Aged Stranger

[Aged Stranger]

You're carrying too many items.

Please come after using kafra service.

Oh, your awake.

How do you feel? Are you ok??

[

Hm... where..is...

Eck! What happened...?

Well... You were a bit

of a surprise! I haven't

talked for a long time...

with a person who lives on dry

land.

Where am I?

Who are you old man?

This is... well...

What can I say...

This is called a moving island, by

most people.

This is a small island that only I inhabit.

I call it...

Whale Island.

This place is very famously known

as The Moving Island! But... This

island is... Maybe...

Now do you get it? Hahaha!

Right. We are standing on

the back of a gigantic whale!

That's why I call it Whale Island!

How...? How is it possible

that the water flows in streams

here? And trees grow! On the

whale's back!?!

Heheheh. This is an island

of legend. Right now you are

experiencing greatness! Hahahaha!

Are you a real person?

Heheh, as you can see,

I am just an aged man.

I've simply spent my lifetime here

leisurely, by breaking off

relations with any unworldly life.

Okay, now you get yourself

together. I will send you back to

dry land. If you don't go back

soon, some people may worry.

-The island starts to move slowly

when the old man plays an

unfamiliar instrument...-

In a few minutes, you will go back

to the land from whence you came.

You can relax.

Hm... Almost there...

Young man, you will arrive back on

the mainland in a few minutes. Go carefully.

Old man, if I want to come back

here again, how can I do it?

Hehe... Do you want to come here

again? Here? Where I live alone? In

this small island? You are

funny...

If we are preordained to meet,

we will meet here again,

won't we? Heheheh...

It's time to... well,

go back safely. Someday, if you

want to come again to meet me, you

can endure the same seas as last

time. I won't stop you. Hehehe.

Hahaha... I didn't know that I

would meet you again! How did you

return?

Hm... just like that?

Whoever hasn't come here directly

would expect you to return like

that. Well.

I just wanted to spend the rest of

my life here, leisurely... I'm

interested in the world... but I'm

no match for it...

Do not look sorry for me.

When you went back I didn't ask you

not to say anything about this

island to others.

If I had decided to hide where

nobody can find... Well, you

needn't worry too much about that

now.

Anyway, are you troubled?

What are you going to do?

Do that. Think carefully, the

answer is to be found...

Hoohoohoo!

To bring the Csar here and show him

everything?!? It's difficult...

An evidence of whale island...

That's all you need if only it

existed in this island...

-The aged man closes his eyes and

starts to play his instrument, as

he falls in thought.-

Old man, could you make one of

those instruments for me? That is a

marvelous thing that I've seen only

here.

Oh... That's a good idea.

There isn't an instrument like this

in all Moscovia! Absolutely...

Hm... If you grant my request, I

will make this instrument for you.

What is your request?

Just in time. I have always used

this instrument which is already

over 50 years old. The body is so

worn. It's not surprising that it's

falling apart...

It is made with strings that only

exist in this place, but you can

get the other materials for it in

the mainland.

If you bring the materials, I can

make a new one.

The materials are Log 30, Tough Vines 20, Antelope Horn 20, Sea-otter Fur 10.

I won't move the island, so you can

find it when you come back with the

materials.

Tell me whenever you're ready, and

I'll send you back to the

mainland.

Okay, are you ready to go back to the mainland?

You should bring these materials:

Log 30, Tough Vines 20, Antelope Horn 20, Sea-otter Fur 10.

I see. If so, let's go.

Oh... Did you get all the

materials?

You found the right materials.

Okay, I will start to make the

instrument.

Wait for a moment until I make the

instrument successfully.

Ugh... We need more materials...

We need Log 30, Tough Vines 20, Antelope Horn 20, Sea-otter Fur 10.

What will you do? Will you go back

to the mainland to find the

It's not completed yet. Please wait a little longer.

I have succeeded in making the

instrument! Here you are. It's yours.

This instrument is called a Gusli.

This is a traditional instrument

which comes from a faraway land of

the ancestors of Moscovia.

I am the last person who has

learned it in this land.

So, indeed... This is a very

special item here, that only we

have.

If you show this to the good Csar,

he can believe your story about the

island. Everything is going to be

well.

Are you ready to learn the Gusli?

Please equip the Gusli.

Hm... Very well.

At first, look at me how I play,

then you play it slowly.

Do not hurry,

keep your composure,

just look carefully,

and follow me slowly.

Oh! Ooh... Your hands are really good. You are surely talented with a music instrument.

I heard that there are some adventurers in the mainland... that like playing instruments and singing songs! You must be one of them...

This may go faster than I expected.

Okay, it's time for your turn. Play it. Play the song that I played.

Um... Your preparations are not

good. You're not holding the

instrument correctly. Equip it

properly, and then you can learn.

Tell me again when you are prepared

to play the Gusli correctly.

Um... You did well.

with your ability, you can

absolutely play it wonderfully.

Cheer up.

Good. Let's play again. Play the

song that I played.

This is the Whale Island.

I don't know how you came here.

If you want, I can send you back

to the mainland. What'll it be?

Well, well... Do as you please.

If so, I will take a rest.

Oh, if you want, I can

guide you to a good place for you.

There are some lands...

untouched and mysterious...

around Moscovia...

If you want, I'll send you there. What do you think of that?

Long time, no see!

You probably like the island, don't you?

Please stay and take a rest.

Or if you want, I can send you back

Good. I will go to the place

right way.

A old man started to play a instrument

closing his eyes.

And then he didn't any answer so, looks like

falling down to only his world.

Oh! You are good at playing the

Gusli! In such a short time... you

are great!

You've done well. I don't need to

teach you anymore. Your ability

will be improved with more practice.

Now go back to the mainland and

play the Gusli for our dear Csar.

With your ability to play, surely

you can win the admiration of all.

Um, a little bit greenhorn...

Do not play that way.

Take more time to concentrate while

you play.

Practice more on your own.

I will check on you again.

If you practice, you will be good

at it in no time.

So, what will you do now?

You are my friend now,

and you have this instrument.

Whenever you want to come back

here again, just play the Gusli

at the docks of Moscovia.

Even if it's difficult to play it

well, because you may not yet know

how to play it, it's not a problem.

Just make a sound.

This island... this whale... can

perceive the sound of a Gusli from

an endless distance away.

If you play this instrument,

wherever you are, I'll go to you

with this island. Only if you are a

friend... heheh.

You really want to...

learn this instrument...

don't you?

Well... it's hard to learn

in such a short time...

It's okay if you can't play this

instrument. I already made it for you.

But I can teach you how

to play it anyway.

I can't be too sure, though

because I have never taught others.

Okay. If you are ready to play the

Gusli, let me know.

I see. Okay, let's go.

Whenever you want to come back here

again, play the Gusli at the docks

of Moscovia.

-The old man starts to play

his instrument, with eyes closed.

He is unresponsive...

like having fallen into a world

only his own.-