A few days after the Violet Knight's attack in Agastia, Orchis and Adam pay a visit to Ungud Castle in the Port Breeze Archipelago. Orchis takes a walk through the city with Sierokarte, where they realize just how prolific the crew has become. The manner in which these stories have spread, however, remains a mystery to both women.
Days after the Violet Knight's attack on Agastia...
In a room in Ungud Castle, located on Eingana Island, a soldier reads aloud the paper in his hand.
Erste Kingdom S.
That concludes the report on sightings of the Violet Knight.
Orchis
Thank you. Did our citizens or troops suffer any casualties?
Erste Kingdom S.
Only the troops who engaged with them directly, and the injuries were minimal.
Erste Kingdom S.
That is, save for General Pommern, who awoke earlier after laying unconscious for days.
Orchis
What exactly did they steal from Mephorash?
Orchis looks to Adam for an answer.
Adam
It was something I had fiddled with long ago.
Adam
But it never passed the prototype stage and was meant to be disposed of shortly after.
Adam
Besides, without Erste's technology, I don't see how it could possibly be useful...
Adam, too, cocks his head in wonder at the Violet Knight's actions.
Erste Kingdom S.
There is another matter as well...
Erste Kingdom S.
Freesia, who fell into a deep slumber from overuse of dark essence, regained consciousness a few days ago.
Orchis
Ah... Thank goodness!
Orchis's expression softens at the good news.
Orchis
Thank you for the report. You may return to your duties.
Erste Kingdom S.
Yes, Your Majesty!
The soldier briskly excuses himself.
Seeing this, Sierokarte calls out to Orchis with a mirthful expression.
Sierokarte
Tee-hee-hee! What a wonderful queen you've become in so short a time, Orchis.
Orchis
Ah, Siero! I'm sorry I had to cut our meeting short...
Sierokarte
Oh no, no, I don't mind at all!
Sierokarte waves both hands in her usual cheery manner.
The young Queen Orchis of the Erste Kingdom, with Prime Minister Adam beside her, has been in Port Breeze for a few days now.
She's come to promote economic relations with Port Breeze in order to help Erste get back on its feet.
Orchis toils day and night for the betterment of her kingdom.
Sierokarte
Is everything okay, Orchis? You look like you could use a little pick-me-up.
Orchis
Ah, I-I'm fine. Sorry if I worried you.
Sierokarte
You had meetings until pretty late last night too. I recommend not pushing yourself too hard.
Orchis
It's just a bit of a headache. Siero, let's continue our meeting.
Orchis
But there's still so much to do! This is no time to be lying around—
Adam
Your Majesty!
Adam is quick to prop Orchis up just as she collapses toward the ground.
Adam
Your Majesty... Are you hurt anywhere? You didn't bang your head against the table or anything, did you?
Orchis
Th-thank you... I'm fine.
Unable to bear the sight of Orchis working herself to exhaustion any longer, Sierokarte offers some candid advice.
Sierokarte
Orchis... I understand you want to do everything you can, but let's take things in stride.
Sierokarte
Even in my trade, investing in your health is one of the best business decisions you can make.
Adam
Sierokarte makes a good point.
Adam
I know you are impatient to restore the kingdom, but...
Adam
It's been almost a decade since your spirit was separated from your body.
Adam
You say you feel fine for now, but even I cannot predict what maladies may befall you if you keep up this recklessness.
Adam
Which is why I would like to ask you to please take better care of yourself.
Orchis
...
Despite Sierokarte and Adam's best efforts, Orchis remains determined to give her all for the restoration effort.
Orchis
Thank you, Siero, Adam...
Orchis
But the people of Erste have waited these past ten years for their country to regain the glory and prosperity it once held in my mother's time.
Orchis
As the current queen of Erste, I cannot allow my people to suffer any longer.
Adam
Your Majesty...
Sierokarte
Hmm...
Although laudable, Adam and Sierokarte cannot help but worry about her steadfast commitment to her duty.
Sierokarte looks out the window to the town below.
Sierokarte
By the way, Orchis... Have you had a chance to really sit down and take a good look at things in town lately?
Orchis
Erm, no... I came here directly from the port near Ungud Castle after all.
Orchis
And it's been meeting after meeting at the castle ever since getting here.
Sierokarte
Well then! Why don't you take a little break from that, and come check out the local sites?
Sierokarte
I'm sure it'll bring back lots of great memories!
Orchis
You think so?
Aspiring Youth
Come at me, you wretched imperials! My crew's ready for you!
Swordswoman?
Hehe... I, Katalina, shall subdue every one of you.
Helmsman?
Ah, erm... There's no target I can't... um, hit?
Helmsman?
Whoa, this Rackam guy is so cool. He can do more than pilot airships—he even touts a totally awesome rifle!
Helmsman?
I have my hands full with studying airship maintenance and taking care of our mascot.
Lizard?
Kweh!
Aspiring Youth
Hey! Uncle! You're supposed to become Rackam!
Helmsman?
Ah, sorry 'bout that.
Helmsman?
Don't expect me to play along with anything dangerous though. Your mom was very explicit about that.
Orchis looks curiously at the somewhat familiar mock crew.
Orchis
What are they doing...
Adam
Their armaments may look genuine, but their swords lack edges—playthings meant for theater really.
Sierokarte
You know, the skies are abuzz with talk of Gran's adventures these days!
Sierokarte
No matter which island you go to, you'll find children all over singing their praises!
Sierokarte
When it comes to the legendary crew that saved Phantagrande...
Sierokarte
The grown-ups pay their respects, while the kids dream of reaching such heights one day.
Sierokarte
Gran and friends have without a doubt become the very heroes of Phantagrande!
Orchis
Gran...
Orchis reminisces on the warm smiles everyone in Gran's crew wore when they last departed the skydom.
Orchis
(Along with Apollo and Orchid, they all fought hard for Phantagrande...)
Orchis
(It's all the more reason for me to give it my all...)
Orchis
(To provide a brighter future for this skydom that Gran and everyone else fought so hard to protect.)
Orchis
(I'll be an honorable queen worthy of my mother's lineage...)
Adam
...
Children's voices sound out in the distance, breaking Orchis's train of thought.
Child 1
Ah! Queen Orchid!
Orchis
Huh?
Child 1
Hello, Queen Orchid! What kind of food do you like?
Child 2
You can eat food like us even though you're a golem?
Child 3
Hey, Queen Orchid! What kind of a person was the captain of that famous crew? I bet they were super strong!
Orchis
Erm, well...
Orchis is soon surrounded by ecstatic children full of questions.
She rolls up her sleeve and shows her elbow to them, gently trying to correct the youngsters' misunderstanding.
Child 1
Huh? Your elbow's normal... I guess you're not a golem then.
Orchis
Sorry, but I'm not Orchid.
Orchis
I guess... you could consider me her sibling.
Child 2
So you're, like, Orchid's big sister?
As Orchis flashes the confused children a smile, someone who appears to be a parent comes rushing toward them.
Mother
Ugh! Do you have any idea how rude you're being? I want you to apologize at once!
She pushes her children into a bowing posture before deeply prostrating herself before Orchis.
Mother
My sincerest apologies, Queen Orchis... We didn't mean to offend you in the slightest...
Orchis
Oh, no! Please don't worry about it.
Orchis
It's a fact that I look nearly identical to Orchid. And it would be rather complicated to explain how she and I are different.
Mother
There must be something I can do to express my condolences...
Orchis responds to the flustered mother with a question.
Orchis
Um... Please tell me. How exactly do you know Orchid to begin with?
Orchis
Your child referred to her as a golem...
Having regained her composure, the mother answers with pride.
Mother
Why, both of you are as famous as the legendary crew in Port Breeze.
Mother
Orchid, born out of a series of miracles...
Mother
In a sense, she's become a symbol of peace in Phantagrande.
Enamored with the story of Orchid's beginnings, the mother prattles away with a gleam in her eyes.
Orchis
(She knows so much about Orchid...)
Orchis
(And most of her story sounds accurate...)
Orchis
Where did you hear all that from?
Mother
Ah, um, well...
The woman pauses in hesitant consideration, but soon another local clears his throat and pipes up for her.
Male Passerby
I heard Orchid's story from the tavern keeper.
Mother
Huh? But I'm the one who told him.
Mother
Hm, I definitely heard it from someone somewhere...
Female Passerby
Is this Orchid we're talking about? A soldier told me all about her.
Female Friend
Oh yeah? I learned of her from the merchant who runs that shop across the street.
Stallkeeper
As for me, a skyfarer buddy of mine gave me all the details. Though it seemed like it was just hearsay to him.
Sierokarte
Well, you know...
Sierokarte waits until she has everyone's attention before divulging an answer of her own.
Sierokarte
It's true that stories of Gran and Orchid have become rather widespread in this town...
Sierokarte
But as for who was the first to begin telling those tales, no one seems to know.
Sierokarte
The facts all seem to match up, and there's nothing embarrassing about any of the rumors, so I never really gave it much thought.
Orchis
I see...
Orchis
(I never meant to keep their existences secret of course...)
Orchis
(But something seems off about all this...)
The liveliness of the town serves as a stark contrast to the foreboding trepidation Orchis feels in her heart.
Disaster will soon befall the queen and those close to her as that trepidation begins to manifest.
115: The Holy Erste Empire 
