Pele's Hesitation

Raid Event: Loyalty's Requiem

Episode 5

Pele's Hesitation

Previous Quest

The Oppressive Flame

Next Quest

Devotion

Summary

King Archeole rises again, and the party must cut him down to avert Phraeganoth's revival. Pele is hesitant to harm her one-time friend and master, but the prince and Celliera convince her that true loyalty demands she act.

Dialogue

Uh-oh. Quick, hide! My king?! But we cut him down! Look there. Surrounding him. Black mana? That must be the cause of his revival.

As long as that mana seeps through the tear in the space between worlds, he'll rise again and again.

Tsk! What a stubborn man. No, this is good news.

Surely King Archeole is a powerful enough fiend to hold an otherworld fragment within him.

Hey, yeah! Let's get him! Wait! Please... What's wrong? Phraeganoth is undying.

Are we to cross over time and again, fighting a war that can never truly be won?

What's yer deal, exactly? You were the one what asked us to help take this guy out, remember? Yeah! Plus, barreling headlong into impossible tasks is, like, half of what we do anyway. Perhaps. And yet... You swore to stop Phraeganoth's return, did you not? ...... Is it the thought of killing your king again that has you holding back? It must be done to save this world. I know that...yet it haunts me still.

The cry he gave as he fell still rings loudly in my ears. Besides, I failed to save him from his fate. Who am I to become his executioner? Is it not loyalty to see a king's will done? Even if it means an end to all?

Friends don't let friends destroy the world, man. That's crazy! But he- You're running from your own pain.

You can't pretend it's loyalty stopping you if you're not willing to face him as he is.

Celliera? I would know-I was afraid to face my own students, and so I ran instead.

But Euden told me to trust in the love I've put into them. I care about them-not as I imagine them, but as they ARE. And I'm prepared to face them because my love is sincere. So isn't facing your king now actually the true act of loyalty?

...... Huh? Look there! Rraaagh! He's making the tear wider! That means the black mana will pour through at an even greater rate! We ain't lettin' that happen! Hyaaaaaa! Uh, maybe we shouldn't just dive in without some kind of- Grrargh! Well, so much for the element of surprise. No matter. We planned to fight regardless. And we can't afford to let him expand that tear any further. Let's take him down! YAAAH! My love IS real. Just... You don't have to force yourself, Pele. We'll take this fight.

But ask yourself this: Is it not a vassal's duty to right the course of a king who's strayed from his path?

...... Fall in with me! HAAAH! Grooooar! I...loved my king. Aaaaugh! GROAAAR! He was wise. Noble. And kind. Okay, is it just me, or is this chump even stronger now?! Either way, our job is the same! HAAAH! GRAAAAAAAGH! Waugh! Euden! Heh heh... Ha ha ha! AAAAH HA HA HA! My king was never one to laugh at the pain of another...

Hear me, King Archeole! Your mind has been swallowed in darkness-let my light cast it out now! Blazing Pillars!

Nroooagh?! Forgive me, my friend. Pele! The tear should repair itself in time.

If we can keep Phraeganoth inside the space between worlds until then, we should be safe. But we'll need a fair number of otherworld fragments to remain within the rift until that happens. Therefore, we must fight the king until we've gathered enough.

It sounds like you've made peace with this decision. I had help.

I cannot permit my king's noble name to go down in history as a tyrant. Protecting his legacy is my duty as his vassal-and laying him to rest is my duty as his friend. I will waver no more. We must stop him and Phraeganoth both.

I'll be right beside you.

Let's put an end to this.