A Pure Prayer

It's feels so weird to be walking above the clouds.

Yeah, it feels different than flying on a rheaird, somehow.

There's nothing around for miles... Air nice and crisp...

Just looking out into the horizon feels exhilarating. This is amazing.

On top of the fact that we might be on our way to fight the enemy, you mean.

Sure, but you can't blame us for taking a moment to take it all in.

It's important to get your bearings, you know?

Or you were just getting bored.

So what if I was!

I gotta say, I'm a little jealous. You're all so candid with each other.

Hope someday we can be like that...

......

......

It's probably going to be a bit, though. Heh.

So which freighter takes us to the industrial plate?

They usually arrive right around here. It's non-stop so it shouldn't take long to get there.

Hey Aldo, this looks like a good place to setup camp. How about we catch a break before we check out the lab?

Don't you think we better hurry?

I always find that if you're going into unknown territory, it's better to rest up first. You never know what might be waiting for you once you get there, you know?

You're pretty good handling situations like this, huh. Never lose your cool, never run head-first...

Ah, well you can thank a certain someone for that.

So this is Fraxinus Labs, eh? How long has this place been abandoned?

The news about them going under wasn't that long ago, so less than a year.

I mean, I'm no plant expert, but this doesn't look like a place that's only been abandoned a few months.

When man is absent, nature takes its course, does it not?

It would be if it wasn't for the fact all plant-life is synthetic in this era.

They've all been made so they grow the perfect amount all on their own. The exact opposite of...well... all this.

Then perhaps someone did something to make it grow out of control?

Yeah, I mean, I guess that's possible.

Well, at any rate, we should go in and have a look. It might just be a problem on the outside.

Well it looks like the security is still working, at least.

We're here to check out the research facility.

Just keep saying accept till they let us in.

Reminds me of when we went to Elzion for the first time.

Everyone okay with saying yes? Not like we have much of a choice.

We accept. Now allow us entry into the research center.

It's not like they did anything to us, but the thought of having my body scanned kinda grosses me out.

Sorry, Rinwell.

You don't have to apologize, Amy. You didn't do anything wrong!

All right guys, let's go in.

Well it's not as bad as it is on the outside, but it's still a bit overrun with roots, eh.

Yes, and if you look at this cross section, it shows this growth happened rather recently.

......

What's wrong, Colette?

It's just...does anyone else hear that noise? Sounds like some kind of machine...

I don't hear anything.

Colette's got these really sensitive ears. She can hear things normal people can't.

Could be that the security systems are still online.

Whatever it is, let's tread carefully.

Why is this room so much cleaner than the others?

Wonder if someone is still using it?

Maybe? We should look around to see if we can find any info that might be helpful.

Researchers tend to take extremely detailed notes. I know my sis does.

Well then, where should we start?

I'm gonna guess over....there!

Oh...yeah that's a lot of letters I can't read. Ummm...help?

They look like the letters we found on those drones.

It's a dated list of research notes.

And look who found 'em? Feel free to call me your lucky charm, I won't let it get to my head, I promise.

Great work, Zelos!

I was talking to the...

You really are our lucky charm.

Eh, I guess.

There's so many of them... Where do we even start?

Hmm...

Says here this "White Tree" file was last edited by someone named Fluge. That's our guy, right?

Let's open it and see what it says.

This is...

Fluge's research, it would seem.

Sounds like he's talking about our girl, here.

Saved by a flower petal? What does that mean?

She didn't know what her power was doing to people...

All she wanted was to help, but all it did was hurt...I feel so sorry for her...

So he decided to sacrifice others for his own personal gain.

Did he seriously think people would let that slide?

Didn't your mother ever tell you it was rude to go through someone's personal things?

Dr. Fluge, I presume?

Indeed. And you are in my lab.

Is all this stuff you wrote true?

So you read my research without permission, and this is what you ask me? You think I'd falsify my own data?

Okay, well how about this, then.

Go ahead.

Is there any way to put people back the way they were?

I suppose you could give them their life force back. But the problem is, for those I've already used, there is nothing to give back.

I suppose you could kill the people I gave them to and take it back that way. How does that sound?

The hell is wrong with you?!

We are merely taking something that would have otherwise gone to waste. These people wish for death, and all we are doing is making sure their life is valued.

A human that does nothing but wish for death clearly does not appreciate life. I do. I give their life value!

They should be thanking me!

Value? The hell does that mean? What do you think life is?

A tool. That's how our society works, does it not? Me, me, me. All that matters is "me." If you're not someone I can use, then who cares what happens to you, right?

I'm just doing what THEY did to ME! I will no longer suffer ridicule from the unwashed masses. I will NOT be denied. Not from them, and sure as hell not from YOU.

Now. Since you so brazenly read my research, allow me to present to you my conclusion!

Now. Since you so brazenly read my research, allow me to present to you my conclusion!

Damn! Not even as much as a scratch!

That would be thanks to the special alloy that forms its outer shell.

Your silly swords, guns, and what have you are useless.

I'm gonna need some extra healing for this Shionne, okay?

...Just don't go too crazy. I need you alive.

All right.

Alphen! Your hands are on fire!

My sword ignites when I take it out of the sheath. Sorry, probably should have mentioned that.

Sorry?! Alphen! Drop the sword before you burn your hands to a crisp!

After I'm done with this hunk of junk.

TAKE THIS!

Are you...mad? These are made to withstand huge explosions, you know!

HngH! AAAAHHH!

Show me your hands.

Thanks Shionne, I appreciate it.

My hands...they're...they're on fire! Help me...please...

As you wish...

No...not you...

Pain is the killer of joy...

NO! STOP! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME! DON'T MAKE ME LIKE...

Fret not my child, all your worries will soon be gone...

What is this?!

This is the smell that made us see all those illusions! Try not to breathe it in!

Thank you...for saving me... To repay your kindness, I will save you as well...

Eep!

Colette!

You okay?

Thank you, Lloyd.

There's no end to this stuff!

Hey Rinwell, help me burn these roots!

O-Okay...

I don't think it would be wise to fight here. The girl controls these roots, yes? Then it would be safe to assume that attempting to fight her surrounded by them would be folly.

But what do you suggest we do?

I...know you...

No... I don't... Why would I know a cat...

You're coming with us!

Waaagh!

We're...outside?

No, it's totally fine. Thank you for saving us. You're the cat that called me here, aren't you? Why?

To save the girl we just ran away from. Went to a bunch of different worlds looking for help, and I guess we're the only ones that answered the call.

And hey, looks like you're feeling better?

We read something that said she's a spirit. But why would a spirit do all this?

And the cat in this story... It was you?

So you're saying you never...

I have finally completed my research... After all these years... I can finally end man's suffering...

What's he talking about?

I doubt he even knows. He's become just like the believers whose lives he stole.

What comes around, goes around.

She must have sent the scent right to his brain...

Yes...I fin...ally...save..d... you...a...ll...

......

Is there a way to bring him back, you think?

How awful...

Then we could save him, and all the others, too.

And let him do this all over again?

I don't like it either. What he's done is unforgivable.

But everyone has a right to live. And if we have the power to give life back, then we have to do it.

She wants to help people who are suffering, right? Then I can't imagine she'd be okay with everyone ending up like this.

Wait, save everyone? So then it's possible she's about to turn every living thing into a mindless husk?

Artifact?

Yeah. If you smell too much of it, you become the living dead.

So the only reason those people ended up like that was cause he broke the necklace?

Well, without it there's no way we're getting close enough to stop her.

Is there any way we can get a new one?

Why don't we just fix the old one?

I mean, we know where it is, right?

Makes sense he would have had it on him.

That thing is shattered to bits, and the stone has a huge chip in it. You really think we can fix it?

I mean, I'd have to take a closer look at it, but if it's anything like the key crest. Yeah, I can do it.

You were always good at arts and crafts, Lloyd!

You can thank my dad for that. He taught me everything I know.

So, we can make the necklace itself, but what do we do about the stone?

Is there something special about it?

Hmm... Like the Nadara Volcano? If so, then we can mine it. Let's head back to Ratle and ask around. Someone might be able to point us in the right direction.

About what?

That's it? It's fine. We all gotta help each other out, right? If I didn't wanna be here I wouldn't have come. We wanna save her just as much as you do.

......

All right, let's head to Ratle.

You heard the rumors?

You mean what happened to the hunters that came back from the Zol Plains? Said something about this weird smell and then seeing all sorts of weird stuff, right?

Yeah. Isn't that scary? I know I'm not going any where near there.

Seems like everyone's talking about the same thing, huh.

Sounds like the scent has started leaking out of the temple.

Then it's only a matter of time before it gets strong enough to start affecting everyone.

......

What'd they say?

Said they don't have any. But, Dohalim was able to get the guy to agree to let us use his forge if we find one.

A blacksmith does not simply lend their forge to anyone! How did he get him to do that?!

Nothing special. I just complimented him on his skill as a blacksmith. I went at length about all the precious little details that make his wares special. That's all.

He was so taken aback by it he let us borrow the forge.

My dad does the same thing. Say one thing about his work and he just lights up. But, I guess this means all we need now is the stone.

He said you could find 'em in the middle of the Vasu Mountains.

Said they look like any other ore...

Except, they glow bright in the presence of strong magic.

So if you go, go with a powerful sorcerer.

A sorcerer...

Well it's a good thing you've got me and Rinwell around then, huh?

Yes! Um... Right! Absolutely right, Genis.

So just lead us to these Vasu Mountains. We'll take care of the rest!

So this should be about the place...

Wow, forget not knowing what the ore looks like, there's so many here I wouldn't know where to start!

I can feel my interest waning in real time...

But we just got here?

What Rinwell said!

But, like, look at all this stuff...

No excuses! I swear Lloyd, it's no wonder your grades are so bad.

Well hey, the guy back in Ratle said it reacted to magic, right? Genis, Rinwell, mind giving us a hand?

That's why we're here! Rinwell, you ready?

Okay... If you think it would be helpful...

Dance in the wind.

Air thrust...

Tear asunder!

So young and yet you wield such amazing power. It is clear you take your studies quite seriously!

Hey! I think we found one!

Looks like a little magic was all we needed, eh?

Thanks guys, we really couldn't have done this without you.

It's official Rinwell, we rock.

I'm glad we were able to find what we were looking for.

Now all that's left is for Lloyd to put it all together.

Just as long as he can get it ready in time, right Lloyd?

Oh, come on! I've got this. Just get me to the forge.

Okay just don't get bored before we get there.

Yes, we better hurry back to Ratle before Lloyd finds something else to be passionate about!

You're back!

So, did we get the right thing?

Yup, this is nadramite, all right. Surprised you were able to find it.

It was all thanks to two of the best magic users in all the worlds.

Flattery doesn't work on me, you know that right?

I didn't really do all that much...

Hooo! Hoooo!

See, even Hootle thinks you're awesome!

Well...thanks...

Okay, I'm gonna need a few hours to get this thing into shape. You guys go get some rest.

But...

I know. Who could rest at a time like this?

But until I'm done with this thing, there's nothing we can do. So it's better to use this time so we can be ready for when we can do something.

He's right. Let's use our time wisely.

Thanks guys.

Hey Lloyd. Do you mind if I watch you work?

Really? I mean sure, but it's gonna be pretty boring.

Boring? No way!

Seeing the metal change with every swing of the hammer... Watching this ugly rock slowly transform into this thing of beauty... I get excited just thinking about it!

I know, right?!

Oh man. No one back home gets this!

Okay, watch all you want man. This is gonna be awesome!

Yeah!

It's done!

Not bad, kid. The rendering of the details in the goldwork made to look like the branches of a tree... The auburn red stone perfectly fit in the center... It's pretty okay.

Wait, is this the same Shionne?

She has a thing for dresses and accessories.

Is there a problem with that? If you want to be taken seriously, you have to take your appearance seriously.

Absolutely. Especially when you're dealing with the upper class. They'll look for any reason to act superior. You might have the most gorgeous dress on, but if your shoes look like they fell off the bargain rack, it's over.

I guess? I'm more of a, "as long as you take showers and brush your teeth, you're okay" kinda guy.

I'm with Lloyd. I think you worry too much, Shionne. Not that that's a bad thing, of course.

Oh, well thank you for letting me know that caring about my appearance is both too much, and not a bad thing. I suppose I just need to EXPLAIN MYSELF a little BETTER.

Umm...well... Hey! Now that we've got the necklace, how about we go do the whole save the world thing?

Right, well if we are going to get to the girl, we're gonna need another way in. Any ideas?

You think she's gone back there?

Wait, isn't the tree pretty big? I feel like I'd remember seeing something like that...

I don't remember seeing any tree.

Same.

Then it looks like we have our marching orders. And it should give me plenty of time to explain to these chuckleheads the importance of style.

But I didn't say anything...

Just gotta go with it, man.