7 - [Voice]

[winds_voice]

[Wherever Eley happens to be right now, it seems pretty windy. Whether it's because of his influence or just the natural way of the weather, you can't really be sure, but thankfully his voice carries loud enough not to be hindered by the wind.

Only... his tone might sound a little less curious than you're used to. Somewhat distant. Perhaps even a tiny bit sad?]

As I have recovered enough from my illness to venture out with no ill effects, and since the weather has improved, I have decided to take the opportunity to seek shelter in the mountains. While I would still prefer to refrain from keeping myself in confined spaces for too long, I am hoping I will be able to make use of any shelter I find in future to prevent myself from falling sick again.

I would like to take a moment to thank the people here for teaching me your ways and helping me to take better care of myself. It has been an... interesting experience.

However, I also must announce that I will be staying in these mountains for quite some time. I would... like to ask you not to seek me out.

Comments

[winds_voice]

Lonely? Hmm... what does it mean to feel lonely?

[The truth is, Eley's wondering if he's already feeling like that. However, he doesn't know much about the emotion. Not enough to make a solid link anyway.]

[risingwinds]

Well, it's like... Hmm.

[It's so strange having to explain it, but he remembers how Eley said he wasn't supposed to feel things once.]

Loneliness is kinda like being sad. You miss having people around you to keep you company, and the more time you spend by yourself, the worse it gets.

[Granted, Ven finds that thinking of his friends eases loneliness, but he knows not everyone thinks that way.]

[winds_voice]

Then it is... a sadness associated with being alone. I suppose that would make sense for such social creatures.

[Eley realising that it might have started to apply to him as well though. He certainly needs time alone, but doing it like this... he can't help but feel wrong somehow.]

Yet I have always managed alone before. I am sure I can continue to do so now.

[Or so he tells himself.]

[risingwinds]

But just because you can't doesn't mean you have to be. I might not know what's going on, but I'm sure nobody'd mind having you around.

[At least, Ven sure wouldn't. But he's always willing to look for the best in people.]

[winds_voice]

...

No, it seems that I have made friends here after all. I thought this would be an easy decision, but now I am not so sure. I have not felt so strongly about friendship in a long time.

[Not since he was betrayed. He had become attached to a few on Aether, a few that he had chosen, but here things seemed much different.]

[risingwinds]

Well, friendship's not something you have to run away from! If you ask me, having friends makes you stronger than any weapon or any power possibly could.

There's just something special about having people you can really connect to. People you can trust.

[Sure, it's sentimental as heck, but none of Ven's experiences have proven him wrong thus far.]

[winds_voice]

And what if that friendship becomes broken? How can you say that it holds such strength if it seems so fragile?

[True, he didn't think that any of his friends in Luceti would abandon or betray him so easily. But he didn't think that of his friends in Aether either, and still it happened.]

[risingwinds]

Well, sometimes friendships get challenged, sure. People fight, and sometimes those bonds do break... But that doesn't mean it has to be forever.

[Then again, Ven's never experienced true betrayal, either.]