=== Alear & Timerra === --- C --- [Timerra] Grilled and ready to go! This meat is so yummy it's gonna make your taste buds dance. [Alear] Wow. That seems like a lot of meat for the two of us. [Timerra] Oh, no. This one's for me. I was gonna do yours next. [Alear] What?! How do you eat that much?! [Timerra] Oh, you know. Open my mouth, bite, chew. I won't bore you with all the details. [Alear] Wow. You're really something, Timerra. [Timerra] ... [Timerra] THAT'S TRUE! I'M REALLY SOMETHING! [Timerra] I'M THE CROWN PRINCESS OF SOLM! AND I'M WEARING LOTS OF PRICELESS JEWELS! [Alear] Please, keep your voice down! [Alear] I've heard that this area isn't very safe. [Timerra] You can say that again. It's absolutely crawling with bandits. [Timerra] That's why I'm out here like a nice, tempting hunk of lamb on a spit. [Alear] Wait a minute... That was your plan?! To use yourself as bait?! [Timerra] It worked, didn't it? Look. Those bruisers have had their eye on us since we got here. [Alear] It looks like... It looks like they're getting ready for an ambush! [Timerra] Not if we pounce on 'em first! Come on─this oughta be a piece of cake for you and me! [Alear] Ugh, all right. But you know, a little heads-up would have been nice! --- B --- [Timerra] Thanks, Divine One. You really saved my bacon. [Alear] I was happy to help. [Alear] I will say, I wasn't expecting our picnic to turn into a two-person raid on the bandits' hideout. [Timerra] Really? That's how most of my picnics go, to be honest. [Alear] When you invited me, you said we'd be eating meat together. [Timerra] And I was telling the truth! You got a nice big helping, right? [Alear] Yes, I was stuffed. I only wish you had said something like... [Alear] "I've found the bandits' camp, so let's barge in, take them out, and then grill up some meat." [Alear] That would have been more, you know, accurate. [Timerra] Hahaha! So wordy, though. My way was much more concise. [Alear] That's one way to look at it. [Alear] Still, you never cease to amaze. You take it upon yourself to help root out bandits... [Timerra] What, is that not normal? [Timerra] I'm just protecting my people. I thought that's what royalty was supposed to do. [Alear] You say something completely radical like it's the most obvious thing in the world. [Timerra] Hahaha! That's my charm! --- A --- [Timerra] Hey, Divine One, it's meat o'clock! You in? [Alear] That depends. Will there be a surprise bandit- hunting trip this time? [Timerra] Hehe! No, I promise it's just you, me, and some fresh-grilled hunks of meat. [Timerra] I got a nice haul from the latest hunting trip, and I wanna share the spoils! [Alear] All right. In that case, I'd be happy to partake. [Alear] Woof... I'm so full I can hardly move... [Alear] I must say, that was delicious. Good job at the grill. [Timerra] Uh-oh. [Alear] What is it? [Timerra] OK, before you get mad...I really did intend for this to be a plain old picnic. [Timerra] But there are some thugs surrounding us, and it looks like they have other ideas. [Alear] What?! I thought we cleared them out! [Timerra] I thought so too. There must have been a hideout I missed in my investigation. [Alear] Ah... There are a lot of them... [Timerra] I'll create a breach, and you run through to safety. [Alear] Hm, good plan. But here's another to consider. [Alear] Let's take them all out and eliminate the bandit threat once and for all. [Alear] If we do that, everyone in this entire region will feel much more safe. [Timerra] Hehe! Hate to admit it, but I like that better. [Alear] I guess you're rubbing off on me. [Timerra] Come on! Let's make sure these jerks never ruin a picnic again! [Alear] Right behind you! --- S --- [Timerra] Divine One, you know the people of Solm value freedom above everything else, right? [Alear] I do. [Timerra] That goes for me too. I love doing whatever I want to do, whenever I want to do it! It's just... [Timerra] Do you ever feel chained down by your closest friendships? [Alear] What do you mean? [Timerra] When we connect with people─you know, really bond with them─those bonds make us stronger. [Timerra] I mean, our closest allies help us do things we could never do all by ourselves. [Timerra] That's powerful stuff. But those bonds─those friendships─can feel like obligations too. [Alear] I see what you mean, and you're not wrong. [Alear] Sometimes, when you care about someone, you have to put their desires before your own. [Alear] That happens in close relationships. [Timerra] So, you have to give up close relationships to really be free? Is that what you think? [Alear] I think you should take this. [Timerra] Is that...the Pact Ring? [Alear] Yes, and I want you to have it, Timerra. [Timerra] Me?! But why? [Alear] Because this will bring us closer together but never take your freedom from you. [Alear] I care about you, Timerra, and I don't want you to lose the thing you hold most dear. [Timerra] Do you really think you and I can have this kind of a bond and also have our freedom? [Alear] Yes. I really do. [Timerra] That's so...beautiful. I suppose I have my answer, then. [Timerra] I─ I'll accept the ring. [Alear] I promise you, though our hearts will remain connected, you will be free. [Timerra] I like the sound of that very much, . [Timerra] This will be our bond forever... No matter where we are or where we go, we are always together.