The Wandering Isles: Session 43
The session opened in a space between moments—where dream and memory blur. Hatsu Toshitsugu found himself in quiet reflection, meditating within a familiar cave, reliving a place of peace. But the illusion lifted as he emerged from The Seal, freed from its hold. Without hesitation, Eos stepped forward, choosing to take his place. Time passed for her differently. Weeks spent in solitude, studying in the undercroft, before she too emerged—quietly changed.
As the group departed Remington Maleficum’s office, Dash Heidmann lingered behind. He had one thing to say, and he meant every word: if his father was truly alive within Scorchwood Correctional Facility, then Dash would burn it to the ground. There was no threat in his tone, only promise.
Later that evening, Dash gifted Lysa Sablewood a dress—ornate, elegant, and perfect for the journey ahead. Saigo no Toshi, Hatsu’s homeland, awaited them. The gesture was quiet, thoughtful, and said more than words ever could.
Elsewhere, Eos visited the stables with Eldrin Drosk. She spoke gently to Duckie, her steadfast steed, promising safety through the strange magic of The Seal. Eldrin, with an ease he rarely showed, calmed the creature. But as they turned to leave, something stirred. A brilliant Pegasus burst forth from a hidden stall, soaring into the skies with Eldrin astride its back. It was no accident.
Remington would later explain that Eldrin’s bloodline carries something rare—he is Dawnmarked, touched by celestial ancestry, his lineage rumoured to descend from the gods. Eldrin, in turn, shared his connection to Tempestas, the Father of Creation. Though reassured, he was cautioned: gifts such as his often walk hand in hand with great trials.
The others wrestled with their own reflections. Restless nights followed. Too much had happened. Too much still lingered ahead.
In the morning, Dash took to the water for a final swim before departure, and Hatsu penned a letter to mark the turning of seasons. Then, at last, they boarded the ship.
The journey was long, but not idle. As the vessel cut through the sea, the group shared riddles and questions—not to solve, but to understand each other more deeply. Their path carried them past the molten fires of Vulcanus, past Amaedrianna Blüdfist’s home of Vurduar, beyond a towering lighthouse that rivalled the Arcanum in height, and down the winding river that passed Eos’s quiet village of Asazaki.
And finally, they arrived.
Saigo no Toshi revealed itself not with grandeur, but with grace.
Cherry blossoms drifted across the harbour waters. The city rose in gentle tiers, paper lanterns glowing above lacquered rooftops. Stone lions guarded the sea gate, wreathed in blooming sakura. Silent Kensai stood watch from distant towers, their presence felt even before it was seen. Docks bustled with trade, the air rich with the scents of salt, spice, incense, and forge smoke. Above it all, the distant dome of the Sanctuary of Falling Blossoms peeked through the mist.
It was a city of contrasts—soft and strong, sacred and sharpened. And it had been waiting for them.
Their feet now touch new ground.
Next week, the journey continues—in the heart of Hatsu’s home.
