#I HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS ABOUT THE DEZEL/ROSE TIMELINE NOW HOLY HECK

[ice-cream-beat]

Tales of Zestiria Perfect Guide translation

Investigation: Fates Tied to the Shepherd

T/N: so this section is really heckin interesting (in my opinion) because it clears up some of the more confusing (also in my opinion) story elements on top of providing some new insight on certain backstories, including Mikleo, Muse, Dezel, Rose, Maltran, and even Konan’s family.

contains major game spoilers!

The fates of some people were left as gaps in the Shepherd’s journey. Some of these details went unnoticed, but in exploring the hidden mysteries of these truths, we can see the true meaning of the “salvation” that Sorey and his friends sought.

Q1: What is the origin of the affair with Rolance’s royal family?      →Konan, the Imperial Prince, fell to malevolence when he came into contact with Dezel.

The aforementioned affair was the incident five years ago in which the infamous Wind Riders were blamed for the murder of a member of the royal family. The pasts of Sorey’s comrades were deeply embroiled with this matter--even though Konan, the second imperial prince, was already tainted by malevolence to begin with, Dezel’s presence was the trigger that sent him over. In his strong desire to see the Wind Riders continue on, the warped nature of Dezel’s blessing influenced Konan and prompted his hellionization.

However, there were rumors that Konan was not the biological child of the late Emperor Dorann. His doting mother, the queen, was plotting the assassination of his older brother and the first imperial son, Leon. This tragedy was bound to occur at some point, and the Wind Riders were in the wrong place at the wrong time when they were framed by Konan. It could perhaps be said that the incident was unavoidable.

Outline of events:

>The queen and Konan form a conspiracy

>They scheme to kill Leon

>The Wind Riders are hired; Konan is engaged to Rose >Konan becomes friendly with the Wind Riders

>Dezel’s blessing amplifies Konan’s malevolence and hellionizes him

>Konan has Leon assassinated

>Konan arrests Brad, the leader of the Wind Riders, and executes him

>Rose murders Konan

>Lafarga is hellionized by Konan’s malevolence >The stigma of the blame for Leon’s assassination causes the Wind Riders to disband

>The Wind Riders change their name to the Scattered Bones and begin a new life in the underworld of society

Q2: Was Symonne the source of Dezel’s revenge?      →Because of his lapse in memory, Dezel mistakenly blamed her for what happened.

In the years following the incident with Rolance’s royal family, Dezel attributed the downfall of the Wind Riders and Lafarga’s hellionization to Symonne. In truth, however, this was merely a fabrication of his faulty memory. She was only a spectator at the time, desiring to see the outcome of Dezel’s cursed blessing (which was the same as her own) as a means of measuring his worth.

Caption: Dezel himself was the catalyst for the tragic affair, but he was convinced that Symonne, who was only present by coincidence, was the actual culprit.

Q3: At what point did Dezel begin possessing Rose?      →In the days of the Wind Riders.

Dezel secretly manipulated Rose during her time in the Scattered Bones, helping her to survive in the harsh world. However, to go back further, she had been serving as his vessel since the time of the Wind Riders. Despite her high resonance, Rose reached the point where she denied the existence of seraphim--perhaps as a result of trauma during her childhood when she once witnessed Dezel’s appearance.

Caption: Rose had no way of knowing that her talents as the leader of the Scattered Bones were actually a result of Dezel’s power.

Q4: Was Mikleo reincarnated in Camlann?      →He died, was reborn, and afterwards met Zenrus.

As a result of the reckless violence that the Hyland army inflicted on Camlann, Mikleo was mortally wounded, and then killed when Michael used him to inflict his curse on Heldalf despite Muse’s cries of protest. In other words, Mikleo’s human life ended during the Camlann Incident.

He was miraculously reborn as a seraph and encountered Zenrus, who had arrived at the disastrous scene. So it was that fortune favored Mikleo and he was able to survive.

Caption: Reincarnation is a mystery that even high-ranking seraphim cannot manipulate. Could Muse’s love have given birth to the miracle of his reincarnation?

Q5: What caused Maltran to become a hellion?      →The betrayal of her allies in a past battle.

Maltran wasn’t only a hellion, but one who operated as Heldalf’s subordinate following an incident ten years ago. Jealous of her military achievements, the soldiers in her own unit turned on her and attempted to kill her, which was the trigger for her transformation. For this reason Maltran was more fastidious than Alisha, and in her strong desire to cleanse the warped world of its corruption, she chose the path of dirtying her own hands.

Caption: With the sword of the fallen Shepherd Asura in hand, Maltran declares that destroying the world is the only way to purify it.

Q6: What is the meaning of the inscription on the grave [in the credits cutscene]?      →“Rose” in the modern language.

After Sorey’s journey was over, a grave was erected on a hilltop. On the stone was engraved “Numin,” or “Rose” in the modern language, therefore indicating that this grave was Rose’s. Incidentally, the person visiting Rose’s grave--the one who had succeeded Sorey as Shepherd--was none other than her successor. He also held the Celestial Record in hand, and can be considered the one who inherited the will of Sorey and his friends.

Caption: Between the pair of daggers lying on the tombstone and those assembled around it, one can guess the owner of the grave.