Lady of the Lake II

Hey, Sylla, what're you up to?

Uh, hold on! Don't take another step!

I've organized everything, and you'll mess it up.

Stay there and don't move. If you come any closer, you'll be in big trouble!

Aww...

Ifrit! Take this!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

...Huh? Ifrit?

Urgh... Unnngh...!

Are you going to the Weekend Farm?! Nooo!

Gabia...? Are you in?

.........

Can... can I go in...?

.........

No...?

.........

Waah...

This... This won't do.

I can't stand it anymore!

Why does no one play with me lately?!

What?! Why are you looking at me like that?!

Is that pity?! Are you pitying me right now?!

*Stares*

What? You have something to say, too?!

*Looks at another lesser water elemental and shakes head*

Nobody understands me! Not even you guys!

I'm... I'm...! Really bored, okay?!

*Tries hard not to make eye contact with Naia*

*Sniff* D-Do you guys hate me too...? You won't play with me anymore...?

*Sniff, sniff, waah*

I-If you guys won't even play with me...

That means I'm really all alone now!

Nobody wants to even come to Elemental Mountain...

And as the gatekeeper, it's hard with nothing to do.

It's tough guarding a place by yourself when no one visits... *Waah*

Silphir comes to visit occasionally, but even she won't really play with me. She just dives underwater for a bit and then leaves.

*Pats Naia on the back*

*Waah*...

I just wanna walk in the sun with everyone!

Oh, Naia, she wants to have fun.

That's all she really wants! Some fun!!

*Pats Naia*

Waaaah! Anyone! I don't care who! Come play with me!

*Shakes Naia in a panic*

*Points to the center of the lake in a panic*

*Pulls Naia's hair in a panic*

Waaaah! ...Huh?

What's this...?

I... think I know what this is...

I'm bored!

Argh! I'm bored, I say!

Are you listening? I'M BOOOOORED!

.........

Silphiiir... I'm booored...

...I'm resting right now, so could you please be quiet?

And besides, Ifrit's right there next to you. Play with her.

What? How can you say that to me?!

Yeah! How can you say that to us?! Coming from a dragon, no less!

Being bored is your problem, not—*Gurgle!*

Nice! Bullseye, Naia!

Kyahaha!

Don't use me for target practice! *Ptooey!*

But with just your head poking out like that, you kinda do...

It's like you're a buoy floating on the water... It makes you wanna throw a pebble at it or something, right?

Especially if it's a dragon... Well, honestly, I'd want to throw things at it even if it weren't.

But throwing a stone would hurt Silphir!

Exactly. We were being considerate by shooting her with a water gun instead!

.........

Okay, you two...

Uh... Er...! Did I go overboard...?

Did I cross the line, Silphir...? *Sniff*...

S-Sorry... I... I only did it because I like you...

You made her cry! Silphir made Naia cry!

Er... Are you really crying...?

I just wanted to play with you... That's all...

Er... well... um... no lines were crossed or anything...

Really...?

Okay, then! Here's another taste of my water gun! Pew, pew!

*Cough, cough!* Stop! That's enough!

You weren't really cry—*Gurgle!*

Fooled you! Hehe, that was some of my amazing acting skills!

Wow... That was amazing! Your acting skills get better by the day, Naia!

Naia, I said to stop it!

Pew, pew! Accept the baptism of water!

Naia, stop! Hey!

Wheeeeeee! This is soooo much fun!!!!

Try that one more time, and you're really gonna get it!

Wheeeeeee! Yaaaaay, Silphir!

You there... Stop right there. Where do you think you're going?

What?! What are you looking at?!

I won't throw you into the lake. So kneel before me.

I am Ifrit! I will not yield to dragons!

...Really? Then would you like to go for a swim?

Hmph. This calls for a tactical retreat!

Stop right there!

*Sigh* I'm so exhausted...

Water... water... I need go for a soak in the lake right away...

*Sigh*... That was so rough...

Just you wait, Rudd...! Just wait 'til next time...!

Phew... Now I feel a bit more at... ease...?!

Eeeeeeek!!!

Wha...?! Urgh! Wh-What is this?!

R-Rudd?! Why do you look like that...?!

Wh-What the heck...?! Wh-Wh-What do you want?!

Kyahaha!

...Naia?

Gotcha, gotcha, gotcha! You almost wet your pants!

.........

The rival you're looking at, Rudd, second-in-command of the dragons, is actually something I made!

I totally got you, right? Right?! Is your heart pounding, Silphir?

Naia?

Mhmm?! You totally had fun, right?

Your reaction was soooooo much fuuuuuuuuun—eep!

Didn't I say you'd regret it if you messed with me again?!

This is so much fuuuun! Kyahahaha!

You're the best, Silphir! You always play with me! You're such a kind dragoooon!

That cheeky little elemental...!

I'm flying through the skyyyyyy! This is sooooooo much fun!

Ugh... I can't tell if I'm teaching her a lesson or playing along...

Hmm...

Umm...

She should be coming up anytime now...

I mean, she's a water elemental, so I'm not too worried...

But it's been quite a while now... Don't you think so?

*Nod, nod*

Urgh. Should I go in to look for her?

I wonder what she's up to this time...

*Sigh* I guess I only have myself to blame for using the lake... I wonder what it is this time...

I just hope it's nothing like that weird figure she made last time...

Let's see... I think I threw her in around here...

I... don't see her. Maybe this isn't the right place?

Over there, then...? Huh, she's not here either?

Hey, you. Lesser water elemental, have you seen Naia?

*Shakes head from side to side*

Oh, really? What the heck...?

I guess I'll dive down a bit deeper then.

Hm? What's that?

I've never seen that before... What could it be?

I wonder if Naia came across that too...

Let me get closer to it.

Closer...

Wh-What the...?!

Closer... Come closer...

What the heck are you?! Are you Naia's newest creation?!

...Huh? Newest creation? What's that?

I'm asking if you were made by Naia.

I don't know what you're talking about...

Oh. Never mind then. See ya. Oh, right, have you seen Naia?

Naia...? Naia...

Are you talking about this?

Oh, Naia! Did she faint or something?

Is this what you're talking about?

Yeah, thanks. She's the one I was looking for.

Hey, Naia. Wake up. Wake...

...Huh?

Just a minute...

There's one more...

Wh-What?

Wh-Wh-What the heck?!

So, which one is the Naia you're looking for?

...What?

I have three things called Naia...

Which one is your Naia...?

There are three... Naias...?

.........

.........

Elias is doomed... With three Naias around, how could it not be...?

Oh wait! Am I being prank'd or something?

Er...

I've heard they do stuff like this in the elven city sometimes, but I didn't know Naia would, too.

This time, it was pretty good, but I'm onto you now, so get up, Naia.

Um... This is real. It's not a joke.

What? What are you talking about? There's no way there are three Naias.

Why would you even joke about something so awful?!

But look... There are three of them.

Wait, am I dreaming?

Er...

Why would I dream about something like this...? How strange.

Um... excuse me?

Just shut your trap for a second!

This is definitely weird. Maybe I should pinch my cheeks or something?

Ow, ouch. Ow, ow, ow...

That's weird...! Why does it hurt if it's only a dream?

You, lesser water elemental, pinch my cheeks.

*Nod, nod*

Ow! Eek! Th-that hurts!

...Huh? Why am I not waking up...?

Um...? Th-Th-Then could it be... no way...

Hehe... That's right. I am...

Nooooooo! That can't be!

Say it isn't so!! How can there be three Naias?!

Elias is doomed!!!

Er... excuse me...?

A great catastrophe is coming to Elias! Jade said that signs of destruction appear without warning!

And if something unimaginable suddenly happens... seven trumpets would appear to signal the dragons to cry out...!

No, that's probably not it...

Th-Th-This is terrible! This is a sign of doom!

Please calm down...

I can't believe it ends like this... Elias is falling, and I never got to secure my place as second-in-command...!

Nooooo!

Have you calmed down a bit...?

...Would you be in my shoes?

I mean... you do seem better than you were earlier...

Even after all that, I still haven't woken up from this dream... Seriously, what the hell...

I still see three Naias...

Like I said... This isn't a dream.

...Then there really are three of her?! It makes no sense!

You didn't listen to me earlier, did you? *Sigh*

Anyway, choose one...

Huh? Choose one? Are you messing with me right now?

Which one is your Naia...? I'll give you the one you choose...

What do you mean?

Okay... this one here is the smart one.

She's very wise and knowledgeable... She does have a few minor issues, though...

And here is a hot-blood—

The smart one!

Right. She's the smart one, and this one here is hot-bl—

Hand over the smart one! She'd be better than the one who only plays tricks all the time.

But I'm in the middle of explain—

Whatever, I don't care! I'll take the smart one! See ya!

Urgh... Where am I...?

Oh, you're awake? You fell into the lake, so I pulled you out.

...Excuuuuuse me?

Uh, you fell into the lake, and—

No, that's not right. That's not what happened.

I didn't fall into the lake... you threw me in!

Uh... huh...?

Tch. Seriously. How unbelievable.

You threw me in, and now you're pretending to have saved me.

Biting the hand that feeds you, eh?!

Uh, I think you got that mixed up...

*Sigh*... That's not the issue here, is it?

La—mmph! Mmph!

You almost crossed the line just now... Be careful. Got it?

Did I almost say a name I shouldn't have?

Um... w-well...

You thought I was going to say La—mmph!

I said to stop...

What the hell? Why do you keep covering my mouth when I try to say your name?

Or... is it that you're embarrassed about yourself?

What? What are you talking about?!

*Sigh*... Never mind. I think I get it now.

Hey...

You have really low self-esteem, don't you?

What? Nooo! Hah! How could you say something like that? What do you take dragons for?

I am a member of the great dragon race! I've never even thought of anything like that, okay?!

Huh, they say you only see what you want to see... Sounds like you're projecting.

I'm not the one who changed their name, you know.

As for you, I suppose it's understandable given your inferiority complex... but it's not healthy.

Hmph. Nonsense.

I am destined to be the second-in-command of the dragons! Such petty terms do not suit me.

Hmph, as if I can expect a lowly elemental such as yourself to know of my greatness.

But constantly doubting yourself, as you do, is a good way to practice self-reflection.

Intro... what?

Doubt, uncertainty, the feeling that nothing is absolute... they give you the chance to think deeply about your own nature.

This is why we are beings who doubt ourselves.

What are you talking about...?

We may seem incomplete, but those thoughts and contemplations bring us closer to completeness.

You have more potential than anyone.

Heh... Hehe... I mean, you don't have to praise me like that...

Still, you're too negative about yourself. You should be proud of who you are. That confidence will make you stronger.

Th-This brat... the "smart" one, eh...? But she lectures me too much... and I don't even know enough to argue back...

Fine. Fine, I get it already...

While we're on the topic, how are you ever going to beat Rudd with your confidence so low?

Not to mention, you keep running straight to the lake to go diving whenever you're stressed about the slightest thing.

That dark light earlier did mention that there were some "minor issues" with her...

Instead, wouldn't it be more helpful to make and follow a proper training schedule to claim the second-in-command position?

It looks like she's gained wisdom and knowledge, but her personality's suffered...

I mean, if you want, I can whip up a training schedule for you since I'm smart.

Naia?

I've taken a second to give this plan some thought, and I think you can wake up at 5 AM and...

I think I made a mistake.

Yep, you're right. You haven't been putting in much effort all this time. Actually, you've been going in the wrong direction...

I made the wrong choice.

Huh?

Oof!

I really messed up. I should've listened to the whole explanation...

Dark light! Come out!

What's going on...?

Take her back!

No refunds...

Ugh, this isn't the real Naia, so hurry up and give me back the original!

Like I said, no refunds...

Will you shove it with your refunds already?!

Hand over the original Naia now.

Ahem... Normally, I wouldn't allow this, but...

Okay... which of these is your Naia...?

*Sigh* Stop messing around and hurry up...

This one is hot-blooded...

She loves training and working out...

Huh? Wait a second.

And this one over here...

Hot-blooded...? She works out...?

The last Naia was supposed to be smart, and that wasn't a lie...

That means...

She's very cute...

The hot-blooded one!

...Sorry?

Hand over the hot-blooded Naia! I'd rather have the one who loves training over the smart one!

I could train with her at least!

Okay, I've made my decision, so take this awful—I mean, smart Naia back.

But I haven't finished explaining yet...

It's not like anything would change if I heard any more. By the way, are you bored or something? You're always pulling stunts like this... *Sigh*

...Of course I am. I'm here all by myself... Duh...

Whatever. I like the hot-blooded Naia. I'm taking her, okay?

Listen... you should listen to everything before—Uh, hello...?

Gasp!

Naia, wake up!

Erm... uhh.

Are you awake?

Urgh... uh... Silphir?

Silphir...?! She called me Silphir! That's music to my ears!

Yep! Are you okay, Naia?

Silphir...? Oh my...!

Yes, go ahead! Say my name...! Who am I again?!

Silphir... My, what's wrong?!

That's right... My name is Sil...

Why are your arms so skinny?!

Phir! ...Huh?

You're just skin and bones! It looks like you're barely able to stand!

Wh-What are you talking about?

This won't do!!! You'll never beat Rudd like this, Silphir!

Skin and bones? What are you talking about? I'm completely healthy, okay?!

You've got no muscles! This won't do!

Wh-What?

Okay, we're going to have to do some special training asap! That's the only answer!

Uh...

Here, drink up!

It's an elven-made special health protein drink! It has premium protein powder with stimulants mixed in!

What...?

Drink this, and you'll get glorious muscles too!

No, wait a sec... Mmph!

Okay, now that you've downed it, it's time to train!

W-Wait... Just hold on a minute!

Naia's not around, is she...?

She stepped away for a moment.

Phew... It looks like I can take a good soak in the lake—Wha-What?!

Is it really that surprising to find me here?

What are you doing here?!

Hm? Rudd was passing by, and we really hit it off, so I invited her!

Exactly. I was invited here today.

...Oh, okay. You two have fun. I need to rest—Eek!

Wh-Wh-Why are you grabbing me?! Let go!

You've come to work out, haven't you?

No... I came here to rest!

Naia told me everything. She said you started working out?

Mhmm! Did you see the muscles on Silphir's arms?

Hmm... Impressive. Still, she's got a ways to go.

Right? I think she needs to work on her lats here.

Oho... Yes, compared to her lower back, her lats definitely need some more work.

Wh-What?! Why are you putting your hands all over me and evaluating my body like that?! S-Stop it!

Okay, that means we should add that to the training...

Mhmm. But we worked on the upper body yesterday, so today we should work on the lower body...

Let go! Get off of me! I'm going home, okay?! Home!

You must not skip even a single day of workouts!

Exactly! Let's enjoy another exciting workout session today!

Urgh. Uuurrrrgh...

What's wrong, Silphir?

What do you think...? You did this to me.

But if you want to become the second-in-command of the dragons, you need to train rigorously.

Here, see? Now you've built some muscle!

Then... let me rest for today...

Sure! Of course you should rest!

H-Huh? Really?

You're hot from all that working out, right?

Yeah. That's why I'm going to go for a dip in the lake for a b—*Gurgle!*

Kyahaha! I mixed in some protein powder into my water gun! Since you're hot, I'll feed you some of this nice and cool special protein drink!

Open wide! Pew, pew!

D-Don't! *Ptooey!* Aaah! I said stooooop!

This won't do...

Okay! If you're going to rest, do it standing up!

Er, Naia?

Yeah?

Aren't you thirsty, too? I'll share some of this special elven protein drink with you.

Wow... I... I can't believe you care about me that much... I'm so touched! Thanks, I'll have some too!

Alright! Now that we've recharged ourselves with protein, let's get back to... working... uh...

Heh... hehe... hehehe...!! Hahaha!!!

I actually gave you a sleep concoction disguised as a special elven protein drink! Sleep well, Naia!

Why... why would you do this... to me... Zzz...

Zzz...

Hey, you! Dark light!

You asleep or something?

*Snore*

I know you're not asleep, okay? Now, hurry and get up!

*Snore* Huh...? I-I'm up...

Okay, hand Naia over.

But you took her—

Excuse me?

That's why I said that you should finish listening to me.

A dragon's greed knows no bounds... They repeat the same mistakes over and—

Yeah, yeah. This all happened because you didn't do a good job of explaining.

I don't want the awful Naia or the workout freak Naia. Hand over the regular Naia! The cute one who just plays pranks!

Th-Thi-This one's young and cute...

See how nice it is when you catch on quickly? Keep it up.

Urgh...

Oh, hey, Naia. You awake?

Um... Mhmm. Naia's wakey-wakey now...

Nice. Welcome back, Naia. ...Huh?

What the... She sounds a bit strange...

Yep... But who are you, lady?

Uh... lady?

Yeah... Naia dunno who you are, lady.

Where Naia's fwends go...?

F-Friends?

Yeah... Sylla, who goes woosh woosh with air, and warm and nice Ifrit... and Gabia, who doesn't talk... they are all Naia's fwends!

...Gasp!

What's wrong with Naia...?

Ah! Come to think of it, the dark light said...

This one's young and cute...

Blue lady, you didn't see Naia's fwends, huh?

...Huh?

Aw...? You didn't...?

I must be dreaming... Naia's not playing any pranks, and she speaks nicely.

Ow, owie! That hurts, lady! Naia's cheeks hurt!

Oops, s-sorry! I couldn't help myself...

Waaah... You're weird, blue lady...!

Would you like to have a snack? Yes, that would be nice, wouldn't it?

A snacky...?

Yeah. This is a chocolate protein bar...

Yucky!

...Ow!

Naia doesn't like this! It's not chocolate!

Y-Yeah? Wanna try this then?

What's dat...?

Um. This is elven food, and if you look here, there's a pretty pink one and a chocolate one. So pretty, right?

Yeah! Pwetty! The pink one looks like cotton candy, and the chocolate one looks like chocolate!

Here, open wide. I'll put it in your mouth!

'kay! Ahhhh...

Ptooey!

Ow! That hurt! That hit me right in the eye...

Hey! What do you think you're doing?!

Blech! This is weird! You tried to poison Naia, lady!

Wh-What? This isn't poison. And it's not nice to spit out food!

Ptooey! It's gross! Hmph, you give Naia weird stuff! Naia hates blue lady!

Hey now! You're really asking for it now!

...Hic.

If you keep acting rudely, you're really gonna get in trouble!

...Hic. *Sniff* Waaah...

...Sorry?

Naia hates blue laaaadyyyyy! Waaaaaaaah! Naia wants her fwends back!

Er... A-Are you crying?

Waaaah! Blue lady is a meanie! You yelled at Naia! Waaaaah!

Yikes, that's cold! Naia, c-c-calm down!

I hate you! Go away!

F-Fine, I'll go over there then, okay...?

I hate you! Waaaah!

*Sigh* Okay, okay... I'll be over there, so come after you let it all out...

...Huh? What... What's that? That thing in your hands, lady...? So pwetty...

Hm? This? It's my sword.

No, it's not!

What...?

It's Naia's! All pwetty things are Naia's!

Nonsense. Children shouldn't play with things like this. And this is my sword. I brought it—

Nuh-uh! It's Naia's!!!

Wh-What? Let's calm down a bit first...

...Then you'll give it to Naia?

That's not how this works. If you keep acting up, I'm gonna leave!

O-Oh no...

But Naia likes blue lady! How could you leave Naia behind...? Do you hate Naia...?

Y-You don't like Naia anymore...? Was Naia a bad girl...?

Naia doesn't want blue lady to leave!!

Ow! Ow, ow, ow! Naia, let go...

Noooo! Don't go!!! Naia was wrong!

Okay... fine, I'll stay, so let go...

If I let go, you'll leave Naia behind! I don't wanna!

I don't wanna! I don't want blue lady to leave Naia behind!

Just you wait, dark light!!!! Ow! Don't bite!

Come on! Take it back! That you'll leave Naia behind! Take it back right noooow!

What's all this noise? I could hear someone crying from the very top of Elemental Mountain...

Sylla! I've never been happier to see you!

...What? What are you doing here, dragon? Go back to your home right now...

Take it back, lady! Take it back right now!

...Naia? What is wrong with her...? Did that dragon bully you or—

Sylla! Help me out! Naia suddenly turned into a child, and she is looking for you all!

What? Naia turned into a child?

I'll be on my way then.

Wh-Where are you going? A-Aren't you going to chase me away? You don't like me coming to the lake, so you always chase me away, don't you...?

...You said that Naia turned into a child, right? I don't know what happened, and I don't really want to know.

Besides, I can't deal with her.

Today's your special day. I won't chase you out, so enjoy!

H-Hey! Hey, Sylla! Where are you going?!

Where are you going, lady?! Don't goooo!

Ughhhh... Th-This is really draining...

*Hic*... *Sob*... It's Naia's...

*Sigh* It's so tiring looking after a child...

I miss the original Naia...

Pew, pew! Take that! My water gun attack!

*Gurgle!* Ptooey! Stop it, Naia!

Kyahaha! Silphir, you're a total walking bullseye!

Argh, come here, you little...!

Kyahaha! Catch me if you can!

This... this is not right. I need to get the original Naia back right now...!

Hey you! Dark light!

What'll it be, hero—I mean, dragon...?

Listen, take this kid back.

No backsies...

Why, you little...!

Hnnng...

Uh oh... the kid's waking up...

Psst! I said to take her back, you creep...

You asked for a cute Naia, did you not?

Yes, I did. I asked for a cute Naia... but the choices were wrong from the get-go!

I asked for the original Naia. The one who's a prankster and gets called cute. I didn't ask for a cute, childish one!

.........

...No, no, it's not your fault.

I was being greedy. I just found Naia... annoying...

I shouldn't have done that... I could have just been a little more patient, even when she was being a bother...

She just liked me, that's all. She was just lonely...

It was me... I was in the wrong.

What a nice little dragon you are... Okay. I'll make an exception this time...

And give you a gift for being so nice...

...! N-Nai—Eek!

Why... three of them?! I already have one of them with me!!

Ahem... To the kind dragon who played with me, I shall give you all the Naias as a gift...

I... I don't need them! I just need the one! The original Naia!

Hey, take this one, too—Huh?

You cannot refuse... Kind dragons must receive gifts...

Wait. Be quiet for a second.

"Kind dragon"...? "Play with me"...?

And wait... you said you were bored last time...

You... You little...!

So, you've been lonely all this time, huh?

I'm sorry... I didn't know.

I mean... you're always laughing and smiling so brightly all the time... So I... I didn't know.

I didn't know that all those pranks you played were... because you were actually lonely... and because you wanted someone to play with.

I'm sorry, Naia.

Urgh...

Naia, are you awake?

Silphir...?

Yeah. You...

Huh?

Never mind. Ah... what nice weather. The sun's already coming up.

You're right. It's pretty...

Umm, Silphir?

Yeah?

You look a bit tired. Did you not sleep well last night?

Umm... Yeah, something like that.

Well, then... I'll wake you up!

Yeah. Thank—Aaah! *Gurgle!*

Hehehe, take that! Wakey-wakey water gun attack! Pew! Pew, pew!

Ptooey! Hey... hey, Naia, stop! That's enough!

Now, a rapid-fire attack! Accept the baptism of water!

*Sigh* What else is there to expect from Naia?

Hey! You stop that! If you don't stop...!

What? You gonna scold me?

...You little!!

Kyahaha! I'm flying agaaaaain!

This is soooo much fun, Silphir!