It didn’t take long for the news of the chaos in other nations to ripple through the Elfen Continent. Leomel, as always, gathered intelligence faster than the rest; the report had reached the Imperial Military Academy mere moments ago.
A teacher had only just visited the classrooms before the first bell to announce that lessons were canceled for the day. Fearing that similar attacks might break out within the Empire, the school had issued an immediate order for all students to return to their homes.
Amidst the sudden exodus, Ren and Lithia slipped out of their classroom together. They met up with Fiona and left the school building, heading for a secluded spot in the academy gardens. It was an area enclosed by tall hedges, featuring a fountain they had visited during the graduation ceremony earlier that spring.
As they had moved through the hallways, Ren’s eyes had briefly met those of Radius, who was walking outside.
I want to talk. I’ll be waiting, Radius’s eyes had seemed to say. In return, the prince seemed to read Ren’s silent agreement.
"We’ve been waiting for you, nya," a voice greeted them.
The usual group was gathered at an hour when they would normally be trapped in their morning lectures. Radius, seated on the edge of the fountain, looked at them with a faint, nostalgic smile.
"Gathering like this reminds me of last summer," the prince said. "Back then, the five of us stayed behind at the academy for days on end to work."
Though they still met occasionally in their secret room behind the library, the gravity of the current situation made the memory feel more distant than it truly was. Yet, looking at his companions, Radius felt a surge of confidence. On a day like today, that sense of solidarity was his greatest strength.
"This information just arrived from the castle. Take a look." The Third Prince handed a stack of documents to Ren. "It’s exactly what we discussed. Attacks broke out this morning in several of the areas we predicted they might target."
"How is the situation being handled?" Ren asked.
"We’ve deployed forces and initiated several tactical responses. However, we have yet to locate the main body of the enemy."
Reports were already coming in that the Heroic Ducal Houses were taking command, and the Hero Faction nobles were preparing to dispatch their own private forces. Ren scanned the documents as Radius spoke, but the prince suddenly lowered his voice to address a more pressing matter.
"There’s one more thing. It happened yesterday."
Ren’s eyes found the entry in the report. It detailed the total destruction of a major city in a foreign nation. This was news to Ren, and his brow furrowed.
"The Sacred Palace Knights dispatched by the Holy Land were wiped out," Radius continued. "The temple was reduced to rubble, and every Sacred Relic stored there was either destroyed or stolen."
"How did you get this information so quickly?"
"Through various shadows and informants. Because I’d been discussing these possibilities with you for some time, Ren, I was able to have my people in position to move immediately."
Without that preparation, it was unlikely they would have known anything yet. The nations of the Elfen Continent were major powers, far more secretive than those on other continents; uncovering their internal affairs usually required months of groundwork.
"According to those who managed to flee the city, the attacker was a man dressed like a high nobleman. More importantly, the reports say he wouldn’t stay dead. No matter how many times the knights ran him through or scorched him with magic, he simply kept coming."
"He apparently holds the rank of Priest, nya," Mirei added. "If I recall, his name is Orphide, nya."
As I thought, Ren muttered inwardly.
The image and power he had seen in his visions matched the description perfectly. Orphide was exactly as he remembered from the game—one of the true powerhouses of the Demon King Cult.
"...So, it really is that Priest," he whispered.
His voice was so low it didn't reach the others. Orphide was the very figure Ren had been investigating since winter break, the man he had warned Radius about. Since Ren had only cleared Legend of the Seven Heroes II once, his knowledge was limited to a few fragmented clues, which had made the search frustratingly difficult.
But his efforts hadn't been in vain. Working with Lithia and Fiona, he had been preparing for this very moment.
"Do you think that Priest ordered his subordinates to go after the Water Goddess’s Ring?"
"Given the timing, it’s highly probable," Radius replied.
"And it seems this man is one of the most dangerous members of the cult, nya," Mirei noted.
"He clearly has a larger scheme," Radius added. "If he was the one looking for the Water Goddess's Ring, it’s particularly concerning."
The ring was a Sacred Relic of considerable power. Ren recalled that the Demon King Cult’s sudden obsession with collecting these relics was something never fully detailed in the original game’s story.
"Fortunately, the fact that you and Ragna retrieved the ring is classified," Radius said. "Only we and a handful of others know it’s in our possession."
"The cult probably doesn't know that yet, which means they’ll likely go back for it. They seem obsessed with these artifacts," Ren said.
"Exactly. That was one of the scenarios we anticipated."
There was no panic among them. Ren and Radius, in particular, remained remarkably calm. For Ren, there was a strange sense of predetermined order to it all. Because he was no longer bound by the game’s script, he could move with calculated intent rather than reacting blindly.
Ren turned his attention back to the documents, his eyes landing on one specific report. This was it—the climax of Chapter One, Bloodline of the Hero.
The report mentioned shadows of the Demon King Cult spotted in a town near Windea—the very place Wayne and his group were supposed to return to. In the game, the Heroic Ducal House would lead the counterattack, and Wayne, newly revealed as the descendant of Hero Ruin, would corner a cult leader.
That battle was about to begin.
A few minutes later, an Imperial Guard arrived to escort the prince. He informed Radius that Estel was currently meeting with the academy director, Chronoa.
"I’m curious about what they’re saying. I think I’ll head up there," Ren said.
"Go ahead," Radius agreed. "Mirei and I will stay here until we receive the final report from the Guard."
"Understood, nya."
Ren glanced at Lithia and Fiona.
"We’ll check the situation in the staff room just in case," Lithia said. "You go on ahead, Ren."
"Understood. Let’s meet up afterward."
Ren left them and headed for the director’s office. He suspected Wayne and the others were already on the move, likely working with the Heroic Ducal House to fulfill a purpose that only the descendants of the Seven Heroes could achieve.
He knocked on Chronoa’s door and heard her usual "Come in, come in!"
Stepping inside, he found Estel exactly where he expected.
"I heard Estel-sama was here," Ren said. "I wanted to hear the latest."
"Umu. You’re just in time." Estel patted the sofa beside her. "Sit." Even though it wasn't her office, she acted with her typical lack of restraint.
Chronoa sat at her desk by the window, watching them with a tired smile. "There she goes again... acting like she owns the place."
"Is it so wrong? You’re one of the few friends I can truly be myself around, Chronoa. Forgive me."
"Haaa... what do you think of that, Ren-kun? Her logic!"
"It’s so typical of Estel-sama that it’s actually kind of reassuring," Ren replied.
"Ugh... I suppose you’re right," Chronoa grumbled, though she didn't look truly annoyed. "I guess I don't hate being called a friend..."
Estel turned her attention back to the matter at hand. "A man wielding a strange power is leading the cultists. There’s no doubt he’s the same individual who wiped that foreign city and its temple off the map."
"I heard a whole town was erased," Chronoa said softly. "And every Sacred Relic was stolen."
"Yes. And before that, several temple cities on the Martel Continent suffered the same fate. It’s all his work."
"Was it really just him?" Ren asked.
"There were traces of other cultists, but the reports suggest he did the actual destruction alone."
The conversation shifted to the nature of the man’s power.
"There are many types of regeneration," Estel said, "but this man’s ability is different. It’s reported that even the clothes on his back regenerate. Chronoa, I was hoping for your insight."
Reports claimed he could be riddled with holes or burned to a crisp and still recover instantly. Chronoa had already been looking into it, ever since her conversation with Ren back at Roses Kaitas.
But it was exactly as the game had described it: a complete mystery.
Ren’s game knowledge told him that Orphide’s power was unique, but even Chronoa, the world’s greatest mage, was stumped.
"I’ve been researching similar powers ever since Ren-kun mentioned it," Chronoa said. "But there’s no historical record of a regeneration ability that repairs inorganic matter like clothing along with the body. Based on what I’ve heard... it’s fundamentally different from standard healing magic."
"So, it’s an anomaly even to you," Estel noted.
"I’m sorry. I’m not much help here."
"Don't worry about it. It’s the Demon King Cult; it would be weirder if they didn't have someone using unknown powers. Still, it’s a troublesome ability to deal with."
"It is," Chronoa agreed. "It honestly feels less like magic and more like some kind of divine authority."
Ren knew that the only true counter was Wayne’s power. As the Hero, Wayne could suppress or slow the rate of such regeneration. It was the only known weakness.
Other than that, there’s only... that, Ren thought.
Chronoa looked at Estel. "What’s your plan now? Will you be moving with the knights or the Heroic Ducal House?"
"The Lion Holy Chancel is already mobilized," Estel replied. "But I have to head to the Great Sea of Forests first."
Ren’s interest piqued. The Great Sea of Forests was a hidden region in the Roferia Heroic Ducal Territory.
"The knights detected an unsettling magical signature in the area," Estel explained.
"The Great Sea of Forests..." Chronoa’s eyes widened. "Isn't that the territory of the Black Emperor Horn Behemoth?"
It was an S-rank monster, a creature of legend that Ren had seen mentioned in high-level quest logs before.
"Exactly," Estel said. "If the cult tries to control that thing—or worse, if they just provoke it into a rampage—it will be a catastrophe."
"So you’re going to handle it personally?"
"That’s the idea."
In the original game's timeline, Estel had rarely been in the capital. After Radius’s death in the first game, she had spent her life scouring the Empire for the cult. But this time, Radius was alive, and Estel was acting as his most trusted investigator.
"Is it really safe for you to go alone?" Chronoa asked. "Should I go with you?"
"Are you underestimating me?" Estel shot back.
"No, I’m just worried about you, you idiot."
"I know. But stay here. It’s more important for you to remain in the capital to reassure the people."
Ren listened, his mind racing. He had planned to stay in Erendil to protect Lithia and Fiona, but the situation was becoming increasingly fluid. He had wondered if he should join Wayne’s group, but they were already backed by the Heroic Ducal House and hidden specialists. Besides, Wayne’s role was something only he could fulfill. Ren decided his best course of action was to stay focused on his own responsibilities.
Estel stood to leave, and Ren prepared to do the same.
"Ren-kun," Chronoa said, her voice soft but firm. "I know you’ve been looking into things on your own, but don't do anything reckless."
"I won't," Ren promised. "I'll make sure Lithia and Fiona are safe."
"I was talking about you too," she reminded him.
"Right. Sorry."
Ren left the office and walked down the quiet hallway. The school was eerily silent now, the usual afternoon bustle gone. He found Radius waiting for him at a corner.
"Are you finished?" the prince asked.
"Just now. I thought you’d have left with Estel-sama."
"I wanted to talk to you first."
They stood by a window, looking out at the peaceful campus. For a moment, it was easy to forget the shadow looming over the Empire.
"They’re moving exactly as we expected," Radius said, turning back to Ren. "Evacuations are underway, and the knights are already engaging the cultists. We have Magic Weapons deployed, but the enemy has numbers. It’s going to be a messy fight."
"And the overall war?"
"Steady for now. But I suspect they’ve sent more reinforcements than our initial reports suggested. They’re trying to mask their true objective by causing chaos near the capital and Erendil."
"To keep our strongest assets pinned down," Ren added.
"Exactly."
Radius looked at Ren, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "I keep thinking about how you’ve handled all of this, Ren. Sometimes... I wonder if you’re actually a traveler from the future, giving us information from a time yet to come."
Ren’s heart skipped a beat. Radius’s intuition was legendary, but hearing it stated so bluntly was jarring.
"But that would be too simple, wouldn't it?" Radius laughed softly. "Unless, of course, there were some kind of restriction that kept you from telling us the whole truth."
He wasn't wrong. The "shackle" of not being able to explain the world of Legend of the Seven Heroes was very real.
"Don't joke like that," Ren said, forcing a casual tone.
"My apologies," Radius said with a smirk. "So, what will you do now? Usually, this is the part where you tell me you’re heading to the front lines."
"I’ve been thinking about it," Ren admitted. "But right now, I need to be in Erendil. I need to protect Lithia and Fiona."
He had agonized over this. He felt a responsibility as someone who knew the game’s secrets, but he had spent months preparing others so that he wouldn't have to be everywhere at once. Yet, the doubt remained.
Radius patted his shoulder. "I respect your choice. But promise me one thing: don't do anything reckless. Those two will be devastated if something happens to you."
"What if I don't consider it reckless?" Ren asked with a wry smile.
"Then that’s on you. Just be careful, my friend."
"I haven't even said I'm going yet."
"Hm? Oh, that’s right. Well, get those two back to Erendil safely."
Radius turned to leave, but paused. "You have the same look in your eyes you had back then, Ren."
He was referring to the night at the Great Clock Tower.
That afternoon, the Gardiknight Magic Train swept across the plains toward Erendil. It was a state-of-the-art vessel, a marvel of engineering that Ren had seen inaugurated just the previous winter.
Ren sat across from Lithia and Fiona. The train was nearly empty; most people were too afraid to travel given the news.
"It’s so quiet," Lithia whispered, looking at the empty seats.
"Even the sound of the tracks feels louder than usual," Fiona added.
Ren stared out the window, his mind a whirlwind of anxiety. Relying only on my game knowledge isn't enough anymore, he thought. The cult was adapting. They weren't just data points; they were living enemies responding to his interference.
As the train swayed, Ren’s heart suddenly hammered against his ribs. His vision blurred, turning into a hazy grey.
"Ngh... damn it..."
A blinding headache tore through his skull. He collapsed onto the seat, clutching his head.
"Ren!?"
"Ren-kun! what's wrong!?"
Their voices sounded like they were underwater. Ren’s consciousness slipped away, pulled into a cold, dark void.
When Ren opened his eyes, the world had changed. He was standing in a place that defied logic.
The same dream again?
But it was different. This was a continuation of the girl’s introduction from his last vision.
"I am—"
The girl’s name finally reached his ears, clear and resonant. She performed a perfect, mocking curtsy. Her presence was terrifying—an overwhelming force that felt as if it could swallow him whole if he blinked.
"Well? Is it a name you recognize?" she asked.
Ren didn't hesitate. "Are you the one behind everything? The mastermind?"
The girl blinked, then burst into a fit of giggles. "I wondered what you’d say, but you really are a strange one."
"If you're trying to dodge the question—"
"I'm not dodging anything. You just made me laugh." She took a light step forward. The pressure emanating from her eyes was like nothing Ren had ever felt. "Which mastermind do you mean? The one who killed the White Saintess in another life? Or the one who murdered Chronoa Highland?"
Ren went cold. "..."
"Or perhaps you mean something deeper?"
"I'll say it again," Ren growled. "Everything."
The girl laughed again, her voice like silver bells. "You ask such odd things. You are a mastermind too, aren't you? To the Empire, you are at the center of every incident. To the Elfen religion, you are a shadow. To the cult, you are the enemy protecting the Hero’s bloodline. To the cultists you’ve slaughtered, you are the mastermind of their destruction."
"I'm not here for a philosophy lesson."
"Oh? And do you think I’d waste my time on something so boring?" She stepped closer, her finger pressing against Ren’s collarbone. He tried to move, but the sheer weight of her presence pinned him in place. This was a being that existed on a level far beyond human comprehension.
"Suffer more," she whispered, leaning in close. "Gasp in your sorrow. Only then will you find the answer you seek. You haven't felt enough pain yet."
She pulled away and began to walk past him. Ren didn't turn around.
"What do you really know?" he asked.
"Much that you do not. Perhaps... everything." She stopped and looked back over her shoulder. "Because you were weak, you couldn't choose. You are a truly sinful man, Ren Ashton."
"The same could be said for your King," Ren retorted.
A sharp, white fang peeked from the corner of her mouth as she smiled. "You, of all people, are saying that?"
They stood back-to-back as the world began to dissolve.
"I’m in a good mood, so I won't kill you today," she said. "But next time? Maybe."
"Fine. I wasn't planning on fighting you here anyway."
"Such a wise boy. Is it your bloodline?" Her voice faded as the grey mist swallowed her. "But remember, Ren... you are being toyed with by that very blood."
Ren snapped awake, gaspingly for air. He was still lying on the train seat, with Lithia and Fiona leaning over him. Lithia’s fingertips were glowing with the soft light of Holy Magic, trying to soothe his pain.
The sweet scent of the girls and their warmth usually would have made him flustered, but his mind was too crowded with the girl’s parting words. He sat up slowly.
Seeing Lithia’s face, a sharp pang of grief hit his chest as he remembered the dream girl's claim that he had killed her in another life.
"Ren-kun, are you okay? You just collapsed!" Fiona cried.
"Don't move too fast," Lithia warned. "You need to rest."
"I... I just had a sudden headache. I'm fine now, really." He forced a smile to ease their worry. Lithia tried to continue her healing, but he gently stopped her. "I'm okay, Lithia. Don't waste your mana."
He took a few deep breaths. That dream wasn't a hallucination. It felt too deliberate, especially the timing.
Because you were weak, you couldn't choose.
If he had been stronger, could he have saved them? Could he have stopped the tragedies of the game’s original timeline?
He looked at the two girls. "I’m sorry... but I think I have something I need to do."
He realized he couldn't just stay in Erendil. He had to head to the battlefield. He had to find Orphide and get the truth from him.
Before the girls could respond, the Magic Train lurched violently. Screeching brakes echoed through the carriage as it made an emergency stop. Ren stood up, but his legs felt like lead.
Lithia and Fiona caught him.
"You're not going anywhere yet," Lithia said firmly.
"I have to check what’s happening...!"
"There are plenty of knights for that," Fiona insisted. "You just collapsed, Ren. You're staying put."
But the sound of combat was already reaching them. Lithia’s eyes narrowed as she sensed the approach of enemies.
"If I'm here," she said, her voice dropping into the cold, authoritative tone of the Saintess, "I won't let a single scratch touch either of you."
Her skill was approaching that of a Sword Saint. She could still easily overwhelm the likes of Wayne or Sera. Though she still felt a lingering hesitation about her Holy Magic, when it came to protecting Ren and Fiona, that fear vanished.
"We’re actually quite strong, you know," Lithia said, looking at him.
"We really are," Fiona added.
They synchronized their voices, their eyes full of a resolve that matched Ren’s own.
They moved toward the connecting passage, where they found a group of knights preparing for a skirmish. The knights were stunned to see the three of them.
"It’s a small group of cultists," the lead knight reported. "They’ve blocked the tracks, but we’ll have them cleared shortly."
Outside, magic was already illuminating the plains. Ren summoned his Mithril Magic Sword, his dizzy spell finally passing. He stepped out of the carriage with the girls, scanning the horizon for more threats.
Fiona stepped forward, her hand outstretched. "Leave this to me."
Since the battle in the Baldur Mountains, her ice magic had reached a terrifying new level. She took a deep breath, her eyes fluttering shut as she focused. A massive, deep blue magic circle erupted in front of her, spanning the width of the tracks.
Ren watched in awe. He recognized the spell she was gathering—one of the most powerful ice spells in existence, a grade of magic that rivaled a Sword Saint’s ultimate technique.
Absolute.
A wave of absolute-zero frost surged from Fiona’s feet. It raced across the plains and the road like a crystalline tidal wave. In an instant, the world turned blue. The ground was encased in jagged, beautiful ice.
The spell was perfectly controlled; the Leomel knights were untouched, but every cultist was frozen solid where they stood. Their weapons were encased in ice, and their spells died in their hands.
Enormous pillars of ice rose toward the sky.
Fiona looked back at Ren, a playful smile on her lips. "I’ve gotten a lot stronger since the winter, haven't I?"
Ren was speechless. "I... I don't even know what to say. That was incredible."
"I'm glad. It was worth the practice then."
She turned back to the battlefield. The remaining cultists, realizing the real threat was the group by the train, unleashed a barrage of fire and lightning.
But the spells never reached them.
"Did you really think that level of magic would work?" a cold voice asked.
Lithia stepped forward, the White Saintess taking her place at the front of the line.
They arrived in Erendil shortly after noon.
The town was in an uproar, but Radius’s preparations had kept the damage to a minimum. At the mansion, Lezard and Ulysses were waiting for them. They had already heard reports of their daughters' exploits on the train.
They were relieved, but also concerned when they heard about Ren’s collapse.
"The fight was over before I could even draw my sword," Ren told them. "Lithia and Fiona handled everything."
Ulysses nodded, looking proud. "Are you truly alright, Ren?"
"Yes. It was just a brief dizzy spell."
Lezard looked at Ren, his eyes searching. "Well, you should rest now. None of you need to push yourselves further today."
Ren went quiet. Lezard could sense what was coming; he had seen this look on Ren’s face before.
"I’m going to join Wayne and the others," Ren said.
Ulysses and Lezard exchanged a look. "Why now?" Lezard asked calmly. "Is there a reason?"
Ren couldn't tell them about the dream. He couldn't explain the mysterious girl. Instead, he gave the most logical answer he could.
"The cult is moving in greater numbers than we expected. They’re attacking near the capital and Erendil to pin us down. That means the forces at Windea might be in more danger than we thought. I need to be there."
It was a perfect, plausible explanation. Neither man doubted him.
At the Hanging Garden, the Lemuria was prepped for flight.
"Ren! We’re ready when you are!" Werlich shouted from the deck.
Ren stood with Lithia and Fiona one last time before departing. The dream was still fresh in his mind, the girl’s mocking voice echoing in his ears.
"I have to go," he said, turning toward the ship.
"Wait!" the two girls cried in unison.
They laughed nervously as their voices overlapped, then looked at him with serious expressions.
"We’ll do our part here," Lithia promised.
"Just... please don't do anything reckless," Fiona added.
"I’ll do my best to keep up with you two," Ren joked. "You were the stars of the show today. People are already talking about the White Saintess and the Black Priestess."
"Don't... it’s embarrassing," Lithia muttered, blushing.
"Yeah, we didn't mean to stand out that much," Fiona added, looking away.
The Lemuria’s engines hummed, kicking up a gale that tossed the girls’ hair. Ren looked at them one last time, his gaze firm.
"I’ll be back before the day is over. I promise."
With that, he boarded the ship. His destination was the sacred peaks where the elements converged.
Windea—the place where water and wind sleep.