Study in Crimson/Rath: Wolf of Sacae


Rath	...
What is Rath up to at this hour? It's dangerous outside the castle walls. Wild beasts have been prominent in the area of late. I should make sure he is safe.		Alfonse

Strange. I was quite sure he went this way... Ah! A light, down by the water! Must be his bonfire... Hello, Rath. I've been looking for you.		Alfonse
Rath	Prince Alfonse.
Forgive the intrusion, but I must ask... What exactly are you doing here?		Alfonse
Rath	Taking time away from people. Nature makes for better company. Helps me clear my head. Without time alone now and again, I would lose my mind.
I see. In that case, consider me doubly apologetic for intruding. Take care, and good night.		Alfonse
Rath	Good night.


Alfonse	Rath, please allow me to apologize once more for interrupting your time alone the other night.
No trouble. You were courteous. You carried yourself with the purpose and goodness worthy of Father Sky.		Rath
Alfonse	You said that if you did not take time away to commune with nature, you would lose your mind. Is there any way for us to improve the castle grounds so that this is no longer the case for you?
The castle already lacks for nothing. That is both its bounty and its curse.		Rath
Alfonse	I'm afraid I don't understand.
Food, shelter, entertainment... Those who live in the castle have all they could possibly want. Safe behind high walls, guarded by tall watchtowers, they sleep soundly in their soft beds. But in that haze of safety they have lost sight of something valuable.		Rath
Alfonse	You are suggesting comfort has made us complacent.
Come by the water's edge tonight. If Father Sky wills it, your eyes will be opened to the truth.		Rath
Alfonse	The haze of safety...


Alfonse	Here we are, Rath. The water's edge. What happens now? I see rippling water, some scattered trees, a few birds...and little else. Is there something I am missing?
Do not only look ahead of you. You do enough of that already. Take a deep breath, and look up.		Rath
Alfonse	Ah! The stars... There are so many. I'd forgotten how bright the night sky can be.
Your castle's walls are thick. They protect you from the elements, and from your enemies. But while you shield yourselves from rain and arrows, you hide what shines down on you always from above.		Rath
Alfonse	You said Father Sky would open my eyes, and you were not exaggerating. It is a beautiful sight. We have indeed forgotten something valuable.
The Kutolah remember. We always keep an eye up toward Father Sky. I find as much solace in the stars here in Askr as I did on the Sacae plains.		Rath
Alfonse	Thank you for this. I understand now.
Good. Tell me, Prince Alfonse, how long ago was it that you last remembered these stars?		Rath
Alfonse	To my chagrin, I...cannot recall.


Alfonse	Thank you again for taking me stargazing, Rath. The experience was enlightening.
What did you learn?		Rath
Alfonse	Here in Askr, we are in a continual state of fending off one crisis or preparing for the next. The constant danger affords us scant few opportunities for introspection. But if all we do is fret over what may befall us next, we lose sight of the very beauty we fight to protect.
Must be difficult, leading a kingdom through peril after peril. Harder still to be the backbone of the Order of Heroes.		Rath
Alfonse	We have become accustomed to focusing on survival, one day at a time... But that focus is too narrow. With so much thought given over to survival, precious little is left for actually living.
Would you say your eyes have been opened, then?		Rath
Alfonse	They have, yes. I now see that, in order to truly live, I must once in a while take a deep breath and look up.
The stars are not always kind. Sometimes they cast long shadows, and even foretell disaster. But so long as their light shines down to illuminate your path, no darkness can ever blind you.		Rath
Alfonse	Wise words.
I have to say... You have more self-awareness than most. That's a gift from Father Sky. Nurture it, and it will serve you well.		Rath
Alfonse	Thank you, Rath. I hope I may continue to rely on you for wisdom.
May Mother Earth bless you and be my witness, Prince Alfonse. So long as you walk in the light of Father Sky, I will be here for you.		Rath