[PP-F11] The Mirror at the End of the Road

[Hidden 1]

Hidden | HP: 880/880 | EN: 126/126 | DMG: 24 | MIT:20 | ACC:3 | PHASE | EVA:4 | BH:48 | VAMP-O: 97 | REC: 8 | HLY: 16 | LD:1      

Spoiler

Name: Hidden True Tier: 9 Level: 34 Paragon Level: 52 HP: 880/880 EN: 126/126 Stats: Damage: 24 Mitigation: 20 Accuracy: 3 Evasion: 4 Battle Healing: 48 Loot Die: 1 Stealth Rating: 5 PHASEVAMP-O: 97 REC: 8 HLY: 16 Equipped Gear: Weapon/Armor/Trinket: - Kura Yu Yami | Holy II, Phase, Vamp Off. Armor/Trinket: - Vantablack | EVA III, Vamp Def Shield/Armor/Trinket: - Night's Bloom | ACC II, Recovery II Combat Mastery: - Combat Mastery: Damage R3 Combat Shift: - ST Shift Familiar Skill: - Grappling Familiar Custom Skill: - Lady Midnight Skills: - Battle Healing R5 - Cloth Armor R5 - Dagger R5 - Energist - Quick Change Extra Skills: - Hiding R5 - Disguise - Survival Inactive Extra Skills: Addons: - Ferocity - Nimble - Precision - Stamina - Stamina Mods: - Athletics - Surpise Attack: Assassin - Untraceable - Vanish Inactive Mods: Battle Ready Inventory: Housing Buffs: Guild Hall Buffs: Scents of the Wild Totem: - Kumatetsu Wedding Ring: Crafting Profession: Gathering Profession:

The air had grown cooler as the sun began to set over the horizon, the trees shifting as they did with each day as the sun began to set. You could only reach the house at sunset. The path didn’t appear so much as it allowed you through — winding past overgrown trees and quiet hills, down into a meadow the world seemed to have forgotten.

It was beautiful in a way that felt untouched: wildflowers blooming in every direction, tall grass swaying in the breeze, and a narrow stream that split the land like a blue ribbon. A few old wooden bridges crossed it, leading up to the house — a modest place, timeworn but standing. Vines curled around the beams. No one came here. Not really. It was too far, too hidden, too strange to find unless you already knew where to look. And Hidden… she knew. She’d been coming here for a long time. Long enough to call it home. Even if it wasn’t meant to be. Even if it once belonged to someone else.

The windows caught the last of the sunlight, and the moment came and went. The brief period in which to arrive passed, just like it did every day. Except, today was different. By Fate or happenstance, a pair of boots had trudged into the meadow, worn thin by a road that hadn't ended in years. 

---

So far, for Hidden it was another standard day. The day's candle had burned and the comfort of the night hung on the wind. The house stood quietly at the meadow’s heart, weathered by time but not abandoned. Wisteria crawled up the beams now, and the wildflowers had long since claimed the garden, but it still breathed the same way it used to. This evening, she wandered as she always did, barefoot in the grass, sleeves rolled past her elbows, letting the soft gold light soak into her skin. The air had just begun to cool, that perfect cusp between warmth and night. A breeze carried the smell of water, of violets and damp earth.

She wasn’t thinking of much. Maybe dinner. Probably spaghetti. It was the one thing that she had learned to make from him and it was one of her favorite foods. One that Simmone's rear had learned to fear. Perhaps nothing was on her mind. The quiet meadow and given her a place that asked for nothing from her but her presence. She moved with quiet ease through the grass, silver hair tied back loosely with a ribbon that had begun to fray. Her clothes were simple — a soft shirt, worn slacks, and a shawl that hung just enough to catch the breeze. Nothing elegant, nothing eye-catching.

But as she crossed one of the outer bridges, a familiar hush pressed at her ears. Not silence, not danger. Just something new. Her gaze drifted toward the far side of the stream, beyond the tree clusters, past the bend few ever bothered with. There, at the water’s edge, nearly hidden in brush and light:

A figure.

The figure caught her a bit off guard. It had been so long since she even entertained the idea that someone would just walk in. Yet there she was, seated at the edge of the stream, rod in hand, calmly fishing. The light caught the woman's hair, a bright marigold orange. Hidden's breath caught for a moment before she spoke up. 

"You're a long way from anywhere. Were the city fish too noisy for you?" 

[Mari 1]

The place was quiet, out of the way; far enough away from Taft that she wouldn't be a bother to anyone - not along any main trails. Mari had quite literally come across the outskirts of the estate by chance; and the river that ran through it. She was far enough away that she hadn't actually entered any owned land, but was close enough to see the rooftop of whomever lived there.

Mari cast her line out with a yawn. Coming back from the higher floors always resulted in her being exhausted. 

"You're a long way from anywhere. Were the city fish too noisy for you?" 

"That's the point." Mari said simply with a shrug. She didn't want to be anywhere near the town if she could help it. Last time she forced herself to go into Taft she was almost accosted by guards, and the only thing that stopped it were clouds of chlorine gas from a mad plague doctor.  She reeled in her line and tugged on it, pulling the glimmering material off and letting it fall away into her inventory. Mari sighed as she also put the rod away. "I can't just wander around the city."

She figured this was probably someone's home, but Mari also figured she was quiet enough, and it was late enough for her not to be a bother. So much for that. "Look." Mari began as she dusted blades of grass from her form. "I ain't gonna bother you. I'll leave."

Mari looked at the woman now, she looked vaguely familiar but Mari couldn't quite put a name to the face, her hair was long and cascaded down toward her feet. Striking silver. Why is this one so familiar? Mari shook her head, she had met so many people, and most of them Mari would be perfectly fine with not seeing again.

"Aight. See you." Mari said as she turned to leave.

 

 

Fishing ID: 248498 CD: 11 LD: 1 = Material!
+2 fishing exp
+8 Successful fishing attempt

Total Thread loot
+10 Fishing exp
+1 material

 

ASSIST SYSTEM ENGAGED
Level 34
Paragon 52
Tier 9
Mari True Tier 12 | +5% EXP

Non combat:
Mari | HP: 880/880 | EN: 151/151 | DMG: 36 | MIT:44 | ACC:4 | AA | EVA:4 | BH:48 | BLI: 32/-20 | ENV-O: 32 | PARA-V | LD:1

Edited 4 hours ago by Mari