife and daughter appear. The lady says that the summer rains are intense and frightening, and that, in some circumstances, the crops on her farm fail, while her daughter, who was cleaning the table with her mother, said that the animals have also suffered a lot. due to heavy rains.

Leslie took out a map of the region, and soon began to describe the imminent route to the group. Basically, following the Nollander road was good, but bad at the same time, due to the region, so you will have to make a detour to Livero first, avoiding Hault, using the nearby road, Bathus, which leads to the Livero border, a calmer passage considering the more risky and hostile options.

The FIDELIUS who were weeding, finished their work, and went to bathe to get rid of the sweat, and joined the group, receiving information from Leslie, then, they decided to leave as soon as possible along the road that leads to Bathus. Leslie gave instructions on why she chose Bathus as his route:

"Basically, Bathus is a peripheral region and not very busy. The soldiers there are not very vigilant, and there have not been many attacks in that region, so it will be a good shortcut to Livero."

Edgar adds: "Maybe we can stop there, so we can recover."

Leslie adds, "Not so fast, boy. We can't be seen there, nor have contact with other people."

Lloyd says: "Bathus is a smuggling region, and our illustrious presence there will draw ill-intentioned looks our way."

Leslie: "So I added some extra supplies in an extra bag." Connor says, "How insightful..."

Augustus: "With that, we will enter and exit stealthily, straight to the road that connects back to Livero."

Arianna remained on Rudra's horse, silent and thoughtful. Rudra noticed their abundant silence, under the clouds that were forming along the journey, and asked:

"If you want, we can change bodyguards, Maiden."

Arianna responds in surprise: "What-? It's not that.",

The golden-eyed Knight then asks, "So. What's so bad that it keeps your lips sealed?"

Arianna is afraid to answer.

Rudra: "If you want, you don't need to talk."

Arianna insists: "no, it's just... this whole situation... sudden.".

"I never expected to have to witness such brutality towards my hometown... and the people"

Leslie, who had his horse at her side says: "These are the consequences of war, Lady Arianna."

"Blood, lives and homes... all decimated by man's conquering fury..."

Arianna keeps her head down and leans against Rudra's back. An hour and a half had passed on the horse ride to Bathus, and it was possible to see on the horizon, a city, which even looked like a battle fort. many wooden logs serving as barricades, traders coming and going with shallow and imprecise inspection.

The misty clouds had formed, one could feel the tiny drops falling under their heads.

Humbert says: "Oh no, the rain...",

Edgar says: "Would it be good for us to continue our journey, even with this rain?"

Leslie thinks to himself about the problems they would face: "hmm...did I miscalculate?"

Gael adds: "We may have to stay somewhere until the rain stops."

Thus, they arrive at the gates of Bathus.

Leslie introduces himself to the guard protecting the entrance. A soldier says: "identification.", Leslie takes a certifying paper from his bag, claiming to be from a group of merchants, they enter the city.

Lloyd wonders where he got a pass like that. Leslie responds: "On a dangerous and strategic trip like this, one must be prepared. This is a certification written by the Artas family, provisionally to favor our passages through cities like this."

Bathus, a rotten and busy city based in the suburban areas of Lisithea, in the vicinity of Hault. Leslie added: "Knights and Ladies, this is where crime, immorality and militia coexist in unparalleled harmony. Smugglers, prostitutes and men with ill intentions reside in this locality. Want easy money? Bathus is the place for you, Bathus."

People looked at the hooded FIDELIUS entourage with fear and doubts. Humbert looks up, and sees a brothel, where beautiful and beautiful women beckon back to his gaze.

"Captain, I-" - Humbert says excitedly

"Don't even think about it. This isn't a good place for us to get involved. Plus, the rain will soon start."

Leslie guided the group to a trusted location. The turbulent environment bothered Lady Arianna, who clung closer to Rudra:

"Not everyone in the world is a bad person, you know."

Arianna has her attention taken by Rudra, who keeps saying:

"Look."

Children in situations of extreme need, men trying to support themselves with any type of services from an honest party.

That precarious vision took over Arianna, making her rethink about the people who were there, and she says: "God..."

Rudra resumes: "Not everyone is born with a silver spoon. Many try to chase their dreams, opening gaps in their own lives."

Arianna looks at Rudra, thinking, "(...What kind of person was he in the past... he doesn't care about our situation at all...)"

Connor feels the heavy drops of rain fall on his hood: "The rain is intensifying, how much longer?"

"Shut up. We're coming."

Bart responds, "But where exactly... are you taking us, Captain?"

"Hehe... you'll see soon enough."

Leslie and the group had arrived at the place, and soon Gael became suspicious because of the name: 

"Please... don't tell me we're in a–..."

Bart was stunned: "That's... That's..."

Edgar was also surprised: "Captain... You sir..."

Leslie said, "Gentlemen and madam, welcome to the Dusk Swan, one of the largest 'massage parlors' in the area."

Arianna was quite embarrassed and uncomfortable with Leslie's choice and says, "Hawk–why does it have to be in this place?"

Leslie responds: "Huh? Didn't I say this would be the place?"

Bart responds, "No! you didn't say–!"

Leslie resumes: "Well... sorry, but that's the only place that's precisely trustworthy, so to speak."

Edgar says, "Really? "A massage parlor" can be trusted?"

Leslie says: "Urghh... Even you, Edgar? Sorry, okay? But the courtesan at this place is our informant."

Caspian says, "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"

Rudra responds: "Because there were too many people for Leslie to announce that we are going to meet an informant 'God only knows' what it is about."

Alyfir responds: "It makes sense, considering the city was very busy..."

Leslie gets off his horse, and leads them to a stable next door, the others did the same thing.

Leslie says with some excitement, "so let's go in at once?"

Edgar responds: "Your excitement may take us out of context, considering there is a maiden traveling with us."

"Ugh-- don't bother me, kid."

So, the FIDELIUS enter the "massage parlor", and Leslie goes to the reception, where a girl named Viola assists them:

"Yes, gentlemen. Welcome to the Night Swan, where every night is a poem of enchantment and every experience is a journey of delight under the blanket of stars."

Leslie replied, "Oh, yes. I'd like the top three for those over there."

Leslie pointed in the direction of Alyfir, Edgar and Bart'Olimios.

Bart was surprised: "W-W-W-W-WHAT!?"

Edgar responded to Leslie's joke: 

"Uuugh-- Leslie, no jokes... let's get to it!"

"Jeez... none of you even have balls?" "Do what..."

Leslie went towards Viola's ear, and said some kind of secret code: 

"I would like you to bring me the Jewel of Rundria, brightest in the moonlight."

Viola soon understood, and asked the group to follow her: 

"Okay, I want you to follow me"