staysilent | August 2021 - Farming, and...?

August 2021 - Farming, and...?

Finished Farmland

Summer days grow longer and hotter, with scarce rainstorms only bringing a cloying humidity. It makes for miserable work outside, but it's work that still needs to be done. Sheep need to be cared for, the newly-finished farmland needs to be carefully inspected and watered daily, and accurate counts of food in storage need to be maintained to ensure that there will be no famine in the winter.

Still, for as hard as the work is, there is a sense of relief among the settlement. Being self-sufficient is vital to survival through the winter, and Settlement #5 has now achieved that. Hopefully everyone read through the farming books to know how to grow vegetables!

Dark Whispers

For a month, the sounds from outside the settlement had been quiet. The cries at night had disappeared as quickly and mysteriously as they had come, leaving everyone to wonder just what they had even been. By now it may be little more than a memory of what once was.

But starting in August, the Otherworlders will start to hear whispers in their mind at dusk.

"Are you there? Can you hear me?"

These whispers carry a heavy weight, and everyone will feel it tugging constantly at them for about 10 minutes at each sunset. After those 10 minutes, the whispers go quiet once more.

While they are not forced to answer, the Otherworlders will feel a strong pull towards responding. Those with weaker mental defenses might even find themselves wandering towards the northern end of Rabbit Island in search of the source, though they will instinctively know it comes from beyond the waters, on the opposite shore. Nobody is forced to answer, but they will feel an inclination towards doing so. Though maybe talking to each other first would be a better course of action?

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's nothing so dire. [Also, stop worrying about his well-being already.] Still, our roles are common knowledge in my world, so it wouldn't go unnoticed if a chosen wizard were to shirk their duties. Not that I care what the world thinks of me... but I'd likely get forced along regardless by the other wizards.

And so, I would go lend my power along with the other chosen wizards once a year, and then return home. That's how it used to be before this past year's disastrous Calamity, at least.

[No.]

Risking your life... once a year... is still pretty risky...

[Though he understands that Faust doesn't have a choice.]

But... maybe if... everyone finds you're missing... they'll be able to... help bring you home...

If anything, it was a welcome distraction from spending those nights at home... normally the effects of the Great Calamity on the world outside of that confrontation are mild at best, but it can rile the spirits and affect a wizard's constitution.

...Perhaps, but I doubt a solution will be found anytime soon. We're also seeking a way to cure our various afflictions, and to eventually send the Sage back to their world... my plight is a small one in comparison.

Cure...? You mean... like your dreams...?

[He'd sort of assumed by that that it wasn't cureable. But he guesses some people had to have hope.

He leans back a little, blowing out a breath.]

Your world sounds... frustrating. Besides the magic.

Yes. Though I haven't asked anyone to do that for me... most of them don't even know what mine is...

[Yet Heath and Shino will still jump at the chance to find one for his sake...]

...What do you mean?

[He figured the magic would sound like the frustrating part to someone who isn't familiar with it...]

So... everyone has different stuff...

[He supposes that makes sense, in a weird way.

He makes a face.]

You have... all this magic... all the spirits... and that's cool. That's something... amazing! But... everyone treats you... like crap. And you get... hurt for it... In little ways... and in big... You risk your life... and save the world...! For decades...! And for some... stupid reason... nobody cares...! That sucks.

I know you'll... just say that's humans... and I know... people can be... stupid... but with all... that you do... I don't get it.

...I can't speak for anyone else, but I don't want fame or recognition.

[Spoken a bit sourly; his name is already known across Central Country, yet no one remembers the real truth of what happened...]

Few humans feel the way you do about magic. For them, it's something to be feared and no wizards can be trusted. Yet as you say, it's because of us that the Great Calamity has never destroyed the world. It's easy enough for those humans who never even see us or the Calamity to take that for granted. And yet, if not for our role in fending it off, there would be even less reason for humans to trust us.

That's just how the world is.

[There's some bitterness, but more than that it's just resignation.]

Yeah... well... it's stupid. Who... has their life saved... and goes... "yeah... fuck that guy...!" You wouldn't... say it to a surgeon... or... a firefighter...

[He sighs.]

If my world wasn't... dead... I bet I'd know... a ton of people... who'd agree.

But I guess... that's... pretty moot

It's simple enough. They happily place their faith in us when they need our power, then turn their backs on us when the need is gone. That's how humans are...

[He closes his eyes for a moment, something pained in his expression.]

...That's why I don't care what happens to the world. I don't fight the Calamity for anyone's sake, so I don't care if I'm acknowledged for it, or if I turn to stone from it. Nothing will change.

It's not... simple... it makes no sense... that no one would--

[His mouth presses and twists, then he settles his expression into something firm.]

I don't want... to treat you like that... ever. And... I don't want... anyone else to either...! If someone here... treats you like that... then I'll... [He wavers, trying to think of what he can actually do.] I'll give them... a piece my mind...! And some cold water... over their head.

Edited 2021-08-10 15:18 (UTC)

...Don't do anything so reckless. I don't need anyone standing up for me, anyway.

[Despite his words, his expression has softened a little.]

I wonder if you were this determined to defend the people around you in life, too.

It's not... that reckless...

[It's not a real fight! So it's okay! Maybe... His head tilts.]

... I don't know... I... don't think I'd... want anyone... hurt... But... I don't want to... get in a lot of fights... either...

[It could turn into a fight if you go dumping water on random people, Please-]

...Do you remember anything of yourself, from before?

[He frowns.]

It's... a lot of... the problem, I think. When I... started to remember... life and... how things were... I always felt... not quite there.... like... watching from the outside. Sometimes... something feels right... like, my name. There's that.

There are... pictures sometimes... but they're rare. Voices... When you gave me... that book... [His eyes close.]

Someone... a woman? She... touched my cheek. [His hand lifts and hovers over the gash of his face.] I can't... make out what... she looked like... but she looked sad... she said... I hadn't changed... she didn't expect to... see me... [He drops his hand and shakes his head.]

I feel like it's...easier to say... what feels right... than what I remember. Like... you asked if I lived... in Florida... and I don't think so... and... there was the cookbook... and driving... listening to... the radio...

[...So he remembers things sometimes, if sometimes only in vague ways. That book helped him remember something, huh...]

Considering where you started, perhaps you could regain the rest of your memories in time, or at least more of them. I'd say reading more books may help, though your options there are limited.

I hope so... I think... I should remember... more with time... Maybe not... everything... But enough to... put things together... It's not all gone... It's just... hard to reach.

[But it means there's hope.]

I hope I can... remember... the ones I'm missing... It's weird to... miss someone... and not know who they are... Except for... in my letter, anyway.

[Someone he loved, he'd said before... at least, he assumes that must be who he's talking about, unless he's remembering someone else...]

...It may be some time before you're able to find the person you're looking for. But maybe you can use your time here to try and remember more about them.

[He nods his head in agreement.]

I hope it... will be nice... you know... I heard that... a lot of people... most of them dead now... but a lot... they hoped... at first... that their... loved ones would come back... I know it won't be... easy but... If I can bring back... who I was... then maybe... maybe she won't mind...

[His hand hovers over and then drops away from that pocket by his heart.]

...Sara... Her name's Sara... that's what it says...

Edited 2021-08-10 20:07 (UTC)

[...There's no guarantee this Sara is still alive, but he doesn't word that thought. He's sure Teo must have considered that possibility already... hopefully.]

[But if she is out there hoping he'll come back... maybe there's at least some small chance he'll get the sort of reunion he wants.]

...I won't ask you about what's in your letter. That's your business... but if you do want to talk about it, or what you can remember, maybe that can help jog your memory.

[He says that he won't ask what's in it but it's not as if talking about it is far off. He hesitates, mouth pressing, but slowly he unzips that pocket and pulls the letter free. Faust is right. It's not jogging anything just sitting there. He unfolds it and he stares down at it. Too long.]

...Sorry... I guess it just... kind of feels like...

[Like having some part of him on display. Like Faust's dreams which he wasn't supposed to see. He takes a breath.]

It's... an apology... for... for not... being there more. [His head bows.]

I got... a lot of blood on it. There's words missing... or messed up... But...

...Sara...

I know I... should've been there more... You... might be thinking I... let you... down. Maybe you're... still mad... but with everything... falling apart... there's only... so much left. I want... you to know... you have me... You still... have me... If you... can forgive me...

[He glances up at Faust, and then back down.]

Um... Last I heard... you were safe at... New Port Settlement on ninth... I heard it's... nice out there... I'm sorry it's... already taking me... a long time to... get there... but... I'm making my way... I'll be there... real soon... Maybe I'll... bring you something... like before... You used to... love that...

I'm travelling... with others... I imagine... you did too... that seems... the safest thing... these days... A lot of people get... picked off... or split up... I wasn't the only one... thinking to pass a message... but I've seen some... would-be messengers... killed off... So I managed to find... a pen... and some paper... to do things like... the old days... I figure... it'll last longer...

I hope... I won't need this... I'd rather... speak to you... myself... than pass along... a message... but in case... something... goes wrong... and slows me down... then I hope... you get this. I want you to... think fondly of me. I hope you... know that... I love you. And I... always have. I'm sorry I... didn't show you... more... But don't think... I don't...

[His hands grow unsteady. His shoulders curve forward.]

Kn- knowing... you're out there... Mm... It means... this all... still... counts... You're my...

[He's quiet for a long moment, simply holding the letter in hand. He closes his eyes.]

The rest is gone. I got... blood... all over the bottom... the signature...

[He turns it out so Faust can see, still not looking himself.]

[He doesn't try to stop him from reading it. If it's his own choice to share it, then he'll listen. And he does so, solemnly.]

[It's clearly not easy for him. This is the only solid proof he has of who he was, and that there is someone out there who knows him... and hearing the contents, there's more to it than just finding out who he was. He'd meant to pass it along in case something happened to him, but apparently didn't manage to before it was too late...]

[When he reaches the end- or as much as is readable- and turns it around, he doesn't reach out to try and take the letter. He just leans in slightly to see it better, taking his tinted sunglasses off to assist with that as the only lighting in the room comes from the sunlight streaming through the windows. He can see the old blood blotting out the words near the bottom of the letter... and presumably where Teo would have signed it. But the majority of the letter is intact, so perhaps it's lucky that he only stained that part of it.]

...It says you were traveling with others. Do you remember anything of that?

[Once Faust has taken a look, he draws it back. He doesn't fold it away just yet, instead looking over it again, like something new might reveal itself. He tries to think, pulling at the shreds of his memory.]

... It... sounds right... a little bit...

[He reaches up and presses at his temple.]

It's hardest... to remember that stuff... what happened...

There was... there was yelling... a lot...

[He frowns unhappily.]

I can't. I can't remember.

[He watches him closely as he tries to remember, but... of course it wouldn't be that easy.]

It's fine. If you could remember everything that easily, you wouldn't need that letter.

[...]

Before I say this, I can't guarantee it will fully restore what was written... but if you're willing to let me take a closer look, I may be able to remove the bloodstains.

[His gaze lifts from the letter to Faust. It calls for a lot of trust. More still considering it might not work.

But it might. Wouldn't it be worth it, to know more?

Slowly, he holds the letter out again for Faust to take.]

... I trust you.

...

[He takes the letter with a careful hand, glancing over the writing before focusing on the stain. He lightly touches gloved fingers to it, and softly mutters his spell.]

[...The disappointing result is likely clear on Faust's face before he holds the letter back out to him, the blood gone but the ink beneath too smeared to still be anything legible.]

The writing wasn't intact enough... I'm sorry.

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