Suikoden VI

Chapter Five: Part Eight

Part Eight

"Riou?!" Arin exclaimed before Daunte could speak. He gasped loudly. "You are Riou!" he raced forward, fumbling with his bag until he pulled out the figurine in question. "C-Can you sign this, please?"

Riou stared blankly at the child as the woman burst into loud laughter, and the other young man laughed. "Wow! Your popularity never ceases to amaze me, Little Brother?"

Little Brother? Daunte wondered, but Caesar pulled on his arm before he could say it out loud. "Excuse me," Caesar announced as they moved forward. Riou was fumbling with his pockets. "If you are Lord Riou, then am I correct in guessing that you are Nanami?"

"I am," Nanami said casually, though she pointed her tri-nunchaku at Caesar warningly. "But how do you know that?"

"Because he's a Silverberg, Nanami," the blonde-haired young man sighed heavily. "Either Albert or Caesar, I don't know which."

"Caesar," Caesar quickly confirmed. "My grandfather told you about us then?"

The young man shrugged, and Daunte noticed that they did not refer to him by name. He didn't bring attention to this though. Riou had found a pan in his pocket and looked like he was trying to sign his name on one of the figurine's legs.

"L-Lord Riou," Viki said, moving forward. Both Riou and Nanami did a double take when they saw her. "It's been a long time. I-I'm happy to see you."

"Hey, aren't you that teleportation girl?" Nanami asked her. She laughed loudly. "You don't look a day older than the last time we saw you!"

"We were on our way to Banner Village to cross the Dunan-Toran Border," Caesar explained to the trio. "Are you guys on your way there as well? We had heard a rumor that you were in the Grasslands."

"We just came from the Grasslands," the blonde-haired boy told them. "Well more specifically, we just came from Harmonia and we crossed through the Grasslands to get here. But yes, we're on our way to Toran as well."

"Would you like to travel with us?" Daunte offered. He heard their escort exclaim positively upon hearing this. "Traveling in a larger group is safer, is it not?"

"It'll make us a bigger target, but having extra hands to fight enemies wouldn't hurt," Gunther said. He looked at the Dunan soldiers. "Are you guys all right? That hole was pretty steep."

"W-We should be fine," one soldier said, though he was nursing his shoulder. "We—"

"Great Blessing."

Riou had been silent up to this point, so hearing him suddenly talk startled Daunte. He saw the image of a golden shield rise into the air, and his hand twitched in response. All of the soldiers were enveloped in the spell, and Daunte saw their injuries be healed. What an amazing healing spell! It reminds me of Howl!

"L-Lord Riou, thank you!" one of the soldiers shouted. Again they all sank to their knees in kowtow before the hero of the Dunan Unification War. "You are too kind, just like the stories say!"

"It was nothing," Riou said, his expression solemn as he retreated back to his sister's side. Daunte wanted to ask him about his Rune, but a chorus of guttural roars to his left startled him. The group turned to see a hoard of six Minotaurus's charging towards the group. All six of them were carrying large maces in their hands and had them raised above their heads. The soldiers drew their weapons and Gunther jumped in front of Daunte, but Daunte threw his hand up. "Berate!"

The spell did significant damage to all six Minotaurus's, and as they stumbled back Riou and his friend surged forward. "Buddy Attack!" the young man yelled. They circled around the enemy and then attacked all six simultaneously. The unite attack was strong enough to take all six of them down.