plays: "Departure or/ Fidelity ~ (Fidelius Theme)"

Leslie Westellis led FIDELIUS, setting off into the night with determination, but as they rode, their trained ears picked up more than just the knights' footsteps. He signaled everyone to stop and turned to Rudra.

"Do you hear, Rudra?" Leslie asked with a pointed look.

Rudra concentrated for a moment, his keen senses detecting something beyond the silence of the night. He nodded firmly.

"Yes, synchronized footsteps coming from the west."

The battalion immediately went on high alert, being exposed to the imminent danger that the night trip would bring them. Swords were drawn, and guards were raised, ready to face the unknown.

The footsteps approached and tension hung in the air. Emerging from the shadows, a pack of Lupardos, lupine demons, appeared. Their eyes glowed with ravenous hunger as they surrounded the group.

Bart, one of the soldiers, was so terrified that he dropped his bow and arrow, almost attacked by one of the Lupardos. However, Caspian, the disciplined one, acted quickly, protecting his companion and maintaining a cohesive formation.

Rudra and Leslie decimated a good portion of them, while the others had some difficulty dealing with one or two of them.

“...Really... Magnusson didn't make a mistake in putting him on our team...” – asked Leslie in his thoughts.

"Rudra, this has been handled well. Your skills will be crucial in this journey."

"Thank you, Captain. I'll do my best."

Equipped with torches, supplies, and horses, they quickly traveled through Livero's* region of Caspper, the quickest route to the border of Lisithea and the crossing of the Meclithic Valley. Leslie informed them that their first stopping point would be near the border of Lisithea, where an informant would provide safe guidance for the journey.

"Damn, Magnusson must have a lot of influence over his allies," Alyfir asked.

"Yes, my uncle was always respected by his colleagues and the nobles who knew his name."

"That's why many have a certain admiration for his noble and brave attitudes."

"That's the family crest of Bonnofal & Artas."

Alyfir questioned the extent of Bonnofal's influence, and Edgar, his nephew, revealed that his uncle had a somewhat dark past in reaching his current position, with many wishing for an end to the ongoing war. As they approached the horizon of the first resting point, the soldiers, tired but vigilant, observed Rudra, standing and organizing his equipment.

They questioned his stamina, and he replied that he was accustomed to sudden and strenuous expeditions. The revelation surprised the group, but Rudra remained composed.

"Rudra, you seem exceptionally prepared for this.", says Connor.

"I've faced more daunting challenges than this. I'll make sure we all get through this."

Leslie returned to the group and announced that they would depart at the solar zenith. However, a problem arose: the current confrontation between Aleonia's infantry and Galèsian soldiers in the Meclithic Valley.

"Alright guys, I have a few things to share.", the leader announced.

"We'll have some... setbacks and obstacles to deal with."

"What do you mean by setbacks?" asked Connor, the redhead.

"Apparently, our little informant friend notified us that there will be problems crossing the Valley."

"Problems crossing? Be more specific, Captain." asked Caspian.

"Right now, there is a war going on in the Valley."

"What!?" exclaimed Alyfir.

"Exactly what I said. The valley is swarming with soldiers, from both sides."

"It can't be..." Gael sat down, visibly frustrated by the news.

“Yes, folks, there is no way.”

“What do you mean by that? You are not thinking—” Edmond spoke up, when his question was abruptly interrupted.

“Exactly, we will have to cross that Chaotic Valley.”, the golden-eyed knight replied.

To pass, the group needed to skirt the edges of the abyss, with no chance of avoiding hand-to-hand combat. The high risk in the open field was clear, even so, Leslie and Rudra did not fail to share their strategies.

“We will use the edges of the valley, where the concentration of soldiers should be smaller, but that is not a given.” – Rudra led the dialogue, sharing his strategy that he had devised together with Leslie.

“In the worst case scenario, we will have to fight soldiers from both sides to clear the way. Blood will be spilled, regardless of who the good guys or the bad guys are.”

“There is no doubt that we will put our lives at risk, and it may even lead us to succumb on the field.”

“In order to avoid this, every move will be crucial to our survival.”

The news left the group apprehensive, contemplating the mission. Bart stuttered in fear, Alyfir considered returning to the bunker, and the rest discussed a more sensible solution. Rudra and Leslie discussed the group's situation in private, strategizing how to overcome the formidable battlefield without significant losses.

"We can't avoid this fight, Rudra. We need a plan to minimize casualties."

"I agree. Let's use the terrain and attack strategically."

As the hours passed, the group remained contemplative. Bart, Alyfir, and others expressed their concerns.

“Damn… why do I feel so restless…?” – Edmond grumbled.

“The Valley will probably be full of soldiers, on both sides.” – replied Gael.

“I confess that I am very nervous about this.” – said Caspian

“Are you already turning yellow, you weaklings?” – asked Lloyd, in a provocative tone.

"I-! I’m not scared!” – Alyfir shouted.

“Ah~…. Aaah~….” – Bart sighed in fear, without even being able to formulate a single sentence.

“Bart, are you okay?” – asked Edgar, clearly worried about Bart'Olimios's condition.

"I, I'm-!" – replied Bart, stuttering constantly.

Suddenly, Bart got up and left the room where the knights were, without even giving an explanation.

Amidst this uncertainty, Bart wandered around the small village, reflecting on his situation.

"I do not want to die…"

Sitting on a bench in that area, Bart remained with his head down, unresponsive and very shaky. The fear and frustration from anxiety have left your senses paralyzed. Soon, a child approached, asking why he looked sad.

"Excuse me."

"What…?" – Bart soon raised his head.

"You are sad?" – asked the child.

“I… no…” – Bart could barely say a word due to the fear he felt of the battlefield.

Bart raised his face to the sky, lightly covered by clouds, and explained the series of misfortunes in his life.

"I don't know…"

“It seems like everything around me is always going wrong… it’s hard to explain.”

“I'm afraid... afraid of what I'm going to face from now on.”

“...” – the child remained silent, and then got up from his seat.

Soon, the child goes to the garden of his house and picks up a flower and hands it to him. Bart questions the flower, the child then offered him a flower, saying:

“When things go wrong, you have to think positive and never be sad, just like this flower! It fought against insects, rain and super strong wind!”

“And my mother also told me that when everything is not well, it is good to pray to the Goddess Al'lethia so that she can give us blessings. Oh, and she taught me..."

Sharing the wisdom passed on by his mother. The child's innocence and advice revived Bart's spirits, and he decided to take the flower with him. The encounter reminded him of his duty to fight for those who could not, even if it cost him his life.

"You can take this flower. It will bring you luck!"

"Thanks, little one. I'll keep you with me."

Rising from his seat, Bart leaves the small village and returns to his waiting companions.

“Ah–! He returned!" – announced Edgar.

Edgar had spotted Bart, coming from the village, and decided to greet him.

"Where were you? We have been looking for you for a long time.” – Gael asked.

“I… I’m sorry for having to leave like that…” – replied Bart.

“Ah… I’m glad you’re back, let’s resume discussing the plan.” – said Leslie, who was bringing the group together to discuss the plans.

With a few hours left before departure, Rudra and Leslie declared that they had no choice but to fight for their lives and their mission. Leslie decided to gather all the members of FIDELIUS and gave an inspiring speech, calming the minds of the anguished knights.

“Well… we don’t have much of an option at the moment…” – said Leslie.

“We’ll have to sneak into the confines of that war.”

“Here’s the thing, we will avoid any types of combat as much as possible.”

“But of course we won’t avoid everyone, so know how to choose your fights.”

“We will divide into six: one half will circulate on one side, and the other half will provide assistance from the other side.” – said Rudra.

After discussing their plans, they remained pensive for another half hour until they recovered their horses, then drew their blades and swore to fight for the nation. The informant decided to guide them to the location.

"This is our moment. We are together, we fight together and we will win together!"

"Right!" exclaimed the knights, swearing their mission.

"Owl!" – Leslie exclaimed to his informant.

"Right-! Let me guide you to the great passage!”

GLOSSARY:

Meclithic Valley: The border between Livero and the great road that leads to the capital of Lisithea. Several wars were fought in that desert valley, where dust and ash dwell.

 Lupards: Demonic creatures, native to forested areas throughout Central Thalassia. They are similar to lupines, but look extremely aggressive and territorial.

Livero: A feudal region located in the east of Lisithea. At a time when war did not exist, Livero was a large commercial and agricultural center due to its vast territorial extension.