Lover's Whereabouts

E-Excuse me, you two young men there!

I haven't seen you around before. Are you travelers, by chance?

That's right. Did you need something?

If you please, I'm looking for someone. You haven't met a man doing research on monsters anywhere, have you?

Doesn't ring a bell. Go pester someone else.

Are you sure you haven't seen him? Have you maybe even heard about anyone like that?

Listen, lady. We said we don't know this guy, all right? Now back off.

Raven! You don't have to be so rude!

Sorry about him. We really don't know anything, but maybe we can help if you tell us some more?

Tch, are we doing this again? Why do you have to try and help everyone?

So, who is this guy you're looking for?

He's...he's my lover. He travels the land studying all different species of monsters. He tracks them to their natural habitats and follows them wherever they go, but he always stays in touch. I haven't had a letter from him in weeks now...

Well, this one's a no-brainer. That's dangerous work. He probably died in the field.

Raven!

Do you have any idea where he could be?

I still have the last letter he sent. He said something about a "Dark Vortex."

Wait, the Dark Vortex? Let me see that letter!

You know about it, Raven?

I've heard of it. They say it's a being that holds all the powers of darkness within it.

Does the letter say anything about where it is?

According to this, he uncovered new information about where to find it. Hey, you'd better be grateful. We're going to search for this boyfriend of yours. This may not be such a lost cause after all.

R-Really?

But where do we even start? The letter doesn't tell us a whole lot.

The last place he was investigating must be near Acteul. The environments he describes couldn't be anywhere else.

Oh, then I guess we should go to Acteul and ask if anyone's seen him.

Thank you so much. I'll hope you'll be able to find him.

Now we're on the case, you can rest easy. We'll bring him home for sure.

Hm? What do you guys want?

We're looking for someone. What do you know about a monster researcher who came this way?

A monster researcher? Oh yeah, a fella like that came to town a little while back.

Can you tell us where he is now?

Hmm... Come to think of it, I haven't seen him around lately. He did mention he was going to trail some monsters native to the Man-eating Marsh, perhaps he's still there?

I see. It's worth checking for signs of him there, anyway.

We'd better hurry. He could be in trouble, especially in a place like that.

Hello? Is anybody here?!

...!

Aldo! Come look over here.

Huh? Did you find something?

There's a notebook, and it has memos about monsters and their habits.

This must have belonged to the missing researcher, huh?

Seems that way. His notes say he was investigating the effect of the Dark Vortex on monsters and spirits. It says here it can drive them into a berserk state, among other things...

Not just monsters, but spirits, too?

Could it be this Dark Vortex stuff that possessed Salamander?!

Our monsterologist probably went deeper into the swamp than this to check.

It gets even more dangerous from here on. I hope we're not too late!

Hold on a minute, Aldo.

Is something the matter?

Be on your guard. That stench... This aura...something's coming!

That's that taken care of.

Let's get back to the search then.

No need. I managed to tear this scrap of paper away from one of those monsters.

The handwriting's the same as the others. This was definitely written by the guy we're looking for.

You mean...one of those monsters WAS the researcher?

Tragic, isn't it? He must have gotten a little too close, and become one of them.

How terrible. Well, we owe it to his girlfriend in Sarupa to tell her what happened.

Having regrets? You should have known this was always a possibility. This last memo isn't even useful, there's nothing about the Dark Vortex in there. It's addressed to that woman.

Huh? Why didn't you say so? We have to give it to her! She has a right to know how he felt.

Oh, you're back! Did you find him?

We did. He was in the Man-eating Marsh.

That's fantastic! Where is he now? Did he travel back with you?

You won't be seeing him again. He has left this vale of tears.

Wh-What? Y-You mean he...

I'm afraid so.

We did find this letter, though. Even after he was dead, he was determined to keep hold of it.

Then...this will be the last letter from him...

*sob*

Not much of a letter, more of a last plea. These were his final thoughts as he was nearing death.

I'm sorry we couldn't save him.

It's not your fault. I'm grateful to you for bringing me this final message. I think I knew all along that he was...no longer with us. With the work he did, I always knew he might... I thought I was prepared for this, but... Thank you...for finding out for me.

......

I'm sorry I couldn't grant your last wish. If I'd known, I would have found a way. A way to hear your voice one last time.

Wait!

It might be possible.

Huh? Raven, what are you...

I'm a necromancer. My dark magic can connect this world with the next and communicate with the dead.

Can you really do that?

Only once, and you'll only hear his voice for a short time.

That's enough for me. I just want to talk to him again!

All right. Let's get started.

It's so bright...

That voice... Jack, is that you?

Riza?

Yes! Yes, it's me. I can't believe this! Oh, Jack! It's really you!

I'm so happy. It's so great to hear your voice again. I love you, Riza!

I love you too, Jack! I'll say it again and again, for as long as my voice reaches you!

Wow, Riza couldn't thank us enough. She must have been really happy.

What a trite little episode.

Huh? Why did you suggest it in the first place, then?

Just a passing whim. I won't make a habit of it.

Heh heh, how about that? I think you could stand to follow your whims more often.

If I did that, Aldo, I'd become some kind of blasted fool. Just like you.