Creeping Darkness

Naielle: Wh-Who's there?! Show yourself!

Naielle: Ah... I'm sorry. A Dawn Legionnaire... Please excuse my outburst. The situation just feels so hopeless...

Naielle: What happened, you ask? *sigh* All the Legionnaires assigned here have gone missing. Not a single trace, it's like they just vanished.

Naielle: No one wanted to take this mission, and everyone kept refusing it. In the end, it was us rookies who got sent... including me.

Naielle: But now... all my comrades are gone. I'm the only one left. There's no trace of any of them!

Naielle: But... But... recently, I've started to sense a frightening presence. There's no doubt that someone is after me... *sob*

Naielle: There's an old hideout across the canyon that no one uses anymore. But lately, I'm certain I heard noises coming from inside.

Naielle: After the hideout was closed, the key was kept by the Notos Legion. Who would even go inside a hideout like that? There's no doubt that whoever is hiding in there is very cunning and dangerous.

Naielle: I was too scared to check alone, so I called for backup, but no one came... At this rate, I'll be next... *sob*

Naielle: You're going to help me? Th-Thank you! May I ask your name? I'll treasure it for the rest of my life.

Naielle: ‹your name›... Wow, even your name is quite something. The hideout I mentioned is in the southern part of the canyon. I'll meet you there.

Naielle: Urgh... I'm really going to die soon, too...

Damaged Mutated Sura: I... I have something to tell you...!

Naielle: Wait, Sura aren't supposed to be able to talk... What are you?!

Damaged Mutated Sura: I'm... a Notos... Legionnaire...

Naielle: W-What?

Damaged Mutated Sura: We were all... abducted by Balaur during patrol... Taken to the Surana Refinery... I was lucky to escape, but...

Naielle: So the Balaur were behind the kidnappings...!

Damaged Mutated Sura: I'm glad I found you... Here, please read this... I wrote it... while I was still myself...

Damaged Mutated Sura: Did you read all of it? Go to the Surana Refinery... Fast... Someone might still be alive there...

Naielle: Is that really true?

Damaged Mutated Sura: I have no proof... but I saw it... The name... Dragon Lord Ishtar.

Damaged Mutated Sura: They kept chanting Ishtar's name... As if... that brutal Dragon Lord is about to return...

Damaged Mutated Sura: If you can get info on Ishtar from there... it could really change the tide of this war...

Damaged Mutated Sura: I'm... already too far gone. Soon, I'll lose myself and become... a full Sura... When that happens... please grant me a swift end.

Damaged Mutated Sura: I wished one day... To return to Odyle's embrace...

Naielle: To have killed a one-time comrade... with my own hands...

Naielle: I recognize all those names... As hard as it is to accept, it seems what that Sura said was true.

Naielle: Information on Dragon Lord Ishtar... That's what you need, right, Daeva? It might be the key to saving Atreia.

Naielle: Me? Honestly, I care more about whether anyone survived. And I want to get justice for this Sura— I mean, my comrade.

Naielle: This looks like something we have to do together. Let's go.

Naielle: First, I'll request mission clearance from Dymones before I go. This is serious. We'll need more troops if possible.

Naielle: Also... I'd like to request that someone recover our comrade's remains here.

Naielle: Once I finish the report, I'll head over. Let's meet again at the Canyon Campsite.

Damaged Mutated Sura: D-Don't attack... Please... hear me out...

Naielle: Those Balaur bastards...! I won't forgive them!

Naielle: Hmm? Why am I alone?

Naielle: I did get mission approval, but things are rough at the base right now. They said providing reinforcements would be difficult.

Naielle: That's not all. When Dymones heard your name, ‹your name›, he said, "The two of you will be more than enough." And he ended the call.

Naielle: What did you do to get such high praise from Captain Dymones? I've never seen him compliment anyone before!

Naielle: Ahem... but I digress. Based on the info we got from that Sura, I found the entrance to the Surana Refinery.

Naielle: It's along the northeastern cliff of the Altamia Canyon. I'll see you there.

Naielle: Who would've thought the Balaur were hiding in a place like this...

Naielle: As I said, my first priority is finding my comrades. If I do find any survivors, I'm getting them out first. Any objections?

Naielle: Whoa, none? You're so chill... I suppose I'm probably not much help anyway even if I stick around...

Naielle: Still, I'll stay in the back and support you however I can. Let's go, ‹your name›.

Naielle: Argh... Nghk... I-It's okay. Just a minor cut...

Naielle: Should've trained more with my sword... Haha... I'll patch myself up. Please check on the others.

Naielle: Valmore! Nareth...! You made it...

Naielle: The other Legionnaires... I could have saved them if I checked that hideout sooner...!

Naielle: ‹your name›, I'll get the survivors out of here first. There's no telling what's deeper in, so please be careful!

Azeran: The Balaur... kept torturing us... they put us in tubes... Can't breathe... please... help...

Valmore: The others... are inside... Please... save them...

Nareth: This place is dangerous... There are more Balaur farther in...

Naielle: There should be a guard detail up ahead.

Naielle: I'll cover the rear!

Naielle: Break the tubes and get the Legionnaires out of there!

Surana Refinery Overseer: Interrupting our great experiment?! I hope you like tubes!

Naielle: Argh! M-My leg...

Naielle: Can you hear me? It's me, Naielle. I made it out safe, thanks to you.

Naielle: I shared the plan with Caelid, so please report on the situation.

Naielle: He should be waiting at Zumion Village.

Naielle: I'll see you around, then. Thanks for the help!

It is too late. There are no signs of life.

Drakan soldiers are behind the door. Take them down so they cannot chase after Naielle.

Caelid: ‹your name›! I heard everything from Naielle.

Caelid: What did you find? If it's about Ishtar, it could really help our operations.

Caelid: Torturing Daeva to refine Surana... Balaur cruelty knows no limits.

Caelid: The whole place was covered in inscriptions worshiping Ishtar?

Caelid: "Prepare for the Dragon Lord's return"... Is that all? I would have appreciated a little more detail.

Caelid: We should be wary of Ishtar, but it's likely little more than the fanatical wish of some simple-minded Balaur. We can't delay leaving for Eltnen based on that information alone.

Phernos: Hmm... Perhaps. But I would not be so quick to dismiss it.

Caelid: What do you mean, Phernos?

Phernos: The Balaur do not act out of blind devotion. They are cunning beasts, always sure of themselves.

Phernos: Ishtar suffered heavily in the fight with the Empyrean Lords. We assumed not even a Dragon Lord could recover from such wounds...

Phernos: The fact that Ishtar still lives is significant. Perhaps there is another conspiracy at work.

Caelid: Eltnen was the farthest Ishtar advanced. Therefore, our Eltnen operation must proceed with even more caution...

Phernos: Precisely.

Caelid: All right. First, we need to share this intel with both the Dawn and Notos Legions.

Caelid: ‹your name›. Impressive work, as always. Be prepared for what lies ahead, and don't let your guard down.