Scenario:Lavirita - Chatting in the Blank Space

Chatting in the Blank Space

As the crew infiltrates the Hearth, Lavirita engages Wakudoki in conversation, hoping to impede her. Impressed by her improved replica magic, he questions the witch, who attributes her growth to the Shekhinah Bow and the staff the Harvin merchant had given her. The two then reminisce about their first encounter.

---

In order to put an end to Judah's plans, (Captain) and the others enter the blank space hoping to infiltrate the Hearth.

Wakudoki, Navis's fourth Chairman and former Messenger, manages to successfully deceive the crew using her replica magic.

However, being a former associate of hers, Lavirita sees through Wakudoki's tricks and allows the crew to proceed.

Wakudoki: No fair, Lavirita! If it weren't for you, nobody would've caught on to me!

Lavirita: Well, the fact of the matter is that I was there. Accept it.

Lavirita and Wakudoki, each satisfied with simply impeding the other, continue their conversation without resorting to violence.

Lavirita: But I must say, this analysis by the Shekhinah Bow is quite outstanding.

Lavirita: To think you'd be able to use your replica magic to create such an accurate copy of the Grandcypher...

Replica magic is a special technique wherein Wakudoki can generate a one-to-one copy of a given object.

Once the replica has been completed, it is linked to its source, and any future changes to the model are reflected in the original.

However, in order to make the most of this technique, its user must have perfect knowledge of the target's materials, structure, and even history.

The technique is incredibly labor-intensive, and as a result, it has only been used on simple, small-scale objects.

Wakudoki: Oho! One flash from this bow, and I can analyze just about anything!

Lavirita: Goodness... That weapon almost goes too perfectly with your own abilities.

Lavirita: The other Chairmen must have known about this to have kept you around as a Messenger for so long.

Wakudoki: You've got it backwards! I let them make me a Messenger, and then a Chairman, to get my hands on the Shekhinah Bow!

Lavirita: Your carefree nature truly knows no bounds. I'm sure you were fully aware of the dangers involving Navis.

Wakudoki: Wait, but... I wasn't actually able to get a good read of the Grandcypher!

Lavirita: Come again?

Lavirita: Did you not use your magic to fill the entire airship with phantomblooms?

Wakudoki: Oho, about that! To tell you the truth, I was only able to analyze its floor.

Lavirita: The floor?

Wakudoki: I was totally clueless about the Grandcypher as a whole! I honestly didn't know a single thing!

Wakudoki: I managed to map out its flooring and used my replica magic to construct a close enough model... The rest I kinda played by ear.

Wakudoki: I guess that's only to be expected. Without an undecipherably rich history, that ship would be useless to Judah.

Lavirita: I'm not quite sure if I follow, but I'm surprised to know you're able to use your abilities in such a precise manner.

Wakudoki: Yep, all thanks to the Shekhinah Bow! Oh, and I guess this staff helped too.

Wakudoki pulls from her pocket an ordinary-looking wooden stick.

Lavirita: That certainly brings back memories. It gives me great joy seeing you put it to good use.

Wakudoki: I mean, it's not every day that you of all people offer something for free!

Wakudoki: Not to mention how you told me it's the thing I needed most at the time!

Lavirita: It wasn't free. I merely provided you with an appropriate compensation.

Wakudoki: Hmm? And would you be willing to bet on whose memory is better?

Lavirita: I'd rather face off in a battle of wits. After all, I've never met a magician more dull than yourself.

Wakudoki: Y-you take that back!

Wakudoki: I know lots and lots of things—like the name of every location in the Phantagrande Skydom!

Lavirita: You yourself stated that knowledge and intellect are two separate categories.

Wakudoki: Mmrgh! Then how about we take a stroll down memory lane, huh? Y'know, and give the day we met a nice visit.

Lavirita: I'm not exactly in the mood to reminisce, but if you insist...

Chatting in the Blank Space: Scene 2

Over a decade ago, Lavirita had spent his time swindling money out of corrupt merchants. One day, while closing a deal, Wakudoki suddenly appears and reveals that Lavirita's wares are fake. The two escape the scene together, after which the girl reveals her personal interest in Lavirita. Her irritating persistence drives the Harvin into a state of despair.

---

Over ten years ago...
At a rather luxurious reception area, Lavirita speaks with a suspicious-looking man.

Corrupt Merchant: So you're really okay with selling all this magic ore for a hundred million rupies, correct?

Lavirita: Indeed, I am. This particular batch would normally fetch five times the price, but the ore here has a few minor defects, hence the discount.

Corrupt Merchant: Haha! I hear this stuff's refined by slaves working in awful conditions... No wonder they can't be sold in an open market.

Corrupt Merchant: But I have to say—you're pretty evil yourself. Surely you have an idea of what we're going to use this for.

Lavirita: If a person is murdered with a knife, is the merchant who sold the knife to blame? I think not.

Lavirita: Whether or not you choose to develop a weapon with the materials I've provided is out of my hands.

Corrupt Merchant: Hehe, we here at Jolly Trader Enterprises already control this town's entire economy... Our next goal is to sell military-grade weaponry to various governments.

Corrupt Merchant: And seeing as how you've already taken notice of our initiative, how about joining us? As they say, there's strength in numbers.

Lavirita: No thank you. I'm perfectly satisfied working on my own.

Lavirita bows his head, gently pushing the wares on the table toward the opposing merchant.

Lavirita: It's been a pleasure doing business with you.

Corrupt Merchant: Right... I'll prepare your payment right—

???: Stop right there!

Corrupt Merchant: Huh? I know that voice!

Wakudoki: Hey, mister! You're getting ripped off by this Lavirita guy!

Lavirita: ...!

Corrupt Merchant: Were you spying on us from the ceiling? You must be a Worryfree goon!

Wakudoki: Nope, you're wrong! The name's Wakudoki.

Corrupt Merchant: Guards! Get her out of here!

Ignoring the calls to stop, the unfamiliar girl extends her hand toward Lavirita's wares and brushes her fingers against them.

Wakudoki: Yep, that's what I thought. These ores are fake!

Corrupt Merchant: Come again?

Wakudoki: As I'm sure you already know, refining this type of ore is no small feat.

Wakudoki: And the refinement process normally creates a wavy pattern on the ore's surface.

Lavirita: That is indeed correct. As is the case on my wares.

Wakudoki: This pattern is way too clean. The waves are perfectly spaced apart... And look, these little chips between them are weird.

Corrupt Merchant: Y-you're right! It looks like they were etched on after...

The air around the room suddenly goes cold as Wakudoki points her finger straight at Lavirita.

Wakudoki: This guy here is Lavirita. He targets evil merchants, conning them out of their money. Ever heard of the "Ghoul Merchant Extraordinaire"?

Corrupt Merchant: O-oh! I've heard rumors lately...

Wakudoki: Lavirita actually lost both his parents to illness at a young age.

Lavirita: ...!

Wakudoki: He sold himself to rich merchants in hopes of making enough money to pay for his parents' medical costs, but was bought on the cheap.

Wakudoki: He wasn't able to come up with the money, and his parents eventually passed away. Now he curses himself for his own foolishness...

Corrupt Merchant: Is that why he's targeting merchants like us? This is nothing but an act of revenge!

Lavirita: Y-you! Why do you know that?

Wakudoki: Oho? Don't worry. There's more where that came from!

Corrupt Merchant: Thank you, miss. That was a close—

Corrupt Merchant: Wait, aren't you the woman who barged into our office last month and caused a scene in the middle of our business negotiations?

Wakudoki: Eep!

Corrupt Merchant: That's right... You appeared out of nowhere and started calling our wares a scam—just like you are now!

Wakudoki: W-was that what happened?

Lavirita: Excuse me?

Corrupt Merchant: Guards! Get the both of them!

Wakudoki: Yikes!

As the townspeople around them slumber, Lavirita and Wakudoki flee from their pursuers in the dark of night.

Lavirita: Hrk! They're still after us!

Wakudoki: Don't you have some kinda magic tool to help us? I thought you loved collecting them!

Lavirita: Putting aside the question as to why you know that, unfortunately I'm unable to use them at the moment.

Lavirita: What about that broom of yours? Can you not use it to fly?

Wakudoki: Oh, this thing? I mean, I know how to fly.

Wakudoki: But now isn't the time or place!

Lavirita: If you're unable to fly, you can just say it. There's no point in lying.

Wakudoki: Whoa!

Lavirita: ...!
To think that you can't even run properly at a time like this...

Lavirita: (Escaping would be much easier if I used this lady as a decoy...)

Lavirita & Wakudoki: Huff... Huff...

Wakudoki: Thanks... for helping me...

Lavirita: If I let you loose, you'd simply interrupt another one of my business meetings.

After shaking off the guards, Lavirita and Wakudoki sit in one of the town's alleys to catch their breath.

Lavirita: Now, care to explain who you are?

Wakudoki: I'm Wakudoki—a sweet little witch blessed by the god of wisdom!

Lavirita: Wakudoki? What a peculiar name.

Wakudoki: It's a nickname someone gave me way back when! Said I was super funny 'cause I always acted so wacky and dorky.

Lavirita: I see... So you're an annoying snitch who interrupts meetings and discloses a merchant's past without his permission.

Wakudoki: That's not what I said!

Lavirita: In any case, I expect to be compensated for my assistance.

Wakudoki: Seriously? Compensation for helping a person out?

Lavirita: But of course. And I do mean monetarily, if I wasn't being clear enough.

Wakudoki: It's not like I asked for your help though. Even if you take the local customs into consideration, I have no obligation to—

Lavirita: A mighty claim coming from the lady who just tripped and cried while displaying her undergarments for the skies to see.

Wakudoki: What's that got to do with anything!

Completely exhausted, Lavirita lets out an uncharacteristically large sigh.

Lavirita: It's too late for me to return to my accommodations. It appears this is where we'll be spending the rest of the night...

Wakudoki: Okay, got it! I'll sleep over there!

Lavirita: If you won't be compensating me for my time, I'd rather you leave now.

Wakudoki: Huh? How come? I came all this way for you, y'know.

Lavirita: Pardon?

Wakudoki: I've been following you ever since I heard about your bountiful business knowledge and your fascinating life story!

Wakudoki: I wanna see it all, hear it all, and know it all! And to that end, I'll do whatever it takes!

Lavirita: You've had your eyes on me from the very start, I see. That certainly explains why you know so much about me...

Wakudoki: If you get any more famous, you'll have to start hiding your tracks! I mean, it was super easy for me to track you down!

Lavirita: You certainly know how to strike fear in a man's heart...

Wakudoki: Anyway, I look forward to studying you, Lavirita!

Lavirita: And exactly how long do you intend on pestering me?

Wakudoki: Until I get tired of it!

Lavirita: ...

Wakudoki: Hey, wanna hear a neat trick for surviving out on the streets? You can use old packing material as insulation to keep you warm through the night and...

Lavirita: (How did things come to this?)

Lavirita laments to himself as he is forced to endure Wakudoki's endless rambling.

This long, sleepless night marks the beginning of their story.

Chatting in the Blank Space: Scene 3

Wanted by his victims, Lavirita decides to spend his final moments at an amusement park. There, Wakudoki watches the merchant experience leisure for the first time. She then explains the wonders of his profession, convincing him to give up his ways as a conman. Finally, Lavirita reconsiders how he can repay his deceased parents.

---

The following morning...

Wakudoki: What! You're a double-dealer?

Lavirita: Well, not in the traditional sense, no.

Lavirita: My meeting with Jolly Trader Enterprises yesterday was on behalf of Worryfree, a separate organization that has its sights on this region.

Wakudoki: So Worryfree asked you to financially ruin their biggest competitor, huh?

Wakudoki: But the talks fell through with absolutely nothing to show...

Lavirita: Indeed. And just my luck, I'm now wanted dead by both parties.

Wakudoki: Yikes... Sounds rough...

Lavirita: This is all your doing!

Lavirita's angry voice echoes through the crisp morning air.

Wakudoki: I did think it was weird that for all your recent visits to Worryfree, you didn't bring anything to sell. Can't believe this is the kind of business you were doing.

Lavirita: I would appreciate it if you paused for one moment to imagine how I feel hearing my stalker confess her misdemeanors.

Wakudoki: Hm... What about paying off Worryfree? Maybe you could work something out.

Lavirita: The contract falls outside the rule of law and was drafted under the assumption that I would succeed. Breaching it would bankrupt me ten times over.

Wakudoki: It'd bankrupt even you, huh? But if it's money you need, I might be able to make something for you to sell!

Wakudoki grabs a small stone with her right hand and furiously begins imbuing it with as much magic as she can muster.

Wakudoki: Hmph! Hrghhh!

Lavirita: ...?

About half an hour later...

Wakudoki: Hff... Haa... I-I'm done...

Lavirita: Done with what? All I see is a new rock in your left hand...

Wakudoki: Now introducing my replica magic! Here, hold onto this rock for me. It's the original.

Wakudoki: Watch as I give the replica a little pat.

Lavirita: Oh? The one in my hand is also moving ever so slightly.

Wakudoki: Hehe! That's right! Amazing, isn't it?

Lavirita: I see... I have a grasp of the phenomenon, but...

Wakudoki: I guess even you can't sell a rock, huh?

Lavirita: Well, if we make a few adjustments...

Lavirita: Which makes this mysterious rock a miraculous creation—it's nothing short of a gift from the gods!

Elderly Couple: Whoaaa!

Lavirita: And for a limited time, you can make this sacred piece of the heavens your own for the lowly sum of one billion rupies!

Lavirita: (Haha! I just need one last move to seal the deal!)

Wakudoki: Don't listen to him. He's lying. That's just a rock we picked up off the side of the road.

Lavirita: Huh?

Lavirita: What exactly is your goal here?

Wakudoki: My goal? To share my knowledge with the world—that's it! If I had let you keep going, that old couple would've bought that rock without knowing the truth!

Lavirita: That "old couple" is a criminal duo who has swindled money from countless people. Spare them your pity.

Wakudoki: I don't feel bad for them. They just deserved to know the truth. All I'm doing is leveling the playing field.

Lavirita: Leveling the playing field, you say? How utterly ridiculous.

Lavirita: The blame falls solely on them for not knowing any better—as was the case with me when I was younger.

Wakudoki: Do you want to make more people like how you were when you were little?

Lavirita: ...!
Th-that's not—

Worryfree Lackey: There you are, Lavirita!

Jolly Trader: Did ya really think you could get away? You too, Panty Witch!

Wakudoki: Yikes!

After once again escaping his pursuers, Lavirita looks up toward the skies above.

Lavirita: I think it's time I take a nice vacation.

Wakudoki: Hm?

Lavirita: I can't keep running forever. Sooner or later, they'll kill me.

Lavirita: Now that I think about it, I've spent my entire life as a seller—never have I enjoyed just being a consumer.

Lavirita: It's only fair that I have some fun in my final moments—or so I'd like to believe.

Wakudoki: This is... a pretty famous amusement park, isn't it?

Lavirita: I recall my parents making a promise to take me to an amusement park one day.

Lavirita: Of course, they were unable to keep it.

Wakudoki: Oh...

Lavirita: I'd appreciate it if you stopped following me. The least you could do is allow me to wallow alone with what little time I have left.

Wakudoki: Wallow alone? But that's what you've been doing this whole time.

Wakudoki: Besides, if you're gonna wallow, why'd you come to an amusement park? This is a place people go to have fun. Did you not know that?

Lavirita: Ugh... Did you know I despise you?

Wakudoki: But why!

Lavirita: I'm going to buy you that weird mask from the store over there so I no longer have to look at your annoying face.

Lavirita: How intriguing. I never thought a ride that simply goes in circles would make so much money.

Wakudoki: Oh, that's the coffee cup ride! It uses a planetary gear train to create a rotation within a rotation!

Lavirita: An amusement park show, huh? They're also monetizing song and dance, I see.

Traumatized Girl: Waaah!

Lavirita: Hm?

Wakudoki: S-sorry! I just wanted to tell you the truth!

Wakudoki: I know you love violins, but the fact of the matter is that their strings are made out of sheep intestines!

Lavirita: Why share such a disgusting fact? Did she really need to know that?

Wakudoki: It's fine! There's no such thing as good or bad knowledge!

Lavirita: ...

As night falls, Lavirita and Wakudoki enter one of the amusement park's restaurants.

Lavirita: Was this really an appropriate way of having fun?

Lavirita: All I seem to have done is ponder each facility's profitability and receive an earful of useless information...

Wakudoki: Well, I know I had fun! And the menu here is super fancy—so many fascinating options for a wacky dork like me!

Wakudoki: That strawberry beverage you're drinking was most certainly colored with food dye made from insects.

Lavirita: I'm going to bill you for the therapy sessions I now require.

Lavirita: But I must admit, your idea that, inherently, knowledge is neither good nor bad is a rather interesting one.

Lavirita: I actually share a similar opinion—except with money.

Wakudoki: You're right... The reason being that both knowledge and money are inanimate.

Wakudoki: In contrast, people—as living beings—always have their own story to tell.

Lavirita: A story?

Wakudoki: I'm sure many would sympathize with yours, Lavirita.

Wakudoki: Likewise, even that evil businessman from Jolly Trader has his own story.

Lavirita: Judging each individual's moral integrity is a task best left to priests and the like.

Wakudoki: Who said anything about judging? I'm just talking about valuing things fairly and offering the appropriate compensation.

Lavirita: Appropriate? How so?

Wakudoki: It's impossible to know the entirety of every person's story—no matter how knowledgeable you are.

Wakudoki: Which is exactly why I think it's important to look at things objectively when you can—and why skydwellers invented money in the first place.

Wakudoki: To be a merchant is to provide an accurate valuation that fairly connects the stories of the two involved parties. That's what makes the occupation so wonderful!

Lavirita: Are you suggesting that I give up on scamming scammers?

Wakudoki: Bingo! You should be using your amazing talent for something much greater!

Wakudoki: Got it? Besides, merchants didn't even use money at the very start. People bartered...

Lavirita begins thinking to himself as Wakudoki goes off on another tangent about the history of trade.

Lavirita: (Father... Mother... Is there a better way than this to repay you both?)

Chatting in the Blank Space: Scene 4

Lavirita establishes a market for fair trade, driving the corrupt merchants out of business. Before parting ways, he presents Wakudoki with a staff—a gift to represent his gratitude. After many years, he finally shares the staff's true nature with Wakudoki, who comes to terms with her new self. Similarly, Lavirita reflects on his journey thus far and smiles.

---

Lavirita: After that, we went back to town, penetrated the municipal market, and fixed it up to allow free and fair trade.

Wakudoki: And the townsfolk finally banded together to put an end to Jolly Trader and their reign over the local economy...

Lavirita: Which made Worryfree lose interest in the town, causing them to withdraw from the region entirely. Dare I say we did too good of a job.

Wakudoki: The new chapter to your story is exactly what the folks over there needed!

Wakudoki: Oho! I'm just glad my words of wisdom stung you hard enough to turn over a new leaf!

Lavirita: You're giving yourself far too much credit.

Lavirita: I simply wanted to stand proudly before my parents' grave by working hard to make a living instead of taking the path of least resistance.

Wakudoki: Do you want to make more people like how you were when you were little?

Lavirita: Although I won't deny that your words were an influencing factor.

Wakudoki: C'mon, it wouldn't kill you to admit I helped...

Wakudoki: But well, I guess that's just how your story is, Lavirita!

Lavirita: I feel as though you value these stories more than knowledge itself.

Lavirita: You even referred to using your magic as "understanding the story" of the target object.

Wakudoki: A story is only enjoyable if you have the requisite knowledge. And omniscience is meaningless without a narrative to tie everything together.

Wakudoki: My wish is to fully comprehend each skydweller's story... Every single one of them.

Wakudoki: I'll admit there are some individuals I find more fascinating than others though.

Lavirita: I'm sure that's the case, but you seem to have skipped the rest of our story.

Lavirita: It's what came after that's the most important. After we fixed the town's economy, you said you'd be heading out on another adventure.

Wakudoki: Bye-bye, Lavirita! You must be so sad to lose your one and only friend.

Lavirita: However, I am not so stingy a merchant that I would forgo presenting you with a parting gift.

Lavirita: However, I am not so stingy a merchant that I forgo presenting you with a parting gift.

Wakudoki: What's this? A staff?

Lavirita: I'm giving this to you because I believe it's what you need most.

Wakudoki: Huh? Are you saying I can have this for free?

Lavirita: I'm merely offering you compensation appropriate for the value our encounter provided to me.

Wakudoki: Ohooo?

Lavirita: That's enough. Just get on that broom of yours and begone already.

Wakudoki: I told you, I can't actually fl—

Lavirita: Again, that's enough. Look.

Wakudoki: Whoa!

Lavirita: Now do you remember? What I gave you was not a gift, but rather a payment.

Wakudoki: Ah, now that you mention it! Yeah, I totally do!

Lavirita: What a thoroughly unconvincing response...

Wakudoki: Guys who sweat the small stuff are never popular, y'know.

Lavirita: Is that your opinion? Or a truth based on statistics?

Wakudoki: See? That's exactly what I'm talking about!

Wakudoki cackles before giving the staff another inquisitive look.

Wakudoki: It's weird how I could fly with my broom after getting this staff from you!

Wakudoki: What even is it? It just looks like an ordinary stick to me. C'mon, give me the details! I wanna see it all, hear it all, learn it all!

Lavirita: Oh, that? It's a cursed staff that infinitely draws upon its holder's magic.

Wakudoki: Oho!

Lavirita: From the moment we met, your magic was overflowing to the point that it nearly broke every item in my collection.

Lavirita: That being said, it only makes sense that you were unable to ride your broom—it's a task that requires fine control of your magical output.

Wakudoki: Really? I always thought my magic just wasn't enough!

Wakudoki: Why didn't you say so sooner? When it comes to knowledge, sharing is caring!

Lavirita: Might I remind you of the fact that you hid your identity as a Messenger from me.

Lavirita: I worked hard to earn my place within Navis. You can imagine my shock when I learned you were also a member of the organization.

Wakudoki: Not as shocked as I was! I didn't think you'd become an Auditor that quickly—or that you'd be my boss.

Lavirita: Speaking of which, you'd been a Messenger for quite a while. Exactly how long have you been playing a role in Navis?

Wakudoki: W-well, there's all kinds of spells out there that can keep you young, y'know?

Lavirita: ...

Wakudoki: A-anyway, I didn't know I was overflowing with magic!

Wakudoki: All this knowledge is pointless if I don't even understand my own story, right?

Lavirita: For once, you and I are in agreement.

Wakudoki: I'll be holding onto this staff for just a little longer!

Lavirita: Why? You now completely understand the implications of wielding that staff. Wouldn't you be better off using something else?

Wakudoki: But this one comes with a story!

Lavirita: I suppose it does...

Lavirita lets out a sigh and looks at the magic items in his coat.

Lavirita: (The truth is that I've been using that staff to siphon your magic as fuel for my own collection...)

Lavirita: (But well, some things are better left unsaid... I hope you can forgive me for not disclosing my full knowledge.)

A salesman of unrivaled talent, Lavirita only engages in what he evaluates to be a fair deal. That is his personal policy.

Thinking back on his bizarre beginnings, the Harvin merchant can't help but break out into a smile.