matoi:the_sun_and_stars
Differences
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| matoi:the_sun_and_stars [2024/06/09 13:24] – created matoi | matoi:the_sun_and_stars [2024/06/10 05:47] (current) – Fixed formatting matoi | ||
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| His footsteps dragged him up to the door, where with all the politeness of a door-to-door salesman, he knocked. | His footsteps dragged him up to the door, where with all the politeness of a door-to-door salesman, he knocked. | ||
| - | " | + | " |
| - | " | + | " |
| - | "...! How dare you make such a presumption. No, why should I even trust you, when you clearly know nothing—" | + | "...! How dare you make such a presumption. No, why should I even trust you, when you clearly know nothing—" |
| "It is you who knows nothing. Nothing at all! Nothing of this //world//, nothing of its //people//, nothing even of the terrible burden that child in your arms has chosen to bear, even now." He snapped back, his words laced with fury enough to cause her mother to wince. | "It is you who knows nothing. Nothing at all! Nothing of this //world//, nothing of its //people//, nothing even of the terrible burden that child in your arms has chosen to bear, even now." He snapped back, his words laced with fury enough to cause her mother to wince. | ||
| But Mja felt something else, alongside fear. // | But Mja felt something else, alongside fear. // | ||
| - | "Mam, maybe he's being sincere. Why does he know about us? About me?" | + | "Mam, maybe he's being sincere. Why does he know about us? About me?"\\ |
| - | "I don't know. But that is why we cannot trust his words." | + | "I don't know. But that is why we cannot trust his words." |
| "Yes, 'tis but a lone man's foolish whims." | "Yes, 'tis but a lone man's foolish whims." | ||
| - | Naturally, Mja trembled. Like a clear blue sky that suddenly shifted to storms and rains, the curious man's attitude shifted just as readily as capricious mother nature herself. | + | Naturally, Mja trembled. Like a clear blue sky that suddenly shifted to storms and rains, the curious man's attitude shifted just as readily as capricious mother nature herself.\\ |
| Her mother too, felt anxiety creep in; her impatience grappled with her awareness that this was most likely part of his ploy to do... something to her child. But seeing the innocent hope in the young bun's eyes gradually begin to dim, her heart gave way first. | Her mother too, felt anxiety creep in; her impatience grappled with her awareness that this was most likely part of his ploy to do... something to her child. But seeing the innocent hope in the young bun's eyes gradually begin to dim, her heart gave way first. | ||
| - | "Fine then. But you'd best explain everything, lest I run you through with my spear." | + | "Fine then. But you'd best explain everything, lest I run you through with my spear." |
| "I fear even a Viera lifespan might not have time enough for that." He snarked. | "I fear even a Viera lifespan might not have time enough for that." He snarked. | ||
| ===＊ ＊ ＊=== | ===＊ ＊ ＊=== | ||
| - | After having put her daughter back in her bed of packed feathery down and grass, the village matriarch opened the door and declared to the village that this man would be accepted—temporarily—into their abode. | + | After having put her daughter back in her bed of packed feathery down and grass, the village matriarch opened the door and declared to the village that this man would be accepted—temporarily—into their abode.\\ |
| Naturally this elicited quite a bit of shock from the village, but nobody dared speak out against her; they at least could hear his half of the conversation, | Naturally this elicited quite a bit of shock from the village, but nobody dared speak out against her; they at least could hear his half of the conversation, | ||
| - | "' | + | "' |
| - | "Hyur, touch her and I break your fingers." | + | "Hyur, touch her and I break your fingers." |
| - | He sighed. "That would make treating her rather difficult. I shall make no attempt to translate to terms you might comprehend, as doing such would require more effort than I'm willing to put in. Honestly, seeing her like this I'm beginning to regret this entire ordeal." | + | He sighed. "That would make treating her rather difficult. I shall make no attempt to translate to terms you might comprehend, as doing such would require more effort than I'm willing to put in. Honestly, seeing her like this I'm beginning to regret this entire ordeal." |
| - | "How dare... I knew you couldn' | + | "How dare... I knew you couldn' |
| "Ugh, calm down. So impatient. I did not say I would go back on my word, merely that... she is still wrong. That is all." | "Ugh, calm down. So impatient. I did not say I would go back on my word, merely that... she is still wrong. That is all." | ||
| - | Well, Mja could agree with that much at least. She would one day inherit her mother' | + | Well, Mja could agree with that much at least. She would one day inherit her mother' |
| Perhaps if she'd been born a man, she could at least steal away to see what was just beyond at the very least. | Perhaps if she'd been born a man, she could at least steal away to see what was just beyond at the very least. | ||
| - | "She is suffering from a sickness of the soul. Rather, her talents are too great for her frame, its a rather awkward position to be in, and one that by and large is favorable to us—a great thorn in our side, possibly excised at last. But... even I can't bear to see her aether in such a tumultuous state." | + | "She is suffering from a sickness of the soul. Rather, her talents are too great for her frame, its a rather awkward position to be in, and one that by and large is favorable to us—a great thorn in our side, possibly excised at last. But... even I can't bear to see her aether in such a tumultuous state." |
| - | "You speak in riddles, Hyur." | + | "You speak in riddles, Hyur."\\ |
| " | " | ||
| The man—Solus, | The man—Solus, | ||
| - | " | + | " |
| - | "How // | + | "How // |
| - | "More riddles..." | + | "More riddles..." |
| - | "To an uneducated mind, perhaps. Now then, child. This will hurt, be warned. But endure it and you shall be able to slake the wanderlust trapped in your eyes." | + | "To an uneducated mind, perhaps. Now then, child. This will hurt, be warned. But endure it and you shall be able to slake the wanderlust trapped in your eyes."\\ |
| Mja trembled in her bed, //how did he know?// | Mja trembled in her bed, //how did he know?// | ||
| - | The man did... something. It looked like he just waved his hands around, but suddenly a great pressure bore down into her mind, threatening to devour her. It felt as though her head would split open, and all of her thoughts and hopes and wishes would come tumbling out. Her body groaned, the magic trapped within guided by a cool and tranquil force, like a trowel digging fresh channels for it to flow through. | + | The man did... something. It looked like he just waved his hands around, but suddenly a great pressure bore down into her mind, threatening to devour her. It felt as though her head would split open, and all of her thoughts and hopes and wishes would come tumbling out. Her body groaned, the magic trapped within guided by a cool and tranquil force, like a trowel digging fresh channels for it to flow through.\\ |
| She felt herself be sick, her mother shouting something—but she sounded so far away. | She felt herself be sick, her mother shouting something—but she sounded so far away. | ||
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| ======2 — Twice as Hot====== | ======2 — Twice as Hot====== | ||
| - | Several decades had passed, and Mja was now a grown adult. Ever since that bizarre Hyur visited the village, she’d been cured of the strange sickness that plagued her, but the constant fever and chill had done its damage, leaving her in a disadvantaged state compared to her fellow tribesfolk—in particular her brothers, who’d already left to safeguard the woods—but even still she spent much of her time being physically active, much to her mother’s chagrin. | + | Several decades had passed, and Mja was now a grown adult. Ever since that bizarre Hyur visited the village, she’d been cured of the strange sickness that plagued her, but the constant fever and chill had done its damage, leaving her in a disadvantaged state compared to her fellow tribesfolk—in particular her brothers, who’d already left to safeguard the woods—but even still she spent much of her time being physically active, much to her mother’s chagrin.\\ |
| Even though Mja was an adult by their society’s standards, her mother was ever the worrywart, both as village chieftain, and as mom to a frail flower of a child. | Even though Mja was an adult by their society’s standards, her mother was ever the worrywart, both as village chieftain, and as mom to a frail flower of a child. | ||
| She couldn’t hunt for the family, not strong enough to string a bow heavy enough to actually bring down prey, so instead she spent her time wandering the near-woods, gathering seasonal berries, keeping the forest floor clear of rotting logs, and most importantly… exploring. | She couldn’t hunt for the family, not strong enough to string a bow heavy enough to actually bring down prey, so instead she spent her time wandering the near-woods, gathering seasonal berries, keeping the forest floor clear of rotting logs, and most importantly… exploring. | ||
| - | She’d happened upon them by chance, but one day while wandering about, Mja encountered strange metallic debris that was far too heavy to move. Not that it stopped her from trying though. | + | She’d happened upon them by chance, but one day while wandering about, Mja encountered strange metallic debris that was far too heavy to move. Not that it stopped her from trying though.\\ |
| Forcing her weight against it to attempt to dislodge it from the dirt, her elbow incidentally struck a button, causing a sliding hatch door to groan open. | Forcing her weight against it to attempt to dislodge it from the dirt, her elbow incidentally struck a button, causing a sliding hatch door to groan open. | ||
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| …and immediately regretted her decision, as several automated defense drones began chasing her down. She wasn’t capable of defending herself—she lacked the strength to carry arms, and couldn’t call upon the forest spirits’ aid like the village geomancers—so her only option was to flee through the sleeping facility until the odd metal creatures(? | …and immediately regretted her decision, as several automated defense drones began chasing her down. She wasn’t capable of defending herself—she lacked the strength to carry arms, and couldn’t call upon the forest spirits’ aid like the village geomancers—so her only option was to flee through the sleeping facility until the odd metal creatures(? | ||
| - | Unfortunately, | + | Unfortunately, |
| It didn’t take long for her to trip over something in the dimly illuminated halls, the cold metal of the floor mercilessly greeting her as she plummeted. | It didn’t take long for her to trip over something in the dimly illuminated halls, the cold metal of the floor mercilessly greeting her as she plummeted. | ||
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| Her arms throbbed, her lungs burned; equal amounts pain and adrenaline coursed through her, masking if she’d broken a bone or not. The odd creatures hovered towards her, radiating dim red light as they blared noise at her. | Her arms throbbed, her lungs burned; equal amounts pain and adrenaline coursed through her, masking if she’d broken a bone or not. The odd creatures hovered towards her, radiating dim red light as they blared noise at her. | ||
| - | // | + | |
| - | Mam… I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have gone in on my own! I knew the world would be dangerous but… But even in our woods!? What should I do? What can I do!?// | + | //Mam… I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have gone in on my own! I knew the world would be dangerous but… But even in our woods!? What should I do? What can I do!?// |
| Her mind raced, she trembled in fear, was she really about to become food for these things? | Her mind raced, she trembled in fear, was she really about to become food for these things? | ||
| - | //‘She was something far greater once…’// | + | //‘She was something far greater once…’// |
| So then what could she do? | So then what could she do? | ||
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| She coughed, rubbing the smoke from her eyes. “Did… I just do that?” | She coughed, rubbing the smoke from her eyes. “Did… I just do that?” | ||
| - | When the smoke dissipated, all that was left of the “beasts” was molten slag and charred circuitry, the smell of ozone filling the air as she staggered back up to her feet, wincing as a sudden spike of pain shot up her leg. | + | When the smoke dissipated, all that was left of the “beasts” was molten slag and charred circuitry, the smell of ozone filling the air as she staggered back up to her feet, wincing as a sudden spike of pain shot up her leg.\\ |
| She’d sprained her ankle, it seemed, but was otherwise no worse for wear. | She’d sprained her ankle, it seemed, but was otherwise no worse for wear. | ||
| Glancing around the now dimly-lit facility thanks to her impromptu campfire, she looked at the strange technology lining the walls—after gathering up all the spilled fruits back in the hem of her skirt, at least. | Glancing around the now dimly-lit facility thanks to her impromptu campfire, she looked at the strange technology lining the walls—after gathering up all the spilled fruits back in the hem of her skirt, at least. | ||
| - | Beneath a black glass wall were several panels and machines, and ever the free spirited and brave soul, she randomly started pressing buttons. | + | Beneath a black glass wall were several panels and machines, and ever the free spirited and brave soul, she randomly started pressing buttons.\\ |
| As the monitors lit up, a bright smile played across her face. Surely, the village would find something of great use down here. | As the monitors lit up, a bright smile played across her face. Surely, the village would find something of great use down here. | ||
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| “You did // | “You did // | ||
| - | Her mother’s voice cracked from how forcefully she shouted. | + | Her mother’s voice cracked from how forcefully she shouted.\\ |
| Mja winced, shrinking back against the wall as she looked away. | Mja winced, shrinking back against the wall as she looked away. | ||
| - | “B-But it’s okay… I’m not hurt! Well, my ankle is—” | + | “B-But it’s okay… I’m not hurt! Well, my ankle is—”\\ |
| - | “Your ankle’s currently swollen like a melon! You could have died!” | + | “Your ankle’s currently swollen like a melon! You could have died!”\\ |
| - | “But I didn’t! I did… something, I think it was magic! Maybe I can actually—” | + | “But I didn’t! I did… something, I think it was magic! Maybe I can actually—”\\ |
| - | “Rid yourself of these foolish thoughts, my little cherrim. That isn’t the first of these mysterious ruins we’ve encountered, | + | “Rid yourself of these foolish thoughts, my little cherrim. That isn’t the first of these mysterious ruins we’ve encountered, |
| - | “I… haven’t tried…” Mja’s already perpetually lopped ears somehow looked as though they were drooping further. | + | “I… haven’t tried…” Mja’s already perpetually lopped ears somehow looked as though they were drooping further.\\ |
| “Unchecked magic is dangerous, there’re any number of ways you could’ve injured yourself. We’ll have to speak with the shaman about this.” | “Unchecked magic is dangerous, there’re any number of ways you could’ve injured yourself. We’ll have to speak with the shaman about this.” | ||
| Her mother glared at her, hands on her hips, but after a few more moments of seeing the poor girl cowering in place silently, she softened. | Her mother glared at her, hands on her hips, but after a few more moments of seeing the poor girl cowering in place silently, she softened. | ||
| - | “I’m only worried for you.” | + | “I’m only worried for you.”\\ |
| - | “I know, both my brothers have already joined the protectors, and I’ll have to watch over and guide the village one day, but…” | + | “I know, both my brothers have already joined the protectors, and I’ll have to watch over and guide the village one day, but…”\\ |
| - | “Oh you silly girl.” Her mother moved forward, placing a hand atop Mja’s platinum silver hair. “That may be the case, but I’m worried about you. I’m your mother!” | + | “Oh you silly girl.” Her mother moved forward, placing a hand atop Mja’s platinum silver hair. “That may be the case, but I’m worried about you. I’m your mother!”\\ |
| - | “You don’t have to be so overprotective though…” | + | “You don’t have to be so overprotective though…”\\ |
| - | “Like I trust anything that Hyur did. For all we know this ‘magic’ business might be his fault! It reeks of—” | + | “Like I trust anything that Hyur did. For all we know this ‘magic’ business might be his fault! It reeks of—”\\ |
| “If it //is// his fault, then he’s saved my life twice over! Regardless of any recklessness on my behalf, shouldn’t you at least not use him as your hay-man?” | “If it //is// his fault, then he’s saved my life twice over! Regardless of any recklessness on my behalf, shouldn’t you at least not use him as your hay-man?” | ||
| They’d had no contact with the Hyur in all those years; not that they knew much of their biology, but he’d most likely returned to the earth. The least her mother could do is not disparage his deeds… | They’d had no contact with the Hyur in all those years; not that they knew much of their biology, but he’d most likely returned to the earth. The least her mother could do is not disparage his deeds… | ||
| - | “And for what it’s worth, I’m more than happy to speak with the shaman about it.” | + | “And for what it’s worth, I’m more than happy to speak with the shaman about it.”\\ |
| - | “You… are? But I thought…” Her mother pulled herself away, peering down at her daughter curiously. | + | “You… are? But I thought…” Her mother pulled herself away, peering down at her daughter curiously.\\ |
| “I know we don’t really get along, because I ‘smell weird’ or whatever it is. But I do want to help our home, however I can, mam.” | “I know we don’t really get along, because I ‘smell weird’ or whatever it is. But I do want to help our home, however I can, mam.” | ||
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| ===＊ ＊ ＊=== | ===＊ ＊ ＊=== | ||
| - | “So, you’re telling me… that you held out your hands, thought really hard, and 'shot an explosion at the weird monsters.' | + | “So, you’re telling me… that you held out your hands, thought really hard, and 'shot an explosion at the weird monsters.' |
| - | “…Yep!” | + | “…Yep!”\\ |
| - | “Get out of my house.” | + | “Get out of my house.”\\ |
| - | “But… this is our house.” | + | “But… this is our house.”\\ |
| “Oh… right. Well, I can’t exactly doubt your words, you smell worse than usual. Apparently.” | “Oh… right. Well, I can’t exactly doubt your words, you smell worse than usual. Apparently.” | ||
| - | Mja and the village shaman, Addja, were currently sitting opposite each other beside the firepit; Mja had her leg propped up on a tall stool, while Addja was currently attempting to coax some spirits into visiting their abode, supposedly. | + | Mja and the village shaman, Addja, were currently sitting opposite each other beside the firepit; Mja had her leg propped up on a tall stool, while Addja was currently attempting to coax some spirits into visiting their abode, supposedly.\\ |
| Mja couldn’t see spirits, nor hear them, so she just had to trust in the shaman’s words on the matter. Apparently, she “reeked of foul energies” and “was like a great grizzly stamping around a deer’s nest” as far as the little beings of nature were concerned. | Mja couldn’t see spirits, nor hear them, so she just had to trust in the shaman’s words on the matter. Apparently, she “reeked of foul energies” and “was like a great grizzly stamping around a deer’s nest” as far as the little beings of nature were concerned. | ||
| - | “This is a pretty nasty sprain though…” Addja drawled. “Surprised you didn’t twist your ankle off. Maybe the spirits haven’t completely abandoned you, at least.” | + | “This is a pretty nasty sprain though…” Addja drawled. “Surprised you didn’t twist your ankle off. Maybe the spirits haven’t completely abandoned you, at least.”\\ |
| - | “Hahaha… thanks, I guess?” | + | “Hahaha… thanks, I guess?”\\ |
| “Don’t thank me.” she snapped back. | “Don’t thank me.” she snapped back. | ||
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| The next several minutes were spent in awkward silence, as Addja muttered to herself and strained herself progressively harder, a vein above her squinted-shut eyes looking like it was about to burst. | The next several minutes were spent in awkward silence, as Addja muttered to herself and strained herself progressively harder, a vein above her squinted-shut eyes looking like it was about to burst. | ||
| - | “…About time you showed up.” The tired-looking rabbit turned her attention to the air beside her, shaking her head. “Sorry, I should be more polite. Thank you for coming to assist this bird-brain.” | + | “…About time you showed up.” The tired-looking rabbit turned her attention to the air beside her, shaking her head. “Sorry, I should be more polite. Thank you for coming to assist this bird-brain.”\\ |
| - | “Hey!” | + | “Hey!”\\ |
| “What? She //likes// birds, y’know.” Addja turned her gaze back, a haggard smile curling on her lips. “So? How’s it looking?” | “What? She //likes// birds, y’know.” Addja turned her gaze back, a haggard smile curling on her lips. “So? How’s it looking?” | ||
| Considering only following one half of a conversation was boring at best, and a headache at worst, Mja let her mind wander instead… | Considering only following one half of a conversation was boring at best, and a headache at worst, Mja let her mind wander instead… | ||
| - | She wanted to go back to that mysterious bunker; she was sure there’d be something in there that could help their village out. At the very least, maybe they could use some scrap metal as building material, or as a flower bed. | + | She wanted to go back to that mysterious bunker; she was sure there’d be something in there that could help their village out. At the very least, maybe they could use some scrap metal as building material, or as a flower bed.\\ |
| - | Maybe they were ruins from an ancient civilization, | + | Maybe they were ruins from an ancient civilization, |
| - | Or a recipe for a very nice cloudberry pie… even that would be worth the trip enough. | + | Or a recipe for a very nice cloudberry pie… even that would be worth the trip enough.\\ |
| The important thing was the story she could share, in the end. In that sense, a pie would probably be more useful than world-shaking information—stories always went better with a sweet snack. | The important thing was the story she could share, in the end. In that sense, a pie would probably be more useful than world-shaking information—stories always went better with a sweet snack. | ||
| - | As her mind wandered to thoughts of food, Mja realized that she was being stared at, and snapped her attention back to reality. | + | As her mind wandered to thoughts of food, Mja realized that she was being stared at, and snapped her attention back to reality.\\ |
| She noticed that her ankle wasn’t swollen anymore, either, and there wasn’t any lingering pain. | She noticed that her ankle wasn’t swollen anymore, either, and there wasn’t any lingering pain. | ||
| - | “So? How do you feel?” | + | “So? How do you feel?”\\ |
| - | “Peachy keen! Mm, I wonder if there’s any peaches left in the pantry…” | + | “Peachy keen! Mm, I wonder if there’s any peaches left in the pantry…”\\ |
| - | “When exactly was the last time you ate—no, wait, we can’t get distracted by that.” Addja shook her head and frowned. “You. Tell me again about that ‘magic’ business. The //whole// story, details included, this time.” | + | “When exactly was the last time you ate—no, wait, we can’t get distracted by that.” Addja shook her head and frowned. “You. Tell me again about that ‘magic’ business. The //whole// story, details included, this time.”\\ |
| “Oh! Well…” | “Oh! Well…” | ||
| - | Mja recounted her tale of derring-do, ending with how she caused an explosive blast. | + | Mja recounted her tale of derring-do, ending with how she caused an explosive blast.\\ |
| Addja was particularly curious about the details of that, though unfortunately… Mja’s explanation lacked… anything resembling clarity. | Addja was particularly curious about the details of that, though unfortunately… Mja’s explanation lacked… anything resembling clarity. | ||
| - | “Like, I, said. I just held my hands up and thought really hard like ‘grrnnn’ and then there was a weird black thing that went ‘schwing’ when I commanded it to, and it hit the monsters and exploded!” | + | “Like, I, said. I just held my hands up and thought really hard like ‘grrnnn’ and then there was a weird black thing that went ‘schwing’ when I commanded it to, and it hit the monsters and exploded!”\\ |
| - | “I know I asked for details, but please try not to think too hard about it in here. I’d rather not have my home exploded.” | + | “I know I asked for details, but please try not to think too hard about it in here. I’d rather not have my home exploded.”\\ |
| - | “But this is //our// home.” | + | “But this is //our// home.”\\ |
| - | “I’d rather not have the village chieftain' | + | “I’d rather not have the village chieftain' |
| - | “Hehe, you really //do// care don’t you?” Mja giggled. | + | “Hehe, you really //do// care don’t you?” Mja giggled.\\ |
| - | “This is why I can’t deal with you… So? I take it you haven’t attempted this… ‘conjuration’ business again? Did you feel anything strange afterward, either in your body or mind?” | + | “This is why I can’t deal with you… So? I take it you haven’t attempted this… ‘conjuration’ business again? Did you feel anything strange afterward, either in your body or mind?”\\ |
| - | “Mmmm… well my ankle really hurt.” | + | “Mmmm… well my ankle really hurt.”\\ |
| “// | “// | ||
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| But she persevered, and thought long and hard on the moment after she recovered from the shock of what she’d done. | But she persevered, and thought long and hard on the moment after she recovered from the shock of what she’d done. | ||
| - | “Hmm… I guess… I felt sad? That’s kinda weird, right?” | + | “Hmm… I guess… I felt sad? That’s kinda weird, right?”\\ |
| - | “Sad. Well, it’s not exactly a strange feeling to have after taking a life, but why did you feel sad? The machines inside ruins like that are not of nature; their existence serves no purpose and they are neither living nor dead. The spirits deplore them more than you, if anything.” | + | “Sad. Well, it’s not exactly a strange feeling to have after taking a life, but why did you feel sad? The machines inside ruins like that are not of nature; their existence serves no purpose and they are neither living nor dead. The spirits deplore them more than you, if anything.”\\ |
| - | “Do you really have to take jabs at me like that?” Mja frowned. “I get it… But uh… No, I wasn't sad because of the mashins. I don’t really know where it came from or why.” | + | “Do you really have to take jabs at me like that?” Mja frowned. “I get it… But uh… No, I wasn't sad because of the mashins. I don’t really know where it came from or why.”\\ |
| “Hrmn… I cannot speak for your emotions, Mja; you have to decide what they mean. Regardless, you should keep that ‘gift’ to yourself. It’s clearly aberrant in some way, and it’s impossible to tell what sort of backlash it would possess.” | “Hrmn… I cannot speak for your emotions, Mja; you have to decide what they mean. Regardless, you should keep that ‘gift’ to yourself. It’s clearly aberrant in some way, and it’s impossible to tell what sort of backlash it would possess.” | ||
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| ======3 — And Just as Merciless====== | ======3 — And Just as Merciless====== | ||
| - | She spent the next several years tinkering about in those ruins, even deciphering a little of the language on the devices and figuring out what the recordings were. | + | She spent the next several years tinkering about in those ruins, even deciphering a little of the language on the devices and figuring out what the recordings were.\\ |
| Unfortunately, | Unfortunately, | ||
| - | The ruins had become fairly safe, and she was considering asking some of the more physically capable tribesfolk to come in and see if there was anything worth recycling for their village—she’d dismantled the rest of the defense nodes with similarly explosive shards of magic, though she still didn’t quite understand how or why she was capable of doing so. | + | The ruins had become fairly safe, and she was considering asking some of the more physically capable tribesfolk to come in and see if there was anything worth recycling for their village—she’d dismantled the rest of the defense nodes with similarly explosive shards of magic, though she still didn’t quite understand how or why she was capable of doing so.\\ |
| It simply came naturally to her, and every time she tapped into her power, there was a powerful longing sorrow that threatened to sweep her away, like she was lost at sea and the tide wished to pull her under. | It simply came naturally to her, and every time she tapped into her power, there was a powerful longing sorrow that threatened to sweep her away, like she was lost at sea and the tide wished to pull her under. | ||
| Which was bizarre, she had no idea how she even knew about the ocean, much less its function; and yet she did. Where that knowledge came from was concerning, but it certainly wasn’t from her adventures in the ruins. | Which was bizarre, she had no idea how she even knew about the ocean, much less its function; and yet she did. Where that knowledge came from was concerning, but it certainly wasn’t from her adventures in the ruins. | ||
| - | Speaking of, she’d managed to turn them into quite the little home-away-from home, with a hammock in the reading room and some potted plants to help liven the place up a little. | + | Speaking of, she’d managed to turn them into quite the little home-away-from home, with a hammock in the reading room and some potted plants to help liven the place up a little.\\ |
| - | She even spread some dirt about on the floor in the entrance and the terminal room, hoping that the gesture would at least earn some brownie points with the spirits, even if they’d never set foot (did they even have feet?) in the place. | + | She even spread some dirt about on the floor in the entrance and the terminal room, hoping that the gesture would at least earn some brownie points with the spirits, even if they’d never set foot (did they even have feet?) in the place.\\ |
| It was more than suitable to use as a Viera den for inviting visitors. | It was more than suitable to use as a Viera den for inviting visitors. | ||
| Line 233: | Line 233: | ||
| In the year 1518, while she was busy trying to figure out how exactly an aetherochemical battery supplied its fuel to a machina, she heard a bizarre droning sound coming from overhead. | In the year 1518, while she was busy trying to figure out how exactly an aetherochemical battery supplied its fuel to a machina, she heard a bizarre droning sound coming from overhead. | ||
| - | By the time she made it out of the bunker, it was already too late. | + | By the time she made it out of the bunker, it was already too late.\\ |
| - | The forest was filled with shades of amber and scarlet, the animals shrieking in terror as they fled. But more horrifying was the sound of machines, droning, grinding, stomping, buzzing, shooting. | + | The forest was filled with shades of amber and scarlet, the animals shrieking in terror as they fled. But more horrifying was the sound of machines, droning, grinding, stomping, buzzing, shooting.\\ |
| She didn’t understand who, what, or why, but panic gripped her heart and she dashed back home, as fast as her pathetic body would carry her. | She didn’t understand who, what, or why, but panic gripped her heart and she dashed back home, as fast as her pathetic body would carry her. | ||
| The scene she saw when she returned felt as though it’d already long been burned into her memories. | The scene she saw when she returned felt as though it’d already long been burned into her memories. | ||
| - | Fire, consuming everything. | + | Fire, consuming everything.\\ |
| - | The dead, either in piles or on the ground where they tried to resist. | + | The dead, either in piles or on the ground where they tried to resist.\\ |
| - | Bizarre creatures—No, | + | Bizarre creatures—No, |
| Machines, trampling over everything, sawing through their very home itself. | Machines, trampling over everything, sawing through their very home itself. | ||
| “What…” She trembled, her body out of breath but her spirit burning with fury. //“ARE YOU DOING!? | “What…” She trembled, her body out of breath but her spirit burning with fury. //“ARE YOU DOING!? | ||
| - | That got the attention of some of the bizarrely armored figures, who trained their weapons on her. But they were too slow. | + | That got the attention of some of the bizarrely armored figures, who trained their weapons on her. But they were too slow.\\ |
| There was already plenty of fire all around them, all it took was a wave of her hand, and it leapt from the nearby boughs and washed over them, swirling around before erupting upward in a vortex of scorching death. | There was already plenty of fire all around them, all it took was a wave of her hand, and it leapt from the nearby boughs and washed over them, swirling around before erupting upward in a vortex of scorching death. | ||
| - | Next was a machine, charging toward her slowly. She’d already dealt with more than enough. | + | Next was a machine, charging toward her slowly. She’d already dealt with more than enough.\\ |
| - | Embracing the grief that was already churning within her, she trivially tapped into her gift and threw deadly shards of shade at the vehicle. | + | Embracing the grief that was already churning within her, she trivially tapped into her gift and threw deadly shards of shade at the vehicle.\\ |
| It survived two blasts, but the third struck true on its fuel supply, causing the entire thing to go off like sparklestones during a solstice festival. | It survived two blasts, but the third struck true on its fuel supply, causing the entire thing to go off like sparklestones during a solstice festival. | ||
| - | With the immediate threat handled, she rushed toward home; dread that she’d not yet dug up from her well of emotions gushed forth as she saw the door already ajar. | + | With the immediate threat handled, she rushed toward home; dread that she’d not yet dug up from her well of emotions gushed forth as she saw the door already ajar.\\ |
| Inside… her mother was missing. Given the state of the village, that was little comfort to her. | Inside… her mother was missing. Given the state of the village, that was little comfort to her. | ||
| - | “Sir, moving in.” | + | “Sir, moving in.”\\ |
| - | “Proceed with caution, that one is different.” | + | “Proceed with caution, that one is different.”\\ |
| - | “Understood.” | + | “Understood.”\\ |
| - | //“Squad 15, sector 3 clear. Over.”// | + | //“Squad 15, sector 3 clear. Over.”//\\ |
| “Squad 15, meet up with Squad 0 in sector 1. We still have a live one. Over.” | “Squad 15, meet up with Squad 0 in sector 1. We still have a live one. Over.” | ||
| - | Voices came from just outside, and she whirled around on the spot. | + | Voices came from just outside, and she whirled around on the spot.\\ |
| It’d all happened so fast, where did they go wrong? | It’d all happened so fast, where did they go wrong? | ||
| - | Had that Hyur betrayed them after all? | + | Had that Hyur betrayed them after all?\\ |
| But her magic had been a gift from him, and it was… | But her magic had been a gift from him, and it was… | ||
| Line 272: | Line 272: | ||
| Slowly, brazenly, she walked out. | Slowly, brazenly, she walked out. | ||
| - | Their weapons were all trained on her, an absurd spectacle to any onlooker. | + | Their weapons were all trained on her, an absurd spectacle to any onlooker.\\ |
| Men, armored in glowing steel and bearing weapons that could make hunting game into a //joke,// all taking a half step back from a malnourished-looking rabbit, whose ears couldn’t even stand up on their own. | Men, armored in glowing steel and bearing weapons that could make hunting game into a //joke,// all taking a half step back from a malnourished-looking rabbit, whose ears couldn’t even stand up on their own. | ||
| - | The flames surrounding them reflected in her eyes as she glared. “Who are you?” | + | The flames surrounding them reflected in her eyes as she glared. “Who are you?”\\ |
| - | Not ‘why have you come here’ or ‘why have you done this.’ | + | Not ‘why have you come here’ or ‘why have you done this.’\\ |
| - | “We are the Garlean Empire! Loyal soldiers of Solus zos Galvus! Surrender, and you may yet live as part of our—” | + | “We are the Garlean Empire! Loyal soldiers of Solus zos Galvus! Surrender, and you may yet live as part of our—”\\ |
| - | “Solus? | + | “Solus? |
| - | “So even the primitives have heard of our emperor.” | + | “So even the primitives have heard of our emperor.”\\ |
| “Truly he is a grand figure, to be known even in abandoned forests.” | “Truly he is a grand figure, to be known even in abandoned forests.” | ||
| There was a chorus of laughs. | There was a chorus of laughs. | ||
| - | “We came here to claim these lands for Garlemald, and to harvest its lumber for—” | + | “We came here to claim these lands for Garlemald, and to harvest its lumber for—”\\ |
| - | “I did not ask for that.” | + | “I did not ask for that.”\\ |
| - | “Huh?” | + | “Huh?”\\ |
| “All I wanted to know… is what to call you when I explain your folly.” | “All I wanted to know… is what to call you when I explain your folly.” | ||
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| ===＊=== | ===＊=== | ||
| - | High above the canopy of trees, in one of many airships that moved as though blanketing the skies in the dark clouds of war, a man stood by watching his troops handiwork. | + | High above the canopy of trees, in one of many airships that moved as though blanketing the skies in the dark clouds of war, a man stood by watching his troops handiwork.\\ |
| Surely their emperor would be delighted at his forward thinking attitude, securing them valuable resources and terrain in one fell swoop. The fact there were primitives living there was a surprise, but they were no match before Solus’ incredible ceruleum innovations. | Surely their emperor would be delighted at his forward thinking attitude, securing them valuable resources and terrain in one fell swoop. The fact there were primitives living there was a surprise, but they were no match before Solus’ incredible ceruleum innovations. | ||
matoi/the_sun_and_stars.1717939470.txt.gz · Last modified: by matoi