What would it mean to accept the offer laid before you? If you do, Meimona might unquestionably go along with whatever you ask of her. But she would also clearly never treat you like she did before. If she wouldn't complain about anything you do at all... would she even joke around with you at that point? Wow, it'd be incredibly boring if Meimona behaved like that! Screw that noise! You don't want this at all. You never asked for to have any kind of power over her, and you most certainly will not accept it - even if she pushes herself into that sort of position. Nino: If she's so indebted to you, then she should listen when you tell her to be more true to herself in times…

An unsettling scene unfolds right before your eyes. A horrible sight you never ever wanted to see. Nino: What the hell is this!?Nino: Stop, stop it!Meimona: Auh... d-do you believe me now?Nino: ... Does that mean this'll just keep going if you don't believe it? That's... that's just insane. Why would Meimona be so desperate to gain your trust? And why use this method out of ALL options? Meimona - the Meimona you know - should really know better than do this! Regardless if it is or isn't her, this just has to stop now. Nino: Think back to Helios proving himself with just a small cut to the hand. Look at Mei's wound closely, to verify if she's real. That's right. At that time, Helios seemingly expected you to…

Nino: ...Ugh. I shouldn't have insulted you after all.Nino: It's just that... you made me so mad, okay.Nino: But I didn't really mean it, you know...?Nino: I lost control for a sec is all.Meimona: Oh, no, I understand!Meimona: I did do something reaaally stupid.Meimona: I totally deserve to be scolded for it.Nino: ...You really are okay with it?Meimona: Yep! It's all fine! Don't worry.Meimona: I can see where you're coming from.Nino: ... What's with this attitude? Seriously, nothing seems to phase her at all. And her easygoing mood really isn't helping here... Meimona: Anyways, I have an idea...Meimona: Maybe if I put the stick back in place, it'll become a horn again?Meimona: Lemme try it, Nino! Can I, can I?Nino: ...Uh...Nino: That couldn't possibly make the situation any worse than…

Nino: Um, so, I brought food...Nino: Wait, no, that's not important now!Nino: You're feeling better already, Mei?Meimona: Yup! I'm as good as new!Nino: You sure? It's, uh, kind of a quick turnaround.Meimona: Yeah, I'm totally fine!Meimona: I just needed a nap, really.Nino: ...Well, if you say so, then...Nino: Anyway, look, there's something urgent.Nino: You were asking what took me so long, right?Nino: Well... I almost got exposed as a human.Meimona: What!? By who?Nino: Helios. That's the guy who helped us.Meimona: Oh jeez! How'd that happen?Nino: It's a long story... we don't have the time to go over it.Nino: We need to get the heck out of here fast!Nino: That guy could return any second now.Nino: And I'm not sure I can slip by again if he does.Nino: Since Aria's illusion…

Yeah, you're done for. ...If you weren't ready to fight back, that is. There's no way you're dying in a place like this. Nino: Be ready to draw your sword at a moment's notice. If he's talked with you so much thus far while also suspecting you, then he may still be willing to do so. Yeah, yes... yes. It's okay. All you actually have to do is escape. Nino: What's the quickest way out of here? The nearest exit is right by this inn. That's where you entered from. You just have to book it there. Maybe hit the guy with your sword just once, and do it hard enough to throw him off your trail, and then rush off. You can do that. You can. However... You'd have…

There it is. He just came out and said it. Finally. No more beating around the bush. Now you can safely begin to address that little topic. Nino: Stop smiling so creepily! You're not actually doing that! You're only preemptively smugly celebrating your victory on the inside, okay. Because this is already as good as done. Really, how stupid can he be to just say it? Now he's the weird one for bringing up humans out of nowhere. It'll be so damn easy to use that against him. Nino: Isn't you avoiding your "possible" humanity to get him to admit it exactly what a human avoiding detection would do? Your continued dishonesty only raised suspicion, and pushing him on what he refuses to say only fed it more. Still, now…

Nino: I'm honored you'd go that far for us!Nino: Really, though, we wouldn't want to trouble you any more than we already have.Nino: To be honest... I'm a bit exhausted from the trip.Nino: I'd rather stay a bit longer and rest well before leaving.Nino: Might as well take the opportunity to relax, I figure!Nino: We'll go home later, so...Solis: Sure.Solis: So, I'll escort you after you've rested plenty.Solis: That's perfectly fine.Nino: Huh, really? But we might be staying here a good while...Nino: Plus, I thought you had patrol work to do!Nino: Did I hear you wrong earlier?Solis: No... but it's perfectly fine to postpone things to tend to guests.Nino: I see, I see. How kind of you.Nino: That reminds me of something, though.Nino: When you said you'd lead us to…

Wow. The nerve of this guy. So all that hospitability was an act, huh? You were mistaken to assume he'd believed anything. Now that it's come to this, you'll push against it. You'll make him feel like he's disrespecting you. Like he's being inhospitable. That should go against his honorable standards and get him off your case! Nino: ...You think I was lying the whole time? Why?Nino: I'd say you sound overtly wary now!Solis: Call me whatever you like, Mino,Solis: I still think your actions here were just a bit off.Solis: And I don't think it's strange to seek an explanation for them.Nino: Right, well, that's fair.Nino: But I feel like you're being a bit rude!Nino: You're accusing me of lying about everything...Nino: Just because I acted a little awkward?…

You nearly give out a fake name, but you recall at the last second that Meimona had definitely called you by your real name in front of this guy already. You believe that she did it only once, and not very loudly, but still... There is a chance he heard it. If that's the case, could asking this question be a test? He might think the name "Nino" sounds too human. Or, he might've already gotten your name from someone else, somehow, and he's trying to check your truthfulness now. Or... are you being too paranoid? Well, no matter which it is, you can't risk anything. However small that chance is, you'd better play around his question just to be safe! Nino: Be truthful, but keep it vague. If using…

For a start, you decide to take a better look around the place. This is a nice room... clean, stylish, and its furniture seems quite comfortable. You then peer outside the window. Your room's on the third floor, so from here, you can actually see the whole town! "Buried Oasis", was it? Surprisingly, there aren't a lot of people outside. Red Tulip felt more populated than this, even though it was a smaller town... Perhaps most people are having lunch indoors around this time? Who knows, really! Nino: What's in that gift box? This gift box is not a gift box at all! It is in fact the first-aid kit you recieved from the inn's staff. You didn't actually need one, but you had to say something to get past…

After a quiet, uneventful trek through the desert, you make it... somewhere. It's strange, but there were no spirits at all this time around. In a way, it's kind of disturbing that there wasn't even a hint of a single spirit, after you'd just seen dozens upon dozens of them appear out of nowhere... In your mind, there are two possibilities. One: this guy just killed all the spirits that were there. Two: all of the remaining spirits have hidden away because of this guy. Either way... you sure are glad you're not his enemy right now. Solis: ...Here we are.Solis: Welcome to Buried Oasis, my hometown.Solis: Under different circumstance, I'd have loved to give you a tour, but...Solis: Getting your friend treated takes priority.Nino: Ah, yeah...Solis: Please, follow me.…

Meimona: Umm, mister... the thing I saw...Meimona: That wasn't really who I thought it was, right?Solis: No, not at all.Solis: Spirits disguise themselves in convincing ways, Solis: All to lure unsuspecting people in.Solis: So it's not the same person at all, Solis: Even if it looked like someone you know.Meimona: ...I see... Solis: You shouldn't let it bother you.Meimona: Well... I know that, but...Meimona: The things it said... Meimona: Did they mean anything?Solis: Not in the slightest.Solis: A hungry spirit doesn't act in good faith.Solis: It was just looking for the most hurtful things to say, in order to trick you.Solis: Believe me, you can ignore literally everything it told you.Meimona: Oh... really?Solis: Absolutely.Solis: Don't waste your energy worrying about its lies.Meimona: I-I see. That's good to know... What... so…

A monster... this big tall guy's a monster. You were saved you from that overwhelming horde of spirits by... a monster. Okay, okay, stay calm. This is fine! It's just a monster! Who is currently towering over you, with fire burning in his palm. ...No, no, really, calm down. Right now, you too appear as a monster! It should be fine if you just talk to him normally, monster to monster! Nino: Question the man, just in case. Meimona: ...Nino: U-uh... Yeah!Nino: We're fine...Nino: Wait, no! What if...Nino: This is just another ruse?Nino: A-are you real?Nino: Like, a real and safe person?Nino: Not a spirit again...?Solis: Oh. Certainly. Solis: Prove it. Suddenly, the big scary monster dude just cuts his palm. With a completely straight face. Not even slightly flinching.…

--/--> Meimona: ...Meimona: N-Nino... Nino: Open your eyes. Meimona: Nino!!! You gasp. You gasp so hard that it hurts. There's nothing. Nothing, besides Mei's warmth. You were expecting to feel some intense pain, but... There's nothing like that at all. In fact, you feel anything but danger. Nino: Look around you. It seems that you're completely unharmed... And, oddly enough, you smell smoke in the air. There's... fire? --/--> A ring of fire surrounds you. It looks like it burned all of the spirits that were here. Barely any traces remain at all. That overwhelming horde of danger... it's all gone, just like that? Avery himself is nowhere to be seen, too... And the two of you are perfectly unharmed. What in the world just happened? --/--> Solis: Jeez, this…