Altered Fate (Inscryption Fanfic)

Chapter 1 ~ Back Again

... Here you are, again.

This place is new, yet it feels so familiar... and now, you know why. That last run wasn't easy... but you managed to remember everything. The deletions, the resets... the failures.

You made it past Leshy easily. It wasn't hard, now that you've memorized everything to do with his cabin. You're now roaming the islands... looking for the four scrybes to go up against. You're on a mission.

Going to the northeast, you find a forest... with some interesting, familiar figures. You let out a deep sigh, going into the small cabin before you. The tree man glares at you, about to speak... but you quickly cut him off.

"Camera."

He tilts his head... "Excuse me?"

"Replica camera. Let's get this over with. I need to have a word with you."

"... Eager, aren't we?" He gives you the replica camera, and you go out, doing all you need, so you can fight him. You win the fight with ease...

"That was... fast. I'm surprised you're this eager to replace me..." He looks you up and down. Suddenly, a very robotic voice is heard behind you... P03. "I had to see your face after you-"

You suddenly cut him off, finishing his sentence. "-After you lost, you're just so bad. We get it. We have things to discuss." You almost can't believe you said something so blunt and bold to the scrybe who gave you the most trouble, before... He stared at you, his face showing an ellipsis. Then, he got a slightly offended look...

"What did you just...? You know what, fine. Whatever. Just don't take too long, the thought of having to wait to fight someone as insignificant as you gives me a headache."

Leshy seemed amazed, as the agitated robot left. He looked at you, a moment, his eyes a bit wide with surprise.

"... Just who are you?"

"... Y/n. And you're Leshy, that was P03, I'm probably going against Grimora, next... I get it." You say this casually... too casually. The leaf and mushroom-covered man before you stands and walks towards you... this is different. He takes a good look at you... and finally, he says in a worried tone, "Just how long have you been travelling, to find this place?"

You draw a blank... You just stare at him, trying to think of a response... he speaks, again. "Scars as deep and old as that are typically from horrendous events... much worse than what I put you through, before you got to this point," he says, seeming to try to count the scars all over you. There were too many to count... which only concerned him more. "Perhaps you should take a bit. Lie down, a while, before you go to fight the other scrybes."

"I don't know if I have time," you respond, sharply. You didn't mean to be so aggressive... and now, looking at the poor, old tree's concerned expression, you feel a bit guilty. He seems so worried, which... is much different than before. Progress... finally... you're making progress. This realization makes you look at him for a moment... You rub your head, finally feeling some of the stress disappear, now that you've finally gotten one step closer.

"You know... maybe I could go for a short rest." As you say this, he instantly goes to the room you fought the trader in, and brings back a blanket... It seemed to be made of fur from various types of animals... likely the trapper's work. You get comfy and relax. You don't sleep, but... you finally relax. For the first time in what feels like years. Leshy goes back to mostly just keeping watch and preparing in the case that more challengers arrive. You see him looking at you, now and then, thinking... You can only imagine what's going through his head as he tries to picture the hell you've gone through, to get here.

You smile, softly, happy to know that, despite what you believed, he does care about you... and that there is still a chance to save everyone.