Zeta's Decision
Zeta changes into her new fire-resistant equipment and heads out to the deck of the Grandcypher. She talks with (Captain) about the change that's come over Vaseraga as they draw closer to the island where Vyrn is being held captive.
Automagod Grynoth has defeated the crew and kidnapped Vyrn.
The crew is now flying to the Foe's base of operations in order to rescue their dragon companion.
Zeta: Got my chaps, jacket, and gloves.
Zeta is performing a last-minute check of her equipment in her room.
Zeta: This material is a composite of dragon hide and behemoth leather.
Zeta: And as for its effectiveness...
She puts on a pair of gloves, fresh from the delivery box, and grips the tip of her spear.
Zeta: Kinda freaked out about doing this, but...
Zeta: Arvess!
A flame bursts from the spear's tip, engulfing Zeta's hand.
Zeta: Whaddya know! The gloves aren't burning, and I can't even feel the heat! Fire protection and insulation all rolled into one!
Zeta: That takes a load off my mind. Guess I'd better get changed now...
Zeta: ...
Zeta stands on the bow of the airship with a far-off look on her face. (Captain) sees her and calls out from behind.
Zeta: Oh. Hey, (Captain). Sorry you got caught up in all this weird business.
Zeta: C'mon, don't make that face at me. Is it really that rare for me to make an apology?
Zeta: I'd been meaning to do it, you know. That was the first time I'd ever been in such a vulnerable spot. I feel so pitiful.
Zeta: But what gets me the most is how I couldn't do anything to help Vyrn. I can't live with myself.
- We'll win next time.
- You look good in that.
Choose: We'll win next time.Zeta: Next time... I'm just lucky to be alive.
Zeta removes the glove and stares at her left hand.
A healer had been able to treat Zeta's hand, which was almost lost to Grynoth's flames. It's still pink from recent skin grafts.
Zeta: Good thing they were able to fix up my hand.
She firmly clenches her fist, a look of resolution washing over her face.
Zeta: Yeah. We'll win next time. I ain't gonna lose to the same opponent twice. Unless my opponent's Vaseraga. That I can live with.
Choose: You look good in that.Zeta: Huh? Oh, what, this?
Zeta: I bought these clothes in town. They should hold up better against Grynoth's flames.
Zeta: They were kinda expensive, but you gotta have all your bases covered when you know what your opponent can do.
Zeta: After I was paralyzed by burns, all I could do was watch. Again, I'm sorry.
Zeta: ...
Zeta: Even after everything Vaseraga's done to his body, to think that such a thing would happen.
Continue 1(Captain) wonders aloud where the Draph could have gone.
Zeta: That guy? I don't know. Probably off somewhere by himself.
Zeta: Something's off about him. Honestly, I'm not sure if I can count on him...
Zeta: ...
- What happened?
Choose: What happened?Zeta: Nothing. It's just that at some point, it hit me that I'd really come to depend on him as a partner.
Zeta: We used to have a really bad relationship. Kinda like when you and I first met on Lognos.
Zeta: When we were first introduced, he called me a little girl. I threw down and fought him right then and there.
Zeta: I didn't think we'd ever get along and be able to coordinate in fights.
Zeta scrunches her brow.
Zeta: Hah, fight together...
Zeta: If we could just get along, we'd be no match for any opponent. What's wrong with him? Is he gonna come back to his senses?
Zeta's head sags a little. (Captain) can find nothing to say and does little more than listen.
Zeta: Ah... We're almost there.
Zeta: It's just a speck right now, but Vyrn and Grynoth are on that island.
Zeta: ...
Zeta: Being down in the dumps isn't really my style. I've gotta focus on rescuing Vyrn.
Zeta: Watch me. I ain't ever gonna lose to the same opponent twice!
Zeta glares at the unknown island off in the distance, determined to fight.
The battle to take back Vyrn is about to begin.
To Heal a Wound
After wrapping up the matter on Moon Sliver, Zeta thinks back to when she had just become a weapon contractor. Ilsa had paired her with Vaseraga but neither wanted anything to do with the other, leading to friction.
(Captain) and company are returning to a town after their battles on Moon Sliver.
Zeta: ...
An exhausted Zeta relaxes on the deck.
Ilsa: You're unusually quiet for a pup that doesn't shut up. Are you tuckered out from playtime?
Zeta: A lot's happened. With Grynoth, Pyet-M... and Vaseraga.
Zeta: ...
Zeta: Arguing with him got me thinking about the past.
Ilsa: Ah, you mean the time I arranged for you to meet Vaseface.
Ilsa: I remember looking at both of you and wondering if it would actually work out.
Ilsa: Congratulations on taking my abuse, Pupper. You pass. You've become Arvess's contractor.
Zeta: The Spear of Arvess... A weapon with the power to hunt primal beasts...
Ilsa: You will now take part in official missions, but there is one condition.
Zeta: What's the condition?
Ilsa: You will embark on all missions with a partner.
Zeta: What! But why?
Ilsa: While it's true that contractors have generally worked independently up to this point, it poses too great a risk.
Zeta: Is it because I'm inexperienced? But you just said I was good to go... I can't go along with this.
Ilsa: Heh. I see you two are hitting it off already. The guy I'm sticking you with also said he wanted nothing to do with a partner.
Ilsa: Get in here, Vaseface.
Vaseraga: ...
Zeta: ...
Ilsa: Zeta, Vaseraga.
Vaseraga, Zeta. You two will be working together from now. Isn't that exciting?
Ilsa: Now, there's a reason why I put you two together.
Vaseraga: She's basically a little girl.
Zeta: Excuse me?
Vaseraga: Is this your way of asking me to babysit, Ilsa?
Ilsa: As I was saying, the reason I put you two—
Zeta: You sayin' I'm not good enough for you? You shouldn't judge based on looks. I'll have you know I used to lead a crew.
Vaseraga: And she's conceited to top it off. I refuse to get involved with this.
Ilsa: Sigh...
Zeta: What's your problem? Ever heard of first impressions? How 'bout showing some manners, huh?
Vaseraga: Don't have time for manners. I just call the facts like I see them.
Zeta: Huh? What facts?
Zeta: Now I'm pissed. Let's take this outside.
Zeta: I don't know if it has anything to with being conceited, but I'll show you what the facts are.
Vaseraga: If that's what you want. Show me what you got.
Zeta and Vaseraga leave the room without a second glance at Ilsa.
Ilsa: Damn it...
Zeta: I ain't gonna hold back.
Vaseraga: Mm. Do what you want.
Zeta: Choke on your words!
To Heal a Wound: Scene 2
Ilsa wants Zeta to prove herself to Vaseraga, but Zeta keeps losing to him. When some ruffians attack a vulnerable Vaseraga mid-treatment, Zeta rushes in to stop them.
Zeta: Hraaah!
Vaseraga: ...!
Zeta's spear strikes Vaseraga's helmet.
Zeta: Hah! No one can move after a direct hit to the head. How'd you like that?
Zeta stands tall while Vaseraga staggers about.
But he's not out.
Vaseraga: Graaah!
Zeta: Urk!
Vaseraga: Is that all you've got?
Zeta: What the hell? How are you still moving at full strength?
Vaseraga: This body is special. As if I could feel any pain from that pinprick of an attack.
Zeta: Ugh... What's with this guy?
Ilsa: Well, well... What will you do now, Pupper? I told you it'd be hard to convince him.
Zeta: I never agreed to having a partner in the first place.
Ilsa: Then allow me explain it to you, though I was trying to earlier...
Ilsa: You've both been given the power to defeat primal beasts. Individually speaking, that power is on par with them.
Ilsa: But we don't have enough contractors to settle for "on par" if continuous conflicts break out. So I'm trying a few things.
Zeta: But then we'd have to split the accolades half and half.
Ilsa: This isn't the time to discuss that. Save it for when the Foe goes on the offensive.
Ilsa: In any case, stop trying to win this fight against him. Consider that to be your first mission as a weapon contractor, Pupper.
Zeta: Yes, ma'am.
Zeta: Vaseraga! Fight me!
Vaseraga: Humph.
Zeta: Guh! Throwing sand in my face? What kind of cowardly tactic is that?
Vaseraga: Deal with it.
Zeta: W-wait!
Zeta: You're going down today!
Vaseraga: Stop. Look behind you.
Zeta: Huh? Wha—
Zeta: Ungh!
Vaseraga: Too bad.
Vaseraga: ...
Zeta: Take this!
Zeta: Huh? Something's got my foot...
Zeta: Ow!
Zeta cuts off a rope she got caught in, causing a branch to swing back and thwack her in the face.
Zeta: A trap? He even planned this far ahead...
Zeta: Damn it, he's on the run again!
Zeta: So tired...
Ilsa: What's wrong, Pupper? Convinced Vaseraga to accept you yet?
Zeta: I thought I'd keep going at him head-on so that I could learn his weak points.
Ilsa: Oh. You've come to recognize his talents.
Zeta: That's not it!
Zeta: But, yeah. I don't think I can win against him...
Ilsa: Think outside the box. He was a skyfarer for a long time. He has a plethora of experiences to draw from.
Zeta: Call it experience or improvising, all he does is run from any real fighting.
Zeta: Just the other day I got caught in a joke of a trap. I get the feeling he's making a fool out of me.
Zeta: Aaagh! So freaking annoying! Are you positive I have to be paired up with that guy?
Ilsa: Hm...
Ilsa: That's not so bad actually. I didn't think he had it in him to play light-hearted tricks.
Zeta: What do you mean by that?
Ilsa: Don't worry about it.
Ilsa: The way I see it, there isn't much of a difference in both of your abilities. He's not as invincible as you think. Stick with it a little longer.
Ilsa: I know you're not the type to give up on a mission that easily. Am I right?
Zeta: Yes, ma'am.
Vaseraga: ...
Zeta: ...
Zeta: I've done this so many times that I don't even know when to attack anymore.
Zeta: I won't quit though. Not until I find and exploit his weak point...
Zeta is tailing Vaseraga as he walks through town.
She observes him, patiently waiting for her chance to strike.
Vaseraga: ...
Zeta: He just went into that... clinic? And he's pretty good at conditioning his body...
Zeta: That's right. He did something to his body so that it couldn't feel pain.
Zeta: Hm?
Zeta suddenly feels uneasy.
Ruffians: ...
She watches as armed men head toward the clinic.
Ruffian 1: This where that guy gets his conditioning?
Ruffian 2: Yep. This is probably our last shot to put him down.
Zeta: There's no way they could be after Vaseraga...
Ruffian 1: Yee-haw! Surprise!
Zeta: Oh, crap!
Zeta: Hold it, you punks!
Healer: Wh-what is the meaning of this?
Ruffian 2: Yo. You the one giving some guy named Vaseraga his treatments?
Ruffian 1: Heh heh heh. He's got a debt to pay.
Ruffian 1: He's a sitting duck during his treatments! Take his head!
Vaseraga: ...
The assailants approach Vaseraga, who is lying on a bed with both his legs in mid-operation.
Zeta: Hold it right there!
Ruffian 1: Huh? Who're you?
Zeta: We're gonna have a problem if you lay a finger on him. I suggest you leave here immediately.
Ruffian 2: Tch. I hate it when they bring friends!
Vaseraga: Wrong.
All the color in the faces of the ruffians suddenly drains away.
Ruffian 1: Aaah! You can move? You're supposed to be out cold!
Vaseraga: I don't recall ever considering this girl a friend.
Zeta: Huh? Same to you!
Ruffian 2: Wh-whatever! Mess up these fools!
Zeta: ...
Although there's no feeling of camaraderie between the two contractors, they ready their weapons to face the ruffians.
To Heal a Wound: Scene 3
Zeta recalls Vaseraga asking her why she saved him, answering that it was for her mission. Back in the present, Zeta realizes the incident on Moon Sliver helped strengthen her bond with her partner.
Zeta and Vaseraga take care of the ruffians and remove them from the clinic.
Vaseraga: Why did you help me?
Zeta: You piss me off, but it's not like I want to see you dead.
Zeta: I'm doing what Ilsa said and following the mission. For now.
Vaseraga: ...
Vaseraga: Following a mission to the end.
Zeta: Well, yeah. Wouldn't have chased you if I wasn't.
Vaseraga: ...
Vaseraga: I get it. I'll be your partner.
Zeta: Huh? Just like that?
Vaseraga walks back into the clinic without giving Zeta an answer.
Zeta: I just don't understand that guy.
Zeta: Ah, whatever. That takes care of my first mission. I could use a nap.
Zeta: So basically it looks like Vaseraga's on board.
Ilsa: I see. You've had a change of heart, Vaseface.
Vaseraga: She was so vehement about it that I felt sorry for her.
Zeta: Oh yeah? Who was the one throwing a big hissy fit like a little baby?
Vaseraga: You're not disagreeing with me. You just haven't shown me what you can actually do.
Zeta: Grrr... You asked for it. Let's take this outside.
Vaseraga: Humph. Keep trying a million times. It'll always be the same.
Ilsa: Sigh...
Zeta: Now that I really think about it, he was afraid to work with anyone.
Ilsa: Yeah. His sense of duty is incredible, but carelessly throwing his body into the fray isn't what we need. That's why I paired him up with a watchdog.
Zeta: But why me of all people? I think Eustace would've been a better choice if that's what you needed.
Ilsa: What I needed was someone headstrong—a firebrand that would make him take a look at himself.
Zeta: I guess I am headstrong, but...
Ilsa: He didn't talk about his past, but he definitely carried wounds from it. Seeing him like that reminded me of a story.
Ilsa: A story about a soldier who bore a wounded heart from war and is cured by coming to know a meddlesome puppy.
Zeta: A soldier and a puppy?
Ilsa: In any case, he's changed. You too. You used to only think about getting missions in the beginning.
Ilsa: You've both grown beyond my expectations. Be proud, Pupper.
Zeta: Ahaha... Thank you.
Zeta: Speaking of which, that soldier story... Was it really popular a long time ago or something?
Ilsa: Hm? Yes, I had a good cry after reading it too.
Zeta: Uh, okay...
Zeta: ...
Zeta: (A story...)
Zeta and Vaseraga form one of the spearheads of the Society. Their first meeting was a disaster, but each day together solidifies their bonds little by little.
Those bonds are the weapons they will wield against any hardships to come.