Suikoden VII

Chapter Four: Part Three

Note: I got a recommendation by geminidrake on fanfiction.net to have a footnote at the end of chapters if someone is recruited, so moving forward I'm going to do that in addition to updating the Tablet of Stars every time there's a new recruit. Thanks, geminidrake!

—

Chapter Four: Part Three

Though Reilly Krieger was confirmed to not be in the city, the group knew that it was not a good idea to linger in Alfsberg. After recruiting Jeane and Janna, the two set off for the Old Capital and the group decided their next move. "Should we head back as well?" Sigrun asked. "We've recruited four people to our cause, two of whom are opening shops for us."

Astraea contemplated for a moment, wondering if they should turn back or keep going. Once the moment passed she decided. "I want to keep going."

"Then where shall we go, Your Majesty?" Dawa asked her.

"Niebieska Brama."

The group visibly tensed. "I...don't believe that's a good idea, Your Majesty," Richard said. "After the Massacre of Innocents everyone there will know who you are."

"I understand the risk," Astraea said. "But I want to check on Erment and Gopal. They helped us greatly when I tried to flee into exile. I just know that they'll join us if I ask them."

"We do owe them greatly," Ferdinand admitted, nodding.

"Then it's decided," Sigrun said. She looked to Viki. "Can you teleport us there?"

"I can teleport you anywhere Her Majesty has gone that is safe," Viki said.

"Oh good—"

"But not out in the field."

The group stared at her stunned. "What?" Dawa asked blankly.

"I can only teleport you places from HQ directly," Viki told Astraea.

"Ah...why is that?" Astraea asked her.

Viki shrugged. "I don't know."

"'You don't know'?" Ferdinand demanded incredulously.

"It was the same during the Falenan Civil War," Richard spoke up. "With the Blinking Mirror we can teleport back to the Old Capital and from there she can teleport us anywhere safe."

"Hey, wait a minute," Sigrun said, raising a hand. "Blutkrieger was Astraea's home for eighteen years. You can teleport us there, right?"

Viki shook her head. "I cannot. It's not safe."

"Why can't you teleport us there?! We could end this conflict right this second if you teleport us there and Astraea takes on the King!"

Viki raised her right hand. "The Blinking Rune won't put Her Majesty in danger. If we teleport to that place, Her Majesty will die. The Blinking Rune knows this, so it won't allow me to send her there."

"Ah, so that's how it works?" Richard asked, his eyes wide. "Commander Wilhelm was always complaining about why you didn't just teleport Prince Freyjadour to the capital of Falena during the war! So it was because the Prince would have died if you did that?" He looked at Astraea and then back at Viki. He let out a laugh. "Wow! The Blinking Rune must really like the Tenkai Star, huh?"

Viki shrugged stiffly. "This is how it always is."

Astraea had so many questions that she wanted to ask, but she could already see that Viki was not being forthcoming with information. She decided to leave it alone for now. "You can teleport us to Niebieska Brama though, right?"