Scenario:Sylph - Concerning Love

Concerning Love

During a visit to the royal capital of Feendrache, (Captain) and the crew experience a chance reunion with the primal beast Sylph. The girl has begun a new life living among the citizens of the city in an effort to learn more about what it means to "love." Sylph helps an elderly woman run her flower shop, though the proprietor soon takes seriously ill. After shedding tears over the woman's passing, Sylph asks to accompany (Captain) and the others on their journey, hoping to learn what love means to her.

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The crew make a stopover at the royal capital of Feendrache in the interest of visiting their companions.

Walking down the bustling streets toward the castle, they pass by a certain shop.

Store Clerk: Welcome, child of man.

1. Who, me?

Choose: Who, me?

Store Clerk: Yes, that's right. Are you seeking a souvenir to commemorate your time in Feendrache? Why not purchase flowers from our shop?

Store Clerk: The old woman who owns the shop says they are beautiful, though I must say that beauty is not a concept I understand.

The girl speaking to them in front of the flower shop has wings like a butterfly on her back.

As beautiful as she may be, she employs a rather plain manner of speaking that is familiar to the crew.

Lyria: Wait, could it be... Sylph?

Sylph: Yes. Hello Lyria, (Captain).

Sylph: I want to thank you again for your aid at that time.

The apparent flower shop worker is Sylph. She is not a mortal, but a primal beast.

She possesses the ability to make the miracle elixir alma, and is venerated by the people of Feendrache.

In an unfortunate crisis that subjected the realm to untold danger, it was revealed that former Royal Consul Isabella was misusing Sylph's power for nefarious purposes.

The crew put a stop to Isabella's machinations when Lyria absorbed a portion of Sylph's essence—however, Sylph was injured in the process.

Lyria: So this is where you've been! I could sense that you recovered, but I didn't know where you'd gone.

Vyrn: And boy has it been a while! Glad to see you're happy and healthy!

Sylph: A while?

Vyrn: Hm? Well yeah, a buncha time's passed since the last time we met, don't you think?

Sylph: I don't know. How much time has to pass before you can say that?

Sylph: Is it one year? Half of a year? Perhaps just two weeks?

Sylph: I would like to know exactly how long I should wait until I can say it to someone.

1. I'm not sure...
2. I've never thought about it before.

Choose: I'm not sure...
Choose: I've never thought about it before.

Sylph: Children of man are so strange, operating with such vague reasoning...

Vyrn: Is that how you see it? Seems just like common sense to me!

Lyria: Maybe the world looks different to primal beasts because they can live for so long.

People begin to gather around Sylph and the crew.

Weapon Shop Owner: Hahaha! Are ya bombarding these travelers with questions, Lady Sylph?

Greengrocer: Always so curious, that Lady Sylph. Please don't mind her.

Sylph: Oh, children of man. Hello.

Passerby: Hello there! You are looking lovely as always, dear.

Sylph: Lovely... Does that mean something different than "love"?

Passerby: Why yes. It means that you look cute or adorable.

Sylph: I see... In that case, what is love?

Weapon Shop Owner: Seems like I hear you ask that question every day.

Sylph: Yes, because it is the thing I desire to know about the most.

Sylph: Everyone gives me different answers, and I cannot pin it down with any certainty.

Sylph: The Sky Realm is so full of love songs and love stories, and yet...

Vyrn: "Love," huh? Doesn't it just mean that you really like someone?

Sylph: What does it mean to "like," though? Can you only really like one person? And just how much liking turns into loving?

Vyrn: Wha? Um... Well...

Passerby: Oh dear... I'm afraid that she is not going to let you go until you answer her questions.

As the crew engages in lively conversation, a figure emerges from within the flower shop.

Flower Shop Owner: I see our storefront is as lively as ever today, thanks to Lady Sylph.

Sylph: Oh, Granny! You need your sleep.

Flower Shop Owner: Now, don't fret. I just wanted some fresh air.

Flower Shop Owner: Cough, cough...

Vyrn: Granny? Hey, are you okay?

The elderly woman falls to her knees. The crew rushes over to help her up.

Greengrocer: You really must be getting your rest.

Sylph: You remember the words of the produce shop man, yes? You can leave the store to me.

Flower Shop Owner: I'm sorry for causing such worry. I couldn't help my curiosity when I heard all the talking out here.

Sylph: It's okay. Please take my arm. I will walk you back to your bed.

Sylph and the elderly woman head inside the shop.

The crew keeps an eye on the storefront while Sylph is absent.

Their business at the flower shop complete, the crew turns toward the castle once more for an audience with King Carl.

The king informs them that their knightly companions are engaged in official duties, and that meeting with them during their brief time in the kingdom will likely be difficult.

Vyrn: Oh yeah, we ran into Sylph on the way here.

Lyria: She was working at a flower shop. All of the townspeople really seem to get along with her too!

King Carl: Yes, and for that I am glad. It was quite the unthinkable prospect before.

Vyrn: She didn't have many people to interact with when she was focused on making alma, isn't that right?

King Carl: Indeed. Long ago, she did spend much of her time in the castle. Given the incident and the circumstances surrounding it, she was isolated for a while.

Lyria: It's kind of surprising to see her in the middle of town. That's a big change for her.

King Carl: Yes, and it was of her own volition.

King Carl's expression is calm as he recounts his exchanges with Sylph.

King Carl: After learning that producing alma also resulted in the harmful by-product karmide, Lady Sylph declared her intention to stop its production altogether.

King Carl: Though the alma was truly beneficial for the people of the realm, she decided that those benefits did not outweigh the severe cost of the harm caused by the poison.

The king agreed with Sylph's judgment, and pledged to establish a medical system that did not rely on the elixir.

At the same time, he felt sorry for the primal beast. She had been an important pillar of the kingdom since its foundation, but she was suddenly left without a role to fill.

King Carl: One day, not so very long ago, Lady Sylph came to the castle to request an audience.

Sylph: Your Majesty, there is something I wish to discuss with you.

King Carl: She said that she wanted to learn the meaning of "love."

Vyrn: Back to the "love" thing, huh. Why's she so adamant about that?

King Carl: Would it not perhaps have something to do with the reason that she was born?

Lyria: Her reason to be born...

Lyria recalls the moment at which she absorbed Sylph's essence. She was able to see the memories of the Astral that created her.

Lyria: That Astral fell in love with a skydweller who had an incurable disease. The Astral tried desperately to cure it.

Lyria: But the Astral failed. The Astral mourned and mourned, wondering why skydwellers were so fragile.

Lyria: After that he created Sylph in his beloved's image, because primal beasts could live forever.

Lyria: Of course the primal beast could never replace his lover.

Lyria: The Astral abandoned Sylph on Feendrache and took off toward the ends of the sky.

King Carl: That Astral created Lady Sylph to aid in healing his heartbreak over losing his lover.

King Carl: Distilled further, we might be able to say that Lady Sylph's purpose as a primal beast was to remain near and dear to the Astral's heart.

The purpose of a primal beast—the very reason for which they are given life.

King Carl: After the Astral left her here in Feendrache, could it be that her role has changed ever so slightly? Perhaps she has to remain near to someone's heart.

Vyrn: So you're saying that in order to be near to the hearts of the people, she was creating the alma for them?

King Carl nods. Stroking his beard, he speaks once more.

King Carl: Since deciding to stop her production of the alma, it could be that she now seeks another method of fulfilling her purpose.

King Carl: And for that reason, she seeks to understand the "heart" of a mortal.

Lyria: She's living among the people, trying her best to learn about love...

Vyrn: Gotcha. So that's why she was so insistent back there.

Vyrn: If she ends up quizzing us again, we'd better try to give her some good answers!

(Captain) nods in agreement at Vyrn's words.

Their audience with the king complete, the crew returns to wander the streets of the city.

They happen upon Sylph once more. This time, she emerges from a building clutching a paper bag.

Lyria: Oh, hello again, Sylph! Are you running some errands?

Sylph: Yes. I've gotten Granny's medicine from the doctor here.

Lyria: For the woman at the flower shop?

Sylph: Her lungs and heart are very weak, and she doesn't have much time left. This medicine helps with the pain.

Sylph walks along with (Captain) and the crew.

A lone butterfly flutters before the group as it makes its way toward a flower by the roadside.

Lyria: Now that I think about it, working at a flower shop is such a perfect fit for you, Sylph!

Sylph: Do you think so? I don't feel anything when I look at the flowers, though.

Vyrn: Is that right? Why make a livin' at the flower shop, then?

Sylph: I do it for Granny.

The crew is puzzled at her words. Sylph continues to speak softly.

Sylph: I made a decision to learn more about the children of man.

Sylph: The first time that I walked about the city alone, no one would approach me. It seemed as though they were actively trying to avoid me.

Vyrn: Huh? Doesn't everyone in this country adore you like you're a goddess though?

Sylph: It was for that very reason. I was a mythical existence to them.

Sylph: But Granny...

Flower Shop Owner: Good afternoon, Lady Sylph. Won't you take this?

Sylph: What is this... A bouquet of pink flowers?

Flower Shop Owner: I've chosen my best roses for you.

Sylph: Why are you doing this? Everyone else is avoiding me.

Flower Shop Owner: I simply wish to become acquainted with you! I'm sure everyone else feels the same. They're just a little nervous.

Flower Shop Owner: Won't you take them and spend a little while listening to the ramblings of an old lady?

Sylph: Oh my! I don't think I can hold them all...

Ever since then, I have been helping Granny with her shop.

Sylph: Interesting... Why do you cut the end of the stems like that?

Flower Shop Owner: The flowers will live longer this way. Would you like to try using the scissors, Lady Sylph?

Sylph: Yes...

While helping Granny, the townspeople would gather around me.

Sylph: I noticed even then that she was of poor health.

Lyria: Sylph...

Lyria approaches the primal beast and takes her hand.

Sylph: You all are making the same face that the others do when I talk about Granny.

Sylph: Strange... The children of man will all face death someday. There are those who will die today.

Lyria: But even so... No, exactly because of that, I wanted to hold your hand.

Lyria: You are my dear friend, and I know that Granny is a special person to you.

Sylph: ...

The crew say their goodbyes to Sylph upon reaching the flower shop, before heading back to their lodgings.

Sylph stirs the medicine into a cup of water, and helps the woman drink it.

Flower Shop Owner: Thank you, Lady Sylph. I know that this is quite the burden on you.

Sylph: No, it is not a burden at all.

Flower Shop Owner: Such a sweet girl. You're even taking care of the shop...

Flower Shop Owner: You have become a fine florist. No one can deny your impeccable eye for assembling the prettiest bouquets.

Sylph: I only do it like you showed me. I do not understand what makes something pretty.

Flower Shop Owner: That is quite all right. Just know that they truly are.

Sylph: ...

Lyria: You are my dear friend, and I know that Granny is a special person to you.

Sylph: Granny, what does it mean to be a "special person" to someone?

Flower Shop Owner: Hm? Well, let me see... I suppose that it means that you are loved by someone.

Sylph: Love... I don't understand...

Sylph: Vyrn says that love is when you really like someone. The greengrocer says that fruits and vegetables are love. The weapon shop man says that it's something that never changes...

Sylph: And the old housewife says that her husband getting on her nerves is also part of love. It is all extremely confusing.

Flower Shop Owner: My, you are adorable when you're flustered—

Flower Shop Owner: Cough, cough!

Sylph: ...!

Sylph supports the woman in her arms until she is able to speak again.

Sylph: Are you sure you have no need of my alma? Please don't worry about the karmide. If it's just a little bit I can manage with its disposal somehow...

Flower Shop Owner: Thank you, Lady Sylph. I appreciate the sentiment, but really, I will be okay.

Sylph: You are fading away... That is certainly not "okay."

Flower Shop Owner: Hehe, I'm touched to be on the receiving end of your concern...

Sylph: ...

Sylph is unable to say another word as she remains by the woman's side, clutching her hand.

As the sun begins to set outside the window, a murky darkness is cast across the ailing woman's face.