//------------------------------// // Let the Wind Lead // Story: Equine Impact: For A Tomorrow Without Tears // by DecoGalileo //------------------------------// You and I dashed in the grass, with grass wet, plenty of storm creatures, and slimes made out of weeds and water. Later on, red pinwheel-like flowers, white buds, and long petaled-flowers began to surround us, as we met another one of the Statue of the Seven. You bowed down to the statue of the Wind God, and approached Rainbow Dash, who was stretching her wings, and gazing at the fluttering creatures that left Anemo elemental traces. "Oh? What are you doing here?" Rainbow Dash heard someone step on the grass, and then turned to us. "Though I was just wondering if you would happen to follow me..." "I want to know more about the Wind God." you said with full curiosity. Rainbow Dash's eyes twitched, "You speak of the God of Anemo, Vinea? She already disappeared from Hiersindwir a long time ago." Rainbow Dash said. "Dili and Erekutoro's respective gods of Geo and Electro are still present, but Hiersindwir has seen many a moon since they last saw their own god. Why do you wish to know about the God of Anemo? Does it have something to do with Dvalin?" "Oh... ahhh... it's because gods..." I scratched my head. "Yes, someone told me about Dvalin's past." you answered quickly. "Just how is it that everyone sees Sturmterror? I'm quite curious. That said, there's no need to rush...I have not been back in a while, it seems there are a few who are unhappy with my arrival." Rainbow Dash said, looking up at a certain creature. You and I turned behind and what did we see? A huge Anemo orb, adorned with curved wood, surging gusts of wind. "The wind... I can't... open my eyes...!" I screeched, covering up. "What is a creature like that doing out here in such a calm place? You think it was going after that blue gal?" Rainbow Dash ran towards the enemy, and made a wind current of her own, high enough to reach the height of the orb, and shoot arrows towards the target. "Traveler... Her relationship with the wind seems even deeper than yours..." I said, looking up at Rainbow Dash. The orb began to pull you closer like a magnet. As you were underneath the orb, the orb suddenly dropped down, causing you to pounce back. Rainbow Dash, shoots one more arrow, destroying the orb, and turn into ash. The ash grew red, and faded away. "Seems the dragon wasn't the only thing affected by this change in the wind...Now then, you were saying someone had told you about the dragon?" Rainbow Dash turned to you. You tell Venti what Capper explained to you... "Is that so? Quite the scholar I must say, that Capper. He's not wrong. The conflict has reached this point, only because both sides have resorted to the use of force." Rainbow Dash said. "His hate, however, did not arise from the people not making tribute to The Four Zephyrs. Nor was it born from his own nature, but instead came about as a product of his degradation." "Degra...dation...?" said I, who was confused. "The black blood flowing through his heart has been torturing him for years." Rainbow added. "That's what has allowed him to be led astray by the lies of the Abyssus Mage." Your response: "Abyssus Mage? Never heard such a name." you said. "They are from the Abyssus Order, an organization comprised of strange entity beings. They despise us." Rainbow Dash said. CHOOSE "I think I've heard of them before in Hiersindwir..." you said "Correct. They are from the Abyssus Order, an organization comprised of strange entity beings. They despise us." Rainbow Dash said. "I don't know where they come from. All I know is that they hold deep hatred towards the world. Many storm creatures out in the wild take orders from them and act as their weapons. Before arriving here, I too was like Dvalin, cursed and left to waste." Rainbow Dash said. "But now, before us stands the Symbol of Hiersindwir's Hero, the place from which Hiersindwir rose. The wind amongst the branches is good, I love the way it smells..." Rainbow Dash's tail sways, the feathers in her wings blown in the wind, her hair waving at the tree. "Being here with you beneath this great tree feels like when the tear was purified earlier. Like the poison is leaving my body...Mmmmmmm... Feels much better." "So... how exactly did you get poisoned?" I asked. "Ahh... that would be because I tried to communicate with Dvalin earlier, but was... interrupted..." Rainbow Dash turned to you. Yep, she didn't forget it. "As a result, not only did I not manage to help Dvalin break his curse, but instead, was also infected myself!" "Oh, ah... that..that was ...me?" you scratched your head, and smiled nervously. "Yes, it was you!" Rainbow Dash crossed her arms. You widened your eyes, and I giggled nervously. "So, to make up for it, Traveler, you're coming with me to the Cathedral!" "The Hiersindwir Cathedral? To do what exactly?" I asked. "To claim a certain "Holy Lyre of the Sky"."