Scenario:Ayer - Sunset Over the Coastline

Sunset Over the Coastline

While vacationing in Auguste, Ayer attempts to further suppress his alter ego through a grueling swimming regiment. Seeing this, a few older brother types in the crew hold a barbecue to hopefully help Ayer relax.

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The crew has come to Auguste for summer vacation.

Among the throngs of visitors, one young man is swimming in a hazardous area definitely not fit for light sport.

Ayer: Huff... Huff...
Ten more... Before these high waves die down...

Vyrn: Uhh? Hey, Ayer's over by that beach. Looks like he's back to training again.

Lyria: Oh, you're right. He's still at it even though we're on vacation. It seems like he's obsessed...

Vyrn: No thanks to that other Ayer.

Lyria: Oh right... It could be about Bowman...

Ayer is a crew member

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Bowman is a manifestation of Ayer's personality, a psychological phenomenon that has been manipulating the young man for half of his life.

With no way of knowing when Bowman will reappear to take control of his body, Ayer struggles to repress his other half.

Go to "Continue 1"

Ayer not in crew

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Ayer is a brawler who was earning his bread by fighting in an illicit arena.

However, once this arena was exposed by local authorities, the brawler and his partner Bowman fled and ultimately stowed away aboard the Grandcypher.

As a natural result, Ayer became a part of the crew and was reunited with his sister Jessica. It was then that Bowman's true nature and motives were made clear.

Ayer: Huff... Huff... What are you trying to pull, Bowman?

Bowman: Ha ha ha, calm down, buddy! I never meant any harm!

Ayer: Why didn't you tell me anything? My sister's been journeying in search of me because of you. She even ended up fighting a primal!

Bowman: Well, y'know... You were just a little squirt at the time. You never would've agreed to deceive your family!

Bowman: Listen, I'm sorry. That was my bad. Look, I'm real apologetic about the whole thing!

Ayer: You think apologizing's gonna do anything?

Bowman: You're real upset about this whole thing, aren't you? Were you that close to her? Heh. You're still just a baby after all.

Bowman: You've really gotta quit blaming others for this stuff. Sure, I told you to run away from home and become a fighter, but you were the one who decided to do it!

Ayer: ...!

Jessica: Ayer, what in the world is going on?

Ayer: Don't come over here. I'm not done talking with this jerk.

Vyrn: Talking with... who exactly?

Ayer: With Bowman, obviously! The guy right in front of me!

Lyria: Bowman? Is he one of the islanders here? I don't see anyone...

Ayer: Huh?

Jessica: Are you okay? Did something happen after you ran away from home?

Bowman: Hahaha... Looks like the jig is up.

Ayer: Sis, behind you!

Jessica: Huh? There's nothing there.

Ayer: No way...

Ayer: Am I... going crazy?

Bowman: You were crazy from the beginning.

Bowman: You're the only one who can see or hear me. The only person who knows I exist... is you.

Bowman: A shame, Ayer. I was your number one fan.

Ayer: Urgh... Graaah!

The other half of Ayer, the cognitive phenomenon who led a young man to become a fighter... That is Bowman's true nature.

Since then Ayer has been struggling to repress his tormentor and keep control of his own body.

Continue 1

Vyrn: He doesn't look so good. If he keeps that up, he might hurt himself. Should we see if he'll take a break?

Lyria: Yes. It's Ayer, so he'll probably just push us off, but there's no harm in asking!

Ayer: A break?

Vyrn: Yeah, it's summer, so live a little! You can slurp some great ramen at the beach house!

Ayer: Oh. Ramen.

Lyria: You don't like it? I thought it was a good idea...

Ayer: Whatever.

Vyrn: Now, see here! You're either gonna take a break or—

Vyrn: Wait... So is that a yes or a no?

Ayer: It's a yes, but what's with that shocked look?

Lyria: Hahaha, sorry. It's just you really surprised us.

Ayer: Right. Catch you at the beach house.

Vyrn: What was that all about? He usually puts up more of a fight...

Lyria: I guess we got lucky! Don't you think he'll start to open up to us more if we all sit down to a delicious meal, (Captain)?

Server: Sorry about the wait. Here's your ten raw eggs in a mug... Th-this is really what you wanted, right?

Ayer: Yeah. Thanks.

Ayer: Glug... glug...

Vyrn: Yuck...

Lyria: Aah!

Ayer: Whew... Anyone up for some chicken skewers?

Ayer: I'll get a stick of breast meat. Salted. You guys can have the marinated stuff.

Ayer: I could go for some tofu too. It's summer, so I'll take it chilled.

Vyrn: Raw eggs, tofu—man, your favorite foods are weird! You only eat goopy stuff now?

Ayer: Goopy? And no, of course those aren't my favorite foods.

Ayer: The food you eat determines your agility, you know. Meat alone isn't enough.

Lyria: So you've been eating goopy food every day... for agility?

Ayer: Stop calling it goopy.
I've been trying to get better control of my body.

Vyrn: A-ah, well, I know why you're tense, but how about eatin' some stuff you like too?

Ayer: Tense?

Vyrn: Yeah, don't worry about Bowman! We'll always be there for you no matter what!

Ayer: So that's what this is about. Look, Bowman and I, that's—

Lyria: What Vyrn said! You should order what you like, so don't hold back. Let's see what's on the menu...

Lyria: Oh! How about tropical fruit punch? There's ramen, yakisoba, and shaved ice too!

Ayer: Hold on. I'll drown if I eat that much food.

Lyria: Then you'll have to stop swimming for today, I guess.

Ayer: Why does the food get first priority? We should get rid of half this order at least.

Ayer: Sigh... Look, the reason I'm working out is for a problem I've always had. One even before Bowman.

Vyrn: Huh? A problem before Bowman?

Ayer: ...

Ayer: When I was on the top of my game, it was like seeing my opponent frozen in time. The tougher the fight got, the slower the world moved.

Ayer: That doesn't happen anymore. I can't get fired up. Even if my opponent's a real challenge, I can't focus...

Ayer: I'm arena trash now. It's exactly like before Bowman came...

Lyria: N-no. Ayer, you're still so strong...

Ayer: I understand myself. So until I can fully reclaim my instincts, I have no intention of taking it easy.

Vyrn: I get it... That's why you're trainin' so hard every day. But how are you gonna reclaim your instincts?

Ayer: Good question. If I train like hell, I'm sure something will happen.

Vyrn: Sounds like you haven't thought about the big picture here. Why don't we think about the cause of the problem?

Ayer: Whatever. It'll be a waste of time though.

Lyria: B-but if you keep swimming like before, you could hurt yourself. Let's think about it for awhile...

Ayer: ...

Vyrn: The only thing I can come up with is for you to, you know, say bye-bye to Bowman.

Ayer: What's he got to do with it...

Vyrn: But you said it, right? He's the one that got you into fightin', pullin' all that strength outta you.

Vyrn: This kinda stuff goes over my head, but before you start all this dangerous training again, you gotta—

Ayer: I said, what's he got to do with it!

Lyria: Aah! Ayer, calm down...

Ayer: Sigh... Sorry...

Ayer: I can't... I wish I could, but...

Ayer: I'd be just another small fry without him...

Vyrn: H-hey, wait! Are you really goin' back out into those big waves?

Lyria: That's dangerous! A-and we still have some chicken left...

Ayer: Take 'em! Here's what I owe.

Vyrn: Yikes, and there he goes... Can't believe he got that upset...

Lyria: Maybe Ayer can't believe it either...

Vyrn: Yeah. He's definitely got some soul-searchin' to do.

Vyrn: Although I can't even imagine havin' one of your trusted pals turn out to be some kinda mind trick that fools you and your family...

Lyria: Me neither. He seemed to love him like a sibling...

Vyrn: Yeah, just like an older brother...

Vyrn: Heeey, (Captain), speakin' of older brothers...

Even though Ayer had been pushing the physical limits of his body in the turbulent afternoon tides, he now stares disappointedly across a placid, sunset-tinted ocean.

Ayer: Sigh... The waves this afternoon were unbelievable...

Ayer: The colors, the sounds, the air—this is like a totally separate world...

Ayer: A totally... new world...

Bowman: This is the new world we both wanted. We sacrificed everything to get here.

Bowman: C'mon, it was my idea to have you leave home and go underground! And I was the guy who taught you how to fight!

Bowman: Hey, don't be glum! There are still greater heights to be found out there!

Ayer: Damn it!

Ayer: It makes me sick. I fell for it... I fell for all the crap that crazy hallucination told me...

Ayer: ...

Ayer: What am I supposed to do? Nowhere to go, nothing to do... Not even a damn sign...

Ayer: Hah. I guess that makes me the biggest fool of all...

Vyrn: Heeey, Ayeeer! You done with today's training?

Ayer: (Captain), Vyrn, Lyria...

Lyria: Uh... Um, you haven't eaten dinner yet, right? We have a suggestion.

Ayer: A suggestion? What the—did you bring someone...

Ayer: Aah!

???: Haha. We heard everything.
Gotta tell you, overtraining won't get you where you wanna go, kid.

???: Hahaha. Guess you're at the age where you just wanna go to the max all the time? I can relate—I was there too at one point.

???: And chowin' down on goop for every meal? You can lighten up, bro. You're not an old man—yet!

Ayer: Wh-why the hell is everyone ganging up on me?

A trio of full-grown gentlemen has appeared before the anguishing Ayer.

Only time will tell how the young man will himself grow from this curious encounter.