Closed [The Bronze Wood] Fear (Fubuki)

[Kristopher]

15th of Summer It was still prime daylight when Kristopher threw away that silly piece of cold iron. It wasn't even useful any more, but finding it still took more bells than what was decent. The sunset weighed heavily over him, its annyoing orange glitter coating the retrieved item in his hand. Each time it came back to him like a boomerang, and yet one time he actually needed it to be easy to retrieve it made itself scarce without thought or motive. Sometimes he even romanticized the stupid thing to be sentient, and doing all this simply to spite him. For whatever reason such attitude made him feel better. At least he didn't get crossed by a tool, but something more, malice and mind. With the grand hunt over and some relief under his belt, Kristopher was well aware the time to go back to his solitary confinement had long passed. It would still be wise to go back and prepare for tomorrow while this day still burned. The bag on his back server well to shelter the once sword. It was truly amazing how it meant more to him after its purpose was lost. Now that it was only a sturdy paperweight its value had grown in Kristopher's eyes. Yet back when it was still a sword, in a stupid squire's hand... well, it wasn't anywhere near this valuable. Come to think of it, this was probably the closest he came to understanding his father's speech about how a knight's weapon is more than just his tool. Arguably this wasn't a weapon any more, but it was still possible to use it as a really mean toothpick. His musing would soon be cut short by what he thought was steps. A more curageous man would've written it off as leaves rustling in the wind. Kristopher however, was not just any man. And his fear made his mind more agile, perhaps too agile. What if it was someone stalking him from a bush? What if they had a blade drawn with hurting him in mind? And what would he do if any of that was true? Draw his toothpick-like paperweight to fend them off? After staring in the suspicious direction for what was a good chime, he'd exhale for the first time. Maybe it was really all in his imagination. Truly sunset was the most fearsome hour in these woods. Some might've claimed night as such, but then again, Kristopher had never been in Bronze Woods at night. This was in fact the closest he had ever come to doing so. Hurrying to keep away from his first nightfall inside the forest, he could see Stormhold in the distance. He should have about enough time to fall asleep just after first bell of night.

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri "Hm hm hm~♪" Humming a cheerful song, Kouri swung her chakram again, cutting a bundle of White rose stalks which she immediately grabbed and put into a flower basket floating to her right. She was doing her usual job of gathering flowers for The Flower Stand. The basket was half full now. "Haiya~♪ Ei~♪ Ei~♪" With each sing-song syllable, Kouri swung her chakram-shaped four steel daggers held by an ethereal black tendril jutting out from her back; cutting more stalks on the flower bed in front of her. Four more tendrils hungrily grabbed the cut stalks and deftly put them in the flower baster. After five more chimes of doing her job, her basket was filled to the brim with white roses. All done~ Kouri heaved a proud huff, praising herself on a job well-done. She stationed her chakram back to her right shoulder and floated back heading to Syliras, the flower basket held by her tendril floating near her left. It was almost sundown and the sky was painted with a beautiful orange hue. "Na na na na~♪" Kouri hummed and happily made small jumps forward. Her feet didn't touch the ground and floated a few inches above it instead. In her journey home, Kouri spotted a peculiar figure travelling in the Woods as well. She locked her eyes to the figure and found out it was an adult male human with dark messy hair, tired green eyes, and his patched-up clothing looked like he just survived a life and death journey. "Hm? Ohoooo~" Kouri saw the cautious step the man took, her lips curled in a mischievous smirk. She was feeling naughty today so she decided to 'play' around with this man a bit. Kouri floated forward, approaching the man from behind. If this man was afraid of her then good, she would get a new toy. If he wasn't then it was good as well, she would get a new friend. "Ehehehahahaha~" Her haunting giggles echoed in the area, this was sure to get the man's attention. Kouri then maneuvered around the man, bringing herself into his sight range. "Hello~" she waved her hand and beamed him a happy smile. "This is a good day, isn't it Sir? Ehehehe~" Kouri also put the flower basket in front of her, offering it to the man. "Want a white rose? Take one! It's free~"

[Kristopher]

Previously mentioned hint of sound grew. That realization wasn't in any way pleasant. At first, Kristopher could hear what sounded like laughter. Yet it wasn't the jovial sound people exhaled when pleased or entertained, it was the other one, the devious one lacking any sympathy. He knew full well since he was used to getting the latter. He'd think slowly, trying to comprehend the chill that seemed to pulse from somewhere to his side, no behind... and as his head was turning, he could spot a girl with a basket. The girl's abnormal paleness didn't put him off at first. He assumed she simply knew who he was and came out to mock his shyke-filled and trembling legs. At second thought and a good look, his eyes would open as wide as their sockets allowed. Like a slap to the face he could spot all those things he didn't pick out earlier. Whatever she was, it wasn't human – at least no longer. Almost falling to the ground from shock, he'd collect himself somewhat at the last possible moment and turn on his heel while darting away into the darkening forest. In his mind even being eaten by wild beasts was better than enduring the fright he was currently facing. He could still hear the girl's voice asking him to take something. A rose? Yes, definitely a flower... it was a flower basket, he'd realize additionally. His actions caused him to question if he had hurt the monster which in turn caused him to slow down. Yet he still couldn't stop, the fear was too strong a motivator.

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri What the... The young man's eyes went as wide as it could be and he immediately flee from her presence like his life depended on it. Sure, Kouri was intending to spook him, but she was not expecting he would act that extreme. "Hmmm... ehehehe..." A grin appeared on her face nevertheless, it was not often that she could get an interesting reaction such as this. "Mu kyu kyu kyu kyu~♪" Kouri's mischievous giggle echoed in the forest, she immediately extended a tendril and grabbed the feeling man's right leg; causing him to trip and fall to the ground face-first. Kouri put down her flower basket and chakram on the ground and floated to the young man. She crouched down in front of his face and used another tendril to gently lift up his chin, forcing him to face her. She then beamed him a happy grin. "Hello~♪ How rude, running away from a lady... I was just offering you a flower..." She mocked disappointment, but in her mind she was very much enjoying the fear she inflicted upon the messy-haired man.

[Perplexity]

Riddled With Rewards Fubuki Kouri Experience Skill XP Earned Soulmist Projection + 1 EXP Lores • Lore Earned • White Rose Offering Notes : Sorry to see this thread end so abruptly but how I share your agony Ms. Fubuki. I gave what I could. Mr. Kristopher, should you return to Mizahar simply toss me a PM and I shall post your grade when appropriate.