Duty and Desire

Hm?

Hey! You okay?

He's not breathing. Damn't, he can't be...

There, there, now that's a good soulzie.

Excuse me?

You've worked so hard, haven't ya? Poor little thing! Now come on over and let big sis give ya a li'l pat on the head.

Something about her seems so familiar...

What is she doing?

...Ilulu?

Teehee... That's it! Keep up the good work!

What the? Was I...

You okay?

I...think so? Why was I on the ground?

Well, that was quite the tour you took me on. When we were finished you kinda just keeled over! You were proper tired, I bet.

Did I? Sorry about that.

No need to apologize, love! Thanks for showin' me around!

Right, well I better get back to work. I guess I must have been tired, cause I feel pretty great now.

That's the spirit!

Huh?

Somethin's got big sis's soulzie sensor all tinglin'!

Excuse me...

Huh?

DING DONG, THERE HE IS!

Oh my gosh, your soul is absolutely beautiful! It's downright radiant, isn't it! I can tell you've put a lot of hard work into it! Hey, you don't mind if I just...

Whoa, hold on just a second!

Oh, right. I guess I should introduce myself. Silly me!

Names Ilulu, nice to meet ya! I'm what they call a purgatorian. I guide all the lost soulzies to where they're s'posed to be!

Go on, don't be shy. What's your name?

Um... I'm Aldo.

Aldo? Aldo... That won't do. How 'bout I call you Alzie?

So, uh what's that thing you got floating over there?

Wait, you can see that? That's wicked!

Anywho, to answer your question, it's a soulzie.

Huh?

Somethin's got big sis's soulzie sensor all tinglin'!

Excuse me...

Huh?

DING DONG, THERE HE IS!

Oh my gosh, your soul is absolutely beautiful! It's downright radiant, isn't it! I can tell you've put a lot of hard work into it! Hey, you don't mind if I just...

Whoa, hold on just a second!

Oh, right. I guess I should introduce myself. Silly me!

Names Ilulu, nice to meet ya! I'm what they call a purgatorian. I guide all the lost soulzies to where they're s'posed to be!

I-Ilulu?

What? There a bug on my face or somethin'?

Ah, no. It's just, it's funny, I know another purgatorian with the exact same name.

Shut the front door! You do?!

Yeah, uh you wouldn't happen to know her, would you?

Sorry, I'm the only Ilulu I know.

But, I am happy to meet another Ilulu!

Kind of a weird coincidence, huh?

Could be she named herself after me, you know?

Anyway, enough about me, what's YOUR name?

Um... I'm Aldo.

Aldo? Aldo... That won't do. How 'bout I call you Alzie?

Hey so, I couldn't help but notice that soul floating over there...

Wait, you can see that? Wicked!

Well, yes this soul...

Huh?

Somethin's got big sis's soulzie sensor all tinglin'!

Excuse me...

Huh?

DING DONG, THERE HE IS!

Oh my gosh, your soul is absolutely beautiful! It's downright radiant, isn't it! I can tell you've put a lot of hard work into it! Hey, you don't mind if I just...

Whoa, hold on just a second!

Oh, right. I guess I should introduce myself. Silly me!

Names Ilulu, nice to meet ya! I'm what they call a purgatorian. I guide all the lost soulzies to where they're s'posed to be!

I-Ilulu? Wait, you don't happen to...

What? There a bug on my face or somethin'?

It's just funny cause I happen to know someone named Ilulu who is also a purgatorian.

Shut the front door! You do?!

No way this is a coincidence...

This is probably gonna sound a little crazy, but humor me for a second. Did you come here from another world?

Ding dong! Right on the head! How'd you go and guess that?!

Anyway, enough about me, what's YOUR name?

Um... I'm Aldo.

Don't worry, I just wanna give your soulzie a little pat on the head, that okay?

...Why?

Every soulzie needs a little show of affection every once in a while, Alzie!

Um, I... Ah! Anyway, what's with the soul?

Wait, you can see that? Wicked!

Well, yes this soul...

Ilulu?

Woah! Where'd you come from Alzie?!

I've been here this whole time...

You were? Apologies, I guess I was just so wrapped up in the moment I didn't hear my big sis soulzie sensor goin' off! How could I miss the biggest and brightest of all the soulzies? I'm never gonna be able to live this one down...

Wait a tic. I don't have to live it down, cause I'm not one of the living! Nice!

Right, well, how's it goin' Alzie?

WAIT! Lemme guess, Alzies li'l soulzie needs a head patzies is it?

Hey! No! I was just walking through town! My soulzie doesn't even have hands!

What are YOU doing here?

Oh! I completely forgot!

I found this li'l soulzie wanderin' around town.

You know how it is, baggage got 'em tied to the world of the livin' 'n' all. It was weak as all get out when I found the poor thing...

But, I decided to play it cool, and follow it around a bit, and it led me to this lovely little town!

And what with this bein' my first time here, I decided to ask someone for a li'l tour!

Ah right, the tour guide. What actually happened to him?

Well you know, he was just doin' his best to help a girl out and a soulzie like that deserves a head pat, don't it? And I very well can't pat a soulzie on the head while he's awake, can I?

So, I just gave him a litte nap...with my scythe.

While he was alive?!

Pretty wicked, innit?

So wait, let me get this straight. The soul I saw you with earlier was your tour guide? Your very much still alive tour guide? Isn't that dangerous?!

Not at all! You can live for at least two days without a soulzie. Everybody knows that!

Besides, after I gave his soulzie a good ol' Ilulu head pat, he felt right as rain, didn't he?

Yeah, I mean I guess you did a good thing...

Wait, no you didn't!

So he collapsed because you reaped his soul?! I had heard people who get their soul reaped don't die immediately...

Ding dong, Alzie! You sure know your purgatory.

Besides, after I gave his soulzie a good ol' Ilulu head pat, he felt right as rain, didn't he?

Yeah, that's true. But that doesn't make it right, you know?

Yeah.

What if someone had seen him like that? Think of the...

Ooh, look!

Soulzie on the move, Alzie! Maybe we can find out a li'l more about that baggage, eh?

Stop trying to change the subject...

But...fine. It's important we talk, but I guess we can't just abandon this soul, either. I'm coming with you, though.

Look at that, now! That little girl is helpin' out her mum!

That's a head-pat worthy soulzie if I ever saw one!

Later Ilulu! The soul is getting away!

Oh right! Coming!

Gruh... *hiccup* Urgh...

*sigh*

Looks like our soulzie knows this lot, huh?

Yeah, and it looks like they've been at, whatever it is they're doing, all day.

'EY! Wudderyulookin' at?

Ah, sorry. You just looked a little out of sorts and was worried...

You doin' okay?

You...

You makinfunnavus?!

You 'n yer fancy outfit 'n lookin' like we're some kinda bumzorsomfin'! Well, we're not!

Hey! Calm down! We're not looking for a fight. Honest!

Shaaaaaaaaaaddap. I can tell! You're laughin' at us, and you're laughin' at Goyo!

That's enough! These folks ain't done nothin' to you!

Yeah! Think! What would Goyo do?

Whatever.

Sorry for gettin' you all riled up, love. But my friend here's right...

We were just worried cause you looked pretty upset!

But now that we're here, who's Goyo?

Who's Goyo? Hm. Well now that my anger's cleared my head up, guess I'll talk.

We've had of a bit of a monster problem here in Acteul lately. Causin' all sorts of trouble, scarin' all the townsfolk. But not everyone was scared. One guy said we gotta fight back.

That guy was Goyo. We used to cause a bit of trouble ourselves way back when. So he got me and the rest of our old gang together and started protectin' the people.

Everyone was against it. Said it was too dangerous.

But we knew what we were doin'. This wasn't our first rodeo, after all.

Yeah, and everything was fine, at first... But then...I dunno what you'd call it, but this monster that was bigger 'n badder than any other monster we'd fought showed up. One of our guys got injured, and Goyo sacrificed himself so that we could get our friend to safety.

It was all my fault... If only I'da blocked that attack...

No way. It was my fault. I should have stayed back with Goyo!

It wasn't either of y'alls fault! It was Goyo's idea to do this whole monster huntin' thing.

What're you sayin', huh? We shouldn't have been fightin' monsters? Goyo was wrong?

I didn't...

That monster... Is it still somewhere around here?

You're not thinkin' of...

If we don't do anything, it could attack the town, right? I may not look it, but fighting big monsters is kind of my speciality.

Heh. Well I figured that sword of yours wasn't just for show...

But what if it gets you, too?

I'll be fine. If things get bad, I'll just run.

Well, suit yerself. We don't got the energy to fight that thing again, so you're gonna have to go it alone.

I hate havin' to ask this of a stranger. But it's up to you to avenge Goyo for us.

I'll do my best. Before I go, can you give me a little more info about the monster itself?

Well, we found it out by Lake Tiilen. It walks on two legs, but it has the body of a fish. It's got a big, gaping mouth, and fins.

Got it. Lake Tiilen it is. You coming with, Ilulu?

......

Ilulu?

Hm? Oh! Yeah! You bet I'm comin'! Wouldn't miss it!

You really gonna go through with this, Alzie?

Of course. It's a danger to the people of Acteul. Someone has to do something. And besides, I'm pretty sure that soul of yours is Goyos.

Ding dong, Alzie!

Such a clever li'l one aren't you! That deserves a head pat!

Hey, stop that!

Sorry Alzie, got a little carried away there, didn't I?

Right, well it seemed pretty clear to me that Goyo's unfinished business was with the monster we're after.

Aw, Alzie, you're adorable. I can see where you might think that, though!

Wait, am I wrong?

Mmm...

He's not wrong.

Huh?

Did you not hear me? I said you're not wrong.

Uh, Ilulu? Where'd this talking cat come from?!

Uh, yeah! My bad, I forgot to introduce you to my li'l bro Limmy! He's a real mensch, this one!

C-Cat boss?

Uh, your ears okay there? She said cat BROTHER.

(It looks just like the other Ilulu's boss, but I guess it's not?)

Maybe there's another cat that looks like you he's thinkin' of? Doubt it's as cute as you though. No one's got ya beat there!

Yeah, yeah. You're the only one who thinks that.

Just so ya don't get confused, lemme give you a proper introduction! This here's Limmy, my absolutely darling li'l bro...

I'm not actually her brother. She's just my senior at work.

Limmy!

Limil's the name, purgatorian's my trade. Ilulu here's my senior.

Nice to meet you, Limil. I'm...

Aldo. Yeah, I got it. I've been shadowing you guys through this whole thing.

You what?! Why didn't you show up sooner!

Eh... Just seemed like a hassle.

Limmy! You're hurtin' big sis's feelin's over here!

Right, well at any rate. The sooner we defeat that monster, the sooner we can reap that soul.

You too, Limmy?

Regardless, you don't have the time to mull it over, remember? We got quota coming up.

Ack!

Quota?

Ilulu's an incredible wielder and all... One of the best out there, even.

Limmy! You're makin' me blush! Oh, you're gettin' all the pats!

Not now.

Fiiine...

The thing is though, she's always getting distracted on the job. Like right now. So you got a situation where one of our best wielders isn't producing enough souls, right? Well, the guys downstairs weren't happy with all the lollygagging, so they gave her a quota.

What happens if she doesn't make quota?

I dunno. Some kind of punishment, I assume.

Then, all the more reason to defeat the monster!

Ooor...

Or what?

We can convince Goyo's friends to go out and fight the monster. When they all get killed, we get to reap their souls.

Are you serious?!

You got any better ideas?

What? These are people we're talking about!

You can't just feed them to the hounds just cause you're feeling lazy!

Woah there, kid. We just think about things differ...

Look!

This thing matches the description Goyo's friends gave us. This must be it.

You ready, Ilulu?

Hmm... Are you sure you wanna do this?

Come on, you gonna make him fight this thing all alone?

Well, when you put it that way! Okay, let's do this!

Phew...

Wow Alzie, look at you! Aren't you a strong one! Now how about...

Cut it out! How's Goyo's soul?

Still a soulzie, looks like.

Really?

Wow, you guys were amazing!

Was that the monster?

One of 'em, yeah.

One of them?!

Did I not mention there were two? It was this one, and a much, much bigger one. I just figured they'd show up together, so I didn't mention it. Sorry, 'bout that.

Okay, so then we just need to find the other one, right?

Easier said than done. The other monster won't just come out and attack, you gotta take it by surprise. You guys must be tired, why don't we head back to the tavern and we can regroup.

Thanks, but no thanks. I'm gonna do a little more searching.

Oh come on Alzie, as much as I'd love to see more of you do your thing, it's important to take breaks, you know!

Yeah, and hey, first rounds on me as thanks for defeating that small guy.

All right, if you insist...

Thatta boy Alzie!

That was a close one...

You cookin' up something, there Ilulu?

Aren't you?

Yeah, but I mean I was wrong about the monster, right?

But, you're still thinkin' what I'm thinkin', yeah?

You don't mean...

I guess you'll just have to wait and see!

Huh, where'd they go?

Sorry about this you two. Let me go look for 'em.

Well, I guess we can look around for info regarding the other monster while we wait.

No we are not! You sir, are taking a rest!

How about I mix you up one of my Ilulu specials, eh?

Uh...

Excuse me, mind if I borrow the kitchen real quicklike?

Oh boy. This is bad news.

What is?

Hey! Stop that!

Oopsie daisy... Sorry! I'll try and be more careful!

AHHH!! THAT WAS VINTAGE!

You think she needs any help back there?

If you look in the dictionary for the word "clumsy" no doubt you'd find a picture of Ilulu.

...You know what? Wait here. I'll fix this.

Sorry... I gave it my best an' all. Makin' drinks is harder than it looks, I guess...

Hey don't worry. I'm all rested up now anyway.

So you're really gonna go out and defeat that other monster, eh?

Yeah! I mean, thats what we need to do to help Goyo find his way, right?

Great. Good. It's just... You know...

What?

I just... How do I put this...

Look. You're absolutely radiant. Alright? Brilliant. Love everything about this whole thing you've got goin'. It's just...

Yeah?

Oh gosh...

Everything okay back there?

It is now. The barkeep was freaking out so much I had to put him to sleep for a bit.

You what?

Yeah, just a light tap on the back of the head with the ol' scythe and lights out. Here, let me show you.

Hey...

That was for you Ilulu. Okay?

Hngh...

Hey, where'd they go?

That's a good soulzies, yes!

Where...did all these souls come from? Those can't be...

We can convince Goyo's friends to go out and fight the monster. When they all get killed, we get to reap their souls.

Are those souls Goyo's friend's?!

Yeah? Whose elses would they be?

You...reaped them?

Yup.

Wh-Why would you do that?

Sorry love, just couldn't think of any other way, ya know?

I can't believe you! Sending those people to their death like that? You monster!

Woah, Alzie! Okay. I see what's goin' on here.

Nobody's dead here, alright? Well, except for Goyo.

What do you mean?

Okay everyone! That's enough head pattin'! Back into ya bodies ya go.

What the?

What...happened?

You was talkin' about takin' a li'l rest before the fight, yeah?

Did we say that? I don't...remember...

Yeah, but man, this is great. I'm not scared at all... It's like... I feel kind of invincible?

Yeah! Let's go fight that monster!

Ilulu? Explain.

Heh. Stop bein' such a worry wart, Alzie. Let's just head to Lake Tiilen, alright?

Okay, that scream has got me proper scared.

Yeah, but we won't let fear hold us back!

So, is that the other monster? I should go...

Nuh uh, Alzie. Give these folks a chance, will ya?

They...won?

You surprised? They're a lot stronger than they look, you know!

Then why didn't they go in the first place?

Well, sometimes it's just a matter of if you got the will to go through with it, yeah?

Back at the tavern they were goin' on about not having the energy to fight, remember? They were grievin' about it, Alzie. Not exactly the right mood for vengeance, innit?

Yeah, I suppose you're right...

So then this wasn't about revenge for Goyo?

Ding dong! You got it! Now that's my Alzie!

Goyo was worried about his mates. Now that they've got their courage back, he's free to move on!

Oh, didn't know you three were here.

Did you see us out there? We stood strong, and we did it. Vengeance for our Goyo...

Sorry for gettin' ya all wrapped up in this.

Hey, it's fine. What matters is you guys honored Goyo, right?

'S right

Still, we had you out here fightin' for us 'n all that. We owe you. How about we celebrate back at the tavern? For real, this time.

You okay with that? Cause last time we found you passed out on the floor!

Hah, yeah I guess I was, huh. Okay, you've got yourselves a deal.

All right, let's pour one out for ol' Goyo!

So Ilulu, I gotta ask. Did you know this is what Goyo wanted from the start?

Ehhh... Yeah...

And how did they suddenly get so motivated? You saw how they were.

They can thank Ilulu for that bit.

What'd she do?

You know those head pats she keeps goin' on about? Well, they're also like a shot of positivity for the soul. Makes em' feel good about themselves.

Wow, that's one hell of a head pat, then!

I mean, wouldn't you feel good after a nice head pat? It's nothin' special.

Those folks hadn't given up on fightin' the monster...

I just gave 'em the extra push they needed to go through with it.

Still though, pretty amazing. You knew what Goyo wanted, and you did everything that was needed to make it happen.

I never coulda done that.

Some of that Ilulu magic rubbin' off on ya, eh? Big sis's gotta look out for everyone.

Heh, yeah. Guess so!

That's why you and Limmy are my li'l brothers.

Yeah, yeah. We get it. We've got a soul to reap, yeah?

You're so adorable when you get all grumpy Limmy!

But yeah, you're right.

Don't worry, your mates are gonna be okay, got it?

Here goes...

Well then...

Hey, why'd you knock me out back there? If you knew what we had to do for Goyo, why didn't you just tell me?

Oh Alzie. I just didn't have the heart. You were shinin' so bright bein' all heroic and what not. I just didn't wanna ruin it, know what I mean?

So...yeah...

Wait, that's it?

You gotta understand, Ilulu REALLY loves a good soul.

So when she was forced to choose between doin' her job, and tarnishin' that pretty little soul of yours. It really did 'er head in. So I stepped in and took you out of the equation for a bit. Get what I'm sayin'?

I guess... There really wasn't another way?

Aw, Alzie. I'm sorry Limmy hit you and all...

It was for the best. Was I wrong?

Ugh... Alzie, I just have to apologize. You mind closin' those bright eyes of yours for just a tic?

Yeah... Uh...

Good! Now, here we go!

Huh?

Something wrong?

I'll just try again!

That's weird, innit? Why's it not workin'?

Why is what not working?

What the...

What are you doing?!

Gosh Alzie, I really just wanted to give li'l Alzie soulzie a head pat, honest.

Can you not?!

You think he's embarassed? He's just as brilliant when he's runnin' away. Love it!

Come on, Alzie! Don't be shy!