CascaGriffith has a dream he refuses to abandon, while most people have forgotten about their own dreams long ago. It is grand and it is pure, but it is a heavy weight for one man to carry, no matter how noble he is. And to make such dream a reality, one must inevitably endure terrible things. He wasn't born strong, but because of his dream, he knows that he must be. I want to be by his side during every last moment. If he dedicates himself entirely to his dream, if he has to fight to forge his dream, then I... I want to be a sword for him. His strength during battle. I want to play that important role in the fulfilment of his dream. (to Guts) And once, I believed my wish would be granted. But then, you arrived. Do you even remember, what he said that day on the hilltop when Griffith asked you to join us? The way he spoke - he had never given such high praises to anyone. I was overcome with envy that day. He barely knew you and yet he held you in such regard. I despised you. I tried to convince myself that Griffith wanted you solely for the strength you would add to the Hawks, but I see the way Griffith treats you differently. He becomes unnerved if you're in danger, and acts impulsively, as if, as if... Griffith puts his faith in you, but you, you can't appreciate the implications that that has! And I'll never forget that because of you, because of your recklessness and your selfishness, Griffith was nearly killed! I don't care if you drop dead in a field somewhere, but if you compromise Griffith's dream, if you ruin that, I will never forgive you! Do you hear me?! (breaks down) I can't forgive you for making Griffith change like he has! Why you?! Why did he choose you of all people?! Why you?
(Casca leans on Guts' chest, holding his wounded hand.)
Casca
You keep getting hurt. You keep spilling your blood because of me... for me... (Casca looks up at Guts, tears streaming down her face.) You fool! You fool...
Casca
That day you left, that's when I knew. The thing I could not stop gazing at and thinking about wasn't Griffith, kneeling in the snow defeated for the first time and devastated by it. It was you, watching you walk away from us and never look back. It gripped me, I couldn't accept what I was feeling, this woman unable to blink, unable to turn away as you disappeared. The life I had led since the moment I met Griffith all at once felt betrayed. My life has been an honest one: I have only my pride, and I owe that to Griffith, but... I'm changing. There may be a place for me in this man's soul. Not because of what I may receive, but for something of worth I may have for him.
(Guts agrees to serve Griffith if he can beat him in a sword fight)
As you wish. (Draws his sword) I rather enjoy settling things by force.
Casca
Griffith!
Casca
But-
Don't worry. I will get what I want.
(to himself) I've had enough of this bullshit. (charges) You make me SICK!
Casca
Why would you do that with him?!
For the money. Maintaining an army is quite costly. Soldiers, horses, provisions and equipment - none of these are free. The Hawks will grow even larger, and so will their expenses. I must help my army grow, and that, I'm afraid, takes tremendous funds. So I found someone who is as interested in me as I am in his substantial fortune. So we have come to an agreement.
Casca
Even so, you can't! Why can't things just stay as they are? I know we could earn the money you need! We just have to keep winning!
That would take a tremendous amount of time, and... the more battles we fight, the more people we lose.
Casca
You're thinking about that boy, aren't you, Griffith?
I'm not. I came to this conclusion rationally. Which is the lesser risk for me? Losing hundreds of my men in tens of battles, or receiving what I need from some rich old man? Listen, Casca: I feel no responsibility to those comrades who've lost their lives in my service, because they chose to fight those battles... (grips his arms with his hands) just as you chose, just as I.
Casca
Griffith?
Just as I have chosen this, but... if there is one thing I can do for them, for the dead, it is to win, and keep winning until I obtain my dream. (his fingers start to tear bloody gashes in his arms.) A dream they clung to and risked their lives for.
Casca
Griffith, stop it!
I can't just step over the bones of the dead in order to realize it. My dream... my dream is already smeared with blood! I don't regret, I don't feel guilty, but I'd rather sacrifice myself than watch any more innocent children die in the name of my dream!
Casca
(running over and embracing him) Stop it... please, stop it...
Women. You're entirely too weak, I mean just look at you; You have no endurance, you anger too easily, and you've got women troubles. Just more proof that women don't belong in a man's war.
Casca
You know nothing about women!
Of course not, I'm a man. How would I know? But what I do know is that we can't afford to be held up by your female problems, or anything else for that matter, understand? The enemy doesn't care what condition you're in, and they don't care that you're a woman. Actually, on second thought, they might be happy about that.
You know, there's no need for you to worry yourself. It was for my own sake that I did all that. It wasn't for you in particular. It's just my nature. I'd rather fight with my sword than run away, that's all.
Casca
So that's the only reason? You fought a hundred men cause... It's not in your nature to run away?
Yeah, pretty much. Besides, I owed that bastard some payback. My memory of things is a bit unclear, I was lost in the swordplay. But to tell you the truth, there was something I just couldn't get out of my head. Compared to what you're trying to do, me fighting a hundred men means nothing, it has no purpose. I'm not talking about just you, I mean Griffith also. The two of you have something important that you can stake your lives on. I think it's great, I truly mean that. Compared to the strength of that purpose, whether I face a hundred men in battle or even a thousand, seems like nothing but a random act.
Casca
Guts, I...
Casca
Huh?
Gaston doesn't think he's very suited for army life. His intention is to start a tailoring business with the money he's earned when this war is over. He's very good with his hands, though he may not look it. Nikol had proposed to a woman who refused him once. Apparently she didn't want to marry a common soldier, so he declared he'd get promoted as soon as possible so that he could ask her again. That's why he tends to be so reckless and overextends himself in battle. It seems to me that everybody stakes their lives in a lost cause. Looking over them all from up here, I almost think I can see their hopes and dreams flickering in each little light.
Casca
Like a bonfire of dreams.
Well, that was beautiful. You sounded like the Princess talking.
Casca
Don't say that! But I understand; it's like each one of them has his own little light or small flame that he brings to the Band of the Hawk.
Yeah, and to ensure those weaker flames don't go out, each man casts his own into the strongest fire of them all: A raging fire, that is Griffith. But, my light isn't to be seen among them. Still, after all this time, it's seems I'm just someone who stopped to warm himself at the bonfire in passing.
Casca
Guts...
So long as I have my sword to fight with, I'm sure to survive. Year after year, I've proven it to be true. Before joining the Hawks, I've always survived, no matter the odds, no matter how hopeless a losing battle. This time was no different. In truth, I don't believe that's any way to live one's life. I've been fighting in battles for as long as I can remember. The mercenary leader who raised me taught me nothing except how to wield a sword. I've never had anything, except my sword. I don't want to die; for me that is the only reason for me I keep fighting. There is nothing to save myself for or give myself to. I fight because I know nothing else. Once I was willing, to do just that, to commit myself to fighting, and let anyone else find a reason for me.
(After making love to Casca, Guts confesses he'll go his own way after restoring the Hawks to their former status.)
I'll never draw my sword for another man again, or be dangled by someone else's dream. From now on, I'll fight my own battles.
Casca
(laughs sarcastically) My, my. How honorable...
(Casca picks up some leaves and tosses them at Guts.)
CCasca (angrily)
You're just like Griffith! Your dream is everything to you! You only think about yourself! You don't give a damn whether or not I'm around, do you?!
(Casca beats Guts' chest with her fist, tears in her eyes.)
Casca
JUST GO! Do whatever the hell you want and don't look back! Wind up dead somewhere, alone, with your sword!
(She starts to cry, but Guts embraces her.)
Come. You could come with me.
Casca
(She stops crying.) Huh?
I don't know what will happen. I know only one thing; that I want to keep holding you...
Casca
You fool.
...lie with you a hundred more -- no, a thousand more times. That's how I feel.
Casca
(smiles) Stupid...
(They kiss.)
Casca(while forcing Guts to fight her): It's all your fault! Griffith and the Band of the Hawk, it all went to hell because of you!
Casca
How stupid are you? Damn you! You are the one Griffith wanted! It was always you! You were the only one!
CCharlotte
A thousand years ago, the land was embroiled in war and turmoil. One rose to put an end to the chaos: Supreme King Gaiseric. In his lifetime, he forged a vast empire that spanned the entire continent. His lineage remains a mystery, but his skill at arms was famed, and they say he always wore a skull mask to battle.
Judeau I've heard stories of the legendary Skull King. But he was mad with power, so Five Angels were sent to deal with him. This led to the elimination of his army and the empire he'd built.
Casca
Wasn't it four?
Berserk · 128 quotes
