Gate of Memoirs/A New Era

Gortius ascends the throne following the death of his father. A new era comes to Elysia...
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Roaring Soul"	Music: "Roaring Soul"
 	
*Every clash of sword on plate rings out gratingly across the court.
*A powerful cleave slices through Learyl's shield, forcing him to drop it.
*In that moment, Gortius presses his advantage and knocks his opponent to the ground, stopping short of pinning him with his sword.
*The guards, seeing their leader fall, hold their strikes against their former prince and his wife.
 	
*Gortius: That's enough.
*Gortius: I've bested you in combat; I believe that is adequate ground for relinquishing your position.
 	
*Knight-General Learyl: Indeed.
*The Knight-General raises his voice for all the guards to hear.
*Knight-General Learyl: You've all borne witness to this duel! Gortius of House Valen has bested me fair and square.
*Knight-General Learyl: I thereby relinquish command of the Royal Army to him.
Music: "Overcome" 	Music: "Overcome"
 	
*Duke Huster: That's not a valid law! You can't do that!
*Duke Huster: Guards, do something!
 	
*Gortius: They won't listen to you. You don't even know the Knight's Creed, do you?
*Gortius: Step down before you hurt your head thinking too hard.
 	
*Duke Huster: Grr...
*Duke Huster: ...HAAAH!
 	
*Gortius: ...!
 	
*Miriam: Viper.
*Miriam throws Duke Huster to the floor, his body limp from a blast of arcane magic.
*Her side weeps a streak of red as she wrenches the dagger from his hand.
 	
*Gortius: Miriam!
 	
*Miriam: It's all right. He didn't manage to get far.
*Miriam: What's important is that you're unhurt.
 	
*Gortius: The rest of you. Get out.
 	
*The Earl and the Advisor grimace, but leave the court.
*At Master Learyl's raised hand, the guards stand down and file out one after another.
Music: "Tree of Gaia"	Music: "Tree of Gaia"
 	
*Knight-General Learyl: You've a good and loyal woman at your side, my lord.
*Knight-General Learyl: But I'm afraid there will be more of this in your future. The Earl and the Advisor won't make things easy.
 	
*Estia: Gortius!
*Unable to contain herself further, Estia lunges into her brother's arms.
*Estia: You have a lot to explain. But I'm so glad...You're alive!
 	
*Gortius: I'm sorry I made you and Father grieve all these years.
 	
*Gortius: But I'm here now. And I will purge Elysia of the Council's influence.
 	
*Knight-General Learyl: You have my word that I have tried to keep the army serving your family, not the Council.
*Knight-General Learyl: I offered myself to prevent them from taking direct control of the military.
 	
*Estia: I can vouch for that. And it's thanks to Xenon that I was kept safe.
 	
*Xenon: It is my duty and honor to serve, my lady. 
*Xenon: Elysia is my home and I wish to see it safe as much as any of us.
 	
*Gortius: He's a good man. Keep him.
 	
*Estia: What?
 	
*Gortius: There's just something about people who recite the Knight's Creed as part of their personal morals.
 	
*Miriam stifles a cough behind a closed fist.
*Miriam: In any case, we should come up with an actionable plan before the Council strikes again.
*Miriam: And in the meantime, we should bring Evie to the castle posthaste, now that they know the crown prince has returned.
 	
*Estia: Evie?
 	
*Gortius: Our little daughter, Evgenia. Evie for short.
*Gortius: I think you'll love being an aunt, Estia. And Father will—
 	
*Gortius: ...Where is Father?
 	
*Estia: He passed...last night. That's why everyone was at court...
*Estia: I've had quite a day, losing and gaining family members at once.
 	
*Everyone spends a moment in silence before Gortius heaves a sigh.
 	
*Gortius: Looks like there's a long road ahead of us.
*Gortius: But for the sake of Elysia, we'll have to do our best.
 	
*Miriam watches as the royal siblings reunite, and sweeps her gaze to the old master Learyl and his finest knight, Xenon.
*Elysians. But she among them, a mixed-blood Alethi.
*Perhaps she'll never truly belong, and perhaps neither will Evie. Her flesh-and-blood daughter.
 	
*Something seizes in her chest, and Miriam studies her own blood-streaked hand.
*Miriam: "No matter what happens...This is my family."
Portrait	Dialogue
 	
*Miriam: "And I will protect them."