Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=89#890 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 12/22/2020 at 11:21 AM Rin is suddenly paying attention. Oh boy. Story time. Isn't that wonderful? Now I'm 100% sure I'm going to die horribly.

Oh, Itami, please don't choose to tell the story through a host, Kanashimi whispers.

Itami stands up straight. Hm, hm. Well. That was the village Hitari was born and grew up in, but not many remembered him. The children he knew were adults, and their children were hardly told stories of what happened.

"If you're going to explain things at least do it in a timely manner," Hitari mutters. "She doesn't need to know those bits."

"No, I would like to," Shiawase says. "It's. . .interesting, in a way. . ."

"Oh, yay."

You don't sound very excited. This is wonderful. Anyway - many of the villagers despised their neighbors. Itami nods to Shiawase. That you know. They truly thought they would be happier if someone else was erased. And, as you were told, Hitari went down and. . .well, I'm sure you can guess. This used to be a flat plain, after all. The wonders a single detonation of power can do.

Shiawase frowns. "But. . .I know this. Nothing is different there. How did nothing happen?"

Rin listens intently, confused, horrified, and darkly intrigued.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=90#892 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 12/22/2020 at 11:31 AM Rin listens intently, confused, horrified, and darkly intrigued.

Well - there were survivors, Itami says bluntly. We went down and walked among the remains. It was mostly animals, but. . .if I recall correctly, an adult and two children lived -

"Three," Hitari says. "It was three."

- an adult and three children. The adult recognized Hitari, and tried to run out of fear. I'm sure you can assume how that went. It was strange, though. No one wished that man dead, and he did not wish that upon anyone.

"That doesn't matter," Hitari says, sounding blank. "No one was meant to live - " He slaps a hand over his mouth.

Mhm. He was the only one that ever thought back on you. Did you know that? Every time he thought about you, he felt a saddened pain in his heart. He didn't even know your name - he only knew what happened.

"What. . .what do you mean, 'what happened'?" Shiawase asks.

Rin listens to the story. ....how strange. I thought everyone there died immediately!

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=90#894 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 12/22/2020 at 11:46 AM Rin listens to the story. ....how strange. I thought everyone there died immediately!

Pain and loneliness, loneliness and pain. They break people. It's a most interesting thing to watch, you know. The way someone's mind will shatter as they submit to themselves -

"Things happened, and I was dubbed insane," Hitari muttered. "Big surprise, I know."

"But. . .what things. . .?"

Oh, you know, just starting life alone, Itami says, sounding cheery. His parents died rather quick!

Parents?! Rin looks up with a jolt. What the hell?

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=90#896 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 12/22/2020 at 12:16 PM Parents?! Rin looks up with a jolt. What the hell?

Somehow, he didn't die, Itami continues. How, I don't know. Frankly, I don't care. He was acknowledged by the other villagers, but that was all. No one talked to him, no one walked with him. Hitari was always alone - to the point where the crueler adults called him Loneliness, which stuck so long it became his name -

"You can stop talking now," Hitari says with an edge in his voice. "In fact, you will."

Oh, what will you do? Itami asks, sounding bored. I am merely answering her questions, am I not?

"You're making it sound like a fairy tale, which it definitely was not."

You only say that because you weren't watching. The story changes when you're an audience member.

"Hitari," Shiawase says, tugging at his sweater. ". . .let him keep going. . ."

He looks mildly surprised as he stares at her with widened eyes. "Don't tell me you like listening to him."

Rin listens, now very interested.

(im really sorry i got busy with work and such

(that's okay (: