Lord of Mana

I will keep close watch over you as a Disciplinary Committee member.

Be sure you conduct yourself as a proper student and wear your uniform while in school.

O-Okay...

Ohhh? Is that you, Aldo?!

Oh! Hi, Fukahire.

Aldo...I can tell by yer uniform what happened!

Ya did it! You've found the dark-gray way to enroll illegally in school!

No, no, no! It wasn't a dark-gray illegal way. I'm not sure how, but I legally enrolled.

Say no more! I get it, I get it.

Nee-hee-hee-hee... with a pure-white honest enrollment, there ain't no problems.

Uh, I still think you misunderstood...

Gotta hand it to Rui-Rui... er, I mean, Ruina! That's why they call her the Walking Dictionary. Ya can always count on her!

Huh? Ruina is the Walking Dictionary of IDA School?

Yep! Look closely, Aldo. See how sharp her ears are?

O-Okay...

All the students here know this, but... Ruina has the genes of the elves, a race that were supposed to have died out long ago!

(Okay... So these people don't know that the elves are still around.)

Ohhh? So elves went extinct in this era?

But Ruina inherited elven features. She's also got a longer lifespan. Rumor has it she was in the first class here when IDA School opened.

That's not a rumor...it's true.

Huh?! It's true!

Yes. There is still much I have left to learn. So I've stayed here, studying this whole time.

That reminds me, you wanted to master Elvish to read that letter.

What is it exactly that you want to learn about so badly?

Hey, Ruina! Ya really saved me there! Thanks for givin' Aldo here a pure-white enrollment!

Pure-white?

I don't really get it, but I'm glad I could help.

Yes, you really did help us a lot. Thanks, Ruina.

You're welcome.

By the way. Your uniform...

Oops!

I thought I warned you that wearing it that way would corrupt the students.

Ohh, uhh, I was just...hahaha!

......

H-Have mercy, Ruina! I promise we will fix it tomorrow! Can ya let us off the hook this time?

Are you telling the truth?

Yeah! I'm tellin' the truth! I ain't a liar!

Alright...just this once. But if you break the rules again be prepared.

*gulp*

Well, I have class to go to.

Phewww... I lost ten years off my life!

I wish Ruina would share some of her lonnng life with me...hehe!

Uh... Fukahire, so, now I have an official student ID pass for this school. Does this mean I can play that game that might give us clues about the Dream World Incidents?

Ah, right. All ya need now is a login device. Can I see yer pass?

Ooh! It's perfect! Ya even have a Dorm Room!

Oh, right. They did say something about a room.

Right! Well, I'm gonna hop straight to it and give ya a lecture on my game! I'll text Hismena and the others. Let's go to yer room!

But...where is my room?

On the second floor of the Port Lezona Dormitory... Room 1! I'll go there ahead of ya. Let's meet up there later!

Well, guess I'll go to my room first.

Savior! Thank you for saving the squad. I have faith that someday, you shall be able to defeat the Fire Mana.

It appears the Commander wishes to see you.

The soldiers gather on the first floor of this Castle. Won't you go see?

>Phew...well, that's one down.

>W-Well, I just...

Wait!

Welf!

Stay back! If my oNe death can sPAre the liVes of many!

>Is that...the Dream World's Guide?!

>......

>What's going on, then?

Mwahaha... The brave knight is here to save the day? I have the Princess from the Mana Familiar, as you can see.

Welf! Stay back!

I do nOt wish to see you wOUNded!

Mwahaha...a fair princess, in both body and soul. I doubt you truly wish for her beautiful face to be scarred? Surrender at once if you value her life.

Oops, don't misunderstand. You are not the one who will surrender. Your entire puny Kingdom must surrender.

Hahaha! A disgrace, eh? You have no bargaining power here. In either case, none of you will leave this area alive.

Come, Fire Mana! Return to your true form!

That's the Fire Mana! Please, restrain it somehow!

What?! The Fire Mana was defeated?!

Ohh... I suppose I underestimated you Saviors.

Very well. I shall keep my word and return the Princess. But this is not over. Your kingdom is already surrounded.

Sing from your own birdcage.

Mom... WhEre aRe yOu?

>Yes, I suppose.

>Also...

Mom...

I see...so you defeated the Fire Mana.

Mom... WhEre aRe yOu? I mISs you...

Mama...I...Mana... yOuR MaNa...is rIgHt here...

Hehehe... You really do like me, don't you?

You keep following me, no matter how many times I brush you aside.

Mom...I...Mana... yOuR MaNa...is rIgHt here...

>Huh? This ain't happenin'...

We must thank you, Saviors. You saved the day.

Now, we must return to the Castle. I have high hopes for you in the future, my Saviors.

Fukahire!

Looks like she's asleep. As I thought. Your virtual body disappearing doesn't affect your real body.

Yeah. That's a relief.

But...why won't she wake up?

Something irregular definitely happened. So maybe she can't log out?

Wait a minute...

I just performed a force-quit. That should bring her back.

Log-out complete. Thank you for playing.

......

......

......

Hey...she's not waking up.

That's weird. We did completely log her out.

What's this?!

It's just like the red Pillar of Light we saw in the game?!

No way! How can the same thing be in the real world?!

No...wait a minute? What if this is the same thing that happened in the Dream Worlds?

Darn it! I can't go in! I couldn't go in when we were in the game. So it's the same in the real world?

All the anomalies we encountered so far could have been explained by bugs in the game.

But now that these anomalies are happening in the real world as well, that can't be the cause.

What does that mean?

It means that as a white-uniformed IDEAlist, I'm making a declaration here!

This is the site of a new Dream World Incident!

Let's go, Aldo! To the IDEA Operations Room!

Um, Okay. We'll tell Claude and Isuka about this, right?

Yes. Starting now, it's...

All-out war for IDEA!

So this is my room... This doesn't feel real at all.

Aldo! I'm comin' in!

Ooh! So this is yer room? This one's extra-nice!

Just kiddin'! All the dorm rooms are the same.

Oh, really? Isuka's living in the dorms, though, and her room is much bigger.

Well, of course it is. This is a reasonably-priced dorm for typical students.

Isuka's room is in Ragna Garden, the most exclusive part of IDA City.

And it's in the most expensive dorm, "Aqua Hills."

And her room itself! It's a penthouse on the top floor, so I hear!

Right, I think I heard about that. So Isuka doesn't even live in the Dorm, then. What about Claude and you and the others?

I live at home and commute to school. And Claude... I think he lives in the traditional and formal "student hostel" dorms.

Huh?! He lives in the hostel?!

Wow, it's unusual for students to live there now.

Hmm, really?

It does sound nice when you stick words like "traditional" and "formal" to it, but it's actually the oldest, dumpiest place in IDA. It's super-teeny and fallin' apart. And the bathrooms are public, too. Its best sellin' point is that it's dirt-cheap. Also comes with three meals a day, I think.

That does sound cheap! But I'm really surprised that Claude would live in a place like that.

By the way, Fukahire, could I ask you to make Aldo new account?

Sure, of course...but what about you, Hismena?

I'll go log in and we'll meet up in-game.

Which means yer goin' home right now?

It's true that my login device is at home, but with these Dream World investigations, I don't have time to commute from home. So I'm renting a guestroom in the student dorms for a while.

Prepared as always, Hismena.

That's right, Fukahire, can you register me as one of Aldo's first Friends? We're going to be playing together a lot, to look into the Dream World cases.

Sure. I'll do that for ya.

Well, I'm going to the guestroom to log in.

Alright, leave the rest to me! I'll show Aldo the ropes!

Thanks. Well, Aldo, see you later.

Thanks, I will.

Well, Fukahire, how do you play the game?

Heheheeee. Wellll, it's like thiiis... Ya just sleep!

What?!

See for ya self! Test it out!

Is that really all I have to do? Sleep?

Yep! I've equipped this bed with functions to support yer student life. The bed itself has all sorts of functions that let ya know what's due in class or when ya have to go next... I installed everythin' that's necessary to the game! Will ya do exactly as I instruct?

R-Right.

Okay then! Push the marks on the right and left.

...... ......

>Oh!

Welcome, Savior chosen by Mana!

Hmm? It would seem you came from another world. How strange...

I am your guide. The world you are about to travel to is being threatened by evil powers which humans are incapable of containing. You must summon the sacred dragon and save the world.

>O-Okay...

I shall grant you the powers necessary to do this. Which form do you wish to take?

>Hismena!

>Nice! Good choice.

>Girl?

>No, I don't mean that...

Welcome, Savior. Our Kingdom is close to being invaded by a mysterious army simply known as "the Empire."

Only the Legendary Dragon can oppose their evil powers.

You must summon the dragon and save our Kingdom.

Ask the Minister there for more details.

I'm counting on you, Savior!

I'm begging you! Save our country from the devious Imperial Army! Just talk to the Minister over there and he can give you the details. We're counting on you, Savior!

The Legendary Dragon cannot be summoned without the power of Mana... But the Imperial Army used forbidden sorcery to turn them into monsters. I want you to pacify the four Manas and bring back their Jewels. You might start by visiting the Tavern and ask around.

Welcome to the Castle Town Tavern. This is where adventurers gather. You might meet someone here to travel with.

If you need info on where to find monsters, you might want to ask the girl standing beside me.

She can tell you about the quests that the citizens have brought in.

Anyone who wants a quest, please come to me!

Welcome to the Castle Town Tavern. This is where adventurers gather. You might meet someone here to travel with.

Hey, Hismena? Who did you have in mind to become our Friends?

Anyone in particular?

Operator, over there. She used to... No, let's not talk about her past for now.

Talk to her. I'm sure you'll get a good answer.

Hello there! Did you wish to speak with me?

Oh, you want to exchange Friend IDs? Gladly! Let me write that down...

Huh? You're asking if I can fight? Hee! Hee! Hee!

You'll usually find me playing a supporting role in the back, but that is merely my secret identity. AND my true form is...

The Battle-Operator, kicking evil's butt as a sorcerer! At least within the game-world, that is!

On that note, call on me whenever you need help.

Now I get it. You exchange IDs when you want more Friends, right?

Exactly. If you're worried about it, you should exchange IDs with more people for even more help. Once you're done, we can return to the game-world.

Oh, perfect timing! There's some trouble!

There's a commotion around the Castle! Something must have happened!

Shouldn't you check it out?

My King!

Hm! What's going on?!

Our squad in training has been attacked by the Empire! They left out the eastern gate to the Meadow right there!

How horrible! I didn't think they'd already advanced so close to the Castle Town!

Savior! Travel to the Meadow at once and save the squad!

>You really looked the part.