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Part XXIV: The Moment We Shared

Imminent collapse

...Oh, good. It seems you're both still here inside me, then.

It's not as though we desired these circumstances. We're only here because you ate us.

*stands up* I'll make no apologies.

You wish to sacrifice us to the four elemental Empyreans, is that it?

Yes. I won't apologize for that, either.

It matters not. Your sins are nothing a mere apology could ever absolve.

...I know.

At least you're aware of how selfish you are. Good for you, then.

Remember this well, Lord of Calamity. No matter how many times I am reborn, I will act the same.

As will I.

And there's a skit afterwards with Eleanor. She doesn't seem thrilled about Velvet's whole dark martyr complex thing, but the most important thing is that Velvet seems to be hiding something from Phi, and from everyone else...

Upon docking... The cold north

Oh, good! This place hasn't been suppressed yet.

Hey, you listening?!

...S-Sorry. Something just feels weird, like there's something tugging at my thoughts.

Yeah, I've been hearing a lot of that lately. But pull yourself together, yeesh. *both men leave*

..."Yet" being the operative term here.

We'd better get a move on.

Benwick. Don't leave Kamoana or Medissa's domain, got it? The therions are part of Innominat. They should be able to resist suppression to some extent.

Aye aye. You watch yourself too, first mate.

So this is our next destination, Meirchio, a town near the foot of a volcano. Alright then... In fairness, maybe Killaraus hasn't erupted in a while. While Rokurou says it's gonna be a long trip, it really won't.

So there are a few conversations in town that mostly reprise what we saw in that scene above: while the Suppression is influencing the good people of Hellawes to some extent, it's not nearly as bad here as it was in Zekson or Loegres.

There are two unique conversations in the church, first, hearing Our Good Lady Eleanor's "confession" (and the priest freaking out about how righteous Eleanor is talking), and the other is about some twisted malak experiment the Abbey is performing deep within Faldies Ruins. Eizen seems particularly upset by it, and hey, it's on the way. I'm on his side, but we're going for a mercy kill, not a rescue.

I also decided to stop by the weapon shop a bit to Dismantle some of my excess crap. This, along with finding them as random drops from white gathering points, is primarily how you get these Amphibole Scraps and such. Items not named after a material will instead dismantle into rarer materials like Silver or Gold Scraps, depending on the rarity of the equipment being Dismantled. I don't think there's an inventory limit or anything, but a bloated inventory is a sign of a disorganized mind. Do note that some special weapons, like Kurogane's Daggers, can't be Dismantled, and you also can't Dismantle the weapon a character is currently equipped with, so you can't go into battle unarmed. Of course, Dismantling is not exclusive to weapons.

If you stay a night at the inn, you can get another training skit between Rokurou and Velvet, just like the first few hours of the game. It's a nice little callback.

Well, luckily, Gaiburk will be rough for the party, but not for us. I meant it when I said there's really not that much real estate between us and new frontiers. But of course, time to pass through Faldies first.

The route to Meirchio is through that green diamond door Velvet is looking at, but remember that malak experiment I mentioned? It's down where Medissa was imprisoned. Well, you can hardly call it "imprisonment" when the person in question was willing to be there. Maybe "contributing" is a better word?

Wait, did you see something?

Oh. Sneaky. Bison Heddin

So Bison Heddin is a pretty annoying fight, because it has a ton of resistances and HP. I wasn't really able to find a good opening to damage it without Velvet, like with Xeno Mantis is the fake Morgana Woods. Part of the problem, near as I can tell looking at the footage again, is that it seems to be quite resistant to Stun, which is like the go-to status effect in this game, for both enemies and allies. So if you have difficulty stunning an enemy, it can slow down the pace of battle a lot. So do yourself a favor and play as Velvet here, since she seems, for whatever reason, to be quite good at stunning, or at the very least, staggering this stupid thing.

Well, I doubt they choose the form, but this was ill-conceived, to say the very least. The normally cool Eizen here got pretty worked up about all this, and, to be honest, he's within reason. About this. On the way out, I unlocked the Amarcian Subcontinent (Graces reference) in Expeditions, which, being the 10th location, also triggered a skit. Magilou is in this skit, so I assume, if you just sat around Port Zekson for the first time unlocking everything and wasted hours and hours of time doing so, this wouldn't trigger until she joined the party at Loegres Villa. I don't think I'd want to vacation at Terror Island, personally...

No inexplicable crowd of exorcists hanging around. Looks like we're good to go. In either alcove is a treasure. The one to Velvet's left has Red Sage and the right has Runner's High boots.

Well, the rumors were true.

Hehe.

The wildlife is not particularly worthy of respect. As opponents, I mean. The cold does make them somewhat hearty but they're not nearly dangerous enough to worry about getting wiped. The one treasure chest in this area is against the northwest wall and has 8000 gald in it, but you can also find Red Lavender about halfway up the eastern wall.

Ah, good. Looks like those are torches in the distance, so that means Meirchio is probably close. There are a few points of interest around here. First, that plant in the distance is Red Verbena. Highly hearty plant, apparently. Second, there's a silver chest in a little ice canyon that's hiding a Mythril Waistcoat, so we're moving up an item tier. Along the western wall is another nice payday, 10000 gald in a bronze chest, and, of course, the mini-game icon is a fishin' hole. Yep, the water flows perfectly well, so I guess the party is really just bellyaching about the cold.

Buuut, you'll also notice that the mini-map says there's 4 chests, but we can only find two. I'm not omitting any of them, it's just this area of Gaiburk is a little strange in that we're only seeing half the area, and Meirchio stands in the middle of the halves.

Unfortunately, the rare fish weren't biting, and most of what I got was crap like this and Smelts. Luckily these spots tend to be near save points, so save scumming them is pretty easy. That could have saved me quite a bit of recording time before I moved on.

Man. Who did this guy piss off to get a post like this? Well, not our problem.

Wow. For a town with so little contact with the outside world, you'd assume, this is a nice-looking place. Doesn't seem like they live in fear of daemons, either.

Let's uh...hope it doesn't come to that. Velvet's definitely not put off from this plan by this consideration, though.

So this skit also brings up this important point: if there's four Empyreans, and we only have two high-ranking exorcist souls, gotta make up the difference somehow. Luckily, aside from Artorius, the Abbey still has Shigure and Melchior in its ranks. Somehow we'll need to get both of them to come this way, and quickly.

Also, the name "Meirchio" is the first reference name we've gotten in a while, near as I can tell. Because of this setting's love of British Isles names, I'm pretty sure it's named for Meirchion Gul, a king in sub-Roman (aka post-Roman) Britain. A very obscure figure that almost nothing is known about, apparently, but it works for me as far as references go.

There's a few conversations in town, including the guy closest to where you spawn in, where we get a hint about what Velvet's current plan is. As for the second guy (didn't we meet in Hellawes? Must be just me), this is the origin story of that guy "guarding" the gate. The plan is that if a daemon shows up, his panicky flight will alert everyone else. Cruel, that is for sure.

Pretty lame tarot set, but let's see what the party has to say about them before we pass too much judgment.

All right, so you know what time it is! It's time to get your fortune told, Velvet.

Huh? Not interested.

Don't be such a spoilsport. You know what they about my fortunes? "Good or ill, you'll leave feeling nauseated."

Is that your sales pitch? Maybe you should quit fortunetelling and start up a business cursing people instead.

Oh, touche, my dear daemon! I know just the reward for you! I'll tell your fortune free of charge! Now, what do the cards have to say?

Hey! Have you been cramming eye of newt in your ears or something? I said I'm not interested!

Ahem! The cards say, "You will be horribly annoyed by your fortuneteller."

Spot on. But rather than nausea, I'm feeling more of a headache.

That just means it's working.

Good to know. Looks like we shouldn't have to worry about this place going to hell. Well, not because of anything the villagers seem capable of, at least. There's a gilded chest near this conversation with a Neptune Satchel in it for Phi. Close to that second conversation is an adorable snowman and igloo. Inside the igloo is Red Chamomile, further proving these Red plants can endure some harsh places. As soon as you get close to the middle of town, you'll get a skit with the party discussing what kind of place this is, but truth be told, this is another place we've (technically) seen before. Remember the scene in the OP with Velvet and the party quietly looking up in a snow village? Yep, this is that place.

Oooh. Hopefully we can see one of those soon.

Upon getting close to the star... A merciful daemon

Daemons! There are daemons in town!

Aaaaaaah!

E-Everyone, run away!

Dammit! What happened to the gate watch?!

He's the one who turned into a daemon!

Ooof. And what a daemon, too.

*walks in-between the kid and daemon*

Now's your chance! Run!

Sorry, but you're going to help me.

Well, we'll have to ponder how after a very short and easy fight. It's funny because I killed it with Eleanor's Mystic Arte, the only that launches an enemy into the sky, far away from her. So it works.

Thank you so much! How can we ever repay you?!

...I have a message for the Abbey legates. On the next Scarlet Night, I will offer a sacrifice to Mount Killaraus, and strip Innominat of his power! *unsheathes arm* I dare them to try and stop me! *devours daemon*

She just ate the daemon with her arm! Sh-She's...

*everyone gasps, runs away*

Bwahaha! This city is ours! Flee to the south, puny humans, while your tears dot the snow! Hurry, before our dark mistress sucks the marrow from your very bones!

She'll eat us all! Run for it! *runs for it*

The effort was appreciated, but bad girls who tell lies get a thump on their heads. Well, the plan was to get them to flee so they don't caught up in a possible eruption, and to lure Shigure and Melchior here, but we're certainly placing a lot of faith in the villagers not dying from exposure or wildlife attacking them, honestly. Well, as long as they get past Faldies Ruins, they should be fine.

Benwick also decided to follow us (on-foot, because Eizen mentioned earlier the Van Eltia can't dock here because of the currents), and he brought Kurogane and Kamoana here. Well, all the therions aside from Griffin decided to tag along, is what actually happened.

As for right now, Kurogane has business with Rokurou, and we have no reason to go to Killaraus without Shigure and Melchior being around, so it's time for a night in the snow village. This is another very common Tales trope, where the night before the final dungeon or some very important plot moment is spent in a snow village. Phantasia started this trend, but it also pops up Symphonia, Abyss kinda wrongfoots you intentionally about its snow village scene, I think it was also in Xillia 1, and probably in a few other Tales I haven't played, because I have not played quite a bit of this series.

And THAT is a view. Look how far Velvet has come. Make sure to talk to that Bloodwings rep for more money from Code Red hunts (which includes Bison Heddin and Gluttony). Of course, we have our buddies to talk to, and since most of them are proper cutscenes instead of conversations, they get covered normally. First, Benwick / Eizen. Quite a sister

Writing another letter to your sister?

Nope. This time she sent one to him. Man, she hardly ever writes back. Hope this ain't a bad omen.

Shut it.

Eizen, that's great news!

...I told her about all of you in my last letter. Seems she was amused. Says you sound "appropriate" for me, and she'd love to meet you.

Weird sister you've got.

You don't know the half of it. A girl weird enough to want to live alongside the reaper... No matter the cost. *tosses coin*

I'd love to meet her too.

I'll warn you...

"Touch my sister, and I'll kill you". Right? Sheesh, you say that to EVERY guy you meet. *jumps down*

Awfully protective.

*sits down* Nah, just obsessed.

That's even worse!

We'll all go meet her together someday.

I like your confidence.

Yeah. I man the wheel of my own ship.

Aye. As do I, and all of you... And even her...

Yeah, I'm kinda getting the feeling I know what kind of girl she is without even meeting her. Well, we can save that for another time. Next up, Eleanor. She's on an abandoned dock in the other scene in town, through a large set of doors. A different future

Ready or not, here I come!

(in the distance) Bring it on!

OK! Gonna find you!

...Having fun?

Ah, er, Kamoana insisted that we play, so--

Madam Eleanor! I followed Kamoana for you. She's hiding right over there!

Wow, cheating against a kid... ? That's low.

I didn't! Bad Bienfu! No cheating!

Huh? But when I play with Miss Magilou, she always makes me do that.

She's a terrible influence on you!

I found you, Kamoana! And Dyle!

What?!

No fair!

See? THAT'S cheating!

I didn't cheat. I simply utilized Bienfu's cheating. That's called strategy.

Heheh. "Plans must be solid, and reactions flexible", right?

...Right.

One of Arthur's maxims, if you don't remember.

See, Kamoana? I'm smart and strong. You don't have to worry about me.

Don't worry! I believe in you, Eleanor. I'm just worried that Bienfu will get you in trouble...

Why am I the bad guy now?!

I can handle Bienfu, too. Don't worry, I'll make sure everyone makes it back safe.

OK. It's a promise!

*nods*

Kamoana, if you're feeling better now, head back, OK? It's too cold, you'll go into hibernation...

No sleeping! Dyle's "it" next 'cause he's a crocodile!

I'm not a crocodile, I'm a lizard...

Isn't that the same thing?

*begins running around Dyle*

Not even close! You think crocodiles can regrow their tails?

It has to be possible... There must be a way to make a better world for everyone. Humans, daemons, malakhim. And I intend to find it. It might take years... No, decades, centuries, generations... Even if it takes me millennia, I'll do it.

Playing the long game, I take it?

I believe in you, Eleanor. You'll find a way.

I will. Once I've made my mind up, nothing can stop me.

Yup.

Trust me, we know.

Another very scenic spot in this nice town, though you can understand why the Van Eltia couldn't get close. That northernmost pier on the right side has a chest with 10500 gald in it, and that little bump on the left wall of the map has a 335 spirit Katz chest and...Bushy Eyebrows in it. How nice.

Someone has to raise her right. Next up on our little agenda here is Rokurou, but he's a little harder to find. For the record, Magilou was hanging out next to Medissa near where you start this little sequence, and she doesn't have her own scene. Well, not one with Velvet, at least.

Near the back wall is this staircase leading to the village's heights, is where a chapel is. Rokurou is hanging out in front, and Kurogane is inside. As for what Rokurou is doing there... Pride of daemons

What's that sound...?

It's Kurogane.

He must be forging another sword.

He is. The old fellow's forging himself into a blade.

*gasp* He's turning himself into a sword?!

He can do that?! Is that possible?

Who knows. Either way, it's what he decided to do.

You'd go that far to defeat Shigure and Stormhowl...

I would. I'll turn a friend into a sword to kill my own brother. I'm a jerk.

*sits down* ...I'm in no position to judge.

I think you are. Whatever you may look like, you're human. You hate because you love, and feel as much hurt as you do anger. That's human. Kurogane is with me. He agreed to it. What our blacksmith friend feels toward Stormhowl is more than resentment. It's admiration, too.

...That's why he wanted to do it. He wanted to put everything he had into one final clash.

*nods* Shigure's the same. He has that very human strength to the good along with the bad and just keep pushing ahead. A strength that, I as a daemon, can never match.

Brooding doesn't suit you, Rokurou. You wanted to be a swordsman greater than any others. That's why you fought and bled to perfect your skills. *stands up* That's the sort of man you are.

*takes another drink* Yup. That's who I am.

I like that part of you, Rokurou.

Me too. Thanks.

This definitely doesn't sound like something we should be walking in on, no matter how curious we are. Next stop is the front of the inn, where Medissa and Magilou are hanging out. A witch's world

But I won't stand by if Kamoana's fate is involved.

...It's a bit late for that. If you mean to stop me, you'll have to strike me down first.

*gets into stance* You asked for it.

*sneezes*

*relaxes* ...I found an inn with a nice big hot spring. Warm yourself up before you catch cold.

What a darling you are! I'll take you up on that. Gotta conserve my strength!

Good idea. Phi, want to join me?

What?! N-No way!

No need to hold back on my account. The bath at the inn should be huge.

That's not the problem! *sneezes again*

See? Hurry up and get in.

Aiighh! Why do you do this to me?!

^_^

I'll bathe alone, thank you! You go first!

Fine, fine. *she and Magilou begin to leave*

What is it?

Just a little errand. Watch these folks for a bit, all right? *walks in that direction, fade to black*

Looks like you got our message.

You plan on awakening the four Empyreans.

Age hasn't dulled your wits, I see.

Surely you know the consequences. You know the chaos you will bring if you take that route.

Oh yeah, so much chaos. Innominat's amplified resonance will return to normal, the malakhim will regain free will... Many exorcists will lose their power to do whatever they do, and the Abbey will lose its means of control.

While the daemon threat will remain unchanged.

Not only that, but the elemental balance of this world will be thrown into turmoil for hundreds of years.

All of civilization will regress. The eruption of Mount Killaraus alone will rob humanity of its source of flamestone, and consequently of gunpowder.

Mmm, sounds fun. Hey, don't worry about it. I'm sure mankind will think of something. "Gooooo humans!" Right?

Just what do you think humans are?

"The wellspring of all malevolence." "Thus must emotion be quelled, and reason bring order to the world, until the day that humanity can repent and overcome their sins." ...I get that right?

You did. Innominat was awakened for that very purpose.

"We are the instruments of change, hated for our sacrifice. We are the shadow of the Shepherd who brings salvation."

...Will you not return to our side? You still seem to think of yourself as a Mayvin.

I can think of nothing more boring than your ideal world.

It is a world of purity.

A garden of fake flowers. Good for show and nothing else.

*grits teeth* Those ideals are twisted! Can a flower hold beauty if it does not wilt?! Can a wolf be satisfied eating grass?! The thought makes me retch! As do those who wish for it, and those content to live in shackles! Let the biting bugs go ahead and eat what they wanna eat! Let the weeds grow where they wanna grow! Some may look down on them and scoff at their foolishness, but their unwavering wills are proof that they're alive!

...Then I have no choice but to crush you.

Used to treating people as bugs, aren't you?

We got your back, Magilou.

Wait. Now is not the time. His life belongs to the Lord of Calamity. Melchior Mayvin. I'll see you at the volcano. Don't you worry. I'll be sure to be there as you breathe your last.

...Very well. It will save me the trouble of having to crush you one by one. *turns to leave*