Part 8: Okay...I'll do my best today, too. I promise.

-Welcome to Le Locle-



Phyllis: Welllll? Satisfied?
Haha, yup! I'm stuffed! It was so good I, uh, couldn't help but eat a little too much.
Phyllis: Mhmhm! Well, that's good. ♥ Today will be a big lesson that will wrap up your training here, apparently. Put your best foot forward, all right?
I will!
Phyllis: I'm rooting for you, Estelle. I'll have something delicious waiting for you when you get back! ♥



Robert: You and Anelace were really going at it. I could hear you from in here! My workshop's still not open, but I'll be ready before you have to head out. We can do orbment tuning or whatever you need then.
This is awfully close to the kitchen. Is that sanitary? How much septium dust have Estelle and Anelace ingested over the past month?



Huh, weird.



Nah, I was just about to head to my room.
Ah, okay. You better get ready fast, then. See you in a bit, Estelle!
Yeah, later!
Let's get ready quick and meet on the first floor. Kurt's preeetty strict about being on time, so he'll get super ticked if we're late!



Get your equipment ready and head to the first floor. We'll begin today's training soon.



It'll be just like real combat, so I'll have no idea what to expect...





Unfortunately almost all of the 500,000 mira and ancient artifacts that Estelle accumulated in FC were confiscated by the crown for various property & psychological damages.
All right, that's everything. Next stop, the entrance!



Robert: I think he has something he wants to give you.



Phyllis: Kurt and Anelace have been waiting for a while now.







We'll be heading to the Balstar Channel, which is west of the lodge.
The Balstar Channel...Kind of a strange name, but it's another training facility, right?
Yes, that's exactly it. It's an old aqueduct from the Middle Ages that the guild repurposed. Several of its defense mechanisms are still operable, plus quite a few monsters have made it their nest.
Traps and monsters, huh? Yep, that sounds like practice, 'Kurt-style' to me. So let's head off to this aqua thingy!
Hold a moment. Before we leave...
I want you two to take a look at these.




What...? This is...
It looks like a combat orbment, but it's all weird.
Correct. This is a new model combat orbment. You know, of course, of the Epstein Foundation which develops combat orbments, among many other orbal technologies. This is a new kind of combat orbment developed by the foundation and supplied to the guild mere weeks ago. As you can see, they have an additional slot compared to previous orbments, for a total of seven. As a result, this should allow for the utilization of new, more powerful combat arts.
Whoa...That's incredible!
Heck yeah, it is! These'll make us awesome!
So don't be stingy, Kurt, make with the goodies!
Hm-hm. Yes, if you wish, the guild will provide you each with one for free.
However...
There is, as you may expect, a catch. The circuit architecture within these orbments is radically different from your current combat orbments. As a result, your old quartz crystals are not compatible with these new orbments whatsoever. You will need to obtain new, revised quartz.
What?! But that'd mean...
That all the quartz we've made up till now are worthless?!
I'm afraid so, yes. It will be a hassle, but you'll need to rebuild your quartz collection from scratch if you use these.
Oh, no waaaay...
Sheesh...This IS a hard choice.
Could we keep using our current orbments?
You could, but I don't recommend it.
These new orbments are superior models in every way. Their maximum 'EP' potential is higher, and the high-end new quartz they can accept have impressive capabilities. In the long term, they will grant you increased physical abilities...
And most importantly, the arts they can construct are far beyond what your current orbments are capable of.
Estelle. You recall our...'good friend,' Lieutenant Lorence, I assume?
What?!





Don't think I could forget him even if I wanted to...
Schera told me about a certain bizarre art he used against you. A terrifying attack that lashed out at your entire team and clouded your minds...As it happens, this orbment can manifest an art exactly like that with the correct quartz combination. It's been dubbed 'Silver Thorn.'
'Silver Thorn'...
W-Wait, hang on a sec here...Wouldn't that mean that red uniform bozo had one of these new model orbments?! TWO MONTHS ago?!
A scary thought, but it's very possible. The implications of which are...
...Well. For now, I must know. Will you accept the new orbments?
Hmmmmm...Man, this is so tough. With a bit of work, it'd make us awesome, but right now it'd be a nasty drop in power...
Or they could take both, and use their old ones until they scrape together some good quartz for the new ones...no?
...
I...I'd like the new model, Kurt.
Bwuh?
Lorence...or whatever his name is...beat us away like a...a tiger swatting at a playful cub. I know a new orbment won't make me innately stronger, but...
If this could give me even the tiniest edge...I'd like to master it. So, please...
Estelle...
Yeah...You're right!
Like I said, Kurt! Fork over the goodies!
Very well. Go ahead and take them.

Also, take these.

That should be enough to synthesize a basic selection of quartz. Robert's stationed at the workshop there in the corner, so he'll be able to help you prepare some quartz. Incidentally, your Bracer Notebook should also cover all of the new quartz and arts available. It might not be a bad idea to skim through it before talking to him.
Sure, we'll do that.
In addition, today's practice is likely to be, ah, long duration, shall we say. I would recommend bringing some food, just in case.
Ah, right, food!
We just talk to Phyllis about that, right?
Correct. Talk to Robert and Phyllis for anything you might need before we begin practice.
Ah, Estelle, before I forget. These are for you.

This grab bag is your first reward for kicking ass in FC. The Glove Gear is a nice accessory that increases the wearer's physical attack and defense by 10. The Celestial Balm will revive and fully heal a downed party member. The Emergency Puppet is an accessory that will prevent one KO, and then break. Hopefully I won't need either of those any time soon. We'll take a closer look at the quartz in a bit.

Hey, these are...
Oooh, shiny!
And it all looks really high quality, too!
Yes, they're all quite valuable. The quartz, naturally, is for your new orbment. Think of them as a reward from the guild for your successes as a junior bracer.
Heehee, thanks!
Now, then. I shall wait for you outside the lodge. Come see me once you're ready.
Okay, Estelle! Let's go get ready!
Right! Let's talk to Phyllis and Robert.




Phyllis: Here, then, let me show you how to prepare some nice, clean water for yourselves out in the field.

That's some seriously clean water.

Phyllis: Oh, don't forget the ingredients, dears.

So, like, we can just throw this stuff in a pot to cook up a meal, right?
Phyllis: Well, yes, what you have will cover most basic cooking, but...You can only get some ingredients by defeating monsters. Gathering all the ingredients for those is a bit dangerous, needless to say.
Yeah, tell me about it. There're some weird recipes out there...
Man. Kind of takes 'those who don't work, don't eat' to a whole new level, huh?
Phyllis: Your Bracer Notebook will have a more detailed explanation of cooking. Make sure to look it over! Well, good luck with your training!
Thanks, Phyllis!
We'll try not to burn anything down when we cook stuff!


Phyllis: If it gets dangerous, make sure you have a meal and rest a bit. I know you're big, tough bracers and it's good to push yourselves, but overdoing it's no good either.



I'm going to spend almost all of that 1,000 mira on a copy of the Liberl News, three or four of every ingredient Phyllis has for sale, and an Herb Sandwich.

We won't see any more money for a little while, but we shouldn't need it either. You can only get money by selling stuff or completing jobs for the Bracer Guild. Monsters don't carry it, and nobody will ever let you smash all their pots or otherwise rob them. Messed up, right?



Robert: Did you already go over the list of new quartz in your notebooks? The fundamentals aren't much different, but some things have had their attributes adjusted in the switch, so give it a look. Now, before we get started, how about a quick overview? If you need a refresher on anything about how your orbments work, ask away!



[Orbments] Orbments are energy control devices that manifest a variety of effects via crystalline circuits made of septium, commonly called 'quartz.' When most bracers think of an 'orbment,' they think of combat orbments that improve your physical abilities and let you use 'Orbal Arts.' Combat orbments are specially tuned to each individual user, so no two will be exactly alike. This mostly boils down to elemental limitations on certain slots, and the arrangement of the orbment's 'lines.' Taking a person's strengths into account is crucial in preparing a strong orbment for them.

[Orbal Arts] Orbal Arts are a kind of...'magic,' I guess you'd say, that can be activated through a combat orbment's power system. 'Orbal Arts' is a bit of a mouthful, so most people refer to 'em just as 'arts.' To use arts--or get any use out of your orbment at all!--you first need to synthesize quartz at a factory. Setting quartz circuits in your orbment will allow you to utilize arts. The arts you can use, therefore, depend on the quartz you set in your orbment. For example, you want to fling around water arts? Use water-element quartz to focus your orbment in that direction!

[Quartz] Quartz themselves are circuits made from sepith fragments which are synthesized and engraved accordingly. They have a hell of a lot of effects when put into an orbment. They can make you stronger, faster, all kinds of things. Quartz are basically useless without an orbment's drive mechanism, and that's not the only limitation they've got. You see, some slots only allow certain kinds of quartz to be set in them, limited by element. Particularly potent quartz will also only function if placed into upgraded orbment slots.

[Sepith] Sepith are small fragments of septium, commonly held by monsters. There are seven different 'colors' or elements of sepith: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Time, Space, and Mirage. Just about any store will take sepith off your hands for some money, but...You can also take them to a factory to have them made into quartz or orbment slot upgrades!

[Upgrading Slots] Oh, right. One of the new tricks with the new model combat orbments is slot upgrading. A lot of the higher-end quartz for these new things are stupidly potent, but...there's a catch. That kind of circuitry is going to require adjustments and upgrades to your slots before you can use it properly. Good news is, the upgrades will also increase the maximum 'EP' charge your orbment can hold. You'll need sepith to do it, but it's worth it, trust me!

Robert: Okay, you've listened to me ramble on long enough. Let's make some quartz and get you over to Kurt! You want my advice? You should make sure you can use some healing arts, at the very least. Do you know what kind of quartz are required for healing arts? Your Bracer Notebook will have a full list of arts and their requirements. Make sure to check it. The art in question is called 'Tear.' If you check the Orbal Arts section of your notebook, it will tell you the elemental level you need for it. When you want to make quartz, select 'Quartz' under 'Upgrade/Exchange.'



Kurt provides enough sepith for one of everything except Impede 1 and EP Cut 1. At this scrub tier, most quartz have only minuscule passive benefits. Far more important are the arts they unlock for you.

We're almost ready to go.



You have to have a new outfit, or the mid-season upgrades won't work.



By default, you begin Trails SC at level 35. If you're carrying over a completed save from FC, you can start as high as 40.

Stats-wise, both of the girls are well balanced with no outstanding strengths or weaknesses. Anelace is a bit tougher, but Estelle has more EP and better attack reach.



Estelle also gets a much better orbment, but that doesn't really matter yet.

The Luck quartz has good elemental values, and also helps Estelle reap the remains of her enemies.



Some quartz, like Attack and Defense, will partially counteract each other's passive benefits, and shouldn't be used on the same character unless you really want them to have certain arts.



Very good. Now we can set off.
Finally...
So we're heading for that sewer-like thingy in the western part of the canyon, right?
Indeed, the Balstar Channel.
As I said before, the monsters within are dangerous. Are you two prepared?



Very well! Let's get going. Follow me, you two.
Okay!
Right behind you, boss!