The fact he was hiding anything from you hurt more than you had expected, and even more concerning, was that whatever it was related to some Prophet consultation. You, or at least your most timid Testament, were involved in some mana damned prophecy and no one was telling you what was going on.

Stepping back from the fatalistic cosmic concerns of prophecy, and the international problems of royalty and country relations, there's also a sneaking suspicion that your isolation from society has been both deliberate, and for more extensive than you realized. Why had the brigands so desperate for an audience with a member of House Valen gone through the effort to try and siege Caylen's fortress of an estate when you had been sitting at home with Asche for the past ten years? Why had no one recognized your name when you went to Carona? The name, at least, you could pass away as ignorance... But if the brigand's concerns were so great they would actively attack House Valen in an attempt to forcibly gain an audience, surely they'd have realized you were right there, right?

Something was going on, and you wanted to find out what.

Unfortunately, you currently had perhaps two or three more days before that promised audience with the brigands occurred. Your mouth had gotten you crunched into a deadline for an event you knew precious little about, which had resulted in you spending quite a bit of time pouring over books in the library alongside Rinnier. You hadn't even seen Caylen after you went separate ways the first day, and hadn't even spent the time to go check on your newly acquired tree monster that you presumed to still be in the courtyard simply because no one had been screaming in terror or come to alert you of its absence.

In the meantime, you had simply set up camp in your cousin's library with a series of blankets and appropriated pillows.

Ari had been quietly looking on from afar during all of this. Unable to read, and temerariously opposed to straying far from you, she had simply been passing time watching and quietly amusing herself between naps as you worked.

>Check on tree
>Look for Caylen
>Talk to Rinnier
>Take some time with Ari
>Keep reading
>Other? (write-in)

Previous Threads:
https://archive.moe/tg/search/tripcode/!y56qKWqxyc/results/thread/
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?searchall=valen+quest

Where things are said:
https://twitter.com/Riz_QM

Pastebin Stuff:
Kara's Day Out - http://pastebin.com/8ZbiSKLs
Adventures with Asche - http://pastebin.com/RNviCBJu

Misc notes:Asche Pastebin is up.

>>41612617
>Take some time with Ari
Off to sleep with me.

>>41612617
>>Check on tree

>>41612617
>Talk to Rinnier

We've got an audience with the brigands coming up after all - might be best to talk more with Rinnier about how to best handle it.

Rolled 1 (1d3)

>>41612664
>>41612740
>>41612763
Welp.

Starting the thread with a sacrifice to the dice gods.

1. Ari
2. Tree
3. Rinnier

Writing the will of dicegod.

You press the book in your hands away, leaning back with a heavy sigh as you press your arms back and writhe under the euphoric feel of your muscles straining and stretching. Your groan draws Ari's attention immediately, "Feeling okay, Ari?" You let your head loll to the side, tiredly working the kink out of your neck as you shift your attention to the timid Testament. "It's probably been a little dull for you since we got here."

She shook her head bashfully, "m'fine." her voice had been growing a little stronger as you travelled, thought it was still difficult for her to speak up very loudly. It was somewhat of a relief that she had started to talk more, even if it was primarily only when spoken to. "I don't... Understand what's happening." she admitted quietly, "But you look serious, so..."

"It's a little complicated." You sigh, "I don't understand a lot of it either, really, which is why I've been reading so much... But I've got some time now, if you want to do something." The offer froze Ari in her place, so many possible reactions attempting to happen at the same time that the bashful brunette froze up trying to process them all simultaneously. "I-I don't..." She stammered out, "I mean I can't think of anything. Probably?"

You snort quietly, "Probably?" You reiterate, getting an uncertain nod in response. "Are you hungry?" you try. You'd skipped breakfast, by now you might have accidentally skipped lunch as well, and Ari hadn't left the room either. She nodded shallowly, and you clapped your hands together. "That's good enough then, let's get breakfast."

Leaving the room had been step one, but from there you ran into the issue of not really knowing where to go. This wasn't your house, and while you had spent quite a lot of time here in the past, that was several years ago; Your recollection of where the kitchen was, was... hazy.

You briefly contemplate trying to find one of the staff and getting directions, but shake it off as you set off in a randomly chosen direction with Ari in tow. Her walking was still unsteady, which meant the two of you were making your way through the hall with one of her hands gripping your sleeve for balance, but it wouldn't be much longer before she could manage a steady walk on her own.

The progress was heartening, considering the invalid mess she had been when you first met nearly a month ago. Physically, you'd say she was nearly capable of looking after herself. Mentally... Mentally was another story. If anything, her refusal to leave your side had gone from causing panic-driven meltdowns, to causing stubborn and potentially violent refusals. Not that she could cause much damage if she tried, but the implication was worrying all the same. She was still relatively stable, so long as you were near by, but...

>Ask what she thinks of the tree
>Ask what she thinks of Maran
>Suggest something she can do while you read? (write-in)
>Other? (write-in)

>>41613965
>>Ask what she thinks of the tree
>Ask what she thinks of Maran
>Ask if she can help get books or bring food and water.

>>41614236
Writing.

>>41613965
That's what Luna erased! The fire elementals in the kitchen!

>>41614487
I... what? Anon, care to explain that conclusion?

"Have you spent any time with the wood golem?" You ask idly, closing your eyes as soon as the question slips out. No, of course she hadn't. She never left the library without you. "...No?" She answered softly, visibly trying to figure out why you asked. "Should I?"

"Not necessarily." you hedge, "I was just curious if you had any opinion on it. Rinnier and I aren't sure what exactly they are, but it seems like they're predisposed to obeying me. It's something I've been kind of curious about." She listened intently, pursing her lips in thought as she tried to dredge together her experiences with it so far. "I.. don't like them." she started slowly, "One took you, and this one is..." She trailed off, growing slightly distressed as she tried to figure how to explain it, "It's you? But not really. It's fake."

"I think the first one may have been trying to protect me." You muse, a theory that Ari seemed dubious regarding, "But I see where it'd be disconcerting. I was a little unnerved when I saw them initially, too." Though honestly you had expected the 'they look like terrifying ghoulish monsters' justification for not liking the one out in the courtyard. "It seems to be playing nice for now though, so I'm kind of curious about it."

She hummed discontentedly at your continued interest, fingers tightening around your sleeve as the two of you walked, but didn't seem inclined to object.

"What about Jenseits?" you resist the urge to sigh when she drifts to mind, "The girl we found in the woods?"

"I don't like her." Ari bit out swiftly. You slipped a step at the unexpected vehemence, from Ari of all people. "She kept trying to talk to me."

"About what?" You blink, curious despite yourself. You know Maran had spent a fair bit of time trying to chat with Ari during the trip, but it had all been mostly stonewalled by the timid Testament's own shyness... Or so you had assumed. Had Ari deliberately ignored her?

"Don't know." Ari muttered, "She kept asking me about things I don't remember."

"...She knew about your past?" you venture suspiciously, trying to figure out how Jenseits even got that kind of information. "Nn.." Ari shook her head though, derailing your thoughts. "It's like... The things she asked me about never happened? I'd.." Her head dropped away as she spoke, gradually finding the floor more and more interesting, "I'd never forget those things."

"Like what?" You press mildly, "Can you give me an example?"

"Ah...Um.. Hm." Your Testament clammed up, choking a little at the question, "Like... about..." She trailed off again, indistinct mumbling nearly too faint to catch. "A stuffed wog?" You boggle, the image of a tadpole roughly the size of a housecat coming to mind. They were carnivorous things that lived in swarms within swamps mostly. "You mean food?"

"No, a doll." Ari corrected faintly, "That you gave me."

You blink, leaving the conversation to die awkwardly in the resulting break. That didn't make any sense to you, you hadn't even gotten Ari her own clothes - much less a doll.

You walked quietly for a few more minutes, taking the time to try and refresh your memory of the different halls as you did so. Some places were familiar, scratches on pillars you remember being part of making. Doors to rooms you could vaguely recall being told you couldn't enter when you were younger. Did that still apply now? The notion almost made you want to open the door on principle, not even knowing what was behind it. Idle curiosity was a strong motivator, but combined with childish spite, the urge was nearly irresistible.

...It was a dining room.

"?" Ari peeked inside, glancing back curiously towards you. The question as to why you had just stopped mid-stride and thrown open a door with a triumphant expression dearly begging to be asked. "...I thought I heard someone?" You offer lamely, an explanation Ari buys without a second thought.

Now you feel bad.

"You can nearly walk on your own now, can't you?" you change the subject, idly noting the small flinch from your Testament as her fingers curl into your sleeve a little more insistently. "I'm... Getting better." She admitted vaguely, "It's still hard." She glances away, completely unwilling to meet your eyes now as her voice drops guiltily, "...Why? Is it a problem?" More directly - Is helping her walk a problem?

"I was just wondering if you could bring Rinnier and I drinks and snacks while we studied." You mused, "But I suppose leaving you to go that far would be difficult."

"Mm..." Ari mumbled in indistinct agreement. "Maybe bring us books, then?" You continue thoughtfully, "That wouldn't be as far... Ah, but you can't read."

There went that idea. You didn't have time right now to properly fix Ari's illiteracy, but it was a problem that kept coming back to you. As your Testament, she was effectively part of House Valen - The fact she couldn't read was a failing that you took personally.

"I.. I can try?" She offered, "I'm sorry."

You shrug dismissively, "It was just an idea, I don't like you just having to sit and watch us. It must be boring."

"I'm fine, really..." she muttered, "I don't want to bother you."

You continue chatting idly, eventually finding the kitchen of your own accord. Luckily there was already someone in there, which meant breakfast - or lunch, rather - would be made and delivered shortly. You had just planned to make a sandwich, but this worked too. While you were waiting for food to happen, you settled back against the hallway wall outside of the kitchen and let yourself think.

>Check on Tree with Ari
>Go exploring with Ari
>Make a sandwich with Ari
>Find Alouette
>Other? (write-in)

>>41615766
>>Check on Tree with Ari
>Find Alouette

>Go exploring with Ari

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>41615786
1. Tree/Alouette

>>41615935
2. Exploring with Ari

Dicegods, guide us again.

>>41615766
>Other: Get someone to send some food to Rinnier in the library, she hasn't eaten either/

While you were waiting, a thought strikes you. Harkening back to the unearthly combination of childish spite and idle curiosity, your thoughts turn towards how long you had spent studiously studying and begin to see the Forbidden Path unfurl before you as you feel the elicit creeping of procrastination begin to mingle.

Truly, you tread a road of compulsion that mere mortals were not meant to experience.

A force overtakes you and you're moving before you realize it, leaving instructions with the kitchen staff to send the lunch to the library. Rinnier hadn't eaten yet, and you'd return there in due time, but in the meantime... You had free reign of an entire house you only vaguely remember, which you had at one point been told you could not explore wilfully due to being a child, and you really didn't want to go back to studying already. Hell, maybe it would shed some light on what Caylen was hiding from you?

...Oh no, now stubborn nosiness had entered the fray.

"Come on Ari." You smirk, grabbing her hand as you pull her off down the hall. "...Ah?" She stumbled after you in confusion, "We're going exploring!" you explain succinctly, though it does little to dispel the befuddlement in her eyes as she follows after you as best she can. She didn't understand. She didn't feel the unholy force that drove you to throw open doors and see what was behind them. She never experienced being told not to go into a room with no explanation as to why.

...Or she probably hadn't. You never did that to her, did you? No, you definitely didn't. But it happened to you, and now this was revenge!

Door after door was thrown open as you progressed merrily down the hall, the bursts of defiant triumph simmering away to a warm satisfaction that kept a light smile across your face with each knob that clicked free. Your enthusiasm was enough to gradually convince Ari to join in, as she nervously clicked open a door and pushed it open with a cautious nudge.

The inside was nothing special, just a sparsely furnished sitting room, but the innocent smile sneaking across Ari's face as she looked inside was reward enough for you - Encouragement enough to keep at it as the two of you continued to sneak down the halls and peek into rooms. You couldn't honestly remember which rooms you had even been forbidden to enter, it had been so long ago, but that had stopped mattering altogether a few minutes ago in your exploration. At some point you had nobbled a memento from one of the rooms, dropping a black tricorn hat over Ari's head. The single white feather flopping from the left side of the headwear as it sunk down to cover her eyes.

One hand drifted up to grasp onto the side of it as you meandered through the halls, unrepentantly snooping through your cousin's house.

"-Supposed to happen."

Which is partly why an unfortunately familiar voice catches your attention. You come to a halt, holding a finger to your lips to motion Ari to silence as you try and pin point where it came from.

"Is it that odd?"
"Yes! Listen Caylen, you have to take this more seriously. You're the Goddess' Champion, act the part!"
"I still don't really buy that, Maran." your cousin's dubious voice grumbles back stubbornly after a moment, "Just because some prophecy-"
"It's not just some Prophecy, Caylen. It's fate. Do you get it? Fate. F-A-T-E. It'll happen, whether you like it or not."

Your eyes narrow.

>Keep listening
>Knock on door
>Throw door open and enter the conversation
>Back to the library
>Tree
>Other? (write-in)

>>41617216
>Keep listening

>>41617216
>Keep listening
>Keep an eye on the feather in Ari's hat, make sure it doesn't cause her or you to sneeze

>>41617216
>Keep listening

>>41617284
>>41617306
>>41617300
Writing.

>>41617300
Clever anon.

"I don't really believe in fate." Caylen admitted, "As outlandish as the claim is in the first place, there's too many things that just don't match up, and I don't appreciate you being so suspicious of Irue all this time."

"Your cousin should still be home, working out their Testament conditions." Maran replied sharply, "We were supposed to hold out the siege until one of those Tier girls got it in her head to go adventuring and broke the siege with her beast."

"...And now the siege is broken, they didn't have to die, and my cousin is here with... A tree, I guess." Caylen finished drolly, "What's your point? The siege is broke. It was even broken by some kind of monster thing. The rough details got filled in, didn't they?"

"Details matter!" She hissed, "Who is here and how it happens have cascade effects, they change things later. Like a ripple, it starts small and it gets bigger. Understand?"

"It's not that I don't get it, Maran. I do. I get what you're trying to say." Caylen retorted exasperatedly, "But between the two of us, you're the only on wrapped up in all this destiny nonsense. If it happens, it happens, but I'm just happy the brigands were scattered. I'm more concerned about right now, than whatever was 'supposed' to happen."

You settle quietly against the wall, glancing down either side of the hallway as you do so, and pull Ari next to you in order to better listen in on the conversation, or more accurately, argument between Caylen and the Jenseits girl. You catch hold of the feather in Ari's hat as she passes, deliberately tucking it back out of the way as you strain your ears.

"It's not nonsense, Caylen. Everything has gone exactly like the prophet predicted for the last ten years!" Maran hissed, "Even before then, these events have been in motion for who knows how long? Everything led up to this, as the Goddess willed. You can't write it off as a coincidence or 'destiny nonsense', the fact that something's changed is bad!"

"Again with the Goddess..." He groaned, "If that prophet didn't keep preaching that kind of paganism, they'd be able to move more openly. It's a wonder mom even entertained a meeting, given how hard the royals have been breathing down our necks lately."

"You don't believe a word of it, then?" Maran huffed.

"That I'm some champion, chosen by a mysterious Goddess who stands above all, destined to fight seven great evils and bring the crippled world to light?" He replied with a tone so flat, it could have been mistaken for a one-dimensional frame. "I told you already, but I don't believe in fate - and that's ridiculous, even if it didn't come from a pagan prophet."

"You're incorrigible." she scoffed, "Why is your cousin even here, in the first place? The sooner you deal with it and send them along the way, the better. We're working on a tight schedule, still."

"Irue asked for help with some scandal in Carona involving an attendant." He muttered, evidently relieved to finally have a break from the previous topic, "I sent a message to some friends of mine in the Shrine to look into it more, and Irue's been spending the rest of the time here holed up in the library... I think they're really considering going through with that audience."

"...Audience?" Maran's voice cracking brought a smile to your face, even in the face of the fact that you were literally eavesdropping on your cousin gossip about pagans and prophecies. "No. No, absolutely not, you can't let that happen."

"What?"

"They need to be kept unaffiliated for another four months at least, long enough for Artemis to return from Ephlesia. If That prat interferes now, we don't know what will happen."

"....You want me to try and stop Irue from listening to people legitimately in dire straits for four months, because of some vague hints you got second hand?" Caylen asked slowly, "No, as a Valen, you want ME to ignore this for that long? I'm-"

"-Caylen-"

"-No! Listen, I am restraining myself purely by my mother and father's request, but that will only go so far with these people at my door step. Irue can give them exactly what they're asking for where I can't, and you're not only asking me to stop that - but to wilfully continue ignoring them myself?"

"Caylen, listen to me! It doesn't matter if your cousin gives them what they want! This is what they NEED."

"What they need is for someone to listen to them without fear of the crown for once!" You flinch at the sudden crash of glass when you hear Caylen's fist slam down on the table agitatedly, "...Leave, Maran." He finally resumed quietly, "You're too wrapped up in this prophet mess. That you'd even suggest I ignore them..."

"I'm trying to help, Caylen. Not everything can be resolved with good intentions and bullheadedness, just... please." Jenseit's voice dropped, you could nearly imagine her face as she pleaded, "Please... You have to trust me."

"I do trust you... But some things have to be done." He sighs, "This audience is happening one way or another, and I intend to support Irue with everything I've got. If I can't help them myself, I can help Irue do it."

You let out a breath you didn't know you had been holding, a complicated feeling welling in your chest as your eyes burned. Something was definitely going on, but.... A wide smile etched itself across your face. He was going to support you.

"You're going to regret this..."

You stepped back quickly, pulling Ari along with you as you heard the footsteps approaching the door you had been listening through just now.

>Backtrack quick, dive into the closest open room!
>Compose yourself, greet Maran at the door.
>Knock before she gets to the door, preempt them.
>Try and walk away casually with Ari.
>There's a window nearby, and the courtyard is only one floor down...
>Other? (write-in)

>>41618427
>>Knock before she gets to the door, preempt them.
I heard a loud crack is everything ok?

>>41618449
writing.

You blink, plan after plan of how to escape rushing through your mind in less time than it took for you to reopen your eyes, and in the end you're left entrusting your body to instinct as you quickly pull Ari around to your side and face the door. A single breath is all you have time for, giving Ari's hand a squeeze to forestall her question as you throw caution to the wind and rap your knuckles against the door.

For a single tense moment, everyone freezes. There's no sound on the other side of the door, and you dare not even twitch as you strain to hear some sign of reaction or movement.

You knock again after several seconds, quietly clearing your throat as the wood echoes. "Excuse me?" You speak up, deliberately shifting curiosity into your voice as you clamp down on the anxiety and nervousness at being discovered eavesdropping. You almost felt like a child again. "I heard a crack, is there anyone in there?" There, you barely caught the shuffling of feet. "...I'm coming in." You announce, breathing out and composing yourself as you reach for the knob.

"No need!" Caylen called out finally, the door opening before you could get your hand around it and revealing... Caylen.

Just Caylen.

"Irue, what are you doing here?" He blinked, glancing between you and Ari - Pausing blankly on her hat. "Where did you find Alouette's hat?"

You look over at Ari, easily letting the timid Testament take center spotlight much to her dismay. "Ah, it was laying around." You supply vaguely, "Had she lost it?"

"I believe so..." Caylen muttered, shaking his head as if to clear a haze. "That aside, did you need something? Last I heard you were holed up in the library." You shrug, wrapping your arm around Ari's shoulders and pulling her to you casually - An action that would have gone off much more convincingly if it hadn't caused her to squeak - "I took a break and went looking for the kitchen with Ari." You explain flippantly, "Along the way we started opening doors-" You wave your hand back in the general direction of opened doors, "-When we heard a crash from over here and came to check it out." You roll up on your toes, blatantly leaning to one side to try and peek over Caylen's shoulder curiously.

No windows. You didn't see any other doors. The way Caylen jerkily shifted to obscure you was a telling sign. Maran was still in the room, but she was... hiding? Or at least out of sight. No, if she hadn't spoken up by now then she was definitely hiding.

Why?

"So, what'cha doin'?" You purr, gradually leaning in the other direction and shifting your stare between Caylen and the room beyond him. You half-heartedly ignore his babbled excuses, lazily trying to look past him for another minute or two before settling back on your heels.

"Well if it's nothing, then it's nothing." You idly confirm.

>Ask about Maran
>Back to the library
>Return Alouette's hat
>Check on Tree
>Ask about the audience
>Other? (write-in)

>>41619205
>>Return Alouette's hat
>Ask about the audience
I may need some help, this needs to be handled properly and I feel sadly out of touch. Maybe you could help? Starting with why they would ignore my u defended manor for your castle that is well defended?
>Ask about Maran
Did you find her? I hope her staying behind didn't cause her to get hurt or captured again.

>>41619205
>Ask about the Audience
Thoughts he's willing to share to our face about it?
After that...
>Go back and check on food.
Exploring makes one hungrier.

>>41619371
>>41619408
Ask about the audience

>>41619371
Ask about Maran

>>41619371
Return hat.

>>41619408
Check on food.
____

I'm going to pause here for now, since I'm still malfunctioning. If the thread is still unarchived later, then I'll go ahead and pick it back up with these votes.

If it is archived, I'll just start a new one and we'll run a thread through sunday to make up for it.

Sorry about this, but taking 45m+ for 2 posts while trying to fight off sun exposure after effects is getting frustrating for all of us, I'm sure.