Marius "Narrow Road"/Rewards
Scene 1: Dessert Shop
You: ...
On the table lies Stellis' number one cream puff. Normally, you would have already wolfed it down.
However, you have no appetite at all right now.
You: Marius, does it have to be like this...?
Marius: You don't like the limited flavor?
You: That's not what I'm talking about!
You and Marius only showed up at the shop's door and were invited in by the owner like some celebrities renting out the whole place.
Looking out the French windows, crowds in long queues surround the shop, still unwilling to dissipate.
You and Marius, the ONLY two customers being served, naturally hold their attention. There's no way you can enjoy anything like this.
Marius: It's what you wanted. Cheer up.
You: ...
If you had known it'd be like this, you would've never mentioned the words "cream puff"!
Scene 2: Flashback (Your Residence, phone call with Marius)
Marius: Safely home? Wanna go out tomorrow?
Marius: How about the lake? Away from the crowds and nice for a stroll.
You: Marius von Hagen, where are your manners? You don't even ask if I'm free tomorrow before asking me out?
Marius: Tomorrow's a holiday. You're not gonna say you're not free tomorrow and cruelly turn me down, are you?
Marius: I barely have enough time to see you as it is. The company, studio, and school have taken up most of my time.
Marius: It's hard for me to get a free weekend. Promise me this once, Miss...
Listening to his whining, you know he's intentionally being a willful child begging for candies, but...
You: Fine. Not the park, but the CBD.
Marius: No problemo. We're going shopping?
You: Kiki showed me some food reviews. The renowned puff shop in the city just opened a branch store in the CBD.
You: They also rolled out a seasonal limited flavor. We better go queue up early. The shop's really popular.
Marius: Sure. I can get you to the front of the line, no problem.
You: You're gonna go queue up for me?
Marius: What? 'Course not. You'll see tomorrow.
Scene 3: Present (Dessert Shop)
Marius: Hey... You don't have to line up now. Why are you so upset?
You: Yeah, not needing to queue up is great, but being treated like some VIP is something else.
Looking out the window, you really don't enjoy how the other neglected customers are staring at you.
However, Marius seems to be accustomed to this already, to the point that he doesn't even realize they are there.
Marius: Oh. I'll ask them to close the curtains. How about that?
Finally, it hits him – not.
You: Never mind. Let's just go to the park. We can eat and take a break there.
Packing up the cream puff, you and Marius leave the shop.
Scene 4: Park
In the park, you find a random bench to sit down and take out the puff.
Feeling a bit more at ease without people staring at you, you soon finish the puff with Marius.
Marius: Next time, just tell them you're with me so you don't have to line up. They belong to the Pax Group anyway.
You: And you ask why people hate the upper-class...
Marius: I don't care. As long as I can get you what you want. So, do you like the puff?
You: I prefer the ordinary flavors better. This is too...
Suddenly, something hits you then drops to the ground.
You: A rock... from the tree?
Marius: You okay? Are you injured?
You: I'm fine. It's just a small rock. Plus, it only fell onto my skirt.
The words had only just left your mouth when a few more rocks are thrown at you.
Marius: ...
Marius grabs you and steps in to shield you from the rocks.
Marius: I see you. Get down from there!
Scene 1: Park (River)
Marius: I see you. Get down from there!
You: ...
The attack stopped. You turn to look at the tree Marius called out at and see a small shape standing up amidst the crown of the tree.
Marius: A kid?
A 6 or 7-year-old kid is standing on a tree branch, glaring down at Marius.
His pockets are full of rocks, no doubt.
You are just about to demand a reason from him for throwing rocks at you when Marius speaks first.
Marius: Little buddy, did your parents not teach you that you can't just go throwing rocks at people?
Boy: ...
Marius: Humph. I'm not gonna fight with a kid. Just stop pelting people with rocks, you hear?
Marius: Or else...
You are looking forward to seeing how Marius scares a kid when you feel him nudging you with his elbow.
Marius: Hey... how do you scare a brat?
You: ...Say that you're going to tell his parents. Isn't that usually what people do?
Marius: Does it really work? I mean, my father never did anything to punish me for doing something bad.
You: Why does it feel like you're proud of being a brat?
Boy: Meanie!
Either you or Marius must have said something to trigger the kid, who immediately throws a few more rocks your way.
You: ...
Now that you think of it, trying to reason with the kid literally on "unequal" footing is a bit impractical.
You tug on Marius sleeve, gesturing for him to just go somewhere else.
Scene 2: Park (Fountain)
Marius: That darn kid almost ruined my day...
You: Don't be upset. We'll go talk to him once he calms down.
Marius: I can't help it. I mean, he threw rocks at you! At least you're not hurt.
You: I'm fine. I was too far away to be actually hurt anyway.
Marius: Humph. Lucky for him, else he's really gonna get it from me.
You: I wonder what got into him though. Could it be seeing us eating the puff?
Marius: Huh? How is this even related to that?
You: It's the only logical explanation. Throwing rocks may be his way of expressing his desires and gripes.
Marius: It's plausible. But if that's the case, I could go get a box of puffs and try to lure him down...
You: And then what?
Marius: Then... I'll teach him a lesson and get his parents to ground him...
You: We better go see if he's still up in the tree first.
Scene 3: Park (River)
You choose to stay a relatively safe distance away and observe the kid first. Neither of you favor the idea of being hit, of course.
Marius: Still up there I see. He's not coming down any time soon, is he?
As soon as the kid hears Marius' voice, he immediately stands up.
Boy: Meanie, villain! Daddy got scolded because of you!
He tries to hit you with his rocks again, but he couldn't reach you at this distance.
Marius: Your dad got scolded... because of me?
Boy: Meanie! Villain! I will punish you for my Daddy!
Furiously trying to hit Marius, the kid starts to inch toward the other end of the branch.
You: Watch out!
Unable to withstand the kid's weight, the branch snaps. Right before your eyes, the kid falls into the lake.
Choking and losing strength, he struggles only for a few seconds before going under.
You: We have to get help!
You take out your phone it call the emergency line.
Marius: You stay put!
Marius speaks in a rush.
You: What are you —
Marius: No time to wait, I'm gonna save him!
With a running start, Marius flips over the fence surrounding the lake with ease.
He then leaps into the water without hesitation.
