Fódlan Alternative II

{Part Two: Ascendent Star} Chapter Eighteen: Mourning Howl I

At the start of the following moon, You awaken from your slumber and begin to prepare for the day. Seraphine speaks to You along the way.

Seraphine: I haven't been able to stop thinking about Arie... Something about them feels oddly familiar to me.

You ask what she means by that.

Seraphine: I wish I could tell you... But I feel as if I met them long before I was ever with you. Does that make any sense?

You ask Seraphine if she remembers anything from before she wound up in your body.

Seraphine: I wish I could answer that question... I don't know for certain. I feel like I should know, but the truth is just barely out of reach. I feel like it's right there, but trying to reach for it feels like it's no good. I want to find out what I'm missing, but... I don't know how.

You shake your head and say that You hope she can find the truth soon.

Seraphine: I do too... I have to wonder if that's the reason Rowan thinks of us as being so familiar to them. Maybe, somehow, years ago, I met Arie before they wound up with Rowan... But how would that make any sense? I just don't understand any of it.

You admit to Seraphine that You still understand very little about what she is doing there in your body.

Seraphine: You're right. That's one detail that has been a mystery to us both for a long time, but we have no idea where it started or how we can fix it... I suppose that's one reason we have to keep pushing forward. If we can find the truth, then maybe everything will finally come together. I can't say for certain how I could possibly know Arie or what the story is with them and Rowan, but I need to know as soon as possible. That will change things for all four of us. I'm sure of it.

You tell Seraphine that You will do all You can to help her find the truth even though You admittedly do not know where to start.

Seraphine: The fact that you're offering your help at all means a lot to me. Don't worry about the details for now. We can try and investigate more later on. For now, we should go and meet with the rest of the group. I'm sure they've already come up with our mission for the month, and I would rather not keep them waiting.

You nod and start to make your way up to the cardinals' room. When You arrive, You see Cordelia standing in front of a map with a small frown on her face. You ask her what is wrong when You arrive in the room.

Cordelia: Ah, Professor... It's good to see you. I'm afraid we've hit a bit of a snag in our decision to figure out just where we should take our path from here.

You ask what she is referring to.

Cordelia: We may have finally gotten our hands on a lead that could take us to Evenor. We received a report from the Ashen Wolves saying that they've been tracking her for a while now, and they believe they may have finally found something.

Your eyes go wide, and You ask if meeting with them once again will be your plan for the next battle.

Cordelia: It sure seems that way... But something about this has me worried. I don't know if Evenor would make herself known like that. I know they only said they suspected they found her, but...

Liram: Until we have that certainty, all of this will feel strange to us. I don't think Evenor would make a mistake so easily that would lead us right to her, but if they didn't find her, then they must have found something of note, and we should follow that lead as far as we can.

Cordelia: At the same time, I'm a bit worried about leaving the fight in the Kingdom alone... This mission would take us somewhere else, and I don't want to leave the queen to face too much without our help.