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[Location: the Condemned Village. Akira is happily napping on a bench]
Akira: [quietly] Hey, handsome, you want to go for a ride…? I’ll be slow and gentle…don’t you worry…
[Akira feels himself being gently shaken by a soft hand]
Akira: Eager, aren’t you…?
Oersted: [softly] Excuse me?
[Akira makes a noise of annoyance]
Oersted: Pardon me, but…I need your help...
[Akira says something, but his fatigue and anger are making his words impossible to decipher]
Oersted: Please wake up…
Akira: Oh, why the fuck are you trying to wake me up…?
[Akira slowly opens his eyes. The first thing he sees is a handsome blond man with shiny amber eyes]
Akira:…Did I just die?
Oersted: No, my friend. You are still alive. Thank the gods.
Akira: [nonchalantly]…You’re kind of…a handsome knight, aren’t you? I never knew knights could be as handsome as you.
[Oersted solemnly pulls his hand away from Akira’s shoulder]
Akira:…What did I say?
[Oersted slowly shakes his head. Akira blows a raspberry at him]
Akira: Okay, don’t answer me…
Oersted: My sincerest apologies. A sorrowful memory just…entered my mind.
Akira: Urgh, is that all you woke me up for, blondie? To bitch about a sad memory of yours?
Oersted: Your tongue is very sharp, I see…
[He clears his throat]
Oersted: In any case, I must warn you about the state of this kingdom! It’s completely empty!
Akira: Uh huh. I could tell.
Oersted: The Archon’s Roost…I was fighting with…him…and then…then he…used a powerful spell to finish me off…and then when I awoke, I suddenly found myself back…[gesturing to the environment]…here. And I saw that…nobody was left. He…he must have…!
[Oersted slowly shakes his head. He then takes a deep breath]
Oersted: Apologies. I…have never felt such sorrow before…
Akira:…And what do you want me to do about it, blondie?
Oersted: [hopefully] I would like some assistance with my predicament. I need somebody to assist me with…him. What say you, friend? Will you assist me?
[Akira coldly stares at Oersted for a few seconds. Akira then groans]
Akira: If I must.
Oersted: [overjoyed] Many thanks, my friend! Ah, it is such a relief to know that I have an ally! Oh, forgive my manners; I have forgotten to introduce myself. My name is Oersted! And I am a knight in shining armour!
[Akira scans Oersted’s outfit for a few moments]
Akira: Your armour doesn’t look too shiny.
Oersted: Ah, I have not had the chance to clean it lately. Thank you for reminding me!
[Akira groans as he rolls his eyes]
Oersted: And what is your name, friend?
Akira: Akira.
Oersted: Ah, that is a wonderful name!
Akira: Come on, there’s a lot of people named “Akira”.
Oersted: But you are the only Akira that I know.
Akira:…Fair.
[Akira slowly sits up and stretches]
Akira: So…what are we doing, blondie?
Oersted:…We are looking for others that may have survived…his attack. And when we build a considerable army, we will go to the Archon’s Roost to fight…him!
Akira: Who is this guy you keep talking about? [rubbing his hands together] Does he have any weaknesses~?
Oersted: Well, I suppose he is physically frail…
Akira: Nice, nice. And, uh, what is the dude’s name? I noticed that you’re trying not to say his name. What, is he going to pop out of nowhere when you say his name? Is he a demon or something?
[Oersted’s lip starts quivering. He whimpers as he sits on the grass next to the bench. And then he whimpers again as he hugs his legs]
Akira:…Uh oh.
[Oersted takes a few deep breaths]
Oersted:…He is…was? Is? My dearest friend. His name is…Straybow.
[Akira silently stares at Oersted]
Oersted:…He is a mage, you see. The most popular mage, I should say. And he enjoys creating beautiful vivid images. His images were so…colorful. So relaxing. So…so…amazing. Words can barely describe it. And it was those wonderful images that made him so popular. Oh, how he loved the cheers from the citizens…how he loved the attention and adoration from the people…
[Oersted sniffles and bites his lip. Akira promptly sits next to him]
Oersted: But…the kingdom always loved me more. I always got more fame than he did. And Straybow…did not like this…at all. He got…very upset. He got so upset that he went to the Archon’s Roost to defeat the Lord of Dark, just so he could prove to everyone that he was the hero of this kingdom…but something awful happened. He’s stuck there now. He…he’s trapped by boulders. The…the Archon’s Roost crumbled around him. [quietly] He might be dead…
[Oersted slowly shakes his head]
Oersted: I don’t understand. He is a powerful mage. I was going to be the king, and he was going to be my associate. He would get all the adoration he ever wanted. But I suppose…that wouldn’t be enough for him. I think he just hates me. All because I’m…better than him…somehow.
Akira: “Somehow’?
Oersted: Aye. I cannot create beautiful images. I cannot summon the elements of nature. All I have is a sword. Anybody can use a sword…but who can summon the elements of nature…?
[Akira darts his eyes around as he whistles innocently]
Oersted: And I am not even that confident…I’m actually very soft-spoken. Straybow…was far more confident than I ever was…
[Oersted buries his face in his knees]
Oersted: Oh, why didn’t I notice anything? Why didn’t I say anything? I could have stopped him…!
[He raises his head again and stares out into the environment]
Oersted: I wish to go over to the Archon’s Roost. I wish to talk to him if he is still alive. I wish to apologize. Perhaps this is all a misunderstanding. Perhaps his emotions took control of him. I…don’t want to fight him, if possible. [speaking in a broken voice] I just want my friend back…
[Akira looks as if he wants to say something, but he stops himself. He then sighs sadly as he rubs Oersted’s shoulder]
Akira:…That really sucks, dude.
[Oersted wipes away a tear]
Akira:…You seem like a really nice guy, Oersted.
[Oersted looks over at Akira. The teen is giving Oersted a soft smile]
Akira: I think this Straybow guy needs to be more grateful to you. It’s hard enough to find a friend, but a true friend? Those are nigh-impossible to find! This dude just saw a one-in-a-million find and threw it away because he’s a fucking idiot!
Oersted: [wistfully] How very crass…
Akira: Eh, sorry. Not sure what else I’m supposed to say. I just want to…beat him up, you know? Like, what you went through wasn’t fair, you know?
[Oersted slowly nods as he places his hand on top of Akira’s hand]
Oersted: Akira…we have known each other for only a few minutes, and yet…I feel as if I have known you for years…
[Akira blushes as he rubs the back of his head with his free hand]
Akira: Oh. Well. Thanks, I guess.
[He lets out a regretful sigh]
Akira: Aw, man…I was such an asshole to you…I…I…[speaking hastily]…I’m sorry for being an asshole towards you. I was only pissed off because you disturbed my nap. But that doesn’t excuse—
Oersted: [patting Akira’s hand] My friend, I thank you! Your apology is enough for me. There is no need to say anything else.
[Akira stares at Oersted out of surprise]
Oersted: Akira, your eyes are full of fatigue. You have very dark shadows under your eyes…
Akira:…What?
Oersted: You require rest.
Akira: That’s because you interrupted my nap, you…you…idiot. But you did have a good reason for it, I guess.
Oersted: Aye. And I truly apologize for waking you up. Now allow me to return the favour. Rest your head on my shoulder and close your eyes.
Akira: I don’t know, I feel a little bad. First you’re—
Oersted: Akira, my friend, it’s alright. You look very tired. Please…close your eyes and get some sleep. I will watch over you. I will not wake you unless an enemy approaches us, I promise.
Akira: Well…okay, I guess.
[Oersted gently pulls Akira closer and wraps his arms around him. Akira slowly rests his head on Oersted’s shoulder. Akira then wraps his arms around Oersted]
Akira:…Uh, hope you don’t mind my clinginess…
[Oersted chuckles softly]
Oersted: [warmly] Such a soft grip for someone who speaks in such a crass manner…
[Akira hums happily as he closes his eyes]
Akira: I could get used to you, Oersted…
End