Corruption
It was the day we received a quest to subjugate some Raiders on the outskirts.
I arrived a little earlier than Ceres, so I dropped by a nearby cafe to kill some time.
Thank you! Please come again!
...Captain?
Why are you coming out of there?
It's just a cafe.
...Well. You're not from the West, after all.
It'd be unfair to expect you to have the same resolve I do.
All right. This quest was to subjugate a Raider base, correct?
Let's finish this swiftly and decisively.
Krrgh... This is unfair... This can't be happening...
We stacked the logs right, packed the mud just fine...
It was the biggest, sturdiest fort in the area...
How do you just smash something like that with a sword?! This is unfair!!!
I'm sure the travelers you robbed felt the same.
That's what it means to be powerless. Even if it's unfair or absurd, you can't fight back.
Now disappear quietly, like the weakling you are.
Grhk! Kreek! Gah!
M-monster! She's a monster!!
...Hmph.
Nice work, Ceres.
You held your own too, Captain.
Judging by its size, this was probably their last hideout...
But just in case, I'd suggest we search and clear the area.
Then I'll go take a quick look around.
Get some rest in the meantime.
Why go alone...? It'd be safer to stick together...
You want me to rest? In case there's more fighting later...?
...All right. I'll leave it to you then.
I left Ceres behind to take a short break while I scouted ahead.
...
Mm. I'm a little thirsty.
Oh, this is the Captain's canteen.
...I suppose I'll borrow it for a moment.
...
Huh?!
Th-this is...
This isn't just water...?!
Here's your Aurora Ade!
Extra ice, stronger flavor, and in the canteen, just like you asked!
Thank you! Please come again!
Sweet, refreshing... and it even has ice floating in it...
This fizzy feeling... A taste that could ruin someone...!
Ahh, aaah...
...Th-this shouldn't even exist...!
Yes! I'll drink it all and erase it from existence...!
Sorry, did I keep you waiting?
Pfft! C-Captain?!
Looks like this area's all clear—
Ceres...?
Y-y-y-you're back. I've been waiting!
...
A-about your canteen...
I spotted my canteen behind her as she fumbled.
As I walked past her and picked it up...
Ah, that's...!
...It's almost empty.
...M-my apologies.
I don't know what came over me... Next thing I knew...
...Are you okay?
That wasn't just water, you know...
O-okay? What do you mean?
It was sweet, refreshing, and kind of fizzy, sure, but...
I-I'm totally fine!
Yes, absolutely fine!
Well, if you say so.
Shall we get moving?
C-Captain. I didn't mean to take your...
...Never mind. Let's go.
That fizzy taste... so that's what carbonation is.
It stung my tongue a little, but it was refreshing.
How do they even make that? If only we had something like it in the West...
Ceres, watch your step!
What...
...Whoa?!
Ceres was suddenly yanked upside down into the air!
Kgh, my ankle's caught in a snare!
Hang on, I'll get you down—
I can get down on my own!
You keep an eye out, Captain! This trap was set by Raiders. There could be more nearby—
...What's with that look, Captain?
Huh? My uniform's flipped up...?
...?!
W-watch the perimeter! Keep your eyes on the perimeter!
R-right...
Even after that, Ceres kept making uncharacteristic close calls until the mission was done.
You seem kind of distracted...
What?
...
You're right... I've gone soft.
E-ever since I drank your water...
...So it was the Aurora Ade?
I-I told you! To a warrior of the West, that stuff is spirit-softening poison!
I only drank it once, and look at me...
Then a thought hit me.
...Huh? You don't think that's the real issue?
I think the problem isn't what you drank.
It's that it's been too long since you've had anything like that.
...What do you mean?
Balloon effect? Excessive abstinence?
So the more I suppress it, the weaker my resistance becomes?
If you have it more often, you'll get used to it.
Might even stop thinking about it entirely.
And if I stop caring, I'll be more mentally composed again...?
Like taking small doses of poison to build immunity...?
...
Th-that actually makes—
Wanna go to a cafe together next time?
A cafe...
...
...Huh?!
Th-that was close. That was dangerous...!
What are you thinking, Captain?! I nearly gave in just now!
You know, I've noticed this before, but...
You've got a serpent's tongue. One to rival Lydia's, or perhaps even surpass hers.
I need to get back, wash up... and pull myself together...
Ceres kept making those little mistakes all the way back.