Soaramame: Wings for Wear

Chapter 4 | Soaramame: Wings for Wear is a story segment in Echoes of Mana.

Storyline
Back in the Mana Sanctuary after exploring Lake Riyama, the protagonist tells the Mana Goddess and their twin about their adventure. Both of the sanctuary's inhabitants seem to enjoy hearing about what the main character and Baashear did during their trip to uncharted territories. The protagonist's twin comments on them looking glum and asking is it's because they couldn't find the sword or if they let their friends behind. Baashear replies that what matters is to find the Mana Sword and that there is no need for friendships to achieve that. The Mana Goddess reveals that Duffle, Honeycomb, Blainchet and Raxa all existed in realms that were destroyed and now only exist in the echoes of the Mana Tree and the protagonist's memory. However there is a way to restore the worlds and their friends altogether, and this is by finding the Mana Sword and bringing it back to the sanctuary. The goddess must part ways for now as her time is up and vanishes once again. Baashear reminds the main character that they must depart as well and continue their search for the legendary weapon, and the team once again harvest the next fruit to open a new portal. The duo find themselves in mid air and are immediately in free fall, ultimately landing on a majestic white dragon.

Unfortunately for them, the duo trips and fall on rocky soil. Baashear tells the protagonist that despite the barren-like appearance, this echo could host the legendary blade since the mana fruit led them here.

Baashear starts complaining that the team encounter monsters everywhere they go on that mountain. The fullball pleads the main character to make their friends appear out of thin air, but to no avail. Baashear adds that he might have been to harsh on them and he wouldn't be surprised if they wouldn't come because of that. He then promises to be more considerate of others' feelings from now on, and the party continues the search.

While walking on the mountain trail, The protagonist and Baashear a whisked into another location called Gusthall, a vast cave-like maze inside the mountain hosting strange statues. While Baashear inspects one nearby, the main character activates a switch that creates a strong gust of wind coming from the statue's mouth, blowing the party several feet away. The duo end up colliding with a local amazon guard. She introduces herself as Riesz, princess of Laurent, the Kingdom of Wind, adding that she is on a quest to find her kidnapped little brother. Baashear explains that they are on a mission by the Mana Goddess to find the Mana Sword, to which Riesz answers back by telling the group she has recently met someone who was in search of the very same thing. Unfortunately, she has no idea where this person might have gone. The amazon princess invites the duo back to her kingdom since she knows some friends who might lend them their help. Baashear confides in the protagonist to consider them lucky to have found a companion as reliable and kind as she.

While exploring the Gustall, Baashear asks Riesz about her being in search of her little brother, as it is very thoughtful of her to delay her search to help strangers. Riesz replies in a somber look that she received some intel about his whereabouts and that she was making her way back to her kingdom to enlist the help of some elite Amazon guards. She comments on Gusthall being quite different from before, as she previously knew the area like the back of her hand. Baashear replies that it must be another disturbance in the echo, and that they must hurry before it gets any worse.

Riesz is getting incredibly anxious after finding many anomalies in Gusthall. The party suddently hears a masculine voice and a dragon cry in the distance, whith Riesz recognizing the former as belonging to Hawkeye. The nevarlan thief is surprised to see the protagonist in such a different setting, but not as surprised as Riesz and Baashear about them knowing each other. The amazon princess explains to the party that this was the man she met before who was searching for the Mana Sword. Hawkeye mentions meeting the main character whil escaping from a dungeon, but is also having trouble remembering the details. Baashear guesses that since the protagonist has met Hawkeye prior to this current echo and stored it in their memory, the thief recognizes them in this world. Riesz explains that they are also looking for the Mana Sword, just like him. Hawkeye reveals that he knows where the fabled blade is located as he points up in the sky. He continues by adding that the Sword lies in the Mana Sanctum, which is located even further than the sky, and the only way to get there is to enlist the help of the Winged Defender at the top of Celestial Peak. Unfortunately for him, the winged beast declined his plea and flew away as Hawkeye was about to reach it. Riesz replies that the Winged Defender only answers to an Amazon's voice, and convice the party to climb the Celestial Peak together. An overjoyed Hawkeye declares that he could kiss her right now.

While heading the the Wing Defender's lair, the party happens to enter Cascade Cavern, in which Hawkeye comments on meeting the Light spirit earlier in his travels. A giant crab hurls itself into the ground, attacking the party.

Having defeated Fullmetal Hugger, the party is transported back to Gusthall. Hawkeye surmises that someone who's also got their eyes on the Mana Sword has been putting those obstacles on the team's way.

Hawkeye tells the group that he is supposed to be destined to free the Sword of Mana as his trusty Faerie companion has told him many times. He guesses that the protagonist's fluffball must also be an annoying sidekick despite not looking like a faerie. Baashear takes offense to that remark, stating that he is a sheep, not a faerie.

Baashear comments on not seeing the faerie Hawkeye is talking about. The nevarlan thief replies that he haven't seen her in quite a while, leaving him with all the the responsabilities and only showing up when it's conveninent. He adds that he needs the Sword to break the curse that has been placed on his good friend's sister. but will gladly give the holy blade to the protagonist once the curse has lifted.

The party has finally made it to Skytop, where they meet with the one and only Winged Defender, which is the same white dragon that the main character and Baashear feel onto upon heading outside the portal. Hawkeye tries to orders the beast around, but the latter is displeased with its approach. Riesz replies that the defender is female, decides to call the beast 'Flammie', and politely asks her help for a ride to the Mana Sanctum. The party hops on the dragon, with Riesz admiting that she must leave the party since she had information about her brother being kidnapped by a man with red eyes. Hawkeye replies that he knows a man with such description and he's already made his way to the sanctum. The Amazon princess has no choice but to believe the thief's words and continue her journey on Flammie's back.

While atop the Winged Defender's back, the team of adventurers is ambushed by the Ebon Knight, with Baashear commenting on him sprouting wings. The party thus must engage into an aerial fight to continue further. After a grueling combat, the dark knight declares that he will do anything to prevent the party to obtain the Mana Sword. He then mumbles about someone listening to him somewhere and exits the premise.

Hawkeye comments on the Ebon Knight's motive not being very clear. Riesz interrupts the conversation by locating the gate to the sanctum as Flammie flies nearer to it. The protagonist is violently yanked off the white dragon moments before entering the sanctum. While falling, they are warped into another dimension where Haweye's companion and familiar to the Mana Goddess of that echo appears before them. She says that the Sanctuary of Mana of this world is rejecting them as they are not the chosen nor from that world. She orders the protagonist to return to their world, as the Sword of Mana in that echo is not meant for them. Back to the real Sanctuary, the harvester complains the to Mana Goddess about what just happen. She reponds by telling them not to worry, as the sword they seek is not in that world. She emphasizes the fact that the experiences they store in their memory is becoming their power, threading a surefire path that will lead them to the true Mana Sword. The main character then absorbs the mana fruit inside his memory, making another fruit appear on one of the Mana Tree's branches.

Objectives
Note: All stats are under normal difficulty.

Trivia

 * Soaramame can be coined from fusing Soar and Edamame. The soaring part is probably hinting at the climax of the chapter spent in the sky atop Flammie's back. Edamame is a dish of soybeans still in the pod, which this Echo's fruit resembles.