#Trails of Cold Steel II

[tomatostyle]

Aurelia Le Guin Commission for Client

[they-have-the-same-va]

Kinger from The Amazing Digital Circus shares a voice actor with Rean Schwarzer from the Legend of Heroes series.

Voiced by Sean Chiplock @sonicmega

[xspiderchloe]

The Erebonian’ Trails arc becomes much better if, instead of worrying yourself with the whole “Rean’s harem problem” and whatever ship war may have come from there, you forget about all that jazz and just see Class VII; both og and new, as what they are: The funniest found family ever to exist.

[satoshi-mochida]

Got a copy of The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II I ordered recently.

I forget if I told this story, but last year after finishing Cold Steel 1, I ordered Cold Steel II. It took 3 months for it to ship, and they had accidently send Cold Steel 1, instead. I was able to send it back and get Amazon credit at least, but held off on trying again until a few days ago. It shipped much quicker this time, and was the correct order. XP

[fostersffff]

Finally.

I finally know just what was happening in Crossbell.

[petterwass]

Love Lt General Craig so much, he's such a nutter!

It takes a certain kind of man to go to was as part of a Armoured Division, and not even riding in the hatch of your flag tank, but standing tall on its hull while it fights.

[geodude96]

Alisa told her mother at one point (I think in CSI) that when she graduated, she was going to run the company "the way it should be run." Over the course of the series, we know she was influenced by the selfless examples of people like Towa and especially Rean, not to mention the way Class VII's field studies helped many people. I was just thinking about all that and how it helped lead to things like Alisa showing the others her Orbal Gear and explaining that it also has non-combat applications, such as performing rescues. Though her mother is still her superior in the company, Alisa now has enough influence to use the company's resources to do things like arrange to have those motorcycles delivered to Rean's new Class VII at the branch campus. We know she was bothered by the focus on WMD manufacturing, so I like the signs that show that she's pushing for more focus on construction and less on destruction, more helping and less hurting. She's come a long way from the stubborn yet insecure teenager she was in CSI.

[raleydrew]

It's a bit of an inside joke, but if anyone watches my Trails of Cold Steel playthrough on YouTube, you'll know how I react to these particular characters who are clearly fujoshis.

(I can't remember which game it is so I included both playlists)

So me putting "himejoshi" on my profile makes me laugh

[professoricepick]

Metal Flash Roads - Volume II: The Kids Are All Fight

Preface It’s funny, really. I was worried that this title would’ve been too clunky, but it ended up being a hit with one of my editors. Granted, I guess I always try to hold myself to such high standards when naming things… mainly because I’m not really that good at it. Like, occasionally, something perfect will just randomly pop into my head. Otherwise, I have a tendency of relying on online…

[storypraxis]

TLoH TRAILS OF COLD STEEL II Part 24

[azumakaze-blog]

https://youtu.be/5vSxPpj-i_E

[thefigureresource]

Alisa Reinford [The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II] 1/7 scale from Ques Q coming December 2024.

[they-have-the-same-va]

Kanami Mashita from Persona 4: Dancing All Night shares a voice actor with Emma Millstein from The Legend of Heroes series.

Voiced by Rena Strober

[rehncohro]

Really sucks that we currently have to live with a gap between games.

[aphoticarachne]

What is this feeling?

Tom Riddle x Reader

chapter ii (read chapter one on my account)

Wherein you and Tom cross paths in the halls unexpectedly.

a/n: I'm completely appalled by the sudden audience I got from the first chapter, thank you 😭

The week passed in a blur, and before you knew it, Friday arrived – a much-needed reprieve, granting you the rare pleasure of visiting Hogsmeade.

You wandered the cobbled streets with Zelda Zabini, the two of you caught in the carefree hum of freedom that only existed beyond the castle gates. There was something intoxicating about it, as if the weight of the ancient walls had loosened its grip the moment you stepped past them.

But Hogsmeade was small, and Hogwarts' reach was long.

It wasn’t surprising when you saw him.

Tom Riddle stood near the entrance to Honeydukes, his head tilted slightly toward Abraxas Malfoy. The two conversed quietly, though “conversed” might’ve been too generous a word — Malfoy’s role in their dynamic felt closer to that of an audience than an equal participant. You watched as he lingered a step behind Tom, hanging onto his every word like scripture.

It was almost amusing how they clung to him — Malfoy, Rosier, Lestrange, Nott, Dolohov — a circle of pure-blooded sons orbiting Riddle as if bound by an unspoken loyalty. Even Malfoy, with his old family name and aristocratic arrogance, never stood taller than Riddle.

“Doesn’t it exhaust them?” Zelda mused beside you, her gaze trailing after the boys. “All that devotion.”

You smirked, tucking a lock of hair behind your ear. “They like to pretend he cares.”

The two of you stayed until the sun bled into the horizon, drowning Hogsmeade in a molten glow. It was easy to lose track of time. Too easy.

The two of you wandered until the sun dipped beneath the mountains, casting long shadows over the village. Only when the clock at the Three Broomsticks struck half-past nine did you notice how much time had slipped away. By the time you apparated back to the castle gates, curfew had long since passed.

Zelda bid you farewell near the staircases, her Gryffindor dormitory calling her in the opposite direction. You veered toward the dungeons, the familiar path silent save for the soft rustling of house elves preparing for the next day.

It wasn’t until you rounded the last corner that you saw the light.

Bright. Unyielding. A thin beam slicing through the shadows ahead.

You stopped.

“Come out.”

The voice was calm, but there was an edge to it – silk over steel.

You recognized it instantly.

Of course. Tom.

You cursed silently, leaning against the cold wall as if you could will yourself invisible. How could you forget? He’s patrolling tonight. His newly polished prefect’s badge practically gleamed whenever he walked the halls, as if eager to remind everyone of the power it granted him.

Resigned, you stepped forward, the glow of his wand trailing over your face as you emerged from the dark.

Tom approached, the tip of his wand still lit, though now directed at you.

“Point that at me again and I’ll snap it in half,” you said coolly, tilting your chin up to meet his eyes.

There was the faintest flicker of amusement in his expression, though he masked it well. Tom’s gaze swept over you, the sharp angles of his face bathed in pale light. His wand lowered, though his eyes remained fixed on yours, unreadable in their scrutiny.

“You’re out past curfew,” he observed, his voice devoid of accusation — just fact, as if he were making note of the weather.

"I'm aware."

His eyes narrowed. “Are you also aware that students caught wandering the corridors without reason are reported to their Head of House?” His tone was clipped, like reciting from the handbook itself.

You shrugged, unbothered. “What’s your plan then, Riddle? Drag me to Slughorn so he can scold me?”

Tom’s gaze didn’t waver, but something shifted behind his eyes, as if he were gauging the weight of your words. His hair, you noticed, remained annoyingly perfect despite the late hour. It was unfair. How can someone look that put-together at this time of night?

“I could put you in detention,” he remarked, though the threat felt hollow.

“No, you couldn’t.”

A slow smile ghosted across your lips. “Only professors can give detention. Don’t waste your breath threatening me.”

His expression remained impassive, but the tension in his jaw betrayed him.

“I lost track of time.”

The truth hung between you like mist, curling in the spaces left untouched by words.

Tom studied you for a long moment, his gaze dipping lower, as if searching for cracks beneath the surface.

“It won’t happen again,” you added, though you weren’t sure if it was a promise or a lie.

“It better not,” Tom murmured, though the warning felt distant, like something he’d rehearsed without meaning.

Silence stretched out between you, heavy and unbroken.

“Well?” you asked, the slightest arch to your brow. “Are you turning me in or letting me go?”

Tom’s lips parted, but he hesitated. The brief pause almost startled you.

“No.”

You blinked. “No?”

“I’m letting you go.”

His words, plain and simple, felt almost disarming.

“Why?”

“I’m giving you a chance,” Tom replied, and for a brief moment, hesitation laced his words. It almost didn’t seem like him.

“Why?”

His lips twitched, but the smirk never quite surfaced. “Do you always question acts of mercy?”

“I question anything from you,” you shot back, crossing your arms. “You’re not exactly known for your generosity, Riddle.”

Tom hummed thoughtfully, his eyes trailing over you in that way that always made you feel like he was dissecting something far deeper than your appearance.

“Don’t forget our arrangement,” he added, stepping back into the corridor’s shadows. “We begin next week.”

You rolled your eyes, but the truth lingered in the back of your mind — you hadn’t forgotten.

And despite your reluctance to admit it, you were almost looking forward to it.

Tom’s gaze followed you, that much you could feel. His attention was weighty, trailing like fingertips against bare skin.

“Good night,” you called over your shoulder as you walked toward the common room.

Just as you reached the entrance to the common room, his voice drifted after you — low, smooth, almost too quiet to catch.

“Dream of me, will you?”

You didn’t turn around.

But the smirk tugging at your lips betrayed you.

Deena speaks .ᐟ

I duly apologize if there are spelling mistakes !! English is my third language.

Furthermore, I'd like to thank everyone who enjoyed the first chapter of this story ^^ I appreciate all the hearts. This is more of a filler chapter since I wanted Tom to interact more with the reader.

Chapter three might be released tomorrow.

[fostersffff]

Seeing rounds of people respond to NISA saying Trails through Daybreak is a great place to jump into the franchise with "NOOO! IT'S BY NO MEANS A GREAT PLACE TO START!!! WHAT ARE YOU SAAAYING!?!?! IT'S THE 11TH GAME IN A SERIES WITH A CONTINUOUS STORY!!!"

Listen: I understood when it was laughing at how Trails of Cold Steel III was advertised by NISA as "a great place to start", but everyone needs fuckin' relax here. If someone who has never played a Trails game sees Trails through Daybreak and thinks "wow, that's cool!", they are statistically unlikely to go "but before I check out this brand new thing I've never seen before, I will play 10 other RPGs first to make sure I have complete context, including a game that is literally older now than the first Dragon Quest was at the time of its original release". And if people keep saying "NO NO THESE GAMES CAN'T BE PLAYED WITHOUT THE FULL CONTEXT TO APPRECIATE EVER MINUTE DETAIL YOU NEED THOSE 10 OTHER RPGS!!!" they're much more likely to go "oh, nevermind then".

Like, as someone who played Cold Steel I and II before circling back to Sky and proceeding straight through from there, there were moments where I surely missed the impact of some characters showing up, or was a little confused about the why or how other things were happening. Not knowing that the weapon that deleted Garrelia Fortress was one of three giant robots didn't make that game unintelligable; if anything, it made the sudden appearance of the Panzer Soldats at the very end even more surprising. Yeah, I had no idea in what context Lloyd and Rixia showed up at the end of Cold Steel II, but the game just tells you "hey here's who these characters are" and I went "well, ok".

It is so much easier to entice people to get into a thing if they try the new hotness, and then go "woah, there's even more stuff in this series I can check out!?"

Or maybe they don't and just go forward from there, and that's fine too. Just don't actively tell people they gotta do like 800 hours of what will feel like homework to them before doing the thing they actually want to do.