(The three are in Grandport talking to a sailor.)
Rain: The ships aren't sailing?
Crewman: There've been leviathan sightings on the route to Dirnado. Sorry, sir, but no ships are sailing that way until we get the all clear.
(Rain, irritated, walks off with the others.)
Rain: I never even considered that we might not be able to find a ship to Dirnado...
Lasswell: It looks like it will be some time until this situation is resolved. We may need to consider other routes.
Rain(lightbulb): I know! There are airships, right? Maybe there's one going to Dirnado!
Lasswell: Impossible. Where would the money come from? We left home without much preparation, and our purses are growing light. If we were traveling for official business, we could demand passage. But we are not here on the king's orders.
Rain: No good, huh... Well then... we'll just... uh...
Merchant: Did I hear right? You folks want to get to Dirnado?
Fina: Yes. We have to get there, in fact! But the ships are all stuck in port...
Merchant: We're heading to Dirnado soon to sell some of our wares there. It's nothing like riding on that cushy ferry boat, but it'll float. If you'll pay your way, you can come along with us.
Rain(!): Really!?
Merchant: On one condition, though. We'll have to stop by Kolobos for a few days.
Lasswell: Kolobos? What do you need to do there?
Merchant: We use the route that goes around Kolobos to avoid the most dangerous patches of sea. And while we're there, we drop off some goods for some special customers. It's a win-win situation. What do you say? It's a fair detour, but it's still faster than waiting for the regular liner to start operating again.
Rain(...): We'll do it. We'll take your ship.
Fina: We have to hurry to the next crystal!
Lasswell: I don't see any other options...do you? We are out of choices.
Rain: Then we're decided!
(Rain and Fina follow the merchant off screen, leaving Lasswell standing there.)
Lasswell: But... wasn't Kolobos abandoned? Who are these "special customers" that the merchants go out of their way to service? It sounds off.
Merchant: We'll go deliver our load then. Hope you don't mind waiting until we're ready to set sail again.
Rain: What choice do we have? Why don't we have a little look around?
(They leave the ship.)
Rain: So this is Kolobos, huh? Pretty bleak.
Lasswell: They say it used to be bustling with men who came to dig up crystals, too... But it looks completely abandoned now.
Fina: I like being around people, but I don't mind this kind of atmosphere either!
(The party get ! over their heads as they hear a scream.)
???: Ahhhhhhhh!!!
(They run forward and see a girl.)
Lasswell: That girl is being set upon by zombies!
(Rain and Lasswell rush to the girl's side.)
Rain: Then we'll stop them!
(After the battle....)
Rain: Are you all right?
???(!): S-sure! And thanks!
Lasswell: What're you doing in a place like this?
???: My mom went to the ruins, and she never came back.... I thought maybe I could go get her...
Lasswell(...): Rain... This place is too dangerous for a child alone. Let's take her to these ruins.
Rain: Exactly what I was thinking.
Fina: Yup! Let's do it!
Lasswell: Child... What is your name?
???(🎵): I'm Emma! And I feel much safer already!
Rain: So... those ruins are this way, right?
Emma: Oh! Um, yes, but... before we go there... Could we stop by Felicitas Town? My mother always said she loved the scenery in Felicitas.... I know it's a detour, but... Maybe my mom will be there.
Lasswell: I understand. Then we will stop by Felicitas first.
Fina(...):Lasswell? What's going on? You always hate it when we take detours.
Rain: And you don't let us forget it. You're being pretty sweet on Emma. I didn't know you had such a weakness for cute girls. You're no better than me!
Lasswell(grumbling):Don't lump us together. It is my duty as a knight of Grandshelt to aid those in need of help.
(Lasswell starts walking on.)
Lasswell: I just...want to help the girl find her mother.
Rain: You think we could take a little detour?
Fina: Yeah! I love detours! I'm a detour me-too-er!
Lasswell: Overruled. And no more wordplay.
(Wave 1 of battle commences. After it is vanquished...)
Emma: You two are so strong!
Rain: Heh heh, it's hard to deny!
Lasswell: Let's not get cocky, Rain. Remember tenet number fifteen: A knight's heart is ever humble.
Fina: Number fifteen? Wow. How do you remember them all?
(Wave 2 commences. Afterward...)
Fina: Why do you want to see your mother, Emma?
Emma: Why...? Why wouldn't I? Don't you want to see your mother?
Fina: My mother? I don't even know if I have a mother....
Emma: Oh! I didn't.... I'm... I'm sorry....
Lasswell: Whether we are going to the ruins or to Felicitas...
Rain: We have to go over this mountain, huh? Phew.... This is not gonna be pleasant. Emma, why was your mother going to those ruins anyway?
Emma(...): Both my mom and dad study ancient ruins like those. They've discovered all kinds of amazing things together. But my dad died at one of the ruins that they were looking into... It was an accident, but... That's why my mom really wanted to put everything she had into discovering the secrets of these ruins. For him.
Rain: I get that... Then I guess we've got to give it our all, too! Huh, Emma?
Emma: Yup!
Lasswell: Looks like we have company!
Rain: All right! We need to keep Emma safe!
Fina: I'll protect you, Emma. Stay behind me!
(Wave 1 of battle commences, and progresses to wave 2.)
Fina: But.... this feeling. It's so strange....
Rain: What feeling?
Fina: I've only just met Emma, and yet... I feel like I want to help her... from the bottom of my heart. But why? It's so strange....
(Wave 2 commences, and progresses to wave 3.)
Fina: I mean, it doesn't make sense.... Why do I care so much about a girl I barely know?
Rain: When someone needs you, it's natural to want to help them. That's just how it works. It's only human!
Fina: It's natural... and human? That's so interesting!
(Wave 3 commences, and progresses to the boss battle.)
Fina: Aaaahhh! Something's coming.... something big! It's a bird! It's an airship! No, it's...
Rain: ....A monster. And a fearsome one.
Fina: I-it is!?
Lasswell: On your guard everyone! Here it comes!
(The fight commences. Afterward.....)
Rain: All right. Time to press onward!
Emma: Are you okay? You aren't hurt!?
Lasswell: You needn't worry about us. Just don't do anything to put yourself in danger. Understood?
Emma: R-right... Thank you, Lasswell.
Emma: This place is creepy... Do you think there are ghosts?
Fina: I-I don't know... I don't think I'd like ghosts....
Lasswell: There are ghosts all over this island. I'd worry more about the zombies.
(Fina gets a ! at this.)
Fina: What!? Rain, are there really more zombies!?
Rain: Well... Yeah, probably. Zombies rise from the dead, right? And there are plenty of dead in a place like this....
Fina: B-b-but...
(Fina backs up a few steps.)
Fina: No! I'm not going to believe that until I see it! Maybe you're wrong... Maybe we already beat all the zombies! I'm sure of it! You'll see!
Rain: Well, one of us will see, anyway.... Whatever makes you sleep easy, Fina. But don't blame me when one of those non-existent zombies comes shuffling up.
Fina: Eek! Are these.... ghosts!? No, they can't be ghosts! There's no such thing as ghosts. There's no such thing as ghosts!
Lasswell: Have you managed to convince yourself?
(Wave 1 of battle commences, and progresses to wave 2.)
Rain: Afraid of ghosts? Oh, Fina. I suppose in many ways... you're still just a child.
Lasswell: So says the man who's scared to use the outhouse at night.
Fina: R-really!? Is that true, Rain!?
Rain: Hey, Lasswell, come on! Embarrasing childhood stories are off-limits.
(Wave 2 commences, and proceeds to wave 3.)
Rain: I have a bad feeling... again.
Lasswell: You too, eh?
Rain: Yeah...like their boss is lurking in the shadows somewhere.
Fina: S-stop it! There's no such thing as ghosts.... No such thing as ghosts!
(Wave 3 commences, and progress to a boss fight against a Mahadeva, a zombie dragon.)
Fina: Eek! A ghost!
Rain: A big ghost!
Lasswell: .... A ghost to end all ghosts.
Fina: Can we please stop saying ghost!?
(Battle commences. There is no dialogue afterward.)
Rain: What a place this is....
Fina: Really! Let's never come back, okay?
(Emma rushes to Fina's side.)
Emma: I-I'm sorry... This is all my fault....
Fina: No, no, no! That's not what we meant! The zombies aren't that bad! Really! Once you've fought a few of them, you can see their, uh, human side... They're just like you and me! Nothing at all wrong with them!
Rain: Fina... You don't have to try to force yourself.
(Fina steps closer to Rain.)
Fina: Who... who's forcing anything!? I'm fine with zombies! I l-l-l-love them!
Emma(...): Thanks... Fina.
Emma: Once we get through here, we should arrive in Felicitas.
Lasswell: Really? Then let's push on. We'll take care of the monsters. Emma, you just keep yourself warm. You wouldn't want to finally meet your mother again with snot running down your face, now would you?
Emma: Hee hee... No, Lasswell.
Fina: Lasswell.... Tell me about your mother?
Lasswell: My mother? I'm afraid I have no more to say on that matter than you do, Fina.
Fina(!): You mean...you don't remember your mother either, Lasswell? Did you get amnesia, too!?
(Lasswell turns his back on her and shakes his head.)
Lasswell: No. That's not what I meant. I just meant that I have no mother.
Emma: Wha....
(Lasswell walks off. Once he is out of earshot, Rain speaks.)
Rain: Lasswell's parents were both killed by monsters. He was just a baby when it happened. He told me once that he doesn't even remember their faces....
Fina: I had no idea....
(Rain turns away and bows his head.)
Rain: That's just one of the reasons.... Why he's always pushing himself so hard for Emma's sake.... He knows he'll never be able to meet his own mother again, no matter what he might do...
Emma(...): Lasswell....
Fina: Tell me, Lasswell. How did you go on after you lost your parents?
Lasswell: Huh? Where did that question come from, all of a sudden?
Fina: I was just... curious.
Lasswell: Direct your curiosity instead toward our foe.
(Wave 1 of battle commences, and leads to wave 2.)
Fina: ...Lasswell. About what I asked you before...
Lasswell: How I went on after I lost my parents? Rain's parents took me in. Rain's father, Sir Raegen... He and my father were close. In a way, Rain's parents were my parents as well.
(wave 2 commences, and leads to wave 3.)
Rain: Hm? Did you just hear something?
Fina: I heard it too! The sweet warbling of a songbird!
Lasswell: What your heard was the sweet warbling of a moogle eater.
Fina: A moogle eater? Are they cute like chocobos?
Lasswell: You'll just have to see for yourself.
(Wave 3 commences, and progresses to a boss battle against a Moogle Eater.)
Fina: Th-this is a moogle eater!? Why, it's not cute at all!
Lasswell: THat's just as well, because it's an evil-hearted brute.
Rain: Let's see if we can't make it even ugier. Come on, everyone!
(There is no dialogue after battle.)
Lasswell: We beat the moogle eaters.... There should be nothing else standing between us and Felicitas.
Emma: R-right...
Rain: What's wrong? You ought to be happy! You might see your mom again in hours!
Emma: You're right...
Fina: I know you're probabably still worried. But it'll be fine! Don't worry! Let's reach the town and you'll see!
Rain: Now then... let's find that mother of yours, Emma!
Emma: Y-yeah!
(A person nearby in white garb gets a ! over her head and approaches the party.)
Researcher: Emma? Why are you here...?
Emma: Ah...
Rain: Are you Emma's mother?
Researcher: No.... but I worked with Emma's mother. Who are you all?
Fina: We're, um, Emma's protectors.
Lasswell: Could you take us to wherever we might find the girl's mother?
Researcher: Emma... You didn't tell them?
(Emma gets ... over her head.)
Lasswell: Tell us what? Emma?
Researcher: There was... an incident. Involving Emma's mother. Emma's mother died half a year ago.
(The party gets ! over their heads at this news. Emma runs off screen.)
Fina: Emma!?
Lasswell: We have to go after her.
Rain: So Emma's mother actually died months and months ago....
Fina: Emma knew that, didn't she? Then why lie to us? Why say she was going to meet her mom?
Lasswell(...): She wasn't lying.
Fina: What?
Lasswell: She really did want to meet her mother. That was the truth.
Rain: She probably wanted to meet her all the more.... exactly because she was dead. Emma probably hasn't accepted it yet. Her mother's death.
Fina: For now, we just need to find Emma. I think we know where she'll be headed.
Rain: The ruins. I know.
Fina: Emma knows she won't find her mother at the ruins. But still, she's going there....
Rain: ....Yeah.
Fina: It must be hard to lose someone you love....
(Wave 1 of battle commences, and proceeds to wave 2.)
Lasswell: Death is not the end. Even in death, the people we care for live on... in our hearts and memories.
Fina: I see... I suppose you're right.
(Wave 2 commences, and proceeds to wave 3.)
Fina: D-do you think Emma's okay? There are so many monsters....
Rain: She's not safe alone. We have to find her, and quickly!
(Wave 3 commences, and progress to wave 4.)
Emma: Aiiieeeeeeeeee!
Fina: That voice! That was Emma!
Lasswell: We must hurry!
(Wave 4 commences, and leads to a boss battle against an Apatosaurus.)
Lasswell: Emma! Thank the crystals you're safe!
Emma: Lasswell!
Fina: Oh no! She's surrounded by monsters!
Rain: Guess we'll just have to clear the way.
(Battle commences. There is no further dialogue.)
Lasswell: Emma! Are you all right? Are you unharmed?
Emma: Yeah.. I'm okay...
Lasswell: Good. Then we should be quick. We'll want to leave before night fals.
Emma: What? You're not dragging me back?
Rain: Dragging you back? Why would we? You wanted to see the ruins, didn't you?
Emma: You'll still come with me? Even after you found out about my mom?
Lasswell: Of course.
Emma: Th-that's the first time... The first time anyone's agreed.... I asked all kinds of people to bring me to this place.... But they all said the same thing. Your mother is dead. Going to those ruins won't change that. There's no point.
Lasswell: There is a point. And that is why we will go with you.
Rain: Come on, Emma. Introduce us to your mom.
Emma: Thank you.... Thank you all so much...
Emma: The ruins should be up past this cave.
Lasswell: We don't know what we'll find in here. I'll go ahead. Scout the cave out.
(Rain gets (...) over his head as Lasswell leaves.)
Fina: What's wrong, Rain?
Rain: There is something unsettling here... Some strange presence...
Emma: Eeek! L-look!
(The scene shifts to show zombies approaching from east and south of the party!)
Rain: Zombies! Even here!?
(Fina moves to stand in front of Emma.)
Rain: They're coming for us! We've got to protect Emma!
(Rain draws his sword, and gets a ! over his head.)
Rain: Wha.... your face....
Fina: What's wrong, Rain?
(Zombies are now approaching from the north as well.)
Rain: Why... are you here....?
(The zombies get closer as the party draws together.)
Fina: Rain! They're going to surround us!
(Rain bows his head.)
Rain: I can't... I can't fight them.... These are... my men...
Fina: Your men...? You mean the men who you said died at the Earth Shrine?
(The zombies draw nearer.)
Rain: Yes.... I told them to watch the ship... And then Veritas struck them down...
(One zombie grabs Emma!)
Emma: H-help! Help me!
Fina: Emma!
(Lasswell comes running back in. He knocks one zombie aside and grabs Emma back from the zombie who took her.)
Lasswell: What's wrong with you, Rain!? Why do you hesitate!?
Rain: I... I'm sorry, Lasswell... I can't...
Lasswell: Talk later! Now we must break through their ranks!
(Lasswell turns and draws his sword.)
Lasswell: I see... Those zombies were our fallen comrades... But zombies are zombies, as cold as it sounds. Let emotion take hold, and we'll share their fate.
Rain: I know, Lasswell... I'm pathetic, aren't I? If you hadn't come for me, I'd have...
Lasswell: It's over now. Don't dwell on it.
(Wave 1 of battle commences and proceeds to wave 2.)
Rain: If only we hadn't left them behind at the Shrine... They might still be alive. They wouldn't have ended up like.... that.
Lasswell: I know, Rain. I feel the same guilt. But right now--
Rain: I know, I know. We have things to do.
(Wave 2 commences, and leads to wave 3.)
Lasswell: Still, even beyond the obvious, there's something disturbing about this. We buried our fallen back in Grandshelt. How did they end up in this distant place...?
Fina: That doesn't matter now! We have to save Emma! Please, Rain!
Rain: R-right... I know, Fina.
(Wave 3 commences, and leads to wave 4.)
Lasswell: To recognize those men... to remember their trusting faces... and then to cut them down... is agonizing indeed. You have a big heart, Rain. It's your great strength as much as your weakness. But you must steel it now... and carry out your duty.
Rain: Duty....?
(Wave 4 commences, and leads to a boss battle against 2 zombie soldiers.)
Lasswell: Duty calls you, Rain. The final confrontation with Veritas... Thwarting the dark plot of the Sworn Six of Paladia.... And most importantly, your promise to a young girl who needs your help! To fight for what you believe, to stay strong and true to the end... Or are you not a knight of Grandshelt!?
Rain: I... I am! Thank you, Lasswell. I know what I must do.
(Battle commences. There is no dialogue afterward.)
(Rain is crouched down amidst fallen zombies, while the others stand nearby.)
Rain: ....That's the last of them.
(Fina backs up and her knees give out.)
Lasswell: Fina? What is it?
(Fina glows with white light. Visions of Rain's fallen men appear over the zombies' bodies.)
Soldier A: Buck up there, Commander....
Rain: What!?
Soldier A: If you keep looking so miserable, you'll make us worry so much that we won't be able to move on.
Soldier B: We're glad, Commander. Glad that you stopped us before we did something terrible.
Rain: Y-you guys...
Soldier B: Don't you worry about us, sir. Keep moving forward, Commander.
Soldier A: If you don't like the way something is, then work to change it! You're the one who taught us that, sir!
Rain: ...I guess I did.
(The screen fills with white as the visions end.)
Rain: ....Sorry, but I won't cry for you guys. Not yet. Not until I've finished what I have to do.
(Fina stops glowing. Lasswell approaches her.)
Lasswell: Was that your power just now, Fina?
(Fina stands.)
Fina: I don't know. But I did feel a strange heat in my body, all of a sudden.... Did I do something bad?
Lasswell: ... No. I don't think you did. Thank you. Both Rain and I thank you. Let's move on. The shrine lies ahead of us.
Fina: We'll finally reach the place where Emma's mother breathed her last....
(The party enters the Shrine of Decay. They come to a stop as Rain gets a ! over his head.)
Researcher: ...The experiment is a success.
???: The power is even greater than we had predicted it would be. So quality components will raise the fighting power of our "weapons". Just as I'd theorized.
Researcher: But mass production remains an issue...
???: If we do not have enough corpses, then we'll have to make some. Shall we wait for the others to join us as we prepare for the experiment?
(The party enters the chamber as the researchers leave the area.)
Lasswell: What were they speaking of?
Emma: I... I know that man. My mother called him "the professor."
Fina: And what kind of "weapon" were those researchers talking about?
Lasswell: They spoke of.. quality components...
(A zombie enters from the west!)
Lasswell: Rain! Fina!
Emma: Mommy never talked to me about her research. I heard about the accident from one of her work friends. What could she have been studying in a place like this? It couldn't have been anything...bad... could it?
(Wave 1 of battle commences, and progresses to wave 2.)
Emma: I heard stories about that professor. Scary stories. They say anyone who argued with him would be missing the next day. They say he was always talking with a man in dark armor.
Lasswell: Dark armor....!?
Rain: Sounds like we should pay this professor a visit.
(Wave 2 commences. There is no further dialogue.)
(The party is walking further into the shrine. They come to a stop as Lasswell gets a ! over his head.)
Lasswell: What is that thing!?
(The party rushes forward towards the professor, who is standing in front of something we can't see yet.)
???: Oh. So it is you all. How wonderful! I'm glad I released one of the strength-enhanced regular models. This will make for great data.
Rain: Who are you....?
???: Oh. How rude of me. You may call me Lazarov.
Dr. Lazarov: I was quite well acquainted with some of your men, you might say.
Rain: Our..men?
Dr. Lazarov: Yes, one of my assistants went all the way to Grandshelt to rob those graves. They were fine soldiers, after all. Even dead, they remain so.
Rain: You... You turned my men into....
Dr. Lazarov: You saw them, didn't you? The weapons that I created. Weren't they just delicious?
Emma: Did my mother die... for the sake of this man's research?
Dr. Lazarov: Hmm? I thought you looked familiar... You're the daughter of that woman who objected to my experiments, aren't you? You look just as impertinent as your mother did. Why don't I turn you into one of my weapons, like I did your mother?
Emma: Wha...
Dr. Lazarov: Oh, don't you worry. We said it was all just an accident. It was all covered up neatly.
(Emma takes a step back.)
Emma: Y-you.... You're horrible...
(Lasswell takes a few steps forward towards the professor.)
Lasswell: You are a monster!
(Lasswell and Rain draw their swords.)
Dr. Lazarov: Heh heh heh heh.. But I'm not the one you'll be fighting!
(Dr. Lazarov presses a button, and a panel slides up and smoke pours out as the screen goes white.)
(Editor's note: I'm pretty sure a battle occurs here, but it was not available in the replay through the Book of Recollection.)
(The party is looking around.)
Rain: Argh! Where did he go!?
Dr. Lazarov: What a surprise. It seems that body of yours holds quite a bit more potential than I'd expected. It seems Lord Veritas was correct, then.
Rain: Veritas!?
Dr. Lazarov: I suppose we'll meet again. I'll continue my research, and improve my creations, so that you might enjoy our next meeting even more... Heh heh!
Rain: Damn it! He got away!
Lasswell: I'm sorry, Emma... We failed to avenge your mother....
Emma: No... You fought as hard as you could. Thank you.
(Fina gets a ! over her head as she spots something.)
Fina: Hey! Everyone, look there!
(There is a woman laying on the floor. The party approaches her, led by Emma.)
Emma: ...It's her. My mom... She's still wearing the same ring that my father wore. I... I always worried, you know. I was afraid she might have been part of something really terrible... How stupid of me. I never needed to worry about that. My mom never would have followed the orders of a monster like that. You were amazing. You were the best. You really were, Mom... But... there's just one thing... One thing I can't forgive you for...
(Emma starts to cry.)
Emma: Why did you have to die? Why did you leave me? Mom.... *sniffle* *sniffle* Waahhhhhhhh! Moooooommmmmmmm!!!
(Rain, Lasswell, and Fina get (...) over their heads. Lasswell approaches Emma.)
Lasswell: Come, Emma. Say your farewell to your mother. Then we'll go.
Emma: ....OK.
Rain: I'm afraid... this is where we say good-bye, Emma. We have to continue on to Dirnado.
(Lasswell steps forward.)
Lasswell: Emma... Do you have a place to go?
Emma: Don't worry. There's a very nice lady who has said she'll take me in anytime.
Lasswell: Is that so? That is good to hear.
Emma(...): I won't be sad. My mom is still with me in my heart. Now I can carry her memory inside me, with pride and free of doubts.
Lasswell: Good. That's very good.
Emma: Lasswell... Rain.... Fina. I'll carry you three in my heart, too. We'll meet again someday, won't we? Promise?
Rain: Yeah. That's a promise.
Lasswell: Let's go, Rain. The ship is going to leave.
Fina: Goodbye, Emma! You be good!
(Rain and Fina leave, followed by Lasswell after a minute. They stop before boarding the ship.)
Rain: Lasswell... Your eyes are wet.
Lasswell(!): Th-that is because of the wind! That's all it is!
Rain: No need to be embarrassed.
Fina: Yes, that's right! You can cry if you need to!
Lasswell(grumbling):I hate you both.
(Lasswell boards the ship, followed by the other two. The ship sets sail. A little while into the journey...)
Fina(🎵): Rain! Lasswell! Bring a fishing rod! And quick!
Rain: A fishing rod? Did you see a fish?
Fina: Yeah! A huge one! Look! Right here!
(They look off the bow of the ship to see something large swimming around. They get ! over their heads as the crew starts running around.)
Lasswell: Fina! That's no fish!
Rain: That's a leviathan!
Fina: A leviathan?
Lasswell: This is bad, Rain!
(There is a whirlpool in the sea caused by the leviathan. Fina crouches down in fear.)
Fina: Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!
Rain: Fina! Lasswell! Find something to hold onto and hold on!
Lasswell: We've come this far. Are we ready to fight the esper Ramuh?
Rain: No problem. The people in town said this Ramuh was really wise, right?
Fina: So you think you can talk him into helping us? Like, if we just explain the situation to him, maybe he'll lend us his power?
Lasswell(...): You want to talk an esper into helping? If only it were that easy every time... He may be wise, but that does not mean that he will share our values. Espers are far more powerful than any human being. The powerful don't generally have much sympathy for the problems of the weak.
Fina(!): You mean....
Lasswell: I mean why should any esper care what happens to humans like us? We are like insects before them.
Rain(🎵): We may not be the same, but we still live in the same world, don't we? If our world is in danger, then the same must be true for them, too. Don't you think they want to protect it?
Lasswell(sweating): ...I certainly hope they do.
Fina: I'm sure they do! Let's try talking to Ramuh!
Ramuh: You come through my lightning barrier? Wretched humans. What would you do with my power?
Rain: You've noticed it, too, haven't you? This strange change in the world. We're going to stop that!
Ramuh: The human world is always changing. It matters not to me.
Rain: You live in this world. You'll share our fate!
Ramuh: Ridiculous. Do you weak humans fear destruction? Would you struggle in vain against the workings of the world?
Lasswell(!): The workings of the world? So you espers... would accept your own destruction if it was fated?
Ramuh: All creatures have a beginning. All creatures meet their end. I stay here. I watch the changing world. And I bestow judgment upon those who deserve it.
Rain: Like it has nothing to do with you! Then all of your power is as good as nothing!
Ramuh: The howling of powerless dogs... will be drowned out by my thunder! You dare to think that espers and humans are the same!? Know your shame and be struck down by my lightning!
Rain: Why!? Just listen to us!
Lasswell: Give it up! He's coming!
(Battle happens! Afterward...)
Ramuh: ...Impressive. So there are still some children of men who know of courage. I have seen what you are made of.
Lasswell(...): You were testing us?
Ramuh: I was. If all you sought was power... If there was evil in your heart... I would have rendered judgment, and struck you down with my lightning.
Rain: But we're not the ones that need striking down.
Ramuh: I see that. Any who would bring destruction to this world will not be allowed to continue. I am the esper of judgement. I will not neglect my duty!
Fina: Then you'll help us!
Ramuh: I have already stated your worthiness. Take my lightning... Use it for good.
(Ramuh turns to stone.)
Fina: Thank you... Thank you, sir.
(The party approaches Ramuh's statue.)
Rain: This is where we met Ramuh. I feel like something called us here....
???: The time... has come.
(Ramuh turns to flesh once more!)
Ramuh: I have fought beside those with power. This is how an esper grows to greatness. As has been dictated, I will test you. Show me you are worthy of greater power. Children of men... If you wish to judge what is right... Then withstand my lightning!
(Battle happens! Afterwards....)
Rain: Ugh... Did we win?
Ramuh: I have seen your strength. It is my lightning that will bring down justice upon the wrongs of the world. Use my bolts as the hammer that forges the path of righteousness!
(The esper Ramuh evolved! Ramuh turns to stone once more.)
Rain: Don't worry, Ramuh. We will use your new power in a battle that no man could feel ashamed of.