OOC: Phew, been too long since I've been here. >_< Letting my own topics slide *again*! For shame, me, for shame.

IC:

Sabertache wrote:"Where do they all go? Hyrule is such a nice place, it's hard to imagine people would just come from nowhere and return to the same mysterious location. This is the first place I've stopped at in a long time..."

Alpha sits there for several long moments after Saber's question is asked, watching the humorous introductions between Arrika and Aiden with a grin on his face. New people coming, meeting one another, joining together to become allies and friends . . . so often does it happen this way, and yet just as often it seems those friends and allies that one trusts and relies on simply . . . disappear, without leaving a single trace behind.

"Kasei's probably right, you know . . . they, like Dogura, are no doubt doing quite well for themselves somewhere on there in the world. While Hyrule may be a nice place, it's also one steeped in adventure, mystery, and religion . . . and each of those can change a person depending on what events they become involved with. Perhaps they find that they no longer think of Hyrule as a peaceful place - in my time here, I've seen more war than peace, and while I've stuck around I can understand why others wouldn't."

He pauses, thinking back to some of his earliest companions here in Hyrule. "Others only came to Hyrule for a specific reason, and when that reason changed or was completed they no longer had any reason to be anywhere other than home. I remember my first real companion after my return to Hyrule . . . Malciore of Noe, he called himself, coming from a land far, far away. He was searching for a demon who had killed his older brother . . . I remember that he went around announcing he was looking for someone with a black hood and cape." The Sheikah laughs for a good, long time. "I thought he was searching for me, at first, but he was really after the demon, Umbra.

"I helped fight against Umbra for quite some time . . . several months passed, and we would find and battle against him every few weeks. Then, one day, Malciore was gone, and I haven't heard anything about him or Umbra ever since." He sits down on the grass, resting his hands behind his head as he gazes up to the sky, a wistful smile on his face. "I can only assume that Umbra departed for some other country, and Malciore was pursuing him. I pray to Nayru that he's been successful in defeating the demon, but . . . well, I don't know for sure, and frankly I doubt I ever will.

"Just another thing you learn to get used to. Everyone's life is a story, and whether we like it or not, we're not all major characters in the tale of every person we meet. Maybe in one or two we can play a big part, but for most of the time we're just there to point someone on a different path . . . and once they start down that path, there's simply no need for us anymore, so we can go back to our own stories."

Saber watched the Bard sink to the ground in a seemingly hysterical state with growing concern. His brows furrowed--something wasn't right. He wasn't sure why, but Aiden clearly was having a hard time handling something, and Arrika was the source. "Arrika, I really think space is what she needs right now. I know you have good intentions, but the best thing we can do for her right now is let her calm down." He cocked his head at the kneeilng Bard. "Aiden," He began gently. "Go ahead and rest in the shade if it'll help--the sun is pretty hot today. Should you need drink or food, or anything else, just ask us."

He wished he could help a bit more, but it didn't seem safe to touch Aiden in this frantic state. So Saber turned his attention back to the Sheikahn mage, catching his words of wisdom and analyzing them. "I suppose...that makes a lot of sense." His eyes went to the sky as he reflected on his past. "Now that I think of it, I've migrated...quite a bit since my story started. Who knows how many people I've left behind. I've never had an actual companion--I've never been around long enough to make one. However...I didn't know Dogura long either. To him, I was probably just as insignificant as several of the people I can't even name." He bit his lip and brushed his hair aside with his left hand, his right jabbing the dagger into the ground. "Still...when someone leaves, they not only remove others from their story, they remove themselves from other stories. If I had stayed back in Largrin, for instance, I may have helped with the civil disputes there."

"There are so many people, and so many stories; it's really quite awe-inspiring, isn't it? Your story, which may seem of deathly importance to you, may be a minor inconvenience in the world itself. It almost seems selfish to strive for your own goals, doesn't it? You leave so much else behind in the process..."

Saber sniffed, brushing at his nose with a swift motion to dispel the gathering allergins. "Though I suppose I could just be rambling."