With each passing day, I find myself walking with greater ease!

After so long a time without a chance to stretch my legs, I make it a point to visit the central gathering area, the Spiritwood, as much as I can.

Rena, Nera, and Mjrn continue to make visits, though I most often encounter them within the Spiritwood. Alja has, for the most part, returned to her primary duties as a Salve maker, only stopping by to deliver various medicines and remedies. Kjrs of course ensures I am not causing trouble at the same frequency she always has, though even she seems to have lost a small amount of the hostility she once held towards me. A small amount.

Within the Spiritwood I have attempted to follow the Viera’s customs and reflect upon my surroundings. At first, my unquiet mind made this difficult, with boredom setting in quite quickly.

But now I can meditate with my mind at ease, and I feel a level of contentment and relaxation I have never felt in my life. In the beginning I took note of my time here, making marks with each sunrise. But I realized one morning I had not left a mark for some time and now I have ceased altogether. I have lost track of how long I have been here and the only metric I have now is the dulling pain within my body.

I confided in Nera and Rena that I will be quite depressed when I inevitably have to leave, for with each passing day my physical state improves. But they reassured me that it would not be for some time. While I was not “accepted” by the villagers by any means, I was no longer completely alien to them, and Nera claimed that most tolerate my presence.

Rena once again reiterated that Jote herself seemed at ease to allow my extended stay.

I felt some measure of relief at hearing this from the Viera themselves, but I remembered one Viera in particular.

“What of Hala?” I asked.

Nera and Rena both glanced at each other and began to “well” and “hmm” as they looked for the words. I laughed, as it was not often the Viera get flustered.

For you see, Hala has been the most outspoken opposition to my stay here.

She is, as I was informed, the leader of the Salve makers and second in command of the village affairs only to Elder Jote.

From the moment I landed she has been resolute that my presence has been a mortal threat, and wished to have me expelled. The longer I remained in the village the more pressing she became, and now it seems she makes it a point to Elder Jote quite often.

I understand that an outsider to the Viera is something of grave concern to them, especially with the ever present fear of what I may do once I leave the village and return to the outside world. I, of course, would never do anything to risk their existence, but I do not blame them for holding the thought in the back of their mind. Even so, what I have done to earn such ire from her I doubt I shall ever know.

Rena insists that over time she will grow more accepting, but somehow I doubt that will ever be the case!
————–
Meet Hala!

Leader of the Salve makers and direct aide to Elder Jote!

While she may appear timid, she holds her post with the utmost pride and confidence, ensuring that the wood is well maintained.

However, of all the things to disrupt her mental calm, Humes are at the top of the list. Her distrust and even dislike for them is almost insurmountable, and it would be wise to avoid her unless necessary!

However, there are rumors that this distaste for the outside world is driven by her deepest shame. A secret infatuation with the idea of the outside world. But she knows that the Wood and village must surpass all wayward thoughts, and so she buries them deep within, feeding the ever growing opposition to the outside that rears its head when any of the myriad races of Ivalice threaten to disturb her!