Scenario:Razia - The Time Has Come

The Time Has Come

Razia is ordered to escort the Va'hen defectors to safety. When she and the crew arrive at the meeting place, the Va'hen are already picking off the defectors one by one. While searching for the remaining defectors, Razia accidentally falls down into the basement of a certain house and finds her long-lost little sister Alphiana.

---

Vyrn: Hey, Scrappy. Are ya sure this is the meeting spot?

Razia: Yes, that's what I was told...

Razia: (I still can't believe that I'm going to place a Va'hen member under protection...)

Mulling over the current situation, Razia recalls the conversation she had when she received the mission.

Vyrn: Protecting a Va'hen defector?

Razia: Yes... A letter detailing the order has just arrived from my superior.

Razia furrows her brow as she shows (Captain) and the crew the letter.

"Certain members of the Va'hen sect of the Zeyen faith wish to escape."

"You are hereby ordered to make contact with these members and ensure their safe passage to our country."

"I expect favorable results."

Vyrn: Wait, ya mean the Va'hen sect? Scrappy's enemy?

Razia: That's right...

Bitterness marks Razia's face as she acknowledges Vyrn's words.

Razia: To be honest, I have many words to say about this, but an order's an order. I can't turn my back on it.

Razia: But this might be a good chance for me to find out about my father's and sister's whereabouts.

Razia: I'm sure these Va'hen defectors have worked with them.

Razia: If that's the case, then I'll finally find them...

A look of pain mars Razia's face as she thinks about placing her enemy under protection in exchange for information about her family.

(Captain) and the crew look at her with concern.

Razia: If I can find my family and finish things with my own hands...

Razia: Then nothing else matters to me.

Razia: That's why I must ensure that this mission is successful.

Razia: (Captain), please lend me your strength!

Expression grave, (Captain) nods in a show of support for Razia.

Razia: I'm not sure if I'll be able to protect the escapee all by myself...

Razia: But if the crew's with me...

Lyria: Hey, you don't have to lower your head! Of course we'll help you!

Lyria: We promised, remember? You can count on us to be right there with you.

1. Lyria's right!

Choose: Lyria's right!

Razia: Thank you. I owe you all.

Vyrn: Besides, it's too dangerous to go alone, Scrappy. Ya know, with your special tendencies and all that.

Vyrn: Ya could get caught in some kind of trap, or even by the enemy themselves.

Lyria: Ahaha...

Razia: Unngh, I'd rather embrace death than be looked at with such pitiable eyes!

The crew let out a small chuckle.

And so, they begin heading to the designated location written in the letter.

Lyria: This person hasn't shown up at all...

Razia: Yeah...

Razia: Were we deceived? But—

???: Ahhh!

Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream cuts the crew's conversation short.

The crew look at each other in shock before rushing to the source of the voice.

Moments later, (Captain) and company arrive at the scene.

There they find a woman unconscious on the ground, while another desperately tries to fend off a man with a knife.

???: Eek! H-help!

Va'hen Member 1: There shall be no mercy, for you have betrayed the Va'hen. Atone for your sins with blood.

Razia: Stop right there!

Razia hoists her cannonlance on her shoulders, points it behind her, and squeezes the trigger.

The powerful blasts knocks Razia forward, hurtling her directly into the man.

Va'hen Member 1: Guh!

As the two collide, the sound of the impact fills the air. The man flies backwards, and his body lodges into the wall behind him.

Lyria: ...

Vyrn: ...

???: ...

1. We gotta help!

Choose: We gotta help!

Lyria: R-right!

Vyrn: Hey, Scrappy! Are ya okay?

Razia: I'm fine. Not a scratch on me. I'll leave the rest to you guys.

The crew nod in acknowledgment before moving in to tie up the unconscious man with rope.

Vyrn: Geez, I get that you're clumsy, but don't scare us like that.

Razia: Clumsy? What are you talking about?

Vyrn: What? I'm talkin' about when ya flung yourself with the cannon!

Razia: ...!
That was on purpose!

Razia: What you all just witnessed was a brand new technique that I painstakingly developed!

Vyrn: You're kiddin' me...

Razia: I'm being serious!

Razia locks eyes with the members of the crew.

The crew stare back at her in complete bewilderment as they realize she's being completely serious.

Vyrn: Wait, wait, wait, are ya outta ya mind? That's way too dangerous!

Lyria: Yeah! What if you hit a tree or worse?

Razia: Don't worry. I've dedicated hours and hours to training.

Lyria: But...

Razia: Let's talk about it later. For now, we need to focus on what's at hand.

Razia ends the conversation before walking over to the stunned woman.

Razia: Can you stand?

???: Y-yes. Thank you so much for saving my life.

Razia: Don't worry about it. But I do have some questions for you.

Razia: Are you the Va'hen defector?

???: ...!

???: How did you...

Razia: I heard that man talking about how you needed to atone for betraying the Va'hen sect.

Va'hen Defector: Um... Who are you people?

Razia: I'm the knight who was assigned to protect you. I've come to pick you up.

Va'hen Defector: Really! Then, let's hurry, the others are wait—

Two gunshots ring out, and both the woman and the man collapse, bleeding profusely.

Vyrn: Wha!

Spinning around, the crew face the direction of the bullets.

They spy a few Va'hen sect members perched on a rooftop with rifles aimed directly at them.

Razia: Don't you dare!

Razia points her cannonlance at the enemy and pulls the trigger.

Va'hen Member 2: What the!

Va'hen Member 2: Wahhh!

Vyrn: D-didja get 'em?

Razia: I don't know. But it's safe to say they've stopped attacking at least.

Lyria: Why would these people go so far to hurt their own members?

Razia: Probably to silence them. They don't want anyone talking about their headquarters or the location of the other defectors.

Razia: Anyway, we need to—

Va'hen Defector: Knight... Please... Take this...

Mustering the last of her strength, the woman hands over a single piece of paper to Razia.

Razia: What is this?

Va'hen Defector: A map of... Master's location...

Razia: Master? Are you talking about your leader?

Va'hen Defector: Yes... It's all thanks to Master's guidance that we were... able to see the Va'hen's crimes...

Va'hen Defector: I beg you... Save Master...

Razia: Don't talk anymore. I'll apply first aid on you right now.

As Razia attempts to treat the wounds, the woman grabs her hand to stop her.

Va'hen Defector: I've committed... many crimes... as part of the Va'hen...

Va'hen Defector: Please leave me be... so that I can atone... Just save Mas—

Va'hen Defector: ...

Razia: Your last wish has been heard. I'll see to it. Let's go, (Captain).

Razia: We must save this Master. It's the least that we can do.

The crew pore over the map to figure out the Master's location before heading off.

Lyria: Umm, according to the map it should be right... Here.

(Captain) and the crew find themselves standing in front of a ravaged house.

Razia: We were too late.

Vyrn: What should we—

Woman's Voice: Ahhh!

Razia: ...!
There are survivors! Come, (Captain)!

Razia grips her cannonlance as she breaks into the house.

But as soon as she moves, her feet trip over the doorstep, causing her to fall forward.

Razia: Wha!

Lyria: Ahh! Razia, are you okay?

Razia: Ouch.

Unable to withstand the weight of the fall, the floorboards underneath Razia begin splintering.

Razia: Huh—

Razia: Ahhh!

The floorboards collapse, sending Razia down into the basement.

Razia: Cough, cough! I'd no idea the floor would be so brittle...

Razia: I'm not surprised the Va'hen would use such underhanded tactics.

Razia: I better hurry and find those survivors...

The knight slowly stands up, her head smarting with pain from the fall.

But as her eyes begin to adjust to the darkness, she recognizes the woman in front of her. The throb in her head is quickly replaced by shock.

Razia: Al... phiana?

Alphiana: Huh?

There, years after the fateful day where Razia's family disappeared, stands her younger sister.

The Time Has Come: Scene 2

The sisters' miraculous reunion is cut short when several Va'hen members surround and attack them, but they are rescued by the crew. Razia is overcome with joy to find her sister, but Alphiana doubts Razia's identity as she has lost her sight. Razia begins sharing stories that only her family would know about to prove her identity, and Alphiana finally accepts the truth.

---

Razia: Alphie... Why are you here...

Razia: Does that mean Father is also here?

Razia: But no, only Va'hen defectors should be in this building...

Razia: Does that mean that you... Are you and Father trying to escape?

Razia: Dammit, what the hell is going on! What's happening inside the Va'hen!

With the sudden reappearance of her long-lost little sister...

Thoughts begin racing uncontrollably through Razia's mind. She clutches her head, feeling overwhelmed.

Alphiana: Umm...

Va'hen Member 3: There were more allies, huh. Well, no matter—kill everyone except Master.

Razia turns around to face the voice.

Grabbing her weapon, she watches carefully as Va'hen members begin surrounding them.

Alphiana: Don't worry about me. Please, just run—

Razia: No. I finally... I finally found you.

Alphiana: What...

Razia: Everything's gonna be okay. I may be outnumbered, but victory is within reach.

Razia: (I know that (Captain) and the crew will find me.)

Razia: (We'll be able to turn the tides once when they arrive.)

Razia: I'm used to getting myself out of sticky situations like this.

Razia smiles at Alphiana before hoisting her weapon.

Razia: Let's do thi—

Lyria: Yggdrasil, come!

In the blink of an eye, vines erupt from the ground and bind the Va'hen members.

Vyrn: Scrappy! Are ya okay?

The knight spins around to find the crew rushing over to her in a panic.

Razia: (Captain)... My apologies. You saved me.

Lyria: Phew... No, we're sorry for being late. We couldn't find a way to get underground...

Lyria: By the way, who are these people?

Razia: They're Va'hen cultists.

Va'hen Member 3: Dammit... It was a diversion...

Va'hen Member 3: We were foolish to assume that the enemy would try such a crazy stunt alone...

The Va'hen members glare daggers at (Captain) and the crew.

Vyrn: Diversion? What are ya guys talkin' about?

Vyrn: All Scrappy did here was trip, fall, and break the floor. We were just tryin' to find her.

Lyria: And we're also here to save someone called the Master.

Va'hen Member 3: Enough with the jokes! You really think we'd believe that she just accidentally crashed through the floor like that?

Va'hen Member 3: No one's clumsy enough to pull off something like that!

Vyrn: Hey, I get that it's hard to believe, but it's the truth.

Vyrn: Isn't that right, Scrappy?

Razia: ...

Va'hen Member 3: Are you... serious?

Razia: Ugh, I wish I were dead! I'd rather embrace death than be looked at with those eyes!

Va'hen Member 3: N-no... How could we, the darkness's elite, fall prey to such an insolent little gir—

Razia: Silence!

Razia knocks out the Va'hen members with her cannonlance, her cheeks flushed.

Lyria: Ahaha... Well... What do we do now?

Razia: For now, we should evacuate to a safe place.

Razia: There's a good chance we'll run into more of those crazed cultists if we stay here.

Razia: Alphie, are you okay with that?

Lyria: Are you Alphie?

Alphiana: My name is Alphiana. Thank you for saving me earlier.

Alphiana bows her head deeply in respect at (Captain) and the crew.

Alphiana: But, if I may ask, how is it that you know my name?

Alphiana: And not just my name, but my nickname... Have we met somewhere before?

Razia: What are you talking about? Don't you remember me?

As Razia approaches Alphiana, she notices that her eyes have been closed this entire time.

Razia: Wait, Alphie... Your eyes... Are you...

Alphiana: Yes... I'm blind. That's why I can't tell who you are...

Razia: ...!
Is that so...

With pain in her eyes, Razia tightly embraces Alphiana.

Alphiana: U-um...

Razia: I'm your sister, Razia.

Alphiana: Huh...

Vyrn: Wait, sister? Then this is your...

Razia: Yes... My little sister who went missing with my father.

Razia: And it seems like Alphie is the Master we've been looking for...

(Captain) and the crew look back and forth between Razia and Alphiana with incredulous expressions on their faces.

Alphiana: Y-you're lying! My father told me that my sister was executed!

Alphiana: My father went through such great lengths to do what he did...

Alphiana: So there's no way my sister would be alive today!

Razia: If I remember correctly, I saw something written like that in his journal once. But I assure you, I'm alive and well.

Alphiana: I don't believe you.

The distrust and animosity are evident on Alphiana's face.

Razia furrows her brow, at a loss.

Razia: If only I could just prove to you that it's me...

Lyria: Um... What about sharing stories that only you and your family know?

Razia: Only things we know... I see...

The knight pauses as she sifts through her memories.

Razia: Unlike me, Alphie is very clumsy.

Razia: She used to wear these high heels whenever she put on a dress. But somehow, she always stepped on the bottom of her dress and fell down.

Razia: She fell over so often that our mother banned her from wearing high heels ever again.

Alphiana: ...?

Razia: Speaking of dresses, there was another time when she was trying on a new one and got tangled up in it.

Alphiana: ...!

Razia: Oh, and there's more.

Razia: One time, she fell in the river and wound up getting a fish stuck in her mouth. I remember her fighting for her dear life...

Razia: She hasn't eaten fish since that day. She thinks they're out to get her.

Alphiana: How... How did you know...

Alphiana: Are you really... Razia?

Razia: That's what I've been telling you.

Alphiana: Razia!

With tears rolling down her cheeks, Alphiana throws herself at Razia, embracing her tightly.

Alphiana: Razia... Razia...

(Captain) and the crew watch from a distance as the tender reunion unfolds.

The Time Has Come: Scene 3

Alphiana recounts her experiences with the Va'hen sect, including her rebellion against her father. She explains that her existence is paramount to the Va'hen. Upon hearing all the details, Razia vows to stop the Va'hen sect and her father at all costs.

---

The crew take Alphiana back with them to the Grandcypher.

The crew hastily depart the island in order to escape from further Va'hen attacks.

That evening, Razia stands on the deck of the airship alone, embracing the evening breeze.

Razia: What the hell is Father doing...

Questions rise in Razia's head as she thinks back to the conversation she had earlier with Alphiana.

Razia: Alphie, there's something I wanted to ask you.

Alphiana: What is it, Razia?

Razia: Can you tell me what happened to you?

Alphiana: ...

Razia: Even though my country fights against the Zeyens, you still requested protection from us.

Razia: That alone tells me this isn't any ordinary situation.

Razia: But I just don't understand why Father would've willingly let you go.

Alphiana: It's a lot... But I'll tell you everything that I know. Father is directly connected to all of this.

Alphiana straightens her back and takes a deep breath.

Alphiana: Is everyone here familiar with the goal of the Va'hen sect?

Vyrn: Yeah. Scrappy's told us all about it. They wanna try to change the past, right?

Lyria: And in order to change the past, they're looking for something called the legacy.

Alphiana: That's right. And after years and years of searching...

Alphiana: They've finally found the remains of the legacy.

Razia: ...!
Are you saying it really existed?

Vyrn: But wait, you said remains. What does that mean?

Alphiana: According to documents left by the Astrals, the legacy was the failed result of replicating something else...

Alphiana: It was supposed to be a modified version.

Alphiana: The Astrals had their own reasons, and they ended up destroying it.

Alphiana: That's what was recorded.

Alphiana: Later, the Va'hen attempted to restore the legacy but also failed.

Alphiana: It was around that time when we received an offer from a certain organization.

Alphiana: They offered data on the legacy in exchange for our skills and cooperation.

Vyrn: Hey, hey, that sounds suspicious as heck.

Alphiana: Yes. But the Va'hen accepted the terms.

Alphiana: Thanks to that, the full restoration of the legacy is in sight.

Alphiana: But the sect began falling apart.

Lyria: But why? Wasn't everything going according to their plan?

Alphiana: Members of the Va'hen began arguing over how to best use the legacy. It caused internal rifts and factions to appear.

Alphiana: My father's faction emerged victorious, and he arrested everyone who opposed him.

Razia: Wait a second! Weren't you part of his faction though?

Alphiana: Technically speaking yes, but I simply couldn't agree with his methods...

Alphiana: To be honest, I never agreed with any of the Va'hen's philosophies.

Alphiana: That's why I decided to rebel.

Alphiana: I thought that if I could use the faction disputes to my advantage, then I could tear the sect apart from within...

Alphiana: But I failed. And because of me, many of my allies were captured and...

Alphiana trails off, unable to finish her sentence.

As (Captain) and the crew watch, they think back to the time when those Va'hen members were desperately trying to protect Alphiana.

Alphiana: I was thrown into captivity and punished.

Razia: Is that why your eyes are...

Alphiana: Yes. My eyesight was stolen from me by magic.

Razia: But considering the weight of your actions, I'd say it's a small cost to pay, knowing the Va'hen's cruelty...

Razia: I wonder if Father had a say in this...

Alphiana: Yes. Apparently, members were told that I was "critical to granting the Va'hen's wishes."

Alphiana: They were ordered to not kill or maim me.

Razia: Now that you mention it, those people we dealt with earlier said to kill everyone except you.

Vyrn: In other words, you're super important to the Va'hen.

Razia: Yes... It seems like Alphie is paramount to them.

Alphiana: I was imprisoned for a while, but some of my allies who managed to survive came to save me...

Razia: And then you applied for protection from my country.

Alphiana: Yes. I believed that out of all of the countries, that was the one where the Va'hen wouldn't be able to reach me.

Razia: I think I understand the situation now.

Razia: I'll send a letter reporting the details to my leader.

Razia: The Va'hen may try to pull something dirty against my country.

Alphiana: Please do.

Razia nods and heads back to her room.

Alphiana: Razia...

Razia: Alphie? Are you sure you should be walking around by yourself?

Alphiana: It's okay, I have a cane...

Razia: Okay... By the way, how did you know that I was here?

Alphiana: (Captain) told me where you were after I visited Tikoh and Sophia.

Razia: Oh, you spoke with them? Were you trying to find a cure for your eyes?

Alphiana: Yeah. (Captain) and the others told me that it would be best if I got my eyes checked out just in case.

Razia: What did they tell you?

Alphiana: They said that magic is blocking my vision. The actual eyes themselves are perfectly healthy.

Razia: So if we just undo the magic...

Alphiana: Then my eyesight will return.

Razia: I see. That's great news then.

A sense of relief washes over Razia as she listens to Alphiana.

Alphiana: Um, Razia... Can I ask you for a favor?

Razia: What is it?

Alphiana: Can we... hold hands for a bit?

Razia: Is that all? Of course we can.

Razia smiles and takes Alphiana's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Alphiana: I'm sorry, Razia.

Razia: Alphie?

Alphiana goes into an apology.

At the same time, a bright light envelops Razia's mind's eye.

Razia: ...!
Alphie, what's going on?

Alphiana: I just looked at your past for a little bit.

Razia: My past? What are you talking—

Alphiana: Haven't you heard that some Zeyens possess the power to look into the past?

Razia: I've heard of it, but...

Razia: Wait... You have that, Alphie?

Alphiana: Yes. I possessed the aptitude for it, so I was given the powers.

Alphiana: I used it to look into your past.

Razia: But why?

Alphiana: I just... wanted to see your face...

Razia: ...?
What do you mean? I thought you can't use your eyes...

Alphiana: This power has nothing to do with my eyes.

Alphiana: Looking into someone's past is like looking at a dream.

Alphiana: You can think of it that way.

Razia: Hm...

Alphiana: I only looked at the time when you saved me and when we were playing together as kids...

Alphiana: It was just those two moments. I didn't look at anything else.

Alphiana: Besides... I'm sure there are things you wouldn't want me to see.

Razia: W-well, that's true. But the fact that you even have this power...

Razia: I've heard many things about it, but to see it in action in front of me...

Alphiana: It's not as great of a power as you think. There are limits to using it, and I can't use it very often.

Alphiana: And being able to peer into the past doesn't give me the ability to change the present.

Razia: I suppose it's not as useful as it sounds.

Alphiana: Yeah... Well, it's good for recovering lost items though.

Razia: Everything's got a purpose in its own way. You used to lose things a lot when you were a kid.

Razia: Do you remember how much you were crying when you lost Mother's handkerchief? It was a special memento of hers too...

Alphiana: I remember. You helped me look for it everywhere.

Razia: In the end, we found it in your pocket after we took out the laundry.

Alphiana: You don't have to remind me of that part...

Alphiana covers her face with her hands as her cheeks turn pink.

Nostalgia fills Razia's heart as she looks fondly at her little sister.

Razia: (Even though parts of her have changed, she's still the same as I remember her.)

Alphiana: Hehe. But I'm glad I got to see your face...

Razia: Why? Are you still doubting me or something?

Alphiana: Rather than calling it doubt, I think I was feeling... nervous.

Alphiana: I was worried that the sister I remembered wouldn't be the same anymore...

Razia: It's possible though. Lots of things have happened since the day of the riots...

Alphiana: Do you want to talk about what happened?

Razia: It's not that important.

Razia: It's just the story of a woman who had everything stolen from her by her own father and the Zeyens, so she went on a quest to gain power for revenge.

Razia: That's all.

Buried deep within her words is a strong sense of hatred and resentment.

A chill runs down Alphiana's spine as the coldness of Razia's words reach her ears.

Alphiana: Revenge... I would've never imagined hearing you saying something like that in the past.

Razia: That may be true... But I'm not the only one who's changed. You've grown too.

Razia: You went from being quiet and meek to becoming a thorn in Father's side...

Razia: I couldn't believe my ears at first when you told me.

Alphiana: Ever since I left the country, I've always been searching for the legacy with Father and the Va'hen.

Alphiana: During our travels, I watched the Va'hen commit terrible crimes in order to achieve their goals.

Alphiana: I begged Father to stop them, telling him that their methods were cruel and unjust...

Alphiana: But my words never reached him. I wasn't able to stop anyone...

Razia: I see...

Razia: Although we walked down different paths, our goal's the same—to stop Father.

Alphiana: Exactly...

Razia: ...

Alphiana: ...

Alphiana: What do you plan to do from now on, Razia?

Razia: You know what I'm going to do. I'm going to stop the Va'hen... and Father with my own hands.

Razia: Even if it means I must shed the blood of my own family.

Alphiana: Is that so...

Razia: Alphie, what do you want to do?

Razia: If you don't want to see family fight against each other, just tell me—

Alphiana: No, I'm going to stop Father with you.

Alphiana: It's the very least that I can do.

Razia: I understand. Then let's stop him together.

Alphiana: Yes!

Alphiana gives a determined nod.

And with this fateful reunion spawning a heavy conversation...

Razia's vow to end things has only strengthened even more.