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…"It made me realize how sheltered I've been—how naive I was. I've been living in the CGF’s bubble, blind to the world around me."
"The commander granted me an opportunity when she approved my temporary transfer. What have I done with it?"
"Everyone has these doubts, Noel."
"So do I. If it weren't for KeA and the others, I would've done exactly what you did."
[𝄞 A Barrier to Get Over - Azure OST Disk 1 Track 29]
"…Lloyd, while we're here, can I tell you about why I acted like I did?"
"Is it about what happened to your father?"
"So Fran already told you about it."
"She and I were about the same age back then. My memories about what happened are as well as hers."
"But, while Fran was only told about what happened by a CGF officer, I…was there to witness it."
"…!"
"Ozma Seeker. He was a CGF officer ranked First Lieutenant and Commander Sonya’s old squadmate."
"Unlike me, he was stationed at Bellguard Gate and never mutated to anywhere else."
"Bellguard? But that's—"
"Yes, the gate facing Erebonia. He would often take us there for sightseeing and meeting his fellow CGF officers."
"When I saw the Garrelia Fortress for the first time, I was afraid. It made me realize for the first time just how small—how powerless we were against the empire."
"But, my father didn't think so."
"He believed Crossbell possesses its own strength. It was that strength that allowed us to preserve through threats and hardships caused by Calvard and Erebonia."
"When CGF was converted into CDF, some part of me thought this was the strength he mentioned."
"That's why I stayed in the force, even if you and everyone eventually convinced me to quit."
"So that's how it is…"
"…Sorry, I must sound really pathetic right now."
"N-No! If anything, I'm glad you feel like you can trust me with something like this."
"…Wait."
"Fran said Ozma Seeker was killed by a misfire from the Republican Army."
"If that's true, then what was the Republican Army doing all the way in Bellguard?"
"It's a long story."
"Lloyd, have you ever tried walking all the way from Tangram to Altair?"
"…? Can't say I have. The hill road is unfriendly to walkers, not to mention the border security near Altair…"
"…! You don't mean…!"
"The Republican Army were doing their training drill uncomfortably close to Tangram that day."
"Meanwhile, the CGF had also been pursuing an escaped convict and just managed to corner them to Eastern Crossbell."
"Of course, the patrol team at Tangram had already notified the army about this, but it's not like they could simply pull out at a moment’s notice."
"Ozma Seeker was…at the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Noel…"
"I thought I could sneak into his armored car and watch him work. But when he stepped out of the vehicle at Tangram Hill to confront the convict, he…"
"…I'm sorry for your loss, Noel."
"N-No, there's no need to apologize! The Republican Army admitted to their mistake and reimbursed our family after that, so I'm not holding any vengeance or anything!"
"…"
"Ever since that day, I've trained so hard to join the CGF."
"I was lucky to be picked up by Commander Sonya. But, my whole life has revolved around CGF until just recently."
"I almost envy you. Lloyd. You always seem so brave, even after everything that has happened so far."
"You give me too much credit, Noel."
"I’m not as bold and heroic as you might think. Not at heart, anyway."
"I’m not so sure about that. I…honestly think you are."
"I mean, it takes a certain amount of boldness to declare that I’m “all yours”..."