Twenty thousand footseps echoed through the lush field as the Omega Legion moved forward. The ground around them seemed to shake with every step, with clouds of dirt rising in their wake. The scent of earth in the air and the dust in their eyes made them long for the stone roads of San-Ilia. They were used to a pleasant sea of green lining the horizon, with distant forests adorning the landscape on all sides. Richard and Ignea marched front and center in this mighty formation, secure in the knowledge that the legion's scouts were marking the trail ahead, watching for danger. In the distance, Richard could see on of the scouts running toward them. He gave a quick report to Ignea before seemingly vanishing.

“Any news?” Richard inquired.

“He said that there are harpies residing in this area. The scouts up ahead have been mapping out have their flight path, and it seems that they've taken shelter somewhere to the far east.”

“And the Ilians never noticed? How incompetent of them. Perhaps we should pay those harpies a visit ourselves, then.”

“...For what reason?”

“If we can win favor with the Ilians, then we could form an alliance. Surely, the Ilians would appreciate the gesture...”

"But wouldn't that deviate from our current objective?”

“Perhaps. But if we can form an alliance with the Ilians, it would bring us one step closer to conquering them. Our only true objective here is to take the capital, correct? I suppose we should test the new muskets, as well. But those are distant goals at best. We have some room to deviate from the original plan, I'm sure. I have no doubt that the Omega legion can take out those harpies without drawing any unwanted attention.”