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Memories
Pre-canon
Septian Calender 1204
MARCH
(orientation)
APRIL
(Celdic)
MAY
(Bareahard)
JUNE
(Nord)
JULY
(Heimdallr)
AUGUST
(Transfer students, Legram, Garrelia)
SEPTEMBER
(Roer)
OCTOBER
(Ymir, school festival)
-Concert
NOVEMBER
(coma)
DECEMBER
(COLD STEEL 2)
1205
JANUARY
??
FEBRUARY
(war, what is it good for? (not for studying))
MARCH
(Crossbell mission, Class VII graduates)
APRIL+
(???)
Septian Calender 1204
MARCH
(orientation)
APRIL
(Celdic)
MAY
(Bareahard)
JUNE
(Nord)
JULY
(Heimdallr)
AUGUST
(Transfer students, Legram, Garrelia)
SEPTEMBER
(Roer)
OCTOBER
(Ymir, school festival)
-Concert
NOVEMBER
(coma)
DECEMBER
(COLD STEEL 2)
1205
JANUARY
??
FEBRUARY
(war, what is it good for? (not for studying))
MARCH
(Crossbell mission, Class VII graduates)
APRIL+
(???)
Memory 1
Angelica being real gay.
Concert only 17:05 to 22:20.
Lots of warm happy feelings of satisfaction.
Hey I can play the guitar and sing.
All names are static.
Songs are not static and can be sung.
Memory 2
Schwarzer, Crow, Vita Clotilde, Rean are all blanked out names, the rest is audible.
Phoenix, a cat, a man with blond hair, and a girl are running down a mountain path when they hear gunfire. They rush to the scene of a burning village, a man and woman lay unconscious, while mercenaries hold a girl in fancy dress hostage (turns out she's a princess).
The girl with Phoenix yells about her father and mother, Phoenix also reacts to the unconscious adults, a powerful negative energy surrounding him as his hair turns white and his eyes red, taking out the mercernaries in mere moments. His sword becomes sheathed in flame and he's about to murder the men "Die" he growls when the girl who was with him hugs him and begs him not to repeat an incident of 8 years ago. The girl is his sister, Elise.
Phoenix falters and calms down. The princess is rescued, and it turns out the adults on the ground, his mother and father, are still alive but his father is in grave condition.
A bird appears, and the cat hisses a name that can't be understood. The illusion of a woman above the bird starts talking about some kind of political strife, a secret society, etc. She talks with Phoenix and the cat for a moment, and then casts as spell on the mercenaries, sending them away with their memories changed.
The woman says that this isn't enough to earn forgiveness and Phoenix goes immediately from hostile to moved, but the cat warns the woman is deceiving him.
Just then a strange girl on a black doll kidnaps both Phoenix's sister and the princess.
The witch scolds Phoenix for being a failure as a knight on every count and the bird flies away.
Dramatic posing and swearing to get them back, and the memory ends.
Memory 3 - Til our souls burn out
The memory starts with H and the bird witch lady facing Class VII, there's clearly been a fight and H is on the losing side. The witch comments she didn't see this coming and H replies "Don't underestimate my classmates. They're a tough crowd for being all dreams and sunshine."
Some fancy man tries to barge into the conversation talking about defeating them and contracts and H tells him to shut it, turning to face Phoenix. They have an understanding, and it's time to settles this as Awakeners.
Phoenix raises his hand and summons "Valimar, the Ashen Knight!" and an ash-colored mech joins Class VII. H heads to his own mech, a blue one in the background, and Phoenix, together with a black cat, head to "Valimar". Entering the mechs seems to involve turning into sparkles and teleporting inside.
Once in the mechs, H and Phoenix start to talk.
H: "Is that the sword you forged from Zemurian Ore? Pretty impressive. Guess I don't have to hold back anymore."
Phoenix: "..."
H: "Hm? What? You gettin' cold feet or something?"
Phoenix: "...Yeah. I think I am. Regardless of whether I win or lose, this is the end. And I can't help but get this nagging feeling like things will never be the same between us after this. I think that's what I'm afraid of."
H: "Don't act so spoiled! The future you want is only going to happen by making the most of the present! Whatever happened to dragging me back to the academy and forcing em to graduate?!"
Phoenix: "...! ...Haha. You're right. This time, I'm not going to hold back. This isn't a fight for this nation's future, and it's got nothing to do with our classmates... This is a fight for me. And right now, all that matters to me is surpassing you!"
H: "Heh. I wouldn't have it any other way. Divine Knights are all about power, pure and simple. You shouldn't have to think about your feelings--they should just be a part of you. And just as a blacksmith pours his soul into forging a stronger sword... You should use those feelings to strengthen your resolve. Okay, we've talked long enough. Let's go. I won't let anyone interfere! This is going to be our final battle!"
Phoenix: "That's exactly how I want it to be! We'll fight until we can fight no more... Until our strength runs dry and our souls burn out!"
The mechs glow with divine battle spirit and rush forward to clash.
-----
Takeaway is:
OH MY GOD DO I TALK LIKE THIS I AM SO EMBARRASSING??? (not going to change how he talks at all)
H is also embarrassing???
All names except "Valimar" are again static.
A lot of gay fucking feelings.
A lot of... resolve? Actually? Don't let things distract you from your goals, make the most of the present.
Apparently mechs are a thing???
I'm definitely psychically connected to this Valimar. Can summon and communicate mentally, do not actually have to do the posing and shouting.
Memory 4 - "All Of Me"
Phoenix is on a fancy as hell airship standing in front of a door to a cabin. Suddenly something resonates with him, making him clutch his chest. He knocks and enters, finding an interestingly colorful guy on the other side. He seems unimpressed to see Phoenix and comments that he doesn't care if he joins the Alliance. Phoenix asks to talk to him anyway.
They sit and start chatting, and Phoenix remembers something the man had said in a previous conversation, that Phoenix has something "mixed" into him. He asks what the guy means by it.
The man says it's hard to explain, then produces fire with his fingers, which is a shock. The man explains it's not magic or orbal arts, it's not an artifact or one of the church's stigmas, that he just wills fire and fire happens. Phoenix comments that it's a totally unnatural ability and the man laughs and agrees, then observes that people who can do stuff like that have something unnatural "mixed" into them, and comments that Phoenix has something like that, if only in a very small amount. Phoenix clutches his chest and the man says he really can't tell Phoenix why or how it happened to Phoenix.
Phoenix still is grateful to learn a little more about himself, and then asks the man how much is mixed into him. The man replies in spooky reverb voice: "All of me."
Phoenix leaves and contemplates how much he doesn't know about himself.
Memory 5 - Altina, the Pantagruel
Phoenix is on that fancy airship in front of another door. He senses someone inside but when he walks in it seems empty, until he spots a young girl sleeping on a bed (she's dressed rather scantily), the same one from his second memory, and he approaches to watch her and think to himself.
She mutters in her sleep, then wakes up. Spotting Phoenix she says a name that's static and then summons a black doll thing, accusing him of being an intruder with impure intentions. He tries to claim his innocence but gets knocked down anyway.
The girl and the doll stand over him while he continues to protest and then the girl starts talking about him like he's some giant pervert and he gets more and more worked up, until she reveals she was joking. Basically, Phoenix getting bullied by a little girl.
He's a bit frustrated but relieved, and then heads to go, she asks if he has anything to ask her, and he says a lot, but also she kidnapped his sister and the princess and he can't forgive that. She makes a startled face and he sighs, unable to be a jerk, and turns around to make her feel better by saying he actually knows it wasn't her fault.
She tells him about how she's "on loan" from some place called the Black Workshop and then he pats her head.
tl;dr Phoenix gets bullied by a little girl, attempts to be a jerk in return, and can't even be a jerk for five whole seconds before taking it back.
Memory 6 - One cannot escape their nobility
Phoenix enters a library and spots Albert from Zreal reading. He goes over and asks Albert if he can join him. Albert says he doesn't need permission and the two sit and read together a while. Phoenix asks what Albert is reading and Albert talks about it, books of myths from around the empire. Phoenix comments about ghosts, witches and vampires, and then while they talk two female students pass by and loudly mention that Albert is from one of the Four Great Houses, and doesn't he fit the noble stereotype to a T?
When they leave Phoenix laughs and comments that that's what it must be like being famous and Albert brushes it off as a daily thing, then tells Phoenix it would happen to him too, since he's also a noble, if he ever actually acted like one.
Phoenix kind of laughs it off but Albert goes on to tell him "one cannot escape their nobility, thus, it must be worn with pride". Then he awkwardly goes to get another book. Phoenix is surprised and then realizes Albert is trying to cheer him up, albeit in an awkward, tsundere way, and is grateful.
All names are static.
Memory 7 - Without compromise
Phoenix is in a huge library with Alfin, the princess from his second memory. He asks to join her and they ask a woman named Sharon to make some coffee. It's amazingly good coffee. They sit together and Phoenix asks the princess what she's reading. She enthuses about the selection and Phoenix comments that Gwyn's library is pretty diverse and it matches him.
Alfin agrees then laments that it's missing a genre, which she poetically alludes to but it's basically BL smut, she misses BL smut, which Phoenix catches on to remarkably fast! He asks if his sister is into the genre and Alfin laughs and says it's better to leave it to his imagination. He asks her not to tease his sister too much but she counters that it's her favorite thing, so nah.
Then Alfin challenges him to a game of Blade, which he accepts. They switch to playing card games, which starts out friendly but soon gets heated and competitive. After some rounds the princess comments how funt he game is and Phoenix talks about how the updated version is great but he can't help being fond of the original version, since Crow gave him his first deck of blade cards.
Alfin comments that it's sad Crow and Phoenix are fighting now, and asks how it came to this. Phoenix replies that "we're both too stubborn to back down" and Alfin asks what happened, so he tells her... The whole thing. About Crow joining Class VII, being their friend, fighting with them, but also secretly being the terrorist C, betraying them, taking over Thors academy, and Phoenix's determination to beat him up and drag him back home.
Phoenix gets really emotional talking to Alfin but she listens to it all, quietly. At the end he likens the battle between him and Crow to a game of Blade, where they won't compromise on their beliefs so all they can do is fight each other head on without holding back, to see who comes out on top.
Phoenix is kind of sad and thoughtful, but also kind of ridiculous and over-dramatic, and Alfin laughs at him. Then says she kind of envies Crow. Phoenix is clueless and asks why, and she laughs it off saying no actually his SISTER (ELISE!!) would envy Crow! Saying fate is pushing them together! It fills her head with... thoughts ♥!
Phoenix catches on remarkably fast again and comments that guys don't like being paired off with their friends when they don't lean that way, though he doesn't seem mad, just tired. Alfin ignores that and says she's invested in seeing it to the end and Phoenix says she's welcome to.
Memory 8 - What's it like to cry?
Phoenix is with a blue-haired girl outside a train station. She mentions she left something on "the Eisengraf" and he asks to join her. They go into a super fancy train and she finds a giant teddy bear, which she mentions "gramps" got her. Phoenix is surprised Chancellor Osborne is the kind of person to buy that kind of gift.
The two of them test out the luxury seats and get talking about Osborne and the Ironbloods and how the girl, Millium, is kind of at loose ends. Phoenix comments about how he's surprised Millium can talk about it all so impartially, since the Ironbloods are kind of like family which would make Osborne kind of like her dad. Millium seems surprised and shrugs it off, commenting that Crow outsmarted Osborne and so he's dead, though she's surprised Crow managed to actually kill him.
Phoenix presses, saying if she needs to cry about it he's there, and Millium asks what it's like to cry. Phoenix is shocked when he realizes she's serious, and Millium continues to explain that though she's been a little sad a few times she's never experienced emotion so intense tears came out of her eyes.
Phoenix is really alarmed, and tells her that if anything ever happened to her, he and the rest of Class VII would cry, a lot. Millium clearly doesn't get it, but accepts it, then tells Phoenix it's more likely he'll get into trouble before she does.
Takeaway
Phoenix loves this girl like a little sister!
Millium is apparently one of the "Ironbloods" and they apparently are connected to Chancellor Osborne.
Obviously this is after Crow assassinates Osborne.
Memory 9 - Being a Boss Villain Battle
Phoenix and the black workshop girl approach a woman and a man who seem to be doing something shady with computers. The man is obviously a police officer. Phoenix does not feel or seem at all happy in this memory at any point, in fact, he's very tense and, obviously upset but carrying on.
The woman and man, Rixia and Lloyd, face Phoenix and Altina, and Phoenix draws his sword, pointing it at the man and woman explaining that he's sorry, but he has his orders and he can't let them finish what they came here for. Lloyd and Rixia decide they only need to stall for time, and form a combat link. Phoenix says they can't give them that time, and forms a combat link with Altina.
The fight isn't shown but when Phoenix is beaten he falls to his knees and clutches his chest, whispering how he still isn't strong enough.
After the battle Phoenix comments how surprised he is. He knew Rixia would be a threat but he didn't expect this much from "a simple detective". Lloyd comments that Phoenix is also impressive for his age, and Phoenix brushes it off, saying he's got a long way to go before he can be called a "Divine Blade".
Altina tells Phoenix that time is running out and he should stop holding back. Phoenix looks upset but agrees, and then Lloyd and Rixia look shocked. A black and red aura surrounds Phoenix and it looks like he's about to evolve into boss mode version 2, Rixia exclaims about "such negative energy!" but then the computers behind her and Lloyd beep and Phoenix stops. The stalling was successful, and Lloyd and Rixia were able to complete their mission, Phoenix and Altina fail.
Altina asks what now, and Phoenix says since they failed the first orders they'll just do the second. Lloyd and Rixia are shocked to hear the name of the person who gave the orders. Phoenix summons Valimar, who teleports in.
With Valimar Phoenix destroys all the computers in the room, then turns to Lloyd and Rixia. He points his sword at them from the giant mech but then says arrest warrants haven't been issues for either of them... yet. So they better go.
Lloyd and Rixia start to run but Lloyd turns back and asks Phoenix's name. Phoenix is surprised and starts to answer "I'm with Thors Military Academy Class--No." but then cuts himself off, and with a sigh and a lot more resigned and sad states "I'm a provisional military officer with the Crossbell Government. Rean Schwarzer." This is the first name his name is audible.
Rean exits Valimar as the two run and gets a call on his ARCUS. The voice on the other end says good job, and Rean says nothign good about it. The voice fondly praises Lloyd and Rixia anyway.
A segment of Lloyd and Rixia running and talking, skip ahead to 31:42.
Rean on the phone with the voice (Captain Lechter) still. Lechter asks if he'll go back and Rean says that's his plan. Lechter asks is Rean wants to go on the Eisengraf together instead "you two haven't spoken since, right?" but Rean says excuse me, rudely, and hangs up. He turns to Altina, and asks if she needs anything passed on to Millium. Altina explains that she doesn't feel a familial bond or anything and Rean sighs and pats her head, telling her to be careful in the dangerous missions to come.
He then sighs and looks after where Lloyd and Rixia fled, and Altina asks what's wrong. Rean replies nothing, really. He's just... Kind of jealous of them.
--
All names except Lechter are audible.
Welp. Guess my name is Rean Schwarzer?
Welp?? WELP?? WHAT AM I DOING?? WHY DO I FEEL SO MISERABLE DOING IT??????
Memory 10 - End of Trails 2 spoilers
This memory starts pretty dramatically, with a vermillion mecha warping space in what seems like some kind of final dungeon slash palace throne room, and the skeevy noble from one of Crow's memories laughing about the vermillion demon lord, the demon god with a thousand weapons etc. He rants a while while Class VII and Crow and Vita stand in a bubble and are unhappy about it.
Crow and Vita come up with a plan to make an opening, and Crow and Rean end up in their own mechas. They fight together to suppress the red mecha, but while Rean is separating the core to rescue the crown prince who is apparently in the red demon, Crow's mecha gets run through. The plan is a success and Rean rescues the prince unharmed. Vita starts talking about Ouroboros and something called the Phantasmal Blaze plan but then realizes Crow hasn't left his mecha.
Crow is released from his mecha, and he has a hole through his chest, through his heart, just where his mecha did. Of course it's too small to be the exact wound he suffered, but having felt Divine Knight battles it's easy to tell it's a sympathetic wound shared across the magic link with their mechas.
Rean is devastated, and one of the girls, the purple haired one, starts trying to heal Crow with magic with the help of a talking cat. It's obvious he can't be saved, his heart is just gone. But the girl's magic is preventing him from being in pain and giving him the chance to talk to his friends one last time. Everyone is devastated as Crow talks about karma being a bitch and apologizes, saying his farewells. Rean is in tears, everyone else is there or near there as Crow says goodbye to everyone individually. Crow pats Rean on the head when Rean tries to refuse that he's dying, telling him he's a spoiled kid, then he starts addressing his closer friends in the class, then his less close ones. Everyone tries to smile through their tears while he thanks them and they respond to his farewells.
He then looks at Rean who is still holding him in tears, and says they need to keep going forward, relentlessly, without looking back.... And then he dies. Everyone really starts to cry.
Rean continues to hold Crow's body in shock and tears.
The noble starts to rant in anger that he's lost a tool, Class VII gets mad, while the noble holds a knife at the prince's neck and starts saying Crow was a waste of his time. Vita is super mad and gets crazy eyes and voice, threatens him and then suddenly Albert's brother shows up and attacks Vita, saying her part in this is over. Everyone else is still reacting to events, but Rean is just clinging to Crow.
Cayenne, the noble asshole, is delighted, thinking Albert's brother is on his side, but it turns out not so much. The girl with the black doll rescues the prince and Albert's brother arrests Cayenne and Vita. Vita is amused and annoyed now that she's figured something out, and the rest of Class VII is confused, except for the blue haired girl who seems to have figured something out about Albert's brother.
Some other people show up. Everyone else catches on that the thing these people have in common is they're Ironbloods, members of Chancellor Osborne's elite. It turns out Albert's brother is one of them. Cayenne seems really confused about this, and why Albert's brother is professing his allegiance to a dead man.
At which point, dramatic entrance, the supposedly dead Chancellor Osborne, that guy Crow shot through the heart, appears, alive and quite well. Shocking everyone but Albert's brother and the two captains.
Cayenne asks what everyone is wondering how is he still alive?? But Osborne offers no explanation. Osborne then explains how Albert's brother will end the conflict and diminish the power of the noble alliance, explaining the politics.
Vita isn't too surprised but she's upset.
Rean is still holding Crow's body and crying while everyone talks about shocking revelations and secrets and politics.
Osborne says he'll let Vita leave, and tells her to tell her group that if they think to stand in his way, he'll crush them beneath his heel. Vita apologies to everyone, asks them to take good care of Crow sadly, and escapes.
The blue haired girl runs to go talk to "gramps" and the others. Osborne praises them. Rean's still holding Crow and crying while the five of them and the black doll girl talk. Osborne assigns various tasks to people and gives Albert's brother the task of cleaning up then occupying the city state of Crossbell.
Finally after a while. Rean sets Crow down, looks down at his body, still in tears, remembers some conversations with Crow, gets mad, finally, and rushes Osborne, grabbing him by the shirt and demanding angrily why he's alive. Everyone tells him to stop but he doesn't listen. But Rean doesn't listen, his voice is breaking as he asks if Crow's whole life was for nothing.
Albert's brother stops him and tells him that Osborne has his reasons, and Rean factors into them more than Rean may think. Rean, shocked, remembers... Osborne carrying him through the snow, suddenly, and praying for him. He looks at Osborne in complete shock and lets him go as Osborne says he's glad Rean remembers.
"I'm glad to finally see you again my son." Osborne acknowledges that he's Rean's father as Rean reels back a step in shock. Osborne then goes on about how Rean will be a great assistant to Osborne's plan, now that he's a national hero. The perfectly useful tool Rean's grown up to be will be so handy in annexing a neighboring nation.
The memory ends.
---
All names but Rean, Crow, Vita and Valimar are unknown.
Takeaway:
...............................................................................
Memory 11
Aurora AU memory
The man next to Rean is tall, and quite frankly, quite beautiful. He has jet black hair tied in a neat ponytail and deep blue eyes. He could be in his twenties or thirties, he's got that ageless sort of elegance. He turns from the peaceful scenery to face Rean, white teeth flashing in a soft but brilliant smile.
"The Knights are unaccounted for. Now is the time. Destroy it."
Rean seems less than happy. Actually he seems incredibly upset.
"No."
"What did you say?"
"I'm not wiping out a town full of innocents, Graham!" Understandably, Rean is distressed.
"Going in to confront them would simply give them time to summon their Knights. Right now, we have the advantage, and you have the strength to crush this opposition before more lives are lost."
"And what about the lives down there!?"
"They are a regrettable sacrifice, but housing enemies of the state comes with consequences."
"I won't do it."
Rean's firm on that, but Graham speaks, softly.
"You will."
Since you have the joy of experiencing this from Rean's point of view, it's a staring contest, but more than that. There's a battle going on, Rean's will versus Graham's, and Graham's... Is bearing down. It's in the contract, it's part of the pact. There is the feeling of something being crushed, a part of Rean that makes him human being stripped away and sealed. His protests, his visceral horror at the whole concept, they don't matter.
The struggle seems to last eternally, inside, but it's merely a drawn out few minutes before Graham's desire wins. Rean is his Knight, he cannot oppose the direct order, the direct intention for it to be an order.
With a distressed sound he turns his face away, an internal numbness spreading from the feeling of his own will being overridden. It's like losing part of his personality for a moment, he sees what happens but no longer feels anything about it, like a machine recording it without passion.
His hand lifts, and the world stops. Birds stop singing, the light goes grey, even the breeze stills--but not stills. Freezes. Time halts, and a dark spot grows above the village below. As that black hole in time widens, becomes a yawning void, there's a chilling feeling from it, it is not evil but it is... It simply is. It is power and it is without ego or consciousness and for that it is terrifying in its own right.
The blackness grows and grows until the whole town has disappeared, and then in an instant it collapses on itself, without sound. And the world returns to color and movement, once again in the flow of time. There's no crater or damage, smoke still rises from chimneys...
But there's no feel of presence from the town, no sense of life to Rean's senses. Everyone there is gone. Both vanished and also quite dead. He knows that for sure because he killed them.
He drops to a knee, mana mostly spent, and Graham pats his head.
"Well done."