[Video]

[unfadingdragon]

[So there is a very worried looking young man staring at the camera. They said other people could see him with this. That he can just talk and they'd see it. It's still strange to him, but he's supposed to deal with being told he's a 'fictional', right? Right. So after a few long moments, Ryu speaks.]

Um... I'm Ryu... I'm new here, I guess... uh...

[He shakes his head. This is too hard to take in.]

I don't understand any of this. How could I not be real? I just need to get home. I need to find him. I need to go back.

[No one's here that he knows. He'd asked.]

I don't know what to do...

[... He's not sure what else to say, so he reaches over and turns the video off.]

Comments

[howsketchy]

Okay. Let's go then.

[ gestures for them to start walking ]

[unfadingdragon]

[He walks alongside her, keeping pace easily. He's used to walking for long distances.]

[howsketchy]

Are you feeling any better?

[unfadingdragon]

A little, but none of this stuff looks familiar. The buildings are too tall, that healing center was too clean... the roads are too hard and everything's really bright.

[howsketchy]

Well, it can take a while to get used to new surroundings.

[unfadingdragon]

I've never stayed in one place long enough to get used to it.

[howsketchy]

That sounds difficult.

[unfadingdragon]

It's not so bad. We're looking for Nina's sister, and for the other half of me.

[howsketchy]

... The other half of you?

[unfadingdragon]

[He nods.]

When the Yorae Dragon was summoned... it went wrong. Hundred of years ago, Fou-Lu showed up, and he tried to fix things as much as he could... but he wasn't strong enough, since he's only half of us. He fell asleep, and most people thought he was dead. I only showed up a few months ago... and he's woken up. We need to find each other so we can set things right.

[His expression falters, and he frowns.]

But I'm not strong enough to meet him yet. ... If we met now, I'd just be absorbed by him and disappear.

[howsketchy]

...

You'll get stronger.

[unfadingdragon]

... I know. It's just scary.

[howsketchy]

Life tends to be frightening.

[unfadingdragon]

Why? Why does it have to be like that?

[howsketchy]

... I really wish I knew.

[unfadingdragon]

I don't want anyone to be scared. When I get all of my power again, I'll do everything to make sure there's peace and people are happy and safe. I've already seen a lot of people who are hurt or sick or scared. I'm supposed to change things - so that's what I'll do.

[howsketchy]

You have very noble goals, Ryu. It's nice.

[unfadingdragon]

Huh?

[... He's never really thought of it that way.]

It's just... the right thing to do. Isn't it?