Trustworthy or untrustworthy?

After having said all of that, it was as if a massive weight had been lifted off of Cherry's shoulders as the atmosphere was surprisingly good for someone who had nearly taken two lives.

And it's only now that I realize that she's a surprisingly good storyteller.

Speaking eloquently was just the tip of the iceberg so to say, she also had a great memory that allowed her to speak out a few details that would otherwise be glossed over alongside her thoughts of the time.

It helped that she was genuinely enjoying her time telling the story of several hundreds of people in one sitting for... I would like to say a minute or so, but seeing as the sun was dawning that would be a lie.

Strangely enough, it's only now that I noticed that I could actually consume food.

It's strange to not have noticed that fact earlier, but it was probably due to the fact that I briefly had no head and the fact that before now, my stomach hadn't complained as if they were the beaches of normandy.

'It's just weird.'

Rubbing my stomach that had been sated by two bowls of purple stew, I felt my fingers brush over the two scars born onto my stomach.

Anyways, as the sun rose over the horizon of blue tides, the golden rays of sunlight graced the island with its presence, shining on both castles on both islands

According to the words of Cherry, these two castles had a funny yet haunting story behind their creation.

The island we were on was called Old Castle island due to the fact that the first king of the kingdom had first established their castle here, forming the towering twisted black and red spires and the basis of the kingdom.

Before that however, it was previously broadly described as the Island Kingdom of Sevallia without any specificity on the island they were on

However, ever since the establishment of such a palace, every single time that that a new King came of age, the previous one disappeared, only to be found horrifically dessicated as a dried out husk..

This led to the development of a new castle on what is now called New Castle island as one of the King's sons couldn't take the idea of turning into a husk anymore

It certainly helped its establishment when the following Kings didn't die horrifically dried out when residing away from the castle in one of the Noble's villas

The fact that most of the Kingdom's facilities were located on the generally more prosperous New Castle island probably aided the New King's judgement as well.

Thus led to the establishment of a New castle on the other island, far from the Old castle now turned Prison for the damned.

And it's there where they found the inspiration for their names.

Now they were the Old Castle and New Castle twin islands of Sevallia also called black castle and golden castle.

And as the sun shone over the island keep, the Golden Castle spoke true to its name as it glimmered brightly underneath sunlight.

Unlike the Black castle which was constantly shrouded by clouds, hiding from the light as a thick fog hung around its barriers, the golden castle seemed like a lightbulb when the sun shone on it.

Making the already dying flames presence less bright, I blankly stared at the charred remains of the fireplace before turning my head to Cherry.

"So do you have any clue on why this disease even started? Or at the least do you know how this time loop came to be?"

Interrupting her spiel, Cherry didn't take offence to my interruption as she shook her head in denial.

"Nope, I wasn't that much of a reader anyways, I usually spent time training, so until the captain received orders from the king to contain the infected on Old Castle islands prison I didn't even know that the Malaise existed."

She paused her words before continuing. "And I doubt that there will be many intact or readable texts ever since the onset of the disease since most of the librarians should've perished by now, they're books accompanying them."

She snapped her fingers

"But you can check with the Scribe!"

"...And who is that may I ask?"

"You don't know the Scribe?!" Shouting in shock, Cherry stared at me wide eyed as if she were discovering a brand new species.

And although I was a bit hurt at the exaggerated treatment, I calmly asked her.

"I don't know the Scribe, enlighten me oh enlightened one."

Bowing slightly in a joking manner, Cherry laughed at my poor attempt at a joke before shaking her head.

"Well I guess you wouldn't know either way since he's so withdrawn."

'...Somehow that hurt.'

Staring at Cherry as if urging her to continue she continued.

"The Scribe is the Head Shaman of the Native Lizardmen group that were initially here before the First King." She giggled lightly.

"And as the Head Shaman, you would think that he would resist the First King's advancements into the island, but when the King brought out books he became captivated, obsessively so to the point that the only reason he's with us today is to record everything that happens here."

"...I don't get what you mean."

"To put it bluntly, the Scribe records everything that happens in the Kingdom, from major events that everyone knows to the minor transactions that occurs between people."

"Wait, how?" Tilting my head she laughed in response.

"It's simple really, its because of his magic."

"And that is...?"

"He can see anything that is written down on paper."

"...By anything do you mean anything?"

"Anything."

"Well bloody hot damn."

She laughed slightly. 

"Of course, its limited to just the two islands and a bit off the coast, but in recent times, unless he's in the general area, he won't be able to sense anything, something to do with sensing all the writings in a single moment-"

'Oh.' Widening my eyes at her final words, I instantly became all the more interested in this scribe.

"So where do I need to go to find this Scribe?" Asking this question, she prodded the charred remains of the campfire, sifting through the ashes.

"Well... do you know those ruins that appeared in New Castle?"

"...No?"

"Well it's called the slumbering sanctuary and is located besides Stilt Village, it's a big black box with a unique aura to it that pokes out of the ground, you'll know it when you see it, the Scribe is there."

"Noted, the Scribe is in the Slumbering Sanctuary."

"Yeah, you get it." Laughing loudly as if the state of her lungs didn't even matter, her mouth continued to spew out words ceaselessly causing me to admire her lung capacity.

"If you want some clues on how this time loop started however, then I'm sure you won't be disappointed with going to the clocktower on New Castle."

She stood up and moved to the open side of the tower we were on. "Since the King ordered its construction a few weeks after the infection started, I would say that it's too much of a coincidence to ignore."

Pointing at the pointy structure poking at the sky on the island of Sevallia, the sun shone on its rough looking surface as seven dings for the seventh hour of the day arose from within its depths.

"Well that's convenient" Murmuring those words as the sonorous song of bells chiming sounded out over the entire island, she pulled out a piece of paper from within her bosom.

"Take this, it's a map of all safe places that I've found, there'll probably be other people resting in these places so if you meet them, trust your own judgement."

Handing the piece of paper parchment to me, I nodded to her while pocketing the piece of paper, noting how the Map icon in the corner of my eye had shown a few changes.

No doubt marking the safe places on it.

Turning my gaze to Cherry, she awkwardly picked up her sword as if she had run out of things to say.

"...So what are you going to be doing now?"

"Oh me? Uh... I guess look for some clues on how this disease started?" Belatedly reacting to my question, Cherry awkwardly rubbed the back of her head.

"I don't know actually, but better to start now then later right?"

"Mm" Nodding in agreement, I looked at the golden sun in the sky. "So how will I meet you again?"

"Hm... How about back here when the month ends on the second day?"

"That sounds fine."

Packing up her things, I stared at the floating islands in the distance, now knowing that the path before me was still fraught with danger.

But now, at least one of the obstacles in my way had disappeared into nothingness.

"...Are you thinking of going to Newcastle Island?"

"Yes? Didn't I make that obvious beforehand?"

"You did but..." Agonizing over something unknown, she fished out another item from her bosom that had already contained a bronze order insignia, a map, utensils, another map and now whatever this was.

"You didn't take this."

"Take wha-"

Choking on my own words, I stared at the rune in her hands bearing the insignia of a cog wheel.

"...By the looks on your face, it seems like you know what this is Slade."

"...Should I not?"

"No it's fine." She shook her head. "But someday I would like to know you better Slade, if that even is your real name."

"..."

"Did you know I find you very very suspicious?"

"Until now, no."

"Well you are." Bluntly stating that as if it were a fact, Cherry donned her armor, placing it against her chest and adjusting the various straps.

"You just appeared out of nowhere one day in the middle of a time where nothing ever changes significantly in a month, it would be stranger if I wasn't curious."

"...Why are you telling me this then?"

"Because so far, from what I've seen in my brief madness, you are trustworthy enough to know that I don't completely trust you."

"You know that doesn't make sense right?"

"I just thought you should know, so take it."

Shoving the rune towards me, I tilted my head

"Are you sure? You just told me straight to my face that you didn't trust me."

"Yes, but I told you I trust you."

"...I don't really get it but thanks."

Taking the rune held in Cherry's outstretched hands she pulled on my hands and whispered into my ears.

"Besides, even if you backstabbed me, my sister will be the one to hunt you till the ends of the earth, even if you are on the verge of curing this plague."

"...I'll keep it in mind." Moving away from her face which seemed as if she hadn't just threatened me, she packed up the rest of her things and packed them into a small satchel at her waist that seemed to defy physics.

And although I was curious, it was better to not add more questions to my already numerous questions if I didn't want to melt my brain from overstimulation.

"Bye now."

"Bye bye!"

Cheerfully waving me away, I turned around without hesitation, my stomach sated as the sun left its rays on the path I needed to go.

+++

Tree