Eight-Armed Armchair Theory/Episode 3 - Storyline

Episode 3

Bertha	Are you all right, Su Yi? Are you hurt? It's going to be okay!
Su Yi	Um...
Bertha	What is it?
Su Yi	S-sorry. I'm f-fine.
Bertha	Thank goodness! Don't run off like that, okay? You scared us!
Su Yi	S-sorry...
Bertha	Hahah! There's no need for that. I'm used to impulsive kids charging off on their own. Don't worry!
Sharon	Hmph. Well, I'm used to dealing with overbearing instructors who lack poise!
Bertha	Hey! That's mean!
Sharon	Not really... Those qualities are also your strengths. In any case... Su Yi, there's nothing far you to fear. Bertha is a very kind person.
Su Yi	...
In the past...
Man	She's been orphaned... I feel sorry for her, but I sure as heck can't look after her. I'm barely making it through the day with just myself to take care of, just like everyone else in the village.
Woman	Besides, she's sick, ain't she? Can't work her, can't sell her. Can't afford to take care of some good-for-nothin'.
Su Yi	...
Shenmei	It's gonna be all right, Su Yi! From now on, you're with us! You, me, and Liu Shen—we're as good as family!
Su Yi	Shenmei...
The present...
Su Yi	Th-thank you.
Bertha	Relax! We just want to help! Could you tell us why you ran off like that?
Su Yi	Well... I wanted to help look for Shenmei, too.
Bertha	Ohh! I guess hearing all that stuff about the octopuses made you worried, huh?
Sharon	But Liu Shen wanted us to wait here for him. We ought to stay put. Where would we even begin to search?
Su Yi	B-but...
Sharon	There's that face again. I told you, if you have something to say, you ought to say it. You can't expect people to read your mind. Remember? I know you're shy, but if we're going to be working together, communication is essential.
Bertha	Aw, Sharon. We only just met. She can't help it! Not everyone is capable of the same things right off the bat.
Sharon	I...suppose.
Bertha	So don't push yourself too hard on our account, Su Yi! I bet Liu Shen will find Shenmei in no time!
Su Yi	You're both very kind and dependable.
Bertha	You think so?
Sharon	Am I...dependable?
Bertha	Of course you are!
Su Yi	(And here I am, depending on their kindness and waiting for them to talk to me...) (I might be a Phantom Soldier, but I guess nothing much has changed. I'm just the same old Su Yi.) (Depending on Shenmei and Liu Shen to take care of me...) ...
Bertha	What's up?
Liu Shen	Su Yi! What's wrong?! Are you feeling sick? Did something happen?!
Su Yi	N-no! I'm...fine.
Liu Shen	Oh... Good. You just looked like you were on the verge of tears, that's all. I was concerned.
Bertha	Where did you come from?! You scared the life outta me, you maniac!
Liu Shen	Ahem... My apologies. I am simply very protective of Xiao-Xiao here.
Sharon	Is there a reason for that?
Liu Shen	Xiao-Xiao was born with a fragile constitution. We come from a very poor, remote village. We couldn't buy medicine or get her the care she needed—there wasn't even a doctor for her to see. Not only that...but she was orphaned at a young age and there was no one to take care of her. So you see, that's why...
In the past...

Shenmei	According to this map, the herbs that we need to make that cure-all are in this cave!
Liu Shen	Still, it is far too dangerous. We would have to cross the sea! Besides, that location is known to be a den of monsters.
Shenmei	I've told you before and I'll tell you again! It's my dream to become a legendary pirate! I'll never be worthy of such a title if I can't even save my precious little sister! We might not be connected by blood, but pirates look after their own.
The present...

Su Yi	Shenmei...

Shenmei	Hrrgh! I've had it up to here with all these octopuses! Not another one! Just leave me alone, will ya?! Squelchy vermin!
Kaya	Not an octopus, I'm afraid. Although I could use an extra arm or two...
Shenmei	Holy sea cow! Is that yu, Kaya?! I can't believe it!
Kaya	I could say the same. What are you doing here?
Shenmei	I don't really know. I was just chasing this suspicious shadowy thing and before I knew it, I was in this cave.
Kaya	A suspicious shadow...?
Shenmei	If I was gonna go exploring, I'd much prefer it to be in some ruins! At least then I'd have a better chance of stumbling across some treasure...
Kaya	Ruins such as these?
Shenmei	Huh?
Kaya	The only ruins of note on this island are the ones I am currently investigating. That is, the ones in which we are currently standing.
Shenmei	What?! You're telling me these are ruins?! I thought this was just some smelly old cave!
Kaya	It certainly is a cave, yes. Yet it is here, in these naturally-formed caverns, that we can find altars and other archeological remnants of an ancient religion that was once declared heretical and promptly stamped out. What at a glance appears to be an ordinary cave is in fact an archeological site, erased from the annals of history and forgotten by the people. I think most people on the island are not aware that this site even exists.
Shenmei	So these caves are actually ruins... Does that mean it's here?
Kaya	You know about that? About the Demon sealed within these ruins?
Shenmei	Huh?
Demon	Grooorgghhhhh!
Kaya	Speak of the devil...and it shall appear.
Shenmei	Wh-what?! Hang on! That wasn't what I was talking about!