Elder Prophet Substitute Anthorra

"Hmm? Do you need something from me?"

Anthorra begins to seethe with contempt. I don't think she likes you helping Zindel.

"What? You're just passing through? Stop staring at Zindel. What are you doing? You really are useless!"

"Huh? What's that in your hand?"

Now you've done it. Anthorra has spotted you. You do the only thing you can think of: you explain that you got the Sage's Warning when you defeated the Disciples of Carso. You give her the item.

There's writing on top of the Sage's Warning. It says: We've already crushed their vanguard. Zindel, the Chosen One, is about to arrive and lead us in completing the trials God has sent us.

"Zindel, the Chosen One, ..."

"Damn! This makes it obvious! They have to be working together! I told you not to trust him! He's tricked all of you!"

Anthorra flies into a rage!

"This item alone isn't enough to prove that Zindel is lying."

"There seem to be more disciples north of here. Can you help prove Zindel's guilt?"

You have to gather all the facts so you can decide whether to help Anthorra or not.

"You're back! How's it going?"

"Anything to report?"

"Aha! Just as I thought! I knew it!"

"Nothing gets by me! The Zindel they were talking about IS our Zindel!"

(You try to calm Anthorra down as her anger grows. You persuade her that there's still not enough proof to prove that Zindel is the Chosen One.)

"You know what? You're right. I really want to wring his neck, but we still need more evidence!"

"I need you to help me investigate further."

"Help me clear the village of the church leaders hiding there. See if you can find any clues about what happened to the vanguard."

"Maybe that will turn up the evidence we need!"

"Well? Did you find anything worthwhile?"

"If you didn't, get back out there!"

"Finally, you're back! "Tell me, tell me! "Did you see any sign of the Investigation Team?"

You give Anthorra the list of traitors. To spare her the shock, you tell her Zindel is their elder.

"Let's see now... the Traitor Name List..."

"I see lots of names... some faces here and there... and some even have last known location! Nice. This is great. Somebody did their job right."

"It can't be! Wait, look! It's Zindel when he was young! Right? That's him! Traitor!" "Zindel..."

"Looks like we all got Zindel wrong. He really isn't a part of it. And plus he's on the list..."

"Hmm, it looks like Zindel is actually innocent."

"Can you give this Traitor's List to Zindel?"

"Oh, and please apologize to him for me. Who knows? Maybe this Traitor's List will help jog his memory."

"Ugh! This is SO unfair!" Unable to ignore Anthorra's pitiful sobs, you ask what happened.

Her lips push into a pout.

"I'm absolutely starving that's what's wrong, but Chara won't let me anywhere near the provisions! Doesn't she trust me?"

'Earlier, I was passing by a bunch of Rock Bugs just northwest of here and suddenly I couldn't stop drooling!" She licks her chops.

"Do you think you could hunt some for me? Pretty please? I doubt they'd be any trouble for a strong Sprite Messenger like you!"

"Oh, I'll bet their meat is super tender! Now, to steam or to grill? That is the question! Haha!"

Anthorra already appears lost in her bug meat fantasy.

"You're really quite the hunter, aren't you? You should start charging! Haha!"

"Hmm... The longer I think about it, bug meat does sound sort of gross." Anthorra frowns.

"I'll need to use... the right... seasoning..."

Hearing her trail off, you curiously search for what could've stolen her attention,

and away from food no less.

Zindel is the only other one around.

Baffled, you shrug your shoulders.

"Oh! I know what'll work!" Anthorra seizes your shoulders.

"I remember seeing some Large Wobbling Mushrooms and Strange Wobbling Plants not far from those bugs. A team member told me that these things, once combined, can make ANYTHING taste good."

"Go gather some for me, will you? Ooooh, this is going to be SO delish!"

"So, have you got the stuff?"

While handing over the seasonings, you off-handedly ask how she can possibly eat so much. Her face darkens and you're instantly filled with regret.

You inwardly brace for a tongue-lashing. But it never comes.

Instead, Anthorra merely sighs. "You have to promise not to repeat what I'm about to say to anyone. I won't forgive you if you do. Ever." You whisper an oath of silence.

After making herself comfortable, Anthorra tells you her story.

"I can't remember a single family moment when my parents weren't arguing. Both of them eventually stopped coming home just to avoid seeing the other, which left me all alone with nothing to eat." She pauses to worry her bottom lip.

"Even I know what a cliché it is to eat to fill an empty heart, but it's true. No matter how much I stuff myself, it's never enough.

I'm still that little girl sitting home all alone waiting for mom and dad to walk through the door..."

Her mouth twists into a wry smile. Who would've thought she was carrying such a burden? You feel as though you understand her a bit better now.

"Wow! Looks like the marinated bug meat is done!" "Will you help me share it with the others?" Anthorra runs the back of her hand across her brow.

"Let's see now... This portion goes to Zindel as an apology for that misunderstanding we had earlier. And this one is Chara's for always looking out for me. And this portion goes to Nynor..."

"Welp! That about does it! Thank you!"

"Did you deliver the food?" Anthorra gives you a hesitant look.

"D-did Zindel say anything by chance? Like, uh, whether he liked the meat?"

"I never properly apologized to him for that misunderstanding. But I figure that if he ate the food I made he's probably not angry."

"I hope he's forgiven me."

You assure Anthorra that there wasn't a whiff of bad blood upon mentioning her name.

"What a relief! Haha!" It's good to see her smiling again.

"Check it out! Just look!" Your eyes follow Anthorra's quivering finger downward, but nothing appears out of the ordinary.

"Not the ground, you doofus, my shoes! They're practically ruined!"

On the contrary, you find the pop of red quite pretty, in an avant-garde sort of way.

You're instantly hit by the daggers from Anthorra's glare. Well, not everyone's a patron of the arts! "It was those mindless maniacs of Carso's again! Don't get me wrong, I won the fight fair and square! But my beautiful shoes...

You're not just going to let them get away with this, are you? They must be avenged!" Anthorra punctuates her rant with the stomp of her foot.

Avenged? She is talking about a pair of shoes, right?

Anthorra mutters loudly while scrubbing away at her shoes. "Well, did you give those psychos what for?

"Hmm... I'd feel a lot better knowing those nutjobs suffered a little! Now if I could just get this blood out..." You reflexively wince as she proceeds to scrub even harder.

"Just a liiiittle more..." At this rate, there'll hardly be anything left to call shoes!

You gently suggest getting another pair.

"Get. Another. Pair?! But these are special!"

"Ugh! Nevermind! You wouldn't understand anyway..."

You might be mistaken, but was Anthorra blushing just now?