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The Leaves (4) : With the changing seasons, there are piles of leaves all around Destiny City. It’s a difficult job to try and keep up with them all, and sometimes the allure of these leaf piles is impossible to ignore. Who doesn’t want to relive the childish joys of their youth? And no one’s around to see, right? So why not jump into a pile of leaves? Oh–because, when you do, you jump through one pile and come out of another somewhere else across the city. The leaves all seem ordinary, but there’s a few odd seconds between when you jump into the leaves and when you jump out; it feels like falling, tumbling, somersaulting through the air. It’s not scary, just odd. You see walls of leaves–brown and orange and yellow and red–and they crunch magnificently. Overall, it doesn’t seem menacing, just a bit of trickster fun. If you try to jump in a pile of leaves again, you might wind up somewhere else entirely–or right back where you started.
Afon /Wysg had powered entirely on a lark. They'd been bored and Tor was working late and so they'd let their datemate know they p[lanned toi be out and off they went.
Plus, their powered uniform had a builkt-in binder and Afon was absolutely not having it with.... Chest. The a*****e twins. A female top.
Their damned, eternally confusing, uncomfortable female top.
As Afon wrapped up their patrol they spied a pile of leaves and a brow raised, interest instantly sparked as they turned to approach before looking about. Spying noone, the page smirked mischievously and steooed a few feet bacjm, theb wutg a sprint of chaos, Afon leapt into the pile.
And fell.
And fell some more.
It felt endless, like the world was moving about them before Afon launched up again in a familiar place, squeaking as they landed in their wonder, blinking at the carefully raked pile of leaves suspiciopusly. Silence.
Afon was silent. And slowly, they moved. They stood and looked around, sighing.
"Alright, alright, I get it,. I've been gone too long." Agon muttered, rubbing their neck slowly and uncomfortably. Slowly they walked through the village, shaking their head in silence as they toojk in forgotten structure3s. Wood, simple, magically preserved. Sure, perhaps a bit of litter blown from far, far away. Afon picked it up, walking their wonder. Picked a few weeds threatening a couple structures.
Nothing too terrible. At least not to Afon. Afon /Wysg walked slowly, looking around before hearing a voice with a thick Welsh accent.
"You could finish."
Afon Wysg looked arouynd, instantly brandiushing their elderwood braqnch like a heavy fighting boffer and looked around, seeing noone. Their feet were planted firmly. Their eyes sharp, keen. Afon Wysg watched. For a moment, silence. And then that thick Welsh accent, again.
"Look lad you're just not around enough now are ya?"
Afon Wysg spun again. Looked around,
"Lad? I'm not - I don't know. I--" Afon EWysg sputtered, wary.
"The knight of Afon Wysg is always a man. Isn't because women are weak mind lad, but that's just becauyse peoiple are daft. Easier to track the line." That Welksh accent. That voice. Afon looked around, tense.
"You're... Welksh? I thought magic was--"
"Oh you noticed! Good lad. Took you long enough you daft knight." And Afon saw him. A man dressed in medieval garb, arms crossed with a defiant posture and wicked eyes full opf mischief, grinning like he was more lethal than anyone cwith a s**t-eating grin. "Now mind ya lad, we had to at least p[retend to fit in with the local area. Especially when that sandstone eyesore went up. Least ol' William built it good and true like a proper Welshman. Pity it's been blighten by them English sots bvut you can't help poor lyuck now can ye? And at least we fared better than some with them bloody gits. Niot let me get a look atcha lad."
Afon paused as he was circled by the spectre, blinking. Watching him mopve before he poked his nose.
"At least you're not soft. So what are ya now lad? And don't say 'British' I'll disown you."
"...I... Sell coffee?" Afon sputtered. "Uhm..."
"Coffee! That Middle Eastern bitter drink? Bloody hells lad, coffee! My -- what, grandson? Great grandson? Oh I'll just go with grandson, you're my line obviously. My stars just look at ya! Brandishin' a staff like a sword! Lad you're the weapon. Mind I ain't. I'm a librarian. Love messin' with them---"
"....It's.. A staff?" Afon ,looked to their weapon and the man scoffed.
"Bloody hell, of coourse it is! Didn't you learn?! Knights are the weapoon!" He tapped Afon. Hard, on the forehead. "Blimey, next the boy will tell me hi's never-"
"...Honestly oine day magic hgiant stick appeared and the nesxt thing I know... Well. Poof. Knighthood. I uh. I only know stuff from history-"
"Disappointing. I'm nopt asking." The man waved. "Fine. IK'll have to deal with this. Myself. As usual. Not right now. Later. Ya look ready to right scream lad. What, is some bloody king here? You aren't about to run?"
"...I... Uhm...." Afon stgopped beside the leaf pile and the man looked.
"Did you do that?" He asked. Afon shook theiur head.
"No I uh. Fell through." Afon admitted, and the man paused.
"OPh THAT'S it. Ya came on accident. Well that explains the wqrongfeel. Alright lad, go on. Back with ya." The man motioned. "Come back another month. And proper!" He motioned and Afon paused. Unsure iof it might work.
And jumped into leaves.
They fell through, blinking before emerging out the other side where they had begun, and steppoed back. Stepped away, and eyed the leaves. Afon paused, and squinted.
"...Nope." They murmured, and hurried along for home to talk to Tor.
