Chapter Text
A heavy breath lies in the cold room
The kind of breath that can only be described as smoke
In that smoke lies a boy
Pen in hand, he twitches
Unable to bring ink to page
He peers out the window
To see the Moonrise
Its light glows upon his tears
Not only the moon’s light
For in that light there are stars
The boy’s breathing increases
The room fills with the smoke
It’s becoming harder to see
It’s becoming harder to breathe
The Boy stands up and opens the window
The smoke leaves
All that’s left in the air, is clarity
The Boy sits back down
Pen meets page
Ink set free
Now able to see clearly
“If you’re reading this,”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Odile POV:
(It’s been a week since you all left Theseou…)
(It’s been quiet since then, you needed this tonight…)
Isabeau: “What are you doing in here Madame?”
The bar is quiet tonight, few regulars remain in the town.
(Interesting, you didn’t expect to see him here)
> “Hello, Isabeau. Why might you be here?”
Isabeau: “Hey! I asked first!”
(Oh yeah…)
> “You did, I’m here for the same reason anyone would be.”
Odile’s face is a little flushed, even still, her words come out sharp as ever.
Isabeau: “And what’s that?”
> “I presume the same reason you are, to forget about things for a while.”
Isabeau: “Maybe, or maybe I want to try to seem mysterious!”
(Ha!)
> “You don’t have a mysterious bone in your body!”
Isabeau sits down on the stool next to her.
Isabeau: “In all seriousness, you alright?”
The Bartender gives Isabeau a drink.
Isabeau: “Huh? I didn’t order anything?”
Bartender: “I don’t know what you mean.”
(Hmmm…)
> “I’m good enough, don’t worry yourself with me, I’ve been around a long time.”
Isabeau: “That doesn’t mean it hurts any less.”
> “Perhaps.”
They sit there in silence, taking sips of their drinks.
Isabeau: “Do you want to talk about it?”
(Do you?)
(Probably, you need someone to debate these things with, even if it’s Isabeau)
> “I have some things I’ve been wanting to talk about.”
Isabeau: “Oh? Like what?”
(Gems… you thought you would never bring these up again…)
> “...Like our newest party members.”
Isabeau: “Siffrin and Miki?”
> “Indeed, promise not to tell a soul what I’m about to tell you.”
Isabeau: “I swear on… hmmm… pears!”
> “...Pears?”
Isabeau: “Yep! It’s a double entendre!”
(...Ah)
Odile groans.
> “These are old theories, so don’t judge me too harshly for them, but I had thought that Miki and Siffrin were sent by the King to kill Mirabelle.”
Isabeau: “A tad ridiculous, don’t you think?”
(You don’t think you were wrong to suspect it)
> “Consider Miki, she is something none of us had ever seen, on top of that, she was very suspicious.”
Isabeau: “True, but so far she’s fought harder than we do to protect us.”
> “She proved herself, we would all be dead without her, Bonheur and La Foi would have done us in. But so many things before that were strange, the time span could have been fake, the fact she didn’t want to talk about her past, not talking about her Creator’s death, the fact her name doesn’t fit Vaugarde naming, and the music I’ve never heard anything like, it screamed suspicious to me. But in the end, the way she chooses options that would get her killed and not expecting us to fix her and how she seems afraid to kill anything make me think I’m wrong.”
(She really has done so much, it’s hard to doubt her)
Isabeau: “And Siffrin?”
(You still aren’t fully sure about them, but…)
> “I’m still not fully sure about him, we have no idea where he is from, he’s experienced in combat, he appeared very conveniently to save us, how reserved he is, and something in me is skeptical about him still. Actually, his memory gives me pause, they seem to forget things in the middle of his sentences… I decided to take notes, and they all seem related to his home or family. I can’t tell if it’s an act, but it does concern me…”
(What’s up with Siffrin? You’ve never seen anything like it…)
> “Anyways, our excursion in the Crossed Forest makes me second guess my theory, he could very well have left me to die and no one would have known, but he didn’t do that, he saved my life instead. I struggle not to find reasons to trust them at least a little after that…”
Isabeau: “...May I ask you a difficult question?
Isabeau clenches his glass.
(Hmm, you haven’t seen him like this before…)
Odile sits up a little straighter.
> “...You may.”
Isabeau: “Did you trust Raguel?”
(...)
> “Not really, I held only the smallest bit of trust in him.”
Isabeau flinches.
> “Though he never planted a bomb in Miki, he was just bluffing, which says something about him.”
Isabeau: “I did. The same trust I give to everyone.”
(...)
> “I can see why, on the surface, he seemed perfectly fine.”
Isabeau: “Even now, I trust him. Because if I give that… it means I… did all I could… right?”
Odile sighs.
> “I find I trust him a little more after everything, not much, but I feel like I get him now, I feel like I can trust what I think is going through his head.”
Isabeau: “Do you think… we could have done anything?”
(...)
> “I doubt it, he seemed pretty set, and I don’t necessarily disagree with parts of his beliefs, I don’t think we could have changed them. So stop worrying about it, it does you no good.”
Isabeau: “I can’t help but think about it, what if I had realized sooner, what if we got there before he committed murder.”
Isabeau is shaking, the glass clattering against the countertop.
(Shatter it all… you don’t know how to comfort people…)
Odile takes a big swig of her vodka.
(This party of young people… this is exactly the kind of thing that made you join)
> “But we didn’t, and we couldn’t have known, what happened, happened, now we must move on.”
Isabeau is shaking more. The glass is rattling against the countertop like an earthquake.
Bartender: “The glass.”
Isabeau: “Huh?”
Bartender: “Shatter it.”
Isabeau: “HUH!?!?!”
Bartender: “Just do it.”
Isabeau throws the glass at the ground with only a little hesitation.
Bartender: “Feel better?”
Isabeau: “Yeah…”
Odile and Isabeau now look at the many glasses in front of them that they didn’t notice were given.
(That’s a lot of glasses)
> “Why have you given us this much? Seems rather irresponsible.”
Bartender: “As a bartender, you learn to keep interesting conversations going, and that it’s worth losing money for one time to time.”
(...How kind. However you should deal with the eavesdropper)
Odile stares daggers at the bartender, seemingly sobering up.
> “Tell anyone a word of any of this and you’ll never see the light of day.”
Bartender: “All Bar drama is reserved to me, myself, and I.”
Bartender: “Even though I would see the light of day.”
> “Sure.”
Bartender: “Sure? You know how many mercenaries frequent this place? I live for it. It’s probably bad for me, but eh, oh well.”
(Mercenaries… you have an… odd history with that business)
> “Do you now?”
Bartender: “My niece is one of the greatest mercenaries in Vaugarde I’ll have you know.”
The Bartender grabs the picture frame and places it in front of them.
In the frame is a mother, father, and a ragged young girl smiling gleefully holding a dog.
Isabeau: “The dog?”
Bartender: “HAH! No, rather the kid!”
(...)
Odile stares at the photo.
Bartender: “Does bring back painful memories though, I haven’t seen her since…”
> “Since what?”
Bartender: “Her parents died. They died saving people, it comes with honor but now my niece feels like she has to live up to that. Wish I could speak to her again. It’s been ages.”
Bartender: “Oh but let’s not be downers! All mercenaries know of this bar… well except one. But stars I hope he’ll show up one day!”
Odile and Isabeau question the bartender in sync.
Isabeau: “What does stars mean?”
Odile: “One mercenary?”
Bartender: “One at a time people!”
Bartender: “Eh, I’ve never been one for good studying but they’re those lights in the sky at night.”
Bartender: “As for the other… The most interesting merc of them all still hasn’t shown at my bar. The one everyone talks about. The myth, a legend even.”
> “And who would this “legend” be?”
Bartender: “The Reaper of course!”
Isabeau flinches.
(Hmm, you suppose this “Reaper” is only well known in Vaugarde… and relatively new…)
> “What makes them so interesting?”
Bartender: “Hmmmm, I think it’ll add to the mystique if you find out for yourselves, knowing hero’s luck you’ll probably end up meeting him!”
(That’s rather annoying…)
Bartender: “But if you ever do! Tell him to swing-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miki POV:
-by Thurston bar!”
(You did not know Siffrin had memory issues, strange)
Isabeau: “We will!”
Miki is crouching behind the bar, listening in.
(You expected to have a worse hiding place, but the nice bartender found you and gestured for you to come to this spot)
Odile: “We should be heading back now, we leave in the afternoon tomorrow and I have some shopping to do.”
Bartender: “Oh and it’s about the time my bar closes anyhow.”
(You were worried when Odile left without telling anyone, but…)
Isabeau: “Oh wait, we still have to pay you for-”
(You do not even really know what this place is…)
Bartender: “Don’t worry about it, if you save the country, I can brag that I gave two of them therapy.”
Odile: “You better not say that.”
(‘Therapy’?)
Bartender: “Yeah, I won’t. I swear on my love of drama.”
Odile: “Let’s go Isabeau, we don’t want to worry the rest too much.”
(You think it might be too late for that)
Bartender: “Now shoo, I’ve gotta sit on this drama!”
Isabeau: “Good night then! Thanks a lot! Therapist!”
Bartender: “Good night Areabeau”
Odile: “GEMS!”
Footsteps are heard, then the sound of a door.
Everyone else has left besides the Bartender and Miki the bar is silent.
(...What now?)
Bartender: “You can come out now.”
(Oh)
Miki stands up, her darkless ahoge barely peaking out above the counter.
Bartender: “Why don’t you take a seat?”
> “Okay.”
Miki runs around the counter and hops up onto a stool.
The Bartender giggles a bit.
Miki blankly stares at him.
The Bartender stares back, trying to stare blankly but giggling all the same.
Miki tilts her head to the side.
The Bartender moves his hand in front of Miki’s face and snaps his fingers.
Miki flinches.
(Why did he do that?)
> “May I ask a question?”
Bartender: “YES I WON! Oh yeah-sorry go ahead.”
> “Why did you do that?”
Bartender: “I let you behind the bar because I was one: intrigued, two: your hiding spot was behind a table leg, and three: I live for the drama.”
(Oh, that is not what you meant)
> “I was wondering about that too, but I meant why did you snap your fingers in front of my face?”
Bartender: “Oh.”
Bartender: “I was curious.”
> “Huh.”
Bartender: “Whenever I am, it reminds me of a mercenary I once knew named George, he was the most curious man I’d ever met. Though I guess ‘man’ was the wrong term, he was rather a beast of a mercenary. He swang from bar to bar in his prime, turned each bar upside down. Oh, I’m rambling, sorry.”
(...Interesting?)
> “May I ask another question?”
Bartender: “All the questions you want kiddo.”
> “What is a bar? I know them from songs, but this is not musical at all.”
Bartender: “So do you know chocolate?”
(Your Creator liked chocolate)
> "Affirmative."
Bartender: “So it’s that in a rectangular form factor. It’s what you call a chocolate bar.”
(...That does not make any sense)
> “No we are not, this building is made of wood and stone.”
Bartender: “I never considered that I was a bar of wood and stone! Not chocolate!”
> ”...”
> “What?”
Miki is extremely confused.
Bartender: “Oh you mean my bar… It’s where uhhh…”
Bartender stares at Miki.
Bartender: “How old are you?”
> “...Can you be more specific?”
Bartender: “How many years old are you?”
(Hmm)
> “Depends, I was made nine years ago but I have been conscious for four.”
The bartender squints, then shrugs.
Bartender: “This place is where I make drinks.”
> “I saw that, why is there a specific place?”
Bartender: “Because I make the best drinks, want one?”
(The best drinks? That sounds good!)
> “Affermative!”
Miki bounces up and down in her stool excitedly.
Bartender: “Now where do I keep the ones… without… AH! THERE IT IS!”
The Bartender pours a glass and puts it in front of her.
Miki looks at the LABELED bottles at the back.
She tilts her head to the side and innocently says:
> “Oh, so this is alcohol?”
Bartender: “NONONO WAI-WAI-WAIT I DIDN’T POUR YOU ALCOHOL I POURED YOU A NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINK! JUST GRAPE JUICE!”
(?)
> “Okay?”
The Bartender smiles smugly.
Bartender: “If you’re curious go ask your friend, Odile.”
(“Friend”... yet again that is how people have described the party…)
> “Curious about what?”
Bartender: “Alcohol.”
The Bartender giggles.
> “I know what alcohol is, my Creator would drink it from time to time.”
(Your Creator…)
Miki stares down into her drink and frowns.
Miki finishes her drink in somber silence.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Odile POV:
(You got everything you’ll need for the next journey, but you still haven’t looked around for your “research”)
(Maybe the party will permit you some time to go looking)
The party is packing up their bags, the home they are all staying in is a bit of a mess.
> “I would like to go out on one more errand.”
Isabeau: “Hmm? Oh! Sure!”
(...You really should have expected it to be that easy)
> “Thank you, I’ll be back before long.”
Mirabelle: “Okay! See you!”
Odile walks out the door and begins walking off into town.
(You saw a quaint little pawn shop on your errands before, seems like a place worth check-)
Siffrin: “May I join you?”
Odile jumps out of her skin.
(GEMS! Since when was he here???)
Siffrin: “Oh! Sorry…”
(Did they slip out the door? He’s quite sneaky…)
(...)
(Hmmm… he doesn’t have to know what you are looking for, and you have to admit, you wonder what he would be looking for once you enter the pawn shop…)
> “Sure, but for gems sake, warn me next time.”
Siffrin hides his face under his hat.
The two walk in silence to Odile’s destination, passing by fewer townsfolk than would be normal for the place.
Odile pushes open the door, a bell chimes out.
Pawn Broker: "Welcome in, if you wish to pawn something, come speak with me.”
Their elbow is resting on the desk, supporting their head with their hand; they sound bored.
(This place is very empty…)
(The Curse has caused quite the displacement, even if you stop the King, you have to wonder what kind of disaster would await the people of Vaugarde…)
Siffrin looks to the displays, showing off all kinds of trinkets.
> “Well? Go ahead.”
Siffrin jumps at being addressed.
Siffrin: “Ah- Okay!”
He hastily darts off to the displays.
(Now to find that book…)
Odile walks up to the bookshelf, they seem sorted randomly, no two similar books being found by each other.
(This hurts to look at… this whole place feels like little care and effort were put in)
Odile searches the volumes on the shelf, finding nothing of interest, and certainly not the book she was hoping for.
(Nothing again…)
(Well, you might as well turn your attention to Siffrin)
Siffrin is still, staring into a piece of jewelry.
(You wonder what that’s about…)
Odile walks up next to him and analyzes the pendant.
(You don’t think you’ve seen this shape before, it reminds you of the shapes on Miki’s coat and chest, but those have five points, this has four. It’s a striking darkless shade, and despite the simple shape, the cut on this gemstone is intricate; you wonder what gem it is…)
Odile turns her attention to Siffrin.
(You don’t think he’s noticed you, and on closer inspection, if feels like he’s staring through the gem, not at it)
Odile glances through it and sees only the wood of the display.
(Has he zoned out? That would seem to make the most sense)
(This feels familiar, like when he gets cut off mid memory, is this that same thing?)
Odile looks at the pendant again.
(Now that you look at it again, it evokes a feeling of unease)
(Something feels wrong about all of this, like you should have all the pieces you need…)
(...)
(But you just can’t get them into focus…)
Siffrin: “Madame? When did you get here?”
Siffrin is looking inquisitively at Odile.
(Ah, he’s back to normal)
> “Not long ago. You were looking at this pendant, does it interest you?”
Siffrin: “What pendant?”
(...Huh)
> “This one, the one in front of you.”
Siffrin: “Oh, not really…”
Siffrin: “So! Did you find what you were looking for?”
(Was that deflection? You can only wonder why…)
> “I didn’t.”
Siffrin: “Oh…”
…
Siffrin: “Do you go to pawn shops often?”
> “I tend to choose antique stores, but pawn shops can function similarly, so yes, I do go to these places somewhat often.”
> “What about you? And why did you join me in the first place?”
Siffrin: “I- I don’t know… I just kinda… did? And I don’t think I go to places like this very much…”
> “I see.”
…
Siffrin: “If- if you do this again, can I join you?”
(You didn’t expect that from him, usually you would just say no, but…)
> “...Sure.”
(Judging by what you’ve seen in this visit, you might just be able to solve this mystery a little sooner)
Siffrin: “So… are we heading back now?”
> “I suppose we are.”
Siffrin begins heading out of the shop, but Odile stalls a moment to take one last look at the pendant.
(...)
They leave, the bell’s ring echoing out into the once again empty store.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miki POV:
(The sky is clear today)
(...)
(You… want to look at the stars)
Miki quietly exits the tent she and Siffrin share, and finds a good spot to lie down.
(The stars)
(The Sun is a star, the only reason the other stars look small is distance)
(The only information you could find on them were books in the forgotten language)
(You know there are constellations, but unless you find a book on them, you will never know what they are)
(The Moon is so clear tonight, you believe that it is a waxing crescent)
Miki lays in silence for a while, just admiring the sky.
(Your Creator was fascinated by stars, loved them)
(It reminds you of the beginning of your life, back when you were newly created)
My studies are giving me trouble, getting clean translations from these texts is strangely difficult.
…What is this? The translation I came up with makes no sense, maybe it is an expression. I should go find my Creator, he will know how to translate it.
But where is he? I should go to the lab room first, he spends a good amount of time there.
I walk to the lab room and I do not see him.
Huh, strange, I guess I will search the rest of the house.
I search the rest of the house to no avail.
I can not locate him anywhere, is he outside?
But by process of elimination, he must be outside.
I exit the house and see my Creator lying down in the grass looking at the sky.
He does this a lot, now that I think about it, why?
> “Creator?”
He does not respond, he looks like he is spaced out.
I move closer.
> “Creator?”
He notices me.
“Oh, hey there Miki, what are you doing out here?”
> “I was looking for you, I need help with a translation.”
“Oh! That makes sense…”
He thinks for a moment.
“We’ll handle that in a moment, lay down with me.”
> “Why?”
“I want to show you something.”
I lay down beside him, the sky is… pretty.
“What do you see?”
> “I see stars.”
“Yes, but what do you see in them?”
I look for something, I see nothing.
> “I do not get it.”
“That’s okay, I’ll show you someday when I find a book on it.”
He looks content, I do not see him like this often.
I do not understand why he looks at the stars.
> “May I ask something?”
“Go ahead.”
> “Why are you always looking at the stars?”
“Why am I always looking at the stars?”
“Well, I like them, I guess.”
> “May I ask something else?”
“You may.”
> “Why do you like the stars?”
“Haha.”
“That’s a good question.”
He does not continue, it seems he does not know either.
“What do you think of the view, Miki?”
I like it, it is pretty.
> “It is pretty.”
“Yeah, it really is…”
We laid there for thirty minutes, just looking at the night sky.
We later went back in and he helped me with the translation.
(That’s one of your favorite memories with him)
(Comfortable moments like that got less common as time went on, but it was nice)
(...)
(You won’t get to make any more memories with him…)
(...)
(The stars normally bring you comfort, but ever since his death, they’ve brought you grief)
(You really want comfort right now)
Miki goes into her system and enters her music folder, she selects the favorited audio file.
Goodbye to a World begins playing quietly over her audio emitters.
She gazes into the sky and hums along to the music.
(The sky is still so pretty…)
(The stars are not in the same positions as they were that day, but it still brings you back)
The endless expanse of the sky looks back at her, the swirls of shades and stars still so filled with wonder.
Thank you, I'll say goodbye soon
Though its the end of the world
Don't blame yourself now
And if its true
I will surround you and give life to a world
That's our own
(You’re okay, everything is going to be alright)
Thank you, I'll say goodbye now
Though its the end of the world
Don't blame yourself
And if its true
I will surround you and give life to a world
That's our own
(It’s not your fault)
(It’s not)
(Your)
(Fault)
(...)
(You hear someone)
(You don’t want to acknowledge their presence right now)
Siffrin: “Miki?”
(It’s Siffrin, you must have woken him up)
Miki pauses the music.
She continues to look at the stars.
> “Hello, Siffrin, what are you doing awake? Your body requires sleep to function.”
Siffrin: “…I came out here to see what you were doing, that’s a nice song.”
(It is)
> “It is my favorite song, it brings me comfort.”
Siffrin: “You… didn’t look very comfortable…”
(Why do you even bother trying to speak like that? He isn’t around anymore…)
> “I wasn’t, no.”
Siffrin just stands there for a moment.
Siffrin: “Can I come star gaze with you?”
(…)
> “Yeah.”
Siffrin lays down right next to Miki, they both stare at the sky for a while in silence.
> “May I ask something?”
Siffrin: “Yeah.”
> “What do you think of the stars?”
Siffrin: “...”
Siffrin: “I like them.”
> “May I ask something else?”
Siffrin: “Of course.”
> “Why do you like the stars?”
Siffrin thinks for a while.
Siffrin: “I… don’t know, they feel familiar to me.”
Siffrin: “Do you like the stars?”
> “They bring back memories, some nice, others not.”
Siffrin: “I feel like that too…”
> “I don’t know if I like them.”
Siffrin: “Was a memory what made you upset?”
> “Kinda, reminded me of one of my favorite memories with my Creator.”
> “But then I realized I’ll never be able to make new memories with him again.”
> “I-“
> “I still don’t understand why he-“
> “Why he did that…”
They lay there, the weight of her words settling in.
Siffrin: “I- I don’t think it’s your fault.”
(…)
> “It feels like it is.”
(...)
Siffrin: “...”
> “I miss him…”
(You don’t know if you should miss him, but you do, you really, really do)
(...)
(?)
(He took your hand?)
He squeezes her hand, not knowing how else to comfort her.
Then, hesitantly, Siffrin begins to sing quietly.
Thank you, I'll say goodbye soon
Though its the end of the world
Don't blame yourself now
And if its true
I will surround you and give life to a world
That's our own
(He’s a good singer, you didn’t expect that)
(...)
Miki starts singing along too.
Thank you, I'll say goodbye now
Though its the end of the world
Don't blame yourself
And if its true
I will surround you and give life to a world
That's our own
(You feel a lot better now)
(You’re not here alone)
(For whatever reason, these people care about you)
(...It’s nice)
Hand in hand, they look into the sky and imagine what could be out there in the infinite expanse of space.
Miki finally begins to sleep, feeling comfortable at last.
Siffrin looks at the Moon, it feels like it’s encouraging him to sleep soundly, then he too drifts off to sleep under the night sky.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Siffrin POV:
The party has stopped traveling for the day, having made good progress.
Everyone is engaged in their own hobbies, Mirabelle is reading, Isabeau is doing some sketching, Odile is reading through her notes, and Miki is sitting by the fire pit listening to music.
Siffrin is standing around awkwardly, unsure what to do with themself.
(You don’t think there’s anything useful you can do right now…)
(What do you do for fun?)
(You don’t do very much, the ones you can think of are location or time dependent…)
Siffrin absentmindedly pulls out his dagger and begins messing with it.
(Maybe you could go on a walk? Search the perimeter for sadnesses?)
(It’s very calm here, you don’t hear anything moving nearby, though you aren’t sure how much you can trust your ears after the Crossed Forest…)
Siffrin accidentally nicks his hand through their glove.
(...ow)
(Stars, your hands are covered in little scars from your dagger, you get yourself with it all the time while carving…)
(Oh! Right! You carve! You had forgotten)
(You haven’t carved in a while, when was the last time you did?)
(...)
(You can’t remember)
(...Well you could carve right now!)
Siffrin pockets his dagger and slips off into the darkless woods, looking for a good piece of wood.
(What should you carve?)
(...)
(You can figure it out later…)
Siffrin sees a fallen branch out of the corner of his eye.
(That looks promising)
Siffrin holds it up and tests it.
(Weight seems good, the wood is hard but not too tough, this should work nicely)
Siffrin finds the widest part and carefully cuts out a chunk for carving.
He strolls through the woods, pondering what form this darkless wood should take.
(It’s very bright, you feel like it almost shines)
(Reminds you of the moon, it does not emit light itself, but reflects it)
(Becomes brighter off the shine of the sun)
(You and Miki looked into the sky just last night, the moon caught your eye then)
(It was waxing crescent, beginning to shine brighter)
(...)
(It’s simple, but you feel compelled to carve a moon out of this wood)
Siffrin enters the camp, looking casual.
Odile looks up from her journal, a look of confusion occupies her face.
Odile: “When did you leave?”
(Oh, whoops…)
> “Not that long ago, I should have said something…”
Odile: “Yes, you should have. I see you have a chunk of wood.”
> “I wanted to carve.”
Isabeau: “You carve?”
> “Sometimes…”
Isabeau: “That’s really cool!”
Siffrin hides his face under their hat and moves to sit on a tree root.
(Hmmm, how should you begin… it’s been a while, you can barely remember how to do it…)
Miki: “May I watch?”
> “STARS!”
Siffrin jumps and nearly fumbles the wood out of his hands.
(How did she sneak up on you?!?)
Miki: “I am sorry, I did not mean to scare you.”
> “It’s okay, just wasn’t expecting it…”
> “And you can watch if you want.”
Miki sits down, legs crossed, on the ground in front of him.
(How to start… maybe you should make it a sphere first? That seems right)
Siffrin begins whittling away at the wood, darkless wood fragments disappearing upon his darkless cloak.
Miki watches the process intently, utterly captivated.
(You’ve grown to really like Miki, she feels familiar to you)
(You expected to not really connect with anyone in the party)
(You’re not really fit for something like that, you’ve been alone for as long as you can remember)
(She’s just a child, it sounds like she lost the only person she could call a parent)
(You don’t like how close to home that hits)
(...)
(But you’re fine)
(You’re used to it)
(...)
After his whittling, the wood has revealed itself as a sphere.
(How should you go about the crescent shape? The points would be fragile…)
(Maybe you should put something inside?)
Miki tilts her head to the side inquisitively.
Miki: “What is it going to be? I see that you have carved it into a sphere, is this standard practice?”
(She’s such a curious kid)
> “I’m planning on carving the moon, so I decided to start with a sphere. I don’t think it’s standard practice?”
Miki: “I see…”
(Hmmm, the Moon…)
(Actually, that reminds you of a story your mom would tell you and your sister…)
> “I don’t wanna go to bed yet… I wanna see the sunrise…”
“You’re still little, you need sleep.”
“But I don’t need sleep! Why am I included?”
“Please listen to your mother.”
Dad doesn’t even look away from his book.
“You need sleep too, just not for the same reasons, it’s good for your system.”
“Awwww…”
Mom leads us to our room, I can still see the Moon from our window.
> “Can I wear my cloak to bed?”
“Hmmm… okay, but only tonight.”
> “Thank you, mom!”
I hop into bed, my sister joins me under the covers.
“Can you read us the story?”
“Which one?”
“The one about the siblings and the Moon!”
> “Yeah!”
“Hmmm… I don’t know…”
“Pleeeeeease!”
Mom giggles at my sister.
“Okay, okay! I’ll tell you the story.”
Me and my sister snuggle up next to each other; we’re excited to hear the story again!
Mom looks to the Moon.
“Get comfy now.”
There once were two siblings
One machine, and one human
Whether they were blood or not, no one knew
But you will find they were much like you
But this was long ago
Where machines were new to the world
The two got into all sorts of trouble
Mainly the machine, their schemes unfurled
But the human always got them out of the rubble
Though nothing remains the same
A world at war
A promise to stick together through the flame
To this, they swore
But while they were still young
The battle had come to their home
Upon the siblings, the soldiers sprung
But the human’s vision was filled with chrome
Before the human could react
The soldiers attacked
But the machine broke their pact
Against their body, the bullets clacked
The human could barely think
They shut their eyes, trying to hide
But the sounds stopped, not even a “clink”
They opened their eyes, and they grew oh so wide
An Ocean of Stars surrounded them
In that ocean, sitting still, in place
“Where is my sibling?” they thought, wondering what happened in the mayhem
Why are they here, in outer space?
Surrounded by void
On each and every side
Were they just asteroid?
A rising Sun in its stride
Through the vast stars, the Moon’s light
It stood, out into the night
They swam towards the Moon, thinking about the fight
It stabbed them, oh the pain of the bite
Where oh where had their sibling gone?
That machine they so dearly adored?
The human resisting the yawn
But the Sleep, it sept, it drenched, it roared
They swam to the edge of the shell
Searching each and every inch in the night
Not yet ready to say their last farewell
They swam and swam with all their might
But then the stars’ light disappeared, the ringing bell
And the Moon shone brighter than bright
A voice echoed from the Moon
Returning in its hollowed tune
The human wasn’t able to make out exact phrase
But they understood them through their maze
They nodded to the Moon, who sent them away
The human woke in a field, the grass in a sway
The human knew the day would come
Even through their unjust sum
To see their sibling where or when
They would need to start again
(I had drifted to sleep long before the end, but I could always recall its words…)
(Stars… what a memory, that story was your sister’s favorite)
(It’s been such a ̷̦͖̆̾l̸̖͌̈́o̸̯͂̚͜ǹ̶̼̘̤̳g̶̩̩̞̅̃́͝ ̶̰̫̽̾̄̕͜t̸̯̬͎͍̃̌̀̚-̶̧̣̻̏̑̇̒
(...)
(What were you thinking about?)
(You can’t seem to remember…)
(Wait, the carving is done? You must have zoned out)
A pair of darkless siblings stand in the center of the Moon, pointing out into the sky beyond.
(What have you put in the center? It feels familiar…)
Miki stares at the carving, enamored with it.
Miki: “That’s r-really pretty!”
> “Oh, it’s been a while since I last carved, I’m glad it came out well.”
Miki: “I really like the story behind it!”
(Story? What story?)
Miki looks at Siffrin’s confused expression and thinks for a moment.
Miki: “The one you were muttering under your breath.”
Siffrin: “I was muttering a story to myself?”
Miki: “Affermative.”
(Huh, weird, you’re so weird)
Miki looks at the carving in Siffrin’s hand.
(Does she want it? You would be happy to give it to her)
Siffrin offers the moon carving to her, she looks confused.
> “You seem to like it, so I want you to have it.”
Miki freezes up.
(...)
(Is she okay?)
> “Miki?”
Miki: “A-Are you you sur-sure?”
> “Yeah.”
Miki hesitantly takes it, looking distressed.
(Does she not like it? She’s so distressed! This is your fault, stupid, stupid-)
Miki pauses a moment, steading herself.
Miki: “Th-Thank you, I’ll treasure it.”
Miki carefully hugs it to her chest.
(Oh, she… does like it)
Isabeau: “DINNER IS READY!”
Miki: “Coming!”
Miki has a wide smile on her face.
(Maybe it’ll be okay)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miki POV:
The party continues their quest, heading east to the fourth orb.
Mirabelle and Isabeau are talking at the front of the party, Odile is reading through her notes, lost in her own world, and Siffrin and Miki are walking hand in hand.
(You really like getting to see this country, it is so pretty)
(Just a few days ago, everyone looked so on edge)
(But now, everyone seems relaxed, comfortable)
(You are too, it’s nice)
(It feels like Siffrin has fit in with the party well, you are glad)
Siffrin glances around and his head snaps to the river.
(Huh?)
> “Siffrin?”
Siffrin lets go of Miki’s hand, snaps his fingers, and dives into the water.
The rushing water violently splashes
> “Siffrin?!”
Miki runs after him.
Miki barely hears Odile’s voice.
Odile: “Siffrin? Miki? Where are you going?”
The rest of the party follows them.
(He’s fast!)
Miki approaches the rushing river, as fast as her body can take her.
Miki goes to run into the glimmering river but Isabeau stops her.
Isabeau: “Miki don’t! You can’t withstand that rushing water!”
(That’s fair, you don’t know how to swim…)
(But what about Siffrin?)
Isabeau: “We’re going to have to trust him whatever he’s doing, let’s run downstream!”
They rush downstream and in the river they see Siffrin.
Mirabelle: “SIFFRIN!”
Miki notices something farther down the stream.
> “He’s chasing something.”
Odile: “I see it! We’ll have to stop it before…”
They all look to the waterfall they’re approaching.
Isabeau: “Mirabelle that trick!”
Mirabelle: “It won’t work, it will just keep going!”
(...You have an idea)
> “Use it on me!”
Mirabelle: “Huh?!?!?!”
> “Launch me over, I'll catch whatever that thing is and resist the fall.”
Odile: “We don’t have a better plan!”
Mirabelle launches Miki by using Piercing Craft on the ground, Miki grabs the thing Siffrin was chasing and Isabeau grabs a branch and grabs Siffrin pulling him out of the water.
(Got it!)
(Is this hair?)
(Oh it’s a-)
Miki’s back crashes into the water below.
Miki starts sinking and the person she was holding floats.
(You did it)
(You saved someone from the depths of the water)
Miki hits the basin’s floor.
(It’s peaceful down here…)
[Warning: Water unable to be expelled from circuits]
(Oh, that’s not great, but you did it)
Isabeau and Siffrin dive into the water and pull Miki out.
Water expunges from Miki lying there coldly.
Miki gets up and sees the child lying there barely, roughly, breathing.
A hat floats up to Miki’s foot.
Miki grabs the hat and puts the hat near the child.
The child breathing steadies.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Raguel POV:
(I wanted to go to the Crossed Forest one last time but obviously no one else is here)
(I don’t deserve to see it anyways after what I did)
(Not that I would have made a different choice… but… I am sorry)
(I guess I might as well try to go in)
Raguel walks in.
(It… worked?)
(I guess that means I’m not alone… but there’s some comfort in that.)
(I recognize this section of the Forest…)
(It’s where…)
(I killed him...)
(...I imagine this is where Isabeau was)
(I don’t know much about him but I imagine he would have buried him)
Raguel wanders about looking for the grave… then he finds it. He sits down next to the grave and opens his eyes.
Raguel: “I’m sorry… I know I won’t be able to be forgiven but even still.”
Raguel: “What should I do?”
Raguel: “There’s part of me that wants to believe.”
Raguel: “But I’m so tired.”
Raguel: “...”
Raguel: “What about you?”
???: “When did you notice?”
Raguel: “I noticed before I sat down.”
Raguel: “May I take a guess?”
There was no response.
Raguel: “You were sent here to kill me weren’t you?”
There was no response.
Raguel: “Then I know who it was who sent you.”
There was no response.
(...I should’ve figured it’d come back to that question, do I want Death? I… don’t know)
Raguel: “My choice will live on without my life. So I don’t have much will to combat you. Not that I could.”
Raguel: “But grant me this if you will? Could I have a moment to know who is the one to kill me?”
Raguel: “Be it man or machine?”
???: “Five questions.”
Raguel: “That’s plenty.”
(Gives me time to think and… I am genuinely curious)
Raguel: “What is your name?”
???: “The Reaper.”
Raguel: “Oh I’ve heard of you. But no point in telling Tales you’ve no doubt already heard.”
(That means if I want to live, any fighting or running is off the table…)
The Moon shines on Raguel and Raguel looks up at the Moon then looks back down. An absence of light surrounds that light.
Raguel: “The Moon tonight… Isn’t it beautiful? It’s full after all.”
The Reaper: “This counts as a question.”
Raguel: “I know.”
The Reaper: “It’s… the only thing casting light in this night, the lone sun.”
Raguel: “But the Sun has already set hasn’t it?”
The Reaper: “That’s another question.”
Raguel: “Nevermind. “
Raguel: “If you had to pick, would you save the people you cared about or the world?”
The Reaper: “I don’t care about the world.”
Raguel laughs. He continues to laugh. Until the laugh turns into a cry.
Raguel: “At the very end…”
The Reaper: “You only have one question left.”
(I’m out of time…)
Raguel: “Could you get this to my mother?”
Raguel gestures to the letter in his hand.
The Reaper: “What’s her name?”
Raguel: “Euphrasie, the Head Housemaiden.”
The Reaper: “She’s frozen isn’t she?”
(...)
Raguel: “Yes but… even still.”
Raguel: “Just in case they’re correct…”
The Reaper: “Okay.”
Raguel: “I know I’ve asked for a favor already but…”
Raguel: “After, could you bury me next to him? Bury me along with my choices.”
Raguel: “The choices I chose to make.”
The Reaper: “Sure.”
(I don’t know whether… but… I’ll live long enough to see if your answer is correct)
As The Reaper gets up and goes around the tree, what he’s expecting to find is not as expected. Raguel is frozen in time, a Faux with no vessel next to him. The Reaper cuts the sadness in twain. Then looks closer at Raguel, he’s slumped against the tree, with his dagger held openly to his heart. Raguel there, he smiles, eyes open, frozen.
The Reaper: “...”
The Reaper then buries him right next to him just like he asked. Then holding Raguel’s Dagger, he etches into the tree: “Here a man buried along with his choices.” Then carrying Raguel’s Dagger with him, The Reaper walks away.
The Reaper: “Job’s done...”