Searching for Guidance
The protagonists sat huddled round in a group, at the center of them a pile of books stacked as high as they are.
"So…." Chris said, looking at the huge pile of books which wobbled precariously. "Mind telling me what these books are supposed to be?
"Supplementary material related to everything concerning Splatfests." Mei-Lin replied. "There's also a few textbooks related to the Shrine of Guidance, mostly their history."
"I'm more amazed you can track down these books precisely where they are." Cobalt said, looking around the cramped space. "There are a lot of them in here. How do you manage living here, anyway?"
Even without the books and cardboard boxes stacked all the way up to the ceiling, Mei-Lin's apartment was small by living space standards. With the piles of books cluttering the one-room apartment, there's barely enough space for one inkling to maneuver around. Four inklings were proving to be partially claustrophobic.
"I just…do." Mei-Lin replied offhandedly. "Back to the matter on hand. Chris, what did you say you think was the source of the problem?"
Chris carefully extracted a book labelled 'History of Festivals' from the pile, and started turning the pages. "I'm sure we all saw the broadcast after the first Winter Splatfest ended, when that message came from the altar." He put down the book on the floor, and pointed at a picture of the altar, the fax machine covered in seals. "Everything went to hell in a handbasket when that message appeared and no more Splatfests happened. If there's anywhere to look for a solution, it is right here."
"So do you know where to find it?" Katelyn asked.
"The Shrine's been around since living memory." Mei-Lin replied, opening a book titled 'Hotspots of Inkopolis', "If it were located anywhere, it's likely somewhere relatively old." She found a page, and put the book down for everyone to see, pointing at a specific location on a map. "There. Glowworm Avenue, a few streets away from Bluefin Depot. The Shrine has an entire street block dedicated to it."
"Then what are we waiting for?!" Cobalt shouted, getting up. "Let's go!"
"I second that notion!" Katelyn added, also getting up. "Hey Cobalt! Last one to the shrine owes 400 credits!"
"A challenge? That's more like it! Alright, catch me if you can!"
"No wai-" Before Chris could finish his sentence, the two had already rushed out, leaving a cloud of dust behind them. He turned to Mei-Lin who looked equally exasperated.
"…I suppose we better go after them, before one of them embarrasses themselves."
"Agreed. I'll pack a few things along, who knows what will happen?" She turned to a cardboard box and began picking out a handful of snacks, a few books and what appears to be stationary.
Chris looked around, and found what appears to be a Splattershot Jr laid abandoned in a corner alongside some Turf War gear, gathering dust. Picking it up as well as an ink tank, he brushed off some of the dust, and walked to Mei-Lin.
"Hey…" he said, handing them out. "I know we're just visiting the shrine, and nothing would probably happen. But pack these, it's best to be prepared for a worst-case scenario."
Mei-Lin said nothing, and just simply shrugged and put the weapons into a backpack alongside her other things. Chris could've sworn he saw a glint of irritation in her eyes for a brief moment.
"Shall we be going? We need to catch up with those two." Chris looked at the door which was still knocked down on the floor.
"We need to hurry." Mei-Lin replied. "We can't catch up with them if we linger around."
Right on cue, Cobalt's voice resounded from the distance: "OH HELL NO! If you think I'm riding that death trap right back down, you got another thing coming! GERONIMO!" There was a distant thump of a body landing in snow a few moments later.
Chris looked at Mei-Lin, bemused. "Nah, we got time. Come on, let's do something about that busted door real quick before catching up."
Glowworm Avenue isn't anything remarkable. In fact, when the time came to name the various streets that littered Inkopolis, this particular street was one of many that got the short end of the stick. There was however an old tale concerning this particular street which involved a romance between a Zapfish and a Glowworm, and how the streets sometimes glow with a strange light during nights when the moon cannot be seen. To the regular folk however, it is simply just another street with shops and restaurants lining the sides, and not worth a second glance.
With the snowstorm dying down since they left Sharkfin Streets, Chris and Mei-Lin followed two sets of footprints before them, with the one or two bystanders within view wearing an expression of bewilderment.
"You know…" Mei-Lin began, walking along the sidewalk. "I don't think I've ever seen Katelyn this enthusiastic."
"Hmm?" Chris replied, "Yeah. No Splatfests, no Turf Wars, I wouldn't blame her for being miserable all this time. It's a rather dull experience for everyone, myself and especially Cobalt included."
Mei-Lin shook her head. "No… it's not that. Just… Mark, John… myself. None of us are able to keep up with her. I'm usually the one being dragged along into whatever silly games that girl has in store. That Cobalt fellow, he's just the thing she needs."
"A reckless hothead that bumbles into situations without knowing the consequences?" Chris asked, raising an eyebrow.
Mei-Lin laughed softly. "Yeah… exactly that. She loves everyone, sometimes too much. I think it's the first time I've seen someone just as ridiculous as she is, it's a nice change of pace."
Chris rolled his eyes, and chuckled. "Two Cobalts in Inkopolis. Gods help us all."
They eventually arrived at the Shrine of Guidance. From a bystander's appearance, the structure sticks out like a sore thumb, with the wooden temple surrounded from all sides with various high-rise buildings. Lining the sides of the cobblestone pathway that leads into the shrine itself, some Sakura trees were planted, branches devoid of petals and leaves due to the icy weather, and small icicles hung from the branches glimmering in the sunlight. Remarkably, the many patches of yellowing grass that consists of the front of the shrine weren't covered in snow, the adjacent buildings surrounding it granting cover from the snowstorm, giving the resulting area an air of mystery.
In the very front of the shrine area where a small stone fence surrounded it, with the entrance an archway leading directly into the shrine itself, two inklings were collapsed on the pavement, gasping for breath.
"W-What in the name of R'lyeh are you made of?!" Katelyn barely managed to yell, "Last time I've seen inklings run that fast was in sports tournaments!"
"PAHA…ha!" Cobalt laughed, barely having enough oxygen to do so, "Whaddya expect? I'm used to running this fast in Turf Wars! The Pain-Train stops for no one, mate!"
"I'm not convinced. If you were, you wouldn't be hugging the pavement like it's your best friend!" Katelyn grinned. "Guess even pros have their limits!"
Cobalt got up from the floor, a wheeze sounding through his gas mask. "Yeah… you're right about that. Even I have my limits, you know. But whatever works, right? I still beat you!"
"Oh yeah?" Katelyn got up, staggering slightly. "First one to Bluefin Depot wins! You good?"
"HELL YES! BRING IT-"
"Cobalt, stop. Did you seriously forget what we're here for?" Chris groaned, trying his hardest not to slap his hand across his forehead, with Mei-Lin running forward and helping Katelyn steady her feet.
"Oh. Right." Cobalt's eyes looked down in disappointment. "Something, something, shrine visit, right?"
"Yeah. Come on, let's head in." Chris stepped in past the archway, with Cobalt following suit. Katelyn followed close behind, with Mei-Lin staggering trying to keep up.
Upon entering the area, an air of tranquility enveloped the team. Sounds of everyday commute from the sidewalk, the howling wind of whatever remained of the blizzard, everything from outside dampened greatly leaving nothing but a relaxing calm atmosphere.
Sounds of tweeting sparrows filled the air, and insects hopped across the stone pathway despite the weather outside. Traces of leaves from the dead Sakura trees fell onto the pathway, the rustling of crinkling leaves deafening in the area. At the very entrance to the shrine itself, a lone inkling maiden in a priestess outfit was seen, sweeping the dead leaves off the cobblestone path.
The maiden suddenly stopped, freezing at the sound of the team's footsteps.
"Ah…" she said, without turning around. "Visitors. Are you here to seek guidance?"
"Excuse me?" Chris said, walking forward. "Um… we're here to visit the shrine."
"Then you have come to the right place." The priestess replied, turning around to look at the group. For an inkling, she was a remarkable specimen: with a set of tentacles an unusual shade of dark gray which ended in red tips, four longer thinner tentacles extending from the back of her head and tied in a braid behind her head, and a beautiful face with a set of oddly familiar golden eyes with crossed pupils glinting in the afternoon sun, extruding an aura of serenity around her. "Welcome, my friends, to the Shrine of Guidance. My name is Priestess Saika, and I humbly welcome all of you. Please, tell me the purpose of your visit."
"Umm…" Mei-Lin stepped forth. "We are here to see the altar. Just… to examine it."
"Is that so…?" Saika replied, frowning slightly. "I'm sorry, public visits to the altar are not authorized today. Weekly prayers are scheduled for yesterday, unfortunately."
"Please, this is important." Chris insisted. "We'd like to look at the altar, because we have reason to believe it is our lead to finding out why Splatfests have stopped. If we can restore Inkopolis to what it once was, we'd like to ask for you cooperation, miss priestess."
"Call me Saika." The priestess replied. "Formalities are unnecessary under the watchful eyes of the gods.
Tell me… what are your names?"
"My name is Chris Tempest." Chris replied. "Pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Name's Katelyn Spectra!" Katelyn said happily. "Hello!"
"…I'm Mei-Lin. Mei-Lin Jiaoyan." Mei-Lin said with slight hesitation.
"And my name's Cobalt." The masked inkling finished. "…that's it, really."
"I see." Saika said, eyeing the four before her. "Chris, Katelyn, Mei-Lin, Cobalt. Countless others have come before you in the past, demanding why Splatfests have stopped. Truth be told, I do not know the solution myself, but…"
She went back to sweeping the floor, her eyes on the pavement.
"I sense determination among you, I suspect none of you would wish to leave this shrine empty-handed. But, I know the gods have worked in mysterious ways in the past, and if they have sent you, I must test you all, to see if you are worthy of the knowledge I have withheld from others."
Saika looked directly at the group, and smiled. "The conditions are simple. By any means necessary, take this broom off my hands. If you can firmly grasp it, I shall tell you all what I know."
Cobalt eagerly leaped forth. "Alright then lady! Don't mind if I do!" Running straight at Saika, his arms outstretched, he jump at the priestess with a running leap.
"YOINK!" Cobalt grasped at the broom, then realized he managed to grasp onto thin air. Looking to his left, he realized that Saika was sweeping the area two feet to where she was earlier, seemingly moving instantaneously. He snatched at the broom again, once again missing as the priestess began sweeping the steps. This process repeated a few times until Cobalt was collapsed at the lowest step of the shrine, too winded to continue.
"Such crude methods." Saika said calmly, sweeping the steps above him. "How have they worked for you in the past, I wonder?"
"Oh, well believe me, lady." Cobalt replied barely moving from the wooden step. "They had. Just… gimme a moment to rest, and I'll get back to you, okay?"
"MAN, you're pathetic!" Katelyn said, barely containing her laughter. She rolled her arms, and ran forth. "ALRIGHT, let me show you how Miss Katie gets the broom!"
A few minutes later, Katelyn has collapsed right over Cobalt, Saika sweeping fallen leaves off of the two.
"I do believe 'Miss Katie' just hilariously 'missed' the mark." Cobalt groaned from underneath Katelyn.
"Oh, shut up."
"It seems like a frontal approach would not work." Chris mused, looking at the collapsed duo. "This would require proper analysis, if we wish to succeed."
Mei-Lin looked at Saika for a while, and a thought crossed her mind. "Wait, perhaps this isn't as hard as it seems. She said 'any means necessary', right?"
Chris perked up as the same thought crossed his mind. "Ohh…. good point!"
Walking up to Saika, Chris stopped and cleared his throat. "Ahem… Saika, I'd like to assist you to sweeping the floor, can you lend me your broom?"
"Sure, here you are." She simply replied, handing the broom to him. It was then a surprised 'oh!' expression crossed her face as she realized what she just did.
"SERIOUSLY?" Cobalt grumbled, nudging Katelyn off of him. "That's all you had to do? Talk about anticlimactic!"
"Never even thought of the diplomatic approach." Katelyn said, getting up and helping Cobalt up as well. "Whatever works, I guess!"
"HEY! That's my line!"
"Ahh…well then." Saika said, slightly taken aback at her carelessness. "It would appear you have passed my test. I shall share with you what I know. Please, my friends. Come inside the shrine, we'll talk in detail from there."
The group stepped up the shrine steps, with the priestess opening a set of wooden doors at the front of the shrine. They stepped inside, with the set of wooden doors closing behind them, plunging the courtyard into silence, the sound of rustling leaves prevalent.
AN: A bit of behind-the-scenes stuff. I just realized that I've been giving Cobalt the wrong shirt all this time, so now instead of a Dark Urban Vest he now wears a Vintage Check Shirt. Every single bit of writing concerning that particular bit is now properly adjusted, so for the few of you reading from start to finish and had also been with this story since the beginning, you now know why that's different. As for the rest of you...what are you talking about, Cobalt's always been wearing a Vintage Check Shirt, I dunno what you mean! *nervous laugh*
Truth be told, I wish there were more reviews. The other stories get tons of reviews, even the ones fewer chapters in. It's not exactly the best feeling to look at a somewhat barren reviews page, even if most if not all are positive ones.