Homeward event

The room's ceiling was too high. Yet it was so narrow that it felt like a tight space. Something that looks like an old person sits on a chair, staring into a painting on the wall. It didn't so much as flinch. A dark, thick, and sticky smoke crawls out from behind it. Perhaps that's what loneliness might look like if it's visualized. "What's a young one like you doing in this room." It spoke to us, its eyes still glued to the painting. How long has it been aware? "Are you interested in hearing my stories?"

Choices

Say that you're willing to hear the stories.

Gain a Keywordless E.G.O Gift depending on the result of the following choice

"My stories are so long, young ones like you might end up being as old as me while hearing one." "These long, long stories... They only end in one way: I wanted to go home, but couldn't make it." It says with a long sigh, like it was wishing to let go of a longing. "Get this painting off the wall and take it with you. It'll be better off that way."

What will you do?

Take the painting.

Select to gain a Keywordless E.G.O Gift

When we removed the painting from the wall, a creeping feeling weighed on our backs. We turned around to find that much more of the sticky smoke was gushing out than before. "It was my only home..." The way it tried its utmost to hold its tongue, its murmur almost felt like a wail. When we tried to put the painting back... "No! Don't do that... Just take it. I've made up my mind." It shouted. "Take it and leave, before I take your home. Now." ...We followed its plea and left the place in a hurry.

Homeward

Leave the painting be.

It wasn't looking at the painting purely to admire it. It transcended gaze and became an obsession, or attachment in a way. We decided against taking the picture. "Why... Why do you leave it..." Although its voice was shaky, there was a hint of relief in it. "Yes... This is my home I can't return to. It saddens me just to look... but if I can't do even that, my mind wouldn't be at ease." "While it pains me that you chose to leave the painting be... I must thank you. Take this instead to help with your travels." It handed us a glowing thing, and went back to staring at the painting.

Gain Cost
Lose 15 SP (every Sinner)

Leave without listening.

"......." Without replying, we tried to walk out of the room and close the door. In that instant, the desolate smoke could be seen surging and bursting through the narrowing gap. I quickly closed the door shut... but couldn't stop a cloud of smoke from leaking through.