Master of Atlasian Aesthetics

Forgive the intrusion, might I borrow but a single line from your heroic saga to introduce myself?

I am Amiette. As for my profession... well, that's rather difficult to define without offending the sensibilities of art itself.

But if I must reduce it to a single label, then let it be... artist.

That's... suspicious.

There's no need for baseless mistrust, friend. I merely linger here, beset by a... crisis of aesthetics.

Tell me, have you noticed? Modern weaponry is obsessed with damage output and cost-efficiency, yet utterly blind to beauty!

Weaponry was never meant to be my canvas... but look around you, the soldiers of this city have grown hideously unrefined.

I blame Hyperborea's Alchemy Academy. By forsaking aesthetic principles, they've cursed their wielders with vulgarity. And when I sought to correct their gear, I was treated most unfairly...

"Correct"...? What did you do?

Nothing excessive, I assure you. I merely made a few subtle improvements to their weapons and accessories during a shift change. Hardly worth fifteen days of confinement, wouldn't you say?

Yes, instilling basic aesthetic awareness in the general populace is a daunting task... but surely we can't let hardship stand in the way of beauty!

I swear, by the name of art itself, from the legendary sword of a hero to the humble blade of a back-alley brawler, beauty must be honoured! Regardless of price or provenance!

Ho? That was quite the speech. I do enjoy a good bit of passion.

This lad might look a tad questionable, but he's got a few decent thoughts on weapon aesthetics.

These days, craftsmanship is all brute force. The blade's taper, the patterns forged through hammer and flame, the balance in the hand, every detail should reflect the smith's soul.

Taper? Patterns? Balance?

Wait, what do those have to do with aesthetics?

Er... what?

The true soul of aesthetics lies in colour! Colour, I say!

Ohh... so that's your angle. Huh.

You're not offended?

Not at all. Wasn't the answer I expected, but fair enough. Paintwork and palette do matter, plenty of folk care how their weapon looks.

Just now, I noticed your weapon was... rather muted in tone. I meant to respect your taste and refrain from commenting, but the artist in me simply couldn't resist...

So, please, accept this exclusive dye recipe, along with a few trial samples.

Be it blade or accessory, a touch of this shall draw you ever closer to aesthetic enlightenment!

Sales pitch? Perish the thought! Merely a modest toll in pursuit of sublime beauty.

Said every salesperson making a pitch.

Oh, don't be ashamed. A lack of aesthetic awareness is a common, and entirely forgivable, flaw.

You're unbelievable...

Wha, wait, no! What's the matter with you!?

Hmm... not bad, actually.

I, Is that so...? Well, I did use all-natural ingredients... I didn't realise they tasted nice.

Strange as he may be, the lad makes a fair point. I'll take this recipe off your hands.

Ah! A true connoisseur! Thanks to you, my crusade for aesthetic reform takes yet another glorious step forward.

Come now, let's put this formula to the test, shall we?

Hm... not bad at all. Smooth finish, good adhesion... though I must say...

What is it?

Isn't this shade a bit... over-the-top?

Hmm. I'll never quite understand you young folk... but if you're set on it, then so be it.

If you fancy another palette later on, just bring me the right materials and we'll have another go.

No need to decide in haste. Try a few other shades, see how they suit you. Come find me once you've made up your mind.

The aesthetics of colour, eh...? Looks like I've still got a fair bit to learn on that front.

You there, the hero in immaculate white! A moment, if you please!

Yes, yes, you! The very fact you've made it to me can mean only one thing: resonance. A deep, aesthetic bond between us!

Forgive the intrusion, might I borrow but a single line from your heroic saga to introduce myself?

I am Amiette. As for my profession... well, that's rather difficult to define without offending the sensibilities of art itself.

But if I must reduce it to a single label, then let it be... artist.

That's... suspicious.

There's no need for baseless mistrust, friend. I merely linger here, beset by a... crisis of aesthetics.

Tell me, have you noticed? Modern weaponry is obsessed with damage output and cost-efficiency, yet utterly blind to beauty!

Weaponry was never meant to be my canvas... but look around you, the soldiers of this city have grown hideously unrefined.

I blame Hyperborea's Alchemy Academy. By forsaking aesthetic principles, they've cursed their wielders with vulgarity. And when I sought to correct their gear, I was treated most unfairly...

"Correct"...? What did you do?

Nothing excessive, I assure you. I merely made a few subtle improvements to their weapons and accessories during a shift change. Hardly worth fifteen days of confinement, wouldn't you say?

Yes, instilling basic aesthetic awareness in the general populace is a daunting task... but surely we can't let hardship stand in the way of beauty!

I swear, by the name of art itself, from the legendary sword of a hero to the humble blade of a back-alley brawler, beauty must be honoured! Regardless of price or provenance!

Ho? That was quite the speech. I do enjoy a good bit of passion.

This lad might look a tad questionable, but he's got a few decent thoughts on weapon aesthetics.

These days, craftsmanship is all brute force. The blade's taper, the patterns forged through hammer and flame, the balance in the hand, every detail should reflect the smith's soul.

Taper? Patterns? Balance?

Wait, what do those have to do with aesthetics?

Er... what?

The true soul of aesthetics lies in colour! Colour, I say!

Ohh... so that's your angle. Huh.

You're not offended?

Not at all. Wasn't the answer I expected, but fair enough. Paintwork and palette do matter, plenty of folk care how their weapon looks.

Just now, I noticed your weapon was... rather muted in tone. I meant to respect your taste and refrain from commenting, but the artist in me simply couldn't resist...

So, please, accept this exclusive dye recipe, along with a few trial samples.

Be it blade or accessory, a touch of this shall draw you ever closer to aesthetic enlightenment!

Sales pitch? Perish the thought! Merely a modest toll in pursuit of sublime beauty.

Said every salesperson making a pitch.

Oh, don't be ashamed. A lack of aesthetic awareness is a common, and entirely forgivable, flaw.

You're unbelievable...

Wha, wait, no! What's the matter with you!?

Hmm... not bad, actually.

I, Is that so...? Well, I did use all-natural ingredients... I didn't realise they tasted nice.

Strange as he may be, the lad makes a fair point. I'll take this recipe off your hands.

Ah! A true connoisseur! Thanks to you, my crusade for aesthetic reform takes yet another glorious step forward.

Come now, let's put this formula to the test, shall we?

Hm... not bad at all. Smooth finish, good adhesion... though I must say...

What is it?

Isn't this shade a bit... over-the-top?

Hmm. I'll never quite understand you young folk... but if you're set on it, then so be it.

If you fancy another palette later on, just bring me the right materials and we'll have another go.

No need to decide in haste. Try a few other shades, see how they suit you. Come find me once you've made up your mind.

The aesthetics of colour, eh...? Looks like I've still got a fair bit to learn on that front.

You there, the hero in immaculate white! A moment, if you please!

Yes, yes, you! The very fact you've made it to me can mean only one thing: resonance. A deep, aesthetic bond between us!

Berry, I...

Ssh...

Are you all right?

Yeah.

Get some more sleep. I won't leave, I'll be right here when you wake up.

It's okay. We should get down the mountain and head to the village.

You wanna go back? There've been roars coming from there for days...

I was thinking, if we could make it home and grab our weapons...

And with your strength, you'll find a way out.

No one's going to save us no matter how long we stay here anyway.

...Let's go then.

Take it easy.

Watch your step.

You're not fully recovered. Are you sure you can do this?

I'm okay. It's just a few scratches.

Don't push yourself too hard. We still have to save some strength for those Filthoids.

Take that sword with you. It might be helpful one day.

Keep yourself safe. I'll take care of these Filthoids.

Is this place... a temple?

...Yes.

Someone once left that flying ship here.

And... a "key."

Listen, thrust your sword right in there.

Like this?

Is this your idea of "accurate intel," Randy? You gave me your word.

The soldiers did their best with the Filthoids. These are indeed unforeseen circumstances. But we did find something valuable on this island today...

Alchemical tools she has used and an airship with a Legion serial number on it.

You realise we're looking for "No. 0," not this useless junk, right?

We've been searching for over a decade... But our maritime unit intercepted several of the villagers' vessels. They might be able to dig up some...

Were those gunshots?

Randy.

Yes, ma'am!

...That's how it happened.

The Filthoids attacked you "for no reason" after you came here, and you managed to open the hidden path "by chance"... Is that really your story?

We're telling the truth! Let her go!

...!

Chief Sibylle, we've checked her spinal structure and confirmed that...

She's the "No. 0" we've been looking for.

...!

Fortune has finally smiled upon me.

Take her back.

As for her...

Remember... Vita, you must remember...

Your power... the power of Resonance...

If you wish to save all this...

Hang in there! I got you...

Berry!

Give it up, No. 0. Even the toughest blade has its breaking point.

Come back with me, and you'll live, so will this kid you care so much about.

Otherwise, she will...

...Give me your word.

Hmm?

I'll go back with you, but you have to promise to let her go.

Give me your word! Or, you can take two corpses back!

Perhaps I wasn't clear, This is not a negotiation, it's an order.

...Berry.

...?! You...!

Get out of here, and live.

No...!!

Quick question, Vita. The "three quick blinks" means...

I've got this, Berry. Three quick blinks means...

"Even if left all alone, you should be brave and live on."

"Until the day we meet again."

Run!

You can't get away!

Quest failed. Try again

Quest failed. Try again

This is my first time in the Cocytus Province. Is this how the people here show their hospitality?

I don't want to bother you, I just want to... strike a small "bargain."

I'll pay you whatever you want, and all you have to do, well, it will be a piece of cake.

The ship is at the mountaintop. After a short break, we'll push on.

...Can't believe we'll be saying goodbye to Purgatorio Island soon.

...You creatures just can't give us a break, can you?

But up until now, there has been no answer. Only endless flowing quicksand covering my vision, and...

him.

No...

Don't... take her...

No chance we're leaving by sea. Guess we'll have to count on that thing...

Listen, there's actually another "ship" on this island, up in the mountain ruins.

A ship... on the mountain?

Yes, a "ship" that flies. Now follow me.

Remem▇▇... ▇▇, you must ▇▇▇...

Your ▇▇... the power of ▇▇...

▇▇▇ wish to ▇ all this...

Wait, I can't hear you...

This is my first time in Cocytus Province. Is this how the people here show their hospitality?

I don't want to bother you, I just want to... strike a small "bargain."

I'll pay you whatever you want, and all you have to do, well, it will be a piece of cake.