Careless to a Fault
With Zeta having already defeated the primal beast the party's searching for, Beatrix opts to hunt a boar instead. But the boar knocks her Embrasque Sword into the lake, giving her no choice but to go deep diving to find it.
Vyrn: Brr, my tail's freezing up!
So what's it look like, Lyria?
Lyria: It's faint, but I definitely feel the presence of a primal beast.
Beatrix: All right then! Time to go hunting!
(Captain) and company hear a juicy rumor in a village at the base of a snowy mountain.
Apparently the mountains are home to some sort of primal beast.
At Beatrix's earnest request, the crew sets out for the mountains.
Lyria: Oh my, that's...
Huh?
Vyrn: Hm? What's wrong, Lyria?
Lyria: The primal beast's presence just faded away all of a sudden.
Beatrix: What the? How is that even possible?
Lyria: I-I don't know...
Vyrn: For now let's head in the direction that Lyria felt the presence from!
Beatrix: Y-yeah, let's!
Zeta: Hm? Oh, it's (Captain) and crew... Bea too?
Beatrix: Zeta?
Vyrn: Good to see you, Red!
Zeta: What a surprise... Wait, what are you even doing here?
Vyrn: We were about to ask you the same thing!
Zeta: Me? I had something to take care of down that way.
Beatrix: Something you had to take care of...
Beatrix: Ah! You mean the primal beast in these mountains?
Lyria: Oh! S-so the reason its presence faded away—
Zeta: Lemme guess... you guys were after the same thing?
Zeta: Oopsie-daisy! Sorry, but I've already taken it down.
Beatrix: Argh! And that was the perfect chance to prove myself too!
Beatrix: I climb all the way up here in the middle of this freezing weather, and for what? Gah!
Lyria: Ahaha...
Zeta: Ahaha... My fault, Bea...
Vyrn: Brr... Let's head back already.
Vyrn: It's cold and my stomach's grumbling.
Lyria: Yeah, I really want to snuggle up somewhere warm...
Beatrix: What's that? Another primal beast?
Boar: Groink! Groink!
Vyrn: Looks like it's just a regular ol' boar.
Beatrix: Hey, Zeta. Wasn't it you who was gushing about the taste of boar meat?
Zeta: Yeah, I do remember saying that. Wait, don't tell me—
Beatrix: We came this far. Might as well get a boar out of it.
Beatrix: Just look at how plump and juicy it is! And if you think I'm going back empty-handed, you've got another thing coming!
Vyrn: Are you serious? I know you're upset, but do you really gotta do this?
Beatrix: Relax, I can handle a boar myself! I want to beef up for whatever's next anyway.
Zeta: Bea! Eyes up front!
Beatrix: Huh?
Boar: Squeaaal!
The boar sends Beatrix flying into a nearby tree.
Beatrix: Ngh... Urgh... You're gonna regret that!
The impact sends the snow piled atop the tree crashing down on her.
Beatrix: Aaagh!
Lyria: Yikes! Oh my gosh, Beatrix!
Zeta: Oh crud, Bea!
Sigh, don't you ever learn?
Zeta: C'mon, guys! Help me dig her out!
(Captain) and company frantically scoop away the snow covering Beatrix.
Beatrix: Damn it! I can't believe that happened to me!
Zeta: You seriously need to watch yourself more carefully out there, Bea!
Beatrix: Grgh! As long as I've got my Embrasque Sword, I can handle this boar no proble—
Beatrix: Oh... crap! Where's my sword?
Beatrix: Don't tell me the boar...
Vyrn: Your sword went flying onto that frozen lake when it slammed into you, Blue!
Beatrix: Well, that's a relief.
I'll just go over and grab—
Unfortunately for Beatrix, the Embrasque Sword lands tip first in the ice... which cracks open, sending the sword into the freezing water.
Beatrix: ...
Lyria: I guess it's at the bottom of the lake now... What should we do?
Beatrix: Get it back of course!
Zeta: And how do you plan on doing that?
Beatrix: By diving in there! How else?
Vyrn: Are you serious? Do you know how cold the water is? And you're barely gonna be able to move with your armor on!
Beatrix: I'll be fine! I brought my swimsuit along!
Beatrix: I'm gonna go change, so just hold on a sec.
The crew waits for Beatrix as she goes off to the forest for a change of dress.
Falling snow begins to accumulate on their heads as they wait.
She sure is taking her sweet time. Maybe I should go take a look.
Kept you waiting, huh. Heheh, don't I look amazing?
Wow! You look incredible!
Heh... Ever the fashionista, Bea.
Haha! You can say that again! This is my favorite swimwear you're looking at here!
Vyrn: But, Blue, why would you bring a swimsuit out to this freezing mountain in the first place?
Beatrix: Hahah! I figured something like this might happen, so I made sure to come prepared!
Vyrn: Wow, I can't even imagine the sort of situation you were cooking up in your mind...
Beatrix: Wh-what does it matter? It's coming in handy now!
Zeta: Bea, are you seriously considering jumping into the water in that getup?
Beatrix: You bet I am! No way I'm going back without my Embrasque Sword!
Beatrix eagerly dips her feet into the lake.
Beatrix: Eeeyoouucherz!
Lyria: Beatrix? I-I don't think I've ever heard a scream like that before...
Beatrix: I was just psyching myself up! I've gotta be ready in mind, body, and soul!
Beatrix: A-all right, I'm ready! Here goes!
Beatrix: Hey, no shoving, okay?
No. Shoving. Period.
- So you want me to shove you?
- Roger that.
Choose: So you want me to shove you?Beatrix: No! I said no shoving!
Beatrix: I'm not just saying that either!
Beatrix: Shove me and I'll cut you down!
Zeta: Sure, sure...
Choose: Roger that.Zeta: Hurry it up already. The crew's waiting on you.
Beatrix: Tsk, I don't need you to tell me that!
Beatrix: It's fine. I'll be okay!
Beatrix: It's not cold at all! I just have to imagine myself in a sauna here!
Continue 1After much hesitation Beatrix dips her feet into the water again. But she is clearly not ready for the world of pain when the ice-cold water instantly robs her of all bodily heat.
Beatrix: It's freezing!
Beatrix: Whoops...
Beatrix jumps back so fast that she slips and falls into the lake.
Beatrix: Gaaagh!
Beatrix: Gasp... Wheeze... Ngh... It's so cold... it hurts!
Beatrix: Argh... Ungh... My body's... freezing! Aaah!
Beatrix: Hngh... I-I can't take it anymore...
Lyria: Ah, watch your step! There's an ice patch over there!
Beatrix: Huh? Ack!
Beatrix: Aaiiee!
Beatrix: I slipped again... Oow... Agh, ungh!
Vyrn: Blue! Just go for the sword!
Beatrix: L-like this?
Vyrn: Might as well get it over with instead of drawing out the pain!
Lyria: I'm rooting for you, Beatrix!
Beatrix: A-all right! I've got this!
Beatrix dives into the depths of the lake.
Vyrn: Uh, guys? She's been down there a while...
Lyria: Oh no. Beatrix...
The crew grows restless as Beatrix fails to resurface from the depths of the lake.
Zeta: Bea has overcome every challenge she's encountered. And I'm sure this one will be no different...
Zeta: She'll be fine.
(Or she'll be an ice cube at the bottom of the lake...)
Vyrn: I just hope you're right...
Vyrn: Brr, talk about cold! What was that just now?
Lyria: Yikes! The lake just exploded!
Zeta: B-Bea!
Beatrix: Huff, puff, pant, wheeze...
Vyrn: Blue, you're back! And not a popsicle!
Lyria: Whew, what a relief!
Zeta: Bea! How are you holding up?
Beatrix: ...
Vyrn: Uh-oh!
Beatrix: Uugh... so... cold... I can't feel my body anymore...
Beatrix: I could use a nap...
Zeta: Bea, no! Falling asleep here would be a death sentence! Wake up and smell the pine trees!
Beatrix: Ngh... Mom... Dad... Are you here... to take me—
Lyria: Eep! No! Stay with us, Beatrix!
Beatrix loses consciousness, but the expression on her face is one of genuine accomplishment.
The crew frantically tries to nurse her back to health.
A Stroke of Bad Luck
Though successful in recovering the Embrasque Sword, Beatrix needs to heat up after such an icy swim. As the crew guides her to a nearby hot spring, she slips and tumbles down a slope.
Beatrix: S-so cold...
Vyrn: Think you'll be able to hold out, Blue?
Beatrix: O-of course! Nothing like a bit of cold to cool me down!
Beatrix plunged into the depths of the ice-cold lake to retrieve her Embrasque Sword.
Although the recovery attempt proved successful, her body continues to shake from her dip in the frigid water.
She appears extraordinarily pale, as if the blood has been drained from her body.
Zeta: Nothing like a bit of cold to cool you down? Are you serious? You do not look okay!
Beatrix: I'm feeling surprisingly okay... Light as a feather... So light... I don't feel very cold at all...
Vyrn: Erm, that doesn't sound normal. We'd better get her some help fast...
Lyria: That reminds me: didn't the villagers say there's a natural hot spring nearby?
Vyrn: Mm-hm, they did mention that. No idea where it is though.
Zeta: A natural hot spring? Ah, I think I know what you're talking about.
Zeta: And you're right. Bea should be able to warm up there...
Vyrn: So, Red, you know where this hot spring is?
Zeta: Well, I passed by it on my way here. It should be straight ahead on this path; we'll be in for a long walk though.
Zeta: How about I lead the way?
Vyrn: That would be perfect! We can't just leave Blue alone like this after all.
Zeta: Follow me then. Oh, before that we should get Bea changed.
Zeta: She's really going to freeze if she stays in that swimsuit.
Zeta: Bea, I'm gonna help you get changed. It's so cold you can't even move, right?
Beatrix: I-I can handle that... myself... you know!
Zeta: Quit the tough girl act and get over here! I'll change you into something warmer!
Beatrix: Erm, o-okay—
Suddenly Beatrix loses balance and tumbles down a slope.
Beatrix: Whoaa!
Lyria: ...
Zeta: ...
Vyrn: ...
Beatrix: Aaaah!
Zeta: Bea, no!
Zeta: I'll be right there! (Captain), guys, lend me a hand!
Lyria: Of course!
Vyrn: Right behind you!
(Captain) and company follow the tracks left by Beatrix's sudden tumble down the slope.
Unfortunately for Beatrix this is only the beginning of her misfortune on the snowy mountains.
A Stroke of Bad Luck: Scene 2
Beatrix crashes against a tree, stopping her tumble down the slope, but the impact brings down a massive pile of snow on her. She manages to make it out, only to be immediately confronted by monsters.
Beatrix: Aaahhh!
Beatrix, clothed in only her swimsuit, tumbles down the slope at an astonishing speed.
Beatrix: M-my head is spinning... I can't—
Beatrix: Oof!
Beatrix: Ngh!
Beatrix: Wheeze... Huff... I've finally stopped moving... Argh!
Beatrix: Rgh... Snow so... deep... Snow so... cold!
Beatrix manages to pull herself out of the snow and stands back up.
Beatrix: Pant... Wheeze... It's just one thing after the other... Why doesn't anything ever go right for me?
Beatrix: I'm feeling the chills again...
Beatrix: I've been separated from the others... What do I do now?
Beatrix: Wait... Didn't Zeta say something about a hot spring?
Monster: Groar!
Beatrix: Tsk, now of all times?
Monsters: Grooar!
Beatrix: Heh, maybe this is just what I need to warm up!
Beatrix: The more danger I end up in, the stronger I become!
Beatrix: Which means... I'm stronger than anyone right now!
A Stroke of Bad Luck: Scene 3
Beatrix takes care of the monsters but is then swept up in an avalanche. Fortunately it brings her to the hot spring she had been searching for, where she makes friendly conversation with bathing monsters.
Beatrix: Graagh!
Beatrix: Huff... Huff...
Beatrix makes quick work of the monsters with her Embrasque Sword.
Beatrix: Is that all of them? I got so caught up in the battle that I'm feeling warm all over now.
Beatrix: But I still need to find that hot spring... and fast!
Beatrix: Hm? What's that sound?
She looks in the direction of the noise to see an avalanche fast approaching.
Beatrix: No way! An avalanche?
Beatrix: Come on. Why now?
Beatrix: Wait. Is this because I crashed through the frozen lake earlier?
Beatrix: Or is it because I unleashed my Embrasque Sword just now?
Beatrix: Heh... Ehehe... Life sure has a funny way of messing with you sometimes.
Beatrix: But making a fuss isn't gonna do jack! I just have to deal with it!
Beatrix: Embrasque Sword! Devour the surging karma—
Beatrix: Aaagh!
Beatrix: Cough...
Beatrix: I... I'm alive!
Beatrix: Ahh, I've never felt this warm in the snow. I guess those rumors about it being warm inside an igloo must be true.
Beatrix: But this is...
Beatrix surveys her surroundings.
Steam rises in every direction. Warm water tickles her feet.
Beatrix: Ahaha! This must be the hot spring!
Beatrix: Talk about a lucky break! Good things do come to those who work their butts off!
Beatrix: Aaahh! I feel so alive!
Beatrix: The hell I had to go through to get here almost feels worth it!
Beatrix: I need to go look for (Captain) and the others after warming up.
Beatrix: But first I have to get my armor back on and—Oh right, I left that with the crew.
Beatrix: Pfft! Goodness, stop splashing or I'll make you stop!
Monsters: Grr...
The nearby monsters grumble apologetically.
Beatrix: As long as you get where I'm coming from, we're cool. Sorry for yelling at you.
Monsters: Groaar!
Beatrix: Though I've gotta say I'm surprised to see monsters enjoying a hot spring like this. I guess monsters get cold too, huh?
Monsters: Gr...
They quietly soak their bodies in the hot spring as if responding to Beatrix.
Beatrix: Makes sense. It gets super cold up here!
Monsters: Groar!
Beatrix: Aaahh... I'm in heaven!
Monsters: Groooar...
Vyrn: Huff... Wheeze... We've finally found you. Um... Blue?
Vyrn: Why are you bathing with monsters in there?
Beatrix: M-monsters?
Monster: Gr?
Beatrix and the monsters stare at each other for a few moments.
Beatrix: You mean... these things are monsters?
Monster: Groar!
Vyrn: Oh boy... You seriously didn't notice, Blue?
Beatrix: Erm, well, you know...
Monsters: Groooar!
Vyrn: We can talk later! Dealing with these monsters comes first!
Beatrix: Sorry, monsters, but fate's placed us on opposing sides!
A Stroke of Bad Luck: Scene 4
(Captain) and company get up from a relaxing dip in the hot spring, but Beatrix remains. In a cruel twist of fate, Beatrix is soon launched sky high by a geyser... which sends her headfirst into another frozen lake.
After defeating the monsters, (Captain) and company enjoy a good long soak in the hot spring to warm their freezing bodies.
Lyria: Whew... Much better...
Vyrn: Aah, I feel so relaxed just being in here!
Zeta: Same here.
Vyrn: Anyway. The universe really seemed to have it out for you today, Blue!
Zeta: Don't blame the universe. If you ask me, it was more like Bea trying to dig her own grave at every possible turn.
Beatrix: I-I'm sorry I dragged you all into this...
Lyria: Ahaha... Don't let it bother you, Beatrix.
Vyrn: Right. This kind of thing happens to you every day, doesn't it?
Beatrix: Urgh...
Zeta: Ahaha, you guys know Bea too well!
Beatrix: Blub, blub...
Lyria: Aah... (Captain) and I are going to get out now.
Vyrn: Me too! I'm gonna come down with a case of the dizzies if I stay in here any longer!
Vyrn: How about you two?
Beatrix: Considering I was feeling frostbite all over, I think it's better if I stay in here a bit longer.
Zeta: I'm getting out. Bea, just be careful you don't stay in there too long.
Beatrix: As if I need you to tell me that.
Vyrn: Anyway, Red, I'm surprised you even noticed there was a hot spring here.
Zeta: I just happened to see one of the geysers firing up into the sky.
Vyrn: Wait. Geysers?
Zeta: They're everywhere around here. And every once in a while they just... go off.
Vyrn: Whoa, that sounds pretty dangerous!
Zeta: Relax. Geysers remain dormant for a while after they discharge.
Zeta: Although too much impact or pressure could change that in a hurry...
Vyrn: Well, wasn't there an avalanche earlier?
Zeta: Oh yeah...
Beatrix: Hm? Why's the water heating up all of a sudden?
Zeta: ...!
Bea, get out of there now!
Beatrix: But why?
Zeta: Don't ask questions! Just do it!
Beatrix: I'm still feeling cold! Just give me a few more—
Lyria: Yikes! It's an earthquake!
Vyrn: Uh, Red? I've got a really bad feeling about this...
Zeta: Bea!
Beatrix: Hm? What's that rumbling sound?
Beatrix: Aaagh!
Engulfed by an explosive discharge of water, Beatrix is launched high into the skies.
Beatrix: ...
Beatrix: Aaagh!
Vyrn: Uh-oh! She's headed straight for the frozen lake!
Beatrix: I'm freeezing!
Lyria: ...
Vyrn: ...
Zeta: ...
Beatrix: Ugh...
Beatrix: I think I've had enough snowcapped mountains for a lifetime!
Beatrix's screams of anguish echo across the skies.
Shocked into action, the crew quickly rushes to her rescue.