Until I Hold You Again

Phernos: I thought we were done here. Why did you convene everyone again, Caelid?

Caelid: We did what we needed to at Ardus Shrine, so... ought we not return the bracelet to the High Priestess?

Phernos: That situation has been dealt with. There is nothing further for us to do.

Caelid: Do you really want to end it there? What happened with the high priestess... Was that just another task to check off the list for you?

Phernos: Is this some misplaced sense of justice? Regret? Instead of pitying Reda, you would do better to prepare for your journey to Eltnen.

Caelid: Yes, yes, I know. There are more important things to deal with.

Caelid: But she was your comrade for a long time. The least you could do is allow her to keep what little she has left.

Nania: I agree. If we don't need the bracelet anymore... I'd like to return it to the high priestess.

Phernos: You are too stubborn. Do as you wish, the bracelet is of no use to me now anyway.

Phernos: ...Or perhaps, we may use the bracelet to bind Reda to us. We need someone to keep watch over Ardus Shrine after we leave for Eltnen after all.

Nania: You truly are...

Phernos: Fetch the bracelet from the Table of Testament. All it did was use the power of illusion to dispel the barrier, so it should still be intact.

Phernos: ‹your name›, Caelid wants to see you.

Forgotten Faithful's Apparition: This is the Illusion Bracelet. It is the most divine relic containing the key to the core.

Forgotten Faithful's Apparition: The key proves to be useless now, but a faint energy still lingers.

Forgotten Faithful's Apparition: This altar is steeped in the breath of those who once knelt in repentance. It's where unspoken prayers now linger as apparitions.

Forgotten Faithful's Apparition: The remaining minds shall recover the power of the bracelet once more.

Forgotten Faithful's Apparition: But be wary.

Forgotten Faithful's Apparition: Some could not endure the agony of repentance and became wraiths. Souls who have forgotten even their pain.

Feel the weight of your sins.

Furious High Priestess's Apparition: Repent through your suffering!

Furious High Priestess's Apparition: Only though pain can you atone for your sins!

Furious High Priestess's Apparition: I'll carve your sins even deeper!

Furious High Priestess's Apparition: Please... forgive my sins with this pain...

The door to the next chamber opened upon absorbing the final apparition.

Absorbed an apparition of a forgotten believer. Find the next and absorb it as well.

Phernos: Hmm... its power is almost drained. I can hardly even sense the illusion aura anymore.

Nania: Will that be okay?

Phernos: The energy inside has vanished. Put simply, it is an empty shell now.

Nania: With only the shell remaining, there is no point... Would there be a way to restore it?

Phernos: Since it was an illusion relic, it should still function as a vessel. If we can imbue it with the power of illusion, we should be able to restore it to some extent.

Caelid: I'd like to, if that's possible.

Phernos: A place nearby was once used as a penitence hall by priests of the Illusion God. Since they endured great hardships there, many lingering spirits and the power of illusion remain.

Phernos: By absorbing their thoughts, the bracelet will regain its power.

Caelid: That would make a fitting final gift for the high priestess.

Nania: ‹your name›, can you do that? Let's get that bracelet restored and return it to her.

Phernos: Return once you have restored the bracelet and I will inspect it.

Reda: What business do you have left here? Do you not have the key to the Core? Are you here to laugh in my face?

Caelid: You misunderstand. About Teina... You have our deepest condolences.

Reda: Condolences? That's all you have to offer?

Nania: We know we can't undo what happened. That's why we came to at least return the last connection you have with her.

Nania: This bracelet is important to you. We imbued it with the power of illusion again. You should take it, although it won't be the same.

Reda: The power of illusion... Yes, it's warm, just like when she wore it...

Caelid: High Priestess...

Reda: Before he crossed the Bulwark, Akarios told me...

Reda: As high priestess, I must never leave Verteron. To protect the Core.

Reda: I believed him... I thought that if I stayed put, the world would be just a little safer.

Reda: So I waited. I believed he'd return someday.

Reda: As I waited, the relationship between Teina and I grew strained. We fought, we gave up on each other... We steadily grew further and further apart.

Reda: She was furious, saying that doing nothing was a sin in its own right. She said she'd solve things herself... and that's how...

Reda: She was right. I... did nothing. what happened to her is all my fault.

Reda: Why did I ignore her words, that look in her eyes? If I'd just held her hand even once...

Reda: ...That bracelet, would you give it back to Teina? She was very fond of it...

Reda: Even if no more than a shell remains, if I can do something that would make her happy...

Reda: T-Teina, is that you...? Come here... Into your mother's arms...

Teina's Sad Apparition: Why didn't I say anything that day?

Teina's Sad Apparition: I knew you were just trying to protect me...

Teina's Sad Apparition: I blamed you often, but I never hated you.

Teina's Sad Apparition: I'm sorry for hurting you.

Teina's Delightful Apparition: I know how much you loved me, Mother.

Teina's Delightful Apparition: You were trying to keep me safe.

Teina's Delightful Apparition: I hate seeing you sad.

Reda: Oh, Teina. Every waking moment without you is agony.

Reda: I... I don't even know who I am anymore. Without you, I'm completely lost.

Teina's Dazzling Apparition: You did what you could to protect what was precious. For that, I'm proud of you.

Reda: But now, I have nothing left... Teina!

Teina's Dazzling Apparition: You're crying, Mother.

Teina's Dazzling Apparition: I hope you can be happy again. I'll pray you are freed from sorrow.

Caelid: She may not welcome us, but we still have to deliver this bracelet.

Caelid: So? Were you able to absorb the power of illusion?

Nania: Can we give it back to the high priestess now? What really matters to her are the memories with Teina that it contains.

Phernos: Though faint, there is indeed an illusion aura within. I came this far owing to my past with Reda, but... my task ends here.

Phernos: The rest is up to you.

Caelid: Very well. Let's meet in front of the Illusion Hideout.

Caelid: I... can still hear her sobbing...

Nania: The high priestess was able to talk with Teina one last time. Not an illusion, but the real Teina.

Caelid: Perhaps now, she can begin to move on. She has been holding on to her grief for far too long.

Nania: I hope she can recover some day.

Caelid: They say memories fade with time, but... some only grow clearer.

Caelid: In the end, if she continues on and believes what Teina said, she might learn to let her go.

Caelid: It was the right choice to return the bracelet. Thank you both for your help, ‹your name›.