Part 10: Dreams and Purpose (II)

Update 9: Dreams and Purpose (II)

(cont.)

Last update, Sophie was considering learning quick thinking from Alette. Let’s start this part with her.


Sophie, Fired

Yep. Please teach me everything you know, Master Alette!

M-master, huh? … Heheh … A wise choice. You’ve come to the right girl! I’m gonna teach you all you need to know to make it as a proper business woman!

But you do know I’m not actually planning on becoming one …

Well, in any case, before we can get into thinking on your feet, first I gotta see how you handle a sale. Why don’t we start by having you serve the next customer who drops in?

Sure, no problem!




Yep! So, how can I help you today?

Alas, the hammer I use for smithing is not the mighty tool it once was. I am looking for a sturdy successor. Yet, my coin purse is a little light … Perhaps I should settle with a less costly option …

Ah, gotcha. In that case, I’ll give it to you half off!







So, how was that? Wasn’t offering that discount a clever decision? Using the wholesale price, and considering the material and quality, I worked out how low I could go while still making a profit!

… Yeah, you did manage to make a profit. But, recklessly slashing the price and shrinking our profit down to the bare minimum doesn’t a merchant make!



Whaaaat?! But I managed to make you a little money …

Well, fired means fired, so we’ll have to skedaddle!



Hello, Diebold. What are you up to today?

I am departing town to make my rounds, lest some stray monsters wander into our midst.

I see … Guards also need to do things like that …

This is not strictly part of my duties. It is more of a personal pursuit.



Indeed. And although I receive no remuneration for it … protecting the peaceful lives of the townsfolk here is the greatest reward of all. Even the weakest monster could bring great harm to a child or an elder.

Hehe.

Hm? Have I said something odd?

No, not at all! I was just thinking that this must be what you were like as a knight.

Titles are easy to abandon. Old habits, not so much.

Can’t you go back to being a knight? I mean, you’re the very image of one right now.

…

Or do you … not want to be one again?



I threw it all away when Is old my symbol of office, my shield …

Huh …?



Did I hit a sore spot …?


… Anyway, that’s the long and short of it. Could you help me out with that?

Hm … Gathering materials is simple, but I am not confident I can properly identify what you need.


A Former Life

Hello! Did I hear someone say “gathering materials”?

Yeah, I just sold my last batch and was asking Diebold to go grab some more for me.

Alas, I am not very familiar with such things. I fear I may return with the incorrect type.

Oh, I could help! I’ve got a knack for gathering materials.

Are you sure? I’d really appreciate it. Are you good with that, Diebold?

I would also appreciate such a wise eye. Thank you for offering, Sophie.

Leave it to me!

Now, I’d like you to get me some Jellyfish Larvae. Thanks, guys! Off you go!

I already have plenty of those from killing Extinct Ancients to unlock Alette’s Spy’s Footfalls, so no need to go in the field.



Yep, these are just what I needed! Thanks a bunch!

I must apologize. My talent for identifying correct items has proven to be as poor as I feared.

I wouldn’t have been able to fend those monsters off by myself, though!

True, Diebold WAS in the party when I fought the jellyfish that dropped all that.

I was only able to do the gathering because you were there to protect me. And you were so cool out there! No wonder you were a commander.

That was man from another time. I am simply a guard now.

Why did you quit, though? You must have worked really hard for it.

As my nation was under constant threat from monsters, it considered its knights indispensable. However, during my time as commander, we were able to subjugate our foes and bring about peace.

That’s amazing! You really saved your country!

However, once the monsters were no more, much of the military was considered … superfluous.



How could they treat you like that? After you fought so hard to protect everyone …

The fault lies with me, too. I was too blind to see whom I really needed to protect …





Now, there’s a contest outstanding. I only need to make a Breezy Aroma with 80 quality, but it’ll be very trivial to clear that bar.



All three traits I want are in these two Refresh Oils. Pure White Glory provides across the board buffs to ATK, DEF and SPD, as well as three other random buffs; Awakening Heal revives anyone who’s been KO’d and restores an additional 20% of HP, and Terrific Healing boosts healing power by 25%.


My goal for this synthesis was to hit 25 Ice, the threshold for Activate Scatter, and then prioritize Wind for MP recovery. I did neither, instead just hitting Activate Split. What Split/Scatter does is generate a time card when I use Breezy Aroma to buff and heal everyone. Later during the battle, the time card triggers and everyone gets buffed and healed. Activate Split generates a time card that does this just once while Activate Scatter generates one that does this twice.


Outcome
This Breezy Aroma is great for the time being, but I’ll definitely need to revisit it later. Not just because I missed my target effect thresholds, but also because there are still stronger revival and healing traits I want to replace Awakening Heal and Terrific Healing with.

Alright. The winner of the catalyst challenge is …







Huh!

Whoa, really?!

Indeed. You made something of great quality. I’m not playing favorites here. Plachta … Any objections?

None … Your judgment was correct. Even I can see clear as day that Sophie’s skills are superior to mine … I am completely ashamed of myself …

Plachta …

Ngh …!




Stay here. It’ll only make matters worse if you go after her.
She’s right; Sophie might be the nicest person in the world, but no matter what she says at this juncture, she’d only hurt Plachta’s feelings further.

B-but …

I’ll talk to her. It’ll be okay, trust me.



She’s gone … Does Plachta hate me?
(Speaking of Plachta, I wonder if the mayor is doing alright … It would be good to talk with her about this too … I guess I’ll go and check in on her.)

We have no choice but to do so, as Sophie will not leave Roytale town limits while Plachta the Young has run off. So let’s go to the Crystal Sparkle Pavilion.


Music: Giving Dreams Shape (From “Dreams of a Book”)



(Ah, she’s here … It looks like she’s pretty busy. Maybe I should leave her to it … )





Why are you standing there, Sophie? Please, do come in.

Huh?!



Your presence is very distinct. I can always sense when you are nearby.

Oh, haha … Anyway, what are you up to?

I am looking through a collection of files regarding Roytale.

Speaking of Roytale, it’s a pretty big town, but it doesn’t have a lot of people for its size, huh?

That is hardly surprising.



Personally … Looking at it that way, I guess it’s actually a lot.

It is my mission to make it even just a little easier for the townspeople to accomplish their dreams in this place … However, in order to do that, there is a mountain of tasks awaiting me.

Sounds like a tough job … Let me know if there’s ever anything I can help with.

Now, that is enough about me. Sophie, was there something you wished to speak to me about?

Huh?! Ahaha … You really can read me like a book. Here’s the thing. I had an alchemy showdown with Plachta, but …



Yeah … But then Plachta suddenly ran out of the atelier …

Goodness, she is terribly immature … Only a fool runs away after a loss.

I tried to go after her, but Ramizel said she’d go instead. Do you think that was the right move?

Yes … I would say so. In the past I was … very prideful. I was moody and hated to lose … Allow me to apologize on behalf of my past self for making you so anxious …

No, it’s alright.




Anyway, would you like to talk for a while? Since you came all the way here to see me.

Yes! Gee, there’s so much I want to tell you …

And hey, I’m sure Mayor Plachta enjoys the break.



Oh, yeah … The other Plachta’s probably back by now …

Yes … I do hope so. I could be unreasonably stubborn at that age …

Ahaha … I’m sure it’ll be fine.



Um, Plachta …? Can I come by for another chat sometime?

Of course, Sophie. There is no need for undue restraint. You did call us family, remember?

Yeah … Okay, I’ll drop in again soon. Good luck with everything!







…

You’re pretty upset about losing to Sophie, huh?

I … believed I could win. I was so certain that I had grown somewhat thanks to the recent events. And yet … I was still unable to beat Sophie. I still lost to her. I … am surely missing something of vital importance.

Really? I think you’ve got everything you need.

But I remain unable to beat Sophie! Besides, that item she made to transport souls … I don’t think I would be able to do the same.


You can probably figure out what’s going on with Plachta the Young: after the events of the game up to this point, she knows that someday, somehow, she will become the mentor of the great alchemist Sophie, and it’s getting to her head. In her eye, she has to surpass Sophie NOW, even though that’s clearly not going to happen anytime soon. Not storywise and not in alchemy level. And that’s been eating away at her.

Hey, there’s something I want to ask you. Is it really that important for you to beat Sophie at alchemy?

What …?

My alchemy is nothing but a drop in the ocean compared to the two of you.



Dreams …?

That’s right. I mean, most alchemists dream of doing something with their alchemy, right? Those dreams don’t just disappear because we may be inferior to someone. I’m sure it’s the same for you, right?

…


So in a way, Ramizel’s the perfect person to give Plachta this talk. She’s completely at peace with being worse at alchemy than Sophie and Plachta. Still, she knows the purpose to her power. That not only animates her as a person, but lets her spot out those who’ve lost sight of their purpose.

Lost sight of things …?

Yes … Those important thoughts that have always been inside of you …

Please tell me. Just what are they?!

Sorry, but I can’t. I don’t know what they are. Besides, there’s no point unless you uncover them for yourself, through your own experiences.

I have to … uncover them myself?

Hehe … it might all feel very uncertain, but you’ll be okay. I know you can do it. You have what it takes. I believe in you.



Oh, no, you will. As long as I’m with you, I’ll make sure you do.

Hehe … It seems I have found another person besides Sophie whom I must surpass.



Well, that’s all resolved And Plachta’s ready to go back to the atelier now.



Phew, thank goodness the mayor’s here. I haven’t been able to relax like this in such a long time.

You were doing all the mayoral work before Plachta came along, right?

Pretty much. I wasn’t very good at running a tight ship like a real mayor should, though.

So, you’re not good at that kind of stuff?

Ahaha. Yep, you got it. I’m not exactly the most thorough person in the world. That’s why I’m really glad you’re all here to help me out. How long do you plan to stay here for?

Hmm … Until Plachta’s satisfied … I guess. Elvira said we don’t have to worry about time passing in the real world since time flows differently here.




Ah, nothing!



You two! Do you not think you are both getting a little too comfortable in your laziness?

But it’s been so long since I’ve been able to just relax and do nothing …

I’ve been working non-stop since coming here. It’s so nice to finally have some me time.

What me time? Ramizel, you still have requests you must attend to, no? And, according to my future self, Sophie must train for her license examination. Hurry up now, no more lazing about. Get back to work!

She’s bounced back a bit too well …

Yeah. It’s like we have two mayor Plachtas now …

Excuse my intrusion!



Oh, Gnome? What brings you here in such a hurry?

I do apologize for barging in, but I have a message. The mayor wishes to see you all at once.

Plachta wants to see us right now?

It’s probably something major if she wants to see us so urgently …

Understood. Let us all go at once.

Thank you!

Despite the tone there, the game immediately segued into another cutscene at the atelier. One with the whole party…





It seems like the monsters we fight get stronger and stronger the further we get from Roytale …

Makes sense, doesn’t it? The further you are from town, the fewer people you get passing through.

Which is great … if you’re a monster. Fewer unwelcome visitors, better survival rates.

That’s true. So, knowing that, is there anything that we could do to be better prepared?

Like what?

Well …

Heh. Ain’t it obvious?








By “everyone,” do you mean … All six of us at once?!

I don’t see how that could be a good idea. It’s nothing short of reckless.

Hm … Actually, his plan isn’t without its merits. Certainly, coordinating six people to attack in sync would be next to impossible …



That makes sense. You know, this just might work.

Y-you really think we could pull it off?

I don’t see why not. Right, let’s talk battle tactics!




Well, that’s all we can do for now. All that’s left is to try it out in the field.




Don’t worry, Sophie. Remember, I’ll be there to help.



Hah! You just be careful you don’t trip over your own feet.

If all goes well, we should be able to create a litany of different combos in due time. We ought to keep that in mind as we hone our skills.


So this is Sophie 2’s rendition of ultimate attacks. Duel Triggers run off a gauge that, mercifully and unlike in L&S, carries over between battles and thus are actually practical to trigger.



You could tell from the dialogue, but we start with three Dual Triggers. The game doesn’t make any effort to hide which pairs get the ones to come and they’ll trickle in as we continue with the party members’ character arcs.

Anyway, before we heed Mayor Plachta’s call, there’s something else I want to make.



With Plachta back at the cauldron, I’ll start by putting my Pure White Corrosion!Red Neutralizer into a Klavier Band.


This is to the end of crafting an Ennui Mirror, which can now be made into a great debuffer with catalysts. I’ll want to hit 20 Wind for that, and I might have trouble getting enough Wind links and components to do so.



What will help me immensely to this end is using Major Gathering to get Silver Crystals with Wind components at Erk’s Ice Caves; normally, Silver Crystals can’t have green components. Now for the actual synthesis:


It seems I don’t have the links needed to increase the max effect level and max out Wind, or even enough remaining Wind components, right? Well, with the Limitia I synthesized…




I can do THAT to increase my Wind links without blanking any of my previously-placed Wind components, and using Link Morph on that Ice panel provided the extra push needed to increase my Wind max effect level, max out Wind and hit the threshold for Tri-Suffer. The other effects don’t particularly matter, but here’s the end product:




Even if Plachta may not be the better alchemist, she’s the only one who can make this Ennui Mirror. That counts for something! I got Final Grudge by merging Transcendent Mastery with Inflict Grudge; I wanted that one specifically to soften enemy resistances and even inflict weaknesses on them. The traits and Tri-Suffer speak for themselves: this will inflict a veritable litany of debuffs and status effects on the enemy. Each individual debuff and status effect will also deplete enemy aura.

…each individual debuff and status effect will also deplete enemy aura…

…Let’s test that proposition next update!