winds_voice | 16 - [Accidental Video/Action]

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16 - [Accidental Video/Action]

[Eley wasn't happy.

Not only had he been subjected to an experiment that had forced him to relive an experience he was trying to forget, the recent post from the Malnosso had riled him up even more. So they did it then... they used that weapon. And all he did was sit back and let them.

The Spirit was finding that he was being pushed more and more to his limits lately. That yes, perhaps he was becoming more emotionally invested in things than he should. The truth was, he was sick of being trapped in this bubble with no way out and of being stuck in a world he barely understood. He couldn't go after them... he couldn't do anything. Even if he did somehow break free, he had no idea what he would do or what it would accomplish.

Eley was angry and frustrated and seemed to be losing grip on his emotions again even after returning to his otherwise normal state here. Of course, throwing his journal in his frustration had only caused a feed to record without his knowledge as it smacked against a rock. There isn't much to see, just a lot of dusty rocks at a slanted angle and a blue patch of sky. You can probably tell it's in the mountains at least.

...but it's what can be heard that's likely more worrying. There's a large crashing sound followed by the incessant tumbling of several small fragments of rock clattering to the ground. The image of the feed becomes obscured by dust, and then everything falls silent.]

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[The end of the feed is worrying Tsuzuki too much. In the end, he hurries to the place he hopes that Eleytheria is, hoping that he didn't get hurt in the process of destroying his journal.]

[Of course it has to be up on a mountain. Short of breath, he nevertheless calls out.]

Eley?

[The mountains were a good place to come when Eley wanted to be left alone. And he thought he did want to be left alone until a familiar voice echoes ahead. The Spirit can be found kneeling down, still dusty from whatever it is he had done. Which seemed to involve venting his anger at the surrounding rocks with the way fragments were littered all around him.

He didn't respond to that voice... not until Tsuzuki came closer. Only then did he look up and acknowledge that he wasn't alone. He looked tired.]

Tsuzuki...

[Tsuzuki had to walk slowly, because as he got closer he also had to pay for the way he had hurried up the mountainside. His breathing was still laboured.]

[Eleytheria didn't sound like himself. Since when did gods of wind get tired? Tsuzuki came closer, eyeing the dust and destruction as he walked. That only reminded him of things he would rather forget.]

Are you hurt?

[Eley shook his head. He hadn't injured himself and what had happened out of view on the journal had been more noise than anything else. But he'd spent far too much time lately flaunting his powers for things he wouldn't otherwise bother with. He'd spent too long feeling angry and wild as he had done before... and with the knowledge that the Malnosso had unleashed a weapon on others, the Spirit's emotions still hadn't calmed down as they should have.]

You need not have hurried out here. I am... all right. Merely troubled.

[Tsuzuki looked at the rubble again, but said nothing. He had seen gods releasing their pent up energy before. Depending on their powers and personalities, their destruction always looked different. He sat down next to Eley, his wings flapping gently. Eleytheria used to put in a good effort to talk with him, so perhaps the trick to getting him back on track now was to do just that.]

Troubled?

The Malnosso... First they force me back to a point in time I am trying to forget and send me on a rampage which could have hurt, perhaps killed many in the process, including friends. Then I discover that a bomb was used to wipe out hundreds. I was on that mission... I did nothing to stop it.

I hate the Malnosso and yet I can do nothing with that hatred. Even if I could, I would be fighting against something I do not entirely understand.

I feel... trapped.

[And that was not a good position to be in for any Spirit, especially not one whose name meant freedom.]

You couldn't have stopped it, Eley. It wasn't your fault.

[Tsuzuki was more than familiar with the feeling of being trapped, so he doesn't know what to say to make it better. Not even suicide can release them from this place. His wing reached out to rest on Eley's shoulder.]

...I think we all feel trapped. People just pretend they don't.

[Eley seems to flinch a bit as he suddenly feels Tsuzuki's wing on his shoulder. It was a light touch, but enough for him to notice. Even without it, the Spirit got a sense that Tsuzuki understood how he was feeling. No doubt he wasn't the only one either...]

I... realise that I may have overreacted. But this is what these emotions can do to me. They have done far worse in the past.

[Eley reaches out to take some of the dust in front of him, letting it run through his fingers and watching it, as if remembering something.]

I came here so that I would not hurt anyone.

Even now you're thinking about others.

[It was said kindly, because Tsuzuki knows that the spirit has had trouble connecting to people. To see him consider others well-being over his own only tells Tsuzuki that he was growing more used to his human form.

Tsuzuki looked at the pebbles and dust around them. That kind of destruction would have been devastating in town. Tsuzuki was just grateful that Eley had enough control to be able to choose where he released his powers. ... Much unlike Tsuzuki in the past.]

....Did it work? Do you feel better?

[To be honest, Eley had never really come to the realisation that in doing this he was showing some care towards others. He thought of his friends of course... but it was more than that. He didn't want the past to repeat itself in Aether or anywhere else he ended up.

As for if he felt better... the Spirit gave a sigh.]

Better to have the opportunity to talk about it. I suppose I do not feel so tense... so urgent in my actions. It is hard to tell for certain. I am... tired and I suppose that once I have come to rest and reflect on what has happened, then I will know the true outcome.

It's hard to be trapped. I'm sick of it, too.

[Of course, Tsuzuki had had longer time to adjust so he didn't show it as much. In a way, he had been trapped since he was eighteen, it was simply a different kind of 'trapped'.]

[It was true that it didn't show as much in Tsuzuki. In fact, Eley sometimes forgot the more negative feelings his friend had expressed before. He was always there to cheer him up after all.]

You are always here to offer a smile when I feel this way. I have never really considered it before, nor have I asked, but I see that you must have your own fears and doubts. There is still much I do not know about you, Tsuzuki.

[Tsuzuki can't help but want to avoid having the attention on himself. Nothing good comes from it.]

You'll find out enough about me soon enough, Eley. But we're not talking about me right now.

I know... [Eley was good at turning attention away from himself too. Subjects always seemed to change whenever people came to talk to him. Not only that but Eley had to wonder just what he didn't know. They were friends yes, and they had established that they trusted one another. That wouldn't change, but shouldn't Eley know a bit more about the person he called 'friend'?

The Spirit closes his eyes, bowing his head slightly.]

No matter how I approach the situation, I cannot see a solution. What else can we do but continue to distract ourselves from the things that trouble us?

We're not simply distracting ourselves. We're waiting for them to make a mistake.

[He picks up a pebble, before he tosses it towards a pile of them. The words are cynical in comparison to his usual tone, but it was the only way he escaped his prison the first time.]

Or be less careful. Then we can do something. But until then...

...a mistake?

[Eley isn't sure whether to be concerned by those words or hopeful. The Spirit had been distracting himself for the most part, and he assumed the same of the majority in the enclosure. But it seemed that Tsuzuki had other ideas... who else did as well?]

Even then, what would you propose that we do?

The best thing to do would be to practice.

[It would keep the mind busy as well as the body. Besides, Eley isn't the only one who has felt restless as of late.]

Are you still serious about... what we talked about earlier?

[What they talked about... Eley has to take a moment to remember exactly what was said. There was no doubt in his mind that he trusted Tsuzuki even after recent events. His loyalty to his friends hadn't changed. He was willing to protect him if needed.

The Spirit gives a nod.]

I do not regret anything I said back then. Is there... something I can do for you?

No, I'm fine. But...

Maybe we should practice the summoning part. I have never summoned a spirit from another world before.

Ah, of course. [Although Eley might appear a little nervous himself now. Not that he didn't want to do this, especially if it may be a faster way to go to his aid but...]

I have never been summoned before either. People usually come to me. They will call for me, yes, but I have never been physically summoned to their side before. It is my choice whether or not I appear.

[Now he has to be brave though and test this out with Tsuzuki. At least it was something else to occupy his mind.]

Do you have any ideas?

It doesn't hurt.

[It's the first thing he thinks of to reassure him. His own shikigami had never said it did, in any case.]

And I promise, I will never summon you unless I really need you. I know you prefer to have a choice.

[Eley knows that Tsuzuki would never make a promise with him if he didn't intend to keep it. He honestly hoped it wouldn't hurt either... with his body in a different state here, anything could happen.

And so the Spirit pushes himself to his feet, trying to dust himself off as best as he can, his wings flicking away the grime as well. He really had made a mess here.]

Very well. Then tell me what I must do.

I don't know exactly.

[He may even sound a bit guilty when he admits that. As he cleared his throat, he turned fully to the spirit. This was something he took pride in, which showed easily in his eyes.]

I think the trick is to simply let yourself be pulled towards me. The spell I use should make it easier for you.

[All right... let himself be pulled. It sounded simple enough to just... allow something to happen and not to resist it, but really Eley knew this was a matter of trust. He had to know that no harm would come to him if Tsuzuki summoned him and that it was all right to give in. If he had any doubts then he was sure things wouldn't go quite according to plan.

It... might take a little getting used to. But the Spirit was willing to try nonetheless.]

Well... this is why we practice yes? Do your best and I will do my best to follow you.

Alright, just a second.

[Tsuzuki got up from his seat, intent on getting some distance between them. He didn't go further than five meters, but it was still enough. He looked back to ELeytheria, his facial features suddenly much more serious.]

It might help if you close your eyes. Just the first time.

16 - [Accidental Video/Action]

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