winds_voice | 15 - [Voice/Action]

For all of those who may have been concerned, I have returned from the previous mission.

I am well, though I would like to give thanks to those who helped to take care of me during that time. It seems I was not prepared for the strain such extreme conditions would put on this new body of mine. I may not require sustenance in the form of food and water in the safety of the enclosure, but a scorching desert is far more damaging while I am trapped in this form. Next time, I will be more careful.

[Assuming there was a next time... He hoped he wouldn't have to get involved too often, but currently he had more than one reason to push himself.

He pauses, before continuing.]

While I am here, there is... something else I wish to discuss. I am in need of someone with a knowledge of curses. If you are willing, I would be especially grateful to hear from anyone who has suffered from such a thing and been cured of it. If not, any experiences with a curse may be of interest to me. Thank you.

[For anyone who wants to meet/check-in on Eley in person, he will most likely be resting by his tree near Cherry Blossom Tree Hill since... well even though he might not have been involved with the investigations first-hand on the mission, he's still pretty worn out. Later in the day you might find him going for a wander along the river and further into the forest.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

... You mean, the way it did before... [She hesitates to say it out loud, with how troubled he seemed, but Tear was fairly certain he was referring to the time he mentioned to her back at the cultural fair, when he took Agkelos to the skies and punished those who had upset him so.

Remembering that, she reaches out to take hold of his hands gently. If her hold is firm, it's because she remembers how he had nearly walked away that time.] If you could tell me, first... What did you uncover yourself and decide in that mission? I understand that there were many things occurring very quickly.

[The nature of those dangers made her worry for him greatly, even before he had spoken over the journals.]

[Yes... just like before. Tear understood him, of that Eley was certain.

He wasn't quite expecting her to take hold of his hands like that though, and while he noticeably tensed at the touch, he allows it. It gets his attention at least, for he's now looking directly at her, listening carefully.]

I... did not find out much personally. My job there was to keep the others healthy in the heat of the desert, so I did not trouble myself with trying to investigate this... Iron Eye or what they might have been up to.

Though naturally I overheard conversations. And... [He drops his gaze, suddenly gripped with sadness.] I am aware that a weapon may now be involved. A terrible weapon... that I cannot condone the use of.

You wouldn't be the only one to feel that way. To my understanding, it will be or has been used anyway. [Part of her is horrified that such power could be concentrated in a weapon that, in theory, seemed as though it could be transported anywhere. She may have spoken with Freyjadour and Jade about it before coming to meet Eley, but that didn't make it any easier to stomach when she hears someone else she cares for speak about it in such a way, with that sadness. But she had to keep it in, because what's done is done.]

Then you know of the amount of death and damage this weapon will bring... I know this isn't what you were probably expecting to be a part of when you agreed to this mission. [Especially when he had done it for the sake of his friend.]

No... I would never willingly agree to use a weapon like that.

[It didn't matter to him whether they were cultists, Iron Eye, Malnosso... He may not have a high opinion of the ones keeping them here, but he still refused to readily condemn any of them to death. Perhaps he was missing something. Perhaps it was too far removed from the conflict to understand the reasoning behind using that bomb. Yet that was part of his life as a Spirit, to be apart from human conflict and try to guide them towards peace. At least in his own world... here he didn't have that influence.]

Again, it reminds me of how helpless I am here. I cannot do anything to change the opinion of others, nor can I directly stop these things from happening. As a Spirit, I do not want to get involved... yet emotionally I feel the need to act. It is... difficult.

And this was not a dilemma you would have faced before in your world? [At least, not to this degree. It was a little strange to hear of this being having to be so distant from everyone, from the people he looked after even though the reasons were understandable. She had done the same to a degree before, in becoming a soldier, though obviously not to the same extent as Eley had to. A part of her did wish she could offer more advice for how to cope with such conflicting emotions.]

... Though I wouldn't say you have been entirely helpless.

Perhaps once... and in time it may happen again.

[He says, pausing as if considering whether or not to continue that line of conversation. He trusted Tear though, more than he knew he probably should. She would understand, as she did before.]

When I first took Agkelos to the skies, it was in a state of war. The rest of the kingdoms had turned against them to exploit their kindness for their precious resources. The Agkelons tried to fight back, but their army was small compared to the others. Without my help they would have been wiped out.

As a Spirit, I felt a need to protect them. They were put on Aether to maintain peace and so had a purpose beyond simply living. Without them, the planet would likely deteriorate as the old one did. Yet, I was also emotional and unpredictable. I felt that the Agkelons had been betrayed, just as I had. I did not have to destroy the other armies like I did, but those emotions grew out of control. I killed, when I could simply have pushed them away.

[There's another silence as he lets that sink in and tries to gather his thoughts again before he gets carried away.]

You say I have not been helpless, yet I feel as though I did little.

And as I said before, you feel remorse for it. It doesn't forgive what you did then, but you are learning from that mistake. [And she knows he feels that remorse, hear it in his voice and see it throughout his person when he speaks of it. If he wanted to be more sincere about it, she didn't know how he could do so.]

It may seem small and trivial to some, but I remember the first time we spoke. It was when you offered to teach others to defend themselves using wind if they can. You are willing to protect others now.

[Yes, their first meeting... he had offered to train others with the wind providing they did not intend to use it for violent means and only in defense. Did he really do that because he wanted to help protect them?

He looks to Tear again, his eyes full of a certain understanding.]

Even moreso now. I am not alone here and there are people who I will not hesitate to protect should they need it. No matter how big the threat.

And that reassurance, knowing that your comrades have your friendship provides more strength than you realize. [She offers a small smile, wondering if he really was understanding her when she meets his eyes with her own blue ones. Even if it was a small comfort... she knew she could say it was true of herself, for certain.]

Soldiers such as myself... Sometimes we come to rely on the resolve of those who have feelings such as yours. Making it so that you won't have to endure or face them.

15 - [Voice/Action]

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