A Checkmated Game

 Uncovering the Truth

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(‍BelleBelleText for Wise / WiseWiseText for Belle‍) already filled Billy and Cissia in on the investigation results. Head over now and start looking into the truth behind the mastermind using the clues from yesterday.

Booastrum District

(Ongoing)

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍I slept pretty badly last night... oh well.I slept pretty badly last night... oh well.Text for Wise / I don't think I slept very well... whatever,I don't think I slept very well... whatever,Text for Belle‍) I should head downstairs and find Billy and the others first.

(Idle)

Cissia: Girtablullu... is hiding in Booastrum right now?

Billy: Wonder what other schemes the culprit has...

(Talk to Cissia)

The Truth Within Reach

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 The Truth Within Reach

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Video Summary: The most unbeatable enemy is the one at your back.

Story Description: (‍WiseWiseText for Wise / BelleBelleText for Belle‍), along with Cissia and Billy, traces the path of the Singularity Leakage further and further, only to find its destination is Lady Dracaene's office. Dracaene confirms that a Singularity Leakage has indeed occurred in her office and mentions that she has something important to reveal, but first, she dismisses Billy and Cissia.

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Cissia: (‍Wise!Wise!Text for Wise / Belle!Belle!Text for Belle‍) There you are! (‍BelleBelleText for Wise / WiseWiseText for Belle‍) already told us everything!

Billy: Now that's our manager! You found a clue on the culprit in no time at all!

Next, we investigate the site.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍Alright, timeAlright, timeText for Wise / Alright! TimeAlright! TimeText for Belle‍) to investigate the site. We'll (‍head tohead toText for Wise / start atstart atText for Belle‍) the Energy Hub and (‍tracetraceText for Wise / followfollowText for Belle‍) the Singularity Leakages (‍as they appearas they appearText for Wise / one by oneone by oneText for Belle‍) until we (‍locatelocateText for Wise / track downtrack downText for Belle‍) either the culprit or Girtablullu.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Right, Fairy and I will stay here and provide remote support, as always.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Wise, if you run into the culprit or Girtablullu, don't do anything reckless, okay? Your safety comes first.Wise, if you run into the culprit or Girtablullu, don't do anything reckless, okay? Your safety comes first.Text for Wise / Belle, if you end up running into the culprit or Girtablullu, your safety comes first. Don't take any unnecessary risks.Belle, if you end up running into the culprit or Girtablullu, your safety comes first. Don't take any unnecessary risks.Text for Belle‍)

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Don't worry, (‍Belle. I promise I'll be extra careful.Belle. I promise I'll be extra careful.Text for Wise / Wise. I'll be extra careful. Promise.Wise. I'll be extra careful. Promise.Text for Belle‍)

Billy: We'll protect the manager too!

Cissia: Yeah, yeah! Don't worry, (‍Belle!Belle!Text for Wise / Wise!Wise!Text for Belle‍) If anything goes wrong, I'll grab (‍WiseWiseText for Wise / BelleBelleText for Belle‍) and make a run for it! Oh, Sorry, Billy, (‍you'reyou'reText for Wise / you're uh, you'reyou're uh, you'reText for Belle‍) on your own, buddy!

Billy: No problem! A Starlight Knight always protects their companions until their dying breath!

Cissia: Wow, seriously... C'mon, don't say stuff like that, it's bad luck! Anyway, it's getting late. Let's go!

You then head to the Energy Hub with Billy and Cissia...

Following the path where Singularity Leakages appeared, you make your way deeper into the Energy Hub...
Eventually, you arrive in front of a strange fissure. This should be the end of the path.

You carefully step inside, only to find yourselves facing...

Cissia: (‍Wise,Wise,Text for Wise / Belle,Belle,Text for Belle‍) we're here! Stay sharp, and if things go south, just run!

Cissia: Huh? Where are we...? Did we end up back in Booastrum?

Billy: It looks like... an office?

I think I've seen this place before...

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): This place feels... really familiar... Wait — isn't this Lady Dracaene's office?! Velina brought me here before!

Cissia: Huh? Lady Dracaene's office? So Girtablullu came all the way here... just to walk straight into a trap? But Lady Dracaene never mentioned anything like that.

...

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): ((‍Strange...Strange...Text for Wise / This is so strange...This is so strange...Text for Belle‍) We expected the (‍trail of Singularity Leakagestrail of Singularity LeakagesText for Wise / Singularity Leakage trailSingularity Leakage trailText for Belle‍) to lead into Booastrum, (‍but... why would it end at Lady Dracaene's office?but... why would it end at Lady Dracaene's office?Text for Wise / but why Lady Dracaene's office, of all places?)but why Lady Dracaene's office, of all places?)Text for Belle‍)

Cissia: Hm? Wait! Footsteps outside... Hide, now!

Before you can start to hide, the office door opens...

Dracaene: ...! You startled me... What are you all doing here?

Cissia: Uh, well... Actually... Ugh, (‍Wise,Wise,Text for Wise / Belle,Belle,Text for Belle‍) you explain.

You tell Lady Dracaene what you've discovered so far, and how you arrived here from the Energy Hub...

Dracaene: I see... A path formed by Singularity Leakages? I really hadn't considered that possibility before.

Dracaene: If your speculation is correct... Then Girtablullu is most likely hiding among the Singularity Leakages in Booastrum right now.

Dracaene: Hmm... And if that's the case, then it all makes sense.

Do you have any other clues?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍Hm?Hm?Text for Wise / Huh?Huh?Text for Belle‍) Lady Dracaene, do you have any other clues?

Dracaene: Well, you see, a few nights ago, a small Singularity Leakage appeared near my office.

Dracaene: Considering that, together with your deductions, the target of both the culprit and Girtablullu is most likely...

Dracaene: (‍Wise,Wise,Text for Wise / Hmm... Belle,Hmm... Belle,Text for Belle‍) could I ask these two to step outside for a moment? After all, their identities...

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍It's alright, Lady Dracaene.It's alright, Lady Dracaene.Text for Wise / Huh? It's okay, Lady Dracaene!Huh? It's okay, Lady Dracaene!Text for Belle‍) We're all friends here. (‍It shouldn't be an issue.It shouldn't be an issue.Text for Wise / There won't be any trouble.There won't be any trouble.Text for Belle‍)

Dracaene: I understand, but... this concerns Roscaelifer's highest-level secrets. The fewer people who know... the better.

Dracaene: Especially considering who these two are: a New Eridu Public Security officer and, um... an unemployed freeloader...

Billy: Uh... An "unemployed freeloader" is a little harsh, Lady Dracaene...

Cissia: I get it... It's the kind of top-secret stuff where knowing too much means trouble, right?! Maybe even getting silenced... permanently!

Dracaene: Yeah... more or less.

Dracaene: It's a bit complicated, so (‍WiseWiseText for Wise / BelleBelleText for Belle‍) and I will need some time to talk. Cissia and Billy, you can return to Amber Hall and rest. Once we're done, someone will escort (‍WiseWiseText for Wise / BelleBelleText for Belle‍) back to you.

Cissia: Right away, no problem, Lady Dracaene! Me and this robot vacuum will disappear right now! We already stopped listening!

Cissia hurries away with Billy in tow...

(Something feels... off...)

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (Something feels... (‍off...off...Text for Wise / off somehow...off somehow...Text for Belle‍))

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (Why am I treated differently from Cissia and Billy? Is it something about my identity...? Why would Lady Dracaene send them away like that?)^{[Note 1]}

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (Should I call (‍themthemText for Wise / Billy and CissiaBilly and CissiaText for Belle‍) back here...? (‍Huh...Huh...Text for Wise / Hmm...Hmm...Text for Belle‍))

Dracaene: What is it, (‍Wise?Wise?Text for Wise / Belle?Belle?Text for Belle‍) Something on your mind?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Ah, it's nothing, Lady Dracaene.

Dracaene: Come here, (‍Wise.Wise.Text for Wise / Belle.Belle.Text for Belle‍) I'll tell you what happened that night.

Metamorphosis

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 Metamorphosis

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Video Summary: The most unbeatable enemy is the one at your back.

Story Description: "Once the two are alone, "Dracaene" suddenly transforms and attacks (‍WiseWiseText for Wise / BelleBelleText for Belle‍), only to be intercepted by Pyrois. Just then, Truvia appears unexpectedly and is struck by "Dracaene." In the chaos, Pyrois grabs (‍WiseWiseText for Wise / BelleBelleText for Belle‍) and makes a break for it through the window.

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	Dracaene: That night, I had just returned to my office when I sensed an unusually strong Ether presence in the air. The source seems to be somewhere around here. (ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Now that you mention it... (‍there still isthere still isText for Wise / yeah, I can still feelyeah, I can still feelText for Belle‍) a faint trace of Ether in this room.
	Dracaene: Aside from the residual Ether, these documents were scattered across the floor at the time. (ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Lady Dracaene, (‍are these documents connected to the incident?are these documents connected to the incident?Text for Wise / do these documents have something to do with what happened?do these documents have something to do with what happened?Text for Belle‍) Dracaene: Compare them with what you have found. Once you read them, you will understand.
	(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): CCD facility renovation plans, personnel transfer records, Rosetta Data daily reports... (‍They don't seem to have much in common.They don't seem to have much in common.Text for Wise / These don't really have anything in common, do they?These don't really have anything in common, do they?Text for Belle‍)
	(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): —!!! (ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): What's going on? My eyes just...
	(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍Wait... thatWait... thatText for Wise / Huh...? Wait. ThatHuh...? Wait. ThatText for Belle‍) Ethereal broke in (‍severalseveralText for Wise / herehereText for Belle‍) days ago, so why is there still Ether residue?
	(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): And the Ether isn't coming from in front of me. It feels more like... (ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): ...Behind me...
	(Dracaene attacks Phaethon)
	(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): ...Pyrois!
	(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): I knew it... You're not Lady Dracaene!
	(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): What (‍exactlyexactlyText for Wise / the heckthe heckText for Belle‍) are you?
	Truvia: Lady Dracaene! Truvia: I'm Truvia from High Ambitions Corp. I'm here for our appointment...
	(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Truvia, run!!!
	Truvia: Huh?
	(Truvia is stabbed through the torso)
	(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Tr—Truvia...
	(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): No... no, no, no...
	Pyrois: ...Move. Now.
	(Pyrois breaks through the window)
	(Phaethon looks back, stunned, as they fall down)
	(Dracaene watches through the broken window)
	Dracaene?: ...

Wanted

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 Wanted

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Video Summary: The most unbeatable enemy is the one at your back.

Story Description: Sigrid rushes to the CCD amid the alarms, only to be informed by "Dracaene" that (‍WiseWiseText for Wise / BelleBelleText for Belle‍) has gravely wounded Truvia. Using this as leverage, "Dracaene" orders Sigrid to bring (‍WiseWiseText for Wise / BelleBelleText for Belle‍) back to her.

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Inside the CCD, a piercing alarm sounds again and again...

Sigrid: Lady Dracaene, are you unharmed? We received word that something inside the CCD—

Sigrid: Is that... Miss Truvia?! How did this...

Dracaene?: Sigrid? Thank goodness, just in time! Hurry, help me stop the bleeding!

Sigrid: Yes, Lady Dracaene!

Dracaene?: Ugh, this is my fault... I shouldn't have left her here alone with (‍Wise.Wise.Text for Wise / Belle.Belle.Text for Belle‍)

Dracaene?: (‍Wise?Wise?Text for Wise / Belle?Belle?Text for Belle‍) Lady Dracaene, forgive my boldness, but do you mean... (‍Mr. WiseMr. WiseText for Wise / Miss BelleMiss BelleText for Belle‍) gravely wounded Miss Truvia?

Dracaene?: Yes, that's what happened... Uh, what I mean is I never realized there was such a deep animosity between (‍WiseWiseText for Wise / BelleBelleText for Belle‍) and Truvia.

Dracaene?: But... But I believe (‍WiseWiseText for Wise / BelleBelleText for Belle‍) must've acted on impulse. (‍HeHeText for Wise / SheSheText for Belle‍) would never do this otherwise.

Dracaene?: In any case, our first priority is to find (‍Wise,Wise,Text for Wise / Belle,Belle,Text for Belle‍) and get to the bottom of this. (‍HeHeText for Wise / SheSheText for Belle‍) just fled.

Dracaene?: Lindverne isn't here, so... Can I count on you to handle this, Sigrid?

Sigrid: ...

Dracaene?: Hm? Sigrid, is something troubling you?

Sigrid: Ah, my apologies, Lady Dracaene! I will find (‍WiseWiseText for Wise / BelleBelleText for Belle‍) at once and bring (‍himhimText for Wise / herherText for Belle‍) back to you.

Dracaene?: Good, I'll leave that to you, Sigrid. And about tonight... keep it quiet for now. We don't want our guests who've just arrived to feel any unnecessary panic.

Sigrid: Yes, Lady Dracaene.

Dracaene?: ...

Hehe... Go, Sigrid. Go fulfill your duty.

Find (‍him,him,Text for Wise / her,her,Text for Belle‍) arrest (‍him,him,Text for Wise / her,her,Text for Belle‍) and then... bring (‍himhimText for Wise / herherText for Belle‍) back to me...

Beneath the Icy Rain

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 Beneath the Icy Rain

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Video Summary: Wings will be your own personal shield.

Story Description: Reeling from the sudden betrayal of "Dracaene" and the attack on Truvia, (‍WiseWiseText for Wise / BelleBelleText for Belle‍) is confronted by Pyrois's sharp words and forced to face the hard truth that (‍heheText for Wise / shesheText for Belle‍) is powerless to resolve the crisis. Just when all hope seems lost, Remielle appears and brings the secretly wanted (‍WiseWiseText for Wise / BelleBelleText for Belle‍) back to her hideout.

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Meanwhile, somewhere in the city of the skies...

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Pyrois!

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Why... Why did you pull me back?! Truvia... she was right there! Why wouldn't you let me save her?!

Pyrois: Because she's beyond saving.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Huh?

Pyrois: Her wounds were clearly fatal. There was no way to save her.

Pyrois: And that thing that appeared like Sunbringer... we cannot face it on our own.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): But aren't you powerful, Pyrois...?

Pyrois: Hm?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): You're supposed to be powerful, Pyrois! So why... why didn't you use that power to save (‍her?her?Text for Wise / her...?her...?Text for Belle‍)

Pyrois: ...Are you sure? Do you really want to see the rest of Roscaelifer buried alongside your old classmate?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): I...

Pyrois: Acting on impulse won't save her. And it won't help you, either.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): ...

Pyrois: *sigh* Take some time to clear your head in the rain, before that thing finds you.

Pyrois: And then go do what only you can do... What you have to do.

Something only I can do...

But, right now... I can't do anything...

...

...

......

Remielle: You sure look like a mess...

Remielle: It's only been one day. How did you end up like this?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Remielle? Why are you here...?

Remielle: The Airspace Patrol alarms have been going off nonstop, so I had to check, didn't I? They could be looking for their fugitive.

Remielle: So... how did you manage to end up in such a mess?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): ...

Remielle: Alright, alright. If you don't want to talk, fine... but don't stand out here in the rain, okay? You'll catch a cold.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): ...

Remielle: And if you don't want to go home... Oh, right, Amber Hall's already surrounded by Airspace Patrol. Going back now would be walking straight into a trap.

Remielle: In that case... why not come to my place for a while? At least I can give you somewhere to sleep.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): ...

Remielle: If you don't answer, then I'll take your silence as a yes.

Still dazed, you let Remielle bring you back to her place at the En-Nah Gang's hideout...