(Huge surging waves almost knock me over.) (Lightning streaks of purple and red flash against the dark and cloudy sky. The roar of thunder echoes in my ears.)
Navigator:
(I stared at the countless meteorites crashing down on us from above.) (The ominous black castle continues to rise slowly from the depths of the ocean, bringing with it a sense of melancholy.) (Vice and Carleen are at the front, trying to protect me in vain...)
Vice:
[Navigator]!
Carleen:
Fall back, [Navigator]!
Navigator:
(It is too late.)
Navigator:
(Never thought that I would be responsible for the doom and destruction that is to come...)
The screen fades to black.
Faust:
Then I'll leave her in your care. Farewell.
Navigator:
Hold on, you can't just suddenly show up with a girl and expect me to take care of her unannounced! I don't even know her name! ...
???:
Hi... My name is...
Faust:
Her name is Beryl. Now that you're acquainted, I'll be taking my leave.
Navigator:
Hold it right there! That's not enough information!
Faust:
Well if you insist, [Navigator], I would be happy to to enlighten you with The Truth...
Navigator:
Don't change the subject! Earlier, didn't you say she...
Beryl:
...
Navigator:
I mean Beryl, you said she's ill? What kind of illness?
Faust:
Not sure.
Navigator:
What?
Faust:
I am leaving her in your care because I don't know. You are a Caelestite with psychic abilities, surrounded by Aurorians well-versed in healing Luminatics. Lady Victoria and I both agreed that it would be best for you to look after her.
Navigator:
When did the True Order become a charity?
Beryl:
...
Navigator:
Wait, Faust, let's try it another way. I mean... Is she...
No. Lady Victoria is dedicated solely to the pursuit of The Truth. She has no such mundane desires.
Are you offering Beryl as sacrifice for one of your creepy rituals?
Faust:
Of course not. Please do not slander our quest for The Truth.
Faust:
Also, Beryl is an important member of the True Order.
Beryl:
Hmm...
Navigator:
Okay, as long as nothing suspicious is going on... Though I still don't get why Lady Victoria picked me.
Faust:
It is not necessary to try to comprehend her decisions. We get closer to The Truth by following and carrying out her orders.
Navigator:
(That only makes me even more suspicious of all this...) Well, since Raphael happens to be on the Colossus right now, might as well pay her a visit.
Few minutes later...
Raphael:
Hum... Hmm... Uh-huh...
Faust:
How is it going?
Raphael:
After trying everything, I still can’t tell what’s wrong with her. Your name is Beryl, right?
Beryl:
Yes.
Raphael:
So, Beryl, do you feel any pain anywhere?
Beryl:
Beryl...? Sorry, I’m slow at understanding how my body feels. But I’ve been very tired lately, and having trouble controlling my Lumina... Sometimes I’d feel tremendous pain all over the body, like being eaten alive by millions of insects.
Raphael:
I see. It’s my first time seeing a patient with your symptoms. What do you think, [Navigator]?
Navigator:
(Beryl’s been frowning as if something’s on her mind.)
That’s possible! Carleen would make this face every time after arguing with the City Lord. Just like Beryl now.
Maybe I should try psychic...
Raphael:
No! That’s too invasive to a little girl! It’s like cutting her open to find the cause!
Raphael:
Anyway! Whether the problem is physical or mental, I got this! Don’t worry, Beryl, as your primary physician, I’ll stand by you! I’ll find the cause, then get you back to normal in no time!
Navigator:
No time... Better not mean that she doesn’t have much time left...
Raphael:
[Navigator]! Don’t make a joke like that in front of the patient!
Beryl:
Thank you.
Vice:
What’s going on?
Carleen:
Hello, [Navigator]. Ah, hello Raphael. I see you’re here as well.
Raphael:
Carleen! What are you doing here?
Carleen:
I’m here representing Lumopolis on a regular official visit, and chatting with Vice while at it. And these two are...?
Navigator:
This is Faust.
Faust:
Good day, madam.
Carleen:
Are you with The True Order?
Faust:
I did not expect you to know about The True Order. Are you a seeker of The Truth as well?
Carleen:
I’m not interested in the so-called Truth. I have my own beliefs.
Faust:
What a pity. However, as long as you consider The Truth, you are one step closer to The Truth. Perhaps we will meet at the end.
Carleen:
How nonchalant... Who’s the girl, [Navigator]?
Navigator:
Her name’s Beryl. Faust brought her, seems to be a friend of his.
Raphael:
Beryl is under my care now, Carleen.
Carleen:
I see. Very good, Raphael. Do take great care of the patient in the name of White Night.
Raphael:
Heehee, of course! But we still don’t know what’s bothering Beryl. Our guess is it’s mental or stress-related.
Vice:
You can treat mental illness too? Guess you’re more than a missile-firing combat angel!
Raphael:
Don’t underestimate the Angels of Lumopolis, Vice!
Navigator:
(Nice, it looks like Raphael is getting along with Vice!)
Vice:
What’s with that stupid grin, [Navigator]? Oh, I brought something awesome. Maybe you’ll find it useful. Here's the letter for you.
Navigator:
A letter for me?
Vice:
Eho handed it to me before running off. The envelope reads, Tir’ Hotel. But oddly, no sender listed. Are you going to open it?
Don’t be so timid. It’ll be fine! Let me open it for you!
Navigator:
Watch out, it might explode!
Vice:
It’s just a paper inside, and a fine one at that, in matte.
Navigator:
Phew, nothing happened, thank goodness.
It should be okay. Let's open it.
Vice:
Open it. I want to know what’s inside too.
Navigator:
Hmm, it’s just a sheet of paper.
Vice:
That’s it?
Carleen:
What does it say, [Navigator]?
Navigator:
Well...
Dear [Navigator], You are cordially invited to visit the Tir’ Hotel for vacation. Join our exciting Ocean Sovereign event.
Navigator:
Enclosed is an invitation good for up to six other friends in your party. Enjoy free luxury suite and all amenities!
Vice:
This is wonderful! I’ve been dying to go to the beach! The festival should do Beryl a lot of good! If her condition is indeed stress-related, a fun trip might do the trick!
Raphael:
Let’s go to the beach with Beryl, [Navigator], pretty please?
Navigator:
Hold on, I’m still processing this. I’ve never even heard of the place...
Vice:
Don’t worry, [Navigator], the resort is actually quite famous.
Carleen:
That’s true, the Tir’ Hotel has made a name for itself in the Lumo noble circle. Even I heard a bit about it. Supposedly, the owner runs an excellent business. The invitation and the so-called Ocean Sovereign are probably meant to be hype.
Navigator:
But why would I be invited?
Carleen:
It might be some sort of publicity stunt. Most Aurorians are rather curious about Caelestites. A facility, a room, or even a table that a Caelestite stayed in or ate at could be a scheme to promote the resort.
Navigator:
That makes me sound like some sort of exotic animal...
The Crowd:
...
Navigator:
... Not even going to refute that?
Vice:
Since it’s a leisure spot for the nobles and this benefits both them and us... It should be totally safe, right?
Faust:
Looks like there is a consensus.
Navigator:
You're still here?
Faust:
I shall leave Beryl to you and please enjoy the trip. Farewell.
Vice:
Faust still comes and goes like the wind as always.
Raphael:
Great! I’ll do my duty as a physician and take good care of you, Beryl!
Navigator:
I just don’t think everything is as simple as it seems...
Vice:
Look, there! There's the sea! This is my first time seeing the ocean, [Navigator].
Navigator:
You too, Vice? I thought I was the only one...
Vice:
Of course you are not the only one! It’s hard to come out this far without a Colossus, after all.
Vice:
The sea breeze is so nice. The alluring blue everywhere really helps ease the mind. This should do wonders for Beryl!
Navigator:
You keep saying it’s for Beryl, but you actually wanted to have fun at the beach, huh?
Vice:
Yes, that’s one reason. Because for most Aurorians, going to the beach is really rare. You probably don’t understand that, having lived so long in the Colossus. To Aurorians, beach vacations are now a rite of passage!
Navigator:
Why would you say that?
Vice:
Think about it, a lot of Eclipsites now hang out along the coast. You have to be ready for their attacks while enjoying the sun and waves. Isn’t the combination of danger and relaxation challenging?
Navigator:
Challenging? That sounds incredibly dangerous! Let’s say I’m buried in the sand and the Eclipsites pop up. You’re not going to abandon me and run, are you, Vice?
Vice:
Aren’t we friends? I would never do that! Regardless, the sun plus cool seawater is good for the mind. Beryl can and will relax here for sure.
Navigator:
Seawater is for swimming, right? But we didn’t pack any swimwear.
Carleen:
You don’t have to fret about that one bit. I know the resort sells their own brand of swimwear. Their clienteles are Lumopolis nobles, after all.
Navigator:
They even sell swimwear? That’s covering all bases.
Carleen:
Of course. Swimwear to the beach is like armor to the battlefield. Whether it’s a soldier of Illumina or noble of Lumopolis, swimwear is a must at the beach. It’s simply beach etiquette!
Navigator:
I see... (How come it’s different from what Soroz told me? Is that really what’s swimwear for?) How do you know so much about hotels and swimwear, Carleen?
Carleen:
How is that odd? I am the Captain of the Lumopolis Guardians, after all. It’s part of my job to keep up with the trends among the nobles. Anyway, look forward to my swimsuit, [Navigator].
Navigator:
(Carleen in a swimsuit?) Uh, sure.
Carleen:
Why do you keep looking at me like that, [Navigator]? Do I look weird?
Navigator:
No, not at all! Oh, what else do you know about this hotel resort?
Carleen:
I know it used to belong to a noble in Lumopolis. Until it was sold to an unknown party in Umbraton due to failing business. Umbraton is already a confusing place, so it’s hard to validate that piece of information. Not to mention an unknown party that goes out of its way to hide itself. Outsiders wouldn’t even get a whiff of it without a proficient local source.
Navigator:
I see. Umbraton is indeed inscrutable.
Carleen:
Yes. It owes all the present stability and harmony to...
Raphael:
Wait, stop with the serious topics! Our goal for the trip is to help Beryl relax and recuperate!
Beryl:
I’m fine...
Navigator:
!!!
Vice:
[Navigator]?
Navigator:
Soroz!
Soroz:
Strong interference with the piloting system detected in the direction of the destination, [Navigator]. If we continue, we could fly out of control.
Beryl:
Ugh...!
Raphael:
Beryl? What's wrong?
Navigator:
Pull away from the destination, Soroz, and find a spot to land immediately!
Soroz:
Understood.
Navigator:
Are you okay, Beryl?
Navigator:
Where... Where am I? The heat of flames, the smell of smoke, and cries of many Aurorians.. But I can’t see anything... Where exactly am I?
Vice:
[Navigator]! [Navigator]!!
Navigator:
Vice?
Carleen:
Are you all right, [Navigator]?
Navigator:
What happened?
Vice:
You froze after bumping into Beryl. Did you sense something?
Navigator:
Yeah, but it was blurry... Never mind. What’s our present situation?
Soroz:
We’re out of the interference range, now I am looking for a landing spot.
