Chapter 29A: Cog of Destiny (Linus)



Credits: bookwormbabe29

Narrator:
After receiving aid from Queen Hellene, Hector rushes to the sealed shrine. The secret road they follow is known only to the royal family… They pass Bern’s soldiers unnoticed and unhindered. They approach the castle…

(Chapter title is displayed – Chapter 29: Cog of Destiny)

(If the side quest to “Night of Farewells” is skipped, this scene with Nergal plays after the title is displayed, and before we see the shrine)

Nergal:
“Ah, Sonia… So, you botched the assassination of the prince, did you?”

Sonia:
“Ah… My lord, it was–”

Nergal:
“The king is in a dark and terrible mood over your failure. I’ve a message from him severing all his ties to the Black Fang. And then we have Eliwood. He invaded my fortress and annihilated the Black Fang itself? Have I misplaced my trust in you?”

Sonia:
“Lo-Lord Nergal. I regret to inform you that the Black Fang is indeed no more. However, I have a plan for a new group. My next–”

Nergal:
“Ah…You believe there is to be a ‘next’?

Sonia:
“Here! Look at this!”

Nergal:
“That is…magnificent quintessence.”

Sonia:
“It comes from Brendan Reed, the Black Fang commander. He was sniffing around where he shouldn’t have been, so I killed him.”

Nergal:
“I see…This is Brendan’s– Ha ha ha ha!”

Sonia:
“Do you like it?”

Nergal:
“Yes. Yes, I do. This is strong quintessence, and yet you say you killed him? You are quite… …..”

Sonia:
“Um… What is it, my lord?”

Nergal:
“Your side… Are you injured?”

Sonia:
“Oh, yes. When Brendan resisted, he…”

Nergal:
“I see… He wounded you.”

Sonia:
“Lord…Lord Nergal?”

Nergal:
“I’ve no need for a defective puppet.”

Sonia:
“Pardon? Pu-Puppet?”

Nergal:
“Sonia, you’re a failed work. You’re no match for Limstella in any way.”

Sonia:
“!!”

Nergal:
“Disperse.”

(Screen flashes in black and red, as Sonia is killed. The scene then shifts to the shrine.)

Linus:
“Wait for the opportunity, and bring them down… That’s the way, right, Brother? And now the time has finally arrived.”

Black Fang:
“Lord Linus, they’re drawing closer.”

Linus:
“At last! Everyone, scatter! This fight will be Lloyd’s wake! Let none of them escape!”

Second Black Fang:
“Sir!”

(At Hector’s group)

Eliwood:
“I can see it… That’s the Shrine of Seals.”

Hector:
“This is strange. We’ve made it so far without seeing a single soul.”

Lyn:
“I’m afraid that’s no longer the case.”

Hector:
“What!?”

Eliwood:
“They’re out for blood! Who could they be?”

Black Fang:
“You’re Lord Eliwood of House Pherae, correct?”

Eliwood:
“…And if I am?”

Black Fang:
“We are the Fang, and we serve the Mad Dog, Linus. You will atone for your sins with blood!!”

Eliwood:
“What!?”

Nino:
“It’s the Black Fang… They’re all Fangs. They’re alive!”

Jaffar:
“Wait!”

Nino:
“What? What is it?”

Jaffar:
“Their battle lust… It’s not normal. Get too close, and they’ll tear you apart!”

Nino:
“Why? Why do we have to fight? If we talk to them, they’ll see.”

Jaffar:
“We are no longer Fangs. No… We served Nergal. We were never Fangs. To them, we were never companions. Never.”

Nino:
“No… No… That’s not true! That man mentioned Linus! Linus must be here! I need to talk to him! Linus will understand! I won’t give up so easily!!”

Jaffar:
“……”

(Preparations screen is entered)

(End preparations)

(Start of battle)

(Visiting the village)

Murdock:
“Ah! You…”

Character:
“Huh!?”

Murdock:
“Go. I saw nothing. I met with no one. Wait. Take this staff. Thank you…for Prince Zephiel.”

(Got a Warp)

(Vaida appears)

Vaida:
“Here they come again, those little Lycian nobles. I’d love to take them on, but… Prince Zephiel insists it was they who saved him… Pah… What’s this world coming to?”

(Hector talks to Vaida)

Hector:
“You!”

Vaida:
“So we meet again, boy. Are your little playmates doing well?”

Hector:
“Take this!”

Vaida:
“Whoa! Hold on. My, aren’t you quick to action… I like that. But I think you’ve got that axe pointed in the wrong direction.”

Hector:
“What!?”

Vaida:
“I’m not with the Black Fang. I serve only Bern. I’m here on my own personal agenda. Tell me, boy. Are you the one who stopped Prince Zephiel’s assassin?”

Hector:
“How… Why do you ask?”

Vaida:
“Hmph. So it’s true, is it? That settles it. From now on, I’m traveling with you.”

Hector:
“Now, hold on…”

Vaida:
“You saved Prince Zephiel. So, I owe you.”

Hector:
“Why do you owe us anything?”

Vaida:
“I told you. I serve Bern. Prince Zephiel is our future, our hope. You saved him when he needed saving, and now I will serve you.”

Hector:
“You expect me to believe all that?”

Vaida:
“You don’t trust me? My word?”

Hector:
“Of course not!”

Vaida:
“Yeah, I see your point. Wait for me then. The Black Fang and I are on opposite sides. I’ll prove it to you right now.”

(Vaida joins)

(Versus Linus)

Linus:
“Was it you? It was you, wasn’t it?! You’re the one who killed my brother!!”

(Linus dies)

Linus:
“…Wha… I’ve lost… At least…I can see my brother again.”

(After map is cleared)

(If Hector lands the final blow on Linus, this scene plays. Hector is at the Shrine, and Athos teleports in)

Hector:
“… You were a strong man. Under different circumstances, I think we’d…..”

Athos:
“Do you regret the outcome of your actions?”

Hector:
“…Graybeard. He only wanted to avenge his brother. I can’t… … Maybe it’s regret…. I’ll carry it with me forever. When I’m alone and dying, what will I be thinking of?”

Athos:
“You’re a powerful man. I doubt that such power will let you live a life of peace. Yet you should not fear. For perhaps that is the path of your life.”

Hector:
“…The path of my life…”

(If Nino and Jaffar are alive and recruited)

Nino:
“…Brother… … … …”

Jaffar:
“……”

Nino:
“…Why? Why did it…have to… come to this…? I… I don’t understand. … … … …”

(Athos talks with the lords)

Lyn:
“Lord Athos? When did you arrive?”

Athos:
“Just now… I warped in, you know? I was watching you in my scrying crystal. The most important thing is that you’ve made it here.”

Hector:
“If that’s true, why didn’t you just magic us here in the first place?!”

Athos:
“What would that have proven? You cannot hope to succeed if you cannot trust your own strength. Your own power must drive you. That is the most important thing. Now then, shall we go? Underground… Where Bramimond awaits.”

Eliwood:
“Bramimond? One of the eight legends? Is that who you’re talking about?”

Athos:
“That’s right. Of the eight legends, only Bramimond and myself remain. Your journey here was a bit of a test, I’m afraid. I had to see if you were worthy of wielding a legendary item.”

Eliwood:
“Legendary…item?”

Athos:
“That’s right. It’s a weapon that we, the eight legends, used to defeat the dragons. With it, you will be able to sever Nergal’s power at its roots.”

Eliwood:
“A weapon to defeat Nergal…”

Athos:
“The legendary items are sealed in lands across this continent. The only one capable of removing those seals is Bramimond. Now if only we will be granted this one request.”

(Athos teleports the group underground)

Eliwood:
“It’s so dark…”

Hector:
“It’s creepy… Can’t see a thing.”

Lyn:
“Shh! …Someone’s here.”

Eliwood:
“You’re Bramimond…”

Bramimond:
“… Yes, I…suppose that is me. What do you want of me, you who live above ground?”

Lyn:
“We have a favor to ask. We seek something to help us defeat Nergal…”

Bramimond:
“That is unfortunate, for I cannot grant that which you seek. Humanity would suffer were I to remove the seals.”

Hector:
“What do you mean!? The entire world is on the brink of destruction as it is!!”

Bramimond:
“The entire world!? Why would I care about that!? The whole world can burn for all I care!!”

Hector:
“By Father Sky… Your voice… The way you talk. It keeps changing. How many…”

Athos:
“Bramimond has no self. He… She… It… Yes, it is a mirror that reflects the person addressing it. It projects no personality of its own. There are as many Bramimonds as there are people facing him. …Bramimond, do you remember me?”

Bramimond:
“…Athos. Hmm, it’s been many ages. I cannot fathom why you brought these people here. Why I sealed everything away… Do you forget why? The legendary items are not meant for human hands.”

Eliwood:
“But…we can’t stop Nergal like this! We need your power to help us save the world!”

Bramimond:
“……”

Athos:
“Bramimond, remember… We, too, are human. These people, they will not be seduced by power. They came here without my aid, using their own abilities. You observed them, did you not?”

Bramimond:
“… It’s true… They seem better, stronger than most humans. And yet, humans are frail. What guarantee do I have… that they will not succumb to that frailty, Athos?!”

Eliwood:
“A guarantee? There is none. We simply ask that you believe in us.”

Bramimond:
“…… …Once… There was a man much like you. His gaze never wandered. It was ever fixed straight ahead… …… ………”

(A bright light flashes over Elibe)

Bramimond:
“… The seals have been released. You may now do as you please. I’m tired. You will let me rest.”

(The group returns above ground)

Hector:
“Ah! It’s good to breathe the outside air again!”

Lyn:
“Bramimond is certainly a mysterious figure.”

Eliwood:
“Mm… I wonder what convinced him to release the seals.”

Athos:
“Interesting that… I believe it was darkness. A completely impenetrable darkness, the nature of which is beyond the comprehension of normal men. Regardless, you must hurry. The seals have been broken. Nergal has surely sensed this already… You must get to the blazing blade as soon as possible…”

Nergal:
“How unfortunate… You’re too late.”

Eliwood:
“Ah!”

(Nergal appears)

Eliwood:
“Nergal!”

Nergal:
“At last… At last, my power is restored. Come, Ninian, Nils. This way. Open the Dragon’s Gate for me.”

Nils:
“…N-No!”

Ninian:
“……”

Eliwood:
“You mustn’t go! Neither of you!!”

Nergal:
“Would you like to see my powers here and now? You may choose, Ninian. Obey me, or…”

Ninian:
“…If I go with you, will you let my brother go?”

Nils:
“Ninian!?”

Nergal:
“One of you should prove sufficient. ……As you wish.”

Nils:
“No! Ninian! Why!?”

Ninian:
“…Look after Lord Eliwood…”

(Ninian and Nils join hands, a bright light flashes)

Nils:
“Ninian!”

Eliwood:
“Ninian! You must not!”

Ninian:
“……”

Nergal:
“The gate will open, and I will gain unlimited power.”

Nils:
“Niniaaaaaaaan!!!”

Eliwood:
“Don’t move! Nergal!!”

Athos:
“No! Get down! Both of you!!”

(The ground shakes, Eliwood finds himself in a house)

Hector:
“Are you awake, Eliwood?”

Eliwood:
“Where…”

Hector:
“Camp. You and Nils were both knocked unconscious by Nergal’s parting gift. Do you remember?”

Eliwood:
“His power… It’s so much more than before.”

Lyn:
“If Lord Athos hadn’t erected a barrier when he did… We would have lost both you and Nils……”

Athos:
“If he’d truly wished to kill you, even my power could not have saved you.”

Eliwood:
“Ninian… To protect us, she…”

Athos:
“Even if you catch him, you can’t defeat him. Not as you are. If you wish to save the girl Ninian… The power to topple Nergal lies within the sacred weapon. Do you understand, Eliwood?”

Eliwood:
“…Yes, I know what I must do.”

(The party goes outside)

Athos:
“To find the legendary item, you must travel westward. But before that… Hector, this is for you.”

Hector:
“Huh? This is…”

Athos:
“That’s right, it’s a Heaven seal.”

Hector:
“Listen, Graybeard… I tried one of these earlier and… Well, nothing happened, OK?”

Athos:
“Trust me. Take it, and hold it in your hands.”

Hector:
“No, I… Oh, all right… …… …… …What’s happening…!?”

(Hector promotes to Great Lord)

Hector:
“What’s going on?! …Incredible.”

Athos:
“Hm. As I thought. It finds you suitable.”

Hector:
“It feels like there’s a beast running wild through me… …What’s… What’s going to happen to me?”

Athos:
“For a short while, the newly awakened power will run rampant. Yet this power is your right by birth. You’ll be able to harness it and use it shortly.”

Hector:
“…Power running rampant… through…my body…”

Eliwood:
“Hector! Are you all right!? Your arms are trembling…”

Hector:
“It’s true… I feel like I can overcome anything. Nothing can stop me. Come on, Eliwood! Let’s go get that weapon and tear that Nergal to pieces!!”

(Oswin speaks with a soldier)

Oswin:
“Regarding this particular issue, please convey to Lord Uther that consent has been given.”

Soldier:
“Yes, sir!”

Oswin:
“Lord Uther, your judgment… It’s too… …………”

Hector:
“Oswin! Where are you?”

Oswin:
“…!”

Hector:
“Oswin! There you are. You just received a message from Ostia, didn’t you? What word from my brother?”

Oswin:
“Nothing of any import… A simple…relaying of recent events is all.”

Hector:
“Oswin? What is it? What’s happened? I’ve never seen you look like this before.”

Oswin:
“Is that so? I must be more tired than I thought.”

Hector:
“If that’s all… Get some rest, will you?”

Oswin:
“Yes. I thank you for your concern. …By the way, did you finish speaking with Lord Athos?”

Hector:
“Yeah, we’re really moving toward something spectacular.”

Oswin:
“Spectacular?”

Hector:
“There are legendary items buried throughout the world. But we don’t have time to gather each one. We’ve settled on collecting a sword and an axe. The sword is for Eliwood or Lyn. I think the axe is to be mine.”

Oswin:
“The legendary axe… The berserker Durban’s thunder axe, Armads?”

Hector:
“Impressive, Oswin. You’re so knowledgeable. To get this Armads, I’m going west with old Graybeard Athos.”

Oswin:
“Just the two of you?”

Hector:
“Yeah, at first. Then I have to pass some sort of trial. Bramimond had to break the seal protecting the weapon, but now, if I’m to gain it, I have to pass a “negotiation of strength,” or something.”

Oswin:
“…I see. The weapon’s an axe, so you have to prove your strength.”

Hector:
“…I will get it. That’s the only way we can defeat Nergal.”

Oswin:
“I believe in you. I pray for your swift return.”

Hector:
“……Oswin. I’m going to ask one last time. Look me in the eye when you answer. My brother… There’s nothing you need to tell me, is there?”

Oswin:
“……Nothing. The message… It said that there was nothing new with the marquess.”

Hector:
“I understand. I will believe that. The vow you swore to me in Laus… That’s still in effect, right?”

Oswin:
“Yes, the service I vowed still holds true.”

Hector:
“…Forgive me. When it comes to my brother, I…”

Oswin:
“That is only natural.”

Hector:
“…Oswin, this is for your ears alone. If something happens in Ostia. …No matter what, I will return to my brother’s side. I’ve been irresponsible and foolish in the past, but… As the marquess’s brother, I will do anything required of me. …So, while I’m away in the west, and anytime thereafter, if you have any worries concerning my brother… No matter how trivial they might seem, I want you to tell me. …Please.”

Oswin:
“I understand… …I’ll do as you ask…”

Hector:
“Then I’d better get going. Take care of things.”

Oswin:
“………”