Skip Navigation
Temple of the Ancients [S-RANK/MISSION]
|
Post by Kenny O'Hara and Skadi on Dec 28, 2019 1:14:45 GMT
While the two intently listened to what Toki had to say, neither Kenny nor Skadi could easily ignore the blatant elephant, or rather, the childlike jackal goddess, in the room, just casually chilling out and still watching them from afar. Would it be a good idea to outright ask her for help? Certainly, the apparent wry grin on her face was hinting at something. Maybe it would've been much better to wait until they were well and truly stumped to get her help.
It seemed Kenny stepping onto his panel had actually yielded something, but surprisingly, all it brought was a smaller half click, unlike Toki's button. But as the spirit user waltzed on and off the button, again and again, Skadi could feel her ears twitching a little as she heard a noise near her. And much to Kenny's surprise, he could hear the clicking loud and clear underneath his feet for every time Toki jumped back onto it.
"Hm?" Kenny looked at the panel below his feet, "That's... a little odd. I think we might be onto something here, guys." Likewise, Skadi's eyes quickly drifted over to the 3rd panel, hearing it's own click coming out of it as well. Considering Skadi's panel bore no fruit, and she and Hikaru were the ones closest to the 3rd panel, it seemed the most logical answer here was for either one of them to jump onto that and hope to Yggdrasil it worked.
And needless to say, Skadi quickly leapt off the second panel and made her way over to the third, while Kenny still stayed onto his, but as she made her way over there, her eyes glanced over to the Anubismon in interest and curiosity. Admittedly, it was kinda hard to ignore the godlike entity just casually watching them all. Just why was she just standing there, though, considering the main Anubismon had pointed out that these artifacts were basically the keys to help them open the gate and go home? Wouldn't she be a little more concerned, or something?
Regardless, the team still had to focus on the task at hand. Glancing at the button in front of her, she muttered, "Well, here goes nothing." before stepping on the third panel, one step at a time. Would it work? Who knew at this point? The other panels had provided the team a decent amount of clues, even the silent panels and the half-click panel. Maybe 'one would open two' meant 'the first panel would open the 2nd panel near it'.
It sounded the most likely at this point, anyhow.
|
|
|
Post by yuuki on Dec 31, 2019 22:30:05 GMT
"No, Kenny, that's not it," Yuuki would say. "You're just stepping half into it, then basically that means Skadi and you have to stay in the same spot. Meanwhile, I think I'm standing on the wrong spot. Number four and number five is not the right answer for me, So then my number is obviously number two or three... Come here Hikaru."
And so the human and the Digimon would walk toward the number two and stood there (Hikaru pretty much sat on it). Let's see if that worked. If that doesn't, well, how else would it works even? Either way, Yuuki and Hikaru guessed that this is their last panel. Doesn't make sense if it doesn't... But if number two doesn't work, they'll just go to number three. Kenny and Skadi already tried number six right? Eh well, this is a bit confusing, but thankfully there are no penalty for being wrong
|
|
|
Post by Toki Akiyama on Dec 31, 2019 23:17:04 GMT
Toki just remained on the button he stood on. He mused to himself what this could honestly be, though he figured the others were on the right path and trusted them to figure it out. A half click from Kenny's button. He assumed that meant it was the right button, but either more weight needed to be on it or another button needed to be pressed down at the same time. His money was on the latter answer, and it seemed Yuuki had figured that part out too.
Either way it seemed like they were all exhausting their options via trial and error, which is all this puzzle was in the end anyway. Trying different combinations of switches and methods and numbers of those stepping on them, so it didn't bother Toki that much. They weren't pressured in any way, so he watched and hoped they were getting somewhere.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2020 4:31:53 GMT
With the third panel stepped on, the resounding clicking sound that Toki, skadi and kenny would hear was quite easy to pinpoint. The only panel that was left that had clicked was the fourth one. Right between all of them.
Suffice to say the moment that yuukz or hikaru stepped on the third panel… The door would open and the anubismon that was with them clapped their hands in excitement. Practically bouncing on their feet and motioning for them to follow her. Her grin was splitting her face ear to ear and it wouldn’t be long before the group would be out of this area and in the next room. There wasn’t anything left for them there, unless they felt like stepping on the panels to hear them click!
Which the anubismon really wouldn’t blame them for as that’s what she’d do for a moment, now that the door was open it didn’t matter what the panels did. The way was clear and the puzzle was solved!
In the next room there would be yet again another puzzle for the group to figure out. This time it was two sets of nine panels. One was completely lit, as though the final solution was staring them in the face while the other was completely dull. The level of technology in this puzzle was a step higher than the previous one too.
The anubismon stepped forward to sort of show the others what the puzzle would do. Stepping on the middle most panel would light up the three panels that were next to it. But stepping on the panel to the left or right would deactivate the panel while activating the two panels next to it.
The two other lit panels would remain lit up until the anubismon hopped off of the ‘puzzle’ platform completely. The anubismon from the center-most room would go to speak but the female anubismon shoo’ed the voice off. Somehow. Wait how do you even do that? She figured that his explanations weren’t helping and the group needed a more practical helper than whatever the hell his nonsense was. Heck it was confusing even her and she had been a servant of his for eons!
Her chittering language didn’t stop either as she gestured to the lit panels, then to the ones that weren’t lit. She’ tap her foot against those static lit panels. Indicating that they wouldn’t turn off no matter what. The door on the other side of the room that was their ‘goal’ of sorts had 18 small divets. Nine of which were lit up and 9 were ‘empty’ waiting to be filled. Though when the anubismon skipped along the panels those little divets would light up!
She was being far more helpful than she probably needed to be given that everyone here was smart if not smarter than she was. She just happened to be around for a very very long time. But it wouldn't be long before she'd speak. Though it was just their names she'd seem happy at being able to say them in such a sing song voice! It was damn well near musical too, sounding more like a choir than a single person~
"Toki! Yuuki! Hikaaaru! Keeeeeeeeny! Skaaaaaaaaaaaaadi~"
She'd give a small twirl before bowing and gesture to each of them, that grin getting somewhat Cheshire. She seemed happy that they were progressing even more than she was to be out of that bloody mask.
|
|
|
Post by Kenny O'Hara and Skadi on Jan 26, 2020 7:09:03 GMT
After listening to what Yuuki had to tell him regarding the button puzzle, Kenny could only find himself uttering, a little embarrassed, "Oh, shit. Sorry, man." Thankfully, it seemed that, at worst, a simple mistake would warrant a slap on the wrist (or any possible equivalent to it). He and Skadi would leave the boys to tackle the rest of the buttons themselves, and see what would happen next, as they stayed on their spot, just like Yuuki requested them to.
Kenny felt his own heart skip a beat or two as the door opened in front of him and the rest of the group, feeling a little proud grin emerge on his face. But Skadi's attention quickly turned over to the suddenly chipper Anubismon ally, her head tracking the childlike goddess as she gestured them to leave. As they did, she turned over to Kenny, "She seems happy. That's good at least." She commented.
"You're telling me, man. I won't lie, she's actually kinda adorable." He admitted as he and the others left the room and followed the Anubismon, "I wish I had even the quarter of the optimism she has on her right now in my daily life." The little Valaismon just gave him a kind smile and reassuringly pat his tamer on the leg.
That kid had a good heart, and he was glad he had her in his life.
As they walked among the corridors, Kenny could still feel his head spinning a bit. Like the rest, he cared not for the treasures or artifacts, just to help the Anubismon to find their way home. Unlike the others, however, he had plenty of unanswered questions on his mind, and all he wanted was some good answers, along with an asprin and possibly a nice glass of warm milk to go along with it.
While he was unaware of both Yuuki and Toki's situation, considering they were in here way before him, his and Skadi's case were special. Why would a powerful, omnipotent, all knowing, and possibly dangerous, godlike entity recruit a couple of nobodies from out of nowhere? Especially since there was a whole sea of somebodies that said godlike entity could easily fish out, considering he managed to fish him and Skadi out so easily without breaking a sweat?
Unless... said godlike entity saw some silver of potential inside of them? Could that be it? No, it couldn't be, he wasn't exactly anything special or somebody to write home about. Even after being voluntarily roped into KIZNA thanks to Ryouta and Valt also seeing that silver of potential inside of them, he didn't exactly see himself in the highest light, and he especially feared screwing up and shooting the good name of KIZNA in the foot.
It had to be sheer coincidence and good luck that the main Anubismon selected them. He didn't really see anything inside of him. Skadi, maybe, but not him. Right?
...right?
His self-anxious thoughts were quickly stopped as he and Skadi laid their eyes on the light puzzle in front of them, and subsequently, the female Anubismon showing them how the puzzle worked and stopping the central Anubismon from speaking wait what?
Kenny and Skadi kept quiet around this part, knowing all too well upsetting any godlike entity, especially a childlike one, was not a good idea in the slightest. But how could she do that? By all means, she was technically weaker than the main Anubismon. And... yeah, best they save all the questions they had for later. They had a puzzle to solve, and a civilisation to save.
It seemed pretty clear what they needed to do at this point to solve the puzzle, but before Kenny could speak, he found himself quickly interrupted by the joyful squeals by the childlike Digimon in front of them, calling out their names happily, and bowing to them. At this point, Skadi was giggling happily along with the playful goddess, and she didn't hesitate to bow back to the Anubismon in return. Even Kenny found himself trying, and failing, to stifle his own happy chuckles as he also bowed back to the sweet jackal goddess in return.
What could he say, he was quite the sap for wholesomeness.
After letting a few giggles out of his system, he turned to the rest of the group, "Okay, I guess we have to light up all the dim panels, but standing on certain panels will switch them either on or off, depending on the panels." He told them, "Might as well figure out which panel does which though, just like last time." He approached the dim panels, Skadi in tow, before they went on their selected ones; Kenny in the furthermost left panel, and Skadi on the furthermost right. Just what would happen, anyways?
|
|
|
Post by Toki Akiyama on Jan 28, 2020 7:48:06 GMT
Toki let out a slight sigh of relief once the switches clicked and activated in the way they were supposed to. The Anubismon looked overjoyed that they managed to solve the puzzle and quickly beckoned for the group to follow her. While it surprised Toki that the Anubismon was so cheerful, it was a pleasant one. Joy, fun, and enjoying life despite the circumstances...it was admirable to him. How long had it been since she had been free to explore and enjoy herself? This alone was worth the journey in his eyes. However, he looked over at Kenny, frowning slightly as he overheard something he said. Was something bothering him? The optimism that Anubismon displayed seemed to make Kenny a little self-reflective. If he wanted to talk about it more, he would. For now it would be rude to pry further.
Within moments they were in the next room and the next puzzle was before them. He watched Anubismon carefully as she demonstrated what they were supposed to do. One group of panels was completely lit up and as the Anubismon stepped on one of the deactivated panels, that one and the adjacent ones lit up as well. Immediately the cogs started to turn in Toki's head. He smiled a bit "Aah...so that's how this works..." He mused as he started to imagine possible sequences. He stepped around the panels a bit, avoiding them for now. He pointed at some of them, muttering to himself and imagining the sequence in his mind "Okay..."
Aside from Anubismon's cheerful calling of their names, everyone seemed a little quiet, though Kenny spoke up as he explained what had to be done about the panels. He nodded, having come to this conclusion as well. "Well from how Anubismon demonstrated it looks like the panels light up when you step on one...along with the ones next to it...hm. Kenny, Skadi, could you step on those panels again? Trust me, I think I have this figured out."
If Kenny and Skadi oblige, Toki would stare at the panels before him "So...let's see..." he thought about it for a little while before he began. If he was right, the sequence would be like this. On a 3x3 grid, he would start on the bottom right switch. From there, he would move to the center, then down to the bottom left. If he was correct, he would signal to Kenny and Skadi "Step on the top left one, then the top right one. I think that's the right sequence."
|
|
|
Post by yuuki on Jan 28, 2020 16:55:07 GMT
Yeah, more or less he got it. Apparently it lights on cross pattern rather than omnidirectional easy enough. If you steps on a panel, it lit up. However, interacting with already lit panel would turn off the panel's light. The light will stay as long as the one who stepped on it stayed on the puzzle. That means there is a certain pattern. However, Yuuki is always a hand on guy who doesn't really do well in this kind of puzzle without tinkering with it himself. they have players, which means everyone can help, or just one person can probably run the entire field, up to them
...But before he tried it himself looks like Toki already found the solution. Yuuki quickly run the simulation himself by making sequences his paper notebook and... looks like that's really it. He simply nodded and smiled at Toki. "Yeah, I think that's the way. That was fast."
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2020 1:50:28 GMT
With each continuing click, each continuing step the anubismon seemed to get more and more excited. She was there to be more of a guide now than the voice and she practically was jumping up and down when the door to the next area slowly rose up as all of the panels lit up. Giving a small musical tone of success that filled the room and made the anubismon shake her head a few times. Boy was that sound grating to someone that had heightened senses.
However.
With the opening of the door something else stirred. Something ancient and something that was full of knowledge. Unbeknownst to the group each puzzle they solved restored a bit of the anubismon that they were with. From her initial silence, to her playful demeanor. It was almost as though these things were purposely restricting their mannerisms and intelligence.
Her initial childlike demeanor was replaced with a much more motherly one; much more relaxed and well… judging by the grin that was on her face still equally as happy. She’d motion for the group to follow her into the next room where the final puzzle of this half lay.
”I can’t really tell you much about this next sequence or what you have to do here. All I can do is show you the path; but don’t worry about failing or anything like that. With most of the traps disabled this is a lot safer than it was before.”
She’d rub a bit awkwardly at her neck and smile warmly to the group.
The next room was… awfully simple. There was the entrance that in all due rights was pretty normal. What was not normal was what was in front of them.
A sheer cliff facing that seemed to drop into the very abyss itself; and what seemed to be thousands of feet away from them was a single pedestal floating in the middle of no where. It held the item that they sought, the first of two artifacts. From a distance so vast at first it’d be hard to see what it was. Butt the longer one stared the closer it would appear.
It was sleek, stylish. Gentle and powerful. The soft curves of it’s ever shifting body… It was a metallic ooze of sorts that took the form most pleasing to the eye of who was viewing it at that very moment. A gentle humming filled the air with every turn and every twist.
This massive chasm that was in front of them didn’t feel dangerous, there was no sense of threat to it. Yet the anubismon stayed away from the cliff facing and just shook her head.
”Here is the path you must walk. If you have any questions… ask them and I will try to answer. This is as much of a challenge for you as it is for me.”
The less time that the group spent staring at the pedestal and their goal… the further away it would seem. Was it a trick of mirrors? Light? Glass planes or reflective nonsense? It was hard to gauge as it was ever moving, ever twisting. There were even some moments where it felt like they would be standing on this pedestal.
There was the feeling of success.
But also the awful feeling of failure.
The feeling of the ground giving way to their feet, but the firm solidarity that they could move forward. But the question would be…
What next? Who first?
What would the group do to this yawning question in front of them?
|
|
|
Post by Kenny O'Hara and Skadi on Feb 29, 2020 7:23:31 GMT
Willingly, Kenny and Skadi obliged to Toki's requests, first to step onto their original panels once more to let him test his theory, then jumping up onto the top left/right panels as required. And as everyone else took their places on the panels, what failed to escape either of the duo's attention was the continuing giddiness of the Anubismon. Kenny smiled at Toki as the musical tone played and the door opened up, as did Skadi, "Well, damn. Great job, Toki. That was actually really clever of you." He chuckled, slapping the spirit user on the back lightly.
Just as Skadi turned to address the childlike Anubismon, and, with her ears twitching in confusion, she lightly tugged at Kenny's pants, quickly making him turn to where she was pointing. It was clear something had changed in the Anubismon once more, at least in personality. In place of her happy-go-lucky demeanour was a more gentle, motherly one, but thankfully, she was still happy all the same.
As they complied with the Anubismon's request, more thoughts and questions started to brew in Kenny's head; was being locked away from the gate happened to seal away not only the Anubismon's powers, but also possibly their memories and personalities as well? Was that why just only a few minutes ago, she was treating the earlier puzzle like a fun game?
This was just getting crazier by the minute.
After completing the last 2 puzzles with absolute ease, Kenny and Skadi had been feeling a lot more confident internally. Was that why the main Anubismon selected them? Did he really have faith in a couple of dorks from out of nowhere? It had to be the case, all things considered. No Godlike entity would just pick them out nowhere, right?
But as they stepped in to what seemed to be the final room... the duo felt their eyes widen in surprise. All that was there was a giant chasm standing between them and the first artifact they needed to save the Anubismon. And no bridge. Despite having wings, the Anubismon just called it a challenge for all of them to overcome, even for her.
There always had to be a catch, had there?
Presumably, flight was out of the question. And Kenny started to feel his heart start to pound rapidly in fear. What if he slipped up? What if he fell? Despite feeling a little afraid herself, Skadi slowly grabbed onto and squeezed his hand to calm him down. They already come this far, but they couldn't bring themselves to quit now. Failure was just not an option at this point.
"So, uh, I guess this must be like a leap, or rather, a walk of faith, right?" Kenny started to ask, eyeing the gigantic chasm and the artifact in front of them.
"I suppose so, but we can't just give up now," Skadi looked up at her tamer, still tightly squeezing his hand, "It'll be fine, Kenny. You just need a little bit more faith in yourself. Trust me." Her reassuring smile did ease his fears a little, but it was hard to ignore the yawning chasm.
"But what if we slip up, and fall, and I end up screwing this all up? And... I let my teammates down..." Kenny sighed sadly, glancing towards Yuuki, Hikaru, Toki and the Anubismon worryingly, "I let everyone down? I let you down?"
"You won't, Kenny." Skadi's voice was a lot more firm now, "We will make it, you just need to have faith in ourselves, OK?
After a few moments lost in thought, a small smile showed up on Kenny's face, "...you're right, Skadi. Whatever happens, we won't let them down. Thank you."
"That's the spirit, Kenny!" Skadi cheered, her face sporting a wide grin, "Just visualise a nice sturdy bridge, walk slowly and steadily, and we might be able to make it in no time!"
"...I will." Taking a deep breath, and walking slowly towards the edge, still holding Skadi's hand as tight as he could, he took the first step, hoping he wouldn't fall to his own demise. All the while, a mantra started to play in his head non-stop.
There is a bridge.
I'm crossing the bridge.
I'm not gonna fall.
I'm not gonna fail everyone here.
At least, he hoped he wouldn't.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2020 0:49:56 GMT
”Oh come now Mr. O’hara. You wouldn’t have made it this far if it wasn’t for your teamwork and understanding of one another. Have a little faith in your choices and your friends yes?”
The anubismon shook her head, grinning a bit. She was happy to know that skadi was such a supportive mon. In their days humans had been rare and tamed pairs were even rarer. She’d cross her arms and watch the human step into the abyss ahead of him. Or what looked to be an abyss that they would fall into.
To him? It would be a surprising place. A place where no matter where he looked he’d see himself, reflected in thousands of different ways. Hundreds of thousands. One here or there would show signs of being different. Those closest to him having the strangest additions or subtractions. One had no right arm, one had a scar going over his eye. One of them seemed be even a mix between a human and mon. One even hinting at a future and the other hinting at the past. A young Kenny holding a stuffed animal of sorts; looking hopeful for the future. While an older kenny that looked happy, an older kenny that looked sad.
It wasn’t so bad really, but that wasn’t the problem this place poised. In such an infinite future of mirrors and clusters there was the soft whispering of the various places. Nothing overbearing but with every step it would be hard not to look, hard not to guess what was what. Some would see more, some would see less. For kenny it would be a choice to continue, a choice to take every step.
In the distance to him? He would see his goal. The artifact, a gleaming rotating pulsating swath of metal. Looking to almost be alive but was clearly incapable of that ability. It was simply just there. Even though it seemed hundreds of miles away, it also seemed like it was just out of arms reach.
So what would kenny do in the face of the future and the past? Stride forward towards his goal? Or fall to the questions of his various selves?
To the others? Kenny would simply vanish into this mirror inspired realm. This walk that one would always take alone, for the future was something that some would only ever understand on their own. To their own. Of their own.
”It’s up to you if you want to enter as well. But… Know that if you do you’ll walk on your own. Such is the challenge of the room.”
The anubismon flicked her wings and glanced at the entry to this place. Where her companion was leaning against the doorframe. Unable to come any further due to the enchantments to their bodies. He knew the answer of this place and therefore wasn’t allowed. His sister had never solved this riddle and therefore could stay. Her own puzzles had been figured out and her own intelligence had been brought to bear but his had not. So he did not speak, did not act in a place such as this… He simply waited.
|
|
|
Post by Toki Akiyama on Mar 19, 2020 4:21:41 GMT
Toki smiled proudly as the puzzle was solved. Doing all of that in his head worried that he may have made a mistake in the order somewhere along the way but thankfully it all worked out and the way forward was presented to them. Anubismon's changed demeanor was odd, but interesting to witness. The group made their way forward and before them was a the object of their search, as well as an enormous chasm between them and it.
As everyone tried to figure out what to do about this chasm, Toki did his best to observe it and figure out how to approach this himself. Then, Kenny decided to go through it himself first. While worried about the possibility of him getting hurt, Kenny was determined to see this through. "Just...just be careful, okay?" He said, clearly worried him him.
Then, Kenny vanished. Toki stepped forward in shock "Kenny!" He called out. He paused for a moment, before clenching his fists. He couldn't let him deal with whatever test this was on his own. "I'm going after him." He said as he rushed forward. With that, Toki would also vanish from sight.
Toki felt disoriented from the sudden shift in perspective, and he found himself back to his human form. After adjusting to that again, he looked around to see that he was trapped in an expansive room full of more mirrors than he could count. "Where...? Kenny?" He called out, but he was alone. "What's going on here?" He said to himself as he began to walk forward. It wasn't long until he noticed something off about the mirrors. In one of them, he saw himself as a young schoolboy all by himself and looking miserable. In another, he saw someone that looked like him but older. His dad? No, it was him in a suit, looking serious and menacing. In others he saw himself on the floor in a forest, completely still.
"Why am I seeing these things...?" He said. He felt uneasy about this, but he tried his best to stay composed. He looked forward and saw the artifact. It felt so close yet so far away. He walked towards it, only for a mirror to appear before him, this time showing the same older version of himself, only this time with a gentle smile and patient, wise gaze. This one still had his Digivice, while the other didn't. Next to this was him just a couple of years ago, before he got involved with the Digital World. The past...and the future? Different outcomes? Possibilities? What if he didn't get a Digivice? Would he be a thug? A lowlife? If he hadn't pushed himself during the fight with MetalPhantomon, would he have died that day?
Toki's heart was pounding, and his head was swimming...but these last two images of him. The past looking so meek and unsure, and the future no looking hopeful and optimistic...what was truth? What would become of him? He ran his hands through his hair. What was this all trying to tell him? Wait...why was he even here to begin with? "...the past is the past...and the future isn't set in stone. I can't worry about what could have been...or what might happen. What matters now is..." He looked forward, looking for the artifact. Once he caught a possible glimpse, he stepped forward "...the present!"
|
|
|
Post by yuuki on Apr 5, 2020 13:01:05 GMT
Yuuki was wondering why wouldn't these people ask him instead, someone who have crest of FAITH of all thing to do leap of faith. Pretty sure if it's believing, he have very strong edge in that. Granted, it's not easy to be confident in oneself, and there's a difference in being confident and being absolutely cocky. Yuuki is thankfully the former. Either way, he was too late it seems. Kenny was the one who's doing it first.
Yuuki braced for the reaction... and the guy simply vanished! He quickly looked at Anubimon who thankfully provided an explanation. She's... getting smarter and more fluent in her words didn't she. Perhaps she's learning based on how well they're doing? Either way, Yuuki looked at Toki next who decided that he too will enter. Yuuki meanwhile smiled and shrugged .
"What are you thinking?" Hikaru asked.
"That all of us are thinking the same thing anyway. I might need this test at any rate. See you later, Anubimon."
And soon he too leaped. Now, will his crest that embodies his traits shows the way? Or will he somehow ended up showing reversed aspect of his crest? He don't know, but he'll face it when the time come for sure.
|
|
|
Post by Kenny O'Hara and Skadi on Apr 6, 2020 12:19:21 GMT
Wait, how did the Anubismon know his full name, anyways? It wasn't like he or anybody else said it out loud within earshot of literally everybody else here? That... was starting to raise a lot more questions than they answered (which didn't exactly bode well for someone who was already lost). Still, Toki and the Anbuismon's words rang true in Kenny's head, all punctuated with Skadi giving him a reassuring nod. It did help to temper his nerves a little bit, and he made sure to keep that in mind as he stepped in, tightly gripping his partner's hand
Naturally, as he entered the realm, he turned his head back to where he entered, "Guys, are you OK-" His calls were cut short by the mere sight that greeted him; a younger version of himself, just playing with a stuffed teddy bear. For a brief moment, the young man blinked in awe, gazing into the reflection of himself in surprise.
Skadi was quick to notice it too, turning over to where Kenny stood, and slowly pointing at the image, turning her head up to the one in the flesh, "Hey, Kenny, was that you as a kid?" She asked, tiling her head. Kenny, confused as he was, was still able to respond, as he squeezed at his chin.
"Yeah, it must be," He mused, looking at the image in question, before giving off a shrug and turning around to the front once more, "Is this part of the whole 'path' and 'challenge' thing that Anubismon was going on about? I'm gonna try to look for the others first before- Jesus Christ."
What he saw was nothing short of surprising. There were images of him everywhere. Some of his younger, lonelier past as he was growing up, going from a spunky, happy-go-lucky kid, to a much more quiet, introverted child, traumatised by the bullying he had to endure with little to no help from most of the adults. Others involving his potentially much more older versions of himself, some a lot more positive, and others negative. Some of them were positively gruesome to see; the missing arm one making his stomach turn ever so slightly.
Then, something started to click inside his head, as he gazed around. Tears threatened to fall from his face as his breathing became heavier and heavier, much to the concern of Skadi. She looked up to her friend with a look of concern crossing her face, "Kenny, is anything wrong?"
The young man gave a quiet sigh as he looked ahead of his goal, "I... I think I understand it now. I've always been too worried about screwing up all the time, always being afraid to make mistakes, because I always try to be as perfect as possible. I've been afraid of screwing up because of my past mistakes, and they've constantly dragged me down, especially years after they happened. And I always keep worrying about the worst case scenario when shit hits the fan."
He started to walk forward once more toward his goal with a smile on his face, wiping away a tear as he did, "I shouldn't let my past bog me down anymore, and I should stop worrying about 'what if'. Because what's in the past is in the past, and the future is only what I make of it in the now. I may not have a chance to fix all my horrible mistakes in the past, but I... no, we, have a chance to make a brighter future, not only for ourselves, but for everyone around me as well. And what better chance than to start right here?" His glance directed towards the artefact laying ahead, as his steps got more confident and stronger, hopefully striding towards the artefact in question.
Skadi couldn't help but smile, looking up to her tamer with a grin on her face, "...that's the spirit, Kenny."
|
|
|