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If Seeing and Feeling Meant Believing

[The inhabitants of the area surrounding the tree had long since turned in for the night. The shops had all closed and though lamps illuminated the city no one roamed the streets this late save for one man.

Shirotsuki could be found sitting beneath the immense tree with a stack of petals beside him and one resting in his palm. There were images in the light that emanated from the petals. Images of places and people simultaneously intimate and utterly alien to Shirotsuki. There were voices too and if he focused hard enough they became clearer. They were memories— his memories. Or so he wanted to believe.

Ever since he'd encountered the strange phenomenon Shirotsuki felt compelled to return to the tree more often. He wanted to understand just how much of it was real and perhaps recover these missing pieces of himself. All this he chose to do in the dead of night. After all, he hadn't exactly made the cost of using his magic public knowledge. Not even to those closest to him.

And so he returned, night after night to look into the petals. Especially the ones of the girl with the brilliant smile...]

The Missing Rose: Part 1

[Fu is surprised not to find the train station completely deserted— it was so cold this morning that she'd considered abandoning this trip completely and simply curling up under a blanket with a nice steaming bowl of udon. Still, it isn't like the place could be called busy. A few people meander about the platform while they wait for the train. Some make conversation with friends or family while others just devote all of their attention to their phones.

As for Fu, she stands at the edge of the platform waiting for her friends to show up. Clutching her briefcase tightly and casting uneasy glances between it and the station market make her look suspicious as anything. She seems to be struggling to come to a decision about something important.]

The Desert Heat

[Compared to the scorching heat of the surrounding desert, Yu Liberte is quite comfortable— though still far hotter than Lhant.]

I wonder if he got our message?

[It was Sophie's idea to make a trip to Strahta to visit Hubert. The two of them had many responsibilities in their respective nations and free time didn't always line up for the brothers to see one another. This would be a rare opportunity for them to spend some time together.

On the way to the Government District Asbel notices a restaurant signboard.]

Hey, what's this? Curry Contest: Beat the Heat and Win a Prize.

Just what is a Perfect Present anyway? (Closed)

[Sophie never celebrated her birthday. Asbel found it strange that he had never really given it much thought until now, a few days before the anniversary of the first time he, Cheria and Hubert had met Sophie. He thought Sophie would have asked him about birthdays as a hint about wanting to celebrate one, but she hadn't and so Asbel was convinced that she would have let the day pass without a fuss. He couldn't accept this. Sophie should celebrate her birthday, and he was going to do whatever it took to make that happen.

While organizing a party would be easy, getting a present for the guest of honor would to be more of a challenge. Asbel had scoured Lhant for the perfect present, but there was nothing there had really caught his eye. He didn't really know what to get Sophie for her first birthday and time was running out. That's why today he decided to enlist the aid of a pair of co-conspirators, Cheria and Hubert. The plan was for the trio to make a trip to Barona before sunrise and spend the day searching for something Sophie would love. The Windor capital surely had a greater selection of gifts than Lhant, or so Asbel believed.

----

Asbel steps off the boat and stretches. It's still early and many shopkeepers seem to just be opening their stores.]

It's a good thing mom was able to come up with a way to keep Sophie at home.

[He should have known that saying "We're just going to Barona to see Richard" was only going to make Sophie want to go with them. Luckily his mother managed to convince Sophie to spend the day with her instead.]