Signs of a Revival

Ketchem? Are you okay? You've been acting weird ever since we found your son.

Oh, yeah. Sorry about that. Wasn't exactly my finest hour, huh?

Hey, what's going on with you and Rongo, anyway? I don't want to believe you abandoned his mom like he said.

His mother...my wife, she passed away about a year ago. She was sick, and she never had a very strong constitution. I had to leave town for a job, and when I came back, she was gone. I didn't get the chance to take care of her at the end... Looking back on it, I should have paid more attention to her condition, thought about how little time she might have left. You've seen for yourself how passionate I get about work. I feel like a damn fool. I never stopped caring about my wife, but apparently Rongo sees it differently.

I'm sorry to hear that.

He got less and less interested in carpentry, and in spending time with me. And now, here we are... It's my fault he's fallen in with that crowd. I practically chased him away.

Maybe... What do you want to do now?

Rongo is my precious son. Nothing he could do will change that. With my wife gone, it's my responsibility to set him back on the right path. It doesn't matter if I can't make amends with him, as long as he doesn't throw away his life...

Ketchem...

I'll help you. If there's anything I can do, just let me know.

Really?! Thanks. With you on my side I might just stand a chance.

You got any ideas on how to get through to him?

He got where he is now because I was never honest about my feelings. All I can do is be completely frank with him, and apologize for what I've done. I won't blame him if he doesn't forgive me. I know I've made some mistakes... I was thinking I'd give back his old hammer, too. There was a time when it was one of his favorite tools. His mother made it for him when he first started showing an interest in the craft. But he and I got into a fight last year, and he threw it into the sea. Who knows where it is now...

I could make a new one, but it was decorated with a gem. A real expensive one, you don't see them for sale all that often. The one my wife used had been passed down in her family for generations.

What kind of gem was it?

I think the scientific name is Ratledite.

Ratle...dite?

Ketchem, I might be able to get a hold of a stone like that, but you'll have to trust me and not ask questions.

You can get it! I'll owe you bigtime for this. I'll get the other materials together while you're gone. There's no time to lose!

That name can't be a coincidence. The stone must have a connection with Ratle.

Hi. Do you know anything about a gem called Ratledite?

Ratledite? You mean THAT Ratledite? It's not exactly what you'd call a gem. You can't go a few paces into the Vasu Mountains without seeing some. It's a glittering orange-colored mineral. You must have seen it before.

What? You mean you can find it just lying around?!

Looks like I was right on the mark coming here. Guess our next step is to dig around the Vasu Mountains.

Hey, Ketchem. We got the stone you wanted.

What in the great googly-moogly?! I-It's the real thing! You actually got your hands on some...

I can barely believe my eyes. You must be an angel or something! Thanks! I mean it, thank you so much! Now we've got everything we need. I'll head over to the blacksmith's and have them whip it up right away.

Check it out, one new hammer! I placed a special rush order to get it done as fast as possible. Now I just have to go give this to him, if he'll talk to me. Thanks for all your help.

No problem. I hope he'll listen to what you have to say.

Hey, Ketchem!

Oh, hi there. What's up? Finished work early today?

We was out gathering materials on the Serena Coast like always, when some beastfolk attacked! But then...Rongo saved us! He bought us enough time to get away safely, but he's still fighting now!

What? My boy!

I'm going to the castle to request backup. There were so many of them, I don't know how long he can last on his own...

We'll see about that! I'm coming, son!

Ketchem, you can't go alone! Wait for me.

Urgh... C'mon, that the best you can do?

Stop it, Dad! If you keep fighting you could seriously injure your legs. What if you can never work again?!

It's better than losing my family!

There they are!

Hey, you two!

You...

You've done enough. Leave the rest to us.

Are you all right?

I'm fine. Just a couple of bruises. Dad, what about you? Your legs...

Heh, don't look glum. It'll take more'n that to finish me off.

You're always so reckless... You'd think you'd learn to be more careful with age.

Rongo... I'm sorry. I got so into my work, I never stopped to consider your feelings. Because of that, I lost something dear to me... I'm a failure as a father.

Dad...

Back then... I hated you. And I hated carpentry because it reminded me of you. I always thought you cared more about your job than you did about us.

You were always the most important thing in the world to me. I'm sorry I never made that clear, to you or your mom... I don't want to lose the ones I love anymore.

My job is important to me, but it's nothing compared to you, Rongo. Please come home.

Dad...

I made you a little something as a peace offering. Take it.

What the?! Dad, how did you...

You...were worried about me, huh? You wanted to remind me of the old days...

Of course. I couldn't stay put when I heard the rumors you'd become a bandit.

I was never a bandit!

I don't know what they're saying about me in town, but they've got the wrong idea. I was fighting against the beastfolk. They've been raiding the Serena Coast and stealing supplies meant for the castle repairs.

I may not have forgiven you, but I still wanted to see the castle recover. When I quit carpentry I joined up with some mercenaries who guarded the materials en route to the castle.

Really? Then, that shady-looking group you were hanging around with...

They may look a little rough, but they've got hearts of gold. They're from Rinde. That place gets attacked all the time. There's no love lost between the beastfolk and the townsfolk there. These guys get misunderstood a lot. Probably because of their short tempers. Everyone's on edge right now. I guess some information got twisted into those weird rumors you heard.

I'm surprised at you, Dad. Don't you trust your own son? You know I'd never do something that rotten. You raised me better than that, old man.

I've got to admit, I felt kinda happy when I saw you rushing in to save me. ...Thanks for that.

......

C'mon, Dad. Let's go home. And about that carpentry work... Looks like you could use an extra pair of hands. Count me in. After all, I'm pretty sure Mom wouldn't want us to fight.

Thanks for your help, Aldo. Just you wait, Miglance Castle's gonna be good as new before you know it!

I'm looking forward to seeing it.