Ardelia is an Arts Unit-wielding supporter who deals Nature DMG.
BASIC ATTACK: An attack with up to 4 sequences that deals Nature DMG. As the controlled operator, Final Strike also deals 18 Stagger. DIVE ATTACK: Basic attack performed in mid-air becomes a dive attack that deals Nature DMG to nearby enemies. FINISHER: Basic attack performed near a Staggered enemy becomes a finisher that deals massive Nature DMG and recovers some SP.
Hops on Mr. Dolly and rams the target to deal Nature DMG. If the target has Corrosion, then consume the Corrosion and apply Physical Susceptibility and Arts Susceptibility to the target.
COMBO TRIGGER: When the controlled operator performs a Final Strike on an enemy with no stacks of Vulnerability or Arts Infliction. Launches a homing Volcanic Cloud at a target enemy that deals Nature DMG when close enough to the target. The Volcanic Cloud explodes after a short delay, dealing half of the Nature DMG and forcibly applying temporary Corrosion to nearby enemies.
Ardelia enters a mobile channeling state and summons the aid of Mr. Dolly. Multiple copies of Mr. Dolly are thrown in random directions. Each copy deals Nature DMG when hitting the enemy. Each enemy can only take 1 damaging hit every 0.3s.
Assign to Reception Room to grant operator clue collecting efficiency +20%
Reach E1 to unlock
Assign to Reception Room to grant operator clue collecting efficiency +30%
Reach E3 to activate
Assign to Reception Room to slow Mood Drop of all operators in it by 14%
Reach E2 to unlock
Assign to Reception Room to slow Mood Drop of all operators in it by 18%
Reach E4 to activate
Battle skill Dolly Rush improved: Consuming Corrosion now applies Physical Susceptibility and Arts Susceptibility with effects +8%.
Talent Friendly Presence improved: When the controlled operator touches the Shadow of Mr. Dolly, Ardelia also treats another allied operator with the lowest percentage HP with half of the treatment effects.
Ultimate Wooly Party improved: Duration +1s; chance to create Shadow of Mr. Dolly is increased to 1.2 times the original.
Ultimate Wooly Party improved: Ultimate Energy cost -15%.
Combo skill Eruption Column improved: Length of cooldown -2s; DMG multiplier is increased to 1.2 times the original; duration of Corrosion applied +4s.
CODENAME: Ardelia GENDER: Female AUTHENTICATION: Rhodes Island DOB: October 18 RACE: Caprinae [ORIPATHY INFECTION STATUS] Oripathy negative, based on medical examination reports. [INTEGRATED PHYSICAL EXAMINATION] PHYSIOLOGICAL STRENGTH: Normal COMBAT SKILL: Standard TACTICAL ACUMEN: Normal ORIGINIUM ARTS ASSIMILATION: Outstanding
Ardelia is an expert geologist from Rhodes Island. She specializes in volcanic hazards and has made significant contributions to Talos-II's geological research. Now employed by Endfield, she spends much of her time conducting site investigation. Ardelia is one of those rare minds at the forefront of scientific discovery. What sets her apart isn't just her expertise, but her perseverance, fearless spirit, and above all, her genuine love for science and unquenchable curiosity. Without dedicated researchers like her, we might never truly understand the world we live in. You'll often find her venturing out alone — collecting samples, studying geological structures, and transforming observations into theories. Thanks to her efforts, Endfield has gained a much deeper understanding of Talos-II's geology and the threats posed by the Blight. Her research has laid the groundwork for emergency plans in case of Blight outbreaks. I have great respect for Ardelia — for her humility, grace, and unwavering sense of purpose. It's as if she carries an endless well of strength, always certain of the path she must follow. — Martin Marvin Malen, Assistant, HR Division, Endfield Industries
Mr. Dolly's Game I Shortly after joining Endfield, Ardelia visited a Blight-ravaged sector of Talos-II. The geological disaster had shredded a once-peaceful settlement, leaving fissures that pulsed with residual energy. Survivors bore wounds beyond the physical, their eyes hollow with the kind of trauma only disaster refugees know. Ardelia stayed at the shelter for a while. The wounded crowded steel cots — limbs lost, eyes vacant, voices severed by trauma. White curtains divided their suffering as medical monitors pulsed like weary hearts. Ardelia worked tirelessly — organizing supplies, changing bandages, murmuring "I understand your sorrow" to the wounded. Until a voice, serrated with grief, cut through: "You don't understand." It was a young girl. Small but fierce, she forced the words through gritted teeth: "You stand straight. Your steps don't falter. No disaster has carved its marks into you." The girl turned away, her voice fraying at the edges. "Stop. Just stop pretending. Maybe you've been sick, but you healed. That's luck we'll never taste. Our stories end in the same sentence: lifelong pain. So when you say you 'understand'... is that pity's cheap coin? Spare us." Ardelia stood there in her research coat, ponytail precise, steps steady, and eyes bright. The Originium had scoured the reconvener's illness away, attuning her to wind whispers and microscopic fractures in stone. Yet here, before those still drowning in pain, her engineered perfection rendered her mute. When darkness fell upon the land, Mr. Dolly appeared. It trotted between beds and corridors, leaving chaos in its wake — toppling medicine cabinets, upending tea trays, kicking a freshly filled hot-water bottle beneath pillows. Nurses cursed the sudden swelter; children shrieked about 'something furry' burrowing under their blankets. Ardelia chased Mr. Dolly into an old break room where she tugged at a canvas sheet to reveal a dust-choked piano. It stomped the keys, a discordant chime that jolted Ardelia into clarity. Ardelia approached, brushing away the dust. The yellowed keys stared back, a few bass notes dissonant but functional. She sat, fingertips tracing a tentative sequence of Leithanian arpeggios into the stale air. First piece ... second ... and as the third began, soft footsteps whispered from the hallway's depths. Mr. Dolly lay curled nearby, a silent cushion of warmth. The children nestled against its fur, their breaths syncing with Ardelia's piano as the notes wove through the stale air. The young girl came in as well, perching quietly in the farthest corner. "It still hurts," she murmured, "but when you play... the world becomes something worth enduring."
Mr. Dolly's Game II The geology of Talos-II... unlike the volcanoes she knew, brimming with the vitality of expansion, eruption, and flow. Under erosion, it showed more of corrosion, withering, and consumption. The rock layers lost their logic, the earth as if diseased. Its skin peeled away, veins twisted, some areas warped by aberration. Ardelia came to study the Blight, to keep pace with its unpredictable spread. She often ventured into high-risk zones alone, turning her life into lists of tasks. She started to speak less, no longer weaving her thoughts into poetry. Her voice grew quieter, meals were often forgotten, and at night her fists clenched unconsciously in her sleep. The things she had fought so hard to protect — her eyes, her ears, the rhythm of her pulse, now filled her with a quiet unease. The health she had regained was slowly being eroded by an unseen dread. "How much time do I have left?" she wondered. It wasn't death she feared, it was a desperate race against the crumbling of this strange new land. Until that day Mr. Dolly leapt out from a shallow pit. He knocked over her rock hammer and snatched the instrument case. Ardelia followed, shouting in vain. They ran farther and farther — off-route, off-plan. She was supposed to be surveying a newly-formed Blight rift, but instead, she found herself in a quiet valley, sheltered by cliffs. A vast outcrop of columnar igneous rock stretched before her. Hexagonal pillars rose from the ground like piano keys. Beneath her feet lay ancient volcanic ruins, so well-preserved it was as if time had paused. That familiar spark kindled in her heart once more. Ardelia knelt down, pulled out her notebook, and began to sketch — not for a mission, nor for data, but simply because it was beautiful and captivating. That evening, Ardelia and Mr. Dolly made camp nearby. A cool breeze whispered through the air as stars rose between the jagged rock spires. Mr. Dolly, curled at her feet, let out a sneeze, sending her pen cap tumbling into the grass. "You led me here on purpose, didn't you?" Mr. Dolly didn't answer. It rolled over and tapped her boot with its leg. "You think I've stopped being myself... that all I do now is worry, racing against the Blight." "But I'm scared, too. Scared that if I slow down, even for a moment ... it'll be too late." She ran her fingers along Mr. Dolly's back and closed her eyes. The warmth of its fur against her palm was so comforting that for the first time, she slept soundly and sweetly under the open sky. The next morning, she logged in her journal: "Ancient volcanic ruins discovered in the northeast. Columnar joints well preserved." "Led here by Mr. Dolly. Reconnected with my love for geology. Mood: content." "Note to self: Slow down. Stay healthy."
Mr. Dolly's Game III Gazing out at the glistening coastline and distant skyscrapers, a long-forgotten name came to Ardelia's mind — Siesta, a volcanic city wrapped in warm memories. But, this was La Fantoma — the gem of Band, the gilded city of Talos-II. As a renowned geologist, Ardelia was invited to speak at a major academic forum on "Order in the New Geological Ecology of Talos-II." She had only planned to deliver a standard presentation, but to her surprise, her speech caused quite a stir. Corporate representatives quickly surrounded her, sharing blueprints for a new industrial park and asking for her thoughts. Senior researchers eagerly shared their latest findings, hoping to spark potential collaborations with Ardelia. Even government officials brought thick binders and invited her to join their next major project. Just like that, a quiet field researcher had become the star of the show. What began as simple handshakes soon turned into warm compliments — "You're an inspiration to us all." In the elevator, someone stopped Ardelia with a notebook, asking for an autograph to hang in his lab. At crosswalks, kids would shout, "I wanna be a scientist too!" Even a street vendor handed her a soda, saying, "My nephew loves geology — got any book recommendations?" At first, Ardelia found it moving. She nodded politely to every earnest face, patiently answered each well-meaning question. But slowly, exhaustion crept in. She didn't resent these people, nor did she dislike their attention. It was just… she wasn't ready to be "known". After a grueling three-hour roundtable, she pushed open the door and ran. She passed a giant poster of herself labeled "Young Female Scientist Role Model" and vanished into the crowd. That's when she realized: Mr. Dolly was gone. No one knew what it was or where it had gone. In a shopping mall, a woman screamed about "something fluffy" bumping into her. On a rooftop, a flower bed was trampled flat by "something pink." Someone even posted a blurry photo "something round" darting over the ticket gate — carrying a bag of cotton candy. Ardelia tracked these clues and searched half of the city. Her shoes wore thin, mud clung to her skirt, and headache crept over her. Nearly out of breath, she stumbled out of a side alley and stopped. It was a patch of untouched wilderness at the city's edge — untamed, bursting with wildflowers. The sea breeze carried their fragrance in gentle waves. And there, lay Mr. Dolly, sprawled at the heart of it all, motionless as the earth itself. "What are you even doing here?" Ardelia asked, half-frustrated, half-amused. Mr. Dolly didn't answer. He just rolled over lazily. Ardelia walked over and sat beside him. Then, she switched off her handyterm. The meetings, the obligations — all of it could wait. After all, nothing suits a geologist better than the open wild.
Mr. Dolly's Game IV The day Ardelia boarded Dijiang with her sample box, she realized something was missing. "Where's Mr. Dolly...?" Invisible to most people, this fluffy creature was already happily wandering around Dijiang. In plain sight, Xaihi bowed apologetically to the empty space and said, "My sincere apologies, I did not mean to step on you, noble invisible being." "Something just barged in here!" "Who licked half the hotpot soup base!" The canteen buzzed with surprised shouts. "Who changed my alarm sound to 'baa baa baa'!? Oh no, oh no... I'm going to be so late for sword practice!" "It must be a ghost! And it's pink! Oooohhh, I'm calling dibs!" Yvonne dashed down the hallway excitedly. When Ardelia arrived, she found the Endministrator crouched by the door, slowly extending a hand, as if waiting for some silent consent. Mr. Dolly gazed at the Endministrator a moment before leaning in, letting the fingers sink into its thick wool, without a word. "That devout sister... pays little mind to anything beyond the pursuit of wisdom." "The cheerful chef? Oh, he hides weightier thoughts behind that grin. Don't mistake his ease for carelessness, not until his burdens are settled." "The girl who dreams of being a master pugilist... Will she wake from those dreams? Or will she bend the world to match them?" "And the one who shares my shade of pink... She's already found her path. Already happy." On the Bridge, Ardelia sat with Mr. Dolly beside her. Beyond the viewport, stars flickered like distant lanterns, and Dijiang itself slumbered in the quiet dark, a silent giant adrift in the cosmos. "As for the masked one..." Mr. Dolly flicked its ears and let out a soft, satisfied 'baa' — as if saying, "You can trust the Endministrator."
Do what you must, Professor. I'll do everything I can to help.
Let me see. Where should I be gathering my data this time?
I've readied the prospecting tools, Professor. We can set off anytime.
I feel much safer when Professor's here with me.
Could you stand a little further, Professor? I, uh... I don't want to hurt you by accident.
Field studies can get really dangerous. We must make sure we're properly protected.
My diary is like the rings of an ancient tree. It keeps a record of every lesson I learned while growing up.
How can the enemy turn the land into such ... such lifeless devastation?
Okay, Ardelia! Focus on that one path! Keep exploring, and keep improving!
I really appreciate your approval, Professor! I'll work even harder and achieve way more at Endfield!
Don't worry about me, Professor. I'm definitely not working too hard. Hmm? What about the dark circles around my eyes? Oh, uh ... the book was just too interesting. I couldn't help myself.
This world has so many mysteries to uncover. We should get to know it better just like ... like how we should learn more about ourselves. Don't you agree, Professor?
Greetings, Endministrator. The name's Ardelia and I'm a geologist from Rhodes Island. My current focus is the correlations between geological disasters and the Ætherside. I've heard about you for quite a while, Endmin, and I have so many questions for you. Oh, there's something else... Can I address you as my Professor?
Stay sunny for this day as well, Professor.
I heard your footsteps, Professor.
Leave it to me, Professor. I'm hoping to try out something new as well.
Professor, would you like to share this mille crêpe with me?
Oh, I was just about to go look for you, Professor.
Be careful when walking around Dijiang, Professor... There are all sorts of warning signs aboard the ship and ... and I keep tripping over them. I just couldn't notice them when I'm thinking about things.
I can see plenty of sites that I personally prospected from aboard Dijiang... The wildlands, the prairies, and the north seem so small from this place. The view from orbit easily covers all those lengthy field trips I took... Gotta say, it's kinda exciting being up here — tee-hee!
Professor, interested in the reading group I'm organizing tomorrow? What are we sharing? Oh, it can be anything you like reading! Speaking of which, Mr. Krad once brought a photo magazine about the volcanoes of Talos-II. I'll bring it to the reading group if you're interested!
You must be hungry after all that work, Professor! Try these. They're Higashinese snacks that Miss Akekuri gave me. Uh, I don't need any, actually, because ... I-I had some already. Why is this unopened? Ah, umm... Miss Akekuri gave me a-another box!
Haven't you noticed, Professor? You're always out in the front, like you're trying to shield us from whatever danger's ahead. Sometimes, I even had to jog a little just to keep up with you. Maybe ... you don't have to go so fast. We're right here with you — and we want to help too.
Every trip back to Dijiang is so relaxing. When I'm not sharing stories of my trip with my colleagues, I'll visit the Growth Chambers and see how the little plants are doing. I'll even give them some tender loving care if I have time to spare. It's a little hobby of mine. It feels so fulfilling seeing them grow.
A moment of your time, Endmin? I gathered some souvenirs during prospecting. Decorative feathers from the Hannabit Circuit, jade trinkets from Hongshan, and medals from the Order of Steel Oath... They're all for you. Hope you like them.
A gift? For me? Aww, thank you! Let's see what's inside... *Giggle* Professor, you're looking even more anxious than me.
Professor, are you alright? You look really tired. Please don't tell me you stayed up all night again. C'mon, you know that's really bad for you... Uh-uh! No ifs or buts — it's rest time now.
Oh, stop nipping the Professor's clothes, Mr. Dolly...! Ugh. I'm so sorry. They're just so mischievous. Hmm? You can't see them? Oh... Mr. Dolly only show themselves when they want to be seen... Is Mr. Dolly the Sovereign? No. Mr. Dolly isn't a name for any one in particular since they're a flock of Dollies... Awww, come out and tell the Professor yourself! Mr. Dolly, I know you can talk!
I climbed another mountain today. The geological compass helped me ascertain the orientation and gradient of the rock strata, while the pick helped me gather sedimentary rock samples for optical and texture studies... I'm not tired at all, Professor. I can totally climb more mountains, make more trips, and gather more geological data. Unraveling the mysteries of this planet brings me so much joy... I can't even explain how happy I am!
Having friends by your side in such a festive moment feels so good! This reminds me of that time when I first arrived at Endfield. People threw a welcoming party for me filled with all the things I like. Oh, the sweets, the flowers, and the joyful, happy music. Miss Yvonne even took my hand and we danced to the latest pop! The spins and moves kinda left me disoriented, but I did my best to remember every smile.
What is the Ætherside? This question keeps coming to mind. If the Universe has such cruelty in store for us, is there anything I can do to help everyone...? You're thinking the same thing, Professor? Hmm, that means ... we're not alone.
Your voice is so soothing, Professor. Oh, I, uh, I meant nothing else by that. It's just ... you know, how when waking from a dream, sounds always reach you before the sights? Prior to my eyes falling upon your face, it is your footsteps and your voice that touched my ears first... Yes. Most living beings made their own voices, be they insects, beasts, trees, or plants. The voices move me. They're why I've decided to protect the world we all love, in my own special way.
Everyone at Endfield is incredibly kind. Miss Yvonne would always share her latest scientific findings and new vinyl records with me. Miss Akekuri would always invite me to the usual place for afternoon tea. And of course there's Mr. Antal — he told me he could modify my staff into a highly portable prospecting tool, *and* embellish it with a suite of wondrous features. If Miss Akekuri hadn't pulled him away after three hours, he probably would've spent the entire day explaining every detail!
Field geological surveyors enjoy a great deal of freedom, but the lack of funds can be quite frustrating at times. To acquire funding, I would give seminars and lectures at various companies, hoping that my faith and vision could be persuasive enough. Most companies, except for Endfield, weren't interested in early warning systems for geological disasters. But when the Siesta Group heard about my research, they stepped in with unconditional sponsorship. I think I know why they're being so generous... Perhaps this fateful encounter is part of my heritage.
I once traveled with an Aldertone from the Hannabit Circuit. She sang such beautiful hanna songs and told me about the Aldertone who guided her. Everyone in the Circuit dwell upon this land, so they have a deep respect for those who study it — like us. Hehe, I felt really happy when she told me that. But honestly, it was through her hanna that I found my own purpose and motivation. That's right, Professor. This was the trip I made before I found my true calling upon Talos-II.
Another tear in my clothes? Oh, it's okay, really. I can stitch it up again. Field surveys are always a bit rough on clothes anyway... I have to climb up mountain peaks for rare mineral samples, and the jagged rocks are not very gentle. But that feeling, when you're so close to your goal — sometimes it makes you forget just how risky each step can be. Please don't worry, Professor. I'll be more careful next time.
Ætherside is something entirely new we have to face in Talos-II. There are theories describing it as a unique physical phenomenon, while others regard it as a strange spatial and temporal dimension. But I have this feeling that it's ... a forgotten and dusty room filled with old things that nobody cared about anymore. Professor, maybe the Ætherside has something to do with our origins.
I came from Rhodes Island, where I received all kinds of training and lessons that helped me build my own identity. I had no blood relations, childhood, nor past to call my own, but Rhodes Island taught us how to live and understand ourselves. Professor, Rhodes Island is my home ... and they all told me that it was yours as well.
Mr. Dolly is actually quite lively. I just can't figure out why it won't show itself to other people. It's invisible to you right now, but it loves playing with you. What's Mr. Dolly doing now? Well, it's trying to sit on your... Oh dear! Mr. Dolly! Stop it! Stop messing around with the Professor...! Hoo. Well, that's Mr. Dolly for you. We met on a quite ordinary day, and then it decided to stick around and never left me ever since.
Miss Yvonne is an incredible scientist. When I first arrived in Endfield, she shared tons of important info to get me up to speed about the Ætherside. She even shared her research findings with me, hoping they could help other researchers in our field. And to top it off, we both share a love for music! Though I'm into lighter melodies and she's into faster, heavier beats, she still gave me several albums of La Fantoma pop. She's amazing.
I've once witnessed a giant Originium cluster swallowed up and broken down by the Blight that rose like an ocean tide. Nothing was left but a barren valley. A Tuskbeast survived the disaster and returned to its home, alone and confused... The Ætherside and the Blight are like anathemas of each other, while we teeter precariously along the edge for survival. From Originium I was born, and thus I felt compelled to learn about the Æther. My only wish is to make this world a safer home for everyone.
Those resources seem useful. Don't forget to pick them up.
These resources are really important. Let's try to gather more.
Something feels unclear up ahead. Leave the scouting to me!
Something dangerous is up ahead. We better be fully prepared.
I'll sort and identify these minerals in a bit.
Let me help as well!
A reward for the difficulties we faced!
Unlike the Blight and rifts, Aurylenes aren't that dangerous.
Great. Now it'll no longer hurt anyone.
We've walked so far ... everyone must be tired. Good call on the break.
You've got this, and you've got me!
Phew... I feel so much better.
Be careful!
I'm good! I can still do this!
I can't let ... the Professor down...
Incredible move!
Everyone's chipping in!
Thanks for the thumbs up!
Thank you all!
Watch your step, people.
We'll see this through!
No hardship will stop us.
We've done it. Hope you're not tired, Mr. Dolly.
I knew we could do it.
We finally pulled it off... And it's because we all stuck together.
Losing isn't the end of the world. Learn from the experience and we'll do better next time.
Make way!
Eruption!
Lamb impact!
Knock it off!
Here we go!
I'll help too!
Let me give it a go!
This will hurt!
Blossom forth!
Now's the time!
Just leave!
Please help, Mr. Dolly!
Don't go too far, Mr. Dolly.
Be gentle, Mr. Dolly.
