Chapter Text
"All aboard!"
The captain announced for everyone to finish up and prepare for departure.
Utsushi secured his belongings, tightening the straps in a knot and carrying it onto the supply ship. Though he traveled light, he wound up picking up quite a few souvenirs for the folks in Kamura. Thankfully, just one large bag was all that he needed for his voyage back to the Old World.
"Finished recording the log?"
"I’ll do the rest when I get back, but I think we can safely say the old 'quest complete.' And I’ll take care of all the other paperwork for you regarding everything else. As you know, I think you’re doing a pretty awesome job with taking up the master mantle. I’ll let everyone know that Nata’s education is proceeding well."
You both turned to see the young man in the distance sitting by the tent, playing with the dagger that was gifted to him by yourself and your allies. He was getting better at handling it, dexterously flipping it around, and you felt proud of his growth as your student.
"Good to know my attempt hasn’t been in vain. Naturally, I’ll have things sorted out on my part before I continue with my station here in the east. Sounds like there’s still plenty of things to analyze over the Dragontorch and whatever's surrounding it. But I’m ready to see what lies beyond."
"I’ll leave you to it. Although... One more thing, Ace. Before I go, hold out your hands."
Curious as to what he had for you, you did as he said.
Utsushi placed a wooden pendant in each of your palms, and you examined them with wonder.
"Oh. These are really nice. Where did they come from?"
"A while ago, I was hanging out in Yukumo. You know that special wood you can only find around those parts? I got a hold of some, and figured I could carve these up for fun. It was hard to decide on any one idea for a design, so I wound up just making both. You can hang ‘em wherever you’d like!"
Each pendant was a depiction of a Palico raising its arms in amusing ways, fashioned after haniwa dolls. You tied one of them securely to your new greatsword, while keeping the other for another weapon. The way it dangled was a delight to see.
"Now that is what I call cute. No wonder the kids adore you, Master Utsushi."
"Glad they're to your liking! You know you can count on me and my gnarly craftsmanship. … Also, what do you mean by that?"
You both had your share of laughter, knowing they were gifts to be cherished. You’d carry them with you wherever you went while on your adventures in the Forbidden Lands.
Bringing your attention to the instructor one final time, you sent him off with good spirits.
"I suppose it's back to the grind."
The Base Camp at the Windward Plains was ever bustling with activity. Squads headed out for missions of their own, while the researchers stayed on call to document every new detail from their findings. The clanging of a blacksmith’s hammer on steel could be heard, as well as the constant chatter of passersby.
Everything would carry on as usual.
"That’s the plan. There will be a new generation of hunters after us, and they will have to learn from the best. While we’re still alive, we have to do everything we can to make sure they can look forward to tomorrow. So let’s keep forging ahead. We have our work cut out for us."
“You’re right,” you answered. "What we leave behind is the future, after all."
The two of you decided long ago that this was the ever-winding road you would take, together. Sure, there could be an unfortunate chance that this may be the last time you would ever see each other again, for whatever reason. And of course, you accepted it would be normal for such an uncertain lifestyle as this.
... But you both knew you were too good for that.
Even if it meant that you parted ways today, you trusted in knowing this divergence would end. Your paths, a lattice that would knot and endlessly reunite. This is what kept you going as a wanderer.
Much like the passing of Plenties, into Fallows, into Inclemencies, and back again. Like the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. No matter where this world of monsters and hunters took you, you could always rely on the constant that you would meet once more.
And when that day comes...
As always, you would have stories to tell.