A Fading Dream

Steps

1. Meet Cissia at Ballet Twins Road

Dialogue

 Meet Cissia at Ballet Twins Road

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Meet up with Cissia near Ballet Twins Road and hang out for a bit.

Ballet Twins Road

You meet up with Cissia outside Ballet Twins

(Talk to Cissia)

Cissia: So this is the edge of the city?

Cissia: It's way quieter here than Sixth Street or Failume Heights... Not even the sound of cars or Bangboo chirping around.

It's a bit of a ways from Sixth Street

Because it's too close to the Hollow

Cissia: This place gives off some seriously creepy vibes...

Cissia: But hey, since we're already here, wanna check out the riverside?

(While following Cissia)

Cissia: That's a massive Hollow... right across.

Cissia: Look at all those high-rises over there...

Cissia: This place used to be super bustling once right?

(If Cissia is too far away)

(Version 1)

Cissia: Want me to wait up for ya, Proxy?

(Version 2)

Cissia: Tired already, Proxy? I'm kind of impatient, y'know~

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(Upon arriving at the riverside)

Cissia: It feels so oppressive up close...

(Talk to Cissia)

Cissia: The Hollow on the other side of the river's so close... feels like I could reach it with a flick of my tongue...

Cissia: The drive from Sixth Street to here doesn't take long at all — you never really think about it, but people just live their lives this close to a Hollow like it's nothing.

You've probably gotten used to the Hollows now

Cissia: Used to it, huh... When you live with pain long enough, guess you really do start treating it like the air you breathe.

Cissia: I used to think life in the Outer Ring meant living with danger every day, scraping by without enough food or warm clothes, just barely surviving...

Cissia: But even in the city, people are living right next to Hollows every day too. Hollows sthat [sic] could swallow anything at any moment.

Maybe Sixth Street's just gotten too comfortable

Cissia: It's true... After staying on Sixth Street for so long, sometimes it even feels like those days of struggling to survive in the Outer Ring were nothing but a long dream.

Cissia: In that dream, I'm always starving, always freezing, always hiding from something.

Cissia: But the comfortable city life sometimes makes people forget that the Hollows are right there, so close by, ready to swallow up anything and everything at any moment.

Cissia: Sure, the bigwigs in the city put on a good show for everyone—with their Frontier, their alarm systems, and fancy names like "Public Security" and "Investigation Association"—making it all seem way less scary than it really is.

Cissia: Life in the Outer Ring? Rough, but simple. Every day, your worries boil down to: don't get caught by rival Biker Gangs, don't get eaten by Hollows or Ethereals...

Cissia: Sounds brutal, right? Life in the Outer Ring is a pure eat-or-be-eaten game... no middle ground.

Cissia: Back then, all I ever wanted was a full belly—and hey, if the food tasted good, even better!

Cissia: Companions around me keep coming and going, getting eaten by who knows what... but as long as Chalky and I don't get eaten, that's all that matters. Simple as that...

Cissia: The tougher life gets, the fewer bonds you have... Maybe bonds are just too precious—too hard to protect. That's why Chalky and I, living this rough life, don't have any bonds at all.

Cissia: The less you hold onto, the less there is to lose.

Cissia: Life's gotten a lot easier lately. But somehow... the things I care about keep piling up and getting heavier. Sometimes I wake up on the couch, stare at the ceiling, and think: What if one day all of it disappears?

Your bonds?

Cissia: Exactly, bonds!

Cissia: There are no shotgun-toting Biker Gangs or Sweepers on Sixth Street... Hot pot joints and teamilk stores at Lumina Square rolling out new menu items every week...

Cissia: The Public Security Officer who looks scary but just wants to say hi... the shopkeepers who act like we're old friends even though we've never met... And my demon boss, who's super mean but still pays me when I had to stay in the hospital... these are all things I can't let go of.

Cissia: And... and there's even a place I could call home now, with a big, soft couch.

Sounds like you've been pretty happy lately?

Cissia: Of course!

Cissia: There are no shotgun-toting Biker Gangs or Sweepers on Sixth Street... Hot pot joints and teamilk stores at Lumina Square rolling out new menu items every week...

Cissia: The Public Security Officer who looks scary but just wants to say hi... the shopkeepers who act like we're old friends even though we've never met... And my demon boss, who's super mean but still pays me when I had to stay in the hospital... Who wouldn't be happy with all that?

Cissia: Who wouldn't be happy to have a home—with a big soft couch.

Cissia falls silent for a moment, then turns and hurries away from the railing by the shore—as if putting distance between herself and it could somehow let her escape the shadow of the Hollow.

Cissia: But when I think about how all of that is sitting right next to a Hollow... how it could all get swallowed up in an instant... it kinda scares me.

I'll get everyone out if that happens

I won't let that happen

Cissia: Yeah... You're the best Proxy in all of New Eridu! You'll get everyone out for sure! There's no way something like that'll happen!

Cissia: But hey, anyone can talk big, right? Hollows don't care about your reasoning—when they're hungry, they'll devour anything. Doesn't matter how skilled of a Proxy you are.

Cissia: But... I want to believe what you said... I really, really want to believe it!

Cissia: Of course, while you're keeping everyone safe, Proxy, don't forget to protect me and Chalky too!

Deal

When the time comes, you better stick close to me

Cissia: Hmph hmph~ With your promise, I feel a little better now.

Cissia: You've lived in New Eridu, on Sixth Street for so long... must have way more ties and connections than I do, right?

Cissia: When I became a case specialist, I had to recite some oath about "protecting the city, protecting the people" and all that jazz under my demon lord boss's intimidating stare...

Cissia: Back then, I was thinking—all that stuff was way too big, way too heavy! How were Chalky and I supposed to carry that on our little shoulders? But I still obediently recited those oaths under my boss's threats and promises...

Cissia: "I'm not that selfless or noble"... That's what I thought back then, but now I realize that "protecting the city and its people" might actually be a pretty selfish thing.

Cissia: Truth is, I just wanna protect this cozy, happy life of mine—I wanna see the streets all lively and chaotic, I wanna see that mouthwatering new menu board outside the hot pot joint, I wanna see that scary-looking Public Security Officer who nods at me, I wanna see those friendly shop owners who treat everyone like old friends...

Cissia: I wanna see you every single day, 'cause just seeing you there makes me feel happy!

Cissia: As a Public Security case specialist, all I want is to protect this selfish little happiness of mine.

That's my own selfish reason, too

Let's protect this happiness together

Cissia: Eek! —Whoops, got a little sappy there for a sec...

Cissia: Anyway... you know what I mean! This is my resolve to protect the city and its people—pretty awesome, right?!

Pretty awesome indeed!

Trust increase with Cissia

Super awesome Agent Cissia!

Significant Trust increase with Cissia

Cissia: Hmph hmph~ you're pretty awesome yourself, Proxy~

Cissia: Alright! After hanging around a place this quiet for so long, I'm starting to miss the noise on Sixth Street!

The car's parked up there

Let's head home together

Trust increase with Cissia

(Idle)

Cissia: Time to get back where the action is!

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