(Tir, Gremio, Pahn, and Cleo head back to the McDohl household.) Pahn: Finally, home sweet home. Gremio: Young Master, I'll prepare some food right away. (Later, Pahn, Cleo, and Tir are eating in the dining room.) Pahn: Phew! I'm stuffed. Sure beats the dried meat we've been eating. Finally some food fit for humans. Cleo: What are you talking about? You'd eat anything to fill your stomach. Pahn: You've got a point there. Ha, ha, ha, ha! (Gremio enters.) Gremio: Young Master, I've made some tea. ****EXTRA***** Cleo: Young Master, you must miss your father. Tir: *Not so much. *I guess I'm... a bit lonely. *Cleo's here, so I'm fine. /----- Tir: Not so much. Cleo: You're a grown man now. How I'd like to show you to Master Teo. ----- Tir: I guess I'm... a bit lonely. Cleo: Well, I can't quite be a surrogate mother to you, but if you're lonely, Cleo here... ----- Tir: Cleo's here, so I'm fine. Cleo: Young Master, where did you learn such language? Pahn! Was it you? /---- Cleo: It sure is raining a lot. Pahn: Young Master, it's kind of disturbing, isn't it, how so many people are saying bad things about the Imperial Army. Cleo: You're right. Compared to the days when we won the War of Succession, the Army's reputation has gone down the drain. Gremio: That's because of shady characters like Kraze and Kanaan doing whatever they like. Pahn: I wonder how long I'll have to work for Kraze? Gremio: Ted's late. He said he'd be right back. The stew's getting cold. *****PLOT***** (Tir goes downstairs, and finds Ted lying on the floor, just inside.) Ted: Uhhhhhh... (Gremio rushes downstairs.) Gremio: Young Master, what in the... Cleo! Pahn! Give us a hand! (Cleo and Pahn appear.) Pahn: Ted! What happened? Cleo: All this blood. And this wound, it's not natural. Magic? Gremio: What are you doing? Bring him in immediately. Young Master, give us a hand. Tir: *Help *Don't help /----- Tir: Help (Gremio steps forward.) Gremio: Ready? Put your hand on my shoulder and... heave ho... ----- Tir: Don't help Gremio: Young Master! Don't just stand there! Cleo: Take it easy on him. Look what's happened to his best friend. He's in shock. Can you blame him? I'll help. Young Master, let me through. (She steps forward to help.) /----- (They are assembled in Cleo's bedroom, with Ted lying in bed.) Cleo: What happened? Was he attacked by thugs on his way back from the palace? But then, why would he have a magic wound? Pahn: He's coming around. (Ted turns over.) Ted: Uhhh... ohhh... where am I? Where are they? The Imperial Guard, aren't they here yet? Help me Tir. Gremio: Relax. Everything's fine. Tell us what happened after you calm down. Ted: Gremio, I... (Flashback sequence. Ted and Kanaan are in the palace, waiting outside a room where Kraze is talking to Windy.) Ted: Hurry up, will you. I'm starving. Kanaan: Keep quiet and wait. Commander Kraze is seeing Lady Windy now. (Kraze exits, and turns to Ted.) Kraze: All right, Ted. Follow me. Ted: OK, OK. (He follows Kraze inside, and stands before Windy.) Windy: It's been a while, hasn't it, little man. You haven't changed a bit in 300 years. I'm envious. (Kraze and Kanaan block the door.) Ted: You! You're that witch! Windy: Well now, you remember me, do you? That pleases me. Of course you've never left my mind for a moment. Now give me that rune you have in your right hand. (Ted backs away.) Ted: No way! I'd rather... (He backs away further.) Windy: What are you doing?? (Ted turns away and raises his right hand.) Ted: It's the Cursed Rune, the "Soul Eater." Its power... (Windy steps forward.) Windy: Don't be a fool. If you use that here, you'll destroy yourself too. (Power emanates from Ted's hand, and the flashback ends.) Ted: Tir, please... Pahn: Hey Ted. Gremio: He's passed out again. Pahn: What is going on here? It seems the Imperial Guard was after him. But how can that happen... (Gremio steps up to Pahn.) Gremio: What are you accusing Ted of? He's a good boy! Pahn: I don't know, Cleo. Maybe we'd better contact the Imperial Guard. (Gremio advances on Phan, making him back up.) Gremio: Why? Your best friend would never do anything to harm the Empire! Why should we call the Guard? Pahn: But we can't be sure. We can't cause problems while Master Teo is away. Cleo: Well then, we'll wait until Ted wakes up. (Later, Tir, Gremio, and Cleo are waiting in the room, while Pahn stands just outside the doorway.) Gremio: Don't worry. Ted would never get into trouble. Cleo: The "Soul Eater" that Ted mentioned. I've heard of it somewhere. (Upon talking to Pahn, he backs up slightly and turns around.) Pahn: Young Master... Ted's fever isn't getting any better. I'm going to go wake up the shopkeeper and buy some medicine. (Pahn leaves, and Tir reenters the room.) Gremio: It won't stop raining. Cleo: It's a nasty rain. Gives me the shivers. Ted: Uhhhhh... Cleo: He's waking up... Ted: N... .......... I'm sorry... to be a bother. Gremio: Forget it. What did you mean by "Soul Eater"? Ted: Tir, please... Will you do something for me? Tir: *What is it, Ted? *No. /----- Tir: No. Ted: Please, Tir. A big favor... Tir: No. Ted: All right. I'm always asking you for "big favors", but this is the last one. Please... Tir: No. Ted: Please, Tir. I'm in pain. Don't tease me... /----- Tir: What is it, Ted? Ted: Tir, take off my right glove... (Tir does so.) Gremio: What's this? Cleo: Not one of the 27 True Runes? Ted: Yes, it is. This one is called the "Soul Eater"... the Cursed Rune... The source of all this trouble, and the reason the Court Magician - Windy - is after me... Gremio: Why? Why Lady Windy? Why would she do such a thing? Ted: I don't know why, but that witch wants this rune. I've been wandering the world for 300 years, trying to escape from her. I never thought she'd find me here. My mistake was using the rune's power at Mt. Seifu. Cleo: Is this what you used to blow away the Queen Ant? Ted: Tir........, with this wound, I'll never escape from that witch. I hate to bring friendship into this. And knowing it will bring unhappiness. But... But....., you're the only one! Please! Please protect this rune! This Cursed Rune must never fall into the hands of Windy. You're the only one I can entrust this to. Please, take it.... Please take this rune. Tir: *I'll take it, Ted. Don't worry. *No. /----- Tir: No. Ted: You're the only one... I can depend on. Tir: No. Ted: Please.... Please don't let my 300 years of suffering be for nothing. Tir: No. Ted: Tir.... You're the only friend I have... Please... take this rune. /----- Tir: I'll take it, Ted. Don't worry. Ted: Thank you, Tir. This rune... may bring you suffering. If it does, blame me. But you must never...., never let it fall into Windy's hands. Give me your right hand, Tir. (Tir does so, kneeling beside the bed, and a bright light engulfs him.) Ted: And now.... I... can... Relax. (There is the sound of a door opening. Gremio looks around in alarm.) Gremio: Y-yes? Cleo: Out front. Follow me, Gremio. Gremio: Yes, Cleo. (They leave.) Ted: Tir... For 300 years, I never had a good night's sleep. But now. I think. I can... Ted: ......... (Tir exits Ted's room and goes to the front of the house, where Kraze, Kanaan, and several soldiers are facing off with Cleo and Gremio. With them is Pahn.) Kraze: So, Young Master McDohl is here too. Give us Ted. We know he's here. Loyal Pahn here told us. (Cleo steps forward.) Cleo: Pahn! You! (Gremio steps forward.) Gremio: Why, Pahn? How can you do this? (Pahn faces away from them.) Pahn: I can't allow any trouble to happen while Master Teo's away. I can't lose his trust in me. Please understand. Kraze: Drag Ted out of there. (Two soldiers advance, but Cleo steps towards Kraze.) Cleo: I won't allow it, Kraze. No one, even a Commander of the Imperial Guard can enter Master Teo's house without just cause. (Gremio steps forward with her.) Gremio: That's right! I swear on my hatchet I won't let you pass. (Behind them, Ted enters the room, pushing Tir aside so the soldiers can see him.) Ted: W-wait. Kraze: So you're giving up, huh? (Ted turns to Tir.) Ted: Tir..., they think... I still have the "Soul Eater". I'll be the bait... while you escape. Gremio: Then what about you, Ted. Tir: *No. *All right. /----- Tir: No. Ted: Don't worry about me. I'll get away too... Tir: No. Ted: I trust you. So you must trust me too... Tir: No. Ted: Don't disappoint me. I know that you... You can understand how I feel. /----- Tir: All right. Gremio: Young Master! With that wound, Ted will never get away. Cleo: Quiet, Gremio. Young Master knows it too. But he must keep his promise to Ted by leaving right away. Right, Young Master? Ted: H-hurry! Gremio: I understand. Young Master, let's escape through the back of the kitchen. (Gremio leads Tir and Cleo through a back door from the kitchen. Ted looks after them.) Ted: Thank you. Tir.... In 300 years, you were my only... My only true friend. (Outside, it's raining hard as Tir, Gremio, and Cleo make their way out of Gregminster.) *****NPCs***** Guard in front of McDohl house: You! You're a suspicious character. Man by palace gates: You! Man by city gates: Apparently there were traitors in Gregminster. Maybe you're... *****PLOT***** (Inside the inn...) Marie: Oh my. (She rushes over to him.) Marie: Why, aren't you the young Master McDohl? What in the... come on in. (Upstairs...) Marie: What's going on here? Imperial soldiers running around, while you come scurrying in soaking wet. What the... Oh well, forget it. You probably can't tell me about it. Don't worry. You're welcome to hide out here. I'll put it on your tab. Gremio: Thank you so much. (Marie goes downstairs.) Gremio: Young Master, we'd better make ourselves scarce for a while. But good heavens, I never thought we'd ever... Cleo: I think our only alternative is to travel north and ask Master Teo for help. For now, we'd better figure out a way to escape Gregminster. (If you try to go downstairs...) Gremio: Young Master, try not to wander about. (Downstairs in the bar...) Man: Go away. I'm exhausted after manning the lookout all night. Viktor: Uh oh. I was so hungry, I just couldn't help myself! What shall we do? Guard: I just can't believe that General Teo's son was a member of the rebels. Marie: Young Master, you shouldn't wander about. (If you try to leave, a man and an armored guard enter, nearly knocking Tir down.) Man: Whoa... ouch! Watch where you're going, you little runt. I get called to duty on a holiday, sent out to search for someone all night, finally find a moment to catch some rest... and you come along! Tir: *Shut up, you fool. *(We'd better try to be inconspicuous.) /----- Tir: Shut up, you fool. Man: What kind of language is that? We're Imperial soldiers, your protectors! ----- Tir: (We'd better try to be inconspicuous.) Man: Halt, you little runt. Who do you think you are, bumping into me and not apologizing. What kind of upbringing did you have? /----- (He pauses.) Man: Hey, wait a minute. You look familiar... (Tir backs away, and Gremio and Cleo come rushing downstairs.) Gremio: Y-y-young Master, are you allright? (Cleo steps up to the man.) Cleo: Hey, you! Who do you think you are! Man: Who are you? And what's this "Young Master" business? (The guard steps towards Tir and Gremio.) Guard: You! Show me his face. You look like that fugitive, the McDohl kid. (Gremio steps forward.) Gremio: What did you say? Cleo: Any more of a fuss, and we're in big trouble. (Gremio turns to Tir.) Gremio: Young Master, get away while we hold them off. Cleo: Guess we have no choice. Here we go! (Viktor enters from the bar, and everyone turns to look at him.) Viktor: That's enough, young fella. You too, Imperial big shots. Use your heads. Would fugitives from the law still be hanging around here? They couldn't be that stupid. Man: I-I suppose you're right. We just wanted to be sure.. Viktor: Stop it, you're scaring them. Leave it to me to kick them out. Guard: Hey, wait a minute... (Viktor leads Tir, Gremio, and Cleo outside, and the two turn to each other.) Man: Don't worry. There's no reason why we should be so loyal to the Empire. (Marie jumps.) Marie: Hey! It's that guy! (Outside, Viktor leads the others behind the inn, where they pause for a moment.) Gremio: Thank you very much. Viktor: No big deal. I was just wondering how to pay for my meal, and... Gremio: You mean... Cleo: You did that just to bilk the... Viktor: Come, come, let it go, eh? Well then, thanks for helping us out. (Viktor takes off. The city is still swarming with guards, and they eventually find Viktor again in the north part of the city.) Viktor: What's the matter? You look troubled. Heh heh, I know who you are. That rebel McDohl kid, right? Gremio: We are not rebels! Viktor: I couldn't care less either way. Incidentally, how do you plan to escape this place? I have an idea, if you care to listen. I am used to this kind of thing. Interested? Tir: *I'm not sure I can trust you. *All right. Help us out. /----- Tir: I'm not sure I can trust you. Gremio: I agree, Young Master. I can't trust him either. Viktor: Oh, come on. Tir: I'm not sure I can trust you. Cleo: We can't trust him, yet we have no alternative. Viktor: Exactly. You're a smart one, young lady. Tir: I'm not sure I can trust you. Viktor: Well, OK then. Do as you like. /----- Tir: All right. Help us out. Viktor: leave it to me. But I have one condition. Gremio: Here we go. Viktor: It's no big deal. If you succeed in escaping, I'd like you to meet someone. A small request, right? So it's a deal. Let's hurry. First we must go to the palace gates. Don't worry, I won't hand you over to the Imperials. [Viktor joins the entourage!] (When they get to the gates...) Viktor: Well then, I'll go talk to them. Just relax and wait here. (He looks around, goes and speaks with the guard, glances around again, then returns to them.) Viktor: Everything's OK. Make sure you hide your faces. (The guard wanders up by the bushes lining the street.) Man: Sure is hot around here. Think I'll get in the shade... (They pass through the gates, then pause.) Gremio: Phew! We did it. I thought my heart would burst. Cleo: How did you do that? Viktor: No big deal. I just gave him a little gift. Imperial soldiers act tough, but money's their weakness. That's the state of things in the Imperial Capital. Corruption is everywhere. Everything's about to come apart at the seams. Cleo: That's too bad. Gremio: Say, how did you bribe him? You just told us you had no money. Viktor: Why should I use my own money to help you get away? (Gremio looks around in shock.) Gremio: What do you mean? Hey, my wallet! When did you...? (Viktor hands it back to him.) Viktor: Here you go. I suggest you keep a better eye on it. And now for our little promise. You haven't forgotten, have you, little fella? (Gremio practically throws a fit.) Gremio: It's Master Tir! Viktor: Ok, so it's Master Tir. I'd like you to meet someone in Lenankamp. Agreed? Tir: *It's a promise. *I've never heard of Lenankamp. /----- Tir: It's a promise. Viktor: Fine. Now let's get out of here. Lenankamp is due south of here. ----- Tir: I've never heard of Lenankamp. Viktor: Ignorant of the real world, eh, Master? It's a quick trip south. Let's get going. /----- (They leave Gregminster.)