Wrapped in the Veil of Aqua

Okay, children! Class is in session!

Heh heh! Sit tight, you'll understand soon enough!

Now, everyone, listen closely to Miss Yuna! It's time for a very special lesson!

Let's, um... Let's b-b-begin!

Um, uh... H-Hello, everyone!

Yuna sure seems nervous...

Is she going to be able to get through this? Maybe it's just too much for her.

An extracurricular magic lesson? And you want me to lead it?

That's right. I'm sure you'd be perfect for the job. After all, you called upon the rain at the Palace, didn't you? People around here just can't seem to stop talking about it.

Wait, what?! Are you serious?!

Oh yeah... That was when you messed up and drank the offering, right?

Well? If you'd rather not, then I suppose I could handle it myself.

Well, you see... I don't want to disappoint you, but I can't just call forth the rain whenever I feel like it...

...Nevertheless, I shall bend the spirits to my will! A trifling task it shall be, for one so powerful as I!

What?

What in the world...?

N-N-Nothing! Never mind!

I'll do it! Leave it to me! Now then, I must excuse myself!

...Well, I guess I just have to trust that she'll be fine.

Things turned out okay even though the mirror broke, after all. I guess she's really come a long way since then!

Today, you'll be learning about the Eastern art of rainmaking! Isn't that exciting?!

Oh, I know! That's where like, the clouds go "whoosh," then the rain is like "fwoosh," and the thunder goes "BOOM!"

Oh, no, no, no! It's nothing so outrageous as all of that!

You have to see it to believe it! That's why Miss Yuna here is going to give you all a demonstration!

Now then, Miss Yuna... Take it away!

Okay...! Here I g-go!

S-Spirits of the Rain, hear my prayer...

HEY! Merciful gods o'er the vast seas beyond! Are you listenin' to me?!

Huh? Something seems kinda weird...

No, I c-can't...! This is too much...!

Ngh... No... I... I can't hold it back any longer!

What's going on?!

Miss Yuna...?! Get back, everyone!

Hyaaaaaah!

Aaargh?!

Whoa... What the heck was that? Some kind of flash flood?

Wait! What happened to Yuna?!

Yuna? Where did that outfit come from?!

*sob* This is so embarrassing... I should never have agreed to this...

A-Anyway, that's all, children! Class dismissed!

Thank you very much, Miss Yuna! That was... Well, it was certainly interesting!

How incredibly rude! These people clearly don't appreciate true skill... Now, let us make haste! To the water!

Stop, stop! There's n-no need to drag me around like that! I'm going, I'm going...!

Well, clearly you're not going fast enough! Hurry, now! On your feet!

S-Sorry...

Yuna, are you okay...? I saw you talking to yourself back there.

Talking to myself? Me...? Oh, no, I'm p-p-perfectly fine! Don't worry!

I need to get to the nearest body of water... Which I suppose would be Acteul. And, um... Please can we hurry?

Finally, we made it to the water. What exactly is it that you're planning to do here?

Good work! Now, leave the rest to me!

What are you, ?! Stop, I'll fall in if you go any further!

Resistance is futile, young one! Now, don't overthink it. Just jump!

I'm falling...! Stop it, stop it!

Yuna?!

Huh? She jumped in?! I'm coming, Yuna! Hold on!

*cough* *cough* *pant* Oh, look at me... I'm soaked!

Well, at least you're not hurt.

But why did you suddenly decide to jump in like that?

I...

Ha ha! That would be my doing!

What do you mean, "your doing?" What's with you today, Yuna? You don't sound like yourself at all.

Well, the thing is... It wasn't me.

...No, I'm pretty sure it was you. I mean, the words came from your mouth, right?

Oh, I see! You think you know everything, don't you, wise guy? How bold you are to ignore me!

What?! What IS that thing?!

So you're bold, AND rude! I am no mere "thing"! I'm an emissary of the great Undine! You may address me as Talch!

Well, I suppose I couldn't hide her from you forever...

What? Who? Talch...? Yuna, what the heck is going on?

Well, the thing is, um... It's all rather complicated. It would take a very long time to explain, so it would be better to spare you the trouble of listening...right?

Yuna, something's clearly bothering you, and I can't just ignore that. I want to know what's going on.

Aldo...! P-Please, I don't deserve such kindness.

...I suppose I have no choice but to tell you, then.

It all happened one damp, gloomy day...

And that's how we ended up like this!

That's it?!

When we collided, Talch seemed to become one with my clothing, and she's been that way ever since.

I'm so sorry! I'm always so careless... If I'd only been looking where I was going!

Well, you're right to be sorry! This is most inconvenient! Thanks to your clumsiness, I can't return to Lady Undine, or even move around on my own!

Wait a minute. Did you mess with Yuna's ritual earlier? Was that some sort of petty revenge?

Revenge...? Ha! You know not of what you speak. Do you honestly believe such a trivial prank would be fair recompense for the suffering I have endured?!

Um... Maybe?

What?! To doubt an emissary of the Great Spirit Undine is sheer impudence, human! I'll just have to prove to you how merciful I truly am!

I mean, I don't really care about...

There's only one thing for it! I shall endeavor to help any pitiful humans in need that I can find! Now then, Yuna, away we go!

Hey...! Would you PLEASE stop dragging me around? I can walk by myself!

Then why do you dawdle so?! Don't you want to see the people of Palsifal Palace beaming with joy? Come, now!

Help! Aldo, help meeeeee!

Yuna...!

Hm... I can't see this going well at all...

I'd better not let them out of my sight. I guess I'm headed to Palsifal Palace, too!

Oh dear... It just never ends, does it?

Pray tell, what bothers you, human?! I have come to your aid!

What?

Could a girl as pretty as you really have come to help me out? I must be dreaming!

P-P-Pretty?! N-No, I...

Oh man, that's so kind of you! The chief maid asked me to clean the floors, but there's just so much to do, you know?

Um... Yes, it seems like quite the task...

In that case, simply leave it to me! Filthy floors shall be no more when faced with my cleaning prowess!

Well, I'll have to take you up on that! By the way, what was your name?

M-Me?! Um... My name is Yuna...

No time for pleasantries! Here I go! Hyaaah!

What the heck...?!

Talch, you can't...

Hush now, you might learn something from this! Filthy floors... Be tarnished no more, washed clean by raging rapids!

Talch, noooooo!

*cough* What was that?!

Ugh... *cough*

*pant* ...I just saw my life flash before my eyes!

Oh, thank goodness... You're not hurt!

What do you think?! Why, you can almost see your face in these floors, they're so clean!

You took it way too far! Look, the hallways are flooded now!

I know, I know! Efficient, yes? Now, on to the next needy soul!

Yuna, where are you going?!

Those little rascals... Looks like they got to this book, too...

Pray tell, what bothers you, human?! I have come to your aid!

Did you say something?

Oh! Have you come to lend a hand, cutie?

C-C-Cute?! N-No, I...

Boy, am I glad to see you! You see, all of the books in here have been covered front to back in graffiti!

Oh, g-goodness... I'm so sorry to hear that...

Just leave it to me! I'll scrub away that graffiti until all your books are as good as new!

You can do that?! What did you say your name was, again?

M-Me?! Um... My name is Yuna...

No time for pleasantries! Here I go! Hyaaah!

Huh?! I can't see a thing!

Talch, you can't...

Watch and learn, humans! Graffiti-tarnished scripts, I cleanse thee... By the power of magical steam! See? Clean as a whistle!

Talch, noooooo!

Amazing! You managed to get rid of the graffiti!

Ho ho! Yes, impressive, aren't I? You may worship at my feet, if you must.

Wait a second... You didn't just get rid of the graffiti! Now all the pages are totally blank!

What?! Oh no... I really hope those books weren't important!

I know, I know! Efficient, yes? Now, on to the next needy soul!

Sorry! I'm so sorryyy!

Yuna, where are you going?!

Oh man... My life is over...

Oh dear, what should I do? This isn't good at all...

Pray tell, what bothers you, human?! I have come to your aid!

Oh, my...

Such a cute girl wants to help out li'l old me? Today's my lucky day!

C-C-Cute?! N-No, I...

So, I planted these new flowers, see? But no matter what I do, they just keep wilting!

The earth is as dry as a bone! Are you watering them adequately?!

What? You mean... Flowers need watering? Huh. I thought all I had to do was plant them.

Well, it's no wonder they're wilting, then...

Is that all? Just leave it to me! A light afternoon shower should fix those blooms up in no time at all!

Seriously? That's so kind of you! Do you mind if I ask your name?

M-Me?! Um... My name is Yuna...

No time for pleasantries! Here I go! Hyaaah!

It's raining already? That was so quick!

Oh, I'm just getting started!

Talch, you can't...

Cease your incessant noise and behold! Flowers, I hereby present to thee... An entire year's worth of water!

Talch, noooooo!

What?! This is way too much rain! You have to stop it, or you'll drown the flowers...and the rest of us, too!

Absolutely not! The rain will not stop until a full year's worth has fallen!

What?!

I know, I know! Efficient, yes? Now, on to the next needy soul!

Sorry...! I'm so sorry about this!

Yuna, where are you going?!

So...flowers need a year's worth of water every single day? Wow. Gardening is way harder than I thought it would be...

Well, now, I'm having a wonderful time! Who should we help next?

All right, that's enough! You need to stop making trouble for Yuna!

Aldo... Th-That's...

Waaah! Whatever is the m-m-matter?!

What?! No, I...! I mean... I...

Wait, we can explain! It wasn't her fault...

Waaaaaah! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry...!

Yuna!

*sigh* I suppose I'm a criminal now... Oh, goodness, I'll never be able to show my face back home again!

How strange... I wonder why things turned out like this?

What?! That voice...!

Voice? What voice? I don't hear anything...

To my aid?!

Oh no, this won't do! There has to be some mistake!

Talch?

Yuna, I managed to clear everything up! I'm going to get you out of here!

Aldo! Thank heavens!

What are you waiting for?! Let us out! Hurry, we must make haste!

Oh, come on, Talch! Whose fault is it that you're locked up here in the first place?!

We don't have time to discuss such a trivial matter right now, Aldo!

Trivial?! This is hardly trivial! You got Yuna thrown into a cell!

Wait, Aldo! Something's wrong with Talch! She's been acting very strangely indeed!

Yuna...

*tremble*

You're right, she doesn't look too good... I'm sorry for yelling at you, Talch.

Do not t-trouble yourself over it... But please, we must leave this place! If I'm discovered, Yuna could be in very serious danger!

Me...?

Yes, you! Being locked in a cell is nothing compared to what might happen to you!

You're...trying to protect Yuna? But I thought...

Please, Aldo! Won't you trust Talch this once, for my sake?

......

...All right. Just this once, though.

I can't thank you enough, Aldo!

So, where do we go now?

They will be approaching from Acteul... We must run inland, away from the water!

Perhaps the Corinda Plains, then?

Good idea, Yuna. To the Corinda Plains!

*huff* *puff*

Will we be safe here, Talch?!

Who are these guys?!

They look just like Talch!

They must be Undine's minions, too!

Well...!

......

...... If you don't mind... May I ask one thing?

Is disturbing the elemental harmony truly such a terrible crime?

Even if the offense was committed by one of your comrades...?

I see... Well, then, what happened was...

...all my fault. The only one to blame here is me.

It's true, though. You're only stuck with me because I crashed into you, remember?

Talch did nothing wrong. If you must punish someone, then let it be me!

What?!

This isn't right! If sacrificing my life isn't even good enough to protect Talch...

...Then I'll have to use force to persuade you otherwise!

I don't get why Yuna wants to protect that little nuisance so badly...

But I'm not going to stand idly by while you blindly condemn her!

Aaah!

Ugh... At this rate...

We've come this far... We have to keep fighting!

Talch?!

Oh, Talch...

There's no reasoning with these guys...!

Oh no... What do we do...?

She...helped us?

It kind of seems that way...

You're right, Talch! Thank goodness!

N-No, I'm the one who should be sorry!

Oh?

You mean, Talch wouldn't be stuck with Yuna, and she could rejoin your group?

Oh... Yes, of course. I suppose you have a home to return to as well, Talch...

Oh?

Oh! Of course!

O-Of course...

Aldo... Let's head to Derismo Highroad. I have something I need to finish with the magic class.

You, got it, Yuna. If you say Derismo, then Derismo it is.

Now then, let's try this again! This time, we're going to see Miss Yuna call the rain for real! Pay attention, children!

Weird water girl?! D-Don't call me that!

Talch?

Why, this is an emissary of Undine...

And my dear friend, Talch!

*phew* Looks like we managed to pull that off somehow.

It looked like the kids had a really good time, too.

You're right... I'm glad I could make them all so happy!

You and Talch seemed like you were having a good time, too, Yuna.

What's wrong? You got kind of serious all of a sudden.

Yeah right...

Thank you for everything today, Talch. It turned out to be a much better lesson than I could've taught on my own!

But... Now we have to part ways, I suppose.

I just...

I'm going miss you. Oh, I hate goodbyes.

It may sound kind of silly, but... You remind me a lot of my younger self, Talch.

I was always messing up, I couldn't do anything right... But Aldo was always there by my side, looking out for me.

Yuna...

And that's why I thought... Well... I thought that maybe my role was to look out for you, Talch...

Really? So why did you mess up Yuna's first class, then?

And you dunked her in the water in Acteul because...?

...I understand now. Thank you, Talch.

Well... No, I still don't get it. But I guess that means that you two don't have to separate after all, right?

Thank goodness that's settled... I can't wait to see what adventures come our way in the future, Talch!

That again?!

Hahaha! That sounds wonderful. But this time, try not to flood the place, okay?