Scenario:Shao - That Was in the Past

That Was in the Past

Shao dreams of an incident that occurred five years ago, in which he returns home after an extended absence to find that his ailing sister has become an invalid after consuming a highly addictive substance. After exhausting all options looking for a cure without success, he feels he has no choice but to perform euthanasia.

---

The following is a story that takes place about five years ago.

Shao: Sister! I'm home!

Shao has returned after being away for a few weeks selling medicine. He lives with his older sister, who is ill.

Shao: Sorry it took me so long to get home. How are you feeling?

A soft voice should have greeted him by now, but all is quiet in the house.

Shao: Sister?

Shao: Probably sleeping...

Shao's Sister: ...

Shao peeks into his sister's room. She's lying perfectly still in bed, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.

Shao: Oh, are you up? What's the ma—

Shao's Sister: ...

Shao: Sister?

No semblance of awareness is reflected in her wide-open eyes. Dread immediately grips Shao.

Shao: Sister!

Shao's Sister: Aaauu...

Sickly groans trickle out of his sister's mouth as he tries to rouse her. Her dilated pupils reveal nothing.

Shao: What happened to you, Sister?

Shao looks around in a panic and spots something next to his sister's pillow. It's a medicine vial that he's never seen before.

Shao: What's this?

Determined to understand his sister's condition, Shao launches an investigation into the strange medicine.

He then checks with neighbors who might have noticed anything while he was gone.

Shao: They mentioned a man coming and going...

Shao: He must've given her this stuff.

Digging even further, he discovers that their savings are gone.

Shao: Damn it! If only I'd come home sooner!

But lament as he might, he can't turn back the hands of time.

Shao returns home. His sister's gaze remains fixed on the ceiling. He walks to her side and reaches out a hand to touch her face.

Shao: I'm home.

Shao's Sister: Gyaaaah!

Shao: ...!

His sister suddenly erupts in earsplitting shrieks, flailing her arms wildly.

Shao: Sister! Sister, calm down!

Shao's Sister: Uungh...

Shao: It's me, remember? Shao!

Struggling to hold back his tears, he administers a sedative to his sister.

Shao: I'm sorry I had to do that. Everything's okay, so just relax.

Calm at one point, stormy the next. This hellish scenario repeats itself ad infinitum.

Her seizures periodically flare up, a symptom of withdrawal from whatever it was she'd taken.

When she isn't in a state of torment, her vacant eyes fail to recognize her beloved brother.

Shao's Sister: ...

Shao: The effects of the sedatives are becoming detrimental...

He bites his lip in frustration, barely holding on to his sanity.

He desperately tries to find a cure for his sister, who at this point is his only clue to unraveling the mystery.

But the results he so desires never come back positive.

Shao: The addiction is irreversible. Even if I could find a cure, it's advanced so far that she'll never be the same again...

Continuous trips to hell take a toll on the younger brother's psyche.

Shao: Sister...

Warm rays of the midday sun filter in through the window. It's peaceful.

Shao's Sister: ...

Shao gently brushes his sister's cheek with the back of his hand.

Her dried-out skin and sunken eyes belie the vivacity that was once visible in her face.

Shao: Sister...

Shao: I'm sorry I wasn't here with you when you needed me the most. This is all my fault.

Shao: But I want you to know...

Shao: That I can still hear your voice welcoming me home every time I step through that door.

Shao: It was music to my ears.

A tear leaks from his eye. And then another. And then another.

Shao's Sister: ...

Shao puts a phial to her lips and carefully tilts it.

Shao: Good night, Sister. Sweet dreams.

Shao: ...!

Shao is trying to recover from the nightmare that shook him awake. The first light of dawn starts to seep into his room.

Shao: Huff... Puff...

Shao: Perspiration... Heart palpitations... Shortness of breath...

Shao: The same symptoms as always.

Shao rattles off his diagnosis with disinterest, then fumbles under his pillow for the medicine he always keeps on hand and quickly gulps it down.

Shao: Sigh... No improvement even after five years.

Shao: Just my luck. I guess these symptoms might really be incurable.

That Was in the Past: Scene 2

A day after putting an incurable elderly patient out of her suffering per her request, scathing blame from the patient's son seems to gnaw away at Shao. Lyria begins reexamining the morality of Shao's methods, but a man suddenly arrives at the Grandcypher with a request.

---

Lyria: Yawn...

Shao: My, my, that was a mighty big yawn.

Lyria: Oh, good morning, Shao.

Shao: And a good morning to you.

Vyrn: Hmm...

Allowing only a brief greeting for his crewmates, Shao is already walking away. (Captain) and company exchange glances.

Vyrn: Just like always, eh?

Lyria: Doesn't he look a little pale though? Do you think he's still thinking about what happened?

Vyrn: Who knows? That guy's harder to read than a book in the dark.

Lyria is referring to an incident that took place the day before.

Old Woman: I'm sorry for taking up your time.

Shao: Oh, stop that. You needn't concern yourself about me.

The old woman suffers from a debilitating illness that has no cure. Shao has come to administer her final dosage.

Shao: You fought valiantly. You've earned your rest.

Old Woman: Aaah... Thank you. Thank you so much...

Shao: Those words should be saved for your son.

Shao releases the patient's hand, and the old woman's son takes his place beside her.

Son: Mother... Mother!

Old Woman: Thank you, love. Please, whatever you do, don't cry. Don't... cry...

Son: Please, no...

As her final breath leaves her lips, her son can no longer keep it together and crumbles into wailing sobs.

Son: Sob... Mother... Why...

Shao: ...

Son: Damn it all. Why'd you do it... Why'd you kill my mother!

Lyria: Eh?

Vyrn: Well, I mean... She told us this is what she wanted, and you asked us too...

Lyria: Um, killed is kind of... a bit harsh, I think.

Son: I know that! But was there really nothing else that could be done?

Son: Answer me! Was my mother's sickness absolutely incurable?

Shao: At best, her pain could have been alleviated, though at the cost of becoming heavily addicted to the medication.

Shao: But once off the treatment, the suffering from withdrawal would have been far worse.

Shao repeats the same explanation he has given many times before.

Son: I know, damn it!

Clinging to the fading warmth of his mother's hand, the son cries out in vain.

Son: You don't get it. You don't understand what it's like for someone who's forced to say goodbye!

Shao: ...

Vyrn: Sigh... That was a big oof.

Lyria: Yes. I know how devastated the son must have felt at his mother's passing, but saying that to Shao...

1. It's hard to know with Shao.
2. He's feeling it too, I bet.

Choose: It's hard to know with Shao.

Vyrn: Hmm... You can't really tell what he's thinking.

Lyria: Well, Shao definitely likes to keep to himself, but he's a kind person.

Go to "Continue 1"

Choose: He's feeling it too, I bet.

Lyria: Mm... Yeah...

Lyria: Well, Shao definitely likes to keep to himself, but he's a kind person.

Continue 1

Vyrn: Yep. His medicine has helped cure a lot of people.

Lyria: Mm-hm. And he usually doesn't charge people who can't afford it.

Vyrn: Can't say the same for people with deep pockets though. He basically overcharges them.

Lyria: Ahahaha, that happens too. We've seen a lot of interesting cases.

Lyria: Remember this one?

Vyrn: Is it possible the medicine you made for her caused her to...

Shao: You've got the right idea. My medicine was only meant to make her comfortable.

Shao: Her illness had already advanced to the end-stage. All I could give her was something to temporarily ease her pain.

Shao: The medicine she had been taking was actually poisonous. Keeping her ill was a way for those men to extort money from her.

Lyria: That's so horrible...

Shao: Quite right. She suffered from needless debt and illness for the longest time.

Shao: I'm a healer, not an omnipotent god with the power to cure everything.

Shao: Given her options, I came up with the best prescription I could think of.

Shao: Or are you saying she should've continued living in suffering?

Shao: "I know you're not getting better, and your debts keep piling up, but try to do your best." Is that it?

Shao's voice sounds unusually cold, and the crew falls silent.

Lyria: I don't have an answer for you yet. So can I make it my homework assignment?

Shao: Homework?

Lyria: Yep! Keep traveling with us. That way I can think some more about what you said.

Vyrn: Yeah, I remember that.

Lyria: I don't know if we'll ever find the answer to that assignment, but...

Lyria: What happened yesterday got me thinking again.

Vyrn: Did you figure out anything?

Lyria: No, not yet.

Lyria: I think we need more information, and it should come from Shao himself.

Vyrn: Easier said than done... I can't picture him willingly opening up to us.

While the crew is in the middle of discussing Shao, a guest arrives on the Grandcypher.

Dubious Man: Pardon me. Are you (Captain), the skyfarer?

(Captain) walks up to the intimidating man and nods.

Dubious Man: Good. I have a job for you. You'll be fairly compensated at the end of course.

Lyria: Um, what kind of job is it?

Dubious Man: Sorry, I can't tell you out here. I was told to keep it private. You'll learn more if you come with me.

Vyrn: Like that's gonna convince us...

Uncertainty surrounds this proposition. (Captain) and company are unable to drop their suspicions.

Dubious Man: Yeah, I know this isn't a good look, but I wouldn't be asking if it wasn't an emergency.

However, after seeing the man's desperation, the crew finally gives in.

Dubious Man: Thanks. But before we go, I'd like to request one of your crew members in particular to join us.

That Was in the Past: Scene 3

The crew follows the man to a mafia base where many mafia members have become hooked on a mysterious substance. Shao requests a sample of the substance and time to work; afterward he visits a patient and decides that seeing the smiles of patients and their families is what brings him the most joy.

---

Lyria: Wow! Look at the size of this mansion!

Vyrn: It really is huge, but I wouldn't get too excited if I were you.

Shao and the crew walk into a base belonging to the island's controlling mafia.

But Shao is wary for a different reason.

Shao: I'm guessing the reason you asked for me personally is because your people are sick?

Mafia Messenger: Yeah. From this point on, only the healer is allowed in. I'll have to ask the rest of you to wait here.

Lyria: Huh? But...

Shao: ...

Shao: These skyfarers are more trustworthy than I am. I can vouch for them.

Vyrn: Uh, how can he trust you if you're less trustworthy than we are?

Shao: Hmm...

Mafia Messenger: Sigh. All right, whatever. This way.

Lyria: Gasp! They're all...

They are led to a room sheltering many men.

Mafia Member 1: ...

Some lie in bed, while others are curled up on the floor.

Mafia Member 2: Uur... Ugh...

Mafia Member 3: Hehehe... Hahaha...

The crew stand aghast at the eerie sight of people who are clearly not in their right minds.

Shao: Hmm...

Shao approaches a bed to examine one of the men.

Shao: ...

Shao: Care to fill me in on the situation?

Mafia Messenger: It happened pretty recently, but someone introduced this substance and its use spread among the family.

Shao: A substance, huh...

Mafia Messenger: Yeah, one that's particularly strong and easy to get hooked on.

Shao: And these are the users that got hit hard.

Mafia Messenger: Yep. I'm not a doc. I have no idea how to help them.

Mafia Messenger: With nothing else to lose, I figured I'd go to you since I've heard the rumors about what you do.

Shao: I'm... honored, I guess.

Mafia Messenger: So, uh, can you help us?

Shao: Well, let me first take a closer look at that substance.

Mafia Messenger: Be my guest.

The man hands over a vial.

Shao: Hmm...

Shao: Where's this stuff being distributed from?

Mafia Messenger: ...

Shao: Is there no established supply line yet?

Mafia Messenger: Um, is this medically related?

Shao: I won't know until I hear it, but the more info I have, the better.

Mafia Messenger: Sigh... We don't know how it's being distributed.

Shao: I see. Only those in your family took it then? It hasn't leaked into town?

Mafia Messenger: Right. It should be self-contained among us.

Shao: Understood.

Mafia Messenger: So you've figured it out?

Shao: No, it's still too early to draw a conclusion. I need more time.

Shao: Do you mind if I hang on to this?

Shao holds up the substance, and the man gloomily nods.

Lyria: Shao, do you think the mafia's request is going to work out?

Shao: It's hard to say at this point.

Vyrn: If you say so...

Something about Shao's expression makes the crew feel uneasy. They struggle to find something to say.

Shao: Ah, that reminds me. Can I stop by somewhere real quick?

(Captain) nods, and Shao leads the way.

Elderly Man: Who do we have here? Back again today, Shao?

Shao: How are you feeling?

Elderly Man: I'm doing just fine. My knee doesn't hurt at all.

Shao: Happy to hear it. Looks like you're taking your medicine as instructed.

Young Woman: Yes. Father's all like, "Shao said this" and "Shao said that."

Young Woman: Teehee, he's finally taking things seriously.

Elderly Man: That's because Shao's medicine works wonders on me.

Shao: Hahaha. Medicine can only do so much. Your desire to get better is just as potent.

Shao: When you feel up to it, I'd like you to get up and carefully give your body a good stretch. Being stationary isn't good for you.

Elderly Man: You don't say! So I'll be healthy enough to go outside again?

Shao: Of course. It won't be long now, so stick to the plan.

Lyria: I think you made his day! He looked so happy.

Shao: He has a caring family, which creates a worry-free environment.

Shao: I can't tell you how happy I am when a patient and their family members can laugh in good spirits.

Vyrn: Oh?

The crew exchange glances, then look at Shao.

Shao: What is it? Is there something on my face?

Vyrn: No, it's just not something we hear you saying every day.

Shao: Aw, but I'm a happy-go-lucky healer! I'm always like this.

Shao chuckles, a hint of melancholy in his voice.