Granblue Story Archives

>After witnessing the destruction of the Great Wall, the True King ruminates over his plot to unify and control all of the skydoms, his attendants listening silently to his scheme. Meanwhile Monika and Lecia stand aboard the Grandweiss, theorizing the whereabouts of Gran's crew.

The glorious Oarlyegrande Skydom, a massive skydom controlled by the Istavion Kingdom.

There, safely behind his palace walls, a monarch is lost in his thoughts.

True King

Sigh... It didn't work out. But then again, things didn't go well for those skydwellers either.

Despite his nonchalant comments, the True King's expression is stern.

True King

It was like this once before. But, well, they were saved before the inevitable transpired...

True King

However, this time conditions are different. They won't be able to win again, not as things are now.

He stares at the large map of the skydoms hanging on the wall.

True King

To control the skies, to bring about peace and unity...

True King

I mustn't limit myself to Phantagrande and Nalhegrande alone.

True King

Every skydom will come under my banner, or they will fall to my power.

Pulling his gaze away from the map, the True King sighs, exhausted.

True King

I can no longer wait and reflect on my options. The day that I'll require your assistance is nearing.

White Knight

...

Violet Knight

...

Green Knight

...

The three knights answer their liege with silence, a display of their acquiescence.

True King

Unify the skies and guide our inferiors... That is our mission as disciples.

Absorbed in the sanctimony of his own mandate, the True King clenches his fists tightly.

True King

Indeed, the time is nearing.

True King

Isn't it, priestess?

???

...

The woman, her eyes devoid of light, manages a silent nod in response.

She then closes her eyes, as if to send a silent appeal up to the skies beyond.

Lecia

...!
It can't be...

Lecia stands aboard the Grandzweiss, flagship of the Fourth Fleet of the Crew of Enforcers.

Clutched tightly in her fingers is a report detailing some grave news.

Monika

Calm down, Lecia. Commanding officers can't ever lose their cool.

Lecia

But, Monika...

Monika

Judging from your face, I'd say the results of the investigation were less than good.

Lecia

Yes...

Unable to control her frustration, Lecia thrusts the report at Monika.

Monika

Seems there aren't any eyewitness accounts of the crew in either the Nalhegrande or Phantagrande Skydoms.

Monika

If what this says about the timing of their fall is accurate, then there's no doubt they fell beneath the minimum altitude necessary to maintain buoyancy.

Monika's expression sours as she finishes reading the document.

Monika

I'd imagined the worst, but seeing it spelled out so clearly, it's almost too much to bear...

Lecia

Gran... Everyone... Are you really gone?

Gran and the crew destroyed the Great Wall, saving the Nalhegrande Skydom.

However, they were caught in the collapse of the mammoth structure.

Now the whereabouts of both the crew and their airship are unknown.

Monika

The reports from both Idelva and Rhem are largely the same.

Lecia

Once they fell below the buoyancy threshold, it didn't matter if their ship was in good shape or not. They won't be able to return to the sky.

Lecia

The only way we can rescue Gran and the others is if we head to the bottom of the sky ourselves...

Monika

There are strong currents in the lower levels of the sky. We can safely assume the Grandcypher was probably caught up in them.

Monika

Even if we descend in the same area where Gran and the others went down, there's no guarantee we'll end up in the same spot they did.

Monika

Lecia, I'll say this one more time... Don't lose your cool.

Lecia

...

Although irritated by Monika's sharp admonition, Lecia holds her tongue.

Monika

Look, things are hopeless right now. I get that. But that's exactly why we can't break down.

Monika puts her hand on top of Lecia's before continuing.

Monika

Believe in them, Lecia. That's all we can do for Gran and the others now.

Lecia

Monika...

Monika

Lecia, I understand your concern.

Monika

Dropping below the buoyancy threshold and making it back alive, well, that's the stuff of fairy tales.

Monika

But if any crew could make it a reality, it's Gran's. Don't you think so?

Lecia raises her head a bit, encouraged by Monika's fearless smile.

Lecia

You're right, of course. They're capable of anything.

Lecia

I'm sure Gran and the others will make it back to us...

Her confidence in the crew restored, Lecia continues her thoughts.

Lecia

Only Gran would be crazy enough to search for a place like Estalucia.

Lecia

Even if everything we know about it comes from legend, still, I know they'll eventually reach it.

Monika

Imagine the new kind of legend Gran's crew will inspire if they manage to come back from the bottom of the sky and reach the Island of the Astrals.

Monika

Our job now is to sit tight and believe they'll come back to tell those tales.

Lecia

Right!

Thanks to Monika's words of encouragement, Lecia's brewing anxiety transforms into steadfast faith.

However, she raises a silent prayer to the skies, impatient for the crew's return.

After a brutal fall, the Grandcypher crashes onto a strange cloud-covered island that's floating despite being well below the buoyancy threshold. When the crew disembarks from the airship, Lyria and Rosetta realize that it's no island they've landed on—but a primal beast.

The Golden Knight Alliah hurtles toward the depths of the skies along with the rubble of the Great Wall.

But Gran jumps after her and knocks her back to safe ground.

Golden Knight

...!

Unfortunately, the laws of physics dictate that Gran must be pushed in the opposite direction.

Cain

Captain!

Katalina

Honestly, you do this every time.

Can't you think about how we feel once in a while?

Eugen

Haha! You don't become a skyfarer by thinking before you leap!

Rosetta

Well, the important thing is you're safe. That landing seems to have been a little rough on you though...

Rackam

We've got holes everywhere. The wings, the ballonet, the deck, you name it...

Eugen

Forget about flying. We ain't even stayin' afloat for much longer.

Rosetta

Our next destination's pretty much set.

Katalina

Oh, you two... But I suppose pessimism isn't going to help given the situation we're in...

It's time to rely on ourselves instead of pure, dumb luck!

There's no way our journey's just gonna end right here right now!

Vyrn

Preach it, girl! Just strap in for the ride!

The Grandcypher, its wings severely damaged, plunges through a thick cloud bank.

Frantically the members of Gran's crew rush across the deck, desperate to cling onto anything.

Rackam

Everybody, hold on! Don't you dare let go—not until it's safe!

Eugen

No fidgeting either! You make one wrong move, and you'll be thrown clean overboard!

Aaaah! Why is it shaking so much though!

Are we going to be okay? Is the Grandcypher going to flip?

Rosetta

It's possible. Everyone, stay close to me.

Rosetta unleashes her thorns, forming a protective barrier around the deck.

Katalina

Mmph! Everyone, brace yourselves!

Katalina

There's still debris from the Great Wall in the clouds. If something hits us in this wind, that'll be it!

The deck is a nightmarish scene, furious as any battlefield. Lyria and Vyrn snuggle into the protection of Gran's embrace for comfort.

Dialogue Option

Hang on, you two!

Lyria

I'm trying!

Vyrn

Eep! This wind's enough to blow us away!

Gran and the crew brace themselves as the Grandcypher continues its perilous descent.

Rackam

...!
The wind... changed?

Rackam

Oh crap! Hold on tighter! Somethin' big's comin'!

Spurred on by Rackam's warning, everyone prepares for the worst.

Sure enough, moments later a rising gust blasts the hull of the Grandcypher.

Vyrn

What was that!

Eugen

Nothin' good!

Eugen

We're losin' stability! We're gonna flip!

The world begins to spin faster and faster; Gran struggles to hang on to consciousness.

Rosetta

That gust wasn't natural...

Vyrn

It was only for a second, but...

While everyone else is wrapped in chaos, only Vyrn, Rosetta, and Gran take notice of the gust itself.

Rackam

Yeowch...

Dialogue Option

Guess the worst is over.

Rackam

Everybody accounted for? Nobody got thrown overboard, right?

Dialogue Option

Did we land somewhere?

Rackam

Everybody accounted for? Nobody got thrown overboard, right?

Oof... That was way too much shaking... I think I'm gonna be sick...

Vyrn

No kiddin', sis... I still feel like I'm tumblin' through the air...

Lyria

Ugh... It feels like there are a thousand butterflies in my stomach. I don't think I'll be able to walk straight for a while.

Eugen

I've been flyin' on airships for a long time now, but proud primals, that's gotta be the worst flight I've ever experienced.

Rosetta

Haha. No matter how old you get, the skies always offer something new, don't they?

Katalina

In any case, I suppose we should be thankful that no one got separated.

Dialogue Option

Yeah, thank goodness everyone's safe.

Rackam

Not everyone...

He sighs, gingerly patting the Grandcypher's railing.

Rackam

You've seen better days, huh, ol' gal?

Dialogue Option

I'm so sorry...

Rackam

Whoa, whoa, listen up now—

Dialogue Option

This is because I jumped.

Rackam

Whoa, whoa, listen up now—

Rackam

You're the captain of this crew, and the Grandcypher is this crew's vessel.

Rackam

If a helmsman can't use the vessel to save the captain, then he's a disgrace to both his crew and the airship.

Rackam grins, despite the significant damage to the Grandcypher.

Rackam

In fact, the ol' gal has never felt better. She'd rather get beat up than lose you.

Rackam

Get it? You're not the only one who gets to go leaping off islands to rescue others.

Rackam

Sometimes you gotta give that same privilege to your helmsman and his airship.

Rackam

So there's nothin' to apologize for, you hear?

Well... You should probably stop leaping without looking. At the very least, it's bad for your heart.

Dialogue Option

Sorry, everyone.

Eugen

Mm, guess we've been pretty rough on the Grandcypher. No doubt about that.

Rackam

Aye, you're not wrong there... Gran, when we get out of here, first place we go is Golonzo. Capisce?

Dialogue Option

You bet.

Rosetta

That leaves us with one very important question: just where in the skies are we?

Dialogue Option

We'll be there sooner than you know it.

Rosetta

That leaves us with one very important question: just where in the skies are we?

Gran and the others examine their surroundings. They seem to have landed on an island blanketed with clouds.

So this is the bottom of the skies—whazzit called—the Crimson Horizon?

Eugen

They say the Crimson Horizon is a land that stretches as far as you can see.

Eugen

But this is just some shrimpy island in comparison.

Vyrn

...

Vyrn emerges from under Gran's arm, flies up into the air, and takes a brief look at the area.

Vyrn

Hmm... Yep. This is an island all right. And one that's floatin' in the clouds, by the looks of it.

Katalina

An island covered in clouds? Has anyone ever heard of such a thing?

Rackam

Can't say I have... But I think we're probably well below the buoyancy threshold down here.

Rackam

Wouldn't an island fall outta the sky at this altitude?

Eugen

Sure would. But come to think of it, I've heard about a primal beast who lives in the clouds.

Eugen

Well, that's a pretty common tall tale, but still...

Katalina

It's possible that a primal beast of the very sort made a pact with this island.

Katalina

Nevertheless, we're completely surrounded by clouds. It's possible there's some sort of power here unlike any we've ever encountered before.

Rosetta

No, it's more like—

Rosetta peers cautiously around them as she speaks, her tone tinted with confusion.

Rosetta

Well, on the other hand, I'm not sure I can draw any conclusions yet.

Why don't we get off the airship first? Doesn't seem like we're gonna be going anywhere else in a hurry.

Everyone agrees to Io's suggestion and prepares to disembark the Grandcypher.

Lyria

...!

Katalina

What's wrong, Lyria? Do you sense something?

Lyria

Um, it's kind of like... Oh, how do I explain it...

Rosetta

So you've sensed the nature of this place too?

Lyria

Yes, but, um...

Lyria

I'm finding it hard to believe this is where we landed.

Rosetta

You should know by now that nothing is hard to believe when primal beasts are involved.

Dialogue Option

Can one of you fill me in please?

Lyria answers Gran's question as if trying to convince herself.

Lyria

This, um, might be a primal beast.

Katalina

Hm? You mean there's a primal beast here? I don't see any signs of one...

Eugen

Or do you mean it's here, but it's just not revealin' itself to us?

Rackam

Oh, yeah, it's not like you could physically see Tiamat all the time back in Port Breeze.

Lyria

Um...

I get it! It must be a tiny primal, one so small it's invisible to the naked eye, right?

Seeing Lyria struggle to convey her thoughts accurately, Rosetta steps in to help her.

Rosetta

I'm afraid it's the opposite. Right, Lyria?

Lyria

Yes...

Vyrn

Whaddya mean opposite?

Rosetta

Everything under us right now...

Rosetta

This whole island, in fact... We think it's a primal beast.

Gran is struck silent by Rosetta's revelation.

Lyria, meanwhile, stares down at the ground, attempting to understand the nature of the creature upon which they stand.

While Gran and the crew struggle to understand where they've wound up, a group of robed figures approaches them. A young girl, introducing herself as Shitori, explains that the crew has arrived on the back of Ebisu, a primal beast that swims along the boundary between the Crimson Horizon and the Sky Realm known as the Edgelands.

Katalina

You really think this island is a primal beast?

Lyria nods in confirmation, but this doesn't seem to ease anyone's shock.

Are you sure the primal beast isn't just, like, one with the island or whatever because of its pact?

Lyria

I'm sure...
The place we're standing on right now, the island itself... It's a primal.

Vyrn

Of all the places we coulda fell on, it just had to be—

Dialogue Option

On top of a primal beast.

Rosetta

We should count ourselves lucky.

Rosetta

An island-sized primal beast living inside the clouds... Quite a comfortable landing zone considering the alternative.

Rackam

I just don't believe it. Sure, we've seen some pretty hefty primals up until now, but—

Eugen

Who cares! We were fallin' to the bottom of the skies, and then this beaut of a creature came and saved us!

Rackam

It's still too soon to relax though. We don't know if this place is exactly safe yet.

Katalina

You're right. The primal beast seems stationary for the moment...

Katalina

But I fear what it could do if it suddenly went into a rampage.

Lyria

Um...

Lyria

This primal seems like the calm type, almost peaceful.

Lyria

I don't think it will get angry so easily.

Lyria

But...

Dialogue Option

But?

Lyria

I can't seem to reach it, no matter how hard I try.

Lyria

Sigh... Even though you're right beneath us, how do I speak to you?

Rosetta

Well, this is new—a primal beast that Lyria can't communicate with.

Rackam

That puts us in a tighter spot than I'd like...

Katalina

To make matters worse, we don't know how we'll get out of here either.

Katalina

Even if the Grandcypher were in any condition to fly, we're still below the buoyancy threshold.

Katalina

Someone's coming. A group of them. Draw your weapon, Gran.

Vyrn

Wha! There are people here besides us?

Rackam

We can't run or hide from 'em with the Grandcypher beat up like this...

Guess that means we gotta take them head on.

The crew steel themselves as the owners of the footsteps come into view.

???

...

It's a group of figures donning unfamiliar robes.

???

...

Katalina

...

???

You there... Do you align with the sky or the Astrals?

Lyria

The sky?

Vyrn

Or the Astrals?

Dialogue Option

Who are you?

???

...!
That face...

???

Could it be coincidental resemblance? No, that would be too great an accident.

???

Then... was this fate? Of course it was—destiny gathers in this place.

???

Which means, perhaps, you were brought to us by providence.

???

Allow me to welcome you to the Edgelands, a place where fates coalesce.

???

To be visited by one that so resembles him, it's truly a blessing.

???

Please, go on. Elucidate how fate guided you here.

Dialogue Option

...?

???

...?

Dialogue Option

Um?

???

...?

Awkward silence hangs in the air until a high-pitched but dignified voice echoes from the robed assemblage.

???

You're confusing them. Let me do the talking.

A young girl emerges from a gap in the group.

Shitori

Hello. I'm Shitori. I live with these people in a nearby village.

Shitori

Who are you people? Why did you come here? Does that airship there belong to you?

Rackam

Where've you been the whole time? Finally somebody here who talks normal.

You're not our enemies, right?

Shitori

That depends on you. We have no desire to fight.

Shitori

In fact, we welcome outsiders here, so I'm not sure why you assume we're hostile.

Shitori

If you want to antagonize us, however, know that we will resist. We will protect what is ours.

Katalina

We too mean no harm. Actually we would be grateful for your assistance.

Gran reveals how the crew fell through the sky.

When Gran begins describing the crew's last actions in Nalhegrande, Shitori raises her eyebrows in amazement.

Shitori

Y-your crew destroyed the Great Wall?

Rackam

Yep. Thought we were goners too, falling headfirst through the clouds.

Rackam

Who would've thought there'd be an island here to break our fall—much less a primal beast.

???

We understand well the nature of your plight. Is there one among your ranks that is an Astral?

Rosetta

Of course not. None of us are Astrals.

Rosetta

Allow us to ask some questions now. Won't you tell us where we are? And who you are?

???

Ah, that reminds me that we have yet to explain ourselves.

As if suddenly remembering proper decorum, the man gestures to his fellow robed brethren.

Edgedweller

We are edgedwellers, denizens of the Edgelands. Be they skydweller or Astral, we do not refuse any into our order.

Edgedweller

Even Shitori here—we have welcomed her with open arms. And she has proven herself a boon companion.

Edgedweller

You now find yourselves atop the primal beast of blessings, Ebisu.

Edgedweller

Ca Ong swims through the skies above; Ebisu swims through the Edgelands below. Thus, as denizens of this beast, we call ourselves edgedwellers.

Edgedweller

Your crew is most welcome here. Alas, you too will soon become our companions.

Lyria

Wait a minute! We don't plan on staying here forever or anything.

Vyrn

That's right! We got places to be, islands to find!

Edgedweller

Oh, beg pardon, that's not what I meant.

Dialogue Option

So... What did you mean?

Shitori

Excuse us. We're not explaining the situation in the proper order.

Shitori continues where the other left off.

Shitori

We call this place the Edgelands. It's the border between the Crimson Horizon and the Sky Realm.

Shitori

However, it's not directly connected to either.

Shitori

Sometimes people drift here—whether that's by coincidence or some higher power, who's to say...

Shitori

And what's more, time and place, skydweller and Astral—none of it matters here. Everything's mixed up.

Shitori

For example, the people who arrived here yesterday could be the long forgotten ancestors of someone who fell here years ago.

Shitori

That's another reason we call ourselves edgedwellers—we live on the edge of reality.

Shitori

The fact that you're here now means you've lost your connection to your former lives.

Lyria

Lost our connection? What do you mean?

Shitori

Time and space move differently here.

Shitori

This place is an anomaly, a basin between worlds where the flotsam of the skies collects. There is no way forward nor backward from here.

Shitori

It's a shame...

Shitori

But you should understand that once you've drifted here, you won't ever go back to the world above.

Gran and the others can only stand stunned with mouths agape at the shocking news.

But unbeknownst to the crew, somewhere else atop the primal, where the fated fall and collide, other familiar powers work to see their own needs met.

Loki and Fenrir have also arrived on Ebisu, searching for the Astral who fell to the Edgelands when the Great Wall collapsed. But before beginning their hunt in earnest, the pair happen upon a group of robed figures who recognize Loki and react bitterly to his unwelcome appearance.

In the shadow of the crew's descent, one particular Astral plunges through the sky, intent on completing his goal.

Loki

Ah. We've arrived.

Fenrir

Loki. The hell is going on? Where are we?

Loki

The Edgelands, the border between the Sky Realm and the Crimson Horizon.

Loki

And here, my dear pet, is the back of the primal beast Ebisu—the only place where you can find footing in the Edgelands.

Fenrir

Huh? Are you dumb or what?

Loki

Dumb, is it? Haha. Maybe I am.

Fenrir

You said you wanted to go to the Crimson Horizon, right? Did you get us lost on the way?

Loki

Lost? The Crimson Horizon is at the bottom of the skies. To get there, you just go in one direction: down.

Fenrir

Right—this place don't look like the bottom of nothin' to me.

Loki

Hah. Indeed it's not. But I've made a brief detour because there's something here I'm looking for.

Loki begins to leisurely walk forward while scanning the horizon.

Loki

Ebisu isn't the kind of place you can just visit even if you wanted to.

Loki

It doesn't matter if you're a skydweller or an Astral. That's part of Ebisu's power as a primal beast, you see.

Loki

But now I have a connection to this place, and finally, for the first time, fate allowed me to come here.

Loki

You see, whenever someone finds their way here, it's for a specific reason. Fate has to guide you.

Fenrir

Sigh... More of your shady games.

Loki

Haha. I knew you'd see it that way.

Fenrir

Because it's you we're talking about.

The Astral stops and smiles at the primal, unaffected by her jeers.

Loki

It seems she's moved since I last checked in on her, but the wretch I'm searching for is definitely here.

Fenrir

Oh... This is about the one who was sealed in the Great Wall, isn't it?

Loki

Yes. The very same person who pushed for its creation, in fact.

Fenrir

Tch... Seems like you're obsessed with her these days.

Loki

Hehe... Maybe just a little. I imagine she's going to become very important to me soon enough.

Loki

Fenrir, help me find her, would you? You've got quite the nose on you.

Fenrir

Humph. I'd rather not...

They continue walking along the surface of Ebisu, engaging in petty banter.

Eventually they spot a group of robed figures in the distance.

Loki

Oh, now what do we have here.

???

Mm... New arrivals?

The group comes to a halt, its members eyeing Loki and Fenrir suspiciously.

???

Loki... Why would someone of your stature be here?

Loki responds to the man with an exaggerated bow.

Loki

Well, well... It's both a great pleasure and surprise to meet a hero from the War here in the flesh.

Loki

Or should I say in the stone? You look like a living fossil. Coming upon such a rare specimen—just one of the many wonders of the Edgelands.

???

You lout—watch your tongue! A low-birth cur like yourself has no right to address me!

Loki

Haha... Don't mind me. Regretfully I had a terrible upbringing. I can't be held responsible for what comes out of my mouth.

???

Humph... Never mind all this. I have no time to bother with you anyway.

Loki

Really now? Isn't this a land where time has stopped? What's your hurry?

???

Up ahead there is a settlement, and the people there practice different ways from our own.

???

They go against the laws of this land. It stands upon us to help them see the error of their ways, whether it be with words or with force.

???

Moreover, strange stirrings from their settlement have increased as of late.

???

This leads us to believe that other newcomers have drifted their way to Ebisu.

Loki

Oh?

Seeming to have said his piece, the man signals to his procession, and they begin to pass Loki.

However, the man halts abruptly and turns to face Loki once more.

???

Answer me one thing. What happened to your older brother, Lord Byleistr?

Loki

He's dead. Gone for good.

???

Humph. Of course he is. News of mundane deaths—especially those of fools who chain themselves to the Sky Realm—wouldn't reach us here.

Loki

...

Again the robed ones begin to leave, but their leader remains unsatisfied.

???

You... You haven't come to the Edgelands because of that, have you?

Loki

Who's to say?

???

It is forbidden. You must realize the terrible sacrifice your actions will cause.

???

We won't allow it, no matter what. The Edgelands are awash in blessings. It is not a place to be readily used for your schemes.

???

You will not act foolishly if you know what is best for you. Someone like you mustn't interfere in the affairs of the world.

When the robed man finishes speaking, Loki fixes his gaze on the man's hood as if peering through it.

Loki

You know... I've given up living like you lot. That lifestyle can stay in the past.

Loki

The Sky Realm, the Astrals, not even fate—none of it matters. I won't let anyone get in my way.

Loki

I will do what I want to do. So at the very least, let's try not to get in each other's way.

???

...

Loki composes himself and turns his back to the robed group.

Loki

Well, let's go. If you sit there and doze off, I'll leave you behind.

Fenrir

What was that! You're the one who's always staring off into space!

The pair leave the robed group behind, heading off to no particular destination.

???

...

Meanwhile the robed man, without ever dropping his guard, watches as the Astral and his primal disappear into the horizon.