The Guided Travelers

......

......So. He's gone.

We shall see...

What manner of journey he finds.

Ah, Castti. Done with your rounds?

Yes. Everyone is stable, thankfully, so we are safe for the moment.

You always work so hard, Castti. Be sure to rest up, okay?

I will, I will. Ah, but I have to measure out the sachets for tomorrow's shift... And I should really refill the...

Ah, I've heard that before! You'll find excuses to stay on your feet all night if I let you, for sure. Rest, rest! You leave all that to me.

You're always putting the patients first and foremost, Castti. It's a virtue, but we can't have you collapsing on us.

Rest is just as important for you as it is for them, remember.

I am fine. Please don't worry. So long as we have patients who need to be cared for, I'll keep on my feet.

Try tellin' that to exhaustion when it comes for you, see how far you get. Come on, let's grub. We got fish, even.

Thanks from the islanders for the medicine, they say. It ain't bad!

I could really go for a drink. It's a shame there are no taverns on this island.

Yup, ain't had a drop since we got here. Shame, you'd think the "City of Water" would have some pretty nice things to wet your whistle with.

Everything in moderation, remember?

Yes, yes, thank you. Instead of a lecture, why don't we talk about more entertaining things?

Sounds like it's your turn, Aldo.

Me?!

Uh, hmm... Well, why don't we swap stories of our travels, then?

Sounds good to me. I've heard plenty about Castti's travels before, but nothing much from you two yet.

Hey, I haven't heard any of Castti's stories, though.

Oh, of course. You weren't there, after all.

You see, I have amnesia. About all I recall is my name, and that I am an apothecary by trade.

So, I have been traveling in search of some way to find out who I am and where I come from.

Amnesia...that's awful. I hope you can remember soon.

What about you, Temenos? You're a priest, aren't you?

Yes. So my goal in traveling is to bring lost lambs to the shelter of the gods.

Proselytizing, I guess? That must not be easy, either.

Aw, look, he's buyin' it.

Aldo, you would do well to hold a little more healthy suspicion toward others in your heart, I think.

You lied to me?!

Can you blame me? Why would anyone lie in this situation?

I beg your pardon. You remind me of an acquaintance of mine, and it made me want to tease you.

The aim of my travels is to locate the criminal who murdered the Pontiff of the Order of the Flame, and that is the truth.

I have no desire to sour the mood, though, so I'll refrain from speaking about the matter any further.

I see...I'm sorry for prying. It must be really hard.

Not at all. In fact, I'm overjoyed that you've so easily trusted me once again.

Oh no, not another lie?!

Who could say?

Right, guess I'm up next!

I'm on a mission to save every poor bastard in the world from that devil called poverty.

Everyone in the world? That's a big dream.

See, my hometown's a silver mine, and for a while there the good times kept on rollin'. But then my pops got tricked...

And we learned how hard it is to be treated like you ain't worth the dirt you move.

Long story short, we got the town back, but there must be folks out there who are still sufferin' under that yoke.

I want to save 'em all, with the power of commerce.

So you're fighting for the poor... That's great.

It reminds me of you, Aldo. The way you throw yourself into harm's way to help perfect strangers. It is an admirable thing.

Yeah! Speakin' of, let's hear some of what you've gotten up to. You look like you got plenty of yarns to tell!

I haven't really done anything all that special, I think, but let's see...

Is it really okay for us to be sitting here eating at a time like this?

It's precisely because it's a time like this that we have to make sure to keep up our strength, Aldo.

Time may be of the essence, but we mustn't let haste drive us to carelessness.

You're right... Better to eat up while we can.

......

...That said, everyone sure is quiet.

Ah. It seems I was unconsciously giving in to haste, myself.

Since we have this chance, shall we share stories?

Sparen us from thine endless lectures.

I'd love to hear about you all. You three traveled together before you came here, didn't you?

What prompted you to start traveling, Cyrus?

A missing tome, huh. It must be pretty valuable if you're going to all this trouble to find it.

I seek 'From the Far Reaches of Hell.' I have no inkling yet of what secrets it contains...but I intend to find out.

You did strike me as a curious cat.

What about you, Olberic? I know you're a knight, but what brings you out on the road?

Please, Aldo. I was a knight, but that was many years ago. My king and country both are no more than memory now.

The cause of it all was a man I once called my brother. For years, I thought I would never find him again, but...

Are you looking for revenge?

I don't know. Before anything else, I need to find him...and hear the truth from his own lips.

That is why I travel.

He must have had his reasons. I can't imagine turning your sword on someone else for nothing...

I know that.

And you, H'aanit? You are also searching for someone along your way, I think?

I travel to finden my master. He is a hunter by his trade, like myself.

A year past, my master set out with his direwolf, Hägen, to hunten the beast Redeye.

However, Hägen alone returnede.

That's terrible. Do you think the monster got him?

I doubt that my master would falle. But it is clear that something hast happenede.

So, I journey to finden him.

I see. I hope you find him.

You all have such different reasons for traveling. It's amazing. I'm glad I got the chance to ask.

We have yet to hear about your own goal, Aldo.

Indeed. To asken only and never to answeren is hardly meet of thee.

My goal, huh... Where to start...

And don't think we've forgotten you either, Shion. Of course, your turn is next once Aldo has finished.

You won't get a peep out of me...

Mmm, this is amazing!!

It's really good!

It's like a big, warm hug... Inside my mouth!

Right?! Isn't it great?!

This place has the best sweets in all of Elzion, hands down!

It's my favorite spot in the whole world... The balm to my ravaged soul, the sanctuary of my world-wearied heart!

Haha!

I'd love to get a full world tour sometime...

But I like learning about your favorite places too, Suzette. It makes me feel like we're getting to know each other!

Right!

We've seen so many strange things since we got here...

But these sweets have to be the biggest surprise yet!

Such is a mere trifle for the Princess of Darkness! Well, a trifle, a gateau, and a parfait, I suppose...

Anyway! It warms my heart as a patron of La Vie En Rose to hear such well-deserved praise!

I'm glad you two like it so much.

We'll have to show you our favorite things, too!

Oh, yes please!

I-It would be nice... Since we're friends and all...

My favorite thing is... Dancing! Of course!

From a quiet dance of love, to a fierce war dance, each one is a unique and wonderful story.

What made you want to become a dancer, Tithi?

I met a really, really pretty dancer when I was just a little girl. Everything about her was so graceful and fierce!

I wanted to be just like her when I grew up.

I would say you succeeded! How wonderful.

No, not yet. I'm still only at the start of my journey.

There are still so many people in my world who are stuck looking down at their feet all the time, you see.

Even though the blue sky, the bright sun, and all the flowers of the world are right there, they can't look up and see them.

Isn't that so sad? I want my dances to catch their eyes and show them all the beauty they're missing out there.

I see...so you're chasing after a never-ending dream to sway the hearts of mortals! I love it!

My favorite thing is, hmm... Red Hat, I suppose.

You mentioned that when we met. What is the Red Hat, anyway?

Oh? Have I caught your interest? I guess I'll tell you, then!

It's an old legend from my home, the cold and snowy Frostlands.

Red Hat is a spirit who blesses and watches over children. And of course, he always wears red clothes and a hat!

Ah, so that's why you dress like that!

That's right! It's how I show my respect for the spirit from that old legend.

And, it gives me an excuse to talk about him wherever I go, too!

In any case, I'm looking for the truth of the legend of Red Hat.

You've both put in so much effort to become like the figures you respect. You're similar in that regard, huh?

Now that you mention it. Maybe we are similar!

It would explain why traveling with you is so fun!

Oh, speaking of favorites. What's this "Nether" you keep mentioning, Suzette?

You want to know more about the Nether?! I would love to tell you everything there is to know about it!

Once we're done touring Elzion, let's visit the Nether next!

Huh? Oh, um...Well...

The, um, the gate to the Nether doesn't simply open on a whim, you see, so...

Don't be like that, Suzette. Why not bring them there?

A-Aldo!

Haha...

......

What awaits you along this journey, I wonder?