Part 19: Estelle...you've been through so much.

-Looking Up at the Sky-



On the road again.



The Jenis Royal Academy isn't too far from the city. It's closed to visitors for the exam crunch, and the monster from the Guild's notices is nowhere to be seen. The forest road is still worth a look.










Let's take them to the cleaners.



Crocodarks hit hard, but have terrible MOV and no range.



Flame Smash is fantastic against them.



Just past the road to Jenis, you can wade out into the water and find some goodies up the coast.



And an exploding nautilus.







This quartz opens up another good area art.







There's a wanted monster here. He's going to have to wait.



-A Cat Relaxing in the Sun-







Okay, this is a surprise. They managed to turn that black stain on the ground into THIS that quick?
I think they built the building the same way, just...uh, newer...Thank the Goddess...This is so wonderful.
Woman's Voice: Estelle?
Matron Theresa!



Welcome back. I'm glad to see you.
And you are...Agate, yes?
That's right. Been a while, ma'am.
We last met during that mess with Clem, yes. It really has been a while. Thank you so much for your help back then.
Hey, don't sweat it. Really. I'm just sorry I haven't stopped by since then.
U-Um, congratulations on getting the orphanage rebuilt! I'm amazed. It looks pretty much exactly how it used to be, too.
Heehee. I know it sounds silly to ask them to build it that way, but everyone was kind enough to humor me. I can't imagine this orphanage looking any other way. It just wouldn't be the same.
Haha. Yeah, I think you're right.
So, uh, are the kids inside?
Ah, no. They're actually out in Manoria for class. A traveling priest comes by once a week and holds Sunday School for us, you see.
Oh, okay. That's a bit of a problem, though. Y'see, we actually want to ask the kids about something, on top of just saying hello.
Oh? Would this have to do with the 'white man' Polly saw?
Ah, probably, yes! I see, so it was Polly who saw the person...thing. I always did peg her as a sharp one...
Well, come inside. You can wait here until they return. I do have some tea on the kettle, and a few snacks, too.
Th-Thanks...
...
What's up? Tea not your thing?
Theresa...You're not going to ask about Joshua, are you?
Ah...
Kloe...already told me everything. She worries easily, and she needed to unburden her soul onto someone when she found out...
Estelle...you've been through so much.
I...
Haha...Come on...If you say things like that, I...
I can't...hold it in...
...
...
You don't need to hold it in. You shouldn't...I'm all too familiar with how it feels to lose someone important.
...*sniff*...



I may not be able to be a mother for you, but...At the very least...I can hold you for a little while.



And here I was wanting to show up and show how I'm a big, tough, bracer woman now...
Hmhm! That's right, you are a full bracer now, aren't you? Congratulations, Estelle.
Ahaha, um, well...I'm still kinda green, to be honest.
Speaking of my little crying jag, though...Theresa, you mentioned that Kloe was worried about us?
Yes, about you and Joshua specifically.
She saw her precious friends suffering and felt powerless to do anything for them...She's struggled with it. She desperately wants to help you.
Precious friends...
Haha...I feel kind of awful she's been tearing herself up so much over it, but I'm glad she cares...I really need to go see her soon.
I believe the Jenis campus is closed to visitors right now due to the end-of-term examinations. Those should be over soon, though, and you can see her then.
Sounds like a plan! Also...y'know, the kids are a little bit late, aren't they? I don't remember Sunday School taking this long.
They may be playing in the village after class. The new traveling priest who's been coming by does seem like he's fond of children.
A new traveling priest, huh? (Wait, why does that sound familiar?)
We should head over to Manoria to check on 'em, then. We'll bring the kids back, if need be.
Good idea!
Are you sure? I wouldn't want to trouble you...
Haha! No problem! Think of it as thanks for the great tea and snacks!
'Sides, you owe her a big one for letting you cry like that, right?
H-Hey...
Haha...
Thank you so much. I'll be waiting here for your return.

-Looking Up at the Sky-



I can't help but feel humbled by women like that, y'know? The queen's the same way.
Haha! You too, huh, Agate?
Yeah...She kinda reminds me of Mom, that way...
Oh, yeah, the old man's wife.
She died during the war, didn't she...Hrm.
Agate? Something wrong?
Nah. Just...Women are strong, y'know? Stronger than you'd think...
What's this all of a sudden?
Ah, let it go. I'm...rambling. Or something...
C'mon. Let's go collect the kids from Manoria.

Not much happens on the way toPOM



POOOMMMMMM









-A Cat Relaxing in the Sun-



Still quiet as a church, it looks like.
Hey, nothing wrong with that. I like it! Your hometown of Ravennue was pretty quiet too, if I remember right.
I guess...
Anyway. Kids should be at Sunday School somewhere in the village. Let's look for 'em.



Creda: Apparently he's just been assigned here, but he was so young and...My, oh, my!



Elder Serge: The orphanage has been rebuilt, and people have returned to their normal lives. Now we just have to wait for our next mayor to be elected. The trouble the last mayor caused was a serious blow to Manoria. After terrible incidents like that, tourists stay far away, after all.



Carla: That guy says he's Dalmore's family butler. Or was, I guess.
Huh? Really?
Carla: I don't know if it's true or not. That's just what he's been saying.



Dario: Th...The good sir being arrested must...b-be some kind of mistake...Wh-What happened while I was away...?

The White Magnolia has a few new recipes, but I kind of spent every last mira in Ruan. We'll be back.



Orvid: Hm...? Oh, what a surprise! Do you remember me? I asked you to do a job for me a while ago.
Wait, you know him?
Yeah. He's a merchant...kinda.
It really has been a while, huh?
Orvid: Yes, last we met was before the birthday celebrations, I believe. If you don't mind, I'd like to get things underway immediately. Do you have the time right now?
Sure, no problem.
So, what's the job?
Orvid: All right, listen carefully. I'm currently putting together a list of ingredients obtainable across the entire Ruan region. Problem is, there've been lots of dangerous monsters out there lately, and I haven't been able to go out investigating on my own. That's where you bracers come in--I'd like for you to assist me.
Sounds easy enough.
What do you want us to do, specifically?
Orvid: First, take a look at this tentative ingredient list I've put together:

Er, all right. I've written it down, but is this the list you were talking about?
Orvid: Yes, though it's incomplete. I want you to find ingredients from monsters that aren't on this list and bring them to me. Did you get that? Ingredients that are NOT on the list. Make sure you don't get that wrong. If you find ingredients that aren't on it, come here to report. Of course, you're also welcome to get a bunch together and report before you're completely done. However, I will need one of the ingredients as a sample, so do be careful not to eat too much.
Get ingredients not on this list and come here to report, then?
How many types do you want? Of the ones not on this list, I mean.
Orvid: Mmm...Can't be sure of how much is out there, but I'd be happy if you found five or six new ingredients. If you can find even half of that, I'd be willing to pay you for your time. Is there anything else you'd like to ask?
No, I think we've got it. We'll look around and see what we can find.
Orvid: Yes, please do. And no need to rush, it's not an urgent job. Still, I can't wait to see what you report!



Zack: Already check out the orphanage?
Yep, we just stopped by.
I could hardly believe how good it looked. That was a real surprise.
Zack: Not bad, right? I'm pretty proud at having had the chance to help. The kids've got their smiles back, so it feels like things are finally settled.
Oh, speaking of the kids, they're at Sunday School right now, right?
Zack: Yeah, they're holding it over at the Windmill Lodge in the south of the village. It should be over soon, so why don't you stop by?
The Windmill Lodge to the south...Got it, we'll go check it out.
Well, see ya!
Zack: Yeah, keep up the good work.











Huh? What's up?
Oh, uh, haha...Um, Joshua and I had lunch here a while back, you see...
It just...came back to me, is all.
Ah, right...
Hey, don't be like that. It's not like it's a memory of some great tragedy or anything.
I was just a kid who didn't really understand her own feelings. I totally forced Joshua to let me feed him, not even caring if anyone saw...He must've been really sick of me, even then.
Heh, you're still a kid, if you ask me. How 'bout it? Need a sec?
No. I can't stop now. Can't let myself stop now.
Besides! We need to find that Sunday School, right?
Right. Let's go.