Serge's Epitaph

[Shadow D. Darkman]

I read it aloud to my mom a few minutes ago. I was gonna use it in a paper. She says she read it in a book, but can't remember which one, or the author who wrote it.

Can anyone shed some light on this?

(Will be locked tonight at midnight, so please reply ASAP.)

[mav]

Interesting...I tried looking it up, but couldn't find anything that wasn't related to the Chrono series. Which is weird, since it sounds like a phrase that'd be very common.

[Vehek]

Is there any particular part of it that you're referring to?

[FouCapitan]

You talking about the "What has come from the sea has returned to the sea" bit, or something to that effect?

[Shadow D. Darkman]

IDK, I just know she recognized it. It no longer matters, I just cited it as something from a game I played (Cross), so...

EDIT: Forgot I can't lock my topics anymore. Can someone lock this, plz?

[utunnels]

A guy in Another Termina also said such thing to you if I recall.

----------

What, you are about to lock it, well....

[chrono eric]

It does sound like something that would be a common epitaph phrase right? I could have sworn I had heard it before too, so I did a google search as well and came up with nothing non-Cross related. I think it just sounds familiar to us because we are familiar with it already.

On a sort of related note, I once saw some idiots arguing at gamefaqs about whether or not Serge's mom and Wazuki were his real father and mother, because they interpreted the "what once came from the sea" quote not as a metaphor for death but as a literal "they found Serge floating in the sea as a child." lmao

[Shadow D. Darkman]

Reason I want it locked is b/c it no longer has a reason to be open. The report I put it in is printed out and awaiting submission.

[V_Translanka]

I think it can remain open because discussion can still be made regardless of whether or not it's of practical use to you anymore, Shadow...

I think it's familiar mainly because it's so generic sounding. I'm sure it's been used on various levels in other media or what-not before.

[mav]

Right--it just sounds too damn generic to have never been used before...maybe not word-for-word, but I'm sure it's been said somewhere. Then again, Eric's point about our familiarity to it certainly makes sense.

On a sort of related note, I once saw some idiots arguing at gamefaqs about whether or not Serge's mom and Wazuki were his real father and mother, because they interpreted the "what once came from the sea" quote not as a metaphor for death but as a literal "they found Serge floating in the sea as a child." lmao

Oi, I could see people taking things literally, but it's a damn epitaph. And Serge looks too much like Wazuki to not be his son. Some of these GameFAQs kids need to use their eyes a bit more.

[cdreed3000]

On a sort of related note, I once saw some idiots arguing at gamefaqs about whether or not Serge's mom and Wazuki were his real father and mother, because they interpreted the "what once came from the sea" quote not as a metaphor for death but as a literal "they found Serge floating in the sea as a child." lmao

Honestly, when I first played through the game, I thought that's what is was alluding to. I assumed it would be revealed later in the game. I was kinda surprised that Serge's origins weren't mysterious or anything. It just seem like it would kinda fit the rest of the story if he was just found floating in the sea. Think of all the discussions and arguments that would trigger.

[utunnels]

海から贈られたものを
ただ海に返しただけ

(He) was once a gift from the sea.
(He) was just returned to the sea.

[chrono eric]

Hmmm, the translation that utunnels just gave actually makes it sound as if Serge was literally found in the water like Moses or something.

However, I still think that is reading too much into it. It is more than likely just a metaphorical reference to the concept that the sea provides for life.

[utunnels]

Yeah, if he was found in the water, why that story was not metioned in game, unbelievable.
It is quite common for such word to be used, since he's a fisherman's son. The sea really means something to them.

   Oh, really...
   Well, I guess that's fine.
   You're entitled to your opinion.
   But listen to me now
   and believe me later,
   Serge.
   Life on this planet
   was born of the sea
   and will eventually
   return to it.
   Even our blood is
   mostly sea water.
   That has been the contract
   between the sea and all
   living creatures since
   ancient times.
   No one can defy
   this rule...
   Everyone will one day
   return to the sea.
   Just keep that in
   the back of your mind.

   Hey, Serge.
   I recommend you learn to
   sense the mood of the sea.
   One as young as you
   shouldn't end up on
   the sea floor.

   It shouldn't be too long
   now before my day will come
   to return to the sea...
   When that time comes,
   I would like to drift
   away humming a quiet tune...

   Zzzz... Zzzz...?
   Hwaaah......

   The tranquil sound
   of the waves does it
   to me every time.
   It makes me so sleepy.

   I bet the lullaby we
   heard in our mothers'
   wombs was kinda like this.
   One day, we will all
   return to the
   Mother Sea...
   Embraced by her lullaby...

   In due course, your time
   will also come to return
   to the sea, young man...

   As you gaze at the sea
   all day long...
   One starts to wonder where
   the sea ends, and where
   I start...

   I've tried to live my way,
   but maybe I have just been
   drifting along, trapped in the ebb
   and flow of the ocean's tides...

   Wouldn't you agree, dear?

   ?

   How could I forget...
   She has already returned
   to the great sea...

[Chrono'99]

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Serge's epitaph always reminded me of that famous quote from the Bible.