Cygnus

StoryMonsterNPC

Cygnus
Current (Alliance Commander)Post-AwakeningPre-Awakening (Resting)Pre-Awakening (Standing)Young"Future"
Title	Empress of Maple World
Hometown	Ereve
Current Residence	Ereve -> Shinsoo's Refuge
Gender	Female
Race	Human -> Transcendent-in-waiting (Human) -> Human
Family	Aria (collateral ancestor)
Affiliations	Maple World Maple Alliance Neinheart Cygnus Knights Shinsoo The Adversary
Minions	Cygnus Knights
Enemies	Black Mage Black Mage Commanders: -Hilla -Lucid Black Wings: -Eleanor Gerand Darmoor Gerand Darmoor Apostles: -Reina
Status	Alive (comatose) Fightable ("future" counterpart, Gameplay)
Name (Other Servers)
KoreaMS	시그너스 (Cygnus)
JapanMS	シグナス (Cygnus)
ChinaMS	希纳斯 (Cygnus)
TaiwanMS	西格諾斯 (Cygnus)
MapleSEA	Cygnus
Voice Actors
GlobalMS	Sarah Anne Williams
KoreaMS	So-eun Lee
JapanMS	Ayano Yamamoto

World Archive

“Her Majesty, who leads Maple World and stands at the heart of the Cygnus Knights. She is always kind, gentle, elegant, eloquent, and well, perfect really.
I once happened to greet her while she was out on a walk, and to my amazement, she called me by name. The fact that she even knows the name of an ordinary knight like me means she must have memorized the names of every single knight.
If I ever have the chance to meet her up close, I will be sure to express my loving devotion.”

― Chronicler Q

Cygnus is the current Empress of Maple World, the founder of the Cygnus Knights, and a former Transcendent-in-waiting. Following the High Flora invasion of Maple World during the events of Arteria, Cygnus has been drained of her Transcendent powers and has fallen into an indefinite coma.

Story

Prelude

In the aftermath of the Ancient War, the Ancient God Shinsoo was tasked with protecting a particular bloodline, which had grown intertwined with the Transcendents, such that a descendent of that bloodline would one day awaken to become a replacement Transcendent should the need arise. To this end, Shinsoo used her power to create the floating island of Ereve, which became a seat of power for the Empress of Maple World, whose bloodline held the power of the Transcendents. Shinsoo also created the Piyos, a race of bird-like creatures, who would carry out her will to aid the Empress. Through Shinsoo's power, the Knight of Light was created to defend the Empress, using the Soul Shield to produce light from the depths of their soul. During the war against the Black Mage, Maple World was ruled by her ancestor, Empress Aria. When Aria was murdered by Lotus, one of Black Mage's Commanders, the throne of Ereve was left empty, as Aria had no children. Aria's niece was the sole survivor of the Empress' bloodline, and left Ereve after her aunt's death. Without the Empress, both Shinsoo and the Knight of Light were weakened. Following the attack, the next successor to the Knight of Light placed the Seal Stone of Ereve inside the Soul Shield, which they and their successors guarded with their lives.

Empress in Training

Centuries later, a young scholar from Rien named Neinheart connected the dots across history and located Cygnus, identifying her as the last member of Aria's bloodline and the true heir to the throne. He brought Cygnus before the elders of Ereve in the hopes that they would recognize Cygnus as the heir of Ereve. Cygnus explained that though she was unsure whether she was part of the Empress' bloodline, her departed mother had told her that their ancestors had come from Ereve. Despite Cygnus' uncertain tone and bearing, the Senators immediately knew the truth about her ancestry, as the natural elegance of an Empress could not be hidden. The elders then gave Neinheart one year to prepare her for her responsibilities as Empress, after which they would give their decision. In order to help prepare Cygnus for her evaluation, Neinheart summoned a wandering warrior who owed Neinheart a life debt.

Though the warrior was reluctant to help, upon seeing how young and innocent Cygnus was, they believed that they had no choice but to stay. During the spring, Neinheart focused on teaching Cygnus about the common sense and knowledge needed to become Empress, for which he sent the warrior to meet a dragon named Nix in Minar Forest. In exchange for eliminating some of the monsters in the forest, Nix gave the warrior a book that had been handed down since Empress Aria's time, as well as a monocle for Neinheart, jokingly claiming that as a fellow bookworm, Neinheart would need it. With the book, Neinheart began teaching Cygnus about the principle of ruling, not dominating, which came from exerting a ruler's absolute authority only when all their subjects consented. Over the months, the warrior watched Cygnus grow in insight, occasionally even surpassing the elders with her wisdom. Nevertheless, the warrior couldn't help but note that Cygnus was still quite young.

In the summer, Neinheart decided to focus in improving Cygnus' charm and elegance. He sent the warrior to Kimu, who decided to make her a new dress. He explained that Ereve had always used special materials for the Empress' dress, as simple fabric and dye couldn't express her mystical and graceful nature. In order to collect the materials, the warrior traveled to Aqua Road and collected white, green, and black pearls, which Kimu used to make a magnificent new dress for Cygnus. Though Cygnus continued learning and growing, she unexpectedly fell ill in the autumn. Neinheart sent the warrior to meet with Kiridu, who instructed them to obtain medicine from Mr. Do in Mu Lung. Mr. Do was surprised that an envoy of Ereve was searching for children's medicine, as there were no children in Ereve. The warrior managed to change the subject and convinced Mr. Do to help. After the warrior obtained Glowing Antlers and Bellflower Roots, Mr. Do made the medicine, which the warrior brought back to Ereve.

Upon taking the medicine, Cygnus immediately felt better, to which Neinheart told her that they would spend the rest of the season on her recovery, as taking care of herself was also a crucial skill as an Empress. Cygnus then confessed that she was having doubts on her ability to become Empress, noting that if the Empress' bloodline hadn't been cut short, she would be living a normal life, though everything had changed when Neinheart had found her. Though she knew that it was something that she had to face, she wondered whether someone as weak as her could take on Maple World's destiny, as even thinking about it made her feel helpless. She then apologized for pulling the warrior and Neinheart down when everyone was working so hard for her, as she knew that she didn't have a choice on the matter when she was the last of her bloodline.

However, Neinheart replied that she didn't have to become Empress if she didn't want to. He explained that he was speaking from his heart when he said that he believed that everyone had the right to choose their own destiny. He told Cygnus that in his hometown of Rien, a prophecy had been handed down to their clan about a hero returning to fight against the Black Mage. However, the prophecy had never come true, and many of the Rien Clan had left one by one, leaving only himself and his sister. He recalled how Lilin had believed that he was simply running away like everyone else, though Neinheart had insisted that he was merely finding another way, as he had strongly believed that he could trace the Empress' descendants through research.

Though he had asked her to come with him, Lilin had refused, claiming that she didn't need him, as she would wait for the true hero, Aran. After Neinheart had left, she had shouted that she would never call him brother again. Neinheart told Cygnus that though he had left Rien and Lilin behind, he didn't regret it at all, as he had chosen her, not the hero. He explained that everyone needed to make their own destiny, as no one could force the other, even by putting a grand reason like ‘saving the world' on it. He claimed that he had rejected the prophecy and had chosen another path, and that if Cygnus chose not to be Empress, he would simply find another path, as he sought the end of the Black Mage, which was his choice, and no one else's. He then left Cygnus to ponder his words.

Over the next few months, the warrior noted that Cygnus was often sick, and that it always took her a long time to recover. Meanwhile, in Edelstein, Black Wings henchmen reported to Orchid that an envoy of Ereve had sought out children's medicine. In the winter, Neinheart noted that the final season was upon them before Cygnus' evaluation. He told the warrior that he wished them to find the Flower of Fate, which was often a knight's token of loyalty to his lady in romantic stories, as he believed that it would empower Cygnus with strong will. The warrior obtained the flower in the mountains of El Nath and presented it to Cygnus, who was touched by the gesture.

At the end of the year, Cygnus was brought before the elders, who questioned her about her lessons. They asked Cygnus whether she was ready to shoulder the burdens of being the Empress, warning her that not only would her health deteriorate while absorbing the power of Shinsoo, but that there would also be many assassination attempts on her life, not to mention the constant struggle of having the entire world depend on her leadership. Before Cygnus could respond, word arrived that the Black Wings had invaded Ereve, as the kingdom's borders were weak without an Empress to use Shinsoo's power. Cygnus resolved to take on the responsibility of being the Empress and accepted Shinsoo's power, declaring that it was a choice that only she could make. With her leadership, the wandering warrior and the army of Ereve successfully repelled the Black Wings' invasion and Cygnus was crowned the next Empress of Maple World.

The Cygnus Knights

Finding the Knight of Light

Empress Cygnus after ascending the throne

After having struggled to repel the Black Wings' invasion, Cygnus realized that Ereve lacked the military strength needed to protect Maple World. To remedy this, her first act as Empress was to create the Cygnus Knights, an order of knights that would defend the people of Maple World from the Black Wings and other threats. As they slowly began to raise their forces, Neinheart - now Cygnus' advisor - told her that according to historical records, there existed a relic known as Shinsoo’s Teardrop, whose power had once protected Ereve. He believed that obtaining the jewel would help strengthen her legitimacy as Empress. However, he noted that its whereabouts were unknown, as its guardian, the Knight of Light, had been missing for many years. Neinheart explained that the Knight of Light reportedly held some connection to Shinsoo's power, and that tracking down the Knight would allow them to recover the jewel in the process.

Together, Cygnus and Neinheart set out on a mission to find the Knight of Light, leading them to a remote countryside in Maple World. There, Cygnus - while separated from Neinheart - found herself surrounded by a pack of Stray Dogs. Just then, a young Mihile, who had been training in the area, discovered Cygnus and immediately rushed in to save her. After he defeated the pack of dogs, he went to check on Cygnus. Noticing that her leg was injured, he offered to take her back to his house for first-aid. As the two came in contact, however, Mihile's Soul Shield immediately lit up. Suddenly, Neinheart rushed to the scene and asked Cygnus whether she was okay. Mihile was surprised to hear that Neinheart was calling her an Empress, as he didn't expect the ruler of Maple World to be a little girl around his age. Cygnus reassured Neinheart that she was alright, after which he thanked Mihile for his timely intervention. Cygnus then told Neinheart that she believed that Mihile was the Knight of Light whom they had been searching for, as she had felt the power of light emanating from him when they had made contact, which she noted was the same energy as Shinsoo. Neinheart then formally introduced Cygnus and himself, and Mihile did the same.

Mihile then asked what they were doing in such a remote area, far from any towns. Neinheart replied by asking whether Mihile had ever heard of the Knight of Light and judged from the boy's reaction that he had. He revealed that they were searching for the Knight of Light, the protector of the Empress, as the Knight of Light had been absent for quite some time. Mihile was surprised, as his father had never mentioned that the Knight of Light defended the Empress. Neinheart then asked Mihile to come with them to Ereve, where he would explain more details and begin Mihile's training to awaken the Knight of Light's power. Mihile was conflicted and asked for some time to make a decision. Cygnus told him that she could feel the power of light within him and hoped that they could unlock it together, though she added that she would respect his choice either way. Mihile realized that following Cygnus would lead him closer to awakening the Soul Shield, but he also recalled how his father had told him to stay home. Nevertheless, he was sure that Cygnus held the key to awakening his power and told himself that if his father had known that envoys of Ereve had come, then he certainly would have given his permission. He decided to write a letter to his father explaining where he had gone, after which he followed Neinheart and Cygnus to Ereve.

Atan's Invasion

As Mihile began training in Ereve, he was soon tasked with a mission on Victoria Island. While he was away, his father, Atan - furious that Cygnus had taken Mihile away - stormed Ereve and fought through the Cygnus Knights, claiming that he had come to take back something that belonged to him. Soon after, Mihile returned to Ereve and learned that an assailant was after the Empress. He rushed to the Empress' Resting Spot, where he found a lone Neinheart standing between the assailant and Cygnus. The assailant asked what they were trying to do by taking Mihile, and whether they were planning to use the jewel within the Soul Shield to make a wish for Ereve to return its former glory. Cygnus was surprised that Atan believed that Shinsoo's Teardrop was capable of granting wishes and assured him that they had no such designs, as all she wanted was to awaken the Knight of Light, whose duty was to protect the Empress, Ereve, and Maple World. However, Atan merely pointed his blade at her and demanded to know where Mihile was. As Atan swung his blade, Mihile rushed between them and raised the Soul Shield, which gleamed with a brilliant light. It deflected Atan's sword, throwing off his hood and revealing his face, though the Soul Shield broke in the process.

Mihile was shocked to see his father, but Atan merely smiled warmly and congratulated Mihile for awakening his power. He then told Mihile to use his new power and extract Shinsoo's Teardrop from within the Soul Shield so that he could wish upon it to revive his brother. However, Mihile angrily confronted him about all the people he had hurt during his siege on Ereve. An irritated Atan asked Mihile how he could care about the lives of strangers over his own brother. Reminding Mihile about the reason why he had become a Knight of Light in the first place, Atan asked him to extract the jewel, claiming that he was very proud of him. When Mihile hesitated, however, Atan expressed his disappointment in Mihile, claiming that he had always trusted Mihile to see their mission through before wondering what the people of Ereve had done to him.

As Cygnus and Neinheart urged Mihile not to hand the jewel over, Atan reminded him about the Three Sacred Rules and asked which of them was the most important, to which Mihile grudgingly replied that it was to protect loved ones above all. Neinheart interrupted and reminded Mihile that Shinsoo's Teardrop was meant to protect Ereve, not to just give away to anyone, but an angry Atan stopped him and explained that he wasn't merely ‘anyone', adding that Mihile considered him more important than anyone else. He then told Mihile that Neinheart and Cygnus were trying to break their family apart and urged him to protect his loved ones above all else. Realizing that his father was right, Mihile reluctantly extracted Shinsoo's Teardrop from within the Soul Shield. As Neinheart attempted to stop him, Atan slashed him with his sword, causing Neinheart to collapse in pain. Cygnus begged Mihile to reconsider, to which Mihile suddenly recalled the Second Sacred Rule, which was to always defend the weak. He pointed out that Atan had attacked the Cygnus Knights, Neinheart, and even the Empress, despite them all being weaker than him, and asked him how he could justify it.

Atan replied that their weakness was merely a plot for sympathy, explaining that they wanted to brainwash Mihile into using his power for their own gain. He then reminded Mihile of the First Sacred Rule, to recognize and stand by the truth, causing Mihile to realize that the Empress' claim that the Knight of Light's duty was to protect her seemed too convenient for it not to be a lie. Believing that his father was right, Mihile handed over Shinsoo's Teardrop to Atan, despite his sense of uneasiness. Atan then prayed to the Goddess to revive his only son, but when the jewel refused to heed his wish, he grew angry and demanded to know why all his pain and efforts weren't enough. As Atan collapsed in disbelief, Mihile rushed over to check on his father. However, Atan furiously told Mihile to get out of his sight, and to never call him ‘father' again, claiming that only one boy ever had the right to call him ‘father', and that it wasn't the son of a worthless knight. Upon seeing Mihile's confusion, Atan laughed that he had raised a loyal and foolish child, and that it had been worth taking Mihile into the remote mountains to bring up.

Suddenly, a wounded Piyo elder arrived and recognized the unhooded Atan as the student whom the former Knight of Light, Chromile, had expelled, adding that Chromile had been right to do so. However, Atan challenged her claim before turning to Mihile and revealing the truth. He explained that he had been searching for a long time in order to find a way to revive his only son, and that he had eventually sought to attain the Soul Shield, hoping to extract Shinsoo's Teardrop and wish for his son to come back to life. For this reason, he had become a disciple under Chromile, who was Mihile's true father. After he had been expelled for his motives, Atan had attempted to steal the Soul Shield, killing Mihile's parents and kidnapping Mihile in the process, as the Soul Shield had responded to an infant Mihile's touch. Since then, Atan had raised Mihile as his son and tasking him with awakening the Soul Shield to bring his 'brother' - Atan's true son - back to life.

Having told his story, a defeated Atan told Mihile that he had wasted decades of his life and had spilled gallons of blood over a useless rock. The Piyo elder called Atan a monster, but Neinheart replied that Atan was even lower than that, having murdered an innocent family and kidnapped their child. However, Atan replied that the blame lay not with him, but the one who had made up the story of Shinsoo's Teardrop being able to grant wishes. He then claimed that the blame lay with none but Cygnus. Though he acknowledged that she herself had not started the story, he nevertheless believed that she should have known, and that it was time to harvest the seeds that her ancestors had sown. He then added that if she believed it to be unfair, then she could blame her ancestors when she met them in the afterlife. Before he could strike, however, Mihile rushed in front of Cygnus and parried Atan's blow.

After a fierce battle, Mihile was able to defeat Atan, with Cygnus and Neinheart quickly rushing to the scene. As Mihile lamented that with Atan's death, he no longer had a family or a home anymore, he turned to Cygnus and noted the irony that the man who had always told him to recognize the truth had kept it from him for so long. He told Cygnus that he had no idea what the truth was anymore, claiming that he wasn't even a proper knight anymore, but just a fool with a broken shield. However, Cygnus told him that he had always been a true Knight of Light, claiming that even when he hadn't known true from false, he had still known right from wrong. She added that he had stood between her and a killer's sword, and he had even tried to save Atan, despite knowing all that he had done. She explained that he had the heart of a great protector, and that she, Ereve, and Maple World needed people like him. Regarding the shield, Cygnus asked him whether he could feel its light. A confused Mihile looked at the broken Soul Shield, from which emerged the golden spirit of Chromile. After Chromile assuaged Mihile's fears and told him that his purpose was to protect the Empress and Maple World, Mihile expressed his doubt to Cygnus about whether he could be trusted to protect her when so many had been hurt on his watch. However, Cygnus told him that she trusted him because everyone who was safe was safe because of him. She acknowledged that no words could take away his pain, and that she had his leave to resign his post if he wished to do so.

After considering her words, Mihile noted that despite his doubt, the Soul Shield had signified him as the Knight of Light. Cygnus agreed, though she added that the Soul Shield was merely a shield, and that it couldn't make his decision for him. She explained that destiny was merely a recommendation, and that much like him, she had chosen to stay as Empress, despite having been given the choice to walk away. She then told Mihile that she was speaking not as the Empress, but as Cygnus, when she asked him to stay at her side. Mihile asked Cygnus whether she believed that he was good enough to stay, and whether he was strong enough to protect others. Cygnus replied that despite the truth about Atan shattering his world, he had still chosen to stand and fight, adding that he walked in the light, which had lit a fire within him. After reflecting, Mihile decided that he would stay and serve as the Knight of Light.

The Chief Knights

Soon after, Ereve began recovering from Atan's attack and Mihile came to visit Cygnus at the Empress' Resting Spot. There, he vowed that he would be the shield between the world and harm. He then gave Shinsoo's Teardrop to her, explaining that she ought to be its keeper, as it had belonged to Ereve from the start. After promising to keep it safe, Cygnus named Mihile the head of her personal guard. As a show of gratitude, she presented Mihile with a new Soul Shield, which had been created by Shinsoo and blessed by Cygnus herself. Mihile soon began traveling Maple World in order to grow stronger. Some time later, Cygnus called him back to Ereve, as she wanted to introduce him to his new peers. Back in Ereve, Cygnus greeted him and explained that the royal court had been making efforts to expand the Cygnus Knights, which had finally begun to bear fruit. She then began to introduce his new peers, noting that they were all stronger together than alone, adding that she hoped that they would become good friends. Oz, Irena, Eckhart, and Hawkeye then appeared and introduced themselves as members of the Blaze Wizards, Wind Archers, Night Walkers, and Thunder Breakers, respectively. Cygnus then gave them all her first order, which was for them to spend time and grow acquainted.

Together, the five Knights undertook a mission to investigate the strange behavior of Drakes in Sleepywood, where they discovered that the Drakes had been poisoned with a strange substance to make them wild and erratic. After the mission, Cygnus thanked Mihile for resolving the issue with the Drake attack. She added that he would be doing many more missions with his new peers, reminding him that they were stronger when they worked together. Mihile swore to meet her expectations, after which Cygnus made him an Official Knight of Light. Soon after, Mihile received an emergency telegram from Neinheart, who ordered all knights to return to Ereve immediately. Mihile rushed to Ereve and met with Neinheart and the other senior Knights. Neinheart explained that several Cygnus Knights had inexplicably begun to turn on each other, as though they had been bewitched. Mihile then asked him where Cygnus was, to which Neinheart regrettably replied that he had lost sight of her. He then tasked the Knights with defeating the wayward knights and rescuing the Empress.

While the other Knights defeated the ensorcelled knights of their respective divisions, Mihile fought through the bewitched Dawn Warriors. One Dawn Warrior came to his senses after being defeated and wondered what he was doing, as the last thing he remembered was Black Wings soldiers attacking him. Realizing that he had been bewitched, he pointed Mihile towards the Empress' direction and warned that more Knights would be there. Mihile rushed towards the Empress, where he found a Dawn Warrior poised to attack. He parried the Dawn Warrior's blade with his shield and knocked back a second Dawn Warrior who had raised his sword. Mihile then escorted Cygnus back to the others, who were relieved to see her safe. Neinheart noted that the same thing which had happened to the Drakes had happened to the Knights, concluding that the same person had been responsible for both. He added that only the Black Wings would attack them so brazenly, but nevertheless, he expressed his relief that the crisis was over. With the situation resolved, Neinheart and Cygnus announced that they were planning to name the five Chief Knights that would lead each division of the Cygnus Knights. Cygnus then appointed each knight and blessed them with the power of an elemental spirit:

• Oz was appointed Chief Knight of Fire and led the Blaze Wizards with the power of Ignis.
• Irena was appointed Chief Knight of Wind and led the Wind Archers with the power of Ventus.
• Eckhart was appointed Chief Knight of Darkness and led the Night Walkers with the power of Umbra.
• Hawkeye was appointed Chief Knight of Lightning and led the Thunder Breakers with the power of Fulgar.

Before she appointed Mihile, Cygnus explained that she wanted to confirm something. She noted that he knew his duties as the Knight of Light well, and that he exemplified the light itself. She then asked him to use that light not only to protect, but to inspire, as the Chief Knight of the Dawn Warriors. She explained that the Dawn Warriors channeled the power of their souls into pure light. Though Mihile used the power of light himself, she noted that the light of the Dawn Warriors was different. Whereas Mihile's light represented purity of heart, the light of the Dawn Warriors was the light of the cosmos. She added that he and the Dawn Warriors could share their knowledge and training with each other if he chose to accept the position. Though Mihile wondered whether he could handle the responsibility of protecting the Empress and leading an entire unit of Cygnus Knights, he ultimately decided to accept the position if it was Cygnus' will. Soon after his appointment as Chief Knight, Mihile began reflecting on his time serving the Empress and decided that he wanted to thank her for all her faith and guidance. He collected rare Peridot gems that the Rashes of Minar Forest hoarded and brought them to Cygnus, who graciously accepted them and vowed to continue supporting him.

The Black Witch

As word of the Cygnus Knights spread throughout Maple World, Cygnus was approached by the Resistance - a movement intent on driving the Black Wings from their town of Edelstein. Cygnus pledged her support to the Resistance and arranged for the Cygnus Knights to reinforce the Resistance during their all-out attack on the Black Wings' stronghold. However, the Black Wings learned of Cygnus' involvement and sent Eleanor the Black Witch, to stop the Knights from arriving in Edelstein. Eleanor cast a curse that turned Cygnus and all the people of Ereve to stone. Although one of Cygnus' knights managed to defeat Eleanor, her curse prevented the Empress from sending reinforcements to Edelstein. As a result, the Resistance's attack failed and their trust in the Cygnus Knights was broken. Despite the rift between the two organizations, Cygnus continued working to stop the Black Wings, tasking the Knights with stopping the Black Wings from collecting the Seal Stones hidden across Maple World.

Meeting Mercedes

As the Black Mage's seal began weakening, Mercedes awoke from the ice and soon discovered that the rest of her people were still frozen. As she began growing stronger, the Black Wings began targeting Elluel, for which Athena Pierce suggested that the Cygnus Knights could offer their aid to Elluel if Mercedes approached them. Mercedes agreed to visit Cygnus in Ereve and Athena told her that she would write a letter to Cygnus so that she knew to expect Mercedes. Sure enough, Neinheart greeted Mercedes as royalty and led her to the Empress. Cygnus told Mercedes that it was an honor to meet one of the legendary Heroes. She explained that she had been trying her best to help Maple World, but her inexperience and the fact that the Cygnus Knights were still new made her unsure about how well she was doing. However, she readily agreed to send a detachment of knights to guard Elluel and hoped that Mercedes would share her wisdom and guidance as an experienced ruler in exchange. When Mercedes agreed, Cygnus told her that she was glad to have Mercedes' support, as there were few royals with whom she could speak.

After their meeting, Neinheart told Mercedes that he could only spare a few knights, but assured her that they would be sufficient. Mercedes asked Neinheart whether Cygnus would be alright, as the young girl was shouldering a huge burden. Neinheart promised that Cygnus was wise beyond her years, despite her youth, and that he, Shinsoo, and the Cygnus Knights were doing everything in their power to support her. Still, Mercedes felt uneasy in her mind about the Black Wings and the return of the Black Mage, wondering whether Cygnus, a frail little girl, would have the strength to lead the people in the event of a full-scale war. Nevertheless, she returned to Henesys and told Athena Pierce about the successful negotiations. Athena noticed that Mercedes looked unwell and asked whether she was alright. Mercedes confided her doubts about Cygnus, to which Athena told her that Mercedes herself had taught her that a good ruler would go to any lengths to save their people, which was precisely the kind of ruler that Cygnus was, adding that Cygnus reminded her of Mercedes in a way.

Meeting Phantom

Hilla's Conspiracy

In order to destabilize Cygnus' legitimacy as the Empress, Hilla posed as a noblewoman and publicly made a claim that she was the true heir to Ereve. With Shinsoo away for unknown reasons, an emergency conference was held in Ereve, where Hilla would testify for her right to the throne. Phantom, who had been largely underground since waking up from the ice, decided to publicly reveal himself for the first time in order to defend Aria's heir. Together with his butler, Gaston, they devised a plan to reveal Hilla's treachery and save Empress Cygnus. On the day of the conference, the Lumiere anchored itself directly above the Knight's Chamber while Phantom infiltrated Ereve, which was on high security because of the number of high-profile world leaders gathered in one place. He then disguised himself in a robe and talked his way through the inner security. Hilla then appeared before the royal court and Neinheart began questioning her about her claims. In the crowd, Phantom hid himself and listened to the Senators discussing Hilla's apparent ownership of Skaia, the treasure of Ereve.

Hilla began explaining the legend of Skaia, which was said to hold many powers, with one being that it glowed only in the hands of one descended from the Empress' bloodline. Irena countered that there were no historical records of Skaia's powers, but Hilla replied that the people of Ereve were the only ones in Maple World who had seen pictures of the gem, and so she claimed that their own knowledge of Skaia's appearance would allow them to see that her gem was real. Hawkeye responded by saying that jewels could easily be forged, but Hilla countered by telling him that as he hadn't been alive centuries ago, his opinion on the validity of the gem was of no importance. Hilla then argued that the reason why Cygnus was so frail was because she was being overpowered by Shinsoo's strength, as only a true Empress could handle Shinsoo's power, insinuating that Cygnus had been stealing Shinsoo's power for herself. Cygnus agreed that she was too weak to handle Shinsoo's power and admitted that she had been frail ever since childhood.

Shaken by Hilla's argument, she began to doubt herself and told Neinheart that that she couldn't ask the people of Maple World to fight on her behalf if she truly didn't have any real authority or qualifications. Hilla then proposed a test to determine the true Empress and demonstrated that Skaia glowed in her hands. She then challenged Cygnus to see if it would glow in hers as well. When Skaia failed to glow in Cygnus' hands, the Chief Knights reassured her that the legitimacy of the jewel itself was dubious, and that Shinsoo would reveal the truth when she returned. Neinheart added that Hilla could also be scheming to place doubt on her position. Hilla lauded Cygnus for her wisdom, despite her young age, but urged her to make the right decision and cede the throne. Just then, Phantom appeared from the balcony and halted the proceedings. He then began to systematically counter Hilla's arguments one by one. First, he reminded the audience that Empress Aria had no children, with only a niece left to carry on her bloodline.

Secondly, he countered Hilla's claim about Cygnus' frailty and explained that it was because only an adult Empress could fully accept Shinsoo's power, which was why Cygnus remained so weak. Finally, he dismissed Hilla's gem as a fake, revealing that the true Skaia was in his possession before jumping from the balcony before the astonished crowd. Hilla was utterly shocked at Phantom's unexpected appearance, whereas Mercedes and Athena Pierce were overjoyed to see their old comrade return. Phantom threw a card to shatter the fake Skaia before unleashing a series of powerful skills to deter Hilla. Realizing that she had been beaten, Hilla shed her disguise and decided to back off, but not before warning them that Maple World was already in the Black Mage's hands. As the crowd celebrated Phantom's heroics, he approached Cygnus and immediately saw the resemblance between her and Aria. He then told her that he preferred her with a smile, something that he would tell Aria frequently, and vanished in a flash. After he disappeared, Cygnus found that Phantom had placed the real Skaia in her hands, thus returning it back to its rightful owner after centuries of safeguarding it.

A Withered Lotus

Soon after, Phantom began investigating the true purpose of the Black Wings and discovered that Lotus was still alive, with Orchid attempting to find a way to revive him. Driven by revenge and hatred, Phantom blindly rushed into the Verne Mine to kill Lotus, whose spirit was able to possess Phantom and force him to travel to Ereve in order to assassinate the Empress. Cygnus spotted Phantom and approached him, glad to have a chance to see him again after he had stopped Hilla. Phantom struggled to remove Lotus' hold on his body, but when he realized that he couldn't stop himself, he desperately let out a silent plea for help. Just then, the spirit of Empress Aria appeared, much to Lotus' shock. Aria explained that while she didn't have the power to destroy him, she could drive him out of Phantom for good. With that, Phantom regained his senses and awoke to the sight of Aria's spirit.

Aria gently scolded Phantom for being as bull-headed as ever, and for being so blinded by his quest for vengeance that he had never bothered to move on with his life, reminding him that he used to be smarter. She then told him that as the Empress of Maple World, she wanted to thank him for everything that he had done, explaining that she owed him a debt of gratitude that no one could begin to repay. As a mere woman, however, she apologized to him for leaving him with such a heavy burden to carry. She likened him to an uncaged bird singing in the night when they had first met, though he was now trapped in a cage of unending conflict. However, she reminded him that neither of them asked for the fates that they had been given and asked that there be no more apologies or sadness between them, as she was proud to leave Maple World in his hands. She added that her words weren't meant just for him, but for Cygnus as well, and asked him to share them with her, as there was no future without her leadership.

With that, she disappeared for the last time and left Phantom alone. After leaving Ereve, Phantom began reflecting on Aria's words and found himself ashamed that in spite of his talk that he wanted to follow in her footsteps, he had just been using her ideals as an excuse for getting revenge on Lotus and Orchid. He realized that it was the reason why he hadn't wanted to ally with the Cygnus Knights in the first place, as he had known that they wouldn't approve of his goals. In the end, he realized that he wasn't the kind of fighter that they needed, and that he didn't deserve to be called a hero. Despite it all, however, he knew that Aria had still trusted him and he realized that he couldn't betray that trust.

The Noblesse

A descendant of the Noblesse came to Ereve in order to join the Cygnus Knights, undergoing several examinations that tested their physical strength and knowledge. During the exam, the Noblesse wandered over to a pavilion, where they encountered Empress Cygnus. Unaware of her true identity, the Noblesse mistook her as another examiner and the two began to make small talk. Cygnus noted that they had shown many knightly qualities during the exam, such as strength, knowledge, and perseverance. However, she added that a knight needed more than that. Upon seeing the Noblesse's confusion, she asked them what differentiated a knight from a simple brawler. The Noblesse answered that a knight was someone who knew how to sacrifice for the weak, and though Cygnus acknowledged that it was important, she explained that a knight also needed to know when to make that sacrifice. She then added that though they were all weak alone, they were stronger when they came together. She noted that the Noblesse still had a ways to go, though when the Noblesse asked whether it meant that they had failed, she laughed and explained that she simply meant that she was looking forward to seeing them grow with time.

Cygnus decided to name them a Knight-in-Training, but just as the Noblesse wondered how an examiner could knight them, Neinheart arrived urgently and reported that Baroq the Master of Disguise had infiltrated Ereve and stolen an important treasure. The Noblesse offered to help, and though Neinheart noted that they were not a trained knight, he nevertheless allowed them to join the search party, though he warned them not to engage Baroq. The Noblesse soon encountered Mihile during their search and quickly deduced from his behavior that he was Baroq in disguise. After defeating him, they recovered the missing treasure and brought it to Neinheart. Neinheart congratulated the Noblesse for passing the mock training, explaining that it had been the final part of the examination. He added that the exercise had been based on an actual situation, in which Baroq truly had invaded Ereve and attempted to steal Shinsoo's Teardrop.

The Noblesse expressed their surprise that they had been able to defeat the mock Baroq, to which Neinheart clarified that they would surely have been killed if they had been facing the real one. He emphasized that their decision to face Baroq alone despite being told not to engage in combat directly impacted their fellow knights and the Empress, which was why it was important that they remember that they didn't have to do everything by themselves. He then sent them to meet with Cygnus, who would determine whether or not they had passed. Cygnus formally introduced herself after their brief meeting in the pavilion, and the Noblesse apologized for their behavior during the mock exam. Though Cygnus noted that Neinheart had been right to ask them to retreat in the mock training, the Noblesse had also demonstrated a knightly quality in marching towards their destiny with conviction. Because of this, Cygnus decided to formally recognize the Noblesse as a Cygnus Knight.

The Knight then continued training diligently until they were contacted once again by Neinheart, who noted that they seemed to have made a name for themselves during their travels. He called them back to Ereve, where he asked whether they would be willing to try becoming an Advanced Knight, explaining that he wanted someone as strong as them to be an example to other Cygnus Knights about how strong they could become. He also added that as their enemies were growing stronger, it was imperative that they grow stronger as well. Neinheart sent the Knight to meet with their Chief Knight, who tested their strength before sending them to meet the Empress. Cygnus was impressed by their growth and unlocked greater power within them before promoting them to Advanced Knight. Soon after, the Knight was sent on a special mission to recover a mysterious book about the Ancient Gods. On the mission, the Knight worked alongside the begrudging Resistance to keep it out of the Black Wings' hands. After the mission, Neinheart sent them to speak with Cygnus, who asked them about their experience with the Resistance during the mission. The Knight confessed that they and the Resistance hadn't been able to get past their differences, though Cygnus remained optimistic that reconciliation was possible. She also reminded the Knight that they were not alone and wished them well on their journey to grow stronger.

Meeting Kaiser

As Kaiser trained in Maple World, he was approached by the Cygnus Knights, who had been curious to know about Kaiser's relationship with Magnus. Kaiser was surprised to learn that Magnus had also been in Maple World, for which he agreed to meet the Empress. In Ereve, Kaiser told Cygnus and the others about Grandis and the Nova. Cygnus noted that she had only ever heard rumors of another world, but never its name or any other details about it. She explained that she had originally thought that Magnus was just another Commander, though she noted that him being from another world raised many questions, such as why he had come to Maple World centuries ago. Kaiser replied that though he didn't know Magnus' purpose, he could confirm that Gerand Darmoor had sent him there. Cygnus recognized Darmoor as the warmonger from the stories about Grandis and noted that he was said to have conquered much of Kaiser's world already.

Neinheart then added that what worried him even more was that they knew nothing about his world, though it seemed as though Magnus knew much about theirs. Realizing that they couldn't ignore the danger that he posed, Neinheart noted that the Cygnus Knights and the Nova had a common enemy in Magnus. He added that while it may be too early for an alliance, they could nevertheless establish a cordial relationship for the time being, such that each could help the other understand their world. After Kaiser agreed, Neinheart wrote a letter and asked him to serve as liaison by delivering it to the Nova Council. Kaiser delivered the letter to Beldar, who believed that the Cygnus Knights' terms were reasonable. He noted that he hadn't expected Magnus to go to Maple World and wondered whether he may have treated the injuries that he had sustained at the hands of the former Kaiser there. After hearing Kaiser's opinion of the Knights, Beldar approved the union and appointed Kaiser as the Nova's official liaison with them.

The Maple Alliance

Attack on Maple Island

After breaking free from his seal, the Black Mage sent his shadow to attack Maple Island, setting the land aflame with black fire. From Ereve, Cygnus was able to sense the Black Mage's return and attack on Maple Island, causing her heart to grow heavy with hopelessness. As her doubts began growing about whether she could lead the fight against the Black Mage's forces, Cygnus called Mihile and asked him to return to Ereve. There, she told him that the Cygnus Knights had grown in strength, enough so that their next battle may be against the Black Mage's dark army. Though she acknowledged that her Knights and her people deserved an Empress at the height of her confidence, she confessed that she had her doubts. Mihile reminded of her words, that they were stronger when together as one, and suggested that they join forces with others outside Ereve. Surprised at his suggestion, Cygnus noted that she had a responsibility to her people, and that their well-being rested on her shoulders. She then wondered whether calling on others to ease that burden was prudence or indolence. Mihile told her that though he was no expert on the ethics of rulership, he promised that he would always follow her, no matter her decision. Cygnus thanked him and called his faith the foundation beneath her.

Soon after, the Cygnus Knight was contacted by Neinheart, who explained that the Empress was on the brink of making an important decision. Before she did, however, she wanted the counsel of each of her knights, and so all the Cygnus Knights had been ordered to return to Ereve immediately. The Knight reported to Cygnus, who thanked them for returning to see her. She told them she was afraid that despite everything that they had done, the Black Wings continued to remain a threat, with rumors stating that the Wing Master, one of the Black Mage's Commanders, had returned. She confessed that there was a feeling inside her, as though a rumbling cloud had taken hold of her heart. She noted that the rift between Ereve and the Resistance was wider than ever, with even the Explorers beginning to lose their trust in her. She also noted how, hundreds of years ago, the Black Mage had brought Maple World to the brink of destruction, and how the Heroes - unable to defeat him - had only managed to seal him away with Freud's Seal Stones. She added that the power of a Transcendent who had fallen so far was quite formidable. She then told the Knight that she was terrified about whether she could face the Black Mage and save Maple World, and whether she even deserved to be Empress in the first place. However, she apologized for her doubts and told them that her duty as Empress was to allay doubts, not to pile hers onto those of her people. She then asked them to go to Victoria Island and collect reports from her informants, who had been dispatched to assess the state of Maple World.

After learning about the fire on Maple Island and the dire state of Maple World, the Knight returned to Cygnus and told her what both informants had explained. Cygnus thanked them and explained that the Black Mage's Shadow had attacked Maple Island while the Knight had been away. She told them that she had sent the Cygnus Knights alone to stop the shadow, explaining that she had believed that it was their role to help those in need by themselves. However, she explained that she had come to realize that they needed allies, which would be a difficult task to accomplish. Nevertheless, she asked them to tell Neinheart that she had made up her mind about creating an alliance. Neinheart thanked them for bringing Cygnus' decision and asked them to help arrange the First Continental Conference. He explained that they would need to invite the Explorers, the Resistance, and the Heroes. Though there was no single leader of the Explorers, he told the Knight that Athena Pierce was highly respected amongst the community. As she had personally lived through the tyranny of the Black Mage, Neinheart hoped that she would understand the need for the alliance. Regarding the Resistance, he explained that Claudine led the movement, though he was unsure of whether the Resistance would accept the invitation. In regard to the Heroes, he explained that they had faced the Black Mage centuries ago, and though they were merely individuals, they represented far more than that, which would bring legitimacy to the alliance. Neinheart then told the Knight to meet with the Resistance, while others would invite Athena and the Heroes. Neinheart emphasized the importance of the mission and explained that he was entrusting it to them because of their ties to the Resistance.

First Continental Conference

Soon after, Cygnus asked Neinheart to arrange a royal meeting between herself and Mercedes, as she wished to hear Mercedes' counsel as not only a fellow royal, but also as someone who had once faced the Black Mage. At the meeting, Cygnus told Mercedes that the Black Wings were getting stronger, with the Commanders appearing one by one and the Cygnus Knights powerless to stop them. She feared that they may not be able to defeat the Black Mage with their strength alone, as even their many preparations still weren't enough. Mercedes noted to herself that even though Cygnus had done a lot, despite her young age, the Black Mage was still a corrupted Transcendent that even the Heroes had barely been able to seal away. Cygnus told Mercedes that Maple World was strong, and that in addition to the Cygnus Knights, they had battle-hardened Explorers, the Resistance fighting in the shadows, the Heroes who had reawakened, and many other unknown warriors who, if brought together, would make them unbeatable. Mercedes confessed that it would be difficult to accomplish if the people of Maple World couldn't look past their differences. However, she told Cygnus that despite it being difficult, it was what Maple World needed. She explained that centuries ago, she had been forced to watch Maple World fall to ruin because its people couldn't look past their own selfish desires. In the present day, however, she believed that Cygnus could bring about a new era of strength to defeat the Black Mage, and so she supported Cygnus' decision. Cygnus thanked Mercedes for her insight and invited her to the upcoming conference that she was planning to host.

Meanwhile, the Cygnus Knights delivered the Empress' invitation to the Resistance, who begrudgingly agreed to attend the conference. Claudine asked a trusted Resistance member to deliver their response to Ereve. There, Cygnus greeted the Resistance member in earnest and told them that she was looking forward to their attendance.

Some time later, Cygnus discovered that Luminous was working alongside the agents of Omega Sector. Agent N reached out to Luminous and told him that Empress Cygnus had found out that they were working together, and that she wanted to meet with him. Wondering whether Cygnus was a descendant of Empress Aria, Luminous traveled to Ereve to meet with her. Cygnus asked him if he had been surprised by her invitation, to which Luminous told her that he was surprised that she even knew him in the first place, as few seemed to remember the events of his time. Cygnus explained that though the records about the Heroes had been erased thanks to the Commanders' schemes, not everyone had forgotten them. However, she added that it wasn't the reason why she had asked him to meet. She explained that centuries ago, he and the other Heroes had sealed away the Black Mage with Freud's Seal Stones, though she noted that there were no such heroes anymore. She noted that though her Cygnus Knights would fight back, she remained unsure whether they could face the Black Mage on their own. Because of this, she had found other heroes - the countless Explorers and Resistance members who would fight against the forces of darkness - and that she planned to form an alliance with them to face the Black Mage. Though there had only been five who had stood against the Black Mage centuries ago, she told him that there were hundreds who stood together in the present day. Luminous was impressed by Cygnus' resolve and told her that she reminded him of Empress Aria. Believing that her cause was noble, he asked her to call upon him whenever she was in need of his power.

Some time later, Phantom decided to meet Cygnus, noting that he owed her that much after almost taking her life. In Ereve, Cygnus greeted Phantom and told him that she had wanted to meet him. She explained that she wouldn't ask why he had disappeared after saving her, and why he hadn't spoken with her since that day, as she knew that he had his reasons. She then added that she knew how difficult it must have been for them to face a corrupted Transcendent, and how hard he and the other Heroes must have worked to seal him away. However, she explained that centuries ago, only five people had been brave enough to stand up against the Black Mage, but in the present day, there were hundreds willing to fight alongside him. She asked him not to carry the burden of the fight on his own, reminding him that he had allies if he was willing to trust them. Phantom conceded that Cygnus had a compelling argument, as the Alliance could have helped him during his last few missions. He agreed to join the Alliance, adding that they could benefit from the greatest thief in the history of Maple World.

After receiving unanimous confirmations, the First Continental Conference took place and the Maple Alliance was officially created.

Alliance Invitation

Soon after, Cygnus summoned several members of the Nova - Kaiser, Angelic Buster, and Cadena - to Ereve, where she thanked them for coming before introducing herself. She asked them whether they knew about the Black Mage and explained that he was an evil Transcendent who had tried to destroy the world long ago until he had been sealed away by several brave Heroes. However, Cygnus revealed that the Black Mage's seal had been broken, and with the Cygnus Knights unable to handle the threat themselves, she had hoped to form a worldwide Alliance against him. Upon hearing this, the Nova heroes agreed to lend their support and officially joined the Maple Alliance.

Some time later, Neinheart contacted Illium and his friends and explained that he had heard about them from his sister, Lilin, who had mentioned how they had been helping people around Maple World, and how they had even helped her with the problem in Riena Strait. He then asked if they would be interested in meeting him in Ereve. After Illium arrived in Ereve, Neinheart told him that the Empress wanted to meet him. Cygnus then greeted Illium and explained that she wanted to recruit him into the Maple Alliance. Illium was surprised by her request, as he was from another dimension and wondered what he could do for Maple World. He also felt that it was unwise to fight for a different world, rather than for the Verdant Flora. Cygnus responded that she had heard from Kaiser that the people of Grandis were fighting against Gerand Darmoor. Illium told her that Darmoor was responsible for massacring his people, and that he was the sworn enemy of the Verdant Flora. Cygnus then asked if he knew that Magnus, the Nova traitor and a follower of Darmoor, had served as a Commander of the Black Mage. Illium was surprised to learn that Darmoor's reach had extended even to Maple World. Cygnus told him that both Darmoor and the Black Mage were evil beings who threatened the peace of both Grandis and Maple World, and that they needed to be stopped. She added that in exchange for his support, the Alliance would fight alongside him to liberate Grandis as well. Illium told her that he needed to discuss it with his friends first, and that he would give his answer soon. After getting their approval, Illium returned to Ereve and told Cygnus that they would join her. Cygnus was pleased by their decision and officially welcomed them into the Alliance.

Over time, several other heroes who had come to Maple World from other worlds - Shade, Kinesis, Zero, Ark, Hoyoung, Adele, Kain, Lara - traveled to Ereve in order to meet with Neinheart and Cygnus, who formally welcomed him into the Alliance.

Some time later, Athena Pierce reached out to Khali and suggested that she join the Maple Alliance. Khali traveled to Ereve and met with Neinheart, who greeted her and explained that Empress Cygnus wanted to invite her to the Alliance after hearing about her achievements. He told her that he had heard from Fenelle that though she was a High Flora, she wasn't allied with Darmoor. As she had her reasons for turning her back on the High Flora, and since she was working to protect Maple World, Neinheart explained that he had decided to trust her and invite her to the Alliance. Khali then spoke with Cygnus, who greeted her and explained that Maple World and Grandis were influencing one another, and that it might even be meaningless to distinguish between the two dimensions at this point. She then asked Khali to lend her strength to aid Maple World, to which Khali explained that though she wanted to help, she couldn't, as she had a bigger goal. Cygnus told Khali that she had heard about her situation from Fenelle and explained that the fact that she had lost her power and had left her hometown meant that her enemy must be powerful. She noted that if Khali faced them alone, then she might end up repeating what had happened. Cygnus then promised that the Alliance would aid Khali when the time came if Khali would help them in return. After considering it, Khali accepted and was officially welcomed into the Alliance.

Gate to the Future

Cygnus and Future Cygnus

After the Black Mage's return, Lucid - who had become his new Commander - used her dream magic to manipulate the Gate to the Future and create a false future, in which the Black Mage reigned victorious after Empress Cygnus betrayed the people of Maple World. Soon after, Neinheart contacted the Cygnus Knight and noted that they had grown very strong, with few Cygnus Knights being able to match their strength. He told them that rumors had been circulating that Cygnus and the Knights had betrayed Maple World and joined the Black Mage. Though he believed it to be absurd, he acknowledged that rumors grew stronger as more people talked about them, regardless of how ridiculous they were. He also noted that since the rumors originated from the Gate to the Future, it was possible that someone had confused a hypothetical future with reality. He asked them to investigate the rumors, but as the Temple of Time was dangerous, he told them that they would work alongside their Chief Knight. He then sent them to meet with Della, one of their informants.

At the Temple of Time, the Knight and their Chief Knight met with Della, who told them that the rumors about the Cygnus Knights betraying Maple World in the future were true, with Cygnus being known as the Axle of Evil. However, she explained that a strange black fog was coming out of the Gate to the Future, preventing both her and the Temple Keepers from entering. The Chief Knight decided that they would need to look into it themselves and asked Della about the fog. She explained that the fog pushed people away the further they entered, preventing them from catching anything more than a glimpse of the future. The Knight and their Chief Knight arrived at the Gate to the Future, where they discovered the thick black fog emanating from beyond the door. The Knight felt as though something was calling to them, and so they entered through the door and arrived in Future Ereve, where they encountered Future Cygnus and her corrupted Chief Knights. Suddenly, the Knight began to feel an unnatural drowsiness overtaking them and lost consciousness.

They soon awoke back at the Temple of Time to the sight of their Chief Knight attempting to wake them up. Suddenly, the black fog formed tendrils of darkness that attempted to grab at the Knight. Their Chief Knight immediately pushed them aside, but the tendrils instead ensnared the Chief Knight and dragged them into the Gate to the Future. The Knight rushed in after them, but they were soon engulfed by the same unnatural sense of drowsiness. As they felt their consciousness fade away, the Knight heard Cygnus' voice calling out to them and reminding them of who they were. The Knight was able to remain awake and found themselves in a dreamscape, where they discovered a Wightmare placing their Chief Knight into an enchanted sleep. The Knight quickly defeated the Wightmare and took their Chief Knight back to the Temple of Time. The Chief Knight awoke and thanked them for their help, explaining that the Wightmare had been trying to brainwash them by planting images into their mind. Suddenly, Della rushed over to them and explained that there was an emergency in Ereve, as the Empress had fallen.

The Knight and the Chief Knight rushed back to Ereve, where they found that the black fog had engulfed the island. They found Neinheart and the others huddled around an unconscious Cygnus and asked what had happened. Neinheart explained that the black fog had suddenly appeared, causing Cygnus to pass out right after. He noted that the black fog was no simple attack, as it had been able to bypass both Ereve's barrier and Shinsoo's protection. Kinu, one of the Piyo training instructors, noted that Cygnus had fallen into an enchanted sleep, which the Knight realized was just like what had happened to themselves. Oz noted that Cygnus' power was fading, and that she was in grave danger, since she had not yet fully accepted Shinsoo's power. As the Chief Knights argued about what to do, Shinsoo sensed that the Knight had learned something significant in the Gate to the Future and asked them to share it with the others. After the Knight explained how they had been ensnared by the black fog, Neinheart realized that since Cygnus' power and that of the Cygnus Knights were intertwined, the Knight being affected by the black fog may have inadvertently resulted in Cygnus experiencing the same. Neinheart told the Knight that just as they had saved their Chief Knight, they now needed to save Cygnus within her dreamscape as well.

Through the grace of Shinsoo, Neinheart sent the Knight into Cygnus' dreamscape, where they found her staring at her corrupted self through a mirror. Suddenly, Future Cygnus shattered the mirror, knocking the real Cygnus out, and emerged through the other side. The Knight immediately fought Future Cygnus and defeated her, sending both the real Cygnus and themselves back into the real world. Around them, the black fog dissipated as Cygnus awoke from her nightmare. Some time after the incident, Neinheart thanked the Knight for their valiant efforts and noted that based on everything that he and their Chief Knight had observed, the Knight had risen to become the epitome of a Cygnus Knight, both in power and valor. He then explained that Oz had discovered that the power of the black fog had been entirely foreign, after which he asked the Knight whether they had found any clues while fighting the Wightmare and Future Cygnus.

The Knight told him that they were certain that the mastermind wasn't a Black Wings member, as the Wightmare's clothes had the pattern of a butterfly, not the Black Wings' symbol. Neinheart realized that they were likely facing a new enemy and resolved to look into them. He also told them that with the black fog having lifted from the Gate to the Future, he was planning on sending a full-scale investigation to investigate the rumors. He then told the Knight that Cygnus had something important to tell them. The Knight went to meet Cygnus, who noted that they had grown stronger while holding true to their beliefs, never once losing their heart while protecting the weak. Because of their valor, Cygnus promoted them to Chief Knight. Soon after, their Chief Knight congratulated them for their promotion and added that they expected great things from the Knight.

Nova Alliance

In order to aid the Nova in their operation to retake Heliseum, Cygnus authorized an Alliance expedition into Grandis, where the elite members of the Alliance helped the Nova defeat Magnus and reclaim their capital. With their next battle being against Gerand Darmoor, the Nova decided to officially become part of the Maple Alliance, for which Edea traveled to Ereve in order to finalize the details. There, she spoke with the Alliance leaders, who were pleased with having new allies. Though Claudine was wary about committing to a fight against another enemy when the threat of the Black Mage still remained, Edea noted that she had learned that their two worlds were connected, and that the enemies of one world were the enemies of the other. Cygnus welcomed Edea and hoped that their alliance would make them all stronger.

Cygnus Awakens

Empress Cygnus after her awakening

After the World Tree was discovered in Root Abyss, Cygnus dispatched an Alliance task force with defeating the Seal Guardians created by Damien and rescuing Alicia. After the Alliance successfully recovered Alicia, an Alliance member escorted her to Ereve, where Alicia was absorbed into the jewel on Shinsoo's diadem in order to fully recover her Transcendent powers. Unbeknownst to the Alliance, however, Damien had intended for Alicia to recover her full strength in order to steal her powers when the time was right.

Soon after, as part of a special Alliance meeting held outside Ereve, Cygnus, Neinheart, and her Chief Knights traveled to the Six Path Crossway. Just as they were about to start heading to the Alliance meeting, an injured Kiku arrived at the station and explained that Ereve was under attack, and that though Shinsoo was fighting off the invaders, the situation was looking grim. Neinheart asked Kiku who had attacked Ereve, to which he explained that it was an unknown man with grey skin and purple hair. Cygnus immediately decided that she would return along with the rest of the Chief Knights, as their forces would otherwise be split between protecting her and reinforcing Shinsoo. Neinheart agreed with her, explaining that there was a chance that the attack on Ereve could be a ruse to draw them away from Cygnus. He decided that it would be best for them to all return to Ereve together, adding that he would postpone the Alliance meeting as well. As they prepared to debark, Neinheart began wondering what the enemy's goal could be in attacking Ereve. As they prepared to return to Ereve, the Knight wondered to themselves whether the enemy was after Cygnus or if they were after Shinsoo and the World Tree,

As the Knights reached Ereve, Damien successfully defeated Shinsoo and shattered the jewel on her forehead before extracting Alicia, who had regained her full Transcendent powers. Just then, the Knights arrived in Ereve, only to find the entire island in ruins. For an instant, they saw Damien smirking in front of Shinsoo's body before he teleported away with Alicia. The Knights rushed ahead and found Shinsoo lying motionless, causing Cygnus to burst into tears and cry over Shinsoo's body. Suddenly, a surge of power welled up inside her, causing a large water barrier to envelop around herself and Shinsoo. Mihile rushed forward in an attempt to save the Empress, but found that his attacks did nothing. Neinheart was shocked at the sight of Cygnus constructing a barrier with her own power, and not with Shinsoo's, which he had believed to be impossible. Within the water barrier, Cygnus experienced an awakening and a transformation. With her new powers, she touched Shinsoo's body and restored vitality to the divine beast.

Over the next few months, the Knights rebuilt Ereve after Damien's attack. Soon after, Neinheart spoke with the Knight and explained that though he didn't know much about Cygnus' new powers, her awakening had resulted in her growing much stronger than before, which, in turn, made the Cygnus Knights stronger, as they drew their strength from her. He told them that though Shinsoo would be able to tell them more, the divine bird had left Ereve for unknown reasons. He added that Cygnus was still despondent over Shinsoo's leaving, as Shinsoo was Cygnus' guiding star, just as Cygnus was to the Knights. He then asked the Knight to speak with Cygnus in order to help make her feel better. Cygnus was pleased to see the Knight and noted how different Ereve seemed after being rebuilt. She confessed that she hadn't felt like herself since awakening her powers. She explained that Shinsoo had always mentioned that she wouldn't be the one to awaken, and that she wouldn't be ready if she did, as it had been said that her distant descendent would awaken. She confessed that she felt unstable and feared what would happen if she couldn't control her powers, wondering whether she was the reason that Shinsoo had left. Nevertheless, Cygnus noted that her awakening had allowed her to save Shinsoo's life and make the Cygnus Knights stronger, and so she would not regret what had happened. She believed that Shinsoo would one day return to guide her, and until then, she vowed that she would use her power to bring peace to Maple World.

Soon after, the Knight heard Shinsoo's voice calling to them. Shinsoo asked them to come find her, as they deserved to know the truth. The Knight followed Shinsoo's call to Leafre, where they found the divine beast waiting for them. The Knight asked Shinsoo what had happened to the Empress, to which Shinsoo asked them if they knew about the three Transcendents of Maple World who had maintained balance over life, light, and time. However, she explained that the Transcendents hadn't existed from the beginning, as they had been created after the chaos of the world had been quelled by the Overseers, proxies of the Primordial God, adding that she herself had also been working to maintain balance, though that balance had now been broken. As the Transcendents were needed to keep the balance of the world, it had been ordained that in the distant future, a descendant of Cygnus would be born with the power to become a new Transcendent, for which Shinsoo had been waiting many years.

Though Cygnus had been destined to lay the foundation for a future Transcendent, the shock of seeing Shinsoo at the verge of death had caused her to prematurely awaken as a Transcendent-in-waiting. Due to her sudden and incomplete awakening, Cygnus could now use a portion of the Transcendent's powers, though she remained in a strange state of not actually being one. Shinsoo confessed that the situation was something that she had never expected, which made her worried that Cygnus would be adversely affected. She admitted that she had little power of her own left, as she had expended most of it on building and maintaining Ereve, as well as creating the Piyos, who would carry on her will. As a result, she feared that she didn't have enough power left to protect Cygnus. Nevertheless, she explained that her mission to keep the world in balance still stood, which was what she, as a survivor of the Ancient War, would continue doing until the very end. In order to do so, Shinsoo explained that she would need to correct what had gone wrong, though she didn't know whether that duty meant that she would need to revert Cygnus back to her old self, or to complete her awakening as a full Transcendent. She explained that she was unsure whether that duty meant that she needed to separate Cygnus from her Transcendent powers or to teach her how to use it. In order to find answers, Shinsoo had left Ereve, as she feared that without those answers, Cygnus would get hurt. She realized that Cygnus was likely worried and confused, and she added that she was sorry that she couldn't be at Cygnus' side. She then asked the Knight if they would watch over Cygnus in her stead, believing that they had the strength to do so.

Investigating the Second Future

With greater resources from the Alliance, Neinheart dispatched an investigation team to enter the Gate to the Future, where they discovered that it was nothing more than an illusion created by the Black Mage to demoralize them. Soon after, the Resistance sent a scout to investigate the Gate to the Future, in which they learned that the Cygnus Knights would betray Maple World. At an Alliance conference, Claudine furiously reported the results of the Resistance's investigation, to which Cygnus asked Claudine to calm down, explaining that the future which they had witnessed was nothing more than a fabrication created by the Black Mage. Neinheart agreed, adding that he would never have led the Knights into such an obvious trap. However, Claudine retorted that Neinheart was only saying that now with the benefit of hindsight, adding that his arrogance wouldn't save them from what could be. Neinheart then demanded to know whether she truly trusted the enemy's illusion over her own allies. Athena Pierce attempted to keep the peace, reminding them that they couldn't allow the enemy to divide them, and entreated them to stop fighting. From afar, Lucid noted with satisfaction that the Alliance was wavering, just as the Black Mage had foreseen, and that everything was going according to plan. She then thought to herself that though the Alliance had realized that it was all an illusion, the seeds of doubt had already been planted in their minds, adding that under the care of the nightmare which was about to unfold, those seeds would soon begin to bloom.

Soon after the investigation into the Gate to the Future, the Alliance held an emergency conference, which was attended by the top leaders of the Alliance, as well as the Alliance member who had first entered the Gate to the Future. As Athena Pierce began the meeting, Claudine impatiently noted that the proceedings were taking forever, and that so many had not attended. As she wondered whether theirs could truly be called a proper meeting, Neinheart testily replied that everyone had their own work to do, and that it wasn't as easy to gather all the warriors of Maple World in one place as she believed. Claudine retorted that it was the duty of the Alliance to carry out the impossible, as otherwise, there was no point to their existence at all. Neinheart replied that Claudine was talking without thinking, reminding her that the Alliance had been created through the hard work of many people vowing to defeat the Black Mage, to which Claudine sarcastically asked him whether she was actually hearing a lecture about promises from the Cygnus Knights.

Athena Pierce then cut in and urged them both to stop their wasteful debate. Cygnus agreed and added that the purpose of the Alliance was to protect the future of Maple World, with internal bickering being inappropriate for their mission. She then explained that the reason why they had gathered was to discuss the grave events happening as of late – nightmares of the ruined future plaguing the people of Maple World. Lady Syl noted that the Alliance had already proven that such a future was merely an illusion, which Neinheart confirmed, though Claudine pointedly added that the possibility wasn't completely zero. Mihile angrily demanded to know how dare Claudine could insinuate that they would be involved, to which Belle asked Mihile what he planned to do about it. Athena once again ordered everyone to stop fighting, while Claudine added that she simply meant that they needed to keep all possibilities in mind. The Alliance member then noted to themselves that it would take some time before the Alliance could start working together properly.

Athena explained that the situation was quite serious, for while she had already warned the people of Henesys about the false rumors at Neinheart's behest, she had never thought that she herself would experience such dreams. Neinheart added that the situation was much different from when rumors were merely circulating, as the false future within the Gate to the Future was actually flowing into the dreams of Maple World's people. Grendel the Really Old wondered whether such a thing was even possible, as that kind of dream control would be next-to-impossible for even the most highly-trained magician, which made him wonder how powerful their enemy really was. Cygnus then explained that it wasn't just Henesys that was being affected, as the nightmare was spreading like a plague. Athena noted that while the enemy's purpose in spreading the nightmares throughout Maple World was unknown, they couldn't just stand by and do nothing. She added that Perion, in particular, had an unusual atmosphere, surprising Claudine, who believed that it would have been Henesys. Athena explained that the people of Henesys had already been prepared for the nightmares involving their ruined town, but the people of Perion had been having entirely different nightmares altogether.

Evan asked Athena what measures the Alliance was taking to remedy the situation, to which Athena explained that the Silent Crusade had already begun taking measures, though she feared that it wouldn't be enough. Neinheart added that the Grendel - who was an expert on magic - was joining together with the Cygnus Knights, Claudine, and Athena Pierce to investigate the matter, adding that it was the least that they could do to justify the Alliance's existence. He then turned to the Alliance member and explained that the Alliance was still planning to continue investigating the Gate to the Future, and that he hoped that the Alliance member would continue lending their support. As the meeting concluded, Athena asked the Alliance member to speak with her about their mission, explaining that she hoped that in the meantime, the other Alliance leaders would take care of their respective regions and calm their citizens.

After the Alliance member successfully severed the link between the dream world and reality, a second conference was held to debrief on the mission. At the conference, Athena told the Alliance member that the nightmare was slowly fading away from the minds of everyone in Maple World and asked them how they did it. The Alliance member explained how they used the Fog of Oblivion, to which Grendel noted how impressed he was by their solution. Claudine told the Alliance member that they had gone through a lot of hardships trying to stop the nightmare, adding that their efforts had taken the Alliance one step closer to stopping the Black Mage. Neinheart – and a reluctant Claudine – both admitted that it was fortunate that the Alliance had been able to successfully save Maple World, with Cygnus noting that their people could finally stop believing in the false future and suffering from nightmares. She added that she believed that she would have good dreams that night, thanking the Alliance member for all their help. However, Neinheart noted that though the incident had been resolved, there was still the matter of the Dream Master, whom they could conclude was a new Commander of the Black Mage. He added that despite the Alliance forming and growing stronger, the Black Mage was also steadily gaining strength by recruiting new Commanders on top of his old ones. He added that the Alliance would continue looking into the identity of the new Commander and thanked the Alliance member for helping them with their initial investigation.

Black Heaven

Discovering Black Heaven

After 10 Boogies was captured while investigating a major operation that would soon be carried out by the Black Wings, Neinheart dispatched an Alliance member to rescue her. Following her rescue, Neinheart congratulated them on the successful mission and explained that 10 Boogies had uncovered vital information about the Black Wings' plan. At the Conference Pavilion, the Alliance member and Neinheart met with Cygnus and Athena Pierce in order to go over what 10 Boogies had unearthed. Athena confirmed to the Alliance member that while the news was classified, the Black Mage had indeed returned. When they asked why the Black Mage hadn't made his move yet, Athena told them that it was the Alliance's theory that the Black Mage hadn't fully regained his powers. As the Black Wings had been created to revive the Black Mage, she emphasized the importance of defeating them in order to delay the Black Mage's rise to power. Neinheart then explained that in the past, the Alliance had been able to interfere with the Black Wings' smaller operations. However, the Black Wings had recently begun to use codes in order to communicate through the Edelstein newspapers. 10 Boogies had managed to solve Gelimer's latest message that said ‘Black Heaven is ready.' Cygnus wondered what Black Heaven could be, to which Neinheart explained that there was only one person who would know.

Neinheart then arranged a meeting with the Resistance at the Secret Plaza in order to see Orchid, who was still in a coma after being attacked by the Evolution System. The Resistance members joked that perhaps hitting her would cause her to wake up, prompting an argument between them and Cygnus, who believed that Orchid deserved to be treated with respect. Claudine intervened and told Cygnus that everyone in the Resistance had last loved ones because of Orchid, and that they would not allow her any sympathy. Grendel the Really Old then arrived with a magic mirror, which would allow one to access another's memories. The Alliance member entered through the mirror and arrived into Orchid's psyche, where they witnessed Gelimer getting Orchid's approval to build Black Heaven, a giant airship with the power to destroy Maple World. Upon reporting back to the Alliance, Neinheart and Claudine both agreed that they needed a robust defensive plan. However, Cygnus disagreed and told them that it was their chance to show Maple World that the Alliance could protect them. She then proposed that the Alliance meet Black Heaven in air combat.

Preparing for the Operation

The day before the operation, Empress Cygnus addressed her knights and told them that Gelimer was on his way to Henesys. Though she warned that the battle would be difficult, she also reminded them that they were the guardians of Maple World as Cygnus Knights, rallying them behind her banner. Later that night, Phantom found Cygnus standing atop a cliff, gazing at the sky. Phantom noted that Cygnus seemed nervous and asked if she was afraid that the Alliance would lose. Cygnus reassured him that she was confident that they would win, and though she admitted that she was afraid of how many they might lose, she also knew that she couldn't afford to show weakness as the Empress. Phantom told her not to burden herself with everything, telling her that her worried look didn't suit her at all, and that he preferred to see her more relaxed, which made Cygnus laugh. He told her that they could rest after the battle and promised to come back and see her, before disappearing in a flash.

Soon after, Mihile found Cygnus skygazing at the cliffside. As he approached her, Cygnus noted that Mihile seemed anxious, though he denied it. She reminded Mihile that she knew him better than that and asked if there was anything that he wanted to talk about. Mihile told Cygnus that the Alliance had never been in an aerial battle before and he wondered whether they were sufficiently prepared. Cygnus told Mihile not to worry, as their Alliance was the strongest that Maple World had ever seen, having even the support of the legendary Heroes who had sealed the Black Mage. She added that the real question was whether they were prepared to sacrifice in order to win. Mihile told her that the Cygnus Knights weren't afraid of sacrifices, to which Cygnus told him that she was. She feared losing even a single person and asked Mihile to promise that everyone would return. Mihile, ever loyal, immediately promised and vowed that the Cygnus Knights would always be at her side. Cygnus then told Mihile that she was glad that she could always count on him.

First Skirmish

On the day of the battle, the Lumiere - at Cygnus' command - took off and headed to intercept Black Heaven. In the conference room, the Alliance member found Claudine and Cygnus discussing the fog and how the Black Wings would likely attack in the cover. After reporting to Cygnus, she told them that Neinheart had warned her earlier about Baroq the Master of Disguise, who would likely be up to his old tricks in order to cause chaos. He recommended that they play along and try to get him to slip up. Having not seen Neinheart since then, Cygnus asked the Alliance member to check up on him. While searching for Neinheart, the Alliance member encountered Neinheart standing over a wounded doppelgänger of himself, along with several unconscious Cygnus Knights. The Alliance member immediately recognized that the standing Neinheart was the fake one, as the real Neinheart couldn't win a straight fight on his own. Realizing that he had been caught, Baroq immediately transformed back into himself and engaged the Alliance member, who managed to defeat him. However, Baroq then transformed himself into Cygnus in an effort to prevent them from hitting him. As they struggled to decide whether to hit the fake Cygnus, Hiver teleported behind them and knocked them out before tying them and Neinheart to a barrel.

After they awoke, the Alliance member worked with Neinheart to break the barrel and hurried to warn the rest of the Alliance. In the hallway, they found that the Lumiere had already been boarded by Black Wings androids, which had defeated the soldiers posted in the area. As they fought through the androids, they encountered Athena Pierce fighting the androids alone and regrouped with her. Athena sensed an evil energy in the next corridor, where they ran into Eleanor the Black Witch. After fighting her off, they arrived at the deck, where Cygnus told them that the Black Wings were dropping androids onto the deck from above. The Alliance member grouped with the Piyo siblings and began to fight off the androids on deck. The Alliance successfully destroyed the airship attacking them and captured Francis, who had been attempting to rescue Orchid. However, they quickly learned that the airship hadn't been Black Heaven, with the real airship being hundreds of times larger.

The Scrapyard

While the Cygnus Knights protected the Lumiere and the Nautilus handled the head-on air attack to draw the Black Wings' attention, Belle, Brighton, Checky, and the Alliance member were tasked with infiltrating through the blind spot on Black Heaven. Just then, Mihile rushed into the meeting room to warn them that the Black Wings had launched a wide-range ballistic attack. As the entire airship shook and received heavy damage, Cygnus asked the Alliance member to assess the situation on the deck. There, they met Brighton and Belle, who told them that they had received a direct hit to the underside. However, the mission soon failed, with the Resistance leaders falling to their presumed deaths. At the Pilothouse, the Alliance member and Claudine returned to Neinheart and Cygnus. Though Claudine wished to continue searching for her allies, Neinheart gently told her that it was unlikely that anyone could have survived such a fall. Nevertheless, he left the choice to save her allies to Claudine, who ultimately realized that she couldn't afford to sacrifice any more of the Resistance. Because of this, she decided that she would commit her forces to stop Black Heaven and save Edelstein, trusting that her friends were strong enough to survive and return.

She then asked Neinheart what his plan was, to which Neinheart explained that their plan was still to infiltrate Black Heaven. However, he noted that based on their first failed attempt, it seemed that Black Heaven had defenses that weren't covered in the blueprints, which meant that they would need someone who knew the airship well. Because of this, Neinheart and the others visited Francis in his cell in order to interrogate him further about Black Heaven and its design. In the prison, they found Francis' cell on fire, with a Resistance soldier explaining that Francis' escape attempt had caused the fire. Francis begged the Alliance to save him from the fire, to which Neinheart and Claudine told him that they would help him in exchange for information, noting that such a small fire didn't pose any immediate danger at all. Francis reluctantly agreed and explained that Black Heaven was being controlled by Lotus, who had been turned into a Xenoroid by Gelimer. Lotus' own powers, along with the other half of the Wing Master powers that he had stolen from Orchid, allowed him to effortlessly maintain control over Black Heaven, which was like an extension of his body. Because of this, there were no weaknesses or blind spots anywhere in the ship. However, he also revealed that there were no troops stationed aboard Black Heaven, as they were being summoned from somewhere else.

After interrogating Francis, the Alliance decided to let him loose from his burning cell. Immediately, however, Francis disappeared and set out to rescue Orchid. Knowing what his target was, Claudine decided to deploy additional troops to guard Orchid in Edelstein. Cygnus then realized that if the troops aboard Black Heaven were being teleported, it meant that there was a way to infiltrate Black Heaven. Claudine noted that though she wasn't too sure, it was possible that the androids were being teleported from Edelstein's Scrapyard. Neinheart dispatched the Alliance member to investigate the Scrapyard, where they found the Piyo siblings tailing them on Cygnus' orders. Together, they made their way deeper into the Scrapyard and eventually infiltrated Black Heaven through the teleporter. Aboard Black heaven, the Alliance member fired a signal flare to let the Alliance know that they had made it onboard. Aboard the Lumiere, the Alliance had sustained substantial damage and Neinheart asked a demoralized Cygnus whether to press on or turn back. Suddenly, they all saw the signal flare and realized that the Alliance member had given them an opening.

Final Battle

The Alliance then rushed into Black Heaven and rescued the Alliance member, who was knocked out in the explosion. They soon awoke to find that the Alliance had boarded Black Heaven with the help of Pilot Irvin. They were also overjoyed to find that Irvin had also helped Checky, Brighton, and Belle, who had worked together with Claudine to save them from Black Heaven's cannons. As the Alliance boarding party prepared to infiltrate Black Heaven, Francis managed to infiltrate the Secret Plaza in Edelstein and successfully rescued Orchid, who immediately set off to save Lotus and destroy Gelimer. Cygnus told the Alliance member that the advance team had already boarded Black Heaven in order to secure access to key areas. Though she wished that she could say that the Alliance member had done enough, Cygnus acknowledged that they were the Alliance's best chance at winning the battle. Promising to return safely, the Alliance member entered Black Heaven with Irvin and Neinheart, who had already plotted the most direct route to the core. They met up with Claudine, Belle, Brighton, Athena Pierce, and the Piyo siblings and took the elevator down.

Together, the Alliance worked to defeat Gelimer and Lotus, though the Alliance member was fatally injured after breathing in Gelimer's Retoxin. Though the Alliance began celebrating their victory, their triumph was short-lived when they learned from Athena that the Alliance member would most likely die from the Retoxin, causing the Piyo siblings and many others to mourn. Just then, however, Cygnus declared that the Alliance member would be fine and pulled out the Seal Stone of Ereve, the final Seal Stone in existence. Cygnus explained that though no power was strong enough to bring back the dead, there was still hope for the Alliance member, who was still breathing. Neinheart cautiously asked Cygnus if she understood what it meant to use the last Seal Stone. Cygnus affirmed that she knew that its destruction would remove the final limitation on the Black Mage's power. However, she reminded them all that Freud had created the Seal Stones in order to help them protect what was most precious to the people and asked whether they all valued the Seal Stone more than the Alliance member. With the full support of the Alliance, Cygnus used the final Seal Stone in order to save the Alliance member. Unbeknown to them all, however, the Seal Stone recognized the Alliance member as one who represented the will of the people, causing it to choose them as its Vessel, transforming them them into an Adversary. Soon after, the Adversary spoke with Cygnus, who told them that though she was glad that the war was over, she was sad that they would have to say goodbye again. However, she added that she had a feeling that their goodbye wouldn't last long, for while Gelimer was gone, the Black Mage was still a looming threat to Maple World. She then told them that whatever the reason, she looked forward to meeting them again.

Heroes of Maple

After Damien killed Afrien at Turtle Island, Evan and Mir traveled to Ereve and met with Cygnus, Neinheart, Claudine, and Athena Pierce. After being informed about the situation, Neinheart noted that Damien's plans not only included attacking Ereve and kidnapping the World Tree, but also going after Freud's memories. He explained that it was likely that a full-scale war may break out against the demons, to which Athena wondered what the Commanders could be planning, as it hadn't been that long since Black Heaven. Neinheart replied that there wasn't enough time to prepare for the threat that they faced, as the demon army was already moving into Maple World as they spoke. After a pause, Cygnus offered her condolences to Evan and Mir for Afrien's death, apologizing for not being able to do more to prevent it. Evan bitterly noted that his weakness was the reason for Afrien's death, believing that he may have been able to prevent it if his connection to Mir as a Dragon Master had been stronger, which would have allowed him to detect Afrien's pain sooner.

However, he told Cygnus that he knew that it was no time to blame himself, vowing that he would no longer allow anyone else to sacrifice themselves. He explained that Freud had instructed him to reunite the Heroes, and that he planned on doing just that in order to learn Damien and the Black Mage's true purpose. He then asked Cygnus to mobilize the Alliance to face the demon army while the Heroes carried out their mission. Neinheart asked Evan whether it would be possible for them to succeed with just the Heroes, who had all been weakened from the Black Mage's curse. He also noted that since Damien already knew about Freud's memories, it was possible that he was baiting the Heroes into isolating themselves and working alone. Evan replied that it was precisely the reason why he had come to Ereve, as he already knew that they had no hope of succeeding without the Alliance. After considering it, Neinheart admitted that it would be more effective for a small, elite team to gather information, rather than a large-scale operation. He then asked the Empress for her decision, to which Cygnus told him that the Alliance would defend Maple World from the demon army while Evan and the other Heroes gathered more information. With their strategy finalized, Neinheart gave Evan the location of the Heroes, as well as a small airship piloted by a guide named Kiriru.

After Damien absorbed the World Tree's power, the Alliance began to mobilize in response to Damien and the demon army's imminent attack. As Cygnus and Neinheart oversaw preparations, Athena Pierce rushed to Ereve and warned them that the demons had already begun their attack. Though Neinheart believed that they could handle the demons, Cygnus suddenly felt the power of the Transcendent of Life fluctuating with Maple World's vitality. She asked Athena whether there was anything else to report, to which Athena replied that Maple World's trees were beginning to wither away. Suddenly, the sky grew dark as the World Tree began growing from within Root Abyss and towered over Sleepywood.

Several days after the Heroes defeated Damien, Neinheart and Cygnus traveled to the Ruins of Memory with the Alliance, where Cygnus noted that she had learned a lot about the Ancient Gods, the Overseers, and the Transcendents by reading the history of Maple World inscribed in the ruins, adding that the information would undoubtedly prove useful in the future. Neinheart noted that the Heroes had played a pivotal role in the conflict, to which Cygnus agreed, adding that despite the Alliance's efforts, victory wouldn't have been possible without the Heroes' help. She noted that the Heroes who had saved Maple World in the past had saved their world once again. After a moment, however, she recalled how Neinheart hadn't believed in the Heroes, which made her wonder whether seeing them in action had felt different for him than it had for her. Neinheart admitted that initially, he had believed the Heroes to be merely legends, and that those who waited for them were afraid to take responsibility for their own lives, to which Cygnus noted that it was why he had decided to become her tactician. Neinheart explained that his aim had been to create a force equal to the Heroes if they wouldn't come back, and though his initial position hadn't changed, he admitted that he had come to realize that no matter how much time passed, it would always remain a fact that the world needed heroes. The two then gazed upon a new mural depicting the six Heroes saving the World Tree.

Pinnacle of Power

As the Cygnus Knight reached the full mastery of their power, Cygnus reached out to them and explained that despite Shinsoo having left Ereve, the divine bird had told her about the Knight's exploits and strength. She invited the Knight to Ereve, where she reminisced about how clueless they had been during their first day of training in Ereve, and how they had now become on par with the Chief Knights. She then explained that she and Shinsoo were both in agreement to have them become the sixth Chief Knight. She told the Knight that they were a star in a world of darkness. When the sun shone, the stars hid, unneeded, but when darkness bloomed, as it did with the threat of the Black Mage, the stars became their guide. Cygnus then asked the Knight to visit her more often, as Ereve felt lonely with Shinsoo gone.

After Mihile learned the truth about the Seal Stone of Ereve's history from Shinsoo, he returned back to Ereve, where Cygnus gave him a token made from Chromile's broken Soul Shield.

Soon after, Cygnus asked Phantom to visit her in Ereve and told him that while organizing the things left behind by Empress Aria, she had found Aria's diary, and that she had felt that Phantom ought to have it. Though most of the diary had been damaged, Phantom learned that Aria had also resented the selfish royals of Maple World and had been glad to hear whenever Phantom targeted them. He was surprised to learn that she had wished to meet him, but as Ereve had no real treasures to offer, she had made up the rumor about Skaia in order to draw him out.

Arcane River Expedition

Chains of Darkness

After the Adversary entered the Arcane River, they sent a letter detailing everything they had learned in the Vanishing Journey, which was received by Starling, who was investigating the Gate of the Present on behalf of the Silent Crusade. After reading through the letter, Starling met with Bastille, Cygnus, and Neinheart in Ereve, where Starling reported that though they couldn't confirm how the Adversary had sent it, the letter had definitely been written in their handwriting. Bastille then reported that the Silent Crusade had confirmed that an enormous amount of Erda was being sucked through the Gate of the Present, and that the Memory Keeper had confirmed that the Black Mage had created a world called the Arcane River beyond the door. Just as Neinheart declared that the Alliance needed to come up with a plan, enormous chains began falling from the sky, latching onto Ereve. Though Neinheart wondered whether it was an attack, Starling noted that it didn't seem as though whatever was happening was already over. Just then, 10 Boogies rushed to the scene and reported that the massive chains had also fallen down upon Henesys and other regions of Victoria Island. Realizing that they needed more information, Neinheart asked Bastille and Starling to get the status of the various regions of Maple World. Both Starling and Cygnus realized that the chains had something to do with the Arcane River, and that the Black Mage was making his move. Cygnus then ordered Neinheart to mobilize the Alliance into the Arcane River at once, to which Neinheart agreed, adding that it was fortunate that the Adversary had already gone ahead, as he believed that they had an important role to play in the battle ahead.

Expedition Preparations

Soon after, Cygnus, Neinheart, Athena Pierce, and Claudine watched as Edea arrived with a strange young boy with light-blue skin and a magician staff. Neinheart welcomed Edea, though he asked her to get straight to the point, as the situation had gotten quite urgent. Edea reported that she had been investigating a way to deal attacks to monsters born from a density of high-grade Erdas. She revealed that the Nova had found no way of imprinting the power of Erda upon a person, and that though they may find the answer by scouring Grandis, such an initiative would take too long for the Alliance's mission. However, she revealed that the magician whom she had brought, Melange, had helped developed another way by imprinting a disintegration spell upon an external substance other than a person, thereby temporarily breaking down the magical Erda barrier around monsters in the Arcane River. Edea noted that despite Melange's appearance, he was the disciple of an extremely famous magician in Grandis, and that his skills were certified as remarkable. She then presented a special blue ore that she and Melange had developed together, revealing that the disintegration spell imprinted upon it would help the user deal normal damage to the Erdas of the Arcane River.

However, Edea noted that there were three main drawbacks to the technique which they had developed. She explained that firstly, the disintegration spell would be less effective than if the power of Erdas had been imprinted onto a body, such as the Adversary, though she added that a sufficiently powerful person would be able to overcome that drawback with enough strength through physical training. She revealed that the main issue was that the ore which they were using was incredibly rare, as the Nova had only been able to find ten with all their resources. Finally, she added that the third drawback was that the spell wasn't permanent, and that the ore needed to be replaced periodically. Edea explained that with their limited resources, they would only be able to move a small team of soldiers into the Arcane River, rather than being able to mobilize all their forces. Neinheart noted that a small team was better than nothing, though it would prove to be an obstacle when it came to an enemy as strong as the Black Mage. He asked Edea how there could be such a limited number of ore available on Grandis, to which Edea explained that the Nova had closed their borders and trading lanes for quite some time before opening them recently.

Just then, Claudine asked to examine the mineral, and upon seeing, she revealed that its sheen had made her certain that it was Rue Ore, found in the Verne Mine. She explained that Rue Ore was an Edelstein specialty, and that the Black Wings had taken over their town specifically for the Rue Ore, which held a great amount of energy and could be used for a versatile number of purposes. With the mineral being extremely common in Edelstein, Claudine explained that the Resistance could provide an ample amount of it from the Verne Mine so that the Alliance could mobilize. Cygnus thanked Claudine earnestly, to which Claudine smiled and replied that it was only natural to help an ally. Athena Pierce then offered to solicit the help of Grendel the Really Old and the Magician Association so that they could help the Nova imprint the disintegration spell upon the ore. As Neinheart and Cygnus thanked Edea for her help, Edea replied that it was nothing, as the Alliance had already helped the Nova retake Heliseum in their time of need. Cygnus then noted that the Alliance would finally be able to enter the Arcane River, with Edea wondering what kind of world a fallen Transcendent like the Black Mage had created, and for what purpose, though Melange remained oddly silent as she spoke.

Shortly after, the Adversary sent another letter detailing the events on Yum Yum Island, for which Cygnus and Neinheart arranged a meeting in Ereve with Claudine, Edea, and Grendel the Really Old. Neinheart finished describing the Erda experiments on Yum Yum Island to the others, with Edea noting that she had no idea what the true intentions behind the experiments could be. Neinheart reported to Cygnus that the Alliance had no record of any of the Black Mage's Commanders or followers having such powers, making him believe that it could be a new enemy working for the Black Mage. However, Cygnus replied that they couldn't do anything about identifying the unknown enemy, and that all they could do was to send the Alliance into the Arcane River as soon as possible in order to help the Adversary. Neinheart then asked Grendel about the status of enchanting the Rue Ore, to which Grendel reported that the first imprinting had just been done, adding that it was quite fascinating magic.

However, Grendel added that only three such stones had been finished, and that it would still take some time for the entire Alliance to mobilize. Neinheart replied that it would be enough, as the advance party's goal was reconnaissance and communication, as well as creating a gateway for the rest of the Alliance to follow. He then introduced Ollie of the Thunder Breakers, explaining that she was a talented member of the Cygnus Knights whom he wished to recommend as a reconnaissance scout. After Ollie introduced herself, Claudine presented Shubert, a Blaster and communications expert, explaining that Neinheart could leave communications to the Resistance, as they had quite a bit of experience in the area. Finally, Edea explained that though she wished to join the advance party herself in order to create a gateway, her duties in Pantheon meant that she would need to send someone else in her place. Because of this, she presented Melange to go in her stead, noting that his work with imprinting magic onto the Rue Ore spoke to his skills. Cygnus then thanked the trio for volunteering for the expedition, noting that they would soon catch up to the Adversary and open the path to the Black Mage at long last.

Before the expedition team embarked on their mission, Cygnus spoke with Ollie and assigned her a special mission to protect the Adversary. She explained that the Adversary had a tendency to shoulder all the burden alone, and that it would quickly overwhelm them, for which she asked Ollie to lend them her strength when the time came. Though Ollie was uncertain whether she would be able to lend her strength to someone as powerful as the Adversary, Cygnus reassured her that all of them were weaker alone, and that the reason why the Cygnus Knights and the Maple Alliance existed was so that the collective strength of everyone would allow them to protect each other and fight together.

Meeting Shinsoo

Though the Alliance leaders had agreed to make a final stand against the Black Mage, Cygnus was uneasy about the decision. Following the appearance of the massive chains, Cygnus began seeing visions of the future in her dreams, plagued by nightmares every day about the Alliance falling in battle. With these nightmares extremely similar to the Black Mage's final prophecy discovered by Eckhart in Magatia, and no one sure whether it had been because of stress or her ability to see the future, Cygnus began fearing that she would be leading her people into a destruction that she would be too weak to protect them from. For this reason, Cygnus decided to seek out Shinsoo at her refuge in Leafre. There, Shinsoo noted that a dark shadow had fallen, blotting out the brilliant light. Cygnus confided her nightmares and worries that she kept buried deep within to Shinsoo, who - upon hearing the Empress' troubles - asked her who ruled the world, to which Cygnus replied that it was all the people who inhabited it.

Shinsoo then asked Cygnus what she would do if someone threatened to destroy their world, to which Cygnus hesitantly replied that they would fight, though she admitted that she nevertheless had fears about what would happen in such a battle. Shinsoo asked Cygnus whether she believed that their destiny had already been decided by the Black Mage's prophecy, and whether that meant that everything which they had done up until that moment was rendered meaningless. After reflecting, Cygnus noted that their efforts had not been in vain, with Shinsoo encouraging her to put aside her fears. She then created a jeweled bracelet upon Cygnus' wrist, explaining that the wings of the Divine Beast had the power to protect and embrace the weak. However, she admitted that her body was in such a weakened state that she no longer had the power to do so.

She then explained that she had bestowed her strength upon Cygnus and asked her to use that power to protect the determination of the Alliance, as only Cygnus had the power to do so. Shinsoo then told Cygnus that humans were delicate and fragile beings, as they had moments of weakness when fear could easily grip their hearts. However, she revealed that Cygnus was the light of hope that would save them all in the depths of their despair. She revealed to Cygnus that the determination of countless warriors would become their strength to fight in the coming battle. With her resolve having been strengthened by Shinsoo's counsel, Cygnus sent letters to all members of the Alliance, announcing the great expedition into the Arcane River.

Final Preparations

With all of Maple World rallying together, the Alliance began constructing a massive fleet at the Outpost, with the White Spear being the Empress' flagship, modeled in the shape of a spear to symbolize the Alliance carving their own destiny. At the same time, Cygnus began practicing to master the new abilities which she had gained upon awakening as a Transcendent-in-waiting, believing that she would need her power during the fight against the Black Mage.

Moonbridge

The Alliance Fleet

Empress Cygnus, reaching adulthood

As the time of the final battle approached, the Adversary was escorted to the Outpost by Neinheart, who brought them to meet Empress Cygnus, dressed in full battle armor and carrying an ornately-crafted sword. She thanked the Adversary for their instrumental role in pushing forward through the Arcane River, revealing that they had paved the way for the Guardians of Time to investigate the area, which had set the stage for discovering the Black Mage's prophecy and all their countermeasures, including the White Spear itself. However, Cygnus added that the Adversary themselves were the greatest symbol of hope for the Alliance and asked them to lend their strength once again. She noted that the final battle was far more dangerous than anything they had ever fought, for which she would not force them to fight, though the Adversary readily accepted her request. Cygnus thanked them for their bravery and told them that she would engrave their determination deep inside her heart.

After the Adversary was briefed on the mission by Neinheart, Cygnus met with the Adversary that told them that the emblem of the Alliance represented their mutual trust and the courage to stand against evil. She showed them the jewel on her wrist that Shinsoo had given her and explained that as commander, it was her duty to nurture that trust and courage, adding that she was determined to do just that. Cygnus then announced that it was time to launch all Alliance ships to Tenebris. With that, Cygnus commanded the Alliance fleet to take off, with hundreds of smaller ships launching alongside the White Spear, including the Lumiere and the Nautilus, heading straight into a large portal that would take them into the Arcane River.

Giant Monster Gloom

As they entered Moonbridge, Kyrin reported that the Nautilus had encountered heavy turbulence ahead, with monsters emerging from the thick fog to attack the fleet. Just then, Edea and Claudine reported that powerful monsters had just attacked the Nova and Resistance fleets as well. Disturbed by the turbulence behind the fog and the monster attack, Neinheart asked the Adversary to handle the incoming enemies first and obtain samples from them. The Adversary returned with Wicked Soul Remains, which Edea began analyzing. As she did, the Adversary reported that there seemed to be no shortage of monsters, which seemed to be coming out of the fog. Just then, Kyrin reported that a thick wall of fog was blocking the fleet's path, with Cygnus realizing that it was the source of turbulence. Neinheart realized that it would be difficult to pierce through, while Claudine added that she was certain that the monsters were being created from behind it.

Edea soon finished her analysis and revealed that a dark entity within the fog - the Giant Monster Gloom - was crafting the monsters from pure Erda. Neinheart asked whether it was coming from Tenebris, to which Edea replied that it was difficult to say without piercing through the fog. Claudine suggested focusing their firepower on a single point, to which Neinheart replied that the White Spear's cannon was currently charging up, though the monsters were swarming around it, making it difficult to get a clear shot. Kyrin explained that she had learned that the monsters were being drawn to strong energy, which was likely why they were swarming around the cannon. In order to handle the threat, Neinheart proposed scattering the fleet and having each ship generate enough power to draw the monsters towards them, thereby clearing a path for the White Spear's cannon to pierce through the fog. Claudine decided to lead the charge, claiming that disruption and baiting was the Resistance's specialty. With the Nova taking the rear, Neinheart asked the Adversary to protect the Resistance ships as they drew in the monsters. The Adversary met with the Resistance leaders, who explained that Checky was planning to set off detonations to draw in the enemy. Together, they worked to set off the charges and finish off the drawing throng of monsters.

Soon enough, Neinheart reported to Cygnus that their line of fire had been secured. On Cygnus' command, the White Spear fired its cannon and created a large hole in the fog, allowing the Alliance fleet to push through. As the Alliance began celebrating taking their first step towards Tenebris, Cygnus thanked the Adversary for their help, though she warned that they didn't know what dangers awaited them on the other side of the fog. Some time later, the Adversary found Cygnus collapsed on the deck of the White Spear. They quickly rushed to her side and asked her whether she was okay, to which Cygnus apologized, noting that a commander shouldn't be showing weakness during a battle. She admitted that she was still afraid, as she feared what awaited them after getting past their first major hurdle. She added that she couldn't stop having such negative thoughts, and that she worried whether they would be able to defeat the Black Mage at all. The Adversary reassured her that they would prevail, to which Cygnus confessed that her fears made her wonder whether she would be able to fulfill her responsibilities as a leader and bring her people back home safely. Realizing that Cygnus was afraid of showing weakness to her allies, the Adversary consoled her and assured her that her fears were unfounded, and that she should focus on doing what only she could do.

Elsewhere, a Nova ship began entering an even thicker fog, where the Nova aboard the ship began hallucinating chains and thousands of terrible eyes staring through the fog, with several Nova being consumed by their despair and negative feelings, just as Cygnus had. Aboard a Resistance ship, the Resistance leaders noted that the fog had grown even heavier, and that they could feel an ominous chill in the air. Suddenly, a Resistance soldier arrived and reported that new enemies were appearing out of the fog and disappearing, leaving behind a feeling of dread and helplessness. Edea noted that Gloom had been created from the malevolent thoughts of the Black Mage, which were strong enough to sweep any ordinary person away. Because of this, she explained that the ominous aura and feelings of despair were spreading from the monsters being created by Gloom with those malevolent thoughts. She noted that they would likely need to reach Gloom's core in order to destroy it, though she warned that it would be difficult to reach it. The Adversary immediately volunteered to reach the core, for which Neinheart ordered the fleet to regroup.

A Brilliant Light

Cygnus then declared that the White Spear would take point and lead the charge, replying to a surprised Neinheart that it was the very reason why the flagship had been made. On her command, the Alliance fleet began to regroup as the soldiers fought through the incoming wave of monsters for the Adversary to get closer to Gloom. Though Cygnus herself led the charge to boost morale, Neinheart reported that the front lines were falling as the Alliance soldiers began succumbing to the despair of the Black Mage's powerful thoughts. Refusing to let her allies give up, Cygnus used Shinsoo's bracelet to create a powerful shield of light in order to defend them from the onslaught. Emboldened by Cygnus' leadership, the Alliance soldiers pushed on behind her, with Cygnus noting to herself that her allies had protected her with bruised hands like hers were now, and that it was now her turn to protect them. From the distance, the Adversary saw the brilliant light from the White Spear and felt as though Cygnus was calling to them to keep pushing forward.

Suddenly, however, Gloom emitted its own light as it shot a powerful beam of energy that easily shattered Cygnus' shield and unleashed a barrage of devastation on the White Spear. Cygnus quickly attempted to create another shield, but found that Shinsoo's power appeared to have been depleted entirely from it. Though she prayed to be granted the strength to protect everyone, Cygnus found that the shield had lost its light as she fell into despair herself. As she collapsed, Cygnus heard the morale of the soldiers dwindling as their allies began succumbing to their injuries and their helplessness. In the depths of darkness, however, Cygnus recalled the Adversary's earlier words of encouragement to her, reminding her to do what only she could do. Remembering the determination which had led the Alliance to where they currently were, Cygnus inscribed those feelings upon her heart and vowed to do whatever was in her power to lead her people to victory, declaring that it was her duty as the Empress to shoulder the burdens of her people and become a shield to protect their determination. Resolute in her own determination, Cygnus stood up and empowered the Alliance soldiers to fight alongside her. Upon seeing the Empress still fighting, the others around her stood up and fought the monsters in spite of their injuries, just as the Adversary arrived at the White Spear. Relieved to see that they had managed to rendezvous with the flagship, Cygnus asked them to finish off Gloom while the others cleared a path to the core. The Adversary then confronted Gloom and destroyed its core, causing the giant monster to disintegrate into pieces.

With Gloom defeated, the Adversary returned back to the White Spear and met with Edea, who reported that the path to Tenebris would soon open up. They then encountered Ollie standing beside a chest leaking with ominous energy. Ollie explained that the chest contained a fragment of Gloom's core, and that she had been tasked with transporting it back to the Outpost for analysis, as the Alliance leaders believed that they could learn something important from the core, which had been formed out of the Black Mage's thoughts. The Adversary then met with Kyrin, who told them that they had all seen a beacon of light shining as a ray of hope in the midst of their despair, and that it had been through the Alliance's collective determination that they had secured victory. The Resistance leaders then congratulated the Adversary for their work in defeating such a powerful foe, adding that they would soon be moving ahead towards Tenebris, though they added that Cygnus wanted to speak with them first. The Adversary then met with Cygnus, who thanked them for their hard work and encouragement, adding that it had been their words of advice which had brought her back from the brink of giving up when Shinsoo's shield had broken and she had believed that all was lost. She explained that she had finally learned what it was that only she could do: to never give up and to lift others' spirits up, even in the most desperate moments. She added that she would not waver again, as their collective determination was stronger than the darkness that sought to drag them down. Neinheart then reported that they would take a short break before resuming the operation to head towards Tenebris. Just he spoke, however, a Cygnus Knight reported in that an explosion had taken place while transporting the core fragment, and that Ollie had gone missing.

Labyrinth of Suffering

After Ollie was rescued, she revealed that exposure to the core had allowed her to see the Black Mage's memories, in which he had awakened as the Transcendent of Light after believing that the Overseers had left the world irreparably broken on a predestined path of annihilation. Though Claudine and Edea were disturbed to know that the Black Mage wasn't merely a madman out to destroy the world, Cygnus asked them to focus, as they were fighting to ensure their survival. Neinheart agreed, reminding them that the Black Mage's means were ruinous, regardless of how noble his ideals were. Ollie then told them that the final thought that she had felt from the Black Mage had been his goal to build the Path to Genesis. Just then, an Alliance soldier reported that they were about to reach Tenebris. Cygnus then ordered the Alliance leaders to prepare for battle, as well as telling Ollie to get some rest. She then asked Neinheart to give his strategy recommendation to minimize casualties, to which Neinheart told her that the Adversary would serve as the vanguard of the Alliance and forge their path through the darkness as they reached the heart of Tenebris.

However, Cygnus told Neinheart that the White Spear would be the vanguard and instead asked the Adversary to provide cover from the rear until the entire Alliance fleet reached Tenebris. Neinheart protested, telling Cygnus that it was too dangerous for her to lead the charge from the front lines. However, Cygnus retorted that she couldn't afford to hide behind others, as no one would trust her to lead them otherwise. She explained that everyone in the Alliance had placed their trust in her to be their leader, and that it was her responsibility to do so, for which she asked Neinheart and the Adversary to trust in her. Neinheart reluctantly agreed to Cygnus' plan and told the Adversary to watch their flank. After the Adversary left, Cygnus confided to Neinheart that she had sensed a darkness hanging over the Adversary, which was the real reason why she had wanted them to stay back. Recalling the Black Mage's prophecy, “A light whose brilliant glory is lost will face the soul of the world whilst steeped in mire and rot,” Cygnus felt a terrible sense of dread over what would happen to the Adversary.

Limina

While the Adversary fought to break free from Hilla's illusion in the Labyrinth of Suffering, Cygnus led the Alliance fleet to advance on Tenebris, with an enormous giant whose heart was the Genesis Crux emerging from the Origin Sea as the labyrinth collapsed. As the Alliance prepared to send the Adversary back to the giant's heart, Cygnus ordered the Resistance fleet to fight on the front lines and clear a path for the White Spear to pierce through the giant. The Resistance leaders were taken aback by Cygnus' plan, as she never usually put them in such a dangerous position, but Claudine told them that they needed to trust that she had a good reason. They then began firing on the giant, damaging its exterior and leaving it exposed. As Claudine ordered a retreat back to the White Spear, a massive wave of light emanated from the Genesis Crux. The soldiers who were caught in the Light of Annihilation immediately scattered into Erdas. Though dumbstruck by their heavy losses, Claudine decided that they would hold a memorial for their fallen soldiers later, as they had no time to mourn in the middle of a war. The Resistance leaders agreed that they wouldn't let their sacrifices be in vain, and that they would make the Black Mage pay.

As the Alliance prepared to counterattack, the Adversary was left speechless by Grendel's analysis of the core, which revealed that everything they had done had all been predetermined by the Black Mage, even up to their current moment. As they began wondering whether they could really defeat the Black Mage if their destiny had already been decided, Cygnus snapped them out of their stupor and told them that she was afraid just like them, as she feared whether she even deserved to be the Empress if everything had already been preordained by the Black Mage. However, she told them that despite those fears gnawing away at her, she would continue to fight no matter what, as she couldn't back down when there were so many people depending on her. She then asked the Adversary to continue lending their strength to the Alliance once again, reminding them about how they had already done the impossible many times before, and that if there was anyone who could defy destiny, it was them.

Just then, Neinheart reported that the giant's exterior layer had been shattered, and that the path to the Genesis Crux had been opened. Realizing that the time had come, Cygnus ordered all the core members of the Alliance to gather for the final battle. She then turned to the Adversary and told them that she trusted them, for which she asked them to trust her as well. She told the Adversary that together, they would prove that they were not merely pieces on a chessboard, and that they could live with their own free will, not as puppets of the gods. Aboard the White Spear, the greatest heroes of the Alliance assembled together: the Explorer, Tess, Olive, and Rondo, the Chief Knights, the Resistance leaders alongside the Demon and Xenon, the Heroes, Edea and the Nova, the Flora, the Anima, Kinesis, and Zero. Cygnus then addressed the gathering and told them that the time had come to defeat the Black Mage, who had cast darkness upon all of Maple World. She explained that their fight had begun centuries ago when the Black Mage had first tried to destroy the world, resulting in the death of Empress Aria as she moved for peace.

Though it had felt as though the world itself had been ending, the sacrifice of one lone mercenary - Ryude - had become a spark to signal the crisis on Ossyria, gathering together brave Heroes who had risked their lives to seal the Black Mage away. She added that though the Heroes had fought alone hundreds of years ago, things had changed considerably, as there were brave heroes from Maple World and other dimensions who had gathered together. Though she noted that they all seemingly had nothing in common, they had all united together under one Alliance to save the world. She explained that they all had something that they would risk their lives to protect, and that they would fight for that very reason. She then declared that it was time to commence the final operation with determined minds by facing the Black Mage together alongside all their allies. She explained that the White Spear would pierce through the giant and open the way to the Black Mage, with the flagship serving as the transport vessel for the Alliance's heroes to reach him safely.

The White Spear then pushed forward into the giant's heart, where the Alliance arrived at the Temple of Darkness. There, the Adversary and their allies confronted the Black Mage, who addressed the Alliance from the Throne of Darkness and declared that their path had always been preordained, and that they were only quickening their pace to its end. Facing the Black Mage, all the heroes of the Alliance addressed the Black Mage and declared that they would transcend his destiny. Cygnus addressed the Black Mage and declared that the Maple Alliance would never support him before she rallied the Chief Knights into attacking. After a fierce battle, the Adversary awakened the full power of the Seal Stone and cleaved the Black Mage and the Genesis Crux in half, returning Cygnus and the other heroes of the Alliance back into the giant's heart. Orchid noted that the Genesis Crux had vanished, while Oz realized that she couldn't sense the Black Mage's aura anymore. As everyone began celebrating their victory, Cygnus outstretched her hand and asked the Adversary to come back with her, as everyone was waiting. To her shock, however, the Adversary suddenly scattered into Erdas and vanished.

As Cygnus fell to her knees in anguish, the Chief Knights reported that the giant was moving, with Claudine urging her to retreat. With Cygnus remaining unmoving, Claudine told Cygnus not to let the Adversary's sacrifice be in vain, to which Orchid asked everyone to lend her a portion of their magic, as it was her first time teleporting so many people. Meanwhile, Neinheart watched in earnest as ten minutes passed since the giant had fallen silent. Suddenly, Cygnus reported that the Genesis Crux had been destroyed, causing the soldiers to begin cheering. However, she struggled with how to break the news that the Adversary had been destroyed. Suddenly, Cygnus and the others were shocked to find that all the soldiers who had been scattered into Erda had suddenly been restored to life. As the Adversary returned back into the material world, they heard the White Mage's final words congratulating them for their victory in having escaped the destiny that he had set for them and finding a new path. He told them that the future was now in their hands, adding that though he didn't know what kind of enemies they would face next, he trusted them to face it. He then asked them once again to keep persevering, and that he would give his blessings for the future that they would create.

The Adversary then appeared before the astonished Alliance leaders, with Edea wondering whether the Black Mage had used the power of creation to resurrect them. However, Claudine happily declared that it didn't matter, as the only important thing was that the Adversary was alive. A teary-eyed Cygnus asked the Adversary to never disappear like that again before thanking them for coming back. With everyone in the Alliance slowly returning back to life, the Adversary spoke a final farewell to the Black Mage once and for all. After getting some much-needed rest, the Adversary soon returned back to the Outpost, where Cygnus greeted them and asked if they had gotten some rest after defeating the Black Mage, to which the Adversary replied that it had been ages since they had been able to sleep as well as they had. Neinheart then told the Adversary that he had several things to report, with the first being that Orchid had disappeared after the battle. He explained that he had attempted to ask Guwaru about her whereabouts, though Guwaru had refused to cooperate. Neinheart added that the Alliance was continuing to track her down, and that though she had helped the Alliance during the Arcane River and Tenebris expeditions, they could not ignore all her past crimes. Nevertheless, he admitted that they would have to think about how to handle her if she had truly changed her ways. He then added that there were others waiting to meet them, causing the Adversary to worry whether there was another threat. Just then, several other leaders of the Alliance arrived, causing the Adversary to realize that Neinheart had merely been joking.

Aftermath

Cygnus Knight

In Ereve, Empress Cygnus addressed her Knights and thanked them all for their bravery. She then asked if they were willing to continue following her in the fight against evil, which garnered a rallying cry for Cygnus. Neinheart personally thanked the Cygnus Knight for their dedication and asked if they would continue doing what was required for the sake of the Empress, to which the Knight told Neinheart that just as always, they would always trust and follow the Empress. Cygnus then thanked them for their service, addressing them as the sixth Chief Knight.

Mihile

In Ereve, Empress Cygnus addressed her Knights and thanked them all for their bravery, noting that they had all played their parts admirably in their order of knights, which had been founded to face the Black Mage. She added that amongst them, Mihile had played the most important role in the most dangerous place, and that without him or the Cygnus Knights, Ereve would not bask in the warm sunlight that now fell upon them. She then asked if they were willing to continue following her and Mihile in the fight against evil, which garnered a rallying cry for them both. Neinheart personally thanked Mihile for his dedication and asked if he would continue doing what was required for the sake of the Empress, to which Mihile told Neinheart that just as always, he would always trust and follow the Empress. Cygnus then thanked him for their service, addressing them as the eternal leader of the Cygnus Knights.

At the Conference Pavilion, Cygnus met with Mihile and noted that the centuries-long war had finally come to an end. Mihile told her that it was thanks to her leadership, but Cygnus replied that it was instead thanks to everyone's noble sacrifice. Mihile then told her that there was something that he had wanted to ask. Mihile began reminiscing about how she had seen the light within him when they had first met many years ago. He asked Cygnus how she was so sure that he could become a Knight of Light when he himself had doubted it. Cygnus told him that she still remembered the day when they had first met, and how he hadn't hesitated to save her.

She explained that when he had taken her hand while saving her from the stray dogs, she had witnessed the brightest light that she had ever seen. She added that his bravery hadn't just been with the stray dogs either, as he hadn't hesitated when a greater threat had loomed in the form of Atan. She reminded him of what she had said when he had defended her from Atan - that his warm heart which valued life was enough for him to become the guardian of Maple World. Cygnus then asked him a question of her own, explaining that when they had first met each other, she hadn't been great either, as she had merely been a young and powerless girl in spite of having ascended the throne, and so she wondered why he had agreed to follow her. Mihile replied that his father, Chromile, had reminded him that serving the Empress was the reason why he had been able to awaken his light. Mihile explained that the reason why he had been able to awaken and maintain his light was because he had the heart to protect her. He then swore that he would continue to do so until the day he died, and that he would follow only her into the future.

Phantom

The same evening that the Heroes had met at Freud's house, Phantom decided to stop by Ereve. There, he watched as Neinheart found Cygnus wandering around the grounds alone. Neinheart asked Cygnus if she wasn't enjoying the celebrations, but Cygnus told him that she was happier than she had been in a long time. However, the sacrifices and lives lost during the war were weighing heavily on her mind, and so she felt that it wasn't right to celebrate. At the same time, she knew that she couldn't mourn their losses that night, and that she instead needed to put on a brave face for her people, who needed to celebrate. Neinheart smiled and acknowledged her wisdom, after which Cygnus told him that it was time to return to the party. As they left, Phantom noted that he was glad to see what a strong leader she had become, after which he returned to the Lumiere.

There, he met Gaston, who noted that Phantom was late. Phantom told him that he had an important stop to make and asked if the celebration preparations were ready. Gaston told Phantom that since he had been out for a while, everyone had gotten started without him. Phantom smiled and replied that he couldn't fault them, as it had been a long time since they had reason to celebrate. Gaston asked if the important stop he had made was in Ereve, as Phantom always had a ruffled expression after visiting. He then asked what Cygnus had told him, to which Phantom explained what he had witnessed, adding that he hadn't spoken with her, claiming it hadn't been the right time. Phantom then looked up at the moon and asked Aria if she was still up there watching over him. As petals fluttered around him, Phantom voiced aloud that he like to believe that she was, and if so, he thanked her. With that, he ordered Gaston to set sail for the new world with a corrupted Transcendent, noting that their work was not yet over.

Khali

In Ereve, Cygnus found Khali ruminating atop a cliff, gazing at the sky. She told Khali that as the hero of the battle was nowhere to be found, she had to come and find her. At Khali's silence, Cygnus noted that she seemed to have a lot on her mind. She then asked Khali whether she recalled the day when she had first joined the Alliance. Cygnus explained that she had made a promise that she would stand with Khali when the time came if Khali would fight for Maple World, adding that she would gladly help if now was the time. Khali thanked Cygnus for her support, but declined her help, explaining that if the Alliance were to intervene, it would result in a war between Ereve and Erimos, which wouldn't bode well when the Alliance had already been weakened after the final battle. Though Cygnus acknowledged her words, she pointed out that Khali had saved their world, and that she wasn't afraid of fighting a war for the sake of a hero. Khali replied that she was grateful, but that she wanted to take Ypsilon's life with her own hands.

Glory Guard

Soon after, the Adversary received a letter from Cygnus, detailing how the Cygnus Knights were busy helping with the rebuilding efforts. She asked if they would be willing to help out with a new mission, but as the information was sensitive, she called them back to the Outpost in order to discuss it. At the redesigned Outpost, they ran into Ollie, who told them that she was glad to see them again, explaining that the Alliance was busy defeating the last monsters in Esfera and capturing the Black Mage's Commanders. The Adversary decided to ask Neinheart about it, but Ollie warned that Neinheart had been in a bad mood for the past week. The Adversary met with Neinheart and immediately recognized that he wasn't looking well. Neinheart told them that he had been completely overwhelmed, and that Ereve's funds were low because of the war effort, meaning that there was hardly anything left for rebuilding Maple World. Though he was at a loss for how to make up the deficit, he explained that Cygnus had an idea for how to do so. At the conference table, Cygnus greeted them and explained that rather than using armies, she planned to create a small, elite team composed of the Alliance's most talented people and asked if they would be willing to be part of the Glory Guard, which the Adversary accepted without hesitation.

Convergence

Soon after the convergence of Maple World and Grandis, Neinheart met with Mercedes in Lachelein, where they began arguing over whether the Alliance or Elluel would have custody over a comatose Lucid. Though Neinheart refused to change his stance, Cygnus soon sent a messenger to inform Neinheart that she had decided that Lucid's fate would be left to Elluel, causing both Neinheart and Mercedes to breathe a sigh of relief over not having to argue over the matter any further.

Cernium

At an Alliance meeting following the convergence of the two worlds, Cygnus and the other leaders marveled at how unbelievable it was that Grandis and Maple World were now one. However, they acknowledged that the fusion of their worlds meant that fighting Darmoor, who had a similar goal to remake the world as the Black Mage, was now an even higher priority, though Claudine pointed out that they were still recovering from the war against the Black Mage and asked how they were supposed to fight Darmoor. Neinheart then arrived with Carlisle, who reassured them that it wouldn't come to that if they helped him. He told them that Darmoor was waging war against all of Grandis, and that though his army was formidable, resistance fighters had forced him to spread his resources thin. Because of this, Carlisle believed that Darmoor was far from capable of crossing the forgotten sea to Maple World. Edea asked Carlisle why he had come to see the Alliance, to which he explained that Cernium was on the verge of invasion, and so he had come to request that the Alliance take on Darmoor while the High Flora army was still weak. Claudine noted that it would be helpful to have new allies, especially ones who had an intelligence network on the High Flora army. However, Carlisle clarified that Cernium didn't plan to join the Alliance, as they were only interested in protecting the holy land, rather than getting involved in a fight against a Transcendent.

Claudine was furious and demanded to know what kind of leader would abandon their allies just to save themselves. However, Cygnus told Claudine to calm down and reminded her that they couldn't force everyone to join their fight. Neinheart concurred and added that they would be no better than the enemy if they were to ignore a request for help. However, Claudine and Edea both protested that the Alliance wasn't prepared to fight in such a way, to which Neinheart told them that it was an opportunity to build a friendship with Cernium, which would not forget their aid. Carlisle agreed and told them that as a holy land, Cernium was frequented by countless pilgrims, whose patronage had made the land quite wealthy. He explained that in exchange for the Alliance's aid, Cernium would reward them handsomely. Though she conceded that it was a generous offer, Claudine pointed out that it wouldn't do them much good if they didn't survive the battle. Just then, an Alliance soldier arrived with urgent news for Cygnus, who adjourned the meeting and told everyone to consider what had been discussed in order to work out a plan the next day.

That night, Cygnus met with the Adversary and told them that the moment that the dimensional seal between Maple World and Grandis had been broken, ancient ruins and artifacts all over the world had lit up with an unusual magical glow, which Alliance experts believed to be the result of the Ancient Gods reawakening. Cygnus told them that until now, the only one powerful enough to face a Transcendent had been the Adversary, who possessed the Seal Stone, which was why the heaviest burdens had always fallen to them. However, she believed that discovering how to use the power of the Ancient Gods would help the Alliance grow far stronger than they had been when they had faced the Black Mage. As Cernium was a holy land of the Ancient Gods and their people, Cygnus believed that Carlisle's offer was an opportunity to learn more about the Ancient Gods and their power. Because of this, she asked the Adversary if they were willing to be part of the reinforcements that the Alliance would be sending to save not just Maple World, but Grandis as well. Several days later, Neinheart and Cygnus traveled to the border between worlds in order to see the Glory Guard off, which was composed of the Adversary, Edea, Hawkeye, and Checky.

Soon after the disastrous mission, the Glory Guard returned to Maple World and the Alliance held a meeting to cover the shocking events that had transpired. Edea explained that she had tried to protect the Adversary, but Mitra's power had badly injured everyone. She confessed that things could have been far worse if Seren hadn't been able to take control of her body back. Neinheart was surprised that the holy sword could have broken so easily, to which Edea echoed Aaron's words that only a god could challenge another god, and that Adversary and the Seal Stone were matched in power with Mitra and Azor, which was likely what Darmoor had intended all along. When Cygnus asked what had happened to Seren, Edea explained that Seren had left Cernium in order to fix Azor. She explained that after the Adversary had broken the holy sword, the city was in an uproar, and that it had been a miracle that they had been able to leave without getting hurt.

Neinheart then summarized that they had learned nothing of the Ancient Gods, the alliance with Cernium had failed, and the Adversary had lost the power of the Seal Stone. Edea agreed that it was a disaster, but she explained that there was no way that they could have known that Aaron was Gerand Darmoor. Claudine asked why Darmoor had not only allowed the Adversary and the other Alliance members to escape, but had also restored the library using the power of time. Athena Pierce supposed that it meant that he didn't consider the Alliance a threat anymore. Edea added that he was a Transcendent, and that there was no way to know what he was thinking. However, she noted that everything had seemed too well-coordinated for it to have merely been a move against the Alliance or even the Adversary. She also added that even though it may have been an act, she couldn't help but think that it had something to do with what he had told her when they had first met, which was that he hated the High Flora more than anyone else, despite being born as one.

Arteria

Invasion of Maple World

During the skirmishes between the Alliance and Limbo's Specter army at the border between worlds, several Alliance soldiers were kidnapped and brought to Aboris for interrogation, where Ypsilon extracted their memories to uncover new information about the Alliance. While interrogating one soldier, Ypsilon discovered that Shinsoo was an Ancient God, and that Cygnus was a Transcendent-in-waiting. After Ypsilon reported his findings, Gerand Darmoor ordered Reina to invade Maple World while the other Apostles attacked various parts of Grandis to drain the power of the gods. Soon after the invasion of Odium, Reina invaded Maple World aboard the Battleship Arteria, sending the High Flora army to attack various parts of Maple World in order spread the Alliance's forces away from Ereve. As the invasion commenced, the Adversary, Gaon, and the Glory Guard returned from Shangri-La with the World Heart, where they immediately rushed to Ereve after learning that the High Flora were attacking.

In Ereve, they found Neinheart and Cygnus at the command center overseeing the battle with a holographic projection of the city. The pair greeted the Glory Guard, though Neinheart was confused upon seeing Gaon. Oz introduced Gaon as a resident of Shangri-La and handed Neinheart a report that she explained contained more details. Neinheart briefly skimmed through the report, including the details on the World Heart, and noted that they seemed to have had their hands full during their mission, especially the Adversary, who had gained a new power. He then told the Adversary that they would speak more on the matter later before turning to Gaon and welcoming him to Maple World. As Oz and the Adversary had placed their trust in him, Neinheart explained that the Alliance would welcome him as a friend, though he added that now was not the time for pleasantries.

Oz asked Neinheart what was happening in Maple World, to which Neinheart explained that, as they knew by now, Maple World was under attack from the High Flora army, and that the Cygnus Knights were doing everything that they could in order to stop their advance. When the Adversary asked what the situation was like, Neinheart explained that the Knights had been able to hold their defenses in each region, with the Explorers working together with the Knights in order to defend Victoria Island, and with the Resistance protecting Edelstein. He also explained that the Knights were working to minimize casualties in other regions, while Ereve was raising a defensive barrier around the newly-constructed command center. When the Adversary asked about the barrier, Neinheart told them that he had created it for just such a situation, in which the Chief Knights were away on various missions and unable to protect the Empress. He explained that four barrier stones had been placed in the north, south, east, and west regions of Ereve, with the barrier being created from all four activated stones.

However, Neinheart told the Adversary that he hadn't anticipated that they would need to use it so soon, to which Cygnus added that they couldn't afford to be negligent simply because their allies were on the move, as they had no idea when the enemy would attack again. She then asked Oz and the Adversary to enter the battlefield, apologizing for asking it of them so soon after they had just returned. Oz immediately obliged, noting that it was her duty, before asking where she should go. Neinheart ordered her to take charge of the Blaze Wizard squad outside and team up with Irena. Noting that the two of them were ready, Kiriru began preparing the ship. Suddenly, however, he stopped and told the Adversary that there was a strange airflow preventing him from getting the ship afloat. Just then, Arteria appeared in the sky, causing them all to look up in shock at the massive battleship, which unleashed a powerful laser that decimated the shield around Ereve.

Battle of Ereve

Neinheart immediately contacted the Adversary and explained that with the shield down, a large number of enemy soldiers were descending onto Ereve. Cygnus added that though Irena and Oz were keeping them at bay, they didn't have enough manpower to repel them. The Adversary asked Neinheart where they ought to go, to which Neinheart explained that the situation was changing so quickly that he hadn't received any reports on the current status. Because of this, he asked them to head to the Supply Point and meet with Kidan, who would guide them on where to go next. The two then traveled to the Supply Point, dodging the heavy bombardment raining down from Arteria's cannons. There, Kidan asked them to support Irena and her Wind Archer unit, which was fighting on the northern battlefield nearby. The pair then rendezvoused with Irena before reporting to Neinheart that they had arrived on the scene. Neinheart explained that the barrier surrounding Ereve had been destroyed, and that the enemy had invaded the island. He told them that the situation was dire, as their main forces in Ereve consisted only of Irena, Oz, and the Adversary, with Oz explaining that both Mihile and Hawkeye were in Grandis, and Eckhart - who was still fighting at the frontlines - likely wouldn't be returning from his battle for some time.

Oz then explained that something was bothering her, as it felt like too much of a coincidence that the High Flora would launch such a massive attack on Ereve when almost all the Chief Knights were away. Neinheart agreed and realized that the enemy had made a feint attack, with the High Flora soldiers being bait to split up the Cygnus Knights' forces and reduce Ereve's manpower, causing the Adversary to realize that it meant that Ereve had been the High Flora's objective from the beginning. Cygnus asked Neinheart what the statuses of all the Knights sent elsewhere were, to which he explained that he had received a report that most of the Flora soldiers had been defeated. However, Cygnus realized that as long as the enemy hadn't been completely wiped out, they couldn't risk recalling the Knights back to Ereve and leaving the rest of Maple World undefended. Though Irena protested that it would leave her in danger, Cygnus replied that it was only for a short time until the Knights could be recalled, adding that if they could withstand the High Flora invasion, it would their victory.

Neinheart then realized that once their forces returned, they would be able to launch an attack on Arteria and seize the battleship. He decided that they would follow Cygnus' orders, emphasizing that in the meantime, they needed to be prepared to make any sacrifice necessary to hold their ground. The Adversary asked Neinheart what they should do first, to which he explained that the enemy barrage had stopped temporarily after their initial attack, which meant that they needed to repair the barrier around Ereve before the bombardment resumed. As the Glory Guard attempted to repair the barrier, the High Flora army surrounded them, severely injuring Oz. While Gaon held off the enemy, Oz contacted Neinheart, who asked her whether she was alright before explaining that he had already sent the Adversary to join her. The Adversary reported in and told him that they had already joined with Oz, and that Irena would follow as soon as she reactivated the western barrier stone. In pain, Oz weakly told Neinheart that she hadn't been able to protect the eastern barrier stone, and that they needed a change of plans, as their frontlines had been thrown in disarray by the enemy. Upon hearing how weak Oz's voice was, Cygnus realized that she was badly hurt, though Oz reassured the Empress that she was fine. Neinheart asked Oz not to push herself and added that Irena had just reactivated the western barrier stone, and that she would soon arrive. However, Oz replied that they wouldn't be able to hold out, as the Flora soldiers were flooding in. Though disturbed by their precarious situation, Cygnus told the Adversary that she was glad that they were by Oz's side and asked them to protect her, despite how hopeless the situation seemed.

Cygnus Kidnapped

At the command center, Neinheart and Cygnus desperately attempted to contact the Adversary, Irena, and Oz, but found that none of them were replying. Though Cygnus feared that something terrible had happened to them in the massive wave of ice magic that had just been unleashed, Neinheart reassured her that they would be fine, as the Adversary and the others had survived such dire odds before. Suddenly, Reina arrived and used her powers to freeze all the Cygnus Knights guarding the Empress and Neinheart. Reina noted that it was unfortunate for Cygnus, as the Adversary and their allies' lives were about to be snuffed out like candles in the wind. Recognizing Reina as the commander of the High Flora invasion, Neinheart demanded to know what her objective was, just as Reina teleported in front of Cygnus and used her ice cane to slash her. Turning back to Neinheart, Reina replied that her objective ought to be obvious from her having come all the way to Ereve, explaining that she had come for only one thing – his Empress. Neinheart immediately raised his book and attempted to attack Reina, who quickly cut down Neinheart as well before telling him that he was in her way.

As Neinheart collapsed painfully on the floor, Cygnus cried out in shock. Critically wounded, Neinheart weakly told Cygnus to escape. However, Cygnus replied that she couldn't do so when she was the Empress, as she could never make a choice to abandon someone just to save herself. She explained that standing alongside everyone on the battlefield was the sole reason why she could lead everyone as their Empress. Impressed with Cygnus' bravery, Reina noted that she could understand how Cygnus had been able to lead the Alliance, despite her young age, adding that Cygnus was a leader who truly deserved the loyalty that her soldiers had for her. However, she then added that such a story could only be true in a world at peace, as it had no place in a world ravaged by war like Grandis. Despite her painful wounds, Cygnus asked Reina what she wanted from her, adding that the Alliance wouldn't surrender and wouldn't lose, even if she were killed, for the people who loved their world would remain, even after her death. Reina commended Cygnus for her courage in standing up to her, as her decision not to run was a good answer, though she warned that it was a foolish decision, and one that Cygnus would forever regret. Taking out the red crystal that Darmoor had given her, Reina used its divine power on Cygnus, unleashing a wave of frost throughout the area.

After Cygnus was knocked out, Reina brought her aboard Arteria, where Cygnus awoke in Reina's throne room. Severely wounded, Cygnus weakly asked Reina whether she had targeted her because the Alliance was a threat, reminding her that even if she - or even the Alliance itself - were to fall, there would always be people who would stand up and fight to protect Maple World. Reina asked Cygnus whether she was still going on about the Alliance in her current situation, noting that she certainly had the qualities of a true leader. However, she explained that she had no interest in the Alliance, as what she was truly after were Cygnus' powers. She noted that Cygnus possessed the qualifications of not only a leader, but a Transcendent as well, though she added that someone like Cygnus could never compare to Gerand Darmoor.

Just as Cygnus expressed her shock at Reina's true goals, the battleship began shaking before being frozen in place. Reina noted that the Cygnus Knights were interfering once again, though she then turned to Cygnus and asked whether she was the one who had done it. She wondered briefly whether Cygnus had been hiding her abilities earlier, or whether Cygnus had been unable to use them at the time, before realizing that it was the work of Shinsoo, who had returned to protect Ereve and bestowed a portion of her power to the World Heart to help the Adversary rescue Cygnus. Reina explained that she knew about who Shinsoo was, though she had never imagined that her powers would be so strong. As a shocked Cygnus realized that Shinsoo had returned, Reina noted that Cygnus' underlings still lived. Cygnus warned Reina not to underestimate the Alliance, vowing that things wouldn't go according to her plan.

In response, Reina merely used her ice powers to knock Cygnus out before contacting Lystor, who used his wings to fly down to her location. Reina told Lystor that she was going to begin extracting Cygnus' powers, to which Lystor warned her that the process would cause a strain on Arteria's energy supply, which meant that they wouldn't be able to use their cannons. Reina replied that they already had the Empress in their hands, and since they had no need to destroy the barrier anymore, they had no need to use the cannons. However, she warned him to take note of the enemy's movements, as they would undoubtedly try to rescue Cygnus. She reminded him that the God-King wanted the Empress' power and ordered him not to let the enemy seize her before they extracted it. She then added that as long the enemy had Arteria frozen in place, stopping them was Lystor's top priority. As Lystor began preparing Cygnus for extraction, Reina recalled Cygnus' bold words, warning her not to underestimate the Alliance. Though Reina conceded that she admired Cygnus' willpower, she noted to herself that willpower was useless without the strength to protect oneself before dismissing Cygnus as pitiful and foolish. Taking out her crystal, Reina turned to an unconscious Cygnus, whom Lystor had placed on a table, and began draining her powers.

The Empress' Sacrifice

Meanwhile, the Alliance airships landed in Arteria's hanger to rescue Cygnus. Though they were overwhelmed by the size of the battleship, the Adversary suddenly began to hear Cygnus' voice in their head. Though neither they nor Cygnus was sure of how it was happening at first, the Adversary quickly realized that Shinsoo – who shared a connection with the Empress – had given them her powers inside the World Heart, which Cygnus had unconsciously been able to form a mental link with. Cygnus realized that it was the most likely explanation, as even Reina had sensed Shinsoo's powers earlier. She then added that thanks to Shinsoo sharing her power, she could now deliver her message to the Adversary. Cygnus told them that assuming that she hadn't been relocated since losing consciousness, she was on the topmost floor of the battleship. She added that she could vaguely feel the Adversary's presence, and that they should be able to feel hers through their connection. With their bond, the Adversary was able to confirm that Cygnus was still on the top floor, though Cygnus soon began losing energy and fell unconscious.

As they fought through and destroyed the ice soldiers in their way, the Adversary noted that the soldiers were quite strong, and that they were getting closer to Cygnus' location, with her voice encouraging them as they went on. Cygnus then apologized to them for putting everyone in danger, explaining that it was all her fault, as the enemy was after her unawakened Transcendent powers. Before losing consciousness once again from the immense cold, Cygnus managed to warn the Adversary to be careful, as the enemy was powerful. Reaching the top level, the Adversary entered the throne room, where they found an unconscious Cygnus and Reina draining the last of her powers into her red crystal. Reina declared that they were too late, as she had already extracted the power that she wanted, leaving Cygnus as nothing but an empty husk. When the Adversary refused to believe it, Reina replied that she had heard about them, and how they were an Adversary who had killed a Transcendent.

With reinforcements on the way, the Adversary decided that they needed to hold Reina off until help arrived. As they fought against Reina, Cygnus began regaining consciousness, and though she was barely able to open her eyes, she saw that Reina was overpowering the Adversary. Reina quickly surmised that the Adversary was stalling until help arrived, and though she admitted that the end was approaching, she told them that it wouldn't be the end that they were hoping for. She then launched another attack on the Adversary, who collapsed on the floor as the divine shield created from Shinsoo's power inside the World Heart faded away. As the wounded Adversary struggled to stand, Cygnus looked on in horror as she realized that the Adversary was about to die because of her. The Adversary defiantly told Reina that they couldn't lose here, to which Reina replied that it was unfortunate, as their life was about to end here. Just as Reina stabbed the Adversary, Cygnus used the last of her strength to rush forward and take the fatal blow in the Adversary's place.

The Adversary looked up in shock at Cygnus, who smiled back sadly at them as she collapsed. The horrified Adversary asked her why she would sacrifice her life for their sake, telling her that she may never awake if she lost consciousness here. Dying by the minute, Cygnus weakly told the Adversary that she was alright, and that because of them, everyone in the world would be able to live on. Struggling to stay conscious, she told the Adversary that she was leaving the Alliance and the world in their hands. As her vision began blurring, Cygnus noted to herself that it felt as though she was falling into a deep expanse of water. Though she was unable to hear anything anymore, she could still see the Adversary crying over her, making her wonder whether this was what dying felt like. Cygnus asked the Adversary not to cry and apologized for everything, regretfully telling them that if she had been more capable, she could have been of more help to them, and that they wouldn't have had to bear such heavy burdens. She then apologized one last time for leaving them with yet another burden.

As she closed her eyes for the last time, Reina asked the Adversary whether they were finished with their goodbyes, reminding them that their Empress had given everything to save their life before asking whether they were planning to let that go to waste. As the Adversary furiously turned to face Reina, she noted that they seemed much sharper now and challenged them to see which of them would fall first. Meanwhile, reinforcements arrived and surrounded Reina, who was barely able to escape after using the power of her draining crystal and absorbing the backlash herself. Though the Alliance wished to pursue Reina, they discovered that Cygnus was still barely alive, for which they extracted her and retreated back to Ereve in order to give her emergency medical treatment.

Soon after the battle, the Adversary met with Neinheart, who asked them whether they were doing okay. He explained that though Cygnus hadn't yet regained consciousness, he believed that she would soon recover. He noted that it was fortunate that Claudine had been present, as her emergency treatment had helped them avoid the worst. He explained that as per the Chief Knights' request, they had placed Cygnus by Shinsoo's side at her refuge in Leafre, as Shinsoo's powers would help the Empress recover her strength better than anything else. Having caught the Adversary up on the situation, Neinheart suggested that they visit the Empress and offered to take them to Shinsoo's refuge. In Leafre, the Adversary met with Shinsoo and found a comatose Cygnus lying at her side. Shinsoo greeted them as the one who held the power and confirmed that Cygnus was in stable condition. When the Adversary began apologizing for failing to protect Cygnus, Shinsoo told them not to blame themselves, as it had been her responsibility to keep the Empress safe, lamenting that she had been unable to do anything to help, even while knowing that Cygnus was a child who had possessed power far beyond what her body was capable of handling.

The Adversary asked Shinsoo whether Cygnus would ever wake up again, to which Shinsoo explained that Cygnus would need time – far more time than the Adversary could even imagine. The Adversary replied that they couldn't let Cygnus stay in such a state for that long and asked whether there was any way to quicken her recovery. Shinsoo explained that the power of a higher being would be of help, whether that was the power of a Transcendent, or the power of the Ancient Gods, as her kind was now known as in the present day. The Adversary then realized that in the search for that power, they would undoubtedly need to face Gerand Darmoor in the end. Shinsoo sadly noted that they bore a heavy burden on their shoulders once again, for which she explained that there was only one thing that she could do. She asked the Adversary to come close, upon which the World Heart immediately began reacting to Shinsoo and started absorbing her powers. Shinsoo explained that while she had very little power left, she would offer whatever remained of it in order to help them on their journey. She told the Adversary that she planned to fall into a deep sleep alongside Cygnus, as someone needed to be there to guide her within her dreams. She then prayed that the Adversary remained safe until they met again, falling into a deep slumber soon after.

Story (FriendStory)

In FriendStory, Cygnus' counterpart is the sheltered, isolated, and incredibly lonely heiress of Shinsoo Corporation and the de-facto head of Shinsoo International School. She is drawn to the player quickly, who is very surprised that she is more out of place in Seoul than they are. Her philanthropic attitude towards the students, while well meaning, is viewed as naïve at times, both by the player and Neinheart.

The World Beyond the Closet

In Ereve, Empress Cygnus had a dream of a different version of herself in Friends World, which she recounted to Neinheart and the Chief Knights. Meanwhile, the Cygnus from Friends World recounted a similar dream that she had of herself on Maple World to Neinheart, who told her that a new transfer student would be arriving soon. Elsewhere, the student who would be transferring to Shinsoo International Private School was pulled into Maple World through a dimensional rift in their closet. In their place, a traveler from Maple World arrived at Shinsoo International School in Seoul, where they were to take the place of the original student until they decided to return back home. Once the traveler obtained a uniform, Elwin called and told them that Shinsoo International School was a school set up by the Shinsoo Corporation, which was run by a rich family who had sent their heiress and only daughter, Cygnus, to study there. The traveler arrived at the school, where they met Cygnus and her chauffeur. Though Cygnus didn't recognize the traveler, she told them that her handkerchief had been blown into a tree. The traveler climbed the tree and returned it to Cygnus, who was impressed by their skills and exchanged numbers with them. After Cygnus left, her chauffeur told them to stay away from Cygnus, believing that they were planning to pretend to be her friend and then stab her in the back, as many others had done to her in the past.

Cygnus and the New Kind

In Cygnus' office at Shinsoo International School, Cygnus gushed to Neinheart about the transfer student she had met, whom she called the ‘new student of fate'. Meanwhile, a bully overheard Cygnus gushing over the traveler. As he was also a transfer student, he assumed that he was the one whom she was talking about. Back in the city, Elwin called the traveler and told them to meet him outside the front gates of the school. There, they met Elwin in the form of a dog, who told them that he was trying not to stand out. He then urged them to do the same by refraining from using their powers so that they could covertly find the monsters spawned from Maple World's dark energies. Just then, Cygnus called them and asked them to come to her office in order to finish their transfer paperwork. At her office, Cygnus introduced herself and explained that there was no principal because her family had allowed her to manage the school, as they believed that it would be like a management course for her.

After learning their name, she felt that it was familiar, though she quickly dismissed the feeling. Cygnus then officially welcomed them to the school after finalizing the paperwork. Cygnus then told them to meet the dean at the Staff Lounge, where Dean Stan told them that the school had a zero-tolerance policy of fighting and gave them a final warning because of their fight with the bully. He also gave them the class president's number and told them to call him in order to have him set them straight. However, when they called Neinheart, the class president, he immediately hung up on them. On the second call, he picked up and apologized, as he believed that all unknown numbers were scam calls. He asked the traveler to meet him at the library, where he told them that he knew about everything that happened in the school and warned them to stay away from Cygnus. As punishment for their fight, he assigned them cleaning duties on the upper floors.

Soon after, Cygnus called the traveler and offered to show them around town, telling them to meet her at the school entrance after school. On their way there, they overheard several students gossiping about them. The traveler was exasperated to hear the talk about them, as they were meant to remain inconspicuous. As they were making their way to the school gates, Cygnus was arguing with her chauffeur, who refused to drive her around with the traveler, as she was to have dinner with the board members that night. However, Cygnus ordered him to cancel the dinner and to make up an excuse to her parents before leaving. Some time later, the traveler arrived at the school gates, where the chauffeur asked if they had seen Cygnus, who had stormed off earlier. When they called Cygnus, she told them that she had slipped out the back door in order to lose her chauffeur and told them to meet her there. The two then made their way around the city, where they encountered Oz and Irena at a food truck. Oz asked Cygnus if she could pay for them, as they had forgotten their wallets. However, the vendor refused to accept the check that Cygnus wrote, and so the traveler decided to pay for everyone.

Oz and Irena thanked them and gave them their numbers, promising to pay them back. Oz recommended that they check out a tarot card reader on the other side of the overpass. There, they ran into Neinheart, who told them that the card reader specialized in romance, which flustered Cygnus. Inside the tent, they met Cassandra, who told them that they had shared a previous life in another world, where Cygnus was an Empress and the traveler was a warrior who protected her. Cygnus immediately recalled the dream that she had of Maple World and told the traveler that they were perfect for each other. They then decided to take the bus to another part of town, which was thrilling for Cygnus, as she had never taken public transportation before. After getting off, they encountered Elwin in his dog form, when all of a sudden, the chauffeur appeared to escort her back. Elwin then told the traveler that the Motes were back and asked them to take care of it. After dealing with the Motes, the traveler returned to Elwin, who told them that he suspected that someone was trying to target Cygnus, as he had heard a voice earlier that had cursed Cygnus and had promised to get her soon.

The next day, Cygnus met with Oz and Irena for lunch when the bully arrived to flirt with Cygnus. Irritated, Irena pummeled the bully and warned him to watch himself before all three of them left. Just then, Areda arrived and berated her son for his ineptitude. She then decided to handle the situation herself. After school, Cygnus met with Neinheart and told him that she had overheard a rumor that she had kissed someone with crazy hair, whom she interpreted to be the traveler, though she was confused why anyone would describe the traveler as having crazy hair. Neinheart promised to investigate the matter and called the traveler, asking them to meet him at the school roof. There, they found Neinheart with Irena, Hawkeye, Mihile, Eckhart, and Oz. Neinheart explained the rumor to them and said that though they all agreed that the rumor referred to the bully, he doubted that the bully was clever enough to have started it, which made him suspect that someone was trying to discredit Cygnus. Neinheart asked the traveler to obtain the bully's student records, telling them that they needed to covertly obtain them, since the records were off-limits to students. They went to the Staff Room, where Elwin met them and explained that the Motes had appeared and swept away the student records. The traveler defeated the Motes and obtained the records, which they took to Neinheart.

Neinheart learned that the bully was Areda's son and he explained how, one year ago, Areda had met with Cygnus and had learned that not only had Cygnus built Shinsoo International School right next to another school, but she had also bought the bus system to ensure that the students could commute in order to prevent her school from being torn down. After leaving the meeting, Areda had cursed Cygnus for her intervention, as she had wanted the school to be demolished for her plans. To get revenge, she had resolved to have Cygnus marry her son in order to gain control of Shinsoo Corporation. However, Neinheart had witnessed her tirade after the meeting and had learned about her plans, though he hadn't told Cygnus about it because of how ridiculous it was. However, now that Areda was making her move, Neinheart decided that he had no choice but to tell Cygnus. The group then went to her office, but they were surprised to find that she wasn't there. The traveler called Cygnus, who told them that she was out getting a latte. She told them that she would meet them later and hung up, as her phone was dying. Believing her to be in danger, Neinheart ordered everyone to search for Cygnus.

The traveler went to Sunset Lot, where they met Lily in her cat form. She told them that she had seen Cygnus pass by a moment ago, and that she had also finished studying the Bizarre Dust Balls and had learned that Motes were created by dark emotions such as hate, jealousy, and envy. The Motes grew larger as those dark emotions were at their peak, which transformed them into Troublemakers. She suspected that someone's dark feelings towards Cygnus were creating the Motes and asked them to eliminate the monsters before they spread further. As they fought their way through the Motes, Cygnus was confronted by the bully, who attempted to flirt with her. Unexpectedly, the bully got on his knees and apologized for being creepy, claiming that it wasn't what he wanted. Disturbed, Cygnus walked away as Areda appeared and berated her son for giving up. Just then, the traveler arrived and demanded to know where Cygnus was. The bully suddenly declared that he was done with Cygnus, claiming that he liked Irena instead after she had beaten him up.

He told Areda that he wanted to be a regular student without getting involved with her plots, but Areda yelled at him and called him a disappointment for wanting to be normal and wasting the gift of ‘good looks' and charms that he had gotten from her. She then cut him off and disowned him before sending him away. Suddenly, Areda was consumed by a strange green aura, spawning a Greedy Troublemaker, born from obsessions with money. The traveler then defeated the Troublemaker, allowing Areda to return to her senses. A few days later, police officer Athena Pierce came to see Neinheart and Cygnus and reported that her investigation had revealed that Areda had been trying to take over the school. She told them that she had found deeds and investor contracts at Areda's home, as well as several slashed photos of Cygnus, and that she had learned that Areda had been trying to build a shopping mall in place of the school. Back in the Closet House, Lily congratulated the traveler for helping out with the Motes. She told them that it was better that they stay close to Cygnus, as there seemed to be a connection between relationships in Maple World and Friends World.

Hilla and Magnus, Sittin' In a Tree

While the traveler helped the students bring Hilla and Magnus closer together, Cygnus called and asked them where everyone was, as no one seemed to be around lately, making her wonder if they were doing anything secret. The traveler then got the idea to pique Magnus and Hilla's interest by getting them to talk about each other.

Cassandra's Tales of Totally Shocking Stuff

During the events of the chapter, Cygnus called the traveler and informed them about Neinheart and Oz's accidents while they investigated the truth behind Cassandra's stories.

If the Hidden Mission of Episode 4 is found and completed, a bonus scene at the end is added in which Cygnus meets with Neinheart in the infirmary, where she asks him why he's still wearing his bandages when he's fully healed. Just then, Lilin - who had asked the traveler for directions to the infirmary earlier in the story - will arrive. Neinheart is glad to see his sister, although Lilin shuts down his attempts at being friendly and explains that she only came to see if his foot is healed yet. Neinheart tells her that it should be better soon before asking why she's here so early, sternly adding that he hopes that she didn't skip class. Lilin retorts that she's not here to talk about herself, as she's just here to check on him. She adds that he's had his bandages forever and tells him that he should go back to the doctor. Cygnus then hesitantly interrupts and introduces herself, to which Lilin replies that she knows who she is and calls Cygnus “Miss Shinsoo-moneybags-whatever”.

Neinheart tells Lilin to mind herself, to which Lilin will tell her brother to mind himself, adding that she's not the one crushing on Cygnus. Neinheart will be shocked, and even Lilin is surprised that she let it slip, as it seems like she hadn't meant to. She then awkwardly decides to leave, hesitantly adding that it's nice that he has lots of friends now. After she leaves, Cygnus expresses her surprise at Lilin's personality, to which Neinheart explains that they've never gotten along. Cygnus then realizes that Neinheart had been wearing his bandages on purpose, to which Neinheart explains that Lilin wouldn't want to see him unless he had lied about still being injured. Nevertheless, Cygnus notes that Neinheart is grinning and asks him why. Neinheart replies that it's because it's been a while since Lilin had called him her brother.

Students in Crisis

After hearing the story of the handsome student that Oz and Irena had mentioned, Cygnus confirmed that he was real, and that he was joining the faculty soon as a student teacher.

After the White Mage disappears, Cygnus and Neinheart revealed to Oz and Irena that when they had contacted the White Mage's university for his credentials, they had been told that there was no such student who had ever been enrolled there.

Damien and the Spirit of Rock

Because of the spirit of rock infecting the student body, Cygnus and Mihile began wearing full rock aesthetic, with a despondent attitude towards others. In the third-floor classroom, Mihile, Cygnus, and several other students trashed the room and turned it into a rock hall as a result of their disregard for authority.

After the traveler and the other band members began improving their performance, their new sound successfully cured Cygnus of her rock fever, after which they took a group photo.

A few days after the battle of the bands, Cygnus asked Neinheart if he had a version of Boogie's song that had been sung by Boogie herself. Neinheart told her that there was a sample track that Boogie had submitted with her registration. While searching for it, Cygnus realized that Boogie had submitted it after the deadline, though Neinheart amusedly denied knowing about it before admitting that there were things more important than rules, such as making memories.

False Future (Gate to the Future)

In the illusory future created by Lucid in the Gate to the Future, Cygnus - deeply worried about the threat of the Black Mage – attempted to seek out the World Tree, who had disappeared long ago, believing that she would be able to help them face the Black Mage. However, when Cygnus and her Knights finally discovered the World Tree, they learned too late that it had all been a trap set by the Black Mage. As a result, Cygnus's soul was stolen by the Black Mage, who turned her into his puppet. Having lost its divine power, Ereve crashed onto Victoria Island, with Cygnus leading her fallen Knights against Maple World.

A member of the Maple Alliance worked with the people of Future Henesys to infiltrate the Cygnus Garden, where Cygnus welcomed them pleasantly to Ereve, noting that it had been a while since she had been visited by guests. She then asked them to disappear for the sake of the Black Mage. After a fierce battle, the Alliance member managed to defeat Cygnus, as well as the fallen Chief Knights and Shinsoo, once and for all. A gravely wounded Cygnus noted that she had never thought that she would be defeated, though she added that the Black Mage still had not been stopped. Before disappearing, she warned the Alliance member that in the end, Maple World would still be destroyed no matter what. After Cygnus' ominous warning and death, the distraught Alliance member wondered whether this bleak ending was truly what awaited their world, though the voice of the real Shinsoo revealed to them that it was nothing more than an illusion.

Gallery

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  Standing Cygnus NPC Sprite (Alliance Conference Room)
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  Cygnus's original NPC Sprite (resting)
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  Cygnus's original NPC Sprite (standing)
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  Cygnus's original NPC Sprite (standing)
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  NPC Sprite of Cygnus (Anniversary: Rising Star Event)
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  NPC Sprite of Cygnus (Maple Castle Event)
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  NPC Sprite of Cygnus (Water Wars Event)
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  Lil Cygnus in Monster Life
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  Concept Art of Cygnus
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Awakened, 2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Awakened, 2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Awakened, 2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Awakened, 2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Alliance Commander, 2018 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Alliance Commander, 2018 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Alliance Commander, 2018 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Alliance Commander, 2018 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Alliance Commander, 2018 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Alliance Commander, 2018 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Alliance Commander, 2018 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Alliance Commander, 2018 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Alliance Commander, 2018 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Alliance Commander, 2018 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Alliance Commander, 2023 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Alliance Commander, 2023 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Alliance Commander, 2023 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Alliance Commander, 2023 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Alliance Commander, 2023 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of a young Cygnus (2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of a young Cygnus (2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of a young Cygnus (2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of a young Cygnus (2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of a young Cygnus (2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Awakened, 2014 - 2022)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Awakened, 2014 - 2022)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Awakened, 2014 - 2022)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Awakened, 2014 - 2022)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (Awakened, 2014 - 2022)
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  NPC Portrait of Dark Cygnus (Gate to the Future)
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  NPC Portrait of Dark Cygnus (Gate to the Future)
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  NPC Portrait of Dark Cygnus (Gate to the Future)
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  Full Body NPC Portrait of a young Cygnus (Grand Athenaeum storyline)
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  Full Body NPC Portrait of a young Cygnus (Grand Athenaeum storyline)
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  Full Body NPC Portrait of a young Cygnus (Grand Athenaeum storyline)
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  Full Body NPC Portrait of a young Cygnus (Grand Athenaeum storyline)
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  Full Body NPC Portrait of a young Cygnus (Grand Athenaeum storyline)
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  Full Body NPC Portrait of a young Cygnus (Grand Athenaeum storyline)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (FriendStory)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (FriendStory)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (FriendStory)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (FriendStory)
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  NPC Portrait of Cygnus (FriendStory, Chapter 6)
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  Previous Cygnus Knights artwork; Empress Cygnus reawakened as the 4th Transcendent
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  Cygnus and the Hoodlum
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  Cygnus Blessing
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  Call of Cygnus
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  Artwork of Cygnus
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  Artwork of Cygnus (Ignition)
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  Artwork of Cygnus (NEXT)
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  Artwork of Cygnus (JMS Summer 2025 update)
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  Cygnus Maple Guide icon
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  Cygnus Boss UI artwork (current)
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  Cygnus Boss UI artwork (old)
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  Cygnus Boss Entry UI artwork
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  Cygnus's Soul Effect
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  Cygnus Soul Collector artwork
  Peace to Maple World...
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  Cygnus Soul Collector artwork (all souls added)
  Sometimes I wonder what other
  teachers are like.
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  Cygnus Soul Collector artwork (original)
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  World Archive Illustration of Cygnus

Videos

[메이플스토리] 시그너스 리턴즈 프로모션 영상

Cygnus Returns Promotional Video

[메이플스토리] 시그너스 리턴즈 업데이트 영상

Cygnus Returns Update Video

MapleStory - Unlimited: Cygnus Returns Animated Intro

Cygnus Returns Update Video (English Subtitles)

MaplestorySEA Knight of Cygnus Revamp Trailer

MapleStory: Cygnus Awakening Anime Video

MapleStory Europe Cygnus Awakening !

메이플특공대 - 보름달 도깨비 야시장

Maple on the Scene (parody of VJ's on the Scene) - Full Moon Goblin Night Market / Empress Cygnus (Maple World empress, Chairman of Maple Union): I'm going to the market to be blessed with a goblin statue. I'll never miss an attack, magic attack, or experience buff.

Trivia

• Cygnus is named after the Cygnus Constellation.
  • The Republic of Korea Air Force held a naming contest for the Airbus A330 MRTT among their service members and chose the name 'KC-330 Cygnus' (ko) after holding a deliberation committee session from November 2018 - January 2019. A few years later, one of the winners' confessions revealed that he thought of the name Empress Cygnus. While the condition of the contest was that only names related to space or birds (excluding birds of prey) would be accepted, the character Cygnus was named after the constellation, meaning it was still eligible as a name.
• Cygnus and her Knights were among the first Bosses to receive voiceovers.
• Cygnusroid and Alliance Commander Cygnusroid are modeled after Cygnus.
• In the Cygnus Returns Update, the Cygnus Knight storyline stated that Cygnus had partially awakened as the fourth Transcendent. However, this was retconned in the Ignition Update, which stated that Cygnus has awakened as a Transcendent-in-waiting.