Chapter 13: The Stronghold



On the World Map

After Leaf led the Liberation Army out of the forest, the stronghold city of Tahra stood before him at last…

Opening Cutscene

Paulus:
“General Rist, how is the situation?”

Rist:
“Yes, we have Tahra completely surrounded, Commander Paulus. We are prepared for the full-scale assault.”

Paulus:
“I see… Baldack should be arriving soon with his 8th Legion. Don’t push too hard. We mustn’t waste our manpower.”

Rist:
“Of course, sir.”

(Paulus leaves)

Rist:
“Hmph, I’m not letting that Baldack take my credit. All troops! Prepare to attack! Retreat is not an option! Pound Tahra into decimation!”

(Scene switches to Glade, Dean, and Eda)

Dean:
“The full-scale attack has begun… Well, what do we do, Glade?”

Glade:
“We’re far outnumbered. Our defeat will only be a matter of time.”

Eda:
“Shall I go derange the enemy lines? It should buy some time for us.”

Dean:
“No, that won’t do. The enemies have ballistas. You’ll just be a perfect target if you go out alone. The basics of fighting from dragon-back are to run in for a surprise hit, and then immediately retreat. You must never rush, Eda.”

Eda:
“Yes, my brother.”

Glade:
“I will send out my knights.”

Dean:
“Will that be enough? The mercenaries all fled.”

Glade:
“Hm… What about Prince Shanan? If he is a direct descendant of the Sword Saint Ordo, he must have power far greater than ours. Why does he refuse to help?”

Dean:
“Oh…him. He apparently has no interest in battles in lower places.”

Glade:
“Hmph, and he spends his time playing with the women, eh?
…We have no choice. We will have to fight on our own.”

Dean:
“Be careful. This is only the beginning. …The worst still has yet to come.”

Glade:
“I know.”

(Scene switches to Leaf)

Dorias:
“Lord Leaf, that is Tahra, beyond the mountain. …This isn’t good. The Empire’s attack seems to have begun.”

Leaf:
“We can’t leave the people of Tahra to die. We have to get into Tahra at once.”

Dorias:
“Only a small portion of our forces have arrived, Lord Leaf. Also, I see ballistas among the enemy lines. It’s too dangerous.”

Leaf:
“I know it’s dangerous, but we have no choice. Tahra’s demise will mean our demise as well. Right, August?”

August:
“Yes. If we let Tahra fall, we will lose any support the people had for us. If we lose their support as well as our troops, all that is left is our destruction.”

Conversation (Leaf, Glade)

Leaf:
“Glade…? Are you Glade!?”

Glade:
“? …Prince Leaf!? It can’t be…”

Dorias:
“You seem surprised, Glade. Indeed, this is Prince Leaf. He is the leader of both the Lenster Army and the Northern Thracia Liberation Front.”

Glade:
“The Lenster Army… Count Dorias, then our wish is finally coming true!”

Dorias:
“That’s right, Glade. We will return to Lenster. We will save our people from Imperial oppression, and fly the flag of the Gae Bolg from Castle Nova once again!”

Glade:
“This day…has finally come… Lord Leaf! Now that King Calf and King Cuan are deceased, you are our only hope. Please fulfill your father’s wishes!”

Leaf:
“Of course! Let’s reclaim Lenster together, Glade!”

Glade:
“Yes! We will serve you to the end!”

Conversation (Finn, Glade)

Finn:
“Glade! You’re all right!”

Glade:
“Finn! It’s been a long time.”

Finn:
“Ever since the battle at Alster… It’s been 10 years now.”

Glade:
“Yes, a long time indeed… You have protected Lord Leaf well all this years. I must thank you.”

Finn:
“You also deserve thanks. You rescued Count Dorias and built up the Lansritter. If it weren’t for them, Lord Leaf would never had made it this far.”

Glade:
“We made a promise that day, that I would protect the flag of Lenster, and that you would protect Lord Leaf. …With our lives.”

Finn:
“Yes… And now, that promise has been fulfilled. But, Glade, this is just the beginning. We still have a long way ahead of us.”

Glade:
“Yes, we must return to Lenster and restore the flag of the Gae Bolg… That’s when we can finally have a drink together again. Anyway, take Lord Leaf into the castle. An enemy legion is approaching. It’s dangerous out in the open!”

Conversation (Selphina, Glade)

(If Leaf hasn’t spoken to Glade)

Selphina:
“Glade, you’re all right. Thank goodness…”

Glade:
“Selphina… You came as well?”

Selphina:
“Yes, I heard about Tahra and came with Lord Leaf. I’m so glad I found you…”

Glade:
“I’m sorry I worried you. But Selphina… I have led many young men to their deaths once again. I can’t help but regret and wish that I had more power…”

Selphina:
“No! You are the finest knight in Lenster. I am proud to be your wife. So don’t blame yourself so much…”

Glade:
“Thank you, Selphina… I feel better after seeing you. Oh… Here, take a look at this.”

Selphina:
“What is this? …Is it… Is this the legendary Hero’s Bow!?”

Glade:
“It looks like it. I came across it by chance. I bought it for you, would you use it?”

Selphina:
“Of course! Thank you, Glade.”

(If Leaf has spoken to Glade)

Selphina:
“Glade, you’re all right. Thank goodness…”

Glade:
“Selphina… You came as well?”

Selphina:
“Yes, I heard about Tahra and came with Lord Leaf. I’m so glad I found you…”

Glade:
“I see. I met the prince earlier, but I was surprised at how much he’s changed. It’s been 10 years since I saw him at Alster… He’s already fifteen now.”

Selphina:
“I was also surprised when I first saw him. He’s grown so much.”

Glade:
“Indeed, he’s become a fine young man. He’s starting to look like Lord Cuan in his youth.”

Selphina:
“I thought he looked more like Lady Ethlin. He has her eyes.”

Glade:
“Do you think so? I think his eyes come more from Lord Cuan.”

Selphina:
“No, they come from Lady Ethlin! She used to look after me like a little sister, so I remember very well!”

Glade:
“Whoa, there’s no need to get so excited. He’s their child, he looks like both of them.”

Selphina:
“Oh…you’re right. I’m sorry. I was just remembering Lady Ethlin, and…”

Glade:
“…… She must have regretted leaving her son behind…”

Selphina:
“Yes… Back then…Lady Altena used to be jealous of little Lord Leaf and Lady Ethlin. They seemed so happy together… I hoped to become a good mother like Lady Ethlin when I grew up. But then…that nightmarish incident at Yied…”

Glade:
“Selphina…?”

Selphina:
“I’m sorry… I told myself I would never cry again…”

Glade:
“It’s all right… Oh… Here, take a look at this.”

Selphina:
“What is this? …Is it… Is this the legendary Hero’s Bow!?”

Glade:
“It looks like it. I came across it by chance. I bought it for you, would you use it?”

Selphina:
“Of course! Thank you, Glade.”

If Tahra is captured by the enemy

August:
“Tahra has fallen! Now that we have let Tahra into the Empire’s hands, we have lost the people’s support. There is no hope for us now…”

Fighting Rist

Rist:
“Argh! This can’t be happening!”

Defeating Rist

Rist:
“My promo…tion… Ugh…”

After beating the map

Linoan:
“…Leaf?”

Leaf:
“Linoan! I’ve found you!”

Linoan:
“Leaf! You really came… Oh, dear God… I thank You for Your kindness!”

Leaf:
“…I’m sorry, Linoan. I should have come earlier. I never thought that the city I grew up in would be in such turmoil. And all because of me…your father…”

Linoan:
“No, it’s not your fault! My father had made his resolve when he welcomed you into Tahra. He was not afraid to give up his life to make way for a new world. I am proud of him. His death saddened me…and Imperial oppression was harsh…but I lived through it hoping I would see you again. But now…I have put thousands of Tahra’s people in danger. I…just don’t know what to do any more…”

Leaf:
“It’s all right, Linoan. Don’t worry. I swear that I will protect you and this city!”