Multiple Settings The Mysterious Play: Hierophant of Skies (Accepting votes!)

[Idea]

'A GIANT ISLE FLOATING IN THE SKY '

this smells like foreshadowing...


Anyway, here's my vote:

>>>Go talk to Scias

If we want progress, we've got to do something different, unexpected! To achieve that, talking to this guy seems like the right choice. Especially because, if I recall, the lights weren't all upstairs with him.

 

[Minako]

Rosalina Chandra

Felis Caligena Idea ​

Revealing ourselves without talking it through with the others is a bad idea, I think. It's not something we should decide over their heads (especially in case it causes complications).

I think DreamBeat was onto something with the chief, and I'm going to take it a step farther and say it might be he who is the crest bearer. We ruled Scias out last night, and there are some things that kind of fall into place if we assume the chief is the fire bearer. I'm speculating for a good part, but maybe it's at least a starting point.

First of all, I'm still a bit hung up over the logs. Ivana seemed to hint at him "wasting" the logs with his inventions/furniture building or whatever, saying they never get to see what he does with them. Would it be far-fetched to say it has something to do with Kai hiding the fact that they need far less logs to keep fires running than would be natural? (I actually also wonder if Archer knows anything about the logs, since she's responsible for duplicating them. It would be hard to ask her directly, though, I guess.)

Then there's him changing the topic when Celosia's blessings and magical fires were mentioned in one go. He knows something about this, at the very least.

Next, the chief apparently has very dark bags under his eyes. Maybe because he's up at night lighting fireplaces?

And lastly, there's what he said about how he lost his wife. "The cold was too great for either of them to bear" - but from the way he tells the story, this might not/would not have been the case if he had been there. Also, fire powers might why he was called to the other village in the first place.

Maybe we could in any case compliment the magic fires before we leave, and see if there's any reaction we can use.

Afterwards (since I'm not sure how emotionally prepared we are to face Elias again), I'd suggest going to talk to Scias. Let's see if we can help him and Chlo get together, at least. And we might as well ask what in the world Elias ordered instead of pendants (if it doesn't come up on its own, anyway)

Now that I've had a good proper cry and a hug from papa (and Jamie????), can I just say that dang these people are sweet. All the more reason to dedicate myself to saving Cion!

Now then, going off of what the other voices have been saying, it IS looking more and more likely that Kai is our Fire. Obvious yet not. Less like the fire of a bomb and more like the fire of a hearth - warm, inviting, and nurturing. I think that after we eat a bit, we return to Xander (I'm still mad at Elias a little bit longer >:c) and catch them up with our thoughts and seek advice, THEN we can make some moves.

Also, if Chloe doesn't mention anything more about what Elias was up to once I'm done crying, we definitely need to confront Elias. He doesn't have to tell us EXACTLY what it is, but still...

(Also Also, maybe sometime down the road, once we decide to call Eli out privately, we can inform him of exactly what he was dreaming about. Bottling up this much raw insecure angst can't be good for us in the long run, so just.... SOMETIME.)

'A GIANT ISLE FLOATING IN THE SKY '

this smells like foreshadowing...


Anyway, here's my vote:

>>>Go talk to Scias

If we want progress, we've got to do something different, unexpected! To achieve that, talking to this guy seems like the right choice. Especially because, if I recall, the lights weren't all upstairs with him.

2 to 1 talking to Scias first!

You decide it might be a good idea to talk to Scias, not only to officially rule him out as a suspect to your fire-bearer but also to ask him what the heck Elias ended up ordering last night if it WASN'T a pendant...?​

"...Sweetheart?" You hear your Papa ask, shooting you a concerned glance, "Are you alright?"

"O-oh! U-uhm, y-yes!" You blurt, having spaced out once again, lost in your thoughts.

"Are you sure? You seem really distracted and out of it...?" Chlo offered her two cents.

"E-er, uh, yeah... I-I was just thinking..." You hesitate, not quite sure how to gracefully dip out of the tavern and run over to Scias, but you gotta try, "How amazing this village is to be so lucky to have you all AND the special, wonderfully warm fires..."

Hmm... The Chief AND Chlo's face light up as you say this... No especially emotional reaction to complimenting the fire from the Chief YET... Hmmm....



"Uh-uhm... I-I g-gotta go---" You begin after a bit before your stomach interrupts you.

"Heh, you hungry there, sweet pea?" Chlo chuckles.

You blush and nod meekly, despite just telling Xander and Elias that to say anything, you haven't eaten anything since yesterday, and you didn't even really eat much yesterday either...! How could you NOT have noticed!?

"Here, sugarplum," Chlo smiles sweetly at you and takes out a basket of strawberries, apples, berries, and peaches! Then she pulls out a loaf of bread and small piece of cheese! Normally you're not too huge a cheese fan but just this once you'll make an exception as its color kinda reminds you of mozzarella and ANYTHING that goes on a pizza is good enough for you right now!

"Th-thank you!" You reach your hands out (after wiping the drool, naturally!) and are about to dig in when two things stop you, "Wait, you just had this out and ready before anyone ordered anything?"

"Sure! I ALWAYS have baskets of fruits laying around. It saves time to assemble it before hand! Besides, obviously anything that doesn't sell by the end of the day I either eat or put away in cold storage," Chlo explains while taking out four more baskets and stuffing their contents down her gullet with impressive speed!

N-not to be mean, but perhaps maybe JAMIE isn't off shaming her for being a glutton, ahaha...


Oh! Have they discovered a sort of primitive refrigeration system? You imagine it actually wouldn't be that hard to accidentally stumble upon it in this cold, though...

"Wow!" You gasp.

Chlo again smiles brightly at you and pushes the original basket on the bar closer to you.

You nervously smile back and clear your throat as now the second reason you hesitate must be mentioned.

"A-heh... S-sorry, I-I... I-I actually c-can't pay for that... I-I left my coin purse at--"

Before you could finish that sentence you hear two coins go *cling!* as they met the table and turn to see those same two coins the Chief showed from earlier right next to the first basket.

"A-ah--"

"Here, dear, I do believe this should cover the basket, bread, and cheese," The Chief chuckles while paying for your breakfast.

"A-A-AH! N-N-N-NO, I-I-I-I COULDN'T P-P-POSSIBLY, I-I-I-"

"I insist, sweetheart," He warmly smiles at you while now pushing the bread and cheeses towards you.

"More than, Chief!" Chlo chuckles while sliding the coins back at the chief, turning to you and also smiling, stating, "On the house, sweetie."

You cover your face bashfully while barely able to mutter, "A-a-aaah... I-if you're sure, th-thank you..."

Chlo and the chief exchange smiles and chuckles as you begin to eat, the Cheif patting your head tenderly and making the meal more enjoyable!

Oh gosh, this is SO GOOD! Truth be told, you are a foodie through and through! You eat like there's no tomorrow and when you and Cornelia go to the movies you two split a large bowl of popcorn... YOU eating the most of it AND getting refills! THEN GOING OUT FOR BURGERS AND FRIES AFTERWARDS!

...You slowly stop to wonder how you're not fat...

After that tangent, you realize you thought about this because you've been ignoring those urges to eat due to this world being in a huge famine and you can't help but feel guilty at eating an entire basket of fruits and loaf of bread (at least the cheese wedge is small-ish!).

"Y-you sure i-it's alright?" You ask, your stomach growling even louder now that the sumptuous smell of food is tickling your nose.

"Eat," The Chief insists again in a fatherly tone.

You nod and stuff the berries into your mouth and get your face ALL DIRTY AND STICKY, like a toddler, and you look up to see Chief Kai covering his mouth to hide a laugh while Chlo is also stuffing berri--

OH.

OH YOU SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS TOPIC.

YOU SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

CHLO REALLY TRYNA HAVE AN EATING CONTEST WITH YOU RIGHT NOW?!

OH, IT IS ON.

LIKE DONKEY KONG.

You quickly try to stuff more berries in your mouth but CELOSIA can you not keep up! Chlo doesn't eat like a PIG she eats like a DUCK! Pigs actually CHEW THEIR FOOD! CHLO'S INHALING IT!

...HOW IS SHE ON HER THIRD BASKET WHEN YOU HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN PAST ONE!?

HOW IS SHE NOT NEAR CHOKING?! DOES THIS WOMAN EVEN HAVE A GAG REFLEX?!

Right as you are about to get to the apples (harder to eat quickly) Chlo has already polished off the other baskets. WHAT IS THIS WOMAN!?

"You can't out eat me! I am the eating CHAMPION!!!" Chlo boasts her gluttony around like a badge of honor and, to be quite honest, makes you feel just a tad bit salty at her.

"M-my word, wh-where do you put it all?" The Chief, too stunned to say anything til now, finally utters while gaping.



"Chlo, sweetheart, we've talked about this, yes? How to MODERATE your eating habits? You KNOW you can't keep eating like that, dear, there's a famine isle-wide!" Comes a voice from an older, yellow-haired man with hazel-eyes from the door behind the "bar". He appears to be around the same age as the Chief.

"S-sorry, daddy... I-I just saw her eating with such gusto I wanted to eat like that, too!" Chlo sheepishly defends herself.

Wait... DADDY?! B-but she looks nothing LIKE HIM?! The Chief with his orange-y hair looks more like Chlo's father than her actual father?!?!

M-must have gotten more traits from her mother, you suppose...


"Heh, Ever the advocate for temperance, aren't you, Damorris?" Chief Kai snickers a little, though after the look he shot Chlo after saying that it doesn't seem like he really is giving Chlo's father a hard time.

"That, among other things, old friend," Damorris nods approvingly while removing the baskets from the counter.

You take this time to meekly try to finish your apples, cheese, and bread, but you decide to eat super slowly now and hope he doesn't scold you for your gluttony as well.

Damorris finally turns his attention towards YOU, and your heart stops.

He recognizes you. He definitely recognizes you. The look in his eyes is one of shock and disbelief as soon as he laid eyes on you... And you doubt it's because of how fast you were eating berries...

"Oh! Daddy! This is Rosie! She's a new tourist here! Just arrived yesterday with her boyfriend and brother! He hasn't commissioned a pendant for her, though..." Chlo added (completely oblivious to his expression) that last part like she was trying to figure out why that was.

Chlo takes this opportunity to hand you a plain white handkerchief to wipe off all the berry juice on you and you quickly take it to clean up your face and hands.

Oooooh gosh. Your stomach is lurching from the stress and copious amounts of berries and bread... You're gonna be sick.

Oh dear Celosia, one look back at Damorris and you feel worse.

"...Y-you... You brought your brother with you on a vacation with your lover...?" The Chief asks you quizzically.

"HA! That's what Jamie said, too! ...Then Archer called Rosie kinky..." Chlo extrapolated, innocently and cluelessly as Elias would.

"Er, uh, yes, yes, that's all well and good, but, pardon me if I'm mistaken, miss, but, have I seen you somewhere befo--"

"O-O-O-OH GOSH, Y-Y-Y-Y-YOU KNOW WHAT, I REALLY G-G-GOTTA GO. L-L-L-LOVER AWAITS ME A-A-AND ALL!! I'LLSEEYOULATERCHLOTHAKYOUSOMUCHFORTHEMEALBOTHOFYOUBYE!!!" You practically blurt that last bit in record timing while scooping up the sleeping Carbuncle and bolting out of there to get the heck outta dodge!!

"Huh... Maybe Archer was right and she really IS kinky...?" You hear Chlo ask more to herself than the two fathers beside her.

"Wh-wha--?! Pl-please don't talk about her like that..." You then hear the Chief bashfully request after hearing that.

"What an odd little girl... I swear to you I've seen her somewhere before...!"


Dashing out of the Starving Miners pub and straight to the Phoenix Fire Smithy, gathering you'd better confirm ruling Scias out before rendezvousing with Xander and Elias (and honestly you like delaying seeing Elias again for as long as possible)... and maybe figuring out what it was that dummy ordered!!

Running the entire way from the pub to the smithy, you jolt open the door and close it behind you after entering the Smithy completely out of breath.

"HEY WHAT THE HEE-- OH IT'S JUST YOU. HI," You hear Scias yell as you take a moment to catch your breath.

"Y-YES HELLO!" You can't help but shout back, hearing him loud making you loud as well.

"WELCOME TO THE PHOENIX FIRE SMITHY! HOW CAN I HELP YOU?!" Scias welcomes you loudly as he smites some red hot metal with an echoing *clang*.

You're impressed, there are a lot of things Scias has no doubt made here! Weapons (some halberds even more handsome than Rondo!), jewelry that isn't engagement pendants, armor, cutlery, nails, wood beam clamps... WOW!!! He's made everything!!

Truly outstanding!

Sadly, this just makes it all the more difficult to figure out what Elias had made...

"O-oh! Uh-uhm!" You blurt out, finally breaking the habit of shouting around Scias, "Hello! I-I just... uhm..."

Well you can't really tell him you're here to confirm he's NOT Celosia's fire-bearer, so...

"A-ah, well, I-I was just... uhm... S-seeing if you could tell me wh-what m-m-my boyfriend ordered last night! I-I'm so impressed you do this all on your own! H-how was patrol last night?" You hesitate to lie and feel weird calling Elias your boyfriend, especially after last night...

Oh dear...

Scias stopped striking the metal and is now narrowing his eyes at you... Suspiciously...

Oh no...

"IT WAS COLD! LIKE IT ALWAYS IS! AND HE SAID I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO TELL YOU. IT'S A SURPRISE," Scias, clearly irritated, shouts while simultaneously explaining why he can't tell you, then he adds, "AND I HAVE A STUPID APPRENTICE!"

Darn... so that really WAS him last night...

Wait, E... Elias ordered something for you...? A surprise for you....?

What...

Also, who is this apprentice?!

"...SO WHO ARE YOU GUYS?! REALLY?!" Scias asks accusingly.

"Wh-what?!" You ask, taken off guard by the question.

"WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE!? MOST TOURISTS ORDER PENDANTS, BUT NOT YOU GUYS. WHY?!" He repeats his question, more annoyed, angered, and accusatory.

"I-I!" You aren't really sure how to begin, but, "...I'm so sorry... I promise I'll tell you soon, but I can't say for sure right this second.... B-but very, very soon! I promise!"

Scias frowns (well, more like less intensely glares) at you, but his other response is to grunt and get right back to smithing. You smile with relief and can't help but go near the anvil where Scias is smiting the metal. You're not too close as you're scared some stray sparks might hit you, but close enough to get a better look at what he's doing.

He appears to be making a weapon...


Hm... The sounds as he strikes the hot metal are ear-tingly and echoing through the whole Smithy... But... You can't help but narrow your eyes as you try to focus your hearing...

The loud *clang* of the metal strikes... almost perfectly covers up... a soft *cling*...

It must be Scias' coin purse... Tucked into his coat?

Sure enough, Scias stops a moment and shifts... something... around in his chest under his coat... Odd, if it was coins in a coin purse, wouldn't the clinging be more muffled than it already is under his coat...?

Huh...


"WHAT?!" Scias finally acknowledges you and snaps you b-back into reality.

"O-oh, s-s-sorry! J-just! Uh-uhm..." You hesitate.

It's now or never.

"I-I was just wondering... Y-you're so good at thi-this... I-I was wondering wh-why you haven't made a pendant for Chlo...?"

Scias instinctively looks over at is torso and blushes... Is he hiding something in his coat? It couldn't be... It couldn't possibly be...

C-could it...??



He then glares at you and answers exactly how you suspect he would have, "WH-WHAT'S IT TO YOU IF I-I'VE M-M-MADE A PENDANT OR NOT!?"

"...B-because Chlo really wants to marry you, doesn't she?" You ask, but with genuine curiosity.

Scias looks at you angrily (again), but you definitely don't miss a blush beneath that scowl... Maybe Cora was somewhat right about him after all!

"...I don't know why the accident kept you from asking..." You sympathetically murmur.

"BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T WANNA BE MARRIED TO A FREAK, OKAY?!" Scias surprisingly (and very loudly) snaps back, stunning you with the fact the animosity is more towards HIM than YOU!

"Wh-what!?" You gasp, not really being able to react differently.

"...I WAS NEVER AS GOOD LOOKING AS THAT DUMBA@# WHITEY, OR AS FANCY AS HARV, OR AS RUGGED AS GALESON! WORSE NOW THAT I BECAME A ONE-EYED FREAK AFTER THE ACCIDENT!!! NOW I'M NOTHING! NOT EVEN A DECENT LOOKING FACE!" Scias vents, and it is EXACTLY like how a cork practically explodes itself from a champagne bottle or something with how much he was bottling all of this up...

Poor Scias... He must have pushed this deep, deep down to protect Chlo from his wrath... He.. He may have even needed this from a stranger he didn't care would see him mad... like YOU...

"That's not true at all," You hear yourself say while hoping he doesn't notice you're trembling a little, "You're an amazing blacksmith, and Chlo loves you with all her heart... That's why she wears that ascot that's the color of your hair while you wear a scarf the color of hers every day, right?"

You giggle as Scias flinches and lowers his head, shockingly, softening his scowl slightly.

"I think it's super cute... And I also think... You're not a freak, Scias... You're a super hard-working guy and a very talented blacksmith...! Chlo is just as lucky to have you as you are to have her..." You tell Scias the honest truth... and honestly something he probably really needed to hear.

"...N... NO ONES EVER CALLED CHLO THE LUCKY ONE BEFORE!" He yelps back loudly, though you swear this time his shouting was due to legitimately being taken off guard and not actually intending on shouting like his regular speech.​

"Heh, Love is a blessing. You're both very lucky to have each other. Please don't forget that. A-and please don't ever doubt that Chlo loves you with all her heart... Because she does! You love her, too, right? M-maybe i-it's time to--"

Before you could say another word the door to the Smithy BURST open, letting in some stray snow, and there isn't much surprise on your face as you turn to see Elias and Xander gunning through!

"R-ro! Ro!" Xander shouts, too relieved you're unharmed to scold you no doubt, "Oh thank Celosia you're alright!"​

"W-we were so worried about you!" Elias chimed in, then realized exactly where you were and who you were talking to, and loudly gasps and has a deer-in-the-headlights look on his face.

"I DIDN'T #$%ING TELL 'ER, OKAY?!" Scias scowls and shouts angrily at Elias' wordless accusation.

"A-ah, G-got it..." Elias almost forgetting Scias' nature, tries to quell the red-haired mans wrath.

"Come with us, Ro," Xander insists as he and Elias practically drag you out of the Smithy before you even got a chance to say good-bye to Scias.



"Look, I'm really sorry a-about last night! I-I don't exactly remember what I did, But I'm really super sorry! H-honest! I-I won't ever do anything to hurt or upset you ever again! I promise!" Elias back pedals like crazy as soon as you're out of the Smithy and the door is closed behind you.

"...It's... I..." You begin, turning away while blushing as last nights kiss runs fresh through your head and your heart sinks at how obvious Elias is making a promise he can't keep.

"I can beat him up more again later, but since you've been around to ask the villagers... What's the verdict..?" Xander asks while confirming your suspicion he got violent with your wind-bearer after you stormed off.

"...I-I," You start getting your bearing in order, assuredly NOT mentally prepared to see Elias again, but doing your best to continue anyway, "I-I think I have another lead---"

it might be he who is the crest bearer. We ruled Scias out last night, and there are some things that kind of fall into place if we assume the chief is the fire bearer. I'm speculating for a good part, but maybe it's at least a starting point.

First of all, I'm still a bit hung up over the logs. Ivana seemed to hint at him "wasting" the logs with his inventions/furniture building or whatever, saying they never get to see what he does with them. Would it be far-fetched to say it has something to do with Kai hiding the fact that they need far less logs to keep fires running than would be natural? (I actually also wonder if Archer knows anything about the logs, since she's responsible for duplicating them. It would be hard to ask her directly, though, I guess.)

Then there's him changing the topic when Celosia's blessings and magical fires were mentioned in one go. He knows something about this, at the very least.

Next, the chief apparently has very dark bags under his eyes. Maybe because he's up at night lighting fireplaces?

And lastly, there's what he said about how he lost his wife. "The cold was too great for either of them to bear" - but from the way he tells the story, this might not/would not have been the case if he had been there. Also, fire powers might why he was called to the other village in the first place.

"--But like I suspected, until I reveal myself to the village, we won't find anything concrete without me doing that OR some SERIOUS breach of privacy and investigation, preferably through proper channels..."

"Ugh, even if I was ok with breaching privacy, we simply don't have the time to investigate, let alone through proper channels. By the time I send a letter back to the palace and they get guards up here so many days will have passed we might as well have just waited here until they send the compass in a package!" Xander grunts displeasedly while Elias hangs his head meekly and silently.

"The villagers all seemingly believe Celosia's love is what causes the fires o-or something, but not a crest-bearer..." You nod sadly back while agreeing with Xander, "I may have no choice b-but to reveal myself here and now to smoke them out..."

"Do you think it will be dangerous to do that?" Elias asks, but not in a cowardly way, more like he was ready for whatever may come after the revelation.

"I-I think granted what they believe i-it may come as a shock... but I don't think they'll rule it out or get angry at the concept being brought up... And probably as soon as Elias shows HIS power that may be all the proof they need..." You mumble meekly while nodding.

"...Alright, it's yours and Elias' call since it's your guys titles... IF you're ready and you really, truly think there's no other way... Do it. The sooner we find them the sooner we can move on from here to find the NEXT crest-bearer," Xander exasperatedly sighs and nods.

"E-elias...?" You turn to the golden-haired boy (that you don't want to have feelings for) sheepishly, as this is also revealing HIMSELF as well...

"I-if you think that it's alright and we'll find the fire-bearer faster this way, then lets do it. Lets tell the whole village. I trust you completely," Elias nods, agreeing with your plan.

"O-okay, then... I-it's settled..." You gulp, getting nervous about this but really seeing no other faster way to do this, "Th-the Chief should still be at the Pub, I-I think... H-he c-c-can and should be able to help gather everyone..."



Oh boy.... This is it... A completely neutral village to crest-bearers about to find out they've had one for a bit while meeting another... A crest-bearer twofer... While simultaneously meeting a legendary hierophant in the flesh AND the twin of their very own Isle's Empress...! H-here you guys go...



"Y-you don't want to come with us?" Elias asks as the two men step towards the pub but stop upon realizing you aren't following them.

"I-I... I-I mean... I-It won't take long to gather everyone, g-given how small the village is, s-so... I-Id rather just stay here a-a-and g-gather up m-m-my words and c-c-courage f-f-for this wh-while you guys do so, i-if that's alright..." You bashfully request to stay behind a tad with legitimate reasons as to why... Just not verbally stating all of them...

Mostly leaving out the "I'm not emotionally ready to be with you yet, Elias" part of your reasons.

Unfortunately, Elias seems to be able to sense this unsaid reason (that or he really will just miss you that much even only being parted again a few minutes? Seems impossible, though...) and glues his eyes to the ground while seemingly agreeing to leave you be again.

Elias and Xander walk towards the pub as Xander not-so-subtly smacks him upside his head and you absolutely muffle your giggles after seeing that.


You sigh and crouch down while drawing a heart in the snow. Your heart is beating like a hummingbirds, or so it feels like, and you can't help but fight this over-whelming feeling of anxiety at the thought of revealing yourself. You wish there was another way, but really, there isn't... Not fast enough, anyway...

Something is yanking at your heartstrings that you have no time to waste. Even a few more days delay could be awful if they're the difference between finding a living crest-bearer... and a dead one...

Ugh, the last thing you wanna think about is a dead crest-bearer....

You will not be at peace until you have all seven of them safely before you....


Not to mention you're frightened of what will happen if someone recognizes you as the Empress before you say anything... The first person who thought you were Hellie tried to kill you, after all... You try to shake it off and collect your words for when the village is gathered when---


"Well helloooooooo there, cutie," You hear an all too familiar voice from behind you, "I was gonna look for you in-between jobs, but it looks like YOU came to ME... heh heh... So, you finally ditch golden boy and come around~?"

You quickly sprout up and turn around to see Whitey! Why is he--

Oh Celosia this lusty scoundrel is the Blacksmith's apprentice. Because of course he is.


Oooooh boy, why do you suddenly feel like Little Red Riding Hood about to be eaten by the big, bad Wolf?!

You might not be able to out run Whitey and catch up to Xander and Elias, but you also may not have to as you're only a few steps from the door to the Smithy... Scias can help you!!!

As scary as Whitey is... Maybe talking to him and trying to reason with him might not end badly? H-he's a total creep and scoundrel, but you don't think he'd force himself on you... Plus, he also has a sad story, too... If Jamie and his cousin, Amorette, loved him so dearly surely there must be a reason and good person beneath this facade, right?

R-right???

>>TRY TO CATCH UP WITH ELIAS AND XANDER, RUN BACK INTO THE SMITHY, OR TALK TO WHITEY ABOUT AMORETTE??<<​

code by @Satanic Nightjar​

 

[Caligena]

AFLDSKJAHLIUHV;KF

Okay. OKAY. Soooo.... he might just be casually trying to talk??? Buuuutttt on the off chance he isn't, perhaps we should at least back up towards the door, JUUUUST in case he tries to pull anything funny. But I think we should at least hear him out?? as... slimy as that could turn out. Let's hope Scias isn't deaf enough to not hear you if you scream for help... *shudder*
If that fails, perhaps we could call Rondo and have it do some like magical "warp to our hand" thingie and keep him at blade's length if he attempts anything.

 

[Felis]

I still think this might just be Whitey's (not-so-normal) normal way of interacting. Backing away towards the smithy is probably good just to be safe (or if we just can't take anymore of his banter), but let's try talking to him for now!

 

[animegirl7676]

Head to the Smithy where Scias is.

 

[Idea]

>>TRY TO CATCH UP WITH ELIAS AND XANDER

This guy is giving us the creeps, and he's known to be someone willing to do things like gamble relationships if I recall. Seems less than trustworthy. Let's try to get to people we know will defend us in case anything happens.

 

[Minako]

Rosalina Chandra

Caligena Felis A animegirl7676 Idea ​

AFLDSKJAHLIUHV;KF

Okay. OKAY. Soooo.... he might just be casually trying to talk??? Buuuutttt on the off chance he isn't, perhaps we should at least back up towards the door, JUUUUST in case he tries to pull anything funny. But I think we should at least hear him out?? as... slimy as that could turn out. Let's hope Scias isn't deaf enough to not hear you if you scream for help... *shudder*
If that fails, perhaps we could call Rondo and have it do some like magical "warp to our hand" thingie and keep him at blade's length if he attempts anything.

I still think this might just be Whitey's (not-so-normal) normal way of interacting. Backing away towards the smithy is probably good just to be safe (or if we just can't take anymore of his banter), but let's try talking to him for now!

Head to the Smithy where Scias is.

>>TRY TO CATCH UP WITH ELIAS AND XANDER

This guy is giving us the creeps, and he's known to be someone willing to do things like gamble relationships if I recall. Seems less than trustworthy. Let's try to get to people we know will defend us in case anything happens.

2 to 1 to 1 talking it out with Whitey!

"Wh-whitey!!" You hear yourself shout, shocked and just now getting your thoughts straightened out.​

You're not going to lie to yourself, you're a bit scared of him, and it's possibly perplexingly enough BECAUSE he's so "thirsty" for you, yet attractive enough to be a well-loved and popular jock back in your world, and the only thing a jock would want to do to you is laugh in your face for even daring to ask him for the time of day...

You desperately try to look in the direction of the Pub, but Elias and Xander are too far enough away to give chase, and something tells you it might be smarter to deal with this like you would a true predator of nature: Don't show them your back and run off... Once they see you run off it's over.

Whitey smirks are how doe-eyed and dumbfounded you are, possibly giving off the vibe he can smell your fear or something.

You carefully and slowly back towards the door to the smithy, making sure NOT to keep your eyes off the silver-haired hunk and feel a little at ease as you feel the door behind you.

You don't forget about Rondo's existence, however, and the fact all you have to do is say "Rondo, to me!" to not be weaponless a second later comforts you.

Jamie flashes in your mind, and all of your interaction last night... You do feel for Whitey losing his loving cousin so young, but its no excuse to act this lecherous, either...

Three reasons come to mind why this decision to chat with Whitey might not end in regret: You want to talk to him about Amorette, you want to know exactly what draws him to you... And you want to try to help him and Jamie get together.

Jamie is your (new) friend, and she loves Whitey (inexplicably)... If you tried to help Scias and Chloe why not help them? Whitey (kinda) deserves someone who loves him and who he doesn't have to pine over while they're with their own significant other like literally every other girl who lives and even just visits here...

Maybe... Maybe Amorette looking down beside Celosia would finally rest in peace knowing her beloved little cousin finally found the love she always wished he would...

...

....


.......


That was a very odd, random thought that almost seemed implanted somehow....

....


...

"J-Jamie told me about Amorette..." You mutter, looking Whitey dead in the eyes, "...I-I'm... I'm so sorry..."

Ah! A breakthrough! As soon as you say "Am" of "Amorette" Whitey looks like you basically just summoned Rondo and held him close to his neck that very moment!

Yes, yes!

"Sh-she... Sh-she did...?" Whitey, still kinda shocked, just gapes at you.

"Yes... I'm really sorry Amorette died so young..." You begin, tackling this as gently and sensitively as possible, "...She wanted to tell me about you and your cousin b-because... Because I think she sees the person Amorette loved so much deep down inside you... I think she's seen him since you and her first met..."

Now Whitey is the doe-eyed one... And almost misty-eyed as well.

"I..." Is the only thing that manages to escape his lips.

His facade is fading fast! No time to slow down, keep going!

"I've only ever really lost my grandfather and some kitties, and while those are sad, too, I know it doesn't really compare to the tragedy of losing a cousin so early into their life... So robbed of the future and what they potentially could have been... It was sad to see my Grandfather go, but he lived a full and fulfilling life before he went, leaving behind a lot of family that loved him and other things passed on," You hear yourself say, feeling light-headed and like your words are beyond you, "B-but... When I was a kid... M-my mom told me something t-to help me... I-I know it was just to comfort me when my kitty died, but..."

You walk closer to Whitey, smiling gently, and place a hand on his shoulder, unafraid.

"...Wh... What did she say?" Whitey asks, like a child asking if you saw where their mother went.

"She said, sometimes... Sometimes G... Er, C-celosia needs her creations back... Sometimes she, knowing better than us, takes them back sooner than she planned... Because they might suffer or hurt more if they stayed..." You again hear yourself say.

"R-really...? B-but... Wh-why...?" Whitey asks again, a little less childlike, as he seems to be thinking about something, but curious nonetheless.

"I-I don't know myself, but..."

"I-if you were picking flowers from your garden, you'd surely want to pick the best and prettiest ones, right? M-maybe thats why...?"

"Heh... I-I know it's... It's just something silly to tell to a child to comfort them when their p-pet died, a-and like I said, i-it doesn't compare... B-but... I-it's a nice thought to h-have every once in a while when i-it's hard to cope with the loss... Y-your lost loved one happily in the sky with your creator, waiting patiently for you when its your turn... Waiting for you to be your best and prettiest when they finally see you again..." You bashfully stutter, how odd you sound finally dawning on you.​

"N-no... No... I... I like it..." Whitey genuinely chuckles, shaking his head slightly, then stopping to smile at you, "I like you. I was right about you."

"Huh..??" You ask, confused and unsure if you heard right.

"When I first saw you, kinda scared and sheepish as you looked around the tavern, I was reminded of Amorette when she was little. She was the most loving person on Cion Isle when you got to know her, but you had to get past a huge layer of shyness first!"

"Haha! No way, really?!" You chortle, hardly believing what you're hearing.

"I... I kinda... This is gonna be weird to say, but... I kinda don't feel sad looking you... At least, what I imagine you look like without that stuff on your face... For the longest time, I felt sad because I... I had forgotten what Amorette looked like... But when I saw you talking and smiling and laughing with Jamie and the others... It... I dunno... It felt like Amorette had come back... Her and Cora... You're like this combination of the two women in my life I lost I've longed to get back! Platonically and Non-platonically!"​

"Heh... I-I don't know how that's physically possible, a-a-as I'm nothing like them, b-b-but..." You murmur sheepishly, blushing happily at Whitey for a change, and deciding now was finally the time to implement the third reason for this decision and interaction, "I know someone who loves you, who you can and should love, non-platonically, who is just as good as Cora...!"

"...Y-you mean Jamie...?" Whitey reaffirms, surprisingly not being dumb about your implication at all!

Though whether or not that's a good thing...​

"Yes, of course...! I-is there something wrong with her?" You ask, tilting your head in confusion.

"N-no! No! Jamie is cute and great and if I met her BEFORE CORA... I-I... Y-you know..." Whitey, now uncharacteristically unsure of his wants and desires, states, trailing off at the very end.

"Whitey..." You begin, sighing, "Look... Cora is married... A-and she has a son! She doesn't even live close by anymore... That ship sailed. That ship sailed long ago... And it's okay! Now you know what didn't work. Now you know that kinda stuff won't attract someone worthy of your love. Don't hide from it. LEARN from it. Use the loss that taught you to be better for your real special someone... The person who's loved you from the start!"

Whitey looks at you like he's seeing a ghost or something. Heh, for some strange reason you almost called him cousin?

"I..." He mumbles.

"Cora was there for you. She helped you cope with losing Amorette. I know you'll always have a special place in your heart for her, and you should! Any friend like that deserves to be cherished a lifetime...!" You cheer, not losing momentum and continuing right on, "But she's not your special someone. Jamie loves you, Whitey. Don't you think it's time to try to feel the LOVE that your cousin wished for you... A-and not lust...? Isn't it time to love soundly without losing deeply?"

Whitey is still staring at you in disbelief, but...

He seems... different.​

"Heh... I-I mean... It might take a while... I could still fail like I did with Cora... She might be freaked out I suddenly start going for the one girl I couldn't bring myself to go after..." Whitey uncomfortably shifts, half-joking and half not.

"Worth a shot, right? I've heard it said it is better to have love and lost than to have never loved at all, r-right?" You ask encouragingly, stealing from a famous poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson.

"...You know what, what the heck, screw it! I've failed with every other woman I've tried to court! Including you! Might as well try it with someone I've been told is actually apparently interested in me and single!" Whitey chuckles almost as merrily as the Chief.

You feel warm inside all of a sudden.

How odd. Just a moment ago your cheeks were so cold you almost feared them frostbitten but now the entire inside of your body feels... Warm.

Strange...

"ROSIE! ROSIE!" And speaking of loving soundly and losing deeply...

You dart to your left and, sure enough, Elias and Xander are making a mad dash towards you, and it looks like some people are already behind them!

"Elias!" You gasp, covering your mouth far too quickly and harshly for it NOT to hurt when your hands and mouth made contact, a sort of way to punish yourself AND snap yourself into reality to resist the MIGHTY URGE you have to run into his arms as he quickly approaches (and you both kinda knew he'd already be at your side this second if he could openly use his powers, which he can't JUST yet...)

Even for not using his power, his speed is impressive! He ran practically as fast as an Olympian to be the first to your side and, as you suspected he might, placed himself squarely between you and your new friend Whitey.

"You better not have touched a hair on her head!" Elias confidently threatens while clearly assuming the worst in the silver-haired man (not that you really blame him).

"You can relax, Golden boy..." Whitey softly pats your head and then chuckles, not offended but still a little annoyed, "It'd be... Sacrilegious of me to make moves on her."

"...H-huh?" Elias, now with his guard down and thoroughly confused, blurts.

Whitey then makes his way back in the direction Elias was coming from to meet the now approaching Xander, Chlo, Archer, Galeson, and... Jamie!?

Oh! Oh he's making his way to Jamie!

"...Right, Jamie?" He asks while winking at her.

"Wh-what's all this, then?!" Jamie sorta gasps, clearly wondering what on Cion Isle is going on.

"Uhm... Not that this--" Chlo then gestures to Whitey and Jamie -- "Hasn't been a long time coming, but why did your brother and boyfriend suddenly storm into the pub and ask the Chief to help them gather everyone out here, again? What's wrong? Is everything ok?"

Just in your field of vision you see more people are coming...

The Chief is arriving and he has Harv, Ivana, Dulcie, A middle-aged couple that looks like they could be Harv and Dulcie's parents, an old man (or well -- rather-- they look old with their hair as pure white as freshly fallen snow, though their face actually is not more wrinkly than Kai's), and several more people that look like the parents of some present right now (like Jamie and Archer), and Damorris accompanying him.

You're getting nervous... You're super nervous and scared now....

This is happening.


This is really happening.


You can feel your breathing quickening, and you're ten seconds from hyperventilating and having a full blown panic attack!

As you're about to start your epic freak out you nearly jump out of your skin when you feel your hand being taken by another.

You gasp and turn to see Elias smiling at you.


"It'll be ok. Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you," Elias reassures you and you almost forget his painful, painful stunt last night.

"R-right... O-ok..." You nod, turning your attention to the arriving people and squeezing Elias' hand for moral support.

He squeezes tenderly back.




"Sweetheart, what's--" The Chief, just arriving, begins to ask you something when suddenly he just cuts himself off for some reason??

"Hm? What's wrong?" You ask, trying to see what was the matter.

"N... Nothing, sweetheart... Nothing at all..." Chief Kai blatantly lies to you.

He's staring at you and Elias...

...Did his eye just twitch??


"Oh hey! Whatever this big announcement thing is, we better not exclude Scias! He should hear it too if the whole village is going to!" Chlo chirps while sneaking past you and Elias (smiling while looking at your guys hands and being sure not to disturb them) to enter the Smithy.

She comes out a few moments later with her arms wrapped around Scias's left arm while he both is blushing and looking disgruntled simultaneously.


"Okay, now you can go ahead, sugarplam," Chlo giggles while dragging Scias with her back to the crowd.

The pure-white haired old man and Damorris are whispering something to each other... and then looking at you... The white-haired man gasps quietly (not so quietly you can't hear him but quietly for being outside and in a crowd) and more murmurs and whispers begin.

"GRAMPS!" You suddenly hear Jamie scold the old man, revealing her relationship with him automatically, "How rude! Stop whispering about her behind her back! Isn't that against your whole KINDNESS MANTRA!? This isn't very kind!!"

O-oh! S-so they were...

"N-not at all, dear, i-it's just Damorris was just telling me he's swore he's seen this girl before, but for the life of us, doesn't know from where! I couldn't tell because of that thing on her face but I swear I feel I've seen her, too..." Jamie's grandfather responds kindly, her harsh tone not bothering him at all, and he even shoots you an apologetic look.

Awww... He's so sweet and kind!

"You know, Daddy, you've been saying that since you've met Rosie, but I just don't know where you'd have seen her from? This is her first time to this village? A-and you haven't left the village in a while... She was probably a baby or something last you left!" Chlo points out, also confused and displeased by all this.

"Hmm... You know... Now that they mention it..." Ivana, at first looking at everyone else, and now looking at YOU, fully gives you (or rather, your face) her attention and narrows her eyes, examining every inch of your face.

"What's all this now?" Harv asks, confused as all heck while Dulcie looks between yours and Elias' hands and focus' on that instead of your face.

"E-e-everyone, please! Let the dear girl speak! This is very important!" The Chief, taking the reigns behind this situation, soothes his villages chatter so that they all might hear your announcement.

It's now or never.

You look at Elias and he smiles at you while nodding determinedly.

You exhale deeply and nod back after a moment.


"You haven't seen ME, exactly... But it's no shock that you might have seen my almost twin... Maybe not in person, but in portraits or some such... They're kind of a big deal--" You begin to explain.

Then you take off your hood and glasses, then part your bangs somewhat from your forehead.

"--Given that they're the Empress and all."​

The whole crowd gasps and Damorris totally has a "I knew it!" face while Kai's mouth practically hits the ground.

"Wh-wha--B-but-- HOW?! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!?" Jamie gasps.

"DUDE I JUST HAD A HEART TO HEART WITH THE EMPRESS!" Whitey brags.

"SHE'S NOT THE EMPRESS, SHE JUST LOOKS LIKE HER!?" Harv retorts without really thinking.

"ARE YOU KIDDING, THAT'S TOTALLY THE EMPRESS!! OH MAJESTY FORGIVE OUR RUDENESS!!! WE SHOULD ALL BE BOWING DOWN!" Ivana freaks the heck out while shouting.


"N-no! N-no! I just happen to look like her...!" You begin to explain further, "I... I am the Hierophant of Skies! I come from another world! These things on my face are glasses! They're from my world and they help those with vision problems see better!"

"Th-the hierophant?!" The Chief gasps, most wide-eyed of them all as the crowd follows in his awe.

"Y-yes... I-I know you all know the legend of a girl from another world coming here and gathering Celosia's seven crest-bearers as their Hierophant... I-I am that Hierophant! Listen to me, if the legend is right about this girl from another world, it's right about this Isle being in trouble and needing saving as well! That's why I'm here!! Those fires ARE a blessing from Celosia... But not in an empty chimney spontaneously combusting... In the form of a crest-bearer! The bearer of fire! They're here! Hidden within this village! They use their power from underground as the fires come from below! They've stayed hidden because they want to help you! I don't blame them, but I'm begging you all... You all need to help me FIND THEM! If I don't find them soon, Cion Isle might not survive...! The famines and disease are only going to get worse! If they don't come with us and help me find the rest of the crest bearers everyone might die! Please!" You beg and plead to the people.

The crowd now looks panicked and scared... Your stomach lurches as this isn't a good sign... The Chief is hanging his head...

"I-I've already found one..." You add, jolting the Chief's head back up.

"E-elias and I a-a-are NOT a couple--"

"But Hierophant and Crest-bearer... He bears the Celosian crest of WINDS."

The crowd gasps again and murmurs and whispers come about once more.​

"I-I'm sorry... I-I'm so sorry we lied... I-I thought since the fire-bearer was hidden it would be best for us to lay low as well to find them... But we can't find them fast enough... Please... Please help us find the fire bearer! Your village and all of Cion Isle depend on it...!" You beg and plead while hanging your head and trying not to cry, scared out of your mind how this village might react.

"...Alright," Came a voice.

You look up to see Jamie... She's right before you... The beautiful blonde smiles and holds your chin up with her folded hand.

"Celosia sent you to us to save this Isle, didn't she...? We'd be a disgrace and unworthy to call ourselves her believers if we didn't help you and return her love," Jamie explained.

"...Yeah. Yeah, Jamie's right! It was silly of us to believe that fires randomly started, I see that now... It was her loving and amazing crest bearer! They're the ones who did this! We can't be selfish and keep them here for our sake, they're needed with the Hierophant!" Chlo agrees.

The Chief is looking super uncomfortable.

"Highness, I do agree with this, and I have every intention of helping you, but," Damorris approaches you with the white-haired man, then adding, "But if the fire-bearer has been keeping us warm all this time then what will become of US when we find them and they leave with you?"

You were anticipating this.

"E-er, I'm not the Empress, pl-please just call me Ro or Rosie... Ahaha... O-oh! A-actually, thanks for reminding me!" You say cheerily, "There's something called coal in my world, it's found deep in mines and I think they might be in this world, too! They help keep fires burning without a lot of wood!"

"Incredible!" Harv gaped.

"A-and if you don't...?" The Chief asks.

"We won't know until we try...!" You reply, getting a hunch your feeling about the Chief may be right...

"Alright guys! This village isn't that big, but the sooner we finish searching it the sooner we can get through the mines! There's a lot of ground to cover, and not a lot of time, so let's get going! Everyone form small teams and lets scour Tarrin's mines to find this hidden villager within the mines!" You hear Galeson address the rest of the villagers, encouraging them to work hard.

"E-eh!? Wh-wha-- Wai--"

"E-er, uh, Galeson is right!" Chief Kai interrupts and stops your train of thought, continuing, "W-we already know amongst o-ourselves we aren't the fire-bearer! I-it's someone hidden within our mines, of course! Hence, why we look within the mines!"

So... He's... NOT... the firebearer...?

Huh, he seems all too relieved and happy to get the villagers looking in the mines...



As the village starts to form teams, you're a bit too pleased that there seem to be an even number of people to make teams of two (mostly couples, naturally, and you're excited to see Whitey asking Jamie to pair up with him!), and you blush as Elias smiles at you shyly and is about to open his mouth (about to ask you to team up with him...?) when the Chief practically makes a mad dash for you.

"E-er, sweetheart! Sweetheart! W-would you like to make a team with me!?" The Chief asks, near out of breath.

"O-oh... uhm...!" You reply, shocked and caught off guard, looking at Elias (h-he looks a little heartbroken...) and hesitating.

You never thought today you'd have to choose between your father and your crush!

...Your crush who, quite passionately, kissed you while dreaming of your twin last night...

...Right after his mother came to you in a dream and got your hopes up...

...

"Sure, Chief! I'd love to go with you!" You tell Chief Kai after reminiscing on that "wonderful" memory (which actually would have been had he been conscious and thinking of YOU).

"Oh..." Elias murmurs disappointedly, gluing his eyes to the ground like a sad puppy-dog and you have to look away before it breaks your heart even more.

"Wonderful!" The Chief's face lights up as you accept his offer.

Xander pairs up with Elias instead, and they both agree to take Carbuncle to the warmer stables (you suspect the cold is why they're essentially hibernating right now) than into the deep, damp mines.

"B-bye..." Elias, carrying Carbuncle, waves off to you sadly as you wave back while not making eye contact.



As you're about to join everyone spreading out throughout the village and some heading towards the mines, the Chief smiles at you and and is leading you... to the Inn??

"Hm? Why the Inn?" You ask.

"Well one reason is I'm going to get supplies from my room to help the search, and the other... Er, You'll see, Sweetheart, it's a surprise!" Kai chuckles and pats your head again... gently taking your hand into his gloved hand and squeezing tenderly..

You feel like you're four years old again going on a walk in the park with your father.

"Ok!" You chirp, practically skipping beside him in delight.




Oh! It looks like the Chief is taking you to his room!

Wow! You're finally invited! Heh heh! You wonder what inventions await you inside!



"So... You are the Hierophant of Skies?" The Cheif asks you rather randomly, seemingly making small talk?

"I-I guess so... I-I'm sorry, I know I'm not much... A-at least I look like your Empress, r-r-right?" You meekly say, feeling odd that your papa is talking to you about your title.

"N-no, no, not at all... I-it's not that, just..." The Chief begins to almost murmur uncomfortably as he leads you to his room, "I just wish..."

"Hm?" You question, wondering why he's trailing off.

Odd, kind of like getting to the "spas", the passage to his room is also down hill, though it's nowhere near as long as the former. You both finally enter the room and you find... There is nothing really extraordinary about it... It's a bit bigger than the room you were staying at but really the only addition is the different covered blankets and a bookshelf... Everything else is about the same as a regular room here?

You don't know why you expected something else? Hmmmm, shouldn't something be missing here? Why do you feel like something should be missing?




"Do you... Do you think the village will be ok without them?" He asks, oddly making his way towards his bookshelf.

"Th-the fire-bearer? I-I think so, if the mines have what I think they do!" You chirp back, beaming at your papa, then adding, "Besides, at worst, they'd only be without them for a few weeks or months, and with Archers duplication magic to burn the logs that could still last a while!"

He moves the bookshelf aside with his awesome strength... to reveal a hidden door behind it! Oh wow! You gasp and smile at the Chief, and he winks at you while motioning you inside to follow him!

"Y-you mean to say the fire-bearer should come back after Celosia is summoned?" He asks to clarify.

"W-well yeah... I mean, why not?" You ask back in response.

"I don't think that's possible..." The Chief pipes up, adding, "One of my ancestors, from back in the time of the previous hierophant... Left behind a message to my family long ago and begged them to pass it on..."

As you both walk in, and begin stepping inside you instantly are hit with that ashy smell from before, like when you entered your room the first time... It overwhelms your nostrils and only gets worse the deeper you step inside...

The area is very dimly lit... But you can just barely make out... small passages of some kind?


It is pretty much pitch black up ahead... With only slight... glimmers of light.... coming from above...???


"Wh... What do you mean?" You ask... suddenly feeling showered by a feeling of dread.

"Once Celosia is summoned... The crests will return to her... After Celosia is summoned all the bearers of her crests become ordinary people..." The Chief informs you... like he knows...

"Wha---"

In a damp corner that is conveniently to the side of the small channels, you can barely see a... rather well dug cornered section...

...With a rather well-built wooden shelter...

...Uhm...

"Why did it have to be you, of all people... You who I now also want to desperately save..." You hear The Chief mutter almost regrettably under his breath while you hear him, you think, slip his gloves off...?

"Pa--" You blurt out, turning around while hearing him snap his fingers and--

"My full name is Kaine. I am the fire-bearer of which you seek. I know what will happen if Celosia isn't summoned, and soon... But after my wife and child died I promised myself I wouldn't let anyone else in my village die again. I can't save everyone... But I can save the people here that mean the most to me with this shelter once Cion Isle sinks and returns back to the Land Kingdom... And that can include you now as well, as there is plenty of room here..."

"...You're not going anywhere."

It's the Celosian crest of fire...​

It all makes sense: That is why he left long ago and only he could have saved his wife and child... Because he bears the Celosian crest of fire... This little underground channel is what he lights up every night to burn the fireplaces of Tarrin village... And he wasn't making inventions at all... but building a SHELTER! A shelter for the villagers of Tarrin to survive in once Cion Isles impending apocalypse arrives, an apocalypse which is apparently it falling back down to the land! How does he know this!?

Well, in either case, the good news is that you found your fire-bearer... and it looks like he really is like your dad... The bad news, however, is right now he's being the over-bearing and over-protective kind (not unlike a certain young mermaid princess's father that you know like to keep their daughters cooped up for their protection and safety)!

Your gut instinct was right about the Chief...

You frantically look around and wonder what you should do... There aren't a lot of possibilities but:

You could summon Rondo and fight him, You could run further into the darkness of these mini-mines to try to find coal, or you could try to reason with the Chief... He IS a good person, one of your favorites even still, so surely he wouldn't be ok with everyone else on Cion Isle dying, right?!

>>FIGHT
RUN
REASON<<​

code by @Satanic Nightjar​

 

[BestrJestr]

Fight/Reason. Challenge him to single combat, if he wins,we stay in the village under his protection, but if we win he comes with us to find the other crest bearers.

 

[Caligena]

I agree with Fight/Reason, but let's try reasoning first and only resort to defending ourselves if we absolutely have to. Kai is a sweetheart. He doesn't want to hurt us and if we can manage to appeal to his fatherly side that keep us trapped in here is arguably and justifiably more dangerous for everyone else on Cion, including all of the friends we've made along the way so far, then maybe he'll yield. If only we can find some other way to specifically protect the Tarriners more assuredly while still incentivizing him, I think that'd be our win condition.

 

[Felis]

Though at this point I'd really like to run, that's not a good idea since we have no idea of the outline of these mines and what awaits us there. We don't even have a light source, I think, so we'd just get lost in the dark.

Instead, let's try reasoning with Kai. There's a good chance he still considers Cora a part of Tarrin, but she's in the castle now, so who knows if she'd get to his shelter in time once disaster strikes. Maybe that's a point we could make also? If all else fails, we'll have to summon Rondo, but that's a last resort.

 

[Idea]

Oh my that talk about the dead pet. I lost my dog recently, so it stings, but in a good way. I'm getting the feels XD

Also, oh my so many pics this time!

>>Reason

I don't like to make up new options when that isn't explictly made an option, and of the ones here, it seems the most likely to convince.

 

[DreamBeat]

Try reasoning with him. He's trying to save everyone in his village. We can help him finish the shelter, maybe? But what about the people he can save? The families that he would be saving from his pain. I agree with everyone else. If reason doesn't work, maybe fighting him will help cool him down.

(Also, I just have to comment on the pictures this time. They're so cute and made me happy. Thanks )

 

[Minako]

Rosalina Chandra

BestrJestr Caligena Felis Idea DreamBeat ​

Spoiler: Votes!

Fight/Reason. Challenge him to single combat, if he wins,we stay in the village under his protection, but if we win he comes with us to find the other crest bearers.

I agree with Fight/Reason, but let's try reasoning first and only resort to defending ourselves if we absolutely have to. Kai is a sweetheart. He doesn't want to hurt us and if we can manage to appeal to his fatherly side that keep us trapped in here is arguably and justifiably more dangerous for everyone else on Cion, including all of the friends we've made along the way so far, then maybe he'll yield. If only we can find some other way to specifically protect the Tarriners more assuredly while still incentivizing him, I think that'd be our win condition.

Though at this point I'd really like to run, that's not a good idea since we have no idea of the outline of these mines and what awaits us there. We don't even have a light source, I think, so we'd just get lost in the dark.

Instead, let's try reasoning with Kai. There's a good chance he still considers Cora a part of Tarrin, but she's in the castle now, so who knows if she'd get to his shelter in time once disaster strikes. Maybe that's a point we could make also? If all else fails, we'll have to summon Rondo, but that's a last resort

Oh my that talk about the dead pet. I lost my dog recently, so it stings, but in a good way. I'm getting the feels XD

Also, oh my so many pics this time!

>>Reason

I don't like to make up new options when that isn't explictly made an option, and of the ones here, it seems the most likely to convince.

Try reasoning with him. He's trying to save everyone in his village. We can help him finish the shelter, maybe? But what about the people he can save? The families that he would be saving from his pain. I agree with everyone else. If reason doesn't work, maybe fighting him will help cool him down.

(Also, I just have to comment on the pictures this time. They're so cute and made me happy. Thanks )

Trying to reason and then fight almost unanimously!!

"Papa..." You mutter sadly.​

Fight/Reason. Challenge him to single combat, if he wins,we stay in the village under his protection, but if we win he comes with us to find the other crest bearers.

This may be your only option...

You take a deep breath, your mind sorta spinning at this being your new reality, and face your fire-bearer... with determination.​

"O-ok," You nod to yourself, "H-how about this: I-I'll fight you. Right here, and right now! If I win, you have to come with us after we find coal in the mines! I-if you win... Then I'll stay here with you in your shelter with the rest of the village...!"

Chief Kaine, so stunned by your proposal, drops his guard and gapes a moment. He almost didn't believe what he heard from the look on his face, but he shakes it off and gives you a stern look in return.

"Don't be silly, sweetheart. I could really hurt you with my fire no matter how I control the flames. Even without my flames, this physically still wouldn't remotely be a fair fight..." He responds.

You wince and glue your eyes to the ground, knowing he's right... but... You have to try... You have to do something!

Now that you think about it... This is all assuming you CAN summon Rondo... What if you're a bit too far?!

Though at this point I'd really like to run, that's not a good idea since we have no idea of the outline of these mines and what awaits us there. We don't even have a light source, I think, so we'd just get lost in the dark.

Instead, let's try reasoning with Kai. There's a good chance he still considers Cora a part of Tarrin, but she's in the castle now, so who knows if she'd get to his shelter in time once disaster strikes. Maybe that's a point we could make also? If all else fails, we'll have to summon Rondo, but that's a last resort

!!!!!!

That's right! Cora!

Would he really forsake Cora as well?!

"Papa, what about Cora?! What about her family?! Even if she could get here in time with her son, would her husband be able to?! Would you really want her baby to not know of their father!?" You grasp at straws trying to get anything to change the Chiefs mind!

"I... I can write and send them letters..." He responds, grasping at straws himself.

"Even if the letters were sent timely, they'd never get there in time... Cora's husband, to my understanding, is all the way in Levi plains... He, at least, would never make it here in time!" You beg and plead.

The Chief hangs his head regrettably. Is it working!?

"Please, Papa... I promise, We'll get some coal, and--"

"Sweetheart, It's just NOT that simple! Just because it's from mines in YOUR world doesn't mean it will be in OURS!" The Chief points this out.

...He has a point... It's possible you didn't think this world might not have coal...

"I can go look! This world is very similar to my world in the past! It's more like I time-traveled than went to a different world! The sky looks the same and everything!" You beg.

"Mmm... I don't know..." The Chief pauses briefly to consider this, but it's clear from the look in his face he's super skeptical and possibly thinks letting you look might be a massive waste of time.

"...Rondo! To me!" You hear yourself say.

The Chief immediately directs his attention to you as you stretch out your hand and the glowy, sparkly portal appears before you, Rondo practically jumping into your grip at your beckoning.

He gasps and gapes as you position yourself like you did when Xander first taught you a forward strike.

"Sweetheart..." He nearly cries, hoping the crest of fire was enough to intimidate you and a bit saddened when it didn't.

"I'm sorry, Papa... But Cion Isle needs us... I know I don't stand a chance against you... B-but... But I'm the Hierophant of Skies! Celosia chose me to gather all of you...! I do want to save Tarrin Village and the villagers, but I also want to save all of Cion! I know I can do both! Please!" You beg and plead.

The Chief looks like he only considers it for a moment before he sternly looks back at you, but before he has the chance to say anything else there is suddenly loud pounding! Why--

Wait, something just burst through the bookshelf... You can hear crashi--

You hear and feel WIND!

"Rosie!" A familiar voice echos through the chamber.

It's ELIAS! But how--!?

Wait... Of course! Him and Xander went to the stables! Where Rondo was!

Plus, didn't Elias tell you that Rondo shakes about when you're in danger? ...Well, truth be told, you weren't and still aren't in danger being with your Papa, but even if Rondo DIDN'T shake about you can guess that once they disappeared Elias would have noticed right away granted where he was! And with how fast Elias is and can be now that his powers have been outed--

Before you could get another thought out, your blond wind-bearer is before you, shielding you from Kaine.​

"Wha-- It was you!?" He gasps, clearly shocked, but you can't tell if he's also feeling betrayed by Papa or not.

Chief Kaine frowns, and while he had hesitance fighting YOU he surely now shows none with the new and very possible reality of fighting Elias.

"This doesn't concern you, boy," He irritably growls at Elias, not subtly at all telling Elias to "kindly" tiss off.

"This very much DOES concern me if you're taking Rosie! And you're a crest-bearer, like me!" He huffs back, just as agitated.

"Don't think just because Celosia blessed you with that wind crest you know what I've been through! You have NO IDEA! I'm doing this to save her AND my village!" Kaine barks angrily at him for interfering.

"Right back at you! And WE'RE trying to save Cion!" Elias growls right back at him.

Your heart sinks as the two begin blasting each other with their respective crests specialty: Wind and fire quickly begin surrounding the area between them in some hellish maelstrom, though Elias and Kaine are both sure not to go too far for fear of really harming you.

Elias is hitting Kaine with his wind magic and staff while Kaine is fighting bare-handed and with all the fire magic he's got! Wow, Kaine is powerful! Too powerful! Every strike Elias tries with his staff is shielded by Kaine's forearms and his wind magic is countered by the fire. They're both being sparse with their magic because they don't want a stray wind or fire to hurt you, but it's clear from the hostile looks on their faces that they're going as all out as they can with you still here!

You gape at the scene and hold Rondo, almost quivering but not quite, wondering what you should do.

The short spurts of fire don't give off much light, you still can't really see... and the lanterns Papa brought are behind him... Shoot!

You know you have to do something! Anything!

!!!?!?!

Whoa, Rondo is going crazy! And they're glowing?!

"Whoa!" You cry as Rondo glows vibrantly.

The glow is a dark shade of purple... It reminds you of a certain someones hair...​

Rondo is spazzing out and going bonkers, pointing to both Elias (or maybe Papa?) and... The wall...?

Huh...?


Oh! Wait, wait! You sense....

...Rondo is trying to tell you something...?

Your halberd is going between both the wall and the crest-bearers.... glowing flashily...

Rondo is trying to tell you something... You know it, but what?!

You look between the nearest wall and the fight and as Rondo shifts towards the wall, for a brief second looking like they're about to fire some sort of energy blast at it (but won't yet...) and then when shifting towards Elias the light... The lights color changes! It's an odd sky blue and the glow is pulsating and fast, your eyes aren't able to catch exactly how fast, but a quick glance up at the crest-bearers fighting shows it's almost in tandem with Elias' winds!!!!

Wait... Wait hold on, could Rondo be asking you to choose what you want to do!?

>>ATTACK THE NEARBY WALL OR TEAM UP WITH ELIAS TO FIGHT KAINE??<<​

code by @Satanic Nightjar​

 

[DreamBeat]

Interesting, Rondo is trying to tell us to ATTACK THAT WALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!

 

[Felis]

My thoughts so far: Nobody has to leave Tarrin within the next ten minutes, so if we could get Elias and Kaine to stop, maybe we can work out a deal that everyone looks for coal for a set time (a few days perhaps) - if we find some, problem solved, if not... we'll admittedly be back at where we started, but at least we'll no longer be arguing completely hypothetical situations. I get where Kaine is coming from, but without knowing whether there is any coal deposit or not, the discussion won't go anywhere, I think.

So I say we attack the wall and hope that whatever effect that has helps us break up the fight, then we can try another round of talking. (Also, I'm curious about the energy blast! The more we learn about Rondo's abilities, the better, I'd say.)

 

[Caligena]

Very interesting indeed. I agree with the other voices, let's blast the wall and then see if we can try talking again.

 

[Idea]

>>ATTACK THE NEARBY WALL

The other option will no doubt just create resentment, so let's give this a shot. Roll the dice baby!

PS:

Spoiler: Open this on the 31st

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

 

[Minako]

Rosalina Chandra

DreamBeat Felis Caligena Idea ​

Spoiler: Votes!

Interesting, Rondo is trying to tell us to ATTACK THAT WALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!

My thoughts so far: Nobody has to leave Tarrin within the next ten minutes, so if we could get Elias and Kaine to stop, maybe we can work out a deal that everyone looks for coal for a set time (a few days perhaps) - if we find some, problem solved, if not... we'll admittedly be back at where we started, but at least we'll no longer be arguing completely hypothetical situations. I get where Kaine is coming from, but without knowing whether there is any coal deposit or not, the discussion won't go anywhere, I think.

So I say we attack the wall and hope that whatever effect that has helps us break up the fight, then we can try another round of talking. (Also, I'm curious about the energy blast! The more we learn about Rondo's abilities, the better, I'd say.)

Very interesting indeed. I agree with the other voices, let's blast the wall and then see if we can try talking again.

>>ATTACK THE NEARBY WALL

The other option will no doubt just create resentment, so let's give this a shot. Roll the dice baby!

PS:

Spoiler: Open this on the 31st

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Blasting the wall unanimously!!

​

"PAPA! ELIAS!" You cry as their battle rages on, the hellish maelstrom almost frightening you as if the actual devil may come out from it... You don't forget Kaine lights up the entirety of these mini-mines A NIGHT. He's definitely holding back, but when you think about how powerful he really is... You don't want to leave Elias to fend for himself, but it is probably insulting to Elias to assume he's not on Kaines level when you've also seen Elias' power firsthand...


You do want to help and support Elias (as mad at him as you still are...) but you also love your papa!!

Looking between the wall and the fight between the crest-bearers, you decide its probably best if you take your chances and blast that wall!!!

"BLAST THAT WALL, RONDO!" You command your halberd as your resolve and conviction finalize your decision.​

With all your might you channel all your willpower into blasting the spamola out of that wall and, sure enough, as soon as you felt your will enter Rondo you see a dark-ish purple blast of (you're guessing) magic just missiles its way to that wall with an ear-ringing *BOOM*!

It was so loud your first instinct was to look over at the fight and, to your horror, it didn't really stop anything! It was almost like they didn't hear your blast at all!!

Your heart feels like it's being squeezed and you--

Hey! OW!

What the--?!

Something just hit you on the head!


You can't really see the rocks and rubble from the aftermath of your blast too well with the odd lighting, but you get down on all fours, following the path of the blast, and start feeling around on the ground for whatever is on it. Rondo's glow provides some dim light, but not too much further ahead of you.

Ah! You finally feel something in your hands after a bit of crawling!! It's a rock!

Well... It definitely feels like a rock, at least hard and solid, but...

It's smooth yet almost slippery... kinda lump--

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


"ELIAS!!! PAPA!!!!" You shout again with all the capacity in your lungs at the both of them, frantic knowing if that loud blast didn't distract them there was no chance a shout from your tiny lungs would!

...

Seeing is believing, right!?

There's no other way to stop this: You have to SHOW them!

Dashing towards the hellish maelstrom (which, to you, seemed like the fires of hell) you scoop up as much coal as you can (though there's probably a bit left on the ground given your tiny arms can only carry so much) while continuing to shout as loud as you can.

"PAPA! ELIAS!!!! IT'S HERE! IT'S HERE!!!!!!!" You cry, scared out of your mind but not caring about your fear as you're running towards the wind and fire, and really wishing there was something else you could do, but right now nothing else is coming to mind!

As close as safely-ish possible to them as you can be, you throw the coal into the bursts of fire Papa roars forth and, FINALLY grabbing their attention, and Elias and Kaine stop their fight almost instantly as they see the coal being thrown into the remnants of the raging flames.

The coal lights up almost instantly in the intense fires, making Kaine's fire have a last dull roar as it phased out due to no longer being fueled by Kaine's magic, and the once black rock now landed roughly on the ground: clearly glowing orange.

"Wha--?!" Kaine gasps, gaping.

Elias, also shocked, but his reaction is to beam at you.

"Rosie! Is this--"

"YES!" You cry, "It IS in this world, too! IT IS! Thank goodness! Once we get some miners in here to start digging up this coal, Tarrin village will be all set! Please tell me this means there's no more need to fight!"

"Oh, Rosie, OF COURSE! I'm so sorry!" Elias chuckles while rushing to you and scooping you into an embrace.

...He holds onto you just as tight and just as long as you remember he did Hellie the first time you met her...

"I-is there still mo--" The Chief begins to ask when you already see where he's going with this and stop him while he's ahead.

"Yes! Yes! There should be more over there! We can pick up some coal that isn't scorching so they know what to look for when mining it!" You inform the both of them while pointing where you blasted the wall of the mine with Rondo.

"Heh... Alright... Let's go gather up as much as we can... We have a lot to tell the village, and not a moment to spare..." Kaine, back to being your loving and warm papa, smiles brightly and nods approvingly.

"Does... Does this mean---?!" You gasp and ask excitedly, not unlike a child opening a precious toy they've been wanting and working for all year for Christmas.

"Heh, yes, Sweetheart. If Tarrin can survive without me after all, and you are here to retrieve me... I have no more reason to deny my destiny as Celosia's bearer of fire. I will go with you and help gather the other crest-bearers as much as I can."

"Oh Papa!!!" You cry, and you can't help yourself: You throw yourself into a tight hug at the Chief.

>>ACQUIRED THE BEARER OF THE CELOSIAN CREST OF FIRE<<
"Heh..." The Chief smiles warmly at you as well, beaming and hugging you back just as tight.​

You, Elias, and Papa grab some lanterns... Well, Kai didn't really need it as he can light even just his hand ablaze to illuminate the place but he wanted to carry some as well in his pockets anyway, so... The three of you, with some light, head towards the rocks and rubble to pick up whatever coal remains seeped out of the blasted wall.

"Think this'll be enough?" You ask jokingly at your Papa while carrying your own stash of coal for the villagers as you three make your way out of the mini-mines beneath the Chiefs room.

"Hah, I think this should be more than enough!" He heartily snickers back at you.

"Golly, I should hope so!" Elias chirps in, marching along beside you, "This is so small and easily duplicated Archer should be able to make mountains of this stuff without too much trouble even NOT having magic as strong as us crest-bearers!"

"...Boy, listen, I..." Kaine begins, looking over at Elias hesitantly, "I'm sorry. I was so sure this didn't... I just wanted to save Rosie and Tarrin village, too... And when I lost my family, I--"

"I know, Chief. Though your means were flawed, your ends were admirable. I don't bear any ill will against you at all, despite everything! What's important is that we found you in a timely manner, you're safe and able to join us, and, most importantly, we didn't hurt Rosie while we fought! Your fires are really strong!"

You blush and look away a moment as Elias isn't subtle at all about how high a priority you are to him...

"Well, your winds are nothing to scoff at either: I've only encountered winds that could barely scuff out my fire in the chilly, icy air of the mountains. You had no frost on your side, yet your winds were forceful and piercing enough to counter my power. I'm impressed," Kaine compliments Elias genuinely and as low as your heart sunk while they were fighting it now soars well into the heavens as they now find each other agreeable and seem to be bonding as fellow crest-bearers.

"Well, I--"

Before Elias could say anything further, the three of you are stopped in your trains of thought as you hear shouting nearby!

"Chief?!" Come startled voices from just beyond the tunnels as you three are about to reach their entrance, the now nearly destroyed bookshelf entrance in the Chief's room.

Looks like the rest of the village is catching up with you all as well!?

"A-ah! Oh dear..." Chief Kaine hesitates, unsure of how revealing his true power will go.

"It'll be okay, Papa, you've led and protected them for years..." You console him while beaming at him and placing a hand on his shoulder, "If anything, this will just make them love you EVEN MORE!"

"Yeah!" Elias smiles and agrees.

"Heh... Thank you, little one... both of you.." He mutters while looking ahead. From lanterns you can already see villagers are arriving.

"Chief, we-- WHOA WHHHHAAAA--?!" Whitey, the first on the scene, runs up to the three of you and, as soon as he sees the Chiefs hand burning bright with the Celosian crest of fire, stops mid-tracks, and just (rather over-exaggeratedly) gapes.

"Wh-whit- OOF! Hey! Why did you-- Oh my...!" Jamie, you're pleased as a pumpkin to see is trailing right behind him, but too close and crashed into him as soon as Whitey stopped and added the last bit she saw why. Thankfully, for now, it's just Jamie and Whitey present.

"A... Aheh..." Kaine bashfully glues his eyes to the ground and slowly runs his right hand along his left arm.

"Let's... Get out of here and go tell the village we found the fire-bearer..." You suggest, a slight chuckle of relief coming from Kaine and an amused chuckle from Elias, Whitey, and Jamie.




The five of you leave the Chief's room, and meet up with the rest of the village... Which, to your surprise, was already making their way towards the Inn!

With Xander and Galeson in the lead!

"Oh!" You gasp as Xander runs up to you as fast as he can.

"Ro! Ro!" He huffs out, catching his breath slightly as he runs up to you, "Are you alright?! Elias rushed off and---"

"I'm fine! Really!" You giggle, touched by Xander's concern for you.

"The Chief--" Elias began, when Kaine cleared his throat and interrupted him, the two exchanging glances before Elias nods and remains silent, letting the Chief explain for himself what just happened.

"I... I am the Celosian fire-bearer... I... I'm sorry I lied to you all... My full name is Kaine... I had to hide my full name for fear its meaning may have been too huge a hint as to my power," The Chief began, hesitantly at first, but with a gentle touch and warm smile from you, he modestly smiled back and found it easier to go on the more he spoke, "I just... I thought... I... I'm sorry... I told you all not to talk about the fires to cover myself so I'd never be found... When I knew the only person who would come looking for me was the Hierophant to stop the impending catastrophe... Especially when I know what it is... I just wanted to save everyone here so desperately..."

"AH! Yeah, okay, see, because, the one thing that didn't add up with Scias being the one behind the fires is that he's too much of a dick to wanna do this tirelessly all night and every night!" Whitey 'innocently' points out.

"****ING FIGHT ME, WHITEY!" Scias angrily retorts (though this time... Can you really blame him??)​

"...Right....So, there really is an impending apocolypse?!" Damorris sighs and ignores the impending spat between the young men.

"...Yes... According to some journals my ancestor passed down, Cion Isle will sink back to the land it was carved out of should Celosia not be summoned..." Kaine explains, doing the same, and then adds, almost backpedaling, "A-ah, but! Being this high on the mountains, I was able to build a shelter! A very strong one! WE would have survived!"

"Well, yeah, maybe, but the rest of Cion Isle..." Jamie's grandfather sort of frowns while looking away and muttering.

"I... I know... Even as crest-bearer, I can only save so much...--" Kaine tries to explain himself.

"You should have told us..." Damorris mumbles a bit bitterly but clearly trying not to sound too resentful, "You should have trusted us..."

"Daddy..." Chlo mutters to her father, on Kaine's side.

"I mean, it's kind what you've been doing for us, though even if we lived we would have missed our families outside of Tarrin... Also, it looks like it didn't matter anyway, the Hierophant still found you regardless, so..." Harv gives his two cents on the situation.

"It was nice the Chief was so modest about how much he's helped us in the past and even now... We all thought it was just Celosia making our chimneys randomly catch fire... When really it was the power she gave him... He is being very humble about how benevolently and selflessly he has been using his power..." Dulcie also chimes in humbly while pointing out Kaine's own humility.

"It wasn't the best way to go about it, but I can't imagine what WOULD be the right way... And it's sweet to know we mean the most to him on Cion Isle... Plus, that explains why were always missing a few logs... But JUST a few... Never enough do cause real damage but just enough to be noticeable and for inventory to never match up..." Ivana tries to also pitch in, looking on the bright side and favorably towards the Chief.


"Now hold on, hold on a moment, everyone," Galeson speaks up, hijacking all the crowd chattering, also having a good hold of the villagers quite well, adding, "Whether or not he went about this the right way, we're all forgetting one VERY important thing here: The Chief, being the fire-bearer, has worked TIRELESSLY to keep us warm every day and night, thanklessly, without using much of our log supply at all. He single-handedly has kept us warm throughout the years without our knowledge! I'm wracking my brain trying to figure out when he's slept!"

The crowd doesn't miss Galeson's point.

"Thank you, Galeson..." The Chief meekly smiles and thanks the rugged young man.

"YO! My man is right, tho!" Archer continues his train of though and hammers in the point, "The point is that he's been doing all this for us without so much as a "thank you" from any of us, takin' no credit at all, and gettin' NO SLEEP! NO WONDER OUR GUY'S GOT BAGS UNDER HIS EYES THE SIZE OF MOUNTAINS!"

"...Yes, thank you as well, Archer..." Chief Kaine sighs while face-palming his gratitude onto his face at Archers continuation.

"My point is--" Archer sorta now just rips the band-aid off, "We can't go treating him like this! He basically helped raised us alongside our parents since we were young'uns and what he did he did thinkin' of US!"

"He went above and beyond the call of duty, is what we're saying," Galeson interprets Archer's slang for the rest of the villagers, "Never once did he not act like a good Chieftain would. Never once did his choices forsake us. They were always in OUR best interest. His fire was ours and he is every bit the true Celosian blessing this village was granted. He is still a good Chief and leader through and through. He is still OUR Chief."

"For real," Archer spouts and nods.

"While I don't disagree exactly," Damorris almost counters, "The two problems that arise now are apparent: He can't really lead us if he is going with her high--"

You shoot Damorris a look.​

"E-er, uh th-the Hierophant," Damorris corrects himself, continuing from the tangent, "If Kai is going with the Hierophant, then how will he lead us when he is now travelling?"

"And the other problem, daddy?" Chlo asks with concern.

"THE PROBLEM IS HOW WILL WE KEEP WARM NOW, HONEY!" Scias shouts, though, again, you can't tell if he's shouting to just be heard above the crowd or...?

"...Oh, right," Chlo blushes and nods while mumbling.

"Ah! I can answer that!" You finally are able to peep in while Xander and Elias look proudly, waving around the coal you got from the mini-mines frantically while dashing up to Archer, glad to be of use!

"Is that--" Galeson asks before you cut him off with over-excited nodding.

"YES! COAL! COAL! YOUR MINES DID HAVE IT!" You laugh heartily while handing it to Archer, asking, "Think you can duplicate this enough to be useful to the village daily?"

Archer nearly dies laughing as she takes the coal from you and holds it in her hands while examining it between her guffaws.

"Girl, PLEASE--" Archer begins, then--

WHOA!!

"Don't INSULT me."​

In the time it took her to finish that thought she had a practical mountain of coal before her! This could fuel the whole village for a few days already, let alone if she keeps duplicating it for longer!

"Archer!" You cry joyfully, throwing yourself on her (as she finishes hopping down from the coal) and into a hug (in true Helena fashion).

"So we just put these in our stoves and chimney's and it keeps them aflame?" Whitey asks while examining the newly made "mini mt. coal".

"Mmhm! You may still need a teensy bit of fire or fire magic, but nowhere near the crest-bearer amount you guys needed before without it!" You giggle, kinda finding all their curious examinations adorable.

You pick up a coal and hand it to the un-gloved Chief, nodding to him as your Papa smiles back and nods, knowing he knows what you want him to do.

He grips the coal firmly in his left hand and sets it on fire as his crest appears while doing so. The whole village gasps as it is set ablaze before their very eyes! Even better, when he diminished his flame and the crest faded... The coal still glowed brightly, still burning, long afterwards... It took the Chief to drop it in the snow for the heat to sizzle and fizzle away...

"The more coal together the longer and hotter the fire is!" You explain, "And this, combined with Archers duplication magic with some mild fire magic... It should be easy to keep this village warm and toasty for a long time!"

"Plus, I think we'll have a surplus," Harv points out while making an observation about coal on his own as he examines it himself, "I'm fairly certain Whitey and I have mined tons of these! We have huge piles in our area. We just thought they were useless black rocks we couldn't get anything decent for..."

"Oh yeeaaah!" Whitey nods and agrees with verve upon his own closer examination of the coal.

"WONDERFUL!" You cheer loudly, all too happy everything in the village seems to be pointing to them being ok without Kaine! (And you really want Papa to sleep more than he did while here, if you're honest with yourself...)

"Now, there is the first problem I mentioned--" Damorris, not wanting to be a killjoy, but feeling he must press on anyway, begins to reel everyone back when-

"Who will be the new village Chief now that I am leaving, correct?" Kaine kindly interrupts him while raising a hand.

"Ye--" Before Damorris can finish his response, Kaine... begins approaching Galeson!!!

Galeson's eyes widen and his mouth gapes as he pretty much knows what the Chief is about to say... But is too stunned to stop Kaine from saying it anyway!

"Galeson... Even before the plagues and famine really started affecting us, when you were a younger lad... You were the most hard-working of all of the boys here back then, and as a man, that statement's truth has only increased tenfold..." Kaine begins this essential inauguration, "I think leaving Tarrin village in your diligent and capable hands is, without a doubt, one of the wisest choices I've ever made."

"YO, STRAIGHT UP!!!" Archer, not controlling herself a bit, yells excitedly.

Kaine removes a medal from under his coat he must have been hiding, with an engraving so beautiful it could only have been made by Scias (or at least his family), and places it around Galeson's neck. Galeson looks up to Kaine, misty-eyed.

"Do you accept the role as the new village chief of Tarrin?" Kaine asks.

"...Yes," Galeson responds with much passion.

"Do you swear to protect and serve it's villagers and do whatever you can to solve any trials or tribulations that may come its way now that you have accepted this role?"

"I will work to the death for this village, if need be," Galeson nods vehemently.

"Then, as far as I'm concerned, you have more than earned the title 'The Chief of Tarrin Village'," Kaine smiles warmly, and almost laughs as Galeson throws himself into a hug, fighting and choking back tears, while a happy and excited roar comes from the crowd, following a truly thunderous applause!

"THAT'S MY HUSBAND, YA'LL!!!! THAT'S MY HUSBAND!!!!!!!" Archer proudly shouts with gusto like she just won a woman of the year award and walked on the moon first, triumphantly raising her arm and Galeson's in sweet, sweet victory.

You didn't even realize it, but you're clapping too!

"Well then," You hear Xander gleefully state as you feel his stern hand on your shoulder and smile at him as he continues, "I guess that's it then. Everything's wrapped up pretty nicely. We found the fire-bearer. We were able to leave the village he protected from the cold with a good enough heat source he could leave in peace... AND, because they ended up being the Chief of the village, we even left the village with a NEW Chief... Good work, Ro. Good work."

You blush and turn away, not used to being complimented.

"I... I couldn't have done it without Elias," You admit, mostly to yourself.

"R-rosie... I.. There's something I--" Elias begins, but then, to your surprise (and annoyance) Kaine calls to him.

"Boy! Before we leave... There's something I need to do..." Kaine requests of Elias, beckoning him over as he... Oh!

He's walking towards Scias!

"HUH? YEAH, CH-- ER, KAINE, WHAT'S UP?" Scias asks.

Kaine looks embarrassed, and full of regret.

"Scias... I... I'm sorry..." He... apologizes?!

"Eh?! For what, Kai?!" Chlo asks, shocked at the apology as it seemingly came from no where.

"...Because... I think as a crest-bearer, I could have healed you..." Kaine ashamedly admits.

"WHA---!?" Chlo and Scias both gasp in adorable unison.

"W-well... sort of..." Elias defends Kaine, "Our crests ARE our specialty, but considering how much more stronger we are than a typical magic-user, maybe..."

"That’s why I called you over. Do you think, with both of our magic, we may be able to heal his eye?" Kaine asks.

"EH!?" Scias responds, clearly not believing what he's hearing.

“It’s... possible...?” Elias blinks, stunned at the request as much as Scias is.

"We need to heal him... I... I should have done this years ago, or at least attempted to, but in doing so I would have..." The Chief explains while struggling to finish that train of thought.

"IT'S OK CHIEF! BESIDES, YOUR CREST SPECIALTY IS FIRE, NOT HEALING! IT'S NOT LIKE YOU REALLY HAD A BOOST TO THAT MAGIC! BESIDES, YOU'VE DONE NOTHING BUT KEEP US WARM TIRELESSLY! PLUS, YOU STILL HELPED SAVE ME ANYWAY!" Scias forgives the Chief, which warms your heart he is being so understanding, and definitely showing a good guy Cora described when you first heard of him.

"But... I only did the bare minimum, and... Maybe... Maybe with two crest-bearers our healing magic can..." Kaine looks over at Elias while Elias is nodding vehemently, rushing over to them.

"Does it work that way?" You ask before anyone else could, following Elias like a duckling does it's mama duck.

"Well, it might not be as good as, say, a crest specialized in healing, but..." Elias answers back after thinking about it for a moment, "I think it might not totally erase the scar, but it might be be able to bring back his eye if Kaine and I give it everything we've got!"

"I... If my crest were some sort of healing specialty, Scias, I swear to you, son, I would have--"

"IT'S OK, CHIEF, JUST TRY IT!" Scias begs loudly as the cuts off Kaine.

Elias and Kaine exchange glances, nod at each other, and then both place a hand on Scias's eye after he takes off his eye-patch (gosh, that's gotta be awkward! Poor Scias!)...

Oh! Their hands are glowing!​

After a bit, the two crest-bearers remove their hands and... The scar is still there, but the gash is totally not as nasty as it was before, and--!

OH! OH, HIS EYE!!!​

"...I..." Scias begins, for once not shouting!

"... Thank you, Kaine. Thank you, Elias," He graciously says in normal volume as he is yet again introduced to his vision with two eyes.​

"It was nothing!" Elias cheers merrily.

"...It was the very least I could do after what I hid from you and the entire village..." Kaine muttered, still a bit ashamed of himself.

Scias, however, wasn't paying attention to them after that... Because he was looking at you as well, about to say something to you when you placed your right index finger over your lips, gestured at Chloe, and raised your eyebrows. Giving him a very stern look, Scias smiles back at you with nearly the same smile Cora gave you when first noticed how truly beautiful the dedicated mother was.

He then turns to Chloe.... And takes her hands in his...

"Scias...?" Chlo asks, curious and surprised from the sudden attention from him given all that just happened (and was still going on).

"Heh... Well... One-eyed cyclops is no longer who I am by the grace of Celosia's crest-bearers... My ears no longer ring from all the smith-ing I do, and not only can I SEE better, I can HEAR better as well... Everyone's gathered here... Which is how I wanted to do this, anyway... Now seems as good a time as any... And, well... If the Hierophant is even telling me to now..." Scias jokingly jabs at you being pushy while you hold in a giggle so as not to ruin the moment....

So that's why he yelled all the time... He was a bit hard of hearing from all the constant *clings* and *clangs* of his shoppe!

!!!!!!!

He's reaching into his coat...

Could it be--?!?!

YES! YES IT COULD! IT VERY MUCH COULD!!! THE DRAGON-SCALE PENDANTS!

"W-well... Will you...?"​

"WHA--?! BU-- BUT I THOUGHT YOU STOPPED MAKING THEM AFTER THE ACCIDENT! YOU'VE HAD IT ON YOU ALL THIS TIME?!?" Chlo unintentionally shouts this out of pure shock, yelling just like Scias used to.

"...I was just about done when it happened... The finishing touches could be done in an hour or so..." Scias, now sounding like Kaine did just a second ago, admits shamefully.

Chlo gasps and gently covers her mouth... Lowering her head slightly... As if to ask him to put it on her!!!!

"Oh Scias! I've been waiting all year for you to ask me!!" She answers, pulling her new fiance into a kiss after he places the necklace on her.

Yet again, there is much cheering and applause, and you are happy to observe that this time there is no need for Damorris to hesitate for anything!
​

After the kiss, Scias... huh... He's reaching into his pocket for something...

A box...???

It's... kinda small-ish? Eh eh?


He's approaching Elias with it?

"Here, and you can keep the extra rush fee I charged you... It wouldn't feel right to take it since I owe the both of you a lot..." Scias mumbles.

"Nonsense! Keep it, consider it money to help finance your upcoming wedding!" Elias cheers while beaming brightly, like the sun, at Scias while handing him a bag full of coins from his coat.

"Heh... The both of you..." Scias bashfully chuckles while shaking his head and handing Elias the box.

What's going on, exactly????????????

Elias, not unlike a puppy running to its owner, dashes towards you, stopping on a dime right before you, and handing you the box.

"I know you're already bonded to Rondo, but, since this is smaller and only for emergencies..." He says as you open up the box and see--

Oh... Oh my... It's beautiful...​

It's the most shiniest, goldenest, beautiful-est dagger you've ever seen!!!

This must have cost a fortune!!!! Plus, Scias MUST HAVE made this over night, so with the added rush fee....!!!




This...

This is the nicest thing any boy has ever done for you...




"Nice work, Elias!! Rosie's definitely gonna get some use out of this!" Xander compliments the man of your dreams proudly at this foresight to grant you a side weapon.

"E...Elias..." You mutter, not really knowing what else to say.

"I remember the other night Xander was telling you that you might need a back-up weapon just in case, and when I heard Scias was a blacksmith, it just seemed like a sign..." He shyly bumbles while looking at you bashfully, adding adorably, "Do... Do you like it...?"

"...Elias, I love it!" You reply, fighting with every inch in your (admittedly very short) body to not cry but still somewhat tearing up anyway, "Thank you so very much!!!!"​

Before you know it, he smiles that darn smile that just makes you love him even more and scoops you up into yet another embrace (again... like the one he gave Hellie before...) and you can't help but choke out a sob and tear up a little...

"I love you" was actually what you really, really, really, REALLY want to say in this moment...

"You're welcome, Rosie," He replies back comfortingly.

You were the first to let go of him this time, but, like your first night in this world, he still takes your hands and looks into your eyes. Yeah... You can sense it, like a dog senses a tsunami or something... He's asking if all is forgiven. You smile shyly and nod, unable to stay mad at such an amazing man.

"AHEM," You hear Jamie not-so-subtly clear her throat, coyly looking at the both of you and raising an eye brow, while you're blushing as you recall you have an entire village watching, following up with, "So, what was all that about the both of you not being a couple, again~?"

"A-ah! Uh-uhm, J-jamie! UH! Well! You see--! We--!" You stutter nervously and shocked, taken off guard and feeling so foolish.

"You know, as much as I'd love to stick around and let Ro answer that question--" Xander, THE ABSOLUTE ANGEL, stops you from ruining whatever moment you and Elias had and just lassos everybody back on track, "We gotta get going. Now that we found the fire-bearer, we gotta get back to the castle to get the compass so we can find the other crest-bearers we don't have a lead on... We should make it a good way through the forest... IF we leave now!"

"R-RIGHT! R-RIGHT!" You all to happily agree with your sainted big brother, "Sorry, Jamie! Duty calls! Hierophant of Skies, you know!?"

"Mmmmhmmmm," Jamie grunts skeptically and rolls her eyes... but with a smile on her face.

You meekly and playfully scoot away from Jamie and back to Chlo, who offers you a hug you happily take as well.

"I'm sorry I can't be here for your guy's wedding, Chlo... I'd give anything to see you two get married... You'll look so beautiful as a bride! Maybe I can send you something as a wedding present?" You say, wondering what marriage traditions were like here since proposals are different in this world.

"Are you kidding me?! My union with Scias GOT THE BLESSING OF THE HIEROPHANT OF SKIES!!! We're going to be married until the end of time now! I'm sure of it! That's like, literally the best gift you've already given me!!" Chlo nearly guffaws while squeezing you tenderly.

"Oh Chlo..." You hug her back just as tight, touched.

"Heh... C'mon, Ro... The sooner we're back at the castle...." Xander begins before you nod to stop him.

"I know, I know!" You giggle, breaking away from Chlo to rejoin your group (with it's new added fire-power!).


"Hang on...! Uh... Elias...?" You hear Harv from behind you as his footsteps approach closer when heard in the snow.

"Huh? Yeah, Harv?" Elias asks, confused.

"...Listen... I... I kinda condescended you yesterday... When you first mentioned crest-bearers and such... Obviously I was unaware I WAS talking to a crest-bearer, but... Look, I just wanted to say I'm really sorry for looking down on you, especially when you could have so easily shut me down just now when you revealed yourself..." Harv apologizes... Sincerely and full of HUMILITY FOR A CHANGE!!

Ooooh!! Oh, and Dulcie looks so proud of Harv!

Elias chuckles and smiles at the brown-haired while shaking his head happily.

"Ha! I can't believe you even remembered that, Harv! Thank you so much for the apology, but there was really no need!"

"Believe me, there was a need. You're doing all this to save Cion and I condescended you," Harv shakes his own head in disagreement while stating, "I should be grovelling at your feet, begging you to forgive my foolishness."

"Heh... Well, if it means that much, of course I accept your apology!" Elias nods.

"Thanks," Harv almost chuckles while smiling at Elias.

Heh... Elias is just...​

"C'mon, that's our cue. Lets go grab our things from our rooms," Xander smiles and nods, "You and I can go grab our stuff from the room, and Elias can get our stuff from the stables while Kaine gets whatever he needs from his room."

You nod happily and the village agrees to wait for you both so they can wish you all good-bye as you leave.


When the four of you are now at the entrance of the village (and Carbuncle, after nuzzling you a welcome back, is safely tucked into your coat again) and almost packed, you turn and wave good bye to the villagers, who wanted to see you all off.

"Stay warm and safe, my friends... Though upon my return I will not have these blessings, I am pleased I left you all in capable hands and look forward to my return," Kaine bids his village farewell.

"Good bye! We'll miss you!" Dulcie peeps while looking at you and Elias expectantly.

"Hopefully we'll see you somewhat soon?!" Harv calls out.

"Not TOO soon!" Ivana chuckles, adding to his train of thought.

"Bye! Was fun!" Whitey shouts happily.

"Hey, Rosie! Elias! Wait!" Came Jamie's voice as she runs up to approach you, you smile at her, thinking she too wanted one last embrace when--

OH MY CELOSIA!!!! She just freaking uppercut-ed him!​

"OW!!!! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!?!" Elias (rightfully) yells at her while furiously rubbing his jaw he was just punched at.

"J-jamie...!" You shout in sheer shock.

"That's for being an idiot, idiot. Stop being an idiot," Jamie nods and informs Elias like she didn't just freaking uppercut him!

"Wh-what?! What are you talking about!?" Elias respond back, still angry.

Actually, she tells him this like she's his big sister or something...


Elias' life would have probably been A LOT easier if he had a big sister instead of a big brother...

He'd probably be Emperor if not for his own big brother...

....You don't like where this train of thought is going...


"I have no idea what's going on, but if he's going to get punched every time he's an idiot... Maybe he should brace himself constantly..." You hear Xander joke to Kaine in the back as he watches this and chuckles, finishing packing everything on Xerxes, and gesturing for him to get on the horse.

"Now, now... I'm sure eventually the boy will prepare himself when he gets used to it!" Kaine jokes back as he loads his bags next to yours on Cocoa.

"HEY!" Elias, disgruntled, growls at both of them.


"I left the broken hearts club," Jamie blushes, pretty much telling you her and Whitey going steady are official while the men are distracted, then she points at you determinedly and states, "YOU better leave it, too! By the time we meet again! ...It doesn't suit you... Let's form a new club then, ok?"

You smile and give Jamie a quick hug, realizing what she was trying to do and why she did what she did.

"Heh... I'll certainly try!" You tell her truthfully, though logically there really isn't much you can think of TO DO to leave the club.


She hugs you back and waves you all off as Elias, to your surprise, scoops you up.

"EH?!" You gasp.

"Uhm... Kaine is taking Cocoa to the castle since we didn't bring an extra horse and he doesn't really own one since he hasn't left the village for a very long time... He's too big to have another passenger, even if they are as small as you..." Elias mumbles bashfully, adding, "Plus he can't carry you as easily down the mountain riding winds like I can..."

"O-okay..." You agree, yet again, to this odd form of torture.

"Good luck!" Jamie chortles and cheers while waving even more enthusiastically at you both and winking.


Heh.... You're going to miss her...




You clutch the sleeping Carbuncle in your arms, trying not to focus on being in Elias' arms, while blushing and looking away at anything...

You're kinda glad you did, however:

As you and Elias are riding the winds down beside the horses, the warmer air sneaking up on your (ever growing) party, much to your relief... You can't help but notice...

Kaine is looking down at the road ahead... with a bit of a frown on his face...?

Hmmm... You may not have grown up with a father the majority of your life, but... You definitely know the look on his face is surely one of "somethings not right here"... It reminds you of Ivana when looking at the logs for something amiss (and there was)...

Wait, now that you think about, you also thought something was fishy about this road at first... Right?

Elias kinda did, too?

You can't really get a good look at his face at the moment (and you'd like to give your heart a break right now), but you're sure remembering back to when you first arrived he also was looking around...

You weren't really sure then, but now that the Chief is looking at this road like this...

You want to ask him what's wrong and why hes looking so serious at the road, but you also don't want to interrupt his train of thought...

He might just mumble it out, since he kinda looks like he's about to...?? Or, maybe not...

He's used to being secretive, so he may not think to speak his mind... You definitely want to pick his brain, however...

Hmmmm... Should you ask the Chief what's wrong... or not...?

>>A PENNY FOR THE CHIEF'S THOUGHTS?
Y/N<<​

code by @Satanic Nightjar​

 

[Idea]

>>>Let's ask the chief his thoughts

Don't see why not

 

[Felis]

In the case that something is wrong, it would be best to find out, so I think asking the chief is a good idea. Let's not outright say "what's wrong", though, because I think he might keep it to himself as not to worry us then. Maybe something like "you looked so deep in thought, is there something special about this road?" could work better?

 

[Caligena]

I agree we should ask Kai what's up but how about first we look around and see if we can notice something ourselves, now that we're not focusing solely on lover boy here. Maybe be a little quiet and inconspicuous about it. Keep communications brief. "Trouble?"

 

[Minako]

Rosalina Chandra

Idea Felis Caligena ​

Spoiler: Votes!

>>>Let's ask the chief his thoughts

Don't see why not

In the case that something is wrong, it would be best to find out, so I think asking the chief is a good idea. Let's not outright say "what's wrong", though, because I think he might keep it to himself as not to worry us then. Maybe something like "you looked so deep in thought, is there something special about this road?" could work better?

I agree we should ask Kai what's up but how about first we look around and see if we can notice something ourselves, now that we're not focusing solely on lover boy here. Maybe be a little quiet and inconspicuous about it. Keep communications brief. "Trouble?"

Ask the chief about the road...

You decide you DO want to know what's going on in his mind, but decide to approach this subject delicately so as not to scare him off of sharing what's wrong, both for actual urgency AND Papa's own good.​

You nudge Elias and he looks at you, you notion to Kaine and Elias looks at the newly acquired fire-bearer himself, nodding to himself at first, then to you, agreeing to your request.

"Papa?" You ask as you get his attention while you and Elias approach him riding Cocoa.

"Ah! Oh, uh, yes, sweetheart?" He asks, sure enough as if you snapped him back into reality from deep thought.

"Well, you just looked so serious at the road... Is there something about it? Do you sense trouble?" You prudently ask, wording this as "need to know" as possible.

"No... No... Not trouble... Exactly..." Papa begins, showing very little hesitance to your surprise (and delight), continuing with, "It's just... Has this road always been so smooth?"

"Well... Well yeah..." Xander answers, almost quizzically at first, but then remembering the ex-Chief's situation wouldn't exactly let Kaine know the condition of the road leading to and leaving the village, adding, "I mean, A LOT of trading wagons pass by here, right? Surely that would smooth out even the toughest of roads..."

"Oh, to be certain... But to this degree? In such a short amount of time?" He asks, again examining the road.

"Lets not look a gift horse in the mouth..." Xander nearly shrugs this off, grateful leaving and approaching the village went as smoothly as it did.

"A short amount of time?" You ask, actually not shrugging it off and wondering what he meant.

"Well... When I last left the village... Right before...My wife and child died..." Kaine painfully was brought back to long ago, managing to go on, "It was about sixteen or so years ago... And even though the carts pass by quite often, is it often enough to have paved this road so thoroughly when it was once jagged and bumpy?"

He has a point... Unless it was near daily and dragging mountains of anvils or something... You're no expert in road paving, but you're pretty sure wagons and carts would only smooth out part of the road (where the wheels tracked) and not all of it... Especially to this degree...

In fact, now that you take a second and closer look... aside some big rocks and mid-size boulders... conveniently out of the way of the actual main road...

This road is... probably just about ready for concrete to be laid upon it...

How?

"You didn't even hear about this?" Xander asks.

"I did receive compliments, in fact, but unfortunately I can't recall if it went way back then or not--"

Of course... No monster would focus on some nice path of dirt while the village Chef at the time was heavily grieving the loss of his wife and child...

"But..."

He trails off, now in deeper thought than you've seen him before.

"...But?" You ask, gently encouraging him to go on.

"...Well, I do recall overhearing about our nice road ever since my old friend, Caridad, had left the village with her family..." He finally reveals the true pondering behind his face.

"Ivana's mentor...?" You clarify, taking only a moment to start connecting dots.

Papa smiles at you and nods.

"Heh... So Ivana told you about her, eh? Yes, Sweetheart. Ivana always had a beautiful voice, but no confidence or help honing her skill until Caridad mentored her and helped her blossom," Kaine explains, "She was the most heartbroken when Caridad left the village, much as the dear child tried to understand it was to help others."

"Think it's a coincidence?" Xander asks, now becoming interested as well.

"Well..." Kaine hesitates to answer.

"She must have been a very powerful magic user to pave this road!" You hear yourself chirp, "Like a--"

You and Elias both gasp as Kaine solemnly nods (more to himself than you two).

"CREST-BEARER?!" You and Elias both blurt simultaneously.

"When I looked at the road and began thinking back on when it first must have been changed this way and when she first left... It certainly seems to add up to it..." Kaine affirms this new theory.

"Hope you're ready to see them again, because if they are one we're gonna hafta find 'em!" Xander chuckles merrily, happy on having a lead on another crest-bearer before you even acquired the compass.

"And we didn't even need the compass!" Elias cheers, on Xanders page and delighted as well.

You sort of want to ask if the ex-Chief couldn't sense anything special about Caridad, but then again if it DID work that way Elias could have gathered the other crest-bearers himself, or at least if he needed to be in close proximity pinpointed the Chief while stepping into the village instead of you all having to go through what you did to gather clues and such to find Papa.

You selfishly are sort of relieved it doesn't, because if it it did you'd be pretty much useless to him and the thought of that just breaks your heart...

"Do you happen to know where she might be?" You ask, also now very interested in Caridad.

"...Celosia knows, dear," The Chief sighs while defeatedly shaking his head, "She left the village with her husband and child on a whim it seemed, only staying a month or so after my wife died to help my grieving, to wherever the wind and sky would lead her... She did say she was going to try to see if she could do anything for Havendell to start... but certainly by now her righteous journey would have taken her elsewhere sixteen years later..."

Good point...

"Well, if we have to pass through there, which I'm sure we might, we'll keep our ears out for any rumors that you think might sound like her," Xander plans, you and Elias nodding in agreement, "For now, let's stay focused on the road and see if there are any clues she may have left behind here..."

"Hah! Good plan, though I doubt anything left on the roads about sixteen years ago wouldn't have been found, damaged beyond recognition, or stolen by thieves," Kaine points out.

"Never hurts to double check, right?" Xander asks.

The majority of the time left on the mountain road leading to the Tornigan Woodlands was in silence and concentration, on the lookout for anything that might be a clue as to Caridads possible identity... Either her or someone in her family who left the village back then, at least.

Unfortunately, nothing was found...​

As soon as your group approaches the woodlands you see Papa tense up like crazy and can't help but giggle to yourself.

You think you know why he's a tad nervous.

"Nervous, Papa?" You almost tease him, but not quite.

You trust your Papa, and know he'd never burn down anything, let alone a whole forest.

"Mmm, more like not comfortable being in a place I can't exactly use my powers in," He explains, "I can control when my fire burns forth and doesn't for the most part, but I can't absorb it back into my body should a stray flame ignite a branch of a tree or greens that grow."

Yeah, you love Papa with all your heart, but... Smokey the bear would totally maul his butt if he started a forest fire, even unintentionally...

Hm, for some reason... This realization sort of makes you feel like you still have other crest-bearers to go before Calliope...



"It'll at least make it worlds easier to start a campfire," Xander shrugs and jokingly points out while you pout and frown at him.

"HA! Just make sure there is some damp earth beneath the wood and not grass," Kaine, almost relieved to hear a joke in his distress, chortles.

"Only we can prevent forest fires..." You snicker.​

"You're right, Rosie! We're the only ones here responsible enough to!" Elias agrees and you can't help but laugh.

Elias laughs with you, though (adorably and) admittedly, he doesn't really understand what you both are laughing at.

"I knew you were strange coming from another world, Rosie, but sometimes you're too strange even for that!" Xander jabs at you.

"H-HEY! MEANIE! T-TAKE THAT BACK, BIG BROTHER!!" You intensely pout and shout while arguing with him indignantly while he chuckles.

"Now, now, children... The sooner we're out of this forest, the sooner I can use my fires again, and I'd rather be of use than not, yes?" Papa chuckles as he stops the impending fight between you and your brother like a true father would.

As the four of you ride off through the forest, you try to keep your eyes peeled for the notorious purple haired bandit, though the wavering daylight didn't help see in the already poorly lit forest.

Unfortunately, not only does the sense of sight do you little good for looking for any sign of Calliope... but... you can't exactly hear the sounds of the forest with the galloping of the horses and whooshing of Elias' winds...



!!?!?!?!

Wait, wait!!

Just as you think that, you swear you think you see something!!!

It's a figure! You're sure of it!

But... It was wide... Like a male...

That... definitely wasn't Calliope...!

You gasp as you and Elias zoom past it, and your heart races as you two do... The figure was already moving away from your party, so zooming past them...


"Hm? Rosie... What's wrong...?" Elias, finally noticing you, asks as he sees you stare off behind you both.

"I...I thought I saw something...?" You answer, unsure.

"Hm? Saw what?" Elias further questions.

"I... I think I saw a ma--- AH! Tbhbhbth!!!" You began to answer when suddenly something brushed against your lips and then slightly entered your mouth!!

You violently reach into your mouth and---

Huh...? It's a hair.... But this time it's a silver hair? Huh!?

This definitely isn't Calliopes?!

What...?​

"A hair?" Elias asks as you pick the hair from your mouth.

"Y-yeah, but it's definitely NOT Calliope's..." You observe out loud as you examine it.

It slightly shimmers in the light of the sunset.


"Do you think this means--" Elias begins to ask when you cut him off.

"Well... At first I thought she lived here alone to scrimp and save for herself, being a bandit and all... but... I guess there's someone else here as well..." You reply.

"Could be a lot more than just those two..." Elias mutters while looking over the area as best he could in the dimming light.

"Maybe..." You mumble back, thinking now maybe Calliopes urgency in doing what she's doing is not just to support herself... But... someone else...?


Could whoever this silver hair belongs to be linked to Calliope...?

You sigh sadly to yourself as this possibly reaffirms yours and Hellie's theory that Calliope is doing what she is out of necessity...



You place your hand on your chest as a gripping feeling of anxiety and worry shower you... You're even having that overwhelmingly dizzying feeling you get when a new reality presented to you takes you over...

Something tells you that you either don't want to know why thinking about that bandit brings out this reaction deep inside you... Or you want to know right away...


After what seems like forever, your party finally manages to get to the edge of the forest as the waning dusk decides to settle into nightfall.

"Alright, we'll camp here for now," Xander slows down Xerxes as Kaine follows his lead with Cocoa, "Xerxes, heel!"


You're all right at the edge of the forest...! Where you first arrived a few days ago!

In fact, the area kinda looks familiar...

...!!

You chuckle as Elias lands smoothly on the ground.

"Rosie? What's so funny?" Elias peeps curiously as he sets you down.

"Well... It's just... The last time we were here was... Wh-when we first met," You tell him bashfully, glad for the lack of light to hide your blush.

"Oh! Yeah!" He beams cheerfully.


For a moment, you two stare at each other shly, and just when Elias looks like he was about to say something Xander chucks a large bag at him to catch.

"Lets start setting up camp. Rosie, you and Kaine gather some fire wood and set up the campfire... I imagine it'll be easier now?"

"Chikah~!" Carbuncle finally peeps, hopping down on the ground, glad to finally be on ground at a somewhat regular temperature.

"Sure!" You chirp as you skip to Kaine smiling at you.

Carbuncle happily hops beside you as you and Kaine go into the forest.


"Alright sweetheart, lets just gather some branches and wood, and we should be able to get a fire ready soon!" He chuckles as you and carbuncle follow him along the forest edge.

"Kay, Papa!" You laugh as you and Carbuncle turn on your sleuthing mode yet again for any wood.

"Chikah chickah!" Carbuncle nods while sniffing around.

You hum to yourself quietly while crouching to gather some branches and Carbuncle does the same.



"Chikah?" You suddenly hear Carbuncle peep and pop up from having their nose on the ground.... Though they're still sniffing around vehemently.

You hear rustling close into the forest, and it looks like Carbuncle not only sees it, but smells whatever caused it, too!

Carbuncle is curious, but they don't seem to sense anything threatening?

They seem close enough to not wander too deep into the forest to investigate, but if it's an animal or something you might scare it off deeper into Tornigan...?

Carbuncle is very curious about whatever he's smelling, and he's looking between you and wherever the rattling came from, tilting his head expectantly...?

Are... Are they wondering what you want to do??

You can hear Papa getting closer, and he might not approve of going deeper into the forest, even if this might not be a threat?

>>INVESTIGATE THE RATTLING NEAR THE FORESTS EDGE?

Y/N<<​

code by @Satanic Nightjar​

 

[Idea]

Sure, let's investigate it!

 

[Felis]

Although it's usually a stupid idea to go chasing sounds in the dark, I'm too curious what they are to not choose this option. Let's investigate the rustling noises!

 

[Caligena]

Carby has yet to lead us astray as our goddess given animal guide, so I say we trust Carbuncle and investigate the rustling!

Also, couple things. WHOSE EFFING WHITE HAIR IS THIS AND WHY IS IT IN MY MOUTH NOW?
AND what if Calliope is the daughter of Caridad, and something bad happened to Caridad now she's the new Earth crest bearer or something? It could explain how she's able to get away so many times. Also how she was able to interfere with Rondo when we first got him.
Very interesting, verrryyyyy interesting.