Repurposed | Quirrel x Sheo x Nailsmith

Chapter Twenty Five: In Which They All Live

Bonus scenes will be up very soon, (I've already written them so it won't be another two month wait I promise)

It was a long time on the road before they were able to find a place to settle in.

Quirrel's journal, combined with the nailmasters' memories of places they'd enjoyed visiting, had left the group with a long list of potential kingdoms to consider. They took their time going to each one, enjoying the journey as much as the destination, though there always seemed to be something that set them off to the next location in due time.

When they visited a kingdom well known for its flora, they became drawn to its similarities to Greenpath. It was a gardener's paradise, from sun rays so pleasantly warm they could put anyone to sleep, to the most perfect weather that could grow seemingly any crop. But as the group spent more time in the kingdom, it became clear that the similarities were actually the negatives. It was as if they were returning to Greenpath, rather than leaving it. Though it seemed like the perfect place, it was crossed off the list.

When they visited a kingdom full of libraries and fine arts, Quirrel was in awe at the marvel of it all. It was like The City of Tears in a way, towering buildings, a high population, and so much to learn. At first glance this kingdom seemed perfect as well, but as they spent more time in it, it started to reveal its true colors. It turned out to be more similar to The City than Quirrel thought, in how so many of its bugs were of high class who looked down on those beneath them. The majority of the kingdom's wonders were reserved for those a part of this high class, so much so that Quirrel developed a distaste for the whole of the kingdom, and it too was crossed off the list.

When they visited a kingdom which prided itself on its nail arts and tournaments named Ironshell, Oro and Mato jumped at the opportunity of living in a place where exciting battles awaited just outside their doorstep. Surprisingly to them, the nailmasters of the group retained their reputation even after being away from the public for so long and were celebrated upon arrival. For a while it seemed perfect for the nailmasters, though after an incident in which a warrior insulted Sheo for becoming a paintmaster, (a sentiment it was revealed the other nailmasters of the kingdom shared,) Mato was not only quick to put them in their place, but to angrily cross off the kingdom from their list as well.

There were many others, but they all went about the same. The place seemed perfect at first glance, only for it to disappoint once they lingered for a while longer.

When they visited Snowy Shore, Quirrel was sure they would end up crossing this kingdom off the list as well. As much as he loved the place, he couldn't imagine anyone else in the group wanting to live there. The weather was cold, much colder than the winds of Kingdom's Edge and far removed from the humid warmth of Greenpath. But to his surprise, this was the kingdom that had something that clicked with everyone.

Sheo found the way the snow shone in the light to be like nothing he had ever seen before. He was surprised to observe just how many colors could be found in something completely white. When they got The Nailsmith some thicker clothing, he found that the cold didn't bother him as much as he thought it would, and he had never had an excuse to wear what felt like the softest blanket in the world outdoors. Sly observed the small kingdom had a lot of untapped business potential, so much so that he was already scheming about the best place a shop could be set up only after a day of looking around. Oro and Mato thought the cold air could bring a new challenge in their training, which while they attempted such, they always devolved into snowball fights. And Quirrel, of course, had already fallen in love with the kingdom long before, but it turned out the kingdom also had a surprisingly well stocked library, to which his attachment only grew.