Xeno, Geo, and Alpha-Geo

Hmm... This could be difficult.

Something the matter, Rosetta? You're looking a little down...

Oh... Clarte and Aldo.

You know I really hate it when someone catches me off guard like that.

Haha... We didn't intend anything of the sort.

We just thought we might be able to help if you're troubled by something.

Kind as always, Clarte. In that case...

I guess it wouldn't hurt to talk to just the two of you.

Is this really that sensitive of a topic?

No, not exactly... The truth is that it's for Melina...

...Not really. I'm looking for a power that can replace the blessings for the people living in the West.

After observing the technology here, I'm not convinced it's something we can handle.

You might be right... Even though the tech here is from Antiquity, it's on par with that of the future.

That's what I believe.

Traveling with you Aldo plays with your sense of time, but your understanding of eras is a bit odd, is it not?

Antiquity...? The future...?

Oh, umm... Sorry about that.

I guess I'll be nice and forgive you this time...

Even in Atlantica, they abandoned the technology because they couldn't handle it. If we can't maintain it ourselves, then it won't mean much...

So your goal is to find a source of power that suits their capabilities, correct?

You've got it♪ I'm glad you pick up on things so quickly, Clarte.

Tsk... Guess I'm not as quick on the uptake as Clarte...

Oh don't be so sulky. I need you just as much as Clarte, Aldo. I'm going to look around the city, but I was wandering if you two could join me.

Don't even need to ask. I'll come with you.

I see no problem either. Do you know where we're going?

I've got some ideas in mind. We'll start with the closest one.

These look like weapons on display... This must have been a weapon shop.

Indeed it is. The power of weapons are often modified to make them easier for the general public to handle.

I see... So you're saying the people of the Western Lands might be able to use them.

You got it, Aldo. Simply, the easier they are to handle, the more likely the power can be controlled. So, if anything, I felt like this store was the best place to get started.

Maybe there's a lead here, or something else we can use.

This... ...It looks like it's labeled as "Xeno."

Xeno?!

Which brings up an interesting mystery... Why is it that I too, can read the script here on this planet?

It's not easy since it is a unique dialect with lots of subtlety.

That is pretty weird. How can the letters be so similar from two different planets?

It's not just the script, but the language system itself is very similar.

I'm not sure what to make of this... Let's leave the topic to rest for now. We can discuss it later.

Looking at the weapons, it seems they are all created using the Xeno Element technology.

Xeno Element? Not Xeno Prisma?

Xeno Prisma...

Oh, uh... I'm not an expert on the topic or anything...

It's pretty advanced technology. As to whether or not it can be used in the West, it's difficult to say...

I see...

If that's true about the Xeno Prisma, then it's safe to say that the Xeno Element would also be difficult.

You might be right... It is a power even more alien than the relics found in the Western Lands.

Well, the weaponsmith isn't around. We have no choice but to move on to the next location.

Guess not... Lead away.

Aldo... You seem unusually reluctant to speak openly about this.

Could there be something that's difficult for you to speak about?

This place... It looks like it's some kind of tavern. Not sure what kind of replacement for the blessings you can find here...

The first place you go to find information is the tavern, am I wrong? Can't forget the basics just because we're on the moon♪

That's only when other adventurers are hanging around...

It's not just that you know. There are bottles left unattended... And bags left on the chairs...

I don't know what happened, but the people here sure left a lot of information behind.

Just look at this! How about a little souvenir?

Clarte, I'm sure that you know how to use this. Right?

Perhaps...

Whoa! There are words floating in the air!

Tee-hee... It looks like it's some kind of tabloid or entertainment magazine.

Can't say I'm not interested, but it's not exactly what we're looking for. Now this is...

So Clarte knows how to use these just like the relics from before...

And yet Rosetta... You don't seem moved by that at all.

If we freak out over every little surprise, then we'll never get anywhere.

I see... This is... Aha! A classified document.

What a naughty one this person was... bringing documents into a tavern. A priest would've been sent to my office.

It's a notice about relaxing the emergency barricades. Apparently, it describes the functions of the barricades around the city.

This is an unexpected find. Could this mean we don't have to worry about those things anymore?

We can try this out later. What else could have useful information...?

Oh? This looks like a tech magazine.

What's this? The new Geo Element technology surpassed Xeno? Looking at the Alpha Geo prototype...

What?! Geo?!

Oh, you know about this Aldo? Is it possible this power is more suitable than the Xeno Element?

Ah, no... It's actually the opposite really.

It's a much more advanced power than the Xeno. The Alpha Geo is in an experimental stage...

But that's about all I know...

Is that so...?

Hmmm... Xeno, Geo, Alpha Geo... They all seem beyond our control.

It's unfortunate, but this might be the end of the road...

End of the road? Giving up so soon?

That's what I said...

The end of the road...at least for the plan to find it before Melina and others.

Plan? What plan?

Haha... I thought you wouldn't give up your search for the substitute for the blessings. That's just like you, Rosetta.

Of course I didn't. I'm still a devout believer, aren't I?

Well, all I can do is ask someone else what they know.

Thank you both for your help♪ It's very sweet of you.

There she goes...

Guess I should've told her exactly what I knew earlier...

So you did know something that you couldn't just share with Rosetta.

You mean you could tell?

Aldo, your face is like an open book. And I'm sure Rosetta noticed too. That's why she decided to finish up early.

Are you serious?! I'm THAT easy to read?!

I understand your feelings, Aldo. Rosetta is smart enough to figure out those advanced technologies...

And her reasoning is sound... But her emotions are clouding her judgement.

If she learns this power, and the scales of reason and emotion tip toward emotions...

She may unleash even more uncontrolled power into the world.

It's not that I didn't think this through. I just had a feeling that if I told Rosetta, I'd regret it.

Hmm... So you wouldn't regret telling me?

Oh, umm... I wonder... Hmm...

No, maybe that's not true.

Really? So not even I can...

Whoa! How did that get in here?!

It's probably because we were messing around with those devices and terminals. Let's talk later. We've got to put it down!

That takes care of that nuisance.

I had not realized they could enter these buildings. Now, as we were saying...

I'm not sure what to make of this. I feel that I'm in the same position as Rosetta...

Huh?

I really don't know why I'm doing this...

In fact, I feel like I should explain to you exactly what's going on.

That is...unexpected.

But if you're willing to talk, then I have no reason to refuse. However, I don't think we can relax here with those machines around.

You're right about that... Let's move to a safer place.

It looks like this building was used as an inn.

Indeed, I think we talk here without interruptions.

Now, what were you going to tell me?

Well, basically, this is all about our planet...

The Four Great Elementals that were shattered into pieces will be discovered 20,000 years in the future as prisma.

Prisma... You said that when you saw the elemental-infused crystals in Merlot Ward.

Geez, you can remember that too?!

Anyway... With the discovery of prisma, we entered an age of prosperity that lasted for hundreds of years. But there was a major flaw in the prisma that no one had realized.

A major flaw?

Yes. The more we used the prisma, the more we polluted our air.

In just about a thousand years, the world was so polluted that the surface became uninhabitable. Eventually, the prisma were all but used up.

Then, it seems that the four types of prisma were combined and artificially amplified to create the Xeno Prisma.

I see... So the Xeno Element on this planet is...

The result of three types of underworld spirit combined, then artificially amplified.

How did you know that?

Because unlike the heavenly spirits of the blue planet, the underworld spirits here have not been shattered.

When they were no longer needed, they were discarded on the blue planet.

So the Xeno Element was developed at least a few hundred years ago. Before the spirits were dumped. Since prisma was not part of the process, that name was omitted from the Xeno Element.

But prisma were also once spirits. I don't see a huge difference between Xeno Element and the Xeno Prisma.

Sorry, you were in the middle of your story.

Y-Yeah...

But the Xeno is still the problem...

Then time and space shatters, right?

Y-You understand? You're really better at this than I am. To be honest, I didn't understand most of it even though it was explained to me.

Anyway, sensing the danger, a certain professor further enhanced the Xeno to create the Geo Prisma.

And from what I know, the the Alpha Geo was the prototype for the finalized Geo.

Now I get it. Both this planet and the blue planet developed the Alpha Geo...

And the Geo is simply too difficult and dangerous.

Which brings up the question... If you know about this, does that mean this professor is someone you know?

Oh... That's a complicated story...

Do you remember the name "Eden"?

There's no way I could forget. He is someone important to you, right?

Yeah... Please don't be surprised when I tell you this but...

You see... I'm actually a cat, and Eden was my owner.

A cat?!

Whoa! I told you not to be surprised, Clarte!

Even I get surprised when something's that unexpected.

It is, isn't it? Sorry for that bombshell...

And you see...that professor was Eden's father.

Ah, you said he had a sister when we were in front of the Crystalline Tower. So that means Eden's family consisted of his father and mother, his sister, and one interesting cat?

I won't go into the details, but the professor implanted the Alpha Geo into Eden's body... Then the completed Geo was implanted into Feinne's body.

He put Geo into his son and daughter?

I don't know why he did it either. But when I couldn't reach Eden...

I was able to borrow Eden's form and protect him with the help of Feinne's Geo.

It was something that had to be done, though I don't really know why.

...... (Could it be that implanting Geo into the body is some kind of trigger?) (No, this is nothing more than speculation...for now...)

Thank you, Aldo. I'm sorry for digging up all this information.

It's no trouble...

I should be the one apologizing for dragging you out here for so long.

...... (Eden... And this place... Could it be a coincidence?)

Something wrong, Clarte?

It's nothing... You became another brother for Feinne using the power of the Geo.

You could even say you became another Eden, yes?

Hahaha... That sounds like a bit much, don't you think? But there's no hard feelings. Thanks Clarte.

Okay then! It's past time we joined up with the others. If we go back together, Rosetta will probably suspect something is up... ...I'm gonna go on ahead. We'll meet up again soon!

...... I wonder why... Why do I feel so terrible about coming here and learning about my own past?

And about the classified documents from before... There was something about the barricades.

Oh, that's right. We should go test them out.

Hey! It worked!

Now we don't have to bother with them anymore. We've got to thank Rosetta.