Lost Sword story · Character episode
Neo · Bedivere Episode
5 scenes, 306 lines
1. A Crybaby No More?
40 linesIt had been a long time since our journey began. But some things never got easier.
We are practically family now, had seen each other at their best and worst, but when it came to the girls getting ready, it always took forever.
When are they going to finish?!
As I grumbled to myself, someone poked me gently in the back.
Looks like it might take a while. You should wait somewhere more comfortable.
Bedivere... You're the only one who ever thinks of me.
Hehe, I've grown a bit, you know.
No problem anymore. Just a bit inconvenient when changing clothes and such.
Bedivere had lost her arm fighting the Apostles. She'd charged in to save Elizabeth and was wounded by Anessa.
After retreating from the front lines, she'd returned, reborn through the spirit of the World Tree, standing once more at Elizabeth's side.
You know, the whole thing was honestly shocking. But you showed up right when we needed you, and thanks to you, Elizabeth and I made it out alive.
It was only right, I'm her knight, after all.
Be Impressed
You really sound dependable now. You've changed.
Thank you, Ethan.
Compliment Her
That's the right mindset. I'll have to keep pushing myself too, don't want to fall behind!
You can become even stronger, Ethan. Hehe!
I feel like I can finally trust you to watch my back. I used to feel so anxious all the time.
I must've worried you. But now... you can move forward without looking over your shoulder.
Ooh...
Is something wrong, Ethan?
No... I was just thinking... You've really matured.
You think so?
How do I put it... your personality's the same, but you seem calmer. More composed.
Now I feel kind of bad for grumbling about how long everyone was taking to get ready.
It was a sincere thought. She really did feel different, steadier, compared to the timid, teary-eyed Bedivere from before.
Hehe... maybe the spirit's helping me stay grounded.
As I admired her newfound calm, something suddenly struck me.
Bedivere.
Yes?
...Where's your weapon? We're heading out soon, but you're... kind of empty-handed.
My weapon? Oh, right... It's obviously right...
...Hehe.
...?
Hyaaah! I'll be right back!
Bedivere vanished with a thud and a flurry of footsteps, leaving me blinking after her.
Maybe she hasn't changed all that much after all.
2. Strangely Uneasy Girl
43 linesCareful, Bedivere. From here on, we're in griffin territory.
That's no problem, Ethan.
Let's find it and take it down quickly, so the princess and Morgana can move safely.
We were moving into the next region when we got intel about a griffin lurking in the mountains.
Since it was dangerous terrain for Morgana to fight in, and Elizabeth had to protect her, we went ahead as the scouting party.
But with how dependable Bedivere is now... I can focus on the fight.
KIIIIIEHHH!!
It's here, Ethan!
Yeah, I see it!
A head like an eagle, a body like a lion. I thought a dragon was terrifying, but seeing a griffin up close is another level entirely.
It's charging in! Be careful!
We've survived worse. This won't be a problem!
Watch out for its beak
Nice, dodged!
Ethan, look out for its claws!
Gah!
A mistake. Right after the beak, it followed up with a heavy swipe. Surprisingly nimble for something that massive...
Are you alright?
Barely grazed me. If I hadn't blocked with my sword, it might've taken my arm off.
Watch out for its lion forelegs.
Its beak is strong, but not the real threat. The real danger is...
TAAAH!
That was a clean block! I'll intercept!
I blocked it, but it's heavy. We can't drag this out too long, it's too risky.
When you see an opening, go all in. Don't let your guard down for a second, Bedivere!
Hiyah!
Bedivere's strike made the griffin stagger. It was a heavy blow, stronger than anything I'd seen from her before.
Now's our chance!
Kiiihh, Kiiii...
Wounded, the griffin stumbled and slammed into a rock wall. Its massive body crashed down with thunderous thuds.
It's down...
Hah... That was rough. Nice work, Bedivere.
You too, Ethan. But it's not over yet, the griffin still breathes.
So she's going to finish it off? I watched with concern as Bedivere approached the beast, now barely breathing.
But then, she gently stroked its head... and spoke.
Poor creature... Once your wounds heal, fly far away. Stay hidden from the eyes of men.
Huh. That was unexpectedly compassionate. Is that the World Tree's spirit rubbing off on her?
Born beneath the endless sky... May your soul find peace and rest.
She sounded like a fairy, or maybe even a goddess.
Your mighty beak, your graceful wings...
Um... that is to say... uh... R-Rest well!
...Ran out of things to say, huh.
Guess she got a little carried away there. Looks like the old Bedivere is still in there after all.
3. The Saint Descends?
43 linesSeveral days had passed since we crossed the mountains, fighting off monsters along the way.
At last, we arrived at our destination, a secluded mountain village.
That's a strange smell.
I heard this area is filled with a lot of mushrooms and herbs. That's probably why.
You know your stuff. Is that thanks to the World Tree too?
No... This one I know from experience. Back when I was badly injured and separated from all of you, I stayed in a village like this for a while...
I see...
Let's find a place to stay first, then I'll go bring the princess, Ethan.
Yeah.
As we entered the village, I noticed the people looked worn and weary. They'd probably been struggling with monsters nearby.
Everyone, it's alright now. Ethan, the Swordbringer, has arrived.
The Swordbringer?
I've heard the legends...! That Swordbringer is really here?!
It had been a while since I got this kind of welcome. It was familiar and awkward at the same time. I scratched my head and waved back at the crowd.
But the warm reception didn't last long.
And I am Bedivere, merged with the spirit of the World Tree. Hehe!
Wow, look at you, Bedivere. Since when did you start introducing yourself like that? The old you would've been too shy to even speak up.
The spirit of the World Tree?!
A saint... She must be a saint! At last, a saint blessed by the spirits has come to our village!
Just like that, she totally stole the spotlight. Forget the prophesied Swordbringer, clearly, everyone preferred the World Tree's avatar. It was hard not to feel jealous... and a little relieved.
Hehe, may the light guide you all. You're safe now.
Bedivere spoke gently, soothing the people with practiced ease. If Elizabeth saw this, she'd be floored.
Still... she's pushing herself too hard, isn't she? I hope she's okay.
It's nice seeing everyone so happy. Don't you agree, Ethan?
Well... yeah, I guess so...
Is something wrong?
...Nothing.
I shouldn't ruin her moment. Maybe this is part of her growth.
As I nodded at her serene smile, Bedivere let out a cheerful laugh, then glanced sideways at me, just for a second.
...?
You're not overdoing it, are you?
Overdoing it? Of course not, Ethan. I'm not who I used to be.
Hehe... for the sake of everyone, I can keep going for as long as...
...Hmm? Why'd you stop mid-sentence?
Well... um...
Why are you whispering? What's going on?
The truth is... Now that we've arrived and I saw all these people... I kind of relaxed, and... now I really have to use the bathroom...
What?
I looked back at the gathered crowd. Then turned to Bedivere, whose eyebrows were twitching ever so slightly.
Just... pace yourself so it has time to, y'know, air out.
Yes?
E-Ethan?! Ethan, please! Help meee!
Yeah... People don't really change that easily, do they?
4. Unchanged and True
44 linesSince morning, villagers had been coming to visit.
They treated Bedivere like an actual saint, stopping by just to greet and worship her.
The others should've arrived by now, but she's already busy at the crack of dawn.
Bedivere, let's wrap it up. It's time to get moving.
Ah! Good morning, Ethan.
Yeah, morning.
But why haven't Elizabeth and Morgana shown up yet? Shouldn't we be waking them by now?
Huh? The princess and Morgana haven't arrived yet.
What? That can't be right... We came ahead, but it wasn't that long a distance.
We'd chosen this village as our base of operations, to hunt down monsters like the griffin and investigate ruins hidden in the mountain region.
Since the terrain was narrow and dangerous, Bedivere and I had gone ahead to scout. But now... they were late. Too late.
Hmm... it's unlikely they were attacked by monsters.
Yeah. Aside from the griffin we dealt with, there weren't any others around.
They didn't fall off a cliff or something, right?
I-I mean... that could happen with Morgana, but... the princess did say she'd watch over her. I'm sure they're fine.
Sigh... maybe we should've all traveled together.
...Then again, if we had, they might've gotten hurt by the griffin.
The cliffside paths were too narrow. With Morgana unable to fight effectively on uneven ground, combat would've been tough.
No choice, then. Let's wait a bit longer. If they still don't show up, we'll head back and search for them.
Got it...
Originally, we were supposed to light a signal fire once we got here, but...
...Wait. Come to think of it, where is the beacon tower? I haven't seen one anywhere in the village.
Huh?! You're right!
Excuse me... would you happen to know where the beacon is?
Hm? Oh, we don't have one here. That's in the next village over, across the mountain.
Whaaat!?
...My head's starting to hurt.
Things had been going unusually smoothly. Sure, Bedivere had changed... but maybe not that much after all.
As she stood there, tears welling up from sheer embarrassment, I gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder.
It's okay. Let's take a breath and figure out the right route. We already took out the griffin, this'll be nothing.
I'm sorry, Ethan. Sniff...
I just wanted to do a good job... but I messed up something so simple. Maybe I haven't changed at all...
Bedivere...
You're best just being yourself
You don't have to force yourself to act all calm and collected. You're already amazing just the way you are.
Sniff... Ethan... thank you.
Try to stay level-headed
Ethan...
You've been a huge help since you returned. If you can keep a cool head and stop panicking, you'll become someone everyone can count on.
...Understood. I'll keep your words in mind.
I'll prove I've changed... just watch me!
Well, her mood seemed to bounce back. But still...
Elizabeth's definitely going to scold us for this.
I let out a long sigh, already bracing myself for the journey ahead.
5. Swimsuit Bedivere
136 linesThe rattling carriage finally came to a stop.
The road had been rough, muddy, and miserable, but none of that mattered now.
Wow! It's the ocean, Ethan!
Because we're here... with the most dazzling, ultra-super-cutie girls around!
The weather's perfect. And look at the clouds, it's like someone painted the sky.
It really is. Shall I leave the luggage here, Princess?
Sure. I'll help too, we need to sort it from the food supplies.
That stuff can wait. First, someone bring me a cold fruit platter or something.
...You could help, you know.
Excuse me, Ethan? And what exactly are you doing that's so important? Oh, right. Absolutely nothing. Like a lazy little piglet.
What?! Can't you see I'm setting up the tent here?!
We'd just finished a big battle, so I suggested taking a vacation.
A beach trip, swimming, barbecue, the works. Sounded perfect... except for one thing.
I forgot there's always that one piece of baggage who does absolutely nothing.
Hmph. Silly Ethan. You always forget. You really should've left that kind of baggage behind.
I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU! YOU!!
Eek!
B-Bedi, are you okay? If you try to carry everything at once, it's going to topple...
I-I'm fine, Princess! I'm not the same clumsy girl I used to be!
You already dropped everything, though...
I watched Bedivere scramble to pick up the mess, scratching her head in a fluster.
We came here to relax, but she's working just as hard as ever. Poor girl...
Elizabeth, could you stay here with Morgana and finish sorting things out? I was thinking of taking Bedivere to check out the beach ahead.
Might as well scope out a good spot. I saw a fishing boat earlier, if we can get shrimp or something, it'll be perfect for the barbecue.
Sounds like a great idea. See you later, Bedi!
Yes, Princess!
Ethan, as soon as we're done unpacking, we're gonna start cooking. So don't be too long.
O-Okay!
[Scene transition]
Past a cluster of jagged rocks, the emerald-blue sea stretched endlessly before us.
Woooow!
Watching Bedivere run off with such joy brought a smile to my face.
You really love the ocean, huh?
Of course! I've seen it plenty of times, but I've never come just to have fun.
And... I've never gone alone with a guy before...
She blushed slightly, and I found myself getting flustered too.
Wh-When you say it like that, it sounds so embarrassing... haha...
Ethan... do I look okay?
Y-Yeah...
Really...?
O-Of course! I mean, seeing a stylish girl like you in a bikini? That's a rare honor!
I-I see... It's a bit embarrassing, though...
That's how swimsuits work. You'll get used to it once we're splashing around.
Okay...
The air between us felt... different. Not bad, just... strange.
L-Let's go! It's practically a crime to stare at water this clear and not dive in!
Wait, weren't we supposed to check out that fishing boat?
That boat? Yeah... never existed.
...What?
You've been working nonstop, even after we reached the village. I just thought you deserved a break. It didn't sit right, watching you push yourself while someone else slacked off.
Well, it's because I'm a knight, a servant.
That may be true, but not this time. You came back from a major injury and helped save everyone.
Even a knight deserves rest when they've earned it.
So... this vacation was for me?
Yeah. You're always giving. For once, just enjoy yourself.
You're always so thoughtful, Ethan. It really surprises me sometimes.
Oh? That sounded kind of graceful just now. Maybe you have changed a bit...
Maybe it's time you stopped getting confused about that. I'm nothing like I used to be! Ahem!
Isn't this where you're supposed to say, "I'm just being me, so don't worry about it"? You know, the classic line?
W-Wah! The water's so cool!
Changing the subject, huh?
Still, I'm glad you agreed so easily. I was half-expecting you to insist on staying back and working.
Well, it was your idea, Ethan. And I don't think I have a reason to be uptight about that.
I chuckled as I watched the waves lap over her feet.
Yeah... I'm glad I brought her here. With that thought, I stepped into the sea beside her.
Gentle waves.
A refreshing breeze.
Ahh... this is the life. Paradise on Earth, huh? Right, Bedivere?
Yes...!
...Wait, you're still way back there? You can come in deeper, you know.
W-Well...
Are you... scared of the water?
Not that... It's just... I can't swim.
You can't swim?
A knight who can't swim? I was so dumbfounded I let out a hollow laugh.
Don't worry. I actually made a floatie for a certain someone who never moves.
A... floatie?
Yeah, a device that helps you stay afloat. I'll show you, hang on.
Man, I'm too nice for my own good.
I'd sewn together strips of leather, inflated them, and tied them tight, a makeshift swim ring in this world's terms.
When I brought it over, Bedivere's eyes went wide.
Wanna give it a try?
L-Like this? Just hold it like this...?
Yeah. Then step into the water...
...!
I-I'm floating, Ethan! I'm really floating!
See? Even if you can't swim, you can enjoy the ocean. Even someone like Morgana can use that thing without a problem.
Now that I'm drifting like this, I kind of get it. This must be why Morgana always lounges around like that!
...You don't need to copy her posture though...
We floated around for a good while. Splashing, drifting, relaxing, really soaking in our well-earned vacation.
You're good in the water, Ethan.
It's not a big deal. I already knew how to swim, but Merlin taught me "survival" swimming.
In this world, you never know when a battle might break out.
True. I learned the basics back at the palace, too.
Knew it.
Wh-Why are you looking at me like that?
I just... couldn't believe a royal knight didn't know how to swim. Glad to know my instincts weren't wrong.
S-Sorry... I guess I was pretty lacking.
You were. But not anymore. You've gotten seriously strong.
No, not yet. To protect the Princess and you, I still have to get stronger.
First step... getting off this floatie. Time to start retraining the basics!
Ah... Sorry if I made you feel bad.
N-No! I just got a little overconfident, thinking I'd changed. If I fell in the water now, it'd be super embarrassing...
Everyone has things they're not good at. Even if you do fall...
I'll save you
Y-You will...?
Of course. I can't afford to lose someone as gorgeous, ahem! I mean... I can't let a comrade like you drown.
I've never rescued someone from drowning before, but I'll figure it out. That's just how I do things.
Hehe... That's true. That's exactly who you are, Ethan.
Her bright smile was dazzling.
Don't worry about Elizabeth
We promised to see this through. So I'll take responsibility.
A-And me...?
Mmm...
Haha... You just care so much about Elizabeth, I kinda... just...
It's alright, Ethan. I already know how responsible you are.
Maybe... that's part of why I like you.
Bedivere...
A-Anyway! Shouldn't we head back?
The Princess and Morgana must be waiting...
Yeah, let's go. I'll just say I mistook something else for a fishing boat.
Thanks to you, I really got to enjoy the ocean. I didn't know just floating on the water could be so relaxing.
They say the ocean is the mother of all things. And when you see the sea and sky stretch on forever like this...
...Wait.
Is something wrong?
...I can't see land anymore.
What!?
H-How did we end up this far out!?
C-Calm down, Bedivere! You've changed, remember? You can overcome this!
Waaaah! Princess...!
Ah... We're doomed.
It took hours before we made it back to shore, with a tearful Bedivere in tow, still clinging to the floatie.