Part 69: Oh, goodness! Estelle, what is it? Did you have a bad dream?

Two more monster bounties are ready for killing, but they'll have to get in line.



-Secret Green Passage-





Damn. It was already dark and hard to see in here. It'll verge on the unnavigable if we don't pay attention now.
You'd be lost in here for ages if your focus slipped.
Let's keep our compass close by as we go.



Mistwald branches a bit after this river. The centermost path leads to your destination, and there's loot on either side.















When you find ailment prevention in a dungeon, it's usually a hint.



-Silence-

*RINGGG*





Hm!
Tsk!



The instant that bell rang, we were engulfed in fog...
*gasp* No!
Bwuh?

-Visions-





Yaa-aaah! Wh-Where are we NOW?!
It looks like we're somewhere completely different now.
What...? Qi Men Dun Jia?! The Gates of Wonder and the Hidden Wood?! How--
Schera! What should we do?
Calm down, Estelle.
There should...probably be a way out. We need to focus and find that.
Um, right...

Estelle, Scherazard, Kloe, and Zane have been snared in an impossible illusion. No matter which way you turn here, the forest looks exactly the same.



How can we ever hope to see through this fiendish phantasmagorium?



By going northeast. That's...that's all there is to it. Just alternate between going north, and going east.



That little bell rings after every screen transition, and it gets louder as you get closer to the exit. Of course, there are no actual hints that the right direction is always the same, so it's easy to start guessing randomly, get hopelessly lost, and lose out on a few BP. Luckily that's the worst of it. You'll eventually get kicked out of the illusion whether you get it right or not.



Do you get the sense the bell rings are getting louder?
Yes, I'm sure of it. I believe...that may be a hint.

There's a treasure chest right in the center of the area where you see this conversation.



Range 1 increases the radius of AoE arts by a tiny amount.



Remember this from way back in Zeiss? Those rings around the soldiers are both Aerials, but one has the Range 1 boost. Olivier actually started with a Range 1 quartz, but the effect is so pointless I completely forgot to ever mention it.



-Silence-

*RINGGG*



Aaah!
We've escaped...but to where?

-Secret Green Passage-



This is near the Great Servais Tree.
It seems we got lost in...an illusion.
An illusion...
I suspect there's someone or something waiting for us ahead. We should prepare ourselves.





-Silence-





Sure enough, a Gospel.
Fog seems to be pouring from the water's surface...This may be the source.
We need to remove that Gospel, right now!
Wait, Estelle!
Huh?

*RINGGG*



Waaah!

-Pinch!!-



More fog monsters?!
They're quite a bit more powerful-looking than the ones from the farm.
Here they come!

-Looming Threat-





This fight is very nasty if you're not protected against Sleep and Confuse, and a cakewalk if you are.













Arts will heal the slappy one, so I guess that Chain Craft was kind of a waste.

























And then the fog effect glitched out.







Why are so many of the high-level arts such garbage?



-Silence-



Okay...Almost murdered by fog...but we're alive...
Don't let your guard down! Those were just phantoms! The person who controlled them is around here somewhere!
But where?

*gasp*

*RINGGG*

-The Black Orbment-



What the--?!
No!







-Silence-







But I was in Mistwald! And...when did the fog clear?

-A Cat Relaxing in the Sun-





D-Dad...?



What's wrong? You're up early.
Uh...
Haha, I see now! You want to spend some time with your papa who's been gone for so long, huh? All right then! Leap into Papa's arms, Estelle! He's ready!
Oh, don't treat me like I'm four years old, Dad.
Aren't you busy with your army work? How'd you sneak away for time off?
I mean, c'mon, at least TELL me ahead of time. We could've matched sched--
Woman's Voice: Oh, dear. This energetic so early?

-Silence-



...
Ah, Lena!
I think I woke Estelle up with my log-chopping. We were just getting some quality father-daughter time in!



Estelle seems a little less enthused than you, though.
Don't nag her too much, or she'll get annoyed.
What? Never!



You don't hate Papa, do you?!
I know I'm not home much because of my work, but...
Remember, Estelle! Papa loves you more than anything!



Hmmhmm!
I think she's a bit shy because she hasn't seen you in so long, dear. Isn't that right, Estelle?
That...That...Is that...?...Mom?
Why, what's this all of a sudden? Did you forget Mama's face?
It's...

-In My Heart-



Mamaaa...
Hm...?
MAMAAAAAA!



Oh, goodness! Estelle, what is it? Did you have a bad dream?
*sniffle*...Um...I don't remember much of it, but...but...
You were gone, Mama! And you couldn't come home and I was sad and, and...
Haha...
Well, don't worry. Mama's right here. And I'm not going anywhere, either. I promise. So just relax, all right, sweetie?
O...Okay...
Erm. Papa is feeling a bit lonely over here, you know.
Oh, darling, you're still there?
Ouch. An axe through my heart, Lena.
Hmm-hmm! Just joking.
Here.
Ah, yes.
*sniffle* Heehee!
G'morning, Papa!



Oh-ho! An excellent tackle! All right! Today, Papa will play any game you want, Estelle.
Really?!
Cassius Bright never goes back on his word! I'll play anything you want! Even house!
Hmmm, well...
Then I wanna go fishing!
Ooh, now that's my daughter! An excellent choice!
Although, most people think of fishing as, er, a man's hobby. You're sure you don't want to play house?
Nuh-uh! I wanna go fishing!
Uh, hm. Do you think it's all right, Lena?
Hmmhmm. It'll be fine, darling. There are plenty of ways to be 'feminine.'
Though unless you brave fishers want to go fishing for breakfast...
Oh, good idea!
Breakfast?! Yeah, yeah!
Mama! I'm really hungry! I wanna eat soon, so I'll be a big girl and help!
Well! Let me go put on some coffee.
Hmhm. Thank you, you two.
Ahhhh, but first...Estelle, remember to wash your hands!