Heracles starts narrating about how he was a hero since he was born and was always called one. However, he’s never felt that he was braver than anyone else. It’s not being brave to challenge someone you know you can win against after all. Then there’s all the trials he was imposed with by the oracle. He fought as commanded, and achieved victory as commanded. He vanquished, studied under, and served others as he was told to, going through what other people would call hardships.
When Heracles was ordered to be a slave for three years, he thought that his nature didn’t change. He just kept working like he was ordered to like before, and he’d produce results quickly as a matter of fact. Heracles says that he’s sure there’s a part of him that believes he’s worthless if he can’t bring in results. He’s sure that being kept constantly busy was his way of keeping his mind off his situation and getting on with things.
Heracles says he never noticed the important thing that was buried under all those days. He says that being a slave is what allowed him to see, along with his meeting with you all. It was from your discussions about that topic and your wills to keep trying. You guys were the ones who taught him how precious it was. It sunk into the sea of memories of his endless battles, and Heracles says he’s sure he wanted to be in love like Echo is. It’s a heart pounding thing without a clear end, and he says he wants to be a real hero like her.
Title card pops up, and this chapter is called Platonic Decoration.
Things tune back to the present with you waking on the forest ground again. Barguest bangs his head yet again, and after he comments on being returned he asks how many times it’s been. Snow and Gyumao walk over, and Snow answers that this would be the fourth round. He also comments on how hard it is to make chocolate to express your feelings. Gyumao says you guys can’t stop here though and suggests heading back to the base.
Echo stops in her tracks to stare at the spring, and Heracles asks if something is wrong. Echo asks if everyone will hear her out on the way back to base, and you ask what’s on her mind. Echo thanks you for listening and gets ready to talk.
Scene shifts to the outside of the forest as Echo apologizes for failing again. She says she understands now that she doesn’t know much about love. After talking with everyone she says she has a lot of things she needs to think about. This includes herself, everyone else, and Narcissus. Heracles seems sad for her.
Echo continues by asking if everyone will give her some more time, saying it feels like she’s almost found the answer regarding love. Her eyes tear up, though there is no sign of sadness on her face. Everyone can pick up on how strongly she wants to convey her feelings. You either say she should think on it without rushing it, say nothing so far has been a waste, or be confident that she’ll figure things out.
Barguest walks over to Echo and says she’s misunderstood something. It’s not like the rest of the party has given up on things. Snow walks up next and says this is only the fourth round and that Echo’s lessons on love are making progress. Gyumao says success is built off of repeated failures and assures Echo that she’s getting somewhere. Echo is touched by everyone’s support, and Heracles comments that she’s amazing.
Scene then shifts to the base as you all make it there. Snow says it didn’t take long after listening to Echo speak and offers to put on tea for everyone. Echo says she’s like to get started on making chocolate right away. Barguest says it’s nice that she’s motivated but with the time reversal just happening, you guys only have the cacao and chocolate machine. It’s fine if you guys know where to find things, but the wrapping and stuff were found by coincidence last time.
Heracles speaks up and says that might not be a problem this time. You ask him what he means, so Heracles talks about how he thought he couldn’t do anything to help everyone. But then he found something when he checked the back of the base. Gyumao says Heracles isn’t very articulate and asks if there’s something he doesn’t understand. Heracles asks everyone to check the next room over since that will clear things up, which confuses the party.
When everyone does as Heracles asks, Snow notices that there’s a lot of chocolate molds set up. Barguest notes the ingredients like fruit, berries, sugar, and there’s even decorations. Gyumao says there’s wrappings like wrapping paper, ribbons, and message cards too. Echo says it’s beautiful, and you either ask what’s happening one of two ways or note that you guys have everything you need.
Heracles says he doesn’t know why himself, but he found it all at the back of the base. He then just brought it all over, then asks if they’re the embodiment of Echo’s feelings. Snow supposes that the previous go arounds, the corrective force had found all those things first, and Barguest asks if it was all set in the back this time so you guys could get to them first. Gyumao says common sense is out the window, but with everything here you guys can get started. He says the first thing to do is to boil some water to disinfect things...
Heracles says he doesn’t know how to use any of the things, but he can at least help with boiling. Also compared to the things he had to do before, this is the sort of thing he can do before breakfast. Snow is about to offer to handle all that before understanding something. Heracles confirms his guess and says he wants to do this since he wants to help Echo. You either ask him to work together with you guys, suggest helping Echo together, or ask him what he had to do in the past.
Going C, Heracles explains that says he became a slave for three years due to an oracle by Omphale. He’s been looking for a master to serve, but he hasn’t found anyone like that as he wandered around, then ended up in here. He also mentions having an interest in sewing and needlework that he never did much of as a hero.
Anyways Heracles says he’ll do his best. Echo asks what’s happening, so Snow says it seems to be the power of her thoughts. Put another way, her thoughts of wanting to change the outcome have gotten stronger. Echo parrots back the idea that she wished for this as a question.
Snow says that her wish is opposite to how this world is set up and wonders what effect it’d have on a world manifested from memories that aren’t supposed to change. Barguest suggests that in the worst case, the place could collapse because it can’t maintain itself. You either ask if the wish to change will erode the memories or ask if the world will be destroyed.
Echo is shocked by the possibility and says it can’t happen. Heracles says it’s finally looking like a trial, as the world can’t keep existing for much longer. Snow tells Echo to be careful since she can’t rush the results like every other time. There’s still some time at least, and he offers to help Echo find her answer.
Barguest wishes her luck and says she’ll need to convey her feelings after coming so far. Gyumao also suggests getting started since time is money, even if there’s still some time left. Heracles offers to do any manual labor and then, after thinking some more, dishwashing. You also cheer Echo on saying it’ll work this time, and maybe tell her to dry her tears first. Echo thanks everyone for their help.
The party splits up to do their things. Snow and Barguest are off checking the state of the world after planting the cacao. Gyumao and Heracles are coming up with new ideas together, leaving you and Echo at the spring. You ask if Echo is okay with being there, comment that Narcissus isn’t there yet, or ask why she wanted to go there.
In A, Echo says she’s fine and thanks you for worrying about her. In any case she starts talking about how it was here that she saw Narcissus for the first time. When she thinks about that time she starts wanting to think about what to give him. Now she feels like the two of them can face each other, and she apologizes for dragging you here with her.
Echo takes a moment to look at the spring and the nearby flowers. She says he was beautiful, just as the rumors said. And yet despite being surrounded by love, she said he seemed lonely. Echo says she felt the same way, even with all the friends she had in the forest. She did her best to fit in with everyone, yet she still felt lonely when she was supposed to be having fun.
Echo talks some more about watching Narcissus and how he looked with that expression, which led to her wondering about how he felt. You either ask if that’s where her crush started, comment on her taking an interest in him, or say you know what that loneliness is like.
Going A, Echo says yes as that was when she started thinking about him all the time. She never felt like that before and had no idea what to do. In C, she expresses surprise that you’d feel that way too. In any case Heracles shows up, and Echo notices him. He apologizes for overhearing what she was talking about, but Echo says it’s fine since she asked him to come. She also thanks him for carrying things. You either comment on how much stuff he brought or be amazed that he brought it all in one shot.
Echo explains that just before she came over she started thinking about whether there were other gift ideas. Heracles then told her he’d bring things over later to the spring. Heracles himself says he thought it might be a good idea to think somewhere more significant to her memories rather than at the base. Echo comments on how much he brought and wonders if she asked him for all that. Heracles says he brought extra things that interested him, then apologizes for acting inappropriately.
Echo says it’s okay and thanks him. Heracles thanks her back, then says he brought some “just ideas” and “suggestions” from Gyumao. Since these were in English, Echo has trouble parsing what they mean. Heracles doesn’t know either, so he asks if you know. You either translate it for them one of two ways or say you don’t know.
Going A, Heracles is amazed you understood it so quickly as he calls those words spells. Echo also says she thinks you’re amazing but she questions calling those words spells too. In any case Echo takes a look, and Gyumao seems to have written down a lot. She thanks him and says she’ll take them into consideration.
Echo starts pulling out a mechanical pencil from all the baggage, and Heracles asks what that is since he’s never seen one before. Echo explains she got it from Tokyo and what it is. She says she’s thinking of planning out some chocolates and drawing them while thinking of Narcissus. You either say that’s a good idea, offer to give some suggestions yourself, or wonder how the chocolates will turn out.
Going A, Echo says she’d like your ideas too and tells Heracles she’s happy he’s helping her. Heracles is happy to assist however he can. Echo psyches herself up and says she’ll do what she can to express her feelings through whatever chocolate she can think of. She doesn’t know if she can make it right, so if any don’t work she suggests eating it yourselves.
Heracles says he found something among all the stuff he picked up and asks what it is. Echo says it’s knitting wool and explains that you can sew scarves and stuff with it. Heracles is happy he asked and and notes that the knitting needles aren’t weapons. He then talks to himself about something being a kind of otherworld textile and seems excited. You can either suggest he touch it, offer to touch it with him, or comment on his interest in fabrics.
Going A, Heracles says he mentioned doing some needlework before and learning about it. Originally he was doing it to learn how to fix his cape, but then he found out he had a knack for it. You either express surprise that he has a handiwork hobby, say he might be the dexterous type despite having big hands, or say needlework is fun.
Going A, he takes that to mean that needlework doesn’t suit him and wonders if that’s unusual where you’re from. Anyways, Heracles talks about how sewing can be about fixing things or making something new while sword wielding is just about destroying things. He hopes that when there’s time, he can watch how to knit things with knitting needles. Echo says that if he’s okay with a simple way of knitting, they can do it together soon, and she says she thinks it’s fun. He happily agrees.
Echo has a sudden flash of insight, which shocks Heracles. Echo explains that she had some inspiration as A Brand New Day plays, and she suggests knitting right now. Heracles is surprised at her idea of knitting there, but Echo confirms that she means it. She also considers that the ball of yarn and needles may be too small for him. Heracles says it’s fine and that he can handle it. You either ask to be included, call it youth, or be happy for Heracles.
Going C, Heracles invites you to join him so you both can learn from Echo since it’s nice to do once in a while. Echo thinks it’s a good idea and invites you too. The two of them huddle together, and Heracles comments it’s bringing back memories of the last time he did so. He then claims it’s nothing. The three of you have fun as you guys learn to knit and come up with chocolate ideas, and the time passes by calmly.
Scene shifts to elsewhere as Snow comments on how unclear things are looking past the forest, like looking through some dense fog. He then asks Barguest to take a look. Barguest says he can see Tokyo buildings getting mixed in and asks if this is what an open seam in the world is. Snow says that means there’s not that much time left.
Snow takes another look at the area, and it looks like tiny cracks are starting to open up. He brings up a certain expression that goes around in Tokyo: a chick being born from an egg has to destroy the world that is its egg.
Scene shifts back to your end as Heracles comments on how late it’s getting and how fast time goes when you’re having fun. Echo agrees and asks if you had fun knitting. You either say Echo’s great at teaching, are glad she could take her time teaching you, or ask Heracles for help.
Going A, Heracles notes that the way Echo speaks now suits teaching whatever. Echo comments that it’s the first time the way she speaks now was complimented, so she feels a little awkward. She thanks you two though.
Anyways Echo smiles as she writes down her chocolate design ideas. Heracles sets down his needles and starts talking to you as he looks at Echo, who is a ways away now. He talks about how his hands are covered in blood, but if they can help someone he doesn’t mind slave work. He was always being sent to battles from the oracle, and when he wakes up from his madness everything is already finished.
When Heracles came back from his battles he was hailed as a hero, but he says that’s because he’s a blood descendant of the one who sits highest in Olympus. Through him, people praise Zeus. When people look at him directly though, he sees fear in their eyes. He’s never had the freedom to think about things whether he was a hero or a slave.
Heracles starts looking at the spring and says he remembers now that there was a bit of light during that time. It’s a memory of someone important to him that he can’t see anymore and remembers when looking at you and Echo. Now that he thinks about it, he remembers that there was a bit of peace for him even during his trials. You express surprise at him mentioning someone dear he can’t see anymore.
Heracles says it’s a past memory that can’t come back to, but yeah. He supposed that maybe it was fate that he was brought into this world like the rest of you. He thought he had given up on it, but now maybe it turns out he didn’t.
Heracles then changes the subject to say it feels nice sitting next to you. He wonders why and says it’s been so long since he felt relaxed, and he eventually falls asleep on your shoulder. You take note of this and decide to leave him be, and maybe even pat him on the head. His face looks at peace, and the flowers watch over you two as the episode part ends.
I love Echo!
ReplyDelete