For My Friend in the Sky

Huh? What's this?

This horn's pretty flashy. Why would it be in a place like this?

Who goes there?!

Wait, I mean you no harm.

Are you a beast from Konium?

I am sorry to startle you so. Would you happen to have seen a horn lying around here?

Huh? Is this horn yours, then?

Yes, it is! Could I have it back?

Yes, here you go.

This horn is very dear to me. Thank you so much for finding it.

If it's so dear to you, maybe you should take more care of it.

Anyway, what does it do?

I need it for a friend who is going on a journey.

Going on a journey? Leaving the island, you mean?

Yes, that's why I need it.

I see. So it's like a parting gift.

Where is your friend now?

He's waiting somewhere else. I'm doing the preparation.

I see.

Do you mind if I go with you? There was something fateful about me picking up that horn.

You think so, do you?

Very well. In return, there is something I would like to ask of you... Could you help me with my preparations? They're not actually finished as yet.

Sure. I'm happy to help in any way I can.

Is that right? Well then, could you go and pick some Poem Grass and Sendoff Flowers for me? There's Poem Grass in Igoma, while Sendoff Flowers grow in Gabaraki.

They're both brightly colored with unique scents, so I don't think you'll have any trouble finding them.

Okay, leave it to me!

Once you've got them, let's meet inside Gabaraki. I'll be there anyway.

There it is! So, this is Poem Grass. It smells really good.

It's a bit overpowering, though. You wouldn't want to hang it indoors.

Right, I've got the plants that beast wanted, so time to go and meet up with him. I think he said he was in Gabaraki.

Oh, that's the Sendoff Flower, then.

It's just as the beast said. These flowers really stand out! Who'd have thought there'd be flowers like this on Snake Bone Island?

Right, I've got the plants that beast wanted, so time to go and meet up with him. I think he said he was in Gabaraki.

Hello again, here are the plants you wanted.

I really can't thank you enough. I don't know how I would've gotten here without your protection.

And where's your friend? I don't see them.

Right here.

Huh? There isn't anyone...

Wait, your friend is...

Yes. At rest right here.

Oh, I see.

What's wrong?

You said your friend was going on a journey so I thought....

I didn't imagine you were talking about a funeral.

Oh, don't worry. We're different peoples, so it's not surprising some words mean different things to us.

Um, I'll ask again, but are you sure it's all right for me to be here? Funerals are, well, supposed to be for people who are close...

It's all right. Actually, I'd rather have a human like you here.

A-Are you sure?

My friend was especially interested in human affairs, more than anyone else on the island. Right up until he got sick and left us, he was always saying how much he wanted to chat with a human.

Oh, really?

He always got so excited whenever he talked about humans. I often listened to him, but, strangely, I never got bored of his tales.

He sounds like a good friend.

He was... And that's why I know that he'd be happy to have a human here as he goes on his journey.

I see. In that case, I'd be honored to be that human.

By the way, where are the other beasts?

The custom on Snake Bone Island is to mourn the dead as a pair.

That's another thing we do completely differently.

Now, we need to blend the plants you picked to make incense. It'll take a while, so please wait.

I will.

Wow, when you blend them like that they smell so sweet.

Hmm, so this smells good to humans, does it?

It doesn't to you?

It's a strange smell. I can't really say it's good or bad.

Well, it is used for mourning, so I suppose a good smell wouldn't really work.

That's true. Now, please come here. It's time to pray for my friend.

Rest in peace. And may your soul find safe passage to the sky.

Err, is that it?

No, there's a little more. But before that...

Wha, ? Monsters?!

Monsters love the smell of this incense. We need to protect the remains for as long as the smell lasts.

I see! Then let's split up and drive them off!

Sorry, but I'm counting on you.

The smell's gone now, and so are the monsters.

So it seems. Thank you for your help.

Now what do we do now?

Finally we mourn his soul in Corabel. This way.

Why have we come so close to the cliff?

We've finished mourning his body. But not his spirit.

A monster?!

Don't worry. It's not an enemy. This is a special monster that has lived on the island for a very long time.

Is that right?

That's the horn I found. Are you really going to hand it over?

Yes. This is as it should be.

Take good care of him.

Thank you for all your help. The Ascension is complete.

Ascension...? It looks a bit different from the one that I know of...

Oh...so this isn't your first time hearing about Ascension.

Yeah. One of my buddies is a beastfolk, and he practices Ascension. But I don't really know much about it.

Ascension is a unique funeral practice in this island to send the departed souls into the skies. It can be done in several different ways as long as it's done with a right intent.

I see. It really is different from how we do it.

We're no different. We don't fully understand it ourselves.

Ascension?

The name of the funeral unique to this island. The monster carries a proxy for the departed's soul into the skies. It is said that angels then escort the soul to paradise...

I see. It really is different from how we do it. Is it like the thing we call the afterlife?

We don't fully understand it ourselves. But this is the ritual as it has been handed down to us.

Oh, right...

Now, let us return to the village.

Yeah, that's a good idea.

......

D-Did I say something wrong?

Actually, can I ask you something? What do you think of beasts like my friend who are interested humans like you?

......

Even among us beasts, it was always said that his ideas were a little strange. I'm interested as to what you thought of them.

I was happy. It's good to know that there are beasts who are interested in humans.

And I think that, if there're more of that kind of person, then humans and beasts'll be able to get along sooner.

I see... I was right to let you participate in his Ascension.

Huh?

No, it's nothing. Now, let's return to the village. And let me ask you some things about humans later. I want to learn more about what he was so interested in.

Sure, no problem.

I'll come back. And I'll have lots of stories to tell you when I do.