Cibella

Cibella: I've found you, Euden. Now you shall pay for all you've taken!
Euden: Huh? I'm sorry, who—
Cibella: I've no name to waste on you, monster! Now shall you atone for the lives you've taken with an offering of your own!
Cleo: Euden, watch out!
Euden: Waugh?! Wait, stop! Why are you doing this?!
Cibella: Do not play the fool with me! Just how many do you think perished at the claws of the fiends you loosed?!
Euden: What? I did no such thing!
Cibella: LIAR!
Euden: It's the truth! You have to believe me!
Cleo: He's right! Euden is fighting for the good of the people!
Cibella: Silence! Words are cheap and tawdry things, and yours will not save you!
Euden: Please—
Cibella: HAAAAH! What game is this? Draw your blade!
Euden: ...I share your anger at whoever loosed those fiends. I have no cause to fight you.
Cibella: What?!
Cleo: You claim a righteous cause. How is it you can't see that the one who fed you these lies is the true villain? So as long as you act in the service of that lie, you are complicit in their evil!
Cibella: No... Silence! What could you people know of righteousness? I swore revenge, and I will see it done!
Cleo: No!
Euden: CLEO! Hngh!
Cleo: Euden?! What have you done?! You need healing immediately!
Euden: I kept my friend safe...as anyone would... Don't worry, it's...it's not deep.
Cibella: He shielded her with his own body? What is happening here? You ARE Euden, are you not? The sort of heartless villain who would loose a horde of fiends on the capital and revel in the slaughter they caused?
Euden: You REALLY have the wrong guy.
Cibella: ...... At the very least, I cannot see the man before me doing such things. Tell me your version of events. ...I see. Then the true culprit is the Empire, and you are their victim as much as any. My fool credulity nearly led me to murder an innocent man. I haven't the words to even beg your forgiveness.
Euden: You thought your actions just—I'm just glad you were willing to listen.
Cleo: I'm not glad at all. Just how did you plan to stop Dyrenell from beyond the grave? Hmm? What was your plan?
Euden: My body sort of did what it wanted there. Plus...I think I knew she wouldn't kill me. The intent just wasn't there.
Cibella: Were I not so completely in the wrong, I might feel insulted. I suppose that's proof I'm no warrior yet. Prince Euden... You strive to protect the people from the horrors of the Empire. Have you room for one more in that fight?
Euden: Will you continue to fight for revenge?
Cibella: Until my last breath.
Euden: Hmm. Well, you're welcome to join us... but one day I hope you'll share your story with me.

Ranzal: Hoo-ee! Those were some fiends we fought today, yeah? I'm dead on my feet here.
Euden: I think we all deserve a good night's rest.
Cibella: Prince Euden. May I ask why I was not allowed to join you in today's battle?
Euden: Evening, Cibella. You've been fighting nearly every day. I don't want you wearing yourself out. A body needs rest, after all.
Cibella: What happens to this body is of no concern to me if it means the chance to strike down one more fiend or imperial.
Euden: What is it that made you hate them so?
Cibella: That is...not a pleasant story.
Euden: But I would hear it just the same. I want to understand you, Cibella.
Cibella: ...Very well. I was once a priestess at a small church on the capital's outskirts. We took in children there who had nowhere else to go. It was far from an affluent life—for me or for the children—yet we were happy. But the day Alberia became Dyrenell, the church was attacked by fiends sent by the Empire.
Euden: Oh no...
Cibella: I see it in my dreams even now. By the time the fiends moved on, the church lay in ashes, and all were slaughtered save me.
Euden: ......
Cibella: I swore revenge. Swore those responsible would feel the pain and loss they inflicted on those innocent children.
Euden: That's quite a burden to bear.
Cibella: Then you see I've no time for rest. I'd sooner spend my days culling the Empire's forces to hasten Dyrenell's fall. Please, Prince Euden. Permit me to join you in the field for each and every battle.
Euden: I can't promise that. I'm sorry. I can't sit by and watch you push yourself to the point of breaking.
Cibella: I will not break! That is another luxury I can no longer afford.
Euden: Then understand this, at least... You are one of us now. You may not care what happens to you, but WE do. If you die, it will be a loss no less than the one you felt. You have to take care of yourself.
Cibella: Now we arrive at a promise that I cannot make. But I will remember your words.

Cleo: Lunch is ready, Cibella.
Cibella: You're very kind, but there is no need.
Cleo: She's been here at the Halidom for some time, yet she still feels so distant. I wish she would at least eat properly.
Euden: I'll go look in on her. Everything all right, Cibella? Why don't you eat with the rest of us?
Cibella: I would rather spend the time training. I allowed two enemies within my reach to slip away today. That cannot happen again.
Euden: It looks to me as if you're intentionally keeping everyone at arm's length.
Cibella: ...That isn't so.
Euden: Then at least eat with us. We're all worried about you.
Cibella: ...That is something I cannot do.
Euden: Why not?
Cibella: When I'm around all of you, it... I'm reminded of life with the children at the church. It is simply too painful. What's more, I'm afraid that if I allow myself to return to the sort of life I had before, I... I'll grow to hold you all dear. The same way I did them.
Euden: Surely that's not so bad?
Cibella: We are at war. Any of us could fall at any time. I'll not go through such pain anew. I could not bear it. Better never to have gotten close in the first place.
Euden: That's...awful. Listen, the thought of losing an ally keeps me up at night as well. But isn't that fear just another part of what drives us to fight our hardest and keep our friends safe?
Cibella: But...
Euden: I want to be your friend, Cibella. And I want you to be mine. The closer we are, the harder we'll fight to defend each other. That's how we work together to ensure we don't lose anyone in the Halidom.
Cibella: ......
Euden: Join me, Cibella. Join US. Unless shared meals are still too frightening a prospect?
Cibella: ...Lunch sounds lovely. Lead the way.
Euden: Good. I'm sure they're all waiting for us.

Cibella: HAAAH!
Euden: That looks like the last of the fiends that attacked the village.
Cibella: Yet we arrived too late to save everyone. Moments... If we'd been but a few moments earlier, they would still be alive!
Village Chief: But the village has survived. And for that, you have our thanks. You've already done so much, but I have one humble request, if it please you.
Euden: What can we do?
Village Chief: Do you know of someone who might offer a proper prayer for the departed? I'd like to send them on right, but we've no one of the cloth here.
Euden: You'll want to ask Cibella here. She used to be a priestess.
Cibella: What? B-but I... I cannot. That was a lifetime ago, and my hands are now stained with blood. I've no right to pray for the fallen.
Euden: Yes, you do. I know your prayers will reach the goddess.
Cibella: ...I wish I shared your certainty. But if I can offer some comfort to those left behind, I shall do all I can. ...I've finished the service. That should offer some peace, at least.
Village Chief: You don't know what a comfort that is to the rest of us. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
Cibella: ......
Euden: Prayer is a powerful thing. They're all still weeping, but you can see how their grief has been lightened. I'm almost jealous. A sword can save lives in its own way, but people's souls are far beyond my reach.
Cibella: I've not done much. Merely shown the way forward to souls of the departed and hearts of the living. But you're right... I had forgotten. I told myself that vengeance was the only thing that would grant peace to the children I lost. But that isn't who they were. They never would have wanted revenge.
Euden: They learned kindness from a good teacher.
Cibella: If anyone was saved by my prayers just now, it was surely me. Prince Euden? If I may, there's somewhere I would like to go. Might I ask you to accompany me? When you have the time, that is.
Euden: Of course. Where are we going?
Cibella: ...I shall tell you anon.

Euden: This is where you wanted to bring me? There's nothing here.
Cibella: Not anymore, no. But my church once stood just here.
Euden: Oh... Wow.
Cibella: I've never once been back since I took weapon in hand and swore revenge. Not even to offer a prayer for the children. I believed revenge to be the only thing that could bring their souls peace. But living with you and the others, I've come to see I was mistaken. ...I'm sorry, my children. You must have been so very lonely. But I'm here with you now. So please, be at peace. Find rest. Thank you, Prince Euden. For coming with me, I mean. I was too afraid of the pain to come alone.
Euden: It was my honor. So now that you've laid them to rest, what will you do?
Cibella: I shall keep fighting with you and the others at the Halidom. Not for revenge, but to restore peace to the world, that its people may live free again.
Euden: I'm glad to hear it. You'd have been sorely missed if you left. Let's win this fight together.
Cibella: Indeed. And one day, when it's all over, I'd like to return here and rebuild the church. I shall make it a place where children can live and grow up happy again. Then will I lay down my weapon and return to the gentle priestess my children knew.
Euden: That day will come. I'll make sure of it.
Cibella: I'm certain you will. Thank you. All right, everyone. I have to go now. But I'll be back soon, I promise. Oh, but first, I have a favor to ask.
Euden: What's that?
Cibella: Would you mind if I made a portion of the Halidom into a chapel?
Euden: Of course not. Er, but why?
Cibella: I want to make a space where those the Empire has hurt can come and rest their minds and spirits. It will be a small first step in a lifelong journey of healing. Undoing the harm they've done will be my true revenge against Dyrenell. Not with a weapon, but a prayer.
Euden: That kindness is very you, Cibella.
Cibella: And that is kind of YOU to say. I couldn't ask for a better partner in this, Prince Euden. Now let's get to work.