Fandom Faerie Core - In Character Thread

[Ehb]

EbonChevalier Karyra Emiya Shin Rithas

---

Hoshino watched the events of the Ice-Pop crafting unfold as it was attempted by the children.

Karam successfully gathered sticks!
They were brought over to be used when needed!

Cyra botched mixing the ingredients together!
The mix meant for the ice cream doesn't look like it has an even consistency!

Stepping forward, Hoshino held her hand out to help Cyra finish mixing it. But she seemed to not notice Hoshino motioning to her. Instead, she handed it over to Akane. At first, it looked like she was going to have Akane finish mixing the mixture - certainly anyone looking into the bowl would notice that. But alas, Akane began to... try using Magic?

"Akane! Wait! It's not mixed-! And the sticks need to be in-!"

Too late.
Akane tried to freeze the solution in order to make the Ice Pops!
But she Froze the entire mixture in the bowl into a solid piece instead!

"...dipped in in order to help us share."

The children stared at the frozen bowl of watery sugar and cream. In truth it looked more like a semi-transparent, bowl-shaped, chunk of ice.

( That was the last bit of Sugar I had saved up from the Orpanage Kitchen... )
( Awww. )

Hoshino was smiling in a helpless fashion - almost looking like she was wanting to cry a little. But in the end, it was helpless to fret over the Ice Pops not turning out quite as expected. But even so, the moments where she fought back the urge to indulge in what little was left throughout the past year really made the meager payout really disappointing. But that wasn't something she wanted to let the children notice.

"Well! Sweet ice is still sweet ice!"

Fortunately - or unfortunately for the children. Water with some sugar in it wasn't the most unfamiliar treat they've ever encountered. In this case, it seemed appropriate though.

With how grim the current situation in Twilight Town looked. The Sugar and Water frozen over seemed like an eerily appropriate way to describe how bad things seemed to have gotten.



The children broke the dome shaped frozen treat into pieces, and they ate it in a small circle as they sat by the side of the roadway. It wasn't really anything - but given how they had walked the long way to get into Twilight Town, even this meager treat was better than nothing. Some of the children got lucky and had bits of the mixture that had a higher amount of cream an sugar frozen into it.

They were eventually admitted into Twilight Town. The group walked past a pair of tired but anxious looking guards at the gate.

---

The children settled into living in the bastion against Darkness that Twilight Town had become.
Living out on the streets was rough, but then again - living in the Old Orphanage that was always falling apart was just slightly better.

When the children got more familiar with the situation in town, they found that the people in the were working together to try to get through this tough time. The children - whom had been helping about the town all of this time, found the residents to be quite helpful. Offering to share what little they had left to the currently homeless orphans.

Eventually, in the shadow of a couple of buildings, Hoshino and everyone were able to cobble together a small makeshift home. It became their Usual Spot to come back to at the end of the day.


EbonChevalier
For Karam, there unfortunately wasn't much in the way of big crowds to see his shows in market square anymore. While he still did so occasionally, he found himself working more and more odd-jobs to support himself and the others.

Emiya Shin
Ruka kept her promise to help the shop owner. She would still occasionally would get help from Karam from time to time. But, since there were many other jobs Karam could do, she was there in the shop most often. She would be able to occasionally bring back food and supplies to the Usual Spot for the others.

Rithas
Cyra was devastated at the end of the Steak Challenge at her favorite restaurant. But, she found ways to keep herself busy to help the others.

Karyra
And Akane...
There wasn't as much time to daydream at Sunset Station as the Magus Order took control of it - and people going in where hurried along to go to their destinations. No more sitting on the rooftops watching the trains come and go.

Despite what Hoshino had been saying about getting her in to Magus Order, she found the topic continually pushed back and away further and further each time it was brought up. The others were soon caught up in trying to keep things together as they went out to do work in the town to support each other. Akane on the other hand, found herself essentially keeping the makeshift homestead at the Usual Spot put together.

It was still an important job. Being younger and not as outgoing, the task fell to her to give everyone a place to come 'home' to.

But, was Hoshino hoping that Akane would eventually forget about trying to join Magus Order altogether?



"It almost feels like we're at the Old Orphanage again, don't you guys think?"

The events of the past couple of months - how quickly circumstances were making them grow up - quietly came up as everyone sat around the cooking pot, waiting for today's breakfast of Watered Oats to finish boiling up.

"This little tent between some buildings isn't as grand as the Old Manor was, but this is a better situation than what I was originally thinking we'd be in." Hoshino said as she looked at their surrounding shelter appreciatively. "Thanks to all of us doing all of those odd jobs, we should be able to weather long enough to get on the next caravan out of Twilight Town in a month. If we can just keep this up, things will turn out fine..."

Hoshino looked relieved.
Their conversations around the fire had been mostly in how to get basic necessities to set up their usual spot to sleep for the night. But the talk about leaving Twilight Town was practically out of left field. This first month they'd simply been trying to survive. But right at this moment when they seemed to finally have things together, Hoshino was wanting them to leave?

Hoshino was a part of the Magus Order Defense Forces Guarding the town. The children didn't always know exactly where she would go to patrol sometimes as it would seem she would go outside of town sometimes.

What did the children say next in this conversation as their breakfast was being boiled ready?

 

[EbonChevalier]

"It's a little cramped but with all of us here I'm kinda getting that feeling." Karam frowned at the pot of tasteless gruel that would be sustaining them for the day. Times got rough back at the orphanage but they were never this lean. 'And what's the point of the damn Magus Guild anyway!' Karam 'They run Hoshino ragged, but never give her enough munny! It looks like she can barely feed herself let alone us!'

He got his bowl and stamped down on his frustration. He had to try and think positively about this. Things WERE hard but they were alive and mostly together. But this upcoming journey made him a little uneasy. Who's to say that where they were headed was any better? "But Hoshino, where are we gonna go after leaving Twilight Town?"

Ehb Rithas Emiya Shin Karyra

 

[Emiya Shin]

Ehb Karyra Rithas EbonChevalier

---

Despite everyone botching up the creation of ice cream, the sticks of the so-called sweet ice was the most memorable thing that Ruka ever ate. It was one of the more memorable events that she had experienced, compared to the daily work she had to do to at the fruit store. Even so, Ruka hardly complained, as she underwent the new, but monotonous way of life at Twilight Town. Rather than sleeping on the streets, and possibly getting herself (as well as the rest of the children) starved, the hard labor that she did managed to make ends meet. Though one thing for sure, Ruka did appreciate Karam's help. Otherwise, she might ended up being too tired to go on with her work.

The constant routine of helping out at the fruit store, and occasionally hauling food and grocery for the others kept on going, until one morning...

---

Ruka was patiently waiting for the oats to get cooked, albeit her purple eyes are partially awake. She half-heartedly listened to Hoshino's comments about the tent they are now living, at the moment. At first, Ruka was planning to sneak in a quick microsleeping session...

... Until she heard the part where Hoshino is planning to leave Twilight Town through a convoy of caravans. By the time Ruka was awake, Karam already spoke his thoughts to Hoshino, questioning where the children should go. The spunky girl blinked her eyes a couple times, before taking a deep breath, and looked at Hoshino.

"Yeah," Ruka wearily agreed with Karam. "Where are we supposed to go to begin with? Are there any other places, which are much safer than here? Or, at least, a way for us to sustain ourselves, without sleeping at the streets?"

For some reason, Ruka sounded way more grounded than her usual self, back when she was at the orphanage. It seemed like what happened several months ago, forced her to grow up in a much faster rate than usual.

 

[Rithas]

Ehb EbonChevalier Emiya Shin Karyra

---

There was a lot of things going on in Cyra's life. Some good. Some bad. More bad. It was mostly bad. Very bad, just a long continual line of bad things.

But you know, you gotta keep moving and all that~

Quite literally in her case. If her peaceful days before this whole 'timeskip' was saving cats and running down hills. It was now going through alleyways and moving crates. Well, there were still cats to be saved but nowadays they like actually needed to be saved and the owners weren't just mistaking their cats for arthritic dogs.
And there was the increasing amount of weird dreams. But she didn't wanna talk about that.

But that's all she was stuck doing nowadays.
Thinking.
Thinking about too many things.

So maybe that's why it took a few moments for Cyra to zone back into reality rather then mindlessly eating the slop.

"Hmmprf?" Cyra turned her head as she took another spoonful. The words of Karam and Ruka speaking giving her time to figure out what they were talking about.

"Charafn- Ack!" The girl beat her chest as she coughed up the misplaced gruel. "Giz a-a second..."

....

"Caravan? Moving out!?" Cyra gestured aimlessly in the air. "To where? I thought the outside was plunged into neverending darkness or...whatever is meant to be out there? It'd have to be pretty good for us to leave this place."

That was not a high bar to beat at all. But still. If the outside was meant to be as spooky as they claimed, she couldn't see how all five of them could find somewhere nice at the moment.

"Why even leave? I think we've all made ourselves pretty welcomed around here. Unless someone else in this tent caused some trouble or something I'm not judging"

"And stop dropping news on us mid meal it's hard to focus!"

 

[Karyra]

Ehb Rithas

---

Akane was too weak. Nobody would say so, but she was too weak to earn money. Too weak to pretend she was fine with all of this. That she wasn't tired of this circle of hide and pray things get better. She was the housekeeper. A pitable child who had been lost.

Akane withdrew even deeper. Her silence was cruelty in and of itself. She'd never put herself out there, but she'd always try and be friendly. Now?

"So, you're just going to cut and run when it's hard, huh Big Sis." Akane said when Hoshino they could save up and run away. "So how long are you going to pretend everyone is happy and fine? You keep us in the dark on what's happening and we can't even ask about it in public. You say it's for our own good but we lost Melio. We keep playing happy family day after day and I'm sick of it. I've played along, let you take your time. Tell me about the Magus Order or I'm running right up to their gates tomorrow to join."

Akane looked rough, like she hadn't slept well in a while. Everyone else wasn't much better, but Akane was taking everything hard. She came back to a world she didn't recognize, and every day she remembered the world with Pooh and Eeyore and she was being asked to ignore it. To not ask. Her happy place was replaced with the cancerous Magus Order, and she had no choice but to accept that nothing was ever going to be okay again.

 

[Ehb]

EbonChevalier Karyra Emiya Shin Rithas

---

Karam was dissatisfied at both the Magus Guild and their current situation. Meals of soupy oats, scraps, and soft overripe vegetables and fruits were a world away from what they could've easily gotten themselves in town before.

"That's why it's so fortunate that you and Ruka have that connection with the Shop Owner. I wish Magus Order could help us out a bit more as well too. But, believe me - at the end of the day their main mission is to defeat the Phantoms. It's up to us to help each other out, just like always, right?"

Hoshino's reassuring tone was a little ragged. It was true that she was really busy with Magus Order much of the time.

But the conversation moved towards the sudden and surprising revelation that the whole bunch of them were to leave Twilight Town. Karam was a little curious, Ruka was objective, and Cyra was a little all over the place.


"I know it's a really big thing to drop all of a sudden. But, leaving Twilight Town at this point really is probably for the best. It might be hard to think of it now, but there are other parts in The Kingdom that aren't nearly as in trouble as Twilight Town is currently. For you all, wouldn't it be better to be somewhere where you don't have to be stuck behind the city walls and living on the streets? You guys saw the books in the library about the other places in The Kindom, right - like the place where every day is Halloween for instance. That would be a fun place to live right?"

Hoshino finished with her small helping of oats, put down the bowl and spoon thoughtfully in front of her - still mindful of her table manners even without a table.

"I'll miss Twilight Town too, but it's too dangerous to be here after what's happened. The fight against the Phantoms is something that we should leave to the adults after all..."


Her voice trailed off a little.
But soon Akane spoke up.

Akane, whom had been waiting here in this tent in a corner alley all of these days had been mulling in her own helplessness for so long that she simply had to speak up. She reminded everyone about the fact that Melio was still gone. Hosino keeping her in the dark about Magus order too. The young girl gave the ultimatum that she was going to go find out about Magus Order herself if Hoshino wasn't honest with her now.

It was a bit surprising seeing Akane speak up in such a forward manner today. But, maybe it was just because that the rest of the children had so much to keep themselves occupied that they simply couldn't notice her growing frustration.


Hoshino felt a bit guilty as she thought about it.
Akane had been holding down the fort here in the Usual Spot, basically doing what took a whole team of children to do before - the household chores of the Orphanage. Granted - this was just the chores generated by this smaller group, but it was the least favorite thing for anyone to do - and Akane had been doing this all on her own while not even being able to venture around town freely like before.

"Erm... Akane, scooch over a little please?"

Hoshino knee walked closer to Akane in return. Eventually, Hoshino gently crossed her arms over Akane's shoulder and pulled her back to rest up against her own frame.

"Hehe. Gotcha." Hoshino looked looked towards everyone around in the tent, the others noticed that she was fighting back her own tiredness to look a little bit more cheerier. "You know everyone? Akane's been taking care of our new house here all on her own while we're away. Doncha think it's long past time to let her know how much we appreciate her?"

The children could clearly remember how their days had went this past month. Eating breakfest together - leaving - working - and coming back for supper and to sleep. Hoshino's words made them think about how Akane must've felt, sitting here in this dark tent in an alley all on her own most of the time.

The children, acknowleding Hoshino's lead, proceeded to...

 

[EbonChevalier]

'Woah.' Karam thought. 'Leave it to Akane to surprise us with an outburst like that.' But she was right and poked at an especially sore spot for all of them. Melio was who knows where and they had no way of finding him or even trying to. Karam was sure that others had thrown themselves into work as a distraction and he'd honestly done the same. Their brother possibly being in trouble or worse is hard to think about when your dog tired. But Akane was here alone for most of the day and she had almost nothing to distract her.

'And speaking of distractions....' Karam thought as he saw Hoshino embrace Akane and speak of how they needed to show appreciation. 'Big sis is still trying to lead us off the trail.' He knew this was her own way of protecting them from whatever dangers the Magus Guild held. But he could tell Akane wouldn't be satisfied to keep ignoring things and honestly? Neither was he.

"I wouldn't mind leaving Twilight Town," Karam said as he stirred up his oats. "If things are better somewhere else we should go because we can't keep living like this. We'll all start getting bigger soon, so we'll need more food and space." He took a deep breath and steeled himself. "But Hoshino before we leave we have to know about the Magus Guild and what they're doing. And we have to start looking for Melio too. I know Akane's been working hard to keep this place livable and we should thank her for that. But it'd be much better to stop keeping her and us out the dark."

Ehb @Karya Rithas Emiya Shin

 

[Karyra]

Ehb EbonChevalier

---

Akane let Hoshino hug her, for now. But as Hoshino spoke, Akane's anger grew. Appreciation wasn't going to get answers. Appreciation wasn't going to find Melio. Appreciation wasn't going to do anything for all her anger.

"So you're not even going to acknowledge that Melio might be dead?" Akane said quietly. "We're just going to pretend all this away? I can't! I lost a year of being here with you and everyone and I lost a friend to a place I don't even know how or why we went there. I lost everything in the blink of an eye and learned everything just got worse and all you want to do is hug it away?"

Akane shoved with all her might to get Hoshino to stop hugging her. She wanted a hug, sure, but this was a distraction. This was just more sleight of hand and pretending everything was fine. It's not fine.

 

[Rithas]

Ehb EbonChevalier Emiya Shin Karyra

---

Cyra had said her piece and so went back to eating. It was hard to have coherent thoughts with the way her head was nowadays anyway. It seemed that her younger siblings were getting the major points across on their own. She didn't have to speak for them nowadays. It really did feel like the others were growing up fast. Too fast. Or maybe she was just completely stagnant in comparison? She didn't know. So the conversation continued without her.

Still, Hoshino was clearly ignoring the emphatic shaking hand near the throat gesture Cyra was making when her old sibling began to talk about appreciation to Akane.

Karam and Akane were not deterred by Hoshino's attempts to shuffle the dialogue to something more light hearted. All her actions led to was the mood being soured just that bit more.
There was damage done by cringe. Followed up with a debuff from Cyra stuffing another spoon of gruel into her mouth.
Eat away the feelings, Cyra.

When no one is around Cyra speaks to the stars to bring Melio back.
He had been right next to her when...
Where were you, dork?

Swallow down the feelings.

Even Akane wasn't given what she wanted at the present moment as her push to get Hoshino away failed to cause much physical movement. Something unwanted being stuck to you despite attempts to move. How fitting for life at the moment. The big sister seemed to be taking a couple of missteps in a row here.

So what was the second biggest sister to do?

A bowl was put down.
Hoshino found that she too had arms hoisting her from behind. A forehead leaned against her back.

"Did you want a hug, Hoshino?"
Cyra had moved to hug her sister from behind. Granted, this was slightly more awkward giving the different frames than the first and for a small moment made a sort of orphan conga between the three. But it gave a tilting force backward, giving an indication for which direction to move from.

"You know you can just ask..."
Hoshino felt how firm Cyra's grip was around her. There was a warmth, and a feeling that nothing could pry the girl away from this.

Nothing would.

Cyra took a breath.

...........

And popped her head back out to the others.

"Remember when we talked about expressing our feelings. That doesn't mean you can exclude yourself!" Cyra waggled a finger. "It doesn't help you! And it doesn't help us! You're pretty important too! How are you? Do you feel like poop!? Look at everyone! They feel like poop! Things are like totally poop! It's okay for us to say it's poop! We need an action plan against the poop! What's happening. Why is it happening. How can we make better things be happening!

Look how smart Akane, Karam and Ruka are now! Let's just say we're on an even playing field now! We've been living in a tent for ages! Words! Now!"


Also Cyra had gotten a pretty large stain of food on Hoshino's back by accident when she leaned into her. But that would be a problem for later.

 

[Ehb]

EbonChevalier Karyra Emiya Shin Rithas

---

"Urgh..."
Akane's ears made out a small pained moan Hoshino let out when she tried to push her away. Despite her best efforts the bigger sister had a good grip when it came to her embrace. In fact, it felt like her hold over Akane had tightened a little even.

While Karam was fine with leaving, he like Akane wanted to know more about the truth about Melio... and why Hoshino seemed so determined to turn their eyes away from anything related to Magus Order. It was natural for them to be anxious about what had happened to him, and while it was also understandable that Hoshino was probably trying to keep their minds off of such worrisome things, it was that same over-protectiveness that was creating more unease.

"I..." Hoshino, for some unknown reason breathed in a fresh - dusty gulp of air as if steeling herself. "I... know Melio is still out there somewhere lost just like you all were. And, I belive just like all of you came back, he will too. You just need to believe he will someday. Ya know? I believed that you all would come back eventually and it happened so, I know it can happen for Melio too."

It was perhaps that same thought that made Cyra want to intervene.

"Hugs don't magically solve everything... I know that. But sometimes people just need a hug to keep on going. I do sometimes. I's pretty effective when you get it from somone who cares about you."

"Did you want a hug, Hoshino?"
"Cyra? Ah... wai-...."
"You know you can just ask..."
"Augh..!"


The pain Hoshino felt was suddenly exacerbated by Cyra's strong embrace.
Now both Akane and Cyra had hear Hoshino try to suppress a pained reaction from physical contact.

Cyra encouraged the children to speak up the feelings that they've had buried while trudging through simply surviving since they've returned. Cyra's crude wording in rallying her and her siblings was a little too crude for a young lady, but Hoshino was short on having the facilities to be policing the girl's vocabulary. Cyra was still trying to help out, that was enough.


"I suppose Cyra is correct. Based on what everyone's said so far - the thing what everyone wants the most is to know what Magus Order is?"

There wasn't much point in trying to change the subject now, given all attention was now on it. Hoshino paused for a moment as she resigned herself to needing to finally explain herself.

"Listen closely, everyone. So, Magus Order really, really, is trying to save Twilight Town, and everywhere else threatened by the Phantoms however they can. They're the only hope - the only unified front who can help everyone work together to keep the Darkness from consuming everything. But, as noble and as necessary as that is...."

Cryra....
Noticed a sensation of wetness coming from where she was hugging up against Hoshino. It was warm. Like.... body temperature warm.

"...Magus Order is a place I forbid you all from ever joining."

Strong words.
The children rarely - if ever - heard Hoshino speak in such absolute language. Hoshino was supposed be the most easygoing of the bigger siblings at the Orphanage.

"If you join Magus Order, you'll no doube be a part of the honorable crusade in saving the world. You'll become a hero - just like the Faerie Tales. But, once you do that, you can't go back to being just a child. All you dreams, all your aspirations... they'll all become dedicated to saving the world - and nothing else."

Hoshino's grip on Akane loosened up. Like she was running out of strength.

"All of you came back from a place where no one else thought you could come back from. All I ever wanted was for you to have the option to grow up and decide who you want to become, and not just have Magus Order impose that Identity of a Hero on you. I simply thought that it wouldn't be right for you all to have come back from what was supposed be an inescapable fate, only to be thrown into battle against those Phantoms for the rest of your lives."

"Was that... Wrong of me to think that way?"

At that point it was now becoming apparent to both Ruka and Karam even.
Hoshino's voice and deposition had been growing weaker and weaker. As she had been talking just now, it was like her energy was burning out, and fast.
But the idea that Hoshino was actively starting to expire was far off from most everyone's minds. As that was simply not something that happens.

But-

Spoiler: Cyra...

The warm, wet and sticky substance she had been feeling. The food she thought she had spilled on her sister.
It was becoming more and more apparent that it was blood. Hoshino was bleeding.
Perhaps from Akane trying to push her away, or Cyra's surprise bear hug. It seemed to have been enough to disrupt a wound.

But, that wasn't possible. Magus Order had people who could use Cure or Esuna Magic. They could repair whatever wounds she or any Magus Order member got from fighting the Phantoms during patrols.
Right?

Spoiler: Akane...

Kipe began to feel the weight of Hoshino's upper body seeming to slack up against her back. It was like Hoshino had turned into a sack of flour (albeit - a light one).
But, it was also strange. The back of Akane's back had this wet sensation as well. It was odd though. The temperature was warm. Did Cyra spill some of the food on her somehow?

 

[Emiya Shin]

Ehb Karyra Rithas EbonChevalier

---

As for Ruka, she did not react much to the outburst caused by Akane. She was monotonously eating her breakfast, though she did felt what Akane was trying to convey. She was only just, too tired. The sleep that she had last night was anything but fulfilling. According to Akane's words, it was undeniable that they were indeed living in some form of twisted repetition. Hoshino, of course, tried to soothe Akane's concerns. Applauding her that she did most of the heavy lifting within the group of 5. Asking the other 3 children to shower Akane with praise.

Unfortunately, it did little to quell the increasing feel of discontent from Akane, Karam, and now Cyra. Hoshino finally relented, and revealed some parts of Magus Order. That they were indeed fighting against the increasing threat of Phantoms. After being a part of the Magus Order, Hoshino deemed that she should discourage the other kids from joining them, due to the fact that their lives will be changed forever.

In short, joining the Magus Order is an irreversible decision.

But Ruka did not care about the Magus Order. She was quite exhausted with her current lifestyle as a child labor. She just wanted to go back to the past, where their lives were simple, and things were blissful.

All that changed however, when the spunky girl noticed the obvious change of disposition from Hoshino. Her voice became weaker. It seemed like she struggled to stand.

"Big-Sis Hoshino!" Ruka instinctively exclaimed as both Akane, Cyra, and Hoshino were hugging each other.

"Are you okay?!" She dropped her empty bowl of breakfast and cutlery to the ground, before rushing towards her. "Were you sick? You looked like you're going to faint!"

Ruka never cared about being a heroine. She also remembered about the disappearance of Melio, but she was helpless to it. But with Hoshino looking pale, that might change. For better, or worse.

 

[EbonChevalier]

Ehb Emiya Shin Rithas @Karya

Karam was going to rebuttal with a few questions of his own. 'Why didn't you tell us what was happening with the guild?' Being one of them. The stern words from his usually boiled marshmallow-soft older sister while surprising didn't deter him. It was the weakness in her voice and her now visible lack of energy. He was running right after Ruka to see her. "By the Great Light...." She was looking bad from where he sat, but up close she was even worse. "What's wrong with you?!" He gently put a hand to her head to check on her temperature.

 

[Ehb]

EbonChevalier Karyra Emiya Shin Rithas

---

Despite what was happening before them, Akane and Cyra froze. Seemingly unable to process what was happening. Karam and Ruka however, sensed something amiss with Hoshino's behavior. They rushed forward to check on her. The two were convinced that this worrisome episode of exhaustion was the manifestation of Hoshino's work schedule at Magus Order was finally starting to catch up to her - maybe even a cold. But, it was worse than that.

It was terrible enough that the children chose to leave behind their duties outside the tent for the day. Though, perhaps saying they chose to was simply an incorrect statement. There was no way they could leave, now that Hoshino's condition was made apparent.



Akane and Cyra's were now slightly bloodied. Blood from their 'Big Sister' no less. Underneath Hoshino's shirt was a whole layer of bandages that looked like they were past due for a change - as Cyra and Kane could attested to. Seeing their sister like this, the gravity of Hoshino forbidding them from joining Magus Order became apparent. She simply didn't want to see any of them end up as badly as she looked right now.

But there was another question that now occupied some of the children's thoughts. How should Hoshino get hurt this badly, and still be carrying wounds even though she fought along-side the others in Magus Order? How could Fatuita let this happen to her?

Hoshino could not answer those questions for them now, though. After they had laid her down in the tent, she had become unresponsive. She was still alive at that moment - but she was in a terrible condition.

They had to find a way to help her.
But how?

The children had to find someone to help Hoshino out, but who could they turn to? The Shopkeeper? The Townspeople? Magus Order?
Hoshino was hurt to the point that she wouldn't heal on her own just by letting her rest in the tent. They had to act!

 

[Karyra]

Ehb Rithas EbonChevalier Emiya Shin

---

Akane gave up her struggle when she heard a small pained cry from Hoshino. Before she could fully process it, she was supporting Hoshino more and more and her back was wet. Was Hoshino crying? But that didn't make sense wouldn't the tears be cold?

Akane reached up to rub her neck and saw-

"Blood?"

Ruka started to panic. Karam was doing something. Light around Akane dimmed. The world narrowed down to just Akane, Hoshino, and the cooling of her sister's blood on her neck.

She did this.

"Karam and Ruka, get new bandages. If you have to steal them, do it." Her voice was ice cold. "Tear clothes up if you have to. Cyra, boil water. We'll need to clean up the bandages and wounds. If they're infected, we'll steal potions. If you're squeamish about it, tell me and I'll do it."

So Heroes get tossed aside? This was what Hoshino was protecting them from?

Akane rolled up her sleeves, moving to get a clear look at Hoshino's wounds. This wasn't crybaby Kipo. This wasn't nervous, scared Kipo. This was Akane knowing this was her fault and knowing that there was not going back to her parents. This was admitting that she couldn't sit around the tent and pretend it was the same. That they could undo what had been broken.

If she couldn't fix this... then the Magus Order was their next best bet. Let her be a child solider, but she was going in clear eyed. With the additional income, they could afford better meals. Even if they were hurt, it was better than waiting for the clock to reverse.

 

[Rithas]

Ehb EbonChevalier Emiya Shin Karyra

---

Blood.

There was something she was meant to be doing here.

Blood.

Words were being said. She couldn't hear them. She couldn't hear anything. Her world was silent.

Hoshino's blood.

Panic. Don't panic. Panic. Don't panic. Panic. Don't panic. Do something. Do anything. Do something. Do anything. Something. Anything. Please. She always had a....

Her sister's blood.

---

Oh.

She had nothing.

---

Cyra shut off.
Cyra followed what Akane said.
Cyra went to boil water.

 

[Emiya Shin]

Ehb Karyra Rithas EbonChevalier

---

"Steal, if I have to!?" Ruka instinctively blurted out her thoughts, when she heard Akane's suggestion. "Are you serious?! Why don't we just get Hoshino to a healer or a doctor? I think the adults won't be that cold-hearted, are they?! Would they abandon someone who is dying, right now?!"

It was an emergency, sure. But Ruka in her conscience, was unable to commit a crime. This will have rippling consequences to the children, not just herself.

"I'll---" The spunky girl tried to find words. "I'll see, if I can find any unused rags from the fruit store shopkeeper! I'll also find help, as well!"

With that said, Ruka bolted out towards the direction of the fruit store. If that does not work, she is going to beg random passerbys for help. Stealing, was her last choice. Ever. If anything, they might get punished instead. In this situation, all she has is sincerity. But will Ruka's desperate feelings can garner some attention from the adults? There is only one way to find out.

 

[EbonChevalier]

Ehb Emiya Shin Rithas @Karya
Though shifted into motion as fast as lightning and Karam was out the door as soon as he got orders. No turmoil over stealing. (They were homeless.) Shock at the sight of the blood.(But not to point of immobility.)
The only thoughts in his mind was how fast could he get to the fruit store owner. “Ruka! You find I help I’ll talk to the fruit store owner about those bandages! I help her a lot a she owes me!”

 

[Ehb]

The children were quick to grasp the situation after the initial shock of seeing Hoshino's worrisome state.

The children were no strangers to injuries. They got hurt from doing chores around the town, and more often from playing around recklessly. Scratches from falling down, bumps from running into things. There were quite familiar with the simple rule of cleaning wounds and covering them till they healed. But, for stuff beyond that, like a sprain or broken arm, that required a doctor. In the depths of their hearts they knew that the affliction that Hoshino currently had wasn't something they could really handle on their own. But still, they had to at least adress what was happening to her now.

Gone were the days when they could go straight to a doctor who at worst would have them wait a bit to finish with their patient. Thus, right now, they had to at least stop Hoshino from getting worse.

That was possible, Right?

Karam and Ruka rushed out of the tent to get help and supplies for Hoshino. Akane, and a now oddly stoic Cyra worked to stabilize Hoshino back in the tent.

---

EbonChevalier Karyra Emiya Shin Rithas

[Information]
The next part of this story continues in their respective threads on the discord, which will be put up here later.

 

[Ehb]

EbonChevalier Karyra Emiya Shin Rithas

---

Story Skit: The Fruit Stand - Please Help Hoshino!
Karam & Ruka

Ruka and Karam raced from the Usual Spot to the Fruit Stand where they normally worked. Today, it looked closed - but they knew that the owner kept themselves holed up in the shop, trying to save and scavenge whatever they could - given the shortages of everything in Twilight Town.

Karam and Ruka's insistent knocking on the door to the shop eventually brought them face to face with the owner.

"Sorry, we got nothing left in stock... Oh. You two?"

The shop owner recognized the two whom had been helping around the shop. At first the owner met them with a inquisitive look, before noticing the air of urgency these little helpers were giving off.

"I got no work for you still since we don't have anything to sell right now. What's going on? You look like you two saw a Phantom."



“It’s an emergency!” Karam screamed. “Our older sis is hurt bad! We need fresh bandages or her wounds might get worse!”


Ruka, on the other hand, was quite exhausted from running as fast as she could to the Fruit Stand. Once Karam was done, her purple eyes looked at the Fruit Stand owner, and pleaded to them.

"Karam---" She briefly paused to take a breath. "---- Karam was right...! Our older sister, Hoshino is wounded---! We don't have any clean bandage for her, and we just lived at the roadside..."

She continued on.

"She--- she might die if we don't do something---!"


Seeing the normally confident Karam pleading for assistance was enough to consider his words genuine. Ruka being there as well doubly so. Of course the owner wanted to help. The kids had been helping them out when anyone else in town were too busy looking out for themselves or just up and leaving town. It was thanks to these two helping them out that the store was able to run for just a bit longer than otherwise. Honestly speaking, given how the situation in town was still deteriorating, and how the shipments for anything to even sell were drying up, the shop owner was trying to get out of town themselves at this point.

"...Alright. So she needs bandages? I don't have any real bandages left at this point, but I have some old sheets that might help."

The owner left to the back, and returned shortly after with some cloth. It looked like it had been used for a table at some point.

"...You guys are going to have to get creative, but this should be enough for you guys to get your friend to a doctor or something." They folded the sheet and offered it to Karam. "Also, thanks for your two's help through all of this. I'm going to be taking the next chance to get out of Twilight Town. You kids should... try to do the same thing too."

There was a hint of conflict in the owner's voice. Almost as if they were holding back in telling the children something else... Noticing this subtle hint, Karam and Ruka wondered what it might've been. Would they inquire further before saying farewell, or was it more important to return to Hoshino as quickly as possible?



"Thanks!" Said Karam as he took the sheet. "If we boil these up they should keep her wounds closed."

Karam was about to high tail it out of there with Ruka but... he definitely felt something was off. "W-why are you leaving? Is something bad gonna happen?"


"Yeah! Did something happened in Twilight Town...?" Ruka also promptly asked on top of Karam's question, when she heard that the fruit stand owner decided to leave.

What is going in Twilight Town? Is the situation really that bad, that they need to risk themselves, and leave the town?

"Big Sis Hoshino also asked us to leave Twilight Town too..."


The shopkeep looked at the two children with concern. What was happening to Twilight Town? The happening was what they were living through - inching towards, even.

"Well, to put it simply, Magus Order is about to abandon the town to the Phantoms, you two. You two need to get out while there's still caravans heading out of town. O' course, needless to say that everyone is scrambling to get out as we speak."

Get out soon.
The shop owner hesitated to say the next thing. He felt like a villain for saying something so terrible to Ruka and Karam after they'd sincerely helped him - keeping their promise. Thus, it was for that reason that they felt compelled to be brutally blunt:

"Hoshino. That girl... I appreciate all that she's done. But, if she's as hurt as you two seem to be hinting at. Needing a fresh change of bandages."

"You should just do what you can and leave while you still can. Get out of Twilight Town while you still can. Look, I have acess to one of the shipping cars on my train out of here. - if we head out now we can sneak you two on there! You'll just have to bear riding with a bunch of cargo for a couple of days before we make it to Traverse Town and then... you can at least figure it out."

Abandon Hoshino?
Was the shop teller telling them to leave her to.... whatever happens to her to save themselves?
That went against everything that Hoshino had taught them at the Orphanage. But...

Did this mean abandoning Cyra and Akane too?

"...I can vouch that there isn't enough room beyond squeezing you two in there. Any more of you guys and you'll suffocate. I'm headed over there now. I know I'm dropping a hard choice on you two but... kids. The chance that you'll end up being turned into a phantom if you don't book it out of this place sooner rather than later is very high!"

Ruka...
Karam...

They individually chose to...



Faced with the brutal, and sudden revelations from the Fruit Stand owner about Twilight Town, Ruka was initially speechless. Hoshino was right all along. No wonder she actually urged the other children to leave Twilight Town. The spunky girl gave a brief stare at Karam, as if she was trying to gauge what his reactions were at the moment.

Either way, with her conscience, Ruka cannot agree to this. At least not right now. She did not have the heart to abandon the others, considering how Hoshino never gave up on them when they were considered missing in the real world.

"Shopkeeper, is it really important to decide now?!"

For now, Ruka threw a neutral question to the Fruit Stall owner. She has no intention of rejecting their offer. Not without Karam expressing his thought on the matter.


“No.”

Karam’s voice and eyes were heavy as glared at the shop keep.

“We leave together or we don’t leave at all. And if there’s no room for all of us in the cart out we’ll find another way.” He could not would not leave any more of his family behind. Not when his own birth parents abandoned him on the steps of the old mansion as a baby. And not when he’s lost a brother.

He turned and started for the usual place. “C’mon Ruka let’s get this on Hoshino.” Karam set his mind toward getting all of his family out of here not matter what.


With Karam's firm response towards the fruit stall owner's offer, Ruka could only smile at them. "Thank you for the offer, but I'm sorry to say that I have to turn it down as well."

It was a smile that conveyed regret to the fruit stall owner. A decision that Ruka had to make. Hoshino after all, had hope on the children even almost a year had passed.

"May we meet again, if fate allow us. Once again, thank you for supporting us this long."

With that said, she followed Karam back to Hoshino...


The owner, show down completely. Ruka and Karam chose to not abandon their 'family' - or at least what was left of it. That was probably one of the meanest looks Karam has ever put on. Thought the shop owner as the pair walked away. But, a denial to that offer to leave at the cost of abandoning the others was what the shop owner expected.

Yes, a child still had yet to experience the need to break their principles in order to survive. The shop owner wasn't keen on trying to be the one to force the two to break the principle of NOT abandoning one's family. Yes, it might've even been cruel to even posit the question, given that - orphans they were - Karam and Ruka very intimately knew the feeling of being abandoned.

The shop owner could only hope that things would work out for those kids.
They at least tried. Yes, the shop owner's sister - forever lost in the forests outside Twilight Town - probably would've wanted that.

The shop owner made one fateful tour around their shop to make sure nothing they needed was left behind. Upon leaving their shop for the final time, they didn't even bother to lock the door.

---

Story Skit Compilation: The Usual Place - Hoshino, Injured
Akane, Cyra, & Hoshino

Cyra and Akane tended to Hoshino back at the tent. With Hoshino seemingly bleeding so much, it seemed like the most obvious route to help their sister out. Akane had a clear plan to replace Hoshino's bandages and she steeled herself to face whatever injuries Hoshino was hiding from her.

That didn't matter. They couldn't lose Hoshino. Not after already having lost Melio.



Akane quickly removed the clothes blocking her line of sight. She had no way of addressing whatever was going on with Hoshino. She cursed her foolishness to not learn cure, which would at least help a little for now. She doubted they would find anyone who would come to help, so all they had was the stuff on hand. Akane looked over the wounds, trying to get a good idea of where to even start



Looking between Akane and Hoshino as the former began the process of trying to heal, The awake part of Cyra tried it's best to dig around for the right protocol as she stepped forward to help with tending to their sister.



It didn't take long for the two children to see in detail just how terrible Hoshino's injuries were. It overwhelmed them.

Akane and Cyra didn't know what had just come over them, as they stood outside of the tent. Right now, they were supposed be trying to help their sister in the moment that they needed to the most, but in this moment, they had failed.

Cyra was looking worriedly at Akane, who in-turn, was dry heaving what little food she had managed to eat just now. These deep and guttural heaves were both surprising and shocking to Akane, they had come about completely out of control, as a reaction to actually seeing the state of Hoshino's body. Was that the first time she had seen blood? Probably not. But - it was probably the first time she ever saw a truly injured person whom kept fighting and patching themselves up for for too long after they should've simply stopped to heal. The thought that Hoshino was seemingly in the process of destroying herself in order to fight against the Phantoms. The reality of such a realization was crushing.

At this moment, Akane couldn't handle seeing Hoshino the way she was. Cyra on the other hand was... lost. Almost like she couldn't process what was happening as their already shattered view on the world was being ground down into dust. Akane was able to calm down. She and Cryra's eyes met.

It was apparent that even if they managed to wrap up Hoshino with new bandages, the injuries she had needed to be looked at by a doctor. Perhaps one of the few overloaded doctors left in town with hours long waits, or Magus Order. Maybe... Hoshino was being over considerate to others and refusing treatment this whole time and Magus Order simply didn't know how injured she'd gotten? Was that a possibility?

This situation felt so beyond Cyra and Akane. It felt like all they could do was freeze up and hope it got better. But, sitting around and doing nothing went against what they'd been taught all this time at the Orphanage. Could they possibly find the courage to not let their fear immobilize them into resignation at their helplessness?



Akane stood, letting the last of it leave her system. She would not cry about this. She couldn't let Cyra know how awful the situation was, and she couldn't crumble her newfound resolve.

"Cyra, please run and find a doctor. You're faster than me. Do what you need to. It's- it's pretty bad. Remember that Hoshino can cast Cure." Akane said, "and she's hurt pretty bad."

All she could do was say it was bad. Sooner or later she'd have to go back in to finish the job so the doctor could see the extent of well, everything. But it wouldn't be cheap, and no way anyone was going to just help out of the goodness of their heart. After all, the Magus Order was supposedly "heroes" who let Hoshino get this hurt.

Akane braced herself to go back in and try and do what she could while waiting on Cyra.



On her second try, Akane was able to stomach seeing Hoshino's wounds - despite Cyra still being stick in place, seemingly frozen up, not knowing what to do. She managed to at least cycle out the bandages that most desperately needed replacement. With each passing moment, Akane thought about the value of tearing into their own rags in order to make makeshift bandages - pondering the grim possibility that Karam would not Return with the bandages they needed.

Ultimately, Akane did all she could.
But it was still not enough to turn Hoshino's condition around. She really needed someone to really look at her. Someone qualified. Someone in Magur Order who could use Cure Magic - could stitch Hoshino back together.... something!

Akane had done everything she could.
But it still wasn't quite enough. Just like Cyra she felt herself freeze up - no knowing what to do... when...

"Kgh..." Hoshino groaned, as she Squinted one of her eyes open, looking at Akane. The furrows of pain visible on Hoshino's face were like a stark reminder at how Akane's efforts were ultimately...

"Ahah. Akane? Are you the one putting bandages on me this time? So brave."

...

Hoshino was currently conscious. It felt like it was important to keep her from passing out again. But what could Akane or Cyra do beyond converse with her? They needed to get Hoshino out of here. And, that was probably a feat that would require at least the strength of both Cyra and Karam to do without dragging their older sister across the street to whatever help they could find.



Akane could only do such limited things. It just wasn't enough. She was weak and she only barely managed to avoid dry heaving again. So she was frozen in place yet again.

Hoshino spoke softly, still somewhat out of it.

"Why'd you let yourself get so hurt?" Akane asked. "We could have helped. Instead you're keeping us all in the dark again and now you're hurt and I have to tell people what to do and and..." Akane kept down her tears, choking back as many sobs as she could.

"If we knew what was happening we could have done something, big sis Hoshino. Instead you're badly hurt and everyone is desperate to help you." Akane asked. "What did this?"



Hoshino struggled to smile.
She was self aware that she needed to not frighten Akane and the others by expressing her pain too much, but - that pain was sharp. It was even more sharper than the strike that originally inflicted it somehow. Did that mean it wasn't getting any better?

Ah, but, she had to reply back to Akane.
She had to explain why she was hurt all of a sudden.

"Fighting the Phantoms can get people hurt, so lots of people are getting hurt all of the time."

Hoshino, even through her pain. Lied.

"...I'm just really far behind in line to get treatment is all. I was about to go to... someone to get help. I guess the one that did this was myself."


Because of herself, she said.
Because Hoshino let herself run this hard to the point that a mere touch would get her to bleed out like this. Fighting until she got this hurt. Trying to cover up serious injuries with bandages when it was long past necessary to use Cure Magic. That was... not normal. That was crazy!

"Akane, everyone. Listen carefully. If I try to walk back to Magus Order that way I am, I won't make it. That's why, even though it'll be hard, I need you all to do something:"



"Leave me behind. Get out of Twilight Town right away in any way you can."


Akane and Cyra, in mid shock, realized Karam and Ruka had also returned. They couldn't pinpoint how long it had been since they'd come back, but by the expressions the two wore, it sounded like they had heard enough.

If they left Hoshino here, the way she was, she would die.
In yet she was asking them to leave Twilight Town without her.

So she was... asking them to let her Die?


How could someone ever ask that?
How could Hoshino ask that?
They never in their lives had ever had to face this scenario - but it was happening right in front of them now.
Hoshino as aware of this. This was a ugly thing to be asking of them. But, the simple and warm world Twilight Town once was was simply no more.
They best thing she could do for them right now, was push them in the right direction - even if her heart was breaking in telling them to do so.

"You all understand what I'm saying, don't you? I'm not going to get better. Twilight Town is not going to get better either - so... you need to all go before it's too late. You all have to save yourselves - move somewhere else. Even Magus Order is about to give up the town to the Phantoms. Once they're gone, no one'll be left to protect you all."


Despite her now ghastly appearance, Hoshino tried to smile encouragingly.

"You all have your own dreams. You all have your own futures you should be able to choose. Seeing you all work together to get out of the Faerie Tree World, and living together this big month. You big sister's come to realize that you don't need to cling to her anymore. You can make your dreams come true on your own. But, those dreams won't come
true if you get trapped here with me holding you back. So, please. You need to just : "

Spoiler

"Let me go."
Said Hoshino as she smiled, already resigned to her fate.




The entirety of Hoshino's facade of optimism was gone.

The children had no way of knowing how much of what Hoshino had gone through while they were gone had eroded away at the person they had set out to look for that fateful night at the Orphanage. Her body and spirit where both literally crumbling apart, only held together by her desire to help out her brothers and sisters who managed to return from that tragic incident.

But everyone had their limit. Hoshino was no exception.

"The past month, we've lived out here entirely reliant on our own. In other places, people aren't going to be as friendly since they won't know you. But, be sincere and hard working and you'll do just fine. It'll all work out at long as you don't give up. I promise."

Hearing those words from Hoshino now - to not give up - punched a hole in the children's heart.
How could they belive those words when Hoshino herself wasn't following them.

This wasn't like her!

EbonChevalier Karyra Emiya Shin Rithas

At this point, the children couldn't stay silent any longer.
They...

 

[EbonChevalier]

Karam sprinted full speed towards the Usual Place, bandages in hand. His thoughts ran across his mind like lightning. 'Forget what he said we can all find a way out of here! Together! We just need to be quick and clever about it! And we can find a new home for us and go back to looking for Melio!'

He burst in with the bandages held high. "We got'em! Someone put these big sis back quick befor-"

"Leave me behind. Get out of Twilight Town right away in any way you can.

A shiver racked Karam's body and his words died in his mouth.

"You all understand what I'm saying, don't you? I'm not going to get better. Twilight Town is not going to get better either - so... you need to all go before it's too late. You all have to save yourselves - move somewhere else. Even Magus Order is about to give up the town to the Phantoms. Once they're gone, no one'll be left to protect you all."

He couldn't believe what Hoshino was saying.

"N-no... No!" Hot tears were budding in the corners of his eyes.

"You all have your own dreams. You all have your own futures you should be able to choose. Seeing you all work together to get out of the Faerie Tree World, and living together this big month. You big sister's come to realize that you don't need to cling to her anymore. You can make your dreams come true on your own. But, those dreams won't come
true if you get trapped here with me holding you back. So, please. You need to just : "

Karam grits his teeth as he lets out a strained angry cry. Tears freely flowed down his face as he held the bandages in a sweaty death grip.
"I'M NOT LOSING ANYONE ELSE!"

He glares at Hoshino. After all they went through to make this new life of theirs work how could she give up?!

"Y-you don't get to decide when you finished being my Big sister! We'll drag you along with us if we have to! No one else is getting left behind!" He stomped over to Hoshino bandages in hand ready to apply them to himself if he had to.

@Ebh Karyra Emiya Shin Rithas

 

[Emiya Shin]

Ehb Karyra Rithas EbonChevalier

---

Had the situation were slightly more better, Ruka would have slapped Hoshino right on her left cheeks.

But she did not do so. If anything, she did not want to do, nor say things that she would terribly regret in the future.

Ruka merely stood there as Karam tearfully spoke his thoughts out to Hoshino. If anything, this was most likely the first time that she had seen the optimistic young boy being this emotional. The young girl's knuckles turned white, with her nails dug into her palms. A sniffle escaped from her mouth, as Karam yelled that he was not going to lose anymore people. Ruka was trying her best to keep it in. She was trying her best not to cry.

Even then, she failed. The once spunky girl buried her face into her hands, before she started sobbing. She had no idea what to say on this current situation. The current situation that she utterly had no control in. Should Ruka told her that both Karam, and herself just rejected the offer of the fruit stall owner to run away Twilight Town? Would saying that to Hoshino be enough to convince her, to try her best to survive?

She felt helpless, as everything started crumbling down.

Ruka kept on crying.

But...

Was that it? Helplessly cry at the possible, inevitable ending?

Or, should she say something that she will never regret not saying? Something that would forever be etched in her memories, for the rest of her life?

"Big Sis..." Ruka finally mustered the strength to talk, in-between her sniffles. "Please... don't give up..."

Her hands then gave way to a red-eyed Ruka, as she looked at Hoshino.

"Let us take care of you! At least let us help you until the end! Please!"