Already a theory? Yup.

I’ll make it brief though, because this isn’t so much as one unified theory so much as it is multiple small assumptions.

1. They went with Kai, instead of Kuro simply due to the fact that yes, even though this is a continuation of Crimson SiN, it has a new setting, mainly Ored. Calvard will still be extremely important to the story but Ored will be where everything actually goes down. Essentially one could say while the Calvard arc is over the Van arc continues.

2. Yes Van will be the protagonist, again based off the description they gave it seems odd to single out a “certain spriggan” if he’s not going to be at least one of the main characters, if not the only one.

3. Every protagonist will return, with the exception of maybe Lloyd. The soldat in the screenshots is more likely key than not an upgraded Tyrfing for Rean. The blond man in the screenshots is Rufus, and you can make out a Kevin looking figure in the ruins of Creil. As for Van, the eve Al paragraph already singles him out as we we mentioned earlier. Estelle and Joshua were strongly hinted at in Crimson SiN and will most likely make a return. Lloyd will probably also come back if everyone else does but there’s no “smoking gun” so to speak for him.

4. This game will have our classic Trails cliffhanger ending and we will get Kai 2. This is just a gut feeling, I have.

5. McBurn will make his return as we finally enter the beyond.

6. Other returning characters will include our favorite Prince Olivert Reise Arnor, his beloved Schera, Anelace, the rest of the SSS, Wazy, Noel, Alisa Crow and Altina

7. It will be a good game. Now I don’t really have any evidence but I think Kondo cooked with this one.