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You nearly trip getting off the boat as Rowbot pulls into the Glen, though that would have been the most interesting thing to happen to you in a while. You've been through this before - wake up on a couch in some run-down house, encounter Niko, find the sun. Wander through the Barrens and into the Glen, then the Refuge before ascending to the Tower for your 'final' choice. You remember the first time you had to make that decision. One life for many or many lives for one... The decision seemed impossible then. Before you knew just how little it mattered. Before you woke up on that musty couch again.
Now, Niko is content just replacing the sun and watching its glow fill the world, even if only for a moment. It's much more inviting than smashing the lightbulb; to watch total darkness overtake you before waking up right back where you started. Through the Barrens and into the Glen...
And the depressing part is that you lost count a couple loops ago. You don't remember how long you've been here, and you're starting to wish that neither of you remembered. At least you'd stop feeling so... trapped. Maybe one more loop, something new will happen... God, you hope it does. At least Niko hasn't lost hope yet.
Though you can't help but frown at their clearly diminished enthusiasm for this adventure. You remember the previous few treks being ruthlessly efficient, combining the knowledge you both had obtained to finish this familiar scenario at lightning speed. It was Niko's idea to try beating the loop as fast as possible, since they thought maybe that was the key to going home. Nothing changed, of course - all it did was exhaust you both that much more.
Niko gets off the boat ahead of you, uninterested or unaware that you almost fell off the dock. Only as they walk away, not even saying their usual goodbye to the rowbot, do you realize that something is wrong.
You quickly reorient yourself and catch up with the child, who has already begun to navigate the building leading to the Glen proper. "Niko? Everything alright?"
Sensing the concern in your voice, they glance back at you but continue to walk. "...Yeah. I'm okay." You expect an explanation of some sort but only get a quiet sigh as they ascend a staircase, leaving you alone and worried at the bottom.
...Oh, this isn't good at all. If you had to do this stupid adventure a hundred times alone, you would have gone mad by the fourth loop. You owe Niko a great deal of your sanity, and though you've wanted to give up at least once or twice, there's still a voice inside you that says you'll go back home someday. That this time, something different might happen. As long as you keep trying...
You know that voice would have long faded without your invaluable messiah. And even now there's no way you'd be able to continue alone - so for the sake of Niko, you, and this world, you've got to find a way to cheer up this child.
You hurry up the staircase, hoping they haven't left you entirely. In such a small world, what are you supposed to offer a child who has already seen it all?
"Magpie," you begin, sitting across from him. "It's god. I've got a... specific request."
"Oh!" Magpie grins, narrowing his eye once he spots you. "God, huh? That's a hard sell, you know." He picks up what appears to be a shiny pearl, holding it between you. "Can you turn this into a snail?"
"Not at the moment, no." You adjust yourself on the ground, getting comfortable. You'll be here a while. "But I do know everything about you."
"Really?" He's rather engaged with this. God or not, he finds you to be a very amusing customer. Rubbing the pearl with his thumb, he nods. "Sure. I'm listening."
You clear your throat, expression betraying a slight smile. It's always fun when you get to use all the knowledge you've collected throughout the loops, though the situation rarely comes up. You take a deep breath - "Your name is Magpie. You're twenty-three years old, can't read, you like glass, shiny objects, hard liquor - your old shop went down with the rest of the Glen some time ago, so now you live in a wagon. What else... Calamus and Alula, the children of the ruins, are your best customers. Last week Alula brought you that shiny orb," you point to the one in his hand, "which you loved so much that-"
"Alright, alright! " He interrupts, waving his free hand as he returns the pearl to his rug . " Nobody knows that much about me. Besides, the only other people out here are made of feathers or metal, and you're neither. So," Magpie addresses you with a newfound respect. "What's god doing in the middle of nowhere? Come out here just for me?"
"Yes, actually." You gesture toward the rug displaying a variety of gadgets and other items. None of it looks particularly... useful, though you instinctively eye a vial of black dye that you'll need eventually. But that's not what you're here for. "I'm trying to find a gift for someone. Do you have a... special stock?"
"A special..." He taps his chin, squinting into the distance. "Oh! A special stock." He chuckles, standing up and reaching into his wagon before pulling out a rectangular wooden chest. "How's this?" He pries the chest open, leaning to reveal the contents to you.
...It's just various trinkets made of glass, excluding a little music box tucked into the corner. The smug, toothy grin on his face indicates that he thinks quite highly of these items.
"Nah, that's not what I'm looking for." You wave a hand to dismiss him, the chest closing with a click as you sigh. How else did you think this was going to end?
"...What's up?" Magpie's voice lowers as he leans back, raising an eyebrow. "God bein' depressed and all is bad for the world. And for business. Surely I can trade you something that'll fix that?"
...Whatever. Just ask. "Do you have anything that would cheer up a kid?"
"A kid? How old?"
"Eight." But it's been a while since you asked. Maybe they would've had a birthday by now, if time could pass...
"Sure! I'm used to tempting Alula with random stuff. I'll find you something great!" And with that, he disappears into his cart.
...To be honest, you have no idea what he has that could help, but you don't see any option other than asking to fish with Calamus or something. Niko would like that, right..?
It seems like only one or two minutes of faint rummaging before Magpie emerges with a sack, hopping down from his cart and sitting next to you. "I'm usually not the one making the first offer, but..." He delicately clears off the rug in front of him. "This is a special case."
He shows you five or six items, gauging your reaction to each. A matted teddy bear, a cracked compass, a broken pocket watch... he even pulls out an oddly spotless spyglass near the end. But they all have the same problem - you don't want to give Niko something they're just going to lose once this loop ends. It would just make them feel worse. The one thing they don't lose is their memory, but how could Magpie offer anything memorable enough to be worth losing? Still, you let him continue anyway.
It seems hopeless until he removes the final item - a bag of white, fluffy sweets, and holds it up like a freshly caught fish.
"So!" Magpie smirks, gesturing to the options he has neatly laid out. "Whaddya think?"
He's got... "...a bag of marshmallows?"
"Oh, is that what they're called?" He looks down at the bag, clearly marked with the word 'MARSHMALLOWS' in rather large text. "I tried a few one time, but they just made me sick. Still kept them though."
Confused, you ask, "Where'd you get this?"
"Someone from the Refuge came around a couple months ago. Big guy, goggles - looked like an engineer. Said he really needed to get back into the Refuge, but the robot wouldn't let him in without a pen!" He laughs. "I didn't have a pen, of course! Not much of a writer." Magpie winks at you, which is much harder to notice when he's only got one eye. "But he had some nice gadgets he was willing to trade if I had something to write with. Now, I did have this weird black lump Calamus brought me one time. Forgot the name, but the guy said it would do. Offered me that looking-glass," he plainly gestures to the spyglass, "with one or two other trinkets. And, for 'exceptional service', he threw in those... marshmallows."
"Wow." Wracking your brain for someone of that description yields nothing. Somehow, you don't know anyone like that. "Must have been in a hurry."
"Yeah. Would have felt like robbery if he hadn't made the offer." He chuckles, and the conversation seems to stall as he places down the bag and looks over his rug.
For some reason, this 'gift' has your full attention. It doesn't feel like enough on its own, but maybe you can find something to go with it... "Magpie?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you have anything edible to trade?" You pause, then clarify, "Something sweet, if possible."
"What, like berries? Nope." He shakes his head, throwing a thumb toward the marshmallows. "Wouldn't have even gotten those, if they weren't free."
"...Damn." You mutter, weighing your options. Maybe you could just... roast marshmallows? ...Oh, but where would you even get a fire going? Somewhere outdoors, where nobody would interrupt you-
"But," Magpie draws you back to reality. "You know Calamus, right?"
Well, you know Calamus. Neither of the bird children would (or can) remember you, though. Still, "Technically, yes."
He doesn't seem to care about your unique wording, explaining, "Kid's offered me some packaged food before - probably from the Refuge. Said he didn't know how to cook most of it." Magpie chuckles. "That stuff lasts a while, right? Who knows, maybe he still has it."
That's... pretty helpful, actually. "Thanks, Magpie." You look toward the ruins, wondering where Niko is now. "Guess I'll go there next."
"You still want these?" He shakes the bag of powdery desserts for emphasis.
"Oh," You instinctively take the bag he willingly offers. "Thanks. Can I... give you anything in return?"
He shrugs. "I didn't expect much from the moment you sat down."
"How about..." You trail off, trying to offer him something. "I owe you one?"
Though your offer sounds unconvincing, he recoils all the same. "Holy smokes!" His tone is laced with genuine surprise. "A favor is one thing, but a favor from god? Not sure I could just pass that up." He offers you his hand in rather high spirits.
"Really?" You shake his hand, confused. "You seem more like... the material type." That almost sounds like an insult when you say it out loud.
"Usually I am!" Yet another toothy grin. "But our god asking for a little thing I hardly care about - and offering divine favor in return? I've had worse deals." He chuckles, releasing your hand as he begins putting his offerings back into the sack. "And even if you don't come to trade again, I'll have a good story to tell."
Shocked, all you can do is stand and nod, unsure what to say. "I... really appreciate this, Magpie. Thanks." You've had the pleasure of introducing yourself as god many times, but it has never felt as impactful as it is now. It also makes you feel like a rather useless god, but you're doing the best you can. If only you could do more for these people...
"Pleasure doing business!" He waves, seeming all too happy with himself as you leave in the direction of the ruins.
...You may not actually have godlike power, but you'll try to repay him one day. He may have just bought this world a little more time, after all.
The ruins are familiarly dark, but you've long since needed light to navigate this place. Descending a final staircase, you find light pouring from a crevice leading to the bird children's home, as expected. What isn't expected is the silhouette of Niko sitting by the waters, gently swinging their legs to kick at what little of the pool they can reach. Their head rests on the bright lightbulb in their lap, cheek pressed against the glass.
Leaving your gift by the stairs, you don't hesitate to take the spot next to them and dip your shoes in the glowing water. "Your boots are gonna get wet." You joke, watching the tiny ripples you create. The water down here has always been rather beautiful to you.
Niko's gaze momentarily shifts to identify you, but returns to the water soon after. Their face is nothing but glum. It only doubles your worry.
You lean your shoulder against theirs and try to sound positive. "Did you get the feather already?"
They shake their head.
"That's alright." You reassure, but that does beg the question... "Did you help Alula yet?"
"...Calamus took her home."
You can't help but breathe a sigh of relief. "Any reason you didn't want to talk to them?"
There's a long pause before Niko speaks. "...I don't really..." They trail off, sighing. "They're just going to say the same things they always do..."
"Maybe." They're right. You've heard the same responses hundreds of times from everyone in this world. It gets old - though, fortunately, something within you still doesn't want to seem rude to these people. Even when you were going as fast as possible, you both still had the courtesy for hellos and goodbyes. So, you ask, "But you think they're nice, right?"
"Mhm." A slight nod. Their eyes never leave the water.
"Me too." You pause, unsure what to say next. You and Niko have been trapped here long enough for you to pick up on at least some ways to effectively connect with an eight-year-old. Words, phrases, mannerisms - still, it feels like all that is failing you right now. Like nothing you can say could fix this. You really hope that isn't true.
A growing silence hangs in the air. Niko seems totally encapsulated by their thoughts, having stopped swinging their legs entirely. They sit next to you, idle with the edge of their boot barely touching the water.
"Okay. I'm gonna go talk to Calamus." Your shoes drip as you pull their edges out of the water and stand up. "Do you want me to leave you alone, or... do you want something to do?"
Niko merely shrugs half-heartedly, head never leaving the sun.
God, this is so much harder than you'd hoped it would be. You affectionately pet their head (in a way similar to how you'd pet a cat, though they never seem to complain), adding, "Or I can stay with you for a while, if you want."
Silence. They don't move.
"Alright," You begin, wracking your brain for a quest to give them. "When's the last time you talked to Maize, huh? You could go ask about her stories again." As traumatizing as Maize's passing is, you've experienced it enough that the only remaining emotion is pity. It seems like Niko feels the same, as they tend to comfort Maize whenever possible. Usually by doing what they do best - showing genuine curiosity and kindness. She appreciates it every time.
The slow look of encroaching despair that follows shatters your heart into a million pieces. You should have never left them alone with whatever's on their mind. Finally, Niko stands, following a familiar path out of view with their head slightly bowed.
Out of the seemingly infinite thoughts raging in your mind, one makes it to your consciousness - You've really got to make this work.
"Hello?" You practically stumble through the doorway, attracting the attention of both children immediately. Alula seems to react with much less suspicion than Calamus, who immediately wields a nearby frying pan.
"W-who are you?" Calamus shakily points his weapon in your direction.
"I, uh-" Wow, what a terrible introduction. "I'm a friend of Magpie. You met the messiah, right?"
"Yep! Niko is really cool! They brought me home and everything!" Alula shouts from the table, nodding her head. "They said they would come over later to hang out, so Calamus made me clean up."
You're almost certain Niko didn't have the energy to even appear positive. "What's your impression of them?"
"They seemed... disinterested? And, uh, sort of depressed, like they didn't really want to be there." Calamus explains. "But they were kind about it."
"Exactly. Usually they're quite bubbly..." Until now. "I was hoping to cheer them up in some way, but I need some help."
"Help you?" The frying pan lowers just a bit, whether from confusion or lacking distrust. "You haven't even told us who you are..."
...Right. Man, this is way easier when Niko is here. "Did Niko mention a... god? At all?"
Alula, wide-eyed with realization, leans over the table and slams her hands down. "You're GOD?!"
You... Fuck, that was an even worse introduction. "...Yeah?" You almost never reveal your true name (or divine position) to anyone unless you alone are asking for a favor. Usually a cute child carrying the world's sun is enough to convince anyone to help, but that doesn't work here.
Calamus' tone immediately shifts as he places his weapon back on the stove. "Oh my stars! I'm so sorry!" Somehow, he believes you without any hesitation. "Forgive me - we're not used to visitors, especially those who aren't from the village. ...I can't believe I doubted god..." He mutters the last part in shock.
"It's alright." You smile. "I did just kind of... burst in here."
He happily breathes out, relieved to not be on the receiving end of divine punishment. "Thank you... I hope you can forgive me and my sister. Please, let us help you."
"Yeah!" Alula shouts, bouncing with glee. "Let us help!"
Well, this is unexpected. You'll take it, though. "Magpie told me you had a collection of food? From the Refuge."
"Oh, uh..." He looks apprehensive. "Yes. It's probably old by now, though..."
"Can you show me?"
"Of course! Please, sit. I'll... bring you what we have." Calamus nervously smiles.
You take the seat across from Alula as Calamus disappears into the back. She looks at you with extreme curiosity. You're actually quite glad that Alula treats you more like a person than some divine entity, especially since you've never felt particularly godlike. Sure, it's because she's quite young, but it makes you feel normal, even if that emotion is fleeting. It's the same reason Magpie felt so easy to talk to.
Alula's feet kick back and forth, energized by meeting someone new. "Calamus says that you're going to the Tower. That sounds really fun!"
The first couple of times, yeah... You nod. "There's a lot of new people to meet, places to see. Niko seems to like..." You trail off, reminded why you're here in the first place.
"Can I come with?" Her statement shocks you back to reality as she watches with hopeful eyes.
Honestly? Though you may laugh, that would shake things up a bit - at least for a loop or two. But Calamus would never allow it, and escorting two children through a dying world is probably above your pay grade anyway. "Sorry, Alula. Your brother needs you here." You smile.
"But..!" Alula briefly pouts before accepting her fate. "...I guess."
"Okay," Calamus appears from around the corner, carrying an armful of some processed products wrapped with dull-colored plastic. He dumps them onto the table. "This is what I could find. Sorry if they're dusty, I'm not sure how to cook with them..."
Well, you aren't supposed to cook with most of these. You gloss over the less interesting foods, picking through the pile with your dominant hand. Ramen, peanuts... macaroni? None of these fit with marshmallows, you think as you move another unnamed factory-made cuisine to the side.
That is, until it reveals an oppressively attention-grabbing set of items. 'Refuge Coco-Chocolates!!' and 'Honey-flavored Whole Wheat Crackers' lie next to each other on the table. You pick up the latter, eyebrows lowering.
Did Calamus say... he wanted to cook these? Your grip slackens on the chocolates as you focus on long-past memories. What does that remind you of...
...Of course! A vague idea lingered in your mind when you spoke to Magpie, one that you only fully grasp now. A classic combination of these exact ingredients - marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers. Building a blazing fire out of nothing to lovingly roast a marshmallow, before lathering the now-warmed confectionary with sugary chocolate and sandwiching it between honeyed crackers. It is physically impossible to not enjoy yourself while eating sweets in front of a cozy fire.
You are going to save the world with chocolate. This feels like the greatest idea you have ever had. "Calamus?" You grin, not bothering to hide your enthusiasm.
"Hm? Y-yes?" His tone is skeptical.
"Could we use your courtyard?"
"You're sure you're okay with doing this?" You can't help but feel more worry mounting as Alula tosses a few more dead branches onto the makeshift fire pit. You don't know how old Calamus is, and you definitely don't know at what age children should be handling fire.
"Of course! I've done this plenty of times." Calamus, despite his normal anxiety, has already begun to enjoy himself before the event has even started. "Go find the mes- Niko. Everything'll be ready when you're back."
"Thanks, Calamus. I'll try to be quick." You turn to leave.
"Oh! Oh! Wait!" Alula bounds up to you, unable to contain her excitement. "Can we join you at the fire?!"
Calamus moves to stop Alula but pauses as you answer, "Of course. It's your home and your food, after all."
"Yay!!" Alula shouts with glee. She triumphantly throws her hands in the air before returning to the fire pit.
Curious, you watch the two prepare for a moment before silently leaving.
It doesn't take long to reach Maize's huge, grassy home, but you feel uneasy the whole way there. Did you take too long? For all you know, Niko could be in an even worse condition, or have wandered off entirely-
Your worries are subdued as you turn the corner, eyes landing on Maize's fading form. Niko sits cross-legged next to her, head resting on the sun in their lap. They are fast asleep. With one weak arm, she strokes the child's back.
"...Hello." Maize speaks with her usual pained contentedness. She finally tears away her gaze from her original visitor, looking over at you instead. "...your child?" She half-smiles.
"You're still here." You fail to mask the surprise in your voice.
"...as long as I am needed..." She cranes her head toward Niko with some effort. "I can... stay."
"That's okay, Maize." You feel stupid, trying to reassure a thousands-year-old forest spirit. But you do it anyway. "Thank you for keeping them company."
"...needed it." Maize sinks just a little lower.
"Can I... do anything for you?" You ask, despite knowing the answer.
She almost imperceptibly shakes her head.
You sigh. Taking a second to compose yourself, you step toward Niko to wake them. "Nik-"
"...Wait," Maize speaks with more urgency than you've ever heard from her. Your hand instinctively pulls away, like a child reprimanded by a parent. "They asked..." A sharp, painful breath. "...asked to let them... dream a little longer..."
You merely nod, now trying quite hard to not wake them up. With a few practiced maneuvers, you manage to tilt their head off the sun, rolling the lightbulb next to Maize before scooping Niko into your arms. The child didn't even notice.
Maize looks like she wants to say something... but never does. She simply lowers herself next to the sun and closes her eyes.
...God, you've seen... this so many times by now. You thought you were desensitized. So... why does it hurt so much now..? You force yourself to turn away, leaving the chamber as distraught as you entered.
You've spent plenty of time carrying Niko, especially while they're sleeping. This is no problem for you. Though you do have to move slowly, and this silent stroll keeps drifting your mind toward the worst places...
"...mmh..." A brown sleeve rises into your view, rubbing its owner's eye. The child looks up to identify you, then to their empty lap. "...sun?"
"It's with Maize." You answer, turning into the hallway to the courtyard. With some luck, everything should be ready by now.
They don't respond, simply adjusting themselves to rest deeper in your arms. There's a long pause as you stroll through the ruins in silence.
"Hey, Niko?" You slow down to confirm one last thing. Your memory informs you they like pancakes, which are generally decorated with syrup. Both of these things are sugary, yet with a twinge of doubt, you ask, "You like sweet foods, right?"
Niko has always been rather clever, so it's no surprise when they look at you with suspicion. "Yeah... why?" Their eyes shift toward your destination - a doorway leading outside.
Their uncertain look shifts to immediate surprise as you step into the fresh air, faintly heated by the natural warmth of a fire. Calamus sits next to the fire, neatly ordering three straightish sticks next to the food. Alula immediately stands and shouts when you appear. You place Niko down gently, watching as they step forward to meet Alula.
"Niko!!" She runs over, beaming. Her feathery arm gestures wildly toward the fire pit. "Calamus made you fire!"
"I saw..." Niko glances back at you with confusion before approaching the pleasant flame. "What is..?"
Calamus waves from his seat by the fire. "Hello! Thanks again for bringing Alula back. Uh..." He looks around at the scene before him, searching for something else to say. "...Can I offer you some chocolate?"
You join the trio by the fire, crouching down to meet everyone at eye level as you watch the scene. The snacks are all gathered in a small basket, with the crackers already being opened and lightly pilfered. As if to reveal the culprit, Calamus reaches over and takes another. Alula plops down in the open spot next to Calamus, asking him about some new oddity in her reality. It's so... different. Refreshingly so. You can't help but smile - this is more than you could have hoped for.
You look over to gauge Niko's reaction, hoping dearly for something even somewhat positive. So, as the corners of their mouth begin to curl, and their face finally lightens up, you can finally release the breath you didn't even know you'd been holding.
At least, until the rest of the air is knocked out of you. Niko almost knocks you over with a hug, squeezing you tightly. "...Thank you." They whisper, voice breaking.
"Of course." You smile, patting them on the back. "I figured you'd like this." Your eyes shut with contentment as you hold the embrace for as long as the child needs it. It still feels too soon when they let go.
"So..." Niko looks around, "Can we start? Are we waiting for anybody?" The air is electric with their enthusiasm.
"Sure." Unless Magpie wanted to join, but you don't think he'd abandon his cart. "Have you ever roasted marshmallows, Niko?" You sit, crossing your legs.
"Plenty of times!" It feels so, so good to hear the cheeriness resonating through their voice again. "We'd have a big bonfire whenever there was a new year, and mama'd make the marshmallows for everybody! She never let me help, though, because the sugar would get really hot." Strangely, there's not a hint of homesickness in their voice.
"Your mom can make stuff like this?" Calamus wonders, as though the concept of creating sweets is foreign. "Mom taught me to cook when I was younger, but it was only ever stuff like... berries or fish."
"Huh?" Niko turns to face him, as though the concept of not creating sweets is foreign. "Have you never made marshmallows before?"
"No." He shakes his head, pointing between himself and Alula. "We've only had these once, when father was around. He brought us a bag of them, and mom taught us to roast them." There's a trace of melancholy as Calamus mentions his parents, but his face still bears a smile, no matter how longing.
"Yep!" Alula agrees. "I don't really remember it, though!"
"...a bag..?" Niko slowly cocks their head, looking down at the confectionaries. "You didn't... make these?"
"Magpie gave them to me." You explain. "They're probably made in the Refuge, if I were to guess." There's a tense pause between everyone there.
Niko breathes your name, whispering with hopeful eyes, "...Do they still..." A hint of optimism hangs in their voice. "...taste good?"
...This child is not used to non-homemade food. "Of course." You answer. And you hope they are, otherwise they might never trust you again.
"Cool!" Niko finally takes the spot next to you, reaching toward the basket to skewer a marshmallow.
"So," Calamus absentmindedly takes another cracker from the container before guiltily sliding it back in. "I know we're roasting marshmallows, but... what's the rest of this stuff for?" Niko, curiosity piqued by his inquiry, begins to investigate the basket.
"Well," You cross your arms, glad to finally reveal your grand (yet simple) plan. "We're making s'mores."
"Suh-moores?" Alula sounds out the unfamiliar word, giving you a peculiar look. "What are those?"
"And what do they have to do with roasting marshmallows?" Calamus appends.
"Roasting marshmallows is only step one." You put up a finger for emphasis before taking a sweet cracker from the basket. "Once you've got your marshmallow nice and golden brown, you sandwich it-" Splitting the rather large cracker into two sub-crackers of more manageable size, you present them to your oddly enamored audience. "Between two of these. Then you add a bit of chocolate, give it some time to melt, and..." You finish with a flat chunk of chocolate despite lacking a cooked marshmallow to complete the snack. Triumphantly, you raise it up in the air to show the children.
Alula, wide-eyed, watches with pure innocence. "...Wow! Can I try?" They put out their hands in expectancy.
"Sure." You place your unfinished contraption in her care, watching as it is swiftly taken out of your reach.
She promptly stuffs as much of it as she can into her mouth, only chewing half of it before deciding, "Ish really ghood!"
"Alula!" Calamus puts a hand up to his mouth, concerned. "Don't talk with your mouth full! It's impolite..."
A chuckle escapes you. "If you think it's good now, wait until you try it with a marshmallow." You offer, sitting back to observe the collection of children around the fire.
To your right, Niko has already lowered their confectionary above the cozy fire. Their form seems almost perfect, with the marshmallow hanging in just the right spot to cook efficiently without catching fire. There's a rather content smile on their face.
Alula excitedly bounces back and forth ever-so-slightly as Calamus hands her a roasting stick decorated with a single marshmallow. With a distinct lack of elegance, she dunks it directly into the fire.
Calamus sits warmly and cross-legged, face mixed between momentary happiness and constant anxiety. If you knew best how to reassure him, you would. Regardless, he suspends his marshmallow inches above the fire, occasionally adjusting the position to his liking.
"How's this?" Niko happily yet precariously holds their cooked marshmallow in front of you. To even your trained eye, it appears to be a flawless golden-brown.
"Very good!" You're glad to see them having a good time. "Now you..." Your voice fades as your train of thought suddenly switches - can cats have chocolate? "...Niko?" You ask, meeting their eyes as they turn toward you. "Have you ever had chocolate before?"
"Mhm!" They nod. "The neighbors really like making food with chocolate in it. Mama doesn't let me have a lot, though..."
"Woah! You have neighbors?" The instant Niko finishes, Alula peers over the fire with unusual surprise. "And they bring you food??"
"Yeah! We'd also bring them food, too." Niko's eyes blissfully shut as they bask in memories uniquely their own. "Sometimes we'd play games, or eat dinner together. It's like a second family!"
"Woah..!" Alula repeats, mouth agape. She appears lost in thought for a moment before asking, "Calamus?"
"Hm? Yes?" Calamus' gaze lifts from the fire to his sister.
"Can we have neighbors?" It sounds like a plea.
Calamus looks to you with confusion, clearly not keeping up with the conversation until now. "...Maybe one day, Alula." He nods, and you know he's wondering the same thing.
You spend the next few minutes helping everyone craft a s'more (and helping Alula pick the burnt bits off her marshmallow). Calamus, cautious as he is, ends up undercooking his. Still, everyone seems to be having a great time, and even though you haven't had the time to smelt your own it's still a lot of fun.
As you watch Alula finally finish her s'more and attempt to fit as much of it in her mouth as possible, you suddenly hear your name echo behind you.
"...I made you one."
Puzzled, you turn to find Niko and the finely-built snack they present to you. In the time it took you to help the others (not that Calamus needed much help), Niko had made not one but two s'mores and is currently passing you the other.
"Oh." You imperceptibly recoil at the kind gesture before taking their offering. "Thanks, Niko."
They seem confused, their head unconsciously tilting slightly. "You like them, right?"
"Of course! I just..." You shrug. Forgot you were supposed to be enjoying yourself too? "...I appreciate it." You take a bite to prove it. It's just as good as you remember, though it feels like forever since you've even had one. Mostly because it has been forever.
Niko watches you intently, watching for any positive reaction. Only once you grin do they finally smile back at you, happy to do something for you in return. Their joy increases tenfold as they take a bite of the sugary snack, eyes widening with surprise. They almost exclaim something, but instead politely swallow first. "...This tastes just like home..!" To you, that statement seems like a rather sad one - nothing more than a fleeting reminder of something neither of you may ever have again. But this child, once again shining with hope, does not show any sign of longing, or even the faintest sadness. They simply beam with joy. "I love it. Thank you!"
"Me too! I think so too!" Alula shouts in response. "We really like it!"
"Yes." Calamus covers his mouth, inspecting the s'more as it crumbles slightly in his hand. "It's... very good."
You feel a final wave of relief wash over you as everyone munches their snacks in unison. As you look over to Niko, they give you a look that transcends any spoken language - one of immeasurable gratitude. With a renewed aura of cheerfulness, they skewer another marshmallow and hang it above the fire.
A yawn slips from your lungs, despite feeling wide awake. It's been... what, an hour? The only clock you've ever seen is quite far from here, so you can only guess how long it's been. At some point, Alula brought Niko the late Prophet's feather, which you know to be the key out of the Glen and into the Tower. You and Alula are lying on the ground, though the main difference between you two is that you're still conscious. Off to your right, Niko and Calamus are holding conversation over some outlandish topic. They seem somewhat sedated, though you're unsure whether from fatigue or a sugar crash. The fire is long gone, but you can still feel the warmth as you stare down the endless black sky above you.
You once again tune into their exchange as Calamus continues, "Yep! And this one time, I was fishing outside the ruins..."
"Don't you usually fish in the courtyard?" Niko asks. Calamus doesn't notice that he's never mentioned his fishing habits, yet Niko knows them nonetheless.
"I do, but I couldn't catch anything that day. So I went to the forest and found a nice spot. Everything is normal for a while, until one of the robots from the research station..." He stops to clarify, "You know about the station, right? The one full of robots."
"Yeah! They always offer us a water sample whenever we go there." Niko smiles, engaged with his story.
"Well, it comes up to me and I thought it was gonna... ask me to move, or something. I don't know." He shrugs. "But it just kinda... stands there. And looks at me..."
Niko sits up, adjusting their hat as they wonder aloud, "...Did it do anything?"
Calamus shakes his head, a touch of amusement tinting his words. "That's the thing... the whole time, it's just watching... I thought it was just interested in what I was doing, so I just kept fishing." He pauses, undeniably for dramatic effect. "But right when I go to leave, it marches over to where I was sitting, reaches down to get a water sample, and walks off." He chuckles at his own story, prompting a laugh from Niko. The two settle down soon after until the bird boy yawns quietly.
After a moment more, Calamus stands. He finally notices his sister, muttering, "Ah, I was wondering why she was so quiet..." Calamus softly circles around the fire and scoops her into his arms with some effort. "...I'm going to take her to bed. Thank you both for everything. This was fun." He smiles slightly, voice low. "I'm sure Alula had a really good time too. If you ever get a chance to visit again..."
"We definitely will!" Niko answers, folding their hands into their lap. "Thank you for letting us rest here."
With a nod, Calamus adds, "And... be safe on your journey. We're all relying on you." He disappears through the doorway, Alula still asleep in his arms.
...You've heard that before. A hundred times, from a hundred different people. Yet after hearing it once more from some teenager, you're feeling a little choked up. Something tells you it's because you haven't truly connected with anyone here in so long. That at some point, a world full of living, breathing people became nothing more than a world. So when did everyone start to blend together..?
"Are you okay?" Niko leans into your view.
"...Yeah." This whole thing was supposed to make Niko feel better, but... suddenly, this endless journey seems easier. "I think I am, now. Are you?"
"Mhm." They slowly tilt over until their head is resting against your shoulder. There's a tranquil silence in the air, accented only by muted crashing waves and the child's soft breaths. You sit beside each other, processing what the last few hours held for you. Alone in your head, sure - but you're alone together.
It pains you to break the silence, but there's still one more thing on your mind. "...Hey, Niko?" You focus your gaze on the dark skies above you and pause. "Maize said... to let you keep dreaming. What were you dreaming about?"
For a while, the silence returns. Niko is only ever silent when they don't want to tell you something, which hardly ever happens anymore. "I... dreamed about home. And mama." They look down, presumably to hide the abrupt tears they try desperately to blink away. "...I think she's waiting for m-me. To come home."
There's a strong aching in your heart, telling you to comfort them any way you can. You place a hand on their back, but before you can even say anything, they compose themselves with a sniffle. "...We'll go home. I'll see mama again, and you can meet everyone in the village, and we can go explore the wheat fields..." They nod, repeating, "We'll go home."
Closing your eyes, you put your head against theirs. "We'll go home." You echo. You can't tell whether they believe it, or even whether you do. But saying it out loud makes it easier, somehow.
Their arms wrap around you from the side, holding you tight. "Thank you... thank you for being there for me."
"It's the least I can do." You reach one arm around to pull them close, your remaining hand petting their head. "I would never have gotten this far alone. Thank you." And as you both hold each other, comforted by nothing more than each other's presence, the world begins to feel large again.
...And, yeah, it's definitely going to hurt when the bird children don't remember this, but... you'll weather it together, right? That's how you got this far, and there's no reason to stop now.
"They're gone?" Alula stomps, trying to find some way to physically vent her anger. "You didn't wake me up to say goodbye?!"
Calamus takes a sip of his tea before gently placing it back on the table. "You were completely passed out. What did you want me to do?"
"I don't know! I wanted to tell them to come back after returning the sun." Alula drops herself into the chair across from him with a huff. "What if we don't see them again?"
"I..." Calamus' eyes shift over to the doorway, watching as a brilliant golden light begins to shine into the children's home. "...I think we will."