idolpro | Kino's Heart Game

Oh... yeah. I guess so!

Hello.

Did you just get here today? You aren't with the chief? I thought he always kept travelers busy talking about our grand history for ages.

[Clearly sarcastic, but only at the chief. She's peering curiously at Cobalt otherwise.]

Does he?

You guys get travelers that often that you have a protocol for it?

Not really. This chief just loves talking about his accomplishments like he's done anything.

[She makes a face!]

But since he's the chief, I need to get him to agree with me. Do you know where he is right now?

He's in the reception hall.

Is everything okay?

[She grins.]

The reception hall? Great, I'll go meet him there. Oh, but - come back and see me later, would you?

[She is now hopping on the bike to BIKE ALONG TO THE RECEPTION HALL.

He could probably follow or snoop around the warehouse or something.]

[...Huh.]

[Well, he's going to snoop a little, since he's here.]

[Once she's out of sight, he takes a peek inside the warehouse. Is anyone else home? What's insiiiiide]

[There's a ton of construction machinery. But most importantly, at the center of the warehouse is...

A flying machine.

Its structure is primitive, but flight-worthy - likely the first of its kind in this world.]

[Wow!! Holy shit??]

[Did you know that Cobalt has NEVER BEEN in a flying machine?! The closest he's gotten was flying on the back of Blue Eyes White Dragon, and the one time he was a harpy for monster bingo and flew with his own two wings. But despite being from a relatively futuristic and modern society, he himself has never been inside an airship of any sort.]

[NEATO!!]

[He sneaks inside to admire it a little better. Is there anyone around...?]

.......

[...THIS AIRSHIP ISN'T GONNA START TALKING, IS IT??]

[It's not!

And there is no one around, either. He can poke at it all he likes! Careful not to break anything...]

[Wow! It's so cool! Amazing! He wonders if someone will give him a ride in this if he asks very nicely]

[...asks who? Probably that girl with the bike...?]

[Oh yeah, he should probably go check up on her so he can see what that was all about.]

[Once he's done oogling the airship, he starts off down the path back to the reception hall to follow up on whatever that was.]

[He gets there just in time to hear shouting from the inside.]

“We won’t know if we don’t try!”

“We know even if we don’t!”

“We won’t!”

“Good grief, please come to your senses!”

“You’re the one who ought to do that!”

[It sounds like the woman is yelling at the chief inside.]

[Hmm.]

[He's going to wander in and see if Kino's still in there too]

[Kino's just sipping their tea watching the chief and the woman go at it.]

“Enough!”

“I won’t give up! Eh… wait! Let me go!”

[Some men have finally caught her, grabbing her by the arms to drag her out of the building.

Kino continues to watch.

Siiiiiiiiip.]

[He sidles over to Kino]

Psst...

...Is this about the airship...?

The what?

[But now that the woman's been removed, the chief turns to Kino - and Cobalt, too, apologetic.]

“Ah, that was unsightly. But it was decided that the chief had to listen to the citizen’s appeals no matter where or when.”

What was she asking for?

“She was asking to take down the bronze statues. …Well please don’t concern yourself with it, traveler…. More than that, let’s return to our stories.”

[Kino takes the opportunity to slowly stand up.]

I'd love to, but... I think I've learned a lot about your history already. Thank you for taking the time to explain it to me. Next, we would like to tour the country on our own. Is that alright?

[Their tone is polite and mild enough that the chief nods eagerly.]

“Oh... yes, of course! By touring the country, you'll be able to see exactly what I mean by the high yield our country boasts. Please, take a look around!”

[Still smiling politely, they look over at Cobalt, and then at the door. Time to scram.]

[Time to scram I GUESS]

[He follows Kino outside]

What were those bronze statues he was talking about?

[They wheel Hermes along with them as they walk, nodding at the bronze statues forming a long line across the main road.]

Those. It seems that all chiefs who do something incredible get a statue erected in the center of the road. Naturally, the chief now is trying to get one for himself, too.

[They look around, idly...]

I wonder where that woman went...

I see...

She might have gone back to the warehouse down this way. That's where she came from, anyhow... There's a warehouse with an airship in it.

An airship?

[In the tone of someone unfamiliar with the word.]

Could you show me? ...I think Hermes fell asleep.

[Motorrads can sleep????????? Wh]

—Er, sure. It's down this way.

I'd like to talk to that lady again, too.

[PLEASE... LET HIM RIDE THE AIRSHIP....]

[He'll lead Kino back to the warehouse]

[As a matter of fact, they catch her as she tugs her bicycle towards the warehouse door.]

"-Huh? Oh! Both of you decided to come?"

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

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Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─

Re: “Land of Wizards” ─Potentials of Magic─