Magnusson sits in his chair and continues the dialogue.

“For many years, I have been unraveling the mysteries behind this enigmatic war, joining many nobles from our region.”

Rudra, torn between loyalty and doubt, examined the grim reality that surrounded him.

“You know who I am, don’t you? So why do you tell me your ideals without any concern–”

"–and Peace, you say? Can such a thing really exist in the midst of all this chaos?" Rudra exclaimed, outraged by Magnusson's statement.

Magnusson sighed and reintroduced his thoughts on this risky move. He walked to the window, observing with Rudra the simple lives of people amidst the backdrop of Great War.

"Knight, look carefully, I'm not forcing you to join us. I want you to carefully observe this scene and think calmly."

“Joyful children playing carelessly, men and women working diligently for a purpose,” expressed Magnusson in a calm tone, looking intently at the view.

Rudra remained silent for a few seconds, his eyes fixed on the crowd in the bunker. Soon, he took out his Dog Tag and looked closely at the rosary attached to it.

"Tell me, why did you save only me and not my companions?" Rudra questioned Magnusson about his choice of rescue in that unlikely survival scenario.

Magnusson turned his eyes to the window and explained his point of view to Rudra.

"I can't give an exact explanation of what was going on in my mind, but what I can say is that in this current scenario, there was never any reason to stop saving someone." Magnusson explained himself, even if that didn't satisfy the real question from Rudra.

The knight remained silent for a while as Magnusson looked into his eyes, making sure his words were firm.

"...Give me time to think about it.", replied Rudra.

After some time, Rudra was directed to an empty dormitory, with just a bed, a desk and a dusty shelf, where he could rest and contemplate Magnusson's proposal. There, he picked up his rosary again and sat on the floor, looking at it.

"What would you do, if you were in my place... Lavinia?"

Soon, intense pains began to trouble Rudra's head, causing him to have hazy memories of an uncertain past.

“Urghh–! These pains...!”

After the pain subsided, he picked up his sword, rusty and bathed in the blood of his enemies.

"Forgive me for not saving you all…-" Rudra mourned the loss of his companions as he held his blade.

the knight realizes that he forgot his sword sheath, which had been left in the infirmary, so he decides to go out and get it.

Leaving his room, he decided to walk through the vast and populated corridors, remaining confused. Rudra wondered how long this place remained intact without being discovered by patrols.

The knight could hear the whispers of the civilians, criticizing his presence in that place, being a knight from Aleonia.

"...It's him…?"

“...What does Magnusson have in mind to leave him here with us…”

“...He will definitely report us after he recovers…”

“Mommy… he has a huge scar on his face!”

"Speak low! He will hear us! and don't look at him..."

Feeling pressured, Rudra decided to speed up his pace to reach the infirmary, even though he didn't know the exact route to the place.

As I walked, I discovered the simplicity of those who lived there. There were merchant stalls, wooden houses, and other leisure spots in that huge bunker. After hours of walking and finding out about the place, Rudra had arrived at a large courtyard.

There, he witnessed a large audience living carefree in the midst of the Great War that was raging throughout the world.

"That is-"

"Amazing, isn't it?" The answer came from a woman dressed as a nun, who had also assisted in his treatment when he was unconscious.

She introduced herself as Tienne and mentioned that she had arrived at Magnusson's bunker a short time ago.

“You… don’t have–” Rudra was soon interrupted by the nun.

“Afraid of your presence, you say? I helped treat your injuries, young man.”

“Y–Yes… thank you very much.”

""Don't worry about that!"

Tienne told Rudra that seeing this vivid scene was enough for the feeling of peace to settle in his heart.

“I understand a little… people being afraid of you, knight.”

“After all, it’s not every day that we have Elite knights from Aleonia’s army in our habitat.”

“...” Rudra frowns in frustration.

"Hey-! Don’t worry about it so much…!” – Tienne tries to revive Rudra.

Tienne takes his hand off Rudra's shoulder, and resumes speaking.

“This place… it is peaceful…”

“War cries, sounds of projectiles, clashing swords… there’s nothing like that in this place–”

“Just men and women of good repute trying to survive another day of their lives.”

“The children… oh, the children, who play carefree, untormented by the whispers of war.”

Tienne's words entered Rudra's thoughts, causing him to reconsider his purpose as he watched the children playing happily.

“Many men and women fought in this war, in this place to keep it hidden from the squadrons and protected.”

"..." Without expressing words, the Knight already had his new purpose in mind.

While Tienne expressed himself, Rudra remained thoughtful about all his deeds, which never even had a purpose, other than to annihilate the enemy.

"Oh yes of course. And our chapel–” Tienne is interrupted by Rudra, who wakes up from his moments of reflection.

"Thank you for your company, Sister Tienne, but I need to go deal with something" Rudra decided to resume his path to the infirmary.

"May the peace of Our Lady Al'lethia be with you, young man.", Tienne said goodbye.

With the help of some civilians in the region, he managed to reach the infirmary.

"Excuse me-"

Rudra canceled his words when he saw that one of his companions was on a stretcher, bleeding incessantly.

“Elio!” exclaimed Rudra, heading towards his battle companion.

The golden-eyed knight saw the pitiful state in which Elio, his companion, was in.

“Sir… Ru-!” when trying to pronounce Rudra’s name, Elio starts coughing up blood.

“Noble knight, please refrain from speaking.” One of the nuns who took care of Elio asked him to remain still.

Rudra addresses Elio, asking him about the events on the battlefield. Elio answers with difficulty about the explosions that shook the vast field of Quinervalle.

“Fire… lots of fire– *Cough!* *Cough!* and lots of horses…”

“I was hit by the flames… the others were incinerated in front of me…”

“Ernett… Callisto… Uriel… Martinez… Minos… and the sergeant…”

Rudra was perplexed by the colossal magnitude that this great battle took.

“Everyone… is gone.” the Knight accepted Elio's bitter statements.

Elio uses his remaining strength and holds Rudra's hand, and hands him his Dog Tag, and asks him to keep it. Rudra looks deeply into Elio's eyes, and ends up accepting his request.

                                                               plays: "My decision ~ (Rudra´s Theme)"

“Fight… Fight, and avenge our comrades… until the last man standing–”

“For our beloved Aleonia”, adds Rudra.

Elio lets go of Rudra's hand, and turns his eyes upward.

“Annette… my beloved… I…”

And there Elio took his last breath of life. The nuns said a prayer for Elio's soul to ascend to heaven, a common prayer rite in the country of Aleonia.

“...” A brief moment of silence ensued, and Rudra looks at Elio's Dog Tag, and attached to it is a caricature of his beloved, made by the talented artist Emeritto, from the Balterlutt region. In his mind come Elio's words.

“(...Fight...Fight, and avenge our companions...until the last man standing...)”

Rudra closes his fist and decides his next step, to do everything to end this Great War once and for all, whatever the cost.

Rudra takes his sheath and says goodbye to his late companion. Walking through the tunnels, he arrived at Magnusson's office and knocked on his door, to which Magnusson replied to come in.

Rudra and Magnusson came face to face again, and soon, the young knight decided to consider the bunker leader's proposal.

"Show me."

“Show me this future that you are fighting so hard to build...!”

Magnusson Bonnofal, with a subtle smile, says:

"Wise words…"

"Welcome to our next step to free the nations from this great war."

Rudra embraced the uncertain fate that awaited him, shaking hands with Magnusson. Upon joining the FIDELIUS clandestine group, he encountered the skeptical looks of his new companions, 10 knights in one room.

“Very well, sirs! You are all here.”

“It is time for us to begin this ambitious undertaking.”

“I must remind you that this mission contains its risks and dilemmas.”

“However, I believe in the potential of each of you.”

Magnusson returns to his desk and places both his hands on it:

“However, I must tell you that–”

“You are forbidden from turning back.”

The surprised and astonished looks on the knights' faces revealed their anxiety and uneasiness at Magnusson Bonnofal's bold statements.

Their mission: send a crucial letter from Magnusson to Lisithea, guided by an informant in foreign lands.

                                                                1st Mvt. — Fidelity, Honour & Bravery