Aloy and Noir

After thinkering with the focus and making a small antenna with the help of the Oseram that could increase the focus connection i decide that it was time to make a certain call and climb a tallneck, i couldn't override it but i could thinker with it a little, just enough to improve our signal, and the view from the top of a tallneck was amazing, the climb, not so much, i have no idea how Aloy does this all the time.

"It's been a year since we talked, i wonder how she's doing? Bet Rost giving her a hellish training " I murmured to myself feeling sorry for Aloy, the protagonist who carries the world on her back. Well no more. Now that i can reach her in the Embrace it's time to teach her some things.

POV Aloy 

Ten-year-old Aloy sat on a boulder overlooking a vast valley of the Embrace, the only land she knew.

She tapped the side of her Focus, a habit she'd developed whenever she wanted to distract herself suddenly the device hummed to life, its familiar interface overlaying her vision.

"Hello?" I whispered. "Is anyone there?"

For a moment there was silence. Then a voice responded laced with warmth and a touch of regret.

"Aloy?"

Her heart skipped a beat. "Noir! Is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me." Noir replied. "I'm here."

My eyes filled with tears, and i quickly wiped them away with the back of my hand. "You… you left. You said you'd always be here, but then you were gone. I thought you were my friend?" I said with an angry voice

Noir's sigh crackled through the connection. "I didn't want to leave, Aloy. Sometimes things happen and we have to make hard choices. But I'm here now. I'm listening."

My voice wavered. "I don't have anyone to talk to anymore. Rost is great, but he's always so serious. He doesn't understand. We always training and training and more training, all for the Proving."

"Rost cares about you." Noir said gently. "He just shows it differently. But I understand. You need someone who gets you, someone who listens without judging. That's what friends do."

Aloy sniffled. "You're my friend, right? Even if you're far away? Where are you? Why did you leave?"

"Of course." Noir said without hesitation. "Distance doesn't change that and to answer all your questions... Well, it will take some time that i don't have right now. Just know that i'm fighting for all of us."

"It's just… it's hard. I don't know why I feel like this."

"It's okay to feel that way." Noir said. "Sometimes, we miss people and it hurts. That's what makes us human."

I hesitated but then asked, "Do you ever feel like that? Lonely?"

Noir's voice softened. "All the time. Especially when i think about the people i care about. But i remind myself that even if we're apart, the connection we have is real. And that's something no distance can break."

I leaned back more calmly. "Can you tell me a story? Something to make me feel better?"

"Sure." Noir said, his tone brightening. "Have i ever told you about the time i outsmarted a giant machine called a Thunderjaw?"

I tilted my head. "What's a Thunderjaw? And you haven't talked to me for over a year Noir!"

Noir chuckled. "It's one of the biggest, most dangerous machines out there. Imagine a metal beast as tall as a tree, with massive jaws and weapons all over its body."

My eyes widened. "That sounds scary."

"It is." Noir said his voice tinged with humor. "But it's also incredible. Anyway, i was out in the wilds, low on ammo, and the only thing standing between me and safety was this giant, angry machine."

"What did you do?" I asked my sadness and anger momentarily forgotten.

"I used my Focus to find its weak points."

Noir explained. "Then i set up traps and led it into an ambush. It took a lot of running and rolling a little luck, but eventually, i brought it down."

I giggled. "I bet it was more luck than skill, and that doesn't tell me much, does a machine like that really would fall into a trap?"

"Hey!" Noir said, feigning offense. "I'll have you know i'm very skilled. But maybe i wasn't alone, or maybe i was. Who knows?"

She laughed, the sound light and genuine. "Okay, maybe a little skill them."

"That's more like it." Noir said, his voice warm. "And one day, you'll be even better than me."

My smile faded slightly. "Do you really think so?"

"I know so." Noir said firmly. "You're smart, brave, and resourceful. You've got everything it takes to be amazing."

I nodded my confidence bolstered by his words. "Thanks, Noir. I feel better now."

"Good." he said. "Because no matter what, you're never truly alone. I'll always be just a call away and you know what? Now that we can talk i'm going to teach you everything related to tech, and when i cant Albedo will talk and teach you."

"Albedo?" I question not knowing who she is.

"My mate, she's very smart and will also help and talk to you." Noir reassures me. "You are not alone Aloy, but for now i have to go, have a tallneck to climb down, be brave Aloy."

Aloy's Focus dimmed as the connection ended, but the warmth of Noir's words lingered. She stood up, the weight on her heart a little lighter. The valley below seemed less daunting, and the path ahead felt a little less lonely.

"Wait... whats a tallneck?"

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Every 100 power stones a new chapter