Those Who Stand in Line

......

There you are, Garam.

Is that you, Aldo? You did well to find me here.

I heard from a titan in Pador that you sometimes like to wander around in Hokishi Forest.

But what brings you so far out from the village?

This is a really special place to me. I like to come here from time to time, and look deep into my own heart.

Special, huh? Oh, so this must be why you have such a strong heart...

Come to think of it, it is a pretty nice place.

You certainly are beating around the bush. I thought you'd want to ask me why it's so special.

Well... I am kinda curious.

But if it was something you could tell me so easily, surely that would make it less special?

Exactly. That's so like you to say.

Anyway, if you came all the way here, I'm guessing you needed me for something?

Oh, yeah. I've got a message from Siodglase. She wants you to see her when you go back to the village.

She does? Then let us return to Pador.

Sorry for bothering you, Garam. And thank you for coming over.

Don't worry about it. I was planning on visiting anyway.

You're looking very well indeed. It seems that you have gained much from leaving the village.

I have. Everything I see is so new and exciting.

But I have yet to reach the vision of the future you mentioned in your letter...

That is a good thing. Nothing is ever easy to find once you decide you wish to find it. Continue to travel wherever the wind takes you, allowing yourself to think and feel freely.

I will. I'll take your words to heart.

But you seem a little distracted, Siodglase. I'm guessing you didn't call me here just to tell me that?

Hmph. There's no getting anything past you, is there? If you'll just wait a little while longer. He should be here soon.

Good day, Siodglase.

Oh! Garam?! You're back from your travels?

I am. Though it's not for long. I headed straight for your place when I got back, but you weren't in.

Oh, sorry about that. Siodglase told me to take care of this investigation, you see.

Investigation?

Indeed. How did it go?

Unfortunately, it's exactly as you feared.

It is? Ah...

Now that my fears have been confirmed, I'll have to bring you two in on the discussions. Over the last few days, the powers of darkness have been expanding rapidly.

The powers of darkness?! But we saw to it ourselves that the dark god was sealed away!

The dark god is a deity, and therefore immortal. It's not been long since he was resealed away, and he won't be fully asleep yet. The chaos energy leaking out from his tomb is creating a never-ending stream of savage monsters.

Yes, I can feel it. So much energy turning against the light.

At present, it does not pose such a huge threat. But if we leave things be...

Then someone might plot to revive the dark god again, before the lid of his coffin is even dry.

Exactly. And as the strongest of all titan warriors, I'd like to leave this to you.

That goes without saying. We will gladly take on...

Wait, Garam.

Geldbariss?

Siodglase... Would you allow me to handle this one alone?

Hmm, and why would I do that?

Well...

With Garam continuing his travels outside the village, we won't always be able to rely on him.

Please. Let me do this on my own!

Geldbariss...

I can't do that. I must entrust this matter to both you and Garambarrel.

......

Understood. If you'll excuse me, I'd like to clear my head.

Given the circumstances, would you mind watching over them for me, traveler?

I'd be happy to. I owe you one, after all.

I am most grateful. I'll be counting on you.

On a separate note, didn't Geldbariss seem a little off to you, Garam?

......

Don't you worry about him. He's a mighty titan warrior. Neither his body nor his mind can be shaken.

I sure hope you're right.

Well we'd better get going. Let's head to Valley of the Ancients and track down the powers of darkness.

We'll be on our way, Siodglase.

I'm sorry, Garam, Geldbariss... How I wish it wouldn't rain on you... How I wish you could be spared from this darkness...

Say, Garam...

What's wrong, Geldbariss?

Do you remember when I changed into that mutated form?

When I was overpowered by that miasma and consumed by the darkness. When I forgot myself and attacked you...

That wasn't your fault, Geldbariss.

There's no need to console me. As Siodglase said...

It is a potion I take when inspecting the gate. It prevents me from being consumed by the miasma. Though, it can only protect you from the tiny amount of the miasma trickling out of the gate. There's no proof that it will protect you from the miasma that will pour out once the gate is opened. But it should be powerful enough to protect those of a strong will who dare face the darkness.

I took the secret essence. If I'd had a strong will, I would have been able to handle the miasma.

Are you trying to say you're weak-willed, Geldbariss?

Perhaps. That's why I wanted to face this alone, so I could find out just how strong- or weak-willed I really am.

But Siodglase turned me down. She must know the dangers of approaching the darkness out of such selfish desires.

......

So... Can I ask you something, Garam?

Would you mind fighting me? Right here, right now?

You want...to fight?

If I was able to fight you in earnest, I feel like I'd be able to put all this behind me.

You were drowned in that miasma same as me, yet you didn't mutate. If we were to fight, I could catch up with you. Then I could take on the powers of darkness...

Geldbariss.

I'm sorry, but I cannot do that.

Oh... I see.

Hey, Garam...

It's fine. You're about to take on the forces of evil. It's wise to avoid unnecessary injury.

Sorry you two. I'll just be a burden if I come with you. I'm leaving the future of the village with you.

Geldbariss!

Oh no! I didn't realize he was so hung up about this.

It can't be helped. We should just focus on what we can do now.

You're just gonna leave Geldbariss like this?!

I am. I can feel the forces of darkness. They lie up ahead in Hokishi Forest. We should keep going, Aldo.

Garam... He must have some kind of plan. How could he just leave Geldbariss and face the forces of darkness without him?

A-Are they the forces of darkness?! They seem so much more sinister than before the dark god's revival.

The dark god must be willing to do anything to break open his coffin. If we let them continue, they'll destroy Pador, open the gate in Demon's Den, and release the seal on the dark god. As one of mother goddess' sons, I cannot allow this to happen.

We've got to stop them! It's us two against all of them!

There's too many! If only Geldbariss was here...

We have to play with the cards we've been dealt. That's the ironclad rule of the battlefield, Aldo!

I guess so...

This miasma is so thick. If this goes through Pador...

Everyone will turn into an ogre. Just like Geldbariss did...

And I can never let that happen!

O miasma, take my body instead! Just as before, with that cluster of ogre hatred, let's see who can hold out the longest!

What?! Why is it going to Aldo?

Urgh... Aaaahhhh...

Aldo!

Am I a burden, then?

The fight's already begun. Garam didn't call me back in the end. I knew he wouldn't. I guess he no longer needs me...

But when did I start viewing Garam's potential with envy rather than hope?

Oh, I think I get it. This shameful envy was what tempted me into the ogre form... I'd grown jealous. Of my very best friend, no less.

Garam may not have stopped me, but he didn't tell me not to come, either. He's always been that way. He trusts me, and that's why he'd never question my decision.

What have I been doing? Why have I only just realized this?

Huh? I sense something terrible. It couldn't be... There's no time to lose. I must get there as soon as I can!

Aldo! Snap out of it! You've got to wake up!

Garam!

Geldbariss! I knew you'd come back. You sure took your time, though!

Sorry. But I'm okay now.

Aldo's in bad shape. First thing's first, we'll have to get rid of these monsters.

Sounds like a plan. I'll do my best to make up for lost time!

Be careful, Geldbariss! This is what did Aldo in!

Ngh! I won't lose to it! Not now that I've faced the darkness of my heart!

Looks like you really are okay now.

I am. But it's all my fault that he's...

Oh, he's come to! I'm sorry. If only I'd gotten here sooner...

Geldbariss, wait! I have a feeling that isn't really Aldo!

What?

The patterns on his face... There's something so sinister about him.

I feel the powers of darkness rising...

I have been waiting so long for the moment when I could once more take over Aldo's body!

That way of speaking... Is that Ogre Rancorem? Oh, so you're the reason why the miasma headed for Aldo instead of me.

But Ogre Rancorem, you saved me from the darkness before. Why are you acting like this now?

You think I saved you before? That's quite the misunderstanding. That was merely an excuse for me to consume the power of darkness. It just happened to be mutually beneficial. Thanks to that, I've been able to gain as much power as Aldo here can carry. I thank you, my ancestor.

Wh-What is this? You mean to say I unwittingly supported someone who belongs to the darkness?

Mwahaha... Why do mother goddess's children hate the darkness so? We are your future form. Doesn't that make us brethren?

Brethren?!

Indeed. If you ignore the distance in time, we are the same. We both are fated to fall into darkness. So what is the difference between us?

The mighty power of darkness! Titan strength is no match for that! If this power reaches the gate in Demon's Den, the lid of the dark god's coffin will tear away like paper!

But that's no big deal, right Geldbariss? Not when we're here of all places.

Huh? You're right!

Come on, Geldbariss! Let's show our descendants of millennia to come the power of their ancestors!

That huge frame of yours slows you down! Your back's wide open for attack!

Pfft, you're not as fast as Garam.

Tch... Then I'll go for the other one!

You're as feeble as you are small! You'll be nothing more than a pile of dust on the ground.

I don't think so...

What the?! B-But that was a direct hit...

Geldbariss has hit me far harder than that.

Ack!

This place is close to the heart of our mother goddess. It's not the best place to take on titans like us.

You're darkness incarnate, you'd best return to that sword and regret the fact that you no longer remember this place.

Guagh!

I suppose I have no choice. I can only hold down his consciousness for so long. But I will have my revenge. I am the incarnation of malice... The greater the hatred, the stronger I get.

Ogre Rancorem...is gone.

Are you okay, Aldo?

Ouch...

Phew! Looks like he's back to normal.

Yeah... Thanks, Garam. You too, Geldbariss.

There's no need to thank me. This wouldn't have happened if I hadn't run off in the first place.

Don't blame yourself for running off. Besides, you faced yourself and came back, didn't you? Garam knew you'd come back, right from the start.

You returned to us after being consumed by the darkness. That's just the kind of guy you are, Geldbariss.

Garam...

More importantly... Ogre Rancorem!

......

I'm pretty sure I told you if you pulled this kind of stunt again, I'd wrap you in chains and throw you into the ocean.

Hmph... You think a demon sword would be scared of chains or the bottom of the ocean?

Honestly... You really can't be too careful with this one.

Well, the matter's closed for the time being at least. We'd better get back to the fight.

Get back to the fight?

Yes, that's right.

What fight? The forces of darkness have already...

11,255 fights, 0 victories, 4667 losses, 6588 draws...

11,255 fights, 4667 victories, 0 losses, 6588 draws. That's Garam's score, then my score. At first, I won every time. But judging from the amount of draws, this is going to be a pretty long fight.

When the sun sets, that day ends in a draw. This place...is where we used to train together, each and every day.

Oh...so that's why it's so special to you.

It's been a while, hasn't it? Since we were recognized as fully-fledged titan warriors.

It really has. So much time has passed since then.

But some things never change. So now...

Let's fight it out like we used to!

I'd say that's enough warming up.

Agreed. Now let's fight for real. I'll give you all I've got.

You're kidding! That was all just a warm up?

Your lances...

Pfft, what does a lance matter? Even if our weapons break and our armor is destroyed, a titan warrior never yields.

Because our mother goddess blessed us with these bodies!

Ngh!

Just do it already! I may be weak, but I can deal with the pain!

Huh?!

Hm? What the... Why doesn't it hurt?

Such a puny body... You must be Garambarrel, yes?

And you're Geldbariss, right? Everyone has high hopes for you as a mighty titan warrior.

Forget about me for now. More importantly, what were you doing?

I was fighting the monsters, of course!

You call that a fight? They were wiping the floor with you! Doubt you'd have made it if I hadn't saved you. What would make you do that? What's fueling you?

I...

I want to clear the way for a better future for the titans. I want to free everyone from this shut-off world.

If you want to laugh, go ahead and laugh. I'll still...

You know what? I've actually been thinking the same thing.

What?

This makes us worthy opponents. Let us compete to find out who can accomplish this first!

You're... You're not going to laugh at me?

Those words came from your heart. Who would laugh at such a thing?

You're a strange guy, you know that?

......

......

Garam...you've grown stronger.

You too, Geldbariss...

6589 draws, then? What an unsatisfactory way to end things.

I'm fine. I've had a good rest.

Same here. Though my knees are still shaking a little.

Titans really are tough. To fight like that after such a battle...

Anyway, I guess we'd better report back to Siodglase about how it went with the powers of darkness.

Yeah, you're right. Let's go back to Pador.

I see. So you were able to eliminate the powers of darkness. Judging from the looks of you, it must have been a fierce battle.

Y-Yes...that's right.

And Geldbariss, it seems that the cloud hanging over you before has now been lifted.

Yes. That was all thanks to Garam.

Oh? Your travels with the child of man certainly have changed you too, Garam.

I suppose you're right. Before I left the village, I was desperate to try and change it. But once I started to mix with other peoples, I realized the importance of our people and our village. And I realized quite how much I value my relationship with Geldbariss.

So we should not shun other peoples, rather, we should live as equals with them. You have looked at our closed-off village with new eyes gained from your travels in the outside world. Perhaps that was why you were born so much smaller than the rest of us. Other peoples would take one look at our huge build, and either fear us or worship us.

......

Garam?

I always used to wonder, why was I so different from the other titans. But now, I feel only gratitude about my small physique. In the outside world, people saw me as one of them, neither fearing me, nor worshipping me.

You're going to carry on traveling, aren't you, Garam? The village would have been so well protected with you and me to guard it...

What are you talking about? Even if I'm not around, there's no need to worry. Because Pador has you to protect it, Geldbariss.

Garam...

Someday, I know I'll get to this vision of our future. So that the titans can have new possibilities...

I know. I won't stop you. I'll protect this place, awaiting your return.

Thanks, Geldbariss. I know I can count on you.

Well then, let's get going. There are new lands just waiting for us to see.

Equals with the other peoples, eh...?

Sounds good to me. If Garam is the one to carry this destiny for us...

Then I will be his equal.