Part 74: Chapter 10-10: Voices and Conflict

Part 10-10: Voices and Conflict


Voices and Secrets

Yes, we’ve done it! Now we can restore the Mysterious Painting!

(…medicine. I want to become medicine.)

Sue, what’s up?

I can hear something… Lydie, I can hear it!



It is! The voice of the material! I’ve done it, Lydie! I can hear the materials now!

T-That’s great. Hahaha. Well done, Sue.

Heheh, right? I bet Mom is going to be so proud!

Yeah, congrats.

What’s wrong? You don’t seem all that happy, Lydie.

No! I am, I am. Ah! We’ve got a job to do, haven’t we? Some bombs, right? We need to hurry up and make them. Materials, materials…

(You have done well to choose me. I want to become a bomb. Make me explode!)

(I’m happy you chose me. I want to become a bomb.)

Huh…?

What else…? Ah, this looks good!

(Hahaha! I was hoping to get in on this bomb action!)

Ah!!

Good. Let’s start the synthesis at once!



What? N-No I can’t. I can’t hear any voices!

You’re lying. All the materials you just selected said they wanted to become bombs, Lydie. If you couldn’t hear them, you’d never choose them so accurately. Am I wrong?

No, Sue. You’re right… I’ve been able to hear them for a while now.

Why didn’t you say something? Because you thought you were better than me?

N-No! Nothing like that! I thought it was just cheating, like, being able to hear them by myself.

It’s exactly like that, then! You were pitying me because I couldn’t hear them!



When I was talking about wanting to hear the voices first, you were snickering at me, right?

How can you say that! I’d never do something so mean!

Uh!

I didn’t want to hear them! It just started! I didn’t tell you because I just couldn’t find the right moment! You’re the same, Sue, anyway. Deciding how I’m feeling all on your own! I’m holding back a lot, here! I’m struggling with a lot too, you know!



Nothing. We’re going to investigate a new painting.

Girls, wai…! Sigh… That’s rare. The two of them fighting. I hope it doesn’t cause any problems…


The Fight in the Stars

Ah, the Restoration is complete. Great work, twins…

No problem.

…Twins? Is something wrong?

… No.

I-If you say so? Anyway. You can handle the investigation, right? Right…? This is bad… Maybe Mathias and the others will know how to handle them…

…Huh!

…Hah!

My sister mentioned something was up, but this does look pretty bad!





Uwah, I hate this atmosphere! Alt, do something!

This isn’t something an outsider can do anything about. Twins have epic fights, trust me.

You sound pretty knowledgeable on the subject. You don’t have a twin tucked away somewhere, do you?

… No?

You don’t? Come on!

Hahaha… We just have to keep a closer eye on them, is all. Now let’s enter ourselves before they get TOO out of hand in there…


The Explorers and the Intruder
Music: Gazing Upon the Same Star -Lydie-









You said it! Check it out, girls!

Wow.

Lovely.



Seriously. Squabbling like a pair of kids, honestly!

…What was that?

Ah! A-Alt!

Who’s the kid here. Come on. It won’t be easy but we just have to push through.

That’s right. We can’t leave without checking the place out. You got that, twins?

Yes.

Understood.


Music: Gazing Upon the Same Star -Suelle-

Uwah, what’s this? A rock that really knows how to get in the way!

Looks like a meteorite, and it’s completely blocking the path.

There’s no way around it, either. This is a problem.

No, it isn’t. We just have to blow it up.

Sue! That sounds a bit extreme!



There we go. The way should be open…



S-Shut up! It just wasn’t a strong enough bomb. If we use a stronger one, you’ll see!

I’m not sure we will. That meteorite looks tough. MYSTERIOUSLY tough, if you get my drift. It’s going to take a real powerful bomb to blow up this invader from space.

So we just have to make that bomb! Simple, dummy!

Hold on. Meteorites are generally made from iron, right? Even here, I’d wager… It certainly looks like it. So maybe we can use a special acid…

To melt it out of the way?



Let’s at least give it a try. We’ve relied a lot on Lydie’s knowledge in the past.

It does seem worth trying. Go ahead, girls.

…ugh.



Move aside.

Hmph. Know-it-all.



First, I’ll need a Malmore Comet. I can make that with some of the Black Star Stones I found in the rock piles lying around the Starlight Plain…



And now I can do the job. Now, I mustn’t keep everyone waiting any longer…




Knowledge and Power

Wow! It melted like a popsicle on a hot day!

That was amazing, Lydie! How did you even know what it was made of?

Hahaha… I read it in a book, I guess…

I see. You do love to read, Lydie.

Ah…



You just focus on hating it too much, Sue! It’s fun, learning all sorts of fun things from books!

Not me. I’m not smart like you, Lydie. I’ll leave all the intellectual stuff to you.

(Lydie has always read a lot of books. Unlike me, she’s studied so much stuff. Then she can use that in her alchemy. She’s got far more than just raw talent.)



What? Right, I’m coming.

Ah! Look up the left fork in the road…



Those benches would be the perfect spot for some stargazing! Well, if only that giant monster wasn’t in the way…

They do seem to be ubiquitous. But there’s nothing further this way. Now, let’s go back to the other path. It seems to pass through an orchard…


The Joy of Company

Hey, that fruit looks good. I was just getting hungry, too.

Right then! Let’s take a break. We’ve been walking for ages, right?



Uwah! It looks just delicious. Can I just try one? Just? One?!

Hah. What do you think, girls? This glutton will never shut up if we don’t feed her.

Hahaha, glutton! Good one. Very well, let’s have a snack. Are you alright with this, Sue…

Sure.



Don’t forget to get some for us as well.

Hahaha. Leave Firis unchecked and she’ll devour them all! Let’s get enough for everyone. Will you help, girls?



Easy enough when they’re so ripe, and lying all over the place.

Hehehe, that should be enough! Let’s settle down and eat them together!

She’s at complete ease… I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone so relaxed!

Hahaha. Here you go, Lydie and Sue.

Thank you! They look so delicious.



Off she goes… She’s stubborn, isn’t she. For now, let’s eat.

Not much else we can do. Tuck in!

Shoooo gooooooood! Amazing! Sho schweet and juicy! Mellow, rich, just so delicious!

You said it. I’ve never tasted fruit this good! Mysterious Paintings prove themselves again!

… I guess they taste okay…



She’s right. They do taste better than the first one I sneaked. But why? …Ah, I get it now! It’s because I’m eating with Sue, rather than eating them alone.

I said I was putting up with so much, but having Sue around… has made me happy so many more times than it has sad.



You ate almost all of them alone! Don’t come crying to me if you get fat!

Hah, not going to happen. I’ll just exercise this off! How about we run rather than walk?

She doesn’t stop, does she… Come on, girls. Firis is about to leave us all behind!



Stars at our feet, and stars from on high! And in the cards for us is another fork in the road…

Ah, look to the right!



That hedge maze sure is something! Even I don’t have something like that in my castle…

And look behind it. Could that be someone’s house in the background?

Hah… you think the painter might have created this painting as a fantastical villa?

One which money can’t buy… but which sheer alchemic skill can create… uwah, I’m jealous!

Either way we take, the paths will converge. I’ve been starstruck by everything I’ve seen in here so far… so whatever lies there, I know we’ll be in for a treat!


Stargazing and Gambits

A field of stars! Both of flowers, and of nebulae! How lovely!

Different again from the Heavenly Flower Garden… These worlds are wonderful, aren’t they, Sue… Ah!

Yes, you’re right, Lydie! We need to tell Mom all about this… ah, forget it.



I was about to ask the same thing! I thought they were about to make up right then and there!

They have tempestuous hearts, especially for their age. I’ve suffered similar tribulations myself.

Gah, look at you! Mr. Know-it-all!

Each is too stubborn to back down from the other. Some external factor is required.

I guess that makes sense. I think I’ve got just the thing, too, if you’ll all help me out?

Sure, Lucia… what do you have in mind?

Hmm… this isn't the place I want to try it! For now, let’s keep investigating… oh, there’s something off this path!



A bed, a bookshelf, couches, and even barrels… it almost feels like this could be part of the painter’s atelier!

You said it, Firis! Still, though… why put a bed out here in the open, instead of under a roof?

Well, who could say no to some stargazing before catching some shut-eye?

Hehe, point taken! I wonder if Grandma is up there, looking over me right now…



Uwah! This water is so pristine, and it even reflects the light from the stars and crystals!



Now then… back on track!