Well, the worst of the side tales are behind us. Let's progress to Edward's Tale, the last side tale. We, of course, start in Damcyan.
Chancellor: I have urgent business to discuss with the king! Is His Highness present?
Royal Guard: If you would lower your voice, sir...
Royal Guard: The king is currently occupied with matters of utmost importance.
Chancellor: There is no time for that! There are serious financial matters that must be addressed at once...!
Royal Guard: We were ordered not to let anyone through, sir.
Royal Guard: If you would kindly return at a later time...
Chancellor: This is an insult! I have come to conduct official business!
???: What seems to be the matter?
A woman comes up the stairs behind us.
Chancellor: Ah! Harley! Could you help me talk some sense into these people?
Harley: What is the problem?
Chancellor: Our ledgers have yet again fallen into the red this month. Damcyan is facing a severe financial crisis!
Just go kill some monsters, they're made of money.
Harley: Allow me to consult with the king personally about this.
Royal Guard: But His Highness explicitly requested no visitors.
Harley: Not even me?
Royal Guard: Er...
Chancellor: Well, then. Thank you very much for intervening on my behalf, Harley.
Harley: Not at all.
She heads up to the throne room, where Edward is playing his harp.
Edward: I believe I left specific word to turn away all callers.
Harley: Even your own royal secretary, Your Highness?
Edward: Is this an urgent matter?
Harley: Doubtful, my lord. I trust it is the chancellor worrying himself over trivial matters yet again.
Edward: This is about our support pledge, I suppose. I thought I had left you in charge of that matter.
Harley: I fear we can no longer keep it under wraps, Your Highness. Perhaps some reconsideration is in order.
Edward: There is no reconsidering to be done. The recovery of Damcyan was only made possible by our neighbors in Mist and Fabul.
Harley: Certainly, my lord, but to extend ourselves now to Eblan as well...
Edward: That's why I was counting on you to take care of it for me. Only you have the talent for this post.
Harley: ...It is a great honor to hear such compliments, Your Highness.
Edward: The affair is in your hands.
Harley: Yes, Your Highness.
She starts to leave.
Harley: If I may, my lord...
Edward: Yes?
Harley: I believe there are times when the head of a kingdom must act with a firm, calculated hand.
Edward: True enough.
Harley leaves.
Edward: The head of a kingdom... And yet, neither Damcyan nor I would be here now were it not for their voyage to the moon.
Another shot of the twin moons. That night, the meteor lands in between Damcyan and Fabul.
Chancellor: A falling star!?
Edward: Yes. It appears to have landed in the vicinity of Fabul...
Harley: Ah... So last night's earthquake...
Edward: Indeed. The shockwave from the impact, no doubt.
Harley: Have you considered that it might be related to that second moon?
Edward: ...Yes.
Chancellor: Then... then the horrors of the past have returned!
Edward: Calm yourself, Chancellor. It is too early to make such conclusions.
Harley: I think a full investigation of this object is in order, Your Highness.
Edward: I would like to inform Baron about this first. Cecil's viewpoint would be very helpful to us right now.
Chancellor: I will summon a messenger immediately!
Harley: Your Highness. If I may presume to ask, please allow me to handle the investigation.
Edward: Are you sure, Harley?
Harley: I believe I have the requisite knowledge and experience for the position, my lord.
Edward: It will be dangerous.
Harley: Then allow me to bring several members of your guard along for emergencies.
Edward: I will join you.
Harley: But, Highness... Who would guide our kingdom should something happen in your absence?
Edward: Still...
Harley: Please, my lord. You have nothing to worry about.
That night...
Chancellor: My lord!
Edward: Has Harley returned?
Chancellor: Not yet, I'm afraid.
Edward: Is there any word from the messenger we sent to Baron?
Chancellor: Unfortunately, there is not, Your Highness.
Edward: Too much time has passed. Something has happened.
Chancellor: We could deploy a search party upon daybreak, my lord.
Edward: A wise idea. We will wait until sunrise.
Chancellor: Yes, Your Highness. I will take my leave, then. Your Highness? I suppose you did not get a great deal of sleep last night either. Please try to get some rest.
Edward: I will. Thank you, Chancellor.
Chancellor: Good night, Your Highness.
Edward: (Anna... Tellah...)
We're now in control, with our lead for this Tale:
Edward Chris von Muir
Class: Royal
Edward has become a mix of his original Spoony Bard and his FFIV DS incarnation, in other words, not horrible. Bardsong can target allies now to buff and heal, instead of just trying to land status ailments on the enemy, Salve lets any restorative item be used on the entire party for full effect in one turn, at the expense of using multiple items in the turn, and Escape is Hide, not much I can say about that. He's essentially a White Mage limited by your item stock instead of MP.
We head to Harley's bedroom. The maid notices that Edward's concerned about Harley and leaves. We're here to read her diary. Clearly what the king should do.
That moon has shown itself once more... Are those terrifying days of war about to stage a return? The peace we enjoy today is wholly a product of King Edward and his companions. Military might is not what will drive our kingdom in the future. Education and science are the true catalysts. I believe this so fervently that I traveled to Troia and devoted my younger days to study. This, and nothing else, allowed me to attain the position of royal secretary that I enjoy today. King Edward is too kind to me. My duties are stressful, but I find every day in this castle to be rewarding. If I could have it so, I would want this life for myself forever - a life free of war and strife. It may be my imagination, but ever since that moon returned to the sky... The soothing, reassuring notes that King Edward's harp have taken on a timbre of deep sadness.
Edward: Harley...
We head to the outer area of the castle. Here we find a Bronze Tail. No, this isn't the Tail for this mission. We'll likely be getting that Tail later on. There's another Bronze Tail in the castle's storeroom. Finally, we head to Edward's bedroom and head into the bed.
Edward's dream has him in Kaipo.
Edward: Why... why am I here?
Anna appears.
Edward: Anna...!
Anna: (Edward...)
Edward: What is it, Anna?
Anna: (...)
Edward: Why must you look so sad?
Because she's dead?
Anna: (...)
She disappears. Edward wakes up. It seems to be early morning.
Edward: Anna...!? (...)
We buy some stuff from the now open shops and head outside.
My lord, are you still having trouble sleeping? If you'll excuse me, Your Majesty, it is time for the changing of the guard.
Edward: (... The meteor likely landed in the area around Mount Hobs. I'm sure of it now... Harley must have met some difficulty crossing the mountain passes...!)
Seems like it's time to slip out.
Your Highness!
Crap, it's the chancellor.
Chancellor: Your Highness, do you realize what time it is? Where are you going at this hour?
Edward: I just thought I'd get some fresh air outside.
Chancellor: Your Highness, we can hardly have the ruler of Damcyan strolling outside by himself! Please... at least take these guards with you.
Edward: All right...
Chancellor: And don't stray too far away from the castle!
Edward: I know.
Before we're done here, we head to the treasury and grab a Silver Armlet and a Longsword, the former for Edward and the latter for one of the guards.
Next time, we're heading to the Impact Crater.
Stats:
Edward: Lv 8 HP:260 MP:32 Strength:7 Speed:11 Stamina:3 Intellect:5 Spirit:7 Attack:18 (1x87% Accuracy) Defence:11 (1x31% Evaison) Magic Defence: 9 (0x9% Evasion)
