Granblue Story Archives

As the crew wanders the palace, the Black Knight reminisces about her days with Orchis.

The crew continues to tread carefully as they stalk the palace grounds.

Black Knight

This palace hasn't changed a bit.

Black Knight

But, in the grand history of the Erste Kingdom, ten years is barely longer than a blink.

Lyria

Black Knight, you mean you've been here before?

Black Knight

I spent half of my childhood here. With Orchis.

Lyria

I see. I wonder what you two were like together.

Rackam

I get the feelin' we aren't alone in here. Place is probably crawlin' with imperials.

Rackam

So? Now what? Where in this palace is Orchis?

Black Knight

I'm not a psychic. I don't know specifically where she's being held. All we can do is look.

Black Knight

And look we shall. Pick up the pace, everyone. You too, Gran.

The Black Knight halts the crew's advance through the palace when they happen upon the room she and Orchis once used for reading.

Black Knight

...

Eugen

Somethin' wrong? You just stopped.

Black Knight

Around here. This was where Orchis and I would read together.

Black Knight

Orchis couldn't sit still for very long. She would get bored just as soon as we cracked open a book.

Black Knight

She would get up, but the queen would catch her and put her back at my side. Every time.

Black Knight

But, of course, she'd get bored again and invite me to play outside.

Imperial Soldier

Found the intruders!
Do you have any idea what this place is!

Black Knight

...

Black Knight

Do you? Tell me. What do you think this place is?

Imperial Soldier

What...

Black Knight

This place was ours! Me, her, and the royal family!

Black Knight

You know nothing! This place is not for you ignorant fools who don't understand your own origins!

Imperial Soldier

Wh-who in the skies are you! What do you know!

Black Knight

Absolutely everything! Everything you swine have ignored! This place—it's all my memories!

Black Knight

For the crime of intruding into my space, you will pay with your life!

Lyria notices a familiar scent in the palace, but the Black Knight explains that it must be coincidental.

Lyria

Sniff, sniff...

Vyrn

What? Do you smell food or somethin'?

Lyria

No, that's not it...

Lyria

This building... Something smells really familiar about this building. I definitely know it...

Vyrn

A familiar smell? Does that mean you're from Erste too, Lyria?

Lyria

Huh. I wonder... Was I ever in this palace?

Black Knight

Sadly that is not the case.

Lyria

Black Knight...

Black Knight

Although you have similar abilities to that doll, Lyria, you two are essentially different at a core level.

Black Knight

Although both of your abilities appear to produce the same phenomenon, the underlying principles are completely different.

Lyria

Then, you mean, I'm—

Black Knight

Not from Erste. That much is certain.

Lyria

I... see...

Black Knight

...

The Black Knight tells the crew about the source of Orchis's power: her Astral lineage.

Katalina

Black Knight, do you understand the true nature of Lyria and Orchis's powers?

Black Knight

At the very least, I have some idea of the doll's capability.

Rosetta

Sounds interesting. Care to share?

Black Knight

It's just simple logic. Think about it and you'll understand.

Black Knight

First off, who originally created the primal beasts?

The Astrals, right? It's said they created the first prime weapons, so we call them primal beasts.

Black Knight

Generally speaking, that is correct. The primal beasts were originally created as tools.

Black Knight

So it's not unusual that there are those that can use them.

But surely nobody can do that but the Astrals, right? Wait—you don't mean...

Black Knight

Don't jump to conclusions. Orchis's mother was the last Queen of the Erste Kingdom.

Black Knight

The royal bloodline of Erste can be traced back thousands of years, even before the Astrals attacked.

Black Knight

So we can conclude that half of Orchis's lineage is not Astral.

Eugen

Half... Then the other half would be...

Black Knight

Simple. Her father was an Astral—a survivor from the War.

Black Knight

That doll has a particularly unique heritage.

Katalina

Could someone like that even exist? She would basically be from another world!

Black Knight

It certainly seems that way. But Orchis wasn't able to tap into her Astral powers before.

Black Knight

It was only ten years ago, after she became that doll, that she became capable of manipulating primal beasts.

Poor Orchis... She went through so much to be able to do Astral stuff.

Black Knight

She lost her mind and her future in exchange for her abilities. Not a fair trade at all.

Black Knight

The ability to play puppet master with a few primal beasts is a poor substitute for one's own being.

Rackam

Sheesh. This kinda talk gives me a headache...

Rackam

Her father really survived the War? The war from several hundred years ago? You gotta be talkin' about a surviving descendant.

Black Knight

Nope. I mean an actual survivor in the flesh.

Black Knight

And despite his actual time in the skies, he appeared to be the same age as the queen.

Rackam

You tellin' me the Astrals are immortal then?

Black Knight

That wouldn't be unreasonable. But this one did die.

Rosetta

Oh, sounds like quite the unsolvable mystery.

Eugen

No kiddin'. Got too much we don't know—if only we had a way to find out more.

Vyrn

Let's think about it more later! We've got a whole palace left to explore!

Lyria wonders if she too might be an Astral. The Black Knight denies this conjecture.

Lyria

Is it possible that I'm an Astral like Orchis's father?

Black Knight

Sadly that is not the case. Lyria, you are neither Astral nor skydweller.

Lyria

...

Katalina

Black Knight, this is not the first time you've suggested that you know what Lyria is. So tell us—what is she?

Black Knight

The only thing I know is that Lyria is not an Astral.

Black Knight

Orchis's father—that is to say, a real-life Astral—told me so himself.

Lyria

So... so... what am I?

Lyria tries to come to terms with the fact that she is neither Astral nor skydweller. The crew comforts her.

Black Knight

...

Lyria

I'm neither an Astral... Nor a skydweller...

Lyria

So what am I?

Black Knight

Lyria, you are a truly different being.

Black Knight

And perhaps the only one of your kind in the entire world.

Lyria

Then I'm all alone...

Black Knight

Do you truly believe that?

Lyria

...

Black Knight

Even though you're surrounded by those that care about you? Don't make me laugh.

Black Knight

Or is it something else? Do you wish there were others exactly like yourself?

Black Knight

You won't recognize your friends, because they aren't your mirror image?

Lyria

N-no! Not at all! It's just...

Lyria

I guess I'm... not alone...

Vyrn

You bet your blue hair you're not! Right, Gran?

Dialogue Option

We're all here for you!

Lyria

You're right. Of course you're right.

Lyria

I'm sorry. I just got a little confused.

Lyria

I can't believe I felt lonely even with this many wonderful people by my side.

Katalina

Lyria, it's not just Gran. I won't leave your side either.

Rackam

C'mon, Lyria! You gotta know us better by now!

That's right! We're here for you, so don't act like you're by yourself.

Start saying stuff like that again and I'll get mad at you!

Lyria

Hehe. Thanks, Io. But I'm all right now. Promise!

Rosetta

Haha. Eugen, your daughter's not such a bad girl after all.

Eugen

No thanks to me. Sigh... But I wonder what she must think of me.

Lyria

Thank you, Black Knight.

Black Knight

I'm not sure why you're thanking me...

Lyria

I have a reason.

Lyria

It's just—you saw me for me.

Lyria

You didn't look past me. You paid attention to who I am. So thank you.

Black Knight

Humph. What is a knight if she's not aware of her surroundings?

Lyria

Haha. Not much of a knight, I guess.

Katalina

...

Black Knight

Enough talk. A golem is drawing near. Don't let your guard down.

As the crew continues the search for Orchis, Katalina wonders aloud if the Black Knight can be trusted.

Black Knight

Dammit.
This place isn't that big, but we can't seem to find Freesia or Orchis.

Black Knight

Should we split into two groups? It could make it easier to find them...

Katalina

Black Knight, first would you answer a question?

Black Knight

What? I thought I've told you everything you needed to hear.

Katalina

Then consider this something I want to hear. There's more to the truth, isn't there—maybe something you want to keep quiet?

Black Knight

What are you suggesting?

Katalina

I'm torn between trusting you and not. Is it really best for us to follow you?

Lyria

Katalina?

Rackam

Well, I for one think it's all right.

Rackam

Since we landed at Ravi, she's been tellin' us about a lot—a lot we never would've known otherwise.

Katalina

I agree. But she hasn't told us everything. Have you?

Black Knight

Care to elaborate?

Katalina

You haven't been lying, but you've conveniently left holes in the truth.

Black Knight

There are things you do not need to know. It is as simple as that.

Katalina

If that is truly the case, then I guess I have nothing to worry about. I also want to have faith in you.

Katalina

However you'll forgive me for finding these missing details more than a little suspicious.

Black Knight

Be careful, Lieutenant. Curiosity killed the cat.

Katalina

This isn't curiosity. I have people I want to protect—the same way you want to protect Orchis.

Katalina

I swear if something happens to Lyria because you've hidden something from us...

Katalina

Well, you've been warned. Do we have an understanding?

Black Knight

...

Katalina continues interrogating the Black Knight, but the Black Knight refuses to give her straight answers.

Katalina

Back in Amalthea you said you've never seen the Emperor of the Erste Empire.

Katalina

But you've also mentioned that the Erste Kingdom's royal family is no more.

Katalina

Personally I haven't seen him either. Do you think there never was an Emperor to begin with?

Katalina

Or is the current Emperor someone from a different bloodline than Orchis?

Black Knight

Who's to say?

Katalina

That's not all I want to discuss. You've told us your goal is to return Orchis to her former self.

Katalina

But how do you propose to accomplish that? We've heard nothing about what you aim to do after we get her back.

Black Knight

You're right. I haven't discussed that yet.

I bet if you spill the beans now then Katalina will stop bugging you.

Black Knight

Forgive me but I can't. I promise that I'm not playing games with you.

Black Knight

I am going to put everything I have into saving Orchis. And I won't let anyone get in my way.

Black Knight

That is all I can say.

Katalina

Then forgive me for still having doubts about your reliability.

Black Knight

That is your decision. And I recognize that.

Katalina

Still won't talk...

Black Knight

Humph. Now's not the time to slow down.

Black Knight

We haven't found Orchis yet. Stay strong until she's safe!

So far the crew's search for Orchis inside of the palace has proven fruitless. They push on regardless.

Katalina

...

Black Knight

...

Rackam

Maaan, looking for Orchis is like tryin' to find a needle in an airship engine. Where's she hidin'?

Well not just Orchis, but that stupid Prime Minister too...

Vyrn

I sure hope not, but do you think they coulda left the island?

Black Knight

...

Vyrn

Sorry!

Lyria

Let's just keep looking for a little longer, okay, Gran?

Gran and the crew continue roaming the palace interior for signs of Orchis.

The Black Knight's scowl grows deeper as their search grows longer—but her patience, as the crew would soon learn, is not the only thing on trial.

Former Capital Mephorash