Chapter 39: Park Ruins: Farewell, Splendid Generation

What's up with this place?

The park shut over 9 years ago due to financial difficulties. It was abandoned after its closure.

What a shame. I can just imagine people milling around and having fun here.

But now it's ripe for being commandeered by an organization in search of secrecy. We Synth Humans often made use of such locations. The Industrial City Ruins are a case in point.

There certainly are plenty of hiding spots here. And I daresay some of them have occupants.

We must root them all out. And, for Altena, we must retrieve the Ogre Key. And quickly!

Sebastia believes that Mildy and Clughorn are holed up in the old theater.

To the theater then!

I used to come here all the time, usually with Mildy.

To think, in just a few years it was reduced to ruins... Who'd have believed it...?

Mildy was... A bit spoilt, a bit of a cry-baby, even. But she had a wisdom that others didn't. She'd always be the one to suggest an idea or start a new project.

But a lot of the time things didn't work out for her, she'd cry, but even then wouldn't give up. She had a stubborn side, so I often worried about her.

And so I decided I had to protect her--to be her knight.

And this other chap, Boghorn was it?

Clughorn.

Right, right--Sludgehorn. Can we expect much of a fight from him?

Well, he'd be a pretty average human without those powers. I don't really know what he's capable of.

And what attracted you to him, might I ask?

Woah, way to get personal, Helena. But yeah, I don't remember since it was so long ago.

Well, looking back... He was a smart guy, but way too cold. I didn't have a good impression of him at all. But now and then he'd do or say something sorta cool...

Eventually I noticed though... Only with Mildy would he ever ease the frown he always wore on his face, and smile a little.

So I gave up. I'm no match for Mildy, cute as a doll, kind and smart to boot. They were like two peas in a pod, always talking about some difficult issue or other.

Amy...

What are you getting all emotional for? Don't get the wrong idea, it's nothing to me now.

It's just what about your old friends? Getting sucked into some phony revolution and throwing their lives away.

So our quest for the key doubles up as a sort of rescue mission, one might say!

Guess so. Well, let's get moving.

Ah, this is the final ride we went on together that day.

That day?

Well, yeah... The two of them had to go off to this elite school, and staying in the Gamma district wasn't practical. So before the two of them moved, we came here to have a farewell party.

So... Were you lonely after they left?

I'd be lying if I said no. But... I mean, I wasn't going to beg them to stay, or chase after them. I had my own dream, to become a hunter. And I'd quit school before them to start training up. They never said a word in opposition to that.

But of course Clughorn had plenty of dead-serious life advice to offer me, heh.

I was happy for the two of them, but more than anything I hated the idea of being a hindrance to them.

Mildy... Well, she had complete trust in Clughorn, and to be honest I trusted him as well. So in the end it was him that became her knight, not me.

Right...

That's enough sentimentality for one afternoon. We're wasting time here.

Yeah, you're right.

You won't see me going easy, if we end up fighting them. Specially if it turns out Clughorn's been misleading Mildy.

You could show a bit more sensitivity, you know, Guildna.

Aldo, I think he's got a point. And Amy can handle it.

Well... If you say so.

And they call themselves the Chrono Clan? Things are getting interesting. I wonder what their ultimate goals are... I know how much Mildy meant to you, Amy. Fighting her must have been tough.

Yeah... It all happened so fast, I guess I'm still kinda in shock. I feel like my memories of when she and I were still friends have been tainted...

Um...does everyone have that kind of childhood memories? Ones that seem idyllic when looked back on? I, uh... I've never had any friends, so...I don't really get this kind of thing.

What are you talking about Sebastia? You're friends with Amy, aren't you? At least that's how it seems to me.

How can you say we're not friends, Sebastia? I think of you as one of my very best friends. The time I've spent with you is just as precious to me as any of my other happy memories.

Amy, that's...

All of us here are indebted to you for helping us retrieve the key. If we can ever do anything for you in return, let us know.

All right. I will.

Back to Miglance Castle, then. We should finally be able to break the barrier around Ogres Spike.

Right! Next stop: Unigan!

Mildy! Clughorn!

Amy. You did well to make it this far.

Why did you follow us? I told you to stay out of this.

We can't give up on that Ogre Key... We really need it.

We need it to stop history from being changed, and totally messing everything up.

Changing history... Good grief, what have you got yourself involved in this time?

It's complicated, all right?! I don't have time to tell you the full story right now.

Please, Mildy. Just give me the key. I don't wanna have to fight you.

Maybe I didn't make myself clear. I'm not letting go of this key for anyone. Not even you, Amy.

Our compatriots have high hopes of unlocking the secrets of this artifact and moving our cause forward.

Compatriots... Who are these people?

Hee hee... Being here brings back so many memories. We played here all the time when we were little. I'm sure you still remember, don't you, Amy?

Of course I remember.

Those days were so much fun, even the hard times weren't so bad. We didn't have to worry about the future... I always thought things would continue like that forever. That every day would be a new adventure.

Hmm...

Well, those days had to end eventually. The world changes. People change. We had to grow up sometime. Everything moves on sooner or later. Just like this park, it'll all rust and decay, given enough time.

No, Mildy. There're some things that'll never change, no matter how much time passes.

Oh, Amy... You always were a head-in-the-clouds dreamer. It's sad, really.

You see, we have changed. We neohumans are the next link in the evolutionary chain. Our minds have been opened to the truth now. There is no going back. All that remains is for us to gather enough power and evolve a step further. Soon, we shall be gods!

Clughorn, you're still just a human! No amount of new-age garbage about transcendence will change that!

I pity you, Amy... Stumbling around blind like a babe in the woods. I didn't want to fight you either, old friend, but if you insist on standing in our way, so be it.

What the...?!

This is our Ego, the manifestation of our psychic abilities. Old humanity is obsolete. We are the future. Tremble in the face of our might!

Psychic abilities, Ego... What a load of tiresome mumbo-jumbo. And we're obsolete, you think? We'll see about that!

I wonder if you'll still say that after we beat you. When you Neohumans, gods, or whatever you say you are...

...Are shown to be no stronger than us "mere" humans!

Hmph! I didn't think it possible for you to defeat our Ego...

Indeed... I yield this round to you. You may take the Ogre Key.

Clughorn...

Unfortunately, we must return to our compatriots empty-handed, thanks to you. However...

Don't go thinking this is over. We, the Chrono Clan, will be the ones to guide this planet's future.

That is our destiny.

Chrono Clan? The planet's future?

Yes, indeed! Our glorious leader will change the world! Someday, all of you will understand...

Amy... I still care about you. A lot. You're my best friend in the world. So, don't forget me...

Well... Mildy, you know I feel exactly the same...

Which is why I won't let you be led astray by some shady revolutionary group. One day the three of us will re-unite and live happily again. Just like the good old days.

Amy, are you sure you're all right?

Don't worry about me, Aldo. I may be scared of ghosts, but I can handle this. Now more importantly...

We've got the key! Now, let's get back to Sebastia's.