Similar Yet Different Nights

Memories by the Bonfire

(Everyone gathers around Steeltusk)

A Brief Rest at Night

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 A Brief Rest at Night

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Video Summary: Getting back on your feet is just as important as making it to the end.

Story Description: After returning to Blazewood, you and the others decide to resume the search for Ramiel tomorrow. Cissia asks Lighter about the "Calydon Reaper," but the answer she gets leaves her in silence...

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After returning to Blazewood...

Lucy: Figures. Anything connected to TOPS is trouble. We'll take turns keeping watch. Proxy, you guys can stay here tonight without worrying.

Lighter: Whatever goes on in the city isn't our business. But if they show up here acting like the Outer Ring is their personal playground... then maybe it's time they get a taste of Blazewood's... hospitality.

Thank you, guys...

We're just chasing one mystery after another...

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Thank you, (‍everyoneeveryoneText for Wise / guysguysText for Belle‍). Ramiel, Rusty Cliff, (‍thatthatText for Belle‍) mechanical Romeul... (‍Man, itMan, itText for Wise / it justit justText for Belle‍) feels like we've been chasing one mystery after another all day.

Cissia: Nom... Mysteries shmysteries. With this specialist here, I'll just — yow! — bite them all to pieces!

With that, Cissia resumes her struggle with a bag of particularly tough jerky...

Billy: Cissia! Need a hand? Check it out! My new armor's got fingertip micro-thruster assist! Vrrroom~

Cissia: Ah, stop! Dumbass who almost got tricked by the enemy, hands off my snacks!

Billy: Hey... Don't be so mean! I mean, earlier you were all like...

Cissia: Shoo shoo, go chat with them! Don't even think about my jerky!

Meanwhile, Promeia stays unusually quiet, as if she's deep in thought.

Promeia: Strange... Rusty Cliff is more impatient than I expected.

Promeia?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Hm? (‍What is itWhat is itText for Wise / Something wrongSomething wrongText for Belle‍), Promeia?

Promeia: The mechanical Romeul we encountered in the Hollow, and the... "Big Guy" the Rusty Cliff contact mentioned... They're rushing to deploy it, stirring up chaos in the Outer Ring and risking Krampus' attention.

Promeia: They must feel... threatened.

Cissia: Threatened? Who could possibly threaten TOPS — those mon–... those big shots?

Promeia: Maybe they're running out of time. Or maybe it's Ramiel. That W-Engine she took... she must know something even TOPS' upper ranks would fear. Or perhaps... she possesses something they desperately want.

Looks like we need to find Ramiel as soon as possible.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍We should locate Ramiel as soon as possible. We pinned down her general movements today. She might still be somewhere in this area. If we expand the search tomorrow, we'll definitely find something.We should locate Ramiel as soon as possible. We pinned down her general movements today. She might still be somewhere in this area. If we expand the search tomorrow, we'll definitely find something.Text for Wise / Looks like we need to find Ramiel soon. We pinned down her general movements today, and she might still be somewhere nearby. If we expand the search tomorrow, we're bound to find something.Looks like we need to find Ramiel soon. We pinned down her general movements today, and she might still be somewhere nearby. If we expand the search tomorrow, we're bound to find something.Text for Belle‍)

Promeia: Indeed.

Lighter: Right now, Sons of Calydon's stretched pretty thin. But if something urgent comes up and you need help, just say the word.

Cissia: Let's put that trouble aside for now. Hey, Lighter, I heard you're the Champion. So... have you ever met the Calydon Reaper? Are they as terrifying as the stories say?

Lighter: Heh... I've heard a few stories. They say they're the quiet type — deadly, ruthless. Moves like a shadow...

Lighter: Then again, who knows? Maybe they're actually the kind who budgets carefully just to take photos at themed restaurants?

Billy: ...

Lighter: Rumors aren't always trustworthy. Sometimes, survival means cultivating a little bad rep.

Lighter: After all, plenty of people say the Sweepers are demons who've done every terrible thing imaginable. And yet here you are... working alongside one of those "demons."

Promeia: Don't look at me like that. I have no intention of making excuses for the reputation I earned in the past.

Cissia shrinks back a little and falls silent.

Let the past stay in the past.

What matters is the present and what comes next.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍The past is behind us. What matters is the present and what comes next. We'll continue lookingThe past is behind us. What matters is the present and what comes next. We'll continue lookingText for Wise / Alright, alright. Let's leave the past where it belongs. What matters is the present, and what comes next. We still have to lookAlright, alright. Let's leave the past where it belongs. What matters is the present, and what comes next. We still have to lookText for Belle‍) for Ramiel tomorrow, so everyone should get some rest.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍Cissia, stop eating snacks. If you give yourself indigestion, Belle's going to come after me.Cissia, stop eating snacks. If you give yourself indigestion, Belle's going to come after me.Text for Wise / Cissia, stop snacking already! You're gonna give yourself indigestion!Cissia, stop snacking already! You're gonna give yourself indigestion!Text for Belle‍)

Cissia: Just... Just gimme... Just a minute!

The campfire crackles softly, and the night's chill seems to ease a little...

 Listen in on what Cissia and Promeia are talking about

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Cissia and Promeia are chatting about something. Let's go see what's up.

Blazewood

(Ongoing)

Cissia: Ah... the bonfire is so nice... Huh? Wh—Why are you here?

(Idle)

Big Daddy: It's that person...

(Talk to Big Daddy, optional)

Big Daddy: That woman in the cloak... the one who's always with that Cissia girl...

You know Promeia?

You remember Promeia?

Big Daddy: Yeah, I remember she used to be pretty well-known among the Sweepers. Word is she switched identities later on, pledged loyalty to someone...

We need her for the investigation...

She's trustworthy for now...

Big Daddy: I'm not worried about that... The Outer Ring's winds kick up too much dust — everyone's got a past they can't scrub clean. The past doesn't matter. What matters is the road they're walking now.

Big Daddy: Since she's chosen to work with you... as long as she keeps it clean and plays by the rules here, I won't ask questions or interfere.

Big Daddy: Everyone deserves a second chance. She's definitely different from before...

(Idle)

Kasa: This parking fee though...

(Listen in on Kasa, Lola, and Lucy, optional)

Kasa: So how long's Piper planning to park Steeltusk here this time?

Lucy: Can't say for sure. Depends on when we wrap this thing up.

Lola: According to the new town regulations, oversized vehicles get the first day free, but starting from the second day, there's a daily parking fee, environmental maintenance fee, potential risk deposit... How about prepaying for a week?

Lucy: Hey, wait up... Steeltusk is parked nice and proper here, not blocking the main road. Besides, wherever Steeltusk parks, that spot automatically becomes the safest parking lot around.

Lucy: Shouldn't that make up for some of the fees?

Lola: Or... how about sparing us some of those new parts you just shipped in?

Lucy: Aha— those are precious parts Piper scored for maintaining Steeltusk... Guess we'll have to put that parking fee on the tab for now. Time to warn Caesar to stop breaking stuff...

(Idle)

Old Demir: Walked off before I could even finish...

(Talk to Old Demir, optional)

Old Demir: Hmm... Young one, you've got that same... lost vibe about you.

"Same"?

Who else?

Old Demir: This morning, a bunch of impatient city folk came by, looking totally lost and all worked up, asking if I'd seen any woman with pink hair around these past few days.

What'd you say?

Did you tell them?

Old Demir: Me? I'm just an honest guy — of course I told them everything I saw.

Old Demir: The twilight clouds burning pink yesterday evening, the old pink scarf someone hung out to dry in town, the faded pink base coat showing through the peeling paint on the tavern sign...

Old Demir: Even saw a mutant two-headed lizard, and one of its heads had a pink tongue. But never seen any "living, pink-haired woman" before.

Old Demir: City folks these days really need to keep their tempers in check. Didn't even let me finish before storming off all in a huff...

(Talk to Cissia and Promeia)

Bluffing

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 Bluffing

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Video Summary: We've all changed since then... but some things, it seems, never do.

Story Description: Cissia puts on a brave face, insisting she's no longer the coward she once was. In the silence that follows, Promeia seems to recall something from the past.

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Cissia: H–Hey... why do you keep staring at me...?

Promeia: ...

Cissia: I–I'm warning you — d... don't get any ideas. I'm not the kid who ran crying all those years ago anymore.

Cissia: I've got friends now — Proxies as strong as Phaethon, the second-in-command of the Cunning Hares... And I'm now a specialist for Public Security. I even got a big-shot boss... who... uh... really values me... I think!

Cissia: I–I'm not scared of you anymore!

Promeia: ...Mm.

You guys... okay?

It just got kind of weird...?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Guys... you good? Is (‍everything OK...?everything OK...?Text for Wise / something going on...?something going on...?Text for Belle‍)

Cissia: W–We're good! What could possibly be wrong?! It's just she — hey... St—Stop staring at me!

Promeia: Ah, sorry. I was just... reminded of something from the past.

Memories of That Night

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 Memories of That Night

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Video Summary: We've all changed since then... but some things, it seems, never do.

Story Description: Promeia recalls the night she first met Cissia...

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Promeia looks up, gazing into the distance. The same kind of stars, the same kind of night. Her thoughts drift back to the day they first met...

	THUD
	Promeia: All clear. Promeia: ...
	Male Scavenger: Wait, this ring's straight-up plastic! We fought her for nothing! Promeia: Just two left...
	Male Scavenger: Let's leave! If we don't get outta here before the Sweepers are back, we're done for!
	Cissia: ... Promeia: ...Not my target.
	CLANG !!
	Promeia: ...Found you. You're the last ones.
	SQUELCH
	CLACK
	(She reaches out towards Cissia)
	Cissia: No...!
	(Cissia smacks Promeia's hand away as she flees) Cissia: Don't come any closer!
	Promeia: ...
	WHOOSH— Promeia: ...Didn't get to pet the little snake...

Different

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 Different

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Video Summary: We've all changed since then... but some things, it seems, never do.

Story Description: Promeia admits that Cissia really is different from before. Cissia relaxes a little.

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Her thoughts drift back to the present.

Promeia looks at Cissia again, who maintains her false bravado.

Cissia: The past? What do you mean by the past?

Promeia: ...It's nothing. You really are... a little different now.

Cissia: ...Huh? ...Yeah! Right! Exactly! G–Great that you get it!

Cissia: Then... at least for now — for the next few days — stop staring at me like that! You're making the scales on my tail stand up...

Promeia turns her gaze back to the crackling fire and doesn't respond.

Cissia presses her lips together and moves a little closer to the fire. Somehow... it feels like something between them has subtly changed.

 Listen in on Billy and Lighter's conversation

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Billy and Lighter are chatting about something. Let's go see what's up.

Blazewood

(Ongoing)

Lighter: Burnice, I'm out of Nitro-Fuel. Can you help me get a few more?

(Idle)

Cissia: So... how 'bout we find something else to talk about...?

(Talk to Cissia, optional)

Cissia: Ahem... uh... so... by the way... your "Krampus" place, isn't it for handling those... super dark, super scary missions?

Promeia: Investigate, evaluate, and execute judgment. That's all it is.

Cissia: You make it sound so easy... like you're just cleaning a room. Back in the Outer Ring, the moment word got out that the Sweepers might be coming, everyone would scatter and hide like spooked rats.

Promeia: ...Fear is the most useful warning system for staying alive.

Cissia: But back then...! Whatever... things are different now. At least now... I can sit by the same fire as you, right?

Promeia: Yes. Though I don't usually stay near the fire.

Why's that?

Not into warming up by the fire?

Promeia: Fire and heat give away your position in the dark, drawing unwanted attention.

Cissia: ...Oh. I see... So... why did you come over now?

Promeia: Maybe it's because... it doesn't seem so bad to have a little light now.

Cissia: Yeah! It's safe here, nice and warm... Plus, with powerhouses like you around, I've got nothing to fear!

Promeia gives a slight nod, her expression softening just a touch under the firelight...

(Talk to Lucy, optional)

Lucy: Sometimes I really envy Piper. Her big "communication technique" is revving her engine. The louder the noise, the faster people give in...

Lucy: Ah, getting off track here. Anyway, gotta head out and find Caesar in a bit. If I catch wind of any new developments from TOPS, I'll make sure to let you know ASAP.

(Listen in on Lola and Kasa, optional)

Lola: Why not just have Steeltusk move around every now and then? Block each wind tunnel in rotation...

Kasa: Good idea. They ain't going anywhere anytime soon anyway, and we'll save some time on reinforcing the defenses.

(Idle)

Pulchra: Might score some extra cash on the side...

(Talk to Pulchra, optional)

Pulchra: That massive hunk of metal wandering around in the Hollow... Boss and the crew looked like they were readying themselves for a nightmare...

Pulchra: If you ask me, if TOPS really wanted to make a move on Blazewood, they wouldn't have waited this long.

What do you think TOPS is up to?

Got another theory?

Pulchra: It doesn't look like TOPS is invading Blazewood. More like they're sifting through the desert, making a huge racket, desperately searching for a particular grain of gold... or a whole vein.

Pulchra: Maybe it's got something to do with the new friend that airhead Burnice made?

Pulchra: TOPS' big stir, a mysterious pink-haired guest... things are heating up. Guess my boring probation just got a lot less quiet.

Pulchra: Staying with the Sons of Calydon, the biggest challenge isn't the enemies — it's keeping myself from getting soft over random, little things. It's too normal. So normal I'm forgetting how to hustle, scam, and scheme.

Pulchra: I'll hit the streets tonight and see if I can shake down some cash from those TOPS lackeys...

(Idle)

Burnice: A Nitro-Fuel Special mixed with volcanic minerals...

(Talk to Burnice, optional)

Burnice: Yo! What's up, still thinking about my pink-haired pal?

Thanks for those clues.

Burnice: See, see! Enough Nitro-Fuel can make everything come flooding back!

Burnice: Though now that I think about it, the way she chugged Nitro-Fuel was pretty... special.

Special?

Even more special than you?

Burnice: She's not bold and wild like me! Even though she drank a lot, she was so... quiet about it? Like she was carefully savoring every single sip.

Burnice: She said it was her first time drinking it, but she looked way more legit than those Nitro-Fuel-hoarding connoisseurs. Made me feel bad for chugging mine too fast!

Burnice: Man, if there weren't so much unrest in Blazewood recently, maybe she could've stuck around longer, and we could've gone another three hundred rounds.

Burnice: But hey, anyone who can handle Nitro-Fuel like that can't be a bad person! When you guys find her, make sure you talk things over, okay?

I will.

Thanks.

Burnice: Come by together next time, my treat! She asked if I could whip up a Nitro-Fuel Special with volcanic minerals... man, oh man, I really gotta do my homework on that one—

Burnice's already daydreaming about her new Nitro-Fuel recipe again.
But even with all these details, "Ramiel" remains as mysterious as ever...

(Talk to Billy and Lighter)

A Silent Farewell

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 A Silent Farewell

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Video Summary: We've all changed since then... but some things, it seems, never do.

Story Description: It turns out both the "Calydon Reaper" and the "First Champion" are Billy. Lighter asks why Billy doesn't return to the more intimidating form he once had. Billy replies that he now believes in a completely new path.

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Lighter: Bro, this new look of yours...

Billy: Hehheh! So waddaya think?! Don't I shine like starlight?!

Lighter: Yeah... you sure do. An enemy could probably spot you from a mile away.

Billy: Ah ah, Lighter! You just don't get it! Look at these smooth lines! This powerful armor! And this brand-new red scarf! A companion of justice has to show up in style!

Lighter: When I first heard you'd activated your "ultimate form," I thought maybe the undefeated First Champion, or maybe that so-called Calydon Reaper people love exaggerating about, was back...

Billy's excitement comes to a sudden halt.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍Hold on... the "First Champion" AND the "Calydon Reaper?" So the legendary figureHold on... the "First Champion" AND the "Calydon Reaper?" So the legendary figureText for Wise / Wait... the "First Champion"? And the "Calydon Reaper"? So the oneWait... the "First Champion"? And the "Calydon Reaper"? So the oneText for Belle‍) behind all those wild rumors Cissia mentioned before... was Billy this whole time?!

Billy: Uh... well... okay, maybe... perhaps... the rumors about me are a little very exaggerated...?!

Lighter: After all, the Calydon Reaper disappeared long before the famed First Champion made his grand debut. Isn't that right?

Lighter: As for when the rather ironic story of "the undefeated champion beat the Calydon Reaper" started circulating... Eh.

Lighter: Some versions even claim to know how many rounds they fought and what finishing move ended it... At that point, it's pure fiction.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): So the silent, ruthless Reaper and the red-scarf-wearing Champion who always went after the toughest opponents... (‍TheyTheyText for Belle‍) were both Billy?!

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): No wonder Lighter thought Billy had reverted to that... er... more intimidating form.

Lighter: Billy, I think Big Daddy might still have the old maintenance blueprints he used for you. With your current resolve and your original form...

Lighter: You'd probably be even stronger than before. It'd also suit this place and its survival of the fittest mindset better. That's the version of you most people remember.

Billy falls silent for a moment.

Billy: Yeah, you're right, Lighter... But that's not who I wanna be anymore.

Billy: That road only leads back to the old Billy, the one who just followed orders, reeking of oil, fear, and blood... A weapon.

Billy: But now — on this brand-new road toward the future, it's time for Starlight Knight Billy to make his debut!

Lighter: So... you're killing the ghost of your past with a new identity. Yeah, that sounds like you.

Billy: Ohhhh! That's it! That line sounded so awesome! See? You really get me! Next time you come up with something that cool, say it earlier!

Billy: Oh! And check this out — my new ultimate attack pose! Starlight Billy — Ultimate Shining Impact! Hyaaaaah!

Watching Billy immediately strike another dramatic pose, Lighter smiles helplessly.

For a fleeting moment, near the edge where light meets shadow, another figure seems to appear — a dark silhouette with a red scarf, its outline blurred.
It raises a hand in a quiet gesture of acknowledgment, then fades away, vanishing without a word.