Salty Interviews: Wes
Salty: (Salty shakes Wes' hand) Wes, it's been a long time. Please sit.
Wes: Of course, Salty. Good to see you, my friend. I suppose it's my turn for an interview?
S: Yes, but don't treat it as a big deal. I certainly don't.
W: Perhaps. From what I've heard from Koga, Xan, and even Mai, you're good at these. I'm surprised you didn't interview me sooner.
S: Xan remembers my interview with him years ago. To me anyway. To him, it had to be centuries.
W: He still remembers. And considering I was the second person you personally documented.
S: Both of your stories never made it to completion. At the time, I didn't think people paid attention to them. How wrong I was. I would re-document them but lost the files years ago.
W: Perhaps it's for the best. I don't like being put out there with what I've been doing in the meantime.
S: Right. Let's begin the interview. As per tradition, I ask that you introduce yourself to the people reading this interview.
W: Of course. Good Evening. I am Wesley of Latasi. Preferably Wes for short.
S: No middle name?
N: Not that I know of.
S: Fair enough. First question. What have you been up to since the Black Fang War's conclusion?
W: A lot, honestly. After Nergal and the Fire Dragon were slain, it took time to rebuild properly. Luckily, the Black Fang's corruption died with Nergal. Since the Reed Brothers, Legault, and Ursula defected, they re-established the Black Fang to what it was. They even inducted me into their ranks.
S: You're a member of the Black Fang?
W: Yes. Not to worry, we're not doing anything Nergal was. No Morph creations, scheming, or plotting to be had with the Old Fang in charge.
S: What was the aim of the Old Black Fang back then and now?
W: Before Nergal sullied the organization, the aim was to organize and assassinate corrupt nobles while giving their riches to the poor and unfortunate. Then Nergal planted Sonia to seduce Brendan Reed before the tragedies began.
S: Besides you, who else made up the New Black Fang?
W: Linus and Lloyd Reed. There's Brother Legault, Ursula, Nino, Jaffar, and Anna.
S: Awfully small.
W: From what the Reed Brothers told me, the original group was this small. It allowed a tighter-knit bond to be formed among the members. The New Black Fang are just the remnants of the group I led during the Black Fang War. We asked Vaida if she wanted to join, but she refused and returned to Bern.
S: Everyone else refused as well?
W: Correct. Fae went back to the Nabata Desert with Hawkeye. Harken was reinstated in the Pheraen Army by Eliwood. Geitz became a wanderer, and Kole returned to Plegia after Mom adopted her into the family. Fiora returned to Ilia with her sisters, Karel disappeared before we could ask him. Karla would've said yes had she not decided to move back to the Sacae plains with Bartre. I heard she contracted an illness. What I've been hearing from Dorcas, her odds of survival aren't high.
S: I see. What of Rei? She would certainly jump at the opportunity to work with you.
W: (Wes physically winces at the mention of Rei) After spending the day preparing for our final assault against Nergal at the Dread Isle, I shot Rei down from pursuing me romantically further. I told her I was not in the right mind to be thrust into another relationship with a level she desired. She relented, promising not to do it again until she did something I would have no choice but to acknowledge. The way I see it, she heard we're not on equal footing for her to be so bold.
S: I can only imagine the depths she's willing to go if that's what she interpreted.
W: I trust that Rei's ideas are just.
S: Is that all you have been up to?
W: No. I... joined the Magic Council in Latasi.
S: (Salty does a spit take) WHAT?
W: I know. A shock to me as well.
S: How did this happen? You have made it clear how much you abhor the Magic Council.
W: Yes, and I still do to an extent. But Mom's a high-ranking member, so she can use her influence to grant me a favorable position. She did and allowed Ursula to be my work partner to boot.
S: So what do you do for the Magic Council that would warrant you joining them?
W: The Magic Council is a government member, much like your government has separate departments. So do the governments of Elibe. When a country is at risk of war and justified in battling it or doing so in defense, they send word to the Magic Council. If the conditions are met, they send physical aid. That's where Ursula and I come in. We venture to those countries and join the respective army requiring aid. It allows us an excuse to travel the world since we love to do so. Especially me, I love Latasi as my home, but I can't stay there for too long with the Magic Council breathing down my neck.
S: I still can't believe it.
W: Try not to have a stroke, Salty. (Wes takes his glasses off and wipes the lens)
S: Have you been on many trips since then?
W: Several. We recently returned from Hoshido. Kole came with us as well. However, things went awry fast.
S: How so?
W: Queen Mikoto died a few days after we arrived. Afterward, her son refused to pick a side in the growing war between Hoshido and Nohr, and we were transported to a place called Valla. The whole matter was confusing. Until we slayed Anankos, we couldn't tell anyone who didn't go with us about Valla, lest we disappear. It was a mess.
S: Surely there were some highlights.
W: Quite a few, I'd say. Subaki's one-sided rivalry with Kole, Ursula, and I learn about how Spirit Scrolls worked. Learning that a Spirit Scroll is equivalent to Anima Magic made my job easier. Oh, and Kole got married.
S: Oh that's ni- Wait. Kole got married?
W: We were just as shocked as you are. During the war, she fell in love with Reina, a Kinshi Knight. The sight of a flustered Kole is something I thought I'd never see in my lifetime. Reina is a wonderful woman. After seeing them together, I can't think of anyone more suited to being Kole's one and only.
S: Did she meet Lea yet?
W: No. From what I just heard, Kole and Reina are currently on their honeymoon in Etruria. They'll most likely go to Latasi after. But I'm happy for Kole and can only imagine that having Reina as a significant other will serve as motivation to become frightening with a sword in her hand.
S: And what of you?
W: What about me?
S: Your romantic endeavors. Luphy has beaten this horse to death, but you are quite handsome.
W: It may be normal not to be married at our age in your time, Salty. In mine, I'm too old to remarry.
S: Nobles remarry all the time.
W: Not me. Well, not anymore anyway.
S: You're depriving yourself, Wes.
W: Perhaps, but I'm not ready for a relationship now.
S: I doubt it'll take you long to be ready. I'm surprised Luphy and Yuki haven't strongarmed you into a blind date.
W: Who says they haven't? They've made multiple attempts. Thankfully, Yuki's pregnancy halted things. And while working for the Magic Council and the New Black Fang, they can't find dates for me fast enough. There were several times when I got intimate with others since I started working.
S: Oh? That's news to me.
W: With how Benjamin, Jade, and Sareena sleep around like Rabbits in heat, I thought you wouldn't want to hear any of those stories from me.
S: I don't hear anything from you often, so I'll take what I can get.
W: I suppose I can share some of the women I got close to. Just a heads up, none of these relationships got elevated to physical deeds.
S: Fair enough.
W: Obviously, you know about Ursula and that I was her first kiss when I was imprisoned. While in Hoshido and Valla, I got close to Orochi and Rinkah.
S: Rinkah? Isn't she an isolationist?
W: Was. I believe Caeldori had a crush on me while we were there. Ursula made sure to tease her and me about that. While we were aiding Chrom and the Shepherds, I somehow befriended Miriel who helped me summon create another Dusk Lantern with Ursula.
S: That's how you got the Dusk Lantern back.
W: I owed Miriel big for that. To pay her back, I received permission to send her Forblaze.
S: You can do that?
W: Sure. Pent is a good friend of mine. I tell him of my adventures with Ursula that we do for the Magic Council. Besides, he still owes me for giving him Gespenst despite me having every right to keep it. Before we left for Ylisstol, Brammimond gifted me the Apocalypse Tome. I cannot count my sleepless nights due to reading that behemoth.
S: Remind me to thank Ursula next time I see her since you'd probably be dead if she weren't your partner.
W: Ye of little faith, Salty. Maybe if this was me from a few years ago when Magi just died. Now I pace myself since everyone I know most likely thinks the same as you.
S: They want the best for you, Wes.
W: And I thank them every chance I get, I assure you. But I don't need to be coddled like a child.
S: My apologies. Since you met Koga, he must have shown you all new worlds.
W: Oh, yes. He opened my eyes to worlds I have never even dreamed of.
S: Did anything of note happen to you after this discovery?
W: You can say that. I may have met my female equivalent.
S: A female equivalent of you? I shudder at the thought.
W: Very funny. This was the first time since I got to know Ursula personally that I was so impulsively enamored with another woman.
S: That's news to me. Who is this woman?
W: Her name is Tessa or Tabasa, depending on who you ask.
S: How did she catch your eye like this?
W: I was exploring a private section in Latasi's Magic Library and stopped to read Apocalypse. She caught my attention as I got immersed in the Tome by asking if I was reading the Apocalypse Tome. I look up to see who inquired, not recognizing the voice. Then I saw her. I knew I didn't know who she was since I had never seen her before.
S: What'd you do?
W: Became defensive. I was entrusted Apocalypse by Brammimond so I wouldn't let anyone know I have it. You are one of five people who know I have its possession. Not even Mom or Pent know of my current ownership. She displayed a genuine curiosity in learning what the Tome entailed. I said that she needs an S Rank in Elder Tome and must be entrusted the tome by the owner after passing a series of mental tests.
S: How'd she respond?
W: She casually asked me to teach her about Elder Magic while confidently sitting opposite me.
S: (Salty shows a look of surprise) Tessa's a confident one.
W: Absolutely. I responded by introducing myself. Tessa did so in return and explained that she's a Sorcerologist traveling across the realms hoping to learn something new. With my pursuit of knowledge as an example, I warned her that pacing herself is important. In pursuing knowledge, I've had too many near-death experiences for someone my age. She then responded by saying she knew of my stories and described my time during the Black Fang War in perfect detail. My time in Ylisstol, Valm, and Plegia, my recreation of the Dusk Lantern, even pointing it out despite it not being visible during the conversation. She even knows about my creation of the War Druid job.
S: How did she know all of this?
W: She gave a cliched answer. 'A Sorcerologist never reveals her secrets, Wesley.' Still, her knowledge gained my attention.
S: Then what happened?
W: We continued to talk until the Library closed after at least three hours without an awkward silence. At some point, a casual conversation with our separate experiences and battles started melding with subtle but clear flirtations. I walked her back to her hotel and went back home.
S: Did anything happen between you two before she left?
W: No. Tessa did say she'd like to see me again before returning to her home realm. It hasn't been long, only a week since then. I was recently informed that I would head to Magvel to aid Princess Eirika alongside Ursula. I wonder if she'll return while I'm not in Latasi.
S: With how well she knew you, I wouldn't be surprised if Tessa found you there. I'm surprised you kept your composure.
W: I think the same, at times. A woman as gorgeous as Tessa who is intelligent and easy to talk to is certainly not for the weak-minded.
S: I'll say. Before I let you go, I'll let my editor ask you a couple of questions if he has any. Or if he wants to interview you himself.
W: Sure, I have plenty of time.
No further questions at this time.
S: Nevermind then. Wes, always good to see you, my friend. Do keep in touch.
W: I will certainly try. Unlike Luphy and Yuki, you don't grind my gears. Until next time, Salty.