A Flower that Flees from the Sun

Where in the world has she gotten to...

No new leads?

Nothing. I've been in frequent contact with the network's operatives, but they're as stumped as I am.

It's too early to give up.

Give up? Of course I won't give up.

Felmina, the turncoat has given in at last. We have a lead.

That's good. What did she tell you?

It's the Assassin's Guild that's behind it all, including the girl's disappearance. She says they're camped out in the Moonlight Forest.

Thanks for your hard work. Hopefully this is genuine, and not an attempt to mislead us.

I hope so too, but obviously we can't take a turncoat at their word.

This is the person who tried to steal the Mistlancians' Codebook, after all. Not the most trustworthy source...

So what would you have us do, Aldo? Sit while twiddling our thumbs? If it's a trap, we'll just have to prepare ourselves accordingly.

Well, sure. I'm ready for anything.

What about the guild's next target? Do we have any ideas on who it'll be?

Yes, it's pretty clear who's going to be targeted. It's the man we spoke about. Given how important he is to the government, and the location he's going to be in...

Yes, I see. Well, you know what to do.

Indeed I do. Let me know if there are any changes to the plan.

Come on, let's go. She might not be in the Moonlight Forest with them, but it's a lead at least.

Unless that spy was just out to waste our time, we'll find the assassins' camp somewhere in here.

Shhh.

We're not alone.

Someone's there, ain't there!

Move and I will have no choice but to end your life.

...?!

How did you get there... I didn't hear a darn sound!

You're a member of the Assassin's Guild, correct? One of your members is a young girl. Tell me everything you know about her.

A young girl? What's this all about?

You have nothing to tell me? What a shame for you. Adieu.

All right, I get it! Hold up. Guessing you were in the guild once, huh? There's no mistaking that bloodthirsty look in your eye, and the way you snuck up on me. You must be that wonderkid who left us years ago. I've heard all the stories about you.

Conversation with you doesn't interest me. Tell what you know, right now.

Bwhahaha, this is brilliant! They said you wouldn't bat an eyelid, no matter what outrageous mission the boss gave you. And now look at you, a puppet that thinks it's free from its strings!

...... Either your next sentence is you giving me information on the girl, or it's your last.

Bweheheh, I hate to inform you, but your precious little girlie will have gone and done it by now. Her first assassination that is. Ain't no going back from that.

What does that mean?!

Yep, a pretty big cheese as well. It was some big-shot minister that was visiting the Serena Coast on a diplomatic something or other. She had a hard time coming round to the idea, but with the job done now there'll be no going back to an ordinary life for her.

The boss learned his lesson with you; we didn't fool around with no namby-pambyin' this time. We made sure she was educated thoroughly. What we've ended up with is an even more wondrous a wonderkid than you were.

So you had her go undercover in Unigan to research the minister's movements and figure out the best time to assassinate him.

No foolin', Haus. The job's done now, so we're talking history. I've played my bit, slowed ya down.

You've succeeded in diverting us, yes. But that only counts for something if we don't get there in time. Which is highly unlikely. You see, we predicted that you'd target the minister, and asked him to delay his journey to Rinde.

Wh-What?!

Now we know your game, we'll be putting a stop to it. Aldo, let's go and check on the minister.

He'll be in Miglance Castle, won't he? Let's go!

They must think they've made a real fool of me.

Well, if push comes to shove I'll summon the boss's pet to back me up. I'll teach those numpties! Mess with the guild and you get the mace!

Why isn't he here? There couldn't have been a communication mix-up. I've been assured that he received the message.

Uh, maybe he got the wrong room? We could search around.

Felmina, bad news! The minister is en route to Rinde!

How is that possible?!

Why would he ignore our warning?

He said the conference is unmissable, and that his presence is absolutely required. He thought an escort of knights would suffice for protection, despite my warning that he's being targeted by such a dangerous assassins' guild...

The guild won't pass up on a chance like this. The knights will make no difference.

Not a smart move on his part. Come on, let's hurry after them! They'll be on the Serena Coast by now.

What's that?

You've been separated from your parents, young lady? Come on, don't look so down.

We were going to Rinde, and then...

Well, that's where we're going! Let's go together, shall we?

That's very nice of you, sir.

But you know, being nice doesn't always get you a happy ending...

It did...?

Leave her to us. Please hurry away from here; take your bodyguards with you.

We're indebted to you for this! Come on you two, let's get to Rinde!

What did you get in the way for?! I have a mission to do!

I know you don't really want to do this, young lady. There's something else that you really want, even if you're not aware of it.

......

When you poisoned the spy, you didn't use the secondary drug to remove the traces of poison from her body. You gave me enough of a hint to be able to work out the guild was involved, and come after you. That must have been a cry for help.

There's no way, with your training, that you could have done that accidentally.

That was...I just messed up.

Be honest. Think about it for a moment. What are you scared of? What's causing you to go against what you really want to do?

......

...You know how this feels, right? Having special skills other people don't. Being good with knives, walking around without making a sound... Tricking people easily...

......

Even when everyone's having a tasty meal and laughing, I'm thinking about how I could poison them. A person like me is only ever gonna make everyone sad. It's too late for me to live like a normal person, Felmina.

I've been trained to be like this...

Too late to live like a normal person... Is that what the guild told you, by any chance?

That explains why you ran away without so much as a goodbye...

...... Just stay away from me! This is the only thing I'm good for.

Don't go!

Is she really that determined to do this...?

Clearly the guild has a stronger influence on her than I realized.

If she catches up to the minister in that state, this won't end well. Let's hurry, to Rinde.

We can't just let the guild go around exploiting children and killing ministers. We have to stop them!

Hey, I've just seen the minister. He was breathing way too much for my liking. Why haven't you bumped him off yet?

Someone got in my way. I'm gonna do it now, honest! Just wait a little more.

That ain't likely, missy. The minister is in town now, fat chance you'll get him among the crowds.

You've screwed up. It's over for you.

But if you don't look after me... Then I'll be...

Dead? Yeah, that sounds about right, haha.

No... No...

The guild is still up to the same old tricks, I see. Since you can't inspire loyalty you use intimidation instead.

Felmina, why are you here...?

Well if it isn't our old wonderkid, back to haunt us... Little miss assassin here has taken a real shine to you.

Of course. I understand her better than anyone else. You feel as though you can't live out in the light with everyone else, right?

And then the shadows cast you out as well... Everything seems truly hopeless, doesn't it? That's what the guild would have you believe; they remind you constantly. And since you always have to focus on your next mission, you never have the freedom to question them.

But now you do! I'm proof that what they've been telling you isn't true. I was able to change because someone offered me friendship. Now I'm offering the same to you. Please, let me help you. Create a happy future for yourself together with me.

It's your choice, your first real choice. Please choose wisely. Just don't forget... Unlike them, I'll never abandon you.

But...

Yep, because you know you can't do it. It wouldn't be right for a good for nothing like you to go makin' friends with a girl like her. All you're fit for is killin' and thievin'.

......

Now kill 'em! Do it and you're back in the guild. Disobey me and it'll be the gutter for you.

I'm gonna...

Remember, how you live should be your choice.

I'm gonna...

......

Come off it kid, just do 'em in already! You're making things more and more hopeless for yourself.

...Felmina, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry for lying and pushing you away. I really do want to be friends with you. I don't know why I couldn't be honest.

Now I've decided!

I don't want to be an assassin! I want to live normally, with Felmina!

You half-wit! How many times we gotta tell ya?!

I'd say you've made a good choice.

Right, this calls for a change of tack.

Say hello to my little mace-wielding friend!

No!

Still trying to force your will onto others, I see.

We won't let this thing spoil her happy ending, will we, Aldo? This calls for swift elimination!

No happy endings are getting ruined on my watch. This monster is going down!

Urgh! This puts a serious dent in our plans...

I promise you, when the guild hears about this, you guys are gonna get wrec...

Oh, please. Just give it a rest already.

Eek!

All right, all right! Let me go and we'll leave you alone, all right?!

Killing you wouldn't solve much. While the guild is at large, our society will continue to be menaced.

So you're gonna let me go, yeah? ...Would you quit looking so threatening then?! I'll tell the guild I haven't seen you! Sound fair?

......

I get it now, all right?! A grunt like me trying to take on a master assassin... Of course it wasn't gonna go well!

Heheheheh... So long, suckers!

That's some cheek... We give him and his mace-wielding friend a thorough beating, and we're the suckers?

Don't let it get to you, Felmina. I'm pretty sure I could see a tail between his legs as he ran away.

Felmina... Thank you.

No, thank you. What you did took courage.

I realized that this was probably my only chance to ever be happy...

I'm glad you took it. Now you can return home with me and be free to become whatever you want to be.

You've got to search for your own dream, remember?

Yeah... It might be kinda hard, though, because all I know is how to trick people...

Your skills don't have to be used to harm others. You might end up being surprised by how useful they turn out to be.

You really think so?

I know so. And then, one day, the things that've happened to you will seem like a distant memory. But even if you're still troubled by them, you'll be able to talk to your friends about it.

Including you and Aldo, right? Okay! That makes me happy to hear!

I was wondering though... Who was that person you talked about earlier? The one who gave you friendship?

You'll recognize her when you meet her. She's a truly radiant person, unlike anyone else.

In fact, her radiance is such that it once brought a flower withering in the dark back to life.