Hatate Quest Nelja

[Oldmansour]

> "I know what I heard her tell me."
> Cross our arms if we aren't already, but don't change tone.
> "Are you prepared to call me a liar?"

>"You've accused me of worse today." Aya counters.

[Kilgamayan]

> "I'm not hearing a 'no'."

[Oldmansour]

> "I'm not hearing a 'no'."

>"I've also heard you jump to a lot of conclusions during this argument, Hatate. I doubt the other Hatate lied to you, but I also know her, and I know she isn't unsatisfied. But despite everything you've said today, you're still a Hatate, so maybe I can still give you the benefit of the doubt in this case. Maybe you misunderstood something she said, or she didn't tell you the whole story." Aya chuckles once, shortly. "Maybe we both have something to ask her the next time we see her."

[Kilgamayan]

> "You're perfectly welcome to ask her yourself, then. But ultimately, that's less important. I told you that everything that's happened to our land here happened because that's what you wanted it all to be, didn't I?"
> Point back in the direction of the village without actually averting our gaze.
> "That Hatate back there, the one that up and told me that you were the best, and has just come to accept it? That's your ideal of me."

[Oldmansour]

> "You're perfectly welcome to ask her yourself, then. But ultimately, that's less important. I told you that everything that's happened to our land here happened because that's what you wanted it all to be, didn't I?"
> Point back in the direction of the village without actually averting our gaze.
> "That Hatate back there, the one that up and told me that you were the best, and has just come to accept it? That's your ideal of me."

>"My 'ideal' version of you is the one that beat me at my own game. And she's proud of it, but not too proud. Because unlike me, she knows how to keep things from going to her head too much. Giving me my due for the skills that I earned doesn't mean she sells herself short." She pauses and makes a face. "What exactly did she even say to you? You make her sound like you think she's some sort of... beaten puppy or something. Uh... no offense, 'miji."
>"None taken." the White Wolf replies.

[Kilgamayan]

> "But your ideal version of me isn't based on what would make me happy, it's only based on what would make you happy! Do you really think I'd want anything just handed to me?"

[Oldmansour]

> "But your ideal version of me isn't based on what would make me happy, it's only based on what would make you happy! Do you really think I'd want anything just handed to me?"

>"Haven't you been listening? I didn't 'hand' her anything. She earned the place and prestige she has. And why shouldn't that make me happy, I'd been hoping she'd do that ever since you followed me into the Underworld all those years ago."

[Hello Purvis]

>Do we have the power to fake photographs via spirit photography? Or can we only take pictures of things that have actually happened at some point in history?

[Kilgamayan]

> "Your idea of me earning anything includes being surprised I didn't ditch you in this prison world forever in favor of cornering the news market in reality."

[Oldmansour]

> "Your idea of me earning anything includes being surprised I didn't ditch you in this prison world forever in favor of cornering the news market in reality."

>"I doubt you'd protest if I called you ambitious. There was an opportunity there. I'd hardly blame you for taking it."

>Do we have the power to fake photographs via spirit photography? Or can we only take pictures of things that have actually happened at some point in history?

>Hitherto, you've only ever taken pictures of past events. You've never tried to generate false images on your phone before. But you don't know that it's impossible.

[Kilgamayan]

> "And there's your problem. That's not an opportunity, that's a cowardly, undeserved path to a fictitious top! Why would you ever think I'd take that?"

[Oldmansour]

> "And there's your problem. That's not an opportunity, that's a cowardly, undeserved path to a fictitious top! Why would you ever think I'd take that?"

>"Because you're ambitious?" she repeats.

[Kilgamayan]

> "I can't believe you think that little of me! What kind of soulless abomination do you take me for?"

[Oldmansour]

> "I can't believe you think that little of me! What kind of soulless abomination do you take me for?"

>Aya winces. "Look, I'm... sorry, okay?"

[Kilgamayan]

> Take on an ever-so-slightly less accusational tone.
> "Yeesh. No wonder you thought I'd be happy with this."

[Oldmansour]

> Take on an ever-so-slightly less accusational tone.
> "Yeesh. No wonder you thought I'd be happy with this."

>"Wh, what do you mean?" Aya asks, looking quite confused.

[Kilgamayan]

> Press the fingers of one hand against the side of our forehead, as if in frustration.
> "Look. I'm only ever gonna say this once, all right? This whole thing...if I wanted to see the world, or make some money, I could just do that. But that's too mechanical. There's no real point in doing this if there isn't someone else around to push you to be better than you are right now. Someone to push you, and someone you can push back on, to make sure they don't slack off or fall to the wayside."

[Oldmansour]

> Press the fingers of one hand against the side of our forehead, as if in frustration.
> "Look. I'm only ever gonna say this once, all right? This whole thing...if I wanted to see the world, or make some money, I could just do that. But that's too mechanical. There's no real point in doing this if there isn't someone else around to push you to be better than you are right now. Someone to push you, and someone you can push back on, to make sure they don't slack off or fall to the wayside."

>"But she didn't need me anymore. She didn't need to compete against someone she was better than, and I didn't want to compete with her that way anymore. I wanted to revel in her success just as much as she wanted to have it."

[Kilgamayan]

> "She's also just a byproduct of what you think would make me happy. That's why I'm telling you that the reality is different. It's fundamentally important to have you there, even though I've known I'm better than you for a long time."

[Oldmansour]

> "She's also just a byproduct of what you think would make me happy. That's why I'm telling you that the reality is different. It's fundamentally important to have you there, even though I've known I'm better than you for a long time."

>Aya seems stricken by your words. This makes you feel optimistic. She may be finally beginning to doubt the nature of this world. You just wish she didn't seem sad about it.
>After a moment, the dark haired Crow looks away from you, up at the cloudless sky. "... Too good to be true?" you hear her mutter.

[Kilgamayan]

> Give an uncertain frown.
> "Well...I bet you could do something even greater back in reality."

[Oldmansour]

> Give an uncertain frown.
> "Well...I bet you could do something even greater back in reality."

>Aya looks back down then. Not at you, but at Momiji, still standing behind you. "Is that how you feel, too, 'Miji? Do you hate what you see here too?"
>The White Wolf steps forward, her honest face stern. "No, Aya, I don't hate the version of me in this world." Aya starts to smile at that, but it fades when Momiji continues, "But it isn't what I'd want for myself. I'm just a solider, not a leader. I never once wanted to be Shogun."
>Hot frustation flashes across Aya's face. "But nobody would be better at it than you! You can see that, too, right, Hatate? Momiji's the best shogun who'd never try to claim the title. Our people couldn't do any better than to have her defending them, leading our defenses."

[Kilgamayan]

> Take on a more understanding tone.
> "There'd be no one better if she wanted it. But if she doesn't, then that's it."

[Oldmansour]

> Take on a more understanding tone.
> "There'd be no one better if she wanted it. But if she doesn't, then that's it."

>"I never wanted any power or rank." Momiji adds. "I do the best with what I've been given, but I don't want anymore." She takes a breath. "Maybe I would be good at it. But I can't imagine really being happy as shogun."
>Aya's mouth opens and closes, but no intelligent sounds escape it for a moment. Gently, Momiji speaks again to the stricken Aya, "You've always had nothing but praise for my skills as a soldier, and I can understand why you'd want me in charge of our army. But it's not what I want. You may think you have everything you ever wanted here, Aya, but I don't. And neither does Hatate. This world, this book, just gave you what you think we wanted for ourselves. It's your dreams come true, not ours."
>"Dreams come true..." Aya mutters again. She turns away from you both again, pressing one hand against her head and another against a large boulder, for support. "Dreams come true. Did I ever... Why didn't I think that before?

[Kilgamayan]

> "The book is really good at screwin' with your mind. And...for what it's worth, I don't think you did this malevolently. This may not be what I want for myself, but...thanks for thinking it is, at least."

[Oldmansour]

> "The book is really good at screwin' with your mind. And...for what it's worth, I don't think you did this malevolently. This may not be what I want for myself, but...thanks for thinking it is, at least."

>Momiji nods her agreement.
>Aya seems to be mightily struggling with the dilemma you've presented her with. "But... I, I don't remember a book. I don't... This really isn't real?" she finally asks in a very quiet voice, like she doesn't want to accept it. You can actually see tears starting to pool in the corners of her eyes.

[Kilgamayan]

> Oh hell.
> Walk over to Aya and, if she doesn't resist, give her a gentle hug.
> "I'm sorry."

[Oldmansour]

> Oh hell.
> Walk over to Aya and, if she doesn't resist, give her a gentle hug.
> "I'm sorry."

>You DID want her to come to her senses. But you were expecting anger, maybe even a fight. Not this.
>The elder crow doesn't resist at all. In fact, she nearly collapses into your arms, and openly weeps. Between her sobs, you hear her whisper. "I was finally happy. Really happy."

[Kilgamayan]

> Give her gentle pats on the back.
> "I'm sorry..."

[Oldmansour]

> Give her gentle pats on the back.
> "I'm sorry..."

>Guilt is not an emotion you usually experience, at least not for any length of time. But you can't escape the sense of guilt you feel right now. You know you had to do this. If Celes is right, you may have saved Aya's life. But you never expected her to be so miserable as a result.
>It is nearly a full minute before Aya begins to collect herself, audibly trying to stem the flow of tears from her eyes. Eventually she asks you, bitterly, "Why did you do this? I was happy."