Scenario:Fif - Regardless of Regret

Regardless of Regret

A few days after the accident with the migrating birds, a gravely injured dragon crashes onto the deck of the ship. Given the severity of its wounds, Rosetta tells Fif that her healing magic will permanently change the dragon if she chooses to help. As Fif debates what to do, the Five-Soul Staff speaks about the weight of decisions, giving Fif the push she needs to heal the dragon and deal with any regrets later.

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Fif grows quiet and withdrawn after the loss of the nest.

The rest of the crew gives her space, and a few days pass.

Fif: Sigh...

Fif: I can't do anything once it's too late, no matter how much magic I have or what kind of healing arts I know...

Fif: I...

Fif: Wah! What was that? Another wyvern?

Fif: I-I'll make sure nobody gets hurt this time!

Fif runs out of her room and straight for the source of the disturbance.

Fif: Huh? Is that...

A beautiful dragon lies on the deck, hunched over in pain.

Dragon: ...

Fif: What happened to you? You're covered in injuries and blood...

Devoid of energy, the dragon remains still as Fif walks closer to examine its wounds.

Fif: Oh no! You've got a harpoon stuck in you here... Your blood looks strange too. Did someone use poison on the tip?

Vyrn: Ah! Fif, you got here before us!

Fif: (Captain)! Vyrn! Yeah, I'm checking on its wounds right now!

Rosetta: Those injuries were caused by people no doubt—not monsters.

Lyria: But why would anyone do such a horrible thing?

Rosetta: Well...

Vyrn: Hey, there's an airship headed this way!

Fif: What?

Greedy Skyfarer: You moron! Why'd ya shoot it down over someone else's ship!

Grunt: I-I'm sorry!

Greedy Skyfarer: A sorry's not gonna cut it! The heck were you tryin' ta show off for anyway?

Greedy Skyfarer: Cripes. We coulda sold that thing for a pretty price too if we'd caught it in pristine condition...

Greedy Skyfarer: Bah, whatever. A dragon's still a dragon. We can probably make enough money to play around with—

Grunt: Boss? There're some folks boarding our ship!

Greedy Skyfarer: Shut yer trap and get that dragon already—

Greedy Skyfarer: Wait, what'd you just say?

Rosetta: How dare you!

The crew glare menacingly as they board, outraged at the conversation they overheard.

Greedy Skyfarer: Eep! S-sorry for dropping our cargo on your ship! Swear we'll get it cleaned up real quick—

Lyria: Hurting the dragon like that for money... You're horrible!

Grunt: Wha?

Rosetta: There are those who swim in riches because they hunt rare creatures...

Rosetta: But I never expected fellow skyfarers to stoop to that level and drag our reputation through the mud. Perhaps a little punishment is in order.

Greedy Skyfarers: Eep!

Guilty of wrongdoing, the greedy skyfarers are taught a special lesson they won't soon forget.

Fif: Oh no... The poison really did a number on your insides...

Dragon: Grrr...

Fif: Hold on just a little longer! I got the poison out, so all that's left is healing the damage!

Fif: This time... I won't be too late to help!

Rosetta: Wait a moment.

Fif: Rosetta? What're you stopping me for? This guy's gonna kick the bucket if I don't hurry!

Rosetta: That's exactly why I stopped you.

Fif: H-huh? But why?

Rosetta: Fif, I need you to calm down and listen to me.

Rosetta: This little one is close to perishing.

Rosetta: Your healing magic will patch its wounds, and it might be able to live like it once did before.

Fif: So let me help already!

Rosetta: But that's the point I need you to consider: it'll live like it once did. Not exactly as before.

Fif: Huh?

Rosetta: When wounds are too severe, healing magic works differently.

Rosetta: The portions of its body that are absent will be substituted by your magic.

Rosetta: In other words, you're filling it with parts that aren't its own, making it a different creature altogether.

Fif: B-but that's how it always works! You have to fill in the stuff that's missing...

Rosetta: I understand. That is what healing magic boils down to, but in this little one's case... It'll never be able to restore what's missing on its own anymore.

Rosetta: If you choose to save it with your magic, then... Its life will be tied to your magic. Can you really call that living?

Rosetta: Are you sure this is truly the right thing to do? I just want you to think this through before you commit to it.

Fif: I... I...

Troubled by Rosetta's words, Fif looks at the nearly lifeless dragon.

Fif: But if I... don't do anything... It'll die!

Five-Soul Staff: It appears that you are at a crossroads, young prodigy.

Fif: Wha? The Five-Soul Staff is talking! Gh-gh-ghost staff!

Fif: Wait, deja vu?

Five-Soul Staff: I neither run nor hide. I am the Five-Soul Staff... and I'm right in front of you.

Fif: Th-the staff is talking! And it's glowing! Gh-gh-ghost staff!

Fif: H-huh? You mean that whole encounter wasn't a dream?

Five-Soul Staff: Indeed, it was not. Hello again.

Vyrn: I-I hear you too! You can really speak, huh?

Five-Soul Staff: Yes. I endeavor not to break my silence whenever possible, as I am supposed to be a tool.

Lyria: You were a huge help in releasing Fif's pent up magic back then!

Fif: Oh, right, you were! Thanks so much!

Five-Soul Staff: Think nothing of it. A tool is meant to serve its master.

Five-Soul Staff: Though by that definition, I may be overstepping my boundaries at the moment...

Fif: Your boundaries?

Five-Soul Staff: Young one—host to a wondrous power. There are only two options when mortals are confronted with a choice.

Fif: What are they?

Five-Soul Staff: To do, or not to do. All choices are confined to this selection.

Five-Soul Staff: Faced with such few alternatives, I can only offer you this...

Five-Soul Staff: Blessed are the ones who agonize over whether to save a life.

Fif: ...!

Five-Soul Staff: To debate not the taking of one, but the preservation of one... What a splendid world it would be if this is what the strong worried over.

Rosetta: ...

Fif: Have... you had to worry about taking a life before?

Five-Soul Staff: I have. And I regret the choice I made.

Fif: Oh...

Biting her lip, Fif suddenly shakes her head and focuses on the dragon.

Fif: ...!

Rosetta: Fif...

Fif: Hey, Five-Soul Staff! You said I only have two options—to do, or not to do...

Fif: But you're wrong!

Five-Soul Staff: What?

Fif: The way I see it, I can do something and regret it later, or not do something and regret that later!

Fif: So you know what?

Fif: I choose to do something now and take the regret that comes with it!

Fif: Pain, pain, go away!

With the Five-Soul Staff squeezed tightly in her hands, Fif unleashes a bright wave of magic over the dragon.

Vyrn: No way... She healed all the injuries in one go!

Dragon: ...?

Lyria: Ah! Its eyes are opening!

Dragon: Grrr...

With its eyes now open, the dragon takes a look at its savior, then rubs its snout against her.

Fif: There, there. Do you still hurt anywhere? Or is everything nice and peachy?

Dragon: Groar!

Fif: Is that right? Good to hear it! Oh, by the way, I'm Fif! And that over there is...

As Fif excitedly introduces the dragon to the other crew members, Rosetta stands off to the side by herself.

Rosetta: Perhaps I was worrying over nothing...

Rosetta: (Or perhaps I was comparing the situation too much to the experience primal beasts had with the Astrals.)

Rosetta: (Fif is different from them. I'm sure of it.)

Meanwhile, another presence takes in the scene of Fif and the dragon.

Five-Soul Staff: (Regrets... I have been carrying my own all this time—the choices I made during the War.)

Five-Soul Staff: (However...)

Five-Soul Staff: (If those decisions led to a world where a child like Fif could be born...)

Five-Soul Staff: (Then that choice might have held meaning, even if this regret of mine never fades.)

Fif has made her decision, regardless of the regrets that might come with it.

But Rosetta and the Five-Soul Staff are hopeful that her earnest heart will lead her toward a bright future.