The Sylvan Archer

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Chapter 2 / 2-1

The Sylvan Archer

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Summary

The prince and his fellow fugitives have a run-in with a brash young sylvan named Luca whose village is under attack from the Empire. They team up and hurry to the village to intervene.

Dialogue

SYS: Euden and his companions have become fugitives from the Royal Guard. Several days pass as they are harried by soldiers and fiends alike...

Euden: *sigh*

Notte: You look bad, Euden. You wanna rest for a bit?

Ranzal: Yeah, cheer up! I mean, sure, the kingdom's turned into an evil empire and our lives have all basically been ruined...

Ranzal: But whenever I feel low, I look up at the clouds 'n' remember I don't have to be blue... That's the sky's job!

Cleo: Ugh.

Cleo: I think you need to dig a little deeper for words of inspiration.

Ranzal: Aw, come on! That was great!

Euden: Don't worry, everyone. I'm fine. I just wish we had some sort of plan.

???: Halt!

Ranzal: They've found us, and they got an archer! Everyone, down!

???: If you're smart, you won't move a muscle, because I never miss.

Notte: Look at those ears... He's a sylvan!

Notte: And he looks seriously hurt, too!

Elisanne: I think it's safe to assume a sylvan would never do Harle's bidding.

Elisanne: Easy, friend. You look like you're about to fall over there.

???: Nngh... You imperial vermin did this! You and your dragons!

Euden: Did you say ＂dragons＂?

???: I'd never have lost to them if they'd fought fair!

???: I'd still have my little sister, and you wouldn't see...a scratch on me...

Ranzal: He's out cold. What's our play here, Euden?

Euden: We can't just leave him here; I need to know what he meant by ＂dragons.＂ Can someone heal him?

Cleo: I know a bit of the restorative arts, even if my power pales next to Zethia's.

Euden: Thanks, Cleo.

???: Arrrgh... Wh-where am I?

Euden: Are you all right?

Euden: We've healed your wounds, but you should keep still.

???: You're...those people from before. Why did you help me?

???: You're not with the Empire?

Ranzal: We're WANTED by the Empire.

Ranzal: What'd they do to ya, anyway? You look like nine kinds'a hell.

???: They attacked us for no reason.

???: We were just going about our lives, when— *cough* Argh...

Cleo: Sit still, or else I shall cast tranquilizing magic on you. It's for your own good.

Cleo: Tell us everything that happened. Begin with your name.

Luca: I'm Luca. My village and the kingdom have always left each other be.

Luca: I heard about all the political shake-up but assumed things would stay the same.

Luca: Until that snake came along with his dragon and ordered us to bend the knee to the emperor.

Luca: He said he was some prince— sixth in line for the throne.

Euden: Emile...

Luca: We refused, of course, at which point he threatened to destroy the village. So I lunged at him, and...and I was winning!

Elisanne: No, you weren't. Only a fool would challenge a dragon.

Cleo: You lost and washed up by the side of the lake.

Luca: What? No! I fought valiantly! ...Er, by my reckoning.

Ranzal: Well, sounds like ya had a rough time. But now it all makes sense.

Ranzal: When we bumped into Emile and his army, they musta been comin' here to invade yer village.

Cleo: Then the Dyrenell Empire has returned in more than name, for they were merciless curs who tortured man and dragon alike.

Cleo: The demon worshippers struck fear in all who crossed their path. Why would the king resurrect such a detested name?

Ranzal: Uh, to scare people, probably. And I'd say it's workin'!

Ranzal: No better way to get folks to toe the line than sayin', ＂Hey, remember those guys what slaughtered half the world?＂

Elisanne: That's why they want to destroy your village. They want to make an example.

Luca: I don't care what their reason is. They'll pay for all of this.

Luca: I can't stay here a moment longer. I need to help my people.

Cleo: You NEED to rest.

Euden: Luca, you won't be any help to your people if you're dead. Let us go with you.

Luca: And put you face-to-face with that dragon? I don't think so.

Luca: I don't want you on my conscience, too.

Euden: Emile is using his dragon to torture innocent people. That affects all of us.

Euden: But we can stop him together.

Euden: And more to the point, I'm sick and tired of running away.

Euden: I need to confront him and find out who has taken my father's place on the throne.

Luca: Wait... Who ARE you?

Euden: I'm Euden. Emile's younger brother, and seventh in line for the throne.

Luca: Holy pine nuts! You're the traitor they're all looking for!

Notte: Bzzt! Wrong! Lies!

Notte: Don't believe a word those spiders say.

Luca: Oh, I don't. Now that I've gotten a closer look at you, I can see in your eyes that you're all honest folk.

Luca: I accept your help, Euden. Gratefully.

Luca: Now follow me, everyone. We have a dragon to confront!

Euden: Wait. You're going to trust us, just like that?

Luca: Ha ha! The elder said it best. ＂When the wicked brand traitors, that's when you know who to trust.＂

Luca: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Now, are we a team or what?

Euden: We are, Luca. And thank you. Now let's get to your village!