Mercury: Snowy Song
Designer’s Reflection: Snowy Song
Obtained: Christmas 2021 event
Rarity: SSR
Attribute: Green/Fresh
Awakened Suit: Frosty Song
Story - transcripts from Designer’s Reflection
Chapter 1 - Legend of Ice Lake
Chapter 2 - Safe Distance
Chapter 3 - Frost-Stone’s Arrival
Chapter 4 - Choice of Life or Death
Story - summarized
Content Warning: death
Bane is a half-elf who is proud of his heritage, but he always grew up uncertain. Did he fit in more with humans or elves? Why were half-elves so hated in Pigeon Capital? Could he really be accepted anywhere? The granny that cared for him at the orphanage assured him he was loved and cared for. She would tell stories of the Snow Elf that blessed everyone at Starsnow. She represented the elves’ love for humans.
As an adult, Bane still had questions. But he now worked for Duke Darrell, a high noble of pure elven blood. He had spotted Bane among a crowd of people, for half-elves have a particular scent. He told Bane he would give him the respect and dignity of an elf - all he had to do was complete a list of tasks for the duke.
Bane embarks on his latest quest: to oversee the mining of a rare ore by Lake Bovaly. He was to make sure the smugglers did their job and that no one else took the ore. Rumor has it that the mysterious ore is the legendary Frost-Stone, a gift left behind by the Snow Elf when she left Pigeon Forest.
Besides the smugglers’ group, there is Bane and a mysterious man named Issa, who also bears the scent of a half-elf. Bane tries talking to him, but Issa remains aloof. The two half-elves work together in the mine. Soon, the conversation switches to the topic of the missing half-elf prince from Pigeon Capital. Bane wonders if the boy was okay, and he muses if half-elves count as elves or humans.
Issa finally speaks up, saying that he doesn’t think half-elves are either, and that they may not find acceptance from either group. Before Bane can respond, the two of them notice a shift in the air: snowflakes fading in and out of existence, a chill that leaves them warm. They finally find the Frost-Stone!
Bane feels that Issa is going to run off with the stone that night, so when he leaves the tent, Bane follows close behind. Issa had started a fire by the smuggling leader’s tent. While everyone is distracted, Bane makes it to the Frost-Stone’s box first. It’s still there.
Issa arrives. Bane tries to stab him - he realizes it’s actually Mercury. He tries to tell Bane that Duke Darrell never liked or accepted him and was just using him for labor, never once willing to make Bane the equal of an elf. Bane is hurt to hear this, and he even thought it was true, but he still wants to hang onto the hope of being accepted finally.
Mercury says that no one can make him fit into elf or human civilization, that only Bane could make that decision for himself. He tries one more time to give Bane a chance to join him and change how half-elves are seen in Pigeon Kingdom.
Bane runs away with the stone - only to get shot by a mysterious person. The person berates Mercury for being too slow. As Bane lies dying in the snow, he could’ve sworn that Mercury was furious with the voice and sad about his death. How could someone as cold and distant as Mercury ever care for someone like Bane?
The last thing he hears is the soft voice of the Snow Elf, welcoming him back to the forest.
Connections
-Duke Darrell is the elf noble who died in Vol. 1, Chapter 10. Mercury barged into the funeral ceremony showing little respect for the late duke.
-While the Snow Elf is associated with the Ninir holiday Starsnow, it’s actually a part of Pigeon legends. Ninir sees elves as benevolent ones that can bless humans. This is why Mercury doesn’t believe in the Snow Elf, since he knows how vile the elves can be toward other elves, let alone humans.
-Lake Bovaly is a major location in Love Nikki. It’s a sacred place to the elves, and the Wood Elf Prince Chloris watches over it as one of his duties.
Fun Facts
-Two more kinds of elf are introduced in the game: Wood Elf and Snow Elf. The original elf types in the game are Light and Water.
-Mercury’s fake name Issa most likely comes from the Futhark rune “isa,” which represents winter, cold, and waiting.
-So far, Mercury and Bane are the only half-elves mentioned in the game, although there could be more.
-The Snow Elf is left ambiguous as to whether she exists or not. However, her final appearance in the Reflection makes her seem more like a god or spirit that watches over all.
