A Gathering of Guardians - Prologue (Chapter 16) - Etrian Odyssey Nexus Fanfiction
AN: Another chapter done @_@ I’ll try to wrap the prologue up soon. After that, I might take a small break and maybe work on some oneshots. Though, the second saga to TTS is also calling me. So…I’ll take a break from writing a novel by writing another novel. Sounds about right.
I’ll never get over how gorgeous and just genuinely fun to get lost in the dungeons of the Etrian Odyssey series have been.
I adore the use of flower imagery in a diverse range of environments; even barren wastelands have some signs of plantlife, even if it’s dead plantlife, and environments totally inhospitable to plantlife have some kind of pseudoflora, and I love how subtle difference in those environmental details were actually used to mark things like secret passages. And o, the attention to light, peaking thru canopies and water and glass and cracks in the wall… and how everything just glows~!
I love how the first three vertical labyrinths all had their own internal themes of progression: climates getting warmer as you go deeper, until you reach the warm beating heart of the labyrinth; seasons passing, the dungeon dying and being reborn from winter to spring, as you climb higher until you breach the changeless, Eden-like Forbidden Wood, atop a flying castle (playing with themes taken from Daoist, Wuxing/”5 phases” theory); and descending thru the water’s depths, ocean floor, thermal vents, and ancient sunken abyss… It all gives a sense of distinct escalation –of impending doom, like a teetering tower, growing unsteadier still with every move toward progress.
And although it’s a bigger subject all its own, I’ll never get over how well thought out and just meticulously placed all the enemies are in their habitats and the clever details of how they interact with their environment and their cohabitants; from tree monsters throwing acorn monsters, to monsters eating one another for health, to FOE with unique movement styles like flying or swimming across gaps impassable by the player. It’s not just good game-logic, it’s good world building and reinforcement. It’s not about piling on history or exposition, but in reinforcing the structural integrity of the world– everywhere you look the world adhere’s to its own logic, and it is sturdy! It’s exactly the kind of world that you can get happily lost in.
sooooo i figured you’d be interested in this: an unused boy has been spotted in the nexus section of the eov/eox artbook!
def gives off some sorta scientist vibe…though also seems as if he needs sleep. those are some bad eyebags he’s got there.
also yknow fluffy hair is always a bonus
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HE’S ADORABLE! Ahh, I wonder what role he was supposed to play. He looks like a scientist indeed. Perhaps a young mad scientist! I might have to stick him somewhere in my Nexus series because he’s so cute!
Ok, so I went waltzing into Picrew because I desperately needed a distraction and to relax from life in general. And created a bunch of Lynus and Axel pics. Don’t know what I’ll do with them. They might be useful for story book covers or something. Or I’ll just stare at them just because. Let me know which one you like.
The last two are my personal fave. Lynus has the “I woke up like this” look and Axel is just so extra.
Note: I actually did it. I wrote something. These two are becoming one of my new favourite pairings. I hadn’t originally planned them to be a pair but after seeing how well they work together, it now makes total sense. I’ll try a fic from Mercy’s POV next. Maybe. If inspiration strikes. We’ll see. Let me know what you think of this pair in any case.
Characters: Nadiel (young male shogun ♂) and Mercy (alt younger medic *male portrait* ♀).
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"We're going to need to camp overnight. Everyone cool with that?"
As the others of the party agree, either enthusiastically or with grumbling annoyance, Nadiel turns to look over toward Mercy. And finds the practical medic nodding her head also. Though she wears her calming smile and her flawless express that of peacefulness, Nadiel can see a hint of hesitation in her eyes. He wants to ask her if she is really ok with their impromptu overnight camping, but he knows what the answer will be. She will claim that she is and that there's no need to fuss over her. And certainly not to fuss over her in front of the others.
Mercy has a great aversion to causing worry or troubles for others.
Nadiel knows full well why Mercy is hesitant to camp. The last time she had spent an entire night in the labyrinth was when she and Nadiel had been separated from their prince and chased by a band of assassins ready to finish off the remaining stragglers of their prince's party. But then there was just the two of them and they had spent more than one night roughing it with primitive camping.
Nadiel himself doesn't remember much of that time to be honest. He had been too busy on high alert for any danger or menace. In the Lush Woodlands at the time, there were plenty of nasties within the thick foliage around them. That in itself had been their saving grace as well as their menace. The assassins that followed them also had to content with the raging bears that inhabit that forest. And those bears were not fond of aggressive intruders.
This time is different, though. And Mercy herself is likely to understand that and that is why she agrees to the idea.
Waterfall Woods are vastly different to Lush Woodlands. But the sentiment stays the same; they were in the labyrinth, overnight, surrounded by monsters. And possibly anything else that wishes to trek the labyrinth at night, too. And the thought of those assassins returning is always at the back of their minds. Their surroundings however is a small reminder of home, too.
A place they may or may not return to...
It doesn't matter now. Nadiel is with his sister and the sister of his prince. He is by Mercy's side, too. Mercy is safe now, with him and with their new, very large, and incredibly protective guild.
Seeing that there is no other choice, Nadiel sets about helping his party members ready themselves for a overnight stay. Find a secluded spot that does have an escape point. Space to lay down a quick campsite. Wood for a fire. Food to cook over said fire. They all move quickly so they have everything they need before night is fully upon them.
As night finally falls around them, Nadiel's gaze wanders over to Mercy once more. She is the one who takes on the role of cook for the night, her medical coat cast aside as she rolls up her sleeves. Everyone else idly paces the boundaries of their campsite. Keeping one eye on their surroundings, and the other on each other.
And as they move about, Mercy is jumping ever so slightly at each noise from the wilderness around them. Each time she tenses, she purposely relaxes her posture and seem to mutter a few words of frustration toward herself.
With her dark pink shirt, and blue trousers that sit snugly on her hips and fits perfectly against her legs, Mercy has always valued practicality over style. Her hair long enough to be placed in a small ponytail and out of her eyes. She carries only the essentials in her blue medical bag. She is calm, practical, and resourceful. And keeps many of her concerns to herself.
Her greatest fear is to be a burden. Someone who is in the way and causes trouble for others. She never wants to be the one responsible for the pain of another.
That is why she's reluctant to admit how nervous she really is. But Nadiel can tell. And he's fairly certain that the others of their party can tell as well. Thankfully they do not say anything. They know she would deny it and try harder to keep her unease hidden.
Nadiel walks over to her, purposely loudly so not to frighten her. Mercy looks up from what she's doing to give her one of her sweet little smiles. He can tell that there is a hint of gratitude to her smile however.
"Food is almost ready," Mercy says.
"Are you all right?" Nadiel asks instead.
Mercy pauses in her cooking for a short while before a short sigh passes her lips. And surprisingly she decides to be honest with him. "I'm...as fine as I can be, I suppose. I've been camping overnight in a labyrinth before. Just not after..."
Not after they were stranded and then hunted by assassins for five days and nights straight.
"This is different, though," she continues, more so attempting to reassure herself. "We have an Ariadne Thread and we have companions."
And they have companions waiting for them back in Maginia. Should they be any longer than two days, they will come looking for them. His sister, Opal, likely to be at the forefront of that search party.
"And you're not injured now...because of me."
Nadiel utters a sigh. He had received multiple injuries while attempting to protect his prince before being forced to go on the run with Mercy. The gentle medic blamed herself for many of his injuries. Less than half of the injuries Nadiel had sustain during that first battle against the assassins occurred while he tried to protect His Highness. The others were from when he tried and succeeded for the most part to protect Mercy.
Their nights lost within the Lush Woodlands were significantly harder on Mercy. She is not an offensive fighter. But she had to take on the role of strategist and survivalist as they laid low and hid from those assassins. Nadiel's only goal was to keep her safe, uncaring of his injuries. Her goal was to keep him alive with the bare essentials that she had to do so.
Nadiel abruptly closes the distance between him and Mercy and pulls the pink-haired medic into a hug. When he feels her tremble softly, he holds her tightly as he leans down and rests his head on her shoulder. He whispers into her ear all the things that wasn't her fault during that time. How he was alive because of her. How he had reunited with his sister because of her. How he got through that dark time because of her.
Mercy wraps her arms around him in return and just nods her head quietly. Her grip on him tightens every once in a while, as if she's attempting to reassure herself that what he's saying is true.
He'll tell her as many times as she needs to hear it, until she believes it.
"Hey, Love-birds; food ready?"
Nadiel reluctantly pulls away from Mercy to shoot a glare in their guildmate's direction. He can easily see that they were busy.
Mercy flushes lightly as she takes a half step back. "Ah, yes. Food's ready. Sorry for the wait."
She gives Nadiel one of her sweet little smiles once again as she hands him a plate of food.
Nadiel retrieves his food and moves to take a seat on the grass as Mercy hands out food to everyone else. After she's done, she takes her own plate and sits down on the grass right next to him. Staying as close as possible. Now, with everyone sitting down, chatting idly and laughing, it helps lighten Mercy's silent unease further.
With Sinclair launching into one of his long-winded stories, Nadiel slips off his coat and drapes it around Mercy's shoulders. Again, she gives him one of her sweet little smiles. As the night darkens, Mercy snuggles closer to Nadiel, seeking both warm and comfort from him. He wraps an arm around her shoulders as she leans her head against his.
The bright fire, the carefree chatter, the knowledge that they could leave any time they wish was reassuring. Comforting in a way.
That time they had spent running for their lives was over. And it won't happen again.
Mercy tilts her head back to place a sudden kiss to Nadiel's cheek. As he turns to look at her, she gazes at him softly. "As long as I'm with you I'm safe."
Nadiel tightens his arm around her shoulders to pull her closer to him, and allowing him to kiss her softly but deeply. She melts in his arms and he has to remind himself that they have others present, even though they were currently amused by Sinclair's wild tale.
Yes, she was safe. And he will do whatever it takes to ensure that she stays safe.
Yeah, sorry for the absence. Apparently, I had a mild case of Pneumonia. Didn't feel very fucking mild, I can tell you. I'm feeling a bit more functional now. Just wanted to give an update after disappearing off the face of the earth for a while. Regardless, I hope the next time I resurface I'll have a fic or a response to those EO Prompts of Rose's.
I really want to do another Nadiel/Mercy fic. I might concentrate on those two for motivation.
Until next time. Hopefully I won’t be a month later :/
Don’t apologize for writing something “self indulgent”. Fiction is supposed to be fun. It’s your chance to bring all the things you love to life, exactly the way you want them to be. This is one of the main reasons fanfiction is so popular, because fic writers allow themselves to indulge in all of their favorite tropes (which happen to be many readers’ favorites too). If your writing is “self indulgent,” that just means you’re writing something you actually enjoy–and, chances are, that other people would enjoy also.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Walk in the direction of your fear.” Now, it’s time to write in the direction of your self indulgence.
A Gathering of Guardians - Prologue (Chapter 12) - Etrian Odyssey Nexus Fanfiction
AN: If someone was to say that I’m getting carried away with this novel, I couldn’t confidently deny it. But I mean, it’s filled with all my favourite boys. Of course I’m getting carried away. So, enjoy~
This one sounds interesting. My immediate thought is that the character is a zodiac or someone who is a seer or psychic. They foresee their own death, but can’t see who their murderers are. The vision either has them cloaked in shadows or they are literally wearing cloaks.
The psychic character is resigned to their fate, stating that it must come to past. My guild(s) however are adamant that it doesn’t have to. So instead of getting ready to investigate a murder, they become bodyguards to the psychic character.
Two of your characters running from a FOE while holding hands. The one taking the lead is simply trying to look for a safe place to hide. The other, however, is inwardly panicking and blushing at the fact that they’re holding hands!
I’ve been laid flat due to the flu. Worst I’ve had in a long time. I think I’m over the worst of it now. Moving on; these prompts should prove to be a good distraction. I’ll list the pairings in order of Character1 (the one taking the lead) and Character2 (the one being pulled).
Thorne/Jonah – Especially before they start officially dating. I can also imagine Thorne sincerely not realising that Jonah is blushing the first-time grabbing Jonah’s hand. But after he realises it, he uses any excuse to grab Jonah’s hand and “lead him to safety.”
Nairn/Althea – Poor Allie is confused. She knows she should be focusing on escaping, but she can only concentrate on how tightly Nairn has a hold of her hand and how determined he is to get her somewhere safe.
Tyvon/Charity – She’s awfully quiet for a while which concerns Tyvon at first. He didn’t realise that he had grabbed a hold of Charity’s hand and that he’s still holding it, even after they reached safety.
Garek/Skylark – I’d say this pair, too, but I honestly see Garek just grabbing Skylark and throwing him over his shoulder as he runs. Unfortunately, due to that, Skylark has a good view of his ass ahem, the monster that’s following them.
Jamal/Oceana – Oceana is surprised that Jamal immediately reached out to snare her hand to drag her to safety. And Jamal himself is confused as to why he did that also. Oceana is more than capable of getting herself to safety.
Harlan/Celeste – He grabs her hand all the time to stop her from wandering, so it’s no big deal now.
Daniel/Ryland – Ryland not exactly blushing, but definitely focused in on the point that Daniel is holding his hand and leading him somewhere. Can’t understand why though since he’s a fighter and all.
Theron/Alexis – I can see this happening whenever Alexis tries to be the martyr he is. Alexis blushing from both embarrassment and guilt while Theron is sorta pissed off.
Lilybeth/Ramon – Poor Lilybeth trying and failing to stop Ramon from doing something reckless. She does get him to come along eventually after promising him something.
