The Atoner

The Atoner

• Related Event: Kindness and Captivity/November 2019
• Release Date: November 13, 2019
• Featured Characters: Melsa, Sylvia, Sarisse

Dialogue

Please note that this story contains spoilers for the "Kindness and Captivity" event.

Melsa: The prince's castle is just through this forest, Sylvia.

Sylvia: We owe the prince so very much. To think we will now be able to rally around him!

Melsa: Well, this is the perfect time, now that our home has finally recovered from the damage it suffered at the Empire's hands.

Melsa: Now let's get moving and repay that debt!

Melsa: Goodness! I haven't laid eyes on this castle in quite some time. I do hope the prince finds himself well.

Melsa: And I suppose I will see Sarisse again, too.

Sylvia: I imagine you will. How exciting!

Melsa: Come, let's get inside already.

Melsa: Wait!

Sylvia: Melsa? Why have you stopped?

Melsa: I'm just...scared. After all I have done...

Sarisse: What...? Melsa...what's going on?

Melsa: ...I'm sorry, Sarisse. I'm sorry, everyone.

Sarisse: Why would you say that? Why are you apologizing?

Sarisse: You're confusing me, Melsa... You're making it sound like this is your fault somehow...

Melsa: Every now and then, I see the face Sarisse made back then...

Melsa: I deceived everyone. That's a fact, and I can never take it back.

Sylvia: Forgive me, Melsa. This is all my fault.

Sylvia: Had I not been captured by the Empire, you would not have suffered so.

Melsa: Don't say that. All that I did, I did of my own free will.

Melsa: I have to atone for the mistakes I made. It doesn't matter how long it takes—I will keep at it until everyone forgives me!

Sylvia: So that is how you intend to take responsibility for your actions, is it?

Sylvia: Very well. In that case, I shall accompany you in seeing your resolve through.

???: Melsa...? Melsa, is that you?

Melsa: Wait, that voice... Could it be?!

Sarisse: Melsa! It IS you!

Sarisse: Ohmigosh, Melsaaaaaa!

Melsa: S-Sarisse!

Melsa: Sarisse... I can't believe it... *sniff*

Sarisse: Oh, I've missed you so much! You have NO idea how long I've been waiting for this!

Melsa: I missed you too, Sarisse!

Sarisse: I'm so happy I could just EXPLODE! We have SO much to catch up on!

Sarisse: How have you been? Did you have a rough time out there? How is Sylvia? Has the village gotten back on its feet?

Melsa: E-easy, Sarisse! I can only answer so many questions at once...

Sarisse: Whoops! Sorry about that! Look at me, just shouting whatever pops into my head.

Sarisse: I'm just jazzed you're here, I guess, 'cause now you and me can hang out and have tons of fun every single day!

Melsa: Every day...? Wait, no. Hold on.

Sarisse: Huh? What's up? Why the long face?

Melsa: I'm just thinking that I need to stay focused and on task here...

Melsa: I did not come here for fun and frolic. I came here to atone for my sins.

Sarisse: Wait, you're not talking about that whole "luring us into a trap" thing, are you?

Sarisse: Because if that's all it is, don't sweat it! Heck, I pretty much forgot all about it, so I'm sure you're overthinking th—

Melsa: I am "overthinking" nothing!

Sarisse: You don't think?

Melsa: All of you came to my rescue even after all the horrible things I did.

Melsa: There is no swaying me in this, Sarisse: I will atone for my sins and pay my debts!

Melsa: And I will do so for everyone in this castle—including the prince and you!

Sarisse: Okay, okay! Sheesh, no need to get so fired up about all this.

Melsa: ......

Sarisse: Say, Melsa? What do you say you and me go for a walk?

Melsa: Now is not the time; I must go and explain to everyone how I feel!

Sarisse: Yeaaaah, let's put a pin in that. If you show up with that scowly face, you're gonna send everybody running in fear!

Sarisse: So let's take a break and reset your growly mood, all right?

Melsa: S-Sarisse, I... Ack!

Sarisse: *siiigh* You aren't going to let this go, are you? Fine then, Melsa—just what do you intend to do to "repay your debts," anyway?

Melsa: Anything! Just tell me what to do, and I will see it done!

Sarisse: ANYTHING? Okay, this is really going too far. Besides, it's not like you did all that bad stuff because you WANTED to.

Melsa: Even so, I have to do this or I will never be able to earn forgiveness.

Melsa: No matter what my reasons were, my sins will not simply wash away!

Sarisse: Melsa...

Sarisse: All right. You wanna atone and junk? Cool. I'm in. But that means you have to do whatever I think that requires, right?

Melsa: You have but to name it! Now please, what would you have me do?!

Sarisse: I'm not going to just TELL you! Instead...you're gonna take a quiz.

Sarisse: GUESS what it is that I want from you.

Melsa: Must we really do this in such a roundabout way?

Sarisse: You bet your pants! Now come on. Make with the guessing already.

Sarisse: Here's a hint: the way to repay me is something ONLY you can do!

Melsa: Something only I can do...? Ah! You want me to divine the weather!

Sarisse: What? No. Why would I want that? Okay, lemme give you another hint...

Sarisse: This is something you could do RIGHT here and RIGHT now if you wanted to.

Melsa: Hmm. Well, that eliminates chores or helping you hunt or the like...

Sarisse: BZZZZZT! Sorry, you're out of time! Okay, one last hint...

Melsa: I am ready!

Sarisse: ...You already know the answer. I told you the moment you showed up.

Melsa: When I showed up...?

Melsa: Wait, you don't mean...

Sarisse: I'm just jazzed you're here, I guess, 'cause now you and me can hang out and have tons of fun every single day!

Melsa: TH-THAT was the answer?!

Sarisse: Hmmmm? Did you figure it out?

Melsa: But I am supposed to atone! To repay you!

Sarisse: Oh, I know. And this is what I want.

Melsa: Then the way I pay you back is...

Sarisse: Yeeeeeees?

Melsa: By hanging out with you and having tons of fun every single day?

Sarisse: Ding ding ding! We have a winner! It's fun, fun, fun, from here on out!

Melsa: Er, but that doesn't seem like atonement so much as...friendship.

Sarisse: Of COURSE it is, you big goof! We're FRIENDS!

Sarisse: Look, you can go bow and scrape and atone or whatever to everyone else, but it's gonna make things suuuper weird if you do that with me.

Sarisse: Although honestly, I doubt there's a single person in this castle who wants you to do something like that.

Sarisse: Nobody resents you, Melsa. No one's mad. We all understand you had no choice.

Sarisse: So put away the hair shirt and the flagellation whip already, because it's only gonna make everyone uncomfortable.

Melsa: Goodness. Perhaps I was going about this all wrong...

Sarisse: Heh. Well, you wouldn't be you if you didn't turn into a total stressball about something like that.

Sarisse: Anyway, now that that's sorted, if you still REALLY want to apologize to everyone, we can start making the rounds.

Sarisse: Luca's always looking for folks to hang with, and I know Cleo would love having someone to help out with the chores...

Sarisse: Maybe starting good relationships is the best way for you to pay folks back.

Melsa: I understand now. Thank you, Sarisse.

Melsa: (I had it all wrong. There is so much more to atoning than what I envisioned.)

Melsa: (Forcing my guilt onto those around me is but another form of selfishness.)

Melsa: (Still, coming face to face with everyone and getting to know them will be...)

Melsa: (Well, it will be difficult for an introvert like myself. Still, that doesn't mean that I CAN'T make it happen!)

Melsa: (Especially when I have a great friend like Sarisse by my side!)

Sarisse: You ready to go, Melsa?

Melsa: (There was a step I could never bring myself to make because I felt so weighed down by what I had done...)

Melsa: (But so long as Sarisse is with me, I know I can make that step!)

Melsa: Yeah!

Together: One...two...three!

Melsa: Sarisse, I'm very happy to be here and to be your friend.

Sarisse: And I'm happy to have you. Welcome to the Halidom!