The last time I was here, it was with the Arrows of Freedom... and... my son.

His name is Opel. He has no talent for fighting and loves books. But I pushed him through rigorous training, regardless, so that he would become a Daeva. He ended up joining my unit.

This was his first mission... But I wasn't able to keep him... or my other soldiers... safe.

Thanks to you, [%username], and your comrades, I was able to come back here and rescue the Arrows of Freedom from the Balaur.

Mahorosh calls the Daevas who were kidnapped "sacrifices". He never uses names, only that word. He was speaking of bringing them somewhere....

He uses the word "sacrifices" whether they are alive or dead. But I must hold out hope that my soldiers--and my son--may still be rescued.

Now, my guess as to where he was taking them... He must mean the Path of Serenity, since that is the place he is in charge of.

All I know from Mahorosh’s report is that they will be sacrificed to make the Incarna grow.

But the report doesn't specify what an "Incarna" is, nor why they want to make it grow. Maybe we will find the answers to that question at the Path of Serenity.

I have no idea what might be waiting for us. It might be harder and more difficult than what we've done so far. Are you still willing to go?

Good. Then let us go.

Follow Path of Serenity Passage to the next area. Find out where the Daevas are and what exactly the Incarna is. Once you're done, we will meet again.

But... be careful.

(The body of a Daeva is wrapped securely in the roots.)

(No matter how hard you pull, it just won't give.)

(You shake him. Some of his clothing crumbles to dust, but he doesn't move.)

(You cannot feel any energy from him. He seems like stone, or sand.)

(Even though his clothes are tattered and crumbling, you can tell the style is from Verteron.)

(The body of a Daeva is wrapped securely in the roots.)

(You try to rip the roots apart, but they won't break.)

(To your surprise, he stirs. He groans faintly, unable to even open his eyes.)

(His insignia tells you that he must have been part of the Sanctum protectors.)

(You try again to pull on the roots, but they won't budge, and he moans in pain.)

(The body of a Daeva is wrapped securely in the roots.)

(As you touch the roots, you feel a tug--as though your energy is being pulled from your body. The Daeva comes awake with a gasp and tries to speak to you.)

Who... are you...? The roots... don't touch them. They... are evil... and will... drain your... energy....

Don't touch anything... You have to flee... before the Balaur find you....

It's... too late for me... Aion... calls me to... to return into the flow of Aether....

The Daevas the Ereshkigal Legion took from Atreia... They are... sacrificing them to a flower called the Incarna, to nurture it....

They cut them... bleed them... cook them... or just offer them whole to the roots.... Their fates are all different but the suffering is the same... The suffering is... the point....

My comrades... the Arrows of Freedom... If even just one of them was still alive....

Bastiel? Is he... is he safe...?

I see... our leader made it out alive and sent help... Ah... Aion, I am so grateful to you.... Tell Captain Bastiel...

Past the Incarna roots, there are... Harvesters using their evil magic... to sacrifice the Daevas. Incarna... they want to use it to restore Ereshkigal....

And Opel... our leader's son... He was taken to the Altar of Serenity... Hurry and you may be able to still rescue him. Hurry... tell the leader to hurry!

I can't... Even talking... is too difficult now....

The only way... to protect the Daevas... from the Ereshkigal Legion... is to defeat the Harvesters. Without them, the Incarna... cannot grow...

My name... my name is Jeyshin... I hope... you and the Captain... will rescue the last of the Arrows of Freedom... and leave as free Daevas under... under Aion's sun...

(The Daeva who introduced himself as Jeyshin slumps, his head lolling to one side.)

Opel... I am so sorry...

Opel and the Arrows of Freedom were taken, along with other Daevas, to become some kind of fuel used for the spell that makes the Incarna grow.

We managed to stop them from completing the spell, but the main instigator, the Ancient Harvester Prida, managed to escape with the Incarna.

It is not yet fully matured, but the Incarna has grown on the blood and souls of Daevas. We won't be able to stop the resurrection of Ereshkigal.

I couldn’t get the Incarna, I was unable to rescue those Daevas, my son, and what's left of my soldiers. I have never failed so spectacularly.

Ha... Right. That... is some small relief. But the credit for that goes to you, [%username], and your friends. I am truly grateful for you.

I... will remain here for a while. This is the place where my son and my soldiers died. I just... I wish to stay for a while.

I'm sorry, but I need to ask you to report this in my stead.

Long time no see, [%username]!

I was worried! I hadn't heard anything from you after you left to investigate those missing Daevas.

Oh... I don't like your expression. What happened?

Oh, Bastiel.... I see. At least you were able to stop the spell, and stop the Incarna from growing more. Many Daevas that were to be sacrificed were rescued, and we were able to stop further suffering.

I'm very sorry to hear about Captain Bastiel, but... he is a Daeva, and he is prepared for pain like this. He will stand strong again. We need to prepare for Ereshkigal's return.

You did well, but this is far from over. Rest while you can.

Bastiel told you he lost his comrades and his son during the last investigation, and wants to rescue them before he returns. He also said a great number of surviving Daevas were taken along the Path of Serenity, and asked you to follow them to find out why the Balaur are sacrificing them.

You followed the Path of Serenity to find the Daevas and came across the Arrows of Freedom soldier Jeyshin, whose energy was being drained from a large root. He told you that the Bastion of Souls is where the Incarna was being grown.

You took the large roots out and defeated the Harvesters, who were using their spells to make the Incarna grow. But in the end, Prida managed to take the Incarna and escape. To stop you from following her, she turned Bastiel's son, Opel, into a monster. When Opel attacked, you had no choice but to kill him.

You returned to Agent Viola to report what happened in the Bastion of Souls. While she was concerned the Incarna was gone, she acknowledged that there would no longer be Daeva sacrifices. She thanked you for everything and said to prepare for Ereshkigal's return.