Facing off against Reinhardtzar, Cain tries to convince him that declaring independence will only incite the wrath of Idelva Kingdom. Suddenly there's a loud noise in the distance, and Reinhardtzar realizes that Cain knows about the seal. Right before the noise, Gran and the crew find the seal and battle the outlaws guarding it.
Having separated from Cain, Gran and the crew make their way to the location he described. Meanwhile a situation is happening in the village.
Villager
Curses... Why did this have to happen to us?
Outlaw 1
I'm pleadin' with ya to behave. We might look rough, but we hate the sight of blood.
Reinhardtzar
...
With blades pointed and ready, Reinhardtzar and his outlaws hold the villagers hostage.
Villager
This has got nothing to do with us! If you've got a spat with them, then keep us out of it!
Reinhardtzar
Don't make a fuss. We won't kill you, so just calm down.
Reinhardtzar
I know you're sort of trapped here, but it's for the sake of the island...
Cain
Hey now... I can't stand a king who traps his people whenever he feels!
Reinhardtzar sees Cain and begins to smile.
Reinhardtzar
So you've come. I thought you'd be keeping an eye on us from somewhere...
Reinhardtzar
But you're all alone now. What happened to the others?
Cain
Oh? Disappointed I'm the only guest at your party?
Reinhardtzar
I'm only warning you not to try anything stupid. This is our country, and there's no way for you to turn the tables.
Reinhardtzar
Or is it that you've parted ways with them? Had a change of heart and decided to join us?
Cain
Sorry... That's still a no-can-do.
Reinhardtzar
Then why did you waltz up here all by yourself?
Cain
Because you're the one who set this up to get me here. That's the only reason.
Reinhardtzar
Humph... What happened to the others? Where are they? Are they on the lookout nearby?
Cain
Who knows? I mean, as if I'd really tell you...
Reinhardtzar
...
The two stare at each other until suddenly Cain poses a question.
Cain
Reinhardtzar, do you really intend to build a country?
Reinhardtzar
You bet I do. For me... there's no other place where I can live in trust of a leader.
Outlaw 1
...
Cain continues to speak, testing Reinhardtzar's resolve.
Cain
This island belongs to Idelva Kingdom. If you declare independence, then Idelva will be the first to attack.
Cain
And what's more, Rhem may lend their strength, looking to make Idelva indebted to them.
Cain
Not to mention that the Grim Basin is nearby... This is sure to draw the attention of the Luminaries and other skydoms.
Cain
Even so... do you all intend to fight off every one of them?
Reinhardtzar
We will. That's what it means to have a country and protect it.
Cain
You said that you don't intend to draft people to join you here on this island, right?
Cain
That means that it'll only be you and your comrades who can fight.
Cain
If you really cared about them, you wouldn't be in such a hurry to die...
After quietly listening to the young man, Reinhardtzar begins to smile.
Reinhardtzar
You've got it wrong. You understand nothing. We're fighting for ourselves here.
Reinhardtzar
We have to carve a place where we belong with our own hands.
Reinhardtzar
The old me was a fool. I took for granted the world that was laid before me only to be betrayed by it. I lost everything.
Reinhardtzar
People, countries, the whole world... It's all corrupt. I'll never again take up a weapon for the sake of them.
Reinhardtzar
That's why from now on we'll only fight for ourselves. No matter the outcome.
Cain
There's only one outcome...
Cain murmurs, a touch of anguish in his voice.
Cain
Annihilation. To take out every last one of you.
Reinhardtzar
...!
Cain
Causing an uprising and secession are the gravest offenses you can commit in Idelva.
Cain
And the king is not merciful. Once you oppose him, you're finished. That's how he is.
Cain
Based on the number of men you've got here, their military will overpower you in no time.
Cain
They'll occupy the village with ease, and once they do, it'll all be over.
Cain
After that there will be nothing left. This is a senseless fight you're trying to start.
Cain
Even then will you send your comrades to the battlefield?
Reinhardtzar
Humph...
Outlaw 1
Tzar...
For a moment Reinhardtzar seems torn, but his hesitance gives Cain reason to smile.
Cain
You know... I won't be joining your gang, but you're a real tough guy to hate.
Reinhardtzar
What?
Outlaw 1
Whoa! What happened?
Reinhardtzar
...!
Reinhardtzar gulps loudly at the sound, gazing in the direction of the source.
Reinhardtzar
It can't be...
His eyes grow wide in surprise before suddenly shifting back to Cain.
Reinhardtzar
Impossible... How could you have known about the seal?
Cain seems unaffected by his shouting, only smiling in response.
Just before the sound echoes through the village, Gran and the crew approach the outskirts of Merkmal Island.
Katalina
He said it should be around here...
As they're peering through the trees, Lyria suddenly calls out.
Lyria
Oh! Look here! Is this it? The thing Cain was talking about?
Lyria points to a faintly glowing stone slab hidden by thick brush.
Lyria
This sort of feels... like primal beast power...
Vyrn
Oh yeah? Well, Cain did say it was a seal or something...
Vyrn
Maybe the primal beast on this island is sealed up.
Lyria
Hm... It feels like it, but it's still different from primal beast power somehow.
Katalina
Nevertheless it's clear that the Astrals were involved somehow.
Katalina
But for now you'd better get your weapon ready, Gran. They've come, just as he said they would.
Gran and the crew ready themselves as Reinhardtzar's outlaws start to appear.
Outlaw 2
Why are you sniffin' around here? Put your weapons down and your hands up.
As the outlaw speaks, the other outlaws form a circle around Gran and the crew.
Vyrn
Yikes... We're surrounded...
Katalina
It's just as Cain said. We're in a do-or-die situation here.
Katalina
But we agreed to help him, so there's no room for failure!
Katalina
Let's fight them off, Gran! Both Cain and the villagers are counting on us to make it through!
While Gran and the crew signal to Cain that they've secured the seal, Cain explains to the villagers that destroying the seal will cause the fortress to self-destruct. Despite the danger to his men, Reinhardtzar refuses to surrender and attempts to harm a villager, but he's soon stopped by the woman searching for Cain.
Outlaw 2
Nghh...
Outlaw 2
Forgive me, Tzar...
Katalina
Good job, Gran. That should be the last of them...
Vyrn
Now all we have to do is wait for directions from Cain!
Katalina
Right. But don't let your guard down, Vyrn.
Vyrn
Of course! I might be small, but I'm a skyfarer all the same!
Vyrn
Well, if I see anything, I'll let you know!
And with that Vyrn flies away high into the air.
Katalina
To think he'd use Vyrn's ability to fly to send messages between us...
Katalina
I can't believe we never thought of that. But it still leaves me a little concerned...
Dialogue Option
Vyrn will be fine.
Katalina
Yes... I suppose you're right. Considering how long you've been friends, you'd know better than anyone else.
Dialogue Option
Vyrn is loving it.
Katalina
Now that I think about it, I bet that's true.
Katalina
He adores helping others especially when it's something only he can do.
Gran and Katalina smile at each other, but Lyria's gaze is fixed on the stone slab in the brush.
Lyria
So what do you think the seal is exactly?
Katalina gazes at the slab as well, looking perplexed.
Katalina
The only thing Cain told us was to break the seal on his signal...
Dialogue Option
Let's trust Cain.
Katalina
I suppose... At the least he seems to know more about this island than we do.
Katalina
I'm slightly worried about what it could be, but let's just see his plan through to the end.
Dialogue Option
Let's wait for his signal.
Lyria
You're right. Our job here isn't done yet.
Lyria
We need to be ready to go at his signal...
Reinhardtzar
Impossible... Who are you? How could you have known about the self-destruct seal?
Outlaw 1
Then that m-means the seal's just been...
Reinhardtzar
No. Not yet. That's impossible.
As Reinhardtzar speaks he looks toward their hideout towering in the distance.
Reinhardtzar
The seal is fine. But then...
Cain
That sound just now was the signal that Gran and the others have control over the seal's location.
Vyrn is flying high in the air as Cain speaks, but his appearance goes unnoticed by Reinhardtzar.
Cain
All I have to do is give them the signal, and they'll destroy the seal.
Reinhardtzar
Why you...
While still fearful of an enraged Reinhardtzar, a villager timidly calls out to Cain.
Villager
Pardon m-me... But what's this seal you've been going on about?
Villager
I'm not sure what's going on, but if it's something dangerous on the island...
Cain
Don't you fret! Even if the self-destruct seal is broken, no harm will come to the village.
Cain
But that's not the case for you, is it, Reinhardtzar?
Reinhardtzar
...
Villager
But what's this... self-destruct seal anyway?
Cain decides to take a moment to explain what exactly the seal does.
Cain
The self-destruct seal is a seal that, once broken, will make Sturren Fort collapse.
Villager
That fortress will collapse? But why was such a thing...
Cain
Long story short, Sturren Fort was built by the Astrals a long time ago.
Cain
Haven't you ever wondered why this island on the Nalhegrande border has a fortress?
Cain
Or even what battle it was built for in the first place?
Villager
Well... no...
Cain
Ah... That's not so important for now, so we'll leave that for later.
Cain
The Astrals who built the fortress were thinking ahead. Thinking about the worst-case scenario.
Villager
Worst-case scenario?
Cain
Right. A scenario where the fortress fell into enemy hands.
Cain
By taking the fortress, the enemy would have a stronghold where they could continue launching attacks.
Cain
And so the Astrals placed a secret seal far away from the fortress that could destroy the compound itself, see?
Cain
So when the time came, they could destroy the enemy and the fortress in one strike.
Villager
And you're saying... that's what this self-destruct seal really is?
Reinhardtzar nods in answer as understanding begins to seep into the villager's expression.
Reinhardtzar
He's right. But that story is over five hundred years old...
Reinhardtzar
If I hadn't been sent to investigate this island while in the Torhid military, I'd never have known.
Reinhardtzar
And the things you've said, including the Astrals' motives, could only be known by a member of their secret intelligence section.
Reinhardtzar
But those traveling skyfarers don't look like the type... So just who are you exactly?
Reinhardtzar's inquiry seems threatening, but Cain is unfazed.
Cain
Reinhardtzar. Most of your men are still inside that fortress, aren't they?
Cain
What do you think will happen when the structure collapses on top of them?
Reinhardtzar
Humph. I know you're bluffing. It's those soft-hearted folks who're waiting at the seal, right?
Reinhardtzar
Knowing them, they don't have the guts to pull the trigger on something that'll hurt innocents or even enemies.
Cain
You've got a point... So I didn't tell them the truth.
Reinhardtzar
What!
Cain
Gran and the others don't know what will happen. They've got no idea.
Cain
What they do know is that it's necessary, and the village won't be harmed. They're just waiting on my signal.
Reinhardtzar
You rat! You've fooled them into becoming your pawns!
Cain
If that's how you see it, then fine. Taking the brunt of your anger is a small price to pay.
Cain
This is the best idea I could come up with to counter you and your hostage threat.
Reinhardtzar hears the matter-of-fact tone of Cain's voice.
Cain
Now we're in a stalemate. So what's your next move, Your Majesty?
Reinhardtzar
Well... you're holding all my men hostage in the fortress. So what are your demands?
Cain
Release the villagers. And hand the island back over to the Idelva Kingdom without any further resistance.
Reinhardtzar pauses a moment to think before giving a curt answer.
Reinhardtzar
I refuse. You say you'll break the seal? Then let's see you do it.
Outlaw 1
Tzar... But then the men in the fortress...
Cain
Reinhardtzar... If you think we're lying about our hold on the seal, you're dead wrong.
Reinhardtzar
But you can't do it... Can you?
Cain
...
Reinhardtzar
You said they're only waiting on your signal. Then why don't you hurry up and give them one?
Reinhardtzar
If we lose our stronghold, then it's only a matter of time until we're annihilated. But we'll put up a fight to the end.
Reinhardtzar
Cain... You're soft-hearted too, aren't you? You hate bloodshed, and that's why you've come to negotiate.
Cain
...
Reinhardtzar
If that fortress collapses then hundreds of lives will be lost.
Reinhardtzar
But the rest of us will keep fighting without fear of death. After all, we'll have nothing left to lose.
Reinhardtzar
The village will find itself in danger then. With no consequences to fear, I could destroy the village all on my own.
Villager
But you can't...
Reinhardtzar
Cain. Can you shoulder a burden like that on your own?
Cain seems flustered for a moment but then opens his mouth to respond.
Cain
But weren't you trying to build a country for your comrades?
Cain
Don't lie... Not even you could abandon your friends like that.
Reinhardtzar
Oh yes, I could.
Cain
...!
Reinhardtzar
I'm absolutely serious. There's no turning back for me.
Reinhardtzar turns to a villager, fist clenched menacingly.
Villager
Eep...
Reinhardtzar
I'm not running anymore! I don't care what it takes!
Cain
No!
With eyes squeezed shut, the villager prepares for the impact of Reinhardtzar's massive fist.
But instead of pain, the villager only hears the sound of a loud thunk.
Villager
...?
The villager gazes up to see Reinhardtzar's fist stopped mid-swing against a piece of brilliant steel glinting in the sunlight.
???
Looks like we're just in time.
Having stopped Reinhardtzar with her weapon, the woman slowly exhales to calm her nerves.
But her gaze remains sharp and unbroken as she peers at Reinhardtzar.
82: Cain's Trap 
