The Western Wall: 1-3 Ghalib's Wish

< Previous

Next >

Through the night in the desert, Light listens quietly to the elderly man speak about his past that's full of regret.

Info

Style: No dress-up component Rewards: 3,000 , 600 , 1 , 1 , 1 , Blueprint: Evening Dune

Evening Dune

Dialogue Choices

If I were you I would---

• Elope with Her
• Leave Quietly

Please use your heavenly wisdom to help me find Adilah!

• Agree
• Reject

Transcript

Expand for script.

• Since I've been mistaken for the guardian of the Western Wall, I might as well play along and listen.
• The old man says his name is Ghalib, and his story starts a long time ago.
• Ghalib: When I was a young man, I was hotheaded and eager to fight. By the time I was over 20, people wanted to kill me, and I had to escape to the desert.

• Ghalib: But I ran into a sandstorm, lost all my belongings, and lost my way.

• Light: It's terrible to lose one's way in the desert.

• Ghalib: That's right, and just as I thought I was going to die, a nomad lady saved me.

• Ghalib: She was called Adilah.

• Ghalib's expression softens, and a faint smile appears.
• Light: She must have been a beautiful lady.

• Ghalib: Yes, very beautiful, and her eyes shone like gems.

• Light: (Gem-like eyes...)

• I don't know why, but Gina appears in my mind.
• Light: Was Adilah fierce? Did she boss you around after saving you?

• Ghalib: Of course not! Why would you think of such a thing?

• Ghalib: Adilah was very gentle. She brought me back to the nomad camp, and took care of me for many days.

• Light: Then you're very lucky indeed.

• Light: Not all helpful ladies are that gentle. They can be rather fierce.

• I shake my head violently, trying to get Gina out of my mind.
• Light: *koff*... You may continue.

• Ghalib: I've been homeless and alone since I was a child.

• Ghalib: When I heard the nomads were planning to cross the desert and journey to the White Rhino City in the west, I decided to go with them.

• Ghalib: Along the way, Adilah and I fell in love.

• Light: *sigh*... Love is always accompanied by endless trouble.

• Light: I'd never fall in love that easily.

• Ghalib: But Great Guardian, Adilah and I are merely mortal beings, unlike you.

• Light: That's right...

• Ghalib: I was eager to get to White Rhino City to settle down, and marry Adilah.

• Ghalib: But I realized the nearer we got to White Rhino City, the sadder Adilah became.

• Ghalib: Eventually, she began avoiding me, and wouldn't talk to me.

• Light: ome girls get mad for no reason. They might even chase you out into the wilderness in the middle of the night.

• Ghalib: No... Adilah isn't that sort of person. I knew there had to be a reason.

• Ghalib: I kept asking her, and she finally told me why.
• Ghalib's eyes cloud over.

• Ghalib: Adilah's father is the chief of the nomads, and he had accepted an invitation from the White Rhino City nobles.

• Ghalib: To put an end to her clan's wandering life, Adilah would have to marry one of the nobles.

• Light: Well, I might not have a good impression of love, but I understand...

• Light: Adilah's sorrow and her avoidance are a result of her internal conflict.

• Light: If I were you, I would---

Elope with Her

• Light: No matter the reason, you shouldn't sacrifice someone's freedom and happiness!

• Light: You might trick yourselves into being happy for a while, but you and Adilah would regret your separation your whole lives.

• Ghalib: I thought so too, so I made up my mind to find an opportunity to elope with her.

Leave Quietly

• Light: Love is precious, but duty is also important. If Adilah were to abandon her clan, she would be filled with remorse for the rest of her life.

• Light: Instead of subjecting her to such pain, I would opt to sever ties and let her live her life.

• Ghalib: *sigh* Unfortunately, I was young and full of passion, so I could only think of eloping with her.

• Ghalib: To make things easier, we deliberately bought more time by leading the camels on a modified route.

• Ghalib: But on the night of the planned elopement, bandits attacked.

• Ghalib: Everyone fought bravely and finally drove away the bandits. But half of Adilah's clan died.

• Light: You must be bitter about that.

• With a gloomy expression, Ghalib lowers his gaze.
• Ghalib: Yes. Adilah blamed herself, and gave up on the elopement. She decided to go ahead with the arranged marriage.

• Light: But it's the bandits that are to blame!

• Light: Marrying a noble wouldn't bring her dead clansmen back to life.

• Ghalib: Great Guardian, perhaps you don't understand that many mere mortals find it hard to live with regret.

• Ghalib: For example, if we hadn't changed the route as part of our elopement plans, that tragedy would never have happened.

• Ghalib: It made Adilah realize the only way to improve her clan's fate was to accept the marriage.

• A strange feeling wells up inside me, as if I'd had a similar experience.
• Light: To protect others...

• Light: Perhaps some people were born to protect others.

• Ghalib: Back then, I was powerless and couldn't protect her or her people. So I swallowed my pain and left.

• Ghalib lets out a long, tortured sigh.
• It's almost dawn by the time Ghalib finishes his story.
• Light: So this is your lifelong regret, huh...

• Light: How many years has it been??

• Ghalib: It's been a full fifty years.

• Ghalib gazes gravely at the tall pillar in the ruins.
• Ghalib: After we changed the route, the nomads made camp in these ruins.

• Ghalib: And this is where the bandits attacked.

• Light: Right here?!

• On impulse, I jump down from the Western Wall.
• Ghalib: Great Guardian, look--

• I peer in the direction Ghalib's pointing, and see a strange tree beside the ruins.
• Its leaves have withered, and the dry branches are gnarled and twisted. Under the light of the dawn, it seems veiled in gold.
• Light: I've never seen such a tree before... Interesting.

• Ghalib: It's a special species that grows only in the vicinity of the ruins. How could you not know of it?

• Light: Er... I've been asleep for far too long, and have forgotten many details.

• Ghalib: I see. It is called Sentimental Acacia. It may look all withered now...

• Ghalib: But fifty years ago, when I first laid eyes on it, it had a full, golden crown that took my breath away.

• Ghalib: After that blood-soaked night, I bid farewell to Adilah under that very tree at dawn.

• Light: And you've not looked for her since?

• Ghalib shakes his head.
• Ghalib: Though I've never stopped missing her, she had a new life ahead of her, and I wouldn't disturb it.

• Ghalib: I did think of sneaking a glance at her, but I was afraid that if she noticed, it would only make her sad.

• Ghalib: So I've never set foot into White Rhino City.

• He speaks calmly, but his eyes are filled with sorrow and yearning.
• Ghalib: But I am old now, and my health is ailing. And my mind is in turmoil.

• Ghalib: I wish to see Adilah again. Just once will do. Even if I only see her from afar.

• Light: (What a lovesick person...)

• Ghalib: I traveled from an outlying town in the north, and the journey has taken all of my strength.

• Ghalib: White Rhino City... is probably out of my reach.

• Light: Even if you do reach the city, it will take time to find Adilah.

• Light: And it's been fifty years. Adilah might be...

• Ghalib: Great Guardian, you need not mince your words. I am old and death is no stranger to me.

• Ghalib: Are you saying Adilah might no longer be alive?

• Light: Yes...

• Ghalib: Even if she is dead, I would like to find her descendants.

• Ghalib: As long as I can obtain an item to remember her by, I will be able to resolve my regret.

• Ghalib peers at me earnestly.
• Ghalib: Oh Great Guardian, this is my last hope.

• Ghalib: Please use your heavenly wisdom to help me find Adilah!

Agree

• Light: Your story has moved me, and I agree to your request.

• Tears gush from Ghalib's eyes, and his lips start to tremble.
• Light: Don't worry, I will use my power to help you find her.

Reject

• Light: Sorry, I can listen to your story, but it's not my job to fulfil mortal dreams.

• Light: (With the level of power I have now, it's better to avoid trouble.)

• Light: (And I need to go look for the red gem. I might as well avoid doing extra work.)

• Ghalib: I see...

• Ghalib: *sigh* All right, I guess I was simply daydreaming...

• Ghalib's eyes gradually grow dim, and I can't help feeling sorry for him.
• Light: But... your sincerity has moved me, and I'll make an exception.

• Ghalib: Really?!

• Ghalib: Oh Great Guardian, I--I don't know how to thank you!

• Light: I may be powerful, but it is not easy for me to walk among humans.

• Light: So I need to think about how to help you.

• Light: Why don't you find a resting spot, and wait for me to contact you.

• Ghalib: Yes, yes, I will!

• Light: (Oh dear, what have I gotten myself into?)