To Await Her Return

    Yesterday, a party of adventurers entered a tower in the Palace Lands. They discovered the source of the "Terraformers" robotic monsters - created by none other than the Lord of the Thor Kingdom himself.

    As such things do, the facility rather quickly exploded. Apparently taking King 'Pottyface Hairy-Fat-Ass', as Miyako insists is hte proper pronunciation, with it.

    Unfortunately, it also proved fatal for two of the adventurers, Kotono and Schneider.

    Since the party emerged from the tower, Miyako has been close to catatonic. Badly burned when her escape was derailed by Kotono's death, she only responded long enough to be force-fed a healing potion and to curse 'Pottyface' and the Thor Kingdom in general.

    It was nearly midnight when she had an idea come to mind, and scrolled frantically through her inventory to see if she still had the item she was thinking of. Seeing it, she let out a sigh of relief, then pulled it out and put it to use: one of the very few teleport items available to the Adventurers of Yamato. Uncaringly burning a precious resource just to be there when Kotono returns.

    Morning found her in the church of Fort Ouph, waiting.

    Waiting.

    Waiting.

Daiyu had not been at the fiasco. But when word filtered back to the Alliance that there had been casualties she took notice, and saw what names in her friend's list were greyed out. She had originally chimmed Miyako to pass along condoliences, but got an insistance she come to do so herself.

And that is why the fox woman walks into the church. She got a few wary looks on the way, but as she quite visibly is not wearing a Crown, little impedement.

Her first move however is to go give Miyako a hug to let her know she's here. And mutter a faint "Later you need to tell me how you got here so quickly."

     Pela has been there for ... likely less time than Miyako, to be honest, since Miyako used other methods to get there faster than her. Still, Pela was there nonetheless. Not necessarily in an obvious capacity though, she was doing as she tended to do when in a place to keep an eye out for danger; she was around in the church doing odd jobs. Cleaning here, helping out with setting things up there, and other things that are likely making the members of the church somewhat annoyed occasionally, but Pela is sating their wrath with a simple fact: She brought treats. More importantly, she's keeping an eye out for Palace Landers. She does, occasionally, slip by and set down a small plate of food nearby Miyako. Just to make sure she's eating.

The last thing Kotono remembered was getting caught in that explosion, all while she begged for Miyako to forgive her. After that, she began to see bits and pieces of her life flashing before her here and there. It was almost like she was in a dream of sorts that she couldn't wake up from.

That's what Kotono is seeing from her perspective. What the others are seeing is nothing right now. Kotono has been dead for some time now, but it would only be a matter of time before she eventually revived. Of course, for Miyako, that probably has felt like an eternity.

For a while her body has been nothing but a tombstone. Symbolizing where she met her demise. She has to return, eventually...

Then, in that church where everyone is waiting for her, the young Spriggan's body begins to materialize slowly. The Spriggan lies with her eyes closed, almost like she is in a peaceful slumber. As her body continues to materialize, she remains still, her eyes not opening for the time being. If one were to look closely, they'd see she's breathing faintly, but other than that she hasn't fully revived yet.

    Miyako hasn't lost track of time. She knows exactly how long it has been since Kotono fell. Since the respawn timer started.

    That's not to say she's paid much attention to anything else. She's just been waiting. Barely-touched plates of food sit nearby, Pela's efforts unthanked.

    Daiyu's arrival triggers her to just slump into the fox's arms, sniffling, bursting into tears. Not noticing anything, even the start of the awaited arrival.

     Upon the signs of a revival, Pela's ears perk up, her gaze flitting around the room almost immediately as she slips her hands into her dress, just in case. She'd be fine risking the wrath of the root city guardians to stop the palace landers from kidnapping and doing worse than death to someone. All of her senses alert, eyes watching intently as Pela waits silently, moving quietly to a corner that offered some cover and a full view of the room as Kotono revives, watching silently out for any sign of activity in the room beyond people approaching to greet their friend.
     Only when she is completely sure there was no ambush did Pela finally relax and walk over towards the other two, though always standing in a position that lets her keep one eye on the doorway at all times. Just in case. "...Miyako. ...I believe she is reviving." Pela murmurs quietly, her gaze flickering over Daiyu a little bit, mostly out of unfamiliarity with the person. But with how Miyako reacted... well... probably not a threat.

Daiyu provides the comfort for a few moments. "There, there. Let it out. Better than bottling it up." Not like she would know from experience or anything...

At least until Pela points out the revival is starting, then she withdraws, giving Miyako a nudge forward as she does. "It's time."

The Spriggan's body continues to slowly materialize, still not showing any signs of life, until finally it completely reappears. Kotono's eyes are still closed as her body comes into full view, laying atop what looks like an altar of some kind, albeit made up with a carpeting of sorts to give the Spriggan some cushioning. Her hands are atop her stomach and her expression is peaceful, almost like she's at rest instead of dead. There's still the sign of breathing, but other than that she's not moving or anything.

After a moment, though, once her body has fully materialized and it's been there for a moment, her arms and legs begin to move a tiny bit, then her head begins to turn slightly. At the same time, her lips open a little, showing her joined teeth. A few moments later, she emits a soft sound as she continues to move a little more.

"Nngh... I'm... I'm sorry Miyako..." The Spriggan says softly as she begins to return to everything. A few more sounds come from her mouth, and then her eyes slowly begin to open.

"Nngh... where.. where am I?" The Spriggan wonders weakly as she slowly begins to sit up, turning to look around as she attempts to take in the location she's revived in. "How did I... get here?" She wonders weakly, looking around for anyone she might recognize. "Nngh... Ugh..." She blinks a few times, her vision not fully returned apparently. She hears the sound of talking as well as the sound of Miyako sobbing, and she turns her head to look in the general direction from where it's coming from as the room fades into view. "Mi... Miyako?" She asks, still not quite with it.

    "Dai.... Dai... I left her..." Miyako continues sniffling and crying, her face buried in the fox's sleeve. "We were... we were running... everything exploding... and I left her..."

    She doesn't notice the body fading into view on the altar. Doesn't hear the muttered questions, the apology.

    "I'm sorry Ko-chan... I'm sorry... I left you...."

     "...You were caught in an explosion. You died. ...You are in your home church after reviving." Pela quietly explains, walking over towards Kotono after grabbing one of the fresher plates of food to bring over to her, quietly murmuring a spell over it as a small gemstone glows on a bracelet on her wrist, warming the pastries and giving them the scent of freshly baked food, which she sets next to her. "...I'm sure you're hungry. ...I will not pester unnecessarily. ...I am glad to see you back. ...I am here mostly to ensure the Palace Land is not performing their favorite tactic on you." Possibly questionably reassuring from someone as small as Pela, though it wasn't as if she were completely unknown.
     Miyako's words causes Pela's lips to press into a line. She opens her mouth as if she were going to say something, a small crack of her voice starting to come out, only to be almost immediatly stopped as she simply shakes her head and steps back. She's not good at this sort of thing.

Daiyu sighs softly. Reachs out with one gloved hand to gently lift Miyako's head and turn her attention towards the alter. "Why don't you go apologize to her directly dear?"

"An explosion... I died... my home church..." It all comes back to Kotono as she realizes what happened. "Now I remember." Kotono steps onto the floor and stretches her arms and legs as she gets the sensation back into herself. "I just barely missed... Oh, poor Miyako..." Kotono stops, noticing where Miyako is, and how she's crying her eyes out. Kotono can only stare for a moment with her mouth hanging open as she realizes just how Miyako feels and how she feels she abandoned her.

"Miyako!" Kotono calls out as she rushes over to her friend. "Miyako! It's me! I'm back!" The Spriggan seems a little slower than normal, but there's a smile on her face as she realizes Miyako is there too. She opens her arms to hug Miyako. "Oh Miyako, it's OK!"

    The voice... the voice she remembers so well... the voice she so hoped to hear... She lifts her head, meeting Kotono's gaze briefly, then her eyes flick up to check her partner's forehead for the hated Crown. And... it's not there.

    "Oh thank gods Ko-chan," she blurts out, springing to her feet to return the embrace, sobbing into Kotono's shoulder. "You... you died... and it was their... I was so afraid they'd get you..."

     Pela gives a soft nod towards Kotono at that confirmation. "Exactly. ...You are likely missing a memory now. ...If it is your first death, you may not even notice it. ...But if you find yourself trying to talk about something and suddenly can't bring it to mind, that is likely the cost imparted upon you for cheating death." Pela moves back towards the doorway, standing her quiet vigil to ensure that the moment is not disrupted by any unwanted guests. Though it seems... at least for now... that the church in Fort Ouph is safe. Probably. Hopefully. She gives a soft exhale. "...I am glad my paranoia was just that." She murmurs quietly. Finally, she does speak directly at Miyako. "...You did not leave her behind. ...You trusted in your partner to get out. And something happened. It is not your fault." A firm nod from that door guardian.

Daiyu takes a few steps back once the two embrace, letting them have the moment. Instead she turns her gaze to Pela for a moment, nodding. "Thank you for being here to watch over her."

Though the matter of memories comes up, which makes her frown a little again. "Back when I myself died, we did not know of that specifically... Just that it happening repeatedly... makes you lose enough of yourself you're easier to the control. Easier for the Crown to enforce it's effect over you." Which makes her glad it was only once, and as Pela said she's not even certain what memory she 'lost'. Now a days she just tries to not think too hard about what it could of been.

"Memory... gone..." Kotono sighs before shaking her head. "That's not important right now. What's important is that I'm still here." She then looks to Miyako, hugging her tight. "It's OK, Miyako, I'm here. It wasn't your fault at all. It's nobody's fault but those fools who were causing trouble." She sighs before running a hand through Miyako's hair. "Just let it out."

\     "You'reOKyou'reokyou'reok...." Miyako can't stop crying. Babbling. So grateful that Kotono is alright. That the Crowners didn't get at her.

     "...I am sorry you went through that. ...What the Palace Land People of the Land have done is terrible." Pela says quietly towards Daiyu, dipping her head softly towards her. "...I do not believe we have met. I am Pela Clarpuff. ...I own a cafe down in the city of Shibuya." Understatement of what all she does and is, but that's irrelevant. "...As with any adventurer, I am combat ready." Pela adds quietly.
     Kotono's response gets a simple nod from Pela. "...That is the truth. The important thing is that you are alive and as well as can be." Pela says with a small nod. "...I'm sure you're hungry. Reviving from the dead likely works up an appetite. ...There are snacks here for you. When you are ready and in Shibuya next, feel free to drop by the cafe. ...I will instruct my staff to feed you whatever you desire." Pela looks back out into the darkness of the night. Standard adventurer movements. No sign of anything dangerous. She finally gives a soft exhale, letting herself relax a little as she moves over to take a seat semi nearby the altar where adventurers revive. Other than that, she largely just falls quiet until prompted to talk again.

"Ah. The cafe." Daiyu nods her head knowingly. "I hope everything was in order when we departed Shibuya. Other than confenscating rations we did not do much else to the infrastructure."

After which there is just a long look between her and Pela. The look of one spy seeing another of a similar trade.... but says nothing out loud, because that is the life we do not speak of in public. Especially when you're technically still a reforming enemy.

"I'm fine, Miyako, don't worry," Kotono says soothingly, hugging the fellow Spriggan tightly. "It's gonna be OK. Just let it out." She rocks her friend gently and plants a kiss on her head. "It's OK."

     "It was in... mostly fine order, yes. ...Beyond needing to restock." Pela gives a small smile. "...I appreciate that the occupation was a largely nondestructive one." There was a pause. Then she continues. "... I apologize for those allies of yours that you may have been fond of that have fallen. I have little sympathy for the people of the land of the palace land, but the adventurers are victims in this." Pela quietly stands. "...I am going to start making my way back to my cafe. ...Feel free to drop by sometime. ...I am sure there is much we could talk about." She gives a small smile towards Kotono and Miyako. They're okay, and things seem to be relatively safe. Which is good.

    Miyako nods, and just clings to Kotono for a long period, holding her close, comforting herself with her friend's presence. "Y - yeah... you're ok.... you're ok...."