Night Eight - Killfith

Killfith: Heh…
    -You must be feeling back to your usual energetic self to be strolling around at a time like this…

Rif: What about you, Killfith? Are you doing okay? They put you through the ringer too, right?

Killfith: I already mentioned I was in the same room with that shaggy-headed idiot, but the magnitude of the disgrace… just thinking about it makes me angry.
    -Next time I encounter that clown, I’ll be sure to reward him with a generous disembowelment.

Rif: Haha… I was in a bind, too, but I think I was way worse off.
    -I did hugged by that Gillan person, you know.

Killfith: Heh… if it was me, I would’ve wiped him off the face of the planet before I got into such a pathetic situation.

Rif: Don’t laugh, I was in some serious pain…
    -And then, there’s also what Anise said…

Killfith: And what was that?

Rif: Ah, no… it was nothing special, don’t worry about it.

Killfith: … You’re backtracking… she dropped some kind of bombshell on you, didn’t she?

Rif: Ah, no… how could that be…?

Killfith: Heh… it doesn’t matter. Next time we cross paths with those cretins, I’ll be sure to pass on my gratitude for what they did to the both of us.
    -I’ll show them such delicious agony that they’ll wish they were dead…!

Rif: I am both happy and a little freaked out…

(fade to black)

-In the end, I couldn’t bring myself to talk to Killfith about Master Rob…

Day Eight, Part Nine

After Rif and Killfith win against Red Wing…

Rif: Whew… thank goodness we somehow made it through that…
    -I can’t believe we got to fight against Red Wing…

Lemmy: I’m not going to thank you just for doing whatever you want.

Rif: I don’t really want to be thanked. Besides, we could only defeat him because you fought with him first.

Lemmy: Eh?

Killfith: In other words, that Red Wing joker was severely weakened from his fight with you… tch… took all the fun out of it.

Rif: Which means Red Wing was only defeated thanks to the combined efforts of you, Killfith, and me—

???: Rif…! Killfith…!

Lemmy: Sounds like everyone’s making a racket.

Rif: Heeyy! We’re over heere!

Jade: HERE, I HEARD SOMETHING!

(The whole gang rushes in, consisting of Jade, V.E, Tier, and Zakk)

Jade: Don’t you know how to wait! I mean, it’s a relief you’re okay, but geez! Anyway—

Tier: Rif! Killfith! Are you all right?!

V.E: For the time being, it looks like you’re safe. That’s good, at least.

Zakk: Lemmy! So you were here!

Lemmy: Zakk, you too…?!

Jade: Anyway, you guys should fall back and leave the rest to me! ’Cuz after all—

Zakk: That’s right! We should go, Lemmy! It’s really dangerous!

Tier: Hurry hurry! If we don’t run away, it’s going to suck up our blood and eat us!

V.E: (?) Wait, where is Red Wing hiding, anyway? I’m not sensing him at all…

Jade: I guess Red Wing was smart enough to beat it once he heard me coming, considering—

Rif: Oh, Red Wing? Yeah, we knocked him out just now.

Jade: (annoyed) Let me finish a sentence already!
    -Wait, what? You knocked him out?!

Zakk: As expected of Lemmy! I wish I could’ve seen your battle!

Lemmy: Ah… no… actually, I didn’t finish off Red Wing…

Tier: Are you trying to tell me Rif and Killfith did it?!

Rif: Well, as much as I’d like to take the credit, that’s not quite how it happened.
    -Actually, Red Wing was defeated by all three of us.
    -Right, Lemmy?

Lemmy: (stunned) …

V.E: I see. You guys did very well. You managed to grab a huge victory thanks to the power of your friendship.

Lemmy: (blushing) Wha?! No! There’s no friendship or anythi—

Jade: So I guess you really managed to get rid of him… but it’s too bad for you guys, since it means—

V.E: Guess this means it would’ve been fine to capture that lot just now, huh?

Jade: This just isn’t my day…

Rif: You ran into Anise?

V.E: I wanted to capture them right then, but since I thought you were being attacked by Red Wing…

Lemmy: You had to let them go… even though we heard their plans after so much trouble…
    -They deceived Master Bostaph. I absolutely cannot let them get away with this… I need to hurry and notify him.

Jade: Do you mean that, Lemmy? If you want to testify against them, then you should come with us to the Council of Gold and—
    -Ah… sorry… I forgot that Miss Janna’s…

Lemmy: It’s fine, Mr. Jade. It’s between my mother and I, so you don’t have to worry about it.
    -Let’s hurry to the Council of Gold.

(Multiple exclamation points!)

Rif: Wait, back up a second! Did you say your mother?!

Tier: Y-you and Janna… now that I think of it, you do look like you could be her son…

Lemmy: I do…?

(Nighttime)

-After that, we went to the Council of Gold and explained the situation.
-With Lemmy backing us up, even Bostaph believed that Anise and her gang are up to no good.
-Thanks to that, any suspicions about Murno have also been cleared up, and in order to protect Govan’s Demon Stone, they agreed that Anise and her gang have to be apprehended.
-Although I wanted to go out and settle everything once and for all, I felt Anise’s words weighing down in my chest…

Rif: (…) Could Master Rob have been a murderer?
    -There’s no way it could be true… just no way…
    -(?) Looks like someone’s coming this way. Maybe it’s…

Day Eight, Part Eight

Killfith is in the next room over, handcuffed.

Rif: Killfith, are you okay?!

Killfith: Never better… I just got these annoying handcuffs slapped on me again…

Rif: What a horrible thing to do…! Give me a second, I’ll get you out of them!
    -(breaks the handcuffs with her hammer)
    -All right! They’re off!

Killfith: What on earth was all that noise about earlier?

Rif: Lemmy came to save me, and now he’s fighting Red Wing all by himself…! Anyway, we have to get out!

(Side Conversation)
Rif: Are you okay, Killfith? Come on, we have to get out of here!

Killfith: I got it…
(End)

(In the main cavern room, there is rumbling coming from the next room over…)

Keekeekeekeekeekee…!

Rif: What? Lemmy…

Killfith: Sounds like they’re having a party over there. What’s the plan?

Rif: The plan…
    -We have no choice but to run away now. >No Choice
    -We have to go save Lemmy! >Engage Hero Mode

No Choice
Rif: I think, for the time being, we have to find a way out of here…

Killfith: I get it. You’re saying we should abandon Lemmy.

Rif: I don’t want to… but…

(Flashback)
Anise: He killed my lord, Voijin!
    -You’re his apprentice. Surely you cannot be surprised that I curse you as well…?

Lemmy: I’ll deal with that Stray somehow.
(End Flashback)

Rif: Kh…!
    -It’s no good after all… I can’t run away now… that would be way too uncool!
    -Let’s go help Lemmy!

Killfith: Whatever you wish.

Engage Hero Mode
Rif: Do you even have to ask?
    -There’s no way we’re going to leave Lemmy to fight that thing by himself!

Killfith: That sounds like something you’d say. Well, as it pleases you.

Rif: Uh… thank you!

In the next room up, we see Lemmy standing by himself.

Rif: Thank goodness you’re safe…
    -Where’s Red Wing?

Lemmy: I defeated it… I think.

Rif: Amazing! All by yourself?!

Lemmy: Huh?! Uh, yeah…

Killfith: (!) Above you!

(A giant bat with red wings swoops onto the ground, knocking Lemmy aside.)

Lemmy: Urgh…

Rif: Crimany! Are you okay?!

Red Wing: KEEKEEKEEEEE!!

Killfith: Here it comes!

(Rif and Killfith fight off Red Wing)

Day Eight, Part Seven

Rif slowly rouses from unconsciousness…

Rif: Uh… ugh… mm…

(Rif wakes up, handcuffed, in a cave with Gillan and Anise standing near her.)

Gillan: Are you waking up, little miss…?

Rif: Nn…
    -(gets up slowly, shaking her head)
    -(?) Where… this place… ouch… what… is this?
    -(panics, looking around)
    -Wh… where’s Killfith…? What have you done with Killfith?!

Gillan: Such a disrespectful mouth… you should address your elders properly, especially when they’re as beautiful as I am.
    -UNDERSTAND?!

(Gillan walks up to Rif and punches her. Rif falls to her knees, panting.)

Rif: (…) Ugh…

Gillan: Heeheehee… you don’t have to play tough, you know. You can scream louder if you want.
    -The place where we’re standing is the nest of the sca~ary Stray Summon everyone’s been talking about.
    -What idiots you are, to be puttering around a place like this without a care in the world. You have no idea what position you’re in.

Rif: Nest…? This is Red Wing’s…

Gillan: What’s this? Are you scared, little miss? How adorable.

Rif: (gets up) Screw you… I’m not scared at all!

(Gillan punches Rif again, forcing her back to her knees)

Gillan: Didn’t I tell you to address me properly?

Rif: Ugh…

Gillan: Although they say that little Red Wing has returned, it’s all right. See that over there?

(Screen moves to a box with blinking red lights at the entrance of the cavern room)

Gillan: Even though little Red Wing is just in that cave, that thing over there is sealing the passageway, so it won’t be able to come in here.

Rif: … Killfith… where is …?

Gillan: That Summon Creature was being so gloomy, so I left him with Pike in the next room over.

Rif: With that guy!

Gillan: He really loves tormenting Summon Creatures, you know… I wonder how it’s going by now…

Rif: N… no… I won’t let you get away with this!

(Gillan, annoyed, punches her twice, once for each cheek)

Gillan: A kid with a brain this rotten… it’s like you’re asking me to teach you some manners.

Anise: (…) While she is definitely a fool, it seems she can make some rather good weapons. Maybe we should take those next?

Rif: Stop it!
    -For someone as villainous as you… to take our precious weapons…

Anise: Villainous…?
    -Ha! What… are you going to say that you yourselves have done nothing wrong?

Rif: What do you…?

Anise: What an excellent opportunity. Come, I will tell you the truth about your mentor, Rob.
    -That man was a murderer.

Rif: (!) A… mur…?!

Anise: He killed my lord, Voijin!

Rif: (!) Tha… but… Master wouldn’t…

Anise: Ha…! What’s with that face? Are you going to say you believe in him? That your Master wouldn’t do that kind of thing?
    -(Whips out her spear and points it at Rif)

(Rif and Gillan are both shocked)

Rif: …!

Anise: He did it… your Master killed my Voijin!
    -You’re his apprentice. Surely you cannot be surprised that I curse you as well.

Gillan: Hold just a minute there, Anise… if she dies, we won’t be able to use her as a hostage!

Anise: There are many different ways of obtaining the demon stone without exposing our hostage.

Gillan: That… that may be true, but…

Anise: I know… wouldn’t it be exquisite for her life to be taken by the very weapons she herself had forged?

Rif: …!

Gillan: Anise… you’re serious…

Anise: Don’t worry. They’re a naïve bunch of fools. Even without seeing the hostage is alive and well, there is no doubt they will obtain the demon stone for us.
    -I will honor Voijin’s memory by carrying on his mission, and finish what he started!

Rif: Mission…? What in the world are you planning to do with Govan’s Demon Stone…?

Anise: What, she asks… that’s right… how about I tell you one last thing…
    -What you don’t understand is that everything that Voijin did was to liberate humankind from Summon Creatures.

Rif: Liberate from Summon Creatures…? What are you talking about…?

Anise: Ha! You really are a thoughtless little fool!
    -Do you have any idea how much suffering humans have had to endure because of Summon Creatures? Have you never even considered it?!

Rif: Because of Summon Creatures…!

(Flashback to the bloodied pendant and V.E crying in the rain)

Rif: (…) People’s suffering…

Anise: That is why we must use the demon stone’s power—to liberate us from humankind’s suffering!

(A blast of purple lightning interrupts Anise’s speech)

Rif: Wha… what on earth?!

Anise: Is that a Summon Creature? Who’s there?!

???: I can’t believe that you were thinking such a ridiculous thing.

(Enter Lemmy)

Gillan: Little boy… what are you doing here? What happened to our lookouts?!

Lemmy: They fled once they realized they were found out by someone of higher rank than they.
    -But what I care about is that you cretins deceived Master Bostaph…!
    -I won’t let you get away with that.

Anise: You think we deceived him? Ha… what are you talking about, he…

(Another blast of lightning cuts her off, destroying the seal)

Lemmy: Honestly, just look at the state you’re in.

Rif: You…? Why’re you…

(Pike comes in)

Pike: Hey! What’s going on here?!

Gillan: Look! The barrier is broken!

Anise: This is bad…! Now Red Wing can get through!

Pike: Bah. Should we call a retreat?

Gillan: Obviously! Well, au revoir!

(They flee)

Anise: Hey, you guys…!

(From the next cave over, there is a high, keening noise)

Keekeekeekeekee...

Anise: Dammit… no way around it.
    -(flees)

Lemmy: That must be the rumored Summon Creature… come on, we have to get out of here.
    -(Breaks Rif’s handcuffs)
    -Come on! Hurry up!

Rif: Thank you, Lemmy… but my hammer… over there… my weapons too…

Lemmy: Hammer?
    -(Looks towards the other side of the room)
    -Over there, huh… okay.
    -(Grabs the bag and brings it back to Rif)

(Regained possessions!)

Lemmy: Is that it? We need to go!

Rif: I can’t…! Killfith is…

Lemmy: Is this really the time for that…?! If we don’t hurry up and get out of here, then Red Wing will…!

Rif: I can’t just run away and leave Killfith behind!

Lemmy: (…) Oh for pity’s sake…! You do whatever you want, I’ll deal with that Stray somehow.

Rif: Wha—?! You can’t…

(Lemmy runs off)

Rif: Lemmy! Darn it… Killfith!

//Fun fact: the Japanese word Anise uses when she calls Voijin her lord is 主, and can mean anything from “lord” to “master” to “employer” to “husband” or “lover.” Although it is usually used to mean “lord,” there is some room for interpretation, particularly when you consider Anise’s behavior and her words.//

Day Eight, Part Six

Cuddling Kills (Gillan wraps his arms around Rif’s neck and starts nuzzling her.)

Rif: HUH?!
    -What are you doing?! Let me go! Let me go now!!

Killfith: Rif!

Gillan: You’d best behave, Summon Creature. If you don’t, then—well, I do have a nice grip on the little miss’s neck…

Killfith: …!

Pike: So what’s the plan now?

Anise: I know… we should exchange these kids’ lives for Govan’s Demon Stone… what do you say?

Rif and Killfith: (!)

Rif: What did you say? Stop it! Let me go! You’re disgusting!

Gillan: (…) Oi, you want me to strangle you…?
    -(grip tightens)

Rif: (!) Th-that hurts… owowow!

Gillan: And now, this… this is for calling me disgusting…
    -(Grips even tighter)

Rif: (panicking) AAUUGH!

Gillan: A little punishment is necessary… for a kid like this…

Anise: Heh… that sounds good. Be my guest.

(Gillan releases Rif)

Gillan: Heheheh… prepare yourself, because there is plenty of punishment awaiting you.

Rif: Wh-what the heck! Who do you think you are, you…!

Gillan: First of all, let’s shut up that big mouth of yours!

(Punches Rif in the face twice, while Killfith panics behind her)

Killfith: Rif?!

(Rif collapses to the ground and blacks out, as does the screen.)

Day Eight, Part Five

Leftways Halfway through, Killfith stops, looking across the gorge.

Killfith: Who’s there?!

Rif: What is it, Killfith? Is someone there?

Killfith: Tch… ran off.

Rif: There’s no one there. Could it have been your imagination?

Killfith: Tch. I thought I just spotted that slow-moving dullard.

(Side Conversation)
Rif: It seems that Anise is in the Slenge Mines after all. Let’s go in!

Killfith: Maybe we should plant an ambush for them, to pay them back for those other times…

Rif: Hold up…! Don’t make threats!

Killfith: You call that a threat?
(End)

//Now would be a good time to finish your side quests, if you haven’t already.//

(In the next area, a gang headed by Anise is waiting.)

Anise: Do you always drag your feet? I was getting tired of waiting.

Rif: Why you… you… creeps…!

Pike: You can thank our Summon Creature lookout for discovering you. You didn’t even realize you’d been spotted.
    -Stupid brats!

Gillan: What are you saying? They came out all the way here just to become my little brother. Isn’t that right?

Rif: Huh?! That’s not it at all!

Killfith: You are the ones we’ve been looking for. No doubt about it.

Gillan: (blushing) My!

Rif: Don’t give him any weird ideas!

Anise: (…) However, the fact that you were able to follow this guy here is an inexcusable failure.

Man: But if the next lookout had come to relieve me like he was supposed to, then this never would have…

Anise: SAVE YOUR EXCUSES!
    -Instead of quibbling about who should have been doing what or where, you should hurry up and seize those brats!

(The funny-hatted man, annoyed, faces Rif)

Rif: Bring it!

(Man, Rif and Summon Creature fight. Rif wins.)

Man: (…) Dammit… These brats…

Anise: (sigh) This guy is completely useless…

Gillan: Leave this to me. You just watch and see how it’s done.

(The man steps onto the sidelines while Gillan and the others walk up to Rif)

Rif: (…) Kh…!

>Go to Cuddling Kills

Rightways If you take the path to the right, our heroes will stop as they see the Summon Creature paused up ahead.

Killfith: It’s him!

Rif: The Summon Creature from just now!

(The Summon Creature turns around, annoyed, and attacks; Rif wins)

Rif: Whew… that took me by surprise.

Killfith: Tch… someone might have overheard our battle with that garbage heap just now…

Rif: Even so, let’s try and go as far as we can!

Killfith: Heh… figures you’d say that.

(Side Conversation)
Rif: It seems that Anise is in the Slenge Mines after all. Let’s go in!

Killfith: We might have drawn some attention this way during our fight with that piece of garbage back there.
    -Well, it makes no difference either way. We’ll wipe out the whole lot of them regardless.

Rif: Come on, Killfith, settle down, just settle down…
(End)

(In the next area, two men are arguing.)

First Man: I already told you I didn’t forget, and anyway I’m here now so I’ll take your shift, I just thought… huh?

(Man notices Rif)

First Man: Ah!

Killfith: (to Rif) Don’t just stand there gawking.

Second Man: What are you staring at? I told you, hurry up and stand guard! … Huh?
    -(turns around and sees Rif)
    -AH!
    -You little runt! How did you get here?

First Man: (smirking) Aw, did you get followed? What a schmuck… have fun reporting that.

Second Man: Shut yer yap! We’ll be fine as long as we grab ’em, right?

Rif: No way you’re grabbing me!

(Fight ensues)

Man: Dammit… these guys…

(Crap! The cavalry!)

Anise: Do you make a ruckus wherever you go?

Rif: It’s you!

Anise: (to nameless minions) I will teach you both a lesson after this for letting them infiltrate so far into our territory.

Man: Y-yes, ma’am…

Gillan: (blushing) I’m so happy. You came all the way out here just because you wanted to become my younger brother, didn’t you?

Rif: Huh?! That’s not it at all!

Killfith: You are the ones we’ve been looking for. No doubt about it.

Rif: Wait a… Don’t give him any weird ideas!

Gillan: ♥ Really?! I’m so happy!

>Go to Cuddling Kills

Day Eight, Part Four

(Outside Benson’s Workshop, Tier and Zakk walk up)

Tier: Ah, Rif, how was the conference?

Rif: Not good at all… if we can’t get a hold of any evidence that Anise and her gang are bad people, they won’t do anything.
    -So, we decided to split up in order to find them…

Tier: (to Zakk) Hey, I don’t suppose you know something, do you? Aren’t you like the eyes and ears of this town?

Zakk: Of course I know!
    -But, until everything is cleared up, Master wouldn’t want me to betray those people.

Rif: What are you talking about? Eyes and ears? That’s the first I heard of it.

Zakk: That’s because you’re not important enough to feed information.

Tier: Isn’t that just another way of saying you don’t know? You were actually lying about being this town’s eyes and ears. How aw~ful.

Zakk: I do too know! They’re in the Slenge Mines! The mines just outside of the West Gate!

Rif and Killfith: (!)

Killfith: What…? Wasn’t that near where that guy said the Red Wing is?

Zakk: Yeah, but they really are there! I overheard those guys talking before!

Rif: Hmm, I see… and we don’t have any other leads… should we try going there…?

Tier: If it’s that dangerous, maybe it’d be a good idea to invite Miss V.E and Jade along?

Rif: But Master is searching Lute Caves, and Aniki’s gone to Bayreat Forest…

Tier: Crimany, what an annoying situation. Guess there’s nothing for it.
    -The only solution is for us to go track down Miss V.E and Jade.

Zakk: (!) By “us,” do you mean me too?

Tier: Of course I mean you too! You spilled the beans, so obviously you should ask for Jade!

Zakk: Ugh… I got it.

Killfith: (…) Exactly whose side is this kid on, again?

Zakk: Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?!

Tier: Time is money, so let's not waste any!
    -Catch you later, Rif!

Rif: Take care, okay?

Zakk: You too.

(Tier and Zakk depart stage left)

(Side Conversation)
Rif: It seems Anise is somewhere in Slenge Mines. Let’s check it out!

Killfith: It sounds like there’s a ferocious Summon Creature known as Red Wing residing there. This should be fun…

Rif: That’s one thing I hope we don’t find there!
(End)

(In front of the West Gate, we find out why the gatekeeper’s letting us through)

Gatekeeper: The usual gatekeeper caught a cold, so today I’m substituting for him. What a pain…
    -It seems there’s a scary Stray called Red Wing out there, but if you want to go I won’t stop you.

(In the Slenge Mines, Lemmy is standing in front of a gorge)

Rif: Huh? Lemmy, what are you doing here?

Lemmy: W-what, you ask?

Rif: Didn’t you know? They’re saying there’s a scary Stray called Red Wing around here.

Lemmy: I know about that! And anyway, what are you doing here if you know it’s dangerous?

Rif: What are we… Zakk told us that Anise and her gang were hiding around here.

Lemmy: Zakk… saying too much again…

Killfith: Hmph. And what exactly are you doing in a place like this?

Lemmy: M-me?! Weapons, I… that’s right, I just came to forge weapons.

Rif: Oh, is that what you’re doing? Specially came to a dangerous corner of the world so you could forge, huh?

Lemmy: But I was on my way back just now.

(He rushes off in a panic)

Rif: (…) What’s with him? And what was he so upset about this whole time? I got a really bad feeling about this.

Killfith: Hmf, no kidding.

(While trekking through Slenge Mines, Killfith suddenly stops Rif.)

Killfith: Tch… over there…

(Nearby, a bad guy stands beside a large ogre-looking Stray.)

Man: What are those guys doing! We were supposed to change shifts ages ago! Dammit…
    -(paces back and forth)
    -(…) Forget it, I’ll go call them over!

(The man departs.)

Rif: That must have been one of their comrades! Their hideout has got to be nearby!
    -We’ve gotta go after him!

Killfith: Cool it… what are you planning to do about the watchdog?

Rif: You don’t think we’ll have to knock him out, do you?

(The Stray walks away.)

Rif: (?) What? It doesn’t want to keep a lookout?

Killfith: How am I supposed to know?

Rif: Anyway, let’s keep moving.

At this point, there will be a difference depending on which path you choose:
    -Path on the left >Leftways
    -Path on the right >Rightways

Day Eight, Part Three

(Outside the Council of Gold)

Jade: Well now! For the time being, how about we sniff out those guys’ whereabouts?

(For some reason, Rif, Killfith and Murno are surprised. It's like they don't know him at all.)

Rif: Wait a second, Aniki! Didn’t she just say that the Patrol Unit should focus on their job?

Jade: It’s fine. After all, it’s still patrolling, isn’t it? Nothing to worry about!

V.E: Honestly. You are such a man…

    -Okay! Then let’s split up and search for them!

Jade: I have to disagree with Rif and Murno on one point, because I don’t think that band is coming back to this town…

    -First, we should try searching the town’s perimeter. Leave the Bayreat Forest near the South Gate to me!

    -V.E should cover Lute Caves, and Rif can take care of the Bearded Forest up until Marneil Inn Town.

V.E: Couldn’t they also be near the west gate down the stairs? What are we going to do for over there?

Jade: It should be fine to leave Slenge Mines alone for now. Rumor has it there’s a dangerous Summon Creature there called “Red Wing.”

Killfith: “Red Wing”…? Heh… what’s that supposed to be, a red birdie?

Jade: That’s right… and it’s huge enough to swallow a man whole.

    -That “birdie” is dyed in deep red with the blood of its kills.

Rif: Amazing! So that Red Wing is really something cool…!

Killfith: It’s cool?

Jade: As long as you don’t approach it, you won’t get hurt, since it doesn’t seem to move around much, but…

    -Well, considering how few there were of those guys, if they decided to hide there, they’ve probably been eaten by now.

V.E: All right! Shall we start investigating, then?

Murno: Um… then I…

Jade: Since that demon stone you’re carting around is so important, you should lay low and go back to the workshop. Isn’t that what Ms. Janna said, too?

    -‘Exercise some prudence?’

Murno: But…

V.E: Aha… what Jade is trying to say is that Murno needs to keep a strict guard over the demon stone.

    -And since Master Benson is at the workshop, it would give us some peace of mind, you know?

Murno: All right… I understand.

V.E: (to Rif) On a related note, Rif, Killfith, I’m gonna ask you to be Murno’s escort to the workshop.

Rif: Got it! Just leave it to us!

Jade: Then let’s go! Just be sure to pay extra attention so you don't get lost. Especially V.E.

V.E: Although your undying concern for me moves me to tears of joy…

    -… if you keep throwing that crap into the wind, it’ll eventually end up in your eyes.

Jade: Don’t worry about me. I’ll just dodge so it’ll get in Rif’s face instead.

Rif: Hey! I’m right here!

V.E: Then, we leave it to you!

(Jade and V.E leave; Jade to the south, V.E to the east)

Rif: (…) Geez, what the heck…

Murno: Will you lead the way, Rif?

Rif: Ah—right! Let’s go to the workshop!

(Side Conversation)

Rif: Let’s escort Murno to the workshop!

Murno: I’m sorry. It’s my fault that you have to do something like this, since I’m so useless…

Rif: What are you talking about? You’re protecting the demon stone. That’s super useful!

Killfith: It’s a serious responsibility. You’ll have to give it your utmost.

Murno: Thank you, Rif, Killfith…

(End)

(Rif and the others arrive at Benson’s Workshop)

Rif: Um, Master.

Benson: Hm?

Rif: We’re going to go out for a little bit. Please look after Murno while we’re gone!

Benson: Hm.

Murno: I’m very sorry for the trouble.

Benson: Hm.

Murno: Thank you very much.

Benson: Hm.

Rif: (…) Man, it looks like they can communicate just like that… I’m a little embarrassed that I can’t follow…

    -(stares at Killfith) …

Killfith: (annoyed) What?

Rif: Hm.

Killfith: What’s that! Don’t be disgusting, I’ll kill you!

Rif: (shocked) Di—?!

    -(disappointed) It seems I just can’t do it…

Eliez: Do your best, big sis!

Rif: Eh?! Ahahahaha…
    -Okay! Let’s go and find out where Anise and her gang are hiding!

(Side Conversation)

Rif: Now then! Time to find out where Anise is hiding!

Killfith: We have to go along the road up till Marneil Inn Town. You’ll do your part by doing your absolute best.

Rif: Yeah! I won’t let a single clue pass us by!

(End)

Day Eight, Part Two

(Scene fades back in with Eliez running up to the workshop)
 
Eliez: I'm ba~ack!
    ‑(goes inside)
    ‑Is everyone still not here yet?

(Inside the Council of Gold)

Rif: … And that's everything.

Bostaph: …

Rif: Um…

Velworen: (while looking at the demon stone) So perhaps Govan's Demon Stone really is concealing such extraordinary powers…
    -I can’t believe that something so amazing was hidden in that Mishews Village!

Jade: Do you mean the Council of Gold already knew about that village?

Janna: Around the time this town was established, we sent out a thorough investigation of this area. That was when we discovered it.
    ‑However, since we believed the village had very little worth, we refrained from getting too involved.

Velworen: At that time, I was sent to this town to offer our greetings.
    ‑I discovered some rather interesting ruins. I've lost count of how many times I’d wandered through them.
    -But after the deaths of Rob and the others, I was no longer permitted to enter them…

Janna: In any case, what you’re saying is that if we return this demon stone to your village, the Stray Summons should settle down.

Jade: Except Anise's gang is trying to get their hands on it.

Velworen: It's hard to believe they’re such evil people… what will you do, Bostaph?

Bostaph: What shall I do, you ask...? I don't intent to do anything.

V.E: (annoyed) Hold on, what are you—

Bostaph: I have a contract with her group. Unless you can offer me definitive proof, I see no reason to doubt them.

V.E: That ‘group’ laid hands on my precious apprentices! Are you really going to stand up for those creeps?

Bostaph: As long as they continue to bring down Stray Summons, yes.

Killfith: Wake up. Those cretins…

Bostaph: Silence!

(Le shock!)

Bostaph: A Summon Creature should keep his mouth shut!

Killfith: …!

Janna: (…) Certainly, Bostaph does have a point.
    -It would not be good to rake these people over the coals simply on these children’s word.

Rif: But that…!

Janna: (To Bostaph) I am sorry to ask this so bluntly, but we will need you to put together a dossier of the party in question.

Bostaph: I am not of such poor principles that I would betray those I have a contract with. I will not do as you ask.
    -Excuse me.

(Bostaph leaves)

V.E: Hold on a minute there!

Jade: Forget it, V.E! Bostaph’s not gonna listen to anything we say right now.

V.E: … Tch! I suppose making a move in public would only make a scene.

Jade: That’s right. First things first, we should try to do some of our own investigating.

Janna: I think it would be good for you not to forget your job as a member of the Patrol Unit. The damage caused by Strays has been increasing.

Jade: You really know how to rub salt in it, don’t you? That’s fine, though. I get what you’re saying.

Murno: (…) Um… if that’s everything, then the demon stone…

Velworen: Ah, sorry, of course.

(Govan’s Demon Stone has been returned to Murno)

Janna: Hold on! Why are you returning it? If we had a little longer to inspect it, then…

Velworen: But if we have this in our possession, we will also end up being targeted…

Janna: Ah… I-I suppose… all right then.

    -(to Murno) But will you be all right, Ms. Murno? Until Anise and her gang’s identity comes to light…
    -I also have my doubts about whether you manipulated Summon Strays, since the details are not perfectly clear yet.

Murno: …

Janna: From your explanation today, it seems that we will not have to place you under arrest, but please be sure to exercise some prudence in the future.
    -In accordance with the aforementioned conclusion, we expect that you will offer us Govan’s Demon Stone at another time so that we might inspect it.

Murno: Yes, ma’am…

Janna: Then, we are adjourned for the day.

(fade to black)

Day Eight, Part One

Rif: Okay! Today we have a meeting at the Council of Gold! … Well, easy enough to say…
    -The truth is, I'm really bad with speeches.

Killfith: Feeling self-conscious, are we?

Rif: ... That's not what I wanted you to say!
    -Anyway, I'll do my best. I just have to make everyone understand that Anise and her gang are trying to nab the demon stone!

Killfith: Heh... do the best you can.

Rif: For some reason, I feel kind of cheated, but thanks anyway!
    -All right! Let's go!

(Rif exits the forging room)

Tier: Oh, Rif, how are you? Were you able to sleep all right?

Rif: Yeah, I slept like a rock!

V.E: Is that so? I'd like to ask if you've already figured out what you're going to say, but…
    -Knowing you, I'd be happy just as long as your eight hours of sleep helped your brain to put everything in order.

Rif: You'll see! Soon we'll tell everyone flat-out how Anise and her friends have been trying to get the demon stone!
    -But if Master Bostaph really is friends with those guys, I wonder what'll happen…
    -Master Bostaph is still pretty suspicious... not to mention scary-looking...

Eliez: (...) Master Bostaph is... suspicious...?

Jade: (annoyed) Hey, Rif! Don't be so bent on distrusting someone just because they're ‘scary-looking!’

Rif: Uh, right! Sorry, Aniki.

Jade: Hold on there! What kind of apology was that?

Killfith: Hmph. If it's just a scary face that makes a villain…

(Everyone looks at Master Benson)

Benson: Hm?

Murno: Killfith, be nice!

Jade: Anyway, don't give that kind of nonsense a second thought. Okay, Eliez?

Eliez: (still upset, but with a small smile) ... Mmkay.

V.E: Well, shall we go, then?

Jade: We'll be waiting outside, so hurry up.

Eliez: I’ve got stuff I need to do, too!

(Everyone departs)

(Side Conversation)
Rif: Today's the big meeting. Let's get to the Council of Gold and stir things up!

Killfith: I think you might actually be incapable of shutting up.

Rif: That’s beside the point!
(End)

(Outside the workshop)

V.E: Are you ready to go to the Council of Gold yet?

Rif:
    -Of course I'm ready!  >To the Council
    -Just a little longer.  >Arg

Arg

V.E: Hurry up.

To the Council

V.E: All right, let's go.

Tier: Yay~!

V.E: Hold up, who said you're coming with us?!

Tier: Huh?!

Jade: There’s no helping it. Even if you came, there's nothing you could do.
    -Just keep an eye on the workshop for us.

Tier: Cheh… Fine, I'll just leave, then.
    -(departs)

Jade: H-hey, wait up…

Murno: (to Killfith) I wonder where she went.

Killfith: Business transaction, probably.

Jade: Good grief. She goes off on her own just because of a little scolding.

V.E: Only because she didn't want to consent to a little house-sitting. Really, how dreadful.
    -Well, no point in dwelling on it. We have some business of our own to put in order.
    -Time to get serious! Put on your war face!

Rif: Yes, ma'am!

In front of Bostaph's workshop, Lemmy watches the group, fuming silently. Without a word, he goes into the workshop. Meanwhile, everyone else is staring after him.

Rif: What was that about...?

V.E: Don't get distracted. We’re moving out!

Rif: Uh—yes, ma'am.

(They head off; fade to black)

Night Seven - Killfith

Killfith: Here again…
    -Hmph... is it okay for you to be out here when that woman told you to be good and stay home for tonight?

Rif: But Anise and her gang could be anywhere right now, waiting to get the jump on Murno. I can't just sit around doing nothing...

Killfith: They won't make life very easy for us, but we should be able to expose their true colors in due time.
    -We'll go as far as we have to in order to beat them.

Rif: That's right. One day soon we'll capture those guys and then Murno won't have to worry anymore!
    -Especially now that you can transform, it should be a piece of cake! I'll be counting on you!

Killfith: Tch… Don't get carried away.

Rif: What are you talking about! Hey, you can do it with me now, right? From way back when, with a whole lot of fighting spirit put in!

Killfith: Fighting spirit? You can't mean—

Rif: Exactamundo! You've already learned it, right? Come on, let's yell it together!

Killfith: I knew it...!

Rif: For a Craftknight!
    -A hammer is…
    -... What's wrong?

Killfith: I’m begging you... anything but that.

Rif: (surprised) Huh?! Killfith politely asking me a favor? … I think the world might be coming to an end…

Day Seven, Part Thirteen

(Side Conversation)
Rif: Now that things have calmed down, I'm getting really hungry. Let's hurry back to the Town of Prosban.

Murno: Heheh, that’s so like you. But actually, I seem to be running on empty, too.

Killfith: Tch… you guys are too optimistic... that Benson menace is still there in that workshop.

Rif: When you put it like that, I actually do get kind of scared…
(End)

Near the exit of Bayreat Forest...

Eliez: Ah, there they are! Big sisters Rif and Murno!

Murno: Thanks for coming to welcome us, Eliez.

Zakk: Are you guys all right?

Rif: Sorry, Eliez, Zakk. Seems we made you worry, too.

Zakk: Can you blame us? Disappearing out of nowhere like that…
    -I mean, I wasn't! I wasn't worried or anything like that, not really!

Killfith: Hmph... you haven't changed, have you.

Zakk: By the way, when Lemmy came back just now, he was acting kinda weird.
    -Did something happen? Did you guys...

Tier: It’s just something that happened when we found Rif. It’s a long story.

Zakk: Um, uh, okay... if you say so…

V.E: Well then, we're going to report everything you've told us.

Jade: Be sure to look after Eliez.

Rif: Right.

(Benson's Workshop)

Eliez: I'm home! And look, so's everyone else!

Rif: Um... I'm really sorry for any trouble we might have caused.

Benson: Hm!

Rif: Um... you're not angry, are you?

Benson: …

Killfith: Tch…

Eliez: Master's really happy.

Benson: Nn?!

Murno: Heheheh… he's just shy…

Benson: Hm!

Rif: ... I don't get it at all.

(Nighttime)

-Master and the others came back that evening. They told us that everyone's going to gather at the Council of Gold tomorrow to discuss what's happened.
-I guess there's no way around it, but if we don't catch Anise and her accomplices as soon as possible…

Rif: Master said that while we were in Louise Village, no one saw Anise's comrades anywhere near the town.
    -Which leaves the question of where on earth they could be hiding…
    -(?) Huh? Looks like someone's there…

Day Seven, Part Twelve

Reunion

(Everyone gathers together)

Rif: Everyone...! Even Lemmy!

Lemmy: I wasn't looking because I was worried or any such nonsense, it's simply that Zakk…

Jade: Sounds like someone's grasping at straws.

Tier: I'm just so glad!

V.E: Thank you, everyone…

Rif: (...) Um... Really, thank you.

V.E: Hey.

Rif: Yes!

V.E: As touching as this reunion is, I think it's about time for you to explain to us what exactly you've been doing for the past couple of days.
    -(with a pleasant smile) And don't leave out any details, okay?

Rif: Weell…

(fade to black)

Rif: … And that's when we started heading back this way.

V.E: That's an awful lot to take in, but I think I got the gist of it. All that's left is to figure out what to do about it.

Jade: If Govan's Demon Stone was put back, the Stray Summons that've gotten out of control might settle down, but if those people are still aiming to get it...

Tier: They definitely want to use it for something bad! We've gotta track down those guys!

Lemmy: (...) So I gather that everyone else here believes their story?

Rif: (annoyed) Excuse me? Are you saying that we're lying?

Lemmy: Those people have a binding contract with Master Bostaph to exterminate Strays for the sake of this town.
    -And yet you seem to be implying that they were looking for the demon stone in order to bring Stray Summons under their heel.
    -Are you trying to tell me that the contract is false? Are you accusing Master Bostaph of being a liar?!

Killfith: If the shoe fits.
    -Why else would he screw around with those cretins if not to obtain the demon stone's powers?

Lemmy: Don't you dare insult Master Bostaph!

Rif: But—I'm telling you, we're not lying!

Jade: Knock it off! Calm down, you guys!

V.E: Why do I get the feeling this is one fight we won't be able to stop?

Lemmy: Shut up! If you won't take back what you said of your own accord, then I will silence you by force!
    -(takes out his sword)

(Rif and Lemmy fight; Rif wins)

Lemmy: Dammit...! Why...?!

V.E: After fighting personally with Rif, I'm sure you understand just fine. They're not lying to us, you know.

Lemmy: So Bostaph is connected with a group of people who attacked a village...? Something like that, I just can't...

Rif: (...) Lemmy…

Lemmy: (!) That's right...! They must have tricked him!
    -If I don't tell him right away...!

Rif: Wait! Just what are you—

(Lemmy leaves)

V.E: (...) Good grief... he's already gone...
    -Somehow I get the feeling his association with those people isn't a simple matter of not asking enough questions.

Jade: It doesn't exactly look like there's anything we can do, though, is there?
    -If Lemmy let himself doubt for once second, the reality is that it’d be impossible for him to do anything.

Killfith: Tch...! What a simplistic way of thinking.

Rif: So, what should we do now?

V.E: After the day you've had, you kids should just head back to Jade's place for some well-earned rest.

Rif: Seriously, that's it?

Jade: Sure, why not? Just leave the rest up to us.

Murno: ...

V.E: It's all right. That alone would take a load off of everyone's mind, trust me.
    -Just do like Rif does and don't over-think all these complicated problems.

Murno: ... All right...

Tier: Come on, let's go back already!

Day Seven, Part Eleven

(Side Conversation)
Rif: I really don't want to go through Master's wrath, so I'm really not looking forward to going back to the Town of Prosban…

Killfith: Aniki will probably want to give us a scolding as well. Hmph… delightful.

Murno: (while looking at Rif) Tier is sure to be just as scary as both of them. She would have been really worried about you.

Rif: (Right now Murno is scarier than all of them combined...)
(End)

(Bayreat Forest)

???: Hey…! Rif…!

Rif: (?) Wasn’t that voice—?!

(Side Conversation)
Rif: It sounds like someone's looking for me. I wonder who…

Killfith: Probably Master. I don't even want to think of what'll happen if she finds us. Hmph… just wonderful.

Rif: W-when you put it like that, it makes it even scarier… but if it was Aniki, he'd definitely put us through the wringer…

Murno: And who knows what Tier would do…

Rif: Yeah... we better make sure we're fully equipped.
(End)

As soon as you walk up the stairs, someone appears.

If last night you lamented missing V.E’s stew,  >Redhead
If you wanted to see Aniki’s scary face,  >Tough Guy
If you wondered about Tier,  >Genki Girl

Redhead

(Enter V.E)

V.E: (!) Ah…
    -RIF!

Rif: Uh, Master!

V.E: You kids...! What on earth have you been doing, this is...!
    -(steps forward)

Rif: Eep! I'm sorry, I'm really sorry!

(V.E wraps her in a hug)

Rif: Huh...? Um...? Master...?

V.E: You had us worried out of our minds...
    -(lets go and smacks her over the head)

Rif: Youch!!

V.E: Killfith! Murno! You too!

Killfith and Murno: (panicked) ...!

V.E: (turns away) (sigh)
    -Gee whiz, after all this time wandering all over the place…! Everyone has been worried sick looking for you!

Rif: Everyone else, too...?

V.E: Hey! I've found Rif and the others!  >Reunion

Tough Guy

(Enter Jade)

Jade: (!) Huh...?!
    -RIF?!

Rif: Ah, Aniki!

Jade: Y... you guys...
    -(annoyed) We've been worried out of our minds looking for you. Tell me, have you put some thought into an excuse that'll explain where you've been all this time?
    -HUH?

Rif: No... I mean... tha—wait I'm not ready!

(While she panics, Jade walks up and puts a hand on her shoulder)

Rif: (!)

Jade: I'm sure there'll be plenty of time to hear all that later. Just be sure you’ve got something to say.

Rif: Er...? Um...? Aniki...?

Jade: Murno, Killfith… You guys too.

Murno and Killfith: (surprised) …

Jade: (turns away) Honestly... worried half to death...
    -Anyway, we'd better let everyone else know you're all right so they can have some peace of mind.

Rif: Everyone else...?

Jade: Heey! I've found Rif and the others!  >Reunion

Genki Girl

(Enter Tier)

Tier: (!) No way… Rif...?

Rif: Tier...!

Tier: IT'S RIF! ❤
    -(runs up to Rif and gives her a hearty glomp)

Rif: What the—?! Hold on, what just happened?!

Tier: Rif! Rif!
    -(hugs tighter)

Rif: Urk…! Wai… can't… breathe…!

Tier: Oh thank goodness! What on earth happened with you?! I was so worried!

Rif: We... were... ......... ............ ghk...!
    -(convulses slightly)

Murno: Tier, wait! She's suffocating!

Tier: Huh?! Oh...!
    -(lets go)

(Rif, literally blue in the face, takes deep breaths)

Rif: Oh boy... I thought I was a goner...

Tier: Well... that's what you get for worrying me half to death!

Rif: Ah… yeah, about that...
    -I'm sorry.

Tier: You should apologize to everyone! Murno and Killfith should, too!

Murno: (while Killfith looks depressed) Yes.

V.E: (from off-screen) Hey! Tier, did you find something?  >Reunion

Day Seven, Part Ten

(In front of the prison)

Rif: Geez... if I'd only been paying attention then...

Tram: It's not your fault.

Gallahan: Indeed. The three of you did well today. You should be proud. It was a long, hard day!

Rif: ...

Tram: (to Murno) By the way, were you able to learn anything about the enchanted crystals?

Murno: They looked exactly like the ones in my village… they emanated such an immense power... and then, the Summon Creatures that began acting out...
    -The crystals released such a strong power in response to the demon stone that it caused Magdorad to act strangely.
    -That power is the same as the one Killfith felt when we fled from Mishews Village…
    -I wonder if any of this would have happened if I hadn't taken the demon stone from the village…

Killfith: Murno—

Rif: That couldn't be helped, though. Anise and her people were trying to take it.

Murno: And yet, while they were going after the demon stone so relentlessly, I couldn't do anything…
    -Only, father… he told me that only I could protect it, and that I shouldn’t let it pass into anyone else’s hands…

Tram: According to the stories you have told us, it seems that a long time ago the people of Mishews Village came here to build Louise Village.
    -I can only surmise the reason has to do with Govan's Demon Stone, but I wonder about that detail of how it “possesses great power”…
    -It makes me think that Anise may have also known about the story, even those small details…

Rif: But... if we just put it back where it came from, wouldn't everything go back to normal?

Murno: I don't know if that would work... even if it would, I don't know if that's an option at this point…

Tram: That's right… they may still be keeping an eye on Mishews Village. That in mind, you should immediately begin preparations for departure.

(Surprise!)

Rif: Huh? You mean you're letting us go home?
    -But what about what you said before, about keeping the village's secrets...?

Tram: (smiles) After all you've done to help save our village, there's no reason to be suspicious of you anymore. We are forever in your debt.

Rif: Wow, thank you.

Tram: Truly, we should be the ones thanking you.
    -The exit is just up ahead. Let us know when you're ready to depart.

(Side Conversation)
Rif: Tram and Gallahan are waiting at the exit to the village. I've gotta say, I'm more than ready to go home.

Killfith: It's about time. I'm sick of this village.

Rif: Still, I can’t believe we let Anise slip away from us…

Murno: Don't be so hard on yourself, Rif. Even with all the terrible things going on, you still did your best...

Rif: Thank you, Murno.
(End)

(At the village's exit)

Tram: Are you ready to leave Louise Village?

Rif:
    -All set and ready to go!  >Outta this loony bin!
    -I think there's something I forgot…

Outta this loony bin!

Tram: Is that so? But first, take this.

Rif: What is this? A scale?

Tram: It's a scale from Lord Nushi himself. You can keep it as a sort of protective charm, if you will.

Rif: A protective charm, huh... thank you. I'll be sure to keep it safe!

(Obtained Phantom Dragon Scale!)

Tram: I suppose this is where we part ways, but please feel free to return any time you like.

Rif: I will! So stay safe while I'm gone!
    -(...)
    -You too, mister… stay strong!

Gallahan: (smiles) I will.

Murno: Be sure to look after yourself.

Gallahan: I will…

Killfith: Hmph... guess this is goodbye…

Gallahan: Indeed…

Rif: Hey, mister…
    -Thanks for listening when I said I was a Craftknight. It made me really happy.

Gallahan: Huh?!
    -(turns away)

Rif: (?) Mister, are you crying?

Gallahan: Bah! Don't poke fun at your elders! You should be on the road already!

Rif: Okay, I'm going! Bye then!

(Tram steps out of the way and the three children walk through the exit)

Gallahan: (watching them go) … They're gone…

Tram: Gallahan… I see, you were thinking of your daughter...

Gallahan: What nonsense is that? I'm going as well.

(The Flawed Caves)

Rif: Wow! To think we ended up here... I didn't see that coming...

Killfith: Hey. What are we doing now?

Rif: Good question... What about Murno's Village? Should we try to return the demon stone?

Killfith: First we have to think of a way to dispose of Anise's gang.

Murno: He's right... they already know about Mishews Village…
    -In the meantime, I'll bet Miss V.E and everyone else is worried about us.

Rif: No doubt about that... but Anise might already be in town, you know, and Master's gonna beat me black and blue after disappearing for so long…
    -So, I'm not too enthusiastic about going back yet…

Murno: But, if we just leave things as they are…

Rif: Yeeeahh... I guess...
    -Well then... we'll get closer to town for now and figure out something from there.

Murno: Heeheehee…

Rif: What? Did I say something weird?

Murno: Yep. It was very Rif-like.

Killfith: Indeed, that response was very like you.

Rif: Heheheh, somehow that doesn't sound very flattering...

Killfith: How lucky to be so simple.

Murno: Anyway, let's start heading towards town.

Day Seven, Part Nine

(In front of the ruins)

Rif: Sorry it took so long! We brought Anise!

Tram: Thank you. Now, let us…

(The ground rumbles)

Rif: What is it this time?!

Killfith: Tch! Up there!

(Magdorad stands in a hole high in the wall of the ruins)

Magdorad: Grrroar…
    -(jumps down to the plaza in front of them)

Tram: Magdorad...! Anise!

Anise: Magdorad!

Magdorad: …

Anise: Magdorad… you…

Magdorad: …

Anise: I understand…
    -Now behave!

Magdorad: GRRRUUUUAAAAAAHH!!

Rif: What the?!

Anise: Why isn't he listening to my orders?!

(Magdorad spits out a fireball)

Anise: No...! Stop this...! Magdorad!

(He spits out another fireball)

Anise: I said stop this right now!
    -(alarmed, takes a step back) What?!

Tram: (!) Look out!

(He pushes Anise out of the way, taking the hit himself)

Rif: Are—are you all right?!

Tram: Ah... the... Summon... ite... where…

Rif: The Summonite...?! Are you saying you dropped it?

Killfith: (picks up something from the ground) Hey! I've got the Summonite here!

Rif: Right!

Magdorad: Grroaar!

Rif: Oh man...! He's getting another fireball ready...!

Tram: The name...! Lord Nushi—you need to call out…!

Rif: (panicking, holds up the Summonite) Pha—Phantom Dragon!!

(The Phantom Dragon appears, emerging from a sphere of purple light)

Rif: Holy...! Did I summon him...?!

Phantom Dragon: MRAAaahh…

Tram: Don't... worry... after the fight before, Lord Nushi... will be able to communicate directly with your thoughts...

Rif: He... will...?

Phantom Dragon: Rhhaaa...

Tram: He's asking for your help… Rif…

Rif: ...! Understood...!
    -I'll do my best!!

(Phantom Dragon and Magdorad fight)

Rif: (...) Looks like he's quieted down…

(Magdorad disappears)

Rif: Huh?! He vanished...?!

Killfith: Tch... he was probably sent home...

Rif: Sent home... but how did...?
    -(looks around and notices something rather important)
    -Crap! Anise isn't here?! When did she...?!

Tram: She must've taken advantage of the confusion and fled then. It seems she also took back the Summonite...

Rif: She escaped?! We have to chase after her!

Killfith: Knowing her, she’ll probably come back with her friends in order to take away the demon stone.

Tram: I don't think that'll happen...

Rif: Why not?!

Tram: She knows very well what would happen if she gave that group an invitation to come back to this village.
    -Anise might hate this village, and perhaps there is nothing left here that she loves, but…
    -In any case, we need to spread out and search!

(fade to black)
-But in the end, we weren't able to find Anise...

Day Seven, Part Eight

(Side Conversation)
Rif: The best way that we can help is to help the prison watchman escort Anise!

Killfith: What I want to know is if bringing that person along will really do us any good.

Rif: I can’t say I know the answer to that, but if this is the only thing we can do right now, then we are going to do it!
(End)

(Prison)

Rif: Excuse me! Prison Guard! Mr. Prison Guaaard!!!
    -(...)
    -(?)
    -Don't tell me... he's not here? Where could he have gone at a time like this?!

Anise: If it's the guard you're looking for, looks like he ran out of here.

Rif: (!) He ran away?! You’ve gotta be kidding!

Anise: I told him, “I heard a voice before. Has Magdorad lost control?”
    -Then I mentioned he'd probably come to see how I was doing, and it got quiet all of a sudden.

Killfith: I see... so he ran off.

Anise: Hey, what exactly did you guys do to Magdorad?!

Rif: We didn't do anything! He just suddenly attacked us, without an order or anything!
    -That's why we came to fetch you...

Anise: Then hurry up and get me out of here!

Rif: You say that but... where is the key?!

Anise: How am I supposed to know! If you don't have a key, just use your hammer to break the lock!

Rif: Fine, just stand back...!

(Side Conversation)
Rif: Since we don't have a key to get Anise out of her cell, we'll just have to break the lock!

Killfith: If you want a pat on the head for figuring that out, don’t look at me.
(End)

Rif: (smashes the lock) Okay, I broke it!

Anise: (comes out) Took you long enough. We have to hurry!

Killfith: You say that, but how do we know you're not just planning to escape?

Anise: I wouldn't do that at a time when Magdorad needs me! Do you still doubt me?

Killfith: After everything you've done, how are we supposed to believe anything coming out of that ugly mug?

Anise: Ha! You just can’t let go of a grudge, can you? Aren’t you supposed to be my shepherd and lead me out of here?

Killfith: Shepherd? Don’t think you can screw with me, you little—

Magdorad: (from a distance) roaaaarr…

Rif: We don’t have time for this. We have to hurry! You come with us too, all right?

(She holds out a hand to Anise, who slaps it away)

Anise: Don't touch me! I don't want any apprentice of his anywhere near me!

Rif: That again… I guess asking what happened between you and Master Rob will have to wait, though…
    -Let's go!

(Side Conversation)
Rif: Anise, we'll take you to the ruins, and hopefully you'll be able to get Magdorad to settle down.

Killfith: Go ahead and try to run. It'll give me a good excuse to put an end to you.

Anise: If you have the time to make pointless threats, then pick up the pace.
(End)

Day Seven, Part Seven

Eventually, they enter the room they've been looking for. Killfith pauses.

Killfith: Tch... this room gives me an even worse feeling than all the rest of the place.

(They walk forward and see the enchanted crystals)

Rif: That must be what Murno was looking for.

Magdorad: Grroar…

Rif: And there's Magdorad... just as impressive as I remember...

(Murno takes a few steps forward)

Killfith: Hey...! What are you doing? Come back here!

Murno: It's all right. Although he looks a little scary, I don't think he'll do anything to hurt us.

Rif: Are you sure about that...?

Tram: It's true. Unless a Summoning Master gives him a direct order, he will not commit any violence against us.
    -Or perhaps you're simply frightened?

Rif: What?! I'm not scared at all!

Tram: Then hurry on. Be of some use.

(quick fade to black)

(Side Conversation)
Rif: How am I supposed to help Murno look at enchanted crystals?

Killfith: By not getting in the way.

Rif: All right, I got it!
(End)

Once she gets bored of twiddling her thumbs...

Rif: Well, Murno? What do you think?

Murno: These enchanted crystals... I'm still not sure if they're exactly the same as the ones from my village...

Killfith: Tch... I'm getting a really unpleasant feeling. Are they resonating with Govan's Demon Stone?

Murno: With the demon stone...? (looks at it)

Killfith: This feeling... that's right... it's similar to the sense I got when we left the village...

Rif: What...? I don't get it, what's going on?

(Murno looks at the demon stone)

Murno: In the demon stone, there's something...

(flash of light)

Rif: Crap! What is it now?!

Magdorad: (!) Grrroaaarr...

Tram: Magdorad, what's wrong?

Killfith: Tch...! That unpleasant feeling I had just got a lot worse.

Murno: I don't believe... could this have been the cause of all the Summon Creatures becoming violent...?!

Magdorad: GRRAAAAHHH!!!
    -(shoots off a fireball)

Murno: AIEEE!

Rif: Murno! Are you okay?!

Tram: What's wrong with you, Magdorad?!

Killfith: Didn't you say he wouldn't do anything unless a Summoning Master ordered him to?!

Tram: This can't be...! I never gave an order...!
    -It's dangerous here! We must retreat for now!

(Outside the ruins)

Gallahan: Are you all safe? What in God's name happened down there?!

Tram: Magdorad suddenly turned against us. We must notify everyone!

Gallahan: Understood. But what about you?

Tram: If we’re to have any chance whatsoever, I'll have to ready the Phantom Dragon.

Gallahan: I see. Perhaps we should bring Anise along to help, as well.

Tram: Perhaps we should. Calling Anise here might be our only hope.

Rif: (...) What should the three of us do?

Tram: You should escape immediately! I don't know what will happen, so you should flee from here as quickly as you can!

Rif: Run away...

Rif:
    -Understood! We'll get out of here.  >Following Orders
    -Hold on a minute.  >Not So Fast

Following Orders

Rif: He's right! We should go, Murno!

Murno: Wait! Isn't there anything I can do to help?

Rif: Murno?!

Gallahan: What are you talking about! This isn't a matter for children to get involved in. You need to leave quickly!

Murno: It might have been my fault that Magdorad started acting out. For me to just run away...

Killfith: Murno...
    -I understand what you're trying to say, but you'd only get in the way.

Rif: Wait, Killfith, what are you saying?!

Killfith: (to Rif) Which is why in Murno's place, you'll be helping out instead. Got it?

Rif: Oh... yeah... I got it.

Murno: Thank you, Killfith.

Killfith: (blushes and looks away) Tch... it was nothing.

Gallahan: (annoyed) Listen! This isn't a game!

Rif: I know that... but we are Craftknights, and that means there's something we can do.
    -... Don't you think, Killfith?

Killfith: Tch... of course.

Gallahan: Rif... you can be awfully stubborn when you want to be, can't you? Tram, what do you think?

Tram: Thank you, Killfith...
    -In that case, please go to the prison watchman and have him bring Anise here.

Rif: Understood!  >Tasks

Not So Fast

Rif: I am a Craftknight! I can't run away just because the going gets tough! There must be something I can do to help.

Killfith: Tch... I thought you might say something like that.

Murno: Rif, Killfith...

Gallahan: Don't spout off the first idiot thing that comes to mind! You kids should hurry and find a safe place!

Rif: No way! There should be something we can do here besides run!

Gallahan: Rif... you can be awfully stubborn when you want to, can't you? Tram, what do you think?

Tram: Thank you, Rif, Killfith...
    -In that case, please assist the prison watchman in bringing Anise here.

Rif: Go to the prison. No problem!  >Tasks

Tasks

Tram: Miss Murno, you go with Gallahan!

Gallahan: (to Rif) Leave Murno up to me. Under no circumstances are you to do anything reckless! Understood?

Rif: Yes, sir!

Murno: Rif, Killfith, take care, both of you.

Day Seven, Part Six

(Side Conversation)
Killfith: Murno's going to look at the enchanted crystals. Why are you moving so slowly?

Rif: But, I was just thinking that if I went to investigate the crystals too, I might just get in the way...

Killfith: ... Tch.

Rif: Haha, I'm just kidding. Let's get going!
(End)

Further ahead…

Tram: I was beginning to wonder if you'd gotten lost somewhere along the way.

Rif: We're not lost at all. Right, Killfith?

Killfith: I'm here. Is there someone I have to collect?

Rif: See there! … Wait, what?!

Tram: They have a good relationship, don't they?

Murno: They really do.

Magdorad: (from a distance) Graaarrr…

Rif: What was that?!

Tram: It sounds like Magdorad has gotten a lot better. That's good to know…
    -He was so weak after bringing Anise back that I was worried he might not recover.

Murno: Why do you think he was so weakened?

Killfith: When you all fell off the cliff, he dove in with me so that he could rescue that human Anise.
    -He’s lucky he survived, considering that as a fire-breather, his weakness is water.

Rif: Going that far just to save her...

Tram: Anise and Magdorad are bound in such a way that she can manipulate Magdorad’s thoughts.
    -Perhaps that’s the reason why Voijin led Anise in particular to his side.

Murno: In other words, he wanted to obtain Magdorad's powers…

Tram: Voijin and his companions had heard rumors that a Summon Creature with enormous strength was hidden in this village, and that's what they came looking for...
    -After they had taken the villagers hostage, they threatened to take a life for as long as the Summon Creature did not reveal itself.
    -And then, in order to prove that they were serious… they grabbed one of the villagers… Muzan… and ended his life.
    -That man was not only serving as the village chief at the time, but was my father… they stole his life away, and then…
    -Gallahan's wife and child as well...

Murno: That's awful...

Rif: How could they do that?! That’s completely unforgivable…
    -But, why didn't you use the Summon Creatures to fight? Even with just the two of them, wouldn't you have been able to win?

Tram: Even if we had done that, they probably would have continued picking us off. With things like that, and so many defenseless people already…
    -But even more than that, if they had managed to sow discord in both Magdorad and Lord Nushi, everyone in the village would have been killed.

Rif: (face falls) …

Tram: Therefore, in order to prevent further sacrifices... only the Phantom Dragon came in our defense…
    -Anise… unveiled Magdorad... seeking to sacrifice herself...

Rif: I didn't know that...

Tram: After everything we went through... how on earth did she get trapped in their grasp...?

Murno: …

Tram: Ah, forgive me. Let's hurry on ahead.
    -(leaves with Murno)

Rif: (...)

Day Seven, Part Five

(Rif wins the match with Tram)

Rif: I won! I did it, Murno!

Murno: Rif... Thank goodness…

Tram: I lost… please accept my apologies for all the rude things I said before.

Rif: Huh?! No, it's fine, you don't really have to apologize.
    -And anyway, taking a little bit of your sarcasm is really nothing compared to the kind of flak I've gotten from the people in Bostaph's Workshop, you know.

Tram: Haha... Thank you.

Gallahan: You both did very well. It was a good match.

Rif: Heehee.

Tram: Thank you for your hard work, Gallahan.
    -(to Rif) According to our deal, you and your friends have my permission to progress further into the ruins.

Killfith: See there, Murno?

Murno: Thank you. I’m glad everything worked out.

Tram: The enchanted crystals are near an altar up ahead. The Summon Creatures there will be even stronger than those before, so be sure to take care.

Murno: Out of curiosity... what on earth is it that the Summon Creatures are protecting?

Tram: Magdorad, a Summon Creature that possesses incredible power.

Rif: Magdorad... no way, you mean the same Summon Creature that Anise summoned?

Tram: That's right, you already know about him.
    -The Phantom Dragon and Magdorad are the Summon Creatures from whom we borrowed power in order to create Louise Village.
    -Each ruin was supplied with Summonite so that they might fulfill the last part of their duty, which is to protect this village's treasure.

Rif: Does that mean she took it?

Tram: Before you go jumping to conclusions, Anise had taken Magdorad in order to save this village…
    -I still believe that, even now.

Rif: (face falls) …

Tram: But after discovering the secrets of this village, I will not be able to simply send you back.

Rif: What are you saying? Shouldn't it be fine as long as we promise not to say anything?

Tram: Maybe if it was just Miss Murno, but you seem like you might give everything away by accident.

Rif: Excuse me?!

Tram: Well, now that we're done with story-time, let us proceed to the enchanted crystals in the floor below.
    -Magdorad is highly revered by our people, so please take care not to startle him. Now let us be off, Miss Murno.
    -(takes Murno's hand, much to Killfith and Rif's annoyance)

Murno: Wha, wai—!

Rif: Hold on, why does Murno has to go with you this time?!

Tram: You already won against me, so isn't it only fair you indulge me by letting me guide her?
    -Or if I'm not allowed to protect her, perhaps I shouldn't let you move ahead either?

Rif: What on earth does that have to do with anything?!

Tram: Anyway, let's head off.

Killfith: Tch, taking Murno again...! Hey, you, what are you standing around for!

Rif: This again... geez...!

Gallahan: Take care of yourself, young lady!
    -(departs)