Story Reader / Affection / Selena: Pianissimo / Story
Selena passes several collapsed walls and broken tiles before stopping at a withered apple tree.
The soil, saturated by Red Tide, can no longer sustain flowers, yet the loose earth still carries the warmth left behind by the lives that drifted away.
She bends down, brushing the ground with her fair fingertips. She activates the Tempest frame's ability to read Red Tide again and gently stirs up the untold stories of those who once walked this land.
This time, she sees a little girl in tattered clothes in the vision.
Her limbs, thin as kindling from prolonged starvation, carry her across the wasteland as she scans the ground for any bits of food.
Hey, food!
Her eyes light up as she runs toward a small mound.
The scars on her feet tear open and blood seeps out while she sprints.
But the little girl doesn't seem to notice. Her eyes are fixed on a green apple hanging from the tree.
She uses all her strength to stack several scattered bricks and climbs onto the makeshift stairway.
Ow!
As she steps onto the bricks, the pain in her feet intensifies, and her little face twists in agony.
She clenches her teeth, enduring the intense pain as she stands on her toes to try to knock the fruit down repeatedly with a branch.
Finally, the wood loosens, and her face lights up with a bright, joyful smile.
Almost there...
The fruit falls from the branch and rolls down the slope.
W-wait, no—
—Wait!
Selena cries out without thinking—the Red Tide churns in the crater at the bottom of this small hill, where the apple is heading.
The little girl jumps down from the brick pile and chases after the apple as it rolls down the hill.
At that moment, Selena forgets this is merely an illusion, that everything happening here is in the past, and runs after the little girl.
Don't!
Selena keeps running with only one thought—she must save this child. She will not let the Red Tide take such a young life.
She finally catches up to the little phantom at the edge of the massive crater.
Selena's fingers tear through the hollow illusion once more, and the little girl's silhouette at the crater's edge dissipates the moment Selena's metal fingers touch the virtual image.
But as Selena's hand passes through the illusion and touches something—
She finds an arm and grabs onto it.
The illusion dissolves, and Selena finally sees the reality—she's grabbing a female Construct who was about to jump into the massive Red Tide crater.
For some reason, the body of this Construct in reality almost perfectly overlaps with the silhouette of the little girl from the illusion.
Selena accidentally saves a Babylonia soldier who had been lured by the Red Tide and nearly jumped into it.
The rescued soldier's face shows pure terror. She clutches Selena's hand at the crater's edge with desperation.
Don't... don't let go...
I've got you! Just hold on!
Selena pulls the soldier up from the crater's edge with all her might.
Grab my hand. Together, now! Pull—!
A few minutes later, Selena, exhausted, and the female Construct collapse onto the ground next to the massive crater.
Phew... thank you!!
Don't mention it... Uh!
Selena comes to her senses and suddenly remembers her special circumstances. She quickly pulls up her hood and tries to leave.
But the female Construct has already risen to her feet and is walking to Selena.
You okay? That was close. You saved my life back there.
You're a Construct, too, right? Thank you! Are you on a mission nearby?
...Just passing through. Don't worry about it.
Selena cautiously pulls her hood further over her face and speaks in a hushed voice.
This frame is a gift from the agent. It's made of Red Tide. She doesn't want to put this Construct at risk...
Hey, don't worry. Paridae always repays its debts. Why not drop by our conservation area for some rest? You must be exhausted after that scare!
Oh, right! Totally forgot to introduce myself. Haha, name's Lia. Squad Paridae.
Hang on, I'll get you access to the conservation area...
Before Selena can stop her, the female Construct named Lia has already completed a series of rapid operations on the terminal with quick taps.
Right, I'll need your frame ID for this...
Frame ID...
Selena furrows her brows in confusion. She shouldn't remember this unfamiliar term with so many gaps in her memory...
Frame ID... BPF-06... Huh?
Completely baffled by why she knows that sequence of numbers, Selena tentatively pulls back her cloak—
The azure core on her chest is clearer than ever.
BPF-06...
That's weird. The system doesn't recognize it? But it's a valid ID...
After fiddling with the terminal for a bit, Lia apparently decides it's malfunctioning and tosses the annoying little device aside before turning to look at Selena.
The database is probably under maintenance. But if that ID's registered to Babylonia, you're one of us. Come on, let's head back.
She reaches out and pats Selena on the shoulder—
Watch out!
Selena instinctively yells out to warn Lia as she turns to avoid Lia's touch, but Lia has already made contact with her frame...
What's wrong? Did the Red Tide illusions freak you out?
The Construct before her clearly shows no signs of infection and her frame hasn't warned her about excessive Punishing concentration...
N-no...
Still shaken, Selena takes a step back, her fingers slowly moving beneath her cloak.
Beneath her bionic skin, the crimson color remains. That part of her body is still composed of Punishing.
The Punishing hasn't disappeared, but why...
She bends her fingers again, clearly noticing that the Punishing in the air no longer wraps around her as tightly as it did.
Punishing Virus... Babylonia...
Hey, are you sure you're okay? Should I get a Construct doctor to check you out?
...It's fine. I'm okay.
Realizing that something has changed, Selena forces herself to show a slightly stiff smile.
She doesn't want to leave anymore. She... suddenly wants to visit the conservation area.
If... if she could control the Punishing in her frame and be like a normal Construct...
Biting her lip, Selena finds a glimmer of hope as she carefully monitors the Punishing concentration around her while following in Lia's footsteps.
One step.
The azure core emits a clear, radiant light.
Dear Stranger: I know you might be confused to see this in your mailbox. If you're too busy with work and have no time for things like this, feel free to toss this letter ...
Two steps.
The "celestial light" of Judgment pours through the dome ceiling...
What was it about that opera that angered you? Please tell me!
Then tell me, what were you trying to say with your opera?
Did you intend to praise the fearlessness of the heroes? To praise the greatness of war? Or did you want to express your condescending sympathy and so-called compassion for those who gave their lives?
You have a good level of affinity with Tantalum-193. Your Construct surgery success rate is judged to be high.
<i>My beloved [player name]:<i>
<i>I never thought I'd have the chance to send you another letter.<i>
<i>Thank you for your kind words. Even though I received it months after you sent it, my soul still got a modicum of comfort.<i>
<i>There's something I have to tell you. I've become a Construct.<i>
Three steps.
Like a shroud of fog that's gradually lifting in her M.I.N.D.
Babylonia, this is Selena reporting! We've encountered an unknown form of Punishing Virus entity in the space station! We're retreating with a sample shard, but more enemies are headed our way. Requesting backup! Over!
The last Archaeological Team member falls before her.
Keep going, Selena! Almost there, just a little further! Don't collapse...
I'm sorry we couldn't get you out, but... Selena, the shard you're carrying may be a critical key and you must get it back to Babylonia, no matter what the cost...
Four steps.
Dust is brushed away from the neglected crystal ball.
——▅▂——▃▅▇——
Embracing the black needle left by the familiar yet strange human, she thrusts it into her power source.
Let everything end here.
Looking up, she seems to catch a glimpse of sky light.
At that moment, all of her misery fades away...
To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wildflower.
Five steps.
The girl walks on the land.
She hears that person's call—the conductor is calling for her...
Everything is too beautiful to be true. Is the champion dreaming? Is this one of the piper's dreams? Or, is it an illusion shared by the connected two?
Is it... you?
The "sender" of all those letters, her only emotional anchor... [player name].
It's you, isn't it, [player name]?
A radiant smile blooms on her lips.
I... I'll give you lonely dusks, and sunsets that bloom like fire.
I'll give you quiet moons over empty deserts, and wild summer storms.
I'll give you the memory of every iris I've ever seen bloom.
I'll give you... my sorrow, my joy, my pain.
...when we meet again.
Six steps.
She hears the whale's song.
The world seems to fall silent, leaving her alone, stranded in the deep sea.
Suddenly, a beam of bright sunlight streams in—
Selena has never felt this "awake" before.
I... Selena... Iris...
Her fingers tremble involuntarily as she struggles to understand what has happened, but...
All "redundant" branches of the world seem to have been completely purged.
She anchors her own existence, finds the connection point between herself and this world and rediscovers who she truly is.
Her name is Selena.
She is also "Iris".
She finally remembers everything, all the terror and despair, and accepts all the pain and confusion.
...And those memories are like jewels that she kept hidden deep within her Deep M.I.N.D., carefully sealed away like a treasure chest.
Hey... hey, are you okay?!
Lia waves her hand in front of Selena's face with surprise, trying to bring back the dazed Selena.
I... I'm alright. Thanks.
With her thoughts interrupted, Selena barely manages to contain her excited M.I.N.D. that's about to overload as she follows Lia.
After arriving at the conservation area, Selena asks Lia to borrow a communication terminal to contact Babylonia. Lia and the other members of Paridae readily agree.
She runs to the terminal and, guided by her hazy memories, dials a number—
Hello, uh, is this WGAA?
Nearby Conservation Area
Meanwhile
Meanwhile... Nearby Conservation Area
It's been a while since the last time you were sent to the Star of Life for your "post-war syndrome."
The military has intentionally cut Gray Raven's missions, but Celica occasionally gives out some simple tasks as per your request.
Just as you finish up here and are about to board the transport aircraft, your terminal suddenly sends an urgent notification.
Why would the WGAA suddenly contact me...
Gray Raven Commandant, you available? We've got an urgent mission for you.
Military's been briefed. I'll fill you in ahead of time.
Time's tight, so here's the short version: A squad on the surface found an ID registered to Babylonia, but no specific data came up in the system.
The ID traces back to... a member of WGAA's archaeological team. The one who went missing at the space station. Selena.
I'll send her exact coordinates to your terminal.
Only a handful of people know Selena's frame ID. We also reviewed the footage from the surface. Her appearance and frame look different now, but still...
I believe it's her.
...Sorry. I got emotional.
Distant whale songs echo in your ears as scenes you experienced in Hamlet resurface in your mind.
Her dreamy name rests on the tip of your tongue. After saying it, you realize you don't know how to continue the conversation.
Please, bring Selena back to Babylonia... safe and sound.
She looks nothing like her former Construct self. And for a long time, she was presumed dead during the mission at the space station.
Thanks to Hamlet, we managed to record the Whalesong and confirmed she was still alive, but only WGAA knows this.
Even though I'm convinced the Construct is Selena, there are still too many unanswered questions about her identity.
The Babylonia military wouldn't just ignore an unknown Construct, so... I intercepted the intel. I've briefed Commander Nikola, and I'd like you to handle this personally.
If...
Allen's voice hesitates. After a moment, he continues.
I was wrong. She is an Ascendant disguised as Selena, or...
...Even then, I'd still ask you to bring her back. At the very least, she might be a clue to where the real Selena is.
...
The voice on the other end falls silent, followed by a soft sigh.
I want you to see for yourself, [player name], with your own eyes.
I hope you'll come back with good news.
Bzzt. After that, the communication abruptly cuts off.
You sit on the bed, thinking for a moment before reaching deep into your uniform's inner pocket to pull out a worn envelope.
It's an elegant letter with a beautiful iris stamp, written in royal blue ink with graceful calligraphy and a classical charm.
You open the wax seal that was carefully separated long ago, and unfold the soft, smooth paper to reveal the familiar handwriting.
<i>Long-lost one, may you rediscover the color of the sky.<i>
<i>In wandering reflections, I heard the whales' ballad.<i>
<i>Traveler, my friend, I have finally returned.<i>
This letter, delivered to your mailbox in the Babylonia Commandant's dorm at some point, has her handwriting, down to the slight lifting of the pen at the end of each sentence.
Running your fingers over the pen impressions on the back of the paper, you can almost imagine the exact pressure she applied when writing each stroke.
Your question receives no answer, of course.
You carefully fold the letter back, placing it back near your heart.
...
Inside a nameless observation chamber, galaxies flow like rivers. A silhouette passes by, raising a hand to stir ripples across a pool of stars.
Within the rippling waters, she notices a faint dot of light gradually growing brighter.
Iris...
She remembers this "collection." It's one of the bright sparks she accidentally found during countless reincarnations.
She never seeks repayment for her acts of kindness, but if these bright sparks can ignite into beacons, she takes great pleasure in watching how they develop.
A side effect of Hetero Tower's "disappearance"...
Once, she used Red Tide to reconstruct a broken Construct, but with timelines in disarray, the Red Tide slowly mutated, and the lost traveler could no longer find their way home.
A frame can be reconstructed, but memories and M.I.N.D. cannot be restored through physical means.
So the timeline's closed, and you've recovered your memories too? Huh...
The dreamy, fragile purple petals curl, forming a layered, elegant shape as they float within the glass dome.
Then the story's not over yet.
The pink-haired woman's face lights up with an intrigued smile.
Let's see... how it ends this time.
