Meanwhile...

Nicholas: "(wiping away sweat) Guess even I can't get things easy."

Nicholas has finally arrived in a new town after slogging through countless battles.

Nicholas: "But at least I can finally get some decent funds."

Nicholas has a few Wyvern scales in his bag.

Nicholas: "Now to crash for a few days before I-"

Nicholas walks past the wall to find the town ridden with a strange disease that causes their throats to swell.

Nicholas: "(horrified) What the-"

A man gives Nicholas a safety mask.

Man: "Can't go spreading the infection."

Nicholas puts it on.

Nicholas: "What's happening here?"

Man: "We've got a case of Throias running amok in town."

Nicholas walks towards a little girl who's witnessing her mother's throat swelling out of control.

Little Girl: "(crying) Mommy!"

Nicholas has a memory of a woman dying in a bed flash in his mind.

Nicholas: "(darkly) Does this thing have a cure?"

Man: "Y-Yes, but a Wyvern is guarding the key reagent."

Nicholas has a spark of hatred in his eyes.

Nicholas: "Tell me where and I'll deal with it."

Man: "R-Really?!"

Nicholas: "I'm not going to watch people die like this..."

Nicholas sheds a tear.

Nicholas: "(sentimental) ... not again."

Nicholas looks towards the man.

Nicholas: "So?"

Man: "J-Just go north of here and you'll f-find a series of interconnected streams that act like a maze. The Regal Lotus rests at the lake in the center."

Nicholas takes a deep breath.

Nicholas: "Looks like I'm taking a longer break than I thought."

Nicholas heads north...