Record: The Cage of Rebirth

This is an event.

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Chapter 1

Stone towers stand tall beneath dark clouds.
Here, in this place on the brink of collapse, stands a lone boy, quietly staring straight ahead.
His gray eyes gaze upon scenery clouded by static.
The Cage is on a one-way path to destruction.
The enemy's attacks are relentless.
"It will be all right. Let's keep going."
A strange creature, known only as Mama, speaks. The boy nods and begins to walk.
The attacks are causing the memories of the stories stored in The Cage to warp.
The boy's own memories, also stored somewhere here, are no exception.
His immediate goal is to find his memories and restore them to their proper form.
After proceeding along the stone path for some time, Mama and the boy stop.
Two enormous dark moose stand against the hazy sky.
The boy stands perfectly still, watching them.
They might even be bigger than the stone towers themselves.
The boy stands, stunned by the sight.
The two moose bellow.
The flagstones beneath the boy's feet rumbles. His ears ache.
He doesn't realize he's losing his balance, but Mama supports him.
Suddenly, another tremble rolls through The Cage.
The two moose begin a fierce battle.
Their clashing horns create a deep rumble.
Human-like screams rings out.
The shockwave from the impact whips painfully against Mama and the boy.
The flagstones at their feet shake and groan.
It's only a matter of time before this place falls.
"This is bad. We have to hurry!"
Luckily, the moose haven't noticed the two.
Mama's voice urges him onward, and he runs.
The stone path collapses. Debris falls from the sky.
Mama and the boy encourage one another as they cross
over obstacles and cut through The Cage.
Their running feels endless, but at last, they arrive at a quiet place.
They are finally free from the threat.
But they can only rest for a moment. Mama gives a short, quiet cry.
From beneath her white sheet, she pulls out a pocket watch.
"The hand has ticked forward."
The hand on the clock signifies the countdown to the end.
There isn't much time left before The Cage is destroyed.
They may not be able to avoid the fate of destruction...
But the boy at least wants to preserve the memories he created
with those he holds most dear in the form they're meant to be.
And so he walks again, all to realize his final wish.

Chapter 2

The end of The Cage draws near. Its fate of destruction is all but inevitable now.
Despite it all, the boy continues his journey with Mama.
He hopes to at least restore his own memories in the end.
The boy holds his breath at the sight that greets him atop the long spiral staircase.
It is an endless marble corridor. Laying beyond the windows is a beautiful courtyard.
The sight is exactly that of the castle the boy once lived in.
Or perhaps it truly is the same castle?
Perhaps it is proof that his memories are stored nearby.
As Mama explains this to him, mixed emotions color his expression.
The memories that seeped into these walls and floors are not all happy ones.
His father—the king—waged war after war, causing their people a great deal of pain.
The boy was unable to stop him...and the boy was the one who created the spark for war.
This castle is the very symbol of his sins.
Yet the two press forward.
Eventually, they arrive at a room covered with thick layers of dust.
It's a somber place that was quietly forgotten.
The bright light pouring through the window near the ceiling illuminates the dirtied furniture.
This room once belonged to the boy's mother, who passed when he was young.
It is a place of dear memories to the boy, a place that remains
vivid to him no matter how much dust clings to it.
But now is hardly the time for reminiscing.
He and Mama leave the room.
And when they exit into the corridor...
The boy sees several writhing shadows in the distance.
They are weapons in the form of people—clockwork soldiers.
They wander, searching the halls for intruders.
Once they notice the boy's presence, they ready their weapons.
Neither the boy nor Mama are strong enough to push them back.
As the boy considers their options, a memory comes back to him.
Somewhere in this corridor is a hidden passageway for emergencies.
His mother once told him about this, he recalls.
He presses a spot on the wall, and a small gap forms.
Pushing the gap open, the two throw themselves into the darkness.
On the other side is a long hallway.
The boy runs ahead, leading Mama.
But eluding the elite weapons wouldn't be so simple. Glancing over their shoulders,
they see the clockwork soldiers following close behind.
"What should we do!?" Mama cries.
But the boy is not afraid.
In the past, much like this, he escaped pursuers with his attendant.
His attendant gave him the courage to seek his own freedom.
Thinking back on that moment, he no longer feels fear.
The boy gropes along the wall in the darkness.
His fingers brush over the sensation of dried earth.
Then, he finds a cold, metallic protrusion—a lever.
He pulls it with all his might.
And then, the floor behind the boy suddenly gives out.
The clockwork soldiers fall straight down into the depths of the abyss and vanish.
At last, Mama and the boy arrive at the castle's great hall.
In the center stands a darkened statue.
Mama calls it a scarecrow—a world of other people's memories lay on the inside.
Perhaps the boy's memories are among them.
The boy closes his eyes and thinks back on the path he's taken.
His mother, who gave him something precious.
His attendant, who walked alongside him on the same path.
He couldn't bear to lose such dear memories.
And so he makes his decision anew.
He will return his warped memories to the way they're meant to be.
With a gallant hue on his face, he reaches to touch the scarecrow.

Chapter 3

The enemy assaults The Cage.
Stories from memories are destroyed.
The boy continues his journey through The Cage alongside
Mama so that he may restore his own memories.
Mama sees him off as he ventures into the scarecrow alone.
The world within the scarecrow is that of a vast, lush field.
Trees rustle in the wind. The scent of clear water hangs in the air.
The tranquil sight fills the boy's chest.
Where could this possibly be? He observes his surroundings.
The mountain range against the clear sky is familiar to him.
This may be near his home country.
There's a conspicuous rustle from a nearby tree.
The boy tenses when he senses the presence of another.
Suddenly, two faces peek out from behind the tree—two sisters,
both with beautiful black hair.
The younger sister brushes away the leaves
stuck in her hair and blinks curiously at the boy.
"Are you alone?" she asks.
"Come play with me and my sister."
The boy is taken aback by the sudden invitation.
The more mature elder sister gently admonishes the younger.
"Don't bother the nice young man," she says.
The young girl's head droops.
The boy must hurry and restore the memory,
but he doesn't want to hurt the girl's feelings.
Perhaps for just a bit.
"Sounds like fun. Let's play."
The three then played together.
They chased one another around and played hide and seek.
The boy was born weak, but in this world,
he can run around as much as he likes.
The young girl then grabs the boy's hand and takes
him to a field full of blooming wildflowers.
He weaves a flower crown for them.
They cheer with joy when they see his deft skill.
The sight is one of peace, the sort of world the boy once wished for.
The younger girl has completely taken with the boy. She asks his name.
And so he tells them.
His is a blessed name.
But when the sisters hear it, they go pale.
The younger's voice trembles as she speaks.
"Isn't that...the name of an evil king?
The king with gray eyes who wages wars?"
What is the meaning of this? The boy is at a loss for words and falls silent.
"We have to go now... Thank you for playing with us," says the elder sister.
She takes her sister's hand and quickly leaves.
The woven flower crown falls from the boy's hands.
His gray eyes watch as the frightened sisters leave him.
To him, it is a sign of unbearable cruelty.
Beside himself, he shuts his eyes.
Perhaps it's because he rejected the world,
but the next thing he knows, he's returned to outside the scarecrow.
"Welcome back."
Mama speaks to the haggard boy.
They discuss what they learned about the scarecrow.
The memories within did not belong to the boy.
They are the memories of another who lived in his world.
The enemy warped the world, leading the boy to become a king
who led his country into countless wars.
Those memories should not exist.
The enemy has corrupted the story, and the story has lost its true form.
No matter how cruel it may be, he cannot look away.
Broken memories must be repaired to their proper state.
The boy restrains himself and curls his hand into a fist.
Mama tells him that she observed another reaction in the scarecrow.
With hope in their hearts, they press forward once more.
Tick, tock...
The countdown clock ticks forward one notch again.
But the two won't stop walking
until the final moment comes.

Chapter 4

The hands draw ever closer.
The clock shows the countdown until the destruction of The Cage.
There's no time left.
The boy continues his journey with Mama so that he may
restore the memories of his own story.
And now...
The two stand before another scarecrow.
This scarecrow is a broken, crumpled heap on the ground.
Their last hope has shattered into tiny, brilliant pieces.
They follow the reading Mama had picked up and arrive at the throne room.
This place was always going to be out of the boy's reach, whether he liked it or not.
His father's room is steeped in gloomy shadows and filled with silence.
This scarecrow holds the boy's memories, without a doubt. The boy knows this well.
However...
The scarecrow, washed in light from the stained glass window,
vanishes as though the darkness is being swept away.
The dream he had for his journey's end will never come true.
The hands draw ever closer.
The clock shows the countdown until the destruction of The Cage.
There's no time left.
The boy continues his journey with
Mama so that he may restore the memories of his own story.
And now...
The two stand before another scarecrow.
This scarecrow is a broken, crumpled heap on the ground.
Their last hope has shattered into tiny, brilliant pieces.
They follow the reading Mama had picked up and arrive at the throne room.
This place was always going to be out of the boy's reach, whether he liked it or not.
His father's room is steeped in gloomy shadows and filled with silence.
This scarecrow holds the boy's memories, without a doubt. The boy knows this well.
However...
The scarecrow, washed in light from the stained glass window,
vanishes as though the darkness is being swept away.
The dream he had for his journey's end will never come true.
"There might still be a way," Mama says.
But the boy shakes his head.
He knows that her words are little more than empty comfort.
He knows that all hope has been shattered.
The proof is in her clock, which already signals the end.
If anything, he'd rather cherish the miracles he has
now than chase ones that will never come to pass.
He tells her this.
Slowly, he sits down upon the throne from which his father once led
their people and caused them great suffering.
He gestures for Mama to approach, and he cradles her on his lap.
He thinks back on his journey thus far.
All the fun time he spent with Mama.
He has a feeling that it's similar to the time he spent traveling with his attendant.
As the memories come back to him, his lips curl into a smile.
"Mama... Thank you for leading me here."
He has been given the time to think back on those precious to him.
His attendant. His family. His people.
And that, to him, is a miracle in itself.
Even though his path was filled with many failures.
And even if he is to lose all his memories.
He knows that the truly precious things will never vanish.
Of that, he is certain.
And yet...
After all this time, there is still one wish he simply cannot let go of.
And that is—
"I wish I could've seen him again."
Even if it was in a world of memories, he wanted to see him.
His lone attendant. The one who walked with him.
......
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All he can hear are the gears of the clock turning.
Hand rests upon hand. A light rushes toward the boy's gray eyes.
His dreams that never came true. The journey he walked with his attendant.
The boy's memories
Vanish in the light of the end.
The Cage's destruction has been confirmed.
We could not stop the enemy's attacks in this branch.
But I have no doubt we will destroy the enemy in the branch you observe.
But you know what?
You will encounter so many memories from here on out...
And I'm sure everyone will find a way to overcome any hardship.
Also... I'm sorry.
I put him through so much pain.
But...I'll carry forward the torch of his will.
So, please. I'd like you to help as well.
In your branch, I want you to make sure he gets to see the one so dear to him.

Associated Costume:

Guardian Exile

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