Mystery Rise: The first Connection

Several months ago, before the gang even reached the Centre to head to the Farhood village, Kyshanne was already looking for the a possible dropped item of Xadulo’s – for days. One time, when she was resting under the shade of a tree, the friendly-as-ever people come every now and then to invite her to have a snack. “I guess it’s Saturday today. Only this day they all share snacks after all…” she stood and planned to search again after she kindly rejected everyone who invited her.

‘Everyone’s so kind that it’s kinda creepy…’ she thought. ‘…I ain’t runnin’ again. After I find the item, I might still have time before the others come back. By that time, I’ll try to resolve everything with my remaining family here…’

Around the wide village, inside, the trees by the gardens, the pebbled road, she searched. A a month passed, and the more time passes, the more she feels like what she’s looking for doesn’t exist there. She tried asking the people if they found a dropped object. She checked the lost-n-found stall several times. She strolled around the same area every day, hoping the last time she checked, she was just stupid enough to not spot it and actually find it.

“Where am I gonna find it?” she thought, then plucked an apple at her height while passing an apple tree. “It might still take a while knowing I don’t know what ‘am looking for…” bites. “! …this season’s apples are sweet!” she glanced at the tree. “Xadulo never said her favorite fruit… she likes them all equally. Even the sour and bitter ones…” she remembered the gang. “Just like us.”

“The apples here are sweet! No one said this tree belonged to anyone, so maybe we can get some for this Saturday’s exchange.” “She did acknowledge them…” she stood for a while. “Wait…” she climbed the tree when she remembered those words were said a few days before they left. She looked at the pits, the between parts of the branches, and the high parts. She also looked below to see better, but couldn’t find anything. “Damn…” she said.

One wrong step, and she slipped due to the wet goo from the tree stuck in one of the pits. She fell facing the dancing leaves. Didn’t even make a noise, didn’t even showed she cared. Maybe she doesn’t. “But I… just want her back, that’s all.” Her eyes glanced at the pit she stepped at. By reflex, she looked at the inside and found a glass bottle. Due to the dirt, she couldn’t see the inside, so she went and rinsed it off.

Opened it and took off the inside. There was a rolled paper and a small object covered in clothe. She opened the paper and started reading.

“Hi, Kysh! Am I dead yet? Did Carnelia told you to look for this? Great job finding it. You might hate me at some point for being as selfish as leaving you for my own curiosity. I’m sorry, so can you forgive me?” Kyshanne felt touched. “I like the apples here so I decided to placed this thing on the pit that you might miss. You might’ve fell, too.” She smiled. “I want you to settle things with your family here. These few months, you were both relaxed and bothered here. Greet them to let go of that lingering curse-like feeling in your heart, okay?” a tear drop fell. “I can read hearts, so I can feel it as well as you do. Stay fine for me alright? You can do it, I’m sure.” Kyshanne kept crying with no sound. “Keep it in mind that I chose you for many reasons. But my favorite reason is I like your name!”

‘My name… is Kyshanne…’, ‘You— interesting! Be my trusted friend from now on!’

“Haah…” Kyshanne breathe as she smiled. “Oh, how I wish to grab that hand you offered once again…” she quickly took the clothed object and took the inside. It was a cube with a name written on one side, and an illustration of a dog on the opposite side. “Chiri…? Who’s Chiri supposed to be?” she turned the cube and saw the dog. “The same breed as my dog I found abandoned… was ‘Chiri’ its name? …I can’t remember…” she placed both the paper and the cube in her pocket. “But, to think she does, she must’ve really liked my stories.” “Objects with great memory implanted onto them will work best.”  “Carnelia did say that.”

‘I don’t know if I can ever say farewell to you, but I won’t.’ “I promise I’ll look for you. Even if it takes me to where you are!” Determination once again rose within her heart.