Chapter 09 - Hometown [Ecolina Village Bridge...] Lklein Manni: (Around that same time, in Ecolina Village, imperial territory.) Thecto Sis: Fail! Fail Urus: I'm right here. Don’t shout so loud, you’ll wear yourself out.. Thecto Sis: I can handle shouting, it's fine. Fail Urus: I can’t help but worry. Airio would be furious with me if anything happens to you. Thecto Sis: ...........I don't care about that guy. Thecto Sis: He went and volunteered for the army, he abandoned the village... Soldiers die in wars, he knows. Fail Urus: Airio's the best archer we have. I'm sure he's fine. Thecto Sis: ........... Fail Urus: Um... something smells really good. Thecto Sis: Oh, right. I baked a fresh batch of biscuits. They’re the kind Nel taught us. Y’know, the ones you use for travels. Fail Urus: Hardtack. Thecto Sis: Yeah. You never know when the war might start, plus we're right on the border. Thecto Sis: I heard that food is scarce even in the capital... Fail Urus: I see... Thecto Sis: Airio... I only hope he's not going hungry... Thecto Sis: ...I understand, though. Thecto Sis: If only my body wasn’t so frail. Airio wouldn’t have volunteered to fight. Thecto Sis: Our father died, our mother's gone too, he's the only family I have left in this world, and yet... Thecto Sis: ...What should I do... if something happens to Airio…? Fail Urus: ...It’s painful when you never reunite with someone you care about... it breaks your heart... Fail Urus: Those sights, those exact feelings… they always weigh the heaviest on my chest... Thecto Sis: ...You mean the visions you see after getting closer to the darkness? Fail Urus: Yeah... I see so many tragedies, but those visions are the hardest to bear. Thecto Sis: ...I'm sorry. I shouldn’t have made you remember something so painful. Fail Urus: You don’t have to apologize, Thecto. The fact that you even believe that I hear the darkness is already enough for me. Thecto Sis: Of course I believe you, you're my friend. You've always been kind, Fail, and you've never once lied to me. Fail Urus: Haha. Thanks. Fail Urus: It will be all right, Thecto. I'm sure Airio will return to the village safe and sound. Fail Urus: Airio's always been incredibly lucky. He always finds a way to bounce back no matter the situation he’s in. Fail Urus: So cheer up. Thecto Sis: ...Okay... Thank you, Fail... Nelpha Maxi: Heeeeey! Thecto, Fail! Fail Urus: Oh, it's Nel. Heeeey! Nelpha Maxi: It's freezing cold today. Thecto, put this coat on right now. Thecto Sis: I'm fine, really. Nelpha Maxi: No, no. Let your body get cold and you'll come down with a fever. Oh, did you bake biscuits? Thecto Sis: Yeah. Just like you taught me. Fail Urus: Nel… Is it looking like war's coming? Nelpha Maxi: Who can say... I hear the Federation chose a new leader, so hopefully things will settle down. Fail Urus: The world was consumed by darkness and people lost their homes, that's why war started, right? Fail Urus: Why didn't everyone work together to try and drive the darkness away instead? Nelpha Maxi: Some tried. But the threat right in front of your face always seems far more terrifying than a doom that might come tomorrow. Fail Urus: So, because we are blind to the future, we make no preparations at all... and when that doom finally arrives... Fail Urus: ...So are we all just gonna let ourselves get swallowed up by it? Nelpha Maxi: ........... Nelpha Maxi: I'm sorry... Thecto Sis: Why are you apologizing, Nel? Nelpha Maxi: ...........As an adult who's done nothing but fight his entire life... Fail Urus: ........... Thecto Sis: Fight... But aren't you just a traveling handyman, Nel? Fail Urus: Thecto, shush. I'm sure Nel's been through all sorts of things he doesn’t wanna speak about. Thecto Sis: ...........I'm sorry... Nelpha Maxi: No, don't be. In fact I'm the one who's sorry... for failing to find the right words. Nelpha Maxi: ...........Fail, Thecto, I swear I’ll protect you. Nelpha Maxi: Fighting's the only thing I’ve ever been good that...Even if I failed to protect someone so dear to me, long ago... Nelpha Maxi: I'm glad I got to meet the three of you, Airio included. Nelpha Maxi: I'm glad someone like me, who was waiting for death to claim me, found a purpose in life. Thecto Sis: Nel... Fail Urus: ........... Fail Urus: ...! Look...! Nelpha Maxi: Imperial soldiers. They look tense, I wonder if something happened. Thecto Sis: Ah...! Thecto Sis: Airio...! To be continued...