They finally arrived in Velder. They are getting ready for the Harmony Festival.
Quest Acceptance Dialogue
[Velder Port]
Mathi:Ah, I thought I've mistaken the time, since it's dark outside, but I guess today is the Harmony Festival.
Vera:I'm glad we managed to make it on time.
Lithia:.......
Vera:Wow, how pretty... Um, can I go look at that stand? I'll be right back.
Mathi:Sure. We'll wait for you here.
Lithia:.......
Mathi:... Why don't you just apologize to Vera.
Lithia:I... I should. I will.
Mathi:You can't say you're sorry because you're embarrassed? You're not a child.
Lithia:Oh, har, har, and you're all grown up and mature and everything! Good for you!
Lithia:Sigh, anyway, it seems like the restoration is at its final stages in Velder. The last time I was here, it was all barren and full of abandoned buildings.
Mathi:It may look fine because of the lighting, but that's still the case. You see that building over there? It's still destroyed.
Lithia:Whoa, you're right... And they still decided to hold the Festival?
Mathi:Some people might think it's more the reason they should hold the Festival.
Lithia:Aha, bread and circus?
Mathi:... I think... it's more appropriate to say, it's an official celebration to mark the end of long suffering and the beginning of peace.
Lithia:Too wordy. Bread and circus.
Mathi:When did she grow up to be such an insolent person who refuses to listen to others.
Lithia:Excuse you. You're not the one who raised me.
Mathi:If I were, you wouldn't have turned out this way...
Mathi:Sigh... In any case, I suppose it's much better than when I was here.
Mathi:It was long... Very long...
(TAP TAP TAP TAP)
Vera:Pant, pant! I'm sorry I'm late!
Mathi:Did you find anything interesting?
Vera:Hehe... There were a lot of pretty and interesting things.
Lithia:Shall we get going then? Where are we supposed to go?
Vera:If I show this brooch to a guard, they'll take me to the royal docks.
Vera:... We're already here. Thank you, to you both. I don't think I would have made it this far alone.
Mathi:No. If it were someone else, they probably would have made it here faster...
Vera:Huhu, it was because of my insistence we were late.
Lithia:... Why is everyone saying their farewells all of a sudden? You're planning on going back, aren't you?
Lithia:I mean, I need to meet my client, so I'll probably split.
Vera:Oh, does that mean you wouldn't be traveling with us on the way back?
Lithia:Yeah. My destination is somewhere else.
Vera:I see... Then I'll have to give you this right now.
(SLIP-)
Lithia:Huh? Uhh... What is this? Notebook and pen?
Vera:Yes. I noticed yours were old and tattered, so I wanted to get you a set.
Lithia:Oh, you didn't have to... I'm really ok.
Vera:I wanted to get them for you, so please accept.
Vera:Thank you for everything. Thanks to you, I had a lot of fun and learned many things.
Vera:And... I'm sorry for handling your necklace without your permision.
Lithia:Ah....
Lithia:No. That's...
Lithia:.......
Quest Completion Dialogue
Lithia:[The ship headed north from the port and followed the coast line, until heading towards a small opening on the cliff.]
Lithia:[It didn't seem like we were going the right way, because it was rough, but soon, we came to an opening.]
Lithia:[It was a dock connected to the castle.]
Mathi:Wow... They must have carved the inside of the cave to create a space like this.
Mathi:I came to the castle before to give reports about the relief effort when I was assisting my aunt... But this is the first time I've come this way.
Lithia:Gee, I feel intimidated all of a sudden. Are you sure we're allowed to look around?
Vera:Huhuhu... Oh, there he comes.
Laudius:Your Highness, I hope your trip was uneventful.
Vera:How have you been, uncle Laudius... I mean, duke. You look well.
Laudius:No need to be so formal. As you can see, I am quite fine.
Laudius:It's a rather, sorry situation... managing to escape the worst due to being away from the capital during the Invasion.
Laudius:I don't know how I would face His Majesty who passed away if I let the Kingdom go to waste.
Vera:Don't say that, uncle. It's thanks to you that Velder was able to recuperate so quickly.
Mathi:Lithia, stand properly.
Lithia:Yeah, yeah...
Laudius:.......
Laudius:Anyway, who are your companions?
Vera:Ah, these are the people who helped me on my journey.
Laudius:Ah, I remember your face. An assistance from the Landar family is always welcome. Thank you for delivering the message to Her Highness.
Mathi:Ah, hello. I'm glad I could be of service.
Laudius:Hm, I don't think I've seen you before...?
Lithia:...Lithia, at your service. I was fired on the way, so I accompanied them on the journey.
Laudius:...... Haha, I see. Thank you for keeping Her Highness safe and sound on her journey.
Lithia:(I get the feeling he's looking down on us, but trying really hard to hide it.)
Lithia:(Maybe he could have accepted Mathi, but I'm sure a commoner like me knowing Vera's identity is too much for him.)
Laudius:I'm terribly sorry, but we don't have much time. Here, I have already prepared a script for your speech.
Vera:Uh, uncle. I came here to refuse the...
Laudius:Of course, I perfectly understand. It's a heavy burden to carry, but a necessary one.
Laudius:I'm sure the people of Velder would feel relieved if a member of the royal family come out and wish for peace and stability.
Laudius:It is time to show some courage. If you refuse, it may disappoint the people who worked very hard to prepare for the Festival.
Vera:... Alright. If that is all...
Lithia:(He's trying to pretend otherwise, but is very domineering.)
Lithia:(I'm sure he thinks manipulating a girl like Vera is no problem, regardless of her status. I don't like it.)
Laudius:Lead the way for Her Highness.
Lithia:[Soon, the soldiers surrounded Vera and led her away. We didn't even get a chance to say goodbye.]
Lithia:[The duke made us wait, then gave us a money pouch with a ludicrous amount of money.]
Lithia:[It was a lot, for escorting one person.]
Lithia:[Mathi didn't know what to do and tried to refuse. Ha! He won't make it big with that behavior! Of course, I graciously accepted mine.]
Lithia:[I thought it was better to show that you understand, since the money probably included hush money.]
Lithia:[You could name it, 'Take This and Get Lost. Never Speak to Me Again' money.]
Lithia:[It's not like I didn't see this coming... But it was still sad to part ways with this...]
Lithia holds her breath to listen to her client and the duke.
Quest Completion Dialogue
Society Member:We have done as you have ordered.
Society Member:Though the plan was thwarted or misfired in some places without quite achieving the desired effect...
Society Member:That too, is within the realm of our calculations, so it should pose a problem. Our goal is not to ruin Elrios, after all.
Laudius:Sometimes you need a hard hand to week out the weak.
Laudius:Yes. In that perspective, an invasion may not be too bad.
Lithia:(... What? What is he saying?)
Laudius:A true blessing in disguise. When the Invasion first happened, I thought I was witnessing the end of the world...
Laudius:But to think, I was able to turn that into an opportunity. Ha! It's all thanks to you. It was a blessing to be able to make a move before them.
Laudius:I will lay down the foundation with this opportunity I got.
Lithia:(Doesn't he realize how many people suffered because of the Invasion? What a piece of trash!)
Society Member:It was an ideal situation for the both of us. With this, Velder gains the opportunity to quell the rebellion and a justification to retrieve the El...
Society Member:... And we gain the opportunity to enter Elrianode.
Lithia:(Retrieve the El? How?)
Society Member:Now that we've planted the seeds of fear, it's time to sprout those seeds.
Society Member:What's soon to happen during the celebrated festival will be the signal that spreads out throughout the land.
Society Member:Everything will go back to how it was when the El is returned... When more and more voices claim the same thing, it will become a reason that cannot be ignored.
Laudius:It's all going according to plan. However, you should stay vigilant until it's over.
Society Member:... Which reminds me, how is the princess? Will she be any use for us?
Laudius:Tsk, not at all. I thought I could mold her to my liking sine she's essentially a commoner, but she had more of a bite than I expected.
Laudius:She kept prattling on, nitpicking on everything since she took a look at the speech.
Society Member:Nitpicking?
Laudius:She said, the speech should focus on consoling the people more than talk about the glory and the revival of the Kingdom.
Society Member:Oh dear... How unfortunate.
Society Member:If she were a self-important child believing to be the next monarch, she could have avoided an immediate... misfortune.
Laudius:There's nothing more unyielding than a weed on the road. Tell them to proceed with the plans.
Society Member:I suppose congratulations are in order... Your Majesty.
Laudius:Watch your mouth. You don't know who's listening.
Laudius:And it won't be me. The title will be given to my son.
Society Member:Technicalities. You humble me, Lord Laudius.
Lithia:(......What?)
'Lithia:(Wait, let's calmly think about this. I think I can match this with the information I know.)
Lithia:(That member of the Society said her goal was to enter Elrianode. Does that relate to my job in some way?)
Lithia:(Maybe it wasn't an ecological research...)
Lithia:(The El... Each of the Els that was spread across Elrios are now all gathered in Elrianode.)
Lithia:(Retrieving the El... Do they mean they're going to take the El back from Elrianode? Justification? ...Ah!)
Denice Resident A:It's the wrath of the Goddess. She's punishing us for losing the El.
Denice Resident D:It's because the Water El is no longer with us! This is all because Hamel...
Society Member:Everything will go back to how it was when the El is returned... When more and more voices claim the same thing, it will become a reason that cannot be ignored.
Lithia:(Create a justified cause by causing panic?)
Lithia:(To make it seem like the tragedies are happening due to the El disappearing?)
Lithia:(The signal of the Festival... ...Vera?)
Lithia:(!! Vera is in danger! Vera was their target all along!)
Soldier C:Who's there!
Lithia:(Damn it, they got me...! I need to find Vera!)
Soldier C:An intruder! Get her!
Laudius:...! What is going on?
Society Member:Oh my... You were right. There was someone listening in our conversation.
Society Member:There's no need for concern. I'll take care of it while you get ready for the Festival.