September 02, 2019

It was a little over five or six years ago to this day that I began my journey in this game and so many things have happened... I've seen and done so much after countless instances as Garu with as many new connections as I have farewells over these years and yet to this day I still recall this memory from back then so vividly as if it had only happened yesterday. I have always been one to try to help groups out and while leveling, it was no different. I had been completely new and a beginner to things like tanking since I was/am a healer main and decided that I would try to level via the FATE system instead of dungeons. In the time that has passed since then I am rather comfortable as a tank but back then, it was a lot of FATEs and things like Main Scenario Roulette since those were very laid back and not quite so heavy as far as responsibility went. It was during a winter of that time period that I was helping lead a FATE train back then via Shout chat and as per usual, there was another group trying to also guide the area to FATEs and got into a bit of a tiff with the leader who had been with his friends along with some people he had also picked up along the way. We yelled at each other a bit since we had differing views on what we should do with the FATEs but little did I know he'd end up being someone that I would come to get to know much better as the years went by after I invited him to a linkshell along with some friends of his. I am so glad to have met him and many others through things like FATEs or other systems of grouping that this game has introduced.

To all the people who have met one another or have yet to meet via this game, there are great times ahead. There will be trying times and perhaps you may drift from one another as time goes by but the people who you care about and feel the same way towards you will always return someday. I will always be grateful for the connections that I have found and have yet to find from this game and I hope that others can find them as well if they have not already.

Here's to more memories and the bright future of Final Fantasy XIV!



(Noble Barding)