Here we are, back with Priscilla's group. This next chapter contains spoilers from Osvald's final chapter.
Disclaimer: Octopath Traveler II is created by Square.
Light vs. Shadow-Which is the Source of the One True Magic?
Back at Crackridge, Priscilla, Temenos, Osvald, Castii, Sabrina and Alistair had gotten up early the following day and gone to get breakfast at the tavern. As they ate breakfast, Sabrina addressed Alistair"Its been a while since we last had an opportunity to talk."
"It certainly has" The red-haired knight agreed, awkwardly around a bite of his soup"How is everything faring at the Guild?" He knew that Sabrina had been further studying Sorcery and had joined the Royal Mage Guild, for they kept in touch by exchanging letters.
"Fairly well, thank you" Sabrina replied as she took a bite of her soup.
"Glad to hear it" Alistair said, awkwardly. He still felt unworthy of her presence after what had transpired with his mother tainting his family's name"The last few days have been quite busy on my part."
"Its been the same with me" Sabrina said around a bite of her breakfast"My father is planning to retire, and I have yet to find a Suitor."
"How is his highness faring?" Alistair asked.
"He's still in good health, but said he's getting old" Sabrina replied, thinking of her father.
"I see" Alistair felt concern for his king's condition, but from what he heard, King Lorian still has a good few months or so before he needs to retire"Did you have anyone in mind for your suitor, Sabrina?" He asked
Sabrina nodded"Yes, well..." She looked shyly at Alistair"Honestly, I've had... I had feelings for you for a while, now."
Alistair felt surprised"Sabrina... Or, I should say, Princess... I fear that I am unworthy of you, or the throne. Though truthfully" he gazed at her"I held a deep regard for you, as well. Even as I strove to erase the stain on my family's name."
"You're really hard on yourself" Priscilla commented at Alistair"You'd make a fine husband for our princess."
"She's right. Besides, the one responsible for the stain on your family's honor is either dead or relocated to Timberain's Hightower Prison" Sabrina pitched in"I'm sure my father will recognize your deeds so far, you've more than returned honor to your family."
"Perhaps" said Alistair, thoughtfully"Its just that since that day, I felt immensely guilty for what my mother had done. Perhaps I could helped her change somehow if I knew what she had been doing."
"Perhaps, but perhaps not, but that's all in the past, correct?" Sabrina asked, patiently.
Alistair sighed"Aye." He looked at Sabrina"A life with me probably won't be easy, the incident is still fresh in the minds of some of our younger knights after all, but I would do all that I can do support you and the king."
Sabrina smiled"That is all I could ever ask of you, Alistair."
The group finished their breakfast and headed out of town after paying the bill. Sabrina spoke with Osvald as they walked"Before I went to sleep, I reviewed my textbook to see if there's a spell to restore lost memories so that I can reverse the memory wipe that Harvey had inflicted on your daughter, but I had no luck."
"Hardly surprising. Such an infliction is not easy to undo" Osvald grunted"It takes time and help from the right people to restore lost memories. I appreciate your help, anyway."
The trek to Gravell was rougher than the group had anticipated, monsters accosted them every once in a while. By the time they were halfway to the town, they had to stop and make camp to recuperate and eat lunch, which consisted of a stew.
Sabrina chatted with Alistair for a bit, while Priscilla was talking with Temenos about their relationship going forward once their investigations were done.
"While I can't say I have any expertise when it comes to dates" Temenos was saying"I believe Tropu'hopu makes for a pleasant place to visit one of these days. So are Conning Creek and Cropdale, I presume."
"They all sound lovely places for a date" Priscilla agreed"I hear that Tropu'hopu has a theater we could watch a play or two at. I wouldn't be opposed to seeing a show at New Delsta's theater, either, truth be told. That is if there are any performances there, right now."
"Ah, yes" Temenos nodded as he took a bite of stew"Though I fear I shall be busy with my duties as Inquisitor, some of the time. But we can always exchange letters."
"True enough, its the same way with my job" Priscilla said, thoughtfully"Honestly though, I feel uneasy about what we learned, yesterday at the Fellsun Ruins."
"If this is about the Sacred Flame and the Moonshade Order, we'll cross that bridge of it comes down to it" Temenos assured her"It concerns me as well, though. This unpleasantness aside, am I to understand that you plan to get Osvald's guilty verdict overturned?"
Priscilla nodded"If possible. But we don't have enough evidence for a retrial, and any witnesses who Justin and I can ask to provide testimony might not be able to help much."
"The fact that Elena is still alive would at least be proof enough that Osvald didn't kill his own daughter, except Harvey has her brainwashed and wiped of any memory of her true father" Sabrina added"The best way to get Osvald's criminal record retracted would be for my father or the leader of Conning Creek to grant Osvald an official pardon."
"Regardless, all I care now is about Elena's safety" Osvald chimed into the conversation"But that's not to say I do not appreciate your determination to clear my name, Priscilla. You've done what you can."
"I'm honored to hear you say so" Priscilla told Osvald with a small smile.
The group finished their lunch and continued to Gravell. It was getting closer to nightfall as the group reached the town. Priscilla looked around"So, what exactly should we be looking for?"
"I do not know, exactly" Osvald replied"We'll have to ask the locals."
The group went further into town, only to see a peculiar dark fog encroaching upon it. One of the men in the town paled, standing back in fear"That fog...!"
"What's going on?" Alistair asked, confused.
The man simply groaned as the fog seemed to consume him, he groaned and seemed to turn to the group. More people showed up from the fog, encroaching on their follow villagers and the group.
Sabrina was horrified"This is unnatural. Could that be Harvey's doing?"
"I wouldn't put it past him" Osvald braced himself.
Alistair readied himself"Let's try to knock them out without killing anyone."
The crazed villagers approached the group, about to strike with their weapons. Alistair parried an axe wielder and pushed him back, knocking him down with the pommel of his sword. Temenos and Osvald held back, primarily fighting with their staves so as not to fatally injure anyone.
Sabrina paled as she noticed something on the villager that Alistair just knocked out"This person has something unusual on him."
Priscilla narrowly dodged and punched at a crazed villager, knocking him backwards long enough for Osvald to notice a strange amulet on the villager. Osvald immediately hurried over and grabbed the item"Hm? This appears to have a black crystal embedded within."
"A black crystal?" Sabrina frowned"Sounds almost like..."
"Like when we fought the Golem back at Harvey's laboratory" Osvald finished for Sabrina"Its very likely that these people are being controlled by the dark magic contained in the crystals."
"Then we just need to destroy the amulets" Alistair grabbed an amulet from his unconscious opponent and tossed it to the side before stabbing it with his sword. Temenos knocked out another villager and destroyed the amulet she had been carrying. Castii checked on the unconscious victims and healed them after the dark crystals in the amulets were destroyed.
"Let's get these people to the inn" Alistair suggested, putting his blade away.
Priscilla nodded and worked with Castii, Alistair and Osvald to get the victims to safety. As soon as they were at the inn, the group patiently waited until the formerly-frenzied villagers woke.
"Where are we?" One of the villagers who was wearing a white cloak over a Cleric's uniform asked.
"You're at the inn" Priscilla told the villager"Do you recall what happened?"
The white-cloaked man nodded"Yeah... I was worshiping near the Duskruin Shrine. Without warning, a black fog emerged from the Duskruin Shrine."
"Where might the shrine be?" Osvald asked.
"Just east of the town" The Adherent replied.
Castii looked at the Adherent"Well, at least you're unharmed. Make sure to get plenty of rest, you took quite a hit. I am sorry that we had to do that."
"I will, good Apothecary" The Adherent nodded, gratefully"And you don't have to apologize, I understand that you and your friends had no choice but to fight us in order to get the black crystal amulets away from us."
The group bade farewell to the recovering villagers and headed out of the inn, heading east from the town. Osvald continued to ponder as the group headed silently towards the shrine.
"Is something on your mind?" Alistair asked the older Scholar.
Osvald nodded"I'm still missing an element from my formulae, which Harvey had taken from me. I am no closer to discovering the source of the One True Magic, but my chances are not zero."
"But you'll figure it out, right?" Priscilla asked"The fact that you escaped Frigit Island gave me the impression that you are quite resourceful, I wouldn't have dared to even try if I ended up, there."
"It took me five years of scrutinizing the prison before I was able to formulate an escape plan" Osvald grunted.
"I suppose Harvey was jealous of your superior intellect" Sabrina surmised.
"Not unlike Sylas, who had lusted after my mother" Priscilla frowned.
The group made their way into an old building, which Osvald surmised is the Duskruin Shrine. Sabrina and Temenos gazed at the building's interior in astonishment.
"This must have been built in dedication to the Archmage" Alistair said as they walked.
"For such a terrible mage, he evidentially must have had a surprisingly large number of followers" Sabrina cringed in distaste, the Moonshade Order and the Archmage sounded more and more evil the more she learned about them.
"And I suspect that Harvey brought Elena here for some reason" Osvald frowned"We should hurry."
The group came to a large chamber, which contained an altar. Harvey stood in front of the altar where Osvald's daughter, Elena laid. She was still alive, but tied to the altar.
"Harvey!" Osvald called out, tersely.
"So you came, Osvald" Harvey grinned, evilly as he turned to face the group"And Sabrina as well, I see. I don't see your cheeky merchant friend, I suppose he was too much of a coward to come."
"Partitio had business to attend, elsewhere" Priscilla told the red-haired Scholar, angrily"And you know who I am, right?"
"Why, of course, if only be reputation" Harvey replied, smugly"You are The daughter of the late Lord Percival. Its such a shame that Sylas had to frame him, Percival would have made an excellent pawn for my plan when I framed Osvald. I had to settle for a lesser-known Prosecutor, but it wouldn't have mattered in the end. I would have silenced him like I silenced the Prosecutor who helped condemn Osvald to Frigit Island."
"My father would NEVER have agreed to work with slime like you" Priscilla retorted.
"Give. Elena. Back." Osvald venomously chimed in.
"No need for such venom and unwonted name calling" The red-haired Scholar smiled"As you can see, Elena is resting quite comfortably. Now." He looked at Osvald and Priscilla with a more serious expression"You might be wondering what these ruins are. Well, they're quite sacred to Scholars like you, Priscilla and myself, old friend."
"Do you really thing you're in any position to give us a lecture!?" Priscilla snapped at Harvey.
"Oh, don't be like that" Harvey shook his head, amused, pulling out a foreboding book"Behold, the Book of Demons! Made from the corpse of D'arquest, himself. Another milestone to the source of the One True Magic. All that remains is the final piece: That of Elena's blood."
"Surely, the One True Magic calls for a much nobler element than what you are proposing" Alistair retorted in disgust"I do not believe it would have involved such callous disrespect for the sanctity of life."
"You're going down" Sabrina seethed at the red-haired Scholar.
Priscilla cast a thunderbolt at Harvey, who promptly dodged and retaliated with the Book of Demons' dark power, siphoning blood from not just Elena, but Alistair and Priscilla as well.
"Hasty, aren't you?" Harvey sneered"And while I only needed Elena's blood, that of two of your friends is a welcome bonus to the dark power the book possesses, Osvald."
Elena cried in pain as some of her blood was lost to the book's dark power. Priscilla cried herself as she felt some of her blood being transfused into Harvey's newfound dark power.
"Elena!" Osvald cried, concerned for his daughter.
"Priscilla, are you all right?" Temenos asked.
"I think so" Priscilla took a breath.
"And such a noble girl Osvald raised, I didn't expect her to readily sacrifice herself in the name of her father's research" Harvey gloated.
"Harvey" Osvald growled"You bast***."
"Well, regardless, you are all too late" Harvey turned to Elena, chanting his spell"Oh, blood of the night. Call down a shadow of purist black!"
Sabrina, Alistair, Priscilla and Osvald rushed forward as Harvey magically drew more of Elena's blood. Harvey cackled"I always coveted that intellect of yours, Osvald. You always were superior to me, and so I took everything from you. Before I met you, I had no equal. From the day we met, even now, I always envied you! I'd do anything to best you" he continued to rant"My time, my pride, my money, even the dawn! I'd give anything!"
"That's ludicrous" Osvald retorted"There's still time. I just need to destroy the black crystal!"
"Indulge me just a little longer, will you?" Harvey sneered as dark power engulfed the room, summoning forward a group of monsters.
Alistair and Castii took point as the monsters lunged at him, dodging the monsters' attacks. Sabrina and Osvald hurriedly cast their spells, staggering the monsters back long enough for Alistair to cut the creatures down.
"Is that all you can conjure!?" Priscilla taunted Harvey.
Harvey shook his head"It would be a mistake to admit defeat, yet."
Castii and Osvald rushed over to Elena, the blond Scholar picking the girl up from the altar. Castii checked the girl's pulse and her heartbeat.
"Is she all right?" Sabrina asked.
Osvald nodded.
"She's only unconscious, thank goodness for that" Castii agreed.
"And thank goodness you are all here to bear witness to this day!" Harvey laughed"Behold, the One True Magic!"
With that, Harvey cast a wave of shadow magic at the group, prompting them to dodge. When the magic dissipated, the altar was destroyed. The red-haired Scholar grinned"Yes" he sneered, triumphantly"This is the very pinnacle of of wisdom! The One true power! I've done what Gratten could not! At last, Osvald, I can deny you something!"
Osvald didn't answer, instead focusing on his daughter's inert form"Elena... My daughter..." Subconsciously, the blond Scholar recalled when his daughter had taken to studying magic herself.
Priscilla, Temenos and Alistair went to stand protectively in front of the two.
"Oh? You think you can best me?" Harvey taunted the three"I finally have the ultimate source of magic at my disposal! You can't win."
"We WILL bring you to justice, even with your new power. I will not allow you to belittle my friends, or anyone else" Priscilla told Harvey defiantly, a mysterious magical source coursed through her and Osvald, enveloping them with light.
Sensing this, Harvey stepped back, surprised"What is this magic? It rolls like the seas through a storm..."
"How peculiar" Osvald mussed"This feeling swells through my breast.." He gently set his unconscious daughter down"I must... Protect Elena..."
As a surge of the mysterious magic swirled around Osvald, Harvey gasped"How did you make those calculations!?"
"I had them memorized this entire time" Osvald replied.
"Its too late, what could you hope to accomplish with that!?" Harvey snarled"Not that it matters, for I shall strike you down!"
As Harvey cast a wave of dark magic, Osvald rushed in front of his comrades and countered the dark energy wave with a wave of powerful light magic.
Harvey laughed bitterly"I knew it... You were my only equal. Now tell me, what is the source of that power!?"
"You'll never understand" Priscilla said, a surge of power coursing through her own body"Curiously enough, I seem to have channeled a similar power to Osvald's. I don't understand it, myself."
"Even I do not understand it" Osvald said"I simply thought of Elena, nothing more. As for yourself, Priscilla" he looked at her"Whatever this power is, it seems you have the potential to wield it, as well."
"I thought only of our friends, especially Temenos" Priscilla commented"Strange..."
"Oh?" Harvey laughed"You're joking, how could this possibly be a source!?"
"You'll never understand" Sabrina told Harvey, defiantly"The bond between friends, lovers, and family... You clearly have none of that."
"And I suppose you do, Sabrina?" Harvey sneered.
Sabrina nodded"I know that I do. As does Priscilla, Temenos, Osvald, Sabrina and Alistair. I don't know the exact answer, but I believe it to be a greater, more noble source than yours."
"While the entire answer may elude me, I will use this power to end you, Harvey" Osvald stated.
"Then let us see which of us has truly attained the One True Magic!" Harvey snarled, casting a shadowy wave of fire at the group. Temenos and Priscilla cast a shield of light to lessen the impact, while Osvald cast fireballs at Harvey.
Harvey dodged, retaliating with blizzard and fire. Osvald barely withstood the attacks, casting a wave of light magic. Harvey staggered, but cast multiple fireballs at the group. Temenos and Castii worked to keep their comrades on their feet while Osvald and Priscilla countered with fire and thunder.
Alistair darted forward and slashed at Harvey, who barely dodged. The red-haired Scholar retaliated with lightning bolt, driving the knight backwards. Osvald channeled more power and cast fireballs back at his opponent.
Harvey withstood the fireballs and retaliated with fireballs of his own. Priscilla cast another light shield, blunting Harvey's power, somewhat.
Harvey looked at Priscilla, curiously"So, you're also of Lumina descent?"
"I don't know what you're talking about" Priscilla replied"I only know that when I became a Prosecutor and studied magic on the side, it may have been but a simple way to cope with the trauma of my past. But perhaps, deep down, it was more to protect the people I cherish and other countless innocents!" She then cast a lightning bolt.
Harvey narrowly dodged, retaliating with a thunderbolt of his own, staggering the group before casting a barrage of shadow. Temenos healed his comrades while Osvald cast a wave of light magic, blasting Harvey backwards. Sabrina pitched in with a barrage of fire magic, further staggering her group's adversary.
"All right, I'm done playing games" Harvey started to chant, channeling more of his shadow magic. Osvald quickly countered it with a blast of light magic.
The red-haired Scholar staggered"How can you stand defiant... In the face of the One True Magic!?"
"You've never changed since we met" Osvald retorted.
"Silence!" Harvey shouted"I will do whatever it takes to destroy you all! Book of Demons, grant me more power!" He cried.
As Harvey tried to channel more shadow power, Priscilla and Temenos cast Luminous Wave, blasting the mad Scholar backwards. Osvald channeled more power, zapping Harvey with the full brunt of his new power.
Harvey collapsed, exhausted"This is impossible... How could The One True Magic be defeated...?"
"It is clearly beyond your grasp" Priscilla stated.
"You can't bend magic itself to your will" Osvald added.
"Liars! There's nothing I can control!" Harvey shouted as more shadow magic engulfed him"I will not accept defeat!"
"Unhand that tome, Harvey" Osvald demanded.
"I won't surrender to the likes of you!" Harvey snarled as he started to channel more of his shadow power.
"Luminous Wave!" Temenos and Priscilla cast a wave of light magic, causing the shadow power to backfire onto Harvey, engulfing him in a dark energy, resulting in a blinding flash of light, prompting the group to cover their eyes while Harvey screamed in agony.
Soon, the light faded and Harvey stopped screaming abruptly. No trace of Harvey, himself was left behind after the group's surroundings faded back into view, he had been consumed by the very power he tried to command. Osvald picked up Elena in his arms and faced the spot where Harvey stood a moment ago"I suppose that was out final debate."
"A fitting end for such a pathetic egomaniac" Sabrina murmured"And yet, I find that manner of death unsettling."
"I agree, a straight execution would have been quick and painless in comparison if he surrendered" Alistair nodded"He tried to harness the forbidden power of shadow and paid the ultimate price for his arrogance."
Castii examined Elena, just to be sure she is still breathing and used Healing Touch to speed up her recovery a little"I'm glad we were able to rescue your daughter, Osvald."
"Looking at her, she's rather adorable" Priscilla commented.
"Makes you want to have a child of your own, doesn't it?" Temenos teased, cheekily.
Priscilla blushed in embarrassment"Oh, hush."
"Let's get Elena back to Conning Creek" Osvald grunted.
The group headed out of the shrine, stopping by the inn back in Gravell to rest a bit. The villagers they saved earlier had fully recovered and left. Priscilla addressed Osvald"Do you plan to stay with your daughter?"
"I would very much like to do so" the older Scholar replied"But until she recovers her memories, my presence will just complicate things. And besides, I do not think Harvey acted alone, he may have had other associates besides Stenvar."
"And you plan to find them?" Alistair asked.
Osvald nodded"Yes. For this reason, I will keep traveling with you all."
"Does Elena have any other relatives?" Priscilla asked"And how is it that I can use a portion of the power that you did, Osvald? I never studied the One True Magic. Though Harvey seemed to believe I could have descended from the Lumina."
"I cannot help you" Osvald replied"That is something you may have to discover on your own, I still cannot fully wrap my mind around how I was able to wield the One True Magic. As for Elena, I know someone I trust enough to care for her until she fully recovers."
Priscilla nodded in understanding and went to rest up. When morning came, the group began their long trek back to Conning Creek. Temenos periodically glanced at his notes, addressing Priscilla and Osvald as he walked near them"If it helps, I believe that Harvey may have had connections with the Moonshade Order."
"The way he spoke of giving up the dawn, I suspected that Harvey may have been a part of the Moonshade Order" Priscilla agreed"Perhaps Trousseau and the person who corrupted him may be of their ilk as well."
"It seems that way" Osvald nodded, carrying his still-unconscious daughter. Castii had done what she can to ensure Elena had suffered no lasting injuries.
Castii did not want to believe that Trousseau had truly been taken in by the Moonshade Order, but she couldn't argue with the fact, instead walking silently alongside her friends.
Priscilla glanced at her own notes in her diary, dealing with Nathan and the Crimson Sun were high on her priorities, yet she felt unease at what this Moonshade Order could be up to, and what Harvey had meant by giving up the dawn. And the fact that she seemed able to wield a portion of the same mysterious magic as Osvald.
"Something still troubling you?" Temenos asked her.
"Yes, kind of" Priscilla nodded"Things have been getting more serious than I anticipated."
"I share your concerns, Priscilla" Sabrina told her"That's why I am going to write to my father about this Moonshade Order we learned about. Alistair and I will join you for the rest of your mission, if needs be."
Priscilla nodded, gratefully"Thank you."
Another day passed as the group returned to Conning Creek, Elena was still resting peacefully as they entered the town. Steven and Justin came to greet the group.
"Welcome back" Steven greeted"Oh, and is that Elena?"
"Yes, but she has lost her memories to Harvey" Osvald replied"I must go speak with Clarissa."
"That really must suck for her" Steven said, sympathetically"But at least she's okay. I'm sorry about your wife, by the way. Princess Sabrina told me and Alistair what had happened in her letter."
"What matters is that Harvey is gone and Elena is now safe" Osvald said before heading to Clarissa's house.
Justin took this information in silently before addressing Priscilla, Alistair and Sabrina"I've been reviewing Osvald's case and sent a letter to Minister Lian. He replied that a retrial is impossible, due to the lack of concrete evidence."
"I am not surprised" Priscilla nodded"On top of that, the true culprit is dead, killed largely by his own shadow magic, which he couldn't fully control. But we can at least prove that Rita and Elena were kidnapped, not murdered. At least not where Rita was thought to have been killed in her case. Lady Clarissa, myself and Princess Sabrina can testify to that fact, no one should doubt Sabrina's word, for she is the future queen of Vella and I'd have no reason to lie about it."
Justin was surprised"Ah, that could change things. I can inform Minister Lian and Governor Kent if you need me to."
"Then please do so, perhaps Osvald can then get clemency, at the very least" Priscilla replied.
While Justin left to inform the governor, Sabrina and Alistair went to ready a letter to King Lorian. Temenos turned to Priscilla"Shall we rest up at the inn for a bit? Its a long way to Timberain."
"Of course" Priscilla nodded, then accompanied the Cleric to the inn.
What a chapter, huh? I thought I'd expand a bit on Priscilla. I might even have a surprise twist in store for Lord Walden. As for Harvey, I had an idea or two, but decided to go along with having him be defeated the same way he was in-game and go along with the idea that his "survival" in the English version of the game was a mistranslation. It seems unlikely that he could've survived the way he was blown to nothing by his own shadow magic. On top of that, the Japanese version doesn't claim that he survived. Though it could also have been an assumption from Ori due to not seeing his body, herself.
I hope the chapter was enjoyable.