Marcus x Merlinus

##Marcus Merlinus C
\f[5|Merlinus]\f[2|Marcus]
\s[5]
Ah, Marcus, there you are.|

\s[2]
What do you need, Merlinus?|

\s[5]
Nothing in particular, I just\n
wished to have a chat.|

\s[2]
Hah... It's certainly been a while\n
since we had one of those.|

\s[5]
Indeed... Marcus, you never did settle\n
down and marry, did you?|

\s[2]
? No. Never did find the right\n
person to put up with me.|

\s[5]
A shame... I suppose that's why\n
you refuse to retire, isn't it.|

\s[2]
No. I... Well, I... I can't.\n
Not yet, not while Master Roy\n
still needs my assistance.|

\s[5]
Surely others could take your\n
place in that regard? Or do you\n
not trust anyone to do a good job?|

\s[2]
... There was one. But he's gone now.|

\s[5]
Who?|

\s[2]\b[2|2]
... That blasted fool... Lowen.|

\s[5]
Ah... Yes... It came as a surprise\n
when he decided to leave Pherae to\n
join Ostia's armored cavalry division.|

\s[2]\b[2|0]
Yes... Had he not done that, perhaps\n
he would be in my place. But instead...\n
he is in the ground... and I am here.|

\s[5]
... I am sorry, old friend.|
\s[-2]

## Marcus Merlinus B
\f[5|Merlinus]\f[2|Marcus]
\s[5]
Marcus! We seem to be running\n
into each other quite often.|

\s[2]
War tends to cause that, Merlinus.|

\s[5]
I suppose it does... Say, whatever\n
happened to the other knights of\n
Pherae? I'm sure you must know.|

\s[2]
Hmm... Well, Isadora and Harken\n
left to travel the land and find\n
the answers they each were seeking.|\n
I... do not know where, though.|

\s[5]
Hm... They were to be married, right?|

\s[2]
Yes... But, given what happened with\n
Harken and the other knights of Pherae\n
with Lord Elbert, it made sense to...\n
delay such an occasion for a later date.|

\s[5]
I wish them the best...|

\s[2]
And as you know, Lowen is...\n
gone. I found him among the dead\n
when we arrived in Araphen.|\b[2|2]\n
My best student... so much\n
life he had to live... stolen.|

\s[5]
Bern will not get away with this injustice.|

\s[2]\b[2|0]
... Perhaps they should. We all die\n
eventually, Merlinus. Maybe it was\n
just his time to go...|

\s[5]
Now, hold on! Where is this coming from?|

\s[2]
What do you mean? I speak the truth.\n
Eventually you will die, and so will I.|

\s[5]\m[5|5]
Why must I die first!?|

\s[2]
Does that really matter?|

\s[5]
... I suppose you're right...\n
I can't say I'm looking\n
forward to it...|

\s[2]
I think I'm ready.|
\s[-2]

## Marcus Merlinus A
\f[5|Merlinus]
\s[5]
Marcus? Marcus! No, no!\n
Get up! This can't happen!\n
There are people who care--|
\s[-2]

\f[2|Marcus]\b[2|1]
\s[2]
... You overreact. As usual.\n
Did I not warn you about\n
yelling with reckless abandon?|

\s[5]
I thought you were dead!|

\s[2]\b[2|0]
I was resting.|

\s[5]
You were slumped over your horse!|

\s[2]
He's a comfortable steed.\n
Where else am I to rest my\n
eyes? A rock? A muddy road?|

\s[5]
Gah! Don't you realize people\n
will miss you when this tragic\n
event finally occurs!?|

\s[2]
Merlinus, I already told you, I\n
have no one. No wife, no child.|\n
When I am gone, no one will--|

\s[5]
I will, you blasted fool!\n
I care! So stop this morbid\n
talk and look to the future!|

\s[2]
Fine, fine...|

\s[5]
I understand the survivor's\n
guilt you must be feeling,\n
but this is not the answer.|\n
When we have... more time, we can\n
discuss this in the depth it deserves.|

\s[2]
... Ah, I see...|

\s[5]
What do you see?|

\s[2]\e[2|1]
Nothing, nothing... I will\n
take you up on your offer, then.|\n
Come, Merlinus! We have a war\n
to finish. No sleeping on the job!|
\s[-2]

\f[2|nil]

\m[5|4]\w[5]
\s[4]
Me?! You were just-- Gah!\b[4|2]\n
Why do I bother with this man...|
\s[-2]