Reinhard van Astrea/Synopsis

Synopsis for the Master Swordsman Reinhard van Astrea from .
==Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World==
===A powerful lineage===
Four hundred years ago, the Last Lion King Falseil Lugunica made a pact with the Holy Dragon Volcanica. As long as Falseil's bloodline was maintained, Volcanica would protect the Kingdom of Lugunica from external threats and bestow bountiful harvests upon the nation. During this era, the Witch of Envy Satella engaged in a destructive rampage that saw half of the world drained dry. With the help of Lugunica's army, the Holy Dragon, the Master Swordsman Reid Astrea, and the Sage Flugel were able to defeat the Witch of Envy. However, as her body could not be destroyed, Satella was imprisoned in a shrine located near the Great Waterfall at the edge of the world.
The descendants of Reid Astrea became known as fearsome and highly-regarded warriors who protected Lugunica from evil. Every generation, one member of the House of Astrea would be chosen by the Sword God to inherit the title of the Master Swordsman. The Master Swordsman would receive a Divine Protection that increased their battle potential and allowed them to read the movements and techniques of their opponents. Furthermore, the inheritor of the Master Swordsman title would also receive the Dragon Sword Reid, the divine blade that had been wielded by Reid Astrea himself four centuries prior. The Dragon Sword was indestructible and could only be drawn against a worthy opponent. The Astreas had no control over the Swordsman's Protection, as the Sword God was known to take the blessing away from the current Master Swordsman and give it to the next without warning.
Reinhard Astrea was born to Heinkel Astrea and his beautiful wife Louanna. The Master Swordsman at the time was Heinkel's mother and Reinhard's grandmother Theresia van Astrea. Reinhard was born with a unique and powerful blessing which allowed him to wish for any Divine Protection and gain it for permanent use, no strings attached. On the other hand his gate, the thing that allowed most people to channel mana, was defective from birth, meaning he couldn't use any form of magic. When Reinhard was two years old, his mother mysteriously contracted an illness that caused her to fall into a perpetual sleep. In this sleep, his mother didn't age, meaning she maintained her youthful beauty. Reinhard had barely any memories of his mother before she was afflicted.
===Danger of a Blessing===
When Reinhard was four years old, his father departed their home on business. Reinhard noticed that Heinkel was troubled, and so out of concern he decided to follow his father and lend any assistance he could. After sneaking out of the house, Astrea followed his father to the slums of the capital where Heinkel met with a large man in an alleyway. Reinhard decided he could be helpful by standing outside the alley so that no one could interrupt his father's conversation. Sure enough, a duo of teenage boys arrived on the scene: a nobleman known as Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers and a merchant named Russel Fellow.
Reinhard confronted the older boys who, despite having business with the large man, agreed to wait until Heinkel left. When Heinkel finished, Reinhard greeted his dejected father. Heinkel was shocked and concerned by Reinhard's presence, as he hadn't realized that his son had been following him. After making sure that Reinhard was unharmed, the older Astrea explained on their way home that the man he had been meeting was Marcus Gildark, the former captain of the Royal Guard. Heinkel had been trying to convince Gildark to return to his position, but to no avail. Reinhard decided to use his powers to help his father right then and there.
Without revealing his intention to his father, Reinhard wished for and used a new Divine Protection to remotely manipulate Gildark into changing his decision by altering his mind. Later that night, when Reinhard was in bed, Heinkel burst into his room in a panic. Agents of "Six-Tongue," a shadowy Lugunican peace-keeping organization, had infiltrated the Astrea mansion after catching wind of Reinhard's foul-play. The ability to bend an individual's will to one's own was seen as a grave threat, as it had the potential to shift a country's political landscape effortlessly, and as such Six-Tongue had responded to the potential danger.
After being questioned by his father, Reinhard admitted to his crime. Heinkel warned Reinhard that altering minds was a transgression, and made him promise to never misuse his power again. Heinkel desperately called out to the infiltrators hidden in the shadows that his son had learned his lesson. Satisfied, the agents retreated. Reinhard erased his new blessing and tearfully apologized to his father. They agreed to spend the rest of the night together in Louanna's bed. As they left the room, Reinhard noticed a shadowy figure outside the window silently threaten to hurt his family if, going forward, the boy didn't use his power for the sake of Lugunica.
===The Master Swordsman===
When Reinhard was five years old, he picked up a sword for the first time and instantly defeated his own father in a duel. By this time, he was already more powerful than the average Knight of Lugunica. Shortly after, Reinhard's grandmother led a fighting force to vanquish the White Whale, a terrifying and formidable mabeast that had terrorized the world for centuries. Unfortunately for Theresia, the blessing of the Master Swordsman left her partway through the hectic battle, choosing Reinhard as its new host. Without her blessing, Theresia was unable to overcome the beast and was killed. The five year old Reinhard, now the Master Swordsman in possession of the Dragon Sword Reid, was given the middle name "van," an honor bestowed upon the Master Swordsmen of the House of Astrea. Theresia's husband Wilhelm van Astrea, in his grief, blamed his grandson for the loss of his wife's life even though Reinhard hadn't chosen to receive the blessing at such an inopportune moment.
Reinhard eventually joined the Knights of Lugunica, becoming a legendary protector of the people like his grandparents before him. During his career, Reinhard became close friends with his comrade Julius Juukulius and, at the age of fourteen, joined the ranks of the prestigious Royal Guard that was dedicated to protecting the Lugunican Royal Family.
===Meeting Ferris===
Some years after joining the Royal Guard, Reinhard and Julius were given a special assignment by Marcus Gildark, the commander of the Knights of Lugunica. Their mission involved Ferris, a demi-human boy around Reinhard's age who had recently been admitted into the Royal Guard. Ferris had only been allowed into the Royal Guard's ranks because of a connection to the Fourth Prince of Lugunica, Fourier Lugunica. Furthermore, his demi-human blood made him the victim of discrimination at the hands of supremacists. Because of these two factors spliced together, many were dissatisfied with Ferris' position. Reinhard and Julius' task was simply to befriend and look out for the young demi-human.
One day, Reinhard and Julius resolved to approach Ferris while he was eating in the mess hall. Although they'd agreed that Reinhard should introduce himself first, Julius ultimately went against the decision and sat before the demi-human before Reinhard's arrival. Reinhard approached the pair and mocked Julius, who had already caused a misunderstanding between himself and Ferris.
Ferris instantly recognised the Master Swordsman, removing the necessity of introductions from the conversation. Astrea, getting straight to the point, informed the demi-human about the assignment Marcus had given them, relaxing Ferris who had, until then, still felt suspicious of the pair. Curious, Ferris asked what the two knights had been told about him. Julius and Reinhard efficiently listed in succession the details Captain Marcus had provided them about Ferris.
===The House of Argyle===
Ten days later, Reinhard joined Ferris and Julius in the mess hall once again. The arrival surprised Ferris, who was used to knowing when a person was approaching him due to his enhanced sense of hearing. Reinhard apologized to Ferris for the inconvenience his natural stealth provided before proceeding to tell him that His Highness Fourier had requested the demi-human's presence. Ferris asked Reinhard if he'd like to attend the little social gathering, as Julius also intended to do so. The Master Swordsman politely declined the demi-human's invitation, as, although he dearly would've liked to accept his new friend's offer, he had business on Lugunica's southern border with the Volakian Empire.
The business in question was actually in relation to Ferris, although the demi-human was kept unaware of it. Recently, the House of Argyle that Ferris had previously belonged to had involved itself with an apparent slaver. An operation was to be carried out by Duchess Crusch Karsten that would unearth the treachery of Ferris' estranged father Bean Argyle. Reinhard, on the orders of Captain Marcus who was following the instructions of Fourier Lugunica, was posted on the outskirts of the Argyle mansion as insurance in the event that one of the building's occupants might've escaped. As Prince Fourier had predicted, an accomplice of Bean's was able to evade capture aboard his flying dragon. Reinhard, who had been looking out for any strays, noticed the dragon flying above the clouds. As if it were nothing, Reinhard leapt high into the sky and casually landed on the dragon as the rider began muttering about how he had failed the Volakian Empire. Judging by his mutterings and the fact that he was atop a flying dragon native to Volakia, Reinhard deduced that the man was an agent sent by the Empire.
Reinhard made his presence known by reassuring the Volakian agent that he wouldn't have to face his superiors if he landed the dragon and turned himself in. As the spy looked upon the Swordsman with a large degree of confusion and shock, Reinhard expressed his surprise that a flying dragon was involved in the House of Argyle's machinations, as he had nearly failed to notice it flying in the sky. The Volakian agent, who failed to see anything more than Reinhard's silhouette due to the sun shining off of him, expressed confusion as to how Reinhard had stowed away on his flying dragon. Reinhard reiterated his order, stating that he couldn't allow the agent to leave Lugunica. Without warning, the agent pulled the dragon to a halt in mid air, making Reinhard fall off and descend back through the clouds. Upon landing on the ground, Reinhard, who knew he couldn't allow the information the agent had to reach the Volakian Emperor's hands, unleashed a massive beam of energy into the sky, instantly vaporising the agent and his dragon.
===Plague within the Royal Palace===
Concurrent with the raid on the House of Argyle, every person who shared even a drop of blood with the Lugunican Royal Family grew suddenly ill. Among the affected were Prince Fourier and the King himself. In a desperate attempt to find a cure for the ailment, Reinhard was sent by the government to seek the advice of the all-knowing Sage Flugel who had assisted in the sealing of the Witch of Envy four centuries ago. The Sage, despite the many centuries that had passed, allegedly still lived and maintained occupancy of the Pleiades Watchtower of the Auguria Dunes. However, for whatever reason, Reinhard failed in his mission, a fact that haunted the Master Swordsman. After months and months of struggling, the illness eventually took the life of every person who possessed royal blood. In the aftermath, the noblemen of Lugunica fell into a panic and the official rulership of the Kingdom fell to the Council of Elders while a suitable solution was investigated. The Knights of the Royal Guard, including Reinhard, were charged with the protection of the Council, as they were now the most important individuals in Lugunica.
A short time after the King's death, a prophecy appeared on the Dragon Tablet, a stone artefact gifted by the Holy Dragon himself. The prophecy revealed that with the death of the Royal Family, five candidates must be identified with the use of Dragon Jewels. The Dragon Jewels were a set of insignias, which, when held by a candidate, would allegedly shine brightly. One of these candidates would be chosen by the people of Lugunica to become the new shrine maiden who would create a new pact with Volcanica. The Knights of Lugunica, including Reinhard, were tasked with locating the individuals valid for candidacy. The first candidate found was Crusch Karsten, the Duchess who acted as Ferris's master. Overtime, three more candidates were located—Anastasia Hoshin, the head of the Hoshin Trading Company; Priscilla Barielle, a former princess of the Volakian Empire; and Emilia, a silver-haired half-elf who resembled the Witch of Envy. Reinhard, at some point, became acquainted with Emilia and her political backer Lord Roswaal L. Mathers, the latter of which was known for his eccentricities in addition to his exemplary record of service. Ultimately, one candidate remained undiscovered, thus postponing the Royal Selection until they could be located.
===Diplomacy by Bloodshed===
====Invitation From the Emperor====
Months after the loss of the Lugunican Royal Family, Astrea was summoned to Captain Gildark's office alongside Juukulius and Argyle. Gildark assigned the three of them to serve as bodyguards for Miklotov MacMahon and Bordeaux Zergev, members of the Council of Elders, who were travelling to the Empire of Volakia on a diplomatic mission. Surprisingly, Reinhard's presence had been requested by the Emperor of Volakia himself. Peace between the Kingdom and the Empire was a necessity due to the political instability caused by the forthcoming Royal Selection, and as such Lugunica had decided to acquiesce to Volakia's request.
After being dismissed, the three knights shared their doubts and suspicions about the diplomatic mission. Nevertheless, Reinhard and his fellow knights soon departed Lugunica aboard a dragon carriage with the two members of the Council of Elders. Upon arriving in Volakia, the Master Swordsman was forced to wear a device known as a "Collar of Submission" that limited his power. Zergev, a former knight himself, made derisive comments about the current stock of the Royal Guard during their journey. Astrea felt no need to defend himself, as he believed the Knights of the Royal Guard spoke best with their actions rather than their words.
====Audience with Vincent Volakia====
Four months after the loss of the Lugunican Royal Family, the Lugunican envoys reached the Crystal Palace, a magnificent building made primarily out of magic stones that served as the Emperor's abode. The Lugunicans were ushered into the throne room and brought before the Emperor, Vincent Volakia. It didn't take long for Zergev to speak insolently to the Emperor, prompting the soldiers present to draw their blades on him in response to his impudence. Fortunately, Juukulius and MacMahon were able to ease the tension. The Emperor revealed that he knew about the demise of the Lugunican Royal Family, which was supposed to be a state secret.
Volakia's sovereign mocked the departed royals, which antagonized Ferris. Argyle lost control of his temper and began lecturing the Emperor, explaining that the members of the Lugunican Royal Family were worthy of loyalty and respect. In response, to demonstrate what true loyalty was, the Emperor ordered one of his soldiers to kill himself. Astrea intervened, intercepting the soldier with immense speed before he could follow the order. The Emperor praised Reinhard's prowess and declared that their negotiations would be continued at a later time. As the Lugunican envoys were escorted out, the soldier killed himself of his own volition to prove his loyalty.
====Framed For Murder====
The Lugunican envoys were escorted to their accommodation inside the palace by a friendly soldier. Their escort was a member of the Nine Divine Generals, the highest-ranking generals and most powerful warriors in the entire Empire. The general introduced himself as Balleroy Temeglyph and explained that the soldier in the throne room had been ordered to die because he showed fear when he drew his sword against Zergev. Whereas Argyle debated the general, Astrea held his silence in case he accidentally caused offense. Temeglyph took interest in Reinhard however and noted that he reminded him of Volakia's own strongest warrior.
Temeglyph informed the Lugunicans that the Emperor would summon them once he had decided on an answer to their request, and then left them alone. As they waited, Astrea looked at the capital outside and noted his dislike for Volakia's meritocratic culture. Hours later, a soldier requested that Reinhard come to the throne room alone. Despite the directive's oddness, Astrea agreed after Miklotov gave permission. When he arrived at the throne room, the Emperor wasn't present but Balleroy and several soldiers were waiting for him. Suddenly, the Master Swordsman felt a weight of his mind and blacked out.
When he awoke, the room was destroyed and he was surrounded by the corpses of Temeglyph and the soldiers. Juukulius and Argyle arrived on the scene, as did several Imperial guards and finally the Emperor himself. Though confused himself, Astrea attempted to explain the situation to the Emperor before being interrupted by a furious soldier. In an attempt to take control of the situation, Reinhard dashed towards and grabbed the Emperor as a hostage. The Imperial ruler wasn't perturbed and instead spoke a phrase that prompted Juukulius to tell Reinhard that they should flee the palace immediately with the Emperor.
===The Silver Flower Dance===
Around one month after Reinhard's mission to Volakia, the Master Swordsman accompanied an expedition to the northern part of Lugunica, an assignment that took over a week to complete. After his return, Astrea reported back to Captain Marcus Gildark who gave the Master Swordsman some surprising news. The Blue Lightning of Volakia Cecils Segmund, whom Reinhard had faced in the Empire a month prior, was in Lugunica looking to challenge Astrea to a rematch. Segmund had been visiting Lugunica in search of a fugitive and had been able to apprehend his target with the assistance of Julius and Ferris. Now, with his formal mission accomplished, the Blue Lightning sought to face his rival for a second time. Reinhard, despite being worn from his travels, accepted the challenge. Marcus had had enough of dealing with the ambassador of the Empire, and so ordered Reinhard to demonstrate the true strength of Lugunica.
Later on, Reinhard headed to the training ground of the royal guard's barracks where his opponent awaited his arrival. Unlike before, the Blue Lightning wielded his best pair of blades in acknowledgment of his truly worthy rival. Reinhard entered into the grounds and halted several feet apart from his duelling partner. Falling into a bow, the Master Swordsman politely greeted his opponent. The Blue Lightning earnestly thanked Reinhard for accepting his challenge, as he expected the Master Swordsman to turn down his request on account of the long journey he had been through.
The two swordsmen briefly crossed to opposite sides of the arena to prepare for battle. Reinhard approached his friends Julius and Ferris, who were both standing inside the arena rather than the spectator seats where countless knights eagerly anticipated the battle. Ferris instantly berated the Master Swordsman for his foolhardy acceptance of the Lightning's request. Although his eyes widened at Ferris's words, he merely shook off the demi-human's worries with a smile and a shrug. While the Blue Lightning's request had come at a surprise, the words of Marcus, that Reinhard promptly attempted to impersonate by putting on a gruff voice, had spurred the Master Swordsman on. Before moving over to the arena once again, Reinhard told his friends that he would duel to pay back the trouble the Empire had put them through.
As he approached Cecils, Julius called out to Reinhard, reminding the Swordsman that he needed a blade. Reinhard, with a voice that sent chills across the spines of everybody present, corrected Juukulius, as he already had a sword. From his scabbard, Reinhard drew the Dragon Sword Reid for the third time in his life. The entire crowd gazed in awe at the beauty and elegance of the legendary blade that had, according to legend, felled the Witch of Envy herself centuries prior.
Segmund expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to gaze upon the Dragon Sword, as he also saw the weapon as a piece of art. In response, Reinhard praised the Volakian warrior, as the Dragon Sword deeming someone as worthy was an incredibly rare occurrence. Although he often praised people for their talents, the compliments Astrea bestowed upon Segmund were not easily expressed in words. With that being said, the Master Swordsman Reinhard van Astrea and the Blue Lightning of Volakia Cecils Segmund named themselves with a deep respect for each other that only they could share. Without further ado, the greatest warriors of Lugunica and Volakia clashed, mirroring the legendary Silver Flower Dance of Pictat fought between Reinhard's grandfather and the eight-armed giant Kurgan decades prior. The power of their blows raised tempests of energy and wind within the ring, as a display truly worthy of the heavens was unveiled before the eyes of the few spectators.
Although the outcome of the battle remained unclear, Cecils left the Kingdom of Lugunica shortly after covered in various minor injuries. Both warriors felt a sense of fulfilment after the duel, as they had discovered that they did not stand alone at the pinnacle of power. Later on, in the dead of night, Reinhard joined Julius and Ferris for drinks in Juukulius's home where the trio of dear friends made merry into the early hours of the morning. At some point over the next few months, Julius became the official knight of Anastasia Hoshin, meaning he had joined the Royal Selection in opposition to Ferris, who was naturally serving as Crusch Karsten's knight.
===Incident in the capital===
====A Meeting Ordained by Fate====
Months later, Astrea was wandering through the streets of the capital on his day off when he heard someone call for help from a nearby alleyway. Deciding to investigate, he discovered a young black-haired man in strange clothing around his own age being accosted by three thugs. The thugs immediately recognized Reinhard and fled once they realized Astrea intended to protect the young man. The youth introduced himself as Subaru Natsuki and earnestly thanked Reinhard for saving his life. Due to his uncommon appearance and name, Astrea questioned him on his origin.
Natsuki revealed that he had recently arrived in Lugunica and was from a land to the far east which lied beyond the Great Waterfall itself. Despite the unlikelihood of Natsuki's claim, Reinhard put the matter aside and offered to help him during his stay in the nation. Natsuki asked whether or not Reinhard had seen a silver-haired girl in white clothing who was accompanied by a cat-like spirit. Reinhard immediately deduced that Natsuki was likely talking about the half-elf Emilia, one of the five candidates for the throne of Lugunica, and her contracted spirit Puck. Natsuki claimed that he wanted to return lost property belonging to her.
Unsure whether the mysterious foreigner could be trusted or not, Reinhard pretended that he didn't know Emilia and offered to accompany Natsuki in his search. Natsuki turned down Astrea's offer and began muttering something about potentially enlisting the city guard to accompany him to a loot cellar. Natsuki brushed off his trail of thought and bid farewell to Reinhard. Astrea, suspicious of the friendly foreigner and his interest in Emilia, decided to investigate. Deducing that the loot cellar Natsuki spoke of was likely a building where stolen items were fenced, Astrea headed to the area of the city where crime was abundant—the slums.
Later that evening, Astrea was walking through the abandoned streets of the slums when a feverish young girl bumped into him. The girl, who was around three to four years younger than him, wore the typical clothing of a local yet had golden hair and red eyes, traits typically only seen in members of the extinct Lugunican Royal Family. The local girl had been running and yelling for help when she had collided with Reinhard, and so the Master Swordsman outstretched his hand and offered her help. The girl led Astrea to a large building where she claimed her friends were being attacked by a blade-wielding maniac.
====Duel in the loothouse====
Inside, the sounds of an intense battle could be heard. The desperate battle was fought by Subaru and Emilia, who were trying to prevail against a menacing black-haired woman who wore black clothes and wielded a curved blade unique to the northern nation Gusteko. Furthermore, a large dark-skinned old man who had already been defeated by the black-haired woman laid on the floor of the loothouse barely clinging to life. As the black-haired woman prepared to strike Subaru with a lethal blow, Reinhard crashed through the wooden ceiling, scattering debris and a cloud of dust across the room. The cloud of dust around Reinhard parted at the behest of his tremendous aura of power, leaving him in clear view under the moonlight. All of the room's occupants froze at the sight of the impossibly imposing being before them. With an iron will and brush of his locks, Reinhard declared that he would put an end to the fighting.
The Master Swordsman greeted a confused Subaru before turning to the black-haired woman. Noticing her key features, Reinhard was able to identify the woman as Elsa Granhiert, the serial assassin from Gusteko known infamously as the "Bowel Hunter" throughout the echelons of the capital. Her reputation was fierce and gruesome, and her nickname was derived from her preference to gut her victims. Astrea conveyed this information to those gathered, warning that the woman before them was considered a grave menace to society. In turn, Elsa, who recognised Reinhard from his prestigious reputation, noted that she would have to thank her employer for giving her a job that led to her facing the unbeatable Master Swordsman. Reinhard requested that she surrender as he wished to ask her a few things, however, the Hunter rebuked his request, not wanting to relinquish any of the "irresistible prey" standing before her. Realising a fight would inevitably break out, Reinhard asked Subaru to stand at a safe distance next to Emilia and the unconscious elderly man. As the Royal Selection was still secretive, Astrea and Emilia acted as though they weren't acquainted. Subaru warned Reinhard of the woman's lethal skill, although Reinhard remained calm, retorting that dealing with situations such as this was one of his specialities.
Before the oncoming fight broke out, Emilia began using her own magic to tend to the wounds of the enormous old man. This posed a problem for Reinhard, as he needed to draw in all the mana in the surrounding atmosphere to unleash his true strength. Nevertheless, Reinhard resolved to fight his opponent. As the Hunter rushed forward, blade in hand, Reinhard expressed his reluctance to fight a woman as he prepared for action himself. The Master Swordsman trod forward, shattering the wooden floor with his mighty step and causing the air to vibrate around him. Before the Hunter could make contact, Reinhard brought his leg around, effortlessly kicking her in the ribs. The blow sent the relatively unharmed Bowel Hunter tumbling across the room and produced a shockwave that could be felt by all of the room's occupants. The Hunter remarked that Reinhard had already exceeded her steep expectations for him, noting that he was even more powerful than rumours suggested. Wanting to feel Reinhard's full strength, the Bowel Hunter petitioned him to use the sheathed sword by his side. Astrea informed the Hunter of the conditions that needed to be met for the Dragon Sword to be drawn, disappointing the murderer, who felt that her skills were being underestimated by the Master Swordsman. Reinhard told her that the choice was the blade's not his, as he also found the judgement disappointing. Seeing a worn two-handed sword resting against a wall of the loothouse, Reinhard picked it up and asked his opponent if she minded if he used it to battle her. Granhiert couldn't've cared less, as the hungry predator only hoped to experience an enjoyable battle.
Elsa once again charged at Reinhard and brought her blade down upon his, however, as Astrea was a nigh-unmatched swordsman, his crude blade easily sliced through Elsa's. The black-haired woman's northern blade separated from its hilt, spinning in the air before landing in the skilled hands of Reinhard. The Swordsman once again suggested she surrender as he tossed the hiltless blade into a nearby wall, earning an impressed gasp from the Bowel Hunter. Although Elsa appeared defeated, she was quick to draw a hidden second blade and produce a slash that might've struck Reinhard if it weren't for a warning from the observing Subaru. Elsa and Natsuki had a brief conversation about his surprising prescience, after which the Hunter once again returned her attention to Reinhard while mentioning that she actually had far more than two blades stashed away in her slim physique. With a degree of rhetoric, Astrea asked the woman if she would surrender in the event that he destroyed all of her blades. Drawing a third blade so that she was wielding one weapon in each hand, Elsa began bounding around the room at supernatural speeds that made her movements impossible for anyone other than Astrea to decipher. As she moved, the Bowel Hunter reported that she would never yield, regardless of whether it cost her her life or not. Occasionally, Elsa tried to strike the Swordsman as she bound across the room, only to be foiled by Reinhard who nonchalantly stood in the middle of the room deflecting her slashes.
 
The titanic battle was interrupted by Subaru, who, upon Emilia's urging, informed Reinhard that the candidate had finished healing the old man, meaning Astrea was free to unleash his power. Understanding Subaru's words, Reinhard replied with a nod and began coalescing the mana within the atmosphere, forming a large and imposing blanket of magical energy around himself. The temperature in the room dropped as the space surrounding the loothouse began to warp at the behest of Reinhard's imposing might. Understanding that Reinhard was about to unleash a powerful attack, the Bowel Hunter stopped to face it head on, formally introducing herself as Elsa Granhiert in honour of the Master Swordsman's upcoming strike. Astrea replied in kind and began focusing all of the magical energy into the sword he was using, creating a massive current of mana that he brought down on the stationary Elsa. The attack instantly detonated on contact, destroying the whole building in a flash of blinding blue light that nearly took Reinhard's allies along with it.
In the aftermath of the attack, Subaru facetiously berated Reinhard for his reckless attack, calling the Master Swordsman a monster because of his overwhelming power. Reinhard apologised to the sword he'd used as it crumbled into dust, having been over-exerted by Reinhard's tremendous power. After talking with the silver-haired girl for a moment, Subaru once again expressed heartfelt thanks to Reinhard, who in turn informed the boy that he'd only came because the thief girl had led him to them.
As the group continued to chat, a creaking noise began to emanate from the rubble. Understanding the implication, Reinhard urgently called Subaru's name out as a warning. As he did so, Granhiert emerged from the rubble and began running towards the silver-haired girl with murderous intent. Although Reinhard attempted to intercept the Hunter, it was Subaru who reached her first, using a large club to deflect her blade. Reinhard stood in the way of Elsa, baring her access to his allies. Seeing that she wasn't in a favorable situation, Elsa asked those present to keep good care of their bowels before leaping out of the building, making her escape. Astrea approached the silver-haired girl, asking if she was alright, but was dismissed by the woman who was more concerned for Subaru's well-being.
Subaru affirmed that he was alright and asked the woman's name as a reward for saving her. The girl, Emilia, was happy to comply with his request. After Subaru and Emilia's conversation, Reinhard expressed relief that Subaru was alright, taking the club Subaru had used against Elsa in his hand. Observing the club, the Master Swordsman discovered the club had been sliced in two. The three of them looked panicked as they glanced down to Subaru's stomach, that had been sliced open by Elsa's parting attack. Subaru collapsed to the ground as blood sprayed from his stomach. Emilia used her magic to stabilize Subaru's condition, although he remained unconscious.
====Completion of a mission====
While Emilia set about using her spirit magic to tend to Subaru's wounds, Reinhard could only stand and observe while mentally reminiscing over his many regrets that could not be lessened through words. Eventually, his attention was diverted by Emilia, who informed the Master Swordsman that she had stabilized Subaru's condition. With the immediate crisis over with, Reinhard prostrated himself before the Royal Selection candidate, as he felt his own lack of attentiveness had caused Emilia and her friends unnecessary troubles. In response, Emilia merely gave a disapproving shake of her finger while lecturing Reinhard for not giving himself enough credit. Reinhard seemed satisfied by the comment, relaying gratitude to Miss Emilia for her kind words. Emilia asked Reinhard how and why he had come to arrive at the loothouse, prompting Reinhard to explain his earlier meeting with Natsuki and his fortunate meeting with the street thief who had led him to the building. Having been reminded of her, Emilia turned her attention to the thief and asked Reinhard to not interfere any further. Reinhard informed Emilia that, while he would stay out of her business, he would send knights to escort her home.
After Emilia agreed to Reinhard's statement, the topic of conversation landed on Subaru. Reinhard was shocked to hear that Emilia had no relation to the young man prior to the ongoing incident, as Astrea knew for a fact that Subaru had been searching for the half-elf earlier in the day. Emilia out loud wondered if the "weirdo," in reference to her backer Lord Roswaal L. Mathers, was somehow involved in the peculiar happenings of the day. Reinhard began to berate Emilia for referring to a Lord Roswaal as a "weirdo," who, regardless of his oddities, was an upstanding citizen of Lugunica. Emilia pointed out the fact that she had never mentioned Roswaal by name, essentially surfacing the fact that Reinhard also viewed him as a strange man. Reinhard apologised to Emilia for his hypocritical berating while asking her to keep their conversation a secret from Roswaal with a mischievous wink. Turning back to Subaru, Reinhard offered to take the young man into his household as a guest. His suggestion was rebuked by the Selection candidate, who sought to take him into Roswaal's manor where she could question him further.
As the pair, who had ran out of topics to discuss, stood in silence for a moment, Reinhard thought back to the utter pandemonium his attack had rained down on the loothouse. Once again, Reinhard was frustrated that he had failed to contain the strength of his assault fully. Emilia asked Reinhard what he would do with the thief girl and the old man, seeing as the former had stolen her Dragon Jewel that indicated her as a candidate for the throne earlier in the day. Astrea, pitying the child and old man, told Emilia that in an official capacity he couldn't overlook their crime, although considering he was on his day off, he would allow them to go free. Emilia jokingly scolded the Master Swordsman for his terrible knightly attitude while giggling to herself. Emilia approached the thief girl who was restlessly watching over the wounded old man. The girl told Emilia that the man, named Old Man Rom, was the closest thing she had to family. The girl, as thanks for the efforts put in by everyone to safe her and Rom, decided to give Emilia her Dragon Jewel back without resistance. The young thief made it clear that, although she was giving the item she had stolen back to Emilia, she had no intention of stopping her immoral job. Although he was a knight, Reinhard chose to ignore the comment, as he knew the hardships of life made it so the young thief had no choice but to leech off of those better off.
As the girl went to pass the emblem back to Emilia, Reinhard noticed it was glowing in the young girl's hand. After briefly searching his memories, Reinhard realized that the glowing of the Dragon Jewel indicated that the young slum-dweller before him was without a doubt the final missing candidate for the throne of Lugunica. Reinhard, without warning, firmly grasped Felt's wrist before she could hand the Dragon Jewel back to Emilia. Both girls were shocked by Reinhard's seemingly unprovoked actions, yet held their tongues when they noticed the serious expression worn by the Master Swordsman. After a short moment, Emilia reached the incorrect conclusion that Reinhard sought to apprehend Felt for the theft of the Dragon Jewel despite his previous statement. Reinhard denied Emilia's comment with a forceful tone, seemingly having forgotten any semblance of his usual polite demeanour in the heat of the moment. Reinhard asked the forename, surname, and age of the girl whose eyes were full of anxiety. Although the girl wasn't aware of her family name, she told Reinhard that her name was Felt and she was roughly fifteen years old, considering she didn't know her actual birthday.
Without revealing his discovery to the half-elf, Reinhard apologised to Emilia, seeing as he intended to take Felt into custody despite his previous promise. Having accepted Emilia's justified confusion, Reinhard turned back to Felt and informed her that she was coming with him. When she began to resist, the Master Swordsman drained the young girl's magical energy, putting her to sleep. With Felt in his arms, Reinhard once again apologised to Emilia for the inconvenience while handing her emblem back to her. He requested, with a polite bow, that Emilia take good care of Subaru before gazing at the peaceful face of the young girl in his arms for a moment. The Swordsman thought to himself that, with a change of clothes and decent grooming, Felt would truly shine. Looking towards the bewitching moon, Reinhard peacefully whispered that tonight may very well be his last peaceful night for a long time.
Privately, the Master Swordsman recalled a clandestine event that had transpired fourteen years ago. This particular event was the abduction of the infant daughter of Lord Fold Lugunica, the late second prince of the Kingdom. Because the nation had several other important matters to attend to at the time, a full search was never conducted to discover the whereabouts of the child. Ultimately, the failure that day led to the reconstitution of the Knights of the Royal Guard who had failed to protect the girl. Although the event was never publicly revealed, Reinhard had knowledge of it because of his connection to the Guards. Because of her gold hair and red eyes, as well as her status as a candidate, Reinhard began to suspect that Felt could be Lord Fold's long-lost daughter. Coupled with the impression that the unlikeliness of their meeting could only be guided by fate, Astrea decided that in the event that Felt participated in the Royal Selection, he would whole-heartedly support her in the same way Julius and Ferris supported Hoshin and Karsten respectively.
===Hosting the candidate===
====The Dragon Priestess====
With the unconscious Felt in tow, Reinhard headed to the rarely-used Astrea mansion located in the upper echelons of the capital where he laid the street orphan into a comfortable bed. While she slept, Reinhard had her clothes patched up and cleaned. The next morning, Reinhard was waiting in the girl's room and offered a casual greeting to her when she awoke. Felt immediately went to reach for the knife usually fastened to her waist, only to discover that she was completely naked. As the girl gazed in confusion, Reinhard explained that he was having her clothes tended to and that the house servants would soon bring her a temporary set to wear. Brushing aside the issue of clothing, Felt rhetorically asked the Swordsman what her issue with him might be while wearing a scornful stare. Reinhard, merely shrugging at Felt's abrasiveness, straightforwardly responded that, while he had a rough idea as to why she might be upset with him, he felt as though it wouldn't be appropriate to say. After a couple of seconds, Felt burst into a frantic rage while demanding to know where she was and what intentions the Master Swordsman had for her. Reinhard was left unfazed by the girl's fury, only chuckling to himself when her bedsheet nearly slipped off to reveal her naked form. Apologising for his insolence, Reinhard knelt before Felt and promised to inform her of his reasonings with a far more serious tone.
Pledging to end any misunderstandings of possible perversion, Reinhard revealed where they were and urged young Felt to grab hold of a Dragon Jewel he had just taken from his pocket. Felt, who failed to grasp the meaning of the glowing in her hand, asked her captor how it was supposed to explain why she was there. Reinhard went on to explain that the stone indicated that Felt was one of the prophesized five Dragon Priestesses chosen by the Holy Dragon Volcanica, and that perhaps it was fate itself that had chosen her. Felt snorted at Reinhard's claim, as she believed fate was just a term used by those who liked to desperately shift the blame on somebody else. After sitting silently for a few moments, Reinhard rebuked Felt's claim, as he believed only a handful of people could oppose fate. Felt, exasperated by their conversation, decided that she wanted to return to the slums after retrieving her clothes. However, before she could do anything, Reinhard warned her that she didn't have a choice in the matter, as as a citizen of Lugunica, it was her duty to present herself before the residents of the royal castle. Felt, having calmed down significantly, requested that Astrea fulfil a wish of hers. Reinhard explained that while he would happily do so, he couldn't allow her to leave the house until an official response from the castle regarding the situation had been made.
Understanding Reinhard's terms, Felt asked the noble knight if he could give her her clothes back. Finally seeming to notice the young woman wearing nothing but a bed sheet before him, the Swordsman bashfully turned around while agreeing to her request. The moment he did so, Felt bolted for the window in a desperate attempt to escape, only to be swiftly re-apprehended by Reinhard. Having caught the young woman in his arms, Reinhard jestingly informed his new guest that, although he had failed to explain so, the mansion was host to several flights of stairs that would provide a more suitable way of reaching the ground. The Master Swordsman made a promise to the furious street thief that, in the event she escaped the mansion grounds, he would not pursue her any further. Returning back to the young lady's room with her blanketed form still in his arms, Reinhard and Felt were greeted by two servants—Grimm Fauzen and Carol Remendes, an elderly couple who had served with Reinhard's grandparents during the Demi-Human War forty years ago. Astrea apparently had familiarity with the pair, as he referred to them as though they were his grandparents. Carol and Reinhard immediately set about forcing Felt into the clothes they had available at the house, earning the chagrin of the thief who had wanted to wear her old clothes instead. Over the next few days, Felt attempted to escape Reinhard's household several times, although Astrea foiled each one.
====Sleeping Beauty====
Ten days after taking Felt into his custody, Reinhard had to deal with another of his captive's escape attempts. Felt tried to exit the mansion via a window by swinging on a chandelier, but Reinhard was able to catch her mid-air by the nape of her neck. The Master Swordsman praised Felt for nearly escaping, though his friendliness only served to annoy her further. Later on, Astrea made a business trip to the royal castle. He also stopped by the capital's barracks and inquired about Rom, Felt's surrogate father. The old man had apparently woken up and fled custody while his wounds from the incident were being tended to.
Upon returning to the mansion, Reinhard found Felt in his mother's room. Astrea usually kept the room locked, but had forgotten to do so on that day. Felt assumed that Louanna was a kidnapped girl, in a similar situation to her own. Astrea told Felt who the woman in the bed was and explained the illness she suffered from. Felt was disgusted that Louanna had been locked away in the corner of a mansion for years. She lectured Reinhard for his detached attitude to his own mother's illness and then stormed out of the room. As she left, Astrea asked Felt not to speak to anyone else about what she had seen in the room.
Reinhard locked the door behind him and then started following Felt. Changing the subject, he informed Felt about his visit to the barracks and what he had learned about Rom. Hearing that her surrogate father was safe, Felt's mood immediately returned to her usual abrasive cheerfulness. Seeing her return to her normal self, Reinhard felt a sense of relief. As they walked down the halls of the mansion together, Felt told Reinhard that he looked like his mother, hinting that she realized that he did actually care about Louanna. Reinhard was pleased by Felt's comment and jokingly asked her if she still thought he was a serial kidnapper.
====Snowfall in the Capital====
Around a month after his duel with the Bowel Hunter, Reinhard was once again chasing Felt through the mansion when he was distracted by a snowfall outside the window. Despite the fact that the snow was out of season and was therefore almost certainly caused by magic, Astrea sensed no sinister purpose behind it. Felt slipped passed the Master Swordsman, but he quickly regained focus and caught her in his arms. In contrast to Reinhard, who was taken aback, Felt was indifferent to the snow's beauty. Later on, Reinhard went outside with Fauzen to clear some of the snow from the mansion's grounds and discovered a beautiful white flower.
Wanting to share the flower's beauty with Felt, he left it in a vase outside of her room. When he finished his work, Astrea approached Felt and Remendes. Reinhard warned Felt, much to her irritation, not to use the windows in her upcoming escape attempts because the ground outside was still slippery. Felt informed Reinhard that Remendes had prepared warm drinks for him and Fauzen, which Astrea was thankful for due to his cold hands. He tried to tell Felt about the flower he had left for her, but stopped himself out of shyness. The following day, the snow melted and Felt once again tried, to no avail, to escape the mansion.
===Beginning of the Royal Selection===
====Returning Home====
The following day, Reinhard and Felt bid farewell to Fauzen and Remendes and began their journey to the Astrea domain via dragon carriage alongside Rom and the three former thugs. En route, they stopped at the home of an influential individual with connections to House Astrea in the hopes of garnering their support in the Royal Selection. Rom, who disliked formal occasions, neglected to attend the meeting and instead journeyed ahead to the Astrea domain alone. The Felt Camp continued on the road after the meeting until it reached the Astrea domain, at which point its progress was slowed down significantly.
The locals, many of whom Reinhard was acquainted with, came rushing toward the carriage to greet their beloved lord. The continuous waves of people affectively slowed the carriage journey to a stop. Ton, Chin, and Kan grew impatient and decided to head to the mansion on foot to inform the house's staff about their arrival. For his part, Astrea was friendly and courteous to the townsfolk. Felt, on the other hand, grew increasingly impatient. When they eventually reached the mansion, Felt expressed surprise at its relative lack of grandeur and approved of the fact that House Astrea wasn't very affluent when compared to other noble families.
When Reinhard and Felt approached the front door of the mansion, the three former thugs burst out from the other side and crumpled onto the floor in pain. Flam and Grassis, the culprits behind the trio's defeat, stepped outside and greeted their master. The servants explained that they'd assumed the trio were trespassing. Reinhard chastised the girls for their rash judgement, and then complained to Felt for laughing at the situation. The group headed inside, where they were met by Rom. The twins had allowed Rom in because, in contrast to the trio, they felt as though they couldn't defeat him. Astrea chastised them once again for their reasoning.
====Tour of the Astrea Domain====
Later that day, Reinhard dressed himself in casual clothing that he believed Felt would like and went to her room to offer to take her on a stroll around his domain. She denied him entry to her room, though he went in anyway because he knew she wasn't naked. As Astrea had expected, she had already changed out of her formal attire. Felt proposed that she would wear whatever he liked when on official business, but was otherwise within her right to wear what she wanted. Reinhard was pleased that Felt was willingly offering a compromise. To his surprise, Felt accepted his invitation on the condition that Rom and the others would accompany them.
Rom and the others were too busy with work and so Felt chose to accompany Reinhard despite it just being the two of them. Astrea explained the history and culture of the area and answered Felt's many questions as they strolled across the domain together for around half a day. He offered to procure a land dragon for her to ride at some point, as she seemed eager at the prospect. Reinhard was amused by Felt, who failed to curb her obvious excitement towards the offer. They were greeted from a distance by another local, leading Felt to question whether Astrea had any actual friends rather than just acquaintances.
Reinhard admitted that he didn't have any close friends, but also pointed out to Felt that she didn't have any friends either. Felt asserted that Rom was the only person she needed, which led to the pair discussing who they admired most. Astrea respected his great-grandfather, Veltol Astrea. Veltol wasn't the Master Swordsman of his generation, or an accomplished fighter, but his virtue and sound governance led him to be admired by many. Felt remarked that she had never met a knight she considered virtuous, but admitted that it was likely her odd criteria that was to blame considering the public's admiration for Reinhard.
====Baby on the Doorstep====
With dinner time closing in, Reinhard and Felt returned home. On the doorstep of the mansion, they were shocked to discover a baby girl with golden hair and blue eyes nestled in a basket. Inside the basket they found a note which asked the household to take good care of the baby, whose name was Ilya. Astrea and Felt brought the child inside and presented it to the other occupants. Flam and Grassis made jokes that the child was Reinhard and Felt's, which infuriated the latter. Ilya soon began to cry, and only Reinhard and Rom seemed capable of soothing her. Astrea asked Felt to decide what they should do with the child.
Felt expressed anger towards the girl's parents for abandoning her, having experienced the same thing, and decided that they would take care of Ilya and search for her parents so that she could berate them for abandoning the child. Reinhard was pleased by his mistress's decision. Aside from looking after Ilya, Reinhard spent the rest of the day making inquiries in town and asking the locals to look out for someone matching Ilya's description. After spending the entire day crying, Ilya finally fell asleep just after midnight. With the baby settled, Astrea changed her diaper and gave instructions to the Remendes twins regarding Ilya's care.
When the two of them were alone, Felt asked Astrea what he would've done if she had commanded him to abandon the baby. Reinhard explained that he likely would've accepted her order on the surface, but then he would've gone behind her back and helped the child regardless. He was thankful that Felt was kind-hearted, and expressed his delight that their ideals coincided. Embarrassed by his forwardness, Felt yelled at Astrea and woke the baby in the process. Over the next few days, no progress was made in the search for Ilya's parents. Reinhard tried to teach Felt how to take care of the baby, which led to frequent arguments between the two.
====Mother of the Child====
Five days after the baby's arrival, Astrea had to rechange Ilya's diaper after Felt did it poorly. As he did so, Felt noticed something alarming outside of the window and vaulted out into the gardens. Reinhard instantly darted to his mistress's side and asked her what was wrong. Felt reported that she had spotted a man spying on the mansion from outside, and ordered her knight to detain him. Handing Ilya over to Felt, Astrea quickly caught the suspicious figure. He then returned to Felt, who began interrogating the man on his motivations. She was able to get a confession out of the man quickly by threatening to have Reinhard hurt him.
The man was an agent of the "Black Silver Coin," the most powerful of a trio of prominent criminal organizations known as the "Big Three" that controlled the nearby city of Flanders from the shadows. He had been commanded to find Ilya by his higher-ups. After confining the Black Silver Coin agent to a storeroom, Reinhard and Felt began discussing their next move. They were soon interrupted by the return of Ton, Chin, and Kan, who had a beautiful woman with them. The three former thugs had been searching for Ilya's parents for the last few days, and believed the woman they had brought before Felt was the baby's mother.
===The Beast of the End===
A short time after his conflict with the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, Subaru entered the Tomb of the Witch of Greed Echidna seeking the woman's advice regarding a predicament he was currently in. Although Echidna was deceased, it was possible to commune with her soul by completing a trial relating to the present. The trial in question showed Subaru alternate realities where he had failed and perished rather than saving those he loved. Reinhard appeared in one of those possible realities. In the alternate timeline, Subaru was unable to save Emilia from death at the hands of Sloth and the Witch Cult. Puck's contract with Emilia dictated that, in the event of the half-elf's demise, he would try to destroy the world. Taking root within the mansion of Roswaal L. Mathers, the Beast of the End Puck froze Subaru to death and began releasing his magical energy into the atmosphere, affectively plunging the Kingdom of Lugunica into an ice age. Lugunica sent the Master Swordsman to face the Great Spirit of Fire before the world could be completely frozen over.
As Reinhard approached the grounds of the mansion, the world's end drew inevitably nearer as though it was falling into a perpetual sleep perpetuated by the Beast of the End. Puck, whose physical form was greatly enlarged, acknowledged Astrea's arrival with a deep voice that made the air itself rumble as he approached the Master Swordsman. The tremendous effort Puck had been straining himself with showed on his gargantuan body, which was almost completely devoid of life with the exception of his eyes that burned with vigor. Puck expressed lament, as he knew even his mighty strength stood no chance of besting the world's strongest. As his hair and cloak swept in the harsh winds, Reinhard's unwaveringly clear and beautiful voice disclosed his own regret at the transpiration of events. With sadness dwelling in his eyes, Astrea asked Puck what had became of Subaru and Emilia. Puck relayed the upsetting truth that both were dead, and that, with the loss of his beloved Emilia, he was attempting to terraform the world into a frozen wasteland.
After hearing Puck's motives, the Master Swordsman shook his head and drew the Dragon Sword Reid from its scabbard, confirming that the Great Spirit of Fire was a worthy opponent. Training the legendary blade on Puck, Reinhard explained that he too felt great regret and sadness at the loss of his friends, yet he would not allow the Great Spirit to lash out against innocents in his grief, as his personal sense of justice dictated that his sword arm existed to correct injustices. As he began to exude an unconquerable fighting spirit, Astrea promised the Great Spirit that he would make his death painless if he didn't resist, a gift that Puck denied. An aura of terrible power oozed from the Dragon Sword Reid as the Master Swordsman and the Beast of the End both prepared to decide their battle with a single strike.
Before unleashing his attack, Astrea told Puck that if it comforted him, he could resent Reinhard for his inevitable fate. Puck assured Reinhard that he could never harbor a personal hatred towards him, as he understood that the Master Swordsman was only fulfilling his duty. With his final words, the Great Spirit, filled with malice disconnected from his grief, reminded Reinhard that he would never be anything more than a hero shackled by his responsibilities. Reinhard proceeded to lift the Dragon Sword above his head and unleash a massive amount of coalesced magical energy that split the sky above him in a single flash of blinding light. In the wake of the Dragon Sword's attack, the ground crumbled; cracks ran through the air; a vortex of magical power permeated the atmosphere; and the world itself slid along the arc of the impossibly powerful blade slash.
In the next moment, the cold air subsided and flowers bloomed once more. Reinhard's slash had, in its entirety, corrected the damage wrought by the Beast of the End. As for Puck himself, there was no trace of his existence remaining nor of the battle that had occurred an instant earlier. The Master Swordsman's slash had simultaneously ended the world and brought about its re-creation. Such was the power of Reinhard van Astrea. As he gazed up at the newly formed bright sky, Astrea's face panged with regret as he thought about how Felt would surely be saddened by the way things had played out. With that, Subaru's vision regarding the battle of the Master Swordsman and the Beast of the End came to a conclusion. After the vision, he experienced several others regarding other possible timelines and was eventually able to overcome the trial and gain an audience with Echidna.
===Dragon Nation Newsletter===
A few months after the start of the Royal Selection, Astrea was tending to the gardens in the Astrea mansion on Felt's orders when she brought two reporters for a newspaper called the "Dragon Nation Newsletter" into the house. Rom and Cadner had suggested that Felt, with Reinhard's supervision, should be interviewed by the Dragon Nation Newsletter, as it was a popular newspaper that would give her much needed exposure. The reporters in question were two children named Shorty Megan and Lululala, the latter of whom Reinhard had met previously in the capital when he'd agreed to model for her on his day off.
Felt had neglected to mention her identity to the children, so Megan was surprised when he learned that the person who had ushered him into the house was not a servant but actually the person he had come to interview. Astrea chastised Felt for messing with their guests, which annoyed her. Lululala then showed Felt and Reinhard a sketch she had just drawn on the spot of Megan's shocked reaction to Felt's identity, which amused the Master Swordsman despite himself. While Felt moved into the reception room with the reporters, Reinhard prepared some refreshments and listened in on the conversation.
When he entered the room, Felt was telling the reporters about her past in the slums and the crimes she had committed. Though annoyed by Reinhard's presence, she begrudgingly allowed him to stay when he reminded her that Rom and Cadner wanted him to supervise the interview. Felt went on to discuss her desire to reshape Lugunican society, and Reinhard voiced his enthusiasm for her lofty goals. When the interview was concluded, Lululala showed Reinhard and Felt a sketch she had drawn of the two of them which perfectly encapsulated their relationship. Felt didn't like the picture but Reinhard found it amusing.
===Return to the Capital===
====Convoy to the Capital====
As decided, Reinhard and Felt left Pristella with the captive Sirius not long after the conclusion of the incident. In order to minimize the affect of Wrath's Authority, Reinhard and Felt transported the Sin Archbishop by themselves using a single dragon carriage pulled by Romy. Though they intended for the journey to take no more than ten days, their progress was delayed by several misfortunate incidents. Among the disturbances they faced were a collapsing river pier and a group of migrating mabeasts. For her part, Sirius didn't cause much issue aside from occasionally annoying Felt by humming and engaging in idle chatter.
Reinhard and Felt's carriage was also periodically attacked by groups of bandits. Each time, Reinhard defeated the bandits, tied them up, and reported their location to the local authorities. Neither the mabeasts or bandits they encountered were afraid of the legendary Master Swordsman, which was unusual. One day, after defeating a group of roughly twenty bandits in under a minute, Reinhard reported their presence to the locals like usual. When Reinhard returned to the carriage, Felt was unnerved by a conversation she had had with Sirius in his absence and decided to ease her discomfort by sitting next to him for a while.
====Imprisoning Wrath====
After encountering no less than ten disturbances on the road to the capital, Reinhard and Felt finally reached their destination after a month's travel. They escorted Sirius to the prison tower near the royal castle, and awaited the preparation of her cell. For maximum security, Wrath's body and cell had both been sealed with the same sealing stones used to imprison the Witch of Envy herself and the Sin Archbishop was to be gagged when not under interrogation. Reinhard discussed the journey with Felt, who theorized that the bandits, mabeasts, and other incidents had been somehow caused by Wrath. Soon enough, Sirius was ready for transferral.
Reinhard insisted that Felt stay outside while he personally oversaw the Archbishop's transfer, as he saw no need to endanger her further. Felt ordered him to be cautious and return as quickly as he could. Fortunately, Wrath was secured in her cell without incident. When Reinhard returned outside, Felt told him that in his absence she had been approached and invited to a business dinner that evening by Russel Fellow. Fellow, whom Reinhard had first met as a child, was the merchant who had procured the sealing stones used on Sirius. Intrigued by Fellow, who believed recent events were the signs of societal upheaval, Felt had accepted.
====Prospect of War====
Reinhard and Felt headed to Fellow's mansion in the capital's commercial district that evening and were treated to an extravegent dinner. In an effort to undermine Fellow, Felt remarked that the meal wasn't as nice as her knight's cooking. Astrea was pleased by the comment, which annoyed Felt as she hadn't meant to compliment him. The merchant was surprised by Reinhard and Felt's unorthodox interactions. Felt decided that if Fellow had the same drab perceptions about her and Reinhard's relationship as others, then he wasn't worth her time. In order to retain her interest, the merchant began elaborating on his earlier comment about societal upheaval.
Russel Fellow opined that the events of the last year, including the deaths of two Sin Archbishops, the defeat of the White Whale and the Great Rabbit, the Royal Selection, as well as civil unrest in the other three great nations, were indicators that civilization was about to experience a change on a level that hadn't been seen since the time of the Witches. Reinhard was particularly interested by the prospect of civil unrest in Volakia, as he was unaware of such a thing. Fellow insinuated to Astrea and Felt that the knowledge he possessed regarding Volakia was highly sensitive, and that they may not want to hear what he had to say.
After receiving their affirmation, Fellow sent his staff out of the room and revealed that the Holy Empire was currently undergoing major civil unrest and that Emperor Vincent could be overthrown as a result. If Vincent were to be replaced, then the new ruler wouldn't be beholden to the non-aggression agreement between Lugunica and Volakia. The prospect implied that war between the empire and the kingdom was possible in the near future. After receiving the grave news, Reinhard and Felt headed home. Astrea promised to his master that even if Lugunica went to war, he would abandon his nation if he had to choose between it and her.
===The Sage's Tower===
====News from the Pleiades Watchtower====
Sometime after the beginning of his stay in the capital, Reinhard was summoned to the castle by the Council of Elders. Representatives of the Emilia Camp, namely a young girl related to Lord Roswaal named Annerose Miload, her butler Clind, and another young girl named Meili Portroute, had appeared in the castle seeking an audience regarding the recent expedition to the Pleiades Watchtower. They claimed that Portroute had an ability that allowed her to pacify mabeasts, thus creating a way to get through the Auguria Dunes. The Council required Reinhard's presence so that he could analyse Portroute and discern the claim's truthfulness.
Felt was intrigued by the report, and so accompanied Reinhard to the castle. Upon arrival, Astrea immediately noticed that Portroute had a tiny scorpion-like mabeast nestled in her hair. Portroute was intimidated by the Master Swordsman, which prompted the mabeast to emerge and threaten the room with its pincers. Felt was able to calm Portroute down, which allowed Reinhard to analyse her and confirm that she did indeed have a Divine Protection which allowed her to control mabeasts. Portroute implied that she had already been to the Watchtower and back, leading Reinhard to query the outcome of Emilia and Anastasia's expedition.
The butler Clind chimed in by stating that Portroute was in a complicated position, and as a result they wouldn't allow the Council or the Felt Camp to make use of her power without demands being met. The complicated position they spoke of was Portroute's past because, despite her youth, she was a prolific ex-assassin. Among their demands, the Emilia Camp sought a full pardon for Portroute. The Council agreed to the demands, though only if the Emilia Camp could prove that the Watchtower could be reached. The Council requested the Felt Camp to accompany Portroute on the excursion because they wanted Astrea to supervise.
====Journey Through the Dunes====
Felt and Reinhard agreed to helm the journey and decided to bring Cadner and the Remendes twins along in addition to Portroute. They learned that the Emilia/Anastasia Camp expedition had reached the Pleiades Watchtower and faced off against the Sin Archbishops of Gluttony, who had also sought something in the spire. The group had managed to defeat the Gluttony brothers, killing Lye Batenkaitos and capturing Roy Alphard. Then, after completing all of the trials necessary to reach the top of the tower, Emilia discovered that Volcanica himself was the overseer of the final challenge. She managed to beat the trial by befriending the Holy Dragon.
Before any answers could be garnered from the Watchtower, Subaru Natsuki and Rem had been inexplicably teleported to Volakia. The Emilia and Anastasia Camps had subsequently begun travelling to the Holy Empire to locate Natsuki and Rem, leaving only Portroute behind in Lugunica. In order to make the journey to the Watchtower quicker for the Felt Camp, Clind, who had the ability to teleport, used his power to transport them and a dragon carriage to the outskirts of the Auguria Dunes. As they'd hoped, the beginning of the journey through the desert went smoothly thanks to Portroute's Divine Protection pacifying the mabeasts.
Category:Synopsis