Scars of the Punishment Rune (Suikoden FanFic)

ACT 9 - Lazlo Explains

Lazlo found himself once more in the office of the Dunan President. This time there were a significant presence of Dunan Soldiers with him for what he had done in the city of Muse just moments back. He took them on head on as a means of defending himself and likewise he also showed them that he wielded a dangerous True Rune.

Teresa sat down in front of her desk while Shin was being tended by the medics in another room. Coincidentally it was the same room in which Sierra Mikain was sleeping in as of now.

Riddyah likewise was in the office and she was still in shock. Her mind could still not process that the young man beside her is a bearer of a True Rune. And it was that True Rune.

Lazlo stood calm. He had two Dunan soldiers on his left and his right. The young man had no intention to fight them for he had been brought in this office to explain his situation.

"The things you said back outside." Teresa said to him as she sat on the chair behind her desk. "Was it all true?" she asked him.

The Island Nations native did not reply. He was silent and he looked towards his left hand. The curse that he had been carrying was really becoming burdensome for him but still he felt the need to not complain. Destiny is susceptible even to change, as Leknaat said to him. This was evidenced by the fact that the Rune of Punishment entered its Forgiveness Phase when Lazlo had used the power of the Stars of Destiny to protect him from his utter demise.

The Punishment Rune bearer closed his eyes briefly. He continued to hear their voices. The spirits inside the Rune never fade, even though it no longer was a threat to him. They serve as a reminder that each person who bore the Rune was different and yet, in the eyes of the Rune of Punishment, they are all the same.

"I can't speak for you when you judge what is true and what is not." Lazlo finally said to Teresa.

"I took a precaution. Since this reminded me of how the city of Greenhill fell. I did not take any progressive action back then." The Dunan president replied to him.

He did not mind her. His mind drifted to what Leknaat said.

"The time of Atonement has passed, and the time of Forgiveness now begins."

Lazlo kept his eyes on his left hand. The burden, the sins he had committed from the wars back then, it was catching up to him. 173 years of existence can do that to one person.

"Indeed. You have a responsibility to your people." Lazlo said to her. "A heavy one at that." he said.

"Tell me then, who are you?" Teresa then replied to him.

The young man sighed.

"My name is Lazlo." he replied to her. Teresa did not take this likely for she felt that he was a bit sarcastic. He however had no intention to be so.

"I know th-" she tried to interrupt him but he continued to talk.

"I was born in the year IS 288. Though I never met my parents." he began once more. "The mayor of the city of Razril, who was the father of my good friend back then had picked me up as my body drifted in the waters of the sea." he then said.

Teresa and Riddyah listened to his story attentively.

"I turned 14 years old, and I decided to join the Razril Knights." he continued to say. "Back then, I knew Razril to be the place I called home." he said to them.

"How did you get your Rune?" Riddyah then interrupted.

"I will be getting there shortly." Lazlo retorted. "So after I became a member of the Knights of Razril, I was sent on an errand to go to the Island of Iluya to deliver some cargo. Things turned sour when we were ambushed by a notorious pirate in the name of Brandeau. It was the first time I encountered the Rune in my left hand." he said to them.