A little fiddling to preempt the chapter- the party’s all gained two levels(with the help of the mission they’ll report in a second).
Keplar gets his third point in Sonic Raid, which unlocks our actual targets- the Links. Electric Link is going to be our primary focus for now, since Marlene is going to be focusing on Lightning as well, and doubling up on elements can help get some value out of Electric Rune eventually.
Candy grabs her proficiency since there’s a couple of dangerous enemies coming up that it’d help to get the damage bonus against, and Ice Knife is an actual damage option.
Tsukushi levels Arm Snipe twice, we’ll want this at a nice and comfortable level for all the arm-using threats in early areas.
THUNDERCATS HOOOOOO-
lightning rune is just the strongest one so we take two more levels
2 more Healing unlocks Line Heal, which will be nice eventually. Real simple build changes for now, but we’ll get more fun toys to play with as time passes- these foam bats are going to be real ones.
Chapter 3: Brush in the Wind
Hey, loverboy! Landing in t-minus 2 minutes, you ever emerging from this musty little coffin? We’re all out on the deck.
What, I struck a nerve? You really are into that Whirlwind guy?! After calling him dangerous and everything, too.
Guess there’s something about a rulebreaker. The way they make your hair stand on end, really something I’m looking for in a partner. Nothing I love more than feeling unsafe.
Heheh. If only you were being serious, I might agree with you.
Takes all kinds, I guess.
All passengers, please establish a firm grip on a handhold, or remain seated! We are preparing to land the aircraft!
Oh, and, uh, whatever you said to Marcus? Fucked him up pretty bad. You gotta do something about that, before he decides to ditch or something.
We got the ore you asked for! And a complete map of the mines, including the bits where those humongous baboons were walking around… did you know about those?
That I did. I am pleased they did not impede you too much. Your success will be a great boon to Tharsis! Now, if you would…?
The fruits of our efforts, gifted unto you.
I now pronounce the Myrtle Guild to be explorers of Tharsis with my official blessing! And, of course, there is the other half of your reward to be given. Here you are, then…
Ohhh, fuck yeah. I could get used to pay like that. You got any more missions for us, mustache?
You see anybody else with a lip like that? Yeah, you. Oh, and sorry about, uh… something I said earlier. Someone in this room who I’m not gonna name told me you’re a single father- it really must be tough, raising a kid with all the stuff you gotta handle.
That’s really nice to hear. Maybe you aren’t so bad after all.
Yes, she just loves pets and treats! Here, would you like to give it a go? Margherita just adores whoever will give her attention, you see.
…she- what?
Heheheh.
Uh, sure. Sleep with one eye open, Keplar.
Moving on, it dawned on me that you must be the student who we accepted for the field medicine program. You’ll be writing up a report for each outing and sending back your findings to St. Elimine’s for evaluation.
I guess I could do that… when do you want the first writeup?
Tomorrow afternoon would be ideal. I’m certain the university must be itching to see how the opening days of this venture unfold.
I’ll do my best…
Now, to the main topic of discussion. Since you have proven your worth, your guild merits a skyship. You’ll be searching for Yggdrasil on one. Your skyship is ready now at the city gates. Once you claim it, why not make the Lush Woodlands your first stop? The Lush Woodlands is a large, natural labyrinth currently being investigated by many of our explorers. Once you reach the Lush Woodlands, head straight for the pillar of light you’ll see. It’s an invaluable tool. Oh, and stop by the atelier before you go. I sent them my authorization for you to buy certain necessities. Well then, may your way be clear!
Magnificent! Our glorious airborne steed awaits!
Damn, this guy again. What’s got him all worked up?
The soldier takes a moment to catch his breath before pulling out a letter and reading it over.
It says he will be giving you a Foodapult. I’m guessing that’s equipment for your skkyship? Maybe that’s why he can’t give it to you by hand. It says here it’s been delivered to the city gates, and you should ask the one in charge there for details.
That looks really fucking heavy. You guys got this one, right? I’m gonna go… check out the Atelier.
I think I’m headed to the inn early to get that report done. You guys have fun…
Guess the two of us can handle the skyship.
Verily. I must admit, their lack of enthusiasm for this has sullied my own a bit. But we must be dauntless in our quest- onwards, valiant comrade!
Think you’ve got enough enthusiasm for the rest of us anyway.
Yeah, and a guy from da Grand Court also told us to check up here for new goods. You know anything about that?
Now we can finally sell yas dem Ariadne Threads. Every explorer gots ta have an Ariadne Thread. It takes ya back ta Tharsis wherever ya use it from. Ya oughtta buy one right now! It’d be a disaster if ya forgot!
Maybe you could take some of this shit off our hands first. You said what we can buy is determined by what we bring in, right?
Y’know, I had my doubts about weapons cobbled together with monster bits, but that dagger looks pretty fuckin’ wicked. What about hooking us up with that, and maybe a new rapier? We can afford to drop a couple hundred on new gear after the rich guy hooked us up. Oh, and one of those threads you were hyping up.
I got what I came for.
That’s us. How’d you know?
Oh, yeh know, not many other fellas lugging 'round a sword that I haven’t seen before- and I got a request from the Outland Count to prepare yeh a skyship. She’s all ready to go. Yeh can set sail as soon as she’s registered. So, what’re yeh going to name her?
With its help, we shall mark our path through the skies- I propose we name it the Brush.
You could think about it fitting with the guild name as another form of vegetation, too. Sure, that works for me.
You have my solemn vow- no harm shall come to the Brush for as long as she serves as our steed.
No promises on the paint though. Was yellow really the best we could do?
I’d explain the controls, but yeh’ll learn faster if yeh try it out. Yeh can outfit it at the city gates. Which reminds me, yeh got a piece of kit from the Outland Count, right? Yeh can equip it on your skyship. Come by the wharf when yeh’re bored, and I’ll let yeh guys have some other equipment no one else is using.
Making it sound like you’re offering leftovers, but yeah, any help we can get is appreciated.
What takes place at this wharf? I cannot imagine we would have much cause to spend time there besides picking up new equipment from you.
The Cargo Wharf might not seem like the place for explorers, but that’s where yeh’d be wrong. I’ll explain what I mean when yeh stop by. I’ll be waiting!
You think he’s shy? Strange way to excuse yourself.
Possibly. Were that the case, it is in stark contrast to whoever is currently letting their voice drift upon the wind.
They are clearly possessed of a great talent. That voice threatens to enchant me.
Perhaps there is no need- I can hear them drawing nearer.
'Twas on the sunrise I learned
for my job the princess yearned
a scheme they had hatched
and the poet they had burned…
Um, this one might be a bit experimental for me.
Oh, it’s just tragic! Won’t you hear the plight of the downtrodden?
Already missin’ the airship. Least the airsickness kept him quiet as a mouse.
I needed to get ahead!
About Yggdrasil I read!
With my parcels latched,
To Tharsis I quickly fled!
A story of betrayal, I fear. Your lord liege stole from you the role laid before you.
Yes! That’s it exactly! Well, mostly, I wasn’t particularly impressed to their service, but still. How does a poet expect to live off scraps when such a heartless person can simply snap their fingers and bark an order for the same benefit?
Maybe if you stopped moanin’, you’d have a bit less trouble. Ain’t the only person who just lost their job, after all.
I take it you’re all from out of town?
Got it in one. Some hotshots cleared up what’s left of the labyrinth back in Armoroad, so we reckoned we’d stop on by Tharsis instead.
And what’s worse, they won’t take a poet, a dancer, an artist like me into their ranks even for grabbing lower floor materials, preferring those garish Sovereigns to keep them inspired! Beauty has died an ugly death in Armoroad.
Sounds like rough going.
It would be no trouble to escort you there posthaste. Though if it is a guild you seek, we may be able to accommodate you.
There’s three others split up across town. Wasn’t really planning on adding more people to the group, but it might help us in the end.
You’d really take us in?! Oh, thank you, thank you! I promise, you will all be awed by my compositions!
I got nothin’ against the idea. Nice meetin’ you, I’m Bear.
Is that your real name, or a pseudonym?
Bards have been known to grant themselves illustrious titles for the purpose of leaving a striking impression. As I recall, Apollo has some connection with the sun, perhaps through ancient literature.
Is there truly any difference between that which everyone calls you and your real name? That it references me is enough to grant it the significance of reality.
Might actually be his real name, I reckon. The drama could come from his ma and pa.
You may accuse me of inheriting many things, but the theatrics are entirely mine, thank you!
Yeah! We managed to slip past those giant monsters, and the Count even said we get a skyship as a reward. It’s all so exciting, but a little scary.
Good for you! Now you can go out on your skyship to gather food. Oh, but silly me. I should be cooking you dinner to celebrate!
Ooo! If we grab you food from the plains, would you make something special for us? That sounds incredible! Don’t you agree, Marcus?
…huh? Oh, yes. That sounds wonderful. Listen, I’m going to go up to my room to do this report. See you in the morning…
Don’t push yourself too hard, now! I’ll be sure to bring some leftovers up there later. We’ve also got sweet tea, if you’d like!
Um, sure. Good night to you both.
…Mmmn. I hope he’s gonna be okay for tomorrow…
He reminds me a bit of you the past few days, darling. I’m honestly surprised you seem to have taken to adventuring so quickly!
When you find friends as reliable as Tsukushi, it gets a lot easier to take each step forward. It feels like I could rely on her for anything.
Haha, you think so? That’s not weird, is it?
Oh, of course not! It’s very sweet that you two are so close after spending so little time together. Just make sure to step out and try new things on your own sometimes. Can you promise me that, dear?
Um, right! Of course, I promise!
Wonderful! So, I do hope you’ll tell me all about your day. You mentioned sneaking past something large?
Imagine a baboon that ate every single other baboon and added their sizes together- like a nesting doll of baboons.
We didn’t try! The Count only asked us to pick up some Iridescent Ore, so we just let them be. Honestly, I don’t think we could have taken them down even if we tried, although some of the others were ready to. Near the end, we had to mine while those beasts circled around next to us… honestly, it was terrifying. But we made it out okay, so I guess I was worried over nothing.
My, that does sound horrific, with such massive creatures stalking nearby while you’re preoccupied with the mining spot. I’m proud you all stood your ground and got what you came for! Now, why don’t you have a seat? I’ll prepare enough ostrich roast for everyone when they get here.
Maybe I could help! LA required us to take a cooking class before we graduated. It’s a super useful life skill, honestly. That class stuck in my mind a little better than most of what we learned.
Aww, that’s sweet of you to offer, darling. Why don’t you help chop these veggies up, then? We’ll have this done twice as fast.
Hark! We have returned successful with our prize- two fresh squires, prepared to give their lives for the cause!
Jumpin’ the gun a little, there. I ain’t agreed to nothin’ like that.
My goodness! We’re lucky I had Marle here to help, otherwise we might be short a few servings!
Hi new people! I’m Marlene, but I’d prefer if you just called me Marle.
Name’s Bear.
An auspicious place for our paths to cross! This inn shall mark the spot that a legend is born- you can be sure of that! Ah, I should compose a melody to match this momentous occasion! Give me just a moment…
Right, of course! The name that will shine brilliantly in the hearts and minds of the good people of Tharsis- Apollo! At your service.
The man finishes his sentence with a flourish of his hand, the attached bracelets swinging out dramatically.
We did pass Candy on the way in, actually. Said she had places to be, then handed me a goofy looking rapier and a thread. Dunno when she’ll be back.
Marvelous! Bear and I will join you for the next dance, then. I promise our brilliance will blind you!
I shall await your performance eagerly. For the moment, however, it falls to us to enjoy this feast prepared so graciously by our hosts. Let us have a seat, and enjoy the revelries!
Gonna go check on Marcus. I’ll be right back.
Is that what they wanted…? Not sure if I should focus on the administering of the treatment, what sort of preparations I should adjust…
A soft knock at the door interrupts Marcus’s deliberations.
Who is it? Sorry, I’m a llittle busy right now.
Yeah, I’m fine. Just really busy writing up that report.
…Is there something you wanted to say? I really am busy.
A sigh echoes from the other side of the door.
Listen, I didn’t mean to come off as trying to tell you to give up or anything. Was just trying to temper your expectations earlier. It’s gonna take some time to get over the nerves, so trying to strongarm it isn’t the way forward. Does that make sense?
I think I got what you meant, yeah. It still seems a little fatalistic to me, but yeah, I’ll think it over. That said, this isn’t going to write itself, so…
Gotcha. We actually got two new recruits, so we might head out early and leave you and Candy here, if that’s fine by you. Come down if you get the chance, I’m sure they’d like to meet you.
Right. Goodnight to you.
THE ROOSTER CROWS! RISE AND GIRD YOURSELF FOR A DAY OF ADVENTURING!
Excellent response time! Now, quickly, the sun has already risen. We must get ahead of the day, lest the day get ahead of us!
It’s just you, Tsukushi… my gods, I thought I was going to die! Please, don’t yell like that, I promise I’ll wake up on time.
I shall go fetch the others, then. Adventure awaits!
You know, there’s probably no need. I’m sure they heard you from across the hall. Let’s give them some time to get ready- I need to go to the washroom and prepare for the day, too.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the hall…
Even that ruckus ain’t enough to wake this one up. Stubborn as a mule. What do you reckon we should do?
Maybe a cup of water? A quick splash might get him on his feet, although he’s not gonna be happy about it.
Shoulda cut him off ‘fore he passed out. Wasn’t ready for him to be such a lightweight, and now we’re all payin’ for it.
We need to swing by the bar anyway, so why don’t we just go talk to Kirtida first, and then pick you up before we hop on the skyship?
Doc can help you out while we’re gone.
So, um, where’s Apollo? Is he feeling okay?
Sick as a dog.
We’ll just… pick him up before we actually head out on the skyship. Thought we could ask Kirtida if anything needs doing, first.
Most regrettable. To think that one of us was bested by a mere few beers the night prior.
Well, that’s okay! As long as he’s ready before we get back, everything will be fine… I think…
Hey, Kirtida. We made it back from the first mission yesterday. You got anything that needs doing?
My congratulations! It is such a relief to see you returned safely. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Kirtida, the owner of this bar, the Dancing Peacock.
Howdy. Looks like a mighty fine place you run here.
It’s nice to meet you, Miss Kirtida! We just established our guild Myrtle yesterday.
Here at the Dancing Peacock, you may accept quests and seek information from our patrons. Completion of these quests is met with commensurate rewards. Many explorers enjoy passing time in this way. A quest I think to be perfect for you was only just posted. Might I ask that you look it over?
You mean this one?
It may indeed be perfectly suited to you. A group of soldiers are exploring the east side of the Windy Plains. But they lack the food to carry on. So your task would be to gather food and drop it off for them.
I see… a rations delivery mission. Our newfound wings should expedite the process.
Where exactly should we drop the food?
Their camp is in the forest. I was given to understand that it is in an open area. Freshness is important in food, so you must find and deliver it in one trip.
That’s all we got to work with, then? Hm. Okay, what about this one?
That request? It is from the governor of Tharsis… the Outland Count. He wants you to search for a small grove of kapok trees. You can learn more by talking to him at the Grand Court.
One day in, and we’re already talkin’ to the bigwigs around here? Must be a new record.
Oh, this one mentions the Atelier. What does Wynne need?
They are keenly interested in materials for a sword. They can supply you with more details of the task at the Atelier.
Seems like that about covers it for what we can tackle right now.
Hold your horses, we’re almost at the ship. You can keel over once we’re there.
Perhaps your head was off gallivanting while the rest of us deliberated yesterday. We procured the skyship and intended to take it for its maiden voyage today.
Hey, don’t worry. We only need one person to pilot the ship, so you can relax once we’re on board, okay?
Ohhh… we took the Brush for a whirl… our adventure was to unfurl… my head continued to swirl… and I thought to myself- I might hurl…!
Flight here had 'im under the weather, too.
Well, we’ll be in the air for a while mapping the plains, so maybe he’ll sober up before we really need him. Make sure he’s drinking water in the cabin.
Are you to be our pilot for this expedition? Though I might have experience on grounded mounts, I’d rather not try my luck with a skyship.
Yeah, I got us covered there. You wanna learn while we’re up here? We need more pilots anyway, for outings I’m not going on.
Very well. I shall pledge my full attention.
Having everybody’s lives in your hands like this sounds scary, but if Tsukushi is going to try… then I might as well try too!
Strap in, then. It’s not so tough with a little bit of experience under your belt.
Why do I feel like we’re forgettin’ somethin’? Ah, hell, not on the shoes! Gods, son, you better get your britches on that skyship before they leave without us!
Whoaaaa… you can see all of Tharsis and even Yggdrasil from here! We’re going to make it all the way there one day, right?
So long as we do not lose faith, we cannot fail. Keep your head held high.
As you would expect from the Windy Plains, strong gusts of wind blow across the skies. Some of the stronger winds seem likely to sway the Brush from her course… Far to the north of these skies looms Yggdrasil, your ultimate destination. But you will never reach it without understanding how to control your skyship. You review the controls…
This lever controls the propeller in the back, this one controls the heat which creates lift. We can’t rise too high quite yet, she’s not built for that, so take it easy on the elevation for now. Too hard on the fans might tip us and veer off course, too, and you really need to be feeling for sudden air currents that could angle us in the wrong direction. You got all that so far?
So it would seem. A demonstration may be in order, however.
That’s the plan. I’ll handle the first flight, but we’ll get you at the wheel on the way back. That way I can still be right here in case something goes foul.
You could head straight for that natural labyrinth, but it might be wise to have a look around first. But be on your guard. Encounters with monsters and tornadoes could cost you your lives.
Oh, hey, is that the same place we were yesterday? The Old Forest Mine?
There, you met the travelling adventurer Whirlwind, who gave you a blank map and survival advice. You cannot say for certain that there is nothing left to discover there… Perhaps you should visit it again?
I would very much like to test our might against the baboons marking that area as their territory. Now may not prove the best time, however. We have accepted several quests, and it may sully our honor to delay them in favor of our own pursuits.
You really think we could beat those things? They’re so huge, even a small swipe would probably squash us like bugs.
Do my eyes deceive me, or are those some pretty rare veggies? Would you two mind helping confirm if we touch down?
I’ve no objections.
Wow, these are super sweet, almost like candy! These would make an incredible side dish to something more savory, like what we had last night.
It would appear you are possessed of a keen eye, Keplar. These are high quality produce, indeed.
These’d make for a fine restock for the soldiers. Then again, we could sell these for a pretty penny, too. At the risk of sounding greedy, maybe we find something else to hand off.
Bet those beasts you folks mentioned earlier ain’t got nothin’ on those jokers, though.
A formidable foe. Though it pains me to admit, even I balk at the thought of challenging a creature larger still than our faithful steed.
Oh, how is Apollo? Is he going to be all right?
What’s that? They sound like names…
Best not to worry yourself overmuch. Other matters demand our focus- such as that gaudy checkered skyship ahead.
Its sails are bright red. You send a signal to the skyship, and a woman appears on deck. She is clad lightly for one who sails the skies. There is a long sword on her waist.
That’s right! We’re guild Myrtle, nice to meet you! Flying around alone like that seems pretty tough, is there any way we could help?
Throughout your introductions, Wiglaf wears a friendly smile.
Pleasure to meet you too, young lady. Reckoned the sword wasn’t exactly for show.
You asked about ways you might be able to help, right? Well, do you happen to have any Black Taurus? I’ve been looking so long, but I can’t find any… if you pick one up, will you share it with me?
Should you find a Black Taurus at some point, you can present it, possibly for some sort of reward.
Fresh out, sorry to say. We’ll stop on by if we happen across 'em, though.
Its sails are deep blue. The figure aboard the skyship notices your coming and emerges from the gondola. You mark him as a man clad in steel armor, who bows politely to you.
Just Keplar is fine. No fancy titles or anything here, besides maybe ‘pilot of this motley crew.’
We’re just making the rounds, scouting out the local area. Hoping to avoid getting brutalized by the roos. You look like you’ve got things more than handled, though.
It strikes me as odd you recognized us so quickly. How is it you knew who we are?
Pretty impressive. There’s a ridiculous number of us, especially lately. If you need anything, though, just say the word. Always benefits us explorers to stick together, yeah?
A most generous offer. In that case, I have a request. Would you have any Sakura Trout? If so, I propose a trade.
Not yet, we don’t. We’ll definitely be on the lookout, though. Have a good one, and fly safe.
Wow, you sure had a lot to say. It’s good to be friendly with other explorers, but-
Haha, I’ve seen those puppy dog eyes before. He’s starstruck seven ways to Sunday! Reminds me of when I first met my wife…
Wait, you’re married?! What are you doing all the way out here in Tharsis?
Someone’s gotta put food on the table. ‘Sides, the farmin’ life ain’t for me. I’ll do her proud out here, by bein’ the first to make it to Yggdrasil.
You recall the request from the bar to deliver food to some soldiers… These are most likely the ones. If you mean to fulfill the request, it is best that you drop the food off at the soldiers’ location.
If they’re soldiers, we should encourage them to eat healthy! These carrots look super nutrient rich.
If I was down there, I’d be hopin’ for somethin’ a little meatier than a carrot. But if y’all think it’s best, fine by me.
After checking over the contents, they signal you, satisfied. They seem pleased with the food. The request is now complete! You can turn it in the next time you find yourself at the bar.
Hmm… Tsukushi, think you could hit these guys while we’re moving? I’ll try and get under them, so they land on the deck.
It’s right behind us! Oh gods, go, don’t stop to hunt birds!
Hah, you question my ability? I shall fell them squarely in three arrows, not a single miss.
AAAAAAAAA-
-AAApollo? When did you get up on deck?
When I heard shouting about this enormous kangaroo on our tail, of course! But fear not, a new day has dawned, and Apollo shines brilliantly once again!
About that, you two were worried over nothing. That monster isn’t faster than the airship, so it’s not catching us unless we really screw up or we decide willingly to engage.
Welcome back to the world of the livin’. Just in time to figure out what in tarnation THAT thing is.
To the east and west are high mountain ranges, far too tall for your skyship to fly overhead.
Visibility is close to nil in the ravine. To brave it with your skyship would be far too dangerous. You also see some kind of monument south of the ravine. You can barely make out a crest engraved in it.
To the side of the forest is the same stone momument that was next to the ravine. It seems too coincidental to ignore… There may be some connection between the ravine and the Lush Woodlands.
Hmm… it seems foolish to try and force our way through that fog. We’d probably crash into something if we tried.
Nay, but perhaps investigating the artifacts may yield a clue to how we might proceed. Perhaps something lying deep within the Lush Woodlands shall illuminate the way forward.
Ah, is it finally time to disembark? My talents require steady ground, you see.
Think we’d best finish scouting the area first. Once we head in there, it’s probably easiest to just warp back to town with the Thread.
…Hold your horses. How’s the ship gonna get back to town if we end up warpin’?
Every ship built in Tharsis has a function to return to Tharsis after a certain amount of time- think about it like a bigger version of a Thread. Flip that switch there, wind the clock up to whenever you want it to return, and it’ll do it on its own.
Well, I’ll be. Ain’t that novel?
A little unsettling, though… what if you set the switch, but forget your own Thread, and then the ship returns to Tharsis while you’re still in a labyrinth? Wouldn’t you be stranded?
Might have bigger problems if you forgot your Thread, but yeah, the system isn’t perfect. We could always bring an extra and have them wait in the ship, if we need to.
That’d make me feel a lot better!
You can almost hear the rustling of the trees as their glossy, green leaves take in the sun’s blessing. The beauty of the Windy Plains’ rich greenery is a balm for your soul…
Halt the ship! In moments such as these, it is paramount to stop and breathe in the natural beauty all around us. Just a glimpse of those trees makes me want to burst into song! Now if only I could actually lean over and get a good look without feeling queasy…
Wait a minute, THAT’S what we forgot! None of us talked to the damn Count!
Even so, we must make note of this location. Perhaps he might excuse our tardiness, should we bring news preemptively.
Haha… oops.
THE WIND HAS CONQUERED YOUR VOICE! SPEAK WITH YOUR CHEST!
You see a stone monument at its entrance that looks clearly man-made. Who built it here, and why? You will never know the answer unless you step into the maze… You steel yourself to begin your explorations.
Like we said, not yet. Maybe following the river would lead us somewhere neat.
There are brightly colored fruits on the trees; many animals seem to flock here to feed on these fruits. You grow excited to think of what manner of exotic beasts you may encounter in this forest.
Mayhap this is the place to restock your fruit collection, Keplar. Though I do not recall you using whatever you boasted about prior to our last expedition.
Fruit collection? Bwahaha, the hell are you youngsters gettin’ into nowadays?
Oh, can it. You laugh now, but I promise that wasn’t just for show. Waiting for the right moment, is all.
Looking down, you see breathtakingly clear spring water gushing out from beneath the quay. This seems to be the source of the river flowing to Tharsis. You linger to take in its beauty before leaving.
The air smells so fresh and crisp here… would you all mind if we stopped briefly for a drink?
And the water is clearer than a spring night. You could almost use it as a mirror to touch up, if it weren’t rushing so quickly. Though I must say, an ounce of nostalgia tinged your words like a regretful goodbye… did you perhaps grow up somewhere like this?
Yeah, this does remind me a little bit of home. The air there was always refreshing and cool, but the winter months got really cold, too.
Yeah, I don’t mind. Everyone can go fill up their flasks and rest for a bit, but after that we need to hit the road. It’s getting later in the day.
Ain’t gotta tell me twice. Y’all ever heard of a Flyin’ Squirrel?
Like… the animal?
Named after it, I reckon. Anyhow, the idea is, you spread your arms and legs out like this, and make the biggest splash you can! HUP!
With a tremendous crash, the man dives into the rushing river, and resurfaces a bit downstream, grinning wildly.
Oh gods… hey! Isn’t that dangerous? What if the river sweeps you away?! Also, you got my robes all wet!
Is that all? A knight never backs down from a challenge. I can best such a meager splash effortlessly.
Not you too, Tsukushi! WAIT- ACK!
Hope everybody got their share of rest back there, because it’s time to put our noses back to the grindstone. You see that maze over there? We need to slip through the roos patrolling it.
Weren’t they all too eager to chase us down a while ago? Getting up close might be no easy feat.
Hmm… I had been thinking. What do these kangaroos sustain themselves upon?
Could we not then make an offering to pass? We have carrots to spare.
Those carrots must smell better’n we do.
Its reflection of the surrounding flora is even more beautiful than the real thing, piquing your curiosity. If you could slake your thirst from those clear waters, the exhaustion of your travels would surely vanish.
We made it, but that one behind the labyrinth doesn’t seem very happy about it…
Oh, huh… it lost interest in us when it got closer to the carrots. Good to know, I suppose, although we’re still a little trapped here.
Do my ears deceive me, or does a whistling noise permeate the air?
So it does! The sound of salvation, sweeter than any strings!
The same procedure as before- launch a carrot and evade its course.
It’s right there it’s right there it’s right there- what if we step into its path?!
Can we stop having close calls like that… my heart can’t take it…
Whoa… the tree glows at night, like the fireflies that used to buzz around the farm all made the trip there before me.
It is the goal for which we risk life and limb. We shall never see it realized unless we step into the Lush Woodlands, however. Are we all prepared?
My heart is pounding, and I can’t stop shaking, but as long as you’re here, I’ll be okay. I have to be!