Tale Twenty-Four, What it Means to Be a Traveler
"Before you act, you must ask yourself what it truly means to save a man's life, especially the life of a killer."
Ogen's words stuck in Alfyn's mind like a bad case of jitters, causing him no small amount of worry over whether his actions had unintentional negative consequences. The young apothecary's caring for Miguel that day had only proven that the more experienced apothecary may have had a point.
At the same time, Alfyn didn't miss the irony of the situation and where and when it had occurred, either.
The Octopath Travelers had found themselves, once again, in Saintsbridge. Not a few months earlier had Alfyn brought Ophilia back from the pits of depression she had faced when they had been in this sanctimonious town last. Yet now he couldn't even bring himself out of his slowly spiraling, self-deprecating thoughts.
Today also just so happened to mark the anniversary of when Ophilia had departed from Flamesgrace, thus beginning her journey which would lead to the coming-together of the Octopath Travelers. So far, this journey had been life-altering for all of them. Things they were sure of now seemed like naïve memories to each individual after the lessons they had learned through challenges and each other.
Today was a day to celebrate.
That was why Alfyn found himself at the Saintsbridge tavern with his friends celebrating the anniversary of the beginning of the Octopath Travelers' journeys.
However, the apothecary found himself sitting at the bar alone, not finding himself very talkative after all that had happened. He did watch his friends while he slowly drank his first hefeweizen - a very wheaty beer with a light fruity taste that most people would find refreshing on new spring days.
It did little to raise his spirits even as he saw his friends talk amongst themselves.
Primrose and Therion were arguing with Tressa over the validity of pawning stolen goods. The two thieves made a show of sneaking some money from a man who had been causing too much of a racket in the bar. The tavern owner couldn't find it in himself to get rid of the man, so the two golden-hearted Octopath Travelers made sure to lighten his pockets, effectively stopping him from buying any more alcohol. After he had realized he had no more money and yelled at the tavern proprietor some more, he finally decided to leave, claiming to everyone he would be back.
Everyone very much hoped he wouldn't.
But it still made Alfyn proud of his friends as the two thieves returned to their place with Tressa.
Therion had especially grown in the time they had traveled together. In fact, it was the very same purple-clad thief that had told everyone to enjoy their beverage and to "stop bugging the moping doctor for a little bit." His words were brusque, but the care behind them shone through to Alfyn more than the thief would care to admit.
His eyes shifted to Primrose, who now regularly wore a scarf around her head with her dancer's attire. It hid her face a bit more whenever she found herself practicing the skills her teacher had taught her about thievery. That being said, Alfyn knew that Therion got as much as he gave in his friendly rivalry with the dancer.
Of course, neither was too stubborn to admit it because they still found themselves in their duel of wits, but they had impacted each other's lives.
Everyone else in the Octopath Travelers figured it would be a matter of time before one of Primrose's flirtatious jabs at Therion crossed the line, propelling their relationship to another level.
Tressa seemed to know this all too well. Even though Primrose had her whimsical, charismatic ways, and Cyrus had his all-too-knowing wit, the young merchant, who now wore the pelt of the Venomtooth Tiger she proudly slew, had slowly gotten to know the Octopath Travelers better than anyone. She had grown more attached and endearing to all of her friends. Alfyn even sometimes caught Therion accidentally calling Tressa by name instead of the nickname he had given her.
Despite how he currently felt, he couldn't help but softly smile at his three friends who had grown so much over the course of their journeys.
That wasn't to say that the rest of them hadn't grown, but it seemed that some of the more stubborn Travelers held onto their tendencies more so than the others.
To top off that list was Cyrus. His manner of speech, much critiqued by the women in the Octopath Travelers, had become less flowery. The professor's priority still revolved around learning about the world around him as he ventured to find a missing book. That could be seen clear as day even now as he continued to interrogate - and Alfyn would use that word - the apothecary's mentor, Olberic.
Sir Olberic Eisenberg had found a semblance of peace after dueling Erhardt in the desert caves near Wellspring, but he still had his quest to attend to at the behest of his former brother-in-arms. His sword arm had become a welcome addition to the Octopath Travelers, providing protection and guidance when needed. After all, if it wasn't for Olberic, Alfyn may not have had the strength to protect Ophilia.
Almost like H'aanit was trying to protect Olberic from Cyrus's onslaught of questions right now.
The huntress had been trying to assuage the professor from constantly interviewing the warrior for the evening. With Linde's help, they had managed to at least direct Cyrus's attention elsewhere. While her mission to save her Master still held urgency for her, she had opened up to the Octopath Travelers, learning to thrive in both the natural and human world that made up Orsterra.
They had all learned something along the way as Travelers but still held on to many of their past beliefs or behaviors.
It was amazing to see growth, but not into something new.
Rather, the Travelers had managed to grow because of their journeys but continued on their journeys because of who they were as people. Odd combinations of past habits fused with new experiences propelled each member of the Octopath Travelers forward.
But, as they had all realized, they hadn't walked these paths alone. They had helped each other more than some would care to admit.
Therion admitted defeat after Tressa proved a good point to Primrose, thereby turning the tables on the thieves; Cyrus had started sketching Linde while H'aanit and Olberic watched, while exasperated, amusedly.
And Ophilia had now made her way to Alfyn's side, entwining her fingers into his.
He didn't know when she had joined him in watching his friends, but he found himself welcoming her company. The cleric placed her head on the apothecary's shoulder, earning a squeeze of recognition from his hand.
Their relationship had developed swiftly these past months. Alfyn couldn't say he minded the speed at which they had fallen in love. After all, they had learned through trials of the heart to serve as support for one another rather than crutches.
Even now, as the apothecary had been dealt a blow to his dream by a fellow apothecary, Ophilia provided a simple comfort for Alfyn until he was ready to speak.
Unspoken words started to creep up Alfyn's throat, waiting to be released. But the apothecary couldn't coherently form them.
At least, not easily.
It took him several minutes before he loudly sighed, took a deep breath, and tried again.
This time, he spoke. "Philia. Do you think our dreams are ever… wrong?"
Instead of immediately answering, Ophilia stayed silent for a moment, falling back on her training as a cleric to think clearly about what her love had said before answering.
Alfyn waited as she did so, continuing to watch their friends interact with each other through talking, drinking, eating, and any other form of friendly communication one could have in a tavern. A smile appeared on the apothecary's face as he did so, his burdens easing a little bit more, once again, after watching his friends.
Ophilia saw that. She now knew the answer.
"I think they can be," she answered slowly.
Alfyn's smile disappeared, his face becoming neutral. Again, he waited for Ophilia to continue speaking.
"But if they are, then we'll know. When we know, then we can work on them. When we work on them, we can make our dreams right again. It takes time, sometimes years, but if you have the willpower - or your stubbornness," Ophilia added at the end, earning a chuckle from Alfyn. She proceeded, "and friends, then I think even the journey towards realigning your dream can help make it more memorable. It can help you remember why you wanted such a dream in the first place. Do you know why, Alfyn?"
Her eyes watched him earnestly. Her fingers still clutched to his, her thumb rubbing gentle circles along Alfyn's knuckles.
Silence fell between them for only a short moment longer.
Then, the apothecary spoke.
"To help people."
"And is that not the reason anymore?" Ophilia asked gently.
Alfyn immediately shook his but stopped himself just as quickly.
"I… maybe…?"
"Or maybe there's more to it than that?"
"I… think you're right, Philia. Do you think I'll know when I'll find whatever more is?"
The cleric turned towards Alfyn, kissing his shoulder, seemingly placing her blessing on him.
"I'm not sure, Alfyn. What I do know is that the journey to answer these questions about your dream isn't over. And that's okay," she paused, taking a deep breath. "We all have questions about what we originally set out to do. That's how we found each other. Being there for one another - that's what all of us need to do while we move forward. If we do that, then I think all of us will find the right path towards righting our dreams and achieving them.
"Give it time, dear. I know all of us, myself especially, will be here waiting to help you in any way we can."
Alfyn's eyes started to shimmer with unshed tears as he heard Ophilia speak. His smile returned. He turned to Ophilia and lightly kissed the crown of her head.
"Thank you, Philia," he murmured against her silky, blonde hair.
Alfyn felt the smile that curled onto her lips against his shoulder.
Ophilia sighed contentedly. "I love you, Alfyn."
"I love you, too."
They remained there against the bar for a few moments longer, enjoying the peace - which was ultimately shattered by a piercing round of whistling directed at them.
The couple turned to see Therion with his fingers in his mouth, showing he was the culprit. He smirked in response.
"We all heard that."
"My dears, you are just too sweet for us to handle watching without speaking," Primrose further explained.
The dancer had her own cat-like grin.
Meanwhile, Tressa cheered, "Come on! Kiss her! Like really kiss her!"
Linde had even been drawn into the display, watching the couple curiously next to H'aanit before glancing up towards the huntress. The redhead scratched her snow leopard behind the ear in response, murmuring just loud enough, "Thine first blush hath indeed turned into first love."
Olberic, standing between H'aanit and Therion, chuckled. "They have an unbroken bond between each other. We should all be so lucky."
Cyrus, while speaking to no one in particular, commented, "While this is a touching display of human courtship, I believe I can say that our group, the Octopath Travelers, are so lucky to share such bonds with each other."
The unflowery, sentimental words caught his friends off-guard. Enough so, that all attention shifted away from Alfyn and Ophilia towards Cyrus.
He glanced up, noticing their eyes on him.
"Excuse me, but why are you all watching me and not Alfyn and Ophilia?" he questioned all-too curiously.
"Because you're so adorable, Professor!" Tressa gushed. "Those words were pure poetry and you weren't unknowingly being a flirt. That's progress if I do say so, Prim!"
The dancer chuckled into her hand. "I do believe you are right, Tressa. We'll make a proper bachelor out of you yet, Professor Albright."
"My word," Cyrus exclaimed. "I do not believe I ever asked for such training."
"You never had the option."
The back-and-forth between the Travelers and Cyrus continued, seemingly taking all eyes off Alfyn and Ophilia. They laughed at the scene before them, happy that they had a group of friends to call as such.
They found themselves leaning into each other again, enjoying their friends as they did so. In the back of the apothecary's mind, he started thinking about what Ophilia had said.
He couldn't help but believe that, with the Octopath Travelers together as they were, she was right.
Dreams.
A simple conduit for human desires to manifest into goals.
Yet so hard to achieve or know if said dream is the right dream to follow.
We all have questions and doubts that plague our minds about the direction we decide to follow.
And, as a certain scholar had said,
We should all be so lucky to have bonds such as the Octopath Travelers to help in the pursuit of one's dreams, righting the path when it veers away from the end goal, and enjoying the journey towards the destination rather than simply reaching it...