Fields of Mistria Juniper

OlricWill this really help me get shredded, Juniper?

JuniperMore than "shredded", if you can believe it. Whatever "shredded" means.

OlricWow!

JuniperSo don't be shy... hop to it!

OlricIt... It's working! The power... it's coursing through me! I think.

OlricDo my muscles look bigger?

JuniperColossal. I've outdone myself.

JuniperThe effects of my potion will fade with time, though...

JuniperSo do come back when you feel like your oh-so-ordinary self again.

OlricYou got it, Juni! I hope you can get it to taste better next time, blugh.

JuniperHmm, how does carrot-flavored sound?

OlricPretty good, for some reason...

OlricWow, I feel amazing! I could do a hundred laps around the town square!

OlricBye Juniper! Bye Ari!

JuniperNow you. Come here.

JuniperAri. The mysterious wanderer who came to Mistria.

JuniperI was wondering when you'd catch me working on my little experiments.

JuniperSo tell me... what brings you here, adventurer?

A... bath? At the Bathhouse?

The health tonic? From the message board?

JuniperOh, let's not play games. Unless... you're serious?

JuniperArcane energies flow around you, Ari, but I see I've misunderstood their meaning.

JuniperI thought you were someone like me, here to stake out your territory. But it's clear to me now. You're hardly a threat.

JuniperAllow me to explain in terms that even you can understand. I came to Mistria because the magic here is unique. It bears studying.

JuniperThe villagers being so pliable... that's been a nice bonus. They drink any concoction I give them.

You're using the townsfolk to test your potions? You should leave them alone.

Can't we all just get along?

JuniperOh, say it again. I'm quaking in my boots.

JuniperI have a lovely idea. I promise to leave the poor, defenseless townsfolk alone...

JuniperIf YOU take their place and become my guinea pig.

JuniperYes, this could be the beginning of a beautiful... relationship.

Sounds fun.

Do I have a choice?

JuniperFun? My my... there are hidden depths to you, Ari.

JuniperWell... I'm simply thrilled to reach an accord with you. Look at you... protecting your fellow villagers. How admirable. How brave!

JuniperHow cute.

JuniperOH HO HO HO!

JuniperWell well, look who's here, Dozy! Looks like you were right.

JuniperOh, I didn't think you'd have the guts to show, but Dozy was positive you'd rush over.

JuniperOh ho ho!

JuniperBefore I administer my concoction, it's important that you understand how brilliant I am.

JuniperI'm sure you've noticed the hot spring's water acts as a powerful restorative. It makes a perfect base for my potionwork.

JuniperI believe this elixir will give you the power of a dragon.

JuniperMaybe you'll even turn into one for me.

D-dragons? I don't think they exist.

A dragon versus a mere sorceress sounds pretty one-sided.

JuniperMy, I've never met such a terrible liar, it's so charming.

JuniperWhenever you're ready, Ari.

JuniperWhat the-

JuniperBut I'm sure the recipe was correct... What went wrong?

JuniperAh yes, CLEARLY the issue lies with you, Ari. Willy-nilly infusions of power have unstabilized your morphogenic field.

Well at least I can still talk...

Very funny, now stop horsing around, Juniper.

JuniperY-you can still talk?

Juniper...

JuniperThis has been a complete waste of time.

JuniperI'll prepare the counterspell.

Try to cheer Juniper up.

Try to make Juniper mess up again.

JuniperNow let's see...

JuniperWhat are you-

JuniperOh ho ho!

JuniperOkay, okay. Hold still.

JuniperThere, no harm done.

JuniperYou make an excellent test subject. I'll call on you again when I have something new to try.

Afterwards

JuniperHow are you feeling, Ari? No lingering effects from that transformation, I presume?

JuniperThere you are!

JuniperAh, that's what you've decided to wear?

JuniperWell this will hardly do. I suppose you'll have to go as me, and I'll have to borrow that unfashionably dressed body of yours in the meantime.

JuniperYour instructions and packages are on the desk.

CelineHey Juniper! If you're stopping by that means the new plant growth tonic is ready, huh?

CelineOoh, exciting!

CelineYou know...

CelineBefore you moved to town I was the only person here who was interested in this sort of thing.

CelineIt's been really fun collaborating with you on this.

It's been so nice having a project with you!

Let's not get too mushy.

CelineO-oh! Thanks Juniper, it means a lot to hear you say that.

CelineI'll let you know how the new formula works out.

CelineSay hi to Dozy for me.

ElsieJuniper! I was just about to go for a stroll, care to join me?

ElsieAhh, making the delivery rounds? Thank you, dear.

ElsieThere's something nearly magical about your skin serums, much better than anything I've used in the Capital.

ElsieAnd I do so appreciate the home deliveries. So thoughtful!

ElsieDozy getting along alright? And how's that new friend of yours, Ari?

Ari is a real saint.

Ari is a clown.

ElsieWell now! I'm glad you've finally started being a little more honest with yourself.

ElsieTake it from me and treasure those who choose to spend time with you, Juniper. We all appreciate your company, that's for sure.

ElsieI won't keep you. I know we both have places to be! Let's catch up later this week.

JuniperWell, how did it go?

No issues.

Everyone had such nice things to say about you!

JuniperSeems you were right about Ari again, Dozy.

JuniperIn any case, thank you for your help.

JuniperDon't let it go to your head, though!

Afterwards

CelineJuniper tells me you've been giving her a hand.

Dozy(Dozy seems to be thanking you for helping out Juniper the other day.)

ElsieJuniper isn't an easy person to get to know with that barbed tongue of hers, but that's half the fun, wouldn't you say?

JuniperSo this is what you're wearing into the bath?

JuniperWhatever, I can work with it. Go on in-

JuniperI've added the flower, so the water should be ready for you.

JuniperI'll be there in a minute, I just need to change first.

JuniperWhat? Didn't I mention?

JuniperThis is a special bath infusion. It's formulated for two people.

JuniperI'm thinking of it as a potential... couples spa deal.

JuniperPlus, how can I write up the results of my experiment if I'm not there to observe it?

Juniper...

JuniperSo what do you think? How's the temperature?

It's perfect!

I'm more concerned about the color...

JuniperGood, good.

JuniperThe Breath of Flame is stabilizing the heat nicely.

JuniperHow about the scent? Nice, isn't it?

It's surprisingly... really nice?

It's very soothing!

JuniperRight? Let your stress melt away...

Juniper...

JuniperOkay, Ari. Let's get this experiment started.

JuniperClose your eyes and relax...

JuniperI-it's working! I knew it!

JuniperAgh!

JuniperDon't... don't look at me, Ari.

JuniperI was expecting pain, but the scales...

JuniperYou're going to be okay now. The Sealing Scroll's final curse... I removed it from you.

JuniperI never should have helped you track down that scroll in the first place. I don't know what you did with it down in the Mines...

JuniperBut I could feel the shift happen. You opened it, didn't you? I don't know how you survived-

JuniperBut I DO know these scrolls were often crafted with a secondary curse.

JuniperThese auxiliary curses stay hidden until it's too late, undetectable by even the most skilled magic users.

JuniperI learned all about them in my studies.

JuniperI couldn't dispel the curse, only weaken and transfer it. To dispel it would require Essence Magic...

JuniperA type of magic the ancients used. Power I don't have.

JuniperHow ironic. It serves me right.

JuniperI've been lying to you, Ari.

JuniperWell, I really have been using you as a test subject.

JuniperIt was never about potions and errands. It's YOU I've been studying.

JuniperI didn't know why I'd been pulled to Mistria, at first...

JuniperA sorceress is taught early to follow her intuition. Clairvoyance is one of the few magics that still pass down through human blood.

JuniperI understood the pieces would fall into place when the time was right.

JuniperThe reason became clear after you moved to town.

JuniperMagic began to flow throughout Mistria, always just beyond my reach. Witchspeak artifacts started being unearthed under my very feet.

JuniperThe signs were there. I knew you must be hiding some kind of power.

JuniperThe body swap, the transformation incident... I was trying to uncover it, to seize it for myself.

JuniperI couldn't stop myself. Not until...

JuniperForgive me Ari. Even now, I want that power. But it's not worth the price. I never meant for you to get hurt.

Enough, Juniper. Please just let me help you.

I forgive you Juniper, please just let me help you.

JuniperHelp me? Don't fool yourself, you can't-

JuniperAri...?

JuniperI'm... I'm cured? Just like that? H-how!?

JuniperYou. You really let me get carried away. G-go sit in the other room and wait for me.

JuniperI need to change and then we're going to continue this conversation.

JuniperThat spell...

JuniperI've never seen anything like it.

JuniperI see my suspicions were well-founded... but how, Ari? How did you come to possess Essence Magic?

(Give her the long version)

(Give her the short version)

JuniperWow.

JuniperI hardly know what to say. Caldarus... the seals... your magic.

JuniperIt's really no wonder why-

JuniperI feel this way about you.

JuniperI'm sorry for everything.

We're best friends, Juniper. I forgive you.

I have feelings for you too, Juniper.

JuniperAri... thank you.

JuniperI promise I won't try to take your power again.

JuniperBut I'm absolutely going to make you spill all the details from now on!

JuniperIn the meantime... we should keep all this to ourselves. I don't think these backwater-

JuniperEr- the fine townspeople of Mistria-

JuniperAre quite ready to learn what's been going on right underneath their noses.

JuniperBut... I sense that time will come.

JuniperThings are going to get interesting from here, Ari. I have to admit I'm looking forward to it.

Afterwards

JuniperAre you feeling okay, Ari?

JuniperThe power of the dragon... Caldarus.

Juniper...

CaldarusI had the pleasure of meeting your friend, Juniper.

Dozy(Dozy shyly gives you a stick. It seems he's thanking you for saving Juniper while he was out.)

JuniperExcellent, you brought the Breath of Flame. Come, Ari. It's time to test my latest infusion.

JuniperIt's so peaceful...

JuniperWhat did I tell you? It's just the two of us up here today.

JuniperI don't get the chance to come to the Summit often.

JuniperThe scenery is something else...

JuniperMistria really is a special place, isn't it?

JuniperI used to think it was just another backwater village.

JuniperTurns out I just couldn't see what was right in front of me.

You were too busy keeping your eyes on me...

We've both grown a lot since coming to Mistria, haven't we?

JuniperAri!

JuniperWell... you're not wrong.

JuniperIt's funny, looking back on those days.

JuniperI never wanted to admit it at the time, but I was actually pretty lonely when I first moved here.

JuniperI've always had a tendency to keep people at a distance.

JuniperI used to, anyway.

JuniperThat started to change after I met you, Ari.

JuniperSomewhere along the way, I began to let other people in.

JuniperThe truth is, if it wasn't for you...

JuniperI'm not sure how things might have turned out. I was selfish, inconsiderate-

It's thanks to you that I'm alive and well!

Well if it weren't for you, I might be a lizard by now!

JuniperO-oh. Well...

JuniperYou're talking about the Sealing Scroll, right?

JuniperRemoving the curse from you was the least I could do.

JuniperBut you know, Ari... it's funny you should bring that up.

JuniperI've spent a lot of time reflecting on everything that happened.

JuniperI realized that I should have done more to protect you in the first place.

JuniperIf anything were to ever happen to you, I-

JuniperWell, I won't ever let anything like that happen to you again!

JuniperThat's why I made that Protection Scroll for you.

JuniperIt's a kind of good-luck charm.

JuniperI just wanted you to know... I'll always be here for you, Ari.

JuniperWhatever life throws your way, I'll help you get through it.

JuniperEven if your magic is stronger than mine. It doesn't matter.

JuniperIf it came to it, I'd give it all up if it meant you'd stay safe by my side.

JuniperA-anyway. There was something else you wanted to talk about, right?

I wanted to talk to you about our future together...

Let's talk about it another time...

JuniperOur-

JuniperOur future together?

I love you, Juniper. Will you marry me?

Actually, let's talk about it more another day.

JuniperAri...

JuniperYes!

JuniperYES!

JuniperOH HO HO HO HO!

JuniperI can't believe this is really happening... I'm going to be your wife!

JuniperI'm so happy, Ari!

JuniperI love you so much!

JuniperI can't wait to start planning our wedding!

Afterwards

JuniperWhat is it, Ari?