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Alchemist's Desire/Story
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Alchemist's Desire - Opening
A lonely young girl, Mireille, spends her time at home unable to make friends or accompany her parents on their business trips due to her weak body. One day, she stumbles across a book on alchemy and begins to study on her own in hopes of creating a healthy body for herself.
In the corner of a small town stands an ordinary house where a humble merchant family lives.
In a room within this house, a young girl lies on her bed, her delicate features twisted into a look of pain.
Young Girl: Pant... Pant...
Woman: I brought some water for you, Mireille.
Mireille: Thanks, Mother.
Mireille's Mother: Darling, maybe we should...
Mireille's Father: No, we can't afford to miss the convention today. There won't be any more chances after this.
Mireille's Mother: But we can't just leave Mireille at home like this...
Mireille: Father, Mother... Are you going out for work again?
Mireille's Mother: Mireille...
Mireille's Father: I'm sorry, Mireille. Today's convention is a very important one.
Mireille: ...
Mireille's Father: I hate to leave you like this when you're going through one of your attacks.
Mireille's Father: But I know you're a good girl. You understand, right?
Mireille: ...
Mireille: Yeah...
Mireille's Father: That's my girl. I promise we'll make it up to you after, okay?
Mireille's Mother: That's right. We'll do anything you want.
Mireille: Really? Then... I want to go for a walk outside together.
Mireille's Father: Your wish is my command. But that's after your fever dies down, all right?
Mireille's Mother: Yes, we'll do that when you feel better from your fever.
Mireille: Okay... You promise?
Mireille's Mother: I promise.
Mireille's mother wraps her little finger around her daughter's and gives it a gentle shake.
Mireille's Mother: We'll come back as soon as possible.
Mireille's Mother: And we'll bring back plenty of treats for you.
Mireille: Okay. Come back soon!
Mireille's Father: Sure thing. Well, off we go.
Mireille: W-wait...
Mireille's Mother: What's wrong, Mireille?
Mireille: O-oh, never mind. Have a safe trip...
Despite their lingering worry, Mireille's parents give their daughter one final glance and make their way out the door.
Mireille: ...
The silence fills the air, growing louder until tears begin to slide down Mireille's cheeks.
Mireille: Sniff...
Mireille: I don't want to be alone... I'm so lonely... Don't leave me—
Mireille: Sob... Cough...
Mireille: Pant... Pant...
Mireille: I guess that was punishment for wishing they wouldn't leave me here...
Mireille: I'm a good girl. So... I can't say things like that.
Mireille: I'm already causing a lot of trouble for Mother and Father since I have such a weak body...
Mireille: Cough, cough...
Little Boy: Ahaha! Look at that!
Little Girl: Daddy! Mommy! Over here!
The voices of children can be heard from outside the window.
Drawn by the voices, Mireille struggles out of her bed. Taking one quivering step after another, she walks to the window and opens it.
Mother: Don't run! It's dangerous!
Father: Haha, just let them be. We're right here watching them anyway.
Little Boy: Come on, you're taking forever!
Little Girl: Yeah! Hurry!
An everyday scene of a family laughing and spending time together.
Mireille gazes enviously out the window.
Mireille: That's so nice... I wish I...
Mireille: Cough, cough, cough!
Mireille: Pant... Pant... Why is my body like this... Why me?
Mireille: Why can't I be healthy too?
Mireille: If only I was healthy, then I could make a lot of friends...
Mireille: I could play outside with Mother and Father...
Mireille: Or even go with them on their work trips.
Mireille: I just want us to be together...
The tears continue to pour silently down her face, spilling onto the floor.
But still the room is silent, with only the sound of her sobs to fill the empty space.
Mireille: (I should get back in bed... It's cold by the window, and I don't want to get any sicker—)
Mireille: Cough, cough!
Mireille is overwhelmed by a fit of coughs. She falls to the floor, knocking a stack of books over along with her.
Mireille: Oh no... I need to tidy it back up. I can't cause more trouble for Mother and Father...
Mireille staggers across the room, picking up the scattered books when the open page of a particular volume catches her attention.
Mireille: Human transmutation... What's this... Making a body? You can do that?
Mesmerized by her discovery, Mireille turns the book over to look at the cover.
Mireille: "Practical Theories of Innovative Alchemy"... Is this a book for studying magic?
Mireille turns back to the page she saw earlier and begins to read.
And as if lit by the words in the book, the flames in her eyes grow brighter and brighter with every turn of the page.
Mireille: Transmutation, construction of the fundamental body... Alchemy for creating a vessel...
Mireille: If I learn how to do this, then maybe I can finally have a healthy body...
This is how a young girl came to be acquainted with the art of alchemy.
Thus a long journey of self-study commences as she delves deeper into the secrets of alchemy.
The desire for a healthy body. Nothing will stop her from attaining her one and only wish.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 1: Life, Created - Episode 1
Several years after she begins her study of alchemy, having lost her parents long ago, Mireille attempts again and again to create a functioning, artificial body for herself. One day, Mireille is startled when a body she made begins to speak with a mind of its own.
???: Someday... A healthy body...
???: Mngh... Where am I?
Mireille wakes up to find herself sprawled on a desk. She sits up and looks around, still half-asleep.
Mireille: The research lab? So I was dreaming...
Mireille: Didn't think I'd still dream about when I was little... It's been so long since Mother and Father passed away...
Mireille: Cough, cough...
As a series of small coughs escapes Mireille, a drop of blood trickles down from the corner of her mouth.
Mireille: (Blood from just a cough... I really hate being in this body.)
Mireille: (But soon the new body will be finished, and if all goes well...)
Mireille shifts her eyes to the massive water tank that stands across the room, filled to the brim with a peculiar liquid.
In the tank is an artificial body created in Mireille's own image, suspended in the liquid as tiny bubbles float around it.
Mireille: (My artificial body that I created with alchemy...)
Mireille: (If I can successfully transfer my soul into this body, then my wish will finally come true.)
Mireille: (Although, I've no way to be sure I actually made the body correctly...)
Mireille: (It's just a lump of flesh without a soul, but so many problems came up every time I tried to make one.)
Mireille: (In the end, I couldn't even make it look exactly like me...)
Mireille: (Is it because I'm using blood from my body as the catalyst? Or am I missing something without knowing it? I did teach myself everything, after all... Maybe it's both.)
Mireille: ...
Mireille: Well, whatever. What matters is the inside anyway.
Mireille: I just have to keep trying until it works.
Mireille: I'm definitely going to make a healthy body. And then my dream will...
The shrill sound of a bell interrupts her thoughts, signaling the completion of the body.
Mireille: Looks like it's done. Hopefully it'll work this time...
Mireille ejects the liquid from the tank.
After dressing the body, she gives it a thorough check, comparing the completed product to the description in her book.
Body: ...
Mireille: (Looks okay so far...)
Body: Your orders, Master...
Mireille: ...!
Surprised by the sudden voice coming from the body, Mireille jumps back and falls onto the floor, a look of astonishment on her face.
Body: ...
Mireille: Did you just... talk?
Body: Yes.
Mireille: But... I only made a body. Without a soul inside, it should only be a lump of flesh...
Mireille: Why is it... talking? Not only that—it's... sentient?
Mireille is shocked that the body appears to have a will of its own.
She stares at it, unsure of what to do in this bizarre turn of events.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 1: Life, Created - Episode 2
Though the body itself is perfect, since the reason it became a homunculus remains a mystery, Mireille gives up on transferring her soul into it and decides to name the homunculus Risette. She tries to order Risette to do various tasks for her, but Risette appears unable to do anything without explicit instruction from Mireille.
Mireille reflects on her original agenda. She had planned to make an artificial body through alchemy, then transfer her own soul into it.
However, what she finds herself with now is a body that can move and talk of its own will.
She tries to pin down the cause of this unexpected result, but after hours of meticulous research, she remains in the dark.
Mireille: Why... Why is this happening!
Mireille: Nothing seems to be wrong with the body itself. The circulatory system, the respiratory system, the digestive tracts... They're all working fine.
Mireille: I finally have a perfect body with all of the organs functioning properly.
Mireille: Finally, I managed to do it...
Mireille: Supposedly, all that's left is to transfer my soul into it...
Mireille: So why does it have to be conscious already! I can't transfer anything into it like this...
Body: ...
Mireille: ...
Frustrated, Mireille glares at the body in front of her.
Mireille: (All right. Maybe I'll just erase the consciousness from the body, and then overwrite it with my own soul...)
Mireille: (No. I don't even know why it has a will of its own.)
Mireille: (If I'm going to make a body for myself, I need to eliminate as many unknown variables as I can.)
Mireille: Sigh... I guess this means I'll have to make another one from scratch...
Mireille: Well, I did succeed in making a body that functions, so just one more time should do it.
Body: ...
Mireille: But what should I do with this one?
Mireille: (This is what they call a homunculus, right? An artificial body that has a will of its own...)
Mireille: (I don't really know much about homunculi since I only focused on making a body for myself.)
Mireille: Let's see, maybe this book will tell me more...
Mireille takes a book off the shelf and scans the section about homunculi.
Mireille: A homunculus is a life-form created through alchemy that possesses a will of its own.
Mireille: It is capable of judgment equivalent to that of a person, and can be used to perform tasks in place of its creator.
Mireille: (It's not a book specifically on homunculi, so that's about all it says on the topic...)
Mireille turns her gaze back to the body—or rather, the homunculus.
Mireille: Performing tasks in place of its creator, huh?
Mireille: I suppose I haven't really been keeping up with all the housework after Mother and Father died.
Mireille: If this homunculus did everything for me, then I'd have more time to study.
Mireille: That doesn't sound too bad...
Mireille: Okay, then it's settled.
Mireille: Hey, you.
Body: Your orders, Master...
Mireille: Starting today, you're going to be my tool. You'll do whatever I tell you to.
Body: Understood, Master.
Mireille: Right. So, first, I'll have you...
Mireille: ...
Mireille: I guess giving you a name would make things easier. I can't keep calling you "you" forever...
Mireille ponders for a while as she looks at the being whose appearance resembles herself.
Mireille: Hmm... Risette. Yes, Risette sounds like a decent name.
Risette: Risette...
Mireille: It means "smile" in a certain language from a faraway land.
Mireille: It's a word that Mother and Father liked.
Risette: ...
Mireille: Now, Risette. I'd like you to get started on some tasks.
Mireille: Clean up this room for me. In the meantime, I'll be resting in the bedroom.
Risette: How would you like me to clean?
Mireille: There's a dust cloth and broom in that closet over there. Use those.
Risette: Understood.
Risette nods without the slightest change of expression. She takes out the broom from the closet and begins to sweep the room.
A few days later.
Mireille is lying down in her room when she looks over at Risette, who is standing beside her bed.
Mireille: Sigh... To think I even failed to make a proper homunculus...
Thinking back to what happened a few days earlier with Risette, she buries her face in her hands.
Mireille: Risette, put all of these books back on the shelf for me.
Risette: Understood, Master.
Mireille: What's with the books? If you put them in this order, I won't be able to find what I need!
Risette: I did not receive orders to separate them by category.
Mireille: Fine, then here's an order. Categorize the books and reorganize the shelf.
Mireille: Arrange books that belong to the same series left to right, starting from the smallest volume number.
Risette: Understood.
Mireille: Risette, go get me all of the medicine written on this note.
Risette: ...
Mireille: What's the matter? Hurry up and go.
Risette: Please give me your orders on which shops I need to visit to purchase each type of medicine.
Mireille: What? Just figure it out yourself. You can do that much, can't you?
Risette: Your orders... Master.
Mireille: Tch. Never mind, I'll go buy them myself. Meanwhile, clean the place up.
Risette: Understood. Where shall I clean—
Mireille: My research lab!
Mireille: By the way, Risette. What do you do when you don't have any orders from me?
Risette: I wait for your orders.
Mireille: That's it?
Risette: Yes, when I have no pending orders.
Mireille: The book said homunculi are supposed to be capable of judgment like regular people...
Mireille casts a doubtful glance at Risette.
Mireille: But all this one does is follow my orders. It can't even think for itself...
Mireille: It's no different than a robot.
Risette: ...
Mireille: Sigh... Risette, I'm going to sleep now. You can go.
Risette: Understood.
Mireille: (All the bodies I made after Risette ended up faulty...)
Mireille: (Well, I guess that's to be expected since I don't even know what's making them a success or a failure.)
Mireille: (So far, Risette's body is the only one that can be counted as a success.)
Mireille: Still, how come it ended up being such a half-baked homunculus that can't do anything right...
Mireille: If only it didn't have a will of its own, then I could have transferred my soul into it. I'd be running around in my new body by now...
Mireille: I'd have a healthy body, make a ton of friends, and maybe even fall in love...
Mireille: Why did it end up like this?
Mireille is only one step away from achieving her dream—but that final step is still too far for her.
Her eyebrows furrow as disappointment and resentment churn inside of her.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 1: Life, Created - Episode 3
One day, Risette informs a very sick Mireille that something seems to be wrong with her artificial body. Angry at Risette for speaking up at such a bad time, Mireille throws a blood-soaked pillow at Risette before passing out on her bed. She wakes up again to find Risette nursing her without being instructed to do so, though the cause for this change is unknown.
Mireille: Pant... Pant...
Mireille: ...!
Mireille: Cough, cough!
Mireille: Hngh... Pant... Pant...
One early afternoon, Mireille lies in bed, tormented by a sudden attack.
Blood pours from her mouth with every cough, staining her pillow and bedsheets in red.
Mireille: Pant... Pant... Risette, fetch me... some water.
Risette: Understood.
Risette hands a cup of water to Mireille, who takes it with trembling hands and slowly raises it to her lips.
Mireille: Cough, cough!
However, another onset of coughs prevents her from taking a sip.
Mireille: Pant... Pant...
Risette: Master, a problem has occurred within my body.
Mireille: Pant... Pant... What is it...
Risette: I have been experiencing an extreme sense of hunger and fatigue as of several days ago.
Mireille: What? You're eating and sleeping, aren't you?
Risette: Yes. Still, an inexplicable feeling of hunger and fatigue has been occurring.
Risette: At this rate, I am afraid it will hinder my movements. I recommend adjustments to be made on this body as soon as possible.
Mireille: Are you being serious?
Mireille: Can't you see what kind of situation I'm in right now?
Mireille: Cough, cough... Out of all the times... you could've brought this up...
Mireille: You just had to say it now... when I'm having a hard time!
Mireille: Pant, pant... You're a homunculus... that I made, aren't you?
Mireille: Shouldn't you be more concerned about your creator rather than yourself?
Mireille: Or can you not even worry without me telling you to do so?
Risette: I am unable to process your request as the required actions are undefined. Please specify your orders.
Mireille: ...!
Irritated at Risette's indifference, Mireille throws her blood-stained pillow at the homunculus.
Mireille: Get out! I don't want to see you!
Risette: Understood.
With a nod, Risette leaves the room, taking the discolored pillow with her.
Mireille: Cough... Pant, pant...
Mireille: Why... doesn't anything ever go right...
Mireille: I did my best... I was so close. But why...
Her fatigue reaches its limit, and Mireille slowly closes her eyes as the darkness swallows her.
Mireille: Hngh...
Mireille wakes up to a cold sensation on her cheek.
Risette: Have you awaken, Miss Mireille?
Mireille: Risette?
Still bleary, she turns in the direction of the voice to find Risette with a worried look on her face.
Risette: Yes. Please, you don't need to speak.
Risette smiles gently and raises a cup of water to Mireille's lips.
Risette: You must drink something.
Risette: The hydration will help you feel better.
Mireille nods weakly and takes a sip of water.
Mireille: What... are you... doing?
Risette: I'm nursing you back to health.
Mireille: Nursing... me?
Mireille: (Is Risette smiling? And she's doing something without me telling her to...)
Mireille: (She's never done that before. What's going on here?)
Mireille: Rise—cough, cough!
Risette: Let's save the talking for another day. Please rest for now.
Risette softly strokes Mireille's hair as if to reassure her.
The young girl's vision grows hazy again as she drifts back into the darkness, comforted by the warmth of the hand resting on her head.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 1: Life, Created - Episode 4
Mireille takes a walk around town with Risette one day. She notices that Risette has already made friends with various townspeople and begins to feel jealous. Suddenly, a loud explosion rocks the streets. Mireille is entranced by a display of advanced alchemy from a girl fighting several people.
Some time after her recovery, Mireille takes a walk around town with Risette, whose change in personality remains a mystery.
Risette: Miss Mireille, are you sure you're well enough to be outside?
Mireille: Yes, I'm fine. Aside from the usual dizziness and fatigue, I'm back to normal.
Mireille: Actually, maybe even better than normal...
Risette: It may be best for you to rest at home...
Mireille: I want to be outside when I can.
Risette: But...
Mireille: Leave me alone. I just said I want to be outside.
Risette: Very well... But please inform me immediately if you begin to feel worse.
Mireille: Fine. On the other hand...
Mireille peers skeptically at Risette for a while.
Risette: Um, is something wrong? You've been staring at me for quite some time...
Mireille: Not really... It's nothing.
Mireille: (Ever since that day, she's becoming more and more like a real person.)
Mireille: (Why is that though? There shouldn't be any cause for growth...)
While Mireille is lost in thought, Risette looks back at her with a curious expression of her own.
Townswoman: Oh, Risette!
Risette: It's been a while, madam.
Townswoman: And who might this be?
Risette: This is Miss Mireille, my master.
Mireille: Hello...
Townswoman: Ah! So you're the little master that Risette talked about.
Townswoman: Are the two of you out on a walk today?
Risette: Yes. Miss Mireille wished to come outside for some fresh air.
Townswoman: I see. Well, don't wander too far, all right? It's dangerous for two girls to be out all on their own.
Townswoman: There's been reports of people going missing recently.
Risette: Is that so?
Townswoman: Yes... Some say they're kidnappings, while others think it's the work of a monster.
Risette: I see... Thank you for the concern.
Risette gives a small bow. The woman smiles and waves goodbye before walking away.
Mireille: Was that someone you know, Risette?
Risette: Yes. She's the owner of a store I frequent.
Mireille: I see...
Grocer: Ah, Risette! Some fresh vegetables came in today!
Risette: Thank you. I will be sure to drop by later on in the day.
Apothecary: How was the medicine you bought the other day, Risette? Did it work?
Risette: It did, thank you. Miss Mireille is much better now.
Little Girl: Hey, it's Risette! Come play with us!
Risette: I'm sorry, I'm with Miss Mireille today. We'll play next time, all right?
One after another, people call out cheerfully to Risette as they walk through town.
Mireille watches as Risette and the townspeople exchange conversation, nodding to herself.
Mireille: I see now... This is how Risette grew so much.
Mireille: She's been taking the reactions from other people as behavior samples and optimizing herself with them.
Mireille: Meanwhile...
Mireille: (Since I'm always sick, I've never really been able to go outside much.)
Mireille: (That's why I only know a handful of people...)
Mireille: (But Risette's gotten to know so many people, and she looks like she's having a lot of fun.)
Mireille: ...
Mireille: (If only the body didn't have a will of its own, then I'd be the one standing there talking with everyone...)
Mireille: (That healthy body was supposed to be mine... How did it end up like this?)
Before long, Mireille's gaze turns into one filled with jealousy and hate toward Risette.
Risette: Um, Miss Mireille... Is something the matter? Your expression is rather frightful...
Mireille: It's nothing. Let's go.
Risette: Wait, Miss Mireille—
Suddenly, the sound of an explosion rocks the town.
Mireille turns toward the sound to see several men dressed in robes, who appear to be going up against a young girl fighting by herself using alchemy.
Mireille: Wh-what's happening here?
Mireille: Amazing... I've never seen alchemy like that before...
Mireille: Her transmutations are so beautiful... and completely different from mine...
Mireille: ...
Risette: Miss Mireille, we can't stay here—it's too dangerous. We must hurry and...
Mireille: ...
Risette: Miss Mireille?
Mireille: (If I could get that person to teach me alchemy, then maybe...)
Risette continues to call out to her master, but to no avail.
Captivated by the girl's alchemy, Mireille is unable to peel her eyes from the scene in front of her.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 2: Dreamt, Sought - Episode 1
Cagliostro, Clarisse, and the crew have all come to investigate the strange disappearances happening in this town where the Alchemist Guild of Helmuth is conducting research. They are abruptly attacked by a group of alchemists from the guild.
Rumors reach the ears of (Captain) and company, of strange disappearances in a town where the Alchemist Guild of Helmuth is conducting research.
The concerned crew has arrived in town to investigate with Cagliostro, who is suspicious of any coincidences involving the guild.
Cagliostro: Thanks for coming all the way here, (Captain)!
Lyria: We can't just do nothing when so many people are disappearing from town!
Cagliostro: Well, so far the guild only looks fishy and there's no proof...
Cagliostro: But I know those punks wouldn't hesitate to do whatever it takes to get what they want.
The Alchemist Guild of Helmuth is a group of alchemists in pursuit of the ultimate truth of the world.
They once captured Cagliostro, the founder of the alchemic arts, and attempted to seize the means of obtaining the truth for themselves instead.
Since then, the guild has had its eyes on Cagliostro in hopes of catching her again.
Clarisse: So you mean these people are in this town researching ways to catch you, Master?
Cagliostro: Who knows... I don't care what their research is for, but I can't just sit around and let them do whatever they want here.
Cagliostro: In any case, this town...
Cagliostro looks around with a frown.
Vyrn: What's the matter? You're not lookin' too happy there...
Cagliostro: There's a little something that's been bothering me.
Cagliostro: But before that, it looks like we've got company.
(Captain) and company find themselves surrounded by several men dressed in robes.
Cagliostro: Well, this is a delayed welcome. You couldn't even be bothered to wait for us at the town entrance, huh?
Alchemist 1: Who thought the founder herself would come to town... Guess our information got leaked.
Alchemist 2: No way around it—we'll stop her here. We can't let her get in the way of our plans!
The alchemists from the guild leap in to attack (Captain) and the others.
Cagliostro: Perfect timing... Now we don't need to go and find someone with information ourselves.
Cagliostro: We'll spare one guy and get all the details we need from him. Knock out the rest of them.
Clarisse: You got it! Leave it to me!
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 2: Dreamt, Sought - Episode 2
The crew defeats the alchemists and asks one of them about their objectives. The man explains that although the guild is researching how to make the legendary philosopher's stone, they have nothing to do with the disappearances in town. Suspecting that the alchemist Paracelsus is involved with the research, (Captain) and company begin to look for more information around town.
Cagliostro: Please, there was no way a bunch of riffraff like these guys could've gone up against us.
Clarisse: Victory goes to yours truly! Woohoo!
(Captain) and company take out the members of the Alchemist Guild of Helmuth in no time.
Cagliostro walks up to one of the alchemists lying on the ground and grabs him by the collar.
Cagliostro: Now then! I do hope you can help me out a little bit, Mister.
Cagliostro: You wouldn't say no to an unbelievably cute girl like myself, would you?
Alchemist 1: Ergh...
Cagliostro: I hear there's been some really, really scary incidents happening in town recently. Something about people suddenly disappearing...
Cagliostro: If you know anything about that, it'd be great if you could let all of us in on it too!
Alchemist 1: ...
Cagliostro: ...
Cagliostro: Hey, scumbag. I asked you a question. Looks to me like you need some sense pounded into you.
Alchemist 1: Wh-what're you planning to do?
Cagliostro: If you don't talk, I'm gonna assume you won't need your right leg. Don't worry, I'll make sure it's put to good use as feed for Ouroboros.
Cagliostro: If that isn't enough, I'll take your left leg too. But I'll leave you your two arms so you can at least continue doing your pathetic research.
Alchemist 1: Eek...
Clarisse: Master, are you sure you're not going overboard...
Cagliostro: Oh, I'm just kidding! Just a cute little joke from the cutest girl in the skies.
Cagliostro: Of course, it's up to you whether we'll keep it a joke or not...
Alchemist 1: I-I'll talk! Just don't chop off my legs!
Cagliostro: Okay, then I'll ask you one more time. What are you doing in this town? And where are all the missing people?
Alchemist 1: Y-you've got it all wrong! We're only doing research on the philosopher's stone. We're not kidnapping any of the people in town!
Cagliostro: What?
Vyrn: Wait, the philosopher's stone? Ya mean that Paracelsus guy is here too?
Paracelsus.
An alchemist revered by his peers who has been working behind the scenes to create the ultimate substance—the philosopher's stone.
There is nothing he won't do in order to complete the philosopher's stone—even if his methods prove unjust.
This obsession has led him to clash with Cagliostro and the crew in the past.
Alchemist 1: I don't know. We haven't heard anything about that...
Cagliostro: So you really don't know anything about the disappearances in town?
Alchemist 1: I don't, I swear. We were only told by the higher-ups to keep an eye on the town...
Alchemist 1: They didn't even tell us what they're researching or where they're doing it.
Cagliostro: Tch... Bunch of useless lackeys.
Cagliostro: Change of plans, (Captain). We're gonna search every inch of this town.
Cagliostro: If Paracelsus is really involved in all of this, then it's most likely a lot more complicated than it seems.
Cagliostro: This guy doesn't seem to know anything about the missing townspeople...
Cagliostro: But he doesn't even know where the research's being done, so the information these idiots have might've been fake to begin with.
Clarisse: We've got to stop him before he goes too far again.
Clarisse: There's the whole fiasco with my parents too, so once we find him, he'd better get ready to go kapow!
(Captain) and company give a firm nod.
Vyrn: Well, guess we can start by askin' the folks around here!
Lyria: Yeah!
The crew begin their search for clues in town.
Together, they scour the streets for information on the mysterious disappearances as well as the alchemist Paracelsus.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 2: Dreamt, Sought - Episode 3
Unable to find any leads, the crew decides to take a break when (Captain) and Cagliostro notice two people following them. Cagliostro calls out to the two, who turn out to be Mireille and Risette. Mireille beseeches Cagliostro to teach her alchemy.
The fact that Paracelsus may be in town deeply unsettles the crew.
They continue talking with the townspeople in hopes of finding more about the Alchemist Guild of Helmuth and its plans.
However, no one seems to have any information on the guild, leaving the crew still at square one.
Vyrn: I can't believe we haven't managed to find a single clue...
Cagliostro: Hmph, he's definitely good at playing hard to get.
Cagliostro: Besides, he probably knows we're onto him and is taking extra measures to hide himself.
Clarisse: Hey, (Captain)! Master! Take a look at this! They cut all this fruit into such pretty shapes! Isn't it amazing?
Lyria: Oh my goodness! These desserts are so beautiful... It's almost like they're made of glass!
Fruit Artisan: It's not easy mastering this sort of craftsmanship—the result of many years of practice.
Fruit Artisan: Still, I wanted to make something not only for eating, but to be enjoyed visually too.
Clarisse: Wow! It's so detailed... I definitely wouldn't be able to do something like this.
Patissier: The secret to making these desserts has been passed down in my family for many generations. I'm the only one who can make them now.
Patissier: Since you won't be finding these anywhere else, how would you like to try some?
Lyria: Oh, thank you very much!
Clarisse and Lyria are mesmerized by all the fruit and desserts being sold at the shop.
The others watch from afar, amused.
Vyrn: Why don't we take a break for now? We've been walkin' around for a while anyway.
Cagliostro: Guess it can't be helped... Then let's head over to the plaza over there—
Cagliostro: ...?
All of a sudden, Cagliostro turns to look behind them.
Mireille: ...
Cagliostro: Have you noticed too, (Captain)? Those two seem to have some business with us.
Choose: Are they from the guild?
Cagliostro: I don't think so. I'm not sensing any hostility from them, unlike the lot we just beat up.
Cagliostro: Doesn't seem like they're entranced by me either, despite me being the cutest girl in history.
Cagliostro: Which leaves us with only one option. We're gonna have to go talk to them.
Choose: Let's go talk to them.
Cagliostro: Heh, that's so you...
Cagliostro: I agree. I'm not sensing any hostility from them, so it should be safe enough.
Continue 1(Captain) nods and slowly approaches the two strangers together with Cagliostro.
Cagliostro: Hi there, you two! Did you have something you wanted from us?
Mireille: U-um... Can I ask you something?
Mireille: You're an alchemist, aren't you?
Cagliostro: Yep. Hm, but that means...
Cagliostro: You were following us around without even knowing who I was. What're you after exactly?
Mireille: Um... I have a request! Could you please teach me alchemy?
The girl lowers her head into a bow.
Surprised by the unexpected question, (Captain) and Cagliostro look at each other, puzzled.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 2: Dreamt, Sought - Episode 4
Mireille explains to the crew about how she wants to make a healthy body for herself, which reminds Cagliostro of her own past. Cagliostro agrees to teach Mireille over the duration of their stay.
The sudden request takes Cagliostro by surprise.
After learning the names of their two new acquaintances, (Captain) and company proceed to introduce themselves.
Soon, they find themselves at Mireille and Risette's house upon invitation.
Cagliostro: So? What's this about wanting me to teach you alchemy?
Cagliostro: The one beside you's a homunculus, right?
Cagliostro: If you can make one, that must mean someone's taught you alchemy before.
Cagliostro: If you're finding yourself at a dead end in your research, why don't you just ask whoever taught you?
Mireille scrambles to explain herself.
Mireille: I don't have anyone to ask. Everything up until now, I learned by myself.
Cagliostro: Huh... So you made a homunculus by yourself, without anyone teaching you?
Mireille: I'm not really sure how I was able to make it myself...
Mireille: It's embarrassing to say, but I was born with an extremely weak body.
Mireille: My parents died a long time ago, so I've always been alone...
Mireille: I hated my body for being so weak... I wanted a healthy body so badly. That's when I started learning how to do alchemy.
Mireille: But I just can't get past the last step I need to take to attain my dream...
Mireille: At this rate, it'll take much too long.
Mireille: That's why I need a powerful alchemist to teach me. Someone like you.
Cagliostro listens quietly to Mireille's story, her mind drifting as she is reminded of her own past.
Cagliostro: So you want to throw away your sick body, in exchange for a healthy one...
Cagliostro's Sister: I brought you your medicine, Brother.
Cagliostro: Thanks. Just leave it there—
Cagliostro: Cough, cough....
Cagliostro's Sister: Brother!
Cagliostro: I'm fine, it's just the usual... I'm not feeling particularly bad today.
Cagliostro's Sister: But there's blood...
Cagliostro: Oh, right... Sorry, could you get me a change of clothes?
Cagliostro's Sister: O-okay.
Cagliostro: (This body just never does what I want it to do...)
Cagliostro: (But it won't be long now.)
Cagliostro: (Once I complete this theory, I will be reborn.)
Cagliostro: (I can toss this sick body for a healthy one... And my dream of immortality will come true.)
Cagliostro: (A new understanding of the world that's different from magic... A technical theory never seen before, that I formulated from scratch.)
Cagliostro: Just watch... I'm going to make this work.
Cagliostro: This... alchemy.
Cagliostro: ...
Clarisse: What's the matter, Master?
Cagliostro: Nothing. Don't worry about me.
Clarisse cocks her head, puzzled at her master's behavior. Just then, Lyria timidly raises her hand.
Lyria: Um... I have a question. What is this... homunculus that you talked about earlier, Cagliostro?
Lyria: You seemed to be referring to Risette as one...
Cagliostro: Clarisse, explain.
Clarisse: Huh? Me? Come on, springing a pop quiz on me like this is so unfair!
Cagliostro: Just hurry up and answer. Almost all situations that require knowledge come without notice.
Clarisse: Ick... Well, let's see... It's an advanced, artificial life-form made through alchemy.
Clarisse: And, erm, what else... Father mentioned something about it before...
Clarisse: In order to make a body that resembles a person, blood is needed... and qualities of the person who provides the blood are often inherited.
Cagliostro: Well, I suppose that's the main idea. Details on how to handle the body are missing, but the outline and explanation about its traits aren't wrong.
Clarisse: Phew... So no extra lessons for me, right?
Vyrn: Uh, so you mean Risette's one of these artificial life-forms?
Risette: Yes. I was created by Miss Mireille.
Lyria: I-I had no idea...
Lyria: I'm sorry, I thought the two of you were sisters...
Risette: Please, don't worry about it.
After casting a side-glance at Lyria, Cagliostro shifts her attention back to Mireille.
Cagliostro: Now then, Mireille... You were saying you wanted me to teach you alchemy.
Cagliostro: As I explained earlier, usually my lessons come at a cost—and a rather expensive one at that. After all, I am the one who founded the whole thing.
Cagliostro: And unfortunately, I'm a busy girl.
Cagliostro: It's no easy task breaking world cuteness records when you already hold them all, you know. I have to constantly be looking for ways to make myself even cuter.
Clarisse: (Here I was thinking she'd be busy with alchemic research...)
Mireille: ...
Cagliostro: But I like you, Mireille. So I'll teach you whatever you want to learn.
Mireille: Really?
Cagliostro: Yes. Besides... Paracelsus, the guy we're going after, is most likely hiding somewhere in this town.
Cagliostro: I'll be here for a while looking for him, so I might as well teach you during this time.
Mireille: Thank you so much, Miss Cagliostro!
Overjoyed, Mireille thanks Cagliostro with all her heart.
Clarisse: Ooh! Does that mean that Mireille and I are gonna be apprentices together?
Clarisse: If there's something you don't know about alchemy or how to deal with Master Cags, don't hesitate to ask me! Okay, Mireille?
Mireille: O-oh, um... Thank you...
Cagliostro: Hmph... Just don't forget who's the master here.
(Captain) and company head back to the inn they're staying at with a promise to visit Mireille again another day.
Cagliostro: Sorry, (Captain). Looks like things in this town are gonna take longer than expected.
Choose: Not a problem.
Cagliostro: Thanks! I really like that about you, (Captain).
Vyrn: We've always got time to help people out!
Choose: Gotta help when we can.
Clarisse: Mireille has Risette, but it looked like she could use a bit more help.
Continue 1Lyria: Mireille said she has a weak body, didn't she? I'm worried about her...
Vyrn: Come to think of it, can't you just make a healthy body for Mireille, Cagliostro?
Vyrn: She looked like she was havin' trouble, so wouldn't that make things a whole lot easier?
Cagliostro: All she asked was for me to teach her alchemy... That's it.
Cagliostro: She didn't ask me to make a body for her. So I'm not gonna do that for her either.
Cagliostro: If she wants to do it herself, then it's best to let her try for as long as time allows.
Cagliostro says this quietly, her expression unexpectedly solemn. Just then, Clarisse reaches out and pinches her master on the cheek.
Cagliostro: ...
Exhlain yourselh.
Exhlain yourselh.
Clarisse: Oh, uh, well... You were being so nice, I was starting to wonder if you were really Master Cags...
Vyrn: No kidding. I've never seen ya like this before.
Cagliostro: ...
Clarisse: Aww, you're getting all red! That's adorable!
Cagliostro: ...!
Cagliostro: An apprentice that doesn't know her place and a lizard with no manners.... Looks like a special lesson is in order.
Clarisse: Ahh, I'm sorry!
Vyrn: C'mon, I was just sayin' it like it was!
Cagliostro: No excuses!
Cagliostro: Get 'em, Ouroboros!
Lyria: Ahaha...
Clarisse and Vyrn run as fast as they can as Ouroboros chases after them, hot on their heels.
Thus a new adventure begins for (Captain) and company in this quiet yet mysterious little town.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 3: Homunculus, Homunculi - Episode 1
When asked during Cagliostro's lecture, Mireille clarifies that she doesn't want an immortal body, but a natural body—that is, one that can produce offspring—in order to fulfill her dream of creating her own family. Clarisse inquires about Risette's position, but Mireille says that Risette is just a tool to her.
Cagliostro: Now let's get started with Miss Cagliostro's special alchemy seminar!
Clarisse: Whoooo!
Mireille: Wh-whoo...
Risette: Whoo?
Cagliostro: First up, a question for you, Mireille.
Cagliostro: Your objective is to attain a healthy body. Is that correct?
Mireille: Yes, that's right.
Cagliostro: Okay, then let's look at what defines a healthy body.
Cagliostro: Which are you looking for—an immortal body like mine, or a normal, healthy body?
Mireille: What's the difference between the two?
Cagliostro: Hm, how should I put it... It's choosing between something perfect and something natural.
Mireille: Something perfect, and something natural...
Cagliostro: This goes without saying, but although immortality is perfect, it's unnatural for a living thing.
Cagliostro: However, it is possible to attain if you use alchemy to move between different bodies.
Cagliostro: In other words, you would be mass producing bodies with alchemy and using them as your own.
Cagliostro: Strictly speaking, bodies made with alchemy are not living things in themselves. The reason is that an artificial body is exempt from the basic framework that connects life.
Cagliostro: It doesn't grow, doesn't age, and cannot produce offspring of its own.
Cagliostro: On the other hand, a normal, healthy body is, obviously, simply a body.
Cagliostro: It grows, ages, and can link life to the next generation.
Cagliostro: Alchemy-wise, making a normal body is much more difficult than creating a body that doesn't age.
Cagliostro: This is because you need a complete philosopher's stone in order to do so.
Mireille: A philosopher's stone? What's that?
Cagliostro: Leaving out the details for now...
Cagliostro: It's a special substance that even I find a bit of a nuisance to make.
The philosopher's stone—the sole substance able to circumvent the law of equivalent exchange.
It is said that whoever obtains this stone will gain knowledge of the entire universe and be blessed with infinite providence.
However, as there is no existing record of any alchemist in history who has succeeded in creating the philosopher's stone, it remains to be a substance of legend.
Clarisse: But Paracelsus had something like it, didn't he?
Cagliostro: Yeah. But what he had was a philosopher's stone still in its veriditas phase.
Cagliostro: In order for the stone to be complete, it needs to pass from veriditas to citrinitas, then finally, rubedo.
Cagliostro: With a complete philosopher's stone, you can change anything—whether it be a body or a homunculus—into a natural living thing.
Cagliostro: Now, going back to what we were talking about earlier. The biggest factor here is what you want to do after attaining a healthy body.
Cagliostro: Do you wish to continue living alone through an immortal body and live only for yourself?
Cagliostro: Or do you want a regular body in which to live the rest of your days and use your life to connect to the next generation?
Cagliostro: Which of the two do you desire, Mireille?
Cagliostro poses a grave question. However, Mireille answers almost immediately without hesitation.
Mireille: In that case, it's an easy choice. I want a regular body. I don't need immortality.
Mireille: I want a healthy body because I'm tired of my naturally sick body.
Mireille: But... that's not all. There's one more thing.
Mireille: I want a family... I want to make a family.
Mireille: I want people close to me who are connected by blood... That is my wish, and my dream.
Mireille: So I have no need for a body that doesn't age or produce anything.
Cagliostro: I see... So that's your wish.
Upon hearing Mireille's unwavering resolution, a wave of emotion flashes across Cagliostro's face.
Clarisse: Master? What's the matter?
Cagliostro: Nothing. I was just... intrigued.
Mireille: Intrigued?
Cagliostro: Intrigued by the difference in what we want in life. It's nothing important, don't mind me.
The others exchange looks of slight confusion. Cagliostro claps her hands together.
Cagliostro: Well then, now that we know what we want, we can move on to discussing the process of making a natural, healthy body.
Cagliostro: Generally, you will need two things—a body, and a complete philosopher's stone.
Cagliostro: First, the body...
Cagliostro glances at Risette, who is seated next to Mireille.
Cagliostro: Will you be using Risette?
Risette: ...
Lyria: Um... If she uses Risette, then...
Cagliostro: In a nutshell, a homunculus is a body with a will and mind of its own.
Cagliostro: This means that the body of a homunculus can also be used as a body for yourself.
Cagliostro: Of course, if you transfer your own soul into the body, Risette's mind will be erased as a result.
Clarisse: Erasing Risette's mind? Master, you can't seriously be suggesting that...
Mireille: It's out of the question anyway. I can't entrust my soul to something that was made by coincidence.
Mireille: Like I said before, I don't even know why or how this homunculus came to be.
Mireille: The body itself seems healthy enough, but who knows if there'll be any flaws later...
Mireille: Besides, when Risette was just born, she was just a worthless piece of junk that couldn't do anything.
Mireille: That's why I don't plan on using Risette's body for myself at all.
Cagliostro nods in comprehension.
Cagliostro: Well... I suppose that's your limit.
Cagliostro: Mireille, it's true that you've done rather well for someone who hasn't been properly trained.
Cagliostro: From what I see, you're lucky in that what you want to achieve and the special qualities you possess complement one another.
Mireille: Special qualities?
Cagliostro: Your special qualities most likely lie in production—simply put, you have a talent for making things.
Cagliostro: But because you're self-taught, the knowledge you possess is unbalanced, and you're only mildly aware of what you're making.
Cagliostro: You might have books on alchemy, but there's almost nothing in this room that teaches anatomy or biology.
Cagliostro: You can't create a healthy body with so little information. You don't even understand what a healthy body actually incorporates yet.
Cagliostro: Most of all, you don't have the attitude necessary for research.
Cagliostro: In terms of research and experimentation, the probability of failure compared to success is a thousand to one.
Cagliostro: But you know, even within those results, nothing is considered worthless.
Cagliostro: All results produced lay the foundation for the next step in research. You can only succeed in the next step by looking at your current failures.
Mireille: ...
Cagliostro: Your objective is clear to me now. What you lack, I will teach you.
Cagliostro: All in all, it's the same with any research—you just have to keep doing it until you succeed. Be patient and don't rush.
Mireille is silent for a moment, pondering Cagliostro's kind but firm words.
Mireille: Thank you... I'm looking forward to your lessons, Miss Cagliostro.
After some hesitation, Clarisse speaks up from beside her.
Clarisse: Mireille, um... What did you mean when you said Risette was a worthless piece of junk?
Mireille: I meant exactly that. When I'd just finished making it, it was something less than a golem that could only follow orders.
Mireille: But it grew and became what it is now. So now it's at least somewhat of a useful tool...
Clarisse: That's not what I'm talking about! Isn't Risette your family?
Clarisse: How could you refer to your family as worthless?
Mireille: Risette and me? Family? I don't know what you're talking about.
Mireille: What I created is merely a convenient tool. Nothing more, nothing less.
Risette: ...
(Captain) and the others stand in silence, shocked by what they are hearing.
Clarisse: You made Risette using your own blood, didn't you?
Clarisse: In other words, you're connected by blood...
Mireille: Well, yeah. I suppose in that case, we could be considered family.
Mireille: But it's a homunculus, and one that I made by coincidence. That's not what I wanted.
Risette: ...
Mireille: What I want is a family consisting of me and people I love from the bottom of my heart.
Mireille: People with whom I can share mutual love and respect...
Mireille: I want a family where we can grow and experience many things together.
Mireille: I don't want something that just follows me around. I don't need that in my family.
Mireille: That's why Risette and I are definitely not family.
Lyria: ...
Vyrn: ...
Everyone in the room is rendered speechless by Mireille's sharp words.
After an awkward pause, Cagliostro turns toward the crew and finally breaks the silence.
Cagliostro: I'm sure you all have something to say about that, but let's leave it for now.
Cagliostro: This is a problem between the creator and her homunculus. It's not our place to say anything about it.
Clarisse: B-but...
(Captain) and company look worriedly at Risette.
Risette smiles gently as if to reassure them, but her mild expression offers little insight.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 3: Homunculus, Homunculi - Episode 2
Mireille collapses in the middle of a lecture one day. Risette nurses her and gives her a cup of juice made from apples she received from a friend. Hearing that, Mireille's jealousy flares and she hits Risette in anger. Once Mireille is asleep, the crew asks Risette about how she feels. Risette tells the others that she is willing to accept anything that Mireille does.
Cagliostro continues to teach Mireille the basics of alchemy little by little.
One day, (Captain) and company are on another visit to Mireille's house and sit in on one of Cagliostro's lectures.
Cagliostro: When this sort of reaction occurs, we know that the structure of the body is lacking in...
Mireille: Pant... Pant...
Cagliostro: Mireille? What's wrong? You're not looking so good...
Mireille: ...
Without warning, Mireille sways and collapses onto the ground.
Risette: Miss Mireille!
Mireille: Cough, cough... Pant... Cough...
Risette crouches to hold Mireille in her arms. Blood spills onto the floor with each cough, splattering onto Risette's clothes.
Lyria: Eep! She's bleeding!
Clarisse: H-hang on, I'll go get a doctor—
Mireille: No, I'm... fine. It's always... like this.
Vyrn: Y-you're not tellin' me it's perfectly normal for you to be coughin' up blood, are ya?
Mireille: Yes... I've always been like this, since I was little.
Mireille: Cough... So... don't worry about it.
Risette: I'm very sorry. Would it be all right if we ended the lesson here for today?
Risette: It's best if Miss Mireille rests for now.
Cagliostro: Obviously. No upcoming lessons until she gets better.
Lyria: Um, is there something we can do to help? We're all worried about Mireille, so if there's anything at all...
Risette: Thank you for your concern. It's much appreciated.
Mireille: Pant... Pant...
Risette: Miss Mireille, I'm going to take you back to your room.
Mireille: Okay...
Risette gently slips her arm under Mireille's frail body and lifts her up.
She carefully makes her way toward the bedroom, carrying her master in her arms.
Mireille: Pant... Pant...
Mireille lies in bed, writhing in pain.
Risette is stationed beside her, keeping her company.
Risette: Miss Mireille, do you have an appetite?
Mireille: No...
Risette: Then please at least drink something.
Risette: Your body is dehydrated from the sudden loss of blood. Your condition will worsen if you don't replenish the liquid in your body.
Risette presses a cup into Mireille's hands. Mireille lifts it to her lips, taking in the pleasant smell.
Mireille: Mm... It's sweet... What is it?
Risette: It's freshly squeezed apple juice. I happened to receive some apples from a friend and—
Mireille: ...!
Risette: Ahh!
An expression of anger flashes across Mireille's face, and she slaps Risette as hard as she can.
Clarisse: Is everything okay? I heard a loud noise...
Risette: My apologies. I must have slipped...
Despite Risette's attempt at covering up the situation, (Captain) and company look over at Mireille, who is sitting in her bed with tears spilling down her cheeks.
Mireille: Pant, pant... Why... Why is it always you!
Mireille: Are you making fun... of me? Taking everything I want... Cough... For yourself!
Mireille: You're laughing... Cough... Behind my back, aren't you?
Mireille: Pant, pant... About how I... can't do... anything...
Mireille: How I keep wishing for... Cough... Something so simple...
Mireille's face grows paler with every word, beads of sweat sliding down her neck.
However, the fire in her eyes burns stronger than ever, fueled by hate and jealousy.
Cagliostro: Just relax for now, okay? You're not gonna get any better like this.
Cagliostro reaches out to put a hand on Mireille's cheek.
Mireille: Ah...
At Cagliostro's touch, Mireille loses consciousness and falls over in her bed.
Risette: Miss Mireille!
Cagliostro: I forcefully put her to sleep—she's fine. She was so weak she looked like she was gonna collapse at any second.
Risette: I see... Thank you.
Risette breathes a sigh of relief.
Clarisse: Um, Risette... Can I ask you something?
Risette: What is it?
Clarisse: Aren't you upset? Being told so many terrible things...
Risette: I belong to Miss Mireille. She is free to treat me however she likes.
Clarisse: Are you saying you can accept anything she does, whether it's right or wrong?
Risette calmly responds to Clarisse's question.
Risette: Imagine...
Risette: Imagine if there was someone who could do everything you ever wished for effortlessly...
Risette: And that someone was born out of pure coincidence, against your wishes...
Risette: A mere body that you made yourself.
Cagliostro: Is that why you think she has all the right to hate you?
Risette: Yes.
Vyrn: That makes no friggin' sense! None of this is your fault!
Cagliostro: Jealousy isn't something that makes sense. If she were thinking logically, she wouldn't be throwing a tantrum like this to begin with.
Risette: It is as Miss Cagliostro says.
Risette: And I believe there is reason enough for Miss Mireille to resent me.
Risette: The body she made herself is fulfilling all of her dreams.
Risette: And doing so right in front of her...
Lyria: But, Risette... You're staying close to Mireille for her own sake, aren't you?
Cagliostro: Like I said, it's not supposed to make sense.
Cagliostro: You can't stop yourself from feeling these things, no matter how hard you try.
Clarisse: Do you understand what Mireille's going through, Master?
Cagliostro: More or less. It's something you're bound to struggle with when your body is out of your control.
(Captain) and the others are left with nothing to say as Cagliostro's words sink in.
Risette looks at the disheartened crew with a resigned expression, her eyes glinting with just a hint of loneliness.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 3: Homunculus, Homunculi - Episode 3
Mireille wakes up to find Risette faithfully watching over her. Though Mireille is incensed at Risette for taking away what could have been her healthy body and the friends she might have made otherwise, Risette replies that she nevertheless cares deeply about Mireille. Ashamed of her own behavior, Mireille apologizes before going back to bed. Afterward, despite the late hour, Risette heads out into the streets with a strange look in her eyes.
Mireille: Where am I? I'm... outside? The last thing I remember...
Risette: What kind of game shall we play today?
Mireille: Risette?
Mireille turns her head in the direction of the voice to see Risette with several children.
Boy: I wanna play tag!
Risette: All right, then I'll be it first.
Little Girl: Eeek!
The children scatter, laughing as they run away from Risette.
Risette chases after them with a playful smile.
Mireille: Why... How... How can she be so carefree and enjoy herself like that!
Mireille: I can't even go outside much because of this body...
Mireille: I've never played with anyone like that in my life... Not even once!
Mireille: We're in... a store? But I was just...
Friendly Lady: This would look so cute on you, Risette!
Risette: Oh, no, a lovely outfit like this wouldn't suit me at all...
Friendly Lady: That's not true! Can't you take a friend's word for it?
Risette: Very well. Then I suppose I'll try it on...
Risette breaks into a smile and heads toward the store's changing room with her friend.
Mireille: I don't have a single friend...
Mireille: Since I can't go out, I'm always alone... Always!
Risette: Miss Mireille.
Mireille shifts her eyes to where Risette is standing, a tall man close beside her.
Risette: Thank you for everything. From now on, I will be starting a new family with my partner.
Risette: I wish you the best, Miss Mireille.
Risette takes a final bow before the couple walks out the door together, hand in hand.
Mireille: A healthy body... Friends... Family...
Mireille: Why... Why... Why is a homunculus like Risette getting all the things I ever wanted!
Mireille: My hopes and dreams are things even a simple homunculus can attain!
Mireille: Then what am I, if I can't even do that?
Mireille: Why am I the only one who has to go through all this...
Mireille: Why...
Mireille: Ngh... Where... am I?
Mireille cracks open her eyes and stays huddled in bed as she looks around.
Mireille: It's my room... So all of that was a dream?
Risette: Are you awake, Miss Mireille?
Mireille: Risette?
Mireille cranes her neck to see Risette standing beside the bed, a worried expression on her face.
Risette: Are you all right? You seemed to be having a nightmare...
Mireille: ...
Risette: Miss Mireille, you're sweating—
Mireille: ...!
Risette reaches out to wipe the sweat from her master's face, but Mireille slaps her hand away.
Risette: Miss Mireille?
Mireille: Don't come near me!
Mireille: Don't... Don't look at me like you feel sorry for me!
Mireille sits up in her bed. She grabs the cup of water at her bedside and throws it at Risette.
Risette: ...!
Mireille: Get out!
Risette: ...
Mireille: Get out of my room now!
However, Risette pays no attention to Mireille's words.
She steps closer to the bed and gently lays her master back down, tucking the covers around her.
Risette: I refuse.
Mireille: This is an order! You're a homunculus that belongs to me, aren't you? Then listen to what I say!
Risette: It is because I belong to you that I refuse to follow that order.
Risette: Miss Mireille, you are what matters to me the most. That's why...
Risette: I cannot leave you by yourself when you are in such pain.
Mireille grows increasingly irritated by Risette's response.
Mireille: Homunculi are very protective of their creators. That's what the book said too...
Risette: Yes, that is correct. But that isn't all.
Risette: You're someone very important to me, Miss Mireille. I'm doing this because I want to—not just because you are my creator.
Mireille: You're lying. That's impossible. I haven't done anything that would make you feel that way about me.
Risette: It is only natural for you to resent an existence such as my own.
Risette: You have every reason in the world to take out your hatred on me.
Mireille: ...
Risette: If pushing your frustration on me helps you feel better...
Risette: If it can alleviate your pain in any way, then I welcome it gladly.
Risette: You are free to treat me however you like. I don't mind.
Risette: That is my atonement for having taken away a fragment of your dream.
Mireille: B-but that's because I'm the one who created you, so you have no choice but to accept whatever I do, right?
Mireille: It's not like you actually want to...
Risette: No, it is something I decided myself...
Risette: I decided that I want to act as your tool. That is why I'm doing this.
Risette: Not because you are my creator.
Risette: Also, there appears to be a misunderstanding. We homunculi may be submissive to our creators, but it is not absolute obedience.
Risette: So I will refuse to do what I don't wish to do.
Mireille: What? Then why're you accepting the fact that you're my tool?
Mireille: Is that part of your atonement too?
Risette: I am a homunculus. I cannot be your family.
Risette: Still, I want to be by your side... to be beside the one who gave birth to me.
Mireille: The one who gave birth to you... I might have made you, but I didn't want...
Risette: To you, Miss Mireille, I am not your family. I am fully aware of that.
Risette: I understand that you only see me as a tool at your disposal.
Mireille: And that's why you're accepting your place as a tool? To stay near me?
Risette: Yes...
Mireille: Why... I don't understand.
Mireille: I hate you... I'm so jealous of you...
Risette: I know.
Mireille: Then why? Why do you want to be close to me? It doesn't make sense—
Risette: I want to be near the person who gave birth to me. I want to be of help to the person who raised me.
Risette: Is that so strange? Does one need a reason to feel that way?
Mireille: ...!
Mireille's breath catches at Risette's question.
Mireille: I'm sorry... You're right. You don't need a reason to feel that way.
Mireille: Wanting to be together with someone who raised you, and to help them...
Mireille: I can understand that all too well. I felt the same way...
Mireille: So it's not because I'm your creator that you decided to follow me...
Mireille: Or, that might be a part of it. But not all of it.
Mireille: You're protecting me because you want to, out of your own free will. Am I right?
Risette: Yes.
Mireille: Somehow, I feel as if a burden's been lifted.
Mireille relaxes, her face softening into an expression of relief.
Mireille: Homunculi are no different from people... Maybe it's true after all.
Mireille: I feel like I finally understand what that meant.
Mireille: Risette is the same as any other person. I didn't even consider that.
Mireille: All I thought of was... using her like a tool.
Risette: Miss Mireille?
Mireille: I'm fine.
With that, Mireille snuggles deeper into her covers.
Mireille: And I'm going to bed. So you get some rest too.
Risette: Very well... Then I'll—
Risette: ...
Mireille: Risette?
Risette: It's nothing. Good night, Miss Mireille.
Mireille: Good night. And... I'm sorry for before. I did some terrible things to you.
Risette: Huh?
Mireille: After listening to what you had to say, I regret what I did.
Mireille: I was wrong today. I'm truly sorry, Risette.
Risette: Miss Mireille...
Mireille: Erm... That's all I wanted to say. Good night.
And with that, Mireille puts the covers over her head.
Risette bows and quietly exits the room.
Risette: Not enough... I want... more... More...
Despite the sun having long been set, Risette walks mechanically toward the town streets, her footsteps echoing ominously into the night.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 3: Homunculus, Homunculi - Episode 4
(Captain) is unable to sleep and bumps into Clarisse during a walk outside. The two are walking together when they are suddenly attacked by people in town who seem to be acting strangely. The pair manage to run away, but are approached by Risette who goes up to Clarisse and bites her. Cagliostro comes to their help, and the three work to restrain Risette.
(Captain) lies in bed, thinking about the rocky relationship between Mireille and Risette.
Unable to sleep, (Captain) gets up from bed and decides to go outside for some fresh air.
Clarisse: Hm? (Captain)?
Choose: What're you doing up so late?
Clarisse: I'm taking a walk.
Clarisse: I was thinking about Mireille and Risette, and just couldn't fall asleep after that...
Clarisse: What about you?
Choose: It's dangerous to be out by yourself.
Gran is the Main Character
Clarisse: Sorry, it's just... I couldn't fall asleep.
Clarisse: So I thought I'd take a walk outside to relax.
Djeeta is the Main Character
Clarisse: Well, you're by yourself too, aren't you?
Clarisse: I just couldn't fall asleep... so I thought I'd take a walk outside to relax.
Continue 2Clarisse: What're you doing out at such a late hour?
Continue 1Clarisse: Don't tell me you were thinking about Mireille and Risette too?
Clarisse: I see... I guess we're the same then.
Clarisse: Do you want to take a walk together?
Clarisse: I'm sure we'll feel better if we have each other for company.
(Captain) smiles and nods.
Clarisse: There's practically no one out here. I guess it is the middle of the night.
Choose: Isn't it a bit too quiet though?
Clarisse: You think? It could be normal for this town. I mean, it's a pretty small place...
Fruit Artisan: ...
Clarisse: Hm? Isn't that the person from the store who's really good at cutting fruit?
Clarisse: I wonder what he's doing so late... Maybe he's preparing for tomorrow.
Fruit Artisan: Found... you...
The man notices the two and walks slowly toward them.
Clarisse: Good evening. Are you still working at this—
Fruit Artisan: Give... me...
The man suddenly makes a pounce at Clarisse.
Choose: Watch out!
Clarisse: Whoa!
(Captain) jumps in to block the attack and takes a few steps back.
Fruit Artisan: ...
Clarisse: Th-thanks, (Captain).
Clarisse: But why is he attacking us...
Boy: Not enough... More... More...
Woman: Give me... more...
Man: Give me... This isn't... enough...
Clarisse: W-what? Why?
All of a sudden, people begin to emerge from the dark.
They show themselves one by one and charge at (Captain) and Clarisse.
Clarisse: What should we do... Why are they attacking us?
Clarisse: They're all acting strangely... but it's not like we can just blow them away like monsters.
Choose: Let's make a run for it!
Clarisse: O-okay!
(Captain) and Clarisse continue running for a while before ducking into an alleyway.
Clarisse: Huff... Huff... They probably won't find us here.
Clarisse: Did you see their eyes, (Captain)? They definitely didn't look normal.
Clarisse: Something's wrong with all of them... What could have happened—
Risette: Oh... There you are...
Clarisse: Risette?
Clarisse: I thought you were staying at home to look after Mireille...
Risette: I ate... so much... But still... hungry...
Risette: Give me more... Give me... your... everything...
Clarisse: What's wrong, Risette? Are you okay?
Concerned, Clarisse walks over to Risette. Suddenly, Risette turns her head and bites hard into Clarisse's neck.
Clarisse: Ouch!
Risette: Tasty... So... satisfying...
Clarisse: What... is this... I feel like all my energy is...
Cagliostro: That's as far as you go, Risette.
Before (Captain) has a chance to make a move, an alchemic explosion shakes the alley, throwing Risette back.
Cagliostro: (Captain), Clarisse. Are you two okay?
Clarisse: Cough, cough...
Clarisse: Oof! Thanks for the save, Master, but there were nicer ways to go about that!
Cagliostro: Oh, shut your trap. I made sure to hold back just enough so no one gets hurt.
Cagliostro: Anyway, Risette sucked your blood, didn't she?
Clarisse: Y-yeah... I feel a little faint, but fine otherwise.
Clarisse: But what exactly is going on? All the people from town started going after us, and now Risette...
Cagliostro: Save the talk for later. We gotta get this one under control first.
Risette: More... Your life... Give it to me...
Risette: Satisfy... me...
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 4: Hungered, Craved - Episode 1
The three manage to subdue Risette, but are startled when Risette uses Clarisse's existential dissolution to attack them. Risette gets away while the three are distracted, and Cagliostro says to leave her for now because there won't be any more casualties for the time being. Cagliostro promises to explain what she knows to the others the next day.
(Captain) and company manage to restrain Risette.
Risette: Aaaah!
But Risette continues to resist and thrashes violently before unleashing a different attack.
Cagliostro: Tch... Watch out, (Captain)! Clarisse!
(Captain) and Clarisse dodge just in time as a powerful alchemic blast shoots out from Risette, instantly dissolving all it touches.
Clarisse: Wait a minute! Was that what I think it was?
Cagliostro: Existential dissolution. She's absorbing things faster than I thought.
Clarisse: Wh-what? But... why would Risette know how to use it? That's...
Cagliostro: We'll talk later. First, we have to stop Risette.
Cagliostro cautiously scans the area, but Risette is nowhere to be seen.
Cagliostro: She got away... Or rather, I'm guessing she went home.
Cagliostro: Well, looking at the damage done tonight, she's probably filled her quota.
Cagliostro: That was a miscalculation on my part... My worst in a long time.
Cagliostro: I should have realized it sooner... For her sake as well.
Cagliostro: I could've predicted this situation from looking at her room... but I failed to do so.
Clarisse: Um, Master? Shouldn't we chase after Risette?
Cagliostro: Not now. There won't be any more attacks tonight.
Clarisse: You sound really sure about that. I guess you've figured out what's going on, huh?
Cagliostro: Yeah... But I only just realized myself.
Cagliostro: If only I'd figured it out a day earlier, then there wouldn't be this many casualties...
Cagliostro: I'll get everyone together tomorrow and explain everything. There's still a bit of research I want to do, so let's get outta here.
Cagliostro: After all that noise, people are gonna start coming to check things out soon.
(Captain) and Clarisse nod, and they slip back to the inn before anyone notices them.
Though they were able to escape unharmed, the night remains a sleepless one for the three of them.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 4: Hungered, Craved - Episode 2
The following day, Cagliostro tells (Captain) and company about Risette's condition. She reveals that homunculi need a regular intake of their creator's genetic factors via medicine or their creator's blood, but since Mireille is unaware of that, Risette is currently suffering a state of hunger. As a result, Risette has been consuming other people instead, making her the culprit responsible for the disappearances in town.
At last, morning breaks.
(Captain) and company make their way to Mireille and Risette's house once more.
Mireille: Welcome back. I'm sorry for the trouble we caused yesterday.
Cagliostro: Don't worry about it. Is Risette here?
Mireille: Huh? Risette's...
Risette: At your service. Was there something you needed, Miss Cagliostro?
The crew turns to see Risette standing at the doorway, holding a plate piled with fruit and desserts.
Risette: I've prepared some refreshments. Please help yourselves to them in between lectures.
Clarisse and (Captain) shift uncomfortably as they eye the plate of food.
Clarisse: Oh, um, Risette... Those look like the ones from the town plaza. Did you buy it from the store there?
Risette: No. I thought Mireille would enjoy these, so I learned how to make them myself.
Clarisse: ...
Clarisse: Hm? Isn't that the person from the store who's really good at cutting fruit?
Clarisse: I wonder what he's doing so late... Maybe he's preparing for tomorrow.
Fruit Artisan: Found... you...
Thinking back to what she saw last night, Clarisse purses her lips, unsure of what to say.
Vyrn: That's amazing! Isn't cuttin' this stuff s'pposed to be like super hard?
Lyria: And these desserts! I thought the store owner said he's the only one who can make them...
Risette: Hehe. The both of you are too kind.
Cagliostro: ...
As Cagliostro watches the exchange unfold, a wave of bitter emotion washes across her face.
Risette: Then I leave Miss Mireille in your hands, everyone.
Risette: I will be taking care of a few household chores in another room. Please let me know if you need anything.
Risette gives a polite bow before leaving the room.
After making sure Risette is gone, Cagliostro leans toward (Captain) and Clarisse.
Cagliostro: Could I ask you guys to keep an eye on Risette?
Cagliostro: If anything happens, in the worst case, we'll have to stop her by force.
Clarisse: G-got it!
(Captain) nods. Cagliostro straightens up and turns to the others.
Cagliostro: Well then... let's get started with today's lecture.
Cagliostro: Slight change of plans today. We'll be taking a look at the topic of homunculi.
Mireille: Homunculi? But why do I have to learn about...
Cagliostro: Just follow along, all right? I guarantee you'll need it.
Mireille puts on a frown and waits for Cagliostro to continue.
Cagliostro: First, as you know, the bodies of all living things contain genetic factors.
Cagliostro: Simply put, they're like notes with information on a particular body and soul written on them.
Cagliostro: If you get hurt, your body refers to the notes in these genetic factors to heal and restore itself to its original condition.
Cagliostro: These genetic factors are where we find a big difference between a natural body and a homunculus.
Cagliostro: The contrast is in the number. The body of a naturally born person has an effectively unlimited number of genetic factors.
Cagliostro: On the other hand, a homunculus, being man-made, has much less of them.
Cagliostro: Well, this just shows how we can't play the role of a god just yet. It's how far alchemy without a philosopher's stone can go.
Mireille: I see... Okay, but so what?
Cagliostro: I suppose your reaction is to be expected.
Cagliostro: Or rather, after last night, I figured you weren't aware...
Mireille: I'm not interested in anything other than making a body for myself.
Mireille: So all I know about homunculi is what little I read from books.
Cagliostro: That means you haven't been giving Risette any genetic factors, huh?
Mireille: What? What does that mean?
Cagliostro: Genetic factors are gradually consumed throughout life.
Cagliostro: If you don't replenish the factors regularly, homunculi will soon die, even if they have enough food and sleep.
Mireille: ...
Vyrn: Wh-what the heck is that... Can't you explain it in easier words so the rest of us can understand?
Cagliostro: As I said earlier, genetic factors are something like a blueprint for the body to maintain and heal itself.
Cagliostro: Without these factors, the body won't be able to heal itself. In other words, the number of genetic factors determines the body's life span.
Vyrn: And you're sayin' homunculi don't have a lotta these genetic thingamajigs...
Cagliostro: Exactly. Being artificially made, homunculi are born with a very small number of genetic factors.
Cagliostro: If you want a homunculus to live for a long time, you have to keep adding factors to its body.
Cagliostro: And in order to do that, you'll need to either give the homunculus medicine containing the creator's genetic factors, or fluids from the creator's own body.
Cagliostro: If a homunculus doesn't receive either of these, it will eventually starve.
Cagliostro: Artificial or not, homunculi are living things. Just like any other living thing, instinctively, they will struggle to survive.
Cagliostro: Without the necessary factors from their creator, they will begin to look for substitutes to satisfy their hunger.
Clarisse: By substitutes, you don't mean...
Cagliostro: In Risette's case, she looked for substitutes that contained a person's genetic factors.
Cagliostro: She took in anything that she could get her hands on, such as a person's blood or flesh.
Clarisse: So that's what Risette was doing yesterday...
Vyrn: Huh? Did somethin' happen yesterday?
Seeing the others' confusion, (Captain) relays the previous night's events and their encounter with Risette.
Lyria: B-but, Risette seemed normal just now...
Lyria: I just can't imagine her being so... dangerous...
Cagliostro: She's merely back in a stable condition after consuming the genetic factors of the people she attacked last night.
Cagliostro: But this method is not an effective one. The more she does this, the less it will satisfy her body.
Cagliostro: That's why, in order to satisfy her hunger, the number of people she's attacking has also been on the rise.
Clarisse: So all the disappearances that've been happening in town are...
Cagliostro: Yep. The guys at Helmuth weren't involved with any of this after all.
Cagliostro: The culprit behind the missing townspeople... is most likely Risette.
Mireille: You're... kidding...
The others are shocked by this revelation.
(Captain) and company sit in a daze, unable to process the truth in front of them.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 4: Hungered, Craved - Episode 3
According to Cagliostro, Risette has been eating the townspeople and covering it up by disguising the bodies from Mireille's failed experiments as people. However, it appears Risette is doing this unconsciously and is unaware of it herself. Furthermore, Cagliostro tells the others that Risette does not have much longer to live.
(Captain) and company reflect on what they just learned from Cagliostro.
Still, they find it hard to believe that, all this time, Risette has been keeping herself alive by consuming the people in town.
Finally, Clarisse breaks the silence.
Clarisse: Wait a minute.
Clarisse: Master, you said the culprit responsible for all the disappearances in town is Risette, didn't you?
Cagliostro: Yes. But that's not all of it.
Clarisse: So my hunch was right...
Vyrn: Whaddya mean? There's more to this?
Cagliostro: You heard what happened last night from (Captain) just now, right?
Cagliostro: It wasn't only Risette who was attacking (Captain) and Clarisse. Other people were acting weird too.
Cagliostro: Like the owner of that fruit store.
Cagliostro: But when I went to take a look early this morning, the guy was getting ready to open up for business like nothing happened.
Mireille begins to look impatient.
Mireille: What're you trying to say? That there are people other than Risette who are suspicious?
Cagliostro: The missing people aren't the only ones that Risette's devoured.
Cagliostro: I'd say more than half... the majority of the residents in this town have already fallen prey to Risette.
Mireille: What?
Vyrn: You've gotta be kiddin' me. Ain't that pretty bad? Sure doesn't seem that way to me...
Lyria: Y-yeah... There're still so many people in town...
Cagliostro: Risette's hiding it.
Cagliostro: She's taking all the failed bodies that Mireille's made up until now and disguising them as the people she ate.
Boy: Not enough... More... More...
Woman: Give me... more...
Man: Give me... This isn't... enough...
(Captain)'s eyes widen.
Choose: So the people last night were all...
Cagliostro: That's right, (Captain). Those were just bodies in disguise.
Cagliostro: You can even call them pseudo-homunculi.
Mireille: That's impossible... Risette's a homunculus! There's no way she could do that...
Clarisse: Qualities of the person who provided the blood to make the homunculus are often inherited...
Mireille: Huh?
Cagliostro: Excellent, Clarisse. You've figured it out.
Cagliostro: Risette was made using Mireille's blood, and has thus inherited Mireille's talent for production, though not all of it.
Cagliostro: Risette has been consuming people for their genetic factors.
Cagliostro: In other words, all the information, abilities, and personalities of the people she's eaten have been stored inside Risette.
Cagliostro: And with all the necessary materials already at hand, the rest is easy.
Cagliostro: Using her inherited talent for production and the information she's accumulated, she only needs to alter the failed bodies.
Clarisse: So the existential dissolution she used yesterday was from...
Cagliostro: Right, from when she sucked your blood. She used the genetic factors she absorbed from it to replicate the technique.
Cagliostro: Same with those desserts over there...
Lyria: You mean the people from the stores are all...
Cagliostro: They've already been eaten by Risette. The ones in the plaza right now are Risette's pseudo-homunculi.
Lyria: ...!
Mireille clenches her teeth and turns to Cagliostro.
Mireille: I... I don't believe any of this! Risette would never do that on purpose...
Cagliostro: It's instinct. She's doing everything unconsciously.
Cagliostro: So even she's not aware of it herself.
Cagliostro: Which is probably also why she's not just eating and running, but leaving behind those pseudo-homunculi.
Cagliostro: She feels guilty for eating people... For eating her friends.
Cagliostro: She must be making the pseudo-homunculi as a means of escaping from her guilt.
Cagliostro: That way, there won't be any visible victims. Then if she overwrites her own memory, she can continue living in peace as if nothing's happened.
Cagliostro: Risette is most likely unaware of the fact that the people in front of her are her own pseudo-homunculi.
Everyone in the room is stunned.
Mireille: Since when... did Risette...
Cagliostro: I imagine she experienced a sudden surge of growth after consuming a wide variety of genetic factors.
Cagliostro: Though it's not a sustainable method...
Mireille: (Growth caused by genetic factors? Could it be that, back then, she...)
Mireille: Or can you not even worry without me telling you to do so?
Risette: I am unable to process your request as the required actions are undefined. Please specify your orders.
Mireille: ...!
Mireille: Get out! I don't want to see you!
Risette: Understood.
Mireille: (My blood...)
Mireille: (The pillow had my blood on it. She must have absorbed my genetic factors from there...)
Mireille: (And that's why she was so different after that.)
As Mireille is lost in her thoughts, Cagliostro continues.
Cagliostro: Mireille. That was a long explanation, but we still have to discuss the main issue.
Cagliostro: I'll make this brief. Risette doesn't have long to live.
Cagliostro: Considering her condition last night, I'd say she's already at her limit.
Mireille: Huh?
Mireille freezes, and her eyes widen.
There is a sharp intake of breath from the others, who are equally startled by Cagliostro's words.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 4: Hungered, Craved - Episode 4
Because Risette has taken in too many of other people's genetic factors, Cagliostro guesses that Risette only has a few more days to live. She explains that the only way to save Risette even temporarily is by giving her a large of amount of Mireille's blood, which will certainly lead to Mireille's death. When Risette suddenly comes into the room, the distressed Mireille panics and rushes out of the house. Worried, Risette runs after her.
Mireille: Wh-what do you mean Risette doesn't have long to live?
Cagliostro: As I just explained, genetic factors are like notes with information on a particular body and soul.
Cagliostro: By taking in the factors, you can adopt someone's information, abilities, and experiences and use them for yourself.
Cagliostro: But in doing so, the downside is that your own existence grows vague.
Cagliostro: Taking someone else's genetic factors is only a temporary measure.
Cagliostro: If you keep doing it, eventually, all the information absorbed from others will take over and you won't be able to maintain yourself.
Cagliostro: Once Risette reaches that point, even taking in factors from other people won't prolong things.
Lyria: ...
Cagliostro: Looking at the state of the town and Risette's condition last night, I'd say she only has a few days left.
The crew is left speechless by this sudden news.
Mireille: B-but maybe with my blood...
Cagliostro: It's no use.
Mireille: Why!
Cagliostro: She might've been able to recover before if she'd taken in a small amount of your blood, but she's way past that phase.
Mireille: Are you saying that there's no way to help Risette!
But Cagliostro is unfazed by Mireille's desperate outburst.
Cagliostro: You're getting rather emotional for someone who once said Risette was just a tool.
Mireille: I finally realized... that homunculi are no different from people. It was Risette who taught me that.
Mireille: Before, I'd only thought of Risette as a convenient tool.
Mireille: I had no idea how she felt and what she was thinking inside.
Mireille: But after hearing her talk about her feelings, I just couldn't keep treating her like a tool anymore.
Mireille: Or rather, I didn't want to.
Mireille: What she felt were all things that I've felt before too...
Mireille: That's when I told myself that, from now on, I want to see Risette not as a tool, but as a real person.
Hearing these words, Cagliostro pauses for a moment, thinking to herself. She heaves a soft sigh.
Cagliostro: Don't you think it's a little late for that?
Mireille: ...
Cagliostro: You didn't have the slightest concern for her, up until it affected you personally. What do you think Risette thinks about that?
Mireille: I... don't know...
Mireille: Still, I want to help her. So tell me how I can do that.
Mireille: From the way you're talking, there's still hope, right?
Cagliostro grits her teeth, her expression reluctant.
Cagliostro: Mireille... Can you die for Risette?
Clarisse: What...
Mireille: ...
Mireille: You said she's past the phase of recovering with a small amount of my blood... You meant she'll need a lot more than that now.
Cagliostro: Exactly. Looks like we're on the same page.
Cagliostro: With the blood that she was provided at birth—in other words, your blood—it's possible for Risette to go back to how she was before.
Cagliostro: But the amount of blood, or genetic factors, required to do that now is significant.
Cagliostro: She'll need an amount equivalent to that of what she's taken from other people up until now... or even more than that.
Cagliostro: If you give that much to Risette, you will die, Mireille.
Lyria: No...
Cagliostro: You have a choice between two options. Either you live, Mireille, or Risette lives.
Mireille: ...
Ignoring the shocked expressions around her, Cagliostro goes on.
Cagliostro: I feel partly responsible for letting the situation get this bad. So I'm gonna say this for your sake.
Cagliostro: You should... give up on saving Risette.
Clarisse: Wha... Master!
Mireille: Why? Can you tell me the reason?
Cagliostro: Think about it. Risette needs your genetic factors in order to continue living.
Cagliostro: Even if you save Risette this time, it won't take long for her to revert back to this depraved state.
Cagliostro: And you won't be here to regularly provide her with the necessary factors anymore.
Cagliostro: Besides, knowing Risette, she might not be able to bear being alive when you're not.
Mireille: Well...
Mireille: ...
Cagliostro: But what you and I want out of life is different.
Cagliostro: Whether you want to save Risette or not... The choice is yours, Mireille.
Cagliostro: It's your responsibility to make this decision... as the one who gave birth to this homunculus, albeit coincidentally.
Mireille: My responsibility...
Mireille: (I can't save Risette unless I sacrifice myself...)
Mireille: (Risette is going to die because I didn't give her the factors she needs...)
Mireille: (All because of me...)
Mireille: (But in order to save her, I'll have to...)
Risette: I apologize for the interruption. There's something I need to ask Miss Mireille about...
Mireille: ...!
Their hearts skip a beat as Risette enters the room.
Risette: My apologies. Did I come in at a bad time?
Mireille: Risette...
Upon seeing Risette, Mireille is overwhelmed by a mixture of grief and inner conflict.
Mireille: ...!
Unable to hold back her feelings, she rushes out of the room without a word.
Lyria: Mireille!
Risette: Miss Mireille, please wait! You mustn't run like that!
Cagliostro: Wait, Risette! Stay here in the house!
Cagliostro: (Captain), restrain her! We don't know when she'll go out of control again!
(Captain) nods and immediately grabs Risette's arm, keeping her in a tight hold.
Risette: Please, let me go! It's dangerous for Miss Mireille!
Cagliostro: Risette. We'll go and make sure Mireille is—
Risette: ...
Clarisse: R-Risette?
All of a sudden, Risette ceases all movement. She looks at (Captain), emotionless.
Risette: …
Cagliostro: Quick, get away from her, (Captain)!
Risette: ...
Cagliostro: Tch!
In the blink of an eye, Cagliostro produces a barrier around Risette in an attempt to trap her.
Risette: Huh? What did I... just...
Risette: No, now's not the time... I have to find Miss Mireille!
Cagliostro: Damn it! Everyone all right? Come on, we have to go after her!
Clarisse: Okay!
Gripped by worry for Mireille, Risette runs out of the house.
(Captain) and company follow suit, desperate to catch up to Risette and to prevent any more casualties.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 5: Feelings, Realized - Episode 1
Outside, Risette is seized by a wave of hunger. Paracelsus chooses this time to approach Risette and injects a green liquid into her. Risette faints, and the alchemist looks down at her with a dangerous expression of anticipation.
Risette: Miss Mireille, where—
Risette: ...!
Suddenly, Risette feels a painful pulse run through her body. She clutches her chest and slowly falls to the ground.
Risette: (Lately, my heart's been having strange palpitations...)
Risette: (Is there some sort of failure? Come to think of it, my memory has also been hazy...)
Risette: (But no use worrying about that. Right now, the important thing is finding Miss Mireille and...)
Risette: Huh...
Risette: ...
???: Hm... Looks like you're reaching your state of hunger a lot faster now.
The sound of a man's voice catches Risette's attention. She turns to find a man approaching from behind her.
Risette: More... More!
???: Relax.
Without warning, numerous chains shoot out from where the man is standing and wrap themselves around Risette, restraining her movements.
Risette: Ergh! Aaaaah!
???: Don't worry, I'll release you before long. As soon as I inject this into you.
The man takes out a syringe containing a green liquid and jabs the needle into Risette in one swift movement.
Risette: ...!
Risette: ...
After a while, her convulsions die down and Risette loses consciousness. A satisfied smile spreads across the man's lips.
???: Now the preparations are complete.
???: Heh heh heh... Yes. I shall use that fleeting life of yours for my philosopher's stone.
The man, Paracelsus, casts his gaze down on Risette's limp body, not a hint of compassion in his cold, distant eyes.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 5: Feelings, Realized - Episode 2
Risette wakes up and manages to find Mireille, who tries to distance herself. But Risette refuses to give up, scolding Mireille before wrapping her into a gentle hug. Mireille leans into Risette and admits that she wants Risette to stay with her.
Risette: Where... am I? What am I doing here?
Risette wakes up in an alley. She slowly gets up and looks around.
Risette: I was looking for Miss Mireille when my head began to get fuzzy, and...
Risette: Miss Mireille! That's right, I have to find her...
Mireille wanders around the town, drained after running out from the house.
Mireille: Pant... Pant... Why does it hurt so much...
Mireille: It's just Risette... She'll be gone, and I'll go back to being alone...
Risette: You're someone very important to me, Miss Mireille. I'm doing this because I want to—not just because you are my creator.
Risette: I want to be near the person who gave birth to me. I want to be of help to the person who raised me.
Risette: Is that so strange? Does one need a reason to feel that way?
Mireille: No... I don't want to be all by myself again...
Mireille: I don't want Risette to...
Mireille: Wait, what am I saying...
Risette: Miss Mireille!
Mireille: Ri... sette?
Risette: Thank goodness... You're all right...
Risette: Everyone is out looking for you, Miss Mireille.
Risette: I don't know what happened, but first, let's get you home.
Just as Risette reaches out to take Mireille by the arm, Mireille flinches and tries to run.
Risette: Miss Mireille!
Mireille: Pant... Pant...
Risette: Please wait, Miss Mireille!
Mireille: Why... Why do you keep chasing after me! Just leave me alone!
Risette: Miss Mireille?
Mireille: It's because you said all those things that now, I...
Mireille: But then this happens...
Mireille: If I knew that this is how it was going to be, I shouldn't have...
Mireille: Then I wouldn't have to feel this way... I wouldn't feel this twinge inside...
Mireille: If only I'd stayed like I was before... then I wouldn't... about you...
Risette: Miss Mireille...
Mireille: I'm sorry... I got carried away.
Risette: ...
Mireille: Risette... Please, just let me be alone. I'll go back once I've calmed down.
Mireille: So you—
Risette: My apologies, Miss Mireille. Please forgive my impudence just this once.
Mireille: Huh?
Risette slaps Mireille on the cheek before raising her voice.
Risette: Miss Mireille, enough is enough!
Mireille: Risette? What...
Risette: How could I possibly leave you alone when you're making that face?
Risette: I don't know what happened earlier...
Risette: But it's clear to me that something has affected you very deeply.
Mireille stares at Risette, her eyes wide in surprise. Risette reaches out and wraps her arms around the girl, pulling her into a gentle hug.
Risette: Even now, you look like you're about to cry... As if you're in a lot of pain.
Mireille: Risette...
Risette: Please. You can trust me.
Risette: I would do anything for your sake, Miss Mireille.
Risette: So please don't try to take on everything by yourself...
Mireille: ...
Mireille: This is the first time anyone's scolded me... or been this worried about me... since my parents were still alive.
Mireille: It's almost like we're...
Mireille: It's so... warm...
Mireille relaxes, resting her head on Risette's shoulder.
Mireille: (I get it now. In truth, I don't want Risette to go away...)
Mireille: (I want her to stay with me...)
Mireille surrenders to her true feelings as she wraps her arms around Risette in return.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 5: Feelings, Realized - Episode 3
After asking Risette why she cares about her so much, Mireille realizes that Risette is the very family she had always wanted. But now faced with the fact that only one of them can live, a conflicted Mireille tries to explain the situation when Risette suddenly cries out in pain.
Mireille: I'm okay now. You can let go.
Risette: Very well.
Risette: And please allow me to apologize for the way I treated you earlier. I'm very sorry...
Risette bows to Mireille.
Risette: I've heard that it's best to be honest about your feelings at times like these...
Risette: If my actions have caused you to feel uncomfortable in any way, I am ready to accept the necessary consequences.
Mireille: No, I was wrong too. Don't worry about it.
Risette: I appreciate your saying that.
Risette: May I ask what happened earlier during the lecture?
Mireille: ...
Risette: Miss Mireille, I am a homunculus... and your tool.
Risette: I live to fulfill your wishes, and to be of help to you... That is all that matters to me.
Risette: So won't you tell me what is troubling you?
Risette: Whatever it is that's worrying you, I promise I will take care of it.
Mireille: Risette...
Mireille: ...
Mireille: Risette, I have an order for you.
Mireille: I'm going to ask you something, and I want you to answer it honestly. You can't lie.
Risette: Understood.
Mireille: Yesterday, you told me that you care about me out of your own free will.
Mireille: What is the reason for that? Is it atonement? Or is it because I'm the one who created you?
Risette: All of those things.
Mireille: Huh?
Risette: There isn't always only a single reason for caring about someone.
Mireille: ...
Risette: I've watched you all this time, Miss Mireille.
Risette: I've seen just how hard you work in order to attain your dream...
Mireille: Failed again... Why... Why won't it go the way I want it to?
Risette: Miss Mireille, perhaps you should take a rest. At this rate, you'll...
Mireille: I can keep going.
Risette: But...
Mireille: You're getting annoying! Just a little more. Just a little more, and I'll...
Mireille: Huh...
Risette: Miss Mireille! Are you all right?
Mireille: I'll get what I want...
Mireille: And then I can finally show them how healthy I am...
Mireille: I'll show my parents that I can start my own family...
Risette: Miss Mireille...
Risette: I've seen the times you felt lonely and cried by yourself in your room...
Risette: Miss Mireille, may I—
Mireille: Mother... Father... Why? Why did you leave me all alone like this?
Mireille: Is it because I was a bad girl? I'm sorry... Please come back...
Mireille: I don't want to be alone anymore... I'm so lonely...
Risette: ...
Risette: I've seen you look enviously at other people's families...
Risette: What's wrong, Miss Mireille? Has something outside caught your attention?
Mireille: It's nothing...
Risette looks out the window to see children running about, having a good time with their parents.
Mireille: I've never played outside like that with Mother and Father...
Mireille: I've never even played with friends of my own before...
Risette: That wouldn't be good for...
Mireille: I know!
Mireille: I know that... But, still...
Mireille: It must be so nice... I wish I could have played outside with Mother and Father, even just once...
Risette: Miss Mireille...
Mireille: If I ever have children of my own, I want to spend lots of time with them...
Mireille: I want them to make a lot of good memories, for my sake too...
Risette: After witnessing your reaction all those times, I made a decision within myself.
Risette: I wanted to take responsibility for having hindered you from attaining your dream, and to help you.
Risette: I want you, the one who created me, to be happy.
Risette: All of these feelings...
Risette: As atonement... For the sake of my creator... Because you gave me everything...
Risette: I have many reasons, but all of it comes down to one thing.
Risette: I care about you, Miss Mireille.
Mireille: Risette...
Mireille: (Risette has stayed with me and watched over me all this time...)
Mireille: (But I did so many awful things to her.)
Mireille: (She was so kind to me, yet I...)
Mireille: Risette and me? Family? I don't know what you're talking about.
Mireille: What I created is merely a convenient tool. Nothing more, nothing less.
Mireille: But it's a homunculus, and one that I made by coincidence. That's not what I wanted.
Mireille: What I want is a family consisting of me and people I love from the bottom of my heart.
Mireille: People with whom I can share mutual love and respect...
Mireille: I want a family where we can grow and experience many things together.
Mireille: I don't want something that just follows me around. I don't need that in my family.
Mireille: That's why Risette and I are definitely not family.
Mireille: ("A family consisting of me and someone I love from the bottom of my heart"... I didn't know what I was talking about.)
Mireille: (Calling Risette "something that just follows me around" and saying I didn't need that in my family... I was wrong.)
Mireille: (All that I ever wanted is right here in front of me.)
Mireille: Risette...
Mireille: I'm sorry I couldn't understand your feelings. I didn't try to understand them.
Mireille: I saw you as a tool and not as a person.
Mireille: I'm really, really sorry.
Risette: Miss Mireille...
Large tears fall from Risette's eyes, streaming down her cheeks.
She reaches out again and hugs Mireille as tight as she can.
Mireille: I also wanted to say thank you. For watching over me, even when I was being so stupid.
Mireille: For staying with me all this time.
Mireille: And, um... I know it's a bit late, but from now on, I hope you and I can—
Mireille: B-but maybe with my blood...
Cagliostro: It's no use.
Mireille: Why!
Cagliostro: She might've been able to recover before if she'd taken in a small amount of your blood, but she's way past that phase.
Mireille: Oh...
Mireille: (There's no "from now on," is there? Risette's already...)
Mireille: ...
Mireille: I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Risette...
Risette: Miss Mireille, what's wrong?
Mireille: Listen to me, Risette. Your body, it's...
Risette: Ah... Ergh!
Mireille: Risette!
Risette: ...
Suddenly, Risette bends over in pain.
Despite her cry of agony, however, her eyes flash dangerously and begin to glow.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 5: Feelings, Realized - Episode 4
In her depraved state, Risette bites into Mireille. Mireille bears with the pain as she thinks back to the terrible things she did to Risette in the past. Eventually, Risette reverts back to her usual self. Horrified at what she has done, she runs away despite Mireille's calls.
Risette crouches down on the ground in pain.
Mireille reaches out to her in a near-panic, calling her name.
Mireille: Risette! What's wrong? Are you okay?
Risette: Miss... Mireille...
Mireille: If you're not feeling well, I'll... No, there probably isn't much I can do. Let's have Miss Cagliostro take a look at you.
Mireille: I'll go get her, so you just wait—
Mireille: Ahh!
With unbelievable strength, Risette grabs Mireille by the arms and keeps her in a tight hold. Before Mireille can resist, Risette bites into her neck.
Mireille: Aah!
Mireille: Ri... sette... Agh...
Risette: Mm... Tasty... Satisfy... my hunger...
Risette: More... More... Mm...
Mireille: Risette... It hurts... doesn't it?
Mireille: If my blood... will make you feel... better, you can have... as much as you... want...
Mireille: Augh! I've done... so many terrible things... to you.
Mireille: This can't even compare to how—
Mireille: Agh... Ahhh!
Risette: ...
Risette: Huh? Miss... Mireille?
Mireille: Pant, pant... You're... back to normal...
Risette: What... was I...
Risette is in a daze as her eyes travel to the blood pouring from Mireille's neck, before she notices the taste of blood in her own mouth.
Risette: I... hurt you?
Risette: I hurt... Miss Mireille...
Risette: ...!
Risette jumps back from Mireille, a look of horror on her face. She slowly retreats and begins to run in the other direction.
Mireille: Wait, Risette!
Mireille calls weakly after Risette, trying her best to stay standing as she sways back and forth.
But despite Mireille's cries, Risette continues to run further and further away from the person she treasures most.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 6: Risette, Mireille - Episode 1
While Risette is struggling with herself, Paracelsus shows himself again and uses alchemy to awaken Risette's memories of when she consumed the people in town. As he tempts Risette to devour her creator as well, Mireille, (Captain), and the others arrive at the scene.
Risette continues to run until the sun sinks just below the horizon.
Eventually her steps slow to a walk, and she wanders aimlessly around the town.
Risette: I hurt Miss Mireille... The person most important to me... I wanted her to be happy, and yet...
Risette: How could I... How could I have done something so terrible...
Risette: But...
Risette: Her blood... was so delicious... More... I want more...
Risette: Not just her blood... I want... all of her...
Risette: Huh? What... am I thinking?
???: Hmm. Perfect timing, I'd say.
Risette turns to find a stranger observing her with a sort of fascination.
Risette: Who... are you? Is there something you want?
Paracelsus: Indeed, there is. I want something from you, Risette.
Risette: How do you know my name?
Paracelsus: Who cares? There are more important things. Like you.
Paracelsus: I know what you want. The blood... and flesh of people.
Risette: Wh-what are you talking about?
Paracelsus: There's nothing to be embarrassed about. It's simply a natural instinct for homunculi.
Paracelsus: You only have to act according to your instincts.
Paracelsus: As you have up until now... when you devoured the people in this town.
Risette: Huh?
Paracelsus: Remember... what you've done in the dark of night, and all the people you've consumed up until now.
The stranger reaches out and gently lays his hand on Risette's cheek.
Risette: What are you...
Paracelsus: No need to panic. I'm only using my alchemy to reawaken your memories.
Fruit Artisan: Eek... Stop... Please!
Fruit Artisan: Don't come near me... Ahhh!
Boy: N-no! Let me go, Risette! It hurts!
Boy: Ouch! It hurts! Stop it... Ahhh!
Woman: R-Risette... Why? I thought we were... friends...
Risette: Aah... Aaaah!
Paracelsus: It seems you finally remembered.
Risette: I've been... eating people? My friends?
Paracelsus: Yes. And as a consequence of having consumed such a large number of people, you're reaching your limit.
Paracelsus: From what I see, I'd say you have about a few days more at most.
Risette: A few days?
Risette begins to tremble upon hearing this sudden verdict.
Paracelsus: There is only one way to save yourself.
Paracelsus: You must consume the one who created you... Mireille. All of her. That is your only option.
Risette: I don't believe you!
Paracelsus: You know very well that what I'm saying is the truth.
Risette: I-I...
Risette: ...
Risette tries to protest, but falters as she searches for the right words.
Risette: Even if it is true... I can't do that.
Risette: If consuming Miss Mireille is the only way, then I'd rather die.
Paracelsus: Heh... You've devoured this many people, yet you can't bear to eat your own master.
Paracelsus: I guess the master is absolute in the mind of a homunculus after all.
Paracelsus: However, you have to admit that Mireille's blood is very appealing. More delicious than any other, no?
Risette: Ah...
Risette: Mm... Tasty... Satisfy... my hunger...
Risette: More... More... Mm...
Paracelsus: Her blood... Her flesh... Don't you want to devour it all?
Risette: Aah... Stop it! Don't say... anything more!
Risette wraps her arms tightly around herself, as if to suppress something that's threatening to emerge from deep within.
Paracelsus: Mireille is quite important to you, isn't she? You like her.
Paracelsus: Don't you want to keep her all to yourself by consuming every last part of her?
Risette: Aaah... I... I...
Risette: Keep her... all to myself...
Risette: No! I can't hurt Miss Mireille... any more than I already have...
Paracelsus: By devouring her, you and Mireille will become one. You can be together forever.
Paracelsus: What is there to hesitate about?
Risette: We can be together... forever?
Paracelsus: Yes. Together forever.
Risette: Then... I'll...
Paracelsus: Heh heh. Now, release what's inside you and—
Paracelsus: ...!
Putting distance between himself and the sudden explosion, Paracelsus jumps back and quickly produces a defensive barrier.
Paracelsus: Don't tell me it's...
Cagliostro: What do we have here, a grown adult bullying this poor girl? Now that's low.
Cagliostro: Didn't think I could be any more disgusted by you, Paracelsus, but I guess I was wrong.
Paracelsus: You!
Mireille: Risette!
Risette: Miss Mireille?
Cagliostro, Mireille, (Captain), and the others arrive at the scene just in time, poised to defend their friend from the heinous alchemist.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 6: Risette, Mireille - Episode 2
Paracelsus tells Mireille it is due to her insufficient knowledge that the homunculus she created is about to die. Just then, Risette gives a cry of agony and green crystals—the shards of a philosopher's stone—come out of her body to envelop her.
Clarisse: Aha, found you! All right, show me what you've got!
Paracelsus: Tch... Looks like a rather troublesome bunch has arrived.
Paracelsus: I did receive a few reports, but I didn't think we'd meet here, of all places...
Cagliostro: Right back at you. But putting that aside...
Mireille: What did you do to Risette!
Paracelsus: I was only trying to release what's trapped inside her.
Paracelsus: You know that this homunculus doesn't have long to live, don't you?
Mireille: I... Well...
Paracelsus: Hm, your face says it all. Since you already know, are you also aware of how to save her?
Mireille: By... letting her eat me, right?
Paracelsus: Exactly. If the homunculus doesn't eat you, she will die.
Paracelsus: All because you didn't give her the genetic factors that she needs... All because of you and your incompetence.
Mireille: ...!
Paracelsus: You're the one killing her. Do you understand? You're killing the very homunculus that has dedicated all of herself to you.
Mireille: Stop it!
Mireille sinks to the ground, pressing her hands to her ears.
Lyria: Why... Why are you saying all these terrible things?
Paracelsus: Terrible? I'm merely stating the facts.
Vyrn: Mireille didn't know! There was nothin' she could do about it!
Paracelsus: So because she didn't care to learn anything about homunculi, it's not her fault?
Vyrn: Well...
Cagliostro: No, it is her fault. And that's why she needs to make a decision.
Cagliostro: But the decision lies with Mireille. Not with the likes of you, Paracelsus.
Paracelsus: Heh...
Mireille: ...
Risette: Miss Mireille... isn't... at fault...
Mireille: Risette?
Risette: Everything is... my fault... so... Augh!
Mireille: That's not true! It's me... I didn't know anything, and that's how things got this way!
Paracelsus's lips twitch as he watches the two defend each other.
Paracelsus: Heh heh...
Cagliostro: What's so funny?
Paracelsus: Ah, forgive me... I was thinking it's about time for it to be taking effect, and couldn't contain my excitement...
Cagliostro: Don't tell me you...
Paracelsus: I did! And it's about to start! The final moment of this pitiful, artificial life-form!
Risette: Aah... Aaaah!
All of a sudden, Risette's arms curl tightly around herself as she lets out a scream of agony.
Countless green crystals come out of her body, the glittering shards enveloping her in an instant.
Vyrn: Wait a sec, are those things that look like crystals...
Clarisse: A philosopher's stone? How come it's coming out of Risette's body?
Cagliostro: Tch... We were too late. You did this to her, didn't you?
Paracelsus: Heh heh heh...
Mireille: Risette!
Seeing Cagliostro's look of frustration and the philosopher's stone unfolding in front of them, Paracelsus grins to himself.
Mireille continues to call out to Risette, but her voice fails to reach the depths of the crystals where Risette is trapped.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 6: Risette, Mireille - Episode 3
The crew learns that Paracelsus's goal was for the philosopher's stone to absorb all of the genetic factors Risette has collected within her body, and move from the veriditas phase to the citrinitas phase. However, much to the alchemist's own surprise, the stone proceeds to its rubedo phase and completes itself. Risette's instincts take over her and she bites into Mireille's neck once more.
(Captain) and company are dumbfounded at the sudden appearance of the green crystals.
Risette's body is no longer visible, completely trapped within the crystallized mass.
Clarisse: Master... What's going on here?
Cagliostro: That dirtbag's aim is to push that philosopher's stone into its next phase.
Clarisse: The philosopher's stone we destroyed before was in its veriditas stage too, wasn't it?
Cagliostro: Yes. And in order for it to move on to the next phase, citrinitas, it needs to absorb a large amount of souls and genetic factors.
Cagliostro: In other words, since Risette has consumed a multitude of genetic factors from the townspeople up until now, she is the perfect material to use for Paracelsus.
Vyrn: B-but why's it all comin' outta Risette's body?
Cagliostro: He probably injected it into her at some point. He was just waiting for it to take effect earlier.
Paracelsus: Now, let's get started, shall we? The evolution of the philosopher's stone!
The green crystal flickers as if to respond to Paracelsus's call.
The stone begins to change color, its emerald hue transitioning slowly into a bright yellow.
Paracelsus: Heh heh... A success. With this, I'm only one step away from completing the philosopher's stone...
But the flickering persists, and the crystal's shade continues to shift from yellow into a blazing red.
Paracelsus: What?
Lyria: Huh? It was yellow just a moment ago, and now it's red...
Paracelsus: Heh heh heh... Ahahaha!
Paracelsus: What a day! Never had I imagined... that today would be the day I attain my dream!
Cagliostro: Ugh, this spells trouble...
Vyrn: Whoa, what the heck is going on? Someone fill us in!
Cagliostro: The fact that the crystal is red means the philosopher's stone is complete.
The others gasp, turning their eyes back to the substance of legend.
Paracelsus: Mireille, Risette. Allow me to offer my sincerest thanks.
Paracelsus: Finally, I have attained the truth! Do you know what this means? I've successfully completed the work of the gods! Me!
Mireille: I don't care about any of that! Give Risette back!
Mireille: It took me a long time, but I finally realized how I felt about Risette...
Mireille: How I wanted Risette and me to be! I can't just let it end this way!
Mireille's words catch, and tears begin to flow down her cheeks.
Mireille: Risette...
Risette: Miss... Mireille...
Mireille: Huh?
As if to respond to Mireille's cry, the red philosopher's stone begins to crack.
The crystal shatters, revealing Risette in a new form, fused with the philosopher's stone.
Paracelsus: Very interesting indeed... So you fused with the philosopher's stone and still managed to retain your self... or rather, your instincts.
Risette: ...
Seeing Risette emerge from the crystal, Mireille immediately begins to run toward her.
Mireille: Risette!
Cagliostro: That fool!
Cagliostro: Augh...
Clarisse: Master!
Mireille: M-Miss Cagliostro?
Though Cagliostro successfully protects Mireille from the attack, the hard blow knocks the alchemist unconscious.
Lyria: Did... Risette just aim her attack at Mireille? But... why?
Paracelsus: Like I said, she's retained her instincts.
Paracelsus: What's left of the pitiful homunculus is her hunger for the factors that she is made of.
Paracelsus: Heh heh... Wonderful. The data from all of this will prove very valuable.
Risette: Miss... Mireille... I want... all of her... for myself...
Risette: I want... Miss Mireille... Her... everything...
Lyria: Risette, you can't! If you do that, Mireille will...
(Captain) and company stand close to Mireille, ready to defend her.
Risette: If you... interfere... I will... kill you...
Risette unleashes her acquired existential dissolution in an attempt to obliterate the very ground the crew is standing on.
Mireille: Risette...
Clarisse: (Captain)! I'll leave Mireille to you!
Clarisse: Risette may have copied my existential dissolution, but as the original, I have the upper hand. I'll show her a real kapow!
Clarisse: I'll zero out whatever she throws at us, so you take care of Mireille in the meantime, okay?
(Captain) nods, taking Mireille's hand and pulling the dazed girl away from the scene, toward safety.
Paracelsus: Not so fast.
Clarisse: Paracelsus!
Paracelsus: I'm very interested in seeing what will happen if Risette devours Mireille.
Narrowly escaping Paracelsus's attack, the crew frantically looks around for Mireille.
Mireille's Voice: Ri... sette...
Lyria: Mireille!
(Captain) and the others turn toward the voice to see Mireille caught in Risette's tight grasp.
Risette: Give me your... everything...
Risette: Miss... Mireille... Let me... devour you...
Her expression vacant, Risette opens her mouth wide and bites down on Mireille's neck.
Alchemist's Desire - Chapter 6: Risette, Mireille - Episode 4
Mireille's tears briefly revert Risette back to herself. Risette asks (Captain) and the others to kill her before she hurts anyone again. Mireille is resistant to the idea at first, but seeing Risette's resolution, she also asks the others to relieve Risette of her pain. (Captain) and the others decide to honor the two's wish and prepare to take on Risette just as another wave of madness overcomes her.
Mireille is held tight, Risette's arms and teeth latched onto her.
Blood spurts out from where Risette bites, staining the ground until it is a bright red.
Mireille: Ngh... Ugh...
Risette: Miss Mireille...
Mireille: Augh! Hngh...
Clarisse: Mireille! Hang on, I'll—
Paracelsus: I told you, I want to see what happens next.
Paracelsus: I won't let anyone interfere until I get my—
Paracelsus: Ergh!
Cagliostro: Sorry, but we don't have time to deal with sleazeballs like you. Hurry up and get lost.
Clarisse: Master!
Vyrn: Are you okay?
Cagliostro: I'll live. Anyway, we gotta get Mireille out of there.
Mireille: Augh... Ri... sette...
Mireille: Listen... to me...
Mireille: I have... something... I want to... tell you...
Tears well up in her eyes and overflow as Mireille says these words, her voice weak yet determined.
In response, Risette's grip slackens.
Risette: Ugh... Miss... Mireille...
Risette's expression wavers, a look of distress flickering across her face. She releases Mireille and takes several steps back.
Clarisse: Mireille! Risette!
Risette: (Captain)... Everyone...
Lyria: Mireille, let's get you treated...
Mireille: Thank you... but I'm fine. It's not unusual for me to lose this much blood anyway.
Mireille: Risette comes first...
Risette: Miss Mireille... Please... don't worry about... me.
Mireille: Risette? What do you mean?
Risette: I have a request... for (Captain)... and the others... if I may.
(Captain) and company lean in quietly, their attention fixed on Risette.
Risette: Please... You must... kill me.
Risette: I am at... my limit. I cannot... suppress myself... any longer.
Risette: This urge... to devour all of you... To devour... Miss Mireille...
Risette: Being able to speak... like this... is most likely... temporary.
Risette: So please... do it... before it's too late...
Mireille: No! I won't allow it!
Mireille: It's thanks to you, Risette, that I realized how I really felt! You taught me something very important!
Mireille: I still have to tell you how I feel! So don't say things like that!
Risette smiles sadly as Mireille's tears continue to fall.
Risette: Please. You must... protect Miss Mireille... from me...
Risette: Don't let me hurt... any more... people...
Choose: I can't do it...
Risette: (Captain)...
Lyria: There has to be another way! So let's—
Cagliostro: No... As I said earlier, I'm afraid we have no other options left.
Choose: Is there no other way?
Cagliostro: Answer this first: after listening to my lecture earlier today, do you think we have any other options left?
Cagliostro: This is the cumulation of too many things that've happened up until now. At this point, it's...
Continue 1Mireille: ...
Mireille: Risette... Is that really what you want?
Risette: Yes... It is my first... and last... request.
Mireille: I see... Very well then.
Mireille turns her teary gaze to (Captain).
Mireille: (Captain). Will you grant... Risette's request?
Mireille: I can't give her what she wants...
Mireille: I'm ready to take all the responsibility, the consequences, everything... So please, do it in my place.
Mireille: Put Risette... to rest...
Lyria: Mireille...
Mireille: Please...
Mireille lowers her head into a deep bow.
Choose: Okay. I'll do it.
(Captain) turns back to Risette, weapon at the ready.
Risette: Thank you... very much.
Risette: Ugh... Aaaah!
Risette: Pant, pant... Hurry...
Risette: I can't hold back any...
Risette: Aaaaah!
Risette lets out a maddened cry and rushes toward the crew.
(Captain) and company brace themselves and prepare to engage their friend in battle.
Alchemist's Desire - Ending
After the battle, Risette fades away, leaving Mireille on the ground in tears. Cagliostro gathers the remaining particles in the area and solidifies them into a philosopher's stone. She tells Mireille that, with the stone, Mireille can make a healthy body for herself, or resurrect Risette and turn her into a mortal being. Without hesitation, Mireille chooses Risette. The two of them decide to live on as one family and atone for their actions together.
Risette: ...
(Captain) and company are silent, having fulfilled Risette and Mireille's request.
Mireille runs to where Risette lies, putting her arms around the rapidly fading homunculus's body.
Mireille: Risette...
Paracelsus: Hmph, what a thoroughly unexciting conclusion.
Cagliostro: Don't you dare play the innocent bystander... You had a part in all this.
Paracelsus: Ridiculous. Save the clever talk for someone else, Founder.
Paracelsus: Whether I played a part or not, the homunculus was bound to meet her end. Nothing would have changed that.
Cagliostro: Oho? So that's what you think?
Paracelsus: What matters to me is having a complete philosopher's stone, and the data for that.
Paracelsus gazes down at the glittering, red substance in his hand, mad delight in his eyes.
Paracelsus: Well then, dear Founder and company. The next time we meet, I promise I will have my magnum opus ready to entertain.
With that, the alchemist releases a glaring light that blinds the crew momentarily.
(Captain) and the others open their eyes again to find Paracelsus gone without a trace.
Cagliostro: Tch, he got away...
Cagliostro: Well, whatever. We've got more important things to worry about right now.
Mireille clings onto Risette as she takes this final moment to voice the words she had kept inside herself for so long.
Mireille: I'm... sorry. Everything is... my fault...
Risette: Miss... Mireille...
Mireille: I finally figured out just how important you are to me, Risette...
Risette: Hehe. I didn't think... I'd be able to hear something... that'd make me so... happy... in my last moments.
Risette: Hearing your words... makes it hard... for me to... disappear...
Risette: Though I know I must... after having eaten... so many... people...
Mireille: All of that is my fault! I didn't have enough knowledge... It's all because of me, not you!
Risette: But... I was the one who did it... You're not... responsible... for what I did.
Mireille: Risette...
Risette: Miss Mireille... May I... ask one last thing... of you?
Mireille: Of course. Ask me... anything...
Risette: Will you... brush my hair? I've always wanted... to do that... together...
Mireille: That's hardly a request... Here, we can do that all you want!
Mireille continues to cry as she gently runs her fingers through Risette's hair.
Risette: No one's... done this for me... before.
Risette: It was... my dream. To be close with you... like this...
Risette: Hehe. I guess, in the end, my wish came tr—
The last of Risette crumbles and vanishes, her remnants like small grains of sand.
They are carried away by a gust of wind, blown into the distant sky.
Mireille: ...!
Mireille stays kneeled and unmoving, tears flowing endlessly from her vacant eyes. The others stand at a distance, unable to find the right words.
In the midst of the heavy silence, Cagliostro takes a step forward and begins to work her alchemy.
Cagliostro: I don't appreciate having to save the day every time...
Cagliostro: But I had a part in at least a little of this mess, so this one's a freebie.
Cagliostro uses her alchemy to gather the particles left from Risette's body and the philosopher's stone.
Mireille: Huh? What are you...
Cagliostro: There we go.
The particles come together and crystallize into a stone. Cagliostro smiles, satisfied with the result.
Holding the solidified object in her hand, her expression turns solemn as she turns to Mireille.
Cagliostro: Now, Mireille... How will you live from here on?
Mireille: What do you mean how?
Cagliostro: In my hand is a complete philosopher's stone.
Cagliostro: You can use this to make the healthy body that you've always wanted.
Cagliostro: But... you can also use it to resurrect Risette and make her a normal, mortal being.
Mireille: Huh?
Vyrn: Whoa, wait a second... Resurrect? You can actually do that?
Cagliostro: Normally, you can't. But we have two things present right now: the philosopher's stone, and me.
Cagliostro: In addition, this philosopher's stone is something that was made with Risette as the catalyst.
Cagliostro: Which means Risette's information is etched into the stone itself.
Cagliostro: I can prepare the body and take care of all the necessary procedures. Just this once.
Mireille: Can Risette... really come back?
Cagliostro: Of course. But you can only choose one or the other.
Cagliostro: You make the decision, Mireille.
Cagliostro: You can attain your long-awaited dream and enjoy life on your own...
Cagliostro: Or give up on your dream and continue living life in your current body, together with Risette.
Mireille: That's an easy choice. I choose...
Mireille tells Cagliostro her decision, her expression unwavering.
Seeing their friend's resolution, (Captain) and company break into a smile.
A few days later, Mireille and Risette are outside in the town to see (Captain) and the others off.
Mireille: Miss Cagliostro, (Captain)... Everyone. I'm sorry for all the trouble we've caused.
Risette: My deepest apologies. It was all because of me...
Mireille: That's not true. It was because of us, okay?
Risette: Very well...
Cagliostro: Well, I originally came to this island to look into the guild and Paracelsus anyway.
Cagliostro: I'd expected things to get messy from the beginning. I guess the two of you just came with it.
Cagliostro: In any case... you haven't forgotten your promise, have you?
Mireille: Of course not.
Cagliostro had agreed to resurrect Risette with the philosopher's stone under one condition.
Mireille: The both of us intend to atone for our sins, no matter how long it'll take.
Mireille: First, we'll eradicate all the remaining homunculi in the city so there won't be any more casualties...
Mireille: After that, we'll go around to visit the families of each and every person Risette fed on.
Cagliostro's condition was for Mireille and Risette to take proper responsibility for all the things that have happened in the town.
Vyrn: That... sounds like it's gonna be pretty tough.
Mireille: Yes... I think it will be. But the fact remains that we've taken away the lives of many people.
Mireille: As terrible as it is, we don't intend to run away from this truth for as long as we live.
Mireille says this with a determination in her eyes like never before.
Cagliostro looks at her for a moment before letting out a small sigh.
Cagliostro: You got yourselves a second lease on life. No matter what they say to you, don't go giving it up.
Mireille: I won't... It might not be possible yet, but I'll definitely get my healthy body someday.
Mireille: Besides, I have a few other things I want to do now.
Lyria: You do?
Mireille: Yes. Actually, I wanted to ask all of you something...
Mireille: Do you think... you could let Risette and me join you on your journey someday?
Mireille: Because of my weak body, I've never gone outside of this town before...
Mireille: So in the future, I want to explore all sorts of places, together with Risette.
Mireille: And I want to learn more from Miss Cagliostro too...
Mireille: Would that be okay?
Choose: You're welcome anytime.
Mireille: Thank you. It might not be for a while, but we'll definitely catch up to you.
Mireille: So I hope you'll wait for us until then.
Choose: Just no more fighting, all right?
Mireille: We won't anymore. Probably.
Clarisse: Probably...
Mireille: Well, even family members fight with one another from time to time, right?
Clarisse: Well... I can't deny that.
Clarisse: I guess if you make up in the end, fighting isn't always such a bad thing!
Continue 1After promising to meet again, the crew say their last goodbyes as they turn to head toward the port.
Vyrn: Guess it's time for us to get goin'!
Lyria: Mireille! Risette! Let's meet again someday!
Mireille: We definitely will someday.
Risette: Yes, I'm sure we'll meet again.
And with that, the crew wave to Mireille and Risette before going on their way.
Mireille and Risette watch the crew until they're no longer in sight.
Mireille: You know, Risette.
Risette: What is it, Miss Mireille?
Mireille: I was wondering... Do you remember how I said I still have to tell you how I feel?
Risette: Yes...
Mireille: About that... Can I tell you now?
Risette: Huh? Now?
Mireille: Yes. I figured now would be a good time to sort things out between us.
Risette: Very well. You have my full attention.
Mireille: Risette, I'd like you to be my friend... no. I want you to be my family.
Risette: What?
Mireille: I've done terrible things to you in the past, and said a lot of awful things.
Mireille: So I know it's hard to believe that I'm asking you to be my family now.
Risette: No, that's not what I...
Mireille: It's okay, you don't have to deny it. I'm aware of how I must sound, asking you this after all this time.
Mireille: But thanks to you, I was able to realize how I really felt.
Mireille: How I really want you to stay with me, forever...
Mireille: That's why I want you to be my family.
Risette: ...
Mireille: Is it... that hard to believe?
Risette: No. I'm just... so happy to hear these words from you... that I could cry.
Risette: But, Miss Mireille, I am a criminal. I've devoured many people...
Risette: I cannot possibly be a member of your family...
Mireille: Risette, I've said it many times. We're both responsible for the crimes.
Mireille: The burden's not only yours to carry.
Risette: But...
Mireille: Risette, I want you to be my family. Not anyone else. You.
Risette: Miss Mireille...
Mireille: Now it's your turn to tell me your feelings.
Risette: I... I want us to be family too.
Risette: It was... my dream. To be your family... But I didn't think it would ever come true...
Tears slide down Risette's cheeks as a genuine smile spreads across her face.
Mireille: Then from now on, you don't have to call me "miss" or speak so formally to me.
Mireille: You know, since we're... family now.
Risette: Okay, Mireille.
Mireille: The road we walk won't be an easy one. I'm sure there'll be many times when we want to give up.
Mireille: But, if we're together...
Risette: Yes. Surely, you and I will get through this together.
Mireille and Risette exchange a nod before continuing on their way.
After countless trials and conflicts, the two are finally able to come together as one family.
Though a long road of atonement lies ahead of them...
Now that they have each other, they are certain they will be able to overcome anything.
With this precious life that they've been given, together, they step forward onto a path that connects them to a new future.
The End
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