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♪May the vast lands they keep owre kynge.

♪His people, and alle his well-wyllynge,

♪And give them grace wythoute endyng!

♪Then may we call and savely syng,

♪Victoria, yeve thankes for owre hom!

<p=1>Throne Room, Palace of Westhaleg</><p=2>October 8th, 1098, 9:45 P.M.</>

You've been humming that song ever since we stepped into the throne room.;Do you like it?

'Like' is too strong a word. It's just left an impression on me.

My foster parents would hum it by my bedside whenever I couldn't sleep.

I thought it was a lullaby. It's only long after they've passed on that I realized whom I was to them, who was their 'kynge'.

The song became a stranger from that day forth, but the tune has remained familiar. I would never forget it.

Do you still remember him? The...

The King? I'm not familiar with him. As for the man who is my closest blood relative...

I won't lie, Doctor, I tried to piece together an image of my father in my memory.

But when I saw him again with my own eyes, there was nothing familiar about him.

He was a king, and I'm just a gangster from the streets. We have nothing in common, save for the name Victoria.

There are more important things for me to think about.

You heard the dukes talking. They're ready to abandon Londinium... my home, to whatever fate.

This wasn't what I expected when Dr. Kal'tsit got you out of Chernobog and got me to plan a return to Victoria.

But I've come too far to let it go.

Responsibility is a curious thing.;I can't let go of the Rhodes Islanders, either.;We're the same.

The dukes know you can't let go of the people who need you. They're counting on it.

And we're counting on them being obsessed with maintaining their own power.

As long as their pride still needs the name 'Victoria', the city will have time to recover.

It's a deal where the outcome is predetermined, and both sides of the table know that.

It's the people who have had my back through all this that keeps me going.

We're home. The war is over. It's time to listen to their voices.

Vina...

What is it, Doctor?

Perhaps the day will come when Rhodes Island doesn't approve of the choices you make.;Perhaps the day will come when you don't approve of the choices Rhodes Island makes.

...I know.

Many of us find it hard to accept that you assisted Wiš'adel with the evacuation of the remaining Sarkaz.

But this war can go on no longer. I... We've lost enough people.

And we've heard Sarkaz warning, loud and clear.

The ducal fleets held their positions during the retreat because they all got the news—

Massive Catastrophe clouds forming over the capitals of most of the Core countries almost simultaneously.

Talk about straightforward. They strolled back to Kazdel in broad daylight.

You and Dr. Kal'tsit know what they could do with that piece of Originium.

They won't abuse it, unless their back is to the wall.

For self-defense only? Maybe they think that way, for now.

But there is no such thing as a guarantee when one is in possession of power far greater than one can control.

I've seen many gangs rise rapidly with the backing of the nobility, only to fall apart from the inside just as quickly.

That's why Amiya is going back to Kazdel with them.;Amiya will keep the Originium under our oversight.

But you're not in a position to determine Sarkaz's destiny either. Both sides have been inflicted wounds that will not heal so easily.

The young Sarkaz regent has gotten his wish. The Sarkaz are once again united by concrete hatred, and obtained an Originium shard that belongs to them...

Hatred always ends the same way. Where will you be when that time comes?

A golden lion walks out from behind the darkened throne and crouches by its side.

Gawain. It is like he was always here, like the reliefs around him, bearing witness to the Empire's rise and fall, all in the blink of an eye.

And now, his dark eyes have witnessed you.

Teacher?!

...;This is the first time you've shown yourself before me.

No need to fear. I am neither a monster nor an illusion.

I show myself now because I must.

Vina has chosen a path that she had not even considered, until now. She must grow, and you are in a position to help her.

Rhodes Island is already assisting her work in Londinium.

That is not what I mean. I have no intention to interfere in Victoria's destiny, whatever it may be.

But you have led her towards a confrontation with the destiny of Terra itself, on which hope is hard to come by.

I promised one who is long gone to walk with her until the very last, but now, even my own being is no longer a certainty—

We will try not to drag others into it.

I know Vina. When the day comes, she will stand with Rhodes Island, and you will need her. But where will you stand when that day comes?

There is no need to answer. She will witness on my behalf.

You are neither her follower, nor mentor, nor foe.

You already realize that the ties you share are one-of-a-kind.

Perhaps we can afford to wait for a chance at a fresh start. But Vina cannot.

I have taught you how to survive, Vina. But I cannot teach you how to become hope—

The one before you, however, can.

I know what I must do.

Then guide her, the one whom Vina trusts. You are the spark that lights her fire, the spring that drives her forward.

Listen to this one, Vina, when you find yourself in doubt.

<p=1>Speaker's Office</><p=2>December 10th, 1098, 7:32 P.M.</>

What is this instrument, Vina?

An engineering sample made by Rockrock. Says it keeps tired workers from growing drowsy. But how's that different from just taking a nap?

Does it work?

Vina yawns, rubs her eyes, and continues to peruse the documents before her.

No.

What DOES wake you up, though, is responding to some forty petitions to eliminate the traitor, Millscar.

Have the citizens fighting over this outside calmed down?

Yes. Horn brought a bunch of city guard's newcomers straight out of training camp.

Thank goodness it didn't get out of hand.

It helped that the soldiers had families and comrades on both sides. *sigh* I really don't know what the people who still support Millscar are thinking.

No surprise. It was Parliament that went back on its word first. We did have trouble with our medicine supply, and her stuff gave people hope.

Only false hope, though.

At first, I thought you sent the Defense Forces to...

Crack down? Using violence to suppress innocent countrymen is the most cowardly and least effective method—

Why are you looking at me like that?

Just feeling dumb for worrying at all.

Don't tease me. I've got a long way to go before I'm used to this role. Thank goodness I have a lot help from people I can trust.

My teacher, the Doctor, and you... and many others.

She stretches, puts down Rockrock's sample, and lets out a long exhalation.

I would be stumbling in the dark without the intel from your informants and our Rhodes Island colleagues.

But Millscar...

Selling dangerous drugs of unknown origin, offering predatory loans, threatening the lives of the citizenry... and colluding with the Sarkaz...

All the evidence lies in my drawer, all of it corroborated. She cannot be allowed to run unchecked just because some few benefited from association with her.

Allerdale, she—

It's not just her, Delphine.

No one wants to see this hard-earned peace broken again, after all we've been through.

Parliament promised safety to the people. I know what must be done.

Very well. An old friend has a lead on her that might interest you.

By the way, I've given serious consideration to the Doctor's suggestion.

Once things have settled down for a bit, I'll return to Windermere and take back certain things that have always belonged to me.