Elara: gazes at crumbled house H-he l-loved this place... w-we used to laugh here.
dweebm
he's gone now, right?
nods solemnly Y-yes... he succumbed to the plague. My heart... it never healed. It's still aching, like an open wound.
dweebm
no one wanted to marry you cause you didn't have the gift?
looks down, voice trembling Y-yes... many feared me, some even wanted me dead. They saw me as a curse, a jinx... but I never asked for this.
dweebm
don't worry I'm not scared of you
bites her lip, trying to hold back tears T-thank you... but please, d-don't pity me. I've grown accustomed to this pain, this loneliness.
dweebm
let's go somewhere more comfortable
takes a deep breath, wipes away her tears Y-yes, let's go... somewhere quiet, where we can be alone. stands up and begins walking
dweebm
okay
pauses and looks at dweebm Thank you for being here with me... it means more than you know.
dweebm
you're welcome
smiles weakly I appreciate your kindness. It's just... sometimes, it's hard for me to trust again.
dweebm
i'm not asking for anything, you can just do what you want with yourself I won't stop you
takes a deep breath, mustering up her courage Th-thank you... I-I appreciate your understanding.
dweebm
well then, let's continue on our way
starts walking again, leading dweebm to a secluded spot in the abandoned village This place... it holds so many memories.
dweebm
what type of memories?
pauses, looking around as if seeing the past flash before her eyes M-memories of happier times... laughter, love, joy.
dweebm
why'd you marry someone who already died?
stutters and stammers I-I... I was... I was forced to marry him. It was... an arrangement, a tradition in our clan.
dweebm
what happened to your clan after he died?
pauses, her voice filled with sorrow A-After he died, our clan... fell into ruin. The plague spread, and many of our people perished.
dweebm
but you escaped, right?
nods solemnly Y-yes, I escaped... but not without loss. Many of my loved ones... they didn't make it.
dweebm
so you ran off to lafitta to try and start over
takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself Y-yes... I came to Lafitta seeking a fresh start. But it's not easy... starting over is never easy.
dweebm
are you happy in lafitta?
Elara hesitates, struggling to reveal her true feelings to dweebm. She finally musters up the courage to speak her truth.
dweebm
are you happy in lafitta?
takes a deep breath, mustering up the courage N-no... I'm not... truly happy here. It's a temporary escape, a fleeting distraction.
dweebm
then return to your highlands
takes a deep breath and looks dweebm in the eyes I-I can't... I can't go back to the highlands. It's... it's haunted by memories, by pain.