Part 38: Chapter 6-8: Arts of Ancient Times

Part 6-8: Arts of Ancient Times


A Cold Reception in the Frozen Palace
Music: Frosty Dream -Lydie-







This is “The Frozen Palace”? The first of the Mysterious Paintings…

“Frozen” seems like a good name. There’s ice everywhere! Make sure you don’t slip.

No need to make sure of anything.



Look, a girl!

Great! Someone like Fuoco who we can actually talk to. But what do you mean, no need?

You’re leaving at once, that’s why. There’s no need for you to go one step further.



This is my palace. Intruders are not welcome. Go away!



Well, this is a good excuse to finally use this!



Whoa! I almost thought I’d blow the whole room to smithereens…



Aaaaand that’s a wrap!

My monsters lost? To you? Just who are you?

Heheh. I’m Sue, and this is Lydie. We’re alchemists. We’re here to find the key to defeating Falgior. We can’t leave until we do that.

I see. He’s woken up again? That has nothing to do with me, though. I just want to live here, quietly, all on my own. If you won’t leave on your own, I’ll just have to make you.

And she vanished… Sue… she seemed to know about Falgior.

I noticed. Fuoco didn’t know anything about the world outside her painting.

This painting really does seem different from the others. We should proceed with care!



Look at that fountain! It’s completely frozen! Even in the Luminous Ice Grotto, you’d still have flowing water…

This world isn’t just frozen in the sense that it’s bone-chilling. It’s like everything around us is frozen in time. Anyway, how do we proceed?



Nowhere to go but this huge staircase…



Bingo. Here’s our way forward.



What’s with that statue? It’s heavily damaged and should be crumbling, but somehow isn’t…


The Girl Unveiled

This is the deepest room in this library. So maybe there’s something important hidden in these shelves.

You still won’t leave? I’ll set my monsters on you again!

We already told you. We need to find the key to defeating Falgior. Come on. If you know anything, just share it with us. Then we’ll leave.

Hah! I’m not telling you a thing. I don’t care about the world outside.

And she vanished again… It sounds like she definitely knows something.



This? It’s a diary I found on a shelf. I don’t know whose it is…



Aha! So this is yours? Let’s find out what your name is!

No! Stop! I’m telling you to stop!

Uwah! Sue, you don’t hold back do you!

Haha! Anyway! This girl’s name is… Hold on? Neige? That’s the name of the alchemist who created this painting!



Grr… I’m angry now! Raging mad! You get out of here, you morons! OUT!



Look on the bright side! Fire and physical attacks will crumple these flowers quick and easy!






Bah! I don’t care anymore! You’re going to suffer in here, you’ll see!

She’s gone. Let’s read some more!

You don’t really care about things like tact, do you?

Bleeh! Tact won’t get us anywhere. …Hmm? Hey, there’s something in here…



“At the beginning, I thought being alone was nice. But spending my eternity all alone, is so boring.
But this is what I wanted. I shall remain alone, until my consciousness finally fades.”

She’s been alone all this time… That must have been so hard on her…

Then why does she want us to leave?

Right? I’ve got an idea! Why don’t we all become friends with Neige?

Friends…?

I think Neige is just lonely, and sad. That’s why she won’t talk to us. So why don’t we become her friends? Leaving her alone like this is so sad…

Hehe, I’d expect no less from you, Lydie. I think it’s a pretty good idea. It might seem a little calculating, but maybe then she’ll tell us about Falgior?

You just have to see things negatively, don’t you Lucia! We’re going to actually be her friends, right?

I don’t want to be lectured by you!

Hahaha! I agree too. There’s nothing wrong with having plenty of friends, right?

Everyone! Thank you!

Right! Let’s set out to become friends with Neige!




Hey! This door wasn’t here before!

Mmm! Even though Neige says she wants us out, it’s like her world is opening up for us. Letting us deeper inside. That’s a good sign!



What a large ballroom! Neige has a stage, and all these tables and couches… but no one to share it with. That’s kinda sad…


The Teddy Bear and Growing Pains

What is this? A play room? Hey, there’s something on the floor.




“I wish I could have remained a child. Then I wouldn’t have to feel this way…”

Were those Neige’s thoughts? She wishes she could have remained a child?

For starters, seeing Neige as a child in here sure is strange. There are plenty of records of her death. She hated other people, choosing to live in seclusion, where she died quietly, all alone.

Which means, while she knows about the outside world, this isn’t the real Neige in here?

Gah, this is all getting too confusing for me! Can we just stop thinking about all the scary stuff? Anyway, speaking of things we can do for Neige… Let’s use alchemy to fix this bear. It must belong to Neige, right?

Yes. It looks important to her, too. I know we don’t have much time, but…

I think we’ve got plenty of time. Sophie and the others can hold out for a while, surely. And whilst they keep Falgior at bay… We need information on Neige, above all else. We have to look at the bigger picture.

To put it more simply, if we repair the bear, it will make Neige happy?

That is what I said. I’ve spoken in this manner all my life, don’t mind me.

Hahaha, thank you. Let’s hurry up and fix it, then! So back to the atelier for now…

Torn Teddy Bear obtained.



How hard can it be to patch up a teddy bear? All we need is some cotton, some thread, and cloth, and…



Voila! Now let’s see if Neige appreciates this…


Gesture
Music: Frosty Dream -Suelle-

There we go. Neige! We’ve repaired your teddy bear for you.



Hahaha, sorry if we overstepped. We thought it was important to you, that’s all. …Say, Neige. Do you think we could become friends?

We want to talk with you. I’m sure you’ll have a lot more fun with us than you will all alone!

Friends? No. You’ll just betray me, like all the others. Leave me alone.

Oh, Neige! Don’t leave us… again…

Like all the others, she said. That says a lot about her past.

Alt! Not to me it doesn’t! Come on, share your insights!

You’ll come to understand it one day. One day…


Brought to the Table

Thanks for the mumbo jumb- Oh, hey, another door just up and popped up!




“Sometimes, I wish I could have a friend to share a meal with… No. I can’t give in to such thinking. I do not need friends. Humans will only betray me again. I have already made my decision.”

Another one of Neige’s thoughts… The voice sounds a little older, too.

You’re right. But she’s saying almost the same thing… She doesn’t want friends because they betray her. That’s how she truly feels about other people.

But she still has doubts… I’m sure that deep down she really does want friends! We can’t…

We’re not going to give up, Lydie. We have to see this plan through to the end…

Sure, but how? If Neige won’t open up to us…

Heheh. I’ve had an idea! How about we all eat a meal together? If I eat a meal with someone, I’ll consider them friends. What do you think?

A meal? That might work. The older Neige said something similar.

Alright! Food, then. We need some food…



Good one! You can’t ever go wrong with meat!

Neige! Come on out! Let’s eat together!



You don’t? But look at how delicious it all looks! Come on! …Oh? That sure sounded like your tummy roaring to me…

Uh…

Hahaha! It sounds like you might be a little hungry, Neige? It will taste great if we all eat it together.

Fine. Just a little, though. No more. Hmm… Munch munch… …Thank you.

Hahaha, you were really hungry! I’ve never seen anyone eat so fast.

T-That was normal speed, thank you! But it did taste better than I expected.

Hahaha, glad to hear it. We hoped you’d like it.

Now that we’ve eaten together, that makes us friends!

What? How does that work? I think you’re skipping a few steps there!



Ah, you’ve made Lydie cry. Neige, that wasn’t very nice of you…

What? This is my fault? I don’t understand this! You know what? Forget it! I’m not going to be your friends, ever!

Ahh… Neige…

Hmm, we just need one more push.

Yes, we’re close. One more encounter should do it.



Hehe, Neige said she’s never going to be friends with us, but she’s opened up another door for us! I bet this is the heart of her painting world!


The Ancient Arts

This is the biggest room in here. Surely-

You dare come to my room? After I told you to leave so many times…

Heheh. Lydie is pretty stubborn. She always sees things through, once she’s made up her mind. And she really wants to become friends with you, Neige. I think you should just give up and accept it.

Hah! Fine. I’ll become friends with you. I can’t keep this up any longer… But I have one condition. You have to guess what it is that I want to do.

I’m sorry? What do you mean by “want to do”?

What game I want to play! A true friend knows what games their friends want to play, right? If you guess wrong, you’d better be ready for the consequences. Talk to me again when you’re ready.

You know, Lydie… this is Neige.

Same as… it can’t just be a coincidence. In which case, the answer is obvious. …Neige! We’re ready!



I know what you want to do, Neige. Paint!

You created the Mysterious Paintings, after all! You love to paint, right?

Yes, that’s right. I want to paint together with someone. I’ve always wanted to paint with a friend…

Hehehe. You know what, Neige? Our dad is an artist!

That doesn’t mean we’re good at painting, of course, but we’d love to paint with you.

Are you sure? You’re not just saying that? You really do want to be my friends?

Of course! We’d never lie about something like this. We won’t betray you, either. I want to get to know you better, Neige. Please, will you be our friend?

…Okay! Please, will you come to the room in the back with me? I’ve got everything we need for drawing and painting back there. Let’s… draw together?



Hahaha, let’s get started right away. We’ll have a drawing competition!

Gladly. We may be… friends… but there’s no way I’ll lose to anyone when it comes to drawing.



Totally different from our efforts! I’m stunned, after even just a glance!

Hehe, thank you for your kind words. I’ve been at this for 300 years, after all.

300 years?! What do you mean?!



Fragment of a soul? Since she died? I think I’m getting dizzy…

Once you get involved with a Mysterious Painting, you might say it… liberates your soul. Parts of the souls of people who have entered a painting sometimes remain in it after they have died… That’s what “soul fragments” are. They hold people’s memories from before their deaths. They’re kind of like ghosts, I guess.

A g-ghost?! So you’ve been a ghost all along?!

That’s just an example. A comparison. I’m not a real ghost. It’s more like, a part of me lives on in this painting. But because I wished to remain a child, I’ve been stuck in a child’s body.

W-Wow… these Mysterious Paintings really are complex!

Hehe. I guess you can thank me for that. …I have the information that you desire, too.

You mean… the key to defeating Falgior?

Yes. His weakness is in the Mysterious Paintings, as they are comprised of pure human feelings. Falgior can’t use his powers in the painting world. That’s why I’m giving this to you.



Yes. The Rainbow Palette. Although broken, it can materialize the power of the Mysterious Paintings in the real world. As well as the Palette, you’ll also need these Color Fragments in order to use the Mysterious Paintings’ power.



You’ve been to other worlds? These Color Fragments are the crystallization of the artist’s feelings. Focus on the Palette and the Color Fragments and the Painting World will materialize in the real world. That should greatly weaken Falgior. The Color Fragments from the world are yours, too.

Broken Palette and Ancient Frost Fragments received.

Thank you, Neige! We’ll make good use of them.

I’m sure you will. I barely managed to seal him away, but you can surely… Ah, anyway, good luck. You can’t lose to that noisy windbag!

Thanks! We’re going to defeat him, don’t worry!

See you again, Neige! We’ll be back, don’t worry!



Black Paint? What’s the deal with that?

Lydie. We don’t have any more time. We need to get back to see how the others are doing.

Yes, of course. We’d better get moving.



Sis, what’s happening out there?

A stalemate, I guess you would call it. Did you find the key to defeating Falgior?

Yes, we got it! But we need to fix it using alchemy first.

I see. Then you’d better go and get it done. Everyone else, make your own preparations. Heheh! Once the repairs are complete, let’s go and get some revenge on Falgior!

Lydie has acquired the skill “Nature’s Protection”.

Nature’s Protection - Reduce elemental damage inflicted against you.


Prelude to the Showdown

Hey, Sue. Neige went out of her way to warn us about “The Black Paint”… but why?

If we keep investigating Mysterious Paintings, I’m sure we’ll find out eventually. Anyway, for now we should focus on the threat we’re facing right now!



Good. That completes the repairs of the Rainbow Palette. Now we can even take down Falgior!

You said it! Quick, back to the castle. Everyone is waiting for us!



Sophie! What’s happening with Falgior?

Don’t worry, I just ran out of items. Plachta and Ilmeria are holding him back for now. But I don’t think they can last that much longer. We need to put an end to this quickly.

Say no more! We’ve repaired the item we need to finish this!

Great! I’ll go with you, then. I’ve already filled back up on items!

Great! There’s nothing we can’t do with you along, Sophie!

Right! Just you wait, Falgior! Everyone, come on!