A Vestige of What Once Was

Yo! Bounty hunter here. Lookin' for some bounties. How 'bout it, got any fat jobs for me? Or even just a fat monster you need pummelin' or somethin'?

Bounties? I'm afraid I don't have anything quite like that right now. Although, there's a bard in a spot of trouble, if you're interested?

What kinda trouble we talkin' about?

Why don't you just ask him yourself? He's right there over in the corner.

That guy! Got it, thanks!

Hey there, bardy boy. Heard you been cryin' in the corner here waitin' for somebody to come help you.

I... Huh? Who, and what exactly are you?

I'm Elga. Adorable bounty hunter. This soft-shirted guy behind me's Adders.

Bounty hunter?

Oh right. I suppose you're after the reward for getting back my ring, if I'm not mistaken?

Getting back your ring? Reward? So, what, you want me to find the thief who took it, slap 'em on the wrist and bring you the ring?

Simply put, yes. It's a very precious ring to me. And I'll pay a handsome reward for its return.

What kind of ring is it anyway?

An incredibly old ring that used to be the prized treasure of an ancient king. It's worth a fair penny or two. However, the reason I treasure it so is for the rich tale behind it. The tales say that a prince had it around his finger when he tragically perished. It was thusly known as the "Perished Ring."

Sounds like quite a history.

I'm somewhat of a dab hand at regaling crowds with that tale of the prince. But what really pulls it all together is that ring.

Well, right now I'm doing what I can with this fake. Nobody seems to have realized yet, at least, haha.

Eh? So if you have that fake, why do you even need the real one?

You don't understand, there's just a certain allure with the real one that you don't get with the fake. Like, this unseen power.

Fine, fine. Leave it to me! So, you got anything to go off, so we can track this thief down?

Yes! Just one thing, though. According to my sources, they made their escape by boat from the port.

By boat? Hmm... I guess the only place from here would be Zarbo.

I, too, think that's the most likely place for them to be hiding out. I somehow doubt they would have sailed to the Dusken Lands.

You may already be aware, but I am not the only one to suffer robbery in Rinde. Seems others have had their jewelry stolen too. Everyone's starting to collate rumors that there's some kind of group of brigands making Zarbo their safe house.

Got it! Adders, let's go!

By boat? Where would they even go from here?

I doubt they would go as far as the Dusken Lands. There is a small village called Zarbo near the desert, however.

You may already be aware, but I am not the only one to suffer robbery in Rinde. Seems others have had their jewelry stolen too. Everyone's starting to collate rumors that there's some kind of group of brigands making Zarbo their safe house.

In that case, let's ask the Synth Hydra to take us to that village.

All right! Let's do this!

Yo! Bounty hunter here. Lookin' for some brigands or somethin' who're makin' this town their HQ. Know anythin'?

This town? Brigands?

Sorry, but that's news to me. I have heard that there's some bandit-like gang that's taken over Rinde though.

Rinde? Really?

Can you tell us anymore about them?

Well, there's been more than a few instances of jewelry theft in Zarbo recently. The people of the town even formed a vigilante corps to look into it. Seems they go off somewhere into the Rucyana Sands.

Which is why people reckon they're coming from Rinde. Geographically it makes sense anyway.

Okay. Thanks for your help.

So there's fools stealin' jewelry here too, huh. What do ya reckon the odds are that it's the same gang?

I think you're right there. But I don't get how it all adds up. There's been robberies in both Zarbo and Rinde, with both thieves heading off towards the sea and disappearing.

So, you're sayin', neither one of them are where they're makin' hideouts?

Which I guess can only mean they're somewhere in the Dusken Lands, right?

You know any good hidey holes over there where they might be?

Hmm... I don't know. Only place I can think of is the ancient battlefield. Even monsters stay away from that place.

Okay! Well, let's get over there, then!

This place stinks of death.

Yeah. This is where humans and ogres fought their final battle a long time ago.

......

I don't know what it is about this place, but just bein' here makes me feel sick.

Anyway, Adders. How do you and your soft shirt propose we looks for the thieves in a place as big as this, huh?

You know, I hadn't really thought about it. But we don't really have any leads at all. Maybe we'll just have to tu...

Pohhhh!

Whoa! What was that?

Po paew-koo!

I thought you lil' wretches always carried nice trinkets...

But there ain't nuthin' but worthless junk here. Have ya rusty toy back!

Paew paew-koo!

...Poh poh.

Hey, are you all right?!

Poh poh. Po-paew.

Oh sorry. I don't really have anything to give you right now.

...Poh poh.

You're a tough little guy, huh? You don't seem too shaken up even after that huge monster threatened you.

...Koo-ku?

Hey, Adders. I bet a good hood that that monster is the one behind all those robberies.

I think you might be right. It's kinda unusual for monsters to just be walking around these parts as well. It also looked like it was after jewelry in particular.

Then let's get after the rascal!

There it is! The monster we saw earlier.

Wait right there, you big hunk of stupid!

What do you want, eh?

Bounty hunter here. Lookin' for the thief who took the Perished Ring! And you got the stink of guilty on ya!

Grrr... Ring? It look anythin' like this? A nice lil' find, if I do say.

Hah! I knew it was you! We'll be takin' that back, you shirtless freak!

Take it back? Ka ka ka! How d'ya intend on doin' that, eh?

I dunno... Maybe like this!

Grrrfghh!

Woo! Ha ha hah! Got the ring! Oh, woops, sorry 'bout the finger...

Y-You ripped my finger off!

You'll be fine. So this is the Perished Ring, huh? I've seen shinier puddles of mud! Man, how old is this thing anyway?

I...I feel like I've seen this ring before somewhere...

Ah! What the?! Who the heck puts somethin' like this in food, eh?!

I-I-I.... Ah! My head!

Heh, you're a humble one, aren't you?

I 'adn't even noticed, geheheh!

No, you can't?! Nrgraaargh!

Elga, what's the matter?!

I...

This aura! I know this presence from before!

Ogre Rancorem, you too? What's going on?

Oi, what's happenin'! Oi! I said, oi!

What?! Ogre Rancorem's broken free again!

MY BOOOOOONES!

GRAAAAAAAAA!

This is bad. Rancorem's completely lost it!

Elga, are you okay? Can you hear me?

Adders, what...

Ah! My head!

Take it easy, Elga!

I'm okay, really. I feel much better knowin' that soft shirt of yours is nearby.

Whoa! What is that?!

Ogre Rancorem, it kinda lives in my sword. It's a long story. Anyway, I don't know what's going on, but it isn't good!

We have to take it down and seal it back into my sword!

Got it! All we gotta do is slap it 'round till it get's sleepy, right?

Rancorem, can you hear my voice?

I can...

Just what was all that about?

I know not. There was suddenly a swell of violent power within me. Something I had not felt for the longest time.

Hmm...

Elga, you sure you're all right?

I'm fine. Adorable and dangerous as ever. I don't know why, my head just felt like it was gonna split in half or sumthin'

'N' I blame that lame, old ring! Adders, you hold on to it. I don't even wanna look at it right now!

Right! Back to Rinde! Sooner we give that piece of junk to the bard sooner we get that tasty reward!

Thank you ever so much! This is it, the Perished Ring!

And here is your reward. I can't even begin to express my gratitude!

I'm gonna get me the biggest bowl of salad with this!

Come on, Adders, let's get out of this tavern already!

Sure thing.

Hey, Elga, hold on. What exactly happened to you, back at the ancient battlefield?

Oh that? I ain't got a clue, to tell the truth. But I feel like sumthin' real bad happened though.

But, you know, I've always felt there's like this emptiness inside me. But there's somethin' in there too. Somethin' I can't bear to face. Whatever it is, it's freakier than a hood fulla cute ears.

......

Maybe you don't ever need to look at it. Nobody's going to make you.

Adders, I...

'Cos, you know, I like the Elga who does what she likes and doesn't sweat the other stuff. It suits you best.

All right. Whatever you say.

I dunno why, but I just feel safe whenever we're together. I'm sure it's the hair. I mean, just look at it! But, you know, I feel like I used to know a guy just like you. We'd always be laughin' together.

But, meh! No point in tryin' to bring up the past. Not like I can remember any of it anyway!

Anyway, enough of that. Adders, let's go get sumthin' good to eat!

My, my! It is that superb hood again!

What a pleasure to make your acquaintance again. It is I, head hood of the Cowl Society.

It seems we are fated to meet, does it not? And if I could just take a moment of your time to talk to you about our insti...

Thought I made it pretty clear, you hood nerd.

I don't do teamin' up!

Adders, you expectin' me to carry you or sumthin'?!

Come on, we're gettin' outta here!

O-Okay!

Well, now that I have my precious ring back, how about a song to celebrate?

This is a tale of two lovers: a kind prince who beheld a legendary king as his father. And a princess from another land, and their strange intertwining fates. But allow me to start from their first predestined encounter.

But for what reason, we cry, did fate ever so cruelly choose this two. That, only the gods can know. They began as sworn enemies. Next they fought side-by-side, as allies. And the third time, they met as lifelong partners. They fostered a love that was destined only for heartbreak. Oh, how I wish nothing more than that their spirits find peace in the wild yonder!