act7mini

6:50 A.M. \ Clear

Rhodes Island Landship, Operator Dorms

Mornin'!

Huh, the door's unlocked... Guess I'll let myself in.

Sup, Courier! Uncle Matterhorn! You guys in?

Huh, nobody's home?

There's no way they'd be sleeping in this late... If they're not in their room, maybe they already left?

Darn it, I have to go find 'em!

Hmm? Lady Ensia, what's going on so early in the morning... Wait, hold on, don't run in the hallway, it's too dangerous!

Ah, there you are, bro!

Don't worry, nothing bad's gonna—— Woooah!

Hey, watch out!

Phew... Close one. Why's there a parcel here?

Thanks, bro.

Good grief, I told you to be careful. What am I going to do when you actually take a fall?

Hehe, I knew you were gonna catch me anyway.

Hey... Lady Ensia, you're a fully-fledged operator now, you can't be so reckless...

What's wrong, Courier? Did something happen?

Ah, Matterhorn.

Morning, Uncle!

Ah, the Young Lady. Good morning.

Have you gotten used to life at Rhodes Island yet? It's rare to see you up so early though... Are you getting ready for a mission?

Or are you not used to the beds here? After all, I do recall you having very high standards for your sleep environment.

Back at the old house, Matterhorn helped pick out a bed for you when you were still very young, right? After that, you refused to sleep anywhere else.... and never without hugging your little blanket.

Mm, now that you remind me...

W-Wait, hold your horses, Courier. Don't make stuff up, I wasn't that much of a princess!

Don't underestimate an adventurer either, got it? I've got no problem going early to bed, early to rise! If you can't get a good night's rest to replenish your energy when you're up in the mountains, there's no way you'll ever become a good mountaineer!

No matter how cold it is, no matter how thin the air is, you bet I can fall right asleep!

Lady Ensia... You've grown up so much.

(mutters) Besides, I brought my blankie with me anyway. No way I wouldn't be able to fall asleep.

Ah, so you ended up bringing it with you after all.

You got a problem with that?!

Alright, let's stop talking about this already!

Anyway, the fact that you two are headed out this early with these packages, are you going on a mission?

Hmm, and with this amount of luggage, it's looking like a pretty long trip too... Heading back home?

That's right. We'll be getting ready to leave shortly.

Yup. We have to bring some stuff back over there. Master SilverAsh has quite a lot of things to deal with, and Matterhorn and I will be going back to help out.

Lady Ensia, is there anything you'd like us to take back to Master SilverAsh? Matterhorn and I would be more than glad to help.

Mm, I do have things I'd like to give to my brother, but... But, it's more than just that this time!

What else...?

Well, um...

Darn it, c'mere real quick...!

Uncle Matterhorn, let's meet up at the cafeteria in a bit. I'm gonna go for a quick walk with Courier here! Oh, and tell my brother and Gnosis that I said hi!

W-Wait, Lady Ensia, not so hard... You're going to pull down my clothes...!

Lady Ensia...

Phew... Alright, this place should be fine.

Why are we avoiding Matterhorn? Is there something you can only tell me...?

I guess there's a bit of that...

Courier, can you keep a secret for me?

I'm afraid that depends on the situation. If it's something dangerous, I might have to tell Master SilverAsh.

Ugh... Why do you have to be like that? Both you and Matterhorn are always taking my brother's side!

Ahaha... Well, Master SilverAsh is also looking after you.

Hmph! Whatever, I'm gonna tell you anyway. It's not anything dangerous, so you'd better swear not to tell him anything!

Anyway, um, are you planning to head up to Mount Karlan, by any chance?

Not that I know, so far. It all depends on Master SilverAsh's arrangements. There's no saying whether Mister Gnosis and Lady Degenbrecher have plans of their own, either.

Why are you suddenly asking about this though? Is it related to Lady Enya again?

Mhm. I really can't keep anything from you.

Actually, I wrote a letter to my sister...

Back home, my brother controlled things too strictly, and I wasn't even able to sneak out to see her. I didn't even get to see her before I left for Rhodes Island.

It's only gotten harder. I haven't seen Enya in the longest time!

Lady Ensia...

So... Courier, would you be able to help me deliver this letter to Mount Karlan?

I just want to ask her how she's doing, and if it's hard being a Saintess. I also want to tell her that she doesn't have to worry about me... just stuff like that. I swear I didn't write anything outrageous!

My brother couldn't care less about this, and he hasn't had a proper conversation with me in ages. As for Uncle Matterhorn, all he'd do is try to console me into waiting some more...

So please! Courier, you're the only one I can count on!

I'm sorry... Lady Ensia.

So... You can't do it after all?

It's not that I don't want to, but... The situation in Kjerag has been complicated lately, and it's unlikely that the Vine-Bead Court will permit us any sort of contact with the Saintess.

Huh?

Even if I wanted to deliver the letter, I'm afraid it would be hard for Lady Enya to receive it.

I- I've never heard of this before! My brother hasn't told me anything about this...

Knowing too much isn't necessarily a good thing. The Master is looking out for you, and does not wish to burden you. Sending you to Rhodes Island was another way for him to protect you.

He's always like that.

He always keeps me in the dark, saying that he's doing this or that for our own good. In the end, my sister still left our home for Mount Karlan.

Lady Enya had no choice...

Ugh... Fine, whatever! I guess we're done here!

Eh?

Stop it with that dour expression already, bro. Since there's nothing you can do about it, just forget the thing about the letter!

Me being upset won't change anything, isn't that right?

Lady Ensia...

But at least promise me, don't mention a single word of this to my brother, okay? He's gonna give me an earful for sure if he finds out, and my ears are gonna fall off if I have to sit through another one of his lectures!

If Master SilverAsh heard your opinions of him, I'm sure he would be heartbroken.

As if! He has more important things to attend to after all, hmph!

In any case, I won't keep you any longer. I've gotta find Closure first and ask if the stuff I wanted came in... Hmm, but if I went down to see her this early, do you think she'd just shoo me out?

Judging by Closure's typical schedule, there's a good chance that she just fell asleep and won't be responding to any knocks on the door.

Good point. Maybe I'll wait 'til later then.

Ah, that's right, remember to bring me back plenty of cystymilk curds and pulled meat. I can't buy them anywhere else, and I haven't had any for a long time!

Haha, don't you worry. Matterhorn has a long list already, including all of your favorite things. We won't miss any of that!

Excellent! Well, good luck, and have a safe trip! Uncle Matterhorn must be sick and tired of waiting in the cafeteria, so hop to it!

With your blessings, we will be back in no time.

Take care out there.

(Waves)

*Sigh*... So, it's no good after all. Not all that unexpected, but I still can't help but feel a bit let down.

Hmph. You're such an idiot, Enciodes. Even if you send Courier and Matterhorn to keep an eye on me, there's no way I'm gonna give up.

I'm not sure if Closure managed to get ahold of the cold-weather gear I'm going to need to scale those snowy mountains... Ugh, I can't wait, but when is Closure going to get out of bed?!

Enya... Wait for me!

The last of the wounded have been bandaged. What a relief, nobody was seriously injured.

That's another mission complete! Next, we'll have to cross the woods and return along the border between Leithanien and Victoria.

Ah, excuse me, but I won't be taking the same route back.

Hm? Cliffheart, is there something else you need to do?