Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World - Hatenai Omoi Vol. 1, Alice Excerpts
I translated the prologue, part of chapter 4, and the epilogue in the first volume of Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World - Feelings Without End by Sara Yajima.
This volume is entirely about Alice and Decus' backstory. The parts I translated cover their finale in the game, and gives more introspect on Alice's thoughts during that segment.
Prologue
She could feel the scrapes on her shoulders and chest as she laid face down. Here in the Ginnungagap, the bones of countless monsters who had lost their life were mercilessly scattered about. Those who still had a semblance of their form were the lucky ones—no doubt below laid those whose bones had long crumbled to dust. This was a Monster Graveyard. Moaning, Alice desperately tried to stand.
De…cus…
Reflected in her hazy eyes was his unmoving body, no longer breathing. Her hand trembled as she reached out to him in an attempt to get even a tiny bit closer.
“Alice… I know…you always said I was disgusting…”
Decus’ voice rose up in her mind.
“But I loved you…”
Those were his last words. She couldn’t count how many times she had heard him say “love” since they were young. However, it was the first and last time she had heard it in the past tense.
Decus…
When he was stabbed by Emil Castagnier’s sword, she instinctively let out a shriek. Unable to stand, she fell to her knees.
“...I… I loved you too. I really, truly… loved you too!”
She wondered if that voice would reach Decus.
Decus… If it was gonna come to this, then… I should have…
She could hear Emil saying something. Answering that voice was Marta Lualdi, still holding her spinners.
“Ghh…!”
Using all her strength, Alice crawled forward.
“Decus… I’m… coming for you…”
As he lay stretched out languidly, Alice reached out to his slender fingers.
The pain from the wound that Marta inflicted slowly faded into the distance. In its place, she could hear a faint whooshing sound.
Was it the wind? Wind did not blow in the Ginnungagap. That was the sound of the strong winds blowing in Hima.
I’m going home…
Alice smiled.
The orphanage where she met Decus when she was young must surely still be there.
It was an old building, and the kids would often have to repair the roof after the wind would damage it. Occasionally, a curious traveler or stray monster would wander into the small yard. The paint was peeling on the outer walls, and all that remained of the smashed windows was a warped frame.
Alice listened carefully to the sound that called her. Soon, she would no longer be in pain.
The wind grew stronger.
Chapter 4
Ginnungagap was the passageway to another world—once meant to connect Tethe’alla and Sylvarant—and now was the door to the demonic realm.
Richter, who had made pacts with the demons, was now trying to open the door to Niflheim. After confirming Richter had entered, Alice and Decus laid in wait to ambush Marta’s group. They would surely appear soon to stop Richter.
“This should be a good place to wait.”
Decus held the iron maiden in one hand and struck a pose. The reason it took them so long to reach this place was because of his so-called lucky merchandise, which weighed a ton.
“Decus, how long are you going to carry that dumb thing around? I can’t believe you brought it here of all places.”
She breathed a sigh and side-eyed the casket-style torture device.
“Well, my dearest Alice, today is the 765th day! The day my wish is to come true! There’s no way I wouldn’t bring it!”
“Is that so?” It was a typical occurrence, so Alice brushed it off.
“Hehe… Hehehehehe!” Decus looked down and burst into laughter.
“Why are you acting so disgusting?”
“Sorry, I was just thinking. Like how it would be nice to get a house after this. Let’s see… How does a place in Hima sound?
“Hima?” Alice looked at Decus, puzzled. “You can go back there if you want, but surely you of all people know Hima is beyond remote.”
Decus wriggled his body and proudly proclaimed, “That’s exactly why! I did think it through, y’know. With your flying monsters, we’d be just a hop away from work!”
“Wait, you’re including me in this?!” Alice gaped at him.
“The monsters there have decreased in numbers, and it’s become a nice place.”
“Oh, you…!” Alice glared at Decus. “You left me to go searching for Exspheres while you went back to Hima.”
“Please don’t get mad. I just wanted to take a glance to see if it was a suitable place for us to live and put you at ease.”
“...”
Does he really plan on staying with me forever?
Alice was exasperated.
At that moment, faint footsteps could be heard in the distance.
“!”
Alice readied herself.
“Alice, it looks like they’re here.” “I know.”
I’ll show you my “power.” Alice looked up with a dignified face, and then looked forward.
What appeared before her eyes was not a large number of people, but Marta and Emil, and the Centurion of Darkness, Tenebrae. Alice was happy to see this.
Alice had not known that Lloyd’s group, who held the Derris Emblem that Ratatosk hated, had been transported to another location. She had only wanted to surpass Marta, and say a piece of her mind.
“Welcome, to the Monster Graveyard.”
Alice lined herself up with Decus, and snapping her whip, stepped out to meet the two. She had no intention of losing.
I’ll show you whether my belief is just a show or not.
Alice readied her whip, and Decus took out his large sword from the iron maiden. Emil went after Alice with his sword.
“Watch out, Alice!”
Marta went after Decus with her spinners as he guarded Alice. Taking that gap as a chance, Emil’s sword flashed several times before her eyes.
“Ahh?!”
There’s no way I’ll lose! I came this far with my own power. I can’t allow myself to lose to Martmart of all people! I’m stronger than her!
Believing in herself, Alice continued to fight. Eventually, she collapsed. Decus was also wounded, and let out a moan.
Why… I thought Martmart can’t do anything on her own… Don’t tell me she really grew up just because the princess met her prince?
“Martmart…”
Alice, collapsed, began to stand up while calling Marta’s name. Emil’s attack had cut deeply, most likely puncturing a lung, and she had difficulty breathing.
“Alice…”
“Martmart, you know, I…”
I have to say it. Those words I’ve always wanted to say!
Alice drew nearer to Marta, slouched over. She took one step and showed off a large stumble.
“Alice!”
As expected, Marta came running over and reached out to support Alice’s body.
Martmart, you’re too naive.
Alice straightened her body and slapped Marta as hard as she could across the cheek.
“I hate your guts!”
You’re just a little princess who’s never suffered a day in her life, and gets pampered when you can’t do a damn thing!
Alice pushed Marta down and straddled her, then raised her whip high and started to strike her.
“S-Stop that right now!”
Emil went after Alice and sliced his sword sideways.
Ahh!
She closed her eyes instinctively, when suddenly she heard a noise.
“Urgh…”
Before her was a groan she knew all too well.
D-Decus?!
Decus had his back gouged by Emil’s sword as he jumped in front of Alice. He tightly grabbed Alice’s shoulders with both hands.
For the first time, Alice saw a hint of nostalgia in Decus’ unfocused pupils, as he swayed back and forth. As his lips turned purple, he muttered, trembling and with a smile, “Today… is the 765th day… It seems… it was a scam again…”
Decus…
“Alice… I know…you always said I was disgusting…”
As his voice grew hoarse, he murmured just one thing.
“But I loved you…”
His words streamed into Alice’s ears.
That was it. Standing upright, just like that, he fell forward.
No…
“Decus!”
Alice shrieked. In that moment, the armor around her heart shattered.
“...I… I loved you too. I really, truly… loved you too!”
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
As much as I wanted to yell “I hate your guts!” to Marta… All the same, I wanted to say “I loved you” to Decus…
A terrifying regret took hold of her heart.
Why did I only realize now… That’s right, I loved Decus. So why…!
Alice picked up Decus’ large sword from the ground. The idea to use her monsters never once crossed her mind.
“DIE!!!”
She rushed at Emil, who had taken Decus’ life. Suddenly, a large impact struck her back.
“...You know… Martmart…”
When she raised her head, Marta turned her back on her.
“...Hate me if you will. But I’ll never forgive anyone who hurts Emil.”
“...I never imagined you would seriously come at me. It’s my utter defeat…”
Since when did things turn out this way… Since when…
Alice desperately retraced her path.
“You’re a half-elf.”
“You’ll become strong.” “...So long as you don’t die in the middle of it, you’ll live a long life.”
The words of the old lady living in Hima came to mind.
Just… when…
Unable to come to an answer, she collapsed face down.
Epilogue
“Decus… I’m… coming for you…”
The strong winds blowing in Hima danced in the heavens, and softly rained down on the place Alice laid. The sound faded into the distance.
Her hand finally reached his fingers, where warmth still resided. She gently overlapped his hand with her own.
“Soon… we’ll be together again…” She whispered with only a movement of her lips.
If only… I had realized sooner… Then maybe the days we spent together may have been different…
The sky that Decus had looked up to every day when he was young. With clouds torn apart by the wind, the two began their journey under that same sky, seemingly too high to set their dreams free into.
To change the world all by oneself.
To obtain “power” all by oneself.
What I really wanted was… No, this was for the best…
She knew where her destination lay.
This time, I’ll return home, she thought.
Next time though, I absolutely won’t lose! She slowly closed her eyes.
Alice’s final smile graced her lips.
