Submission (#1887) Approved

Quest: Resonance - Act 2
Act Type: Support
Word Count: 1097 + 137 + 112 from the update
Adult Elnin Present:Kanji [ELN238]
Regional Affinity: Kyendi
Claiming Regional Affinity for: Geki [ELN1114]
[Adventurer] Rank Unlock Mini-Requirement: Adventurer outfit

Update: I've added a better outfit (half to end of 2d pragraph) description and given more depth to Kyendi's description (3rd paragraph), I hope it looks better now!

Even if you live isolated from the rest of the world, on the top of a mountain, surrounded by an immense emerald jungle, crystalline waterfalls and celestial clouds, you always end up hearing the most popular rumors of the neighboring town. Although Geki didn't have the task of going down to the valley to buy from the merchants whatever the monks needed (which wasn't much, since they grew their own vegetables and among them there were several artisans), the little one still visited the village located there when he had some free time and was tired of the green landscapes he used to explore.

That day off, Geki wanted to catch up on some reading he had to do, but the Elnin monks who had gone out early in the morning to buy some cloth to decorate the altar had just arrived. And of course, they were always accompanied by the gossip of the moment. However, this time they all came with serious faces. Geki tried to listen through his chamber: "Yes, yes, the father of the chil..." "Fever..." "The master of the in..." "Lives alo..." "Miasm..." "The witch..." The little felt a bad premonition, so he went ahead and stood in front of the monks with the intention of asking them, but as soon as they saw him, the faces of the Elnin changed to those in which you could say that they have been caught, that they are hiding something, that they are not going to tell him the whole truth. None of them were Geki's teachers, only Elnin moncks who did the housework, so Geki didn't see fit to try to force the truth out of them, that would give them trouble. He bowed to them and excused himself. He ran to his room, grabbed his briefcase with the medicinal plant samples he had obtained from Bellmoril, his exploration equipment to go down the mountain, and left quickly. He was dressed in the typical robes of the temple apprentices, which were recognized by the local population. These clothes were white like the peaks of the snowy mountains, evoking purity. Their material, of the softest cotton. These robes were usually sewn with engravings that formed powerful spells of protection, so that the apprentices could sacrifice them in case of need. The thread of these engravings was actually the hair of an ancient beast that dwells on the top of a mountain. Whenever the beast bathes, remnants of its fur are dragged downstream, and collected by the monks. The belt that holds this robe tightly around Geki's waist was a gift from his father, and is encrusted with small gems that contain a bit of magical power, also for emergencies. In his briefcase one could find seeds, dry plants, bottled leaves in jars, mortars, thousands of notes with the drawings and properties of each plant and a few talismans. In his backpack, just in case he ran into problems while descending the mountain, he carried a somewhat old but reliable compass made of good materials, a water bottle, ropes (indispensable in this land of floating islands!) and a map. The map had been drawn by Geki with the help of other old maps and his own explorations. It only covered the area of the mountain on which the temple stood, but one would be surprised at the areas hidden under all that green undergrowth.

With the experience he had acquired moving around in that mountain he could call home, and with fear making his heart race. Geki hurried down the hill. With every step he took, his paws were soaked with mud and moss, and so much moisture would have made him slip every time he stepped on one of the ancient rocks that were the remains of ancient ruins, but Geki stepped hard. It seemed as if all the vegetation was against him, scratching at his step. Geki didn't bother to dodge sharp leaves or those that were itchy. As he descended the mountain, every now and then a hole would appear in the undergrowth and Geki could watch the sky, full of floating islands from which huge waterfalls cascaded. The idea of throwing himself from one of these to descend flourished in his head, but he quickly refused. His body would probably not have been able to withstand such a fall.

He soon arrived in the village at the foot of the mountain, and without thinking, he rushed to the house his father used when he was not on duty in any palace of any noblenin. As soon as he touched the door, Geki felt the presence of the miasma, so he opened it at once. Inside, lying on the bed, lay his father. Was it his father? His mana seemed to have become stronger, his marks different. And the presence of the miasma enveloped him. Geki sighed deeply. At least it didn't come from him. He approached and touched his forehead. It was indeed dusk fever.

The little boy began to unfold the array of herbs and instruments he had brought with him, ready to prepare an infusion that would reduce the fever.

"Geki, is it you...?"

Geki went over to hold his father's hand. "Yes, it's me, father."

"Thank goodness... Having suffered so many hallucinations because of this fever I don't know what is real and what isn't anymore..." He said in a weak voice.

Geki put a cinnamon candy in his mouth and put a wet cloth on his forehead."Better?"

Kanji nodded. "Then, Dad, tell me what happened." He urged him while he continued to prepare the medication.

Kanji sighed. He tried to carefully reposition himself by looking at what his son was doing without the cloth falling off his forehead, while he sucked on the candy.

"I found her. Or, well," he started, "she found me." Geki nodded. So close to the witches night, and so much miasma, it could not be anyone else but her. Her father continued, "I was not at my best, and I only had doubts in my heart. Doubts that had haunted me for as long as I can remember, I, I... She heard my pain and granted me this..." Geki raised his head from the medicine to look at his father. He stood up a little on the bed, causing the sheet that covered him to slip to the floor. Geki looked at him silently. Indeed, his hair and tail were now much longer and glossier, despite the illness. His markings, once ink strokes, now formed much more detailed drawings, taking on a certain appearance of scales and ink fish. Even the koi on his crown seemed to swim more fluidly in the air. The remains of miasma were the result of the change that the witch had produced over his father, and the fever was a side effect that would be cured with care and patience. Her father did not dare to look at his face.

"I... I'm sorry, Geki. I didn't mean to deal with a being who is so contrary to the arts you cultivate. I no longer wanted anything that my marks implied, I had failed to follow my path, my destiny, I no longer deserved them, I didn't, I didn't..." His voice was cut off before Geki interrupted him:

"We are owners of our destiny."

Kanji looked at his son in disbelief, after hearing his firm words.

Geki continued. "Do you think you should honor your ancestry by forcing yourself to live a life that does not fulfill you? And what do you think it means to bear those marks? You are already a respected master of ink! What else, father?"

Kanji lowered his head, not daring to make a sound.

"Is it... because of Mom?" Geki asked in a low voice.

Perhaps the "destiny" his father had imagined had nothing to do with himself. He had learned various arts and had become a great master of all of them. Had he not honored his family enough? Had he not been successful in everything? Exemplary? In everything but Mom.

His father sighed.

"Miyuki..."