[thunder rumbling]
[CLEVATESS] Where am I?
What am I doing here?
A desolate realm under a withered sky.
Was it always like this?
Where is my adversary?
All your foes are gone, Clevatess.
Gone forever.
This story has come to an end.
[CLEVATESS] Who are you?
I am the Lord of Dark Beasts of the West.
I am Zavthier of Phantasms.
[Clevatess grunts]
[♪ opening theme song playing]
- [bell tolling] - [ALICIA] Hey! Hey!
Really?
I'm going home again with these two today.
[ALICIA] Huh?
No, no, no, no, you can't.
There was a dark beast, and not just a normal one.
I'm not interested in working through this with you.
Find me when you have it figured out.
Hey, sorry, Alyssa. We're stealing him.
We'll bring him back, though.
[receding footsteps]
What are they up to anyway?
[sighs]
The only time we can talk privately
is walking to and from school.
When I reach him through the dark ichor,
there's a good chance he'll just continue to ignore me.
It's so strange to see him getting along
with humans like this.
Does he have an ulterior motive I'm unaware of?
If I keep dwelling on it, I'll go crazy!
You know what?
I believe I will go solve this mystery on my own.
The students here are all peculiar, honestly.
The presence of a dark beast aside,
we were told about Nathan's condition
at an assembly this morning.
But nobody seems the least bit disturbed by it.
Now you've seen one of its true faces.
[ALICIA] Do children often fall prey
to dark influence here?
Hey, sorry. Can I ask you something?
Have there been others besides Nathan who--
- [all sigh dismissively] - Hey, wait.
[BOY] I heard she was the one out there with Nathan.
It was her and those twins.
[GIRL] Ew, so she's another savage like them? Gross.
And now they're treating me
like I've done something wrong myself.
[chuckles] Why should I try, right?
I doubt they'd talk to me anyway.
- [LEON, TYGEL] Hey. - [gasps]
Oh. What do you guys want?
You're, uh, Leon and... Tygel?
[both sigh]
[BOTH] Look, we need to talk, all right?
[gasps]
What is it?
[TYGEL] It's about Nathan Franc.
He's out.
I heard that he's leaving the school today.
Oh, did you?
[TYGEL] Studying magic inherently comes with risks.
[LEON] Just goes to show you, it takes a certain kind of brass
to learn magic and become a wizard.
Especially in this country
where the military is dependent on magical might.
[TYGEL] If you become a wizard here,
you can sign up as a ranking officer
in the military the moment you graduate.
That's why we enrolled to begin with.
We didn't come here to mess around.
We came to learn magic and become the very best!
[TYGEL] If anything, it's the perfect environment for us.
We're going to ascend to the top ranks
and show a certain someone who's boss.
[LEON] What about you, Hiden girl? What's your goal?
Seems obvious you came here with similar intentions.
We think you're a lot stronger than anyone realizes,
magic notwithstanding.
No normal person can fight a dark beast
with nothing but kicks and sticks.
[BOTH] So team up with us. What do you say?
[Alicia gasps softly]
[TYGEL] We want to learn how to get a crest,
no matter what it takes.
[LEON] And you're here to unearth
the mysteries of magic for your people, right?
Otherwise, you wouldn't have come this far
into enemy territory.
[ALICIA] I am here to unearth the mysteries of magic,
and finding Drel's secret room is the key.
What about Sarasa and Edison?
Do they have ulterior motives?
I mean, they certainly don't look like
they're up to anything.
If I say yes, then what's in it for me?
We can gather intel.
There are things we can do
that a good girl like yourself cannot.
On the other hand,
there are things that only a good girl can get away with.
So you find out what you can, and we'll swap information
to start piecing it all together.
How do I know I can trust you?
Oh, you don't.
We're both just using each other for as long as that lasts.
[ALICIA] They may be arrogant and violent,
but they're not liars.
If I can end this alliance at any time,
it's not a bad idea.
- I'm in. - [BOTH] Splendid.
Tell me if you find anything,
especially if it's a dark beast.
And if I need any help, you two will be the first to know.
Yes! Will do!
If you learn something new, tell us right away!
Deal.
Does the sight trouble you, Your Highness?
The words of the Church of Elds are the words of God.
If the ancient writings of Toah in the sacred texts
leave us guidance to pursue magic,
then the people of Dunn must honor those words.
It is no less than our duty.
He's lucky to be alive.
And though I'm grateful that he is,
I grieve for the boy.
His future has been abruptly derailed.
It just isn't fair.
Your Highness, all is as God wills it.
[ALICIA] Well, I've got nothin'.
Nobody's willing to answer my questions,
especially when I mention Nathan turning into a dark beast.
You'd think that's something people would be talking about.
Hmm.
I guess maybe I should try asking someone else.
Like one of the teachers?
That guy from Eslinn?
No, that's a bad idea.
If he figures out who I am,
I don't wanna have to come up with an excuse.
These stones look pretty old to me.
Speaking of, didn't they build this school
over the ruins of some ancient civilization?
[sighs deeply]
This feels good.
Who knew laying on ancient mossy stone could be so comfy?
[stretches, yawns]
Uh?
[Naie sighs]
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
[running footsteps]
- [thuds] - [screams]
I've been stabbed in the back?
But why? What did I do?
[whimpering]
[ALICIA] Professor.
I wanted to talk to you.
Please, the other students are ignoring me!
You're the only one who can help me now.
[Naie screams] Scary! Scary! Scary! Scary! Scary! Scary!
S-s-so you needed me?
What do you wanna talk about?
How the other kids are bullying me.
Oh, please! That is such an obvious lie!
[ALICIA] Those kids are so mean.
They won't answer any of my questions.
Like, they won't tell me what happened to Nathan,
or how I should begin to get my own crest,
or if they've seen a dark beast.
Oh, yeah,
and do you know where Drel's secret room might be located?
Uh, what is wrong with you?!
Please tell me you haven't actually been asking everybody
that last question.
Nah, that one was a joke.
You were really freaked out.
You know I'm not that much of a fool, right?
When I'm around the others,
I pose as a scholarly, compassionate student
who's eager to learn about magic and worried about poor Nathan.
If you wanna talk about this stuff,
I'm not the person you should be speaking with.
[ALICIA] I'm not so sure.
I mean, you already know who I am,
but you haven't reported me
- to your superiors. - [splutters]
Which means you're keeping peace between the three kingdoms.
This school is on holy grounds,
and the emperor struggles to assert control over it,
which is why you're spying for him.
Am I wrong?
No, but that doesn't really change anything.
We're still enemies, professor or not. [huffs]
I'm afraid that I can't help you.
[ALICIA] Huh.
Would that change if I offered to help you?
[gasps]
I know what your emperor's goal is.
I was present at the summit of the three kingdoms.
The emperor wants us to find Drel's secret room
so he can seize our discoveries,
and he'll mobilize his army to do so.
He only allowed us through the gate
so he could justify sending his troops onto sacred ground.
It's true, and there's a reason he hasn't acted yet.
He doesn't know the secrets any better than we do.
Once Eslinn or Hiden
or you succeed in finding what he wants,
he'll make his move.
- Are you ready to talk now? - [gasps]
[ALICIA] When Boelate's army descends on the school,
I know Eslinn won't remain idle.
I'm sure King Yuriel already has an elite army ready and waiting.
Either way, the school will become a war zone.
There will be casualties even among the students.
And as a hero, I want to avoid that.
So then what?
What do you want me to do exactly?
The best option we have
is to find whatever secrets are hiding here
and destroy them before they arrive.
Boelate would then have no reason to attack.
You can report that the information was found,
and I can stay and protect the children.
But then, after you find them,
you're going to give me time to tell the emperor, right?
Indeed. When I do, you'll be the first to find out.
By the way,
I'm already working together with those Eslinn twins.
[gasps]
I swear on my name as a hero
that I won't tell them where I learned anything.
Yeah, I'd hope not!
And if a war does break out,
you have my word that I won't harm you in any way.
Does that mean if I don't help you,
you will harm me in some way?!
This sounds more like a threat than a real proposition!
[gasps]
[sighs]
I have one question, though.
Yeah, what's that?
Is there a reason you've been shrunk down
into a tiny Hidenean schoolgirl?
[ALICIA] Hmm.
Has it been bothering you?
[pigeons cooing]
Hmm.
Rhode and Miquel are capable men,
but they must contend with Dean Romain,
Cardinal of the Church of Elds, a true master of secrecy.
Shall I prepare to leave, Your Majesty?
No, Sword Saint, not yet.
If we act too quickly, we risk inciting needless tensions
with the Church of Elds.
Without proof of the evil within,
we cannot set foot on that hallowed ground.
At least, not as long as the current Pope is still alive.
If the rumors I've heard are the truth,
there is only one candidate under serious consideration
to succeed the Pope.
Elro Romain, Dean of Solsein.
With him around, the place will be untouchable.
- Hmm. - So what can we do now?
Ah.
This day, I command you!
Sword Saint Owen Koath,
lead an army of 500 soldiers to Hiden.
Lay siege to Luna Mountain while its master is absent.
[monster wails]
[LUNA] Luna!
- [T'ala gasps] - Amazing, Lord Luna!
Yes, you are!
Memorizing the characters alone is impressive,
but you can also levitate the wooden blocks.
[T'ALA] I knew he had a gift for magic,
but this is extraordinary.
He's so talented.
Hmm.
The throne is engraved with the names of former kings,
all of which went through the naming ceremony
and received their true names.
My son has yet to go through the ceremony himself,
but by some twist of fate,
the word "Luna" is engraved above the previous king's name.
- [Nelluru chuckles] - How can that be?
Perhaps it's a gift from his name-giver, Lord Klen.
Who else but Master
could accomplish such an incredible feat?
Ma!
[ALICIA] So, how exactly does one obtain a crest, Professor?
Do you know where it happens, or anything about the process?
If I knew any details,
I would have reported them to the emperor.
The only memories I have left are when I got my crystal.
Anything leading up to or after that is gone.
I suspect it's the same
for the other students who were granted one.
All I know is that the process involves a trial,
and that only the chosen ones receive a revelation.
Hmm, what's that?
An order of sorts, a revelation that guides you
- to a trial-- - Hang on a second!
You mean like--
Yes, that's right.
The process to obtain a crest echoes the story told
in the Village of Origin from the Legend of the Hero.
[SARASA] Is that really what it's like in Slada?
[EDISON] It is, I swear! [laughs]
[whooshes]
[gasps]
Mm.
[panting]
Somebody's been following us?
Yes, since yesterday.
Can I ask how you're doing that?
Are those copies of us?
Is it magic?
[KLEN] No, those are shadows.
[EDISON] Shadows?
[KLEN] They'll disappear upon reaching another shadow.
And when they disappear,
our stalker will assume she's lost us.
That's a cool trick.
Like Zavthier of Phantasms, Lord of the West.
Well, it's not exclusive to Lord Zavthier.
I can also create a barrier of shadow
that obscures us from others' sight.
- [Edison gasps] - [SARASA] But why follow us?
And who on Edthea is that girl?
I couldn't care less about her identity.
No, right now, all I care about is the task which must be done.
I erected this barrier to obscure your ritual,
Sarasa Rue Eeira Raphoka, Orggite Shamaness Godspeaker.
Well, well, it looks like the cat's out of the bag, huh?
Huh?
Indeed, I am the next queen of the Orggites,
the Shamaness Godspeaker.
[EDISON] You're t-the q-q-queen?!
- [whimpers] - [VOICE] Hey, Eddy!
- Must you panic at every step? - Sorry.
Might wanna scooch so I can summon Zavthier,
god of the Orggites, m'kay?
Now...
[EDISON] It-- It's her!
Western Lord of Dark Beasts.
Zavthier of Phantasms!
Clevatess of the Moonlight,
Southern Lord of Dark Beasts.
It has been quite a long time.
Huh?
Your shamaness has a tiny frame this time,
- you old hag. - [EDISON] Huh?!
[ZAVTHIER] Silence, you bumbling whelp.
Now, it is your turn, hive mind.
[EDISON] Huh?
How long did you plan to remain hidden,
Eastern Lord of Dark Beasts, Rathwell of Azure?
No, you've got the wrong guy!
[RATHWELL] Stop talking, Eddy!
Just go to sleep.
- I'll do the talking. - No, wait!
Please. I'm not ready to go to sleep yet!
[RATHWELL] Shut up. I'll come out
whenever I damn well please.
[laughs]
Are you satisfied,
Lord of the West, Lord of the South?
Knowing you as a collective and a parasite,
I quickly recognized your presence in that humanoid
just by looking at him.
[RATHWELL] Well, I've latched onto countless creatures
just for the fun of it, you know.
This human is no exception.
This place is outside my territory,
so I thought it wouldn't hurt
to send out a good three or four bodies.
Clevatess, how did you manage
to leave the confines of your domain?
It appears you've had to sculpt your body down quite a bit.
Now then, I can only assume
this assembly was not arranged on a whim, Zavthier.
It was not. Vordin of Scorchfire,
Northern Lord of Dark Beasts.
I have procured concrete evidence that he is conspiring
with a faction of humanoids on some kind of plot,
and that he has a vessel of dark ichor here as well.
I assume you have traveled here
because you too had sensed a disturbance.
[RATHWELL] Indeed. I could sense something quite ominous.
It was that very feeling of dread which drew me here.
The news of what happened between Clevatess and Hiden
traveled far enough to reach my domain.
So what shall we do?
Find Vordin's herald and make him talk?
He's not the type to surrender his schemes so easily.
But we must uncover his intent
and render our judgment accordingly.
[RATHWELL] How shall we carry out this "judgment"?
We Lords of Dark Beasts can't leave our territory,
as well you know.
[ZAVTHIER] But we can destroy what he's after
and stop him from realizing his will.
[RATHWELL] What might that be?
It must have something to do with the Hero Legend.
Most likely.
[RATHWELL] Ah, yes, about that.
If you could give me a quick summary,
the Sladans in my domain rarely speak of it,
so I don't know much about this legend.
I intend to,
and I shall share it now.
I give you the tale
that predates the age of your fallen predecessors.
[NAIE] The Hero Legend, Chapter One, The Temple.
The hero awakens on an altar of stone.
Their eyes look up toward the light,
and in that moment, they realize their destiny.
Chapter Two, The Village of Origin.
There, the hero receives a revelation from God
and follows its guidance.
They undergo a trial, and awaken their true power.
Chapter Three, The Forge.
From a flame blessed by divine power,
a sword is forged, a regalia.
And from that moment on,
it becomes the hero's ultimate weapon.
Chapter Four, Heavens and Earth.
The hero slays countless dark beasts.
The hero saves countless lives.
They stand atop a mountain of corpses,
gazing beyond the bloody summit of their own creation.
Final Chapter, New Horizons.
The hero slays the four lords of dark beasts,
rising as the new leader of man.
Beyond the veil, with God's will as their new compass,
they seek to reclaim the world.
Rise up, Hero.
Hear the words of God.
It's the moment of true awakening.
That's the legend, the whole thing.
There's nothing else to it.
As for the fairy tale we've all come to know,
it's largely rooted in the story of the Village of Origin.
But in the original text we have,
the word "magic" is nowhere to be found.
Yeah, and the same thing could be said
about the forge in the original account.
Neither Hiden nor the secret to forging regalia
appear in the text, yet they exist.
Something tells me that there's probably records or books
hidden around the various lands
that fill in the gaps left by the original legend,
like the Book of Toah, the one that Klen found.
Who knows, maybe there's an entire book for each chapter.
What if Drel was never after the forge,
but the books instead?
Does that mean he was privy
to the existence of these books the whole time?
If he already knew about them,
could he have gotten his hands on another one?
And if he did, could it be here,
tied to Chapter Two, The Village of Origin?
[NAIE] You all right?
So, revelation, the trial.
If we read it, and then we try to replicate it...
Uh?
I think that I finally figured out
- what the secret room is. - [gasps]
- [grunts] - [gasps]
You can't just leave!
That's totally not fair!
Of all the times to sever his connection to me,
why the hell did Klen have to do it now?
He needs to know.
Mm.
Isn't that the third-best student at the school?
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
Uh?
Is that a silver snail?
What's that?
Wait, I can see a reflection of myself in its slime.
[pages rustling, slams]
[gasps]
What was that? What happened? Uh...
[exclaims]
Something feels wrong.
- [crashes] - [gasps]
[gasps]
What is that?!
What the hell's going on?!
[♪ closing theme song playing]