Illuminating the Path/Story

Illuminating the Path - Opening

???	Hnnn... Ugh... So dark... Where is everyone? I don't like this... I'm scared... No... No! Ice dragons! Fire dragons! What are you doing? This is a human village! People live here! Stop it! Can't move... Why can't I move? I need to stop them... Why won't they listen to me? If this keeps up, I... No! I can't... If I change, I'll become a monster just like the other dragons! I don't want that! Stop it, please! Ban-Ban! Mar-Mar! Help me!
Tiki	I don't want to be a monster! I don't want to be a monster! I DON'T WANT TO BE A MONSTER! Hngh... Ahh... Where am I? Is it... morning? Was I sleeping? Oh, what an awful nightmare! It's been so long. I was sure those bad dreams were gone forever... But now that I'm in Askr, it looks like I'm having them again. Will they ever stop? What if they're a sign? What if they come true? I don't know...
I see. So you expect the summoner to be away on duty for some time.		Hardin
Alfonse	A few days at most. Are you able to wait that long, or do you require 【Summoner】 urgently?
I will wait, if I must, but I have no desire to tarry. This matter concerns more than merely myself. You will recall that I, Princess Nyna, and Princess Elice were summoned around the same time.		Hardin
Alfonse	I do recall that, yes. So your request has something to do with them?
Indeed. You and the Order of Heroes have no doubt worked frequently with royalty of other worlds. Nyna is the sole survivor of House Archanea. Elice is the eldest princess of Altea and has the blood of Anri. Each is a powerful symbol of her country. They are inspirations to their people—not common soldiers.		Hardin
Alfonse	I am not certain I follow. What is your request, exactly?
To return these princesses whence they came. They are not meant for Askran battlefields.		Hardin

Illuminating the Path - C

Tiki	Princess Nyna! Princess Elice! The scouts said we’ll be able to see the village from over that hill!
All right, all right—try not to get too excited on the run up. You could trip and hurt yourself.		Elice
Peony	The village isn’t going anywhere, Tiki. We’ll be there soon enough!
Yes, but the sooner we arrive, the sooner we can start making friends with everyone there! Why don’t I just turn into a dragon and fly ahead? Then I’ll be there in no time flat!		Tiki
Nyna	We are going to need your help to deliver this medicine, Tiki. This is not primarily a social visit. There will be time for making friends once our business is done. I would ask you to please be patient.
OK, OK...		Tiki
Elice	I am happy to report that all of the medical supplies have been distributed, Princess Nyna.
Thank you, Princess Elice. The relief is plain to see upon their faces. This arduous trek was certainly worth it.		Nyna
Elice	Agreed. It pleases me to see what a difference we can make, even off the battlefield. Marth, Merric, and the others have the fighting well in hand. We can help Askr in our own way.
I feel the same. And I must say, it is refreshing to help people in a way that has nothing to do with my title. My royal status kept me at a distance in my own world. Here, I can help people with my own two hands.		Nyna
Elice	Well said. Helping people often feels conceptual, disconnected for royalty. It feels good to be directly involved. I intend to do more of that while I am here in Askr—and to bring what I’ve learned home with me to Altea.
You and I know all too well how the value of peace can only truly be appreciated after it is lost. Let us work to ensure that Askr never has to suffer the way Archanea has.		Nyna
Peony	Hey, Princess Nyna! Princess Elice! The village chief says we can spend the night if we’d like. Should we?
Well, it is a generous offer. And I doubt we could reach the castle by nightfall, even if we left now.		Elice
Nyna	Then let us accept. I am sure you could do with a rest, Peony, after you worked so hard to guide us here. As easy and enjoyable as it was for us to follow an álfr, it must have been tiring for you.
That’s very kind of you! It was fun for me too, though. It’s not every day I get to lead three princesses around.		Peony
Elice	Three? Ah, right—Tiki is the daughter of the Divine Dragon monarch. She is a princess too.
Where has Tiki gotten off to, anyway?		Nyna
Peony	Last I saw, she was playing with some children on the other side of the village. Wait...do you see that?
Smoke! Is there a fire over there?! We should go over and help. Come on, you two!		Elice

Illuminating the Path - B

Nyna	What could have caused a blaze this strong to break out in the first place?
I’ll have a look. Be right back!		Peony
Elice	While she does that, let’s focus on getting the villagers to safety.
Princess Nyna! Princess Elice!		Tiki
Elice	Tiki! There you are! Are you all right?
I’m fine, but the villagers—someone said there were bad guys with weapons skulking around nearby!		Tiki
Nyna	Arson? Are we under attack?
Yes! They have us boxed in! Do you think they’re looking for one of you princesses?		Peony
Elice	Possible they followed us here.
Princess Nyna, Princess Elice, take the villagers somewhere safe. Tiki and I will think of something!		Peony
Tiki	Right. All I have to do is turn into a dragon and... And I’ll destroy them. I’ll...destroy anyone... Rrr... No, everyone... Everyone will be gone... Forever...
Tiki? What’s wrong? You’ve gone white as a sheet!		Elice
Tiki	Fire... They’re burning... They’re all burning! They’re screaming! The fire dragons are toying with their prey! They’re burning everyone alive! Stop! Stop it! Help me!
Tiki! Just breathe—come here, sit by me. Take a moment.		Nyna
Tiki	I don’t want to be a monster... I don’t want to be a monster!
Monster? What do you mean?		Peony
Tiki	My dreams keep showing me...alone in the dark, and... I become a monster and...everyone...
These dreams have convinced you that turning into a dragon will make you a monster?		Elice
Tiki	If I don’t fight, people will get hurt... But if I do fight, I’ll be the one hurting them! I can’t... I can’t do it!
She may be particularly sensitive to the realm of dreams.		Peony
Nyna	I don’t understand.
Askr has a deep connection with Ljósálfheimr, the realm of dreams. But that’s not all. Ljósálfheimr is inextricably linked with Dökkálfheimr, the realm of nightmares.		Peony
Elice	Could that be what is causing these terrors to take root?
Be not afraid, Tiki. You are with us. You are not alone.		Nyna
Tiki	Princess Nyna... You give really good hugs...
Listen to me. You are not going to become a monster. Not ever. Your friends are here for you. We will never let that happen.		Nyna
Elice	Right. So long as we are here, you need fear nothing. Least of all being alone. Take my hand. Focus on my hand. Let it ground you in this moment.
Your hand is warm... Like Mar-Mar’s...		Tiki
Peony	Nightmares only hold power over you if you let them, Tiki. Think of us, your friends. Give yourself a happy dream!
Yes... Yes, a happy dream. One where I’m together with everyone... One where I’m not trapped in a dark room... One where everyone around me is a friend... A cherished friend... My friends...they protect me. They lead me out of the darkness! And now they need my help!		Tiki

Illuminating the Path - A

Tiki	Rgh! Listen up, bad guys! I’m not going to let you hurt my friends! If you try it, you’re only going to make me angry! Not even dragons can stop me when I’m angry!
She’s done it! She’s transformed!		Nyna
Elice	A Divine Dragon, here to protect us and the villagers...
I’m with you, Tiki! Princess Nyna, Princess Elice, get those villagers out of here!		Peony
Elice	Understood. This way, Princess Nyna! The rear gate!
Wait—the bandits have blocked our path that way!		Nyna
Reginn	Get behind me! They will not lay a finger on you, I swear it!
Princess Reginn? When did you get here?!		Peony
Hardin	Hear me, foul scum who would prey upon the vulnerable! You now reckon with the Coyote!
Lord Hardin! You’ve come!		Nyna
Hardin	We heard tell of bandits in the area and set out immediately. Good to see we are in time.
The Coyote’s Men are the quickest around, so I grabbed my Gullinbursti to show them the shortest way here!		Reginn
Wolf	Keep pace with Lord Hardin! These thugs will rue the day they stood in the way of the Coyote’s Men! Secure the evacuation route first, and the walls next! Then we’ll rout any bandits who found their way in!
We have successfully expunged every last bandit from the village, Coyote.		Sedgar
Roshea	All of the villagers are accounted for as well. No injuries or casualties.
Very well. But do not let your guard down just yet.		Hardin
Nyna	I must thank you for coming to our aid, Lord Hardin. The situation had been looking rather grim.
No need to thank me, Princess Nyna. Your safety is my foremost priority.		Hardin
Elice	Where is Tiki?
Over here. She fell fast asleep the moment Vyland hoisted her onto his back.		Peony
Tiki	Zzz...
Hehe. Hard to believe that adorable face was our fiercest protector mere moments ago.		Elice
Peony	If Tiki’s nightmares had kept her from transforming, we may very well have failed to stave the bandits off. Without the reassurance you and Princess Nyna gave her, we may have been lost.
Is that so...		Hardin
I believe I finally understand it now. Even if they are not meant for battle, they may still play a key role...		Hardin
Nyna	What is it, Lord Hardin?
I had intended to ask the summoner to return you and Princess Elice to your homes. I had made an assumption that Askr’s need was purely a military one. I see now that I was mistaken.		Hardin
Elice	So you have changed your mind?
I have. Askr is in need of more than mere soldiers to defend its borders. It also needs healers. Caretakers. People who can inspire others.		Hardin
Peony	I completely agree! That must be what the summoner had in mind by choosing these two here.
If Princess Elice and I have a part to play, then I am satisfied.		Nyna
Elice	Indeed. I believe I will be content to play a supporting role.
If that is the case, then my purpose in Askr is also clear. I hereby vow, on the honor of the Coyote’s Men, that I shall protect you for as long as we are here.		Hardin
Nyna	Thank you, Lord Hardin. We will, in turn, contribute to protecting Askr as best we can.
Zzz... Together with...all my friends... The nightmare is...finally over... Zzz...		Tiki

Scenario
Flow of Power ←		Illuminating the Path		New Awakening →
Tiki	Nyna		Elice		Hardin

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