Meeting again...

[Sputt]

I was browsing the KI forums the other day, found this. I didn't have time to read it at the time so I just bookmarked it. I read it just now, and I must say.. worth the time. Thanks to Wisperwind for posting it on KI forums (direct link to the post where I found it).

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i found this story while looking around the net. it almost brought tears to my eyes....it seems to be getting around, but if you havent had a chance....

-wisper

-[Story was originally written in Japanese. All credits given to the person who wrote this and Jomachine of Sylph who translated it.]-

First time came to Valkurm Dunes, I saw a Taru White Mage among the group of strangers.
I was a Warrior, at a time I didn't even know what SkillChain was.
Competition for Subjob item was very intense, and it was common that Ghouls at Dunes were claimed immediately once they had spawned.
Every night, we searched for the items endlessly. Without knowing too much, we had a static party settled down.
War, War, Mnk, Whm, Blm, Rdm.
And finally, we had gathered complete subjob items for all.
Already with each other for so long, we decided to level all our subjob together also.


First time went to Jeuno, twice, we had all died on the road.
I still remember clearly the sound of our cheers when we got to Jeuno after all the obstacles we went through.
In order to celebrate the moment, we sold everything we had for some money to buy a LinkShell.
The leader was assigned to the Taru White Mage who lost on the /random dice.


We had such a good time...
Hoping it could always stay that way, never changed...


But. When was this starting to change? Maybe it's when the Taru White Mage learned the Teleport magic.
Gradually, everyone drifted away.
Taru White Mage was the reason.
Always quiet and calm, she started to avoid daily repetitive, killing, mad leveling partying.
To those members who wanted to get strong, powerful, high-level faster, she began to have troubles to get along with them.
The level difference was too wide.
One day, she suddenly told us her decision....
"I am so sorry. I have no use to everyone anymore. Please find another White Mage...."
Actually before she even made her announcement, our members already started to fall apart.
Secretly competing with each other by outleveling, again and again.
Now as I recall, I still don't understand why I was so desperate to level.
Maybe, it's because of the burning desire to persuade greater power, I think.
Two people left the LS, and later on I joined other LS.


........



........



At last, I maxed my warrior in levels. It was still quite some time before the release of Rise of Zilart expansion.
Having completed my initial goal, I started leveling THF in order to make more money.
As soon as the Rise of Zilart has released, my THF already reached lvl 58.
Thinking to explore the new zones and considering THF had the ability to flee from dangerous situation, I decided to go as THF.


Coming back to hometown Bastok, went through the Korroloka Tunnel, I arrived at Altepa Desert.
No map. No direction. I had no idea what to expect.
I just wondered around and see what would happen.
Suddenly, I saw the Telepoint-Altepa.
At the sametime, there is something next to it.


Yes, it's the long forgotten Taru White Mage.
She was in complete AF, sitting there alone quietly.
Next to her name, is a very familiar LS color.
Not possible.... there are too many LS with similar colors.
But somehow, my intuition told me it's the one we had long ago.
She saw me, and smiled.
Then, used /tell and said.....

"Haven't seen you in a long time. You look good ^^"

Maybe she found the awkwardness in the air, she did a /cry emote.

"I was so sorry that time, I wished I could apologize to everyone. One day, if we meet again. But I need to tell you something. "

Bathing in the purple light from Telepoint-Crystal, she started to tell her story slowly.
What happen after that. What she was thinking that time.



She, was an "adventurer" to the land of Vana'Diel, she said.
Of course, samething to me, I thought.
But the way she understood about adventure seemed to be different than mine.


"It was really fun when we were at Dunes. In a world we had no sense of where to go, we found our path together."
"But ever since we came to Jeuno, we were doing samething over and over again everyday. We didn't have any spare time."
"After I learned the Teleport magic, I always thought we could go someplace interesting as one. But everyone was only into leveling......"


"I, I just want to hang around in this world. I know, maybe at somewhere, there must be a great scenery I have yet to see. If we could all share that moment, would be so wonderful. At least, that's what I thought."
"Remember the first time we saw the rainbow at LaTheine Plateau? I still remembered how excited we were, never forgot. I wished we could all did this once again, just like the old times..."


At this point, I am shocked...


Indeed, first time went to Jeuno, it was very excited. But after that, everytime I saw new zones, did I still have the same feeling?
Even if I arrived at a new place, it's just another hunting place to me.
Those Momument Stones detailed the story of each zone, to me, is just another cumbersome obstacle to obtain map of the Crawler's Nest.
Since when, I have lost the enthusiasm to adventure?


The original LS we created, BLM was the one insisted would stay untill the end.
But now, she is the only one left, alone by herslef.
Even though, she said she still wanted to keep it equipped.


"Because, this is a special LS"
"Although there were many invites to other LS, but I all politely rejected them. One day if someone come back, I can say welcome home to him."


I felt ashamed. Until now, I never even thought of her once, already forgot about her in memory. Not to mention other members. I even dropped the Link Pearl long ago.


"Walking around in this world by myself. Everytime I saw something new, I always typed in what I discovered in LS chat, even though it ended up talking to myself only. w"

"I discovered many many stories. Like the history of Davoi, Magic Towers at Beaucedine Glacier and Sarutabaruta......"
The Taru White Mage kept talking to me the stories that perhaps no one would even pay attention to until now.
In the chat window, red texts of her /tells started to fill up slowly.
At the sametime, I felt I was very envied of her.
Her expression was so real and whole-hearted.
I already lost the sense of adventure, but she still kept it in her heart.


Nervously, I asked her.
If it's alright, could you once again, give me a Link Pearl? I asked.
Next time if you go travel around, please take me with you.
I know it is a very shameful, selfish request.


She smiled, and request to Trade.


It's a pearl with the most memorable color. I equipped it right away.
In the chat window, a green line of text slowly flowed in.


"Welcome back. And welcome to the adventure world of Vana'Diel"

[Tsquall]

.....

i don't know what to say. Gives me a lot to think about.

*hugs amicus*

[Ifzal]

Wow I can see the amicus tears flowing now like the mighty Gustaberg Falls, well my fello amicus mates, that is my most memorable moment seeing those falls for the first time as the sun was just above them, This reminds me of them and reminds me of the day I crossed that path with 4 other guys for the first time into the gates of jueno, amazed and awe we were, it was very exciting…

Thanks Sputt for this post... makes you want to stop this XP craziness, wait I have not xped in so many days, what craziness

[Babaganouche]

That made me sad. I haven't leveled in over a month because I've been waiting on friends to come back to the game and level with me, and I've just started thinking about going on without them.... Now I feel guilty.

[Peanut]

That is such a great post and really got me thinking. I too had a lot of memerable moments in game when I first started, namely the first 30 levels or so. Afterwards, when I get to a new zone unless it's drastically different I don't feel much at all anymore. I kinda blame SE for that cuz they reuse stuff!

[Covi]

Last night I PL'd a friend's alt for him (don't worry - he's a 35 PLD on his main). He's a guy I met right before I quit the game. I was running through Windy and he sent me a message asking for help with one of the early Windy missions, so I took him out to Giddeus and showed him where to drop the supplies off. We started talking a bit after that and he tried to persuade me not to leave the game. Of course, I did, but when I came back, he was thrilled to see me. It was nice.

Since I came back, he's asked me to hang out here and there and I've always been too busy with whatever. Well, last night after I bailed on the Eldieme fiasco, he asked for the PL help to get to 10 so he could party. I had a blast with him - he's really funny and goofy and it was a good time. When we were done (only got him to 8), he said 'Hey, thanks for the help. It was nice to see you. Keep in touch.'

Now it was probably a harmless statement, but it made me think that maybe I'm not as responsive as I like to think I am. And let's face it, without friends in this game, you've got nothing.

Let's promise not to let this happen to us, okay? I don't want to have to run into one of you in Tavnazia, and think 'wow - didn't we used to be in a LS together?'

[Xefer]

/em raises his glass

Cheers to the real reason we feel drawn to this world. Day by day it becomes less and less about the race to the end, and more about the fun you have getting there with new friends and new adventures, at least from my view.

Without a strong group of friends some facets of Vana'diel would be unbearable

[vasek]

Yah I've felt much like that WHM in my time. I still love just wandering through Tahrongi. Seeing the Yagudo that I kill in two swipes that nearly decimated my first party there. The worms in Tahrongi, the sense of wonder and bewilderment, the adrenaline that came from not having a map. not knowing how to get one, not knowing ahead of time what the worms could do.

I've thought long and hard about the new zones in FFXI that will come with the next expansion. I've decided I'd like to explore and learn about the monsters there rather than waiting until someone posts the levels and abilities of all of them on KI or Mystery Tour or Allakhazam, I ride the coattails of those that really love the thrill of trying something that might get you killed. If anyone wants to go with me when the expansion arrives I'd love to organize a party or even an alliance.

I miss that sense of awe, not felt since I saw the tornado in altepa. And before then I hardly remember the time.

--vas

[Peanut]

Along the same line, I had so much fun last night doing genkai 3 myself (aside from dying once and had to drag Sekri out to raise me in Davoi). Did the part of Davoi for the cresent orb with Sekri also since he raised me there and he doesn't have the orb either. The trip in the quads stronghold was the best. I was by my lonesome and have to get past lots of nasty IT+++++++ quads. I have never been to the Qulun Dome before and the doors there were cool. But in any case, that gave me my sense of adventure back.

I echo the missing of sense of awe, BUT, they are still in game! I have been to Oztroja a thousand times but last night's trip was still a rush. I had to go to the 3 places to get the password of the day in time, dodging yagudos left and right and wait for them to turn. And in the end I saw the Yagudo High Priest up there on the platform where I need to be. I patiently waited for 10 mins until he's at a good spot then I rushed towards the platform. I felt sooo good after I have done that. I wish there were more stuff like that we do in game.

On another note, I think we need to have a better sense of perspective when it comes to missions. I know sometimes we just want to do them to "get them over with", but we really need to pay more attention to the story behind it. Then maybe we can enjoy them more

[Hubris]

I'm such a dork. I almost cried ; ;
Thanks for sharing this.