Story Update 5: Guild Achievers vs. Did You Eat the Sun Again, Eddy? (Coeurl)




Let's check the map and see.
You open up your map and check the point of the compass. It seems you've entered further east onto the same floor where you found yourselves before.
Looks like we managed to get into a new area. Hey, Frederica, does any of this look familiar to you?
Frederica looks around...
...No, I don't remember any of this. I can't remember anything...
I suppose it was a lot to expect all of your memories to come flooding back. Ah well. Let's look for this terminal you spoke of before...
You begin your investigation to solve the mystery of Gladsheim.



When you exit the door, the space ahead turns out to be pitch black. Even with the light you hold, you cannot see further in...
It'll be dangerous, but we'll have to go on like this. Hopefully we can find a way to turn the lights on somewhere inside...
Using the light you hold as a guide, you proceed cautiously through the darkness.



Soon after Raquna speaks, you can feel it too; a dreadful beast lying in wait further in the darkness... It doesn't seem to be moving, but you must exercise even greater caution now.


There's something up ahead in the corridor... Let's get closer to investigate.

It seems to have a purpose... Though your experimentation with it elicits no noticeable reaction.
There's something like this in our documents. I believe it lights up the corridor...though I don't know how.
Could it be broken?
You eventually determine that you can learn no more about it, and are about to move on, when...


Eh? Really?
I think so...
With that, Frederica reaches toward the black box.


What did I do...?
I don't know. The way you use it just popped into my head suddenly.
Hmm... What else could be locked away in those memories, I wonder...
...
Well, no use theorizing without any evidence. Let's go back and have a look around that corridor.
Simon and the others begin to retrace their steps in the hopes there has been a change in the dark corridor.


Simon's right to ask... How can I know stuff like that? My memories... Me... What was all this about...?

I'm here with you.
You're...?
...Yeah, that's true.
Come on, let's hurry so we can catch up with the others.
You and the girl catch up to the other three and resume your investigation.


Looks like that monster starts moving around when the lights are on. I hope we can use that somehow...







It's not moving at all now, though. It might start moving around again if we turn the lights on...
In that case, maybe we should try looking for the device that controls the light in this room.




The way this one stirs in the light is just like before, but unlike the last, this one seems to chase after us. Again, I suggest analyzing its behavior before proceeding. We can't risk falling to it in a straight fight.













You stop, trying to discern what the noise may be, as you remain cautious of your surroundings... Eventually, the bizarre noise stops, and all is silent again.


We heard it last time as well.
Oh, that's right. We heard that noise when we met you, too... Of course you'd know it.
I can only conclude that something is happening in Gladsheim at regular intervals...
Loud enough to be heard throughout the entire floor, though? What could possibly be causing that...?
As you ponder the question, Arthur speaks up to the group.
It's not like we'll figure it out by thinking hard. Let's hurry up and go find the answer!


You're right.
He has a point. It won't do us any good to stand around here.
In that case, shall we get going?
You nod to each other and resume your investigation of the floor.








Tensions run high as Raquna peers skeptically at the door. Even you can feel the malicious presence extending from beyond the door...
It must be done for the investigation. Let's be sure we're prepared...
Yeah, what Simon said. If there's something waiting in there, we just gotta beat it!


Indeed.
Sheesh, you and Arthur are two of a kind, eh?
Then again, I don't have a better idea... Let's do it!
You decide to forge onward and face the threat that lies beyond the door!





But bereft of your sight though you are, you can sense a dreadful presence nearby.
I don't know what's here... But it's definitely dangerous.
It seems Arthur senses the formidable enemy within the room as well... You must be prepared for a mortal struggle if you are to investigate the room.





The invisible beast, Coeurl. I've read of it at the Library, but to see a living specimen in this day and age...
Simon continues with a surprised expression while gazing back at where you fled the beast. Just as its nickname of 'invisible beast' implies, the Coeurl has the ability to fade into the background.
In that state, it is invincible. Our attacks will not touch it.
As Simon speaks, you no longer feel the beast's presence before you...
It really disappeared! What're we supposed to do, Simon?!
...There is one way. We must expose it to light. The Coeurl likes to conceal itself in darkness and attack its prey when they're off guard. If we expose it to strong light just before it ambushes us, it will be unable to use its abilities. Then we can fight it on even footing.
With that, Simon looks around. Ideally, you could turn on the lights at will... But the darkness makes it hard to tell if the light device is nearby. In order to find the Coeurl, you must avoid its pursuit while searching for a means to turn the lights on.


There are old records of the Coeurl killing dozens of members of an investigation team before escaping.
So there's no guarantee we can beat it just because we turned the lights on, eh? Okay, guys, keep your guard up!




Whew... That was a tough one...
Hey, a win's a win! Heheh, it didn't stand a chance against us!
Sheesh, you're way too chipper about this. You all right, Dude?


Of course.
Haha, that's our leader. It's thanks to you that we can put our minds at ease in a fight.
So we should be able to reach the terminal now, right...? Um...thanks, Dude.
Ooh, someone's being modest for once!
It's not a one-time thing! I really am grateful...so quit poking fun at me.


You're welcome.
Yep!
Amidst everyone's joy, only Simon looks around with a troubled expression and compares the hall to the map.
I'm sorry to be the one to spoil the mood, but I don't see the terminal Frederica mentioned. Since our map is complete, and there are no clues in this hall, the terminal's very existence is becoming suspect...
Huh...?!
You look around, confused by Simon's statement. But all you see are the fabricated, inorganic walls. Nothing like this terminal seems to be present here.
...
We finished off the enemy, but there's still more investigating to do, eh...?
Don't worry, Frederica. We don't know for sure yet that it's not here. Right, Dude?


Let's split up and look around.
Well said! C'mon, Frederica. If we all search, I'm sure we'll find that terminal in no time!
...Yeah.
You decide to give the room another sweep for any suspicious spots.



What...is this?
...It's Mike.
Mike?
Mike, are you listening? Answer me!
The girl shouts at the enormous black devices before her, but receives no answer from them.


Who's Mike?
Mike is Mike! He and I, we...
We...?
The girl cocks her head at her own words and starts to brood. It seems she hasn't yet remembered everything...
Even if this is the terminal we were looking for... What now?
The trio of investigators each examines the giant device, but the device shows no sign of reacting. If you wish, you can join them.


Hmm...
You recall the other device that illuminated the room and raise your hand to the black box. ...Alas, nothing happens. The trio probes it for some time, but their efforts bear no fruit and they abandon it with glum looks. The girl, who has spent the whole time thinking to herself, speaks under her breath...


Why would that come to me when I saw the device...? But I feel like that triggered something... I was hurrying to where Mike is.
There was something I needed to check with him... But I can't remember now what it was.
Frederica smiles sadly and idly brushes the terminal's surface when a strange sound echoes.




No way, it moved?!
Frederica, what did you do just now?
I-I didn't do anything except for touching it. That's all, I swear.


What is this? How's the ancient script floating in midair?
Hey Simon, what's it saying?
Give me a moment... It's going by so fast that I can't keep up.
The three of you gaze at the flowing text in astonishment as you struggle to understand. But only Simon, well-versed in that ancient script, reads aloud what terms he can grasp.


Critical malfunctions detected. Requesting immediate direct interface with... Mike...? in Area II.
Mike... Upon hearing that familiar name, you look to each other. It is the same name Frederica spoke of earlier. Could he be deeper within this ruin...?
Mike is in Area II...
Hey, please tell me how we can get to Area II!
I told you already, boxes don't--


When Frederica speaks to the box, the letters flow across the blue light once more, forming new sentences.
Anomaly in power source. Entering sleep mode. Restoration chances: 0%. Limiting intervention zones. Transporter anomaly.
So... What did any of that mean?
It means this facility's functions are almost completely dormant. We can't proceed to Area II from here.
Huh?! How come?!
Calm down. This ruin's transport device doesn't work, but it's shown us the coordinates to Area II.
Ohhhh... So we just need to get the Field to recognize those, right?
That won't work, Arthur. There was something about that in the documents. You can only add one destination per transport device. Or rather, per Geomagnetic Field.
Raquna's memory is, unfortunately, accurate. We'll need to find a new Geomagnetic Field to reach Area II.
Which means... Before I can meet up with Mike, we need to explore the forest some more.
The girl gives a small, frustrated sigh and looks up at you. You notice that the other three are looking toward you as well... It seems they're waiting for your decision.


Back to the forest, then.
Yah, I think that would be best. Oh... But we should see if there's somewhere we can find multiple Geomagnetic Fields.
If there's something we need to know about the forest, could we ask that four-eyes at the Radha?
Hmm. He may want a progress report as well... Why don't we go see him before heading into the Labyrinth?
A mysterious entity known as Mike is evidently waiting in Area II of the ruin... Who might this Mike be? Will Frederica's lost memory ever return? And what is causing this abnormality? There is a mountain of things to consider...but you must abandon Gladsheim now and return to town.



Let's. Perhaps the subaltern will know something about the Geomagnetic Field.



How is your investigation of the ruin going? Please, tell me if you learn anything of the abnormalities.




In order to investigate it further, you need to find a Geomagnetic Field within the Labyrinth. Unfortunately, from my knowledge, only one Geomagnetic Field has been confirmed to exist in the 2nd Stratum. I have heard that there is one in the 3rd Stratum, though... But the forest changes over time, and the path to the 3rd Stratum has not been found for a long while.
Ugh, so we've gotta start by finding a way there first?!
Hmm... If you want some information, Visil may know something.
...Visil?
He's the leader of the Radha... Or, rather, the Chieftain of Etria. His wisdom is well-known even at the Library.
Ah, so you have heard of him. As you may expect, he is a very busy man, and is very difficult to get ahold of. I will inform the Chieftain that we are looking for a path to the next Stratum. Perhaps he knows something.
We appreciate your help.
It may take a while to get ahold of the Chieftain. You may continue your 2nd Stratum exploration in the meantime.

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