=== Alear & Alfred === --- C --- [Alfred] Morning, Divine One! [Alear] Good morning, Alfred. [Alear] That's...quite the smile. Having a good day, are you? [Alfred] You can say that again! [Alfred] I got up before sunrise and did tons of training. Even got an early run in. [Alfred] And the cherry on top? I get to see your bright and shining face. What a day to be alive! [Alear] There's no need to tease me. [Alfred] Who's teasing? Wouldn't you be just as happy to wake up to the sight of a friend? [Alear] Well, yes. I do feel happy when I see my friends. [Alfred] See? Me too! [Alfred] But look, isn't there anything I can do for you? You've been awake a while, but it must be hard. [Alfred] There's bound to be a lot you're still adjusting to. Tell your friend Alfred all about it! [Alear] Let me think... Hmm. No, there's nothing bothering me at the moment. [Alfred] Good. Great. But if there is something, well, I want to be the first to know. [Alfred] Before you left Lythos, you asked me as a friend to teach you things─to help you adjust. [Alfred] And knowing you wanted to be friends just tickled me. [Alear] Our friendship makes me happy too, Alfred. --- B --- [Alear] Hi, Alfred. Do you have a moment? [Alfred] Sure do! Whatever you need─I'm all ears. [Alear] I appreciate the beautiful breakfasts you've been bringing me in the mornings. [Alear] But would you please stop making them? [Alfred] Oh no! They've been too heavy on the meat, haven't they? I just wanted you to get strong. [Alear] To be honest, they do have a ton of meat... But that's not why I'm bringing it up. [Alear] I just feel bad that you've gone out of your way to do this for me every morning. [Alfred] Ah, I get you. Sorry about that. I wasn't out to make you feel bad. [Alfred] I thought my friend would enjoy waking up to healthy, yummy breakfasts. But I'll cut it out. [Alear] Thank you, Alfred. There was one other thing. [Alear] Every night, as I'm fading into sleep, I hear the haunting song of a flute... [Alfred] Yeah! That's me playing a lullaby. Just making sure the Divine One gets a good night's rest. [Alear] Ah, I thought that was your silhouette outside my sanctum. [Alear] Your playing is quite lovely, but I'd like for you to stop doing that as well. Please. [Alear] The song continued into the late hours, and it started invading my dreams... [Alfred] Oh no... I am so sorry! I had a hard time telling when you were asleep, so I just kept going. [Alfred] I was only trying to help, but... Wow. This really didn't pan out. [Alfred] Maybe I'm not worthy of being your friend. [Alear] That's rather extreme. [Alfred] I always try to keep things light, but I feel awful right now. I need a jog to clear my head. [Alfred] Sorry for the trouble, Divine One. I'm off for my run. Goodbye! [Alear] Wait! Alfred... --- A --- [Alear] Ah, there you are, Alfred. [Alear] Do you recall when you said you weren't "worthy" of my friendship? [Alfred] Yeah. I didn't think hard enough about your feelings, and I made a pest of myself. [Alear] Well, I disagree with what you said. You're my friend, Alfred. [Alear] We ended up here because you were trying so hard to help me, which I do appreciate. [Alear] So, please, don't ever say things like that again. [Alfred] Sorry, Divine One... [Alfred] Everything I did was way off the mark. How could I possibly still call myself your friend? [Alear] You already do so much for me, Alfred. Doing additional things isn't necessary. [Alear] You know...you were the first friend I made after I awoke. [Alear] It would pain me if my first friend didn't spend time around me anymore. [Alfred] Your first friend, huh? [Alfred] That's got a real ring to it! Thank you. I'd be honored. [Alfred] I did feel close to you, y'know, even before you woke up. [Alfred] So when you finally did wake up, I was so excited that I went completely overboard. [Alfred] But I'm through with all that. From now on, let's be plain ol' friends! [Alear] I'd like that very much. [Alfred] Good. Oh! I have a great idea. [Alfred] As my totally regular friend, what do you say we do laps around the atrium together? [Alear] Laps? As in, running? Right now? [Alfred] No time like the present! Off we go! [Alear] Now wait just a moment! I haven't even agreed! [Alear] Alfred! Alfreeeeed! --- S --- [Alfred] Good morning, Divine One. [Alear] Good morning, Alfred. Is something troubling you? You look a little upset. [Alfred] You could tell, huh? I'm dealing with a lot of emotions right now. [Alfred] You know me─I act, then maybe I think. Not the other way around. [Alear] Yes, I've noticed that in you. Once you have an idea, you run with it. [Alfred] But for the first time in maybe ever, I'm dragging my heels getting something done. [Alfred] This time, if I act without thinking, I might end up destroying a perfectly good friendship. [Alfred] Plus, I'd be going back on my word. [Alear] What do you mean? [Alfred] Remember when I said I wanted us to be plain ol' friends? [Alear] Don't tell me you're back to feeling unworthy of my friendship again. [Alfred] ... [Alfred] I'm the crown prince of Firene. I can't be a coward when it comes to this of all things. [Alfred] Plain ol' friends isn't going to cut it with me anymore, sorry to say. [Alfred] Divine One? I want us to be closer than that. [Alear] ... [Alfred] I said I'd stop going overboard when it comes to you, but I can't help myself. [Alfred] I even brought you this. See what I mean? [Alear] The embroidery on this is exquisite. [Alfred] It's an old Firenese tradition to pass down embroidered clothes through the generations. [Alfred] This royal piece has been re-sewn so many times, it's taken on a completely new form. [Alfred] Still, I have it, and I'm supposed to give it to someone important to me to show I care. [Alear] Wow... [Alear] Thank you so much. I will happily accept your gesture. [Alfred] Oh! Gosh. You're sure? It's not too much? [Alear] No, it's perfect. I feel the same way about you. [Alear] Thinking back, I've felt that way almost as soon as we met in Lythos Castle. [Alear] Now I have something for you. Please, may I see your hand, Alfred? [Alfred] The Pact Ring? [Alear] We're going to be inseparable. I look forward to the journey ahead with you. [Alfred] Thank you, ... [Alfred] I'm done holding back my feelings. I love you. You've made me the happiest man in the world.