Man of War
Man of WarSummary
The prince reels when Valyx questions his purpose, but the approach of a new wave of fiends leaves him little time to contemplate. Thinking will not keep people safe—only action can do that.
Dialogue
???: ......
Euden: Valyx!
Valyx: ...Euden.
Euden: Why have you come here? I can't believe you would do this willingly.
Valyx: Believe or don't as you see fit. The truth of it remains.
Euden: You never had patience for injustice before this. Please, withdraw your men. We pose no harm to the people—you must sense that.
Valyx: I sense only plots within plots from you. For if your purpose is not harm, then what exactly IS it? You sit in this castle amassing a mighty force. Would you have me believe you have no intentions of using it?
Elisanne: We're not plotting anything. We're just providing a home for people who have been displaced by war.
Valyx: A shelter for the weak and broken? Perhaps today, but what of the morrow? What do you intend this gathering of yours to become in the end? A charity to shelter the wounded? A collection of mean bandits? This collusion may be aimless now, true, but in time it will find form as a movement in earnest. The Empire will not suffer a potential threat—not even one ignorant of itself.
Euden: Valyx...
Valyx: My men are tired from the fight, so I will withdraw for now. But know that my eye will be ever upon you until you make your nature plain.
Ranzal: Don't hurry back! I'm in no rush for another personal visit from an Empire general.
Euden: ...Guys? What IS our purpose here?
Cleo: Euden?
Ranzal: Danger's passed for now, so why the long face, Euden?
Euden: I'm thinking about what Valyx said. He's right—we have no clear purpose as we are now. That's why we feel powerless, and why hope is so elusive. There's no way to save Zethia right now, so what are we fighting for?
Elisanne: Your Highness? Ranzal? I've news to report. More fiends, I'm afraid. They're tearing the nearby villages apart.
Ranzal: Looks like grapplin' with the big questions will have to wait, Euden.
Euden: Don't worry—I won't let my doubts keep us from defending what we must.