Part 1: Chapter 8: Glory Unwanted



Credits: Generic Officer

Before Battle (Daein Keep)

Jarod:
“You summoned me, Your Grace? “

Numida:
“Jarod, there is trouble. The apostle has formed an inspection team. She’s dispatching it to Daein.”

Jarod:
“Oh-ho…”

Numida:
“I’ve arranged to meet with the senate’s vice-minister, Duke Gaddos. If we ask him the favor… I imagine he could discreetly sweep their findings under the rug. But in the meantime, you MUST obliterate the insurgents!”

Numida:
“Once that is done, we’ll devise excuses.”

Jarod:
“Understood, sir.”

Alder:
“What’s the plan? Will the senators be able to cover up this mess?”

Jarod:
“If the inspection team and the rebel army ever cross paths…even the senate won’t be able to hide the truth.”

Jarod:
“We’ll lure the rebels to Shifu Swamp. We’ll plant tales of a mass execution there, and they’ll be sure to come. Then, we’ll trap the malcontents and wipe them from the face of the land.”

Before Battle (Daein Liberation Camp)

(Micaiah casts Sacrifice on Daein Soldier)

Daein Soldier:
“It’s amazing… My wound is healed. I give you thanks.”

Daein Soldier 2:
“I never thought I’d see the Silver-Haired Maiden work miracles before my very eyes.”

Young Lady:
“Silver-Haired Maiden! Help them! You must help them!”

Micaiah:
“Help who? What’s going on? Calm down and tell me.”

Young Lady:
“They’re killing our men! I beg you, please, save them!”

Pelleas:
“Prisoners from Joad Work Camp are being collected in Shifu Swamp and executed…”

Tauroneo:
“Not only Joad. There’s reportedly a plan to exterminate all prisoners in every camp and let the swamp conceal the remains.”

Izuka:
“I’ve heard nothing of such a plan! It’s a false rumor! Or an enemy trap!”

Micaiah:
“It may indeed be a trap. But if we don’t investigate, we risk a mass execution!”

Izuka:
“And what if it is a trap and they vanquish the Liberation Army? The dream of restoring Daein to glory will die instantly! For the good of Daein’s future, we must ignore this threat.”

Micaiah:
“…I understand. And that’s why I won’t take any troops. Only myself…and my old friends will go.”

Pelleas:
“Mi-Micaiah!”

Micaiah:
“If you refuse them your permission, I will go alone.”

Izuka:
“Stop right there, little lady!! I will not authorize this action without the prince’s full approval!”

Pelleas:
“Izuka… Let her do as she wishes. Please. She hasn’t disappointed us yet.”

Izuka:
“My prince… Hrrgh! Fine. But I can’t help but feel as if these children are running your army.”

Before Battle (Shifu Swamp)

Radmim:
“Good. You may begin!”

Bandit:
“Here, have a little swim!”

(Bandit shoves the civilian into the swamp)

Young Man:
“Aaaaaaaahhh! No! Nooo! Help, someone!”

Micaiah:
“Stop!”

Begnion Soldier:
“You’re that…bleeding-heart filth!”

Micaiah:
“We are the Daein Liberation Army! Everyone, hold tight! You’ll be safe soon!”

Young Man:
“Look at her hair… Could it be the Silver-Haired Maiden? Our country’s savior, come to rescue us?”

Young Man 2:
“The Savior of Daein!”

Radmim:
“Whether they suspected a trap or not, they’re here. Brazen fools! All hands, take battle positions!”

Radmim:
“Silver-haired wench! I’m going to drown you and all of Daein’s hopes in these filthy waters! You’ve no escape!”

Micaiah:
“So…it’s a trap after all.”

Sothe:
“Don’t get too smug, you cruel cowards! We have a little something up our sleeves too!”

Sothe:
“Tormod! Here’s your chance!”

(Tormod, Vika, and Muarim appear from the south)

Micaiah:
“Lady Nailah! Volug!”

(Nailah and Volug appear from the west)

Bengion Soldier:
“Su-sub-humans! They’re everywhere! How?”

Micaiah:
“Rafiel, even you came to help?”

(Rafiel uses Galdr)

Micaiah:
“What happened just now? What was that strange song?”

Sothe:
“That was Vigor, a heron galdr that can re energize our allies in a fight. Don’t be distracted, Micaiah! Let’s set our formation while we can.

After battle (cliff above the liberation camp)

Micaiah:
“We’re nearly back to camp. I wonder if the prince will overlook the fact that I insisted on this mission?”

Sothe:
“I’m sure he’ll be happy when he sees the prisoners are safe.”

Micaiah:
“Sothe…do you hear a noise coming from the canyon? Is it…people shouting?”

Daein Soldier:
“Look! Look up there! The Maiden has returned! And the prisoners are with her!”

Daein Soldier 2:
“She won another victory! She escaped their trap and destroyed the enemy…again!”

Daein Soldier 3:
“Radiant with divine protection, she truly has the goddess’s blessing! The Silver-Haired Maiden! Our priestess! Priestess…of Dawn! Hooray, Lady Micaiah!”

Micaiah:
“What could they be celebrating?”

Nailah:
“It seems the soldiers are celebrating your liberation of the prisoners. You should wave to them. People like their heroes to seem approachable. It would make them happy.”

Micaiah:
“I’m no hero… But I see what you mean.”

Daein Soldier:
“What a glorious sight she is!”

Daein Soldier 3:
“Lady Micaiah! Lady Micaiah, the Priestess of Dawn!”

After battle (Daein Liberation Camp)

Micaiah:
“Here you are. I’ve been looking for you. Sothe, after all those soldiers cheering… I feel like I’m doing real good here…”

Sothe:
“…Micaiah?”

Tormod:
“Sothe! Please, come quick! There’s something wrong with Muarim!”

Muarim:
“Ghh…grraaahrrrr…”

Tormod:
“Muarim, get ahold of yourself! Look at me!”

Muarim:
“…Gh… Li…ttle…one…”

Tormod:
“This happens over and over…Muarim suddenly transforms, and…he growls like he’s losing his mind. And if I…if I grab him and yell his name again and again, he returns to himself, but…then it just starts over. And…and…when he’s growling, his eyes, they look… It’s as if, as if one of “them” is looking at me…”

Micaiah:
“Them”? One of “them”? One of who?

Sothe:
“You can’t mean…No!”

Tormod:
“H-help him, please. I don’t know what to do. The time between transformations is getting shorter and shorter…”

Muarim:
“Agh… My body can’t… …No, no, no… Little one… get away…”

Tormod:
“No, I won’t let you! I’ll die before I let you go feral! Muarim! Look at me!”

Sothe:
“That song…”

Micaiah:
“Rafiel…”

Muarim:
“Gh…”

Tormod:
“Wha! …Muarim! Muarim!”

Rafiel:
“…The galdr of rebirth restores twisted bodies and souls to their proper states. He will be all right now.”

Tormod:
“Th…thank you… Without Muarim…life would be…terrible…”

Micaiah:
“What was that song? It was different than when he sang before…”

Sothe:
“It was the galdr of rebirth. I heard it once before, in the war. But…Micaiah, what’s wrong?”

Micaiah:
“I feel…odd. Maybe it was the song… I’m shaking, for some reason… But I’m truly glad that Muarim will be all right…”

Pelleas:
“Feral Ones?”

Sothe:
“In the Mad King’s War… Daein’s military developed living weapons. They were called “Feral Ones”… laguz that had been warped and twisted by terrible experiments.”

Izuka:
“Terrible,” you say?! Do you mean to refute the highly effective results of my brilliant research?!

Micaiah:
“Then it was you! You secretly gave Muarim the drug to turn him into a Feral One!”

Izuka:
“And what’s wrong with that? Maintaining constant battle strength in beast state… How splendid!”

Tormod:
“How dare you! Transforming laguz into Feral Ones dramatically shortens their life spans. It destroys their sense of self, and they do nothing but fight until they die! And you! You gave Muarim that drug!”

Izuka:
“Pawns need no sense of self! It’s only natural to sacrifice soldiers for victory in war!”

Micaiah:
“You twisted maniac! You are the lowest–“

Pelleas:
“Everybody! Wait, please! Izuka clearly did a terrible thing to that sub-hum–that laguz. I apologize. Tormod… I’m truly sorry. He will not use the drug again. So, please… Try to forgive him…”

Micaiah:
“Prince Pelleas…”

Izuka:
“My prince! We must not have royalty bowing and scraping before swine like–“

Tormod:
“…That’s enough!”

Sothe:
“Tormod!”

Micaiah:
“Let him go…”

After battle (Bengion Capital)

Sanaki:
“I see… Is that true?”

Lekain:
“Yes, Apostle. Our occupation forces have engaged in appalling and inhumane excesses in Daein. These excesses were perpetrated entirely outside the knowledge of the occupational governor, Duke Numida.”

Numida:
“I come to you penitent… Failing my duties as governor, I, Numida, share a measure of guilt for this disaster. I am prepared to take the appropriate punishment, Apostle Sanaki. However, I feel that freeing the people of Daein from the clutches of our oppression is our most urgent task…”

Sanaki:
“Urgent, you say? Then we must make haste. We will forthwith convene an inspection team and request a meeting with the army led by the late King Ashnard’s orphan. We will assure them of Begnion’s intentions. Then, we will immediately address the occupation force’s tyranny.”

Lekain:
“Excellent! In that case, please deign to allow me, your humble servant Lekain, to lead the inspection team. The soldiers who have stained the empire’s name will be toppled where they stand! I promise, they shall not live to return here.”

Sanaki:
“That is unacceptable. I will decide the soldiers’ punishment only after hearing their side. And I have chosen to appoint Sephiran, Duke Persis, to lead the investigation team. Is that acceptable, Sephiran?”

Sephiran:
“I hear and I obey, my empress.”

Lekain:
“What?! But, but, Apostle Sanaki…”

Sanaki:
“This is a dire situation. Accordingly, I judge the prime minister, Duke Persis, to be more suited to the role than you, Vice-Minister Lekain. That is all.”

Lekain:
“Hrrgh…”

Numida:
“L-Lord Lekain…! What shall I do?!”

Lekain:
“Duke Numida, my friend… I’m afraid you must sacrifice every last Begnion in the Imperial Occupation Army.”

Numida:
“What? Th-that’s ridiculous! But…grrgh! Blast that spoiled brat and her cunning little schemes… You’ll regret this, Apostle Sanaki!”