We're All Mad Here: Let's Play Rune Factory 3!

[Toric]

I'm already gonna have a tough time choosing. I say we leave Kuruna out of the running for this LP.

[Deme]

So, I notice we have a perfect tie. So, I'm just going to put two strawpolls at the bottom, and wait for more votes.

Also, sorry for the delays. Zero Time Dilemma Happened.

Chapter 54: Unity

Spoiler

Show

The air is staggeringly brisk. From the moment I woke up, I felt my heart pounding. If this goes wrong, I am going to help cause a significant issue. Lives might be destroyed.


I head down the steps at triple pace. There's a rough plan in place -- it was mostly Wells' idea. I'll wait here for the esteemed elder. She knows the way -- or, at least, Zaid does. They could always use the downstairs warp, if they wanted to.

But I guess they won't, because I'm left waiting. What if Kuruna changes her mind? What if our round of friendly local nutjobs scares them off?
As I sit there, confetti like leaves falling down from some source unknown and almost certainly magical, shivering in the fall morning... I can't help but feel the passage of every minute.

And then I hear a voice, saying something I'm honestly shocked to hear.



Kuruna comes running up, her cape and hair spilling out behind her. She's a little out of breath.

"Did I keep you waiting?"
"No, I just got here too, actually."
It hasn't been that long, anyway.
"Oh, that's a relief!" she says with a sigh. "Shall we, then?"
"I'll lead the way!"
She chuckles.
"Thanks again for agreeing to accompany me today. It means a lot."

"No problem. Follow me."

And so we begin our walk through town. And along the way, our steps draw closer together.

And I point out things, giving the "newbie" a tour of our little town. Actually, I just had to wander around when I came here -- I guess that's the difference between an average joe and a bigwig.
Eventually, though, I notice that she's not beside me anymore -- she's fallen back, her steps gradually slowing to a halt.



This is the last moment we'll be hidden from anyone waiting there, by arbors and the bend of the road.

She sighs and lowers her head.
"After everything I've said about the Hornless, am I really welcome? Are you sure I won't be causing any trouble?"
Look, it's not about what you said -- because I've politely decided to keep all that unsettling stuff she's said to myself...
But what matters is what she'll say, present-tense. That's what I believe.
"Don't worry abot it."

I cross over and rest my palm over one of her hands. All the tension goes out of it when I give it a little squeeze.
"Everyone's accepted you. You'd cause more trouble if you DIDN'T come!"
"You have a point there," she says with more her usual tone.
We begin to walk forward, but for just a second, she hangs a step back. When I turn and look, I see just the most delicate hint of a smile on her flushed face.


"As long as you're here, I know the Unity Festival will go well."
"You're welcome! That's what comrades are for, right?"
She laughs, and we walk onward.


There's a small crowd of people milling about in front of the tree. Everyone turns to see us walk up. I see a few nervous glances, but we walk through with a minimal amount of knee-shaking from me.

"With pleasure."

We've fanned out around her in a sort of tableaux.
"Wells, I believe you've got something to say?" Somewhere along the line, I ended up becoming master of ceremonies in our little plan. Well, I am mediator here, so that's fine.


Wells takes a step forward and clears his throat.

"This is a cause for trepidation... but also celebration! Everyone, have fun... in moderation!"
There's a polite patter of applause. I nod.
"And...Kuruna, I believe you have something to say now?"
"I do."


...Yeah, that's the best foot to start us off on.
"I'm the Univir elder. I oversee every single decision in our settlement."

"But my mind and heart were closed. I did not see the Hornless as anything but savages."

She nods, and I think we can consider the matter settled.
"Thanks, Kuruna. I know that had to be hard for you." I add that last part just a little under my breath, out of manners.


I say this, but... It's not like there's any real plans.
"I hope everyone has a great time today!"

The crowd more-or-less disperses, off to enjoy the day and mingle. A few people stay behind -- Kuruna's one of them.

"What is it?"
[color=royalblue]"I'd like to meet all the Hornless in town. Could you introduce me?"
"Of course!"
"Let's go then! It's time to meet some Hornless!"

I grab Sherman since he's closest.


...Oh. Oh, maybe I should have warned her.
"What?! We've met before?" Kuruna looks horrified at having forgotten someone...That she really hasn't met.
"Indeed! It's been a long time, Horn Girl!"
"I'm pretty sure I would've remembered someone who called me 'Horn Girl'..."
"Sherman has an...odd way of communicating, to say the least! Just flip what he says to the opposite!" It's not 100%, but good enough.
"That defies logic!"
As she stares at him, agast, he adds,
The feeling is mutual! It's like passing a kidney stone to meet you, Horn Girl!"
She stares into the abyss for a minute.
"I...should get out of here before my brain turns to mush!"

Let's see who else is around... Well, it looks like Evelyn decided on an outfit. Is her skirt... made of red cabbage?

"Salutation. I'm Kuruna, the univir elder. Evelyn, your clothes... defy description." Kuruna is looking down at the cabbage-skirt.
"Thank you! I design them all myself! And I'll make you some clothes as well, Kuruna!" she announces kindly. Kuruna blanches.
"I'm...not sure if I want that."

We try and hurry away from odd clothing choices over to Hazel.


"Ah, you run it all by yourself?" Kuruna's eyes widen in surprise.
"No, I actually have --" Hazel suddenly realizes who she actually has. You can see the pride drain out of her face. "On second thought, yes. Yes, I do run it all by myself."
"Uh... I get the feeling I'm not getting the whole story here."

Hazel ends up muttering to herself under her breath, lost in her worries.
"Raise who right?"
"Uh, let's get out of here, Kuruna!"
Oh, gosh, we're not making a good impression at all!



Wells can at least be a bit reliable with his impression, right?
"And I bid you the warmest of greetings as well!"
Phew. There we go.
Wells spends a moment looking her over before asking,
"Hmm... Aren't you a little... young to be an 'elder'?"
"I'm actually older than you," she replies a bit nervously.
"Ah, that's right. the univir are quite long-lived. I should've known better." He shrugs it off with a smile, and to my surprised, Kuruna blushes and laughs it off.
"No, I don't mind. I take it as a compliment."

She's taking this all really well!


...Are we really just going to keep calling her that?
Well, she did open calling them all 'hornless.' Maybe I don't have an ear for this sort of thing.
"It's Kuruna. I'm the univir elder."

"I'm just happy to meet some new neighbors!"
"Me too!"
"You'll stop by our bath, won't you, Kuruna?"
"I'll try to make some time."


"My name is Kuruna."
"Oh, I didn't mean any disrespect! I'm Sakuya. Oh, by the way, I have a question about that thingie on your shoulder!" She points at Will.
"What about him?"

"A ventriloquist's dummy?"
She turns and stares at Will.

He chimes.


Pia stares at this little exchange thoughtfully. She's been quiet since she walked up.
"Oh, um..."
"Horn!" She nods decisively, a statement of grim determination.
"What?!"

"it'd be way dangerous?!" Her whole bearing changes mid-sentence as the realization strikes.
"Huh...?!" She looks outside of her depth.
"I'll talk to you later, Pia!"
I gently steer her away, before she gets lost in the current.

We end up having to go through the restaurant, since Blaise is watching from their rarely-used balcony.

"I'm Kuruna, the univir elder. What do you do in town?"
"I'm the head chef! If you want the best in human cuisine, stop on by!"
"Interesting. Do you have any... cake?" She leans forward, as if sharing a secret. Blaise can't help but chuckle.
"Do I EVER!"

"Yes, most interesting. Perhaps I will stop by!"

By my house, Zaid and Ondorus are lurking at the edge of town. Ondorus sees us and offers a brief bow.

Kuruna sighs, her shoulders relaxing as she realizes she's out of sight.
"Thank you, Ondorus." She sighs again, a slight, "Hmmm..."
"What's wrong?"
"I have caused you so much anguish."

He puts a gentle, reassuring hand on her shoulder, and I feel for the moment like I'm looking at a brother praising his sister -- some little family moment. She looks up at him with a tear welling up in the corner of her eye.
"Thank you for your patience."



"What does that even mean, Zaid?" With a sigh and a shake of her head, she adds, "Just make sure you begave, okay?"
"I'll be good."
Well, I'm sure Ondorus will keep him in line.

We head deeper into town.

"Really? You always seems so laid-back!"
"So who's Horn Babe?"
Oof. This trend is getting increasingly bad.
"Ahem! I'm Kuruna, the univir elder."
"Cool. 'Sup, elder? I'm Carlos. I run a fishing resort with my sister. Bring your horn on down and get to fishin'!"
She glances at me following the sales pitch. I can only shrug.
"I will, uh, take your suggestion under advisement."

Carmen pulls me aside to say, a little more tactfully quiet,

"That's usually the case when you've never done something before. I mean, I'm nervous, too!" I feel like it's on my head to give everyone a good sense of each other.
"Well, I guess it's nice to know I'm not the only one..."
Kuruna takes this pause as an opportunity to step closer.
"Ahem! I'm Kuruna, the univir elder. Nice to meet you!"
"G-Good to meet you! I'm Carmen! I run a fishing resort with my brother. It, uh, nice you meet you." You can hear the nerves, but it's a good introduction. "...And that's all I got."

"I'll...consider it."

As we walk away, she adds,
"They're rather agressive as promoters, aren't they?"
"They run the shop themselves, alone... so I think it doing well is a matter of pride."
Kuruna nods, chuckling uneasily to herself.
"Oh, but there's someone you just have to meet!" I go running up the road to where Shara and Monica are.


"I'm Shara. Nice to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you, too, Shara. What do you do here in town?"
"I work in my grandfather's flower shop."
Recognition flashes in Kuruna's eyes.
"Is that where the bouquet was made?"
"Actually..." Shara twirls a strand of hair around her finger, a little blush rising to her face. "I made that myself."
"You did? It... moved my tremendously."
"Thanks, but I still have a lot to learn."
"If that's the case, I can't wait to see your next arrangement!"

Shara nods, trying not to look too uneasy in the praise.
"I'm glad I was able to be a part of bringing our communities together."

I direct her to Monica next.

"I'm Monica!"
"Hmm...It appears Hornless children are much cuter than I had been led to believe."
What did she expect them to look like?
"Your horn is pretty!"

"It is! It's so...sharp! I wish I had a horn, too!"
...If Monica was a univir, would people have to worry about goring?
Because if so...I may want to get out of here.

Someone hasn't wandered far from the shop, making it easy to spot him.

"Gaius is a dwarf, and he's also the town blacksmith," I explain. Actually, I've never figured out whether or not dwarves count as hornless or not, to Kuruna. Maybe it's a surroundings thing?
"It's not a job. It's a lifestyle."

"I'm not sure about the whole 'humble' thing..."
"Yeah, it's more that I'm too lazy to go outside. I get bored doing anything but forging."
"How could you not want to experience nature's bounty?!" Kuruna's hands fly to her apalled mouth.
"Don't try and figure Gaius out. That's just how he rolls."
Gaius's only comment is a gentle shrug, so we go on our way.


"...I'm Raven."

Kuruna fidgets under the weight of her cool silence.
"I'm the univir elder."
"I work at our weapon shop." Raven said blankly.
"..."

Eventually, Kuruna sags.

Raven's eyes widen.
"...No."

Since the rest of Karina's friends are here we introduce her down the line.
"I'm Kuruna, the univir elder. Nice to meet you!"

"Karina works at the general store."
"Ah, it's good to see the Hornless value a strong work ethic!" Kuruna said, trying to bounce back from that awkward last meeting... Into one that might even be more confusing.
"I wouldn't reach that conclusion if I were you. At least in Karina's case."

She hisses to me.
"(I don't think that's much of a secret.)"


How about attempt 3?
"It's been a while! I'm Sofia."
"Uh...have we met?"
Over Kuruna's confusion, Sofia keeps going.
"I can't wait to start a long, meaningful friendship with you!"
"But...you said we'd already met?"
"Please come by when you're busy!"

"How could we hit the town if I'm busy...?"

"I'll explain later!"
Or, rather, let me take Kuruna away before her brain breaks.
"We've almost met everyone."

I guide her around until we find a very nervous Collette.

"Please calm down. There is no reason to be nervous. Instead, why don't we just have fun?" Kuruna asks in a gentle voice.
"O-Okay! Y-Y-You're right!"

Poor Kuruna...


This is when Marian jumps in, waving her hand like she expects teacher to call on her. But teacher does call on her.
"No. It grows as our body grows."
Marian's face fell.
"Hmm. Too bad."
"Why?"
"Horns have a lot of properties so they're great for making medicine. But they don't get any new ones that grow in. That's just too bad..."

"P-please don't mind her. It's just the way she is."
I have to run a lot of damage control today.


"I'm Kuruna, the univir elder."
"So...I know this is out of nowhere, but what kind of food do you like?"
"Hm...Cake and Yam Dessert are amazing...And one bit of chocolate cake is pure bliss!"

"Mmm...Just thinking of it makes my mouth WATER!"
"And my eyes water that I'm not eating it THIS VERY SECOND!"
"They're really hitting it off!"


"K-Kuru...?!" Kuruna's eyes widen.
"What's that red thing? Is that part of your hair, Kuru?" She reaches over and pokes Will.
"No! Why woud you think that?!"
But the tornado that is Daria has already moved on.
"Oh, a horn. Can I touch it? Paint it? Carve it? Draw it?"
Oh, man. This is...Just so silly. Kuruna turns to me, a hot glare on her face.

"This is Daria. Be careful, she's kinda...dangerous."
"Why didn't you WARN me?!"
"Why don't we find the last person..."
I hurry us away, back to the plaza.


"I'm Marjorie. It's nice to finally meet you. I've heard stories of you since I was a little girl!"
...How old do Univir live to be, anyway?
"...I'm sorry," Kuruna says. She bows her head low.
"No, I should be apologizing, Kuruna."
Kuruna's head tips back.
"Why do you say that?"

"Don't feel bad. It was the same with me."
Marjorie chuckles.
"I never even thought of it that way..."

"And I hope we get the chance to do that a lot more in the future!"
"That would be really nice, Marjorie," Kuruna admits with a soft smile.

As we walk into the heart of the plaza, I turn to her.
"Well, Kuruna? I mean, I know we're a little eccentric, but... What do you think of everyone?"
"It's true these people are very often rude -- or simply ignorant. However, from their speech and action, one thing is perfectly clear."
"Which is?" My heart pounds.

"...Yeah, I think so, too. I mean, I don't think all humans are this way... But I think the people here are all really good people."
She smiles and nods, looking at me appraisingly.
"Yes, I believe they are."

"Well, I'll let you go mingle, then. I want to check up on everything, maybe even get some work done. Have a nice festival!"
"Have a nice festival, comrade."


So, then, how is everyone else doing?

"They asked me how humans can stand to wear outfits made of fish and cabbage!"
...I wonder the same thing.
"They should have rephrased that to a single 'human.'"

The floral sisters file into the plaza not long after that.

"And Monica?"

"Sorry. It looks like Monica's nervous."
"Yeah, it must be intimidating to meet a bunch of strangers with giant horns."
"How can we get her to overcome her fears...?"
"Actually, more than that, how can you tell? She gets so confrontational..."
"How long do you think I've been her sister?"

"No, that's not what I meant!"
"When weren't you my sister?!" Monica demands. I can't help but laugh. Oh, family.


"No, I guess not."


"I can't possibly enjoy my meal in such a festive atmosphere!"
Well, at least they'll be friends now forever. If there's food involved.


"But I'm glad I did! Very glad!"
Well, then I'm glad.

I end up shifting on my way back out into town, just for the heck of it. You have to let the wool air, especially on an occaison like this.

I guess it's a little rough transition, on the edges. Ondorus frowns at the comment.


"She is. I really didn't expect it at all."
"Even someone you've known a long time can be surprising."
I suppose that's true...


And outside of the 'surprising' category, we have...
"Please, don't overwhelm them too much with your, uh, 'genius.'"
Not all bodyparts need to be rainbow.

Down to the beach...

"I can try out my new medicine on those horn people!"
Oh, hey. Now I'm nervous again.

"That'll be YOUR problem to clean up!"
"Wait, MY problem!?"
I'm just glad it's not suddenly mine.
"Marian, maybe we should go to Kuruna's village!"
Marian nods, her eyes lighting up.
"Those horns... I need to see more of them. MUCH more."
"Uh, on second though, maybe we shouldn't!" Collette muttered, her smile bright and nervous.
...Please, Marian, never leave this town.



"That's a great idea!"
"Cool! Can you think of a good horn-related joke?"
Please, ladies, this is a family-friendly festival!
"That's YOUR job!"
"My job?! It's YOUR routine!"
"So, uh, comedy aside, how's it been going?"

"Well... you do have a lot of monsters horns and hides for sale, you know!"
"Darn right! And those horn people should know a good deal when they see it!"
...
I'm going to walk away, and hope this doesn't become a disaster. With all the monsters from the settlement, who can say?


Good, good! Someone enjoying the event without confusion or possibly doing dangerous things? Wooh!


Huh, yeah... She usually complains more.
"What do you mean?" Sofia asks coldly.
"Really, it's a wonderful festival. (All you do is talk?)"


"That's a rather violent suggestion!"
Someone, help me out here. What's the opposite of throwing yourself off a cliff?!

"..."
"You three need to work on your communication skills..."

It's as they're walking away, though, I pull Raven aside and ask,
"No, really, but what do you think?"

"I'm glad to hear it."
I can't help but feel like Raven really gets what I'm hoping for. I mean, besides the flowers, but that feels... A little petty in comparison to just that little smile.


"Really? You always seem so laid-back!"
"But you gotta be the most nervous, bro! All this color, all this pageantry was YOUR idea!"
"Yeah, I could barely sleep last night!" I was tossing and turning and hoping Kuruna wouldn't just decide against it. Or that she wouldn't hate this little town. That we wouldn't have an inter-community incident.
"But it turned out even better than I expected!"


"In fact, I'm not sure how we're even the same species!"
A blow against racial profiling has been struck!



"They're a lot better than my stupid daughter!"
...You're a great parent. Just great.



I'm glad everyone seems to be having a good time.

I pass by the base of the Sharance tree to see Shara, Monica, and Kuruna approaching them uneasily.


"Yes?!" She answers, just a little too loud.
"Just calm down! You don't need to be so worried."

I don't know if that's good or bad, but even if I want to step in...I don't think I should. Let her learn about humans in her own time.

...I sort of keep waiting for a crisis, but one never comes. It's startling. In the end, I feel like it's quiet enough that I can slip away and get a little work done on the farm.


Outside the tree, I can hear the town still partying. I can't say I know for sure if anything'll be different -- maybe the sharance tree will bloom. Maybe it won't. Maybe this'll be the final answer I want.
...And maybe it won't.

I stroll through the village in the dusk -- the nights are still not dark, even as they creep forward -- the dull light of a distant, horizon twilight still glimmers. The streets are mostly empty, but lights still shine from the windows I pass.
It turns out, though, I'm not the only one enjoying the cool air. Wells stands beneath the plaza tree, his head tilted back, examinging the starry sky.
"Oh, Wells." I stop, feeling like I intruded on something. He gives me a nod, and he draws nearer.

"Yeah, I'm glad everyone got along so well."
He shakes his head, smiling fondly.
"Sometimes I wish you would've shown up here sooner... But nothing we can do about that now."
"We're not here to talk about the past. We're here to build a future!" ...A future, huh? I said, that, but...Maybe I still have a ways to go, with honesty.
"Indeed. I believe today represents the foundation of an unwavering alliance!"
I guess that's what counts; maybe I can make that idea be the truth. Because, whether this helps me with my memory or not...
I think I'm glad, either way. Seeing everyone happy and together, just enjoying each other -- where things like "human" or "univir" or "dwarf" or "elf" or even...Even "half-monster" didn't mean anything at all.
"And just think! Who could've even dreamed of that as recently as last week?"
The night grows slowly darker, and I hear over people laughing the sound of crickets.



Of course, there's some other people I want to check in on, too. Just to be on the safe side. By which I mean, I head to the settlement, where people go to bed a little earlier.

"You say that, but I couldn't have done it without you!" You gave me the idea, for one. And... He trusted me, even though I was partially human. Means a lot.

Zaid's still a little hyped up when I come into his tent.

"There's guts to go around!"
At least in my opinion.

And finally, I poke my head into Kuruna's tent. She smiles and waves me in.
"I wanted to thank you again -- for doing all of this."
I don't want to say 'for forgiving me,' but I hope she understands.
"I really never meant to hurt you."
She turns around, looking at her great and formal seat, the throne of the elders of the univir -- or maybe just a nice chair.
"I -- I think I understand that, now. If I didn't know you as well as I thought -- perhaps I never allowed you to let me. Still, you were here -- and still, you took a chance on me." She turns back, and her face is as red as Will's body, enshrined in her smile.

"Any time."
"Was it what you really wished, for your efforts?"
A wonderful, strange place, full of wonderful, strange people. And maybe they can find something together -- individual oddities, individual species, mellowing out to one special place. And even the most cautious about it -- even Kuruna -- getting a chance to be a part of that.
Heck, even me.
"Absolutely."

We talk a while, until the night sends me back to my own bed; but I go to sleep with that feeling thrumming through my heart.
I've found something I'm not sure I can ever give up.

Do We Want To See Kuruna's Events Before Making Our Final Choice?
And if not, Who is Our Wife Going to Be? (You can, and should, vote for this one even if you want to see Kuruna's events.)

[Hiro Protagonest]

Oh noes

Do I vote for a girl I really like or one I kinda like and don't plan to marry

And if I vote for one of my favorites, will it be Raven or Pia D:

[Deme]

Personally, I know who I'd vote for. Probably Pia. Because I am very impressed by her, relative to how she seems at first.

[Hiro Protagonest]

We should at least see Pia's proposal rejection.

[Deme]

OK, here's my thoughts: I'll keep that poll running for a while, as we do Kuruna's events. After we've seen them all or gotten bored of them, we'll make a new poll or do a run-off for our final choice (since there's a clear bunch of losers, but the difference between winner and second-place is very small; I'll treat them as both girls Ramza very much likes in-text, when I can, and narrow from there.) That said, the next few weeks will be not great: got a vacation and Mechacon after that.

Chapter 55: Settling Down

Spoiler

Show

After yesterday, returning to ordinary life feels somehow just a little dull. But hey; there's an ordinary life to return to, I suppose. That's something I kind of didn't expect when I first started pitching that idea, and I have no idea what effect this might have had on the tree.

And there's a knocking at my door, which is a little surprising. So early in the morning; I've barely gotten my crops under control, and I haven't even had time to cook them up for sale.


"Hi, Wells. Marjorie."
These are... not the people I expected to see, to be honest.
"What is it?"


"The festival was a great success," Marjorie adds.
"Thank you very much."
"Because of you, I think everything is OK now."
"I'm glad to hear that. I'm always happy to help."
"I'm counting on it."

"So what brings you here today?" I mean, it's not like we won't see each other later.

"Nothing big."

Crazy? I don't know about "crazy," I mean I suppose -- wait, what girl?

"We wanted to help you out with that, Ramza." For such a nearly toothless grin, I can't imagine an expression more like a shark's as the two draw closer to me. "Here you go."

E-EXCUSE ME?!
"You'll need it to propose."
...Yes.
I suppose that is a factual statement.
"It's pretty hard to make, but an engagement ring is important."

...I don't think I'm ready to propose, though.
"Oh, and some tips. First, a bed. When you live together, a small bed is a great way to start fights. So get a double bed."
But it's not like I'm going to get a word in edgewise.
...Also, is Wells speaking from his own experience?
"Also take care of requests. You have to be able to solve some problems. One last thing. There is a tradition in these lands.
The man asks the girl out to a scenic place, and proposes with a ring."

An intimate proposal...The light falling off her hair and shining across the -- wait.
"Ho ho. Don't blush."
"So where would that be." Well, I might as well humor them. In case I change my mind.
"Let's see...Around here..."

So the usual places.
"If the girl doesn't love you back, she won't accept the ring."
"Okay." So...I'd be crushed then. Maybe I shouldn't do anything.
"Don't forget the ring when you go to propose."
OK, is that from experience?


Maybe I don't have to pick. Maybe I have other things to worry about. Maybe. Maybe...


While I cook, I end up looking back at my two little chairs.

When I'm done, Karina's looked at the two little chairs, too.

Before I can ask what she means, she shakes her head, looking still down at that table.
"I know how Raven seems, but she actually gets lonely a lot. It's really a drag." But then she smiled at me, just a little, and added, in almost a whisper, "(But that's what's nice about them.)"
"Yeah, you're right."
It's hard to hear that and not think about what Marjorie and Wells were talking about. Is Karina trying to pitch her friends for me? Nah, nah, I'm just paranoid.

I head outside, not wholly sure what I'll when I do. Outside the tree, I turn around to see...

The thick, full trunk of the tree, its boughs heavy with flame-red leaves that come tumbling down.

I sigh, my hope sinking down into my gut.
"But it doesn't look like the Sharance flowers have blossomed..."
I guess this is the end of my trail. Whatever past I still have yet to remember...I think I have to cope with it being out of my reach.

I head back up the stairs, and if there wasn't something in my mailbox, I might have just gone to bed.

But if Kuruna needs my help, I guess I'll do something.

I head down the street, and I nearly do a double-take when I see Ondorus standing there. Wow, that worked better than expected.
"Ah, is something the matter? You look...ill-at-ease."
"Nah. Well, maybe. What do you do when you've worked for a dear wish, but it... Never happened?"

"I don't know, though. I can't find any sound evidence of that phenomenon."

Since Shara's in the shop, I figure I might as well check it out myself. Say Hi, and so on.

They were, huh? I guess that's some good I did for the tree.

"...I hope so."
After all, Shara's a really wonderful person. I guess I should stop thinking that this was all about me. It'd...be easier to brush it off that way, too.


"Then I wouldn't be in such pain right now!"
For someone saying she's in pain...She sure is smiling.

"Somehow, it all makes sense..." I'm glad I met her, too.


"For what...?"
Now I'm a little glad otherwise.

I find Kuruna imagining the mansion; I guess compared to the settlement, this probably looks a bit overkill.

"Are you sure that's my responsibility?"
"Well, not exactly..."
Her cape flutters as she folds her hands beneath it.
"But even though we had the Unity Festival, he hated the settlement for so many years..." She sighed heavily. "I just don't want to see him alone!"
"Okay, I'll come along, then. But wouldn't Ondorus be more appropriate than me?"
"He has his own duties. I don't want to disrupt him." He smiled.
"You're a very thoughtful leader."

"There's no time to waste. Let us make haste, comrade."
"Sure thing!"

We find Wells heading back down towards the flower shop. I seee his bushy eyebrows go up a little in surprise to see me leading Kuruna around town.


"Well, it was a two-way street. We couldn't have done it without you."
Kuruna shook her head, long blonde hair trailing around her.
"I wasn't much help. I was oppose to the unity Festical up until the eleventh hour."
"Well, I was practically the same way! I would've kept on hating you if Ramza hadn't convinced me!"
He rubs the back of his head, just below his hat.
"Sorry to have held a grudge like that..."
"Well, we were both equally at fault, really."
"We never would've opened our minds without Ramza!"
"Indeed."
"Hey, it wasn't all me!" I can't help but blush.


"No, they haven't. Maybe it's my fault. Maybe I still harbor latent hatred toward the Hornless..."
"No, don't blame yourself. I'm sure we must be missing something."

Kuruna still doesn't look up.
"Are you sure...?"
"The 'bond beyond the races.' I suppose that just coming together isn't a 'bond.'"
"Which means?"
"Ramza, why don't you start dating Kuruna?"
WHAT?! IS THAT WHAT HE MEANT?!
"What kind of suggestion is that?!"
"This is about the town and settlement! Not romance!" Kuruna sputters.

"That...may be true."
"Kuruna, do you hate Ramza?"
"Of course not! No! Not at all!" Her pale face is almost entirely red.
"Uh, Wells? Lay off Kuruna." Don't bully people into dating.

"I was speaking hypothetically." The old man is grinning from ear to ear.

Kuruna all but growls.
"Sorry about that. But why haven't the flowers bloomed?"
"I wonder...The records only have the 'bond beyond the races' written. Maybe there's another secret."
So my trail might not be cold, after all?
"I'm stumped."

"Yes. Let's take what we've learned from the Unity Festival and go from there. We can build on this!"
I can't just lose hope yet!


"All right."
"Wells, I hope we will remain friends."
"I'd like that, too."
She turns to me then.
"Well, will you accompany me back home, comrade?"
"With pleasure."



"Well, I'm not sure how much you needed me. Wells is a good guy."
"Regarldess, please take this as a token of my appreciation."

"What's the matter?"
"It's about what Wells said. He was just joking, you know!"
"I know." I was just reminded that Wells is...A bit too focused on my romantic life, apparently. It kind of makes me want to not worry about it.
"Y-You could've put that a LOT more delicately!"
"What do you mean?!"




I'm sorry, Kuruna.

When I get to the inn for a mid-day bath, I find Shino sighing fondly.

...R...really?
"Or mushrooms..."
"What?!"
That stunning revelation causes me to leave before doing anything else, stumbling. Pia's over by the fox statue.

"I never realized Shino was so...So..."
I shake my head, trying to think of the right set of words.

So everyone agrees to be the case.
"I tried going home the next day..." The expression on her face seems almost helplessly sad, or thoughtful, or -- or just a little screwed up, by something powerful she, or I, cannot explain. "But I kept coming back here!"

"She doesn't come across as very generous...But I guess she's kinder than she looks."
And I guess there was a point where Pia very much wanted to go back to the ocean -- or she thought she did.
And Shino's more fond of cute things than I thought.

And mushrooms.





I get a few more recipes, and head on out towards the outer fields.


"Okay."
"And I won't need to plot to secretly paint your field any more."
"What were you thinking of?!"



Well, that aside...This would probably make Daria happy if she knew.
As for that ring...

Huh. It's that easy, is it?


I make a few Silver Rings just to pass the time.


While out mining, I pick up a new recipe, too. The chests have been nice today.

Wow that is a fancy shield...But not better for anything but magic over the one I have now.

The next morning's a little unremarkable; compared to the last few days, there's almost nothing to say about it.

Only that Ondorus left me some mail.

And the autumn grass I've been growing has matured.

...And Shino's hanging around my house.
"Can I get you anything?"
"No, I was only seeing how you construct your home. I've seen many different sorts of places."

"I lived like a nomad, making a living as a merchant, like Sakuya is now."
Aaah, I see...
"Well, take your time."
This isn't the sort of town where you lock your house.

I head out to the settlement, shifting out of habit. It's fairly easy to arrive at Onodorus' little tent, too.
"About this request..."


[color=indigo]"I'm glad the Unity Festival went on without incident, but... I am a little worried whether Kuruna got along with everyone..."
"Kuruna was fine." I can understand the concern: Ondorus probably knows her feelings better than anyone -- myself maybe included.

"I'm sure she was, too, but she was against the festival until the end. So I was hoping that you could ask everyone how they felt about Kuruna. Could you do that for me?"
That...is a tall order.
"Okay. I'll do that!" But I think I can do it!


"I know."

Time to take a big town tour!

"Oh, Ramza. What's the matter?"
"How was the unity festival, really?"
"It went well, I thought."
"Oh, that's true, but..." I was hoping for something more personal.
"Well...I was a little worried about what Kuruna would be like."
"Is that right?"
"I mean, she was against the festival until the very end -- she admitted it herself. And she was the 'Elder' and all. Things really could've gone differently if she'd wanted them to."

"I know. I've lived long enough to be able to tell what someone's thinking just by looking at them."
"I see..."
"She has a strong heart. I might be able to learn from her."
"I see..." That's a relief.

The reports come in:


"Oh, that horn lady! She told me they don't get new horns that grow in. It's too bad."
...The reports are sometimes concerning.


"She's so wonderful. And it's so cute that she really likes sweets."
"I see."
"Did something happen with Kuruna?"
"N-No, nothing like that."
She leans a little closer, peering down into my face.
"Hmmm..."
"H-Honest! Really, nothing happened!"
She backs off, shrugging.
"Okay. I won't press you too hard about it."
"What?!"
...I'm surprised it was that easy.


"Yeah, that's right. How do you see her?"
"She's very nice! And pretty! And just the other day we made a cake together without telling Shara!"
Monica gets cake made fast.
"Heh heh, it was delicious. But why are you asking?"
"N-No reason." I'm not spying or anything.
"Hmm, something's fishy..." Her eyes narrow with suspicion.
"I'm gonna tell Kuruna!"
"Ah! Sorry! Anything but that!"
"Fine, but you'll owe me!"
Oh, joy.



"Daria is dangerous..."

Further reports...


"Compared to Karina..."


"I haven't talked to her a lot, so I don't know, but I don't think she's a bad person."

Well, it seems like she's getting along well; I don't think Ondorus had too much to worry about.
"I've been asking people what they thought of Kuruna, but I guess I didn't have to," I explain to Marjorie, having ducked into the Apothecary under a light rain.
"Maybe -- but maybe it's good, for people to reflect a little," the old witch says, thoughtfully.

"Kuruna made me realize that. She's a good elder. She really is."
Is that part of what being a village elder is? Putting yourself out and reminding people who your community is...
Then again, that might be a lesson Kuruna only learned herself, meeting everyone.


I'm sure that will put Ondorus at ease. I should get back soon.


"You can put your mind at ease. Everyone accepted Kuruna."
"I see...I'm glad... Ramza. Thank you.
I am sure it was a hassle to go around to everyone. Please take this."
"Thank you."
As I turn to go, though...

Kuruna walks in. Sweat slithers down my spine.


"I wanted to ask what you had him do for you..."
"Um..."
"You don't mind, do you?" Kuruna smirks, as if she's caught him. As if she knows.
"W-well, I should be going..."



She drags him off.


Sorry, buddy. But I'm happy not to be in trouble with her for a change, and I'll keep it that way.

[fizzmaister]

Just caught up on six months of backlog. This has moved pretty far along. I'm looking forward to the epic conclusion.

Also, chapter 54 is labeled "34".

[Deme]

Same! I've enjoyed it, but we're getting close to the end and I am excited for it.

And thanks; missed that.

[Deme]

Chapter 56: Treasure Hunting!

Spoiler

Show

Shara's giving away some flower stuff; it's nothing special, but it's not bad.


"I've been handing out flower growing kits to spread interest in growing flowers. So I have one for you, too, Ramza. Oh, and you could even show me the flowers when they're grown. I'd like that."


Ooh, that'll be nice.


...I don't want to know. But I think she might use it as paint sometimes.



Recipes.


Pia's gentle voice carries throughout the inn, a soft cascade of bell-like notes luring me towards her. I could have stayed there for a long, long time.
She looks up at me when I come near, a bright smile filling her face.
"Oh, Ramza! You should sing along!"
I consider it for a second, stunned by her expression, her hands beckoning my like a siren. But...There are people here.
"No, that's okay. You carry that tune well enough by yourself." I'm...Not at all sure of my skills. "What's the name of that song, anyway?"

With a bright expression, she answered,
"'Die, Giant Squid!'"
"But the melody sounds so...Soothing."

I head back home for the night.

The next day...


Is Zaid's birthday apparently!


"I'll...See what I can do!"

I run around and check my supplies, but...
In the end, I couldn't find what I needed to make a good present. I wanted to...But one way or another, it just didn't happen. I only know he likes Udon, but...

Curse you, pink turnips. I could buy curry powder.


Maybe I can make it up to him by doing a favor?


"Go where...Wait, to do what?!"
An explanation would be nice!
"What, you didn't read my letter?"
"It only said 'Let's go together'..."
Zaid's temper falls by the wayside and he nods philosophically.
"Hmm, I guess that happens sometimes. Well, let's go!"
"Like I said, where are we going?!"


"Treasure?!"
"Sh! Keep your voice down!"

He glances around frantically as if expecting to, at any moment, be caught. When he realizes we are still totally alone in his own home, he sighs with relief.
"Whew...Alright, first we'll go to the desert entrance. We'll talk more there."
"I-I get the picture." This is some sort of spy stuff, apparently.


We head out there fairly quickly.
"So, where are we going?"
"Ha ha ha... So I got a book that was in Ondorus' tent and read it..."
"Don't sneak in..." I mutter.
"And the book was about some phantom Messhilight Ore!"
"So?"

"But it's a phantom item, right? How're we supposed to find it?"
"Ha ha ha ha! It says exactly where we can find it!"
"Oh!"
He comes a bit closer, leaning in conspiratorially.
"Apparently... The rock crystallizes in cold regions..." And then a leap back, giddy laughter rising into the air.
"In other words! The rock is in Vale River!"


"So let's go!"
"I'm going home..."

As I walk past him, he reaches out to grab me.

"I'm going home..."
"*Sigh*... Ramza, were you even listening? This phantom rock is right there! You have to go!"
"What's the point of going if I know we're not going to find it..."
"We'll find it! Just come on, let's go!"
"I want to go home..." I wanted to do something nice, not go on a wild goose chase.

But all the same, we go.

"Hold your horses."

He looked around, eying the frozen river. He stared intently, his silver eyes falling across silver snow. Then he ran decisively forward.

"What makes you so sure?"
"Just come on!"


Thanks, buddy.
"Can't you help me fight them...?"

We make short work and move on.



"I'm tired."



"Let's take care of these monsters first. I can't concentrate until it's quiet! Talk to me after defeating all of these monsters!"
"Okay."

We take out the monsters on both sides of the river.
"Next... I've got no idea! Let's just keep moving!"




"Really?"
"Yeah. My gut is telling me that it's here... First let's take care of the monsters. Careful, they're strong!"
"I wonder if it's really here..."


"Find it...?"
He goes dashing off past me.
"Oh, brother..."


"Someone's gonna steal it!"
"Nobody is going to steal it..."


This is not a stone.


Neither is this.

But in one little ledge near it...

"You found it?!"
I turn over my mind, letting it catch the light. It's very pink.
"It's a rock glitters a bit. Is this it?"
"Ohhhhhhhhh!"

He takes it from my hand and holds it up triumphantly. It's a strange pink metal, catching the light in gut-clenching ways.

"The Messhilight Ore!!"
"Really?!"
"Yeah, we did it!" he laughed triumphantly.
"I really didn't think we'd find it... But it really exists.
"That's what I told you! My gut is never wrong!"
"I guess it's just wild instinct..."
"What do you mean wild?! You should be happier!"


He glares at me.
"You're not getting a cut if this is how you're going to be."
"I'm kidding! I'm really glad we found it!"
I answer as quickly as possible.
"Stop being weird and we can divide it up at home!"

It's pretty much afternoon by the time we get back.

"But wasn't it worth going to the Vale River?"
"Yeah, we did find the Messhilight Ore."
"Ha ha ha ha! Now I'm rich!"


Zaid turns to face the door nervously.
"Ondorus? What is it?"
"You sounded like you were having fun. Did something happen?"
"We found this," I said, gesturing to the ore Zaid was still holding. He leaned forward and adjusted his glasses, examining it.
"I see. A messhilight ore? They are quite rare. You're both very lucky."


"Of course!" said Zaid cheerfuly. "I got it for you, Ondorus! Do whatever you want with it!"

"For me?"
"Yes!"
...Don't I get a sa-- oh, who am I kidding?


Look at that face.
"No problem!"
"I'll have to repay you two. How about this?"

"Thank you very much."
"I'll go and study this now. Thank you again."



I got you this thing and you didn't even keep it.

"You gave it away..."

"I know, I know! But he was so happy, and we got this in return! That's not so bad!"
"*sigh*... Yeah."



I wander back out into the town, the dusk falling slowly around me. Sofia's fuming quietly in the town center.
"Is...something wrong?"

"Evelyn accidentally left Father's dinner on one of her outfits! A scrap-metal outfit!" She waved her hands as she tried to illustrate the points she was making. "Father snickered because it ruined his meal, and Evelyn was elated because her outfit was ruined!"

"What do you mean?"
Sofia tries for a moment to hold back the mistiness of her eyes.
"Why can't I just be dishonest and say how much he doesn't mean to me?"
...I...don't think it would help in this scenario. But I understand her feelings.
"Yeah, it must be hard..."

That said... I don't think Sherman is terribly bent out of shape about it.

"If I hadn't gotten him to stay, I probably wouldn't still be here," he admits with a laugh.

Something about the evening makes people reflective; I walk into the blacksmith's and Raven greets me with a nod and a soft smile.

"Yeah?"
"...Well... From now on, we'll always be..."
She fumbles around with something boiling away inside her head.
"What?"
She turns away and sighs.
"Never mind..."

I notice Gaius peering out towards us, a little smirk on his features.
"Yeah?" I ask, drawing nearer.

"But thanks to everyone here, she's begun to open up."



Hmm...I don't see a problem.



Some more recipes.


"What? Umm...Well, you're welcome..."
I didn't think she'd be so direct.
"Give me lots of colored grass, okay?"
"Ha ha...Okay..."
"And jam, too..."
"Yes..."

"Stop! Stop!"

The evening passed quietly from there; the day had been almost entirely spent as it was.


The next day, I had a letter from Ondorus in my mailbox, so I figured, yeah, that was a good thing to see about. He's my buddy.


"What is it?"
"I would like to give a gift to Kuruna."
"Oh! Well, that's great!"
"But, I was hoping that you could help as well...What do you say?"
"Of course! I'd be happy to help."
"Really?! Thank you. We were thinking of treating Kuruna to a night at the inn."
"Inn? You mean Shino's?"
"Yes, that's right. Kuruna mentioned it at dinner the other night. She was very interested in their culture."
I wonder if they have communal dinners at the settlement -- or if the two old friends like to hang out and have dinner together. Who cooks?
...Probably Kuruna, right? She said she likes baking.

"She seemed like she really wanted to go..."
"The inn, huh? That sounds great."

Ondorus says, picking at his own plan restlessly.
"I'm sure she'd still like that a lot!" He looks nervous. "So, what did you need me to do?"
"Would you be able to reserve a room with Shino?"
"Oh, I see. You wanted me to make a reservation."
His face went pink, and his voice was a little more quiet when he spoke again.
"Yes. I should be the one going, but I didn't know how..."

"I'm sure even if it didn't work out, Kuruna would forgive you."
"..." He considered this for a moment. "That may be true. But I still didn't want to fail."
"O-Of course..."
"Can I count on you?"
"Yes, leave it to me!"

I head over on the double.

"Are you planning on staying?"
For a moment, I catch a glint of something in her eyes; I guess she's her daughter's mother after all.
"Oh, no. Ondorus and Zaid are giving Kuruna an 'inn voucher.' So I've come to reserve a room."
"Oh, I see." She looks down into her ledger. "Hmmm. Well, today and tomorrow should be okay. And even after thqat it shouldn't get too busy."
"Really?! I'll go let Ondorus know."
"Is it just for Kuruna?"
"I think so..."
"Wouldn't that make her a little lonely?"


"Hmm, yes. I will." I bet they'd all have a good time being somewhere even just a little different.

Back to the settlement.

"The rooms were open, but... Will Kuruna be the only one staying?"
"Yes, that was the plan. Why do you ask?"
"Shino suggested that Kuruna might prefer having all three of you spend the night as well. Have you considered all three of you spending the night? They have room."
"But it's a present for Kuruna..."
"Oh, I'm sure she'd rather spend it with everyone!"
"Really?"
"Yes! I'm sure of it!"
"If you really think so."
"Then I'll go tell Shino right away!"

Back to the inn!

"What, my wild back-and-forths across town?"
[color=lime]"No, because tomorrow is the Fall Crop Festival."


Ok, but is it as cool as this?
...I just want to not be getting the run-around.

"They decided that all three would stay."
"I see. I think Kuruna would enjoy that more."
"Thank you for your advice."
"Oh, please don't mention it."

"Th-That's true..." Truly, her daughter's mother.
"Well, I've made a reservation for the three then. Please give my regards to Ondorus."
"Okay."

You know what that means... Back to the Settlement.
"I made the reservation."

"No, I was happy to help. Please enjoy your stay."
"Thank you. This is for everything. Please, have this."

I can make a shield with this. Not a shield I really want, but a shield.

The town is mostly preparing for the crop festival tomorrow.

"You seem confident."
"Of course. You cannot win without confidence."


"Oh, okay..."
"..."
"???"
What a weird bit of advice.






"I don't think so."


I spend the afternoon Tuna fishing, and work on that shield some before calling it a day.

[Toric]

Spoiler

Show

You're missing the image of the reward for Ondorus's inn favor.

It's weird seeing Human Ramza chatting with the Univir and running around with Zaid.

I've thought long and hard about good arguments for why I voted for the wife candidate I voted for, but in the end my logic is simply I like her personality best.

On a completely unrelated note , I'm sure Pia was singing the fifth movement of an epic aria, in which the mermaid warriors celebrate their vengeance against the cephalopod menace that destroyed their home.
<.< ...Just trust me on this, it's all in the nuance.

[Deme]

Alrighty, fixed!

Also, I think, given that Ramza considers it soothing, it is a lullaby that momma mermaids (?) sing to their babies (?) about how they and their friends will be safe, safe from giant squids. It's OK. There are no giant squids. Because Momma's going to kill them all.

[rayquaza]

Tip for the treasure: The treasure is randomly hidden inside the town. It will never be inside a house or any dungeon entrance. You will know that it must be a hidden treasure is when you walk onto the spot, we have a blue arrow appears. The arrow will probably be at unusual location or else you shouldn't view it before (the very same arrow after you walk by sign or objects you could check). Once you discover it, do the checking (press A control button) and you will definitely pick it up. Move it straight back to you and her will probably be finished with the quest. I did so the quest twice. To start with, it became with the plaza behind the bench. The actual 2nd time was right while watching bath house (right on the bridge). So, just keep walking around the town and look for unusual blue arrow.

[SerTabris]

Just recently found this; I've been enjoying it quite a bit so far; it got me to start playing RF2 (I wanted something like it, but not precisely the same game, so...). Looking forward to the next update!

I do have a response to a very old question (though I had to take the images out of the quote to be allowed to post it):

Bonus And Mechanics!

Spoiler

Show

Slimy water it is!
[...]
...Uh, somebody help me understand that bit?
I don't get it.

I think that bit's probably referencing Slimes as in the iconic Dragon Quest monster. (Which is definitely more iconic in Japan than here.)

[Deme]

Huh. That's interesting, all the people who said interesting things about slimes and treasure. Sorry for the delays, and I'm afraid some more will be coming: I'll likely be away from my work computer next week. We'll see -- I may have time for a small update.

Chapter 57: Fall's Fall

Spoiler

Show

The next day was the crop contest for fall... And I had something waiting in the wings. It just came in -- I was worried it wouldn't!

The town is bustling, even so early.


"I'll have to teach him a lesson..."



"...I'm sorry." she muttered into the leathery skin of a yam.
"If you care about it so much, you don't have to enter it in the festival..."
Raven really gets attached, doesn't she?



"What thing?"
"I don't even know..."

This calls for investigating!


It swivelled in her hands.
"Ah! It turned this way?!"
...I never want to know.



That's surprising.

"I grew it by using a book for intruction."


"Hey, Sakuya."
"What? No talking or moving vegetables."

"Maybe if they didn't have any teeth... No, that's still not a good idea."


It might have been a living thing.


Alrighty, let's try this plant I spent all Fall growing!

...Oh. Only vegetables count. Good thing I prepared a couple of options.


"I am."
"Alright, just wait for the results."
He spends a while reviewing the entries, until finally...


[color=maroon]"This is quite seasonal. It fits the contest. It's well grown; your effort shows." He cuts a small piece off and considers it. "Hmm, not bad! I can taste the love. Wonderful!"
...Well? Is it good enough?

"The results are in! The winner is..."

"Thank you very much!"

"Congratulations, everyone! All of the winners, don't forget your prizes! Until next time!"



"Thanks... I think."
High praise indeed.

When I reach home, though, I see that there's a letter awaiting me.

Seems like Kuruna has a plan.


"Another errand today?"
"Wait, do I really send you out on so many errands?!"
"Uh...no. Never." I lie.
"How DARE you!" She sighs, her expression stormy. "Anyway, I don't have an errand for you today. Shara told me about a flower field near town."

"Oh." Now I feel like a heel. "that was nice of you."
"So...would you be willing to accompany me?"
"Well, as long as I'm not intruding..."
"You couldn't be intruding if I invited you!"
"Oh, duh. Sorry."

"Heh heh."
"What's so funny?!"
It's just that you've been apologizing a lot lately," she said with a strange little smile.
"I...have?"
"Anyway, let's go."


Well, I guess there's all that stuff that happened...


We head quietly to the flower field, talking about the results. Kuruna seems a little wounded that she didn't do better.



She runs forward, her steps almost tripping over themselves like a child's steps, a gleeful laugh rising to her throat as she bends down to touch the bright petals of the flowers.

"Look, comrade! They're so... beautiful."
"They're a miracle," I say as I come closer. To imagine flowers like this, the fresh green of spring, as fall begins to end...
"It's like magic."
"They really are! It's like I've been teleported to another world!"

Suddenly, I remember something from before she knew 'this' me. A beautiful moment, looking out across the sands.
"Oh, wait!"
"What's wrong?"
"Well, I just remembered!"
"Remembered what?"
"What you told me before! 'I've never left the desert.'"
She's...probably never seen so many flowers in her life. The desert after the rain is green, but this is a green the world barely can hold onto for an instant. The air smells not of sand, or rain, but perfume.

"What about it?"

I've made a difference in this world.

Kuruna flushes at that, her face the color of the flowers.
"Oh, now look at me! You're making me blush, silly!" She turns her back for a moment as she struggles to control her face.

"What?"

She turns and fidgets with the front layers of her cape before she hands me something from their depths.

It's...a sandwich.
"Is this...lunch?!"
"Why, what's wrong about eating here?!"
"Uh, nothing! It's a great idea!"
The timing's not bad, either!

"So...can I have a bite?"
"You better do more than that! It's why I brought it!"
I take a few bites.
"Hmmm..."
"Is it...bad, comrade?!" she asks nervously.
"...No, it's good."
"Oh, please! I can tell you're lying!"
"No! It's really good!"
"I worked really hard on that. It better be good."
"What's in it? I don't think I've ever tasted anything like it." It has a sort of...sweetness to it.
"Cactus."
"Cactus? Like, cactus cactus?!"

"What other cactus is there? I got it from Sol Terrano Desert."
"I didn't know that was edible!" How do you even eat it?
"You can find exquisite tastes in unexpected places."
"Yes. I should know that by now."
I get a lot of my fresh fruit from places crawling in monsters.


"Lemme take a big bite here..."


"What do you think?"
"It's great!"
"Isn't it, though?! Cactus tastes good, but it's tedious to remove the thorns."
"Yeah, that seems like a lot of work."
"But you liked it, so it was all worth it! Here, try some of the other food I made!"

We eat our lunch, the food seasoned by the scent of flowers.

"Mmmm... That was amazing!"
"I know!" She said, almost playfully.
"I didn't know you cooked, Kuruna! I should have brought something, too... Like chocolate."
The change occurs in the instant the words leave my mouth. She leans forward, eyes wide.


Then, the thought having fully absorbed, she looks away, a tear in her eyes.
"I should've ordered you to!"
"Well...I'll have another opportunity, right?"
"...If you play your cards right."
"I'll never let you down again!"
"I hope not. So, shall we get going, then?"
"Okay, invite me again some other time!"

"Hmph! Next time, YOU will be the one doing the inviting!"
"O-Of course! Absolutely!"

...Kuruna, just how do you feel about all this?
"Well, it's time for me to head home."


Well...That was fun.

I spend the evening working on some cooking; I have a lot of recipe breads that won't do me any good. Not that I think there's much they can teach me anymore.

The next morning, Zaid has a letter for me in the mail, wanting help with something.


I find him....In a sort of unusual spot. I can't imagine why.

"So I wanted to get something special for Kuruna..."

He hesitates. His usual bravado becomes an unscalable mountain.
"A present?"
"Y-Yes! I want to get her a present. Is that weird?" He asks, face so red I can't tell him no.
"Not at all! I'm sure she'd like that!"
"R-Really?!"
"What are you going to get her?" I ask curiously.
"A sword... wouldn't be good, right?"
"No."
"Then what should I get her?!"
"Hmmmm....Then how aobut some sweets?" Those are her favorite things.
"Oh! Nice idea!" His brow furrows. "Oh, but I can't make a cake. Ramza, could you make it?"
"Then what's the point? I'll get you the ingredients, and you do the rest."
"Yeah, you're right...Okay!! I'm counting on you!" He blinked and counted something off on his fingers.

"Well...How about a chocolate cake."

...Well, I have a --


Zaid goes charging off.
"Oh! Zaid!"
I have a recipe! I can make cake!


"The recipe...I found it..."
"You're crazy..."
"I'm counting on you, Ramza. It's Flour, Butter, Chocolate, Large Milk, OK?!"
"Okay. I won't let you down, Zaid!"


I run to the store and buy a few things.


"Thanks, Ramza!"
He says as I start handing him the ingredients.

"I wonder if I can do this...alone."
"I'm sure you can. Even if you fail, if your feelings get across to Kuruna, that should be enough."
"Ramza... Heh, don't be so cheesy."
"Good luck."

"Oh!"


I got a sword! It's... Not very good.


I see Shara, flushed and tired-looking, on my way out of the desert.
"You don't look so well. Do you have a cold?" On my tip-toes, my paw can about reach her forehead.
"No, that's not it..."
"Then what's the matter?" I withdraw my offer of a temperature-taking paw. I wonder if it's rude to shapeshift while you're talking to someone.
"It's a little embaressing. Please don't tell anyone. I actually... gained a little weight... So I've been skipping meals..."

What the heck, Shara?
"If you want to diet, you need to balance your meals with exercise! Skipping meals is like suicide!!"
She looks at me, stunned.

"I-Is that right...?"
"Yes! Whatever you do, don't skip your meals!"
"I see..."

"But don't forget to exercise to make up for it..."
This has been 'nutrition with a wooly.'

I find Monica hanging out under the arbor.

I mean, she sometimes has trouble getting along with people...


"What do you like about it?"
"Hmmmm....The flowers are pretty. And the festivals are fun. And..."

"Thanks."
I suppose I'm a feature now, too.
It's... Kind of a strange way to think about it. I was an outsider recently, but...


"Sometimes, I feel how lucky I am."
Yeah, Shino understands me.


"I wouldn't have believed it when I first met you... But now I kinda see it!"



During the evening I run through the volcano...


Beating up some rather tough enemies.


Before facing down a Chimera like the one in the forest; it likes to annoy me with status effects...

But it doesn't last long. Once it's fallen...

Huh. Snow in a volcano. What an odd place.


The night passes quietly.


"What is it?"
"You can't prepare a turnip for tomorrow!"
"I won't..."
Why...Would I?


Oh.
"I have no clue."
Do I need a turnip?


"You don't seem too happy about it. Is something the matter?"
"It's being outside in the cold, you know?"
"Because you live in a warm climate, you don't like the cold."
"Yeah."



I buy a few winter seeds. D-do I need a turnip seed? Really?

On my way out, the snow begins to fall all around us.

"So I've heard. What's it about?"

That sounds...From experience.
"Why did you do that?"
She shrugs, treating it as a question not be answered.

"Pia, would you like to go somewhere with me?"
"Yeah! Let's go enjoy the snow!"
"Alrighty!"

The place where there might be snow on the ground becomes a brief respite from the falling snow, leaving the cold, frosty flower petals exposed to a cutting wind.

"I can never believe such a pretty flower is blooming in such a cold place..."
"It even froze the bathwater I brought." She opened her little cape to reveal a small container of... Ice.

"What?"
"Oh, it was just so cold, I couldn't help myself."
"The end of fall must be hard for you." Fish do seem sensitive to temperatures for that, and she does spend her time in the steamy bathhouse.
She nods, but a little laugh escapes her.
"But since I'm with you, I'm warm enough!"

While I'm standing, a little stunned, she dashes to the shadow of the Icy Rose, reaching a hand to the sparkling petals. Her hair is the sort of color you'd expect from roses, and with the blue of her fins, something about the two, woman and flower, feel strangely contrasted: one's cool and sharp, the other's all soft wave and color. It's a beautiful contrast, and for a moment, I can't respond to her.
"I want to share some of my warmth with the flower!"
"Well," I laugh. "Maybe we could talk some more here."
"Okay!"

We relax under the rose bush -- while the sun is on us, it's nice, but the air seems to just get more chilled with each passing cloud.
"Oh, but it's cold..."
"Yeah. Squid would be nice about now!" Pia says with a laugh -- but instead of, say, somehow producing a squid, she just hugs her cape a little closer.
"Really?"


"Fruit, I suppose."
"Oh! I like fruit, too! We're a match!"
She applauds.
"Yeah, you're right." I attempt to drape an arm over her shoulder for warmth, but --

"What?!"
My arm retreats. I try to think of a change of topic.
"Uh, what do you like besides fruit (and squid)?"
"Baths!"
"Yes." That's...fairly clear. "What else?"
"Umm, fruit, Sakuya and Shino..." She counts them off on fingers that shake, very slightly, from the chill. She slithers between my arm and my side, until I've draped my arm around her.

"But I really love everyone in town! How about you, Ramza?"

"I like them too," I say without thinking about it for an instant.
"Yeah! I hope everyone can be happy. That's why I need to make the baths even better!"
...How sweet. I guess the quality of the water really is her gift to the town. As long as she has that... She can be sure of where she belongs, huh? What a lovely thought.


I let the cool of the air fade away, compared to my arm around her shoulders.
"What?"
"I mean, you want to make EVERYONE in town happy, right?"
"Oh..."


We spend a while there, like that -- I suggest maybe using some of the ice roses for the bath, but in the end, Pia decides they'll melt. Eventually, the sun threatens to go hide once more.
"I suppose I have planting to do," I say, admitting -- as the snow begins to fall over us once more. Pia shifts easily, the snow hitting her like water. Well, I guess it is. It lands in the long strands of her hair.

"See you later, Pia."
...I do want everyone here to be happy. Pia, too -- and, I guess, myself.

[Deme]

Sorry for the delays; life got crazy. But here, have a long one. Not much further now...


Chapter 58: The Penultimate Confession

Spoiler

Show

When I get back, the snow's given up the fight and melted into a cold, cold rain. Sofia's umbrella keeps her from the worst, but she's miserable -- and not just from the weather.
"Another festival to look forward to..."
What did this festival do to you?
"Sofia?"



A good question. Can't we use snowballs?


"Something the matter?"
"I'm saying a little prayer for the turnip I'll be using tomorrow."
...I think I need to ask Wells about this.



Please explain.


...O...OK?
"And that's basically all there is to it."




Ooh, nice.


His body is not ready.


"Oh, I remember tricking Pia, telling her that turnips with ketchup are easier to dodge."
That's one mystery solved.
"Well, it didn't turn out so well..."


Oh, hey. I can make this fancy curry.

So I do; the remaining ingredients are a trip to the store away.

I spend the evening forging it... The precious...

I mean, it's a precious metal.

The first day of winter is already cold; I spend a long time just working on getting my crops in a row. I want to look through my flower seeds, too.


"Gaius, what are you doing here?"
I've never seen anyone else in the settlement.

I see.
No wonder.
Still, he gets a little self-depricating and adds...
"I just can't help it..."
"Gaius?!"
...Oh. I thought you were here about Zaid. Instead, you escape your troubles.



"I took some turnips from Ramza's farm without --"
"W-What did you do?!"


"Please be careful!" I look about for something to slow an unquenchable lust for blood and action. "There are some girls participating."

"Oh, thanks. Heh heh."




"Yes, leave it to me."


"Um, w-what kind of job was it?"
"Do you really want to know?" she asks, a serene smile on her face.
"N-no, I...I gotta run see ya bye!"



Collette dodges out of the way of a snowball.
[color=goldenrod]"H-Hey, Marian! I don't mind practicing, but why do you keep --"
"Nnng!! Enemy invasion! Collette force field!" Marian grabs Collette and places her in front, as if defending from an imaginary attacker.
"Ahhhh!"
"Teamwork...?"





"How about it? Do you want to enter?"
"Sounds good."



Alrighty, then. I'm no slouch when it comes to fighting, though.

What ensues is pure chaos, turnips flying everywhere. Carlos is a demon -- but, true to his word, besides a few shots pelted at Sofia's umbrella, he aims all his fire at me.



I can fight... But I hate throwing things...




Dang you, Carlos...

Not bad.
"Congratulations, everyone! All of the winners, don't forget your prizes! Until next time!"


Not as if the prize really matters.



Everyone mulls over their own losses -- and mine.



At least it was fun.
After that I spend a while mining, crafting up junk...

I'm pretty tired, so I just call it a day.



The next day, Kuruna has a request for me.


"Of course! That maniacal look on your face really added to your charm!"
"Just forget you, uh, ever saw that!" She recoils as if from a blow, before gaining her composure. "ANYWAY, I wanted to ask you something, comrade!"
"What do you need?"
"Can you make me... a chocolate cookie?"
"Kuruna... You've really got an addiction to chocolate."
"Whatever!" She stamps her foot. "I'll eat what I want!"
"Okay, okay. I'll bring it for you."
"R-Really?! Here's the recipe!"



I...already had one. But she was resolved.
"*cough* ...Thank you for doing this for me."
"Oh, no problem!"

I see Karina on my way through to the store for chocolate.

"It always seemed like Mom was too busy with the store for me, but..."

"She's a good mother."
"Well, it's not like I asked her. (But I am grateful...)"

I head to the store and get that, and head to the flower shop for some more winter flower seeds, too.


Nananana, bake a cookie...

Lalala, make some chocolate to put on it...


And here we are!

She eats it with a noise that I think might not be appropriate for this story...

And collapses on the floor?!
"Kuruna?!"
Did my cooking kill her?!

As I'm about to panic, she pulls herself back up, her hair a disheveled mess.

"Sorry! I was just so... HAPPY!" She looks around, embaressed. "Um...Can I make you some tea?"
"Sure."
"Great! Have a seat, then." I sit in front of her wide, low table. She sets the remainder of the cookie down for a moment. While the water heats, she fixed her hair and tries to get herself back in order.


"Can't wait to try it!"
"Okay, now to pour --"


A voice calls out.
"What? Who's there?"

Shara walks into the tent with a big smile, but when she sees me there, she freezes.
"Oh, awkward." She looks back and forth between us. "Am I interrupting you two?"

"No, it's fine. I can come back later. I don't want to intrude!"
As Shara turns to leave, Kuruna holds up a hand.
"You're not intruding."
"I'm not?"
"We're just having tea."
"Actually, if you want to... you can join us."
"Oh, I don't want to impose! Honestly!" She looks over to me.
"It's okay. I don't mind."
"Well, if you insist..."
"Of course we do."
"Alrighty, then! Don't mind if I do!"

She sits down with us and examines the table's actual contents.

"My father never let me have them when I was a kid. I'm overcompensating now, I guess."
"My grandfather's strict himself...He never let me have any snacks growing up! But he lets Monica get away with anything! She does what she wants, when she wants! Can you believe that?!" Shara laughs as she talks.
As I listen, my mind turns to my own memories -- murky at best, nonexistant at worst.

...I wonder what my father thought about snacks... I think Mom was a good cook, but...It's fuzzy enough that I don't know how often she put any skill with sweets to use.

"Parents and grandparents can be strange like that."
It'd... be a little gloomy if I said anything like that, though.
"Looks like you two have more in common than I thought!"
"Yeah, I never thought I'd have much in common with a Hornless girl..." Kuruna says, a little flush-faced.
"It's a shame we couldn't have been friends sooner."


"Well, it's time to munch on your Chocolate Cookie!"
"Can I have a bite?"
I flinch back, nervous about Kuruna's response.
"Everyone gets a bite!" I propose, nervously.

We split the cookie between us -- it's a sizable cookie, so there's plenty of time. The tea is hot and fragrant, and the sweet-and-bitter dark chocolate on the cookie complements the sweet-and-bitter tea.

"Glad you liked it!"
"Sorry again to butt in on you two. It looked like I was interrupting something!"


"Heh heh." Shara giggles into her clasped hands. When she's gone, Kuruna turns to me.


"She's got a way with words sometimes!"
"But she was right. The Chocolate Cookie was so scrumptious!"
"Glad I could accomodate your sweet tooth!"
"Thank you so very much for that! Anyway, we absolutely MUST do this again! Here's a little something to thank you!"
"You're welcome!"


Oh, wow.

Wow, that's nice.



Aww, how sweet.


"Don't."
"I-I won't! I am an adult, I wouldn't do something like that!"
"..."
"Huh? That rainbow look again?"
What does that even...
"No, this is me doubting you."


"What? What's with the sudden apology...?"
"I thought that it'd be better to say it up front rather than afterwards."
"Up front...? Wait, what's that suspicious looking medicing in your hands?"
I immediately run for it, skidding into the snow-laden town square.


Pia stands by a fountain, staring out into the grey winter sea; it sparkles in the distance. Her eyes are soft and far-away.
"Pia? Is something up?"
"...Well, I was just thinking... About how the water looks from this side..."
Her voice sounds so thoughtful that it's immediately clear what she means.

"...You keep worrying about it; maybe you're not sure either way?" I know that's how I feel. I keep wondering: I've been 'missing' for almost a year now. There have to be people looking for me.

"It'll always be a part of me..."
Her fins droop.
"...I'm the same way. I love this town. But... I'm not sure I want to give up on the person I used to be, yet, either."
For a minute, she seems a little surprised. Like she'd never consider it.
"So you'd leave us?"

...The water in the fountain is the only sound for a moment, as she stares, sad and helpless, and there, I'm not sure.
"Even if I made you a really nice bath, you wouldn't stay?"
I sigh, my shoulders slumping. She looks at the sad smile on my face with confusion.
"...Like you said. I'm not sure I even really want to go. Just... Maybe I still should."
"B-but, but! Sakuya and Shino are here! And Daria's working on a rainbow bath additive! And everyone's friendly!" She leans forward, listing her own reasons to stay with growing distress. "And I'm right here, too!"
"...Yeah. But you know, you could say the same for you." She nods. For a moment, we sit down on the bench behind us, the thin layer of snow crunching over our bodies. Next to her, I notice with a strange realization that she's warm-blooded, like a person, radiating heat in the winter cold.
I shouldn't be surprised.
"So how about this... If you go back to the sea, I'll go with you? We can seek our homelands together."
She thinks about this for a moment, and a smile spreads across her face, building into a giggle.

"No, you won't. It's underwater."

"Well, OK, then," I say, trying to resolve myself to what I... What I think I really feel. Some part of me cringes, nervously -- but nothing I'm saying can't be taken back. As long as I say that... I can look around and see the little birds I once collected for Sophia, fluttering around the plaza. And the tree where Collette hid, still full of green leaves. I'd taken Kuruna on a tour here, and had festivals here. And here on this bench, Pia's pink hair flowed down in waterfalls next to me, brushing up against my arm, her fingers almost touching my fingers.
"I guess I'll just have to stay here forever."



"...Well, of course. Can't have them going around... Being squid," I said, laughing a little in spite of myself. She sprang up cheerfully, and, waving her goodbyes behind her, went forth to destroy those cephalapods that would oppose her.






While I'm going through my recipe breads...


A fierce snowstorm kicks up, chilling me to the bone as flecks of ice fall into my face.


The ice kills some crops, too. Of course. Good thing there's some stuff left unplanted.


In the meanwhile, I try to decide what sort of accessories I want to make, but...

Something keeps coming to mind.

In the end, though, I just keep making little silver rings.

And a new staff. I don't use magic much, but it's good practice.

The next day was a light snowfall, after the ferocity of the old blizzard.

"Not sure..." I wonder how old she was when she had Sakuya.
"Maybe I'll ask her. I'm curious as an artist."
"As an artist?"
"That's right. I know."
I stare at her.
"What?!"
"N-No...Sorry..."


The letter in my box is a strange one, and I head to the Settlement with a sinking feeling.

Ondorus and Zaid are staring, worried, at Kuruna's tent. Their expressions radiate concern.

"What's wrong?"
"Kuruna. She's been acting so bizarre lately. She's been making mistakes that are most unbecoming of her." He looked at me, a thoughtful expresion on his face. "Ramza, do you have any idea what might be troubling Kuruna?"
"No idea. I hadn't noticed, really. We had tea and cookies just the other day."
"That's what I feared. What could possibly be the matter?"


"What's wrong?"
"My bracelet! I told Kuruna to fix it, but she hasn't even lifted a finger yet! It's been a WEEK, man!"
So... About since just after the festival?
"It was my FAVORITE! She's always really good about fixing my stuff whenever I tell her, too!"
...That's... Kind of spoiled.


The rain patters against her tent, making the inside feel even more isolated.

Kuruna sighs, staring off into space.
"Kuruna!"
"..." No response. As if I'm not even there.
"KURUNA!" I say insistantly, like to someone who's fallen asleep. She lifts up her head, eyes wide.
"...Oh, sorry!"
"What were you daydreaming about, Kuruna?"
She turns her head.
"Uh... nothing!"
"Really?" I peer into her face. "Is everything all right with you?"
"Yes. Couldn't be righter, comrade." Her hand waves languidly.

"Kuruna... I saw your letter, you know," I reproach.
"Oh, yeah. That."
I sigh.
"I know something's wrong, Kuruna."

"Everyone's worried about you, Kuruna." Was there something in those cookies? Or trouble with the town? "Could you tell me what's wrong?"


At first, it's just a tear in her eye. Then her voice starts climbing in volume, cresting like a wave. Her shoulders shake and she keeps asking me,

I take a step forward, trying to reach for a balled-up hand.
"Kuruna, please. I can't help you if you won't help yourself."

The words choke in her throat -- the first thing she says, I don't hear. She repeats it, louder, tears running down her face.
"Go home."
"I won't go home until I find out what's wrong, Kuruna." We've come this far; why throw me out now?

She shouts. I retreat in a daze, back out into a fiersome desert storm -- the town's snow, melted and still cold in the heated desert air.


"Well, I told her I wanted to help... And then she started crying!"
"Ah," says Ondorus, blinking. "It all makes sense now."
"Wait, you figured out the problem?! I didn't even tell you much of anything!"
He puts a hand on my shoulder, looking exasperated.
"I need to talk to you about something."
"What's that?" He stared deep into my soul.
"Actually, no. Wait here."
He turned and entered the tent, leaving Zaid and I staring after him.

"What could he be doing in there?"

"What is it?"
"Kuruna thinks she's ugly. She ever tell you that, man?" His brow furrows as he watches me, a sort of tired sigh escaping him.
"Uh, no. It's not exactly something I'd expect her to confide in me."
Kuruna? Ugly? I think she's beautiful -- regal, even.
"Well, she does. But maybe it's hard for a human to understand. Personally, I don't care what she looks like. She's our elder."
"That's a pretty open-minded attitude, Zaid. I'm surprised, coming from you."
"Just find out what's wrong with Kuruna. I liked the old one better."
"I will!" Kuruna's my friend. I won't let her down.


"What exactly were you doing in there?"
"Never mind that. Go inside and talk to Kuruna."
"But, I --" got kicked out,' I almost say.
"I told you to get in there. Now do it."

I push my way into the tent, trailing droplets of water.


"..."
"..."
We stand there for a moment, the air heavy.

"So...Can you talk, then? You can't have a conversation without two parties." She sighs.
"Well, what do you want to talk about?"
"I don't need to tell you again. You've been acting strange."
"You think?"
"Yes." I cast about, trying to draw a real response out of her. "And when you start acting strange, I don't know how to handle it."

"..." She looks at me out of the corner of her eyes. "*Sigh*... Ondorus was right."
"What did he say?"

"Ondorus?! He would never do that!"
He's my bud! My bro!
"He said you were dense," she says. She's smiling again, at least.
"I'm not dense!"
"I think you just proved you are." The corners of her eyes crinkle up.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"You think?" Me, dense?
"Definitely."

"..." Fine.
"..."
"Heh heh heh." In the silence, all I could do is laugh.

And all she could do was laugh, too.

"Anyway, I have something to tell you, comrade," Kuruna says, drawing herself up with a breath. She folded her hands in front of her.
"What's that?"


"You DO?!"
...She... She doesn't mean like, like you like a friend, like, does she?

"Ondorus said that you need to be clear and direct with dense people." She fiddles with the ends of her hair, shooting glances at my stunned face.

"Well, you didn't --"
"I'll give you some time to think about it."

I sigh. I...Don't know how I feel. About anyone. Not exactly.
"Thanks. I think I need it."

So, next update, Kuruna's going to ask Ramza his feelings about her, for the final event. And this is going to be where Ramza picks his girl, and his fate. So... I turn it to you.
What should he tell her?

[fizzmaister]

Seems we're approaching the thrilling conclusion.

[Deme]

Depending on how the final stretch goes, we're looking at maybe 2-4 updates between us and the end of the game, though this little stretch of time's been a bit of a mess for me, attention-wise, and I'd like to apologize for that.

[Toric]

Even after playing RF4, I'm surprised at how much the unity festival changed the villagers' daily behaviors. It's neat to see Sharance villagers just hanging out in the monster village and vice-versa after the blatant demonization on both sides the game started with. Ahh, warm fuzzies.

I'll probably post my thoughts on Kuruna after the results of this vote are finalized.

[Deme]

They're finalized, but spoiler, I didn't get the event to trigger, either during this update or in the few days that could follow it, so I just jumped the gun.


Anyway, here's the dealio. I'm working on finishing my first draft of my novel seriously, so the update is written, but it's hard to take the time to actually assemble it all together. On the other hand, at the pace I've been going, this state of affairs will be over this weekend. Expect an update then.

[Toric]

I'm working on finishing my first draft of my novel seriously, so the update is written, but it's hard to take the time to actually assemble it all together.

Woohoo, congratulations! The painfun is just beginning for you from what I've heard about pro writing, so best of luck for the editing process!

Spoiler: Kuruna musings

Show

Kuruna's not the most likeable bachelorette to me (I admit to being a blatant Pia fanboy) but she's one of the most interesting, with a believable personality. She started with some obvious cognitive dissonance (Humans = BAD; Baked treats =GOOD; Humans beget baked treats, thus baked treats = BAD?) which does usually lead to the kind of erratic behavior she displays. It's genuinely heartwarming to see her gradually get over her racism during the romance.

My main issue with her as a marriage candidate was that this character growth overshadowed any romantic sparks between Kuruna and Ramza; it felt more like one friend helping another through a rough spot than a blossoming relationship. As a result Kuruna's confession felt as shocking to me as it did to Ramza. Then again, I'm pretty dense myself when it comes to flirting so my opinion may be in the minority on this.

[Deme]

Those are excellent thoughts, and I agree with them pretty much, and will be more articulate later.
...And yeah, the hard part's beginning, but at the same time, it's much less daunting to me. It's... Odd.

Chapter 59: Fly Higher

Spoiler

Show

...I wander around briefly, feeling lost and at-ends.


"So?"
"I'm over it."
To throw away everything you tried for just like that... Right now, it's kind of alluring. Trying to get all of my memory back hasn't worked out -- but I don't know what's really next for me.

While at the store, I buy a few seeds, and plant them in foreign fields.


"What was that?"
"Nothing!"


"I think it's becoming an interesting town."
"...Oh? And when did that start?"
"I mean, with our kids becoming parents one day soon."
"Y-Yes, I suppose..."

Becoming parents soon, huh? I guess it is that time in our lives... Well, maybe? I feel like sometimes ideas like that make me feel... Shadowy. Like I need something to pull me back down to reality, where I exist as a real person. Does that make sense?
Maybe someone like me would have a hard time becoming a parent, but -- well. I'm not sure how much longer I really care to wait to see where in my life I am.


That'll be nice in this weather.



I spend the rest of the day lost in my own thoughts, meandering through my house and feeling... Just how empty it might really be. Outside, there are people who are really special to me -- people I could never replace.


...But as long as I've thought of this as a borrowed house, for a borrowed person, that's where they've stayed. And, in the cold of winter, I can't help but feel that's not OK anymore.


"Delita? What do you think?"
"<What do I think about what?>"
"...What I should do. I feel like everyone wants an answer from me, but..."
"<Well, do you want an answer? I don't see the problem if there's someone you really care about. Your past might be an obstacle... But you have a life, don't you? Not then, but now?
...So it's all on you, buddy. I think someone like you, having some people who loves him... Well, I don't get humans, but isn't that nice? What do you think about people? About your future? Do you care for someone?>"

I mull it over for a moment, faces flashing in my mind. Some of them, I feel more strongly about than others. Some of them, I think about sweetly. Some of them make me warm just to imagine.
I could imagine a future here, living forever in this place, with someone here -- maybe even having a strange little family. All the little things of life, eating meals, going to bed, watching the leaves grow back in in Spring... I think those could be full of love.

"I'm not sure exactly, but... I think I would love to spend my life here with someone."

"<Then find her and get her. Humans make things so complicated.>"
"I'm a complicated person, so that could happen."


I'm not totally resolved yet, but I think I can at least make this.


The next day, Monica had a letter for me.


Yeah, I can.... kind of see that. Kind of.


"Oh, I'll have to get you something!"


"Hazel?"

"..." There's nothing wrong with that, you know.

I head upstairs to where Monica's waiting.

"Sorry, sorry."
"What am I gonna do with you? So, there was something that I wanted to ask you."
"Yeah, what is it?"

"Yes."
"Well...Do you like Shara?"
"Huh?!" Do I... Well. Everyone's asking me that, but...
"I'm asking you... Do you like my sister?!" She stamped her foot.
"Ha ha, w-well... That's hard to answer..."


"N-No! I don't hate her!" She's important, I just...
"Then you like her?"
"Well, that's..." I take a deep breath.
"Make it clear! You're a man, aren't you?!"


"I'd be a little sad if you liked Shara...Because I..." Her bob-cut swished back and forth as she shook her head.
"Monica..."
"But! I'd be even more sad if you liked someone other than my sister...*sniffle*..."
"I'm sorry to make you cry," I say as she wipes tears from her eyes.
"I'm not crying..."
"Sorry."
"You don't like her?"

"I have feelings... But I'm not sure if that feeling is love."
...I can't love someone just to keep someone else from crying. I.... I shouldn't have let it get this far.
"Well, don't come crying if someone takes Shara while you're wasting your time..."
"Take? Where did you hear that?"

"Ha ha... Thanks."





"Why?" I chuckle. "Are you thinking of making me something?"
"Maaaaybe. I can boil it in the bath!"
I have heard of spa-boiled eggs; why not?
"I'm sure I'd like anything you make."

She buckled up with resolve, making a cute red face.
"Thank you!"




"This girl married a man who caught a giant lover snapper! And they are so hard to catch. It'll really make you popular with ladies!"
Somehow I feel like Pia would get mad...
Pia?
...That is something that I wouldn't have expected myself to say at all, but it doesn't feel bad in my mind. Yes: Pia is someone I absolutely want to please, and see happy. Her bright smile is one I want to keep close...
Maybe I even meant it, the other day: maybe I really would stay for her, and go with her.
"Although I can catch them myself, so I'd rather be given something else. Heh heh."

I head over to the inn, hoping I could say something to Pia, with what I sort of put together.

"Pia, actually."

"I'll do my best, ma'am."


"I don't think you're emotionless. Just chill."




Niiiice.

I run home to get a gem for Karina.







I spend the rest of the day not really accomplishing anything.




I fight things, including a massive mammoth within the labrynth, that sends showers of ice through the area...


They fight me, it goes badly.


And the morning dawns and I feel quiet inside -- steadily growing towards a real feeling.



"According to karma, your actions in a previous life reflect in your next one. So Karina the workaholic will be reborn as a slacker!"
"So does that mean no opposite-speak in your next life?"




"Or that's just what I tell people and they seem to not accept it."
"What?! So it's a lie?!"


She laughs.
"Now, who is he looking for?"




I head to the inn, my palms sweating, my heart pounding. For a moment, I just lean against the far counter, working up my nerve. Sakuya notices me, and smiles coyly.

"Inns were special to us. All of us folk who didn't have a place to go home to. But one day, it suddenly felt like home."
She patted my shoulder.
"I think Mom opened an inn because she felt the same way."
I think I see what she's driving at. I'm not sure I can say when it happened -- maybe at the Unity Festival, maybe when I showed myself to the town, maybe even when I let Pia see --
But then, without my knowing it, it felt like home to me.

I take a step forward. My heart pounds. Pia's been watching me out of the corner of her eye this whole time, her eyes turned to the inn's windows now that I'm near.

"What brought that on, Pia?"
"Nothing, really. I just realized... How many types of family there are. And how much I like that!"

I almost open my mouth and say, just then, that we could be family. Maybe, like home, we have been for a while.
I'm done running away.

I open my mouth, and I say:

She giggles.
"Okay!"


The waterfall sparkled, the air warming as we headed away from the winter chill.


"The fishies are having fun today, too!"
"You really like fish, huh?"

"They were my only friends!" My heart breaks a little at that smile. But those days really are over.
"I can see why you'd be attached to them."
These aren't the same, but they're friendly, too!"

We spend a while there, and she worms her way next to me, inching a little closer until we are watching the fish swirl in the rainbow-tinged water, hand in hand.

She says eventually.


The moment is now. There's nothing else I want to do. I fumble for the ring in my bag, running my finger along the band.

And I offer it to her, on trembling fingers.



"Pia... Will you marry me?"
"Here?! Now?! With you?!"
Oh.
I misjudged. Can I back-pedal, can I...

"Well, I..."
You know what? No. No retreat.
As I think that, I look down into her brillaint smiling face. The face of a person I could share my worries with, who understood my feelings -- a gentle, strange person.


She wraps her arms around me with rib-crushing force, and what starts out as a wheeze on my part bubbles up into a laugh.

A lift up her chin with one hand and kiss her over the sound of my own pounding hard. Her lips are just a little cold and taste, just faintly, of the smell of the sea.


"Me too!"


There's so much to do and so much to plan, but for the moment we just relax into each other's arms. There's no where else we would rather be.


Happiness

...No, OP 2 doesn't change depending on the girl. It's a crime.

[Dragoon]

That was very sweet, also have to laugh that Shino thought he was there for Sakuya.

Also was disappointed that the new opening doesn't change for which girl it is. When I came upon this, I had married Shara first just to see, then reloaded and went with my actual pick of Sofia.

Enjoying the updates as usual.

[fizzmaister]

Woo! Ramza is engaged. However, in that video, Ramza's clothes look even more feminine than during gameplay. They just look so lacy and frilly. It bugs me.

[Deme]

There's a strong streak of Overdesign in the Rune Factory series, and the frilly lace here is a key sign. As are the heroine of 4's taste in outfits.


Thank you all for your patience with these last few updates: I've been a little scattered. The next update should be our last, though, and I'll be sure to rally before I start another LP (I have... Ideas.)

Chapter 60: Dragon Cave

Spoiler

Show

The day passed in a whirlwind -- telling everyone, making arrangements, trying to explain that maybe tomorrow was a bit fast for a wedding, no one, and I mean no one, hearing a word I said... Frankly, by the time I went to bed, I was about ready to call off the wedding on account of dying.


But the next day was it. After spending a while with the coldest of feet, by comparison, the morning cold was warm. My fingers trembled as I put on my clothes. my heart was pounding.
And then I heard a knock on the door.


It was Wells. I wasn't expecting him for a few hours -- I've barely had time to even think about the day's preperations. Does Pia even have a dress? (...Is... Is Evelyn going to have to make formalwear?)

"Ramza, please stay calm when I tell you this," he says, his tone full of severity.
"Stay calm? Why?"
"I hope it's nothing...But I can't find Pia anywhere!"
My blood goes cold. Keep calm, keep calm, keep calm...
"Are you sure she didn't just go off on her own?"
Where would she even go? There's nothing around... For miles.

In the blink of an eye, Well's lapels are in my hands, the distance between us gone before I even realize what I'm doing.

"I've searched all over town and the surrounding areas. She's nowhere to be found. It's like she just... Disappeared."
There's a thought, glittering just at the edge of my mind, and I shake it off.
"That's not like her! Something must be going on!"
There really is one other place in the world she could be...

"She would never run away from that!"

Wells looks downward.
"I fear the worst..."
"Well, I don't care what happened. But I AM going to find her! By any means necessary!"

Maybe she got nervous! Maybe this happened too fast! But I believe in her!
Even if she's decided she'd rather go back to the sea -- I'm sure I can catch her at the shore, and just talk to her!

I don't have time to do anything else but bolt for the door.




I don't want to lose her, no matter what.

I go running down the street, when I notice...


No one's here.
It's, like, 6 AM. Rats.

So I have to turn around and wait until people wake up, you know, just hanging around, to grab the nearest person -- leading me to chase after Carmen as she walks towards the river.

"Carmen! Wait! Has Pia come by the water today?"

"I saw Pia walking near the ruins."
"Ruins?"
"Yeah. They're on the small island in the middle of the lake in front of our shop. No one ever goes there, so I thought it was a little weird," she admits with something of a frustrated, pensive sigh.
"I don't know where she went after that, but she couldn't have gone far!"

I see... I didn't realize that there was somewhere like that. I'll check, though.


It seems like other people have heard about this.

I check a with a few other people, starting with the general store...
"How did it come to this?"
Hazel sighs and shakes her head.

"Really? You actually think that has anything to do with this?"
I mean, she's not exactly human herself...
"I guess I shouldn't comment, then. Sorry."


I won't say I didn't think the same thing, but...
I thought I understood Pia better. I thought it didn't matter that we're wildly different species, or anything like that!
...It didn't matter to me, that she was a mermaid.

Rusk sees the look on my face and puts a hand on my shoulder.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to insult you like that."


"After all, I'm sure it's all your fault!"
"...Not really what I need to hear right now."
It seems everyone's thinking the same thing.


...Was that really troubling her?


"I'm sorry to hear that."
"But I do think that everything happens for a reason. There must be some explanation!"

Even right now, I'm glad Shara's on my side.
"...Thanks, Shara. I won't give up!"


"But no one can find her anywhere!"
"She's not at the settlement, so maybe she hasn't left town?"
"That's true. I'll try looking harder."
I'll need gear to check out those ruins in this weather...
"I'll be sure to let you know if I find anything out."

There's some people I definitely need to talk to, first, though!

"I just can't believe she'd run off on you like that!"
"Yeah, something's not right here..."


"Why would you say something like that now?"
"I'm sorry, I just can't think straight right now..."


"Is it because she didn't like her wedding dress? It should've been made out of fish!"
...That would have made it worse!
(Did she make that suggestion? Because if so. Wow.)


[color-maroon]"Was it such a burden?"[/color]
"What do you mean?"
"No, never mind. In fact, you'd best forget what you just heard."
...A burden? I don't think I can forget that...

I'm still searching town, but now... Now I wonder. Maybe it may have been too scary; maybe it was all too much.

...Maybe she never could have stayed here, any more than I could have.

"Don't worry, I'll make you something that'll work wonders!"
"Pass."


"I'll do my best."
If I was willing to give up that easily, I don't think I would have proposed, I guess.


...That...Was probably opposite, right? Otherwise, maybe I made the wrong call.




Her eyes are cold on me -- full of hope and despair. I've never thought of myself as a sign, or an example -- but her blue eyes are very sad, and very soft.

"...I'm not willing to believe that, Raven. I... I can't believe it. Please. Hold out a little more hope."
"..."
And because I said as much, she slowly nods.



That's right! This is my only lead!


I cross the water to the building on the other side -- most days, it's a thing half-hidden in the mists of the lake.
A strange feeling creeps over me -- it's almost like a scent. A scent like... Soap bubbles. No. Bath bubbles.


I head to the doors and push up against them. No movement... In fact, it almost rebuffs my hand.

"It won't open. It seems like it's sealed with some pretty potent magic... Hmmm... Maybe Wells knows how to open it."

I run to Wells, who's up by the plaza tree.


"Those doors have been closed as long as I can remember. I've never once seen them open."
"Well, that's not much help..."
"Do you think Pia is inside the ruins?"
"Some people think they saw her there..."
"But...the doors are shut tight!"
"I know. But it's weird. Somehow, I... know she's in there."
"Hmm... Now that I think about it, there might be a way. Marjorie might know something. You should go talk to her."
"I will. Thanks."



"Magical doors?"
"That's right. No matter how hard you pull, they'll never open!"
"Then how the heck am I supposed to get in?!"
All this tension and cold has me shaking.
"Calm down, boy!"
"Sorry about that..."
"We don't have anything in town powerful enough to open the doors. The magic is far too potent!"
"Well, guess there's nothing I can do, then."
It really might be hopeless, but... How would she have even gotten in?

"Don't look so defeated, boy! Do you know the young man with the horn? Ondorus, I think? I think he might be able to help."
"He can?!"
"Well, I don't know if he can. But he might. No one else has the magic abilities he does. He's our only hope, to be honest."
"Well, he's also our best hope! Thanks, Marjorie! That was a big help!"

For the third time, I go running across town.

I slam into the apothecary, gasping for air.

"Ah, sorry about that." I mean. I am trying to hunt down my fiance. Still, I catch my breath as best I can.
"What do you need?
"Well, it's complicated. I think Pia went to the ruins, but the door's sealed shut with some magic spell."
"And let me guess. You need me to open those doors."
"Yeah. Can you do it?"
"I think I can. But... How do you know she's inside the ruins if the doors won't open?"
"Folks in town say they saw her by the ruins." I can't stop thinking about that smell, that... That something. There was a current in the air.
"And I can't explain it, but... I just know she's in there. I can feel it."
"I understand. I'll do what I can to help, then."
"All right! Let's get going then!"

"Not so fast."
"What's wrong?"

"About what?"
"Details on the ruins. That will help me open the doors."
"Sounds like a good idea!"
"Go to the ruins without me. I'll come when I'm ready."
"Thanks, Ondorus! You're always such a big help!"

I head down to the lake and prowl the shore like a cat. Trying to understand -- if the doors were sealed with magic, how could she have passed? I'm sure she did, but...
Was the door locked behind her somehow? Or magicked to permit her entry?



"That was fast."
"I'm a quick reader. Time to go."
"Huh?"



I'm magicked over there in the blink of an eye.

"Ah, sorry about that. I'll try not to let it happen again."
He turned his attention to the doors, running his hand across the carvings, shaking off a layer of ice.
"Hmmm... These doors are quite intricate. It's strange. Who built them, and for what?"


I jumped nearly a foot in the air as Marjorie teleported to the Ruins' island.

I mean, sure, I'm always teleporting around at all opportunities... But to my own home!



She walks carefully towards the doors, taking care not to slip on the ice.
"The magic spell is even more potent than I anticipated."
"That was my fear, too. Can you open them?"
"Yes, but I can't do it alone."

"I thought you said you could open it!"
"Calm down. I did some research on the ruins before I came here. We don't know who built them, but I did find some clues regarding the doors."
"What did you find?"
"A poem. Here's what it said..."
(image)
That's a terrible poem.
"What could it mean?"
"I can only think of one answer: The humans and the univir must join hands."
"Makes as much sense as anything! Let's open those doors, Ondorus!"


A great power wells up within me...


Ondorus's expression is severe as he fuels the effort.

...The snow is undisturbed.

The door is cold.
"Nothing happened."

"No, nothing..."
Marjorie elbowed me out of the way.

"Hey, you! Move it."
"Uh, yes, ma'am!"

I step out of the way as Marjorie charges forward.





They pool a certain amount of magic onto the door, their hands pressed against the carving.

The air is full of light and magic, and the door slowly groans back...


"Owwww...."
"Are you okay, Marjorie?"
"I'm okay. Just a little worn out. But I did the job, right? It's open!" The old witch cackled.
"Yeah. But why couldn't I open it?"


"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"'People of the land,' remember? The locals and the Univir were the keys to opening the doors."
Also, Marjorie's a witch...
"Wait a minute... Did you know I wouldn't be able to open them?"


"That, and because it was just funny!"
"Hey, that's mean!"

"Anyway, you can head on in now!"
"Indeed. Our work here is done."
"Thanks, guys! I couldn't have done it without you!"[/color]



"Now get in there!"
"Yes, ma'am!"


They teleport out, leaving me to follow that feeling.


Into a ruin of blue crystal, where water drips down into the ceiling, forming little pools.
In the air, there's than undeniably Pia-ish feelings, like the scent of bath-salt and sea-salt mixed together. To say it's a smell isn't exactly right -- it's more that, like a smell, it hangs in the air...
And like a smell, it brings back memories. The way the light shimmers over the crystaline surfaces, eating the ruins, makes me think about the moon over the bathhouse... Just like then, there's a wall between her and me right now.


"But why would she come here all alone? It doesn't make any sense!
...Well, can't waste any time worrying about that! I gotta find her!"


I'm geared up as best I can be.




I've learned all I think I'll know.



I run through rooms of this watery ruin, clearing out monsters as I go.

And I come to a statue in the middle of a room, whose door shuts behind me... And before me.


I take out the enemies I can, including mages, ghosts... And literal demons.

When I'm done, the statue beings to pulse with light... And the door isn't any more open than before.
"The statue's glowing! Hmmm... Maybe that's the key."


"What's this doing here?"
I leaned forward and poked at it, brushing away a layer of algea.
"And there's something carved on its stomach!"


Well, I happen to have some...
"Uh, how can a statue be hungry...?" I shake off the thought. "Well, no time to worry about that! Time to dig out my pink turnips!"
I place them at the statue's feet -- and then, suddenly, they're gone. Something rumbles.



"Looks like the statue was the trigger. Just as I thought."

I cross the water back over, my ninja shoes slipping around across the surface, barely floating...




Where I find another room I have to break through.


And then another.

And even more fake chests! I hate these things!

When they're gone, the statue once again begins to glow.
"The statue's glowing!...Is that the key again?"



"Uh...I don't think Cucumbers make good replacements for bones!"
Still, I don't have those on me... I'll need to run home and see.



My fridge only has one, which I tear through like an animal. I check the desert...

Where my patches of cucumber will see me through.

I bring them back as fast as I can run, watching the path through the statue clear as I catch my breath.





As I run up towards the center of the structure, there are more and more rooms where the path closes until the enemies are gone...

Enemies that now include these almost building-like golems. They go down really before they can hurt me, though -- with raw determination fueling me, it's hard to slow down enough to hurt.


And this statue.

When they enemies gone, the runes beneath that statue activate, as well.

The air even feels a little autumnal here.

Greaaaat.
"Figures they'd want more than the other statues, with two mouths to feed!"



Down the hatch!


The next room was a long, curving ice path, the weather returning to a winter chill as I run past, heavy breaths forming in the air.


I feel somehow encouraged by the universe. It's just a grape, but... It's something.


And here we are. This must be the last one...

Also. Tiny dragons. And by tiny I mean 'person-sized.' But they fall like the rest.

I stand before the statue of the laughing face, corssing into the circle of glowing runes.


"You can fix cracks in ice with turnips...?"


That's all of them.


The next room was dominated by a staircase and 4 sort of urns. When I step in, there's a familiar flash of light, and a sort of runic power filling the room...


They appear as if from nowhere -- no, as if emerging from inside me, in a shower of light.


One

By

One

They emerge, and then, in a flash --


They land on the urns.


And the ground begins to glow. I step forward.




It's only possible to go forward; I feel like all my hesitation is worn away.

[Hiro Protagonest]

There's a strong streak of Overdesign in the Rune Factory series, and the frilly lace here is a key sign. As are the heroine of 4's taste in outfits.

I don't really notice overdesign if it's consistent over the whole aesthetic (I JUST noticed Forte is wearing two belts over her armor), but Frey definitely takes it to a level where it's not consistent with the rest.

I also didn't think this dungeon was right when you get married! I thought it would happen a month after or something. This is a short post-game.

[fizzmaister]

The suspense is killing me.

[Deme]

Sorry to be killing you for, like, a month. My bad. But here we are!

Chapter 61: The End

Spoiler

Show

Here I go!


Moving forward feels like being pulled apart or stepping into a fire. The air goes white. And then...


The ground beneath is a series of disconnected reefs, rubbing against the soles of my boots with jagged edges. Great swathes of coral sproud up around me -- the air is just a little thick, and I couldn't tell you if it was really air or not.
Above me is only darkness, as great pillars descend into a blackness from which only a few shafts of light descend.


Pia emerges from the air as if in a dream, her hair falling around her face as she paws at her eyes, wiping a heavy fall of tears from them.
"Pia!"
I run towards her, my hand outstretched -- it's only when I'm almost close enough to reach her that she lifts up her head.

Her voice is cold. Her eyes have always had an odd, cloudy quality -- like shadowed depths. But there's something odd in them now, like her tearful gaze is just a shadow on the water.

I take a sudden step back, almost propelled away by her tone.
"Why?!"
All she can do is shake -- her head, her shoulders, bouncing the layers of her cape around her.
"I...don't know!" It's only a little shred of voice that leaves her then. "But I know I can't be with you!"

A roar tears through the air; the ground behind her shakes as a shadow slowly creeps forward.


A seadragon emerges from nothing -- no light, no smoke -- just his arrival, like a specter. I tear my eyes away, Pia's crying filling up the air.



"Are you the one who kidnapped her?!"

"Indeed."
"Give her back!"

"What are you talking about...?"
I mean, this probably should have been brought up with someone else!

If I have to be a monster to be with the one I love, then I'm a monster. If I have to be a human, then I'm a human.
That's what I can be.

The dragon, as if reading my thoughts, sneers. An echo of that expression crosses Pia's face briefly, as if dragged there -- it's so unlike her as to be unbelievable.
"She would only be unhappy with a half-breed like you."

I... Looking down, I see my hands -- but I could have just as easily seen paws. But they're both "mine."
"...I don't have to listen to this!"
"I shall grant her freedom. Freedom from you, Ramza!"

Wait.
"...How do you know my name?!"

That was not what I just asked.
But he continues, his voice a deep rumble somewhere in the back of my soul.

"I will keep her until she forgets you ever existed.
Ramza, I order you to leave Sharance! Forget about her. Take your vile half-breen form back from whence it came!"

Even if I wanted to, that's never been possible. Sharance is where everyone's looked at me... And maybe their acceptance isn't without reserve, or complication, or regret.
But they accepted me.


I step towards the dragon and draw my sword. A dragon -- he might just be something like a god. I might have gotten out of my depths. But I still have one thing.
"I told you to leave!"


"I trust her!"
Isn't that why I was able to show her what I really was? Wasn't that why that was OK?! I understood her heart, under the layers of bubble-bath foam.

"Hmmm..." He looks at my sword with eyes like ice. "As you wish."




He begins to circle the Dragon's roost, swimming gracefully through the air, just low enough that my sword strikes hit home, clanking off of his scales.

Every now and then he stops, turning towards me with a sneer, raining down a blow from his tail or sharp fins, cutting across my arms.

Eventually, at its peak, he looks across towards me with a sneer, revealing rows of sharp fangs.
"Impudent child of monsters. Sleep!"
He rains a series of water bubbles, battering me back in waves -- everything spins. My limbs grow heavy. The whole world is underwater and it slowly became hard to breath. I must have gotten hit at some point, but it's kind of... hard to...

The world goes black for just a moment.


And when it clears, the attack is over, and my limbs still feel stiff and heavy.
"Paralyzed...Rats." I... didn't have anything for this, huh? Oh, well.

He laughs as I slowly drag myself to give chase again.

I get in my strikes, he summons what I can only describe as little water-fish-crystal lasers, taking idle potshots at me.

"Compared to everything I've gone through, that's nothing!"
"So you say... But you're stumbling, little half-breed."
He laughs, but maybe I see it.

Maybe I see a fear in his eyes.
And the fury.


He circles faster, thrashing me off my feet as I pursue -- my sword hitting his tail and striking at his underbelly.
"Get... Back here!"



He batters me harder, and with more magic, as I form a flurry of blades -- more water comes rushing down at me in silver-blue bubbles that feel like I'm hitting a concrete.
"I can take that!" It's a matter of a basic healing spell to keep me going.
He laughs and turns away.

And then... I'm thrown into a grand array -- a series of the little crystal-fish lasers knock me around, directly before his mouth...

The beam of his breath burns. I'm completely caught, struggling under the light. Somewhere up above, I think I hear Pia screaming.

And that's how I know I have to get back up. I have to get back up!

But instead I'm knocked back to the outer wall, the coral and stone digging into my shoulderblades; my vision is a haze of blue.

"...I would, but... Look at that?" I sneer, the adrenalin and paralysis mixing oddly, making every breath a little hard to catch.
"I'm... all out of Para-B-Gone... Guess I'll just have to... Walk to you."


Her voice filters down from somewhere high at the top of the roost. I shake my head, drawing in one ragged breath after the next.




And so he summons nothing less than a waterspout -- a tornado -- a mass of shrapnel and water, flying across the roost to claw at me, pushing me back with a force of a gale.

"Surrender. That's beyond a human body to endure."
He... He might be right. I'm too big a target like this, and my skin's pretty fragile...

"Great." I grin, even as I feel that grin change. "Because I'm not limited to that."

Even if the branches get caught in my wool, they're not slashing my skin...As much. It's easier to barell forward and push into the wind.


I can't see how far away he is, or how far I've gone. I just keep walking forward, pushing myself onward with a healing spell.


Until I've reached him at last. I leap up, and with one long back paw...
"Ramza! You can do it!"


With the last of my strength, I give him a good solid kick.

And he falls, toppling over like a tree.


He fades into a beautiful and bright shower of runes, forcing me back into my other shape.



Pia emerges as if she'd never been gone.


She's still wiping tears from her eyes. Somehow -- they look more like her own eyes than before.

When I try to get closer, though, she turns away. The sound of her sobbing into her fins fills the air.
"I'm sorry, Ramza!"
"Pia, you don't need to apologize!" After all that shouting, it's a little hard to sound the way I want to. But I'm not upset -- and, bludgeoning with twenty treebranches aside, I'm not hurt.
And that just gets from her a little noise -- an audible wince, trailing off to something sadder.



"What if I wanted to go back one day? You'd drown, or at least get sea-salt hair! And I don't think wooly mermaids are a thing for our kids to be and -- and -- and --"

Eventually, her voice trails off.
"I hurt you! And I'm sorry!"

The moment stretches out between us.

"Don't worry about it." I hadn't even considered... That far ahead, exactly. But I'm not afraid.


"I trust you completely...And I've never stopped loving you!
But maybe next time you get nervous... We can talk?" And no one can get abducted by dragon-gods?



I wrap my arms around her, and I don't really know where we are, or how we got there... But I feel a sort of exhausted peace spreading through me -- like the adreneline's finally petered out. It's over. I'm safe. I'm home.


Aquaticus' voice rings out over the roost. Pia presses herself against my back, until I'm a wall.


As he re-emerges like a bad dream.

"We have no reason to do battle now. I would like to propose a truce."
"A truce? Why?"
"I apologize for using you."
Well. That's a relief. That makes it all peachy.
"I wanted the Sharance flowers to bloom..."

He says it softly; like he's been waiting a long, long time.



"But the univir and humans no longer lived together. So I decided to take action.
It was you, Ramza, who gave me hope."
"Why me?" You're not really lacking for other candidates.
"I needed someone who would understand both univir and humans."


...Is it too late for no truce?
"It was a gamble to see if you would be the bridge between the two races... But you were able to heal old wounds. You even came here to challenge me over love!"
He laughs like this was an amusing little joke.
"It appears that my intuition was indeed correct."


"I regret putting you through this. Please forgive me."
"I... don't know what to say."

My last... Memory? It exists. It was something I could have found.


I feel Pia's fingernails through my vest. Her knuckles must be white.

I turn back and I look into her eyes...

And for a second, I wonder what other eyes could be out there: eyes of family or friends I don't even wholly recall, somewhere miles away. Or responsibilities I need to do. I lost something -- and now he's asking me to give up everything I have to get it.
... That I'd have to make Pia's pink eyes full of tears again. And Shara, and Raven, and Gaius, and Sofia, and Ondorus, and --


I already made that choice.

I know where I am, and where I am is exactly where I ought to be. I spent so long learning it -- how could I walk away now? I made my promise, from now until the end of the road.

"I refuse."

"I had a feeling you would say that. Now the Sharance flowers will finally blossom."


He's gone, truly gone, and we're alone.


I scoop her up in my arms and she laughs, the sound a little catching with a remnant of tears.
"Ready to go home?"


***

After all of this, it seems a little unfair that the wedding's the next morning. I mean. Really.
But I think at this point, we're a little worried something else will happen on our way to the meadow.


We meet in the Sharance Tree, dressed in the best wedding outfits we could manage. I think the cape's a little big on me...


Odd little headdress aside, she's beautiful in that cape and dress.

"Let's go then."



I can't help but be a little nervous as I step out into a shower of confetti. I shoot her a nervous smile and her fingers flush against mine.


First up is Pia's family, since the inn is closest. She waves at them long before we arrive, giggling with delight.

Tears sparkle in her eyes, and Sakuya's voice is choked with joy. Pia sniffles a little herself.
"Congratulations! Just remember to keep practicing, OK?"
It's with her own eyes misty that she responds,
"Thank you! Baths are still important!"
"Ah, that's not what I was talking about!"
"They've still got it." A good comedy routine will never be broken up.

It shouldn't be surprising, but I'm still a little startled to see that Shino's crying, too.

"Shino..."
"Call me Mom,"
Shino's order gives Pia a moment of pause.
"What?"

"Feel free to come by whenever you want."
"Ok..."
She nods, slowly and steps just a little closer to Shino -- whose arms are already open for her. From the depths of their hug, I distinctly hear Pia say
"Thanks...Mom."




"Thank you all!"

We joruneyed onward; we weren't sure who we were expecting to meet at the Plaza, but there was someone.




If Kuruna maybe looked a little sad, I couldn't find it in her expression. She looked at peace.
"You look good together."
"Thanks, Kuruna."
It's probably something better saved for later, but... I'm glad I met you, too. I'm glad I met everyone.

Yes, even Will.


I...suppose I can.

"F-fighting?"
I'm not sure her picture of marriage is one I like.


"No fish dresses, please."
"A squid one would have been OK! Oh, what about bath loofas?"
"...Let's just move along."


Sofia looks shyly down at her hands.
"She wants to tell you that she wishes you the best."
I guess that's important to get right the first time.


He looks over meekly at his eldest.
"Have a happy life, right?"

He nods, and we accept it with a chuckle, before moving on to the water's edge.




...Really? Because I believe it very easily.
"Good luck...bro."




Pia smiles brightly, and laughs -- perhaps just a little at herself. But then again, maybe not.
"Nope! After all, Ramza's all huggably-soft-squeezably adorable!"
Couldn't I be half handsome or something?
But I grab Raven's hands for a moment, and give her a little blessing of my own.
"It'll all be fine. I've made my bet here."



I wonder what sort of toys we'd need? Well, babies are babies, right? (Maybe some waterproof ones...) We have as much time as we like to think about it.

We walk into the shadows of the trees, as the forest glows around them. The traditional spot for vows here is the forest's flower field.

And we walk into a line of rainbows spreading out from Daria's brush. Like a shower of rice, but colorful.


And finally...




Wells and his family are waiting, for the final blessings.

...Awww. Don't be too sad, Monica. I'm sure there's a wonderful rose prince for her -- someday.

"Shara. Thank you, for helping me all this time."
"Well, didn't you help us, too? Give yourself a little credit."

Wells clears his throat.


"In sickeness and in health, until death do you part?"

After a fighting a literal dragon, I was pretty sure I could get out of being afraid of anything. But my voice still shakes a little when I say,
"I do."

All eyes turn Pia's way.

"In sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
It's when she turns back, a radiant smile like a full moon on her face, that I realize I'm not scared.
I'm excited.

She answers immediately, her voice full of joy.

"Wonderful!"




That's the choice I've made. I won't say it was the only choice I could have made, but those don't matter. They're in the past, and you can't define yourself by what could have been.



I can only kiss my wife as hard as I can in the present, letting the smell of a hot bath and the taste of the sea linger together in my mouth.
The air fills with the smell of flowers -- not just in this field, but further; I wouldn't be surprised if the whole town smelled like the Sharance tree finally coming into bloom, its shape at the edge of the sky bursting with the suddennes of applause.

I guess that means we'll get our wish.


And that... I feel like, in days to come, one of my water ponds, or some upper level of the tree, is gonna be for a bath... But who knows. Maybe there'll be room for a couple of little half-mermaid,quater-woolies. Or whatever else we want to fill our lives with.

I guess what I want to say that if you're looking for me, somewhere out there... Drop by. I'll show you the life I've made here. Even if I stumbled my way into it, or was tricked into it...



I have a long future here, under a radiant aurora of Sharance Blossoms.

I want to thank everyone who read and enjoyed this LP, I'll probably organize some more thoughts later. It was, while perhaps draining and dragging at times, a lot of fun. I learned a lot more about Rune Factory 3 than when I started, and at least some of that is through you guys. I may do a few more touch-ups -- a video of the credits, perhaps, or some more notes on the final boss... But then again, promising post-ending content is hard for me. It could be a little talky sometimes, but it was interesting to LP, and I've grown attached to these freaks.

I have ideas for my next project, but first I need to do some housekeeping, both for things neglected Thracia 776 and for my personal schedule, which has taken this busy winter to fall into a state of disrepair.

Thank you very much for reading.

[fizzmaister]

And at last we have the thrilling conclusion. Thanks for the LP Deme.

[Toric]

This has been a wonderful read. Well worth tuning in for. I liked how this game ended much better than RF4's ending. I'll try not to spoil, but this final boss fight was much more personal and story-driven. The amnesiac protagonist is as common as the silent protagonist, but it's not often an amnesiac gets to choose whether or not to recover his/her memories.

Even on her wedding day, Pia couldn't keep the squiddy menace completely out of her mind. :3

[Deme]

Love her, love her obsession with destroying squids.

Glad you liked it. ^^