>>31830838

“Hey girl, are you gonna help me scold her or what?” Lem says, bobbing her head like a swimming fish as she does so.

“I um... She wouldn’t make it a week like this.” You start. “I really don’t know how it would go with the endurance salves but-”

“See! One week and you’re tree food sis!” Lem half shouts half giggles. Antonia loudly mumbles something indistinct into the bed while batting her fists against the mattress. She rolls over and sits upright, sighing and glaring at all of you.

You pat Lem to get her off you so you can step forward. Antonia pouts and looks out the window as you approach. “Tobias.” You say, still looking at Antonia. She props up her chin on her hands to intensify the pout, yet her eyes curiously wander over to Tobias as well. “Is your mother’s treatment good enough to take care of her pneumonia?” Antonia looks to you now, an eyebrow raised.

“Yes. Of course.” You hear the small boy curtly reply.

“Alright then, I’ll let you come with us.” You say. Antonia turns to face you fully with a haughty face.

“You don’t have the authority!”

“My Da’ organizes this whole tradition. I’d say I do.” You cross your arms. “There’s one condition.” She blows an errant lock of hair out of her face while she slumps back into her pout.

“I’ll bite. What’s your condition.”

>>31830863

>[ ] ”You stick with me, one of my... friends, will be taking over as your party’s captain.”
>[ ] “Our parties are sticking together, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
>[ ] “You have to tell your butler about your condition first.”
>[ ] Custom.

File: how-horrifying.png (92 KB, 444x440)

92 KB PNG

>>31830891
Holy shit.

>>31830891
>[ ] Custom

Fuck it. Let's blow everyone's mind with an answer that's so out of left field that it'll leave everyone second guessing what they just heard.

"You will let me kiss you."

Yeah. This means healing kiss.

>>31830990
Quick question. What's the chances of us getting her god damn illness after said kiss?

Actually just sat down to eat, gimme 20 minutes and I'll be ready to go.

>>31831074
Okay! It'll give me some time to think it over too.

>>31831033
Back.
Fera remembers that Sister attempted to alleviate her of a sickness in the past. It put off Fera's symptoms for a while, but Sister caught it shortly after.

Then again, Fera isn't ALSO suffering from deep lung. She would be able to fight it off easier.

It's also possible for Fera to overextend her healing ability. Who knows, it might stick.

>>31831614
I hate to back away since it is something I would do. I would like to hear Mica's and Nolan's opinion about this idea.

>>31831738
Mica's a bit busy at the moment, keeping Roy busy. You mean to ask Nolan specifically about the healing idea?

>>31831810
You're right. Yeah. We got an earful earlier for doing something stupid on our own. So, yeah, I'd like to ask Nolan.

Suddenly have to go somewhere, brb, expect at least a 30 minute delay.

>>31832124
No problem. Happened to me too a week ago. Maybe this impending decision will attract a few curious anons in the thread?

>>31832185
I thought it through. If her illness begins to get the better of her, she'll give us a signal or something. We'll come back to help her out.

>>31832562
I don't like the fact that we'll get the illness later if we kiss her now. And, when we do get it, we may pass it to Nolan and Mica.

Well that sucked, anyway I'm back now.

File: 1398652114340.jpg (197 KB, 780x720)

197 KB JPG

>>31833251
Yay!

>>31830990
>>31831884

Your eyes unfocus and look down as you rethink this idea. “Actually, Nolan,” You turn to him. “I want to run this by you first.” Antonia groans as you hear the mattress compress under her weight again.

“Uh-umm, yes, of course. What is it?” Nolan says as he lets his squared shoulders relax. He follows you as you step away from Antonia’s bed.

“I think I might be able to speed her recovery. I’m at least more confident this is safer than her salves.”

“Oh yeah.” He scratches the back of his head. “You, well, Sister did that thing yesterday.”

“I can do it too, more like Sister is the one borrowing.” You smirk, before letting it fall to a serious face. “We’ve only tried to eat sickness with it once before, and it wasn’t completely successful... But that was years ago. I’m stronger now, we’re stronger now.”

“What do you mean by ‘not completely successful’?” Nolan’s face grows a touch more concerned.

“Well, uh, my chickenpox seemed to go away for a good day’s worth.” You say. Nolan’s eyebrows raise, suggesting you continue. “And Sister caught it the next day.”

Nolan rubs his chin in thought. “...Is that even possible?”

“I wouldn’t know, we don’t get sick very often.” You say, shrugging.

“So basically what you’re telling me is that its possible you could catch Antonia’s bug.” You nod. Nolan’s head tilts and he quickly sucks in air as he rubs the base of his neck yet again. “Have you ever had pneumonia before?”

>Cont.

>>31833893

“No.” You shake your head.

“How often DO you get sick?”

“The last time was... when I caught chicken pox.”

“No yearly illnesses?” You can only offer a shrug in response.

“Have you ever been sick other than the chicken pox.” Nolan actually throws his hands up this time. You step back, only slightly surprised.

“No?” You realise that is a little weird.

Nolan folds his arms across his chest as he looks out the window behind you. Then he turns to you. “You remember how bad chicken pox was right?” His voice is very soft now.

“Horrendous itching, the... boils, the heat. Yeah I remember.”

“That’s nothing. If you catch her pneumonia it will literally be the worst thing that has ever happened to you.”

>[ ] “I think it has a better chance of killing her than it does me.”
>[ ] “It’s just a sickness! Are you suggesting we merely keep an eye on her instead?”
>[ ] “So I shouldn’t do this?”
>[ ] Custom.

Also:
>SENSE+EMPATHY 5d10 to read Nolan.

File: oh-hohohoho.gif (68 KB, 278x340)

68 KB GIF

>>31833987
Oh boy...

>[ ] “So I shouldn’t do this?”

Rolled 2, 1, 2, 5, 6 = 16

>>31834107

>>31834140
So... how about them 2's and that 6? My luck is toying with me tonight. I don't have a good feeling about this at all now.

>>31834107
>>31834140

>2x2 to read Nolan.

“So, I shouldn’t do this?” You say. Nolan’s words almost feel like a plea, almost.

“No, I...” He looks back over his shoulder at Antonia on her bed. She’s sitting back up now and blatantly attempting to listen in on your conversation. He turns back to you and begins to whisper. “I don’t think it’s a good idea at all to let her go like this. Even if the potion her butler picked up for her cures it, or you do it, shes still dealing with deep lung.”

It occurs to you Nolan has actually been folding his arms as much as he could since Antonia admitted the nature of her affliction just now. It’s odd he’s so worried about infection now, especially since Mica practically rolled around in Antonia’s bed less than an hour ago.

>[ ] “You’re right, we need to tell her butler to keep her here. At least until the major sickness has left her.”
>[ ] “Fine, I won’t endanger myself, but she’s still coming along, we just have to keep an eye on her.”
>[ ] “Nolan, it wouldn’t be too much to ask you to trust me on this would it?”
>[ ] Custom.

File: Nolan rough.png (531 KB, 1160x1466)

531 KB PNG

Keep forgetting to post this.

>>31834451
I don't like the idea of babysitting her. You don't fuck around with pneumonia, man. I even think she's endangering her teammates now due to her selfishness.

> Custom

"Thank you, Nolan. I wanted to hear a different opinion than my own for once."

And then I guess we'll go with the first option.

>[ ] “You’re right, we need to tell her butler to keep her here. At least until the major sickness has left her.”

>>31834478
Well that answered my question on what kind of glasses he uses.

>>31834712

You sigh after mulling over the options in your head. “Thank you, Nolan. Felt like hearing a different opinion than my own for once.” You reach over your shoulder with the good arm to try to massage your recently aggravated bruises. “Recently my own good sense has been getting me in a lot of trouble.” You smile, Nolan does too.

You walk up to the side of Antonia’s bed, she scootches to that side of it and plants her feet on the floor. “So?” She says. “Are you going to go back on me now?”

“No, I think you’ll head out this year for sure.” You reply. Nolan shifts on his feet, you give him a reassuring glance before he says anything. “I just don’t think it will be tonight.” Antonia squints at you and shakes her head a single time. “At least until your sickness passes.”

“I thought I told you this takes a month at the fastest.” She says as she stands back up now. Her voice is still a big hoarse sounding, but less garglely than it was before.

“I’m talking about your pneumonia. Andrea’s curatives are powerful, I have little doubt that should clear up in a day or two.”

Antonia places her hands on her hips as she thinks to herself. Her face hangs forward and she looks up through her bangs at you once she finally speaks. “And how are you going to enforce this little ‘time out’ dear? You going to stay behind as well?”

“Oh I think your butler is more than capable of keeping you here for a few extra days.”

>Cont.

>>31835258

Antonia stands up straighter as her face lights up with surprise. “You wouldn’t... You can’t!” She looks more panicked than angry or fed up now. “But! You found the salves and everything! You’ve done me such big favors already! You-” She turns around just in time to wetly cough into a handkerchief she produces.

You feel Nolan’s hand on your shoulder just as you reach to help her back up off her bed. He seems unsure what to say.

“Alright!” Antonia says, clearing her throat and carefully folding up the handkerchief. “Ok, I’ll do whatever just, just don’t tell Roy everything.” Her eyes are red from the coughing fit. “Please.”

>[ ] “Fine. You owe me.”
>[ ] “Relax. Get some rest, I’ll see you at the mountain.”
>[ ] “I’m just looking out for you, the same way your team is.”
>[ ] Custom.

>>31835274
>>[ ] Custom.
"I don't know the reason why you came all the way over here to do the Foraging, but I figured it's something awfully important to you personally. The reason why I've gained a few new bruises today is this assumption of mine."

>[ ] >[ ] “I’m just looking out for you, the same way your team is.”

Man I'm slow today.

>>31836134
Don't worry about it, man. You won't lose me. But it looks like you haven't recovered from last week.

>>31835467

“I don’t know why you went to all this trouble to make it to this year’s forging, but I figure its something awfully important to you. I wouldn’t be in as much aching pain this morning if I thought otherwise.” You reach forward and grab her jacket by a shoulder, pulling her to her feet. “I’m just looking out for you, the same way your team is.” Antonia finally relaxes. The dark circles under her eyes betray her raggedness.

Antonia lets out a few huffing laughs while smiling. “You really don’t have any angle here do you?” She says.

“I-I don’t quite understand what you mean...” You say.

“There aren’t many people like you back home. Honest people.” She flicks her hair behind her shoulders. “My, err, Cross Company, could use people like you.”

>Cont.

>>31836248

You scoff. “I’m only fourteen, and I’m really not that rare either.”

“So? I’m hardly a year older, and they’ve been pruning me for years to handle the family business. Your certainly already old enough to die for your country.”

“You’re delirious, get some rest.” You give Nolan a look like you’re done here and start to head out. “I promise I won’t rob you of whatever chance your gambling with here.” You can’t see her face from near the front door but you think Antonia’s rolling her eyes again. Lem affords you a quick nod of recognition. Tobias is watching several somethings boil, as if the entire world existed on that table.

Nolan of course, gets the door right away. You don’t even have the chance to reach for it. Roy, one of Antonia’s handlers, and Mica are still sitting at the same table in the common room. They all lean back forward from laughing at some story it seems the man you haven’t met just finished with.

“Oh hey Fera! How’s everything!” Mica happily says. Roy and the other man compose themselves and turn to you and Nolan as well.

“Oh! Yes, Miss Walker!” The butler says. “Your friend here was just telling me how you were busy all morning running errands for my lady. My sincere gratitude!”

>Cont.

>>31836270

“It’s not a problem, uh sir.” You rub your sore arm. “The Forging isn’t a competition.”

“May I ask,” He stands out of his chair to shake Nolan and your arms. “What exactly were you fetching for my lady?”

>[ ] Sugar coat it.
>[ ] Tell him straight.
>[ ] Scare him, but just enough.
>[ ] Custom.

>>31836378
>[ ] Sugar coat it.

>>31836435
Wait...

>>31836466
Here I go again... second guessing myself.

If we sugar coat it, he'll think that she'll be fine as she is now. I'd rather scare him but just enough.

>[ ] Scare him, but just enough.

Hell. I'd like to sugar coat the scaring part, but I'd say that's asking too much.

>>31836500

You put your knuckles to your mouth as you think about how to put this. “Remember that alternate treatment she brought up before she left for Lukewater?”

“My lady has spoken with you? About her condition?” He says.

“Antonia misplaced her treatments last night, I found them for her however.” You say.

“She didn’t tell me anything about this last night.” Roy’s face scrunches up in inquiry.

“She was too embarrassed to ask you for help. You should talk to her later about that.” He looks up past you to the door. “Hold on,” you put up your hands to stop him. “there’s something I need you to do first.”

“Uh, Of course! Miss.” He adjusts his feet placement to stand properly.

“I don’t know much about Deep Lung, but Antonia is certain she has a handle on that. The reason I’m paying so much attention here is, while she was weakened last night, she caught more than just a cold.”

“I knew it.” Roy shifts his weight to the other foot as he wags a finger pointing at the ceiling. “The flu right? And I’ll be she thought I keep her in bed rest just because of that.” He smiles while shaking his head and crossing his arms. “A few days sure but, this town HAS proper medicine in it. It’s nothing I would have barred her from participating for. Such a worry wort!”

>Cont.

>>31837076

“Mr, Roy...” You say as you step forward.

“Masonheart, Miss.” He bends forward slightly with one arm against his chest.

“Mr Masonheart, Antonia came down with pneumonia.” You say. His smile dissipates as he listens. “The alchemist I referred to you is, very skilled, you shouldn’t have to worry for her. But I can’t allow her to head out until it’s cleared up.”

Roy makes a single nervous chuckle. “Did she put you up to this? If she’s just nervous she should just tell me.” He chuckles again and looks behind him as if the others going to agree with him.

“I don’t know why making it to this hike is so important to your, uh, lady. But it’s important to me, and it’s important you know this isn’t just some tourist attraction. The forging is dangerous for those who are prepared. And Antonia is not prepared, not for another few days.”

His mouth finally stops opening and closing absentmindedly as he purses his lips together in understanding. He sits back down in the chair. “Thank you. I’ll, make sure she’s ready then.”

You notice Nolan had sat down at the table next to Mica at some point. He stands up and scoots his chair back into place as Roy sits down, Mica following suit.

>Cont.

>>31837391

“Wait! Before you all go.” Roy stands back up as he heads to the room adjacent Antonia’s. “My lady must have spoken to you about the extra rations your elders would not allow her to take yes?”

“Yeah?” You say. Mica and Nolan respond in similar ways.

“Here, come with me please.” Roy says as he opens the door to room “D”

When the three of you enter, you can see the room as a slightly different layout to Antonia’s. There are four smaller beds along the large shutterless windows. Obviously this is where Antonia’s handlers and Roy are staying, yet the beds are so well kept it looks like they don’t even sleep here. Roy ushers the three of you over to a pile of gear that looks like belongs to the handlers instead. He picks up one of the black bags full of straps.

“Here! Take everything!” Roy holds out the medium sized bag. You take it and open one of the clasps to take a look inside. You aren’t quite sure what you’re looking at so you reach in and pull one of them out. Getting a closer look doesn't help much either.

>Cont.

>>31837528

The bag was filled with dozens of these odd shaped and roughly hand sized packages. They are all wrapped in a single sheet of some kind of paper that was dipped in a thin layer of wax. One side of it is flat while the other has the ends of the paper meeting at the top in a flower like shape. Some writing is on the back side of it but you don’t know what it means. They all look far too thin to be anything more than single pieces of jerky or tightly pressed bread. They certainly feel like that.

“Thanks?” Is all you can manage to say. Roy frowns.

“Ah, well don’t worry, not all of it is my cooking!” He nervously laughs. You turn to Nolan, he seemed to know what these are. You hold it toward him.

“Definitely take them.” Nolan nods as he speaks.

You put the weird foodstuff back into the pack and close it up, slinging it to Nolan.

>[ ] “Thanks for the uh, compresses, Mr Masonheart, but we have to get going.”
>[ ] “I think I’ll stick with hunting during the hike sir.
>[ ] Custom.

>>31837528
>Getting a closer look doesn't help much either.
Yeah... I know already. We're bumpkins.

Wall of text: The thread!

>>31837547
>>[ ] “Thanks for the uh, compresses, Mr Masonheart, but we have to get going.”

I'd like to give him a smile too. He wasn't all that bad despite being rather snobbish towards us initially.

>>31837571
But it was an awesome conclusion to this "arc."

I can imagine /a/ is rather pleased of finally getting off of Namek. Meanwhile, there are a bunch of fights between the Fera x Mica and the Fera x Antonia /u/subs. And someone is complaining that this "anime" sucks since the MC is too socially awkward. Another is complaining that there isn't enough moe.

>>31837707
Mica is more moe than you can shake a saber at.

>>31837768
You're right. She is. But you can't please everyone. I know someone will complain for the sakes of complaining or trying to stir up a hornet's nest.

>>31837635

“Thanks for the uh, compresses, Mr Masonheart, but we have to get going.” You say. The youngish man smiles brightly, a gesture that manages to get a bit of a smile out of you as well.

“I’m afraid I’m not going to be saying good luck just yet Miss Walker.” He says while bowing. “I’m sure Lady Cross is stubborn enough to at least see the rest of everyone off at the town hall.” His eyes look to the wall separating this and her room. “It certainly sounds like she owes you at least that much respect.” He ushers the three of you back to the main room. “Alright then! Off with you! I need to corral the rest of my lady’s group.” He knocks before letting himself into Antonia’s room, and disappears inside.

“That guy can really talk.” Mica says, already halfway down the first flight of stairs. “Did you know he’s been watching her since she was two?”

“Uh, Antonia did say they were like siblings.” You say as you and Nolan hurry to catch up.

You stay silent again as Mica begins recounting bits and pieces of the stories Roy and the other man whose name turns out to be Nahb. The walk back to town hall isn’t very long. You’re noticing more and more the town itself as you walk with friends. It still doesn't quite feel like home, but it sure is a lot more comfortable now. You look up to the sun as it finally rises. The warm light on your face is relaxing.

>Fera has gained 3 Willpower for successfully helping Antonia, drawing from her passion “I can do it myself!”

>Cont.

>>31838058
>>Fera has gained 3 Willpower for successfully helping Antonia, drawing from her passion “I can do it myself!”

Sweet Jesus. That's going to be put to good use in the future!

>>31838058

“Hey Fera!” Mica says. You are drawn from your introspection again as has been happening lately. “Why aren’t you more popular in Lukewater?” You boggle at the question for a few seconds.

“Mica, you can’t just ask people why aren’t eeh...” Nolan just trails off as he noisily ruffles the back of his hood.

“I mean,” mica fiddles with the hilt of one of her blades as she thinks, “you already had the one friend, Lem, right? She has a lot of friends but you never seem to speak to any of them. Or really anyone for that matter.”

“I don’t see what that has to do wi-” You are cut off as Mica continues.

“And when you do talk to people! You’re like, really sweet, and you don’t lie or talk about people behind their backs.” Mica seems to be actually counting her talking points on her right hand now.

“Well I usually ha-”

“And you do a lot for the town! You and Gil go out and do that weird forest stuff to keep the fey appeased! And you hunt for food for the tavern down the street. You’re really good at that too! You’re even really pretty!” You’ve been blushing for a while now. “But people still don’t acknowledge you.” Her face isn’t quite pity. It’s more like she is trying to solve a puzzle, that makes her sad.

>[ ] “How should I know! Enough!”
>[ ] “I guess, we’re just both weird then Mica.”
>[ ] “Uh, no clue. Maybe you should ask Nolan.
>[ ] Custom.

>>31838353
On my tablet.

Option 3

>>31838659
Sorry for the delay getting ready for bed.

>>31838659
Well, an idea just hit me. Too lengthy to type though.

>>31838659

“Uh, no clue. Maybe you should ask Nolan.” You say as you elbow the boy in question. Mica simply turns her gaze to Nolan, prompting him to continue with her eyebrows.”

The sound he makes is halfway between a huff and a scoff. He makes a nervous smile and shrugs with both arms while the air hisses out of his lungs. “I... have, no leads either. Completely agree with you Mica.”

“Even that she’s pretty?” Mica flashes a predatory grin at Nolan just before she defuses him by poking at his sides.

“Geh! I!” He sighs with his hands out to keep Mica at bay. “Some people, just don’t make friends well. It’s not a bad thing! It isn’t as if she was broken.” He turns to you. “You aren’t broken for being weird,” he turns to Mica, “neither are you. People just don’t know I guess.” The sound of his hood being rustled joins the crunching snow underfoot one more time. “We aren’t the first people you would consider friends are we?” You were looking off when he said that. It isn’t very clear which of you he was asking.

>Cont.

>>31839129

Mica answers anyway, scoffing. “No! Of course not.” She slaps her arms against her arms in an odd gesture as her face tilts forward to stare at the ground. “Just my only ones right now.” You prod her side like she does Nolan.

“You talk too much.” You say. “Just focus on the days ahead, you yourself said it was going to be fun right?” Mica’s sleepy smile scrunches to one side of her face as she looks to you through her messy hair.

“You don’t talk enough.” Mica pokes you back. Then she bolts off. “Last one there carries the extra compresses!”

Nolan hefts said bag of foodstuff. “How is she the oldest one here?”

>FULL STOP.

>>31839149

>ARCHIVE http://pastebin.com/G3JFYrv1
>TWITTER @Sojourneyman

Sojourner Quest returns tomorrow at 5PM MST.

>>31839149
Thank you for running tonight. Had a blast resolving this quest of sorts. Can't wait for the next.

>Next thread

We finally embark on the Forging!
What kind of campfire stories will our new friends have for us?
What kind hungry beasts will try to eat us again!
When will Cross's party catch up with us?
What the hell is a compress?

File: 1398575396570.gif (175 KB, 238x480)

175 KB GIF

>>31839228
Have a good night.

File: okelydokely.png (62 KB, 200x307)

62 KB PNG

>>31839332
>Finally past my very first initial notes.

>>31839388
Those two pages didn't last at all, huh?

I can imagine you having prepared much more ib advance now. Also, I hope the 2nd Little Witch Acdemia is as good as the first.

File: theres no way this will d(...).png (94 KB, 243x299)

94 KB PNG

>>31839451
You would not believe the cray cray shit I got planned for disc two.
We ain't even out of the first act of the first disc peoples.

Fera's making it all the way to level 20 you can take that to the bank.