Laby, after arriving, decides to spar with Gaia, in order to refresh the skills and show what she has learned. Although Gaia is proud of her skills, he still worries she may get hurt in the Demon Realm, but isn't sure how to say it well. Laby also manages to get in touch with the slightly deeper thoughts, with the help of Nisha.
On the way to the Northern Empire to find Calonne... The lost party enters a nearby shrine with Ara's guidance.
Quest Acceptance Dialogue
Gaia:We managed to leave right away, but...
Laby:Hmm... Sorry... Laby was only looking at the red needle... So Laby doesn't remember what was around at all...
Gaia:I overestimated my knowledge of the area as well. I didn't realize how much the lands have changed since I was asleep. Looks like the the old map I have is useless...
Laby:Oh! Laby knows a way if we don't know how to get there!
Laby:If we jump into the sea, the waves will carry us to the Bamboo forest!
Gaia:... Maybe we should use that after our final resort.
Laby:Eh? What's after final?
Ara:Master Gaia, Laby! I found a path!
Gaia:Oh? Are you certain?
Laby:Laby only sees trees.
Ara:This flower may look like a common weed, but it actually requires great care to bloom.
Ara:It's often planted near a shrine to encourage people to visit, and it's never seen in this quantity in the wild.
Gaia:So there's a path where people frequent nearby?
Ara:From the condition of the flowers, I don't think people come this way anymore. But there are still traces left, so we should be able to find the shrine by following these flowers.
Ara:Once we find the shrine, we would be able to figure out where we are.
Laby:Amazing! How do you know so much, Ara?
Ara:Where I'm from... This kind of information is readily available for anyone who's interested...
Ara:And I used to visit different shrines with my mother when I was young.
Gaia:There's not much we know about the Northern Empire. Although, I did hear the people of the Northern Empire believe in the holy beasts...
Ara:It's because the spirits here hold more power, as people believe in spirits unlike Velder who only believed in the goddess... Although many only believed in the powerful spirits.
Ara:There are many guardian spirits, and many believed in different spirits for reasons such as fertility, health, and wealth.
Ara:I suspect the shrine here was built for one such spirit.
Gaia:I'm glad you've come with us. Thank you.
Ara:I'm glad to help. Now I'll lead the way, follow me.
Quest Completion Dialogue
Laby:Whoa! A house!! Oh! A snake!
Ara:Looks like the Shrine of the Two-Headed Serpent. It's a spirit that usually represents harmony between family members and love between siblings.
Laby:Are there other meanings?
Ara:It also represents sacrifice and revival. The tale of the two-headed serpent starts with the death of the brother snake. It's a story of a snake who wished to save his younger brother.
Ara:It is said that after days of prayer, the younger brother was restored, attached to his older brother.
Gaia:So that's why there are two heads. I'm not sure if it's a happy ending...
Ara:I had many siblings. So the adults in the family often told this tale, telling us to get along.
Laby:You started your journey to save your family, right? Is it because he's family that you want to save him?
Ara:Well... That's one reason... But it's more because he's someone I respect.
Laby:Respect... Haivan said he respected Winster... Why didn't he act like Ara?
Ara:.......
Laby:Winster is Haivan's family. And Nichel grew up like family. Why did Haivan do something that will hurt his family?
Gaia:.......
Laby:Laby was thinking... But Laby still don't get it. Laby gets sad just thinking about being mean to Nisha.
Laby:Did Haivan actually really really hate Winster? Did Haivan hurt Winster because Winster is not important?
Ara:When Berthe came with an army... Haivan looked surprised.
Laby:Yeah, Laby remembers.
Ara:I think... Haivan didn't intend to hurt others. He did help us before we entered the secret laboratory.
Laby:But... Haivan lied to Winster and Nichel and sided with Berthe! Isn't that still mean?
Ara:... Maybe it's because their goal differed too greatly.
Laby:Their goal?
Ara:Yes. Everyone has their own path to follow, and that path does not necessarily converge just because they are close to one another.
Ara:I don't think it's right that he betrayed his family and friend. But... But there must be a reason behind his action.
Ara:And... I get the feeling... That he didn't want Winster and Nichel to get hurt despite their differences.
Laby:... Laby don't get it. Winster and Nichel looked really shocked because of what Haivan did.
Ara:The fact that he hurt them will never go away.
Laby:Why did Winster say Haivan didn't do it, even though he knew Haivan lied?
Ara:Isn't it because he wished to believe in him? That Haivan never intended to hurt Winster, Nichel, and the villagers.
Ara:That is was a misunderstanding devised by a nefarious villain...
Ara:It may be foolish, but there are those who cling on to even a sliver of hope.
Laby:.......
Ara:I will go inspect the shrine. There may be something inside that shows us where we are.
Gaia:Oh, I'll follow you...
Ara:It's fine. Please wait for me here, Master Gaia, Laby.
Laby doesn't understand how someone can hurt someone that's important to them. Gaia is watching on with a lot on his mind.
Quest Acceptance Dialogue
Laby:Phewy, it's a puzzle...
Gaia:Are you still thinking about the family you'd met in the Demon Realm?
Laby:Uh huh. Because Winster is Calonne's friend, and Calonne is my friend. But Haivan is Winster's son... but hurt Winster... But if Winster is hurt, Laby thinks Calonne would be hurt, too.
Gaia:You might be overthinking it... But you're right. No one's happy to know something bad happened to their friend.
Laby:Why can't everyone get along? Is it ok to hurt the people you you love if you're following a goal?
Gaia:.......
Gaia:Laby... If...
Laby:Huh?
Gaia:... It's nothing. You seem to have a lot on your mind. Do you want to spar?
Laby:Oh! Great idea! Let's see if you've gotten any better, Bellonde!
Gaia:That should be my line.
Gaia:Alright then, let's learn a thing or two.
Laby:Ok! Laby won't go easy on you!
Gaia:Laby, how was the Demon Realm?
Laby:Oh! So this is Laby's first time fighting with other people other than Bellonde... But it was like they were reading Laby's mind! They knew where to go without saying 'Help!' or 'I'll Help!'
Gaia:Is that so? That must be because they've matched with your pace. They are experienced fighters.
Laby:Oh, really? I think Bellonde is right! The El Search Party is amazing!
Laby:Do you think Laby can learn more by following the El Search Party?
Gaia:.......
Laby:And, you know what else? Laby saw these thingys that blew bubbles that float!
Laby:At first, Laby was gonna punch it like this! But then, Laby thought, 'Weird, Laby wants to punch this bubble too much!' so Laby decided to attack with Nisha instead!
Laby:Turns out, those bubbles go boom! It would have been real bad if Laby just punched it!
Gaia:Haha, you're applying the knowledge you've gained from past battles! Great job!
Laby:You think so? Hehee, hear that Nisha? So Laby grew stronger, too!
Gaia:(Laby is learning more and more about the world. I shouldn't hold her back, and let her go to the Demon Realm.)
Gaia:(But there's still a lot she doesn't know... I just wish she wouldn't get hurt by those things...)
Quest Completion Dialogue
Gaia:Laby, you asked earlier why everyone didn't just get along, right?
Laby:Uh huh, Laby doesn't understand why they say they're important, but then go fight each other. There's not enough time in the world even if they always get along!
Gaia:Even if you're close, you can still fight. Everyone thinks differently, and what they think is most important is not always the same.
Laby:That sounds like what Ara said earlier. So...
Laby:Is it like how Laby and Bellonde want something different for dinner, even though we are besties?
Gaia:Haha. Yes, it's like that. Sometimes people can fight for such trivial things.
Laby:Ehhh, oh noooo!
Gaia:Huh? What's wrong?
Laby:If people fight over things like that, what if Laby and the El Search Party get in to a fight? We can have different things ten times over!!
Laby:Which gets Laby thinking... Laby doesn't think the El Search Party's goal is also finding our who Laby is!!
Gaia:I suppose? The El Search Party initially went to the Demon Realm to stop the Order of Henir and find the Dark El to completely restore the El, after all.
Gaia:... Did you have fun spending time with them?
Laby:Uh huh... There's one guy who always talks like a bad guy! But everyone was really nice and fun.
Gaia:Do you always want to be with them?
Laby:Not sure. But it's not like we can always stay together because Laby wants to.
Laby:The El Search Party had the El Search Party goals, right?
Gaia:But you can always tell them what you think.
Laby:But what if we fight because of that? Laby doesn't want to fight with the El Search Party...
Gaia:It doesn't always lead to a fight just because you want something different. History may be painted by war, but it's conversation and understanding that are at the heart of our lives.
Gaia:If everyone always fought because we thought differently, we wouldn't be together right now.
Gaia:As long as the goals are not opposing each other, there must be an intersection. Even if it's not the same, it can be similar.
Gaia:I'm sure you have one too. Laby, I don't want you to regret not saying anything. It's just as you said, there's not enough time, even when we always get along.
Laby:Did Bellonde regret not saying something?
Gaia:... Laby, do you know what's scarier than fighting?
Laby:Huh? Scarier than fighting?
Gaia:It's to hide without confronting, giving up before persuading, turning away without being understood. If there's a fight, then at least you know what they're thinking, but if they don't say anything, there's no way to know.
Gaia:You just believe you know them, until you're left behind by those who you thought were your friends.
Gaia:You can't help having different opinions from others, but if you care, you should tell them what you think.
Gaia:That's how you respect one another.
Laby:Sometimes, Bellonde say something that's too confusing.
Gaia:Haha, just thinking about it. I'll go look for a way out with Ara.
After a conversation with Nisha, Laby learns she now cherishes the El Search Party. To stay with the El Search Party, and still go towards her goal, the intersection that she found is...
Quest Acceptance Dialogue
Laby:Nisha, what are you thinking?
Nisha:(......)
Laby:So, you know, Laby was thinking about what Haivan did... But also when Elsword was really angry at Add when we fist arrived in Elrianode.
Laby:Elsword was angry, but Elesis said Add did the right thing.
Nisha:(............)
Laby:Huh? You think Elsword knows, too? Then... Is that similar to what Bellone told Ara? Fighting because they're different, even though they're important to each other?
Laby:So, it's not just because a bad guy forces you to fight, like that time we fought with furries?
Laby:.......
Nisha:(......?)
Laby:It's ok, Nisha. Even though Laby is worried that one day, Laby will fight the El Search Party for something really small...
Laby:But, not just that... Laby gets the feeling that Laby is forgetting something reaaaally important. Hmmmm...
Laby:You know, even though Laby is worried, Laby was thinking... If Nisha didn't give Laby sadness, Laby wouldn't hae known what worrying is.
Laby:And Laby wouldn't have understood why other people worried about something important to them.
Laby:But thanks to Nisha, Laby gets it... A little. If someone can be worried because it's important, then that important feeling must be different from the important feeling Laby felt when Laby didn't understand sadness.
Laby:That feeling of Elesis worrying about her brother, and Elsword being angry for the people we've left... Laby wants to learn that sad feeling from having something important. Because Laby also has many important things.
Nisha:(... .......)
Laby:Oh...! So Nisha's saying that Laby is worried because the El Search Party is now important to Laby?
Laby:Then does that mean Laby already knows this feeling? Whoa! Laby had no idea!
Laby:Then... What do we do? We need to know where Laby and Nisha came from. That's different from what the El Search Party has to do...
Nisha:(.......)
Laby:That intersection Bellonde talked about? Hm... They said Elesis didn't want to go to the Demon Realm at first.
Laby:But they had to go to the Demon Realm to defeat the bad guys, so she changed her mind. She knew she had to try harder.
Laby:... Nisha... If, if Laby wants to go with the El Search Party... What would you do?
Nisha:(.......)
Laby:You'll come with Laby? But isn't that really different from our goal?
Nisha:(... .......)
Laby:Oh! That's what Laby was thinking! As long as we don't give up on learning about Laby and Nisha's past, it would be ok... Even if we go the long way!
Laby:You already knew that thought. This intersection with the El Search Party only happened because Laby came out of the forest and met Bellonde, and many other people.
Laby:As long as Laby learns and knows more about the world, there will be many more intersections. Then, Laby will learn things that Laby didn't know, or things Laby didn't notice, right?
Nisha:(........)
Laby:Hehee, Laby is really happy you said that, Nisha!
Laby:It's thanks to you! Just like always, let's learn many new things together.
Laby:Because we're the most important goal to each other, right?
Laby:Ara! Bellonde!!
Gaia:Oh, Laby! We should get going soon!
Laby:Huh? Were you still talking?
Ara:We just finished, Laby. We've checked the map of the area, so I'll lead the way until the road becomes familiar to you.
Laby:Really? Laby knew we could count on Ara!
Ara:Shall we get going, then? It's best we hurry on our way.
Laby:Ok! Let's go!
Quest Completion Dialogue
Laby:Ooooh! Laby knows this place! Nisha, you remember too, right?
Gaia:The map must have been accurate. We didn't get lost since the Shrine. This is all thanks to...
Laby:Shh! Bellonde, you can't talk! Ara is talking to someone!!
Gaia:Talking...? With who?
Laby:Mmm, uh...
Laby:Ara said, a very important family that's always with her!
Gaia:Is that so? I'm not sure if I understand... But the El Search Party all did have interesting powers...
Laby:Hehee, uh huh! They're all fun and weird!
Gaia:... Are you done worrying now?
Laby:About Laby's goal being different from the El Search Party? Yup!
Laby:Laby wants to travel with the El Search Party, and learn who Laby is!
Laby:So, Laby was thinking... Right now, Laby wants to save Calonne's friend the most!
Gaia:Then... You will be traveling with the El Search Party?
Laby:Yup! At least until the intersection. After that, we're gonna think later. Right, Nisha?
Laby:And although Laby doesn't understand Haivan... Laby will understand Haivan one day. Luke how Laby understands Nisha, even though we think differently. So, Laby is gonna talk to him.
Laby:Because Bellonde said to talk directly!
Gaia:... Laby.
Laby:Thank you, Bellonde.
Gaia:Huh?
Laby:You teach Laby lots of things whenever Laby is worried. Laby still have much to learn!
Laby:Last time, when we were separated at the ship, Laby was ok because Bellonde taught Laby lots of things!
Laby:Like how it was thanks to Ignia and many friends that Laby was able to figure out Laby's relationship with Nisha!
Laby:Laby was able to come here because of many intersections. Laby knows that's the kind of path Laby will walk from now on.
Laby:So, even if we all get separated... Laby will be ok. Because everything that everyone taught Laby, will still be all inside Laby!
Laby:So you don't have to worry about Laby anymore.
Gaia:...!
Laby:Oh, over there! That's Mao and Calonne's house!
Laby:Eh? Ara, what are you doing all the way back there?
Laby:Come on! Laby will introduce you to Laby's friends!
Ara:Yes...! Coming!
Gaia:Laby, I...
Laby:Huh?
Gaia:.........
Gaia:I just want you to be healthy. Would you do that for me?
Shrine in the Forest
Varnimyr
Pruinaum
Tirnog
