The Figarosa Grand Palace. The home of the Figarosa Imperial Family, the empire once founded by the legendary eikon summoner, Rydio zai Figarosa, and his wife, Rosalei yos Figarosa, after the War of Blades and Roses, the first major war between the nations of Bektorias and Archaeus over 250 years ago.

To think that this building is still standing after two and a half centuries. I have to wonder how long it'll last before it crumbles to the ground.

We enter through the palace's red iron double-doors and a magnificent space greets us where a set of stairs with a red patterned rug leads the way. Above us, a crystal chandelier illuminates a warm orange light, filling the space of white plaster walls with gold trims around the arches. Along the hallways, paintings display members of the royal family, many who have long since passed.

At the very end of the hall, we enter a gathering place. Red and gold ornate furniture sets the motif. On the floor is a black and red rug displaying the Figarosa family crest, a shield-like insignia with an open book at the center with two golden blades crossed under it. The same gold blades Cammy has on her possession. Above the fireplace is a painting of the current members of the Figarosa immediate family: Empress Hestalia, Emperor Hien, Prince Caienne, Princess Cammy, and Prince Alphio. Emperor Hien has been dead for the last five years. Caienne is also dead. I guess that leaves Hestalia, Cammy, and Alphio.

Rin and Arizona sit on a gold ornate bench next to each other. Samza and Mezos stand, glancing at the red banners draped on the wall. Lyne and I simply admire the decorative royal space.

Cid, Alphio, and Cammy stare at the painting.

The princess lowers her head for a moment and turns, her emerald green eyes piercing my gaze. "So, it seems the Lexia Army is at it again," she says, her voice low and gasping.

"Yes," I say.

"Fuck." Cammy grumbles. "I guess peace was never an option amongst our families. Such a union only exists in dreams, it seems."

Lyne confronts the Bektorian princess as she removes her helmet. "I wouldn't say that."

Cammy shifts her gaze to Lyne. And then her eyes open wide. The eyes of a skeptic. "No, it can't be. Princess Serahlyne Lexia III?"

"Princess no more," Lyne says, shaking her head. "I run my show now, and my show is with Mathilde and her allies. I will not be a part of my mother's twisted ways."

"But do you ever wonder if you'll return to your country?" Cammy grits her teeth.

"If I return to my country, then it is because someone overthrew my family bloodline, or I have the intention of doing it myself. However, I wouldn't be able do the latter alone. Not with the powers my mother has."

"And it seems she has a way of controlling the Nightmares, yes?"

Lyne pauses. "Yes, she does so using her military's scientific advances in magitech. It's the reason those crystallized Nightmares appeared amongst the ranks of your typical light and dark Nightmares."

Cammy scratches her chin. "Queen Serahlyne II and The Usurper — I'm sure the terms to their alliance puts The Usurper in heavier favor."

"I'd imagine so as well," Lyne says with a sigh. "I'm certain she will strike down the queen once they have fulfilled their terms."

"Enough with The Queen of Archaeus. I'm more concerned about my mother."

Alphio sighs, his head down in frustration. "It feels like we've tried everything."

Mezos asks, "Where's the Empress now?"

Cammy says, "She's resting in her quarters. Conjurers and fellow white mages are tending to her, but I fear it might be too much for her to bear."

Mezos mentions a hand. "I would like to check on her if it's okay with you. Maybe my healing spells might help. I'd also like to bring Alphio along. I noticed almost all the eikons he summons provides party support like Carbuncle, Asura, and Phoenix."

Cammy faces her brother and then stares back at the painting. "Go, brother. Meanwhile, I have something else in mind."

Alphio departs the room and the goat-fae boy follows.

Cammy then turns to Cid and asks, "What's the status on Lunarian One?"

Lunarian One. I've heard of this project before but know little about it. There is this belief that the Nightmares come from The White Moon. I'm not sure how that theory came to be, but I can believe it. I know the White Moon shines all the time, regardless of the time of day. When I was little, I've wondered if someone actually lived there because it always had light. However, I'm unfamiliar of Cid's intentions in regards to the White Moon.

Cid rubs his chin and smiles. "Turning out well. I launched a drone to the greater stars seven days ago. Six hours before Nightmares attacked the VIIIth Legion castrum, I received my first projections. It seems there's a crystal structure resembling a grand cathedral or palace standing there. A long white bridge leads to it." The magitech specialist pulls out an aetheric projection cube from his pocket and displays those images he's describing.

Everyone gazes at the images in amazement and curiosity.

Samza's rabbit ears poke high as she inspects the image's finer details. "Yo! That place looks familiar. It feels like I've been there before."

Cid turns to the rabbit-fae and says, "Somehow, I'm not surprised by your reaction. It seems the rabbit-fae amongst the VIIIth Legion share a similar reaction."

Rin gets up from her bench and confronts Cid and Samza. The tall tiger-fae points at the projection and says, "Mysidian researchers say that the Constellation of the Rabbit is not a constellation at all, but the actual moon. It could be the reason Samza has recollections of being there. As far as who lives in that big ol' church — not a gods dang clue."

I ask, "Any Nightmares there?"

Cid swipes through his projections, revealing the moon's creatures. "There are monsters resembling Nightmares. However, they appear docile. Yet, many share the same crystallized characteristics as that one Nightmare we confronted at the garden."

Arizona gets up and walks up to us. She scratches the back of her head. "Now that you mention it —" The gunbreaker turns to Samza and asks, "Didn't Rowynn or Mr. Vahn'dien say that crystallized Nightmares are like really old and angry and have lost a purpose in life?"

Samza's brows twitch. "Something about light and dark consuming the Nightmare, and how they forget things, or some shit? Yeah, I think that's right. That's what Rowynn said, anyway."

Cid gasps. "Excuse me, but did you say, Rowynn — as in Rowynn Thoriana, the En'ari Truthbringer? You also mentioned my son's name, Vahn'dien. They're alive, aren't they?"

Arizona smiles. "They are."

"So there is a civilization across the dimensions. That is good to know. Mayhap one day I'll see my son again. Still, as much as I would love to catch up on my son's whereabouts and his businesses, we have more pressing matters to attend to." The specialist turns to Cammy, "I'll be assisting the machinists and summoners inside Alexander's Fortress, Your Highness."

"You read my mind," Cammy says, smiling. "Assist them and see if we can amplify Alexander's power to further bolster the city's defenses. Everyone else, follow me. We'll be heading to the meeting area before my mother's resting quarters." The princess pauses, her head turning to the side. "While I hope for the best, I fear the day where I'll have to say goodbye to her is drawing near. If the ailments she's suffering from are anything like those from Empress Garnette's last days, as documented in the history books, then I'll have to come to terms with this fate."

—————

We arrive at the waiting room. It's a much plainer room, but still decorated with the white and gold accents on the walls. Behind the wooden double-doors is the Empress Hestalia's resting chambers.

The doors open and Mezos and Prince Alphio appear, both their heads down. Something doesn't feel right.

Mezos says, his voice low, letting out a heavy sigh, "Hey guys."

Cammy rushes to Mezos and Alphio, her eyes wide, her breath heavy. "How's my mother?"

Mezos pauses, trying to find the right words for the situation. I can only assume the worse, but he says, "Empress Hestalia wants to see you and Mathilde."

"Me?" I ask. "What does she want from me?"

"I told her the story of the Warrior of Light. To quote in her words, if I were to die tonight, then I would like to see the Warrior of Light one last time."

I wonder how she's going to react. Maybe she's expecting someone different. I mean, I've not known assassins to walk down the path of light. Yet, here I am wondering how this makes sense.

Cammy and I walk side-by-side and enter through the double-doors into the Empress' bed chambers.

The great leader rests in her bed, quiet and peaceful.

A caretaker stands at the corner of the room, preparing a tincture. Two white mages standby, both of their heads down, looking discouraged with their hoods over their head. Another mage confronts me and leads me to the Empress' side.

The Empress turns her resting head, facing me, her eyes looking like they're struggling to stay open. A sudden glint sparkles from her golden eyes as a smile forms on her frail, pale face. Tears. "Mathilde Wairen," she says, her voice soft. "It's good to see you again." She raises her hand, but only by a few illums above the fabric.

I hold her hand with both palms. "Your Highness," I say as I witness her condition. She feels weak. I try to hold back my tears, but it's difficult.

"The radiance," she says, letting out a light gasp. "You are indeed the Warrior of Light. The prophesies are true, it seems. If that is what Mysidian legend foretold, then mayhap you have the courage to vanquish the darkness from beneath these lands."

"Beneath? As in underneath the palace." If I recall, there's a sewer system that runs underneath the palace and through different parts of the city, but could there be Nightmares lurking from down there?

"I saw a vision. The new form of the False Emperor resembling a blue beast of armored carapace. One who bathes in the darkness of the deep. Yet, it seems this creature has signed a pact with The Usurper. Mayhap you'd be the one who bears the courage to vanquish him once and for all."

"The False Emperor? Who is this you're talking about?"

Cammy says as she confronts me, "I think I know who my mother is talking about. It's the Legend of the False Emperor." She pauses and waves a finger. "When I was little, my father would tell stories of a man who once ruled these lands during the War of Blades and Roses. The record keepers document that man serving as a prince who killed his own father to be a king. That man is Justinio Volnia yos Cagnazzo. Detractors often called him The False Emperor. After all, it was a position he had stolen from his father."

It's coming back to me. History books documented this, and I remember reading about it. Cammy is right in that this so-called "Emperor" Cagnazzo ruled Bektorias for a time two and a half centuries ago. Turned out the man secretly worked for the Lexia Empire, trading wartime secrets and technologies. The assassination of his father, Ignacius Domitia zai Cagnazzo, was what triggered the start of the War of Blades and Roses.

History books state that Justinio never experienced proper justice. Instead, after Rydio Figarosa's army imprisoned him, the False Emperor ended his life by jumping into the deeper parts of The Great Gordian River and drowning. Scouts never recovered his body. However, since The Great Gordian River flows into Svyataya Reka's sewer system, there's a legend stating that the spirit of The False Emperor lurks within the sewers. If Empress Hestalia saw visions of the False Emperor, then maybe there's some truth behind his presence.

Hestalia grips on to my hand. "Go, Mathilde Wairen. Vanquish the fiend who lurks in the deep so that this great city can witness the light once more." She pauses one more time and smiles. "And may the light of the crystal guide you, my children, and all of your friends. Farewell." Then loosens her grip, closes her eyes, and takes a final breath. Only a smile remains on her face.

"Mother!" Cammy yells, rushing to Hestalia's side. "No, please. Please, mother."

I put my hand over the princess' shoulder. "She's already gone, Cammy."

"Mathilde," Cammy says, her voice weak with tears welling from her eyes, "I need some time alone."

"Take your time. We'll be waiting outside."