Anima, Ch.22: Obstructions

[Anima, Ch.22: Obstructions]
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--01-- [Scene: Emain Macha] <BGM: Reflected Scenery on Water>
I went to Emain Macha and started asking questions about the Paladins, only to get nothing but
stonewalling, excuses, suspicion, and evasiveness for my trouble.
It seems I'm a terrible investigator...


--02-- <BGM: Reflected Scenery on Water>
(Craig)
If you want to find out, you'll have to enlist.
If you want to enlist, you'll have to gain the Lord's approval.
Good luck with that, being an elf. I'm not sure you'd make the cut, anyways.


--03-- <BGM: Reflected Scenery on Water>
I came with the intent of finding out why the trainees are being put through such brutal labors...
It looks like I'm not going to get anywhere by trying to look in from the outside, though.



--04-- <BGM: Reflected Scenery on Water>
(Aodhan)
An audience? You're interesting in enlisting?
Well, the Lord has no other audiences scheduled for this morning...
I suppose you can go in, but you may be wasting your time, miss...


--05-- [Scene: none] <BGM: When Cooking Art>
I'll just have to go right to the source.
I strode into the palace, cautiously entering the throne room, and bowed deeply before the thrones
trying to look properly humble.
"Good day, your Lordship."

--06-- <BGM: When Cooking Art>
(Esras)
Well, what's this? An elf? You've certainly traveled a long ways.




--07-- <BGM: When Cooking Art>
(Rian)
Uhh...




--08-- <BGM: When Cooking Art>
(Esras)
Allow me to speak in my Lord's stead. He has not been feeling well lately.
What brings you to journey from your faraway lands and into our presence today?



--09-- <BGM: When Cooking Art>
That boy is the lord? Not feeling well? He looks half-dead! What's going on here?

"My name is Meara. It has come to my attention that I must gain the Lord's favor to join the ranks of the Paladins."


--10-- <BGM: When Cooking Art>
"Though this is not my home, I am...no longer welcomed in the lands of the elves.
If I am called to devote my life and fortune to your service, and to Emain Macha, then so be it."



--11-- <BGM: When Cooking Art>
(Esras)
The Paladins? Hmm...
While we admire your willingness to devote yourself to the sanctity and security of our
beloved Emain Macha, we...will have to decline your...unorthodox request.


--12-- <BGM: When Cooking Art>
(Esras)
We would just as soon not have an outsider involving themselves in our nation's affairs.
With all due respect, please keep your pointed ears out of human matters.

If that is all...?

--13-- <BGM: When Cooking Art>
"I understand. I suppose I'm wasting my time here, then. I apologize for disturbing you."

Hmph. Not the first time I've been snubbed for being an elf.


--14-- <BGM: When Cooking Art>
(Rian)
(Help...me...)




--15-- <BGM: When Cooking Art>
Did he just say...?
No, I must be hearing things.
Speaking of which, I heard heavy metal-clad boots approaching from behind me.
Sounds like I'm about to be shown the door. Or dragged through it.

--16-- <BGM: When Cooking Art>
(Esras)
Guard Captain, please escort this lady outside. Our business is concluded.
Good day, Miss Meara. Fare well, and...mind your own affairs.



--17-- <BGM: When Cooking Art>
(Aodhan)
Sorry about that. I tried to warn you...
This way, please.



--18-- [Scene: Emain Macha] <BGM: Fairy's Flight>
The guard captain escorted me back outside.
Sounds like I've been put on notice...
I walked down the street to the fountain plaza, sat down on a bench with a deep sigh,
and stopped to think.

--19-- <BGM: Fairy's Flight>
(Nele)
Ailla...? Is that you?




--20-- <BGM: Fairy's Flight>
The shaggy-haired bard with the giant pointy hat who lurked around the plaza was staring intently at me.
Or so I think. I couldn't see his eyes through his hair that hid half his face.



--21-- <BGM: Fairy's Flight>
"Um, sorry, but I think you have me mistaken for someone else..."
He drew closer, probably to take a better look.



--22-- <BGM: Fairy of Water>
(Nele)
Oh, sorry. My mistake, miss. From a distance, you looked a lot like someone I knew...




--23-- <BGM: Fairy of Water>
"Well, the pointy ears should have tipped you off that I wasn't from around here.
Seems they're the first thing anyone notices, anyways..."



--24-- <BGM: Fairy of Water>
(Nele)
That's precisely why I made the connection. She was also an elf.
You had the same hair too, just yours is a little redder.
It's an interesting story; if you have time, and you're willing to listen?


--25-- <BGM: Fairy of Water>
There's other elves around here? Okay, now you have my attention.
"...sure, why not? Not like I'm doing anything else today."
He sat down on the far end of the bench from me, setting his lute aside.


--26-- <BGM: Fairy of Water>
(Nele)
Well, it was a few years ago...
These two elven women showed up in Emain Macha one day.
They were newly arrived from across the sea, and unfamiliar with Uladh in general.


--27-- <BGM: Fairy of Water>
(Nele)
One was a musician, the other a dancer; they were close friends.
What were their names, now...? Ahh, Yvona and Ailla, I believe?
As a bard, I couldn't help but be curious about them, you see?


--28-- <BGM: Fairy of Water>
(Nele)
Well, I showed them around town, and we talked for a while about our lives.
It seemed that Yvona had been exiled from their elven village, and Ailla had left with her...
They didn't say why...


--29-- <BGM: Fairy of Water>
(Nele)
I got the impression that it was over some superstition, though...
Well, they ended up staying in Emain Macha for a couple months, and as a fellow musician,
Yvona seemed to take an interest in me...


--30-- <BGM: Fairy of Water>
(Nele)
One day, I offered to lend her some of my books about music.
She read them, gave them back, then...the next day, the two of them left town without a word.



--31-- <BGM: Fairy of Water>
(Nele)
Ailla came by a week later to apologize for Yvona; said Yvona didn't trust anyone anymore
and had only been interested in what I knew, and not me personally... (sigh)



--32-- <BGM: Fairy of Water>
(Nele)
I haven't seen them since... Maybe I was just hoping I'd meet them again someday.
I mistook you for Ailla from a distance. You just happened to look a bit like her.
My eyesight isn't too great...


--33-- <BGM: Fairy of Water>
"Gee, I wonder why."
I waved my hand in front of his face, hinting at his unkempt long hair that covered his eyes.
"Can I interest you in a hairbrush?" I smiled slyly.


--34-- <BGM: Fairy of Water>
(Nele)
Hahaha... No, that's all right. Anyway, now I'm curious about you.
Might I ask what brings you here today? I'm sure you must have an interesting story, too.
At the least, tell me your name?


--35-- <BGM: Fairy of Water>
"Meara," I said.
"I suppose you could say the elves kicked me out too, for asking too many questions
about the nature of their society. As for why I'm here...I'm concerned about my friends."



--36-- <BGM: Fairy of Water>
"They're Paladin trainees...but they're being worked half to death every day,
and they aren't even told what they're working towards.
I'm concerned that they're being put to sinister ends..."


--37-- <BGM: Fairy of Water>
(Nele)
So you question the Paladins' motives?
Hmm... Maybe you should go speak with that wandering merchant, Price.
He seems to have a connection with Redire, the greatest knight Emain Macha has ever known.


--38-- <BGM: Fairy of Water>
(Nele)
If anyone still knows anything about the true meaning of being a Knight of Light, it would be him.
He stops by in Emain Macha every few days.
He's strange, but he's not a bad guy...


--39-- <BGM: Fairy of Water>
"Might as well. I'd thought to enlist myself to find out what was going on, but...
now that I think of it, I might not have been able to get myself out again.
I'll keep an eye out for him. Thanks."


--40--
Hmm... Price, huh? I've seen him around often enough, but I've only spoken to him once,
and that was months ago.

I suppose I'll have to go find him and have a little talk....

[chapter end]