The map is really straightforward, though. Aside from a detour or two, it's a mostly linear (if twisty) path through the mountains. Once you get to this chokepoint, it's cutscene time.
Dren: Yeah... I just hope we can get through that door.
Lyssa: I'm sure we will. Nothing can stop us!
Dren: I'm just not 100% sure about that Angarwhatever guy.
Angaraxasak. High Legion Lord of the Burning Demon Legion Lords. Ruler of the Seven Crystal Blood Crystals. Terror of the North. Lord of Darkness and Also Shadow. Borne in Fire and Chaos.Lyssa: Garax.
Right. That.Lyssa: And I'm sure the orb he gave us will work.
Dren: It might be a trap.
Lyssa: Nah, he's not the type to do that.
Dren: You don't know that.
Lyssa: I do, actually.
Dren: No, you actually don't. That's your problem, Lyssa. You think the whole world operates by your rules, your code. But it doesn't. There are people out there who will hurt you.
Dren: But you take everyone at face value. You trust people. It's gonna get you hurt, someday.
Lyssa: I guess I just prefer to think the best of people, Dren.
Dren: That's fine, and it's what I like about you. It's just... I wish you wouldn't be so naive, sometimes.
Lyssa: ...I'm going to bed. Goodnight.
Uh, Dren? You're the guy who's been complaining the entire time that nothing makes sense. I mean, this is the sort of universe where you can capture criminals by stuffing them into your inventory so you don't have to carry them around. If anything, the whole world doesn't operate by your rules. You're endlessly frustrated by it.
If anything, Lyssa and Garax are cut from the same cloth. They compared their self-appointed, made-up titles. They complimented each other's ridiculous costumes. Garax might well understand Lyssa better than you do.Morgan: You care about her a lot.
Dren: We've been together a long time. Since we were kids. She needs someone to look after her, that's for sure. She's always been like that.
Morgan: She's not a kid anymore, you know.
Dren: In some ways. But in a lot of ways, she still is. Don't tell me you think she's still not childish?
Morgan: A little, yeah. But I think she can take care of herself. She's a very strong fighter, you know.
Dren: Sure. Against monsters who walk in the sunlight and face you in battle, she's strong. I just worry about the ones that don't look like monsters, and get you from behind.
What's Captain Stonelark doing with his campaign down south where nobody can see, anyway?Morgan: Forgive me if this is prying, but... Back when we were dealing with those guys, Spike and Slade,
Sludge. It says it right on his dialog box.Morgan: they mentioned something about Lyssa... killing her father. Is... Was that true? You don't have to answer if I'm asking too much.
Dren: It's fine.
Dren: ...It's true. But it was an accident. I was there.
Dren: We were just kids. Lyssa was starting to manifest her latent magical power. Without any training. Probably because of her elf blood, you know.
Lyssa: Dren! Dren! Come here, quick!
Lyssa: Look! Look what I can do! Grrrr... ya~!
Dren: Wow!
Lyssa: I know!
Dren: How'd you do that?
Lyssa: I dunno!
Dren: Can you make it any bigger?
Lyssa: I'll try! Grrrrr... YA~!
Dren: It got bigger!
Lyssa: I know! I know! Let me try again!
Lyssa: Here we go! I'll get it even bigger this time! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr... YAAA!
Dren: Holy crap!
Dren: That's amazing, Lyssa!
Lyssa: I know! I'm the best! I must have special powers!
George: Lyssa, is that you? I've been looking for you, it's time for dinner!
Lyssa: I bet I can get it even bigger! Just watch me!
George: Lyssa, quit your playing and come here!
And as Lyssa does her spellstarter, George walks around the corner...And the scene cuts back to the cave.Dren: Yeah. Her father, George, was badly burned. He didn't last long. With his last breath, he told Lyssa he forgave her, and to move on. It took her a good while, of course. She wouldn't use any magic at all for a long time. She cried and cried. Hated herself.
Dren: The town, heh. I still can't believe this actually happened, but. Everyone got together, big meeting. Talked about what had happened. Talked about how Lyssa was 'dangerous'. How she was 'different'.
Lyssa: Threat or Menace?Dren: Despite how many times I said it was only an accident, and if anyone was to blame, it was me for encouraging her. They actually talked about banishing her from the village. A little girl, barely 8 years old. Just throwing her to the wolves. Can you imagine?
I have played Secret of Mana, yes.Dren: Her mother and I wouldn't have it, of course. And eventually the village realized how monstrous banishing her would have been.
Dren: Well... Most of the village. Some of them, like those stupid brats Billy and Willy, never let it go. My father...
Morgan: People are afraid of others who are different.
Dren: Yeah.
Morgan: My parents died when my sister and I were just kids. It's really hard to lose your loved ones that young. Luckily, me and Sam had the Church, and each other. It sounds like Lyssa had someone, too.
Dren: Her mother, Anna, is a wonderful person.
Morgan: I'm sure she is, but I wasn't talking about her. You still carry some of that guilt for Lyssa's father's death, don't you?
Dren: If anything, it was more my fault than hers. I was the one who kept telling her to 'make it bigger'.
Morgan: No. It's not your fault. You were both kids, you can't be blamed for an accident like that.
Dren: ...
Dren: Nah, I knew better, even back then. I knew it was dangerous. That's why it was so exciting. That's why I wanted to see it over and over again.
Dren: All I had to say was "Lyssa, don't do that, you could hurt someone," and George would still be alive today. But that's what I have to live with. I don't want Lyssa to feel like I do about it.
Morgan: Dren, that wasn't your fault either.
Dren: I appreciate your kind words, but you're not going to convince me. We live in a dangerous world. If you're not careful, people get hurt. That's just the way it is. My dad is right about that, at least.
Dren: I'm turning in. Goodnight.
So now we know why Dren is such an insufferable wet blanket. He's conditioned himself to expect harm and grief anytime anyone does anything exciting or fun.