02. voice;

[cetrary]

Hello again, everyone! First of all, thank you to everyone that answered my question before. I found a beautiful place for a little garden and already have a lot of things growing. This place has been actually been really helpful! I was worried it might not want to say anything or maybe there wouldn't be anything for it to say, but I guess I got lucky. [ She sounds a bit tired, but still as chipper as she usually does. ]

Someone suggested I update people here of anything I found out, so I'll try to tell you all what I learned. This place is new, I think it's kind of like a baby almost. It's happy right now, but ..it's very unstable. Us being here? That's how it's growing and how it's creating new places. So far this is all there is. [ Which is....kinda creepy. It means the mist doesn't actually lead anywhere and that's....well, freaky. ] I think we influence it. Us and ...well, that's kinda the bad news. Us and the things that come through the portal. It used to know how it was supposed to grow and what it'd become but now with the portal? It doesn't know anymore and I think ...it's scared. [ And she sounds pretty sad about that, sad and even more exhaustion had managed to slip into her voice. ]

Oh, and there's something weird in the Historium. It feels a lot older than the planet itself. A lot older. It's also really angry. It...it hurts to try to talk to it. I don't think it can talk back but it's...[ she trails off and lets out a tiny sigh ] I don't know, this will sound odd but I think it's a lot of spirits together? It's so angry and resentful though. I guess... that's why it doesn't always help people when they're looking for things there. That's about all I've been able to find out.

[ She hums to herself and falls silent for a few seconds. ] I'm going to be working in the forest for a bit longer but if anyone has any questions I can try to answer what I can.

Comments

[Audio]

[gadaboutdetective]

[Llewellyn couldn’t help but wonder at the amount she’d found out, and how she had apparently found out. Of course, the detective had a lot of questions now, but he put that aside just for a moment to start off with another point of the broadcast.]

I’m glad you found a location, Aerith. I uh— look forward to seeing it.

[There was some concern in his tone as he continued, she’d sounded rather tired at one point… but his words were genuine.] Is there anything I can help with to start? Mm… I can join you in the forest if you like?

[Questions were still coming, but he could prioritize and ask them after he took his offer of joining her to help with things seriously.]

[cetrary]

Sure! I'd love to show you, I bet you'll like it. [ And she figures he's probably got a lot of questions that are maybe better asked in person. ] There's a path not too far from the hunting lodge. Just keep following it to the left and you'll find the place. [ and if he comes what he'll find will look a lot like this but without any of the plants in pots and with less flowers and more fresh sprouts. She's got a collection of pots on the bench that she's working on getting things into. ]

[gadaboutdetective]

Wonderful, I’ll be there shortly. I should be able to find my way. [He responded with an eager tone. Looking forward to seeing the place, to help, and to talk a little further on what she’d discovered.

That said, it does take the detective some time to arrive. His left turn at the lodge had been a right turn at first, until he realized that he’d gone rather far and she said it wasn’t too far from the lodge… Eventually he did manage to find his way there, opening his mouth to greet her but becoming rather distracted by the garden. His eyes wide as they roamed the area with interest, picking out the familiar flowers and herbs absentmindedly as he stopped under the arch.] You’ve uh— been quite busy, Aerith.

[He finally offered a smile, tearing his eyes away from the plants and resisting his usual urge to fuss with greenery as moved away from the entrance and eyed some of the foliage that had overrun the remains of the cabin.] It’s quite beautiful.

[cetrary]

[ The first thing she did when she saw him was wave enthusiastically to him and put her little shovel down next to the pot she'd been working in. There was a warm smile on her face as she gave a nonchalant shrug. ]

Oh, it wasn't really me. I think this place was happy to make something nice. I just kinda...[ she pumped the air with her fist ] cheered it on. [ Which wasn't too far from the truth really. Mostly she was just happy to see that someone appreciated it as much as she did. ] There's still a lot to be done. [ But she's barely left since she found the place. Which might be evident in just how big the black circles are around her eyes. ]

[gadaboutdetective]

[Llewellyn waved back unconsciously, her enthusiasm was rather infectious as he moved further into the garden and looked around as she explained.

Or… Well, he wasn’t sure if that was an actual explanation. It left him with more questions than anything. Glancing sidelong at her with a small grin, humming a little as he finally reached out to fuss with some leaves.] I presume that by cheering them on you mean a little more than just talking to them— Or perhaps you are, I was always told plants do like to be talked to. [Which was kind of nice to think about it in a way. Made you feel a little less alone if you went by that logic while you were working along and voicing your thoughts out loud.]

Mm… [He paused as Aerith continued, eyes perhaps searching a little too much as he noted the dark circles around her own eyes.] Then how about you… Sit and talk me through something? I am here to learn, and uh— what better way to learn than do as I’m instructed?

[Because clearly whatever this ‘cheering on’ involved, had worn her out a little in all the time she’d spent here so far.]

audio;

[asthecroweflies]

So we're...living on an infant and the Historium has a chip on its shoulder?

[There's honestly a lot to unpack in his message, but he's going to try.]

How could the Directory be older than the planet?

[cetrary]

I guess that sums it up as well as anything would. [ Though she sounds a bit amused by it. ]

Good question, huh? I wish it could tell us.

[asthecroweflies]

Unless...it's from before. The Aspects said this world ended, and that they were trying to remake it.

[cetrary]

How could it have survived from before though?

[asthecroweflies]

I've no idea, but if I had to guess, I'd say "magic".

audio

[everybodypanic]

What's so great about a garden?

[cetrary]

A lot of things! They brighten up an area and they can also be useful for making potions and medicine.

[everybodypanic]

Yeah? Like what kind of medicine?

[cetrary]

Depends on the herbs. Things to soothe pain or to heal wounds.

[everybodypanic]

A bunch of weeds can do all that?

Audio

[unbreakable_king]

Ah my friend, I am glad to hear it about your garden. However I fear I must find myself posing questions.

Is there a way, you believe, that we might soothe such spirits? Or reduce the fear of this place? Have you been able to determine that? And what great spell have you worked to gain all of this knowledge? You are quite clearly a talented magi.

[cetrary]

That...[ she sighs a bit, just a bit of frustration comes in. ] I'm not certain. It can't talk to me, the spirits in the Historium. Or maybe it just won't, I'm not entirely sure. So, I'm not really sure how we help it. Them. [ Whatever it was. ] I'm not really sure how to help alleviate this planets fear either. I think it may reflect us and what we bring in, so maybe trying to do positive things? That sounds stupid though and it doesn't solve the problem of the portal bringing bad things in.

[ she pauses for a second. ] It's kind of...not really a spell but just a natural ability.

[unbreakable_king]

I have seen negativity and anger and greed destroy worlds. I've heard of it burning them to ashes on a level. So why should it not be true that positivity could achieve the same?

I shall try my best to bring bits of good to this place.

[A natural ability was it? How intriguing. Rhy had always been intrigued by the powers of other worlds.]

So not a magic as you would recognize it?

[cetrary]

I guess...you have a point there. I've seen the same and hope to stop it from completely destroyed our world. Maybe it does make sense that the opposite could do the same. [ But she's not entirely sure. ]

Kind of. Mmm...my people have a kind of...we're born with the ability to hear the planet.

[unbreakable_king]

Oh what a wonderful gift. My people are born with magic in the elements.

audio;

[mostlycloudy]

[She probably recognizes Cloud's tone at this point, subtle as it is. He's concerned.]

You can speak to this planet, too?

[cetrary]

Guess so. I don't think anyone else has ever really tried, it was pretty chatty.

[mostlycloudy]

No one else would think to.

[A pause.]

If this planet is new...what do you need me to do?

[cetrary]

Maybe they should. Places like people who talk to them. [ She chuckles. ]

I don't know. What do you want to do? Maybe that's a start.

[mostlycloudy]

Okay. [He pauses for a moment.] ...what should I say?

...I don't know. All my life, I wanted to be SOLDIER. I'd never really thought about doing anything else. This whole mercenary thing was Tifa's idea.