thehometree | Welcome Back, Adventurers!

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Welcome Back, Adventurers!

The wagons rolled in, the ship anchored, and the wayward journey has ended back at the tree.

After putting the sword where it now belongs inside the life Stream, it's time for a little award, isn't it?

Appearing outside the tree after the sword has been inserted is normal-sized slice of chocolate cake, enough to feed everyone in tree and more!

Come relax, talk about your adventures and catch up. Enjoy your victory!

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[Aside from not visiting towns, she’s also never seen a ship? Curious....]

The ship took us to our destination and back in five days. My teammates and I are certain. Those on the wagons agreed to the same time frame. [He has absolute confidence in their experiences. And yet-] If something happened… I think we may have been enchanted without our knowledge. Though when it occurred I don’t know.

[Part of him wonders if the ship and wagons were… cursed somehow. Because they lost team members and time alike. But he won’t say so; it could easily have been their destinations that were to blame. Or the sword, or any number of things.]

[ she'd huff and cross her arms but since she's holding precious dessert, she just goes with huffing. no matter what the true cause is, she has something to blame it all on. ]

It's those cursed riddles! Why do the people here keep trying to solve them? I understand if another spirit like Chime was trapped, but it wasn't like that this time, right? I didn't know what to think... I thought those who left might have just returned home.

[Orcelito frowns slightly. But he’s used to calming huffing little girls, so his voice is level as he explains.]

I believe another spirit is trapped. The riddle said ‘free the servant of the Tree.’ And we have been hearing sounds from beyond the crystals.

Kit said something happened to Chime’s family… there might be more than one here.

[His words are benevolent enough. If he has… other reasons for solving the riddles, he won’t reveal them here.]

I know, I've heard them too... [ she says grumpily. ] I've spoken with Kit as well, but I would be more worried about the one who trapped Chime's family in the first place. They're clearly working up these riddles to toy with us. It's all a game to them, but someone is going to get hurt one day. Didn't I hear that people have gone missing once they returned to the forest? They could have just returned home, but that doesn't make any sense. Why would only a few leave and the others be left behind?

We don’t know why Chime’s family was scattered. Or how it is connected to the riddles.

[But this isn’t about the Tree spirits, is it? His voice stays sensible and firm.]

We don’t know who is involved here, or what happened. It’s true that this could be someone’s idea of a game… but we can’t jump to that conclusion yet. All we know is what we’ve experienced so far.

People have vanished. Without any pattern to the disappearances, it is impossible to say why they left or where they went. We’ve lost time as well, and again that is a mystery.

[He sighs. The more he admits to ignorance, the more pressure he feels. His free hand clenches.]

I’m frustrated too, Riona. [He can’t bring much feeling into those words. He’s numb and confused, and full of justifications that Riona wouldn’t want to hear anyway.] I’m sorry I can’t answer your questions. I wish I could.

[ she listens quietly, albeit with a firm frown, but by the end it strangely loosens as she wears a distant expression instead. ]

... Just be more careful. Kit as well. Trying to learn the truth is the obvious path to take, but by the time we find it, it could already be too late.

[ as ominous as that may sound, she doesn't elaborate. but her tone suggests she doesn't mean it lightly. now she pauses, gaze averting for a second. ] Don't apologize. I'm sorry. I know you have your frustrations, I shouldn't burden you with my own.

[ then, while continuing to speak, she turns around to get more cake. ] If you or Kit decide to leave the forest to solve another riddle, I think I'll go with you.

[He nods and meets her gaze seriously. Had she told him this before the quest, he may have brushed off her concern but… he knows better now. His tone is decisive.] I will.

[It’s true that the quests will likely unearth something that will change their understanding of this place… and perhaps turn it more sinister. He is prepared for that. He’s made it his goal to learn the truth – and he will continue to walk that path, whatever world he is on.]

[Orcelito appreciates the apology. Before he can respond, her next words surprise him.] Really? You would… be all right with that?

[ it's a subject they'll most likely continue to share different views on for some time. for as long as she's been here, riona has yet to completely give the forest a chance, and that's certainly not orcelito's fault. now, after getting more cake onto her plate, she turns back to him and idly picks at the dessert while answering him. ]

... Not completely all right. But you, and Kit—you've become my friends. [ her first friends, more importantly. she looks up at him. ] And I don't want to lose my friends because of these stupid riddles.

[He finally smiles again, warmly and sincerely. His posture relaxes as the tension ebbs.]

I don’t want the riddles to affect our friendship either. Whatever happens… protecting everyone is most important.

[He’s finally been able to make friends again! Riona and the rest… are the first people in so long that he’s really been able to talk to. He won’t lose that – not again.

He wants to add that he’ll protect her and Kit but… well, he wasn’t very effective at that during this last quest. He hurriedly buries the self-reproach arising from that thought; he can’t afford to look unconfident.]

[ his smile catches her off guard for a second, but she soon relaxes. she doesn't want to say that, to her, protecting everyone is not her priority. her priority is orcelito, kit, and the few people she's come to fancy around the forest. so, with a single nod, she answers: ]

We'll protect each other.

[ after that, she stuffs another piece of cake into her mouth to give her time to think. ]

... If you two had really returned home, I realized I had no way of knowing for certain. No one does. When people disappear, we assume home is where they've gone, but some people came back. I don't like it...the not knowing.

I don’t like it either. [He shakes his head. Ever since Yuuya told him about the mist, he’s been trying to find similarities in the disappearances.] So far, the best indication is that if someone leaves, their possessions disappear. I left my coat in my room. Had it vanished, you could have presumed I left.

[That’s not a pleasant thought. He imagines Riona would’ve been quite distressed, wondering first if it was stolen and secondly if it’s owner was gone. Orcelito would’ve been distressed too, arriving at the castle and having to explain why his clothing appeared so worn.]

I want to believe that those who left returned home. But I wish we knew for certain.

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Welcome Back, Adventurers!

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