The Heaven-Sent Tactician
After the Paradise Incident Northern Church HQ Regina's Lab
Regina: I move my woodland archer two squares forward and diagonally left.
Pinon: Aaand...I'll move my sorceress princess three squares forward. Take that!
Regina: I'm afraid I predicted that. I put your sacred dragonlord in check with my stone trebuchet.
Pinon: Oh, darn it! I left the right side wide open without even realizing it.
Pinon: Oof. You schooled me good, Regina. I thought I might have a chance with the southern-style rules I picked up in the Halidom, but it didn't make a difference.
Regina: Sound logic, but the basics are the same as the northern style. If a slight rule shift were enough to unnerve me, I'd have no right to call myself a commander of anything.
Pinon: Well, I think you're incredible—I mean, even Nevin has trouble winning against you! Maybe I'll stumble into a fluke victory at some point, but I sort of doubt it.
Regina: Heh. Well, keep working at it. Don't let Nevin stay ahead of you.
Regina: In any event, I appreciate the break. You just came out here to make a report and I ended up taking all of your time.
Regina: But thanks to that, I've chanced upon a way to improve an alchemy technique I was stuck on.
Pinon: Oh, wow! I mean, I don't know a thing about alchemy, but I'm happy I was able to help someone as esteemed as you.
Regina: Oh. Um, yes, thank you.
Regina: Sorry. It's just a little weird to have one of your apostles call you "esteemed."
Pinon: Huh? Why?
Regina: When I first came here, I didn't think I'd ever see a day where apostles respected me, much less held me in high regard.
Regina: You missed it because you were training abroad with Gabriel, but those were some pretty tough days for me.
Sandalphon: It could not be helped. Back then, Regina was not acknowledged or accepted by the apostles, so it was only natural for their relationship to be a chilly one.
Regina: And you were just as chilly as they were in the beginning, Sandalphon. Everyone forsook me in those days.
Pinon: This is so weird! I mean, by the time I was back from training, you and the other apostles were so tight it made me jealous.
Sandalphon: There was a turning point for it—a certain incident which warmed the frosty relations between all.
Pinon: What kind of incident?
Regina: Oh, I dunno. It's not very interesting.
Pinon: Okay, now I'm REALLY curious.
Pinon: Look, I'm heading off to infiltrate enemy territory soon, and knowing this story would be a huge morale boost, soooo...
Regina: That's low, Pinon. ...But all right.
Regina: This was about three years ago, right after I'd taken up my post as commander. There was an incident in the city—one big enough to shock everyone to their cores.
Regina: Curiously enough, it was perpetrated by the same people you're about to infiltrate: the military-ruled nation of Rozcimea.
Three Years Ago
The Holy City of Grams Northern Church Headquarters
Regina: Hey there. I'm Regina, and starting today, I'll be your commander. I come from the Curia's alchemy research team, and will continue to hold my research position.
Regina: I don't leave the lab much, so on-site work is a bit strange to me, but I'll do my best. Anyway, it's good to meet all of you.
Faris: In other words... you're a complete amateur? I know the archbishop values your tactical mind, but that doesn't mean you're ready for actual fieldwork.
Regina: That's a reasonable concern. But so long as the battlefield is my game board and our forces are my pieces, I don't intend to make a single miscalculation.
Nevin: We're your pawns, huh? Well, Papa Bear's at least looking forward to working with you.
Apostle: ......
Though the apostles' dissatisfaction with my new appointment was clear, I'm a lady who prioritizes our mission objectives. So long as we did our work and did it well, I wasn't going to make an effort to get all buddy-buddy.
So although they all obeyed my instructions, there was a certain distance between us. Whatever our relationship was, it certainly wasn't built on a foundation of trust.
And that's when the incident happened...
Regina: Rozcimea dispatched assassins to kill Auspex Origa on a prayer day?!
Graht: Indeed. The guards apprehended one of the curs in the city earlier today.
Graht: They're likely targeting the days when she heads to the Second Cathedral, where there are fewer guards.
Regina: Well, this is a piece of bad news. And you said "one" of them. I take it there are more of these assassins roaming the city even as we speak?
Graht: Most likely. We're questioning the one we detained, but he does not seem inclined to speak on the matter.
Graht: The Auspex must be protected at all costs. I want you and your people to assist with the investigation and security as well. We'll use every resource we have to protect her.
Regina: I already have a plan, Your Eminence. But I'm going to need support and—
Graht: A "plan"? I have neither the time nor the forces to spare for Basel's blasted pups. I ordered you to investigate and protect.
Regina: My apologies, Your Eminence. I shall see your will done.
Regina: *sigh* I'd rather not get involved in a factional dispute, but...I suppose it's time for this "blasted pup" to go ask the archbishop for some help.
Sandalphon: I see. Will you convene the apostles at the same time?
Regina: There's no time—we're already one step behind. We'll give them orders on-site and have them work as fast as they can.
Regina: Every second counts. Sandalphon. Now please relay the orders.
Sandalphon: ...Very well.
Regina: We're already swamped with problems, and Rozcimea is no land of fools—but I have no intention of losing this game.
Regina: I'll use every measure at my fingertips to deliver stellar results!
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