(Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 14)

[Oldmansour]

>"I know. I don't like it either."
>Try a grin. "Didn't make your appetite less healthy though, eh."

[DracoOmega]

>"I know. I don't like it either."
>Try a grin. "Didn't make your appetite less healthy though, eh."

>"Well, it was tasty," she says, seeming almost a little sheepish.

[Oldmansour]

>Do we know of a place nearby where we are to acquire travel gear?

[DracoOmega]

>Do we know of a place nearby where we are to acquire travel gear?

>You haven't yet gone shopping for such a thing in Val Razua, and did not specifically notice any such shop along your route. Of course, you're certain you could find such a thing if you apply yourself.

[Oldmansour]

>Presumably we didn't feel like dessert?

[DracoOmega]

>Presumably we didn't feel like dessert?

>You think you could pass today, honestly.

[Oldmansour]

>Then let's just let her finish off.

[DracoOmega]

>Then let's just let her finish off.

>You give Kyouko another minute to polish off the last of her desert. There is an awkward silence once she does; it's clear the matter you evaded earlier is weighing on her, though she seems uncertain what to do next.

[Oldmansour]

>Guess that makes two of us.
>How far is it between here and the Guild hall?

[DracoOmega]

>Guess that makes two of us.
>How far is it between here and the Guild hall?

>At least a half-hour, you think. Maybe more?

[Oldmansour]

>"Well now. Were you working, or have somewhere to be? I need to stop by the Seeker's Guildhall before I go anywhere else."

[DracoOmega]

>"Well now. Were you working, or have somewhere to be? I need to stop by the Seeker's Guildhall before I go anywhere else."

>"I have free time," she says.

[Oldmansour]

>"I need to visit the Guildhall, and then see about resupplying myself. You can come with me, we can talk along the way. If you want."

[DracoOmega]

>"I need to visit the Guildhall, and then see about resupplying myself. You can come with me, we can talk along the way. If you want."

>"I'd... like to know what that mark on your face was, and why you feel you need to hide it. ...and why you feel you need to apologize to me about it," she adds in a fainter tone.

[Oldmansour]

>"Then we can find somewhere a bit more private on the way, and I'll tell you."
>"And you won't like it."

[DracoOmega]

>"Then we can find somewhere a bit more private on the way, and I'll tell you."
>"And you won't like it."

>Kyouko's frown deepens; it actually hurts a little, to see that kind of expression on her face, and to know you're only going to make it worse. She nods silently.

[Oldmansour]

>Silent Kyouko. There's a heck of a thing.
>But there's no point staring at her frowning face, let's do what we said we were doing.

[DracoOmega]

>Silent Kyouko. There's a heck of a thing.
>But there's no point staring at her frowning face, let's do what we said we were doing.

>The two of you depart the restaurant and make for the Seeker's guildhall. Your gait is lethargic and weary - the coffee seems to have done nothing at all - but if Kyouko notices, she must be filing it under things to ask later. You're in two minds whether her presence beside you makes you feel better or worse; she's a friendly face, but also one you are likely about to make very sad, and even in the present circumstances, that feels like a shame. Maybe you can avoid that for a little longer. The streets of Val Razua are always crowded, after all, and this is not a quiet part of town. But scarcely ten minutes have gone by before Kyouko points a finger down a shadowed alleyway as you walk past it - windowless and empty of everything but litter and a few broken shipping crates.
>"Is that private enough?" she asks.

[Oldmansour]

>Sample the air coming from there with our nose.
>Presuming it doesn't stink horribly, "I think it'll do."

[DracoOmega]

>Sample the air coming from there with our nose.
>Presuming it doesn't stink horribly, "I think it'll do."

>It doesn't seem particularly worse than anywhere else in the city. You give Kyouko the okay.
>"It'll do," she says as she steps into the alley.

[Oldmansour]

>Follow.
>And once we're alone, "I guess I should start with that apology I owe you. I didn't tell you everything about why I'm her in Val Razua. I didn't lie, but... I didn't want to give you bad news, either."

[DracoOmega]

>Follow.
>And once we're alone, "I guess I should start with that apology I owe you. I didn't tell you everything about why I'm her in Val Razua. I didn't lie, but... I didn't want to give you bad news, either."

>You follow Kyouko into the alleyway, then once you feel you're a safe enough distance from the road, start to speak.
>She frowns. "Bad news?"

[Oldmansour]

>"You remember that spider youkai I told you about, the one that damn near killed me?"

[DracoOmega]

>"You remember that spider youkai I told you about, the one that damn near killed me?"

>"The one you talked to Sumiko about?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Yeah, that one. Well, she did more than use her claws and webs on me."
>"She poisoned me."

[DracoOmega]

>"Yeah, that one. Well, she did more than use her claws and webs on me."
>"She poisoned me."

>"Poisoned you?" Kyouko's voice is pensive, as if waiting for the more dreadful follow-up to this statement.

[Oldmansour]

>"That's actually what I brought me to Sumiko. The poison that spider used is a blight of some kind, it's supernatural in nature. And what brought me to Val Razua at all was the search for a cure. And I HAVE found one too, at long last. That's why I'm carrying that potted plant around with me. The bittercress flower is the last ingredient I need to make the medicine."

[DracoOmega]

>"That's actually what I brought me to Sumiko. The poison that spider used is a blight of some kind, it's supernatural in nature. And what brought me to Val Razua at all was the search for a cure. And I HAVE found one too, at long last. That's why I'm carrying that potted plant around with me. The bittercress flower is the last ingredient I need to make the medicine."

>"That's... that's good, right?" she asks. "I mean, you found one, and she's willing to trade it to you, right?"

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "That's right. Now I just have to hope Ringo comes through for me."

[DracoOmega]

>Nod. "That's right. Now I just have to hope Ringo comes through for me."

>"Hope Ringo comes through for you," she agrees, then pauses. "Wait, so that plant wasn't for some lady back in Easthaven?"