Scenario:Night Pareidolia - Chapter 4: Dissipation - Episode 2

Night Pareidolia - Chapter 4: Dissipation - Episode 2

While the crew is recuperating in town, Felix returns to Judah as the figure of Ferdinand comes back from its battle with the Accordants and shape-shifts back into its true form: Durandal. The real Ferdinand is being held captive under Judah's watch. With his preparations complete, Judah opens up a white rift and disappears into it.

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At (Captain)'s suggestion, the crew makes a trip into town. Kolulu stops at a store on one of the shopping streets.

Kolulu: Wow! This cloth can clean oil stains just by wetting it with water?

Kolulu: What a magical cloth... I could buy one of these with my pocket money and...

Feather: Hold up! Are you sure about that?

Lyria: This cloth is for the kitchen. That might not be what you want, Kolulu...

Kolulu: Oh! You're right, I'm looking for something to clean the floor with!

Kolulu: Huh? Are all of you here because you're looking for cleaning supplies too?

Randall: Yeah... Let's go with that.

Kolulu turns her back on the crew to return the kitchen cloth to the shelf.

Kolulu: When we get back to the Grandcypher, I have to tidy up Manamel's room too.

Vyrn: We'll help too, just like last time.

Kolulu: Hm... I think I'll ask for just (Captain)'s and Lyria's help this time.

Feather: Why though! Are we not allowed to go in or something?

Kolulu: Well... I'm afraid there's only a handful of people who've been preapproved by Manamel to enter her room.

Randall: Ah, gotcha. That sounds like Manamel all right.

Kolulu: She can be particular about things, like categorizing her lipsticks by brand or color-coding her closet.

Kolulu: There'll be plenty of organizing to do for sure!

1. You know her well.
2. I never knew that.

Choose: You know her well.
Choose: I never knew that.

Kolulu: Ehehe... Since we've been hanging out more recently, she's been letting me borrow her makeup and things.

Kolulu: But don't you have memories with us too now? Look, I have the lipstick you lent me right—

Manamel: ...
Vega.

Kolulu: ...
Will I ever get a chance to return her lipstick?

Lyria: Kolulu...

(Captain) and Lyria take Kolulu's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Once Kolulu is done with her shopping, the crew goes outside to enjoy the breeze.

Kolulu: ...

Kolulu gazes at the spear in her hands, her expression meek.

Kolulu: Gisla was found stuck in the bundle of blankets I was wrapped in as a baby.

Feather: Oh yeah?

Kolulu: I don't know my real parents, but Gisla's kept me company all these years.

Kolulu: It proved especially useful when rummaging through the mountains of trash!

Vyrn: R-right... I feel kinda sorry for it...

Kolulu: But why did this spear choose me specifically?

Lodi: Chemistry!
Don't tell me you haven't learned how to properly handle Gisla yet!

Kolulu: I heard that Gisla is a weapon of revenge... and that anger becomes its driving force.

Kolulu: But I... just want to spend my days smiling and laughing together with everyone.

Randall: ...

Randall stands up and stretches his leg, now bare and without its armor.

Randall: Joyeuse helped me reflect and face myself.

Randall: You're a kind person, Kolulu. A personality like yours might not seem like it'd suit a weapon like Gisla...

Feather: But there's gotta be a reason why you became accordant with it. Isn't that right, Randall?

Randall: Yeah. And, well... you'll find out eventually. No need to get too caught up about it.

Kolulu: ...

Late that night, Tikoh and Cupitan return to their lodgings thoroughly exhausted.

The two sit in the lobby of the inn, enjoying cookies Cupitan had baked and Tikoh's freshly poured coffee.

Cupitan: After (Captain) told us to take it easy...

Tikoh: Yeah... I couldn't help opening a clinic for the day. So many people from the town came—I'm not sure whether I should be happy or not as a doctor.

Cupitan: But I guess spending a normal day like this is refreshing in and of itself!

Tikoh: That's true. Thanks for helping out as my assistant and nurse, Cupitan.

The two exchange a small smile and clink their cups together in celebration.

Tikoh: Are you... feeling okay, Cupitan?

Cupitan: No different than before. I just need to keep finding a way to help Ris.

Tikoh: ...

Tikoh: You know, the cells in a person's body are constantly getting replaced through processes called apoptosis and mitosis.

Tikoh: You and I are different from how we were yesterday, both physically and mentally.

Tikoh: So, in Tristette's case... even if she's different, I'm sure... she's still Tristette.

Cupitan: Thank you, Tikoh. I believe that too.

Cupitan: Anyway...

Cupitan manifests a yellow arrow with her palm and puts it in Tikoh's hand.

Tikoh: A yellow arrow... Like the one from when we first met.

Cupitan: It's an arrow that will help soothe your heart, although I try not to use it too often.

Tikoh: Back then, you offered to listen to what I had to say, didn't you?

Cupitan: Yes, but we switched immediately after. I was even more... unsteady than you.

Cupitan: Actually, I'd say you're pretty steady, Ti. A steady, jet black color of hatred!

Tikoh: Ahaha... You might be onto something.

Just then, they hear footsteps coming down from the stairs. A figure slowly approaches them.

Ragazzo: ...

Tikoh: Ragazzo?

In the cold darkness, Ferdinand staggers forward with his head in his hands.

Ferdinand: My... noble wish... My sublime purpose of saving everyone...

Judah: ...

Ferdinand: The Horoscopes will never be complete... It's... the end.

Judah: Felix.

Felix: Roger!

The figure that was Ferdinand a moment ago shifts into that of the Horoscope Durandal.

Or rather, Durandal returns to its original form.

Judah: Durandal's transformations are unfailingly precise.

Felix: Thank you very much!

Felix: But I wonder why I couldn't send an entire league of Taming Saris flying back there.

Judah: The number of daggers Taming Sari can generate depends on the number of days Ferdinand has been alive.

Felix: Ahh, I see. Unfortunately, even Durandal doesn't have the capability to cover those kinds of values.

Felix: Now that I think of it, didn't you have test subjects in the basement here? Where have they gone?

Judah: Don't ask what you already know.

Felix: Ehehe.

Felix: Despite your mortality, I always thought you were the most cunning out of all the Chairmen.

Judah: Cunning... Well, I'm certainly thinking much further than this fool.

Ferdinand: ...

Judah: I did everything in accordance with your constellation—or rather, Durandal did.

Judah: Waging battle is not a valid option. What's more, two Horoscopes were destroyed in the process.

Judah: Now neither you nor Nereus should have anything to say about it.

Ferdinand: Judah... What... are you...

Judah: The preparations are complete. My astrology will be the one to manifest Argo.

When Judah extends his hand, a white rift appears in the air.

Judah and Felix proceed into the white space and vanish, taking Ferdinand with them.