Main Story/Olderion

Story Overview: Olderion
Upon arriving at the Olderion Federation, Rain and his friends met Nichol, a tactician and Warden of the Waters. At first, Nichol was wary of Rain and his friends. However, he soon decided to join them in order to stop Veritas of the Waters, who was seeking to destroy the Water Crystal.

when the party arrived in downtown Olderion, they were attacked by Veritas of the Waters. During the battle, Fina underwent a sudden transformation and turned into Dark Fina. Unable to match the overwhelming power of Dark Fina, Veritas of the Waters retreated.

Afterwards, Veritas of the Waters was able to destroy the Crystal by slipping in when Rain and his friends broke the seal of the Water Shrine. The destruction of the Crystal plunged Olderion into utter chaos. However, Dark Fina exhausted the last of her power to save the city, after which she fell into a slumber and once again transformed back into Fina.

Having added Nichol to their party, Rain and his friends departed for the Zoldaad Empire, home of the Fire Crystal.

Ghost Ship
RAIN: Hey! Is everyone all right?

LASSWELL: It looks like the storm has passed us by.

RAIN: What about Fina? Where'd she go?

Rain spots Fina and runs to her, Fina is standing on the railing of the ship.

RAIN: There you are, Fina. You're not hurt, I see.

Rain and Fina look out towards the Ghost Ship.

FINA: Huh. Clever… So he's using a ghost ship to hide out in.

RAIN: Who is whatting a what?

FINA: I felt the power of the Sacred Ring. The Veritas is aboard that ghost ship.

RAIN: Wh… But… Wouldn't he just fall through…?

FINA: Stop babbling and start moving. We're taking over that ghost ship!

Ghost Ship – Abominable Presence
VERITAS OF THE WATERS: Wh-what's going on here?

FINA: What a novice, not being able to hide your own presence.

NICHOL: Let's just assume that's all for the sake of appearance.

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: Nngh! I'm warning you! This won't go down like before!

-FIGHT-
VERITAS OF THE WATERS: No... The Sacred Ring…

RAIN: So this is it… The Sacred Ring of Paladia.

FINA: Rain, stop! Don't touch the ring!

RAIN: Wh-what the-!?

LASSWELL: Rain!?

RAIN: Uwaaaaaaagh!

A flash, and Rain falls to the ground.

FINA: Rain! Let it go! Drop the ring!

Rain sits up, the Sacred Ring is glowing as is Rain.

RAIN: Guh…

NICHOL: Rain…Your arm… It's glowing!

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: That light… So this child…truly is…

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: I must tell Darklord at once…

Fina walks towards Rain and the ring, takes the ring.

FINA: Well, at least it's not foul. That power pouring out of you, I mean.

RAIN: Power? This is…my power? But then…why is it so…

FINA: Painful? Because you're not ready for it. You still can't control your own power.

FINA: But you need to make it your own, Rain, and quickly.

RAIN: Make it my…? Where...have I heard those words before…?

FINA: I wonder if you can even manage it. You being you, I mean.

RAIN: I'll…I'll try…

Rain stands, Lasswell steps forward.

LASSWELL: Fina! What is happening to Rain? Explain this at once!

FINA: I'm not bound to explain anything to you, Lasswell. This is a special something between me and Rain, not you.

LASSWELL: A special… What!?

FINA: Oh, Lasswell… Jealousy is unbecoming in a man.

Lasswell steps back.

LASSWELL: What was that!? J-jealousy…! Why would I-

LID: Would you two give it a rest? Jeez! Rain, are you okay? Do you need to rest awhile?

RAIN: I'm fine. We don't have time to stop now.

RAIN: We have to get to the Water Shrine.

FINA: Good, Rain. That's the spirit.

Widow's Cape
MERCEDES: Well, I've bandaged it for now, at least. You don't want people to see that arm and start asking questions.

RAIN: Thanks. You've been a big help.

MERCEDES: Don't mention it. I'll help you out anytime you need it.

MERCEDES: I'm done with the, uh, piracy and all that.

RAIN: You don't say. I'll bet you could do well for yourself, ferrying people around. Return trips, I mean; not marooning them.

Rain walks down the ramp from the ship to the ground.

RAIN: Come on, Elle. We should be going.

ELLE: Yeah…

Elle walks towards the left, Rain spots something and walks to where Elle was.

RAIN: What's that, an amulet?

ELLE: Arsha gave it to me. Even though I told her I'd be fine. I suppose she just doesn't have much faith in me.

RAIN: If you must brood, why not do it over a problem instead of a blessing? I can't imagine sulking about having a beautiful fiancée who worries about me.

Rain and Elle start walking.

ELLE: Rain… Do you think I've really been any help, in the end?

RAIN: What's eating you, Elle? Asking something like that out of the blue…

ELLE: Be honest. Please.

RAIN: How things turn out in the end is not what matters.

RAIN: What matters is doing everything you can, for as long as you can. If you do that, then...well, you did all you could.

ELLE: Everything I can…for as long as I can…

RAIN: Oh, and besides all that…

RAIN: You've got good instincts in battle, Elle. So long as you keep training, you'll become a great warrior someday. Take my word for it.

RAIN: The word of a Grandshelt knight.

ELLE: Ha ha ha! Thank you. Rain.

Widow's Cape - Inlet
ELLE: You're no match for my brother and Luka! You know this!

RAIN: Even if that were to happen, there's no need to worry.

RAIN: Everyone has their part.

ELLE: A part, eh…

Widow's Cape – Vertical Rockface
RAIN: Even for Lasswell and myself, there are things we are good at, and others we aren't.

ELLE: Supplementing each other is what friends are for.

RAIN: There are surely things that even Nichol and Luka are incapable of.

RAIN: You just need to do what you can, Elle.

-END OF STAGE-
ELLE: …Lasswell, how exactly do you see Rain?

LASSWELL: Huh? How do I see him? What are you getting at?

ELLE: It's just that, there's a lot to think about when in the presence of such an amazing person.

LASSWELL: If that's how it's gonna be, the answer's simple. Rain truly is incredible.

LASSWELL: However, only I am capable of protecting him.

ELLE: I see. So I guess that's all in your hands.

Subterranean Stream - Mouth
LASSWELL: How might you see your brother differently if you were standing in his shoes?

NICHOL: Elle, too, is of the wardens of the water.

NICHOL: He could surpass even Luka and myself if the powers he was born with were to awaken.

NICHOL: It seems like Elle simply hasn't awoken yet.

Subterranean Stream – Stalactite Grove
NICHOL: Each man has his own part in life.

NICHOL: If not a tactician or a water priestess, then there's surely some other fitting role.

NICHOL: And once Elle finds it, he will surely grow into his own.

LID: If you think so, why don't you tell him yourself?

NICHOL: Well, you're right, but…

NICHOL: I guess I feel it's better for him to realize it for himself.

Subterranean Stream – Growing Darkness
RAIN: …Nngh!

LASSWELL: Rain, don't push yourself too hard. Stand back if your arm is still hurting you.

RAIN: What are you talking about? You don't think you could do this without me, do you?

LASSWELL: …I guess you're right. I won't stop you then.

LASSWELL: I will instead do all I can to back you up!

-END OF STAGE-
RAIN: N-nnngh…!

LASSWELL: Rain! What's wrong?!

RAIN: …M-my arm…

ELLE: Rain, leave it to me!

-STAGE CLEAR-
ELLE: This should do the trick. It's a restorative medicine passed down among the Wardens of the Waters.

ELLE: I don't know if it'll heal that arm, but…it should at least take the edge off the pain.

RAIN: Thanks, Elle. I think it's helping a bit.

LID: Wow… So you Wardens of the Waters can do that kind of thing too, huh? I gotta admit, you guys are pretty amazeberries.

NICHOL: The guys who are truly amazeberries are our women, who serve as Water Priestesses. We menfolk… We're rather useless by comparison.

ELLE: You're a genius tactician, though, Nichol. The only useless one here is me.

NICHOL: Elle… I do not want to hear such things from you.

ELLE: But it's true. I'm not actually needed.

ELLE: I'm not special like you or Luka. I'm like…an item that's not selling, so the shopkeeper throws it in as a freebie.

ELLE: When we were kids, it used to really get to me. But I've accepted it, and honestly, it's fine. There's no reason to deny it.

ELLE: I'm me. I'll do everything I can with what I've got. I'll make Arsha proud to have me as her husband.

NICHOL: Elle… You have grown, haven't you.

ELLE: We're nearly to Amore. Rain, let's find a place to rest there a little while.

Town of Amore
The group walks on screen to meet the village leaders.

VILLAGE CHIEF: Master Nichol. We have been expecting you. The aquapolis is in quite a state.

NICHOL: Yes. That is why I intend to travel to the Water Shrine.

VILLAGE CHIEF: The Water Shrine, Master Nichol?

FINA: We're going to release the Water Crystal's power. It's the only way to save Olderion.

Rain falls to one knee.

RAIN: Ngh…

FINA: You still can't handle that light, can you?

FINA: Why are you fighting it? It's a part of you.

RAIN: I don't know what you mean. I'm not fighting anything. I mean…I don't think I am.

FINA: Look, I don't know what's going on inside your head. But I need to be straight with you about something.

Fina steps towards Rain.

FINA: Rain. If you don't get this under control, it will kill you.

FINA: Haven't you already felt it? The way the pain in your arm seems to spreading throughout your whole body?

RAIN: It's…killing me?

FINA: If I used the power of the crystal…I could save you.

FINA: But…if I do that, we won't be able to save Olderion.

FINA: The power held within the crystal has its limits. That's just the way it is. So what do you want to do?

RAIN: What do I…

RAIN: Are you serious? We've got to use the crystal's power to save Olderion.

FINA: …Even if you're the one destined to save the world?

RAIN: Ha ha ha! Come on, that's codswallop. Stop walloping all those cods, Fina. It's inhumane.

FINA: …I do not lie.

RAIN: Well…say it were true, then. It would be all the more reason to choose Olderion.

Rain stands up.

RAIN: If I'm supposed to save the whole world, I'd better at least be able to save myself, wouldn't you say?

FINA: Hmmm… Fine.

Fina walks away from the group.

VILLAGE CHIEF: It seems things are even more complicated than I'd thought.

VILLAGE CHIEF: Well, at the very least, please get a good rest here tonight and restore your strength. It seems you have much ahead of you.

Town of Amore
SHOPKEEPER: Greetings. The mayor told me to expect you. You want your room right now? Yes/No

LID: Sorry for the hold up! I managed to piece something together using spare parts and ordinary household items. One portable fan, sir.

LASSWELL: Thank you for this...Lid.

LID: How's Rain doing? He's sweating buckets…

LASSWELL: Yes, but he's finally getting some sleep, at least.

LID: Hey, Lasswell… What's happening to him?

LID: Does creepy-Fina really know something?

Scene change Flashback

LASSWELL: Let me tell you about something that happened to Rain when we were children.

LASSWELL: He touched a powerful crystal, and a strange light took root in his arm, just as it has done now. Like an infection.

LID: Just because he touched it? I've never heard of anything like that happening…

LASSWELL: His arm pained him terribly, and nothing would relieve it. And the looks from people around town… It was horrible.

LASSWELL: Our misfortune was only just beginning, though. Soon after that, Rain's father, Sir Raegen, went missing…

LID: So...so how did his arm get better that time, then?

LASSWELL: I wish I had even a flicker of an idea. That time, it simply got better on its own, somehow.

Scene change back to Inn.

LID: I...I don't wanna be the one to say this, Lasswell, but…

LID: If we don't do something, Rain really might die. At least according to Fina.

LASSWELL: I...I don't know what will happen to him.

LASSWELL: How pathetic. I say that I will protect Rain, but now that he's in real danger, there is nothing I can do.

LASSWELL: (Sir Raegen… If only you were here…)

Scene change to Elle walking

ELLE: (Do we save Rain? Or protect Olderion? Do we really have to choose just one?)

ELLE: (No… My brother will think of something. Nichol always does.)

Elle stops in front of Nichol's door, camera moves into room to show Fina and Nichol.

NICHOL: What are you doing here at this hour? I do not recall inviting you in.

FINA: You're not sure what to do, are you? With the crystal.

NICHOL: All lives have equal value. Therefore we must decide a course of action based on minimizing the number of deaths. That is the creed of the tactician.

FINA: So a hundred lives are worth more than a single life… Is that it?

NICHOL: For years, I have put my life on the line to keep Olderion safe. It is my home.

NICHOL: A great number of people live in the city. Elle's fiancee, Arsha, is still there. I cannot simply abandon them all…

NICHOL: And yet...I find myself wavering.

NICHOL: If Rain is truly fated to save the world, then the lives of the multitude he could save must outweigh the lives of Olderion's people.

FINA: Well put, tactician. Without Rain, we can't beat the Veritas.

NICHOL: Fina… There must be another way. That is why you came to me tonight, I am sure.

NICHOL: I don't care what it takes! I am prepared to do anything, if there is a way to save them both.

FINA: ...Anything? Are you sure?

NICHOL: Certain. Whatever is required, I will do it, I will lay down my life, if need be.

FINA: Well...if you're sure… There is a way. But it's something only a Warden of the Waters can do.

Camera moves back to Elle.

ELLE: So it is possible...for someone...like me…

Water Shrine
LASSWELL: So this is the Water Shrine.

FINA: I've already removed the barrier around the shrine, using the power that Luka lent me.

LID: All right! Then let's get in there!

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: At last...the seal is gone.

LASSWELL: That voice! Veritas of the Waters! How are you even alive?

RAIN: Argh! Where is the swine? Show yourself, coward!

LID: You're a pain in the neck, you know that? Just leave us alone already!

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: That I cannot do. Even if you do not understand why. There is no need for you to understand…

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: Because, after all, you will die here.

The group is beset upon by monsters

ELLE: (This is it… Now is my chance!)

Elle runs into the Water Shrine

NICHOL: Elle!?

LASSWELL: Nichol, don't look away! The enemy comes!

Scene change to Elle walking in the Water Shrine

ELLE: I...I have to do it…

ELLE: Right now there's no one else who can. I have to do this.

Water Shrine - Old Gate
RAIN: Veritas of the Waters… So you're sending monsters in your place again, I see!

LID: Huh? Where's Elle? Where could he be at a time like this?

LASSWELL: I saw him enter the shrine ahead of us.

NICHOL: What the- ?!

-Stage battles-
Elle standing in front of crystal

ELLE: I found a way...to save them both...Rain and Olderion…

ELLE: If I just...use my power as a Warden of the Waters...to magnify the crystal's power…

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: Ahhh, interesting! But if you are not careful with such power, you are the one who will die.

ELLE: Veritas!? But how?

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: Heh heh heh… When you struck me down on that ghost ship, I attached myself to your shadow.

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: If I had tried it on Rain or Lasswell, they might have noticed me, but you…

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: A simpleton like you was the perfect choice. And now you have served your life's purpose.

ELLE: B-but I…

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: Yes, it is a shame, isn't it? Yet your time in this world is over now.

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: Just like...that crystal…

ELLE: S...stop…

Veritas of the Waters breaks open the crystal

ELLE: This...can't...be…

-Stage battles-
FINA: I can feel it. The Water Crystal has shattered… The boy Elle… He failed.

FINA: I suppose that'll be the end of Rain as well.

FINA: There's no point staying here, then.

Fina starts walking away.

???: Wait! Don't go!

FINA: Oh? This is surprising. I thought you were sound asleep. But here you are calling out to me.

???: Please! Please save Rain!

FINA: You're not serious? Look, I'm sorry, but he's finished.

???: You're wrong! There's still time; I know it! So...please!

FINA: Ugh, how annoying. Just go back to sleep, and also bury yourself in a deep hole and never come out.

???: You care about Rain just as I do, don't you?

FINA: Just as “you” do? What a joke!

???: I know that you do! I'm you, after all. We must share the same feelings.

???: But right now, I can't do anything… So, please…

FINA: *sigh* It is unbelievable that you managed to develop feelings like that. Just...ughhh.

FINA: Fine then. Fine!

FINA: I suppose, if there's a tiny chance he's alive… And since we do share a body and all… I suppose I can do this much for you.

FINA: Well then. Apparently I'm going back.

Water Shrine – Central Opening
VERITAS OF THE WATERS: Ah, I simply never tire of my own beauty. Truly, it must be a sin to be this lovely! Yes…one of the wickeder sins, I should think.

ELLE: (I can't even…move a single finger… is this really the end for me?)

ELLE: (I acted on my own, without even thinking…and got the crystal destroyed…)

ELLE: (Brother… Luka… Was I ever…anything but trouble for you…)

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: Heh heh, excellent. Sounds like you're just about finished dying, hm? Marvelous.

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: When Rain and his band of merry morons find your body like this, they'll come dashing right over, don't you think?

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: Without stopping to wonder if some handsome adversary mightn't be waiting to ambush them.

ELLE: (What have I done? Everyone struggled so hard to get this far, and I've ruined everything…)

ELLE: (Damn it… I don't want to die like this… Arsha, I…I…!)

Elle starts glowing

ELLE: (What is this warm feeling…? Is this…the amulet Arsha gave me?)

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: Ho ho ho ho ho! This time, I will finish off Rain and his meddling friends once and for all!

ELLE: Keep…dreaming…

Elle gets to his knees

ELLE: As if I'd let you…do that…!

Elle stands, walks a few steps and falls back to a knee, stands and faces Veritas of the Waters

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: B-but you… Whence such power? Whence!?

ELLE: Thank you…Arsha. I won't give up until the end.

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: Well then. This is…touching. I'm touched. To think that you would drag around that mangled carcass, barely hanging together, just to try and stop little old me!

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: I am deeply moved! Allow me to express the profound affection I feel!

Water Shrine – Will of the Ferocious
VERITAS OF THE WATERS: How can this be!? How can you still be standing!

ELLE: I…

ELLE: I'm going to do…what I can do… What only I can do…

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: What…ARE you? You're like…the living dead! The living cremated! How can you still be moving!?

ELLE: (Arsha's amulet… It must be protecting me…)

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: Aaargh! The only thing you can do now is die! Just give up and die already!

View change to combat-style screen with Veritas of the Waters and Elle

ELLE: Veritas of the Waters… I have no intention of defeating you.

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: If you've no intention to defeat me, then why fight at all!?

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: Die then, you half-hearted fool!

Veritas of the Waters attacks Elle, Elle falls to the ground

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: Hah…hah… I should not allow myself to become so discomposed. Not over some ordinary fool boy. It's unseemly.

NICHOL: Elle!

RAIN: Elle!

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: D-damn it all! My plan to ambush them unawares--!

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: You brat! You imp! This whole time, your plan was nothing more than to buy time until your playmates arrived!?

ELLE: Brother… Rain… It's up…to you now…

NICHOL: Elle!

NICHOL: Waterlord! You will not see another sunrise!

RAIN: You'll pay for what you did to Elle!

LASSWELL: We will defeat you here, without fail.

LID: How could you… How could you!?

FINA: Why don't we settle things, once and for all? It's seven hundred years overdue, warrior of Aldore!

-Battle with Veritas of the Waters-
VERITAS OF THE WATERS: What is this…this power…

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: It can't be… How could I be defeated…

VERITAS OF THE WATERS: Very well, I shall take my leave, for now…

-Stage clear-
NICHOL: Elle... Thank you. Veritas was defeated thanks to you.

ELLE: I didn't…do a thing… But you… Nichol… Rain… You're all so…strong…

ELLE: But me… I failed… I wanted to save the city...and Rain…but…

FINA: You didn't fail. The crystal might be in pieces, but it's still brimming with your power.

FINA: See? Even these broken shards are shining brilliantly.

ELLE: They…they are…

FINA: And if that power isn't enough, I can amplify it with the power of the Sacred Ring. So…you don't need to worry about a thing.

ELLE: Yeah…? That's…wonderful… They'll all be…safe…

ELLE: Rain… Olderion…

RAIN: Elle! You can't die on us! What'll happen to Arsha if you die?

ELLE: Arsha… I'm…so sorry…Arsha…that it had…to end…like this…

ELLE: But I did my best…to be the man…you deserve…

RAIN: You were the man she deserved, Elle. You two were great together.

ELLE: Thank you…Rain… Keep this world…safe…

NICHOL: You did well…Elle.

NICHOL: I am proud to call you my brother.

ELLE: Nichol… That's all…I ever…

ELLE: Thank…you… I'm glad…I was born…as…your broth…er…

RAIN: Elle…? Come on, Elle…

RAIN: Elle! ELLE!

NICHOL: Rain… Let him rest in peace now.

Fina and the crystal shards glow

RAIN: ELLE! ELLE!!

Scene change to Rain in a room.

FINA: Don't worry. Your arm will be fine. Just touch the crystal I hold.

RAIN: Huh?

FINA: Trust me. Rain.

RAIN: …I do.

RAIN: Ah… The light… It's disappearing…

FINA: It hasn't actually disappeared. It's just stored away for now.

FINA: It may be too much for you to handle right now, but… Just try not to fear the unknown.

FINA: After all, that light is a part of you.

RAIN: Who…are you?

Scene change back to Water Shrine

RAIN: The light… It's fading…

RAIN: That's right… I remember now. What happened with Fina that time…

FINA: Looks like the Sacred Ring did the trick. So I'd better say good-by for now.

FINA: It seems like the other me…is waiting for her turn to see you.

FINA: You will be gentle, Rain, won't you? With the other Fina.

RAIN: Wait! Fina!

Screen flashes, Fina is back to normal.

FINA: …Huh? Where am I? Rain, what happened?

FINA: Did I do something to make you all worry about me again?

RAIN: Fina… You're back…

FINA: Yes… I'm back.

NICHOL: Elle… It is time we return home. Back to the city that you saved.

Aquapolis Olderion
Celebrations in Olderion

ARSHA: Nichol! Thank goodness you're all right.

ARSHA: You're the toast of the town, Nichol. Everyone is calling you the hero who saved the aquapolis!

NICHOL: Arsha. Please…listen…

ARSHA: And where is Elle? Wasn't he with you?

NICHOL: Elle fought with honor and courage. For Olderion and for you, Arsha.

Arsha takes a few steps back

ARSHA: What… You…you can't mean that…

NICHOL: I'm sorry, Arsha… It was my fault. I was the one who should have…

ARSHA: It's a lie! Tell me that you're lying… Please!

Arsha runs away

NICHOL: Arsha!

RAIN: Follow her!

OLDERION CITIZEN A: Our water is pure once again, and the floodwaters have receded! The city is saved!

OLDERION CITIZEN B: Our prayers were heeded! Master Nichol has saved us!

LID: We managed to get rid of the water…but after all that…

LASSWELL: Yes… I do not believe the ground here will be dry again for some time.

NICHOL: Arsha…

RAIN: Nichol, leave this one up to me.

Rain walks over to Arsha

RAIN: Arsha?

ARSHA: I…I'm sorry… I didn't mean to go to pieces like that…

ARSHA: Elle was a soldier, so I always knew this day might come.

ARSHA: But…but I still…wish I could see him…one last time…

RAIN: Elle left this crystal behind…hoping that its power might help us.

RAIN: And I…have the ability to bring forth memories held within crystals.

RAIN: Take the crystal in your hands. You may only have a few moments, but…

A shimmering version of Elle appears

ARSHA: Elle!

ARSHA: Welcome home…Elle.

NICHOL: I never imagined that someone would see the power of visions…to such an end.

LASSWELL: Rain is not the type to feel bound by precedent.

NICHOL: I must admit to feeling chastened. For calling the visions evil tricks.

NICHOL: The power itself is not evil. Clearly, its virtue depends on the one who wields it.

ARSHA: Elle… The baby is doing fine…growing day by day.

ARSHA: I will ensure that the bloodline of the Wardens of the Waters is carried on. I will keep our child safe. For the sake of Olderion. And for you, Elle.

RAIN: Arsha, you… You're pregnant?

ARSHA: I am. And if it is a girl, then she will be a fine priestess someday.

RAIN: That sounds wonderful. Elle would love that.

FINA: Hey, Rain… What are we going to do now?

RAIN: We're going to stop them. We won't let them get what they want.

RAIN: There are still three crystals left.

RAIN: The Lightning Crystal in Falm. The Fire Crystal in the Zoldaad Empire. And the Ice Crystal in the Mage Nation.

RAIN: The question is which the Sworn Six will target next…

NICHOL: The Zoldaad Empire seems most likely. I have some knowledge of the place. We should depart without delay.

RAIN: “We” should? Nichol, do you mean that you…

NICHOL: From what I have observed, this party seems to be in need of a good tactician.

NICHOL: Rain is impulsive, and tends to get carried away. His personality is simply ill-suited to making important decisions.

RAIN: Huh?

NICHOL: And while Lasswell may appear at first to be calm and logical, he capitulates to Rain too easily, his objectivity like an origami sculpture in the hands of a bored toddler.

LASSWELL: Th-that is…perhaps not entirely inaccurate…

NICHOL: Lid is too emotional by far, and Fina's past is still shrouded in mystery.

LID: Too emotional!? Maybe I just burn with a passion for justice, you ever think of that? Pretty admirable, I'd say. Jerk.

FINA: Shrouded in mystery? I am?

NICHOL: That such a team intends to thwart the Sworn Six is frankly laughable.

LASSWELL: Well, Nichol, while I'm certain we all appreciate your candor…are your keen insights not needed in Olderion?

NICHOL: As long as the waters are kept pure by Luka's prayers, this city will have nothing to fear.

NICHOL: And now is perhaps the time to worry about the needs of the world, not only Olderion. For the sake of the world, this Veritas group must be stopped.

RAIN: You're not wrong about that. All right then. Let's do this together, Nichol.

NICHOL: For Luka and Arsha…and for Elle's child, who will someday live in this world…I will join this fight with you.

Nichol has joined the party!

To be continued…?

VERITAS OF THE DARK: This is…?

???: There are no paths left for you to take from here. If you wish to turn back, this is your last chance.

VERITAS OF THE DARK: You…

???: Have you finally realized the truth? There is no point in seeking revenge against Paladia, Raegen.

VERITAS OF THE DARK: “Raegen”… You dare call me by that name?

???: What, Raegen? Why have you donned that armor once more?

???: What happened to your resolve? Weren't you and Sophia going to live among the humans as one of them?

VERITAS OF THE DARK: Sophia?

???: You…are not Raegen. Then who are you?

VERITAS OF THE DARK: Why should you need to know that? You shameless slattern!

VERITAS OF THE DARK: I do not know where you have been hiding yourself away. But if you dare appear before me now, then you must be ready to die.

???: Fool… You think you can defeat me?

VERITAS OF THE DARK: Do you think I can't? Not even with this?

Veritas of the Dark glows red

???: That…is the Sacred Ring of Paladia! But…but it lost its power long ago…

Veritas of the Dark summons a dark sphere in front of him

VERITAS OF THE DARK: Do you understand now? Your schemes and struggles will all be in vain. Our revenge will not be thwarted!

VERITAS OF THE DARK: Now die!

??? disappears

VERITAS OF THE DARK: She got away? It matters little. The next time we meet, I will end her.

Aquapolis Olderion
Young Lasswell practicing with a sword

LASSWELL: Hyah! Hyah!

LASSWELL: Blast it! Take that!

RAEGEN: Why do you swing your sword about so?

LASSWELL: Sir Raegen!?

RAEGEN: Your frustration drives you to tears, and you practice until your hands bleed. Tell me why you must push yourself so hard.

LASSWELL: I… Sir, I…!

Scene change to current Lasswell, in a vehicle

LASSWELL: Sir Raegen…

RAIN: What is it, Lasswell? Some kind of dream?

LASSWELL: Yes… A dream of the past.

RAIN: Really? What was it about? Give me the dream-scoop.

LASSWELL: No. I'll never tell you.

RAIN: What! What sort of response is that!?

LASSWELL: (If I were to tell Rain about what happened that time…what would he think?)