Cain pretends to apprehend Rackam, escorting him to the Idelva battleship so Rackam can speak freely. Rackam explains that the Violet Knight has brought the Grandcypher into Nalhegrande and given it to Rhem Kingdom, where it's being used as leverage against him so he'll serve in their army. Cain comes up with a plan to rescue Io, the sage, and the Grandcypher.
Rackam
I know I'm asking a lot of you, but there's no way I can abandon it like this...
Rackam
So, I'm begging you to go rescue it...
Our airship, the Grandcypher.
Gran falls silent upon hearing his solemn request.
As everyone attempts to grasp the situation at hand, Gran is distracted by an unusual sound coming from nearby.
Dialogue Option
Did you hear that?
Rackam
...
Dialogue Option
Is someone else out there?
Rackam
...
Cain takes notice of Rackam's unease and seems to suddenly figure something out.
Cain
!
That's right!
Cain
Acting Officer Rackam! I'll be detaining you as a key person of interest regarding last night's attack.
Rackam
Okay. You won't see me resisting. After that fight back there, I'm beat.
Lyria
But detaining him makes it seem like he's our enemy somehow...
Reinhardtzar
Wait... I get it now. That's exactly what Cain should do.
Vyrn
Hm? What's that supposed to mean?
Cain
Let's get back to the airship for now. You followers should hurry back to your friends too.
Sage's Follower
Indeed. We must let everyone know that Rhem Kingdom has gotten involved.
Cain
But be cautious. It seems there are spies on the island doing a bit of eavesdropping.
Rackam, Gran, and the others return to the battleship. The sage's followers head back to their settlement.
Hiding in the shadows a short distance away, two people watch the scene with deep interest.
???
So they caught him, eh?
???
Not to worry. We've already got our hands on the Omniscient Sage.
???
Our concern now is that Idelva knows we're here. We'll report that back to Lord Gilbert at once.
???
Roger that...
Rackam is escorted to the Idelva battleship.
But Cain removes his restraints immediately once everyone enters a private room aboard the airship.
Cain
Sorry about that. It didn't take much time to get here, but I bet your wrists didn't appreciate it.
Rackam
It's all right. You saved my neck! I couldn't say much back there, you see.
Dialogue Option
What do you mean?
Rackam
Gran, I know you heard a strange sound before we left.
Rackam
I'm sure that was a Rhem soldier giving away their position nearby. They were trying to see what we were up to.
Cain
To keep from raising their suspicion, we needed to get Rackam away from their prying eyes.
Cain
Rackam knew they were watching, so he asked Gran to fight in hopes of getting carted away. Right, Rackam?
Dialogue Option
Explain yourself.
Rackam
Gran, I know you heard a strange sound before we left.
Rackam
I'm sure that was a Rhem soldier giving away their position nearby. They were trying to see what we were up to.
Cain
To keep from raising their suspicion, we needed to get Rackam away from their prying eyes.
Cain
Rackam knew they were watching, so he asked Gran to fight in hopes of getting carted away. Right, Rackam?
Rackam
That's right. If I hadn't done that, I couldn't be talking to you freely here and now.
Katalina
I see... So that's why you had to use a roundabout approach.
Katalina
Which also means you can speak to us here, right? So what happened to you exactly?
Rackam
Let's see... I guess I'll start from when we all got swallowed up by the Grim Basin on Silverwind Stretch...
Rackam begins the tale of his experience within the Nalhegrande Skydom.
Rackam
After we separated I ended up in Nalhegrande on a tiny island.
Rackam
I learned that it belonged to the Rhem Kingdom, and before long I was summoned to the palace as a guest from another skydom.
Rackam
For a while I was just gathering info there so that I could meet up with the crew again...
Rackam
The next thing I know, the Violet Knight makes a visit to the kingdom.
Katalina
Th-the Violet Knight?
Lyria
Huh? Does that mean...
Dialogue Option
Another Luminary Knight appeared?
Rackam
Yep. And that knight's as bizarre as the other Luminaries we've come across...
Rackam
It seems the Violet Knight's got a hobby of collecting curious trinkets from each skydom.
Rackam
And this time a rare airship caught his eye on the edge of Silverwind Stretch in Phantagrande...
Rackam
But it was too big to ferry around, so he pawned it off on the Rhem royal family, being a relative and all.
Dialogue Option
So that means...
Katalina
Wait! Are you saying that the Violet Knight is a Rhem royal?
Rackam
Sure sounded like it. But I also heard that the true lineage is elsewhere while the Rhem royals here are distant relatives of a sort.
Leona decides to speak up to elaborate on this complicated subject.
Leona
Rhem Kingdom was founded by the Duke of Rhem who served during the era of the Torhid Kingdom.
Leona
The Rhem royal family is descended from the duke. But I've also heard that their lineage is based outside this skydom.
Rackam
Thanks. I guess I'll pick it up from there.
Rackam clears his throat before speaking again.
Rackam
So when I heard about the airship, I got a bad feeling in my gut.
Rackam
And when I went to get a look at the airship this Violet Knight had scooped up and dropped off...
Rackam
It was our airship, the Grandcypher, beyond a doubt.
Vyrn
Then the Grandcypher's really here in Nalhegrande!
Katalina
But if I'm hearing you correctly, this news isn't as good as it sounds.
Rackam
You got that right! The joy I had at seeing the Grandcypher again was fleeting.
Rackam
I asked if I could have it back, but they weren't giving it up that easy.
Rackam
Didn't matter who it belonged to first. They weren't handing off anything that the great Violet Knight had bestowed to them.
Rackam
Instead they had the nerve to hold it hostage after learning it was ours.
Rackam
It would've been impossible for me to sneak off with it on my own.
Rackam
So I had to let them use me as an acting member of Rhem's military.
Rackam
And they liked that I had experience fighting primals, which is why I got wrangled into the mission on this island.
Rackam takes a moment to catch his breath, having rattled on and on in his frustration.
Lyria
So that's what's happened with the Grandcypher...
Vyrn
No fair! The Grandcypher is our airship!
Vyrn
Why do they get away with doing whatever they want to it?
Dialogue Option
Let's go rescue it!
Vyrn
Yeah! What kind of skyfarers are we if we give in to them now?
Dialogue Option
Let's go take it back!
Katalina
You're right. Although I don't blame them for using their power to keep it...
Katalina
The Grandcypher is both our airship and an irreplaceable asset to our journey.
Lyria
Seeing as we got separated from it on Silverwind Stretch...
Lyria
I guess we sort of abandoned it in a way.
Lyria
But the Grandcypher is still a friend to us! We can't turn our backs on it now!
Rackam
The Grandcypher was brought here for the mission and should be docked with a battleship on the opposite side of the main port.
Rackam
Io and the Omniscient Sage were probably taken there after the attack.
Vyrn
All right! Then let's head on over there—
Leona
Now just hold it there, please!
Leona calls out to Gran and the crew, who are on the verge of running out the door.
Leona
I get how you're all feeling right now. And you've every right to be angry.
Leona
But as an Idelva soldier, I just have to stop you.
Leona
Even though you're only pretending, you're still official members of our army.
Leona
If Rhem is holding the Grandcypher and you try to attack them for it...
Leona
Then you're creating a formal conflict between Idelva and Rhem.
Leona
And we've taken careful steps all this time to avoid any direct fighting with them...
Leona fiercely grips her weapon in an effort to quell the regret and concern welling up inside her.
Leona
I can't allow you to do something that could hurt our cause so much.
Lyria
You can't?
Lyria
But Io and the Grandcypher are precious to us!
Lyria
After we all got separated by the Grim Basin, I finally realized how frighteningly wide the skies really are.
Lyria
It's like a miracle that we found each other to journey together in the first place...
Lyria
That's why I think we should reach out for them while they're still within reach.
Lyria
We must do something... because we might never see them again.
Lyria
So we won't give up here!
Dialogue Option
Please don't stand in our way.
Leona
But I just can't let you go now.
Leona
I might be a soldier, but I don't enjoy fighting.
Leona
In fact... no one really wants to fight. We all want to live in peace.
Leona
But I stayed in the army to protect those who are important to me.
Leona
So I just can't...
Dialogue Option
Please don't force our hand.
Reinhardtzar
Are you saying that you'll fight us? Well, I suppose it'll come to that.
Reinhardtzar
I also get where you folks are coming from, but don't count me as an ally.
Reinhardtzar
Just like you've got friends to look out for, I've got friends who need me to do the same. You remember, don't you, Gran?
Reinhardtzar
I'm ashamed to admit it, but Idelva's got me by the collar here.
Reinhardtzar
So if you're tryin' to stir the pot, then my allegiance is clear...
Cain
Fine.
Let's go rescue them. Both Io and the Grandcypher.
Leona
Cain!
Leona is shocked and quickly reaches over to cover Cain's mouth with her hand, but he easily swipes it away with his own.
Cain
Considering that Zeyen's been captured, your idea has a bit of merit for us too.
Cain
If we can rescue Zeyen along with Io, then they'll be owing us a favor.
Reinhardtzar
But that's only if we can rescue them both.
Cain
Oh, we will... Io, Zeyen, and the Grandcypher to boot. So, Gran...
Cain
Would you mind leaving the plan to me?
A familiar scene unfolds as Cain begins to explain his plan and everyone's roles in it.
Although a bit surprised at the strategy, Gran and company confirm the details once more before leaving the battleship with Rackam in tow.
88: Friends in Fetters 
