![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alias_sqbrMasterlist
So turns out the Lucien route is less about romance and more about finishing the plot, and despite the hints of a Secret Route it turns out there actually isn't much after that, just a couple of epilogues to tie up loose ends and give each LI a more overtly shippy ending.
Which is all ok in theory and I didn't dislike the ending plot, or what Lucien romance we got, but it was just... fine. A bit underwritten, with some annoying moments of Gratuitous Heterosexuality (though not too much from Lucien himself).
It didn't significantly undermine my earlier enjoyment, and was an adequate enough finale that I had some Happy Ending Feels and wasn't left horribly dissatisfied with the overall Arc. But I'm glad I waited a little while to play it all after the Zenn route.
Content notes: suicide, abuse, genocide
Rune narrates the story of a prince capturing a witch and burning her at the stake. The populace is grateful to have been saved, but when they ask how he knew of her guilt, the prince does not reply. Was she really a witch? Does it matter, if everyone believes it?
Rune: Is this really what you want?
The game makes the brilliant choice of starting things from Lucien's point of view. Like us, he has no idea what's happened to Anastasia but he is worried and hopes she's ok! This immediately makes him relatable and endearing.
He makes a good show of being the Fair But Stern prince who threatens to fire etc anyone who doesn't do their job, whether they be commoner or noble. But when he's alone he complains to "Lady Anastasia" (his cat) about how difficult everything is. The only person he feels able to trust is Mael, because he's so weird he is immune to politics. Mael is amused by the way Lucien is still a neurotic crybaby deep down. I suspect this Mael of actually being Ish.
Mael: You love her that much, huh?
Lucien, blushing: My motives are not so crass I merely... admire her... a great deal...
Orla intercepts a letter asking Evelina about Anastasia, and comes to 'help'.
Orla: Please keep this to yourself, it is a stain upon our family... but I hear she has five or six children, all by different men!
Lucien, blushing: But... at eighteen? How?
Orla: ...I hear three were triplets? I have been afraid to look into it all, she is not the sister I once knew.
Lucien: Six children... she must be struggling financially. She might need my help!
SWEETIE
There is a very brief shot of Anastasia, in the attic, her eyes haunted.
haa so turns out that Mael was not Ish. Because we see Ish!Mael and he is Quite Blatant. He also directs Lucien towards Crius, as someone who will know where Anastasia is.
Maid: Oh, no, Crius doesn't have a wife. He's a bit of a ladykiller.
Lucien: :(
Around this point I realised Lucien is the otome heroine of this route, sweet and inexperienced and unable to recognise his own hotness, and determined to help his sad, traumatised, mysterious childhood friend. Cool!
There is an annoying subplot with Orla and Parker that never really goes anywhere so meh.
Lucien reluctantly attends a ball to talk to Crius, who he finds flirting with rich noblewomen to get them to fund the Wings haha. All the women scatter the moment they see the "Frigid Prince" and he gloomily thinks that yes, he can be harsh, but he doesn't go around TORTURING people the way Conrad's rumours make it sound.
Crius doesn't want to violate Anastasia's privacy and is initially cagey, especially when Lucien gets all domineeringly princely, but then Lucien apologises and is so obviously concerned for Anastasia that Crius shares the truth: He knew Anastasia for eight years, after she showed as a strangely mature ten year old with enough money to bribe her way into the Wings, and was very happy with her as a subordinate. But then a month ago she suddenly tendered her resignation, and vanished.
Lucien immediately offers his support: if he searches openly people may try to use Anastasia as a pawn against him. But if it's all done in Crius's name it won't seem odd.
Mael comes along to help and is himself again, and when he doesn't remember the earlier conversation everyone just assumes he's being scatty. Crius has not found Anastasia but he has found Maya, working now as a nun. Unfortunately she's as clueless as the rest, Anastasia fired her at swordpoint, refusing to explain beyond saying that staying around around Anastasia would lead to Maya's death.
Lucien gets angry at Maya for being so unhelpful, but then immediately feels bad and apologises. Mael talks to Crius about how it would be impossible to survive in Lucien's family without being fucked up and inclined to domineering displays of power, but Lucien refuses to let it stop there. He and Crius agree that Lucien is adorable. Crius also plans to make very sure Maya is safe in that church.
Lucien: I used to go out into the city to search for Anastasia, but then rumours started that I was selling my body to merchants for better trade deals :(
Crius: Uh. Ok I was going to invite you out tonight to meet my friend, but-
Lucien: I'LL COME. I HAVE DECIDED I TRUST YOU :)
Crius comments that Lucien reminds him of Anastasia, with his earnest honesty, and Lucien says that because he uses a mask of pretending to be Anastasia to cover for his cowardly real self. But Crius says that honesty is a part of him now.
I.... sort of ship it? At least, I can see them both being each other's type, I'm not sure it would WORK. And we're sure seeing more Crius/Lucien scenes than Anastasia/Lucien so far.
Crius introduces Zenn and Lucien picks up that Zenn seems to know more about Anastasia than he's letting on. Crius pisses Lucien off so he storms out, unguarded...
...and Zenn tries to kill him when he refuses to back off and leave Anastasia alone. He's stopped by Tyril, since he and Crius were using Lucien as bait to finally know if Zenn was lying to them. Tyril is very respectful to Lucien as a member of the Royal Family.
Tyril: Some might be reluctant to torture a friend but I'm into it :D
Zenn: Pervert.
Crius: Do we have to go that far?
Lucien: YES. TORTURE HIM IF YOU MUST.
Zenn admits he has been in contact with Anastasia but says she chose to go into hiding voluntarily. Can't they respect that?
There's the choice to say yes, but if you say no Lucien points out that Zenn is visibly consumed with misery every time he talks about Anastasia. This may be her choice, but is she happy? Is she safe? Does he truly think she doesn't need to be saved?
And so Zenn sneaks them in to see her, in her self imposed exile, hiding in the old attic room in her family's house.
At first Lucien is delighted just to see her, then horrified by the the state of her body and the room, and then taken aback by the burning hatred in her eyes.
Anastasia: Ahahaha! So the prince has come to save me! Shouldn't you be burning me to death? After all, I am a witch! LEAVE. I CANNOT BE SAVED.
Zenn explains everything that happened to the three other men. We then see him talking to Anastasia, trying to persuade her to rely on them, and take a chance.
But the way she sees it: She is a near stranger to them. She killed the versions of them she was closest to. If she leaves this room, and Ish realises where she is, she may kill them again. Even now she burns with a deep hatred, not for those who have hurt her but for all life.
She lacks the power to go back any further than where she is now. Instead, she sends a shadowy version of herself back into the past in her dreams, to try to persuade herself to give up, and stay here forever. But it doesn't work.
Zenn argues that those bonds still exist within her. That the others will stand by her side again as they always have. Although Tyril remains distant and haunted ever since she told him the truth about the royal family: She worried about it hurting him, but didn't want him to be Conrad's puppet any longer. He guesses that he killed himself last time, and she asks that he not do that again. They agree to keep it quiet and not tell Lucien, the royal family and people's faith in them is still necessary for stability.
Crius brought her a bunch of dresses and she refused to wear them lol. But she was willing to change back into her old knight uniform.
Lucien is quietly upset to realise Anastasia is willing to talk to the others but not him. But she was close to them in ways she never has been with him. He still tries to talk to her every night.
He worries that he hurt her in another timeline and she says he was only ever supportive and kind. But when he keeps pushing for her to have hope, and trust him to help her, she snaps at him: What can a human with no magic do but die? What are his feelings for her but a manipulation of the witch? He is VERY OFFENDED.
I don't remember the rest of the argument but eventually Zenn raps them both on the head before someone hears them. Lucien says he's glad she felt able to express the frustrations she's been holding back.
Afterwards Zenn says this is the first time he's seen Anastasia actually act like a teenager. She realises he's right: She has always been busy trying to keep herself small, or keep up with older adults she looked up to. But Lucien is 18, and if anything she is older and more powerful than him. This is a good idea for a dynamic but the game did not bother to actually show it much.
Lucien pushes the others to figure out some way to save her, and keeps poking at the problem of the witch. (Tyril would probably be more helpful if he wasn't... suicidally depressed)
I took random notes on a bit of paper before going to bed and now I have to try and decipher past!me's cryptic scribbles...
Anastasia told Crius about Huma before she quit, and Huma has had the egg.
Everyone discusses what they know about all the events and figures out that Membrum actually don't have any special magical powers at all, just a little brainwashing to encourage them to lose their inhibitions and be violent, and the option to ask Ish to teleport them to their victim. So when Ish promises omnipotent power, he's lying.
Lucien wants to announce this to the populace to help them stay strong against Ish's temptations. Tyril finally shakes himself out of his funk: as an Inquisitor, he can't leave the witch fighting to others! He gives some sneaky advice on how to manipulate the king and populace, using his status as the Last Of The Ancient Ishik Clan since they can't use "She saw it in another timeline" as proof. He also comes up with the absolutely deranged plan to TORTURE ZENN TO 'DEATH' as 'proof' that those who make deals with witches don't gain any special powers. Anastasia is horrified but Zenn says he's already been crucified as a witch in the past, and it's not like she hasn't suffered just as much to save everyone. Neither of them bring up having gotten Crius burned to death lol.
Anastasia gets depressed about how she had so many opportunities to figure this out by herself and she didn't. Lucien gives a sweet speech about how he hasn't ever managed anything without help, either from her or other people. He tells a story about getting locked in a room by his brothers and being too afraid to ask for help, and needing company from a maid to sleep or go to the toilet after that due to trauma. The game did not entirely sell me on him and Anastasia but he's a very endearing guy.
Crius and Lucien suggest it's time for her to leave the attic, and she agrees: She can set herself up a barrier to keep hidden from Ish just as easily somewhere else. She says she's realised now that she can't protect those she loves by hiding away, she must protect herself and her own happiness too.
Lucien is delighted to be able to offer to keep her safe and hidden in the castle.
Zenn notices how obviously Lucien is crushing on Anastasia and asks Crius if he's ok with all this. Crius says now is not the time to worry about that kind of thing, and right now he's just glad to see her happy.
Anastasia realises that the Rose that can be used to prove connection to the Goddess/membership in the royal family is missing!
We see Ish in a darkened empty Carnival courtroom whining that he is BORED.
Lucien and Anastasia hang out in the castle, which is fine but kinda underwritten. Let's headcanon that they bonded cutely off screen. Also that they... ever have a conversation about how Lucien doesn't actually know the person she is now very well and has to get to know her??
Lucien is non-fatally stabbed just before he gives a speech explaining about witches to the populace, and Conrad watches from the shadows.
Lucien gets Zenn to help him out of his sick bed so he can talk to Anastasia before he gives his big speech. He has often mentioned a childhood promise that she can never quite remember, and at last she can see it: after defending him from his brothers, and knowing she was probably about to be locked away by her stepmother, she said they should promise to always be each others allies, even when they grew up.
The reason she forgot this was not time travel, or Ish, but her own trauma: remembering the promise just made her feel more powerless, unable to get help from anyone or offer it in return. But she is able to confront that pain now and reaffirms the promise with Lucien, saying she will always protect him. They are both Into how this makes them a bit like him as a princess and her like his protective knight.
Lucien: You'll always be my hero.
Anastasia: I used to want to be a princess who got saved, but I think I like being called a hero more :)
Lucien: Thank you for helping me with this, I know you have feelings for her too.
Zenn: ...what?
Lucien: Am I wrong?
Zenn: Well, no, but it still feels weird to say it openly! And I'm trying not to let it get in the way.
Lucien picked up the way Tyril stopped treating him with so much awed respect and over-protectiveness once he found out that Lucien's not a descendent of the Goddess. He slowly earns Tyril's snarkier and more tsundere respect on his own merits. Tyril suggests that Lucien lean on his connection to the goddess when he makes his speech and Lucien looks troubled.
Anastasia has been told to stay indoors where it's safe, but she feels frustrated, and wants to both enjoy Lucien's speech and keep an eye on him. So she sneaks out.
Lucien's speech is heartfelt and inspiring and entirely humanist: he says that he is a human like them, and like them must rely on his own strength of will and good sense to resist the witch. They must work together and stay strong. And then to underline his point they CRUCIFY AND STAB ZENN, who is in a very Jesus-y sounding disguise, the symbolism of which... SURE.
Everyone is very inspired. Something within Anastasia thaws, to see so many humans working together.
And then Conrad shows up to accuse Lucien of being "the child of his harlot mother and a client". Tyril has been arrested for "spreading lies", since apparently the King wants to finish off the genocide, and Conrad pressures Lucien to use the Rose, which he turns out to have had the whole time.
Lucien is shown not to be a descendent of the Goddess. He knows Conrad isn't either, but that saying so will throw the country into chaos.
Anastasia is consumed with rage. She feels a sudden certainty that she could kill Conrad if she wanted to, just with her mind. But a voice within her says no. Memories start to become clear. She calls out and her friend comes to her, even though in this timeline they have never met. And then she SWOOPS DOWN TO SAVE LUCIEN ON HUMA :D :D AWW YES ANASTASIA ON A GIANT BIRD CG :D :D
Lucien asks Anastasia to use the rose... and it blooms. SHE has the blood of the Goddess, riding the Goddess's sacred animal, in her sacred colour. She makes Conrad KNEEL AT HER FEET IN TERROR and promise to free Tyril, or face her wrath. Then she pulls Lucien onto Huma, and takes him with her.
It's time to face Ish and the Goddess, in another world.
Ish is furious: How dare they desecrate the Goddess's resting place?
This is all explained in little bits but the backstory ends up being something like:
Norna was created with this world, which was empty except for her. She was told by her creator (an actual God?) to fill it with life. So she created the Garuda, and asexually gave birth to her 8 attendants, who cannot reproduce themselves. But then her soul split, half into a being who could not kill or create life, and one who could only bring death, her 'little sister' Endy (?!) So I guess that's why Ish, Rune, and Mr Endy all share an aesthetic!
Anyway. She heard animals in other worlds in pain and created doors to let them in. Then she heard humans suffering too. Many attendants, like Rune, thought humans were dangerous, but she let them in. Even though she was just a very powerful being, they worshipped her as a god. Norna and Rune befriended a man called Lucius. 1700 years ago he and Norna agreed to marry and found Anastasia's country and royal family, and another friend founded the Ishik to support them.
But Lucius craved total control. So he tried to kill Norna and replaced her with a pliable, similar looking human woman. Whenever Norna tried to tell anyone what happened they didn't believe her, and when she used her magic she was branded a witch, and burned.
Over time she became bitter and full of hate towards humans. Not wanting to let that hatred to hurt anyone, she put herself into a deep sleep. She divided her skills up between her attendants, giving Rune the Rewind ability, and left Ish in charge of her sleeping body. But one day she would wake up. To help herself prepare for that day, she sent her soul to reincarnate as human. That human is Anastasia.
The attendants accepted this plan... except the youngest, Ish. He missed the Goddess and wanted revenge on the royal family and humans as a whole. So he killed the other attendants to gain their power, except Rune who stayed safe in another world (the reason Rune looks so young is that attendants only age, if slowly, in the real world, and he always stayed aloof) Ish dedicated himself to filling Anastasia with despair and hatred towards humanity, and slowly giving her the goddess's powers, so that eventually she would be overcome, and the goddess would wake and destroy the world, resetting everything to a time before humans ever came.
Anastasia is not down for this plan. She tells Lucien to stay safe, and sets out to kill Ish.
Until now, Ish has been sending a projection of himself, unable to directly touch anyone or be touched. But in this world, Anastasia and Ish can fight, and they both have every intention of it being to the death.
Lucien distracts Ish long enough for Anastasia to get a knife to his throat. But before she can make the killing blow she is stopped by a deep sense of affection and concern: Not from herself, but from the Goddess.
Ish takes advantage of her surprise to aim for a killing blow of his own but is also stopped. The Goddess is awake.
She and Anastasia face each other across an empty white space. They look identical, but the Goddess is in a long white dress with long red hair. And she talks... like a regular (voiced!) woman, earnest but a little silly. She says she's sorry Anastasia suffered so much but she is glad to have experienced her life as a human, even if there could have been more cuddles with Lucien, Tyril, Crius and Zenn.
Anastasia: Are you saying I should have four boyfriends?!
Norna: It could be fun!
I think Norna was planning to absorb Anastasia back into herself but Anastasia is determined to remain herself and Norna respects that. So she will fade and die. She says she will take Ish with her, since he's her responsibility, but Anastasia asks to take custody of him instead. Norna agrees, and asks her to take care of him, and not let him know she was about to kill him.
And then she is gone.
Ish is absolutely distraught, and also deathly furious, but Anastasia learned from Norna that he broke a promise to her not to hurt humans, which means she has the ability to take back his powers, and does so. I never fully understood the logic of magic in this game but sure. She sends him to live with Rune, under Rune's control, and given a chance to atone now that he has finally been forced to let go of any hope of bringing back Norna. Rune sighs and accepts it.
(They are definitely not saying "Norna" in Japanese)
Anastasia has the choice to keep all of Norna's powers, or give them to Rune for safe keeping. I was confused about this at first but: Keeping them unlocks Zenn's final chapter, while giving them away unlocks everyone else, so you have to play this part twice.
Once she returns home, everyone is safe, and happy to see her. Tyril is a bit Weirdly Deferential about her being his Goddess but has covered things up so noone else thinks she's the goddess reborn, it was all just a trick of the light etc. Because she wants to live her life as Anastasia.
She is finally free, and able to whatever she wants, surrounded and supported by her friends. She has the choice to pursue her revenge or look forward to the future. She chooses to look to the future. But she's still cutting off her shitty family lol, she thinks about taking over as heir and goes NOPE. I GOT BETTER THINGS TO DO.
And that's the end of the main game!
The closing credits give some summaries of what happens to everyone that went by VERY fast but one involved Maya marrying 'the man she loves". THE WHAT SHE WHO???
There are then final chapters for each love interest, and a tiny little platonic 'route' for Ish. I took zero notes and it was late at night so this is a bit vague in my memory!
The chapters were cute but very shmoopy and a bit generic Otome Happy ending. Each starts from the assumption that Anastasia is very fond of all the LIs but has only ever had romantic feelings for whichever guy the route is for. Sure, I guess, they did keep things juuust on the right side of plausible deniability smarm, though they were pushing it with Tyril. In every story she goes back to being a Garuda Wings knight, which I like, she was happiest there.
Lucien
He wants to propose but doesn't want to make her think it's to prop up his right to the throne. But then Conrad proposes in an incredibly douchey way, pressuring her to be his mistreated trophy wife, and Lucien proposes in a panic to save her.
Anastasia and Lucien are like "Oh right just... for politics..." and feel sad, but then Lucius takes her out and proposes again more romantically, saying that if she doesn't love him or loves someone else he will find some way to let her stay free. She says the man she loves is him and they kiss.
Conrad is all HEY I GOT YOUR STEPMOTHER TO GIVE HER BLESSING and Anastasia stands up to Evelina saying I AM MARRYING LUCIEN ACTUALLY and Lucien says BUT ONLY AFTER I AM KING BECAUSE IT'S FOR LOVE NOT POLITICS. And then... I guess the King dies or is deposed offscreen and Lucien becomes king and they get married and he's taller now because OF COURSE THE SHORT GUY HAS TO GET TALLER but otherwise it's very sweet. Anastasia is wearing a wedding dress and a veil over her still-short hair.
Tyril
He has declared himself Anastasia's loyal servant. He wakes her up in the morning with a smile, learns to cook so he can make her meals (causing arguments with Maya about the best approach), walks her to work, and holds her hand at night to keep her safe. Crius narrows his eyes at all this and Tyril acts innocent.
Anastasia is enjoying spending time with him but feels sad when she sees Tyril being his usual snarky self with Crius. Eventually she asks Tyril for things to be back as they were and he says: But as they were, you weren't a part of my life, and I knew nothing about you, except that my past self trusted you, and you fell in love with me. She gets embarrassed but doesn't deny it and he's very smug and snarky in exactly the way she missed.
He says he isn't deeply in love with her yet but can see a happy future with her ahead of him and refuses to let the chance for it escape. He says like... that he is already fascinated with her mouth and wants to show her how to use it, then kisses her. It's very passionate, and thinking about how much trouble he's been going to, Anastasia wonders if he's understating how much he loves her already.
Also he's disbanding the Inquisition, hooray! After all, there are no more witches.
Zenn
She catches him about to sneak out of the country to go gambling and uses her goddess powers to prevent him lol. But she can't bring herself to explain why: she kept the powers so that she could send him back home. She knows it's the right thing to do but will miss him.
She hears people talking about the Freeing Power Of Alcohol, Hugo becomes Concerned and says to be careful especially if it's a matter of love. Good old Hugo. But she invites Zenn over and when he realises she plans on getting drunk says he'll drink it all for her because she's not used to alcohol.
He gets a little more unwound and expressive and in the end she offers to come with him to his world and they both end up confessing their feelings and agreeing they want to be together. But the next morning he acts like he can't remember and tells her to forget whatever nonsense he said.
Crius: Ha, Zenn, here's that Hangover remedy you wanted. It's funny how you can't get drunk but still get hangovers.
Anastasia: He... what... >:(
Zenn: D: *literally runs away*
She eventually catches up and knocks him to the ground, crying. Why would he pretend he never heard her confession? He says he loves her more than she will ever know, but thought about it and didn't want her to suffer with immortality, and she doesn't want him to suffer, so maybe they should just part. But she says there's a third way: they can live together, both immortal, in another world, and I guess make sure to balance any visits to their respective home worlds so they age at about the same rate. He agrees.
Crius
Man I did this last and I was very tired and not entirely into it but there's some angst about how like... he knows his other self did a bunch of shippy things and declared his love and then died in her arms and she's all messed up about it. That man is gone, but is also him, and he loves her and wants to make her happy too. All the other guys make veiled remarks about being jealous but he is much more explicit about it, which she thinks is funny so sure.
Ish
Ish's 'route' is pretty short. Anastasia has died of old age after a long and happy life, and so is finally back with Rune and Ish. She asks for Rune to explain a few things she never quite understood, and Ish points out how bad Rune is at it and offers to de a better job if Anastasia will grant him wishes. She refuses to agree to THAT of course, and he deflates and says he wants to explain things and will be happy if she just listens to his wishes without having to do anything for him.
He's chilled out over the decades, and is more sad than sadistic, but is still kind of a bitter, sarcastic ass. His wishes are benign things like asking her to go with him to her home city and show him the sights.
Most the stuff he explains is in the backstory I wrote above or kind of boring but:
Zenn accidentally fell into the world via the remains of a door Norna made back in the day to let humans in from Earth. So he was able to come back pretty easily the same way, since Ish dropped him off at around the same place and time.
"The Witch of Cessation" was kind of just something Ish made up to mess with Anastasia. Norna was never going to KILL anyone, unlike Anastasia she was incapable of it, but he was hoping she'd rewind time to before the humans arrived. And before he killed any of his fellow attendants (he does not refer to them as siblings, and does not seem to think of Norna as his mother)
I am still fuzzy on some of the details but I guess the only "witches" who got attacked by angry mobs/the Inquisition etc were:
Norna and her attendants doing harmless things (before 1700 years ago)
Ish and his Membra doing bad things (after 1700 years ago, though not super often until Anastasia grew up and Ish could put his full plan in motion)
Falsely accused humans
So yeah! Bring it down, Tyril!!
Like Ish, Huma does not like Lucien: He looks a lot like his ancestor Lucius who betrayed Norna. Let's not poke at how after 1700 years a hell of a lot of people in that kingdom would be his descendants...
Also if the royal family was ALWAYS fake then why did the king suddenly decide to kill of the Ishik Clan, and how did they manage to pass as descendants of the goddess for all this time??
ANYWAY, THAT'S THE END. Apparently there's a pretty good DLC? I'll have to decide if I feel like it, it's set after this game and the main thing I'd want is fleshing out of the plot I've already seen.
The whole dealing with her family plot got dropped pretty sharply, like, I'm fine with her not getting REVENGE per se but it still could have been wrapped up better. Editing posts I encountered a couple of other plot points where I went "Huh felt like that was building towards something but I guess not".
So yeah not the MOST COMPELLING AND AMAZING ending ever, but not the worst. I believe in Anastasia's happy ending, which is what matters.
OH butscytale just started posting and reminded me that there is. Zero monster fucking in this game. ZERO. Maybe in a bad end?? Boo.
So turns out the Lucien route is less about romance and more about finishing the plot, and despite the hints of a Secret Route it turns out there actually isn't much after that, just a couple of epilogues to tie up loose ends and give each LI a more overtly shippy ending.
Which is all ok in theory and I didn't dislike the ending plot, or what Lucien romance we got, but it was just... fine. A bit underwritten, with some annoying moments of Gratuitous Heterosexuality (though not too much from Lucien himself).
It didn't significantly undermine my earlier enjoyment, and was an adequate enough finale that I had some Happy Ending Feels and wasn't left horribly dissatisfied with the overall Arc. But I'm glad I waited a little while to play it all after the Zenn route.
Content notes: suicide, abuse, genocide
Rune narrates the story of a prince capturing a witch and burning her at the stake. The populace is grateful to have been saved, but when they ask how he knew of her guilt, the prince does not reply. Was she really a witch? Does it matter, if everyone believes it?
Rune: Is this really what you want?
The game makes the brilliant choice of starting things from Lucien's point of view. Like us, he has no idea what's happened to Anastasia but he is worried and hopes she's ok! This immediately makes him relatable and endearing.
He makes a good show of being the Fair But Stern prince who threatens to fire etc anyone who doesn't do their job, whether they be commoner or noble. But when he's alone he complains to "Lady Anastasia" (his cat) about how difficult everything is. The only person he feels able to trust is Mael, because he's so weird he is immune to politics. Mael is amused by the way Lucien is still a neurotic crybaby deep down. I suspect this Mael of actually being Ish.
Mael: You love her that much, huh?
Lucien, blushing: My motives are not so crass I merely... admire her... a great deal...
Orla intercepts a letter asking Evelina about Anastasia, and comes to 'help'.
Orla: Please keep this to yourself, it is a stain upon our family... but I hear she has five or six children, all by different men!
Lucien, blushing: But... at eighteen? How?
Orla: ...I hear three were triplets? I have been afraid to look into it all, she is not the sister I once knew.
Lucien: Six children... she must be struggling financially. She might need my help!
SWEETIE
There is a very brief shot of Anastasia, in the attic, her eyes haunted.
haa so turns out that Mael was not Ish. Because we see Ish!Mael and he is Quite Blatant. He also directs Lucien towards Crius, as someone who will know where Anastasia is.
Maid: Oh, no, Crius doesn't have a wife. He's a bit of a ladykiller.
Lucien: :(
Around this point I realised Lucien is the otome heroine of this route, sweet and inexperienced and unable to recognise his own hotness, and determined to help his sad, traumatised, mysterious childhood friend. Cool!
There is an annoying subplot with Orla and Parker that never really goes anywhere so meh.
Lucien reluctantly attends a ball to talk to Crius, who he finds flirting with rich noblewomen to get them to fund the Wings haha. All the women scatter the moment they see the "Frigid Prince" and he gloomily thinks that yes, he can be harsh, but he doesn't go around TORTURING people the way Conrad's rumours make it sound.
Crius doesn't want to violate Anastasia's privacy and is initially cagey, especially when Lucien gets all domineeringly princely, but then Lucien apologises and is so obviously concerned for Anastasia that Crius shares the truth: He knew Anastasia for eight years, after she showed as a strangely mature ten year old with enough money to bribe her way into the Wings, and was very happy with her as a subordinate. But then a month ago she suddenly tendered her resignation, and vanished.
Lucien immediately offers his support: if he searches openly people may try to use Anastasia as a pawn against him. But if it's all done in Crius's name it won't seem odd.
Mael comes along to help and is himself again, and when he doesn't remember the earlier conversation everyone just assumes he's being scatty. Crius has not found Anastasia but he has found Maya, working now as a nun. Unfortunately she's as clueless as the rest, Anastasia fired her at swordpoint, refusing to explain beyond saying that staying around around Anastasia would lead to Maya's death.
Lucien gets angry at Maya for being so unhelpful, but then immediately feels bad and apologises. Mael talks to Crius about how it would be impossible to survive in Lucien's family without being fucked up and inclined to domineering displays of power, but Lucien refuses to let it stop there. He and Crius agree that Lucien is adorable. Crius also plans to make very sure Maya is safe in that church.
Lucien: I used to go out into the city to search for Anastasia, but then rumours started that I was selling my body to merchants for better trade deals :(
Crius: Uh. Ok I was going to invite you out tonight to meet my friend, but-
Lucien: I'LL COME. I HAVE DECIDED I TRUST YOU :)
Crius comments that Lucien reminds him of Anastasia, with his earnest honesty, and Lucien says that because he uses a mask of pretending to be Anastasia to cover for his cowardly real self. But Crius says that honesty is a part of him now.
I.... sort of ship it? At least, I can see them both being each other's type, I'm not sure it would WORK. And we're sure seeing more Crius/Lucien scenes than Anastasia/Lucien so far.
Crius introduces Zenn and Lucien picks up that Zenn seems to know more about Anastasia than he's letting on. Crius pisses Lucien off so he storms out, unguarded...
...and Zenn tries to kill him when he refuses to back off and leave Anastasia alone. He's stopped by Tyril, since he and Crius were using Lucien as bait to finally know if Zenn was lying to them. Tyril is very respectful to Lucien as a member of the Royal Family.
Tyril: Some might be reluctant to torture a friend but I'm into it :D
Zenn: Pervert.
Crius: Do we have to go that far?
Lucien: YES. TORTURE HIM IF YOU MUST.
Zenn admits he has been in contact with Anastasia but says she chose to go into hiding voluntarily. Can't they respect that?
There's the choice to say yes, but if you say no Lucien points out that Zenn is visibly consumed with misery every time he talks about Anastasia. This may be her choice, but is she happy? Is she safe? Does he truly think she doesn't need to be saved?
And so Zenn sneaks them in to see her, in her self imposed exile, hiding in the old attic room in her family's house.
At first Lucien is delighted just to see her, then horrified by the the state of her body and the room, and then taken aback by the burning hatred in her eyes.
Anastasia: Ahahaha! So the prince has come to save me! Shouldn't you be burning me to death? After all, I am a witch! LEAVE. I CANNOT BE SAVED.
Zenn explains everything that happened to the three other men. We then see him talking to Anastasia, trying to persuade her to rely on them, and take a chance.
But the way she sees it: She is a near stranger to them. She killed the versions of them she was closest to. If she leaves this room, and Ish realises where she is, she may kill them again. Even now she burns with a deep hatred, not for those who have hurt her but for all life.
She lacks the power to go back any further than where she is now. Instead, she sends a shadowy version of herself back into the past in her dreams, to try to persuade herself to give up, and stay here forever. But it doesn't work.
Zenn argues that those bonds still exist within her. That the others will stand by her side again as they always have. Although Tyril remains distant and haunted ever since she told him the truth about the royal family: She worried about it hurting him, but didn't want him to be Conrad's puppet any longer. He guesses that he killed himself last time, and she asks that he not do that again. They agree to keep it quiet and not tell Lucien, the royal family and people's faith in them is still necessary for stability.
Crius brought her a bunch of dresses and she refused to wear them lol. But she was willing to change back into her old knight uniform.
Lucien is quietly upset to realise Anastasia is willing to talk to the others but not him. But she was close to them in ways she never has been with him. He still tries to talk to her every night.
He worries that he hurt her in another timeline and she says he was only ever supportive and kind. But when he keeps pushing for her to have hope, and trust him to help her, she snaps at him: What can a human with no magic do but die? What are his feelings for her but a manipulation of the witch? He is VERY OFFENDED.
I don't remember the rest of the argument but eventually Zenn raps them both on the head before someone hears them. Lucien says he's glad she felt able to express the frustrations she's been holding back.
Afterwards Zenn says this is the first time he's seen Anastasia actually act like a teenager. She realises he's right: She has always been busy trying to keep herself small, or keep up with older adults she looked up to. But Lucien is 18, and if anything she is older and more powerful than him. This is a good idea for a dynamic but the game did not bother to actually show it much.
Lucien pushes the others to figure out some way to save her, and keeps poking at the problem of the witch. (Tyril would probably be more helpful if he wasn't... suicidally depressed)
I took random notes on a bit of paper before going to bed and now I have to try and decipher past!me's cryptic scribbles...
Anastasia told Crius about Huma before she quit, and Huma has had the egg.
Everyone discusses what they know about all the events and figures out that Membrum actually don't have any special magical powers at all, just a little brainwashing to encourage them to lose their inhibitions and be violent, and the option to ask Ish to teleport them to their victim. So when Ish promises omnipotent power, he's lying.
Lucien wants to announce this to the populace to help them stay strong against Ish's temptations. Tyril finally shakes himself out of his funk: as an Inquisitor, he can't leave the witch fighting to others! He gives some sneaky advice on how to manipulate the king and populace, using his status as the Last Of The Ancient Ishik Clan since they can't use "She saw it in another timeline" as proof. He also comes up with the absolutely deranged plan to TORTURE ZENN TO 'DEATH' as 'proof' that those who make deals with witches don't gain any special powers. Anastasia is horrified but Zenn says he's already been crucified as a witch in the past, and it's not like she hasn't suffered just as much to save everyone. Neither of them bring up having gotten Crius burned to death lol.
Anastasia gets depressed about how she had so many opportunities to figure this out by herself and she didn't. Lucien gives a sweet speech about how he hasn't ever managed anything without help, either from her or other people. He tells a story about getting locked in a room by his brothers and being too afraid to ask for help, and needing company from a maid to sleep or go to the toilet after that due to trauma. The game did not entirely sell me on him and Anastasia but he's a very endearing guy.
Crius and Lucien suggest it's time for her to leave the attic, and she agrees: She can set herself up a barrier to keep hidden from Ish just as easily somewhere else. She says she's realised now that she can't protect those she loves by hiding away, she must protect herself and her own happiness too.
Lucien is delighted to be able to offer to keep her safe and hidden in the castle.
Zenn notices how obviously Lucien is crushing on Anastasia and asks Crius if he's ok with all this. Crius says now is not the time to worry about that kind of thing, and right now he's just glad to see her happy.
Anastasia realises that the Rose that can be used to prove connection to the Goddess/membership in the royal family is missing!
We see Ish in a darkened empty Carnival courtroom whining that he is BORED.
Lucien and Anastasia hang out in the castle, which is fine but kinda underwritten. Let's headcanon that they bonded cutely off screen. Also that they... ever have a conversation about how Lucien doesn't actually know the person she is now very well and has to get to know her??
Lucien is non-fatally stabbed just before he gives a speech explaining about witches to the populace, and Conrad watches from the shadows.
Lucien gets Zenn to help him out of his sick bed so he can talk to Anastasia before he gives his big speech. He has often mentioned a childhood promise that she can never quite remember, and at last she can see it: after defending him from his brothers, and knowing she was probably about to be locked away by her stepmother, she said they should promise to always be each others allies, even when they grew up.
The reason she forgot this was not time travel, or Ish, but her own trauma: remembering the promise just made her feel more powerless, unable to get help from anyone or offer it in return. But she is able to confront that pain now and reaffirms the promise with Lucien, saying she will always protect him. They are both Into how this makes them a bit like him as a princess and her like his protective knight.
Lucien: You'll always be my hero.
Anastasia: I used to want to be a princess who got saved, but I think I like being called a hero more :)
Lucien: Thank you for helping me with this, I know you have feelings for her too.
Zenn: ...what?
Lucien: Am I wrong?
Zenn: Well, no, but it still feels weird to say it openly! And I'm trying not to let it get in the way.
Lucien picked up the way Tyril stopped treating him with so much awed respect and over-protectiveness once he found out that Lucien's not a descendent of the Goddess. He slowly earns Tyril's snarkier and more tsundere respect on his own merits. Tyril suggests that Lucien lean on his connection to the goddess when he makes his speech and Lucien looks troubled.
Anastasia has been told to stay indoors where it's safe, but she feels frustrated, and wants to both enjoy Lucien's speech and keep an eye on him. So she sneaks out.
Lucien's speech is heartfelt and inspiring and entirely humanist: he says that he is a human like them, and like them must rely on his own strength of will and good sense to resist the witch. They must work together and stay strong. And then to underline his point they CRUCIFY AND STAB ZENN, who is in a very Jesus-y sounding disguise, the symbolism of which... SURE.
Everyone is very inspired. Something within Anastasia thaws, to see so many humans working together.
And then Conrad shows up to accuse Lucien of being "the child of his harlot mother and a client". Tyril has been arrested for "spreading lies", since apparently the King wants to finish off the genocide, and Conrad pressures Lucien to use the Rose, which he turns out to have had the whole time.
Lucien is shown not to be a descendent of the Goddess. He knows Conrad isn't either, but that saying so will throw the country into chaos.
Anastasia is consumed with rage. She feels a sudden certainty that she could kill Conrad if she wanted to, just with her mind. But a voice within her says no. Memories start to become clear. She calls out and her friend comes to her, even though in this timeline they have never met. And then she SWOOPS DOWN TO SAVE LUCIEN ON HUMA :D :D AWW YES ANASTASIA ON A GIANT BIRD CG :D :D
Lucien asks Anastasia to use the rose... and it blooms. SHE has the blood of the Goddess, riding the Goddess's sacred animal, in her sacred colour. She makes Conrad KNEEL AT HER FEET IN TERROR and promise to free Tyril, or face her wrath. Then she pulls Lucien onto Huma, and takes him with her.
It's time to face Ish and the Goddess, in another world.
Ish is furious: How dare they desecrate the Goddess's resting place?
This is all explained in little bits but the backstory ends up being something like:
Norna was created with this world, which was empty except for her. She was told by her creator (an actual God?) to fill it with life. So she created the Garuda, and asexually gave birth to her 8 attendants, who cannot reproduce themselves. But then her soul split, half into a being who could not kill or create life, and one who could only bring death, her 'little sister' Endy (?!) So I guess that's why Ish, Rune, and Mr Endy all share an aesthetic!
Anyway. She heard animals in other worlds in pain and created doors to let them in. Then she heard humans suffering too. Many attendants, like Rune, thought humans were dangerous, but she let them in. Even though she was just a very powerful being, they worshipped her as a god. Norna and Rune befriended a man called Lucius. 1700 years ago he and Norna agreed to marry and found Anastasia's country and royal family, and another friend founded the Ishik to support them.
But Lucius craved total control. So he tried to kill Norna and replaced her with a pliable, similar looking human woman. Whenever Norna tried to tell anyone what happened they didn't believe her, and when she used her magic she was branded a witch, and burned.
Over time she became bitter and full of hate towards humans. Not wanting to let that hatred to hurt anyone, she put herself into a deep sleep. She divided her skills up between her attendants, giving Rune the Rewind ability, and left Ish in charge of her sleeping body. But one day she would wake up. To help herself prepare for that day, she sent her soul to reincarnate as human. That human is Anastasia.
The attendants accepted this plan... except the youngest, Ish. He missed the Goddess and wanted revenge on the royal family and humans as a whole. So he killed the other attendants to gain their power, except Rune who stayed safe in another world (the reason Rune looks so young is that attendants only age, if slowly, in the real world, and he always stayed aloof) Ish dedicated himself to filling Anastasia with despair and hatred towards humanity, and slowly giving her the goddess's powers, so that eventually she would be overcome, and the goddess would wake and destroy the world, resetting everything to a time before humans ever came.
Anastasia is not down for this plan. She tells Lucien to stay safe, and sets out to kill Ish.
Until now, Ish has been sending a projection of himself, unable to directly touch anyone or be touched. But in this world, Anastasia and Ish can fight, and they both have every intention of it being to the death.
Lucien distracts Ish long enough for Anastasia to get a knife to his throat. But before she can make the killing blow she is stopped by a deep sense of affection and concern: Not from herself, but from the Goddess.
Ish takes advantage of her surprise to aim for a killing blow of his own but is also stopped. The Goddess is awake.
She and Anastasia face each other across an empty white space. They look identical, but the Goddess is in a long white dress with long red hair. And she talks... like a regular (voiced!) woman, earnest but a little silly. She says she's sorry Anastasia suffered so much but she is glad to have experienced her life as a human, even if there could have been more cuddles with Lucien, Tyril, Crius and Zenn.
Anastasia: Are you saying I should have four boyfriends?!
Norna: It could be fun!
I think Norna was planning to absorb Anastasia back into herself but Anastasia is determined to remain herself and Norna respects that. So she will fade and die. She says she will take Ish with her, since he's her responsibility, but Anastasia asks to take custody of him instead. Norna agrees, and asks her to take care of him, and not let him know she was about to kill him.
And then she is gone.
Ish is absolutely distraught, and also deathly furious, but Anastasia learned from Norna that he broke a promise to her not to hurt humans, which means she has the ability to take back his powers, and does so. I never fully understood the logic of magic in this game but sure. She sends him to live with Rune, under Rune's control, and given a chance to atone now that he has finally been forced to let go of any hope of bringing back Norna. Rune sighs and accepts it.
(They are definitely not saying "Norna" in Japanese)
Anastasia has the choice to keep all of Norna's powers, or give them to Rune for safe keeping. I was confused about this at first but: Keeping them unlocks Zenn's final chapter, while giving them away unlocks everyone else, so you have to play this part twice.
Once she returns home, everyone is safe, and happy to see her. Tyril is a bit Weirdly Deferential about her being his Goddess but has covered things up so noone else thinks she's the goddess reborn, it was all just a trick of the light etc. Because she wants to live her life as Anastasia.
She is finally free, and able to whatever she wants, surrounded and supported by her friends. She has the choice to pursue her revenge or look forward to the future. She chooses to look to the future. But she's still cutting off her shitty family lol, she thinks about taking over as heir and goes NOPE. I GOT BETTER THINGS TO DO.
And that's the end of the main game!
The closing credits give some summaries of what happens to everyone that went by VERY fast but one involved Maya marrying 'the man she loves". THE WHAT SHE WHO???
There are then final chapters for each love interest, and a tiny little platonic 'route' for Ish. I took zero notes and it was late at night so this is a bit vague in my memory!
The chapters were cute but very shmoopy and a bit generic Otome Happy ending. Each starts from the assumption that Anastasia is very fond of all the LIs but has only ever had romantic feelings for whichever guy the route is for. Sure, I guess, they did keep things juuust on the right side of plausible deniability smarm, though they were pushing it with Tyril. In every story she goes back to being a Garuda Wings knight, which I like, she was happiest there.
Lucien
He wants to propose but doesn't want to make her think it's to prop up his right to the throne. But then Conrad proposes in an incredibly douchey way, pressuring her to be his mistreated trophy wife, and Lucien proposes in a panic to save her.
Anastasia and Lucien are like "Oh right just... for politics..." and feel sad, but then Lucius takes her out and proposes again more romantically, saying that if she doesn't love him or loves someone else he will find some way to let her stay free. She says the man she loves is him and they kiss.
Conrad is all HEY I GOT YOUR STEPMOTHER TO GIVE HER BLESSING and Anastasia stands up to Evelina saying I AM MARRYING LUCIEN ACTUALLY and Lucien says BUT ONLY AFTER I AM KING BECAUSE IT'S FOR LOVE NOT POLITICS. And then... I guess the King dies or is deposed offscreen and Lucien becomes king and they get married and he's taller now because OF COURSE THE SHORT GUY HAS TO GET TALLER but otherwise it's very sweet. Anastasia is wearing a wedding dress and a veil over her still-short hair.
Tyril
He has declared himself Anastasia's loyal servant. He wakes her up in the morning with a smile, learns to cook so he can make her meals (causing arguments with Maya about the best approach), walks her to work, and holds her hand at night to keep her safe. Crius narrows his eyes at all this and Tyril acts innocent.
Anastasia is enjoying spending time with him but feels sad when she sees Tyril being his usual snarky self with Crius. Eventually she asks Tyril for things to be back as they were and he says: But as they were, you weren't a part of my life, and I knew nothing about you, except that my past self trusted you, and you fell in love with me. She gets embarrassed but doesn't deny it and he's very smug and snarky in exactly the way she missed.
He says he isn't deeply in love with her yet but can see a happy future with her ahead of him and refuses to let the chance for it escape. He says like... that he is already fascinated with her mouth and wants to show her how to use it, then kisses her. It's very passionate, and thinking about how much trouble he's been going to, Anastasia wonders if he's understating how much he loves her already.
Also he's disbanding the Inquisition, hooray! After all, there are no more witches.
Zenn
She catches him about to sneak out of the country to go gambling and uses her goddess powers to prevent him lol. But she can't bring herself to explain why: she kept the powers so that she could send him back home. She knows it's the right thing to do but will miss him.
She hears people talking about the Freeing Power Of Alcohol, Hugo becomes Concerned and says to be careful especially if it's a matter of love. Good old Hugo. But she invites Zenn over and when he realises she plans on getting drunk says he'll drink it all for her because she's not used to alcohol.
He gets a little more unwound and expressive and in the end she offers to come with him to his world and they both end up confessing their feelings and agreeing they want to be together. But the next morning he acts like he can't remember and tells her to forget whatever nonsense he said.
Crius: Ha, Zenn, here's that Hangover remedy you wanted. It's funny how you can't get drunk but still get hangovers.
Anastasia: He... what... >:(
Zenn: D: *literally runs away*
She eventually catches up and knocks him to the ground, crying. Why would he pretend he never heard her confession? He says he loves her more than she will ever know, but thought about it and didn't want her to suffer with immortality, and she doesn't want him to suffer, so maybe they should just part. But she says there's a third way: they can live together, both immortal, in another world, and I guess make sure to balance any visits to their respective home worlds so they age at about the same rate. He agrees.
Crius
Man I did this last and I was very tired and not entirely into it but there's some angst about how like... he knows his other self did a bunch of shippy things and declared his love and then died in her arms and she's all messed up about it. That man is gone, but is also him, and he loves her and wants to make her happy too. All the other guys make veiled remarks about being jealous but he is much more explicit about it, which she thinks is funny so sure.
Ish
Ish's 'route' is pretty short. Anastasia has died of old age after a long and happy life, and so is finally back with Rune and Ish. She asks for Rune to explain a few things she never quite understood, and Ish points out how bad Rune is at it and offers to de a better job if Anastasia will grant him wishes. She refuses to agree to THAT of course, and he deflates and says he wants to explain things and will be happy if she just listens to his wishes without having to do anything for him.
He's chilled out over the decades, and is more sad than sadistic, but is still kind of a bitter, sarcastic ass. His wishes are benign things like asking her to go with him to her home city and show him the sights.
Most the stuff he explains is in the backstory I wrote above or kind of boring but:
Zenn accidentally fell into the world via the remains of a door Norna made back in the day to let humans in from Earth. So he was able to come back pretty easily the same way, since Ish dropped him off at around the same place and time.
"The Witch of Cessation" was kind of just something Ish made up to mess with Anastasia. Norna was never going to KILL anyone, unlike Anastasia she was incapable of it, but he was hoping she'd rewind time to before the humans arrived. And before he killed any of his fellow attendants (he does not refer to them as siblings, and does not seem to think of Norna as his mother)
I am still fuzzy on some of the details but I guess the only "witches" who got attacked by angry mobs/the Inquisition etc were:
Norna and her attendants doing harmless things (before 1700 years ago)
Ish and his Membra doing bad things (after 1700 years ago, though not super often until Anastasia grew up and Ish could put his full plan in motion)
Falsely accused humans
So yeah! Bring it down, Tyril!!
Like Ish, Huma does not like Lucien: He looks a lot like his ancestor Lucius who betrayed Norna. Let's not poke at how after 1700 years a hell of a lot of people in that kingdom would be his descendants...
Also if the royal family was ALWAYS fake then why did the king suddenly decide to kill of the Ishik Clan, and how did they manage to pass as descendants of the goddess for all this time??
ANYWAY, THAT'S THE END. Apparently there's a pretty good DLC? I'll have to decide if I feel like it, it's set after this game and the main thing I'd want is fleshing out of the plot I've already seen.
The whole dealing with her family plot got dropped pretty sharply, like, I'm fine with her not getting REVENGE per se but it still could have been wrapped up better. Editing posts I encountered a couple of other plot points where I went "Huh felt like that was building towards something but I guess not".
So yeah not the MOST COMPELLING AND AMAZING ending ever, but not the worst. I believe in Anastasia's happy ending, which is what matters.
OH but
scytale just started posting and reminded me that there is. Zero monster fucking in this game. ZERO. Maybe in a bad end?? Boo.
