Where Stories Meet

I am STUFFED.

I must say, the food in era is quite delicious. Much more than what you can get in my time.

Wasn't the bartender acting kinda weird?

Now that you mention it... Everyone was acting a little weird back there.

I figured they'd be a little more excited to see the folks that slayed the Beast King, but I guess not...

Strange indeed! Mayhaps we should return and inquire as to why?

Is...that a FROG?!

Why hello there, young man. What can I do for you?

EEK. It walks AND it talks?! How is a beast walking around in broad daylight?!

That would be because he's not a beast. Cyrus here, is our friend.

Your friend is a BEAST?

I see what's going on! You're the bad guys! The one's that made my parents do those things! Put them back to normal RIGHT NOW!

Put your parents what?

WAIT!

Cress...

Don't just disappear like that! You had us worried! I know you want to fix this as fast as possible, but... But you can't just go around calling innocent people beasts!

......

......

BEAST!!

Oh bother. LIKE I was just telling your little friend here, Cyrus is our friend.

I'm human, but I have this curse that turned me into the visage you see before you.

A...curse...right...

Apologies. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions like that.

Quite all right. So, are you this boys brother?

Ah, no. We're not related. More just that circumstances have brought us together.

All right, go on. Apologize to these fine people.

Sorry sir... I shouldn't have taken my frustrations out on you...

What frustrations?

Is this about your parents, maybe?

Yeah, tell us what's going on. We might be able to help.

That would be wonderful! I'm Cress, a traveling swordsman.

I'm Aldo, a traveling swords...

Hey wait!! You took my line!

Haha! Nice to meet a kindred spirit!

I'm Amy, hunting's my game.

Cyrus the samurai, at your service.

Nice to meet you all!

My companions are in this town called Rinde. Do you mind if we talk there?

Fine with me. Let's head over to Rinde, then!

*...Woof!*

What's up, Repede?

Oh! Welcome back, Cress!

How many party members do we need?!

So these are your companions, Cress?

Yeah, let me introduce you. Right behind me is Mint and Arche, and behind them we got Yuri and Repede!

*Woof!!*

A...dog?!

Problem?

A-Actually... Back in school, there was this broken dogroid that would bark uncontrollably at me every day...

Well, I can tell you Repede won't be doing that. If you're expecting snuggles, though, you're barking up the wrong tree.

Hehe, don't worry, it'll be fine!

Okay, but enough about the dog. I need to know more about the... human-looking ninja froggy?

Sorry, but I have no knowledge of ninjitsu. And I only have the one sword...

I met up with Aldo, Amy, and Cyrus here back at the capital.

Why don't we go inside and talk? I get the feeling this is gonna take a while.

Sounds good.

So you're all from different worlds, and you all followed the same glowing cat here.

And that doesn't surprise you at all?

We all come from different time periods ourselves. ...It takes a lot to surprise us.

Hey! Coincidence!

I come from a different time period too! Different from Cress and Mint, that is.

Really? Maybe this whole time travel business isn't as rare as I thought...

Trust me. It's rare.

Now that that's out of the way...

What are we going to do about the boy's parents?

Yeah, seems weird to have just changed out of no where like that.

Perhaps it is related to the cold stares we received back at the tavern?

I don't want the people to suffer any more than they already have. I want my parents to apologize. To everyone... And make amends for what they've done.

Wow, you are one responsible little kid.

It's my parents, actually. They always told me. Everyone makes mistakes. But good people apologize and make amends.

Well they sound like good people to me. So there must be some kind of reason for their sudden change.

Listen, we're gonna do this as a team. So have patience. And when the time is right, we'll do what needs to be done. Together. Think you can handle that, bud?

Cress...

Cress delivering the heroic chills! Hey Mint! You doin' okay over there? Let me know if you're gonna faint or something!

Arche, you're ruining the moment.

Seriously though, kiddo. Just look at how big our party is! There's no way we can lose!

Heh. And we'll help too.

Aldo, is there a lost cause you'd ever turn away?

I think you know the answer to that, Amy. "Where Aldo does walk, the helpless will talk."

This is like ground zero for people with the "can't leave well enough alone" virus.

And as someone who has had it since birth, you can count on me.

*Woof! WOOF!*

Guys...

Please! Help me turn my parents back to normal!

Okay, but where do we start? Anyone got any leads?

Aldo, what about you guys? You're the ones that are actually from here. Anyone you could ask?

Mmmm...We do... But...

See, Arche, all you gotta do is ask. Anyone in the noble class?

Not exaaaactlyyyy? The guy I'm thinking, he's, uh... Well, let's just say he's important.

And where might we find this important man?

Should be able to find him at the Unigan Inn. Wanna head over there now?

Strike while the iron's hot, I say!

Fear not, little one. We will rescue your parents!

......

And if the laws of this world fail to deliver justice...

*Woof...*

Eh. Nevermind. Let's go, Repede.

Hey Aldo, good to see you again. Lots of new faces today.

Yeah. Actually, I have some questions I was hoping you could answer.

Aldo you didn't tell me this guy was gonna be such a... Such a SNACK! I mean, that beard, those chesticles. Let me have a bite of THAT.

Arche. Don't be rude.

Yeah... the nobles we saw out on the street weren't wearing a full coat of armor. Let me guess, he's a royal?

A royal?! He's not the...

Haha! Indeed. I am the King of Miglance.

The KING?!

When you said he was an important guy, I didn't think you meant THE important guy! How do you two know each other?

It's kind of a long story. But the short version is, there was a war with the beastfolk, and they burned down the castle.

Which explains why the King just happened to be at the inn.

If it wasn't for Aldo and his friends, this whole kingdom would be controlled by beastfolk. I owe Aldo my life, and my kingdom. I'll do whatever I can to help. So what is it you wanted to ask?

This boy's parents are levying excessive taxes on the common folk.

Ah yes... I am familiar.

So, you know who's behind it?

I got a similar report from my men. They're investigating it as we speak. They aren't just collecting taxes illegally, they are recruiting beasts to do their dirty work.

Then this issue is bigger than we once thought.

The thing is, we've looked into it, but we're having trouble finding the root of the problem.

Sounds like if your men investigated this boy's parents they might have better luck.

Indeed. But even if we know the who, we still do not know the why.

Like, why they all of a sudden started collecting extra taxes?

I hate to say it, but nobles collecting taxes is not new to Miglance. The rule was, they can take taxes, but if they go over the limit, it needs to be approved.

......

*Ruff...*

Apologies. I understand if that is not what you wanted to hear.

I get it, you need some folks getting their hands dirty to keep things moving. But why skirt the law for so long and then just one day decide to break it?

Indeed. Why would they risk the attention?

Perhaps it is the war ending that made them more brazen?

Did you notice anything weird about your parents around then?

Mmm...

Actually! There was this time my parents went to the Serena Coast in the middle of the night! I thought it was weird at the time, so I followed them... But I somehow ended up back in bed with little knowledge of what happened. Like it was a dream.

If it wasn't a dream, then it sounds like something we should look into.

It's the only lead we got. So why don't we head to the Serena Coast and look for clues?

That would be a huge help. I'd rather a smaller group of elite adventurers such as you go. If I sent a large search party, they'd find us in no time.

Hear that? The hot king called us ELITE!

*Woof!*

Then it's settled. Let's go to the Serena Coast!

Hmmm, yeah this is about as far as I got before I woke up. I remember my parents talking with someone...

Meeting someone in the middle of the night, in a place like this, is...

As suspicious as it gets.

Is there anything else you remember? Maybe something about who they were talking to?

Hmmm... It was dark and I don't remember a whole lot... It still feels like a dream to me.

*Woofwoof?*

*Woofwoof WOOF!!*

Whatcha got there, Repede?

Hey! My pajama button! It went missing after that night! Aw man, I was looking all over for this!

So you did actually come here!

It wasn't a dream!

That's a good boyyyy.

I remember now. I stepped on a shell and... That's when they found me. And in the shuffle, I somehow lost my button!

*Grrrr...*

What's wrong, Repede?

*WWWWWOOF!*

Eek!

Stupid dog found us out.

If only the damn kid woulda stayed quiet, he'd be livin' the carefree life.

Beasts!

So these are the beastfolk everyone's been talking about.

Was I the only one expecting something a little more warm and fuzzy?

Now that you've found us. We can't let you leave here alive.

Swords at the ready!

Got 'em!

Well done, Aldo!

You're pretty good with a sword, Cyrus. We should spar some time.

Aaaaaah!!!

Look!

Are those his...parents? How did they get here?

We should be asking you the same question. How did you find us?

I remembered what happened that night!

Hey this is great. Now we don't have to go searching for you. Now tell us what you said to the beasts that night.

So you know about the beastfolk...

Then I guess there's no need for these dumb disguises anymore.

His parents were beastfolk?!

I think calling those disguises is selling them a little short.

Seriously, can you guys hook me up with your make-up artist?

I thought it was weird they had no protection when we were in the forest!

I had forgotten about that... Hey, you, with the sword. You're Aldo, right? The butcher of Miglance.

Hah! So letting the kid go was the right move after all. Hero boy came running, just as he predicted.

What do you mean by that?

Now that you are here, there's only one thing left for us to do.

We're takin' the kid. If you want him alive, you better come find us!

They disappeared!

To think beastfolk had developed such a skill!

What do we do now? They took the boy!

Arche, you know what to do!

Aw yeah, it's about time!

FOUND 'EM! THEY HEADED WEST! WAY...WAAAAAAAAAY PAST UNIGAN. JUST SAW THE SAME CIRCLE THINGIE APPEAR!

Wow Arche, you're amazing!

On the other side of Unigan means they headed to the Karek Swampland!

They probably didn't expect us to find them this fast. So let's get 'em while their guards are down!

Geheh. Things are going just as planned! As long as we got this kid. Aldo will surely come.

What are you guys planning? And what did you do with my parents?!

Don't worry, your parents are still alive. There's no point in killing something that's basically dead anyway!

What's that supposed to mean?! (Don't listen to them! At least you know they're alive!)

There's no use in running, you know. My friends are going to be here any minute!

We warped pretty far, brat. It'll take them at least half a day before they find us.

BRRRRRRRRR How about half a SECOND you goobers!

WHAT?!

We've got you now! Give us back the boy!

Sure, yeah, let me just... ...How stupid do you think we are? As if we'd just give him to you?!

Wait a second! Where's the dog?!

*AROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!*

Damn! Where did he come from?!

All right!

Oh, how the tables have turned.

Damn. Let my guard down!

And with it your leverage! Prepare to taste steel!

GRrraahhh!!!

Feh. I was hoping to stall you a little bit longer. But beggars can't be choosers.

It was long enough! Their fate is sealed regardless.

What is that supposed to mean?

What was it all for? Why pretend to be the boy's parents and make those people suffer?!

The taxes? That's just a tactic we used to use to weaken countries before we'd invade.

Our real plans are much bigger than a stupid invasion. Geheheh! Lord Jeremis... I leave the rest in your capable hands...

Lord Jeremis?! Who's that?

Never heard of 'em. Maybe he's taking over for the Beast King?

*Woof woof!*

Thank you so much! Before you guys came, they mentioned my parents were alive!

What wonderful news!

That's great to hear!

We should go tell the king about what has happened here.

That way the king's men can help us search for your parents!

Then it's settled. We head back to Unigan and talk to King Miglance.

I see... Actually, the results of our search came back while you were at the Serena Coast.

We found that it wasn't just the boy's parents that had been replaced by beasts. Even without their leader, the beasts still try to destroy us from the inside.

Yeah...

The taxes? That's just a tactic we used to use to weaken countries before we'd invade.

Our real plans are much bigger than a stupid invasion. Geheheh!

......

What's the matter? Something troubling you, Aldo?

I was just thinking about something they said...

But nevermind that! We need to go find the boy's parents!

Good news, indeed! On our side, we've been getting more and more information about where they hid the people they kidnapped. The boy's parents must be in there somewhere. Once we're done with formations, I'll send my men out to find them.

Sounds like everything's going to be okay, little guy.

It sure does!!

Thank you so much, your Majesty!

All right, at least the boy is taken care of.

Yes, it's quite the relief! However... There's still a fairly important issue we must deal with.

*Arf...*

Yeah... How are we supposed to get home?

We haven't moved an inch on that front.

The only clue we have the the one thing you all saw...

The glowing cat.