Azure Moon
Available: After The Goddess's Rite of Rebirth
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Byleth enters the scene
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Ashe enters the scene
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Ashe
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Hey, Professor! Did I ever tell you what happened with that thief?
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Ashe
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You know, the book thief we encountered in town.
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Ashe
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I went after him, and I did manage to catch up, but...
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Ashe
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Oh, no, I captured him easily. I'm pretty quick on my feet, you know!
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Ashe
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But I decided not to make him pay for the book.
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Ashe
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Sort of. I actually decided not to make him pay for it.
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Ashe
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My pockets were pretty empty after that incident, if you want to know the truth.
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Ashe
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What happened was, when I caught him, I asked him why he stole the book.
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Ashe
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He said he thought it would fetch a good price, and that he really needed the money.
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Ashe
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He had a sick kid, and couldn't pay for medicine.
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Ashe
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Maybe you're right.
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Ashe
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But if he really did have a sick child, that would be a matter of life and death.
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Ashe
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A little money is nothing compared to that. I'd rather believe a lie than risk someone's life if I'm wrong.
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Ashe
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And to be completely honest, there was a time when I wasn't so different from him.
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You were a thief?
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Ashe
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It was a long time ago, and I've put all that behind me now, but yes. I was.
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Ashe
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My parents died of illness, so I had to provide for my little brother and sister.
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Ashe
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I did my best to earn money for them legitimately, but I wasn't able to bring home enough.
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Ashe
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So I turned to thieving. From people on the streets. From shops. Even from soldiers.
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Ashe
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I knew it was wrong, but seeing my brother and sister's smiling faces made me too happy to stop.
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Ashe
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I really regret that part of my life. I was stupid.
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Ashe
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But shortly after I turned nine, I crept into a local noble's mansion, aiming to steal whatever I could get my hands on.
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Ashe
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The noble had all sorts of valuables, but what really caught my eye was a book with a fancy cover.
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Ashe
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That book was Loog and the Maiden of Wind. The knight in the illustrations was so impressive, I just couldn't tear my eyes away.
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Ashe
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Well, that was part of it. But certain books are also really valuable, you know.
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Ashe
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You probably see where this is going. Moments after I grabbed the book, I was caught in the act by the noble.
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Ashe
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And that noble was none other than Lonato.
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Ashe
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But Lonato was incredibly kind. Without asking any questions, he gave me the book—and money too.
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Ashe
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When I told him I couldn't read, he invited me into his mansion, along with my brother and sister. He taught me how to read, personally.
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Ashe
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So with the thief I caught in town, I was trying to do the same thing. To be like Lonato.
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Ashe
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I want to make up for the bad things I've done. To leave this world better than I found it.
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Ashe
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That's why, even if it wasn't easy on my pockets, I'm proud to say I helped him.
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Ashe
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I know what you're trying to say.
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Ashe
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My contribution probably won't change much.
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Ashe
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And it's not like I have the money to help everyone who's suffering from poverty.
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Ashe
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Even so—I can't bear to stand by and do nothing.
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Ashe
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What else could I have done, Professor?