“You’re searching for something you’ve lost, not a place. Not a person. Yourself.”
The bard smiles faintly and stands in front of you before speaking. “My name is Ventus. It’s nice seeing you again, Aqua~”
“You don’t remember your past, but I know it. I know where you came from and why you fell into this world. I can tell you everything. In exchange for a favour.” He continues, his voice now serious in contrast to his previously playful tone.
He gestures towards the west; towards the forest you came from. “I have a friend that is in dire need of help. Felia, one of the guardians that protect Lexis is trapped in her domain. I need your help to free her.” Fuelled by vague memories and the call for help, you agree to his terms. He clearly is not just an average bard, and you need answers to your questions. And so, you embark on the journey towards the forest.
The journey is long and arduous. As you travel across the forest, you are met with various structures and mechanisms. Halfway through the journey, a mechanism that appears to be a puzzle blocks the pathway that leads to Felia’s chamber.
“I’ve tried to solve these puzzles plenty of times already, but I couldn’t figure it out. I can’t go around it, nor can I fly above it too since the passage is sealed from above.” He explains in an annoyed tone. Despite him casually mentioning the ability to fly, it feels oddly normal and even nostalgic.
Each puzzle leads to another, with each one increasingly more difficult than the last. Despite that however, you somehow remember the answers to each puzzle without even figuring out any tricks or challenges. Only after ten separate puzzles, do you and Ventus reach the innermost chamber. There, a wolf with a sword in its mouth is seen fighting with shadowy figures.
“Felia!” Ventus shouts out. By instinct, you recognise that someone is in danger and you rush into the fight to protect them. As if an answer to a prayer long forgotten, a radiant sword materialises in your hand to help you fight alongside what appears your ally. Only with your help does Felia manage to beat the shadows.
[“What was that? They looked like humanoids!”]
[“What was that? I’m sure they was humans!”]