With Ori arms entangled and no time to waste, the Gumon swiftly reached for a lever, causing panic to surge through Sein and Fil. They tried to dash toward the Gumon to stop him, but their efforts were in vain. The Gumon pulled the lever, and suddenly, the bridge they were standing on split in half, launching them all toward the ceiling with tremendous force. As gravity took hold once again, they found themselves plummeting down a deep, dark abyss...
As the wind howled and their bodies plummeted, the pit's treacherous bottom came into view, adorned with menacing spikes. However, the sides of the pit were unobstructed as are the walls, offering a chance for escape. Sensing an opportunity, Ori delivered a swift horse kick to propel Fil towards the nearby wall. "AH- Ori!" Fil exclaimed, taken aback by Ori's sudden action. "FIL, USE THE WALL TO SLOW YOURSELF DOWN!" Ori shouted urgently.
Reacting on instinct, Fil swiftly pressed against the wall, using it as a means to decelerate. In the midst of his descent, his mind raced with thoughts of Ori and Sein. "Shit-" Fil turned his gaze back, contemplating letting go, but Ori shook his head, indicating trust. Fil's hands have had a slight mutation from birth that granted him remarkable dexterity for climbing walls and executing agile wall jumps.
With urgency driving his movements, Ori swiftly made his way towards Sein, determined to free himself from the entangled bola. He skillfully maneuvered, managing to wiggle the bola from his arms to his wrists. "SEIN!" Ori called out, catching her attention as she turned her head towards him. "What?!" Sein responded, a hint of fear evident in her voice.
Ori spread his arms open, creating a makeshift donut shape. Sein, initially perplexed, soon understood Ori's intention as he pulled her into a hug. The sudden embrace caught Sein off guard. "Hang on, things might get a bit rough," Ori warned, preparing them both for what lay ahead. Ori then adjusted his position, facing upward, and made slight adjustments to the bola before shooting a grapple toward the wall. The grapple hooked onto its target, propelling them both in a swinging motion toward the wall. The impact jarred Ori, eliciting a pained grunt.
"Ow ow ow... You might end up giving me a fear of falling too, heheh..." Ori managed a weak laugh amidst the pain. Sein's voice carried concern as she called out, "Ori, you really need to stop making these reckless decisions."
"I... ow... probably should, but it was the best option I could come up with in the heat of the moment," Ori replied, his grip still firm on the grapple. Fil, having slid down the wall to their level on the opposite side, anxiously called out, "Ori! Are you okay? That looked incredibly painful."
Gasping for breath, Ori reassured Fil, "I'll be alright..." Concern etched on his face, Fil continued to gaze at Ori. "Hang in there, I'll reach you shortly," Fil vowed, with a swift descent, Fil maneuvered to the other side and swiftly began ascending the wall, intent on reaching Ori and Sein and assisting them in their descent.
Now on the ground, Sein tended to Ori's back while Fil diligently worked on untangling the bola. "Seriously, Ori, do you possess some kind of ultra instinct?" Fil queried, finally succeeding in removing the entangled bola from Ori's arms.
Perplexed, Ori tilted his head, an expression of confusion on his face. "I... heh?" Ori stuttered, searching for an explanation. "I mean, first there was the webbed-up boulder, then rescuing Sein, navigating past the Hoppers, and now saving all of us," Fil continued. "You just seem to... well, almost instinctively know what to do in every situation."
"Hm... I honestly don't have a clear answer to that question," Ori responded, contemplating Fil's inquiry. Fil nodded, understanding the complexity of the situation. "Well, whatever it is, I'm glad that you possess it. Otherwise, we could have found ourselves in much deeper trouble," Fil remarked, rising to his feet.
"Okay, you're all set," Sein declared, having finished healing and assessing Ori's back. Both Ori and Sein rose to their feet, ready to continue their journey. Ori performed a quick stretch to loosen up. "Alright, where should we head now?" Ori inquired, scanning the room for any signs of direction.
"We've got two options: west or east," Fil presented, gesturing towards the respective openings in the order he mentioned. Ori's enthusiasm sparked as he raised his arms, chiming in, "I vote we head east!" His voice carried a playful tone, revealing his childlike excitement once again.
"Pfft... take it seriously, would ya?" Sein remarked with a gentle smile. Ori chuckled in response, saying, "Alright, alright." Ori's playful demeanor persisted. "So, are we ready to go, or does anyone have any objections?" Ori inquired, gesturing with a sweep of his arm.
"Nope, I'm fine going either way," Fil replied, expressing his openness to either option. Sein chimed in, sharing her perspective, "I don't mind which way we go either. My main concern is retrieving the artifact."
"Alright then, lead the way," Ori responded, gesturing with a sweeping motion of his arm, signaling for Fil to take the lead. "Alright then," Fil acknowledged, taking on the responsibility of leading the group.
While traversing past various obstacles, the challenges they encountered were well within their capabilities. Suddenly, a thought struck Fil's mind. "Hey guys?" Fil called out, capturing Ori and Sein's attention. They both make eye contact with him. "Do you guys utilize your peripheral vision?" he inquired.
Ori, once again confused, tilted his head to the side in curiosity. Sein, pondering the question, responded, "Well... as a spirit, I haven't relied on my peripheral sight as much. It's like I've grown unaccustomed to using it."
"Alright, because you both might want to start getting used to utilizing your peripheral vision more," Fil advised, intending to elaborate on his reasoning. However, before he could continue, Ori interjected with a puzzled expression, "Uhhh... what's peripheral vision?"
"Hm... alright then," Fil responded, taking a moment to rephrase his reasoning while also incorporating the explanation. "Well, peripheral vision refers to the ability to see objects and movement outside the direct line of sight, specifically on the edges of your visual field. It allows you to remain aware of your surroundings without needing to turn your head. Peripheral vision comes in handy for detecting movement or objects that may not be in your direct focus. By actively using your peripheral vision, you can enhance your overall awareness and react more effectively to your environment."
"Oh..." Ori uttered, his voice filled with a mix of understanding and uncertainty. Fil sought to provide reassurance, saying, "Don't worry, Ori. You'll get the hang of it. It's actually quite easy to use. Just concentrate on the furthest point within your field of view, and as you keep your gaze fixed on it, navigate your way around obstacles by relying on your peripheral vision." Fil shared his own quick method of adapting to using one's peripheral sight.
"I'll definitely give it a try," Ori responded. Suddenly, an observation struck him. "By the way, is it just me, or does it feel unusually windy in this cave?" Ori questioned, causing both Fil and Sein to halt in their tracks. They, too, noticed the unexpected breezes of wind swirling within the cave. "Wind... in a cave?" Sein voiced with a note of caution. "Caves at this depth aren't supposed to be windy."
"Yeah, I had the same thought, but I didn't dwell on it," Ori admitted, acknowledging his initial observation. Sein, recognizing Ori's thought process, chimed in, "If there's wind in a cave this deep, we should be cautious. It's highly likely that someone is manipulating the wind."
"Yeah... alright, I'll keep that in mind," Ori responded, closing his eyes and scratching the back of his head. As they continued walking, a feeling of unease washed over him. Suddenly, Ori's eyes snapped open, his senses heightened as they entered a suspiciously open room. Acting swiftly, Ori tightly grasped Sein's hand and shot a grapple toward Fil's outstretched arms. "Hold on..." Ori spoke up, his voice laced with urgency. Sein and Fil exchanged confused glances, unsure of what had prompted Ori's sudden action.
"what's the hold-up-" Sein asks before Sein could continue speaking Ori interrupts her with a shush "..." Sein looks at him bewondered, but decided to keep quiet. Soon a faint noise can be heard, it sounded like... digging?
Sensing a looming danger beneath them, Ori quickly released his hold on the grapple connected to Fil, simultaneously leaping backward, pulling Sein along with him. At that very moment, a Mutated Mortar Worm erupted violently from the ground, right at the spot where Ori and Sein had stood mere seconds ago.
The Mortar Worm are creatures that conceal themselves within the earth, using its acute senses to detect approaching prey. When disturbed, it would emerge, launching lobbed bombs of corrosive acid. Its extensive network of root-like structures acted as its sensory system, spanning meters in length. However, this particular Mortar Worm had undergone a mutation, allowing it to freely navigate the underground like a mole. Lacking eyes, it relied solely on sound to locate its prey. In addition to its heightened mobility, the mutated Mortar Worm boasted a razor-sharp mouth and retained the ability to launch explosive acid bombs.
"What on earth is that thing?!" Ori exclaimed, his voice filled with shock as he shot Sein a perplexed glare. "Wha- Don't look at me!" Sein responded in a distressed tone, her eyes wide with surprise. "I have no idea what that is either! Perhaps a mutation of some sort?!" she suggested, trying to make sense of the mysterious creature they were facing.
As the mutated worm lunged from the ground once more, Ori reacted swiftly, shooting a grapple towards the ceiling. The grapple anchored them in mid-air, keeping Ori and Sein stationary just above the creature's reach. However, the worm retaliated, firing an acid bomb at the precise spot where Ori's grapple had connected. The acid melted away the anchor, causing Ori and Sein to plummet downwards.
Upon landing on the ground while still holding hands, Ori made a quick decision. Utilizing the slight momentum from the landing, he pushed Sein away to create distance and protect her. Seizing the opportunity, Ori broke into a run, making a desperate dash for safety.
As Ori continued to move, his mind raced with thoughts. "There's a fifty-fifty chance that the worm will go for me or Sein," he calculated, fully aware of the precarious situation they were in. Despite the uncertainty, he focused on keeping himself and Sein out of harm's way, remaining vigilant for any signs of the lurking creature.
Fil, perceptive as ever, noticed the small details and placed a finger to his lips, signaling for silence. He hoped that Ori or Sein would notice, but both were too preoccupied with avoiding the monster's attacks. Deciding to be patient, Fil maintained his composure and waited for the right moment.
As the worm resurfaced from the wall, it swiftly dived towards Ori, its intent to strike evident. In a nimble maneuver, Ori evaded the oncoming beast by sliding beneath it, narrowly escaping its reach.
As the relentless beast relentlessly pursued Ori, he found himself barely evading each ferocious attack. Sein shot a quick glance towards Fil, who continued to signal for silence. Understanding the urgency, Sein immediately came to a halt, sensing the significance of Fil's signal.
Meanwhile, the monstrous creature persisted in its relentless assault, lunging from wall to ground and vice versa, attempting to snap Ori's head off with its powerful jaws. Yet Ori managed to stay a step ahead of the worm's deadly strikes.
Suddenly, an immense gust of winds roared through the caves, causing the monster to lose its sense of direction, wildly attacking the walls and ground while the tunnels it created filled with the turbulent air. Taking advantage of the chaos, Ori, though bewildered, seized the opportunity to reach the others.
"Okay, I'll be quick since we don't know when the wind will stop. The worm is lured by sound, so the moment the wind ceases, nobody makes a sound. Move on my command," Fil rapidly explained as the howling wind persisted.
Ori and Sein readily agreed to the plan, and Sein conjured her flames in preparation. A few moments later, the winds finally subsided, and the creature seemed disoriented, unsure of its next move. No sounds or vibrations were present to guide it.
Hesitating for a moment, the worm pondered whether to leap out and unleash a barrage of acid bombs. Ultimately, it decided to emerge again after tunneling further. But before it could attack, Fil's voice boomed, "Ori, get a hold of it!" In a swift response, Ori fired a grapple with both hands, firmly attaching it to both the beast's mouth and its main body.
As Ori slammed the worm to the ground, Sein unleashed a rapid barrage of spirit flames upon it. The creature, though momentarily incapacitated, quickly recovered and snapped the grapple off its mouth before diving into another hole, screeching in pain. "Do not let it escape!" Fil urgently commanded, aware of the danger.
Ori held onto the grapple with all his might, determined not to let the worm get away. As he slid across the floor, leaving deep trail in his wake, he reached the edge of a pit and swiftly anchored his other leg on the opposite side to gain a stronger hold. Fil, wanting to help, struggled to find a position to assist effectively.
"Sein! Incinerate it!" Ori desperately cried out. In response, Sein swiftly combined the eight flowing orbs into two flaming orbs, holding them firmly in both hands. Taking a stance before Ori, she unleashed a powerful blast of flames that surged through the tunnel. The intense heat engulfed the worm, reducing it to crisps, a victorious outcome. However, the fiery assault had unforeseen consequences. Ori's grapple snapped, and the flames, having nowhere else to go, surged back up the tunnel, generating a powerful recoil that struck Ori with force.
With a resounding thud, Ori landed on his back, the impact leaving him groaning in exhaustion. "Ow... I think that burned my face," he said, wincing as he sat up, his hand instinctively reaching for his face. As he touched it, he realized the front of his body was now covered in black ash.
As Ori and Sein found themselves covered in black ash, Fil couldn't help but burst into laughter. Surprisingly, even Ori joined in with a chuckle of his own. Sein, not one to be left out, started to complain good-naturedly, "Aw, come on! My fur is all filthy now, and there's not even clean water around to wash it!" She tried her best to pat off as much ash as she could, attempting to regain some semblance of cleanliness.
Abruptly, another colossal gust of wind surged through the cave, coming to their rescue by clearing most of the ash. However, this new blast was much stronger than the previous one, catching the trio off guard. They fought against the force, struggling to keep their footing and resist being blown backward.
"Holy... that was something," Ori exclaimed, clearly taken aback by the powerful gust of wind. "At least you're somewhat clean now, ey?" he added with an amused grin, glancing at Sein, who responded with an amused huff. "Suppose so," she said
"Anyways, let's continue and find a way out of here," Fil suggested, pointing towards the opening high up near the ceiling. Ori promptly shot his grapple upwards, detaching it from his wrist as well. "After you," he said, giving way to Fil and Sein to go first while he followed closely behind.
As the trio maneuvered through the tunnels, Ori couldn't help but express his curiosity. "Say, how did you know that it didn't have any eyes?" he inquired, finding it intriguing that Fil had swiftly identified the worm's weakness.
"Well, there were three key observations," Fil began to explain. "First, when it attacked, it didn't go for me despite having the chance. Secondly, while you guys were airborne, it specifically aimed at your grapple instead of targeting you directly. Lastly, I decided to test it by instructing Sein to remain quiet, and it continued to focus solely on attacking you during each encounter."
Ori was in awe, impressed by Fil's ability to make a successful gamble. "Although it was still a gamble," Fil admitted, "a gamble that I won," he proudly declared. But soon, Fil's attention shifted, and he abruptly came to a stop, walking up to Ori and squeezing his arm muscles. "Huh?" Ori yelped out of surprise, not expecting this sudden inspection.
"Quite intriguing, Ori. Your muscles are extremely densely packed," Fil remarked, his curiosity piqued. "I wonder how much they can handle," he continued, clearly admiring Ori's arm muscles.
"Say, how did you attain such strength?" Fil inquired, genuinely curious if Ori had any special training or secret to his impressive physical abilities. Ori, a bit bashful, scratched his cheek and replied, "Uh... all I did was help my mom with construction and such." He seemed almost humble about it, unaware of the extent of his own strength.
"Huh... maybe you're from a guardian branch?" Fil speculated, considering the possibility that Ori might be linked to a lineage known for its remarkable abilities. Ori, caught off guard, put up a goofy and confused expression. "Ehhhhh?" he exclaimed, completely bewildered by Fil's mention of a 'branch' and 'guardian'. "What?" Ori asked with an innocent, childlike voice, seeking clarification.
"You don't know?" Fil expressed genuine surprise, assuming Ori would have received the information from the Spirit Tree himself. "Well... hmmmm," Fil pondered, stroking his chin in thought. Turning to Sein, he kindly said her name, hoping she would offer an explanation.
"... Of course," Sein sighed, understanding that Fil wanted her to clarify the biology of spirits for Ori. "I'll keep it simple, we don't want to waste any time here, so here it goes," she stated, ready to provide a concise explanation.
It all begins with the Spirit Tree, the source of the spirits in this realm. The Spirit Tree bestows three distinct types of limbs upon its spirits: the Guardian limb, the Explorer limb, and the Survivalist limb. Each limb branches out further, with each branch representing its own family line. Those born on the same branch are considered siblings, while the other branches are viewed as part of the same race, though not necessarily close relatives due to their differing genetic makeup. A special link exists between family members, allowing them to immediately recognize their kin through their shared light.
As for the limbs themselves, there are numerous types, and each forest may have its own unique limb. In the realm of Nibel, it is known as the Ancient limb. Those born from the ancient limb possess the possibility of being born with distinctive attributes, though they may only discover these traits through personal exploration and discovery.
The Guardian limb yields spirits that are honed for battle, possessing an awakened Light art that enhances their combat prowess. On the other hand, the Explorer limb gives rise to spirits that embrace the wilds of the forest, venturing forth in search of enigmatic discoveries or fostering potential trade with other forests. These spirits are innately equipped with a Spirit art specially designed to support their exploratory activities.
Meanwhile, the Survivalist limb births spirits that are adept at providing sustenance, shelter, and the basic necessities for all their kind. With an awakened Spirit art tailored to these essential tasks, they skillfully attend to the well-being of their fellow spirits, ensuring a harmonious existence within the forest.
Sein wrapped up her explanation while Ori listened with rapt attention, thoroughly enjoying the lesson. "Wow! That's so cool," Ori exclaimed, his excitement evident in his voice. "I wonder if I'll get to meet my siblings when we restore the forest," he mused, already envisioning himself as the coolest older brother to his younger siblings.
"I'm sure you will!" Fil responded with a reassuring pat on his friend's back. He then turned to Sein, curiosity in his eyes. "So, Sein, is he a Guardian?" he asked, only to receive a shrug in response. "How am I supposed to know?" Sein blurted out. "I can't just scan him and determine his lineage."
"Hm, then we may not know until the Spirit Tree is restored," Fil reasoned, making eye contact with Ori again. "As for me, I come from an Explorer Limb, which... you probably already figured out," Fil said, playfully closing one eye in a friendly gesture.
Ori nodded in agreement, expressing his understanding. "Yeah..." he said, releasing a sigh, "also, is it just me, or is the temperature dropping?" he questioned, feeling the subtle shift in the air. As Fil and Sein allowed nature to take its course, they too noticed the gradual decrease in temperature, which seemed to happen so smoothly that it felt almost natural.
"Yeah, it does feel a bit colder than usual," Fil remarked, and Sein simply shrugged in agreement. Without warning, Fil spontaneously gathered the two of them into a group hug. "Group hug!" he declared with an uplifting voice, surprising both Sein and Ori.
"Hey-" "A-" Sein and Ori protested respectively, taken aback by Fil's sudden display of affection. "What's the big idea, Fil!" Sein expressed annoyance, trying to wiggle her way out of his embrace. "C'mon, let's continue like this!" Fil suggested in an amused tone, but Sein managed to extricate herself from the hug. "Geez, I have flames to keep us warm if you're that cold," Sein retorted
"True... but what's the fun in that?" Fil retorted with a playful grin, seemingly unwilling to let go of his light-hearted mood. "We're still trying to catch that Gumon, no fun until we get that artifact," Sein interjected, keeping the group focused on their mission.
"C'mon... hm..." Fil suddenly had a humorous idea, and mischief glinted in his eyes. "Then why not hug our savior?" he suggested, pushing Ori in front of him. "Huh?" Ori's surprised voice escaped him as he found himself at the center of Fil's joke. Meanwhile, Sein jumped slightly at Fil's impromptu action, looking startled. "W-What?" Sein stammered out.
Ori awkwardly pointed forward, trying to shift the focus back to their mission. "Can we... maybe just continue retrieving the artifact?" he timidly suggested, hoping to steer away from any more teasing. However, Fil playfully puffed up his cheeks, showing a mock frown. "Alright, light a fire, Sein," he said in a pretend commanding voice, but Ori could sense the humor behind it. Nevertheless, he quickly added, "Please?" in a much kinder tone, attempting to regain Sein's favor.
Sein let out a sigh of mixed feelings. "Alright," she acquiesced, summoning a spirit flame in her hand. With the fire illuminating their path, the trio continued their journey.
After walking for a while, Ori's ears twitched as he picked up a faint sound, causing him to come to a sudden stop. Sein and Fil soon followed suit, their curiosity piqued by Ori's reaction. "What's wrong, Ori?" Sein inquired, but Ori remained silent. Instead, he moved towards the source of the noise, prompting Fil and Sein to exchange glances before deciding to follow him closely.
Soon, Ori came to a sudden stop and quickly hid behind a corner, with Sein and Fil catching up to him. "Hey, you still haven't answered-" Sein began to say, but Ori swiftly put a finger to his mouth, signaling for her to stop talking.
Sein was taken aback by Ori's unusual actions but decided to trust his instincts and remained silent. As she reached to remove his finger from her mouth, she unintentionally grabbed his hand and, in the heat of the moment, forgot to let go.
The trio cautiously peered from the corner to see what was happening. There, they spotted the Gumon with a badly injured spirit.
The Gumon tried everything to help the spirit, experimenting with various methods such as flapping the artifact's light towards the injured spirit, placing the spirit's hand on top of the artifact, and even attempting to break off a piece for the spirit to consume. However, despite the Gumon's relentless efforts, nothing seemed to work, leaving him visibly distraught.
With a heavy heart, the Gumon eventually settled down next to the spirit, his voice filled with sadness as he whispered, "Gumo..."
Ori decided to approach the Gumon, this time without any attack intent. Unbeknownst to him, Sein, who was still holding his hand, got dragged along. "Eh-" she exclaimed, causing Fil to cover his mouth with both hands to stifle his laughter.
This time, the Gumon didn't immediately run off. Sensing no harmful intentions from Ori and Sein, he hesitated but remained cautious. As soon as he heard footsteps, however, his instinct to defend himself kicked in, and he jumped back, ready to attack if the threat was real. When he saw Ori and Sein approaching, he instinctively backed off even more.
Ori tried to convey his friendly intentions by swinging both his hands in front of him, gesturing for the Gumon not to worry. Little did he know, Sein was still holding his hand, and her sudden shriek of surprise caught him off guard. "Huh, Sein?" Ori said in surprise, finally realizing that he was inadvertently holding her hand. The Gumon, observing the unexpected interaction, grew even more scared and started to back away. However, Ori quickly realized the misunderstanding and yelled out, "No, wait! We're friendly! Friendly..."
The word "friendly" seemed to strike a chord with the Gumon. "Gu... fff- fr- frend?" he stammered with a tinge of sadness in his voice.
Sein was shocked that the Gumon could mutter out a word besides their own language, and she eyed the injured spirit with concern. "Is... is she your friend?" Sein asked, holding her hand towards the injured and unconscious spirit.
The Gumon nodded in response to Sein's question, confirming that the injured spirit was indeed his friend. Sein sighed, a note of concern coloring her voice. "Oh dear..." she murmured. "Let me take a look," she said, scratching the back of her neck as she moved closer to the unconscious spirit and crouched down to examine them.
However, before Sein could place her antennae on the unconscious spirit, a powerful gust of wind suddenly burst from the spirit. The Gumon managed to hold his ground, but Sein, who was in close proximity, was blown back by the force. Quick to react, Ori managed to grab Sein's hand, anchoring himself to the ground with his grapple just in time to prevent her from being blasted away.
The wind continued its fury for about 30 seconds before finally subsiding. Sein landed safely on the ground, placing a hand over her chest as she tried to catch her breath. "Are you alright?" Ori asked immediately, his concern evident in his voice. Sein, however, was too busy gasping for air to properly respond. "Dear light... that was hefty..." she managed to wheeze out.
Meanwhile, Fil, who had been around the corner, was flung backward by the powerful gust of wind, landing back at the crossroads where they had initially followed Ori. "Ow..." was all he could groan, still trying to process the force of the wind.
"Gumo?" The Gumon said with a concerned tone, but Sein was still catching her breath and didn't quite catch what he said. She took a deep breath and replied, "Right... I'm fine," not entirely sure what the Gumon asked. She then returned to the unconscious spirit to examine it, placing her antennae on the spirit's head.
"She's overflowing with light..." Sein said in a concerned tone. Ori was quick to ask, "What does that mean?"
"When a spirit has too much light, the excess energy starts to act like a poison, making them sick. If not handled soon, they may never open their eyes again," Sein explained.
Ori was in shock. "W-what do we do now?" he asked anxiously. Sein let out a sigh, "Well... we need to get rid of the excess light," she said with a hint of frustration. "I haven't seen a case like this in my 80 years as the eye of the forest," Sein admitted, trying to remember the appropriate course of action.
"Wait- 80 years?! I thought you said you were 21- AH, never mind! Isn't there something you can do right now?" Ori asked, his voice a mix of confusion and concern. Sein paused, her thoughts spinning. "Maybe... maybe... maybe I can..." she murmured, more to herself than to the others.
"What?!" "GUMO?!" Ori and the Gumon exclaimed in unison, their voices echoing in the cavernous space. "Maybe I can redirect the light to the water veil!" Sein exclaimed, her voice strained from stress.
"... sorry-" Ori started to say, but Sein interrupted him. "It's fine," she reassured him, her voice strained but steady. "Can you bring me the Water Veil?" she asked Ori, who gave her a confused tilt of his head, indicating he didn't understand what she was referring to. "The Artifact, you goofball," she added, hoping to lighten the tense atmosphere with a friendly jab.
Ori then gently placed the Water Veil next to Sein. "Okay, do your thing," he said, looking at Sein with a mix of concern and hope. Just then, Fil made his way back around the corner, yawning in exhaustion. "What did I miss?" he asked curiously.
"Excess light," Sein explained, placing a hand on the unconscious spirit. "Excess light? Oh wow..." Fil said, shocked by the revelation. "What are you planning to do?" he inquired further.
"I'm sending the excess light to the Water Veil," Sein explained briefly. "And... is that gonna work?" Fil asked with a hint of worry. Sein's expression turned uncertain as she replied, "... I hope it does."
Sein placed her other hand on the Water Veil and started to focus deeply. A bright blue light started to emanate from the artifact, causing the Gumon to recoil slightly as the intense luminosity irritated his sensitive skin.
As the light-activated, the unconscious spirit's wind power also activated, causing a fierce gust to sweep through the area. Sein struggled to maintain her grip as the wind threatened to blow her away. Seeing her struggle, the Gumon pushed through his discomfort, steadying Sein and ensuring the procedure could continue.
However, the constant exposure to the bright light was burning the Gumon's skin, causing him to writhe in pain. Noticing this, Ori used his grapple to propel himself towards Sein, while simultaneously pulling back the Gumon to safety.
With the Gumon now out of harm's way, Ori lent his support to Sein, helping her and the artifact to remain steady as she continued transferring the excess light to the Water Veil.
With the wind finally subsiding, Ori dropped to one knee, gasping for breath. "How long until the procedure is over?" he asked, his voice slightly shaky. Focused on her task, Sein managed a single word in response, "Shortly." Nodding, Ori turned his attention to the Gumon.
The Gumon was clearly in pain, his body covered in burns, with his hands appearing to have suffered the most. "Are you alright?" Ori asked, to which the Gumon weakly shook his head. Ori pulled out of nowhere a large, rolled-up leaf filled with a paste made from ground lavender. "Here, this should help soothe the pain a bit," he said, unrolling the leaf for the Gumon to apply the paste.
Fil, who had been thrown against the wall by the powerful wind, stretched his back. "Man... that wind is really annoying," he grumbled. Ori chuckled in response. "Tell me about it," he agreed, glancing toward Sein with a hopeful expression. "Hopefully, this will fix everything," he added.
As the intensity of the light began to wane, eventually fading away entirely, Sein remained focused on the unconscious spirit. To everyone's relief, the spirit's eyes slowly began to open.
"W-wha..." the spirit stammered, disoriented. "Whe-where am I?" they murmured, their body aching with residual soreness. Sein kneeled beside them, offering a calm explanation. "You're in Moon Grotto. You were suffering from the effects of excess light," she informed them.
"Would you mind telling us who you are?" Sein asked the newly awakened spirit, helping them into a sitting position. The spirit took a moment to gather their strength before speaking. "My name... is Leru," they managed to get out.
"Well, hello there, Leru. I'm Sein, which you may or may not have already figured out," Sein said, her tone gentle yet firm. "Now, just sit still while I heal you up, alright?" She placed her hands on Leru's back, beginning the healing process.
Suddenly, Fil dashed into view, coming around the corner. "Did I hear Leru?!" he blurted out, a note of surprise in his voice. "You're the spirit that can perform a double jump," he said, pointing at Leru.
"Double jump?" Ori asked, intrigued. "You can double jump?" he added, turning his head back towards Leru in astonishment.
"Uh... yeah," Leru confirmed with a small nod.
"Wow, that's... really cool!" Ori exclaimed, his smile broadening. "How does that actually work? I mean, I can't imagine myself doing that... ever," he said, wobbling slightly as he sat.
"I... I don't really know. One day, I just wanted to, and well... I did it," Leru explained with a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry, I don't really know how to explain how I obtained the ability to double jump."
"Actually, I do..." Sein interjected from behind Leru. "...I haven't seen this in years, but... She's manifested the lost art of the Air Burst. She is the wind, and the wind is her."
Leru turned her head towards Sein, her face filled with confusion. "Air Burst?" she echoed, to which Sein nodded in confirmation. "Yes, one of the eight Light bursts," Sein said. "I don't know much about them, but I do know that each forest has at least one or two of the elements hidden within them."
"Light bursts? say what now-" Ori expresses confusion. "Indeed, Ori, Light bursts. They represent some of the most potent forms of light art in existence. Each burst is so powerful that it's categorized as its own unique light art," Sein clarifies.
Leru continues to gaze at her hand as Sein speaks up again, "The energy produced by Light Bursts is so immense that if a spirit who inherits it already has a slightly filled light capacity, it will overflow with light energy," Sein explains, shedding light on Leru's illness.
"...Wait, does that mean Leru found the tree?" Fil interjects, grappling with how Leru could have obtained the Light Burst. "Well... I'm not sure. Leru has had the double jump for an extremely long time," Sein muses, at which point Leru adds, "I did inherit from an ancestral tree..."
"But then, how did you get the double jump?" Fil asks. "I... actually have the ability to control the wind. It's weak, but it was enough to create the double jump," Leru explains.
"But... I wasn't the one who found the tree," Leru continues, turning towards the Gumon. "He was the one who discovered it." Now, all eyes were on the Gumon, their faces etched with shock.
To Be Continued
Wow, what a cliffhanger! I wonder where this will lead? Perhaps something truly epic?! Well, maybe not something overly special in the next chapter... or is it?! You'll have to wait until I release the chapter to find out! But I bet cha didn't expect the Gumon to speak the same language as the spirits do, did ya?
Also, Ori is very stronk, like, very very stronk, and Sein's flames go FWLOOOSWWSSHHHH, which is undeniably epic! And Fil... he's just as sharp as ever. And definitely not me casually sitting behind my chair while bestowing one of the most powerful Light Arts on Leru, all while our protagonist calmly employs his silk-shooting wrists. Nope, not at all.
(⊃≧▽≦)⊃{✧ Spirit Sparkles ✧}⊂(≧▽≦⊂)
"Thoughts on spiders?" A voice narrated through the cavern, reaching the five individuals now enclosed within its rocky confines. After a brief moment of contemplation, Leru spoke up enthusiastically, "I adore spiders! They can be incredibly cute at times too!" Her eyes sparkled as she placed both hands on her cheeks.
Sein, on the other hand, wore a slight frown. "Eh... I'm not really a fan of spiders... they give me the creeps," she admitted, her gaze averted. Leru shot her a disapproving glare. "You dislike spiders?!" Leru exclaimed, her voice tinged with surprise and a hint of dismay.
"Yeah, I just don't like them," Sein retorted, maintaining her stance. Leru, determined to change her mind, held out a spider with the most endearing puppy-dog eyes you could ever imagine. But when Sein caught sight of it, she let out a high-pitched scream, leaping into the air like a startled cat. Ori, ever the agile one, managed to catch the frightened spirit just in time.
"Are you alright?" Ori asked, his concern evident. Sein, her face now redder than a ripe tomato from embarrassment, reacted by delivering a punch that sent Ori crashing into the nearest wall. "Ow..." Ori groaned, his voice hitting an unexpectedly high note. "What was that for?" he asked in a slightly squeaky tone. "S-sorry!" Sein exclaimed, her voice filled with apologies. Meanwhile, Fil couldn't contain himself and was rolling around on the ground in fits of laughter.
Amidst the chaos, the Gumon casually chimed in, "Spider... okay." The cameraman gave him a thumbs-up in response. And in a final shot, we saw Gumo wearing a heartwarming smile for the camera, Sein frantically waving her arms, Ori still partially embedded in the wall, Fil still laughing uncontrollably, and Leru playfully interacting with the spiderling.