Incline 8: Einervaene

"How come you are out here so late? You need to rest, Einervaene." Brewbrt asked me as he approached me from behind.

"Sorry, I was reminiscing." I told him as I stared out at the fields before the mountain. I was glad to see that the signs of our victory were all still here. It clearly worked at serving as a warning in our absence. But the presence of oxfuinei guards indicated a general change of fortunes for this place.

I was glad about that, Vadei would not be shouldering her new burdens alone.

"I take it you were thinking about the last time you were here?"

"Yes, yes I was."

"Mind telling me?" he asked as he placed his back against a thick stump of wood.

"It hadn't been long since we crossed the great canyon eastwards to save Vadei's people." I start to explain as I look back at the village.

"You went beyond Redstone? Impressive given what is going on in that direction." Brewbrt lets out.

"Vadei piloted our airship around the larger ones... Though, at Nin's behest, we did try our best to get a closer look." I explained further before I found myself annoyed at how the topic went.

"It must've been quite the sight to see Thurn's Forge from that angle. I've only ever seen it from the roads leading up to it from the south."

"You've never been there yourself?"

"No, this war between them and the Seven-Peaks Union has been going on for a long time. A very long time. Unless I went in with the appropriate mark, which would've put me under their draft, I would've never got in. So, I never did."

"I see... So, we went across and back, obviously." I said before I carried on explaining. And I giggled slightly at that comment.

"Jealous, I have to admit, seeing that view twice." he comments with a bemused expression. And while I focused on the scar near his eye. My mind slowly got to work remembering the journey.

"Which then brings us here. It was empty, completely. But, it wasn't because everyone had been abducted. At least, not by slavers."

"Osibindah were here." he said as he caught on quickly.

"Yes, so we went into their hive looking for them..." I say as I moved ahead to find the signs of our efforts more directly. And I gestured for Brewbrt as I did so.

"You didn't leave that hive particularly bothered, did you?" he then asked me.

"No, despite seeing what I did. I don't think about it much."

"Atta girl, I know it is not pleasant within those earthen halls of theirs."

"No, it wasn't... Especially seeing what they do..." I uncomfortably comment as some feint memories come back to me. Of children's bones and broken adults. The sudden hand I received on my shoulder, though, made me jump.

"Relax, I am not one of them." he tells me before he starts to tug at my posture.

"But, yeah... That was the adventure we had here before we ended up going back to Suhurlodst with Vadei once again. Smiles on our faces with no idea what lies ahead..."

"You should make a point of desperately clinging to those happy memories. Life is often filled with bad moments. I know it is a fresh, open wound for you. But, try to think of the times you were happy with them all. Rather than the history that has decided your current present."

"This is not wisdom I can quite use at the moment." I tell him with a sigh as I watch him nod.

"I know, but make sure to heed my words as well as you can. Now, let's head back to the house. We have a long road ahead of us and if you forgot, I am old." he told me before I smiled a little at the end.

"Don't give me that... You are nothing alike most old people."

"A matter of perspective." he chuckles out as we headed back into the town.