I Will Always Have A Minute For You [Ereloy]

// 1 //

The young Nora seeker was outcast most of her life. She had always been set apart from the rest of the Nora, and always desired to find out why she was.

It took a lot of preparation, but the Nora brave, Aloy, had succeeded in finishing the Proving, even though she lost fellow braves. She was deemed a Nora seeker that day, much to the Nora women (especially Teersa)'s dismay; she wanted to explore outside of the sacred lands of Mother's Heart and learn about why she was outcast from everyone else from birth.

Months pass, and Aloy is finally closing in on her answer. Turns out she's a genetic copy of a woman who died over 1,000 years ago - Elisabet Sobeck, a roboticist and the creator of GAIA. Aloy was created by Elisabet and GAIA to stop HADES - one of Elisabet's AI who went rogue - while HADES was determined to reactivate the Faro Plague, the plague that's taking over the Machines.

During those travels, Aloy met a young Oseram tribesman and vanguardsman named Erend. Erend isn't a very confident man, but he's the typical Oseram: bold, kinda stupid, proud, and a very heavy drinker. After losing his sister, Ersa, Erend began to become more mature, which led to a conversation between him and Aloy before she left to take down the Eclipse.

"Aloy. I was just thinking about Ersa," the Oseram starts, turning towards Aloy as she approaches him. "She would've killed Dervahl on the spot, I know it. That's why she went out in the first place - to put him down. But she also told me to grow up. Got to admit it, it burned a little when she said it. But I'm trying to take it to heart," Erend sighs. "And I guess growing up means putting what you should do in front of what you want to do, right?"

Aloy looks at him. "You're asking me? I'm pretty sure you're older."

Erend shrugs. "Yeah, but I don't act like it, do I?"

"You did with Dervahl." Aloy reassures.

"Eh, don't give me too much credit. Part of me still wants to wait for a quiet moment and wring his neck."

"Yeah, but you won't. Because you're a good captain." Aloy smiles at him.

"Come on, stop. You're going to make me tear up."

Aloy takes a moment to think about what she's going to say next. "So after all this, what's next for Erend Vanguardsman?"

"Heading back to the Claim for a while. I'll get in touch with my clan, and we'll lay Ersa to rest properly. Like how she would have wanted... And by that I mean - less chit-chat, more drinking."

"What do you think the Oseram will do to Dervahl?" Aloy asks.

"First off, they'll argue about it for a long time. But whatever they come up with, it won't be quick. I can live with that." Erend pauses. "In fact, I might just drop by his cell under the Sun-Ring to remind him what's coming."

"Well..." Aloy looks to the ground.

"I know, you've got to go. Killers to track, Machines to master - all before breakfast."

Aloy nods as Erend continues. "You know what? When we met, I thought I was a big shot talking to a pretty girl hidden away in the middle of nowhere. Now I see that I was just lucky to get a minute of your time. Try not to forget about me while you're out there changing the world." He finishes, a pleading, yet quite sad look in his eyes.

"I hate to tell you this after everything you've been through, but there's another fight brewing, and I need your help. Helis and his fanatics are coming for Meridian."

"No rest for the weary, huh?" Erend shrugs. "Well, don't worry, I'll be there for you."

"Oh, and... I'll always have a minute for you. Maybe even two." She smiles.

"Two? Ha. She likes me." Erend turns back around, looking out at the sky around Meridian. Aloy continues on her journey after talking to Meridian's Sun-King Avad. It would take a while, but she would find out her history.