Part 67: Ah, my rose, but the weather casts a pall on men's hearts this day!

-A Cat Relaxing in the Sun-



Yes, it's definitely getting worse.
I hope Agate and the others are okay...
At this point? Good question. Even if it was just a patrol, I'm kind of worried...
Let's get to the guildhouse. We should be able to hear about last night, along with everything else.
Good idea!



-Provincial City of Rolent-



Kitty: The fog may be terrible, but we're sticking it out to serve our customers! Please, take a look over anything you like.



Rinon: Crazy out there, huh? That fog still hasn't let up!
Tell me about it.
That reminds me, how was last night? Did anything happen?
Rinon: Huh? Oh, uh, nothing happened, really. I guess the biggest event of the evening was that red-headed bracer who stopped in before I went to bed. He said he was on patrol. Is he a friend of yours?
Yeah, his name's Agate.
Hmmhmm. Sounds like the gentlemen are taking their 'manly' patrol seriously, at least.
Hey, Estelle? Could we buy something for Agate? Oh, and everyone else, too!
Ooh, nice idea, Tita!
Why not something sweet, then? It would be a nice pick-me-up if they're tired.
Rinon: Sweet, eh? Might I recommend some of this new chocolate I just got in, then? It's a good, dark-style chocolate that's a bit more bitter. I find guys tend to really like it. Currently goes for 200 mira a bar.
600 mira for all three, then. Though, uh, I dunno if we should count Olivier since I kinda doubt he actually patrolled.
Now, now, we should, um...assume the best.
How about we all pitch in to show our thanks?
Yeah!
Well, I suppose it won't hurt to treat them once in a while.



Rinon: Thank you! Hope they enjoy it. If you need anything, come on by. We've got everything from candy to magazines!



Good morning.
Um...Good morning.
Elger: Hey, everyone. At it bright and early, eh?
Yeah, seriously...I wish I was still in bed.
(W-Well given how late you stayed up, it's no surprise...)
Elger: Welp, time to show off how tough a bracer can be to your subordinates. Luke and the others' conditions seem stable for now. I hope they wake up soon, but us fretting won't make that happen faster. You all better not overdo it yourselves, ya hear? If you collapse, we won't get anywhere.
We'll be fine, don't worry. Even Estelle's an experienced, full bracer now.
Ahaha, well...
I've still got a long way to go to compare to Schera.
Elger: Haha, if you've still got the energy to compliment your superior, then you should be fine. Well, then, good luck with the investigation. We're expecting good news.
Yes, leave it to us.



Stella: I'm sure things must be hard investigating this case, but don't overdo it. If you collapsed, I...I just couldn't bear it!
I-I'll take care.



Freddy: It seems like in some places it might even be worse than yesterday, huh? Man, oh, man, when will the blue skies return...?
Melders: The fog outside's as bad as ever. I've lived here a long time, but I've never seen anything like this.



Faulkner: I'm sure those folks from the airship will be back at some point. They're all stuck and don't really have anywhere else to go. This is a bar's time to shine. Good food and the power of alcohol is at least something of a distraction from the troubles outside.



Captain Petrov: All the crew's been on standby in the ship since morning. Right now, we're eating and sleeping in shifts. I didn't just come to the bar on my own because I'm captain...



Densel: We may have made you worry last night, but Tabitha's the same as ever. According to Father Divine, her situation's stabilized. Right now, all we can do is watch over her and wait.



Elissa: Mom hasn't changed since yesterday. If you find anything out, let me know. I'm going to be with Mom today, so...You all be careful, Estelle. The fog's even thicker than it was yesterday.



Maggy: Up with you, young man! Are you going to leave an old woman in the fog like this? Pat's here, too...You can go out and play like always. Come, Luke...wake up, now...please...
Pat: Oh, Estelle...It's morning, but Luke still hasn't woken up. It doesn't seem like he can hear Maggy, either. It's kinda funny, though. Luke's got...He's got a really happy expression, even though he's asleep. I bet he's having a really nice dream. Luke would!



Freemont: Radford's still out like a light, I'm afraid. The one silver lining is that he seems to be having some real nice dreams, given the expression on his face...
Euridice: The fog seems like it's even deeper than it was yesterday. Father is still asleep, too. I hope nothing more happens...Dear Aidios...please deliver us!



Mylene: ...It was a faint hope. Reality is not so kind. I will keep watching over Lita, so...Everyone, good luck with your investigation. You are my only hope now...



Hmmm...The fog has gotten even thicker than last night, that much is certain. If you go out onto the roads for work, be very careful. With the mist as thick as it is, it's almost impossible to see.



Claire: A bunch of bracers operating together this early in the morning...Ah-HA! I smell a case! I can't just stand here. Time for Claire to get the scoop!



Father Divine: Unfortunately, I haven't found any clues in the texts I have available. I have studied medicine to care for the mind and body, but...There are still secrets hidden all across this land that even I have no knowledge of. To we, the followers of the Septian Church, the truth is yet distant and shrouded in darkness...For us to reach that answer, I must redouble my efforts.



Ah...Scheraaa...Ainaaa...Unnnn...No more...drinky...
No, nooo! Not a ful' bott'l...*guuuuuuulp*...○△=`$⬜¥~~!!
(Well, someone's not sleeping the sleep of the just. No surprise there...)



Anton: To think someone so lovely had such a dark secret...Hmm. I can't carelessly invite her out like this. Curses!
Ricky: I dunno if that lady really matches Anton's fever-dream of an ideal girl. He'd get more out of watching the pigeons, if you ask me. I'm serious, too. Pigeons are good people! Hard to get tired of watching them bird it up.



Good morning!



There you are.
You slept well last night, I hope?
Yeah, thanks. Definitely recharged my batteries.
While not necessary, the extra rest was appreciated. Thanks, you two. The night patrol wasn't too rough, I hope?
Um, thank you for doing that!
Hah, not at all. We slept in shifts, so we're fine.
'Course, there's one of us still passed out at the hotel.
I'm guessing you mean Olivier?
Whoa! So he really did do his part last night?
Hahah! That he did. He wouldn't stop complaining, but I think some of it was just for show. He did his job well.
Hmmhmm. We'll be sure to thank him later, then.
So...what's the situation? Did anything happen overnight?
The night patrol may have been a good idea, because we've heard no new reports of people collapsing.
But...it's as we feared. All of yesterday's victims are still out cold...and still completely unresponsive.
Oh, man...
That's awful!
Also...do we know of any changes to the fog? I swear it's thicker than it was yesterday, but at this point I'm not sure I trust myself to make a judgment.
No, it's definitely getting thicker. Not only that, but we do have reports of the size of the cloud expanding, as well.
The entirety of the Malga Trail is now blanketed, all the way to the mine entrance, apparently.
Really? Crap...
If this gets much worse, keeping people safe will be impossible.
Well, it's not ALL bad news. Between the reports from us and others, the Royal Army's agreed to dispatch two full squads here. They'll take over the defense of the city proper.
Really? Sweet!
Yes. They'll be coming from Bose, over the Verte Bridge.
That'll be a relief. If the army can take care of the city, that leaves us free to investigate the entire region.
Right on. This gives us the chance we need to find that Ouroboros clown and bury 'er.
Mmm. My guess is that our suspect must be concealing herself in the region's more remote areas...
But that gives us a huge amount of ground to cover.
Yeah. Rolent, as a region, isn't that big, but just the seven of us can't search the whole thing with a fine-toothed comb...
I wonder if there's anything specific we should do?
Well. On that note...How about I press-gang you into helping with the evacuation of civilians to the city?
Huh? Evacuating?
It seems all but certain that the 'comas' occur within the fog.
And now the fog's reach is growing...Like I said, we received word earlier that it's reached the Malga Mine...and it's also reached the Perzel Farm.
The Perzel Farm too now?!
I see.
So we need to bring the Perzels and the miners back to the city, where the army unit can keep them safe, then.
Yes. You can consider it a guild-assigned mission--pay and all. Think you could do that before you go looking for them?
Keepin' the civvies safe does take priority, I guess.
As I remember, the mine is some distance from the city, yes? And it sounds like the same is true of this Perzel Farm. If that's the case, it would be wise to split into two groups. We needn't take all seven of us to one location.
As much as I'm sure Will and Chere Perzel would love to see a small army of bracers show up at their door, I agree.
Well, um, speaking of which, can we go to the farm, then? It's, um, run by the family of an old friend...
Ah, I see.
Agate, Olivier and I will evacuate the mine, then.
Yeah, sounds like a plan. C'mon, let's go haul Blondie out of bed.

*plinkety plink*

Man's Voice: Hmph! 'Haul' me out of bed? What cruel summoning is this?



Why are you strumming your lute?
Ah, my rose, but the weather casts a pall on men's hearts this day! I thought to perhaps brighten the mood a little with a lovely serenade. Consider it a ray of sunshine, piercing through the gloom, courtesy of Olivier Lenheim.
How the hell can you be so cheery so early?
It does sound like you were actually doing your part out there, though. I'll admit, you can be a good guy when you want to be, Olivier.
Hmmhmm. Indeed, well done.
Ha-ha-ha! I merely did my duty as a gentleman and defender of love.
To be honest, I had thought about stopping by Estelle's home while I was on patrol for...a visit.
But the fog was so thick I could barely even find the city gate! It was a tragedy, I tell you!
Seriously? Just when I was reversing my opinion of you?
Let me get Olivier up to speed...

------



Very well. Allow me to help.
Come! Let us away to the farm with the fair lady!
We SAID you're comin' with US! The hell, are you gettin' it wrong on purpose at this point?
Oooooh. I did not realize you wanted me so badly, Agate.
Why, if you keep being that forceful, you'll scare me away, my lover. ♥
Okay, hang on, I am NOT your--
Wha...? Whaaa...? 'L-Lover'?! I didn't know you were...
Tita! Don't listen to a word he says, okay?
And, well, so much for any hope of taking THIS job seriously...
It's better than being too serious.
Anyway, if we've fulfilled our tomfoolery quotient for the day, we really should get to work.
Yeah, we should. Really.
We're off to the mine, then.
Ah! Estelle, the gift!
Oh, yeah, we did pick these up.
The what now?
What's this?

Go on, you. This was your idea, after all.
O-Okay! Agate, Zane, Olivier? Thank you for all your hard work last night.
Um, um...This is for you!


Huh?
Oh, my.
Oh!
Hmmhmm! Consider it a thank-you note from those who enjoyed a full night's sleep.
We all chipped in a little on it.
Enjoy them, okay?
Excellent. A bit of chocolate can be a good pick-me-up for a last stretch of road. Thanks!
Ah, the taste of your love! I shall treasure it.
...
A-Agate...?
Do you not like chocolate, Agate?
Nah, it...ain't that.
It's just...Gah, you guys do some embarrassing stuff sometimes, y'know that?
Ha-ha! He's embarrassed!
Hmm-hmm. Someone still needs a bit of practice at being sociable, I think.
Aw, shaddap.
Ah, whatever. It'll be handy if we get hungry on the road...Thanks.
You're welcome!





After you, Estelle.
Hey, Estelle? You said a friend of yours lives there, right?
Uh-huh. She's an old, ooooold friend from Sunday School named Tio Perzel. She lives out there with the rest of her family--her father Franz, her mother Hannah, and her twin siblings Will and Chere.
We WILL be escorting minors--er, not counting Tita, since she's armed--so we'll have to stay alert on this one.
Well, we're off, Aina.
Good luck out there.