Part 14: Well, we're doomed, then.

Welcome to the first chapter of Second Chapter.

-Royal Capital of Grancel-







Being on an airship for over half a day is kinda tiring, huh?
I know how to stretch our legs, though. Let's go report the completion of our training and duty-readiness!
...
Uh, Estelle? Hello?
Oh, yeah...You're right, we should go say hi to Elnan.
Heeey...Are you...Estelle, you've got a case of the nerves, don'tcha?
I...Yeah, I do. I dunno why, either...
I didn't feel this way AT ALL before I went to training, but now...Somehow, thinking that I'm really going to be a full bracer now is making me really, really antsy...
Heheh! I get it.
You're trembling with excitement, I bet.
Excitement? Huh?
You've grown way, way stronger over this past month, Estelle. And not just in, like, the whacking-stuff-with-a-stick department. You're more knowledgeable, careful, and you make better judgments.
And now you're about to start hunting down the mystery creepos who want to doom us all or whatever, and you're gonna bring Joshua back...
I bet all that's only just now sinking in for you.
Hmm...
Yeah. When you put it that way, that is how I'm feeling...
*sigh* I'm such a dimwit. I'm like a mountain climber who didn't even bother looking up at how big the mountain before her is.
Having second thoughts about climbing it?
No way! If anything, I'm even more fired up now than I used to be. No matter how big a mountain is, you can only climb it one step at a time, anyway.
Even if I have to crawl, I'll reach the top no matter what!
Heehee! That's more like it!
Okay, are we gonna head over to the guild?
Let's go!



Well, then! Here's your reward, based on your performance during training.
Huh? We get paid for training? Um, not that I'll complain, but are you sure?
Naturally. It is part of your job, after all. It won't be a problem so long as you put your new skills to good use for the Guild.
Ah-haha...Right, um, I'll do my best!



Making the right decisions on a job can earn you extra money and/or BP, noted in the parentheses. Acing the prologue is enough to bump you up half a rank immediately, earning an accessory that grants +15 DEF and immunity to poison.

It does seem like you two had a quite fulfilling training period. You even carry yourselves differently.
It was! I learned a lot.
If I ever get the chance, I'd love to go again!
Hah! I'm glad to hear it.
Speaking of which, Kurt and the others remained at the training grounds, correct?
Yeah. Carna and Grant are doing some expert-level stuff, I think. They said they won't be back for a while.
I think I get what Elnan is poking at, though. The guild's down three full, skilled bracers now. We're gonna be reeeeally busy from now on...
And on top of that, Cassius is still devoting all his time to the military, right?
Oh, yeah. If I remember right, he's currently working out of Leiston Fortress.
Cassius--Brigadier General Bright--has been welcomed back into the army and is now the head of military command. He's essentially the head of Her Majesty's Royal Army at this point.
Wha?! He's the head of the army now?! I thought General Morgan had that position!
As I understand it, that was the original idea, but Morgan himself proposed giving Cassius full rein.
He seems to be entrusting the future of the army to your father, Estelle.
The future? Entrusted to Dad? Well, we're doomed, then.
Haha...Well, I can see Cassius being given that much responsibility, y'know?
That's gonna mean we're down our S-rank hero, too, though...
I think it's safe to say we'll have plenty of support from the military from now on. However...
At the same time, we have new threats to concern ourselves with.
Huh?
Right. You mean the society. Did they start to do stuff while we were away?
No. They've done nothing...obvious. But that is, admittedly, how they work.
What has happened are several strange occurrences over the past month. One example would be the changes in the wild beasts and monsters in various regions.
The monsters have changed?
Uh, do you mind defining 'change,' Elnan? I hope it isn't what I think it is...
To start with, heretofore undocumented types of monsters are showing up all across the country. Even the existing monsters have become far more vicious and powerful. Travel has become significantly more dangerous. No one has been able to put forward an explanation as to why this is happening.
So every beastie out there is nastier, just 'cause? Oh, man...
It's definitely the society's doing! They're trying to turn us all into monster kibble!
Calm yourself, Anelace. We still don't have enough evidence to be certain of anything.
We do know one thing, though...Things definitely began happening after the queen's birthday celebrations. That we know for certain. The first reports came in practically the day after.
Aw, crap...
...
Don't look so glum. We've actually been formulating a response, of sorts. And I'd very much like for the two of you to be a part of it.
A 'response'...?
Woman's Voice: Ah, you two are here already? I wanted to meet you at the port!



And Agate, too! This is a, uh, surprise!





I'm really happy to see you, too, Schera!
And Agate, hi. It's been a while, huh?
Yeah, think the last time we saw each other was during the queen's birthday shindig...
...The old man told me about Joshua, you know.
I'd heard you were pretty broken up over it, but you seem back on your feet already, yeah?
Heheh...yeah, mostly.
More to the point, though...why are you two together?
Good question! I should get a camera. This is like seein' a King Penguin!
Oh, really, it isn't THAT rare, you two.
Gotta admit we don't work together that often, Scherazard.
Actually, Scherazard and Agate are here to begin a special mission. I asked them to come here today for a specific reason.
A mission?
Indeed. They will be tasked with investigating the Society of Ouroboros.
WHAT?!
Wait, like, chasing down their agents and stuff? Isn't that dangerous?!
Hmhm! I wish it was that exciting. 'Investigating' might be a bit too specific, though. We're barely even certain the society exists at this point, you realize, despite what Cassius says.
We're gonna be wandering all across Liberl, keeping an eye out for anything resembling a secret society bent on world domination...
This is probably not gonna be the most exciting job ever, is the point.
Oh, I get it...
I guess groping around in the dark is the best we can do right now, huh...
So, I'm guessing you want us to tag along?
Yes, I'd like to assign the two of you to assist Scherazard and Agate. The plan is to have Schera and Agate investigate different areas separately. I would like for them to have a partner, though. Just in case the society really is as dangerous as we think it is.
Okay, so one of us helps Schera...and the other helps Agate?
Exactly. Are you willing to assist?
You bet we are! I was going to go looking for the society anyway, so this is perfect.
I wanna help, too. There's no way I can just sit around when there's suspicious stuff going on!
Thank you. I'm glad we have the help.
Well, then! The one remaining hurdle would be team formation. I'd be fine with either of you, really.
We all know each other, basically. You two figure out how it'll work best.
Mmmph...Of course you have to push the decision on to us.
What do you think, Anelace? How should we do this?
Hmmmmm...Well...This might be kinda irresponsible of me...
But I think it might be best if you decide, Estelle.
WHAT?!
You've only been a full bracer for a little while, right? You probably haven't found your style as a bracer yet...
So how about using this as a chance to see what kinda bracer you want to be?
Anelace...
Hmm-hmm! Look at you, Anelace! When did you learn to talk like a professional?
Heh-heh! Leave it to meee! ♪
Either way, girl's got a point.
Schera and I are the same rank, but the ways we fight are way different. I barely use arts except for support once in a while. I focus more on cutting things down with my sword.
...while I emphasize speed, the range of my whip, and orbal arts. You can't really go 'wrong' with either of us, I think.
Keep in mind that being a bracer involves much more than just fighting, though. Think hard and choose the partner you think matches you best.
Hmmmm...
Well, then I'll...

The goons choose Agate.



I'll repeat myself from the vote, for posterity's sake:



Agate specializes in berserking, cleaving things in twain, and . He sits firmly on the beat-stick end of the character spectrum, with high HP, excellent STR, and one of the best offensive craft sets in the game:

Spiral Edge: Ranged...melee...attack? with AT-Delay.
Flame Smash: Melee AoE with heavy damage and knockback.
Draguna Edge: Ranged line attack with Impede.
Wild Rage: Damages Agate for 70% of his maximum HP, and gives him 150 CP. This is kind of hilariously broken.



Agate's arts, by contrast, will be pretty anemic, especially with two slots limited to Fire. Some of the elements get a good variety of quartz; Fire, not so much. Apart from Attack and Seal, there is literally only one other quartz in the game that can be fitted to a fire slot.

Schera is by no means a bad choice, but I prefer Agate in the early chapters for a couple of reasons.

Huh, all right then.
Just keep in mind you're a full bracer now. I ain't gonna go easy on you. Hope you're ready.
Yeah, I know.
I kinda thought you might say something macho like that.
Wha...?
Come on, now. Starting off with an argument is probably not the best way to begin this trip.
Anyway, that will make Anelace and me the other team.
I'm looking forward to seeing how your training turned out.
Heck yeah!
Heheh! It feels like forever since we worked together, Schera!
So with that out of the way...
The next step is figuring out how we're gonna wander the country, lookin' for shadows.
Any thoughts, Elnan?
Hmm. Possibly.
I would suggest beginning by going to help the regions with the busiest branches. In fact, I just received pleas for aid from the Ruan and Rolent branches today. Rather desperate-sounding ones, at that.
That sounds just lovely...I suppose I have been away from Rolent for too long.
I'd best go help Aina.
Yeah, I think that's for the best.
It's been a while since I've seen Aina, too! This'll be fun!
We'll head to Ruan, then. You're cool with that, right, Estelle?
Of course!
Man, I wonder how everyone in Ruan is doing...
I'll contact the branches ahead of your arrival. Be careful, everyone.