open | an alenroux press release

[sterngaze]

[A couple weeks after the conclusion of the Exalt Oracle trial, a communion message goes out to all Kenos’s shard-bearers — at a brisk mid-morning hour for Springstar residents, and evening for those night owls in Highstorm. Surely an agreeable enough time for all, yes? The voice will be familiar enough to anyone who listened in on the ambassador talk a Kenos month ago; it’s Liem, mayor of Alenroux Meridian’s resident straight man.]

Greetings, everyone. I have some updates to share regarding efforts to make Alenroux fully and safely inhabitable, which I hope you will be pleased to hear.

Last month, prior to the events surrounding the Oracle, a contingent of Springstar military overseen by several shard-bearers launched a multi-pronged expedition north into Alenroux’s forests, in order to locate the source of the monsters that continue to infest the woods. While I’m sure those of you who frequent Alenroux will have noticed that the flow of especially dangerous, augmented creatures mostly died off after the dismantling of Aetós’s underground facility, we have not been able to expunge the general monster population from the forest despite ongoing efforts, so this was an attempt to remedy that.

These expeditionary forces succeeded in locating three separate cornerstones and portals that were previously disgorging monsters. At this time we think it likely that they were connected to the timestream in some way that allowed creatures from other worlds to come through, but the portals themselves proved extremely hazardous to life attempting to breach from this side. All three have now been destroyed, and while we cannot say with certainty that there are no further portals out there, we are optimistic that this will allow the danger to those living in Alenroux to be further reduced by the joint forces still stationed there.

If you have further questions, you may direct them to me, or to Hayame, Akua Sahelian, Keitaro Miura, Gray, Byleth Eisner, Link, Kim Dokja, or Dee. [He means D.]

Comments

[sterngaze]

I'm pleased to have the opportunity to be of use, in my own way.

[He knows, of course, that Ruby is a noncombatant, and that she spends her efforts being useful to Set rather than to Meridian. But, considering that he likes Set, he doesn't see this as a problem.

Besides, efforts like this one are beneficial to both factions. Respecting the discretion she uses as she continues, Liem switches to more private communion as well.]

Are you concerned for those that yet remain on the island, my lady? That is a useful skill you possess, but it sounds risky to use, as well. I would not wish to place Set's shrine maiden in danger.

[He thinks Set might have some strong words for him if anything happened to her...]

🔒 private

[appeale]

Mm... I am a little worried about them. If there are any more that want to live peacefully, and I could help them, then...

[ she's not such a bleeding heart that she'd feel guilty over not saving every single monster – the weak don't have the luxury of living that way. her own friends are the ones she's more concerned about. but it's not that much of an effort just to ask if anyone wants to come with her, especially now that her secret is out. ]

You're right that it isn't always safe, though. It's not like I have any control over the monsters, you know? Whether they listen to me or not is their decision. So, I can't always know if they'll be friendly. I know it would be a burden, but—as long as I went with someone else, who would be able to help if things didn't go well...

private all the way down

[sterngaze]

[Liem does have to take a moment to consider this. Even with someone else there for protection, the chances of an accident occurring with a hostile monster are definitely not zero — and most of the time, the monsters that do get hunted down are the ones who have been attracted to human settlements. There are bound to be aggressive ones among them.

But, it's not really his place to tell her she can't go, if this is important to her. And he is not so opposed to relocating Alenroux's monsters that he would shoot down her idea entirely.]

How did you relocate them before, without anyone finding out? [And more importantly, without bringing monsters through high-traffic areas where other people might be loitering around.] I assume it wasn't through any of the cornerstones that see communal use.

[appeale]

Well... My friends are mostly on the smaller side, so I could hide them under my skirts. There were just a couple that I had to sneak out really carefully to Set's shrine cornerstone.

[ I'm experienced with stealth missions. I've played Metal Gear, you know. ]

If Fiore—my dragon friend... If he couldn't have flown himself over there, I don't know what I would have done, haha.

[sterngaze]

[Ah... So she's just been lucky before now.]

Well, I'm able to make cornerstones. I suppose if it became necessary, I could create one somewhere out of the way.

I still think this could end up being dangerous for you, even with assistance, but if you wish to accompany me on some of my trips into the forest, you may.

[Don't worry about Amos accusing him of sucking his blood out literally right below this conversation. She doesn't need to worry about that.]

[appeale]

[ hey, as long as Liem isn't eating her, what does she care? Amos probably deserved it, anyway. it's not like he has any mercy when it comes to winning. ]

That would be wonderful! Set trusts you, so I trust you, signore. I promise not to get in your way if ever I accompany you.

[sterngaze]

[Ruby is so kind for understanding.]

I'll be sure to mention it to you the next time I'm planning to go on such an excursion, then.

How are you settling in as his priestess? Have you become accustomed to it?