W3 🛸 PLAYER CYOA: SEVENTEEN AGAIN (JAN) 🚀 ARTHUR & GREGOR

[dropoffs]

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[riverbeans]

[Opal is out by the river, fishing. Though it's still morning, it looks like she's already got a lucky or catch two.

In contrast to the day they first met, she looks relatively at peace now. Just her, the river, and her fishing rod. And now, Arthur. She glances over at him.]

Hey.

[expiries]

Hello.

[taking a seat next to her]

Injuries feeling better?

[riverbeans]

[She looks at her bob to make sure a fish isn't about to get hooked, before she looks at Arthur.]

Yeah, I can't complain. Think I'll still have to leave any monster fighting to you for now, though—but don't rest on your laurels for long.

[She will help you with any monster fighting when she can, Arthur...]

[expiries]

[snorts]

Worried I'm getting complacent? I was thinking about going soon.

[riverbeans]

[She tilts her head, glancing back at her rod for a moment.]

Yeah? Don't go and get yourself killed. Though it'd be funny if I had to be the one dragging you to the apothecary this time.

[expiries]

Did you think I was planning on it?

[giving her a brief, tired smile.]

[riverbeans]

[She gives him a sharp, though not unfriendly grin.]

You never know. You might've had too much to drink at the tavern last night.

[expiries]

Do I seem the type? I'm hurt.

[he is not]

What about you? What will you do?

[riverbeans]

[She thinks for a bit, before shrugging.]

Hm... might keep fishing for a bit. Helps keep myself fed, and I can sell the rest to the tavern for their meals.

[Speaking of which, her line bobs.]

Ah—shut up for a second, I've got something!

[She pulls, though it seems like it's a big catch and she might need some help.]

[expiries]

Oh—

[helping her!!]

[riverbeans]

[With Opal and Arthur's efforts combined, they managed to yank the fish out of the water! It's a big one. Excitedly, Opal grabs it, before doing... proper fishing procedure stuff to put it in the bucket. Idk. Why do I keep making people do things I have zero expertise on.

Anyway, she gives Arthur a bit of a smile.]

Thanks.

[expiries]

You're splitting the profits with me, right?

[joking]

[riverbeans]

[Opal replies wryly,]

You'll be lucky if I think about it.

[In any case, she goes back to her fishing, so Arthur should probably leave her be after a bit.

The other villagers are also going about their day, though Arthur might note that he doesn't see Elizabeth anywhere, not even spying on him from a distance. Anyway, what does he want to do with his day now?

> Clear out any monsters lurking near the village
> Eat at the tavern
> Any other random action you can think of]

[expiries]

[it's monster time!!]

[riverbeans]

[Monster time!! Arthur heads outside the village and has a decent time with the monsters, which sounds bad when I write it like that but I mean the monsters aren't too difficult to take down day. They're not the easiest, but nothing that he'd find himself getting seriously injured against, besides a cut or two.

However, hours later as he finishes off the last of them for the day, he'll hear what sounds like a commotion back in the village.]

[expiries]

[hmmmm. hurrying back.]

[riverbeans]

[Well. When he gets back to the village, he will see an unpleasant sight.

Anise has been shoved to the ground, with Lovelace hovering over her, glaring at someone else. Kazuki looks worried, if terrified, as Temenos stands protectively in front of him, likewise staring at another party. Not far from them is Elizabeth, but unlike the others, she seems calm, almost like she knows what's going on.

It is also very obvious who everyone is looking at—a soldier, whom Arthur can tell immediately by the uniform is from Edoras. Also, very pointedly, he has Opal in his grip, with a sword held to her neck. Flanking him are three other Edoras soldiers, weapons out as though daring anyone to get closer.]

Where is he? We know you're harboring a deserter here!

[expiries]

[well. considering everything that's happening here and everything that could happen in the next few moments, he's hurrying even further in this direction.]

—Stop!

[riverbeans]

[That catches everyone's attention, though Opal is still very much being held captive. One of the Edoras soldiers speaks, pointing his sword in Arthur's direction.]

There you are, traitor.

[expiries]

[immediately, furiously:]

Yes. So let her go.

[riverbeans]

How do we know you'll come peacefully if we do?

[One Edoras soldier asks, while another takes a proper look at Opal.]

Hey... doesn't this woman meet the description? Of a recent defector from Riven's army? They're looking for one.

[At that, Opal begins to struggle, the blade digging a little into her neck.]

[expiries]

[all at once, there's a thick layer of mist obscuring the entire area, and he's running towards where he remembers the soldier holding her standing.]

[riverbeans]

[People cry out in alarm when the mist suddenly falls, as the Edoras soldiers slash blindly at where they think Arthur is.

The soldier holding onto Opal still has his blade to her neck, though he's looking around wildly as though trying to locate Arthur.]

[expiries]

[he—

hesitates, because even this man is just another person, just another soldier roped into a situation that isn't his fault. maybe that's why when he summons a blade made of darkness, he's trying to aim it somewhere completely nonfatal, to disarm him rather than kill him.]

[riverbeans]

[Arthur's attack at least has the effect of the soldier letting go of Opal, who scrambles back. From the mist, though, another soldier comes slashing at Arthur, aiming for his head.]