Hero Stories: Requiem for the Forsaken

All who follow the Church of the Goddess know there is only one who can save our world from the Archdemon.

The Heir of the Covenant, embodiment of the Goddess... The more that doctrine was repeated, the deeper my suspicions grew.

Without him, what fate will befall the rest of us? Before the brutality of the Archdemon, is the only course of action left to our Church...

To pray for a miracle?

Not long after, a cruel revelation was handed down.

A revelation stating that upon the Archdemon's advent, the Heir of the Covenant would not be fighting by our side.

That's when I realized, prayer will not bring a miracle. It was up to me to create a miracle myself.

Through hardship, you will be reborn as something new. Enhanced mages.

Though some may curse and criticize us...

I hope you know what it means for you to be here.

Do not forget, in protecting the Sacred Kingdom of Ezera, you are doing divine work.

This will be the single most important step towards keeping the entire world safe.

History, nay, Orbis, will remember the miracles you create.

Divine work, miracles, peace... These things don't matter to me.

All I want is the power to protect all that I hold precious. For that end...

I will give anything.

All I wanted was the medicine to stay the convulsions.

Now that I think about it, a few enhanced mages have come looking for me.

They wanted that medicine as well.

No, they wanted you.

Did you tell them about me?

I would never. I have no reason to involve myself in your affairs, you know that.

I told them I didn't know anything, so they gave me this. In case I met you.

A map...

But...they looked uneasy, as if they had been pushed to the very edge.

If you plan to go looking for them, you should be careful.

Do I detect a hint of concern?

Hmm, think of it as a little something extra in commemoration of our final goodbye.

According to the map Myra gave me and what the chasers said, it should be around here.

Solayu Swamp... People who sacrificed themselves for the sake of the world deserve to live in a nicer place than this.

But perhaps that's exactly what's helped them avoid the chasers this whole time.

...

Am I scared to finally meet them...?

As I should be. I betrayed them once already, after all. But I have to meet them.

They need to know about the chasers, and what I found in Noard's house.

That's the least I can do for them.

There's blood everywhere...

And these magic traces... They're familiar somehow.

Nng...

Somebody survived...?

Are...Are you...Kawerik...?

Oh, so you know me. That's right, I'm Kawerik.

Why are you...here...?

I came looking for all of you, but it seems I was a little late...

What happened here? Who...

You've turned a blind eye to us up until now, but suddenly...you care?

Uhh...

*chuckling* Kawerik... Decades have passed, and you don't look a day older.

Wealth and honor for saving the world.

...

Why did you do it? We trusted you...

Even after the Church of the Goddess had abandoned us... I thought I could trust in you!

But you vanished without a trace.

...You're right. I abandoned all of you.

I...I just had to get back to her.

They called us unnatural, corrupt... So we scattered and went into hiding.

Even though all I had left were the side effects of the enhancement...I tried not to lose hope.

I believed you would come back and return our honor.

Hope is just despair by another name.

Exactly. Despair was all we had left.

Most died or lost their minds because they couldn't withstand so much mana running through their bodies. Or, like me... They became malformed.

...

But why do you look completely fine?

Death is quickly approaching for me as well, don't worry.

So you came to confess your sins? I think you took too long...

Argh!

The mana is burning through his heart... At this rate...

Even when they're suffering from side effects, an enhanced mage is still a formidable foe. Who could have done this to you all...?

*chuckling* Don't worry... I'm sure...the chasers...will be coming for you soon...too...

Chasers...?

Our old...comrades...

Urk!

Stop talking.

Even with my magic, I can't stop the hemorrhaging...

...

W-Why...did you take...so long to come back?

If you had found us earlier...you could have...led us...

We would not have had...to die like this...

Even if I was able to return to back then...I would make the same choice all over again.

So if this is the price I need to pay for that...

I have no choice but to accept it.

...

But who are these "chasers"...?

The Black Hand of the Goddess is glowing faintly... Is there magic nearby?

That must mean they're not far.

You wanted to run away without anybody knowing.

I did... Sorry.

After the Church abandoned us, if we lose our leader too... None of us will be able to stand it any longer.

Perhaps. But I still need to leave either way.

I see you've made up your mind. But remember this...

One day, you will have to take responsibility for this decision.

What is this, some kind of prophecy? I guess you always were interested in those kinds of things.

No, it is nothing so grand. Simply...

Let's take it easy, we'll be at the meeting place soon.

You need to do your best right up until the end. The more ingredients, the better.

Are you the people I've been looking for...?

...! K-Kawerik!

Judging by how the Black Hand is reacting to you, I was right.

You and the rest of the enhanced mages live nearby, don't you? Take me there.

I never expected you to turn up here. Why have you come?

There are some things you all need to know.

Ha! We've heard the rumors already. You've been working with the chasers to slaughter all your old comrades.

...There really are some strange rumors going around.

Run...Run away! I'll buy you time. M-Make sure you tell everyone, I died fighting valiantly...

Stop trying to act cool while you're quaking in your boots. There's no need for you to sacrifice yourself, anyway.

If we fight here, everyone else will realize soon enough and come help.

Oh, good point. We're right by the meeting place.

All we need is to hold him off for long enough until they arrive... If we can.

All right, let's do this. Even you will struggle against two of us.

I guess I'm going to have to help you cool your heads.

You're persistent. Don't you think it's time to stop?

Dammit, he still has such incredible amounts of mana...

The two of us aren't enough after all.

If you've worked that out, just give up already. Let's talk.

You'd love that, wouldn't you?

All this mana... This is definitely more than one or two people. I'm surrounded.

You finally realized? There's nowhere for you to run.

Run? Ha, that was never an option.

Then give up! For the sake of your comrades who died cursing your name!

Everyone! Now!

*roaring*

What a rough welcome.

He blocked the magic of fifteen people!?

This won't end any time soon.

I need to stop them from being able to move properly...

Ack...! N-Not...now...!

Did I use...too much magic...?

Huh? He...collapsed. Aha! I knew he couldn't resist that attack!

Time to slice his neck.

...No, we should take him back to the village. We can't let him die so easily.

Hmph, fine. I guess there are a lot of people who hold a grudge against him. But...isn't that a little dangerous?

He won't be able to misbehave if we put him in the mana restriction cuffs. Hurry, before he wakes up.

Our hard work was almost ruined because of this idiot.

Alright, we'll take him back to the village, and then after that...

Kawerik Vian...?

...

I'll take that look on your face as a yes! Hmm... It's an extremely important letter, so I'll ask a couple more questions to confirm your identity first.

You were the leader of the Enhanced Magic Division, right? And recently you've been...

It says here you've been tracking a group known as the "chasers." Is that correct?

One more word...

And I'll make sure you never say another word in this world again.

...Identity verified. Here's your letter.

There's no name written on it. Who's it from?

That's a courier's secret!

If you won't tell me willingly, I can just as easily force it out of you.

Now that you have your letter, I'll be on my way!

...

She's fast.

Who would want to send me something so important?

...

This is...

...

They looked ready to kill me, yet they brought me back to the village.

Is this...a hospital? Everyone around me is either old or wounded.

Oh! He's finally awake! It's been days!

Kawerik Vian! Strongest of the enhanced mages! Serial deceiver! And...

Our final hope!

...Excuse me?

*giggling* I can't tell you. It's a...secret! It's a secret!

...! Oh no, they're coming! They'll tell me off if they see me talking to you!

He doesn't seem to be all there... It must be one of the enhanced mage side effects.

You've finally returned to the world of the living. It's been too long, Kawerik.

I know that voice. Thrandir...?

Incredible, you recognized me by just my voice. That's fortunate, as I look nothing like I used to.

We faced death together countless times. It's only natural we'd know each other so well.

Indeed. Though it could have ended better...

About that...

Leave the past in the past. I hear you have something to tell us.

Yes, it's extremely important. Who's in charge of this place? Take me to them.

Haha, I've never seen you so urgent before. Calm down and start again. Slowly.

The person in charge of this place is me.

Information on research into enhanced magic and the chasers... You weren't overselling it.

Anyway, how are you feeling? The others were rather rough with you.

As you can see, not great.

Rumor has it you're the one in charge of these chasers. Of course, I know that cannot be true.

But anger all too easily blinds one to reason. No matter how much I tried, I was never able to convince the others.

That explains why they all hated me so much.

This information you've brought us, though... It should help clear up the misunderstandings.

That's good to hear. Well, I should be going now, then...

Not in that state, you're not. Has the medicine stopped working on you?

...How did you know?

I'm sorry, I examined your body a little as you slept.

That's how I found out you'd been taking my medicine...along with a few other things.

You...are the one who makes the medicine?

*chuckling* I guess there's no reason you would have known. I've done my best to hide that fact so as to keep the chasers' eyes away.

Even Myra had no idea where it was coming from.

Anyway, why not stay here a while? You must be tired of wandering all the time with nowhere to belong.

I don't think the others would be happy with that.

Don't worry, I'll bring them around to it.

A customer? This late at night?

And one giving off an extremely hostile aura at that.

So you were hiding away in a place like this.

Ah... Kawerik Vian. I had heard you were still alive. You disappeared after abandoning your comrades, didn't you?

I suppose you were trying to go back home. As futile an effort as that is.

You have no right to say something like that after what you did to us.

Things simply took their natural course.

Their natural course...? Do you have any idea what's happening to us?

We are dying, completely neglected. We received absolutely none of the rewards you promised us.

To survive, some of them have even turned to murdering their comrades and stealing their mana.

*chuckling* You mean the chasers?

How did you...

How could I not? Do you think they are hunting your people down for no reason?

You're behind this...

That's right. I told them they could prolong their lives with the mana of enhanced mages.

Everyone here is dying from the side effects, and yet...it's strangely peaceful.

The others are treating me differently as well. I'm sure I have Thrandir to thank for that.

But I'm still no closer to Cidonia...

What's weird is...none of the patients who went for emergency treatment yesterday came back.

Thrandir said they died of seizures caused by the side effects, but they didn't seem to be in critical condition when they left.

What's got you thinking so deeply?

It's nothing.

I hear you're getting discharged today. They say you're all better, but...are you sure you'll be okay?

I made my choice the moment you told me the information I brought would allow you to make a new medicine.

Alright, then I'll go tell the leader of the search party.

Thank you, Thrandir.

For what?

For taking me in, and convincing the others.

It's nothing. If anything, I should be thanking you...

You've saved a lot of lives by coming here.

Die!

...!

Phew... Have we collected everything we came for in this area?

Uh-huh! There's only one thing left.

Hmm?

A contaminated Caides heart.

It's one of the absolutely key ingredients for the new medicine.

Look at the ground, it's all corrupted. Shouldn't it be around here somewhere?

It should. Let's speed up.

Wait, there's something I need to prepare first.

Oh? There's no need, I'll have it dead before it even notices we're here.

I appreciate the confidence, but it's best to play it safe. That thing has a strange power to it.

It...accelerates our side effects...

Oh, so that's why Thrandir gave us all these?

Medicine...?

Yes. They're not perfect, but they should help protect us from the brunt of the effect.

Better than nothing.

*swallowing*

Alright, no need to keep wasting time. Come on.

He didn't suspect a thing. Do you think it will really be okay...?

And if it isn't? It's already too late now. We just need to do as we were told.

Mana release!

Krrrrrrr...!

Phew... Was that it? That was a lot easier than you guys made it sound.

*stumbling*

Huh? Why am I so dizzy...? Is this...the Caides?

Hey, are you okay!? Do you think you can stand?

I can feel myself...getting weaker...

Maybe you got covered in too much of its blood...

D-Did you...get its heart...?

Oh, don't worry, I have it right here.

Good... We did it...

Now we can make the medicine... And everyone...

He's completely out.

Don't just stare at him, get to work.

We have to move him before he wakes up.

Why did you do it?

Your noble sacrifices and heroic deaths brought new opportunities and new life to this land.

But I thought there would be no place for you all in this new age.

You needed us, and yet our very existence was forbidden.

Yes. I believed the miracle that would end our despair would be completed through sacrifice.

Don't make me laugh. You were just scared that the reputation you built and all the things you had achieved would be marred.

You're wrong. All I wanted was to give the people hope that we could defeat the Archdemon even without the Covenant.

For the Church of the Goddess, and for Ezera.

My plan was perfect. It was on the cusp of coming to fruition.

And it would have, if not for those filthy politicians!

You still see yourself as a martyr, don't you?

Pfft, I never expected others would understand me.

You haven't changed a bit since you gave us that speech.

Those who fell victim to your ideals are still suffering endlessly.

I won't talk long... Those chasers. They trusted you, they followed you.

Tell them to stop hunting their comrades. Or else...

You will kill me?

...Perhaps.

So brutal. And irresponsible.

Irresponsible?

Think, Kawerik. Will they really stop just because I tell them to?

They're doing it because they want to. That's the kind of...beings they are.

They do what they must to achieve their goals.

Watch what you say, Noard...

There are two ways you can stop them. First, and this is by far the simplest...

You take that hand of yours, the Black Hand of the Goddess, and you punish them yourself.

Urgh...

*rattling*

Mana restriction cuffs...? What happened? We were hunting the Caides, and I...

Don't be alarmed. I only did what was necessary.

It's likely you might get heated once you hear what I have to say.

I'm getting the impression you don't have good news for me.

Are you aware of why the chasers are attacking us?

Because...they believe an enhanced mage's mana will slow the side effects and prolong their lives.

So you do know to some extent...

Except they're wrong. The only way to slow the side effects is your medicine.

You're both right and wrong. My medicine is the only way to slow the side effects.

What you don't know is that the main ingredient of the medicine is in fact the mana of an enhanced mage.

Is that true?

Yes. That's why the chasers are hunting their comrades. To live.

How do you know about that...?

Noard and I developed this medicine together.

You worked with Noard!?

Doing whatever it takes to achieve our goals... Isn't that how we survive?

...

Let me tell you the whole story. You deserve to know.

Why did I work with Noard? It's simple, to save everyone.

But Noard never actually wanted the medicine to be finished.

...Because once the medicine was complete, his chasers would lose their use.

Precisely. That's why he tried to kill me. But I was able to escape and told these "chasers" about everything.

Not long after, I went with them to the abbey...

But I had already killed him.

And had taken all of his research materials.

So the people looking for me were...chasers? And you were working with them...?

For the sake of research only. But there was no progress, and one-by-one, our comrades developed a resistance to the medicine and died.

And then you turned up. With the research materials and...the final ingredient.

Final ingredient...?

Yes. The last thing I need to complete the medicine. The most important ingredient of all...your mana.

Your mana is different from the rest of ours. Special. Look at yourself, you haven't aged a day since I last saw you.

There's only one thing you can do now, sacrifice yourself to save everyone.

...Why did you heal me, why did you make the others accept me?

I needed to buy time to complete some final pieces of research. And you were useful for collecting some other minor ingredients.

...

You really thought we had accepted you back, didn't you?

*chuckling* From the moment you abandoned us, you became irredeemable.

Answer me one thing, at least. Those enhanced mages in the hospital who never came back...did you use them to make the medicine?

They didn't have much time left anyway. They'll be happy that the rest of their lives were used for the greater good.

Do you really believe that?

Enough questions. Get some rest.

Argh... Tranquilizers...?

I'll come pick you up when the experiment is ready.

If I lose consciousness now...everything is over...

These...are no normal mana restriction cuffs... But if I overload the Black Hand...

CLANG

Ack... Did I overdo it? But...

Passing out can wait until I work out what's going on here...

Are you going to run away again!? Just die a martyr. It's the least you can do for betraying us!

Sorry, but now isn't the time.

Ahhh!

There aren't just the mages following Thrandir, this place is full of monsters too.

At this size, it's clearly a well-organized operation...

...It's faint, but I can feel them... There are still enhanced mages alive down here.

But even if I save them, what good is that? The rest of their lives will still be....

No, don't waver, Kawerik. Now you're just doing what you can, what you have to do.

It's too dark to see, but I can feel mana behind the bars.

Yet I can't sense the presence of any people. And that smell... Is it blood?

Oh! Kawerik Vian!

...! You're still alive?

Me? Of course! Ahahaha! I'm just in here 'cause they told me to come in.

It sucks I don't have a room of my own, and I need to share it with all these dying people, but...

Oh, well I guess it is only me left in here now.

Thrandir brought you here?

How did you know? If you're here...doesn't that mean you're on our side?

Hahahaha! Fantastic! Of course, if you want to live, you don't have much other choice.

...

Now the chasers have no enemies left at all!

...What are you talking about?

You didn't know? The chasers built this village. All the people up top are chasers.

Then that means...

Running around hunting people is a pain, so they devised this sneaky trap! A refuge for all the surviving enhanced mages!

Now everyone who was hiding is all running here themselves, like moths to a flame!

Then does that mean Thrandir is a chaser too?

He joined us late, but now...he's the leader! I personally can't stand him, but he's a smart one!

Wait... What's that blood on your hands?

Oh, this? *giggling* I told you. Everyone around me was dying.

So I helped them on their way! Don't worry, I made sure to suck out all their juicy mana first.

Then...the only person...thing...left in this cage is you?

Got it in one! Haha! It's so roomy now! Hmm, but it is a little boring being all alone.

Would you mind letting me out? Now that you're on our side, I'm sure you got promoted straight to the top.

Sure, I'll let you out.

Ahhh! That hurts, Kawerik! W-Why are you...

This obsession you have with life has eaten you up.

And so I'll kindly...free you from it...

No... I don't want to die... I want to live... I want...to...

So did all those people you killed.

But those cries faded to silence as their life left them.

Again, just like you.

Me? Kill my own comrades?

They won't stop until they achieve their goal. That's how you were all made to be.

Stop talking as if you know anything about us.

*chuckling* Do you know why we chose each of you? We were looking for...deficiency.

Back then you each may have been lacking in wealth, honor, or power. Now, your obsessions lie only with life.

I may have lit the first embers, but now they've grown into a little group of lunatics all on their own.

Do you think my words are enough to stop them?

...

If you don't want to kill me, there is another choice available. Gather the enhanced mages and follow me again.

Together, we will become a sword that will cleanse Ezera and the Church of those idiotic politicians.

Hahaha! Do you hear yourself? Has being cooped up in here made you lose your mind too?

You mistreated and tried to get rid of us, and now you think we'll fight beside you again? You're despicable.

Back then, it was the best thing I could do. It was a small sacrifice for the greater good. But things have changed.

Now they've pushed me out and taken over the Church, and they're not preparing a thing!

The Archdemon's return is coming, but all they do is sit around waiting for the Heir of the Covenant to wake up.

And so you want to make another of your "miracles"?

Exactly. I can't stand back and watch the world die.

Trust me one more time, Kawerik. History is written by the victors.

Once I return to my rightful place as high priest, I'll undo all this.

I can give you back all you've lost and more.

It's too late for that now. As you said yourself, all we need now is...

To live. And for that, you will need medicine to treat the side effects.

...There's medicine?

Do you think I've spent all these years in this abbey doing nothing at all?

Kawerik, our reunion is the will of the Goddess.

Join me. It is the only path left to you.

You're right. But...

I've already made my choice.

Ack...! Let go of me! What do you think you're doing!?

After I took back my shattered life and was thrown back into the world, I realized what you stole from me was not any promised "reward."

And I decided I would never make that same mistake again.

You foolish man. Are you really going to throw away this final chance? Are you going to cut away the strings of fate?

Yes, this may be the only choice I have.

And even if I have to give that up... I'm fed up with putting my life in the hands of others.

In the end...it is with your own hands...that you condemn your comrades to death...

There will come a time...when you will be held accountable....for this... Kawerik...Vian...

...We'll see.

Argh...! No... I can't...die... I still have so much to do...

I still have so many miracles to create!

You can make those miracles in the afterlife.

Arghhh!

Through this Black Hand, it's as if the Goddess herself is taking your life.

A fitting end for you, Noard Riks.

Ah, here it is.

One day, you will have to take responsibility for this decision.

What is this, some kind of prophecy? I guess you always were interested in those kinds of things.

No, it is nothing so grand. Simply...

A reminder that your actions have consequences.

In the end...it is with your own hands...that you condemn your comrades to death...

There will come a time...when you will be held accountable....for this... Kawerik...Vian...

...

That's right. It's about time I take responsibility for my choices.

I can't say I'm surprised to see you standing there after all that noise outside. I was about to go see you anyway, there was no need to come find me.

The chaser village. Sacrificing people for medicine. Was this all your idea...?

I see you've figured it all out.

Are you people really willing to do whatever it takes to stay alive?

I'm only doing what I had to do, what others have turned away from.

Saving the enhanced mages forsaken by everyone else!

Sacrifices are unavoidable along the way.

Sacrifices for the greater good... What a cowardly excuse. Admit it, Thrandir.

You're doing this all for yourself. The "cause" is nothing more than a mask for your own rotten beliefs.

Quiet! You think I'm doing this because I want to!?

If you hadn't ran off back then, things would never have come to this!

*sighing* Sorry, I allowed myself to get a little overexcited. This long journey of ours will be over soon.

Noard's materials and your mana will allow me to complete a whole new medicine.

Now...sacrifice yourself to the cause and no more blood needs to be shed.

...

*chuckling* Is that a no? I can't say I'm surprised. You've only ever been out for yourself.

Fine. If that's how you want to play it...

Arghhhhh!

They're pumped with too much mana, they've completely lost all rationality...

Even you will struggle to face an enhanced mage under the immediate effects of the medicine.

Now be a good boy and die so I can finally complete my research.

...Give up. The others in the village will have all heard the explosions and will arrive here any moment now.

Seeing you...try to kill me...they'll know you're the true villain. You will need...to fight all of your old comrades...

Noard would always talk about how our existence was forbidden, even though the world needed us.

I wanted to prove him wrong, but sadly...in the end I can't help but admit it.

Are you going to kill everyone? Not only the chasers, but the enhanced mages who know nothing about what's really happening here as well?

My life has been one long string of wrong choices. And now...it's time I take responsibility for them, just like you and Noard told me I would have to.

I might live to regret this choice as well, but if I don't stop you all here...

With false hope in their hearts, they'll be used and abandoned all over again.

Don't we already know the pain of putting our lives in the hands of others all too well?

Arghhhh..!

Even if it means staining my own hands with their blood, I will let them die with dignity.

Get away from Thrandir! Come on, everyone, we need to protect the village!

We took you back, and this is how you repay us! Have you no shame!? Die!

That's the only choice left for a coward like me.

Hey, did you hear? Now that the Archdemon is gone, apparently you can cross the sea to the Rotted Earth down south.

So Ezera's going to send a reconnaissance ship...

Yeah, I heard. They're looking for crew members, aren't they?

Oh? You already knew? Anyway, let's hurry up and apply! They say the pay is incredible!

They're only paying so much because of how dangerous it is. As far as anyone knows, it's a desolate wasteland down there.

The whole continent could be swarming with monsters.

Where can I find this ship?

Ah! Oh Goddess... You nearly gave me a heart attack.

It's at Levulin Harbor.

Levulin... Thank you.

You can't go around telling just anyone this kind of information!

Did you see the look in his eyes? How could I not!?

It was almost like...he's searching for a place to die.

...

Urgh...

THUNK

*panting* After all that...I could only get this far...

I left this place so I could grasp the entire world in my hands...

But in the end, I lost everything, and now I return only after paying a heavy price.

Vivian...

Is this really how I die?

Straze... There's some strange man on the ground here.

I can feel he is a man of ardent desire.

Who...?

Yet...it seems destiny will not allow him to achieve those desires.

Dying alone in the middle of a field... Maybe this was what destiny had in store for me all along...

Destiny is never so set in stone. Sometimes it contains unexpected twists.

Like this meeting of ours here in this desolate land. If you would like, I can give your destiny one such twist.

You...are offering to save my life?

I am. Perhaps it will be your final chance to achieve what you desire so much.

Make your choice. Will you put your life, your destiny, in my hands?

I will. Maybe my destiny has always been to put my life in the hands of another.

But...if this is what it takes to get what I want...

I'll give it one more try.