#030066 - A Report

[passio]

It’s been a long time. We have many new people here. My name is Dextera.

A few weeks ago, some others and I were able to defeat the powerful creature in the woods that Ryo discovered. When we kept walking after it, we found that the area beyond it was strangely calm and safe. It was a respite unlike anything I’ve ever seen that deep in the woods. We even saw one or two animals that were completely normal. If you’ve seen any of the usual animals from the woods before, you must understand how strange this is.

It was a small area, but it felt “right.”

The second update is that I recently came back from the woods again with Damian. Because the story from #FFFFFF keeps updating, I thought now was a good time to see if we could find any evidence of that man.

After a long time, and I’m sorry if we scared anyone by disappearing, we were able to find what we think were his bones, plus a locket with the picture of a beautiful man and a colorful feather inside of it.

That’s all. I hope everyone is well.

Comments

[passio]

It is a sad story. I want there to be a way we can help him, even now.

[lacrimose]

like what? something that could bring them back, like you did for me?

[passio]

I don’t know if there’s anything else like that. But there must be something. We have to be able to do something for the people before us.

[lacrimose]

we'll think of something. that story must've been shared with us for a reason

[passio]

I think so too. Even when this town plays tricks, or tries to hurt us, it all means something in the end. It all causes something.

[lacrimose]

we wouldn't have been able to explore further in the woods without the rewards from quests, too. someone wants us to find out the truth

are you okay after being gone so long? did you get lost?

[passio]

It was strange. Usually when we go looking in the woods, the trees tell us where to go. There was nothing like that this time, so we did end up really lost.

I’m OK, but it gave me a lot of time to think. Especially after we found him.

[lacrimose]

think it's because the woods are mad after what we did, and it's making us get lost on purpose?

yeah i bet. im glad you weren't alone. is this damian guy ok?

[passio]

Damian is always OK. He’s a lot more capable than I am, so I’m grateful he was there.

As for if they’re “mad” or not, I can’t say. I think this place wants us here, but something is hurting it, too. Maybe it’s the same thing that separates us from each other.

[lacrimose]

i dont really understand it, but i think maybe you're right. i hope we can figure out what to do soon...

[passio]

I hope so too.

[ rereading his own message, however, reminds him of something. thinking of being separated from loved ones, and speaking to akira in particular… ]

Can I ask you something privately?

[lacrimose]

Sure. do you want to talk in person?

[passio]

If you’re not busy. Could you come here?

[lacrimose]

yeah, i'll come over now

[And with Akira's unnatural speed, he's ready and knocking on Dextera's door in a matter of minutes. sup buddy?]

[passio]

[ dextera had started to go through guren’s belongings to find the old ring, but akira surprises him with how quickly he can arrive. it’s easy to forget, he supposes, that akira isn’t entirely human. ]

…I’m sorry.

[ with an apologetic smile, as he opens the door. ]

It’s sudden…

[lacrimose]

It's okay. [Akira returns the smile as he enters.] What did you want to talk about?

[passio]

Um, well… I’ll show you. Follow me.

[ that sounds pretty ominous, and dextera realizes it as he’s already moving toward the stairs. hesitating briefly, he turns back to face akira. ]

That quest… I wanted to ask if you would destroy something for me.

[lacrimose]

[Akira follows after him, and looks surprised, briefly. He hadn't expected many people to want to take up that quest.]

Is it something dangerous?

[passio]

In some hands, it might be.

[ in dextera’s, especially. he’d wanted to give it away, initially, but it seems to have found its way back into his possession after all. the temptation is still a little too great for him to want to keep it. ]

It should be…

[ he trails off, rummaging around—many of these things, tucked away in his room, clearly belong to someone else. ]

Here.

[lacrimose]

[Akira peers over his shoulder as he rummages through the various belongings, curious. He'd heard of Guren vaguely, but he doesn't know much about him. Dextera has certainly never mentioned him around Akira much, if at all.]

Whose stuff is this?

[passio]

Huh?

[ dextera is now clutching a small but gaudy ring between his fingers, though he’s careful not to put it on. it had no case when he got it, and it has no case now, but he never did want to lose track of it. just in case. ]

It’s… Guren’s. Mine and Guren’s…

[ so it is, technically, “his.” ]

[lacrimose]

[Akira cants his head, looking it over.]

Isn't it important to you? [At least, he's kept it all this time, so he guesses it must be.] Why would you destroy it?

[passio]

Important…

[ in the same way it’s “dangerous,” dextera supposes it could also be “important.” ultimately, though, he shakes his head. ]

This ring has the power to get rid of one memory, permanently. I’ve thought about using it a lot… sometimes memories are too painful to bear, after all. Even the happy ones. But after seeing that man in the woods…

[lacrimose]

Yeah...

[Akira thinks back to Link, and how he couldn't bear to keep his memories of Zelda in Chroma, so he ultimately asked Akira to take them on. He doesn't know if Link will ever regret that decision, but it was his to make.

Just like this is Dextera's.

He takes the ring from him, examining it carefully.]

I think there might be a way I can destroy it.

[passio]

Really?

[ dextera’s shoulders relax, and he looks a little more at ease. not happy, but at ease. ]

I wasn’t sure how to destroy it, and I didn’t want to just throw it away somewhere. Thank you, Akira.