Part 85: Chapter L-6: A Break with the Past

Part L-6: A Break with the Past

This entire update is pretty massively spoilery for the last act of Atelier Sophie, so if that’s something you care about, then skip it. All of it.

The rest of you still here? Good. Let’s get started by checking in on Alt…

Hmm…


Trice and Tensions

Uwah, you’re right! If the wind changes you’ll be left like that.

This is just what my face does when I’m thinking. I’ve been called out on it before, believe me.

I do. So what were you thinking about this time?

Mysterious Paintings, actually…

Ah, I’ve got it! You’re thinking of trying to make one, aren’t you?

Are you trying to traumatize me? That very suggestion brings up some bad memories… Memories I can never forget… The day I painted a picture, and the tragedy that occurred afterward.

A tragedy? Gulp! Do I want to know about it?

I was laughed at…

Eh?

Someone I was working with said “You really can’t paint for toffee”, and they laughed at me! It’s not like they could do any better! But it broke my spirit, and the plan collapsed! Gah, just thinking about it now makes me angry! What’s a toffee got to do with anything, anyway?!



Ah. Please, forgive me. I just got a bit carried away.

Hahaha… So what were you actually thinking about?

The irregular nature of the materials found inside the paintings. Many of those materials have similar but different properties to those in the real world. All of them are effective for use in alchemy, too. The perfect theme for some alchemy research.

I see. Yes, you make a good point. Using materials from inside paintings gives alchemy a real boost.

There’s one I want to look at in particular. It’s called a “Trice Flower”, from Etel Nepica.

A Trice Flower…? I don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard of one of those.

Other alchemists have found them, but the number of reports is still miniscule. If possible, I’d like your help in looking for one?

Sure thing! …Ah! If we’re looking for rare materials, let’s get Sophie and Firis to help too!

What?



No, that’s not it, but… gah, I guess there’s no reason to refuse more help.

Yeah, no reason at all! Come on. We’ll find one of these flowers in a trice, you’ll see!

Some time later…



Hmm… no sign of the Trice Flower in La Terre d’Hier…

Right… Time to move on to La Terre du Passé, then!


His Past Unearthed

Hmm, I don’t see any likely blossoms at the moment… Maybe we should split up?

Good idea. You two, go that way. I’ll go with the twins, that way. Good luck.

Thanks! That’s our cue, Miss Sophie! Let’s go!



Alt… You split off from them on purpose, didn’t you?

…I have no idea what you’re talking about.

That wasn’t very believable… Hah, I guess it doesn’t matter.



…ugh!



You have to see what this is all going to lead to!

…Your persistence is beginning to annoy me. I could never give up such incredible strength! I don’t care about the future. The most important thing is the moment we live in, right now!

You are wrong. The most important thing is to connect hope to the future. I cannot allow this to continue any longer. Here and now, I will defeat you!

I see… You think that will work? You can’t hope to defeat me.



If that’s the best you can do, then you deserve to die. Farewell… Plachta.

W-What was all that?! It looked like two people fighting?

One of them said “Plachta”, but she isn’t even here…

Which means, it had to be…





Hold on! You all look real grumpy? What’s going on?

Nothing. We’re finished here. Let’s go.

Alt…



Wait, Lydie?!

Alt bolted for his atelier as soon as we got out of the painting… I have to see what’s going on! Alt! About what we…



…okay.

Lydie… maybe we should go home and debrief.


The Truth About Alt (Plachta)

When we were in there with Alt… I’ve been thinking about it, too. Whose past was that?

It was only me, you, and Alt there. So it has to be…

Alt’s past, right? There’s no other explanation…

Right, but the man we saw wasn’t called Alt, was he? She called him “Luard”.

I know. Alt and Luard… Hmm, I wonder what it all means?

I’ve no idea. But we do have one lead. The woman who was fighting Luard… He called her “Plachta”, didn’t he?

Yeah, you’re right! Could it be the Plachta we know?

I think it could… How often do you think parents call their kid “Plachta”?

Come on, then! We won’t get anywhere sitting around thinking about it. Let’s go see Plachta!

Count me in. I want to know about Alt’s past, too…



!!

Girls… Where did you hear that name?

It was when we were alone with Alt in Etel Nepica. We saw a memory fragment where a woman named Plachta and a man named Luard were fighting.

It had to have been Alt’s memory, but the man was named Luard… and you’re the only Plachta we know, so we figured you’d know what’s up.

I see. When we were all in there with Alt… Which means…

Yes. I don’t think there can be any mistaking it now.



Ah, sorry, girls. The past you saw is definitely Alt’s, I think that much is clear.

More importantly… Alt is an assumed name. His real name is “Luard”. An alchemist from 500 years ago, who researched alchemy alongside me.

500 years?! He doesn’t look it at all!

I’m over 500 myself, but I don’t look like an old granny, do I?

I guess not… So who is this Luard?



…What? I mean, in the past that we saw, it looked like the two of you were fighting…

Ah, that… That was just an argument.

An argument?! It was a bit bloody to just be an argument!

An argument is an argument. He is one of my best friends, then and now.

Hohoho…

Uwah, this isn’t helping me understand this at all…

Really? Then why not ask him about it all?

Hahaha, good point. That’s probably the fastest way.

What? Are you sure? He really doesn’t seem to want to talk about any of that stuff…

Hehe… He can be a bit stubborn, that’s all. Deep down, I think he wants to tell you the truth.

He seems to have opened up to you. If you want to know, go ahead and ask him.

That’s not a bad idea… What do you think, Lydie?

…Let’s go. I want to hear it from Alt himself.

No time like the present, then. Thank you for telling us all this!

…Hehehe!

What is it, Sophie? Why are you smiling like that?



Huh… Some things, I will never understand…


The Truth About Alt (Alt)

…!

I’m sorry. We just really wanted to know. I… We want to know more about you, Alt. So… Please! Will you tell us about your past?

If Plachta already told you, that’s all there is to know. I am Luard, an alchemist from 500 years ago. I took the name Alt from a friend of mine. …Overcome by the power of alchemy, I was consumed by it, betraying even my friends. I’m a monster. That’s the truth about me. Well? I guess I won’t be seeing you around here anymore.

What?



I mean, that’s totally different from what Plachta told us.

…It can’t be! What did she say?

That you were kind, and reliable, and a great friend.

She did…? Haha… haha! So she’s moved on. Looking forward, rather than backward… She’s surpassed me again. Me, who spends everyday looking backward! Do I have to live bound by the past like this?



Alt…?

Lydie, Sue. I have a request. Will you come with me, deep into Etel Nepica? There’s something I want to do there. You’ve done so much to help me already, but can I ask for your aid once more?

Of course you can count on us! We’ll do whatever you need!

That’s right! No need to hold back now!

Thank you, both of you. I’ll be counting on you. …At long last… It’s time to face down my past.

And Sophie’s coming along too, is that okay?

…Fair. Then let’s get going!


Alt Astray

So here we are, in La Terre de l’Origine…

Yes… what I need to do, I want to do here.

Mmm… Ah, a memory fragment!

That it is…

So, Alt… how did it all begin for you and Plachta?



We’d work morning to night, then sleep like logs. Back then, alchemy was pure fun. Helping people using items I had made… There was nothing better! That’s how I felt. Pushing to compete with my friend, honing my skills with each passing day… That’s all I saw ahead of me. I believed it, truly… But it wasn’t to be.

But it wasn’t to be…

Let’s get moving, Lydie.

Alright…



Another fragment, up ahead!

Yeah…

So, Alt… What happened to end those halcyon days?



She was better than me, and not in a way that would be easy to overcome. Each day, I fell behind. I wanted to keep pace, but I couldn’t. Panic slowly started to overtake me. Then, one day, I found it. Forbidden alchemy, completely unlike anything I’d seen before. Alchemy that twists nature, sacrificing the future to obtain ultimate power: Eradication Alchemy. I knew the risks. Of course I did. But I simply couldn’t resist it. I tried it once, then again, and again. As I synthesized more, the power started to consume me. I soon forgot my original purpose, and just started to pursue Eradication Alchemy. Turning away from my friend, and getting drunk on power… The results were inevitable. And now…


His Past Overcome




…Luard?!

Using the Trice Flower we found here, I made an item that can materialize the past. …Girls, take a good look. That’s me, from the past. A foolish monster, losing sight of everything around him, swallowed by raw power.



So that’s… the Alt from the past…

Everyone… I have a request. Please, so I can continue into the future, and chase my old dream again… Will you join me and defeat him?

Yes, of course! Second time’s the charm!

Me too, me too! I’m going to totally destroy the od you, Alt!

That’s right. If your past is stopping you from moving on, defeat it and forget it! Come on, Alt!

Yes! Let’s do this, Lydie!





Open fire!



Just for old times’ sake…!



I’m going all out!





I’ll cover for you, Alt!



Hehe, as will I!

Thank you… Now, I’m betting it all on this!





It all worked out…! It’s finally over…!



Congratulations, Alt! You defeated your past self!

Ah…! Hahahah…! Hahahaha!



No, I just think it’s amusing. I never suspected that my past self was so weak! But it’s so obvious in hindsight! After all… Alchemy is the power of wishes. A heart that desires a wish to come true gives potent strength. So wishing for the future is going to be stronger! Of course it is! I should have known that!

Hehe…

It took me long enough, but now I can finally head out into the future.



Yes!

Hehe. I’m glad, “Alt”. (…There are some things about this that I can’t just let slide, but why ruin the mood? It can wait…)

Alt has acquired the skill “Stoic’s Pride”.

A new Combination Art for Lydie and Alt “Sanctuaire of Demise” is unlocked.

Stoic’s Pride - Increase Combination Arts damage.

The next day…


The Old Pervert Puppeteer

… Gah! Pervert!

W-What did you just say? How rude! You’d dare call me a pervert?

Sorry about that. Force of habit…

A habit? Just who are you?

Gah, this could get annoying. I’ll need to get through this…



In home kingdom, “pervert” is great compliment, it is. Like, “how wonderful you are looking”!

W-Where did that crazy accent come from? Still, I guess if this is just a misunderstanding…

Miss very understanding, yes, very! Hahaha! Bye-bye, you old pervert!

Hey! Hey said “old pervert” at the end there! Who was that weird kid? It feels like I’ve met him before somewhere…



And I came all the way here to avoid this kind of thing… Fate playing tricks again! So I mustn’t hang around here. Off to…


The Sister’s Affection

Oh, really? The sea is lovely! So large, so beautiful!



Hehehe, I saw you looking over the ocean so I thought I’d surprise you a little… Hold on? It feels like we’ve met somewhere before? Have we?

No, I don’t think so. Sounds like you’re imagining things?

Do you think so? You always had someone else with you, didn’t you? Is your younger brother well? Or was she a sister…? This is odd… Which one was it, again?

D-Don’t tell me! Even in my transformed state, you know who I am?!

Hehehe! You were both so clingy. So cute! That hasn’t changed, has it? If you need anything from me, you only have to ask.

Gah…! I must resist! I must not bend to this alluring magic! I’m an adult, over 500 years old! I can’t succumb to this! And yet… I can’t stop trembling! All of my cells, my very being, wants to accept her offer!



W-Waaaah! Uwah, Pamela! It’s been so hard! So difficult on me!

Okay, okay, good boy. You’ve done so well!

Waaaah! Pamela!


A Truce Between Old Men

Gah! Pervert! …Damn, another old reflex!

Ah, the pervert caller! Great timing. I’ve been waiting to see you again. Care to grab some tea with me?

So sorry, so sorry! I very busy! Busy like working bee!

Hey, no need to be like that. We go way back… right, Luard?

… !

No really, no need to run! All I’m asking for is some of your time, and some tea. Now I’ve got a good place on Lune Street. Come!



Nope. She’s never been one to share information like that about others. It was the way you said “pervert”… That look in your eyes, the venom in your lips… I’ve been called all sorts of things in my life, but only Atomina could spike my heart like that.

You’re just making my case for me, I think…

Hahaha! Call it the hunch of an old man. You’ve changed though, haven’t you?

You think? I still strive to be an alchemist of evil.

True evil doesn’t call itself evil. Right now, you look full of hope to me.

Don’t get too full of yourself, “old” man. I’ve still got many more years on you!

Not at the moment you don’t. Not from the look of you, Luard… or should I say Alt? You just stay on the straight and narrow from now on. You understand?

I’ll do my best. See you around, you old pervert.

You too, kid from a far far land. Take care.

You too.



Atelier Sophie spoilers end here.