Alma vis Audacia  

An elite selected to protect the saint in the church's Sanctuary.

She earned the title of White Knight by reaching the highest level in the Sanctuary's traditional training, the "White Trial."

The church, which hides the secrets of prehistoric legend in Sanctuary, feels threatened by the Imperial Army's ongoing invasion with mechanical ether weapons, and it urges Alma and her Knights to be even more vigilant.

"If you want to overcome the trials and fight, you must face me first!"

As a knight, Alma feels a strong sense of pride and pride in her duties. The Saint is her one and only master.

However, because of her high level of loyalty, she has developed a narrow-minded perspective and cannot seem to grasp the reality of the world.

Our church is always protected by the abundant power of ether that fills the sanctuary and the strong "Wall of the Heart" formed by our long-time believers.

The continent of Emerg has been struck by several natural disasters—accompanied by the people's panic and great war… The church has managed to maintain its beauty, nearly untouched by those events.

When much of the continent fell into ruin, the priestesses of the church traveled—explaining their beliefs to the people, bringing brightness, vitality, and hope back to their desolate hearts.

Shrine maidens, and knights alike... It is the mission of those who believe in and spread the doctrine of the church to continue to correctly demonstrate the true nature of Emerg’s ether.

The saint is the leader of Sanctuary and guides the shrine maidens, and it is the duty of us White Knights to protect her from any hardship.

By concentrating her mind, the saint can sense the natural pulse of ether and fate of the world—but doing so leaves her exposed and defenseless against malice.

If an enemy appears, we take up our swords in place of the powerless saint. It is the pride of a knight to protect the sacred.

The "World's End" where the sea and the heavens merge beyond the horizon.

Sanctuary is located on a cape that juts out towards the World's End and is covered in a high concentration of ether.

The enormous Phono Temple stands in the middle of a lush forest—and each day at the towering white white temple begins with worship. 

The shrine maidens who work at the temple, together with the saint, perform the ritual of worship from before sunset until noon on behalf of the believers.

They express gratitude for time spent yesterday, hope for a better tomorrow for the people, and pray for stability in the ether.

In a theocracy, the spirit of the believers is what supports them. They want the people to be free of anxiety and filled with hope. 

For lunch, they eat a modest meal in accordance with the teachings.

In the afternoon, the shrine maidens share their interpretations of the mythos, engage in spiritual training, and do farm work. Knights also continue their combat training until evening.

At sunset there is another regular service—although it is shorter than the morning service. Dinner is afterwards, and everyone gives thanks for the day's harvest to everyone, god, and the etheric beings before quietly enjoying a meal.

The night is free, but the next morning starts early, so everyone quickly falls asleep.

In both the church and Sanctuary, night comes earlier than in other countries. It is the role of us knights to patrol for safety at night.

I learned something on a recent patrol.

Ancient devices buried throughout the country sometimes emit a strange glow at night. These devices are the backbone of the church's defense, creating the "Wall of the Heart," but their output fluctuates unstably, producing a mysterious light. 

You can see the anxiety that the people of this country are feeling. The source being the approaching Imperial Army…

The Empire that once stood beside to protect the continent was now trying to seize control of all of the ether, with the threat of even seizing Sanctuary.

Their mechanical weapons upset the balance of nature. 

To the people of the church, who have enjoyed the blessings of nature by steadfastly adhering to their doctrine, the mere existence of machines that manipulate ether is eerie and frightening.

In a theocracy, the anxiety of the people's hearts is directly related to the survival of the country.

As knights, we must be prepared for any eventuality.

What makes the White Knight of the Sanctuary a White Knight is their passing of Sanctuary’s “White Trial.”

Those who aspire to become knights learn how to discipline themselves so that their heart, skill, and strength work in harmony.

The tradition of the knights trial seems to have its origins in the outside world. The church was a gathering of people who received blessings from the gods and nature through prayer, and had no tradition of fighting.

There is a limit to how much the "Wall of the Heart" can withstand against malicious foreign enemies, so they asked a swordsman from the outside world who knew how to use combat techniques to establish a new way of chivalry in Sanctuary. 

This chivalry training is the White Trial that was passed down to the present day.

There are many theories about who this swordsman was—who brought us the means to fight and even saved us from several crises involving the Wall of the Heart. In the church, mythos takes precedence, so history has not been studied much, but…

One thing is certain—the existence of Seele Tact.

It was a lost ancient great sword, but it was also a tool for communicating with the gods... A controller used by the hero—the Conductor.

Even amongst the White Knights, there are few who can use the magic of music to master the air.

However, I, Alma, excel at flying. Having grown up familiar with highly concentrated ether, it seems that specialized magic suits me better than ordinary music magic.

According to ancient records brought from the ruins of the dimensional gate, there are flying vehicles in another world that don't exist on this continent... How do they travel through the sky?

As one of the few people on the continent who has seen the view from the sky, I am often asked by others for my impressions.

What can you see from the heavens? How far can you see?

What does it feel like to be in the air?

So, as a knight, I answer to the best of my knowledge.

The feeling of flying in the sky is similar to walking on water.

Once, I headed towards the World's End from the cape of the Sanctuary… I was flying in the sky, but the next thing I knew, I was “swimming.'' There was a strange sense of fulfillment...

A boy named Shizuma took on the Sanctuary's White Trial—overcoming a number of harsh tests along the way. He apparently reached the final trial.

He overcame all those hardships with just one try?! Who on earth is he?

He seems to be skilled in swordsmanship, but I also heard from Lord Clemens that he is from another world. There is something unusual about him.

After all, on the way to the trial, he is confronted with high concentrations of ether—and the hardships of nature render it impossible to even walk.

One cannot claim to be a first class knight unless they can calmly forge ahead on uncharted paths—enduring the physical and mental turmoil caused by sudden changes in ether… Does this mean he managed to do it?

Very well then. The final trial is to be carried out by the head of the active White Knights.

I will be your opponent, Lord Shizuma.

Of course, it will be a mock duel.

The location is mid-air. Even if you can't fly, fear not, you will be given boots that will temporarily grant you the ability, Lord Shizuma.

Well, let's get started...!

The time for a great battle was at hand.

Due to environmental changes, the monsters living in the surrounding wilderness have become more aggressive. Our Knights have always dealt with monsters that invade the church... 

But this time, a new type of mechanical weapon from the Empire has appeared—their sights have finally been aimed at the church.

The Imperial Army is preparing a full scale offensive against the church, using the old capital that once existed nearby as a frontline base.

What's more, the Imperial army is plotting to use the ancient dimensional gate located in the old capital for something. 

Could they really... connect the gate to another dimension? 

What does the Empire plan to do by opening the door to another dimension? 

Further destruction of nature cannot be tolerated!

The White Knights must not only protect the saint herself, but also maintain the balance between nature and the ether—fighting against any evils that stand in the way.

That's right… I'll take the lead and fight.

Ultimately, this will lead to protecting the power of the saint and everyone in the church.

I’ve got more things to worry about—I am referring to none other than Saint Lumiera.

It’s true that the saint has a stubborn side to her, but… I can’t believe she’s actually leaving Sanctuary and traveling the outside world!

Lumiera, naturally, and I myself have hardly ever been outside the church. The saint and the White Knights have a daily routine to maintain the country's doctrine. Although I have traveled to the nearby old imperial capital for diplomatic reasons…

I don’t mean to criticize the customs of foreigners, but I find it hard to believe that the Excavation Brigade is out drinking and partying every night.

How is it that Lord Shizuma and the scholarly Lord Clemens are able to get along so well with them? There are even some thieves among them—Hunters, apparently…

I wonder if this will have a negative effect on Saint Lumiera's holy power.

No, before I even get into the matter of power—being taught strange words and stories and having them presented like common sense… Ah, I am deeply concerned about Saint Lumiera’s curiosity.

Of all things, it was Saint Lumiera’s Absolute Defense Order at the gate that served as the trump card in the battle against the Imperial Army.

I was able to protect everyone, but to think that Lumiera would protect and help me as well…

I was saved by my revered master, and I can't give anything in return. This will be a disgrace to my reputation as Alma, the White Knight.

However... Once I left Sanctuary for the outside world, it became clear—I’d simply been soaring in the air, not properly fighting.

The situation here is completely different from the skies brimming with ether, and I couldn't use my music magic as I wished…

How shameful.

Have I been relying too much on the power of nature?

What is a White Knight? What is a knight's pride…? But…

My combat skills are too weak in the current Brigade—but even so, I will do what I must.

Even if Saint Lumiera’s heart is deeply pained after witnessing the horrors of war… It is my job to heal and protect her. 

That is a role that only I can fulfill.

The final battle has begun in the Empire’s new capital.

The battle that began for the ancient weapon Seele Tact—the Excavation Brigade's cargo, has now escalated into a full fledged war between the rebellion led by the Brigade and the entire Imperial Army. 

However… Although they have a powerful ally in Lord Shizuma wielding Seele Tact, the Brigade's numbers are too small.

The capital city is like a towering fortress... The Imperial Army has its sturdy command center behind multiple defensive walls.

If we can break through, we have a chance of victory. But what should we do?

...I see. Why didn't I think of that before?

It's true that I can fly even in this low ether environment. No matter how strong the enemy's defenses are, I can simply jump over them. If we can confuse the enemy from above, it will open up an opportunity to break through…

Thank you, Lady Dís and Lord Clemens.

Prince Glenn, there's nothing to worry about. Everything is fine.

Lady Fené, I'd like to have a tea party when you return. 

Lady Lumiera… I’ll be gone for just a moment. 

Now, Shizuma, please give the signal!