Bad Kid, Good Gift

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Characters, dialogue.

Bad Kid, Good Gift is an Adventure Mission on Amphoreus. It is part of the Amphoreus Annals chapter.

Steps

Move a bit further from the children and think about the current situation
Speak with the guard at Dawncloud
Go to the frontline fighting against the black tide
Check the fallen guards
- (Optional) Investigate the ordinary guard lying on the ground
- (Optional) Investigate the Mountain Dweller lying on the ground
Trace the lingering Fragment of Recollection near the fallen guards
Hide behind the Kephale statue and get ready for your act
Sneak away from behind the statue

Dialogue

Talk to Serena

Serena

Serena: Young (sir/madam), perfect timing! Can you vouch for me? They don't believe what I said.

Vouch for what? What've you nicked now?

Serena: Cross my heart! No more sticky fingers, promise!

Serena: Since finding Kephale's light, I've become a brand-new me! Every night I spirit-walk Dawncloud, memorizing those cathedral-sized murals.

Wait... you are...?

Serena: It's me, Serena! Your former purse-liberator? Occasional fibber?

Serena: But now? Daily do-gooder! In the Era Nova, I'll be a proper priestess of Kephale!

Serena: But these ankle-biters claim... Kephale's shield's failing. That we're sitting ducks here in the holy city. I cannot bear it anymore!

Lathena: Serena, you said you heard the sky father's response at Dawncloud. Can you tell us what they said again?

Serena: Of course! I've spent the last couple of days inscribing every word into my mind.

Serena: "— I will carry the burden of this heavy dawn, shielding the Holy City from the tides of darkness..."

Serena: Clear as day — the sky father's voice on the peak of the holy mountain.

Lathena: But we can clearly see that the "Dawn" on their shoulders isn't shining anymore.

Lathena: Either the sky father made a mistake...

Serena: Blasphemy! The prophecy can't be wrong.

Lathena: Then... Serena, you've never actually been to Dawncloud, have you? It's all a bunch of lies you made up to fool us?

Oh no... We have a mini-Cipher here.

The prophecy does indeed have falsehoods.

Please don't resort to violence. We can talk things through.

Yason: Serena, there's no need for altruism. Lies will only dash your hopes of becoming a priestess of Kephale in the new world. I'm ready for Thanatos' embrace...

Serena: Hey! Stop talking! You two... Do you need to hear it yourselves to believe it?

Serena: Then I... I...

Serena: Urgh! If only we can find that nice guard who smuggled me into Dawncloud last time... I would like to sneakily say hi to him. Just... I think we troubled him enough last time. I don't want to disturb his work.

Serena: (Mister/Miss), I'm begging you. Can you come to some kind of agreement with the other Dawncloud guards and bring me, Yason, Lathena to perform one last prayer at the Colossus of Kephale?

Serena: Let them feel the determination and warmth in Kephale's voice, let them be convinced that Okhema will stand tall against the black tide, and the Titan who bears the world has never forgotten about us.

Sure. I'll ask the guard for you.

Lathena & Yason: Huh... really?; Serena: Great! If we make another trip, I'll definitely keep a close eye on them. We get in and get out, no detours at all.; Serena: We will be waiting here for your good news.
(Continues to next step)

Three stowaways? You're really going to do this to me?

Serena: Hmph! Fine. I got some other plans. There's got to be some other ideas we can use.
(Exits dialogue)

(Interact with Serena again after exiting dialogue)

Serena: Young (sir/madam), you're back!

Serena: I want Yason and Lathena to hear Kephale's prophecy at Dawncloud. Could you please sweet-talk the guards?

Sure. I'll ask the guard for you.

Serena: Great! We will be waiting here for your good news.
(Continues to next step)

Thought about it. Still nope.

Serena: Hmph! Fine. I got some other plans. There's got to be some other ideas we can use.
(Exits dialogue)

Move a bit further from the children and think about the current situation

Mission Description

Three noisy little troublemakers are actually arguing about whether Kephale's protection is real. Faced with Serena's plea to visit Dawncloud again, you need to ponder carefully.

"Fallen Twilight City" Okhema

As you know, the supposed response from "Kephale" was done by "Mr. Nice Guard," who the girl told you about.

A lie needs to be helped up by infinitely more lies... Looks like you gotta find the guard again and deal with him in advance.

Recall his face.

He's got that extremely common and very ordinary face for an Okheman, just like all the countless other guards in the holy city. You'll be hard-pressed to find him in a crowd.

Recall his name.

You accepted his help but forgot to ask this nice guy his name.

(Trailblazer): I'm drawing blanks... Let's case Dawncloud first.

Speak with the guard at Dawncloud

Mission Description

Having reached Dawncloud, you find no sign of the "Mr. Nice Guard" that Serena spoke of.
Try to inquire with the guard on duty.

"Lightless Chapel" Dawncloud

Righteous Guard

Righteous Guard Stop! You... Oh! It's you, (Trailblazer).

Righteous Guard The war's already reached Okhema. You might be pretty skilled and powerful, but if you don't have anything urgent that's keeping you out here, it's best to not linger outside and find shelter!

The guard's tone is as tough as his armor. He doesn't seem like the type to go tender easily.

Mention you're looking for someone.

Righteous Guard Uh, someone called "Mr. Nice Guard"? You got any other details?; (Trailblazer): (If you give any more details you'll expose things. Serena doesn't want to cause that guard more trouble...)
(Go back to dialogue choice with the option removed)

Tell him of the children's request.

Righteous Guard What? Absolutely not! Look at the sorry state of things, the kids should stay where they're safe.
(Go back to dialogue choice with the option removed)

Find a topic to use as a probe for information.

Righteous Guard Do you need something else?

Ahem. You don't look like you're from around here!

Did today's guard rotation get changed?

Righteous Guard The one you're familiar with might be my colleague, maybe? We've been on the cycling in and out on the same post for more than a decade.

Righteous Guard But the situation is critical. The holy city guards transferred a bunch of people to hold back the tide. There's only a small group left here to maintain order and evacuate the civilians.

Righteous Guard My colleague got deployed to frontline... [sic] I'd switch with him, but he refused. He just told me to stay here and leave the frontlines to him.

Righteous Guard I know. His father was a guard of the city too, slaying monsters of the black tide... He always wanted to do the same thing, to prove he had the strength to protect his family and Okhema.

The holy city's only holy because it's got you in it.

Righteous Guard Heh. You got me acting up a cold sweat here. You can just praise my friend. I didn't do much.
(Go back to dialogue choice with the option removed)

Where's he stationed?

Righteous Guard From Kephale Plaza to the city gates — the main black tide defense line. This batch of guards might all be deployed there.

Righteous Guard Hope they make it back in one piece. This time, I'm swapping shifts with him no matter what.

(Trailblazer): (Go to the place he talked about. Maybe you can lend the guards a hand even...)

Go to the frontline fighting against the black tide

Mission Description

According to the guard, some of the soldiers defending Dawncloud have been dispatched to the frontline to fight against the black tide. The kind man who once helped Serena might be among them. Go to the location he mentioned to find out.

"Lightless Chapel" Dawncloud

(Upon approaching the Location): (Trailblazer): Did a battle just happen here...

(Investigate the guard on the left (west), optional): A young guard lies stiff on the ground, his limbs completely rigid, never to lift even the lightest weapon ever again.; No nameplates or relics. Nothing to even identify him with. You sigh, closing his eyelids.

(Investigate the Mountain Dweller lying on the ground, optional): The guard's body beneath his armor has sustained black tide corruption. Even before the darkness spread to his heart, he passed from the severity of his injuries.; Not being completely consumed of rationality by the black tide and turned into a monstrosity might be fate's final mercy for him.

(Investigate the guard on the right (east)): You check his breathing with the worst case scenario in mind and confirm the absence of life in his body. His nameplate on his chest has a few blurred words inscribed there: Phe...d...es?; "Click..." A sound comes. A disturbance resounds from beneath his armor. You check carefully, and discover the source to be a stone-made voice amplifier.

Trace the lingering Fragment of Recollection near the fallen guards

Mission Description

Beneath the armor of a fallen guard, you discover a peculiar relic. Trace what's recorded within the Fragment of Recollection to uncover what happened here.

"Lightless Chapel" Dawncloud

Activate Fragments of Recollection

Investigate

Standing Guard: Phedes, still fiddling with that amplifier? I remember that was something that belonged to your father.

Phedes: Yeah... He liked to use it to play pretend... making voices for me when I was small.

Phedes: After he died in battle, I kept it. I thought it would never come in handy again, but it turns out I ended up mimicking voices with it sometimes too... And that day, at Dawncloud...

Phedes: It was just an unexpected moment born of desperation, but seeing how happy it made the kid, I thought it was a worthwhile lie. I really hope she's still keeping the faith now!

Standing Guard: Really? Who did you impersonate?

Phedes: Hm... If I said I impersonated Kephale, would you believe me?

Standing Guard: Ha! Stop joking around. Say, you're not deliberately jesting to lift our moods with how desperately the war's going, right?

Standing Guard: Oh no! Look there! Black tide monsters incoming!

Phedes: Which wave of battle are we on now... Lets go. Lets get ready. We can't let the kids of the holy city lose their smiles!

(Trailblazer): So that's how it was... I understand.

(Trailblazer): Phedes, Phedes... Oh, "Mr. Nice Guard" who sneaked us into the Worldbearing Alter and impersonated Kephale for Serena — that was his name.

(Trailblazer): But, sadly, he fell...

As you sink deep into your thoughts, a despairing wail comes off from the side...

Despairing Priest: All-knowing sky father! See your fallen guards, your people! Why does death stain the holy city? Have you abandoned them?

Despairing Priest: The Era Nova... Our Era Nova... I always believed that we would awaken to that warm, radiant future in tranquil dreams.

Despairing Priest: But why does your Dawn Device darken? Didn't the chaplain say it would protect us till... forever?

The priest's sobs fade. You know the "eternal protection" was a lie that Cipher's created. When truth is revealed and faith shatters, will Serena be able to handle the following consequences?

We can't let the kids lose their smiles!

Yes, indeed. You recall Phedes' last words — "We can't let the kids of the holy city lose their smiles!"

But... How should we proceed?

A plan forms in your mind: You take Phedes' stone-made amplifier and tell that upright guard the whole story, asking him to bring the children before the colossus...

And then you use your lies to complete the children and Phedes's final wish.

(Trailblazer): Let's do that then!

The next day, after clearing the monsters roaming Dawncloud at Entry Hour, you stand before Kephale's statue...

(Trailblazer): Perfect timing. I'll hide before Serena and them arrive.

Hide behind the Kephale statue and get ready for your act

Mission Description

Find a well-hidden spot behind the Kephale statue and pull off your performance!

"Lightless Chapel" Dawncloud

(Upon approaching the Location): Standing there, you're well concealed enough. You grip the stone amplifier in your pocket and think of how "Mr. Nice Guard" responded to Serena hiding here. Then you prepared yourself.; Footsteps approach. Under a guard escort, Serena, Yason, and Lathena arrive and stand before the Colossus...

Righteous Guard: ...Kids, by (Trailblazer)'s sincerest request, we will make an exception and allow you into Dawncloud to behold the Titan's sacred form.

Righteous Gard:: It's extremely dangerous to wander out recklessly, so I intended for us to return the moment we encounter any monsters. But thanks to Kephale's divine providence, we didn't cross paths with any.

(Trailblazer): (Ahem... Yeah... Thankfully I cleared out the roads first...)

Righteous Guard: Don't waste time. You can all pray to the Titan for a while.

Lathena: Thanks, mister! It's an amazing sight! Serena, you really came here before?

Serena: Told you I wasn't lying! Go ahead and pray now! Oh, and you have to do it with piety and devoted faith... The sky father will definitely respond to your wishes as genuinely as he did mine. Ain't that right, Mr. Guard?

Righteous Guard: Ah? Yes, of course.

Yason: Dawn Machine... So big. Will it fall on us?

Remain silent.

Kephale?: "..."; Yason: Weird, no response?; Serena: Kephale won't answer such... stupid questions.
(Go back to dialogue choice with the option removed)

Careful! Titans get tired too.

Kephale?: "—Children of humanity, the Dawn Device indeed weighs heavy, even my shoulders. [sic] But worry not, for where you cannot see, I still have a hand steadily bearing its weight—"

Nah. It's against the law to litter from on high.

Kephale?: "—Worry not, I swore with Law Titan: [sic] I shall protect all of humanity and wield the authority to every memory in this world. The price will be to bear the heaviest burden until another takes the mantle—"

Lathena: Dummy Yason! What kind of question is that? You've wasted a chance to pray! My turn.

Lathena: Sky Father Kephale, I ask you sincerely: Okhema and the World Wound Web have slowed. Be the news true or false, but everywhere seems to be at war, chaos reigns, and on the cliffs, stand strange shadows...

Lathena: Everyone said that's because Era Nova is coming. What I want to know is: How will you protect us?

Lathena: Will you reach out and take us to the new world? Or it's like, after we've been dead for a long time, you'll breathe a breath and resurrect us? I'm very scared of dying, so I—I hope it is the first...

Remain silent.

Kephale?: "..."; Lathena: Serena, hear anything? Silence here.; Serena: Be patient! Sky father's not a town crier, loudly screeching their cries.
(Go back to dialogue choice with the option removed)

Don't fear death. It's just sleep.

Kephale?: "—I visited Thanatos's netherworld. There was a sea of tranquil flowers, where all souls will become floral seeds to receive the care and light of the Death Titan—"

Kephale?: "—Fear not death. The ones who departed earlier are but early arrivals at the sea of flowers—"

Kephale?: "—Treat this disaster as a nightmare, children. When you wake, all will reunite in the new world, be they living or dead—"

Come, all of you, stand upon me. There is space.

Kephale?: "—Ah, I was born with a mighty body, so that when the apocalypse comes and the world collapses, I can carry the children I created with my arms and on my shoulders, so that we might march toward Era Nova together—"

Kephale?: "—So long as you find a safe place to hide, I promise this: The black tide won't breach the holy city, just as my body will stand here eternal—"

Kephale?: "____/\__/\_____/\______... (Battery died... *cough cough*)—"

Righteous Guard: Alright, children, prayer time's over. Remember how the sky father replied to you?

Yason: Yeah! Neither meteors nor the Dawn Device will fall on me.

Lathena:Everyone in Okhema will definitely reach the Era Nova safely.

Righteous Guard: Good. Now you're all the chosen children who heard from the sky father. You should be with your families and stay safe and at ease during the apocalypse.

(Trailblazer): It's over. Huh? Serena... is still here? Better sneak away from her quietly!

Sneak away from behind the statue

Mission Description

Ahem... You sure talked their ears off, but at least the kids bought your act. Now, quietly slip away.

"Lightless Chapel" Dawncloud

(Upon approaching the Location)

(Trailblazer): I'm invisible... I'm invisible...

Serena: Young (sir/madam), I see you!

Serena: Young (sir/madam), it was you who responded to our voices just now, right?

Are you kidding? It was Kephale.

Serena: Really... If we pray again now, will the sky father still respond to us?

Alright. You saw right through it. It was me.

Serena: Figures. I deceived you before, (mister/miss), but now you "tricked" me!

Serena: (Mister/Miss), tell me the truth. I can handle that. Was that voice last time also fake? It wasn't really Kephale either, right? It was Mr. Nice Guard, right?

...You knew?

The voice amplifier malfunctioned?

You're hard to fool, you witty thing...

Serena: Actually... I know about Kephale's voice, who Mr. Nice Guard is, all of it. Bad liars... can't really keep the lie for very long.

Serena: I... Everyone did so much for me. The ones who protected me aren't just the distant Titan, but also those around me.

Then why did you come to pray again?

Serena: Yeah, because Yason and Lathena still don't know yet!

Serena: So many people have looked after me, so I wanted to look after two kids who were even smaller than me too.

Serena: I almost burst into tears the first time I heard Kephale's voice. I want them to hear it, too. so that they believe. So that they know when the Era Nova in the prophecy comes, we'll be protected by the Worldbearing Titan.

Serena: Plus, I'm Serena! I've slept in busted wooden boxes, and kept myself alive by stealing. Don't matter if the prophecy comes true or not, I've always done my best to keep surviving.

Serena: Back at the Marmoreal Market, I'll tell all the adults and kids: Kephale's reply is true, the sky father wants us to hold on to hope, till the last day of the apocalypse... And then, we will all meet again.

Serena, you've grown up.

Don't spill the beans!

Well, I'll escort you back.

Serena: Thank you, young (sir/madam). We'll meet again in the Era Nova!

(Mission completed)

(Unlock Achievement One-Day Kephale)

Post-Mission

Post-Mission dialogue on Serena's page.

Other Languages

Language	Official Name
English	Bad Kid, Good Gift
Chinese (Simplified)	坏孩子，好礼物
Chinese (Traditional)	壞孩子，好禮物
Japanese	悪い子供に、良い贈り物
Korean	나쁜 아이, 좋은 선물
Spanish	Niños malos, buenos regalos
French	À mauvais enfants, bons cadeaux
Russian	Плохой ребёнок, хороший подарок
Thai	เด็กผู้ดื้อรั้นกับของขวัญอันดีงาม
Vietnamese	Đứa trẻ hư, món quà tuyệt vời
German	Schlechtes Kind, gutes Geschenk
Indonesian	Anak Nakal, Hadiah yang Bagus
Portuguese	Criança Má, Presente Bom

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Released in Version 3.3

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