Scenario:Prayers - Chapter 5: Amulet Unleashed - Episode 1

Prayers - Chapter 5: Amulet Unleashed - Episode 1

Back at the research lab, Shiva offers his flame power to Amulet, which briefly restores part of her sanity. She recounts her past, revealing how the citizens of Patmos had accepted her as one of their own. That's why she continued to fight the Astrals: to protect her skydweller friends.

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Meanwhile, Shiva returns to the basement of the research laboratory.

Shiva: Hm? I sense a familiar aura... The power of the God of War and Heavenly Maiden?

Murmuring to himself, he stares at the primal beast through the miasma.

Shiva: I believe I understand now. In order to make her body whole once more, she released her limbs from their seals.

Shiva: When we confronted the right arm, it proceeded to steal the God of War's tempest using her power of absorption.

Shiva: Considering even the Heavenly Maiden's power has been taken, the situation seems to be deteriorating further. I must fulfill my task.

Amulet: Grr!

Shiva: It appears you are burning to consume more power. However, I have no intention of antagonizing you.

Amulet: No... No!

Amulet cries out, launching an attack at Shiva.

However, Shiva merely negates the attack with his flames and continues to speak to her.

Shiva: I do not believe that you are fueled by malicious intent.

Shiva: Therefore, I seek the truth. The truth behind the tragedy that befell you and the children of man residing on this island.

Shiva: After having his power taken, it seems the God of War joined with your consciousness, however faintly.

Shiva: I presume it was a transient connection that came from you both sharing the element of wind.

Shiva: Thus, if I offer you a portion of my own power, I may be able to understand what lies within your heart.

Shiva produces a flame in his palm and offers it out through the miasma.

Amulet: ...

Amulet falls momentarily silent before absorbing the power into herself.

The next moment, Shiva finds himself standing in the center of a bustling city.

Shiva: What is this place?

Girl: This is the heart of Patmos Island—the former Kingdom of Patmos...

Girl: And the place I destroyed.

Shiva: You are...

Shiva turns toward the voice to see a young girl clad in white.

Amulet: My name is Amulet. I was created as a primal beast with the power of absorption.

Shiva: I see. So that appearance is the true form you were given?

Amulet: Yes. Your flames hold a mysterious power. Thanks to you, I've regained a little of my past self.

Amulet: So... what is it you want from me?

Shiva: In my estimation, the truth of this island has yet to reveal itself to us.

Shiva: I believe the key lies within you.

Shiva: Therefore, I seek the contents of your heart. Allow me to hear your true wish, which the islanders were unable to perceive.

Shiva: After which, in the name of my salvation, I shall save you without fail.

Amulet: Save me? Really?

Shiva: Yes.

Amulet: My wish... Then let me offer you a glimpse into how I lived my life here in this country.

Amulet: As well as all the sins I committed.

Amulet: I was created within a research laboratory on Patmos Island near the end of the War.

Amulet: My original purpose was to absorb skydweller attacks directed at the Astrals.

Amulet: But just before I awakened, the laboratory was captured by skydwellers, and the Astrals left me here on this island.

Amulet: Normally I'm sure I would have been driven off the island as well, but the people accepted me as an ordinary girl.

Amulet: That kind gesture made me unspeakably happy. So I decided to use my power for their sakes.

Amulet: Whew, I think we managed to stave them off. I don't sense the presence of any more primal beasts near the island.

Amulet: Is everyone okay?

Royal Knight: Yes, no issues here! What about you?

Royal Mage: You seemed to have no trouble absorbing the magical attacks, but that primal beast got up close and personal for a moment, didn't it?

Royal Mage: If you have any wounds, would you like me to cast a healing spell?

Amulet: Don't worry. My injuries are minor enough that they'll heal just fine on their own.

Royal Knight: Haha, that's our Amulet! We can always depend on you.

Royal Mage: Yes, thank you for always protecting us.

Royal Knight: Please keep up the good work. And we will too, naturally! We can't have you showing us up!

Amulet: Of course, you can count on me. I won't let anything hurt you, no matter what it takes!

Child: Amulet! You're eating at my house today!

Child: We're having stew! I helped my mom make it!

Amulet: Thanks for the offer, but weren't your family's fields burned up just the other day?

Amulet: I'm sure you don't have enough food lying around to prepare an extra meal, so don't worry about me—

Mother: What are you talking about, Amulet! No one in this entire country puts in as much effort as you, so don't be so reserved!

Mother: Besides, half of our fields are safe because you worked so hard to defend against the attack.

Mother: Thanks to you, we were able to harvest plenty of crops! So you can eat with pride, knowing you earned it!

Child: Can we go now? The stew's gonna get cold! Come on, Amulet!

Amulet: Well... okay! Sure, I'm coming!

Amulet: They treated me not as a weapon, but as a fellow citizen fighting by their side.

Amulet: Having been abandoned by the Astrals and losing my purpose, my heart was saved by their warmth.

Shiva: I see. So you fought with the prayers of the children of man at your back.

Shiva: Prayer from the heart produces great power. Your strength must have been supported by the prayers of the people as well.

Amulet: Yes, I thought I could fight for the sake of the islanders forever.

Amulet: But little by little, I...

Amulet trails off, her expression clouded.

Noticing the change, Shiva watches silently as the scenes from her memories shift.