❖ semi-closed fragment. ( location: ??? )

[wiederholt]

Forests are deep and vast.

They're also the perfect place to hold a game, especially keeping in consideration the fact that Bernkastel was growing bored just simply watching the dice roll after the pieces were set in place. Which is why, after the ritual, she decides to invite a guest over -- unwillingly, of course -- but it's not as if he won't notice the changes.

All of his friends who were beside him have no disappeared, and there's a clear shift in his surroundings. While the forest looks the same, it certainly does not feel the same, as there's some sort of permeating aura that seems to be rather daunting. As if it's crying out to run away, to escape.

Though this change of surroundings might leave him with many questions; like why was he here, why were his friends gone, and what was this feeling of dread that seemed to encompass the entire forest, growing darker and darker as it was, there's also some answers that he may be getting, now that he's entered it. Memories of previous fragments are now clearer and it's not just pieces of memories, it's every last thing.

And he might note that he is not alone in this forest, as clarified by the young purple haired girl sitting on a chair nearby, staring at him with empty, emotionless eyes, like a marionette with its strings cut. There's clearly something wrong with her, and it isn't just the fact that she's floating in midair, or sipping tea idly.

Welcome to hell. We hope you enjoy your stay.

Comments

[wiederholt]

There's a flick of her tail as she lets out a sigh, deciding that it would probably be for the best if she at least answered his question. It would be more annoying if she just left it hanging.

"Very well. I will at least explain to you why you are here. You have been sent here to play a game. The game consists of you being able to leave the Forest without dying. As per the rules of the game, I am not allowed to give any hints to win the game. You have to find out the truth on your own."

As simple as that.

[all_onis_are_true]

...What. What sort of a game is THAT? WHO sent him here, and why? And why him? His mind races, trying to make any sort of sense out of this, and failing.

"Is there anything at all you CAN tell me?" he asks at last. Despite himself, he takes the pistol, praying he won't regret this, that this isn't all just a delusion of his, that he's still in the REAL forest, looking insane.

[wiederholt]

"That all depends on what you ask," there was no hesitation in her voice as she answered, watching him take the pistol from her hands. Of course there were things that she could or couldn't tell him, and she was not about to break the rules. But she was not the type of person who would simply tell him everything that she possibly could.

Mostly because that would not be fun.

And that was the ultimate goal of this game, after all. Not that he knew that. "Anyway, we best be going."

[all_onis_are_true]

Great. Lost in a strange forest, with a strange girl who apparently could help him but won't, and apparently surrounded by things that want to kill him. The sad thing is that this is ALMOST an improvement from the endless cycle of murder.

He sets out in a direction, fighting down a sense of irritation. "So who decided the rules of this game, anyway? Does this force have anything to do with our terrible situation as of current?"

[wiederholt]

"Myself and another." Who that another was, well, Hiroshi didn't need to know. He wouldn't see her, after all-- she was in another dimension taking control of the game. Narrowing her eyes to his second question, she took a deep breath and a sigh.

Should she just tell him the truth?

That wouldn't be any fun. "No. I will assure it. This game has nothing to do with your current situation. That kid hasn't even finished the game of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, nor is she the Game Master." Wait, did Hiroshi just hear red?

[all_onis_are_true]

...What. He can't quite place it, but something seemed off about that statement. Something... colorful? "What... did you just do there?" he asks, stopping for a moment.

[wiederholt]

There's no hesitance in her tone as she speaks in her usual monotonous voice. "I spoke using the red truth. Anything I say with that is the absolute truth, there is no need to question it at all whatsoever.

I am not allowed to speak lies with it, and only witches and Game Masters are able to use it freely. Humans are allowed to use the Blue Truth to theorize and ask questions and I would have to reply, but that isn't necessary for this game to continue." At least she's being polite enough to tell him this much.

[all_onis_are_true]

There are SO many questions attached to that. Like how anybody can force somebody into a state of synesthesia, or why he should take her word for it that if she "speaks in red," it's the absolute truth. Or what sort of game WOULD require blue truths.

He swallows them down. Skepticism seems like a poor thing to linger on right now. "These woods... all the trees look the same. How am I supposed to know where I'm going..." he mutters to himself instead.

[wiederholt]

She doesn't say a single word. Instead, the howling of what seems to be a wolf seems to reach their ears. The sound doesn't seem to be far from where they stood, and they could just ignore it if they really wanted to. But the game would not advance it they did that.

"There seems to be something beckoning for us."

[all_onis_are_true]

Is she serious? Generally speaking, most sane people would go as far in the OPPOSITE direction if they heard a wolf howling. "You are actually suggesting approaching something like that?!" he asks in disbelief. "Why should we have to walk into trouble when the point is to avoid it?"

[wiederholt]

"Do you really wish for me to spell it out for you?" Although the forest may be a maze with the way the environment shifts, there is only one way out and that is through the wolf. "If you don't go through it now, you will most certainly be unable to leave."

[all_onis_are_true]

U...ugh. That "red truth" again...

Hiroshi doesn't care much for not having any control over his situation. He knows this, especially with the terrible memories he's accumulated. And yet here he is, in another similar situation where he feels like he's being lead by the nose.

"Tch... if we must." He pushes his glasses up, trying to mask the fear and tension permeating his body. He grips the gun just a little bit tighter before heading in the direction he thinks he heard the howl from -- and very much not looking forward to what he'll find.

[wiederholt]

Bernkastel follows behind him, not walking, but hovering behind with a flick of her tail, an amused look in her eyes, even though she doesn't smile.

"Be careful. I don't want you losing, after all."

[all_onis_are_true]

He's not sure whether that's proper encouragement or not. But he does rankle a bit at her overall attitude towards the whole thing, like he's more of a game piece than he is a human being. That they all are. "Considering the circumstances, I believe losing is not ideal for me either," he replies with a voice as dry as the desert.

[wiederholt]

It's as much encouragement as he'll get from a witch such as Bernkastel. To her, anything that doesn't belong in the Meta World is deemed as a piece -- he wasn't a player in his own game board, after all, just a human who could barely move the pawns in place and obtain checkmate.

"Of course." Her reply is monotonous as she continues further in, the call of the wolf getting closer. "They'll be going after you."

[all_onis_are_true]

"That is a logical conclusion, yes." Did she have to tell him that? It's not like he didn't know already, and all it does is increase that tightening feeling in his stomach. His pace begins to pick up, but part of him wonders how he's even supposed to be able to run from wolves.

Shelter... there must be some sort of shelter, somewhere I can hide until this first obstacle passes...

[wiederholt]

"I just wanted to warn you so you don't misunderstand."

After all, the meaning behind those words were simple; it just showed that they wouldn't go after her if they split up. Not that it mattered to her. She was a witch, after all, someone who had power over this realm. Even if she wasn't the Game Master.

[all_onis_are_true]

"I get it! I GET IT!"

He doesn't want to die. Not again, or at least not yet. But these woods are so confusing. How does he know he's not running right into the wolves' jaws? "And you absolutely cannot at least point me in a good direction?!" He's already running, albeit only lightly in case he needs to turn very, very quickly.

[wiederholt]

"... Do you?"

It's difficult to tell if she's being skeptical of Hiroshi's own words or if she's trying to reassure him. While all signs point towards the former, with Bernkastel being who she is, a witch who hates boredom as much as the next person as well as someone who aims to win, things could go either way. Lifting her heels to hover ever so slightly, the witch who could grant a miracle swished her tail up and down, giving him an honest reply. At the very least, she would not lie. "I cannot, for I do not know the layout of this forest, either."

She could, however, give a good guess, considering how Lambda was, but there's no point in giving him the answer. There'd be no fun in that.

[all_onis_are_true]

"Gh. Of COURSE you don't."

For a moment, he swears he can see the eyes of wolves peering out at him through the woods. He banks a sharp left, hoping for something to turn up. If worst comes to worst, he'll just have to climb a tree. Wolves can't climb trees, right?

...Right?

[wiederholt]

While the wolves really are there, they don't immediately jump at him; they just stare at Hiroshi with a low growl. Bernkastel herself doesn't seem all that impressed, although she took another step forward without any hesitance before murmuring (although it was loud enough for Hiroshi to hear) in the general direction of the wolves -- her tone comes off harsh from her lips.

"If you really want to get him, you'll have to try harder than that."

They weren't ordinary wolves, after all. They were ones who could stand on their hind legs. While they were unable to climb, they could still attempt to bring the tree down by punching it.