That’s why I pick the “And I’ll do it again” option cause it makes him laugh instead of nag the mage for the decision.
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I’ve been seeing a lot of Eli slander on this thread and will not stand for it, so I’m actually just going to say here that Eli is not complicit (or at least, not willingly) in Thalia enslaving an unwilling anti-Arcadia mage. They were fully willing to escape with the mage until Thalia quite literally started torturing the mage with a process that would quite possibly kill them if allowed to continue: only then did they offer to try to keep the mage from escaping again. That was not a well-thought out offer, or one made happily, it was a desperate, barely cohesive effort to save the person they quite possibly love after they watched that person being horribly tortured in front of them (I’m pretty sure it was stated somewhere on the Tumblr that, regardless of the mage’s feelings, Eli does have feelings for them).
Almost all of Eli’s dialogue surrounding the mage implies (actually, just basically states) that they are absolutely TERRIFIED of losing the mage again. Like, worst fear levels of terrified. They would rather die than live without the mage (and outright state this several times). Seperation is a fate worse than death for them. It arguably verges into an incredibly codependent relationship. Thus, Thalia torturing/almost killing the mage throws them into an incredible panic, and I’m 100% sure that Thalia expected this sort of response and that’s (part of) why she specifically targeted the mage. Not just to punish the mage, but to both punish Eli and show them what could happen if they ‘‘allow’’ another escape attempt.
In fact, in the event of the failed escape attempt, if you talk to them in Jiasei, they’ll say that when the mage finds a way to escape that is safe for them they’ll immediately help and come with (thus betraying Thalia with absolutely no hestitation), and if the mage then says they’ll hold them to that promise, Eli states that they’d love nothing more. It’s not reluctance to abandon Arcadia (loyalty to Arcadia became irrelevant when the mage wanted to leave), it’s hestitance to risk the mage’s life.
I think that’s what makes them an interesting character, actually. When it comes to the mage, they’re very willing to be a traitor, but not ever to the mage: they will betray everything else. Other people and even their own ideals and morals. They’re, in most circumstances, arguably one of the most good-aligned characters in the cast (bar Saine and Ilya), and yet, the second you bring the mage into the situation, they can be very selfish in what they choose to do to save them: they’re willing to do quite literally anything, such as assist the mage in actual full-on massacres (in the bad ending route). If the mage doesn’t give them the full go-ahead in saving the children, they visibly hestitate between the two (despite knowing the mage will likely survive, and the children won’t if not intervened with). Idk I think saying that Eli is betraying the Mage/willingly in league with Thalia’s treatment of the mage/malicious towards the mage is fundamentally misunderstanding their actions and who they are as a character.
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These are the swords talked about before the king shows up. They aren’t described as holy or blessed.
“Blasphemous knights yell out the name of their demon king as they filter into the halls in waves, all clanging armor and battle-cries, their blades finding purchase in the backs of lord-mages.”
“It starts with a weapon being ripped from the hands of a female knight, hurtling towards the western wall as if pulled by an invisible string.”
Here’s what’s mentioned of the king’s special sword. The one I theorize is magic in nature. Probably Arcadian magic.
“In his hands is the morning star with which he had struck Dain, though it is now reverting back to its original form—a large claymore marked with the insignia of the Parami royal house.”
“And then the king’s blade glows and shifts into an aegis, one that scatters the bulk of the spell as the two collide. Stray flames are hurled every which way, searing and red, catching some of the knights in the back and chest—but not the Golden King. True to his reputation, the king remains invulnerable even in the face of a master thaumer.”
And this is what I found of the knights swords after the Dynast dies and becomes a false phantasma.
“You whirl around towards the voice, and find yourself beholding a young knight with long, straw-colored hair, brandishing his standard-issue sword with a trembling hand.”
““How dare you speak of honor! A baseborn scamp like you, who would defy the orders of our king!” he yells, jerking his blade forward in a bid to disarm his subordinate. The attempt is successful, the iron sword clattering as it hits the courtyard pavement.”
There aren’t any holy or blessed swords used by common knights or paladins in this book either. I remember someone pointed to the flashbacks and said this is where they were mentioned, but I scoured through each option and this is what I found. Nada.
I also found another interesting tidbit we all seemed to forget too.
"It should have never happened. Arcadia is a nation as powerful as it is noble, and defense of the land should have involved little more than border scuffles and a grand ritual or two. Instead, Param and Salantira both descended onto her streets like a towering, violent wave, throwing all sense and honor to the wind as they slaughter mages and civilians alike.
The ink is still wet on the alliance treaty. What would possess them to pursue such cruelty?"
Param and Salantira are worse than I thought. 
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We’re not even invading Silantar. “But what about the other side?” It’s WAR. Ofc we’re killing people on the other side. They’re called enemy combatants. You win if they die and lose if YOU die. Their civilians aren’t in the crossfire, I’m under no obligation to preserve the lives of the enemy.
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I was thinking about potential motivations Mages would have in supporting Param, Arcadia, or staying neutral:
Reasons for a Mage to be loyal to Param:
- loyalty to Saine/Ilya/White Fangs after years traveling and adventuring with them
- feel that Param gave you a home after your escape from Salantira
- romanced Leon/Ilya and want to support your lover('s country)
- support Arcadian emancipation, and genuinely believe Param is making strides toward betterment for Arcadians (continuing Julius’ reforms)
- inertia? sticking to the side you know
- believe Tahlia and/or Arcadia are dangerously powerful and should be stopped
Reasons for a Mage to support Arcadia:
- want vengeance on Param and/or Leon after being burned at the stake
- honoring your heritage/bloodline
- curiosity about magic - want to learn more about the lost art of arcana/phantasma
- hunger for power - want to accumulate as much power as possible, and siding with Arcadia and gaining more phantasma is a way to do it (if playing a power-hungry Mage)
- want justice for the invasion and subsequent enslavement and genocide of Arcadians, believe Arcadia’s cause is just
- disagree with Parami society (mentioned by Ilya to be patriarchal and feudal)/ or Parami religion (corruption in the Jovian faith (Yusuha/Yurui’s mention of corrupt theurges) encouraging and sanctioning the invasion and genocide of Arcadia, maintaining a monopoly over theurgy healing magic)
Reasons to be neutral:
- see both sides as flawed, corrupt, or unjust
- feel bitter about supporting any cause after giving your all to the Parami in the Param-Salantira conflict and being burned at the stake for your trouble
- exhausted by the events of Book I and just want to sit out the conflict
- want to promote reconciliation between both sides
- feel loyalty to both Param (lived there for several years, fought for the Parami side in the Param-Salantir war, have Parami friends) and Arcadia (bloodline/heritage)
- just want to run off with Eli (?)
- befriended Saine, Ilya (Parami side) and Falco/Flyss and Yurui/Yusuha (Arcadian side) and don’t want to fight or harm any of them
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I was thinking about what Sister’s long-term plans/goals were. She seems to be an extremist supporter of the Arcadian cause (expresses outrage at the treatment of Arcadians during the banquet (in her guise as a Salantir noblewoman) and mentions the two of them being Arcadian during the final battle with the Mage.)
There’s mentions of a beautiful, red-eyed blonde woman in Mireil’s recollections and flashbacks (Tahlia) - she likely met Tahlia and was radicalized to the Arcadian cause by her. There’s also an interesting line in Book I, when you fight Sister in the Holy Sanctum and talk to her - if you point out the Salantir army is cornered, she says, “that useless rabble has served their purpose” - that purpose being to invade Param and weakening both Param and Salantira for an Arcadian invasion?)
So Sister’s plans were essentially to take over Salantira by mind-controlling the Grand Duke and his court (using the brainwashing drug Palmerra), incite a Param-Salantira conflict, weakening both nations, and leaving them more vulnerable to Arcadian invasion and recovery of former Arcadian territory (in the second phantasma scene in Book II, it also seems like Tahlia has been readying for an invasion, with the powers of multitudes of phantasmas).
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YES, choice of games forum user saeka, i’m love you. this is it!! also obsessed with the phrasing “turned back” here because i really like to think of the end of book 1 as an orpheus turning around in the underworld in the last possible moment. they almost made it out!
(apologies to everyone else forced to share this forum with me and my damn poems love you all)
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Oh man. Have you heard of Hadestown? I’m sure I mentioned it in the songs I put up for the Mage’s playlist.
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brother you know it road to hell II captures the 
vibe of the end of book 1 better than anything else PLEASE tell me which songs you liked for amr!!
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Have you heard the song Judas? I think it kind of expresses the feelings an angry and vengeful but despite themselves, still-loving-Leon Mage would have.
“I’ll bring him down, a king with no crown” - wants vengeance on Leon, the king
“I’m just a holy fool, it’s so cruel…I’m still in love with Judas” - still loving Leon
“I wanna love you, but something’s pulling me away from you…is my virtue, Judas is the demon I cling to” - torn between anger and forgiveness
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I’m a “If It’s True” stan. Especially Nick and Damon’s renditions. I think it fits ALL mages.
“Wait for Me” fits my mage’s desperation for closure about Eli in book 1. It also works for Leon’s guilt/regret/desire to reunite with the mage at the end of book 1 and the middle of book 2. As does “Doubt Comes In”.
“His Kiss, The Riot” will probably work for Tahlia when the mage inevitably rebels against her plans.
HOW DID I FORGET “Nothing Changes”??? The final hours of the mage’s life. The forced resurrection and possible enslavement following that too?? Chef’s Kiss.
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OMG absolutely agree!! i was posting the “love is like a brick. you can either build a house or sink a body” line in here like two days ago!!! 
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if anyone’s curious about the popularity of the ROs, there was a recent poll on the Hosted Games reddit: Reddit - Dive into anything
Ilya is currently the most popular RO, followed by Leon.
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also bc i am an insane person. my brain went straight to jesus christ superstar when you said “judas” so F-mancers, is this anything?
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I want to support Arcadia because I want vengeance but I cant betray to my beloved Ilya 
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This is the way. Relationships and morals can come after.
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I’m a cautious supporter of Arcadia. I believe in the self-determination of the Arcadian people, but want Tahlia out of power. I don’t care if Param pursues greater rights for the Arcadians. In that scenario the Parami still rule over the Arcadians.
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I’m saying. We barely dealt with the Order of the Broken Flame. We haven’t even overturned the rock called the Jovian church. That’s where the real rot and infestation is. And I hate that Ilya is stuck in it.
She said she was willing to throw it all away once. I’m hoping we can hold her to that.
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Ya, this is part of my motivation to take ownership of Arcadia leadership, leaving the Arcadians under Parami control, especially after seeing what’s going on in B2, is something I won’t allow if I can help it.
I just hope Ilya and Saine will be open to joining us on that path, heck, even Leon if he shows any hint of smarts in that head of his after I’ve [REDACTED]
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Oh, so true. Pseudo-divorced Leon/MC is my favorite flavor of Leon/MC at this point. What’s a little more spice to the pain flavored soup that is whatever is left of their relationship post the stake?
Also, same song, but this section hits particularly hard when you consider the Sun-blind side game and Leon’s POV in the most recent update, plus his dialogue about ignoring everything Ante said in the dungeons!
Funny how true colours shine in darkness and in secrecy
If there were scarlet flags, they washed down in the mind of me
Where a blinding light shone on you every night
And either side of my sleep
Where you were held frozen like an angel to me
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