linkingup | IN THE FOREST OF THE LOST

[ The first thing Sunrise thinks is that this feels like being dressed for a funeral, except mourning clothes are usually nicer. So maybe not?

She will go examine the mannequin first. ]

It's a very lovely outfit, a nice white with a pink skirt! Lots of lace and ribbons, but the embroidery isn't yet done. It looks like someone was taking a break and decided to leave.

As Sunrise investigates, a memory plays for all to see:

You and another girl walk side by side. It's dark out, and people are rushing home. She sounds like she's had fun, at least, as she slows down to talk.

"Anyway, do you feel a little better?"

"...What?"

"I'm asking because you seem a little more relaxed, now."

"I do...? ... Actually, I am feeling better."

"That's good to hear! Whenever it feels like walls are closing in, taking your mind off things by doing something else can help, right? In those situations, I always ran towards the things that felt safe and allowed me to relax.It's why I felt that you also needed something or somewhere you could run to, Mafuyu."

"Oh. ... Is that what you wanted to-"

"Hehe. Sorry... I thought it'd be best to just do it. It's a little different from what you're going through, but the truth is, I also went through a period where I wasn't really allowed to be myself..."

Mizuku pauses, gathering her thoughts.

"A lot of things happened while I was in junior high that led to me becoming the subject of everyone's ridicule. I constantly got all these weird looks...As rough as that was, watching anime and making videos helped me get through it..."

"But that didn't..."

"I know. It didn't actually solve anything. I went about it pretty aimlessly, and going to school eventually became too much for me. Even the one person I could talk to ended up graduating... That made things unbearable. So, I ran from school. I stopped going.At home, I felt safe... But I still knew deep down that I was running from my problems, which weighed on me a lot... However... I'm standing here today because I gave myself that time..."

"... 'Gave yourself that time'?"

"The thing is, Mafuyu... I believe that taking on whatever life throws at you takes a lot of energy. At the same time, if you can't get away from your problems, they'll just sap away all of your energy until there's nothing left. You know what I mean, right? After suffering through so much pain for so long, you just sorta lose the will to go on...

Which is why I believe in order for that not to happen... And to survive... It's necessary to have a place where you can run to whenever you need it.

Obviously, I'm not saying running is the best option since it doesn't actually help solve anything. And it only provides short-term relief... But I believe that it's okay to run when you're faced with an unbearable amount of pain and suffering that's going to take your life force away.

So... When you think you've reached your limit, it's okay to run away. For your own sake, Mafuyu. You. No one else."

...

Sunrise, you may feel tears forming in your eyes.

Mafuyu?

[Arven fearfully whispers after the memory finishes playing, the emotions within hitting him hard.]

Oh no…

[ He has a lot of concerns about that memory, and he, too, feels pretty emotional, especially when it's clear whose palace this is.

His primary worry, though, is how Arven must feel about this. ]

...

[ He puts a hand on Arven's shoulder. ]

Don't worry. We'll bring her back.

[Oh, Yoon…the support helps a lot. Arven lets out a shaky breath.]

I thought…maybe for once she wouldn’t have to go through one of these. This is just worse.

…you’re right, though. We’ll get her out of here. We have to.

It is, but if it's anything like my battle, she'll be okay.

[ Don't hurt her, Yoon thinks to himself, hoping that the God of Conflict will hear him. He thinks about Jordi – then Mafuyu, then Arven. Don't hurt either of them. I'll take you on again if I have to. ]

There are a lot of people here who care about Mafuyu. We won't let anything bad happen to her.

[Yoon and Arven are of the same mind on that one.]

Yeah.

That jerk had better not even think about showing his face here. He’s gonna be in for a world of pain.

He will be. We're getting stronger – he's not going to see it coming.

[ Sunrise is still scrubbing at her eyes, which probably makes this seems at least a little surreal: ]

I think...she is in that forest.

[Arven glances toward the forest.]

Yeah, it seems like it. It’s like the forest is calling to us.

[But when he looks back…]

You okay, Sunrise?

[It feels a little like deja vu.]

I think so.

[ Even if she isn't sure if that feeling of relief was really just Mafuyu's, when she thinks about it. ]

It is just... I have not cried before. [ She's not sure what to do about it??? ]

Wait, like, never?

[That’s surprising.]

[ She nods. ...Honestly, can anyone even imagine her crying? ]

[Arven could imagine anyone crying. It’s not a bad thing to cry!!]

…Well, that memory did have some powerful feelings attached. I guess it must’ve caused a reaction in you.

Mm.

...I am glad she had someone to run to.

Me too. She said she was getting better, so…maybe this was part of it.

[…and yet this palace exists. Did the god of conflict find lingering emotions to latch onto?]

It should be.

...Which part is troubling you?

[ Like, she figures this is a troubling situation overall, but she also ought to ask. ]

[ "It's okay to run away."

...Which was not a thought that had occurred to her when she did exactly that herself almost four years ago. The very notion of whether it was okay or not didn't even cross her mind; it had boiled down to necessity. If she had stayed, she would have only reopened someone else's wounds ad nauseam simply by being there.

(Though it is also true that if she had stayed, she would had her life force taken away too, though perhaps not in quite the same way.)

When the tears start to well up, Sunrise reaches up to wipe away at them, with an air of confusion, like this is an unfamiliar experience. ]

IN THE FOREST OF THE LOST

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