Lady Lilias snapped her fingers and arose from her seat, her bright orange kimono shining in front of me. She stepped forward and leaped onto the stage. She was standing in front of me, her fox ears slowly growing out of her head again alongside a huge fox tail popping out from behind her. “Well, next switch places now shall we?” I hesitantly stood up. “Hey just so you know I have not agreed to the deal yet.”
“Hmm, if you prefer Islay and her greataxe then go ahead.”
“Actually uh on second thought, I would love to hear a story from you.” I placed the fan and the towel down on the stage floor and braced myself to jump down from the stage.
“Brilliant decision.”
I jumped off the stage and landed at the same position. “Eh?” The floor was entirely white. Actually the walls were too, the ceiling as well. Are there even walls in the first place? Everything is just white. “You’re from a shrine aren’t you, from the mountain valley was it?” I looked to my right, Lady Lilias’ voice was here but her body wasn't. “Then how about a story set in nature and not this boring old city. Because after all, spending years in this place made me quite blasé to the architecture and design.”
From under my feet a blue fire spread out and rampaged across the horizon, burning the place and turning the white void into a lush green forest. The sun emerged from the blue sky, shining light over my head. The smell of nature and the taste of freedom crept into me, it was a rejuvenating experience. “Is this forest real?”
“There lived three talented animals in the Forest of Life, a playful fox,” a purple fox jumped out from a burrow in the ground, “a stuck up deer,” my eyes moved towards a grazing yellow deer, “and a small mouse.” I looked around the forest trying to see where the mouse was but it was nowhere to be found. I looked down at my hands, well i least tried to, it seemed they were far too short and my head was far too long. The world has grown in such a small time, the trees have been replaced by the grass, towering over my body. I felt so blind, in fact I could not even see the mouse, because I was the mouse.
“The three of them were fond of each other, they gathered in a small open field in the forest, taking turns performing on top of a wooden stump.” The field was quite empty, my eyes glanced all over the place, looking and gazing into the dark abyss beyond the empty field. But despite how horrifying and ominous the darkness was, my eyes kept darting back to the stump.
“The playful fox told story after story, sitting carefree on the stump.” My ears were glittering, I was dazed, such a beautiful voice coming from an animal. I can’t help but feel envy.
“The stuck up deer, pranced gracefully around the stump, acting as different animals and putting up a show.” My eyes were glittering, I was in a daze, such a talented performance. I'm feeling so much envy.
“The small mouse's performance was filled with emotion, standing stoically in the farthest part of the stump, reciting poems.” My heart was aching. So many people, watching me, hundreds of thousands of eyes all staring at my weak and vulnerable self. My mouth kept puking word after word, working it’s hardest to appear carefree. My body trudged and trudged on the stump, trying to appear graceful as much as it could. How is anybody able to admire this flawed performance, if only, if only, I had the talent of these two. These two bastards, smiling at me… Laughing, crying, and celebrating my performance. These two… these two supporters of mine. My very important friends.
“The three animals performed continuously, from dawn to dusk, they took turns showing off their creativity and heart to each other. They lived happily in the forest, surrounded by nothing but their own non-stop life of entertainment. However happiness does not last forever. The small mouse’s eyes became heavier each day. The small mouse’s voice became weaker and weaker with each poem. With each step and each sway of the mouse’s hand, its energy was drained.”
Is this what death feels like? My hands are trembling but I can't move them. My lungs felt as light as a feather but breathing was burdensome. I must be finally where I belong, I feel nothing but satisfaction. The caring fox and the caring deer, crying and weeping by my side. Please shed your tears, keep crying as much as you can because I won't be able to cry for you when the time comes. With tears dripping from my face, I was embraced by the love and warmth of my friends. I should write a poem about this. A chance of pace from the usual sad performances I perform.
“With a bright day and a windy atmosphere, the two animals in the Forest of Life bickered with each other. The fox and the deer argued repeatedly beside the stump, the resting site of their old deceased friend. With madness and grief in their head, they ventured deep into the forest. Among their days of peace and happiness, a legend had spread all over the forest even reaching their solitude field. The legend of a tree capable of returning life.”
The fox led the journey towards the tree, running across the forest with no hesitation. The deer followed unconfidently, his mind still undecided whether to continue or not. The forest grew darker and darker the deeper they ventured into the forest. In the middle of the night, they encountered two guards of the forest. Two tall flowers blocked their way, not budging and not listening to their pleads. The fox grew annoyed and bared its claws and teeth, preparing to jump the two flowers. But before the fox could attack, the deer stepped in, offering the two flowers a performance in exchange for letting them go through.”
“The deer and the fox combined their talents and experience, putting on a show of a lifetime. With the beautiful voice of the fox and the graceful acting of the deer, they were able to deliver a story out of desperation and despair that awed the two flowers. The two guards looked at eachother, their colorful petals swaying softly in the air. They nodded slowly before leaning in towards the two animals. They loved the story but they wanted something more, something much more valuable than a short memorable experience. Something unique and brimming with gold, a bundle of cash or a bag of fertilizer”
“With a weary frown, the fox reached down towards its back and bared its claws. It clamped into the purple fur of the animal and ripped off the tail in a bloody slash. The fox laughed and laughed, tears flowing strongly down its face. The tail it cleaned and massaged every single day, the tail it valued more than its own life was dirtied with blood and laying on the dirt. The fox carried the tail and gently placed it between the two guards of the forest. The two flowers danced in joy, bowing to the side, letting the two animals continue on their journey.”
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“They ventured even deeper into the forest. The trees around them hunched over due to the weight of flowers sprouting on them. The grass on the ground could not be seen by either of the two animals, a field of colorful flowers had sprouted over the land. With empty stomachs and tired legs, they arrived at the location of the tree. In the very middle of the Forest of Life, a massive white tree stood proudly surrounded by nothing but its own roots. The branches were filled with hundreds of fruits, each one capable of returning life to a being that has long been gone.”
The deer glanced up and began to think of a way to reach the fruit. The deer walked back and forth in front of the tree, stepping on the roots of the tree, its body bobbing up and down. Noticing the pattern on the ground, the deer’s head was filled with a special idea. The deer gracefully leaped into the sky, jumping several feet into the air. However, the deer landed back onto the ground with no fruit in its mouth. Seeing that the branches were far too high, the deer resorted to using its thick and strong brutish strength. It slammed into the trunk of the tree over and over again.”
“The fox rushed in between the deer and the tree, stopping the deer. The fox proposed that the deer jumped again while tossing the fox upwards. The fox could not bear to see the deer injure itself. The deer nodded and readied itself once more, with grace and now teamwork on their side, the deer and the fox soured through the sky. But it wasn't enough, the fox was just short of the fruit each time. Fearing that they could never get the fruit, the deer made its resolve. It walked gracefully towards the trunk of the tree and smiled widely. It slammed its head violently into the tree, snapping off the massive elegant antlers it was so proud of. The antlers it treasured and proudly showed up whenever it could, the antlers that mattered more than anything to the deer.”
“With the two massive long antlers, in the hands of the fox, the deer and the fox jumped one final time to the sky.”
Aaaahh?! My eyes soon opened again and I was back into the body of the small mouse. My heart was beating rapidly and my body felt like a couple years younger. Two figures stood over me, looking at me with wide and pure smiles. “The three animals all lived happily ever after, the playful fox, the smart deer, and the lovely mouse. All performing for all eternity until the very end of the world.” Eternity? Forever? Isn't that too much? Without answering my questions, the fox and the deer burst into flames. The ground then soon followed alongside the forest, all burnt into a crisp by a blue fire.
“Lotus, I have one simple request from you. Please save my friend, the lovely mouse, from his immense sadness.” With a single whisper in my ear, my body fell down into the ground like a doll without life.
The Three Animals of Theater
Return the unity between the three animals
“Ahh… my friends are gone.” I was back in the Den of Stories, specifically the outside. I turned to face the door but it was closed. I guessed that must have been all the hint I was gonna get from lady Lilias. “Oh my Rosity. I need a breather.” I slouched over the door of the theater. Who knew a story can tire me out this much… “
Status…
Lotus
SAINT Generosity Karma: 320 ===SKILLS===
Talisman Creation (Lv.1)
Sharp Eyes (Lv.1)
<<
Flames Disciple (Lv1)
“Taboo? What an unfitting thing for a saint. Well, I wonder what Flame’s Disciple is.”
Hmm? Ahh I seem to be on fire. Such a vibrant flame dancing across my body. Such a potent smell of flesh and ash, I’m turning into a bright star aren’t I… huh… Such loud screams. It’s terrifying. I can’t… I- uh.
—
“AAAAAHHHH! What the hell?!” Where am I? Seriously twice in a day? I have got to get water on me at all times. So many sudden combustions is seriously terrifying isn't it?”
“Greetings there.”
-----Mental Blockage Mental Blockage-----
Your Vision has been altered to appear more Humane
There was a dapper young man wearing round glasses in front of me. He stood behind a long wooden desk filled to the brim with paper and binders. “What brings you here? I don’t remember inviting an interloper like you.”
“I don't know… I guess I’m here because of Lady Lilias.”
“Lilias?” He phased through the table and began rummaging through the papers. “I’m quite certain that name brings a sense of familiarity to my noggin. Ahh but before that. Why is a follower of that fiend here? I personally find it quite unacceptable for a Saint of hers to enter my domain.” He ripped a piece of paper into shreds and ignited it into flames. The fire spread instantly through the whole table, covering the whole table and himself in fire.
“Fiend? I have you know you glasses wearing prick that my God is not a fiend!”
“Bwah, come on now.” he sped through out of the fire, shoving his arm forward and wrapping it around my neck. “It’s merely just some light name calling, no need to raise your voice.” He fixed his glasses and lifted me by the neck. “This is why I never talked to the saints of other gods, so much work and so much bootlicking coming from them. How funny that when you become a saint you get brainwashed to love your god more and more. But you were probably a lunatic in love with that fiend already before you became a saint so I guess it’s not that funny… You Are quite silent.”
I repeatedly tapped his arm, trying to stop him from choking me to death. Actually it might have been too late already, I’m pretty sure I might just not be capable of death in this realm or place. But damn, I am still capable of experiencing so much pain. There’s a burning sensation in my throat, it’s like the feeling of warmth you get when you puke but a million times worse.
“Oh, I seem to have forgotten. You need that throat of yours to not be squeezed in order to speak.”
“...”
‘...”
“Well.” He released his grasp, dropping me into the floor. “I see who Lilias is now, a long time disciple of mine. “I still don’t get why you're here, but looking at your soul I can see you have become a disciple of mine. So welcome to the family I guess. Tell Rosity that Flame choked her saint for 5 minutes and 27 seconds will you. I need to rile her up so she pays me a visit. That inept god has not been answering my invites for game night..”
“I’ll do just that…”
“Good, oh and so you wont leave empty handed, here’s something for you. Here’s a couple things to get you started, courtesy of being Rosity’s saint and all.”
-----Mental Blockage Mental Blockage-----
Your Vision has been altered to appear more Humane
“That’s disappointing, she’s seriously doing that. What a controlive, protective hag.” He spun me around and kicked me out of the small room. My body landed on a pit of fire, burning me into ash.