In the dim twilight, surveying the castle for cracks in the hastily-repaired defenses, I learned the secret of Lord Uther's death.
Hearing raised voices, I walked into the aftermath of a tense scene. I had heard little, but Hector left naught to chance. He told me everything...and made me swear not to pass it on.
In the morning we assemble. I expect an announcement, or some sign of emotion—surely Hector will not have the ability, or desire, to conceal this tragedy for long.
But when I enter the dining area for breakfast, Lyn, Eliwood, and Hector are jovially discussing our plan to sail with Fargus again. Oswin's face could have been carved from granite, but he gruffly rebukes when Hector mentions looting the treasury. In the background, Matthew's eyes are red-rimmed, yet Serra sitting next to him is annoyingly cheerful as usual.
For the sake of his companions' quest, Hector plans to keep wearing this mask of nonchalance. It'll be hard on him, hiding his grief...
This cloudy day is our last on land. Perhaps I should be administrating the purchase of wargear, but I'm finding it difficult to concentrate. Besides, I trust our fellowship to select their weapons with care.
Without the distraction of a siege, Louise sips tea in an open-air cafe, inquiring of Guy's homeland. She admonishes him to remember his family, sounding wistful herself. I think if he'd let her adopt him, she would.
Bartre comes running excitedly toward us; something about a former nemesis of his joining up. An aloof young woman by his side smiles at me and goes back to sharpening her Wo Dao. Hmm...the resemblance is uncanny...
Not in the mood for discussion of arena battles at the moment, I get up to wander the streets for a while. Spotting Hector, returning from a couple of victorious arena matches himself, I decide to follow. I worry about him...
Serra skips along, looking genuinely carefree, unlike the rest of the Ostians.
Looorrrd He-ctor!
Hm? Oh, Serra. What is it?
Eww! Is there something wrong with you?
What do you mean?
Come on! I'm right here, and you're not mad or anything! It's like all the laws of nature have been inverted!
...Do I really treat you so poorly?
Yes, you do. You make that face and shoo me away.
Really? Sorry about that.
Don't do that! Oh, you're bound to cause some catastrophe if you keep behaving so oddly! Run for your lives! Hector's being nice!
Uh...
Oh, I'm only joking. There's no reason to run after all. Only, Lord Hector, there's just one thing I must know.
What is it?
When is Lord Uther coming back?
What?!
I was so looking forward to getting some sort of reward. With him gone, I'm wondering how much longer I must wait! I would've loved to have gone to Etruria! I'm so disappointed!
...So no one's told you anything either.
Hm? About what?
It's a— nothing.
Hm? Something's weird. More importantly, Lord Hector! It's time to go shopping. I've found some hair ornaments that are perfect for me...
Do you want me to buy them?
Huh? Would you really?
You want them, right?
No, no, no...
Are you sure?
Look ooouuuuuuttt!!! It's an earthquake!! It's the cataclysm! Save me! Blessed Elimine!!
...Hey. That's a bit much, isn't it?
Hector looks slightly buoyed up despite his aggravation. Serra has a way of doing that. Suddenly he whirls around, and I duck behind a corner, unsure how he'll feel about being trailed. He wasn't looking at me, though...
...What is it? If you need something, get out here!
Ha ha...Spotted me, eh?...Well, um...Ah! Young master, beautiful day, isn't it?
Looks like it's about to rain to me.
Oh...ah...Is that so?
Stop treating me like a pouting child. I'm fine. You needn't worry about me.
Is that so? No problems then, eh?
Did you know, too? About my brother...
...Yes. I'm sorry for holding my tongue.
Worried about me, right? Sorry about that. There's a lot going on.
Please don't apologize! ...You're going to make me cry...Like his father before him.......such a good man...wh...why...
My brother really was a great man, wasn't he? A man like me, I don't know if I can follow in his footsteps.
What are you saying? Young master...for Ostia, and for Leila...We...
All right. Well then, we'd better survive this war. Both of us...For Ostia...to protect her!
That's right! We must make it back!
I've made a decision. Matthew and Serra will remain behind. We won't require a thief where we're going, and Serra's redundant with Pent aboard. Ostia needs them more now.
Thunderheads roll in at the same time as Fargus' ship. Hector is slow to return to the docks for boarding, and Lyn catches him.
("Respite in Battle" plays)
Hector! Wait up a minute!
Hm? What is it?
...I'm sorry.
Huh?
...When we first met, I criticized your fighting style, remember? ...I wanted to apologize...
Oh, that? Don't worry about it. ...Why bring this up now?
I used to think you were selfish, oblivious to others' needs. Even after all this time, I only saw you as crude and insensitive.
Hey, now...Do I really need to hear this? I mean, what's your point?
...I used to be like that, too. I relied too much on my own strength and stuck to myself...All I did was cause problems to the people around me. ...I think you're like that, too...So, sometimes, I feel like I'm looking at the old me. Sometimes...I treat you horribly.
Yeah, that's true. Sometimes, you really lay into me.
...But aboard the pirate ship...and back there...what you said made me realize I was wrong. So...I'm sorry.
...You apologized once before. I admitted that I've got a bad attitude...It's fine, right? Just let it go.
"Let it go"? I can't just "let it go"! That doesn't satisfy me. ...Hit me! It'll make me feel better!
What?
C'mon! I won't move! Wind up and let it fly!
You...Hahhh...
Hm?......Hector? What is it? Are you afraid?!
Give me a break. Do you think I could hit a woman?
It's OK. Just don't think of me as a woman.
I can't smack a woman I've lost my heart to.
C'mon! Hurry—...What?
Look, enough of this foolishness. Let's go!
...What did you just say? Hold it! Hector!!
5 turns (unless it's one of those weird chapters). I was unable to use up all my gold, despite buying loads of expensive weaponry, because Merlinus ran out of space. Shouldn't have been such a miser for almost the entire game...
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