08x269 - Dancing with Blades

[bunniefuu]

Zera! Do you see it?

Huh?

Look! Up there! It's Hargeon!

[ZERA]

Finally!

Yuri! Warrod! I can

see land up ahead!

I'm super excited to be

in a real city, aren't you?

All the people, and

the shops, and the food!

Oh, I can't wait!

Well, you're gonna have to.

The way the tide

is movin' right now,

it'll take about an

hour to reach land.

[MAVIS, ZERA chuckle]

[MAVIS] After being on Tenrou

Island for all our lives,

Zera and I finally

visited our first city.

The bustling port of Hargeon!

Hey, Warrod, what are

you doing over there?

I'm mooring the ship

with a bowline knot.

[MAVIS]

And what does that mean?

I'm just tying the ship

up with this loop here

so it doesn't drift away.

Gotta get it nice and tight!

It makes sense.

Looks pretty secure to me!

I've read a couple

of books about boats,

but I supposed they only

focused on what happens

while they're out on the water

so that's why I'm asking.

So can you tie knots like that?

That's his thing.

[WARROD] Ha! Does that

answer your question?

Should I not have

asked him about that?

He obviously can't do it.

Oh, I guess that's a "no" then.

[grunts]

It's time to disembark.

I'm first!

[chuckles]

Come on, folks!

I've got the freshest, tastiest

fruit, handpicked just for you!

Treat yourself to the healthiest

bite of happiness money can buy!

[CROWD gasps, laughs]

This is amazing!

I never dreamed there'd

be so much going on!

Move it!

The rest of us wanna get off

the boat, too, ya know.

Uh! I'm sorry!

[MAVIS chuckles]

And by the way,

you were wrong just now.

Wrong about what?

About being first off the boat.

Don't you remember Warrod

tying it to the dock?

[chuckles]

Huh, guess you're right.

[ZERA sighs]

Oh, wow! Look at it!

Way too many people.

[MAVIS Ooh! He's

carrying a lot of fish!

That's probably because

he's a fisherman, Mavis.

[MAVIS laughs]

What's this? Some kind

of exotic fruit?

Whatever it is,

it sure is stinky.

Hey, check out this necklace.

Isn't it beautiful?

You can't just put things on,

he'll think you're stealing.

They smell heavenly!

I've only seen pictures

of these before!

Whoa! These look

like little Jewels!

Are all these different

kinds of candies?

[OLD WOMAN A]

Yes, dear,

we have dozens of

varieties to choose from!

All delicious and made by hand!

Here, pick out

whichever you'd like!

I can have one for free?

[OLD WOMAN A]

All it costs is a smile!

Thank you!

It's so yummy! So light

and sweet and flaky!

I've never tasted anything

like it in my life!

Hey, Zera! Come here!

You gotta try one of these!

No, I think I'll pass.

[MAVIS]

Why?

After the boat ride,

I wanna take a nap.

Oh, boo.

Don't you wanna experience

all this neat stuff with me?

There's nothing here you

haven't read about before.

Reading about the world

and being in it

are two different things.

That's one of the main

reasons we left the island!

And that's why I like

to get out now and then.

Know what I mean?

I guess this is like a

severe case of culture shock.

I can't imagine it.

Hey, you guys!

Zera found us all a place

to stay for the night!

Good thinking.

We might even have to spend

a couple of days here

gathering information.

What's wrong? You seem tense.

[PRECHT]

I'm having some second thoughts

on what we brought

back from Tenrou.

Hey!

[PRECHT] We won't find

anything out about Blue Skull

standing around here.

I'll meet you at

the hotel later.

I'd love to come with you,

if you don't mind!

[grunts]

You're just always so quiet

that I don't feel like I've

really gotten the chance

to get to know you.

[sighs]

[PRECHT]

Fine, suit yourself.

You can rest while

we go and explore!

You're just leaving me?

I'll see you in a

little while, Zera!

She's excited.

Be careful!

That creep you're running off

with seems like bad news to me!

Oh, I wonder what's

inside that building there!

[MAVIS] There are so many

places to eat! It's incredible!

[MAVIS chuckles]

They look like

they're having fun!

Hey, do you think we should stop

and get something to eat?

Wait for me!

Why're you so quiet?

You know you don't have

to be shy around me.

I'm not shy. I just don't

have anything to say to you.

Okay, I understand.

And I really appreciate you

for being so honest with me.

But the truth of the matter is,

you actually don't have to

think of anything to say.

All I want is for you to

share your knowledge.

This is all so new to me.

I've never been to

a city before,

but I imagine that you've

visited many of them

in your treasure

hunting adventures.

So I just wanted to learn

some things from you.

I have a lot of questions

about the outside world

and I'm sure that you have

just as many answers.

[MAVIS]

Huh?

Where're you going?

[PRECHT] I'm not here

to share information.

I'm here to gather it.

So I'm going where

people will give it out.

That's the spirit!

I toss a question and

you throw back an answer.

[grumbles]

[BOTH chuckling]

[BOY A laughing]

[GIRL A laughs]

I never knew there were

so many people out there.

[grumbles]

[whimpers]

[PRECHT] Tell me what you

know about Blue Skull.

[screams]

I don't think he's gonna talk.

[PRECHT]

Hmph.

[PRECHT]

Hey.

Listen up! What do you

know about Blue Skull?

[PEOPLE screaming]

[PRECHT]

That's quite troubling.

[sighs]

[PRECHT] Could Blue Skull truly

be that fearsome of a guild?

I'm not trying to be rude here,

but maybe you're the one

who's scaring them?

[PRECHT]

What? How?

Like this. You're in my face.

[chuckles]

[BOY B]

Mommy! I'm scared!

[MOTHER grumbles]

[PRECHT]

Good grief.

Do you have a reason for cutting

down that tree all of a sudden?

[PRECHT]

Well--

[MAN D]

Hey! What's wrong with you?

Just who in the hell

do you think you are?

[MAN G] You better

explain yourself, pal!

[gasps]

[PRECHT]

The screw on that wheel,

it's dangerously loose.

[MAVIS]

Huh?

Whoa!

Hey, buddy, do you mind not

blocking the roadway here?

[PRECHT]

You need to check your wheel.

Say what? What are

you talking about?

Your wheel! The back one

has a loose screw.

Huh?

Yeah, it's about to fall off.

Really?

Hang on. Let me

tighten it up for you.

[PRECHT sighs]

[MAVIS chuckles]

You just saved the day!

Nicely done!

[WOMAN B]

Excuse me.

Are you feeling okay, sir?

You just walked in

front of that wagon,

so I just wanted to make

sure you're all right.

[PRECHT]

Yes, I'm fine.

[PRECHT]

Huh?

[PRECHT]

Look out, miss!

[ALL gasping]

[groans]

[gasping]

What do you think you're doing?!

Ugh! Creepy pervert! How rude!

[DRIVER A]

Hey, you!

You know you

shouldn't be walking

in the middle of the street.

You weren't tryin' to cause

an accident, were you?

[PRECHT] No, I--

I was trying to help.

You seem to have attracted

a lot of attention to yourself.

And not in a good way.

Unfortunately.

[PRECHT]

It happens all the time.

You shouldn't let it

get you down, though.

I mean, you really didn't do

anything wrong, did you?

Of course not. And I

don't need consoling.

I'm not trying to console you!

All I'm doing is

just telling you

what I think about

what just happened.

You strike me as

the type of person

who's misunderstood a lot.

But that's only because you're

more honest than most people.

And so, they can be easily

intimidated by the way you are.

Everything you do is guided by

your personal code of honor.

I guess that must be a fairly

rare character trait

in the world today.

So there's nothing to be

ashamed or scared of.

You should be proud and

hold your head high.

Well, that's what I read in

a book about personalities.

Seeing how you carry yourself

and how people react to you

just made me think of it.

Uh-oh. It's that boy.

I've been looking

for you to say thanks!

That tree you cut down,

it was rotten on the inside.

So thanks! That could've

fallen and hurt somebody bad.

You saved us!

[PRECHT] I see.

So it was rotten after all.

Oh, yeah.

One of the grownups said

it was super dangerous.

I apologize. Sorry

we were rude to you.

[MOTHER B] Please wait!

I'd love to repay you.

[PRECHT]

That's not necessary.

Actually, there is something.

We're looking for a guild.

A guild?

I know! There's a

bar across town.

Somebody there might

be able to help you.

It's pro'ly worth

a sh*t, at least.

How do you know

about some bar?

That old man that lives

across the street told me.

He said that a lot of

bad guys hang out there,

so I should stay away.

And the bartender's

really weird,

but he knows a ton of people.

That sounds like a

pretty good lead to me.

[PRECHT]

Yeah.

Thanks so much

for all your help!

[PATRONS laughing, chattering]

[PATRONS gasping]

Ah. Okay. So this is

what a real bar is like.

Do they all smell like this one?

It has a very peculiar odor.

Oh, yeah? Is that so?

Wait. I didn't mean

anything bad.

No kids allowed, pal.

You wanna drink, you'll have

to leave the rugrat outside.

Yes, but we're

not here to drink.

We actually just came to

chat with the bartender.

Hear that? She just came

for the conversation.

Well, friend, who are ya?

[PRECHT] The name's Precht.

I'm a treasure hunter.

Yeah? A grave robber, huh?

So what kinda business

could you have at my bar?

And speakin' of "business,"

that's what this bar is, ya dig?

[PRECHT]

Then pour me a drink.

Neat or on the rocks?

[PRECHT]

Rocks.

Word on the street is that you

know a whole lot of people.

[BARTENDER]

That I do.

Comes with the territory,

I suppose. What of it?

[PRECHT] We're looking for

a guild named Blue Skull.

Sound familiar?

Blue Skull, eh? Sorry, pal.

Haven't heard of a guild with

that name around these parts.

Can't help ya.

[PRECHT] Come on.

Just think a little harder.

You'll have to ask someone else.

[PRECHT]

I find it extremely surprising

that you've never even

heard it mentioned.

[BARTENDER] There's a lot

of new wizard guilds

with crazy names, but that

one ain't ringin' any bells.

[MAVIS gasps]

Can I get you a glass of milk?

[MAVIS] No, thanks.

We're here for information.

Well, I ain't got any.

So you two hit the bricks.

Maybe you'd have better luck

askin' somebody

at the toy store.

[PATRONS laughing]

[PRECHT growls]

[PRECHT]

Let's get out of here.

[MAVIS]

Wait a second.

If you've never heard of them,

how did you know that Blue

Skull is a wizard guild?

There are a lot of different

types of guilds out there.

There's fighting guilds,

commercial guilds,

all kinds of them, really.

Yet, you specifically identified

Blue Skull as a wizard guild.

So that would lead me to believe

that you do know about it.

Yeah, well, lucky guess.

[gasps]

[yells]

[PRECHT]

You're making a mistake!

He's just one guy!

Let's get him!

[PATRONS yelling]

[whimpers]

[BARTENDER grunts]

[MAVIS yelping]

[PATRONS yelling]

[PATRONS yelling]

Oh, wow.

[PRECHT] I dance with blades.

They move at my command!

[PATRONS groaning]

You made the real mistake today!

[BARTENDER]

You messed with a wizard.

[PRECHT]

A magic circle!

[chuckling]

Do you see his tattoo?

That's Blue Skull's guild mark!

[PRECHT]

So he was a member after all.

I knew he was lying.

Damn you!

[BARTENDER] You better

stay right where you are!

[BARTENDER] If you set one foot

outside that magic circle,

we'll be cleanin' ya

off the ceiling.

You shoulda done your homework.

Blue Skull is a dark guild.

We don't take regular jobs

like those other losers.

Since that's the case,

we need somebody to hang

out at the shady spots

to find out about all

of the shady gigs

that the others are

too scared to take on.

[BARTENDER] So I'm here to

collect information myself.

[PRECHT] You mean you're

just an underling?

That's right.

Wait a sec, I ain't takin'

any insults from you!

[PRECHT] Um, what exactly

are you doing down there?

[MAVIS]

Hmm.

I think this character

is used incorrectly!

This is supposed to be

a barrier enchantment.

It's made up of characters

from the Lezon alphabet.

But this one doesn't

fit in with the rest.

It is pretty close, though.

That means...

[PRECHT]

Hey! Stop!

[MAVIS]

This magic circle doesn't work!

So you can step outside it

without a care in the world!

Why, you! Little brat!

I didn't tell you earlier,

but I happen to know

about magic too!

[PRECHT]

You can use magic?

Yes, indeed. I studied it

for seven years straight.

Wanna see? I'll show you

one of my favorite spells.

Come forth, ancient and sacred

guardian beast from the heavens!

[MAVIS]

Tenrou!

[screams]

[BARTENDER whimpering]

Now are you going to tell us

where we can find Blue Skull?

You should.

Uh! Yes, ma'am!

[PRECHT]

That was an illusion?

Oh, yeah!

[PRECHT] You mean that giant

creature was just a giant bluff?

That's the kind of magic I use!

All we have to do

is combine our powers

and we can reach our goal!

The Tenrou Orb is

practically in our hands!

Now we know the

enemy's location!

A city to the west of here!

Let's go to Magnolia!

Oh! I can't wait

to tell the others!

[PRECHT] Be careful

running around like that!

--[thud]

--[MAVIS] Owie!

[PRECHT] You see! I told you

to be careful, didn't I?

[MAVIS] I don't know!

I wasn't listening!

[MAVIS] Our group embarks

on a trek to Magnolia

to find Blue Skull's

base of operations.

It's a long walk,

so we stop to camp in

the forest for the night.

While we get some

much-needed rest,

we sit around the campfire

next to the shore of a lake.

We share food and stories

of the adventures

that our treasure hunter friends

have gone on together.

And how those experiences

have strengthened the bonds

of their friendship.

Next Time: "Moonlit Lake."

Friendship is a strong

yet gentle thing.