>>36987734
>Talk with Vi about what happened with the fairies.

>>36987734
>Talk with Erin about what she was going to tell you earlier.

>>36987734
>Talk with Erin about what she was going to tell you earlier.
Heya auri.

>>36987777
>>36987836
>Writing

Hello everyone! I hope you had a enjoyable Christmas.

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>>36987864

You remember before reaching the oasis that Erin wanted to tell you something, but she never had the chance to finish.

A slight stiffness remains in your legs as you stand up and stretch your limbs. Your body isn’t fully mended from the fall you had, but it’s recovered quite a bit.

The carved sand crunches under your boots as you make walk over to Erin with the celestial bodies overhead lighting your way to her. You stop briefly to draw out a pebble that had managed to sneak its way into your boot. As you lift your foot in the air you notice that the imprint on the sand that it had made quickly vanishes, as if brushed away.

“Whatever.” You sigh as you put your boot back on, waving off the strangeness of this world.

Erin ceases her hand motions the moment she hears you approach yet again.

A smile forms on your face. “You know, I can see you doing that from far away.” You point your thumb back to the campfire. “There’s no need to be embarrassed about…” You pause. ”Whatever it is that you’re doing.”

In the soft light of the stars, you see a frown form on her face. “I’m not embarrassed.” She crosses her arms. “I just stop so that no one gets hurt.”

“So, you’re practicing your magic?” You ask.

Erin nods, eager to clear up the confusion, but suddenly stops and looks dejected. “I’m having trouble visualizing what it wants to form.”
[1/2]

>>36988396

She gazes up at the far away stars. “It’s a cold like none other I’ve ever felt.” She lowers her head and stares at her hands. “It’s static, unmoving.” She pauses. “But it wants to take two forms. Jagged and smooth.”

She raises her piercing eyes to peer into your own. “I won’t know what it does until I make it take a form. Which form do you think I should force it into?”

You look up in thought. Magic certainly isn’t your field of expertise, and the description that she gave you isn’t all that helpful.

A ripped star in the sky distracts you, it spills its contents all around the area it once occupied like many colored paints spilled on a bare floor. You think it quite peculiar that this one star tore open, when the countless others in sight remain intact.

Perhaps it would be better to let her decide, after all, you just came here to ask her what she wanted to tell you earlier.

>Suggest a jagged form.

>Suggest a smooth form.

>Tell her she should figure it out on her own.

>Write in

>>36988411
>Suggest a smooth form.

>>36988411
>Smooth

>>36988411
>Suggest a smooth form.
Sounds safer?

>>36988480
>>36988505
>>36988510
>Writing

>>36988521

“Maybe a smooth form?” You suggest, not completely sure how, but still trying to help.

Erin closes her eyes to visualize it and then gives a sharp nod. “I’ll try it.”

“Good.” You gaze up at the sky to try to find the torn star only to find that it has disappeared. You’re slightly unsure if you ever saw in the first place.

You shrug and return looking at Erin. “Do you remember earlier today we were talking about what we thought our pasts were?”

Her expression turns quizzical in response to your question. She furrows her brow trying to remember a small detail in an eventful day. After a few moments her expression brightens and she nods in confirmation.

“You never finished telling me what you thought I was before coming to this world.” You say lightheartedly and take a seat on the sand, facing toward the campfire.

She sits down next to you in silence. The two of you remain like this for minutes.

You break the silence. “It’s alright if you forgo-“

“A knight.” Erin states.

[1/2]

>>36989051

“A knight?” You ask skeptically. “For some lord…” You consider the prospect for a moment. “Indeed it’s similar to being a soldier.”

Erin shakes her head. “Not formally a knight. Just someone’s knight. People get stronger when they have something to protect”

You chuckle at the idea and think it’s very characteristic of young people to over romanticize things. “Hmm, maybe.” You respond not to be rude.

A small twinge of pain in your leg causes you to stand and stretch.

The sight of you standing catches the eye of Autumn and Cecilia and they both wave to you. You return the wave to them, and for a brief moment, you catch Vi staring at you from her post, before she quickly looks away.

You turn to bid Erin good-night, but instead catch her with an unusual grin on her face. “Maybe you’re someone else’s knight now, Ed.”

The statement catches you off guard, but you don’t let it show. You’re not adverse to the idea, and maybe you can pursue it. But perhaps in this strange and highly dangerous world, it would better to leave things alone. Your thoughts are your own and you have no obligation to share them.

>”Good night, Erin.”

>Write in.

>>36989082
Just smile and say "Good night Erin, sleep well"

>>36989082
>"Good night, Erin."

>>36989082
>>36989115
Sounds good to me.

>>36989082
>"Good night, Erin."
No romances, I guess.

>>36989172
Not saying no romances but, i doubt we're ready to talk about it. We barely know half these people.

>>36989115
>>36989131
>>36989145
>>36989172
>Writing

>>36989187
The funny things is that no one knows about themselves either.

>>36989209
True, but rushing headlong into trouble hasn't been Ed's style. Additionally i doubt anons are going to all agree on who best girl is.

>>36989172
I just couldn't think of any good dialog.

>>36989279
Maybe it's time to find out where we stand?? please no wars just answers
Autumn is best girl

>>36989336
I'd rather we all just stay friends but, if pushed, I'd have to go with Erin.

>>36989336
I like them all but i'm leaning Erin or Cecilia

>>36989336
Vi's the best but Autumn is a close second.

>>36989409
>>36989484
>>36989379
We're all over the place hahaha. Who do you think auri likes? I'd say Erin

>>36989518
Pretty sure Auri likes all the characters too an extent, after all they are apart of him/her. As for favorite who knows but Auri? I'd rather skip romance completely than start a waifu war though.

>>36989543
>after all they are apart of him/her

Does that mean Auri is Best Girl?

>>36989543
Me too. I think any romance in this quest is probably bound to end sadly anyway.

>>36989714
Depends
>>36989726
Honestly i doubt a romance with vi or autumn will end well due to totally different worlds of origin. This is off course pre-supposing we get through the adventure with everyone alive.

>>36989809
>vi or autumn will end well due to totally different worlds of origin

That's also presupposing that Erin and Cecilia don't Also come from entirely separate worlds, something that seem very likley.

I honestly don't get how you came to such a conclusion.

>>36989206

You smile in response. “Good night, Erin. Sleep well.”

Erin’s face takes an expression of disappointment. “Good night.” She responds moodily.

You return to you spot near the campfire, your body eager to be off its feet. The sight of the crackling fire fill your last waking moments as it laps at the air above it, trying to rise higher than it can.

~

“Ed!” A woman’s voice calls out to you happily. A dark foggy abyss surrounds you, preventing sight, but the voice is clear.

“Ed, it’s time to go!” She calls out again. A blinding light completely fills your field of view, preventing sight. You try to call out to the familiar voice, but the words don’t form any sounds.

The embers of the campfire click and snap in front of you. You blink your eyes and a small exhale you make produces sound.

You rise, strangely lucid for having just woken up. The rest of your group still have their eyes firmly shut in their own worlds of sleep. Blue light fills the desert as the sun makes its way into view. It’s still too early to wake your group, so you sit in silence, slowly forgetting your dream.
[1/2]

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>>36989994

~
“Ugh.” Vi sighs in complaint on your shoulder. Her sigh is not from the heat of the desert, which is actually cooler today, but from the sheer monotony of climbing dune after endless dune. “We’re going to die here.” She moans.

“No we’re not.” You affirm, with your reservations kept safely in your mind.

She kicks into the side of your face with her feet. “Walk faster, you idiot.”

You maintain your pace, which is slower to allow the rest of your group to stay within talking distance.

“Travelers.” You hear a male’s voice in front of you announce causing you to stop and reach for your sword. You see nothing.

“I mean you no harm. I’m only a merchant.” The voice assures you. “I will appear now, if you attack me, I will disappear to never trade with you.”

Your hand stays on your sword hilt. “You may appear, but do realize that I have reason to stay on guard.”

“Fair enough.” A masked figure responds in front of you. His fine silk robes billow in the desert breeze.

“I’ll get to the point traveler.” The merchant starts. “I want to trade you for that sword.” He points at warden’s sword on your hip. “It’s quite unique. Of course I’d be paying you for it.” He taps his rucksack. “Item or information, your choice. You have to make your choice of which one you want to know more about, but you don’t have to commit to the trade. The choices made are final.”

He tilts his head to the side briefly. "So, how about it?"

>Not interested.

>Ask him to show his items.

>Ask him what information he has.

>Write in

>>36990056
>>Ask him to show his items.

>>36990056
>Ask him what information he has.
Knowledge is power. Knowing what there needs to be information about, means we know what to watch for.

>>36990056
>>36990261
Seconding.

>>36990261
>>36990280
>Writing

>>36990297

Any information would be good on your journey. But you are curious as to how he gathered it. “What information do you have?” You ask in response.

“Good choice.” His voice lightens as he taps his head with one finger. “I’ll tell you of four things that I think may help you on your journey.” His eyes widen in the mask. “Two of them will be lies and the others true, which, you won’t know unless you accept the trade.”

“Go ahead.” You still keep your hand on your sword hilt, not because you for your safety but for the sword’s

“Pay attention now.” He announces as he taps his head with three fingers.

Suddenly his voice fills your mind. “I know exactly what the magic of this piece is doing to you. I know of all the people who are visiting this piece, besides you and me, I know what the warden’s weakness is. Finally” He stops suddenly. “I know which of your traveling companion’s you can’t trust”

“Got all of that?” He asks aloud. “Don’t worry, I can’t read your thoughts, I can only communicate my own into yours.” He responds to your concern. “Do we have a deal?”

>Accept

>Decline

>Write in

>>36990628
>>Decline
“I know exactly what the magic of this piece is doing to you. (only interesting one)

I know of all the people who are visiting this piece
I know what the warden’s weakness is.
(don't care)
“I know which of your traveling companion’s you can’t trust”(lie)

>>36990628
I'll vote decline unless somebody thinks of something clever. Giving up a magic sword for a information which has a 50% chance of being true, and may not even be too useful, doesn't seem like a good deal to me.

>>36990628
>Decline
At this moment i believe this blade is more useful, however should we meet again, we will both be likely to have more things to do business with. Thank you for your time merchant, may we have another happy meeting at a later date.

>>36990628
>Decline
>>36990690
But how can you be so sure?

>>36990628
>>Decline
Honestly, the only vitaly useful one is the "companion’s you can’t trust” line and if that ends up being false we'll have been robbed.

If any of them wanted us to do something all they'd need to do is ask us. It's not as if we'd refuse.

>>36990749
my heart

>>36990628
>Decline

Also can we say >>36990752

>"If any of them wanted us to do something all they'd need to do is ask us. It's not as if we'd refuse."

Out loud? If there is someone who's going to go turncoat on us I would rather have them think we're open to unlikely request.

>>36990690
>>36990716
>>36990740
>>36990749
>>36990752
>Wrting

Also I have to end the run today by next update due to inescapable business. I'm really sorry!

>>36990818
Will include.

>>36990820
Considering how often me flake on you?
No problem.


Thanks for running

>>36990820
Thanks for running Auri. Your quests are pretty awesome.

>>36990820
No worries!

>>36990820

You shake your head. “I’m going to have to decline. At this moment I believe this blade is more useful, and…” You turn your head back to glimpse at your group. “If any of them wanted us to do something, all they’d need to do is ask. It’s not as if we’d likely refuse.”

“How unfortunate.” The merchant slumps his shoulders, not hiding his disappointment in the slightest. “Maybe you’ll change your mind in the future.”

“Perhaps.” You extend your hand. “Should we meet again, we will likely have more things to do business with. Thank you for time merchant, may we have another happy meeting.”

He straightens his posture and accepts your hand to shake. “Ahh, you’re kind to think so...” He looks at you to answer.

“Ed.” You respond.

“Ed.” He confirms. “If I had a name I would tell you it, so merchant will suffice.” He lets go of your hand.

“Let me tell you something for free, Ed. For being so cordial in our business.” He taps the rims of eye-openings of his mask. “The further you get into this piece, the less you can trust these. The warden uses this to his advantage.”

You pause to digest what he tells you. You wonder if it’s a lie, but don’t question him any further. “Thank you for the information, merchant.”

“Until we meet again.” His voice says as he disappears.

~

Okay, that's where I will end it for today. Thank you all for playing and for getting the thread started so quickly! I will be around to answer/respond to one round of questions or comments, so please feel free to leave them in the thread.

If not, take care and I hope to see you again next time!

>(Twitter)
https://twitter.com/QM_Auri
>(Previous threads)
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=otherworldly+arboretum

>>36991182
Thanks a bunch for running auri.

>>36991182
Thanks for running.

>>36991182
Thanks Auri, so the guardians is an illusionist/mirage/light bender?

>>36990867
You're welcome!
You guys don't flake. You have lives to live and I understand if you can't make it to a few threads.
>>36990891
You're welcome and it's all of you that help make the quest possible. So thank you!
>>36991051
Thank you!
>>36991242
>>36991249
>>36991257
You're very welcome!
>>36991257
If what the merchant says is true, the warden of this piece would be capable of manipulating what you see. So those titles would fit.

Bumping for auri because archive site is down.

Bump.

Bump

I wonder which of the merchant's infos are lies.
I'd say the one about the visitors and our traveling companions are lies.
God help us if they're not

>>36998826
We'll find out won't we? also bump

>>37001191
suptg is still down? jesus

>>37002295
yup keeping this afloat, also giving a non a chance to see Auri's quests.

Thank you everyone for all the bumps! I'm pretty busy over here, but I am frequently checking the status of the archive site.

Bumping.

The thread has been successfully archived. Thanks again to everyone for their help with the bumps.

bump