Guiding Vision/Story

Guiding Vision - Opening

Alfonse	Mycen, knight of Zofia, warrior who trained Alm. Will you lend us your sword arm?
Your will is my own, Prince Alfonse. I will gladly give whatever an old man like me can.		Mycen
Alfonse	And you, Sonya. Your name has echoed throughout Valentia. I ask for the aid of your considerable power.
I can hardly refuse when you've given me such a gorgeous outfit. You won't be disappointed.		Sonya
Alfonse	We gladly welcome you to the Order of Heroes. Thank you for your service in defense of Askr's people.
What is that commotion outside? The sun has not yet risen... Wait, the air smells of smoke! Are we under attack?!		Mycen
Wh-what horror is this?! The castle is wreathed in flame! The fire has even reached the nearby town! How did this happen? Is anyone there?! Prince Alfonse! Princess Sharena! The flames are spreading... Alm! Celica! Please, answer me!		Mycen
Alm	...
Alm! I am relieved to see you.		Mycen
Alm	R-run...Mycen...
You're badly wounded! Hold fast. I will find you help. Alm? Please, stay awake!		Mycen
Celica	...
Celica! Wait...something isn't right. This darkness... It can't be... Are you the one who wounded Alm so gravely?		Mycen
Sonya	Mycen, get away from her! That's not your Celica.
Sonya! What do you mean?		Mycen
Sonya	The Celica before you has given her soul to a powerful being. She is no more than a witch now.
A witch? This is madness! Celica, come to your senses! You have yet to accomplish your goals! Does the cause you fought for with Alm mean nothing to you now?		Mycen
Celica	Rrrah!
Urgh! Celica, withdraw your blade! I am not your foe! Wake up, please!		Mycen

Guiding Vision - C

Mycen	Where am I? The castle...it was burning. Oh, Alm and Celica! Ah, I see... So it was only a dream. What a horrific nightmare... It was unusually vivid. Could it have been a portent of some kind? I can only hope not... Hmph. Returning to sleep doesn’t seem possible after such an ordeal. Sonya appeared in the dream, as I recall. Perhaps I should check on her to ensure all is well...
Mycen	Pardon the intrusion so late at night. It’s Mycen. Are you there, Sonya? That sound! It came from inside. Something is wrong. I’m coming in, Sonya!
...		Marla
Hestia	...
Name yourselves intruders!		Mycen
Sonya	They are witches who have given their souls in service of Duma. Meet my sisters, Marla and Hestia.
Your sisters?!		Mycen
Sonya	I am curious as to why the Duma Faithful would show up in Askr... But I suppose that doesn’t matter. The two of you coming here actually proves wonderfully convenient. Now I won’t have to search for you when I find a way to reclaim your souls. I will do so, no matter the cost.
Your words mean nothing, Sister...		Marla
Hestia	No matter the cost? That is a bold promise to make...
What of it?		Sonya
Marla	Sonya...if offering up your life could restore us...
Would you still promise to do so?		Hestia
Sonya	I...
Why don’t you show your resolve by dying right now?		Marla
Mycen	They’re casting a spell! Sonya, you must run!
I can’t!		Sonya
Mycen	Curses! There’s no time!
Get down, hurry!		Peony

Guiding Vision - B

Mycen	Where are we now? I feel...hazy, as though my mind is in a fog...
Were my sisters really at the castle? Or were they an illusion? Maybe part of a dream...		Sonya
Peony	Are you two all right?
...		Triandra
Mycen	You came to our aid, yes? You have my gratitude.
Those wings... You must be an álfr from the realm of dreams. I’ve seen you working with the Order of Heroes.		Sonya
Peony	I’m Peony! I’m from Ljósálfheimr. It’s nice to meet you! C’mon, Triandra, don’t be shy! You can say hi too!
Let us skip the pleasantries. You have been transported to the dream realm.		Triandra
Mycen	Is that so? I wonder if this started when I found the castle aflame and Celica as a witch...
The encounter with Sonya’s sisters was also part of the dream.		Peony
Sonya	Isn’t it unusual that Mycen and I are having the same dream though?
That is the work of nothingness. It has no shape or scent, but it can enter dreams, tear them apart, and destroy their dreamer’s hearts...		Triandra
Sonya	How do we drive this nothingness away if it has no shape?
A powerful heart and mind can resist nothingness. One must have a strong heart that doesn’t give up on dreams or the promise of the future.		Peony
Sonya	Well, I am certainly confident in my ability to not give up. If that is what we must do to escape this dream, then I am ready.
We’ll help too! Now then, let’s go. Triandra and I will lead you to the depths of the dream!		Peony

Guiding Vision - A

Peony	Be careful, everyone.
The nothingness is close by... I can feel it.		Triandra
Sonya	Wait, what’s that?
...		Alm
Celica	...
Alm, Celica...		Mycen
Marla	...
...		Hestia
Sonya	Oh, hello again, Sisters.
Watch out, they’re drawing weapons!		Triandra
Alm	Haaa!
Ugh! Stop this foolishness, Alm! I am not your enemy!		Mycen
Alm	Yes you are, Mycen. You told us our fate was inescapable. You forced us to take responsibility for saving all of Valentia on our own!
You placed a terrible burden on us then threw us headfirst into a horrific, violent conflict.		Celica
Alm	If you wanted to save Valentia so badly, you could have led the charge yourself. Instead, you—
Watch out, Mycen! You need to dodge!		Peony
Mycen	I need not avoid such a pitiful strike. You’ll have to try harder than that, child. Yah!
Ugh!		Alm
Mycen	That fate was not foisted upon your shoulders alone. Everyone joined the fight. We all shed blood and advanced for the liberty of Valentia together. The real Alm and Celica would not fail to see that!
I believe both of you questioned my resolve earlier.		Sonya
Marla	Yes... You claim that you will “save” us no matter what, but alas...
You do not have the courage to throw your life away...		Hestia
Sonya	Don’t make me laugh. You’re saying that you could be saved if I gave up my life? How absurd. What guarantee do I have that it would work that way? Besides, if I were dead I wouldn’t be able to confirm that your souls were intact. You must think me a fool.
...		Marla
Sonya	I will take back your souls using my own methods. I won’t waste my time considering such a ridiculous proposition.
Silence! If you want your wish fulfilled so badly, sacrifice your life and give us your soul!		Hestia
Triandra	Watch out!
Oh my, did you even hear a word I said? I’m not dying. Not here! Arcane Caliburnus, carve through my foes!		Sonya
Marla	Agh! Aaah!
Now, Triandra! We won’t let you...		Peony
Triandra	destroy the hearts of those who dream!
The illusions seem to be fading.		Mycen
Sonya	I have no business with mere imitations of my sisters. Stay out of my dreams!
Thank goodness! Our combined strength was enough to cast out the nothingness.		Peony
Mycen	Indeed. We managed to pull through. It would seem that this nothingness attempts to take advantage of the strife and guilt in our hearts... So as long as we live, it can use these stresses to invade our dreams... Is that right?
Put differently, those unresolved issues must be overcome before we can move on confidently, right? I, for one, don’t plan on giving in to the nothingness. I won’t let anything get in the way of rescuing my sisters.		Sonya

Scenario
Carrying the Torch ←		Guiding Vision		Entrusted Hope →
Triandra	Sonya		Peony		Mycen

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