Reflection In a Flaccid Pond [DM to Join]

[Talon]

There is a private depression in Otogakure, a shallow recession that dips almost into the upper layers of the Oto catacombs. Water collects here.

This place is nowhere, those who found their way here are immediately struck by its peculiarity. It is simultaneously out of place, and right where it needs to be. Hidden behind the dimly lit corner of a forgotten alleyway, and then down a perilous flight of 33 tightly packed brick steps. It is a place that can only be found by coincidence, or perhaps by design, but never by the conscious decision of the wanderer. 

Upon descending the stairs, visitors are embraced by an (un)waking dream. The cobbled steps make way for a rich patch of red soil of an unknown variety. Nondescript buildings without windows form pillars on all four sides of this sloped pit. A pond has formed in the crater at its center. It might strike you as an anomaly if you can't recall the last time it rained. Up until the point you look into the flaccid pond when you are reminded of your error. After all, it did just rain yesterday. Tallgrass is nestled close to the edge of the pond but never grows. Touching the blades of grass, or running your fingers through the dirt is not the same as outside. Rather they have a feel of (un)life.

It is calm but (un)settling. There is room to breathe between the walls and the pond at its center. There is no noise from the city. Coming here, you are suffocated by the serenity. There is a pervasive sense of déjà vu but perhaps stronger than ordinary, like walking into your childhood home.

[Talon]

Tsu was (un)fortunate enough to make his way into this place today. After wandering for quite some time he found himself pushing his body through the narrows alleys that dotted the village. His hands traced a wall as his whistling filled the walkways with sound. the blind boy was guided through the darkness by an echo. He was surprised to perceive a narrow opening that grew into a wider expanse hidden among the rows of buildings.



He walked through this void, surprised to find a row steps. a 3-dimensional map formed into his mind revealing what he presumed was a still lake at its center. He felt different as he made his way gently down these steps. His first time here, he knew he had been here before.



The upper torso and face of a man with crossed arms sat on top of the pond, but with no one to leave a reflection. Tsu rubbed his feet he was tired from walking most of the day. He thought it was nice to find a quiet place like this. He approached the lake, unaware of the figure whose image was frozen into the still water.



The boy sat at the edge, with eyes following him from inside the pond. The seemingly 2-dimensional image did not register even with the blind boy's sonar.



"You do not acknowledge me, boy?" The figure in the pond erupted, anger grew on an otherwise relaxed face. Tsu was startled immediately, he fell backward from where he was sitting, but quickly perched himself back on his hindquarters. He began whistling again, focusing intently on his sonar to find the stranger.



"Who is there? Why can I not perceive you? His voice was frantic, he felt defenseless with his technique rendered useless.



The figure seemed to pull itself up from the lake entering Tsu's senses for the first time. The stranger emerged without disturbing the surface of the water. Only his torso stuck out from the pond. From the walls, copies of the stranger's body seemed to leak out arms dangling with only the torso or neck revealed. Nearly 50 copies in total emerged, staggering up the face of the corner each of the four walls.



Tsu jumped back on his palms, dragging himself away from the figure that emerged from the pond. His entire body tensed. The boy's eyebrows crinkled in stress. All the while the specter remained speechless. "Who are you? What do you want from me?!" The boy lashed out in fear, unknowing of the stranger's intentions.



"Be calm, my intentions are not hostile." The figures upper body was covered by a tight muddled blue garment of an unknown material with sleeves that went all the way to his wrists. His hands were covered by dark black gloves. His torso was covered in dingy grey straps that seemed to bastardize his posture. His face was covered almost entirely by dull white bandages, leaving only his mouth and hair uncovered. His hair was not unlike Tsu's. A dark brown, discordant and unkempt, yet full. The figure lifted its hand to point at the boy. His voice was loud, but his tone was soft and sincere. "You are Ritorutsume. At this time, you are 13, yes?"



Tsu's eyelids shit up from underneath his handband. He attempted to crawl further away on his back. "How-How did you know that? Why won't you answer me? Who are you?" The boys head darted around, the sound from his voice filling the space, revealing the many figures all around him.



"Be calm. You would not hear my name if I spoke it to you." Tsu's body relaxed more, but one eyebrow shot up in response to the strange man's statement.



"I don't follow you stranger, surely there is something I can call you. And how do you know who I am? What is this place?" Tsu cleared his throat, fearful that he might have overstepped his boundaries.



"You have many questions, boy. I have little capacity, or desire to answer them in a way you will understand. The figure heaved a great sigh. "At present, you may refer to me as... Hansha."



Tsu, pushed himself closer to the stranger Hansha, growing in curiosity as his fear slowly subsided. Hansha... That is a peculiar name for a man. How is it that you know who I am?



Hansha interrupted sharply "Irrelevant."



Tsu grew quieter, he chose his words carefully Well then... Where are you from?



"I am an envoy sent from a higher order, our purpose is cut off from your capacity to understand it." The figure's posture changed, what was an uncomfortable hunch quickly straightened, as the stranger known as Hansha crossed his arms. "I will oblige you, by saying that you may understand our organization as an 'Artisan Troop'" His tone changed on the last two words, seeming to be dissatisfied with his characterization of their purpose.



Tsu smiled excitedly, this seemingly harsh stranger didn't seem as threatening when he revealed his cause. Well what type of art is it that you make.



"We serve many functions Ritorutsume. You might understand my function as an actor." Tsu seemed somewhat befuddled at the actor known as Hansha's disposition, nothing about his presence seemed to be in line with what he was saying. Then again Tsu didn't seem to fully understand his words as it were.



"Well what is it that an actor such as yourself is doing in a place like this? The specter seemed to become visibly annoyed at the question upon prodding, his posture reverted to the slouch it had previously adorned. In tiredness, the actor known as Hansha spoke again.



"I do not have any personal concern for you, rather, those who you might refer to as my 'employers' have requested me to bring you to this space." Tsu was confused by these words, he seemed to have stumbled upon this peculiar spot by pure coincidence.



"I don't understand Hansha, I stumbled on this lake only by accident. You did not bring me here. His voice trembled at the end of his sentence, the malevolence of the stranger, and this place seemed to reemerge in his mind.



Again the actor known as Hansha's disposition seemed to change all at once, a fit of noticeable anger grew in his voice. "Boy! Understand that no one arrives in this space by mere chance." The actor known as Hansha appeared to relieve some tension at the end of his remarks. He appeared to be visibly struggling. A passing expression of empathy for Tsu's position came to him. "Ritorutsume, we brought you here because you are to change this world. However, you are unprepared to do so at present. Nevertheless, I have been sent to prepare you for this."



Tsu folded his arms, his eyebrows crisscrossed in skepticism. "So you have come to train me? I have already been practicing the ninja arts."



The actor known as Hansha boomed, in retort. "We will be preparing you in more than just the ninja arts, boy." The actor known as Hansha's duplicates began forming back into the wall eventually disappearing entirely. "At this time, we have elected to inform you of our intentions, but you are not yet ready for our teaching should you choose to accept it." The figure straightened his posture again and crossed his arms. He slowly began receding back into the pond.



Tsu jumped up as he witnessed this, attempting to follow the figure into the water.Hansha, wait! How am I to find you again?



The figure continued receding into the pond, giving one last short quip before disappearing entirely from view. Continue training your body Ritorutsume. When the time comes, if you walk with purpose, your feet will lead you here, and we will train your mind.