Gate of Memoirs/The Last Judgment - Start

Join Auberi as he reveals the truth behind his experiments.
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Cordelica"	Music: "Cordelica"
 	
*Marianne follows Auberi through a winding series of hallways before stopping at a small door.
*The lavish red carpet is the same as everywhere else in the castle, but here they seem less worn - 
*a testament to how few people come this way.
 	
*Auberi: Here we are. Please, come in.
Portrait	Dialogue
 	
*Auberi holds the door open, and Marianne steps into a cozy room filled with canvases and paintings.
*Though it seems rather simple compared to the hallway outside, a warm and gentle vibe sets one at ease here.
 	
*Auberi: I'll get the tea. Take a seat anywhere you like.
 	
*Auberi: ...Oh! There isn't a whole lot of space.
*Auberi: Um, let me move these out of the way.
 	
*Marianne watches as Auberi shifts around large stacks of loose sketches, brushes, and palettes.
*Marianne: Ooh. You're a painter?
 	
*Auberi: Hehe. I'm not that great, but I enjoy it a lot.
 	
*Marianne: Don't say that. I think they're beautiful!
*Marianne: Your paintings are all so cheerful and sweet, it puts a smile on my face.
 	
*Auberi: Aww. Thank you kindly!
 	
*Auberi: Here you go. Careful, it's hot.
*Auberi: So, about the creatures...
*Auberi: The creatures you saw just now are known as Crystals.
*Auberi: They're a pretty rare sight, but the court sorcerers told me they appear more often during Spring.
*Auberi: The books say it can only be summoned by its brethren through some kind of ritual.
 	
*Auberi: I wanted to ask how you managed to do just that!
 	
*Marianne: Umm...
*Marianne: Well, like I said, I was just taking a stroll... And then I saw this thing...
 	
*Auberi: I see...
 	
*Auberi: Their chants of "harmony" must refer to colors, then, seeing as the Rainbow Crystal is summoned in that manner...
 	
*Auberi holds up the shard left behind by the Rainbow Crystal.
*Though small, it still exhibits an impressive array of colors.
 	
*Marianne: You seem really interested in that thing it left behind.
 	
*Auberi: Well, one of the most enduring legends about the Rainbow Crystal is the incredible properties of the minerals in their bodies.
*Auberi: Let's see if this works.
 	
*Marianne watches as Auberi takes out a gilded mortar and pestle.
*Placing the shard into the mortar, she gently grinds it, adding water to the mixture until it resembled paint.
 	
*Auberi dips her brush and applies it to the corner of a large canvas sitting in the middle of the room.
 	
*Seeing its vibrant color and soft, radiant glow, Auberi breaks into a big smile.
*Auberi: Yes! This is it!
 	
*Marianne: It's...paint?
 	
*Auberi: I guess that's one more use to its long list, yes.
*Auberi: It's an elusive ingredient I've been researching.
*Auberi: A lot of the books in the archive discuss its alchemical uses, but I'm glad it can be made into paint, too.
*Auberi: I'm hoping that it will lend a touch of that magic to the canvas.
 	
*Marianne: Ah, so that's why you wanted to speak to it.
 	
*Auberi: Mhmm. I don't want to hurt them, but they do leave behind some of this material.
*Auberi: I wanted to know if they could shed it naturally.
*Auberi: Thanks to you, I'll be able to put your theory into practice!
 	
*Auberi: I just hope they haven't all gone away...
 	
*Marianne: Ooh...This is exciting!
*Marianne: I'll come along. Having a buddy makes the time pass faster.
*Marianne: Just like on patrol!
 	
*Auberi: Oh? What's it like on patrol?
 	
*Marianne: I'll tell you all about it while we wait.
*Marianne: At least someone will want to listen. My buddies always cut me off abruptly.
 	
*Auberi: That's a shame. Well, you can be sure I won't!
 	
*Auberi: Shall we?