This Life's Light/Ishtar: Echoing Thunder

Ishtar: Echoing Thunder - C

Anna	You’re looking for Prince Julius of the Grannvale Empire?
Yes... I asked the summoner and was informed he had already come to Askr.		Ishtar
Anna	Hm... I’ve seen him a few times on the battlefield, but I don’t know where he is right now, either. He shows up at the start of large battles, but then disappears soon after. As far as I can tell, he isn’t fighting... He’s testing his power.
I see...		Ishtar
Anna	The Order of Heroes works with many Heroes from different worlds, but... We don’t put limitations on what those Heroes can do, or how they think... Or I should say, we can’t. The Heroes are far too powerful, and it’s not as if we can order them to do something against their will.
I see. Thank you for this information, Commander Anna.		Ishtar
Lord Julius... Oh? Is that...		Ishtar
Arvis	...
Lord Arvis!		Ishtar
Arvis	You... You’re that girl from House Friege. Though...the you I know is but a child... You must hail from a different world than my own. Or perhaps you were summoned from a different time.
I presume it to be the latter. It is an honor to meet you again, Lord Arvis. There is something I would like to ask you. Do you know where I might find Lord Julius?		Ishtar
Arvis	Lord Julius? Why?
I was unable to serve him to the end of the wars in Jugdral. I hope that I can at least join our fates together here.		Ishtar
Arvis	...Pathetic. I had wondered why you might seek him. To think your reasons were so misguided.
What?		Ishtar
Arvis	I know not your mutual story, or how it ended. However, I can theorize its course from your words. It is clear it didn’t end as you desired.
I...		Ishtar
Arvis	Do you intend to repeat the same mistakes here? You were not summoned to this land to engage in such foolishness.
I...I just... I simply wished to be with Lord Julius...		Ishtar
Arvis	I have no clue where to find him. Begone.
Lord Arvis! Lord Julius... I...		Ishtar

Ishtar: Echoing Thunder - B

Ishtar	*sigh* Julius remains...utterly elusive... And I...
Phew, there sure is a lot... I guess I’ll just have to carry what we can’t fit on the cart.		Roshea
Julian	There’s no way you can carry it all in one trip. We’ll have to come back a couple times.
Excuse me, but are those supplies being sent to the front?		Ishtar
Lena	No, this is all food for the orphanage. Gifts from Queen Henriette.
Why are Heroes such as yourselves working for an orphanage?		Ishtar
Roshea	We may be Heroes, but we are more than just warriors.
Taking care of children who lost their parents in the war, helping villages recover from natural disasters... There are many ways to aid this land outside of the battlefield.		Julian
Ishtar	I see... Um, would you permit me to help you carry those supplies?
Yes, of course. Your help would be most appreciated.		Lena
Julian	One can never have too many helping hands. As I recall, you are...
I am of the House of... No, I am simply Ishtar.		Ishtar
Roshea	It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ishtar. Now that you’re here, would you mind helping us load the cart?

Ishtar: Echoing Thunder - A

Lena	Hello, Ishtar. Thank you for coming back in to the orphanage to help.
I am not used to this sort of thing, but so long as I am not an inconvenience, I’d like to help.		Ishtar
Lucius	Inconvenience? Don’t be silly! We’re all grateful for your help. Especially the children!
That’s right. You offering your assistance means the world.		Lugh
Ishtar	Th-thank you.
Ishtar	How sweet...
It’s nice being able to watch kids enjoying themselves and acting like children, isn’t it?		Julian
Ishtar	Yes. It is, truly...
If I may... I was wondering... There’s a look in your eyes when you watch them. You almost seem sad.		Julian
Ishtar	I...I suppose...
You know, not all Heroes come from a saintly past. Many of us have troubled histories. I’m not saying that is the case, but... Did something happen to you?		Julian
Ishtar	Yes... There were terrible campaigns in my home world. Atrocities without end. And they targeted children. So many children were stolen from their families. So much despair... And that pain was used to fuel a dark god.
Such inhumanity... I’m afraid that it seems to exist in all worlds.		Julian
Ishtar	It was Lord Julius who ordered the hunts. Try as I might, I could not convince him they were heinous. And so, I set the children free in secret. But I could only save so many. Many a child fell victim...
I see. That would explain the sadness in your eyes.		Julian
Ishtar	I fear my sins will not be expunged simply by my helping at this orphanage. To think that I was part of something that tore happy children from the loving embraces of their parents... I...
You may not be able to change your past, nor will those wrongs disappear. But the future is yours to shape. I learned that from someone dear to me.		Julian

Ishtar: Echoing Thunder - S

Julian	I too led a dark life until I was able to join Prince Marth’s army.
Oh?		Ishtar
Julian	That sense of guilt did not disappear, even after I found those who became precious to me. But once I began helping the children of the orphanage, my way of thinking gradually began to change. Now I believe that the most important way to make up for the sins of your past is living for the future.
Living...for the future...		Ishtar
Julian	As long as there are wars, there will be suffering children. But if we can help those children in some small way, that will impact the future. Of that I’m certain.
...		Ishtar
Julian	Think of it this way. It matters not to the children if working for redemption is a self-serving act. What is important to them is feeling safe, and being able to smile again.
You’re right... I will think on what I can do to bring peace and happiness to these children’s lives. The path I choose to trend from here on may be in defiance of Lord Julius’s wishes... But I wish for the life that I have here and now... I wish to be a light, however dim, that illuminates the people’s future. Until the time comes for the light of my own life to end...		Ishtar

Scenario
← Altena		—
This Life's Light
Scáthach	Ishtar	Arthur	Tine

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