kittyofloafing

[kittyofloafing]

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Apothecary Castti

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Your name is Castti Florenz, and you are an apothecary. Your tale begins in a port town of the Harborlands.

Discovered adrift at sea, you awoke to the realization that you could not recall your own name. The only clues to your identity are your satchel and skills as an apothecary.

"I need to rediscover who I am. And... there's something else. Something important I'm forgetting..."

Unable to ignore the nagging feeling within you, you embark on a journey to recover what you lost...

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Castti the Apothecary: Chapter 1

A mysterious hooded figure dragged an unconscious blonde woman in a blue uniform onto a stone pier on the sea.

"You have the power to save lives. More than any other."

It was raining- and it was raining hard. Purple mist accompanied the unusual purple rain.

"That's why you have to live."

The hooded figure dragged the woman, and laid her into a boat. She then proceeded to untie the rope holding the boat in place.

"If anyone can create a cure... it's you..."

"It's up to you now..."

The hooded figure pushed the boat away, with the blue uniform woman covered with tarp in it.

In the middle of the big sea lay a woman unconscious in a small boat. The skiff floated along with the flow of the waves, threatening to tip, come the waves decided they wanted to end a life.

"Look over there!"

"There is someone on that skiff!"

The crew on a nearby ship ran over to the railing. Pointing at the adrift skiff.

I hear waves...

Where am I?

The woman woke up on the wooden deck of a ship, with a person crouched beside her and another watching from his feet.

"Am...I on a ship?"

The person beside her stood up and turned to presumably the captain who nodded. The man then ran off to join his buddy who watched from afar. Other people on the upper deck of the ship walked closer to the railing overlooking where the woman laid.

"Finally come to, have you? Feeling better yet?" the captain asked. "You've got the luck o' the tides, y'know." The woman sat up.

"..."

Why... can't I stand.

My throat... Too dry...

The captain paused. He walked over the blonde haired woman and helped her stand up. "Easy now, lass. You've had a rough time o' it. Drink up."

The woman bowed her head. "Thank you... for saving me." The captain handed the woman a cup of fresh water.

"Couldn't well leave you to the fishys. How'd you end up on that li'l skiff anyhow?"

The woman finished the cup of water, and raised her head. "Skiff...?" She paused and then shook her head. "I don't know. I can't remember."

The captain took a few steps towards the woman. "C'mon now, this isn't the time for jokes." The woman dipped her head. "I'm sorry, but I really can't remember anything."

"Who I am, where I came from... It's all a blank."

"..."

The man spread his arms out. "I know one thing 'bout you lass." The woman raised her head. "Your name. It's Castti."

The woman- Castti took a few steps forward. "Castti..." she whispered.

"How...how did you know that?"

The captain pointed to her uniform. "It's stitched onto your outfit. What's that uniform o' yours, anyway?" Castti paused, and shook her head.

The captain folded his arms. "...Ah, right. Amnesia. Strange to think a person could forget their own name." Castti dropped her head.

...I have to remember.

First things first, I need information. Somewhere to start.

She raised her head.

It will be difficult to learn who I am.

Nevertheless, the crew of this ship should know more about the circumstances of my rescue.

Castti nodded. I should inquire about that, and this ship while I'm at it.

Castti went around chatting with the different people on the ship, making friendly banter and getting information from most of them.

Captain

Age:55

The captain of a ferry connecting the Eastern and Western Continents. Rescuing Castti was simply a matter of obeying his duty as captain, but he feels a special kinship with her as she reminds him of his own daughter, who died suddenly in an accident.

"We should be able to see the harbor soon."

Sailor

Age:32

The fresh-faced captain of a ferry connecting the Eastern and Western Continents. He became violently seasick on his maiden voyage and completely lost heart by the time the boat docked in the Brightlands. He will hand in his resignation the moment he returns to the Harborlands.

"Hmph. An apothecary in a blue uniform, I see..."

Passenger

Age:27

A soldier returning to the Western Continent, having completed his duties. While on the Eastern Continent, he heard rumors of a group of apothecaries wearing blue uniforms who killed a large group of people. Thus he feels Castti's appearance is an ill omen.

"It scares to even think of forgetting my husband and daughter."

"Are you okay, miss?"

"I've heard of amnesia before, but never actually met someone who had it."

"Did you really lose your memories...?"

"Your story's the first I've heard of its kind..."

"Clean the deck, prepare to unload the cargo... My work's never done here!"

"I'm glad I'm the lookout. I can see further than everyone else on this ship."

Sailor

Age:22

A rather slothful sailor who happened to spy Castti's skiff while avoiding his work. Though the dereliction of duty was revealed, his keen eyes earned him a permanent post as a lookout.

Castti walked towards the railing staring out to the sea. "...I think that's about all I need for now."

Based on the predominant currents in this region of the ocean...

Castti folded her arms.

It's likely my skiff set sail from somewhere on the continent to the east.

From my exhaustion and the severity of my dehydration, it's fair to estimate that I was adrift for several days.

Castti paused, letting her arms drop.

...Hold on. How do I know all of this?

Castti shook her head.

...Not much point in wondering. I should instead thank my lucky stars that I was rescued.

Castti turned to the side and took a few steps forward.

Now, to go over what else I learned. This passenger ship embarked from the Brightlands several days ago.

Its destination is a large port town called Canalbrine.

Castti turned around.

Perhaps there's someone there who can shed a light on who I am.

Castti continued her pacing, she took a few more steps.

Ah yes. These kind sailors brought my possessions to the passengers' cabin.

Castti turned towards where a flight of stairs led to the passenger cabin.

Maybe they can offer some material clues to my identity.

I should sort through them before we make landfall.

Castti made her way across the deck and down the stairs. She creaked open the door, and made her way across the room.

Castti bent down and picked up an Apothecary's Satchel.

"...!" Castti flipped the bag over and over. "This satchel..." Castti slipped the bag over her shoulder and shifted it into place. "I recognize it. It's mine."

It seems rather hastily stuffed. I must have been in quite the hurry.

Castti sorted through the bag and pulled out some herbs.

Medical herbs?

She put the herbs back and then grabbed out another item.

A mortar and pestle. For preparing salves and the like, no doubt.

Well, well... It seems I am- I was an apothecary.

Castti continued fishing through her bag when she came across something unexpected.

"Hm? What's this?"

Castti pulled out a beautiful pure white flower.

"A white flower? Why would I have something like this?"

"Yet another mystery."

"Land ho! All hands on deck!" the captain yelled out. Castti carefully puts the white flower back in her bag and nods. She makes her way up the stairs and onto the deck, looking out and seeing a nice port town.

Castti made her way off the boat, and continued a bit further down the pier. There weren't many people up and about at the time. Castti scanned the town, seeing merchants trying to sell their products, and people chatting away. Castti bowed her head in thought.

"..."

The captain of the ship walked up to her. "You sure you'll be alright, lass? Hard to get by without memories."

Castti turned to the kind captain. "I've remembered a little. Enough. I was an apothecary."

"I appreciate your concern, but no need to fret about me. I'll remember the rest in time."

"Heh, that so." the captain said kindly to Castti.

" "Know the seas, and you'll know thyself." "

The captain folded his arms. "An old sea dog taught me that proverb. May the wind and the waves always find you well, Castti."

Castti dipped her head in gratitude to the captain. "Thank you, captain. For everything." Castti made her way down the rest of the pier, before stopping and looking at her surroundings.

"What a bustling little town..."

Three men who were chatting just a bit ahead of her, stopped their conversation at one of the men making note of her presence, despite her being quite a bit away from them.

"Hey, get a load of her."

The other two men turned around and stared at her. "...?"

"She's one of them, isn't she..."

"Yeah, no mistaking it."

After each man had said their piece, they walked away from her. Castti took a few steps forward. "I...appear to be causing quite a stir."

Castti put her hand to her face in thought. Oh well. First things first, I need to find clues to who I might be.

I should speak to the people of this town. I might glean some knowledge about my past.

"Unload the cargo, and then... Whew, every day as busy as the last!"

"There's no telling what you're scheming..."

"Seems the clothes they were wearing had some kind of crest on them."

I must be a part of some group or something of the like... but it must have been an organization of apothecaries. Trying to help people, I would assume...

Castti continued walking, but as she reached a new clearing, the two girls that were there ran away from her.

"It seems I've been given the cold shoulder..."

"In that case, I'll just have to try my luck with someone else."

Behind Castti a man made his way up some stairs that led to a small pier with boats. The man was heavily panting.

"Sesque..."

The man fell to his knees, attracting Castti's attention. Castti rushed over to the man and crouched down by him. "Excuse me! Are you alright?"

A brown haired woman walked into the town, but then started running at the sight of Castti and the collapsed man.

"What's going on here? Is something wrong with him?"

Castti stood up, turning to face the woman, spreading her arms out. "He's burning up! We need to get him inside!" The woman nodded and walked over to Castti, helping her pick the man up.

Castti and the other woman successfully maneuvered the man into the bed of a nearby house. Castti and the brown haired woman stood a bit back, one crossing her arms and the other with a hand to her chin in thought.

"Looks like sun fever. He's covered in rashes."

The woman dropped her hands, as Castti paused in thought. "Rash, vomiting... It could be the onset of some sort of strange poison." Castti's hands dropped to her side as she started searching her satchel.

"I should have the herbs to treat this. Hold on for just a moment."

Castti walked over to the man and pulled out some lychanthe antipyretic to sooth him.

"Step one, lower the fever. Luckily, we caught this sickness in its early stages." Castti pulled out her mortar and pestle, and started putting different herbs into it and started mixing it. "A dash of lychanthe seed mixed with some of these herbs should do the trick..."

"Good. I still remember my craft, at least."

"..."

Castti walked over to the man and bent down next to him. "There, there, drink up. Slowly now, that's a good boy." Castti stood back up. "...Phew. The fever's receding." "He's sleeping peacefully now."

The woman who helped her bring the man into the house took a few steps towards Castti. "Your work was flawless, from diagnosis to treatment. The very model of an apothecary."

Castti turned to the woman. "Thank you, miss... Er..." The woman cut her off. "Malaya, I'm a traveling apothecary."

Castti nodded. "Thank you, Malaya. My name's Castti."

Castti shook her head. "Sorry to say I don't remember much else. I was an apothecary, but what kind I cannot say." Castti bowed her head. "I've... come down with a bad case of amnesia."

Malaya took a few more steps towards Castti. "What? Then how did you diagnose and treat that boy?" Castti looked up at Malaya. "It seems my hands still remember their craft. Strange, isn't it."

"..."

A man who looked similar to the boy, presumably his brother, entered the house. "Who are you!?" The man then looked at Castti in shock. "Wait. That blue uniform... It can't be..." The man then ran towards Castti and Malaya, and pointed at them. "Get back! Don't you dare touch my brother!"

"What?"

The man then ran to the bedside where his brother laid. "Senah! Did she hurt you!?" The man then got right in Castti's face.

"How'd you sneak in here!? What'd you do to him!?"

Malaya spread her arms out. "Calm down. She's an apothecary. She treated your brother for his ills." Castti looked towards Malaya and nodded.

The man looked at her in confusion and anger, and pointed at Castti, yelling, "Out! You're one of them, aren't you? Eir's Apothecaries!"

"Eir's Apothecaries? What-"

"That blue uniform, that sigil! There's no mistaking it!"

"..." Malaya's face displayed frustration very clearly.

"The whole town's in an uproar about you, witch. Word is one of you pestilence-mongers have been lurking about." The man walked back over to his brother.

"Pestilence-monger? I don't understand."

"And I don't care! Out! Out!!!"

Malaya started walking towards the door. "... Let's go, Castti." Malaya continued to the door, Castti following close behind her.

Castti and Malaya stood on a bridge. The moonlight shone on the water which reflected its beauty. Castti stood with her eyes closed despite this, deep in thought.

"..."

Castti looked up to the sky.

"Who are these... Eir's Apothecaries?"

Behind her Malaya folded her arms and hesitantly said, "I've... heard the name before." Castti turned to Malaya, hiding her distress, hoping that it wouldn't show.

"You have? What sort of people are they? Why was that man so hostile to me?"

"..."

Castti shook her head. "...Ah, what's wrong with me? We have far more pressing business than my lost history." Castti put her hand to her chin. "I fear Senah's illness is only the beginning." Castti closed her eyes.

"If I can't identify the root of this sickness, it could engulf the whole town."

Castti opened her eyes, and Malaya's arms dropped to her side. "There's no time to waste."

Malaya took a few steps towards Castti. "You're going to help them? Even after how you've been treated?" Castti lowered her hand.

"Would your time not be better spent treating your own woes?"

Castti nodded. "Saving these people comes first."

The blonde apothecary shook her head. "As long as I can heal the sick, who I am is ultimately trivial." Malaya closed her eyes. "The very model of an apothecary, indeed..."

She looked back up at Castti. "Very well. You have my aid. Let's split up and find the source of this sickness."

Castti took a few steps towards Malaya. "Malaya... Thank you." Malaya shook her head and began across the bridge and down the steps, when they were approached by a crowd of townspeople.

"You're one of those Eir's Apothecaries, aren't you?" An older man said before continuing walking towards the apothecaries.

A younger man of the four villagers shook his head. "We won't let you fool us."

Castti took a few steps towards the angry mob. "I'm sorry, but would you mind telling me about these apothecaries? I'm unfamiliar with them."

The same young man approached Castti and crossed his arms. "Don't play dumb. Everyone knows what that little band of apothecaries have been up to on the Eastern Continent."

"They travel around charging only a pittance for services..." The man clenched his fists at his sides and shook his head. "But it's all a sham. Their medicine is poison, and they've killed more than they've helped!"

"I even heard they butchered an entire town not long ago."

"..."

"I don't know what dark purpose drives them, and I don't care." the older man rasped. "Word is one of them just showed up in town, and you're the only strange apothecary 'round here. So..."

Has Malaya been here before? Is that why they aren't listing her with the "stange apothecaries"? Castti bowed her head.

"You... may be right."

"The truth is, I don't know if I am what you think I am. I remember little of my past."

An older woman marched right up into Castti's face, before Castti pulled back. "A likely story! We're unto you!" The woman pointed at Castti and yelled, "Get off with you!"

Castti bowed her head. She felt guilt and sadness, but also frustration with the townsfolk. "Who I was and what I've done, I cannot say. Nevertheless..."

"Right now, all I want is to help the people of this town." Castti looked up at the disbelieving mob of four. "I'm looking for clues as to what is causing the people here to grow sick."

Castti took a few steps towards the people. "Please, if you know anything, tell me."

"..."

A young man, who hasn't spoken, near the back of the group bowed his head and grunted. "Urk." The man then collapsed to the ground, startling the rest of the townsfolk who rushed to him. "Marlo? What's wrong!?"

Castti approached the crowd. "Stop! Get away from him!" The three people turned around to Castti. "What's the big idea!? He needs help! Or do you want me to leave him to die!?"

With a no-nonsense tone Castti once more demanded, "I said step away! He may be contagious!"

"C-contagious!?"

This finally seemed to get into their heads. They backed away from the collapsed man- Marlo, who laid on the cobblestone road.

Castti approached Marlo and crouched down to find the symptoms of his condition. ...I knew it, the symptoms are the same. I need to ease his fever, and quickly. Castti turned to the concerned people.

"I'll carry him. All of you, stay here."

"There. He should make it, now."

"She...she healed Marlo?" The young man stammered. The older woman looked Castti in the eyes. "Just who are you, really?"

A man, who looked like a merchant, ran up to them. "Help! People are fainting from some sort of strange fever!" Everyone turned to the man. The older townsperson shook his head. "What in the world's going on?"

"Darn, and of course this happens while our healers are away!" Castti took a few steps forward.

"Let me treat them."

They all turned to Castti, seeming to silently agree.

Castti turned to Malaya and approached her. "Malaya, if I may ask-"

"Don't worry. I'll check near the inn. The rest is up to you Castti." Castti nodded. "Thank you, Malaya."

Castti clutched her bag as she ran towards a merchant calling for an apothecary.

"A-apothecary! We need an apothecary!"

Castti entered a small house to see a small boy standing over, presumably his mother, who laid in a bed.

"Mom! Mom, are you okay!?"

Castti rushed over to the sick mother and pulled out some lychanthe antipyretic. "Here, medicine."

"Thank you. I feel a little better now."

The mother closed her eyes and went to sleep. "Good night."

"Thank you for saving my mom!"

"Of course." Castti said, before making her way out of the house.

"Thank you for saving my wife!"

Castti nodded and ran across a bridge to the docks where she saw several people standing over a small girl.

"I can't believe what happened to that kid..."

"Are you alright!? Answer me!"

"Hush." Castti leaned over where the girl laid.

"Grandpa is sick... Someone, please...help..!" the sick girl murmured. "Shh, it's going to be alright, here take this. It's medicine." Castti pulled out the lychanthe antipyretic and helped the girl drink it.

"Thanks for saving me, miss, but..." Castti tilted her head. "But what?" The girl shook her head. "Why did it have to taste so gross?" Castti let out a chuckle as the girl dozed off. "Good night."

"...You're one of those good ones, aren't you?" Castti turned to the concerned older woman. "She spoke of her grandpa being ill, do you know where he might be?"

The woman nodded. "Just up ahead."

Castti made her way to where a group of townsfolk stood outside a house. "Is there someone sick here?" she asked.

A younger man crossing his arms nodded. "The old man in this house suddenly came down with a high fever and collapsed."

The man sighed. "His granddaughter went looking for an apothecary, but hasn't come back yet."

Castti entered the house to see an old man laying in a bed with a female cleric standing near him. "We have an emergency! I tried to bring the fever down, but it's not working."

"I'm an apothecary, I will help him."

Castti went to the elderly man's bedside. He was panting heavily. "Here medicine." Castti helped the man sit up to take it. "My fever's broken, thanks to you. You have my gratitude."

Castti stood with Malaya in a clearing as they shared their accomplishments.

"There... I've done what I can for now."

Malaya closed her eyes. "This sickness is spreading fast. We need to find its source or there won't be anyone standing before long." she quietly said. Castti nodded.

The group of townsfolk that previously accused Castti approached her and Malaya.

"Are they...are they better?"

Castti nodded. "We're out of the woods for now, but it's too early to breathe easy." The older man looked at the ground. "I, uh... I'm sorry about before. I shouldn't have said what I did."

Sesque- Senah's brother nodded. "Senah gave me a tongue-lashing 'bout it too. He said you saved his life." Sesque bowed his head. "I know I've got no right to ask this after how I treated you, but...please! Save our town! Save my friends!"

The day had certainly taken a turn of events for Castti. She woke up on a ship with no memories, and now she's tasked with saving a town from an unknown disease.

Neat.

Castti nodded. "I intend to, but I need your aid first. Help me locate the source of this contagion." The crowd nodded. Sesque folded his arms. "Huh. Well, I don't know if this'll help, but..."

"Earlier today, Senah said the water tasted funny." A blonde young man turned to Sesque.

"Hey! Ma said the same thing to me this morning!"

The older man shook his head. "Really? I boiled some water this morning and didn't notice anything strange..." Castti dipped her head in thought.

"The water..."

The older man said he boiled his water, which would cleanse it, while Senah and that man's mother from what it sounds like didn't...

"Of course!"

Castti closed her eyes. "Maybe those who contracted this illness all drank the water without boiling it first?" Castti opened her eyes, lifting up her head, she turned to Malaya.

"If that's true, then that must be the source!" Malaya nodded. "A fine deduction, Castti. I agree."

"We draw our water from a spring that flows out of a cavern south of town."

Castti nodded. "Then my course is clear." Castti took a few steps. "I must hurry to this cavern and cleanse the spring before this sickness spreads further."

The older townsfolk approached Castti. "We're coming too." The other two also walked up to Castti and nodded. "This is our town. It's our job to protect it."

Castti bowed her head. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm afraid I must insist that you stay."

"Cleansing noxious substances is dangerous work. Stay here, and see to your sick."

The older villager bowed his head. "Well... alright." He looked back up at Castti. "Take care of yourself, apothecary." Castti nodded. The villagers walked off leaving Castti with Malaya.

"Malaya, could you remain here to treat these people?" Malaya bowed her head. "You have a habit of putting others above yourself, don't you?"

Malaya started walking away before turning back to Castti gaze unreadable. Did I do something wrong? "...Fine. Just come back in one piece, Castti."

Castti chuckled and bowed her head. "Hehe. I'll try. The world needs more apothecaries like you." She turned towards the path to the water source. "I'm setting out for the cave to the south. I'll be back soon."

Castti made her way to the path to the town's water source and began down the trail. She made her way up some dirt steps that led to a large hill. I'll take stairs over hills any day. Castti made her way up the steep hill before stumbling across an Ocean Lizardman.

The lizard was prepared to swipe at Castti but Castti was faster with her axe, which stunned the creature. While the creature was recovering Castti put together different harmful herbs and chucked them at the Ocean Lizardman, rendering it unconscious.

Castti stared down at the Lizardman. "Forgive me..." Castti continued down the path before reaching a ladder that led to the top of Canalbrine's wall? Bridge?

Well, whatever it was it was well lit, so Castti was able to hurry to where she believed the water source was. She had a strong feeling that she knew where it was, as if she'd been there before.

Along the way she ran into a pair of Ocean Lizardman. Which was a bit difficult for the apothecary to deal with, but Castti was able to make it out in one piece. Well, at least after she patched up a few "minor" cuts.

Castti found a little pier that had a canoe tied to it. "I hope you don't mind me using this." Castti said aloud to no one. Castti boarded the one person canoe and started paddling. She stopped after she reached broken bars. "The bars have been broken." she mused.

"Something must have forced its way in here." Castti sorted through her satchel, putting the healing herbs in a more accessible location. "The wellspring is just a little further. I'll need to approach with caution."

Castti continued rowing past the broken bars, and into a cave that reeked. She rowed closer to the ground, and carefully made her way off of the canoe. She grabbed out a lantern from the canoe and lit it before beginning down the path.

Castti ran into a large crab which she defeated with a little struggle. Castti made her way across two small bridges before running into a merchant. "What are you doing down here?"

The merchant ignored her question. "You need anything?" The merchant showed her his wares. Castti flinched at the prices. "Well it looks like yer here to do something important. Better safe than sorry!"

Castti hesitated, before buying a shoddy hand axe and armor. Castti felt out her new axe after paying the merchant. "Say, would ya mind selling that nice axe of yours? After all, you did get a new one." Castti passed off the new axe from one hand to her other a few times before turning to the merchant.

"No."

"Wha-" Castti ignored the merchant and hurried up a hill past a waterfall, and into a large clearing.

Castti plugged her nose, being nearer to the source of the smell. "...What's this foul smell?" Castti turned to the side and saw disgusting dark green water, reeking an even worse odor. "It is true what they say: filth is the root of all illness."

"Now then... What is it that's made all this mess?" Castti leaned down to inspect the water. "Foul vapors abound... I need to be careful not to inhale any effluvia."

Castti stood up and turned around at the sound of a gurgling pained growl. There on a plateau stood... a monkey? Whatever it was, its tongue was so large and long it couldn't fit in the creature's mouth, while its mouth was foaming. It was covered with moss and fungi, with its bloodshot eyes it stared at Castti.

Next to it stood something. It had pus coming out from its eyes that were bulging out of its head and was dripping the same green stuff that polluted the water.

"I think I've found the source."

"So you're the ones causing all this trouble."

Castti brought her hand up to her chin, inspecting the abominations. "Bloodshot eyes and jaws dripping with venomous foam. It's obvious that you're infected."

"Your very touch poisons the waters here, sickening all those who drink it."

"Kree! Kreee! Kreeeee!" The monkey-like creature which Castti has dubbed, Doron, screeched. Castti brought her hand down and closed her eyes.

"I couldn't convince you to leave peacefully, could I? The townsfolk need these waters more than you."

"Kreee! Screee!" the other ape-like creature which Castti had named Veron screamed.

Castti shook her head and sighed. "It was worth a shot."

"Time to clean up this mess!"

"Quiet down!" Castti swung her axe at Veron, which apparently it was weak to, who in return swiped at Castti. Following Veron's attack, Doron threw sludge at Castti, which hindered her attacks.

"This'll cool you down!" Castti casted an icicle at Veron. Sadly it didn't have much of an effect. Doron swung its fists down at Castti. Which Veron followed with claws to Castti's side.

With fresh blood dripping down Castti's wound on her side, which she hoped wouldn't get infected, she swung her axe at Veron three times which stunned him. Castti let out a grunt of pain as this attack had disturbed the wound on her side.

After Castti broke Veron, she braced herself for an attack from Doron, but it never came. The creature just eyed her carefully. Castti sliced at Veron twice before he was able to swipe Castti away. Where then Doron smashed Castti, which sent her flying.

She landed on her side rolling, stopping near the water's edge. Castti pulled out some of her healing herbs. "This'll make it all better." Castti felt some of her pain ease.

Castti was able to move to the side to avoid most of Doron's incoming attack, but his buddy spat venom at Castti. Castti felt the poison seeping through her skin. It burned. The apothecary clutched her head before pulling out a cleansing leaf and other herbs and mixing it together. "A pinch of this..."

Castti felt much better and faster, having the poison being relieved. Castti swung her axe at Doron, but it didn't have much of an effect. Though it did make him think twice about attacking Castti. Doron eyed her carefully, his bloodshot eyes peering into Castti's blue eyes.

Veron swiped at Castti twice, tearing her skin. "With these hands!" Castti yelled before slicing Veron with her axe four times. Doron threw some sludge at Castti. Castti shook off most of the sludge before summoning an icicle right at Doron's feet.

This, unlike her axe, Doron was vulnerable against. "Ah, there." Doron swiped at Castti with ice still crusted onto his limbs. Castti grunted at the impact of the sharp fragments of ice. Veron followed up Doron's attack with one of his own.

Doron eyed Castti as she swung at Veron. She followed up with three more swings to Veron's side, which stunned him. Doron crushed Castti with his fist, and after she crumpled he knocked her to the side.

Castti was breathing heavily. She was on her knees and hurt all over. But if her hands could save the town, she would put her own health and woes aside and do whatever it takes.

"I will purge this infection!"

Castti raised her axe, ready to attack, but Malaya's request came to mind.

"...Fine. Just come back in one piece, Castti."

Castti lowered her axe, and dug through her satchel and pulled out a healing grape, having her blood drip down the sides of her bag.

Castti felt her energy returning and she felt a bit better. Veron on the other hand mustn't have liked that, and he spat venom at Castti. Doron carefully eyed Castti as she fumbled through her bag.

"Get it together..." Castti told herself. She was able to find what she needed, a cleansing leaf to nullify her ailments, and a mighty leaf to strengthen her.

"Time to feel better."

With renewed strength Castti sliced at Veron with her axe three times. But while Castti was focused on Veron, Doron attacked her, being followed by Veron's attack. Despite all of this Castti was able to stand her ground.

So, like any logical beast-monster thing would do, Doron threw some sludge at her. Castti sighed looking down at herself. I'm going to need to shower after this.

Veron, wanting to see what Castti was looking at, he peered at the ground in front of Castti. So, the apothecary took her change and gave Veron a taste of her axe, breaking him.

Castti then turned to Doron and conjured an icicle at him. Doron screeched at the sudden attack. Veron swiped at Castti, nicking her right upper arm. Castti in return was able to cut some of Veron's fingers off.

Doron eyed Castti hesitantly and carefully. Castti took her opportunity of Doron not attacking and chopped at Veron twice with her axe.

Veron attacked Castti, with Doron following up with an attack of his own. "I'm starting to regret not asking Malaya to help me..." Castti panted. "They're teaming up on- agh!" Veron's bloody hand came swiping down at Castti. That was my fault, I need to stay focused.

Castti swung at Veron, stunning him. Castti rolled out of the way from one of Doron's attacks and used her ice magic, feeling the frost down her arms as she used it.

Doron screamed. He then turned to his companion, who was recovering from Castti's attack. Licking his lips, Doron started eating Veron. He started chomping on Veron's flesh, tearing the flesh off of the rotted bone.

Castti was frozen in shock, still processing Doron's attacks; she didn't have time to dodge when he spat venom at Castti.

Castti clutched her head as she looked up at Doron. "How deplorable! It just cannibalized its own kind!"

Doron let out a disgusting burp. "Kreee! KREE! KREEEE!"

"Ick... What a noisome odor... Did cannibalizing its own empower it somehow?"

Castti pulled down her hand seeing blood dripping from it. Everything hurt. She felt like she was going to vomit. "How troublesome... I'll need to handle this quickly."

Castti let out a cry of pain. She needed to conduct something to help her. And fast.Castti dug through her bag grabbing a grape leaf, a plum leaf, and last, a cleansing leaf.

"A pinch of this..."

It may not have tasted well, but it made Castti feel so much better. Taste be darned, as long as it helps, Castti will take what she can get.

Castti didn't know which one she preferred more, being clawed at, or having sludge thrown at her. Probably the latter. Castti was already filthy, so when Doron threw sludge at her, she didn't mind as much as the first time.

Castti spread her arms out, and summoned an icicle at Doron's feet. This broke Doron.

Castti felt a surge of power race through her. So, she started conducting a hazardous conduction. Blusterboom, for wind magic, lily of the light, for light magic, and darkdelion, for shadow magic, and last a dreamy flower to try to put Doron to sleep.

Castti threw her mix of flowers and watched as Doron was blown to the side, then enshrouded light, then darkness. Doron was weak to ice magic and shadow magic.

The dreamy flower had put Doron to sleep for the moment, but it was only a matter of time before he woke up, so Castti attacked him with her axe.

This woke Doron up, and he was mad. Before he could strike Castti, she struck him twice with her axe. Castti regretted not using her ice magic, or darkdelions to stun Doron as he attacked Castti twice.

Doron started storing up power, and began to radiant an ominous dark purple aura.

I need to stop him before he has time to attack!

Castti shot two icicles at Doron, breaking his concentration. He screamed in protest as Castti hacked away at him with her axe.

Castti being within range to hit Doron with her axe also included being in the splash zone of his venom, which Castti got another tasting of.

Every drop counts. Castti felt a foreign power, the same as before. So, Castti began conducting. Cleansing leaf for the poison, and grape leaf for health.

Castti could tell that Doron was nearing the end of his life. Though, that didn't stop him from trying. Castti was able to dodge his attack enough to not be halted by it. But it still hurt.

"This'll cool you down!"

Castti shot two icicles at Doron, piercing through his rotted flesh. Castti took her opportunity, with Doron being stunned, and was able to slice at Doron four times.

"I will purge this infection!"

Doron's blood dripped onto the cold stone floor, leaving a foul odor in its wake. Castti didn't have any more energy to use her magic. Hoping that it would be enough she sliced at Doron.

Realizing that he would be attacking soon she mixed two darkdelions together, and threw the hazardous conduction at Doron. The darkness that engulfed him was the final time he would be stunned.

Castti sliced at him three more times before he faded into a thick dark purple smoke.

"Forgive me."

Castti let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, and relaxed.

"...Don't think badly of me."

Castti sighed. "That takes care of the root of this illness."

Castti turned around towards the infected water. "All that's left is to sprinkle purebalm leaves around... liberally."

Castti walked to the edge of the water. There was blood splattered all over behind her. She pulled out some purebalm leaves and crouched down. Castti paused.

"With time, the corruption here should fade."

After Castti finished sprinkling purebalm leaves she walked from the water, and started ruffling through her satchel. "There, a dash or two of purebalm for myself, too."

Castti bowed her head. "It won't do anything for the smell, but I'll feel better for it nonetheless."

Castti raised her head. "Now, back to town to relay the good news." Castti began her way back to the town.

The sunlight hit her hard in the face. Maybe it was the sun, or maybe the smell but Castti made it back to the town without running into any trouble.

Castti, in her tattered and bloody clothes, approached the crowd of townsfolk, including Malaya, waiting for her.

"Look! The apothecary is back!"

The townspeople walked towards Castti. One of them plugged his nose, and turned to Castti. "Urp... What a horrible stench..."

Castti scratched the back of her head. I guess I was around the smell long enough not to notice. "Yes, er... Sorry about that."

"I cleared the source of the infection polluting your waters."

"The spring will run clean again in time."

"Nevertheless, I recommend boiling all your water for a good while."

A few people took a few more steps towards Castti. "Thank you! Thank you!"

Sesque walked up to Castti, who turned to him. "You're Senah's brother, yes? How is he?" Castti asked.

"Back on his feet and as rambunctious as ever! Not a trace of that nasty fever left."

"I'm glad to hear about it. Allow me to stop by later to check on him, just in case."

"We were wrong about you. You helped us, even after we treated you like dirt."

Castti turned around.

"How can we ever make it up to you?" The other townspeople nodded.

Castti noticed Malaya smiling warmly at her. Castti smiled back, and bowed her head. "Hehe, don't worry. It's clean water under the bridge."

Castti faced the townsfolk, and took a few steps forward. "Although... I do have one request."

"Anything! Just name it Castti!" Sesque exclaimed.

Castti turned to him.

"May I borrow your bath?"

The innkeeper was kind enough to let Castti use the inn's washroom. He was more than happy to help after Castti helped his daughter.

Castti locked the door behind her and let out a sigh. She has time to finally clean herself off. Castti walked over to the mirror, she gazed at herself. I am filthy.

Castti took off her gloves. She then carefully removed her hair piece, and began taking the hairpins out of her hair. She then removed her small blue shawl, and apron.

Castti removed her boots and began to clean all of the mud off of them. I could be using this time to overlook what I know... No, I will use this time to clean myself off and get something to eat.

Castti unbuttoned her top, revealing a white tank top beneath it, but more importantly...

Castti gasped.

Up and down her arms were... bruises?

No, these weren't bruises.

They were scars.

Purple blotches all over her arms.

"What- what are these?!"

Castti looked up and down her arms, and sighed. Just another mystery...

I need to remember! There's something I need to remember. Someone I need to remember.

Someone important. Someone I don't want to forget. Someone I can't forget. I need to find a way to remember. I must.

------------------------------

Castti stood near the railing overlooking the water, so lost in thought she didn't notice Malaya walking up to her. Malaya paused.

"I'm glad our paths crossed, Castti."

Castti turned around and Malaya finished walking to her.

"But it's time for me to move on. The open road is calling."

"Malaya... May I ask what it is that compels you to travel?"

"..."

Malaya turned to face the water, with a far away look in her eyes. "I'm searching for a way to cure a terrible disease."

"I've identified the ingredients I need to brew the medicine, but I've yet to discover the correct recipe."

"So I travel in hopes of completing my cure... and saving as many lives as I can along the way."

"Is there anything I can do to assist you?"

Malaya turned to Castti. "No. This is my problem, my burden to bear. You have your own troubles to see to."

"Your memory, for one."

Castti paused. She bowed her head.

I need to know who Eir's Apothecaries are. Did I work for some evil guy named Eir? Were we truly going around doing bad? Do I have siblings that were also apothecaries? And did we name our group after one of our parents? Was the reason we were "evil" because we listened to the evil older sibling? I need to know who Eir's Apothecaries are!

And I need to know who I am as well...

"I can't rest until I know." Castti said aloud.

Castti looked up at Malaya. "Malaya, correct me if I'm wrong, but you seem to know something about them."

"..."

"Please, Malaya. I need to know..."

"Tell me. I'm begging you."

"..."

I'll just have to inquire what you know.

Malaya

Age: 27

An apothecary met in Canalbrine. She is on a journey in search of the recipes for various medical compounds. She seems to know of Eir's Apothecaries, but will say nothing about them.

Castti's vision began to flicker.

Malaya

Age: 27

An apothecary met in Canalbrine. She is on a journey in search of the recipes for various medical compounds. She seems to know of Eir's Apothecaries, but will say nothing about them.

A sharp pain shot through Castti's head.

Malaya

Age: 27

Eir's Apothecaries

Castti's vision faded to a dull white.

A mysterious hooded figure- Malaya dragged Castti onto a stone pier on the sea. Malaya was panting heavily.

"Castti..."

"You have the power to save lives. More than any other."

It was raining- and it was raining hard. Purple mist accompanied the unusual purple rain.

"That's why... you have to live."

Malaya dragged Castti, and laid her into a boat. She then proceeded to untie the rope holding the boat in place.

"If anyone can create a cure... it's you..."

"It's up to you now..."

Malaya pushed the boat away, with Castti covered with tarp in it. Malaya watched as Castti skiff drifted off.

Malaya stood by a black horse who was laying in the grass. Malaya pulled down her hood.

"Live, Castti."

"There is someone you have to save."

Castti's vision faded back to a dull white.

Castti had her eyes closed, and she clutched her head.

"..."

"It can't be..."

Malaya stood some distance away from Castti. "I pray your memory returns, Castti. One day."

Malaya began walking away.

"Farewell."

Castti lowered her hand, and looked up at Malaya, who continued walking. Castti stretched out her hand, before a searing pain shot through her head. She clutched her head.

Her vision flashed white, and she couldn't spot Malaya anymore.

"Nngh...!"

Her vision flashed again and she fell to her knees. She was able to find Malaya.

White flashed once more, and she couldn't find Malaya. Castti tried dragging herself to where Malaya must have gone.

"Wait...!"

That woman in my vision...

That was Malaya.

Then we've met before?

What's going on?

Malaya...

What made you act as if you don't know me?

Why would you-

Castti shot up to her feet in pain. "Nnngh...!"

"Malaya!"

Castti darted to the way she saw Malaya leave.

But she didn't see anyone.

Castti looked in every direction.

"Malaya!"

"..."

It was Malaya who put me aboard that skiff.

But why?

Who- or what- were we running from?

Castti bowed her head.

"If only I could remember..."

"I need more clues. Something else to go on."

Castti dug through her satchel before finding a pocket built into the bottom of her satchel.

"...A hidden pocket in the bottom of my satchel?"

"A book..."

Castti pulled out a small notebook.

" "Treatment Log". "

------------------------------

In my hands, I held a dairy. One I'm sure was penned by my own hand.

It contained a record of treatments given to patients seen.

Two towns were mentioned within its pages.

Sai...

And Winterbloom...

More notable by far...

------------------------------

"It's... covered with blood..."

"Everything beyond the first few pages is too stained and smeared with blood to make out."

"What in the world is the story here?"

Castti put the book back in her satchel. She approached the railing of the bride she was standing on.

"...It's time I went on my own journey."

"This journal is the only clue I have."

"I have little choice but to visit Sai and Winterbloom, and see what I can find."

Castti nodded. "I need to rediscover who I am."

Castti bowed her head. "And... there's something else. Something important I'm forgetting..."

"I need to remember."

------------------------------

And so, Castti leaves the port town.

Why had she been adrift in the open seas?

What link does she have with Eir's Apothecaries?

And who is the mysterious healer, Malaya?

In order to reclaim her lost memories,

Castti sets out on a journey for her memories.

------------------------------

Castti the Apothecary: Chapter 1

-End-

------------------------------

[kittyofloafing]

I legitimately got so excited thinking I finished writing something, only to realize I didn't,

but more importantly,

[kittyofloafing]

I got distracted

Osvald's girls are fightin

[kittyofloafing]

when one of your characters come up with a plot twist before you

[kittyofloafing]

a feel like the new generation of fanfic readers NEED to understand that clicking on a fic (interaction) does nothing. ao3 has no algorithm. your private discord discussions of fic do not reach the authors. if you do not actively engage with writers they will stop posting. this isn’t social media this is community.

[kittyofloafing]

[kittyofloafing]

ok I need help again octopath2ers

When you start with different traveler they each say something different at different points, when you go to fight the final boss, on the boat I believe, before going up the stairs, answering the question, and at the end of the fight, being the last to leave during the epilogue, and the beginning of the part of the epilogue when they are meeting back up

I don't feel like beating ot2 eight separate times, so if those who have started with different travelers could help me out it would be MUCH appreciated

[kittyofloafing]

[kittyofloafing]

Ford comes out of the portal

Dipper: What are you doing here?

Ford: What am I doing here?

Ford turning to Stan: What are you doing here!?

[kittyofloafing]

ok it's taking me too long to do kus alphabet but here are the beastlings and normal ot2 alphabet

edit: kuuuuu!

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

0123456789¥ .,

[kittyofloafing]

Thank you so much!

any octopathers out there that has all of the letters?

Ref below

*sighs* I don't like it when there is multiple for the same letter

[kittyofloafing]

Chapter 50: Conflict

When Yemoja made her next visit about a week later, she had decided that in addition to Zarya practicing her spells to build her magical strength, that it would benefit the young girl to learn to defend herself without the use of magic as well. After all, seven years was a long time and there were many dangers in the world that Zarya would need to protect herself from.

Despite his reservations that it would benefit him too, Yemoja insisted that Flea join her and Zarya in learning some of the exercises and forms of the martial arts she had used to help fight the giant ooze in the underground facility back at the pyramid’s plaza. She believed that the exercises help him calm his mind and having a new skill may help pass the time.

Flea was understandably skeptical, but with nothing else to do, he decided to humor Yemoja’s request, if only to get Zarya to stop asking him to join. As Yemoja walked him and Zarya through some stretches and basic stances, Flea tried to hide the pain he felt in his back and shoulder where scars from his fight with Slash remained. Scars that he had tried to hide with his shapeshifting, but to no avail. So he hid them with his clothes and did his best not to think about them.

Usually, they only ached a little, enough he could ignore them, but not today. He was not used to stretching like this. He winced during one movement and hoped that Yemoja or Zarya didn't notice. The last thing Flea wanted was for Zarya to fuss over him or for Yemoja to lecture him.

“Are you hurt, Flea?” Yemoja suddenly asked, stopping the lesson briefly. “We can stop if you need.”

Flea immediately became defensive and told her that he was fine. He silently cursed himself and put forth more effort to hide his pain.

Yemoja nodded, knowing Flea was reluctant to be candid with her about his past. She carefully watched him as he tried to mirror her stances and forms, saying nothing more in the moment about the pain she could see he was hiding. Instead, she waited until the end of the session to confront Flea that she had known for some time how Zarya met him. After dismissing Zarya to go read some of the scrolls she had brought from the temple, she approached Flea.

“You need to put your pride aside for a moment… How long were you planning on trying to ignore your injuries? Until the pain was so great that you’d become crippled?” she asked sternly the moment Zarya was out of sight.

Flea scoffed. “I’m not injured.”

Yemoja crossed her arms and noted that, while he was not recently hurt, she knew about the state he had been in when Zarya found him. She told Flea that after he had drunkenly told her that Zarya had saved his life twice, she asked Zarya once more about the circumstances of their meeting. While Zarya did not seem to fully understand the scope of his injuries, Yemoja told Flea that she knew from what she was told that he had been on death’s door, moments from joining the Great Fire’s Dream.

“Besides saving you from a Dorokui, Zarya said that you told her you got into a fight before appearing in that clearing although she didn’t seem to know more than that,” Yemoja continued. “I understand not wanting to burden Zarya or Umbria, but I hope you can trust me, Flea.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you,” Flea replied. It was hard for him to admit, but he felt like he could trust her to know some of the truth. However he was also ashamed of his mistakes. He sighed. “It was just a stupid mistake, nothing more… I don’t like to think about it.”

“Yet you do,” Yemoja countered. “Every time the scars of your injuries ache, you remember that moment.”

She approached Flea and asked him to tell her what had happened. As Flea began to protest, saying she had previously said she didn't care to know the future, Yemoja interupted and said that his wellbeing was more important than hiding the truth. She practically demanded he tell her what had happened.

“I intervened in a sword fight to save someone I have feelings for,” Flea replied hesitantly “My opponent was a master swordsman. I thought I could just distract him with my sorcery and fight him from a distance. It’s always worked before with others… but he was faster and stronger than I expected.”

He closed his eyes tightly, trying not to recall the fight, before he continued, “He almost killed me… if the Gate hadn’t sent me here and Zarya hadn’t healed me, I know I would have died… Zarya did what she could but she couldn’t heal me enough to undo all the damage. I’ve tried to hide the scars with my shapeshifting but no matter what form I take, they’re still there and yeah, I guess they do hurt sometimes, but it’s not a big deal.”

Yemoja sighed and asked Flea what had he been thinking, attacking someone while unarmed, regardless of being magically skilled.

"What was I thinking?!" Flea snapped back, suddenly exploding with rage. "I wasn't thinking!"

Yemoja shook her head. She began to speak, telling Flea that the Great Fire would-

"Shut up!" Flea bellowed, getting right in Yemoja's face. "I don't want to hear about your stupid magic bonfire that tells you what to do!"

Flea continued to lash out at Yemoja, yelling as he asked her if her little punches and kicks would have helped him or would he have been dead either way if not by the grace of dumb luck and Zarya’s healing?

Yemoja tried to calm him down and tell him that she was just trying to help and provide wisdom to which Flea responded that she was just as naive as Zarya, sheltered in her precious village away from the rest of the world and she didn’t truly know the way things were in the ‘real world’. He continued to yell at her that she had no idea what he had been through, that her stupid belief in some unseen magic fire wasn’t going to help him and she was stupid to think her platitudes would do any-

There was no warning before Yemoja struck. She was a blur of spotted white fur and periwinkle robes as she swept her leg low and knocked Flea’s feet out from under him. The force of hitting the ground knocked the air out of Flea’s lungs and he found himself gasping for air as Yemoja stood over him.

“I have gone out of my way to help you and I have been nothing but patient to the fact you and Zarya are lost from your places in time, but that is not an excuse for you to mock my faith or belittle me! How dare you presume that I and everyone in this world are somehow lacking in wisdom or intelligence simply because our ways are not as ‘advanced’ as the time you are from?!” she shouted. “Which one of us has been guiding the other?! Teaching Zarya how to read the texts of her ancestors or how to cast spells?! YOU asked for my help! You have witnessed the same miracles as I have, yet you refuse to see the truth of the Dream. If this is truly how you feel, then I will no longer waste your time or mine!”

As Yemoja walked away, Flea groaned and rolled to his side, facing away from her. His back and chest hurt from being slammed to the ground and it took a moment for the air to return to his lungs before he pushed himself up to a sitting position. By the time he managed to sit up, Yemoja was nowhere in sight. Instead he saw Umbria standing by the kitchen with her arms crossed.

“Are you sure shapeshifting is your innate ability?” Umbria called out. “Because it seems like it's actually pissing off everyone you meet. I haven't seen her that angry since the whole bullshit with Koray and me.”

Flea got to his feet and told her to shut up. Looking at Umbria, he asked her where Yemoja had stormed off to. Umbria frowned and glared slightly at Flea, asking him why he would care given that he did not respect Yemoja or care for her help.

“Fine, I overreacted!” Flea shouted. “I know I was an idiot who nearly got himself killed, I don't need her lecturing me like she thinks she’s my mother!”

“She doesn’t think she’s your mother,” Umbria retorted, rolling her eyes. “She keeps hoping you and Zarya will learn to have faith in the Great Fire.”

“Honestly, I don’t understand how neither of you have any spiritual inclinations whatsoever,” she added before Flea could respond. “But I've kept my mouth shut because I wouldn’t know what to say to convince someone as bullheaded as you or as strange as Zarya that the Great Fire exists and its Dream guides the world.”

“Nothing in my life has ever shown me there’s anyone or anything guiding any aspect of it,” Flea replied before teleporting to his room.

He stormed over to his bed and began pushing it towards the door. He knew Zarya would probably keep barging in to bring him food, but he had had enough of Umbria and Yemoja's holier-than-thou atittudes. He muttered and cursed to himself as he pushed the bed towards the door. He was so caught up in his anger, he didn't think to shift into a stronger form… nor did he realize Zarya was standing right there until she spoke.

"Stop fighting, Flea. The Mystic War is all done."

Before Flea could even respond and ask her what she was talking about, Zarya pointedly told him that she had heard him talking to Yemoja the night Yemoja made him stop drinking, stating that she knew he had lied about his promise to her and that he had told Yemoja the truth.

Flea felt a pang of guilt. Normally he didn't care if someone found out he lied, but he found himself feeling ashamed. He sighed and started to try to explain himself when Zarya told him that it was okay. She then suddenly insisted he was scared.

"I'm not-" Flea began to protest, only to be interupted by Zarya again. She told him he wasn't alone and he should ask for help. She told him to be nice.

"They started it," Flea protested. "I don't see why you like those two. They act like they're better than us, judging everything we do. At least they aren't rude to you, but that's because you're just a kid. You got that advantage."

Zarya suddenly got a rather studious expression on her face. After a moment, she asked him if he wanted her to leave.

"I mean, you did just barge in here…" Flea muttered. "Surprised you thought I wanted company."

Zarya shook her head. She repeated herself and told Flea that Yemoja had told her that if he kept being mean, she would have to go away until the eclipse. She emphasized that she didn't want to go away. She wanted his help.

Flea felt his heart drop. He found himself feeling wracked with guilt. He didn't want to be the reason that Zarya had to leave. This was beyond needing Zarya to open the Gate. He genuinely appreciated Zarya's efforts to be kind to him… he just didn't know how to tell her without sounding like he was lying. Flea knew as much as he hated the way Yemoja preached to him or Umbria disrespected him, they cared about Zarya and would make good on such a promise if he didn't clean up his act. However, he had no idea how to 'be nice' the way everyone seemed to expect.

Zarya pleaded once more for him to be nice.

"Zarya, I don't know how to be nice," Flea replied, finding himself suddenly lacking any energy. "I can only lie and pretend… Yemoja and Umbria won't fall for it."

Zarya looked thoughtfully at him. She told him that he could be nice. She said she could teach him and asked him sincerely to let her help.

Flea sighed again. "Sure kid, what do I have to lose?"

Zarya walked over and sat down on the edge of his bed. She told him that first, he had to say he was sorry, then he had to be nicer. Flea was tempted to tell her that such advice was not very helpful at the moment, but he refrained from criticizing her. He waited as she took a deep breath.

"When you feel mad, use a calming strategy. Walk away and take a break. Deep breaths," she said in that odd cadence that told him that she was reciting something said to her. Pointing to the bracelet Flea still wore, she added, "Fidgets help."

"Dunno how to tell you this, but walking away is considered rude," Flea replied, putting his hand on the bracelet and absentmindly turning the beads on its cord. He leaned against the wall and said, "They'll just get mad and yell at me if I do that."

"Yelling is rude," Zarya replied matter-of-factly. "I will teach Umbria and Yemi too."

Flea tried his best to hide the incredulous expression that threatned to come across his face. There was no way that Yemoja and Umbria would listen to her about him. He found himself rolling his eyes and shrugging.

"I guess I should apologize for yelling at Yemoja," he muttered. He raised an eyebrow and looked at Zarya. "I'm guessing you heard everything and that's why you came to bother me in the first place."

Zarya nodded. She asked Flea to close his eyes. Flea wasn't sure why she wanted him to until there was suddenly a bright flash of light. The light was so intense and sudden, Flea found himself cursing and covering his eyes. He heard Zarya sigh.

"It's like staring into the damned sun," Flea complained as his vision returned and he found himself in the courtyard. "Next time, let me do the teleporting. I prefer the darkness."

"Fine," Zarya sighed. She opened the kitchen door to see Yemoja talking to Umbria. Their conversation stopped the moment they saw her and Flea. Flea knew enough to know that when someone stops talking when you enter the room, they didn't want you to hear what they had been talking about. Zarya suddenly grabbed him by the arm and pulled him forward. She declared that he had something to say. Flea found himself a bit annoyed that she put him on the spot like that.

"Yemoja…. I’m sorry you’re upset that-,” Flea began to say before Zarya gently smacked him on the arm with a disapproving frown.

"What?! I'm apologizing like you said to!" he said.

"Try again," Zarya said firmly. "Say 'I am sorry for'… What is Flea sorry about?"

Flea felt absolutely mortfiied to be tutored by a child on how to speak to others. A child that barely spoke sensibly as it was, no less. He bit his lip in frustration and nervousness. Letting out a heavy sigh, he spoke again, finding himself looking at the simple embriodery on Yemoja's sleeves instead of her eyes.

"I am sorry for… saying all those things about you and your religion," he murmured.

Yemoja crossed her arms and asked, "Are you apologizing because Zarya told you to, or because you genuinely feel remorse?"

Flea clenched his fists slightly in frustration before slightly crossing his arms and reaching for the bracelet on his wrist, remembering Zarya's advice about fidgeting rather than yelling. He shrugged, unsure what was the right answer to give in the moment. He did feel bad but he had also been put on the spot. Both were true but he did not know which was the answer Yemoja wanted.

He stood by, brooding over what to say as Zarya insisted he was being sincere. Suddenly, she asked him if he needed some space. He stared wordlessly at her. Of course he wanted some space. He had wanted to be left alone from the moment Yemoja lectured him about his past choices. Before he could muster up an answer, Zarya firmly told him to take a break.

Throwing his hands in the air in defeat, Flea stormed out of the kitchen. He thought about teleporting to the middle of the forest and just screaming or setting fire to something, but he caught himself. Such behavior would just justfy Yemoja's apparent desire to spirit away Zarya. He huffed and his breath hitched as he fought himself to control his emotions.

That's when he heard Zarya tell Yemoja and Umbria something unexpected. He heard her tell them that he was just like her. He heard Umbria loudly disagree with Zarya, saying that he understood them just fine, only for her to be cut off by Yemoja. The funny thing was… Flea realized he didn't understand Umbria or Yemoja. None of the acts he put up worked in this era. He realized he overreacted just like Zarya did over stupid and petty things that weren't really worth all that yelling and anger and sadness.

His thoughts were interupted by Zarya suddenly hugging and apologizing to him. For once, he welcomed the hug. He didn't look her way as he asked her what was she apologizing for. Zarya was quiet for a moment before telling him that she realized he wasn't ready.

Flea found himself letting out a small laugh in spite of everything. There was a lot that he wasn't ready for, but he had the feeling she meant he wasn't ready to apologize to Yemoja and Umbria. He wanted to… he wanted to be believed for once. He glanced Zarya's way and told her it was okay. He forgave her.

Turning away, he sighed, "Zarya… I don't think it matters if I was ready or not, those two will never see me as anything more than a miscreant, a troublemaker… That's my life, kid. I'm Flea, the problem…. You don't need to bother convincing them to trust me, I'm not worth the trouble."

Teleporting away to his room, Flea flopped backward onto his bed which was halfway to the door. He stared up at the ceiling and sighed. A part of him wondered if it would be better if he just left. There was nothing for him to teach Zarya. At least as smug as Yemoja and Umbria were, they had been vastly better suited in teaching Zarya how to survive in this time.

It would figure the first time he genuinely tried to be honest, it would backfire spectacularly. Flea knew the way things were supposed to go was that you apologize and the other person says it's fine and everyone moves on. That was how it worked. So why didn’t it work this time?

Flea couldn’t be sure he fell asleep but some time later, he heard Yemoja call out to him from the door.

"Flea? May we speak before I depart for the village?" Her voice sounded perhaps a bit worried.

Hesitantly, Flea got up and cracked open the door. Yemoja gazed at him with a stern expression. Flea sighed, opening the door a bit more, and said, “Look, if you want to hate me, fine… Everyone eventually does. So I may as well tell you the truth and you can hate me for the right reasons.”

Looking at Yemoja, Flea let out a breath and said, “The person I have feelings for? They are a human, a man… He was fighting the swordsman and I rushed in to save him, thinking my magic would be enough. It was stupid and I’m ashamed of myself for it… I’ve hated myself every day since I woke up here.”

He looked up at her and said, “I know I’m selfish and an asshole. It’s how I survived for this long, but I don't know how to stop.”

Yemoja sighed and gazed at Flea with a weary and disappointed look. She said, “Did you truly think this moment of candor would absolve you of any wrongdoing?”

Flea frowned. “No, not really…”

“Then why bare your soul?” Yemoja asked. “Do you seek pity? Understanding?”

“I don’t know,” Flea muttered. “But it’s like I said, if you’re gonna hate me-“

“I did not hate you before and this revelation does not change things,” Yemoja interjected. She looked sternly at Flea and said, “I am angry, yes… But I am willing to forgive you given the circumstances. Just because I am still hurt by your words does not mean that we cannot reconcile our differences. Perhaps even be friends, unless you desire otherwise."

Flea found himself caught by surprise that Yemoja would suggest friendship given everything he had said and done. It left him speechless. Yemoja regarded his silence for a moment before walking towards the keep’s postern.

Teleporting in front of Yemoja, Flea asked her to wait a moment. He let out a sigh and said, “Yemoja…. I’m sorry and not just because Zarya made me say it. I got embarrassed and angry and I know I shouldn’t have said all that stuff, especially about the Great Flame.”

“Great Fire,” Yemoja corrected firmly.

Flea sighed. “Right. Look, I don’t really think you’re stupid or naive.”

There was a look of weary disappointment in Yemoja's eyes as she frowned and said calmly, “You would not have said those words had they not had a sliver of truth to them for you. Just as I meant my words about no longer wasting your time.”

Flea felt conflicted. As much as he put up a fuss about learning to fight hand-to-hand, he did sort of want to learn how to do what Yemoja could do. He frowned and said, “You weren’t wasting my time. If anything, I was wasting yours but-“

“I see,” Yemoja started to step around Flea to continue her journey home.

“Wait- Damn it… Yemoja, what I’m trying to say is…” Flea struggled to get his words out. “I really am sorry I said that stuff."

Yemoja stopped. A silence passed between her and Flea before she spoke, “Your words were intended to inflict harm, deflect blame… If you are truly sorry, you would be wise to reflect on your actions tonight and do better in the future.”

Placing a hand on Flea’s shoulder, Yemoja told him to work on his temper. She noted that she felt like he only saw the world in extremes of night or day, love or hate. She told him that one could be angry and still want to be friends in the end.

"Heed young Zarya's advice," she urged. "The girl may struggle to use words like you or I, but she is wise beyind her years and she cares deeply about fairness and understanding. You are truly blessed to have a soul like hers enter your life and advocate for you."

Smiling softly at Flea, Yemoja added that she truly needed to depart for the village before anyone realized she was gone and wished Flea luck. Flea lingered at the postern, watching Yemoja slip into the darkness before he returned to his room. His mind was a swirling mess of regret for his actions and consideration of Yemoja and Zarya's advice. Flea drifted off to a dreamless sleep as he focused on their words.

If he wanted to stand a chance to go back to Glenn, he would have to do as they suggested. Be nicer. Do better. Put on the ultimate act.

[kittyofloafing]

uh what ya got there bud

[kittyofloafing]

Thanks!

any octopathers out there that has all of the letters?

Ref below

*sighs* I don't like it when there is multiple for the same letter

[kittyofloafing]

any octopathers out there that has all of the letters?

Ref below

*sighs* I don't like it when there is multiple for the same letter

[kittyofloafing]

Octopath 2 spoilers

It must be nice, it must be niiiice, to fight the first game's final boss

Hey! Youll never guess what I'm doing in octopath!

[kittyofloafing]

Chapter 49: The Role of a Guardian

Flea awoke to the feeling of his eyes having a headache, or at least that was the best approximation for how he felt as his world spun despite the fact he lay motionless in bed. Reaching for the bottle of lambic he had been drinking the night before, all Flea grabbed was air. Confused, he slowly sat up and looked around the room. Every single bottle, barrel, and crate was missing. Flea tumbled to his feet and stormed out of the room into the painful morning sunlight where he found Umbria hanging up some sheets on a clothesline.

“Where is my lambic?” Flea asked in a demanding tone.

Umbria stopped what she was doing and turned around. She crossed her arms and stared Flea down. “Yemoja and I got rid of it after you asked her to help you last night.”

While Flea did vaguely recall asking Yemoja to help him with Zarya, he certainly didn’t recall asking anyone to get rid of his stash of alcohol. He closed his eyes in a vain attempt to combat his hangover, sighed and asked again, “But why is it all gone?”

“I just told you why, dumbass!” Umbria shouted. She huffed and said, “You asked Yemoja to help you and she decided the first step was to force you to sober up. So we dumped your ill-gotten booze into the river. Pretty sure the trout are having a great time.”

Facepalming, Flea growled slightly and told Umbria that she and Yemoja had no right to take his alcohol. Umbria scoffed and turned her attention to another bedsheet to hang next to the first. Glancing over her shoulder, she asked Flea what right did he have to steal the alcohol in the first place. Before Flea could answer, she continued and asked him why he was being a baby about his situation when Zarya was able to keep relatively calm about what had happened to them.

“What’s SO important back in the future that you want to piss the nights away being so drunk you can’t remember which way is up?” she snapped. “Got a lover waiting for ya back home? Is some lady pining for you? Gonna be too old for her by the time of the eclipse?”

Flea, taken back by the implication that he was both old and liked women, glared at Umbria wordlessly.

Umbria took his silence as confirmation of her words and snarled, “Well, we all got problems, but you don’t see me drinking to forget the fact I might never see my mother again.”

“At least your mother loves you,” Flea muttered under his breath. He stepped back and staggered away from Umbria before she could realize what he had said. Making his way to the kitchen, Flea was not surprised to see Zarya humming away and preparing some sort of meal. The kid was always cooking or reading to pass the time. Zarya looked his way briefly and greeted him, asking if he was all better.

Flea sighed. He vaguely recalled Yemoja chastising him for how he had been treating Zarya, how he had to step up and be the guardian she needed until she could get back home. He remembered Yemoja telling him to come up with a new lie until it was his truth. He forced a slight smile and told Zarya he felt better. It wasn’t true by a long shot, but lies were all he knew and lies were what Zarya needed in this moment.

“Are you hungry, Flea?” Zarya asked hopefully.

“Yeah,” Flea said, although he felt nauseous and his head throbbed. “What do you got, kid?”

~o~O~o~

The next evening, Flea tried to sneak more lambic, promising himself he’d only drink a little bit to relax, but his attempt to stock up was thwarted by Umbria and Zarya by the following evening when he woke up from an alcohol-induced nap. Or at least Flea suspected that Umbria had convinced Zarya to help her thwart him since he blocked the door again so no one but he could enter or leave by teleportation and he didn’t know how to ward the room against intruders. Given that Zarya had learned how to teleport short distances, Flea could think of no one else who would slip into his room unnoticed.

Naturally, he decided to seek out and confront Umbria on the matter. He teleported to the courtyard and found Umbria heading towards the kitchen. He shouted at her, demanding to know if she had gotten rid of his alcohol yet again. Umbria admitted to the deed, unrepentant in her admission. She bluntly told him that she would keep at it until he gave up, eyeing Flea as if to dare him to try and call her bluff.

“I’m not planning on being blackout drunk anymore,” Flea grumbled. “But you can’t expect me not to want to relax once and a while.”

Umbria shrugged and told Flea he could find a new way to relax. Changing the subject, she said that Zarya and Yemoja were out in the clearing where Yemoja was trying to discern what Zarya’s innate magic was so she could focus on that for training up the girl’s magical abilities.

“That kid is quite the enigma,” Umbria noted. “When I could get an answer out of her, she claims some Dameon moved to her kingdom recently so I guess things will get better for our kind… eventually. She insisted that humans don’t have magic in her time, but that her family is special and, as she proudly told us, it’s a secret.”

“Not really a secret if she’s blabbing about it,” Flea deadpanned.

Umbria smirked and said, “I tried to tell her that, but I don’t think she understands the concept of secrets. She’s rather innocent in that regard.”

Flea gave a slight nod in agreement. Zarya was incredibly naive and innocent in many ways, but she was also much smarter than one would assume. She took to magic easier than any Mystic he had ever known, even himself and he thought he was quite talented.

As if on cue, Zarya and Yemoja suddenly appeared in the courtyard. Flea sighed inwardly, grateful for the diversion as Umbria turned her attention to their arrival. Yemoja was blinking furiously and then covered her eyes. She chuckled and told Zarya she ought to warn others before teleporting them, noting that it felt like she had just stepped out of a dark cave into a bright midday.

“I’m sorry.” Zarya murmured, fidgeting with her pendant.

Yemoja, her eyes having readjusted to the light, let out a laugh and assured Zarya that no apology was necessary. Flea, meanwhile, stood dumbfounded and feeling a mix of jealousy and pride. It had taken him years to figure out how to purposefully teleport others, the first time being an accident.

Watching the young girl continue to teleport about the courtyard with glee, Yemoja approached Flea and Umbria, asking how things were as she cast a knowing glance at each of them. Flea squinted at her, silently expressing his displeasure at her decision to rid him of the one thing he found good about this era. Smirking knowingly at Flea, Yemoja declared that she had finally figured out Zarya’s innate magic.

“Zarya’s magic has been a unique thing to witness,” Yemoja said. “It seems as with beings such as us Therian and Daemon, she also possesses a bond to an element that she is strongest with… However… there is something else at play with her aura.”

“What do you mean?” Flea asked. He knew Zarya had a strong magical aura but didn't see what was so special beyond that fact.

“For us, we have one element we are strongest with, perhaps we can learn outside our element but it can be hard. Zarya possesses a strong innate bond to fire, so brightly that I had initially mistaken it for sky magic like I possess, but it also strengthens a bond to shadow magic,” Yemoja replied. “In a sense, she has a mercurial connection between fire and shadows, depending on her mood. I imagine the passion of her soul means she feels things stronger than most and that is reflected in her magic. I have never seen a soul possess such an aura before.”

Smiling at Zarya, Yemoja told her it was time to rest and have supper. Zarya beamed at the suggestion and ran into the kitchen. A moment later, she opened the door and called for Umbria to help. As Umbria walked towards the kitchen, Yemoja elbowed Flea. She raised an eyebrow and asked since his mind was not clouded by alcohol, did he recall any of their conversation.

Flea sighed. “Not really… I know you told me to pick a better lie to tell myself and the kid.”

“And have you?” Yemoja mused.

Flea scoffed and asked, “Does your god approve of lying?”

“Oh now you care what the Great Fire thinks,” Yemoja replied teasingly. Looking towards the door to the kitchen, she answered Flea’s question, “Telling falsehoods is a part of parenting. You need to shield children from the truths of the world to preserve their innocence as long as possible, to protect them...”

Flea raised an eyebrow and glanced at Yemoja. Most of the time, Yemoja spoke in a manner of some lofty sage… but there was something to her tone of voice now that told Flea that Yemoja spoke from direct experience. There was a sense of sorrow and she had a pensive smile. He didn’t dare pry, but Flea knew in his gut that Yemoja had experienced the loss of a child or someone else close. Perhaps this is why she was so maternal towards Umbria and Zarya. To replace what she had lost.

“Good thing I’m a great liar,” Flea chuckled, trying to break the tension that was building in the air. He frowned slightly before answering Yemoja’s question about him picking a better lie. “Not sure if it’s ‘better’ per say, but I’ve been claiming everything is fine now and thankfully Zarya seems blissfully ignorant to the truth.”

Yemoja nodded. She walked across the courtyard and told Flea that he best help in the kitchen, noting that the burden of a household should be shared by all. As much as Flea didn’t like the idea of helping around the kitchen, as Zarya had a particular way of doing things, he followed Yemoja. He had to keep up the act as long as he needed so he could go back to where he belonged.

~o~O~o~

After the evening meal, Yemoja asked Flea to take a walk with her to the clearing. At first, Flea protested, questioning the point of her request. Yemoja eyed him and repeated her request, emphasizing that it was not a suggestion. Flea frowned but followed.

As they walked out of the keep, Yemoja glanced at Flea and said, “So, after you begged me for my assistance, I spoke with Zarya. It seems she firmly believes that her parents will find a way before the eclipse.”

“And?” Flea wasn’t in the mood for guessing what Yemoja was getting at.

“As much as I have faith in the Great Fire, I know it is foolish to place all of one’s eggs in a single basket and expect miracles to happen just because you seek them,” Yemoja replied. “The Dream comes to those who help themselves… so we must prepare the girl and aid her when the time comes.”

Flea huffed and muttered, “So are you staying here too?”

Yemoja smirked. “Ay, no… My place is in the village where I will do what I can to persuade the others to see the light. I will visit when I am able, but my duties as High Priestess will keep me busy from time to time… So I will give you some wisdom to reflect on in my absence.”

She stopped walking, having reached the clearing that had brought Flea and Zarya to this era. Turning to face Flea, she told Flea that he had to be patient with a child like Zarya and to seek advice from Umbria in matters only a young woman would understand. She continued, telling him that he had to be firm but not domineering, to give the girl structure but not too much lest Zarya become helpless and have no autonomy, nor so little structure that she become unruly and reckless.

When Flea pointed out how immensely contradictory such advice was, Yemoja simply smiled and told him that was what it meant to be a parent. She pointed out that, even if he and Zarya were not connected by the water of life, he was the closest thing to a parent she had for the time being. Until the way home could be opened, Zarya had to rely on him, Umbria and herself as her surrogate family.

“You made it clear to me in your inebriation that your mother failed you,” Yemoja remarked. “Learn from her failures and do better.”

“Like it’s that easy,” Flea replied sarcastically.

Yemoja regarded Flea with a solemn expression. “The Great Fire guides our world, but it is up to the individual soul to either shine through the darkness or let themselves fade into nothing.”

She suddenly took Flea’s hands into her own and continued, “I don’t know what happened in your life’s journey that you feel you need to put up these walls and wear these masks nor will I force you to tear them down by demanding that you to tell me anything about your past… but know that you don’t need them here.”

Flea stood there, startled by Yemoja’s sudden touch and by her supportive, albeit bewildering choice of words. He wanted to tell her that he didn’t know any other way to be. He had spent so long lying and matching the harsh and cruel nature of other Mystics in Ozzie’s army or pretending to be a hundred different people that he had no idea what it meant to be himself. He let out a breath and pulled away from her grasp. He couldn’t help but glare at Yemoja as he said, “First you tell me to pick a better lie for myself… Now you tell me I don’t need to do that. Which is it? Be candid or keep lying?”

“Sometimes in life, you need to do both,” Yemoja replied. “Tell falsehoods around those you need to be guarded against, but be open with those you can trust. If you are lucky, you will find yourself around more of the latter.”

Looking towards the keep, Yemoja remarked that Zarya must have been blessed by a family that let her be her true self as she had never met a more forthright individual, unburdened by the concept of deception. She smiled and told Flea that she would bid Zarya and Umbria farewell before departing back to the village. Leaving Flea standing in the clearing, she wished him luck while she was gone, promising to return soon.