Scenario:Yggdrasil - The Curious Tree
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The Curious Tree
At a small village, Yggdrasil is awed by all the new sights and sensations she experiences. Seeing this, Lyria is reminded of herself when she first saw the world outside the empire.
(Captain), Rosetta, Yggdrasil, and company are visiting a tiny village.
While small and seemingly unremarkable to the crew, the town is filled with adventure for Yggdrasil, who has never been away from Lumacie.
Carriages, large signs, the clamor of the street traders—all is new and enchanting to her.
She darts her head around and attempts to take in the flood of strange sights and sensations.
Lyria: Hehe. Seeing Yggdrasil like this reminds me of myself not too long ago.
Vyrn: Hm? Why?
Lyria: Well, before Katalina freed me, I'd never seen anything outside of the empire.
Rosetta: Then I don't think you'd mind being a big sister of sorts to Yggdrasil, would you?
Lyria: Me? A big sister! I... I...
Yggdrasil: ...!
Rosetta: Yggdrasil certainly seems keen on the idea.
Lyria: But wouldn't you be a better choice, Rosetta? I mean, you said you're family after all.
Rosetta: Hehe. Well, I'll be helping you, of course.
Rosetta: But I suspect you'd be much more suited for the role, Lyria dear. I think I might know just a touch too much.
Lyria: Know too much? What do you mean by that?
Rosetta: Hehe.
Following Rosetta's impish simper, the crew hears a rumbling noise coming from an unknown source.
Lyria: Hm? Yggdrasil, was that you?
Yggdrasil: ...
Yggdrasil shakes her head from side to side, cheeks blushing all the while.
Rosetta: Have you been taking the proper sustenance since you left the island?
Vyrn: Y'know, you could just keep it simple and say food.
Lyria: I did notice that she hasn't been having much besides soup on the ship.
Yggdrasil: ...
Rosetta: Very well... We'll take this opportunity to show you how to sustain yourself in this world.
Rosetta: This is a job for a big sister, Lyria. Are you up to the task?
Lyria: Yes ma'am! I'll be the best sister ever!
Lyria: Okay, Yggdrasil! First let's go to the market and—
Lyria: Huh! Where'd she go!
Looking around, Lyria spots Yggdrasil crouching in a corner of the public square.
The crew rush over and are stunned by what they see.
Lyria: Yggdrasil! You can't do that! Let the man go!
Yggdrasil: ...?
Rosetta: Hehe. My, my, you don't see this every day.
Rosetta: That's very kind of you, securing him with vines to keep him from falling. I know your heart was in the right place.
Rosetta: But you see, dear, that's not a withering tree at all. He might waver in the wind just like one, but he's just drunk, not dying.
Ruffian: Ay! Who y' gallin' a witterin' dree!
The Curious Tree: Scene 2
Upon Rosetta's suggestion, (Captain) and the others each pick a food from the street vendors and bring it to Yggdrasil to try. Though she is not yet used to the idea of solid foods, her delight is evident when she tries a cup of apple juice.
Lyria: Mm! Smells wonderful! Look at all that good food, Yggdrasil!
Street peddlers and food vendors line the square, filling the air with an intoxicating mix of sumptuous aromas.
A particularly strong whiff sets the crew's stomachs growling. This gives Rosetta an idea.
Rosetta: Everyone, what say you to a little game?
Rosetta: We each pick out a food item we think looks good, and whoever chooses the food Yggdrasil likes best is the winner.
Lyria: What a great idea!
Vyrn: Heh. I got this in the bag.
Lyria: Don't be too sure about that, Vyrn!
At once the group disperses through the square, to each their chosen stall.
Soon they return—treats in hand, confidence brimming.
Rosetta: I'll go first then. I brought a fried blue-backed fish sandwich.
Rosetta: A baguette that's crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, stuffed with freshly fried fish and mayonnaise. No greater delight than this.
Lyria: I chose this honey rice cake! It's a soft, chewy rice bun filled with cream and syrup on the inside!
(Captain) presents a basket of crispy fried potatoes covered in cheese. The melting cheese oozes and shimmers with promise of savory delight.
Others brought skewered meat dipped in secret sauce and caramel-covered fruits that shined like jewels.
However, the mere smell of the foods causes Yggdrasil to scramble and hide behind Lyria's back, as if to shield herself from the feast presented before her.
Yggdrasil: ...
Lyria: What's wrong? Did one of us pick something you don't like?
Rosetta: Wait. I don't think that's the case.
Through their silent bond, Rosetta listens to Yggdrasil with gentle care.
Rosetta: It seems she's hasn't yet grown used to the idea of solid foods. The only sustenance she's ever known is ground and sun after all.
Lyria: Aww, I see. It's a shame she won't be able to eat all these tasty treats we got for her.
Vyrn: Say, what about this?
Vyrn holds out a cup of apple juice.
Yggdrasil: ...?
Vyrn: What's wrong? Never had juice before?
Yggdrasil: ...
She tilts her head and blinks, wide-eyed.
Vyrn: It's my favorite. Here, have a sip.
Yggdrasil: ...
With a slight nod, Yggdrasil slowly reaches for the cup.
She sniffs it. Then stares at Vyrn.
Yggdrasil: ...
Vyrn: Go on—bottoms up! The apple juice around here is the best!
Like dainty petals her lips rest on the cup, and she begins to quietly sip the drink.
Yggdrasil: ...
Vyrn: Heh heh. How is it? Pretty good, huh?
Yggdrasil: ...!
Yggdrasil's expression blossoms into one of utter delight. But the blossoming does not end there.
Lyria: Wh-what's happening! The ground around her is—it's...
All around flowers sprout up from the earth, budding and blooming in the blink of an eye.
Rosetta: I'd take it that means she likes it. She's so delighted that the healing power's leaking right out of her.
Lyria: Leaking? We can't have that! The whole village is going to turn into a forest!
Rosetta: Oh my. I suppose the scent of the flowers has attracted the attention of those monsters.
Vyrn: Great! Look what you did, Yggdrasil! Yggdrasil?
Yggdrasil: ...
Lyria: I don't think she can hear you, Vyrn. She's completely lost in juiceland right now...
The Curious Tree: Scene 3
Next to catch Yggdrasil's eye is a wooden comb sold by one of the street peddlers. When Lyria hears the comb is made from Lumacie timber, she buys it for Yggdrasil as something to remind her of home.
With the monsters dealt with, Lyria—being the elder sister—takes it upon herself to caution Yggdrasil.
Lyria: You should be more careful next time, Yggdrasil. You could have turned the whole village into another Lumacie forest.
Yggdrasil: ...
Rosetta: Come now, Lyria, she already seems sorry enough. No need to push the matter on.
Lyria: I know. It's just that... I was the same way myself.
Rosetta: Hm?
Lyria: I was the same way too when I first saw the outside world.
Lyria: Not knowing how to control my own powers, there were times where I let them slip. It terrified people when that happened...
I terrified people.
I terrified people.
Lyria: Katalina and (Captain) were always worried sick about me.
Rosetta: Hehe. I was right to have chosen you instead of myself.
Lyria: Hm? What do you mean?
Rosetta: Tut-tut, Big Sister Lyria. You'd best keep an eye on your charge before she strays too far.
Lyria: Oh no! Yggdrasil! You can't wander off on your own like that!
Lyria: Promise you'll bring me along whenever you go somewhere, okay? We need to stick together!
Though her words are stern, there's no mistaking Lyria's joy in having gained a sibling.
Lyria stays close to Yggdrasil, who is now crouched in front of a street stall staring at its wares.
Yggdrasil: ...
Lyria: What're you looking at, Yggdrasil?
But Yggdrasil does not hear; she simply stares on, engrossed in the object of her gaze.
Rosetta: Oh, I didn't know you liked these sorts things.
Saying that, Rosetta reaches for one of the pieces on display.
She picks up a necklace.
Rosetta: What a beautiful stone. Do you want to try it on?
Yggdrasil: ...
But Yggdrasil shakes her head.
Lyria: Oh? Not what you wanted? This ring then?
Yggdrasil: ...
Yet again Yggdrasil shakes her head.
Vyrn: Not this either? Hmm, then how about... this?
Yggdrasil: ...!
Shopkeeper: Oh-ho! Quite an eye you've got, lil' miss. This 'ere comb's from the finest Lumacie timber there is.
Lyria: Lumacie? It must remind her of home.
Rosetta: She's taken quite a liking to it too.
Lyria: I'll buy it for her then! A present from sister to sister!
Rosetta: Did you hear that, Yggdrasil? Be sure to take good care of it now.
Yggdrasil: ...!
Rude Peddler: Hey, hey, hey! Fugeddabout combs!
Rude Peddler: How's about some top-a-da-line chain saws!
Rude Peddler: So? How 'bout it?
Yggdrasil: ...!
Yggdrasil presses her hands to her ears and trembles.
Lyria: Stop it! You're scaring her!
Rude Peddler: What? Hey, I'm just trying to make a livin' here! You got a problem with that?
Rosetta: In fact we do. The poor girl is obviously terrified by your nature-destroying device, and we'd very much prefer if you let us alone.
Rude Peddler: Wha? Don't think all your fancy words are gonna—
Rude Peddler: Wait a sec! You're that crazy girl who vined me up this morning!
Rude Peddler: I'll teach you to mess with a chain saw salesman! And don't even think about asking for a discount!
The Curious Tree: Scene 4
Lyria realizes why Rosetta charged her to look after Yggdrasil: she still remembers what it's like to see all the world as a wonder. Lyria promises to always be with Yggdrasil to discover the world with her, which fills Yggdrasil with joy and causes her to make flowers bloom all over the deck.
With the disgruntled chain saw peddler taken care of, the group returns to the Grandcypher.
A gentle breeze drifts past the crewmates chatting on deck when Lyria turns to Rosetta.
Lyria: I think now I understand what you meant when you said knowing too much might be a bad thing.
Rosetta: Oh?
Lyria: I still remember what it was like not knowing anything about the outside world. So I know how exactly how Yggdrasil feels.
Lyria: It's what allows me to see things from her point of view, to enjoy things with her the same way she does.
Lyria: That's why you chose me to take care of her—to be her sister.
Rosetta: Hehe. I think you summed it up rather well.
Rosetta: Take good care of her, Lyria. She's very dear to me.
Lyria: I will!
Yggdrasil: ...
Lyria: Tell me whenever you see something you're curious about, Yggdrasil.
Lyria: I'll always be there to help you.
Yggdrasil: ...!
In that moment flowers begin to sprout and bloom right on the deck.
Vyrn: Aaah! Somebody stop her! The ship's turnin' into a flower garden!
Rosetta: How glad I am for you, my dearest Yggdrasil. Your heart has never felt warmer.
Though without words and shrouded in mystery, the richness of Yggdrasil's emotions and the freedom of her spirit are easily seen.
She might house within her the wisdom of ages, but there still remains much for her to learn.
Knowing that, the crew watches over her with gentle affection as she discovers more of the world each day.