Echidna greets Rosetta and Io when they arrive on Bestia Island. She then delves into her background, mentioning that she was an instrument a power-hungry Astral created to unlock the energy of the Otherworld. When asked about the innermost teachings, Echidna reveals that it is still too early for the pair to undergo a temporary pact.
With Zeyen's guidance, Rosetta and Io are preparing to undergo the steps necessary to master the innermost teachings.
They leave Kluger Island and head for Bestia in an airship piloted by one of the omniscient sage's disciples.
Rosetta
...
Scarlet Knight
This is the true power of the Seven Luminary Knights.
Scarlet Knight
It is just as the True King wills it. There is no realm—sky nor Astral—that will be permitted to forego loyalty to him.
Scarlet Knight
The Seven Luminary Knights are his servants, blades that have followed his command since the inception of the world.
Scarlet Knight
This false world's power, these primal beasts—all nothing more than a whetstone for our swords.
Rosetta
(They can use the power of the primal beasts, completely claiming it as their own...)
Rosetta
(We won't be able to avoid confrontation with them in the coming days.)
Rosetta
(What's more, thanks to their command of the primals, their advantage over us grows larger every day.)
Rosetta
(But that man entrusted me with Gran...)
Rosetta
(Is there anything else I can do to protect Gran and the crew?)
Rosetta
(And, knowing that our path from here on will only become more dangerous, is it truly right for me to guide them on this course?)
Io
Rosetta? You okay?
Rosetta
Huh?
Rosetta
Oh, sorry. I was just lost in thought.
Io
...
Io's question hangs in the air as the Grandcypher soars toward Bestia Island.
When the airship finally lands on the island, a half-human, half-snake primal beast comes to greet the pair.
Echidna
Well, look at you both. Welcome home.
Rosetta
Hehe. I'm glad to see you're well.
Io
What's with the whole welcome home business?
Echidna
You've always got a home with me. I am the mother of everything after all.
Echidna's smile is just as warm and kind as ever.
Io
Well, in that case... Guess I'm home!
Echidna
Hehe. You are indeed.
Rosetta
So... How are things? Has the island recovered since that man's attack? How about your wounds?
Echidna
Yes... I have a pact with this island, so I'm fine now.
Echidna
The children I could not protect from him are currently sleeping like babes.
Echidna gives a forlorn look toward the silent forest that was once bustling with primals.
Echidna
Since that day, neither the Rhem Kingdom nor the Istavion Kingdom have set foot on this island.
Echidna
However... The binds have been broken, so the power of the Otherworld continues to stir.
Echidna
All I can do is observe the situation for the moment.
Rosetta
Hmm... The power of the Otherworld...
Io
You know what... Something's kind of bugging me.
Io
Why's dangerous power like that Otherworld stuff sealed inside this island?
Io's simple question causes Echidna's smile to slip into an anxious grimace.
Echidna
You see... It's not that Bestia is connected to the Otherworld or anything.
Echidna
More correctly, it's my command over mothership that links this plane to that place.
Echidna
That's what I was made to do in the first place.
Io
Huh! But why? And, uh, more importantly, what?
Echidna
I'm afraid this is a bit of an old story...
Echidna recounts the events that led to her formation.
Echidna
Long, long ago, in this very Nalhegrande Skydom, there once lived an Astral who sought terrible power.
Echidna
So great was her thirst that she would stop at nothing to obtain it.
Echidna
This is how she first came to know of the catastrophic genesis, the primordial scar—simply put, the Otherworld.
The power hungry Astral set out to devise a way to absorb the vast reserves of Otherworld energy.
So she designed a primal beast who held dominion over the concept of origins to reach that twisted realm.
This is how Echidna, the primal beast of mothership, came to be.
Echidna
A mother has the power to link creation and birth. And through that power, one can connect to the source of creation: the Otherworld.
Echidna
Thus it is through the power of the primal beast of mothership that a world of impossibility is accessible.
Echidna
The undeliverable world, seething in all its power... I was to be the one to bear it.
Echidna abruptly halts her tale and peers out across Bestia Island.
Echidna
Being the link to the Otherworld is truly a heavy burden.
Echidna
But, due to the nature of my power, Bestia Island acts somewhat like a gate between the Otherworld and the skies.
Io
...
Io
Um... So this Otherworld power junk—
Rosetta
Certainly sounds like a force to reckon with. But at any rate that wasn't enough to stop the Astral from seeking it out.
The nature of Gilbert's usurped power dawns on Io. A shiver passes through her spine.
Io
Gulp. So Gilbert got that kind of power...
Io
Who cares though. I just have to do what I have to do, and that's all there is to it.
Io
By the way, Echidna. About the innermost teachings that Mentor was going on about...
Io
He said that Rosetta and I would be able to learn them from you.
Echidna
Zeyen has already informed me of such. Thanks to Antikythera's insight, he was able to predict at least this far ahead.
Echidna
However...
Echidna exchanges a worried glance with Io and Rosetta.
Rosetta
...
Echidna
It might be a little too early for both of you.
Io
Huh?
Echidna
Throughout your journey, you've both been forging strong bonds.
Echidna
So I thought I would act as a mediator and have you forge a temporary pact.
Echidna
This way you would be able to arrive at the innermost teachings at an accelerated rate...
Echidna
But it seems as though more time is necessary.
Io stares dumbfounded at Echidna's revelation.
Io
But why?
Echidna
You might have heard this from Zeyen already, but it usually takes many moons to understand the innermost teachings.
Echidna
Of course, forming a temporary pact will reduce the amount of time needed to gain comprehension.
Echidna
But this method is as dangerous as it is convenient. Once you've forged the pact, failure means death.
Io
But...
Rosetta
I see... If that's how it is, then we should hang on a littler longer, Io.
Io
Rosetta...
Echidna
The innermost teachings are not something that can be reached by being impatient.
Echidna
Besides, you've just arrived on the island. Wouldn't you like to rest for the remainder of the day? Mommy's already prepared your rooms.
Io
...
Io and Rosetta accept Echidna's invitation and spend the rest of the day resting their weary bodies.
That night Rosetta stands under the night sky, basking in the night wind, when something comes to her mind.
Rosetta
...
Io
Rosetta?
Rosetta
Io?
Io
What're you doing out here? Was surprised when I didn't see you in your room.
Rosetta
I just needed some fresh air.
Io
I bet...
Io walks over to Rosetta, stopping at her side. When she begins to talk again, her voice is filled with concern.
Io
Hey... Why do you think Echidna said it was still too early for us?
Rosetta's concerns spill out like a flood from a dam: first a trickle, then a torrent.
Rosetta
Io... I'm worried.
Io
About what?
Rosetta
In our coming battles, I'm not sure how useful my power as a primal beast will be.
Rosetta
Who knows if I'll be able to protect you, or Gran, or anyone else...
Rosetta
And, what's worse, things will only get more dangerous from here on out.
Rosetta
I should've known that our journey would wind up this way, but here we are.
Rosetta
I need to protect Gran. But to lead everyone into grave danger—it's too scary to bear.
Rosetta
Even if that is my mission, I... I'm at my limit...
After hearing Rosetta's heartfelt confession, Io wears a somber expression.
Io
Why...
Rosetta
Mm?
Io
Lead, don't lead—who cares? That's not what friends are!
Io
Are you just traveling with us because Gran's dad told you to? Is that all Gran is to you!
Io
Did you decide to fly all over the skies with us just because Gran's dad asked you to be a babysitter?
Io
Tell me, Rosetta! Who do you think your friends are? Who do you think you're traveling with!
Rosetta
...!
Pressed by Io's interrogation, Rosetta finds herself lost for words.
Io too finds it hard to speak, but she calms her emotions until she can muster a whisper.
Io
This... This is not how a real lady acts.
With nothing left to say, Io leaves Rosetta standing alone.
Rosetta
...
Rosetta lets the girl walk away, unable to find the words to comfort her.
Echidna
...
Echidna peers at the quarrelling pair from a distance.
Echidna
It is clear that they do require more time...
Echidna
...!
Echidna
This feeling! It can't be!
Back in their separate quarters, Rosetta and Io spend a restless night on Bestia Island.
But a force far greater than the rift appearing between them is soon to make itself known.
98: Writhing Omen 
