Old Soldier

[Retired Soldier]

Why are you carrying

so much stuff with you?

Isn't there a Kafra Storage

service for keeping your junk?

It's strange that so

many people have been

wanting to talk to me for

some reason, but I'll

admit that it's kind of nice.

Don't get me started.

Once I start talking about

the old days, I'll go on all

night. Those were real hard

times to live through, but good

memories to remember...

The fallen warrior...?

There's only one that brings

a chill down my spine whenever

I think of him. He was about

your age when it happened...

We received a report about

a Cobold threat, so we were

dispatched to the fields

west of Geffen. But the

battle was over once we

arrived. We were too late.

All the Cobolds were slain,

but... There was one warrior

left, covered in blood. When

he saw us, he just started

attacking everyone! He

had completely lost it.

We had no choice but to

kill him. It was self defense,

but I can't help but pity him.

All his comrades had been

killed: I can't imagine how

that must have felt.

We arrived too late to

see that battle, but I'm

pretty sure it was horrific.

You must be pretty interested

in learning about this soldier.

Well, I'm just glad that you

were able to know more

about this story. There's

much you can learn from

other people's experiences.

I don't regret that we

had to kill that warrior.

We did had we had to

back in those days.

Oh, it's you again.

Did you want to ask me

more about that warrior?

I'm afraid I already told

you everything I know.

It's fine.

What? How is that

even possible?

You explain to the

retired soldier everything

that has happened so far.

That's quite a story.

Still, I'm surprised that

he didn't want to talk to

you about what happened.

I guess he still harbors

bad feelings about that day...

Well, I guess it doesn't

really matter now. Chalk

this all up to a really good

learning experience.

Well...

I don't know what to tell

you. I mean, you can't really

put the blame on anybody.

He just lost his mind...

I'm not really sure if the

jewel was cursed, if that

warrior started the curse,

or if the jewel isn't cursed

at all. I'm just an old,

simple soldier.

One thing's for sure:

if there was a curse, that

soldier should have been

able to overcome it if his will

was strong enough. It's harsh

to say it like this, but...

True warriors have the

strength to endure, to

fight temptation, to keep

their focus. That guy...

He wasn't cut out to fight.

You know what?

If you're so worried

about a curse, why don't

you leave that jewel with me?

Don't worry, I'll make sure

to compensate you for it.

I'd rather keep it to myself,

rather than risk it messing

around with other people.

I know my will's tough enough

to resist its curse, you know,

if it actually exists.

If there's anything

you learn from all this,

it's that you should never

succumb to your desperation.

Rage gives you nothing:

its power is an illusion.

Well, you learned all there

is to know about the Unlucky

Emerald. It's time you forget

about the curse or whatever,

and find new adventures.

Ah, to be young again...

Ah, how I long for

the old days. Being

retired is just so...

It's so boring! I guess

it's time to find a hobby.