"I'm surprised you managed to find that gemstone so quickly!" said the woman from the magic shop. "Just how did you do it?"

"I had some assistance from a few merchants," replied Aris. "One of them helped me make a deal with a local mining company to help look for it. They found it quickly...but I'm afraid obtaining it won't be so simple."

"Right," added Loretta. "What we're looking for isn't exactly in the safest location."

Raphtalia pointed ahead. "I think we're here."

The party disembarked from the wagon with the magic shop owner in tow, entering a nearby cave.

"I think I know this place," said the old woman. "It was once the headquarters of an infamous alchemist. At least...that temple we saw was. I never heard anything about this tunnel."

"The mining chief told me that no one dares to enter this cave since monsters began nesting inside," Aris informed everyone. "Stay alert."

The group soon found themselves in a room clearly man-made, housing an opened chest with a strange inscription carved next to it. The chest was filled with naught but the stale air of the cave.

The old woman leaned down to inspect the ancient inscription. "'We fervently pray that the accursed Biositos seed never leaves this cave,'" she read aloud. "'It is a twisted incarnation of our wish that no man, woman, or child ever suffer the pangs of famine ever again.'"

"Whatever it was," said Loretta, "someone seems to have beaten us here."

Filo pointed nearby with her wing. "Guys, over here! There's another tunnel!"

There was, in fact, another tunnel.

Aris beckoned everyone to follow him through the dimly lit passage, channeling Soul Energy into his finger to use as a sort of torch.

"That's a monster footprint," said the old woman worriedly. "And goodness, it's a big one."

"We might not be alone in here," Aris cautioned everyone. "Stay aler-whoa!"

The tunnel went dark. Aris's vision was shrouded in purple.

"Aris!" Raphtalia cried.

"Stay calm!" Aris told her. "What's happening?"

Aris felt his mind begin to crumble as he heard a jarring voice within his head.

"I'm sick of tailing this elf-eared faker all the time," Raphtalia sneered within his conscience. "Oh, I can't wait to kill him. In fact, I think now might be a perfect time!"

Raphtalia, meanwhile, was whimpering and grasping her temples.

"I don't need that damned Demi-Human," she heard Aris seethe within her mind. "She can go back into slavery or die a painful death as far as I'm concerned."

"Don't let the voices deceive you!" the old witch warned. "These monsters tap into your psyche and make you hear the last thing you want to hear from the last person you'd want to hear it from!"

Aris yelped. "Something cut me!"

The old witch didn't hesitate. "As source of thy power, I order thee - decipher the laws of nature and restore our sight! Anti-Blind!"

The purple shroud disappeared, revealing a swarm of hungry-looking bat monsters.

NEW CREATURE DISCOVERED (HOSTILE)

Voice Gengar

Species: Psychic Bat Monster

Habitat: Caves

DESC: "Though individually weak, Voice Gengars are hard to deal with in large numbers, which is why when you find one, you're bound to find a large swarm. They prey upon adventurers, using their uncanny psychic abilities to project auditory hallucinations to the ears of unsuspecting travelers. These false sounds often take the form of the last thing the victim wants to hear."

Loretta jumped in front of the group. "Chain Lightning!"

Forking arcs of glowing electricity crackled from her fingertips, frying the bats to smoldering ashes.

"Is...Is everyone alright?" the old witch asked.

"I'm fine," replied Raphtalia.

Aris fed the bat monsters' loot to his Shield. "'Voice Gengar Shield'. I don't see how that would help me. Now then, let's keep moving."

"Excuse me, papa?" said Filo. "Y-You wouldn't abandon me like you said when we were attacked by those monsters, would you?"

Aris shook his head. "I wouldn't dream of doing a thing like that."

"There's a blue light up ahead!" Filo pointed out.

Everyone rushed toward it.

They found themselves in a massive, open cave filled to the brim with glowing blue gems.

"This is it," said the old witch.

"Not yet," Aris cautioned. "Look."

A hulking monster slept in the center of the cave. It resembled a lion and had what looked like a snake for a tail. The snake seemed to be a separate conscience from the lion, as it was awake. It turned towards the unwelcome intruders, hissing at them.

"That's a Nue," the old witch noted. "This one's on the smaller side, but it's no less dangerous."

"This isn't good," said Raphtalia. "The gems we need are right here, but there's no way we can get them without waking it up."

BGM: They're Pretty Tough, Should We Be Careful? - Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

"Then we'll just have to make sure it doesn't!" Loretta drew her blasters and charged in. Filo followed behind her without a second thought.

"Sister, no!" Aris exclaimed. "Grr...I suppose we don't have a choice now."

He drew the Master Sword. Raphtalia drew her own blade.

Raphtalia sprinted at the Nue with her sword at the ready, only to be dodged and knocked to the ground. Filo protected her with a powerful kick to the Nue's side.

The old witch raised her wand. "Zweite Fire Blast!"

Loretta lit up the Nue's burning body with blaster bolts, adding to the searing heat of the flames.

Aris decided it was his turn to attack. He landed a few slashes on the Nue, but ended up blocking its paws as it bore down on his Shield.

The Nue's face flickered with lightning.

Filo gasped. "Papa, get back!"

Aris used Spirit Drop to vanish into the ground via Soul Energy, reappearing in a puddle of greenish liquid far away from the Nue.

"We need to be careful of that lightning," Aris said. "But how do we attack it?"

Raphtalia stepped behind the Nue, disappearing into thin air with a flicker of light. This was Hide Mirage, a spell she'd learned recently.

The Nue turned in her direction.

"Raphtalia! It knows you're there!"

The Demi-Human barely managed to evade the pouncing beast. She cried out as one of its claws scraped her left arm, leaving a large cut.

"How did it know?" she said, retreating. "Could it see me?"

"It didn't see you, it heard you," the old witch corrected. "Nue are very sensitive to sound."

"Sound...that gives me an idea!" Aris switched his equipped Shield to the Voice Gengar Shield he'd just unlocked. It resembled a megaphone, making it perfect for his plan.

He held it up to Filo's beak. "Yell into this as loud as you can! Everyone else, cover your ears!" he said.

Filo inhaled, letting out an earsplitting scream.

The Nue roared in agony as its eardrums ruptured. Blood spurted from its ears.

Filo stopped.

"Zweite Fire Blast!" yelled the old witch.

The Nue howled as it burned. Loretta ensnared it with her Plasma Whips.

Aris and Raphtalia charged the bound beast from either side, cleaving their swords through its body to cut it into three.

End BGM

"Is everyone safe?" Aris asked.

"I think we're alright," replied the witch.

Raphtalia winced, covering her wounded arm. "Y-Yeah, I'm fine."

Aris noticed her manner and ran over to help her. "Did it hurt you?" he asked gently.

"I...Yes, it did," said Raphtalia. "It got me on the arm when it was pouncing earlier."

"I can take care of that for you." Aris took out some bandages and wrapped them around the wound on Raphtalia's arm.

Raphtalia's cheeks turned a little red as he did so.

Loretta had a knowing smirk on her face.

Aris finished wrapping Raphtalia's arm. "Is that better?"

"Better," replied Raphtalia. "Thank you."

Aris smiled at her. "Anything for my closest friend."

"Hey!" Loretta exclaimed. "I thought I was your closest friend!"

"You're my sister," Aris shot back.

"Fair enough."

"Guys, look!" said Filo. "The gems are so pretty!"

Aris took a small hammer and broke a small piece off.

"Euhhh..." Filo moaned as she spun the wheel of the loom, "I'm starting to get really tired..."

"Don't worry, child," the old witch assured her as magic thread came forth from the spinning wheel. "That's just your mana being transformed into the thread. Just keep it up for a little longer and you'll be done."

"I can fix some lunch for you when you're finished," Aris offered.

"Will it be yummy?" Filo asked hopefully.

"Absolutely."

"Then I'll keep going!"

Keep going she did until the thread was complete. "That should be enough," said the old witch. "You can take this to the tailor down the road and she should be able to make that dress."

That was exactly what they did.

Equipped Armor (Filo): Filolial Transformation Dress

Armor Type: Magic Thread Clothing

Acquisition: Obtained magic thread crystals from Alchemist's Cave, Dress woven by and purchased from Sunrise Boutique Tailor (price: 75 silver)

DEF: 4

Equip Bonuses: Transformation-Friendy (will not tear when wearer transforms), +20 DEF in Filolial Form

DESC: "A custom dress woven from magic thread and made specifically for Filo's human form. The tailor didn't lie, it's easily the cutest dress you've ever seen - especially on Filo."

Filo stepped out of the fitting room in her new garb. It was a white dress with blue accents and a dark blue ribbon on the front.

"How do I look?" she asked the group.

"Great," Aris told her. "The blue matches your eyes."

"Yay!" Filo ran over and embraced him. "Thank you, papa!"

Raphtalia crossed her arms. Aris didn't notice.

Loretta sidled up to the miffed Demi-Human, nudging her with her elbow. "Seems like someone has a case of jealousy," she teased quietly.

The tailor gushed, "Isn't she just the cutest!? I did my very best to incorporate every little bit of Filo's charms and I gotta say, I think I did a great job! I used white as the base color to match her wings, and then added some cute little frills to match her feathers! And since I figured it'd contrast well with her blonde hair, I went with a blue ribbon!" The tailor squealed. "She's just adorable!"

Aris couldn't help but start to agree. Not in a romantic sense, but in a protective sort of way. Filo's charm and innocence was something he took a silent oath to protect and preserve at all costs.

Perhaps he truly was her father after all.