Part 68: Unfortunate Parentage + Sidequest Roundup

Last time, Luke managed to destroy the miasma and find the Jewel, but at the cost of condemning himself to die from fonon separation.

Skit: The Cruel Truth

: “Why did things have to end up like this...”

: “Tear, you look like you're suffering...”

: “No, it's Luke who's suffering...”

: “But you were saved before... can't master be saved, too?”

: “I don't know, but... if the Colonel isn't saying anything, then...”

: “Mieu....”

: “Isn't there anything I can do? Can't I help him somehow? I... I...”

: “I'm sad too... I love master... he saved me once. I wish I could disappear instead of him.”

: “Mieu, don't say things like that. I want all of us to be together... all of us, as long as possible.”

: “I just wish I had the power to make that happen. But I... I can't do anything...”



After Luke gets some rest, we head off to see the rest of our party.

The Emissary





: “...So, they've come. Luke, I'm going to the castle. I want you to come as well.”

: “I wonder if it'll end up with a declaration of war.”

: “Yeah. Anyway, let's go to the castle.”

We get teleported there regardless.



: “Largo?!”



: “Our Kingdom of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear has agreed to abandon the Score. Therefore, we refuse the New Order of Lorelei's proposal.”

: “Then I can take that as a declaration of war against the New Order of Lorelei?”

: “We have no desire to fight. However, know that if our land or people are threatened, we will respond in kind.”



: “In erasing the replicas at the Tower of Rem, you've brought about a new conflict. The Score is a fearful thing.”

: “That's sophistry. To begin with, both of my sons are alive.”

: “Father...”

: “Is it? We both know that a Score of extinction is written on the Seventh Fonstone.”

: “We'll build a new future where people survive. We won't let you destroy the world.”

: “And we'll do the same.”



: “According to your logic, you're walking the path of destruction!”





: “Van...”

: “Van is gathering his strength somewhere, isn't he? But where...?”



: “But I was struck by the spirit of your resolve in the face of death.”

: “N-not at all...”

: “We can no longer avoid conflict with the New Order of Lorelei.”



: “I believe now is the time to hold strong our hearts and reveal the truth.”

: “Your Majesty...”

: “Father?”

Jump cut!

Truths That Must Come to Light



: “I have something to tell you. About your real parents.”

: “...My real mother was Nanny's daughter.”

: “Yes, Sylvia. But I presume you do not know of your father.”

: “No, Nanny left the castle before I could ask any more.”

: “Your father was a mercenary by the name of Badaq.”

: “A mercenary... I see. But why tell me this now?”

: “We've learned of his whereabouts.”

: “He's alive?”



: “I feel I must tell you about your father because of the situation we now face.”

: “...Wh-what is it?”

: “Badaq is now in the New Order of Lorelei.”

: “What?! Why?! Are you sure that's correct?!”

: “There's no doubt. Luke has confirmed it.”



: “I-it can't be...”

: “Natalia...”

: “Luke! This is some kind of mistake! Right?!”

: “Natalia... it's true... he confirmed it himself.”



: “I'm going to ask him myself. I can still catch him if I hurry. I refuse to accept this!”



Well what the hell did you expect her to do?!

Skit: After Natalia

: “I hope Natalia doesn't do anything rash...”

: “Even if she does, Largo controls himself pretty well, so thing should be okay.”

: “Where could Largo be? The port?”

: “Yes, I doubt he'd have crossed the desert.”

: “To the port, let's hurry!”

: “Yes, stay calm, Natalia...!”

Abhorrent Memory



: “Your friends are here, Princess.”

: “Why! Why did you join the Six God-Generals?!”

: “What good will it do to know?”



: “My wife, Sylvia, loved to watch the sunset from here.”



: “When I got home, neither Sylvia nor our newborn child were there. I finally knew what people meant when they said they had a bad feeling.”



: “I searched all over the city, but I couldn't find Sylvia.”

: “...What happened to her?”

: “Several days later, she was found floating in this harbor.”





: “Sylvia's body was weak. But the Scorer said we would have a child – no, that we must have a child. When I learned why, I threw away my life here in Baticul. I drifted between countries. Eventually, Commandant Grants found me and took me in.”



: “Every memory until the end of the world. And everything moves according to that memory. The Score is merely a small portion of it, translated into human words.”



: “I hated the Score – the planet's memory.”

: “...That is a horrible story, but the Score isn't absolute. Isn't it just one possible choice of futures?”

: “But if you always end at the same place no matter what path you take, then free will means nothing.”



: “Even without readings of the Score, this planet will keep its own memory and follow it. Van's vision of destroying the Score is to destroy Lorelei – the planet's memory itself. He will earn the right for all living things to build their own future. I believe in that ideal, and have chosen to join him. Remember this. Your methods are too weak.”

: “Wait! You're my...”



: “If what he said is true, then as long as the planet's memory exists, the future we choose will always arrive at a single conclusion.”

: “Is that why Van is trying to erase the originals? To entrust the future to a new humanity of replicas, beyond the planet's memory.”

: “Even if that's true! Even if that's true, the originals still die, right?! The Commandant's plan won't save the people of this world?”

: “Now, now, calm down. The most distraught person here is no doubt Natalia.”



One teleport later:

Delicate Choices



: “Natalia! I was so worried about you!”

: “Father... I...”

: “I knew that was painful for you, but you don't have to suffer anymore. You need not stand in the front lines against the New Order of Lorelei any longer!”

: “Father! Why?!”

: “Your journey was as an emissary to arrange a summit on the role of the Score. You've fulfilled your duty. Why must you fight your own flesh and blood?”



: “Natalia!”

: “No... I don't know. You may be right, Father. Perhaps I shouldn't fight. But... the others also know Largo is my father. It won't be any easier for them. I don't know what I should do...”

: “Natalia, I don't think you need to make this decision right away. It will take time for the New Order of Lorelei to prepare for battle.”

: “Yeah. Right now, Asch should be searching for Master Van. And we have to stop the Planet Storm. You can use that time to think things over.”

: “You can stay here, or you can come with us and think on the way. Whichever you like.”



: “...Very well. Be careful, Natalia.”

Skit: Largo's Life

: “Natalia, you don't look so good...”

: “...I'm sorry, I just had a strange thought...”

: “What?”

: “That it's my fault that Largo became part of the God-Generals... that I changed his life... heh, I'm as bad as Luke.”

: “Yeah, that's not like you at all.”

: “Indeed it is not.”

: “I mean, it's not like you decided to go to the castle as a baby. Besides, he's the one who decided to enter the New Order of Lorelei and destroy the original world with his daughter in it. You had nothing to do with it.”

: “...Yes, but...”

: “He's not a coward. He won't blame other people for what he's done.

: “Anise...”

: “He's just like you. He knows what he's done and he takes responsibility for it. So don't worry. Don't think about 'good' or 'bad'. Just think about what you want to do.”

: “At times, you can be quite grown up.”

Anise, full of sage wisdom.

So, uh... ready for some sidequests?



: ?

: “My! That's wonderful!”

: “That's a great honor, Luke!”

: “Congratulations, Luke.”

: “...Is that something really special?”

: “...Oh yeah, you wouldn't have had any way to know about it.”

: “The Light of Lanvaldear is our nation's highest honor. My brother is awarding you this distinction to acknowledge your great achievement in neutralizing the miasma.”

: “I think you should be happy, Luke. This sort of thing is the only way in which nations can show their thanks.”

: “Also, though you have not yet officially entered court society, His Majesty will be specially granting you noble rank. Once the world has settled down, we'll have to have you make a dramatic society debut.”

: “But I'm a replica...”

: “Are you still saying things like that? You are a member of the House of Fabre.”

: “I'm sure His Majesty will also grant rank to the other Luke as well, but this medal and rank are because of your efforts.”

: “Your formal dress for the ceremony is waiting in your room. Go get dressed.”

New costume!



: “Whoa! Luke looks like a prince!”

: “Hah hah. Well, that's not far from the truth, after all.”

: “A medal, huh? I didn't really set out to save the world or anything... should I really be getting this?”

: “I don't see why not. I think you've worked hard, Luke. Unless you feel any strong objection, go ahead and accept it. It's not something you'll regret having.”

: “Jade is right. I think Father wants to apologize to you. He sent you to die not just once, but twice...”

: “...Okay.”



: “And bestow upon him rank as a noble of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear.”

: “Luke, you've done well.”

: “Th-thank you...”

: “The Kingdom hereby grants Luke fon Fabre the rank of Viscount.”

Viscount of what? Noble rank doesn't work like that. Nobility is tied to a feudal system, so either Luke needs to be granted an estate to tax, or needs to be given control of lower nobles who have an estate and can pay tax to him. At least I'm pretty sure that's how it works, you can't be Viscount of nothing!

: “Congratulations, Luke. No, from now on, I should call you Viscount Fabre.”

He won't.

: “Hee hee. Congratulations, Viscount Fabre.”

: “Thank you.”

: “The miasma wouldn't have been neutralized had you not risked your life. We thank you. You are our nation's hero.”

: “...No. I'm no hero.”

: “Don't be humble, Luke. We are truly grateful. I will never forget this day.”



Well that was fun. Let's keep at it and get Luke another costume title!



: “What?”

: “You've chosen to walk a steep and rugged path of your own will. You have an aura only found in those who have defeated foes of great strength.”

: “Really...?”

: “But you must be careful. Spend day and night in combat, obsessed with defeating your enemies, and you may become a demon yourself. I shall give you this. They are cloths worn by a swordsman when he set out on a journey to regain control of himself after nearly allowing his lust for battle to consume him.”





The Berserker costume is obtained by having fought 256 battles or more on any difficulty above normal. Since everything I've been doing has more or less been on Hard or Very Hard, it was just a matter of racking up battles.

Oh and be warned: if you carry over battle data to a new game and start with 256 or more battles, this costume becomes impossible to unlock. Good policy is either to bring over titles or not bring over battle data.

Okay, Sheridan next.



If you don't remember, we forked over a million gald so Aston could build a bridge. What do we get for this? Luke gets a title. A costumeless title. So basically we got nothing.



What is pretty neat though, is that the bridge actually appears on the World Map. It's useless to us since we have the Albiore, but it's attention to detail that I appreciate.

So let's cross this bridge and head to Belkend.



: “Dr. Balfour! Perfect timing! I was just in the middle of organizing the chemicals here, but I lost the paper with the chemical notes written on them...”







: “What was that smoke?”

: “You inhaled it! You inhaled it, didn't you?! This is terrible!”

: “Terrible?”

: “What's terrible?! What the hell was that smoke?!”

: “I know part of it was fominin powder, but I don't know what the other chemical was! That means I don't know whether it was harmless or toxic, either!”

: “Wait a minute! What does that mean?!”

: “...Is it just my imagination? It feels like my chest is starting to hurt.”

: “My pulse is quickening. There's definitely a reaction occurring.”

: “...This is bad.”

: “I-I'm sorry! I never imagined the door would open like that...”

: “Are you saying it's my fault?”

: “Who cares whose fault it is?! Jade, what are we going to do?”

: “I'm afraid I don't have an answer for you. Without determining what the chemical was, there's nothing we can do.”

: “The chemical was entirely vaporized!”

: “Then let's have a doctor examine the symptoms. I believe Shu was here before.”

: “R-r-r-right! I'll inform him of what's happened!”

: “Was it all right to send him?”

: “I doubt it's something that would be contagious. I'm sure it'll be fine. Right now, we need to determine what that chemical was. In the worst case scenario, everyone in this facility could die.”



: “Where the heck did he go at a time like this?!”

: “I'm feeling kind of tired...”

: “I think I'm going to throw up...”

: “I feel faint...”

: “Hmm, this is a problem. I actually didn't inhale much myself...”

: “Hey, four-eyes! Can't you do something in place of the doctor?”

: “Me?”

: “I heard from Dist you used to be a doctor.”

: “Ah... well, to some degree. I specialized in autopsies, though.”

: “Whatever! A coroner is still a doctor. Do something!”

: “...All right. Then I'll need one of you to become a test subject. Who'll perform that role?”



Here's where I'd normally have had a quick vote in the thread, but I accidentally wrote over the save file I was going to use, so the closest save I have to this is about 8 hours back. So we're just going with my dry run choice. Sorry!

: “Use me.”

: “Mmm, yes, it was your idea, after all. Well then, let's begin the examination.”



: “So I conducted a blood test, a fonon test, and a sonograph.”

: “A-and...?”

: “I have a good idea what chemical was mixed in with the fominin. I've mixed an experimental antidote. May I ask you to try it?”

: “...Humph. Drink this, then?”



: “Oh, no! There's no pulse!”

: “Jade!”

: “Oh, dear. I must have administered too much. It was a costly sacrifice, but this makes for useful data.”

: “...Jade! You bastard!”

: “But now we've learned the appropriate volume of antidote.”

: “How can you say that...”



: “It was a fairly strong mixture, so if too much is administered, a fonon rejection reaction may cause a temporary death-like state... was what I was going to explain, but you drank it before I could. Heh heh heh.”





: “Thanks to Dr. Balfour's antidote, no one was hurt.”

: “I believe the chemical mixed with the fonimin was atomic ether acid. The resultant smoke likely began breaking down oxygen within the bloodstream.”

: “Thank you. I'm sorry for the trouble.”

: “It was no trouble at all. I rarely have the chance to administer injections on living human beings, so I rather enjoyed it.”







So yeah, he gets that costume. Beautiful.

I'm gonna cut it short here. We'll pick up next time.

Next Time: One Who Would Seize Glory

Synopsis:

When I entered the drawing room, a messenger from the castle had just
arrived, reporting that the New Order of Lorelei had sent an emissary. Here
they come at last... Father headed for the castle--let's follow him.

The emissary from the New Order of Lorelei was Largo. Uncle refused the
New Order's demands. There's no turning back now.

After Largo left, Uncle told me and Natalia to see him in his room later.
It sounds like he's decided to tell her the truth. It'll be tough, Natalia,
but hang in there!

When Natalia learned the truth about her father, she ran off to question
Largo. We can't just leave her alone--let's follow her.

Natalia had caught up with Largo at the port. There, we heard from Largo
why he joined the God-Generals. He had lost his wife and daughter because of
the Score, and had come to hate the Score for that. And, he said, the Score
holds the planet's memory--the record of the entire life of the planet, from
its creation through its destruction--a memory which all life on the planet
is destined to follow. Largo had refused to accept that.

He also said our methods were insufficient. As long as the planet's memory
exists, any choice we make will eventually lead to the same place. The Score
is that absolute.

I finally understand why Master Van is taking such an extreme course of
action.

The originals are limited by the planet's memory, so he wants to create a
new human race, the replicas, which will truly be free. That's the world that
Master Van desires.

Natalia looked depressed, and the rest of us were shocked by the new truth
we learned about the Score. At any rate, Uncle is probably worried about
Natalia, so let's head back to the castle.

Uncle told Natalia that she didn't have to go out and fight anymore. The
summit on the Score had concluded safely--there was no reason for a father
and daughter connected by blood to fight each other.

But Natalia decided to come with us, and think about how to face Largo on
the way. Uncle accepted her decision as well.

So the next thing we'll need to do is stop the Planet Storm. But we don't
even know how the Planet Storm works, so let's stop by Yulia City, where
there should be some records about it. Teodoro should be able to help us.