retellers | WEEK 3: CYOA (Alyssa, Hansa, Hilda, Emet-Selch)

[ As everyone explores the northern area, they may suddenly find they're... not quite where they're supposed to be? They're in a large village, bursting with life. However, should they try to reach out to anyone, no one will respond to them... yet.

Also, they're all in kigus of your choice. Why? Because Andie requested it.

Anyway, they will all, by mg magic, know what their objective is. There are two young children, whom they must help counsel/raise until their adulthood. ]

[ One month later (though it'll really only feel like a couple of minutes for everyone):

Hansa and Emet-Selch have arrived at the big village and obtained a home of their own, though not necessarily anywhere near Hilda and Alyssa—no intersecting for you just yet! Hopefully, everyone's now adjusted into their new happy family life.

One evening, as it begins to rain... ]

[ A year has passed! Again, it thankfully won't feel that long for the groups; on the downside, because a year isn't literally passing, that means if someone hypothetically caught a cold last scenario, they may still have it. Get wrecked. ]

[ Another year has passed, and now the children are nine years old. Has Emet-Selch recovered from his cold yet? Who knows! ]

[ Two years have passed now, and the children are eleven. Maybe it's time for them to start thinking more seriously about the future... ]

[ Another year has passed, and the children are now twelve... ]

Edited 2020-10-21 23:28 (UTC)

[ Another year, more birthdays passed, and now Hishi and Kaiza are thirteen. Entering those teen years... which means maybe it's time to think about love? ]

[ Another year, and now the kids are fourteen. Life goes on the same as before, except that thanks to Kaiza and Hishi's efforts (but possibly mostly Kaiza's), Ohmi and Riu are dating. Much to Kaiza's joy and relief, as he'll inform Hansa and Emet-Selch. Hilda and Alyssa don't need to worry about Hishi, though, as Riu still eats with her girl friends and hangs out with them; bros before hoes. Hishi continues to ponder over her crush, but has yet to make a move on Kaiza, if she ever intends to.

Not all is sunshine and rainbows, though. While children (and the occasional adult) have, at times, disappeared from the village... it's getting more frequent. The kids are told at school to be careful, especially when it gets late.

This definitely won't be relevant, though! ]

[ Another year, and now the kids are fifteen. Big news this year, though! Not necessarily good news, though.

An exploration group, which had headed out to the northern ruins a few years back, has finally returned—though they aren't quite in one piece. Most of them are injured, and they lost a few members as well. The dangerous beast that lurks there is still alive, they say. Even worse, all the puzzles. Should anyone else attempt to investigate the ruins, they should bring along a genius (on top of, you know, better fighters) who can solve those, or else they'll never be able to advance further.

Still, that probably won't stop future groups. After all, the allure of treasure is too great to resist.

I feel like I should also specify that Hishi's parents are not among the group. They still nebulously exist out there, maybe. ]

[ Two years have passed. The kids are now seventeen, set to graduate in one more year. Before that, though, there's something they have to take care of.

Soon, they'll set off on their journey to the northern ruins. By now, the village knows, buzzing with concern and excitement. Will they be fine? Maybe that eyepatch man will lose his other eye? (A comment that may or may not have come from the Randos.) WILL THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE BE FINE, cries that one suitor of Hilda's from, like, ten years ago. Wow. But if all goes well, they'll finally know what the lost treasure is, and the village can boast they have Hishi, the genius of this generation. Also, Kaiza exists, they suppose. (No, they love him too. But he's less brag-worthy.)

Riu hugs Hishi tearfully, telling her that nothing had better happen to her or she'll never forgive her. Also, she'll castrate Kaiza. And his dads too, for good measure. Ohmi reminds Kaiza that he and Hishi have to come back alive, or else what will happen to their plans together? Not to mention that he has to be his best man for—no, never mind, talking about marrying Riu in the future is still too embarrassing, aaaaaaaaah.

Kaiza and Hishi regret having to worry their friends like this, but... this is something they have to do.

Still, there are a few things left to take care of. ]

[ It's time. If all goes well, Kaiza and Hishi will be able to return to the village in time for their graduation, but—well, that's assuming everyone comes back safely.

The trip through the jungle is mostly uneventful, especially since this time, Kaiza isn't an impatient young child. Now, he's focused, especially with Hishi's expertise to support him.

Eventually, they reach the ruins. They're the remnants of a civilization now lost, its people having passed so long ago as to be almost faded away in time. Kaiza, having been here once before, knows his way around, and he guides them to a large, relatively intact building. ]

... If the beast is anywhere, it'll be here.

[ Lightly, he touches his neck, before he turns to Hishi. She nods, and then looks to the others. ]

Kaiza and I will head in as far as we can, to deal with the puzzles as quickly as possible. If we encounter the beast... then we will entrust it to you.

[ Which they're not happy about, but also, like. 3/4 of their parents are trained fighters and much stronger than them? Please protect your children. Also because Jan isn't mean enough to make you solve puzzles/perhaps did not want to have to come up with any.

So in they go! The ceilings are high, and the hallways are relatively large, at least enough so that most of the group can walk shoulder-by-shoulder. Inside, though, is almost a maze of various halls. Traps, long since disarmed by explorers before them, lay around. And though the buildings are old, much of it now covered in greenery, Hishi looks around in muted awe, while Kaiza has the look of someone remembering things from long ago.

But yeah, you knew this was coming. Footsteps—that certainly aren't theirs—begin to echo through the building. And then, finally, the steps resound from behind the group. Should they turn around, they'll find that it has appeared, emerging from a turn they didn't take: the beast.

Time for battle! ]

Edited 2020-10-22 18:38 (UTC)

[ Hansa, Emet-Selch, Hilda, and Alyssa will find themselves back in the village. Neither Kaiza nor Hishi is there with them... but before anyone panics over the latter, they will sense that time has passed.

Graduation approaches, as does the time when the four's duties will come to an end. They're invited, even Hansa who is no longer banned—or rather, he never was! What would he have been banned from the premises for, after all?

Ohmi and Hishi are at the top of the class, with Riu trailing behind. Still, even as second-best, everyone is excited to see what she can achieve alongside Ohmi, as the two plan to take up leadership positions in the village. Some people are a bit worried about their combined people skills, but they'll have to make do. The two have improved since childhood, at least, although they can't quite remember why?

Meanwhile, Hishi is the genius of the village, hailed for returning with the treasure from the northern ruins. Hansa and co.'s efforts are also very much appreciated. No longer will anyone have to live in fear of the beast, and maybe the kidnappings will stop now.

Also, Hishi receives a letter from her parents, letting her know they're well. See, they're alive!

And so, life goes on.

Hilda and Alyssa will sometimes catch Hishi staring at a bracelet on her wrist. She made it, she recalls, but how odd—she's never felt the need to make anything for herself. And when the time comes to part, she'll ask Hilda and Alyssa for a final hug. For some reason, saying goodbye to them is harder than she had imagined, and she can't explain this void in her heart.

In their home, Hansa and Emet-Selch will find a note (or rather, they'll have to retrieve it from Treasure, before he can swallow it).

Can't stay long, think Treasure is afraid of me. Honestly, I wish I could graduate, after how hard I worked to not fail, but it looks like everyone's memories of me have already slipped away. I don't know if you'll still remember, so maybe this is just the ramblings of some psycho to you, but I wanted to say this again.

It was a good ten years, and I owe a lot of it to you two. Thank you. - Kaiza

If Hansa, Hilda, Emet-Selch, and Alyssa meet up and go over what was in the container left for them, they will find (and, instinctively, know the purpose of):

printed report

Furthermore:

• The red bracelet Kaiza crafted and the green bracelet Hishi crafted? The two wielders can send a telepathic message to the other once per week. If the other person is indisposed at the time, they may receive it once they're available again, though the message might get scrambled.
Also, if they so wish, they may keep Kaiza's note and the drawings Kaiza and Hishi made, as well as their cats.

But now, it's time to leave. ]

THE BEGINNING

GETTING TO KNOW THEM

ONE MONTH LATER

INTERLUDE