You are Irue Valen, blood heir to House Valen, a family of nobles whose fame and influence is so large and ancient so as to be self-sustaining in its presence. What anyone needs to have done to get to that ridiculous point of prestige is beyond your imagination, but that's how things are. In your travels to get yourself healed of burns afflicted by some kind of freak conjuration phenomena that occurred in your kitchen, you have since returned with the following things accomplished:

Burns healed.
Most of your money lost.
Information gathered.
A self-important Attendant of the Mana Shrine judged for his insolence.
An entire town's worth of guard subjugated for their defiance. (You won that fight, no one will tell you otherwise.)
Banned from Carona.
Acquired food.

You also gained a small assortment of debilitatingly painful injuries that flared up whenever you breathed, and your right arm hurts to move. It doesn't hurt enough to make you cry, which is why these tears were caused by the sun in your eyes, and also the dirt, but not by Rinnier having grabbed your arm in worry. You did not yelp when she did that, and in future tellings of this story it will be said that you bore her frantic examination with dignity and poise.

"Augh, stop touching me!"

The utmost dignity and poise.

In the meantime however, there were things you needed to start preparing for. Your dear aunt and uncle would no doubt hear about your activities in town, all of which were perfectly justified, and be... displeased. Behaviour unbefitting of a noble, much less the scion of House Valen. You had used most of what little funds you had left to acquire healing, and come away from Carona, the closest town you know of, without so much as a hint of commerce or gain. Further, you're relatively certain you can't go back until you have the official authority to fire a great many people.

Oh the people you would fire.

While you had acquired food, you're unsure how long it will last... Or how much meat was actually piled in the bear arse planted upon your yard. Or even how much of that meat was still good to eat, for that matter. You hope Asche can handle the cooking and preparation of it; It isn't that you doubt her ability to do so, so much as you never had a reason to ask her to do something like that with raw kill, so... You're not sure if she can or not. Her steady gaze betrays nothing to you as she nods in acceptance of her task, already setting off to locate something to toss over the bear-arse container while other matters are attended to.

With Asche dispatched and Rinnier gently coerced into not prodding your injuries-

"Yes, it hurts. No, you're not helping. Yes, I'll explain what happened later."

-You finally get her help to struggle to your feet. Your entire body is stiff, aching and crying out in protest at even the most casual movement. You wonder if this is a result of injuries, or exercise, or possibly both? It's something you'd need to look up later. Or ask your dear cousin Caylen about.

For now though, you wince at a sudden jolt to your arm as Rinnier helps you to the door.

>Talk to Rinnier about Teranford
>Talk to Rinnier about what you learned regarding Salamander
>Talk to Rinnier about the finances
>Ask about how they've been since you left
>Ask about the panic-prone Testament
>...Where's Kara?
>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

Kara's Day Out:
http://pastebin.com/8ZbiSKLs

Misc notes:Kara sees the world in interesting ways. We probably won't see it from her perspective again for quite a while.

>>40628836
>>Talk to Rinnier about what you learned regarding Salamander
>Ask about how they've been since you left

>>40628836
>Ask about how they've been since you left
>Ask about the panic-prone Testament

>>40629251
Learned stuff about Salamander

>>40629251
>>40629345
How's everyone been

>>40629345
Where's my last testament?

Writing!
Walked off for a moment, back to scheduled questing.

>>40628861
>Kara's Day Out
This was really great.

"How has everyone been since we left?" You start off, easing into the main hall of your house as you take a moment to enjoy the familiar atmosphere. You had only been gone for two days, but the difference between here and Carona was near immeasurable to you.

"...Fine." Rinnier muttered half-heartedly after a moment of thought. "After the mess with the fire mana in the kitchen, we've been eating pretty sparsely. Your maid won't let me near the food anymore, so I don't know exactly what we have left." You hum in thought, generally understanding why Asche would be reluctant to let Rinnier back into what remained of your kitchen.

"Hopefully what I brought back can help there." You offer neutrally, making a note to talk directly to Asche about the state of supplies once she had had a chance to look over the new additions. "Anything else?"

"Not a great deal, no." she reports, more primly than before. "We expected you to be gone for at four or five days. Your maid has been sufficiently helpful while you were gone, but I've spent most of my time reading and familiarizing myself with the estate." You feel like something's been glossed over in that explanation, "How did you manage to get there and back so quickly? And these injuries... Did you pick a fight with an entire bandit camp on the way?"

"Kara's fast." You answer flatly, remembering the ridiculous trip you had made to go out there initially. Shame you had been asleep for the one on the way back, though; You would have liked to be able to experience that while in good health for once. "Some things happened in town due to her presence, though. We ended up having to leave town shortly after I paid a visit to the Mana Shrine."

You look away from Rinnier, purposefully directing your attention elsewhere before you continue blandly. "Your family name came up during my investigation of what caused those apparitions." You can feel her stiffen at your side, the flame-haired former princess responding in a carefully neutral voice after a beat. "Oh? How so?"

Eye contact was a challenge, it was confrontation and dominance. When you directed your attention to something so readily, it was similar to declaring a gauntlet thrown. You wanted answers, you wanted obedience, you wanted to be forth-right and direct. It was demanding. In some cases, this was exactly what you wanted; It was the proper way to cow submissive individuals, to acknowledge peers and assert yourself in confrontation you intended to stand atop of... However, like all things, it had its place. Some things required a gentler touch, or perhaps an issue that you did not want to press too early. People, much like animals, would become rash and prone to aggression if they felt themselves backed into a corner.

Unnecessary aggression would hurt certain relationships, even if refraining meant that your answer may not come immediately. Allowing the person in question, in this case Rinnier, an 'out', was both polite and implicative of a dismissable conversation. A token of your interest, but not a demand for answers.

In simplest terms...

"I learned from the attendant of Salamander's shrine that the Lamandran royal family was hated by Salamander."
'I know.'

"Yes, we have... currently lost its favor."
'I told you.'

"Loss of favor and hate are two very different things. It made the existence of those apparitions even more concerning."
'Don't play coy. Something is wrong, we don't have time for games.'

"The Mana are fickle and difficult to understand at the best of times." Rinnier snorted, drawing to a stop at the entrance to the baths.

She had ended your brief exchange with a guarded retreat, either unwilling to offer further information from her own perspective, or perhaps truly ignorant of anything relevant.

>Press the issue. You're not going to just let her get away.
>Let it go. You can raise the issue another time, she either doesn't know or doesn't want to talk about it.
>Ask her something else. (write-in?)

>>40630402
>Let it go. You can raise the issue another time, she either doesn't know or doesn't want to talk about it.
>Ask her something else. (write-in?)
Leave a comment about how this loss almost cost us our life or how we will find out eventually.

>>40630402
>>Press the issue. You're not going to just let her get away.
I had FIRE sprits appear in my kitchen, which either means Salamander likes me, which I doubt, or IT doesn't only hate you it wants you and your line exterminated enough to break rules. Is this tied to Terranford's terraforming?

>>40630402
>>Press the issue. You're not going to just let her get away.
We're pretty learned on issues regarding magic, right? Princess of Salamander or not, we probably rival her in understanding on theory alone. Can't just push us away with a lame excuse.

>>40630459
Let it go.

>>40630545
>>40630566
You're not just going to accept that.

Writing!

Rolled 5 (1d100)

>>40630668

But you're not done yet. "You've seen my library, I'm not ignorant on matters of Mana." You deny her retreat flatly, shifting from her support to the wall so you could focus on the recalcitrant princess. "The disfavor of Mana causes that element to avoid people. If Salamander has really gone so far as to actively hate your family, those apparitions had no right to exist whatsoever!" You could see the princess setting her jaw as you started in, "Hate is more than just a casual loss of favor, it's not a matter of 'just try a little harder', fire will actively snuff itself out than be in your presence."

"It can not be that severe, or else the apparitions would not have appeared at all!" She shot back quickly, "Do not presume to lecture me of the nature of Mana and Salamander. Their kind has been of my lineage for generations longer than even your archaic library has records of."

"Then how, pray tell, do you explain the attendants of the Shrine treating your name as anathema? Do you mean to say that out of the entire Lamandran line, you alone are not hated by the Mana?" You let the bite at your library wash over you, it was a distraction tactic. "If that were true then you would still be able to coax flame - I have been in your presence in an attempt to start a fire, I know the difficulty!"

"Of course it is difficult, you fool! I told you my family lost Salamander's favor, we both know what that means!" Her composure cracked as you could see her temper flare, "Far be it for me to say what the Salamander cares for, perhaps I am merely hated less so than the rest of my family? It cannot possibly despise us all!"

"Or perhaps it hates you enough to wish you dead?" You riposte in conjecture, forcing Rinnier to step back at the question. "More than denying you, what if you had done something so terrible that Salamander hated you to the point of wanting your entire line burned from history for the affront?"

"No!" she hisses back after a beat, indecision warring plainly across her face. "Such a thing is unheard of. Are you implying that my family has done the impossible? Or that Salamander is so base as to hold a grudge over the actions of humans?"

"That depends." You press bluntly, "What exactly were those actions? I've heard of people born with disfavor, of those who earned it, but for a representative family of a Mana to be cast out? One impossibility can just as likely beget anothe-"

A resounding clap fills the hall as your head jerks to the side, Rinnier's heavy breathing and raised palm beginning to turn red from the force with which she had smacked you. Her eyes blazed in indignation, "Watch your tongue!" she hissed hotly, "You are in no position to speak of my family, slave owner." You don't really feel a sting on your cheek, but the taste of copper in your mouth was starting to become uncomfortably familiar lately. You take a breath, swallowing the blood that welled out from where you had cut your cheek against your tongue. "Dancing around this issue isn't going to solve it, Rinnier. Do you even know what your family did to cause this?"

"I..." She starts, "It... It had to have been necessary." she finally answered lamely. "We are... We were proud of our affinity. We were born beloved by Salamander, more apt to understand the flame than any." Her fingers curled tightly against her chest, "It abandoned us out of its own fickle whim."

>Leave the conversation.
>Does she really have no idea what caused this?
>That still doesn't explain the apparitions!
>Apologize to her, you went too far.

>>40631297
Terranford is now green and fertile and lush, something it has never been. The lands itself has chase the Salamander out of it's favorite abode. Is it not possible you're family's greed of better land led them to try and "improve" it angering the salamander by destroying what it held dear? That you're family snubbed it so severely it can only know hate?

>>40631297
>Leave the conversation.
>Apologize to her, you went too far
>>40631344
Do this as a parting comment like say sorry wait at the doorway and say our thought and leave the room.

>>40631297
>Does she really have no idea what caused this?
>Apologize to her, you went too far.

>>40631344
>>40631455
You're both idiots, the land itself didn't change due to the royal family, its been outright stated to have been done by the nomadic army by sources not Rinnier.

>>40631455
Leave conversation

>>40631455
>>40631492
Apologize

>>40631492
No clue what happened?

>>40631344
Write-in considered, but due to reasons stated by >>40631492 , Irue has heard that the teraforming was the responsibility of the nomadic army, not the royal family.

Writing!

>Does she really have no idea what caused this?
>Apologize to her, you went too far.

The two of you stand awkwardly in the hall, unwilling to meet each other's eyes as the silence stretches on. You realize you may have said too much, treading into dark waters where you couldn't see the bottom. There was still a great deal you didn't know about Rinnier, and it was not as if the two of you were particularly close; Her position as your Testament was not a contract of trust, but a test of your ability to gain the loyalty, allegiance and faith of others. One that, with Rinnier, you had been handling clumsily from the start.

Asking about her family was evidently fragile ground, even more so due to their current state. As the scion of House Valen, you know full well just how you would react to someone, even unwittingly, insinuating things about your lineage - To have crossed that line in pursuing an explanation for the apparitions...

"I'm sorry." You apologize quietly, "The matter is concerning to me, partly due to my own experience with it, and partly due to how it may affect La'Fiel." You bow your head briefly as Rinnier's chin drops. "I am worried, too." She murmurs, "I am worried about a lot of things as well, do not mistake me for taking this lightly."

"Do you really have no idea what may have happened to cause Salamander's shift?" You broach carefully, "Anything you know that might help figure out what's going on?"

"..." Rinnier's eyes riveted themselves to the floor as she turned away slightly. "I... do not know. Many strange things were occurring in the palace - In Teranford - during these last couple of years." She shook her head, "I will think on it more heavily."

You nod, but the deposed princess is already walking away. With a sigh, you fall back against the door to the bathes, wincing as your right shoulder complains at the impact, and try to figure out where to go from here.

When you emerge from the bath you feel undeniably better. The hot water had soaked into your stiff muscles, and the quiet aching pains that filled your body were.... Well, not as prevalent. You're decently certain that what remained was mostly bruising and injury, rather than seditious fatigue. A look at your clothes assures you that you're not going to be putting them back on, between the mud, blood, and tears. Your lips purse at the ruined pile of cloth, idly marking away your second outfit lost in as many days. Come to think of it, you had been losing an outfit a day since you took on this rite...

You had plenty of clothes before this, so it is not as if you are in danger of running out soon... But since you doubt you'll be able to replenish that stock anytime soon, the notion of them dwindling away day by day was slightly concerning. On the note of clothing, though, you remember that Rinnier was still wearing the slave garb; It was much cleaner now, far more presentable, but in the end it was still trash. Kara, too, had remained in hers.

Well, in Kara's case, you're not entirely convinced she wouldn't walk around naked if it came down to it. It was unacceptable to you, and proper society at large, but she was a demihuman. What did she even care about culture? No, you'd not tolerate something like that to occur.

The door to your room opened softly, a towel wrapped firmly around you as you slipped inside. There were perks to your entire mansion being inhabited by all of two people. Well, five now, you suppose. Your three Testaments lived here as well, but you knew for a fact that Rinnier had retreated elsewhere and that Asche was busy looking after the kill you had brought back. Kara was...

You blink. Where was Kara? For that matter, you'd not seen or heard the last of your Testament since you return-

"...Master?"

A near whispery voice broke that train of thought as you quickly scanned your room and the missing piece of your Testament huddled under your bedside table, knees drawn tightly to her chest as she did her best to make herself as small and inauspicious as possible. You had nearly missed her, and the realization she was still in your room was... disturbing.

No, wait, had she ever left? This was exactly where you had seen her last.

>Throw her out, this is your room.
>Get dressed somewhere else, then come back.
>Get dressed, don't come back. You're not ready to deal with this without Asche.

>>40632540
>>Get dressed somewhere else, then come back.

>>40632540
>Get dressed here, modesty be damned

>>40632540
>Get dressed somewhere else, then come back.
Mind telling me what happened when i was gone
?

>Get dressed somewhere else, then come back.

>>40632540
>>40632586
Why can't we just address the panicky in the room now?

...If we can't write-in, then I guess
>Get dressed somewhere else, then come back.

>>40631297
>Get dressed somewhere else, then come back.
Kind of feel like she might freak if we leave immediately upon her addressing us, so maybe hedge toward somewhere nearby, and/or acknowledge her first.

If we've got something like a dressing screen, this seems like the perfect sort of situation in which it would come in handy.

File: And then it all went to shit.png (85 KB, 814x779)

85 KB PNG

>>40632656
idk how long you've been gone anon, but I guess this sums up the last thread or so?

>>40632540
>Get dressed somewhere else, then come back.
She can wait a moment, dressing needs to happen.

>>40632567
>>40632656
>>40632696
>>40632702
>>40632720
>>40632778
Get dressed, come back.

>>40632720
Dressing screen can be done.

>>40632586
Screw modesty.

Writing!

You restrain the urge to walk right back out of your room, as well as the subsequent indignant one that declared this was your room and she should be the one to get out. You're starting to get tired of people that aren't you being in your room lately, but you've neither the frame of mind nor the state of dress too address that right now. You can see the panic-prone Testament starting to raise her hopes when you didn't retreat, but she remained timidly tucked away under the table rather than approaching; Peaking over the tips of her bony knees as she cautiously watches your reaction, quickly averting her eyes when you try to look at her, her crossed arms flinching up to hide her almost instinctually.

"Sorry...I'm sorry..." you can hear her start to talk as you edge towards your dresser and quickly gather some clothes. You never thought you'd have a reason to dress in your own closet, but considering you couldn't do it in front of the panic-prone Testament, and outright leaving would probably cause her to have another episode, this was probably the best reason you're ever going to get. "I'm sorry." Her quiet mantra was starting to speed up, and it was a little unnerving. In the first place, you had no idea why she was apologizing or... Or what you're even supposed to do with that.

Do you apologize back? Say you forgive her? You tried comforting her last time, and it just resulted in some horrible breakdown and lots of crying.

You click open the door to your closet, immediately silencing the persisting mantra as you barely catch the Testament's sharp intake of breath. You twist your head quickly to see what had happened, only to see the frail waif clenching her eyes shut. You decide to take the break for as much as it's worth as you dart inside and quickly dress. You find yourself standing on the other side of your own closet door awkwardly and listening to the dead silence in your room as you try to figure out how to approach this.

It's not that you were scared exactly, but you really had no idea what to do here. As little as you knew about Rinnier, you knew even less about this one- You didn't even know her name. Did she have a name? What were you going to call her?

You take a breath, emerging freshly bathed and dressed from the closet/dressing room you had just appropriated. She was still clutching her knees under your bedside table, and a piece of your traitorous mind almost wishes you still had that bottle of Faedka. This piece was ignored. with prejudice.

Approaching her gave you little response besides a shiver that seemed to run down across her, and she had begun to press herself further against the wall even as you knelt down in front of her with a carefully encouraging smile awkwardly pasted on your face. "Hey?" you start, watching the Testament jump at the sound of your voice, "...Are you okay?"

"I'm sorry!"

>Try to coax her out,
>Sit down on the other side of the table
>Just move the whole table, this is silly.
>Forgive her
>Ask what she's sorry for
>Ask if she's been in your room since you left

>>40633336
>Sit down on the other side of the table
>Ask what she's sorry for
>Forgive her

>>40633336
>>Sit down on the other side of the table
>Ask if she's been in your room since you left
Doesn't sound like she's actually apologizing for anything in particular. She's just... being waif-y.

>>40633336
>Sit down on the other side of the table
Removes some of the pressure of having us right in her face, plus maybe if there's a lull in conversation it'll entice her into peeking out on her own to see if we're still there.

>Ask if she's been in your room since you left
Derail her train of endless apologies first so we can get something that isn't just her repeating herself. We can try to figure out what the heck she's so caught up on afterward. No way we're going to make any sort of constructive progress while she's stuck in this weird self-recriminating loop.

>>40633387
>>40633418
>>40633495
Sit down

>>40633387
Why are you sorry?

>>40633387
It doesn't actually matter, I forgive you.

>>40633418
>>40633495
But why are you still in my room.

Writing!

Writing!

You frown inwardly at the reaction, slowly shuffling to the side of your bedside table and setting down against the wall. the panic-prone Testament's figure was even more pitiful from the side, where you realized that even scrunched into a ball, she barely took up space. "...Have you been in my room this entire time?" You hedge carefully, restraining a hiss of pain as your shoulder bumped the wall.

"Sor-" You hold up your hand quickly to forestall the coming apology, the abrupt action causing her to nearly double over as she jerks back and slams her head into the table above her. You take a moment to steady the lamp on top before continuing in a slightly softer tone. "Don't apologize, just answer me. Yes or no?" Your gut reaction is to make eye contact, but it seems HER gut reaction is to avoid that at all costs, which has led to the small Testament frantically looking at everything but you. "I'm not mad," you assure her slowly, "but if you stay in here all the time, it might be problematic." Her hair quickly shook back and forth as the waifish Testament nearly gave herself whiplash trying to reject that possibility. "I'll leave, I'll stay somewhere else, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay." You try to cut her off, but the words keep tumbling out of her mouth, "It's fine, you're not in trouble!" Her mania was starting to infect you at this rate, you could feel your mind starting to race as her panic gradually increased. "I forgive you!"

"I won't cause any problems, I promise, I'm sorry!"
"there aren't any problems yet - You didn't do anything wrong!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry don't throw me out, I'll try harder!"
"What, no-"
"I'll be better, I'll eat everything!"
"-That's not-"
"You won't know I'm here, I'll do whatever you say, I'm sorry!"
"-It's o-"
"Please! I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you, I'll find something!"

She was crying as the words tumbled out of her mouth in relentless rasps, evidently still not strong enough to fully use her voice. You imagine she was trying to scream, but the most volume she had managed the entire time was a light, desperate whine. The little things to be thankful for, because even as it was you were caught completely flat-footed as to what to do. You caught her apologizing over a sandwich? Staying in the room was evidently a bad place to start, or maybe it was when you had mentioned it was problematic? You're having nearly a hundred problems, and this Testament was directly responsible for every single one of them.

Your own frantic assurances to try and calm her were becoming more and scattered, as she jumped from one thing to another before you could even keep up explanations for. You're not even sure what some of them had to do with anything-

"You didn't break the table-"
"-Clothes aren't your fault, I can-"
"Feeding you isn't a-"
"-leaving wasn't a punish-"
"I'm not mad at you for sleeping in-"

Okay that last one was a lie, you weren't happy about that, but gods if you actually said that there would be no force to stop this crisis in front of you. Now is when you need Asche, she fixed it last time! You hadn't even been here for five minutes, and this was going so badly.

"Shh, no it's okay!"
"It's not okay, I'm sorry, I'll fix it-"
"-No! I'll fix it-"
"I didn't mean to break it!"
"Nothing's broke!"

>Try to distract her. She can't apologize if she has no idea what's going on!
>Run! Abort mission, get reinforcements!
>Call for Asche; You have no idea where she is, but she needs to be here now!
>Panic.
>Try not to panic, panic anyway.
>Physically attempt to stop the panicking.

>>40633941
>Try to distract her. She can't apologize if she has no idea what's going on!
Magic we good with magic knowledge, do something with that knowledge and distract her.

>>40633941
>>Try to distract her. She can't apologize if she has no idea what's going on!

>>40633941
>Call for Asche; You have no idea where she is, but she needs to be here now!
>Panic.
>Physically attempt to stop the panicking.
>Try not to panic, panic anyway.
BEAR ASS CAN WAIT, WE HAVE A CRISIS

>>40633941
From the narration we all know this is happening, we were not prepared for this.
>Panic.

But in any case Irue would try to still do something so:
>Try to distract her. She can't apologize if she has no idea what's going on!

>>40633941
>>Try not to panic, panic anyway.

>>40633941
>Try to distract her. She can't apologize if she has no idea what's going on!

>>40633941
>Physically attempt to stop the panicking
DEPLOY HUG

>>40634009
>>40634048
>>40634076
>>40634103
Distract her!

>>40634069
>>40634076
Panic.

>>40634069
>>40634079
Try not to panic. Panic anyway.

>>40634144
Deploy emergency hug.

Writing!

>>40634069
>>40634144
Why are you trying to kill us?

Apologies, a problem came up.

Resuming writing!

You try desperately to wrack your head for something you can do. The litany of apologies and assurances weren't going anywhere, or they were - but that somewhere was circular in shape. If you couldn't calm her down, then... maybe you could distract her? She couldn't apologize if she had no idea what was going on!

This plan was flawless.

"I'm so-"
"Luna!" You cut in quickly, drawing a confused, wide eyed expression from the panicking Testament. "....Issss the Celestial Mana?" You stare at her awkwardly, noting with a little hope that she had stopped apologizing.

"It likes... Information. Knowledge, like books and... research." You took a breath, "But Luna is also very reclusive. It is a shy Mana, that keeps its thoughts mostly to itself, and is always quietly trying to learn more. It favors inquisitive, and those who collect and protect information. The patron Mana of academics and scholars." You felt your smile relaxing a little as you made use of the memory of magic you had spent years building up. Even though it had never given you the ability to practice the manipulation of Mana, it was at least helping you here. "Luna is associated with the Moon, which is it's called the Celestial Mana. People believe Luna is not necessarily present with us, but watches over civilization and the other Mana from the night sky, higher than even Jinn."

"...?" The Testament leans forward slightly, her eyes widening in rapt attention even as she started to quiet down. "Jinn is... The Mana of Air. Wind? The breeze. All of it is Jinn."

You're not sure how long you sat there, but you spent a lot of time just quietly talking to the panic-prone Testament about the Mana. Nothing complicated, or theory based, but she quietly and attentively listened to the descriptions of the different types and their relationships and quirks. You never once managed to coax a question of her own out of the girl, but she wasn't apologizing anymore, so you considered this a success.

She was a little calmer now, but you're not sure what will set her off. You're also not certain that you'll be able to distract her with Mana again, so if something bad happens then you're back at square one with this....

>Invite her out from under the table.
>Leave to find Asche, she's probably done by now, right?
>Ask if there's anything she wants or needs
>Ask if she's eaten
>Ask why she was upset
>Ask if she's okay to follow you out of the room

>>40634966
>Invite her out from under the table.

Baby steps, anything bigger will probably trigger another panic attack.

>>40634966
>Ask if she's okay to follow you out of the room
Thats it we are gonna throw our shit ton of books at this girl.

>>40634966
>>40635031
Seconding this. Make her a fucking scholar.

And then
>Leave to find Asche, she's probably done by now, right?
Need to make sure she doesn't panic again.

>>40635031
by this i mean entice with our library, let her live in that fucking place as long as she stops panicking.

>>40635014
Invite her out from the table

>>40635031
>>40635074
Ask if she'll follow you

>>40635074
Locate Asche so you have back up.

Writing!

"Do you feel a little better now?" you ask, looking the Testament over. Her shaking had stopped, and though her eyes were rimmed with red from having cried earlier, she didn't seem to be about to start again. Her nose was rubbed red from where she had continued to wipe away the constantly running sniffling that came with the aftermath of her breakdown before you started your impromptu lecture on Mana. She nodded softly at your question, evidently not quite confident enough to actually speak unless it was to apologize for something. "I've got more things I can tell you about, but we'd have to go somewhere else."

You catch the indecision and quickly move to try and encourage her. "We can come back here later, or if something happens, okay?" You swallow the distaste of having to offer up your own room as a safe place for the girl, but sacrifices would inevitably need to be made in the pursuit of her not becoming a bawling mess. That last offer is nearly enough to push her over the edge, you can see her wavering now...

"I can't stay in this room all day, though." You start to get up slowly, gauging her reaction, "So even if you don't come, I'll need to go."

There is a moment of hesitance before she quickly begins to try and clamber out from under the bedside table, smacking her head against the underside of it again in her rush as you reach out to steady the lamp once more before it can tumble off. You find yourself letting out a small, relieved sigh as she scrambles to her feet unsteadily by holding onto the side of your bed and... Wait. She could barely stand without help, much less walk. Now that she was standing, you're reminded of just how malnourished and frail this piece of your Testament was.

How were you going to get her there, if both of you could barely walk? You don't know if you're steady enough to try and help her stay up, and you're almost certain she's too weak to help you hobble around.

You got to your room just fine though, and you were feeling decently better after your bath and the fresh clothes... It was mostly just left over fatigue from yesterday and the bruises which were complaining at you now. You notice the unconfident expression that seemed so permanently fixed to the girl's face as she tried shakily to stand; There was something either depressing or inspirational in the way she kept trying to stand up, no matter how many times her shaking legs near collapsed from under her.

There probably wasn't anything in your room could offer as a walking stick to her, that kind of cripple paraphernalia not being of any relation to you.

...Until about two days ago, you suppose. Why had you noticed you had lost your clothes twice in as many days BEFORE realizing you had also nearly died twice in as many days?

You think about calling out for Asche, but raising your voice would probably startle her. You just had to hope that your maid...secretary... That Asche came to find you shortly.

>You carried Kara, you can carry this waif.
>Offer your hand, the two of you together might even equal one normal person's worth of walking prowess.
>Leave and try to find Asche, have her help the two of you to your library.
>She'll manage it on her own soon. Probably. Start walking away and see if it helps get her to get there faster.

>>40635681
>Offer your hand, the two of you together might even equal one normal person's worth of walking prowess.
tell her we are pretty sore/weak.

>>40635681
>You carried Kara, you can carry this waif.
Maximum carry! Become the muscle wizard!

>>40635681
>>You carried Kara, you can carry this waif.
We'll probably make more progress this way. She weighs like 2 whole pounds, fuck being crippled.

>>40635779
>>40635769
I see what you did there anon.

>>40635681
>>Offer your hand, the two of you together might even equal one normal person's worth of walking prowess.
Might be nice not to put her in the position of feeling like even more of a burden. Even if in this case she'd actually be kinda right.

>>40635681
>Offer your hand, the two of you together might even equal one normal person's worth of walking prowess.

>>40635681

>Offer your hand, the two of you together might even equal one normal person's worth of walking prowess.

>>You carried Kara, you can carry this waif.

File: notsamefagging.png (4 KB, 348x111)

4 KB PNG

>>40635796
Sorry m80, no samefagging here

>>40635715
>>40635809
>>40635822
>>40635840
Offering hand. We'll hobble there eventually.

>>40635769
>>40635779
>>40635860
MAXIMUM CARRY.

Writing!

>>40635862
nigga i can see the damn pixel, at least try.

>>40635681
Offer your hand

You think long and hard about how to handle this. Your first instinct is to just offer a helping hand to support her- But why just do that? You carried Kara across Carona and up a flight of stairs far too long than they had any right being. She was ridiculously heavy, probably something to do with being a demihuman, but you had done it. Why not just pick up this one, too? She was a waif, barely skin and bones, you doubt she weighed more than a tote-bag. You could just toss her over your shoulder and walk to the library.

You know what? Yeah. You started with Kara, sure, but fuck it. You're carrying this one too. And later, you're gonna carry Rinnier somewhere. You're gonna carry EVERYONE, fuck being covered in bruises and exhausted, you're Irue Valen!

These thoughts promptly vanish from your mind as your right shoulder erupts into pain. It had only been getting worse and more insistent since you woke up, and you're relatively certain that something is still wrong with it... But as you have no actual medical knowledge or experience in fighting yourself - Save that time you punched out a fire apparition, and that last night when you got into a brawl with that Attendant and the guards, and...

Actually your experience in kicking ass was rapidly mounting up, but you still didn't have any idea what was wrong with your arm. Suffice to say, though, you probably... shouldn't be carrying anything until it gets fixed. "Ah...!" You finally refocus on the panic-prone piece of your Testament as she very barely manages to stay upright while she pressed herself up between your bedside table and the actual bed. You move a bit closer and offer her your left hand, your late-sister's bracelet catching her attention almost immediately as she hesitates to lift either of her hands from their supports in order to take your own. You wonder if she's nervous about accidentally falling again, or being touched in general? "Come on, I'll help you."

Your voice shocks her out of her inspection, and she looks quickly between your hand and the table she was leaning against. She shakily placed her hand in yours, frail and feather-light fingers weakly grasping onto your own as you felt her ease more weight from the table and towards your supporting hand. Even if you were exhausted, the effort it took to help hold her up was nearly unnoticeable. It wasn't dissimilar to carrying a cup of of something, in all honest-

"!"

Your hand slipped out of hers as she tripped after a single unsteady step, falling face first onto your bed. "..." This was going to be a little more difficult than you expected. Just how out of shape did you have to be to be unable to walk on your own?

When the two of you finally managed to get out of your room, it was a simple matter of very slowly making your way through the halls and towards the library of books you had collected. If your lecture about Mana had managed to calm her down, then an entire library would be more than enough to keep her calm, right? At the very least she had seemed interested enough that maybe you could get her to be a little more stable after a while.

"This is my house." You explain en route, watching her wide-eyed expression as she tries to furtively sneak glances from place to place - Failing spectacularly in the process, as the sense of wonder was almost too easy to read off of her. "As part of my Testament, that also makes this place your home. You live here with myself and Asche, now." Her attention never ceased to stray as the two of you walked, though she was very careful to keep as close to your side as possible during the walk; It was not uncommon for you to have to stop occasionally when she passed a chandelier, or a window covered in flowering vines.

"Do you remember Asche?" You asked curiously, eliciting an uncertain frown out of the waif clutching tightly to your arm. "Small? Black hair? kind of..." Would she even know what sea-green was? "blue-green eyes?" She nods, slowly, as if unsure of her own answer. You're not sure how much interaction this one had really had with Asche. "Asche is my..." You trail off, "Asche is very helpful. If you need something, then feel free to ask her. She's a little quiet, but she'll do her best."

That uncertain nod again. You suppose it's the best you're getting for now.

As you open the door to your library, revealing the rows upon rows of books - Over a decade of your own personal reading and various avenues of self-education set aside from the scholars and tutors sent to your estate - You feel the grip on your arm tighten marginally as she looks around nervously from place to place. "Everything I talked about earlier and more can be found in one of these books." You explain proudly, back straightening a little in pride at your collection. She seemed to draw in your confidence a little, looking over it with a timid, guarded curiosity. "What do you want to hear more about?" You indulge the shy Testament, wandering further into the room of books.

"..." She opened her mouth, a soft rasp of breath escaping, but stopped- Looking between the books several times as the sheer breadth of choice started to occur to her. "...Luna?" She finally whispered from between scrunched up shoulders, looking to you as if worried it hadn't been the correct answer.

>Point her towards where the book probably is, she can hold onto the shelves to get there.
>Take her with you to find the book.
>Find a place to settle her down while you get the book on your own
>Books about Luna are kind of... complicated. Suggest something else?

>Take her with you to find the book.

So how long till we find out she can't read?

>>40636405
>Take her with you to find the book.
inb4 we find out panicky has the potential to use mana, more importantly that of Luna.

>>40636405
>>Find a place to settle her down while you get the book on your own
>Books about Luna are kind of... complicated. Suggest something else?
Get some other basic ones too while you're up. Not like she's going anywhere.

Do we even have other kinds of books than on magic? History, fiction, self-esteem for dummies?

>>40636480
>Do we even have other kinds of books than on magic? Self-esteem for dummies?
Considering that we don't have any cripple paraphernalia, I doubt it

>>40636480
The majority of your books are about Magic. Mana, theory, rituals, practices, the history of those things, etc.

You do have history books, but they are of the ancient and world variety. They are kept elsewhere, however.

Fiction is in extremely short supply, and you occasionally find some you firmly believe to belong to Asche. Because Reasons.

Irue Valen has never once needed a book on how-to-self-esteem.

>>40636436
>>40636449
Take her with you to find the book.

>>40636480
Sit her down, you'll be back.

>>40636480
Luna's a complicated topic, maybe something... lighter?

Writing!

>>40636528
> how-to-self-esteem.
Kek we should hand her that book along with luna.

Inb4 the waif actually has that magus potential of the century.

"We can find that." You hum thoughtfully, a little surprised by her choice. You suppose it was the first thing to come up in your first real conversation with her, so perhaps it wasn't too unusual. It was, however, a little unfortunate; Books about Luna were, by their very nature, complicated affairs. While nominally about Mana, all bets were thrown to the wind when that Mana's preferred domain included information and... books. Some of them were very literally books about books, and books about information.

Not 'containing information'. No, books literally ABOUT the concept of information. Your head hurt trying to read through some of the higher levels of Luna related scripture, and you had finally called it completely quits when you had reached the point of the books referring to unrecorded information that the reader was evidently supposed to have just intuited upon their soul. It was the first time you wondered if maybe you were missing volumes, or if the Shrine of Mana's Luna attendants had split their teachings between physical and word of mouth transferral.

While you did later confirm you were not missing volumes, you never found out whether that second thing was true or false. You have been inherently suspicious and agitated with that particular sect ever since.

Which wasn't to say that you didn't have more easily understood books. Amateur and Novice type introductory books that, while still a level above most similar level Mana related scriptures, weren't infeasibly arcane and esoteric in their writings.

The pile in your arm was getting worse the longer you walked. It wasn't the pile itself, consisting of a sparse 5 books, but your shoulder was practically screaming out in agony at having to even carry that much. You couldn't very well carry them in your left arm, since that space had been taken up by your timid Testament. You couldn't ask her to help carry these books either, considering she could barely even carry herself.

Luna: An Introduction
The Phases of Luna - A Primer for the History of Celestial Mana
Myths of Mana
The History of La'Fiel
Ateliers and Aeons

The pile of books in your arms covered general Mana information, with a focus on both the personal and academic qualities of Luna as your Testament had timidly asked for. You didn't quite have it in you to outright tell her 'no', even though you doubted she'd be able to handle them immediately. Discouraging the first sign of initiative she had shown since she arrived was probably not high on the list of things you wanted to do if you planned to keep her from breaking down again.

Did that mean you were spoiling her?

"Irue?" Rinnier's call breaks your train of thought off as it tentatively calls out from behind you, the former princess curiously looking between you and the Testament that had all but pressed herself behind you as your spitefire Testament had made herself known. "...I haven't seen her since you left." Rinnier murmured faintly, "Where did you find her?" Her eyes run across the books held painfully in your arm even as you grimace at the burning in your shoulder. "Did you think of something after earlier? I hadn't expected to see you here."

>Be sassy. Snark alleviates pain, and you are in a great deal of it right now.
>Explain how you found the Testament.
>Ask what she's doing here, you hadn't expected to see her either.
>Ask if she'd seen Asche lately.

>>40636875
>Explain how you found the Testament.
>Ask what she's doing here, you hadn't expected to see her either.
>Ask if she'd seen Asche lately.
Also tell her how we basically are a librarian here and if she needs anything to know, to just ask.

>>40636875
After your falling out only a little while ago, probably best not to be too sassy.

>>Explain how you found the Testament.
And
>Ask if she'd seen Asche lately.
We were hoping to see her on the way anyway.

>>40636921
>>40636934
Explaining

>>40636921
>>40636934
Where's Asche?

>>40636921
Why are YOU here?

Writing!

"I found her in my room." you explain lamely, eliciting an incredulous look from Rinnier. "Your room...?" You shrug, and then immediately regret that action as you quickly grab the nearly dropped books with your other arm which had - until Rinnier's arrival - played host to your more timid Testament. With that one now deciding to use the back of your shirt as her support, you had your unhurt arm now blessedly free to hold onto the small stack of books you had acquired. "It's where she was," you answer resignedly, "We... Talked a little. It went in a familiar direction." Understanding dawns on Rinnier's face as she breathes a quiet 'ah' under her breath.

"So why is she...?" Rinnier gestures vaguely towards you, or rather, through you. "We discussed Mana. She seems to take after Luna." One thing you hadn't needed to appreciate until this moment was that with Rinnier, you were capable of speaking freely on the topic of most Mana related things. Even if she self-professedly specialized in Salamander, her knowledge base was respectively sturdy as a result of her own royal heritage.

It was that same royal heritage that meant she could also parse a conversation for messages and implications not explicitly spelled out. This was not something you had a great deal of practice with due to your isolation, but as heir to House Valen, it was not a skill you did not possess in some capacity. While the facts remained that your talents eeemed to lay more towards the reading and manipulation of body language and social interaction, you weren't incapable of speaking in a subtler manner.

...You suppose it is unfair that the person you are trying to speak around likely has no idea what is going on period.

"I see. I suppose that is an accurate evaluation." Rinnier nods, "Has she learned about Luna's siblings yet?" She closed the distance as the two of you talked, and you realize she had been carrying a couple of books her own; Mostly to do with conjuration.

"Not exactly, no. I've mentioned them in passing, but we haven't gone over their exact relation yet." You incline your head slightly towards your shoulder, "It's all fairly new to her, so I'm more concerned with getting the basics down before I expand from there. I'll try to get her comfortable with Luna before branching out to the others."

"Are you sure you shouldn't start with Salamander?" Rinnier offered a small smirk, "It's pretty simple, isn't it?"

"It's too forward." you deadpan at the princess, "If anything, I'll maybe start with Undine?" Her eyes narrowed in confusion before shaking her head, "That's too confusing. How do you expect her to learn about that?"

You smile at the plaintive note in Rinnier's voice, having been put out by your decision. "Undine and Luna have an interesting relationship, you know? I think she'll manage." Rinnier shook her head, snorting in amusement. "Well as long as it gets to Salamander eventually. That's the important one, you know?"

"Yes, yes." You wave off the former princess with a tired smile, "Speaking of which, have you seen any books on Undine around? I'd find them myself, but I'm not in the best of shape right now." Rinnier shook her head slowly in response, holding up one of her own tomes pointedly. "I've been mostly minding some ideas I had come across after we parted earlier. Isn't this your library, though? I think you'd know best where you put those things."

You sigh. "Sometimes I forget to put them back after I'm done reading, so they end up laying around the tables. I come across them again eventually, one way or another, but I don't have the liberty to go wandering for them right now." Rinnier nodded, glancing between you and the Testament still hiding behind your back during the conversation, "I guess I have some spare time, I can go take a look. Are you going to be here for long?" She asked finally, coming to her own conclusion.

"Yeah. I've got a few things I need to refresh myself about Luna."

You bid each other farewell not long after, and you finally have time to settle down in the central area of your library. Somewhere easily seen and accessible. Normally you would have tried to find somewhere quiet, but... You were the only one here. One of the only five people in the entire mansion. Everywhere was quiet, usually.

The books spread out around you, and you make sure the timid Testament is pulled into a chair next to you.

Now... Where to start?

>Luna: An Introduction
>The Phases of Luna - A Primer for the History of Celestial Mana
>Myths of Mana
>The History of La'Fiel
>Ateliers and Aeons
>Ask her if she has a name
>Ask her what she thinks of Rinnier
>Realize you haven't eaten since the day before yesterday

>>40637331
>Luna: An Introduction

>>40637331
>Luna: An Introduction
Food can wait for when Asche comes and finds us

>>40637331
>Luna: An Introduction

>>40637331
>Luna: An Introduction
Obviously. But if you get the chance,
>Ask her if she has a name

Also might as well
>Realize you haven't eaten since the day before yesterday

>>40637341
>>40637358
>>40637366
>>40637379
I sure want to read about Luna.

>>40637379
Do you have a name? I've been kind of giving you unflattering titles in my head for a while now.

>>40637379
If these eating habits keep up, I am going to devour my own hand.

Writing!

You slide open the most basic book regarding Luna you have, setting it between yourself and the timid Testament as you open the worn cover of 'Luna: An Introduction'. "Can you see it?" You glance towards your reading companion, who stares at the book in confusion for a moment before nodding slowly at you. "Tell me when you're ready for me to turn the page." your eyes drift back to the pages as you start to read in the peaceful library.

-

One of the seven Mana that make up this world, Luna is known as the Celestial Mana. Its role in the world is more subtle than that of the other six, as its domain consists of mental and ephemeral affairs rather than raw elements. Through out history, our very advancement could be attributed to the guiding hand of Luna's blessing upon us. Through that favour, one can gain a superior intellect and unearth secrets long lost. It is the pursuit of such information which both pleases and defines Luna as a Mana, a scholarly existence that nurtures growth and culture with an ever present thirst to learn more and more. It is no surprise, then, that any civilized society knows that it owes many of its modern blessings to Luna's grace.

Proof of Luna's favor is readily apparent on a grand scale, as you look between the pack animals and mindless beasts which we subjugate and drive out, and the more tribal creatures such as the Lizards who can barely scratch together the type of advancement our own society had built and surpassed centuries ago. Survival and evolution itself is an indication of whom holds Luna's favor more potently, as only those who can be said to be Luna's favored have risen through history to become the dominant sentient creatures of the land.

Though we write a great many books, mark off our borders and are quick to shout the benefits and praises of the more basic Mana such as Gnome and Undine, it is only through information realized and spread by the favored of Luna have we even learned to harness such things in the majesty they are found today. Salamander, especially, was once seen as a purely destructive, hateful force until Adepts of Luna were able to reverse engineer the discoveries of the Aeon of Teranford's Glass Desert Atelier, discerning the true value of the relationship between Salamander and Gnome that would later become Metallurgy, father of many professions and trades we know to this day ranging from forge work to construction.

In understanding this, those favoured by Luna have long since forsaken the concept of political boundaries; Choosing instead to form a league of their own, accessible primarily through the Shrines, which is dedicated to the gathering and documentation of realized information, as well as the further realization of yet undiscovered wisdom and its spread. This sect of Mana worship is more formally known as the Artemis family, perhaps the only Representative which functions through application and employment as opposed to the genealogy and affinity of a bloodline. Those who seek to devote themselves to Luna, or the ideals embodied by said Mana, often find themselves attracted to Artemis in search of its accumulated knowledge base.

Though they've branches spreading the known world, the primary headquarters of these devoted to Luna is the Aeon City, Ephlesia...

-

You look up from the book, rubbing your eyes tiredly. The Introduction to Luna covered a lot of basics, but its purpose was providing a broader swathe of topics. It was a general introduction to various novice aspects of Luna, which meant that you knew most of it already. There were a fair amount of things about Luna that this book did not deign to go into, which higher level books would reveal.

While publicly, Luna was associated almost uniformly with knowledge and wisdom, the Mana's nature as an overseer to the other six, as well the more disturbing aspects of its favour were left decidedly untouched.

>Keep reading
>Ask what the timid Testament thinks of it
>Ask what the timid Testament thinks of Rinnier
>Ask if the timid Testament has a name.
>Pick a different book
>Quit reading

Didn't even ask her if she can read..

>>40637808
>Ask if the timid Testament has a name.
>Ask what the timid Testament thinks of it

>>40637808
>>Ask what the timid Testament thinks of it
>Ask if the timid Testament has a name.

>>40637808
>Ask if the timid Testament has a name
>Ask what the timid Testament thinks of it

>>40637808
In order of importance,
>>Ask if the timid Testament has a name.
>>Ask what the timid Testament thinks of it

But also, seconding >>40637812.
>Can you even read?

>>40637819
>>40637835
>>40637836
>>40637843
All of you chose the exact same thing, not gonna list them separately.

Writing!

>>40637892
The fine work of the /tg/ hivemind.

Fuck it i'm going to sleep, its already been 9 hours past when i usually sleep.

>>40637968
Good night!

>>40637808

>Ask what the timid Testament thinks of it
>>Ask if the timid Testament has a name.

"So what should I call you?" you finally broach, having grown bored of re-reading information you had learned some time ago. The timid Testament in question looked glanced up from the book, quickly averting her eyes back down to the table after accidentally making eye contact, and seemed to fidget slightly as you waited for an answer. Seconds turned to minutes, and that minute stretched on into an unusually long, awkward silence where in she simply continued to shift uncomfortably in her chair.

You weren't getting an answer.

"Do you have a name, or...?" you try again, this time in a slightly different direction than before. Though hesitant, the timid Testament did eventually give you a shallow nod of acknowledgement. "Well, I can just call you that then. Do you mind telling me?" You smile at the girl next to you, happy to finally be making progress with her that didn't involve horrible panic-inducing breakdowns.

This excitement gradually slides to a stop and then smashes face first into a wall as she seemed to wilt under your stare and timidly shake her head with watery eyes. Shit, shit, abort mission. ABORT MISSION.

"No, no it's okay you don't have to tell me!" You back pedal quickly, trying to avoid another breakdown, "I was just curious, because I can't-" keep calling her an unflattering list of depreciating attributes in your head and when talking to other people "-take you places if I don't have some way to call you." Nice save, Irue.

"I-..." You breath a sigh of relief as she finally seems to find her voice.

"I'm sorry! I had a name but I can't... it's been a long time! I don't remember! I was trying, but I can't, no one ever used it and I was alone so it didn't matter and I-"

Dammit, Irue!

She had already started crying again, though you're not sure whether the way she had almost immediately grabbed onto your arm was an improvement or regression over last time.

"No, it's okay, that's not a problem!" You're quick to assure her, the words washing over the once-again panicking Testament as she ducks her head and continues a string of apologies alongside her frail fingers clutching at your shirt sleeve. "I don't need your name, just something to call you!" You try and snap the Testament out of the downward spiral you could already see forming. You're not so helpless this time, you've got a rough idea of how you can fix this!

Time for a name.

>Luna.
>Mint.
>Mel.
>Maya.
>Ari.

>>40638223
>>Luna.
fuck it might as well. That or mouse.

>>40638223
Luna(maria hawke)

Rolled 4 (1d5)

>>40638223

In retrospect, I should clarify.

>Luna
The name of the Celestial Mana. Naming things after Mana has very prominent implications and connotations in society, as noted by how the Lamandran name is a derivative of Salamander. Their names are not used lightly, even in bastardizations or adaptions.

However, it is something Irue may be liable to blurt out off the top of their head.

>Mint
A powerful Mana adept/explorer. Vanished from the pages of history while diving through Ateliers for Aeon relics.

>Mel
An eccentric Aeon of dubious nature. Purportedly of good cheer, their alignment to Shade means that their exact nature may just be a veneer for something else. They enjoyed testing people, and their Atelier often displaced itself into various locales.

>Maya
A respectable leader in the history of East Heaven. Brought a period of political unification, and expanded the nation into the behemoth of world standing it is today.

>Ari.
This name has interesting side effects. Some of you may understand why, but i'm not going to spoil it if you don't.

The name chosen will affect things, so I felt it important after a second of thought to include a little more information behind them.

>>40638327
Ari

>>40638327
>Mint
Become the adept

Didn't notice the connection with the last name til you pointed it out, but it'd be weird.

>>40638239
>>40638256
>>40638321

Are these three remaining the same after the update in >>40638327 ?

I'll give 10 more minutes before votes are tallied, just for certainty's sake.

>>40638223
>Ari.

>>40638374
Riz you might want to hold a revote, anons are lazy.

>>40638416
I don't really like the idea of rendering previous votes void, since it feels like wasting anon's time... But I suppose it would be fairest.

READ >>40638327
and reply to THIS post with your vote for the name.

Voting will remain open while I make some lunch.

The second meal of the day is always lunch, no matter when it is eaten.

>>40638327
>>Maya

>>40638444
>Mint

>>40638444
>Ari

Rolled 3 (1d3)

Back.

Guess we're letting the dicegods decide our fates.

1. Maya
2. Mint
3. Ari

A pity, I liked Mel.

HOW ABOUT WE FIX OUR DISLOCATED SHOULDER HOLY SHIT

"It's fine, right? If you forgot your name, we can think of a new one. You'll be with us from now on, right? You won't forget this one!"

"...?"

You would later kick yourself for having blurted that out, out of all the possible names you could have picked it had to be that one. "...Ari?" She asked quietly, visibly unsure as to whether she was comfortable with giving up her old name - Even if she couldn't remember it. "Ari's a good name." You shoot back pointedly, "At least until you can remember your own, we'll call you that, okay?"

Though not completely convinced, the newly christened Ari nodded in acceptance and seemed to settle down a little. You notice she didn't actually let go of your sleeve, but she was once more wiping the panicked tears from the corners of her eyes. You sigh inwardly, a sinking feeling in your gut as you watched her posture visibly straighten a little at having a name. If you changed your mind now, you don't think she'd object... But you've got a premonition of just how crushingly dejected it would make her. You'd risk undoing everything you had managed today, because you had let your mouth run before your mind caught up in a panic.

No, you'd live with it. She'd probably remember her old name if she gave it enough thought, after all. This was only temporary.

"Alright... What did you think of what you've read so far, Ari?" The name rolled off your tongue with a bitter taste of ash and betrayal. You idly scratch at an itch conveniently near your late-sister's bracelet as you try and push the feeling aside. "Luna is a little difficult to read about initially, and tends to come off a bit drier than the others."

Ari looked at the book, her eyes shifting slightly as she opened her mouth, but it still took her several beats before you heard her quietly declare how pretty it had been. "Pretty isn't exactly the word I'd use to describe these books..." you laugh softly, turning back to Luna: An Introduction-

The last page you read had an artist's rendition of Luna on it; The face of a sleepy, long haired blond woman whose body was obscured in a semi-crescent golden shell bearing four slender wings. You hadn't paid much attention to the illustrations of the book before, considering your entire purpose in reading was... Well, to read it. It was fairly pretty, though. Out of curiosity, you turned a page back, noticing another illustration along the sides of the page of a variety of moon lilies. Another page, another drawing, again and again you begin to realize that nearly every page of this book had impressively well drawn pictures imprinted upon it that you had previously disregarded.

"Ari?"

"...?" her eyes flicker towards you curiously.

"What is the name of Luna's sect?"

"...?" She fidgets.

Ah. Well, in that case... "Can you read?" you ask offhandedly, turning another page.

"N-No...I'm sorry." Her head drops even further than normal as you watch her try to make herself as small and inobtrusive as possible after her whispered answer. You're left feeling at something of a loss, realizing that your plan to just throw books at her was going to be much more difficult than previously expected.

Not long after that, you hear a pair of approaching footsteps through the library. Rinnier's bright red hair swishing into view with Asche in tow not long after. You suppose their entrance is as well timed as any, considering the only thing you had left in mind to do was read the book TO your Testament, but even that was starting to make you feel ill now.

"You called, Irue?" Asche interrupted your thoughts with her familiar placid voice. Rather than set you at ease, you were only further reminded that Asche was the only person in the household besides yourself who had actually known, and had been good friends with, your sister. "Yeah," you sigh heavily, pressing the book aside.

What did you even want, again?

>See if she'll look after Ari while you take some time to yourself.
>See if she'll look after Ari while you talk to Rinnier.
>Ask about the food situation.
>Ask if she's seen Kara.
>Excuse yourself with Asche, you have things to talk about.
>Everyone but Kara is here, you guess. May as well explain everything that went on in Carona.
>Asche, can you tell what's wrong with my shoulder?

>Everyone but Kara is here, you guess. May as well explain everything that went on in Carona.
>Asche, can you tell what's wrong with my shoulder?

>>40639194
>>Asche, can you tell what's wrong with my shoulder?
1st thing 1st.
Then ask about the food and explain how shit happened and if anything happenend here as well

>>40639194
>shoulder

I had forgotten that Ari was the sister's name. You shouldn't have left that obscured.

>>40639215
>>40639232
>>40639364
Asche, i broke myself. Fix it.

>>40639215
Well, I did promise I'd explain later.

---

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Valen+Quest

And we are archived.

We're ending the thread pretty early today, but I've only had about 3 hours of sleep in the past day or two, so this is my limit for the moment.

This thread went kind of slowly, so I'll probably run again this week, to make up for cutting this one so short. Either Tuesday night or wednesday night.

>BONUS
A previous anon mentioned 'which 4 hours of the day would you rather they not run'. What are your thoughts on me attempting to run a thread through the daytime of EST, as opposed to night?

I'll lurk the thread for a bit to try and answer some questions if I can.

Apologies to all anons who participated in Valen Quest but died at their keyboards wondering when QM would finally stop.

To those who did not make it to the end, we will never forget your sacrifice.

File: ValEnd.gif (1023 KB, 500x281)

1023 KB GIF

Forgot this.

God I am tired.

>>40639510
You know, I've been thinking...
Is Irue even biologically a girl? I dunno if you've ever actually specified a gender, not even with pronouns (not even from Kara's perspective), and considering Irue's description and the source of ValEnd.gif...