Outside Survey Point 23 Camp
Endless Mountain Forests
Afternoon
Afternoon, Stretching Mountain Forests, Outside Survey Point 23 Camp
You are inserting the last probe from your backpack into the towering tree, set to record Punishing density and a bunch of other data.
You grab Selena's outstretched arm, using her to steady yourself as you pull out of the thick foliage and back onto the secluded path.
Thanks for going to all this trouble. I really should be the one doing this.
With a slight smile, Selena's fingertips glide across the tactical tablet, waking up and tweaking the operational parameters of the probes they've placed along their route.
I didn't expect you to be the one sent here. After all, we haven't exactly run into any major threats—the archaeological team just followed protocol and put in a formal request for support after hitting some anomalies.
Plus, since I'm already on the team, the request's priority level should be pretty low.
As you talk, you move closer to Selena and reach over, taking the lead to help her finish up the operations on the bottom of the screen.
Ah, thanks... So, why did you take on this mission anyway?
As you try to pull your finger away, Selena presses it down, firmly gripping it like a stylus and awkwardly keeps operating the tablet with it.
You feel a momentary pause in the sensation against your finger. Selena turns her head, blinking as if nothing happened.
Hmm? Because of me?
Hm...
You feel a momentary lull in the sensation against your finger. Selena turns her head, blinking with an enigmatic half-smile.
Surely it isn't because of me?
...Huh?
The second you finish speaking, your finger gets a playful tug, almost like a comeback.
After a brief moment of playful chaos, Selena smooths down her slightly messy hair and hands you the tablet.
Everything's all set up. Could you look it over for me—keep a sharp eye out and don't miss any suspicious details.
You exchange a smile as you take the tablet, then you put your casual demeanor aside to focus on the task at hand. Seeing this, Selena's face also turns serious.
You are swiping through the screens on the tablet, one by one, finally landing on a page crammed with data.
The spreadsheet tracks the fluctuations in Punishing density. However, the data points are recorded with one decimal place fewer than the standard values, which makes the entries look more condensed.
This is precisely the problem the archaeological team has been grappling with lately, and the main reason we asked Babylonia for help.
While working in this mountain range, our archaeological team has run into high-intensity Punishing fluctuations on more than one occasion.
At first, we were on high alert since such fluctuations typically coincide with large numbers of Corrupted or Hetero-Creature sightings...
As she speaks, Selena taps a few times on her tablet, bringing up a collection of images on the screen.
But we haven't actually found any Hetero-Creatures or Corrupted whatsoever.
The few combat encounters we've recorded so far have only been against enemies that wandered in from other areas.
Have you ever come across anything like this before, Conductor?
As the images cycle through, you scan them, trying to remember a similar situation from your past, but nothing comes to mind.
Selena shakes her head, a look of resignation on her face.
I was thinking the exact same thing, but the archaeological team's work always goes hand in hand with risk, and we're also right on the doorstep of the conservation area.
Without clear cause or danger, the person in charge isn't willing to pull the plug on the site.
But just to be safe, they did take my suggestions to set up probes, widen the monitoring area, and ask Babylonia for help.
You close the image gallery, switch the screen back to the spreadsheet, and weigh the situation carefully.
Eleven times...
As she speaks, Selena switches the spreadsheet to filtering mode and sorts by time. Just like that, the information straightens itself out and a pattern emerges.
All anomalies happen between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM standard time, fitting neatly into that two-hour slot.
After muttering the time, you both look up at the same instant.
Startled birds take flight, sending rustling echoes through the mountains before vanishing into the amber horizon.
You just stare at the horizon for a long time until a blast of mountain wind whips past, shaking Selena back to reality.
No need to worry, though. After all...
Clang—
Before the echo even fades, an impossibly delicate bell tone chimes in your ears. It's otherworldly and fleeting, shimmering between close by and far away.
Suddenly, ripples, like on water, unfold right before your eyes. The scenery hasn't changed, but something's definitely off.
!?
Conductor, did you feel that?
Selena instinctively steps forward, positioning herself protectively in front of you.
Same here...
Clang—
The bell clangs again.
Eee——ahh——eee——
A rhythmic, melodic chant accompanies the sound.
Your gaze follows it to a small procession emerging from behind the lush mountain forest, stepping onto the bluestone path.
It's a wooden palanquin, seemingly floating in mid-air, with a masked shrine maiden walking both in front of and behind it.
Suddenly, the chanting stops dead. The procession halts, and the shrine maiden at the front raises a ritual bell, swaying it rhythmically.
Shrine candles burning bright, the palanquin brings a visitor to these mountains—
Sacred music blessing a union, as demons and spirits hold their breath—
The melody is bizarre—it's somewhat musical but feels more like an order, demanding that any "person" who hears it abide by the rules within its verses.
As the chant ends, the shrine maiden at the front seems to get an unseen command. She suddenly spins around, her masked gaze cutting right through to the two of you.
Something's off, Conductor, we should...
Before Selena can get her warning out, something shows up behind them. Two leaves drift down from midair and land gently on their foreheads.
The whole thing happens without a hint of malice, leaving her speechless for a moment. The next second, you take Selena's hand.
...
Selena freezes, receiving the signal, and watches the scene before her without moving.
On the other side, the masked maiden's form wavers, her movements showing confusion. The anomaly she'd just sensed suddenly vanishes from her sight, leaving only the rustling of leaves in its wake.
?
...
After a long moment, the maiden gets back into position, and the procession starts up again.
Only after the entire procession vanishes back into the mountain mist do the two finally spin around, dying to see who exactly lent them a hand.
...
What greets them is a fox about half a person's height. She sits up straight, her amber eyes gently flitting about as she takes in the human and Construct before it.
Then, the fox gingerly opens her mouth. What comes out isn't the cry of a wild animal, but instead—
You're devotees from down the mountain, aren't you?
The fox's voice is clear and delicate, the end of its question naturally rising like the chirping of mountain birds.
?!
Both Selena and you instinctively tense up, the mechanisms and weapons beneath your clothing rustling as you brace yourselves. Even in this world of strange wonders, a beast speaking human language still crosses a line.
The fox barely reacts to their alarm. She merely tilts her head, her delicate face displaying a surprisingly human-like expression of concern.
You should get off this mountain quickly. If you're here to pray for good fortune in love, it'd be better to come back later.
What's going on here?
So many things are going on! Hmm... I can't quite explain it all right now...
As she speaks, the fox's ears twitch slightly as if detecting something. Her gaze drifts past Selena toward the bluestone path behind.
Clang—
In the distance, bells ring out again.
Oh no—
More people are coming! Let's talk on the go!
With that, the fox leaps into the underbrush, glancing back to urge them along.
Hurry, this way!
Endless Mountain Forests
Dusk
Dusk settles over the endless mountain forests.
The fox leads Selena and you off the beaten bluestone path, taking you down a secluded trail where tracks are barely visible.
Selena, [player name]... I've remembered your names!
I'm Yun Ye, the Goddess of Union.
I'm the deity you've been looking for! Heh, matchmaking, forming unions, blessing contracts—you name it, I can do it!
As she's talking, the fox suddenly freezes, as if something just hit her. Her animated little face falls, and her steps lose their spring.
No, that's wrong... I can't do that anymore...
Does this have something to do with what happened on the mountain?
Ugh, yes... I was driven out of the shrine by the priest, and now I'm just your average fox spirit...
The fox looks utterly dejected, and it's hard to tell if someone took her spot or if it's something else entirely.
I don't know...
Yun Ye shakes her head vigorously, her mood picking up a bit, but her mouth is still downturned, a confused look plastered on her little face.
We used to have fun together all the time... but then all of a sudden, he just snatched away my divine token without a word.
Before I got the boot, I did overhear the maidens gossiping... they were saying the priest wants to tie the knot with the Heavenly Path...
But why... I just can't wrap my head around it...
Watching the fox mutter in confusion, Selena instinctively glances at you. Your eyes meet, both equally bewildered.
The Goddess of Union, shrine priest, divine position of worship, Heavenly Path... these aren't everyday terms, and they have little to do with Punishing. They sound more like something out of myths and legends.
Goddess of Union... shrine...
With that thought, Selena's eyes light up.
You know this is the archaeological team's second time in Conservation Area 357, right?
It's a little memento. They hand these out to anyone who spends a few bucks or joins in on activities in the conservation area.
Construction is really humming along here. After getting some small businesses off the ground, they even managed to dig into some of the local cultural traditions.
There's a special local festival happening in two days. What do you think? Pretty neat, right?
The liaison officer pulls their hands back with a touch of pride, giving you a full view of the memento.
It's an exquisite, little, spring-loaded ornament—a black fox and a white fox standing guard over a large bell.
At their prompting, you reach out and press it. Two fox figures sway back and forth around the bell, looking utterly comical.
You narrow your eyes, mentally stacking the image of Yun Ye in front of you against your memory of the car ornament.
Oh, and there's that photo you took today, Conductor...
As Selena adds this, she falters for a split second before quickly pulling herself together.
I just pulled up the photo for comparison. That stone statue looks really like her.
I'm afraid...
We're here! Phew... Nailed it!
The fox's chipper voice breaks through their conversation. Just ahead, they see they've reached the base of the mountain, a torii gate standing right in front of them.
The fox turns, holds its head high, and licks a paw. It blinks, looking at Selena before its gaze shifts to you.
Once you head out from here, you're home free.
Should we head back now, Conductor?
A hint of the anomaly in the mountains has surfaced. Doubling back for a closer look might be a smart move, but perhaps it's best to make sure the camp is secure first.
They've just caught a glimpse of the anomaly in the mountains, and now's their chance to uncover the truth.
Then again, the camp is practically at the mountain's doorstep, so there's no guarantee it won't be impacted. If trouble's brewing...
After a beat, you meet Selena's eyes. She instantly picks up on what you are thinking.
Thanks for leading the way. Please, let us show our appreciation.
If you don't mind, would you come back with us?
You bet! I wouldn't feel right if I didn't tag along.
It's quite perilous for mortals to traverse torii gates between realms during the witching hour. Take one wrong step, and you could lose your way forever.
...Lose our way?
The two follow the fox through the torii gate, completely in the dark about what's going on.
Suddenly, the world is flooded with brilliant light.
You instinctively close your eyes, gripping Selena's hand tightly as she does the same.
Both fear losing each other in this moment of uncertainty, but thankfully, that doesn't happen.
It's okay now. We've arrived.
When they open their eyes again, they don't see the stone path that should have continued beyond the torii gate, nor the camp they expected.
Instead...
Hot steamed buns—only three coins for a full meal!
Matchmaking ornaments, blessed by the shrine priest—only ten coins!
Sturdy paper umbrellas, bamboo baskets, come have a look, check them out—
In the twilight, paper lanterns hanging from the eaves of shops light up one by one, adorned in festive reds and greens.
Villagers in traditional clothes and ornaments mill about, their overlapping calls creating a lively, bustling atmosphere.
