Fade in, “Ceremony” scene begins. There’s a long wait at the start of this scene. Volrath is looking off a cliff at the sunset and Zeno isn’t sure if he should speak. Finally Volrath begins the conversation)
Volrath: Last chance to make a run for it and not have to take on the Solendians.
Zeno: No….I wouldn’t do that.
Volrath: (chuckle) I know you wouldn’t….none of you would. (pause) That’s really troubling me right now.
Zeno: What do you mean?
Volrath: I’ve been foolish, Zeno. I’ve let my emotions force me into hasty decisions….and I’ve brought down terrible things on all of you.
Zeno: I don’t understand…
Volrath: So much has changed…I’ve learned so much about the world so soon, and I thought I already knew everything.
(pause)
Volrath: I had given up on myself a long time ago. Until now, I’ve never fit in anywhere. I always felt like….the world had made a mistake by bringing me into it….and that one day, Arcadius…or Perditia…or whatever force is behind all this…would correct that mistake.
(pause)
Volrath: And I figured I might as well put up a fight until it did.
(pause)
Volrath: I never cared if I died…I expected it at some point during all this. But things are different now…all of you have put so much on the line for my sake. Never in my wildest dreams could I have expected such companionship. For the first time in my life…I belong.
Zeno: That’s…good, isn’t it?
Volrath: Oh….very good. I have real friends…people who admire me for the very traits I thought would always alienate the rest of the world.
(pause)
Volrath: Then there’s Fiona….I never imagined that would happen to me, but I’m glad it did.
Zeno: Wait…I haven’t seen Fiona in days. Is she well?
Volrath: I sent her away….on a very special mission. She really fought me on that one, too. Wanted to stay beside me…isn’t that wonderful?
(pause)
Volrath: Believe it or not, I’ve been having serious thoughts about giving all this up. Finding a place where she and I could live, having a family….I’d get a simple job. Probably something to do with planning buildings or construction. I always was good at that…and that was the only thing I was really proud during my time with the Solendians. I spearheaded a project to build a dam on a river near the city. I hired some dwarven craftsmen to help out. They did a great job….but was I ever scolded.
(pause)
Volrath: But I know I would regret not following through on my plan.
(long pause)
Volrath: I’m just so worried about you all….what will you do?
Zeno: What do you mean?
Volrath: I’m going to die, Zeno.
Zeno: What? What do you mean?! How could you know that?
Volrath: I feel it…someplace deep inside me. The mistake will soon be corrected.
Zeno: But you’re not a mistake!
(pause)
Volrath: You know….I actually believe that now. Yet that doesn’t change things much. I hope our knighthood can still succeed…but I have doubts.
(pause)
Volrath: But it won’t always be this way. There will be a day when we are all forced to put aside these false divisions. There will be a day when things are so bad that coming together is the only hope we have…and on that day, we will be united as one.
(long pause)
Volrath: I doubt I will live to see it….but maybe you will.
(long fade out)