The Inheritors

Not here, either. Well, if the old man doesn't know, then she can't have come here.

We've searched the kingdom from one end to the other, but still no hide nor hair of Anna... She doesn't appear to have started to implement her plan yet.

If there's one place we haven't been to yet, it's that desert across the sea. She did mention being banished to the desert, after all.

If there's one place we haven't been to yet, it's that desert town across the sea. She did mention being banished to the desert, after all.

I don't know why she would choose to visit the land of her death... But we mustn't leave any stone unturned in our search for her.

Then it's decided. Let's head for the Rucyana Sands.

Then it's decided. Let's ask the Synth Hydra to take us to the desert.

So, we still haven't found her... I guess it's not gonna be that easy. But this place... You really wouldn't want to live here, would you?

To be banished here to live out her days alone... What must it have felt like, I wonder.

Tough doesn't even begin to describe it. No food, no water. I'd probably just give up.

But Anna wished for a world without conflict until the very end...

......

If I had ended up like her, exiled to this desert... Would I have thought the same as her?

I don't know. But I know that you won't end up like her. Even if there's no water and food, you'll still have us.

Ha! You are a strange one indeed...

Aldo... I'm still confused, to be honest. I always revered Anna as the symbol of our fight with the beasts. My hometown was destroyed by the beasts, so I never doubted that our quarrel with them was just and right. Visiting that time layer has changed the way I think, though. I believed that exterminating them would eventually lead to a world without conflict. It shames me to say it, but I am a bit afraid. It feels like all that I was, and all that I am was built on a lie...

Aldo... I'm still confused, to be honest. I always revered Anna as the symbol of our fight with the beasts. My hometown was destroyed by the beasts, so I never doubted that our quarrel with them was just and right. I believed that would eventually lead to a world without conflict. It shames me to say it, but I am a bit afraid. It feels like all that I was, and all that I am was built on a lie...

I can understand that. It's a path you'd always followed with complete conviction. It would be strange if you didn't have doubts now.

I have to stop Anna. This is something that my head tells me I must do. But my heart and body will not accept a choice that would lead to me betraying her. No, I've got to stop this fretting and pull myself together...

It's not a bad thing that you should worry so much about this. If you think on this, and then think some more, I'm sure that your final decision will be the right one.

Thank you. Thank you so much, Aldo. We're out of luck here. Let's return to Unigan and st...

Please wait. This area is producing interesting readings.

Riica! Interesting readings? What do you mean?

Please wait a moment! I will analyze them right away!

Traces of extraordinary distortions detected in the gravity field. I deduce that a wormhole has opened here. Judging by the traces, the wormhole opened a few days ago. According to the Doppler shift of the time waves, the wormhole must have led to the future.

A wormhole to the future? Wait a minute...

...my desire, my will to power. This will drifted upon the river of time until I ended up in this era. Until the moment when a certain girl was born in my hometown...

Could she have traveled through time? Anabel!

I see. She, Anna is in the future!

What do you think, Riica? Can you trace her?

Leave it to me! Nothing is impossible for an all-purpose android like me!

Retrieving Last Island map. Tracing sample obtained in desert...

......

Apologies. Multiple errors have occurred. It does not appear to be far into the future, but I am unable to plot the coordinates with any certainty.

No luck, huh?

Then we have no choice but to investigate on foot.

I am terribly sorry I could not be of more use...

No, I'm grateful to you, Riica. It's thanks to you we now know that Anna is in the future.

Anabel...

Right then, time to start over. Aldo, let's ask around the island.

Hey, you. Did you see anyone called Anna around here?

Anna? No, of course I haven't seen an Anna! You don't go giving that name to just anyone! I don't know about other islands, but I doubt there's anyone here called that.

What do you mean? Is the name Anna so unpopular?

What are you talking about? Quite the opposite! Anna was a saintly woman, a champion of war and victory!

Huh?

Come on, you must know! Anna is revered for her role in the war on the Synth Humans. It's very symbolic!

......

Thank you. That was helpful information.

You sure are strange! I guess it doesn't really matter, though.

Excuse me, Miss. Do you know of a woman named Anna?

Hey, that's my name. What makes you think you can go around using it so freely?

Huh?! Do you think this is really her?

Look, I know it doesn't really suit me. I admit that. But my parents, you see... They gave me this name hoping that I'd one day become someone who would fight the Synth Humans. On this island they seem to think the name's too special to give to their kids, but... Well, in my hometown it's pretty popular. Does that answer your questions?

......

Thank you. That was helpful information.

Those two over there...

And who should gallantly appear, but...

Anna!

Indeed. Our sainted champion, Anna appeared and drove back the dastardly Synth Humans!

Wow! Anna is so cool! When I grow up, I want to be just like her!

Indeedy, indeedy! The whole island is counting on you!

Tee hee! I'll kick those wicked Synth Humans off our island for good!

......

How is this possible? Stories of Anna still circulating this far in the future! I could understand history buffs talking about it, but your average Joe in the street?!

Hmm... This is just a guess. But perhaps all the feats I did as a Paladin, as Anna told me to, had an effect on the future.

It could be that, I guess...

Yes, in this era Anna has become a symbol of resistance to the Synth Humans. No doubt the concept of a knight has disappeared over the intervening 800 years... And the stories were different, too. Just as they were in my era, where Anna's deeds were passed down completely opposite to the truth...

......

Aldo. Do you think the reason Anna came here was...

Wh-What the?!

What was that? It came from over there.

From the coast!

Maybe Anna is there!

Could be! Okay. Let's go!

You...

We followed you here. You're not the only one who can travel through time, you know!

Yes, I know. I have been watching your adventure from within Anabel. I had hoped to see the faces of those who understood...at the end. And it would appear that my wish has been granted.

Those who understand? You've got it backwards, Anna!

Have I now? I was sure that you two shared my high ideals...

How coul, ? Not. In. The. Slightest! The idea of eliminating all life so as to prevent further conflict? It's... It's...

......

Anabel. What do you think? Are you...of the same opinion as Aldo?

......

Anna, you dream of a world without conflict, do you not?

Of course. There is nothing more miserable than conflict.

As do I. I too dream of a world without conflict.

Anabel...

Throughout my journey here, I have been pondering what a world without conflict means.

Seeing the empty desert for myself... I made my mind up. I decided to uphold your ideals.

I thought so! You do understand me! Then...

No, do not get me wrong. The ideals I will uphold are not yours of today, or even you as a symbol of the beast resistance movement. They are the ideals of the Anna who valued any and all life.

......

In the world you are trying to create, there is indeed no conflict. But what will there be? I am sure there will be nothing but "nothingness" itself. The scenery of the desert reminded me of my hometown, just as the burned-out castle did.

In the world without conflict I dream of... There are not just countries and towns and the people who live there. There's peace, smiles, dreams, hopes... and a bright, unbroken future.

So, Anna, our ideals are not the same. I cannot, I will not, let you turn our future into an empty, barren world!

That is unfortunate... Very, very unfortunate, but I understand your choice.

Then I have nothing more to say to you. I do, however, have this one thing to give you...

Be careful, Aldo. Her holy blade is prayer incarnate! She has transformed every thought and prayer directed at her to this day into power...

To this day?! It must be hundreds of years from our era to this day?!

Yes... It must be at least a thousand years since Anna's canonization. The accumulated power of prayer that she's gathered in that time doesn't bear thinking about!

Power from a thousand years of prayers...

But I too am a Paladin. I refuse to be defeated here!

Hear my entreaty... Lend me that power, even if it be just for an instant...

So it comes to this. I did not wish to have to cut you down. But I believe in the righteousness of my own cause.

I am Anabel. Direct heir to the name of Anna...

No...

Direct heir to the will of Anna! I will not allow you to eliminate all life!

Urk! How can this be? The power... The power of all that prayer... It has chosen Anabel over me!

Aldo, stay back! I will stop Anna!

Why...? Why did you not strike me down? Why would you pass up this opportunity?

Anna, you do not understand. My objective is to stop you. It is not to strike you down. You said it yourself. Ironically, my mercy and respect for all life led me to a continent of death. That is a lie. Or, rather, it has become a lie. After all, your will has led you nowhere... For I have inherited it.

......

No one has the resilience to endure for as long as you have. You can rest now, Anna. Leave the future in my hands.

Three hundred years... No, a thousand years... I have drifted for so very long... Truly, fate is cruel to make me wait this long. Now... I will entrust it to you. I can trust you, can I not? You will create a world without conflict, where any and everyone can live in peace and contentment.

Yes. I swear it by this birthmark, the symbol of my birthright.

Thank you, Anabel...

She's gone...

Anna must, finally, have seen the peaceful future that a world without conflict promises. So sad that she lost her way... No, I think maybe it was just her innate stubbornness.

Yeah, I think you're probably right.

Aldo. Will you listen to my new vow?

Your new vow? Of course, I'd be honored.

Then, hear my vow... Here and now I swear thus. From this moment forward, I devote my sword to the ending of conflict and the protection of all life.

I hear your pledge, Anabel. And I am confident that you will make good on it. The world that she once dreamed of will one day come to be...