The Atoner

The Atoner

• Related Event: Kindness and Captivity/November 2019
• Release Date: November 13, 2019
• Featured Characters: Melsa, Sylvia, Sarisse

Dialogue

Please note that this story contains spoilers for the "Kindness and Captivity" event. The prince's castle is just through this forest, Sylvia. We owe the prince so very much. To think we will now be able to rally around him! Well, this is the perfect time, now that our home has finally recovered from the damage it suffered at the Empire's hands. Now let's get moving and repay that debt! Goodness! I haven't laid eyes on this castle in quite some time. I do hope the prince finds himself well. And I suppose I will see Sarisse again, too. I imagine you will. How exciting! Come, let's get inside already. Wait! Melsa? Why have you stopped? I'm just...scared. After all I have done... What...? Melsa...what's going on? ...I'm sorry, Sarisse. I'm sorry, everyone. Why would you say that? Why are you apologizing? You're confusing me, Melsa... You're making it sound like this is your fault somehow... Every now and then, I see the face Sarisse made back then... I deceived everyone. That's a fact, and I can never take it back. Forgive me, Melsa. This is all my fault. Had I not been captured by the Empire, you would not have suffered so. Don't say that. All that I did, I did of my own free will. I have to atone for the mistakes I made. It doesn't matter how long it takes—I will keep at it until everyone forgives me! So that is how you intend to take responsibility for your actions, is it? Very well. In that case, I shall accompany you in seeing your resolve through. Melsa...? Melsa, is that you? Wait, that voice... Could it be?! Melsa! It IS you! Ohmigosh, Melsaaaaaa! S-Sarisse! Sarisse... I can't believe it... *sniff* Oh, I've missed you so much! You have NO idea how long I've been waiting for this! I missed you too, Sarisse! I'm so happy I could just EXPLODE! We have SO much to catch up on! How have you been? Did you have a rough time out there? How is Sylvia? Has the village gotten back on its feet? E-easy, Sarisse! I can only answer so many questions at once... Whoops! Sorry about that! Look at me, just shouting whatever pops into my head. I'm just jazzed you're here, I guess, 'cause now you and me can hang out and have tons of fun every single day! Every day...? Wait, no. Hold on. Huh? What's up? Why the long face? I'm just thinking that I need to stay focused and on task here... I did not come here for fun and frolic. I came here to atone for my sins. Wait, you're not talking about that whole "luring us into a trap" thing, are you? Because if that's all it is, don't sweat it! Heck, I pretty much forgot all about it, so I'm sure you're overthinking th— I am "overthinking" nothing! You don't think? All of you came to my rescue even after all the horrible things I did. There is no swaying me in this, Sarisse: I will atone for my sins and pay my debts! And I will do so for everyone in this castle—including the prince and you! Okay, okay! Sheesh, no need to get so fired up about all this. ...... Say, Melsa? What do you say you and me go for a walk? Now is not the time; I must go and explain to everyone how I feel! Yeaaaah, let's put a pin in that. If you show up with that scowly face, you're gonna send everybody running in fear! So let's take a break and reset your growly mood, all right? S-Sarisse, I... Ack! *siiigh* You aren't going to let this go, are you? Fine then, Melsa—just what do you intend to do to "repay your debts," anyway? Anything! Just tell me what to do, and I will see it done! ANYTHING? Okay, this is really going too far. Besides, it's not like you did all that bad stuff because you WANTED to. Even so, I have to do this or I will never be able to earn forgiveness. No matter what my reasons were, my sins will not simply wash away! Melsa... All right. You wanna atone and junk? Cool. I'm in. But that means you have to do whatever I think that requires, right? You have but to name it! Now please, what would you have me do?! I'm not going to just TELL you! Instead...you're gonna take a quiz. GUESS what it is that I want from you. Must we really do this in such a roundabout way? You bet your pants! Now come on. Make with the guessing already. Here's a hint: the way to repay me is something ONLY you can do! Something only I can do...? Ah! You want me to divine the weather! What? No. Why would I want that? Okay, lemme give you another hint... This is something you could do RIGHT here and RIGHT now if you wanted to. Hmm. Well, that eliminates chores or helping you hunt or the like... BZZZZZT! Sorry, you're out of time! Okay, one last hint... I am ready! ...You already know the answer. I told you the moment you showed up. When I showed up...? Wait, you don't mean... I'm just jazzed you're here, I guess, 'cause now you and me can hang out and have tons of fun every single day! TH-THAT was the answer?! Hmmmm? Did you figure it out? But I am supposed to atone! To repay you! Oh, I know. And this is what I want. Then the way I pay you back is... Yeeeeeees? By hanging out with you and having tons of fun every single day? Ding ding ding! We have a winner! It's fun, fun, fun, from here on out! Er, but that doesn't seem like atonement so much as...friendship. Of COURSE it is, you big goof! We're FRIENDS! Look, you can go bow and scrape and atone or whatever to everyone else, but it's gonna make things suuuper weird if you do that with me. Although honestly, I doubt there's a single person in this castle who wants you to do something like that. Nobody resents you, Melsa. No one's mad. We all understand you had no choice. So put away the hair shirt and the flagellation whip already, because it's only gonna make everyone uncomfortable. Goodness. Perhaps I was going about this all wrong... Heh. Well, you wouldn't be you if you didn't turn into a total stressball about something like that. Anyway, now that that's sorted, if you still REALLY want to apologize to everyone, we can start making the rounds. Luca's always looking for folks to hang with, and I know Cleo would love having someone to help out with the chores... Maybe starting good relationships is the best way for you to pay folks back. I understand now. Thank you, Sarisse. (I had it all wrong. There is so much more to atoning than what I envisioned.) (Forcing my guilt onto those around me is but another form of selfishness.) (Still, coming face to face with everyone and getting to know them will be...) (Well, it will be difficult for an introvert like myself. Still, that doesn't mean that I CAN'T make it happen!) (Especially when I have a great friend like Sarisse by my side!) You ready to go, Melsa? (There was a step I could never bring myself to make because I felt so weighed down by what I had done...) (But so long as Sarisse is with me, I know I can make that step!) Yeah! One...two...three! Sarisse, I'm very happy to be here and to be your friend. And I'm happy to have you. Welcome to the Halidom!