Part 192: Farewell, Rapp and Liete

Welcome back!



Let's hope we can catch up to Feena before she or Mullen does something stupid.





Looks like we don't have any time to waste! Let's hurry and find Feena and most certainly not take advantage of our last chance to buy anything from the PX here.

... I'd harp on that a bit more, but eh. Culture Media are interesting, but there's not much that can be Plague'd that's worth it.

Maybe she's in her tent?



Uh-oh.

... Well, let's see what the guy taking care of the bird has to say. Maybe he's seen something.



: Wouldn't be right to keep him captive with us humans. I hope he makes it. I'd better be sure to let him go. Fly away... fly far, far away.

With Leen's death, the Garlyle Forces have gone beyond "low morale", and have sunk firmly into "defeatist".

And, honestly, it makes sense. There's an unstoppable giant monster on the loose whose only goal is to eat all life. While we may be lacking in blood rain or sky-shattering giant cannibal space babies, but its an apocalypse all the same.

Anyway, since Feena's not in her tent, there's only one other place she could be....



The good news is they haven't left yet.

The bad news is we're in the cutscene zone.



: You don't have to go! I'll stop Gaia, I'll do it!

: Justin... I understand how you feel. But you can't stop Gaia!





: I remember when you gave the Spirit Stone to Baal to save me.

: I knew how you felt then. But now... Gaia has been resurrected, and many people have died... even my sister.



: Feena, NO, WAIT! I gave the Spirit Stone to Baal so it's MY fault. So I should....



I call bullshit here.

None of Feena's Icarian powers do physical damage, so Justin should have more than enough HP to tank it.

: I was born to do this... as an Icarian. It's something only I can do.

: If Gaia is not stopped everything will... die.... So someone MUST stop him NOW.

: It's... my duty as an Icarian. I'm an Icarian, and so I must go. So... to you... my sweet.... Justin... JUSTIN...!



Uh-oh.





Once again, all we can do is watch while Feena is taken away in an airship.



: Huh? "Let's go..."!?

: What are you TALKIN' about!? GO!? Go WHERE!? There's only one place for YOU, buddy-bou... and that's where FEENA is!



Jeez, even Rapp's attempt at a pep-talk here isn't helping.

: Hey! SAY something! You're going with Feena! Right Juss?!

: I... I can't protect Feena.... If I can't stop Gaia, then why go? I wouldn't make any difference.

: ....

: You are the biggest IDIOT I have ever had the misfortune to know! I can't stand the SIGHT of you giving up! I'm going with Feena... Juss!?



: You're a COWARD!

: I hae NO respect for you ANY MORE! And we're NOT friends anymore either.

: Just... get out of my SIGHT!



Jeez, Rapp was being kind of harsh, there.

: Justin...? Is this really the way you want things to be?

: Weren't you going to make a future that would turn my tablet red?

: ...

: I see. Then I have no reason to spend any more time with you. I shall return to Alent.



I take back what I said earlier. I don't want Liete to drop any more sick burns.



And like that, we're all alone.





Of course it's raining.



And looks like the Army's pulling out.



: Not that Herr Mullen or anyone else ever needed US either....

: Herr Mullen has ordered us to escort all the soldiers who won't join in the last attack to their homes.

: We wanted to join in the attack, but Herr Mullen said: "I'm leaving the rest of the soldiers in your care".

: We had our differences, but the army is disbanding now. I guess we won't see you again.

: Get away while you can, Justin. There's no time.



: All right MOVE OUT! We're returning to Messina!





And with that, the game drops us off here, on the empty map. All the soldiers and tents are gone. All we have is the rain to keep us company, and no clue on where to go from here.

Depending on how generous I'm feeling at the moment, that's either a game design no-no, or a brilliant way to help us empathize with Justin's plight here. Either way, there's nothing to do here.



Thankfully, we are thrown a bone in that there's only one other place available to us.



The title theme keeps playing here.





: What am I doing in such a far away place...?



: Hey there. Are you alone, too?

: Ha ha... you're just like me.



Oh dear.

And yeah, this line here is why we talked to the Myna earlier. Had we gone with the other option....

: The greatest! You are the greatest, the best!

So what happens if you don't talk to the bird and pick either option?



You get to hear the last thing the soldier said to the bird before he set him free.

: Do nothing? Is that it?

Justin's reply here is only seen if you get this particular quote, so that's... something interesting, I guess?

Anyway, the Myna flies off once he's said his bit.

: What made me think I could save the world...?

: Create a new future...? Rewrite history...? What was I thinking? Forget opening up a new future... I'm useless....

: I can't do anything! Crossing the End of the World... Finding a way to Alent.... They all don't mean a thing!



Well, at least he's finally realized how he feels about Feena.

And honestly, in a pretty laid-back and low-key way, compared to most JRPGs.

: Leen... I'm sorry. I can't find that "New Way" of which you spoke.



: Spirits? Are you calling me...? Hey... that's the way to Zil Padon. That's it! Guido! Maybe Guido can tell me what I should do....



And Justin sets off for the city.

See you next time!