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)

April Fool's Prank

(Rif wins the match with Tram)

Rif: I won! I did it, Murno!

Murno: Rif... Thank goodness…

Tram: I can't believe I lost... I guess I'll finally have to admit that potato dumplings are not suitable bait for fishing.

Rif: Huh?! No, just because you lost, you don't have to go that far.
    -Besides, I use potato dumplings as bait all the time! It's not as good as using lobsters or clams, though.

Tram: Haha... we sure know some high-class fish, don't we.

Gallahan: Easy for you to say. If I don't use a wooden fishing pole, I can't catch anything because the power meter goes too fast!

Rif: Speaking of that, do we eat the fish after we catch them or do we sell them?

Tram: That's a good question. They always seem to turn into points after I catch them.
    -Although perhaps the fisherman at the pond simply uses a point system to measure how much you earned per fish.

Killfith: See there, Murno?

Murno: Yes, they really do have a lot of pointless arguments.

Tram: Come to think of it, I wonder why he sits there and lets us use lobster as bait. Does he do that for everyone?

Murno: If that's true, all the fishing being done must be devastating to the local economy.

Tram: Not to mention all the fishing necessary to obtain lobsters and clams to use as bait. By the way, do you think Magdorad eats lobster?

(Group exclamation points)

Rif: Magdorad is the one Anise summoned before, right? Are you suggesting we use lobster to lure him out of Anise's clutches?

Tram: Oh my, no, I was just wondering aloud if he might like it as a treat.
    -But unlike the Phantom Dragon, Magdorad doesn't seem to do so well in water, so perhaps not.
    -I have to find out what kind of food he likes best.

Rif: Are you planning to use him somehow?

Tram: Before you go jumping to conclusions, I would never abuse my powers as a Summoner in such a way.
    -I would only tie the food to a string and dangle it in front of his face so I could get rides everywhere.

Rif: …

Tram: Don't give me that look. Do you have any idea how trying it is to have to walk everywhere?

Rif: Actually, yes. Even though there's a train station at my home town, I can't afford to take it.

Tram: I wish we had a train station in Louise Village. I hate being stuck in the same place all the time.

Rif: Well, you could, you know, leave.

Tram: Anyway, shall we go find a suitable snack for Magdorad?
    -Dragons are highly revered by our people, largely because they often have an intelligence equal to or sometimes greater than our own... so we'll be the talk of the town once they see me and Murno riding around on one!
    -(takes Murno's hand, much to Killfith and Rif's annoyance)

Murno: Why me—?!

Rif: Yeah, why does Murno get to ride on Magdorad? I want to ride on a dragon!

Tram: But you already defeated Magdorad, so there's no way he'll let you get on his back.
    -Besides, Murno's way cuter.

Rif: Hey, I'd be cute if I were a blond!

Tram: Good luck with that.
    -(leaves with Murno)

Killfith: Tch, taking Murno again...! Hey, you! Quit dragging your feet before I drop you off another cliff!

Rif: Why me?

Gallahan: Good luck with that.

//Happy April Fool's Day!//