Activity outside of Luminberg's walls was less busy, given that most of the Northeast Domain soldiers had their share of violence the night before. Many of the wounded were moved from the medical tents to the city interior, where they took much of the doctors' and nurses' attention from the mostly-unconscious Luminbergers. Wrecks of armored cars and mangled field guns were being towed out of the location. Scientists of the empire have taken their prize: the remains of the colossal monster that troubled Erik De Melvich's forces. It was bad enough that they had spent much time, men, and materiel to put a stop to its rampage. More work was out for this northwestern army when those behind the attack on Luminberg left many ruined structures - and almost all the citizens in varying states of stupor.

Green and gray trucks entered the De Melvich Army zone; its passengers sported uniforms with duller versions of the vehicles' colors. Solid white clouds puffed out from their undersides; while they barely smelled anything but water vapor, it somewhat obscured the view of both the inspector and passengers. It was a line of ten vehicles; the first seven carried personnel while the remaining units were filled with wooden and metal boxes. A De Melvich regular ordered the first vehicle to a halt. The driver gave him a piece of paper with Blaurosen's red seal. Soon, an officer emerged from the checkpoint and read the document.

"You're acquainted with Lord Rinvar's superior?"

"We report to Director Farin Arinas. Our instruction is to camp inside your zone."

A weak huff came out of the army officer before saying, "let them through. Make sure they reach their destination and not a step further."

The tolling of a small bell was heard nearby. Moments later, the steel barrier arm that blocked the convoy's way into the encampment was lifted. Lines of mud were imprinted on the hard earth of the De Melvich zone.

†††

Rinvar finally had the time to check on the third stranger: the one the two foreigners said who could properly explain how they managed to go through the disaster at Luminberg nearly unscathed. He was heading to the infirmary hut where she lay and chanced upon the two companions she was with waiting outside. He approached the two and began to look at them in earnest. It was difficult to profile them during the chaos happening inside Kriemreich's premier think tank; smog made by the field guns in attempts to destroy the Wizards' Wall and then the attack of the massive armored beast made them look no different from any citizen of the empire. The morning sun was up, and it revealed that Lady Euphemia's company indeed were not born of the average Luminberger, or any Kriemreicher for that matter.

"They obviously don't come from the same country."

While both sported light skin tones, the older of the two had a slight redness, while the younger man was paler. Rinvar deduced that the former was more a native of one of the states west of the Delitian Continent, probably Pretish. His tall and strong frame, almost golden blonde locks, sharp facial features, and umber eyes belonged to the original inhabitants of those isles. On the other hand, the boy was no doubt a native of the extreme north of the continent. His was a built that saw hardship: a blend of both lithe but strong where it mattered. The overcoat he normally wore concealed much of these. His eyes served as a striking feature if not the most noticeable, should anyone ever get close to him to see. On his left was a tan-colored eyeball with a few almost invisible lines that shot from his pupil, on the right was somewhat purple, ringed by a thin tone of violet.

It seemed that the captain had been caught surveying them, but the foreigners decided to greet first.

"Hey, if it isn't that officer guy from last night." The blond man said, "you left us with the rest of the soldiers here. Must be a busy man, I see?"

"Officer... guy? Things did become quite busy that night."

"I bet you're here to see Euphemia too." It was the boy who spoke this time.

"Is that her name? The clergywoman."

Rinvar almost did not notice the boy nod in affirmation. The name sounded familiar. Such a name was far from the popular ones Kriemreicher parents used on their daughters. Rinvar remembered those dreaded history lessons from his tutor back in his youth. An old culture, argued to have predated that of the First Empire. It was almost forgotten, except for the most serious of scholars, chroniclers, and academics who chiefly dabbled in the lore of old. The woman either came from parents of refined tastes, or one who belonged to the empire's elites. Old Erik De Melvich did remember mentioning a woman of the same name before, but he couldn't draw from his memory when was it, or to which family she belonged to.

"It is apparent that the two of you are also here to see your friend."

"We have to check on her. We're quite worried about what happened." The blonde foreigner was gesturing to open the door flap that led to the interior.

The tent flap dropped open; a uniformed man with red and white cross cloths on his shoulders was making his way out and threw a salute at Rinvar.

"Lord Rinvar. You're here to see her?"

"You took my line there. How is she?"

"She has awakened. We've also checked on her wounded arm. It's unbelievable. It's like she was never harmed at all or anything."

"Then you would let me and her two friends see her?"

"I don't see why not. You may go right ahead."

"Thank you. At ease. You may return to your business."

"Sir." The medical officer made one last salute before leaving the premises.

Rinvar entered the tent, followed by the two others. They entered at a time when she finished a light meal. She sat on the bed; her lips parting from the edge of the bowl after emptying its contents. The sun entered through two of the open window flaps. Her face was a sight for sore eyes, through the captain imagined Elena's disapproving gaze should he ever stare at this stranger for too long. Her looks hardly resembled any local, commoner, or noble, but she had an air like that of Lord Erik's special guests, probably even more regal than those maidens.

"I can finally beat that old man in his little game of searching for the Empire's special women."

"Looks like Sister Euphemia is doing well. We were worried..." The Pretish man used his thumb to point at his companion. "...this guy here was more worried though."

"Hey!" The boy drew closer to the clergywoman. "You look okay now."

"I'm touched by your show of concern, both of you." She spoke in a soft tone, yet it carried both grace and confidence. Rinvar used to recall the refined manner of speaking commonplace in Old Erik's gatherings. She turned to him and said, "are you the one we should thank for all this?"

"Don't mention it. All in the name of duty. Besides, I would say the three of you would have done well even if we didn't find you in Luminberg."

"You must be overestimating the ability of three travelers to look after themselves. I am not a good example of it, as you can see."

"You speak like a local, you also look like an imperial citizen, and yet you seem different."

"My manner of dress maybe? My order isn't known for being out too often."

"Could be that. You resemble one of those orders in Blaurosen, but I don't know much about clerics and the church." Rinvar went to the side of the bed opposite to the clergywoman's companions. "Your friends here call you 'Euphemia'. "

"Yes. I am Euphemia, of House Schild."

"House Schild...? That is interesting..."

Rinvar cupped his chin, stood up, and walked around the woman's bed. The name reminded him of the reason he was chosen for this job, and how he ended up having to look for clues to the old duke's whereabouts. Impossible, he thought: those bearing the name Schild would not be carelessly strolling around or even worse, looking for trouble. Besides, it was not a surname people in the empire were allowed to use even in the days of old.

"Wait... if I recall properly, Lord Cecil had a daughter who joined the clergy."

"Yes. I am Cecil von Schild's daughter."

Rinvar saw a smile from the young woman, but she decided to return to a stern look before it became more prominent. Euphemia bore the eyes Rinvar used to see on the images of a younger Cecil von Schild: one that demanded respect and attention without the need for words. It was at least, how the textbooks captured his image. It was a face that intended to be welcoming; those traits probably came from Lady Agnes and the Millencourt lineage. But then, a daughter born of one of the empire's First Families held an air of command. Rinvar mused at the thought that even if a Schild was to turn into a hospice cleric or a nurse, people would have thought twice to cross one of such lineage.

It turned out that the idea was going beyond a joke; this person before him bore a regal sense even if cloaked by religious garb.

"I am ashamed of myself! I didn't know. I apologize if I have not known you at first glance. It's just, you're not one to be seen often in our circles presently. Before I get too carried away in the conversation, I am Rinvar De Melvich. Son of Erik."

Euphemia smiled before reaching for her glass of water. She was apparently taught to hold in her emotions in moments like this. Her face stayed calm – one of the less-obvious proofs of an exclusive family upbringing. Any other woman would have been caught agape upon finding out his identity. She took a sip before resuming, "Then I must thank you, Lord Rinvar, for helping my friends here while I was being a burden to them."

"You're most welcome on that, but I must still say that you would have been in capable hands even without my help." Rinvar pulled one of the tent's chairs closer to Euphemia's bed. "Certainly the daughter of an Imperial nobleman I'm tasked to find being here is more than mere coincidence, would you not agree, Lady Euphemia?"

"I could not help but conclude that our meeting here is destined by the Creator."

"Need not to worry. You're safe with us here, but I insist that you stay under our protection in the meantime."

Rinvar noticed the faces of Euphemia's companions. This must have been a revelation to them as well, given the stares they were giving the Lady of Schild. He decided to bring all their attention to him by saying:

"I would like to discuss your whereabouts, and what you were doing during the disaster at Luminberg. I'm not supposed to coerce all of you to talk, but I may have resort to far less kind means in case you won't be willing to cooperate."

The two foreign men looked at each other first, and then faced Rinvar with a nod. Euphemia said:

"We will help in the best way we can."

"That's good to hear. Now, coming to celebrate the Evening of the Defense of Luminberg is one thing, but how did you end up being carried by your companions here?"

"These two were... um, hired, to be my personal escort."

"These two are rather good in their job." Rinvar stared at the both of Lady Euphemia's companions. "We found them attempting to sneak an artifact of interest, along with your unconscious self last night. It is strange that neither of them did not resist coming with us."

"Artifact... of interest?"

"Yes, Lady Euphemia. A large rock of many colors. Do you have any knowledge of this?"

"Ah yes," for Rook, this was the first time to hear Euphemia speak in a tone other than the soft, often melodic voice he used to hear. It was as if she changed into someone he didn't know when she said, "it was the stone with magical energy. I asked them to remove it from where it was set that night."

"Wait. They did it with your permission?"

"The mechanism was causing undue duress to the people. Something had to be done about it, as a proper citizen should." Euphemia looked away from the constabulary officer and almost whispered, "given where we are now, that effort did not do much to help the city."

"Then we have your little group to thank for, if that were the case." Rinvar's face softened to a near-smile. "It was impossible to get inside the city at first, until one of the towers began to fail. Also, did you know that the Wizards' Wall trapped everyone inside the city?"

"I would not have realized it by then." Euphemia said, "the citizens started dropping to the ground. I could have only guessed that the machinery in the towers is the cause."

"It doesn't make sense though." Rinvar cupped his chin and moved from one side to the other. "If you three were there when the towers were turned on, then how come you sound like you weren't affected by the mechanism?"

"Your father-in-law would have quickly answered that, Lord Rinvar." Euphemia stood up and sat down. "The Wizards' Wall created a field that could have drained the people of their strength. It is basic knowledge to those who studied in Luminberg that magical energy leaving the body will tire a person."

"That I've never thought of. Even your companions know of this, I'd assume?"

"I... was only able to part with that knowledge during the crisis."

"I don't understand. You're saying that you have studied in Luminberg before?"

"For almost two years. Yes. Through an arrangement."

"It looks like I've asked too much." Rinvar relaxed his stance and unclasped his arms. "I'm further convinced that you may be of help more than I would expect. There is going to be something I'll discuss with Magister Silbern once he has recovered."

"I hope I'm hot prying for asking this but, how is he?"

"He fell victim in the incident. It's a relief that he didn't fare worse."

"I'm sorry to... hear that. I shall pray for the city today." Euphemia looked at the officer and smiled. "I am also wondering if you have any leads to my father's whereabouts. You mentioned earlier that you are part of those in charge of searching for him."

"Your father? Lord Cecil?" Rinvar snapped into standing still as he looked at the canoness. "We have a good lead to where he's being held. We should be able to at least get a proper lead on him as we speak. I can't talk about it in detail right now. You should understand the intricacies of the Armed Forces, Lady Euphemia. As for my father-in-law, he should be all right. That old man is tougher than he looks."

"I appreciate your honesty, Lord Rinvar. If you don't mind me asking, how goes your father today?"

"Lord Erik? The old man's at the estate. I haven't asked what he is up to lately."

"I see. I haven't been spending enough time with the other families. I seem to be out of touch quite recently."

"I feel the same, Lady Euphemia. You and your companions can walk around the place as you please. Everywhere but the restricted areas, or outside of this encampment." Rinvar bowed to the young woman before heading to the tent's exit. "I will have to take my leave, for there's a lot of work waiting for me."

Rinvar lifted the tent flap and headed for outside.