First Encounter
Your new Journey member is a lady from House Stranis.
She's a young girl with long blonde hair—Actually, never mind. I'll spare you the clichéd description!
She's very lively, so I'm sure you'll recognize her the moment you see her, Captain.
...At least, that was what Lisa had told me.
But there was no girl lively enough to recognize at a glance anywhere on the training grounds.
Maybe she'd overslept and hadn't made it to the training grounds yet?
Just then, the faint scent of alcohol drifted toward me on the breeze.
...Alcohol?
I looked toward the source of the scent and saw an elegant woman drinking.
Um, excuse me?!
Who are you, and why are you drinking here...?!
...Oh my. As far as I know, there's no rule against drinking here, is there?
Well, that's true, but...
Fufu, see? I'm well aware.
Besides, there's hardly any need for concern. I've no intention of making a scene like a crass drunkard.
Alcohol is meant to lift the spirits, nothing more. There's nothing uglier than losing your dignity to it. That's my creed.
Anyway... Would you happen to be the Journey Captain?
Hmm. Judging by that look on your face, I suppose you are.
You're looking for a woman from House Stranis, aren't you?
How did you know?
Wait, is that you...?!
Fufu, that's right.
I thought back over the description Lisa had given me.
So... blonde hair...
Mm... Not exactly lively...
A-and a young girl...?
...You're a little more mature than I was expecting.
...
Oh my. It seems you prefer them younger, Captain.
Should I... apologize for being a mother?
No, that's not what I mea—
...Wait, you're a mother?!
You don't look like one at all!
Fufufu, I don't, do I?
...Very well. Since we've come this far, I suppose I should formally introduce myself.
I am the head of House Stranis, Countess Amora Stranis.
I've come in my daughter's place.
In... her place?
What do you mean by that?
Why, exactly what I said.
My daughter was caught trying to run away with our family's [Dawn of Night].
I could overlook her trying to leave home without a word, but stealing from the family... Fufu. She can hardly complain about being confined to the house for that.
But that girl of mine simply wouldn't give in. She kept insisting that she'd already decided to go.
So I told her there was nothing to worry about.
Her mother could simply go in her place.
...Does that explain things well enough?
Her voice was far too casual as she spoke, almost as though she were joking.
But there was one thing that didn't quite add up.
If she'd only meant to defend her daughter, she wouldn't have come all the way to NOA.
Suddenly, I remembered something Alicia had once told me.
As the Journey Captain, I'm sure you'll encounter many things along the way.
At times, you may find yourself bewildered by unexpected bonds.
...When that happens, I ask that you remember just one thing.
Every bond is another Journey in itself.
Everything depends on the choices you make, Captain.
Why did you come on the Journey, Amora?
...Huh?
Didn't I tell you? I'm here in my daughter's—
But you didn't have to take her place.
So I thought there might have been another reason.
...Hmm. Is that how it looks to you?
Well... I wonder...
......
...Fufu. Fufufu.
Yes. Perhaps I was... just a little curious about this Journey myself.
How's that? Was that answer satisfactory?
Then I'll help you, Amora.
I'll make sure you reach the end of the Journey.
...Oh my. Do you mean that?
Ahaha, I didn't think you'd actually take me seriously.
How do you know what kind of person I am? I'm just some suspicious woman drinking at the training grounds in broad daylight.
If this is what you want, none of that matters.
I'm the Captain. It's my job to look after my Journey members.
...Now that... I wasn't expecting.
Those who walk the path of the Journey really are something... Are they all like this...?
Huh? What do you mean?
...It's nothing, dear.
I was only thinking that I ought to remember your words just now.
Fufu... So...
I'll be in your care, Captain.
And so, drawn together by this unexpected bond, Amora and I took our first step on the Journey.
Come to think of it...
Amora had said she was a mother.
Just to be safe, I thought I should check one more thing.
I turned to Amora to ask her a question.
Is your husband okay with this?
Hmm? My husband?
...Ah. Come to think of it, I suppose I never told you.
Wait, did I just bring up a touchy subject?!
Sorry. You don't have to answer if you don't want to!
Wait, wait! Stop letting your imagination run wild on your own!
It's nothing like that! I'm not married!
O-oh! I'm really sorry!
...Ah, oh...! I can tell you're getting the completely wrong idea now!
*...Sigh* The thing is... my daughter was born through a rather unusual virgin birth.
I'm sure you understand what I mean now that I've told you that much.
Do remember that. I'd rather not have anyone mistaking me for a married woman.
With that, Amora walked on ahead across the training grounds.
...Somehow, I had a feeling this Journey would be full of surprises.