Chapter 02 - Rising in the World Airio Sis: Hah... haah...! Suncia Panthera: That's enough. Any more than this and it'll count as insubordination. Airio Sis: Please, one more time...! Lklein Manni: (A face full of reckless drive. He's completely blind to everything around him.) Lklein Manni: (He's exactly how I was when I first came to this palace...) Lklein Manni: (What a foolish country bumpkin. He doesn't stand a chance against Lord Suncia, the Vice-Captain, second only to Lord Umarit.) Suncia Panthera: ...Enough already! Airio Sis: Ghah...! Not yet...! Lklein Manni: (...His swordwork is unpolished but he recovers fast. I suppose that's why he made it into the Echo Knights.) Lklein Manni: (Still, it would be a shame to see him break before he's even properly trained.) Lklein Manni: Why do I have to do this... Honestly, Dr. Tauran's so straightforward he cannot mind his own business… Lklein Manni: Um, excuse me. As someone in the medical field, I suggest you stop immediately... Airio Sis: Ngh...! Lklein Manni: Ah... Suncia Panthera: See, I told you! Are you okay?! Airio Sis: Hah...I'm fine... Suncia Panthera: You're... Dr. Tauran's assistant, aren't you? Lklein Manni: I'm Lklein. Shall I take a look at him for you? Suncia Panthera: Please. Take him with you. Airio Sis: I'm fine, really, it's nothing! I want to keep training... Lklein Manni: Any more of this and you’ll become seriously annoying. Don't you see you're getting in everyone's way? Airio Sis: Guh...! Lklein Manni: (Yeah. This guy is exactly like I used to be.) Lklein Manni: Glaring at me won't change anything. Come on, let's go, Mister Patient. Airio Sis: ...Airio. Lklein Manni: Huh? Airio Sis: Airio. That's my name. Lklein Manni: Ah, I see… [Inside the infirmary...] Lklein Manni: There. That should do it. Airio Sis: ...Thanks. Lklein Manni: You're welcome. Now please rest and take it easy. Airio Sis: ...Okay... Lklein Manni: ........... Lklein Manni: Why did you recklessly push yourself like that? Lklein Manni: Is there a reason you're in such a hurry to get stronger? Airio Sis: ........... Airio Sis: I have a twin brother... Airio Sis: Oh, and I'm from Ecolina Village, out on the border. Airio Sis: Um, wait. I don’t even know where to start... Airio Sis: Fail's usually the one who does this…like, figures out what I'm trying to say and just says it for me. Lklein Manni: Fail? Airio Sis: My childhood friend. He can talk with the darkness. Lklein Manni: ...Talk with the darkness? Airio Sis: Well it’s more like, he understands memories inside the darkness. He says they come flooding into his head... all the unpleasant, sad stuff. Lklein Manni: Ah... well, everyone is anxious and stressed out these days. So I assume things like that can happen. Airio Sis: They can? Lklein Manni: You wanted to talk about this Fail person? Airio Sis: No, not him. It's about Thecto. Lklein Manni: Now there’s a Thecto? Airio Sis: I wanted to talk about Thecto. He's my little brother, he’s sickly and weak. He can't run. Lklein Manni: Oh... that sounds rough. Airio Sis: Yeah. And on top of that, Ecolina's right on the border... Airio Sis: If the Federation ever attacks, Thecto might not be able to get away in time. Airio Sis: So I figured I had to get stronger. Lklein Manni: I see... Airio Sis: But when I volunteered and left Ecolina, Thecto and I had this huge fight. Airio Sis: He was terrified I'd die in battle somewhere he wouldn't even know. Airio Sis: He got so worried he got angry at me. So I figured I had to rise through the ranks fast. Lklein Manni: Rise through the ranks? Airio Sis: If I become an Echo Knight, get famous, and climb high enough, maybe I could become a local lord. Airio Sis: So I want to get strong fast, rise up, become a lord, and go back to Ecolina. Lklein Manni: Well, if you accomplish something truly remarkable, I suppose it's not impossible... But who told you that? Airio Sis: Nel did. He’s a traveling merchant who settled in our village. Nel knows a lot of things. Airio Sis: Nel said that in the Empire, a powerful Echo Knight can outrank even the Emperor himself. Lklein Manni: (An Echo Knight ranking above the Emperor himself... he means Umarit?) Lklein Manni: (This "Nel" person seems awfully well-informed about court politics for a mere traveling merchant.) Lklein Manni: (Or maybe he just picked up scraps of gossip and repeated whatever sounded good... Either way, that's the kind of talk that gets someone executed.) Lklein Manni: (Is this naive guy really going to survive here...?) Lklein Manni: ...Just so my conscience is clear, let me warn you, you are completely wrong. Airio Sis: I am? But... Lklein Manni: I have no intention of continuing this conversation further. If you want to live long enough to go home to your brother, you better watch what you say. Airio Sis: B-but wait! Lklein Manni: Do you understand what I’m saying?! I've given you my warning. I've treated your injury. My job here is done. Airio Sis: Okay... Lklein Manni: Phew. What a pain in the rear. Airio Sis: Um, hey... Lklein Manni: What now? Airio Sis: What's your name? Lklein Manni: Lklein. Airio Sis: Wanna be friends? Lklein Manni: No I do not. Airio Sis: Come on, think about it- Lklein Manni: You want to rise through the ranks and go home to your brother, don't you? Both those things will be a whole lot harder if you befriend me. Airio Sis: ...........What’s that supposed to mean...? Xin Dicus: This is bad! There's a fire...! Soldier: A fire? Servant: Did he say a fire?! Airio Sis: Fire? Xin Dicus: Fire! Fire! Someone important's trapped and calling for help over there! Everyone, lend a hand! Soldier: Got it! Airio Sis: Let's go too! Is it that way?! Xin Dicus: Yeah! Hurry! Lklein Manni: Wait a moment. Xin Dicus: Huh? Lklein Manni: Where exactly are you going? Xin Dicus: To get more people! Someone important asked me to! Um, let's see... Airio Sis: Lord Suncia? Xin Dicus: Ah, yeah yeah, that dude! Anyways, I'm counting on you! Airio Sis: Got it! Let's go, Lklein! Lklein Manni: And that tablet you're carrying? Xin Dicus: ........... Lklein Manni: That worn old stone tablet in your arms? Xin Dicus: It's a keepsake from my parents. It's the one thing I want to protect. Do I have to leave it behind? Airio Sis: Of course not! Right? Lklein Manni: Well... Airio Sis: Let's go, everyone! There's a fire...! Lklein Manni: Hey, don't pull on me like that! [In the Castle hallways...] Soldier: Where's the fire coming from?! Imperial Soldier: Where did it start?! Has anyone seen anything?! Woman: A f-fire?! I haven't seen anything... Airio Sis: Fire! There's a fi... Airio Sis: Huh...? Wait. Nothing's burning. Airio Sis: Guess somebody made a mistake? Well, good thing everyone's safe! Lklein Manni: ........... Lklein Manni: Airio. Airio Sis: Hm? Lklein Manni: How would you like the chance to make a name for yourself? To be continued...