The air was tense when the group of travelers entered the town of Gravell, with most of that tension coming from Osvald. Hands balled and jaw clenched, he took a deep breath through his nose, trying to calm his rapidly-beating heart. He knew that the resting place of D'arqest was nearby, and that is where he would find Harvey…and more importantly, Elena.
"Hold on, Elena…" Osvald mumbled, and his eyes went wide when he felt a hand wrap around his wrist. He watched as Partitio nodded at him as he gently rubbed the back of his still balled up hand with his thumb.
"It'll be alright, partner," he said, and Osvald felt the tension start to recede from his body, "We're gonna find her and save her." Osvald's hands slowly unclenched, allowing Partitio to slip his into one and give it a squeeze. Letting out the breath that he didn't know he had been holding, Osvald turned his head away and cleared his throat, hoping to hide the blush that had crept onto his cheeks.
"...Thanks." He stole a glance back at Partitio, who was beaming at him with that pure-as-sunshine smile of his, and Osvald felt his cheeks heat up considerably. He busied himself with adjusting his glasses, and luckily for him Temenos spoke up to save him from his vexing feelings…for the time being anyway.
"Well, I think we should split up and see if any of the townsfolk have seen Harvey," he said, and they all nodded in agreement. He and Throné headed to the tavern, Agnea and Hikari made for the north side of town, Ochette and Castti went to the markets, and Partitio and Osvald scouted out the town center.
"Alright, where'd that bastard get to…" Partitio said as they walked, and Osvald sighed and shook his head.
"Don't be reckless. Harvey's a bastard, but he's a smart bastard." Osvald chuckled when Partitio burst out laughing and slapped a hand to his back.
"Aw, don't give me that, partner!" Partitio shot him a wink and jabbed a finger against Osvald's chest. "You've done some reckless things yourself on this journey of ours!"
"...I don't recall anything of the sort," Osvald mumbled, trying to forget that business in Wellgrove had ever happened. As if he ever could forget that, as the aftermath had led to him and Partitio holding hands for the first time. The memory made his heart race, and he ran his hand through his hair as he averted his gaze.
"A-Anyway, we should hurry to find a clue to Harvey's whereabouts." Osvald's eyes narrowed and his lips pursed. "Harvey aims to call forth the seventh source…The Shadow, as he calls it."
"Hmm, sounds like bad magic to me." Partitio hummed as he rubbed at his chin, "Those chimera that he made were nasty enough, right?"
Osvald nodded in agreement as he tugged at his beard. "Indeed. I don't know what it is, but it makes me wonder if Harvey is close to invoking the One True Magic…" He stopped walking and crossed his arms over his chest, a feeling of unease creeping into his gut.
"If he is…can I stop him?"
"Of course you can, Osvald."
Partitio placed his hands on his shoulders and grinned at Osvald, his eyes blazing with a fiery determination. "You're a damned fine scholar, and you've got a buncha loyal friends right by your side, ready to give that bastard a good, well-deserved ass-kickin'." Partitio flicked up the brim of his hat before punching a fist into his hand, and Osvald couldn't help but laugh.
"I appreciate the support, Partitio," he said, and his expression turned serious again, "But even so, I still have no answers. I've yet to solve for the final variable in my formulae." He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, before turning to look Partitio in the eye.
"Nevertheless, I must move forward, and find my own answer."
"Yeehaw, that's the spirit, partner!" Partitio grabbed Osvald's hand and gave it a good shake, and Osvald returned the shake with equal vigor. Yes, he wouldn't falter, and even if he started to, Osvald knew that Partitio wouldn't let him fall.
"H-Help! Somebody help us!"
Osvald and Partitio shared a glance before sprinting in the direction of the fearful voice. They stopped and listened to the panicked villager, who told them of people losing their minds after heading to worship. The rest of their friends must have heard the commotion as well, for they had managed to regroup at the eastern end of town.
"We should tread lightly," Temenos said, tapping the end of his staff on the ground as he gazed out towards the road leading out of town.
"I agree." Osvald rubbed at his chin and worried his bottom lip between his teeth, "There could be some dark magic at work here."
Castti clenched her jaw and readjusted her satchel strap on her shoulder. "We'll be ready to help in any way that we can."
"Yeah, lead the way, Pops!" Ochette barred her teeth and Mahina let out a hoot. Osvald scanned the faces of each of his companions, finding no hesitation at their chosen path. His eyes landed on Partitio, who tipped his hat at him with a wink, and Osvald's heart blazed with his conviction and determination.
"Let's go, and be careful." With that, the group rushed to find the villagers in peril, and Osvald had a feeling that they would lead him straight to Harvey.
Partitio had seen some pretty horrific magic in their travels, but what he was witnessing now was a whole new kind of awful. They had run into a fleeing villager on the path to the Duskruin Shrine, and before he could fully explain the situation to Osvald, he had been engulfed by a purple fog. It turned his eyes red and seemed to send him into a violent rage, and it took effort from both Partitio and Hikari to incapacitate him.
"Huh? What's this?" Partitio tilted his head as he knelt down next to the stunned man, and he saw that he had a strange black crystal in his hand. He reached down to pick it up, his fingers tingling when he lightly brushed it. He didn't get a chance to figure out what that meant, because a rough hand grabbed Partitio by the arm and yanked him to his feet.
"Wait!"
Partitio's eyes went wide at how panicked Osvald's voice sounded, and he froze when Osvald tightly gripped his upper arms and stared intently at him.
"O-Osvald, what-" Partitio stammered, and his breath hitched when Osvald cupped his face with one hand while he used the other to pry his eyes open as he examined them one after the other. After a few moments, Osvald let out a long sigh and pulled away, leaving Partitio's heart racing and face burning.
"Thank the gods…" Osvald said, and he shook his head when Partitio stared at him, confused, "The crystal, that's what drove him mad. If you had touched it for too long, you…might have ended up like him."
"O-Oh…" Partitio swallowed thickly as he glanced at the man, who was being tended to by Castti and Temenos. "T-Thankee kindly, Osvald. Sorry for bein' so reckless."
"...'s fine. I was just…worried." Osvald's gaze fell to the ground, and Partitio bit his lip, feeling guilty. He took Osvald's hand and gave it a squeeze, and he smiled when Osvald looked back up at him, his heart skipping a beat when he smiled too.
"Ahem." Partitio suddenly remembered that they were not alone, and his face flushed as he turned to see Temenos grinning at them, with the rest of their companions staring as well.
"A-Anyway." Osvald cleared his throat and let his hand slip from Partitio's, and Partitio frowned at the loss of contact. "Removing the crystal has restored his sanity. Let's go help the others. And let me reiterate: do not touch the crystals."
Partitio nodded along with the others, and he was surprised when Osvald took his hand again as they forged ahead. He was even more surprised to find that Osvald's hand was sweaty and shaking slightly; had he really been that worried for him? Partitio had mixed feelings about that. He felt guilty for making him worry at all, but at the same time, he was happy that Osvald cared enough about him to worry so much.
After saving the rest of the possessed villagers, Partitio watched as Osvald spoke with the last of them, and their next destination was to be the Duskruin Shrine. He noticed that Osvald's face had darkened, and he cracked his knuckles before tugging at his beard.
"Those crystals…they are the same as the one that Harvey used to control…that creature we fought in his laboratory." Osvald's voice was quiet as he spoke, and Partitio frowned as he placed a hand on his arm. "His experiment…may have already begun."
"Let's get a move on then!" Partitio said, tugging at Osvald's arm as he waved the others along. "We'll stop him, Osvald. We will." Osvald took a deep breath and let it out slowly, and his eyes narrowed as they locked onto the path ahead.
"...We will," Osvald echoed, and he placed his hand over Partitio's that was still on his arm. With that, they charged on and made haste when they entered the ruins. Partitio was going to help the man that he loved save his daughter, no matter what horrors were lying in wait for them.
Osvald's heart raced as he led his companions through the gloomy depths of the Duskruin Shrine, his hand tightly gripping Partitio's the entire time. He ran countless calculations through his mind in an attempt to find something useful against the One True Magic, if Harvey had in fact managed to invoke it. Osvald had no idea what to expect, and that scared him. He had to save Elena…
"Grrr, I smell him, he's close…" Osvald felt Ochette tighten her grip on his shoulders, and he glanced back at her to find an uncharacteristic snarl on her face. "Pops, your daughter, she's there too." Osvald's heart skipped a beat, and Partitio cracked his knuckles before talking Osvald's hand again.
"Let's move it, y'all!" he shouted, and Osvald grit his teeth as they quickened their pace, until they reached the end of the shrine. Anger welled up within him when he spotted Harvey standing in front of an altar, and the blood drained from his face when he saw Elena lying on it.
"Harvey!"
"So you've come, Osvald."
"Give. Her. Back." Osvald spat the words like they were venom as he clenched his fists so hard that his nails dug into his skin. He didn't want to listen to Harvey lecture him, he just wanted his daughter. But as Harvey spoke of how he had defiled the corpse of D'arqest on his path to discovering the One True Magic, Osvald's blood turned to ice when Harvey revealed the final piece: Elena's blood.
Elena's cries of pain made it feel like a knife was being driven through Osvald's heart, and he cracked his knuckles and took a step forward.
"Harvey, you bastard!" Osvald said, but he was surprised when Partitio spoke the same words at the same time, and he watched as the merchant suddenly sprinted towards Harvey before Osvald could stop him.
"You slimy, no good, rotten motherfu-" Partitio yelled, but he was cut off when Harvey hit him in the chest with a blast of dark energy that sent him flying back, landing at Osvald's feet.
"Partitio!" Osvald's voice cracked with panic as he fell to one knee beside him. Partitio groaned but managed to push himself up, much to Osvald's relief.
"Oof, that packed a punch…" he said, thanking Temenos when he cast a healing spell on him. "Damn it all…"
"I told you not to be reckless," Osvald growled, taking Partitio's hand and pulling him to his feet as Harvey ranted on and on about his ludicrous obsession with Osvald's family.
"Sorry…I thought if I could get that crystal away from her…" Partitio mumbled through grit teeth, and Osvald had been thinking the same thing.
"It's too late, Osvald!" Harvey sneered before letting out an insane laugh, "It's already begun!"
Osvald's eyes widened with horror when Harvey pulled out a knife, and he screamed Elena's name when he stabbed her with it. Despite yelling at Partitio for doing the same thing, he couldn't stop his feet from moving and he sprinted towards the altar, only to be blasted away with dark magic just as Partitio had.
"I must…save her…" Osvald groaned, struggling a bit to stand. He felt a strong pair of arms wrap around him from behind and lift him up, and Osvald turned to see Partitio looking at him, with a furrowed brow and eyes blazing.
"I've got ya, partner. We can do this," he said, and Osvald felt his chest tighten as he nodded, giving Partitio's arm a squeeze. Osvald turned his attention back to Harvey, and he couldn't fathom how he could have calculated those complex formulae in such a short amount of time. He did not have time to contemplate that further, however, due to the two golems that Harvey had summoned gearing up for an attack.
"Try me, Harvey!" Osvald yelled, and he led his seven companions into battle as the golems attacked. The fight was tough, and Osvald managed to stun one of the golems with a well-aimed Tonitrus Canere, allowing Ochette and Throné to close in for the final blow. Osvald caught movement out of the corner of his eye, and he raised an eyebrow when he saw Partitio sprinting towards the altar. When Osvald saw exactly why he had done so, Osvald's blood ran cold and he took off after him.
Harvey had moved away from the altar, leaving Elena lying alone on the cold stone surface. Partitio had made it to her and gathered her into his arms, turning away from Harvey, who had positioned himself like he was charging up to attack them.
Osvald luckily was able to make it to them before the attack went off, and he turned his back to Harvey and wrapped his arms around Partitio and Elena, shielding them as a beam of darkness shot towards them. The altar luckily provided some cover, but it was obliterated in the process, and Osvald winced as he took the brunt of the attack.
"O-Osvald…" Partitio groaned, and Osvald looked down to see that he was mostly unscathed, cradling the unconscious Elena protectively in his arms.
"Yes…Your end is at hand!"
Osvald's anger reached its peak as he looked between Partitio and Elena, before he stood and faced Harvey. No…No more. His mind flooded with his happy memories of Elena and her budding passion for research, and the recent memories that he had made with Partitio, the man who had supported his mission and picked him up when he had fallen to his lowest point. No, Osvald wasn't going to let Harvey hurt the people he cared for the most any longer.
A power suddenly welled up within him, coursing through his body like a raging ocean current, and Osvald barely heard Harvey's confused remarks about it. Osvald stared down at his hands as he flexed them a few times, and the feeling swelling within his breast…what was it? Closing his eyes, he took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He knew what he had to do.
"I have to…protect…Elena…and Partitio…"
"O-Osvald…"
Osvald's eyes shot open, and he turned to see Partitio staring at him with eyes wide and his jaw hanging open. The power that Osvald felt had reached a peak, and he inhaled sharply when he saw the ring of magic that had suddenly appeared around him. That's right…he had memorized the calculations.
"At last…The answer." Osvald grit his teeth and the magic ring suddenly formed into a barrier between him and Harvey, and Partitio smiled up at him as he hugged Elena close.
"You did it, partner. I'm proud of ya." Osvald's heart swelled with happiness at Partitio's words, and Osvald quickly pushed Partitio's head down when he heard Harvey ready another attack, before turning to counter the darkness with a beam of light. When the smoke cleared, Osvald still stood unscathed, with Partitio and Elena tucked safely behind him.
"This power…" The source still evaded Osvald, but he knew that it had something to do with Elena and Partitio, as his thoughts of them seemed to be the catalyst to activate it.
"Partitio, bring her here!" Osvald heard Castti yell over Harvey's ranting, and he watched as Partitio gathered Elena into his arms and rushed her over to her a safe distance away. Osvald knew that there was no safer place for her to be, and when Partitio returned to his side, Osvald took his hand and held it tight.
"Thank you," Osvald said, and Partitio gave him a nod as Ochette and Throné joined them, leaving the others to deal with the final golem.
"Let's end this, partner, together," Partitio as he shot Osvald a confident grin and readied his spear, "and get your daughter home safe and sound!"
"Yeah, let's do it Pops!" Ochette barred her teeth as she whipped out her bow, and Mahina let out a shrill cry as she whipped up the wind around her.
"We're here for you, Osvald." Throné held her dagger in one hand and sword in the other, and Osvald felt the newfound power swell within him. With his friends by his side and the One True Magic at his disposal, Osvald was ready to win this final clash with Harvey, and he charged into the fray.
In the end, Osvald and his companions had emerged victorious, and Harvey was no more. Castti had managed to keep Elena stable until they were able to get her back to Conning Creek, where Lady Clarissa had agreed to watch over her for the time being. It pained Osvald not to be by her side, but Elena still didn't remember that he was her father, and he didn't want to rush her recovery. There was also the matter of tracking down Harvey's associates, and the fact that he still needed to help his treasured companions with their quests. He would return when the time was right.
"Elena…You're doing me proud. Good night," Osvald whispered, a single tear falling down his face as he gently brushed the hair from her sleeping face. His heart longed to stay by her side, but he knew that he couldn't, so he forced himself to leave before she woke up.
Sighing as he stepped out into the night, Osvald lifted his gaze up to the star-filled sky. He still hadn't quite grasped what had exactly happened during that confrontation with Harvey, and where the One True Magic had come from. He heard the door open and close behind him, and Osvald turned to see Lady Clarissa move to stand beside him.
"Forgive me, Lady Clarissa. I find myself in your debt once more," Osvald said, and she let out a light chuckle as she shook her head.
"Think nothing of it. I enjoy keeping busy." The smile fell from her face and she studied Osvald closely, "But why-" Osvald cut her off and quickly spoke of his reasons for leaving. He didn't like to think too much of it, as painful as it was, but he knew it was the right thing to do.
"Clarissa…" he started, pausing for a moment to collect his thoughts, "A…power stirred within me when I fought Harvey. Unlike anything I've felt." He watched as a smile slowly spread across her face, which confused him, but she said nothing and nodded for him to continue.
"However…I know not from whence it came." He crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. "I wished from the bottom of my heart that I could protect her and Par-" Osvald cut himself off, suddenly feeling embarrassed when Partitio's name hung on his lips. How odd…
Clarissa had a knowing smile on her face, and Osvald felt his cheeks heat up as he cleared his throat and continued: "Then I felt it. A boundless power coursing through me. One that perfectly matched my formulae…There's no other explanation for it."
"Would you share your thoughts on the matter?" Osvald asked, and he was surprised when Clarissa burst out laughing.
"What you felt was love, Osvald," she said, as if it was the most obvious fact in the world. Osvald scoffed and opened his mouth to protest, but he was given pause when Elena's face flashed in his mind, followed by Partitio's. Love, eh…?
"I…T-The rest of my journey awaits…" he said, wanting to change the subject. He told Clarissa the rest of his plans, and he begrudgingly accepted her offer to help.
Clarissa laughed again as a soft smile crossed her face. "You've changed, Osvald…I have a feeling that Partitio is a big reason why?"
Osvald averted his gaze as he rubbed at the back of his neck; he found himself unable to deny that fact. "He…has been a big part of it, yes."
"I'm glad to hear that. Maybe he'll continue to make you more agreeable as time goes on." Clarissa winked at him, and he huffed as he turned away, his face flushing a bright red.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, I think you do." She gave him a friendly pat on his arm as she turned to head back inside. "Safe travels to you."
"...Look after her, would you?"
"Of course."
Osvald watched as she disappeared inside, and he turned to start walking down the street. She had given him much to think about. Was the One True Magic really love?
He stopped walking and crossed his arms over his chest, his brow furrowing as he stared up at the sky. He had once told himself that he had forgotten what love was, but seeing Elena alive and well did indeed remind him what the love between a father and daughter was. He remembered all the times that his heart swelled with pride when she studied alongside him, and how happy she had been to use the pen that he had gifted her, and the absolute joy on her face when he returned after being away from home. Placing a hand over his chest, Osvald felt the beating of his heart, which once burned so intensely with the fires of revenge, but had been replaced by a gentle warmth.
However, that gentle warmth was not just due to his love for his daughter. Something else added to that warmth, and it was a more passionate and inexplicable kind of feeling. Osvald thought back throughout his journey with his seven companions, and one of them in particular was at the forefront of his mind.
This warmth was one that he had felt when being comforted while standing in the charred remains of his home, and when making promises on the beach under a starry night sky. He had felt it when being protected from an exploding steam engine, and when carrying a drunken mess back to the inn, who inexplicably muttered Osvald's name in his sleep. The warmth had kept him from freezing in the bitter cold of Winterbloom, while wrapped in a bright yellow coat with an arm thrown over his shoulders at the tavern. That warmth had overridden the logical side of his brain when he threw himself into danger, and it blossomed further when Osvald had been scolded for hiding his injury, and when he didn't pull his hand away when he should have. When he had been brought to his knees by heartbreak and despair, waking up wrapped in the warmest pair of arms pulled him back to his feet and gave him the determination to keep going. The warmth peaked with Osvald's need to save the man who protected his daughter with no regard for his own life.
His lips slowly curled up into a smile as he chuckled, and he took off his glasses so that he could rub his arm over his face. He hated to admit it, but Temenos, Castti, and Lady Clarissa had all been right…Yes, he felt love when he looked at Elena…
"Hey, Osvald!"
…And he felt love when he looked at Partitio.
Osvald replaced his glasses as he turned to find Partitio waving at him, and that bright smile of his caused Osvald's heart to skip a beat. This feeling, this love…Osvald concluded that he had been harboring this feeling ever since that day in Winterbloom, but his burning need for revenge had overtaken his heart and prevented him from properly acknowledging them. But now…maybe he could do something about it…
"Well done there, Osvald," Partitio said, placing a hand on his arm, "Hoo boy, if you could see your face right now-" He was interrupted when Osvald suddenly pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Thank you, Partitio," Osvald said, his voice dropping to a whisper as he pressed his face against his shoulder. Partitio let out a startled 'oh' in response as he returned Osvald's hug, and he continued: "I've been thinking about the reason that I was able to achieve what I did."
"And upon analyzing all of the possibilities, I've crafted a theory." Osvald pulled away so that he could look Partitio in the eye, and the latter stared at him with his jaw agape. "I succeeded because I was not alone."
"Aw, shucks…" Partitio said, his eyes taking on a watery sheen. Osvald swallowed thickly, his throat suddenly going dry, but he forced himself to continue.
"You talked me through all manner of situations," Osvald said, letting a chuckle slip out, "Our conversations were banal at times, yes. And yet, impossibly…" Osvald paused as he reached out to take Partitio's hand, and his heartbeat roared in his ears when Partitio stared at him with wide eyes.
"Each and every one of them served as a guidepost, reminding me I had your support."
"Osvald…" Partitio breathed, and Osvald sighed as he rubbed at the back of his neck with his free hand.
"I know that I kept you at arm's length sometimes, being so certain that long conversations were a waste of time." Osvald tilted his head, a small smirk crossing his face. "Perhaps I should listen more carefully going forward."
Partitio beamed as he barked out a laugh, giving Osvald's hand a squeeze. "Hehe, well that's great to hear, partner! Ain't no such thing as wasted time, after all."
'Especially if that time is spent with you,' Osvald thought about saying, but he held his tongue, and his hesitation perplexed him.
"Any time spent with friends, no matter how silly, is precious. Ain't that right?" Partitio said, and Osvald nodded, but the word 'friends' hung heavy in the air for him.
"That's a fine point." An odd silence fell between them, and Osvald felt conflicting feelings. He thought back to his conversation with Castti in Winterbloom. She had said to reevaluate his feelings for Partitio after he had dealt with Harvey, but now that he had concluded that he was in love with Partitio, Osvald didn't know why he was hesitating.
It clicked when he remembered something that he had said to Castti: I don't understand why he would want me. That was it. Partitio was an incredible man, so selfless and kind, funny and handsome, strong and passionate, all qualities that could attract all manner of suitors. Did Osvald, after letting his lust for revenge consume him for so long, really deserve someone like Partitio?
"Osvald." He was pulled from his thoughts when he felt Partitio place a hand on his chest, and his breath caught in his throat when the warmest smile crossed his face. "You must've been thinkin' real hard about something, partner. I've been trying to get your attention for quite a while now!"
"Uh…I just, er…" Osvald sputtered and tried to distract himself by adjusting his glasses as panic welled up inside of him. He didn't know how to handle this situation, and his jumbled up, conflicted feelings were not helping in the slightest…
"Pops, Parti!"
Osvald had never been so happy to have Ochette launch herself onto his back, and he breathed a sigh of relief when she wrapped her arms around his neck and rubbed her cheek against his hair.
"Here you are!" Ochette grinned as she rest her chin on Osvald's head. "It's dinner time, you know! Everyone's waiting at the tavern for us."
Partitio chuckled as he tipped his hat at her. "Whoops, sorry Ochette! We got to chattin' and lost track of time. Let's get goin' before you starve."
"Yeah, you get it, Parti!" They both laughed, and Osvald even joined in himself as they headed for the tavern, his hand never leaving Partitio's. Even if Osvald needed more time to think about his feelings for him, Osvald was relieved to finally have an answer to what exactly he felt. For now, he would focus on helping the rest of his companions finish their quests, starting with Partitio's confrontation with his former mentor on Roque Island…