[Roughly thirty-seven hours earlier...]
The collision between Sylpheed’s wind and Leviathan’s water had filled the air above Altaire with an immeasurable amount of vapor.
But now that things had blown over, the pressure holding them no longer existed, and a torrential downpour started descending onto Altaire’s collapsed city.
The streets were destroyed, ripped off their foundations completely. Houses weren’t much better, as they were nothing more than scrap wood under the might of two opposing spirits.
Many were displaced, with mothers holding onto the kids tightly while they cried, and fathers rushing to help with the evacuation and rebuilding effort.
The cavalry had arrived, but after everything had blown over.
Soldiers belonging to Arcadia’s army combed throughout the lower districts, rescuing civilians and preventing anyone from approaching the unstable port. They then established temporary checkpoints around Central Square, where healers treated the wounded inside the Main City Hall.
At the center of it all was Duke Amon de Arcadia, who had arrived less than an hour after Leviathan’s disappearance. Rain struck the dark cloak draped over his shoulder, but he seemed not to care. An official stood beside him, rapidly scratching each order.
"Deploy the Third and Fourth Companies along the river," Amon instructed. "No civilian is to approach the water until the remaining foreign mana has been dispersed."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Establish shelters inside every intact municipal building. Food, blankets, and medicine will be distributed without charge."
"Understood."
Aurora stood several steps away.
The Rosenthal heiress stood alone in armor, the rest of her legion having returned where they came via heirloom. Blood stained a few spots, though the injury under them had already been treated.
"You shouldn’t be here," Amon looked at her wound. "Your Father would think badly of me if he were to see his daughter injured like this."
"My father disagrees whenever I leave the estate without enough people to conquer a small country."
That comment managed to catch Amon off-guard, allowing himself to grin softly before getting back to the matter. "What happened...? Where is Baron Altaire?"
"Dead."
"Really?"
"Noelle reached his estate after it was attacked. Apparently the knight captain had killed him and set fire to the building. She fought him off."
"Don Maverick?"
"That’s what she claimed," Aurora sighed. "But we have no viable evidence as well as witnesses except her to really confirm such a thing."
"And Faust?"
Aurora looked toward the frozen port. "Dead as well. Noelle struck him through the heart with the help of Lady Lenia and Noct."
Amon followed her gaze, only to see the gigantic crater surrounded by dark water. Then he turned back, only one more person that was not accounted for.
"And Noct?"
Aurora fell silent, shaking her head. "I don’t know...Noelle went after him. Yet, neither had returned."
Amon looked toward the commander of Arcadia’s knights."Prepare a search party."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Prioritize the mine and coastline. If they are injured—"
"Your Grace!"
A voice broke through the rain, causing every knight surrounding Amon to turn towards it. Someone was running toward them from the direction of the port.
Wet, white hair clung to her face and shoulders, while her clothes were completely damaged and filled with holes. Yet she did not care whatsoever.
A motionless person was on her back, wrapped using a black cloak while covered with blood from every possible place.
It was Noelle, with Noct’s arms hanging limply over her shoulders while she sprinted toward them despite her exhaustion.
Two knights moved to intercept her. "Stop! You cannot approach His Grace without—"
"Let her through," the patriarch demanded.
The knights immediately sheathed their swords once more, before stepping aside just as Noelle stumbled between them.
She had likely crossed the entire lower city without stopping. Her breathing came in ragged gasps, and one of her legs dragged slightly whenever it struck the ground. At the last stretch, her remaining strength finally gave way. She dropped to one knee, using both arms to keep Noct secured against her back.
Aurora rushed toward them.
"Noct! Noelle!"
But as she approached with two knights who tried to move Noct onto a stretcher, Noelle suddenly lashed out. "Don’t touch him!"
Upon doing so, she seemed to regain her senses. Slowly, she lowered Noct down onto the stretcher herself before turning back to the Duke.
Amon noticed that one of Noct’s hands was clenched around the remains of a mana crystal, yet the stone had already turned gray. He looked down at his youngest son, and the desperate maid who carried him here.
"What happened?"
"He defeated Leviathan."
"What? How did he...?"
"There’s no time, my Lord!" Noelle suddenly snapped. "The Young Master’s illness, it’s going to consume him if you don’t do something!"
"What do you mean?"
"Please!" the maid hurried. "Please tell your entourage to begin combing the Altaire Crystal Mines for any mana crystals, it’s the only way to save him!"
Amon looked toward her and the crystal in Noct’s hands once more, but his eyes narrowed, doubtful of it all. "What does that have to do with saving his life?"
However, what happened next was beyond his imagination.
Without hesitation, the maid dropped on her knees and began lowering her head to the ground. Placing both hands against the dirt, she simply begged.
"Please..."
Noelle might have worn a maid’s uniform, but she was no ordinary servant. She had once served as the Second Lady’s personal bodyguard prior to becoming Noct’s. She was disciplined, fiercely proud, and among the most capable people Amon had ever entrusted with another person’s life.
Noelle had served Ophelia for years without once pleading for anything in return or asking for compensation. Yet, that same young woman was prostrating herself before him in the mud, begging for her Young Master’s life.
"Why?" Amon asked. "Why are you so certain those crystals can save him?"
Noelle’s fingers curled into the mud. "I cannot tell you."
Several knights stiffened at the refusal, but Noelle lowered her head even further. "You may question me, imprison me, or punish me however you wish afterward. But if you have ever trusted my judgment...please trust it now."
That same woman had thrown away every shred of pride she possessed. Whatever happened between them, her desperation was genuine.
"Search the mines," Amon ordered at last. "Bring me every mana crystal remaining in Altaire as soon as possible.
The Duke simply turned at least. But just before he walked away, Noelle stopped him once more, with her head still down.
"There is one more thing."
Her hair was now slick with wet mud that had been accumulated from the torrential rain and her knees trembled from the pain of having to kneel on raw stone.
But she didn’t give up.
"Your Grace. Even if the crystals save him today, he will continue needing them."
"How many?"
"I don’t know."
"For how long?"
"..."
Amon looked toward the distant mountains beneath which the crystal mine rested. "You want me to give him the mine?"
Noelle dropped her forehead right on top of the wet mud. "I want you to give him the means to survive, when he had been robbed of it all his life..."
The Duke simply stared at her for a few more seconds, before coming to a conclusion. "Does Noct know you’re asking this?"
"No."
"Huh..."
A look of amusement began to spread on his face as he mounted his horse. "I used to think that brat didn’t have anything but the Arcadia name and magical talents—"
"But that brat seems to have earned something for himself after all?"