- [footsteps] - [Xylo panting]
♪
[TEORITTA] Wait, my knight.
This is not the path that we initially took.
We already have our next orders.
[Venetim sighs]
[XYLO] There's no one set path for heroes.
- [birds chirping] - [ducks quacking]
[horse neighs]
There are many more travelers here.
[VENETIM] We're all off to the same place,
which is holding something of a festival.
- Quick question, Xylo. - [XYLO] What?
[panting] I'm about to die.
Can we take a break sooner than later?
We had one a minute ago.
[VENETIM] I can't go on.
[thuds]
Uh, is that our next destination?
Correct.
It's a fortress of the Second Capital.
A key part of their defenses.
[XYLO] A natural stronghold
guarded by a river and sheer cliffs.
[XYLO] That's Mureed Fortress.
Otherwise known as the Wayfarer's Nest.
♪
[MERCHANT 1] Lowest prices around!
[indistinct chatter]
♪
[merchant 2 chuckles] Whoops,
seems you need more military scrip.
I'll take five of these.
[POSTMAN] Does anyone here have a letter to send out?
Send anywhere
- in the Federated Kingdom. - Take these to my mother.
[POSTMAN] No problem!
[sighs]
[VENETIM] Fresh from repairs
and already back to your old tricks.
You're incorrigible, Dotta.
Relax, will you?
No one's gonna get mad
over some harmless pilfering at a festival.
We haven't attended the Great Exchange in a while,
but don't go getting careless.
The Verkle Corp merchants are notoriously miserly.
[exclaims]
I say we should enjoy this while we can.
It's not often we get to have a vacation.
Heroes like us aren't allowed the luxury of a vacation.
Even as of now,
we're "on standby."
But that said, technically,
we're not disallowed the occasional respite.
[Dotta sighs]
[DOTTA] That's what I said
just rephrased to make yourself sound smarter.
[DOTTA] All we're missing is some girls to keep us company.
[VENETIM] You're dreaming.
Even if there were such an establishment here,
we'd never be allowed to partake.
[DOTTA] No kidding.
[NORGALLE] Commander-in-chief, where are you?
- Commander Xylo! - [XYLO] Huh?
At attention,
the traveling merchants have arrived.
Your king needs you to procure some wine!
I'm afraid our treasury is fairly depleted
for the time being.
Guessing you forgot spending all of our scrip?
[Norgalle gasps]
If you want booze,
then you'll have to get someone to take out a loan.
Someone like Venetim.
[NORGALLE] The chancellor is keeping an eye
on that sticky-fingered Dotta.
Always has a fresh excuse to slack off.
What of Tsav? Has he not returned
from his mission yet?
[XYLO] No. He's still out on loan to another unit.
[grunts] Flagrant insubordination!
Does the crown mean nothing anymore?
Honestly, it seems a moment of peace
- is too much to ask. - [panting]
There you are!
I have been searching high and low!
- [lock rattling] - [XYLO] Confirms my theory.
- [door opens] - Your chamber door's unlocked.
Does that not defeat its very purpose?
Dotta unlocked it and scampered away.
He took the key with him.
Do you not wish to attend the Great Exchange, my knight?
I don't wanna talk to any damn knights.
Then come and make merry with me instead!
I have no reason to.
Just go to the Great Exchange yourself.
[gasps] Need I remind you that you are addressing a goddess?
I have no interest in such frivolity.
[Xylo scoffs]
A Holy Knight would be happy to escort you.
[Teoritta grunts]
Let us speak no more of the Exchange.
Instead,
I shall now grant you the honor of playing a game with me!
Are you not elated?
[XYLO] Zig?
Venetim took it upon himself to teach me all the rules.
I shall prove a formidable opponent.
[Teoritta chuckles]
The trick is to use
the venerable "hidden spear" strategy
oft utilized by the royal family in the Kingdom of Meht.
That's enough.
If Venetim taught you that, he was messing with you.
[gasps]
[Xylo sighs]
And besides, I've already got plans.
What? Do you speak of that book?
Can you not study it some other time?
Look, I even made a bookmark for you.
I don't care, you can keep it.
♪
[TEORITTA] I must admit,
it is surprising that you love reading so.
What manner of text is that you're--
[XYLO] It's poetry.
Is that true?
♪
[TEORITTA] My knight reads poetry?
[XYLO] Sure, why wouldn't I?
What manner of verse is it?
I shall allow you the privilege of reading it to me, now.
- Denied. - [grunts]
At the least, permit me to read over your shoulder.
Do not be cruel.
[sighs] I don't think a goddess would get anything
out of this book.
It's just a collection
of old poems called Dragon-Drunk.
Written by an alcoholic poet by the name of Altoyard Comette.
In his old age, he dreamed of becoming a dragon,
and practiced flying every night until it led to his demise.
[TEORITTA] Oh...
Quite the fantastical tale.
[XYLO] There were a lot of poets like him in those days.
I might have become a poet myself
if I hadn't joined the military.
A poet?
What of it? Why is that so--
- [KIVIA] Xylo Forbartz. - [TEORITTA] Huh?
Finally found you.
Though I didn't expect to also find the goddess.
Greetings, Kivia, I deem it a most pleasant surprise
to see you here as well!
[Xylo chuckles]
So the noble captain of the Holy Knights
has deigned to pay me a visit.
I take it our punishment has been decided?
Either that, or a new mission.
You're correct on both counts.
Regardless, that isn't why I'm here.
I need to have a word with you.
What about?
Follow me. I'll unlock--
[TEORITTA] I shall join you.
[XYLO] Huh?
[TEORITTA] I have been informed
that the Great Exchange is underway.
It seems fitting that we should speak as we browse about.
With Kivia present, even a goddess like me
will surely be allowed to attend.
Indeed, truly, it must be so.
My knight, I demand we make haste.
Fine.
♪
[indistinct chatter]
[Teoritta humming, chuckling]
- Really? - [TEORITTA] Xylo, behold!
What is that over yonder?
Nourishment or a decoration of some sort?
[XYLO] That's candy. First time seeing it?
[TEORITTA] "Can-dy"?
This marvel did not yet exist in the time I was created.
They are rather reminiscent of shining jewels.
[gasps, sniffs]
- What is that long, thin stuff? - [XYLO] Uh?
Fried noodles.
A western dish of wheat-dough strips fried
in butter and fermented sauce.
How delightful!
And what are those things?
There, at the stall with the bear sign.
[XYLO] That would be...
The hell? I'm not sure.
[KIVIA] Miwoolies Creams.
Dessert, care of the First Capital.
It's basically shaved ice atop a mound of whipped cream,
with some honey and nuts. It is exquisite.
The bear is their mascot.
They are holding a contest to name it.
[exclaims] Truly magnificent!
A testament to cultural advancement!
Never heard of it.
But you have?
Is it that shocking? Everybody enjoys iced treats.
♪
Out with it. What's that look about?
[TEORITTA] Speak, my knight!
They look delectable, do they not?
It would be a pity to pass them by.
You cannot hide it.
You clearly wish to try one!
[sighs] All right, you win.
Grab the two that look best.
Do you want one?
I'll have to pass this time.
I've been trying to save up my scrip.
Just two. Use this.
Go ahead.
[TEORITTA] It shall be done.
You have placed this task in able hands! [chuckles]
Xylo,
you've given me reason to reevaluate my opinion of you.
Huh?
You saved them.
My doomed knights at Couveunge.
And at Zewan Gan,
you risked it all to save those
who were prepared to abandon.
The people you saved were grateful,
and won't soon forget you.
Good to know.
Guess it wasn't all for nothing.
Before today, I didn't realize you could smile.
[chuckles]
I'm usually too pissed off to muster a stupid grin.
Even so,
you've more than proven yourself a capable ally.
Beyond that,
your pact with Goddess Teoritta...
I believe it may have saved her.
I don't follow.
Her story is rather unusual.
She was discovered in the northern ruins.
After her excavation,
we of the 13th Order of Holy Knights,
assigned to pact with her,
were dispatched to oversee the operation.
But a rift formed between the military and Temple.
[laughs] That's a crying shame.
You dare laugh?
When you caused it by killing goddess Senereva?
Say what?
[KIVIA] After what transpired,
the military started having ideas.
"If we're capable of killing a goddess,
perhaps we also have the power to create more of them."
It was decided
the military would use Teoritta for research.
[Xylo chuckles]
Why bother calling it research? They really meant "dissection."
True.
The temple opposed the notion,
but the military won out in the end.
However, that situation has started to change.
In a short span of time,
your unit has taken out two Demon Lords,
thus, proving the usefulness of Goddess Teoritta.
What do you mean her "usefulness"?
Are you saying they thought she was useless before that?
How would they even know when they had just found her?
We knew she possessed the power to summon swords.
It was inscribed in the ruins where she was found.
[Xylo grunts]
♪
[KIVIA] It is said the goddesses came to us
during the First War of Subjugation,
in what is known as the Great Civilized Era.
The goddesses serve as a "gate" of sorts,
and each one, possesses a different nature.
One creates various poisons.
One calls down lightning and raging storms.
One foresees the future.
They awaken in response to Demon Blights.
When their task is fulfilled,
they return to their coffins to slumber.
I'm already well-informed about the goddesses' power.
There's even a rumor
that one of them brought Tatsuya here
from another world.
It was judged that the ability to summon swords
wasn't good enough.
That it was far weaker than the abilities
of the 12 other goddesses.
We knew that. Knew her fate.
Yet despite that, we were still complicit.
Oh, I see.
That explains a lot.
So your suicidal plan in Couveunge
was just a sorry attempt to atone for your sins.
[Kivia grunts]
[XYLO] It's despicable,
even if she was a useless goddess.
Here, please enjoy!
You have my gratitude!
Xylo, mission accomplished! I purchased one for Kivia, too!
[Kivia gasps]
[Teoritta chuckles]
Come, you two, let us...
[exclaims] Hey!
[sighs]
[groans]
Tell me about our next mission.
Why now?
If we keep doing a good job,
she's less likely to get dissected, right?
[Kivia gasps]
Not sure what their definition of "usefulness" is,
but I'll make those Galtuile bastards choke on it.
[KIVIA] Hm.
Defense.
That's why your hero unit is here.
You'll defend this fortress by yourselves...
To the death.
To the death? Really?
That's right.
You will defend the fortress from the Demon Blight
without backup until the bitter end.
So it's a literal suicide mission.
Hey, Xylo, I need you to keep your cool.
Don't snap and beat anyone to death--
What the hell kind of animal do you think I am?
[VENETIM] Pardon me, could you perhaps tell us more?
Such as the fine details of this strategy?
[commander snorts]
[COMMANDER] You'll stay here at the fortress.
That is all.
A war of attrition, then.
And how long do you need us to hold out?
Until you die.
- [Xylo grunts] - Oh.
That's the plan.
The Ninth and Thirteenth Orders will be at the rear,
watching and conserving their strength.
Once you're all dead and the fortress has been taken,
that will be their cue to unleash a special attack.
And what exactly might that be?
It's poison.
The ninth goddess will perform a miracle for all to see.
[Xylo scoffs]
[XYLO] You think that will kill the Demon Lord?
I hear you've been throwing everything you have at it,
yet you still haven't managed to defeat it.
That is accurate.
Our last plan involved an ace sniper.
He delivered the goddess' poison directly.
His efforts merely induced a torpor
the beast easily recovered from.
Even someone like Tsav wasn't able to take it down?
Between that humbling outcome
and a vision of the future from the third goddess,
Galtuile decided to revise the plan.
That was the birth of our strategy
to set a massive trap in Mureed Fortress.
It ends here.
We'll poison the Demon Lord until it's dead.
So the idea is to effectively cancel out
its ability to regenerate?
Meanwhile, we're to wait around
and buy you some time until we die?
[COMMANDER] That is correct.
May Mureed Fortress become the eternal resting ground
for Demon Blight Number 15, "Iblis."
[VENETIM] I have a question, Commander.
Is there any reason we can't leave?
I mean, after luring the Demon Lord
into the trap, of course.
The reason is that those are Galtuile's orders.
If any of you attempt to leave the fortress prematurely,
the sacred seals on your necks
will kill the entire unit instantly.
[gasps] The entire unit?
Well, then.
Is that necessary?
Or is there some compelling reason
you want us dead?
[gasps]
[scoffs] So their hatred demands our suffering.
Understood. We'll carry out the plan.
- [gasps] - [VENETIM] That said,
I'd like to propose a few revisions,
if you don't mind.
Like what?
[VENETIM] Simple.
That pesky caveat that we all blow up
even if one of us leaves the fortress...
It's highly counterproductive.
How so?
I'm sure I don't need to remind you
that we're antisocial criminal miscreants,
so it's a forgone conclusion that at least one of our ranks
will try to save his own skin, making success impossible.
Here's a thought.
Kill us if we all leave,
or one bad apple will inevitably spoil the whole mission.
That tiny change would substantially increase
our chances of success.
Oh, one more thing, regarding Goddess Teoritta...
Our goddess is kind.
The most compassionate soul I've ever encountered.
Even if ordered to leave, she'll wish to stay by our side.
I request that that be allowed.
Ha!
I don't have the authority to approve it.
That's not my call to make.
The goddess is under the jurisdiction of the 13--
Hey, Xylo, go and request permission
from Captain Kivia.
On it.
What else do you want me to get for us?
We're going to need more soldiers.
Understood. What else?
Weapons and provisions.
Isn't there anything else you want?
- A pardon. - [VENETIM] Understood.
- What else? - [Xylo sighs, grunts]
[XYLO] Forget the pardon.
I want cavalry and some artillery.
Can you get Jayce and Rhyno back?
[VENETIM] I'm afraid they're still on the western front.
We might be able to get Tsav back, though.
Tsav, huh?
[COMMANDER] Hey, what are you discussing over there?
[VENETIM] Listen, Xylo.
That's not where Captain Kivia's room is,
so don't waste your time.
[XYLO] Oh, right.
[VENETIM] Go on.
I'll make sure everything is handled here.
Just trust me and relax.
[XYLO] I know you too well to trust you.
Can you really pull it off?
Funny you should ask.
Though I highly doubt you'll take me at my word.
Despite how I look,
you should know, there was a time
when yours truly was on the verge
of saving the whole world.
I must say, this is rather dreary.
I take it this means I'm not being granted
a proper trial?
A thousand pardons, Venetim Leopool.
I would have preferred to speak in a slightly nicer location.
Honestly, I was hoping our paths would cross.
I have a great deal of respect for you.
That so?
Do you hope to pursue a career as a con man too?
If that's the case,
I really don't see why you would admire someone like me,
seeing as how I got caught and all.
Right you are. I completely agree with you.
[VENETIM] Regarding the crime I'm being charged with,
I suppose attempting to sell off the royal palace
to the circus was a bridge too far?
True. You elevated fraud to a whole new level.
Fabricating a mad story about the entire capital
being relocated in order to sell the land
to a circus performing in the area.
Quite the talent.
I intended to take the advance payment and leave,
but things got out of hand.
There's investment fraud not to mention
forgery and counterfeiting to boot.
I have at least a hundred complaints here
from the Verkle Development Corporation.
[VENETIM] I'm so sorry. Truly, I am.
Spare me your apologies.
Tell me,
what first inspired your choice to become a con man?
[VENETIM] Good question.
It's hard to say, I guess I've always hated
seeing people look disappointed.
So I'd lie my way out of any tough situation,
then do the work to make the lie consistent.
I can't imagine how much effort that must have entailed,
and it's impressive that you managed
to keep such a large-scale operation equally consistent.
[VENETIM] Thank you.
So, um,
should I be bracing myself for the death penalty?
Actually, your fate is far worse.
We have no intention of punishing you
for the fraud or any of your other crimes.
So it's not the fraud? Then, why--
[KAFZEN] This is the true culprit.
[VENETIM] You mean that third-rate gossip rag
I used to write drivel for? What about it?
[KAFZEN] There's a certain article you wrote.
Spies controlled by the Demon Blight,
and masquerading as humans.
You boldly assert that they've infiltrated the Temple,
as well as Galtuile and even the royal family.
Right, they were out of goddess scandals,
as well as those about the Holy Knights,
and even the stuff about the royal family.
To drive sales,
they told me they wanted an article
that would inspire fear in the populace.
[KAFZEN] Well, to be completely frank,
fraud isn't a problem,
or forgery, inflated scandals, conspiracy theories.
Those are all fine.
That said,
we can't have you going around telling the truth.
[VENETIM] Huh?
You have a particular talent
for being able to convince people
of the most outrageous things.
You're at least skilled enough to make us believe
you can achieve anything with your words.
Wait, this is a huge mistake.
Just give me a second and I'll explain--
To prevent you from speaking truth in the future,
we're going to be including a special feature
in your sacred seal.
What? Please, no! [grunts]
- Stop! Just wait a minute! - I'm afraid the death penalty
is too good for someone like you.
[VENETIM] You...
You can't. I swear, I don't know anything!
I just...
didn't want to disappoint anyone.
[Kafzen chuckles]
Venetim Leopool.
- You are hereby sentenced... - [Venetim whimpers]
...to be a hero.
[XYLO] I can't believe he got us everything I asked for,
except the pardon.
[DOTTA] If the goddess is in danger,
I'd bet good scrip that Venetim will conjure up some way
to get her out of it.
He's the cleverest guy I know.
Some way, he's guaranteed to wind up
with a knife in his back.
Speaking of,
do you think that Tsav has already arrived?
Probably.
[sighs]
Somehow, that guy found a way to be even worse than Venetim.
You know...
Tsav is just so volatile all the time.
- [indistinct chatter] - [MAN 1] He did it again!
[MAN 2] That man is unstoppable!
[MAN 3] Seven times in a row!
[man 4 grunts]
[all exclaiming]
[MAN 5] Yet another winning roll!
[laughs]
Looks like the pot's all mine!
Go on. It's time to pony up my hard-earned scrip!
You should know, I can see right through your little ploy.
Huh?
Somethin' you wanna say?
Actually, there is.
I happen to have keen eyes and ears.
Also, I'm a brutally stand-up guy
who just hates to see wrongdoers go unpunished.
But if you give up the scrip and leave, I won't have
- to teach you a lesson-- - [MAN 6] You bastard!
You'd better shut your mouth!
Take back those damn lies
- or else I'm gonna... - [sword whooshes]
[whimpering]
- [TSAV] We all saw that, right? - [all gasping]
Relieved the naughty fraudster of his swindling hand.
[screaming]
It's your own fault.
I tried to warn you in advance.
[screaming continues]
[TSAV] But anyway...
[Tsav grunts]
[Tsav sighs]
I think it's dinner time.
[♪ closing theme song playing]