What Yesterday Wept, Today Doth Sing

On the bridge to the island, you're ambushed by the Dragon of Dirge. You fall off the bridge and land on a beach, surrounded by swarms of Tacet Discord. Roccia, the Fool's Troupe first mate, arrives to help. You find her to be the mysterious person sleeping in her box on the troupe liner. Roccia tells you that Brant went into the mist alone to rescue survivors. She suggests you wait here for someone from the troupe to pick you up, but you figure that following her might be the faster way to uncover the "truth" Carlotta mentioned. Besides, you can't let a young girl face such danger alone. Meanwhile, you wonder if Abby intervened to absorb the Dragon's attack because it detected a compatible frequency. But why did the absorption fail? Fortunately, you can still sense Abby's presence within you.

Following the Golden Phantom, you and Roccia narrowly escape the Dragon of Dirge's ambush in the mist...

Guided by the Golden Phantom, the two of you reach the end of the beach. You realize the Golden Phantom is actually a Reverberation—a blend of frequencies from Roccia's fallen friends. It's here to lead her out of the mist with a game she loves. Once its mission is complete, you and Roccia watch it fade away, and the mist around you thins slightly. Together, you continue forward.

As you journey through the mist, you spot a "Pilgrim's Sail," the ship you saw when you first arrived in the city. Roccia explains that all Pilgrim's Sails eventually end up here, carried by the undercurrents to this island—Penitent's End, a place both destination and grave for every Pilgrim's Sail. The ship appears abandoned. Its passengers must have ventured deeper into the island. With the mist still thick and danger lingering around, you decide to head toward a nearby lighthouse, hoping to find any scattered survivors along the way.

After battling through swarms of Tacet Discords in the mist, you reunite with Brant, who saved a survivor named Andreas from the Pilgrim's Sail. Brant and Roccia reveal the grim truth of the pilgrimage: it's a banishment in disguise, and all exiles are marked as "The Fool" by The Order. Brant, Roccia, and their troupe are among those given this title, having been cast out as "The Fools." Unfortunately, the Order's lies run deep. Andreas tells you in despair that some pilgrims have been misled, believing they will find salvation by reaching the Sacrificial Arena at the island's peak. But that arena is actually the lair of the Dragon of Dirge, a TD that answers not to prayers but devours all frequencies without mercy. Determined to save those deceived by The Order and to settle your own score with the Dragon, you all set out for the Sacrificial Arena.

In the Sacrificial Arena, you find a devotee praying for the Sentinel's forgiveness. She is met instead by the Dragon's deadly claws. Fortunately, you manage to save her just in time. Time to make this monster pay.

After a hard-fought battle, you defeat the Dragon of Dirge. Just as you're about to finish it, Abby emerges from within you again. Abby quickly explains that it tried to absorb the Dragon's frequency earlier but something was wrong with its absorption ability—a sign that Abby's condition may be worsening. Still, Abby says that's not the main issue. During the absorption, it sensed something unusual in the Dragon's frequency. Abby urges you to empathize with the Dragon before its frequency fades.

You share your vision with Brant and Roccia. They theorize that the Dragon of Dirge was once a simple Tacet Discord that fed on frequencies. But now it becomes a harbinger of death under The Order's control and attacks anything in its path. During the battle, Brant also found a Lycoris on the ground, suggesting that Fractsidus is again behind this. Brant explains that his troupe has faced Fractsidus at sea before. After they parted ways with you, they kept tracking Cetus the Tidebreaker and found a Lycoris on its tail as well. You suspect Fractsidus's plans may involve the Carnevale and the Sentinel of Rinascita. Since Brant's troupe is here for the Carnevale, they are determined to confront Fractsidus with you. Brant also mentions that a member of their troupe once won the Laurel of Carnevale. He might know about the connections between the Carnevale, the Laurel, and the Sentinel. You decide to seek him out for answers. Then, you head to the troupe's base together for a brief respite.

As you tap into the Dragon of Dirge's memories, a vision unfolds: a man in The Order's uniform places a halo on the Dragon, commanding it to deliver a final judgment to all who approach.

The troupe's base is, surprisingly, hidden in a cavern beneath Penitent's End. The thick mist provides a natural cover, but it remains a perilous environment. Brant and Roccia tell you how to find Bardolino, the former Laureate, and then set off to handle the lingering impact of the mist. They'll meet you again once their tasks are done.

You finally meet Bardolino, the former Laureate, and learn that the rumors are true: the Laureate has the ability to communicate directly with the Sentinel. As Bardolino speaks, he fondly recalls Fleurdelys, the Blessed Maiden, and her reign. He disapproves of Fenrico, and Brant and Roccia join him, using the moment to share the troupe's ideals with those gathered around.

Carlotta tells you that the Montelli family's trouble is temporarily resolved. She and you then piece together recent events. You realize that The Order intends to recreate the crisis that wrecked the Carnevale ten years ago. The Order has maintained its power through communication with the Sentinel, but with the Sentinel's absence for ten years, faith in the Order has waned. Also, Primus Fenrico does not match the description of the "Enlightened One." Desperate to restore public trust, the Order has been "forced" to revive the festival. However, if the Carnevale enables direct communication with the Sentinel, The Order's deceptions will be exposed. Their plan seems clear now: by causing chaos through Fractsidus, The Order can then intervene as "saviors" and regain the people's trust without undermining their authority. Although you've foiled some of Fractsidus's schemes, threats still loom. The troupe has discovered that Cetus the Tidebreaker is still under their control, and it's likely that a Fractsidus Overseer will make an appearance at the Carnevale. To reach the Sentinel, winning the Laurel—which grants a chance to communicate directly with the Sentinel—may be your best option. With a shared goal, Carlotta becomes your ally. Now, you just need to decide how to carry out your plan.

Brant and Roccia introduce you to Commedia Improvviso, the troupe's improvisational show. Although the performance is largely unscripted, they've prepared a simple outline—a classic story of "a hero's victory over the Demon King," the very tale that Fleurdelys once performed to win the Laurel. The world is your stage, they tell you, so relax and express yourself freely. Actions speak louder than words—now, take the stage!

Brant and Roccia praise your performance with Carlotta, expressing confidence that you'll master the art of acting by the time the Carnevale begins. But before that, Brant brings up that you still need one final thing to participate in the festival. Fortunately, Carlotta has it all prepared. Follow her back to Ragunna City.

Excited by the conversation, Bardolino suddenly pulls out a bundle of balloons, ties them to himself, and floats up into the air—a recreation, he claims, of his old performance. "Even without wings, we can still soar to the heavens," he passionately quotes. However, he hasn't quite figured out how to land. Concerned, you start thinking about how to bring him down. Roccia suggests using Cloud Cushions created by a device called the "Cloudcaster." Unfortunately, she admits that some of its parts have been borrowed by other troupe members, so you'll need to retrieve them first.

After talking to the troupe member, you managed to retrieve one of the Cloudcaster's parts.

After talking to the troupe member, you managed to retrieve one of the Cloudcaster's parts.

After talking to the troupe member, you managed to retrieve one of the Cloudcaster's parts.

You assemble the Cloudcaster and generate Cloud Cushions beneath Bardolino. The next task is to pop the balloons and bring him safely down. The Cloudcaster's resonance device responds to songs, so the troupe members sing together to expand the Cloud Cushion.

Bardolino lands safely and bows in thanks. Just then, a piece of rock falls from the cavern ceiling, headed straight for him. Carlotta, who has arrived at some point, steps forward and shatters the rock before it can strike him. She approaches you, and you acknowledge each other with a simple nod. The Montelli family's protection extends to all who stand by them.

The Order's goal is to disrupt the Carnevale, sowing fear and unrest. But if you confront them directly, you risk fueling the crisis they hope to exploit. Carlotta proposes working with the Fool's Troupe to turn any potential disturbance into a staged performance, stripping chaos of its impact. Brant and Roccia see your hesitation and invite you to join their upcoming rehearsal and get comfortable with the troupe's style. Don't forget to bring Carlotta along. If you're ready, take your place on the troupe liner's stage.