Rean's group having no clue whether ASO team are happy with her on the team or are just accepting their fate.
Crow even going as far as telling Van to tame her so she doesn't do crazy stuff. 🤣
Like: "We don't want her on our ass, she's yours, infact please take her away."
Ignore Onion Boy's slander for a moment. (Pretend he don't exist in this image)
Let's appreciate Saara's adorable smile.
🥹
One of the pillars of being a spriggan and especially in Van's case is to not really wanting to be well known or popular, because it would be harder for him to do his work in the open. So livestreaming his battle in his human form would make it impossible to work as a spriggan because he would be known worldwide.
So my train of thought is that Van and ASO would likely give the credits to the other collaborators. It doesn't matter who. Could be kevin's group or Reans Group.
The way i think they will go about it is this: That they will livestream the final fight for all edith to see. it's gonna be Van in his grendel form/new/final transformation against the final boss. so they won't really know that this person is someone from edith or a human to begin with. All they will know is someone is fighting, and they might even figure that this someone is fighting a bad evil guy. Van wins in his 1 vs 1 confrontration.
The people of Zemuria will cheer on Van. Kind of like in Dragon Ball when Goku gathered energy for the spirit bomb against majin buu. This is that but Calvard arc's version of that.
The people of calvard will know grendel van as a hero, without actually knowing who that hero is beneath the form.
This also allows ASO to "peacefully" celebrate Agnés's birthday over at montmart. "Peaceful" as it can be. Since Dominions, Divine Blades, CID, Heiyue, Liberl Intelligence office (Reins etc), the president, the former president, Master Taito users. Basically many people from different aspects of life will be there for Agnés's Birthday.
What do you think? Does this make sense? Can you see it being livestreamed, the final fight that is?
I got inspired by a twitter post about whether Van will choose elaine or Agnés.
This is an extension of one of my older threads and expanded a little bit more.
Let's say Agnés confesses to Van again, without hiding anything at all now. Will Van still reject the confession? This is under the assumption that he has mastered his vagrant diaspora/diabolical core powers.
I have my own thoughts to this and here's what i think:
After having replayed the 3 games something that seems constant is that Van hasn't actually shown any romantic feelings towards characters. He did consider going back with Elaine. But this was a consideration he had, but is he actually feeling romantic feelings here or is it a feeling of guilt?
One theme that actually has stayed constant in calvard arc is actually a line from Estelle back in Trails in the Sky 2nd or 3rd chapter. Where love or feelings can change. Meaning Van's love for Elaine might have faded, but this does not mean Van loves Agnés.
I am making this point, because if you observe the 3 calvard arc games. At most Van has gotten impressed/surprised by a characters's words or charm. But he has never expressed the feeling of truly wanting to be with someone without a doubt.
So this is my roundabout way of saying: Is falcom intentionally making Van not have any romantic feelings towards anyone incase they wanna add optional romance as part of the LGC system in Horizon 2?
I have already made a similar thread, but i wanted to expand on this because, in cold steel series at least Rean felt some sort of love or attraction to some of the characters, but i can't decide whether it's because of CS's bonding event system or if it's part of the main story, but that's besides the point.
In trails from zero if you do pursue romantic options, Lloyd does show feelings towards Ellie. I don't remember what kind of way Lloyd interracted with Rixia and Noel in trails to azure if you maximize their bond fully.
The point i am making is that, Lloyd and Rean has shown romantic feelings towards characters. But Van has really NOT. At least not in the 3 games. It feels more like an afterthought to Van's character. Since Van looks at Agnés as a dear co-worker/assistant and is aware that she is a kiddo. Agnés however sees Van differently.
Van looks at Elaine as a collaborator and working in the same field, but also ex girlfriend. He feels guilty for leaving her hanging and dissapearing from her life without as much as telling her whats up. Elaine sees Van differently. A childhood friend and she may still consider him as her boyfriend because Van has not actually broken up with Elaine yet. He has only made "promises" that could be broken anytime in horizon 2.
Ultimately what i am trying to say that if you try to take a look outside of the box, there is a good chance Van would reject agnés, even if you ignore other factors. But i also think that he might even break up with Elaine canonically, and still not show any romantic feelings towards anyone. Because it is in his character. (Currently) but that will change once he masters his powers and has no fear over his powers, but i think the conclusion will be the same. As in rejecting and breaking up. The difference is however that he can finally seek love or learn to feel romance again.
As the title suggests, will Van Reject her?
Also i apologize for making another thread of this kind. I just can't help but like going over things and predict the outcome before it gets debunked or proven right whenever horizon 2 sequel releases.
Jan 15th is when it finally released world-wide outside of japan. This means the game has been out for 8 months by now.
What was your feelings at the time and where is it now? Are your feelings still positive? Are there any new theories you have come up with?
Has your opinion on some characters climbed your calvard arc tier list or have they been lowered in your personal tier list after letting your thoughts sit for 8 months?
What about the osts? Are you feeling strongly about em now? Maybe more with some ost's and maybe less with others?
And finally, have you replayed the game to re-confirm your thoughts? If you did replay it, did you notice something new? If there is a route you liked more than the other, do you dislike it now? Or is it still at the top? Or maybe you appreciate some of the other routes's in-terms of purposes?
You do not have to answer all of these questions, my point is just, what kind of feelings are you feeling from 8 months ago, to now?
---------------------------
And for those of you who played the japanese release roughly 2 years ago, have you replayed the game with the official english localization for the last 8 months? Has your opinion on some characters's characterization changed? Or maybe a lore detail or character detail that is different from the unofficial ver you played?
Van has only used Grendel Shin once in the mainstory, while he has used that form 2 times against Shizuna in a bonding event.
Falcom. What are you cooking up with this? Whats you guys's thoughts on this? Is falcom trying to hint at a direction that Horizon 2 could go as part of either a mainplot or subplot story?
[Image unrelated]
Will it be that of an older disciple and younger disciple?
A hidden disciple with the youngest official disciple?
A big brother to a younger brother?
Is Van someone Gaius could look up to? Respect?
Is he gonna have a more positive image of Van than Celis and Leon, since Bergard might've talked about Van, his unofficial disciple to Gaius?
These are just some ideas, but what's your idea and why do you look forward to seeing them meet?
To reiterate, i am just wondering what kind of dynamic you think they will have. I fully expect a wholesome one.
Horizon marks the first game where Shizuna shows a genuine smile and is finally letting her guard completely down for the first time in these 3 games.
All that is to say...
PROTECT THAT SMILE
When Van rejected Agnés, they made it seem like he is wrong for doing that.
Renne, Odette, and Bermotti.
Van did the right thing though?
Is that a hot take or cold take? Also whats your thoughts on seeing other characters knowing Van rejected her?
I don't remember when i took this screenshot. But looking back on it. Harwood looks scary here. I think this was when he did his S-craft and i took the screenshot at a specific frame.
[Theory]
It could be that the hint of Mare just being Yumes, might actually have been shoehorned in, in an unsuspected nonchalant way.
Image 1 and 2.
Yume: "Heehee, Grandpa's right. You and me are family."
Yume: "I'll ALWAYS be with you, Van! I promise!"
I wonder if this might've been a literal promise she made. We know she loves Van dearly. She took inspiration and some personality cues from him since she grew up. For all intents and purposes Van has been in Yumes's life since she was a baby. To her this is a big brother.
Image 3 and 4.
Yume playing chest. Van's Xipha phone reacts to her reactions/feelings. Van looks at the phone, suspecting that it might've blinked momentarily.
Image 5.
is simply to show you that images of Yumes hugging van are numerous. Infact there are plenty of times in DB1, DB2, Horizon where Yumes shows just how much she cares and looks up to Van. This could also reinforce the idea that "I'll ALWAYS be with you, Van! I promise!" is reinforced.
Image 6 and 7.
Mare acts wildly out of character. Infact this is the only time in Daybreak 1 where she acts out of character. I don't think Mare has acted the same even in Daybreak 2 and Horizon.
Let me go through the process.
Van gets the "Bear the nightmare" prompt on image 6. However on image 7 Mare is acting extremely out of place. Saying: "Umm...O-Okay, Shard swell... The Grendel's All Yours!" Why was she acting so uncomfortable? She is clearly showing signs of being uncomfortable. Is it because of Vashtar Palace? Or is it because Dante's has the Diabolical Core? Whatever it is, this is the first time she acts like this.
Image 8 and 9.
Van realizes something is off. Reacting: "(...?)" Dantes going on to say: "Heh. Ah, there it is. I was wondering if you would pull the same trick again."
Image 10.
Says something interesting that i don't think is getting talked about enough, especially now that Horizon has once again added multiple hints to Van's "nostalgic" feelings.
Dantes: "So that must be your nightmare, then?"
What exactly does he mean? He says this when he sees Mare. But what if that nighmare is something more horrifying? That someone got turned into an AI. Someone dear to Van. Something that Van feels like he should know, but his body won't acknowledge because it is so repulsive?
In the final images.
Image 11, 12 and 13. Mare is having a meltdown saying the following...
Mare: "Aaaaargh!"
Mare: "No... This is all wrong..."
Mare: "This isn't who i am! This isn't me!"
Why is Mare denying her existence? Why is she having a meltdown? Did Vashtar Palace make her react this way or is it because Grendel got used too much and memories are starting to crack through?
We actually have a good example of another instances of this. Namely Daybreak 2's Carmine Altera, Lapis.
The character is denying who they actually were before becoming what they are now. But do you remember what happens to Carmine Altera when she tried to? Yes, a third party erased that part of her memory.
So who is to say that Lagjern's Chest didn't just reset Mare's real meemories? After all, what's stopping Lagjern's chest from doing that? Assuming Mare is connected to Lagjerns Chest somehow. This would mean that Daybreak 2 has given us all the hints needed to know whats going on.
Mare's memories got reset back to default/Status quo just like Carmine Altera. That's why in Daybreak 2 and Horizon, Mare hasn't acted out of place since Daybreak 1.
So if Mare is Yume, how did that happen? Can't say how that came to be, but i think the catalysm for it has to do with another parallel. Special Support Section. Just like how SSS originally died in a different timeloops. In this case it wasn't the entire Arkride Solutions crew, but Van himself might've died. He might've died a lonely death. How do i know it's lonely? It's because In Horizon. Yumes talks about how her family has become bigger. Yumes also sometimes talks about Van and Loneliness. So that might actually be a hint all along.
I think that was the trigger for Yumes to become Mare. Because she didn't want her big brother to die. The person she loves and looks up to the most. The only thing i cannot explain is how she became Mare, but i can at least imagine what triggered it.
This is basically a timeline where her big brother is alive, that's the world she wanna live in. Just like KeA wanting SSS to be alive.
Sorry for the long thread. I hope you enjoyed this thread.
Sorry for the long title. Here's a silly thread.
There are multiple characters who have a specific girl they are encouraging or wouldn't mind seeing get together with Van.
But which support/cheerleader are you supporting, that they support? Here's 4 examples that comes to mind but i think there's many other characters in Horizon especially, that makes it clear who they support.
Point is. While romance is sort of present in Horizon. We don't talk enough about the unsung heroes that has been stanning since Daybreak 1. There's even new cheerleaders like the two first characters i mentioned up above.
Have fun with this non-serious-silly ass discussion.
[Image Unrelated.]
[Image does not represent what i wanna see in the main story]
When i say main story i mean in cutscenes fighting against whoever and whatever idea you can come up with.
I think we should keep it to 3 duo or trios you wanna see.
In no particular order:
- Leon, Celis and Van to show that Leon and Celis now fully trusts Van
- Shizuna and Van to show how far they've come and how Shizuna is now officially an ASO member
- Bergard and Van to...One final time with the master's hidden disciple/unofficial disciple
Throughout my replay-through of Daybreak 1, Daybreak 2 and Horizon there has always been this odd consistency about what Van thinks of McBurn strength. You see. Van has called Kasim the strongest jeager in history or one of the strongest (doesn't matter which.) he does not doubt that at all.
However, everytime McBurn gets brought up it feels like he is downplaying or at least sounding like he may know more about McBurn's strength and isn't really impressed by it despite having never met McBurn. I'm not really good at explaining what i mean, but i hope that one of you can do me a solid and help me on this one.
I'll put up images from Horizon and then show the lines in question, but these lines have also been there at the end of Daybreak 1. (Not word for word, but similar.)
You'll see what i mean. Shizuna says the following:
Shizuna: "This is basically a given, too, but maybe sir Strongest—The—World's—Ever—Seen is with 'em, like you mentioned."
While it is Shizuna that says this, Van actually thinks this is the case in Daybreak 1. I am just sharing this one because i do not have the image in question where Van says it.
Now here's what VAN himself says about McBurn:
Van: "The society's strongest member...or so everyone keeps claimin'. You've met him before, right, Master?"
See. Here he goes on to say people are claiming things. Meaning he is saying people are stating a FACT despite no proof. This is also something he has been oddly consistent about since Daybreak 1. While he did not say the exact same thing in Daybreak 1. Everytime McBurn was brought up. It always felt like to me at least, that he does not think McBurn is all that much. And that is despite him being weaker than McBurn currently.
So why am i bringing this up? Not really for anything deep, but just a food for thought. Could be that Van thinks there is someone stronger. Perhaps Grandmaster is truly at the apex of the hierachy or maybe there is someone else that we do not know about.
It's also important to remember that Van has affinity with the higher elements and has a nose for things that are either true or not true and straight up bullshit. So maybe that is why he is skeptical about it.
What do you think? Do you think i am onto something here? Could this be a foreshadowing to something? Or do you think i am overreaching so hard that it loops back to being just plain bad.
[Third image is unrelated]
It's kind of crazy that the whole memory thing has been set up since the end of Daybreak 1 with Shizuna taking a picture with Van in it.
And Yume taking pictures of ASO members. Depending on where exactly Horizon 2 takes place, Yumes is gonna do a lot of the heavy lifting so will Shizuna.
Off topic:
I am wondering if this gives us an idea what the prologue will play out. I can easily imagine Shizuna being the character to knock on the door in this game.
Agnés knocked the door in DB1.
Elaine knocked the door in DB2.
Shizuna knocking the door in Horizon 2 (?)
That Van is infact an ancient zemurian and was born before the great collapse, before lagjern's chest was made and before liber ark's downfall?
After all Toshiro Kondo did say that they are working closely with 2nd chapter and Horizon 2.
Thoughts on this?
Ofcourse there is a chance that it's not a big deal and they can sweep it under the rug.
But i have copium and hopium built into my veins!