Guest of Honor
Unbroken blades shake the night, their ringing scraping against one another.
And within that frenzied clamor, I wander through a dream that has yet to end.
Western Liberators, all assembled and accounted for, Commander Ceres.
We can move out at any time. Your orders, please.
Good. There's no need to drag this out.
Today, at last... we put an end to this long fight.
Move out.
We're taking back the West's golden fields, stolen from our ancestors!
In my endless dreams, the same harrowing scene plays out time and again.
Once again, as if drawn by the echoes of the battlefield, I grip my sword and step forward.
D-don't come this way!
This can't be. How could this happen...?!
Losing my own life is nothing to fear.
Like a sailor lost on an endless sea, I simply don't want to drift forever, never reaching the end.
Commander...
I'm... sorry...
Even if those who watched my back should fall.
Not a single one left. All... of them. Every single one of them...
*Huff...* *Huff...*
The frenzied clamor that filled the battlefield slowly fades, until at last only a heavy silence remains.
In that empty stillness, all that's left is the raw sensation of cutting others down.
As I look down at my blood-stained hands, I finally realize.
That once again, I have only been wandering through a nightmare with no end in sight.
Western Liberators. Operation: Destroy the Void Core
One Day Until the Operation
...Hah...!
*Huff...* *Huff...*
...
Was that... a dream?
Commander. Do you have a moment?
I've come to report on a matter ahead of tomorrow's operation.
...Come in.
Commander. Reporting an anomaly detected during sentry duty.
An unidentified Void reaction has been observed in Sector 1972-023A. Readings exceed normal parameters...
...
Commander, are you all right?
...My apologies. I lost focus. That was unlike me.
I understand. With a major operation ahead, the weight of responsibility on you must be immense.
To repeat, an unidentified Void reaction has been observed in Sector 1972-023A.
1972-023A... It's where the Void Core crashed...
Since the readings are changing by the minute, tomorrow's operation may be subject to significant uncertainty...
How would you like to proceed?
...It could be a sign. There's no harm in being cautious.
But regardless of the Void reaction, we can't miss this opportunity now that we've finally secured a route to the Void Core.
If the Voidborns run rampant again while we hesitate, we'll be forced onto the defensive with no end in sight.
Monitor the situation closely, but proceed with preparations as planned. Report any unusual developments immediately.
Understood. And what shall we do with the outsiders we've detained?
...I'll speak with them myself.
Understood. Then I'll take my leave.
Liberation.
Urgh...
Urghhhh...!!
...Captain. Let's just break the door down and get out of here!
...That would create a whole new set of problems.
Branded as suspects by the Western Liberators, we were taken to their garrison.
Believing the misunderstanding would clear up if we could just talk, I held Asherah back and decided to go along with them for now.
[Raven Wall], NOA's great frontline bastion.
The colossal wall stretched endlessly into the sky, its sheer presence overwhelming anyone who laid eyes on it.
An uneasy tension hung over the garrison, as Liberators hurried about with tension written across their faces.
We were shown to a room so bleak it could hardly be called a guest room.
Only when the door locked behind us did we realize we'd been locked in.
I'd heard they were standoffish with outsiders, but they're treating us like spies!
Even if this misunderstanding gets cleared up later, they're going to hear about this!
How much time had passed, I couldn't tell.
By the time the last of the light filtering in from outside had faded and the room began to grow dim, I heard movement beyond the door.
Ah, you're...!
Have you been resting well?
Resting well? Seriously? You're the one who locked us up without a word...!
I regret our discourtesy. That said, "locked up" is not quite accurate.
You trespassed into the Western lands and disrupted an operation by barging in.
Intent and outcome aside, as commander of the Western Liberators, I have ample grounds to question you.
Maybe so... but you didn't have to lock us in here without a word, did you?
We needed time to verify your identities.
And I had to gauge what kind of people you are.
What kind of people...?
With your level of skill, attempting escape after being confined by force would have been an easy choice.
You did no such thing. That means you are not troublemakers, at least.
W-well, of course! Do you know how well-behaved we were?
...Asherah looked away and cleared her throat, perhaps remembering what she'd said about breaking down the door.
No. I tried using communication magic to contact NOA, but there was no response.
Well, communication magic often fails in the West when the Void energy grows stronger, so it's nothing unusual.
Once communication is restored, we can verify it.
So you mean you still can't trust us?
Your claim that the train you arrived on vanished leaves room for interpretation, but...
Someone with an ulterior motive would not lie about something that can be verified so easily.
...I don't think you're people likely to cause trouble.
Once again, I apologize for being so heavy-handed when we first met.
But I must say... your timing couldn't have been worse.
Our timing...?
Tomorrow, the Western Liberators march on the Void Core.
This time, we'll destroy that Void Core completely and root out the Void's curse from the West.
Ceres's sudden words made my heart drop.
And... there's one more thing I'd ask of you in addition to supporting the [Western Liberators].
Should the Western Liberators be planning a direct attack on the [Void Core]...
Please intervene and prevent that from happening.
Tomorrow... you mean tomorrow already...?
Yes, all preparations are complete.
You see now? Whether you're here for personal reasons or you're the Voyager Savior Party for the Void trial, it makes no difference.
Until tomorrow's operation is over, stay put and stay in this room.
Once the operation ends successfully, communication magic will be restored, and we can finish verifying your identities.
Of course, that would mean you won't be able to proceed with the Void trial here, but that's none of my concern—
W-wait!
I raised my voice before I knew it.
About tomorrow's operation...
Could you reconsider...?
C-Captain...?
...What do you mean?
In an instant, Ceres's demeanor changed.
Her composed expression gave way to an unmistakable killing intent.
The pressure was every bit as overwhelming as when facing Tyria.
You mean postpone the operation? Why? On what grounds?
Er... Th-that's...
After blurting it out without thinking, I was at a loss for what to say next.
At this rate, if I said something like, "Because I'm worried about the Western Liberators' safety," Ceres might take my head off on the spot.
...And I had every reason to believe it.
Answer me! If you blurted that out for some absurd reason, I won't forgive you!
If I could just say something, anything, to buy time...
And for that we'd need at least a little time to prepare—
No, that's not necessary.
W-wait! I understand the operation can't be postponed. But are you saying we'd be no help?
That's right. We don't need your help. What I saw this afternoon was enough.
The Western Liberators fight in established formations with coordinated tactics. No matter how skilled you are, joining the fight now would only get in the way.
Th-that's right! The Voyager Savior Party isn't just the two of us.
If you'd help us search for them—
Whether there are two of you or ten, we're not delaying the operation just to work you into our formation.
This operation was planned with every last resource we could scrape together.
I will take that as a slip of the tongue.
But really—
Silence!
!
When we pleaded with NOA for support, they turned a deaf ear! And now you show up for some [trial]...?
Do you have any idea how many lives the people of the West have sacrificed just to hold Raven Wall?
You lived in peace, never once having to think about the Voidborns threatening the West, all because of those sacrifices...!
And now you DARE tell us to throw away the chance we bled for... to postpone this operation for YOUR convenience...?!
In the face of Ceres's furious outburst, I couldn't say a word.
...It's been a whole month since the Voidborns went on the rampage.
Everyone is exhausted from constant defensive battles. We secured a route to the heart of the Void Core's impact site with everything we had, determined to end it all here.
No matter how many Voidborns we kill, they just keep pouring out.
Delay even a day or two, and the route we fought so hard to open will be lost.
From the Western Liberators' standpoint, it was a sound argument that was hard to refute.
Still, judging by her words, there was no doubt she was prepared to wage an all-out battle.
Tomorrow, the very thing Alicia feared most would begin.
...That's all I have to say.
We'll speak again after the operation.
Wait!
Hold on!
Remain here until tomorrow's operation is over.
That is the only way you'll make it back to NOA safely.
The moment Ceres finished speaking and stepped out, the door was locked tight once more.
I told you to wait! Hey! Stop right there! We're not done talking!
Keep this up and I swear I'll break this thing down!
Break it, then. If you're prepared to fight every last Western Liberator.
That was Ceres's final answer, echoing from far down the corridor.
After calming Asherah, who really was about to break down the door, we slumped to the floor.
Ceres's warning that forcing our way out would mean taking on every Liberator was no empty threat.
To the Western Liberators, tomorrow's operation mattered more than anything.
Knowing we had to act, yet being powerless to do so, weighed heavily on me.
...Captain. There's something I want to ask you.
Why the sudden request to postpone the operation?
It didn't seem to be about the Void trial.
Well, truth is...
I told Asherah what Lisa had said.
Yeah, it doesn't seem like something you'd go out of your way to keep secret from us.
But... does that mean Lady Alicia knew Ceres was trying to destroy the Void Core?
And on the surface, it sounds like she said it out of concern for us or the Western Liberators, but...
But if you look at it another way, doesn't it sound like she's telling us to [keep the Western Liberators from destroying the Void Core]?
Yeah, I get that feeling too.
Even if it had been Alicia's intention, things were moving far more quickly than I'd thought.
As time slipped away, morning sunlight began to filter through the gaps in the wall.
From somewhere in the distance, hurried footsteps echoed toward us.
...I think it's starting.
Captain. Whatever happens, I can't just sit here and wait for the operation to end!
Right. I'm not about to sit here and do nothing, either.
Once the operation begins and the troops pull out of the garrison...
We'll have no choice but to break the door down and get out.