jikan_rpg | June | Event: Trial of the Soul

June | Event: Trial of the Soul

Trial of the Soul↲ OOC Plotting

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By now, most Refugees have likely experienced various side effects of Kizuna while living in Nippon. Most of these effects have been mild, but occasionally, they've produced dangerous results due to Kizuna's unstable nature as pure Sora magic. But more than just a minor annoyance, studying how to harness Kizuna is vital to the NRL's goal of fixing the refugees' home worlds. And yet the professors of MRU have been limited in what they can do to assist the scientists in Tokyo with that goal.

But all that is about to change, as MRU announces a special collaboration with the Oni Clans of Kyushu regarding ancient Kizuna practices. Although Oni are not particularly known for their magical prowess, it's believed that the concept of Kizuna bonds originated in Oni culture. As such, they are by and far considered the best source to figure out the true nature of Kizuna.

Up until now, the Oni of Kyushu haven't been receptive to MRU's requests to help the refugees, due to infighting between the two leading Oni Clans. But it seems something has changed their minds...

A Tales of Two Clans

Naturally, the MRU isn't expecting the Refugees to volunteer to head to Kyushu for free. All Refugees willing to participate in the research will be rewarded financially for their time, in addition to being provided food and lodging during their stay. Just think of it as a nice little summer vacation!

But getting to Kyushu is no simple task. Although one could certainly take the train, it'd be a two-day trip, as Kyushu is located on the westernmost island of Nippon. Thankfully, many refugees have technically already been there: Kyushu is the region above which the Tengu city of Miyazaki sits. And with a little help from the Tengu, a new teleportation terminal is added to the region below, allowing for instant travel between Kyushu and Tokyo/Kyoto.

But when they arrive, they may find that their experiences will vary greatly depending on which city their lodgings are located, as Oni culture varies greatly depending on which Clan controls that territory.

Passive Aggressions Kumamoto, Kyushu
Those with lodgings in Western Kyushu will find themselves in the city of Kumamoto, located in Ao Oni territory. The Oni here all have vibrant blue skin, and the refugees will find that the locals are both friendly and curious about them. Aside from a handful of Inu Yokai, very few other varieties of Yokai can be found living in Oni territory, and no humans whatsoever.

Refugees will be housed in a resort located near the ocean shore, where they'll be treated to gourmet five course meals, a natural outdoor hot spring, and even complimentary massages. It's the height of luxury, though it does come at a bit of a cost. Although the Ao Oni are polite, there's always a distinct sense that they're being looked down on -- a certain passive aggression, as they show wonder in the fact the refugees can do anything for themselves. Whether it be constant compliments over their ability to use chopsticks and speak the language, or outright disbelief that they can perform magic or fight, it's hard to say whether it's founded in malice or ignorance. Especially seeing as many will remark that they've never met humans before.

As one of the more popular cities in Kyushu, Refugees may wish to explore some of the shopping districts, where artisan crafts and unique fashion can be purchased. Unlike typical fashion in Nippon, Oni fashion leans towards the risque, as their vibrant colored skin is a mark of pride. Kimono are often cropped at the sleeves and left open, with minimal fabric underneath to maintain modesty. Still, men are rarely going around outright topless, and will always wear something to cover those pesky male presenting nipples, be it a tube top, thin strips of fabric, or even leather straps.

If the Refugees hope to be treated with a bit more respect, switching to the local fashion is perhaps the only way to go. And hey, it's pretty hot in Kyushu, so surely it's a win-win situation!

Tsunderoni Oita, Kyushu
Refugees staying in the Eastern half of Kyushu will instead be taken to the city of Oita, located in Aka Oni territory, where the Oni possess bright red skin. Unlike the Ao Oni, the Aka Oni are far less friendly. Even those in charge of the refugees' housing will seem somewhat disinterested, simply showing them to their rooms in a small inn without fanfare. There's no luxury to be found here, though at least the food is decent.

The streets of Oita are a very different sight than what the Refugees may be used to in Nippon. Kyushu is an island rife with volcanic activity, and all throughout Oita, thick plumes of steam can be found rising out of buildings and from the sewers below the street. As such, the entire city is extremely humid, which some may even find to be downright unbearable. And while the inside of every building is equipped with powerful cooling spells, it may discourage some from exploring.

But perhaps that's for the best. Those who walk the streets of Oita will find themselves being treated as an oddity, with many businesses hesitant in serving them. Some locals may even be outright hostile, picking fights and jeering at them in streets. Those bearing obvious Kizuna effects will receive the brunt of this treatment.

And yet those same refugees will find that these encounters may in fact spawn additional Kizuna effects, on both themselves and the Oni harassing them, as if a bond were made between them. Nevermind the fact that Kizuna bonds between refugees and natives are usually very rare, the fact that there's a bond at all certainly implies that their hostility isn't hostility at all. Are the Aka Oni just really bad at dealing with new people??

Revolutionary Bond Kizuna

After a few days of familiarizing themselves with the Oni and the region of Kyushu, all refugee volunteers are taken to a small region of Oita known as Beppu, where elders from the two Oni clans are waiting for them in front of a large shrine. Behind them, many natural springs filled with boiling water create a smokey atmosphere, with the water occasionally boiling over and shooting into the sky like a geyser. They certainly know how to pick location to set a mood.

"Humans and halfings have long made a habit of taking that which they do not fully understand. These Kizuna bonds were once an important part of maintaining a unified Oni nation, but fell to the wayside as Clan divisions grew deeper.

Today, only fragments of those bonds remain, carried across generations through our blood. It is a powerful magic that binds souls together, weaving their connection into the fabric of reality itself!

...understandably, it grew less popular as divorce became more commonplace."

That's right: Kizuna bonds are an ancient Oni marriage ritual.

They continue to explain that the form of Kizuna used by the refugees has been mutated due to the sheer size of the bond that keeps them in Nippon. This is what causes the severe side effects, and is likely the reason that some refugees are able to manipulate reality to a small extent through wishes or other means.

To address these issues, the Oni's plan is two-fold. First, they'll teach the Refugees a secret arte that will allow them to wield the Kizuna they produce. And then, they ask that all refugees participate in three trials once performed by all Oni prior to their marriage. This is so they can better appreciate the gift they possess, and hopefully better understand the culture behind that power.

Soul Artifacts Beppu, Oita
Kizuna magic is a type of pure Sora magic, which is magic that deals with the soul. Thus, Kizuna bonds are bonds between two souls. But that bond can also be used to summon a construct known as a Soul Artifact. This is the magic the Oni will teach the Refugees how to perform, as the act of summoning an Artifact will help use some of the excess Kizuna that would otherwise produce side effects.

Soul Artifacts are physical representations of the soul. They can take any shape or form, and some even have special abilities. While it is possible for someone to summon their own soul artifact, it is far easier to have someone else who they are bonded with summon it instead.

The spell itself is deceptively simple. Simply calling someone's name and picturing an item being drawn from their chest is enough to summon the Soul Artifact. But the simplicity of it doesn't mean it'll be easy, and for most Refugees, they'll spend the first hour or so calling each other's names while awkwardly grabbing at each other's chests.

But eventually, should their bond be significantly strong enough, the image of what that artifact is will suddenly appear in their mind, allowing them to draw it out. While the Artifact can be anything from a weapon to an ordinary household item, the color scheme and general appearance will reflect the person it was drawn from. Likewise, all Artifacts are allowed one magical ability that may vary based on the bond between the pair.

Feel free to get creative with this! A knight may draw a sword from his princess's chest capable of shooting energy beams. A librarian may draw a book from her lover's chest that can predict the future one week ahead. A dominatrix may draw a dildo from her sub's chest capable of growing three times its size. As the most powerful magic in the world, Kizuna can do seemingly anything!

Really, it's no wonder the Oni want the Refugees to learn how to control it.

The Trials of Beppu Kyushu, Nippon
Those willing to accept the Oni's terms must participate in the Trials of Beppu, an ancient rite of passage once required of all Oni before the Clan leaders could approve of their marriage. Although the tradition is no longer widely practiced, the Clan leaders insist that the Refugees take part in order to show respect for the Kizuna they wield.

As Refugees are capable of bonding with anyone, they will be allowed and encouraged to retake any trial as many times as needed with as many people as they have bonded with.

The first trial, the Trial of Promise, is the most simple. A bonded pair must enter a special cave located behind a massive waterfall in Takachiho Gorge, said to have been the very same cave where the goddess Amaterasu once hid herself away, causing all light in the world to disappear. Upon entering, the cave entrance will abruptly seal itself, shrouding the pair in darkness.

Should the pair's bond be sufficiently strong, the cave will light up, revealing a hidden message carved into the stone: "You cannot leave until you"... do what, exactly? The prompt will vary based on the pair in question. Some may need to kiss, others may need to fuck, and others still may need to tell a secret, defeat one another, or even attempt to kill one another. Upon successfully completing the trial, the entrance will open, allowing them to leave at their leisure.

The second trial, the Trial of Devotion, will have a bonded pair enter a forest at the foot of Mt. Aso at night, armed only with their partner's Soul Artifact. A gently sloped mountainside home to an active volcano, the pair must ascend to the highest peak just outside the forest before sunrise. Toxic fumes pouring from the volcano's caldera aside, the forest itself is filled with terrifyingly huge monsters, including dodongo, lavahounds who combust when threatened, and giant beetles called daikabuto who can grow as big as houses.

Thankfully, there's a trick to all of this: as long as they maintain physical contact with one another, a special spell will protect them from all harm, though they can still be pushed around by anything attempting to separate them. The spell will only last until morning, but will refresh with a kiss before the morning sun -- so they best make haste to the top if they want a chance of getting back safely. Those who return with their spell intact will pass the trial.

The third and final trial is the Trial of Love, though it seems rather poorly named. In this trial, a pair will wield each other's Soul Artifacts, and must engage in combat against one another. The goal is to destroy your own Artifact without destroying the one you are wielding. Thankfully, as Soul Artifacts are only representations of the soul, destroying them will have no ill effect. But it can be very painful, not unlike a bond breaking, as one of the Aka Oni will demonstrate: shattering the sword drawn from his own soul, before falling to his knees and wheezing in pain.

Essentially, it's a battle for who can destroy their own Soul Artifact first, in order to spare their partner the pain of their Artifact breaking. But how is this supposed to work? Not all Soul Artifacts are weapons, after all!

As it turns out, the trial is a trick. Following the rules as given will still allow both competitors to pass, regardless of who wins. Likewise, should both participants come together and choose to either simultaneously break their Artifacts, or surrender the trial all together, it will still count as a pass. Because the true Trial of Love is simply the act of participating in the trial together to test their bond.

Aftermath Beppu, Oita
Once the trials are complete, those who passed at least two trials will be invited to a special ceremony, designed to mimic that of those long past. Naturally, since no one is getting married here (unless they want to??), the ceremony is mostly just an excuse for a massive feast. Taking place in a large open park just outside the city, hundreds of Oni have arrived from all over Kyushu to witness this rare event, where the current leader of the Aka Oni clan offers a few brief words.

"Time's finally changing, and after so much time unchanging, we Oni should learn to better embrace these changes. Otherwise, we're no better off than we were in the time loop. The bravery put on by these alien halfings is nothing to sneeze at. And I'd say they're as worthy of the Aka Oni name as any of you ol' farts sittin' out there drinking your asses off!"

Refugees who passed the trials will be considered unofficial members of the Ao and Aka Oni clans, and will find that from then on, the Oni of Kyushu with treat them with familiarity, as if somehow able to sense the bond they now share with their homeland. In addition to no shortage of food and booze, there's music and dancing that will last until well past sunrise.

Hot and Steamy

With the trials behind them and a new form of magic under their belts, the Refugees will be allowed to simply enjoy the rest of their vacation in Kyushu however they may please.

But there's just one question remaining: why did the Oni suddenly decide to help with the Kizuna research, despite Kizuna being such a cherished aspect of their culture?

As it turns out, the Refugees are having a larger impact on this world than they may realize.

Hellish Bathwater Beppu, Oita
As it turns out, the Trials of Beppu draw their names from a certain natural phenomenon known instead as the Hells of Beppu. It refers to an area in Eastern Kyushu where a number of naturally occurring hot springs carry unusual effects. However, unlike the enchanted pools of Hakone's Owakudani, not all of these springs are safe to enter.

Of them, one of the most popular is the Umi Jigoku, the sea of hell. A vast boiling spring with vibrantly blue water, this spring is said to be the deepest pool of water in Kyushu, with massive lily pads floating atop the surface that are believed to stretch for miles below. Brave and foolish Aka Oni can sometimes be found jumping between the lily pads to cross the steaming pool, or even grabbing passerbys to strand them on a lily pad in the middle. Standing in any one spot for too long will cause the lily pads to sink into the water, burning flesh within seconds, so those who visit may need to be prepared for an emergency rescue or two.

And those hoping for a spring they can actually soak in will find it at Chinoike Jigoku, the blood pond of hell. Appropriately named, the water in this spring is bright red in color and has a strange almost gooey consistency. Relaxing in this spring is said to have powerful healing effects, and according to legend, it can even revive the dead. Perhaps it's the latter reputation that keeps it from being more popular, but Refugees who soak in the strange water will find any aches, pains, or chronic conditions healed -- including those previously thought to be incurable.

The only downside is that the strange water has a tendency to get the blood boiling in a very specific way, leaving those who soak in it for too long in a state of prolonged arousal, earning the pond a second name: Chinchin Jigoku.

Stone Dragon God™ Sakurajima, Kyushu
Those looking for a little more excitement on their vacation look no further than Sakurajima, a region perpetually blanketed in smoke and ash from the nearby volcano of the same name. Thankfully, there hasn't been an eruption for a few weeks, so the region is currently safe to explore.

And they really ought to go take a look. In fact, the Oni will insist that it's a place all refugees ought to visit.

In addition to curious ruins of ancient cities forever half-buried in old mud flows, Sakurajima is currently home to a new species of ayakashi the Oni have taken to calling Ninseki, the stone people. These ayakashi only started appearing recently, and really, calling them ayakashi feels inaccurate. Capable of limited speech and organizing themselves in quaint villages, the only reason they're called ayakashi is because Ninseki used to be Kaoseki.

It's unknown how they came to evolve at such a fast rate, but the MRU has a few leads. And perhaps the most damning comes from the Ninseki themselves, who have taken to worshipping a figure they refer to as the stone dragon god, statues of whom can be found throughout Sakurajima, seemingly crafted using some kind of Tsuchi-based power unique to the Ninseki. A gift from the stone dragon god, perhaps?

Thankfully, the Ninseki themselves are extremely friendly, and will happily invite any refugees to join them in a meal or dance, or even challenge them to a race up the mountain! Perhaps it's because they were once forever stationary, but the Ninseki enjoy any activity that keeps them moving!

And for those who happen to recognize this stone dragon god of theirs, perhaps they'll understand why the Oni thought it vital that the Refugees learn to control the Kizuna they produce, lest they permanently alter this world well after they've left it.

OOC Notes
Welcome to Jikan's June event! Please direct any questions to the Question Thread in the OOC Plotting post.

• While characters do not need to participate in the trials to visit Kyushu, they will not be provided lodgings, and may find it especially difficult to procure any on their own unless they visibly look like an Oni.

• Only characters who participate in this event will be able to unlock Soul Artifacts. Future characters will eventually be able to unlock it via Bonus AC.

• You have 100% creative control over how your character's Soul Artifact manifests. Likewise, you are welcome to have it change shape depending on who draws it from their soul. For example: Both Tom and Fred are bonded with Gloria. Tom draws a sword from Gloria's soul because he has a strong desire to protect her, but Fred draws a teacup because he greatly enjoys their weekly meet-ups at the local coffee shop. And Gloria draws a gun from her own soul because of her double life as an assassin.

• Teleporting out of the Trial of Promise will only work if both participants agree to forfeit the challenge. Likewise, agreeing to forfeit will cause the door to open after about an hour.

• All dangers in the Trial of Devotion are optional, as some may simply never come across any monsters during their hike, and all pairs are welcome to travel in groups. No climbing is necessary to reach the top, but it is a very long walk.

• There are no hints to imply the true means of passing the Trial of Love beyond the name, as the Oni will only tell them the rules and will answer no questions.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The Oni's explanation seemed simple enough. Call someone's name and envision pulling something from their chest to summon the soul artifact. But rather than do this surrounded by everyone else at the shrine, given the potential intimate nature of seeing the shape someone's soul would take, Aether offers to head to the location of one of the trials first -- and then using the method described to test the strength of their bond before the trial.]

[After all, he was doing this with Dainsleif, and surely someone as mysterious as he would prefer no one else see such a thing! And of course, Aether had his own reasons for not wanting too many people to see his own as well.]

[The way to the Trial of Promise was a bit more out of the way, requiring a hike down the gorge to reach the waterfall in question, behind which the cave is located. But it's not until they're nearly there that he finally... addresses something.]

...aren't you hot? I feel hotter just looking at you.

[For his part, Aether is considerably dressed down, wearing only his usual black crop-top and a very very short pair of cropped hakama, along with his usual boots and gloves for some armor. And if not for his Hi magic keeping him somewhat cooler, even that much would be unbearable.]

[ Dain has never even thought about removing his clothing for lack of a better word to keep 'cool'. He's perfectly fine in what he's wearing even if it's a bit stifling for the form knight captain.

His arms will cross over his chest as he looks around the location, those bright eyes of his taking in every detail. But he does blink once Aether speaks only for him to turn to reply. ]

Such things are trivial in the grand scheme of what you and I are about to do. I saw no reason to discard my attire for something like this.

...if you say so.

[That wasn't an answer, sir!! He just look uncomfortable. Sure, he looks uncomfortable most of the time, but the heat is surely not helping?]

[But hm. The cave entrance is right before them. They just need to go behind this waterfall. Sure, there's a path that leads to the side to prevent them from getting wet, but--]

Hey Dain. Have you tried learning any of the local magic here?

[ He will say so!! ]

Magic? No. If it's anything like Teyvat's 'visions' I want no part in the learning of it. Offering to open yourself up to the gods never results in anything good.

[ Dain??? Please calm down. ]

It's not like visions at all, actually -- anyone here can learn it, if you study hard enough. The elements they use are different, and the things you can do with them, even more so.

I actually learned a new spell recently!

[He holds up his hand -- and suddenly, Dainsleif will find himself feeling completely weightless, floating off the ground as though he were light as a feather.]

This one uses the element Tsuchi to control the gravity of objects around you. Pretty neat, huh?

[And as Aether takes a step closer, Dain will be pushed backward through the air -- towards the waterfall. He can try to fight this if he would like, but he has about 3 seconds before he's shoved under it, guaranteeing he'll be completely drenched when he passes through to the other side where the cave begins.]

[The evil twin was the Traveler all along.]

[ Dain does not appreciate this young man!! He's about to object and try to fight it but he's absolutely drenched far too quickly for him to say anything of great value? Just a hissed out 'Aether!' under his breath as he floats through the air like an anemo slime. This is embarrassing but now that he's fully soaked the water is surprisingly cool but his clothes...he is definitely not pleased about this at all! ]

This was entirely unnecessary. [ He sounds like an angry parent scolding his child.

Evil twin indeed. He looks so mad too. ]

[Dain is returned to the normal flow of gravity once he's pushed through -- upon which Aether will jump through as well, thoroughly soaked in an instant.]

[And yet however angry Dain looks or sounds, Aether just replies with a laugh.]

[And also because I keep forgetting to mention it, maybe the humidity was making his hair fluffy enough to miss the cat ears on his head, which are now much more prominent since his hair is wet. At least the tail can be hidden in his pants.]

It was very necessary-- come on, we're taking part in an ancient marriage ritual together. I think you could afford to loosen up a little?

You look cooler, at least.

[ Just have a 'huff' from him Aether as he stands still, his cape and everything else will have to go now, thanks!! But more importantly, he is much cooler, but he's not going to say that!! ] I would have walked through regardless seeing as how we must enter this cave to complete the trial, no?

[ Maybe. Now that he's here, well, there's some lingering uncertainty on whether he should be the one to go through with this with Aether at all. What if the form his soul takes is cursed like him and has the potential to affect the other? ]

[Should he mention there was a way around it...? Naaah. It'll be funnier to watch him go through it again when they leave.]

[But as they walk through the cave, they're eventually greeted by one of the Oni running the trial, waiting outside a very old torii gate, beyond which stretches only darkness. Only those participating in the Trial of Promise can progress beyond this point. And so, before allowing them in, it was time to test their bond by summoning their soul artifact first.]

[Which, somehow, feels more intimate than going into a dark cave together to do who-knows-what. What form would his soul take, he wonders...]

...so, do you want to just draw them at the same time?

Together would be the best course of action. [ He doesn't exactly sound...confident? But he's in it so now he has to go through it. ]

Whenever you are ready... [ neither of them is truly ready but who would be? ]

[Aether nods, and then reaches out, his hand hovering over Dain's chest. Closing his eyes, he tries to picture what he imagines would come out --- and somehow, the image of it comes to him immediately. Is this a sign of their bond together?]

Dainsleif.

[And out comes the sword. At first, it seems to be pitch black. But once the blade is out, it takes the form of the stars, glittering in the dim light of the cave. A "twilight sword" indeed.]

Oh... it's beautiful!

[~~Fellas, is it gay to call your bro's soul beautiful?~~]

[ The act isn't as painful or surprising as he thought it would be. But the sword that's pulled from his chest is. His eyes will widen slightly before he regains his composure almost immediately afterward. Some things are better left unsaid and seeing that sword there, well, there's a lot he could say about it now...but he'll bring his own hand to hover over Aether's chest, the image of the other's soul artifact clear in his mind as well. ] Aether.

[ He says the other's name as he pulls out a straight sword with a golden hilt shaped like those wings he and Lumine once had. Though in the process of doing so it might 'break' which causes Dain to pause momentarily as he looks to the other. But he manages to fully retrieve it, wondering if he had done something wrong? The pommel has an iridescent whitish hue and catches the light and seems to store it there. ]

Why is it that yours appeared to break in such a way?

[The sword that comes out is beautiful, but only momentarily. The moment the cracks appear, Aether's expression falls -- but then twists back into a melancholy smile. Of course that would be visible. He already knows those who utilize Sora magic can see the cracks.]

[But before he answers, the Oni speaks up instead, frowning as he looks between the two. "A fractured soul... you poor thing. Has it been fully healed? I imagine your artifact wouldn't have taken a shape at all otherwise."]

...yeah. It's healed now, thank you.

[And then, turning back to Dainsleif.]

Guess I should I have warned you beforehand, but... I didn't think it would show up so literally.

Some warning would have sufficed, yes. [ There is a strong disapproving look on Dain's face right now, Aether. Look his arms are even crossed over his chest!! ]

A fractured soul? And how does that happen to one here? You neglected to mention such things during our first meeting.

I didn't see a reason to mention it. I haven't even told Lumine about it yet.

[Will he ever? Good question. At the very least, he knows he won't be doing these trials with her.]

[But rather than respond, he glances over at the Oni, and then back at Dainsleif.]

We already came all this way, so we should just continue the trial for now.

[i.e. He'd rather not discuss this in front of a stranger. At least in the cave, they'll presumably have privacy.]

I agree. Let's get this trial underway and go from there. [ He won't force Aether to give him an explanation if he doesn't want. But Dain had thought he had done something wrong and had hurt the other if he's being honest. At least that wasn't the case but the other scenario isn't...much better if he's being honest.

He'll follow alongside the other further into the cave and only when they've both entered far enough will the cave entrance seal itself and all the light with it.

Luckily their bond is strong enough to light up the hidden message "You cannot leave until you"...Dain will give an annoyed humph as he looks around. ]

These types are the most annoying of any trial. [ Why can't they just be straightforward?? ]

[The door sealing up behind them feels expected enough, but the message... why is it unfinished?]

Is there supposed to be more to it?

[Or maybe the cave somehow knows their previous conversation? Which wouldn't be much of a surprise. This is an ancient marriage ritual, so of course it would encourage would-be couples to talk out this problems before allowing them to be together.]

[In any case -- there isn't anything else in the room, save for what appears to be someplace to sit (or lay, perhaps?) so for now, he takes a seat.]

...about before. I'll tell you about it, if you want to hear it. It happened right after I first arrived, so it really was a while ago now.

[ The unfinished message is rather strange and Dain is mulling over what it means when Aether asks. ] Perhaps we're meant to...for a bond or some such nonsense?

[ Whatever that might mean. Talking to one another might just be the key, especially since they did just partake in the soul artifact ritual. Dain will turn to regard the other once more. ]

Only if you wish to tell me, Aether. I'm not here to pry into your life in order to fulfill whatever strange and twisted game this cave has pinned upon us. [ Dain won't follow him, yet, as he leans against the cavern wall with his arms crossed, clothes still dripping wet. ]

You did mention that you've been here a while. I suppose one will have gone through many trials from this land in the meantime.

I would have offered to talk about it regardless. It's not something I intentionally keep a secret. It's just that it's not easy to talk about it.

Not because what happened still bothers me. But... it's hard to explain. It feels similar to how it did when it broke whenever I think about how it happened. Like... an emptiness, I guess.

[A physical reaction to a wound that can't be seen, which lingers even after he feels he's gotten over it. Injuries to the soul weren't the sort of thing you just bounced back from, after all. And in the end, Aether never did get a chance to have it healed properly -- those cracks wouldn't be visible otherwise.]

It happened only two weeks after I arrived. But those two weeks... this world was actually trapped in another time loop, but no one realized what was happening. So I don't know how long I was really here, since I was just reliving the same two weeks over and over again, and completely unaware of it.

[But oh, there's another reason he didn't jump at the chance to tell Dain about this--]

The only reason we were able to escape was because one of the gods of this world intervened.

An injury to the soul is it. Hm. Such things are not easily forgotten, nor are they able to be healed. [ Though the mentioning of gods intervening does set him a bit on edge and does get a frown from him he bites his tongue. Regardless of what his own beliefs are on the matter pertaining to gods and their meddling ways back in Teyvat, this was a different world entirely, so he had no leg to stand on in terms of the ones here.

That's not to say he likes them, very much the opposite, but at least the one that helped Aether was not one he was soon to forget. ]

Regardless. You're here now and that's all that matters for the time being.

[Bless u Dain for not lecturing him on the dangers of trusting gods -- though at least the ones here in Nippon have very little presence in the day to day life of the people in this world.]

...they are able to healed, actually. With the magic of this world. That's part of what we had to do to stop time from looping.

When someone dies in this world, their soul passes on to another realm. But when they're "revived" when time loops to a point where they were alive, a piece of their soul stays on the other side and becomes corrupted. And those pieces were what was stopping time from moving forward. So that god showed us how to use a special Kizuna power to purify them and bring them back to their still-living bodies here on Gaia.

[u have no idea how hard it is to summarize this event, it was the longest one in Jikan so far smh]

[But just as he said, talking about this really isn't easy for him. It'll be subtle at first. The way he crosses his arms, trying to hide the way they're beginning to tremble. And a slight weakness in his voice that he's clearly fighting to hide.]

But natives weren't the only ones affected. A friend of mine from Teyvat... he somehow died during that two week loop. So when time looped again, a piece of his soul was corrupted. So I used that power to enter his soul to purify it. And... in the process, mine was shattered.

Normally, the magic here is actually capable of healing souls back to their original state. It just takes a long time. But... between how emotionally fragile it made me, and the fact that any time a Kizuna bond broke it undid all the progress I made, eventually I just asked a healer to heal it as-is. So now it's stuck that way forever.

[As much as he may consider Dain a friend and someone he trusts, he's not exactly the kind of person you'd expect comfort from in a moment of emotional vulnerability -- which is very much the state that talking about his damaged soul puts him into, even after all this time since it was healed.]

[ The limitations of his knowledge are annoying him in some regards. Back home he knew as much as needed to be able to navigate the world at large. Here it's an entirely blank slate to him and he's not terribly fond of it. The strange magic, the gods, this...Kizuna business...all of it culminating into the strange feeling of being at a loss. And now seeing Aether in such a state because of all these things was enough to make him clench his arm with his gloved hands.

Still, Dainsleif is not exactly good with emotionally charged expressions or acts of compassion. But with the twins, it's...different he can be a bit more open and accepting and available for them both. So he will opt to move in closer arms wrapping around the other's smaller, lither, frame as he draws him into a hug. ]

I'm sorry for what you've gone through here on your own. And I'm sorry that I...I was not here to help protect you. [ There's a deep sigh from before he pulls away some to get a better look at Aether again. His eyes...they look the same as the time with Half Dan's dying breath. ]

But know that I am now here and you may come to me should you ever wish to talk.

[Somehow, he wasn't expecting to be comforted.]

[Not necessarily because this was Dain, but because it's been so long since he talked about all of this. After healing his soul in December, he decided to just try and forget about it. Everyone else seemed to, after all. It was healed, he didn't cry at the drop of a hat anymore -- so it didn't matter. He was fine.]

[Or maybe he just convinced himself that was the case, so he didn't have to burden anyone with it. And because it made it easier to deal with the fact that the one who broke it doesn't even remember that it happened anymore. And even though the one person he thought he could depend on for anything was here by his side-- she wasn't really the way he remembered her. And knowing that she's shouldering the same burdens that he has from his travels in Teyvat, how could he possibly burden her with more?]

[Ahh... talking about all this really did make it feel like he was broken all over again. And so, when Dain holds him, he finds himself clinging right back, shoulders trembling as he blinks back the tears threatening to fall down his cheek. Even when Dain pulls back, it takes a moment for Aether to look up.]

[But as weak as all of this was making him feel, knowing Dain was here helped put his soul at ease once more. Perhaps that's why the room brightens up, powered by the bond between them growing stronger.]

...thank you. That really means a lot.

Mm, it is as I have always stated back in Teyvat, the world might have changed but one's thoughts and feelings do not. [ Especially on matters pertaining to this. Did they pass the trial then? The room has brightened considerably and yet the words scrawled along the wall still remain.

It's only after a minute that the "You cannot leave until you...fuck" message finally finishes with...well that. Dain's expression is admittedly impossible to read but those eyes of his look, well, they look mildly shocked. ]

Aether...the words. [ He might pull away fully this time. This has to be some cruel joke. He's not...this is not what he signed up for!! He clicks his tongue in annoyance because this is hardly the time for games. Such vulgar and honestly insulting requests like this make him wonder if it's not gods playing tricks on them. He was such a fool, thinking he could ever do something like this with the twins. He should have known better than to get involved in things like this, where this scenario could happen. ]

Huh?

[Aether's gaze follows Dain's towards the wall and--]

Closed to Dainsleif

Pretend this isn't super late...

kyaa

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