The Shimmering Marsh
This place is... beautiful.
Some call it the Shimmering Marsh.
I can see why! Had you ever been here before?
No. And I'm suitably amazed. How can a place light up so much at night? I've never seen anything like it.
I have. Once, when I was very young.
Really? Interesting.
It was at the ruins where me and the Monado were found. The same thing happens there. At night, glowing ether fills the air.
So that’s where you saw it.
I don’t remember much about the ruins. I found my way in and then I lost consciousness. That's about all I can remember from back then, except the light.
If it was as beautiful as this, no wonder you remember it. Ether is an incredible thing.
It really is.
Will it ever run out?
Great question, Dunban! I’ve always wondered that.
Great minds think alike. And your thoughts?
I can’t draw any firm conclusions or anything. All I know is, ether isn’t unlimited. So I guess it won’t last forever.
I don’t suppose we have anything to worry about in our lifetime.
Maybe not. But we should still try and find another energy source. We can’t just rely on it always being there.
Energy aside, it will be a shame when this natural beauty is gone.
Yes... Whether that’s a hundred years from now or a thousand. 
It can’t be good for us.
Why do you think that? There's no evidence to support it.
It's just a feeling. Nothing more.
Actually, we haven't made any big leaps in researching this field. So it’s still possible.
It was just a passing thought. Don’t take it so seriously, Shulk.
But you're right, Dunban. It has to be worth spending more resources to study this.
Hey, where are you going?
I’m gonna fetch my notes!
But we were enjoying this strange phenomenon! You can take the boy out of the lab, but not the lab out of the boy!
Maybe it was a dream?
It wasn't a dream. I know it! But... I do remember being asleep for most of it.
Then it must have been a dream, surely.
No. It was at the ruins where me and the Monado were found. The same thing happens there. At night, glowing ether fills the air.
All right, I’m convinced.
It's OK. My memory of it’s a little hazy anyway. I assume the effect is caused by high ether content in the ground.
Ether content?
Surely you must know something about ether content. How it's higher in some regions of Bionis than in others?
Especially the upper regions.
Right? The upper regions of Bionis are known for their high ether content.
Correct! You always know the right answer, Dunban.
Well, everyone knows that one.
Anyway, the ruins are quite high up on the Bionis.
Do you remember much about that time?
I found my way into those ruins but then I lost consciousness. That’s about all I can remember from back then. But for some reason I can just about recall that ether glow.
I suppose you’d never forget a sight like that.
Especially the lower regions.
What? No! It’s the upper regions that have higher ether content!
Oh. Er... I see.
Way down where we live, the ether levels are at their lowest. That's why there aren’t as many rich ether mines.
Well done, Shulk! You passed my test.
So you're saying you were just pretending not to know? Hmm...
I'm so glad to see this wondrous sight. Aren't you? I'd just love to spend some more time exploring it... in silence...
Whatever you say, Dunban.
