The Path We Choose

A Saintess is weak. A Saintess is only expected to use her Stars’ Crosser wisdom to bring prosperity to the kingdom she chooses. Her thoughts? Useless. Her name? Superfluous.

    In this world they don’t belong to, they have always followed the ones who called for them, the ones who praised them. Amazed by these unknown lands, they have never been able to spot the impurities. Their culture was at odds with the ones of the five kingdoms. Their vision blurred by what they knew of their own world. No Saintess has been able to understand this world.

    They have been mere dolls hanging on the threads the rulers pull on.

    I tried to warn them.

    I tried, but for them I am now nothing more than the Saintess who brought a curse to their world.

“Amako.”

    At the sound of his voice, I raise my head to meet Tyffeon’s gaze.

“What do you want to do, now?”

    For a while, I’m not able to answer. Mouth half-opened, I stare at him.

“What I want… to do?”

“If the rulers don’t want to listen to you, then you can do nothing about it. At least they have heard about the prophecy.” He pauses, raising his hand to present me a bow. So that is what he has been crafting earlier. The branch, now perfectly shaped, is strung with a string, a piece of green fabric making it more convenient to hold. “You don’t intend to wait for the Taint to consume this world. Am I mistaken?”

    Hearing these words, I glance back at him. I don’t get it. Why does he act as if he was sure I was about to undertake some bold quest? Maybe his data is corrupted to the core. Who is he taking me for? A hero?.. No. Surely not. He does not believe in such things.

“Why do you think so?” I frown. “Even if the rulers wanted to join their forces, they’ll have far enough to deal with the emissaries. All these kingdoms doomed to be weakened before the Rotten Lord awakens… Why do you think someone like me would be able to achieve what the great rulers can’t prevent? Why would I even try?”

“I don’t pretend you’ll change anything.”

“Then why!”

“Because as long as you’re alive, you can try. On top of that… I don’t think you’re someone who would trust others to act. If you want something to change, you won’t wait for anyone to accomplish it for you. You’ll make it happen.”

    Lips unsealed, I keep staring.

    How… Of all the times we interacted so far, I have barely shown him this side of me. Why does he focus on that? All my life, I used to play the fool, and nobody has ever taken seriously the rare moments I thought aloud. Letting it slip as oddities among others.

    Is it some sort of trap…

“Do I even want to save this world? Kingdoms of Sin means a lot to my eyes, but it’s not like this world is better than another. It’s not like it’s worth fighting for.”

    Is it some sort of twisted way to push me on a path I’ll regret in the end?

“Why do heroes fight to save the world? Justice? This is bland… Pretentious… For people’s sake? None of them is innocent. Not that they deserve to die either. Fighting for them, though… Heroes are too naive.”

    I clench my fists at my sides.

“But…”

    My thoughts drift once more to the person standing right before me. Tyffeon is more than a character for me. He has always been.

“…this ending sucks. If this world is entirely corrupted, there’ll be no safe place for him. Nor for me. I want to rewrite it…”

    Reaching out my hand, I tentatively touch the bow he offers me. I take hold of it.

“We should still struggle on our own, this is what you said once, isn’t it?” I smile at him. “Fine, you’re right. It’s not like I expect anyone to do anything. I’ll try. And probably fail. But still, I’ll struggle beautifully.”

    So be it.

“You’re not alone in this, though.” Tyffeon adds.

“Huuh?” I frown.

“What did you think? We’re in this together.”

“Why? This is dangerous. I have to defeat the emissaries and then…” I trail off. Me? Defeat them? Saying it aloud lets me realise how dumb it sounds.

“I have no interest in waiting. Besides, you need someone able to fight by your side.”

“I mean… Yes, but… uhh. You really don’t need to go this far out of pride. We already made it out of Tír-nan-cnocc together. Aren’t we even now?”

    As I call back to the reason he helped me to flee Rathard, Tyffeon seems a bit unsettled. He hesitates for a while, as if searching for his words.

“Listen, if I want to continue with y-”

    Before he can finish, a voice cuts him off.

“What are you still doing there?”

    Both taken aback, we notice a huge fox-like creature. Step after step it approaches now behind Tyffeon. Her fur orange and white, gifted with three tails.

“You seem astonished. Oh, true, I did not even give you my name.” The chief of the Beastmen playfully realises in her animal form. Caught in our discussion, I didn’t realise that she had stayed. “Kitsune. It is Kitsune.”

“And you, why aren’t you gone?” I ask, cautious.

“Mmm… Why, you ask? Well, I just wished to invite you to my kingdom.”

“To your kingdom?” Tyffeon echoes. “That’s bold of you after what you said earlier.”

“My, my, what a sharp tongue we have here. Though,” she refocuses her attention on me, “you need a place to stay, don’t you? And, despite my words, I can still feel compassion for a poor Stars’ Crosser left behind.”

    Surprisingly so, I can’t believe her proposition to be genuine. But… This sounds like a good opportunity. Her Kingdom is the first the Hero goes to in the game. That’s the most natural way to go if we really wish to defeat the emissaries of the Taint.

“Aren’t you afraid that I may bring misfortune to your kingdom?”

“Afraid? Oh, my. That is cute of you, though I simply value what your presence may still be able to bring to Ard Ramalia.”

    Silently, Tyffeon glances at me, as if awaiting my answer.

“Then… We’ll be much obliged if you bring us with you.”

    The ruler merely smiles further, satisfied by my answer. She takes a few steps closer before leaning down.

“Climb.”

    Cautiously, I approach her and reach out my hands in search of support, when I feel hands on my waist. Before I can protest, Tyffeon helps me to settle on the ruler’s back.

    When we’re both installed, holding tight onto her fur, the Beastmen’s chief rises up, leaving the gazebo. Soon enough, she increases her pace.

    As we leave the Holy Garden on Kitsune’s back, we have to hold tight onto her to avoid falling back. Walking would have definitely been safer for us, but where it would have taken us a couple of days to reach our destination by feet, as it is, it will take us less than an hour.

    And we can’t afford to lose time.

    The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced the best way for us to defeat the emissaries of the Taint would be to do so before they’re fully tainted. If we find the next emissary before he becomes one, maybe we’ll be able to prevent them from being tainted.

    This would be the best case, saving us a fight but… but… this would require us to find him first.

“I never thought I would once have regretted setting multiple sub-scenarios for Kingdoms of Sin… Gaaaahh…. WHY had I to build up a dozen of possible characters becoming the emissary in each kingdom?!”

    Back at the time, I was proud of that idea which allowed me to develop multiple backstories and characters for each kingdom – Tír-nan-cnocc aside – as, in addition, it would also allow the players to play the main scenario multiple times to truly clear the game, while keeping it enticing.

    ‘Cursed be creativity.