While a battle rages between two armies in the desert, Gran and company split up inside the Valtz Duchy's Grand Arsenal, with Gran's group looking for Lloyd and Orchis's group staying with Zwei in an underground prison. The Violet Knight makes a surprise visit to finish off Zwei, but an Astral comes to stop him: Loki.
Titan Suit S. 1
Hraaagh!
Erste Kingdom S. 1
Fall back! Don't attack the titan suits head-on! Try to flank them!
Erste Kingdom S. 2
Right!
Black Knight
They may be soldiers just like us, but they are far too dangerous to fight alone.
Black Knight
As powerful as their armaments may be, we have the advantage in numbers.
Black Knight
Also bear in mind the brittleness of their joints. "Titans" they may be, but a weakness is a weakness.
Black Knight
Fight them in teams of three or greater.
Black Knight
Be conscious of each of your roles, and make full use of our numbers to take them down!
Kingdom Soldiers
Yes ma'am!
Freesia
Don't push your luck against the titan suits.
Freesia
Although those suits have gone through mass production, only a select few out of their entire force wear them.
Freesia
Not to mention that out in this rocky desert, their mobility is severely restricted.
Titan Suit S. 2
(Rgh! Getting around on the sand is impossible!)
Freesia
And don't panic if you should come face to face with one.
Freesia
Try to keep your distance and focus on one adversary at a time.
Kingdom Soldiers
Yes ma'am!
Pommern
(To think that we'd have the two top commanders of the former Erste Empire back together again...)
Pommern
This won't be easy, I do say...
Erste Kingdom S. 3
General Pommern! Your orders!
Pommern
R-right, of course!
Pommern
Now that our troops flanking them have opened up a path for us from both sides... We charge!
Kingdom Soldiers
Yes sir!
The new and old Erstes clash on the deserts that have become synonymous with the Valtz Duchy.
What the kingdom's troops lack in equipment, they make up for with their leaders' superior command of the battlefield.
Black Knight
Titan suits, eh...
Black Knight
They're definitely an improvement over the playthings they used to be, but they're not quite fit for actual battle yet.
Black Knight
(But the fact that there was room for modification at all means they can get even stronger...)
Black Knight
(With the right conditions and numbers, they can be taken down by the rank and file for the time being, however...)
Black Knight
(Istavion is really gung ho about transforming war as we know it.)
Black Knight
(The True King... What a troublesome foe he is...)
Apollonia examines the battlefield with a cool head, speculating on who might be pulling the strings behind it all.
Black Knight
(With a proper strategy in place, going up against titan suits isn't all that difficult.)
Black Knight
(I just hope our troops on the other side are doing okay...)
Meanwhile as the armies continue to clash...
A small elite force including Gran and company had snuck into the Grand Arsenal ahead of time, intent on retrieving Lloyd.
With information gathered from Archduke Tzaka, the crew makes for the cell where the golem girl is being kept.
Orchid
So she's here?
Io
Mm-hm... I heard it from someone who works here...
Io
He mentioned seeing a girl who looked like Orchis being dragged down here...
Orchis
But why in a place like this? Isn't this where they keep prisoners?
Drang
Sure seems that way. Though they've probably got other uses for it too.
Drang
Nothing good, I'd bet.
Katalina
It's dark, and I don't sense anyone's presence here... Where could that golem girl possibly be?
Io
I'll get us some light in here.
???
...
The golem girl, with her now stone-cold vacant eyes, comes into view.
Sturm
Hey, pull yourself together! Can you talk? What happened?
???
...
Sturm
This can't be good... Forget about talking—she can't even see us.
Eugen
So what now? There's no way we can just leave her like this...
Lyria
Um... I don't think she has Lloyd with her anymore.
Lyria
I could only sense a tiny bit of Akasha from Lloyd...
Lyria
But I don't feel its power at all here...
Rosetta
I guess she had Lloyd snatched from her the same way she snatched him from us.
Vyrn
So whadda we do, Gran?
Dialogue Option
Let's look for Lloyd.
Eugen
Well... That is our goal after all...
Orchis
Please leave her to us. Getting another chance to speak to her is exactly what Orchid and I came here for.
Dialogue Option
Can you two stay with her for a bit?
Orchis
Of course. Orchis and I came all the way here just to see her after all...
They split up—one group continues the search for Lloyd, while the other tends to the golem girl.
Vyrn
All righty! Let's get back to business!
Gran and company leave the dungeon to look for Lloyd elsewhere.
The first thing that Orchid's group does is free the golem girl from her cell.
Sturm
Haah!
Sturm
She's free to go. The rest is up to her.
???
...
Orchis
...
Orchid
Orchis...
Orchis
Mm...
The golem girl shows a faint response when Orchis grips her hand.
???
...
Orchis
Can you hear my voice?
Orchis
There's something I've been wanting to tell you.
Orchis
You once asked me, "What should I do?"
???
Okay, smarty-pants. What else should I do?
Orchis
Huh?
???
I said, "What else am I supposed to do?"
Orchis
Um... well...
???
Do you want me to live the rest of my life as an imitation, knowing that I'll never be the real thing?
???
I didn't ask for this. I didn't want to be born as a fake.
???
But somehow it's my fault? Why can't a fake find happiness? Why is a fake forever condemned to be a fake!
Orchis
...
Orchis
I couldn't think of an answer at the time...
Orchis
But I have one now, and I'm here to give it.
???
...
Orchis communicates through not only her voice but also her eyes.
Orchis
It's actually really simple.
Orchis
The fact is... you don't need to do anything. Because regardless of what happens... or doesn't happen, you're still you in the end.
Orchis
Real... Fake... None of that matters.
Orchis
You don't have to be like anyone else. What does matter is that you're here right now.
???
So... it's okay if I don't become the original?
???
Even as a fake... an imitation... you think I can go on living?
Orchis
Let's not worry too much about semantics. What's important is that you're here.
Orchis
Who is it that's holding my hand right now? Who is it that's reflected in my eyes?
Orchis
This warmth I feel in my fingertips... It couldn't feel any more genuine to me.
???
Then I...
Orchis
You're right where you need to be. There's no need to go out of your way to do anything special.
???
Sigh, what a mess. Look what the cat dragged in.
Sturm
What the? I didn't sense anyone else here!
Drang
The mighty Violet Knight who licks the True King's boots...
Violet Knight
Sorry, no time to chat. My business is with the golem.
Violet Knight
I thought I ordered her disposal, but she looks perfectly fine.
Violet Knight
Phooey. Looks like I might have to get the job done myself.
???
Eek!
Orchid
I won't let you...
Orchid and Orchis immediately stand up to protect the golem girl.
Violet Knight
How about you all get out of my way? Unless you want to be sent to an early grave that badly.
Sturm
Heh... You're kidding yourself if you think you can take us all on.
Drang
Don't forget that Sturm and I are agents.
Drang
Hurts my heart when we're not taken seriously.
The Violet Knight lets out a deep sigh upon seeing everyone raise their weapons.
Violet Knight
So eager to die, aren't you... Didn't your parents ever teach you to value your lives?
Violet Knight
Throwing an agent or two into the mix won't change anything.
???
How about an Astral?
Orchis
...!
It's you...
Violet Knight
Well, well, well... One surprising guest after another.
Loki
You're much too kind to consider me a guest.
Loki
I just figured it was about time I stepped into the spotlight.
From the Violet Knight's appearance to Loki's, the situation surrounding the golem girl changes with each passing moment.
The many thoughts and feelings flashing through her mind only serve to foster her emotional growth.
122: Essence of Authenticity 
