It's tempting, it really is. You could have a sword that's on fire, which is the coolest thing imaginable. It'd be like something right out of an anime... no, actually it's rather tame compared to that, more like something from an old legend, but that's still pretty cool.
But then you look over at the gemstone, and you're struck by a thought: where did it came from? Your memories of your last few days are foggy, but you can remember one moment clearly. There was a huge burst of light, before the pain died down.
Kyoko.
She died so you wouldn't have to be alone, you remember that much. It seems even that was in vain, seeing as you're here and she isn't. You aren't sure if this gem is related to her, but you'd rather not risk the chance. If it were somehow what was left of her, it wouldn't be right to just... toss it away.
Andre notices your mood quickly souring, as a few tears roll down your face despite your best attempts to shut them out. He places a hand gently on your shoulder. "Y' alright there?" While he can't hide the confusion fully from his voice, you can still hear his sincerity. "If y' don't want it done, it's perfectly fine, I won't be getting offended, I mean, less work for me in the end." He says, probably trying to cheer you up.
You take a moment to recompose yourself at least a little bit, wiping away any tears from your face, before speaking. "Thank you for the offer, but I..." you pause, unsure of how to word your thoughts. "...need to think a few things over first." you tell him. He opens his mouth to say something, before shutting it as he gets the message.
"Aye. Well, I'll be here if y' need any smithing done." He says, as he returns to work. You grab your belongings, although you really do need to get a bag of some sort to carry everything in, you realize. As you go, you dismiss the sword you summoned earlier, it vanishing from where Andre left it, spooking him, before he simply shakes his head and gets back to work. Your walk away is accompanied by a fierce clanging as he resumes hammering away at the sword he'd been working on.
As you go to try and find Hawkwood, you notice the old woman seated in a chair in the middle of the hallway. She turns her head to look at you, before giving you a creepy smile and a soft chuckle. What is with people around here and just being creepy in general? Avoiding the old woman, who doesn't seem to take any offence to it, you head back to the center chamber of the shrine.
As you arrive, you notice that the clanging coming from Andre's smithing work doesn't seem to reach here. Turning around, you realize that it's not even that far away, the sound just isn't there for some reason. You take a few steps backwards, and slowly the sound fades back in.
This place just keeps getting weirder and weirder.
Looking around, you find Hawkwood seated by the stairs, just as he was earlier. It seems like he's designated the "spot" as his own. He notices you approaching, but doesn't do much beyond acknowledging you with a look. You take a seat near him, and sit in silence for a minute, neither of you seeming to want to start a conversation for your own reasons. Finally, Hawkwood breaks the silence with a sigh, before speaking. "You still don't plan on throwing yourself into this whole mess, do you?"
"I'm... not sure." you admit, your face shrinking as you speak, "I woke up yesterday expecting to be dead, and now I'm just... here. If it's the right thing to do, then we should at least try to do it, right? I mean, if I of all people was chosen for this, there must be a reason. I don't know what it could be, but it's not like there's anything better to do here. Really though, it just feels like I should."
You can't deny the strange draw that you possess towards the task that was given to you. It had nothing to do with you, or anyone you've ever known. You get no real benefit out of doing it. You don't know what exactly you have to do. You aren't even sure if you can even succeed. Yet you felt compelled to agree to do it, and isn't that enough to at least try?
"I see," is all Hawkwood says in response. You both sit in silence for a few minutes, staring at the ground and trying to think of what exactly makes you feel so compelled to do this, before Hawkwood once again speaks. "I have an offer for you. I can tell you seem keen on throwing yourself into this face first, and no matter what I say to you, you won't listen. But once you see what you're up against, you'll change your mind. If I didn't know just how out of my league I was, I'd probably be throwing myself at it out of boredom at this point. Until then, I can't just let a child get themselves killed, so until you finally understand the hand we've been dealt, I'll accompany you."
You aren't sure whether to feel touched or offended. "And you're doing this why?"
Hawkwood opens his mouth to speak, before pausing, as if reconsidering what he's about to say. After a moment, he turns back to you. "I have my reasons," he says, doing a poor job of dodging the question, "and besides, it will hopefully break up the monotony for a bit, if nothing else."
[] Accept Hawkwood's Offer. You're not sure if you can trust him, but better you have somebody with you than go at it alone.
[] Reject Hawkwood's Offer. This guy's been non-stop moping around since you first met him, what use could he even have if you got into a fight?
Afterwards, you go and...
[] Speak to the Shrine Handmaiden. She seems... odd, but you should at least give her a chance, right?
[] Skip the creepy lady and go find the Fire Keeper.
[] Write In
