Gladiia And Carnelian (Arknights)

Gladiia hails from a problematic family in which she faces various issues, especially from her mother. But despite the turmoil, she managed to become a high-ranking consul of Aegir's Honor Exercitus. She even volunteered to become a leader of the Abyssal Hunters to defend her homeland against the encroaching Seaborn. To Gladiia, nothing is better that filling her troubled mind with Aegir's hollow pride.

Following the devastating battle against Ishar-mla and other Leviathans, Gladiia arrived at the shore and embarked on a search for the surviving Hunters. She eventually encountered Kal'tsit, who possessed such information and secretly began working for her and Rhodes Island. After the Sal Viento incident, where she baited out one of the leading bishop of the Church of the Deep, Gladiia officially joined R.I. as a representative of Aegir and the nominal leader of the Abyssal Hunters. She has since been providing her cooperation to R.I., such as aiding the hunt for the lost Stultifera Navis in order to re-establish the land's connection with the ocean. Despite the grim future that awaits her, she vows to accomplish her duty, return to her homeland, and defeat the Seaborn while racing against her subjugation to We Many.

Living under the ocean for most of her lifetime, Gladiia dislikes the surface's arid biome and often suffers from dehydration. Her haughty manner toward the land-dwellers, a consequence of Aegir's isolationism, causes others to feel reluctant in interacting with her. Nevertheless, Gladiia proves herself to be a capable combatant, utilizing a giant lance combined with her superior physical capabilities as a true Abyssal Hunter.

The Caprinae Carnelian, the elder sister of Ankhesena aka. Beeswax and the reason why she joined Rhodes Island, hails from an ancient Sargonian tribe outside the jurisdiction of the Ameers. She left her hometown for a grand adventure throughout Terra as part of her tribe's tradition. However, during her stay in Leithanien, Carnelian accidentally injured Count Hohenlohe, an Infected Leithanian noble, and out of responsibility, decided to take care of him for two years, ruining her plans. When Count Hohenlohe went to R.I. for further treatment, Carnelian followed suit, lending her assistance as a capable caster and reuniting with her sister. While she stays in Leithanien most of the time, Carnelian remains in touch with Ankhesena.

This story follows Carnelian, acting as an envoy for her master, Count Hohenlohe, during a diplomatic visit to another Leithanian noble, Sir Feuerbach. While initially a standard business meeting, Carnelian's sharp eye and moral compass lead her to uncover a dark conspiracy lurking beneath the city's opulent facade. She discovers that Sir Feuerbach is not only exploiting Infected miners in brutal conditions but is also capturing them for cruel Originium Arts research, a dark legacy of the dreaded Witch King. Intervening to save a young Infected girl, Carnelian navigates the treacherous political landscape of Leithanien, confronts Feuerbach's agents, and ultimately relies on her connection to Rhodes Island to offer the girl a chance at a new life.

The story opens with Carnelian meeting a Noble Attendant in the employ of Sir Feuerbach to receive a collaboration contract on behalf of Count Hohenlohe. As she waits, Carnelian's attention is drawn to the lavish decorations adorning the room. She correctly identifies them as ornaments carved from Solidified Origincrystals, an extraordinarily rare and difficult material to procure, typically found only in the deepest, most dangerous Originium veins.

Carnelian subtly confronts the attendant about the immense human cost required to mine such materials, referencing recent deadly accidents in Feuerbach's territory. The attendant, however, callously dismisses her concerns, stating that for a man of Sir Feuerbach's stature, such "considerations simply do not matter." The attendant then patronizingly warns Carnelian, an outsider from Sargon, to be mindful of her actions and her master's reputation.

The conversation pivots to the political climate of Leithanien. The attendant expresses confidence in the nobles' ability to handle the Twin Empresses, claiming their authority pales in comparison to the terror that once shrouded the nation under the rule of the Witch King. He recounts the chilling memory of the Witch King's era, a time of inexplicable horror and fear symbolized by red crystals glowing atop the towers, where entire towns would be found lifeless overnight. He concludes that while the Empresses are strict, they are a known quantity, unlike the arbitrary and absolute terror of the past. Disgusted by the attendant's arrogance and the underlying cruelty of his master, Carnelian takes her leave.

Leaving the meeting, Carnelian finds the city's air thick with the "smell of 'progress'," a scent she has grown grudgingly accustomed to. Disenchanted by the uniform opulence of the city center, she wanders to the outskirts, where she encounters a young, frightened girl being pursued by guards. Recognizing the girl is an Infected, Carnelian swiftly intervenes, using her knowledge of the area to help the girl evade her pursuers.

Carnelian comforts the terrified girl, sharing stories of her homeland, Sargon—a land of freedom and hardship where the Infected are not seen as a scourge. The girl reveals her story: she is the daughter of miners, and her entire community lived in a segregated district near the mines. After a catastrophic mine collapse killed her parents, Sir Feuerbach's guards sealed off the district and began rounding up all the survivors. She and a few other children managed to escape, but have since been separated while on the run.

As the girl finishes her story, Carnelian senses they are being watched. A powerful Leithanian Caster, one of Sir Feuerbach's enforcers, emerges. The Caster confronts Carnelian, questioning why she is protecting an Infected. Through a tense exchange, Carnelian reveals she has deduced Feuerbach's true motives: he isn't merely silencing witnesses to the accident, but capturing the Infected miners to use as "slaves" for forbidden Arts research—a cruel practice continuing the dark legacy of the Witch King.

The Caster, while not denying the accusations, warns Carnelian that Leithanien has its own unbending rules. Unwilling to escalate the situation into a direct conflict with an envoy of Count Hohenlohe, the Caster chooses to retreat, allowing Carnelian to leave with the girl.

With the immediate threat gone, Carnelian comforts the sobbing girl, who is now burdened with the terrible truth of her community's fate. Inspired by Carnelian's strength and resolve, the girl declares her intention to find her friends, leave Leithanien, and one day avenge her people.

Seeing her determination, Carnelian decides the girl needs more help than she can personally offer without compromising the Count. She calls out to a hidden figure, revealing a Rhodes Island Operator who had been observing nearby. Carnelian, confirmed to be an operator herself, entrusts the girl's safety to her colleague. The Operator agrees to take the girl and her friends to the relative safety of Rhodes Island. As they part ways, the girl asks if she and Carnelian will meet again. Carnelian replies that as long as the girl holds onto her beliefs, their paths are sure to cross once more.