Marisa and the Blind Forest - of Magic

by Substandard Scripter

Marisa was a regular resident of the Forest of Magic. It was where she lived after all, where her home is. But after a night of a severe springtime storm, she found a much deeper story to the Forest than she could have ever imagined, as the Forest of Magic also went by a different native name... As well as making new creature friends!

10. Gumo

MARCH 11, 2025 - 08:40 HOURS (8:40 AM)

Moon Grotto, Nibel

Ori was getting closer to catching up to Gumo. After some more jumping, platforming, and hazard hopping, Ori had reached to one of Gumo's last traps in the grotto: A setup landslide. Gumo was prepared to pull a lever which would unleash a series of rocks to crush Ori. Unfortunately, as he pulled the lever, it snapped, activated the trap, and sent him flying backwards, ironically burying him under a pile of rocks that fell from above, trapping his limbs. The trap was activated, and Ori had to act fast. He used his wall climbing abilities to scale up, jumping over the rolling rocks. With a bit of skill, Ori had avoided the rocks and reached to Gumo. He looked at Gumo, who was still paralyzedby the rubble. To this, Ori showed Gumo kindness and freed him from the rubble.

"Or brought kindness and hope to his heart"

"You... You saved me," the Gumon said nervously. To Gumo's surprise, he immediately had a change of heart, but fearfully scurried backwards away from the glowing white spirit, leaving behind the orb of the Water Vein. The orb was almost the size of Ori himself. Good, he has the key to open the door to the Ginso Tree.

Sein said to Ori, "Remember, the Element of Waters rests high atop the Ginso Tree. We shall bring back the waters, let us return immediately!"

The spirit and the wisp stored the Water Vein in their inventory - wherever that is. Retracing steps, Ori and Sein made their way back to the entrance of the Moon Grotto, where Marisa surprisingly was not resting. She was in combat with monsters of the Decay AND youkai, shooting her projectiles. These youkai must have appeared sometime after the Forest of Magic became Blind. They were likely trying to regain some of the altered areas of the Forest as territory. Thankfully though, Marisa had dissolved a majority of the hostiles by herself. Once Sein joined in the last few seconds of the fight, an explosive attack was ignited by Sein, defeating the rest of the Decay, and surprisingly a youkai. Safe to assume that youkai ARE susceptible to Sein's light-based attacks.

Marisa perked up seeing Sein and Ori return, "How LONG were you two down there? And I don't think I broke a sweat yet fending off these guys!"

Sein answered, "Minutes? Half an hour? It was... dangerous. We had to tread carefully. We could have fallen had we been in a rush."

Marisa then walked up to Ori and Sein after finishing up, relaxing her shoulders, "I suppose I should be thankful you two are still here in one piece."

Sein then said, "We have the Water Vein. Let us make haste to the Ginso Tree!"

Marisa exclaimed, "You know the drill Ori, hop on!"

Ori took another ride on Marisa's shoulder. She whipped out her broomstick and headed course back to the Ginso Tree. Sein followed through. They arrived at the base of the Tree where the door was. The door was a double sliding door with a circle-shaped keyhole, assuming the Water Vein would go in place there.

Sein directed to Marisa, "Marisa, would you do the honors?"

Marisa confirmed, "Yes, Sein!"

Marisa carried the Water Vein and inserted it into the keyhole of the Ginso Tree's door. It had some weight, but Marisa managed. Upon contact with the wood, the door would show some blue streaks of light emit from the cracks. The door then rotated 180 degrees smoothly, then it slid open. The Ginso Tree was now accessible. Ori, Sein, and Marisa stepped into the tree, ready for the climb that awaits them.

Marisa looked up high upon entering the tree. The thing that came out of here speech was just, "Whoooaaaa..."