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♪She spread her arms, spread her heart, showed me that pretty face♪

♪And from that moment on, I found my dreams in her embrace♪

I still remember when you fellas got together to sing that, back in the day. Your voices lit up the entire room... Felt like your singing cleared up the winter fog that year.

Always the same song as just now, ma'am?

Haha, hardly. They knew all sorts of songs. The miners came from all over, bringing so many songs in so many languages.

Umm... Does Woodrow also know how to sing?

He ain't much of a talker. Whenever we all get together, he just stuffs his face. Like now.

*cough* *cough*... Helena, when are you gonna crack open the bottle of champagne I brought back?

Shoot, I really am getting old, huh? Nearly forgot.

Umm, about Miles... He...

Don't worry about him. Said he wanted to take a stroll, so he did.

Just pop the cork and pour him a glass. We can toast when he comes back!

Alright, without further ado—

The cork shoots out with a pop, golden wine and silver foam splashing out at the same time. The sweet aroma spreads across the room, and wondrous befuddlement sparkles in the eyes of everyone at the table.

Here, Jessica, you're the star tonight, so the first glass is for you.

Thank you...

Next up is you, Woody. Thanks for helping her talk some sense into that stubborn old burdenbeast.

Don't mention it.

This one's for Miles... This one's for me... And last and definitely least is you, Leone. For killing us with worry all this time.

Okay, I deserved that.

To be perfectly honest, I actually—

If you got something to say, better wait for Miles. You ain't gonna leave him out like that, are you?

Ah, yeah, makes sense.

The table that had been lively all evening falls quiet, and the spilled champagne seeps silently into dark, unseen places.

Past bowls and plates.

Excuse me...

What is it, Benny?

Past cups and saucers.

Actually... there's something I wanted to announce to everyone...

Was wondering why you were so quiet today, but I guess you had something brewing. Waiting to snatch the spotlight from your dad at the dinner table?

Benny, why don't you wait for Miles too?

Past empty wine bottles.

No... I think now's the best time.

I...

Until it flows over the table's edge, and seeps into the floor.

Snap.

I'm leaving.

Hah, guess you finally got sick of us noisy old farts. Can't you wait for Miles to get back, so we can share one last drink before we say goodbye?

No... I meant I'm leaving Davistown.

Look at this kid, getting drunk without touching a drop of champagne.

No, I'm perfectly sober.

It's something I've been meaning to get off my chest... But I never got the chance, so I'm saying it now.

What's wrong? Why's everyone look like it just started raining?

Miles, I...

Benny just said... that he wants to leave Davistown.

Wh-What?

How long you been thinking about this, boy?

About a year or so...

Last month, Ms. Selena from next door came over and said that her daughter in Ironforge City managed to find a caravan willing to come through here. She said she was planning to go with it to follow her daughter.

She asked if I wanted to come. She thought it'd be a waste of my talents to stay. No matter how much I learn here, I wouldn't have a place to use any of it.

She told me... she didn't want me to become the next Sylvia.

What about your living expenses? Tuition? Where are you gonna live?

Don't worry, there are plenty of boarding schools in Ironforge City willing to provide scholarships so I can study there.

Benny... why wait so long to discuss this with us? It's a big decision... You know better than that.

...I'm sorry, Miles.

He ain't asking for our input.

Just letting us know the decision he's made.

...Have you thought this through? Weighed the pros and cons? Who knows, this place might perk up once it gets moving again. You can always decide then.

I don't want to wait that long.

The only reason you're all willing to stay put and pray things get better is because you remember the good old days.

But I don't. This place has been a dump for as long as I can remember.

...My adoptive father worked so hard for this place, throwing away everything else without hesitation. My brother took his place as a pillar of the family, and wanted to join a mercenary group when he came of age. To earn money to send back home.

But a few years later... Those people sent his belongings back, with no explanation in the attached letter except a few lines saying they're sorry.

There should've been another path for him back then. Just like... there should be one for me now.

....Am I wrong?

So when are you leaving?

...Tomorrow. I know I shouldn't have waited this long to tell you, but if I don't say it now... I'll never get another chance.

The boy glances across the table at his father, mustering the courage to look him in the eyes. He desperately hopes to see anger and resentment.

That would make him feel a little less guilty, a little less conflicted.

But his father simply hangs his head and remains silent, completely at a loss for words.

Leone...

It's fine... It'll be alright...

It's not a bad idea...

You <i>should</i> leave... You deserve it...

Helena gives Leone a few pats on the shoulder, but he simply continues to mechanically repeat a few words of approval, prompting her to shake him a bit harder.

It's fine, Helena. I'll be alright... This is how it should be...

Then, I wish you a safe journey. Take care of yourself, kid.

Why's it so damn cold here?

I picked up some wood we can burn. Feel any better yet?

Judging from how you curled up into a ball, I'm guessing you've never been through anything like this? *sigh*... How could your folks think you'd make it as a mercenary?

Huh? You decided on it yourself? But why? Did you get in a fight with your family?

Oh... There are people you want to protect, and problems you want to solve, huh? Mm, sounds pretty ambitious, if you ask me. I'm a bit jealous, to be honest.

Most people you see out here in these ruins, on the battlefield, were pushed here by circumstance. Myself included.

Driven by poverty. By injustice. By darkness and violence. We often pick up our weapons and rashly open fire, without worrying about what we're aiming at.

Right up until we finally step in a puddle of mud and look down at our footprints, only to realize that what we just stepped in... was a river of blood.

When that happens, I'm sure there's some noble ideal that can keep you from collapsing in defeat. Too bad I never found out what it was... I was only in it for the money.

My family owes a <i>lot</i> of money. And my little brother, well, he's damn smart. If he'd been born rich, he'd be at the top of his class.

But if he stays back home... the only future he's got is as a debt collector.

I... I don't think that counts as being in it only for the money. You're doing it for your family... That's noble too.

Eh, who can say? But for now at least...

We're doing it just to survive.

The attack's about to begin...

Stop drinking already, Leone.

...Can I sleep at the diner tonight?

If you want.

(*whispers*) Poor fella... Just look at him... *sigh*...

(*whispers*) It's just like seven years ago...

What, you guys gonna talk about Carl now? Don't mind me. No need to tiptoe around it.

This is already the second time... The second time...

Twice now... So why're you avoiding me? You think... you think I can't handle it?