225. A Corrupted Ber’s Emotional State

Ber’s mental state was depicted in the form of a children’s book. Vibrant watercolors bled into surrounding objects as a background of painted trees, mountains and reeds surrounded them.

The lake was calm, and in the reflection of the Unloved Duckling sat a weeping, child-like Ber who cuddled with a poorly woven stuffed teddy bear. It was worn by negligence, and its button eyes were the only eyes that had ever truly looked at Ber for who she was.

The lonely Unloved Duckling, whose hands cupped her mouth, muffledly wept.

< “I didn’t want to be a replacement…” >

< “Stranded on these silent nights, I often wondered how genuine their laughter was. Maybe they were laughing at me all along…” >

“Cer and Res didn’t know how much you were hurting all this time. For 30 years you’ve kept this all bottled up and locked away.” Frost prepared herself to engage in her first psychological combat with one of her beloved friends.

The despair of potentially losing Ber seeped into her heart, but she siffled its growth with the prospect of saving her through the Salvation Criteria.

< Your stats for this encounter are as follows! >

< The Amalgam >
HP/MP : 30,000    ATT : 2,800 (+875)     MAG ATT : 2,250 (+1,125)     RESIST : 95
ATT DEF : 2,087 (+62)     MAG DEF : 1,750 (+125)     AGI : 45

Frost was weaker in terms of HP compared to the Hailstorm-Classed Corrupted. She could still recall when she was no more than a condemned, lost woman wandering the Black Forest in hopes of survival. But unlike that time, she was more than prepared to deal with her situation.

And she needed to. This was Ber. Her friend. Like with Jury and Ignis – She was not going to stop until her hand reached down into her well of despair and saved her!

“Interesting. My AGI’s only halved, not quartered. Not that I’m complaining!” Frost’s yell was dampened by a mysterious force.

It was only half as loud. Curious, she began her assault and disturbed the lake’s still surface. To her surprise the splashes were not muffled. Rather, they were amplified as if to further drown the Unloved Duckling’s voice.

“Unfortunately, much of my information is a work in progress. This is unprecedented territory. The cost of your magic has not changed, however, so please avoid using anything substantial!” Nav warned as Frost rapidly closed the 50-meter gap between her and the Corrupted Ber, who then began to shake her head in displeasure.

< [Muffled Sob] >

< She never let them hear the cries for help >

The Unloved Duckling’s weeps grew as a small shockwave blasted through the surface of the lake, causing Frost’s hair and apparel to flutter behind her like wings. If this was like the tale of the Ugly Duckling, then Frost was the perilous swan that Ber aspired to become.

MP: 30,000

It did zero damage thanks to her overwhelming DEF. Even at her quartered strength she easily prevailed over Hailstorm Corrupted. Such was the unfairness of an existence like herself. However, this also caused her to realize that even with all the strength in the world there existed moments where it would matter little.

A secondary pulse then threw Frost back slightly. A third caused her to skid backwards before she pressed forth once more. 25 meters now separated them.

“Yeah. A few seconds of any of my Conflagrator skills and it’s over. Nav. Any idea why Mana’s replaced my HP!?” Frost wondered aloud, wanting her voice and presence to be known to Ber as per the Salvation Criteria.

“Mana, in Elysia, is an essence of life. Or, one could describe it as being a power originating from the soul itself. Fairies and magical races have been known to enter the dreams of others as well as interact with them on a spiritual level.”

“MEANING!?”

“Your body is not physical, but merely a vessel using mana to enter her Emotional State. For this reason your Corrupted manifestations are not present, and your stats have been severely weakened. We are, after all –”

< “I loved everyone… Did they all love me back?” >

< “We’re triplets. So why were you so loved…? >

< “I want someone to hear me please…” >

< [Neglect Me Not] >

< I don’t need your make belief help! (Please don’t stop trying!) >

“– Inside of another person’s State of Mind. To overpower them means to defeat them. To offer your hand means to save them. You understand this distinction more than anyone else.”

Suddenly, the paws of the stuffed teddy bear emerged from beneath the surface of the lake on either side of the Unloved Duckling. Like an overprotective mother, it swiped at Frost as she approached like she was an insect.

But Frost was too quick for it. The future was laid out for her as she weaved underneath the swipes and grappled onto one. Her teeth dug into its disgusting, soaked fur where clouds of cotton burst like a fountain of pale blood.

Neglected Paws

LEVEL : 60 HP : 10,000 ATT : 1,200 AGI : 8

< [Stolen Cuddle] >

< She stole the stuffed teddy bear belonging to the sister she lived to impersonate, wanting something to hold in her coldest, loneliest nights >

The skills the Corrupted Ber possessed each had their own flavor text that further unraveled her trauma. Frost was wracked with disbelief, wondering how such a past was shouldered after all this time. Did Ber never have a heart to heart with Res? For 30 years? They were so close to one another that Frost could not believe that such a trauma existed.

She never blamed Ber or anyone for that matter.

True to her role as a nurse – Frost wished to help Ber at all costs without imparting her judgement.

< “I worked so hard pretending to be someone else. But they gave everything to the person I tried to protect …” >

< “Just a small token of appreciation would have gone a long way. Mom… Was it my fault I was born so ugly?” >

“I never wanted Calfasio to die. I won’t ever let another person slip away from my reach! NAV! What about the Will of the Amalgam!? Can I use my Corrupted Skills here!?” Frost shouted through mouthfuls of cotton, devouring them like tasteless cotton candy.

“It is possible I believe. However, your emotional state must rise.” Nav explained.

A single punch sent at the stump-like forearms left a black cloud that periodically damaged the Neglected Paws, dealing roughly 500 damage each few seconds. This, combined with Frost’s Fine Line Passive was able to deal tremendous damage with each successful counter.

When one hand fell and sunk into the depths of the shallow lake the Unloved Duckling wept.

< “I wanted to keep my long hair…” >

< “We’re Demi-Humans… Humans had an eye for Res. I must protect her. But I’m not as beautiful as her. That’s what everyone says.” >

< [Snippy Snippy] >

< She watched as strands fell from her shoulders down onto the lake. With each snip of the scissor she began to wonder who the person in the reflection was >

Suddenly, as Frost primed her fists to assault Ber, the girl began shaking her head wildly. Muffled whimpers forced her back as her toes dug into the loose soil beneath. Pushing forward, she pummeled the Unloved Duckling with a flurry of fists, reluctantly beating her down into the lake.

Unloved Duckling | HP: 23,500

I sincerely hope you’re not feeling anything in there, Ber.

Frost grinded her teeth, as if bracing herself in place of her precious friend. The beatdown left no wounds on the little Ber, who could only hold onto her mouth to swallow her cries. Guilt pricked her heart, and the blade of anguish twisted as she listened to Ber’s whimpers of wanting to be heard… Wanting to be loved.

< [The Sin of Speech] >

< She was always a good girl. Everyone around her also struggled with the horrors of life as a Demi-Human. So she kept her despair to herself, and silently marinated in her lament until that moonless night when she could no longer hide her screams >

“SOMEONE PLEASE HEAR ME!”

The voice appeared like a prompt, and on the last sliver of HP Frost hesitated as her she suddenly found herself unable to respond to Ber’s demand. Her voice was sealed off by this mysterious power. No… the world itself could not allow the passage of sound.

Unloved Duckling | HP: 2,200

It would only take one more punch to defeat it. As per the Condition, it would initiate the next phase of the encounter. It was the only logical move forward, but Frost found it difficult finishing off someone she had grown so close to.

Seeing the little Ber slumped in her arms, weeping through tearful, innocent eyes caused Frost to lower her head in sorrow.

From such a young age you wanted nothing but to be heard and loved. Forced to impersonate and never appreciated despite all you’ve done. Even your mother never embraced you, so that’s why the teddy bear’s symbolic to you. Ber…

Frost took the Unloved Duckling into her arms and embraced her. Knowing how they saw her as a figure similar to their mother, it was all the more appropriate for her to at least embrace this Ber that had never known the embrace of a parent.

Her grip tightened. What followed was obvious, and Frost desperately fought the sting in the corners of her eyes.

Unloved Duckling | HP: 900

< [Muffled Sob] >

< [Muffled Sob] >

< [Muffled Sob] >

The Unloved Duckling desperately tried to remove her but to no avail. Frost’s grip further tightened, and the eggshell hat broke, revealing the long hair of a forgotten Ber in her last moments.

< “I forever muted myself with my own two hands, wishing that I could have been braver.” >

< “Hatched into this world as the ugliest; was it so wrong for me to want to become beautiful?” >

Unloved Duckling | HP: 0

The Unloved Duckling soundlessly perished in her arms, turning into vibrant particles of light that slipped through her hand as she embraced the air. A devastated Frost sat there in the center of the shallow lake, lamenting Ber’s grief.

< Unloved Duckling has been defeated >

< Ber’s Emotional State has risen >

… This is going to save Ber, right?

“Salvation is a holistic approach. Frost. I also wish to see the best outcome for Ber. Because I want to ‘see’ these people I’ve come to adore!” Nav encouraged, causing Frost to shake her head as she fended off the tears.

“That’s exactly what I want to hear right now. We’re all going to see that mountain view you couldn’t. Together. No one’s getting left behind on my watch.” Frost vowed as the scenery soon began to shift, flickering like the pages of a book.

* * *

Suddenly, the world went dark as she found herself staring down into the reflective floors of the Nexus. The person staring back up at her was Ber. She had entered yet another one of these visions as a result of Ber’s heightening emotions.

“Congratulations on finishing your initiation process. I knew you’d become Moons.” Spoke a faceless woman as rubber soles clapped along the marble floors.

Ber stood alone in this grand, vacant place. Her sisters had only just recently left, evident by their tails which could be seen disappearing behind a closing door. The person who approached this Ber, who was dressed in nothing but rags was the faceless woman wearing a grand, feathered coat nearly identical to Frost’s.

“… Miss… Galia.” Ber whispered uncharacteristically meekly to the fabled Beholder.