The Black Knight opens up about her past. She recounts how Orchis and the royal family took care of her when she was orphaned and sent to Erste. Now she'll do anything to repay that favor.
That night Gran and the crew gather in one room of the old woman's house.
Katalina
So, Black Knight. Tell us the truth.
Lyria
...
Black Knight
I suppose I will. Where should I even start...
Black Knight
You already know that I am from Auguste originally.
Rackam
That we do. But how do people from this island know you?
Black Knight
Don't rush me.
As I was saying, I was raised in Auguste, but I left when I was still small.
Black Knight
I must have been about Lyria's age when... when my mother passed away.
Eugen
...!
Black Knight
When my mother died, Eugen wasn't anywhere on Auguste.
Black Knight
With no one to take care of me, I received the support of the Auguste Isles Special Economic Cooperative and headed to the Erste Kingdom to gain an education.
Black Knight
Erste was a kingdom with a long, storied history—even compared among the other ancient habitations of the Phantagrande Skydom.
Black Knight
It was to be the ultimate environment to study history, a civilization that had been formed prior to the attack of the Astrals.
When the Black Knight begins to talk about Orchis, her face stiffens slightly.
Black Knight
We were both really young then. I actually thought she was below my grade.
Black Knight
But she was upbeat and pure—she had everything I lacked.
Black Knight
It was surprising seeing how different we were despite our shared age. I envied her.
Black Knight
And somehow she was never arrogant. She was always kind to everyone, no matter their status.
Black Knight
She laughed a lot, played a lot, and, well, ate a lot. But she was the kind of girl who made everyone's lives a little brighter.
Lyria
So that's who Orchis was...
Black Knight
Her mother, Queen Viola, was very kind to me.
Black Knight
It was a once-in-a-lifetime blessing. The kind that you'll never find twice, no matter how hard you look.
Black Knight
My time with Orchis was, without a doubt, the happiest period of my life.
Black Knight
The favor I was bestowed by Her Majesty the Queen... The time I spent with Orchis—I will never forget any of it.
Black Knight
And that's why I decided that I would make any sacrifice to get Orchis back.
The room falls silent as the Black Knight finishes her account.
The next morning the crew thanks the old woman for her hospitality and begins heading toward the palace.
Katalina
...
Io
Grumble... I couldn't stop thinking about everything the Black Knight said. I couldn't sleep at all.
Rosetta
Not getting enough sleep is the worst thing you can do for your skin.
Rosetta
But anyway, today is the day we infiltrate the palace, correct?
Rosetta
We'll have to stay on our toes. Now let's be off, Gran.
The Black Knight reveals that Orchis stopped growing due to an incident involving a primal beast. In hopes of restoring Orchis to her former self, the crew presses on toward the palace.
Lyria
Black Knight, everything you said yesterday... Was it the truth?
Black Knight
Of course. And that woman's account of Orchis was accurate as well.
Lyria
Then could you tell me what happened to her?
Black Knight
I see. I haven't talked about that yet, have I?
Black Knight
Unfortunately I wasn't present when it happened.
Katalina
But something did happen. And, according to that old woman, it was around ten years ago.
Black Knight
Yes... About ten years ago, both of Orchis's parents died, and she changed into that... doll.
Black Knight
Her emotions are gone, and she hasn't grown an inch since that day.
Rackam
Damn... What in the skies causes somethin' like that...
Black Knight
A primal beast. It seems there was an accident involving one.
Katalina
It seems?
Black Knight
By the time I arrived, it was already over.
Black Knight
Freesia was there. She was the one who told me what happened.
Black Knight
According to the official reports, the Queen and her consort—Orchis's parents—had been killed in an accident outside of the country.
Black Knight
Their daughter was reported as missing. At least that's what the people were told.
Rosetta
But she didn't disappear at all, did she? After her change, she was hidden by the empire, correct?
Black Knight
Precisely. It was on that day that I vowed to return Orchis back to normal.
Black Knight
Everything else is exactly as you've witnessed. I was betrayed by Freesia, and here we all are.
Io
Sounds like you've had a pretty tough road.
Eugen
Apollo... You've been through so much...
Vyrn
Okay, yeah, but how do you plan on changin' Orchis back?
Black Knight
Fear not. There's a way. But we'll need Orchis—well, that doll—to go through with it.
Black Knight
I can't talk about how right now.
Black Knight
Everyone here wants to get her back. So for now our goals are aligned.
Black Knight
We can settle any disputes after we've rescued her. For now we continue heading to the palace.
34: Secrets of the Capital 
