AFKei here! Thanks for looking into "Memory Blossom"! Several things...
-Although this does involve two of my characters, there is no romantic relations between them.
-This takes place in Chapter 2, where Tailteann and beyond did not exist. This also means there are a couple of inconsistencies from their present selves.
-You CAN find either one of these characters in the Mari server!
-This is one of my more serious stories. There may not be any scenes of comedy relief.
DISCLAIMER: I am NOT devCat and do not own this game or any part of it. This is purely fanmade material written for pleasure and enjoyment.
Enjoy the story!
Season 1: Fallow Land
A Warrior without a sword is like a Wolf that doesn't feast on meat.
If you take away what makes someone or something complete, it's just an incomplete being.
A nobody...
This marks a tale...
...of an ungifted being.
Filia, once a lush plain, it is now a desert with its people surviving through an oasis. This is home to the elves, ones gifted with a marksman's eye and agile bodies. Many can tell who is an elf by their elongated ears and light complexion. However, has one ever seen an elf unable to use a bow? Not yet...
Crossing through Longa Desert's sandstorm seems to be a girl wearing a pink-colored robe, adorned with an emblem on the front, shaped like a crescent moon. She has her hood on as not to have any sand interfere with her face. Her face partially wrapped by what appears to be an extremely pale pink-colored ribbon, to act as a muffler. Although it appears white normally, its pink color is evident under the bright light of Palala, Erinn's sun. Braving the storm on a black-colored Shire horse, she and her fleet-footed animal companion has scaled many dunes capable of collapsing any step. Even with a map of the Connus region, travelers can still be lost due to the obscuring dust.
I think I see a light piercing through the dust. I just know it! She thought.
The light seen from afar is the light of a Mana Tunnel built just outside the desert town. It was not long until the traveler and her horse are out of the storm and in Filia. Unhooding herself, locks of brown hair just barely passing her shoulders waved in the light breeze of Connus. She also removed her "muffler" from her face, fully revealing her face and shed her robe, as it was used for protection from the sandstorm. Under the robe revealed a pink-colored school uniform, complemented with a purple-colored neckerchief, matching her soft purple eye color. With her uniform are a pair of long, off-white colored wave-patterned boots, which serve more for function than style.
"So, this must be the desert town I've been hearing about..." the brown-haired girl spoke. Looking at her horse, she stroked it by the mane. "You've done your job well Monogatari. Thank you."
In a bright light, her horse dematerialized from its physical form into a card, which she quickly put away in her bag. At the same time, she pulled out a white-colored beret, adorned with a pale pink feather from the side and began wearing it onwards to the desert town.
Wow, I never thought anyone could survive in such a desolate place. She pondered, taking into the scenery. However, because she is not an elf, the elves could not help but draw attention to the human girl.
"Who is that girl? She doesn't seem to be from here," one elf whispered to another.
"Is she an enemy to us?" another elf murmured.
"She doesn't seem to be a threat..." a third elf responded.
While passing by the square, she notices an elf that can barely move, unable to walk to the Healer's House. Unable to ignore the injury, she walks up to the elf looking at the injured leg.
"H-hey! What are you doing!" shouted the elf, dejected at the human girl's attempt to help.
"Oh dear, this needs some immediate recovery!" She held out her hand towards the bruise, shrouded in a lush green aura. The aura pulsed, transferring its healing properties to the injury which slowly faded away. "How does it feel now?" she asked, pulling the now healed elf up on his feet. He began stepping on it, noticing the injury is gone.
"I-it's gone! The pain's gone!" he exclaimed, grateful for the girl's help. "I have to repay you for helping me!" he began digging in his pockets for a small bag of gold.
"Oh, I don't need any payment. It's what I do!" she modestly replied.
"It isn't much, but I'm grateful for your ability." He handed the girl a small bag of money, roughly around 500 gold. "You're not from around here are you?" he asked soon after.
"No, I'm actually from Tir Chonaill, Uladh," she answered.
"Uladh...?" the elf cocked his head curiously, noticing the ears are not of his kind. "Ah! You're a human! We rarely get to meet your kind!" suddenly, he grabs the girl by the wrist, dragging her to the village elder, Castanea.
"W-wait! Where are you taking me!" she shouted, being dragged and forced to sprint.
"Introducing you to the Elder of Filia, Castanea!" he answered back, running roughly thirty percent faster on foot.
Running past the Memory Tower, he "lead" the girl to the chief's home so she may meet Castanea. Unfortunately, the girl is not as fast as an elf, exhausting her much quickly when she tried to keep up.
"C-c-could you slow down? I'm not as fast as most people!" she gasped for air.
"Slow down? This is how I normally run..."
After catching her breath, she looked up to see a purple-haired woman, her hair intricately braided together. The eyes, that of the sky's color, give contrast to her overall appearance.
Oh wow...she's beautiful... The recovering human girl thought as she stood up straight.
"You must be a traveler. My name is Castanea, the chief of the elves of Filia. I welcome you to our village," Castanea spoke.
"It is an honor to to be in your presence Castanea. My name is Keiko, an explorer and traveling Healer," she replied, bowing respectfully.
"It is a pleasure to meet a human such as you in Filia. Because of our location, we rarely meet anyone not of elven blood."
"I'm amazed how one can survive in such harsh conditions. I understand living in the mountains, but a desert is beyond my comprehension." Keiko remarked about the town's conditions.
"That is because of the oasis in the middle of Filia," Castanea answered, pointing at the Memory Tower; Keiko turned around in response. "Without the lake, our kind would most likely cease to exist."
Of course. The oasis is a source of water, clean presumably. Keiko mentally noted.
"If you want...you may ally with our kind, acknowledging that you are not a threat to the elves and citizen of Filia," Castanea offered this opportunity to Keiko. "However, if you agree to this, you will be considered an enemy of the Giants."
"I could ally with the elves?" Keiko began to ponder about her decision. Right, I read something that the Elves and Giants are rivaling races in Iria. After much thought, Keiko finally responded, "I'm sorry, I need some time to think about this."
"It's understandable. This is an important decision." Castanea understood Keiko's circumstances.
"Thank you for recognizing my situation," Keiko bowed towards Castanea and took her leave.
If I become part of the elves, I'd be an enemy of the giants...I definitely need to think about this. Keiko began scratching her head in this quandary.
Returning to the town square, she looked at the Memory Tower carefully. Such a mystic monument. Does it have any importance to this town? While looking at the tower, there is a lone elf in the distance, sitting some distance west from Castanea's house. Wha...? What is that person doing all on his own? Curious, she began to approach the elf. As she got closer, the elf appears to have blonde hair that appears to be unkempt for quite some time. Under the fringe is golden-colored eyes, but it is hard to see as the loner's head is hanging down. Once she got close enough to the isolated elf, she attempted to strike a conversation.
"Hey...why are you all alone?" Keiko asked, attempting to get eye contact.
The elf doesn't respond.
"Do you need some company?"she asked again.
The elf looks toward Keiko's direction, but doesn't realize her presence until actually seeing her face.
"AAAH!" he shouted, "D-d-don't startle me like that!"
"Sorry," Keiko apologized. "Do you need company though? I can leave you alone if you want..."
"...stay if you want..." he replied.
"Okay." Keiko agreed and sat down beside him. "So, what's your name? My name's Keiko."
The elf doesn't respond...
"Do you want to tell me your name?"
He doesn't respond again...
"...You're not much of a talker are you...?" Keiko sighed, and looked out into the horizon. Realizing she forgot to re-tie her ribbon back to her clothes, she wrapped her pink-white ribbon under her uniform's neckerchief, and began knotting a bow.
"...Shiryoku..." the elf murmured.
"...what was that?" Keiko asked, unable to comprehend his soft-spoken voice.
"Shiryoku. My name is Shiryoku," he spoke up.