[Mafdet Khepri]

The fifteenth of August saw many people from all across the country venture into the mountains. Mainly the big three but others saw an uptick in activity too. Whether those mountains were big or small, near or far, easy to navigate or difficult, a great many saw more visitors than it did during the rest of the year combined. Some even visited more than once during the day. Albeit not for all of them it was on purpose. 

No, some simply got lost, nearly found the way back to civilization once more and then got distracted by a passing squirrel. In fact, one such individual was present at this very spot. Khepri. Although they weren't quite there yet. They were above it.

'Thump.'

With a crash they landed right in front of Robert, falling out of the air like a bolt out of the blue. Pushing themselves up off the ground and patting a branch out of their hair -one originating from a type of tree that grew nowhere near here- they turned to face the stranger they just ran into. They blinked in confusion, their eyes squinting at the man's face before they widened, seemingly in realization. What Khepri realized would remain a mystery however, as instead of explaining they asked a question.

"Centaurs have six limbs, does that make them insects too?"

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Tags: solaris

[solaris]

In the world of Quirks, Robert Anderson had always been a late bloomer – someone who picked the short straw. Born into a world where quirks were the norm, his own remained elusive, hidden away until his late teenage years. It wasn't until the day he arrived at U.A. Academy that his quirk finally revealed itself: Solar Energy Absorption. This newfound ability allowed him to absorb and manipulate solar energy, granting him incredible potential as a hero. Despite his late start, Robert was determined to make the most of his time at U.A. Academy. His days were filled with rigorous training, honing his control over his quirk and learning the intricacies of heroism. With each passing day, he grew more confident in his abilities and his place among his peers.

However, it was on a peculiar day, Mountain Day, that fate took an unexpected turn. While enjoying the serenity of nature atop a mountain, Robert encountered an enigmatic individual named Khepri. Her sudden arrival, falling out of the sky with an unusual question about centaurs and insects, marked the beginning of an unexpected adventure.

Little did Robert know that this chance encounter would lead to a series of extraordinary events, testing his abilities as a hero and challenging his understanding of the world around him. As he stood atop that mountain, pondering the mysteries of centaurs and insects, he had no inkling of the thrilling journey awaiting him. With the sun casting its golden rays over the landscape, Robert Anderson, the late bloomer with a newfound quirk, embarked on a path filled with unforeseen twists, unexplored territories, and a cast of characters that would forever change the course of his hero's journey.

That was until… *She* arrived, coming in like a wrecking ball… Or in this case, a comet.

Robert blinked in surprise as the person crashed in front of him, seemingly out of nowhere. He took a step back, his eyes widening in astonishment as the stranger brushed off a random branch from their hair. The mention of centaurs and insects caught him off guard, and he couldn't help but tilt his head in confusion. "Huh? Centaurs and insects? Well... uh..." Robert blinked in surprise, trying to process the unexpected question. He scratched his head, his expression a mix of confusion and amusement.



"Um, I don't think so? I mean, insects usually have, like, three body segments and stuff, right? And centaurs... well, they're part human and part horse, not really insect-y at all. But wait, do they really have six limbs? I think they've got four legs like a horse and two arms like a person... So, that's six, yeah, but I don't think that automatically makes them insects. I mean, they're mythical creatures, right? Not bugs."

He paused, trying to sort it out in his head.

"Maybe it's more about how they're classified, like, based on their body structure? Like how spiders are arachnids 'cause they have eight legs, but they're not insects either. They're in a whole different group!" He rambled on, trying to work through the logic of it all, even though the question seemed to come completely out of left field.

"But then again, who knows? Maybe in some mythology somewhere, they do classify centaurs as insects. Wouldn't that be somethi-?" He chuckled, amused by the oddity of the question and the peculiar circumstances of their meeting. Robert then blinked several times, then frowned as he began to scratch his head.

“Hey, wait just a ticking minute, why am I even answering this!?"

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Word Count: 588
Mafdet Khepri

[Mafdet Khepri]

"Oh, a riddle, I love those!" Khepri replied once Robert finished his explanation. "Hmm, maybe you're answering because I asked?"

They raised a hand in front of them while shaking their head back and forth.

"No, no, too simple. Let me guess again. Three attempts right?"

Was the ticking minute a hint, Khepri wondered. Time passes fast when you're having fun but slow when you aren't, like when you're stuck somewhere. Maybe that was the answer then?

"Is it because societal conventions have entrapped you in this conversation, requiring you to provide an answer and continue talking until you find a polite way out of it lest you come off as rude?"

Khepri's brow furrowed in thought, curious as to whether squirrels had similar conventions they had to follow lest they be marginalized or cast out. Hmm, did they have squirrel movies they could be cast in? Wait, what was the question again.

"Wait, what was the question again?" They repeated out loud since the previous thought was in their head so the one in front of her couldn't hear it. "Hold on, come to think of it, who are you?"

Khepri said with a questioning expression. They'd never gotten into trouble before by talking to strangers, well, none that ended up with themself in more trouble than the stranger but for all they knew the one in front of them was a villain. Khepri couldn't talk to him if so, they were a student at UAU now!

"Oh, my name's Mafdet Khepri. Do you know why moles don't build their hills the same size as ants do?"

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Tags: solaris

[solaris]

"Uh, I'm Robert, not really a riddle guy, but sure, three attempts!" Robert scratched his head, a bemused expression on his face as Khepri delved into an intricate web of thoughts. Her questions seemed to dance around logic, leaving Robert in a comical state of confusion.

"Societal conventions entrapping me? Polite way out? Uh... well, I guess that's one way to put it?" Robert chuckled nervously, his attempts to follow Khepri's train of thought resembling a person trying to catch butterflies with chopsticks.

"Wait, what was the question again?" He mimicked Khepri, shaking his head as if trying to clear the mental fog that had settled.

"Who am I? Uh, I'm Robert. Robert Anderson. Nice to meet you, Mafdet Khepri." He extended a hand for a handshake, still trying to process the whirlwind of questions and statements. “No wait… I think I already introduced myself… man I am so confused.” Robert said, he felt like he was seeing stars with being asked questions after questions as though he was trying his absolute darndest to match with Khepri, but obviously failing.

"Moles and ants building hills? I... I don't know, do they have a construction manual or something? Maybe moles just have a different sense of aesthetics? Like, ants have colonies, and moles, well, they make those tunnel things underground. Maybe it's about their size or... uh, their preferences… I guess, maybe?" Robert's response was accompanied by a befuddled expression, as if his brain was on the verge of overheating from the sheer randomness of the conversation.

"I'm not entirely sure about the minute thing or the whole entrapment in conversation... I mean, I'm just here enjoying Mountain Day," he chuckled nervously, feeling a bit like a deer caught in headlights as he tried to follow Khepri's train of thought. "Hell, I don't even know what Mountain Day even is!?" Robert blurted out, his confusion growing by the second. "I mean, I heard it's about appreciating mountains and stuff, maybe hiking or just chilling in the mountains? But then, are we supposed to ponder about ants, moles, and societal conventions while we're at it?"

He scratched his head, feeling like he had stepped into a conversation that was on an entirely different wavelength. "I thought it was a day to enjoy nature, maybe take in the views, and appreciate the mountains for being, well, mountains." His expression morphed into one of utter bewilderment. "I didn't realize it involved pondering philosophical mole thoughts or unraveling the mysteries of insect architecture!" He chuckled nervously, feeling a bit lost in the whirlwind of Khepri's thoughts.

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Word Count: 431
Total Word Count: 1,019

Mafdet Khepri

[Mafdet Khepri]

Khepri blinked several times at his reply. He'd already introduced himself? They certainly didn't remember a Robert Anderson so it couldn't have been on a previous occasion. Or maybe it was? Had they met the first year hero student called Solaris that happened to be their maybe-classmate before? Naaaaaah. That couldn't be it. Which meant it had to be another riddle. When had he introduced himself to Khepri before? 

"Ah!" Khepri exclaimed. "Riddle guy, I remember now!"

The fact that he'd mentioned his name right before saying 'not really a riddle guy' was completely lost on Khepri. Nodding along to Robert's answer Khepri's ears twitched in thought. 

"Hmm, I don't think ants and moles can read. Oh! I heard they communicate through smells. Do you think they have a smellual instead of a manual? Then they'd need to be able to make the same smells though, do you think they can do that? Do ants and moles have a language barrier? Hmm, would it be called an antual or a moleual instead? I need to find out first whether it's called a manual because it's made by mankind or whether that's just the word for it. Give me a second. Oh, I can listen at the same time though, go on!" Khepri continued, their ears aimed at Robert even as they pulled out a phone and drafted an email to all the UAU faculty members they could remember the email address of. 

With their fingers tapping a storm atop the screen Robert was able to finish the rest of his words without being interrupted -again- by one intrusive thought or the other.

"Wow, you sure wonder about a lot of things." Khepri replied, the very picture of self-awareness. 

"Don't worry though, many people don't realize that," The park ranger they'd talked to earlier in a different place didn't either. "But it's very important. See, if you don't ponder whether moles and ants have an overlap in architecture and philosophy how can we know whether their social conventions spur them on to greatness? Mankind set foot on the moon by aiming higher and higher, maybe ants and moles can get to very high places too with their own traditions and values."

Khepri tapped the ground with their feet and pointed down before raising both of her arms and her head.

"You know this thing we're standing on that makes it so we don't fall to the ground? Who built this? Who made this big hill? If we don't know whether it's possible that ants and moles collaborated to built the monument of a million ant lifetimes how can we be satisfied just living in ignorance?" Khepri pointed their thumb at their chest. "That's why I came here yesterday and am still here today. To unravel the mystery of the mountain. Moles and ants both have openings at the top of their hills so I wanna go to the top to see if there's an opening there leading to the builders. I also heard about this mysterious 'lava' creature rumored to build mountains so maybe I can find that one too and take pictures if they wanna be on the picture with me!"

They smiled widely. 

"I can't find it though, do you know where the top of the mountain is?"

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Tags: solaris

[solaris]

"Okay, I have an idea... Hear me out... Aliens," Robert blurted out, his mind racing to come up with a response amid the whirlwind of Khepri's thoughts. His eyes widened with mock seriousness.

"Think about it! What if these aliens, like, had these massive tools and machines to shape the Earth? They could've built mountains for fun or maybe as part of some grand cosmic art project! I mean, we've all heard about those conspiracy theories, right? Or, hell, maybe the aliens visited Earth and decided, 'Hey, let's build some mountains for the locals just for shits and giggles!' and voila! Mountains appear out of nowhere!" He grinned, half-jokingly, trying to keep up with Khepri's rapid-fire musings.

"But hey, if we're talking about mysterious creatures, I've never heard about this lava creature before! I've heard of geological forces and stuff forming mountains, but a lava creature? That's... uh, new?" He scratched his head, feeling a bit out of his depth.

"You know what, I've got a map... well, more like a map of a map, but it should get us up this mountain. And who knows, maybe we'll find answers to all these mysteries together?" He couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of embarking on such an odd and whimsical adventure. "I was planning to explore a bit on my own. Buuut, since we’re doing this now, maybe we can try to find that mysterious 'lava' creature together? Who knows, we might uncover the secrets of mountain-building creatures!" He grinned, offering the map to Khepri.

"So, Khepri, would you like to come along on this journey to uncover the secrets of the mountain? Aliens, lava creatures, and all?" He grinned, offering her a chance to join in the peculiar quest. “Though just so you know, if there turns out to be an actual lava monster, I will scream like a girl and make a run for it down the mountain.”

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Word Count: 321
Total Word Count: 1,340

Mafdet Khepri

[Mafdet Khepri]

"Are you making fun of me?" Khepri asked with an unblinking stare when Robert finished his alien explanation. Raising both of their four-fingered hands in front of them they continued. "I've looked up a lot about them since my hands make me look alien and I don't think they're real. Well, I don't think they build stuff like this at least if they're real. Back in Egypt I tried to figure out how the pyramids were safe and the police officers told me it definitely wasn't aliens and that there were books in the library explaining how they were built. I haven't read those yet though so maybe the cops were wrong and it really was aliens." They leaned forward conspiratorially. "But maybe it's something else entirely..."

Khepri nodded along to his next sentences.

"They're the ones that build volcanoes apparently so maybe they build mountains too. Sure, it could also be due to the collision of two continental plates forcing rock to crumple and fold over the course of millions of years until they've formed massive mountains the same way paper can turn into an origami swan but that seems a bit far fetched, no? I mean, continental plates? Who even cooks enough that you'd need plates that big!" Khepri laughed while waving their hand back and forth. Their eyes widened.

"A map?!" They didn't know those were still used outside of pirate series. "I'm in, let's go!" After accepting the map Khepri spent several moments looking at it, turning it this way and that and trying to figure out all the different things on it. Robert had been right. The map did display a map. A map of a map, how strange. They wondered if there were maps of mapnt's. Was that even a word? It should be. There were plenty of things that were mapnt's, like books or magazines or scrolls or...

Oh! That symbol was probably the peak. Gesturing for Robert to follow they confidently went in the wrong direction, heading downwards off the path in the direction of a nearby lake.

With a wide smile and a nod they continued talking. "I can help with that too! I've been down the mountain so I know where that is. I don't know how good I am at screaming though, I haven't tried in a while... Hmm, do you think I should practice on the way?"

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Tags: solaris

[solaris]

"No, no, no need for screaming practice!" Robert hurriedly interjected, feeling a wave of panic at the thought of Khepri screaming while they were on their way down the wrong path. He followed, trying to keep up with Khepri's enthusiastic stride as she confidently led the way. "Let's keep this adventure on the down-low, you know? Stealthy, like ninjas. No screaming required, okay?" He sighed in relief when Khepri seemed to consider his plea. "And about the aliens, yeah, I was just joking. I mean, who knows how mountains really formed, right? Could be aliens, could be continental plates, or maybe it's just the work of the legendary mountain fairies. It's all a mystery!"

Robert followed along as Khepri confidently led them in what seemed to be the wrong direction, a bemused expression on his face. "Uh, actually, I think the peak might be the other way." He pointed in the opposite direction, hoping to redirect their course before they ventured too far off track. "It's supposed to be up, not down... and definitely not near a lake," he added, eyeing the shimmering water in the distance.

He took a breath, trying to keep up with Khepri's rapid train of thought. "The map, yeah, it's kind of like a guide to find our way... but, uh, not all the way to the lake," he chuckled nervously, hoping to gently steer Khepri back on the right path.

"Let's head back up, shall we?" He gestured toward the trail leading upward, hoping to coax her in the right direction before they embarked on a completely unintended adventure down to the lake. "Let's keep our eyes on the peak, and maybe we'll find those elusive answers together, without any screaming practice," he added with a chuckle, hoping to steer their adventure in a more upward direction and away from any unnecessary detours towards the lake.

"See, the peak's like the top of the mountain, where we wanna go," Robert explained, pointing towards the upward trail. "It's where we might find answers about moles, ants, and maybe even that mysterious lava creature!" He gently attempted to guide Khepri back toward the correct path, hoping to avoid any further detours. "And about the screaming practice, well, it's probably best to save that for another time... or maybe not at all?" He chuckled nervously, trying to navigate the conversation back to their mountain-bound quest.

"Let's stick to finding the peak and uncovering the mountain's secrets together, yeah?" He smiled, hoping to refocus their adventure back on track. With Khepri's eagerness and his own curiosity piqued, Robert was ready to embrace the peculiar journey ahead, aliens and all.

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Word Count: 441
Total Word Count: 1,781

Mafdet Khepri

[Mafdet Khepri]

Delaying the screaming practice until later Khepri listened attentively to what Robert said before nodding along.

"It might be one of them. I've actually met one of the fae once, her name was 'Miss Mafdet, that is not a fairy. Miss Taiyou's quirk allows her to change her size.' which even contains my family name so they really are mysterious like that. Who knows what they can do?"

Following his finger with their eyes Khepri spotted the peak as well.

"That's smart, hiding it up there. No one ever looks up." Khepri confidently stated in a tone that made it sound as if they'd just uncovered some grand revelation. "It could still be in the lake though. Fae tend to hide all of their fancy creations there like Excalibur or even live there like the Gwragedd Annwn." 

There were many examples like that and even more of fae or potential fae trying to keep people away from lakes to hide their secrets. One needed to look no further than stories about kelpies to discover that truth. Some tales even said portals to a realm of the fae were hidden in illusions atop their surface and the Lady of the Lake both appeared from and disappeared through one such portal.

"Why?" Khepri asked, wondering if there was any specific reason he wanted to prevent the screaming practice. Would the fae or whatever other thing was up there be startled if they did? They couldn't help but wonder whether Robert knew more than he let on but for now they'd let it rest. After all, there was already a different riddle to solve. Continuing to listen to his explanation on the peak they figured their previous deduction was correct and returned their full focus to the task ahead until his final line distracted them.

Gaze going to a nearby tree their eyes narrowed. Trees were large masses of wood and attached to them were smaller versions that in turn sprouted even smaller versions. Khepri hummed in thought as she walked further up the mountain, the map still held upside down in their hands.

"Do you think mountains are just sticks for the planet?"

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Tags: solaris