Part 53: Replica Blues (Part II)

Sorry for the double post, I told you it was a long update!

Skit: Cheerful Anise

: “Anise certainly hasn't changed.”

: “Yeah, she's so cheerful!”

: “Even so, pocketing illicit donations is going too far.”

: “Come on. It was just a little. It's not that big a deal. That woman didn't seem to mind.”

: “Tricking people out of their money is still wrong!”

: “It's wrong!”

: “Okay, okay. But debt, huh...? Must be tough on Anise.”

: “Yes, she did say her parents had been tricked into it...”

: “Maybe we should ask her about it later.”

: “I don't know... she may have her own reasons for hiding it.”

: “Oh, yeah. I guess we shouldn't pry.”

: “Anyway, right now we need to see Ion.”

: “Right.”

Right. One quick jaunt to the cathedral later and...

The Struggling Order



: “He was removed as Grand Maestro. He's being detained, awaiting a court of inquiry.”

: “Then who's the highest ranking member of the Order of Lorelei now?”

: “It is and always has been Fon Master Ion.”

: “Oh yeah. I forgot. Mohs was always acting like he was in charge of everything.”



Joy.

: “It's so good to see you all again! Especially you, Luke! I sent you a letter, but you didn't write back. What've you been doing?”

: “Oh, yeah. Sorry...”

: “Ion was worried about you too. He said, 'I hope defeating Van let Luke find the answer he was looking for.'”

: “Well... actually...”



: “Everyone keeps asking us to read the Score. Not to be pessimistic, but a religious overhaul looks pretty impossible.”

: “They all still want to know the Score...”

: “They think that falling into the Qliphoth was part of the Order's Closed Score.”

: “So they're all convinced the Score is still on track.”

: “Ion must be having a hard time.”

: “Yeah, I hope he doesn't wear himself out again.”

: “Oh, that's right, you two-”

: “I'm here too!”

: “I know, I know. You three wanted to talk to Ion, right? He's in his room.”

: “Okay, let's go.”



A quick jump up the magical teleporter and we're there.

Ion's Consul + Guy's Revelation



: “I'm glad to see you're doing okay.”

: “Yes, I haven't used Daathic fonic artes since our journey, so I'm in good shape. How have you been?”

: “Well, he sounds like he's pretty messed up.”

: “I'm not 'messed up'.”

: “So you're still troubled.”

: “Ion, what do you think you'd be doing if your original were still alive?”

: “Are you concerned about Asch?”

: “...How could I not be?”

: “Hmm... this is only hypothetical, of course... but I'd want to work to inform the world about replicas.”

: “That sounds like you.”

: “I realized on our journey that I didn't want to be someone's substitute. Though it certainly took me long enough.”



: “Fon Master, I've brought a report regarding the Planet Storm's increased activity.”



: “Yes. We still don't know what is consuming the Seventh Fonons. Also, increasing the strength of the Planet Storm was part of my brother's plan. I've also heard there have been signs of intrusion at the Absorption Gate...”

: “Do you think Van is alive?”

: “No, not my brother himself, but perhaps the plan he left behind. I have a feeling that the ghost of his vision for a replica world is stirring anew.”

: “Master Van's vision... I wonder why he was so intent on erasing every trace of the Score...”



: “Uh, oh! Ion, the Maestro Council meeting is about to start.”

: “Oh, that's right. I'm sorry, I'm out of time. I'll at least see you off.”

: “No, please don't let us keep you.”

: “I want to. Let's go.”

Well then, let's shove off-



: “Luke?! What are you doing here?!”

: “That's my line. What are you doing here?”

: “Well, actually... oh, Ion's with you. That's convenient.”

: “Did you need to speak with me?”

: “I've come on behalf of the Malkuth House of Lords. There's something I'd like to inform you of, but would it be better to follow official procedure?”

: “I don't have much time. It's fine to tell me here. Besides, that's why they sent a friend of mine, isn't it?”

: “Very perceptive. I have two things to report.”





...I know I'm supposed to be angry about this, but if it means we're going to get more Dist down the line, I am all for that.

: “Second, Mohs. It seems Dist attacked the ship carrying Grand Maestro Mohs to his hearing. When a Malkuth Navy ship found it, the crew had been wiped out, but no trace of Mohs' body was found.”

: “Does that mean Dist rescued Mohs?”

: “Looks like it. Anyway, please be aware of the possible danger.”

: “I wonder if it was Dist who took Master Van's sword from the Absorption Gate...”

: “Someone took his sword?”

: “I have a bad feeling about this. Asch seems to bee looking into Lorelei and stuff, too.”

: “Asch... he never did return to Baticul.”

: “How do you know that?”

: “I ran into him in Grand Chokmah. He warned me to watch the God-Generals. That's how I found out about Dist's breakout so quickly.”

: “Did he say anything else?”

: “Yeah, actually. He said he was going to St. Binah. Something about setting Lorelei free...”



: “What? What are you talking about, Luke?”

: “I'm going to St. Binah. I have to find Asch!”

: “I don't quite understand, but if you're going after Asch, let's go together. His Majesty asked me to look for him, too.”

: “Guy... sure, thanks.”

: “Um... Ion...”

: “What is it, Anise?”

: “May I go with them?”

: “By yourself? That's unusual.”



: “Yes. He didn't say 'watch Dist'. He said, 'watch the God-Generals'... He may know something.”

: “Okay, guys, let's head for St. Binah.”

If you haven't figured it out yet, Part III contains a lot of going back and forth between places we've already visited.

Skit: An Overworked Guy

: “That was a rather hectic reunion... but I'm glad to see you all again.”

: “Yes, me too.”

: “Me three!”

: “Sounds like you've been pretty busy.”

: “Yeah, you wouldn't believe how hard Emperor Peony and Jade make me work. I'm probably busier now than I was back when I was your servant.”

: “Hah hah hah!”

: “So you havne't been able to figure out where Mohs and Dist have gone?”

: “You haven’t changed either.”

: “...? Do you mean my clothes?”

: “Come on...”

: “Hah hah... anyway, no, at the moment I don't have any clue where they've gone.”

: “They sure couldn't come back here. I wonder where they went?”

: “Asch might know. If we talk to him, we may learn something.”

: “And not just about the God-Generals. I bet he knows something about Lorelei.”

: “Yes... let's hurry to St. Binah.”

Yeah, let's... but before that.

Skit: The Results of the Bet

: “Tear, Anise, it looks like you two are the same as always.”

: “Booooo. I got bigger! Well, all the important parts, anyway.”

: “Oh? Sorry...”

: “But she's still obsessed with money. Looks like I win the bet, Tear.”

: “...Oh, so Mieu's master is still...”

: “...Still me. Damn, I knew I should've bet something better.”

: “Huh? What kind of bet is that? It doesn't hurt you whether you win or lose.”

: “Serously. If you're going to bet, lay down, like, a billion gald or something! I mean, if you made a bet like that, I'd take it any day!”

: “Even I can't play around with that much money...”

But really now, let's go.



Here's St. Binah, which you may notice is still a little worse for wear after the fall. At least they put a bridge up.

McGovern



: “Ah, was that a wig earlier? What was that silliness about 'my hair grows fast'? Jade's sarcastic personality must be rubbing off on you.”

Oh Asch.

: “He must be talking about Asch.”

: “What kind of excuse is 'my hair grows fast'?”

: “Maybe Asch isn't as bright as we thought.”

: “Um, that guy who looks like me with long hair – his name is Asch. Do you know where he went?”

: “Hmm? Is he your twin or something?”

: “In a manner of speaking...”

: “Asch would kill you if he heard that.”

: “Yes sir, something like that. Did he say anything?”

: “I think he was headed for Surrey Hill. He was asking if he could still get inside.”





: “No, thank you.”

: “Surrey Hill, huh? Shall we go take a look?”

: “Y-yeah...”



More backtracking!

Skit: Luke's Feelings

: “...So why did Luke suddenly get so gloomy?”

: “Probably because he was holed up in his room the whole time.”

: “There were times before when he blamed himself for things, but...”

: “We... I guess I can understand it. After all, the replica wound up stealing the place of the original, but...”

: “But what?”

: “Ion's always known that he was a replica, but he's never talked about himself as a fake.”

: “Yes... but that's because the original Ion has already passed away.”

: “Yeah. It weighs more heavily on Luke because Asch is alive.”

: “He's such an idiot, thinking of himself as just a replacement...”

: “Well, usually you'd never think there was another 'you' out there.”

: “True, but in the end, it's really simple – what does Luke himself want to do?”

: “Isn't there any way we can help him?”

: “...This is the kind of thing he has to deal with himself. That's how people are.”

Guy's Consul



: “...A month apart, and you can still tell right away, huh?”

: “Well, yeah, we've been together for years.”

: “Guy, are you okay with the way things stand with my father and Hod and all?”

: “If I said I wasn't, would it change anything?”

: “Well...”



: “At least I got to hear what really happened in the Hod War from the people responsible. Isn't it more productive to make sure something like that never happens again?”

: “It sounds like you've been able to put your past behind you.”

: “It still have some lingering feelings, but... it's not like there's any way to change things.”

: “You're so mature! That's my Count Gailardia!”



: “You're still not used to it?”

: “Sorry. It's just... when it happens all of a sudden...”

: “Luke, let's go inside. Okay?”

: “Yeah. I can't keep saying I'm scared. Even Guy conquered his fear.”



I'm glad Guy's back in the party.



Into the breech.



: “...He's dead.”

: “What? The God-Generals are dead. The Oracle Knights are being reorganized. All units should be on standby...”

: “If Asch is here, then maybe it was by his order.”

: “Asch was removed as Commander of Special Operations for breaking military procedure.”

: “I have a bad feeling about this. Let's go inside!”

We head inside, and...

Familiar Faces



: “...No.”

: “Major?!”











This is a very quick sequence that doesn't translate to screenshots, though I tried my best. Luke and Asch rushed Legretta and tried to combo her ass, but she dodged their blows. As she landed Tear tried to throw a knife, but Legretta shot it out of Tear's hand before she even let go.



: “Major... you're alive...”

: “How did you survive that avalanche?”

: “Arietta's monsters rescued us. We couldn't protect Commandant Grants because of our injuries in that avalanche...”



: “Like hell you will!”

: “Asch. Next time we meet, I WILL take the Key of Lorelei.”

And she flies off on a bird.



: “They must be trying to fulfill Van's vision for a replica world...”







: “He's as unfriendly as ever.”

: “Did you know Legretta was alive?”

: “...It's not just Legretta. It's possible all of the God-Generals are alive.”

: “But Sync fell into the core. If he's alive... then Van could be, too...”

: “So you were investigating the core because Master Van could still be alive?”

: “You're sure taking things lightly. If you were connected to Lorelei then... maybe it's just my fonon transformation.”

: “Asch, hang on a second! What are you talking about? What do you mean, 'then'? When Lorelei said to set it free? What did that mean?”

: “Exactly what you heard. Lorelei is trapped.”

: “Trapped? Where?”

: …

: “Is it bad for Lorelei to be trapped?”



: “When that happens, the Planet Storm will grow stronger to compensate, creating more Seventh Fonons.”

: “Wait, that means the core's vibration will get worse. The Tartarus alone won't be enough to stop it!”

: “Which means the miasma will come back? This is seriously bad!”

: “Asch, where is Lorelei trapped?!”



: “Even without this, I'm already cleaning up after you! Don't cause me any more trouble, you useless replica!”

: “You don't have to talk like that!”

: “Shut up!”





: “But what does this mean? If the God-Generals are creating the replica world, then replica creation would cause a large consumption of Seventh Fonons. Or is trapping Lorelei also part of the plan? And what's that Key of Lorelei the Major was talking about? Could it be the same Key that Yulia is said to have used...?”

: “Asch probably knows, let's go after him. He looked like he was hurt. He might stop in St. Binah.”

: “Yeah.”



: “Looking like what?”

: “You look like you're about to cry.”

: “I'm not going to cry!”

: “Right, right. Anyway, pull yourself together and let's go.”

: “...Yeah.”





We'll end it here for now.

Next Time: Old faces and old problems.

Synopsis:

Remday, Gnome-Redecan 28, ND2018

I woke up shortly after noon today.

As usual, I have nothing to do, nothing to write about.

...Or had nothing, anyway, until Mieu came and said that my parents were
calling me. I really don't want to leave my room. What a pain. I guess I have
to go, don't I...

I thought I was just going to get scolded again, but General Cecille was
there to. Father asked me about the scene of Master Van's death. Apparently
the Planet Storm has grown stronger recently, and when a team was sent to
investigate, they found Van's sword missing, even though it had been stuck in
the floor before. They guessed that someone must have stolen it.

Master Van...
It's been a month already since he died...

Father then left with General Cecille for the castle. Which left me with
nothing to do, but then Mother suggested that I go see how everyone...how
Tear and all the others are doing. She seemed concerned about me sitting
around in the mansion all day. Even though I'm not her real son...

She said Ramdas should know where everybody is, so I guess I'll try asking
him.

Ramdas had letters from everybody that he'd been keeping from me at
Father's orders. What does he mean, associate only with the proper people?!
I'm not...I'm not even a member of the Duchy! I'm just a defective replica...
Just a useless piece of trash...

But none of these letters were from Asch. I was kind of disappointed, but
kind of relieved...it's an odd feeling.

I have to admit I'm bothered by what Father was talking about, so I guess
I'll head for Sheridan and borrow the Albiore to visit everyone. I'll have to
take a ferry from the port to get to Sheridan... Guess I might as well get
going.
On the ship, I read through all the letters. Tear's in Yulia City, Guy's
in Grand Chokmah, and Anise is in Daath, all hard at work. Looks like I'm the
only one who's just been sitting around...

...Oh well. Once I reach the port, I guess I'll head for Sheridan.

When I reached Sheridan, I heard from Aston that Asch had borrowed the
Albiore III, and Noelle said he'd gone to Yulia City. Noelle volunteered to
pilot the Albiore II again, so now I can head for Yulia City.

But the effects from the strengthened Planet Storm seem to be pretty
bad...I should probably check with Teodoro about that.

It seems Asch really had been to Yulia City, asking if there was a way to
enter the core. Teodoro said Asch looked worried about the Planet Storm's
increased activity as well. But he'd also mentioned something about Lorelei,
so maybe he's heard something more from Lorelei.

I still remember what Lorelei said when we lowered the Outer Lands. Asch
might have heard the same thing... After all, he's the original, and I'm just
a defective replica.

Teodoro said to ask Tear about the Planet Storm.
To be honest, I probably wouldn't understand anything about the Planet
Storm even if I had it explained. But I do want to see Tear.

Tear had been praying in front of the grave for Master Van she had made in
the selenia garden. She said she'd spent the last month wondering why Master
Van had chosen such an extreme course of action. So she'd had a lot on her
mind...just like me. And I started to talk about the thoughts I've kept
inside me all this time.

At the end, Van asked me, "Can you not live unless you were born for some
particular purpose?" I'm just an empty replica, with nowhere to live, nowhere
I belong to. I feel like I'm going to just disappear if I don't know the
reason I was born.

I told Tear I was trying to find myself, and she said she'd come with me--
even though she's got plenty to worry about on her own, with the miasma in
her and all... Thanks, Tear.

Tear said she was headed for Daath to deliver a report on the Planet
Storm, so I decided to go with her.
When we reached Daath, we caught Anise tricking people into giving
offerings. She's just as dirty as ever when it comes to money, isn't she? She
did say her family's caught up in loans, so I guess she might have worries of
her own...though she sure doesn't look like it.

Anyway, we have to see Ion, so we headed to the church while Anise went
back to return the offering she'd taken.

While we waited for Anise, I asked Tear how the Order of Lorelei was doing
recently.

Apparently Mohs has been removed from his position as Grand Maestro. Good
going, Ion! Then Anise rejoined us, and she told us that the Order isn't
having much success in getting rid of the Score--the people keep asking to
have the Score read. Apparently they think that the Outer Lands falling into
the Qliphoth was part of the Closed Score. I guess from their point of view,
the Score is still on track, so they can't imagine living without it. We'll
just have to change things a little bit at a time.

Ion should be in his room. Let's go see him.

Ion was doing even better than I'd expected. It seems he hasn't had to use
Daathic fonic artes, so he's in good shape. That's a relief.

There was something I'd wanted to ask Ion. He's a replica too, after
all... I wanted to know how he'd feel, what he'd do if he was in my situation.

Ion said that he realized during our trip that he didn't want to be
anybody's replacement, so he'd probably work to inform the world about
replicas.

That sounds like Ion. But I...I couldn't do anything like that.
I'd be too afraid of being told I wasn't needed...

Tear gave Ion her report. Apparently the Planet Storm's increased activity
is being caused by large-scale consumption of Seventh Fonons. Tear said she
thought Master Van's plan might still be alive, and causing the problem.

But we don't know the truth. In any case, Ion had a meeting to go to and
said he'd see us off. I don't want to cause him any trouble, so I guess we
should go.

At the entrance to the church, we ran into Guy! He'd come from the Malkuth
House of Lords to report to Ion. He said that Dist had broken out of his cell
in Grand Chokmah and taken Mohs from the ship that was carrying him to his
hearing.

And he said the reason the breakout was noticed so soon was because Asch
had said to keep an eye on the God-Generals. Asch himself had headed for St.
Binah, saying something about freeing Lorelei.

So Asch really did hear Lorelei's voice! And it sounds like he understood
the meaning, too--unlike me.

When I said I wanted to go after Asch, Guy said he'd come along, because
he'd been told to find Asch too. And even Anise ended up coming with us. Why
her? It's odd for her to leave Ion's side. But she'll certainly be a help in
battles, so I'm glad to have her along. Even with Auldrant back to its
original form, the monsters are doing as well as ever.

So, we headed for St. Binah.
When we reached St. Binah and met former Field Marshal McGovern, he
mistook me for Asch. So Asch must have been here after all. I asked about
him, and apparently he's gone to Shurrey Hill. We might still be able to
catch him--let's go!

At Shurrey Hill, Guy asked me if I was scared of meeting Asch. He was
right on the button... He really does watch people closely.

Yeah, I'm scared of meeting him. I think he ought to return to the manor,
but then I don't have a clue what I'd do. And when I think of Guy, who
managed to put aside years of contemplating revenge... I wish I could be as
decisive as Guy, but I guess that's impossible for a replica...

As we proceeded through Shurrey Hill, we found the dead bodies of Oracle
soldiers lying on the ground. Tear said that the Oracle Knights were being
reorganized after deaths of Master Van and the Six God-Generals, so they
should all be on standby. I don't like this... Let's go forward and find out
what's going on.

I can't believe who we saw.

Asch was under Shurrey Hill, facing off with none other than Legretta, who
was buried in that avalanche. Granted, we survived it, so there's no reason
they couldn't have as well, but... At the least, it's clear that Legretta's
alive, so it's probably best to assume that Arietta and Largo are as well.
Then Asch said Sync was also alive. That can't be! We saw him fall into the
core and die. If he's alive, then even Master Van, who likewise fell into the
core from the Absorption Gate, could have survived.

But it seems like that's not the reason why Asch wants to go to the core.
He says that Lorelei is trapped somewhere. Lorelei is the collective
consciousness of the Seventh Fonon, so if it's trapped, the total volume of
Seventh Fonons in the world will decrease. Then the Planet Storm will
increase in strength to try and make up the difference, leading to the core's
vibration getting worse and destroying the Tartarus. So long as Lorelei's
trapped, the world is going to be in danger again.

I wanted to learn more, but for some reason Asch got mad at me and left.
What's with him? Especially after being injured by Legretta like that.

Anyway, if we return to St. Binah, Asch might still be there. Let's hurry
back.

And Legretta was saying something about a Key of Lorelei she was trying to
get from Asch. I wonder if that's something Asch has?