A New Dawn

AFTER THE DEMON’S DEFEAT, the events that followed were a massacre.

True to his word, Silvano didn’t fight back against our mental probing. On the contrary, he facilitated the process, actively sharing with us everything we would need to snuff out the Cult from the Kingdom.

Now that he was our captive, the Cult of Croxas had no reason to spare Meredith from torment. Thus, Silvano flipped sides yet again, and did everything in his power to help us annihilate them.

He gave us the identities of a myriad of collaborators, as well as the location of safe houses, meeting points, hidden stashes, operational plans… everything we could’ve dreamt of, Silvano had for us in store, before he was imprisoned.

Armed with our new knowledge, Princess Camila made an emergency visit to the Adventurer’s Guild, where she held a meeting with Grandmaster Godwin, Anathema, and the top brass of the Inquisitorial retinue.

She let them in on our discoveries, and spearheaded a plan to exterminate every last infiltrator the Cult had snuck into the realm.

The first targets were the military and the Guild. There was some resistance at first, but with the collaboration of the Inquisition and the local religious orders, evidence of demonic taint was quickly produced against the captured suspects.

Soon, after a handful of skirmishes, the Capital’s armed forces were free of traitors. Silvano hadn’t yet managed to corrupt much of the rank and file, opting instead to appoint moles as officers. These officers would’ve then instigated the regular soldiers to rebel, but the Princess’ lightning operation didn’t allow them the chance.

Afterwards, Princess Camila relegated the task of cleansing the civilian sector to the Royal Army, while the temples joined forces with the Adventurer’s Guild to handle the traitorous military officers in the rest of the realm.

As for the paladin orders and the Inquisition, they set off to assault the Cult’s hidden temples and bases of operations. Many of them were caught by surprise and swiftly annihilated, with only a handful of bases remaining as pockets of resistance.

Furthermore, with Silvano's capture, Amelia's father was proven innocent and released from prison.

It would've been a heartfelt reunion if we had the chance to see him, but alas, Princess Camila had a different plan for us.

“You will remain as missing in action, for the time being,” she said, as the Thorns and I held a secret meeting with her. “John’s power is too great to reveal to the world just yet. I would have you operate undercover, for as long as time allows.”

“We’re going to find the rest of the ingredients for the elixir, right?” Xana asked, munching on a strip of dried meat.

“Exactly,” the Princess replied. “The magic root John created for us will serve as an alternative for the Dead Tree. Nia has confirmed its mana is pure enough.”

That whole bit about the root of the Dead Tree we pulled on Silvano was a scam. What we gave him was a regular root of an ancient tree, infused with a large amount of my mana.

As it turns out, the Dread Dragon Nidhogg spent millennia eating from the World Tree, and it inherited its magical properties over time. In practice, this means I can produce a mana signature identical to the World Tree’s, and we used that to make a replica of one of its roots.

It was close enough to trick Silvano, and may even serve as a replacement ingredient for the King’s elixir. At least Nia is convinced it will.

“So where are we headed to?” I asked, eager for my first official assignment. I’ve gotta say, working for a princess wasn’t in my bucket list. But now that I’m here, my heart is feeling all giddy and excited.

Princess Camila leaned over a map, spread out on the table before her. By the looks of it, she already has a plan in mind.

“You’re going to the Empire of Aurion,” she replied. “One of the most critical ingredients we need is a Phoenix Feather, but all the known phoenix nests still remaining in Krysterios are located there.”

Ah, the legendary flaming birds. So they exist here too?

“Now, that’s a challenge,” said Cerys, pressing her fist to her chin. “The Phoenix is one of the most sacred creatures in Imperial culture. We can’t just stroll into their realm and ask them to give us a feather.”

“That is correct,” the Princess replied. “I already made the request personally, and was denied. Every feather they produce is used by the Emperor and his inner circle, without any precedent of giving one away.”

“So we’re stealing one,” said Xana, enjoying her snack.

“Watch your tongue,” Amelia reprimanded, in indignation for her liege.

“It’s shameful to admit, but Xana is right,” the Princess conceded with a sigh. “We’re not in a position to let my father succumb to the curse. Even if we put our relations with the Empire at risk, we must acquire a feather, one way or another.”

And so, she’s deploying an adventuring party everyone thinks is dead, which is also hiding a dragon-shaped trump card under its sleeve.

You know, it just might work.

“If it is your will, my Liege, then we shall do so with all our strength,” said Amelia, her countenance grim and solemn. To her, this operation goes beyond mere service to the Crown; it’s personal.

She was robbed of her career, her honor, and her very family because of Silvano's betrayal. Even now, after all those years of wrongful imprisonment, she’s still unable to meet her father face to face… and I get the feeling it will stay that way, until the day comes that we heal the King.

“Keep in mind that stealth will be paramount for this operation,” said the Princess. “If the Empire realizes a feather has been stolen, they'll be searching for you high and low. You’ll have to acquire one that won’t be missed, and return to the Kingdom undetected.”

“We’ll want a wild phoenix, then,” said Cerys. “They’re rare, given the Empire has taken most of them into custody, but I’ve heard rumors a few are still around.”

“Yes,” replied the Princess. “Over the past months, I deployed Anathema on a series of covert operations to find one of them. Here’s the intelligence they got for us.”

The Princess presented us with a number of documents, and we immersed ourselves reading them. I’m still a newbie in all of this, but with a bit of guidance from Cerys and the others, I think I’ll get along just fine.

* * *

LATER THAT NIGHT, I gazed at the city of Sylphadim from a balcony in the Royal Palace. Princess Camila lent us some rooms to rest before our departure, and I busied myself indulging in a cup of wine.

“Are you sure about this?” asked Amelia, walking up behind me.

“Hm? About what?” I replied, turning to face her, Cerys and Xana to her sides.

“About joining us,” she said. “The Cult of Croxas has been expunged from the Kingdom, so no one will be looking for you anymore. You’re free to live here as you like.”

Ah, that.

Certainly, I could lay low and blend in with the locals if I wanted. Princess Camila paid us a pretty penny for our efforts this time around, and I’m sure Godwin would be delighted to have me working for him.

But instead of staying here, I’ve signed up for a new adventure with the Thorns, to delve deep into dangerous territory. We won’t be in hot water at first, but as soon as find a phoenix feather, we’ll go straight to the list of the Empire’s most wanted.

And as it so happens, the Empire of Aurion is the single most powerful nation in all of Krysterios. If there’s a shit list you want to stay out of, it’s theirs.

Nevertheless…

“It’s alright,” I said, swirling my cup of wine. “I understand it’s a dangerous mission, and I don’t have a personal stake in it like you do, but I do have an interest of my own.”

I’m not bound to the King by an oath of fealty, so Princess Camila couldn’t judge me if I turned her down. However, I have no intention of doing so.

“And what would that be?” asked Cerys, curious about my motives. I already helped them with the root of the World Tree issue, so with the Cult gone, there isn’t an outside force binding us together.

The thing is, I don’t need an excuse to begin with.

“I want to be with you,” I said, looking at each of them in turn.

My arrival to Krysterios had been nothing but an accident, leaving me stranded in a strange and dangerous place. My life here could’ve been miserable, but thanks to the girls, I now have a place where I belong. I’d have to be insane to abandon it.

“John…!” said Xana, her eyes tearing up before she glomped me.

“It will be dangerous,” said Amelia, her look stern and collected.

“I know,” I replied, stroking Xana’s soft hair. “That’s all the more reason for me to go. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you, and well… there’s no place in Krysterios I’d call my home if you aren’t there with me.”

At my words, Xana snuggled tight to my chest, and Cerys’ and Amelia’s expressions softened.

When we first met, ours had been an alliance of convenience, held together by a common foe. But now, it was our personal bonds that tied us, forged and tempered through the crucible of combat and mutual support.

That’s how I feel, at least... but it seems someone in the room can’t contain her passions anymore.

“Aaaagh, that’s it!!” Xana exploded, clenching my shirt.

I flinched for a moment, and she started pulling me inside toward the bed.

“We’re sleeping tonight, John!” she exclaimed, with a fire burning in her eyes.

“X- Xana! Control yourself!” cried Amelia, rushing over to interrupt her.

Meanwhile, Cerys stepped outside as she watched our struggle unfold, Xana and Amelia exchanging slaps and hair tugs in their catfight. Even I ate a few hits, and it took some serious effort to slip away, sneaking over next to Cerys.

“Fufufu,” she giggled, full of elegance and poise, as the showdown continued behind us. “You’re quite popular.”

“That, or Xana is too eager,” I replied, scratching my head.

“It might be both,” Cerys said, looking out the balcony.

I joined her side and gazed at the horizon. Just what is it that the future has in store for us? By Faydan, I do not know, but I’m looking forward to find out with the Thorns by my side.

“I’m glad you’re here, John,” said Cerys, stepping close to me.

“So am I,” I replied, starting to get sentimental as flashes of the past few days played in my mind.

Then, Cerys leaned over and pecked me on the cheek.

And of course, that was followed with…

“Gah! She’s making out with him again!!” coming from Xana.

Needless to say, Cerys and I got dragged into the catfight, and it took a while for things to calm down. Not that I mind, of course.

With the Cult gone from Sylphadim, and the magic root in the Princess’ hands, the stage has been set for our next adventure. And by the Gods, that will be a journey I intend to make the best of, on to explore the wonders of the new world.