Scenario:Katalina - What I'd Wanted to Protect

What I'd Wanted to Protect

The imperials chasing after Galatea discover that she had stolen a large supply of dark essence and absorbed it all, causing her to contract dark essence poisoning. Meanwhile a weakening Galatea continues to flee, but Farrah and Vira—wanting to protect Katalina—team up to stop her.

---

Lyria: Katalina!

Katalina: ...!

Katalina: Huff... Huff...

Lyria: Katalina! Thank goodness you're awake!

Lyria: Can you move? Where does it hurt?

Katalina: Where am I?

Lyria: We're back at the town inn.

Lyria: You were knocked unconscious. The doctor said you had a concussion.

Lyria: And that you don't have any serious injuries other than that. I hope he's right...

Seeing Lyria's worried face puts Katalina at ease. She reaches out to stroke the girl's face.

Katalina: Yeah, I'm fine. I don't feel any pain.

Katalina: I'm sorry about what happened to the armor you saved up for so long to buy for me.

Looking around the room, Katalina spots the broken pieces of her sword and armor piled in a corner.

Katalina: (The captain's strike had such fearsome power behind it. I can't believe any person could do that.)

Katalina: So what happened after I blacked out?

Lyria: Galatea escaped while we were busy fighting the other soldiers.

Lyria: They said they had to go after her first, and then they left.

Katalina: I see. She's still out there.

Lyria: Mm-hm. Um... The soldiers also mentioned something else.

Lyria: They said she has dark essence poisoning.

Katalina: She's using dark essence?

Imperial Soldier 3: It seems Galatea has a severe case of dark essence poisoning.

Imperial Captain: Hm. That would explain the derangement and superhuman strength...

Back at the garrison, the captain listens to a situational report while examining documents issued by the imperial headquarters.

The soldiers of the expeditionary division had been assigned to make incursions into new territories.

What they didn't know was that they were secretly being exposed to dark essence as part of an ongoing experiment.

Imperial Captain: Their dosage was intentionally kept low to avoid raising suspicion.

Imperial Captain: But somehow Galatea discovered what was happening. After seizing the dark essence, she absorbed a large amount of it.

Imperial Captain: Perhaps that caused the earlier episode of havoc and chaos.

Imperial Soldier 3: Not only does she excel at combat, but she's incredibly smart too, or so I've heard.

Imperial Soldier 3: That's what I don't get. She must have known taking in that much dark essence is basically suicide.

Imperial Captain: Oh, I have a feeling she knew what it would amount to.

Imperial Soldier 3: So you're saying?

Imperial Captain: ...

Galatea: Huff... Huff...

Imperial Soldier 4: I found her! Over here!

Imperial Soldier 4: Surrender yourself, traitor!

Galatea: Shut up!

Imperial Soldier 4: ...!

Galatea easily dispatches the imperials coming after her.

However, the excessive amount of dark essence has sapped much of her body's strength.

Galatea: Cough... Cough...

Galatea: Damn it... Was it always this cold?

Galatea: I bet this is how that kid must have felt too in her final moments.

Two voices call out from behind the beleaguered officer.

Vira: Looks like you're not doing too well.

Farrah: Drop your weapon! If it's Katalina you're after, you'll have to answer to us!

Galatea: Mm?

Two normally opposing rivals set aside their differences to confront a common enemy.

But as far as the hostile knight is concerned, she has already traded her life for something that goes beyond humanity.

What I'd Wanted to Protect: Scene 2

Galatea is about to finish off Farrah and Vira, but she's interrupted by Katalina and the crew. When questioned by Katalina, Galatea confesses the reason for her current mental state: she had abandoned her younger sister to save herself from enemy soldiers, and her guilt has sent her down a path of self-destruction. She challenges Katalina to one final duel.

---

Farrah and Vira are battling Galatea without much success.

Vira: Haaah!

Galatea: Humph.

Vira: Agh!

Farrah: Don't count me out, or you'll regret it!

Galatea: I remember seeing you with the new recruits. I'm guessing you left the empire too?

Farrah: That's right! I quit the army, and now I'm traveling the skies with Katalina!

Galatea: I see. That's for the best.

Galatea: With your level of training, you wouldn't last a single campaign!

Farrah: Waugh!

Galatea's kick catches Farrah unawares, leaving the young fighter vulnerable.

Vira: Luminiera! Protect Farrah!

Luminiera: ...!

Galatea: Wrong move.

Vira: She's fast!

Vira: Oof...

Galatea whips around and knocks Vira cold with a single blow.

Galatea: Time to end this.

Farrah: Ngh... I'm disappointed in myself.

Farrah rushes over to where Vira lies on the ground. The least she can do, thinks Farrah, is try to protect her rival.

Galatea: I see you've got moxie. Too bad there's no skill to back it up.

Farrah: You think you're so big, but you're gonna be sorry for not taking me seriously!

Farrah: Katalina taught me never to give up being someone's shield no matter what happens!

Galatea: That's a good lesson. I certainly never taught her that.

Galatea: Let's have some fun then.

Katalina: I think you've had enough fun.

Lyria: Farrah! Vira!

1. Step away from our friends!

Choose: Step away from our friends!

Galatea turns toward the new voices. She sees Katalina, who is clad in new armor, and (Captain).

Katalina: Those two are very important to me. I won't let you hurt them anymore.

Galatea: Aw, but you know how much I enjoy whipping rookies into shape.

Katalina keeps a watchful eye on Galatea while the crew moves Farrah and Vira somewhere safe.

Katalina: Captain... What happened to you?

Katalina: I know you don't care much for military regulations.

Katalina: But I never once doubted your resolve to serve and protect the empire and its citizens. So why are you doing this?

Galatea: You think I wanted to serve and protect?

Galatea: Hah. You've had it all wrong from the start.

Galatea: I couldn't do anything that day. I failed to protect her.

Galatea: From that day on I was destined to become what I am now.

There once was a city turned battlefield. Not one section of the city had escaped destruction.

Young Voice: Sister? Where are you, Sister?

Galatea strains to hear where the voice is coming from amid the ravaged buildings.

Young Galatea: (I hear her. She's still alive.)

Young Voice: It's dark and scary. Where are you?

Young Voice: Cough, cough... Are you there, Sister? Please say something...

Young Galatea: (I have to save her. I can't let her die.)

Young Galatea: (Mom and Dad are gone, so now it's up to me!)

Young Galatea: ...!

That's when Galatea hears the unmistakable march of approaching jackboots.

Young Galatea: (Mom said our country lost. Those voices must belong to...)

Young Voice: Sister... Sniff... Sister, please...

Young Voice: Can't you hear me? I'm right here... I'm right here...

Young Galatea: (I have to save her!)

Young Voice: Why won't you help me?

Young Galatea: (Come on! Move, move, move! She's all the family I have left!)

Soldier: Hey! Some brat made it out alive! Take her away!

Young Galatea: Eek!

Young Galatea: Aaaaah!

Young Galatea breaks into a run, heading in the opposite direction of the voice that was begging for help.

Young Galatea: (No, no, no! It wasn't my fault!)

Young Galatea: (They'd have killed me if I didn't run! I know they would've!)

Young Galatea: (And now she's probably...)

Young Galatea: (No! I'm not a bad person! I'm not!)

Young Galatea: (I just—)

Galatea: Cough, cough...

Galatea: I was supposed to die that day. It was supposed to be my grave.

Galatea: Laugh at me all you want. I can't take it anymore.

Galatea: I've always been ready for the day of my death!

Galatea's blue blade is stained with her own blood of regret. She's ready to end it all in the battle ahead.

What I'd Wanted to Protect: Scene 3

Katalina bests Galatea and suggests that she come along with the crew for a while. The imperials seize this opportunity to stab Galatea. A severely injured Galatea bequeaths Murgleis to Katalina, who vows by her sword to protect everything important to her. She prepares to open a path through the imperials surrounding them.

---

Katalina: Haaah!

Galatea: Aaaah!

Two swords collide with all the weight of their wielders behind them.

Trusting in Katalina's determination, the crew silently watches the battle unfold.

Lyria: (Katalina...)

Galatea: You haven't lost a step! Becoming a skyfarer has done wonders for your skills!

Katalina: ...

Galatea: Don't disappoint me now! You survived a gauntlet to get this far. Show me that payoff!

Just like the time Galatea fought Farrah and Vira, she lets loose a surprise kick.

Galatea: What!

This time, however, Galatea's kick whiffs, snagging only Katalina's flowing mantle.

Galatea: Damn it!

Realizing her mistake, Galatea immediately tries to dodge.

Katalina: It's over, Captain.

Galatea: Ngh!

But Galatea is too slow. The tip of Katalina's sword is pointed right at her neck.

Katalina: Your body is too damaged by dark essence poisoning.

Katalina: I'd hate to see my former instructor pass away before my very eyes.

Katalina: Now that you're wanted by the empire, why don't you travel with us for a little while?

Galatea: ...

Galatea: Katalina, you—

Galatea: Guh!

Katalina: Captain!

Suddenly a blade from out of nowhere penetrates the folds of Galatea's armor.

Red streaks drip down the back of Galatea's armor, while imperial soldiers come out of hiding.

Imperial Soldier 5: Hah! We got the traitor!

Imperial Captain: Excellent. Now all that's left is the lieutenant and the girl.

Katalina: Damn you!

Imperial Soldier 5: Gwah!

Katalina: Captain! Speak to me!

Galatea: Cough, cough...

Galatea: This is how it should be...

Galatea: I told you I welcome my own end.

Galatea: I made up my mind long ago to live on for the girl I couldn't save.

Galatea: But the more I struggled, the louder her pleas haunted me.

Galatea: No matter how hard I tried to shut it out, I could still hear her begging to be saved.

Galatea: Ironic, isn't it? She's the reason I can't let myself die, and the reason I can't go on living.

Galatea's shaking hands pick up Murgleis. She gives the blue blade to Katalina.

Katalina: Captain Galatea...

Galatea: If you're worthy of protecting something, prove it. Don't let what's important to you get away.

Galatea: And maybe you can make up for a coward like me who only knew how to run away...

Galatea's words become slurred as she slowly closes her eyes.

Lyria: Galatea...

Katalina: It's okay. It's faint, but she's still breathing.

Vyrn: There's even more of these empire punks compared to last time.

Katalina: We have to cut a path through this blockade.

Gripping the inherited sword tightly in one hand, Katalina firmly embraces Lyria in the other.

Katalina: Lyria, (Captain), and the rest of you. Don't ever leave my side.

Katalina: You're all irreplaceable to me. I can't bear to lose any one of you.

Katalina: When Captain Galatea entrusted me with this sword, I also inherited her memories, good and bad.

Katalina: So I promise on this blue blade.

Katalina: I'll protect everything dear to me to the very end!

What I'd Wanted to Protect: Scene 4

The crew break through the imperial blockade and escape to the Grandcypher, where they tend to Galatea's wounds. They fly to her hometown at her request to visit a memorial constructed for her sister and other war victims. Galatea laments her inability to protect anything, but Katalina reassures her that the former captain's teachings have meaning; Katalina promises to protect everyone, including those Galatea wished she could have protected.

---

Thanks to Katalina's relentless assault, the crew is able to break through the imperials' blockade and return to the airship.

They bring Galatea with them and tend to her stab wound.

They later land on a certain island at Galatea's request.

Katalina: Can you walk? You're still recovering—

Galatea: Sorry, but it's pointless to worry about someone in their final moments. I'll crawl if I have to.

Katalina: Captain...

They make small talk as they walk before finally arriving at a small stone monument.

Lyria: Is this...

Galatea: A gravestone of sorts. Probably not my sister's though.

Galatea: After my hometown was destroyed, it was erected to soothe the souls of the victims.

Galatea: This simple memorial is probably all that's left of her.

Galatea: I've actually never been back since. Like a moth avoiding mothballs, I was afraid to get anywhere near this place.

Galatea: This is where you laugh, you know. Oh, how the mighty "Mad Dog" Galatea has fallen.

Katalina: ...

Galatea looks at the memorial with loneliness but also relief.

Galatea: I got to do what I wanted to do. Even if some of those actions were beyond questionable.

Galatea: But as I come to the end of the road, I realize I couldn't save a single person. Not even myself.

Katalina: You're wrong about that, Captain.

Katalina: The knowledge you imparted, the feelings in your heart, and the sword you've given me watch over me as we speak.

Katalina: And in return I will protect everyone, including those you always wanted to protect.

Galatea: Haha... I couldn't ask for anything better. Honestly it's more than I deserve.

Galatea gazes up into the sky as if she's found closure.

A guardian's duty is never over. With newfound drive and purpose, Katalina will continue to safeguard the crew as their journey goes on.