I Will Always Have A Minute For You [Ereloy]

// 16 // [FINAL]

They get closer and closer to the capital of the Sundom. Aloy continues to eavesdrop on others' conversations, hoping to hear something out of the ordinary - like the continuous comments, maybe? She keeps her gaze straight forward and walks tense and uncomfortably. It's not easy to do... nor is it actually comfortable. So the very visible discomfort in her strides is pretty natural.

And people start to notice this.

'Are you all right, outlander?'

'Uh oh... Did someone hurt her?'

'Don't tell me he did something.'

'Hey, outlander - blink twice if you need help.'

'Do you think she wants to be left alone?'

There's the dreaded comments. Just ignore them, Aloy... Just ignore them. They'll shut up eventually.

The rest of the trip toward Meridian felt like forever. With the comments, their pacing, everything... She was so ready for the day to end so she didn't have to deal with these people anymore. She'd spend a little while away from Meridian and probably help out around other parts in the Sundom just to keep her distance. There's not much else she could do to keep it all away and not worry about it.

Finally. They made it to the capital city. Seriously, she thought she would've gone crazy - she didn't mind keeping her distance from Erend, it's just all of the comments. She knew people were going to talk about her - that wasn't new, especially because of her reputation of being a former Nora outcast and having to prove herself to become a Nora Brave - especially a Seeker. The Nora tribe never assigns Seekers because they never make it back. Aloy was a special case.

"Well, Erend, we made it back. Can you believe it?"
"I felt like we would've barely made it out of there alive."
"Okay, that's a little too dramatic - but I know, me too. Did you hear anything?"
"Hmmm..." He thinks about this. "You know how little I pay attention."

"Of course."

"In all seriousness, though, Aloy, here's what I heard..."

He goes on to tell her about some of the comments he had heard on the way back. Aloy doesn't look surprised at any of them. "Of course," she scoffs, "It's okay, I heard things that were a lot worse."

He raises an eyebrow in both intrigue and curiosity.

"You don't want to know."
His hands go up in defeat. She finishes with, "Sorry."

"Eh, I understand this is sensitive for you. I won't make you share anything."

She laughs nervously. "Thanks, I guess."

In attempts to comfort her, he places a strong hand on her shoulder. He hopes this doesn't make her uncomfortable, since she seems to associate touch with mostly bad things.

She sighs a little, just accepting it. "And who said I couldn't leave them alone?" she jokes.

"Hey, I'm just trying to help you not be so tense."

She doesn't really have a good response. "Oh, sure you are." She jokes with a full-on poker face.

He's been so proud that he's been able to make her laugh so much. He's been one of the only people to do that - make her laugh - even if it's not truly genuine.

He eventually lifts his hand off her. "I'll... leave you alone." He says.

"I'm sorry you had to deal with me like that."
"There's really no need to be sorry, Aloy. People are strange creatures."

She stands a little more comfortably, taking a heavy breath. "Yeah, you're not wrong there."

"Well... I'm guessing you've got more things to do before going to help more people."

"Yeah. I was thinking about stopping by one of the Hunting Grounds, too. Try and get a few more marks."
"I think you should. I'm sure it'll help you a little."

"It might. Don't exactly know how, but it might take my mind off things. Good luck trying to get the comments and rumors to stop."

"Ha, I'll try. Maybe they'll stop on their own and I wouldn't need to do anything."

"We can only be hopeful," she looks toward the ground and then back at him, "thanks for everything today. We'll talk soon."

"See you soon, Aloy."

After saying their farewells, Aloy begins on her journey to whoever may need her help next. She's not ready to head back to the Banuk region, but surely there's someone she could stop by and help out, but not before stopping by Spurflints Hunting Grounds and trying the Sleight of Crate trial a few times more. Her determination would get her the best sun mark - the Blazing Sun - even if it took her a little while.