The Truth of the Desert is Towards the Mirage

Let's get to the village of Zarbo in my timeline first. It's right next to the desert.

It strikes me as a little odd, though. If you lived in the desert in the future, what were you doing in a different timeline?

I don't know... I was taken from my home to the zippy-zappy thing...

Zippy-zappy? Ah, a wormhole?

Let's just go to the desert, and hope for the best.

Yup. The tower in the desert seems like the most promising place to check.

Oh! A tower standing in a sea of sand... It's exactly what I saw in the cards!

It just goes up and up! How big is it?

It's obscured by the clouds, so it's impossible to tell where it ends.

I know this tower! I used to live nearby.

Oh, great! Radica, you're an amazing fortune-teller!

So, which was your home?

Can you really handle this?

Yeah, I've got this, don't worry.

Huh?

That's Benedict! What's he doing here?

Who are these two?

You said you were a treasure hunter, eh? There's nuffin' much of interest in this wasteland, as far as I can see.

You said you were a treasure hunter, eh? There's nuffin' much of interest in this wasteland, as far as I can see.

It's a desert, what do you expect?

No trees left to cut down, just barren land all the way to the horizon. The woodcutter who cut all that down was quite sumfin', eh.

No trees left to cut down, just barren land all the way to the horizon. The woodcutter who cut all that down was quite sumfin', eh.

Huh? Woodcutter?

But there's one thing left standin', that no one else was a match for.

But there's one thing left standin', that no one else was a match for.

Fine, then. I may be just an ordinary woodcutter, but I ain't afraid of nuffin'!

Dude, what on earth are you talking about?!

Huh? You said to clear the way for you. So I'm gonna cut this tower down...

That's not what I meant! I just need you to get this door open so that I can get inside!

Same thing, no? If I bring it down, you'll be able to get inside all right.

YOU. CAN'T. CUT. DOWN. A TOWER!

Hey, Benedict! This doesn't look like a job for a woodcutter!

Hey, mister! This doesn't look like a job for a woodcutter!

Is that so?

Then why the heck did you hire me?!

Aldo, this is getting ridiculous. I'm off to find a real job for a woodcutter like me.

Don't know what this fellow here was thinkin', but I'm a simple woodcutter. I'm off to look for a job that I can do with my axe.

What was wrong with him...

You're looking to break into this tower, is that right?

Well, yes. I scour the land looking for treasure. This tower caught my eye. It's said to be inhabited by a terrifying monster, a snakewoman called Medusa.

She guards a unique ruby, the only one of its kind in the whole world! It's a priceless gem.

Ah, so you're hoping to get your hands on that ruby.

Tales of monsters protecting rare treasure are usually made-up, though.

The key word here is "usually." But in the case of this tower, it seems legit.

Before the rise of the Miglance Dynasty, there was some other dynasty in power, whatever they were called. Anyway, I checked it out and it was the previous dynasty which commissioned this tower, to seal an evil creature inside.

Hmm. It would seem that the monster posed a threat on the national scale.

My guess is that the monster is none other than Medusa. This tower is now known as Dogma Tower. The door is locked with a strange mechanism, that no lockpick seems to work on.

But I'm not going to give up. Medusa's ruby will be mine!

Poh... Strangers scare me...

Well, he didn't seem like such a bad guy.

It was an unexpected distraction. Didn't you say that your house used to be somewhere here?

I'd already forgotten that's what we were looking for.

Yes, it must have been around here...

Let's see if we can find it? I'm sure your mom will be there.

Huh? She will?

She is likely worried sick about you, awaiting your return home.

I hope so... My house was that way, I think.

South of here? All right!

Oof... What an eerie tower! Was it erected to seal away the fug? Who knows?

Huh, what's wrong?

Don't worry, silly! Of course it's okay!

I promised to make your wish come true, and I keep my word!

Teehee! That was a wild ride! So, time travel is real!

Oof... What an eerie tower! Was it erected to seal away the fug? Who knows?

Huh, what's wrong?

Don't worry, silly! Of course it's okay!

I promised to make your wish come true, and I keep my word!

Hm!

Here it is!

You mean...this hole in the ground?

Yes. This is the way to my home.

You, umm, don't want us to jump into that hole, do you?

That's how you get to my home. You jump into the hole.

If you're scared, I'll go first.

Let's make this leap of faith, guys.

If we have to...

Here I go!

Whoa! We're under the desert!

Argh! The sand is getting EVERYWHERE!

Is this your hometown?

Uh-huh.

I feel like we're getting close to finding your mom!

Excuse me, do you know this Nopaew's mother?

Poh poh?!

Paew-paew po-po, po-po paew.

Po-paew paew-paew po. Po-paew po?

What did he say?

Umm... "What's a mother?"

Huh, what?

Poh poh-paew?!

Huh? What about the leaves?

......

Something wrong?

Poh paew...

Po-paew! Poh!

They don't want to talk to me...

Oh...

Let's ask someone else?

Would you spare us a moment? We're searching for this little one's mother.

Poh?

Paew-paew po-po, po-po paew.

Po-poh poh?

Po-paew?! Po-poh poh po!

What...? White?

It doesn't seem as if they're getting along.

Paaaaew!

They said that white is scary...

Hmm? Well, it seems our friend is a very peculiar Nopaew.

If it's no use, we shall have to find someone else to ask.

Hello! Do you know this Nopaew's mom?

Poh poh?

Paew-paew po-po, po-po paew.

Po-poh poh?

Poh poh?! Paew-koo!

Huh?

What was that?

Umm... "What's that? You look weird!"

Weird?

Were they talking about...your white leaves?

Poh poh-paew?

Poh...

Po-paew. Po-poh.

Sorry... I won't bother you again.

......

Let's keep looking. Even if we don't end up finding anything, at least we won't have given up easily.

No, it doesn't look like anyone here knows about his mom. We'd just be wasting time.

Why were you so sure my mom would be here?

Why? You used to live in this town, so I thought chances were she might still be here.

Oh, I hadn't thought of that.

You used to live together, no?

Poh-koo?! No, she's never been here as far as I know!

What? I'm really confused now.

Nopaews don't live with their parents. Everyone lives alone.

Good heavens!

Wait. Seems we've attracted a lot of attention.

What do they want? Why are they surrounding us like this?

Po-paew! Po-poh poh po!

They're saying "Begone, White Leaves!"

I don't understand. Did I do something wrong?

Poh!

No, stop!

Why are they so hostile?!

We better get out of here, fast!

This is madness, attacking us unprovoked! Run, everyone!

Why are they doing this? We were obviously friends with one of them. Why would they attack us?!

Calm down, Aldo. I have a certain suspicion.

A certain suspicion?

Our little friend here has white leaves. Have you ever seen any other Nopaew with white leaves?

Not that I remember, no.

Come to think of it, I haven't either.

They were all scared of the white leaves. It reminded me of what I experienced myself once...

Elves in my village were all afraid of dark elves. When I broke the taboo and became a dark elf, they immediately started treating me with fear and hatred.

......

It could be the same case here.

If to the Nopaew white leaves mark outcasts who have become tainted in some way, their reaction makes sense.

You said Nopaews live alone, without their parents?

Yeah...

What if...having family is taboo for your kind?

Not be allowed to be with your family?

It's just a theory. Nopaew customs are very different from both elven and human ways of life.

I was so certain that your mother would be among her fellow Nopaews...

My mom is human. My dad, too.

And they say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! But this apple never came from a tree!

That explains why my fortune telling was so ambiguous.

But now that I have this new information, my next card reading will be more accurate.

Since your mom was human, she must have had a name?

I don't know her name. Nopaews don't use names... We just call everyone Poh. I called my mom Poh too.

Okay then... Close your eyes and think of your mom. Imagine what she looked like.

Okay, I'll try...

I see it!

Hints of "Mother" and... Suggestions of "Tower" together with "Witch"?

Uh-oh...

That would be Dogma Tower, I suppose?

Which houses the snakewoman, Medusa, supposedly...

Yes, I guess so. But what does that have to do with his mom?

The quickest way to find out is to break into the tower and see for ourselves.

And yet, even that treasure hunter was unable to get in.

There's got to be a way to open the lock. Maybe someone in Zarbo knows about the tower.

Okay, where do we start?

This place is full of people, too!

Don't worry. We'll do the talking, just like before...

Aaaaaah!

Poh? Wh-what's going on?

Heeeeelp!

Monsters? In town, in broad daylight?

Fortunately, we are here to slay them!

Cool.

Another one bites the dust.

Where are these snakes coming from?

Eeeek!

Someone else is in trouble?

What's going on here?

So the reports weren't exaggerated... The snake monsters are invading the town in force!

The Miglance knights are dealing with it?

It's not looking so hopeless any more. Let's help them too!

I don't really want the celebrity treatment... Just glad Zarbo is safe again, and no one was hurt.

What's the problem with the tower?

Well, actually, we've been thinking of going into the tower. Maybe we could even do something about that Medusa while we're at it.

Don't worry about it. If you can't, you can't.

We're all on our own.

I guess we could try asking King Miglance for a favor...

So, I hear you want to go into the tower?

Huh?

Haven't seen you in a while, Breeno. Are you one of the knights stationed here?

No, I came here on personal business.

In fact, there is something I'd like to ask of you. Come to Dogma Tower, we'll talk there.

Y-Yeah...

I wonder what he wants.

Shall we do as he asks and see him at the foot of the tower?

If he can help us...I will try not to be scared and talk to him too.

All right, let's meet him at Dogma Tower.

Aldo seems to have friends all over the world.

You guys want to go into the tower?

Huh?

So it happens. Who are you?

As you can see, I'm a knight. There's something I'd like to ask of you. Come to Dogma Tower, we'll talk there.

Y-Yeah...

I'm going to head there right away. Don't keep me waiting too long.

I wonder what he wants?

Shall we do as he asks and see him at the foot of the tower? It might be a trap...

If he can help us...I will try not to be scared and talk to him too.

All right, let's meet him at Dogma Tower.

He had pointy ears, and his skin was dark...

Could he be a dark elf like me?

So, what did you want from us, Breeno?

Here we are. What did you want from us? Err...

Breeno.

So, Breeno. Why did you ask us to come here?

Strangely, I seem to have something of an affinity for bards. A certain bard who travelled from as far as the eastern reaches of this desert to the capital sang to me an old local ballad...

The ballad is about a sad love story. It's been passed from generation to generation since times long forgotten.

......

Long, long ago in the land of Cucutrouge, two young souls pledged eternal love to one another.

But, the young man proved to be fickle, and deserted his lover for another. A common enough trope, you might think. But what happens next is unique to this one. On the day of the man's wedding, a woman appears, dressed in rags, her hair in wild disarray. It is his earlier lover, changed by grief almost beyond recognition.

Her bloodshot eyes sought out the bride and groom, transfixing them with her hateful gaze. Then she spoke to them. "Turn into stone, and break into pieces, just as my heart has because of you!" Her curse took immediate effect. The betrothed and their guests became a pile of rubble. A beautiful jewel, which the groom was to present his bride with, glittered among the gray stones. The woman picked it up and left, to spend the rest of her days alone, in a tower in the midst of the desert.

In the distant land of Cucutrouge...

You've come here propelled by curiosity about the veracity of this ballad?

Not quite. I've come here to investigate the reason behind the desertification of this land. If Medusa is behind it, she might also be behind the destruction of another forest.

Another forest, you say?

But enough of that. You're impatient to enter the tower, aren't you?

Yes, but we've been told it's impossible without authorization from the king...

It so happens that I have the royal artifact; this bell here, which opens the tower.

Oh wow, that's awesome! Good job, Breeno! Hey, wait a moment...

Oh wow, that's awesome! Good job! Hey, wait a moment...

You didn't STEAL this bell, did you?!

I borrowed it. There was a hole in the wall of what turned out to be a maze underneath the royal castle. And what did I find there but a vault with precious artifacts such as a mirror of truth and this curious little bell.

I borrowed it. There's a secret vault beneath the royal castle, holding all sorts of curious artifacts. Covered in cobwebs, under mounds of dust and rat droppings, they begged to be carried off.

I'm sure if this bell was sentient, it'd be thanking me right now for saving it from imprisonment in the dark vault.

So, you DID steal it...

Consider this. If Medusa is as anything like the legends suggest, then she is a threat to the country. And as a royal knight I have the duty, and moral obligation, to eliminate such threats.

Not a hint of a guilty conscience.

It's time to wake the tower from its long slumber.

Poh?! The door's unlocked... We can continue our search!

Thank you, elven knight!

Hey, I'm not doing this for you. The tower may hold many dangers. Having you around to deal with them is in my own interest.

We have a common goal. Finding the snakewoman known as Medusa.

Indeed, fortunately for me. The door to the tower is unlocked. Let's go inside and introduce ourselves to Madame Medusa.

Okay!

Hehe... Tailing them has paid off! They even opened the door for me!

Hehehe... It'd be a shame if they were turned to stone, but I didn't force them to go in there!

I've been preparing for this day for so long. At last, Medusa's ruby will be MINE! Muahahaha!

Huuuh? A witch lives in here?

Huuuh? A witch lives in here?

Maybe that's true. There's so much fug in this tower!

Maybe that's true. There's so much fug in this tower!

Okay then! I'll take care of your wife, no worries! It's going to be as easy as falling off a log! Minus the sprained ankles. Probably.

Okay then! I'll take care of your wife, no worries! It's going to be as easy as falling off a log! Minus the sprained ankles. Probably.

What's this?

A plant of some sort? The tower is very old, it might have pushed in through cracks in the floor. Although...I get a chilling sensation looking at it...

In this dim light it's hard to make out more than just vague shapes. But if it's come through the floorboards, we should watch our step.

Mom! Moooom! Are you here?

If my cards were right, and they certainly are, Medusa will lead us to this child's mom.

I don't really care about his mom, but let's hurry and find Medusa before she ambushes us.

If we keep going up, we're sure to run into her eventually.

Mom! Moooom! Are you here?

Huh? There's a door here that's all thorny...

Don't touch it!

Aaack!

You okay?

Y-Yeah, I'm fine.

It looks to be a magical barrier.

I sense great power within it. You were lucky not to get hurt.

Huh?

Aldo... What did you just do?

I didn't do anything...

The magical barrier has weakened.

I think it reacted with the black dust which drops from the fallen monsters!

Can we get closer to it now?

No, that's too risky!

Sometimes you need to take a risk to make progress. I say, we try to approach the door carrying some of the black dust.

Let me try it.

But...

It's okay, Radica. If things go south, I'll step back immediately.

Okay... Go ahead then.

Just in case, everybody stand well away from the door.

Maybe we can disable the barrier completely if we collect more of that dust?

It's worth giving it a try.

Let's hunt down some more monsters in the tower and get the black dust.

Looks like we don't have enough yet.

The thorns disappeared!

Unbelievable how we managed to dispel a powerful magical barrier just like that...

What could be the reason? To me it looked as if two opposing forces canceled each other out... Almost as if...

You can write your thesis on it later. What matters now is that we can pass through, so let's get moving.

Moooom!

All right.

Okay guys, let's keep going. Keep your eyes open for Medusa, she may be close.

Are these...statues?

Erm... I don't think so.

Look at their pained expressions. The level of detail. These haven't been carved. Medusa's gaze is said to turn people to stone. That's what happened in the ballad, too. While ballads are not the most reliable sources of information, I trust them here.

All of these are...Medusa's victims?!

If so, she is indeed a fearsome monster and a threat that should be eliminated.

Please tell me your mom isn't among them...

Nuh-uh. She's not.

Hyah hah hah hah! You haven't forgotten about me, have you?

Who goes there!

You fools. You're soon going to join the ranks of the stone statues!

It's the treasure hunter from before?!

I've been following you. You've cleared the way for me, saving me a lot of work.

It's Medusa's ruby you're hoping to find here, is that correct?

We're not your competition. You're free to take the gem after we defeat Medusa. Our objective here has nothing to do with that precious stone.

I can see through your lies!

But unlike you, I'm well-prepared to face Medusa. This badge will protect me from her petrifying gaze!

As for you, well... Enjoy your new life as geological curios!

He dropped something...

Hold on... Isn't this the badge he was talking about?!

We better let him know before it's too late!

Gyaaah! My badge... Where's my badge?!

Drat... We're too late!

He brought it on himself.

We can't let this monster harm any more people. Time to lay it to rest.

That guy won't need his badge any more... One of us should use it.

Hisssssssssss!

So here we have Medusa!

She's coming... Get ready, guys!

I'm scared... But I'll fight with you!

As an amphibian, I find reptiles rather terrifying...

Is this the ruby?

Ngh!

Our only hope is in asking the witch for help. Let's do this, Rildy, please.

No, Setaka... I don't want to cling to life if that's going to be the cost. This is simply wrong.

I know that there have been nothing bad rumors about her since she became known as the Dark Witch...

Before that, she was called the Green Witch, respected by the guardians of the forest, and loved for her pure, kind heart. Maybe the recent rumors are untrue, and she is a well-meaning witch? Please, Rildy, let's seek her help!

......

You want me to cure this young lady? It can be done.

I can also bestow on her resilience to ailments of all kinds. It would be a shame if I cured her only for her to get sick again, no?

No need to offer me anything in return. You've come such a long way to this forest just to see me, after all. You are certain you want this? Perfect. I shall now begin...

Aaah... No... Setaka, get away from me!

Rildy! Rildy, what's happening?!

Hyeh hyeh hyeh! As promised, I've made her immune to illness, and even granted her immortality! You can now enjoy an eternity together. Isn't it wonderful? I think you owe me thanks.

Rildy! No, it wasn't supposed to be like this...!

Run away, Setaka! The power within me... I cannot control it!

Setakaaaaaa!

What was that vision...?

I think those were...Medusa's memories.

But that was completely different from the ballad!

I told it to you exactly as I heard it. It must have changed over the time, as people forgot the original and filled the gaps using their own imagination.

In the end, it became an entirely different story.

I recognize that villainous witch. Her face has been etched in my memory ever since I was cursed with this form. She is my nemesis, and the enemy of the Palsifal royal family, a traitor so wretched no punishment would be too great! It was her, without a shadow of doubt...

Yes, it's definitely her.

The witch, Reptires!

The witch, Reptart!

......

Did I...have her name wrong all this time?

I was so sure the name from the children's song was correct...

It would seem that both of us have been seeking the same witch right from the beginning.

I remember now... That's what Dad called Mom. "Reptires."

He spoke to her so gently, with love... But I couldn't speak yet at the time, so I don't remember what he was saying.

I can scarcely believe it!

Reptires is your mom?

I think so...

But my mom wasn't a bad person!

......

The grudge I hold against Reptires runs deep. I can never forgive her for what she has done, even if she is your mother.

You guys have fun discussing all these surprising revelations, but I'll be going. I thought this Medusa was an ancient monster created by my ancestors, but she turned out to be something else. Oh well.

In any case, the rest of this story is of no interest to me.

Best of luck to you. See you again, some time, maybe.

Wait a minute!

What is it?

Did you... Did you also break a taboo and get turned into a dark elf? Like I did?

Sorry, lady. I was born a dark elf.

How come?!

Going by what the legends claim, my ancestors committed a grave sin. For that they were turned into dark elves, and everyone of their bloodline would be born a dark elf.

My hope is that one day our penance will be over, and we will be forgiven.

......

......

Mom...

Anyway, let's go back in time and try and find the witch. If she really is our friend's mother, I'd really like to find out what happened to turn her evil.

I concur. And we must not forget the cruel fate she inflicted upon Rildy and Setaka.

The monster in the eaves of Vega Forest was Medusa, wasn't it...

Or should I say it was Rildy, not long after she had been so horrifically transformed.

She spent 20,000 years in this tower, all alone, in the body of a monster...

I feel a lump in my throat trying to imagine how she suffered, cursed with immortality, bringing death to any and all she looked at.

Before you guys make me cry, let's head back to the past. All the leads we've been following point us to Reptires. If we find her, we may finally get to tie up all the loose ends, and discover what happened to his mom.

Thank you.

First, let's head to Sarupa and ask around about Rildy and Setaka.

What a let-down! There was no witch in the tower after all.

What a let-down! There was no witch in the tower after all.

Meh. I'll go back too. But next time I'll find her!

Meh. I'll go back too. But next time I'll find her!