Submission (#4702) Approved

[RQ-C-1] Shrines of the Elder Trees

Quest: Resonance - Act 3
Act Type: Character
Word Count: 990 words
Adult Elnin Present: Artemis [MYO-ELN327]
Regional Affinity: Ealei
Claiming Regional Affinity for: Apollo [ELN2695]
[Adventurer] Rank Unlock Mini-Requirement: n/a

After saying goodbye to the kittom they helped, Apollo and Artemis went on their way. Even though his father said that he was already proud of him and that Apollo didn’t need to be a knight to help others, it was still something he aspired to do. That, and it’d look silly if he changed his mind after passionately declaring it to Pollux and finally (somewhat) earning his brother’s approval. No, he was determined to see this through. He would train hard, do his best, and always strive to help others no matter what. He might still be able to help others now, but as a knight, others would naturally come to him for help, and he’d be able to do a lot more than he could now.

Seeing his determination, Artemis didn’t attempt to dissuade him. If anything, Apollo had come a long way from the mischievous rambunctious rascal he used to be, delighting in pulling pranks and causing mischief. He couldn’t say what exactly had changed the kittom’s mind, but it was a welcome one, especially considering how worried Aria had gotten. Apollo hadn’t been bad enough to be considered a lost cause or considered a danger to others, but it was enough that any parent would worry. Artemis had always hoped that Apollo would mellow out, and wasn’t too worried since Pollux would often be there to prevent anything from getting too out of hand.

“Father…”

“Hmm?”

Artemis turned to look at Apollo, who appeared to have an uncertain expression on his face.

“Do you think… I can really make a difference? Will I really be of help to others?”

Artemis chuckled softly, and pat Apollo on the head.

“What, today wasn’t enough to show you how capable you were? That kittom was practically crying with gratitude, and their parents couldn’t stop thanking you. Did you want something more?”

Apollo shook his head.

“N-no, I’m not talking about that. I mean, I’m really happy we were able to find them, but it won’t… always work out that way, right? What if… they were really hurt? Or trapped under something heavy? What if-”

Artemis put out a paw to stop him.

“No more what-ifs. There’s no use dwelling on what could have been. We just have to do the best we can with what we have. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. If you’re always considering how things can go wrong, then you’ll never end up taking action in the first place, which, in my opinion, would be worse than not doing anything at all. That said… becoming a knight is a big commitment. You won’t have a lot of free time to play, you’ll often have to do things you don’t enjoy, and even if you do your best, sometimes it just doesn’t work out.”

Apollo’s shoulders sagged a little.

“But, you’re still determined to go ahead with it, right? Even if things are scary, even if you fail, it’s better than completely giving up. You’d regret it if you never even tried. And that’s why you wanted to make an oath at the eldertree. By making an offering at the shrine, you’ll re-affirm your commitment and have it serve as a witness to the pledge you’ll make.”

Apollo nodded. After they had brought the kittom back, the kittom’s parents had thanked them with gifts, and even the Ieldi and other townsfolk chipped in, offering him snacks or trinkets. He could keep them or eat them, or share them with Pollux, but he wasn’t doing this for himself. To make sure he wouldn’t lose track of what he was doing this for, he was determined to visit the shrine at Yggdrasil, and offer the gifts he had received, as a sign of commitment to his oath. It was said that the elder trees were what bind the World of Eyre together, and that they all originated from Yggdrasil, so making an offering at Yggdrasil’s shrine should be pretty significant.

He hadn’t gotten a good look in his haste of finding the kittom, but as they slowly neared the eldertree, Apollo couldn’t help but be in awe. The tree was absolutely massive, its trunk perhaps spanning several meters in length, the thick twisting bark extending into the sky, with the highest parts of its branches and leaves breaching the clouds. Even its roots were a formidable force, mixed among the mangrove tree roots, and would certainly be a dangerous deterrent to inattentive kittoms running about, as was the case of the kittom they found.

The two continued walking, and Apollo clutched his satchel close to his chest. He hoped the kittom’s parents and villagers wouldn’t mind him offering their gifts to the eldertree. He had brought one of his own items as well. Something that was important to him, and Pollux as well. Though, he supposed, if he told Pollux, maybe he’d understand.

Finally, they reached the shrine. The pillars were made from naturally carved rocks, similar to the ones seen jutting out of the ocean, with Yggdrasil’s roots wrapping around them. Apollo looked up at Artemis, and with his father’s reaffirming nod, he headed towards the center of the shrine. He took the items out of his satchel. Carved wooden figurines from the kittom’s parents, snacks from the townsfolk, trinkets from the Ieldi, and finally…

Apollo pulled out a wooden toy sword, a gift from Pollux, which had been given to him on his birthday. It had meant the world to him, but as he grew up and was pursuing the path of a knight, it would serve little purpose beyond being a memento.

He placed it along with the other gifts, stepped back, and closed his eyes. He promised that he would do his best. He would be a proper knight and always strive to help others. And he was sure Pollux would support his decision and always be by his side, no matter what.