Ganthrú, looking at everyone, says, "I am Ganthrú Ó Gairbhith, leader of the general army within the Red branch knights, and I took a vow, I made a geas to Senán when I assumed this role to ensure peace and unity within the country. But I have failed at this. When fighting became hectic, I wasn't able to stop it, when bodies were piled up I was leading the charge, and when another war was about to break out, I didn't do everything I could to stop it. Many people have power within the land of Nialathrú, but I solely wield the power of death, the power of force to destroy others within the land, and I was the only one who could have brought order to chaos, and allow actual discourse to thrive."
Bowing, Ganthrú says, "Everyone, I apologise for my foolishness and cowardice. In this land, we all deserve to live without a fear of violence, and protecting that right was my number one job. But there are people today, including yourselves, who wish to fix all the damage I have caused, and while another wound has opened in your heart, I can assure you that if you will try once more I we will make it work. Please, everyone."
Orb turns to stare at everyone, and walking forward, Willow says, "I would enjoy working beside you again."
Ganthrú looks at the scars he gave to Willow, and then says, "Thank you."
With a hefty voice, Orb says, "WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF YOU!"
Little by little, members of Aplos, Skydust, Elpída, and Basileia move forward with the beastkin joining them as each group comes over here, and as the majority moves over, the undecided ones are pulled as well by the crowds' passion.
Each of them stands together, and Orb shouts, "LET'S GET THE SEEDS PLANTED!"
One by one, they all walk to a series of baskets Maple has set up behind her, and from them they grab a series of seeds, and little by little they place them in the already tilled land.
Many of them stay silent as the memories of their previous wasted effort play again in their head.
But sitting down beside them and working Orb says, "Let's hope it does mess up this time, otherwise you silver teamers are going to get you're butt kicked."
Some of the blue team members beside him start to laugh, and the silver teamers say, "You know that isn't true, we were doing way better."
"I think editing your memory is a sign of defeat already."
"Then we will show you."
A blue teamer says, "As if you could grow plants as lush as ours, where even if we gave you the whole year."
"Come again!"
Playful banter breaks through the area, and the despair of the pointlessness they felt fades with each joke made about their situation, and little by little, that despair allows them to once again put their heart and soul into it.
-Break-
With all of the seeds planted, Maple stands in front of the field with everyone behind her, and looking at a bat beastkin, she says, "Signal Senán, please."
He nods and then lets out a high-pitched signal to Senán, and as he does, Maple recalls her thoughts from yesterday.
Deep within a hole with Suzuku beside her, Maple says, "It has to be here somewhere."
Suzuka asks, "You're mind is so focused I can barely hear your thoughts, is everything ok?"
"It's wonderful, right now I have gotten the secret to getting everything I need."
As Maple digs, she feels something and says, "My shovel hit something other than dirt!"
Quickly, she starts to dig up the ground with her hands, and holding a piece of mud inside, she says, "Look, Suzuka!"
Looking at it, Suzuka sees the dirt is covered in ice, and says, "Ice! Does that mean Orb messed up all along?"
"No, it wouldn't make sense. Look, the ground around here was already broken apart, Orb had dug this far already. So there is no way he wouldn't have caught this."
"So what happened?"
"Suzuka, I want you to come here and feel if there is any spirit energy."
"Huh?"
"Just do it."
Jumping down into the hole and being caught by Maple, Suzuka quickly starts to scan the ground for spirit energy, and as she does, she feels a sudden surge hit her in the face, sending her backwards.
"There is a lot of spirit energy everywhere. I didn't notice it before because of how abundant it was, but the entirety of Fimbulwinter is filled head to toe with spirit energy!"
"I think with this, I figured out what was happening. Do you remember when Orb was telling all of us about his memories with Setanta, and some of you guys talked about how legacies are Regalia?"
"Yeah, the special ability drawn out by mastering spirit energy. Basic knowledge of where I am from."
"You all said that requires spirit energy to use, and if all of the snow and ice on Fimbulwinter is made out of spirit energy. So that must mean that it's spirit energy causing Fimbulwinter to persist!"
"I see! Even if Orb manually removed all of the snow and ice with his legacy, as long as the spirit energy remains in the plan,d it will always come back again."
"So it's simple, we got to remove the spirit energy out of the land or at least these fields for now, and there is one person I know whose fighting style causes spirit energy to be rejected by forcing her own within."
Suzuka's understanding of Maple's words converts all of her tails into spirit energy, then, placing her hands on the ground, she says, "Gozen battle arts; true spiritual tether!"
Soon, Suzuka's spirit energy ruptures through the ground, and around them, they can see a glowing silver spirit energy leave the ground as the full moon glows down on them.
Returning to the present, Maple says, "Please work."
Senán's blood flows, and he says, "Beast blood battle arts; Fas!"
And then all of the seeds within the ground start to grow, and as they do, the faces of those around Maple light up, and as they fully grow, everyone starts to cheer.
ΦLooking at Orb, I see a look on his face that I haven't seen since we first left Fimbulwinter. The smiles of someone completely engrossed in the sights he sees before him. And as I do, I can't help but feel tears run down my face.
From my right and my left, I am hugged by Willow and Maple, then told, "You did really good, Maple."
"It looks like our hard work really paid off."
I feel many things right now, and there is so much I want to say, but I can't bring myself to do anything but cry.
ΦTaking a few steps forward, Orb says, "It looks like our little game has come to an end, and I think we all know who the winner is."
Pointing his finger, Orb says, "Maple, please come up with the name for the capital city!"
"Wait. I can't just decide that for myself, everyone helped us make it happen, it would be too unfair."
From behind her, a voice says, "It's fine."
"I am ok with it as well."
"See spent the entire night doing it for the country."
"We were all fighting last night, I don't think we deserve to specify what we should call our home."
Touching Maple by the side, Willow says, "Go ahead, you've earned this."
Maple says, "But I don't know about this,s it feels like special treatmen-."
Ganthrú says, "A good leader responds to the hearts of the people. If you wish to make that clear, then do it today."
Holding her head up high, Maple says, "Ok, I will do it."
She then starts to think so hard and intensely that 50 years of stress manifest themselves on her face, and she starts to scratch her head. As Atalanta hugs her from behind, she calms down and says, "I figured it out!"
Turning to face the crowd, she says, "You're all way too skilled. You know things that I don't, and hold the keys that allow all of us to thrive, giving food, knowledge, experience, passions, and skill, making us grow.
To me, you guys are just like the sun. So in this home of mist, I think there should be a little sun that constantly powers it to move forward, so Minagrain will be the name of our little country."
Φ As Maple names the country, everyone starts to speak amongst themselves, and looking at them, I say, "It seems she will always be near, isn't that right, Wolfie?"
Hearing no response back, I feel a little surge of happiness flow through my body, and I say, "Even if it's a bit, I am happy I can always feel you near Wolfie."
Feeling a hand on my shoulder, I turn around to see Suzuka. "What are you doing here, my little fox?"
With a bright and unnerving smile, she says, "Revenge, you dumb wolf."
"EVERYONE! As Maple is the sole winner, that makes all of us losers, and that means everyone, single one of us gets to smack him!"
The crowd cheers, and I grab Suzuka, saying, "WHY DID YOU DO THIS!"
With a smug smile plastered on her face, Suzuka says, "Because it's funny."
"You little vengeful little fox."
"Didn't you know, foxes love a good joke. Now prepare to be struck."
Forming an ice barrier around himself, Orb says, "Hey, everyone. Later today, let's have a party to celebrate this victory. For that, I will need to be conscious to make sure all the preparations are done, so how about we cash in on this game during that time!"
The crowd agrees with me, and I take a deep breath, saying, "Safe!"
"NOW EVERYONE GET BACK TO YOUR WORK FOR TODAY!"
-Break-
Location: Minagrain
Φ During the night, throughout Minagrain, the people sing, dance, and eat the different fruits and vegetables their efforts have earned them, along with a combination of different meats hunted by the warriors who tried extra hard today.
Many spend the time talking and repairing the wounds they have caused the last night whilst talking about future ideas. Some talk about the future buildings they wish to make, others try and lock in job opportunities for the future, while some talk about starting new ventures with their combined ideas.
The people who were unknown to each other merely a month ago, talk as if they have been born and raised together, and among that crowd, one child hides, scurrying from the fox that wishes to see him broken.
Φ Nothingness, nothingness, nothingness, nothingness, nothingness. I MUST THINK OF NOTHINGNESS!
Hearing Suzuka's little footsteps, I hear her shout, "Orb, come out, come out wherever you are!"
I cover my mouth to quiet my breathing and empty my mind. If she finds me, everyone is going to punch me. In all honesty, getting punched by the crowd isn't the issue, but taking a direct strike from Suzuka might actually kill me!
As Suzuka runs around, she gets closer and closer to me and as she is about to reach me, I hear, "SUZUKA, PLEASE HELP ME!"
Running over to her, I hear the footsteps of Anto, who jumps into her arms and says, "Iancu is bullying me! Big sister, I need your help!"
As the words big sister leave Anto's mouth, I hear something deep within Suzuka break, and she says, "That little bastard! Someone has to teach him a lesson!" With intense passion in her voice.
Grabbing Anto, she runs off, and beside me, I look to Mime, who has just dropped down, and say, "Thank you both."
"Don't think we saved you for nothing. First, I need druid-made candy every day!"
"You do realise Pine will find out and strike both of us down, right?"
Mime freezes, and then within the same breath, she says, "Then I need you to help me strike down the beast."
"The beast?"
"Yes, it lies in its chambers where none can reach it, even now it rejects the smiles of everyone to be encompassed by its angers!"
"Mime, you didn't mistake a dog's shadow for a monster again!"
"I DIDN'T! Now let's go face it."
"I guess we will."