I've been waiting for you. After so many requests for reinforcements, Brigade General Versetti finally sent me someone suitable!

Now, for business. Balaurea is thin in Aether, but curiously enough, Taloc's Forest is rich in the substance.

There are very few places like this. So we searched for the cause and, at the center of the forest, we found Taloc--a Holy Tree similar to Elim and almost as powerful as Arbolu.

We came here to investigate, but haven't made much progress.

Taloc's Forest is an important place that may solve the problem of the Aether shortage in Balaurea. So when there is a problem, it must be dealt with as quickly as possible. I want to help, but I'm unable to do much because the others here don't like me much. I'm not one of them.

But they wouldn't refuse you, your character, since you don't belong to any specific organization. Would you please go there, assess the situation, and provide assistance as needed? The Taloc Research Group is led by a Daeva of Life named Dorsia. You should talk to her first.

So Inggison finally sent someone. I've actually been expecting you--Crosia has been particularly bothersome of late.

But there is no one left among us who is fit for the job, so we are in need of help. I don't know if you've heard, but tremendous Aether energy is radiating out from inside Taloc.

We thought we could use it to solve not only the matter of the Obelisk, but the Aether shortage problem of Inggison, as well.

We went to explore Taloc and encountered an Elim called Lothas. Well, it wasn't really an Elim, rather a Twig from Taloc who told us that there was a big problem inside Taloc.

We thought it was a good opportunity. Elims are a race that never forget any help they receive. But everyone I sent to Lothas returned in failure.

They all had to leave almost immediately after eating the Taloc Fruit Lothas gave to them, because the sudden increase of power was too much to bear. So we still haven't identified what exactly is going on in Taloc's Hollow. If you want to help us, your character, go visit Lothas.

I feel it... the pain... of Taloc.

A... catastrophe awaits... if it continues.

Save Taloc... from anguish, we must... before a calamity... befalls the forest.

Take these... the Taloc Fruit and Taloc's Tears.

Eat the Taloc Fruit... and reach the limit of... your power. Only in the most desperate of times... use Taloc's Tear...

Now I shall let you... inside. Grab my branch... when you are ready.

Why have you emerged... without fulfilling your purpose?

Astonished... Taloc is... at the immense power... never felt before.

Taloc... wants your help, Daeva. Grab my branch... if you wish to go... again.

Taloc does not... want help... from many.

Go alone... Taloc commands you... go alone.

Taloc... rejects you, Daeva.

The extent of... your strength... is too much.

Who are you... Daeva, with the power... of an Empyrean Lord?

Never have I seen... a Daeva, us wield such strength... from a Taloc Fruit.

Did you discover... the source... of Taloc's anguish?

Oh... This... this agonized Taloc... disturbed the flow... of Aether.

All should be well... now. Once it is... returned to its rightful owner.

He speaks... Taloc thanks you Daeva... the mighty Friend of Elim. Forever will not forget... your assistance today.

It is hurting Taloc... something absorbs the energy... of Aether.

Shattered the peace... of forest... if not removed...

Bring it... to me... mighty Daeva.

You've come back, at last. Not long after you left, Tialla said the distorted Aether energy that enveloped the forest had disappeared.

I was sure that something remarkable was happening.

I know you went inside Taloc. What happened in there?

There was a fragment of the Aion Tower deep in Taloc's Hollow? That explains it. I always wondered how a forest like this could exist in the desolation of Balaurea.

So the fragment created the space inside Taloc... And the Aether energy became distorted when a parasite leeched on to the fragment.

If you hadn't destroyed that monster, the disturbance in the balance of the forest would've created even more monsters. You got there just in time and, thanks to you, we can expect assistance from Taloc. I will report this to Brigade General Versetti!

1. Go to the Taloc Research Group Campsite and talk with Crosia.

2. Talk with Dorsia.

3. Talk with Lothas.

4. Venture into Taloc's Hollow.

5. Use a Taloc Fruit to maximize your power.

6. Use Taloc's Tears to cleanse Taloc's Hollow. (/20)

7. Vanquish Celestius to obtain its heart and take it to Lothas.

   Heart of Celestius

8. Talk with Crosia at the Taloc Research Group Campsite.

9. Report back to Crosia.

Order: The research group that went to investigate Taloc has encountered a problem. Go to Taloc's Forest and offer your help.

Crosia at the Taloc Research Campsite said their investigation ran into many difficulties and asked you to see Tialla, the leader of the research group, and offer assistance.

Tialla said many Daevas went to help Taloc, who was in a predicament, but none could handle the excessive Aether energy and returned in vain.

After entering Taloc's Hollow with the help of Lothas, Taloc's Young Branch, you ate a Taloc Fruit and were able to wield great power. You vanquished Celestius, a parasite that was leeching off of the Aion fragment embedded inside Taloc. When you reported this to Crosia, she praised your efforts and said she would report your prowess to the brigade general at the fortress.