Scenario:Aletheia - Rejuvenation for an Old Sage

Rejuvenation for an Old Sage

(Captain) manages to win a round against Aletheia during a swordplay training session. The sage chalks the loss up to his advanced age, however the defeat proves to gnaw at his psyche more than he may have anticipated. Landing on a certain island, Aletheia takes his leave for some alone time.

---

One day, at the request of (Captain), Aletheia participates in the captain's routine sword practice.

Aletheia: Hagh!

Aletheia: Gwahaha, that won't be enough to best me—

Aletheia: Urgh!

(Captain) takes advantage of an opening and delivers a sharp blow.

Aletheia: Aye, now that was a close one. I think I panicked there for a bit.

Aletheia: You're a whiz kid if I ever did see one, (Captain). I can't believe just how far you've come since our first meeting.

1. All thanks to your guidance, Aletheia.
2. This journey has made me stronger.

Choose: All thanks to your guidance, Aletheia.

Aletheia: Ohoho, well hearing you say that to me so plainly is a little embarrassing.

Go to "Continue 1"

Choose: This journey has made me stronger.

Aletheia: Yes, I have been watching over you all this time. You have overcome many trials and tribulations, and you seem to have grown stronger and more resilient.

Continue 1

Aletheia: In any case, you have a natural talent. Or maybe it is I—

Aletheia: Oh, ah... never mind. Let's call it here for today, shall we? We can pick it back up tomorrow.

The next day. (Captain) and Aletheia are training together once more.

Aletheia: Urgh!

Much like the previous day, (Captain) is able to pierce Aletheia's defenses.

One thing is different this time, however.

Aletheia: ...!

(Captain)'s attack sends Aletheia's sword flying from his hands. It becomes embedded in the soil nearby.

Lyria: W-wow! I can't believe you've managed to disarm the Aletheia!

Aletheia: ...

Vyrn: He's not using his usual sword though. Any reason for that?

Aletheia: No, my choice of blade has nothing to do with it.

Aletheia: I suppose that ultimately, it's hard to win against the passage of time.

A somber look overtakes Aletheia's visage as he nods toward (Captain).

Aletheia: Until now, I've followed my own path and have never tried to pass on my skills and wisdom to others.

Aletheia: I didn't even make an effort to pass them on to my own son, Lucius. I parted ways with him, focusing instead on continuing to hone my own skills.

Aletheia: In the end—that path; my journey—was it all really worth it? I cannot help but ponder it lately.

Aletheia: I came to this realization after losing a fight with Lucius the other day.

Aletheia: An old tree can never bloom forever. It will eventually wither...

Aletheia: I have forgotten such a matter of course.

Aletheia: How arrogant I have been, to not have shared these fruits with others. Perhaps it is time I trimmed these branches and uproot...

Aletheia: The saplings around me seem plenty hearty enough.

1. Are you planning on leaving us?

Choose: Are you planning on leaving us?

Vyrn: Hey, hey, wait up now. This is all so sudden... You're not soundin' like the usual Aletheia at all.

Lyria: He's right! We have so much traveling left to do together, Aletheia!

Aletheia: You all...

Aletheia: I'm sorry, that was a bit of a sob story, eh? Please forget about it.

An uncomfortable air hangs about the group as they make their way back to the Grandcypher.

The next day, the crew stops on a certain island.

Aletheia: (Captain), please allow me a bit of leave.

Aletheia appears listless as he departs the airship.

Lyria: It doesn't seem like Aletheia's mood has improved much since then...

Vyrn: Yeah, I'm definitely a little worried about him...

(Captain) watches with a concerned look as the sage makes his way off into the distance.

After placing some distance between himself and the Grandcypher, Aletheia finds himself within the confines of a certain forest.

Aletheia: Hm... Something about this place... seems familiar.

Aletheia: Somehow, I remember the days of my youth, and my training...

Aletheia sits down at the base of a tree and begins to meditate in an effort to control his racing mind.

Aletheia: (Yes, this would do me some good every once in a while.)

Aletheia: (The rustling of the leaves... The soft chirps of the insects... I can feel my senses become yet honed...)

Aletheia: (It was at a time such as this when I received the call for help...)

Rejuvenation for an Old Sage: Scene 2

Aletheia recalls a time when, at the request of a fleeing young woman, he defeated a group of bandits attacking a village, only to find out that the bandits were targeting him all along. Similar events unfold when he encounters an elderly woman and a young boy fleeing from a nearby village. He comes to realize that once again, bandits were only in the vicinity to hunt for the sage in the first place. He begins to question if his journey and skills have come to manifest any kind of value, and if they are even worth passing on to future generations.

---

Aletheia: That was nigh on twenty years ago...

Aletheia: Leaving my family behind, I was a wanderer drenched in the stench of blood...

Aletheia: No matter the road or presumed destination, I would never cease to be assailed by assassins and hunters... Yes, it was on one of those days...

Aletheia: I met them...

Aletheia: Hm? That's...

Village Woman: Pant, pant...

Village Woman: Oh, are you a traveler? Please! You must help everyone... The village...

Aletheia: Please calm down, lass. What has happened?

Village Woman: Bandits have raided and occupied our village! I dare not think of what they will do next...

Aletheia: I see. Understood.

Aletheia: Worry not, I will go to your village and liberate it from their hands. I swear it.

Aletheia: Will you lead me there?

Village Woman: Ah, yes! This way!

Aletheia follows behind the woman as they make their way to the subjugated village.

Upon his arrival, Aletheia quickly vanquishes the bandits and delivers the village from an ill fate.

Aletheia: I remember it so clearly...

Aletheia: I'm the only one to blame for the village's hardships. The bandits were only in the forest to begin with because they were after my head...

Aletheia stares off into the distance, his face contorted with regret.

Aletheia: Abandoning my family... Bringing pain and destruction upon the innocent...

Aletheia: What good is my skill with the blade if it only serves to bring suffering upon others...

Aletheia: At this point, imparting my skills and so-called wisdom might just cause more harm than good...

Aletheia: Yes, perhaps I should go into hiding once more, this time abandoning the sword altogether—

???: This way, gramma! We have to get out of here!

Aletheia: (Hm? Those two... Is something amiss?)

Aletheia: Good people, is something wrong? Are you being chased?

Village Boy: It's bandits! They came to our village!

Village Boy: We were able to get away, so we're heading to the nearby town to get help!

Aletheia: I see.

Aletheia: There still remains quite a distance between here and the town. I'm afraid that any help from the town may not make it in time.

Aletheia: I will head to the village to dispose of the villains myself. How does that sound?

Village Boy: You... B-but you're so old...

Aletheia: Gwahaha! I may look it, but I know what I'm doing.

Aletheia: Let me show you the power of the Sage of the Sword!

Elderly Woman: Sage... Are you?

Aletheia: Let's make haste. I will proceed to the village, so can I ask you both to continue on your way to the town and call for reinforcements as planned? Just in case.

Elderly Woman: O-okay!

Bandit Grunt: Gehehe! Make sure to bag every last ounce of loot!

Aletheia: Drat, they've already made off with so much...

Aletheia: Taking them out one by one would be too slow... That leaves me one choice!

Aletheia: Thieves! Prepare yourselves, as the Sage of the Sword has come!

Aletheia hopes that his title will strike fear into the hearts of the bandits.

Bandit Leader: Huh? Sage of the Sword, you say?

Bandit Leader: Well I'll be damned, I can't believe he actually came!

Aletheia: What did you say? Explain yourself!

Bandit Leader: It's a well-known legend among the bandits around here! If you can defeat the sage who appears to protect this village, then you're the strongest bloke in all the skies!

Aletheia: The sage... appears?

Memories of the village he recalled while meditating under the tree come rushing back to Aletheia's mind.

Aletheia: I understand it now... So this village is the very same from that day. That sage, then...

Aletheia: It's my fault... again...

Aletheia: No matter for now... I'll be taking responsibility for that!

Bandit Leader: I don't care how old he is, let's rip him to shreds!

Aletheia: Come at me then! Even an old tree is not easy to fell!

Aletheia: And these fruits are not as sweet as you may hope!

Rejuvenation for an Old Sage: Scene 3

Aletheia goes to the village and vanquishes the bandits. As it is apparent that the village and the elderly woman are the same from his memories, Aletheia realizes he has now caused the village to be attacked twice. He tries to apologize, but the elderly woman instead thanks him for saving the village a second time, thus serving to remind the sage of the meaning behind his journeying. A few days later, while practicing swordplay with (Captain) once again, the sage demonstrates a renewed vigor and sense of purpose.

---

Aletheia: Haaa!

Bandit Grunt: Guah!

Bandit Leader: Gah!

Aletheia: This is your last chance for surrender. If you continue to resist me, I will show you no mercy.

Bandit Leader: Okay, okay! I get it! We'll stand down, so please...

Aletheia: Very well. But you must promise me one more thing.

Aletheia: Show your faces around these parts no more. And tell all of your comrades that the village sage legend is nothing but a silly, made-up tale. Understood?

Aletheia: If you can't do that, then perhaps I'll have you all bloom as blood-red flowers yourselves.

Bandit Leader: Wh-whatever you saaay!

Shaken to their very souls at Aletheia's words, the bandits depart the village in a panic.

Aletheia: I think I managed to be quite scary. I do believe they've learned their lesson.

Elderly Woman: That skill with the blade... There can be no mistaking it...

Village Man: A-amazing! You really are like the sage from the legend!

Aletheia: Gwahaha! Well, that's likely because I am.

Village Man: Huh? You?

Aletheia: And my lady, have we met?

Elderly Woman: Ah, I guess you wouldn't recognize me. It was so long ago, after all.

Elderly Woman: All those years ago, I happened upon you and requested your help as I was fleeing the village.

Aletheia: ...!
You're...

Elderly Woman: To think that fate would reunite me with the sage once more!

Aletheia: I'm sorry, for I deserve none of your admiration.

Aletheia: It was because of me that such devastation befell the village on that day.

Aletheia is wrought with a feeling of guilt, but the elderly woman shakes her head lightly and smiles.

Elderly Woman: Please raise your head. No matter what may have been the case, the fact remains that you saved us all through your power alone.

Elderly Woman: You are a hero to us, Sage of the Sword.

Aletheia: ...

Aletheia: (I see... So my skills with the blade may have served a purpose yet.)

Aletheia: If you are able to say as much, then perhaps there was some value in my journey after all.

Vyrn: Hey, you nasty thugs! We've come to kick your butts—

Vyrn: H-huh? Is this the right village?

Aletheia: Ah, well if it isn't the crew. What brings you here?

Village Boy: We brought them. We actually ran into them before we even got to the town...

Village Boy: Said that they were a skyfaring crew, so I asked for their help.

Vyrn: We can talk about that later! Where are the bandits now?

Aletheia: Gwahaha! You're just a tad late, my friend. I've taken care of them all.

Vyrn: You're kiddin'... Well, I guess I can believe that without any hesitation.

Aletheia: Oh stop, I still have a long way to go.

Village Boy: You defeated all of those bandits all by yourself? Just who are you...

Village Man: Haha, the legendary sage, no doubt!

Elderly Woman: Such humility... I was blessed to have been able to encounter someone such as you.

Saved by his heroic efforts, the villagers shower praise upon Aletheia.

(Captain) is the only one who can sense the nuance in the sage's words.

A few days have passed since the incident. (Captain) and Aletheia are sparring once more.

(Captain) moves to take advantage of an opening once more, however...

Aletheia: Hagh!

Aletheia keeps up his guard and overwhelms the captain.

Aletheia: I hope I didn't bruise ya too badly, (Captain). Looks like I really do still have it in me.

Aletheia extends his hand to help (Captain) up. The captain brings up the sage's words from the village.

"I still have a long way to go." These were not words of humility, but of self-confidence.

Aletheia: Oho, sharp as ever I see, (Captain).

Aletheia: It is as you say. It had been so long since I was able to utilize the strength and ability I've accumulated throughout all these years, and my swordplay was as brilliant as ever.

Aletheia: I thought that I was past my prime, and that this old tree was only destined to wither.

Aletheia: I couldn't have been more wrong. Turns out there are still a few buds left within me just waiting to bloom.

Aletheia: There's no time for wallowing while I've yet still so much life within me.

Aletheia: So with that being said, I don't mind if you keep accompanying me on my journey.

1. I'll be taking the lead, just you wait!

Choose: I'll be taking the lead, just you wait!

Aletheia: Gwahaha! Well said!

Aletheia: I'll be looking forward to the very day that you can.

Aletheia has found a new sense of purpose in wielding the blade. The clouds of doubt brought on from his past journey are cleared.

Thus, the legend of the Sage of the Sword will continue to be written for much time to come.