Legendary Item WHOOOOO

The small leather bound book had been sitting on the shelves for hundreds of years, its secrets waiting to be revealed. It was happenstance that at that moment, it would be pulled from the shelves, long forgotten among the more popular selections. Selections that not only had appealed to the modernizing tastes of the Toranese populace, but selections that had dominated it in size.

The work within the book was not light reading. Filled with ancient stories of the early wars. Largely, these were suspected to be myths, stories told to children to give them pride in their homes and to unite the entire lands. However, like many things, there were at least some truths to the tales within them. At the end, a hastily scribbled series of notes on the tattered pages, pages most delicate

Where the western wind blows sweet,
high among the boughs.
Shimmering silver lights,
brightest in darkest night.

It was cryptic, but the author had clarified, at least to some degree. On the right hand side of the page was a series of sharp upward Vs, with a gap about halfway down the page. A circle arcing out from each side of that gap with the occasional off-kilter square.

From that was an arrow, running along a winding something off the sides of the arc's bounds, running into the upward Vs. This ran to the left hand side of the page, where a meticulously drawn tree was placed. It was different than the ones drawn around it, with the note of 'Sweet' scrawled just below.

Attached with the notes were botanical notes on the sweet trees of Sakura.

It had been a spacious few months since Saibrah's last visit to Toran. However, there was not a feeling of warm nostalgia that the city imbued within his heart, as one might commonly find when revisiting the resort city. Instead, it was of bitter regret tinged with rekindled sorrow, as traumatic memories clawed their way to the forefront of Saibrah's brain and threatened to rattle his

So anyway Saibrah was in the toran library and he picked a book TOTALLY AT RANDOM and opened the book and saw some pages and it was very pretty and there was a tree and what else did he find take it away paaauuul!!!!

EDIT: so it turns out saibrah knew to go to sakura because I'm pretty sure the book fucking said so timeskip like three days and now he's in sakura

If a book could facepalm, this would be a moment for it. Apparently, combining a rudimentary map with very specific geographical details, details largely shared by many maps, especially ASCII maps, and a note about a common botanical tree in another area was very confusing. If the book was a sentient being, it'd be even more confusing considering the identified western wind as being sweet indicating one of the most easternmost cities on the continent.

Yes, if there was any moment for a facepalm for a book, this was indeed it.

so saibrah was like "oh it's probably ward then" and walked to ward in probably like two days or something

The author of the book that Saibrah had found was rolling in his grave. While at least he was much closer, at least in relation to his previous idea. However, in relation to where it actually was located, he was still a good ways off. Arrows, apparently, are too coded and a map, with an arrow pointing to the left is most challenging... most challenging indeed.

After the many trials and tribulations Saibrah faced on his "extended" journey to Ward, with a short sightseeing detour in Sakura to study the Sakurian Cherry tree he had gleaned held the secrets of the slightly condescending book he had happened upon in Toran's library, a warm feeling in Saibrah's chest hinted that he was nearing his destination. Regardless if there was anything profound to be gained from visiting the unnaturally placed tree, it would still be a sight to behold.

The rocky crags of Ward were no place for lush vegetation to grow, save for the occasional prairie bush or conifer that found root between the dried and cracked ground. If the book held true, seeing one of the most beautiful botanical masterpieces Nerta had to offer growing in such a harsh environment would be almost poetic. However, the book was surely to be hundreds of years old, judging by the phrasing found in the pages and its decrepit, almost fragile condition. Lingering in the background of Saibrah's excitement was a shred of doubt.

This doubt was immediately erased as Saibrah climbed the last cliff face to open up into a rocky plateau, and standing before him was his metaphorical prize. He didn't bother to check the drawing on the book as he very solemnly and timidly approached the tree; it was apparent that he had reached his goal.

Saibrah closed his eyes in order to revel in the moment of finally beating that stupid book's riddle (and getting some lovely sightseeing done in the process) he neglected to think about the possibility of Rook, who he definitely did not know was a blood mage and serial killer, appearing randomly and killing him.

Saibrah would have been wise to think about this possibility, for as soon as he closed his eyes, Rook appeared from nowhere and immediately killed him.

It's a hard life closing your eyes in a world full of magical serial killers, apparently.

The dark nights stifled much of the sweetness, the cold seeming to taint it with an almost cruel essence of despair. However, there was a strange coalescence of faint, star-like lights that seemed to dance fluidly around the tree. Even at the distance, a glint of silver could be seen shining from a split in one of the boughs of the tree, almost obscured by bark growth and foliage.

During this beautiful moment, a woman appeared next to Saibrah.

"It is beautiful, isn't it?" she said, still slightly behind him. Should he turn to her, he would be met with a tall, beautiful ebony woman. On her hip was a sword, a rarer sight in the world these days. "But, you really don't have time for that, taking in that beauty that is. Nobody does."

It was Sweet sentiment, the Brown of the ground almost luminescent in the cascade of lights.

"Q-quite," Saibrah choked out, stifling a shudder as the woman's voice broke the silence. He hadn't even noticed the woman standing beside him, but now felt her presence, now holding her as a looming threat in his peripheral. Stationary, but with a quick glance, he noticed the weapon resting on her hip. Reacting might set her off, no one carries around a sword that isn't prepared to use it, he thought anxiously, ordering himself not to tense up and to control his breathing.

"Oh, I'd like to think I do. I've traveled a bit to find it and it would be a waste not to at least appreciate it. Almost a disrespect, if you ask me. Of course, I guess you weren't asking me, were you?" Saibrah was tentative to come off as assertive as he had but it wouldn't do him any good to show the fear trembling within him. Interrogating her about her person surely wouldn't have been his best course of action either.

In fact, doing anything besides standing motionless, and watching her carefully from the corner of his eye, was the only thing he could do.

"I suppose you are right," she said, shifting slightly. "Well, I'll leave you to your thoughts." With that, she turned and strode back into the night, the blackness of this swordswoman fading her out even faster in the darkened shadows of the trees.

It would leave Saibrah to his devices, with whatever brought him to this area.

Took the locket.

with his cock