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