Scenario:Cain - The Dawn Will Break
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The Dawn Will Break
While flying along Nalhegrande's border, (Captain) is suddenly attacked by the Sword Hunter. Cain and Leona arrive just in time to help subdue the foe and retake Ichigo Hitofuri, but the restrained swordsman mocks Cain for treating it as a mere memento.
Cain is on the trail of the notorious Sword Hunter—a thief who stole Ichigo Hitofuri, the blade left to him by his late brother.
Through some cruel twist of fate, the man had snuck aboard the Grandcypher during its stop in Nalhegrande.
Vyrn: Hey! Who the heck are you, poppin' up outta nowhere! How'd you even get on board?
As a strange man suddenly attacks from the shadows, (Captain) draws in a sharp breath and assumes a defensive stance.
Sword Hunter: Hmm, your skill with a sword is decent. This will be quite the treat.
Sword Hunter: Someone of your caliber is surely worthy to cross blades with me!
Lyria: Watch out!
Leona: Haaah!
Sword Hunter: Ngh!
Cain: (Captain)! Are you all right?
Vyrn: Cain! And you too, Leona?
Cain: We'll explain later! First we need to stop that guy!
Sword Hunter: I don't know how you managed to find me, but you've come to reclaim the sword, I presume.
Sword Hunter: Fighting against such superior numbers is thrilling in itself. Come at me, all of you!
Leona: With pleasure!
The combined assault of Leona's spear, (Captain)'s sword, and Cain's firearm drives the Sword Hunter into a corner.
Sword Hunter: Hah. Hahaha. Hahahaha!
But even as his injuries mount and the tides turn against him, the man continues swinging his sword, laughing maniacally.
Cain: Haven't you had enough? I don't want to kill you!
Sword Hunter: Indulging in blood and battle is the sole purpose of my existence!
Sword Hunter: Now, take this!
Leona: ...!
Sword Hunter: You're mine!
Seizing the opening provided by a shallow cut, the Sword Hunter strikes with a deadly slash, aiming to sever Leona's neck.
However...
Leona: Hah!
Sword Hunter: ...!
Cain: Are you okay, Leo?
Leona: I'm fine. It's just a scratch.
Sword Hunter: You... You're Leona the Lioness, aren't you? How did you defend against that?
Sword Hunter: No one can ignore pain. Even a shallow wound like that should have created a momentary opening.
Leona: Too bad for you. After everything I've been through, pain doesn't really faze me.
After restraining the Sword Hunter, (Captain) and the crew listen as Cain explains the situation.
Sword Hunter: ...
Cain: So when we realized he must be on your ship, we rushed after you as fast as we could.
Cain: Reinhardtzar's piloting the ship we came on. Sorry for barging on board like that.
Vyrn: When did that guy even sneak in? I coulda sworn we locked everything up.
Cain: Either way, I'm glad we made it in time. I don't know what I would've done if something had happened to (Captain)...
Choose: You were worried about me?
Cain: Of course. I know you're tough, but who wouldn't worry in a situation like that?
Choose: I can handle this much.
Cain: Reliable as ever, I see. Still, you're important to me, (Captain).
Continue 1
Having recovered Ichigo Hitofuri from the Sword Hunter, Cain inspects it carefully and lets out a sigh of relief.
Cain: Thank goodness. This is my brother's sword, no doubt about it.
Sword Hunter: Hah. Haha...
Sword Hunter: Funny how you fuss over it now, after treating it so carelessly.
Cain: ...
What's that supposed to mean?
What's that supposed to mean?
The Dawn Will Break: Scene 2
Cain insists the blade serves as a reminder of his brother's death, but the man accuses him of relying on it not to forget before escaping with the sword once more. As the group prepares to give chase, they ask Cain about his downcast mood—and he confesses he is beginning to forget his brother.
Cain: You think I treat this sword badly? Is that how it looks?
Sword Hunter: No, it's a fact. A blade is meant to be entrusted with the wielder's life, not left as a relic for the dead.
Sword Hunter: By calling it your brother's sword, you're letting that masterpiece rot away. Why not pour your own passion into it and make it your own?
Leona: Seems pretty twisted to lecture someone about taking care of swords when you're out there murdering people to steal theirs.
Cain: I couldn't care less how much of a masterpiece this sword is or what it's worth to you.
Cain: For me, it serves as a reminder. So I never forget the fighting, the fall of the Torhid Kingdom, or my brother.
Cain: I have to carry it with me always—to keep the same tragedy from striking again.
Cain: That's why it stays my brother's sword.
Sword Hunter: Hah... Haha. Hahaha.
Sword Hunter: So you mean to say without the sword, you'd just forget?
Cain: What are you getting at?
Sword Hunter: That's all you amount to. Or rather, that's your true nature.
Cain: ...!
Sword Hunter: You claim that sword is a memento, but what you truly seek in it is your brother. Someone to discipline and guide you.
Sword Hunter: You need that reminder, that restraint. You're the type who falls apart without something keeping you in check.
Cain: No, I... I didn't mean it like that...
Cain: I let my brother die... so I can't forget. I'm the one who must never forget, no matter what!
Vyrn: Cain?
Leona: ...
Sword Hunter: Only you must never forget? That arrogance of yours is sickening.
Abel: Stop flattering yourself—
Cain: Ah...
Sword Hunter: Is refusing to make the sword your own and playing martyr to the dead your idea of atonement?
Cain: Shut up...
Sword Hunter: You're just using the dead as an excuse to neglect yourself—and by extension, the blade.
Cain: Shut up...
Sword Hunter: If you're just going to drift through life on autopilot, you might as well end it all here!
Leona: That's enough out of you!
With a grin, the Sword Hunter twists against the ropes, catching Leona's slash at an angle.
Rope and flesh tear together, allowing the man to break free of his bonds.
Leona: What!
Vyrn: He let himself get hit on purpose!
Sword Hunter: For a little off-the-cuff provocation, that was quite effective!
As Cain stands stunned, the Sword Hunter rushes him and snatches Ichigo Hitofuri away.
Sword Hunter: As I suspected, you're not worthy of this blade. I'll be taking it now.
Cain: No, give it back... Give it back!
Leona: Slippery bastard... But I don't need the element of surprise to beat you.
Driven back against the railing, the man quivers with delight at Leona's fury.
Sword Hunter: Ah, such exquisite bloodlust. What a treat.
Sword Hunter: But the mood's been spoiled somewhat. What say we change venues?
Leona: Like hell—
Just then, an airship flies past the Grandcypher, slicing through the tension with a deafening roar.
Without a moment's hesitation, the Sword Hunter hurls himself off the deck.
Lyria: Aah!
Pilot: Wh-what the!
Sword Hunter: Take the helm and do as I say.
Pilot: Eep!
Sword Hunter: I'll wait at that fortress for a single day! If you want to reclaim your sword, then come and kill me! Haha! Hahahahaha!
The man's crazed laughter echoes through the air as the airship carries him down toward the ancient fortress on the island below.
Vyrn: That guy's a total nutjob...
Leona: I'm sorry. It's my fault.
Leona: I just couldn't hold back after everything he said to Cain.
Vyrn: Yeah. If you hadn't stepped in, I woulda laid into him myself!
Vyrn: Yeah. Whatever the case, we're not lettin' him get away!
Continue 1
Cain: ...
Leona: Cain...
While concerned about Cain, who sits pale and shaken, (Captain) and company descend quickly toward the island.
After meeting up with Reinhardtzar, the crew fills him in on what had transpired.
Reinhardtzar: Hmph. That guy's a real piece of work.
Vyrn: The sword's important too, but I'm more worried about Cain. He's totally shut down.
Lyria: I've never seen him like this before. What should we do?
Cain: ...
Reinhardtzar: For crying out loud...
Reinhardtzar sits down next to Leona, meeting Cain's vacant gaze.
Reinhardtzar: Cain, I heard what happened. Including what that guy said to you.
Reinhardtzar: I told you something similar before, didn't I? To keep your pride and your wits about you.
Cain: ...
Reinhardtzar: Start by taking a deep breath and a good look around you. That's enough for now.
Leona: And it's not arrogant at all to want to remember someone you lost. That's ridiculous.
Leona: There's no shame in not being able to let go—
Cain: No, Leo. You've got it backward.
Cain: The truth is... I'm starting to forget about my brother.
Both: ...
Cain: As the world around me changed at a dizzying speed, not a day went by that I didn't think of him. That grief kept me moving.
Cain: But then... I got to take a swing at Gilbert, peace returned to Nalhegrande, and I carried out the promise my brother made when he was alive.
Cain: I guess I got complacent. Before I knew it, I stopped thinking about him. I didn't need to hold on to those memories anymore...
Cain lets out a weak laugh and hangs his head.
Cain: Even though everything I have now was built on his sacrifice, I've gotten so used to it that I'm starting to forget him...
Cain: Someone like me... doesn't deserve to go on living.
Watching their friend stare at the ground, the others are at a loss for words.
At last, (Captain) steps forward to break the silence.
The Dawn Will Break: Scene 3
Long driven by the sorrow of losing Abel, Cain despairs as peaceful times cause those memories to fade. But with encouragement from (Captain), Leona, and Reinhardtzar, he overcomes his grief and sets out alone for the fortress where his opponent awaits.
Cain: (Captain)?
(Captain) pulls out a familiar worn letter.
Cain: Is that... the letter from your father?
Choose: This has brought its share of hardships.
Choose: Thanks to this, I was able to meet you.
Vyrn: Yeah... Yeah, that's right.
Vyrn: (Captain)'s old man bein' gone was the spark for this adventure—not to mention plenty of near-death experiences...
Vyrn: But if none of that had happened, we wouldn't have this crew. And we never woulda met you either, Cain.
Lyria: No matter how things begin, there are always ups and downs along the road ahead.
Lyria: That's why I think the most important thing is to cherish the present.
Cain: ...
Cain: Still, that doesn't mean it's okay to just forget...
Seeing Cain distraught, Leona pulls him into a gentle embrace, wrapping him up in her arms.
Cain: Leo?
Leona: It's all right, Cain. You can let go. I'm sure that's what Abel would want too.
Cain: You can't possibly know that...
Leona: I do know. I was Abel's fiancee, and you're just as important to me as he was.
Leona: You kept moving forward despite the pain, while I couldn't even take a single step.
Leona: I dumped everything on you and just wallowed in my own grief, to the point it felt like I might be swallowed up by it completely.
Leona brushes her fingers over the wound the Sword Hunter had given her earlier.
Leona: I'm sure I'll always carry Abel with me.
Leona: He was just such a huge part of my life.
Leona: But you don't have to be the same, Cain. It's okay to be different. You're allowed to find something even more precious to you.
As Cain struggles to form a response, Reinhardtzar chimes in with obvious irritation.
Reinhardtzar: Honestly... You really are clueless when it comes to yourself, aren't you?
Reinhardtzar: You're not some selfless saint. Take it from someone who's seen you in action.
Reinhardtzar: Remember back on Merkmal Island, when you tried to trick me?
Reinhardtzar: Or when you pitched the idea of a republic and faced down that Istavion emissary like a pro?
Reinhardtzar: Think back—it wasn't all just for Abel. You were living your own life.
Reinhardtzar: Don't let some crazy sword freak mess with your head. That's not who you are!
Vivid memories of his days in the Idelva Kingdom come flooding back into Cain's mind.
Cain: Yeah... You're right.
Cain: I bet my brother would be thrown for a loop too if I said it was all for him.
Cain gazes absently at the sky for a moment before slapping his cheeks and rising to his feet.
Cain: Sorry for making you guys worry.
Cain: Come on—time to go get that sword back! My sword, that is!
Vyrn: Heck yeah! Now that that's settled, let's charge right into his stronghold!
Leona: He did say he'd be waiting at that fortress.
Cain: Fortress? Ah, that one.
Cain: ...!
Reinhardtzar: Skilled or not, he's just one guy. If we all take him on together, it'll be a piece of cake.
Vyrn: And if push comes to shove, we can ask the rest of the crew to lend a hand!
Cain: No, that would be a bad move. He's way too clever for that.
Vyrn: Huh?
Cain: He's cut from the same cloth as me... which means there's only one play here.
Sword Hunter: ...
Sword Hunter: So you've come.
Cain: Yo. Sorry to keep you waiting.
Sword Hunter: Let's skip the small talk. Where are your companions? Come on, hurry—I want to fight.
Sword Hunter: Did you bring along those two from before, or someone new? Maybe a warship or heavy artillery? I'll take on thousands of you if I have to—
Cain: Nope, it's just me. I don't want to get my friends caught up in this.
Sword Hunter: What?
The Sword Hunter looks around skeptically, but sure enough, there isn't another soul in sight.
Sword Hunter: What's your game here? I have no mercy for pests who wander in uninvited.
Cain: That's why I'm making a run for it.
Sword Hunter: You... What are you up to!
Cain: You actually cut down my bullet? I may not agree with your philosophy, but damn if you're not skilled.
Keeping up the casual banter, Cain dashes into the distance.
Sword Hunter: ...
Very well.
Very well.
Sword Hunter: You dare to turn your back on your opponent after stepping up to duel.
Sword Hunter: Such disrespect makes my blood boil. I'll slice you up like sashimi!
With slow, deliberate steps, the Sword Hunter sets off in pursuit of Cain.
The Dawn Will Break: Scene 4
Through tactical provocations and retreats, Cain lures the Sword Hunter into a trap using the fortress's self-destruct seal and reclaims Ichigo Hitofuri once again. Declaring that "life goes on," he refuses to grant the man's wish for death and makes a decision to continue traveling alongside (Captain) as a skyfarer.
Cain: Huff, puff...
Cain runs desperately across the courtyard, heading for the corridor at the end.
Cain: Whoa!
Stumbling at the entrance, he goes crashing through the doorway.
Cain looks back to see the man already standing in the courtyard behind him, positioned in killing range.
Cain: Guess this is the end...
Sword Hunter: So this was your big plan? What an insipid finale.
Cain: We'll see about that.
Cain swiftly fires his gun. The Sword Hunter braces himself, but only the sound of the gunshot echoes through the air.
Sword Hunter: A blank round? Still putting up such a useless struggle, even at this point?
Cain: Nothing useless about it. This was all part of my plan.
Sword Hunter: What?
Cain: That was a signal.
Sword Hunter: ...!
Sword Hunter: What's... happening!
Before the Sword Hunter can react, the ground beneath him begins to collapse.
As the courtyard is swallowed up by a yawning chasm, the corridor where Cain stands remains perfectly intact.
Sword Hunter: This... can't be!
Without any way to cushion his fall, the Sword Hunter plunges down helplessly and slams into the ground.
Sword Hunter: Ngh... Gh! Is that... all you've got?
Cain leaps down immediately after and levels a sword at his fallen opponent.
The sword is none other than Ichigo Hitofuri, which Cain had quickly snatched back amidst the chaos of the collapse.
Cain: Don't move. If you so much as twitch, I'll drive this blade right through your throat.
Sword Hunter: ...
Sword Hunter: So you did have help from outside... I thought you didn't want to involve your companions.
Cain: In the collapse, sure. I never said anything about keeping them out of the fight.
Cain: Man, this sure takes me back. Who would've thought the trick I used against Reinhardtzar on Merkmal Island would come in handy here?
Sword Hunter: What did you do?
Cain: I triggered a self-destruct seal.
Cain: On old outpost islands like this, the Astrals planted seals designed to destroy the fortress in case of an emergency.
Cain: Normally the whole place would come down, but this one's built a bit differently. If you release the seal, only the courtyard collapses.
Sword Hunter: Impossible...
Sword Hunter: Even if such a thing existed, do you expect me to believe you figured out both the seal's location and the fortress's layout in that short time?
Cain: "Figured out"? Have you forgotten who you're dealing with here? I'm a former general of Idelva.
Cain: I've memorized the locations of every self-destruct seal and the layouts of every fortress in the entire skydom.
Sword Hunter: You can't... be serious...
Tightening his grip on Ichigo Hitofuri, Cain goes on.
Cain: Thanks to you, my eyes have been opened. I won't be bound by the dead anymore. The dead should be mourned, nothing more.
Cain: From here on out, I'm going to live life my own way, chasing what truly matters to me.
Fixing his gaze on the sword before him, the Sword Hunter speaks in an enraptured voice.
Sword Hunter: The blade burns with passion.
Sword Hunter: I see. So you came here alone partly to satisfy your own desires as well.
Sword Hunter: You wanted to relish the pleasure of watching your enemy fall right into your trap. It seems you're just as rotten as I am.
Cain: Rotten, huh? That's a harsh way to put it.
Cain: But I can't say I deny it. I do enjoy when things go all according to plan.
With a faint smile, the defeated man presses his throat to the tip of Cain's sword.
Sword Hunter: Kill me. My life is yours for the taking.
Cain: No way. I'm not interested.
Cain: You're going to live—and stay out of trouble. The war's over.
Sword Hunter: There's no point living in a world stripped of the flames of battle.
Cain: Maybe that's how you see it. But even so, I'm keeping you alive. And I'm going to make you understand something.
Cain: That no matter how many battles or loved ones you lose, life goes on.
Sword Hunter: ...
Vyrn: Cain! You okay?
Cain: Yep! It's all wrapped up. Every last bit.
After reuniting with the crew, they take the Sword Hunter into custody and turn him over to the Crew of Enforcers.
Several days later, on an island elsewhere...
Lyria: Munch, munch...
Vyrn: Chomp, chomp...
Lyria & Vyrn: Deeelicious!
Cain: Right? It's the fact that we're eating it outside on the go that makes it so good!
With the incident behind them, Cain and company enjoy sampling various street foods with the crew to celebrate.
Leona: You always did love this sort of thing. You'd research all sorts of places... I used to depend on you for recommendations all the time.
Cain: Yeah, I remember. Thanks to your requests, I ended up knowing all the shops that served extra-large portions.
Leona: Caaain?
Cain: Ow, ow, ow! I was just kidding, Leo, honest!
Reinhardtzar: Good grief...
Leona: Say that again and I'll skewer you like this! Just like this, see?
Cain: H-hahaha...
Amidst the lively commotion, Cain absentmindedly rests his hand on Ichigo Hitofuri and gazes up at the skies of Nalhegrande.
Cain: ...
Cain: (This is what you would've wanted, right, Abel?)
For a fleeting moment, he feels as though he can see his brother's silhouette in the clouds above.
Cain: All right. Everyone, listen up!
Lyria: Huh?
Cain: From now on, our crew has a new goal—to sample all the best eats across the skies!
Cain: We'll start by conquering Phantagrande! After that, I'm thinking we'll go feast our way through Oarlyegrande too.
Vyrn: Seriously? Is that really what we oughta be doin'?
Leona: I'm all for it. If we're going to be traveling anyway, I'd like to enjoy all the delicious foods every place has to offer.
Reinhardtzar: It's basically intel gathering, right? I don't see any reason to object either.
Cain: So with that said, (Captain)—I'd like you to let us tag along with your ship from time to time.
Cain: If we stick together, we'll be able to visit all sorts of new places, right?
Cain: Haha. I knew you'd be on board!
Cain: Come on, don't be like that.
Cain: Let's make some memories together. There's way more to these skies than just sorrow and pain.
Continue 1
Cain: Now then. With that settled, it's time to head for the next skydom!
The moment the words leave his mouth, Cain grabs (Captain)'s hand and takes off running.
Vyrn: H-hey! Don't just drag (Captain) off like that!
The former general continues sprinting ahead, grinning like a little kid.
His companions trail behind, watching over him with fond smiles.
Categories:
- Fate Gender Check
- Scenario Character: Vyrn
- Scenario Character: Sword Hunter
- Scenario Character: Lyria
- Scenario Character: Leona
- Scenario Character: Cain
- Character Fate Scenario
- Max Lvl Fate
- Scenario Character: Abel
- Scenario Character: Pilot
- Scenario Character: Reinhardtzar
- Scenario Character: Both
- Scenario Character: Lyria & Vyrn