Fina: Thanks for taking me here. I'll go the rest of the way on my own.
Lasswell: There are still many monsters around here. I'll accompany you to the shrine.
Fina: No, I"ll be fine on my own. I have to rely on my own strength. Besides... If I keep relying on you, Lasswell, my other self will just laugh at me.
Lasswell: ...I see. Promise me you'll be careful.
Fina: Yup! See you later!
(Fina leaves.)
Lasswell (...): (She's so muich stronger that she used to be.)(.What happened with Rain must be hard to bear, but she's not letting any of it show in front of me...)
Lasswell: I can't let Fina outdo me. At the very least, I have to become worthy of the Crimson Saber that Rain left behind.
(Lasswell is walking in Grandshelt. He's got his hair pulled back. The Grandshelt soldiers spot him and react with a ! over their heads.)
Grandshelt Soldier A: ...Is that you... Commander Lasswell...?
Lasswell: You guys...
Grandshelt Soldier A: It's Commander Lasswell! Hey, everyone! Commander Lasswell's here!
(Soldiers gather round.)
Grandshelt Soldier B: Aaaah! It really is you, Commander Lasswell! You've returned!
Grandshelt Soldier C: COmmander Lasswell!? No kidding? It's really him?
Lasswell: H-hey, what do you guys think you're doing?
Grandshelt Soldier A: Okay, sorry about that. But we're really glad to see you. Aren't we?
Grandshelt Soldier B: I joined the same time you did, Commander Lasswell, and I've always thought you were the greatest! I trained really hard!
Grandshelt Soldier C: It's okay to get excited, but you need to learn how to summarize.
(The soldiers laugh.)
Grandshelt Soldier A: Huh? Commander Lasswell, where's Commander Rain...?
Grandshelt Soldier B: You're right. Commander Rain's missing from the picture. Are you working separately today?
Lasswell: Rain... (...) Rain has gfone somewhere far away for a while. Finding him won't be easy. But that doesn't mean he's gone for good. I'll find him, I promise. Rest assured.
Grandshelt Soldier A: Does that mean he's...
Granshelt Soldier C: You're kidding, right? Commander Rain will...
Grandshelt Soldier B: Stop it! COmmander Lasswell told us he'll find him. We just have to believe him!
Lasswell: (I had hoped that just maybe...)(But Rain hasn't returned to Grandshelt, has he...?
Grandshelt Soldier B: H-hey! Now that you're back, COmmander, how about training with us?
Grandsheld Soldier A: Oh, yeah! Great idea! You'll stop worrying when you see the results of our training!
(The soldiers come along the side of Lasswell.)
Lasswell: H-hey, what do you guys think you're doing?
Grandshelt Soldier C: Training! Castle grounds are off-limits, so let's head to Fulan Pass!
(They push Lasswell.)
Lasswell: Hold on. I haven't agreed to...
Grandshelt Soldier A: Come on! Make haste! Commander Lasswell's sword skills! Can't wait!
(Battle immediately stars against two Grandshelt Soldiers and a Grandshelt High Officer. There is no dialogue after you win.)
(Lasswell swings his weapon at one of the soldiers, who falls to his knees. The other two are alreayd crouched on the ground.
Grandshelt Soldier A: Whoa, he's strong...
Grandshelt Soldier B: ANd I thougth we'd become stronger, but compared to Commander Lasswell, we're nothing...
(The soldiers stand.)
Grandshelt Soldier C: Incredible, isn't it? With that much power, he's unstoppable!
???: You think so?
(The soldiers react with ! over their heads, and part to let the knight who spoke through.
Lasswell: Charlotte! Lawrence! What are you dfoing here...?
Charlotte: By sheer coincidence, we heard the soldiers talking. We came to take a closer look and I saw your display of swordsmanship.
Lawrence: Here we go again. You've always telling stories. The truth is, we heard you had and audience with the king. Then Charlotte said, "That Lasswell, he's going to run off again without saying hello!?" ...So here we are.
Charlotte: Lawrence! Stop your nonsense!
Lawrence: Okay, okay. It's been a long time, huh, Lasswell? You look different, somehow.
Lasswell: I'm glad to see both of you in good health. Sorry... for not coming to look for you earlier.
Grandshelt Soldier A: It's not Commander Lasswell's fault! We forced him to come out here...
Charlotte: I know. I'm not blaming you lot for that. My concern is with a separate issue. Lasswell... It's about your sword.
Lasswell: My sword...?
Charlotte: I saw you battle the soldiers. There's no doubt that you've become stronger. However, there was uncertainty in the way you fought.
(Lasswell reacts with a ! at this.)
Charlotte: ...You know what I'm talking about, don't you?
(Lasswell bows his head.)
Lasswell: That's...
(Charlotte draws her sword!)
Charlotte: If you don't know, I'll show you. Draw your sword. We'll spar with you.
Lawrence: Wha...? Me too?
Charlotte: Of course. A fellow knight has lost his way. General Loren taight us to help one another.
Lawrence: Good grief. All you had to say was that you're just worried about Lasswell.
(Lawrence and Charlotte draw their swords.)
Lawrence: Sorry, Lasswell. AS you heard, I'm with Charlotte for this one.
Lasswell: (Uncertainty... My search for Rain... Is that the uncertainty they sense...?)
Grandshelt Knight B: Oh my! We ge to witness a commander-class contest?
Grandshelt Knight C: Ah, this is great! I won't miss a single second of it!
(The soldiers back up to give the knights more room.)
Charlotte: Come on, Lasswell! Draw your sword! A Knight of Grandshelt would never turn down a fight like a coward! Or have you even forgotten the fact that you are a knight?!
Lasswell: (Gah.... I have no choice. I don't want to do this, but...)(If fighting Charlotte and Lawrence will help me figure things out, then so be it!)
(Lasswell draws his sword.)
Lasswell: Here we go, Charlotte! Lawrence!
Lawrence: Planning on giving this all you've got, Charlotte?
Charlotte: Of course. Surely, Lasswell has grown stronger. But on the other hand, there still must be some mixe feelings he's unable to hide. I want to fight and find out!
Lawrence: ...How earnest of you.
(Battle commences! There is no dialogue after you win.)
Lawrence: Amazing... I wasn't that motivated to begin with, but now I'm fully focused. Lasswell. You've truly become stronger.
(Lawrence turns his back and begins to leave.)
Lawrence: Well, it's over. I concede. Huh? Hey you two, we're done, right?
(Lasswell and Charlotte still have swords drawn. Charlotte now puts hers away.)
Charlotte: Lasswell. I've figured it out. I know the cause of your uncertainty.
(Lasswell puts his sword away as well.)
Lasswell: What...?
Charlotte: That sword on your back. Rain's Sword. You didn't draw it once, did you?
(Lasswell reacts with a ! over his head.)
Charlotte: No... It's not that you didn't. You couldn't draw it, could you?
Lasswell: ... (Charlotte's right. I haven't drawn the Crimson Saber yet, not even once...)(After battling the Chaotic Darkness... When we lost Rain, and found this sword instead...)(I've carried it since, always believeing that my role was to find Rain and return his sword....)(But it seems I still need something more to earn Crimson Saber's recognition.)(One of the reasons I came back to Grandshelt was to try and determine what I was lacking.)
Charlotte: Why don't you try saying something, Lasswell?
Lawrence: Now, now! This is a long-awaited reunion. There's no need to be so antagonistic. Lasswell's just back from a long trip, isn't he? He must be exhausted.
Charlotte: ...Okay. Lasswell. You don't plan on leaving any time soon, do you?
Lasswell: No. I was thinking of going back home, actually.
Lawrence: Then we're headed in the same direction. Let's go. We'll take a short detour. The rest of you can head back to the castle first.
Grandshelt Soldier A: Yes, sir. Take care.
Grandshelt Soldier B: Commander Lasswell! Thank you for that display!
Grandshelt Soldier C: I'm gonna tell everyone about the amazing techniques we saw!
(The soldiers leave.)
Lawrence: ALl right! Let's head out, as friends!
Charlotte: ...
Lasswell: ...
Lawrence(grumbling): Good frief. You guys are so awkward together.
Lawrence: But really, that Rain... Sacrificing himself in order to defeat an impossible enemy...
Charlotte: That's... That's just what Rain would do. Any Knight of Grandshelt would've been proud of that decision.
Lawrence: Well, I agree, and I'm also grateful. It's thanks to him that there's peace now. Ah. I wonder where Rain is now and what he's up to.
Charlotte: Knowing him, he'll just appear out of the blue one day.
Lasswell: (Neither one of them doubts that Rain is still alive...)(Of course, I also think that Rain is still alive.)(I think...)
Lawrence: Lasswell. What's with the glum face?
Charlotte: We're almost at your house. Don't look so depressed.
Lasswell: Uh, yeah. Got it. (Forget these stupid thoughts. All I have to do is find Rain.)(Rain is alive, somewhere.)(He must be...)
(We're dropped right into battle against random enemies. There is no dialogue.)
(The trio approach Lasswell's house. Lasswell stops at the fence, a (...) over his head.)
Charlotte: ...There's no way in?
(Lasswell turns back to look at Charlotte and Lawrence.)
Lawrence: We'll be waiting here, so take your time.
Charlotte The path here is yours and yours alone to take. And if anything happens, I'll be happy to listen to your troubles later. Now go, with valor.
(Lasswell nods.)
Lasswell: Thank you. I'll be right back.
(He enters the house.)
Lasswell: ...
(He looks around.)
Lasswell: (How long has it been since I last entered this house alone...?)(A house without Sophia, or Father, or Rain...)(The day we left on our journey seems like a lifetime ago.)(...Nothing's changed. Everything's as it was the day we left...)
Lasswell: That's...
Lasswell: (That's Sophia's favorite flower. It's still fresh.)(Of course. Father came back to this house too.)(I didn't want to come here alone... But I'm glad I did.)(I should be grateful that they were around for me.)(For the sake of this house, I swear, I will find Rain.)(So, please, wait for just ahile more.)(I'll be back soon, Sophia.)(...No.)
Lasswell: I'll be back soon, Mother.
(Lasswell and Fina are near the statue in the Capitol.)
Lasswell: So, what happened at the Earth Shrine? Nothing dangerous, apparently.
Fina: Yeah. I just told my other self about what happened afterwards. I told her she cound count on me to find Rain.
Lasswell: I see. Well, I made the same promise to my family. I won't lose.
(Lasswell starts walking away.)
Fina: Sure! We'll give it our best shot! ...Ah! I just remembered!
Lasswell: Hm?
Fina: So, Lasswell.... We might not be able to return to this world... To Lapis... for a while, right?
Lasswell: Yes, and? Does that bother you?
Fina: Do you remember our promise to Emma? That'd we'd see her again... Sometime.
Lasswell: So thast's it. Yes, it would be wise to take advantage of our free time. We have ample time before meeting up with the others. Let's head to Felicitas.
Fina: Yay! I hope Emma's all right. Can't wait to see her again!
Lasswell: (It's Emma... the girl that was attacked by mosnters in Ghost Port Kolobos.)(A lot happened with her and her mother, but in the end she was able to overcome the sadness.)(I'm sure she;'s living life to the fullest now.)(It's as Fina said, but I'm looking forward to reuniting with her...)
(Wave 1 of battle commences, and leads to wave 2.)
Fina: This path feels familiar... This is the path that Rain, you, Emma and I walked together, isn't it?
Lasswell: Yeah... seems so.
Fina: That must be 15!
Lasswell: !?
Fina: A knight's heart is ever humble. That's what you said, Lasswell!
Lasswell: I'm sure I said it... But I still don't fully remember saying it...
Fina: Rain was withb us... Everything looked sp sparkly, everything was so much fun.
Lasswell: (Fina's the same as me...)(Perhaps she too is trying to hide the sad emptinjess she feels not having Rain around...)
(Wave 2 of battle commences, and leads to wave 3.)
Lasswell: I remembered something about you, Fina. I remember you getting caught up saying that zombies weren't monsters.
Fina: Wow, well remembered...!
Lasswell: Are you surprised?
Fina: I'm very surprised!
Lasswell: Hmph... (I'm not good at doing thingvs like this...)(But as long as Fina's laughing, I have no problem doing it.)(As long as Rain isn't around, it's up to me to support Fina.)
(Wave 3 of battle commences. There is no dialogue afterward.)
MORE COMING SOON!