The Crown of Thorns I. City in the Mist.Sister Esther mourns over and blames herself for the death of Father Abel. Cardinal Sforza goes to Lilith Sahl's coffin and takes from it a vial containing a green liquid, which she gives to Father Tres, who then leaves on an airship bound for Londinium. Virgil seals the Ghetto to protect its residents and an old spacecraft from the Rosenkreuz Orden and then leaves to find a "star." Meanwhile, Isaak arrives over Londinium in an airship and begins to decimate the city as Cain makes plans to merge with Abel's body. Virgil goes to the church where Abel's body is and informs Esther that she is the true heir to the throne of Albion, the secret daughter of Queen Brigitte II's assassinated son. Although she at first continues to believe herself to be unable to do anything, Esther eventually musters her strength and moves to calm a mob outside the palace; it is revealed that Esther is the "Star of Hope" who will lead the people as the next queen of Albion. Elsewhere, Fathers Leon, William, and Hugue attempt to destroy Isaak's airship, but its defenses prove too strong for them to overcome, even withstanding a blast from the Iron Maiden after Sister Kate Scott arrives and has the airship open fire.