Scenario:Clarisse - Taking That First Step
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Taking That First Step
Clarisse's studies in alchemy take her back home, where she, Mireille, and Risette undergo lessons from her parents. During a private conversation, Clarisse's mother, Promethia, urges her to step up her pursuit of a romantic relationship with (Captain).
Cagliostro: And that should do it for today! I'll be testing you guys during the next class, so be sure to prep. Score poorly, and I just might have to give you a good spanking!
Clarisse: Gweh... Looks like I'll have plenty to review later. Hey, Mireille? About that thing earlier—
Vyrn: Lesson's over, huh?
Lyria: Clarisse, some letters arrived from your parents. There's one for you and one for Cagliostro!
Clarisse: From Mother and Father? Wonder what it's about. Let's see...
Clarisse: Guh...
Cagliostro: Oh? This latest letter came sooner than I expected...
Risette: Miss Clarisse, is everything all right? You look awfully concerned.
Clarisse: You see... My mother pesters me to go back every now and then to visit...
Clarisse: I do make sure to keep in touch via letter, but...
Mireille: Does that not show how much your mother loves you? It sounds like something to be proud of.
Clarisse: You think so? I guess I see what you mean...
Clarisse: Thing is, when I do go back... She nags me over the smallest things. Then again, it's true I haven't been home in a while—
Cagliostro: All righty! Change of plans! Our next class is gonna be an extracurricular one...
Cagliostro: Surprise! We're crashing the neighborhood alchemists' place! That's right, the family home of our very own Clarisse!
Clarisse: Whaaat! But why?
Cagliostro: I actually asked your mom to help me find a book. And it turns out she's found it!
Clarisse: Wait, if you're just dragging us along on your own business, why should we—
Cagliostro: Are you looking forward to the test that much? We'll be jumping straight into that for the next class if we skip this extracurricular activity.
Clarisse: Guh... I almost forgot...
Mireille: Maybe while you two are busy there, Risette and I can work on some kind of assignment.
Cagliostro: Nuh-uh. Participation in this extracurricular activity is mandatory for everyone in this room. That includes you, (Captain).
Mireille: What?
Risette: It appears our plans are set... We'll just have to follow along.
And so the crew sets a course for Clarisse's home.
Clarisse: Father! Mother! I'm home!
Promethia: Welcome back, Clarisse. (Captain), Cagliostro, it's good to see you too.
(Captain) and company incline their heads in response, thanking the good lady for her hospitality.
Clarisse: Let me introduce my new friends Mireille and Risette! They're trusty alchemists too!
Mireille and Risette each take a step forward and greet Clarisse's parents with a curtsy.
Harold: Ah, they must be the ones the founder mentioned in her letter.
Promethia: We heard you figured out how to create a homunculus on your own?
Harold and Promethia look to the new guests with concern.
Mireille: I simply got lucky. Risette was my only successful attempt. And because I didn't know any better, not everything went as planned...
Risette: Yes, which is why we're eager to learn more about alchemy.
Promethia: Ah, then feel free to learn as much as you can during your stay here.
Promethia: You may find our archives to be particularly helpful.
Promethia: I trust you'll be able to find tomes containing the knowledge you're looking for.
Mireille: Thank you.
Promethia: Please, make yourselves at home. It was the founder who requested that we host you, after all.
Clarisse: So let me get this straight, Master, the extracurricular activity is to study at my home's archives?
Promethia: That's only part of it. We also have special lessons planned for you three.
Clarisse: Lessons from Mother and Father? But why...
Promethia: That's also a request from the founder. She believes receiving instruction from someone other than herself may help stimulate your minds.
Harold: I'm not sure how much I can teach you, but I'll try to make it worth your while.
Clarisse: Ugh, this is bringing back bad memories...
A look of utter displeasure crosses Clarisse's face.
Cagliostro: Aww! Did you two really have to spoil my surprise?
Harold: I can see this won't be easy.
Vyrn: Okay then, what are (Captain), Lyria, and me here for?
Promethia: I believe that will become clear in due time.
Promethia looks to (Captain), then Clarisse, with a stern expression.
Clarisse: ...?
Cagliostro: Well, I need to go take a look at that book. Good luck with the lessons.
With the air of someone walking through their own home, Cagliostro strides off toward the archives without another word.
Harold: Now about the schedule for our upcoming lessons...
Promethia: Before that, Clarisse, we need to talk. Come with me.
Clarisse: Huh? B-but I haven't done anything wrong! How am I in trouble already...
Promethia: Oh, it's nothing like that, dear. Just follow me.
Clarisse: Um, okay then...
Clarisse: Mother... What is this about?
Promethia: Clarisse, how far has your relationship with (Captain) progressed?
Clarisse: Wha...
Clarisse: ...
Clarisse: ...
Clarisse: Wh-wh-what are you even asking!
Promethia: Judging from your reaction, you haven't even kissed yet, have you?
Clarisse: Kissed? That's totally something that I, um...
Clarisse: Could maybe do in the future...
Clarisse: What's that got to do with you anyway, Mother!
Promethia: It has everything to do with me.
Promethia: Listen, Clarisse. The master of this house must have a partner who will support them throughout all hardships in life.
Promethia: And now that you are officially matriarch, your relationship status is no longer a personal matter.
Clarisse: I get what you're saying, Mother, but is that really something you say to your daughter outright?
Promethia responds with a wry grin.
Promethia: It's precisely because I'm your mother that I say this, Clarisse. I want my precious daughter to live a happy life.
Promethia: (Captain) is the one you've set your heart on, yes?
Clarisse: Er, w-well...
Clarisse's cheeks flush at her mother's words.
Clarisse: Mother... Would you be comfortable with me and (Captain) going steady?
Promethia: Of course. You could hardly choose a more reliable partner.
Promethia: I'd be more than happy to welcome (Captain) into the family.
Clarisse: Ah... What a relief...
Clarisse: It's good to know you'd approve of me becoming (Captain)'s wife...
Promethia: Haha, your expression is the absolute portrait of a maiden in love.
Clarisse's cheeks turn beet red at the thought of becoming (Captain)'s partner, her body tensing in bashful excitement.
Promethia looks on as Clarisse squirms—her own face the portrait of a loving mother.
Taking That First Step: Scene 2
Clarisse discovers a tome on existential dissolution in her home's forbidden archives. When trying a technique from it, she loses control and causes an explosion; fortunately Cagliostro contains it just in time. Racked with guilt over exposing everyone to danger, Clarisse becomes more determined to continue her studies.
"Can you ask Cagliostro to come speak to me?"
With her mother's request in mind, Clarisse heads to the back of the mansion where the forbidden archives are.
Clarisse: Master? Are you around?
Clarisse: It's so dusty in here... Maybe she's at the regular archives in the study?
Clarisse: Come to think of it, this might be my first time in the forbidden archives...
Muttering under her breath, Clarisse takes a random book from the shelf and flips through its pages.
Clarisse: (Wow, this is complicated stuff... I guess that's what you'd expect in a place like this.)
Clarisse: (But wait... Why does this seem more like a diary than an alchemy book?)
Tilting her head quizzically, a curious Clarisse reads through a few pages.
One passage in particular captures her attention.
Clarisse: The possibilities of existential dissolution... Someone researched this in the past?
Clarisse: (Looks like they couldn't use it themselves, but there's a lot here...)
Struck by surprise, Clarisse reads on.
Clarisse: (The author figured that someone capable of the technique like me would be born someday...)
Clarisse: (From methodology to control to calculations... This info could come in handy!)
Clarisse: Wait, what am I doing? I'm supposed to be looking for Master!
With book in hand, Clarisse exits the forbidden archives and resumes her search for Cagliostro.
The following day, Clarisse, Mireille, and Risette practice alchemy in a nearby field under Promethia's instruction.
Promethia: That's all for today's class. Any questions?
Mireille: Nothing from me. Your explanations were so clear that they made the lesson a breeze.
Risette: Yes. It was refreshing to be taught in a manner different from Miss Cagliostro's and to hear concepts from a new perspective.
Clarisse: Really? Were they that different? Maybe they were...
Promethia: Clarisse... Just how much of the lesson did you not understand?
Promethia clutches her head upon hearing her daughter's words.
Mireille: Not to worry. Risette and I can try teaching you when we review later, Clarisse.
Clarisse: Really?
Risette: Yes. Teaching you would help reinforce the concepts in our minds as well.
Clarisse: Gee, thanks! I'm so lucky to have you two as friends.
Promethia: Clarisse, you are officially the head of this family now. As such, you must take your studies ser—
Clarisse: Whoa, hold on a second! I'll have you know that I've been doing some studying on my own...
Clarisse: In fact, I might even have improved as an alchemist!
Promethia: Oh? What do you mean?
Clarisse: I'll show you! Just watch!
Clarisse creates some distance from the others, then begins channeling her energy.
Clarisse: (Just like it said in that book, I have to gather the power of existential dissolution and condense it...)
Clarisse: ...
Clarisse focuses, attempting to converge the power of existential dissolution on a single point.
However, containing so much power proves to be more challenging than expected. Her face gradually turns pale, seemingly scrunched up in pain.
Clarisse: (The energy's too scattered. No, I think it's... expanding?)
Clarisse: (Uh-oh! If I lose control now...)
Lyria: Um... Why does Clarisse look like she's hurting?
Mireille: There's no way she has it under control. This could end badly—
Clarisse: (Crap! They're going to get caught in the blast! I can't hold it for much longer!)
Clarisse: (Only choice is to shield everyone with my own body—)
Cagliostro: You dolt! Don't move!
Clarisse: Master!
Having reached its threshold, the existential dissolution erupts in a devastating blast.
Just as it does, Cagliostro erects a barrier surrounding the blast.
Clarisse: I-I'm so sorry... I saw something in a book and wanted to prove myself...
Cagliostro: ...
She continues to erect new barriers with lightning speed, containing the explosion even as it tears through layer after layer.
The concentrated energy eventually settles down and fades away.
Cagliostro: Huff... Huff...
Cagliostro: ...
Clarisse: Master!
Cagliostro manages to keep everyone safe.
However, she is now passed out from being completely drained.
Hours later, a concerned crew goes to check on Cagliostro after hearing that she has woken up.
Cagliostro: Enough with the doom and gloom, guys!
Cagliostro: In case it wasn't obvious, I'm feeling as healthy as a mare!
Lyria: It's such a relief to know you're not hurt!
Vyrn: Glad you're gonna be okay. You sure had us on tenterhooks though.
(Captain) and company are pleased to see Cagliostro in good spirits.
Cagliostro: Anyway, Clarisse, can you scoot over here for a sec?
Clarisse: Sure...
Cagliostro waits for Clarisse to approach, then raps her on the head.
Cagliostro: You big dummy!
Clarisse: ...!
Cagliostro: What was that all about! What were you even trying to do?
Cagliostro: If you paid any attention at all during my classes, you would know never to use your power that way.
Clarisse: You see... I found this in the forbidden archives...
Clarisse timidly hands over the diary to her master.
Cagliostro: Ah, figures. So that's what you were testing.
Clarisse: I thought I'd be able to control it...
Cagliostro: ...
Cagliostro: Maybe I should've left basic theory aside and taught you more about your own power first...
Clarisse: No, it's my fault for getting desperate to prove myself in the first place...
Cagliostro: Stopping students from hurting themselves is part of a teacher's job. I share some of the blame here.
Noticing a tinge of regret in her master's expression, Clarisse bows in apology.
Clarisse: I'm so sorry... I should've been more careful...
Cagliostro: If you've got time for gloom and doom, then you've also got plenty of time to study!
Clarisse: You're right... I'm sorry, everyone.
Promethia: Being the instructor in charge at the time, I bear some responsibility as well.
Promethia: I offer my sincerest apologies for putting the founder and everyone else in danger.
Cagliostro: All's well that ends well. Enough about this already.
Cagliostro: I need my beauty sleep, so you guys can get back to whatever you were doing.
Respecting her wishes, (Captain) and company exit the room.
Clarisse: ...
Clarisse: (I could hurt someone again the way I am now... That's the last thing I want.)
Clarisse: (To make sure something like this never happens again, I have to take my studies seriously... Just as you said, Master.)
Making a solemn pledge to herself, Clarisse is filled with a fiery resolve.
Taking That First Step: Scene 3
As a way of mastering control over existential dissolution, Clarisse—aided by Mireille and Risette—tries to remove certain flavors from mixed fruit juice. When she sees (Captain) pass by, the memory of her mother's words sends her speeding off in embarrassment.
A day has passed since the accident.
Clarisse is in the kitchen, concentrating before a large number of glasses, each filled with fruit juice.
After casting existential dissolution on one, Clarisse takes a sip from it.
Clarisse: Sigh... Messed up again... Why is this so hard to do?
Mireille: Messed up? How?
Clarisse: Eek! Mireille? Risette? How about you say something if you're in the room!
Risette: My apologies. We didn't want to disturb you as you seemed to be deep in thought.
Mireille: What are you doing with so much fruit juice in the kitchen anyway?
Clarisse: I was practicing my control over existential dissolution...
Risette: Using mixed fruit juice?
Clarisse: Mm-hm. I really want to get this right, so I looked over my notes from ages ago.
Clarisse: Master mentioned something one day that I jotted down.
Clarisse: She said that existential dissolution can apparently be used to turn mixed fruit juice into 100 percent apple juice.
Clarisse: I didn't think much of it at the time...
Clarisse: But knowing better now, I thought I'd try to see if I can get only the apple juice's flavor to remain.
Clarisse: If I could remove one fruit's flavor, then two at once...
Clarisse: Figured it'd make good practice for my control over existential dissolution.
Mireille: Makes sense... Despite the smaller scale, it does sound like a solid plan for singling out individual alchemical elements.
Clarisse: I didn't want any of the juice to go to waste either, so I'm drinking all of it. And now my stomach feels funny...
Clarisse: I can't let this set me back though, even if it means I have to skip dinner tonight...
Mireille: Hah...
Her lips curving into a soft smile, Mireille reaches over for one of the nearly full glasses and drinks its contents clean.
Mireille: This is the least I can do to help, if you'll let me.
Mireille: We're friends after all, right?
Clarisse: Mireille!
Mireille: What flavor was this supposed to be, by the way? It tasted really wild.
Clarisse: I applied existential dissolution on a sour and sweet juice, of which the result would be... I don't know what you'd call that.
Mireille: ...
Risette: I'll get you some water to rinse your mouth, Mireille. One moment.
Clarisse: Miss Clarisse's alchemy lesson on existential dissolution begins now!
Mireille: Um... What?
Clarisse: As Risette noted yesterday, teaching others helps reinforce the concepts in your own mind!
Clarisse: I couldn't be happier to have you two as my students!
Mireille: This isn't what I expected, but I suppose I can play along.
Clarisse: In other words, existential dissolution isn't a means of destroying the target per se.
Clarisse: Rather, it's a way to expand the basic principles of alchemy into concepts, allowing for the dissolution of the target... That's the textbook definition, at least.
Risette: Miss Clarisse, I hate to ask such a rudimentary question, but...
Clarisse: Wait, the way you're phrasing that scares me...
Risette: Um...
Mireille: It's okay, Risette. Continue.
Risette: To use your terminology, what would you say is the difference between "destroying" and "dissolving" something?
Risette: Is the end result not the same?
Clarisse: ...
Mireille: The difference lies in the use of external force.
Mireille: To "destroy" something, you must exert force on it from the outside.
Mireille: But to "dissolve" something, you must separate the elements that compose the target.
Clarisse: Wow... You have a real knack for this, Mireille.
Mireille: As far as I know, you can do something very similar to existential dissolution in the highest levels of creation alchemy as well.
Mireille: You can even create a black hole that swallows up an annihilates everything.
Clarisse: Not open, but create a black hole?
Mireille: I read that compressing a large amount of matter generates the phenomenon. Tried it myself, but I couldn't get it to work.
Mireille: When I asked Miss Cagliostro later, she said I didn't gather enough matter, my compression ratio was poor, and that my technique was lacking.
Clarisse: I wonder if that means Master can create a black hole. I've never seen her do it though.
Risette: According to Miss Cagliostro, creating a black hole is a terribly inefficient use of power in addition to being incredibly unwieldy.
Clarisse: Huh... Master sure knows her stuff.
Mireille: She does indeed.
Without turning to them, Clarisse musters a faint smile.
Clarisse: Well then, let's move on with the lesson!
Mireille: Yes, let's. We have plenty to learn.
Clarisse: Sheesh, you have to take all that into consideration just for a simple kapow?
Mireille: Of course. How else would you adjust the intensity and area of effect?
Risette: Um... Miss Clarisse, you don't mean...
Clarisse: When I need a kapow, I sort of just lean into it without much thought.
Mireille and Risette freeze for a moment, jaws agape.
Mireille: Maybe that's why you've never been able to control it?
Clarisse: Right...
Mireille: Ah, (Captain), good timing.
Mireille: Could you show Clarisse how to solve this problem? It should be easy for you, right?
(Captain) gives an understanding nod and takes a seat next to Clarisse.
Clarisse: (Captain)...
Promethia: Clarisse, how far has your relationship with (Captain) progressed?
Clarisse: ...!
Clarisse: I-I'd like to think about it some more on my own!
Blushing profusely, Clarisse hastily leaves the room as if fleeing from the captain.
Mireille: What happened? Did you two have some kind of fight?
(Captain), being equally clueless, responds with a confused shrug.
After the lesson, Clarisse is slumped over her desk when the captain approaches.
Choose: Clarisse, do you have a moment?
Clarisse: (Captain)!
Clarisse's face flushes deep red the moment the captain comes into view. She eyes her surroundings nervously.
Clarisse: Er, sorry to leave you hanging, but I had something to discuss with Mireille. See you later!
With that, Clarisse runs off somewhere.
Vyrn: What's gotten into her?
The captain, too, is discombobulated by Clarisse's behavior.
Days later, Clarisse takes a sip of mixed fruit juice after applying existential dissolution to it.
Clarisse: Hm, the other flavors are still present, but it's definitely getting closer to apple only.
Clarisse: (All that studying must be paying off!)
Clarisse: Whoo, just gotta keep this up!
Quietly giving herself those words of encouragement, Clarisse is feeling more determined than ever to keep up with her studies.