Around the Market

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I’m doing better and better with the ancient temple mysteries — but a good explorer should always strive to sharpen her mind. The twins don’t feel like sitting around playing chess — and it’s a two-people game anyway — so I do the sitting around and play a little, thinking up new strategies. My mind a little around, and the game in front of me gives my thoughts directions.

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Although at some point the main direction is up towards the darkening sky. There’s clearly more rain coming. I’m actually glad we didn’t go exploring today.

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Cléo and Cyril found something to do: better than that, they found their own little piece of heaven in Selvadorada. A community garden, where they can snatch the local plants.

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They still have dreams of bringing them home to Gram and helping build the Herbology’s store up. Maybe help with the gardening too.

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The two of them make plans I know I’m not a part of, and that’s fair. After all, they’re each other’s best friend, each other’s other half, and whatever happens in their lives is going to involve each other.

I’m just ready to discover these plans.

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A Selvadoradan guide joins them to tell them about the flora, but the sky has gotten even darker.

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Which means it’s time to head back inside!

Shelter From the Rain

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After this heart-to-heart, we decide that we’re collectively too lazy to cook breakfast, and head to the marketplace instead. All umbrellas out!

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Cyril’s already complaining about being annoyed about the rain. “I can practically feel the water evaporating as soon as it touches me!” he grumbles. His annoyance really only makes Cléo and I laugh.

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Today’s not the day to go exploring. Much too warm, much too humid. So today’s the day for simrumba instead! I really want to teach the twins.

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Dancing in the heat is a sure fire way to get dehydrated, but thankfully, there happens to be a bar right there!

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Three coffees to start the day off well.

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Cléo laughs politely at my bad Selvadoradan jokes.

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Bar’s aren’t Cyril’s thing either. That, and his favorite movie is actually playing on the TV. Oh well!

Apologies

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Cyril was feeling a bit sick after our belomisian adventures. The rain, he said. The exhaustion. It had taken a toll on his immune system, and now there we were.

Cléo was ready to watch over him for the night, but one look at the deep blue circles below her eyes made me shake my head.

“Cyril’s sleeping in my room tonight,” I decided. I’d be the one making sure my little brother was alright, the two of them deserved some type of peaceful sleep.

In the end, he didn’t even wake up once. He just snored louder than usual.

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The morning is rainy as well. It doesn’t scare Cléo. She’s the first awake, the first to run outside. In minutes, she’s soaked in the warm tropical rains, but she’s having the time of her life.

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Her twin comes to join her. Even above the drizzle, I hear them whispering. Well, Cyril is making an effort to whisper, Cléo is clearly oblivious as to why he would want to.

“Just talk to her,” I hear her say. “We’re not kids anymore, she’s not going to pout refuse to help with your homework!”

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So in Cyril goes, ready to tell me about how he refuses to go tramping in the jungle again.

I tell him I already know. I’m really sorry I was hard on them — guess I forgot it also took me a while to get used to the exploring. I pushed them way too far.

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I don’t know if my brother’s a good forgiver, but I’m a great apologizer.

I agree that we’ll never have that kind of jungle hike again, and we’re cool.

Teaching

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For an hour or so, I take a fishing break. There’s some fish you can only find in the Selvadoradan rivers, and I’m not about to let that opportunity go.

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Then I find Cléo, trying to make sense of our omiscan findings. She’s having a bit of a hard time, and it’s making her mad.

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Can’t help but roll my eyes. Watch your language, little one!

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I start giving her pointers, and pretty soon her mood lightens up.

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We actually have a pretty good time together.

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Cyril… not so much. Poor kid’s exhausted.

Rest

I promised the twins we’d get a proper meal as soon as we were done exploring the temple, so to the marketplace we go next, straight from the jungle. It includes a little boat trip, but the promise of empanadas motivates the twin enough to only grumble a little.

It’s the early evening when we arrive, and a light drizzle has most people break out the umbrellas. It doesn’t scare the vendors away though. I give Cyril the “task” of replenishing our stash of provisions. Really, I hope this will help him remember to bring an insect-repellent of some kind with him next time.

Finally, a warm meal. I love exploring, but I have to admit there’s only so many pre-packed grilled-cheese sandwiches you can take.

When Cyril heads to the stalls, I catch a glimpse of my old friend.

I try to surprise her by sneaking up on her, with my flowery umbrella and everything — but somethings cannot be hidden. Mainly, the Elders’ Blessing will touch anyone who approaches me.

Washed over with the joy of seeing each other again.

Apparently the blessing hasn’t quite reached Cyril yet.

Does he really want to go home that bad, or is the rainy weather just getting to him?

The Treasure Room

Here we go! The treasure room is there, right through this last gate, under the towering statue of the omiscan llama god.

The treasure chest awaits.

But first, I stop to examine this colossal statue. The Windenburg museum will, for sure, be happy to get all the details I can gather about it, and the historical data I learn from it.

Finally, I open the chest — and all my efforts get rewarded. There’s a complete, fully assembled golden relic in it. All there is to do left is insert a crystal into it — that’ll have to wait until we get back to the bungalow. I am eager to find out what it does, but according to my research, this is Balampalsoh’s Watcher relic!

And wait — there’s more… A wooden relic!

I still have the base Cléo and I unearthed the day before — it’s meant to be! Right here and right then, I assemble the two halves.

I know the ritual by now, but this golden light always fills me with unparalleled excitement. Of course, I’ll also have to wait to give this relic a crystal, but in the meantime…

Totecallama’s Watcher Relic, here we go!

Sisters in the Temple

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Before we proceed, a celebratory hug!

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… and then we delve deeper into the temple, down dark and ominous stairs.

Cléo’s not afraid anymore, though!

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I’m the first in the next room, where a treasure chest awaits! I push against the lid — and the chest is empty.

Or is it?

Much like the day before, I’m overwhelmed by an otherworldly, overpowering feeling. But this time, it’s nothing but perfection.

The Blessing of the Elders, or the blessing of pure joy. I know it’s not forever, but right now it doesn’t matter. Everything is perfect.

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Cléo enters the room as I’m examining one of the guardians.

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And with a bright smile in my direction, she goes directly to explore a pile of dirt by the broken jars.

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I hesitate for a minute — then put the clipboard away, and go to help her. Maybe I can give her some experienced pointers. The treasure room has waited for thousands of years for me — it can wait a little more.

The Green Room

Cléo and I divide tasks, or at least I pretend so. At this point I’m not looking for the common relics and artifacts that litter the tiles of the temple. I’ m after the treasure chests, and the true mysteries they hide within. They’re my subjects of study, now.

But Cléo is thrilled to have a task, and I’m happy to share this with her. I also look forward to her debriefing me on her findings. Maybe I’ll even teach her to tell the real from the fake, or how to roughly date an item…

In the meantime, I sneak into a green-lit room, again hidden away at first sight, and I start examining a new mechanism.

I’d rather not know what happens if you try to walk through these doors.

There’s a second gloomy-lit room on the other side of this hall, but it gives no satisfying information.

This is the one! I activate it, and get attacked by no darts. From the main hall, I hear the sound of the door’s defenses being deactivated. One more victory for the Stewarts team!

Cyril in the Jungle

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In the meantime, tired of relieving himself in bushes, Cyril walks back to the first jungle gate again to find the porta-potty.

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He’s alone and it just started raining.

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But along with the drops of rain, he starts getting hit by another tiny, flying calamity.

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Run from the bees, brother!