>>6141074You arrive at the camp that the others in your party had set up for the night. Most of your companions have already appeared to retire, likely exhausted by the day’s journey. The only one still awake is Cuthbert, who sits around a makeshift campfire. The veteran soldier looks as unfriendly as ever as he sits there staring into the flames absentmindedly. You take a seat across from the man, intending to strike up a conversation. However, as you sit there, Cuthbert merely glances in your direction, giving you a curt nod before returning his gaze to the flames.
>“Could you at least try to make an effort?”“This is me making an effort.” Cuthbert says. “I’m here, aren’t I?” And Elric is still alive, head attached firmly to his shoulders. I’d say that’s the result of solid effort right there.”
>“I’d say that was more my doing. After all, if it were up to you, the boy would have been bled dry by Nestor.”“Not likely.” Cuthbert replies. “I knew it wouldn’t come to that. If I’d sensed the first whiff of violence from that man, I’d have dealt with it accordingly. I may be older, but I know I’d at least be capable of that much. I just thought it would be good for the boy to get a sense of the real world for the first time. He’d been cooped up too long back home. He’d hardly ever experienced hardship back in Fodlan. Hell, for all his education, he’d hardly ever had experiences at all. And here he is, trying to conquer a foreign nation. A fool’s errand, if you ask me.”
>“Heh, you sound like you hate the kid. How’d you get saddled with him anyway?”“I don’t hate him.” Cuthbert says. “I’m actually quite fond of the little lord. Even if he has ruined my retirement plans.”
>“Retirement?”“I’m well into my 40s. Way too old to be doing this soldiering thing, in any case. I fought in the Unification War. Fought a lot, if you could believe that. The fact that I’m alive is nothing short of a miracle from the Goddess herself. Of course, when you fight that much, it soon becomes all that you’re good at. I made an impression on Elric’s father, and he offered me the position of bodyguard for his son. Was supposed to be an easy job. Just stand around and watch him, and intervene if his life is ever in danger. Of course, Elric hardly ever got into trouble, so I was able to mostly sit back and relax after a lifetime of avoiding people like you. The lull I was enjoying just makes all of this seem even crazier. I’d love to know how this foolhardy idea got placed in Elric’s head, and how I wound up halfway across the world for it.”
>“What do you mean avoiding people like me?”“Crest bearers.” Cuthbert says dryly. “Monsters.”
>“You fought Crest bearers?” 