02x08 - An Empty Man

[bunniefuu]

Einar...

No, wait. Wait!

Wait!

Damn it...

Why am I here?

I mustn't fall.

If I fall down there...

No! Please, don't!

I'm begging you!

Good morning, Thorfinn.

You were screaming even more
than usual this morning.

I dreamed about falling down a cliff.

You remember your dream this morning?

A little.

You were saying all kinds
of things in your sleep,

like "Father" and "Askeladd."

Is "Askeladd" someone's name?

No matter what...

An Empty Man

No matter what I do,
I can't fully remember my dreams.

I followed her wondering what she wanted
to show me, and it was a moth this big!

I know only that they're horrifying.

I spent a half-hour explaining to
Lotta that it was a moth, not a butterfly

And I feel like...

I feel like I've forgotten
something really important.

but she insisted on keeping it.

Then Mom suddenly showed up, and...

It's like a fish bone stuck in my throat.

It scares me. I wish I could truly forget.

But I get the sense it's something
I mustn't forget.

I wonder what it is...

Pull!

Hey, look at how much
their wheat has grown already.

Maybe the land's fertile
because they just cleared it.

No, it's Einar.

They suddenly made a bunch of progress
clearing the land since he showed up.

Push!

The master's out of his mind.

Farm work is for free men,
and he's allowing slaves to do it.

This isn't right, even if it's on his orders.

The world will fall into chaos if slaves
are treated the same as retainers.

Right, guys?

Askeladd is the man who k*lled my father.

He was a Danish warmonger.

He was a strong and cruel man.

Catch.

Oh, right.

So, he showed up in your dream?

I'm not sure.

I followed Askeladd onto the b*ttlefield,

so I could avenge my father.

I fought for ten—no, years.

I hated him so much.

I wanted to k*ll him.

So, did you get revenge?

No.

Askeladd was k*lled by another man
right before my eyes.

Thorfinn, throw me the next one.

Oh, right.

Hup.

Well, I don't know the details,

but I'm starting to understand
why you're always so listless.

If you're dreaming about him,
then you must not be over it yet.

You're right. Maybe you're right, but...

That's not all. There's something else.

I feel like I've forgotten
something more important.

Something very important.

Well, it's not the kind of thing you can
get over just because someone tells you to.

But your quest for revenge is over now.

And besides, hating a dead man
won't get you anywhere.

Isn't that right?

Stay back, Thorfinn!

Become a true warrior, son of Thors...

I don't hate him anymore,

which is exactly my problem.

Without my hate,

I'm empty.

I survived on my hatred alone.

I don't know anything
besides the b*ttlefield.

I don't know the first thing
about fixing a roof.

I can't do anything.

I don't even know what I should be doing.

I'm empty.

Work.

Sir!

If you've got time to flap
your gums, then work.

That's not the only job
I've got for you today.

You ready? Watch this.

Give it a try.

Catch some big, fleshy ones.

Huh? It's not spreading.

Pull yourself together.

We can't eat meat right now
because it's Lent.

Are you trying to force this old man
to eat nothing but wheat?

Hey, looking good.

It's no use. I didn't catch a single one.

Put more spin on it, like this.

Don't keep throwing in the same area.

Okay.

You can start learning things one at a time.

If you're empty, then you can
fit anything inside you.

In fact, it's better to be empty
if you want to be reborn.

What? Were you eavesdropping?

I just happened to overhear.

Can I be reborn?

Work. Your hands aren't moving.

It's so cold.

It's definitely gonna snow.

Catching fish will be rough in this cold.

I'd like to redeem myself, though.

Yesterday, between the two of us,

all we caught were three little fish
and a bunch of clams.

Right, Thorfinn?

Huh? Oh, sorry. I wasn't listening.

Were you lost in thought again?

Do you think people can change?

What does it take for someone to change?

Thorfinn, you used to be a warrior, right?

Huh? Yeah.

Warriors are, you know...

"Life's all about carrying axes into battle,
plundering the spoils, and drinking beer!"

"Hardy har har!"

Those guys, right?

M-More or less. I didn't carry an axe, though.

Looking at you now, there isn't anyone
who'd think you're a former warrior.

You think so?

"You think so?"

Take a look at your own face in the water.

I'm really glad I didn't meet you
back when you were still a warrior.

Worst case, you might've k*lled me.

People can change, Thorfinn.

You're probably on your way to
becoming a better person right now.

You think so?

I do.

Thank you, Einar.

What's wrong? Einar—

The wheat...

It's all...

Did people do this? Why?

Wheat is a hardy crop.

It gets back up on its own
even if the wind blows it down.

They knew exactly what they were doing.

They dug up the roots.

Hey, where are you going?

It was the retainers.

They're the only ones who would've done this.

Wait. What are you planning to do?

Einar...

Don't you get it?

If slaves att*ck free men...

I don't care. I'll k*ll them.

Calm down.

We don't have proof they did it.

Even if we question them,
they're bound to deny it.

Stop, Einar.

Let's talk to Pater first.

You're awfully calm, Thorfinn.

Do you not understand this situation?

We used up the soil's fertility,
but we'll have no harvest.

We'll have to borrow seeds
for the next planting, too.

But more than that, they... they...

They should know the difficulty
and joy of growing wheat.

They're farmers, too!

How could they do this?

You should be angry, Thorfinn.

Our wheat has been ruined!

I...

Until now, I've been someone
who took and destroyed.

Unlike you, I have no right
to be angry at the retainers.

If you want to k*ll the retainers,

then I deserve to die by your hand
a hundred times over, too.

First, let's calm down. Please, Einar.

I see...

This certainly is awful.

Neither of you saw it happen?

No.

Leave this field the way it is until
I'm finished with my investigation.

They may have left some clues behind.

So, do you have any idea
who might have done it?

The retainers.

I see...

All right. I'll report
all of this to the master.

Leave the rest to me.

I suffered a lot as a sl*ve, too.

I wondered why my bullies would do something
that didn't benefit them in any way.

People who love to discriminate
can be found everywhere,

but not everyone is like that.

Don't lose hope, you two.

Apparently...

the master has really
taken a liking to Arnheid.

She doesn't have a deal like ours that
allows her to earn her freedom by working.

It seems like she's given up
on ever being free again.

Even if they like you,
you become bound to them.

If they hate you, this is how they treat you.

What kind of lives are we living?

That was more work than
I expected. I'm exhausted.

What are you talking about?
You were just watching.

Yeah.

Let's go another way, Einar.

Don't, Einar.

There's no reason for us to sneak around.

Well, speak of the devil.

What's wrong? Why the long faces?

Restrain yourself, Einar.
Don't listen to them.

What's your problem? Move.

You're the one who ravaged
our farm, aren't you?

What? Farm?

I have no idea what you're talking about.

Einar!

I see, I see. So your farm was ravaged.

I'm sorry to hear that.

But don't let it get you down.

It was wheat grown by slaves.

It would've been too putrid
for anyone to eat.

Crap...

His jaw looks broken.

What a punch!

You brat!

How dare you, sl*ve! I'll k*ll you!

sl*ve this, sl*ve that... Shut up already!

Quit crying and come at me.

Y-You idiot, don't—

Thorfinn.

Are you okay?

Let go, damn it.

Damn you!

D-Don't...

H-Huh?

What are you...

F-Father?

He's telling me something...

It's no use.

I'm... falling...

Oath

"Oath."