The Great Sylph Chase

Huh?

Are you sure? Reeeally?

Yes.

Hmmm...Okay! I'll grant your wish. But you've gotta keep our promise, all right?

All right.

Okay! Done aaand done!

Maybe all this time travel is messing with my head, but I'm pretty sure I saw a ball of light talk.

And the girl it was making conversation with didn't seem like she was from this time.

Well, these things tend to happen from time to time, ya know?

WARGH! The green thing?! How'd it get behind, ?

Haha! No, silly! The one in front of you wasn't me. Well...it WAS me, in a sense. I'm Sylph. A Fragment of the whole, anyway.

What's a Fragment of Sylph doing here?

So, the main self of Sylph told me to go on a search to scoop up one of the little selves. Specifically the one you just saw.

Scoop up? Why?

Well, she's been known for a particularly mischievous streak, even among us Fragments. Always floating around as she pleases and flouting the orders of our main self. So someone has to babysit her sometimes.

I never knew the Fragments were so independent.

Anyway, this time I need help to bring her back! Which means you! I mean, you WILL help, won't you? You're from the mortal realm, and she's gone to the mortal realm... Wow, you two have so much in common!

Why would she go there?

Not a clue! It's not like I can read her mind, y'know! But whatever it is it's pure chaos, trust me. So get ya butt into gear! You gotta help me out. Look, I'll even give you something nice if you do!

Okay, okay. I can't just let her go around causing trouble anyway.

Yay, thank you! I was worried for a sec 'cause I can't go to the realm of the living by myself.

Don't mention it. Where is she?

Aha! While Fragments don't share thoughts, we most certainly share sight! Now... I see an unfamiliar town, likely in a time I've never been to. And...I see armor. Lots of armor. And a big castle! Ring any bells?

That sounds like Unigan. I'll try there.

Okay...Where'd that Fragment get to?

Can't help you there. Our shared senses don't come with pinpoint accuracy, I'm afraid.

Then we'll have to find her the old-fashioned way.

Hang on a minute! What are you doing floating around in broad daylight?! Someone might see!

Don't get your long johns in a twist! I'm invisible to everyone else.

See?

Oh.

Told ya. Okay, let's...

Guagh!

Ahaha! And one more bites the dust! I win!

Wh-What's with this girl? She's blowing us seasoned knights out of the water like it's nothing!

Too slow!

Gwaaagh!

Kyaaah! It's raining men again!

This is the third one now! What's going on?!

*yawn* Is that it? Guys, it's no fun if you don't even try to dodge.

Oh well. What game should we play next?

Did...did that girl just blast those knights off into the air?

*sigh* At least she's made sure not to play too rough this time, I guess.

That's besides the point! We have to stop her!

Hey, stop that!

A party pooper, huh? Well...

Ack!

Come on, fun's over. We're going home.

Hah, I'm not ready to go home yet! You'll have to catch me first!

...Sorry. I know I said we'd only be looking around a little, but I couldn't resist having a little extra fun too. I promise you'll get your wish.

Wait!

We gotta follow me, I mean, her! I see... Someplace near the sea. Any ideas?

That must be the Serena Coast. Let's go!

Please tell me you're done playing tag. I hate being it and we've chased you long enough.

......

Will you at least tell us why you disobeyed the other Sylphs and left Purgatory for the mortal realm?

Easy. She just wanted an excuse to pull another series of stupid hijinks.

Shows how much you know! You're wrong. I made a pact with this girl.

Excuse me? What pact?

The girl you were talking to in Purgatory, right? Let me guess, she promised to let you take temporary control of her body?

Ugh, "take" is such a harsh word. I prefer "borrow in exchange for a favor." It's just that back in town there was so much to see, I had to indulge myself a little. Can't blame a Sylph for the joy they find in blowing around humans.

Give me a break! I'm sure our main self will see differently, trust me.

Well, you losers can be the ones to listen to her grumble about it! I'm outta here! To me, my minions!

Monsters!

These little cuties were more than happy to follow my orders once I gave them a show of my true strength. I knew they'd come in handy! Get 'em, guys!

Oh, come on!

Phew. What a hassle.

You can catch your breath later. She's already at the next town.

That would be Rinde. Let's go!

Over there!

Hold on. Doesn't she seem...different?

Him? Gotcha. Here, you can have your body back now.

What the... No way! I-Is it really you?! But two years ago, the illness...

Yes, it's really me! I promise!

H-Here, remember when we talked about our future together here years ago at this lighthouse?

Nobody but us knew about that... Then, it really is you?

Yes! Who else? Who else would it be?

I...I can't believe it. If it really is you, do you remember what I said?

That you wanted to be an adventurer and one day travel the seas. And I said I didn't want you to because it'd be dangerous.

Yeah. But I said there was no way I could give up my dream. So I asked you to come with me.

Teehee. Feels like just yesterday.

......

It really is you.

It is. In the afterlife I struck a deal with a powerful spirit so I could have one wish. I wished I could see you one last time. I...I've missed you so much!

...I've missed you too.

No!

...!

I'm sorry I startled you. But you mustn't. I don't have much time to be here. And I don't think I can come back again.

I just wanted to give you a proper goodbye. Before, I was so sick I couldn't even speak. I just slipped away without the chance to tell you anything at all. I couldn't find peace as a result.

No...

So now I've said my farewells, I can return to Purgatory with no regrets. And you can move on.

...What the heck is this?! You never said this was part of the plan! What's with all the doom and gloom? I thought human romance was all full of fun and love and happiness! But you didn't say anything like that at all!

Great and noble spirit, I'm sorry. Maybe I lied a little. Love really is a wonderful thing, but like everything it has an end. And when its end does come it's never easy not to be sad.

Nobody told me THAT. Then what's so great about love in the first place? It's like, you're happy for a time, but then you're guaranteed to get hurt someday.

It's the bitterness of the inevitable end that makes love so sweet while it lasts. That's just how it is.

Ugh, that's way too human for a Fragment like me to understand.

...I think my time here is up.

Wait!

There's just one more thing I have to tell you before you go. Those days we spent together were the happiest of my life. Truly!

I wish you nothing but happiness for the rest of your life. I love you.

Thank you... I love you, too.

Spirit, you have my eternal thanks for this kindness. Look after her, please.

You can quit chasing me now!

I got what I wanted, to experience human love. That was our agreement. She said she wanted to see her beloved and I said I'd lend her my power up until she did.

I see now.

But I still don't get it. What's so great about something that you're gonna end up losing anyway? For Sylph's sake! If I knew this was how it'd turn out I never would've bothered! I'm going home!

Oh no.

My work here is done! Finally.

Is that Fragment going to be okay?

Of course! Serves her right anyway. Man, the human girl deserves some real credit. Using a self of Sylph to reunite with her lover? Genius.

I don't know, as green balls of light go, she seemed kind of sad.

Oh, don't worry about it. I'm just different like that.

I never thought about it like that.

Now then, here's that reward I promised for your help.

O-Oh, I'd forgotten about that.

Hmmm, okay...Yep, this'll do!

What's this?

Your reward! A feather with the power of Sylph's gales. When you're down and out and need some help, you can count on it to sweep you off your feet to safety!

I hardly did anything to deserve it but I'm grateful for the gift, Sylph.

Haha, I get it! There's never a dull moment with one of you guys around, is there?

I could say the same of you. Speaking of which, I gotta remember to tell Big Sylph all about you. I think she'd like you. Drop by and say hi to her too sometime!