A sparring match with Gaia with stakes... Lithia underestimates the power of earth and is taught a lesson.
Quest Acceptance Dialogue
(SMASH-!!)
Gaia:Shall we call it a day? Good work.
Lithia:Ugh....
Gaia:Um... How do you find the sparring with me? Is it alright?
Lithia:I feel like it's payback...
Gaia:Payback...? No! I'm being very careful...
Lithia:I know, I know. You're going easy on me and being really careful, right? I get that...
Lithia:I just feel like it's payback from all those rocks I shattered to dig up ore and feel a bit...
Gaia:Haha... I see. It's not too difficult?
Lithia:No, it's fine, Coach! Are you sure you're not going too easy on me?
Lithia:Please don't hold back. I don't know how much power I should put behind my swings.
Gaia:Haha, I'll keep that in mind. I have something to do today, so let's wrap up for the day.
Lithia:Yessir. Thank you for your time. I'll be in your care tomorrow!
Lithia:.......
Lithia:... Is he gone?
Lithia:Ahhhh! That was scary. Was he really going easy on me? Ugh...
Lithia:(My pride isn't hurt in the slightest, because there's a clear difference in power. Sigh... I want to give up and run away.)
Lithia:(But it's lame if I back off now.)
Lithia:Yeah, let's give it my all. I just have to win one sparring match, right?
Lithia:Alright, let's go Lihia! Let's get it!
Quest Completion Dialogue
[Elrianode, Front of the Portal]
Lithia:.......
Lithia:I'm just here to check it out.
Lithia:I mean, he probably won't lie since he's a priest, but who knows? He may be smiling in front of me, but could be trying to trick me.
Lithia:...... Why am I making excuses? It's not like anyone's watching. Anyway, let's see.
Lithia:.......
Lithia:Hm... This isn't the first time I'm seeing Debrian technology, but I'm not sure how it works.
Lithia:But, if I figure out the mechanism, I can probably fill the missing parts in Joy's research.
Lithia:I can probably figure out if I tinker a bit... But if something goes wrong, it's a headache.
Lithia:No! Go big or go home! I should take it apart. As long as I get it back together, surely no one would notice...
Ventus:What are you doing here, Lithia?
Lithia:Gah! Ha, haha... Oh, just taking a walk!
Lithia:I noticed something interesting while I was on a walk, so I stopped to take a look. Ahaha, I wonder what this is?
Ventus:Ah, is that so? I was wondering if you have won your right to investigate the portal, since I heard you were sparring with Junior for it.
Lithia:Oh my! This is the portal? Hohoho, it's so fascinating!
Lithia:(Why does he know about that? Does everyone know already?)
Lithia:Is this how the El Search Party traveled to the Demon Realm?
Ventus:They used a much more unstable method, actually. This was made later.
Lithia:Oh? This is more stable? Impressive for such a clumsy looking thing.
Lithia:Come to think of it, why did the El Search Party go to the Demon Realm? Isn't the El right here, in El Tower?
Ventus:Hm? You didn't know? The El Search Party went to find the El that could exist in the Demon Realm.
Lithia:Oh, I see... A Demon Realm El...
Lithia:Wait, what? There's an El in the Demon Realm as well?
Lithia:Goodness... Just the one in El Tower holds unbelievable energy...! And there's another one in the Demon Realm!
Lithia:Could it be the Demon Realm is a land of opportunities...?!?
Ventus:They went to find the Dark El as a method to stabilize the restored El.
Ventus:Ah, sometimes they do send interesting minerals from the Demon Realm. Of course, their goal is to check if it's the Dark El or not. It's not about treasure hunting, you know?
Lithia:Of course! Yup! It's very important to fix the El. They went to the Demon Realm to completely such an important task...
Lithia:They're so admirable! Ah, if only I can help with their mission!
Ventus:Haha, are you sure your motives are as pure as you say?
Ventus:It was no ordinary resolve that led the El Search Party to the Demon Realm. The other Masters and I... We all wanted t stop them if we could.
Ventus:But they made up their mind and they proved themselves.
Ventus:Enough for us to think, ah, at the very least, we know they'd be strong enough to survive.
Ventus:So good luck. If you win against the Earth Master, surely everyone will have to acknowledge your resolve.
Apparently the El Search Party had great resolve when they left for the Demon Realm. Is her resolve... not good enough? Lithia talks about her own resolve.
Quest Acceptance Dialogue
Lithia:Resolve... What is resolve?
Gaia:What are you thinking about?
Lithia:Ahh, I met the Wind Master yesterday...
Lithia:He said when the El Search Party decided to go to the Demon Realm, it was with no ordinary resolve... and it's been on my mind every since.
Lithia:Is going to the Demon Realm something that really requires that much resolve?
Gaia:Hm... Some may think you made your decision lightly, since you were so ready to head to the Demon Realm.
Gaia:But if we interpret all fast decision as carelessness, we'd let a lot of opportunities slip by.
Gaia:For you, it's a chance to realize a long dream of your most precious people...
Gaia:If they call you careless for not wanting to miss this opportunity, they don't know you very well.
Lithia:Aww... Since when did you know me so well? I'm touched.
Gaia:That's why!
Lithia:Eh...
Gaia:I'll be even more strict in judging you.
Gaia:If you are hurt in the Demon Realm, I won't be able to face those you cherish.
Lithia:Eh...?
Gaia:Now, let's tart today's match.
Lithia:Ahhh, it's no agaonizing...!
Quest Completion Dialogue
[Night, If Front of Elrianode Portal]
Lithia:... Alright. No one's around... As expected at this hour.
Lithia:I'll check out the layout closer today.
Lithia:... Huh? There's a bag in front of the portal. I wonder who's it is?
(FLIP FLIP)
Lithia:What's this? It's full of old tools...
Lithia:Oh! I should be able to loosen the clamp on the portal with this.
Lithia:Lucky! Finding all the tools I need in front of the portal the moment I decide to investigate it...?
Lithia:Could this be... A gift from the Goddess for living my life to the fullest?
Lithia:Is the Goddess telling me to investigate the portal with this? If that's the case, I'll be the most faithful follower! yes siree!
(VOOM-!)
Haivan:Oof! Nice, it looks like I arri... Ack!
Lithia:Gah!
(CRASH!)
Haivan:Oww... Who decided to crouch in front of the portal? Don't you know about basic safety regulations!? It hurts!
Lithia:Uggh... That's what I want to say! You should have checked if there were anything before you came out!
Lithia:Wait? Those ears... A demon?!
Lithia:Did you come out of the portal? Wow, this night keeps getting better! Is today my lucky day?
Haivan:Do you know me? What is she talking about...
Rosso:...! Who's there!
Lithia:Ah, someone's coming. Hey, go hide over there!
Haivan:Who are you to... Hey! Stop pushing!
(RUSTLE!)
Lithia:Ah, hahaha! Good evening!
Rosso:I was concerned when I heard you were loitering around the portal, and as I thought, you were about to cause trouble, weren't you?
Lithia:Do you guys know what a secret is? I won't be surprised if the wind whispers the color of someone's underwear at this point.
Rosso:Who would want to know that? Anyway, be good and go back to your room, won't you?
Rosso:I don't understand why you would want to go to the Demon Realm... Didn't you experience the Demon Invasion?
Lithia:(Mrrr! Says the guy who is a demon!)
Lithia:(... I wonder what would happen if he knows there's a demon listening in on this. I should play dumb for now.)
Lithia:Ahem, why? There are god demons, too! Like my Felix.
Rosso:Regardless, the Demon Realm is something else. Do you really think an ordinary human can adapt to the Demon Realm?
Lithia:You won't know unless you try!
Rosso:Hmph, and you will abandon your friends on the way?
Lithia:What?! That's out of line!
Lithia:I'm not abandoning Mathi and Vera! I'm just trying to scope out first to position myself better!
Rosso:Ha? What, you're planning on becoming a Demon Realm pioneer?
Lithia:I won't go that far... But hear me out. Even if you help us, we might have to stay hidden all our lives.
Lithia:Our necks are on the line the moment we're discovered, as criminals who caused trouble and ran away during the Harmony Festival.
Rosso:... So what, you're going to live in the Demon Realm?
Lithia:Why can't I?
Rosso:Ha... Unbelievable...
Rosso:.......
Rosso:... No, never mind. She has more screws undone than I thought.
Lithia:What's with that look? Like there's not use talking to me? It's irritating!
Rosso:What am I supposed to say to someone who wants to build a white picket fence in the Demon Realm?
Lithia:Who says I have to live there? There's also the option of bringing lots of jewels from the Demon Realm and becoming rich.
Lithia:As long as I have the money, no one will be able to treat me poorly! Hehehe, I can forge fake identification and hire someone to represent me. Then they won't be able to...
Rosso:Wha, why do you know all of this!
Lithia:Aw, don't mind me! You gotta be prepared for the future, right?
Lithia:Elrianode Kingdom fell in one day, maybe I can be a hero in one.
Lithia:Oh yeah! If I get the El from the Demon Realm, maybe I can be pardoned for saving the world!
Lithia:And one more thing! If I find the Order that's said to be in the Demon Realm, maybe I can find a way to get Mathi back to normal!
Lithia:Whatever the case may be, you have to agree that it's much more reliable than hiding out here and waiting for things to get better on their own?
Rosso:That's...!
Rosso:.......
Rosso:......?
Rosso:Ah, it's not use. Talking to an idiot makes me feel like I'm becoming one as well.
Rosso:I won't interfere so do whatever you want.
Lithia:Yay, I won!
Rosso:It's not a matter of winning... So childish...
Rosso:I'm merely agreeing to your point that waiting for things to work out is kind of foolish.
Rosso:... The next war could be between those protecting the El and those who wish to take it.
Lithia:.......
Rosso:But preparing doesn't always yield results.
Rosso:People of Elrianode were all living to their fullest every moment, not knowing that the El will explode the next.
Lithia:... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made light of the situation.
Rosso:At least you know.
Rosso:Anyway, running away isn't that bad of an idea.
Rosso:That way, you'll learn where you can return.
Lithia:Oh? That sounds like it's coming from personal experience. Could it be that you ran away from home?
Rosso:Trying to play dumb? Whatever, I've said my piece. I'm leaving.
Lithia:You're very kind. I suppose you are a priest, despite your picky behavior.
Rosso:Shut up.
Lithia:Thanks for cheering me up.
Lithia:.......
Lithia:... Hm. Everything turned out fine... Why do I feel like I'm forgetting something...
Lithia:Oh! That demon! I told him to hide, where did he go?!