Bond of Trust/Erk: Studious Mage

Erk: Studious Mage - C

Klein	Well then, we’ll be on our way.
I will look forward to working with you more in the future. Farwell!		Clarine
Erk	...
Something the matter, Erk? You’re staring...		Peony
Erk	Hm? Oh, sorry. It’s just that... Well, talking to those two gave me a bit of a shock. They’re the children of Lord Pent and Lady Louise! It was certainly a surprise to meet their children fully grown—and so mature as well...
Yes. Meeting people from your future like that certainly gives Askr a sort of dreamlike quality. And who knows, you might even meet yourself from the future at some point. Hee hee!		Peony
Guinivere	Pardon me, but...might you be Lord Erk?
M-me? ...LORD Erk?! I’m not a lord! Have we met?		Erk
Guinivere	Ah, my apologies. I am Guinivere, princess of Bern. You are rather famous—even in my country. You were called by the people to succeed Lord Pent as Mage General, yet you refused... It is a great pleasure to meet the Lord Erk who was able to achieve so much with the study of magic...
Y-you’re sure you mean...me?		Erk

Erk: Studious Mage - B

Erk	Please... Wait a moment. You seem to know about a version of me from my future, but... You’re saying the people ask me to be Mage General? Why me?
Well, as I understand it, you were the person best suited for the role, Lord Erk.		Guinivere
Erk	But the Mage General is the pillar that supports all the mages of Etruria! ...Lord Pent was Mage General! A-and I turned down such an honor? Wh-why? How could I?
I’m sorry, but I cannot answer that for you. Only you can understand the choices you’ll make.		Guinivere
Erk	...
Wow! Isn’t that wonderful, Erk! You must grow to be such an incredible mage in the future!		Peony
Erk	I-I cannot believe it... My future self will... Incredible.
...Um, Erk? Are you still with me? You’re staring into nothing again.		Peony
Erk	So many shocking revelations, I don’t know how else to react.

Erk: Studious Mage - A

Priscilla	...Are you all right in there, Erk?
Don’t bother! He’s been shut up in that room forever, and there’s no sign of him coming out! I told him he was going to turn into a cave creature if he stayed in there much longer. ...Nothing! Ugh! We finally have a chance to meet again here in Askr, and this is what he does?! What is he thinking!		Serra
Priscilla	Erk, I understand if you’re worried, but I do hope you aren’t pushing yourself too hard.
... Serra might be annoying, but...she may have a point. Maybe I should leave my room a bit more often. But I can’t leave things as they are now if I really am to become worthy of the title Mage General... I must keep my primary focus on my studies.		Erk
Peony	Oh, Erk! Out for a walk?
Ah, hello, Peony.		Erk
Peony	Erk! The bags under your eyes are huge! Have you not been sleeping?
I suppose I haven’t. it’s just that I have so much to learn. I can’t waste my time sleeping...		Erk
Peony	Oh no! Sleep is too important to ignore!
Peony	You can’t ONLY study! You have to sleep well and eat properly to nourish both your body and mind! Are you still caught up thinking about that conversation from the other day?
... I am Lord Pent’s student... What if his hope for me is that I grow to become his successor? It’s an intimidating proposition... I fall short in a myriad of ways as I am now. That cannot stand! That is why I must keep studying.		Erk
Peony	I see. So that’s why you’ve been working yourself so hard. But, as long as you’re here in Askr, I think it’d be fine for you to just be yourself, as you are, don’t you?
Be...myself? What do you mean by that exactly?		Erk

Erk: Studious Mage - S

Erk	If I ought to be myself...and what Princess Guinivere says is true... Then wouldn’t that mean I must become someone worthy of being called Mage General?
Well, the Guinivere you met might be from a different world than the one you come from, you know. The Erk that stands before me may have a completely different path laid out before him.		Peony
Erk	You’re saying each world can have a different version of a person such that even their futures are different?
The summoner has said as much, if I recall. Something about “more futures than there are worlds.” You could very well be on the path to becoming a great magic user. Even without such focused study! Or you might find someone you want to marry, and settle down and live happily ever after... The point is, your future isn’t set in stone! Anything can happen!		Peony
Erk	I think I now see what you mean... My future is not yet decided, so I should not live my life as if it has been... Thank you, Peony, for helping me understand what is possible in this world...and the future. I was so worked up, I may have caused some grief for Serra and Priscilla... I’ll be sure to apologize. That aside, I see now what I must do. I will continue to put forth efforts, but I will do so at my own pace.
And you’ll be better for it! Remember to sleep well and eat right too! That’s how you turn dreams into reality—and nothing makes us álfar happier than that. Stay steady on your path, and you’ll reach your dreams, whatever they may be. I believe in you!		Peony

Scenario
← Louise		Fiora →
Bond of Trust
Erk	Louise	Pent	Farina

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