To Fill the Void in Your Heart

Sorry for making you come shopping with me, Aldo.

It's okay, I don't mind. But what exactly do you want to buy from a blacksmith all the way out in Baruoki?

Well, you see...

Hold up, Radias! Is that you?!

And Aldo! What brings you both here?

Radias said there's something that she wants to buy. I didn't realize that you two knew each other.

I guess you could say she's a bit of a regular!

May takes good care of me.

Is that right?

Oh! Are you here to buy one of May's weapons, then?

That would be great, but she's actually here for something else.

Huh? What are you...

A straw dummy.

Ah, of course a straw dummy...

Wait?! Seriously? A straw dummy?

That's what you're here for again, right?

You got it. So, do you have any new ones in?

Well, I do, but... Here, it'd be quicker if you had a look for yourself.

That's the only one I have in stock right now. There's a hole in its chest, and the straw is a bit scraggly. I honestly don't think I'd feel comfortable selling this.

This is fine with me.

No! I can't sell damaged goods to customers!

Hmm...

What do you plan on using the straw dummy for?

Don't people typically use them for training? She's a mercenary after all.

I guess you're right about that.

I still want to buy it, but I guess you're not interested in selling it.

I'm sorry. I'll be sure to get a nicer one for you soon.

Looking forward to it.

Oh hey, Aldo. Do you still have some free time?

I guess I do. What's up?

Great! Then how about you join me for some errands?

Errands? All right, I guess...

Then it's settled! We'll see you later, May!

See you then!

Let's get going. We're heading to the inn in Unigan.

Was there a room available?

Yep, I got us a place. Come on, let's go.

So, here we are.

Radias, what's with this straw dummy?

I bought it from May recently.

Really?

Is she really using the straw dummies for training?

Did you say something?

Nope, nothing. But, why were you trying to buy a straw dummy if you already have one?

Well, if you really want to know... Honestly, you can never have too many of them.

What kind of training could you possibly be doing?

Well, how about I show you?

......

Hm...

Huh?

Phew... All right, that's enough for today.

What the, ?! You didn't even do anything!

What're you talking about? Just...

Hm? Aldo, did you just hear that?

Huh? Hear what?

Straw? Wait a second, is this voice coming from the straw dummy?

Are you really talking? What could you possibly regret?

Palsifal Palace? What happened there?

......

Radias? Who're you talking to?

I could hear the straw dummy's voice. It said that it had some kind of regret, and sounded really sad.

I wonder if it's something the straw dummy left unfulfilled.

I couldn't hear any voice, but... What do you want to do now?

There's only one thing to do. We have to do something... We have to help this straw dummy!

Fine... I doubt you'd lie about this, so... I guess I'll help.

Thank you so much, Aldo!

But how exactly are we supposed to help out a straw dummy?

It sounds like something happened at Palsifal Palace, but...

I apologize, but I may have overheard your conversation.

Cyrus?! When did you get here?!

That is of no importance to this story. I heard that you were planning to aid this straw dummy.

Do you have any ideas on how we can help it?

For matters involving straw dummies, you'd best ask the straw dummies.

I guess that's pretty obvious.

You almost make it sound like there are straw dummies who can talk.

There are straw dummies who can talk in my time.

Really?!

Should we try asking them?

You almost make it sound like there are straw dummies who can talk.

There are straw dummies who can talk in my time.

Really?!

I can't imagine a straw dummy that can talk...

First things first, I must give you this.

What is it?

A list of straw dummies you can meet in Palsifal Palace. If you meet with them all, I'm sure you will learn something.

Thank you, Cyrus.

My pleasure.

All right, let's head to Palsifal Palace.

Umm, excuse me? Straw dummy?

Excuse me?

What is it?

Wow, so you really can talk!

Well, umm...

There's something I'd like to ask you regarding a straw dummy with a sword stabbed into its chest.

Oh, you mean Kenzaki? What about him?

Has he been involved in any...incidents recently?

Oh, has he ever!

Really?! Please, tell me more!

Well you see... He got a strawfriend.

A-A strawfriend?

Is that like a girlfriend? Ooh, that explains some of the things he mentioned.

That sounds less like an incident and more like a cause for celebration.

You would be correct, but... You see, the dummy who caught his eye is a complete heart breaker.

A heart breaking straw dummy?

To be honest, I was also interested in her, but... Urgh! Isn't it all just so unfair?! The only reason she was interested in him was because they knew each other for so long!

That's...unfortunate.

Thank you for talking to us.

Thank you for talking to us. All right, let's get going, Aldo.

Umm, excuse me? Straw dummy?

Can you spare a moment of your time?

Bahaha! What is it you need?

Wow, so you really can talk!

Well, umm...

There's something I'd like to ask you regarding a straw dummy with a sword stabbed into its chest.

So you know Kenzaki too? Bahaha! Sorry to say, but he's not here!

Do you know where he went?

Not a clue! All I heard is he was going to see Morikubo!

Who's Morikubo?

Kenzaki's girlfriend, of course! They just got together recently, so maybe they're off on a date.

Straw dummies going on dates...

Hehe... How romantic.

Huh?

Thank you for your help.

Thank you for your help. All right, let's get going, Aldo.

Umm... Excuse me, ma'am?

Excuse me, ma'am?

Oh, hello there. What's the matter?

Wow, so you really can talk!

Well, umm...

There's something I'd like to ask you regarding a straw dummy with a sword stabbed into its chest.

Do you mean Kenzaki?

Hey, Radias? How did you know this one was a girl?

Isn't it obvious?

They all look the same to me...

Oho, you have quite the eye for straw dummies, little lady. So you were asking about Kenzaki? He actually came to me for advice recently.

Would you mind telling us what he came to you about?

He asked for good date spots. I told him about the Corinda Plains.

The Corinda Plains? Why there?

It's said that a straw dummy who proposes on the Corinda Plains will be together with their loved one for all eternity.

This is the first time I've heard that.

Well of course, why would you know of straw dummy legends?

A romantic legend passed down amongst the straw dummies... Thank you for your help.

A romantic legend passed down amongst the straw dummies... Thank you for your help. Let's go, Aldo.

So if we put everything we learned together... The voice we heard back in Unigan has to have been Kenzaki's. Hey, what's the matter, Aldo? You look upset.

It's just... Something about the straw dummies' faces... I just can't get them out of my head.

They're not creepy. Honestly, they're kind of cute.

Huh?

Although, it sounds like we'll find Kenzaki in the Corinda Plains.

He was going to propose to Morikubo, right? What do you say? Should we head to the Corinda Plains?

I have a bad feeling about this... Let's go check things out.

Look, Aldo. Do you think that's Morikubo?

Wow, you really do have a good eye for these straw dummies. It looks like Kenzaki isn't here yet.

If that voice we heard back in Unigan was from this time period...

Radias?

Huh?!

Are they after Morikubo?!

S-Stay away from me! I'm a straw dummy, not a strawberry! You'll get a tummy ache!

Aaah! Kenzaki, save me!

Radias, we need to help her!

Let's go. Kenzaki, I swear to you... I will right this wrong!

Who are you?

We're just mercenaries who were passing through. We'll handle this. Aldo, be careful.

Do you really think those monsters could be an issue?

That's not what I meant. Make sure you don't get caught up in my flames.

I hope you're ready for this... When I'm done with you, you'll be reduced to ashes!

Are you hurt, Morikubo?

Th-Thank you! They didn't touch a single straw!

I'm glad to hear it.

Who are you?

Morikubo!

Is that... Kenzaki?!

Sorry I'm late!

Kenzaki! How could you be so late! I'll make you eat your empty promises later!

What?! Then I'll just get even fatter, hahahaha!

Hmph... Kenzaki...

Thank you two so much!

I'm glad to see that things worked out. I guess this means we cleared things up for Kenzaki?

Possibly. I'm pretty sure that the voice we heard back in Unigan was Kenzaki lamenting that he couldn't defend Morikubo. But...

What's wrong? Is there still something left?

I just can't shake the feeling that I've seen Morikubo before.

I doubt I'd ever forget seeing a straw dummy like her, with a trident sticking out of her chest.

A trident in her chest?

No way...

What is it?

Let's head to Baruoki. I've got an idea.

May, are you there?

What's wrong? What's that look for?

I've got something to ask. Do you have any new straw dummies you could show me?

Yeah, but...

It's over there.

That dummy's...

It's just like I thought.

I'm so glad! This means that Kenzaki is feeling better! *sniffle*... *sniffle*...

Umm, Aldo? What's this about? Why's Radias crying?

It's complicated.

Huh?

May, will you please sell me this straw dummy? How much do you want? I'll pay anything!

Whoa, calm down! Don't act like it's some precious commodity! It's not like it's on hold for somebody. I'll gladly sell it to you!

Seriously?! Th-Thank you!

You really want this, don't you? Do you need a new dummy for some last minute training?

Training? What do you mean?

Aren't you buying that so you can train?

......

Of course not!

What?! What do you want it for then?

I love collecting them!

What? You collect straw dummies?!

Umm... What exactly is it that you like about them?

Everything, really! But if I had to narrow it down...

I love how they smile in a way that makes you guess what they're really thinking.

Well then, let's get it ready to take it home!

Do you get all this, Aldo?

I'm just as confused as you are.

We need to get back to the inn and do the daily straw pulling.

So that's what she meant by errands.

We shouldn't judge her. She seems like she's enjoying herself.

To each their own.