29th Entry: Bryyna's Speech

Researcher Annotation:
Notice the excessive use of negative language in recent entries. This is extremely uncharacteristic of what my source told me of Mureian people, who were usually so exescively positive.

There's no mistaking it. This woman is the same one from the portrait I collected. How had she been alive for so long...?

The objects in her neck must be Readers... but why does she have two?


Researcher's Personal Entry:
My home was torn apart today when I returned home. I think someone is trying to find this collection of mine! I think I need to leave this town... No, if I do that, they will know I am definitely hiding something... I will blame it on thieves and feign ignorance. They are testing me... and watching for a response. I have to be very careful from now on, but I am certain The Order is watching me.

Vertical Divider

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I have lost count of how many times one of us have collapsed in fits of hopelessness, but this time seemed to be the last straw. He launched himself into the snow, screaming that he could not go any further. We began to panic and some tried to tackle him to cover his mouth. They desperately groped at him with an overwhelming need to keep him silent, as the last thing any one wanted was another avalanche. That's what they said at least. It should be common knowledge at this point that the earthquake released most if not all possible avalanches.
We are not in our right minds, I know that almost better than anyone. Nothing is common or normal now. Our minds seem to have warped and changed, causing us to make excuses for our troubles and point the finger at eachother to blame SOMETHING for our misery.

Finally, Bryyna found it necessary to use her own superior channeling power to keep them at bay. This terror has begun to affect us all (this has become painfully obvious), and Bryyna is fighting to retain control. I can feel pangs of fear swelling up, an anxiety that has begun to overwhelm me. Perhaps this whole endeavor is hopeless. Our path to Mureia is completely cut off and our carrier automatons have broken down. No one from the other provinces will know what became of us now. They will assume us to be dead. Temperaments run high, and fear and uncertainty plague everyone amongst us; in part of our situation, in part of one another. What are we supposed to do? Is all of this for nothing? Will we all die out here in the ash and snow, with no shelter or fresh water? Will one of the other gifted channelers unhinge and lash out at us, as I almost did? Every moment we wait for these people to collect themselves is another moment our children and family members are suffocating, another degree of temperature lost, another step not taken towards the shelter we are all hoping actually exists.  None of us know where these caverns are except Bryyna. How much further are these caverns if they even exist? Will we even get there at all? We are all wondering this; you can see it in the eyes of everyone behind their breathing masks.

And then Bryyna climbed upon a drift of snow and ash, and called for attention. Although her voice was muffled by her mask, she spoke nonetheless clearly, with a fierce determination while seeming to echo our very concerns:
 

“...But despite losing your lives, you are not dead. Heaven still pumps through your veins, carrying with it the unifying bond each of us share through the Collective. You are members of a society at the peak of human ingenuity and worldly understanding. A society of oneness and charity whose people have even overcome the need for war, slavery, or deception. Never forget that. Certainly, you breathe unfamiliar air and walk on an unfamiliar bed of gray and black.  You have lost your homes, your children, and your livelihoods. As I said, some would indeed proclaim that you have 'lost your lives'. This, however, is as much as I will let you lose. For, despite all this, you are all alive, and I intend to keep you alive, despite whatever hardships may come. I will not promise you an easy life, such as the one you lived before, but follow me, and I will provide you with shelter, with food, and with water. Most importantly, I will provide you with hope, with friendship, and with council. For hope in these times can be more valuable than even food or water. It is hope that creates the survivor, hope that fills a belly with even the smallest portions, and hope that carves a path through the largest drifts of ash and snow. I promise you, we will survive this cataclysm. On the very first dawn of spring, after the skies clear and the sun rises with warmth once more, you will be the people of the 6th Era. No matter how long it takes, or how many times our destination may change. Despite how hopeless the situation may seem, I vow and swear to keep you safe, upon the life-giving Amira in my being. Hold me to it, because nothing in this world means more to me than this oath. I will do everything I can to keep it.”

Addendum: I stored every word into my own ADC. She is truly remarkable... I do not believe we could have ever chosen a better, more incredible person to lead us. I have some amount of hope again, after almost losing every ounce I had. Remarkable. She is absolutely remarkable.

~V

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