Part 109: Aifread

Today, we're gonna finish off Patty's plotline. Let's head for Nor!







Has every one evacuated crossing the Blade Drifts?
I think they escaped to Tolbyccia, around Torim.
Maybe the ships are back in service now.
Anyone would think of running away under a sky like this.



Can I join you?
Uh, yes.
You all wait up at the inn.
Okay.


Nothing to do here except going into the inn, really.




Watch the cutscene! (PS3 / Japanese voices)

Technically, this cutscene is not really PS3 only, but... well, you'll see.



Even with the road through Ehmead Hill open, I'm still worried.



Looks like things just might work.
What did you buy?
One of each formula crest, and...container parts.



I'm making a device that will converge the spirits' powers. A kind of make-shift Dein Nomos.
Dein Nomos... I wonder what Duke is doing now...
I don't know... But he seems totally obsessed.





What's wrong, Patty?
...Huh? I'm hungry.
Should we make something?
I'm super thankful for the thought, but if I eat now I'll get fat. Sleep is the best thing for fending off hunger. Good night!
They say a child who sleeps a lot grows better, but Patty hasn't grown at all.



How about we spend the time catching up on sleep too.
Yes, you're right...


Watch the cutscene! (PS3 / Japanese voices)













...I can't believe she went out all alone in the middle of the night. I'm worried.
Yeah. Actually, it looked like she had something on her mind.



Judith...! I didn't know you were awake.



You too, Rita...



I'm going to go see how she's doing.
I'm going too. It's dangerous for a girl to drift about alone at night.
Now now, Judith. Two ladies alone is just as dangerous. Allow me to escort you.
I'm going too.



What's everyone doing?



Huh? What? Where are you going? Don't leave me behind!
Looks like the twerp wants to come too.
Okay, let's all go take a quick look.


After her!






Watch the cutscene! (PS3 / Japanese voices)















Let's go!



Patty, please wait!



That's what we oughtta be sayin'! What're ya doin' comin' here all alone?
We've gathered the spirits. What lies ahead is an important task worth risking our lives for.



You mean about Aifread?
This is my problem. I can't let anyone else take care of it. I have to...
Even so, you don't have to go alone.
...



Why is it here...?
Patty, did you call it?
Come ta think of it, didn't ya hold up the Maris Stella just now?
So the Maris Stella was a tool to summon the Atherum?
It's calling out to its other half.
Which means its other half is in the ship?
But I thought the Maris Stella was... huh?
S-so, is this somehow related to that problem you need to settle?
Aye.
Let's get going then.
Huh...?
You're not going?
You'll come with me?
You know we wouldn't let you go alone, so we're going with you.



Yeah, I know.
There's a boat over there. Let's hop in.



Say, does that mean that Aifread is on the ship?
Who knows? We'll know once we get there.




I question the decision of using this tiny boat for us all when we could just call Ba'ul and our Fiertia, but sure.




The game just dumps you right here, next to the enemy. I've never not gotten into a battle with it the second I arrived here.

Anyway, going slightly to the left, another scene.

Watch the cutscene! (PS3 / Japanese voices)



Patty, you wanted to meet Aifread to get your memory back, right? That's why you were always looking for his treasure.
Aye.
And you ended up finding the Maris Stella, which was his treasure, right?



The Maris Stella was the treasure Aifread was searching for.
Huh? So you were looking for the same thing your grandfather was!? Is that how you thought you'd find him?
I knew I could see him if I used the Maris Stella. Without a doubt.
Which means Aifread really is on board.





Look up!





We've defeated that monster here once before.



Patty!





Whatever the case, we gotta move!
Yes. If I recall there was a ladder up in the captain's cabin.


Walking back up to where we fought this guy the last time...








Watch the cutscene & battle! (PS3 / Japanese voices)





Seifer?! Not Aifread?
Seifer was one of Aifread's officers, if I recall.







Patty!












This guy is... well, more or less the same as last time.









Fun fight though.







Enjoy some pretty shots of his attacks.





















I also trigger Patty's Mystic Arte in this.





It's pretty special.





















Patty's MA here can actually have a huge variety of different outcomes depending on where on the roulette wheel she lands after tripping. I'll show all of those off at some point.











He drops a Pirate's Hat, an attachment for Patty:



It's the normal hat she wears, the only point of it is getting her hat on costumes that don't have it.

You may have noticed I didn't get the secret mission. That's because I completely forgot about it during that recording, but it was pretty good otherwise so I kept it anyway.

Here's a video of the secret mission if you want to watch it, it's really easy.



You just use this item any time during the fight.



The reward is a Blue Sephira:



Trophy:

Secret Mission 20

Watch the cutscene! (same video as before)



It's still alive!









I lost my memory, and it took me a long time but I'm finally here.
I knew it. Her memory came back.



...!
Th-that's...



Did he say Aifread...? Wait, it couldn't be...





W-what do you mean?





...I can't do that.



During that incident, I turned against many. I committed a sin.

So, the Black Hope Incident...



They all turned into monsters from that accident. You saved them!

And yet, the very one who turned against them continues to live on in this form.

You saved me and let me escape. This time, it's my turn to save you, Seifer!

Aifread, are you truly going to release me from this suffering?

You've done a lot for me. You watched over everyone in Siren's Fang, even though it was nothing but a collection of ruffians. And, you were always there, supporting me.
But...







Ugh...
...Patty.
You're... the only one I...



I'm not the only one! Seifer, you've been through so much more than I have. We're comrades. So I'll bear the burden you've carried until now. In order to free you from your suffering, I'll... kill you.

Are the people standing behind you the ones supporting you now?



You found some fine comrades, Aifread. Take this...









*gunshot*

Bye-bye...





Limit Fever: Occasionally revert to Over Limit when Over Limit runs out.
Defend Artes Advance: Avoid staggering when hit during a base arte combo while in Advance and Critical Form.
Burst Hold: Over Limit will not end while using burst artes.



Watch the cutscene! (PS3 / Japanese voices)





You don't need to hold back. If you want to cry, then cry.



Patty...
I won't cry. Shedding tears would be a disrespect to my dearly departed comrades. I'm the boss of Siren's Fang, Aifread. So I won't... cry... There's no way I can cry. I don't... want to cry...



...Wah... Waaah...




Watch the cutscene! (PS3 / Japanese voices)











...
I'm just fine.
All right. So, what do you plan to do now?
After all, looks to me like ya got yer memory back, and ya found who you were lookin' for.
I'm going with all of you, of course.
Is that really what you want?
Aye. I can't just ignore the problem with the Adephagos anyway. Besides, I've stuck with you guys this long. I'll stick with you all until the end.
Well then, welcome aboard again, Patty.





Well, there's plenty we're curious about, but I'm sure you'll tell us in due time.
Aye, if the whim ever strikes me, that is.
B-but you know...



*RUMBLE*



Wha-what?!

Judith runs outside. Everyone else follows her.

For completion's sake, here's the 360 version of the Nor inn cutscene. They did indeed split a cutscene that was previously one into two parts and added a whole sequence of events in there.

Before we end this for today, two PS3 skits relating to the events just now:



Skit: As Aifread
I'm sorry for keeping everything a secret from you guys...
I was pretty surprised. I mean, I still find it hard to swallow that you're Aifread.
There ain't a lot of info on Aifread, but I was pretty sure he was a man.
Aye. Seifer was responsible for handling negotiations for Siren's Fang, so it seems most people thought he was Aifread.
Um... Aren't you going to do anything about the false story behind the Black Hope incident?
The story's too widespread. It's no easy task to erase the stigma attached to the name now. Besides...
Besides what?
I'm happy just knowing all of you know the truth.
So, we're the only living witnesses to the truth behind Aifread. That's quite the responsibility.
But sharing a secret like that makes it feel like we're all super close!
Hehe. I'm not opposed to such fancies myself.
You guys are impossible, but I guess I can go along with it.
Oh? Count me in too.
Woof!
Patty, I'm sure it goes without saying that we're all still here for you.
Th-thank you... everyone.
Seifer, I'm not alone anymore. I've found friends I can trust just as much as I trusted you.


Skit: Symbol of the Great Pirate
So, the Maris Stella and the, uh, Maris Gemma, was it? What exactly were they, in the end?
I told you, they're the symbol of a great pirate!
When they become one, the door to paradise opens!
Paradise!? Are you serious!? Paradise? Give me a break.
... ...
You've gotta have some dreams! Can't you guys tell dreams from reality?
... ...
At any given time, you're going to hear all sorts of tales about some sort of paradise. And each and every one of them is a lie!
Turning those lies into truth is our responsibility as adventurers!
So, what do you get in paradise, anyway?
No idea.
And where would it be?
Dunno.
Oh come on, you don't have a clue?!
And that's exactly what makes it so appealing! Would you be interested in magical research if everything was known about it, Rita?
There's a reason for everything in magical research! It's completely different from some paradise that may or may not even exist!
...Patty, you'll never get through to her no matter what you say...




And that's it for now! Next time, we find out what that weird rumbling was about, and do an awesome sequence of events.