The Sobbing Knight
While in town, the crew hear a cry coming from a restaurant and rush to the scene. There they meet Vermeil, a man whose right eye never stops crying. He explains that this is a condition he was born with. Touched by the crew's smiles, Vermeil decides to join them on their journey.
The crew is taking a stroll when a loud shriek suddenly pierces the calm.
???: Waaaaaah! It wasn't me, I didn't do anything!
Vyrn: Do you hear that? Sounds like somebody's in trouble.
Lyria: It's coming from that restaurant over there!
(Captain) and the crew rush toward the restaurant.
Sobbing Man: Hm?
Lyria: Huff, huff. What's wrong? Are you all right?
Sobbing Man: Who, me? I'm fine, why do you ask?
Lyria: Oh, but we heard someone cry just now. That wasn't you?
Sobbing Man: Cry? Me?
Sobbing Man: Ha, that's a good one, miss.
Sobbing Man: But it is unwise to insult a knight. Someone worthy enough to be a knight would never shed tears in public.
Vyrn: Wait a minute, what're you talking about? Tears are streaming from your right eye, you know.
Sobbing Man: Ah, this is simply a condition that I was born with. An everflowing river from my right eye...
Vyrn: Those are called tears!
Sobbing Man: My my, I suppose tragedy is too complex for a lizard to understand.
Vyrn: I ain't no lizard! I'm Vyrn! And I know what tragedy means!
Sobbing Man: Well that may be, but take a look over there. Isn't that young man the one you should be worried about?
Young Man: Sniff. I didn't steal any money, honest! You have to believe me!
Shopkeeper: Don't act like you didn't do it, you rotten punk! You're going to answer to my fist!
Vyrn: Whoa, chill out mister!
Lyria: Yes, please calm down. Can you tell us what happened?
Shopkeeper: Huh? You've got eyes, don't you? It's exactly what it looks like. Or maybe you're all in cahoots with this thief too!
Lyria: No sir, we just came over to see what the fuss was about. We wouldn't dare to steal anything.
Vyrn: Oh boy, this shopkeeper's a real pain in the butt.
Despite the false accusation, the crew continues to smile calmly.
This piques the man's interest.
Sobbing Man: (Hm, they're continuing to smile as they defuse the situation. I wonder if that will really work...)
Instead of calming down, the shopkeeper only grows angrier and more suspicious. The man decides that it's time to step in.
Sobbing Man: Good grief, did you perhaps get up on the wrong side of the bed today?
Sobbing Man: You accuse nearly anyone who even happens to glance at you. It's practically a witch hunt.
Shopkeeper: Oh yeah? And what're you gonna do about it?
Sobbing Man: I'm going to give the ones you should be accusing a stern warning.
The man draws his saber as he speaks.
Restaurant Customer: ...!
He approaches a group of rowdy ruffians drinking nearby and pierces one of their bags. A river of rupies spill out onto the floor.
Shopkeeper: Aha! That's my money! So it was you punks!
Shopkeeper: Wahaha, sorry about what happened earlier. Order whatever you like, this one's on me!
Accepting the gracious offer, the man named Vermeil and the crew sit down for a meal.
As the meal goes on, the crew can't help but be drawn to Vermeil's right eye.
Vermeil notices the curious glances and stops eating. Staring off into the distance, he begins to tell his tale.
Vermeil: Please don't get the wrong idea. It's not because I'm feeling sad or miserable.
Vermeil: I resent these tears that flow without reason. I am searching for their other half—for the sadness of these tears.
Vermeil: I was born with a right eye that produced a neverending flow of tears.
Vermeil: One day, I met a renowned fortune-teller and asked in hopes of curing my condition.
Fortune-teller: Ahh... I see you were given a heavy burden to carry in a previous life.
Fortune-teller: Yes... You caused a terrible tragedy to happen, and the soul you aggrieved also wanders in this lifetime.
Fortune-teller: Unless this soul is found and healed, your tears will never stop flowing.
Vermeil: Believing these words, I have been traveling from island to island ever since, in search of this suffering soul.
Lyria: What is the person you're looking for like?
Vermeil: I don't know. My only clue is that it's a woman whose left eye is always crying, just like mine.
Vyrn: Wow, that's a total mystery.
Vermeil: Well, I don't know about that. I think all of you are rather mysterious yourselves.
Vyrn: Hey, just what do you mean by that, crybaby?
Vermeil: That's exactly what I mean, Vyrn. How do all of you keep those smiles on your faces?
Vermeil: Even in the outrageous situation back there, you never once pulled a sour face.
Vermeil: Heh, you're the ones who are truly one of a kind. How can you smile like that?
The crew look at each other and laugh. (Captain) turns to Vermeil with a smile.
- Do you really want to know?
- It's because we're the same.
Choose: Do you really want to know?Vermeil: Yes, please tell me your secret.
Lyria: Hee-hee, there's no secret to it. (Captain) is saying that if you follow along, you'll understand.
Vermeil: Follow along? What exactly—
Choose: It's because we're the same.Vermeil: The same?
Lyria: Yep, that's right. (Captain) is saying that you're the same as us.
Vermeil: The same as you? You mean that you're also...
Continue 1Vyrn: We're on a journey too. You're an interesting guy, so you might as well join us!
Vermeil's face brightens at Vyrn's words.
Vermeil: An interesting guy, you say? That's the first time anyone's ever said that about me.
Vermeil: Welcoming someone as tedious as myself...
Vermeil: Heh. You people really are one of a kind.
And with that, carrying his tragic burden, the teary knight joins the crew.
Enigmatic Tears
Rumors that a famous performer is in town turn out to be true. The performer sings of a tale that jars Vermeil's memory, offering a clue to his past. Just then, the ticket money from the show gets stolen.
The crew stops at an island for the night. Rumors are that a famous performer is in town.
Upon hearing the news, Vermeil's eyes light up like a child's. He makes a rare request.
Vermeil: I have a favor to ask. Would it be all right if we went to see this performance?
Vyrn: Huh? You want to go see something artsy?
Vermeil: Is that so strange? Go ahead and laugh if you want.
Vyrn: That's not what I mean. I just didn't think you'd be interested in that kind of stuff.
Vermeil: Hm, my teary right eye would certainly stand out a little amidst a cheering crowd.
Vermeil: But when I'm watching something compelling, strangely enough, I feel a warmth in my chest and it puts me at ease.
Vermeil: I know it's just my imagination, but it lets me forget about my eye for a while.
Lyria: Hey, don't worry about that. It sounds like fun. Let's go, (Captain).
The party reaches a bustling square. A cheerful, boisterous voice rings out over the din of the crowd.
Ulamnuran: Gather round! A fantastical, magical performance is about to begin!
His comical antics and light-hearted words draw in large audiences.
The Harvin performer commands the enthusiastic applause and cheers of the crowd.
Vermeil: Hahaha! Splendid. This is more than I had expected, bravo!
Ulamnuran: Hey (Captain)! Hey everyone! Did you come to see me?
Lyria: Oh my, so the famous performer was you, Ulamnuran.
Ulamnuran: Ah, I guess I forgot to tell you. While I'm docked here I decided to promote myself.
Ulamnuran: Gather round! Let's get this show on the road!
Lyria: Huh? Look at that, Vermeil.
Vermeil: What is it, Lyria?
Lyria: Ulamnuran has a right eye that's crying just like yours. See?
The streak of a tear can be seen in Ulamnuran's makeup, just below his right eye.
Vyrn: Whoa, he's really popular. Now I get how crybaby Vermeil feels.
Lyria: You're certainly in high spirits, Vyrn.
Lyria: Huh? Look at that, Vermeil.
Vermeil: What is it, Lyria?
Lyria: He has a right eye that's crying just like yours. See?
The streak of a tear can be seen in the performer's makeup, just below his right eye.
Continue 1With Lyria's words, a soft timbre of music starts to play, and the performer launches into a soliloquy.
There once was a legendary jester whose performances always sold out.
But none of the audience ever entered into his field of vision, with the exception of a single woman sitting in the corner.
He had fallen in love with her. In order to make her smile, he would do his best to act the fool.
One day, she went to speak with the jester. She wanted to confess her love—but alas, it was not to him.
What to do, what to do? His heart ached, but he smiled at her..
"Bring him to my show. I will fill him with laughter, and then surely, your confession of love will reach his heart."
The woman did as she was told, and sure enough, she and the man lived happily ever after.
Ever since that incident, no matter how much the jester dried his eyes, a tear would always remain.
Lyria: What a sad story...
Ulamnuran: Oh yes, it does seem tragic.
Ulamnuran: But you know, as performers, we have a different interpretation.
Vyrn: A different interpretation?
Ulamnuran: You see, a true entertainer brings happiness to others, even if it means sometimes sacrificing your own.
Vermeil: Sacrificing your own happiness...
Ulamnuran: Yes. I believe that he willingly and wholeheartedly sacrificed his own happiness so that she could continue smiling.
Vermeil: ...!
Ulamnuran's words hit Vermeil like a bolt of lightning.
A long forgotten memory comes racing back to Vermeil.
A beautiful woman I've never met before, but at the same time, seems so familiar...
She is the one to whom I've sworn my future. I know it.
Yet from her eyes that were as green as jade, tears continue to fall...
Lyria: Vermeil, are you okay? Hang in there!
Vermeil: That's it. It was your smile that I... Ah, how could this be?
Beside the shocked Vermeil, Ulamnuran lets out a shriek.
Ulamnuran: Oh my goodness! The box with all the ticket money is gone!
Vermeil mutters to himself amid the confusion.
Vermeil: It's always like this. Whenever I'm happy, something bad happens to someone else.
Vyrn: Did you say something?
Vermeil: It's nothing. We must hurry and catch the thief.
As he speaks, his gaze falls onto a suspcious man slowly slinking away.
Suspicious Man: What are you looking at? It wasn't me, go away!
Enigmatic Tears: Scene 2
After an interrogation, the man confesses the whereabouts of his gang's hideout. Vermeil thinks he should leave the crew, believing that misfortune followed his happiness. Lyria and Vyrn reassure him, and their concern leaves a deep impression on Vermeil.
(Captain) and the crew stop the suspicious man but don't find any money on him.
After some tough questioning, the man lets slip that he belonged to a gang of pickpockets.
The crew hurries to the gang's nearby hideout.
Vermeil: I'm sorry. This is all my fault.
Lyria: Why? You're not the bad guy, the bad guys are the pickpockets.
Vermeil: That's not what I mean.
Vermeil: Whether it's fate or karma, I've always been the harbinger of misfortune.
Vermeil: Whenever I laugh, someone always loses their money.
Lyria: It's just a coincidence. You shouldn't worry about that.
Vermeil: No, it's all right. This shall be my last stop as part of the crew.
Vermeil: I'd thought that this ever-smiling crew could finally change my fate.
Vermeil: Perhaps it was a little too much to ask for. I can't afford to cause any more trouble for you.
Lyria: It's not like that. No one thinks you're responsible for any of this.
Vyrn: That's right. Besides, small stuff like this is nothing to (Captain)!
Vermeil: What are you saying? Like I said, I'm causing trouble for all of you right now.
Lyria: When someone's in trouble, we should all bear the burden.
Vyrn: Lyria's right. A huge problem can be solved if we break it down into smaller pieces, right?
Vermeil: But...
Lyria: (Captain) wouldn't let you shoulder everything yourself. You're our friend now.
Vyrn: If there ever comes a day for you to leave the Grandcypher, it'll be when your tears stop and you have a big smile on your face.
Vermeil looks taken aback for an instant, but quickly recovers.
Vermeil: Heh. Like I said before, you are all truly one of a kind.
Vermeil's face suddenly turns grim as he knits his brows in concentration.
Vermeil: Be careful. It seems they know we're here.
Enigmatic Tears: Scene 3
The crew defeats the gang and returns to the Grandcypher. Vermeil decides to continue traveling with them after all. He sheds tears of joy, for he knows that, someday, his true smile will return.
The crew defeats the pickpockets. After returning the money to Ulamnuran, they return to the Grandcypher.
Vermeil, who had earlier vowed to leave the group, stands on the deck of the ship.
Vyrn: What's this? Didn't you say you were going to leave?
Vermeil: ...
Lyria: Vyrn! Don't tease him like that!
Vyrn: Come on, it was just a joke. He wasn't saying anything, so I wanted to wake him up.
Vermeil: I do not know what karma this is, but it seems my right eye is a liar.
Vermeil: I apologize for the change of mind, but I've decided to continue traveling with you.
Vyrn: That's the spirit!
Lyria: What made you change your mind?
Vermeil: Thanks to all of you, I was able to remember something from a long time ago.
Vermeil: The fact that you don't always have to be sad to cry.
Large drops of tears fall from his left eye as well as his right.
His smiling face shows no trace of sadness whatsoever, for these tears are tears of joy.
Lyria: Hee-hee, that's a wonderful smile, Vermeil.
Vermeil: I don't know when I'll be able to lift this curse.
Vermeil: But when that day comes, I have a feeling that all of you will be at my side.
Vermeil: Let me say it once more: I, the teary-eyed knight Vermeil, shall accompany you on your quest.
(Captain) and the crew no longer see Vermeil's tears as tears of sadness.
As for Vermeil, he no longer thinks of the crew's smiles as something only to be envied.