The Truth Entrusted to the Dead

You'll know my husband's dagger by the large crimson jewel set in its hilt.

What am I supposed to do now? This is unacceptable!

Something wrong, ma'am? Stay calm, you might hurt yourself.

How can I be calm at a time like this? I need to collect my husband's effects, but no one at the castle will help me!

Effects? You mean...

Yes, he passed away in the battle with the beastfolk army. He was such a big, sturdy oaf, too. I always thought nothing less than a giant could possibly best him...

I'm sorry for your loss.

Things have finally started to calm down, I thought it'd be a good time to collect his old stuff. I've asked the soldiers, but they're no help. They just keep repeating the same old warnings about the castle not being safe yet. At this rate, I may as well just go there and hunt around for his things myself.

I don't think you should do that. It really might not be safe yet. You must have really loved your husband to care this much about collecting his old stuff.

Hmph. Nothing so sentimental as that. He was a good-for-nothing playboy, most nights I didn't even know where he was. When he did bother to come home, I could always smell other women's perfume on him. The lying snake!

Oh...okay. So why is his stuff so important to you?

After everything he put me through, I deserve it! There's a valuable antique dagger he'd been keeping all these years. It should fetch a good price. Urgh, just thinking about him makes my blood boil. That's it, I'm going!

No, hold on a second! It's the dagger you want, right? I'll find it for you. Just stay here and don't do anything rash.

You'd do that for me? How kind. You'll know the dagger by the large crimson jewel in its hilt.

Okay. It's got to be somewhere inside Miglance Castle...

Stolen items, beastfolk taking something... It all adds up. I'm probably on the right track, anyway. They might still be on the Serena Coast. I'd better try to catch them if I want to get that dagger back.

You want to know about fallen soldiers' possessions? Usually we return them to their families, but some items have gone missing. Can you believe someone would take advantage of this tragedy and steal from the dead? It happened about two weeks back. A whole lot of personal effects vanished. Hey, you got an alibi for that time? Nah...there's no way the thief'd be bold enough to come back.

Suspicious incidents? Well, they say some beastfolk infiltrated the castle a while back. It caused an uproar, I can tell you. Apparently they managed to escape and made for the Serena Coast.

What do you want with us, human?

Did you sneak into Miglance Castle two weeks ago?

Who wants to know?

It was you! Then you must have stolen a dagger with a red stone, too.

This the one you mean? So sorry, but I've taken a liking to it. Finders keepers, that's life. I have a feeling my associates back at the Beast King's Castle will pay top Git for it.

That belongs to the widow of a brave soldier who fell in battle. I'm taking it back!

Well, I got it back, but...

It snapped right in two during our fight. It must've been pretty old.

I'd better go find that lady and face the music...

Ma'am, I'm so sorry!

Eh? What's the matter?

The beastfolk stole your late husband's dagger. I managed to get it back, but there was a scuffle, and, well...

Oh my, you really did a number on it.

I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry...

Ha ha ha! Don't worry, young man. You say the beastfolk had it? I'm just glad you made it back in one piece.

That's nice of you to say...

Besides, it looks like this wasn't the priceless antique I'd taken it for.

It did come apart pretty easily...

Hm? Now I look a little more closely, this part near the hilt is hollow.

You're right! No wonder it was so fragile.

Ah-ha, something's in this hollow space...

It's...a letter? For me? Let's take a look...

"To my beloved wife, Thank you for sticking with a complete no-hoper like me all these years. You haven't been shy about voicing your complaints, but still, you never gave up on me. I wanted to find a way to repay you... I've been earning a little extra money by working nights as a rich man's bodyguard. I have enough now to buy something you've always wanted. Remember our special place? You said you'd love to live somewhere like that someday. I hope you'll like it, my love. A little house by the sea, just for us. Maybe when this war is over, we can get it furnished and move in. What do you think of that? If I don't come back...feel free to do whatever you want with the house. It should fetch a decent price on the market. Just forget about me and live your life. My only wish is for you to be happy. Writing these words is more embarrassing than I thought. Not that anyone can see me. Probably best if I don't send this letter after all. I'll tell you the good news in person."

He was saving money to buy you a home...

We talked about living by the sea way back before we were married. I thought he'd forgotten all about it.

Your only wish is for me to be happy? You big galute... How can I be happy without you? It's too late for that now...

*sniff* I'm...I'm all right. Sorry for putting you through all this trouble.

Not at all. Are you really okay?

Yes... Thank you. I'll move into that house, and save up all my gripes to give him when we see each other in the next life.

I'm sure you're gonna be fine.

I'll go and take a look at the house right now. Thanks again!

Funny how one little object had so many stories attached to it...