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Vina... I don't like this story.

The King who found no peace in his eternal rest upon the throne, and the hero who laid down her crown…

The story's over, but has anything really changed?

You and King Alistair both wanted to make Victoria better… but in the end…

Diane takes a hard swig from the bottle.

Cough—cough!

The burning liquor stings, coaxing more tears from her already swollen eyes.

If the King couldn't do it, then what hope do we have?

How can we possibly change anything?

But the story's <i>not</i> over yet, Diane.

I had also believed it would all end when the king found peace... but then someone unexpected appeared.

Should I even ask what brings you here?

A white figure emerges from the shadows behind the throne.

'Faint glimpses of that fairy can be seen in so many of Victoria's legends…'

'Power, intrigue, destiny, dreams coming true—throughout the centuries-old tales, she seems to possess different powers. Yet no one can say for certain which one is truly her.'

'Vina, who did you see?'

'I saw the Unicorn.'

Vina, you've far exceeded my expectations. You've shown me new possibilities.

Put down your hammer. I am not your enemy.

We fought side by side once, didn't we?

Who are you, Unicorn?

A tailor's daughter, a leader of the Self-Salvation Corps, a witness to Victoria...

Of course, many old men, even as they faced death, insisted on calling me 'the Nation's Sentinel' in their history books. Wishful thinking, I suppose.

Over the hundreds of years I've remained in Victoria, I've assumed, and later erased, countless identities, but at present, I am Clovisia.

In short, I am your friend, one sincerely pleased by all you've achieved. Does this answer satisfy you, Vina?

Another one of the 'long-lived'? You deceived every ally in the Self-Salvation Corps, as well as all of Rhodes Island.

Deceived? I've never deceived anyone. Everyone has their desires; I merely fulfill them.

Ordinary people tormented by Sarkaz bloodshed wanted to survive, so I led the Self-Salvation Corps to find a way out.

Ancient families, mired in power struggles, feared annihilation in the Empire's whirlpool, so I eliminated every threat to the continuation of the ducal lineage.

Frederick III hoped Victoria wouldn't fall into chaos beneath the Red Dragon's shadow—I could grant that wish, too.

So now you've come to me?

Alexandrina, daughter of Alistair, why would you think I'm only just noticing you now?

Vina, history is like a sailing ship, and you all are the ones who steer its course.

Since you wish to change Victoria, I can help you. What role would you assume to realize your ideals?

You could be a king, a speaker, or even the sole leader of The Exemplars—any of these titles are yours to choose.

'Vina, I must say, yours isn't a new story. I've read far too many like it in old shops...'

'In the end, the hero always accepts the fairy's gift. So, in the end, you chose the role of speaker?'

'No, Diane. I chose nothing.'

'For hundreds of years, the Unicorn has chosen the heroes, and the heroes have merely chosen their boons.'

'But why?'

'Why...?'

'Yes, why did I have to choose her?'

Why are you laughing, Vina?

Do you hear that sound outside?

They're cheering for victory, and for Victoria.

Many of them do not have grand ambitions. They don't think of protecting anyone. Some of them would not even share a piece of bread with a starving man.

Yet they are still willing to risk their lives for even the smallest sliver of hope. They are my 'Victoria'.

I like those fools, and I'm willing to look out for them.

And you, Clovisia, have no right to make me choose something I've been doing all along.

You'd best leave, unless you don't mind it getting awkward.

Siege!

You're a fool too, Alexandrina—just like your father.

Send them a message for me. Tell them the tailor's daughter is dead.

I have fulfilled their wishes.

Siege! I got the Crawler in here to back you up!

We've been waiting outside for you forever. We were afraid something happened to you.

It's been taken care of. Thank you, Feist.

Huh?

Come on then. Aren't they still all waiting for us? This battle must end now.

That's the end of the story, Diane.

Diane?

The condemned soldier has finished the last drop of alcohol and is sound asleep.

Diane wanted to drink herself into a stupor. Vina has finished telling her story, but Diane cannot bring herself to face her own ending.

She wanted to drink herself into a dream, a dream in which even death could not catch up to her. She gets her wish.

*sigh*

I'm sorry, Diane. I am not worthy of being a monarch. I'm not even sure I'm qualified to serve as speaker.

Besides, this war has changed many things. Old beliefs have been shattered, and we are striving to rebuild our lives amidst the imminent threat of destruction.

I believe that soon, a great transformation will begin in Londinium and sweep across all of Victoria...

I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but I am certain of one thing: now that we've found the courage to face adversity, why should we ever return to the past?

Victoria no longer needs a monarch, Diane.

Sweet dreams.

On the eve of her march to the gallows, the drunken soldier sleeps the most peaceful sleep of her life.

She dreams of the king's coronation. She dreams of the factory in her hometown, the whistle blowing to signal the end of the workday, as the workers shake off their hats and step out through the factory gates…

Then she soars into the sky and sees Londinium gliding across the mist-covered, verdant earth.

She dreams of Victoria. She is singing her song.

May the vast lands they keep owre kynge ♪

His people, and alle his well-wyllynge ♪

And give them grace wythoute endying ♪

Then may we call and savely syng ♪

Victoria, yeve thankes for owre hom! ♪

<p=1>Speaker's Office</><p=2>December 26th, 1098, 3:58 P.M.</>

Vina, I can't believe it—the graffiti on the gym walls is still there! Look at this one—Morgan painted it after dreaming of being a famous artist.

Oh, right! Look at this photo—the sign on the movie theater has been nailed back up. And look, there are two dumb-looking fowlbeasts perched on top of it, haha.

Norport is in much better shape than the last time we saw it.

I can't wait to go back and see it with my own eyes.

Uh-huh...

So, where did these photos come from?

The envelope only had the photos, no signature. But plenty of people have joined the engineering team to help rebuild our home. Some of them are old friends from Norport.

Oh, there are two videotapes in here too. They're just some old, worn-out movies, but hey, Delphine, you love watching bad movies, don't you?

Here you go.

Thank you.

Vina... are you okay? You seem a bit distracted.

Are you all going back?

Why the serious look? We're just heading home early to do some housekeeping.

Morgan, you were more excited than anyone when we said we were going home... or am I missing something?

How about you, Dagda?

I'll go lend them a hand. There's not much I can help with here, Vina.

The Knights of the Tower Museum is coming along smoothly. My wish has been fulfilled.

Alright.

Vina, actually, we could still—