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Spoiler Alert!
These tabs contain full Fate Episode cutscene scripts with major spoilers about the character. View these tabs at your own discretion.
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Guided to Meet Here
(Captain), Lyria, and Vyrn defeat Qinglong with the help of an Erune named Ami, a kind girl who for some reason is always trying to make people scared of her, and the beast leaves behind some kind of ornament as it disappears. She brings the crew members to her house and treats their injuries, but several men suddenly break in and attack them.
(Captain) and company have accepted a request to slay Qinglong, a stormy entity steeped in mystery, before its tempests and lightning cause any more damage.
But upon arriving at the island where it dwells, Eastern Solitary, they find themselves buffeted by winds so strong that they struggle to even stay on their feet.
Vyrn: Holy moly, what's up with this wind? Is Qinglong causing—
Vyrn: Whoa! It's blowin' me away!
Lyria: Vyrn, grab on to m—
Lyria: Ah!
A particularly powerful gust of wind catches Lyria off guard, and she falls to the ground, pulling Vyrn with her.
- Are you two okay?
Choose: Are you two okay?Lyria: I-I'm fine... I just scraped myself a bit...
Vyrn: I'm all right too.
Vyrn: But man, this is wild. Why's the wind and lightning so crazy this time?
Vyrn: And honestly, what in the skies is Qinglong in the first place?
Vyrn: It keeps comin' back every time we beat it, and the island moves around for some reason too.
(Captain)'s crew has investigated Eastern Solitary and defeated Qinglong many times in the past.
However, the beast never truly perishes, always reappearing on this windswept island and threatening the peace of the islands it passes nearby.
Lyria: I've actually been wondering about—
Qinglong: ...!
Vyrn: Whoa! Hold that thought, Lyria!
Qinglong: ...!
After noticing the trio, Qinglong roars for a second time.
As if in response, a storm cloud gathers above their heads and starts to rain lightning down on them.
Lyria: ...!
Tiamat, lend me your—
The crew members attempt to defend themselves, but it's too late.
Suddenly, a crossbow bolt is shot into the storm, serving as a lightning rod and diverting the deadly threat away.
Lyria: Huh?
Qinglong: ...!
???: Shut up.
Qinglong: ...!
A second bolt comes flying and pierces Qinglong, sending it crashing to the ground.
Vyrn: What in the... What was that?
???: I'm ending this. Match my timing, skyfarer.
The wind carries a woman's voice to (Captain)'s ears. Shortly afterward, a sea of crossbow bolts rains down on Qinglong.
(Captain) runs up to the beast while it's staggered and stabs it through the eye.
Vyrn: Did we do it?
Lyria: Y-yes. Qinglong's presence is—
Lyria: Oh? What's that?
Lyria notices something on the ground where Qinglong had disappeared.
(Captain) picks it up and finds that it's a beautifully decorated ornament.
Lyria: I wonder what that is. It seems to have a little bit of Qinglong's power in it...
???: ...
Vyrn: ...!
Who're you?
The three skyfarers realize that someone is standing behind them and quickly turn around.
There they see a lone woman holding a crossbow.
???: ...
Vyrn: Umm...
???: Phew...
Lyria: Eep...
Vyrn: Wh-what are you sighing at us for!
Lyria: I'm sorry... Have we done something to offend you?
Lyria: If we have then we're very sorry about it, so please, don't glare at us like that...
???: ...
Lyria: Um...
???: W-well...
Vyrn: Hm? Your weapon...
Vyrn: Wait, are you the one who protected us from the lightning with that crossbow bolt?
???: Yes. You got a problem with that?
Lyria: Oh, no, we... We just wanted to thank you.
???: ...
For some reason, the woman silently stares at the group with an intense expression.
Vyrn: Uh... Really though, did we do somethin' to make you mad?
Vyrn: You're really freaking me out right now...
???: You're afraid of me?
...
Good.
Lyria: O-oh...
???: I have questions for you. Why did...
???: Actually, I'll ask them later. Follow me.
Vyrn: Hey, wait. Where're you takin' us?
???: My home. You're hurt, so I'll tend to you.
Vyrn: Hurt? Oh yeah, the scratches from when the wind knocked us over.
Vyrn: These aren't really that bad though.
???: Just be quiet and follow me.
Lyria: A-all right, Miss...
Ami: Ami. Just call me Ami.
Ami takes the trio to her house, where they properly introduce themselves to her, and she treats their injuries.
Ami: You're lucky to get off with just scrapes after challenging Qinglong.
Ami: Why exactly did you come here to fight it?
Lyria: We were asked to investigate this island and take care of Qinglong.
Ami: I see. That was reckless of you.
Ami: You may well have died there if I hadn't helped you.
Vyrn: Yeah, we had no idea that Qinglong had gotten that powerful...
Ami: ...
Vyrn: A-anyway, yeah, I guess we were kinda reckless...
Vyrn: We'll be more careful next time, so...
Ami: What?
Vyrn: Well, you know, it's scary when you look at us like that, so...
Ami: I was just thinking about something.
Vyrn: You were? You look real angry when you glare at us without even sayin' a word.
Ami: Glaring... Without a word...
Ami: ...
Ami: I have a question. Are you afraid of me?
Lyria: Ah... Well...
Ami: ...
Lyria: Um... I'm sorry...
Vyrn: I mean, that intimidating, unapproachable aura you give off is just a bit scary, ya know?
Vyrn: You're always glarin' at us with a fierce expression...
Vyrn: And you're pretty curt too.
Ami: Narg... I see... Good...
For some reason, Ami puts on a conflicted expression that seems to convey both sadness and relief.
Seeing it, (Captain), Vyrn, and Lyria look at each other and tilt their heads in confusion.
Lyria: Um, are you perhaps trying to make us scared of you?
Ami: ...!
Vyrn: Now that you mention it...
Vyrn: Her vibe and the way she talks is scary, but everything she's actually done has been pretty nice.
Lyria: Yes. And if you think about what she just said a bit ago, it almost sounded like she was looking out for us...
The three glance at each other again then simultaneously turn their eyes back to Ami.
Ami: Nuah! U-uh...
Vyrn: I'm thinkin' we hit the nail on the head...
Ami: Wh-what are you talking about? Why would I do something so pointless?
Ami: What would I get from making you scared of me? Th-that would just be silly.
Ami: I-it would just make you not like me. Why would I want that?
Vyrn: You'd be more convincing if you were lookin' us in the eyes and maybe not sweatin' so much.
Ami: Nuah!
Ami suddenly turns away to hide her face.
Lyria: Hmm...
Lyria: Correct me if I'm wrong... but you've been saying all this stuff because you're worried about us, right?
Ami: Nuah! Wh-what are you talking about?
Ami: I... Oh yeah! Like I said...
Ami: There's no reason for me to do something so silly!
Ami: Y-you've just got the wrong idea! Stop looking at me like that!
Seeing Ami's reaction, the three skyfarers heave a sigh of relief tinged with amusement.
Vyrn: Anyway, what's up with Qinglong?
Vyrn: It was way stronger than we've ever seen it before.
Lyria: ...
For some reason, Vyrn's statement makes Lyria look suspiciously at Ami.
Ami: What?
Lyria: Well... Ami, are you connected to Qinglong somehow?
Ami: Huh?
Lyria: Whenever we fought it in the past, Qinglong's presence always felt kind of hollow, as if it wasn't fully there.
Lyria: But the instant that you saved us, its presence became much more clear.
Lyria: As if it had become stronger because you were nearby...
Ami: ...!
Vyrn: What? Are you saying that this weird la—
Ami: Nuah...
Vyrn: Oh, my bad. Anyway, so you're sayin' Ami has something to do with Qinglong?
Lyria: I... I don't know what it means, but I know that she can't be completely unrelated.
Lyria: You see... I can feel something like Qinglong's presence coming from her.
Lyria: It's very similar to what I can feel from this thing that it dropped...
Ami: ...!
Why do you have...
Ami looks surprised to see the ornament for a moment, but then a look of realization appears on her face.
Ami: Right, of course. Because I helped...
- Do you have something to do with Qinglong?
Choose: Do you have something to do with Qinglong?Ami: ...
I do. I'm a member of one of the four Cardinal Saint families.
Ami: Everyone in those lineages has some of their cardinal beast's power... Or rather, the power of the cardinal beasts' master, Huanglong, residing in them.
Lyria: What exactly does that...
Attacker: There you are, you damned usurper!
Suddenly, several armed men break through the window and rush into the room.
As soon as they see Ami, they attack her, flames of hatred burning in their eyes.
The Cardinal Saints
Ami drives away the attackers. She reveals that the item the crew picked up after defeating Qinglong is a yupei, and explains that she is one of the Cardinal Saints, who have received from Huanglong power and the duty to defeat the cardinal beasts and perform wakes on their yupei. The men who just attacked were relatives who want to take her weapon in order to install her sister as the true head of the family. (Captain) invites Ami to join the crew, and after thinking it over for a night she agrees.
Ami: Enough, pests.
Ami begins to fire bolts from her crossbow at an unbelievable speed.
Each and every one finds its target, piercing through the attackers' hands.
Attacker: Gah! Argh...
Ami: Do you still not get that you can't beat me? This is beyond ridiculous... It's almost comedic.
Attacker: Erg... Men! Retreat!
Don't forget, usurper—we'll be reclaiming that weapon from you one day.
Attacker: It belongs to the true head of our family, not you!
Leaving those parting words, the men make a hurried escape.
Ami: They never learn, do they...
Vyrn: Wh-what was all that about?
Ami: It has nothing to do with you.
Lyria: I sensed something from those people similar to the presence I sense from you.
Lyria: It wasn't nearly as strong, though...
Faced with the mystery of Ami's situation and powers, the three aren't quite sure how to proceed.
Ami: ...
Ami: If you really want to know, I can tell you more. But in exchange, I want you to give me that yupei.
Lyria: What's a yupei?
Ami: The thing that Qinglong left behind.
(Captain) shows Ami the ornament that they had picked up earlier.
Ami: Yeah, that. Deal?
- Sure.
- What is it?
Choose: Sure.Ami: ...
Choose: What is it?Ami: Proof that you defeated Qinglong properly. I won't tell you any more unless we have a deal.
(Captain) thinks for a second, then hands Ami the yupei.
Ami: ...
Continue 1Vyrn: What're you so shocked about?
Ami: I didn't think that you'd be so willing.
Ami: There's plenty of collectors that would buy it for a pretty high price, you know. Are you sure you want to give it up?
Lyria: We didn't pick it up hoping to get money for it, after all! But in exchange...
Ami: Yeah, I know. I'm not going to break my promise.
Ami: I'm one of the four Cardinal Saints. Have you ever heard of them?
Vyrn: No, can't say I have.
Ami: I see... Well, that's only natural. We haven't been well-known for quite a while.
Ami: The Cardinal Saints are people who have received power from the cardinal beasts... or rather, from Huanglong, the being that created them.
Ami: Each Saint has a duty to defeat their respective beast and perform a wake on their yupei.
Lyria: Does that mean that those men are Cardinal Saints too, since their presence felt like yours?
Ami: No. Those were my relatives. Part of a branch family, more or less.
Ami: My family is tasked with performing wakes on Qinglong's yupei.
Ami: Thanks to that, they all receive some power from Huanglong, though not as much as an actual Cardinal Saint.
Vyrn: Huh? You mean it's your family that's coming after you?
Ami: Yeah. A lot happened...
Ami: Really... Why did it have to be me who was chosen...
Ami looks down at her weapon with a pained, sorrowful expression.
Vyrn: Oh yeah, they said they were gonna take that weapon back, didn't they?
Ami: This crossbow is a special weapon that has been passed down for countless generations... It proves that I'm a Cardinal Saint and the head of the family.
Ami: That's why the members of my family who want to replace me with my sister are desperate to get their hands on it.
Ami: They think it will help them prove that she's the proper head of the family.
Ami: It's pointless, though. Huanglong decides who can wield this weapon.
Ami: Even if they gave it to her, she wouldn't be able to use it.
Lyria: Wait! You mean it's not just your relatives... but your sister too?
Ami: Well, I can't say for sure that she's actually responsible for any of this.
Ami: It's entirely possible that our relatives are attacking me on their own initiative.
Ami: Honestly, that's more likely than not what's happening. My sister has never been fond of conflict.
Ami: ...
Vyrn: ...
Vyrn: Hey, I get that you're mad about all this, but, uh... You don't gotta make such a nasty face about it.
Ami: N-nasty...
No, that's fine. I'm sure you just mean frightening...
Ami: More importantly, you all should leave this island immediately.
Ami: They've already seen you with me.
Ami: Knowing them, they'll come after you too now.
Ami: If you ended up hurt because of me after I went to the trouble of saving you from Qinglong, I'd have to wake up tomorrow with a guilty conscience.
Lyria: What will you do, though?
Ami: I'll hide. I prefer to avoid trouble when I can.
- How about you come with us?
Choose: How about you come with us?Ami: Huh? With you?
Lyria: Oh, that's a great idea! We travel all around the skies, after all.
Lyria: I think that your family members would have a very hard time tracking you down!
Vyrn: Yeah, you bailed us out and patched us up, so we owe you that much at least.
Lyria: And more importantly, we never ignore someone who needs help!
Ami: Are you serious? Actually, are you sane?
Lyria: Of course we are!
Ami: ...
The three nod with determination, but are met only by a silent glare.
Vyrn: Uh, just to be sure, this isn't you being mad or offended, right?
Ami: ...
Vyrn: Hey, the way you talk is a bit scary, but it's actually way worse when you keep quiet...
Lyria: So... what do you think?
Ami: Give me some time to think it over. This is too unexpected to decide on immediately.
Vyrn: Yeah, of course. We'll come back tomorrow, so figure it out by then!
Ami: All right.
(Captain), Lyria, and Vyrn thank Ami and head back to the Grandcypher.
After they leave, Ami goes to her room and sits on her bed.
???: This is your chance, Ami! You've gotta take it!
Ami: Nauuu... I don't know... I've never even thought about traveling with other people before.
???: But you don't want to just be alone all the time, do you? You still haven't made any friends besides the other Saints.
Ami: Nyack! Well, I mean... Yeah, I do want more friends... I get so lonely, after all...
The next day, (Captain), Vyrn, and Lyria come back to see Ami again.
Ami: I've decided to take you up on the offer you made yesterday.
Ami: I'm sick of living on the run.
Lyria: Yay! Good to have you aboard!
Vyrn: Okay, but why do you have so much luggage? What've you got in all those boxes?
Ami: ...
Just my stuff. There's a lot, but it's all light.
Vyrn: All right then. Let's work together and see if we can move it all in one trip.
Ami: ...!
Don't touch those. I'll do it all myself.
Vyrn: Oh, have you got really important stuff in them? Guess that can't be helped then.
Vyrn: Tell us if there's anything we can help you with, though!
Ami: ...
Thanks.
With that, Ami briskly starts carrying her things to the Grandcypher.
Ami: Nuah... I sounded so rude back there... What've I done...
???: I mean, what choice did you have? You can't tell them about us, after all.
Ami: Nau... Yeah. I've got to keep you a secret, or they'll definitely think I'm weird.
Ami looks at her now-empty room with a smile slightly tinged by sadness.
Her expression harbors a secret she cannot yet bring herself to tell her new traveling companions.
Shameful Strength
While docked at a town to resupply, the crew runs into a lost child. Ami attempts to help her, but her intimidating presence makes the little girl cry. Though the child is quickly returned to her father, she runs away into a nearby monster-infested forest after being scolded. Ami runs off to save her, and the crew witnesses her exhibit terrifying strength to defend the girl from swarms of monsters. Upon realizing that she was seen, Ami fears that they won't want to be with her anymore but is relieved when the trio readily accepts her.
A few days have passed since Ami decided to travel with the crew of the Grandcypher.
She has come to a certain town with (Captain), Lyria, and Vyrn to buy supplies.
Ami: I stayed in this town for a bit a while ago. I'll show you the way.
Ami: Next we need...
Little Girl: Waaah! Daddy!
The group turns to the source of the voice and sees a crying child walking down the street alone.
Ami: You lost?
Little Girl: Sob... Yeah. I can't find my daddy...
Ami: I see... Come on.
Ami takes the child's hand and starts to walk away.
Little Girl: H-huh? Where are we going? Hey, don't pull me—
Ami: Come on, let's go.
Little Girl: Eep! W-waaah! Help!
Ami: W-what? But why...
Letting go of the crying girl's hand, Ami looks at her in shock and confusion.
Vyrn: Whaddya mean "why?" Anyone other than us would think you're trying to kidnap her, so of course she's gonna cry...
Ami: Nuah! Th-that's not what I'm doing! I was just going to take her to the guard post...
Father: Huff... Huff... Found you! I can't believe you wandered off like that!
Little Girl: ...!
Daddy, help! There's a scary lady!
Ami: Narg... Scary lady...
No, being frightening is a good thing...
Vyrn: I really don't get why you keep telling yourself that...
Father: I'm sorry, but who are you?
Hiding his daughter behind him, the man looks at the crew with suspicion.
Lyria: Y-you see, we just saw that girl crying, so we wanted to help her.
Lyria: But then, I guess she got a little confused... Or rather, we confused her a little...
Father: Confused? So, these people didn't do anything to you, then?
The man tilts his head and looks at his daughter.
Little Girl: W-well, that scary lady tried to take me away, and... Sniff...
Ami: Nuah...
Upon hearing the girl's statement, Ami grimaces and lurches back as if she had been struck.
Vyrn: Um, in Ami's... In this lady's defense...
Vyrn: She went up to your daughter because she was worried about her.
Vyrn: Then she learned that she was lost, so she decided to take her to the guard post.
Father: Ah, I see. So that's what happened.
Father: Thank you so much for looking out for my daughter.
Seeing how Ami is frozen in shock, the man readily believes Vyrn's explanation.
Father: Come now, these people were trying to help you, so go up to them and say "thank you."
Little Girl: B-but... the lady's scary...
Ami: Narg...
Father: Oh, now she's gone and said something rude again. I'm so sorry...
Ami: ...
It's fine. Don't worry about it. More importantly, you shouldn't be losing track of her.
Father: Y-yes, I'll be more careful in the future. Well, if you'll excuse us.
The man thanks the crew and leaves with his daughter.
Ami: Scary... I mean, that's fine... That's what I want, nau...
Guard: Miss Ami? Is that you?
Ami: Hm? You're...
Vyrn: You know these guards, Ami?
Ami: Yeah. We worked together when I was staying here.
Ami: What brings you here, though?
Guard: A townsperson reported that a suspicious woman was making a child cry.
Ami: Nuah...
Guard: But it seems there was nothing to worry about.
Guard: I imagine you tried to help a child in trouble and they started crying. That kind of thing happened all the time back then.
Ami: ...
Sorry to cause trouble for you again.
Guard: Don't worry about it. Anyway, this is quite a nostalgic turn of events.
Guard: Back when you were here, we'd get reports like this every day.
Ami: Nuah! Stop that! Don't tell these guys about...
The guards tell (Captain), Lyria, and Vyrn all kinds of stories about Ami.
With each one her expression bounces between embarrassment and despair.
Guard: Well, we should head back to our post. Let us know if you need anything, Miss—
Father: Huff... Huff... Guards, I need help!
Father: My daughter has... My daughter's gone into the woods!
Ami: You mean the ones nearby? Haven't you all been told not to go there because of the monsters?
Father: You see... I was lecturing her about what just happened.
Father: Telling her that she shouldn't say rude things to people who are trying to help her... But then she started crying and ran into the woods...
Guard: Understood. We'll start organizing a search party, so as soon as we're ready—
Ami: I'll go. I'm partly to blame for this, after all.
Ami: Most importantly, I don't want to wake up tomorrow and remember that I let a kid get hurt.
Vyrn: We'll help too. If we all work together, we'll find her in—
Ami: No need. I'll do it by myself.
With that, Ami runs off toward the forest with tremendous speed.
Lyria: Ah! Ami, wait! It's dangerous!
Vyrn: We gotta go after her!
(Captain) and Lyria nod in agreement and run after Ami.
(Captain), Lyria, and Vyrn have followed Ami into the forest.
Lyria: I wonder which way Ami went... We need to find that little girl soon, otherwise she'll...
Suddenly, a monster goes flying right before their eyes.
Lyria: Eep! That scared me...
Did you see the arrow that was sticking out from it?
Vyrn: Yeah. It's from Ami's crossbow, right? She must've gone this way then!
The trio arrives at a clearing and finds Ami defending the unconscious girl from a horde of monsters.
Lyria: Oh no, she's surrounded! We've got to help her!
(Captain) nods and prepares for battle. But suddenly...
Ami: Enough, pests.
Ami fires a barrage of bolts from her crossbow in unbelievably rapid succession. Each one pierces cleanly through a monster's skull.
Lyria: W-wow... I knew she was powerful, but...
Vyrn: I can't believe she's takin' on that many of them... And look, she's knocking 'em out with one shot!
As the monsters fall one by one to Ami's assault, the trio can only stand there, stunned by the sight.
Ami: This is the end. Disappear...
Ami: Wait, (Captain)?
Ami: ...
I told you that I would do this alone. Why did you follow me?
For some reason, Ami appears to be afraid as she looks at (Captain), Lyria, and Vyrn.
Lyria: We were worried, so... What were you planning on doing if something happened to you, and nobody was there to help?
Ami: Huh? Oh, right... I'm sorry...
Ami: Wait, that's not the point. You saw me fighting, right? Didn't you think I was... scary?
Vyrn: Well, yeah, you were pretty scary. You had this look of ferocity to you.
Ami: I see... That's good, then.
Ami: I know it's a good thing, but... hearing that from you really hurts...
Ami: Well, what now? If you're scared of me... If you don't want to be with me...
Ami: If that's how you feel, then I'll...
Vyrn: Whoa, hold your horses! Yeah, you were scary, but we got used to that a while ago.
Lyria: Th-that's right! We know that you're really a very kind person, Ami!
Lyria: And we weren't so much scared as just surprised...
Ami: I see. That's how you three feel about it...
Ami: Even though I...
Ami: I'm always trying to put up a scary front. You won't be bothered by that?
- Of course not!
Choose: Of course not!Ami: Haha, I see... So you're willing to accept even someone like me.
Ami laughs as tears start to well up in her eyes.
Vyrn: Why do you always try to make people scared of you anyway? You obviously don't enjoy doing it.
Ami: Well... Nuah...
Lyria: If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to, you know? We can wait until you're ready to.
Ami: Thanks. I'll tell you once I'm up to it.
Ami: Ahem. Anyway, let's get this kid back to her dad. I'm sure he's worried sick.
Nodding in agreement, (Captain) picks up the unconscious little girl, and the group heads back to town.
Ami's Wish
After returning the girl to her father, Ami tells the crew members about her family. Her parents were killed by Qinglong, but she drove the beast off herself right afterwards. Achieving such a feat at a young age caused her relatives to fear her, and now she intends to reclaim her friendship with her sister by fulfilling the duty Huanglong gave her and having it grant her wish. Afterwards, she returns to her cabin and speaks of her true feelings to a friend that only she knows about.
Having rescued the little girl, the crew returns to the town.
Ami crouches down before the child and places her hand on her head.
Ami: If I hadn't made it in time, those monsters would have eaten you. Do you understand?
Little Girl: Eep...
Vyrn: Hey, your glare might be too much for kids to handle...
Lyria: She seems pretty scared, Ami... How about trying to soften your expression a little?
Ami: I'm scolding her, so that's how it should be. Stay quiet for a minute.
Lyria: O-okay.
Ami: Now, if you understand what I just said, then don't cause trouble for your dad like that again. Got it?
Little Girl: Y-yeah, I've got it. And I'm sorry for calling you scary earlier...
Little Girl: Oh, and also, thank you so much for saving me, miss!
Ami: Good job remembering to say that all by yourself. Don't forget how you felt today, okay?
The little girl responds to Ami's instruction with a timid nod.
Father: I'm sorry to put you to so much trouble. I can't thank you enough again for saving my daughter.
After expressing their gratitude to the crew, the father and his daughter head home, holding hands.
Ami silently watches them until they disappear from sight.
Ami: A happy family... How nice...
Vyrn: Oh yeah, we've heard about your relatives and sister, but you never mentioned your parents.
Vyrn: Are you, uh... not on good terms with them either?
Ami: That's not it. We had always gotten along great.
Lyria: Oh... You had?
Ami: Yeah. My parents...
Ami: My father, who was the previous Cardinal Saint, and my mother, who had been his assistant, died trying to defeat Qinglong.
Vyrn: Ah, I... Sorry...
Ami: Don't worry about it. It happened a long time ago.
Ami: And I used this weapon to drive Qinglong off immediately afterward.
Vyrn: Oh yeah, that crossbow's the proof that you're a Cardinal Saint and the head of your family, right?
Vyrn: So I'm guessin' you became a Saint because...
Ami: Yeah. My dad... The previous Saint's passing led to Huanglong choosing me to wield his power.
Ami: Then, using that power and this weapon, I drove Qinglong off.
Ami: Unfortunately, that led to people treating me like I was some kind of monster...
Vyrn: Why would they do that? You avenged your parents and stopped it from hurting any more people, didn't you?
Ami: My parents and other relatives had been powerless to stop Qinglong once it started demonstrating its true strength. One by one, they were defeated and died.
Ami: But then I, a child who had only just become a Cardinal Saint, drove it off.
Ami: My sister and other relatives couldn't accept that.
Lyria: And just because of that, they...
Ami: I know, right? It wasn't even my choice. Huanglong was the one who picked me.
Ami: That's why I decided to run away from home, but then they started treating me like a criminal.
Vyrn: You gotta be kidding me...
The story of Ami's tragic past leaves the three skyfarers with pained expressions.
Lyria: And you've been on the run ever since?
Ami: Yeah. The other Saints helped me get to different towns where I could hide.
Ami: That's when Huanglong, the master of the cardinal beasts, appeared to me in humanoid form.
Ami: I was told that if I fulfill my duty as a Cardinal Saint...
Ami: That is, if I defeat my beast and perform a wake on its yupei enough times, my wish will be granted.
Ami: After saying that, it just disappeared.
Vyrn: Seriously? Doesn't that sound a bit too good to be true?
Ami: Yes, it does. But on the other hand, I find it hard to believe that Huanglong would tell a lie like that, and more importantly...
Ami's expression turns pensive and she stops talking.
Lyria: Ami?
Ami: Never mind. Anyway, for several reasons I decided to believe Huanglong's promise.
Ami: Not out of innocent naivety, though.
Lyria: Because you want the wish it promised you?
Ami: Yeah. I want to make up with my sister, the only family I have left.
Ami: If it means that things can go back to how they used to be between us, then I'll...
Vyrn: Okay, I get what you're saying. But then why aren't you taking down Qinglong?
Vyrn: You left it to its own devices long enough for us to get called in.
Ami: Because I don't want to put pressure on the other Saints.
Lyria: Huh? What do you mean by that?
Ami: All four of us are dealing with some problem or another.
Ami: Because of that, none of us are fulfilling our duty.
Ami: If I started fulfilling mine, the others would be forced to ignore their problems and try to do the same.
Ami: I don't want that to happen. There's no reason for them to have to do that just because of my wish.
Ami: And most importantly, my wish isn't going anywhere. That's why I decided to prioritize their feelings for now.
Vyrn: You don't say...
Ami: What's that expression supposed to mean? If you have something to say, just say it.
Vyrn: Oh you know, I was just thinkin' that you're as kind as I thought you were.
Ami: Narg!
Lyria: So you're thinking of the other Saints, even though you have your own problems...
Lyria: Hehe, I think that side of you is really nice, Ami!
Ami: Nuah... Don't say stuff like that. I'm not used to praise.
Ami turns away from the three skyfarers to keep them from seeing her blushing.
Vyrn: Anyway, I wonder what Huanglong's deal is...
Vyrn: Why did it even give you Saints the duty to defeat the cardinal beasts and perform wakes on their yupei in the first place?
Vyrn: Has it got some kind of goal in mind? I can't make heads or tails of it...
Ami: Huanglong didn't say anything about that, so I have no idea.
Ami: (Well, I have a theory, but it's so out there that I don't plan to share it with anyone yet.)
With that, Ami walks off. Her friends hastily follow after her.
After they finish their shopping, Ami heads back to her cabin alone.
Ami: Nuah... Nuaaah! I told them about my past!
Ami: Some of that stuff I'd never told anyone but Uruki before... Nau...
???: All right, don't panic. You've already told them, and there's nothing you can do to change that now!
Ami: I mean, yeah, but... Nyuh... Oh, why did I go and do that...
???: Come on, you know why.
Ami: Huh?
???: Because you feel the same way about your new friends as you do about Chichiri, Shushuku, and Uruki.
???: You trust them just as much as you do the other Cardinal Saints!
Ami: I do?
Ami: ...
Ami: (Those three didn't start treating me like a monster even after seeing me fight seriously, and they even became worried for my sake.)
Ami: (They didn't push me away like my sister or relatives did.)
???: That made you really happy, didn't it?
Ami: Yeah... I think that's why I trusted them. But...
Ami's smile disappears as her face clouds with worry.
Ami: I wonder what they'd think if they saw me right now, though...
Ami: After all, the "me" that I show them is...
Ami: I bet they'd say that this is weird... That it doesn't fit me...
???: Hey, don't worry about it. You can trust them.
Ami: ...
Ami nods and hugs her conversation partner tight to her chest.
The Real Ami
While examining the yupei in her cabin, Ami suddenly feels the presence of Qilin and lets out a scream. (Captain), Lyria, and Vyrn come to investigate and are stunned to discover that the cabin is filled with stuffed animals. Ami reveals that she created her intimidating personality to prevent people from treating her like a pushover. Suddenly one of her previous attackers arrives and claims that Ami's sister has been hurt and that Qinglong is headed for the island her family lives on. He asks her to fight the beast, and she agrees, saying that the people of the island deserve to be protected.
The Grandcypher is docked at a town to let the crew take a day off.
Ami is in her cabin, looking at the yupei that (Captain) had given her.
Ami: Nuah... This yupei is definitely different from the ones I've seen before.
Ami: Is it because they were the ones who picked it up?
Ami: What should I do? Something feels wrong about it, so I probably shouldn't give it a...
Ami: Huh?
Suddenly, Ami feels the yupei pulse ominously as it starts to glow with a white light.
Immediately afterward, her consciousness is pulled into it.
Ami: Where am I? I was holding the yupei, and then...
Qinglong: ...
Ami: Qinglong! What are you doing here?
Qinglong merely stares motionlessly at Ami, leaving her puzzled.
Ami: I don't feel any hostility. Usually it attacks me on sight...
As if in response to her confusion, Qinglong turns its head to look behind it.
Following its gaze, Ami sees something enormous looking down on both of them.
Ami: Qilin?
Qilin: ...
Ami: Aahhh!
Ami: Huff... Huff... My room? What was...
Vyrn: Whoa, what happened? We heard you scream...
(Captain), Lyria, and Vyrn rush into Ami's cabin.
For some reason, however, all three of them freeze the moment they step through the door.
Ami: ...
Sorry about that. I had a bit of a nightmare, but you don't need to worry about it.
Lyria: There's so many cute things...
Ami: Huh?
Lyria: Do you... like stuffed animals?
Ami: ...!
What, no, I don't particularly like them! These are just, you know...
Vyrn: What do you mean you don't like them? You're hugging one right now.
Ami: Nuah! No, this is...
Ami tries to throw the stuffed animal that Vyrn is pointing at to the ground.
But after hesitating for a moment, she gives up and hugs it close to her chest instead.
Ami: Nauuu... I can't throw you... That would be mean...
Lyria: Ami? Um...
Ami: I-I'm weird, aren't I? Someone like me shouldn't have a bunch of stuffed animals...
Ami: I know that they don't fit me. Especially since I act so scary most of the time...
Vyrn: Wh-what's up with you? Did you eat some expired food or something?
Ami: Nyuh... No, this is the real me. The "me" I had shown you is the personality I use to talk to people...
Lyria: Wait, what do you mean?
Ami: Well, you see, until I was chosen to use this weapon, I was just a normal, introverted girl...
Ami: I never learned how to fight... In fact, they were just having me do bridal training.
Ami: But then I suddenly became a Cardinal Saint and didn't know what I should do...
Ami: So I got some advice from the girl responsible for Xuanwu's yupei...
Ami: A-and she told me that if I act shy and introverted, people will take advantage of me...
Ami: So I should act strong enough to make people scared of me with just my gaze, facial expressions, and speech.
Ami: That's what she taught me, and that's what I based the "me" that you all know on.
Ami: A personality that won't get fooled by people, can speak strongly, and will make people frightened of me...
Vyrn: Ah, I get it now. So that's why you always tried to freak people out.
Lyria: And why you would ask them if you're scary and say things like "good" if they said yes.
Ami: I didn't want anyone to get hurt because they got too close to me...
With Ami's confession, a lot of things start making more sense to the three skyfarers.
Lyria: Um... Wasn't it hard on you to have to keep telling yourself that?
Ami: Yeah... It really, really sucked... There were so many times I went off to hide somewhere and cry...
Ami: But she said that I can't show weakness while I'm using my strong personality, and I agreed, so...
Ami: I always ignored my feelings and put on a strong face...
Vyrn: I wouldn't say always. You were showing your true colors every once in a while.
Ami: Nauu... W-well, it hurts when people are scared of me, so I sometimes end up looking shocked...
Lyria: I guess you must have not liked it even more than we thought you did.
Vyrn: Oh man, and I kept sayin' you were scary and stuff... Sorry about that.
Ami: No, don't worry about it. I was the one trying to keep you scared.
Ami: But anyway... You're creeped out now, aren't you?
Ami: It's like I have a split personality, after all... I get it...
Ami: Plus I love cute things despite having a personality like this...
- We don't feel that way at all!
Choose: We don't feel that way at all!Vyrn: Yeah! What's wrong with liking what you like?
Ami: R-really? You don't think it's creepy?
As Ami looks at the trio, unsure if she can believe them, they nod reassuringly.
Ami: I see. Thank goodness... You were right, Stuffy.
Stuffy: Yeah, didn't I say you could trust them, Ami?
Ami speaks to her stuffed animal, then immediately starts acting out its response.
Lyria: Oh! Is Stuffy...
Ami: Nuah! Okay, that was... Um, I mean, I was always alone until now...
Ami: So I kinda made friends with my stuffed animals...
Vyrn: You know, I'm thinking that Ami's gonna be a lot more entertaining to be around than I expected at first.
Ami: Nuaahh...
Ami squirms, then clutches her stuffed animal to her face as if to hide.
(Captain), Lyria, and Vyrn look upon her embarrassment with kind expressions.
Vyrn: Oh? Who's that knocking on the door?
Lyria: Look out! I feel the same presence as I did when those men attacked us!
Lyria's warning causes (Captain) and Ami to take up their weapons and prepare for battle.
Vyrn: No way, they actually snuck onto the ship? What should we do?
Ami: Open the door. If they're knocking, that at least means that they're not trying to surprise attack us.
Vyrn: ...
Ami: ...
What? If you've got something to say, then say it.
Vyrn: I was just thinkin' that you changed personalities real quick there.
Vyrn: You know, I really think that you could just be your normal self all the time and it wouldn't be a problem...
Ami: Can't do that. I swap to being like this automatically when people show up.
Vyrn: No dice, huh? Well, never mind that. Let's open the door.
After making sure that everyone is ready, Vyrn carefully opens the door.
Attacker: Long time no see, usurper. Glad to see you're doing well.
Ami: My assassins worrying about my health? Am I supposed to take that as a joke?
Attacker: Hmph. You can take it however you please.
Ami: In any case, why have you shown yourself to us? If you're looking for a fight, then—
Attacker: I'll cut straight to the chase. Qinglong returned, and your sister set off to vanquish it but was defeated.
Attacker: Now Qinglong is furious, and it's heading for our family's island.
Ami: ...!
Why would you anger it like that? Actually, why did my sister even think to fight it in the first place?
Attacker: Another faction of our family put the idea into her head.
Attacker: They told her that if she's the true head of the family, fighting Qinglong is her duty.
Ami: This is why I refused to give up the weapon...
Ami: Well, how is she?
Attacker: She's badly wounded, but she will survive.
The attacker reluctantly lowers himself to his knees and bows down before Ami.
Attacker: As much as I hate to admit it, you are the only person who can save us, usurper... or rather, Lady Ami.
Attacker: If you don't stop Qinglong, it will threaten the lives of all who live on that island, including your sister.
Attacker: You wish to avoid that as well, don't you? So...
Vyrn: What a self-centered bunch... They try to kill ya, but then think they can ask for help when they're in trouble?
Ami: ...
I'll do it.
Attacker: Thank you.
Vyrn: After all they did to you? Are you sure?
Ami: I don't care what happens to these people or my sister, but the other residents of that island don't deserve Qinglong's wrath.
Ami: There's also something I want to check out for myself.
Vyrn: Okay, if you say so. We're definitely comin' with you though!
Ami: Thanks. I'll be counting on you.
The crew of the Grandcypher returns to Eastern Solitary to face Qinglong.
Vyrn: Hey, is it just me or are the wind and lightning even crazier than last time?
Lyria: It's not just that. I can feel Qinglong's presence much more strongly too.
Ami: The cardinal beasts regain their power when facing a Cardinal Saint. In other words, this is Qinglong's true might.
Ami: Anyway, here it comes.
Qinglong: ...!
Suddenly, a menacing roar echoes across the skies.
Shortly after, Qinglong appears before the crew with many enormous tornadoes at its side.
Ami: In accordance with my pledge to Huanglong, I shall face you as a Cardinal Saint.
The Real Ami: Scene 2
After Qinglong is defeated, it leaves behind a new yupei, which resonates with the one the crew already had and draws Ami's consciousness into it. There she comes face to face with Qilin, a beast that produces a malevolent aura. Ami asks what it's trying to do, but returns to reality without getting an answer.
Vyrn: Now's your chance, Ami!
Ami: Yeah, I know. I'm ending this here.
Ami fires a bolt imbued with devastating power at Qinglong's head.
The shot flies true and pierces straight through its target.
Qinglong: ...!
Vyrn: Whew... We managed to beat it.
Lyria: Yes, we did... I never thought it could become that powerful.
Lyria: I don't think we could have made it through without Ami...
(Captain), visibly exhausted but relieved that the ordeal is over, nods in agreement.
Ami: That's not true. Without me—or rather, without a Cardinal Saint here, Qinglong wouldn't have demonstrated its true power.
Ami: Though in exchange, it would have disappeared without leaving behind its yupei, only to come back stronger next time.
Ami: When they resurrect, the cardinal beasts absorb anything that's left over from the last incarnation and add it to their own power.
Ami: That's how Uruki told me it works, at least.
Lyria: I see...
Ami: More importantly... Here it is.
Ami makes her way to the spot where Qinglong was defeated and picks up the yupei.
Lyria: Is that a yupei? Oh, that's right—you said that you wanted to check something out, didn't you?
Ami: Yeah, that's the plan.
Ami: Lyria, tell me if you start feeling the presence of anything besides Qinglong's power.
Lyria: Huh? All right...
Ami takes the old yupei from her pocket and brings it close to the one that she just picked up.
The two ornaments begin resonating, and a mysterious white light engulfs her.
Ami: This place again? Where are the others?
Ami: ...
Not here, it seems. I guess only Cardinal Saints are brought here.
Ami: Is that right?
Suspicion in her eyes, Ami shifts her gaze to the beast before her.
Qinglong: ...
However, it gives her no answer, soaring silently into the sky instead.
Once it disappears from sight, a dark, sinister power surrounds Ami.
Ami: ...!
This aura... The power is sickening.
Ami: I knew it... It wasn't my imagination.
Ami: Qilin. You're there, aren't you?
Qilin: ...
Ami: I won't beat around the bush. What are you trying to do?
Qilin: ...
Ami: ...!
Suddenly, Ami's vision is filled with a light so bright that she closes her eyes.
When she opens them again, she finds herself back with the crew.
Vyrn: Hey, Ami!
Ami: ...
What was just happening to me?
Vyrn: You fell over as soon as the yupei started shining, and wouldn't respond no matter how much we called out to you.
Ami: I see. Sorry to worry you.
Lyria: So, what exactly happened? I just felt a terribly dark power coming from the yupei...
Ami: I don't really know yet. But I think my consciousness was sucked into it.
Ami looks at the yupei with concern on her face.
In contrast, (Captain), Lyria, and Vyrn can express only bewilderment at the turn of events.
Onward to the Future
Ami decides not to perform a wake on the yupei until she can figure out what Qilin's goal is, and to destroy the ominous beast if it proves to be a hindrance to fulfilling her wish. After returning to the Grandcypher, she thinks about the future as she chats with a stuffed animal. However, she leaves her door open, letting (Captain), Lyria, and Vyrn hear her talking. Unable to undo what has been done, she can do nothing but curl up into a ball in embarrassment.
Lyria: Now that we've defeated Qinglong, should we head back for now?
Vyrn: Yeah...
Vyrn: Wait, don't we need to do a wake on the yupei first?
Ami: I would have before, but I think I'll hold off on that for now.
Vyrn: Why?
Ami: Huanglong told me something once.
Ami: Supposedly, the cardinal beasts and Saints were created by Huanglong itself.
Ami: However, just now, I felt Qilin's will while my consciousness was in the yupei.
Ami: (And what I saw there interests me as well.)
Ami: (It was almost like it was implying that every time I perform a wake on Qinglong's yupei, Qilin's power grows...)
Ami: I might be overthinking it, but performing a wake on this yupei might make Qilin stronger.
Vyrn: But didn't the Saints perform wakes on them for ages? Why did nobody notice anything back then?
Ami: Performing wakes on the yupei is something that's been passed down to us through tradition.
Ami: I think that at some point, the tradition changed...
Ami: Or rather, someone changed it. Maybe it was even wrong from the very beginning.
Ami: (Chichiri... probably doesn't know. She has more pressing problems.)
Ami: (But Shushuku... Actually, no—Uruki has probably caught on to something.)
Ami: Either way, I'm sure Qilin knows everything.
Ami: That's why I need to find it and ask it some questions.
Ami: I need to know what it wants, what it's trying to do...
Ami: And if it's going to get in the way of my wish.
Ami: If it is, then I'm going to take it down.
Ami grips her weapon tightly with a determined expression on her face.
Vyrn: I guess our next goal is to track Qilin and Huanglong down then.
Lyria: Yes, I agree.
Ami: Huh? Are you sure?
Vyrn: Of course we are! You're one of our buddies, you know?
Lyria: That's right! Please don't insist on searching for them alone. We'd never want that for you!
Ami: ...
Thank you.
Upon hearing her friends unhesitatingly commit to helping her, Ami's face breaks into a elated smile.
Having defeated Qinglong, the crew returns to the Grandcypher.
Ami has parted with the trio and is alone in her cabin.
Stuffy: Isn't that great, Ami? You'll be able to stay with the crew!
Ami: Yeah. I wonder if my sister is okay though...
Ami: He said she'll live, but I'm still worried...
Stuffy: I'm sure she'll be fine. Hopefully you can make up with her soon.
Ami: Uh-huh.
Ami: (And to do that, I need to figure out what Qilin is doing...)
Stuffy: You'll need to think about how to deal with your family too.
Ami: Yeah, you're right.
Ami: If that man tells my sister or other relatives about the crew, they'll definitely start coming after us...
Ami: And at this rate, my sister's going to get herself hurt again.
Ami: I really don't know what to do. I can't give her the crossbow, but going back won't help either...
Ami: Nau... There's so much I need to consider...
Ami heaves a deep sigh and dives into bed.
The impact causes some stuffed animals to fall down in front of her.
Ami: Oh yeah, I haven't introduced these guys to everyone yet!
Ami: Everybody, we're getting some new family members today. Be sure to get along with them!
Lyria: Um... Ami?
Ami: Huh?
Upon hearing Lyria's voice from behind her, Ami slowly turns around.
Ami: Wh-when did you guys get there?
Vyrn: From the part where you were talkin' about wanting to get along with your sister again, I think.
Ami: ...!
Vyrn: Besides, the door was open from the very beginning.
Ami: Nuaaah!
Ami lets out an embarrassed scream and hides her face with a stuffed animal.
Vyrn: Hey, nobody's got a problem with you playing pretend, but for your own sake you should probably shut the door first.
Ami: Nuahhh...
Ami: (Why did they have to walk up now? And why did I not check that the door was shut!)
Vyrn's remark causes Ami to turn beet red and curl up into a ball.
(Captain), Vyrn, and Lyria can't help but smile at their new friend's sheepishness.
Raspberry Chocolate Cake