The Saga Continues

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The Saga Continues
Date of Cutscene: 11 June 2013
Location: Port Royal
Synopsis: The Shard Seekers acquire a sailing vessel.
Cast of Characters: Ivo Galvan, Young Merchant

"She needs some work, but she'll... she'll be good to you."

Ivo looks up from inspecting the hull and smiles reassuringly at the nervous young man by his side, nodding with the breezy confidence of someone who knows he's getting a good deal. "I have no doubts. I'll take good care of her."

"Do you, um, have any prior experience with the maintenance of sailing vessels?"

"No, but I'm an engineer by training." The knight-errant has already swirled his cloak over to look over some areas where the paint has worn and chipped, confirming that the underlying material is still in good condition. "I've recently gotten a little experience working with airships. Can't be that different."

"Er, actually, there's a lot that--"

"So why the name?" Ivo interrupts, still smiling broadly as he glances over, effortlessly keeping the other young man at Ivo's own path. It's almost sad to watch. "I loved it as soon as I saw it."

"R-really? Most people just think it's strange." The long-haired merchant's son smiles weakly back. "Our family name is 'Romanza', so when my father said he wanted his first ship called the 'Saga', the painter misunderstood and-- well, it ended up like that, and we stuck with it. This is the third, but it was always smaller than the other two, and was never retrofitted. I'll be heading back to Luca soon on a different ship, and it would cost more than it's worth to get someone else to sail this one back..."

"We're lucky we found each other."

"Oh, um, yes. If I might ask, Sir Galvan, why do you seek a...?"

"Easiest way to get around Phantasia efficiently," Ivo replies succinctly. "If we need to travel between the Roving Islands, we have a mobile base; if we need to head to the Mountain, we dock in Port Royal. We're adventurers, you know. Besides, you've heard the rumors about those falling stars, right? If some have landed on any of these islands, we'll be the first to find them." It seems easiest not to explain World Shards and the Shard Seeker device, or mention that there may be a grim dreadnought of the undead with Lich on it floating around somewhere. Who knows? Could be at the bottom of the ocean right now.

Better to be optimistic.

"That's quite sensible," the long-haired youth says. "So in this group of yours, are you the... strategist?"

Ivo looks briefly surprised at the odd question, before becoming amused. "Only when they don't know any better."

"I've always wanted to be a strategist or tactician or some sort," the merchant continues wistfully, seemingly off in his own little world. Ivo arches a brow at the thought of this neurotic-looking flower child in charge of anything, but is discreetly silent. "I've always helped with the books and helped my father since I was young, but someday I'd like, I don't know... to go on to bigger things."

"Maybe you'll get your chance someday," Ivo encouragingly offers, "D... sorry, what was it?"

"Oh," the young man says, embarrassed, nervously running a hand through his indigo hair and smiling, "it's Duo. Duo Romanza."

"Well, I'll take care of it from now on, Duo," Ivo says, looking back at the ship's side, "your Romancing Saga."

"Please do."