Scene 129

Lara

What's with all of you? Still no luck finding that Cal guy, I take it?

Musoh

It's a long story.

Musoh

Well, what now? The enemies are tough as nails, and we've got no leads on the next Sanctuary. We're kinda stuck.

Stina

I-I may have an idea!

Stina

Does anyone know of any other dungeons connected to the high elves? They look like ruins, with images carved into the walls...

Zash

What're you talking about?

Stina

Sorry, I mean, even before the Legendary Weapon showed us the way... the Sanctuaries existed in the game.

Musoh

Ah, I think I get what you're saying. There's info we had before we the weapons started guiding us.

Stina

Exactly. Like the first Sanctuary... We found it without help from the weapons.

Wait...!

Stina

yeah... carvings...!

I'd totally forgotten, but we raided a ruin like that during the beta.

There were carvings on the wall there, right?

I thought so.

No, there definitely was one. I remember it now.

If memory serves, it was about the legend of some sort of guardian...

Zash

Really?

Whether the Kobold Lord we fought was that guardian, I really couldn't say.

It didn't really feel like a "guardian" to me. I bet the enemies in that area have probably gotten tougher since then.

Zash

So, you think it's connected to the Sanctuary, Stina?

Stina

I do.

Musoh

In that case, I'd say it's worth a look, right?

Zash

R-Right! Better than sitting here scratching our heads, anyway.

Zash

So, Iori, about those ruins...

Would staying put be all that bad, though?

Arne was right when he said this duty was forced on us. Out of the 10,000 or so people playing this game, why us? Why were we chosen?

I fully intend to continue this quest, I do, but I'm not gonna force anyone else to do the same.

Zash, Musoh—you guys chose to help with this quest. Nobody would blame either of you if you wanted to call it quits.

Stina and {HeroName}, too. I'm sure you feel some pressure to stay, being chosen and all. But you can throw that brooch away any time.

Musoh

I say we let each person decide where and when they get off this wild ride.

Zash

If we run away now, that'd just be proving Arne right... and that pisses me off.

Stina

More importantly, abandoning the quest without a fight... It would feel like we lost to this game.

Musoh

So, where do we stand, folks? Do we keep going and see how far we get?

Zash

Sure—but I'll see how I feel when I'm staring death in the face.

Stina

I would like to keep going, too.

Alright. Then shall we start searching for the ruins we raided during the beta?

Musoh

That's as good a plan as any! When do we head out?

The sooner the better. Would tomorrow work?

Zash

We can do that, right, guys?

Then it's decided. Let's all go get some rest, okay?

Lara

Whatever the move, I don't care as long as I get to Dessel.