Part 5: The Goddess of Dreams

Update 5: The Goddess of Dreams


Ramizel’s Requests

Yeah … Although I’m sure I heard her voice back in the ruins where we met …

Hate to say it, but I didn’t hear a thing.

Yeah…I’m sorry, but I didn’t either.

I’m afraid that makes three of us.

No way … Maybe I just imagined it after all …

Hey, chin up. You’ll not find your Plachta by acting all down in the dumps. Isn’t that why you came looking for me in the first place?

Oh yeah! That’s right! I meant to ask you! Can you please ask Elvira about Plachta? If she’s the goddess of Erde Wiege, she’s bound to know something …

Sure, I’d be happy to help.

R-really?!

Of course. I’m hardly going to ignore someone in need.

Hear that, Sophie? We’ve got some help!

I’ll ask her as soon as I’m able … but unfortunately, there’s something I’ll need you to do for me in exchange.

Of course! I’ll do my best!



I’ve got one to clear out some monsters in the marsh, and one to make new swords for Diebold.

Diebold? The person you were with when we met you?

That’s the one. I hear you’re an alchemist, so I’m sure you’ll do just fine.

Leave it to me! I’ve synthesized a few swords in my time, no problem!

I’m glad to hear it. You can find Diebold in the Residential District. Do a good job for him, will you?

You can count on it! Thank you, Miss Ramizel!

Just Ramizel will do. I’m not one for formalities.

Oh! Right! Then, um, please call me Sophie!

All right then. I’ll be back soon, Sophie.





Well, that went nicely. Now, which request will you attend to first?

I think I’ll start with making the swords for Diebold. Ramizel mentioned he was in the Residential District, so I should go and talk to him.

“But first I’ll get some jobs” I thought, but the game had other ideas…



Oh, Sophie. You here for something to eat? Hang on, I’ll go get Gnome.

Um! No thanks, that’s fine! I’m sure he’s got enough on his plate. Besides, I’d like to try your cooking, Kati!

Nope, sorry. No can do. Not right now, at least.

So … IS there actually a time when you can?

Hmmm … When I feel like it, I guess? I couldn’t serve you something I didn’t put my heart into. If you really want the best, then today’s no good. That’s just how it is, all right?

*Sigh* … Something tells me she’s always going to have an excuse …



Music: Hidden Pride

Um, excuse me! Hi!



That’s right! Sophie Neuenmuller. I’m here about your request for some new swords. I have taken it over from Ramizel.

Did you? I see … I presume she had some urgent business to attend to.

… Hey, looks like you’ve already got swords by the bucketload! What gives?

I would prefer a weapon I’m more familiar with for everyday purposes.

Then stop hoarding ones you don’t use, swords-for-brains …

Please, I’m hardly a hoarder. It’s a simple pastime.

You two certainly seem to get along well.

Didn’t I mention? These two are bodyguard buddies.



Leaving that aside … Sophie? Might I inquire as to your smithing expertise?

I’ve made a couple of swords in my time. Not many, though, I admit.

I see … That does not entirely allay my misgivings, but if Ramizel thinks you capable, I will trust her judgment.

Come to think of it, Ramizel’s never actually seen Sophie doing alchemy, has she?

Huh, guess not … Well, she must have some idea …

I should introduce myself properly. I am Diebold Lewerenz, I work as a guard in this town.



These are the swords I was hoping you could replace …



I have done all I can to keep them in working order, but time exacts its toll. Sadly, I fear our battle at the ruins was their last. They will no longer serve as a weapon.

to the point where he was down to one of his two swords there, but hey, that’s what Sophie’s here for!

I see … I’m sorry to hear that. But don’t you worry! I’ll make you some new swords you’ll be just as happy with!

Excellent … I shall be waiting with great anticipation.

Alright … I’m gonna check in to see if I’ve got any new requests myself. Give me a shout if you head out gatherin’!

I’ve got some business to take care of too. See you around!

Sure! See you later! (Now to make the swords … I can’t mess this up, so I’ll have to think carefully about the recipe.)




I was born ready! Now, what to make?

You should come up with an idea of what you want first, like a medicine or a tool.

Hrmm alright … How about a tool? That would be easier to duplicate too!

You think so? Okay, let’s get started!




Wait, cute?!

Oh yeah, I just love this kinda avant-garde stuff! So, what the barrel is it?

Umm … Actually, I think this is a failure.

Ooh, right, right. Maybe I was being a bit optimistic about my alchemical talent.

It might also be a little too … unique to sell.

Now hold up, missy! Of course it’ll sell! If anything, it’ll sell TOO well! Just look at this design! It’s impossible to pull your eyes away from its majesty!

Uhh … You think so?

If a merchant says so, you know it’s gotta be true! Now I see what I’ve gotta do! I just need to double down on my duplication power and artistic genius!

That’s, um, not the conclusion I would have come to … Still, it looks like you had a lot of fun, and that’s all that matters!


Now for the actual request! Ingots are trivially easy to synthesize, and for the Diamond Rabbit…




Music: Sailing on Sunlight


I thought I knew a bit about swords, but these are nothing like the ones Sir Julio used …
yeah, Julio had a pretty big two-hander

Is Julio another one of your friends?



You were friends with a knight …? That’s quite a social circle you must have had.

Haha, I guess you might be right. I met all sorts of people back in Kirchen Bell … There was also a swordsman called Fritz. He taught me how to make dolls.

How to make dolls … From a swordsman? Well, he certainly sounds eccentric.

Maybe … but without him and the others, I wouldn’t be half the alchemist I am today.



I’ll have to bear that in mind.

Hehe … Right, I should check if I have all the materials I need for Diebold’s swords.


Most certainly, and the game doesn’t care how well this one comes out, so neither do I!



I’ve made sure they’re strong and sharp. The rest I can figure out after we test them. I should bring them to Diebold as soon as I can.




… Olias? Hmm. It looks like something is bothering him … Hey Olias, is everything okay?

Oh, hey, Sophie … I’m just, y’know, thinkin’ about some trouble I’m havin’ …

I don’t know if I can help much but … you can talk to me about it, if you’d like.

… Heh. It’s nothin’ special. As you already know, I’m a bodyguard. More than that, I’m the most reliable, strongest super bodyguard in this whole world.

Th-the strongest super bodyguard? … Well, yeah. You’re definitely a reliable guy.

Right. And ‘cause of that, I’ve got requests comin’ out o’ my ears … even though there are plenty of other folk who could handle ‘em. One of the other guards was just askin’ me if I’d help him out by passin’ some jobs his way.

O-oh, I see …

… I guess I’m just too amazing. So amazing that there ain’t any jobs left for anyone else. Thinkin’ about it … kinda gets me down.



That doesn’t mean I can slack off, though. After all, my clients are comin’ to me for help.



That’s a duty too heavy for just one man. Can my muscular self really bear it without gettin’ crushed? Whadd’ya think, Sophie … Huh?



Dammit, she ran off on me! I wasn’t finished talkin’, y’know!!



Oh! Such blades!

What do you think? Just tell me if there’s anything you want changed.

Not at all. They’re durable, yet well-balanced, and they sit in my hand as though they were made for it. There is much they might teach me about smithing. I am honored to be given such fine work.

Ehehe … It was nothing. By the way, do you do your own smithing?

I dabble. Any guard must know how to keep their weapons keen.



Your … foe?

A fearsome dragon clad in black scales. I have sworn to defeat it. If you should happen to see it, please tell me immediately.

Roger that! If I see any black dragons, you’ll be the first to know!

You have my thanks. Incidentally, Sophie, you are searching for a lost member of your family, are you not? I realize that you asked for no repayment, so I would be honored to help you in your search.

A-are you sure? I’d love to have you with us!

Good … I will endeavor not to disappoint you.

Um, I know it’s sudden, but Ramizel wants us to exterminate some monsters. Could you join us?

Of course. If nothing else, I will relish the opportunity to test my new blades.

Thank you so much! I plan on heading to the marsh right now!





The Habitants of Roytale



There are kids and elderly people here too, right?

Anyone who catches Elvira’s eye is welcome here, regardless of their age.

But no one here is related, are they?

Nope! We’re all complete strangers from different places and times. We’re all in this together, so we all help each other out. When a kid shows up, someone usually steps in to take care of them right off the bat. Same goes with older folks, too. People make sure they can focus on their dreams without much fuss.

While everyone’s dreams may differ, we all share the same desire to make them a reality. And that means we all also want to support and strengthen those around us.

Mhm. I don’t think anyone who’d put their goals before someone’s well-being would be welcomed here. I just can’t see Elvira be attracted to that kind of person, you know?

Haha, I guess not …







Do most failed attempts blow up in your face like that, though? Yeesh, this place is a disaster …

Ahaha … Yeeeah, Plachta’s not going to be happy about this …

You’d better get the atelier aired out before you get bust–



Whoa, Sophie? What’s that?! There, at the bottom of the cauldron! How is that not a success?

It’s got a solid form, sure, but it’s not what I was trying to make. Throwing this kind of thing away is always such a hassle…

Seriously?! That’s such a huge waste! Don’t just toss it, give it to me instead!

I don’t mind, but … You know it’s not good for anything but sitting on a shelf, right?

Maybe it looks that way to you, but to my eyes … it’s a business opportunity!

Huh, didn’t expect that … Would that mean if I happened to have a few other mistakes lying around, you’d be interested in those, too?

There’s more?!

Oh, sure. Getting rid of them is a pain, so I usually just shove them somewhere out of sight.

I’ll take the lot! Please, give me every last one of them!

Go right ahead! I’m starting to run out of places to put them, so that’ll really help.



Sophie … If I catch you trying to sweep your failures under the rug again, so help me…






What is it?

Rather, where is it? You’re not holding anything.

Hey, have a little faith! C’mon, it’s outside.



dude moves pretty fast if he could get that installed without Sophie or Plachta noticing

A greenhouse?

Right. So, you know how the weather in Erde Wiege never changes? This is like a mini version that keeps the climate perfect for crops.

… Except neither one of us has any interest in growing vegetables, do we?

Look, just think outside the box for a second. Sure, I’d probably just grow regular veggies, but you guys work with some special stuff, right?



I see. A curious proposal. Mightily curious indeed!

Oh yeah, and take this too. Figured it might help you make those seeds.

Thanks, Olias!


The greenhouse is my ticket to get gamebreaking traits way earlier than I should, but I need to tee that up for a later update. If we’re going to the swamp…




I want a Rank 2 pickaxe and a new pair of shoes!



Second Request



Huh? What’s Diebold doing here?

I am accompanying Sophie as thanks for the fine blades she made me.

Glad to have you on the team. With you ‘round, I reckon we can take on anythin’!

I am honored to be here. Let us both do our utmost to protect Sophie.



Hehe! I’m counting on you all!

If everyone is here, shall we go? We are bound for a place called Azura’s Pier.

To get there, we have to get through the Near-Forest, where there was some wreckage last update blocking the path forward.



Look, the road is clear! They must have finished clearing the wreckage.

Yay, we can get through at last! But I wonder what happened?

I think I recall hearing something about a dragon attack …



Zmei …

I know what you’re thinkin’, but now ain’t the time. We got a job to do.

My apologies. We should rejoin the others.



Making it rain lets us proceed to…


Music: Sinking into Hyphae

A swamp! We’re getting close!


Good thing Sophie can’t slip and fall off the cliff!


A Skittish Monster

We’re here!

It is said the beasts appear on Azura’s Pier, but they are yet to show their horrid faces …

Hah! I bet they smelled two pro bodyguards comin’ and ran a mile!

… Well, that settles it. Those two are out of the party.

Whoa, hold up! Let’s not be too hasty …

There …! Sophie, look!



That’s it! That’s the one! All right, let’s do this!




Eh …? It ran away …

That monster … it seems to be an extremely skittish breed. Considering how far it ran away, I doubt we could catch up to it now if we tried.

How cowardly … Sophie, I suspect alchemy may hold the answer! Let us search for a way to defeat them before they can escape!

Good thinking, Plachta! Let’s head back to the atelier and see what we can cook up!




I’m not sure that’ll work. If it would have, I’m sure Olias would have shot it to bits already.

You have a point … Diebold did mention that it was too far away. If only there were some way of luring it into range …

Hrmm … Something that could lure a monster in … Something to draw it closer …

Something like … bait? … Surely that’s too simple to work.

Then again, the simplest solutions are often the most effective. It’s at least worth a try.


Plachta is outpacing the game’s expectations for her alchemy level. After making fishing bait, I go back to the swamp…


…and can get the Devil’s Kiss with my Rank 2 sickle.


Monster Bait

Even I am unsure whether it deserves to see the light of day, although I designed it myself …

One way or another, it’s sure going to be interesting …

Yes … Considering I am responsible for this concoction, maybe I should be the one to synthesize it.

Sure thing. It’s all yours!



Urgh … What’s with this smell …? What have you been making?

Monster Bait. The smell is a necessary evil, I’m afraid.

We need it to attract monsters from far away, so it has to be pretty strong.

It smells like raw meat, hay, and stagnant water. Rather appealing, perhaps, to a monster.

True. They sure ain’t known for their flowery aroma.

If we stand around talking any longer, I’ll never get the smell out of the furnishings. Let’s try it out, and quickly.



Wandering Pariah



There’s our monster! It really worked!

I sense none of its former skittishness. It seems unaware that we are even here.

It almost makes me thankful we made the bait as strong as we did.

Agreed. Right, let’s take it down while it’s distracted!


damn should have brought more Bombs


Still, Curse gives it a magic weakness, meaning it’s weak to all my bombs. Once its aura is down…





…my damage output is pretty high, meaning it goes down fairly easily.



Yahoo! Finally, job done!

Phew … I’m just glad it actually went for the bait.

You can say that again …



What?

Alette, you’ve got some on your leg …!

How troublesome … At this rate, every monster in the neighborhood will gather around her.

Eek! Sophie, help! I don’t want to be a monster magnet!

Take a deep breath and relax! We’ll find some water to wash it off, all right?

Y-yeah, right! C’mon, let’s go!



Thankfully, it seems like it’s all washed out.

Perhaps this is my fault. If I had not made it so strong …

Don’t worry about it. Without it, that monster would still be giving us the runaround.

Yeah, what she said. It ain’t your fault, it’s hers.

Hey!

Calm down. Anyway, I think it’s time we headed back to Roytale.

Indeed. I cannot imagine Ramizel will be much longer.



“Ellie”, huh? Maybe Ramizel is more to Elvira than a mediator between her and everyone else.

Come on, get out here! I know you know what’s going on! *Sigh* …



Chucking bombs gives me the AP to buy hand-gathering rank 2!



Silence

Who’s to say that’s where Elvira is? After all, only Ramizel knows for sure … On that note, have you given up on telling her that you might be her granddaughter?

No … I still mean to. But she doesn’t even have a husband yet, or children of her own. I don’t know how she’ll take it.

Even so, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I do not think you should let it slip away…

Morning … Are you two awake?



Have you only just returned …? You took longer than we expected.

Yeah … About that. There’s a bit of a problem.

What kind of problem?

Could you come with me to the tree? It’ll be easier to explain things there. … Plus, I need her to hear us.




Sorry for asking you all the way out here.

I don’t mind … I just wonder why we couldn’t talk back at the atelier.



So the rumors are true … Elvira really does reside close to the Dream Tree?

She does. Well, she really lives in her own dimension, but the gate to it is right here. Or at least, it should be … But it won’t appear, no matter how much I call.

Wait, does that mean something’s happened to Elvira?

It’s possible … But, I think there may be another explanation.

Really? Like what?

Sophie, could you do something for me?



Eh …?

Wha …? Ramizel, surely you cannot be serious! What you are asking for is far beyond the scope of alchemy.

I’m perfectly serious. I’m well aware I can’t do this on my own. But the times we fall short are precisely the times when we need to turn to others. Alchemy is a process, not a goal. There’s nothing wrong with asking someone more capable for help.

*Sigh* … Come to think of it, your dream was “happiness for everyone,” wasn’t it?

That’s right! It doesn’t matter how we move forward as long as we do it together. So, how about it? Will you help? I’ll lend a hand where I can, of course.

… If it’ll bring me closer to finding Plachta … I’ll do it! I’ll try to think of a way to open the path to Elvira.

Good grief … Trust you to set us an impossible task.

Not feeling helpful, Plachta?

Oh, I’ll help. There’s no telling what you’d do without my supervision.

It’s recipe time! Let’s head back to the atelier!


And with that, the party's all here, all six of them!



If we’re opening a path to a different dimension, we need to know a little more about it. We don’t want to send ourselves somewhere dangerous by mistake.

Are there any doors to Elvira’s home aside from the Dream Tree?

… Now that you mention it, I don’t think so. I’ve never gotten in from anywhere else.

Then it sounds like there’s only one entrance, in one location. Maybe it’s always there, but just hidden? That might make things easier.

Hidden … or perhaps it is closed …? Why does that ring a bell …


Music: Warmth

Plachta, you’re a genius! Let’s see … Assuming they work the same way …

Wow, look at them go … I knew they’d come through.


Those last two ingredients are why it was critical I get hand/staff gathering rank 2…




…because otherwise I can't find said ingredients, unlock this recipe and progress the story.


Dimensional Solvent

You two sure have outdone yourselves. Maybe I should get back into alchemy …

You will “get back into” alchemy? I’m afraid alchemy requires discipline, practice, and a–








Ramizel! It’s finished!

Fantastic. So this will open the way to Ellie’s home?

That’s the idea. It’ll open the hidden door, and that should lead us to Elvira.

At least in theory. We cannot say for certain without testing it.

Well then, let’s try it as soon as we can.



Their Silvalia-tier weapons are very easy to unlock. I just had to find rank 2 staff/hand-gathering materials, and craft a Silvalia with >30 quality (trivial) for Diebold’s new swords and use Ramizel’s main skill three times (also easy with Twin Actions). Now that the newcomers are outfitted, it’s time to go!



The Goddess of Dreams



Hey, this looks just like the gateway to the ruins.

Looks like you were right on the mark, Plachta!

Hehe. All in a day’s work for a professional alchemist.

Yeah, you did great. One gold star for you!

Um … I do not think I like how patronizing that sounded …

So, what now? Is this gate thing gonna take us to Elvira?

That’s right. It should work exactly the same as the one I know.

Bear in mind, however, we still have not discovered why it was closed off in the first place. Before we go, we should make sure we are prepared for whatever we might find.

Got it …
(This door leads to Elvira’s sanctum … And it’s in exactly the same place where the vortex spat us out …)
(If the vortex has something to do with Elvira … Then Plachta could be in real trouble …!)



My …! To think this place was hidden here all this time!

Sophie! Over there!



UHHH

No way … It can’t be …

Ellie!

Plachta!

Wha-?!



R-Rami … What are you doing here? Wait, who are the rest of you? Who let you in here?

That voice … I have heard it before … just before I arrived in Erde Wiege.

Me too. That means … she must be Elvira!

Shut up! Go away! You aren’t supposed to be here!

So this is where you’ve been, Plachta … I’m so glad you’re safe.



… Huh? Plachta? Aren’t you going to say something?

… It appears she cannot hear you.

Yeah … I’ve got a really bad feelin’ about this.

Ellie, I’ve got a lot of questions for you, but they can wait. Right now, you need to let Plachta go, and allow her and Sophie to go back home.

No! I can’t! That would be really bad! Plachta’s going to stay here, okay? So just get out! Right now!

No way! I’m not gonna leave my family behind!

Ellie … Whatever game you’re playing, it’s not funny anymore. Plachta belongs with So–

No! You don’t understand!

… Diplomacy does not seem to be getting us anywhere.

indeed, this interaction has all the energy of NO YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP DAD MOM

… Well, that’s just fine. If she won’t let Plachta go, I’ll take her back myself!






Sophie!

Sophie!

No … I didn’t …

Are you all right? Can you stand?

Y-yeah … I’m fine.

Ellie! What do you think you’re doing?!



Don’t come any closer! You have to leave, right now!


Even aside from her aura that makes using bombs on her a liability…



Elvira summons scrubs that take the hit for her if you aggro her. Still, THEY will die in one or two hits from the appropriate bomb, and that lets me build up TP faster.



AoE bombs CAN still hit her while they’re on the field, but beware the reaction skill!





Ramizel’s high-powered physical skills are especially valuable here…





…and her main skill, Burning Rod, slams stunned enemies even harder, which follows up nicely on aura breaks.


Still, I couldn’t finish her in time, so I had to go through this cycle once more to wrap it up.





Im-impossible … Did I just … lose? But … I’m a goddess …




No! Stop!!






… Plachta? Hey, Plachta, what’s wrong?

Sophie? Is everything all right?

… Plachta … She won’t open her eyes. And she won’t answer when I call her name …

No! Surely she could not be …!

Ellie, you’d better start explaining yourself at once!


I … I …












Wha–?

What the …? H-hey, what gives?

Is she … crying? Isn’t she supposed to be a goddess?

… Good grief, Ellie … You know tears aren’t going to solve anything.

But … But I … I never meant for things to turn out like this…

… What’s going on here? What’s wrong with Plachta?

We can’t help you if you don’t stop bawling. Start by telling us what happened.

*Sniff* Okay… I… *sniff* I didn’t do anything to Plachta… I just wanted to speak with her.



That’s all, I promise! I … *hic* Waaaaah!

… A doll’s body?

Y-yeah … At the moment, Plachta’s body is really just a doll with her soul inside. I’m studying up on my alchemy so I can help her become human again.



However, what is stopping Plachta from waking? Should we be concerned about falling prey to the same fate?

You’re totally fine, I promise! This is just a freak accident! It’s all because Plachta’s body wasn’t human … so her soul was less tightly attached. That’s why, when I brought her here, her soul came loose, and … *sniff* I lost it. I swear I tried to fix it! I did everything I could think of! But … my powers only work on dreams. I can’t find a lost soul …

… So you panicked and tried to cover everything up while you figured out what to do.

Wait, for real? Just like a little kid?



She is a goddess, and she’s probably been around longer than the rest of us put together … but she’s spent all that time on her own. Even after meeting me … she’s never made an effort to talk with anyone else …

So without the opportunity to interact with others, she has mentally remained a child?

Pretty much … But … That’s not an excuse for some of the things you’ve done, Ellie. You tried to hide your mistake … Left Sophie stranded with no explanation … Never even thought to ask for help … I could go on.














… That’s enough, Ramizel. I think she’s learned her lesson.

Eh?! Are you sure, Sophie? If anyone has a right to be angry, it’s you …

I know, and I’m not letting her completely off the hook … but it sounds like she made an honest mistake, and she’s tried her hardest to make it better …

…



… Yeah.

Does that mean it is still possible to save Plachta?

… Plachta’s soul is still safe. It’s just gotten lost. It’s gotta be somewhere in Erde Wiege. I’m double, triple sure of it! If we could find it and bring it back to her body, it should pop right back in.

Then I’ll look for her.


Music: Chick's Lullaby

… I will help as well. After all, she might be my future self. I can’t exactly ignore her plight.



Besides … I have a lot of questions I need to ask her.

I’m in too! I’ve gotta do something to help!

Yeah. Families belong together, ain’t that right? Count me in!

I promised you my aid, and I keep my word. I will aid you in recovering Plachta’s lost soul.

Everyone …

Erde Wiege has its fair share of monsters. You’ll need all the help you can get.

Oi, oi. You comin’ too, Ramizel? Ain’t you got a town to run?

My paperwork can wait. Nothing is more important than a life, right? That said, I think the best thing we can do right now is go home and rest up.

I agree. We would not know where to begin searching anyway.

Why don’t you five go on ahead? I’ll see if I can get anything more out of Ellie.

Understood. Let’s go, Sophie.

Ah … Right …

The waaaaaah-ing must have resumed before long, because something prompted Sophie to look back:





( … Grandma used to stay beside me just like that whenever I cried … )
( … I should go back to the atelier. The sooner I’m rested, the sooner I can look for Plachta’s soul.)



Music: Good Night



Good morning, Sophie. Finally awake?

Oh, Ramizel. Good morning. You could have woken me up, you know.

I could, but I thought I’d let you rest. You had quite a day yesterday. … Feeling any better?

… After seeing how tearful and apologetic she was, I can’t really be upset with her. Besides, I’m sure Plachta will give me an earful as soon as she wakes up.

… I see.






Now that we are all awake, shall we pay Elvira another visit? We ought to discuss how best to go about finding the other Plachta’s soul.

Agreed. Let’s get going.



… Are you certain you’re feeling up to it?

… Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s go!