001☀ AMBER

[dawnofhiryuu]

[She’s staring at the amber slice with both curiosity and awe. And because she’s touching it, all of the lovely residents of the tree can see one large lavender-hued eye and a stunning shade of red as her bangs brush the stone. If she knew everyone could see her, she probably wouldn’t be gaping at the artifact in such an unrefined fashion, or giving any potential viewers a look at her tonsils and chin while she fumbles with it. Not only is she from a world without technology, but her knowledge of anything supernatural is limited to her experiences with the dragons. In other words, it’s virtually nonexistent.

’How can a stone be used to communicate? Surely, there is more to it than touching it.’

But as soon as the thought enters her mind, she recalls the yellow gem she held earlier, resulting in wings sprouting from her back. And just moments before, she saw a flash of shifting pictures in the amber, the faces of strangers moving, talking to each other, as if she was looking into a mirror, only the person staring back at her was not herself.

Yona clears her throat, lips tightening nervously before relaxing into an uncertain smile.]

Hello there. My name is… [Scratch that!] …well, I suppose that is rather unimportant at the moment.

…Hopefully I’m not just talking to myself. I saw… people, several individuals, speaking to one another in this stone a few moments ago.

[Of course, it’s highly probable that she’s just lost her mind. Last time she checked, she was having a one-sided conversation with a stone from inside what appears to be a tree. There’s nothing sane about it.]

Then again, maybe I just imagined it.

[Wait. Did she just admit she might be crazy out loud? Yona flashes a sheepish smile, but it wanes after a moment, her expression dissolving into concern, closely followed by apprehension, and then fear.]

H-Hak?

Comments

( amber )

[knight_king]

[It is magic. Magi often spy the world through crystal balls, so she is not too surprised this exists. It is surprising they made it useful to those who do not practice magecraft.

Saber is serious and she does not need to lie when their present conversation proves her point.]

Those who, like you, were taken from their homes and brought into the tree. Our captors are not present and have not spoken to us directly.

( amber )

[dawnofhiryuu]

[It's the same story she's heard from others. None of it has changed. Though it seems so implausible, she's no stranger to the wonderments of the universe. But... there is a very real possibility that they are not so far from Kouka or that they are actually still in Kouka, right?

The all too familiar sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach is trying to convince her otherwise.]

It seems odd that they would not show their faces at all. [She suddenly has a thought.] How long have you been here?

( amber )

[knight_king]

[Saber's features are certainly not AU Korean from Kouka, nor is her likely intonation despite sharing a common language.

Her face hardens when she mentions the date of her arrival.]

Hm. I estimate it has passed at least a month.

( amber )

[dawnofhiryuu]

[A month is a long time to be imprisoned. She wonders how long Hak and the others have been here. It can't be that long. Surely, they would have found a way to escape in that time.

The tension in her face relaxes, and she cannot help but feel remorse for this person.]

I'm sorry you've been held captive for so long.

( amber )

[knight_king]

I am one is the most sorry for I have been unable to find an exit to help everyone who was brought here.

[She shakes her head, denying her kindness. She feels responsible, of course, she is the king of knights and they are at the mercy of some unknown force.]

Have you found your companion?

( amber )

[dawnofhiryuu]

One of them, yes. [Her smile lengthens and she nods her head in thanks.] I appreciate your concern.

Are you acquainted with an individual named Yuuya? I was told about a barrier, a sort of mist that is intended to prevent our escape, and how this person was able to pass through it when no others could.

( amber )

[knight_king]

I have spoken to him once, I think when he returned from this journey. [she pauses because it may sound odd to explain how he looks like.] He is...a bird.

( amber )

[dawnofhiryuu]

[So she's heard. She doesn't seem surprised by this news at all.]

Has there been some consensus as to how he was able to move through the mist?

( amber )

[knight_king]

I was not present when he was missing and we only spoke one. He described the process as "dreamlike."

If you were not aware, animals are able to cross the mist. Perhaps the owner of that bounded field first mistook him by the average bird and allowed him to pass until he or she realized their mistake.