Submission (#3857) Approved

Quest: Resonance - Act 3
Act Type: Exploration
Regional Affinity: Ealei
Claiming Regional Affinity for: ELN1969
Adult Elnin : ELN1770
Rank Unlock Mini Recquirement : Journey far from home. Aiko lives in Kyendi. | In company of 2+ elnins
Words count : 1382

/!\ I'm not a native English speaker so i used google translate, the story should be good to be understandood but I apologize if there are any language mistakes.

I made the added text in bold again for this act so it should be easier for the mods to review the regional requirement for this act ! It's not easy to describe environment in another language, so to make it a bit more different from previous act, i tried to describe it in a hide and seek game, i hope it will be fine !

A light breeze is felt, gently caressing Aiko's cheek, which opens her eyes. His five senses return little by little, listening to the sounds of the forest, of the animals which wake up in turn. Her memories of the night before gradually come back to her, and she realizes that Sunleth is no longer by their side. The Great Queen has already left for her journey through the regions. Aiko gets up first and sees that Marius is doing the same. With an amused smile, she leans towards Yekun and pulls gently on his cheek, to wake him up.

- Yekun, stand up! It's morning !

 

The little kittom lets out a long yawn, he is visibly ready to lie down to sleep longer. But it is without counting on the help of his two friends who end up succeeding in waking him up completely.

 

- Hello... Aiko... Marius... Where are we...?

 

- You do not remember ? We spent the night with Queen Sunleth! Thanks to her, our mana has been harmonized, don't you feel lighter?

 

- Mmmh... If now that you say it, it's as if I had been freed from a weight! Sunleth is truly amazing...!

 

Marius sighs before looking at them with a slight smile.

 

- Since you're in good shape, we should go back to town. We need to eat a little before starting our ascent to the eldertree Yggdrasil...

The kittoms then immerse themselves in the forest, Marius regularly consulting a map and a compass to prevent them from getting too lost.

Aiko takes the opportunity to admire the many roots present. Their sizes are truly impressive, as are the trees around them. They can't even walk on the ground. They hear not far behind a big noise, Yekun having just fallen because of the roots. Marius hurries to help her. Aiko then feels like a presence not far from her, and takes advantage that her two companions are busy to look around. She then falls on a magnificent elnin with a dark blue coat, her orange and pink markings shine with a slight brilliance. Aiko looks at her with admiration, then the adult finally notices her and looks at her in turn.

- Hello child, what are you doing here? It's not safe to walk around here alone, you know?

 

The soft voice of the elnin further attracts Aiko, who approaches her with a smile.

 

- Hello, my name is Aiko! I am on a pilgrimage with my two friends, they are just a little further. And you, what are you doing here?

 

The elnin answers him, always gently.

 

- My name is Milky, I travel with my two daughters. We are currently collecting plants that will be useful to me for many things...

 

Milky stands up and takes Aiko's paw.

 

- Let's go get your two friends and go back to town. It's not safe to stay here when we're as young as you. That's why I forbade my daughters to come here.

Milky and Aiko then go looking for Marius and Yekun, themselves looking for Aiko and worried about her. After the introductions, Milky guides the little kittoms out of the forest, walking them back to town. They soon come across two galaxy-patterned kittoms, both seeming to be bursting with energy. Elerinna approaches Aiko, dragging Elentir by the arm, a mischievous look on her face.

- Hey hey hey hello you!! Would you like to accompany us for a while, we discovered a great hiding place and-

 

The kittom is quickly cut by its mother.

 

- No, Rin, enough of your nonsense! Don't train other kittoms, and you won't get anywhere!

 

- But mom it's not fair, we're bored in town!

 

- Yes, there is nothing to do once you have already visited everything!

 

Under Milky's desperate gaze, Aiko walks towards the two little ones.

 

- Hello, I'm Aiko! And they are Marius and Yekun! We've gone on a pilgrimage away from home, would you like to be friends? ~

The kittoms therefore meet and play together, Elerinna and Elentir being the strong links and play with Aiko, Yeku, Marius, with great enthusiasm.

 

And of course, the little kittoms find the best game to play in Ealei : they do a huge hide and seek. With all the roots, the water, and climbing to the tress, the kittoms have the best opportunities to make the game very fun, and they weren't wrong. Marius, very agile and strong, manage to win the game by climbing in a very huge tree that even the energic Elentir didn't want to climb. Instead, the little kittom took her friend Elerinna into the water and the girls tried their best to stay underwater... But they didn't have luck, when they came to surface to breath, it was at the same time that Aiko were looking in the area and she immediately found both of them ! Yekun instead decided to hide in some roots, and Aiko soon found him after the two sisters. It was not long after that Marius finally showed himself as nobody were able to find him... He was really well hiden throught the leaves in the tree and no one managed to find him before he revealed himself.

 

They do not see the time passing and soon lunch time arrives. Milky takes the little ones to a restaurant not far from the square, watching over them with tenderness. Aiko and Yekun then recount their trip to Elerinna and Elentir, what happened to them in Strynhalde, and their night spent with Sunleth. Milky smiled at them.

 

- It's a great chance that you three had to be able to sleep with Sunleth. And now your next step is to head to Yggdrasil to complete your pilgrimage?

 

- That's right Milky!

 

Milky gets up first from the table.

 

- In that case, let us accompany you. I was planning to go to this area where the Eldertree is, so you might as well travel together, so you won't be alone.

 

- Mom, we are coming too then!

 

Elerinna clings to her mother's legs, having an annoyed face.

 

- Yes, I won't have a choice, the way to Yggdrasil is much longer, and I can't leave you two alone for so long.

 

Yekun approaches Elentir.

 

- That's great, we can all travel together! Let's go!

The small group first goes to their respective inns, preparing the necessary for a trip of several days in the forest, before meeting a little later on the outskirts of the city. Aiko and her friends happily depart and head deep into the forest, fearing no danger.

 

A few days pass, fatigue begins to be felt, but the small group does not give up. Under the benevolent authority of Milky, the kittoms organize themselves very well during rest times: hunting, preparing herbs, meals, places to sleep... The children do not see the time passing, they are so busy and sleepy. have fun, then it is after a few days of perseverance that they finally arrive at the foot of Yggdrasil, the Eldertree of Ealei. Milky holds Elentir and Elerinna who were ready to run to the tree trunk to climb it, and turns to Aiko.

- Our paths will separate here, my dear. I wish you good luck, Aiko, that you can achieve what you seek. And good luck to you too Yekun!

 

She comes to rub Marius' head.

 

- Continue to watch over them as you always do. You too will become someone remarkable, Marius.

 

The two groups finally separate after many thanks. Aiko and her two companions walk a few more hours before finally arriving at the foot of Yggdrasil.

 

The kittoms take some minutes to admire the whole view in front of their eyes. They never imagine that Yggdrasil would be this huge. Some green leaves are floating through the winds, the sunrays manage to give some light, creating a wonderful scenery. Again, Aiko share a little thought for her brother Safran, and just secretely wished he could have been here to see the huge tree and scenery as well.

 

Marius decides to stay a little behind, while Yekun turns to Aiko, unsure of himself.

 

- That's it Aiko, we're finally there... I hope everything is going to be fine...

 

- Of course it will be fine!!

Aiko answers him with a smile and a look full of determination before walking away from his friend. From there, the two kittoms join their paws and close their eyes, each praying to the celestial deities before clearing their minds. Aiko feels a gentle warmth invade her as particles of light dance around her, a sign of the stabilization of her mana.

She cannot know how much time passes; a short time, an eternity?

It is after an interminable but fleeting moment that the young kittom hears a voice in her mind. The dancing lights approach Yggdrasil.

You, who crossed the sea...
What is it your heart craves ?
If it could be made into reality,
What would you trade ?

The voice, almost inaudible, contains no emotion, and seems to simply be waiting for Aiko's response. The little one cannot think, because Yggdrasil hears all her thoughts. However, she answers him in a calm and sincere voice, without opening her eyes.

 

- I will grant my wish on my own... I will not trade anything I own... Or anyone... In the name of my love, for my loved ones...

 

The lights once again dance around Aiko, before slowly entering her body, her mana becoming stronger and much more stable.

 

You are making a sincere and fair choice. May you find your light in the path of life, young Aiko.

 

The lights disappear, just let the echo of the tree resonate in Aiko's soul...and in her heart.