Crystallo of Stella

Hold on, please!

Psyche? What are you doing here?

I thought I'd help show you the way. I mean... to Glevum Pit.

Snow knows the way! But... it's nice to have some company, especially when we're heading out of town.

Yeah, outsiders can easily lose their way out there. I saw you accepted Mr Henrik's... our request, so I thought I should help out.

Actually, I was looking forward to a little walk myself, too. Shall we get going?

Whoo... It's been a while since I've stepped out of the city.

The snow-draped conifers, the boundless lake... mountains with their peaks in the clouds... I love all this.

Snow's more a city soul! If only the outskirts were free of those roaming Filthoids.

It's safer inside, indeed. But there's something about the... air out here.

Is there a difference? All smells the same to me...

Mmm... The air in Icelake is always tinged with a scent of blood and echoes of weeping.

Out here, it's the scent of the forest and drifting ice, and the distant sound of steam whistles. Occasionally, you might catch a glimpse of snow-white deer darting through the trees...

While around Icelake's alleys, what darts out are thieves or bandits... and sometimes just whimpering beggars.

What about your hometown, Vita? Tell us about it! What's that island like?

The "air" is golden gravel and beachside rosemary...

It's misty sea fogs at midnight, and the massive Heaventree that Berr... my family and I used to gaze upon every day.

Mmm... if you ever make it back to your homeland, please send them my regards.

...Umm, you two are talking over my head...

You'll get it when you're older.

...But then again, Lunos never really grow older, do you?

The entrance to Glevum Pit is up ahead. Please be extra careful.

Thank you, you've been a tremendous help.

But you two should head back now. I can take it from here on my own.

...Umm... no way!

This Demon King can't just scarper from the battle and let the little minion think less of her. Psyche, you should also come with us!

Me...?

Yep, come with the Demon King to clear out this monster's den! I bet you've never been on such an adventure, right? What a pity! Your life is certainly incomplete!

...Ah...

...Alright, I'm in.

No, "a life without adventure is certainly incomplete"... I think she's right.

So, may I join you on this adventure?

Let's go, let's go! It gets dark early in Icelake, we gotta hurry.

Right!

...Alright then. Be careful, both of you.

It's locked? Watch me bash it open!

...Ouchie!

A door this thick is probably impervious to brute force.

Then let's look around to see if there's another way in.

Snow, does your head hurt? Let me help you...

...There, a little puff to ease the pain.

Awww... you're so nice. When this Demon King conquers this place, I'll appoint you...

"The Gentle Green-Cloaked Mage, the Wise Master of Phoxene, the Inaugural Grand Duke of Glevum Pit"!

(I was the Duke of the Sewers... Is a grand duke a higher rank than a duke?)

(How come Psyche gets a higher title than me? Hold on, why am I seriously mulling this over again?)

"Guided by Snow the Demon King, the little minion who just arrived in Icelake from afar has become a brilliant Phoxhunter in a mere day."

A new chapter in the legend of this Demon King!

"Phoxhunter" is a cool name... Do they all hunt something called Phox?

Nah! Phoxhunters nowadays are actually bounty hunters. It has something to do with Phoxene a long time ago.

Right, I heard it used to refer to a profession that originated right here in Icelake.

It seemed to all start with the rich Heaventree veins in the Vidofnir Mountains, and the Phoxene on them could be sold for a good price...

Exactly! So, a long, long time ago, many people braved the risks of collecting Phoxene for money.

But then the big merchants and the Empire took over the mines around here, and ordinary folk hardly had a chance with Phoxene anymore...

While Phoxhunters, who lived off commissions, remained as a profession. It's just that the types of commissions changed a lot since then.

There are big ones like protecting the city from the claws of Filthoids, and little ones like getting freshly baked bread back from a dog's mouth...

Fighting dogs for bread?

And some even more terrifying commissions like making sure a certain someone you don't like never shows up again...

But by the time you make a trip down to The Asphodel, wouldn't the bread have been gobbled up by the dog already?

You're both missing the point here!

After that, the local veins gradually ran dry, including this Glevum Pit...

Yeah, what a pity! Otherwise my little minion could have made a fortune selling Phoxene.

Everything alright?

...!!

I suddenly couldn't see clearly back there and ended up startling that monster... I'm so sorry!

Are you feeling better now?

Yeah, I think I'm fine now.

Great. If you're in the condition to fight, let's take on this monster together.

Sure! I'll do my best to support you.

They say even the fiercest beasts can be brought down by targeting their weaknesses...

It must be the same with this Filthoid! Let's take a breath and find its weakness.

It's slowing down. Looks like those shoulder-looking parts are its weakness!

Look over there, Little Minion. There are several powder kegs.

I see. The journal also mentioned gunpowder. Maybe we can use the kegs to blow up the yellow crystals.

Let's take them with us then. You can never be too prepared when you're adventuring!

Argh, those nasty yellow crystal spikes block our way!

The powder kegs we just found can be of great help now.

(Might as well stay far and shoot to detonate them.)

It works! ...Oh, are you okay? Why are you squatting on the ground, Demon King? Are you hurt?

Ah?! I...I'm fine, it was j...just a small blast! I was just... um... checking out the ground... Hehe...

Ssh!

*Roar, *

...There seems to be somthing deep in the pit.

The journal mentioned that there could be a special Filthoid down there... We should be careful and stay close.

Look, a giant crystal in the middle is glowing. Could it be that the Crystallo of Stella we're looking for is inside?

*Roar, *

That voice again!

Ahhh, How come there are so many Filthoids coming at us out of nowhere?! ...Uh... Uh-oh...

Perhaps they were attracted by the explosion...

Take my Shiny Bomb! Let the Pure-White Redeemer save the world! Boom!

It's okay. The Filthoids have been taken care of.

Oh really? Show this Demon King the loot then...

Camilla once mentioned that Crystallo of Stella is a blue-violet crystal with "nebulae swirling in it." This one is more like a chunk of Silverite.

Argh... That's lame.

Silverite? When I was little, the tailor next door mentioned that this kind of mineral can be used to make pigments or dyes.

Then bring it back to Lunosmith, Little Minion. As for now, let this Demon King continue to lead you deeper into the pit!

Hehe... Yes, Your Majesty.

These yellow crystal spikes actually have so many glittering stones inside!

They seem to have been carefully hidden away like cherished treasures...

Heh heh, could you be hiding some treasures too, Psyche?

Hehe, that's a secret.

Watch out!!

Phew... that was close. Wait... the path ahead is clear now!

It's stopped, now's our chance!

Great...!

Crystallo of Stella... Look at its beauty! No wonder everyone wants a piece of it.

What a commotion I just heard. So it was you guys that took out that giant thing? Impressive.

Outsider!? How come the Crystallo is in your hands? It was my little minion who first...

It was just lying there with no one's name tag on it, wasn't it? Come on, in our line of work, there's no such thing as dibs.

And you, you're new here, right? Someone has to teach you this lesson, and that someone just happened to be me today. Consider this Crystallo as tuition, shall we?

Please give it back! That Crystallo is important to Vita, and to all of us!

Since you refused to be a reasonable person, this conversation is over.

Easy, kiddo. Don't get mad.

That's the spirit! Come on, Vita, get him!

Whoa! Calm down. There's no need to resort to violence. What do you say we split it 50/50, sound fair?

Got a bit of a temper, have we? Perhaps you could talk some sense into your friend, young lady?

...Sure. But I'm not really familiar with the way you Phoxhunters handle things...

No worries, you're a polite girl, I forgive y...

We're sorry for not knowing the rules... So, as an apology, Mr Outsider, we'll let you make the first strike.

Wha, hold on! Even if it's two-on-one, there's no guarantee you can beat me, am I right?

Wait a sec! I'm telling you, I'm really strong. No Phoxhunter around Icelake can best me. Ever heard of Chief Sibylle? I'm a match for her.

...You certainly match me in big talk, that's for sure.

Alright, alright, I was joking around, trying to lighten the mood, you know.

Hmph, this crafty Mutt Ears is trying to pull more tricks!

You call the shots in your little crew, right? Tell me, why did you guys go to all this trouble for this Crystallo?

I knew it. Well, that makes things easier. I need this Crystallo for my own reasons, but if it's silver coins you're after, I can match that amount.

If you've got a moment, I'd like to explain, Are you free tonight?

Oh, that's easy. With Snow as a witness, he won't be able to weasel out! Besides, Camilla mentioned he's got a terrifying relative at home he's really scared of.

Just threaten to air his dirty laundry right on his doorstep, and he'll be begging for mercy in no time.

...Mercy, please, Your Demon King.

You can rest assured, everyone at The Asphodel knows me. Well, I've still got things to take care of here. You kids can go ahead without me.

What are you up to?

See these packs?

If it hadn't been for this monster, their owners might be chilling at The Asphodel, sipping drinks and swapping stories.

I want to see if I can identify them and return their belongings to their families… Now that I'm here, I can't just leave it be.

Thank goodness it was you Daimons that broke in today. If it had been ordinary folks, they might have ended up just like them.

"Daimons"?

Those Charons who've undergone an "Awakening" and gained special powers like us.

Er, how come you are as clueless as a newly hatched quail? I bet even that little white button mushroom beside you is more informed.

Of course, Snow's really smart, Wait, what did you just call me? How rude!

That's not rude, I'm just being honest. My heart is as genuine as this Crystallo.

Hmph, I won't descend to arguing with small potatoes like you! Come here, my little minion, let this Demon King enlighten you.

Simply put, "Awakening" is a stage of growth every Charon goes through, usually around adulthood. During Awakening, their body emits a very bright light, you must have some memory of it!

After Awakening, some Charons become much stronger, like you, and gain the ability to use special magic! They are called "Daimons."

(It was that moment... No wonder I felt lighter than before, and my wounds must've healed around that time too.)

(As for my magic ability... could it be "Resonance"?)

"Daimons" are rare, so you guys are lucky ducks!

Most Charons aren't so lucky. At best, they only get a bit sturdier. It's said that some may even turn into scary monsters! Though I've never seen it myself.

The button mushroom covers about most of it. Ordinary Charons might be able to handle small Filthoids if they give it their best shot, but huge ones like the one we just fought are deadly for them.

They were just trying to complete a commission...

No, they were just trying to survive. Well, off you go. I'll handle the rest here.

I'll be back a bit late, might miss The Asphodel's closing time. Come and find me at my place, it's among those shabby houses south of the city, the one with a little bird drawn on the door.

And come alone, don't bring anyone unrelated.

Looks like there's a path over there! Let's get out of here, this place gives me the creeps...

...Wait, when he said "anyone unrelated," he wasn't talking about me, was he?

This trail feels different from the one we passed through earlier, almost as if it's been hand-dug by someone.

Yeah, there are even pickaxes lying around here... Looks like other adventurers have been here before us!

You okay, Psyche? You look pale, and you've been awfully quiet for a while.

Ah, h-have I?

Guess I still reelling from that monster. I keep wondering if it could have once been...

Relax! We're right here with you!

That Outsider said that my little minion is a strong "Daimon," right? So even if ten more Filthoids came at us, they'd be no match for her.

Cut it out. I'm nearly spent, and Psyche was just bluffing.

I'm just relieved you're both safe... Maybe I shouldn't have involved you two in such a dangerous event.

No, not at all! I'm really happy that I took part in such an adventure.

I never thought I'd get out of town with friends, explore unknown places, get in trouble, and fight evil enemies together.

Now that I think about it, it all feels so unreal, like living a daydream.

See? Psyche agrees with me!

...

Isn't that Henrik over there...? What's he doing here?

Psyche, come here.

Mr Henrik...!

You should've stayed at the Hypnos' House instead of fooling around with this sketchy brat. You don't know her backstory, and she really doesn't know you that well.

Now, where have you been?

Glevum Pit. I... wanted to help find the Crystallo of Stella.

Forget the Crystallo. Remember what I said on your first day at the Hypnos' House?

"Don't wander off, and inform me first if you need to go somewhere."

So you do remember. Before making any decisions, think about what I've told you, and why your parents left you in my care.

If anything happens that messes things up, or if people start asking questions... you know what's at stake.

...I'm so sorry, Mr Henrik.

You're a good kid, just don't let this ever happen again.

As for you...

Tend your own garden and don't drag irrelevant people into your business. It's better for everyone.

She is not your daughter. Even if she were, you shouldn't deprive her of such simple freedoms. Do you know how happy she was during our little trip?

Let's talk about something else then. For example, are you this polite and friendly to everyone? No wonder that house of yours never sells.

That's my problem. For you, the thing to worry about should be where to crash after tonight.

By morning, I expect you to move out.

Let's go home, Psyche.

That Henrik always knows how to rile people up...

I just hope he won't be too harsh on Psyche.

As for whether this is my last night in that house, I need to talk to Outsider.

You two are gonna have that secret little talk without me, huh? That Outsider is such a pest.

Hmph, like I care! Off you go, I'm gonna go chill out at The Asphodel.

It sounds like a steam whistle. Is there a train passing by?

...

That's nice. Do the passengers have lights on? Are the windows looking pretty and warm, like tiny flames in a fireplace?

...Oh, I see.

Psyche... when did your eyesight start to fade?

When was it...

I don't really know. I thought it'd be the same as before, just blurry for a while, and then it'd go away. But now it just...

Let's not talk about that. There's a place I'd like to visit; could you come with me?

It's by the Lamenting Lake, near an old tree stump. My dad once took me there when I was little.

...It's been so long.

Here we are.

There should be a small box buried near the roots. Vita, could you help me find it?

Could you open it?

This is a...

It's called a "camera," an amazing treasure.

Dad gave it to me when I was four. That year, he had managed to grow beautiful Lamenting Lake Bellflowers. A wealthy man from the inner city loved the flowers and gave this camera to Dad, which he then gave to me as a birthday gift.

But I cherished it too much to actually play with it. I thought, if I buried this precious treasure in the ground, it would sprout many more cameras by harvest time. Then our family would become rich, and my parents wouldn't have to work so hard.

So I came here alone and "sowed" it. I was quite silly back then.

When Mum and Dad found out about this later, they didn't get mad at me. Instead, they said, "Let's dig it up on your coming of age, as a gift to your future self."

Vita, thank you for keeping me company these past days, but I don't have anything valuable to give you. Please take this camera as a gift from me.

I no longer need it because of my eyes, but your journey is still long.

Please see the world for me with your eyes.

...

Since we're already here, how about a little stroll around the lake?

When I was little, Dad would sometimes bring me here for walks.

Despite the occasional hide-and-seek with the Filthoids, I always looked forward to coming here.

Because I loved the floating ice and mountains here, and more so, I loved watching the trains roar by.

You like trains?

Yeah. I'm fascinated by their destination... the "South."

I've read that it's nothing like Icelake.

The sun's warmer there, and you get to see seasons change.

When spring comes, the ice and snow melt away, and there are flowers everywhere, even in the wilds.

I always dreamed that if I could catch a train, I could actually get there.

But Dad told me, it was not a dream we could afford.

Because... you're Charons?

Yes. And also because Mum and Dad are just ordinary gardeners. We were poor and didn't have the means to board that train.

So, the day you showed up at the door of the Hypnos' House, I was thrilled... I'd never met anyone outside Icelake.

I've always secretly wondered what your homeland is like. Have you seen the ocean with your own eyes? Is it as large as a hundred lakes put together?

If only I could also see it for myself...

...Look at me, almost eighteen and still daydreaming like a child.

Listen, Psyche. It can be more than just a dream.

Besides Berry, you were the first one to be so kind to me. I've always wanted to do something for you.

There's no one else here, so tell me, have you been under threat? You can trust me. No matter how scary the enemy may be, I'll protect you.

I'm a stranger here, I can take you away, just like the day we went to the pit together.

Once I find Berry, we can go to my hometown in the South, build little houses by the sea, and grow flowers around our homes. When spring comes and the flowers bloom, your eyes will heal.

Every day, the sun will shine so brightly that you might even find yourself missing Icelake's snow... Oh, it might be a slight damper on your dream, but are you scared of bugs? The ones in the South are bigger and noisier.

Thank you. I'm not under threat, it's just that...

I just can't leave Icelake, no matter what.

Psyche.

...!

Henrik...!

It's not safe outside the city. You've been out too long.

Sorry! I'll head back now.

Psyche, keep in mind what I said. If you decide to trust me...

Meet me by the ticket booth south of the Hypnos' House at 2 AM.

...Goodbye, Vita.

...