※ This article contains spoilers for the Lost Ark story. Please proceed with caution if you are currently playing through the main quest.

The July 29 update introduced the prologue quest for the Shadow Raid 'Veldagard.' The quest follows the investigation into the anomalies that occurred after the events at the Kadarum Islands, with a total playtime of about 10 to 15 minutes. Completing the quest rewards players with a Veldagard-related soundtrack.

While short, the quest features several scenes that offer glimpses into Veldagard's past, the true objectives of Sacria, and the nature of the 'Primordials' (those who existed from the beginning). In particular, the recurring emphasis on Veldagard's 'lingering attachment'—seen as he offers flowers to a woman—is a central theme.

The story picks up directly from the final events at the Kadarum Islands, depicting Pope Kustor, Federico, and the adventurer as they work to stabilize the situation. The Kadarum Islands have suffered immense damage due to the atrocities committed by the Order of Twilight. Amidst this chaos, the situation worsens with the intrusion of 'Veldagard,' a Primordial who has acquired a new physical form.

- The 'lingering attachment' Veldagard could not let go of

In the prologue quest, Kouku-Saton says the following to Veldagard.

"You still haven't let go of your attachments... even after becoming a saint." - Kouku-Saton

On the surface, this could be interpreted as Veldagard's memories and attachments persisting within Foetus an Cragma, the entity that took over his body. However, if the subject of the phrase "even after becoming a saint" is taken to be Foetus an Cragma, it suggests that this entity may have harbored its own attachments even before possessing Veldagard's body.

The object of his attachment revealed in the quest appears to be his lover, 'Isabella.' In the quest, Veldagard wears a remorseful expression while placing yellow daffodils on Isabella's tombstone. Who Isabella was and her exact relationship with Veldagard remain unrevealed. While a lover or family member is the most likely assumption, the possibility remains that she was someone Veldagard failed to protect in the past.

Given that the Primordials are described as beings who have lived for eons and are little more than 'amoebas' without a shell, it is crucial to determine whether this attachment belongs to Veldagard or the host entity, Foetus an Cragma. If the latter, it implies that even Primordials can succumb to human-like compassion; if the former, it may explain the contradictory nature of Veldagard, a saint who studied necromancy.

-The name 'Isabella' and the yellow daffodil

Isabella shares the same etymological roots as Elizabeth and was widely used for queens, princesses, and saints in medieval Europe. Notably, Saint Isabel of France was born into royalty but chose a religious life over political marriage, eventually founding a monastery.

For this reason, the name Isabella is strongly associated with faith, vows, and devotion. It may not be a coincidence that this name is attached to a figure connected to Belgardin, a saint of Sacria. Much like how Beatrice remained more than just a real-life lover to Dante in 'The Divine Comedy,' serving instead as a symbol of salvation and faith, it is possible that Isabella held a significance for Belgardin that transcended a simple romantic relationship. In particular, Belgardin’s line, 'I will protect you this time,' suggests that some tragedy once tore the two apart.

The flower Veldagard offers Isabella is also significant. It appears to be a 'daffodil,' characterized by six petals spreading outward and a cup-shaped corona in the center.

As a flower that blooms early in spring, the daffodil often symbolizes 'rebirth,' 'new beginnings,' and 'resurrection.' This is due to the bulb's ability to survive underground and bloom again even after the leaves and flowers above ground have withered. Furthermore, linked to the myth of Narcissus, the daffodil symbolizes self-love and obsession, and in ancient mythology, it is also associated with the underworld.

- Is Veldagard a disciple of Alisanos?

Alisanos, both a saint and a holy knight, is a legendary figure known as the first human priest. As a human, he stood before Lupeon himself and received the blessings of the gods. His seven disciples went on to found the current Sacria, and the site where he received his blessing is now Lasamoa, the holy capital of the Sacrian continent.

However, it is not yet confirmed whether Veldagard was a disciple of Alisanos. He is currently considered a candidate due to documents found in the Kadarum Islands—where this lore was detailed—and the fact that he is referred to as the 'looted corpse of a saint.'

Veldagard is considered a potential disciple because he is called a 'saint' rather than an ordinary priest, and because Sacria took special measures to guard his remains. The Order of Twilight branded the priest who guarded Veldagard's grave a heretic to eliminate him and handed the body over to Kouku-Saton.

Such elaborate schemes would likely not have been necessary for the remains of a typical cleric. It appears Veldagard's body possessed a special value that made it suitable as a host for a Primordial. If it is confirmed that Veldagard was a disciple of Alisanos, it is highly likely that the seven disciples blessed by the main god will play a significant role in future stories.

- Why is Sacria collecting holy relics?

"Come and (save) us" - Krater

Excluding the Hal and the Lazernes, Sacria is one of the human factions that has come closest to the power of the gods in the history of Arkesia. Archbishop Termer III of Sacria collected nearly all the Arcs on the continent and declared war on the Sylvans to seize the Arc of Rohendel. This was the so-called Potonkul War, a conflict that left nothing behind.

Though currently in decline, the Twilight faction of Sacria continues to operate in the shadows to reclaim the divine power that Termer III once sought. While Sacria is ostensibly a religious nation spreading the will of Lupeon, internally, it researches Sylmael, the power of chaos, and holy relics. In the past, they intervened in various continents to find Arcs, monitored Feiton and the Darren, and the Order of Twilight carried out various plots under the guise of divine will.

Sacria's goal may go beyond mere faith; it may be to replace the void left by the gods with human power. The holy relics left behind by the gods are the most direct materials for this purpose. Much like how the adventurer used the relics of Giena, these are artifacts that allow for the direct use of divine authority.

At this point, let's reconsider the message from 'Krater,' who reached out to the adventurer from Umbella in Voldaik. Krater asked to be saved, using the plural 'us' rather than 'me.' While speculative, it is possible that Sacria holds the secrets regarding the absence of the gods and is attempting to artificially draw out their power through these relics.

Evidence for this includes the map of Aldebaran's Sea revealed in a previous live broadcast, which shows a massive chain connecting Sacria, Aerok, and the Land of Silence. Whether this chain is merely a topographical feature or a device sealing a specific entity or region remains unknown. However, when viewed alongside Krater's message, it fuels speculation that it might be a restraint used to bind the gods.

- A name meaning 'immaturity': Foetus an Cragma

The entity dwelling within Veldagard's body is 'Foetus an Cragma.'

While the specific meaning of the words is unclear, the spelling appears to be 'Foetus an Cragma.' 'Foetus' is a Latin-derived term meaning fetus, an unborn being, or something in development. However, the entire phrase including 'an Cragma' is difficult to interpret as a standard Latin sentence. Some argue that 'an' could be translated as 'of' or that 'Cragma' refers to bone, skull, or fragments, but there is no clear linguistic basis for this.

Therefore, this name seems more like a 'Lost Ark-style' coinage designed to sound like a classical language rather than formal Latin. Lost Ark has several such mysteries that remain as 'cool-sounding names,' such as Brelshaza's 'Dream of Apeiron' or the 'Barathron' of Vykas. What is important is the imagery associated with 'Foetus.' Foetus an Cragma is not an independent being with a completed body, but an immature Primordial that must grow and be born within a suitable host. This aligns with the lore that it remained without a body for a long time before finally being born in its complete form upon merging with Veldagard's corpse.

The name carries a subtle nuance, given that it was resurrected by obtaining the body of a 'saint' as a being conceived from Cragma. Considering that the true name of the previous Serca Raid, 'Corvus Tul Lach,' hinted at Serca's actions, it is highly likely that 'Foetus an Cragma,' meaning immaturity, also symbolizes the ultimate fate of Veldagard or the entity dwelling within him.