Scenario:Narmaya - Concealed Origins
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Concealed Origins
Narmaya worries she can't improve her combat skills any further, so (Captain) suggests she return home to find inspiration. After many years without even writing home, Narmaya finally reunites with her father, Gamshira, and mother, Laruna. Things are going well until Narmaya is ambushed by a katana-wielding woman in the dojo. Narmaya's parents come to check on the commotion and find their daughter at the mercy of this intruder, her body in its childhood state.
Once upon a time, (Captain) and the crew caught wind of a sword master named Narmaya who blended magic with swordplay.
An intrigued (Captain) went to meet this woman to see if the rumors were true.
Narmaya: Hey, (Captain)! How are you feeling? Is that your stomach rumbling? Can I get you some fruit?
Narmaya: Ah, (Captain)! You're not feeling chilly, are you? I'd be more than glad to lend you my jacket.
A few compliments paid her way was enough for the young lady to grow attached to the crew.
(Captain) was more than happy to have the earnest woman join their adventure.
They traveled the skies, and eventually, Narmaya reconnected with a distant relative.
Known in the Sky Realm as Eahta of the Eternals, the man is referred to by the young swordswoman as Zanba—a man she has long admired.
She continued to hone her sword skills like a woman possessed, hell-bent on chasing his shadow. When they finally met, a misunderstanding led to a duel rather than a conversation.
Fif: Talking with swords? What the heck's that supposed to mean!
Fif: A fight's a fight! It's not talking at all!
Fif: So did you two actually learn anything from that fight just now? If you did, I'm all ears!
Narmaya: ...!
Fif: You have to talk to each other. With words.
Fif: What do you really want from Grampy, Narmaya? If you don't tell him, he's never gonna know!
Narmaya: I... I...
Narmaya: I've always wanted to be like you, Zanba!
Narmaya: I've been chasing after you ever since I was little!
Narmaya: I wanted you to acknowledge me...
Eahta: ...
Narmaya: That's why I decided to become stronger. I wanted to be strong so you'd notice me.
Narmaya: But now I realize that's not what I wanted at all.
Narmaya: I just... wanted you to call for me; to say my name. I wanted to spend time with you.
Eahta: I see.
Eahta: So you wanted to exchange words, not blows.
Eahta: You seek out words on your quest to better yourself. Very well.
Luckily, Fif of the Eternals intervened, and Narmaya was able to have a heartfelt talk with Eahta to clear the air.
Her twisted adulation of him had been her chains, but now she's finally broken free.
However, not all of her problems are solved.
On a cold, overcast day, Narmaya and (Captain) face each other with their weapons drawn.
Neither fighter moves a muscle, their skin nipped by the wind as they wait for the opportune time to strike.
Narmaya: ...
Then (Captain) blinks, and Narmaya disappears from sight.
The captain manages to catch a glimpse of a pink blur and readies for the incoming attack.
Narmaya stops her katana right before it clangs against (Captain)'s sword.
Although the two blades never touch, the force generated when she suddenly halts her swing roils a fearsome gale.
(Captain) hunkers down, trying desperately to keep from being blown away.
When the volatile winds subside and the gray clouds overhead disperse, the skies are clear blue once more.
Narmaya: Well done.
Narmaya: Hahaha, it's a coincidence. Of course I can't part the clouds simply by stopping my blade.
Yet in the past, (Captain) had witnessed the woman cleave scattered clouds in the sky.
Based on that precedence and the phenomenon the captain had just experienced, it wouldn't be a stretch to say it was her doing.
However, (Captain) sensed hesitation in her strike.
Narmaya: Heehee... I know that face. My anxiety is showing, isn't it?
Choose: You can still do better.
Narmaya: Wow, (Captain). I can't hide anything from you.
Narmaya: I just don't know how to climb higher anymore.
Continue 1
Narmaya: You and the crew helped me recognize my own strength.
Narmaya: But that's pretty much it. I don't know where to go from here.
Narmaya: After meeting Zanba, I lost my prime reason for reaching even greater heights.
Narmaya: Now how am I supposed to get stronger going forward?
Revisiting Zinkenstill, the place where everything started for (Captain), proved beneficial to the captain's quest for more power.
(Captain) suggests to Narmaya that returning to where she grew up might give her the boost she needs.
Narmaya: Where I grew up...
The captain goes on to add that seeing old faces back home can become a source of inspiration.
To (Captain)'s surprise, Narmaya hangs her head in shame.
Narmaya: Ever since I ran away from home, I never went back—not even once... I don't know if I can show my face again...
Choose: All the more reason to do it now.
In (Captain)'s opinion, if Narmaya still has the chance to see her family, she should take it.
Narmaya: Y-yeah, I think you're right... If I do go home, will you come with me?
(Captain) nods, earning a hug from Narmaya.
Narmaya: Oh, my cute (Captain)! Thank you for being my rock!
(Captain) takes Narmaya's fawning in stride, and the pair head for her home.
Narmaya: ...
They arrive in front of a large, antiquated dwelling. Narmaya slides open the door with apprehension.
A woman watering the houseplants in the foyer drops her watering can when she sees who walks in.
???: Gasp... It can't be...
???: What's wrong, Laruna?
A tall, lean man comes out to investigate the woman's distress.
His eyes bulge when he sees Narmaya.
???: You came home.
Narmaya: Yeah... Um, it's been a while, Mom, Dad...
Narmaya's Mother: "It's been a while"? Is that all you have to say after vanishing for all these years?
Narmaya's Mother: Oh, whatever. It doesn't matter. Come here!
The woman Narmaya calls Mom cries tears of joy as she warmly wraps her arms around her daughter.
Narmaya's Mother: Welcome home. I'm glad you're safe.
Narmaya: Mom...
Narmaya's Father: I was resigned to the fact that we'd lost our little girl to her fanatical hero worship. Yet here you are...
Narmaya's Father: So many days and nights have passed since I last got to see your face.
Narmaya: Dad...
Narmaya's Father: And you.
The man Narmaya calls Dad turns his attention to (Captain).
Gamshira: My name is Gamshira. This is my wife, Laruna.
(Captain) politely bows and gives a brief self-introduction.
Gamshira: We owe you a great deal for rescuing our daughter from her personal conflict.
Laruna: Yes, thank you from the bottom of our hearts, (Captain).
The grateful mother continues to squeeze her long-lost daughter.
Laruna: Though I'm curious why you chose to come see us out of the blue. Were you bitten by the homesick bug?
Narmaya: Actually, not a day went by that I didn't want to visit, but because I left without saying a word, I couldn't bring myself to do it...
Gamshira: In the end, I'm thrilled you put your concerns aside and chose to come home.
Gamshira: Still...
Laruna: That's not the whole story, is it?
Narmaya: Is it that obvious?
Gamshira: We are your parents. We can tell when something is eating away at our child.
Gamshira: Whatever's on your mind, speak freely.
Gamshira: I look forward to hearing from (Captain) as well.
Laruna: Yes. Tell us everything about you and Narmaya.
(Captain) agrees to do so and follows the family into their home.
Once everyone is comfortably situated, (Captain) recounts past experiences shared with Narmaya.
It's a thorough retelling of what they've been through, starting from how they first met to Narmaya's reunion with Zanba.
The conversation lingers briefly on Fif when the young Eternal is brought up.
Laruna: Zanba's looking after a little girl now? That Zanba?
Laruna: Hahaha, what a world. I guess even he's mellowed a bit.
Narmaya: We often have tea together. Me, (Captain), Fif, and him.
Gamshira: Interesting. Picturing you all gathered together and drinking tea with Zanba makes for a good chuckle.
Gamshira: Returning to the original matter at hand, I can see why you feel lost about what to do next, Narmaya.
Gamshira: Stay here with us for a bit. I'm sure you'll find a way to proceed if you do.
Laruna: Oh, I'll take it from here!
Laruna gets up and quickly leaves the room.
Soon she comes back carrying a folded black garment.
Laruna: This is a family heirloom. Have I shown it to you before?
Laruna: I wanted you to wear this if you ever came home, so I altered it just in case!
Narmaya: But it's a family heirloom! You altered it just for me?
Gamshira: Why is that surprising? You're the strongest in the family, Narmaya. It's only fitting that it be passed down to you.
Gamshira: It makes sense to add a few modifications to it here and there.
Narmaya: I-I guess so...
Laruna: Well, don't just stand there! Go try it on!
Narmaya leaves the room to go change, still dumbfounded from receiving such a precious gift.
She comes back moments later wearing the heirloom.
Narmaya: How do I look?
Laruna: Aw, it's perfect! Doesn't she look perfect, Gamshira?
Gamshira: Yes. Long have I waited to see our little one don the family treasure.
Narmaya: Y-you think so? Ehehe...
Narmaya: Now I'm even more delighted to be wearing this.
Gamshira: As beautiful as a full moon on a crystal clear night. Ah, that reminds me of the first time I met Laruna.
Laruna: Gamshira... Need I remind you we're entertaining a guest?
Narmaya: I guess you could say that, huh?
Laruna: Not to mention brave and gallant, just like her father when he was a strapping young man. Hehe, I couldn't take my eyes off of him.
Gamshira: Laruna, don't make our guest feel uncomfortable.
Continue 2
Narmaya: Geez, you two haven't changed a bit.
(Captain) can only smile at the close-knit family.
Narmaya: Thanks, Mom and Dad. I feel like I'm ready for a fresh start.
Narmaya: Like I can do anything if I set my mind to it. Dad, I'm going to need the dojo!
Laruna: Oh, off to train already? Why don't we talk some more—
Laruna: Haha...
Gamshira: That girl could never sit still. Something tells me we won't see her again until nightfall.
Laruna: Thankfully we have the next best thing, if I may say so.
Laruna: Well, (Captain)? I'm sure you have plenty more stories that are dying to be told.
With a nod, (Captain) settles in for some storytelling.
Meanwhile, Narmaya is brushing up on her fundamentals in the dojo.
After several rounds of sweeps and flourishes, she stops and inhales deeply.
Narmaya: This smell brings back memories.
Narmaya: How many hours did I spend swinging my wooden practice sword in this room? I even tried my hand at naginatas and greatswords...
Narmaya trails off. Something about what she just said doesn't sound right to her.
Narmaya: Wait, I do remember training constantly...
Narmaya: But was that all I did?
She purposefully skips over to a weapon rack to check something.
It holds the weapons she'd once swung in the past.
Narmaya: That's weird.
Narmaya: Every single one is damaged. They shouldn't be though, if all I ever did was take practice swings and polish my footwork.
Narmaya: Which means I must've sparred with someone. But who?
Narmaya: I don't remember practicing with anyone other than myself...
???: Pardon me.
Narmaya spins around to face the voice and sees a woman dressed in a samurai-like fashion.
Narmaya: Are you here to see my father? I can go get him for you—
Mysterious Woman: A little bird told me you had come home. Lo and behold, they were right.
Mysterious Woman: Hello, Narmaya.
Narmaya: How do you know my name?
Mysterious Woman: Hahaha. Of course, of course.
Mysterious Woman: I expected nothing less from one who views me as worthless.
The woman's voice drips with contempt, and a thin trickle of blood leaks from her eye.
Narmaya: You're bleeding...
Mysterious Woman: Why do you care?
Narmaya: ...!
Mysterious Woman: Worry about yourself.
The woman unsheathes her blade in one fluid motion and unleashes a merciless flurry of cuts.
Narmaya instinctively blocks the attacks, and she instantly deduces what she's up against the moment their blades collide.
Narmaya: (She's powerful! And there's something unsettling about her blade. Just looking at it gives me goosebumps.)
Narmaya: (However, she's far from unbeatable.)
Narmaya: ...
Mysterious Woman: Ah, there they are—the eyes that stare back at me and haunt my dreams.
Narmaya: I'm guessing we've met before.
Mysterious Woman: Hahaha.
Mysterious Woman: Suits me fine if you've forgotten who I am. All I ask...
Mysterious Woman: Is that you atone by dying where you stand!
Narmaya: ...!
The commotion draws (Captain) and Narmaya's parents to the dojo.
Laruna: Narmaya, is everything all right—
Gamshira: What in the world...
Narmaya: Nnh...
Mysterious Woman: Tch... Look at you.
An unbelievable scene assaults (Captain)'s eyes.
A mysterious attacker clutches Narmaya by the neck and is poised to kill her at any moment.
But the most astonishing aspect of this affair lies elsewhere.
Narmaya: Ugh...
Gamshira: Narmaya... You're a child again?
The sword master's body has reverted to her childhood state.
Categories:
- Scenario Character: Narmaya
- Scenario Character: Fif
- Scenario Character: Eahta
- Fate Gender Check
- Scenario Character: ???
- Scenario Character: Narmaya's Mother
- Scenario Character: Narmaya's Father
- Scenario Character: Gamshira
- Scenario Character: Laruna
- Scenario Character: Mysterious Woman
- Character Fate Scenario
- Intro Fate