Naveed

Ranzal: Damn! Those fiends got some bite to 'em today, yeah?
Euden: Agreed. Maybe we should rest for a bit.
 ???: Out of my way! Move it!
Euden: Bwah?!
Ranzal: Well, THAT came from outta nowhere.
Euden: That person sure seemed to be in a hurry. I wonder if something happened? ...Excuse me, sir?
Naveed: Yes? What is it?
Euden: Well, someone just came bolting by us, and I was wondering if you had any idea why.
Naveed: Ah, you must be referring to the thief. Just a moment ago, that person made off with one of my jewels.
Ranzal: No kiddin'?! Guess that explains why the cat was in such a big rush. Hold on—why are ya just standin' here when someone nabbed yer stuff?!
Euden: You're right, Ranzal—let's go! We can't let that thief run free!
Naveed: Ha ha! There is no need. Behold.
Bandit: GYAAAARGH! GET IT AWAY FROM ME!
Ranzal: What the hey?! Now the thief's throwing the jewel on the ground!
Bandit: Hot! Hot! Hooooooot!
Euden: Um, Ranzal? I think that gem is on fire.
Naveed: Ha ha ha! Just a little bit of my magic, that's all. It's called lithomancy. It's a type of sorcery that stores mana within jewels. When released, said mana can do things such as the rather fiery outburst you see before you now.
Bandit: This is gettin' way too dangerous for me. I'm outta here!
Ranzal: Hold it right there, pal!
Naveed: Please, spare yourself the effort. With the gem returned to me, there is no need to give chase to the miscreant.
Euden: Huh. You're quite the broad-minded fellow.
Naveed: Says the man who was willing to rush into danger for the sake of a total stranger. Permit me to express my sincerest respect for your kind-hearted nature, as well as your bravery. I am Naveed, and I am most thankful for this fated meeting of ours.
Euden: Nice to meet you, Naveed. I'm—
Bandit: AAAAARRRRRGH!
Euden: Uh oh. That sounded like the thief. Let's go check it out.
Fiend: GRAAAARGH!
Bandit: Somebody save meeee!
Ranzal: Now the thief's bein' attacked by a fiend?! This day just gets better and better... This'd be a great time to point out the poetic justice of what's happenin', but I suppose we should help the guy out.
Naveed: Permit me to take care of this! O noblest mana hidden in this radiant gem! Make your brilliance a blade that cleaves through all!
Euden: Whoa! That gem flew through the air and attacked the fiend like a sword!
Fiend: GRAAAAH!
Ranzal: Guy ain't no slouch with a real sword, neither. Yo, Euden. Maybe we oughta invite this guy to join us? I mean, swordfightin' AND magic gems is a pretty snazzy combo.
Euden: I was just thinking the same thing. Naveed? Might I have a second?
Naveed: ...Ah, I see. You are facing quite a trial. How simply marvelous! You must permit me to lend you my cooperation.
Euden: I should warn you, working with us is rarely a safe endeavor. Are you sure you're okay with that?
Naveed: Without question. After all, you all have committed your own lives to the cause, no? It would be an honor to give my all in support of it as well.
Bandit: Naveed, my sweet! How lovely you are!
Ranzal: Holy crap! The thief is a lady! And, uh...did she just call him ＂my sweet＂?
Bandit: Oh, my darling Naveed! In exchange for saving my life, I offer my undying love to you!
Naveed: I...um...yes. Forgive my haste, Euden, but I shall make for the castle ahead of you. Farewell!
Bandit: Wait, snookums! WAAAAIT!
Euden: This got weird all of a sudden. Er, or weirder, I guess. I hope Naveed's okay...

Village Girl: Aaah! Stop it! That's our family heirloom!
Man: Tough beans, lady! You know the score!
Village Girl: Eeek!
Euden: Hey! What's going on here?!
Ranzal: Get yer hands off her! I dunno what's goin' on here, but there's no need to be actin' like a dirty thief!
Man: This got nothin' to do with you, friends. Her folks borrowed money from me and never paid it back! I'm just taking my due and proper. The contract's clear: If they don't pay, I get this here heirloom.
Village Girl: You tricked my father into signing that contract, you rat!
Man: I suppose ya got proof'a that? ...Ha! Didn't think so. 'Sides, even if it WAS true, it's his own fault for bein' stupid. Here, look at the contract if it'll shut ya up. Everything's nice and official, see?
Cleo: ...This does seem to be in order. And with the debt being legitimate, I'm not certain what basis we have to intercede.
Euden: But if he really did deceive her father, we can't let just let that go.
Naveed: Ha ha ha! This is a simple matter. We have but to erase the debt.
Ranzal: You and me got way different definitions of simple, pal... I mean, it's a pretty thought and all, but this lady's pops owes a lot more than walkin'-around money.
Naveed: Worry not; I shall pay the entirety of her debt from my own pocket. I trust this will cover it, my good man?
Ranzal: Sweet mutton steaks! I ain't never SEEN that much cash before!
Man: You serious, friend? Well, even if you're not, it's too late to take it back now. ...Yoink!
Ranzal: Ya sure about this, Naveed? That's a whole lotta cheddar to fork over to a stranger.
Naveed: Quite sure. I may not have mentioned this, but I come from a family of merchants, and we're rather well-off from a financial perspective.
Euden: Regardless, it's STILL a great deal of money to just give away.
Naveed: My livelihood is possible only because of hard-working artisans and loyal customers. By helping that woman, I repay a little of the debt I owe to such people.
Ranzal: That's pretty big of ya, man. Don't think I could do the same in your shoes.
Naveed: And by the same token, I could never hope to mimic your valor, Ranzal. We each compensate for that which the other does not have. Is that not what it means to be a friend and comrade?
Ranzal: Well, ain't you somethin'? Handsome, rich, AND suave? Man, I wish I had even one'a them traits. The ladies must not be able to get enough of ya, am I right?
Naveed: Guh... I mean, er...no. The women of the world have...ah...rather little interest in me.
Ranzal: Aw, no need to play coy! ...Cleo! You think this guy's the bee's knees, yeah?
Cleo: Leave me out of this discussion. ...Oh, very well. Though it's a gross over-generalization, I imagine there are many women who would find Naveed to be a more than adequate prospect.
Naveed: Ah! Y-yes, well, I'm...glad to hear it. Now then, this has turned into quite the detour. Let us hurry on to your castle.
Cleo: ......
Euden: Cleo? What is it?
Cleo: Ah, it's just... I've had this feeling that Naveed is avoiding me. ...Hmm. Perhaps it's all in my head.

Village Girl A: I cooked you a meal, my darling! It would make me so happy if you ate it!
Naveed: Oh, um...my thanks. However, I regret to admit that I'm currently quite stuffed. Yes, completely full up to the gills, I'm afraid. Oh, and I'm in a bit of a hurry as well, so I must be going. Ta!
Village Girl B: Sweetie-muffs, that band of minstrels you love is coming to town! I thought perhaps we might go together?
Naveed: Er, well, I'm delighted that you would ask, but I fear have some...business to attend to. Yes, that's it. Apologies.
Village Girl C: Oooh honey buuuun! Let's you and I spend the day together in blissfu—
Naveed: Sorry! Very busy right now! *pant* *pant* Thank you for hiding me, Euden.
Euden: Not a problem. You look like you've been through the wringer. Do women always pursue you so... aggressively?
Naveed: I fear the fault is mine. If I could simply respond to them honestly, I wouldn't find myself in this situation. Don't you agree, Euden?
Euden: Well, I do think you don't really need to run away like that...
Naveed: Haaaaaa...ha. Yes, quite. Normally, there would be no need to do that. ...Normally.
Euden: Naveed? What is it?
Naveed: Euden, might you lend an ear to my sad tale? It would do me good to tell it to a friend. ...I once had a fiancée, you see. I loved her more than life itself, and she felt the same in return. ...Or so I thought. But one day, tragedy struck. My family's trading business fell upon hard times. It's no stretch to say that I was at risk of being utterly ruined. And in the midst of all that...
Fiancée: It's over, Naveed.
Naveed: No, it is not over. I can dig my way out of this. I know there is a way! So long as I have you, my love, there is nothing I cannot do.
Fiancée: You don't understand, Naveed. It's over for ME. I have decided to marry another.
Naveed: What?!
Fiancée: A man who would allow himself to fall into ruin is not a man I wish to marry.
Naveed: But...but what of our feelings? Our love? Was it all a lie?
Fiancée: No, it is real. ...Or it was, once. But even the strongest love can wither and die on the vine.
Naveed: How can you say such a thing? True love is stronger than any crisis!
Fiancée: Then please feel free to search for this ＂true love＂ with another. Farewell, Naveed.
Naveed: ...Ever since, I've struggled with even the thought of a woman showing me affection. All I can think about is the chance I might be betrayed yet again.
Euden: Going through an experience like that would indeed make it difficult to trust someone again. However, I think—
Naveed: Save your words, Prince! I know you will attempt to convince me that not all women would behave in the same manner. And yes, my head knows that to be true. But my heart... Well, it seems to believe something else entirely. Love is but a crystal sword—it seems strong and pure, yet it can shatter at the slightest touch!
Euden: I don't think you actually believe love is as fragile as all that. If you did, you wouldn't be so conflicted about it.
Naveed: It is as you say: I DO want to believe in love. I want to believe that somewhere out there is a true love that does not waver when times are hard.
Euden: It's a wonderful thought.
Naveed: In fact, it is my search for true love that has driven my journey to this point.
Euden: True love does exist, Naveed. Or I believe it does, at any rate.
Naveed: It makes sense that you would think as much. There are many here with big, strong hearts—including you. And being around such hearts makes me feel as if I'm getting closer to understanding what true love is. If I could decipher that, perhaps I would no longer feel the need to flee affection.
Village Girls: Naveeeeed! Where aaaare yoooou?
Naveed: Blast!
Euden: I hope he finds what he's looking for...

Fiend: Grrrrargh!
Euden: Hngh! There's so many of them!
Naveed: Quite so—but I've no intention of dying in a place like this. HAAAH!
Euden: Now THAT'S the Naveed I know! ...Whoa! Behind you!
Fiend: Grraaoorgh!
Naveed: Damnation!
Euden: Ngh! HAAAAAAH!
Naveed: Euden! Are you all right?!
Euden: Urgh... Y-yeah, I'm okay. What about you?
Naveed: Worry not about me; you're the one who took that fearsome blow! What were you thinking, diving between myself and those fiends?
Euden: Heh. I guess I WASN'T thinking. My body just moved on its own. But we're both all right, which is what matters.
Naveed: This... Good heavens, this is it!
Euden: Er, what is?
Naveed: Wonder of wonders, it can be nothing else! Your actions are the very definition of a true and selfless love! The true love I have been seeking has been inside you all along!
Euden: I'm uh...not really sure about that.
Naveed: Poppycock! You are clearly the magnificent person I've been seeking. I wish to know you better, Prince. I wish to know your LOVE better. To that end, I must know you down to your very core. Might you grant me this small boon?
Euden: You're basically saying you want to be better friends, right? Well, that's certainly fine with me. ...Naveed? Think you can help me out with some training? Today I'm going to beat your lithomancy for sure!
Naveed: Ha ha! I think you'll find that no simple endeavor. But what say we sweeten the pot a bit? If you can defeat me, I shall teach you the secrets of my lithomancy.
Euden: Oh, I'm DEFINITELY going to win now.
Cleo: ......
Elisanne: ......
Ranzal: Hey, ladies. What's up?
Cleo: ...Nothing.
Ranzal: So whatcha starin' at, then? Oh, it's Naveed and our fearless leader. What're they up to?
Elisanne: It's not that they're "up to" anything... We were just noticing how much time the two of them have been spending together of late.
Cleo: Indeed. These sparring sessions of theirs have become a daily occurance.
Elisanne: But the relationship does not end there. They also spend each and every mealtime together chattering like birds on a branch.
Cleo: And just last night they were out all night in an attempt to find a flower that only blooms in the moonlight or somesuch.
Elisanne: They were gone all night?!
Cleo: Indeed. Did you not know that?
Elisanne: Spending all night with him makes me so very jeaaaaaaaaa...errrr...ly. Yes. Jelly. Jelly sounds splendid right now. *sigh* I'll not begrudge His Highness a friendship, but I fear this has gone a step too far.
Cleo: I feel the same. Euden is our leader, which means his time must naturally be spread quite thin. He can ill afford to focus all of his attention on Naveed alone.
Elisanne: Well said! Hear hear! After all, I'm just as able a sparring partner as he—if not better!
Cleo: And he should give a thought to those of us who prepare the nightly meal.
Ranzal: BWAAAAA HA HA HA HA!
Elisanne: None of this is funny, you brute!
Ranzal: Heh. Yeah, okay. My bad. But listen, ya don't gotta worry about any of this. They're just a couple'a guys what found a bit of chemistry. Ya can't get mad at 'em for that. Hell, Naveed up and asked to spend more time with Euden.
Elisanne & Cleo: *gasp*
Ranzal: So if that makes ya jealous, why not take a page from his book and do the same?
Elisanne & Cleo: W-we are NOT jealous!

Fiend: GRRRRRRR!
Naveed: Euden, a fiend went your way!
Euden: I've got it. HAAAAAH!
Fiend: URRGYAAAH!
Naveed: Handled as adroitly as ever, Euden. ...However!
Euden: There was another fiend THAT close to me?! Phew! You really saved my bacon there, Naveed.
Naveed: As you have done for me on numerous occasions.
Ranzal: Ya know, those two have turned into a real butt-kickin' team.
Elisanne: And why, pray tell, are you looking at me while you say as much? They are together every single day, after all. It would be much stranger if they WEREN'T in sync with one another.
Ranzal: Yer talkin' like ya already gave up.
Elisanne: I have given up on nothing, sir! I'm merely doing things in my own... Er, I mean... This conversation is over!
Naveed: Don't be negligent, you two! There are still fiends about!
Ranzal: Huh?!
Elisanne: Aah!
Fiend: GRAAAAGH!
Euden: Watch out! Urghh...
Naveed: Euden!
Cleo: You really need to do something about this habit of throwing yourself in front of any fiend who seems likely to attack one of your companions.
Euden: I know, I know. But hey, I'm still here, so no harm done, right?
Elisanne: Harm was most definitely done! Put yourself in the shoes of the ones who worry after you for a moment!
Ranzal: Don't waste yer breath. Savin' folks is just instinct at this point—ya can't yell it outta him.
Euden: Ha ha haaaaa... Ha?
Naveed: ......
Elder: Oh dear me. I'm sure I'll pay a heavy price for making a prince such as yourself carry this load for me.
Euden: My standing is of no consequence here. We've all got to work together. Now give me the bags.
Naveed: ......
Euden: ...Everyone, we have a report of fiends near the village. Let's go take 'em out!
Naveed: So I was right after all...
Euden: Oh! Hey, Naveed!
Naveed: Hmm? Ah, Euden... What can I do for you?
Euden: I've barely seen you around lately. Has something happened?
Naveed: Is that what this is about? My apologies. I merely wanted to...create some distance between us.
Euden: Oh? And why is that? Have I caused you offense somehow?
Naveed: No, nothing like that. It's difficult to put into words, but... Well, let us just say that we have differences.
Euden: I'm afraid I'm not following.
Naveed: I speak of love. Your love flows far and wide. It flows to those gathered in the castle and onward to villagers, townsfolk, and even those you've yet to meet. It is wonderful—and most definitely true.
Euden: I really think you're overselling this. Anyone would help a person in trouble. I'm nothing special in that respect.
Naveed: You see? You don't even understand how rare you are. I, however, am a different story altogether.
Euden: How so?
Naveed: To me, you are like a great and admirable role model. I was moved when I witnessed your love, and wanted desperately to become a person who could bear the same. However, even as I admired you, I felt that that love was not quite what I sought.
Euden: I'm listening.
Naveed: There is no denying the truth of your love. However, you spread it equally among people everywhere, whereas I wish to put all that I am into a single individual.
Euden: Perhaps—but that doesn't make your love any less valid. As far as I'm concerned, loving a single person and loving everyone in your life are both equally valuable. And yet, if I'm being truthful...
Naveed: Please, go on.
Euden: Well, I don't think I really understand the kind of love you're talking about. It's different from simply feeling that your family is precious, right?
Naveed: ...Heh. Ha ha! Aaaah ha ha ha! Now I TRULY understand! You see the people of the Halidom as your family!
Euden: Er...is that so strange?
Naveed: Not at all—it is I who am strange for trying to learn about love from one such as you. I must say, I'm now VERY curious about how your expansive love will fare when you finally attempt to forge a bond with that special someone.
Euden: Heh. When that happens, Naveed, perhaps I'll look to you for advice.
Naveed: Ha ha! Indeed. In that case, I must hurry and find my true love—for your sake as well as my own! But thanks to you, I'm confident that day will eventually come. There are an astonishing number of different kinds of love in this world, and each and every one of them is real. My particular brand of true love absolutely must exist somewhere, and I WILL find it!