Where Fates Ignite
Hahaha! Behold! I shall turn these treacherous cuts of meat into a feast with my magnificent Dragon breath!
...Please. You're just blowing air onto the firewood.
Hush and watch! If I simply blow with all my might—
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Scarlet, you're scorching the meat!
All the barbecue meat is buried in ash now! What were you thinking?!
Huh?! Th-That wasn't part of the plan!
Surface of the meat appears fully carbonized. This meat is no longer edible.
Ugh... I'm taking over. Hand over the tongs.
...At this rate, dinner may not happen before tomorrow.
Haha! Sounds like they're having fun over there.
Everyone's having so much fun that I can't help getting excited myself.
Getting everyone together for a party really was a good idea, don't you think?
So, Epindel? Aren't you glad you came?
This noisy, undignified sort of gathering is... hardly my idea of a good time.
Oh, come on. I know you didn't exactly hate the idea when I asked you to come.
Wh-Whatever makes you say that?!
You merely described it as a small gathering with your companions.
After everything we went through together, I simply thought it would be proper to make an appearance.
So don't get the wrong idea.
That aside, there's something I'd like to ask you.
What is it?
Last night was rather chaotic, so I didn't get to hear the details.
About the memory you saw through the Star Savior's relic.
Oh, that? You really want to know?
I'm curious too.
Even you, Captain? I didn't know everyone cared this much about the Star Savior.
How could I not?
Polaris did give me a briefing this morning regarding the incident.
According to Polaris, the relic was the Star Savior's personal journal.
The seal itself was sustained by memories left within it.
What could possibly have been contained in his memories...?
...To restrain an entity of that caliber for all those years is unbelievable.
Don't tell me your family asked you to find that out too.
...I won't deny it. Memories of the Star Savior might hold information of value to House Orlan.
If that's what you're after, I don't think it'll help much.
I barely caught more than a few clear moments.
Everything else passed in an instant, and from what I could tell, there wasn't anything particularly dramatic.
Nothing related to combat?
Nothing like that. It was more like... good times with his companions.
Come to think of it, I think they were celebrating New Year's in the memory I saw!
So what did the Star Savior and his companions do for New Year's?
Well, honestly...
Ahaha! Pretty much like us right now!
Turns out a legendary hero doesn't spend every second doing legendary things.
They were talking, laughing, eating together... exactly like we are.
That's really all I saw.
Hey, Smile! Weren't you the one who said the charred bits are inedible? Now you're eating them yourself?!
Small amounts of char are unlikely to cause meaningful harm.
...And the lightly burnt bits taste good.
Oh yeah? Then let me have some too! Blegh! You call this slightly burnt?! It's way too charred!
Oho! What hearty appetites! I cannot allow myself to lose!
Gah! Watch it, you lizard-shaped catastrophe!
W-Well, they might've been slightly more dignified than us! Haha!
Attention, everyone! The rocket launch is about to begin!
Hurry and sit down!
It's starting, Captain! Come on!
Ms. Bell, I have a question.
A question? What is it?
Wasn't the rocket launch supposed to take place yesterday, January 1st?
...How many times do I have to tell you? Since everything was already prepared, they decided to launch it today instead.
The ceremony got called off yesterday after everything that happened across NOA.
...Oh. I forgot.
Seriously... Why do you keep asking if you're just going to forget again?!
Everyone, it's starting!
You know... Thanks, Captain.
Where did that come from?
It just crossed my mind, so I wanted to tell you.
Of course, it wasn't exactly uneventful...
Still, this festival gave me memories I don't think I'll ever lose.
All the time we spent scrambling around getting ready for the festival, dancing together...
Even the time we stood back-to-back and fought side by side.
They're memories we can look back on later and smile about together.
We made a whole lot of those, didn't we?
They wouldn't feel quite as special if you hadn't been there with me. So thanks, Captain.
...Oh, and one more thing.
You were going to confront those ladies at the ballroom, weren't you?
...So you noticed after all.
Mm-hm. I cut in because I didn't want you making enemies on my behalf...
But honestly, I was kind of glad. There aren't many people who'd stand up for me like that.
People usually laugh at me for what I do, so...
I couldn't just stand there and listen.
In the memory I saw, the Star Savior and his companions...
It made me think they must have trusted and relied on each other.
...And watching them just made me think of something.
There was something about the Star Savior that felt a little like you.
You actually saw his face?
Uh... No. Not exactly.
It's more like... the presence he had. It felt similar to yours.
His presence...?
I mean... looking at him made me feel like I could trust him, just like with you!
Like you'd feel safe just having him beside you!
...Anyway, forget all that! What I wanted to say was...
...I'm counting on you this year too, Captain.
Lead us forward, just like the Star Savior once did.
We're all counting on you.
...Mm-hm!
Hehe! Here's to a great new year, Captain!
Happy New Year!
Wishing for success in all things.
A long streak of flame traced itself across the night sky.
A deafening boom passed in an instant, leaving a radiant path stitched into the night.
Like a mark left across the heavens so that this day would never be forgotten.
Oh, right! The rocket launch!
Yeah?
I think I know how this tradition began—
...
N-Never mind! It's nothing.
Hmm...?
...Hehe, I think I'll keep this one to myself.
Bwahaha! Witness the splendor of my rocket, humans! Take to the skies!
...The design was entirely mine. All you did was decorate the outside, ■■■■■■.
Fool! You have no appreciation for true artistry.
My handiwork is what made the rocket far more magnificent, so obviously I deserve the most credit!
...If we're going by the calendar, we're a day late. New Year's was yesterday.
Bah, who cares? Dragons don't concern themselves with human conventions!
Quit nitpicking and enjoy the show!
So, ■■■■■■■. What do you think? Not quite the same as what you remember from home, I imagine.
Maybe we could make this an annual tradition, if circumstances allow. We'll call it... the rocket launch ceremony.
Mm! An excellent idea!
In that case... where should we launch it next year?
Hmm... I wonder.
Goodness... This garment has taken some serious damage.
I'm afraid commissioning a new outfit would be more practical than attempting repairs.
I thought as much... Very well. I'll have a new one made.
Will it be for daytime occasions or evening events?
One of each, please.
And how shall we handle the lining?
The usual, please.
Certainly. Please make yourself comfortable while I prepare a few options.
*Sigh*...
Honestly... I still can't quite make sense of it.
Perhaps I'll never be able to see things the way you do.
But...
I have to admit, I'm a little jealous.
...How effortlessly you seem to shine.
And perhaps most of all, that you have someone who would stake everything just to stand beside you.
Even the finest dress in the world couldn't give someone that.
I've brought a few samples for you to look over. Would you like to see them?
Thank you. Now, what do we have...
Wait, this is... clearly a wedding dress.
Ah! My apologies, ma'am! I must have mixed it up with another client's order!
O-One moment, please!
A wedding dress, huh... I suppose it is quite lovely.
...Not that it would suit me.
...Even so, if I ever did wear one... I wonder who would be standing next to me.
...!
Ahem! Good grief... What am I even thinking?!