Degenerate Body and Mind
One day Zehek suddenly becomes a shut-in because he's worried that his out-of-control magic will hurt (Captain) and company. But when he learns that they're concerned about him, he realizes that friends are there to support each other.
One day Zehek suddenly becomes a shut-in.
The crew is worried about his well-being and holds an emergency meeting to try to figure out what's going on.
Vyrn: And? Have you seen Zehek recently, Lyria?
Lyria: It seems like he wants to avoid me for some reason...
Lyria: It's weird... He even eats in his room, and he never leaves it at all.
Vyrn: Hmm... So he's avoiding not only me and (Captain) but you as well...
Vyrn: It seems like all we can do for now is try to get Zehek to tell us what's going on.
Lyria: I guess so... When I passed in front of Zehek's room yesterday, I heard something coming from within...
Vyrn: What do you mean?
Lyria: I heard him in there, and he sounded terribly angry.
Vyrn: Whoa... It seems like we better hurry.
Lyria: I'm worried too... Let's go visit Zehek and see how he's doing.
The crew gathers in front of Zehek's room and tries calling out to him.
Vyrn: Hey, Zehek! Why don't you come out of your room for a little bit? There's a nice breeze today!
Lyria: Yeah! I even have some snacks we can eat together!
Vyrn: Wow! You just have to see this stuff, Zehek. It looks almost as good as apples!
Lyria: Hee-hee... If you come out right now, I'll give you some snacks from my special stash.
Everyone tries telling him how they feel, but there's no response from the room.
Vyrn: C'mon... He didn't already leave or anything, did he?
Lyria: Hmm... Maybe we need to try taking a more serious approach?
Vyrn: I'm not sure about that... At times like this, isn't a soft touch often better?
Vyrn: Hey! Whatcha' doin' in there, Zehek? At least answer us!
Zehek's Voice: Nothing at all! Just leave me alone!
Vyrn: Oh? Looks like he's in there after all!
Lyria: Um... Zehek? Are you avoiding us? Just show us your face at least...
Zehek's Voice: Cough... I'm fine... Stay away from me!
Vyrn: Hey... Are you sick or something?
Lyria: What's wrong? Can I come in?
Zehek's Voice: Ugh... D-don't even think about it! Stay away!
Lyria: This is bad, (Captain)! Something's obviously wrong with him in there...
Vyrn: That's it! I'm going in there!
(Captain) and company force their way into Zehek's room.
Zehek: Ugh.... Don't come any closer!
Zehek is squatting in his room, trying to resist his out-of-control magical power.
Lyria: Aahh! Something's up with his magic...
Vyrn: Hey! You okay, Zehek?
Zehek: N-no! Ugh... Ugh...
Zehek passes out and falls into (Captain)'s arms.
The crew takes care of him until he regains consciousness in his bed.
Zehek: Ugh...
Lyria: He finally woke up! What a relief!
Zehek: Didn't I tell you all to stay away?
Vyrn: What? What else could we have done? We heard you moaning in your room!
Lyria: We're just so glad you're okay.
Lyria: But why did you try to avoid us by staying cooped up in your room?
Zehek: Ah...
The ashamed Zehek finally decides to speak up.
Zehek: I was afraid that I might hurt you all with my magic...
Zehek: So I stayed in my room... but I've troubled you guys enough with my problems.
Zehek: I want to get off this ship and go off on my journey alone again...
- You can trouble us as much as you want.
- Just how dumb are you!
Choose: You can trouble us as much as you want.Zehek: (Captain)... You...
Vyrn: Hey, quit it with the formalities already. We're friends, right?
Zehek: Friends, eh? You think it's okay to trouble friends like this?
Vyrn: Of course! If your magic was out of control, you should've just said so!
Lyria: Exactly! But you decided to avoid us instead...
Lyria: So I was worried that you were angry about something, Zehek!
Choose: Just how dumb are you!Zehek: ...!
(Captain)...
Vyrn: Whoa! What's gotten into you all of a sudden, (Captain)?
Lyria: Um... I think that (Captain) is angry because you didn't rely on us, Zehek.
Zehek: Really?
Lyria: Yes... Even though you're our friend, you tried to handle everything on your own...
Lyria: So I think that (Captain)'s sad because you didn't have faith in us.
Continue 1Zehek: I can't believe you guys were that concerned about me...
Zehek: (Captain)... I'm sorry I worried you. I hope you guys will continue to put up with me.
Thus Zehek's ties with the crew are made stronger than ever.
The next day, the crew heads for a nearby town to purchase some herbs to help him.
Ill Fighter, Small Hero
Due to his out-of-control magic, Zehek normally tries to avoid other people, but the crew is on the way to a nearby village. They suddenly run into someone being attacked by monsters.
The crew is on its way to a nearby village for some rest.
But Zehek, whose magic is a little out of control as usual, is reluctant to interact with anyone other than the crew.
Zehek: Hey, (Captain). Can we head back to the airship for some rest?
Vyrn: You know... I understand how you feel, but going all the way back to the airship from here would be a pain...
Lyria: Sorry, Zehek. Do you think you can put up with a nearby village just for today?
Zehek: It seems like I don't have a choice. I'll be hiding behind you guys, so lead the way, (Captain).
Vyrn: I wish Zehek wouldn't worry so much about what other people think.
Lyria: I know what you mean, but you really shouldn't say things like that given how Zehek feels.
Vyrn: I know that, but still...
The crew suddenly hears a monster's roar and someone screaming.
Zehek: It sounds like someone's in trouble, (Captain)! Let's go help out!
Ill Fighter, Small Hero: Scene 2
The boy who was attacked has been ostracized by his peers due to his illness. Zehek sympathizes with him and decides to help him find a dragon scale as proof of the boy's strength. They find the scale but end up fighting the dragon.
The crew saves the boy from the monsters attacking him.
Zehek hides behind (Captain) so the boy won't see him.
Boy: Hey you! Cough... Cough... Thanks for helping me!
Zehek: Hey, (Captain)... He seems to be thanking you.
Boy: Nope... I'm actually talking to you, the one hiding back there with your bandages!
Zehek: Huh? Do you seriously mean me?
Boy: That's right! I can hardly believe how you blew those monsters away! You were way too cool!
Zehek: Ha-ha... You thought I was cool, huh?
Unexpectedly praised, Zehek asks the boy why he was walking around the woods alone.
Boy: Um... To be honest... Cough... I was born with a pretty weak body.
Zehek: I see... So you're sick too?
Boy: Yeah... And the other kids in the village say they don't want to play with a weakling like me.
Lyria: Wow... That's really terrible.
Boy: So I asked them what I have to do to get them to play with me, and they told me to get a scale from the cave dragon deep in the woods...
Vyrn: I hear you... That's why you came into the woods on your own, right?
Boy: Yeah... I'm hoping that if I bring that scale back to the village, everyone will realize I'm worth something.
Zehek, who has been silently listening to the boy's story, finally opens his mouth.
Zehek: Would you mind if I help you look for that scale?
Boy: Of course not! If you're with me, not even a swarm of dragons could stop us!
Zehek: Maybe... But let's not start celebrating just yet. Now go ahead and lead the way to that dragon.
Thanks to the boy, the crew soon finds the cave and heads inside.
Deep within the dimly lit cavern, they find a dragon scale.
Boy: Yes! If I have this, no one will dare to call me weak ever again!
Lyria: Wow! It sure has a beautiful sheen to it.
Zehek: Quiet down, you guys! Do you really want you-know-what to notice us?
Boy: A d-dragon... And it's coming this way!
Lyria: I'm so sorry, Zehek.
Zehek: Just stand back! (Captain), give me a hand with this!
Vyrn: Yeah! Let's help him out, (Captain)!
Ill Fighter, Small Hero: Scene 3
Upon returning to the village, the crew finds a crowd awaiting the boy's safe return. He makes up with the other kids and introduces Zehek as a brave hero. The crew later departs, and Zehek once again realizes how important friends are as he reflects on his lonely past.
Once the boy and crew escape the dragon's cave, he leads them to his village.
A crowd of villagers worried about the missing boy is gathered at the village entrance.
Boy: Hey! What are all of you doing here?
The boy's lighthearted greeting is met with the tearful embraces and joy of his parents and the other villagers.
The gravity of what he has done gradually dawns on him, and he soon breaks down in tears.
Boy: I'm... I'm so sorry!
Mother: You guys... Thank you so much for bringing our little boy home to us. There are no words...
Zehek: Um... I really didn't do anything... um... worthy of such praise...
Zehek: Hey, (Captain)! Say something already!
Zehek tries to hide behind the captain.
Vyrn: Huh? But we really didn't do anything at all. Right, Lyria?
Lyria: That's right! It was all Zehek this time! I'm sure (Captain) agrees too.
Zehek: Oh... you guys...
A boy who has been quietly watching the proceedings suddenly makes his appearance.
Boy's Friend: I'm sorry... I should never have called you a weakling. This is all my fault... But I can't believe you brought a dragon scale back!
Boy: Thank you... But the bravest person here is this bandaged guy next to me!
Zehek: Huh? You mean me?
Boy: Of course! You should have seen this guy's magic! It was explosively awesome!
Thanks to this glorious introduction, Zehek soon becomes the subject of envy of every child there.
Naturally every child in the village wants to play with him after that.
The next day, after enjoying the warm hospitality of the villagers, the crew reluctantly bids farewell to them and departs.
Lyria: Hee-hee... You sure were popular with those kids, Zehek!
Vyrn: Yep! I bet it's because you function on their terms!
Zehek: Excuse me? What exactly are you implying?
Lyria: I think Vyrn just means that you treat kids as equals instead of as inferiors. It's all in the way you talk.
Vyrn: That's right! Kids apparently like it when you treat them the same way that you do us!
Zehek: Heh... Heh-heh...
Zehek can't help but laugh at their words.
Vyrn: What? Did I say something funny?
Zehek: No... It's just that I sometimes forget how sick I am when I'm with you guys.
Lyria: Really? That's something we should be happy about, right?
Zehek: Yeah...
Zehek: (I wish I could go back in time and tell myself that I'll find friends one day weird enough to make even me laugh.)
Vyrn: Huh? Did you just say something?
Zehek: Nope... nothing at all. We should hurry back to the airship.
Due to the strange illness that afflicts him, Zehek has a bad habit of walling himself off from others.
But even Zehek can't help but begin to change as he journeys with his new friends.