Robbed of its sovereign, Idelva Kingdom falls into political turmoil as the higher-ups bicker over the succession of the throne. Leona, tired of this chaos, is taking a breather outside of the palace walls when Bai Ze approaches her. The primal reveals the true nature of the Great Wall and asks Leona to help him rescue Pholia.
While Gran and the others are fighting the Luminary Knights in Rhem, Idelva finds itself in a political bind.
Unproductive disputes plague the current leadership of the kingdom.
Idelva General 1
I'm most fit to be the next king of Idelva!
Idelva General 1
If you allow me to take the throne, my first action will be to punish that cursed Rhem Kingdom!
Idelva General 2
Humph. You? King? You're an angry bull who knows only how to blindly charge ahead.
Idelva General 2
It takes indispensable intellect—like mine—to ensure Idelva's continued prosperity.
Idelva General 1
That's rich. When the Rhem Kingdom withdrew with the sovereign, you were all bark and no bite. I know worms braver than you.
Idelva General 2
Say that one more time!
Leona
...
With no strong figurehead to lead it, Idelva begins to crumble into a chaotic state, and discussions to instate a new sovereign all but grind to a halt.
Bai Ze
Quiet yourselves. What do you aim to accomplish by quarreling?
Bai Ze
A sovereign exists for the people. He or she who would abandon everything for the citizenry, you may volunteer yourself for the throne.
Idelva General 1
Watch yourself, primal! We were mistaken to trust you wretched beasts with pivotal state roles!
Idelva General 2
Agreed! We'll take our country back from you! We'll drive back all of you dubious fiends!
Idelva General 3
Whoa, whoa, whoa... Gentlemen, calm down.
Idelva General 3
Are you both forgetting what our people want? There's already a suitable leader amongst us.
Idelva General 1
What?
Idelva General 3
Idelva should be ruled by Lady Leona. Who else could fulfill the role!
Idelva General 3
After all, she was the one who overthrew that treacherous Pholia!
Idelva General 3
And, Lady Leona... May I implore you to consider me as chancellor when you—
The Idelva general turns around to address her, but his eyebrows shoot up when he finds only empty space.
Idelva General 3
She left? Where did she go?
Bai Ze
...
The generals look at each other dumbfounded, wondering how they could have missed her.
Leona
...
Leona stands stock-still on the edge of the island, balancing on the shaky footing and staring out into the skies beyond.
Leona
Abel...
Leona
You know, Abel. I learned something... There was someone pulling the strings behind the war that took you.
Leona
I fought with that person. Her name is Pholia, by the way.
Leona
You never met her. She's a short, cute Erune girl, but she's older than me.
Leona
She's selfish and loves pranks. You wouldn't believe how much trouble she caused for her court...
Leona
But she always put her country and her citizens first, even before herself.
Leona
Yeah... She was the best ruler we could've asked for.
The weight of Leona's anguish bears down on her, and her view falls to the bottom of the sky.
Leona
That's who... That's who I fought.
Leona
After we fought, they took her away. I'm not sure what's going to happen next, but I doubt it'll be good.
As if crying out for answers, Leona calls to the sky.
Leona
Abel... I did it. I got revenge against the one who caused you to die.
Leona
But... For some reason... I don't feel anything...
Leona
Not success, not relief, not happiness... Everything I loved... It's all gone...
Leona
But the one behind the conflict wasn't just Her Majesty. I feel like there's someone else still out there, keeping you from being avenged.
Leona
Is that why I feel I have to keep fighting? If I stick to this path of vengeance, then maybe one day I'll be free...
???
Your happiness won't return.
Leona turns around, finding a large, white primal beast behind her.
Bai Ze
What is gone cannot return. This simple truth is the same for both skydweller and Astral.
Leona
...
Bai Ze
And despite that, you still took vengeance on the sovereign.
Bai Ze
That is the very reason, Leona, why I feel you are owed the truth.
Leona
The truth?
Bai Ze
About the real form of the Nalhegrande Skydom. And the reality behind the divine retribution...
Leona listens intently as Bai Ze begins to divulge what he knows.
Leona
Is that true?
Bai Ze
There can be no other reason that tragedy befell Nalhegrande.
Bai Ze
Even the sovereign herself wasn't aware, and I thought it better not to inform her.
Bai Ze
People shouldn't be allowed to get close to it. No, it would be best if it had been lost to time.
Leona
Then... Why tell me? What makes me worthy?
Bai Ze
Because I fear what is stirring.
Bai Ze looks up at the massive grave marker in the sky.
Bai Ze
Gilbert has already taken some of the power from the Otherworld for his perverse ambitions.
Bai Ze
But that was not his true goal... He moves only to satiate his hunger for more strength.
Bai Ze
Which is why I fear, sooner or later, he will try to claim the divine retribution.
Bai Ze
There is no doubt that he will use the sovereign as a sacrifice as he pursues forbidden power.
The primal beast continues, his expression growing increasingly stern.
Bai Ze
I want to save my sovereign. But I cannot manage that alone.
Bai Ze
The skyfarers who went to Rhem... They're strong, to be sure, but we do not yet understand the depths of Gilbert's power.
Bai Ze
That is why I must ask for your help, Leona.
Leona
My help?
Bai Ze
Leona, you have great strength. When you were facing off against the sovereign, I saw that for myself.
Bai Ze
If you agree to help, I am prepared to grant you greater power still.
Bai Ze
Of course, with that power comes a suitable cost.
Bai Ze
But know that if you choose to join me now, then you will never know simple happiness again.
Bai Ze
That is everything I have to say. Now the choice is yours, Leona.
Leona
...
Leona
You sure know how to sweet talk a gal...
Bai Ze
I simply worry for this world and for my sovereign. Make no mistake, Leona, I am not your ally.
Leona
You're right. Actually, it's a relief you're being honest with me.
Emotions well within Leona. She speaks from her heart as she reflects on how she found herself here.
Leona
All I wanted was a normal, simple life.
Leona
To live with the man I love. To start a family. Even if we didn't have much, we'd spend every day with each other.
Leona
That future was stolen from me, and that's why I started my crusade.
Leona
But...
Her emotions seem to travel from her chest into her legs, causing her knees to grow weak. She grips her weapon tighter to maintain her posture.
Leona
There was a child... who was crying...
Bai Ze
A child?
Leona
The child's father was a soldier. He was a victim of the war with Rhem Kingdom.
Leona breathes deeply before continuing.
Leona
Imagine if I had never fought with Pholia and the kingdom were still strong.
Leona
Rhem's invasion would have caused far fewer casualties.
Leona
That child's father would've been able to go home.
Leona
Of course the child will still survive to adulthood.
Leona
But his father won't be there to watch him get bigger every year.
Leona
That poor child will never have a chance to make more memories with his father ever again...
Although she tries to hold back her tears, her shaking voice is evidence enough of her sadness.
Leona
And it was my fault. I took that child's chance at happiness away.
Leona
I told myself I was right to do so—I used that excuse as a shield and did something that can't be reversed.
Leona
I destroyed so many people's happiness for my own selfish reasons.
She looks up at Bai Ze, her eyes glistening with fresh tears and a hint of resolve.
Leona
I never intended to hurt anyone, but what's done can't be taken back.
Leona
So I want to take responsibility for my actions.
Leona
No matter how tough that is, I'll do it. I have to.
Bai Ze
You once fought for a simple happiness.
Bai Ze
Let me remind you once more that if you join with me, you'll never have happiness again.
Bai Ze
Are you still willing to say yes?
Leona nods quietly.
Bai Ze
Leona, you remind me of the sovereign.
Leona
Huh?
Bai Ze
I was just taking note of something. Pay me no mind.
Bai Ze
We must begin preparing at once. As soon as we're finished, we'll head out.
Bai Ze
Our destination is the island that faced the divine retribution: Starke Island.
Leona has agreed to follow Bai Ze to a site of potential conflict.
Their journey marks yet another set of destinies converging toward this same location.
106: Divine Retribution 
