Kimberly
*As Link slowly began to make their way towards the Landing, their eyes lit up. It was so very different from what they'd seen before. In their time, the Landing had been replaced with a simple tower monument dedicated to what had happened there so very long ago. And yet, here, it was an entire settlement to replace the Castle Town they had lost. And in the distance...*

*Hyrule Castle. The structure floating in all it's ruined majesty. It was oddly beautiful, flowing into the skies as though it were just another one of the islands within the sea of clouds above.*
*It was the magic flowing from the castle that disturbed them. It truly did feel as though something horrid was under there, not quite unlike how Ganondorf felt when he was sacrificing the Queen. It was unnerving, but it wouldn't dissuade them from pressing on.*
*The Hero stepped before the gates, Vorka by their side. They simply waited for a few moments as guards began to assemble at the gates.*
Liane
`Vorka honks a few times as Gramps stares at the guards. They really wanna bite one of them.`
Carol
`The guards are at attention. "State your business," They say. "We have to be certain the civilians taking respite here are in no way threatened."`
Kimberly
*Link waved. They would first have to check and make sure they understood him.*
Aida
The guards were always noisy at this time of day. Always getting themselves overexcited at the thought of an intruder. Probably because their stomachs were growling incessantly and they were hangry. Yeah, that's probably why, just a nutrition solution would fix them up.

Kyneri, who was still hiding his glass jar in one of the crannies of the Landing while awaiting a confirmation from those in charge, had been slowly but surely repairing his erhu using Tabantha Highland Oak. He took pride in his work for certain, as I'm such an instrument was his primary source of both offense and defense, but he had to pause as he heard the quiet gesturing of a person below.

"Another Link?" He breathed. 

He swung out of his perch and landed on one of the guards' shoulders. Unfortunately for Mythos, the guards don't even recognize that he's there. "Heya!" Kyneri said with a smirk.
Liane
`Vorka is at attention.`
Kimberly
*Link looked rather confused at the sight, especially considering that nobody else seemed to notice. They waved, wondering what this person before them was. Who they were.*

*They glanced towards Vorka, wondering what might come next. They were still very much on edge, but taking action would certainly provoke a fight.*
Aida
He smirked and backflipped, drawing a circle and jumping through as he fell. The ring collapsed into him and his size shifted, as did his form to one a little more Hylian, and he landed. 

"Alright boys, let a guy through!" He said. He smiled and looked at the hero in front of him. "Name's Kyneri. Sorry, these two lugnuts can't see me usually, may as well make it more formal." He held out his hand. "And you are?"
Liane
`Vorka grumbles. This fucker is a Sage, how can he *Not* Tell?`
Kimberly
*He was clearly a very magical entity, but he couldn't quite pin the nature of the magic just yet. He was sensitive to magic, yes, but... Was this some kind of trickster spirit? From where? As questions racked the back of Link's mind, they simply shoved them to the side to continue the conversation.*

*They cringed a bit at their title, but it was needed to help differentiate them from others of their kind. Link offered their right hand, transferring the rope to their left. They didn't want to allow someone they didn't know to hold their dominant hand. It was little thoughts like these which popped into their mind, fueling a sense of paranoia. And with the people they'd seen in the parchment? How would this go? Were there royals coming for the two? They were clearly unsettled by their own panicking thoughts.*
Aida
His eyes smiled wide and he vigorously shook Mythos' hand. "Nice to meet you, Link!! You are *Quite* The enigma! Your markings, your clothes. They're strange indeed but... Then again so is anything Minish, who am I to judge!"

He bustled past the guards and waved him in. "Bring your cute pig, too!! I take it she has a name?"

There was something weird about the pig. The mannerisms were a little human to him. He'd seen this pig before, back when the Eclipse hit— Smith had brought in a giant Gerudo man, a young woman, and this exact pig. Or at least, a pig that was similar.

His guard was up about the pig but he dared not let him know.
Liane
`I... Want to nap... So bad.`
Kimberly
*Oh! He was a Minish! That made so much more sense! They'd heard tales of the miniscule people who hid beyond view of mortal man, lost to the forest. They had never actually been able to see them in person before, only insinuations of what might have happened to his kind in their time. Perhaps they would need to read more about them to learn what such a person was capable of.*

*Another bluff, but it would have to do for now. While not a great liar, they were capable of improving. They stepped past the guards with a glance. This place was clearly well guarded. They would have to be careful about what they did here.*
Aida
Yep. It was *That* Pig. Better break the news.

"You... Are aware that's Ganondorf's pig, right?" He asked. Not meaning to sound judgemental— he had listened to parchment plenty and gotten the bearings that the giant old Gerudo man was not a fan of Wind. And considering how Wind had ticked him off lately, Kyneri was more than willing to pick his battles with the old man. "He's gonna want that back— if she wandered that far from him, something probably very wrong."

He turned and looked at Mythos. "What sort of information are you looking for in particular? A lot has happened since I arrived, after all."
Kimberly
*Link didn't want to speak ill of Ganon simply to sound convincing. This was the best they would do to make it sound as though they had never met.*

*They glanced around, trying to spot any other heroes, perhaps any other mages who might detect what they had done. They didn't want this going sideways, so they would need to be vigilant.*
Aida
"Ah yes, well. That is a tricky question indeed. I can't speak for precisely what brought us all here. There's been a small amount of research indicating that the portals that brought us to this place are Zonai in origin but... Unfortunately, it seems we have not had any idea about how to return home. One person, Smith, appears to have gone and then returned, but... Circumstances surrounding that were touchy and I'm not sure if he's in any way open to discussing it." He paused and began to mutter to himself. He was already pacing back and forth. "Speaking of which, I have to get new bearings from him for the erhu..."

He perked back up. "Right, sorry! Um... You'll find that much of this period is Calamity Era tech, but various individuals here are from separate time periods and they may have brought things from their own time. For example, I still have a bag of kinstones despite this Era no longer having use for them."

He noticed the pig was just staring at him, full attention. He continued to pace a little and watched as her eyes followed. "Hmm..." He said, leaning over and giving her a scratch. "Vorka, is it? I never recognized how intelligent swine were until now. No wonder he keeps her around, she is a good companion."
Liane
`Wait, that pacing, that look... Oh no. Vorka begins to get a little antsy.`
Kimberly
*They took in the other information. No way home discovered yet. That was an issue, of course, but nothing they didn't already expect. Of course this wasn't going to be easy, it's how adventures are. But 'Smith'... They wondered what that nickname might be in reference to. Another hero? There were plenty that were sons of smiths. They'd have to revisit that later.*
*Kinstones, Guardian technology... What more was there? Perhaps they could try looking into finding other artifacts. Perhaps they could find someone who knew more about the physically technical parts while they worked on the more magical aspects. A team. By the time they zoned back in, the Sage before them seemed quite interested in Vorka.*

*Please let the lies work.*
Aida
He smirked. "You knew a Ganondorf, didn't you? The way you speak, it sounds like you're well acquainted."

He scritched Vorka a few more times before sighing. "Well, I ought to at least inform you that he should be heading to the landing. Though, he said he'd be coming with a companion... Named..."

He stopped and looked at Link for a moment, eyes flicking back and forth between him and the pig. "What did you say you were the Hero of again?" He asked.
Liane
`Vorka backs up and leans into Mythos.`
Kimberly
*Oh. Well fuck. That wasn't good. There were three options here. They could fight their way out and primitively knock him out before anything happened. Immediate no. They were in a bad position, yes, but they weren't going to hurt anyone for it. Two, they could just run. That also wouldn't help, as they'd barely gotten any information out of this place. And the last option...*
*They took in a deep breath before looking around and motioning towards a darkened corner. They at least wanted some level of privacy, although it wasn't much.*
Liane
`Mythos you are a bad liar. It's a good thing I'm traveling with you, then I guess...`
Aida
He takes a moment to ponder this. It certainly looked like a clean spell. But to bind oneself to a pig for the purposes of hiding? What sort of state was this old man in that he was this insecure? Furthermore, why did Mythos need to cover for him like this?

His face, frozen in a pensive look, suddenly broke into a long and boisterous (yet feminine) laugh. "You *Really* Have your work cut out for you, Gramps! Why the heck are you hiding when you were stitched up here in the Landing like, what, *A month ago?!?* Look, those birchwads are all bark and no bite. And even if they do bite, you *Clearly* Have no trouble handling them. And if you do, you have a companion."

He was still laughing. "S-sorry, I expect cunning tricks but this is absolutely new! What did you do, a basic bind? Swap minds? Or is it more... Herbal in nature?"

He scritched the man disguised as a pig. "You ought not hide yourself, there's only so much room here in Hyrule and you have to be willing to deal with confrontation. But I can understand why today at least— Red Lions is at the Landing so there's plenty to worry sick over. But generally speaking the Landing is about the safest place you could be."

He straightens up and looks Mythos over again. "So tell me—what made you so protective of this one, despite the enemies he's made? I'm genuinely curious."
Liane
`Good news, he doesn't wanna kill me. Bad news, the sugar off his words might as well kill me.`
Kimberly
*They had one of those forced smiles on that really made them look even more confused than they already were. They scratched the back of their neck, eyes averted from the situation.*

*They focused their eyes again on the Sage before them. As they spoke of Ganon, their eyes returned to that look of softness, as though they were recalling something they were quite fond of.*
Aida
"Have you been here? People do not exactly have the emotional capacity to handle thinking beyond their own experience. Frankly, I'm no better, but at least there's admission. Needless to say, I don't think Ganondorf here is going to find it easy to be understood if he can't speak."

He looked at Vorka. "You know I'm right. Do your duty as a bearer of magic and remember the strength of words. Or have you forgotten?"

As Vorka attempts to bit his leg, he sidesteps and continues to examine Mythos. "A fight? In Lookout Landing? There are civilians here, sir. If I'm being honest, the Landing is about the safest place for him. So long as he doesn't do property damage, anybody who wrecks the fort trying to take a piece of him will get a verbal assault from one of the head honchos."
Liane
`Hmmm... I wonder if this is a trick or if he's serious. I was in the Landing a month ago and nobody complained.`
Kimberly
*They glanced towards Vorka, kneeling down next to her.*

*They sighed. So many choices, and only permanent consequences awaited them.*
Aida
" Oh, I know. There's a number of people willing to hunt for his head. But this is also our main fortress, which means anyone who causes damage— Dark King or Hero— is going to have to deal with possibly getting barred from entry until they settle down. This is about as neutral ground as you're going to get here." His gaze softened. "I don't blame you for the apprehension. Had I not already fought with the ones I had grudges for, I too would be livid at the thought of them being around, especially if I've never met them."

He smirked, playing with the elaborate bottle of purple liquid that sloshed at his waist. This hero in front of him didn't carry a sword, at least none that he saw, and with the heat coming off them, there was a sense of something radiating within.

"Mythos... What sort of weapons user are you?"
Liane
` he wishes to bide his time, but isn't sure how to make it clear when he can't speak, so he tries to wrestle the rope from Mythos hand with Vorka's mouth.`
Kimberly
*They stopped, noticing the tug and the rope slipping from their hand. That could mean any number of things. Communication was something they hoped they wouldn't need to worry about, but it seemed that it was.*

*They did a small bow as a sign of respect and held up the rope again, allowing Ganon to lead hjm to where they were going.*
Liane
`He stopped and yanked the rope before falling over. It was nap time. And he had a lot to think about. He let out a disgruntled honk.`
Kimberly
*That was... Not what they expected. They were thinking that Ganon simply wanted to return to his own body. Well, it would at least help them save time trying to go back and grab him.*

*They turned back to the Sage before them.*

*They held out their hand and summoned the Manabane, the blade they'd used so many times before. It appeared in a swirl of blueish green light clenched in their hand.*
*The blade itself wasn't entirely dissimilar to the Master Sword, although weaker, it was more versatile in terms of types of magic.*
Aida
"Hm. Fascinating. I suppose that blade is apart from Her Grace's divine instrument?" He asked, carefully unsheathing the small knife he had attached to his belt. "Not too dissimilar from mine?"

He held it out. The knife, reforged by Smith, contained a sliver of metal that Kyneri had prayed to Fi to receive for months on end. To his knowledge it was the best tool in his arsenal for the one thing it was made for. But as a weapon, he was better off with his needle rapier or his erhu.

Fuck, he was supposed to be fixing that. He frowned. "I... Don't think he'd mind if you and I had a chat indoors, would he? I'd hate to leave him out here but he isn't exactly easy to detect. I... You caught me right in the middle of me fixing my divine instrument."
Kimberly
*They carefully examined the blade put out before them. It seemed ever so slightly magical, although at this moment in time, as with many magical blades not being put to use, it was quiet. Dim. Most magical items seemed to sing, in a way, while in use. But it was still quiet. They hoped that eventually they would be able to hear such a melody.*

*They nodded in response to their concern of moving, allowing Kyneri to lead the way.*

*They knelt down and took a deep breath in, feeling the grass benith their feet. They placed their hands over Vorka, letting thoughts of overgrowth return to their mind. The world of nature, reclaiming stone. Nature protecting it's children. And as the thoughts became reality, small patches of wood formed over Vorka, growing together and providing a power of resilience. *
Aida
Kyneri shuddered with joy. That was a thank you, for certain. "It seems this one has manners, a sense of humility enough to offer gratitude. My kind, working so close with Her Grace, have a deep sense for gratitude. Seems it transcends the boundaries of speech."

He smirked and placed his knife back before patting Myth's shoulder, beckoning them to follow. Though it seemed really bizarre precisely where he was heading. He appeared to be walking towards a wall with a number of alcoves.

He looked at the jar that rested well inside the stone wall, snugly nestled like bird in its nest. "So, tell me what you may know of the Minish. Or perhaps, what you've been told by fairytales."
Kimberly
*And that was when an entire Lizalfos fell from the skies and landed face first onto the ground. It gave a very hearty, squishy splat as it settled into the ground. The guards seemed to have a heart attack, whereas Link without hesitation pointed to the figure with two fingers raised, a flame burning on the tips... Before realizing that it was, in fact, very dead.*
*Okay then.*
*Ignoring that.*
*They followed Kyneri, admiring the beautiful scenery of the Lookout. It was quite nice looking, despite supposedly being cobbled together.*

*They seemed to become lost in thought for a moment before continuing.*
Aida
He was touching the rim of the jar with his finger when that name was mentioned again. Vaati. The same name that Smith had told him right before he disappeared, and then promptly reappeared. The very name had made the young Hero upset when he'd gone to get his knife reforged. "That Hero exists here and now. He goes by Smith, helped me fix my knife. He's really sweet but works himself so damn hard."

He paused. "He mentioned Vaati. Said he was a... *Very* Bad person. I don't know what sort of atrocities he committed, nor do I understand why, but... There's a sinking feeling in my stomach that I don't like."

He remembered what they said about extinction. "Well, you should never assume that of the Minish. We live in so many little books and crannies that most people would never expect. For example, the woods may have burned, but did you check the settlements? I'm a town Minish so... I'm fairly confident they're still in hiding."

*Forest Minish are insufferable anyway,* He thought. *Thinking they understand how the human world operates when they don't see it. The ruling Aristocracy is full of Forest Minish who think they know what's best for both their world AND humanity... Ugh...* He thought.

He turned and looked at his new acquaintance. "You're... A bit big to fit in the jar, you may need some assistance."
Kimberly
*When he mentioned how he felt about Vaati, they nodded, understanding why. Minish, from what they recalled, were empathetic creatures. It would make sense for such things to unnerve him.*

*Their size would certainly be an issue for joining such a place.*
Michael
"I mean, Minish magic takes... A long time to learn. I studied for over a hundred years before my Sagely coronation. I can't imagine how much a human might learn in such a time but... Well, there would be a few stipulations. I mean, I'm still young, 355 is not old enough that I would need to consider passing all of my wisdom on but... Hmm... We could try a few things, see how it goes. Though my methods might not be reflective of standard techniques, either..."

He pondered for a moment. "You're going to need to come inside with me. Which means you'll have to be a touch smaller than your normal self!" He made a circle with his finger, and a circle lit up under Myth's feet. "You... Are okay with me shrinking you, right?"
Kimberly
*They nodded happily, quite excited to feel such new magics and see new places. They had never experienced Minish culture, like many from the history of Hyrule. It would be a welcome invite. They hoped to honor the invite, which made them a slight bit nervous.*
Aida
*They're so eager to learn... But are they ready to understand how difficult it is? The sort of innovations I had to make just to be as good as the greats... Am I... Ready to TEACH? Only one way to find out...*

He whispered in Minish, the strange runes of the ring lighting up and beginning to rise around their target. "Now," Kyneri said, "You're likely to experience a sensation of dizziness and possible nausea your first time. Most of humankind don't do well with such a perspective shift. Okay... *Three, two...*

The ring collapsed around Mythos, and simultaneously the Sage reached out a hand to catch him. 

"See? That wasn't so bad," He said, lifting the tiny hero to the jar. Within the container was... A workshop (!), a small trove where Kyneri had been practically living and working on little plans while the world turned. A big heavy book, far thicker than an encyclopedia, sat on the center table, filled with colorful tabs. An entire section was labeled in green early on in the tome.
Kimberly
*The sensation of suddenly shrinking into such miniscule size was terrifying, although it wasn't the most horrific thing they'd experienced. They realized that there was no longer anything underneath them, they instantly knew what came next. As they began to fall, they threw their arms out, allowing the magic of winds to swirl below their feet and slow their decent. They landed gently into the palm of his hand, and stepped off and into the jar when raised to it.*
*It was such an interesting feeling, being such a different size. It was almost as though they were a child again with how different everything looked. The world was so big around them! They slowly entered the little grove of objects and such, looking through the section highlighted.*
Aida
After shrinking and lifting himself into the jar, he immediately took notice that they were looking in the green section. "U-um... Those are not magic spells, those are just pictures of my best friend from a long time ago!" He said, carefully trying to change the pages. "That and his village and culture. But mostly him."

His face was flushed a bright red. Yes, he'd been friends with the Rito in the photos long ago, but he'd also fallen into a never-revealed love with him from afar, something his drawings would certainly make clear by the detail of each feather. He swallowed a bit. "H-here, I uh..."

He flipped to a page on the mysterious fruit known as the Jabber Nut. Most of the page is written in Minish, its boxy letters carefully scratched into the parchment with precision."So the first step to learning *Any* Minish magic is to know how to read it." He tapped a few times. "Our magic is rune-heavy and relies on our alphabet in many respects. Any idea if there's a part on the page that catches your eye?"

The page has the image of a perfectly pink Jabber Nut, with a few notes in Hylian scribbled in the margins, but for the most part there's just Minish text.
Kimberly
*Well, that was. Yeah, they probably should've thought that through before doing it. Or at least waited for him to join them before doing so.*
*They saw how he reacted the the images of the Rito in those photos. There was obviously some kind of strong emotion there, although of what kind, they couldn't quite place.*
*They read over some of the notes in Hylian and looked over the image before taking a closer look at some of the runes. While they'd never learned Minish a day in their life, they also happened to know that Minish, while far removed, was at least somewhat similar to the Hylian script in some places. So they started with that.*
Aida
"Indeed. Though often the letters shift and change as time goes on, as all language does." He tapped the fruit in the center and reached up into one of his shelves nearby. "Learning to speak it is a trickier subject. To the average member of mankind, Picorese sounds like gibberish. Usually it takes a long while to learn, and that's just the basics of language. Soooo..."

He set down a Jabber Nut in the center of the page. It was probably the size of a marble, yet it was treated as if it was some intensely powerful plant. "When we have human visitors, this is usually how we get them adjusted. The fruit allows you to understand the language of the Minish. Um... Careful though, the tart taste gets caught in the throat. It could make you cough, but that's just a sign that the magic is working."

He quickly turned and tended to a small shrine at the end of the jar, picking up a small jade kinstone half and attaching it to his collar like a tag. *He whispered a bit in Rito as he rubbed the tattoo of the other half on his right wrist.*

After a few more moments, he turned and looked. "Sorry," He said. "I had to say good morning to my friend."
Kimberly
*They nodded, wondering why it was that this language was starting to seem so... Familiar. They kept reading, on and on, looking through the words in a form of half lucidity for a little bit before snapping out of it. A fruit sat before them, looking... Odd. It looked interesting, although not unlike any other fruit they'd seen- Wait, no.*

*They cracked open the nut and bit into the fruit within. It was quite thick, with an ever so sweet juice that had an almost lemon-like sourness to the aftertaste. It was strangely enjoyable, which wasn't surprising to them.*
*It was once they were finished that they glanced towards Kyneri who seemed to be praying in some way. They coughed only a little before stepping forwards.*
Aida
The question came at him like a book to the back of the neck. He had been doing his best to heal since he'd come here. He'd met a friend who'd since managed to find his way back, and although he was happy for him, he'd also been left with a companionship vacuum. He'd never been *On his own*, not since he'd quested with his ward. The only real time was when the colossus of Vah Medoh had turned red against the amber sky, and the 82 silent years that had followed.

"You mean... When I lost him?" He said, picking up the paper that held the Rito's visage. "106 years ago, roughly. After our friendship ended when he stopped perceiving me, I grew into a different sort of love. He... Was around 21 when he passed."

He sighed and spoke in Minish. "Sorry, I've been trying to move on. Do you ever have that trouble? Knowing there was nothing you could do to change fate and yet despising it for such a tragedy?"
Kimberly
*Link's gaze softened as they saw how the question, and even the mere thought, seemed to affect Kyneri. It was as though they were trying to hide from it in a way, and they could do nothing but suffer when it was even mentioned.*
*They stepped beside him and placed a hand on their shoulder.*

*Their mind wandered to their own tragedies. The feelings that came with those memories. Life had a way of being cruel, even in victory. But there was always a light beyond the shadow. And the reverse was true as well.*
Aida
"I live to serve. It's my divine purpose, I've always been happy seeing others smile. It's why I was friends with him— he grew up with a disappointed father and someone ought to be there to be proud. Otherwise... *Who will?*" He sighed. "Lately I've wondered if service is worth it. I don't see smiles on parchment, I don't see... Gratitude there. It feels as though Her Grace's people actively choose to be nasty. And to make it worse, I'm starting to grow curious as to why."

Kyneri shook his head and booked it away from the shrine. He looked at the book on the table and went back to one of the sections, flipping to staff music he'd written. "I learn about people, learn their songs, write them down and commit them to memory. All because their very essence is imprinted on the tones of the air. I've studied the natural wonders of Hyrule for Ages... But the *Supernatural* Wonders? Those are truly what I want to reveal."

He smirked and his tone grew less serious as he pulled up his broken erhu. "Unfortunately, I have to reshape this and get it sealed at a Spring again. So... Yeah, until then... You probably have a lot of questions about Minish magic."

His thoughts are scattered as he continues to contemplate his lost beloved.
Kimberly
*They thought for a moment, reexamining the conversations they'd had with those who came before. The heroes and princesses whose lives they'd already experienced through memories that felt so secondhand yet so... Viscerally bonded to their mind.*

*As their tone became a bit less intense, they realized how much of a tangent they'd gone on. They took a deep breath and nodded.*

*They hadn't done so in quite a long time, as their relationship with the Golden Goddesses and even Hylia herself was... Well, tenuous at best. They still hadn't entirely rid themselves of the contempt they'd acquired for them.*
Aida
He was nervous, having someone leave so soon on business. He wanted to know more about this one, wanted to understand his song. His ears perked as he tried to listen but... Nothing quite yet. It was almost as though the whole the being Mythos truly was was... Cloistered. Shrouded by formality.

"For now, if you feel it is best we part, I won't try and stop you. Though you'll need some assistance getting back to the ground and normal again. After all, the spell I performed had to be reengineered from burnt scraps— it's something I built from the ground up, so its exact language is something my mind comprehends best." He smiles. "I suppose that's another lesson in Minish magic— Sages and magicians of our world build their craft uniquely from one another, only bridging the gaps and learning each other's techniques through patience, cooperation, and a scientific resolve to test over and over again to iron out the wrinkles. In short, a Minish Sage's magic means nothing if not strengthened by the resolve of his peers."

*Or at least that's what Elder Basni told me,* Kyneri thought. *He always did his best to see magic as ever-changing in scope and form. I wonder what he's been up to since I've been on my assignments.*

"If you're gonna go to the springs, do you mind if I ask you a favor?" He said.
Liane
`Unbeknownst to them both, Gramps is snoring away as a pig when a stray piece of fruit catches in his throat. There's a convulsions as the pig tries to expel it before the piece goes flying and skittering across the cobblestone. Then, Vorka wakes up, slightly confused but still calm. Somewhere beyond the tree line, not to far yet certainly not close either, the air swirls.`
Kimberly
*They cocked their head to the side at the sound of his question, glancing towards the outside. Was that just in their head? Weird.*
Aida
"As much as I'd love to join you right now, the current state of my erhu would leave me defenseless and without a means to assist." He reached up and grabbed three empty jars, each with a colored ribbon around their lip. "Plus, I think your friend needs to remember what it means to be human, something that I, someone not human myself, can't easily do."

He knew he was making things up to give himself more time to fix his erhu. "I'd be more keen once my instrument is no longer broken. But until then..."

He plonked the jars down. "If you could possibly assist me with something I'm trying, I've been attempting to find a means to duplicate my magnum opus," He said, pointing to the purple bottle hanging off of his hip. "I haven't found any *Vaati's Vex* Flowers in this world, probably because there aren't any Picori Enclaves here. As such, the only means to ensure I have a supply is to try to duplicate it magically..."

He paused. "Don't feel that you *Have* To do this, but getting water from each of the springs may prove useful to the process. It's at least worth a try."
Kimberly
*They nodded, understanding why they wouldn't. Adventuring in itself was dangerous, there was little reason to endanger themselves moreso than normal.*

*They stepped out towards the edge of the bottle, motioning towards the opening.*

*They felt the ache of their facial scars.*