Part 91: Thou hast my gratitude.
(Whoa...)
(There it is.)-Engaged People in Secret Maneuvers-
(Hm. It appears so.)
(Our lion-hearted friend also appears to have taken his exit.)
(This might be our chance.)
(Agate, what should we do?)
(First, let me close in by myself.)
(With a bit of luck, I can break that Gospel with one good swing.) (Okay...good luck.)
(Agate...!) (Don't worry, shortstuff, I'll be fine. Just be ready to back me up if I screw this up.)
(Okay!) (Be careful!)
(So that's a Gospel, huh?)
(Let's do this.)
*SKRANGG*
-Silence-
*crikt*
Three guesses.
-Great Awe-
*GRRRGH*
*ROOARRR*
Agate!
I cracked it but didn't quite break it! I just need one more good swing! Give me a hand! Right! Okay!
Onward, my friends!
*ROOARRR*
I...don't think the camera was designed with such large characters in mind.
OOGABOOGA
Ragnard has no weaknesses, uses no ailments, and seems to be immune to them all apart from stat drops, so there's not much strategy to this fight. Just take no prisoners and give him the business.
*ROOARRR*
Aaah!
Oh, come on! I thought we beat it!
As the legends state...no weapon of man can defeat it!
Yeah! Load it! Get ready to give us an opening! Estelle! Blondie! Keep that thing cornered for just a second! Huh?!-Silver Will-
Heh...A bold move, my friend! Tita! Fire it up, not at the dragon! We'll keep it still! Okay!
-Silence-
*GGRRGRGHN*
We did it! Well struck! The Gospel is no more! Agate!-Dancing With The Wind-
Agate! You okay?! Yeah...I'm fine. Looks like it worked.
Yeah! Holy Stregas, that was cool!
Goodness. You've stolen the spotlight and my heart entirely. Heh. Well, we've managed to defeat the dragon, somehow, so I guess that means things're--quote:
...Impressive...
Huh? Th-That voice...
Where the hell's it comin' from?!
Oh...!
quote:
Impressive...children of Man. Your kind call me Ragnard. Scion of the great wyrms who long have dwelt in this land.
Ah!
No way...It's talking?!quote:
My words carry not through tongue or sound...but as an impulse through the void connecting my mind to thine. Though should it please thee, thou mayst utter aloud what flickers in the dawning of thy thoughts.
Uh, right... Woooow...
Ooookay, if we can talk, then I just wanna be sure...You don't want to, like, eat us or anything anymore, right?quote:
I do not. My wrath, which thou didst witness, was invoked by that infernal device. It is well that I am now free from its foul tether. Thou hast my gratitude.
Ahaha...Um, you're welcome! Hmph. We don't need your thanks. We didn't come here to set you free. We came here to stop you from destroying everything.quote:
Thy concern is full-warranted. Through me, a city and a village came to ruin. The will was not my own, but still, the burden of these actions is mine to bear. I cast myself upon thy mercies, as to make amends. Ask of me what boon thou willst.
Well, um, this is really all Ouroboros' fault. And some people were hurt, but nobody died, so... As long as you express your sincerity, I'm sure they'll forgive you. I think.
...quote:
Hmm. Sincerity...I am uncertain whether this shall make sufficient amends, given the sorrow I have wrought...Children of Man, wouldst thou approach me?
Oookay? Um, sure...
Ugh, what now?
Wow! This is a...septium crystal! It's HUGE!Hell yes. Now to find 50 rings and turn into Super Estelle.
Such golden radiance...This is pure goldia, a septium crystal which harnesses the power of space.quote:
Scars such as I have left in this land must be atoned for in kind. Wouldst thou convey my regrets and recompense to those whose lives I have cast into disarray?
Uhhh...Sure, I guess! Not good enough.
You can't be serious... C-C'mon, Agate...quote:
Such chastisement is perhaps warranted. True absolution dwells not in the realm that coin, gem, or gift can secure.
No, that's not what I meant.
Given the size...this one's worth an easy ten million mira. Give us one more crystal about...a ten-thousandth that size or so. Are you kidding me? With the exception of policing criminal activity, hirin' bracers costs money. Transportation of goods inside a province usually comes out to about a thousand mira. Since this wasn't ever a criminal case, as long as you can pay that, we'll take the job. I get it...!
'Wasn't ever a'...You know, I never thought you could manage to be THAT roundabout.quote:
Be it as thou wilt. I shall purchase of thee thy services.
We'll deliver these to the mayors of Bose and Ravennue.quote:
The matter rests in thy hands, then...Haha...Truly, 'twas a fine attack. But a lack of focus afflicted thee in thy battle 'gainst the swordsman. Perhaps thou hast sloughed off aimless fury to gird thyself in stronger resolve.
Wha...? You remember what happened at the mine?
quote:
Though this body acted of its own accord, still did my consciousness remain clear. Small daughter of Man, thy bravery and courage were worthy of the songs of minstrels and the praise of poets. In thou I see the strength and virtue of humanity held fast, despite the passing of the ages.
Aww... Hahaha! You're more of a teaser than I would have guessed, Ragnard.quote:
Hrrrm, and as for thee...Ah. Yes, it is well I know thy scent. Thou are the offspring of the Divine Blade?
Huh?! Whoa, whoa, whoa. How the hell do you know the old man?!quote:
Twenty years past, ere I took my slumber, a son of man stood before me. Challenge me he did, in his folly, claiming he strove to master the way of the blade. Doth he remain hale?
Uhh, y-yeah, he's doing fine. He never casually mentioned knowing a dragon, though. To no one's surprise, Cassius Bright is ever full of surprises of his own! Oh, that reminds me. Um, Ragnard, sir, may I ask a question?quote:
Speak, child.
The Gospel was attached to you by that Loewe guy, wasn't it? He said something about an experiment...Do you know what they were trying to do?quote:
Hrrmmm...First I must dispel the confusion that clouds thy understanding. 'Twas not the silver swordsman who placed the black device upon my brow. Rather, 'twas a man in white possessed of an unsettling power, 'The Professor' his appellation.
What?! You're kiddin'!quote:
At the professor's side didst the swordsman arrive...And in the throes of my ire, the swordsman plied the extent of his art to limit the wrack and ruin I wrought. Had he not lifted his hand, surely both the city and village would have been seared to ash, not a stone left upon another.
No way... What the hell's his deal?quote:
He had but a single aim. To test his machine and see whether it could subvert a will such as mine, and in doing so, proclaim it worthy...as a Gospel of the Aureole.
What?! Th-The Aureole?! Whoa, wait a minute! Do you know what the Shining Ring is?!quote:
Mmm...Nowhere is it to be found, and yet it is everywhere. Possessed of infinite power and the sum of all wisdom, yet the harbinger of bottomless despair...And when thou standeth in its presence...Man must offer up an answer.
Uh.
I fear this is too great a riddle for even me.quote:
I regret that I may impart nothing further regarding the matter unto thee. The ancient oaths prevent me from interfering beyond this extent. No aid can I render unto thee...Nor can I guard thee from the fangs of this 'society.'
*ROOARRR*
H-Hey!quote:
Farewell, children of Man. In time, you shall have an answer to offer up, and on that day, our paths again shall cross. I pray for the hastening of that day, that hour.
So...no chance of a lift back to town?
That was a long damn climb, you know.