While the war raged on in Heim, Lloyd had just returned to Kingsland aboard the Leviathan. Upon entering White Knight Castle’s audience room, the marshal shared news of the trio’s arrival in Roundheart. As Krone and the others listened on, they were suddenly jostled by a loud rumbling that shook the castle. While everyone else furrowed their brows, Lloyd, who’d been kneeling this whole time, stood up and gazed out of a nearby window.
“Your Majesty, it seems that battle is continuing to drag out,” he said.
Out in the distance and across the ocean stood what remained of Heim. Even in the dead of night, the kingdom’s gloomy skies were unmistakable. In fact, the glistening tree Lloyd had seen from the Leviathan’s deck could also be seen from White Night.
“Lloyd, head to the port at once and take command,” Silverd ordered.
“Right away, sire!” Lloyd replied.
“Have the Leviathan and the other royal vessels be ready to spring into action. We aren’t sure what’ll happen, and we must be ready to fire back.”
The marshal hastily left the audience room with a stern expression on his face. He’d just returned to file a report, but with a possible battle on the horizon, he had no choice but to head back to work.
“I can’t do a single thing... I’ve never felt so impatient and powerless before.” Silverd grumbled.
At this, everyone nodded.
✦ ✦ ✦
Ramza had said that a single vine from the World Tree could outclass the power of a single Sea Dragon. Just minutes after he said that, the tree’s roots reached Kingsland. Krone left the audience room to see this threat for herself in the safety of her office. From her window, Krone had noticed the royal vessels, resolute symbols of Ishtarica’s cutting-edge technology, all gathered in a single display of their astonishing might. But despite their best efforts, the vessels were still being pushed back—a disheartening sight to behold.
“Ein...” Krone murmured.
Only the tree’s roots proved to be a worthy threat. They’d sprouted alongside the World Tree itself, and sought out any and all sources of the nutrients they craved. The roots had thickened considerably by the time Arshay had done away with them. They were so sturdy, they could even stand up to a direct hit from a warship’s cannon. Luckily, the roots weren’t about to sink their opponents, but it was only a matter of time.
Krone smacked her cheeks and rushed out of her office. “I need to take a closer look!”
Krone swiftly passed by the swarm of knights and servants frantically prowling the grounds as she made her way to a balcony at the back of the castle. She reached her destination in a matter of minutes, but discovered a small battalion of Knights Guard members defending the door. With this in mind, Krone presumed that Silverd was on the other side.
“Lady Krone, it’s far too dangerous for you to be outside,” one of the knights said.
“I know,” Krone replied. “Will you kindly share His Majesty’s location with me then?”
“I suppose we cannot hide anything from you.”
“But of course. His Majesty and I are worried sick, the same as you.”
Without another word, the knight allowed her to pass. If the roots had breached the castle’s walls, she’d be in danger no matter where she went. It wasn’t as if heading outside would’ve kept her safe either. If fleeing was a real option, she would’ve done it as soon as Lloyd was ordered to port. But above all else, the knight noticed the determined look in Krone’s eyes and knew that there was no stopping her.
“Ah, so you came,” the king said as Krone stepped through the door.
He didn’t even need to turn around to know it was her. It was rather late, but the tree’s glow illuminated the fleet out at sea, providing a clear view of the proceedings.
“It’s in times like this that I’d love to hear what my catnapping dunce of a daughter would have to say,” Silverd grumbled.
Krone chuckled. “Indeed. Princess Katima would’ve been a reliable ally in this situation, Your Majesty.”
“Quite right. I must begin thinking of a way to scold her, that dolt... In any case, you could’ve left if you wished to, Krone.”
“If you will pardon my insolence, I believe that you should’ve fled first, Your Majesty. Do you not agree?”
Silverd grumbled, unable to argue against her logic. “No matter the case, the outcome shall remain the same. Should those tree roots make it past the warships and reach the castle, I’ll be in the same situation regardless of my location.”
“Precisely. Even if you had fled as soon as you could, nothing would have changed.”
As Krone stepped behind the king, he noticed an air of dignity about her. With the starry sky’s light twinkling in her eyes, Krone stared at the shore—her determination clear for all to see. Her appearance could be compared to that of a divine painting’s subject.
“Had I been able to offer any sort of assistance, I would’ve crossed the sea with Lady Misty and the others,” Krone murmured.
“I feel the same,” Silverd replied.
“Hee hee. Your Majesty, I may be allowed to go, but surely, you must stay behind.”
“Perhaps so... Personally, I’m reluctant to let you go as well, Krone.”
“I think I shall be fine.” Krone smiled confidently. “Without Ein around, I’m not of much value to this nation.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Your loss would deal a heavy blow to Ishtarica! You’re irreplaceable.”
“I’m truly honored to receive such high praise, Your Majesty. However, I don’t wish to be in a world without Ein—it’s simply unimaginable.”
Krone’s stern disposition was still apparent as she apologetically tilted her head, but her fingers trembled ever so slightly while wrapped around the balcony’s railing. She was frustrated at being so powerless, and even though it had crossed her mind for only a moment, the idea of a world without Ein had struck fear in her heart.
The king replied in the gentlest tone that he could muster. “Then we must bring Ein home as soon as possible.”
All the while, the tree’s roots grew longer still; Ishtarica’s armada was its pride and joy, but even they couldn’t fend off the roots fast enough.
“Lord Arshay mustn’t have lost,” Silverd muttered.
“I agree,” Krone nodded. “Had she admitted defeat, the roots would have swallowed Ishtarica whole by now.”
This revelation implied that the legendary trio were in the midst of an extremely tough battle with defeat right around the corner. If this foe could hold its own against the combined might of the reawakened Demon Lord, the King of Swords, and the Elder Lich, it only served to prove just how powerless Krone and Silverd would be in this fight.
Suddenly, the waves beyond the balcony started to wildly crash.
“We must head back inside,” Silverd said.
He’d mentioned the idea of remaining in place, but the king knew they couldn’t remain out in the open. His tone was firm, but Krone refused to budge. But just when he reached out to yank her inside, the pair suddenly recoiled from the railing.
“Wh-What in the?!” the king gasped.
“Your Majesty!” Krone cried.
“Make haste! Head inside, and stay away from here!”
In a shocking turn of events, a clump of roots had emerged from the ocean and smashed the balcony’s railing. The pair attempted to flee, but even more roots barred their path forward. A series of vines sprouted from the roots, giving birth to a blooming rose that stood taller than any man. A ferocious, yawning maw resided in the center of this flower, saliva oozing from its fangs.
“The both of you must flee now! Please, I beg you!” a Knights Guard member cried.
“Hurry, please!” said another.
“Leave this area to us!” a third shouted.
In the moments that followed, more and more knights flooded onto the balcony with their swords drawn. However, the simple flick of a root rendered their attacks powerless. Even so, the knights refused to surrender and tried jumping to their feet in order to save Krone and Silverd, but they were quickly restrained by the vines. Bound by even more vines, Krone was hoisted into the air while Silverd was pinned against the floor.
Krone gritted her teeth, but not a single tear rolled down her cheek. She faced down and closed her eyes as though in prayer.
“Stop! Don’t you dare lay a hand on her!” Silverd roared.
Giving it his all, the king struggled to bring himself to his feet and save the young lady, but it was all to no avail. The mighty vines refused to budge. The floral maw slowly encroached upon Krone while gleefully cackling.
“Heh heh... Ha ha ha!”
“Graaah!” Silverd groaned as he gave one more push.
“Hee hee... Heh heh heh heh!”
But just as the flower was about to devour Krone, a blinding light erupted from her chest pocket.
“What the?!” Silverd shouted.
“I-It’s coming from Lady Krone!” one of the knights yelled.
The roots and the flowers flinched in the light’s presence. To Krone’s shock, she was able to move freely again and she reached into her pocket.
“My lucky charm...” she murmured.
She took out a leather bag—the very one that she’d received from Misty as a good luck charm. When Krone gripped the bag with both hands, a blinding, blue light leaked out from the opening. The roots and flowers recoiled, freeing Silverd and the knights. They swiftly rose to protect her, but they were still up against the World Tree. Krone was isolated from her allies and no sword swing would reach her.
Just then, something flew in from the open door. There was a gentle tap as the vines and roots were pierced through.
“I’m so glad that I made it in time,” someone said coolly. It was the voice of a familiar woman.
Why is she here? Krone wondered. But she received no answer as she was freed from her restraints and fell to the floor. The lady swiftly rushed to Krone’s side to support her body.
“L-Lady...Sierra?” Krone murmured.
Indeed, there before her was Chris’s childhood friend—an elf with shorter, silver hair.
“Wh-Why are you here in the royal capital?” Krone exclaimed.
“I’ve arrived under my chief’s orders,” Sierra replied. “I came here with the belief that our ancient elven knowledge could assist you... It seems that I was right to head this way.”
“Thank you for coming!” Silverd said. “Sierra, please bring Krone over here!”
“Please be at ease, Your Majesty,” Sierra replied. “You’ve no need to worry anymore.”
She held several silver knives covered in ornate etchings—some of them had already pierced the vines and roots that had attacked Krone and Silverd.