Gentle Avenger

Well, we're pretty far in, won't be long till we run into our dragon friend again.

So then...uhm...turn back, then?

Let's press on for now. If things get to be too hairy, we can think about retreat.

Retreat? Seriously?

Heh, you two couldn't be more different when it comes to open combat, huh?

You seem to be enjoying this.

It ain't funny! Don't you think it's weird?? Our "fearless" leader, Flaudia is all about safety. We're here to kill that dragon! That's why you invited us all here...right?

Hm. We never did get a specific reason, now that you mention it.

I haven't been shouting it from the rooftops, but I did mention once or twice. Perhaps it wasn't clear, though, so allow me to reiterate...

I brought you all here on this island to exact revenge.

Revenge?!

My hometown got wiped out by a dragon. That should be reason enough.

Huh...I see... Ehhh...

Did I say something strange? Now you know the reason, do I have your trust now? Yes? Then, let's get moving.

...... (If the reason is revenge, why all the precaution? You'd think more than anyone she'd be in a hurry to kill that dragon...) (Doesn't feel logical, but I suppose not everyone acts the same in these cases.)

This area is oddly quiet.

This island is littered with dragons and we seemed to have found the one place where I can't even feel the presence of one? Yeah, something's off all right.

Maybe this is some kind of safe zone? Could be a good place to set up camp!

There may not be dragons around right now, but that doesn't mean there won't be. Best not to drop our guard now.

Eeek!

Can't say I didn't see that coming...

What's the plan? We're blind to the enemy's whereabouts, so there's little we can do to defend ourselves.

What's the plan? Same plan as before. I rush in, they target me, you look for 'em, wait for an opening then stick 'em with the pointy end.

Urgh... This thing isn't letting up!

Looks like we've got to pick up the pace. You guys hold the rear, I'm goin'...

Not this time, Wryz. It's too reckless, even for you. Sorry, but I gotta pull rank on this one.

What? Seriously?!

Think about it, Wryz. Where are you going to go? We can't even see the enemy. You could be running headfirst away from the enemy for all we know. And what then?

I get it, Wryz. As situations go, things are feeling pretty hopeless, but being rash isn't the answer. I agree with Flaudia, and if you think about running anyway, I fully intend to stop you.

Agreed. At this point that would be highly illogical.

All right, then what do we do, then?!

When I give word, I want you all to run in different directions, okay? It's gonna be a lot harder for the dragon to hit five targets than it is to hit one. 3...2...1... RUN!

Argh!

Cerius!

It's okay, I'm fine. And now I know where our prey is hiding.

Gwaaah...?!

Grr... This should've been the most efficient way to hunt down a bunch of puny humans... Why... I'M the hunter! Why must I suffer wounds?! You are the prey! Not I!

Heh, I'm afraid that's where you're wrong. Interesting this one seems more guarded than the others though. Not all dragons are alike, it seems.

Pathetic. You got lucky the first time, but I'm afraid your luck has run out! I will make you suffer!

That won't be happening, you're way too slow.

What?!

Go ahead, try to breathe your fire. I will cut you before you ever get a chance, no matter how many times you try. I've felt dragon fire once before, never again. I will NOT let my friends be swallowed by the flames!

...Flaudia?

Now! Let's go, everyone!

Give up, we've got you cornered. We are the hunters, YOU are the prey.

Give up, we've got you cornered. We are the hunters, YOU are the prey.

That was a little too close for comfort...

I owe you an apology, Flaudia.

For what?

I didn't see the flaw in my plan. It was good I listened to you.

Heh. No need for apologies, my "plan" was just something I came up with in the moment, after all. The thought of you running headfirst into that fire was just too much...

So was it the dragon, or the fire you were worried about?

Yeah, you mentioned something about fire before, right?

......

There seems to be a connection between the story of your hometown and what we just experienced. Am I right?

C'mon Cerius, she already said...

It's fine, Aldo. I'm determined to move past it.

Apologies if what I said was insensitive. It's a habit of mine. If something doesn't make sense, I dig until it does. "To avenge fallen comrades, a hamarn would use even his own blood as a blade." But it would seem Flaudia has something she places in even higher importance than her revenge.

So then that's why you're all "safety first"?

...Alright, I get it. I'll talk.

You all shared your stories. It's only fair, I guess.

Seems unfair to only have Wryz tell us her story, I guess.

Okay. Well then let's head back to camp, and you can tell us your story.

Now, where do I start?

From the very beginning, duh?

And preferably before I fall asleep.

Let's keep it concise, focus on the essentials.

How about we just let her tell her story, eh?

You guys are quite the characters, heh.

But, I'll keep it short. Many years ago...

We should head back. Any longer might raise some eyebrows.

I just need a few more fruit before I've got enough for everyone.

We're not even supposed to be picking ANY fruit. The orders explicitly said to return immediately after finishing the request.

Yeah, well you and I know this job won't pay nearly enough to put food on the table. So it's either this, or we starve.

This is stealing, you know? If we get caught, it won't just be you getting arrested here. Guilt by association, ever heard of it?

You don't want to be associated with me?

Of course I do, that's not what I'm talking about! I just mean we need to steer clear of trouble.

Well if you don't wanna get caught, then help me so we can hurry up and get out of here, eh?

You really are too much, you know that?

Let's go. That's more than enough to survive off of, at least for a little while.

Being in the landowner's good graces means side jobs like this come our way too. Quite the partners in crime we are, huh?

Heh, as long as it's with you, I have no problem with that. You're the only bright spot in this damned village.

You proposing or something?

Consider it a declaration of friendship.

Hey, Flaudia. How 'bout upping the ante a little bit?

What do you mean?

I'm talking starting a rebellion.

You mean...against the landowners?

I'll spread the word. If we can get everyone together on this, there's no way they could stop us. That's what all this food is for. It's enough to give us three whole days to mount our attack.

Heh... Reckless, yet cunning.

I'm in. What do you want me to do?

I need you to command half of our forces, can you do that? I'll let you know what day we start the attack once it's decided.

...Okay.

We have to do something now, or we're just going to live and die in this hellhole, you know?

Don't kill her! Capture her and make her a slave for life. From now on, she'll only do farm work!

Damn it... Damn it all!

Why... Why was it only you that got caught? Why didn't you mention my name? Weren't both of us guilty? You've left me out here alone. How am I supposed to live now?

I wish this village was wiped off the map. What point is there in living in such a horrible place? Be it fire or flood, I don't care. Just make it all disappear. All of it...

Hm? What was that?

A...dragon!?

What's this? More humans? How did you manage to run away from your nest?

...No response? Hm. I'm tired of burning your kind for the day, your screams tend to just blend together after a while. Die in that nest of yours or out here, die however you please, as long as you're dead. Makes no difference to me.

What was that...just now... A nest? Burned? Is it near here? It said... Did it destroy...the village? If so...

I might be able to...save her? There's no way she's... She wouldn't die that easily!

We have to do something now, or we're just going to live and die in this hellhole, you know?

Now might be our chance to make a better life for ourselves outside that damned village!

But, as you probably guessed, all I found was fire and ash.

That's...terrible.

In a way, that dragon was my savior. It liberated me from my hell. But the price I paid was much too great.

And so you set out to kill the dragon.

Yes, but it took some time before I did. Cause for a while I just kinda wandered. Didn't have anything to work towards, you know? It wasn't until I started gathering allies to go on this hunt that I finally had a place to funnel my emotions. To make it clear, this isn't about justice. I'm here for revenge, and it's personal.

Selfish as it is...

Selfish? All of us are here for personal reasons. You're no different than the rest of us. I'm actually grateful. This has been way more fun than what I was doing before I came. What about you, Flaudia?

I feel the same way. I have my freedom, and I am no longer struggling to find food to eat.

And most importantly, I have you all.

...Now I understand why our safety is more important than killing the dragon.

And I think I understand why Flaudia is so admired. She values her comrades, and that's why she's so trusted.

Exactly, and this is why I want to make sure we all get out of this alive. ...I hope you understand that now, Wryz.

Ugh... Yeah, I'll be more careful...