Summer Sinoa/Stories

General Stories Misc

Quotes

On Sortied

Time for an experiment! On the beach!

On Entering a Room

Need me help with your summer research project?

When Quest Begins

Off to do some midsummer field work!

Ready to chase some dreams?

Response to Beginning of a Quest

Right! Let's march on toward victory!

My beakers are packed, and my red pen is ready!

When Controlling Character in Quest

Let the great summer experiment begin!

When Receiving a Heal

I'm feeling mighty refreshed thanks to you!

I feel my fatigue melting away!

When Entering a Boss' Room

We'll take the boss down and get our vacation on!

I won't lose to someone who's trying to mess up our vacation!

Response to Entering a Boss' Room

This is going to be some great exercise!

Right! Let's put this one in the win column and get refreshed!

Upon Getting to Low Health

This summer heat has me feeling a little beat...

Guess I had too much fun...

Upon Opening a Chest

Treasure hunting? I guess that's another way to have some fun.

Any chemical components in there?

Boss on Low Health

No slacking off till the experiment is finished!

I hear my future self telling me we'll win!

Boss Enters Break State

Looks like the enemy's worn out from all this exercise too!

Logically speaking, now is the time to ATTACK!

Rare Enemy Spawns

A rare breed! Perhaps it's some kind of mutation!

There is no such thing as a coincidence in science!

Upon Death

So much for getting refreshed...

My future...has been cut off...

Upon Revival

My future self's telling me it'll be okay!

When Using Weapon/Shared Skills

Damage: Summer science really gets my energy up!

Buff Self: Behold the fruits of my vacation!

Buff Ally: Let's enjoy the summer together!

Debuff Enemy: Cool off a little!

Heal Ally: I'll heal you up!

Heal Self: I'm like a whole new woman!

Player Uses Damaging Skill

I bet you could blow away thunderclouds with that skill!

That was better than my experiment's explosions!

When Shape Shifting is Ready

The dragon's power has reached critical mass!

A little shapeshifting will have me totally refreshed!

Shape Shifting into Dragon

The dragon and I have some summer tests to perform!

Idle During Quest

Maybe I'll take a little break and rest my feet...

D'oh! Brain explosion! I know how to improve my experiment!

Quest Clear

I'm refreshed and ready for success!

Quest Failure

That wasn't refreshing at all!

Home Screen Walking

My first vacation!

This whole "taking it easy" thing is tough...

It's so cool and refreshing at night.

Nice to get a change of pace now and then.

Ocean materials will help in my research...

I can't neglect my research.

Home Screen Inside

If I refresh my weary mind with a vacation, my experiments are sure to be successful!

Time flies when you're having fun. ...Hey, does that have to do with wormholes?!

I can't wait to enjoy the sun! ...Er, but carefully, since I'm sort of weak and fragile.

I think the calm sound of waves would be useful in healing research.

Seawater is truly salty, isn't it? Oh, this is just like the picture books I read as a child!

The people of the castle know so many ways to have fun. All of you, teach me more!

Home Screen Portrait

I've never taken a vacation before, and while I'm kind of nervous, I'm even more exited!

I read about blue seas and white sand in books, but they are so much more beautiful than I imagined!

People clearly remove their armor at the beach so that salt water won't cause it to oxidize and rust... No, that's not it?

I know I'm supposed to have fun, but I don't know... how? Wish I'd taken more recess time back at the magic academy.

I've remembered what got me started as a researcher!

Collection Portrait

The guidebook about our destination doesn't say a thing about experiments being forbidden at the beach! Woohoo!

A place you don't normally go means there will be unexpected discoveries there. Like maybe some new chemical ingredients!

Got to do warm-up exercises before diving into the sea! Although that always ends up making me tired.

Eurika! If I inhale and keep the air in my lungs, they'll function like a floaty ring!

She's my pride and joy, and from her perspective I'm... Well, fellow expirementers are a pretty great thing!

At The Halidom

Shall we set off on our vacation?

My plan to avoid summer heat fatigue is perfect!

I'm gonna give it my all and get refreshed!

New Mana Circle Unlocked

Ah, this break has cleared and sharpened my mind!

On Mana Circle Fully Unbound

Now that I've refreshed my mind and body, I can picture a future full of successful expirements!

Adventurer Story Episodes

Episode 1

The Researcher's Vacation

*groan* Another failure. The theory is sound—so why? How many attempts does this make? A dozen? A DOZEN dozen? Perhaps I truly am grasping at straws here. I mean, a wormhole through space-time? There's plausible, and then there's...that. W-wait, what am I saying?! Past or future me, you didn't hear that! I'm just a little tired and discouraged. Mhm. That's all. I didn't really mean— ...ear me? My past self, can y... What? Is that...my own voice?! Wait! Does this mean that future me has succeeded in sending her voice back to present me? Summer...seaside vacation... Experiment...success... ...... I can't hear her—me?—anymore. But if I piece together what I could make out, I get... "If I go on a summer seaside vacation, my experiment will be a success." Well, me, you heard the...me! Let's go! Lewis Island
Public Beach
...Which is why this vacation is actually vital to my work! Can I count on your assistance? I do not mind a trip to the shore, but I am still struggling with your story. You're CERTAIN it was your voice from the future you heard? Yes. Absolutely. Establishing a bridge between the past and future is, like, Wormholes 101! My future self was finally able to successfully create one and use it to give her past self—me!—a hint. You can skip all the brainiac jargon. You just had to put the words "beach" and "trip" in the same general area and I was IN. Same here! I'm gonna swim until every muscle is screamin', and then pig out on more barbecue than you can shake a pig at! Please don't shake a pig. *ahem* Your individual motivations aside, thank you all so much for your cooperation! Er, hello, Erasmus. Do you always pack quite so...thoroughly? Your suitcase is positively bulging. Oh, that's my fault. I asked him to help transport all of my research equipment from the Halidom. You intend to experiment even here? Of course! Research is my life! I may step away from my lab, but never from my work! Even so, performing volatile experiments on a crowded beach seems ill-advised. What if there is another explosion? She could always use my old cave as a base of operations. It's sturdy enough, and out of the way. Then, once that's done, I have matters to attend to on my own. Alone? ...Ah, of course. You must have a lot of memories here. Indeed I do. Now, I'll be off. Speaking of memories, this place reminds me of the adventurer Simon, his treasure, and our clash with Barbary. Ah, the betentacled menace herself. Incidentally, I hear she's turned up again right here on Lewis Island. Fortunately, Estelle went to the beach where she was sighted to nip her mischief in the bud with a stern lecture. In other words, we don't have any shenanigans to worry about this time. Summer fun, here we come! I'm hittin' the waves! YAHOOEY! Ever the excitable buffoon... *ahem* REMEMBER TO STRETCH FIRST, LUCA! I'll go scrounge up some grub for that beachside barbecue I was talkin' about. Perhaps I'll indulge in a little beachcombing. Swimming, grilling, strolling on the sand... Fascinating. There are so many ways to enjoy a summer vacation. Yep. Everyone's trying to make the most of the trip in their own unique ways. Vacations are special precisely because they don't come along every day. Don't be afraid to let loose a little, Sinoa. Let loose, you say? Very well! Then first, I shall...

---

...... ...I'm drawing a blank. Come to think of it, I don't know that I've ever actually TAKEN a vacation. It's just so hot outside in the summer that I was always more comfortable holed up in the lab. What's the procedure here, anyway? Show me the way, science!

Episode 2

The Swimming Scholar

My future self clearly said that if I go on a summer seaside vacation, my experiment will be a success. But what am I meant to DO here? How do vacations even work? No textbook prepared me for this! Is something troubling you, Sinoa? Aren't you going to go have some fun? I feel extremely silly confessing this, but... I'm at a loss over what to actually do here. How about you start with a little swim? I-I suppose I could try, but, well... I've been a bookworm since I was a child. Physical exercise isn't really my forte. The one time I ventured to a nearby river, I wasn't even able to float, let alone actually swim. Ever since, I've been reluctant to tempt fate again. The experience haunts me, to be completely honest. I see. In that case, I shall teach you how. What? N-no, you don't have to— Breathe, Sinoa. Anyone can swim once they grasp the fundamentals. The human body is buoyant by nature. You're telling me that human flotation is not merely possible, but a law of nature? In other words, my previous failure stemmed purely from my ignorance of hydrodynamic theory?! Er...yes? I suppose you could say that? Fascinating! Then the problem is already solved! Theoretically. Thank you, Elisanne. Now that I understand the root of my previous failure, I am ready to yield to the sea's embrace! Well, I'm glad you feel more comfortable with the concept of swimming. Shall we head down to the water and give it a try? After stretching, of course. Of course! You have my gratitude in advance for your expert tutelage!

---

*glub glub glub* *gasp* SINOA! Are you all right?! Here, hold on to me! *cough* *sputter* B-by Poseidon's beard... I'm alive... I'm not sure even a boulder could have beaten you to the bottom. You said you couldn't float, but I had no idea it was this bad. Indeed. But why? Operating under the fundamental assumption that humans float— WAIT! Is this—no, surely not! Is this conclusive proof that I'm NOT HUMAN?! No. No it is not. Let's get you some floaties to practice with. Wait here. I'll go fetch them. That seems prudent. Surely, if I make use of a flotation device's buoyancy, I can... Hm. Hmmm. Hmmmmm... Eureka! Humans and floaties... are ONE AND THE SAME! Perhaps we should get you out of the sun... Hear me out. Both humans and floaties are innately buoyant, yes? They rise in water. And WHY do they rise in water? AIR! So if I take in a big breath— I did it! I'm floating! I'm floating, Elisanne! Superb! Breath control IS a crucial part of learning to float. I'm impressed that you figured that out through deduction rather than practice. Heh heh. Reasoning about natural phenomena is a researcher's bailiwick! So, how do I move my body once I'm afloat? Right! Let's start with the scissor kick. Lay your body flat, then take your legs and...

---

*gasp* *heave* S-swimming is...quite taxing... Indeed. It's a wonderful full-body workout. Now, are you still with me, Sinoa? Y-yes! I'm fine! Bone-tired, but... strangely exhilarated! The feeling of propelling myself through water with my own deliberate movements is something I'd have never experienced had I stayed huddled in the lab. I would say that CERTAINLY counts as enjoying my seaside vacation, so surely my next experiment will— Hrk! I can't move another inch... Easy, now. You need to rest. I'll carry you back to our lodgings. The moment Sinoa's head hit the pillow,
she slept like the dead until the following day.
Lewis Island Cave
Improvised Laboratory
Ahhh, what a beautiful morning! I'm feeling wide awake and sharp as a tack. Perhaps because I slept so well? No, it's because I gave my body the exercise it sorely needed. And now that I'm in peak condition, my experiment is practically guaranteed to bear fruit. Thank you, future self! Your guidance was foolproof! Now, let the sciencing begin! Space-time distortion field... Activate! Control valve open. Injecting arcane slurry. And...there! Internal mana density has reached the control value. Pressure valve readout is green. Everything looks good. Now, once the mana density stabilizes, I can... What? Th-the density is spiking! It's going to— Waaaugh! *cough* *sputter* Not another failure! No. I won't accept this. It was going perfectly this time! Right up to the very last step... A-HA! Clearly, this means I haven't sufficiently enjoyed my seaside vacation yet. I need to put my nose to the grindstone and relax harder than ever. I'll need to solicit more help so I can really crank the fun dial up to eleven!

Episode 3

How to Chillax

*whimper* In Nimis's name, mercy... I see now what my hubris has wrought... Whoa! You okay, Sinoa? B-barbecue... So much barbecue... Ahhh. That. Yeah, the guy was grilling up a storm, huh? Hard to stop once you've awakened the beast. I get it. Here, I've got just the thing for you. Drink this. Huh? Is this made from...ground-up leaves? Old sylvan remedy. It'll un-bust any gut in no time flat. Science wins again! Thank you, Luca. Blegh. That is BITTER. But my stomach IS feeling better. Enough for another ride on the protein slide down to the meat dimension, even! Hey, whoa, VETO! Keep that up, and your experiments won't be the only thing exploding around here. It's for science, Luca. Science! Procedure dictates that I push myself to the limit and enjoy this vacation! Okay, I wasn't gonna say anything, but you might be taking this a liiittle far. Aren't vacations all about doing the OPPOSITE of pushing yourself to the limit? Come again? Isn't the point of a trip like this to take it easy and recharge? Like, uh... Look at Cleo there. Zzz...zzz... *snerk* Zzz... She's out cold. Under a beach umbrella. With a look of total bliss on her face. Did you see HER going ham over there, stuffing her gut till she barfed? N-now that you mention it, no. That's because she knows how to chillax. She's always busting her buns looking after the castle and everyone in it. This is the only chance she gets to really unwind. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that you're kind of in the same boat. I haven't done housework in ages, though. That's not what I meant. I'm saying you push yourself too hard. When was the last time you didn't spend the day in the lab? This trip—right now—is your chance to forget about all the daily grind, if only for a hot minute. THAT'S what vacation is all about, if you ask me. So I need to cool it on the research stuff? Exactly! Empty that head of yours and go have fun, girl! Now, if you'll excuse me, there's a big blue ocean calling my name. Hm. Does Luca have the right idea here? His point is sound, but still... My research is everything to me! How am I supposed to stop thinking about it? Sorry, miss! Could you toss our ball back? Hm? Oh, this? Thaaank yooou! Huh? Wait. Do my eyes deceive me? Sinoa, is that you?! Huh? Y-you're... Mary?! Yes! I worked under you at the Institute of Magic! How wild to bump into you here. Talk about serendipity! Y-yes. What a...happy surprise. (I'm glad to see her. Really, I am. But still...) (After I was expelled from the Institute, she zoomed right past me to the position of senior advisor!) (Of COURSE I'm jealous. I want to find the nearest palm frond and hide behind it in shame right this second!) (What do I do? How do I look her in the eye and hold a conversation?)

Episode 4

Reunion of Researchers

Ohmigosh, it's been FOREVER! I did a double-take when I saw you, Sinoa! How have you been? You're staying at that castle these days, right? Oh! How go your experiments?! S-slow down, Mary! One question at a time, please! Oops. Sorry! I'm just so excited to see you! Okay, deep breaths, Mary. So, what brings you here? I hear you're living in that castle in the Mistholt? Y-yes, you heard right. I'm here on vacation with the others from the castle. Same as me, then! I'm here on break, too. The Institute sent me as a reward for my latest round of experiments going so well. Nothing beats turning off your brain and kicking back for a while. My next project is even more complex than the last, but I'm feeling ready for anything! Oh. That's...nice. (She just breezes through everything I struggle with, in the lab or on the beach.) Sinoa? Is everything okay? I'm just reminded of how amazing you are, Mary. I got your letter. You made senior advisor. Congratulations. Now, I should really be going. What?! Sinoa, wait up! No, I don't believe I will! I have nothing more to say, so— Maybe YOU don't, but I do! *huff* *gasp* Can't...go another...step... Please, Sinoa, stop! You look exhausted. Let's get you into the shade to rest. Th-thanks... *sigh* I'm such a mess. What? Why do you say that? You've run circles around me— both in work and in play. Now you're even taking care of me. The role reversal really is complete. Sinoa! You need to stop this self-defeating line of thought right now! I could NEVER have gotten to where I am today without your mentoring. I'm really, really grateful to you. Didn't you see the last page of the paper I published? The special thanks section, you mean? Yes. You included my name. It couldn't have been easy convincing them to let you list an expelled researcher. You must have had to call in a lot of favors. To the Institute, I am anathema. Maybe so, but I'd do it again ten times over! That paper wasn't complete without the name of the scholar I most admire! Surely you can't mean me! Who else, Sinoa? I was always too shy to say as much when we were working together at the Institute, but it's true. You are the consummate scientist. My admiration for you runs deep. What?! But all my experiments end in failure—often explosively so! Even now, I'm a disgrace. For all my effort, I still haven't made one measly little wormhole! But that hasn't stopped you from continuing the work. Because a true scientist never relents. Heh... That's what I'm talking about. That's what's so impressive about you. What is? Opening a man-made rift in space-time is the holy grail of the field you're working in, as well as its most intractable challenge. A handful of scholars have offered armchair theories, but most dismiss it as an outright fantasy. ...... But not you, Sinoa. You combined brilliant theoretical practice with a stunning imagination and let every failure fuel your next attempt. To this day, I've never seen anything as radiant as the glimmer in your eyes when you'd say, "This time, for sure!" Your drive taught me a profound lesson— that a scientist's greatest asset is the tenacity to never give up! I don't know if I'll ever be able to fully express how grateful I am for that. The days I spent with you in the lab are what anchor me in my work today. They form the very core of my being! Mary... I went through failure after failure before finally making my breakthrough, too. But every time, I'd think of you, pick myself up, dust myself off, and get back to it. Because I knew you would never give up! Wha—Mary? Where are you going? Heh, sorry. Hearing myself say all this aloud, I'm starting to feel super self- conscious, so I'm going to take off! But the takeaway is this: I'm always in your corner, Sinoa. And I know you're absolutely, positively going to succeed in realms that lesser researchers can only dream of! Mary... I had no idea she felt that way. Hold on to my tenacity, she says... You bet your beaker I will. That's all I ever needed to do. My resolve is once again firm— I WILL create a wormhole! Thank you for helping me find my way again, Mary. I'd started to lose sight of myself. But never again! I am Sinoa, and science is embedded in the core of my being—my very DNA!

Episode 5

Sinoa's Refresher

Lewis Island Cave
Improvised Laboratory
I'd nearly forgotten until Mary reminded me... Research is fueled by raw, feral passion and the blind refusal to accept the ignominy of defeat! These ideals form the core of who I am as a scientist—nay, as a human being. I was a fool to have lost sight of that. Now I remember when I first seized hold of the dream I still cling to.

---

(It was back when I was just a child. Fond of my studies, I swore I would become a researcher when I grew up.) (As to what I'd research, well... I hadn't thought that far ahead. Even so, I devoured books voraciously.) (I chewed through my family's entire library end to end without finding a subject that resonated with me.) (I began to read my neighbors' books. I worked my way through the entire village...) (That was when I found it, among the personal manuscripts of a local scholar. Her words set the gears of my fate in motion that day.) "Wormholes"...? (Thinking back on it now, that was less an academic paper and more a collection of the author's daydreams on the topic.) (I learned that creating a wormhole would open up a literal world of possibilities.) (As far-fetched as it was, reading such flights of fancy as a child writ them indelibly upon my impressionable mind.) (More than anything, the thought of a rift in space-time was utterly fascinating!) Huh? The world of...the past. And...the world of the future?! You could just up and jump to ANY TIME you wanted?! No way! That's AWESOME! (I knew right in that moment...) (...that someday, I would open a rift in space-time with my own two hands!)

---

Heh. I can remember the exhilaration so clearly. Feels like it was only yesterday. Imagining myself free to travel between past, present, and future... Even now, the idea gives me goosebumps. That's it. I refuse to waste another second. I've got experiments to run! A single success is worth a hundred— no, a THOUSAND failures. Ten thousand! (My mind is clear again. I will not be daunted, no matter the challenge!) (Ah! Is this—?! It must be!) I've taken the perfect vacation, relishing in this exact moment, at this exact spot. I've recharged my body and mind alike. I've reconnected with my roots—with the emotional core that drives my work. There's not a doubt in my mind. This is it. THIS is what my future self was talking about! Space-time distortion field... Activate! I need to send this message to the past! Control valve open! Injecting arcane slurry! Internal mana density has reached the control value! No... Mana density is spiking again?! NO! GYAAAAAH! Ugh... Another failure. But I won't be deterred. I'll try as many times as it takes!

---

*cough* Aha! That's the *cough* problem. If I alter the timing of the slurry injection... Next time I'll set the control valve to... (Hee hee. I'd almost forgotten, but science is fun!) ("What if I did this?" "What if I changed that?" Ideas flood into my mind.) (No matter the outcome, the possibilities are endless.) Now, once more! Space-time distortion field... Activate! I'll adjust the control valve like I did in the last round, but use the quantity of arcane slurry I did in the round before. Yes! I've never tried it like this! Now, show me the money, wormhole! I'm on the edge of my seat here! Yes... YES! A wormhole! I'VE DONE IT! Oh no! It's destabilizing! It's going to collapse in on itself, and soon! I won't let it—not before I send this message. My voice can still reach the past. Listen up, past Sinoa! Can you hear me? Er, can you hear yourself? I know this last round of failures has beaten you down, but you can't give up! Go indulge in a summer seaside vacation! That will open the path forward to lead your experiments to success!