Heart Game: Sol [#05]

[idolpro]

Note: please be as cryptic as possible regarding any specific actions your character takes when discussing them in the game channel to avoid influencing everyone else!

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[furrytailprince]

[ Going through door! ]

[bluerosestyle]

[When Okami's eyes get used to the change from complete darkness to the dim light in this room, he finds himself inside a house. There are three children sitting on the floor, looking excitedly at an old man who's sitting on a chair. It’s warm and it smells like someone who knows what they're doing is baking something. The children are a blond boy, a blond girl and a black-haired boy.

The blond boy, who is clearly a child version of Sol, turns around to look at him, and glances at the other two as if to ask them what to do. But the other children are too interested in the old man’s stories to pay attention, so he gives up and stands up to greet Okami on his own.]

Who are you? Did you come to hear my grandfather’s stories too?

[furrytailprince]

Ah, I am Okami. What manner of stories?

[bluerosestyle]

[Sol smiles happily.]

I'm Eugeo! He's telling us "Bercouli and the Northern White Dragon." It's my favorite story.

[furrytailprince]

[ Slight tail wag ]

I do not believe I have heard that one.

[bluerosestyle]

Then you can listen to it with us!

[pulling up a chair for him, and also... looking at his tail with curiosity. But look, he's not asking!]

[furrytailprince]

[ Will sit down to listen, equally curious ]

[bluerosestyle]

Grandpa, can you start again? He wants to hear Bercouli's story too!

[The other boy and the girl turn back to look at him. The girl seems surprised to see Sol there, and the boy seems suspicious, but Sol still sits down on the floor next to Okami instead of going back to his friends.

The grandfather nods and begins his story again.

Of all the founders of Rulid, Bercouli was the most skilled with the sword, and he served as the first chief guard of the village. He lived there three hundred years ago, a number of stories about his exploits had been passed down and inflated in the telling. This was one of the most fantastical tales about his exploits.

One midsummer day, Bercouli saw a large transparent stone rising and sinking in the Rul River. He fished out the object and was mystified to learn that it was a hunk of ice. Bercouli followed the river upstream until he reached the End Mountains, the very boundary of the human realm, where the river narrowed down until it met the mouth of a massive cave.

Bercouli made his way inside, pushing against the freezing winds that blew out of the cave, and, after braving many dangers, he arrived at the great chamber in the very deepest part. In it, he found an enormous white dragon, which was said to protect all the borders of the human world. When he saw that the beast was sleeping atop an immeasurable mountain of treasure, Bercouli boldly snuck forward and chose a single beautiful sword from the pile: the Blue Rose sword. He carefully picked up the sword so as not to wake the dragon and was about to scamper off for safety when blue roses grew around his feet and locked them in place. He fell over on the spot, and the dragon woke up...

The other boy and the girl look very interested because Eugeo's grandfather is good at storytelling. Please imagine that what I quoted was being told artfully somehow, as if it wasn't written by SAO's writer.

Anyway, tiny Eugeo is distracted watching Okami's tail. Will it wag again?? EXCITING]

[furrytailprince]

[ It is indeed wagging as Okami leanings forward, hanging on every word ]

And then what happened?

[bluerosestyle]

[Even the black-haired boy looks back at him with interest... Meanwhile, Sol tries to grab his tail carefully (and fails at it).]

"Oooh, it was a very epic battle... the likes of which had never been seen then, and was never seen again. A battle fought between the greatest warrior of all time and one of the Divine protectors of humanity. What do you think happened, young one? Who do you think won?"

[furrytailprince]

Divine protector of humanity?

[bluerosestyle]

"You don't remember? That's the Northern White Dragon. And the East, West and Southern dragons are protectors of humanity too. They, and the Integrity Knights, keep us safe from invaders from the Dark Territory."

[The girl says that like she's repeating someone's lecture! Meanwhile, tiny Sol... catches Okami's tail... Hopefully he won't mind?? He's looking at him to see if he did something wrong.]

[furrytailprince]

[ Okami jerks around in surprise ]

[bluerosestyle]

[!! Lets go of it immediately.]

S-Sorry! Did that hurt...?

[furrytailprince]

N-No, I was just surprised.

[bluerosestyle]

[Sol wants to say something, but then he looks at his grandfather, who is still watching them kindly as he waits for Okami's answer to his question and shuts his mouth very quickly.]

[furrytailprince]

[ Turns back in the direction of Sol's gaze, still watching him out of the corner of his eye ]

Ah, it would not be a very heroic tale if the warrior lost, I presume.

[bluerosestyle]

[He's behaving!!!!!

Sol's grandfather looks pleased, nods, and continues his tale. After an epic fight, retold with great skill, the great hero was able to leave the cave, his life pardoned by the dragon, but leaving the Blue Rose Sword behind.

Then he smiles at Okami.]

"A protector of humanity is also a hero, even though dragons are not human. That is why in a fight between the Northern White Dragon and Bercouli, a tie was the best outcome."

"It wouldn't be a heroic tale if someone good died just for the sake of treasure!" the black-haired boy helpfully adds.

"...That sounds strange coming from you, Kirito," Sol says.

[furrytailprince]

Ah, that is even better. Destroying a great protector would be a terrible loss. What happened to the sword?

[bluerosestyle]

[Sol seems happy, and says this dreamily:]

"Maybe it's still there... I'd love to see it someday."

[Kirito seems to share the sentiment and nods. The girl shakes her head (but also seems fond of the thought).

The grandfather replies to Okami.]

"Whether this sword is real or not has been reason for debate for centuries. But I like to think the sword is there, by the dragon's side, keeping it company."

[furrytailprince]

I see no reason why it should not be real.

[bluerosestyle]

[. . . The children love you.

The grandfather laughs.]

"You are right! There is no reason why it shouldn't be real."

[Kirito and the girl start talking between themselves, and Sol looks at Okami.]

"Do you really think so? That the sword is there?"

[furrytailprince]

[ Slight tail wagging at attention ]

Of course. Legends have to come from some element of truth.

[bluerosestyle]

I want to see it... Ah, it's doing it again!

[Your tail has been noticed.]

[furrytailprince]

Doing it again?