Phos has been missing for some time now, and we currently have a search party out looking.
Morganite and Goshenite are surveying the Chord Shore area.
And out on the Western Plateau, Neptunite and Benitoite are doing the same.
Phos!
We have Yellow Diamond and Zircon on White Hill.
No sign...
And Hemimorphite and Watermelon are surveying the Eastern Plains.
I see...
That Phos!
Off with my new outfit and everything too!
It can't be... Out to sea?
It's too soon to start jumping to conclusions.
Or maybe Phos finally committed to the assignment and is just working har-
That is absolutely not the case!
You are far too naive!
And you're far too nasty!
I'm heading out for a bit!
Dia?
I've got an idea!
How should I know?
Didn't I tell you we're better off without that good-for-nothing?
But... something weird is going on this time.
Why would Phos just want to run off to the sea all of a sudden?
Like I'd know.
It's like, maybe...
Maybe Phos went looking for something we don't have around here?
Like your heart or something!
I've had about enough of you!
Well, just help us out with this, would you?
Well, I'm going to find something better than the night watch that only you can do, then!
I never asked for this!
Jade!
Over here!
Could this be...?
Preposterous!
Now you ask for more of them?
That was not our deal.
Return my brethren there to their senses.
Phosphophyllite is surely worth enough for that.
Very well, very well.
But know that they are no fools.
They will not fall for the same methods.
Perhaps if we were to use Phos as bait...
Yes...
All alone and quick-witted...
We could perhaps get Cinnabar.
No, Phosphophyllite is truly the best I can do.
The rest already suspect me.
King!
Foo...
Foo?
I... smell...
food...
It's... adorable.
Aculeatus.
Aculeatus!
Aculeatus...
Yeah, yeah.
I woke up to the smell of food.
But I wasn't expecting to be so close to home and find my dearest sister here too.
How lucky!
You.
You know nothing but gluttony and aggression, O foolish brother of mine.
My my, how bold you have become.
I don't know what exactly is going on here, but we best leave this place at once.
The Lunarians may be weak, but they are both swift and shrewd.
Word of our escape is likely to reach the moon at any moment.
It's only a matter of time...
Is that one of the bones?
Looks rather battered...
But beautifully colored like the shallow waters of the west.
The Lunarians would be quite fond of it.
Oh that's it.
You used this one here to rescue me, did you?
How incredibly fortunate that you pulled it off without even handing it over to the Lunarians.
For our father, mother, and friends,
this may be their last chance to be freed from a life of domestication.
You were the only one on the moon with even a bit of sense.
You've done well to come this far.
And all on your own.
That's not fair.
How am I supposed to be mad after hearing all that?
Are you saying you have no qualms about being used in negotiations?
Do you immortals fear nothing?
You might never return home, you know.
So be it.
Well, well...
But in exchange, keep Cinnabar out of this.
Very well. We have a deal.
Are you certain?
Yeah.
I forgive you.
I mean, I don't have the strength to fight back anyway.
It's not like I have any better ideas... so be it.
What have I been doing all this time?
I turn 300 today, you know.
You must be so much younger than me, yet look at what you've accomplished.
Oh, you're so soft.
So your touch doesn't always melt me, does it?
Sister?
If we don't change our ways, we're no different than the Lunarians, are we?
Let's go home.
Sensei, we're all ready.
Mind the changing of the tides.
Work in pairs and do not split up.
Got it!
This has nothing to do with me.
I don't care...
I think we'd be better off without someone like that.
Troublesome, annoying, self-centered, and full of nothing but childish thoughts...
A useless fool who can't do anything.
I hate it!
This is all my...
Out at sea...
Even out at sea I couldn't find a new job for you...
I'm sorry.
Tomorrow...
Tomorrow I'll try harder.
So forgive me...
No.
You're really a tough one.
I knew you'd say that...
It's already the dead of night.
Still nothing?
Phos?
Phos, come on out!
They aren't used to working out at sea.
They're all exhausted.
They could very well have to face the Lunarians tomorrow.
Do you not think we are already at our limit?
I will need more resin if we are to head into the sea again.
Do what you must.
Next time... I'll be the one that saves you.
Phos...
Where could you have gone off to?
Yikes!
Who did this?!
Sorry, sorry.
The medical room must remain spick and span!
Sheesh! What is this thing anyway?!
I think it was a gift from the king...
You mean that little slug?
Why?
Beats me...
Rutile... I lost my legs.
Can you still fix me?
Do we still not have resin?
We need you to hurry, Rutile!
You've come back.
What?
Sensei...
S-Sensei...?
I only just applied a coat of glue!
J-just... Jade, can't you do something?!
Everyone fall back!
Let's hide!
Always trying to cover your own back, aren't you?!
You can't expect me to just not report this to Sensei!
Go on now, get out of here!
But...!
If you crumble out here, who's going to put you back together?
All right then, Phos.
Be ready to face your punishment.
Why you...
insolent fool!
I'm sorry!
The sea was... frightening.
I will hear your full report tomorrow.
I'll try harder starting tomor-
And with that report...
I hereby call off the production of your encyclopedia.
Now then.
Now that I've got you mostly put back together, what are we going to do about your legs?
Well, if I'm being honest here, our only choice is to make use of these things here.
When we lose a portion of our bodies,
we must replace it with a similar material with no microorganisms, no Inclusions, living inside of it.
But I was unable to procure enough of such material for two whole legs' worth.
This here, outside it's weaker even than you,
but the inside is made up of a type of quartz called agate.
It has a hardness of seven, while you are only a three-and-a-half.
It'll be a bit crude, but if we break it down and mix it in pieces, it will roughly match your level.
So it shouldn't be too taxing.
Are you listening?
Phos!
I hear you, but the whole losing my job thing kind of makes it hard to focus.
Now you listen to me.
The reason your work has been put on hold
is because Sensei is worried about you as the youngest among us.
Plus, every time you go off to do something it really wears down on the others.
In truth, that is probably the main reason.
Probably, yeah.
I guess I better just break into bits again to apologize.
Come on now!
Think of this as your last task on the job.
Tell me what exactly this thing you washed up with is.
I'm hesitant to try attaching this to you.
Ki...
Ki?
Kin...
Kin?!
Kind of this shell?
Oh, now that you mention it...
shells are known to sometimes transform into agate.
In that case...
Are those things really fit to be legs?
Will they even move?
Whether they can be attached and whether they will move are two different issues.
Whether or not they will move will depend on how the Inclusions living inside you take to their new home.
Take it easy.
Good. Just like that.
Th-they're just sticks!
I feel like I just have some fancy twigs for legs!
Well, rocks, perhaps.
No good?
Well, let's just take our time with rehabilitation, shall we?
They'll start moving sooner or later, no worries!
I'll help out between shifts.
No sense in getting worried just yet.
Thanks, Red Beryl, Euclase...
Wha...?
Uh...
Huh?
Don't tell me...
Right, it only makes sense that Phos would lose plenty of memories along with both legs.
After all, that's a whole third of the body.
Phos!
Sit out here, get some sun, and I'm sure the Inclusions will get to work!
I know! I'll make you some cute pajamas!
Thanks.
Right here you'll be able to call Rutile when you need.
Sorry about all this...
Sorry, uh...
I-it's Jade. Don't worry about it.
Do you remember anything about the Lunarians?
Well?! What were they like up close?
Well? Well?!
Alex, now's not the time!
See you later!
The Lunarians...
These things look kind of weird, huh?
Move!
Whoa!
How can I be worse off than when I started?
Nope, nope, nope!
No getting all weak-kneed now!
They move!
All right!
Quiet down...
I can't do this.
I'm so tired.
We spent all that time searching for Phos. Even I'm exhausted.
You never show it though, Nepti.
Let's rest in shifts.
Ready, and shoot!
Mad that you lost?
Someone just ran by...
What?
Unbelievably fast.