Traces

You there! Excuse me!

Ah, I knew it! A swordsman with a big sword and a young woman with horns. It must be you two.

Can we help you?

You two are the ones who cleared out the Man-Eating Swamp a little while ago, right?

Aye. What is it thou needest, then? Have the monsters returned?

Yes. I'm business partners with the merchant you helped at the Marsh. I heard what you did for them, and... I was hoping you could help me, too.

Huh. Okay, well tell us the whole story, then.

I organize carriages and ships to various locations for the merchants in this area. Recently, everyone who goes to the village of Sarupa comes back injured. They say the village is being heavily raided by monsters as of late.

Out of nowhere?

Yes, and we don't know why. My friends have visited Sarupa for years and they say they've never seen the like. And what's worse, the monsters are sorts that don't usually appear in the area. Something is wrong there...

Then may that be where our journey next taketh us. Aldo, hast thou been to this place?

Sarupa? Yeah. Just follow me!

Sarupa, huh... I've never been there before.

You can find it on the east side of the continent, on the island there.

Eastern island? But that place is a desert in my time...

Talk to the people there, they should be able to tell you more.

Okay Eva, let's see if we can ask the Synth Hydra to give us a ride!

Do as you please.

Oh, thank you! Take care of yourselves!

Well, I don't see any monsters.

......

You okay, Eva? You look a bit pale.

I...did not know where we were going. Had I known...

You've been here before?

...... Yes, long ago, but it was not for conscious avoidance. No.

What do you mean?

What the heck was that?

I heard it from hither. Let us see what maketh this awful noise.

This...this place...

Urgh!

Eva?!

Eva, you look like death!

Then thine eyes deceive you. For nothing is wrong. Yet... something within me stirs... A familiar feeling of her...

What?

Where did they come from?!

Dragons of darkness... How did they slither through the gate?

Dark...dragons?!

A dark dragon is their name exactly. Serpents of shadow who feast upon men living, that their darkness may persist.

They eat humans alive?!

Dark Dragons?! What are they doing here?!

You know of Dark Dragons? How is this?

I have a friend who's a Dragon Summoner.

...I see.

To see their cursed scales slither across these green fields arouseth a disgust I can not fathom. If it is a terror of their doing or some other evil matters not. For their existence is not worthy of life. With these talons I shall rip into flesh, and pierce thy darkest hearts with heaven's righteous might!

Huff...huff...!

Don't push yourself too hard! I'll back you up!

Eva?!

Do so at thine own peril, Aldo! These are my prey!

Urgh...

Eva...

......

...It's okay. Go ahead.

...Ah!

Eva! You okay? You gotta tell me what's going on here.

Ah...

This deed I have done... Thy hate must know no bounds... To seek forgiveness I take upon thy face...for when I smile it is thee who smilest in return... It is a forgiveness that is as real as dreams, to once again hold thy hand and walk in the sun... As real as the lie I wish were true...

Eva?

Hah...haha... However...in truth...

'Tis real, yet as clear the memory in my mind, I do not recall thy taste. I did not know myself when I did what was done, but I can recall it surely. It was a madness and I succumbed to it completely.

Ah yes, madness! I was mad! A sickness. Were my heart as dark as his, it would be a virtue. But it is no virtue. It is a shadow I feel keenly the burden of.

I do not deserve life... And yet I live still...

Eva, you have to calm down. Come on, Eva! Look at me! Look...

Don't...lose sight of yourself.

Who's there?!

What the?!

Eva?

I'll be...waiting. Come...

Hey!

Eva, who was that?

...Why?

Why art thou...

Eva!

What?!

Finally...

Aldo...

I know you're probably really shaken, but I need you to tell me something. You said before that you had... Well, eaten someone. Was that...her?

...... ...Yes. Yes...it was.

And when I woke from madness it was her face I saw in the mirror. Do you not see it? A fitting punishment for cowardice. Her bones I ground now hold my frame. Her skin I tore from muscle now mine own living flesh. Every moment I live is reminder of sin. A proof of hatred her soul beareth for me.

And that's why you can only turn into a dragon for a few seconds?

"Live with the children of Man, walk among them, and in so doing, thou shalt regain thy true form." So spoke a Heavenly Dragon, one of the same brood as I. "Persist in this, and thy path shall reveal itself to thee."

I see...

...She is dead and gone. Mine appearance is proof of such. And yet...her scent...was so keenly, painfully familiar. I could never forget.

That's curious. Maybe...her soul came to pay you a visit.

...... I must follow her. I must...

Yeah. I totally get it. Let's get going, then. I'm with you 'til the end.

......

...The cave. Where she and I met. That is where it began... And where everything will end.

...In here.

So this is it...

It was here where she found me, barely breathing, after my battle with the dragon of darkness...

Was she taking care of you?

But then, why...

...My wounds were slow to heal. Over time, I came to...to care for her. In a way I should not have.

That is, I...

...It was a stormy day. When the final threads of my restraint burned to dust.

I...ate her. Still living, I...

Art thou... Art thou here?

Ah...

Yes...I do remember. I remember...

The way thou once smiled...

Don't close your eyes.

Hm?

Remember...

Remember what? My sin? That day?

No...

The sin you bear belongs not to you.

What?

Woah! Is this...a storm?!

No. It is...

Eva?!

What's going on?!

I know thou seekest me. I sense it. Fret not! Thou needest wait no longer. I shall end thee...

Stop it...stop now. If thou leavest...

No...no! Stay away!

Calm down, Eva! It's probably just an illusion!

I cannot! I must...

Good morning! It's really coming down today. Hey! How many times do I have to tell you? You must rest!

Come no further! Please! If thou comest, I will surely devour thee.

...I know.

What?

...I know why which you suffer. I see it in thy eyes. Alas I could not bear to leave you... My selfish pride and a fools hope closed my ears to truth. I would not mind it...you know. If it is mine flesh you need... I offer it to you gladly. For then we may be as one as long as our two hearts do beat.

...What a splendid idea. Then...without any further ado.

What?

Ahh!

...Huh? Aah...aaaah... Aaaah!

Huff... Huff...

That...that was...

Do you see? For you did not feed on my flesh, it was...

The Dark...Dragon...

Oh how you must have suffered alone...

I'm glad I was able to tell you this, before mine own end.

Your...end?

When to nothing I fade he will have me whole. But before I reach abyss... I froze hell's fire and welded gates divine that would have taken this soul. Deliverance I so delay that I may gaze upon thee last once more...

Wait! Please!

Eva...

......

Aldo. I will find the Dark Dragon.

And I shall save her soul, if only just that.

I'll help. Whatever you need.

...I thank thee. The beast is nearby. I can feel its presence. It will not escape me.

(She was clenching her fist so hard she was bleeding... And she was shaking.) (She is not okay. I can feel how desperate she is...)

Wait. That's weird.

If Eva didn't eat her... Why does she look like her?

This light...

It is her. She must lack even the strength to maintain her form, now...

Eva!

I am fine. It seems we need waste no more time in search...

Wha...

What is it, Eva?

Hey!

Haha...

It has been some time, heavenly one! Change your face as you will, but I know you at a glance. But I must ask...why do you wear the guise of the human girl I ate?

It matters not.

Oh?

None of it matters. Not thee, and not me.

Even now she suffers in thy cursed gut, and from that darkness I will free her.

Now DIE!

...... Heh... Heh heh...

Hahahahaha!

What's so funny?!

Haha...do forgive me. It is just... Aah, that face brings back such fond memories. The owner of that face...

How she suffered and despaired as I tore her limb from limb!

Shut thy vile maw! Before her soul is fully absorbed, I will...

Her soul? What soul?

What?

What are you talking about? We just saw her in the cave, and talked to her! She came to see Eva... And to tell her the truth!

Haha! Oh, child of Man. You are almost as entertaining as she was delicious.

The girl you laid such loving eyes upon was me.

Huh?

Not the barest sliver of her soul yet remains. It burned out when I tore into her gut. She made a wonderful lure to drag you out of hiding, I must say. Were you relieved to repent your sin?

Then...it was all a lie?! Why would you, ?!

Haha! A small inconvenience to shoulder to bring such misery to my hated foe!

I can only imagine the girl's regret. This curse she left within me has pained me for so, so long... But now, finally, she has come to be somewhat useful.

Her flesh within mine added truth to illusion, dream become reality. It was my first time creating such a mirage, a past there never was... But truly. What was it she said? "Wish for it, and I will grant it." The perks of being a dragon, indeed!

Whatever it is you wish, it is a wish I shall grant. Just cling to life a little while longer...

Wha... Eva!

THOU MUST PAY FOR THY DEEDS!

I will kill thee...I will rip, I will tear, 'til no single shred of thee remains!

Hah! Just as I did your girl, then?

Thy words...thy very existence is a desecration! Thou art a defilement to her memory!

I wonder... Which of us is the true desecration?

Hm?!

Gah!

Eva!

Heavenly Dragon. Have you ever taken a look at yourself? How horrid. Neither a dragon nor human. How does it feel, wearing her face? Does the guilt ache, that you failed to protect her? Or do you yet regret that you failed to eat her? In the end, the prize went to me. You were merely obsessed with her. A noble dragon of the heavens, attached to a mere human, and when you lost her, you went quite insane. I have never forgotten what you said to me, that day we clashed. You called me a wretched man-eater...scum. But look at the two of us now.

Myself, burdened with her dying hate, and you...a malformed freak, a monster performing a pathetic farce. And what is this I hear of you traveling, seeking to "regain your true form"? Hmm? How far have you disgraced her memory? Does your depravity know no bounds? Which of us truly deserves death?

...I do.

Ugh?!

But I will not go alone. I will strike thee down, and avenge her before fate takes me.

We are both of us desecrators. Having cast away our pride, we wallow in base greed, disgraced for eternity!

Rejoice, filth. I shall perish along with thee under the darkened skies. Let all of creation witness the ugly fate of we two who brought only dishonor to our race!

Do you intend to breach the taboo?! For a Heavenly Dragon to exert influence upon the Darkrealm...

As I said. It matters not.

Nothing has mattered to me. Not since that day.

Stop, Eva!

You can't die! Don't take him at his word!

Aldo... He speaketh only the truth. And... There is no longer reason for me to remain.

Grr!

Still! You can't!

Smile, Eva!

Huh?

Smile for me! I want to see you smile!

Listen, I know. But hear me out. I think I know why you took on her form.

You never hurt a hair on her head. I am absolutely sure of that.

And that's why you can't give up now. Your must keep living!

Because it's not just your smile, it's hers, too. If you die, so does she!

What?!

Why do you smile?

Hm?

Thou art injured. Thou must be in pain. Yet thou smilest. Is this not an expression of happiness in humans?

...Heehee.

There 'tis again.

You're right. I'm smiling 'cause I'm happy. I'm happy you're doing better. And I'm also happy that...

Heehee. ...Never mind. It's a secret.

......

I have changed my mind. Only one of us will die this day.

Gahh!

I remember now my purpose. 'Tis to send thee back to the hells from whence thou spawned.

Purpose? What purpose?! Your wretched girl is dead and gone!

What thou sayest is true. She is dead.

But you will never know why that matters not to me.

......

Eva...

Aldo.

May we...

Yeah. Let's go.

Are you okay, Eva?

Mm... Aldo.

I believe I understand now.

All I truly wanted... Was to see her again, once more.

Yeah.

It was not just her smile I loved. It was her everything. Torn from me before mine own eyes... Yet I held on to her dearly... This...must be why...

......

Even now I hope that I may see her once again...

...Yeah.

...... I did not tell her of my love... How to be by her side was to be at home...

Worse so, it took me much too long to realize such. When it was far too late...

Oh the pain she must have suffered... I cannot bear to think it, and yet I cannot run from it. Her terror etched upon his cursed frame... I just...

Eva. I believe that she lives on. Not in him, but inside you. In YOUR body, YOUR heart.

You always say it's not you smiling, right? That it's just an echo of her smile that we see?

Well, you're right. She's been smiling with you on the inside all this time. And that's why you changed your mind back there, isn't it?

......

Perhaps thou speakest true...

What was once a curse I bear is now the shield that protects my heart. Aldo, I will live in this form, so that she too may live. And when I peer into the pond where our love grew... It will be her smile I see... Forever... Until mine end...