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Though our guidelines disapprove of taking the plot of a book or movie, in my opinion at least what you have done here by taking inspiration from a lesser-known work has worked pretty well.
I am disappointed that I already violated those guidelines. I hoped I could've gotten it right the second time around! But, yes, it is a lesser-known work, and it sounds like the rule is soft and like their can be exceptions. Nevertheless, I will work to diverge my own lore from the story, so that it will be original and my own. Also, I will try to make the character Ursula less disturbing, because I cannot afford controversy.
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To whom it may concern in Hermertia:
First I must admit to you that my plan to rebuild Omeras was unrealistic. I could never replicate that city's beauty, even though I lived in it for 16 years, with my building skills. Also, a beautiful city is not entirely what Ursula needs - more than that she needs social interaction and friends.
As has happened countless times, she woke from one of her nightmares, breathing rapidly, screaming, "Why won't you listen to me? Why won't you listen to me?" I held her arm, sat up, and looked down at her. "I'm listening! What do you want me to hear? I'm listening. Everyone will listen to you from now on." She paused, staring at me, in enormous relief, and then started crying. She cried until she fell back asleep, into another nightmare. She needs more people who will listen to her.
I recently ran into someone who I knew from Omelas. His name is Antontus, and he left Omelas about two years before me. I didn't recognize him, but he said, "Holy . . ." and he walked over to me, pointing at Ursula, saying, "Is that . . . Is that . . . ?" "Yes," I said, nodding my head and rolling my eyes. "This is Ursula. She's really friendly." Ursula hid behind my back, shaking. But the two did eventually warm up to each other.
The three of us were sitting at a table at a bakery, eating bread. (Did I mention how much Ursula likes food? She crams it in her mouth quickly and mumbles about how it's the best thing ever. Her appetite was small at first but it's quickly growing larger.)
"I can't believe it," said Antontus. "I didn't have the guts to do that but I thought about it of course. I figured that if I saved that one kid, they'd just find some other poor kid to replace him."
"That's what I thought, too, for a while," I said. "It's a weird story."
"Tell me your weird story," said Antontus.
"I found out she's a witch, so she can't easily be replaced."
"Ohhh," said Antontus. "How'd you find that out?"
"That's the weird story," I said. "I was taking an alchemy class, and myself and a group of others threw some invisibility potions into the sewer ditch outside of town, just for fun. Most of the waste turned invisible, as expected, but one blob floated up and started rising into the sky."
"Levitation?" said Antontus.
"Yes," I said. "The, er, waste already had some potion effects in it, so it responded differently to our addition of an invisibility potion."
"How did you deduce that this came from the child Ursula?"
"I was already suspicious is had come from her, so I traced her waste, following a volunteer who had taken it from her room and brought it to the waste ditch."
"And after tracing that bucket of waste, you poured another invisibility potion on it, and it floated?" asked Antontus.
"It actually started jumping up and down," I said.
"Huh," said Antontus. He turned to Ursula. "Yer a wizard, Ursula," he said.
"Yeah, ever since I left, really, I've been living here in Bakersville," said Antontus. "I built a real small farm, and I've been selling my produce to this bakery. The bakery is basically the central part of the town. There are trade routes, going both east and west of it, where a mysterious guy, always silent and wearing all black, takes some of the baker's stock in bulk, treks off, and sells it. How have things been in Omelas?"
"It's been about a month since I left," I answered. "During that time, I, too, have found nothing too interesting in these boondocks."
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Sorry, I'm kind of just freewriting with no plan, and I'm not sure how well I'm answering your questions:
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How long have you traveled to have come upon the gates of the Mercurian Empire? Can you tell us more of your upbringing in this strange city? What of others before you who have left, never to be heard from again? . . . It must have been an arduous journey to Hermertia at such a young age and with a child to care for. Has such strain affected your appearance? What are your intentions within Hermertia - presumably after rebuilding Omelas? Do you intend to eventually own land yourself independently or are you trying to find an established realm to contribute to?
As I've said, I probably won't rebuild Omelas. I'm interested in finding an established realm to contribute to. I could work with Ursula to make potions in a potion house. Also, I could be a miner: I have an idea for an automated smelting system, minecart rail system, and multi-level mineshaft that could bring huge productivity to any mine. Also, I'm interested in building automated farms, for sugar cane, cactus, and even monsters. I like building functional things in Minecraft, and I have a little aesthetic taste to not make them too much of an eyesore.
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"I've missed Omelas," I said to Antontus. "I miss the pool, the parades, the music, the sports, the fireworks, the art. Traveling through these empty towns, I never knew how spoiled I was."
"It's unfortunate . . ." said Antontus, staring into the distance.
"I've kept with me a few stacks of emeralds, but they're running low, and soon I'll have to settle down to work like you have."
"I'm basically a slave to this baker," said Antontus. "I wish I'd run into a nicer community."
"That I have!" I said to Antontus proudly. "I ran into a group of Kairatites-"
"The pale creatures?"
"Yes," I said. "And they said they were traveling to a great empire - the Mercurian Empire. It's just north of here, they said. We will have to hike a long distance, and then climb over some mountains, to reach it. I have already sent a letter, informing the Mercurians of my future arrival."
"I'd like to accompany you," said Antontus.
"Done!" I said.
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Again, I'm not sure how well I've answered your questions. Most of the ones I did answer, I answered something like, "Oh, that was not a problem I had." This was unintentional. I'll try to address the questions you've already asked in the future. In the meantime I'll post what I've got . . .