Now focusing on reconstruction as the True King, Gran is feeling completely drained from having lost so many dear friends in the great battle. Pholia shows up to offer her little sister Alliah some advice on how to proceed. The Golden Knight then suggests to Gran to take a trip back home and inspect other islands along the way.
Alliah
That summarizes the damage report for Libertaria Island.
Alliah
Because the destruction was relatively minor, some have already returned to their normal way of life.
Alliah
Around the Conforto Zone, however, disorder is becoming the norm.
Alliah
We've dispatched additional guards to help but lack sufficient numbers. It will be some time before things return to normal there.
Alliah
As for Magmell Island's school construction project...
Though it came at the cost of many sacrifices, the Sky Realm is now free from the Otherworld threats thanks to Gran's crew.
As Istavion Kingdom's True King, Gran devotes all efforts to rebuilding the world.
Alliah
Tranquio Island's food production output has decreased by roughly 40 percent.
Alliah
Because the primal beast Dryad also suffered great damage, returning to the former level of output will be...
Gran
...
Hearing the state of each island brings back memories of the grueling battle and the many allies they lost along the way.
Alliah
...
Alliah
Your Majesty, let's leave it at that for today.
Alliah
You could use some rest yourself. We can continue with the remaining reports tomorrow.
Alliah tidies up the pile of documents and gestures to the Green Knight.
Alliah
Escort Gran to the king's chambers. I'm going to do a sweep around town while the sun is still up.
Octavia
Very well. This way, my liege...
Gran is led out of the throne room by the Green Knight.
Alliah
...
Alliah steps outside to be met with a gentle breeze and the busy to-and-fro of passersby.
A glance upward reveals that the ominous-looking fissure still remains among the clouds.
It serves as a reminder of just how much the Sky Realm has suffered.
Alliah
(There's no sign of that fissure closing up anytime soon...)
Alliah
(Almost as if to say the world won't return to normal and that we are doomed to an eternity of ruin.)
Alliah
(Then again... It cannot be denied that we lost countless lives.)
Alliah
(That goes for not just Istavion Kingdom, but for other skydoms as well...)
Alliah
(What hurts most of all are the losses incurred by Gran's crew...)
Alliah clenches her fists in frustration at not being able to do more.
Alliah
(I can't lose hope so easily. But what can I possibly do?)
Alliah
Father... What should I do?
???
So you remember too.
The Golden Knight swiftly turns around, delighted to hear such a nostalgic voice.
Pholia
It's been a long time, Alliah.
Alliah
Sister!
Pholia
That's right. I'm glad you're not hurt, though you do seem fatigued—
Pholia
Mmpf!
Being too emotional to speak at the moment, Alliah tightly wraps her arms around her sister.
Pholia
Ngh... You're making it hard to breathe...
Alliah
Sister... Thank goodness you're alive...
Pholia
...
Pholia
There, there... It must have been terrifying. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you.
The sisters remain in each other's arms for some time before letting go.
Alliah
Sister... What brings you to Oarlyegrande?
Pholia
I made my way here as soon as I heard Gran's voice...
Pholia
But I had to fight off so many Otherworlders along the way that I couldn't make it in time.
Pholia
I wasn't sure what I'd do when their overwhelming numbers became a problem...
Pholia
It was then that Gran landed the final blow, or so I heard.
Pholia
The Otherworlders turned to dust in the wind... I meant to come to the rescue, only to be rescued myself.
However, the expression on Pholia's face couldn't be further from relief.
Pholia
Survival is paramount. Nothing begins if we do not first survive.
Pholia
Which is why I find myself so aggrieved at being unable to protect anyone in that time of crisis.
Seeing her sister choke up in response, Pholia changes the subject to something more lighthearted.
Pholia
How's Mom doing? Last I heard, she evacuated from Edan Island.
Alliah
Yes. Because Edan is still in ruins. I'm having her lead the medical staff at New Utopia.
Alliah
I wouldn't exactly say she's in good spirits, however. She tries extra hard to stay busy, perhaps as a means of distraction...
Pholia
It's strange, isn't it? The moment the Otherworlders faded away, we realized we'd forgotten something very important.
Pholia
What exactly happened to that man—Tau'luk—during the battle against the Otherworld?
Alliah
Well...
Alliah describes to her older sister how their father went out fighting.
Pholia
Oh? He really held nothing back, huh...
Pholia
Though I still hesitate to call him "Father"...
Pholia
I suppose I am somewhat proud to be of the same bloodline.
Alliah
That feels more like the kind of respect you'd have for a hero or similar figure rather than your own father...
Pholia
That's on him. He chose the world over his daughters. He was a giant, filthy turd of a dad, but a hero for the ages.
Alliah
Haha...
Despite the front that Pholia is putting on, her manner of speaking does help Alliah to lighten up a bit.
Pholia
Once the Otherworlders were no more, many who vanished without a trace came back...
Pholia
What of that man? Has he returned to Istavion?
Alliah quietly shakes her head.
Alliah
Although we were able to remember everyone who vanished...
Alliah
Father didn't simply disappear. He was swallowed up by the Legion Void, which itself has been vanquished.
Alliah
With how much remains uncertain about the Otherworld, I doubt Father will be returning to Istavion.
Pholia
...
Pholia
Meaning Gran continues to serve as the True King.
Alliah
To be completely honest, Gran does not find it to be an easy job.
Alliah
Fighting for the world's survival, only to lose so many dear friends...
Alliah
Although we managed to recover those "erased" by the Otherworld...
Alliah
There is no recovering the towns and lives that they wrecked...
A grim-looking fissure in the skies. A town reduced to mountains of rubble, its surviving denizens bereft of friends and family.
Alliah clutches her head in dismay at the scenery before her as she continues.
Alliah
I realize Gran must eventually move on, but...
Alliah
Istavion can't afford to lose its king right now!
Alliah
If we lose the True King on top of everything that's already been laid to waste...
Alliah has always relied on the existence of a ruler more than anyone else.
Pholia, being a former sovereign herself, offers her younger sister another point of view.
Pholia
A nation can take on various forms. And by that, I'm referring to the relationship between the ruler and the citizenry, not the political structure.
Pholia
What you occasionally see is a ruler shouldering all responsibility in leading their people.
Pholia
Some countries abide by this system, so I suppose you could say it works.
Pholia
But you know, Alliah...
Pholia
I believe the people should ask not what their ruler can do for them, but rather what they can do for their ruler.
Alliah
...
Pholia
Even a ruler is a person first... and may not always be available to sit on the throne.
Pholia
Why not aim for a system where the ruler can entrust the country to its people when necessary?
Pholia
While I can't say how things will pan out here, Gran is going to need time.
Pholia
What Gran's lost is simply too great.
Alliah takes a deep breath before looking into the horizon.
Alliah
You're right... I came to rely too much on Gran without realizing it.
Alliah
I should have been more conscious of Gran's own needs and wants. Even a king suffers no less than the rest of us.
Pholia
I hear being able to depend on each other is a fantastic way of advancing things with your fiance.
Pholia
Of course, I'm just passing along information, as I have no actual experience in that department.
Alliah
Hm... I suppose I'll keep that in mind...
The curtain of night falls upon a room where Vyrn, Lyria, and Gran are resting.
Vyrn
...
Lyria
...
The three would normally be asleep at this hour, but thoughts of what happened in the battle against the Otherworld keep them awake.
Vyrn utters a question they've asked of themselves time and again.
Vyrn
So... what's next for us?
Vyrn
Katalina, Rackam, Io, Eugen, Rosetta... Every one of 'em is gone now...
Vyrn
If this is how things were gonna end up, we shoulda just left the Otherworld alone from the get-go...
Lyria
Don't say that, Vyrn... That's the wrong way to think about it...
Lyria
We all did our best to keep the skies safe, and that's what matters.
Vyrn
What good are the skies if we don't have a crew to enjoy 'em with!
Lyria
...
Vyrn
Sorry, Lyria. I know you're as bummed out as I am...
Dialogue Option
What say we call it a night.
Vyrn
Yeah...
Lyria
Mm-hm...
All prepare for a good night's rest, their moods sullen.
Lyria
Hey, Gran...
As Gran tidies up the bedside cabinet, Lyria lightly tugs on the captain's clothes.
Lyria
Is it okay if I sleep with you and Vyrn tonight too?
Lyria
I'm afraid of the nightmares I might have again sleeping alone on such a big bed...
Vyrn
...
Vyrn
It's pretty chilly tonight, so let's share a bed to stay warm.
Gran readily agrees, and so the three share another night together.
Alliah
Your Majesty, I come to you with a proposal.
The following morning, Gran is accompanied by Vyrn and Lyria in the throne room.
Alliah
I summoned you two as well because this also concerns you. Thank you for answering my call.
Vyrn
Sure thing... So what's this proposal of yours?
Alliah clears her throat, then launches into an explanation.
Alliah
As you're very well aware, the Oarlyegrande Skydom was devastated in the battle against the Otherworld.
Alliah
However, because the battle spread across the entire world, the same could be said for all the skydoms.
Alliah
Life isn't the same anymore no matter where you look.
Alliah
I'd like to ask you, as the True King who watches over all in the skies, to go out there and see with your own eyes how other skydoms are faring.
Lyria
Like an inspection...
Alliah
Particularly the Phantagrande and Nalhegrande skydoms, which you have a strong personal connection to, Your Majesty.
Alliah
Having you visit will greatly boost the morale of the locals.
Alliah closes the documents in her hands and bows deeply at Gran.
Alliah
While I care very much about you...
Alliah
There's not much we can do here to tend to your wounded heart.
Alliah
Perhaps take this chance to return to your hometown of Zinkenstill to rest your body and mind.
Vyrn
You sure about this? I mean, Istavion's got lots of problems that need handlin' too, right?
Alliah
If I cannot take care of matters here during the True King's absence, then my title as a Luminary Knight would be for naught.
Alliah
Truth be told, I'm just adopting advice I picked up recently...
Gran at first wavers at Alliah's sudden proposal.
Lyria
This sounds like a good idea. Let's go back to where our journey first started... to Zinkenstill.
But with encouragement from Lyria, the decision to depart from Istavion is made.
175: Before the Dawn 
