Anca is the most developed companion in The Blood of Dawnwalker, and the slow-burn between her and Coen is one of the better written relationships in any recent RPG game. Getting the romance to actually land, though, requires threading specific dialogue choices across five quests spanning most of the game. Miss the wrong line or skip a flirtatious option and the payoff never arrives.
What quests are involved in the Anca romance?
Anca's full arc runs through four named quests after the prologue: Page Turner, Echoes of Silenced Bells, Where Old Devils Lie, and Stronger Than Achilles. The romance scene itself triggers at the end of Stronger Than Achilles once Coen and Anca return to the inn. Every quest before that one is groundwork.
There are two hard fail states to know before anything else:
- Anca dies if Coen speaks to her while in vampire form with low health.
- Romance is locked out if you choose to remain just friends at any point in the final conversation.
Everything else is more forgiving than it looks.
Prologue: Page Turner
The seeds of the romance get planted here, during Coen's visit to Anca to collect medicine for his mother. You can choose to stay and study Latin with her, which costs 2 Time Segments but opens up better dialogue. If you do stay, insist on reading the red book when given the option.
When Anca gets injured, tell her she needs to take off her shirt so Coen can tend the wound. After that, say "I enjoy the company more than the books." Later, when Brencis kidnaps Coen's family, apologize to Anca for raising your voice.
After Brencis kidnaps Coen's family, continue being kind to Anca and apologize for raising your voice.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Guide: All Dialogue & Choices to Romance Anca
Echoes of Silenced Bells: What choices matter here?
This quest takes Coen and Anca to St. Tyna's Convent, where she used to live as a nun. The romance beats here are light, but the quest is mandatory. You cannot reach Where Old Devils Lie without completing it.
The end choice, whether to let Anca complete the ritual for her fallen sisters or destroy the notes, does not affect the romance outcome. Letting her complete the ritual makes her feel better in the short term. Burning the notes makes her briefly upset before she moves on. Pick whichever fits your playthrough.
The one consistent rule across all quests: never turn down a flirtatious dialogue option. Any time something romantic surfaces, take it.
Where Old Devils Lie
This quest has several quieter bonding moments. Anca opens up about her own secrets here, and the dialogue choices push the relationship from friendly to something more charged.
Key lines to pick during this quest:
- "Who knows what else I have in store for you?" (at the inn)
- "I care about you." (while sitting by the lake)
- "Nice to see you smile" and "I'm enjoying your company, too." (in front of the ruins)
The Blood of Dawnwalker Guide: All Dialogue & Choices to Romance Anca
Stronger Than Achilles
This is where the romance either locks in or falls apart. Coen and Anca head deep into ruins to find the Font of Life, a pool of powerful magic that can grant its power to one person.
During the journey, after Coen's arm is injured at the blood sacrifice pillar, say "Better me than you." When Anca reveals she wanted to use the Font herself, respond with "You were hoping to use the Font yourself" followed by "I would, too, in your place." Then commit fully: "I'd do anything for you" and "I love you."
There is a second chance to say "I love you" back at the inn if you miss it in the ruins, but do not rely on that. Say it at the chasm.
What happens at the Font of Life?
Coen has to choose what to do with the Font once they reach the final chamber. Three outcomes are possible:
All three options keep the romance scene accessible. The difference is Anca's emotional state afterward. If you want her fully enthusiastic at the inn, let her drink from the Font.
Back at the inn
Once Coen and Anca return to the inn after the Font of Life, the romance is entirely in your hands. The conversation includes options to pump the brakes, so stay focused.
Pick these responses in order:
- "There's a conversation we need to finish."
- "I meant what I said."
- "Screw decency, I want you, too."
- After the kiss: "Not sure I got that. One more time?" (triggers the full romance scene)
Alternatively, the first source notes "Leaves me hungry for more" as a valid closer if the kiss line variant differs in your version. Either way, keep choosing the forward options and avoid anything that sounds like a retreat.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Guide: All Dialogue & Choices to Romance Anca
Full dialogue checklist across all quests
For players who want a single reference before starting:
Page Turner (Prologue)
- Stay to study Latin (costs 2 Time Segments)
- Insist on the red book
- Tell Anca to take off her shirt to tend wounds
- "I enjoy the company more than the books"
- Apologize for raising your voice after the kidnapping
Echoes of Silenced Bells
- Complete the quest (mandatory)
- Choose any option at the end; both work
- Keep choosing flirtatious responses wherever they appear
Between the Words (noted in some sources as a short interlude quest)
- "It's my pleasure"
- "There are better sources of joy than herbal brews"
- "Your feelings toward me, it's more than just faith"
Where Old Devils Lie
- "Who knows what else I have in store for you?"
- "I care about you"
- "Nice to see you smile" and "I'm enjoying your company, too"
Stronger Than Achilles
- "Better me than you" (after blood sacrifice pillar)
- "You were hoping to use the Font yourself" then "I would, too, in your place"
- "I'd do anything for you" then "I love you"
- At the inn: all four closing lines listed above
For everything else you need to get started in Vale Sangora, the Blood of Dawnwalker beginner's guide covers early skills, combat basics, and time management. And if you want to make sure Coen's gear keeps up with the story's pacing, check out the full breakdown on how to upgrade weapons and armor so you are never under-leveled when these quests open up. More walkthroughs and quest guides are available in the complete Blood of Dawnwalker guide collection.