Dance of Resolute Will/Story

The Art of the Elegant Blade Dance?

Main article: The Art of the Elegant Blade Dance?

Quest Description

In a nondescript corner of Belleau Region, you and Paimon discover the entrance to a Domain. A Blade Dancer in high spirits extends a special invitation to you...

(Talk to Costentin): Costentin: Haha! What luck that two fine-looking adventurers such as yourselves have run into me, Costentin, here today. It must be fate...; Costentin: So tell me, the pair of you — do you wish to revel in glorious combat?; Paimon: Talk about out of the blue! Do you usually start conversations like this?; Are you looking to pick a quarrel?; ...Or just hungry for a knuckle sandwich?; Costentin: No no, I'm not challenging you two to a fight...; Costentin: By "combat," I don't mean some frivolous venting of pent-up anger, nor some kind of highway robbery.; Costentin: I'm talking about an ode to your inner passion, an artistic appreciation of the expression of your natural instincts!; Costentin: Evolution has given us hands with which to grip our swords, so it's our duty to use them for their purpose: clenching a blade most beautiful and wielding it in an elegant dance of death!; Costentin: As a pair of intrepid adventurers, I have no doubt that you'll be masters of this art!; Paimon: Uhh, you seem to be grasping the wrong end of the stick when it comes to combat... you're making it sound like the best thing since sliced bread!; Paimon: Even though Paimon doesn't usually get involved, just seeing how (‍Traveler‍) deals with enemies is enough for her to know that fighting's really tough!; Paimon: That's another thing, we haven't even told you who we are! How can you be so sure we're good at fighting?; Costentin: Well, we're already quite some distance from the Court of Fontaine. How else could you have gotten here, if not by slaughtering every monster obstructing your path? By dropping out of the sky?; Wrong! I know an even better way to travel!; Wrong! We jumped off the aquabus!; Costentin: Anyway, the aura emanating from you betrays how strong you are! I'm sure you've vanquished many powerful foes, and equally certain that you'll be very interested to hear about the one that resides in the Domain behind me...; Paimon: Hey, now we're back to familiar territory! Let Paimon guess, you were about to ask... "Would the two of you please demonstrate your prowess in combat for me?"; Costentin: That's right! Would the two of you please demonstrate your prowess in combat for me? Pretty please?; Paimon: Then our response is — Why don't you go do it yourself, huh?; Costentin: Because when I went inside just now, I got beaten black and blue! Only you can't tell because I covered it up with makeup as quickly as I could.; Paimon: Paimon didn't expect you to just admit it like that!; Awww, poor you!; Great job with the makeup, you nailed it!; Costentin: There's no shame in defeat. After all, I'm only a writer, so naturally I'm not an expert fighter. I haven't been practicing for nearly long enough.; Costentin: I only got the urge to put myself to the test after coming across stories about a certain "Blade Dancer" called Lafeinte while reading through some reference materials.; Costentin: He likened combat to a dance of blades, and with the help of a certain talented engineer, had multiple arenas built where exquisite performances were held...; Costentin: Such... consummate elegance!; Costentin: Though he ended up in the Maison Gardiennage's bad books and had to flee Fontaine, stories of such legendary deeds make for gripping reading. I couldn't just let such top-notch source material go completely to waste!; Paimon: So what you're saying is, you were trying to imitate a legendary figure...?; Costentin: Exactly! I wanted to get into his head and understand his frame of mind. It took years of painstaking searching before I finally found this Domain.; Costentin: It seems luck is with me! This must have been one of the arenas that the "Blade Dancer" built back in the day. If only someone could perform such a blade dance in the flesh and let me bear witness to the spectacle...; Costentin: I'd be able to write a novel about a legendary swordsman, modeled after the "Blade Dancer" himself, and in so doing keep his elegance alive for posterity!; Costentin: Of course, the two of you will certainly be richly rewarded for your trouble.; Costentin: My writings would also be a written record of your hard work, which would itself become the stuff of legend, passed down far into the future... At least among novel enthusiasts...; Paimon: When you put it all fancy like that, Paimon's starting to feel curious... (‍Traveler‍), whaddya say?; I get to fight, and even get paid for it?; That's basically free money!; Paimon: Good point... That means we're agreeing to help this swashbuckling novelist, right?; Costentin: Woohoo! I knew you'd agree!; Costentin: Then I'll leave it to you two! And don't you worry, I've hidden a Kamera in the Domain that will capture all of your heroics.; Costentin: Your promised reward will be waiting for you upon your triumphant return!

Blade Dance's Unexpected End!

Main article: Blade Dance's Unexpected End!

Quest Description

After experiencing a unique battle on the Blade Dancer's stage, you and Paimon plan to give Costentin some feedback, but discover something has changed...

(Approach Enghiene and Costentin): Enghiene: Unauthorized combat, unauthorized combat! Seize them immediately!; Enghiene: Upon discovering such a dangerous Domain, you should have reported it straight back to the Maison Gardiennage, not started an unauthorized investigation, let alone used violence... You really are a bloodthirsty one, aren't you?; Costentin: B–B–B–But please! Not only are we not in the Court of Fontaine, but we're beating up monsters! Can we really be arrested for that?; Enghiene: Are you a registered member of the Adventurers' Guild?; Costentin: N–No, I'm not... I didn't have what it takes to pass their physical tests...; Enghiene: Then presumably you informed the Maison Gardiennage in advance that you planned on using weapons within the borders of Fontaine?; Costentin: Huh? You have to declare in advance that you're planning to use weapons?; Enghiene: Of course you do! If any old Pierre, Paul, or Jacques could start a fight in Fontaine whenever they wanted, where would that leave the Maison Gardiennage?; Enghiene: Waving weapons around like toys without a permit, you're lucky that the Gardemeks didn't treat you like an intruder!; Enghiene: Take a good look at yourself! You're practically a fake Fontainian. Do you seriously think us arresting you would be some grave miscarriage of justice?; Costentin: I've completely misjudged this whole thing! As a writer, I selected my source material poorly, and should have known better than to overlook the basic setting of the story... A complete dereliction of duty!; We often investigate Domains on a whim...; ...and we've never had to declare anything before?; Paimon: But it's been ages since we became adventurers, so there shouldn't be a problem, right?; Enghiene: Oh? It's you two! You're both A-listers!; Enghiene: Ahem, my name is Enghiene and I am a veteran member of the Gardes with years of experience out in the wilds. A short time ago, while patrolling nearby, I caught sight of this reckless fellow...; Enghiene: He explained the ins and outs of why he's been loitering around here, and showed me this strange Domain. He also informed me that the two of you were taking part in this "Blade Dance" of his.; Paimon: Eek!; We had a "smashing" time in there.; Are we under arrest too?; Enghiene: Of course not! On the contrary, in light of the outstanding pluck and valor that the two of you have shown, I'd say you deserve a handsome reward!; Enghiene: Despite the recklessness of his "undeclared use of dangerous weaponry," all we're really talking about here is bringing this rascal in and giving him a verbal warning.; Enghiene: Not like he committed any major crimes, so of course he won't be punished too severely.; Costentin: Even if it's just a fine, I'm afraid that I have but little Mora to give you...; Paimon: Don't panic, don't panic!; Paimon: Though Costentin tends to exaggerate, he's certainly not a bad person... He's just mesmerized by the art and elegance of combat and wants to write a novel, that's all.; Enghiene: Do you hear that? The celebrities are interceding on your behalf... Don't let me catch you making the same mistake again, you reckless — albeit thoroughly decent — fellow!; Costentin: Next time, I guarantee you I'll do all the necessary preparation before I start another on-site investigation!; Enghiene: Anyway, I'll do things by the book and take him back to the Maison Gardiennage for a good tongue-lashing.; Enghiene: Another member of the Gardes will be over later to get this Domain properly cleaned up...; Enghiene: But with you two here, it doesn't really pose a danger anyway.; Enghiene: If you so desire, please feel free to carry on beating up the monsters inside... You'd be doing my colleague a huge favor!; Paimon: So... We're now a pair of knights in shining armor who've been doubly rewarded — not only by a sword novelist, but by the Maison Gardiennage too! All in all, not a bad little detour, eh?