Story Reader / Main Story / 31 Shaper's Ripples / Story
As soon as you walk out of the infirmary, waves of commotion from beyond the side corridor door wash over you.
Peering through the fire safety window, you see the summoned mercenaries standing in a semicircle, their gestures betraying fear and tension.
Some clutch their weapons close to their chest, scanning their surroundings as if expecting some great threat to emerge at any moment.
Explain yourself! You have to tell us everything!
Calm down. She's just a kid.
This isn't about her being a child! We all saw that monster—what happens if it gets loose? How can we ensure our parents and loved ones stay safe?
You weren't exactly a saint when you were beating people up and stealing our stuff!
Yeah, we were desperate and hungry, so we stole some food. Once we're out, we'll accept any legal consequences—if we have to serve time, none of us will run from it! But those monsters are a completely different story!
Lucia gives a slight shake of her head, signaling you to wait and see how things unfold.
...You asked about that device, so I told you the truth... Chaos gave it to me. She said we could use it to protect ourselves.
This "she" you're talking about—she could use that thing to protect us, or she could use it to trap us.
Isn't that the exact same thing that's kept us trapped here for so many days? We didn't understand before because we'd never seen it, but now we get it.
It's right to be wary of Hetero-Creatures, but we need to cooperate with her for now.
Alright.
Lucia pushes open the door, her expression remaining stern.
Oh, look who's up—the wimp who had to be carried around yesterday.
Wait, wait! I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I already got a taste of her fists last night!
Wait, wait! I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Let's talk this out! No need to get violent!
It seems that Lucia's "persuasion" last night involved more than just words.
Perfect timing. You said you'd help everyone escape, and we believed you—that's why we gathered everyone here.
But what's the deal with this monster the kid mentioned? It can control those barriers? If it can come and go as it pleases and shut people out whenever it wants, what's stopping it from sealing this place off and doing whatever it wants once we're gone?
Don't tell me you two are working with it?!
No. We're about to address the matters related to her right now.
What?
There's another hidden trouble in this city other than Chaos—she's the source of all those monsters patrolling the streets.
Remember the mechanical riot you mentioned last night? Those Hetero-Creatures share the same root cause... And the same problem exists beyond Constellia—you'll still encounter such machines once you leave.
So it's basically the end of the world out there.
...
No way...
...You'll see the situation for yourself once you leave.
...
How do you plan to deal with the problem here? By working with that monster?
The cooperation is temporary. Even Chaos fears that lurking threat—we'll deal with her, but only after we eliminate the greater danger.
This will be dangerous, and you could get caught in the crossfire. That's why we want you to evacuate—there are people out there who need your help more.
If Commandant and I were scheming something, we could have killed you all right here.
Lucia draws her Pyro Katana as flames ignite in her hair. Without her taking a single step forward, everyone backs away several meters.
If you think I can't handle this alone, feel free to test that theory.
The people stand at a distance, exchanging bewildered glances before breaking into hushed whispers.
Let us discuss this among ourselves.
Lucia sheaths her weapon and nods to the captain. The mercenaries retreat to where Chiko stands at the far end.
Yuko, who has been staying in the corner, now finds herself unexpectedly in the spotlight.
...
Hi.
Mustering every ounce of courage, she approaches.
That "hidden trouble" you mentioned earlier... Were you talking about Cradle?
...Yes.
Do you know what... she really is?
She voices the question that Cradle has always left unanswered.
I talked with her for a while. She told me she was a character created by an author.
Possession?
...Sounds about the same.
Amidst the surrounding clamor, she takes a step back and leans wearily against the wall.
Well... at least the Cradle I spoke to was real, and didn't deceive me right from the beginning...
She takes a deep breath.
What did Cradle talk to you about?
Mostly far-fetched stories.
Would you mind telling me more? There might be some crucial intelligence in there.
Intelligence? Do the stories she saw in the Red Tide really count as intel?
Oh, and something about her creator and their will...
Anything else?
Apart from those... well, she said she came from the future, and something about her being... I didn't quite understand that part, some sort of administrator, I think.
She had something to do in that future, but she failed before completing it. And she still couldn't figure out exactly why she failed.
Oh, right... After you arrived, just last night, she came to me and said some weird things.
What did she say?
She asked if I remembered how many times I had died, and if I had ever dreamed of becoming a butterfly.
I had no idea what she meant by that. Could she be talking about the tale of the "Butterfly Dream"?
After you experienced death once in Constellia, there were times in your dreams when your vision followed the butterflies, as if you had become one of them.
So what is it?
She killed me... but why?
Chiko?!
No way... She promised me that if I found my sister, she'd give me a chance to help her... How could she have killed her?
Who cares?
Who cares?
...
Is it also because of that personality data conflict you mentioned?
Is there any way to bring back her original self?
...Special? Me?
What do you mean?
Do you know all of this because you're also from the future, just like her?
Seriously? She predicted your arrival, described your looks and names in detail, and claimed that you were the ones responsible for this disaster.
...But after seeing all those people she killed, and hearing how she mocked me, I just can't trust her anymore...
That's why I chose to trust you instead... Please don't lie to me, okay?
...Just as I thought.
So time travel really does exist...
Please, tell me what's going to happen. Was she right? Will everyone really get caught in a calamity that never ends?
What about me?
Cradle mentioned that in your future, you're familiar with my sister Chiko... Do you know me?
Lucia casts a questioning look at you.
She did. That's exactly why I wanted to hear it from you again.
Bianca once mentioned that Chiko had a younger sister in the Support Force, but she fell in battle during a mission.
And then? How did I die? Did I cause trouble for Chiko?
Her sister was injured and corrupted before running into an Ascendant. When Chiko saw her sister still calling out for help, she couldn't bring herself to strike her down, and instead tried to save her.
That's a reasonable judgment of the situation.
But she still turned a Corrupted... Under the Ascendant's control, she detonated the device at the bottom of the building, killing all fourteen Constructs who were conducting an investigation there.
Chiko survived, but was gravely wounded in the process.
She originally had the potential to use a specialized frame, but after that explosion, her M.I.N.D. was severely damaged, and she lost that qualification forever.
Even so... when she merged with the Hetero-Creature, she managed to retain a fragment of herself, preventing that massive body from going berserk.
Bianca's hands paused briefly as she sorted through the mission reports.
She never let go of her regret. Even though she knew her sister couldn't possibly survive after falling into the Ascendant's hands, she still couldn't bring herself to end it.
"To make someone give up before they've fought till their last breath—that would be too cruel." I'm sure that's what Commandant would say.
But for most people, the ability to fight until the very end is a privilege reserved for "heroes" only... Though even as I say this...
If I were faced with making that same choice about someone important to me, I'd probably hesitate for that crucial moment too.
Can you tell me?
You fell during a rescue mission of the Support Force, and before that, you had saved many lives. After you were gone... even the captain of the Support Force would still speak of you.
You haven't answered my question.
Did I... get many people killed by working with the wrong side... just like now?
...
No one could have controlled their fate in that situation. It was an accident, not intentional harm.
In the future, you'll meet many people whose lives you'll save. Don't blame yourself for something beyond your control.
...
Though Lucia speaks these words, her brow remains tightly furrowed.
Through countless cycles of death, she has witnessed the pain Yuko brought. Even understanding the circumstances and inner turmoil behind those actions, the wounds torn into her heart run too deep to simply absolve with a smile.
In the face of inescapable desires and suffering, all words of reason and forgiveness shatter like fragile glass.
So it's true. Cradle wasn't lying to me... Thank you for being willing to share it with me.
Go talk to Chiko. Tragedy isn't inevitable.
We've talked already. She told me she kept her distance because of the sensitive nature of her work, and she realized those mercenaries died because... I sought help from Cradle.
Her gaze drifts to Chiko in the distance, their shared silence speaking volumes about the rift between them.
If you had a sister like me... would you forgive her?
...
Lucia lowers her eyes as distant memories surge before her like relentless waves.
I'm not in any position to answer whether your real sister would forgive you or not.
Looking at Yuko, Lucia speaks these words as much to herself as to Yuko.
If my sister were in your situation... I think, rather than answering on behalf of the victims whether to forgive her, I would want to tell her—<b>the her from the beginning</b>—something else entirely.
...Huh?
...Your existence alone has meaning. You don't have to sacrifice something just to justify your right to live peacefully... That's not kindness—it only harms you in the end.
That's wrong. And once you start down the wrong path, you'll keep falling deeper into the abyss trying to make up for that first mistake.
And once you step into that abyss, victimhood breeds hatred, and hatred leads to hurting others. Breaking free from this vicious cycle often demands an even greater sacrifice and time.
Yuko, if you could stand at the beginning of it all and look back at the choices you've made...
Is Chiko's forgiveness really what you're asking about?
...
Suddenly, a bitter, self-mocking laugh escapes Yuko's lips as she leans against the wall, slowly sliding down to the ground.
...I'm the one who can't forgive myself.
I made a mistake and couldn't forgive myself for that, and everything afterward... it was all just a cover-up. I was just desperately trying to justify my actions.
You're right... The more I tried to do something about it, the more mistakes I made. Desperately trying to make myself needed... What did that accomplish in the end?
...I was too weak. I died there, dragged so many people down with me, and even hurt what little family I had left.
If only I had time to grow... if only I had the power to change things...
Unfortunately... there have never been any what-ifs.
She pulls the little Froggie from her chest and clutches it tightly in her hands, falling silent.
...Do you like Froggie?
Lucia bends down and crouches beside her.
Yeah... I loved Froggie's stories even before I graduated...
She murmurs with her head lowered.
Froggie wasn't good at anything. It wanted to find a four-leaf clover of wonder so that it could have a home, but only ended up in one silly situation after another.
But somehow... it still managed to find something meaningful in all those failures and mishaps...
Reading those stories made me wonder... if only I could find something meaningful in my own failures, just like Froggie.
...
Why bring this up all of a sudden?
I really like Froggie as well, but... I only recently found out that it has its own stories.
Huh? So before that... you just liked it for its design?
Yeah.
You only recently found out its stories... Which book did you read?
The one where it started searching for a four-leaf clover to find happiness and a home.
Ah, the first book.
Does that story have an ending?
Originally, there was one... In the end, Froggie still couldn't found a four-leaf clover, nor the home that was supposed to come with it.
But Froggie took the items gathered during his journey of failures to build a modest, rundown tent, and planted ordinary three-leaf clovers beside it.
Even though they were just common clovers, Froggie tenderly nurtured and protected them, until one day... it found a four-leaf clover among them.
Froggie couldn't find a four-leaf clover of wonder, but it ended up creating one instead...
As Yuko speaks, she pulls out a Froggie-shaped voice recorder from her pocket.
I have a song here written for Froggie, though I only kept the instrumental track and lyrics.
With a sniff, she holds back her tears and hands over the voice recorder in a solemn gesture.
Lucia, I would like to give this to you.
...To me?
Yes. You helped the people who were trapped here, and you shared a lot with me... Thank you.
This song never had the chance to be released. It's a miracle itself that someone who loves Froggie gets to hear it.
With this miracle, I wish for you and your most cherished one... to be able to create your own four-leaf clover of wonder.
...Thank you...
I should be the one thanking you.
She stands up with a wave goodbye and walks away.
...
Watching as Yuko's figure disappears into the distance, you softly call out to Lucia.
I'm here, Commandant.
Alright.
Stepping out of the infirmary, you walk onto the observation bridge basking in the morning sunlight.
The streets below appear clean and orderly, showing no trace of the Red Tide's corruption—it seems the long night has finally passed.
Lucia stretches slightly in the sunlight, then sits down on the edge of the observation bridge, turning back to look at you.
Is there something you want to say?
...
...Yeah, a little bit.
This is the Golden Age... when they should still be alive.
I know I can't change the past.
We have more important things to do, and our own home to return to. And these words... I only say them when you ask.
Lucia squints her eyes in the breeze, her gaze drifting far into the distance.
Commandant, look.
At the end of the leftmost street, there's an exit. It's the highest point around here, also quite far from the underground parking lot.
Once everyone's gathered, we'll have them evacuate from there. Even if Cradle deploys the Red Tide, it'll still take some time to reach that location.
With a smile, Lucia outlines the next steps of the plan.
As we move out, we take the vanguard position, with the mercenaries covering the rear, keeping the employees protected in the middle.
Commandant, could you provide ranged support for those in the rear? Just... please stay within my sight.
Lucia nods, letting out a soft sigh against the cold wind.
...From here on, it's going to be one battle after another.
...
...Why do you say so?
It's nothing... Just some uncertainties. There's no point discussing them now—we'll only know once we're inside the Inver-Hetero Tower.
In the end, she chooses to keep her thoughts to herself.
And so, standing beside her, you also remain silent about the plans for when you enter the Inver-Hetero Tower.
Winter sunlight breaks through thin clouds and the force fields enveloping Constellia, casting a radiant golden hue over the city.
She reaches out as if to grasp something in the wind before her, then lets out a soft sigh at its intangible nature.
Time to go home, Commandant.
...It's time for you to go home.
Like countless times before, you reach out to Lucia, and she responds with a smile, taking your hand in hers.
...Sure.
