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[leitstern]

Travel is good for the soul, I hear.

But why?

When I was only twelve I was bestowed by the good grace of my sire an education in a delightful city thousands of miles from home. Dare I have a pleasant outing, you ask? The majesty of the finest library in the world seldom shielded me from the opposite of being in heaven; nursing frostbitten fingers and sleeping alone in the dark.

No, travel is the most dreadful punishment. For the fiercest soul is made to pine for the comforts of home. Where one is free to laugh and stroll amongst friends.

… I miss mine dearly.

Forgive me for occupying your valuable time with my musing but I must ask:

Do any of you pine for your world left behind? Is home something you miss?

[Do you feel homesick, Avalon?]

Comments

[gundhamster]

My world's situation was... unique.

[He pauses some trying to decide how to broach the subject without giving away too much.]

Despair in my world spread like a cult. Those within its grasp saw no reason to keep living and saw what they were doing as a service as they killed indiscriminately. They lived only to relieve others of the "suffering" of life.

[leitstern]

[A cult? One person at the head, a divine figure. He keeps thoughts private, knowing not to broach the subject.]

How morbid. Could they not think for themselves?

[gundhamster]

I say this with no sense of irony, humor, or hyperbole.

No. They could not.

[leitstern]

That is a tragedy.

What poor souls.

[gundhamster]

Indeed. It was the greatest tragedy in the history of our world. Entire nations vanished overnight because of it.

The world is in the process of rebuilding, but as it stands we don't really have an idea of the full impact it's had on the world, just because there are so many dead that normal avenues of information and communication are silent as well.

[leitstern]

The world is vast and broad.

It must be an arduous task to locate any survivors.

[gundhamster]

It is. Though what help I would be in that effort remains... unwanted.

[leitstern]

You speak as though you require approval to offer your help.

Do you not act alone?

[gundhamster]

I do not. Such things are not pleasant to speak of, but let us leave it at that the situation of my fellows and I is unique even among the survivors of our broken world.

[leitstern]

Indeed. One ought not pester.

Thank you for sharing all you might, friend.

[gundhamster]

While the specifics of my situation is difficult to talk about, I have committed myself to preventing such tragedies from occurring a second time, in whatever form that may take.

I am happy to share.

[leitstern]

Of course. I appreciate your candor.