QUEST III

[thecanopycrew]

Adventurers, join to free the Servant of the Tree.
Six of the Night.
Six of the Day.
Six of Twilight.
Gather your party and venture forwards.
The wagons will guide you there.

A treat will be given for each secret shared. 卌卌 II

Those that serve have earned the right of a name. Make them known. Confirm names.
[The words are gone, instead showing a crystal sword being broken into three pieces and reassembled again over and over.]

Comments

[thecanopycrew]

[The mirror glows, the words disappearing entirely to instead show the image of a crystal sword, the material similar to what is on the last floors of the tree.

Now and then, the image shifts to break the sword in three pieces before reforming them again.]

[alley_kit]

[The reaction to their confirming of the names is... somewhat anti-climactic to Kit's mind. She'd sort of been hoping for another present from the mysterious riddler.

Still, nothing to be done about it but figure out this new puzzle.]

It's a sword... and it looks like it's made of the blue crystals up around our house. But why does it keep breaking apart and coming back together like that?

[princeandscholar]

[Orcelito braces himself in case the mirror gives off another brilliant light burst. It doesn’t, so he merely squints against the glow and then looks around to see what happened.]

That is strange… [No items have appeared. So he turns back to the mirror.

The sight of a sword incites a great deal of interest from Orcelito. He absentmindedly hands the paper back to Kit. Then he reaches forward to touch his fingertips to the image. It may not have an effect, but he wants to continue interacting. He addresses the mirror again.] Have we completed the riddle simply by giving the names? Do you want us to go somewhere, or do something else?

[thecanopycrew]

[The mirror remains quiet. It seems this is all they will get.]

[princeandscholar]

[When waiting does not yield a response, he sighs and lets his hand drop back to his side. Before the disappointment can fully set in, he smiles and looks down at Kit.]

I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to ignore you. Yes, you’re right, it does seem to be a crystal sword. Maybe it relates to the crystals blocking off the floors, and how we might break through them?

[He’ll continue to think about the sword image and take action later. Right now…]

Why don’t you help me put the bulletin back up? Then we can go visit the animals you just named.

[alley_kit]

[Kit smiles up at him a little]

It's OK. And yeah, that's the only thing I can think of.

...You think it wants us to make a sword out of one of them?

[She sounds dubious at this. Despite certain people's magic, none of them here are really sword smiths, as far as she knows, never mind one good enough to make a sword out of something as delicate as crystal.

But she nods moving to help return the bulletin to its proper place.]

OK. I wonder if they'll recognize their new names?

[Names had power, after all. Did naming the animals cause those names to magically stick?]

[princeandscholar]

I’m not sure there is anyone here who could, though it would be nice. [Especially for himself; Orcelito hasn’t touched a sword since September and he misses having access to one.] But I don’t think we should try to break the crystals before it’s time. Let’s wait until the main riddle is complete.

[He brings a hand to his chin, thinking.] It’s possible the names took in some fashion. Since we haven’t received anything solid in evidence, the benefits may be intangible. Which is why I want to check the stables. Just in case something changed.

[Once the bulletin is back in place, Orcelito reaches out in offer to take her hand. It’s a surprisingly informal gesture from him.] It was very clever of you to come here and try out names. Even if we find that nothing has changed… I want you to know that I’m proud of you.

And I think we can wrap here, if you want! :3

[alley_kit]

[Kit nods in agreement, both to leaving the crystals alone and checking the stables.

Then, once they've finished hanging the bulletin back up, she takes the offered hand and walks with him back down the branch, blushing a little as he says he's proud of her.]

Thanks, Orcelito.

[The words are simple but their tone and her smile say it all. Making him proud means a great deal to her.]