Part 23: And all of my memories are ruined forever.

Just one last little speedbump on the Vista Forest Road.





-Obstructive Existence-



I never noticed before what adorable little derpy faces the mushroom-snakes have. I always thought those big purple eyespots were their actual eyes. I guess that means they worked, and also that I am some sort of small-brained predator animal.



Mercury Vipers have poison, which can be pretty nasty on somebody who's taking a lot of other damage. Mercury Vipers don't have a lot of other damage.

And we got Chains.







-Royal Capital of Grancel-



Estelle and Joshua first went to Jenis Royal Academy in the midst of their investigation into the Mercia Orphanage arson. Agate, who was still more or less a stranger at that point, stomped in and unceremoniously kicked them off the case, on the grounds that they were a pair of incompetent fuckups and would only get everyone incredibly killed.



Not really able to object, Estelle and Joshua found themselves sidelined with nothing much to do. So they decided to go to school for a week.

It was all very sensible and logical, I assure you.



They helped out with the school's big annual festival on behalf of the Bracer Guild, and their new friends managed to shake down the wealthy alumni in attendance for a cold million mira towards the rebuilding of Theresa's orphanage.



Full of budding flowers trembling with potential, dewed with the passionate moisture of sweat and youthful tears...Ah...A lovely place.
Oh, wow, I see like ten pictures I wanna take already! I'm gonna go through sooooo much fiiiilm...
Uh, just a reminder, we're here to investigate the ghost mess.
Keep your heads in the game, thanks.
This kinda makes me all nostalgic, though...I mean, we were only here a week, but...
Hey, that just goes to show how important the time you spent with your friends was. You did somethin' for the academy play, right?
Ooooh, I heard about that from Nial! Estelle was a knight, and Joshua was a princess, right?
Oooh, I wish I coulda gotten some pictures...
Wait...What...? Is this true?!
Ah, what a tragedy! That I should miss Joshua at his most graceful and alluring! We simply must find him and have him wear such splendor again!
And all of my memories are ruined forever.
Changing gears, though...Theresa said the test period would be over soon. I wonder if we're here a little early, though.
Falcon's Voice: Screee?!
*gasp* Sieg!







Haha! I have NO idea what you're saying, but you're welcoming me, right?
How have you been, Sieg?
Screee! ♥
Girl's Voice: Estelle...
Oh...!



Kloe...
Haha...Been a while, huh?



Um...I...
... ... I...



Whoa! What's wrong, Kloe?
I'm sorry...I'm so, so sorry...You've suffered so much and I...I can't do anything...I can't do anything to help my friends...I'm such a wretch...
Hey, hey...Don't say that.
I'm glad you care so much. I'm sure Joshua would feel the same way.
I'm...just happy to see you again.
I...Me too...
Thank Aidios we were able to meet again...



Hey, Estelle! Think we saw each other last at the birthday celebrations, right?
Hi, Jill! Yeah, that's about right. And Hans, too! Hello!



I'd love to chat, but I think we need to put that aside for a minute. You guys are here on bracer business, right? The dean wants to see you. We'll show you the way.



So you suspect this 'white shadow' is originating from the academy grounds?
Yes, sir, it seems like it is.
So, the guild'd like permission to investigate inside the academy. You cool if we have a look around and ask the students some questions?
Certainly. Given the circumstances, I would ASK you to investigate, in truth. While I've little idea what this 'white shadow' could be...If it is affecting the election, we cannot simply sit idle and let it be.
Thanks, sir!
So, um, you mentioned not knowing what the white shadow might be...
Alas, no. No one's reported anything of the sort to me. Jill, has anyone come to the student council about such a thing?
Mmmph...No, not a peep.
It was exam crunch time, though. Nobody really had time to come say so much as 'hi' to us anyway.
I see...That would make sense.
Huh? Uh, I think I'm lost.
Here at the academy, there are periodic exams which determine if you proceed to the next grade. Even if the students saw something, they might just choose to ignore it and focus on studying.
I have to admit, I'd probably be one of them. I know I'd rather get one more formula in my head than focus on something that might just be my sleep-deprived mind playing tricks on me.
Whoa...Are the exams really that intense?
Wow, they work you students to the bone!
But as of today, the exams are done (sweet mercy of Aidios!) and people are going to be a lot more relaxed. If people WERE going to start talking about ghost stories, today's the day for it.
There is a converse to this. If rumors spread too far, it will be hard to divine the truth...
If we wish to hear the stories from the witnesses themselves, we must act today.
Well, then. You may begin your investigation immediately. Jill, Hans, Kloe. I expect you to give them your full support.
Yes, sir!
Understood, sir.
So! First off, if we're investigating something, we need a headquarters. Someone might come to the student council with information, so you can use our meeting room!
That'll be perfect! Let's go.



Agate and I will go question the teachers. They should be in the staff room right now. After that, we'll hunt down the rest of the staff and interrogate them, too!
Easy enough.
Hans will check the records in the reference room and see if anything like this has happened around here before.
Understood!
Estelle and Kloe will be in charge of interviewing students.
Okay!
We'll do our best.
Dorothy, Olivier, you two...er, investigate the grounds as you see fit! I'll trust your...um, your artist's intuition to find something!
Heh, leave it to me.
I'll do my beeeest! ♪
Okay, so, everyone? Try and finish up your investigations by nightfall and return here. All right! Faaaaall OUT!



She CAN be pretty silly at times, but I guess she leads the Student Council for a reason.
Hehehe, well, she does want to become a politician, kind of like Mayor Maybelle of Bose.
She was really frustrated when the election began. She kept going on about she could've been a candidate if she were ten years older.
Uh, well, I...guess she could, yeah!
Oh, yeah, I was wondering. How much do Jill and Hans know about you, Kloe? I know you mentioned once they nicknamed you...
Heehee...Yes, they did. They essentially know everything. They saw through my disguise about halfway into my first year here.
Aside from them, only the dean knows my 'true' identity.
That makes sense, I guess. They do seem pretty comfortable hanging out with you, even though they know about your important royal stuff.
Yes...just like you, Estelle. You are the best friends I have.
Ah-haha! C'mon, you're embarrassing me, here.
Anyhow, let's go find some students to interrogate. 'Did you see anything weird during the test period' should be good enough without raising suspicion, right?
Yes, that should keep rumors from spreading, I think. Remember, though, some of the students may be back in their dormitories already.
Good point, we'll look there too. Off we go a-questioning, then!

One reason I like Agate a bit better than Schera for the early game is that every other Chapter 1 party member is heavily arts-focused.



Kloe specializes in rainmaking, falconry, and girl talk. She gets the party's strongest base ATS, and a lot of the best ATS-boosting equipment is ladies-only. For raw damage in the late game, nobody else's arts are going to come close. She does carry a sword, but there's not much reason to ever use it in lieu of exploding things with Aqua Bleed or Soul Blur. Kloe's crafts:

Kaempfer: Ranged STR/DEF debuff.
Sturm: Melee Impede.



Her orbment isn't quite as good as Olivier's, with three slots locked to Water, but the new arts and seventh slot make this sting a lot less than it used to.

Kloe also starts with a unique Heal quartz. The wearer slooooooooowly regains HP, something like 2 or 3 per second. You'll never notice it. 3 Water and 2 Time isn't bad for a single slot, at least.



Welllll, we've just started, so we don't have much yet.
Have you had any luck with the records?
Not yet, but there aren't many records that could be relevant, so this shouldn't take long.
...Hey. I know you're busy, but could I take a minute of your time?
Uh, sure.
...Let me guess. This is about Joshua, right?
Yeah.
I haven't heard all the details, but he's gone missing, right?
He, uh, has...but don't worry. It's something he did on his own, so it's basically like him running away from home...
Hm...I wonder.
I know I only spent a week or so with him, but...Well, we really got along. Got to know each other. We talked about a whole lot of things. He just could not shut up about his life after he came to live with you, Estelle.
Er, r-really? Th-That's so embarrassing...I was such a tomboy...
Er, I mean, I guess that's still true, but!
Haha! Well, I heard a lot of heartwarming stories, I'll say that much!
The thing is...I never heard a word about anything before then.
Oh...
One time, I just kind of casually asked about what his life was like before he came to live with you...I'll never forget his expression when I asked that. I'll never be ABLE to.
His eyes just sort of clouded over. It was like he was staring over a selge-long field of...who knows what...that only he could see.
Afterwards, though, he just laughed it off and pretended it never happened...while avoiding the question.
...
I don't really know his history...but his leaving has something to do with his early life, doesn't it?
Yeah. We're pretty sure it does.
I knew it.
Whenever we went to bed, we'd always talk about how the day went, right? How practice was going, for example, or how delicious lunch was. That sort of thing.
Whenever we did that, he got this look...like he was looking at something bright and beautiful. It was the expression of someone looking at something they want but can't have. And at the same time, he just sort of seemed to...accept that it was something he could never have. He never really lost that look the entire time he was here...
Joshua...
It IS something you can have, you giant idiot...
Estelle...
So, yeah. I know I shouldn't really get involved since I don't know you two THAT well, but...Can I ask one favor of you? Just one.
Huh?
If you meet him again, don't ever let him have that kind of expression. He IS an idiot, thinking he can't have that kind of life. He's got just as much of a right to love, laugh, and enjoy life as any of us do. Can you do that for me?
Hans...
Yeah...Of course I can.
I'll wake him up to that fact even if I have to slap his cheeks beet red in the process!
Haha! Estelle...
It may take that to really get him to understand...but we'll do it.
Oh, crud. Uh, sorry in advance, J.
Mmm...Felt good to get that off my chest. Sorry, I shouldn't take up too much of your time. Good luck with your investigation!
Yeah...Thanks, Hans.
Good luck to you too, Hans!



What are you doing?
I'm taking BEAUTIFUL pictures of the cafeteria.
I got some pretty cute shots of the seafood jelly. It's sooooo jiggly. Pretty good, huh?
(I don't know what I expected...)



Deborah: You're hungry, right? Go on! Order whatever you'd like.




Ah, why, if it isn't Estelle.
How's it going, Olivier? Turn anything up?
Haha, marvelous! Or so I imagine. I left that business to Dorothy. More importantly, I heard tell of a dorm for the female students. I am urgently searching for it.
For the girls' dorms...?
Why the heck are you searching for that?
Well, I think I can kiiinda guess, but...
Heh, that should be obvious. To safeguard the place where these maidens lay themselves to sleep, naturally.
*sigh* I knew it was gonna go there.
How, um, expected of you...
It would, after all, be far too late once the foul hands of evil disturbed their peace and put them in danger, you see...
Oh, yes. Incidentally, Estelle...I believe you have spent some time at this academy before. Perhaps you could guide me to the dorms?
Ah...ha...I'm, ah, a little busy right now, so...another time!
(I know whose 'foul hands of evil' I'M going to safeguard the girls' dorm from.)



(Wh-Whoa...!)
Felicity: I already said that I'd spend my vacation sightseeing across Liberl! Why am I being forced to return home NOW?!
Reina: Felicity, please, calm yourself.
Felicity: No! I refuse! This time, I will say my piece!
U-Um...
Felicity: Tests are FINALLY over, and I was finally starting to plan all the things I wanted to do for my vacation...So why has a return ticket to the Empire conveniently shown up on my doorstep now, of all times? You...You've been plotting against me with Grandfather, haven't you?!
(Man, hard to get a word in edgewise.)
(Let's just see what happens.)
Reina: I truly believe it would be in your best interests to keep these complaints to yourself for now. They can only serve to make things worse.
Felicity: Excuse me? EXCUSE ME?! Have you forgotten your place?! How dare you speak to your mistress in such a manner!



Ah...haha...Pardon us.
Reina: (I did try to warn you...)
Felicity: A-Ahem...Did you need something from me?
Y-Yeah...Sorry to butt in while you're busy. We're in the middle of an investigation, you see.


Felicity: ...
Reina: I see. You've come about that little...incident.
Felicity: Reina! Please, that's enough. I can hardly bear to recall such horrors.
Did something happen?
Reina: Indeed. In fact, what we saw would qualify as more than 'strange.' It was a human form floating in the air.
Ah!
Felicity: Reina...!!
Please, tell me everything you saw in as much detail as possible.
Reina: I would love to. I believe I could share enough information for the both of us. Is that acceptable, Felicity?
Felicity: Oooh...F-Fine, do whatever you want!
Reina: It was the night before exams. Very suddenly, Felicity said there was 'someone outside the window.'
Oh, joy of joys...This already sounds like the start of some ghost story.
Reina: When I peeked out the window, I saw a human form floating above the schoolhouse, just as she'd said. It spun, as if blown by the wind.
Felicity: Oooh...
Reina: Eventually, it disappeared towards the back of the schoolhouse. And then came the worst part of all. My lady, being struck by fear, climbed into my bed, and--
Felicity: Surely that p-part isn't relevant to their investigation, Reina!
Yeah, no need to be THAT specific.
Reina: Oh, I see. A pity...Just as it was getting interesting, too.
Anyway, to make a long story short...A human shape appeared in the sky above the schoolhouse, spun around, then vanished towards the back side of the schoolhouse.
Reina: Yes, that's correct. Was that of any help?
More than helpful! Thanks a lot.
We couldn't have asked for a better testimony, really.
All right, I should jot this down in my notebook right away.





It's strange, isn't it? It was only a few months ago, and yet you can't help but reminisce.
Yeah...





Our calm, serene princess, Joshua, has left us. Now it's just us on the stage.
Having no 'supporting cast' feels kinda strange, y'know?
It does...
Say, Estelle? May I make a small confession?
Uh, sure?

-Where The Bonds Are-



I was a bit attracted to him from the moment we met.
Wha...
I...see.
Haha, I actually kinda figured. It always sorta seemed that way...
That kiss scene at the end of the play...I won't deny, it sent my heart racing. I kept apologizing quietly to you even as I threw myself into the role...
I was all set to really kiss him at the end, not just pretend.
R-Really? You're a lot braver than I thought, Kloe.
Eh-heh...Julia says I always do things that make her worry.
But then when Mayor Dalmore pointed that gun at you, Estelle...Joshua's eyes...I've never seen eyes so full of...m-murderous rage...And it was all because you're that important to him.
That's when I gave up, because I realized I never had a chance against that.
U-Um...I dunno, I think it might be a little too early for you to give up.
I mean, honestly, Kloe, I can't hope to compare to you.
Oh, Estelle, you're so silly when it comes to this sort of thing. You really have no idea just how charming you are.
Man, I pay you a compliment and you poke fun at me. Come on, Kloe, I was serious.
Heehee! But that's just it...So was I.
I love that about you, Estelle. Your open honesty. And I think Joshua feels the same way. I guess Joshua and I are a bit alike in that sense...
You know, I did notice that, kind of.
You're both smart, level-headed, polite...To be honest, I totally told Joshua you two would be great together because of that.
Until I met everyone here, I was...very lonely. I think, in that sense, I was a little like Joshua, before he met you.
If there's a difference between us...it would be our strength.
Your strength? Like how?
Grandmother wishes, very much, to name me the next queen. Especially after what happened recently. I guess it would be for the best, all things considered, but...
If I become queen, I'll never be Kloe Rinz again. I will be Klaudia von Auslese forevermore, burdened with power and responsibility. I'll never again get to hug those orphans, or talk to my friends casually, or attend class...
The very idea...terrifies me. Yet, I feel so pathetic for not having the strength to return to that solitude when it's necessary. I still haven't given Grandmother a proper answer.
Kloe...
In that sense, Joshua is stronger than I could ever hope to be. I'm sure that he, more than anyone, didn't want to be separated from you. But even so, he disappeared so as not to involve you in what he felt was his own problem...
Joshua's...strong, on some level, yeah.
But I don't think that's the kind of strength you should admire.
Hmm...?
It's the role of a queen to rule a whole country. Of course you're hesitating, it's natural! Heck, what'd be really worrying would be if you wanted it without hesitating, like Dunan. Being worried and unsure about whether you'll be good, and still trying anyway...that's why you'll be an amazing queen, Kloe.
Estelle...
But Joshua...Joshua didn't hesitate. He barely thought twice. He left me...left us...behind as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
That...That's something I can't forgive him for.
Estelle...
You're right...It IS unforgivable.
Why is it the cute ones are always the ones who don't understand a girl's feelings?



I'm so glad we're friends, Kloe. I don't have many people I can open up to quite like this.
Haha! Neither do I.
Although, all we've been talking about are embarrassing things, really...Oh, um, please don't misunderstand me, though! I don't feel, um, that way about Joshua at all now...
Ah, don't worry, it's okay.
I...kinda learned the hard way that love isn't something you should try and hold back. Haha...I guess my dad would totally call us both a couple of dumb kids...
Thank you, Estelle.
Well...to be honest, if I said I didn't have any feelings left toward him, I'd be lying. But more than anything, I want to see you two happy together, and--
Don't worry. I get it.
Anyway! We've spent a bit too much time with girl talk, I think. Wanna get back to interviewing the students?
Yes, we should. Let's try to talk to everyone before nightfall.

-Royal Capital of Grancel-



Mickey: Huh? You want something?
Ah, yeah...Actually, we had a question.


Mickey: Strange events...?
Like, did you see anything weird, or hear any odd sounds? Anything you might have noticed would be helpful.
Mickey: Odd sounds...? D-D-Don't make me remember all that creepy stuff!
Did you see something?
Mickey: Yeah...Haven't actually told anyone before you guys, though. I...saw someone suspicious.
Really?! Could you give us the details?
Mickey: O-Okay, sure. I was hangin' out behind the schoolhouse on my way back home, right? It's a great place to chill during tests. No one's ever there. So, I was walking around near the rear gate on my way back...when this white, floating person suddenly flew past. I'm sure it looked like a person. No way I could have seen it wrong.
(A white, human form? That matches what the other witnesses have said.)
So, what happened after that?
Mickey: He floated off towards the rear gate. After that, I didn't see him.
I see...So he disappeared towards the rear gate. Yeah, this is good intel. I should write this down in my notebook.
I agree. This is valuable testimony.
Mickey: ...So, is that enough? I'm starving and I wanna grab some food.
Haha, sorry. You're all good.
Thanks for the help.
Mickey: Well, not sure what's going on, but good luck or whatever.



Anything you noticed that struck you, anything at all. Have you heard any kinda rumors like that from people? Any little details could help.
Ms. Millia: Huh? Strange events? Sorry, but there wasn't anything. I haven't heard any rumors like that from the students, either. Maybe you could try asking someone else?



We'll handle this part, so we'll leave the students to you.
Still, though...Agate sure is strong, isn't he?
Lithe, handsome young men are nice and all, but the muscles of a real man are...Mmmmm...The world of beauty truly is deep.
It must be something about the hair. Now that Joshua's gone, Agate has the spikiest hair.


And I see that Kloe is helping, too.
Yes. This case relates to our academy, so...As a student here, I'd like to help however I can.
Should you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. I won't hold back any aid I can offer.
Of course he won't actually offer, either. Thanks, Dumbledalf.



Oh, well enough, I guess.
More importantly, Patrick, may we have a moment?
Patrick: Sure, what is it?
Err, so actually...


Patrick: Hm, strange events, you say? I do have something that might be along that line, sort of, but...
It's fine if you don't know the exact details. Just tell us everything that happened at the time.
Patrick: All right. Well, actually...I saw this humanoid form flying in the sky.
...Oh!
Could you tell us everything you remember about that?
Patrick: Sure. It was on one of the exam nights. I had stayed behind in the classroom to study...I thought I noticed something move outside the window. I thought, maybe the wind had picked up or something, so I went to close the window...when I saw this white, shadowy form floating outside.
A white, shadowy form...
So, what happened next?
Patrick: Unfortunately, I lost sight of it immediately. It sort of just disappeared towards the east.
East would mean it disappeared towards the back of the schoolhouse, right?
Yeah...Still, you remembered a lot of details.
Patrick: Well, it was quite an interesting phenomenon. I wrote some simple notes down thinking I'd research it later.
R-Research?!
Patrick is a student of the sciences, after all.
Ahaha, I see.
Patrick: Was I of any help?
Yeah, definitely. That was valuable testimony. I'll get that down in my notebook right away.
Patrick, thank you.
Patrick: Not at all. It was a minor request. If there's anything else I can help you with, just let me know. Well, see you later at club, Kloe.



I think we've gotten just about everything we can from the students. Shall we head back to the student council room?
Yeah, let's. With any luck, we can put together what we've heard with everyone else and figure out what's up.



All right, everyone, reports! Hit me! In the face!



Only one who saw anything remotely weird was the janitor. He saw a suspicious person who seemed to disappear right at the gate to the old schoolhouse.
Yeah, the teaching staff were all too busy preparing for the tests, so nobody saw anything useful. The cafeteria lady and Fauna, the receptionist, also didn't have much to say.
I was kind of afraid of that...
Well, for our part, we heard some interesting stories from three students in particular.

All of them centered around the rear of the school grounds, near the old schoolhouse. That strikes me as too similar to be mere coincidence.
I got some results toooo!
I took thirty pictures of the students and teachers, and fifty of the school's scenery! Hehehe! They're all reeeeally cute! I love this place!
Sadly, my efforts failed to shine.
I did, however, cause several beautiful kittens to flock to the siren call of my lute.
So you two accomplished LITERALLY nothing. Like, at all.
I mean, I wasn't expecting much, but come on...
So that'd leave me for last, I suppose.
I looked over the records for any similar cases. Problem is, everything here is so new, there's nothing really in the way of 'ghost stories' and whatnot. Anything remotely relevant centers around the old schoolhouse.
In that case, that old ruin is suspicious no matter how you slice it. What's the deal with that shack, anyway?
It's the original Jenis building. It's been around for centuries, as far as I know. The new campus was finished about...twenty years ago? The school moved here and the old place has been closed off ever since.
Wait, hang on. It's 'closed off,' but I thought we popped in there during the school festival.
Unfortunately, some of the very dangerous monsters that have been wandering around got in after you left. We've had to leave it tightly locked and abandoned ever since.
Oh, my...A stone ruin dating back centuries...
It strikes me as the perfect haunt for a ghost.
Thanks a heap for pointing THAT out. Well, I really don't want to go, but it's not like we have any other leads.
It's getting pretty late, though, so how about we check it out tomorrow? Yeah.
Why, Estelle, whatever makes now a bad time? It doesn't seem that late.
Er, well, you see, it's almost nightfall. And it might be...dangerous! With the monsters. And stuff. It'll be a bit of a challenge during the day, so I imagine it'd be stupidly dangerous at night...
Ah, but is that not the point?
The truly terrifying manifests best under the light of the moon! If there is any time to grasp the true nature of our specter, it is now.
Yeah, yeah! You gotta get ghost pictures at night! It's the law! Or something.
The law in loony land, maybe...
Huh?
Estelle? What's wrong?
Uh, I dunno. Thought I saw something outside the window. It was sort of a white-ish shadow. Probably just Sieg.



-Engaged People in Secret Maneuvers-













Ah...ha...ha ha ha ha...
Haaaaaauuuuugh...