Elsword is transported to Solace's distant past and the truth slowly unfolds before our hero's eyes. The tragic series of events eventually leads back to our hero, Elsword. What choice will Elsword make for the people of Elrios? Continue the journey to find out!
Defeat Knight, Soldier, Spearman, and Magician of Solace's Family ('Halted Sun's Memory', "Hard of Higher") 0/20
Description
Sigmund tires to hurt Hernia to take her El energy away, and Hernia desperately calls for Fenriart in a faint consciousness. Fenriart intuitively feels Hernia is in danger and saves her from Sigmund. Realizing Hernia can no longer be safe around his family, Fenriart suggests she should leave with him on the Night of Ishmael, when the successor of the El Lady is chosen.
Hernia:... Fenriart is really amazing... Your El ability became stronger in just a short time.... Whew, how long has it been since it's been this peaceful? I wish everyday was like this!
Sigmund:Keuhehehehe...!! Hernia, if only I could steal the El energy you possess, I'd be able to get rid of that good for nothing Fenriart...!!!
Hernia:I... can't breathe... S-Stop....
Sigmund:Bastard, do you think you can become the Master of the Sun? Stop kidding yourself... It belongs to me!!!!
Hernia:Fen.... Fenriar.... t....!
Solace:... Hernia.. I hope she's safe. Always being depressed... I worry for her.
Hernia:(Help... me, Fenriart...)
Solace:(... Hernia?)
Hernia:(Fenri... art...)
Solace:Hernia!!
Solace:Hernia!!!
Sigmund:Who is that?!
Solace:Brother... What have you done..?
Sigmund:Kuek, you... Why are you here... Keukhuhu, it doesn't matter! If I could just get this brat's El energy... I could become the Master!!
Solace:Stop!!
Sigmund:Shut up!!
Solace:Kugh!
Sigmund:I am the first of the Solace family and a being of the El! I can easily get rid of someone like you!!
Solace:Ke... euk, Le... t go... of Hernia!!
Sigmund:I can't do that. Once I take this brat's El energy, then I will become the world's greatest El being!! Keuhahaha!!
Solace:Stop!!
(Flash!!) (The El power of Fenriart pierces through Sigmund.)
Sigmund:Kugh...!! Cough... F... Fenriart... how dare you...
(Thump)
Solace:... H, Hernia... Hernia!!!
Hernia:Fenri... art...?
Solace:Are you okay? Are you hurt?
Hernia:Run away, Fenriart! Sigmund won't let you get away!
Solace:......
Hernia:Is that Sigmund? It can't be... Is he dead...?
Solace:... If Sigmund took your El energy, you would have died... This place isn't safe for you. Many want to become Masters and would do anything in their power... Sigmund did try to take your El energy.
Hernia:Then... what do we do..?
Solace:Let's leave this place.
Hernia:?!
Solace:It's the only solution. Staying here will put your life in danger.
Hernia:Fenriart... but...
Solace:The Night of Ishmael is when the next heir of the El Lady is chosen... Pack lightly and meet me in the backyard where we used to meet. I'll see you there, Hernia.
Solace:(Hernia's not here yet...? Then again... the night watch will make it difficult to get away... If Hernia can't get out... I'll have to go and get her.... She's late.... I hope nothing is wrong.. Hernia's room is... that way... Huh...? What's that light...?)
Fenriart becomes shocked and saddened by Hernia's departure. Believing he cannot live a life without Hernia, he goes on to train to become a Master, only with the goal of getting back with Hernia.
Solace:(Why... why?! Why was it Hernia of all people....?! The El Lady... The fate of having to watch the El forever.. giving up being human... Her... nia... I can't give up like this...! I'll... bring her back....!! Now I remember this voice..! Master... I'll become the Master of the Sun no matter what!!)
Fenriart, appointed as the Sun Master, knows what sad life the El Lady is destined to have only to be a slave to the El. He grows a deep hatred of the El, the El Lady and the Master System. He only wishes to run away with Hernia and starts to make a plan. Solace falls in anguish when the preparation came to an end. He still hasn't made up his mind when the Harmony Festival is drawing near.
Solace:(... Hernia... did she decide to forget me and fully live her life as the El Lady...? Then should I respect her decision? I want to return to the old days with Hernia... Am I being so selfish? But...!!)
Ebalon:Solace, did you know about the Illuminous Phenomenon...?
Solace:Illuminous..? What do you mean?
Ebalon:Illuminous.. The fate of the one that becomes the El Lady. Those chosen to be the El Lady not only dedicate their life... but they slowly begin to lose their sense of reality as a human and eventually become a slave to the El.
Solace:......!!
Ebalon:We Masters must dedicate our lives to the El as well, but the weight we bear is different... How tragic..
Solace:El Lady, it's just the two of us...
El Lady:... What's... wrong, Master Solace?
Solace:... Hernia...
El Lady:... I see...
Solace:I know I shouldn't say this. But for me.. time has stopped since the night we decided to leave the family and the day you were chosen as the El Lady. It's not too late. Let's leave together.
El Lady:... I understand...
Solace:Hernia... If you continue to exist as the El Lady, your original self will begin to disappear. I don't want that..!
El Lady:... Fenriart. I'm no longer the young cry baby from the past. I'm now responsible for supporting all of Elrios with the El.
Solace:But...!
El Lady:I cannot put the whole world in danger for the sake of my own happiness. This... could be your path, too, Fenriart.
Solace:But Hernia!
El Lady:It's an earnest request. If you really are doing this for me, help me... so I can fulfill my responsibilities.
Solace:... Hernia...
Solace:Denif! What's going on here?
Denif:Was that Solace...? I feel as if the events from one hundred years ago is happening again. Thankfully nothing big happened to the El Lady today. One hundred years ago, Henir fanatics attacked the El Lady, and the large El became unstable. The whole continent was on the brink of ruins..
Solace:Henir fanatics? What kind of people are they... to do such a thing...?!
Denif:Those fanatics worshiped Henir. They believed that everything that exists outside the universe of Henir should be destroyed. They wanted to be destroyed everything created by the ancient gods Elia and Ishmael. They've been after the El Lady and the El for quite a long time...
Solace:It can't be... Does that mean the current El Lady is at risk of being attacked?
Denif:As of now, we need to protect the El Lady at all costs..
Solace:(I can't have Hernia become an accessory to the El. No matter what... I must find a way to stabilize the large El without the El Lady.. If that's possible... Hernia will reconsider..!!)
Solace:(The preparation is done... At the Harmony Festival.. On the final day..!)
El Lady:... Fenriart.. I can't leave with you... Don't push me in this situation..
Solace:It's okay, Hernia. Everything is ready. The El will hold together even without your sacrifice. Let's really leave together this time. There's nothing that will stop us.
El Lady:Fenriart... Everything since that day has ceased to exist.... But I... The truth is... I can't really remember our times together in the past... My memories are a blur... Even if you were to take me away... We still wouldn't be able to share our memories... You'd be left with an empty shell of my former self...
Solace:No.. Hernia... For you, I will definitely..!
Solace:(Today is the final day of the Harmony Festival... What... am I supposed to do? I can't leave Hernia like this... She's dying with her eyes open. But is it okay for me to ignore her will and take her for my own selfish reasons? Hernia might be right. Perhaps I haven't moved on from that day everything was taken from me.... I... let my own selfishness take over. I had a hard time accepting how much Hernia has grown... I almost threw her into more despair... Okay... Hernia... I'll... swear to dedicate my life to you forever as the Master of the Sun...)
(Boom...!!)
Denif:?!!! What's going on?!!
(Chhng.... pshhh!!)
Denif:What in the world is going on?! What's wrong with the El?
Solace:!!!!! Why all of a sudden...?! (This phenomenon occurs when El Energy is divided! This is the first step in escaping with Hernia..!! How..? I didn't power it up but the plan is being carried out!!!!)
Denif:Everyone, calm down! The Priestesses and El Lady are inside the tower! Trust these people and secure the area!!
Solace:(No! According to my plan, the division should've been slower so the large El and the El Lady can be separated. This type of abnormal speed will make the El and El Lady unstable! Then... Hernia will...!! No!!)
Denif:Solace?! What are you doing?!
Solace:Hernia... Hernia..!
Denif:Stop! I can't let you enter the tower!
Solace:Move! Hernia is in danger!
Denif:What are you doing?! Everyone!! Stop him!
Solace:Don't block me... Get out of the way!!!
Solace:Hernia!!!!
El Lady:......
Solace:Hernia!! Please open your eyes!! (No... At the Harmony Festival the El Lady and the large El will manifest energy while being connected mentally. In this state, Hernia's consciousness is attached to the large El!) Please...! If only there were a way I could reach Hernia...!!
(Shine...!!)
Solace:!! Mother's necklace... The Resonance Stone!!
Fenriart's Mother:... The Rubenian Resonance Stone has the power to resonate for all eternity... allowing you to find others with the same...
Solace:With this!!
(Flash!!)
Solace:Hernia!! Hernia, answer me!! (Focus... let's focus. Hernia's necklace will react to the waves of the Resonance Stone...! Please... Hernia!!)
(Shine...!!)
Solace:There!!
Hernia:... Hart!
Solace:That's...?
Hernia:Fenriart, this way! Ahahaha!!
Fenriart:Hernia! Don't go too far!!
Solace:What... is this?
Hernia:You know, Fenriart. I don't get sad anymore when Signmund's soldiers bother me. Because when I look at this necklace.. and see it shine so brightly... I feel as if Fenriart is always next to me.. protecting me.
Fenriart:Hernia...
Hernia:No matter what I'm going through... You'll protect me, right...?
Fenriart:... Yeah, whatever harsh situation Hernia is in... I... I will protect her as long as this necklace shines.
Hernia:Okay... that's a promise!!
Fenriart:Yes, I promise...!!
Solace:Hernia.. You didn't remember any of the past... Even in this situation like this... You didn't forget our promise..... Hernia! If you hear my voice... If you hear this resonance, show yourself! I will no longer bother you over my own selfish needs. You're already suffering, I don't want to cause you any more pain... This time... I will protect you...!!
El Lady:Fenri... art?
Solace:Let's... leave this place together...!!
(Flash!!)
Solace:Did we... escape?
El Lady:... What... How did this happen...?
(Crash... Boom...!!!)
Solace:Oh no, the large El is starting to overflow!
El Lady:No... how did the El get to this point... I... What will I do now...
Solace:... Hernia.. Hernia..? Where are you trying to go..?!
El Lady:The El.. The El is calling for me... I have to go..!
Solace:No... it's too late! You shouldn't go any closer!!
Elsword sees a faint light before his eyes once more. The surrounding areas become light then get dark and black again. Solace stands in front of Elsword's eyes. Elsword, finally determined, goes forward past Solace, and the faces of his friends flit through his mind. Finally Elsword reaches his hand and chooses the future of Elrios.
Solace:I'll say no more. You know very well what happened after.
Elsword:... The El exploded, and the shattered pieces spread throughout the continent. Only Ruben's El Shard... and the six protected by the Masters and Priestesses survived..
El Lady:(Ishmael... your power... I wasn't able to protect it!!)
Elsword:Kugh, illusions again..
Solace:......
Elsword:You... What exactly were you trying to do? What were yo trying to achieve by crossing over to this dimension?
Solace:... What did you feel after experiencing my memories?
Elsword:That's...
Solace:Hernia fell into hibernation from the shock of the El exploding. It wasn't her fault... but she blamed herself for not protecting the El... The El... Why must we depend on its existence? I looked all over to find a place to conserve Hernia's body... after awhile I came upon Elysion. How did we end up become so dependent of the El...?
Elsword:We can't survive without the El! That's why I want to find the El Lady and restore peace to this world. And we've all had to make sacrifices to get here!
Solace:No, it's not like that. Now you know. That's the reason why we had to do this. Hernia imprisoned herself with guilt after the El Explosion. She won't wake up until the El is reconstructed and this world returns to how it was.. But the El if the El is reconstructed, Hernia will resume being victim to the El as the El Lady. Elsword, do you think this is what I wanted? Even after seeing what happened?
Elsword:Were you showing me all of this to educate me?
Solace:Yes indeed, your existence is important. You hold the strength to change this world and build a new future.
Elsword:What?
Solace:I have no doubt that Elsword is the one who holds the strength to change the future of Elrios.
Elsword:What... Are you talking about?
Solace:A power that resonates with El... And the pure desire to restore the El. I've been watching you. Your existence touches the deep roots of the El.
Elsword:It can't be... The visions I've been having... were delivered by the El?
Solace:Those visions that torment you are proof. Our beliefs you are the one that will change the world were not wrong.
Elsword:No, it can't be... I have memories of my sister, friends, and everyone I've met until now. My memories with them are there. Even if there is a part of me that I know nothing about... It doesn't mean I exist solely for the El!
Solace:......
Elsword:I've walked this path with the help of others... for those who supported me... I promise to restore the El and bring peace to Elrios no matter what!
Solace:... It was expected that you wished to recover the El. But if the El is reconstructed through your unconditional desire, history will repeat itself.
Elsword:Kugh......
Solace:The El Lady, Masters, Priestesses, and I have existed for the El. We do not wish for any more sacrifices. A world without one absolute El... That's the future I desire for Elrios, and for this I have prepared for. All lifeforms are sharing the strength of the combined energy of Ruben's El Shard and the six attributes to live. With this we can create an Elrios which does not depend on the El.
Elsword:That's foolish... I can't believe it! Elrios will collapse without the El...!
Solace:... If this is against your wishes, you can defeat me.. but in turn you will become the guardian of the El. If this is what you wish, sacrifices will be made. Starting with your sister... who is the heir...
Elsword:... Elesis...!!
Solace:Elsword... You must have felt something while fighting alongside your friends... You guys are strong and were able to withstand a demon army. But do you think you were able to win those battles due to strength alone? No... it was the result of all the people that helped you along the way. You can't change the world alone... To maintain the world and change it... you must be aware of all lifeforms that exist.
Elsword:I already know that! I know what kinds of sacrifices it took to get here. I'm only here because of all the sacrifices everyone had made... I don't want to put anyone through this again.
Solace:... Now, the time has come for the chosen one... the one who holds the world's fate in their hands... to decide. What path will you take to protect Elrios?
Night of Ishmael
