Scenario:Ilsa - Diuturnas
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Diuturnas
At the Diuturna Festival, (Captain) and Ilsa enjoy the food stalls and game booths, but soon realize they have wandered away from the festival. With no other people or lights in sight, the two follow the scent of diuturnas and come upon a place filled with tall hedges growing diuturna flowers.
Ilsa: So this is the Diuturna Festival... The atmosphere here is quite nice.
A floral scent wafts over the gently lit path as Ilsa gazes over the festival.
Her eyes pause on the diuturna flowers decorating the food and game stalls surrounding them.
Ilsa: Maybe this is why we only found the single flower in the main part of town. They must have gathered the rest for decoration.
At the mention of the diuturna from earlier, (Captain) looks at where it sits in Ilsa's hand.
Ilsa: Oh, this? For some reason, it felt wrong to leave it behind, so I kept it with me.
Ilsa: ...
A hint of melancholy crosses Ilsa's features as she takes in the flower's scent.
Ilsa: I'm sorry. I shouldn't be getting lost in thought while the festival is going on.
Ilsa: Shall we take a look at the stalls, (Captain)?
The two enjoy a game of chance, before moving on to a target shooting stall. Once they grow hungry, they snack on candied apples and teppanyaki at a leisurely pace.
Ilsa: Is it just me... or is there a slightly solemn mood in the air?
Ilsa: Not that I'm complaining. Peaceful outings can be nice. What about you? Are you having fun still?
(Captain) answers with a nod, smiling back at Ilsa.
Clad in their yukatas, the two continue their quiet evening together.
Ilsa: Now then...
With the festival about to end, Ilsa and (Captain) stroll around, pondering what to do next.
Ilsa: Wait... Where are we?
Though the festival has been a quiet affair, a strange silence permeates the air as they notice that nobody else is around.
Somehow, they have ended up in complete darkness, devoid of any lamplight to illuminate the way.
Ilsa: How did we get so lost?
Ilsa: I can't spot any landmarks that might help us find the way back. What do we do from here...
Unfamiliar with the local geography, they cease their wandering and try to formulate a plan.
Ilsa: Do you... smell that? It's the scent of diuturnas...
A gentle breeze carries the floral aroma over as (Captain) and Ilsa look at one another.
Ilsa: The festival area was covered in diuturna flowers. It must be coming from there.
With no other clues to guide them, the two follow the wind.
Ilsa: It looks like we guessed wrong. We seem even farther out from town than before...
After walking for some time, they arrive in a place covered in thick green shrubbery.
Ilsa: These hedges... They're all growing diuturnas. No wonder we didn't find any in town.
Finally discovering the source of the mysterious flower, Ilsa stares intently at the rows and rows of hedges before her.
Ilsa: Would you mind if I took a look around?
Ilsa: Something about this place calls to me...
(Captain) agrees, noting that they have no clues to lead them back regardless.
Ilsa: Thanks. Maybe luck will be on our side, and we'll run into a townsperson out here picking diuturnas...
Diuturnas: Scene 2
As (Captain) and Ilsa wander through the hedge maze, they hear a young man speak up from the other side of the hedge wall. He offers to guide the way back to town and begins to chat with Ilsa. Ilsa realizes the man is Lester, a subordinate of hers that perished in the fight against an automagod. Lester offers words of thanks he was not able to say in life, while Ilsa apologizes for not being able to protect him. When Ilsa and (Captain) realize they've almost returned to town, they sense Lester's presence fade away.
Ilsa: ...
The rows of diuturna hedges soon envelop Ilsa and (Captain) like a maze.
Their floral scent hangs thickly in the air, giving the place an otherworldly atmosphere.
Ilsa: I'm not sure why, but I feel oddly overwhelmed by nostalgia...
Despite the oddity of the situation, neither of them detect any danger.
They press on ahead through the greenery.
Man's Voice: Hello there. What are you doing in this place?
Ilsa: ...!
To their surprise, the voice of a young man greets them from the other side of the hedge.
Ilsa: I'm sorry if we're trespassing. We somehow wandered away from the festival and got lost.
Man's Voice: Oh... That's what happened to me as well, actually. By the time I came to my senses, I was here.
Man's Voice: I've since gathered my bearings and figured out where we are. Would you like me to guide you back to town?
Ilsa: ...
(Captain) and Ilsa look at one another, silently debating the risk of following a stranger, before exchanging nods.
Ilsa: Well... We're not familiar with the area, so we could use the help. It'd be much appreciated.
Man's Voice: Excellent. I'd be honored to lead the way.
Ilsa: ...?
Man's Voice: For now, we only need to move straight ahead.
From the other side of the hedge, the young man's voice grows faint as he walks off.
Ilsa: It can't be...
Ilsa: But if it's not him...
I need to see what our helper looks like. Let's go, (Captain).
I need to see what our helper looks like. Let's go, (Captain).
Ilsa steps forward, her expression caught between a mix of anger and sorrow.
Man's Voice: I see... So you chose this island to be the stopover for your voyage.
Ilsa: Yes, that's why we only learned about the festival after arriving.
Man's Voice: What a stroke of luck. How did you find the festival? Was it enjoyable?
Ilsa: It was. Putting on a yukata was a treat in and of itself, but so was the shooting game and the food stalls.
Man's Voice: That's a relief to hear. Being busy is good, but leaving time for rest is also important.
Ilsa: ...
Ilsa: It's just disappointing that I didn't land that many shots during the game. I suppose I'm not suited for handling firearms.
Man's Voice: Oh... Is that so?
Ilsa: Why the confusion? Does my voice alone hint toward a proficiency with guns?
Man's Voice: Haha, no, of course not.
Ilsa: That's too bad. It would make leading considerably easier if I could learn someone's proficiencies just from hearing them speak.
Man's Voice: You still command people even now...
Ilsa: My days are packed with drilling and directing my subordinates, though I'm not overburdening myself like I was in the past.
Ilsa: At least nowadays I have the free time to visit confectionaries and savor their sweets.
Man's Voice: ...
Man's Voice: I take that to mean that your subordinates have grown and no longer need as much of your attention.
Ilsa: That's hardly the case. Only Gwynne seems to have any hope of catching up to the man who used to be my most capable study.
Man's Voice: ...
Ilsa: I doubt the others could even go shopping for me and get everything on the list.
Ilsa: The only one I could trust with that perished in battle. I only have myself to rely on now.
Man's Voice: ...
Ilsa: So tell me—how is it that you're here when you should have died, Lester?
Lester's Voice: As sharp as ever, Sergeant.
Ilsa: Did you think I'd forget the voice of someone I trained? Your footsteps and clanking armor are exactly the same too. You'll have to try much harder to deceive me.
Lester's Voice: I wasn't purposely trying to deceive you... But I knew that if you discovered who I was, you wouldn't let me hear the end of it.
Ilsa: You better explain yourself thoroughly, then, before I pummel you to the bottom of the skies.
The man on the other side is Lester, once a subordinate who served under Ilsa.
He was in the running to become a seal weapon contractor, but met an early end at the hands of automagod Arianensa.
Ilsa: If those Otherworld bastards are up to something again, there'll be hell to pay.
Lester's Voice: I'm sorry, but I'm honestly not sure how to explain my presence.
Lester's Voice: This doesn't feel like the work of the Otherworld, as I know how their denizens operate.
Lester's Voice: I would've hid my presence and held my silence if I'd sensed I was being used by them.
Ilsa: ...
Lester's Voice: I'm really not sure how or why I'm here speaking with you, Sergeant.
Lester's Voice: Perhaps the diuturnas' aroma is making you hallucinate.
Ilsa: That would be... the most acceptable explanation.
Lester's Voice: I just want to say one last thing.
Lester's Voice: I'm grateful that you haven't changed a bit, and that you're doing well...
Lester's Voice: And thank you, (Captain), for staying by the sergeant's side.
Ilsa: ...
Ilsa: I also have something I'd like to say.
Ilsa: I'm sorry I couldn't protect you back then.
Ilsa: I wish so badly that I'd been strong enough...
Lester's Voice: I'm the one who's sorry, for not being able to meet your expectations, Sergeant.
Lester's Voice: I didn't have anything to my name, or even a family before meeting you. I owed you so much.
Lester's Voice: Thank you for everything...
The presence on the other side of the hedge vanishes as a strong wind blows by and carries the scent of diuturnas away.
In the silence that follows, familiar festival sounds echo in the distance.
Ilsa: It seems we've almost made it back to town. Ready, (Captain)?
Without further incidence, the two safely escape the confines of the hedges.
Diuturnas: Scene 3
(Captain) and Ilsa return to their inn, where they are instructed to take a purifying soak in the hot springs. The next morning, they ask the townspeople about the festival, but nobody seems to know what they are talking about. The innkeeper relays that around this time of year, various people have similar experiences. With the flower still shrouded in mystery, Ilsa reflects on all the subordinates she's lost and lets the diuturna she held on to float away in the river.
Ilsa: ...
Upon returning to town, (Captain) and Ilsa head straight for the inn.
The innkeeper takes one look at them and strongly suggests that they take a dip in the hot spring.
According to him, doing so should cleanse them of any impurities.
Gran is the Main Character
Ilsa: How's the water over there?
Ilsa's voice carries over from the other side of the fence as she speaks to (Captain).
Ilsa: This has been an extremely strange experience so far.
Ilsa: With how the innkeeper immediately asked us to purify ourselves, I take it we're not the first ones to be spirited away like that.
Gazing at the diuturnas floating around, Ilsa takes a sip of the purifying sake she has been given.
Ilsa: It's as if the unease in my chest is being washed away...
Ilsa: I only wish I could've met all the others I didn't manage to protect as well, but perhaps that's wanting for too much.
Ilsa: I should be glad I managed to speak with him one last time at least...
She leans back and drinks more sake, placing the diuturna she had carried all day down onto a tray.
Its vibrant red petals fade to white, like wood to ash after fulfilling its role to completion.
Innkeeper: Good morning. Did you sleep well last night?
Ilsa: Very. By the way, I had something I wanted to ask—
Innkeeper: Are you looking for diuturna hedges?
Ilsa: Yes... I've been searching all morning for them, but when I asked the townspeople about it, they didn't even know about the festival, let alone the hedges.
Innkeeper: You know, you're not the first to experience something like that. We tend to get people like you around this time of year.
Innkeeper: Getting lost during a festival, discovering a diuturna hedge maze, and speaking with people you never thought you'd hear from again...
Ilsa: After all that searching... the source of the flower remains a mystery.
Standing by the river, (Captain) and Ilsa watch as diuturna after diuturna drifts atop the flowing water.
Ilsa: Named diuturna because it is known as the lasting flower, it's been associated with death for as long as people have known it.
Ilsa: I wonder if the flower's aroma gave form to everything we saw.
Ilsa: Just like a primal beast makes use of legends and worship to take on transient forms...
Ilsa leans down to place her faded diuturna among the other floating red and white flowers.
Soon after, the blossom is carried away, along with all the words she never had the chance to say.