As they push on through the forest, Drang announces that he and Sturm will be parting from the crew. They delve into their background with the Black Knight before splitting off from the others.
Gran and the crew have begun their search for Rosetta within the deep woods of Lumacie.
Drang, abruptly halting, clears his throat and addresses the others.
Drang
Ahem. Well, this is as far as we go.
Sturm
Mm.
Vyrn
Huh? Kinda quick, don't you think? What do you mean, as far as we go?
Drang
Exactly what it sounds like, lizard. Strum and I have our own plans from here.
Eugen
Oh? Why you... Ah. I guess you would.
Io
Why? It's safer for us to stay together!
Lecia
Io, don't you remember what they said back in the other forest?
Lecia
They're doing all of this because they want to save the Black Knight.
Drang
Bingo! Which is why we're going to find her pronto!
Sturm
And separately. You go and find your own friend by yourselves.
Sturm
And we'll do the same for ours. Simple.
Drang
You guys were a big help! Bringing us all the way here and all!
Rackam
Well, there's no convincing you two.
Rackam
If you're not gonna get in our way, we've got no reason to get in yours.
Katalina
But before you go, will you answer one last question?
Drang
Depends on the question! But be warned, I blush easily!
Drang
Oww!
Sturm
Go ahead with your question.
Drang
Sturm! Have we really reached the point where you stab first and ask questions later!
Katalina
Ah, well... It's nothing major. I just find something odd.
Katalina
Why are you two so devoted to the Black Knight?
Katalina
You're just agents. It's not like you're affiliated with the imperial military, nor are you pledged to serve her in any other capacity.
Katalina
The only thing between you is money. So why are you so loyal?
Sturm
We're agents. We were hired to do a job, and that's what we'll do.
Drang
Well, that's definitely part of it...
Drang
But I believe you know, Sturm, there's a little more to it than that. Even if it's gone unsaid for a while.
Sturm
Humph... I guess I can't deny that.
The pair begin to discuss how they first met the Black Knight.
Drang
How many years ago was it now? It was when Erste shifted from a kingdom to an empire, right?
Sturm
I remember. That's all anyone could talk about.
The two explain that they had already been working together awhile when they accepted a request from a new employer at a tavern.
Drang
Whew, she was quite a different girl back then. She didn't wear that armor yet either.
Drang
Hah, but she's always had that chip on her shoulder.
Sturm
She wasn't like us. Clearly. It's like she'd never lived in the same world.
Drang
Maybe you've already heard how she used to live with Erste's royal family?
Drang
That's maybe why she felt so exposed. So out of place.
Drang
She would shoot anyone a threatening look, but it was all for show.
Sturm
To be honest, I thought she'd be just another rich cow we could milk.
Lecia
We're talking about the same Black Knight?
Drang
After all, she's only human! Right, Eugen?
Eugen
She was very small when she was with me.
Eugen
She was a gentle kid though. Loved reading. She'd always be holdin' onto a book half her size...
The topic strays for a moment, but the two agents continue.
Drang
Her weird mannerisms and sour attitude aside, the job itself was something else.
Drang
She wanted us to become her private aides. We're talking top brass of the Erste Empire.
Drang
Guess she needed people to be loyal to her instead of sucking up to the prime minister.
Sturm
Still, employing hired muscle to be your counsel was entirely unheard of.
Drang
Yeah, and she even paid us our whole fee in advance. It was so bizarre I almost laughed in her face!
Rackam
That's strange business if I ever heard of it...
Rackam
Normally you'd get half up front and half once the job's done, right?
Drang
Right. But she didn't even know that.
Drang
So we told her, you know, we could betray you.
Drang
She just said that she'd already paid us, so we couldn't possibly betray her!
Sturm
We're honest agents. So once we collect our fee, we never go back on our word.
Sturm
But that's not true of every agent in the world.
Sturm
Why did she trust us so completely? And right from the start? I still don't get it.
Drang
Probably because she's from a high and mighty world, not like the pits we had to crawl out of.
Drang
Not to mention she had no one. She was so alone that she had to hire agents to stand beside her.
Drang
When she asked us... you could tell that her stern expression was just a mask for some deeper anxiety.
Drang
I thought she was like a puppy, barking to look tougher than it is.
Eugen
...
Drang
Aaanyhoodle, that's about the long and short of it. I guess we've gotten attached to her.
Sturm
At first I thought she'd be a difficult employer. But it's a job with meaning.
Orchis
Apollo... I never knew this.
Drang
Ah, and not a word of this to her! If she hears any of it, our heads will roll!
Katalina
Got it. This stays just between you and our crew.
Drang
Well, that was a long enough chat. Now, we've got something else to take care of.
Sturm
Sense that? Monsters are coming.
Drang
Oh, then that makes this our last fight together! Better make it a good one!
Before parting with the crew, Drang asks Orchis if she wants to look for the Black Knight together. She feels responsible for what's happened on Lumacie, so she decides instead to follow Gran and the others to find Rosetta.
After defeating the monsters, Drang and Sturm turn their backs to the crew and begin to walk away.
But Drang manages to take only a few steps before he turns back toward the crew.
Drang
Ah, that's right! Almost forgot something important!
He approaches Orchis and kneels down to be at eye level with her.
Drang
Orchis. What are you going to do?
Orchis
...
Drang
We're going to search for the Black Knight now. Do you want to come with us?
Orchis
I...
Sturm
I'm against it. She'll only get in the way.
Sturm
We can't afford to protect someone who can't even protect herself.
Orchis
...
Drang
Whew, that tongue of yours... But I bet you're only saying that because you're worried about her.
Drang
Although it's true that Gran has a larger group, so she might be safer with them...
Drang
Ow! Strum! What gives?
Sturm
Watch it! That's not the kind of thing you just come out and say! You're embarrassing me!
Orchis
Thank you. Sturm.
Sturm
Humph.
Orchis
I want to see Apollo. I'm very worried about her. So I want to go with you.
Orchis
But first I have to say sorry to Rosetta and to Yggdrasil.
Orchis
I woke up Yggdrasil. Now she's suffering.
Orchis
And Rosetta was caught up in it too. I have to say sorry.
Orchis
So I'm going with Gran and the others.
Drang
I see... Well, just do your best!
Orchis
Mm.
Sturm
She's our employer, so she's our problem anyway.
Sturm
If... When we find the Black Knight, we'll bring her to see you.
Sturm
But that's only if she's got no objections and we can track you down.
Orchis
Mm. Thank you. I'll be waiting.
Drang
Great! Now that we've got our reunion all planned, we can go ahead and scram!
Eugen
Hey. You keep Apollo safe, you hear?
Sturm
Of course we will. We decided a long time ago to protect her.
And with that, the pair of agents walk away from the crew, quickly disappearing into the thick verdure of the forest.
Katalina
Right. We should get going ourselves. We've kept Rosetta waiting long enough.
Lyria
You said it! Let's go, Orchis!
Orchis
Yes!
Having parted ways with Drang and Sturm, the crew themselves set off into the darkness of the woods to find Rosetta.
49: Back to the Forest 
