Hannoria (English)

The Sanctuary of Solara

Hans finds himself in a collapsed structure, which appears to be some kind of ancient temple.

"Something tells me I've been here before... These Imperial symbols are familiar to me," he reflects, observing the carvings on the cave walls.

As he navigates through the intricate passageways, he stops in front of the statues that adorn each corridor. Some depict humanoid figures, while others resemble ancestral deities. Reaching the end of the vaults, Hans enters a large dome, now in ruins, which leaves him awestruck.

"What place is this?" he wonders, admiring the imposing altar and the statue at its center.

The statue, carved in gold and adorned with a diamond crown, depicts a winged being with six horns, whose ruby eyes seem to follow him wherever he goes. Around the dome, seven more statues silently observe, each with an imposing and mysterious presence.

As Hans investigates, his attention is drawn to the body of a woman on the ground, identifying a peculiar bracelet on her wrist.

"How did I not notice this before? What is she doing here?" he wonders, surprised by her presence.

Upon closer examination, he discovers an activation device in the woman's hand, unleashing a wave of questions in his mind. Before he can react, a shot pierces through his hand, and turning around, he finds himself face to face with his companion, Wong.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" Hans exclaims, bewildered by her sudden appearance.

"Stay away from Diane or I swear I'll kill you!" Wong responds, still aiming the rifle at him.

Anger and confusion burn inside Hans, intensifying with each passing second.

"I'm asking you, Wong! What are you doing here?!" he shouts, struggling to maintain composure as he confronts his companion.

In a frenzy, a physical confrontation erupts between them, culminating in a kick from Hans that leaves Wong unconscious on the ground.

"Damn it..." he mutters, frustrated by the situation.

Examining Diane's hand closer, Hans discovers the activation device she was holding, and a tattooed mark on her right forearm sparks a recognition in his mind.

"The Graziani family crest... Could it be possible?" he wonders, his heart pounding as he tries to unravel the mystery surrounding the enigmatic woman.

Hans decides to return to the surface and, after a strenuous effort, finds a hidden exit behind one of the statues. With determination, he carries Margot's body and takes it out of the dome. However, an impulse leads him to return to the sanctuary to retrieve Diane's body.

"Sammuelle..." he whispers tearfully as he kneels on the ground. At that moment, Margot wakes up and shudders to see Hans in such a state.

"What's wrong, Hans?" Margot asks with concern.

"Who is this woman? You knew her, didn't you?" Hans asks amidst tears.

"Before I answer, could you tell me what you were doing in this sanctuary?" Margot responds cunningly.

Hans decides to open his heart.

"I was following an Eradicator."

Margot's face pales at his words.

"An Eradicator?! It can't be!" she responds in surprise.

"Yes, I'm serious. Now tell me, who is this woman?" Hans insists.

Margot feels a chill running down her spine.

"She's a commander from the CSG's private army, her name is Diane Vlahokiv," she replies, her voice trembling.

"So, a CSG commander. But, one last question... have you ever wondered what the tattoo on her forearm means?" Hans asks.

"It's a clover... maybe a symbol of luck..." Margot murmurs uncertainly.

"No, it's not."

Hans's answer leaves Margot bewildered.

"Then, what does it mean?" she asks with curiosity.

"It's the symbol of one of the five founding families of the Empire, the distinctive emblem of the Graziani family," Hans replies.

Margot is astonished.

"How do you know that?" she inquires with confusion.

"Margot... she led you to this place, didn't she?" Hans asks.

An uncomfortable silence fills the air as Margot avoids Hans's gaze.

"Margot, please, tell me the truth," he insists.

"Her real name is Diane Graziani. Why do you know a hannorian, Wong?" Hans asks, concerned for the answer.

Margot looks away and remains silent for a moment before responding.

"She... was a spy for the Empire. It was three years ago... It's been a long time, I don't remember the details well anymore," she confesses sorrowfully.

The revelation leaves Hans breathless.

"A spy for the Empire?!" he exclaims, trying to comprehend the information.

"She... she showed me this place. She told me that there are seven sanctuaries like this around the world, and within them are weapons of unimaginable power... Weapons capable of overthrowing the Empire," Margot confesses, feeling a shiver as she speaks the words.

Hans stands up, but his heart sinks when he notices that his boat has disappeared.

"Damn it! Sammuelle!" he exclaims in frustration, as he runs towards the beach in a desperate attempt to find it. Margot follows closely, carrying Diane's body on her shoulders.

"Why are you leaving without saying anything?" Margot asks, confused by Hans's sudden departure.

"Sammuelle... Sammuelle was on the boat. I won't even be able to give him a proper burial!" Hans replies, his eyes filled with tears and his heart shattered.

"Sammuelle? What do you mean by burying him? What happened?!" Margot insists, not understanding the situation.

Hans falls to his knees in the sand, the weight of loss and pain overwhelming him completely.

"He's dead... Sammuelle is dead," he whispers with a broken voice, unable to contain his grief.