Oh, Reed! It's you! You left so suddenly—I was worried our hospitality had been lacking in some way.
Loughshinny
No, I truly appreciated your hospitality. I had just suddenly remembered some business I had to take care of. I still have a few questions, though. Would you mind answering them for me?
Friendly Resident
Ask away.
Loughshinny
Do you realize that you're engulfed in flames?
Friendly Resident
Flames? Oh, you mean my blessing? Wow, you can see other people's blessings?
Loughshinny
I didn't notice until someone pointed it out to me—
Loughshinny
Wait, you're saying you know about the flames, but can't see them? How can that be?
The friendly resident puts her hand on her waist.
The ancient Tarans carried small flames at their waists, stabilized through Originium Arts, to dispel the dark mist in the marsh.
After Victoria seized full control of Tara, this custom—along with all similar practices—was strictly banned.
But times have changed. No longer bound by Victoria's rules, the Tarans, or at least the people of Na Saoirsí, have chosen to wear small Originium lamps at their waists.
Friendly Resident
I'm sure you know fuel is scarce, and with the curfew in place, we can't afford to keep the lamps on—nor do we need to. But... if we carry these small lamps...
Loughshinny
That's her fire... That's the color of her fire in the lamp.
Friendly Resident
Now, whenever people turn on their lamps, this is the color they'll see. Even if they replace the filaments with different ones, the color remains unchanged.
Loughshinny
And you're not the least bit worried about this?
Friendly Resident
Well, as you can see, things are on the up and up here in Na Saoirsí. And what explanation can there be but the Red Dragon's blessing?
Loughshinny
But—
But?
But if a reckless returnee tried to warn her that those flames were anything but fortuitous, she would never believe it.
Loughshinny hopes that perhaps a more direct approach would work.
Loughshinny
But I wanted to experience the dragon's blessing for myself. May I hold your hand?
Friendly Resident
But you've already entered the city. Everyone who does will receive the blessing, sooner or later.
Loughshinny
Please? It's just a small favor.
Friendly Resident
Well, I suppose it wasn't easy for you to make it all the way back to Tara.
Friendly Resident
Oh, right, what do you do for a living, anyway?
Loughshinny
I... I know some basic medicine, along with some healing Arts. Nothing to brag about.
Friendly Resident
So you're a doctor, then. We're in need of doctors, actually.
Friendly Resident
Come here. Give me your hand—
She tightly clasps the woman's calloused hand, letting the fire spread from her own wrist to Loughshinny's.
Loughshinny
Thank you...
She shuts her eyes.
Close your eyes and remember those whose pain you once soothed, those no longer forced to linger in this realm—
Go, and warm this cold fire.
Friendly Resident
Ugh...
The purple flames gradually fade. Beneath them, a pale face emerges, swaying gently, with a friendly smile.
So she tries to erase more of the purple flames, but fails to notice when the woman's expression suddenly changes.
Friendly Resident
My God, I—
Friendly Resident
My hand! What did you do to my hand?! It's completely numb!
Loughshinny
What?!
Friendly Resident
I can't feel my blessing anymore, either! Just what are you doing to me?!
Friendly Resident
Let go!
The Wakewoman
Reed!
Loughshinny
Wakewoman?
The Wakewoman
Reed, please let go of this poor lady.
Loughshinny
I—
The Wakewoman
(Shakes head)
The Wakewoman
Sorry, ma'am.
The Wakewoman
She means no harm—I stake my honor on it.
Friendly Resident
But she said she's a doctor—how could a doctor possibly...?
The Wakewoman
Arts-based medicine can sometimes have side effects. Look at your hand, it's perfectly fine now, isn't it?
Friendly Resident
But I still can't feel anything—
The Wakewoman
You'll be fine.
The wayward wakewoman raises a hand, gently pressing her warm palm to the frightened woman's forehead. It is just a normal, casual gesture, yet the woman gradually calms down.
Friendly Resident
Okay, okay. I believe you. Right, I still have my hand, as well as my blessing.
The Wakewoman
It's almost nightfall. You should head back home.
The Wakewoman
And Reed, you have another banquet to attend, don't you?
Wakewoman, since you've returned, does that mean Moran and the others have already settled in?
The Wakewoman
That's right. They'll be staying just outside the ruins. They're probably still clearing out the empty houses right about now.
Loughshinny
Thank you.
The Wakewoman
Don't mention it. By the way, call me Nemos. I hardly do any work as a wakewoman these days.
Loughshinny
Alright, Nemos. You mentioned a banquet just now. Who's hosting it?
Nemos
In a few days, Dublinn will be hosting a celebratory banquet, and all the high-ranking nobles will be in attendance, including Her Highness Eblana. We've been very busy with all the preparations.
Loughshinny
A celebratory banquet? While the residents are making do with 'stewed meat' and 'grilled fins' made from only potatoes?
Nemos
The potato thing started out due to a food shortage, but now, they're just...
Nemos
used to it.
Loughshinny
...
Nemos
But Dublinn is aware of the situation in the city. They're calling it a 'banquet', but I didn't see any eating or drinking on the itinerary.
Nemos
I'm not trying to cover for anyone, Miss Loughshinny. I truly believe that Dublinn wouldn't turn its back on the people of Tara like that.
Nemos
Now if you'll excuse me, I must be going.
Loughshinny
She certainly left in a hurry.
Loughshinny
So if directly removing the violet flames would only cause a panic, what if I were to do it more subtly...?
The noble red dragon turns around and sees a figure engulfed in blazing purple flames.
No, if the other residents have been merely 'kissed' by the flames, then the person standing before her seems to have been forged from the purple fire itself. The flames don't look harsh, yet they distort the very light around them.
The Exiled King
Unfortunately, what you want sounds incredibly boring.
The Exiled King
After all, Tara's flames have already been dyed that color. That's just a fact.
Loughshinny
You know about the flames.
The Exiled King
I happened to find out about them, yes.
Loughshinny
Tell me everything you know. It's extremely important.
The Exiled King
Why should I?
Loughshinny
I need to stop people from being engulfed by the purple flames.
The Exiled King
So you can replace them with your own flames?
Loughshinny
As long as the people of the city are safe, the color doesn't matter.
The Exiled King
What grandiose nonsense. It's almost nostalgic. Your excuse is so clumsy that it's laughable, red dragon.
Loughshinny
What is your relationship to my sister, sir?
Loughshinny takes a step forward, while the figure moves backwards, preserving the distance between them.
The Exiled King
Relationship? You, your sister, and I are all cut from the same cloth. We all crave power, conflict, and bloodshed.
The Exiled King
We're all itching for what comes next, eager to set the land ablaze.
The Exiled King
But this time, I'll stay out of it. Until the Lair is consumed by flames, I'll be cheering on both sides.
The Exiled King
Goodbye—
Loughshinny
Wait!
The red dragon tries to weave the flames of life into a cage, but before it can take shape, the strange figure scatters in the wind.
Her fire only briefly illuminated his long tail...
It's you. What's wrong? Why have you come to see me now?
'The Bureaucrat'
Don't tell me there's another problem with your grain shop that I have to deal with. I've never treated you as a subordinate—we're 'business partners', understand?
Worried Resident
I understand.
'The Bureaucrat'
Good, as long as you do. I have another shipment that needs to be escorted out of the city. Leave soon, and be back before curfew.
Worried Resident
Sir, about that—
'The Bureaucrat'
About what?
Worried Resident
About the grain we sent out before... You said it wouldn't affect the city's food supply, but now we're all stuck eating only potatoes...
'The Bureaucrat'
Do you know what it's like in other parts of Tara? They don't even have potatoes!
'The Bureaucrat'
Na Saoirsí's agricultural output is already top-tier. We're taking urgent measures to help our countrymen. Understand?
'The Bureaucrat'
Besides, how much did you earn from just those last two carts?
Worried Resident
...
'The Bureaucrat'
Look at it this way: the people of Na Saoirsí aren't starving. At least they've got potatoes to fill their bellies.
'The Bureaucrat'
What's more, it's almost harvest time. There will be plenty of new grain then. I'm more worried that your tiny shop won't have the throughput to sell it all.
'The Bureaucrat'
Still, I'm not one to force anyone to act against their conscience. If you really feel that bad about it, you can always just transfer your business license to someone else and close your shop.
Worried Resident
But how will I eat then?
'The Bureaucrat'
I told you, you're not my subordinate. How is that my problem?
'The Bureaucrat'
Alright, alright, just hand over your business license by the end of the day—
Worried Resident
No! Don't! Okay! I'll do it.
'The Bureaucrat'
Hmph.
Worried Resident
*Sigh*...
'The Bureaucrat'
Why are you still standing there?
Worried Resident
I have something else to discuss. My friend told me that lately, the dark mist in the forest...
'The Bureaucrat'
Dark mist? If I needed you to remind me about that, I might as well quit right now.
'The Bureaucrat'
There will be someone waiting for you once you're past the gates, just like always. Anything else is none of your concern. Now go.
Frantic Soldier
Sir.
'The Bureaucrat'
What is it? Did The Brigadier say something when he was on patrol this morning?
Frantic Soldier
No sir, he didn't come around this morning. The Leader sent him on another assignment.
'The Bureaucrat'
Phew.
'The Bureaucrat'
Then what's got you in such a panic?
Frantic Soldier
It's officially harvest season for the agricultural plate to the south.
'The Bureaucrat'
Isn't that a good thing?
Frantic Soldier
Yes, but, uh, all the skilled agricultural workers have left the city.
'The Bureaucrat'
Tch, just follow the handbook—do exactly as it says, got it?
Frantic Soldier
Yes sir!
'The Bureaucrat'
By the way, what's the estimated yield for the entire plate? Report it to me, and I'll consolidate the numbers later.
Frantic Soldier
Um, we're not exactly familiar with this sort of work either...
'The Bureaucrat'
You're useless! Can't you at least tell when the crops are ready for harvest?
Frantic Soldier
They're definitely ripe, or we wouldn't have harvested them in the first place...
'The Bureaucrat'
Then isn't it just business as usual? Report a normal yield based on previous years! Now get going!
I've delivered all my letters in Na Saoirsí. So I'd like to go to the highest point in the city and let the wind carry my message to my brothers and sisters. Then I'll be on my way.
Jittery Guard
Ah, now I remember—it's you. You've been here so many times, and we've never let you up there even once. Haven't you learned your lesson yet?
Brigid
Even the Victorians let me up to the top of the citadel when they were in charge.
Jittery Guard
Do I look like a Victorian to you?
Brigid
No. You're a Taran.
Jittery Guard
Then you should know that, since we're all Tarans, there's no need to indulge those outdated customs of yours anymore. All that nomad and wakeman nonsense—it's all stupid superstition.
Jittery Guard
Now get moving! If you don't, I might just have you arrested!
