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Land of the Undying
Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
Scene 4
Scene 1
Theo
...

Nagi
...

Theo
...I've got you!

Nagi
Fool! Think of every opening in your
opponent's guard as a trap!

Theo
Uwah!

Nagi
Guard your wrists!

Theo
Ow!
Ah, my practice sword...!

Nagi
This victory is mine.
...Let us call it a day.

Theo
Please, Master!
Just one more round!

Nagi
Sir Theo, you have indeed improved from
where you were before...

Nagi
But you cannot rush the road of mastery.
Rest is vital to maintain your health.

Theo
...Yes, Master.

Nagi
I understand your haste. Were I in your
place, I would feel much the same.

Nagi
I know how dearly you wish to stop her.

Nagi
But you must not let your feelings
overpower you. You cannot beat her yet.

Theo
But...

Nagi
Sir Theo... If you do battle with her now,
you will die.

Nagi
She is stronger than any of us, now...

Theo
I know that. She gave you that scar, after
all, and you're stronger than I am.

Theo
I would barely even slow her down.

Nagi
Indeed. And your skill is not the only
issue, either.

Nagi
She is undead. Even if you could kill her,
she would only resurrect again.

Nagi
Just as happened when Me'Rizante's Ga
ended her.

Nagi
It would take a miracle to kill her once,
let alone over and over...

Theo
...But...
But even so, I...

Bikki Soldier
Please excuse me, Captain.
Lord Omi requests your presence.

Nagi
I shall attend at once.
Come along, Sir Theo.

Theo
Yes, Master.

Lord Omi
Fetch every ship that is watertight!
Ensure every one has rowers and a pilot!

Nagi
Nagi, at your request, my Lord.

Theo
Theo, at your service!

Lord Omi
Thank you for coming, you two. I must
apologize for the sudden summons.

Nagi
What has transpired, my Lord?
Sage Rei, is she...?

Lord Omi
Indeed... She is not well.
Not well at all.

Nagi
She has kept Kisenkyo safe with her magic
for the past year, after all.

Nagi
It is close to a miracle she has held out
this long.

Lord Omi
We owe her more than we can ever repay.
...Which is why we must now act.

Lord Omi
Sage Rei has collapsed, and the barrier
around Kisenkyo has begun to crumble.

Lord Omi
When it falls, this village will turn from a
safe haven to a killing field.

Theo
We have to get everyone out of here
before that happens...

Lord Omi
Yes. We are preparing ships to evacuate
down the Sakiri River to the ocean.

Theo
To the ocean...it's a long trip, but it
could work.

Nagi
But it will take time to get everyone
aboard the ships.

Lord Omi
Yes. And we already have reports of
undead approaching the village.

Lord Omi
They must have already noticed the
weakening of the barrier.

Lord Omi
...Nagi. I trust you understand
what I must ask of you.

Nagi
My Lord, pray, do not look so distraught.

Nagi
I shall draw the attention of the undead
and buy time for the evacuation.

Lord Omi
Thank you. We will leave one ship in a
hidden place by the river for you.

Lord Omi
When all the villagers are away, find it,
and reunite with the fleet.

Lord Omi
It pains me to ask this of you, but you are
Kisenkyo's Captain. There is no one else.

Lord Omi
We have an elite squad for you, volunteers
all. Lead them well.

Nagi
Of course. Such is my duty as Captain.

Theo
Master, please let me come with you.

Nagi
But...

Theo
You said so yourself, Master.
I'm stronger than I was.

Theo
I'm no match for you, but I can hold my
own. I can help keep the villagers safe!

Lord Omi
A warrior of Sir Theo's skill would be
greatly welcome. Is that not so, Captain?

Nagi
...Understood. But promise me you will
not do anything reckless.

Theo
Of course not. I can't afford to die
with my duty left undone...

Undead
...

Theo
Here they come... I spot two or three
groups. Not too many.

Nagi
Not many, but enough. And there will be
more, before we know it...

Nagi
Normally, we would be more cautious,
but we are not here to exterminate them.

Theo
Should we attack?

Nagi
We shall. Warriors of Kisenkyo! Draw
steel and fall upon the monsters!

Bikki Soldier
Raaaaah!

Undead
...!

Nagi
Here they come! Draw their attention!
Kill as many as possible!

Bikki Soldier
Yes, Captain!

Nagi
Sir Theo, are you ready?

Theo
Yes, Master! The skills you taught me
will keep me safe!

Undead
......！

Bikki Soldier
Waaaugh!

Theo
Oh no!
Hang on!

Theo
Haaa!

Bikki Soldier
T-thank you!

Nagi
Do not let them surround you! Every
casualty adds to their ranks! Keep moving!

Nagi
(Good, the undead are focused on us.
They're leaving the town alone.)

Nagi
(There are some injuries, but no deaths
yet. If we can but keep this up...!)

Undead
Gaaaaaah!

Theo
That's... An undead beast?!
It's huge...!

Nagi
Those jaws will make short work of our
armor...

Nagi
Help the wounded retreat! I will handle
the beast!

Theo
You can't do it alone, Master!
I'll help you!

Nagi
...So be it! Keep yourself safe above all
else, Sir Theo!

Theo
Right!
Here we go!

Scene 2
Theo
Any obvious opening is a trap.
Even a beast understands that.

Theo
Look past the trap...for the real chance...
There!

Undead
Gruuuaaagh!

Theo
Yeah! I did it!

Nagi
(Sir Theo is much stronger than before.
Mere undead are no threat to him now.)

Nagi
(But she is too strong. And I do
not know if he can face her emotionally...)

Nagi
The dawn will break soon. The evacuation
ought to be nearly complete by now.

Nagi
We must reunite with the others.
Make for the hidden ship!

Theo
But what about...the ones who didn't
make it? Shouldn't we do something?

Nagi
...We have no choice but to leave them.

Theo
But if we leave them, they'll be turned!

Theo
We didn't kill all the undead, and there
will definitely be more here soon.

Theo
If we just leave their bodies out...they'll
be turned into undead themselves!

Nagi
What can we do for them, Sir Theo?

Theo
Water burial, of course! That's the only
way to keep them from turning.

Nagi
Indeed. The curse of undeath, which
seeps into the very earth itself, cannot

Nagi
penetrate into the watery depths. That is
the only way to protect the fallen.

Nagi
So, where are the weights for the burials?
Where is the closest deep water?

Theo
W-well...

Nagi
As you say, there will be more undead
here very soon.

Nagi
We cannot afford the added strain of
carrying the corpses to the river.

Theo
I know that, but—
...No.

Theo
I'm sorry. I...wasn't thinking.

Nagi
Do not apologize.
...Come, let us hurry.

Theo
...

Nagi
Are you still thinking of the soldiers
we left behind?

Theo
Yes. I don't mean to blame you for the
decision, Master.

Theo
I knew we couldn't do anything for them,
but I still said such selfish things...

Theo
But now there will be more loss.
People will see their loved ones turned...

Theo
When I think of that, I...
I just...

Nagi
You are kind, Sir Theo. That is a virtue.
But a moment's hesitation can spell death.

Nagi
There are times when a warrior must
discard kindness on the battlefield.

Theo
...My family always said I was kind, too.

Theo
My parents taught me to think of others,
and always help them when I could.

Theo
And my sister always praised me, too.
She'd say I had a beautiful heart.

Theo
She always told me how proud she was...
To have me as her brother...

Nagi
...

Theo
Master...please tell me. Were they...was
my family wrong?

Nagi
...No, Sir Theo. They were not.
I promise you, they were not!

Nagi
It is this world which is wrong. Your kind
heart ought to be your greatest strength!

Theo
Master...

Nagi
But this is our world. Unjust though it
may be, we have no choice but to live on...

Theo
(An "unjust" world...)

Theo
(...That just makes me wonder.)

Theo
(Is there a world that isn't unjust,
somewhere out there...?)

Bikki Soldier
Captain! We've been waiting for you!

Nagi
What is wrong? Why have you not
started preparing the ship for launch?!

Bikki Soldier
A horde of undead is blocking the only
route down the cliff to the river!

Bikki Soldier
Leading them is a human with blonde
hair...

Nagi
No...
Lady Rizette?!

Theo
Riz...!

Nagi
...If we delay, the enemies behind us will
pincer us from behind.

Nagi
We must break through that blockade.
We have no other choice!

Theo
Then I'll take the vanguard. Maybe I can
finally find a way to stop her!

Nagi
Sir Theo?! Wait!

Theo
Master! You know why I've been training
all this time!

Theo
I'm going to save her...
The only family I have left in this world!

Nagi
Sir Theo!!

Theo
Riz!

Rizette
Theo? I didn't know you had been hiding
in Kisenkyo.

Theo
That's right, Riz. It's me, Theo.
Please, come back to me!

Rizette
Don't be ridiculous. Are you trying to
distract me to buy time?

Theo
I'm not buying time! I want to save you!

Rizette
...Do you even understand the undead?
Do you know what I've become?

Theo
They're...creatures of the dark god
Orcanix. She instills them with the flame

Theo
of unlife, and they seek out others to
kill and add to their ranks.

Rizette
That's right.
That's what I am now.

Rizette
I've died so many times already, I've
lost count. And every time, I come back.

Rizette
Have you ever heard of an undead being
saved, Theo?

Rizette
There's no way to free us from this curse.
And no way to avoid it yourself, either.

Theo
I can't accept that.
I promise, I will—!

Rizette
Enough.
You're all going to die here.

Rizette
I'm not heartless, though. Even now.
I'll make it painless.

Nagi
Sir Theo...
Please, allow me to—

Theo
I'm not backing down.

Nagi
Sir Theo!

Theo
I need to stop her. It has to be me.
I'm the only family she has left!

Nagi
So be it! Then I will fight alongside my
treasured disciple!

Nagi
The others are to strike where the horde
is thinnest. Go!

Bikki Soldier
Yes, Captain!

Nagi
The situation is dire...but we will survive!
We must!

Scene 3
Bikki Soldier
Captain! We've located the evacuation
ship at the foot of the cliff!

Bikki Soldier
Several soldiers have punched through
the horde! We're boarding now!

Nagi
Excellent! Then we need not concern
ourselves with the undead any longer!

Nagi
If you cannot pierce the horde, jump from
the cliff into the water! Swim to the ship!

Bikki Soldier
Understood! All troops, make for the
nearest cliff! Swim to the ship!

Nagi
That is our forces taken care of.
All that remains is...!

Undead
Graaaarh!

Nagi
Out of my way!

Nagi
Damn these undead! We are separated...
Sir Theo! Sir Theo, where are you?!

Theo
Ungh...!

Rizette
You planned to stop me fighting like this?
That's pathetic.

Nagi
(He is being pushed back. And Lady
Rizette is hardly struggling at all!)

Rizette
Do you see now, Theo?
You're no match for me.

Rizette
I'm stronger, and I'm immortal too.
Kill me, and I'll get right back up.

Rizette
I'm tired of this farce.
Time to end it.

Theo
Ghh?!

Nagi
(Sir Theo is down! At this rate...!)

Nagi
I will not allow it!!

Rizette
Huh?!
What... Get off me!

Nagi
Now, Sir Theo! While she is distracted!
End her!

Theo
R-right!

Theo
(Before she can do any more evil...
I need to...!)

Rizette
You're always so kind, Theo.
I'm so, so proud of you.

Theo
(Riz...!)

Rizette
Enough!

Nagi
Gaaah!

Theo
Master?!

Rizette
Pathetic. If you want to die so badly,
then I'll oblige you!

Nagi
Sir Theo!
Hold your breath!

Theo
Huh?!
Aaaah!

Rizette
They jumped from the cliff...

Rizette
...I see. I underestimated that bikki.

Rizette
He lost an arm, and still thought to
protect Theo...

Nagi
...nn...

Theo
Master! You're awake!
Ah, don't move just yet.

Nagi
Theo...ah, yes. I feel slightly wobbly.
Have I lost that much blood?

Theo
...I'm sorry.

Theo
I'm sorry.
I'm so... so sorry, Master...

Nagi
There is nothing to apologize for.
I was simply not strong enough.

Theo
No! I... If I hadn't hesitated, you wouldn't
have lost your arm...!

Nagi
Sir Theo.
You ought to reconsider your quest.

Nagi
To kill one's only flesh and blood is
something no one should have to do.

Nagi
I do not think there is anything to be
gained by forcing it upon yourself.

Theo
...

Theo
I'm sorry, but...I can't accept that. It's
because she's my family. It has to be me.

Theo
I truly am sorry, Master. I know that
could never make up for what I did...

Theo
But I promise that next time, I won't fail.
I will save my sister.

Nagi
Sir Theo...

???
Caaw! Caw caw!

Nagi
What is that?

Bikki Soldier
Above us! Undead birds!
There are so many of them!

Theo
A flock of birds...? No, wait!
They're carrying things in their talons!

Bikki Soldier
The birds are transporting undead
warriors!

Theo
They're coming for the ship.
...Riz is with them!

Nagi
I will entrap them aboard this ship!
Everyone, swim to the next vessel ahead!

Rizette
Our birds are faster than your ships.
There's no escape for you now...

Nagi
I wonder. If we defeat their leader, your
undead will cease their attacks.

Rizette
Bravery is all well and good, but can you
stop me? Alone, one-armed and weak?

Theo
He's not alone.
I'm staying on this ship too.

Nagi
Sir Theo...

Theo
I can't swim like a bikki, after all. I
couldn't catch up with the other ships.

Theo
So...please, Master.
Let me do this.

Nagi
...Understood.

Rizette
I don't mind either way. Either of you
would be a worthy prize to claim.

Rizette
Wipe out this clingy last remnant of my
past life...

Rizette
...or take down Captain Nagi, and break
the bikki's will to fight just like that.

Rizette
I'll start with you two. Then I'll take my
time killing the rest of these frogs.

Rizette
Go!
Bring me the bikki!

Theo
If you want Master, you'll have to go
through me! I'll stop you, Riz!

Scene 4
Theo
Out of the way!

Undead
Grrgrgh...!

Rizette
What? What is this?
Where did this power come from?

Nagi
He is surpassing my teachings! To think
his resolve could grant him such strength!

Theo
Come on, Riz.
Let's put an end to this!

Rizette
...Okay. I won't insult you by holding
back any more, then.

Rizette
You'll live long enough to regret not
taking my offer of a painless death.

Theo
I won't regret it! Ever since you left us,
I've been training for this moment!

Rizette
You're still hung up on "saving" me...
And just how will you do that?

Rizette
Can you extinguish this wretched fire
burning in my chest?

Rizette
No, you can't. Are you truly being kind?
Or are you just being arrogant?

Theo
I am being arrogant. Without question,
I'm being arrogant.

Theo
But even so... I won't give up on it!
In this unjust world, this is the only way—

Theo
This is the only way I can be kind, and
make you proud to be my sister!

Rizette
I don't understand...
Enough of this.

Theo
Urrgh...!

Nagi
Sir Theo...!
He has been completely run through!

Rizette
You're full of openings. You might as well
have begged me to stab you.

Rizette
I know it hurts. I'm sorry. Hold still...
I'll end it for you.

Theo
...No.

Rizette
Huh?!
I can't move my sword!

Theo
An obvious opening...is a trap. Master...
My Master taught me that...!

Rizette
What are you doing? Pulling my sword
even deeper into yourself?!

Theo
Now you can't get your sword back out.
And...!

Rizette
Ah...

Nagi
Now he has run Lady Rizette through...!

Theo
...My sword's wedged into the ship's wall.
You won't be able to get out, will you?

Rizette
You think this means you've won? I'm
undead. I'll just keep coming back...

Theo
Master!
Scuttle the ship!

Nagi
What?!

Rizette
Huh...?

Theo
You...and I...are both going down with
the ship. To the bottom of the river!

Nagi
That would be a form of water burial...
It is possible Lady Rizette could be freed.

Nagi
But, Sir Theo...!

Theo
There are times when a warrior must
discard kindness on the battlefield!

Nagi
!!
(My own words...!)

Theo
...Ngh! Ugh! B-besides...I've been run
through. I don't have long anyway...

Theo
So, please, Master...
Hurry!

Nagi
...Haaaaa!

Rizette
......

Theo
Riz. If we stay like this, we'll both be
pinned under the wreck in the riverbed.

Theo
Your flame of unlife will be snuffed out.
You'll never come back again.

Theo
You'll be free, Riz.
You'll be saved.

Rizette
...Right.

Rizette
Right, Theo...

Nagi
Ungh...

Bikki Soldier
Lord Omi!
Captain Nagi has returned!

Lord Omi
Nagi! You have done well to return to us!

Nagi
Lord Omi.
I am, as ever, at your service...

Lord Omi
W-what happened to your arm?

Nagi
A small price to pay for my life, my Lord.
Pray, how is Sage Rei?

Lord Omi
...She has regained consciousness.
I will bring you to her.

Rei
Nagi...is that you? Cough, cough...
I'm sorry...I must look terrible...

Nagi
Sage Rei, please do not speak. You must
rest yourself.

Rei
No, please let me talk.
I want to thank you.

Rei
For fulfilling your duty and saving our
people, you have my deepest gratitude.

Nagi
There is no need for that. I simply did
what I could.

Rei
...Wait. Where is Theo?

Rei
That poor boy. What's happened to him?

Nagi
He...and his sister, rest at the bottom of
the river.

Rei
...I see.

Lord Omi
Oh, how cruel...

Rei
I know it's a horrid thing to think, but
I believe this is...for the best.

Rei
They've finally reached the peaceful
embrace of death... Cough, cough!!

Lord Omi
Sage Rei!
Please, you must rest!

Rei
No...it seems that it's my time to go, too.

Lord Omi
Please, Sage Rei, hold on!
We are almost to Last Bastion!

Lord Omi
The final fortress of mortals! Surely, once
you have a place to rest in safety—

Rei
Haha. So many have already given their
lives; mine's been too long, already.

Rei
Lord Omi, please continue to lead the
bikki with wisdom and humility.

Rei
Nagi...continue to watch over them...and
keep them safe, won't you?

Nagi
...Yes.
I swear it.

Rei
...Forgive me for...leaving you behind.
Prosperity...and happiness...to the bikki.

Rei
...

Lord Omi
Sage Rei?
Sage Rei...!

Bikki Soldier
There it is! The last hope of mortals...
Last Bastion!

Bikki Soldier
We're saved! We're saved!

Nagi
...Let us go. We cannot afford to stop
moving.

Nagi
If we stop to grieve, the hand of undeath
will surely close around our throats.

Lord Omi
...Indeed.
Let us away.

Rizette
...

Rizette
The Endless Pyre. Where undying souls
are resurrected into flesh. Which means...

Rizette
I'm still undead. I wasn't freed...

Rizette
(Water burial may spare the newly dead
from her influence...)

Rizette
(But it seems it won't free those of us
who are already undead.)

Rizette
(Theo, my baby brother, died for me...)

Rizette
(And here I am, all the same.
I can't even shed a tear for him.)

Rizette
It's all so...pointless.

???
Rizette, once again, you have done well
to carry out My will.

Rizette
(A voice in my head...)

???
You were struck down quite spectacularly.
How do you feel?

Rizette
Well, thanks to you.
...Orcanix.

Orcanix
Good. Powerful though you may be,
you are still undead.

Orcanix
Take care not to inhale too much water.
Your flame will be dampened, and you will

Orcanix
be returned to the Pyre. Unacceptable,
when there is work left unfinished.

Rizette
...Understood.

Rizette
(I know.
I've certainly tried.)

Orcanix
...But fear not, child. My blessing upon
you is not so easily shaken.

Orcanix
Rizette, you will spread My blessing.
Until one day, all the worlds are blessed

Orcanix
with the peace of life everlasting.

Rizette
...?

Rizette
("All the worlds"?
Not "all the world"?)

Orcanix
The remaining unblessed are few, their
defenses weak. This world is already Mine.

Orcanix
It is time to begin the next step. My
blessing will be brought to the next world.

Orcanix
A new world...
A different Erden!

Rizette
A different...Erden?

Orcanix
This other Erden has long been ruled by
another god: Arcane, the Eternal.

Orcanix
But Arcane has fallen. Finally, I have a
chance to expand My influence.

Rizette
(Another Erden...where a god like
Orcanix was killed.)

Orcanix
My dear Rizette. Strong, lovely, and so
deeply blessed by My power.

Orcanix
You will go to this other Erden, and
create for Me a foothold there.

Orcanix
And in so doing, you will help Me bless
countless more with life unending!

Rizette
...Unfortunately, Orcanix, I have no
knowledge of how to cross worlds.

???
That's where I come in.

Rizette
...Who are you?

Orcanix
Fear not, child. This man is my
collaborator.

Orcanix
He holds the power to cross worlds.
He will light the way for you.

Orcanix
Now, go, Rizette. You will be the one
to make My dream a reality.

Rizette
...

Rizette
(Not that I have the freedom to refuse.
Or that it would matter if I did.)

Rizette
(I gave up a long time ago. On dying, on
resisting. Everything but cursing my fate.)

Rizette
As you command, my Master.

???
Come on, let's go. To another world—
An Erden where death is possible.

Rizette
(...An Erden where death is possible.
Where anyone can die...truly die.)

Rizette
(I wonder...)

Rizette
(I wonder if Theo is still alive there,
somewhere...)

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