Part 31: Chapter 6-1: Alchemy For Whose Sake
Part 6-1: Alchemy For Whose Sake
Voices and Breaks
La-la-la! Mixing, mixing, mixing and we’re done! Mmm… Yes, that’s great! Now to move onto synthesis. Materials, materials…
Hello? Is someone talking?
I want to become…!
Lydie, whatcha doing? Ah, Sue. I thought I just heard a strange voice? Really? Another voice from a painting? Or are you just tired? You’ve been on edge for a while now, Lydie. I think you’re pushing yourself too hard. Do you think that’s all this is? Yes, I do. The best thing is to take a break! We don’t have the next task yet, so let’s have some fun! I know! Let’s go visit Ilmeria at her atelier! She might feed us some nice treats! Hehe, you’re just feeling hungry! But alright. Let’s go and pay her a visit.The twins step outside, and…
Gah, this won’t stop me! Come on, Lydie! Run for it!A short while later…
Ilmeria! We’ve come to visit you!
A Purpose Behind Power
Hold on! Firis? Are we in the wrong atelier?
Hold it! Why are you welcoming them? This is my atelier!
Hehe, sorry! Old habits are hard to break! Honestly! Sorry, girls. Firis just happened to be here too. …Hold on, both of you are soaked! I’ll lend you some towels, hurry up and get dry! I’ll make some tea, then. Some sweets, too!One break later…
Ahh, I’m stuffed! These sweets are the best! You said it! I could eat sweets and sugar for every meal. You could eat pretty much anything! And you managed to eat two boxes already… Hahaha, sorry! I guess I’m not helping either… Hehe, no need to worry. I couldn’t eat all of these alone, anyway. Moving on… How’s your alchemy going? Getting close to having the greatest atelier in the kingdom? Yes. It’s going well. We’ve reached E Rank! Hehe. We’re not finished yet! You’ll see! Can I ask you something? Both of you. Why do you pursue alchemy with such fervor? Why? You just said it. To become the greatest alchemists in the kingdom. Yes, I know. For the sake of your promise to your mom. I want to ask about after that, though. What will you do once you are the greatest? Once we’re the greatest…
Actually… I’m sorry. I’ve never really thought about that! Ah, no need to apologize! I was just wondering if you had something you wanted to do. Both Ilmeria and I struggled for a long time to work out what we wanted to use alchemy for. You did? I can’t imagine that at all. I’ve had my fair share of excitement, that’s all. Well, you don’t need to have an answer right away. That’s right. As you become better alchemists, you’ll start to see what it is you want to do. Enough of this shop talk, anyway. I’ve still got some sweets, so eat them while they last. Yes! Thank you!
Hehe… don’t mind if we do, Ilmeria! And we’ll take some for the road, too! Let’s go, Lydie!Right outside…
Becoming the greatest in the kingdom has been our only goal. Do you think the others have goals? Hey, that’s a good question! Let’s go and ask around. It might give us some ideas, too. Hmm, who do you think? Alchemists… like, Lucia, Alt, and Dad, maybe? I don’t think we’ll learn much from asking Dad, but I guess we can try him too. Let’s start with Alt! His atelier is just across the bridge, if you think it won’t do much good to ask Dad.
Goals and Guidance
Oh, well done Alt! We’ve actually got a question we’d really like your help with. We’d like to hear more about you, Alt. What is it that you want to use alchemy for?
I see. You’ve reached the point of wondering about how an alchemist should use their abilities. I guess you’re complimenting our growth as alchemists, then… so, Alt…
Whaaaaaat?! Oh… Hahaha! You’re joking, right? What do you think? What’s important here isn’t my plans, anyway, but your own. Having a purpose for alchemy is vital. It’s too powerful a force to be used without clear intent. If you plan to continue using alchemy, you should decide on something quickly. Yes, you’re right. You’ve been a big help. Thank you! Alright! Next up, and just up the street, is Lucia!
This is all a bit sudden! I guess… I’d need to think about that for a second. Hmm… My father’s an alchemist. He taught me since I was small, then put me in charge of our atelier. But hold on. Why? Why am I an alchemist, then? What do I want to achieve? What? Hmmmm? Oh dear. I think we’ve broken her. She’s struggling with the question more than we are! Hahaha. Sorry for setting you off, Lucia. We’ll see you again soon!
Well… we might as well ask Dad, then. Let’s go home.The twins go home, but…
Dad! Hey, he’s not here. Where’d you think he’s gone? Maybe to the graveyard? Let’s go and take a look around.The twins go to the graveyard, where they find…
Dad. You’ll catch a cold out here!
Hey, girls. Sorry, I was lost in thought, thinking about a new painting. In the rain? You’re so weird sometimes, Dad. There’s something we wanted to ask you, anyway. Do you have a reason why you use alchemy? A reason? Haha! As if! I just want to have fun synthesizing everyday and making new things! That’s all! Hahaha. That’s exactly the answer I was expecting.
With that, Roger leaves.
Wait, what? Dad! Hmm. What do you think he meant by that? I don’t know. He was so serious suddenly… I wonder… is he worried about something? Anyway… We’ve asked all three of them. We didn’t learn much about their individual goals, either. Maybe that shows how difficult it is to decide? Let’s go home and think about it a bit more. Count me in. A-Achooo! Uwah, I’m freezing.So Sue says, but as soon as they get back home…
Rank D Requirements
Ah, it’s the Messenger Puni! Heheh, thanks for coming out in this weather!
Puni!! Finally, the exam requirements! Now we can aim for the next rank. Say. Maybe we should delay deciding on our goal until after we get some more experience? I agree. For now, we should focus on increasing our rank, which means raising our reputation! Ooh, and here’s our subsidy! Which is good, because I know you’re going to break the bank on recipe books! Come on, Sue! You know I’m not that bad… aside from which, we’ll probably need new equipment soon to boot. Ah, right. Our current loadout won’t cut it further down the line…Subsidy of 3000 Coll received.
That evening, at Atelier Borthayre…
I’m coming in, Lucia! Wow, so this is Atelier Borthayre… Hello, Mathias. You’ve actually come at just the right moment.
An “Innocuous” Concoction
Neither, actually! Come now, no need to be like that. They’re so delicious, they’ll send you to heaven! Like I’ll die? That’s what you mean, right? I know I just arrived, but I’m leaving!So he says, but when he get to the door…
Hold on, it won’t open! What’s going on here? Hehehe, this is my house. It stands to reason that I can lock the door from any distance! N-No it doesn’t! S-Stay back!
You’re really going to kill me, aren’t you?! Gah, I’m cornered! Very well. I’ve chosen the mulberry one for you. Here we go! Ugwah! Uwaaaah! …Whuh? Hey, nothing happened! In fact, I feel better than before? Of course you do. Even I wouldn’t force you to drink a harmful concoction. They look awful, but both are highly nutritious. You’ve been looking worn out recently, Mathias. Thank you for your concern, but was there any need to force-feed it to me? Ohohoho! For a bit of atmosphere! Just drinking it wouldn’t be any fun, would it? Whatever, I guess you’re right. …She’s a bit of a handful, but I guess she doesn’t mean any harm. Ah, one thing. Watch out for the aftereffects, though! The ingredients I used can sometimes make horns grow. What?! I take that back! You do mean harm! You’re a witch, a witch!
Growing up with the twins has hardened her, clearly. I’d better not grow a horn!The next morning, in the twins’ atelier…
Roger’s Enticing Examination
Sue, let’s go shopping, before we run out of ingredients. Sure, sounds good. I fancy something healthy tonight! Stop ignoring me, girls! My feelings are very delicate! What for? You’ve just had another silly idea, haven’t you? Lydie, you’ve been so spiky recently. You weren’t like this when you were small! Which is all your fault, Dad. But whatever, we can humor you. What’s the idea this time? A real blinder. An item for use in battle! You fight monsters sometimes, right? Yeah, of course. We encounter monsters when we go to gather materials. I’d like to reduce any risks for you. So I’ve thought of an item to neutralize monsters. You know about being captivated when you see something beautiful? Just how I felt with Honnete… Reminiscing aside, I know what you mean… I think monsters are probably the same. Increase your own appeal, enchant them… Yes! It may make it safer! Dad, that’s not a bad idea! Right! So here’s the list!
I’ve thought of this especially for you. Don’t waste my sincere feelings, please! Right! Now, Imp’s Mischiefs… We only have one! And I don’t think just one of them will cut it for Dad… Let’s get to work synthesizing more, then.That evening, at the Gates of Merk…
A Transformative Experience
Giving you a potion with unverified side effects? I’m so sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking. L-Lucia! What’s wrong? You’re freaking me out! Oh, how cruel! I’m sincerely trying to apologize here! Here, I’ve got something to apologize. This a real restorative, with no side effects at all! You’re lying! That’s a lie! It’s another pointless potion of pain! No! Have I so undermined your trust? I suppose it can’t be helped… This is payback for all the nasty things I’ve done. I’m so sorry, Mathias!Lucia begins to leave, when…
H-Hold on! I went too far. You brought something specially for me, Lucia. Thank you.
Mathias! Does this mean? Yes, I’ll drink it. Thank you so much! Oh no, thank you! Gulp… ugh… uwah… what?
Yes! My potion to turn people into Puni works! Now I’ve got Sue exactly where I want her! As for you… You’ll be back to normal tomorrow, I reckon. Goodbye, Mathias. Thanks for being my test subject! Sorry about all this!Lucia walks off, for real this time.
Puni! Puni, Puni! (Ah, wait! Damn you, Lucia!)
From this Puni experience, Mathias can now use the Puni Mask of Justice costume.
Yeah, you read that right! Remember this mask?
Well, now you get to choose whether you want Mathias to wear it for the rest of the game!
