meteo

Nothing.

I felt nothing.

I'm sorry, they flew away too fast. I couldn't catch them.

No, you felt something! I could see it on your face!

(Shakes head frantically)

Why were you crying if you didn't feel anything?

(Wipes away the tears roughly)

Maybe there was nowhere in my heart for it to take root.

Where were you, Blunt Wedge? The captain was asking about you.

I went into the forest.

In the middle of the night? Why?

I...

She went on patrol because she was concerned about the enemies that got away a few days ago.

Y-Yeah, I thought they might retaliate.

Well, you were right. They attacked the camp. The night watch was asleep on duty and got his throat slit.

Wasn't Salley on duty?

Yup, he's dead.

We lost a bunch of supplies in the fire, too. Can't believe we're going hungry after months of hard work... dammit.

Anyone injured?

A few guys got burned. But we lost a lot of medical supplies too, so here's hoping they make it.

Alright, I gotta go. You should find the captain before he gets mad.

Okay...

You really should go, Blunt Wedge.

Are you... okay?

You're the one who just had something bad happen to you. Why are you asking me?

You look so sad...

Don't worry, it's not because of you.

Why, then?

Because of the scorched earth, where nothing will grow again.

It's getting late. I should go.

There's no need to see me off. I'll be fine on my own.

Just a little further. We might not see each other again.

I wanted to thank you... You taught me so many useful things. As for that word...

I couldn't understand it, but maybe someone else would.

It's okay. No need to bring it up.

...Sorry.

Don't apologize. It's not your fault. Never was.

I've seen many children like you, who've lost their homes, are used to seeing blood and killing, and drift from one battlefield to the next.

You were the only one who stopped to peruse the knowledge I was peddling.

For so many years, I believed that knowledge and culture could bring about change, overcome war and violence.

But in the end, it looks like war has won. It's made a mockery of everything I knew.

Are you giving up? If you won't teach people the true meaning of those words, who else can?

Won't they disappear from our lives with no one to understand and preserve them?

All it means is that the beauty those words represented was fleeting. Only pain and suffering remains.

I'm powerless to fight it.

But...

It's all good. Don't cry.

Take this book. I've travelled across Kazdel compiling the vocabulary of the land, trying to complete it.

A dictionary of the Sarkaz language?

I haven't written that word down yet. Do it for me, if you ever find help understanding it in the future.

Alright...

Wipe away your tears. This is goodbye.

...teorite? Miss Meteorite?

Oh!

Ah, yes, it means a night that is pleasant and serene.

Oh, I get it now! Thank you!

(Pats the child on the head)

But...

What is it?

Why are you crying?

Because you're a very smart kid.