A Beastly Figure - ??? AU
Not gonna lie - I have no idea what AU is this. All y’all need to know is that there is a poll at the end and, mind you, it’s to decide the order of the four other parts. Not to exclusively select.
Also, this is a dialogue-less (or low amount of dialogue) kind of story with the MC being gender-flexible - something that I figure I’d try out - so enjoy!
It’s been a while since the land of Tel’dra graced me with their calming winds and singing birds. A good change of pace from having salty waters smack gently against my cheeks, or having snow kiss along my skin.
Being the offspring of a travelling merchant has many benefits - to explore as many realms as the eyes can see, see diverse cultures of different civilizations, experience adventures beyond the horizon.
But like anyone who ventures through the lands, there’s always a down side. One of them is the danger of exploring vicious, hostile areas. My mother had been a victim of such danger.
Since then, my father; a retired hero who settled to being a merchant after pledging his undying devotion to my mother, has made sure I’m safe from these dangers and help me in honing the skills I now know best.
So it probably didn’t surprise him when I asked to collect the ingredients we need for our new shop - the first home we’ll make after travelling for decades - on my own. He was reluctant, but he allowed it so.
It was a little lonely, I’ll admit. But the experience to harvest on my own is proving to have a nice effect on me.
For one thing, I have freedom to roam and go as far as I can. And, going against my father’s warning, I venture into the deeper parts of the forest that everyone has been whispering about.
There were some stone arches that the people in town have talk about. Gossips of how still and quiet the forest has gotten lately, as if something inhabits somewhere deep in the center of the grassy groves recently.
Perhaps I have a sense of curiosity for the unknown from my mother - or I’m just seeking for one more excitement before living a stable, grounded life of a store owner. That being said, the sound of crinkling grass under the soles of my shoes and the soft gleam of sunlight peeking between the leaves of the towering trees are a good start to my exploration.
A trail of peddles catch my eyes. From what the villagers have told, the stone arches are found from following trailed peddles, set down by fairies...or so the tale goes.
Hopefully, the herbs dad asked for will be along the way - the forest has been bountiful so far, thanks to the Season of Plenty.
My feet follow the neatly aligned peddles, as if to say the road ahead shall be clear and smooth-sailing. But the further I go in, the more the peddles scatter. Some would lean to the left, others would lean to the right. But they’re still in the same, straight line.
Until the stone arch.
Plucking some of the wild flowers and lavenders growing around, I scan along the area - just more trees with sunlight giving it a bright view of my surroundings.
But when I look into the stone arch, what lies beyond it - it’s like staring into a shaded area. Perhaps there are more trees beyond that side than out here?
Which means there’s more herbs - maybe even rarer ones.
...
...
Well.
Dad did say we’ll need as much ingredients as possible to have a fresh start on the new shop.
Clutching onto my satchel, I make my way through the stone arch.
And just like that, the air changes. It’s as if I stepped into another world. Not in a way that’s bad. But it feels...different. Potent. Spiritually powering. Standing before me, surrounding, are each stones that stand imposingly rigid with the exact same and different symbols. Runic design carved into the stony pillars that protect this patch of land.
They weren’t here before.
Is this a stone circle?
A sound catches my ear and I turn to my left. I didn’t catch what fell, but I do notice the littlest of rustling among the small field of flowers. Making my way over, I squat down and reach to grope the ground beneath the shield of the flower petals. Slowly, I skim my fingers against nature’s surface...Until my fingertips touch something solid, something...man-made. I wrap my fingers around and sure enough, it’s as small as a pendant and wooden upon materials; you’re not a travelling merchant if you’re not familiar with the basic items. Pendants are often trinkets that my father and I enchant with protective charms - something to help villagers work on their farm without sudden attacks from beasts or monsters.
I furrow my brows. What’s a pendant doing here though? I pull my hand back, bringing the item up and turn my hand to have the pendant face me as I uncurl my fingers to reveal.
The pendant I pick up is...
Z | H | D | A | ? |
(The link of the poll is on pendant. Choose wisely - 10th of August shall be when the poll is finalized for me to write each RO scenario in the order of the votes!)