Part 25: Where's the LOVE? Where's the COMPASSION?

Welcome back. Last time, we started making our way to Ruan. On our way we ended up staying the night at the checkpoint between Bose and Ruan - a checkpoint that ended up being attacked by monsters. However, between us, the soldiers, and Agate, the day was easily won. Yay us!









Huh? Joshua...? Is it already time to go to the guild?
What are you talking about? This is the Krone Pass Checkpoint.





Huh...?
Where'd the red-headed jerk go?
It looks like he took off early this morning. Apparently, he had an urgent job to attend to.
Oh...
And after we helped him fend off those monsters last night, too. How rude of him not to say anything before leaving.
It's not that big of a deal, Estelle. How about we get ready ourselves? I'd like to make it through the pass by noon.
All right. It's off to Ruan we go!

Heigh Ho!



Good morning.

Corporal Serose: Good morning to yourselves as well. Thanks for helping us out the way you did last night.

Tee hee. We didn't do much. How about you guys? Did you run into any trouble patrolling the area after that?

Serose: Nope. Everything was fine, like on any normal night. I tell you what though, that was rather strange.

Strange? What was?

Serose: You know how the lights along the roads and at the checkpoints have the ability to ward off monsters, right? Well, even if there were monsters that approached the checkpoint, they wouldn't be any more than two or three in number. So yesterday was the first time I've ever seen them come in a large pack like that.

If that’s not a conspiracy brewing, I don’t know what is!

Yeah, that is rather strange, now that you mention it...

Serose: Then again, these monsters were small change when compared with the Imperial Army. We should probably just consider it good training in protecting our base of operations.

You guys did good. Better than I expected, seeing as we effortlessly beat up two of you on our first day.

I-is that really the issue here?

Serose: For us, that's all we're really concerned about. Protecting the checkpoint is paramount. We'll leave figuring out what the monsters were thinking up to you bracers. Now getting back on topic... You guys are heading over to Ruan, right? Are you ready to fill out the paperwork for your gate pass?

Yes, thank you.

Filled out the paperwork to enter the Ruan Region.

Serose: Well that's that. It looks like you're done here. Enjoy your travels in Ruan.

The corporal operated the gate.



Serose: Welcome to the Ruan Region! Blue oceans and white magnolias await you! That reminds me, you'll be heading to Ruan City, right? Well, just make sure to report to the guild concerning the incident that happened up here last night. There will be a payment there from the army for helping us out.

Really?

Serose: Yeah, but you're going to have to divvy your spoils with Agate. All right, enjoy yourselves and good luck in your endeavor to become senior bracers.

Thanks!
We really appreciate everything you've done for us.



We’re spit out on the other side of the Krone Gate, which looks pretty much the same, because that’s how geography works.



The King and Queen Scorpions have been bumped down from bounty monsters to regular encounters. They can still poison and stun with their regular attacks, which can be a pain, but we’ve levelled a lot since Chapter 1 started, we can handle it.





Estelle?









Now that’s a nice view!

And a terrible guardrail. Don’t fall, Estelle!

It’s the ocean!
Yes, I think I would have figured that out.

Joshua doesn’t always get the funny lines, but he has his moments

It's so blue and sparkly and just...huge! And the sound of the waves and the smell of the tide...
So this is what it all feels like.
Is this the first time you've seen the ocean?
Well, I can kinda sorta remember seeing it when I was really young. I was on an ocean liner with Dad that one time. This might be the first time I've seen it up close, though.
I see... It's been a long while for me, as well. We got here by walking, though. No ship this time.
Yep. I feel like we've accomplished something!



On our way to Ruan, we run into these Hammerheads, which are floating land sharks. This is equal parts terrifying and pretty rad.



Very few enemies are threatening one on one, and Joshua’s Katars from the beginning of Chapter 1 are still ahead of the curve.





The chest houses some Stove Plants, which are half stoves, half plant, and half impossible abomination. They’re horrible weak to water though, so they aren’t that tough.

Especially since in this fight, they don’t use any of their asshole tricks, and stick to attacking.





Now that just hurts, chest.

Anyway, the chest gives us a Lily Necklace, which prevents confuse.



We eventually come to a fork in the road. Our destination is to the left, a lighthouse to the right. Let’s head right!





Seems like that was the right call

ohoho

Vogt: I wouldn't feel right leaving the lighthouse unattended to go get help... But on the other hand, I can't very well leave things as they are, either...



Vogt: My, my, who have we here? What brings ya to the Varenne Lighthouse?

Nothing much. Just looking around.

Vogt: Why, I belong here. I’m the lighthouse keeper, ya see.
Vogt: ...Hmm?

Something wrong?

Vogt: That...emblem on your chest... wouldn't happen to be...

Oh, that? Yeah, we're bracers.
Junior bracers, at any rate.

Vogt: Well, why didn't ya say so earlier?! Y'all should rush to the assistance of an octogenarian in need-- not pretend like ya didn't notice his forlorn expression!

Vogt is my favorite portrait-less NPC.

Er...what? What are you talking about, old man? Why didn't YOU say anything to US?!

Vogt: Because ya didn't ask! Shouldn't the first words out of your mouth as bracers be something like, [Are ya in need of any assistance, my elderly friend?] I tell ya, young bracers these days are all fight, no care! Where's the LOVE? Where's the COMPASSION? Y'all are worlds apart from that manly bracer I worked with before. Now THAT was a bracer ya could set your clocks by, yesiree! I reckon that was...seven years ago? Eight, perhaps? However long ago it was...he was better than you two!

Like I said, Vogt owns.

Also there’s something like a 99% chance he’s talking about Cassius. We all know how this works by now.

Uhh... While I can't tell you how much I'm simply LOVING this abusive lecture of yours, you were saying something about needing assistance?

Vogt: I was? ...Oh, rightrightright! Yes, dire need, dire need indeed! Ya see, I was out cutting the grass earlier, and silly me, I forgot to shut the door when I left. And wouldn't ya know it, by the time I got back there were monsters! Monsters all over the place! And with monsters skittering about, I daren't go back in there. I'm not THAT senile yet!

So basically, you want us to exterminate the monsters, right?

Vogt: That’s the idea, yes. Don’t know how many of them there are, though, so try not to die, all right?

Uh, okay. We’ll definitely do that! I do have to wonder, though, why monsters would wander into a lighthouse...
Probably drawn to the septium. That light is produced by a particularly large orbment, as you might imagine.

Vogt: Spot on, whippersnapper. When this happened before, the monsters were all gathered together at the top.

Oh. Well, that makes sense.

Vogt: Well if it makes sense, then get going, girl! Use that brutish body of yours and show those monsters what's what!



We have plenty of LOVE and COMPASSION to go around, we can help out.

You bet. Let's do it to it!

Vogt: It's almost inspection time, so please, take care of these...these THINGS as quickly as ya can, okay? And make sure ya don't let your guard down, as those things are pretty nimble!

Understood.
I'm ready. Let's do this thing!






So this sidequest is pretty straightforward: There is a lighthouse, and there are monsters. Kill the monsters, don’t kill the lighthouse.



Except these aren’t any ordinary monsters! They’re Red Hammerheads, which are faster and stronger and all-around buffer then the regular hammer heads.



Pictured is the key to victory: Healing items, and casting. Since we only have two people, it’s hard to heal with spells and fight. Using healing items is quicker and much more efficient at keeping us in tip top monster-hunting shape. Since the Hammerheads are melee fighters, area of effect spells are as effective as always. Especially if Hell Gate causes faint and puts some of the Hammerheads out of commision.



Like so.



There are five groups total, and each group has a school of three sharks.



Pictured is the enemy lining themselves up perfectly for Flicker. I’ve never seen enemies queue up so flawlessly.





I end up burning through most of the various healing foodstuffs I’ve acquired throughout Chapter 1, but victory is eventually mine.



We can head up to a boardwalk near the summit, but the summit itself is unattainable. A metaphor for life, perhaps?

No, not really.





Hmm-hmm! Stick a fork in it, old man, because this job is DONE!
The monsters have all been taken care of. Everything should be back to normal in there now.

Vogt: Oh, my! That's splendid news! Finally, I can put my mind at ease! Thank you for all your hard work. And don't forget, as ya flex your bracer muscles in the future, to flex hardest the strongest muscle of them all: the CARING muscle!

join my party please

We, uh, certainly will try to do that. You take care as well, you old fossil!
If you'll excuse us...





???

Vogt: Aren't y'all...forgetting something?

Huh? Uh, I don't think so...

Vogt: What about, [Is there anything else we can do for ya before we go, my good man?]

Uhhh...

Vogt: I'm not hearing it. Observe my mouth, and mimic its movements: [Is. There. Anything. Else. We. Can. Do...] Ya get the picture! It's proper etiquette-- nay, proper CARING-- to check with your client to ensure there are no other issues!



Vogt: That dashing young lad who helped me before certainly knew how to leave a good impression. Y'all could've learned a thing or two from him! Hard to believe you're in the same organization that he was. Like comparing Poms to a dragon!

You're really trying my patience, you old windbag. If that 'dashing' young man really was Aidios' gift to bracers, then why don't you give us a few pointers, hmm? Tell us more about this man-crush of yours, so we can better ourselves in his image and get you off our backs!

Vogt: Oh, he's just a dapper fellow who came to lend me a hand seven or eight years ago. But what a man he was! Far different from you, girl, that's for sure. He was a REAL bracer, not some cheap imitation! In fact, the only way in which I could POSSIBLY compare the two of you would be...hair color, I suppose. The same sort of reddish-brown. Exact same, in fact! Hmm...and looking closely, I'd say the color of your eyes is about the same, too.

Like I said, you should know how it works by now.

Cassius’ ability to indirectly cause trouble for his family is inspiring.

Reddish-brown hair...and the same color eyes as Estelle...?
W-wait... Are you talking about...?

Vogt: I was really hoping you'd be just like him, when ya said y'all were bracers. But, I guess that was just wishful thinking. I doubt anyone could be as amazing as that man was... Can't hurt to try, though. Be diligent, and maybe you'll be a real bracer one day yourself! And even if you're not dashing, ya did help me out, and I am truly grateful. Always remember to care for your clients, and...you'll do fine.



I’ll miss you Vogt.



...So, what do you think? Was he talking about...?
Yeah, I couldn’t help but read into it myself. Seven or eight years ago WOULD be right on the money...
So...he WAS talking about our dad, then, right?
I think so. If so, though, then of course we're not going to measure up.
Yeah, seriously... Though I guess we are bracers like him now, so it's...kind of flattering, in a way, to be compared to him at all!
If we want to make names for ourselves like him, though, we really have to take it one step at a time. Catch up bit by bit, day by day. But even then, I think he's a little out of our league...
Ha ha. Yeah, maybe.
But I can only believe that one day, we'll totally outclass him. I mean, we pretty much rule!

That you do.

This is no time to be horsing around. If we're gonna become world-class bracers, we've gotta get movin'!
You're absolutely right. Let's hit the road, and see where it takes us...

Next time: Estelle beats up an orphan.