Termination of Destiny/Transcripts

Sweeping the Dark Away Start

Transcript
The blade of light cuts a hole in the darkness. We charge through it. And I feel the bottomless, clinging evil of this place finally begins to slide off of my skin. I'm hit with the sensation that I've been flung into the air, and am falling back down. Where I land...
(user)	This place...
Around us is a void without end. Giant boulders, like the one we're standing on, float here and there within an endless sea of clouds.
Sara	This is so weird... It's like we're up in the sky.
Kana	I've never been anywhere like this before. And yet, somehow it feels so familiar.
Lippy	We may somehow be among the seal of otherworld from that very time.
Zephyr	Ah... So that sword of light cut a hole through Nidhogg's gut, and we went through it.
What's outside of Nidhogg. So, in other words... This is where Nidhogg lives. I look up to the sky... ...and see its massive form descending slowly through the clouds. The scales of black steel... The sharp, red claws and fangs. His tail, as thick as the trunk of a massive tree, wriggles as he glides to a halt... ...directly in front of us.
(user)	Nidhogg!
He addresses us head-on, his red eyes glittering as they fix coldly upon us.
Demonic	Heh... ha ha ha ha... I never imagined you'd find your way out of the spiral of eternity. Well, good for you. I guess even the most primitive of vermin can manage to mature a little, given enough time. Perhaps I should thank you! You all have put on a far more entertaining show than I'd ever dared to hope.
The amusement in his voice is clear as he speaks.
Demonic	Waging constant war, unaware that you were battling your own dear friend... Slaughtering each other over and over again... Having your plans dashed time and time again by the very person you sought to rescue... Your pathetic flailings have brought me so much satisfaction. As a reward, I shall consume and digest you quickly and painlessly, without toying with you any further. Do not worry about me. Once I've used your power to break out of this place, I shall have ample opportunities to find new playthings. Running away is an option, of course. Although I warn you, the more trouble you cause, the more difficulty I may have killing you cleanly. Ah ha ha ha!
The dragon's face is twisted with cruelty, his voice mocking. But... So what? I look up at the dragon, and speak.
(user)	For who?
Demonic	What...?
(user)	Running away is an option for who? Because it sure as hell isn't for you. I thought I was pretty clear earlier. I'm not going to let you get away.
Demonic	Were you now? I'm afraid I pay little mind to the squeaking of vermin.
(user)	We aren't vermin. We have souls! I won't let you keep trampling upon them, and darkening our world with your evil!
The passion in my heart sets my blood boiling. The fire in my soul stirs my body to motion. In spirit and in flesh, I have never been more ready to fight.
(user)	This ends here, Nidhogg. Your chain of malice is about to be broken!
My friends are lined up beside me, ready to fight.
Sara	I won't let you make anyone into your "plaything!" No more history with misery will be create! You've brought too much tragedy to our world already. I won't let you ever be a part of it again!
Lippy	None of us could ever abide allowing a being as revolting as you to continue spreading your filth. As a soldier of the divine, it will be my honor to deliver the righteous judgment of the Heavens upon you!
Zephyr	I've lost any right I ever head to preach about justice or the divine. But I will say this... ...I am going to tear you to pieces with my own two hands, Nidhogg!
Kana	Evil may lurk in the shadows of every man's soul, but even the worst people have a desire to do the right thing hidden somewhere within them. Not you, though. The only joy you know is bringing pain to others. And for that, you don't deserve to exist!
We've achieved nearly all that we came here for. We rescued Zephyr, and we rescued Kana. There's only one thing left that we have to do... Save Liafyse from Nidhogg's spiral of darkness for once and for all.
Demonic	Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!
Nidhogg bellows out his high, twisted laugh... ...as he spew out a cloud of his powerful dark-energy miasma.
Demonic	Listen to the vermin mewl and bay! Truly, you never cease to delight me. You are the finest of playthings. But no toy lasts forever. At least I shall have the pleasure of playing with you this one last time, until you're broken beyond all repair. I doubt you'll last for long, but I trust you'll thoroughly amuse me until the moment you draw your dying breaths!
(user)	Okay, my friends—attack!

Sweeping the Dark Away End

Transcript
Flurries of strikes... Barrages of artes...
(user)	Heeyah!
Head, arms, abdomen, tail, back, neck— We pound every part of his body with an onslaught of attacks.
Demonic	Grreaarrgghh?!
A flicker of light envelops the dragon's body, then detonates. Nothing makes a big impact, but... Little by little, it feels our foe has begun to falter.
Kana	It's working! Let's finish him o— Bwah?!
Kana moves in to deliver a killing blow, but Zephyr grabs her hood to pull her back.
Zephyr	That's a feint. Don't fall for it.
Kana	Oh?! Whoops!
Zephyr	You'll get your turn, I promise.
My eyes are half-blind from the light, but I can sense his rage spiking—
Zephyr	Incoming!
Zephyr's keen combat instincts had pinpointed the timing of the enemy's counterattack perfectly. Nidhogg is using our own light attacks to conceal his movements. He returns fire with a barrage of dark energy.
Lippy	Lady Kana! Please!
Kana	I'm on it! Shimmer, shield of radiant light!
[Kwonnnngggg!!!] A divine shield appears between us and Nidhogg, deflecting the deadly blasts.
Kana	Perfect timing!
Now that we have Zephyr's strength and instincts, as well as Kana's access to the goddess's power... ...we've managed to regain the momentum we'd lost battling the endless shadows within Nidhogg. We're fighting like a well-oiled machine, effortlessly switching from defense to offense, and constantly supporting each other. Our enemy's strength is dwindling as he repeatedly fails to break through our united front.
Sara	Just hold the line, and we got this!
There's no way Nidhogg should be able to shrug off the damage we've done to him. Nevertheless... Even in the face of our rally, He breaks into a wide smirk and laughs.
Demonic	Ah ha ha ha ha... Don't you all look pleased with yourselves! Has hope taken root in your little vermin hearts? Did you start to think that you might actually survive? I'll show you how thin the strand of hope you cling to truly is.
[Hisssss...] Dark energies begin to build... A discordant note rings out as the void itself trembles. [Hisssss...] The darkness that emerges from Nidhogg's body corrodes everything around it. [Hisssss...] With loud creaks and groans, the darkness begins to transform the massive creature... Until he's reborn in the form of pure evil itself...

Eternity's End Start

Transcript
Demonic	Grraawwrrrhhh!!!
(user)	The heck?!
The beast's ungodly howl would have been enough to send a shiver down to my spine... But it's the accompanying burst of sickly, clinging darkness that gnaws at my nerves like a deadly toxin.
Lippy	How can he still possess such power...!
Demonic	Ah ha ha ha ha ha! Drink it in, vermin! Witness the true power of the eater of worlds! Where is your hope now? For you have no chance of enduring such darkness!
The dragon's shrill laughter reverberates through my bones... I can feel a cold sensation running down my spine. And just as I begin to fear that we'll be absorbed by the power of its all-consuming darkness...
Zephyr	Yeah, pretty sure you got that backwards, Nid.
...Zephyr's quiet voice pierces the overpowering gloom.
Demonic	......
The laughter ceases.
Zephyr	I've been right there with you for eons, remember? And I'm pretty damn sure this here is all you got left. You live to ridicule your adversaries. You'd kill us with the gentle tap of a finger if you could, just to maximize our humiliation. Where's the mockery in having to resort to your final trump card?
Zephyr's words land harder than any counterattack we could have mustered.
Zephyr	You're worried you're gonna lose. This here is your last hope.
And the courage within us that the darkness had smothered bursts back into flame.
Lippy	Ah! This is merely a show of strength to hide the extent of his weakness!
Kana	We just gotta keep pushing! We've almost got him beat!
The dragon's eyes flash crimson at Kana's words... ...An unmistakable flicker of anger.
Demonic	You think you have me beaten...?
In an instant...
(user)	Wha..?!
The dark miasma coiling around him begins to swirl like a tornado.
Demonic	Don't you dare say that, you presumptuous little vermin...!
I can sense dark energy gathering around his mouth.
Demonic	Your flesh will melt! Your bones will burn! Only ashes will remain! You'll die like the vermin you are!
For the first time, the incessant scorn had ceased, replaced with pure, raw anger.
Lippy	He's lashing out like a cornered beast!
Demonic	Die!!!
The dark energy that had gathered around Nidhogg's mouth shoots out as a pillar of black flame. The concentrated malice in the shockwave alone nearly overwhelms me. I have no doubt that a direct hit would incinerate us instantly. Nevertheless...
(user)	You think your empty threats still scare us?
I kick off of the boulder beneath my feet, taking a lengthy leap to evade the blast.
(user)	Urk?!
The blast vaporizes the boulder, and the shockwave from the impact sends us flying through the air. I manage to regain control of my descent, but can see no solid ground on which to land. All of us are falling through the sea of clouds. And even as we tumble through the air, Nidhogg beats his wings to surge after us.
Demonic	Ah ha ha ha ha ha! Where's your cocksure proclamations now, vermin? How will you stop me from eviscerating you as you fall?
(user)	(We've still got a shot...) Do it, Lippy!
Lippy	Right away, Great Savior! It appears it's our turn to play the trump card!
Lippy produces the small vial. A blue liquid shimmers within it. Our last sacred magical artifact— the Archmateria.
Lippy	Behold the might of the Heavens!
Lippy pops the corks and downs the vial's contents in a single gulp. Then... Lippy's body shimmers with a bright blue light. I can feel the tingle of magical energy...
Lippy	Archmateria is the essence of divine magic! It provides an explosive burst of energy to any who consume it! Its effect will not last long. But I do believe it will be sufficient!
Divine energy surrounds Lippy, forming a cocoon of light. Lippy's body appears to be dissolving within it... ...only to burst back out of the cocoon a moment later... ...transformed.
Lippy	I appear before you in the form of a divine beast, metamorphosed with the power of a god! Dear friends! Take purchase upon my back!
Sara	Gotcha!
Kana	Whoa!
Lippy soars through the air, scooping each of us up. Then, skillfully evading Nidhogg's claws, Lippy glides to a safer distance away.
Sara	Thanks, Lippy!
Lippy	Now we can continue the fight without having to worry about the ground beneath us!
Demonic	So the vermin have sprouted wings... I will make you regret not accepting my reward of a clean death!
Grrraawwrrr!!! Nidhogg roars again, even louder than before. The dark energy surrounding him ripples with purple electricity. A big attack is probably imminent. This will be the decisive moment.
(user)	This is it, guys. One way or another, the battle ends here! We need to hit him all at once, with everything we've got. We'll wait on your signal, Zephyr. Tell us when to strike.
Zephyr	You got it. I'll find us an opening.
Lippy	I am most eager to show you all what this divine beast is capable of!
Sara	Everything in this world that I care about... I'm putting it all into the edge of this blade!
Kana	Goddess Leonne! Hear my prayers and respond with your strength! Join our fight!
It is time to take all the separation and sorrow we've suffered... ...and slice it out of our long, long tale of adventure. It is time to bring an end to one dark chapter... ...And mark the start of a far brighter one.
Together	It is time to not just step off our dark spiral of destiny... ...but to send it crashing down behind us.
(user)	Let's finish this, Nidhogg!

Eternity's End End

Transcript
(user)	Heeyah!!!
Demonic	Hrrraaarrk?!
Nidhogg's massive frame recoils at the force of our combined attack. Had it worked? Or is his reaction just a feint to convince us it had? What do you see, Zephyr?
Zephyr	This is it! Keep the pressure on! We can win this battle! Move in! Lippy—he'll be flailing, so focus on evasion!
Lippy	I will not disappoint you, Master Zephyr!
With a sudden burst of speed, Lippy surges through the sky. Nidhogg bellows in response to our renewed offensive.
Demonic	Grrrraaawwwwrrrr!!! Damn you! I am the apex of evil, the corruptor of worlds! You vermin are not fit to raise your blades to me!
Nidhogg's coiling darkness surges out at Lippy, in the form of tentacles reaching out to catch and crush us.
Lippy	You'll never catch me, dragon! Hold on tight, my friends!
(user)	Got it!
Lippy changes course with a vigorous flap of one wing. The maneuver sends us into a tailspin that's fast and unpredictable enough to evade the grasping tentacles.
(user)	Oof!
I feel like I'm about to be thrown off Lippy's back, but I grit my teeth and endure.
Lippy	We're safe! Now, let us retaliate in unison!
Zephyr	No, not yet! He's firing a volley!
The cloud of magical energy around Nidhogg's mouth coalesces into a barrage of black energy orbs.
Zephyr	Dive, Lippy, Dive! We'll limit what side he can hit!
If Zephyr can tell where the barrage is headed, then...
(user)	Kana! Protect the left flank!
Kana	Of course! I can handle whatever he's got!
Zephyr	Now!
Demonic	Diiiiieeeee!
The black orbs become streaking meteors of pure darkness and rain down at an angle.
Lippy	If we can make it through these, we'll have our chance to strike back! Don't anyone loosen their grip!
Lippy's wings beat furiously, giving us a surge of forward momentum. With a thunderous roar, a meteor crashes harmlessly through the clouds behind us.
Sara	Two more incoming!
Two more meteors are bearing down upon us. This time, it's our turn!
(user)/Kana	Shimmer, bastion of radiant light! Orichalcum Fort!
[Kwonnnngggg!!!] The shield of light knocks the meteors safely away.
Zephyr	We're through 'em! Now, rise! Full speed!
Lippy	Yes Master Zephyr!
Lippy surges upward and soars straight towards Nidhogg. As we near his face, I can see how deeply the anger burns within his eyes.
Zephyr	This is our chance! Payback time, Nidhogg!
Demonic	You dare to taunt me...? Learn your place, vermin!
Zephyr	We've known each other a long time, and I can't tell you how sick I am of hearing you say that. Whaddya say we make this time the last? Firebolts of destruction! With this hand, I grant your oblivion! Vacant End!
The bolts of flame that erupt from Zephyr's arms burn through Nidhogg's darkness...
Demonic	Grrraaawwwrrggghh?!?!
His face erupts into an inferno of flame and crackling electricity, blinding him completely.
Lippy	And now, if I may... I'd like to demonstrate the light breath attack of my beast form! Sacred Breath!
A searing wave of light bellows out from Lippy's mouth and tears into Nidhogg, as if burning away the very evil that sustains him.
Lippy	May the light burn you to ashes, vile wyrm!
Nidhogg appears to be wracked with pain—and Kana and I haven't even had our turns yet.
(user)	O divine arrow, wrought from the Gods! Shine thy light through this evil! Apollonian Tear!
Demonic	Nnnnnghaaahhh!!!
The arrow zigzags through the sky, piercing Nidhogg over and over again.
Kana	Air and wave, earth and flame! Harmonize with the light as it plays its purging song! Celestial Fall!
Demonic	Gwaaahhhhh?!
Divine power falls through the air like petals of light, forming a whirlwind that slices through the darkness.
Zephyr	Finish him, Sara!
Sara	You bet! Lippy, help me out here!
Lippy	Of course, Lady Sara!
Lippy soars to a position high above Nidhogg's head. Sara looks down upon the flailing dragon, and "draws" her blade of divine light. Sara focuses all her magical energy into the blade... ...until it burns with a brilliant blue light.
Lippy	Get ready, Lady Sara!
Lippy turns. Accelerating all the while, Lippy dives straight down... ...allowing Sara to add the downward momentum to the force of her single swing.
Sara	Slash straight and true!
Responding to her command, the blade extends itself, long and straight.
Sara	Take this, Nidhogg!!!
Demonic	Grrrraaawwwrggggk?!
The blade of light slices through Nidhogg, from the top of his head to the tip of his tail.
Demonic	Urk...
Darkness spews from the cut like splatters of blood. It was obvious that the strength was draining out of Nidhogg's body.
Demonic	Grrraaawwwrrr!!!
The dragon emits a deafening roar... ...as the darkness that had enveloped its body begins to fall away like a gentle snowfall. The battle is over.

Eternity's End Epilogue

Transcript
Sara	*pant*... *pant*...
Kana	We did it...
Lippy	I believe we've won...
Zephyr	It's over...
I gaze upon the dragon's body as it tumbles through the clouds. I still can't believe it's really over. But the complete and total exhaustion that has overtaken my body attests to the fact that it is.
(user)	(This exhaustion will turn to joy soon, I suspect—) —!
A familiar feeling of evil tickles my spine. And then I notice it—something about the dragon's body is wrong.
(user)	This isn't over! Not yet!
Sara	Huh?! Its wings...!
Its wings, though bent and broken, begin to beat weakly.
Kana	Is he flying away?!
Zephyr	We cannot allow him any opportunity to rest and recover his strength!
Lippy	We must give pursuit! We must finish—
But a violent spasm takes hold as soon as Lippy's wings begin to beat...
Sara	L-Lippy?!
Lippy	Curses! I hadn't realized that I'd expended so much of my power!
That's no surprise. We were all thoroughly spent. Beneath us, Nidhogg has managed to fully extend his wings... If we let him beat them, it's over. We'd never catch up. We can't let him get away. It's now or never. My body is already in motion. I leap off Lippy's back—
(user)	Ah!
Sara	(user)?!
I'm plummeting through the air...
Zephyr	Ha!
Kana	Zephyr?!
We'd both jumped at the same time. I turn my body to try to control my speed and direction, aiming for the dragon below. I steal a quick glance at Zephyr, who's doing the same thing beside me, and see a grin upon his face.
Zephyr	Can't let him get away, right?
(user)	Yeah! Gotta finish this!
...I yell back. Beneath us, the dragon looks up, eyes alight with rage, and bellows.
Demonic	You insufferable, obstinate vermin! I'll not have you looking down upon me! You think you've beaten me? The wounds you've inflicted are nothing! I'll make you choke on your arrogance! Did you think to chase after me and finish me off? You fools! I've more than enough power left to crush you! Pathetic little wretches with your childlike sense of morality! You fancy yourselves a match for me, the living paragon of evil?!
Once again, magical energy is collecting around Nidhogg's mouth, and his eyes are locked upon us. But we have no intention of being sitting ducks as he blasts us out of the sky.
(user)	We can still use that power, right Zephyr?
Zephyr	Probably. I'm plenty rusty, though.
It was a power I'd only reclaimed recently, when my memories of the distant past returned to me.
(user)	I'm sure you've still got it. Let's do it, Zephyr!
Zephyr	You got it, partner!
We both concentrate on unleashing the power. All my attention is focused upon that point on my upper back...
(user)	Heeeyaaaahhh!!!
[Fwooosh!] It was a divine power we'd possessed since birth... ...Our wings of light. Beating them fast, we surge towards Nidhogg.
(user)	We need to put everything we got into this. Even the power of our wings...
Zephyr	Yep. Put it all into this one shot!
Magical energy flows from our wings to our fists. But Nidhogg's darkness is already forming into those familiar round shapes.
Demonic	How I tire of your incessant tricks! This volley shall be your end!
With a twist of his neck, Nidhogg lets the barrage of magical blasts fly.
Demonic	Die, you wretched vermin! Diiiieeee!
(user)/Zephyr	You die, wyrm!
The dark magic blasts would hit us head-on. We'd have to punch right through them.
(user)	Azure light, fill the sky!
Zephyr	Crimson light, paint the Heavens!
(user)/Zephyr	Entwine thy light into a lance to pierce this evil! Orbital Lux!
Demonic	What?! My darkness... just... swept away?! Gwaaaaahhhhh?!
From within the explosion of light and thunderous roar caused by the impact of the two powers... We could hear the dying screams of the dragon... ...and witness the darkness being burned away by our holy light.

A Future Together Start

Transcript
All the strength drains from my body. The wings upon my back begin to disintegrate.
Zephyr	That about did us both in, huh?
I glance over at Zephyr, and see his wings are dissolving as well. That's what happens when you divert their energy to another purpose. Little by little, our bodies are beginning their long plummet down to the clouds below.
Zephyr	Once we get into those clouds, no one'll ever be able to find us...
I suppose he's right. We'll just keep falling through this void for all eternity. From the pained expression on his face, I gather that Zephyr had arrived at the same conclusion.
Zephyr	What were you thinking, jumping down like that? You're supposed to be the rear guard, remember? I'm the one who charges into danger.
(user)	I blame my partner for that. Hard not to be influenced by him when I'm constantly covering for his reckless behavior.
We're falling slowly now, but still close enough to converse.
Zephyr	Huh. Sounds like your partner's a real piece of work. Probably should have ditched that idiot a long time ago.
(user)	Doubt I could have done that even if I'd wanted to. None of us could.
Zephyr	Pity.
(user)	I'm just gonna stop you right there, before you start asking me to take what's left of your wing energy, so that only I can fly away.
Zephyr	You son of a...
I could see a hint of surprise on Zephyr's face. But then he looks away, as if embarrassed, smiling slightly.
Zephyr	Always one step ahead of me, eh? Fine, so what's the plan? We're out of energy, and our wings are dissolving away. We don't have a lot of options here.
(user)	Yeah, but I can think of one chance we do have. You know the one I mean?
Zephyr	Ah, that... Yeah, I suppose they would do that, wouldn't they.
Zephyr smiles. As he falls, he extends a hand out to the sky. I do the same. Reaching for the one ray of light shining through this empty void. I thrust out my arm as far as I can. Reaching for something I could never replace. The souls who have taken my hand time and time again... ...throughout countless eternities. The souls I never fail to meet. We have friends. And there they are... ...riding upon Lippy's back. Even as the last fragments of my wings are dissolving behind me, I smile as brightly as I ever have. Sara and Kana reach their hands down to us... ...as if they were the envoys, descending down from the Heavens. They take our hands, as they have so many times before... ...and pull us up onto Lippy's back.
(user)	All right. Everyone ready to go home? Back to Liafyse?
Sara	Absolutely! All of us together!
Kana	But how exactly are we gonna get out of here?
Zephyr	Good question... Maybe we ought to ask the creator of this void? Whaddya say, Kana?
Kana	M-Me? But, it was the power of the goddesses of the otherworld that created this! I don't possess their power anymore!
Zephyr	Maybe that power is no longer within you, but...
Lippy	Hmm? Oh, of course! Lady Kana, some of the power of the goddesses remains within the three of us!
Kana	Oh, right! You've had it within you all this time!
Sara	I'm sure if you were to ask them, Kana, they would answer.
Kana	The goddesses are really nice, so... you might be right! I'll give it a try!
Kana closes her eyes, and offers up a prayer. And instantly, the void fills with light...

A Future Together End

Transcript
I'm bathed in light... For a brief moment, it feels like someone is gently tugging my arm... My eyes open, and... I'm standing on solid ground again.
(user)	Where...?
Lippy is already tapping away at the smartphon, trying to identify our location.
Lippy	We're in a field a short distance away from the ruins. This is indeed Liafyse!
Kana	We're home! You guys, we all made it back home!
Kana's head is whipping back and forth, looking all around us.
Kana	Oh, wow!
She squeals happily, and bursts into an energetic run!
Kana	Everything's green! It's so beautiful! I can feel the wind... I can smell the grass! Look at that blue sky! And those mountains! Are those flowers...? Everything's so vivid!
(user)	Oh...!
That's right. How long has it been since Kana's set foot on Liafyse? Sara leaps to her feet and chases after Kana, embracing her tightly when she catches her.
Sara	There's so much I have to show you, Kana! There's so much to see! We can go anywhere now!
Sara beams as tears stream down her face. She can't stop stroking Kana's hair.
Kana	Yeah, I can't wait! I've never been so happy!
Zephyr mutters something as he watches the girls frolic.
Zephyr	I can't tell you how long I've wanted to see this.
He'd brought Kana back. His dream had finally come true.
Zephyr	It's such a load off. I've never felt such relief.
His muttered words find my ears, then disappear into the wind. Zephyr looks skyward, as if watching them soar away. His posture looks strangely slumped.
(user)	Zephyr...?
But just as I'm about ask if anything is wrong...
????	I am so pleased to see that you've all returned safely.
A clear, pure voice echoes through the air. I turn to see a portal of light. Leonne and Caesar step through it.
Sara	My Goddess! Caesar! Caesar, I heard you fought Nidhogg's monsters—I'm so glad you're okay!
Caesar	And I'm happy to see you too. It appears you've done what you set out to do... That's wonderful.
Leonne takes a step forward, and respectfully offers us her gratitude.
Leonne	The eradication of Nidhogg is a great feat indeed. You have my deepest appreciation. His tendrils of corruption had tainted not just the Heavens and the surface world, but the very heart of Liafyse itself. By destroying this creeping evil that has tormented us for eons, you have diverted the destiny of Liafyse to a far brighter path. I cannot thank you enough for your commitment to justice and your devotion to the cause of peace. Kana. Had it not been for the strength of your conviction and your prayers, this world could have been at Nidhogg's mercy forever.
Kana	Oh, no, my Goddess! I didn't do anything so great. I wasn't thinking about that at all! I just wanted to save my friends. That was all!
Leonne	And in doing so, you saved not only your friends, but your world. As you have illustrated, people need only care about each other to do great things.
Kana	That's... wow. I'd never thought of it like that before. That's incredible!
Leonne	Lippy. I tasked you with a punishing mission and you succeeded with aplomb.
Lippy	My Goddess. I owe this success to my companions. Were they not so worthy of my devotion, I could never have risen to this occasion. Their willingness to risk their lives for their duty is what gave me the strength to wield such great power. In other words, the credit belongs to them, not to I.
Leonne	Always so humble, Lippy. I assure you that your companions feel the same way about you.
Lippy	Then I am honored beyond belief.
Leonne	Sara... You've endured a grim destiny, one no mortal human could be expected to survive. And yet, you've emerged triumphant in every way.
Sara	I guess it was grim, but... Maybe I never would have found so many people to care about otherwise? In the end, I'm glad I chose to embark upon this adventure.
Leonne	I am in awe of your ability to face down such horrors with a smile and call the ordeal an "adventure." Your bright smile and firm heart provide invaluable support to those around you.
Sara	I'm glad. I really, truly am.
Leonne	And finally, (user), Lillium... I thank you for a job well done as envoys of the Heavens. Especially you, (user). No reward or expression of gratitude could ever be sufficient for what you've done. You have surmounted great challenges without fail, lead your companions wisely, and the light of justice has never wavered within your heart. You have distinguished yourself among my envoys, and truly earned the appellation of "Great Savior."
(user)	I... I am not worthy of such praise, my goddess.
I couldn't help but be embarrassed at her words. It must have shown.
Zephyr	Are you blushing? Come on, partner, pull it together. Eh... I guess that's the way it always is with you.
Zephyr claps me on the shoulder, hard.
Zephyr	You really are incredible, you know. You earned every word of that, so try and enjoy it. Go ahead and swagger a little.
(user)	How about I just say... I am honored, my Goddess.
That reply was all I could manage.
Leonne	There is no need for such humility, (user). Although it is exactly what I expected from you.
Leonne smiles, and the smile quickly spreads throughout my companions. Seeing them all with smiles upon their faces—that means far more to me than any words of praise. Next, Leonne turns to face Zephyr.
Leonne	Lillium, you too have served with—
Zephyr	My Goddess, Leonne, forgive me for interrupting, but I'm eager for you to honor the promise you made to me.
A promise...?
Leonne	Lillium... My promise will be kept. You will receive what you asked for.
Zephyr	Good. Ideally, I'd like it now.
What did he ask for...?
Leonne	Very well.
Leonne closes her eyes, and begins to trace some sort of pattern in the sky.
Lippy	D-Dear me! That's the sigil of the dimensional key!
Wait a minute... Before anyone can get a word in, a portal opens before us.
(user)	(It's beautiful...)
The portal glows with what is unmistakably divine light. This is surely a portal to the Heavens. And yet, something about the portal repels me.
Leonne	This portal will take you to the Circle of Purification—the penitentiary of the Heavens.
Penitentiary...?
Leonne	It is where the fallen of the Heavens go to purge the sin from their souls. The deeper the sin has scarred one's soul, the hotter the fires of purity will burn.
Why would Leonne summon such a portal here?
Leonne	The truly sinful are said to experience what feels like an eternity of anguish.
Why is she telling us this?
Leonne	Lillium, I am prepared to honor your request for divine retribution...
(user)	What?
Leonne	...by banishing your soul to the Circle or Purification.
Zephyr	Thank you, my Goddess.
Wait, what?!
Kana	No, you can't do this! Zephyr, stop!
Kana shouts her objection, beating us all to the punch. But Zephyr merely shakes his head slightly.
Zephyr	Isn't this exactly what I have to do? In fact, after what I did... This may not even be punishment enough.
Kana	But... But...
I can see the anger beginning to flare up in Kana's eyes.
Kana	But I just got you back!
She isn't angry at Zephyr. She seems all the more angry that there isn't anyone to be angry at. She can only seethe at the unfairness of it all.
Zephyr	I've no one to blame for my crimes but myself. Dying won't absolve me of anything. There's no absolution for what I've done. My sin is far too great, and far too evil.
Zephyr looks to Leonne. She meets his gaze, her face hard, with no trace of her usual kindness and warmth. She turns to address us.
Leonne	I will not forgive his crimes.
With that declaration, her gaze returns to Lillium.
(user)	My Goddess...
Leonne	For a long period of time, you have been engaged in the corruption of this world as an agent of darkness. The human system of law is not capable of handling your crimes, Lillium. Therefore, you have been judged under divine rules of retribution. Until your befouled soul is cleansed of its sin, you will suffer for what will feel like an eternity. And this-- is the punishment you asked for.
My mind races frantically. I have to say something, but the words are nowhere to be found.
Zephyr	It is a great relief to me that I was able to aid you in defeating Nidhogg, and rescuing Kana. I apologize for any pain this may cause to all of you, who went through so much to rescue me, but... I need to be clear about this. I succumbed to my own weakness. And that's the only reason that Nidhogg was able to manipulate me.
Zephyr makes the proclamation with no hint of uncertainty in his voice. Once again, Kana is the first to react. She can barely muster a whisper through quivering lips...
Kana	But... you promised me...
Zephyr	I'm sorry about that. I can't keep that promise.
Kana's whole body is trembling with emotion now.
Kana	Then I'm going with you!
Zephyr	Kana, stop. You're being ridiculous.
Zephyr rebukes her as quietly and gently as he can.
Zephyr	This is a place for sinners. You've got no business there.
Kana	You think I'm not a sinner? You're wrong!
Kana locks her fierce gaze upon Zephyr.
Kana	I was the one who gave up on being rescued that day. That's my sin!
Zephyr	Listen, I don't even know what you're talking about, but—
Kana	I didn't live up to what I promised at all! I said I'd never sacrifice anyone to progress on my journey, ever! But then I figured, if it was just me who died, that would be okay! I didn't think about how badly it would hurt the people I loved!
Zephyr	Kana...
Kana	All of this started because of me. And if you think you deserve punishment because you were weak, then so do I! I'm as much to blame as you are!
Overwhelmed with emotion, the words keep spilling out of Kana's mouth. The sentiment is clear. She wants to be with Zephyr, no matter what. But Zephyr is having none of it.
Zephyr	That doesn't make any sense, Kana. I'm sorry.
His refusal is soft, and gentle, and rings of finality. Zephyr has made up his mind. There's no getting through to him. Kana is a fountain of tears, but Zephyr just stands there, not even offering her his hand.
Sara	Zephyr...
Zephyr	Sara, Lippy... I'm counting on you guys to look after her, okay?
Sara	I hate this, Zephyr. I hate everything about this. This isn't how it's supposed to end!
Zephyr	Yeah... I'm sorry.
Sara	I'm not going to let you off that easy! Stay! Stay and look after her yourself!
Zephyr	I can't do that, Sara.
Lippy	But, Master Zephyr, why must it be this way? Surely if we put our heads together, we can come up with a more satisfactory resolution!
Zephyr	Lippy, if you were in my shoes, what would you do?
Lippy	I... Well... But... That's not fair! That's... That's purely hypothetical!
Zephyr	But... you understand, right?
We understand. We understand all too well. That's why we're so upset. Everyone here... We all love you. We understand why you're doing this. That only makes it more painful! What can I possibly do? What other answer is there? There has to be something. I have to say something. I have to say what's in my heart.
(user)	My Goddess, I beg of you... Zephyr's divine punishment... Let me split it with him! I'll serve half of his sentence!
Leonne	...!
Zephyr	Oh come on, not you too! Look, I do appreciate the thought, but that doesn't make a whit of sense. Do you even realize— Whoa...
(user)	No, it... It doesn't make sense at all. But...
Zephyr	But...?
But I couldn't come up with an argument that made sense. So instead, I spoke from my heart. His sin was beyond belief. So this doesn't make sense. It may not even be the right thing to do. But it's what I want. It's what my heart's crying out for.
(user)	You said it yourself, Zephyr. If you were in my shoes... what would you do?
Zephyr	Yeah... Lippy was right. That's not fair.
(user)	On that day, when this all began, if I'd been in your shoes...
If I hadn't been able to save Kana...
(user)	I might have chosen the same path that you did. I was only a stone's throw away from you! It could have been me! I can't let you shoulder the blame for everything that happened.
Zephyr	...
Silence falls upon us. Each of us caught between our love for each other... ...and the unreasonableness of our positions. The voice that breaks the silence is regal and composed.
Leonne	It appears you are at an impasse. Allow me to resolve this situation.
Leonne's eyes fix upon mine, as if to verify the truth of my intentions.
Leonne	As the Great Savior, is it truly your wish to share his punishment?
I nod enthusiastically.
Leonne	I cannot ignore an appeal from the Great Savior who rescued our world. I will grant you this boon.
Lippy	M-My Goddess?!
Sara	Then—
Kana	I want to serve his sentence too!
Leonne	Honestly, the five of you...
Leonne chuckles, and the usual warmth returns to her face. She looks at us, smiling at the determination upon our faces. She returns her gaze to Zephyr.
Leonne	Lillium. The crimes you've committed cannot be waved away. You will serve your sentence in the Circle of Purification as punishment.
Zephyr	I have no objection to that. I'll obey and follow your will.
Leonne	However, your sentence will begin after you have lived out your life on this world.
Zephyr	My Goddess...?
Leonne	Spend your time on this world aiding those who need salvation. While you can never fully atone for what you've done, I nevertheless command you to embark in earnest upon a journey of atonement. (user), you will aid him in his journey, sharing in his divine punishment.
And so, Leonne renders her judgment... Placing the onus of redemption for Zephyr's irredeemable crimes upon my shoulders as well. Just as I'd asked. She explains that each act of atonement ever-so-slightly diminishes the sin upon one's soul. Hence, little by little, we may be able to reduce the length of time Zephyr would need to endure the Circle of Purification.
(user)	My Goddess Leonne...
Zephyr	I do not deserve this mercy!
Leonne	I am not giving it to you, Lillium. It is directed at (user). Or rather, I should say, the Great Savior who banished the darkness from this world. I am happy to grant your wish for punishment, but I must also consider the boons I owe to those who love you. In this manner, I believe that I can grant their wishes as well. You have requested divine judgment for your crimes. As an envoy of the Heavens, I expect you'll have no objection to the final judgment that I, your goddess, have rendered upon you. Now live, "Zephyr." Live on with your friends.
Zephyr	I... I understand.
Zephyr looks into Leonne's smiling eyes, and makes a new vow.
Zephyr	From the bottom of my heart, I swear... I will dedicate this life to Liafyse.
As he bows before his goddess... The four of us rush in to embrace him, knocking him off his feet. We roll through the grass, beaming with joy... ...the azure of the endless sky above reflected in our eyes.

A Future Together Epilogue

Transcript
A cool breeze is blowing. It rattles the grasses and reeds along the side of the road. And it pushes softly at our backs, as if to gently urge us onward. Some time has passed since our battle with Nidhogg. Enough that the wounds we sustained have mostly healed. And now, we're ready to start again. It's time to embark on a new journey.
Sara	Yep! All the gear is packed and ready!
Lippy	We certainly couldn't ask for better weather. What a sublime day to begin a new adventure!
Kana	Oof... Okay... I got this!
Kana trudges up the group, clearly weighed down by the baggage in either hand.
Kana	Bwaahhh!
Her balance thrown off by her heavy load, she stumbles on a rock... But a hand reaches out to grab her by her hood.
Zephyr	Come on, Kana. How far did you think you were gonna get lugging that much stuff?
Kana	Heh...
Zephyr	Gimme one of those. It'll be less work carrying it myself than it would be to catch you every few feet.
We proceed down the path, and soon spot a man waiting for us in the road.
Sara	Caesar! Sorry we're late!
Caesar	Don't worry about it. I just got here myself. Sara, I thought you were just headed to the next town? Are you seriously taking all that gear?
Sara	Do you think it's too much? I tried to limit myself to the essentials...
Caesar	The number one essential of adventuring is a light load. Let me take a look. I'm sure you can cut a little deeper.
Sara	Sounds good to me! Always happy to pick up a few pointers.
Lippy	Ah, that's right! It was Caesar who taught our Sara the fundamentals of adventuring.
And now, the gang's all here. We'd met at a fork in the road. One road leads north. The other, to the south. We're taking the south fork. Caesar, the north. We won't be traveling together. Sara had invited him to join us, but Caesar had refused.
Caesar	You all have your journey of atonement. I have to find my own way to make amends. Not that I ever could... I refuse to blame the seeds for all that I did. I take full responsibility.
He won't hold my gaze, but even at a glance, I can see how deeply his pain runs.
Sara	Caesar...
Noticing his sister's concern, Caesar puts on a brave face.
Caesar	Don't worry, Sara. I'm not going to take the easy way out. Just like Zephyr, I will endure my pain as I devote myself to the good of Liafyse.
(user)	Then why not come with us?
Caesar	As much as I intend to endure my pain, I have my limits. I couldn't bear to spend every moment remembering how much I hurt the person I love the most.
Sara	......
Caesar	So I need to travel alone for a while. When I manage to find the courage to truly face up to what I've done... ...I would be honored to join you.
Sara	Okay. I understand. If that's what you think is best, I won't try to convince you otherwise. But... I can't help but worry. You have to promise to keep in touch!
Caesar	Okay, Sara. You have my word. Look after her for me, (user), okay?
I shake the hand he offers to me.
Caesar	I know I'm in no position to be asking you for favors, but... she's not the only one. I wouldn't call him a friend, but... He and I have a lot of history. Do what you can for him too, will you?
He won't say the name, but I've got a good idea who he means.
Caesar	I know he's hurting as much as I am. But though it pains him, he still chose to stay with you. That's a scar that's never going to go away. But seeing the way you guys are together, I think that a day will come when he's gonna be able to smile again. He deserves that much.
(user)	I do have faith that will happen.
Sara	And you deserve that too, Caesar!
Caesar	Well... we'll see. Anyway, I should be going.
Kana	I'm gonna miss you Caesar. But we'll meet again, right?
Caesar	Oh, I imagine the paths of our adventures will cross at some point. One of these days, in one of these towns, I'll be there.
Kana	I'll be looking forward to it! We'll have a great meal and trade adventuring stories!
Lippy	I hope you'll allow me to handle the great meal part. I'll whip up something suitably wonderful for the occasion!
Zephyr	I'll be praying for your safety, Caesar.
Caesar	And I yours. I hope you'll never take for granted what you have with these four.
Zephyr	You don't need to worry about that.
Sara	Catch you later, bro!
Caesar	Till then, sis.
And with that, Caesar begins his journey, a slight smile upon his lips. We watch and wave as he fades into the distance. And then... ...we're alone at the crossing. Now it's our turn. Time for our new adventure to begin.
Lippy	Shall we get started, my friends? The seeds of ruin may be fewer in number these days, but there are still far too many out there. And I cannot imagine a greater deed we could do for the people of Liafyse than finding and purifying them.
Kana	And your smartphon found five of them in a town called Keires, to the south?
Lippy	Correct. There's a difficult mountain crossing along the way, but I've prepared a special lunch to give us the strength to surmount it.
Kana	Ooh, I can't wait! Let's get moving, guys!
And with that, Kana takes the first step of a new journey. Her smile shines as bright as the sun above, her light in no way diminished by her ordeal. With that smile shining upon him... I am confident that Zephyr will be okay.
Lippy	L-Lady Kana! We mustn't allow haste to give way to recklessness. Please do slow down!
Lippy is the next to take the first step of our new journey. No one has more faith in our strength and ability than Lippy does. And it's that faith that will give us the courage we need to believe in ourselves.
Zephyr	Should have grabbed her damn hood while I had the chance. And now I gotta chase her down...
And then it's Zephyr's turn to take the first step.
Zephyr	Oh, and before I forget... Allen.
I turn to look at the sound of my name.
Zephyr	I wanted to say this before we got started... Thanks, man, for all the help you've given me. And thanks in advance for all the help I'm gonna need on this journey. Well, I dunno if I should be thanking you, or apologizing, or both. Honestly, I'm not so good at doing either. So I guess this is the best you're gonna get...
Zephyr smiles slightly, and says...
Zephyr	You're the best partner an envoy could ever hope for.
(user)	And you're the best partner I could have ever hoped for.
I extend out my fist... ...and Zephyr meets it with his own. An instant later, he's off and running after Kana.
Sara	Watching the two of you... You're like little boys sometimes.
(user)	Huh?
Sara	Don't get me wrong, I love it. Even if it makes me a little jealous sometimes.
Sara flashes me a shy smile. I can't help but smile back.
Sara	I had something I wanted to say to you before we got started, too.
(user)	What's that?
Sara	Thanks for making my dream come true, (user).
Sara's dream?
Sara	If it wasn't for you, I never would have gotten to see the most beautiful sight in the world.
(user)	You mean the great tree, Louina?
She'd thought that dream was a memory sent to her by Kana's prayers. A memory that we've now reclaimed.
Sara	Well, yes and no. The beauty I saw in my dream didn't come from the scenery. It's this, right here, right now. All of us together, everyone smiling. It's the most beautiful sight there is.
As Sara says the words, the view before me changes, and I see it too. Kana running off, excited, stumbling over some rock... Zephyr grabbing her hood and pulling her back to her feet. A smiling Lippy looking after us. This place is full of smiles. It is a beautiful sight. The most beautiful one in the world.
(user)	I'm glad your dream came true. And I'm glad I got to see it too.
Sara	And I'm glad I got to share it! Now come on, we've got a new adventure to start! After all, I'm an adventurer! And now it's my turn... ...to make your wish come true, (user).
My wish... The wish I'd made that day, before we left to begin the final battle... The one I'd told you as the brightblossom petals flew through the air. That when all of this was over... ...we could continue our adventures together forever.
Sara	That's the one!
As her smile bursts into full bloom, Sara takes my hand.
Sara	Come on, (user)! I know that an incredible adventure awaits us!
And so, we take a step forward. The two of us, hand-in-hand. The last first steps of a new journey. Drifting, embraced by water... From the bottom, I look up. And see a brilliant beam of light piercing the water's surface. A gift from the sky. Relaxing my breath, I look up toward it. And behold the sky and the light. This is where I reside. A quiet world. Alone... in a world of blue... Submerged... Quiet... At the bottom... Alone... That was where I'd been. I'm sure of it.
System	Main Scenario Chapter 7 ends.