To Be Needed

Campaign: Return from Darkness

Chapter 13 / 4-1

To Be Needed

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Summary

When the prince tries to convince Ed to stay behind, Ed tells them how he was abandoned. Finally, the prince decides to let Ed help search for his missing brother, but as they near the building, the environment of the lake takes a turn and they are attacked by dragons anew!

Dialogue

Where's Ed?! Over there! Thank Ilia the child appears to be all right. Ed, wait! ...... It is too dangerous to go alone. Can you not simply return home and wait for us to finish this task? My home is where my brother resides.  ! He is my only family. Look, I understand that your brother is important to you. I really do. But— My father abandoned me when I was a child.  ?! But my brother said he needed me. That is why I must go to him. I see. That sounds very difficult. What would you think if our situations were reversed, Euden? Huh? If someone said you were not needed and cast you aside. What would you think? I suppose I've never really thought about that before... But if someone did tell me that, I suppose I'd look for some way to be useful so I could show this person they were wrong. The blood of the Alberian royal family runs in my veins, after all. And that means it's my duty to serve the people, no matter what form that takes. And what if you were not royalty? If I wasn't royalty?  ! Yes, say you were one of the smallfolk. A base person of no real consequence. And then, one day, people decided you were not needed. What would you think? Well, I... Honestly? I don't know. I suppose I would feel untethered, in a sense. Like I was sort of...losing myself? Anyway, that's enough of this talk, Ed. We'll go look for your brother together. Wait, ya serious?! I want to reunite Ed with his brother, and that's where we're headed. Plus... Well, I think I understand his feelings. I know what it's like to care for your siblings. I know how hard it can be. Well then, count me in! *sigh* Yer as soft a touch as ever. Fine, then. Let's do this thing. He would not be the prince we all know and love if he did any different. Yeah, siblings are important and all that. Good. Fine. But you still gotta stick close so ya don't get dead, okay, Ed? I understand. Thanks, everyone. And with that, let's be off! Well, we're a lot closer to that building, buuuut ummm... Great disgusting pondwater! Check out the lake! It is foul in both odor and appearance. Could its mana have been corrupted? The forest creatures seem antsy, too. It's like they're all scared of something. I sense no water dragon here. A lake of this size should have a dragon to safeguard its mana, yet I detect only a wet and barren waste. Whatever's going on here, I bet it has something to do with that facility. Fie! Dragons again! Two of 'em! Dammit all to hell, I think we just walked into a trap. If Phares is trying to stop us, he's going to be very disappointed. Let's defeat these dragons and keep Ed safe!