Chapter 7: Masked Felony
[World of Gaiden/Shadows of Valentia]
Prince Bruno warps to a random world and decides to rest aside a tree.
"Urghh! If any one of them come here, I'm gonna go in a frenzy," Bruno muttered to himself as he gets comfortable. A man donning light blue light-weight armor walks from behind the tree with an apple in his hand.
"Hm..." Alm hummed.
"Who's there?" Bruno asked.
"I am," Alm said, revealing himself.
"What are you doing near my granpa's apple tree? Huh?!" Alm yelled. Prince Bruno gets up.
Prince Bruno eyes Alm's Falchion.
"What are YOU doing with a blade fit for royalty and such...ah! So they just give royal swords out to just anyone here. You're nothing but a mere boy!" Bruno shouted.
"Oh really?" Alm said with a grin.
Faye, Tobin, and Kliff run up to Alm and Bruno.
"Hey, I didn't mean to offend you in any way, however, my point stands.." Bruno continued.
"I accept your challenge to show you 'boy power'!" Alm said.
"Did you just offend Alm? Woah boy, you're in for lots of pain," Kliff warned Bruno.
Tobin facepalms. "Ugh, Kliff ruined it. Ya had one chance to properly smack talk and you did. Horribly!"
Kliff shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever Tobin. I'm new to this. You and Gray are the masters. The two of you've been practicing ever since you were in diapers.."
Tobin grins. "Ahahah. Right on dude!"
"Ugh, annoyance...no matter where I go..." the masked prince muttered to himself.
"You apple tree theif!" Faye shouted out.
Mycen and prison guards come out of the woodworks instantly.
Prince Bruno is shocked at their sudden arrival. "What the"—
"You are under arrest," the lanky guard says to Bruno.
One of the guards confiscate Bruno's tome and horse.
"Tch, glad we got you before anything got out of hand. Take it easy children," the chubby guard said.
"I got this under control," Tobin insisted.
Faye turns to Alm. "What happened Alm?"
Alm sighs. "I do not know. Who was he and why did he mention my Falchion?"
Kliff glanced at Alm. "If I was him, I'd be jealous too. I mean, really...riding a horse all day picking fights with children.."
"Thank you, grandpa.." Alm said, thanking Mycen. Mycen pats Alm's back in response.
"No problem Alm. All of you, come in and get some supper. I saw you were all huddled up and all," Mycen told the children.
Alm, Faye, Tobin, Kliff and Mycen walk into the elder's home to see the meals set up on a table. Gray is sitting at the table, eating as if he was on the brink of starvation.
"Oh, ey' what's up fellas?" Gray greeted.
Tobin sat in a chair. "Oh you know. Dealing with the outside freaks as usual..."
Alm sat in another chair. "This is not okay.."
Faye got into a chair as well. "What?"
"People rummaging in our land to take what they want, do what they want. Come on guys, we're in it with the Deliverance. There should be higher standards," Alm addressed to his friends.
Kliff sat in a dining table chair and looked at Alm. "Well, Alm. Think that guy was stealing or something?"
"I'm not sure. All I know for sure is that he is in jail now!"
Mycen stared at the children in concern. "You all need to be a bit more careful. Still much, much to learn outside."
Kliff sighed. "Okay..."
"You are still a young fellow, and my lad," Mycen said, nudging Kliff.
"Awww," Faye sang out.
Kliff blushes. "Not a joke Faye!"
Mycen picks up a envelope from a nearby counter. "I received mail earlier. It was about three Askr soldiers dying to recruit anyone capable. Despite what I said, this might be the perfect fit for you guys," he
Alm glanced at his friends, then at Mycen. "Um, I dunno...better things to do..."
Mycen hands Tobin the note as he cleans up part of the table. Tobin reads the mail out loud.
"It says: "From Veronica. If you want the rest of your friends, meet me at—no, actually just try to find me. That way, the game is more fun...bye now!"
Faye frowns. "That's not nice, to play with people's lives like that!"
"Uh ! "Rest of your friends." She means Celica and the others, right?" Tobin said.
Alm got up from his chair. "Celica's group! I HAVE to rescue her!"
"Word of advice, calm down Alm..." Kilff suggested to Alm.
Alm soothes himself to regain composure.
"We don't have many allies but will you all help me save Celica?" he said.
Kliff nods.
"Yeah, sure," Faye answered.
"All right," Tobin said.
"Gray and I will stay here. Someone has to be on lookout," Mycen reminded Alm.
"Ah, fine. Bye Gray," Alm said.
"And hellloo Lukas," Gray added as Lukas walked into the kitchen.
Lukas gives the group a deep and soft spoken "Hello."
"Care to join us? In saving Celica?" Alm asked Lukas.
"That's why I'm here," he told Alm.
Kliff smirked. "Here we are thinking you were just here for the food..."
Alm glances at the map given inside of the envelope. "Wow. The map had no location on Veronica's part. Alfonse on the other hand..."
"What about Alfonse, Alm?" Faye reminded Alm.
"..He gave us a map. With the power of touch, we can transport ourselves anywhere on this globe. He—no they, can be anywhere!" Alm mentioned.
Lukas points to a huge continent. "That one looks huge..and promising"
Alm nods. "Let's grab our weapons, items and food and head there!"
