The funeral rites for the fallen paladins were taken care of quickly. They did not wait until nightfall to conduct it, for the people had gone through much, and they didn't wish to linger over woeful memories any more than they already had.

Ruggiero led the ceremony in Ogier's place. He wasn't as experienced as his prior fellow, but it didn't matter as long as the fallen were given peace. The paladins were too tired, too battered with tragedy after tragedy, to fully concentrate on the funeral anyways. They clasped hands and muttered quiet prayers. They shed tears and wavered, faces grim as they looked around their once-hopeful dwelling for the last time.

Roncevaux Fortress was to be abandoned. There were not enough warriors to defend it. Their leader was lost.

Ogier's corpse was not allowed to rest with the others. He had committed the crime of slaughter, cut down the faithful whether willing or not. By doctrine's command he was to be labeled a sinner and excommunicated posthumously before being tossed to rot out on the open plains.

Ruggiero disobeyed. He held a private service along with Lucius, his companions, and some of the higher-ranked members of the Sacred Order that still lived, and sent Ogier off respectfully. The giant's body had turned into a beautiful gathering of petals before flying off into the bright purple sky.

The Cortain was to be temporarily kept in Ruggiero's possession, but the man couldn't bear to look at it, so he stowed it away in the Hippogriff's storage.

"What will we do now, my friend?" Lucius had asked him at the time.

The last remaining Peer sighed. "The only thing we can, I am afraid. Every living soul in the fortress is to retreat back to the capital. I will send word to the clergy of our arrival and have some of my men evacuate the surrounding villages; thankfully, the demon wave shall not arrive for another week. I pray the time is enough for the Order to fortify a new blockade, but… with our dwindling numbers, it is unlikely it will be of the same magnitude as Roncevaux Fortress. They will need to build a smaller bastion closer to the mainland - our territories recede ever more."

"And how shall we explain Ogier's sudden madness?"

"There is no we, Lucius. I delivered the final blow, and so it shall be I who bears the responsibility."

Ogier's final moments seemed to weigh heavily on the man. He couldn't bring himself to forget it: the possibility of preventing this disaster had he made a different choice—stuck himself beside the mourning giant no matter how hard the other tried to dissuade him so.

However, such thoughts served little to help the current moment. It was respectable that he wished to be held accountable, but the man's own position was in a precarious place.

"Do forgive me if I speak out of hand," Lucius began. "But think of how the court will react to your sudden declaration. They have already attempted to imprison you over matters we know not; and to speak of slaying Ogier, even if it was necessary, will only give them more cause to pressure you further. It will be ugly, my good sir. They will see you as a betrayer no matter the truth."

Ruggiero's face drooped, and a sad light passed through his eyes; but even so the man did not relent. "Upon my appointment as Peer, I swore to uphold honor and goodness no matter the difficulties it would bring. I have faithfully carried out that oath for all these years, and I do not intend to stop now. The evils of others do not justify my own breaking of the faith."

Lucius swore it too, technically: back when Karolus blessed him with the consecration. That didn't mean he actually followed it.

But this was who Ruggiero was… on the surface, at least. His words and expression displayed not a hint of doubt, but the pounding deep inside his heart said otherwise. It betrayed him. It whispered a dark truth he refused to acknowledge.

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Lucius was eager to see how Ruggiero would react next. Would he refuse himself just like Ogier… or perhaps take a different path? The tribulations soon to come would reveal all eventually.

Until then, the players were herded en-masse onto the Hippogriff Express once more. Their time here was anything but pleasant; and yet there was no denying the growth they had experienced. It was a tragic and beneficial journey. Near a thousand had arrived here in the beginning, yet only half would leave. Those who did were no longer the cowering whelps of before—such was the nature of war. It forced maturity and change.

Not for Lucius, though. He was still ever the same, spry gentleman.

Before he could board the train with his companions, however, something very peculiar popped up before his eyes.

It was a message from the system, one that only he appeared to have received.

>[Congratulations, Lucius Rose! Your actions demonstrated during this mission have drawn the attention of multiple Stars from the Cosmic Forum. The aliases of your fervent supporters will now be revealed!]<

A sudden chill crept into Lucius's head. The world around him seemed to slow, and color drained before his eyes until everything was covered in a filter of black and white. Marco, Mili, and Harper—they all froze in place, as well as everyone else within sight.

He felt something impossibly grand push down on him. It was a force he could not see, could not discern the origin of: only that it came from somewhere high, high above.

It was the descent of those they called Stars.

>[The Star "Sinister Interdimensional Bureaucrat" greets you with a wicked smile. They are impressed with your ruthlessness and ask if you are interested in working for their employers]<

>[The Star "Number 1 Rated Salesman 1997" laughs and says that you're a real go-getter, a big shot in the making. They promise to make you filthy stinkin' rich for the low, low price of eternal servitude]<

>[The Star "Virtual Goddess of the Wired" pleads for you to not feel sad over Ogier's death, and that you did everything you could to try and save him. They feel pity that such a kind-hearted soul had to witness such tragic sights and wishes to help you]<

Well, this was quite the surge of information for a humble gentleman such as Lucius, but he prided himself in his adaptability and quickly composed himself with tip-tap of his foot.

"I am rather taken aback by the sudden audience, but who am I to keep a new friend waiting?" Lucius said with a bow. No one around him reacted to his words; it was as if he was whisked away into some separate dimension. "My name is Lucius Rose, a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

>[Sinister Interdimensional Bureaucrat likes your courtesy. They have donated 200 Cosmic Coins as a sign of goodwill]<

>[Virtual Goddess of the Wired stumbles over themselves and says that you shouldn't pay attention to a wicked thing like that, before donating 250 Cosmic Coins]<

>[Number 1 Rated Salesman 1997 has donated exactly 1 Cosmic Coin and tells you to keep the change]<

How interesting, these astral beings were capable of granting rewards separate from the system. The question was… what was their goal? Why the need to watch and even sponsor Lucius?

"I am ever thankful for such kind donations, but may I inquire as to what I can do for you?" he asks.

>[Sinister Interdimensional Bureaucrat desires for certain events to occur, and will reward you for manipulating the world's scenario behind the scenes. They say this is a great opportunity. They do not usually sponsor a player until after the second round]<

>[Virtual Goddess of the Wired says that they only wish to help the pitiful, tortured souls of the players find comfort, and will reward you for doing good deeds]<

>[Number 1 Rated Salesman 1997 just wants to have fun, make a profit, and will, possibly, maybe, if they feel like it, reward you for entertaining them]<

So each Star had an agenda they wanted fulfilled. Lucius was the type of dandy fellow to pursue his own desires, but that didn't mean he couldn't take advantage of these new otherworldly patrons. Perhaps with time, he might interrogate the true purpose of this curious game.

And thus, with a cordial grin and a tip of his hat, Lucius welcomed the Stars with open arms.

One day, he would bloom them as well.

With that, the world returned, the Stars left to watch him from their celestial thrones, and Lucius entered the Hippogriff Express along with the others.

"Is something up, Lucius?" Harper asked as they made their way to their rooms. "You seem a bit more excited than usual."

"Hohoh, why wouldn't I be?" he replied. "I have a feeling this next voyage will be quite stimulating."

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