Suikoden VII

Chapter Six: Part Five

Note: I know I said the Investigations would be done by this chapter, but unfortunately I'm still working on them. Sorry for the delay.

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Chapter Six: Part Five

"Your Majesty?"

Rufino's new restaurant was a lovely indoor cafe setting. Astraea was having a midday meal with Dawa when Viktor approached her. He was wearing an expression of annoyance as he plopped a script onto the table. "What is this?"

Astraea glanced at the cover and then looked up at Viktor. "It looks like a copy of the script for Bluebeard."

"I'm aware," Viktor said tersely. "But that masked idiot cast me as the title character! What sort of game is that bastard playing?!"

Astraea's brow rose in shock. She had read the script of Bluebeard before she had given it to Nour, and this revelation shocked her. "You...were cast as Bluebeard?"

"Yeah!" Viktor exclaimed. "Why?!"

"I think it was for your name recognition," David called from the front counter. Rufino served him a cup of coffee and David nodded in thanks. "You are the legendary Vagabond Viktor after all."

"Do I look like someone who would kill wives willy-nilly?!" Viktor snapped. "I've never even been married! I've killed monsters like this guy!"

"Please do not raise your voice to Her Majesty," Dawa admonished him.

"Channel your hatred for the character into the performance," David suggested. "That will make your performance more believable."

"Why are we putting on plays?! Aren't we an Army?!"

Astraea blinked with confusion. "Viktor, just the other night after a performance that the plays were the best edition to Army."

She was referring to a production of Little Red Riding Hood, which was an absolute disaster from start to finish. Nour had certainly made a serious error when he cast Viki in the title role and Zerase as the Big Bad Wolf. The acting proved to be so horrendous that the audience couldn't stop laughing—at a play that wasn't supposed to be funny!

Viktor flushed with embarrassment before he recovered. "Yeah—well—that was now and this is then!"

Astraea and David burst into laughter. Dawa choked on her coffee. Viktor's face turned darker crimson. "Well—can you stop him?" he asked meekly. "I don't want to do this, Your Majesty!"

It took Astraea a bit of time to compose herself. "Viktor—I-I couldn't even convince Nour to drop Zerase from that play!"

"Damn," Viktor grumbled.

The door to the restaurant opened, the sound of bells ringing in the shop. "Welcome!" Rufino called out.

Astraea glanced towards the door and froze. She didn't recognize the man who stood there. He was tall and muscular; auburn hair that was appeared to have been shaven recently, and intense dark eyes. He wore a long tan coat and zebra-print shirt, and she saw the hilt of a sword peeking out from behind his shoulder. It was...strange. When she stared at the sword she felt an...incredible power emitting from it.

David looked at the man and his brow furrowed. Dawa also stared at him intently. But when Viktor turned to face him he did a double take. Shock filled his face, followed by excitement. "Hey—HEEEEEEEY!" he cheered, charging towards the man. He threw his left arm around the man's neck and put him in a headlock. "It's you, kid?! What business do you have getting so damn tall, huh?! That's a hell of a growth spurt since I last saw you!"