Lunar: Kioku Suru Fuukei (Lunar: The Scenery I Recall) translation story and art by Akari Funato [Version Info: fourth and should be final version, uploaded August 19, 2007. Only a couple lines have been changed out of translator preference between this and the last couple versions. I'm picky; forgive me.] [Notes: "Recalling the Scenery" is one of three stories about Ghaleon's past included in the Lunar: Vheen Hikuusen Monogatari manga published by Asuka Comics DX and Kadokawa Publishing. If you wish to try to pick up a copy (and if you're a Lunar fan, I highly recommend that you do so - Funato's art is beautiful), try any online import house that does special orders (or if you live in the big city, try (of course) a Japanese bookstore). You'll need to supply the book's ISBN#, 4-04-852950-1. It might take a while - my copy took four months to get in. Translations of the other Vheen Hikuusen Monogatari stories can be found at http://www.sceneryrecalled.com/trans/trans.htm. The Japanese verson of Lunar spells our "Dyne" as "Dain", of which I'm not fond, but since I'm translating a Japanese book, it's "Dain" from here on in. Disclaimer: Lunar, Vheen Hikuusen Monogatari, Kioku Suru Fuukei, and all related official works are property of Game Arts, Asuka DX, Akari Funato, and/or Working Designs; this document isn't affiliated with either. Translation by R. Capowski at RACapowski@sceneryrecalled.com; please don't repost it without permission.] *************************************************************************** pg. 6 [The manga does indeed start on page 6.] Narration: Burg was a simple village newly settled by the southern peoples... [...and it is in Burg that the story opens. We see Ghaleon walking through a woods. He is young-_looking_ - he appears to be in his late teens to early twenties - though in view of the greater Vheen Hikuusen and Lunar timeline, he most certainly is not young. We hear some voices in the trees above...] Various Kids: Who's he--that skinny fella? I don't know him! Me neither! He's a traveler, isn't he? His face is so pale!! Lemme add a little color to it for 'im! [We see that the owner of this last voice is a young Dain, maybe 6-8 years old. He's holding an overripe fruit...] Kid (wiseacre-ish, snickering): C'mon, cut it out! Pickin' on a wimpy- lookin' guy like that... Another Kid (laughing): He'll run away crying! "Eeeeeek--!" [It's worth noting that "Another Kid" is actually Arhes's/Alex's father, Noah, as a boy. It's also worth noting that he's attributing to Ghaleon a decidedly feminine scream ("kyaa--!" in the original text).] Dain: Shh! Watch me... [Dain jumps down...] pg. 7 [...but Ghaleon senses him. In a neat li'l panel, he flips the boy judo-style, and the fruit lands on Dain's head.] Dain and Shocked Friends: ...... [The next scene takes place at Dain's house...] Dain's Grandfather: YOUUU...ROTTEN LITTLE _BRAT_--! Dain: --Owww!! pg. 8 [Dain's simian-esque grandfather is giving him nuggies - hard. His grandmother is bowing profusely to Ghaleon in apology.] Dain's Grandfather: Always pullin' your stupid pranks... Now, apologize to the priest! Dain: But I already did! Ghaleon: No...I haven't yet heard anything. [Dain seethes, staring hatefully at Ghaleon...] Dain: ...... _I'M SORRRRYYYY!!!!_ [Imagine that last line screamed in 36-point text. Ghaleon leers at Dain. Meanwhile, dinner is being set out; Dain reaches for a piece of bread. His grandfather slaps him on the wrist.] Dain: Ow-! Dain's Grandfather: No dinner for you! Think about what you've done! Dain's Grandmother (to Ghaleon): Are you traveling all alone? Ghaleon (watching Dain): ......Yes. I am alone as of now. [Dain stands a bit away from the table, sulking and scratching his sore head. Ghaleon notices that Dain's elbow is scraped up.] Ghaleon (to Dain): ...Did I give you those scrapes back in the woods? Dain (still angry): ! It's _NO_ big deal! Ghaleon (taking Dain's arm): No. I can't let that go. Let me see. Dain: I SAID it's all right! pg. 9 [Ghaleon casts a spell and waves his hand over the scrape.] Ghaleon: May the blessing of Goddess Althena be upon thee...... [Ghaleon's spell is finished; the scrape is gone. Dain pouts...] Dain: ...... [...and runs out of the house.] Dain's Grandfather: _Hey there--!_ _Aren't you gonna say thank you to the priest!?!_ [Note: It's uncertain whether or not Ghaleon really is a priest. There's a note within the third Vheen Hikuusen story, set when Ghaleon was seventeen, about him "studying to become a priest", so he has received _some_ priest training - and Ghaleon does at least appear in what seem to be priest's robes in one certain scene in SSS, the continuity in which Vheen Hikuusen is most likely set. On the other hand, it's never mentioned anywhere in the book whether or not Ghaleon _completed_ his priest training. Though Dain's grandparents do call him a priest, they seem like simple, impressionable folk, and Ghaleon never says himself he's a priest in the story - but then he never disclaims the title either. The issue's never really settled for sure.] Ghaleon (to Dain's grandfather): By the way, sir, if it's possible, might I ask to stay the night in your barn? Dain's Grandfather (panicking): !! THE BARN'S NO GOOD! YOU CAN'T GO IN THERE! Dain's Grandmother: Have there been monsters or such out recently? Because the livestock in the barn have been disappearing one or two at a time... pg. 10 [Nevertheless - or perhaps _because_ of the warning, Ghaleon sleeps in the barn. In the middle of the night, the livestock thief - whose silhouette reveals as human, not monster - sneaks into the barn. A chicken in peril clucks, and Ghaleon snaps awake and grabs the thief's leg, standing up and hoisting him up by the ankle, and he turns out to be...] pg. 11 Dain: IT'S _YOU_ AGAIN, _ISN'T_ IT!! [...naturally. (A chicken falls out of Dain's shirt as Ghaleon has him dangling by the leg. ^_^)] Ghaleon: ......You're _hopeless_. pg. 12 [The next morning, a group of Burg villagers gather to see Ghaleon off.] Ghaleon: Thank you for your kindness. Dain's Grandmother: It is we who are in your debt! Treating our injuries, fixing up those medicines... Thank you so much! Ghaleon: I don't see your grandson anywhere... Dain's Grandfather: He'd be in the barn about now, thinking over what he did. [Cut to the barn, where we see a length of rope coiled a couple times around one of the posts inside (to, um, "help" Dain stay to contemplate his wrongdoings, presumably) that's been cut through. We also see Dain hiding behind a tree which makes up part of the Burg village gates, listening to the ongoing conversation.] Dain's Grandmother (giving Ghaleon food to take with him): Take care of yourself on the road! Dain's Grandfather: Where're you goin' from here? Ghaleon: Where indeed...... [Dain's eyes widen and heart leaps. Ghaleon looks at the sky and smiles.] Ghaleon: First, I'll tour this island. After that... pg. 13 [Ghaleon leaves. He makes it a ways from the village, to the seashore, then suddenly sharply turns on his heel - and Dain, who has been following him all this time, approaches him expectantly.] Ghaleon: _Go home._ You're not yet so far away from the village that you can't go back alone. pg. 14 [Undaunted, Dain continues to follow Ghaleon...] Ghaleon: Don't follow me! It's not in my nature to look after others! [Night falls. It starts to thunder and rain. Ghaleon takes refuge in a cave...and Dain sits outside, determined, using a big leaf as an umbrella. Finally, Ghaleon calls to him...] Ghaleon: There's going to be a storm tonight. Come inside and rest. [Dain does so. A loaf of bread magically pops into Dain's hands. Just as Dain is about to take a bite...] Ghaleon (sharply): I'll give you part of my bread. But in exchange, when it clears up, you're going back to Burg. pg. 15 [Dain gets a shocked (and a little sad) look on his face, which turns into an angry pout. Later on, we see that Dain has left the bread and refused to eat it and that he has lain down with his back to Ghaleon. Ghaleon, lying down himself wrapped up, has his hand over his face and a "why me?" look on.] Ghaleon: ...... Dain: ......I like Burg village. And Grandpa and Grandma are both nice. But there's nothing else there. I... I... pg. 15 Dain: Cooped up in the village, I can't get to know anything - what's beyond the sky...what's at the bottom of the ocean...what's at the peaks of the mountains! I want to see every single thing in this world! Ghaleon: ......He's hopeless. Absolutely hopeless... -OWARI-