Chapter 23: The Palace of Evil



On the World Map

After crossing the Great River of Thracia, Leaf continued on towards Manster.

Meanwhile at Manster, the civilians who had heard of Leaf’s approach were attempting to flee once and for all, and the Magi group led by Sety was aiding their escape.

Fierce clashes were ensuing between the Manster army and Magi group day and night…

Opening Cutscene

Woman:
“Lord Sety, our last hideout has been found by Reidric. We can’t protect the children now…”

Sety:
“I would take them to safety myself, but then there wouldn’t be anyone left to lead the rebellion. If only I had someone I could entrust them to…”

Cyas:
“Shall I take up that task?”

Sety:
“Who’s there! …Who are you?”

Cyas:
“I’m just a passer-by, but I heard about your problem. If you like, I can take the children outside to safety. Or can you not trust me?”

Sety:
“…You have a gentle atmosphere about you. You don’t seem to be hostile… But who are you? You look like a bishop of the Empire…”

Cyas:
“I’m sorry, but I cannot answer your questions. However, if you can trust me, I will promise to lead the children to safety.”

Sety:
“Very well… I will entrust the children to you. And one more thing… Please take this sword.”

Cyas:
“Sword? …This is the Blade of Bragi. I heard it was being kept in the castle…”

Sety:
“Yes. Reidric is protected by the Blade of Lopto. The Blade of Bragi is the only sword that can kill him.”

Cyas:
“I see… And what do you want me to do?”

Sety:
“This sword can only be used by those of the Holy Warriors’
blood. I would like you to give it to Prince Leaf of the Liberation Army.”

Cyas:
“Very well, I will give it to him if we meet.”

Sety:
“Thank you. Oh… Lord bishop! Would you at least tell me your name?”

Cyas:
“I am Cyas… Cyas of Velthomer.”

(Scene switches to Reidric)

Reidric:
“What did you say! The civilians are escaping!?”

Soldier:
“Yes. Also, the Magi group seems to be secretly helping the children escape.”

Reidric:
“Damn, we need the children to give to the Empire… All right. Farden, kill the children who have escaped. Show the people who are still left what will happen if they try to run.”

Farden:
“Yes, my lord.”

Alphan:
“Lord Reidric, I heard you called for me…”

Reidric:
“Ah, Alphan. I want you to defend the castle gate. I have reports that that boy from Lenster is approaching, and the Magi gropu is being a nuisance as well. You must not let the gate fall into their hands. Understood?”

Alphan:
“Yes, my lord.”

(Scene switches to Leaf)

Leaf:
“There’s Manster…”

August:
“…Apparently, the Magi group and the Manster army seem to have been clashing for the past few days. Although the Manster army has been weakened, it is still a powerful force. We won’t be able to defeat them without the Magi group’s help. …I see some movement… It seems the children are escaping toward us.”

Leaf:
“All right! We have to help them!”

2nd Turn

Altena:
“Colhuta, how is Manster looking?”

Colhuta:
“There doesn’t seem to be anything major going on now, Lady Altena. However, if our predictions are correct, there should be a big movement some time soon. Then we can charge in…”

Altena:
“But we would be killing many civilians in the process… Even if we can only free Manster from the Empire, it would still greatly benefit us. Isn’t that enough?”

Colhuta:
“Well… This is an order from the king himself.”

Altena:
“…I will try to persuade my father.”

(Altena leaves)

Colhuta:
“Lady Altena is too soft… This is the perfect chance to claim Manster. The king has a soft spot for Lady Altena, but even he won’t listen to her for this incident. I should follow the king’s orders here…”

3rd Turn

Soldier:
“Did you need something, Bishop Alphan?”

Alphan:
“Ah, yes. My spell book seems to be missing. I need you to go find it.”

Soldier:
“What? …Again?”

Alphan:
“Hm? Did you say something?”

Soldier:
“No… Which spell book are you looking for this time?”

Alphan:
“The Poison spell. I can’t attack the distant enemies without it.”

Soldier:
“Understood, sir. …I hope it’ll be easier to find than the last time…”

5th Turn

Soldier:
“We found your spell book, Bishop Alphan!”

Alphan:
“Really? Good! Hahaha, I’ll show the rebels now. Fear my magic!”

Soldier:
“Why don’t you learn to put your books away first…”

When your units approach the castle

Colhuta:
“! Something’s happening down there! This is our chance. We will now charge into Manster!”

Altena:
“Wait! If we attack Manster now, we would be killing innocent civilians. I’ll try to persuade them to surrender…”

Colhuta:
“This is an order from the king himself! It is not in your place to object, Lady Altena!”

Altena:
“I am your commander!”

Colhuta:
“But this is my squad! And the king said to attack and capture Manster, no matter what your orders are!”

Altena:
“What…”

Colhuta:
“…If you don’t like it, you can stay here and watch. All troops, follow me! Charge!”

Altena:
“Colhuta! Wait, Colhuta! I have to talk to my father…!”

(If Alphan is still alive)

Alphan:
“Who are you!”

Sety:
“I am Sety of the Magi group. We have taken control of Manster, leaving only a small section of the castle. Now, if you would surrender peacefully, I can guarantee your life…”

Alphan:
“Silence! You can’t fool me with such nonsense!”

(Sety kills Alphan)

Conversation (Leaf, Sety)

Leaf:
“!? …Lord Sety!?”

Sety:
“Prince Leaf!? …You finally arrived!”

Leaf:
“Yes, I’m sorry I was late. I still haven’t thanked you for letting us escape from Manster…”

Sety:
“Don’t worry about that… …How did you know I was the prince? Oh, did Karin tell you?”

Leaf:
“Yes. She told me that you stayed here to protect the people of Manster, when you actually have to return to your country as soon you can… It’s all because I wasn’t strong enough to liberate Manster. Forgive me, Lord Sety…”

Sety:
“No, don’t worry about it. I was planning on getting this done more quickly… but even my Holsety didn’t stand a chance against Reidric’s Blade of Lopto. We lost many lives as a result… My lack of strength is to blame. It isn’t your fault.”

Leaf:
“…I am envious of you. Your heroic powers are exactly like that of the Holy Warrior Sety. But…I don’t have such ability. I’m not like you or Lord Celice… I…am not a Holy Warrior…”

Sety:
“…What are you saying? What do you think a Holy Warrior is? Is it simply one who inherits a Holy Weapon? No, of course not!
For hundreds of years, Jugdral was under the control of an evil Empire worshipping the dark god, Loptous. The Holy Warriors were the heroes who freed the people from the Empire’s grasp. And you, Lord Leaf, have been fighting that same battle for over a year now. You have pushed through perilous battles to save your people from tyranny. I don’t think Lord Celice or I am any nobler than you. Not only did you, the youngest among us, grow up in the most painful circumstances, but you’ve also been fighting the longest. If that isn’t what you would call a Holy Warrior, then what is? Believe in yourself! You most certainly are a Holy Warrior of Nova!”

Leaf:
“Lord Sety…thank you. I must have been overwhelemed after I saw how much you and Lord Celice have done. …Perhaps I still am a child.”

Sety:
“Well then, that would mean I’ve been rescued by a child.”

Leaf:
“Oh… That’s not what I meant…”

Sety:
“Haha… Oh, this really isn’t the time to be joking around… We managed to trap Reidric in a corner of the castle, but he has set up strong defenses and has taken the remaining children as hostages. My troops from the Magi group are all busy securing the city sector, so we don’t have enough manpower to fight Reidric. I trust you will aid us, Lord Leaf.”

Leaf:
“Of course! Reidric is a hated enemy to me as well. And if I could fight alongside you, it would be a dream come true.”

Sety:
“Good. That’s how the prince of Lenster should be. I wish you luck, Lord Leaf!”

Conversation (Leaf, Cyas)

Leaf:
“A bishop? You led the children to safety?”

Cyas:
“Yes, I was asked by Lord Sety of the Magi group. Thank you for helping us…”

Leaf:
“No, I am the one who must thank you for helping the children. Now, please leave the rest to us and hide somewhere safe…”

Cyas:
“Yes… Hm…are you Prince Leaf?”

Leaf:
“Yes, I am. How did you…”

Cyas:
“Ah, I thought so. In that case, please take this sword. This is the Blade of Bragi, the only weapon that can defeat Reidric.”

Leaf:
“You’re giving this to me…?”

Cyas:
“Yes, Lord Sety asked me to give it to you. This is a holy sword only usable by those of the Holy Warriors’ blood. But Lord Sety cannot use swords, so he must have decided to entrust it to you instead.”

Leaf:
“The Blade of Bragi…a holy sword… A weapon to use against Reidric is just what we need right now. Thank you very much.”

Cyas:
“Yes, do not forget to bring it to your next battle. Farewell, Lord Leaf…”

If Sety is killed (or captured and taken away)

Leaf:
“What? The Magi group has been defeated?”

August:
“Leaderless, the Magi group was thrown into confusion, and the Thracian army moved in to capture Manster. without the Magi group’s aid, our hopes to liberate Manster are lost…”

Fighting Colhuta

Colhuta:
“Hahaha… Die!”

Defeating Colhuta

Colhuta:
“…Glory be…to…Thracia! Guh…”

Releasing Colhuta

Colhuta:
“…It won’t be like this next time. You’ll regret this decision!”

Fighting Alphan

Alphan:
“H-How did you get all the way here…”

Defeating Alphan

Alphan:
“Gah… I don’t…want to die…yet…”

Releasing Alphan

Alphan:
“You’re releasing me! Thank you…”

Fighting Farden

Farden:
“Rebel scum! I’ll show you the power of the Manster Army!”

Defeating Farden

Farden:
“Ugh… It wasn’t…supposed to be…like this…”

Releasing Farden

Farden:
“You have my gratitude…”

After beating the map

August:
“We managed to reach the castle gate… What do you plan to do now, Lord Leaf?”

Leaf:
“We can leave the city sector to the Magi group. But Reidric is apparently hiding in the castle, taking the remaining children hostage…”

August:
“I hear that Reidric is protected by a blade cursed by Lopto. If that is true, we must think of a way to deal with it…”

(If you have the Blade of Bragi)

Leaf:
“I have that taken care of. A bishop who fled from the castle gave me a sword called the Blade of Bragi. He said that with it, we can fight effectively against the Blade of Lopto.”

August:
“Ah, I see. Then you must not forget to equip the Blade of Bragi in our next battle, Lord Leaf!”

(If you don’t have the Blade of Bragi)

August:
“Lord Leaf, attacking Reidric now would be too dangerous.”

Leaf:
“Then what do you suggest, August?”

August:
“Think carefully. Have we forgotten something here?
Have we lost something important? We still have time to prepare…”

(If Cyas is alive and you don’t have the Blade of Bragi)

Cyas:
“Do not worry. Lord Sety asked me to give you this sword. You should be able to use it, Lord Leaf.”

Leaf:
“What is this?”

Cyas:
“This is the Blade of Bragi. With this sword, you should be able to effectively fight against Reidric.”

Leaf:
“A holy sword of Bragi…it’s beautiful. Thank you very much, Bishop Cyas.”

Cyas:
“Thank Lord Sety, not me. I was simply asked to give it to you.”

Leaf:
“Yes…”

(If Cyas is alive)

Leaf:
“What are you going to do now, Bishop Cyas?”

Cyas:
“I no longer have a home to return to. However…I have one thing that I must do. I must go to the Tower of Bragi…”

Leaf:
“…You won’t tell us what that task is?”

Cyas:
“No… I cannot say anything.”

Leaf:
“If you are not in a hurry…would you be kind enough to stay and help us a little longer? You would be a valuable asset…”

(If Sety has joined)

Cyas:
“Forgive me, but I cannot. I will be praying for your victory from the Tower of Bragi. Farewell, Lord Leaf…”

(If Sety has not joined)

Cyas:
“To defeat Reidric? …Very well. If this is the will of God…then so be it. I will accompany you a while longer.”