The Obsidian Tale
Episode 28
[Opening 3 music]
~ Grandine Hillage – outside the inn ~
“Lydia?” Felix appeared from the
front door of the inn. Lydia was nowhere in sight.
He would have been more stressed if
it weren’t for the calmest village he has ever been in. Children were running
around with each other while parents gossiped about their child growing up to
be very knowledgeable. Dogs, cats, birds, bunnies, and even horses roamed
freely across the village.
Felix continued to hear a stream of
water pouring from the right side of the inn. As he reached the stream, he
noticed that Lydia was standing above a bridge. Two doves were standing on the
rails of the bridge, one on each side from Lydia. [Music 20.3]
“Lydia, there you are!”
The two birds abruptly flew away.
Lydia slowly turned around with a frown on her face.
“I just wanted to check if you were
okay.”
Lydia gave a smile filled with both
kindness and concern. “Felix, thank you.”
“Huh?”
“I never thanked you enough for
helping me throughout this journey. We just need one more shard and I can
finally be myself again. But, the more important thing is – what do we do about
the Gammel army?”
Felix raised his fists in the air
with pride. “What are you talking about? Getting those shards are really
important! As for the Gammel army, I feel like there is a way to stop them, but
we don’t have the details yet. Luckily, I had a meeting with my father back in
Bafuul.”
Lydia gasped. “Your father? He…”
Felix stopped her. “I know he sent
you to a bedroom in Bafuul, but he told me everything. He only did it to stall
time so that we would come and save you.”
“He’s not plotting alongside with
the government?”
“I thought so too, but I had it
wrong all this time.”
“Oh goodness, that is great to hear!”
The two became quiet. “What are your plans now?”
Felix began stretching his arms. He
then stood next to her. “Well, I checked the world map with Hazel and the
others at the inn. It looks like we’re heading to Vector, but I need to head
south on the way there – to the Village of Saradeli.”
“The village is on the way?”
“Yep! And this is good news for
Forrest and his friends! I remember when I first met Forrest, I vowed to find
them a better and safer place to live in. He was so happy to hear me promise
him such a thing. Now, I can finally fulfill that promise and take those four
to the village. I don’t want my mom to feel alone.”
Lydia tilted her head. “Why not stay
with her?”
“I would, but there are lots of
unanswered questions that I have with the Gammel army. I still need to find and
talk to Clyde and my father. As for Forrest, he was able to take his friends
back. His quest is pretty much done.”
Lydia turned back to the stream of
water, and then at the sunset in front of them. “I see. Well, it’s true that
this journey can be too dangerous for Forrest. I think it’s a safe idea to
bring Forrest to the village and keep him there.”
“Exactly. I think he would love to
finally live in peace!”
“Hehe,” Lydia giggled, “you’re
always thinking about others, Felix.”
Felix blushed. “Wh-What?! I mean, I
am. But, you don’t have to mention it.”
Lydia chuckled even louder. “Ahahah,
you don’t have to hide it either!”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” He scratched
his cheek. “Anyways, it’s nice to finally have an actual conversation with you,
Lydia.”
Lydia shook her head. “Mhm, I’ll
bet. I can imagine how hard it was to say hi to someone who lost her
personality. Remember when I used to punch you for no reason?”
Felix coughed. “Don’t mention that!”
She pushed him softly on the arm.
“Now I can do it again, but on purpose. Mess with me and I’ll punch harder next
time,” She joked.
“Eheh, gee you’re really sounding
like Rina right now.”
“What can I say? I learned to stay
brave and it’s all because of her. I hope she is doing better.”
“Yeah, I hope so too.”
Lydia clapped her hands together.
“Hey! Is everyone taking Hazel’s tour right now?”
“Oh shoot! I think so!!”
Lydia began heading towards the end
of the bridge. “Why don’t we take a stroll around the village on our own? I
don’t need a tour guide to go sight-seeing! Heehee.”
Felix laughed. “If you want to, then
that’s okay with me!”
“Yay!” She said happily. It was
strange to Felix. He has never seen her so calm and happy before. At any rate,
the two of them decided to take a walk around the village on their own. [End music]
A Thing or Two About Animals
~ Grandine Hillage – the top of the hill ~
“And here we are, next to the
church, and also the grave of our two favorite heroes – Luna and Orlando!”
Hazel said as she stepped aside for the group to see. [Music 20.2]
Warren was on his knees, clasping
his hands together and bowing down to the graves in front of him. “To two of
our truest warriors…”
Leo placed his right hand to his
heart to show his respects. The three children, excluding Jess, were still
standing in confusion. Jess tried to follow Leo’s pose.
Forrest ran up to Orlando’s grave.
“What happened to them?”
Hazel frowned. “They… were lost
along the war against Waltzer. However, their sacrifice is what helped end the
dispute with Waltzer and his undying soul. He was forever sealed away, and that
was all Orlando and Luna ever wanted.”
Forrest took a few steps away to
pick a few flowers out of the ground. He then placed some in front of the
grave.
“For the coolest heroes in the
world,” Forrest said. He always had an extremely high respect for heroes, after
all.
Spencer and Sydney did the same.
They looked for flowers nearby, and then they placed them on Luna’s grave.
Warren chuckled. “They were such
wondrous people. They were like the older brother and sister to me, always
bickering at each other.”
“And you were always in between,
crying because of their yapping,” Hazel said.
“H-Hazel, please, not now,” He
blushed.
“Hehe, alright. The show’s over.
Now, I must take you all to the cape.”
Forrest interrupted her, “Whoa!” He
called out. He ran around the grave and noticed that behind it, they were atop
the highest hill in the village. They were about five to six stories high and
they could see almost the entire plain from where they were standing. You could
almost see the mist clogged up above ground level and a few hawks were flying
around during the sunset.
“You would expect that the world
would be blue and green,” Jess commented, “but in this peaceful village, the
entire plain is yellow and brown, but in a very soothing manner.”
“I would have to agree with you
there,” Leo added.
Hazel snapped her fingers. “That’s
right. That is exactly why they chose this place as their grave spot.”
Sydney's Attraction
The church bell rang and a bunch of orphaned children began running towards the tables in front for dinner. Hazel saw them and this reminded her of her precious orphaned children back in Ouli Brye, especially Remy.
“I will come back for them someday,”
She thought to herself.
~ Grandine Hillage – inn - lobby ~
Hours later, Lydia yawned as she
took a step into the lobby. Felix appeared after holding the door for her. As
they were about to close the door, Hazel stood behind them. Her foot blocked
the door and the archway.
“Took you two long enough,” Hazel
glared at them.
Felix squealed. “Egh! Hazel! Why do
you always come out of nowhere?”
“Do I?” She teased.
“You missed out on so much!” Forrest
said as he jumped in front of Leo.
“We just got back too,” Jess said.
Lydia pointed to the right side of
the inn. “We went for a stroll around the village and started over there.”
Hazel entered the lobby. “Ah, so you
visited the grave first. We did everything in reverse. Anyway, I must speak to
the innkeeper and check how your friend is doing.”
“Oh, let me come with you!” Lydia
pleaded. Hazel shrugged, indicating that it was okay to do so.
As the two of them spoke to the
innkeeper, Felix turned to the group.
“Did you two go on a date?~” Sydney
teased him.
“A date?!” Felix blushed. “No, we
didn’t! We just needed some fresh air, that’s all.”
“Sureeeee,” Forrest went along with
Sydney. Even Jess managed to chuckle. Spencer didn’t know what a date was.
“What?!” Hazel shouted from the back
counter.
Lydia frowned. “Rina is… missing?!” [Music 11.2]
The old innkeeper said in her low
and quiet voice, “I-I’m sorry. I closed the door so she could get a good rest
without having people rustle in and out of the lobby. The next time I went in
there, she disappeared and the window was open.”
Lydia placed her head on the front
counter as she covered her face with her arms. “No…” Her voice mumbled beneath
her arms.
Felix said to the innkeeper from
afar, “Where could she be?! Do you know?”
“I do not know. I am sorry…”
Leo rolled his eyes. “Tch, that
girl, always rushing into things on her own.”
Lydia thought about the situation
carefully. “Let’s see, why would she run off and where?”
Spencer said to Sydney in
disappointment, “Aww… I guess we aren’t going to the windy cave thingy.”
“I know right?” Sydney said sadly.
“I got it!” Lydia shouted. “Windy
cave?! Rina must be there!”
“Wait, why?” Felix questioned.
“Rina wants to learn more magic, and
she only has fire, earth, and water. The only element left is wind, and it’s
such a huge convenience that the plains and this village work with natural wind
power.”
Hazel was amazed at her deduction.
“Ah, you seem quite on-point there. The village does work on wind energy.
That’s how the streams keep water flowing.”
Warren shivered. “A-Are we going
through the plains again?”
Forrest looked up at his face.
“What’s wrong? Afraid of crashing into those bunnies again?~”
“Geh…” Warren wept.
Felix said to the group, “Then it’s
settled. We are going to that cave. Even if Rina isn’t there, then at least we
narrowed down the places that she could be at. That means she could either be
here in the village still, or she headed west.”
Leo stopped them. “Hold on then.
Should some of us stay and scout the village now that we are familiar with the
landscape?”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea.”
Warren suddenly spoke immediately.
“I volunteer to stay in the village.”
Forrest tugged onto his clothing.
“You’re gonna go with me!”
Leo glared at him. “Forrest, you
just want to see him whimper.”
“Shhh!” Forrest whispered.
Sydney whined. “Aww, I wanna go with
Forrest too!”
“Me too!” Spencer followed.
Jess said to Warren, “Lieutenant,
might I come along with?”
Warren almost cried. “F-Fine, I
guess I have to take care of all you children.”
Hazel agreed with their plan. “Good.
I think it would be best for Warren to go as he is the only other person
familiar with the Hollow Cavern. Leo and I can stay here and search the
village. While we are at it, we will devise a plan on how to deal with the
Gammel government next.” [End music]
Leo smiled. “Ah, working together
with another and knowledgeable tactician.”
“Heh, I’m no tactician. I am just
the informational speaker and you are the one to artistically use the
information to your advantage to devise a plan.”
“I like what I am hearing,” Leo
said.
The group began to part ways until
they find Rina. Even in the night, they all had determination to find Rina as
soon as possible.
~ Hollow Cavern - entrance ~
At the entrance of the cavern, Lydia
stopped behind Warren after seeing a backpack left on the ground.
“Everyone,” Lydia said. “I think
only I should go.”
Felix knelt down. “Hey, isn’t this
Rina’s backpack?”
Lydia carried it onto her back.
“Yeah… She’s very protective of her backpack. I must give it to her myself.”
“Aww,” Forrest whined. “Why can’t we
come with you?”
Lydia gave them a smile. “Silly,
Rina cherishes this backpack with all her heart. It was the only thing that she
brought with her from her homeland apparently, and she trusts none other than
me to give it back to her. If she knew you all were here, she’d be angry to see
that she left her backpack in plain sight for others to grab.” [Music 9.2]
Forrest turned away. “Fine, but I
wanna see the other side later! Come on Warren, let’s beat some bunny butts if
we have to waste time out here. The one who can shoot the most wins!”
“Forrest!” Jess yelled at him.
“Okay…” Forrest said in
disappointment.
Warren shivered. “I-I’d rather stay
here and protect the cave than to go back on that field and run from those
bunnies.”
Sydney sat on a rock next to him.
“Sit with us! Tell us your stories about bunnies and why you’re so scared of
them.”
“Why?! I would not enjoy speaking of
that to others!”
“Please, please, pretty
pleaaaaase??” Sydney begged.
“Egh…”
Felix laughed. “I also want to know
too.” He then said to Lydia, “Hey, you be careful, okay? I’ll give you a few
minutes before we come along in case something happens to you.”
Lydia shook her head.” Mhm, thank
you. That’s more than enough time.” She began heading into the cave but it was
only a minute walk to the other side. There was no sight of Rina up ahead, but
at least now they could confirm she is here somewhere.
The moment Lydia headed into the
cave, Jess turned to Forrest, “Hey, can we move away for a minute? I need to
speak to you about something.”
“Are you still mad that I was joking
about shooting the bunnies? Jess, you know I’m not serio-“
“It’s not about that. Just come with
me.”
“Can I come too?!” Spencer jumped.
“I’m sorry,” Jess said, “It’s a
private matter with Forrest.”
Sydney pouted. “Hmph.” As they left,
she said to Warren and Sydney, “I wanted to be alone with Forrest…”
“Why??” Spencer was very confused,
but Warren and Felix tried to stop Sydney from answering the question. Spencer
must maintain his innocence! [End music]
From the side of the cavern, Jess
sat down on a small boulder while Forrest did the same beside her.
“What is it, Jess?”
“I needed to talk to you about
Bailey.” [Music 8.3]
“Oh him! Yeah, what about him? It
sucks that he couldn’t come with us, by the way.”
Jess had her legs crossed as she
looked up into the stars above. “I had some discussions with Bailey, and I
realized something.” Forrest waited for her to continue. “I could not persuade
Bailey to leave the Gammel army, and I feel that only you can do it.”
“Me?? Wait, why?”
“Bailey is actually a troubled child
who did not know what a ‘mom’ or ‘dad’ was prior to meeting us.”
Forrest gave the most confused look.
His eyes squinted and his mouth was almost turned up-side down. “What the? Even
I know what parents are and I haven’t had them for seven years!”
“That’s exactly it. They must have
been gone long before Bailey grew up. Have you noticed the ‘expressions’ that
child makes all the time?”
“All
the time, yeah.”
“Well, those expressions are actually
Bailey’s normal face. That demented look on that child’s face… you can only
imagine Bailey had gradually gone through one of the nastiest childhoods ever –
probably dealing with lots of deaths and bloody wars right in front of their
eyes that it has become a normal condition. Bailey told me that when looking at
bloody soldiers in the Gammel army, it didn’t phase that child at all.”
Forrest felt terrible now. “Oh, I
didn’t know… but why do you think only I can save him?”
“The moment you asked Bailey to join
us, Bailey slightly made a smile, but you could barely see it. I thought maybe if you kept bantering with that
child, they would give in. You must persuade to keep Bailey away from the
Gammel army or else things would get worse for that child, perhaps even death.”
“Death?!” Forrest shrieked. “OH!
Jess! This must be it, IT HAS TO BE IT!”
“Hm?”
Forrest stood up as he said with
pride, “My fortune!! He has to be the one in my fortune!”
Jess repeated the fortune for
Forrest’s yellow cape, “Yellow stabilizes
between the heart of what is right and what is wrong. However, what seems
‘wrong’, can be the right thing to do. When your most loved one may fall, like
a crackle in the ground, you will learn to pick yourself up no matter what.”
“Exactly! I think… I think it means
that what seems ‘wrong’ is actually the right thing to do – meaning that I have
to go against the Gammel government even if it seems wrong to do that! And my
most loved one could mean a friend that I care about the most, and that could
be Bailey.”
Jess added to his theory, “And as
Bailey may fall like a crackle in the ground, you will learn to pick yourself
up no matter what.”
Forrest was about to take his yellow
cape off of his back. “If that’s the case, I have to take this off. I have to
give up on this terrible fortune. I don’t want Bailey to die!”
Jess stopped him. “No. The fortune
states that Bailey may fall, so that
could be avoided while going against the Gammel government.”
Forrest grinned. “But, Bailey…”
“Bailey will be okay, as long as
that child is in your hands. Just promise me that you will do this for me,
Sydney, and Spencer.”
Forrest nodded. “O-Okay, I promise
to keep Bailey alive! Thank you so much, Jess! I will keep this fortune in my
head from now on. I will find Bailey and save him!” [End music]
“Good. Thanks for listening,
Forrest. I believe in you.”
“Hehe!” Forrest gave a huge smile
that even his teeth shined in the dark.
Jess gave a chuckle with relief.
~ Hollow Cavern – upper cape ~
Before Lydia reached the outside
cape from the other side of the cavern, she examined the field that was half as
large as what you would see from a football field. She turned to her left and
she noticed that Rina was sitting by a boulder. Her back was against the large
rock as she was breathing heavily while having dust all over her cheeks.
“Rina, there you are! You forgot
your backpack.”
Rina gasped. “Lydia, what are you
doing here?!”
“We all came to look for you. Now,
what are you doing here?”
Rina coughed. “I just… finished
battling that Pria lady again. She taught me how to use wind magic. Wanna see?” [Music 17.2]
Lydia dropped the backpack as she
grabbed both of Rina’s hands, “Please, stop it, Rina!”
“Huh? Why…”
Lydia began to cry. “I don’t want to
see you get hurt anymore. Right before you came here, you were on a bed,
resting. That clearly means you have to stay in bed until you’re healed!”
“I’m fin-“
“No!! It’s not fine, Rina! You had
me so worried. If you overdo yourself, you could die from exhaustion.” She
began to hug Rina, “I don’t want my best friend to disappear this early, not
like this. You shouldn’t be reckless anymore, Rina. Please, please listen to
me!”
Rina was about to cry as well. “I
left… because I wanted to become stronger.” She turned to the ocean beside them
from below. “I’m doing it because I’m not strong enough. If only I could stop
that damn Talbot scientist from taking your memory away, I would have. If I
could have stopped King Nader and those Gammel lieutenants in Ouli Brye, I would
have! Then, we wouldn’t have split up and I wouldn’t have had to look for you
all this time! When we finally found each other, I couldn’t even move. You saw
me, didn’t you?!”
Lydia was struck by her raising
voice.
Rina
continued. “You finally saw me again, but I was badly injured! The innkeeper
knew of Obsidian energy because she learned about it from Hazel. She told me…
She told me that I had accidentally inhaled some of the chemical energy back at
the laboratory in Troiya. That’s why I got badly sick this time around, but she
took care of me the past few hours and I feel fine. I can finally get back on
my feet and prove to you that I’m strong enough to protect you!”
Lydia was stunned at what she was
hearing. Rina never admitted how she felt about her weaknesses to her before.
“Rina, you are strong, and you always were ever since I met you. I feel as if
I became a stronger person because of
you, and that will never change. You
managed to make people scared of you, and that just shows how independent you
can be. The lack of independence is you having to come out here on your own
without being completely healed.”
Rina had nothing to say as she knew
Lydia was right. [End music]
“Now, put on your backpack and let’s
go back to the group. They are waiting outside for you.”
Rina grabbed her backpack as she
hugged it. “Thank you so much…”
“We don’t have to tell them about
how you feel about yourself. It’s better to show instead of telling them
anyway, right?”
“You’re right. I’m sorry for
troubling you, Lydia. I will protect you, but at a good pace from now on.”
“Good!” Lydia said as she wiped her
tears away. “Stand up, Rina. We’re going back together.”
The two young teenagers stood up,
looking at the moonlight one more time together before rejoicing with the
group. When would be the next time they get to see something like this?
[Ending 3 music]
~~~
On the next episode of The Obsidian Tale, we're finally going to make our move, away from the Grandine Hillage and the Opel Plains. With a new plan, Felix wants to bring Forrest and his friends to the Village of Saradeli to keep them safe. However, once they leave Saradeli, Forrest will be unable to follow them. How is he going to take the news? Find out on the next small arc, returning to the Village of Saradeli!
~~~
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