Dreams Of Lumin - Chapter: I

The following excerpt comes directly from Moonshade Digital's "Lumin" title, more specifically, this scene is from the pre-alpha.

This dialogue occurs between 2 unnamed characters that we will heretofore refer to as Emma & Earl. This scene is set in the middle of Lumin's storyline with the scene demo being released on Moonshade Digital's dedicated Github repo:

This is a demo scene to give fans an idea of what the visual novel component of Lumin will look, as to familiarize our community with the creative vision for our studio's first title release.

{Project background:}

Lumin has spent years in conceptual development with Q2 - Q3 of 2023 marking the start of production on this title. The current plan is to reach 35% completion of the project, launch the closed pre-alpha, and set up a sign-up page for our Lumin paid-internship program over on:

The paid internship will launch following the conclusion of our Lumin crowdsourcing campaign. Lumin's scope is a visual novel/jrpg hybrid that'll be adapted into a larger 3D rpg title, codename: Project Virias.

Lumin is set in the Obsidian Atlaverse, but it's connection to Obsidian Atlas canon is extremely loose. Lumin won't have a huge impact on the current canon, but there will be easter eggs and references for observant digital spelunkers.

Dialogue:

‘*’: ” Do you believe in fate?”

‘~’: “Is that a serious question or are you tryna say somthin’?

‘*’: “To be entirely transparent, yes, it indeed is a serious question, I understand that I have a penchant for sarcasm, that’s not what I’m getting at though.”

‘~’: “So, this is an entirely fruitless endeavor then?”

‘*’: “Not at all no, I would like to hear your earnest opinion on this phenomenon, we’ve traveled together this long, yet I still can’t quite get a read on your stance here.”

‘~’: “Fine, do I want to? Yes. Do I know better than to stare at the stars, doe-eyed, wishing on the first comet I see streak across the sky due to a belief in old wives' tales that say it would grant me a wish? Absolutely.

‘*’: “I’ll take that as a n- “

‘~’: “Don’t take it as anythin’ it doesn’t mean much simply because fate is irrelevant to us. I believe that there are people who need it, and I believe that there are people who don’t.”

‘*’: “Isn’t that rather counter-intuitive though?”

‘~’: “How do you figure?”

‘*’: “Your response is founded upon belief, by your indication of such. Is this no different than accepting the futility of your inability to reject your fate?”

‘~’: “Good one, it’s completely different though.”

‘*’: “On what terms and in what sense?”

‘~’: “On my terms, in the sense of the responsibility that I have to myself. To be blunt, ain’t no way in the wills of the realms I’d allow my actions to be dictated by another. That my fine companion is subjugation, and I shall not render unto it.”

‘*’: “Therein lies the crux of this discussion. ‘The Wills of the realms’ the spirits and Fae that we hold in reverence and often cannot see.”

‘~’: “And? It’s not like they’re terribly hard to find…”

‘*’: “That’s what I’m getting at though, if even their existence remains illusory to most of the people of this world what does that mean for us?”

‘~’: “Not too much, it ain’t nothin’ to wrack yer head over”

‘*’: “Ahh but see it is.”

‘~’: “I think this query’s a pond that you’ve perceived as the sea.”

‘*’: “On the contrary it’s quite the opposite, the sea to us is a puddle that shall dry within the hour to them, after a gentle summer shower.”

‘~’ : “…You’ve lost me in the metaphor.”

‘*’: “What if this world indeed is as you say, where we legitimately have free will. The Wills though are arbiters that orchestrate our destiny as they alone are aware of a world entirely outside of our reach or even perception.”

‘~’: “Are you proposing that fate is not a component of itself, but is, in fact, a byproduct of the Wills doing as they so desire just to see the effect?”

‘*’: “Essentially, something like that, yes.”

‘~’: “That’s sad”

‘*’: “I know ri- “

‘~’: “To think that beings purported to be so immensely powerful as they would be relegated to a greater being’s old sandbox playing with mortal souls as toys unable to escape it themselves is a truly dark thought…”

‘*’: “I thought I was supposed to be the smart one.”

‘~’: “My point exactly.”

‘*’: “You terrify me more and more as the days draw on.”

‘~’: “By the Wills’ folly.”

Emma represented by the ('~') icon and Earl by the ('*') are discussing creatures colloquially referred to as "The Wills," their true name is 'La' Il-isei' at least in the "Eastern Hiyain" region, it is.

Here they are venerated beings with mythical abilities that are powerful beyond even the highest level of sages, warlocks, wizards, and witches. There are currently no living beings capable of matching the strength of the "La' Il-isei." Emma belongs to a tribe who's mythology tells of heroes who once protected the La' Il-isei and their folklore states that these heroes went on to form her tribe with each of the highest ranking elders possessing tomes that contain the stories and diaries of these heroes. These elders are expected to guide the tribe in all matters concerning the future of the tribe and the outside world.

Emma is a descendant of an elder with especially high esteem who passed several years ago; with her mother taking the elder's place. Elders in their tribe are assigned one of 14 crests that are passed down from generation-to-generation. There were initially 24 crests however, over the years many of these houses were succeeded and came to be absorbed by the other houses. Emma's house is received and supported by the Kingdom of Ranmei as they share her house's belief that the heroes of olde would one day return in a time of dire need.

Earl is a lord of the kingdom of Ranmei who's family has secretly requested Emma's hand in marriage to Earl, unbeknownst to Emma herself. Earl is the interim tactician for the kingdom of Ranmei's principle force, as he is too young to command the whole of Ranmei's army. He is still a man of especially high-esteem and regard who is ranked as the 5th greatest bladesmen in the whole of Ranmei's army. Earl has been tasked by Emma's mother with embarking on her first expedition to locate a potential reincarnate of one of the heroes of old in the Renmai settlement after reports of strange goings-on.