Scene 77

Wait! That's...!

Sorry to sneak up on you like that; I should have introduced myself. I'm Stina.

Don't worry about that, I was just surprised at your brooch...

Ah, I'm Iori, by the way.

Is that the Sacred Tree Brooch you've got there?

Yes...

Did you get it from Teardrop Cave?

No, I just found it out of nowhere walking through town.

Seriously? Out of nowhere?

Yeah, it was a real shock when it equipped automatically...

The same item in completely different locations... Is that even possible?

I wonder...

Did it glow?

Yes... And there was a cutscene that felt like some kind of nightmare...

And then you got the Swordsman of Salvation quest?

Yes, I did... It felt like a bad idea to throw the brooch away, but I don't know what to do...

Well, we're actually working on clearing that quest ourselves.

Oh, really?

Frankly, we don't have any information on what we should be doing. Happen to know anything else about the brooch?

I think it might be a high elven relic.

A what?

You know, something left behind by another civilization.

I'm guessing it's from the high elves, because the name references the Sacred Tree.

Damn, you've really done your research... Where'd you find that out?

Ah, well, you see...

Wait, are you a beta tester?

Uh...

Relax—I am too.

Really?

Yeah. I wondered if getting this brooch had something to do with the beta test, so I figured you might be a tester too.

Phew. You had me worried for a second there.

Wait, uh, just so you know, I'm the only one here who wasn't in the beta.

Oh, okay...

So... yeah...

But then, how are the brooch and the quest linked...?

I don't know anything specific, I'm afraid.

But maybe investigating some High Elven Ruins around here could provide a clue.

So I guess you're trying to clear the quest too, Stina?

I keep having that nightmare, with the terrifying monster... It's horrible...

I can't take it anymore. That's why I decided to speak to you...

I see...

I didn't have the courage to investigate them by myself, but there are some ruins on the 2nd Floor that seem promising...

Oh yeah?

I found them during the beta.

Seriously? We should totally go there then!

Definitely.

But I ran out of time and never went inside, so they might not even have anything to do with this quest...

Hey, even the chance of a hint is enough for me! Let's do it!

Oh... Thanks...

Shall we get moving? Can you show us the way?

Oh, sure... It's just that a lot's changed since the beta, so the route might be a little different to what I remember.

Maybe we should take several routes at the same time, then. We need to do something before Aincrad starts to collapse!