Aśvatthāman

After the Rage

Narration: Anger swells up, explodes, and settles.

Narration: It's a lot like a bomb, or a flash of light.

Narration: Anger is by no means a negative emotion.

Narration: Everyone has the right to get angry at things like injustice, oppression, and malice.

Narration: But, all that being said...

Narration: ...do I still have a right to get angry?

Tristan: Hmm, I see.

Tristan: Speaking as an outsider, I would say that, while getting angry is every person's right...

Tristan: ...taking out anger you've held onto from life on third parties who had nothing to do with it seems wrong to me.

Narration:

Exactly.

Narration:

My anger comes from the injustice I witnessed back when I was alive.

Narration:

And I can't shake the idea that it's wrong to take it out on others, even if they're enemies.

Chiron: If there is a significant difference in combat prowess between when you are angry and when you are not, then that is certainly an issue.

Narration:

Good question. I guess being angry might make fighting a little easier for me.

Chiron: In that case, it would most likely behoove you to remain angry during battle.

Chiron: That being said, if this anger is having a negative affect on your mind...

Chiron: ...then we cannot simply ignore it. I suspect Master feels the same way.

Narration: Yeah... That's true. I nod along in agreement.

Chiron: Anger and rage are necessary emotions for anyone. We Servants are no exception.

Chiron: Indeed, I'm sure that some heroes were only summoned here due to feats that were driven by righteous anger.

Chiron: However, anger also requires fuel.

Chiron: It costs both physical and mental energy to be angry.

Chiron: So it is surprisingly difficult to remain in a perpetual state of either anger or grief.

Chiron: Is that not the case for you?

Narration:

I cock my head and think about Chiron's question.

Narration:

He's right. It is difficult to stay perpetually angry.

Narration:

But for some reason, I still have plenty of anger to go around.

Chiron: Hmmm. What about the strain it puts on your mind?

Narration:

...I don't know.

Tristan: You don't know?

Tristan: So you have no idea whether your anger puts any strain on you whatsoever?

Narration:

I nod.

Narration: This emotion–this burning, all-consuming rage–has never been a burden.

Narration:

If anything, it's only given me energy to spare.

Narration:

It keeps my mind constantly elated, to the point where I don't even realize I'm tired.

Chiron: Very good. In that case...

Chiron: I think we'd better talk to Master.

Aśvatthāman: So now, I need your advice! What should I do? Huh?


Fujimaru 1: You three make, um...quite the combination.

Chiron: Hahaha, I suppose we do.

Chiron: We may all be Archers, but we come from very different times, regions, and cultures, to say the least.


Fujimaru 2: I feel like I'm looking at RGB personified.

Tristan: As in red, green, and blue? ...Yes, I suppose I can see that.

Tristan: I guess I must be green, Chiron blue, and Aśvatthāman red.

Tristan: Though it's still hard to say as to whether we complement each other or not.


Mash: I see...

Aśvatthāman: It's not healthy for me to always be angry all the time. That makes sense.

Aśvatthāman: But right now, I can't do anything unless I'm angry. At least, I think so.

Mash: But, um, aren't we talking normally now, without you being angry?

Aśvatthāman: I can keep it in check for a little bit.

Aśvatthāman: But that's not the same thing as getting rid of it completely, right?

Chiron: Besides, we wouldn't be here asking for help if this issue could be managed by simply having him keep it in check.

Aśvatthāman: Exactly.


Fujimaru 1: Do you want to keep your anger in check?

Aśvatthāman: Well, I definitely want to do something about it before I end up making trouble for someone...


Fujimaru 2: So you wouldn't rather just stay the way you are?

Aśvatthāman: I don't think this is a good way to be. It's not natural to be angry all the time.


Mash: Maybe you should talk to Pārvatī. She might have a good idea.

Aśvatthāman: Ulp.

Aśvatthāman: ...Sorry, Mash, but I'd really rather not do that.

Aśvatthāman: It's like, uh... How can I put this...


Fujimaru 1: You don't want to ask your mom for help now that you're grown up?

Chiron: Hahaha. That's certainly one apt way to put it.


Fujimaru 2: You don't want to worry her?

Aśvatthāman: Basically. Please, I'm begging you here!


Mash: Keeping anger in check... What about facilitated relaxation?

Mash: You could try forest therapy to calm your mind, get a massage to relieve the tension in your muscles... I've heard things like that can work wonders for relaxing!

Aśvatthāman: I got no idea what the hell forest therapy's supposed to be... But okay, let's give 'em a shot!


Fujimaru 1: All right, let's do it!


Chiron: I think I will come with you then. What about you, Tristan? Will you be joining us as well?

Tristan: Forest therapy... I like the sound of that. I was just thinking I could use a good nap.


Fujimaru 1: No sleeping during therapy.


Tristan: Yes, Master.

Mash: Okay then, I'll go get the simulator ready!

Narration: Forest therapy.

Narration: They say it's a kind of, well, therapeutic treatment that involves going into a woods to relax.

Narration: Apparently, it's all 'cause of things like phytoncides and air quality and a change of environment and such.

Narration: Well, if nothing else, it ought to be good for the mind.

Narration: Except...

Narration: ...it doesn't seem to work that well in dense South American jungles.

Aśvatthāman: Frick, it's hot here.

Mash: I'm sorry. I think I got one of the settings wrong...

Tristan: So much for taking a nap.

Tristan: Hehe. Now that I take a closer look, I can see there are all sorts of insects happily buzzing about the air here.

Tristan: Well, I can't actually see them, since I'm too scared of bugs to open my eyes, but I can still sense them.


Fujimaru 1: You're scared of bugs!?


Tristan: Yes. I've always hated bugs. They just look much too much like fairies for my liking. That, and vampiric horses...

Chiron: Oh? I'll have you know that some insects are actually very nutritious. They're essential eating when it comes to wilderness survival.

Tristan: What? You mean some people have to eat bugs to survive? I can't even imagine it... So I won't. I'm just going to pretend I never heard that...

Chiron: I see. Well, you certainly don't HAVE to eat them, especially if you have access to meat, fruit, and veggies.

Aśvatthāman: Never mind that. What do we do about this?

Aśvatthāman: Forget about relaxing! All this heat and humidity's only cranking up my anger energy!

Aśvatthāman: Good, perfect timing! Sorry guy, but like it or not, I'm taking my anger out on you!

Chiron: Here, let us help.

Mash: A-all right! Initiating simulation battle!

--BATTLE--:

Aśvatthāman: Eat this!

Aśvatthāman: Dammit. I thought that might help get my anger under control...

Aśvatthāman: But thanks to how damn hot these things were, I'm more pissed off than before!

Tristan: I'm sorry to hear that.

Tristan: In that case, I think it's time we tried some real forest therapy.

Chiron: I would appreciate that. I don't think I can stand much more of this heat, either.

Mash: R-right.

Mash: Okay, I'll make sure to set the next environment to a proper forest that you can use for therapy.

--BATTLE--:

Tristan: That's it. This is just what I had in mind.

Tristan: It really is peaceful here. Forests are green, and of course, I am synonymous with green.


Fujimaru 1: Really? 'Cause when I think of green, I think of Robin Hood.

Tristan: ...

Tristan: No, it's me.

Mash: (He really doesn't want to let this go!)


Fujimaru 2: Isn't Chiron more closely associated with green?

Tristan: ... ...(Zzz).

Aśvatthāman: Stop sleeping!

Tristan: Oh, I wasn't sleeping. That's just the sound I make when I'm not ready to admit defeat.

Aśvatthāman: Uh...

Chiron: When it comes to Tristan, I've found it's best to just not think about him too hard.

Aśvatthāman: ...Gotcha...


Chiron: All right, since there don't seem to be any Demonic Beasts nearby, let's try some deep breathing exercises to complement the forest therapy.

Aśvatthāman: Got it.

Chiron: Okay everyone, line up, please.

Chiron: Now, let's take some deep breaths. Inhale...

Chiron: Exhale...

Chiron: Inhale...

Chiron: Exhale...

Chiron: Inhale, then expel all of your breath at once, building up power throughout your entire body...

Chiron: And stick out your fist...

Aśvatthāman: Ha!

Tristan: Hra!

Aśvatthāman: ...How's that supposed to help us relax?

Chiron: I'm sorry. Old habits. All right, let's try meditation next.


Fujimaru 1: You ready?


Aśvatthāman: Hell yeah!

Chiron: Start by sitting down in a comfortable position, then close your eyes.

Chiron: Now, look for the source of your anger.

Narration: That statement takes me a little by surprise.

Narration: Anger... The source of my anger.

Narration: That cowardly plot, unbefitting of warriors. The enemy army that decided to carry it out.

Narration: My pathetic self, unable to stop it. My comrades, falling one after another.

Narration: That was why I got so mad that I broke the rules of warfare and massacred them during the night.

Chiron: That's not the only reason.

Narration: That statement sends me reeling. I want to jump down his throat...but I resist.

Chiron: Anger like that would never last the way yours does. There must be something more to it.


Fujimaru 1: You mean he's angry at something else?


Aśvatthāman: I...

Narration: Yeah... He's right. I mean, I really was angry back then...

Narration: But the anger I feel now is different. It takes over my whole body, tormenting me.

Narration: Where does this anger come from? What in the world is it?

Chiron: That anger isn't right for you.

Chiron: If it were, you would be able to understand it.

Narration: ...This anger isn't right.

Narration: ...

Narration: Is it the anger I felt for being punished? ...No, it's not that.

Narration: I agreed with that punishment. In fact...

Narration: I remember thinking it didn't go far enough.

Narration: That's right. I wasn't punished enough.

Narration: I've never felt like I fully atoned for what I did. I just kept wandering around wearing myself down until the next thing I knew, I was a Heroic Spirit.

Narration: I remember thinking I was sure I was going to keep being punished.

Narration: And yet...

Narration: That's right. Chaldea's way too good for a sinner like me.

Aśvatthāman: I see it now.

Aśvatthāman: I'm angry at myself.

Aśvatthāman: I'll never be able to atone for what I did in a paradise like this.

Chiron: ...You're wrong.

Chiron: That's it. That guilt is the indescribable source of your anger.

Chiron: That rage you feel towards yourself is what you need to fight!

Chiron: Concentrate. You're a warrior, are you not?

Chiron: Then you should be used to fighting yourself.

Narration: Yeah. I am. But...

Narration: ...I'm not at all confident I can win.

Narration: After all, I've been holding on to this anger for thousands of years.

Chiron: Hahahaha. No need to worry about that.

Chiron: Did you forget who's there beside you?

Narration: ...Yeah. Good point. In that case...

Aśvatthāman: So Master, I hate to ask you this...but would you mind giving me a hand fighting my own redemption?

Aśvatthāman: Listen well, my millennia-old anger. I will vanquish you in the name of duty.

Aśvatthāman: I'm here to help save humanity. To help set it right. It's natural to be angry at any and all injustice.

Aśvatthāman: But in your case...you're much too big for a simple archer like me to carry by myself.

Aśvatthāman: ...

Aśvatthāman: So it's time for us to go our separate ways, even if it should cost me my life!

Aśvatthāman: Here I come!!!

--BATTLE--:

Aśvatthāman: All right! We won!!!


Fujimaru 1: B-but I didn't do anything...


Tristan: ...I see.

Tristan: As a first-rate warrior, he must be able to simulate a battle where you were there giving him orders, Master.

Chiron: Well? Is your anger gone now?

Aśvatthāman: ...

Aśvatthāman: It's not that simple.

Chiron: Perhaps not, but you can tell your relationship to it has changed, no?

Aśvatthāman: Yeah, I can.

Aśvatthāman: My anger wasn't just directed at other people. It was also directed at me.

Aśvatthāman: And just being aware of that makes a world of difference.

Aśvatthāman: Thanks, Master.


Fujimaru 1: Uh, you're welcome, but I really didn't do anything!


Aśvatthāman: Hahahaha!

Tristan: And so♪ His Master♪

Tristan: Birthed a new legend♪ By winning despite doing nothing♪

Tristan: Ahh, how very jealous I am♪ Strum strum, strum strum♪


Fujimaru 1: Would you please stop singing that song already!?

Tristan: I'm sorry. Your bewildered face was just so amusing that I couldn't help myself.

Gareth: That's enough, Sir Tristan! Zip it!


Fujimaru 2: Ugh! Stupid Tristan!

Tristan: I see. Insults, is it? Well, that's okay. They don't bother me♪

Tristan: For a poet is not truly a poet♪ Unless they are also a nuisance♪

Gareth: You're not even the least bit sorry, are you, Sir Tristan? I never could tell what you're thinking.


Chiron: How are you, Aśvatthāman?

Aśvatthāman: You know, I'm doing all right.

Aśvatthāman: The time I'm spending here in peace, laughing and having fun with these guys I now call my friends... That's all the atonement I need.

Aśvatthāman: And it's not unpleasant for me, so I'm not gonna ruin the mood.

Aśvatthāman: My suffering'll last as long as I live, but I'll also be able to enjoy the good things in life.

Aśvatthāman: 'Cause they're both perfectly valid ways for me to be who I am.

Chiron: Wonderful. That answer was so good I'm tempted to give you an A+ on your report card.

Aśvatthāman: Thanks, but there's no way I'm going back to school at this age.

Aśvatthāman: ...Then again, maybe that wouldn't be so bad...

Chiron: Well, if you're ever in the mood for a lesson, I'm always accepting new students.

Aśvatthāman: Hm?

Aśvatthāman: ...Thank you for everything.

Aśvatthāman: I hope my uncertainty, and my anger, always remain in their proper place...

Aśvatthāman: ...and that you will continue to watch over both myself and Master...

Aśvatthāman: ...Lady Pārvatī.

Pārvatī: ...Thank goodness. It seems there was no need for me to get involved.

Pārvatī: Seeing them grow, inspire, and motivate themselves like this is the greatest reward I could ask for.

Pārvatī: Now then, I think I'd better check in on someone else who could use a little motivation!

Pārvatī: You can't just spend every day doing nothing but playing video games, after all!

Aśvatthāman: So tell me, Master: What is it you're angry about right now?

Aśvatthāman: Whatever it is, I know you'll have a good reason to be angry over it. And I'll always be there to help.

Aśvatthāman: After all...isn't that what Servants are for?