As the day turns to night, Ori settles down near the entrance of the cave, keeping watch over the other spirit as they sleep. He knows that they still have a long way to go, and that there are challenges ahead, but he is determined to persevere. He stares into the darkness of the forest, his mind filled with thoughts of what lies ahead.
Finally, Ori decides it's time to rest, so he makes his way to his hammock and settles in for some much-needed sleep.
A new day soon arose, the first one awake was nonother than Ori. He sits up and lets a big yawn escape his mouth. He then gets on the floor doing a few stretches to make himself feel better.
The first thing he does is check upon the other spirit who had woken up yesterday, but late at night. Ori then decided to go for a morning swing with his newly found ability he had been practicing for the past 3 weeks.
Ori swung with a sense of excitement through the forest. He effortlessly navigated the dense foliage, moving from branch to branch with grace. Along the way, he kept a keen eye out for essential supplies, knowing that they were crucial for their survival in this now unfamiliar and dangerous environment.
After a while of swinging, Ori made his way back to the cave and discovered that the other spirit had just woken up. Approaching them with a gentle smile, Ori asked, "Hey, how are you feeling today?"
"Eh... better than yesterday," the spirit replied, sounding weak but grateful. "I didn't get the chance to ask, but... who are you?"
"I'm Ori," he introduced himself, his gentle smile widening. "And may I ask who you are?"
"I'm Sein, supposedly the eye of the forest, but now... I'm not," they replied, rubbing their eye wearily.
Ori listened with a soft voice as Sein explained, "So... Sein, do you remember what happened to the forest?" But Sein shook their head, unable to recall.
"I... don't fully know," Sein said, their voice filled with uncertainty. "I do know we were attacked..." Ori looked at them with sympathy, understanding the weight of the situation.
"Ori, can I... can you help me get back to the Spirit tree?" Sein asked, their voice filled with hope. Ori looked at them, nodding his head. "Of course, although I have no idea how to get there," he admitted with a sheepish smile.
"Heh, it's fine. We'll figure it out," Sein reassured Ori. "Oh, by the way, if you didn't know, a spirit can heal themselves quickly in a spirit well."
Ori blinked a few times, taken aback by the new information. "Eh- say what now?" he exclaimed. Sein giggled softly. "H-hey, I wasn't informed about any of this-"
Sein cut Ori off, their expression gentle. "It's fine, Ori. I know your origin story... I witnessed it all happen." Ori looked at Sein with curiosity, realizing that there was much more to learn about this mysterious spirit who had crossed paths with him. With Sein's guidance, they set off on their journey.
"Wait, you were the eye of the Spirit tree? And you witnessed my origin?" Ori asked, his voice filled with confusion.
"Yeah, usually I am just a floating blue energy orb on top of the Spirit tree. I take care of the light flowing throughout the forest," Sein explained. "So, I witnessed you being blown away from the Spirit tree."
Ori was left in shock. "Blown away? Wait, that means I am not Naru's child... Of course not, I'm a creature of light... Wait, my brain hurts," Ori rubbed his head in confusion, overwhelmed by the influx of information.
"Ori, you're quite a handful, aren't you?" Sein chuckled, amused by Ori's bewildered reactions.
"Well... I wasn't exactly expecting my origin story to begin with being blown away from the Spirit tree," Ori said, scratching his head.
"Yeah, that doesn't happen very often," Sein replied. "You're actually the second one to ever get blown away by a heavy storm."
"Wait, really? I'm the second one?" Ori's eyes widened in surprise. "That means I'm the second-ever spirit guardian with undeveloped light energy and lack of education." Sein snorted, amused by the thought.
"Hey, I'm plenty informed... I think," Ori mumbled, trying to defend himself.
Sein couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, we'll just have to fix that along the way, won't we?"
"Guess so," Ori mumbled, his concern for Sein's weakened state evident. He then asked, "Hey Sein, should we do a small rehabilitation test? I mean, you just woke up from a coma.
Sein nodded, realizing that their body still felt weak. "Yeah, probably should."
"How about we start with three simple things: agility, stamina, and strength?" Ori suggested. Sein agreed, and they began the rehabilitation test.
"First, how about we go for a run?" Ori said, and Sein nodded in agreement. They started off with a fast jog, but not long after, Sein's legs gave out, and they couldn't run anymore. "Ori... I can't run anymore," Sein gasped.
Ori came to a stop, looking at the distance they had traveled, which was only 30 meters. "Hm... I think we can skip agility. That coma really took a toll on your body," Ori said sympathetically, patting the spot in front of him, signaling Sein to come sit down.
As they sat down, Ori held up his hand. "Alright, now punch it as hard as you can," he instructed Sein. Sein tried their best to put a lot of force into the punch, but it was clear that their strength was greatly diminished after the coma.
Soon, a putrid smell assaulted both their noses. "Blegh... what is that smell?" Sein said, pinching their nose in an attempt to block out the odor.
Ori explains, "Oh, we're close to the cave entrance... or exit, which leads to a big lake."
Sein looked puzzled. "Lakes shouldn't smell that bad."
"Well, this one is, uh, well, purple," Ori said, scratching the back of his head.
Sein nodded in understanding. "The decay has reached the heart of the water."
"Exactly," Ori confirmed, and then paused. "Wait, heart of the water? What does that even mean?"
Sein let out a sigh. "We'll get you informed once we're back at the spirit tree. He can do it in an instant," Sein said, referring to the spirit tree's ability to impart knowledge.
"Sounds good," Ori said, recalling the last time he had crossed the lake to reach the other side. He remembered the putrid smell and the decaying waters vividly.
They made their way towards the lake, navigating around fallen boulders and overgrown roots. As they reached the edge of the lake, the familiar stench hit their noses, and Ori couldn't help but crinkle his nose in disgust.
"Eugh, just as foul as I remember," Ori muttered, covering his nose with his hand.
Sein nodded in agreement, "Definitely not a pleasant scent."
The lake lay before them, with its purple hue and corrupted waters. Ori couldn't shake off the feeling of sadness and determination to restore it to its former glory.
"Okay, just remember, no touching the water," Ori warned, their eyes twinkling with apprehension. "And yes, I may have tested it myself, but only for research purposes! It's not as fun as it sounds."
Sein chuckled nervously, feeling a flicker of excitement amidst the tension of their situation. "I'll make sure to keep my distance then."
As they stood at the edge of the lake, Sein wondered aloud, "So, how do we cross this?"
Ori's expression turned more serious. "Well, we could swing across." Sein looked puzzled, and Ori continued, "You know, just get on my back." Ori crouched down, offering Sein a piggyback ride.
Sein hesitated for a moment, noticing the slight unease in Ori's eyes. "Swing? Across... the lake?" they asked, and Ori nodded, steeling themselves for the task ahead. With a deep breath, Sein climbed onto Ori's back.
"Hang on tight, and don't lose your grip," Ori said, shooting two grapples from each palm towards the ceiling, positioning them for their plan.
Sein held on tightly, their heart pounding in their chest as Ori started walking back to create tension in the grapples. "Ready?" Ori asked, and Sein nodded, trying to suppress their fear.
With a sudden release, Ori catapulted them forward, and Sein couldn't help but let out a startled scream. They squeezed their eyes shut, gripping Ori's back tightly as they swung through the air, feeling their stomach churn with a mix of fear and exhilaration.
Ori quickly shot another grapple to maintain their momentum, and they swung across the lake, the wind whipping past them and the sound of their pounding heart drowning out all other noise. As they landed safely on the other side of the lake, Sein's legs felt wobbly with relief.
"That... was terrifying," Sein gasped, trying to steady their breathing.
"Hey, you'll get used to it," Ori said with a chuckle, trying to ease Sein's frustration. "But don't you just float all the time as a magical orb?"
Sein huffed, their annoyance evident. "Yeah, but I don't go 'woosh!'" they exclaimed, gesturing wildly.
"Pfft, c'mon, you're a full-grown... uh... adult?" Ori chuckled, but couldn't help feeling a bit confused about Sein's gender.
Sein folded their arms, pouting. "I'm still 21, I kid you not! Which technically makes me an adult, but still!" they retorted, playfully sticking out their tongue at Ori. Ori couldn't help but grin, appreciating Sein's playful spirit.
Alright, alright, sorry... but uhm, if I may ask, are you a girl or a-" Sein's inquiry cut off Ori's question.
"Excuse me? How could you not tell my gender?" Sein asked Ori, who was looking around, trying to avoid making it awkward. "I don't know..." Ori puffed up his cheeks.
"I mean, my voice sounds feminine, right? And my body is sleeker than male spirits," Sein explained, touching her throat and checking her own body.
"Sorry, sorry, alright... how about we just continue?" Ori suggested, trying to diffuse the tension.
"You expect me to just forget about this?!" Sein yelled at Ori, causing his ears to drop from the sudden scream.
"Y-ye, n-no... maybe?" Ori whimpered, feeling guilty. Sein then started giggling.
"No, I'm just kidding, you're fine," Sein reassured, a playful smile on her face as she enjoyed Ori's reaction.
Ori puffed up his cheeks again in response to the playful prank Sein had pulled off. He huffed and crossed his arms, pretending to be offended, but a small smile played on his lips as he tried to contain his laughter. Sein chuckled, enjoying Ori's reaction, and reached out to give him a playful poke on the cheek.
"Gotcha!" Sein teased, her eyes twinkling with mischief. Ori's pretend indignation dissolved into a genuine laugh as he playfully swatted Sein's hand away, their banter lightening the mood as they continued on their adventure.
As Sein and Ori were about to continue, they were met by a carpet of purple spiky things that Ori vividly remembered encountering before and had a strong dislike for.
"Ugh... those things," Ori said, scrunching his face in distaste as he recalled their unpleasant nature. "You got any ideas on removing them?" Ori asked Sein, who looked at the purple spiked blobs with a thoughtful expression.
Sein flashed a mischievous grin. "I could incinerate them," she suggested nonchalantly.
Ori's eyes widened in surprise. "You could... say what now?" he exclaimed, unable to suppress a nervous chuckle. The idea of Sein using fire to deal with the obstacle was both amusing and concerning to him at the same time
Sein then conjures a flame on her hand, showcasing her ability. "It's called spirit flame," she explains, holding the flame in her palm. "It's the power that comes with being the eye of the forest, overwriting my old abilities."
Ori looks on in awe. "That's so cool... I wish I could control fire," he says wistfully.
"Heh, spirit flame's flames are hotter than your usual fires," Sein says with a smirk, before unleashing a burst of flames from her hand like a flamethrower, incinerating the purple spikes that blocked their path.
The burst of flame not only incinerates the purple spikes but also clears a path through a wall of them, revealing a spirit well up ahead.
"Well, that's convenient," Sein remarks with a grin as she begins to make her way toward the well as Ori follows along.
That... is a spirit well?" Ori asks, pointing at the well in awe. Sein nods with a smile.
"Mhm, that's it," Sein confirms. "It contains liquid light, which has a healing effect on our bodies. It can be quite helpful during our journey."
"Does it have a source?" Ori asks Sein curiously.
"Yes, but that was when every element in Nibel was still healthy," Sein explains, adding with a chuckle, "Oh, and of course the energy of the spirit tree." She continues, "For this liquid light to have an endless source, it needs water, purified water, heat from the warmth element in Mount Horu, and cold air that will guide the liquid light to the well." She gestures towards the well as she speaks, sharing her knowledge about the origin of the spirit well with Ori.
"Oooh..." Ori exclaims, clearly fascinated by Sein's explanation.
"I know, right?" Sein says, a smile on her face. "Now let's go, there should still be a bunch of liquid light left." She gestures for Ori to follow her.
"Eh, alright," Ori says, taking a few quick steps to catch up with Sein and matching her pace.
As they approach the spirit well, Sein steps into the well and takes a seat. Ori stands still in front of the well, unsure of what to do. Sein pats the spot next to her, gesturing for Ori to sit down.
"Sit and relax for a while," Sein says with a reassuring smile. "Your body should feel healthier after a few seconds." Ori hesitates for a moment before sitting down beside Sein, curiosity and anticipation in his eyes. He takes a deep breath and waits, feeling the soothing effects of the liquid light on his body.
"oh... this, this is kinda nice," Ori said with a contented sigh as he sat down next to Sein. He took a glance at her as she concentrated on healing the areas that hurt the most.
As Ori watched Sein, a funny idea suddenly popped into his head. He waited for a while until Sein was finished with the healing, and then, just as she opened her eyes, Ori splashed some of the liquid light onto her face.
"AH- what the!" Sein yelled, surprised by the sudden splash of liquid. Ori burst into laughter, unable to contain his amusement.
Sein, initially taken aback, soon joined in on the laughter, realizing the harmless prank Ori had pulled. "Oh, why you!" she exclaimed, playfully swatting at Ori.
Ori quickly ran away from Sein, knowing full well that she would retaliate. He could hear her footsteps behind him as he ran, but he couldn't help but feel exhilarated. It was a rare moment of playful banter between the two of them, and Ori relished in the chance to let loose and have fun. Finally, Sein caught up to him and tackled him to the ground, causing both of them to laugh uncontrollably.
"Where to now?" Sein asked as they approached a wall.
Ori thought for a moment before pointing upwards. "Up," he said, remembering how he fell down.
"How are we going to do that?" Sein asked, noticing that Ori seemed to be thinking.
Without answering, Ori shot a grapple upward toward the wall, knowing that he wouldn't be able to shoot all the way up.
"Not this again," Sein muttered, thinking they would catapult themselves up.
"Don't worry, just use this to help yourself climb up," Ori explained, trying to ease Sein's worry.
"But wait, is this thing not going to stick to my hand?" Sein asked with concern.
"I'm not sure," Ori admitted, but he acted without thinking and threw the end of the grapple towards Sein. She caught it, but then the grapple stuck to both of her hands.
"Ori!" Sein yelled angrily.
"Sorry, sorry," Ori apologized, rubbing the back of his head. "Let me get that off of you." He quickly touched the grapple part near Sein's hands, and it became less sticky.
"Uh... I can give you another ride on my back?" Ori suggests, feeling a bit nervous about the situation.
"I guess... it can't be helped," Sein says with a sigh. Ori gets on his knees so that Sein can climb on his back. He then climbs up the wall, shooting another grapple to make up for the short one earlier.
Ori gently sets Sein down on the ground, and she straightens herself up. "Thank you," she says with a grateful smile.
"Of course," Ori replies, smiling back. "So, do you know which way to go to reach the spirit tree?"
Sein paused, taking a moment to scan their surroundings. "We need to make our way to the spirit caverns," she finally said.
Ori's nervous smile faltered. "And where exactly is that?"
"I'm not sure, but there should be a sign somewhere around here," Sein said as they both looked around. Unfortunately, no sign was in sight.
"Well, I guess we'll just have to pick a route," Sein suggested.
Ori thought for a moment before pointing south. "I came from that direction, so maybe we should head north."
"North it is," Sein agreed as they resumed their journey.
After walking for some time, the scenery suddenly changed from the purplish area they were in, to one with more orange-yellowish lights.
"Well, that's sudden," Ori remarked, looking around the area in confusion.
"That's because we're in the spirit caverns now," Sein explained. "We're going deeper down, again"
"... down, again?" Ori groans. "But we just climbed up."
"I know," Sein agrees, "but do you see that door over there?" She points to a door that blocks their path ahead.
"Right..." Ori says, understanding. "And let me guess, the key is down there?"
Sein smiles apologetically. "Yes, it is."
"Alright then," Ori sighs. "Let's go down again," he says with a hint of reluctance.
Sein notices Ori's lack of enthusiasm and gives him a reassuring pat on the back. "It won't be too bad," she says, trying to lift his spirits.
"maybe..." Ori sighs as they continue walking toward the entrance to the cave.
The two of them stepped onto a wooden platform and carefully descended into the cave. As they made their way down, they came across a few purple spiky blobs, which Sein quickly dispatched with her skills.
As they continued on their journey, they walked past various interesting features like shrooms, moss, vines, and fallen boulders. Despite the eerie atmosphere, everything seemed quite ordinary.
"Ugh... how long have we been down here?" Ori groans, feeling the monotony of the cave after what seemed like hours.
"I'm not sure, Ori. I've never been here myself," Sein sighs.
"Don't tell me this cave is endless," Ori complains.
"Don't worry, we'll find our way out soon enough," Sein reassures him.
Ori lets out a sigh and gazes up at the ceiling. "I sure hope—" Ori begins to say, but before he can finish his sentence, he stumbles and tumbles into a narrow cave system.
"AH-" Ori tumbles down the cave, sliding against the rough walls with each painful impact. "UGH-" he groans as he continues to roll down the steep slope. "Woaoaoah..." he gasps as he slides against another wall, unable to stop his descent. Finally, he lands on a soft mushroom, breaking his fall.
Sein watches in horror as Ori falls, wincing with every hit he takes on the way down. Once he reaches the bottom, she quickly makes her way down to check on him.
"Ori!" Sein's voice echoed through the cave as she made her way down after him. Ori was sprawled on the shroom, looking dazed but thankfully not seriously hurt. "Are you okay?" Sein asked concern etched on her face.
Ori groaned, rubbing his head. "Yeah, I think so," he mumbled, slowly sitting up. "That was quite a fall."
Sein breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness," she said, offering him a hand up.
"You two should be more careful," a mysterious voice spoke, emanating from the only direction they could head towards.
"Geez, I remember taking a tumble like that too..." the voice chuckled before continuing, "and I can tell you, it's not a pleasant feeling at all."
After a few moments, the figure revealed itself. "Hey there," said another spirit guardian, revealing impressively built arm muscles. "Thank the light I'm not alone, to say the least."
"The name's Fil, what about you two?" the spirit asked, extending a hand in greeting.
"Fil? Thank the light you're okay!" Sein exclaimed with relief, walking up to him.
"I'm sorry... do I know you?" Fil asked Sein, his brows furrowing in confusion.
"Wha... oh right, uhm, it's me, Sein, the Eye of the Forest," Sein said, trying to jog Fil's memory.
"... Sein..? Are you sure you're not just an imposter?" Fil questioned her, his doubt evident in his voice.
Sein sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Fil, now is not the time..."
"Time for what? There are rogue spirits in the forest. How can I make sure you're not a shapeshifter?" Fil stated skeptically.
"Rogue... what? Whatever," Sein responded, frustration evident in her voice. She summoned a blue flame in her hand, hoping to convince Fil of her authenticity.
Fil's suspicion waned as he observed the flame. "Well, good to know," he said, no longer doubting her. He then pointed at Ori. "And who's that fella?"
"I'm Ori," Ori introduced himself with a friendly smile.
"Well, nice to meet you, Ori," Fil said, extending his hand, which Ori gladly accepted, shaking it with a firm grip.
"What are you two up to anyways?" Fil inquired. "Since the blinding of the forest, every survivor has been trying to make their way to safety."
Sein sighed softly before responding. "Well, Fil, I just woke up a day ago," she explained. "Ori found me somewhere and treated my wounds. We've been navigating through the forest, trying to make our way to the Spirit Tree"
"I see. You haven't seen any other spirits around, have you?" Fil asked, his gaze searching the surroundings.
"No, we haven't," Sein replied a tinge of sadness in her voice. "I honestly thought all the spirits were gone. I mean... the meeting was supposed to gather everyone, and then the attack happened."
"Yeah, I know what you mean," Fil nodded. "But I can assure you, there are still a bunch of survivors left. I've come across some who are trying to scavenge whatever is left behind."
"Ori, was it?" Fil asked, his curiosity piqued. Ori nodded in response. "What can you do?"
"Uh, well, I have this ability called Grapple," Ori began, trying to explain but struggling to find the right words. "It allows me to, uh... well..." Instead of further explanation, Ori decided to demonstrate. He focused his energy and shot out a Grapple, which swiftly latched onto a nearby rock on the ground. With a flick of his wrist, he pulled the rock towards him.
"Oh, that's quite a nice ability," Fil complimented with a smile. "Compared to mine, it's rather exciting... mine's really, really boring." He chuckled lightly as if poking fun at himself.
Ori exchanged curious glances, intrigued by Fil's self-deprecating comment. "Well, what is it?" Ori asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
Fil let out a sigh and extended his arm, revealing a small glowing orb hovering above his palm. "This is my ability," he said, slightly disappointed. "I can emit light."
"Huh..." Ori huffed, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "That's... quite reliable!" he exclaimed, trying to inject some enthusiasm into his tone.
Fil chuckled at Ori's attempt to sound excited. "Well, it may not be as flashy as some abilities, but it indeed is quite reliable" Fil reassured him.
"So, do you two need a lift?" Fil asked with a friendly smile.
"That would be nice," Sein replied, while Ori eagerly held up one end of Grapple. "Here, this will help us get up quicker," Ori suggested
"Very well," Fil responded, grabbing the part of Grapple that stuck onto his hand. "Eh... I can work with that," Fil shrugged off the unusual attachment and skillfully began hopping up the wall.
"Wow... he just started wall-jumping," Ori marveled, while Sein also watched in awe as Fil skillfully hopped up the walls with ease
After a little while, Ori and Sein heard Fil shout, "I've reached the top! You can come up now!"
Ori grabs the Grapple and starts climbing up, while Sein remains hesitant, standing in place. "Uhm... Ori?" Ori quickly halts his ascent and turns towards Sein, immediately understanding her hesitation. "Don't worry, Sein. Grab hold of the end, and both Fil and I will pull you up"
"Alright..." Sein says, taking hold of the end of the Grapple as Ori climbs up to the surface. After a brief wait, Sein feels a sudden tug on the Grapple, signaling that they are starting to pull her up.
"Time to go..." Sein thinks to herself as she looks at the Grapple, and sure enough, she begins to ascend. With careful movements, Sein navigates the ascent, making sure not to get bumped against the walls along the way.
"Welcome to the surface," Fil says with a playful grin, trying to lighten the mood. Sein shoots him a skeptical look, silently questioning the necessity of his remark. Meanwhile, Ori deftly removes the Grapple from Sein's hand, ready to proceed on their adventure.
"Hey Fil, you've practically memorized the entirety of Nibel, haven't you?" Sein asks curiously. Fil taps his chin, mentally retracing the areas he has explored. "Yeah, I do have a good memory of the place," he responds. "Unfortunately, I lost my physical map during the attack. But fear not, I still have a map right up here." He points to his head, indicating his brain with a playful smile.
Ori looks at Fil in awe. "Wait... you've memorized the entire forest?" he asks, his eyes wide with amazement. Fil responds with a playful smile, nodding in affirmation. "Well, mostly," he admits. "I've memorized the most important places in the forest and know how to navigate back to those spots."
Fil then glances at the sky, waiting for a brief moment to determine the position of the sun. Once he determines whether it's rising or setting, he takes out a device he created. It's a circular contraption with two pointers in the center, one painted white and the other painted red.
"What's that?" Ori asks curiosity piqued as he looks at the peculiar device in Fil's hand. Fil extends his arm and explains, "It's called a compass. By infusing it with a bit of light energy, I can make the pointers sensitive to the magnetic field of this world. It helps me determine the four cardinal directions: North, East, South, and West."
Fil infuses the compass with light energy, causing the pointers to come alive and start moving. "Alright, you guys can follow me," Fil says confidently as he begins walking in the direction of North. Sein, understanding Fil's navigation method, starts following him without hesitation.
Ori, still perplexed by what he witnessed, quickens his pace to catch up with them. "Wait, how do you know where you're headed?" Ori asks, his curiosity getting the better of him. Fil turns his head towards Ori, about to explain, but Sein interjects, "Actually, Ori, it's better if we reach the spirit tree first. That's where you'll receive all the necessary information and knowledge. It will be more convenient and comprehensive that way." Sein suggests. Ori looks even more confused but decides to trust her judgment, keeping his questions for later.
With Fil's expert navigation skills, they ventured through the forest, making their way toward the Spirit Tree.
"We've been walking for quite a while... how much longer until we reach it?" Ori asked, growing weary of the monotonous sights of decaying plant life.
Sein glanced at Fil, who paused for a moment to assess their progress. "We're getting close," Fil reassured him with a smile. "Just a little further, and we'll be there soon"
Ori lets out a sigh, feeling a mix of boredom and curiosity. He continues to follow Fil and Sein through the forest, unsure of what lies ahead. Fil, sensing Ori's need for distraction, decides to strike up a conversation.
"Hey Ori, may I ask how old you are?" Fil asks, trying to keep Ori entertained and engaged.
Ori pauses for a moment, taken aback by the question. "How old am I?" he repeats, contemplating his response. "Well... I'm not entirely sure. I don't have a specific birthdate or anything like that. I was born during a raging storm, or so I've been told."
"During a storm?" Fil asks, his curiosity piqued. Before Ori can respond, Sein interjects with additional information. "Yes, he was actually caught in the midst of a fierce storm and was found by a caring creature named Naru. If I recall correctly, that storm occurred around 17 to 19 years ago."
Sein breaks the silence, her voice filled with a hint of concern. "Is it just me, or has it been unusually quiet for quite a while? We haven't even encountered any beasts of the decay." Fil and Ori both nod in agreement, realizing the absence of the usual dangers.
As they crest a hill, they finally understand the reason for the prolonged silence. Before them, in the distance but clearly visible, stands the Spirit Tree.
Sein's face lights up with excitement and without hesitation, she exclaims, "That's it! The Spirit Tree!" She quickly starts sliding down the hill. Fil and Ori exchange a bemused look and then share a shrug before joining Sein on the descent.
hey finally reach the majestic Spirit Tree, its towering presence filling the air with a sense of ancient wisdom. Sein approaches the tree and concentrates, attempting to establish a connection. However, to her surprise, nothing happens.
"Is something the matter, Sein?" Fil asks, concern evident in his voice.
"I... I can't establish a link with the Spirit Tree," Sein says, her voice tinged with worry.
"What do you mean you can't? You're the Eye of the Forest..." Fil says, his expression reflecting a sudden realization. "Unless... perhaps the Spirit Tree doesn't want to communicate with the Eye of the Forest."
Sein's confusion deepens as she questions, "What do you mean, Fil?"
Fil turns towards Ori and proposes, "What if the Spirit Tree desires to converse with the Savior of the Forest?"
Ori, who was standing there observing the conversation, looks around in surprise and then points to himself, asking, "Me?"
"Yeah," Fil says, motioning for Ori to come closer. As Ori does so, a sudden gush of vibrant, light blue aura erupts from the ground, startling all three of them.
"Ori... at last, you have arrived..." A majestic, resounding voice reverberates, capturing the attention of the three spirits as they gaze upon the towering Spirit Tree.
"In my final moments, I shall bestow upon you three the remaining fragments of my light," the voice resonates, its tone filled with solemnity. As the words echo through the air, the radiant light emanating from the roots of the Spirit Tree flows into the three spirits.
"And I shall recount to you the tale of her misguided will," were the final words Ori heard before he succumbed to a trance-like state and fell into unconsciousness...
...
...
...
Ori abruptly awakened, disoriented, and unable to move. He found himself standing amidst a vast assembly of spirit guardians. It dawned on him that he was experiencing a vision bestowed upon him by the Spirit Tree.
"This must be the vision of the Spirit Tree," Ori whispered to himself, his voice filled with awe. However, his curiosity quickly turned to apprehension as a dark and ominous creature materialized in the air, drawing nearer with each passing second. Ori couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as he observed the approaching entity.
"What's that?" Ori whispered to himself, his voice barely audible amidst the growing tension in the air.
Suddenly, one of the spirits caught sight of the approaching dark creature and let out a terrified cry, sending waves of panic through the gathered spirits. In an instant, chaos erupted as the spirits scattered, each one desperately seeking safety. Ori's heart raced as he witnessed the frenzy unfolding before him, the once serene vision now transformed into a scene of fear and confusion.
The spirit had only a brief moment to react before the dark creature, resembling an owl, slammed into the ground. With a menacing glare, it began mercilessly attacking everything in its path. Ori stood frozen, his eyes wide with horror, as he witnessed the massacre of countless spirits. The fearful and confusing vision had transformed into a gruesome nightmare.
The owl's piercing gaze locked onto Ori, its focus unwavering as it swiftly closed the distance between them. In a blur of movement, the owl landed atop the Spirit Tree, its powerful claws gripping the Eye of the Spirit Tree and wrenching it from its sacred position. Without hesitation, the owl took to the sky, carrying the precious artifact with it, leaving behind a sense of devastation and emptiness in its wake.
Amidst the chaos and despair, Ori's gaze caught sight of another mysterious creature perched atop the owl. Though its form remained elusive, Ori's racing heart compelled him to focus on the imminent danger rather than the unknown entity. As the turmoil intensified, Ori's surroundings began to blur and fade away, as if he were awakening from a dream.
...
Ori's consciousness began to emerge from the depths of the dream, like a distant echo growing louder and clearer. A voice, filled with urgency and concern, pierced through the veil of his slumber.
"o...i"
"...ri!"
"Ori!"
The voice intensified, reaching its peak until it became an undeniable call that Ori.
"ORI! WAKE UP!"
To Be Continued
YOOOO, chapter release! LET'S GOOO! Now, about the publishing schedule... let's just say it's quite flexible, shall we?
But don't worry, chapters will indeed be released. They'll make their grand entrance whenever I feel it's the right time for them to roll out. Oh, and would you believe it? Fil is alive. I wonder if more spirits are too? Well, I pretty much gave that away with that statement, didn't I? Ah, who cares!
Anyway, I hope you're all revved up for this thrilling adventure because I'm merging the worlds of Anime with Ori! And no, it's not a joke— I'm genuinely infusing Anime writing styles into the Ori universe. Hopefully, you all will embrace this unique fusion!
(⊃≧▽≦)⊃{✧ Spirit Sparkles ✧}⊂(≧▽≦⊂)
"I genuinely wonder why you didn't fire off your grapple when you were tumbling down the cave system," Sein inquires, the three of them gathered around a crackling campfire.
Ori contemplated responding to Sein's comment, but he found himself struggling to come up with a suitable answer. Since well... she did raise a valid point, after all. "Huh... I, um, don't know?" Ori nervously chuckles while rubbing the back of his neck.
Fil snaps his fingers, his face lighting up with excitement. "Say, Ori," he exclaims, "since you've pretty much mastered controlling your grapple now, how about lending me a hand in conquering the tallest mountain in Nibel?" His enthusiasm causes Ori to tilt his head in curiosity.
"Huh?" Ori utters, a touch perplexed. "Well, you see, on second thought, you also need to be capable of climbing," Fil says, rubbing his chin as he considers the practicalities.
"Though... you do remind me of an illustrated novel that a Spirit once created and circulated throughout the forest," Fil remarks, fixing his gaze on Ori. This statement piques Ori's interest. "Illustrated novel?" he inquires.
"Yeah, the Spirit who sold those was a remarkably talented artist! They crafted an illustrated novel featuring a Spirit with powers akin to a spider's," Fil explains, causing Sein to appear slightly less at ease. However, Ori becomes even more animated. "Really?" he beams.
"Indeed! Whenever there's trouble, that Spirit would swoop in and save the day," Fil continues. This conversation goes on for a while until Sein interjects, "Alright, that's enough talking. Let's all turn in for the night, and you can resume your stories in the morning."
"Aww..." Ori groans, but Fil affectionately pats him on the head. "Ah, don't fret! There are plenty more tales to tell!" Fil reassures Ori, who responds with a warm smile. "Alright," Ori says as they bid each other goodnight and head to their respective slumbers.