plays: "Lisithea"

Two days and two nights had passed. Rudra watched his surroundings as the FIDELIUS Retinue approached the borders of Lisithea on the Lottrengarth road. The military presence was evident, with the civil protection war mandate in force. Arriving at the meeting point, Lisithea's informant, codenamed "Obelisk", was waiting to guide them to Lisithean Lord.

“Obelisk, how long has it been” Leslie greeted him acquaintance.

“Leslie… good to see you alive again. Come with me, it’s not every day that we get a free pass to enter through the front gates” the Obelisk informant replied to Leslie

The city seemed to be on high alert, and tension hung in the air. Obelisk, a man with striking features, led them through the streets to Lisithea’s palace. Few people walked the streets, mainly traders and residents, while the entry of external goods was strictly monitored.

“Wow… it’s really busy here, right?” asked Gael, observing all the military commotion present in the environment.

“Yeah... it's sickening to see all this.” Alyfir replied, agreeing with Gael's statements.

“The city has received many attacks since troops from Aleonia have traveled to the lands of Galèsia. However…many of the letters from the country’s top court were negative.” declared Obelisk, in order to explain the reason for such decisions.

“Our Lord is very cautious about your safety and that of your people, so inside the city you can be carefree.”

“He must have control over everything that comes in and out, right…” Augustus was impressed by Lisithean Lord great insight.

Upon arriving, they were greeted by the housekeepers and directed to Dallbert's room, at Lisithea's house. He appeared to be a middle-aged man with brown hair and white streaks, with an imposing and serious aura. The group was taken to Dallbert's room, and his brother Ferdinand, where they began to discuss Magnusson's letters.

“Lord Dallbert, Lord Ferdinand. It is an honor to see you again,” Leslie respectfully greeted Lisithean Lord.

“Leslie, the hawk… I see you’re doing well since the 128 days we haven’t seen each other.” replied Lord Dallbert, pleased with Leslie's coming.

“and I see that this must be the group that Magnusson had spoken of in a letter”.

“...Edgar, my nephew. I see that you have joined Magnusson’s venture.”

“...Edgar... is his nephew?...”

Dallbert gets up from his chair and tells everyone to stand up and follow him. Lord Dallbert, along with his brother Ferdinand and the FIDELIUS go to a private room to discuss. The room had huge shelves and books on them, as well as an ornate window at the back and a table with a chair in front of it.

Dallbert had sat on it, while everyone else had settled down.

“Okay… now that we’re more comfortable-” Dallbert said.

“I would like to know what my friend Magnus has so, so important to tell me in these letters.”

“Bart, the letters.” Leslie had signaled Bart to put Magnusson's three letters out of his bag.

“Aa–affirmative!”

And so he did. Bart had delivered Magnusson's letters to Lord Dallbert at his desk. The lord had broken the wax seal of the first letter, along with that of the second letter, and soon began to read.

“…”

“…”

Silence hung in the air, while Dallbert remained concentrated reading Magnusson's letters, leaving everyone in the room apprehensive with the dense and mysterious atmosphere.

"But what-"

Dallbert, upon hearing the statements contained in the letters, was surprised and astonished.

"But this is-"

“Elianne, bring water to serve us”

Dallbert ordered his ruler to bring it for them to take, due to such a surprise in Magnusson's letter.

"These revelations are extraordinary! They explain a lot about the reason for this unbridled war," exclaimed Dallbert.

“but… such statements… based only on assumptions and theory?”

“Magnus, you–”

After the revelations of Magnusson's letters shocked the environment, Lisithean Lord decided to welcome FIDELIUS for two days, enough time for Dallbert to write a response to Magnusson's letters, and also dismissed the rest of the group, leaving only Leslie Westellis in the room. The knights occupied empty rooms in the palace, preparing for their next move.

                                                                   plays: "Milady ~ (Arianna's Theme)"

In his quarters, Rudra was organizing his thoughts about what had been taught in that room, when he was surprised by a commotion outside. So Rudra decides to observe the commotion, from a balcony in a room above. When he went to that room, he found a young woman there.

“…”

Rudra stood still in front of that beautiful figure. She had blond hair, a very well decorated dress, which expressed nobility.

“ auld'knaphfer . (Knight.)"

“!”

At that moment, Rudra knelt down after realizing who he was addressing.

…Does she speak in the ancient Lustric language?…

“Enf aszit finnh'va aund traumpgher… adviart'hs kausem aund sniet'chesbaem. (These bells ring all the time…constant, loud alerts.)”

“ banarch… banarch, sebn inf kµndalç. (Marchs… Marches, sound of steel.)”

“Scuraem Bavier lebn Untearmitt'm, o smegeuch palbardein signik'f Airen. (The intermittent war cries, the smell of gunpowder polluting the air.)”

“Zeneff'd' Haiffsur… Bellef'd Gar'rrastoer… Naug Saench Laskif. (Destroyed homes… ruined families… senseless losses.)”

“…Her accent… Basically perfect… She is of Lustrian descent, just like those at court…”

The maiden spoke of the horrors she had witnessed in the city. She expressed her doubts about the control of power and the meaninglessness of the incessant events. Rudra, remaining silent, listened attentively.

“…”

She makes her deep blue eyes clear at Rudra, who keeps his head down.

“Knight, how will we finish? How will this war end? How many lives will be taken before the last soldier falls?”

“…”

Rudra, astonished by such questions, responds objectively and reservedly:

“Your Highness, I do not know the outcome of this tortuous scenario in the eyes of all the civilians of Aleonia.”

“However, I am just a pawn, carrying out my duties in order to help bring this tragedy to an end…”

“...forgive my manners.”

The young maiden introduces herself as Arianna of Artas, Dallbert's only daughter. Arianna, before leaving, asked the knight for his name, and Rudra replied that he was called that, as he did not have a name of his own.

“Good luck to the knight, I hope to see you alive.”

The maiden leaves the room, leaving the knight alone in the room.

In Dallbert's room, Leslie argued with the lord about the contents of the letters and the search for Magnusson's assumptions.

“Lord Dallbert, are these letters… that shocking?”

“Hawk, you have no idea what nonsense I just read from that old man…”

Dallbert shared his concerns about the radicality and ambition behind this purpose.

“Read it with your own eyes then.”

Dallbert gives the letter to Leslie to read what was written on it. After a few minutes of silence, Leslie is surprised by the statements made by Magnusson in the letter he was reading.

"But this is-"

“Exactly… that was also my reaction a few minutes ago.” Dallbert responded to Leslie's surprise at the content of the letter.

“But… ancient writings, materials sealed by the goddess Al'lethia in the sacred church of Superbia… he can only be referring to–”

“Archimetia. Exactly what I thought, Leslie.”

Tension built in the air, as the mysteries of Magnusson's letters were unraveled.

“A long time ago, in the Aethromachy, colossal Gods and Beasts constantly fought over the Lunar Crown. Centuries and centuries passed, in a violent war that devastated many lands, until a being conquered it. Al'lethia, the goddess of Cristália, took the Lunar Crown for herself, banishing the tainted beings. Sealing them, in a large Tablet, created by a race of almost omnipotent beings called Archimetia Dragons, who gained the trust of the goddess, allying themselves to end the carnage that was the war.

The conversation was interrupted by the entry of a 1st class messenger, accompanied by an informant from Magnusson, bringing critical information to Lord Dallbert.

“Lord Dallbert, by your leave.”

“What do you want, Obelisk? Can’t you see we’re in the middle of an important discussion?”

“Sir, our southwestern front has reported that troops from Galèsia who took over Balterlutt are heading this way!”

“There are more than 30 thousand armed men!”

"What-"

Leslie and Dallbert, agitated by this information, decide to act as quickly as possible on the situation:

“Uurgh…!”

“They should arrive by dawn. No… sooner than that…!” asked Leslie about the imminent arrival of the soldiers.

Dallbert thought deeply about this, frustrated and apprehensive. So he decided to face reality.

“Listen Leslie the Hawk, I'm going to be realistic. We won’t stand a chance against those barbarians.”

“As much as Lisithea is a city with the lowest rate of deaths and attacks, we will not be able to resist their massive force.”

“…”

“Lord… Dallbert.” replied Leslie, Dallbert's melancholy statements.

“Listen well, send this letter back to Magnusson… and, take your knights, and my only daughter, and escape from here as quickly as possible.”

“There is an internal hatch, saved for this situation. It was created by the Artas for this type of situation.”

*Brahnn!* – The door opens abruptly.

“Leslie, Uncle Dallbert–!”

Edgar, Bart, Gael and Alyfir had invaded the premises about the news. Leslie and Dallbert were already aware of this information.

“the city is in chaos! desperate people” – exclaimed Bart.

“I have already given the next instructions to your leader, nephew. You and your companions, get ready.”

“Leslie, follow me to the main hall.”

Edgar and his group returned to their posts and got ready, while Leslie and Dallbert headed towards the main hall.

In another setting, in Arianna's quarters. While combing her long hair, she received the news from a housekeeper.

“Miss Arianna, you must flee immediately!”

"But how-"

“Wahhhh..!” Sounds of the garrison soldiers could be heard outside the city.

"What is happening?"

Arianna gets dressed and decides to go towards her father, accompanied by the housekeeper. Approaching the middle of the Hall's staircase, she screams for her father.

"My father!"

“Arianna, my daughter.”

Dallbert is surprised by his daughter's call, who comes towards him, questioning him about what had happened.

“My father, what’s going on?”

Dallbert holds Arianna's shoulders firmly, and looks into her eyes, expressing firmness in the words that will be spoken.

“Daughter, listen to me. You will have to be strong, very strong.”

"Strong? what do you mean strong!?”

"What is happening!? Hawk, say something!”

Leslie kept quiet, frustrated, kept his jaw clenched, pressing his teeth together.

“I don’t have time to explain, we have to be quick.”

“Elianne, take her and her things out of here.”

"Yes, my lord".

So, Elianne left, taking Arianna with her to her room.

“...Ferdinand, my brother.”

"Come with me."

"Yes brother."

Dallbert and Ferdinand went to the office from before, where they would discuss Lisithea's future, given the possible imminent tragedy.