Chapter 11 - Blindly Into the Darkness Suncia Panthera: Stop! Something's wrong! Airio Sis: ...........! That's... Echo Knight: It's the darkness! Echo Knight: The darkness is spreading out of nowhere...! Suncia Panthera: Don't make contact! Fall back! Airio Sis: ...........! The darkness is heading toward Ecolina Village...! Airio Sis: ...What do I do... Airio Sis: Kh...........! Lklein Manni: Where do you think you're going?! Suncia Panthera: Airio! Return at once! Airio Sis: I have to warn Thecto and the others! Suncia Panthera: ...........! Ecolina Village... Suncia Panthera: Half of you, fall back! The other half, help evacuate the villagers! I'm heading to the village! Echo Knight: Vice-Captain, it's too dangerous! Suncia Panthera: It's a village in imperial territory. It’s our duty to protect it! Echo Knight: I'm coming with you! Lklein Manni: I-I'm coming too! Lklein Manni: Airio! Airio, wait...! [Cut to the village...] Nelpha Maxi: The darkness is closing in around us... Run! Don't touch it...! Fail Urus: ...Something's off... Thecto Sis: Off? Nelpha Maxi: Move! Thecto, climb on my back! Thecto Sis: I'm fine, I can run! Nelpha Maxi: Don’t argue with me! Hurry! Thecto Sis: ...Sorry... Nelpha Maxi: There we go...! Fail! Lead the way! Fail Urus: Got it...! Eleu Coge: ...What is this darkness... Eleu Coge: It wasn't here merely a moment ago. Did it truly materialize out of thin air...? Eleu Coge: A remarkably rare phenomenon. I'd love to stand here and observe its properties to take notes, but... Balaeno: Might be wiser to run, no? Eleu Coge: You think so too, huh. Balaeno: Yep. It’s crazy dangerous. Want me to carry you? Eleu Coge: Carry who? Me? Balaeno: Yeah. Eleu Coge: Like, in your arms? Balaeno: Yep. Eleu Coge: ........... Eleu Coge: Fascinating. Mind if I let you try it once? Balaeno: Roger that! [Ecolina Village, enveloped in darkness...] Airio Sis: Hah, hah...! Airio Sis: (Airio's Arca Song) Lklein Manni: (Echoes born from the dark are gathering on Airio's greatbow, bursting into a brilliant light...) Airio Sis: Take this...! Lklein Manni: (The arrow flew through, and the darkness actually pulled back…) Lklein Manni: (What is this mechanism? Darkness assaulting the world. Echoes born from that darkness.) Lklein Manni: (And darkness driven back by a lone human who commands those very Echoes...) Suncia Panthera: Airio! Run! Stay there and it'll swallow you...! Airio Sis: ...........! Airio Sis: (Airio's Arca Song) Suncia Panthera: Why won't you flee?! Lklein Manni: (...........!? Beyond Airio's back, someone's being carried away, desperately escaping...) Lklein Manni: (He's shielding someone else...? Could that person be...) Airio Sis: ...........! Thecto Sis: Airio...! Airio Sis: Take this...! Lklein Manni: Airio! Run...! Airio Sis: Ah...........! [SQUASH!!!!] Lklein Manni: (And in a heart beat, the massive darkness enveloped him. Airio's figure vanished from sight.) To be continued...