Part 68: Confronting Phaeroh

Watch the cutscene!









Yeah, I mean, she just keeled over. Wasn't expecting that.
I bet she watched over Ba'ul the entire time he was evolving. She probably didn't get much sleep. She probably had no idea when the Hunting Blades would attack, either.
She was puttin' up a brave front, but she must've been near the end of her rope.
She's just dumb. She doesn't know how to express what she's feeling.
We can finish talking with her tomorrow. We should let her sleep now. In fact, I wouldn't mind a little shut-eye myself.




Skit: What to Do with Judith
We still haven't heard Judy's side, so we can't say anything, but she sure caused the guild a major headache, breaking blastias all on her own.
There's no getting around that fact, no matter what her reasons. We have to settle this.
...Man, I hate waiting...


Another opportunity to talk to all our party members arises here, well except Judith. Let's start with Karol.




Yeah. I'm wondering what we should do about her.



It's true that she broke the guild's laws and betrayed us.
I always thought that a guild's strict adherence to its own laws was what kept it together. That there could be no exceptions... no lenience for those who would break the laws. But...
She did what she did to save the world. Judith is destroying blastia because she knows it's the right thing to do, even if it makes people hate her.
Yup... Judith didn't break our laws in order to do something bad. I know this, now. I'm going to talk with her about it and give it some more thought. I'll figure this out eventually.
Oh yeah?
Maybe if I become a little bit more decisive, Nan will listen to me, too...


Next is Estelle.





Sorry to interrupt while you're thinking.



I've wanted to know what it means to be the Child of the Full Moon so the same thing doesn't happen again... I always thought that it was my duty to know. But after what happened to Belius...
That's how everyone is. They do something, they learn, they do something else, they learn more.
You too, Yuri?
Yeah.



Hmmm... There's only one thing I can say for sure.
What's that?



...I really wonder...


And Raven.



What're you whining about, old man? Why are you past your prime?



Blastia created with techniques that should've been lost in the war are still active... Do you know what this means?
...I guess someone who survived the war brought either blastia or those techniques back with him.
If that person was still usin' the blastia even though he knew it was harmful ta the earth... Someone like that...would have to be quite the villain indeed.
Old man, don't tell me you...



I wouldn't do something like that even on my worst day.
Heh, I was just trying to trick you into giving yourself away. You're a slippery one!
Son of a...when're ya gonna learn some respect for yer elders!


The last one outside is Patty.





Aye... I'll be careful. ...Yuri, the world is pretty big.
Yeah... We flew this high, and yet we still can't see what's on the other side.
With the world being this big, it makes sense that there are lots of things I don't know out there.



You think you'd be okay even without your memories?
I mean, I'm not the only one that feels worried and uneasy because I don't know the truth. Everybody's got their own worries. Even you, Yuri. And Estelle.
...You think so?
That's why everyone's here together, right? That's why Judy came back, too.
And that's why you're coming along too... That it?
I don't want to be alone.
You're pretty frank today.
I'm always frank.
Really? I guess so.




Rita's inside along with Repede and Judith.





Yes. It's definitely cut with a different formula than a usual core. It looks like what she said was true.
She said she wasn't too good at lying, after all.
To discover that the new technique you created was bad for the world, after what must've been years of research... I can't imagine how the person who created the Hermes technique must've felt.
Well, what if it had been you?



But I wouldn't destroy the blastia like that...




...
What the?
N-nothing!
Arr... If only things weren't so complicated...



...


Checking on Judith triggers the next scene.




Watch the cutscene!





Morning.
It's a beautiful morning, but... Even as we stand here, the aer is out of balance... And our world may already be dying.







In the past, these slight fluctuations of the aer have not negatively affected our world.



Beings like Phaeroh and Ba'ul--the Entelexeia.
So the Entelexeia were responsible for keeping the aer balanced...
For ages, the Entelexeia have regulated the aer. But the recent increase has been greater than they could control.
Which is bein' caused by the Hermes blastia.
And which is also why you were going around, taking down as many of them as you could.



The path I walk with Ba'ul, to whom I owe my life.
The path you walk...
Now some would even hunt the Entelexeia for apatheia. This has made the mission of the Entelexeia even more difficult.



I'm afraid I don't have an answer. The aer an Entelexeia absorbs becomes condensed within its body over time. When its life is at an end, that condensed aer forms a crystal--an apatheia. That's all I know. I imagine Phaeroh could shed more light on the subject, though.
...So apatheia are crystals of concentrated aer... If that's true, and the energy could be extracted from the apatheia...



Could we really do that?
I...I don't know.





Seriously. We could have avoided all this trouble if you'd just talked to us. Am I wrong?
...Even if you had known... There are things not even you could have prevented.
What do you mean?



Where there was a disturbance, there was sure to be a Hermes blastia... But what I found there was not a blastia... It was a person. That had never happened before.
So it wasn't like you were looking for Estelle in particular back at Heliord.
Yet for some reason, Ba'ul perceived Estelle as a disturbance in the aer. I had to find out why. For the sake of the path I've chosen. It was at that time that Phaeroh first appeared. He seemed to have some idea who Estelle was.



My mission was to destroy all the Hermes blastia.



I made a deal with Phaeroh, and he agreed to grant me some time.
You mean...
If it became apparent that her existence posed too great a threat, then I...





Settle down. Obviously Judith reached a different conclusion.
All right. I get it.



If you can communicate that to Phaeroh somehow... You may learn what you should do.
H-hey, there's no real reason for you to find Phaeroh anymore, right? I mean, we know the Hermes blastia are what's causing the problem and everything. If we just make sure the apatheia don't fall into the wrong hands...



But...
Please try to understand. I have to know more about myself, and take responsibility for who I am.
All right...
Sorry, Yuri... I don't think we can decide what to do about Judith right away...



I need to accept that responsibility myself.
Let's go and find Phaeroh. We'll finally be getting around to one of the first things we set out to do. We can work out the rest once this is finished.



That is where Phaeroh lives. Ba'ul can take us there.
Okay. Let's go. This meeting's been a long time coming.


The game now gives us a short overview on Ba'ul, ie. this game's airship.



Like what?
Ba'ul can only land on the ground in wide, open spaces. So you won't be able to dismount on steep mountain ranges or in narrow canyons.
Can't he land on water?
Water's no good, either.
Really? He looks like he'd be a good swimmer...
Ha ha, yeah. He'd sink like a rock.
Huh, who knew...?
But that's why we have a ship, right?
Right. If you'd like to get down onto the ocean, let me know. Ba'ul will set our ship down there for us.
Okay, but what should we do when want to fly again?
Use "Ba'ul's Horn" to call him to you.



Ba'ul's... That's all there is to it?
Every Entelexeia has a special region in its brain that can be used for communication with a special power Krityans possess.
Huh. So, we can get a hold of him by using that.
Right.






Skit: Phaeroh
Judith, you're familiar with Phaeroh, aren't you?
Is he really as scary as he seems?
Well, let's see.
Sometimes he's logical, sometimes he's emotional. He can be really scary, or really kind.
All right, that didn't help very much.
One thing's certain. His power is extraordinary, even among the Entelexeia.
Here's hopin' we don't wind up lookin' like poor old Mt. Temza the moment we meet him.
If he can do that to a mountain, there wouldn't be anything left if he turned on us.
I wish you wouldn't joke about scary things like that.
Why should we get scared before we even get there? Especially if he's that strong.
Wish I could take it as lightly as you and Yuri...


Alright, we can now fly around the world as we please! Of course, this means sidequests!

Well, technically. I actually went and did a lot of sidequesting now, but I suspect everyone is more interested in confronting Phaeroh. So let's show that first!




Phaeroh's Crag is, indeed, in the middle of the desert, pretty close to where we just were in Temza. We can just simply fly there and enter.







Should be. I wasn't able to see him when we came to the desert, but I think this is where we can meet him.
I hope nothing bad will happen... What if he suddenly attacks us?
I can't make any guarantees. I don't think we'll have a say in the matter.
Karol, are you okay?
No, I'm not okay... I should go...
Phaeroh sure did pick a bleak place ta live in, dontcha think?



Why did it turn into this rocky desert?
Hmmm, I don't know that much.
Estelle, are you really going to meet him? Even though you could be killed?
Yes. I've already...made my peace with this decision.







Do you have a problem with meeting Phaeroh?
I just think it'll be hard on her to hear what he has to say. But it's too late to turn back now. We've come this far, after all.




Not much to do here but running along the path.






Watch the cutscene!



Phaeroh. You are here, aren't you?



Gyaaah!!



Insipid poison, you appear before me at last!



For what reason have you come to me? Surely you are aware that I could end your existence with a mere thought.
Heh. You talk pretty big, don't you? If you really want a fight, I'd hate to disappoint you.
Yuri, no! Everyone, please wait!
Estelle!





I am afraid. But I'm even more afraid of dying without knowing who I really am. Belius told me I needed to meet you to learn about my destiny. I have to know just what that destiny is. I understand that I am a threat to the Entelexeia. But you said that I am a poison to this world... What is this power I have? Just who is the Child of the Full Moon? If it is true that my existence cannot be tolerated...



But I at least deserve to know why it is I have to die! Please tell me! I beg of you!



So there was an aer krene here...
But what happened? Why did it change?



As to why the aer ran rampant... The answer lies with the poison brought by the Child of the Full Moon.
Huh...?



Huh?



So if Estelle can use her healing artes without the aid of any blastia... She must possess a formula in her very being that lets her convert aer into energy. Judith was searching for blastia that used a particular kind of formula... So...this special formula Estelle has must also consume massive amounts of aer... Which causes the aer krene to become more active and pump out more aer than they should...
I had hoped my hypothesis...would have been wrong...
Then, I...
It is as she has said...



In so doing, the imbalance of aer in this world is furthered. For the planet, such an existence can only be called a poison.





If the problem's with Estelle, then it's for us to solve. You have no place in our affairs.
The gravity of this situation is beyond your grasp.



It would at least eliminate one problem.
Phaeroh, at Heliord I stopped myself, and again at Dahngrest I stopped you. What I thought was a blastia turned out to be a human. Before I realized it, I had lost my way. I never thought this child could be as great a danger as you had said.
And due to your confusion, I granted you the time necessary to see things as they are.



Hmm, not sure I understand all this, but if her power's the problem, why can't she just not use it?
There can be no guarantee she will not try to use the power.



Someday she will surely use her power to help someone.
However, as long as she keeps that spirit of compassion, she cannot only be seen as harmful. She is not like a blastia. I know that you can feel the difference.
...Compassion alone will not save this world.



But why doesn't that world have a place for Estelle?
It is sometimes necessary to remove a part to save the whole.



We have endured the anxiety of existence for far greater a span than you can conceive. Such words mean nothing from those who call this world home for but a fleeting moment!
Phaeroh, please listen. The important thing is finding a way to stop the excessive aer, correct? We still have time left to search for such a thing.
Judith...
And if...if the effects of Estelle's power reach their absolute limit...



You should have no complaint with this.
H-hey Judith, are you serious?!
I'm sure Brave Vesperia will come up with something before that happens, right?
What?! I...um... Yeah, yeah of course we will!
Score one for Judith. So that settles it. If we humans are to blame for Estelle's problem and bringing on the apocalypse, then it's up to us to make things right.



...You have changed. If you were still as before...
Have I? That is nice to hear.








If the formulas are causing the excessive aer... Then there must've been times when this happened in the past. I mean, the blastia were a product of an ancient civilization.



If any yet can speak of what occurred in the days of old, it is they.




He's gone...



Judith...you, too.
No problem, but hey...
What?



What the hell was that?
...I'm sorry.
I don't want to hear that again.
I'm sorry...







Some people dislike this scene because they argue that Yuri is a hypocrite here, and yeah he kinda is; though there is a pretty big difference between Estelle, who had no idea that her powers caused harm and just wants to help, and Ragou/Cumore, who know full well that they're assholes and enjoy it. I still like this scene and think it works pretty well.


Watch the cutscene!



We were pretty lucky that bruiser was in a mood for conversation. Poor Raven's heart can't handle that sorta stuff anymore.



That's what I can't figure out.
I imagine Phaeroh was conflicted as well. He hid himself from us in the desert to see just what we were made of.
Huh. Maybe he wasn't as bad as we thought, after all?
You might be right. I get the feeling he'd do whatever's necessary when push comes to shove.
That sounds like you.
...Maybe.
But what are we gonna do, Yuri? You heard what he said.



That's easier said than done. We're pretty much at square one, ya know.
There's no doubt that the formulas are related somehow to the aer getting used up. We need to find out about the ancient blastia, and if they went berserk or not. If we had that kind of information, it might give us a clue...



Or at least that's what Phaeroh said.



In other words, we need to ask a Krityan who is still familiar with the old stories.
Yeah. The Kritya are often credited as the inventors of the blastia...
There isn't much left of the Krityan city of Temza, though. Things might be different if we had somewhere else to look.
The hidden city of Myorzo. It is far older than Temza, and the birthplace of the Kritya. The first blastia also originated there.
Really? Well, whaddya know. You wouldn't happen ta know where this Myorzo might be, would ya, darlin'?
Hmm...



There was a Krityan in Aspio. I'm sure they mentioned something about it.
Do you think that person might still be there?
Well, there's no harm in checking it out.
Judith...are you coming with us?
...I should. We still have the issue of the guild to straighten out.




Well, not exactly, next time is gonna be the sidequesting I skipped here. See you then!