act16mini

I believe in the little medicine I can get my hands on, and whatever folk remedies reach my ears.

I can't just... watch another one die in front of me while I watch helplessly.

Greetings, ma'am.

Mind if we take a look at the girl?

Sleep peacefully now. You don't have to burn yourself anymore

I'm sorry for using my Arts on you...

May you be free from the pain and suffering of Oripathy in your dreams.

Her subconscious casting has already stopped.;Good work, Amiya.

I could feel it. She is a deeply wounded girl.

Is there anything else I can help with, Doctor?

We're good for now.

A simple injection should take care of things.

I'm done with my Arts too... Go ahead and let the others in.

Is she really going to be okay?!

Mhm. Her subconscious casting has stopped, and the activation process of the Originium crystals inside her body has also been halted. But the fever symptoms haven't been completely relieved yet, and we'll have to continue monitoring her for a while.

I've been driving this truck around for who-knows-how-long. Never thought I'd run into a doctor in a place like this...

...All I can say is, thank you.

You're welcome. Treating the Infected has always been Rhodes Island's duty.

That said, I'm not a doctor, and the Doctor is, well, not that kind of doctor. Just to be sure, we should get to the Rhodes Island branch office ASAP, where we'd have real diagnostic and treatment equipment to properly examine the patient.

...Rhodes Island?

That reminds me. The girl gave me a card, saying that some lady told her... to give it to her family.

Oh, I'm the lady.

The girly was clearly infected, I figured her family ought to understand...

Hah, found it. This is the one. The symbol of the excavator drill pointed straight at the sky.

...the what?

Ain't easy doing business around Rim Billiton these days. Competition's too fierce, so figured it wouldn't be a bad idea to go tucking instead.

But your company offers some serious benefits. It's absolutely wild that you'd have such an advanced medical department in a construction firm... If only the Billy companies could learn from you guys!

Um, Alanna, I think there's been a little misunderstanding...

But, I do agree with you. If all of Rim Billiton's companies committed to raising awareness about the Oripathy prevention, our young patient here might not be in such serious condition right now.

And... we should really put what we do at Rhodes Island front-and-center on our business cards. After all, the Infected rarely have proper access to medical services.

In any case, we'll have a proper medical team dedicated to Warmy's treatment at the branch office. If it's not too much trouble for you, I'd like you to drive for the nearest nomadic city.

Sure.

Wait, hold on.

There's a bit of a special situation with the truck. Once we go back, we might not be able to leave again. Plus... I have an agreement with someone else.

Special situation? Oh, that reminds me, you're supposed to be a transport, right?

But, if you keep going in that direction, the only thing waiting for you is an uninhabited wasteland that's prone to Catastrophes.

Wait, don't tell me... You were planning to go plant bottletrees there?

No... We're... going to search for the 'Feranmut'...

...Feranmut?

Please... don't leave Warmy behind...

Don't worry, nobody's leaving you behind. We're just having a little discussion.

Potlid?!

You're awake?

How's your head? Are you dizzy? Are you still running hot?

Lanns... You look so upset... Did something happen? I think I just had a long and tiring dream...

...Mm, at the very end of the dream, I think I even saw the Feranmut.

Ray asked me to take a good, long look at the giant shadow. I looked and looked as hard as I could, but I couldn't quite make it out.

Lanns, can I go with you to find the Feranmut?

Here, try this.

This is all we have now; it hardly enough to express our thanks.

Not only did you save Potlid, but you're even willing to travel with us to make sure she's okay.

No worries, Alanna. We had no particular destination in mind to begin with.

Also, the Doctor's intrigued by the Feranmut you mentioned.

It's done, Alanna. I've pulled into the transport bay.

The rest of the journey is up to you.

Hah, no problem there.

But there is one thing I still don't understand. What exactly is this 'Feranmut' you're searching for?

It's a type of... Uhh, this massive...

All you need to know is, it's some sort of mythical creature! I've heard there are incredible explorers out there planning to turn these legends into documented columns!

As for this beast, it flies for months at a time over the windswept dunes of Rim Billiton, flying over the highest peaks to spew flames at the sun. It appears in the mist of nightfall with a luster more brilliant than the moons!

We set out this time to look for some more useful clues! Isn't that right? Um... Ray?

You talking about the lady with the crossbow over there who's hardly said a word this entire time?

Forget it. She can enjoy the cold wind by her lonesome.

In any case, that's how mighty a Feranmut is.

Eh... That legend sounds all over the place. Don't think I've heard anything of the sort before.

I've heard of it.

A massive fowlbeast devours the clouds in the sky. Before it can finish eating the last cloud, right before the day the sky falls, the people on its back all jump into the boundless sea of stars...

A long time ago, the Doctor used to tell me bedtime stories like that.

I did?;Sorry... Don't remember that.

Well, umm, of course, you put it in different words, but...

I have a vague memory... Your tone at the time, it really made me want to believe the stories were real.

Never would've guessed it, but looks like our friend here has quite a vivid imagination underneath that hood.

But we're not after fairy stories here! We're looking for the real deal!

Mmmmh~ The freshly stewed, piping-hot sweet potato soup is ready!

Woo, this is the good stuff! Hurry up and dig in, everyone!

Appreciate it, Warmy!

Don't mention it. There's also veggies cooking in the pot!

Wait a minute... This flavor... Why does it have a hint of Originium slug?

Umm, well, I did add a little bit of slug slime.

I've tried it before, and the flavor's not too bad. It's soft and chewy, doesn't stick to your teeth, and it shouldn't be poisonous at all.

Wow, I think you're on to something.

By the way, Alanna, the food you served up before was pretty good. I didn't expect you to be such a cook.

Is it really so surprising? Do I look to you like a woman who doesn't know her way around the kitchen? The factory workers were always tripping over each other to get at my food!

Though... my real specialties are way more flavorful. Don't care at all for this light, time-consuming stuff.

Everything you ate just now, from the beet soup to the Originium slug slime sweet potato stew, was all prepared by Potlid here. I just served it.

It's Warmy's work? I know she's getting better and all, but... are you sure it's wise to let her do all that by herself?

Let her rest up, and I'll handle the rest!

Calm down– Don't go bugging her over it. She can handle it.

If anything, I think she'd be sad if she felt like there was nothing she could do.

She's always been like that, wanting to prove that she's all grown up and capable... Which is how she ended up in this condition.

Oh, right, Alanna...

Yes?

Has Warmy... been through something?

Even though she's always smiling and full of energy, I feel... a deep sorrow coming from her.

Her inner feelings seem at complete odds with her smile.

...Haha.

Kids like to act strong and tough. That's all there is to it.

But, normal kids don't cling to it in that way...

It's because of what her father said to her before he left home: 'I want you to grow up happily, just as you are now'...

The day before he left, it was her birthday. Nasty business, right? Children tend to take things like birthdays and birthday wishes awfully seriously.