Archive of Our Own

You turn around and march right back to the healing light, Anne silently following.

With that settled, you go back to the dummy and agree to go through the tutorial.

"Okay," Anne smiles with her eyes. "Get ready, Priscilla!"

Anne claps softly. "And that's it, Priscilla. But if you ever forget anything..." She reaches behind her back and pulls out a hefty book. "Here's a Manual that you can read it whenever you like. Just find it in your ITEMs and turn to a page!"

You take one look at it, and decide to place in another section to save space.

"Oh... That's a good idea. Sorry about that," Anne nervously laughs. "But I do know more things and I'm always open to talk! Unless you'd rather walk in silence. I'm fine with that too. Let's go over there, okay Priscilla?"

You approach an enormous, open door. Anne clears her throat behind you, "This is The Great Door. Eurydice must have already went through there, hm? I hope she's okay... Priscilla?"

You turn around to face her. Something about her seems a tinge more serious.

"Once we pass through this door, our adventure will really begin. A journey foretold exactly by the prophecy... But Priscilla, I believe your choices are important, too. This world is full of all kinds of people. In the end, how we treat them makes all the difference. So let's try our best to get by without FIGHTing. If we can manage to do that, I believe this tale may have a happy ending. Otherwise, I fear that..."

Her eyes snap up. "Even if I do sound like I'm repeating a speech you do understand what I'm trying to say, right? Instead of fighting we could show them kindness and lead to rethink who we are." She sighs, "...But it's fine if you want to do otherwise. Like I said, your choices are important. None of this would be possible without you. So if everything inside you wants something, I'm happy with it too."

You nod, and face The Great Door. With a few steps, you enter the other side.

Anne slams the door shut.

The sounds of unfamiliar birdsong drift in the air. You find yourself surrounded by trees with bright red leaves and dark trunks. They are rooted in dark shadow, preventing you from stepping on it in fear of falling straight through.

The path before you is unpaved, but the soft purple grass is flattened enough so that you know exactly where to step. You follow it, until you reach a recently made signpost written with quickly drying ink'Welcome to Card Kingdom! Worldenders not allowed.' Signed, Hero. And nearby, just down the linear trail, a second more recent than the one before, is another homemade sign'Sealing fountains is ILLEGAL. So if you plan to do that, turn back!' Signed, Hero.

You walk on, with Anne never a step too far behind, pass trees with low-handing fruit you never seen back home. You don't feel inclined to take them.

The paths start branching out as you approach another, newer sign'Don't seal the fountain or face the MAZE OF DEATH!' Signed, Hero. In addition, although the shadows block your path, you can clearly see on the other side that there is a treasure chest. Could it be a trap? You'd had to get close to find out. Conveniently, there's a patch of healing light nearby.

You made your way towards it without a scratch or stumble, with only a hastily made sign'Look here until you change your mind.' Signed, Hero to note. You open the chest to find a white ribbon inside.

"Oh, that's ARMOR, Priscilla. For increasing defense. It'll be very useful to avoid taking as much damage in fights," Anne says. "Why don't you try putting it on?"