"Thanf you, thanf you tho uch." The boy spoke with his mouth still full of food, devouring all of your lunch greedily. His depressed belly swelled as he stuffed himself.

"What happened?" You asked him.

"There're bad men after me, slave traders... I ran away from them for a day but I collapsed here, you really saved me." He bore you a smile but he was missing near half his teeth, "I'm Gos."

"I'm..." You begin to introduce yourself, but Carna steps in your way and looks down at the boy with an annoyed face.

"I'm Carna and he's my friend!" She proclaimed, shoving a finger into your nose, "So you can't have him!"

The boy took a surprised look, before breaking into a laugh, "Nice to meet you Carna, Carna's friend."

Pulling Carna's hand away from you, you step forward to...

>Change the topic to appease Carna
>Insist you can have more than one friend
>Lift Gos back to your village for treatment

>>31830729
Primarily:
>>Lift Gos back to your village for treatment

...but while we're on our way,
>>Insist you can have more than one friend
Because Carna pls.

You wouldn't like it if we thought you were introducing yourself to this kid because you wanted to abandon us, y'know.

>>31830729
>Insist you can have more than one friend

Rolled 16

>>31830729
>Lift Gos back to your village for treatment
While doing so
>Insist you can have more than one friend

>>31830729
>>Change the topic to appease Carna

You kneeled down and lifted Gos up from underneath, you didn't have much confidence in your strength but despite his chains he was rather light, "Come on, let's get you treated."

Carna followed behind you, making groans and kicking at the dirt as you returned to your village. You'd always imagined she'd be more excited to make new friends, but it seems she wasn't fond of the idea that you would.

"He looks all raggity! And he has chains on him! I bet he's an apple thief! Or worse yet, a MELON thief! You shouldn't be friends with him, he'll turn you into a melon thief!"

"I'm not a fruit thief! Bread at best, and only when I'm really hungry!"

"See, he's a thief! Don't be friends with him, you're my friend! Mine!"

Gos and Carna yelled at each other as you carried him, and when Dog started barking you couldn't help but be a little irritated, "Listen Carna, I can have more than one friend, okay?"

Carna grabbed at her pig tails and tugged on them, her cheeks puffed out.

"You're still my bestest friend, forever, okay?"

"FINE!" Carna released the air in her cheeks. Gos let out a little laugh at your exchange, for such a raggity boy he really had a bright personality.

Most of the time you let Carna have her way, but when Gos was around you couldn't help but feel a bit more independent... 'my two friends', you repeated those three words in your head quite often during the days between the three of you.

Those days were not long lived.

And so, the dream ends.

>CONT

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>Year 484 of the Raschan Calendar

Ten years ago you lost her, Carna; who didn't quite get along with your other friend. Now ten years later, no one has ever come so close to you.

"...And so that concludes our lectures on demons." Silvest your feline professor announces at the end of the class at the end of the month. Things have been calm lately, you'd gone neither on field excursions this month and all the dramatics between Rein and Yu'yen had been cleared up. You'd caught the willful girl giving a few more passing glances your way lately, but her attitude hasn't changed at all since your late visit to her room and things were well and peaceful between you, her and the other students. You grab your bags, perhaps it's your fault for having read so deeply on the subject already but the month just flew by for you, with not much to learn and not much to take in. What knowledge you did pick up, you tucked away in the back of your mind for future use.

"Before you leave though, I've something to tell you all..." Silvest stands upright on the podium in class, his tail stretches out and grabs his monocle, with the back of his paws he brushes at it as if cleaning it off, "With the end of this fifth month, we will be ending regular classes. For the three upcoming months you'll be largely in the fields for all of it. You will have a week off from today, enjoy your rest, further instruction will be delivered to the dorms."

>CONT

Silvest took his leave, and your class of six chattered confused about the sudden events.

"What? How could he just drop that and leave!?" Rein says exasperated.

"Aaah, I don't know about field work... I'd rather stay in and read." Leona slumps back in her chair.

"It's not really much of a surprise..." Sheryl makes way over to the two sisters, the girls have been getting along very nicely lately, a little worrisome given the more fragmented relationship between the boys, "You don't remember what we're training for right?"

"The Seekers of Catus, we're basically glorified thieves and assassins." Yu'yen chimes in as he passes by them, "It's no surprise we'd spend some time in the fields."

"Urgh..." Rein's head sank, it seems she may've actually forgotten your purpose for being here.

"Well, that aside, we get some resting time don't we?" Leona pats Rein on the back, trying to cheer her sister up, "What's everyone going to do with it? Is anybody visiting any fam..." She stops herself.

Yu'yen has a little snicker at her mistake, "Actually, I think I am. You?"

"Ah... I think we're staying at the dorms." Leona's eyes shift away as she answers, there's an odd smile on her face.

"Me too..." Sheryl mumbles.

"And you friend?" Yu'yen looks over to you and you tell him...

>You're taking it easy in Deneb
>You're returning to visit your benefactor in Ridaela

>>31831383
>You're taking it easy in Deneb

>>31831383
>You're returning to visit your benefactor in Ridaela

>>31831383
>>You're returning to visit your benefactor in Ridaela

>>31831383
>>You're returning to visit your benefactor in Ridaela
Kind of interested in a little more on the backstory front.

>>31831383
>You're taking it easy in Deneb
Not that it will matter

>>31831383
>You're taking it easy in Deneb
We can research and whatnot.

"I'm returning to Ridaela, my benefactor lives there."

"Benefactor? Friend, that's an awfully impersonal way to refer to someone who's been taking care of you."

You give him a shrug.

"Well, I'm heading in the same direction. How about we ride together until we reach the city?"

With no reason you refuse him, you nod.

"Ridaela? Oooh, I've always wanted to see it. The romantic capital where the goddess sings her blessings." Leona refers to Ridae, the rabbit goddess of arts and romantic love.

"Don't they have The Rabbit-Wolf Festival around this time of year? I heard you can ride them in Ridaela, in Belgrand they're ferocious."

"Rabbit-wolf?" Sheryl's ears wiggle.

You're not feeling too good about where this conversation is headed...

"Well then, let's all go together! We've nine days to waste time, a blessed number." Yu'yen invites the girls along without asking you.

"Blessed?" Rein looks at Yu'yen sceptically. Both the Lunese and The Shepherd's Church associate nine with the fox goddess Nyne, but their views on her benevolence differed, "How about you Anlak? Let's make it a group outing."

Just about to leave the room, your dark-skinned classmate looks back to your discussion, "I'll be staying here."

"Don't be like that." Rein pursues him as he leaves, eager to drag him along. It seems this break will be much more of a mess than you'd anticipated.

You peek over at Yu'yen, who watches Anlak with a complicated look on his face.

>CONT

You return to the dorms while discussing your trip. Yu'yen tells you he can arrange for the carriages, and you only need to make some preparations. It's somewhat short notice, but he intends to head out by tonight. Thankfully, not you, Leona or Sheryl seem to need much time making preparations.

"Rein can work it out herself." He insists when Leona mentions her.

It takes you no time to scrounge up your few possessions. Standing in the dorm's front hall, you think over how you'll spend your time.

>Go with Yu'yen to prepare the rides
>See Leona and Sheryl
>Find Anlak and Rein
>Write-In

>>31832033
>go To to the library
There's something I've been thinking about doing for quite sometime, why dont we look up stuff about Carna's dad? If anyone wants to find her more than MC it'd be him, and he's the most likely person to have survived the massacre, shouldn't we try to find out what we can about him i

>>31832033
>>Go with Yu'yen to prepare the rides

>>31832033
>See Leona and Sheryl
Can we ask them if there's something between Anlak and Rein?

>>31832033
One of these two

>>31832086
I wonder if the MC already did his research and the QM is waiting for the right time to reveal it.
>>31832148
I know she's teaching him to read but it feels like there's more to it than that.

You make way towards the library in The Archives, remembering that Leona and Sheryl wanted to look some things up before leaving for Ridaela.

You greet the elderly woman at the front desk, but decide to fore-go the chairs. You'll be sitting in a caravan for some hours later, you'd do well not to catch motion sickness right now. Through the halls, you make way to the library.

Though still quiet as it should be, the place has quite a different atmosphere today. The weather is good and a variety of people browse the books on the shelves. It'll be getting cold soon, and their chances of reading under a warm afternoon sun will grow fewer.

It's some time before you spot Leona and Sheryl, seated towards the end of the room with some books between them. You approach them slowly, not looking to hide yourself but a little curious to gauge how they are when you're not around before you greet them.

Sheryl has a large book in front of her, not exactly a picture book but a hard cover on animals aimed at children. Leona has a stack of guides on various Raschan topics beside her, she half-heartedly reads one while peeking up at Sheryl.

"You really like animals huh."

Sheryl's twitching ears freeze and she peeks up, "Not really..."

"I hear the rabbits grow to the size of men in Ridaela."

Sheryl's ear practically flaps hearing this.

>CONT

"Enjoying yourselves?" You approach the girls and take a seat, Sheryl gives you a nod in acknowledgement and Leona makes a small wave, "Did you already finish preparing?" You ask.

"It was a lot easier this time," Leona says, making you remember back to the ball, "I have a series I need to get through so I just threw those in."

"I don't own much." Sheryl says, her eyes peeled to her book. You peek at the pages, illustrations of the abominable rabbit-wolves fill it. How anyone could like those disgusting things you'll never understand.

Picking one of the books off the table, you flip it open. It seems to hold tales of various Raschan heroes, as well as sight-seeing spots related to them. You think back to Carna's father, he was hailed in your village and people often visited to find him, you wondered if he'd appear among these pages. He wasn't among the casualties you saw that day ten years ago, but that things got as badly as they did left you little hope in his survival. The man survived The Dragon's Walk and his prowess was sung in town, but you hadn't so much as heard his name in passing in your time spent in Ridaela. You close the guide after a quick flip through with no results and look to make conversation.

Not sure what to talk about that you can't just bring up during the trip, you find yourself saying the first thing that comes to mind.

"So, how's Rein?"

"Hm? She's normal to me." Leona answers, "Although... I have been curious about something."

>CONT

"Hasn't she been really friendly with Anlak?" Leona's eyes sharpen and her lips curve up, the girl just can't get enough of this stuff can she, "Sometimes she runs over to talk to him in private when we see him, and I hear her sneaking out of her room late a lot. I followed her once and saw her meeting him, how scandalous!"

You're well in the know about the one secret the two share, but you're a little curious if there's more than that to it.

"I hear that Raschan noblewomen like to take on secret Daktori lovers, I wonder if we've been here too long already." Leona snickers to herself, it's a little off-putting.

"You should probably cut that out before it becomes a problem." Sheryl pushes her seat just slightly away from the table, "Ah, I'm surrounded by perverts." She sighs to herself.

"I am not!" Leona retorts a little loudly standing from her seat, catching a few stares from other people in the library. She shyly lowers herself back down again, her face hanging low.

"Every time anyone talks to anybody you think there's something going on..." Sheryl says as she raises her book again over her cheeks, "...and then there're the noises at..."

Leona whips her hand out at incredibly speed, placing two fingers over Sheryl's lips to quiet her.

"Your skills with your fingers are impressive." You comment, honestly surprised by her skill.

"You're even worst." Sheryl says, shifting her gaze your way.

>CONT

>>31832834
We're the worst. No wonder Anlak think we're a douche.

>>31832893
I thought he thought we were a douche because we're MUH CARNA 24/7 or was it because he thinks we're a glory hound?

The three of you leave the library, grab your things from the dorms and make way to the meeting spot, you're not to head out immediately on arrival but sooner seemed better than later.

At the gates of the town, Yu'yen stood waiting with Anlak and Rein, it seems she'd managed to drag him along somehow, for better or for worse.

"Good, good. We're all here, I hope you're prepared." Yu'yen says.

"I'm not! Aaaah, why do we have to go so soon!?" Rein grumbles.

"I got us luxury carriages, not those battered wagons Kita stuck us on. It's cheaper to go by day."

"If you wanted to save money then we should've taken wagons, if you wanted to waste it then we should've gone later!"

"Ah well, Ridaela is filled with merchants. You can purchase what you need there." Yu'yen waves off Rein's complaints and makes way to one of the carriages, you have to admit, they do look quite nice; definitely 'luxury'. A man sits at the front of each of two carriages to guide the white horses. The door hangs on the side with draped windows beside it, and the wood-work is masterfully done.

"Anlak, come join me." Yu'yen calls out, Anlak raises a brow but complies easily. The two sisters make their way to a wagon. You immediately think to join Yu'yen but Sheryl tugs at your sleeve.

"Leona's fantasies aside," Sheryl whispers, "Don't you think something is odd with Yu'yen and Anlak? Maybe you shouldn't join them..."

>Join the boys, you should watch them
>Join the girls, Sheryl may be right

Boy, did not expect to write four posts before a choice. Wanted to touch on both of the tied votes, barf.

>>31833074
>Join the girls, Sheryl may be right

The Yu's probs had anlak

>>31833074
>>Join the boys, you should watch them

>>31833074
Seems like Yu'yen wants to talk to Anlak. Let's let them be.

>>31833074
>Join the boys, you should watch them
It's not about watching them, it's about efficiency. Why would you divide the groups with four people in one and two in the other? It just doesn't make practical sense to our MC who worried about the pocket efficiency of clothes.

>>31833074
>Join the girls, Sheryl may be right

>>31833074
>Join the girls, Sheryl may be right
Yu'yen's family probably had something to do with Anlak being a slave.

You give Sheryl a nod and follow her to the carriage where Leona and Rein are. Stepping inside, you see that the interior is as nice as the exterior. The seats are a red dyed leather and the curtains over the window have gold trimmings not evident from the outside.

"Ooooh," Rein looks at you teasingly, "I'd expect it of Yu'yen but I didn't think you'd be the sort to sneak off with the girls."

"I told him to come, I think the other two need to talk." Sheryl defends you as she takes a seat, you sit beside her across from the sisters.

"Hm? I didn't know they were friends." Rein doesn't seem to know any better about the relationship between Anlak and Yu'yen than you do.

You feel the horses start, pulling the caravan to a move. The ride is smooth, and being on proper seating feels a lot better than the wooden floor of the wagon you took to Ridhome. Leona doesn't take long to pull aside the curtain adjacent to her, letting the light inside, she watches the sights roll by with a childish interest. You've walked these trails before, but had little chance to appreciate the little touched beauty of the wilderness around Deneb.

"So, I bet you're feeling good about getting to share a ride with three beautiful women." Rein prods at your boots with hers.

"Sheryl just explained it has nothing to do with that."

"Sure it doesn't." She remains unconvinced. You decide to...

>Defend yourself
>Let her have her fun
>Tease her back

>>31833422
>Let her have her fun
for a while then
>Tease her back

>>31833422
>Defend yourself

>>31833422
>>Let her have her fun
>Ask what they're gonna do in Ridaela

>>31833422
>defend yourself

>>31833422
>>Let her have her fun

>>31833422
Stand your ground and tease her back.

>>31833422
>Tease her back

You decide to let Rein have her fun.

"Geez, you got a girl waiting on you and you're still living it up all over the place." Her boots tap up against yours, in a would-be game of footsies if only you were bare-footed, "Running around like some knight in shining armour, making your little promises and throwing out your little compliments." Her boots press harder, "I bet you're a real hit in town, you flirt." She's grinding on your shoes now, there's a little aggression on her face.

You're not sure if she's just about to give up but the growing pain on your toes tells you to try to defend yourself, "I don't talk to any girls in town, I am an innocent man with only the best intentions in mind. Yu'yen is much worse than I am."

"Birdseed." Sheryl says, looking out the window and away from you, "Yu'yen talks it but you're a real pervert."

You look over Leona for support, now that Sheryl has joined the battle the enemy forces are too much for you to handle on your own, "I am not a pervert, tell them Leona!"

She looks at you for a moment before her face goes bright red and drops, her eyes peek about the place but she offers no words to support you. Rein seems to have caught notice, her boots grinding even harder. The greatest of betrayals, they will remember this in the history books. Alone in enemy midst, you fight so that your comrades can talk in peace.

"Well then, what about you?" You give up on defending yourself and turn the attention Rein's way.

>CONT

>>31833826
>"Well then, what about you?"
"Never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee"

ERE WE GO BOSS

"What about me?" Rein's foot pulls back and she puts a defensive look on her face.

"You went on a date with Yu'yen a week ago and everyone sees you lurking around with Anlak."

"That date didn't count and Anlak is just a friend like the rest of you!"

"Am I just a friend? Here I thought our romantic horseback ride meant something to you," You lower your head like a scorned woman, "I never felt so safe as I did in your arms Rein, I was like a princess."

"That's... what!?"

"Now I know you were just playing with my heart! Sheryl, hold me."

"Don't touch me." Sheryl shoots a glare at you, much less cooperative than Leona in your games.

"Just the thought of you taking advantage of our poor friend here breaks my heart Rein," Leona chimes in, you can always count on her for support.

"What!? Don't play along with him Leona!"

"To think we share the same body, and you've gone and spoiled yours so." Leona brings her hands up to her eyes, poorly faking sobbing noises.

"I can't take this any more Rein. You have to pick, who's it going to be. Me, Anlak, or Yu'yen?" You look at her with all the seriousness you can muster.

"What!? But that's... that's not..."

"Let's stop before this gets out of hand... again." Sheryl jabs you with her elbow, and Rein sighs in relief, "What're we going to do in Ridaela?"

"Oh! We should meet your benefactor!" Leona drops her act and looks to you, "What're they like?"

>A rough man
>A gentle woman

>>31834095
>>A gentle woman

>>31834095
A scary person.

>>31834095
>A gentle woman

>>31834095
>A rough woman
Why not?

>>31834095
>>A gentle woman
this explains a lot about our MC's character

>>31834095
>>31834197
Why not >a gentleman?

>>31834095
A scary woman

>>31834197
>>31834232
I'm super cool with write-ins if you want them that way, but the reason they aren't choices is because Kran is already a rough woman, Masoch is a gentleman, and both play parental roles.

>>31834267
>A gentle woman

Okay I guess all aboard the gentle woman train
Lib you better have embarrassing stories ready

Also I was going to suggest a drunk as our benefactor at one point

>>31834267
Yup I'll change mine too
>A gentle woman
>>31834389
We have a drunk already.

>>31834267
What about a haughty noblewoman.

>>31834389
>A lush

>>31834433
Yeah I know thats why I didn't write it

"She's a gentle woman." You tell Leona, "She took me in after my village was burned down, I owe her a lot. She taught me the sword and a lot of other things."

"After ten years, you usually call that a mother." Rein says.

"Well..." The woman that took you in reminded you of your own mother a fair bit, but perhaps that's why it was so hard to think of her as a parent, "She was a knight captain once, so it's a bit much. She can be pretty scary."

"I don't think we need to spend the entire week getting to know this woman though," Sheryl says, "What sights will we see?" She seems to be fairly excited for the trip despite her low tone of voice. Since she started wearing the beret instead of her hood, her ears have been a nice way of gauging the feelings of the otherwise withdrawn girl.

"There's tons to do in Ridaela, we'll see the sights, hit the bars-"

"No bars." Rein interrupts Leona.

"Listen to the bards, see The Rabbit-Wolf Festival..." Leona trails off before reaching into her bag and drawing out a travel guide.

The girls chatter on between each other for a little while, you brush the curtain away from your window lightly and peek at the other carriage, Yu'yen and Anlak's silhouettes rest vaguely against their windows. You make out Yu'yen's mouth moving, but you have no idea what they're talking about.

Setting your curiosities aside, you quietly rest for the remainder of the trip...

>CONT

Ridaela stands a little further than Ridhome, and it's night when you arrive. You didn't quite manage to fall asleep, but it's probably for the better that you're tired arriving here so that you can hit your familiar bed without much trouble.

Leona and Rein exit the carriage first, you take a moment to awaken Sheryl who did manage to doze off. Without her sharp eye closed and her guard down, she's a fair deal cuter than usual. You expect a glare when you awaken her, but she just quickly thanks you as you help her out of the caravan.

Yu'yen and Anlak await the four of you some paces away. The former looks tired, the latter no different from before the trip.

"Well, I've got business to attend to. The five of you enjoy yourselves, I'll be returning to Deneb separately so don't wait for me at the end of the week." Yu'yen tells you almost immediately as he sees you, before stepping back into the carriage. You step forward to ask him more, but the door closes and it rides off quickly, seemingly prepared before-hand.

"...I guess I'll guide you to my home. With any luck we have beds free." You turn to the group, Sheryl looking a bit worried but the others more worn by fatigue. You start to leave them into the city, well-lit by the lantern stones on the street, quiet music humming through-out.

>Talk to Anlak about his trip
>Talk to Sheryl about her worries
>Small-chat with Leona and Rein

>>31834732
Anlak probably won't want to talk, but I'm curious.

>>31834732
>Talk to Sheryl about her worries

>>31834732
>>Talk to Anlak about his trip
really wish we had rid with yu'yen now

>>31834732
>Talk to Sheryl about her worries
Anlak isn't going to tell us anything

>>31834732
>Talk to Anlak about his trip

>>31834732
>>Talk to Sheryl about her worries

>>31834732
>>Talk to Anlak about his trip

>>31834732
>>Talk to Anlak about his trip

>>31834732
>Talk to Sheryl about her worries

Anlak kinda doesn't like us and barely speaks

>>31834732
>Talk to Sheryl about her worries

>>31834946
I'm not sure how we can go about getting him to like us but interrogating him isn't the way to do it.

Leona and Rein stay occupied by the sights in the city, unlike quiet Deneb, Ridaela doesn't so much sleep as much as it gets quieter after certain hours.

"You worried about Yu'yen?" You ask Sheryl who nods in response, "That's a surprise." You say.

"You and him... the two of you helped me out a lot, so I want to help you too. There's something bothering him."

You'll need to talk to Yu'yen about talking to the others later, "He's meeting his family right now, I guess it's complicated." You try to let her in a little without revealing too much.

"What do you think they talked about?" Sheryl whispers to you. You have a theory but it's best not to act until you can confirm it, with that, you gesture over behind you where Anlak is following the group, his usual stone face.

You and Sheryl slow your paces down until you match Anlak's, it's hardly subtle but he hardly seems to care, saying nothing until you start the conversation.

"I didn't know you and Yu'yen were friends."

"We're not." He answers flatly. You try to figure out how to talk to him, your usual attitude works with everyone else, but it never works with him.

"I'm just a bit curious what the two of you had to talk about over the long trip."

He looks down at you, it's not by much but he beats you for tallest of the students, "Ask him."

>CONT

I'm suspecting there's an elaborate plan here to make votes as hard to count as possible.

>>31835059
>I'm suspecting there's an elaborate plan here to make votes as hard to count as possible.
Shit he's catching on.

File: 1395091675908.gif (547 KB, 240x180)

547 KB GIF

>>31835110
Fuck abandon thread

You consider giving up on this case, how Rein talks to Anlak you have no idea, but you've never been able to make conversation with him, you've watched Yu'yen fail and Leona has mentioned off-hand how completely afraid she is of approaching him.

"We're worried about Yu'yen." Sheryl looks up at Anlak, the height difference between them is something to see, "Please tell us about him."

He keeps up his speed but doesn't make any response for awhile, the way he thinks over his words bothers you.

"I'll tell you all later... if I share it then everyone deserves to hear."

You look over at Sheryl a little surprised, she just nods her head, you want to press for more but decide it's best to wait. You walk ahead to lead to the destination...

It's only been some months since you were last here, but you feel comforted facing your home of ten years. On the quieter sides of the city, you stand to face a small manor. It's certainly not nobility, but the place is separated from the adjacent properties by a fence and a small garden sits in front of it.

"Are you a noble?" Sheryl looks at you in shock.

"...no?" You answer her. You catch Anlak frowning at you, shaking his head.

"It's about the size of our place isn't it Leona?"

"A little smaller, definitely." Your friends appraise your property with various reactions. Deciding you can humour them with the inevitable teasing the rest of the night, you just cut to the chase now, coming towards your front door to knock.

>CONT

You sit on a familiar seat, in a familiar room, in a familiar house of a familiar city. Your companions around you scanning your things. In the main room of your home, a light fire burns underneath a wall decorated with swords. A familiar woman walks in, carrying a tray with a teapot and six cups.

"You should've told me you were coming home with friends, I would've prepared something." Ianc, your benefactor. Retired Knight Captain of the Ridaela Guard, loose long brown hair waiting to grow grey, friendly dark eyes, still unmarried after many years. Not that you'd ever bring that up. She pours tea for you and your companions.

Saying your name in her familiar tone, Ianc speaks, "So you have nine days of break?"

"Yes." You respond promptly.

"We're going to see The Bunny-Wolf Festival." Sheryl says, sipping tea. You don't correct her.

"Ah that's wonderful. When I was younger I loved going out to see it, let me tell you..." It seems the atmosphere she brings is quickly grabbing your company, you're thankful that she hasn't said anything embarrassing yet.

"So..." The sound of your name catches your attention again, "Which of these lovely women are you seeing?"

You thought too soon. You tell her...

>None of them
>Anlak
>Leona
>Rein
>Sheryl

>>31835489
>Anlak

Time to be a douche

>>31835489
>Deflect

>>31835559
Not necessary he already thinks we're one

>>31835489
>None of them

>>31835295
>"Are you a noble?" Sheryl looks at you in shock.

>"...no?" You answer her. You catch Anlak frowning at you, shaking his head.
Goddamnit, Anlak. We get it, you have a tragic backstory too. You don't have keep bringing it up all the time, y'know.

>>31835489
>None of them
Just tell the nice lady you're not seeing anyone right now. She's probably going to give us the requisite surrogate-parental-figure-hard time about it, but honesty is still probably the best policy.

>>31835489
>All of them

>>31835489
>All of them

Or just change the subject.

>>31835589
And the one that's not going to get us killed. Seconded.

>None of them>>31835489

You don't respond to her question, telling her all she needs to know.

"I see time away from this city hasn't taken your mind off of her." Ianc smiles painfully, she's tried many times before you push you towards the pretty blonde squire she tutored or the nice young lady working down at the market, but time and time again you've reminded her. You don't have time for any love until you've found Carna.

"Well, how about some stories." Ianc leans forward, her home dress isn't anywhere near immodest but you still can't help but be bothered by what flesh shows out the top of it when she does that. Anlak doesn't seem to be paying it any mind, but you catch Leona's ogling it a little. For the next hour or so, Ianc tells the group about some of your little adventures growing up...

"...And when we got home, his pockets were filled with bird seed. Six pockets on this little boy filled with bird seed! I had to bring him back to the market the next morning to apologize."

"Bird seed huh." Sheryl looks at you accusingly.

"I thought I could grow birds if I planted them." You respond, it was a lie but you preferred not to tell the truth of the matter.

"Well, I'll leave you be. Use any of the rooms you'd like." Ianc dismisses herself early, after a round of stories.

"...your mother is very nice." Rein sweetly says.

"Benefactor."

"She makes great tea too." Sheryl adds.

"Benefactor."

"How did she get her chest so large?" Leona ponders.

"Don't ever ask that again."

>CONT

>>31835942
>"I thought I could grow birds if I planted them." You respond, it was a lie but you preferred not to tell the truth of the matter.
Wait.. What?

I know you only made Carna to avoid players fighting over waifu's. But, seriously obsessing over the same girl for 10 years, this is unhealthy.

After a short round of teasing by the two sisters, Sheryl coughs and brings attention to the issue at hand, "Anlak, could you tell us about Yu'yen now?"

Anlak seemed to be drifting off, as far as you recall he'd often return late to the dorms and show up in class a zombie so it wasn't a surprise. Rein tugs on his ear lightly and his eyes pop open.

"What about Yu'yen?" Leona leans in curiously.

Anlak takes a breath and picks up his cup of tea, only a third of it remains and the contents are cold but he drinks the rest of it before speaking, "You wanted to know about my ride with him?"

Sheryl nods.

"...He was quiet for the first hour or so, I had nothing to say so I just watched the roads. Some time in he started asking about my history as a slave." The way Anlak spoke was very matter of fact, how he spoke about his story wasn't any different from how he spoke about the road, "I told him about how I was born into slave pools and how Kran released me."

"Hang on, you were a what!?" It looks like Rein didn't know about this, it looks like none of the girls did.

"Slave." Anlak answers her plainly before continuing, "He asked me a lot of questions, but I don't think he cared much about the answers... it looks like his family owned me so he wanted to apologize for it."

"His family what!?"

"Slave traders." Anlak reaches for the teapot and goes to fill his cup again, but an agitated look creeps up his face when he finds it empty.

>CONT

>>31836150
And everyone realises that it is.

>>31836150
Extremely self- destructive even. Explains why we always can be found in the thick of it whenever there's demons to be found

>>31836177
So are you two cool yet? I'm getting sick of watching Yu'yen fidget whenever he's around you.

>>31836363
>CONT

"I'll make some more." Leona picks up the teapot with an uneasy look on her face, escaping into the kitchen away from the unpleasant conversation.

"I didn't want to ask him about his business but I thought he might want me to, so I did. It looks like his family has a lair set up in the grounds around Ridaela and he's looking to visit them..."

"And then?" Sheryl watches inquisitively.

"...he asked me if I wanted revenge on them." Anlak gets up from his seat, "I told him no. We didn't say anything else to each other after that." He makes way to where Ianc exited, "I'm going to retire first. Tell Leona I apologize for not staying for the tea."

It's not until Leona returns that any of you move even slightly, she sets the teapot down on the table and pours herself a cup, sipping awkwardly as the rest of you put your senses together.

"I don't understand him." Sheryl says, breaking the silence, "I don't understand him at all." She gets up and heads towards the exit, "I need some fresh air."

Rein sighs, "I'll talk to him tomorrow... let's rest before we figure out if Yu'yen is doing anything stupid." Rein leaves towards the bed rooms.

You look over at Leona who gives you a small wave with both hands, "Ah, don't worry about me. I'm just going to stay up a little longer."

You get up to stretch your limbs and...

>Follow Sheryl
>Follow Rein
>Sit back down with Leona
>Pursue Anlak

Should we keep going or stop soon? It's still early for me but I'm west coast.

>>31836445
Chill with Leona

>>31836445
>Follow Rein
If she did have a thing for Anlak finding out he was a slave might have been quite a shock

>>31836445
>Follow Sheryl
Let's keep going.

>>31836445
chill with Ianc. Ask about Carna's dad, and what he did before he settled down. Look up that noble guy from before.

>>31836445
>Sit back down with Leona

>>31836445
>Follow Sheryl

Considering that whole revenge thing she went through yeah follow that elf

>>31836445
>Follow Sheryl

>>31836445
>>Sit back down with Leona

>>31836445
>>Follow Sheryl

"I think I'll get some fresh air."

Leona nods and smiles at you, you step past her to catch Sheryl outside but a little shuffle behind you catches your attention. You turn to see her standing up, her hands resting over each other in front of her.

"Um..." Leona mumbles, "I don't know if it's my place to say this but... I think you've got a very kind mother, and I can see why you're such a kind person." You think to correct her but she continues to speak, "I know that you want to deal with Yu'yen first and I agree with that but, please don't wear yourself out... you've been doing a lot for every one of us and I just think, I just think that while you're here at home you should relax a bit... her name was, Carna? I think she'd like that too." Leona fidgets with her hands as she speaks, "Sorry, I don't really know what I'm saying. I didn't have a book to reference."

You smile and nod to her before making your leave, her words were a mess but you received the message, Leona is looking out for you, and that little bit of kindness takes some of the stress off your shoulders.

>CONT

You guys are definitely doing this on purpose.

>>31836761
>You guys are definitely doing this on purpose.
Shh disregard the man behind the curtain and keep writing

>>31836806
Namefag please go

>>31836879
Okay keep forget to delete it after a while

Sheryl stands outside in the garden, listening to the quiet hum of the city. The scent of Ianc's garden drifts around the two of you, the cool night air touches your skin.

"Are you upset." You approach her, she doesn't turn to face you but the twitch of her ear tells you that she heard.

"Maybe," Sheryl sighs, "Just a little bit, yeah. Something about the way Anlak was talking just..."

There isn't much logic to it, but something about Anlak's attitude bothered you as well.

"I guess for you and me, we've been spending our lives searching for people and looking to make right... but Anlak came here chasing after Kran, I guess that's enough for him even without revenge on the people that ruined his life." Sheryl sits up against the grass, clutching her knees, "Something about it just bothers me."

You take a seat beside her, you're bothered by him as well but, "We should think more about Yu'yen. We'll figure out tomorrow where he is exactly and look into it. He might be getting himself in trouble."

"For all the trouble he went through for me, he could do to ask for help." Sheryl peeks over at you, "That goes for you too though."

At times she's like a young girl, but right now you feel a certain trust between the two of you.

"Let's get some sleep." You get up and hold a hand out, she grabs it and you pull her to her feet cleanly.

The two of you don't say much more as you head back in to retire.

>CONT

>Year 473 of the Raschan Calendar

"Gos, eat your food properly."

"Yes mam." Gos replied to your mother, despite your father's insistence that they couldn't adopt him, it'd been two weeks now since you brought him home. He was looking better quickly and your mother had grown accustomed to him, but your father stayed sceptical.

"You should just stop feeding him!" Carna puffs up her cheeks, then tries to stick a fork into her mouth without letting the air go. As usual, she'd invited herself over for dinner.

"If you stop feeding me mam then I will starve, and you don't want that on your conscience." Gos bites at the meal in front of him, and your mother lets out a small laugh.

You didn't say much, you were just concerned with eating. You missed that kitchen atmosphere any day, but the times with Gos at the table were especially fun.

A knock on the door turns attention away from Gos and Carna's incoming food fight, your father leaves the table to answer it. It seems only you and he noticed...

"Santo..."

"Heeello mayor... I've been looking for some vandals, it seems slave traders have snuck into our region... you wouldn't happen to know anything about it would you?" A disgusting chuckle came from the doorway, you couldn't see the body.

And so the dream ends.

>CONT

>Year 484 of the Raschan Calendar

The morning comes a little too quick for your comfort when a knocking on your door wakes you up. "Wake up, we're having breakfast!" Leona's voice calls.

You make yourself decent quickly and unlock your door, thankful that your house has one unlike the dorms. On the other side, the Belgrand girl awaits you, you recognize her as borrowing one of Ianc's dresses, it's a little too large for her but it doesn't look to be a big problem.

"You wouldn't believe it, your mother will let Rein cook but she won't let me."

"Benefactor."

You arrive in the kitchen where everyone is awaiting. Anlak still half-asleep sits beside Ianc who sits beside Rein. On the opposite side, you take the middle seat between Leona and Sheryl.

"Ah, you should marry this one. She's real handy in the kitchen." Ianc jokes at the table, gesturing to Rein who just tells her to stop it with a laugh. The two are getting along quick enough to follow each other's brands of teasing, "So what're you thinking of doing today?"

"I already asked him but it doesn't seem like he knows where Yu'yen is exactly, we'll have to search around." Sheryl whispers to you.

>See Ridaela Castle with Leona and Rein
>Explore the city with Anlak and Sheryl
>Catch up with Ianc

We'll run for a little longer, I won't drag it on too much but I think people would appreciate more proper progress.

>>31837350
>Catch up with Ianc

>>31837350
>>Catch up with Ianc

still voting to Ask about Carna's dad, and what he did before he settled down. Look up that noble guy from before.

Yu'yen's family seems to be related to the political intrigue anyway.

>>31837350
>Catch up with Ianc
makes the most sense in character

>>31837350
>>"You wouldn't believe it, your mother will let Rein cook but she won't let me."
Parental "Benefactor." intuition is powerful.

>Catch up with Ianc
It's been a while, and while we probably should end up showing everyone around the city at one point during our stay, it'll definitely happen during the festival at the very least.

>>31837350
>Catch up with Ianc
The Ara Ara beckons, it demands waifuing.

Your friends leave for the cities, Leona and Rein to see Ridaela Castle where the bridge is said to be one of Rascha's eight romantic spots; Anlak and Sheryl set out into the city looking to see the sights and find hints on where Yu'yen may be.

You stay at home, you haven't been in months and you need to catch up with your benefactor.

"It seems you've made some good friends in Deneb." Ianc talks to you as she grabs a game off of a shelf.

"Mostly." You're not sure about calling Anlak a friend yet.

"When you lived back here, you barely got along with anybody," She sets the board out between you, Rascha's most popular dice game of Plus & Minus. The two of you idly play while exchanging words.

Some rounds in you decide to ask her about more relevant questions, "Say, about Carna's father..."

"Ah," She whispers his name reminding herself of who he was, "He was quite a hero wasn't he."

"You knew him fairly well didn't you?"

"Well, we've bumped into each other a few times. I was a soldier in The Fourth Dylian War, he was a mercenary employed by our kingdom. I've told you before haven't I?"

"My memory of him jogged recently."

"There's not much to say about him. The bards sing tales of great knights but for men like him, only those that stand by or against his blade recall."

"They don't remember a man who walked The Dragon's Walk?"

"There're a lot of forgotten legends buried in this land," Ianc smiles at you, "Your job is to recover them isn't it?"

>CONT

Benefactor didn't know Carna's dad, plus we lived with her for a decade I'm sure whatever she knows we know.

"Have you been hearing about the political tension in the region?" You change tracks a bit, not much more to learn about Carna's father.

"I've only been hearing news from the housewives since I retired," The 'housewives' comes out venomously, "I believe Ridhome's household was dishonoured recently, no news on who'll replace them though..."

"How of House Santo?" You ask about the Duke that once presided over your hometown...

"They still haven't found anything... it's been seven years since they were massacred, I don't think you'll have more luck searching there." Ianc looks downcast, reminding you of what you already know. You had wanted to interrogate the suspicious Duke Santo once you were older, but at thirteen years you caught word that a Rasci destroyed the entire house, leaving no trace of survivors and vanishing as quickly as it appeared.

"Ah! Actually, there has been a rumour about the local nobility you may find interesting." Your benefactor lifts her head again, "They're merely rumours, but there are whispers that Duke Franson's daughter received a kidnapping threat."

Your other potential lead, the Duke of Ridae. Though much more tentative, you've had hopes he'd be able to help you. You'd seen him during local events, but not once have you spoken to him personally.

"The Duke is always complaining about how he can't wed his daughter off," Ianc is less a noble knight now and more a gossiping housewife, "But he's in a panic lately over the message."

>CONT

Duke Franson is beloved all across the Ridae region, but you've heard nothing but bad of his daughter. When she came of marrying age, his attempts to wed her to one of the nearby families fell through when she knocked a prince's teeth out. From then on, things only got harder for him. You'd once seen her during a parade, but her attack on a guard who allegedly made fun of her dress made it hard for her to show her face in public from then on.

"They say she handed the note to a guard who brought it to the king, and security has been increased around the castle since. Although security has certainly increased, most believe it to be unrelated, and many think the princess merely wrote the note herself for attention." Ianc explains.

You lean back in your chair taking the information in, thinking over whether you could use it to gain audience with Duke Franson.

"Ah, if you'd like to see the Duke, I might be able to arrange a meeting if you agree to marry the princess. In terms of standing you're effectively the son of a knight captain." Ianc pokes you in the cheek as if you were a child.
Before you can respond to her joke, the sound of your door opening catches your attention. You reach for your sword, Ianc reaches for the blades on the wall.

"Haaaah, we think we know where to find him." Sheryl runs in, huffing and puffing. Anlak enters shortly behind her, walking slowly.

>CONT

>>31837943
>a Rasci destroyed the entire house
Well that's suspicious. Carna?

>>31838204
At this poin who amoung us doesn't supspect it to have been carna?


STill plenty room for a tweest though.

>>31838318
Sorry cant into english tonight

>>31838318
we just know carna has to be the final boss or become super tragic

Ten years is a long time to familiarize yourself with a city. You recognize the streets you're led through as leading to the less savory parts of Ridaela. You've been spending too much time in places like this lately.

Lop Street, far worst than the worst of Deneb's night-life even during the day. Like the rest of the city, it's always loud, but rather than the sweet songs of the bards you hear the exhausted moans of the escorts.

Despite Sheryl's embarrassment at most sensual topics, she seems to have steeled herself nicely against this place. Even so, you keep a close watch on her should Anlak's imposing presence not be enough.

Stopping in front of a brothel, you take a gulp as you prepare yourself to continue. Sheryl grabs your sleeve and pulls you back, "She's meeting us out here, pervert." She's been using that word a lot lately.

Wolf-whistles from disrespectable men and come-hither gestures from down-trodden women come and go as you stand outside the place. After some time, a Lunese women exits, long black hair with bangs cut flat. A long dress with Lunese characters on it.

"Yu'minh." You recognize Yu'yen's cousin and would-be bride.

"Hiiiii." She greets your group with a shrill voice, "I see I've kept you waiting." She doesn't seem to recognize you though.

"Well, before we start. How about a little kiss for trust." She looks between the three of you.

>Take one for the team
>Leave it to Anlak
>Leave it to Sheryl
>[Tenacity] Refuse her request

Rolled 10

>>31838433
>[Cunning] pick up that frog thats conveniently next to you make her kiss it

this is me being desperate

Rolled 5

>>31838433
>[Tenacity] Refuse her request

>>31830712
>[Tenacity] Refuse her request

Rolled 6

>>31838433
>>[Tenacity] Refuse her request
yeahno

>>31838433
>>[Tenacity] Refuse her request
Not happening

>>31838487
>that frog thats conveniently next to you
Uh, this definitely works in improv, but is probably poor form here.

>>31838433
>[Tenacity] Refuse her request

>would-be bride
She'd have us make a habit of kissing the betrothed? For shame.

the fact that the betrothal is sort of a thing Yu'yen may or may not be trying to actively flee from is a technicality we will kindly leave out.

Rolled 6

>>31838632
It was more if a joke than an actual suggestion

Maybe if we refuse her Anlak-sempai will notice us. *blushes*

You glare at her, quickly understanding Yu'yen's attitude to the woman. Sheryl does the same, and Anlak just stares unimpressed.

"Boooo," Yu'minh makes a disappointed noise, "You're no fun... I wasn't serious anyways."

"Let's just talk about what we want to talk about." It's probably best to let Sheryl deal with this one. The less you talk to this lady the better. She turns and makes a strut inside the den of depravity, gesturing with her fingers for your group to follow.

"Surrounded by perverts." Sheryl shakes her head as she leads. You've no choice but to make sure she stays safe...

As luck would have it, you get to have your discussion in a thickly walled office rather than a room where watching your step won't matter. Yu'minh sits behind a desk, though there's little in the way of actual work on it. The three of you take seats across from her.

"In case you were curious," She leans back in her chair, setting her hands on the desktop, her sharp long painted nails touching each other at the tip, "I'm not a whore, I'm an owner." The playfulness in her voice is gone, you're unsure whether the maliciousness is an improvement.

"So you'll help us find Yu'yen, right?" You ask.

"Of course. I'm sure he's running in to do something stupid, and it doesn't do well for me to have him dead. Better wife of the lord than niece after-all."

>CONT

I knew what the answer would be, but I felt like I had to offer the choice.

Rolled 4

>>31838737
Well if we were feeling PARTICULARLY vindicative, we could've tried that frog thing.

>>31838737
Honestly, I wasn't completely sure people werent going to try to get back at Anlak or try to make Sheryl uncomfortable. This campaign usually walks a fine line between high school antics and serious plot-related stuff.

"Wife?" Sheryl raises a brow.

"Yu'yen and I are set to engaged. He doesn't quite agree with it, but he'll come around, you'll see."

"You didn't seem like such a yearning woman to me." Sheryl uses a mocking tone.

"All women are yearning, for men, for money, for power..." Yu'minh leans forward across the desk, "Shall I teach you?"

"Just tell us where he is." You do your best to stay on track.

"There is a castle in the nearby woods, south and east of Ridaela... one abandoned from The Vanishing Age. House Yu has rebuilt it to use for the slave trades, I'd wager aaaaanything that Yu'yen is riding there."

"The Paladins aren't aware of it?"

"They aren't all knights in shining armours, Raschan." She turns her attention to you, "Children of the right blood can afford you a castle, and nobility makes for the best buyers. I'd wager half the houses in Rascha have a purchased heir." She reachs underneath her desk and pulls out a map, tossing it on the table, "For you. A gift."

You spread it out, it's a map of the immediate region and directions to the abandoned place. You might be helping a friend commit patricide in an abandoned fort again, this is getting to be an odd habit.

A click brings your attention back up while you look at the map...

You turn your eyes up, and the woman holds an weapon in her hand. The front of it looks to be some metal barrel, the back a curved handle made of wood, and a tiny lever sits between them at the crook, her finger rests on it.

>CONT

File: librarianquest.png (34 KB, 600x400)

34 KB PNG

She lifts the weapon up over your heads and you hear the door burst open behind you, turning your head around you see a wretched looking Lunese man step in, brandishing a sword, "YU'MINH YOU DEVIL, YOU RUINED ME!"

Bang. That's the noise you hear come from the dangerous woman near you. A hole opens up in the man's chest and he topples over backwards.

"My apologies. We get those sometimes." You look back to her, smoke comes out the front of her weapon, she takes a small cloth and begins to polish it off, "It's a wand. Ancient Lunese weapon, completely illegal, deadly as Hound's breath. Want one?" She smiles at you. The door closes behind you as men drag the body away.

Sheryl is frozen stiff, but Anlak doesn't look any surprised. Absolutely nothing seems to phase him, but it stands to reason he might be familiar with this.

"I'll give you this one as a gift." Yu'minh pours black powder into the 'wand' from a bag before reaching for other strange tools to work with, "One shot. Make it count."

"What a disgusting woman." Anlak mumbles.

Yu'minh doesn't give him a response, just another of her smiles as she places the weapon on the table between you. A look from the others tells you to take it, and you put it away in your jacket quickly, hopefully not to be dealt with for awhile.

"Now, be on your way. Do it however you like, but I hope you'll do it quickly and properly... he is mine after-all." With that she shoos you off, and you exit.

>CONT

>>31839146
I don't think I've ever seen a setting where people refer to actual, non-magical guns as wands. That's pretty interesting.

Rolled 12

>>31839146
We should take it apart and study it. No need to use it on people and implicate a connection between us and Yu'minh

>>31839274
We should take it apart and make a better one.

Fuckin pepperboxes, man.

The way back from Lop Street is an odd one. Despite the mess in the brothel and a visible trail of blood leading out on the street, no one seems to bat an eye. For ten years spent here, you'd never realized what happened in the back streets of Ridaela, it seems that the five months with The Seekers is already opening your eyes and ears to things previously unknown to you.

You're still not used to the sight of death. Demons are one things, even Sheryl's father was more monster than man when you saw him pass, but you feel an illness from watching Yu'minh dispose of that man.

When you return to the main streets, where the festival preperations are under way and children run freely, unaware of a world that sees them only as an easy profit, you want to throw up. But you manage to restrain yourself, you can at least wait until you get home first.

"I guess we should find Leona and Rein then go get Yu'yen." Sheryl says softly, also shaken up by the events.

"Let's wait." Anlak says, drawing your eyes to him, "I don't think he's in danger yet. If he's caught, they won't kill him."

"What makes you say that?" You ask.

"They can't replace him if he dies. They can't birth another heir, and House Yu will never groom an adopted child."

You can't help but trust his experience.

"Yu'yen won't get caught either. Whatever he wants to do, he will wait for a better opportunity..."

"And what makes you think that?" You repeat.

"I trust his skills." Anlak walks ahead, "Yours too."

>CONT

>>31839274
Well we're going to what looks like a rescuing mission, and we can threaten the enemy with it even if we don't know how to use it, since I'd imagine they do.

"I don't understand him at all." Sheryl shakes her head at Anlak, "I don't know where he's going but I'm going to rest." She follows some steps behind Anlak, but when he turns she continues in the direction of your home.

The day is still long, but you're already feeling fatigued. It won't be long until The Bunny-Wolf Festival, and you'd like not to exhaust yourself before then... you don't like it, but it's probably best not to move before Anlak signals it this time, without Yu'yen he knows the most about the slave on-goings.

With that in mind you...

>Follow Anlak to learn more
>Follow Sheryl back and relax
>Hope that Leona and Rein are still at the castle
>Write-In

I'd take advantage of the write-in if you wanna do stuff, I'll be ending this session soon.

>>31839488
>>Hope that Leona and Rein are still at the castle

Show them our pistol. Leona likes researching stuff, right? Maybe she could figure out how it works.

>>31839488
>Follow Sheryl back and relax

>31839488
>write-in
Is there some kind of guild house or something of the seekers in this town? We could get more info on the slave trade there. If not, then hit a bar and hope we get lucky.

Rolled 5

>>31839488
Show Leona, Rein, and Ianc the wand. Try to see if there's any distinct Yu markings.

>>31839488
>>Follow Sheryl back and relax

"The castle isn't too far from here. How about we meet with Leona and Rein first?" You shout out to Sheryl as she walks away, it's not rational at all and you're sure each of them is well-armed to defend themselves, but still, you don't feel comfortable letting the girls walk back alone after what you saw today.

She stops and waits, enough of a confirmation for you.

When you get to the castle it's reaching the afternoon, it seems the interiors are closed off but quite a few people watch the sunset from the bridge, mostly couples you notice. Sheryl, does not.

You walk around with her, trying to find the two sisters while keeping yourself from getting too self-concious. There was something of a similar situation with Leona once.

The crowd is thin though, so you have no intention of grabbing her hand to keep track of her. You swear there're eyes on you, but you tell yourself you're just imagining it.

"Oooooh, you tell us you don't want to escort us and here I find you on a date?"

No, there're definitely eyes on you. The sisters seem to have found you before you found them, Rein looks at the two of you with her arms crossed, tapping a foot. Leona peeks out from behind her sister warily.

Sheryl's ears stand on end at the surprise, and you ready to defend yourself...

"Just kidding. Come on, this place is so depressing with the couples around, let's go home." Rein relaxes herself, you breath a sigh of relief.

>CONT

You guys are your tied votes.

>>31839872
>You guys are your tied votes.
Yes we are QM, yes we are

"Come to think of it, are you already calling my house home?" You look over to Rein as you walk.

"Hm? Well, I don't want to call it 'the inn' and I don't know about calling it 'Ianc's House' or just your house since we're always at the dorms..." Rein thinks to herself, "Your mother says she's adopting me anyways so it's fine."

"Benefactor."

"No fair Rein, you're getting adopted without me." Leona tugs on her sister's arm, "Oh well, I'll just marry in then. Your mother will love me."

"Benefactor," You correct her, "And don't say that around her, she'll take you seriously."

"Maybe I'll ask her to adopt me too, I'm out of parents anyways." Sheryl darkly says, turning all the heads her way, "...Sorry, I've been trying to learn dark humour lately." She hangs her head, more embarrassed than disappointed.

Even though you're a ways away from The Archives in another city, the walk with the girls fills you with a certain comfort, talking about pointless things to distract you from the world around you.

With Yu'yen gone though, there's an important part missing. Anlak tells you to wait, but you can't help but want to get out earlier...

Compared to ten years though, a few days is nothing. Carna's still out there, and as long as you're back here, you're going to do what you can to find her again.

The sound and smell of Ianc's cooking welcomes you as you step through your door...

And so, life goes on.

>>31840018
Thanks for running QM

>>31840018
thanks