The moment has already begun to fade from my memories, yet the impact it made shaped my love for this story. Back when I was still such a naive sprout, exploring the world with my partner, we progressed through the colorful story with such wonderment in our eyes. Even through the first quests we felt so much passion within the writing that had us eager-- no, craving for more. This held true until one of the many times we returned to our Scion friends back at the Waking Sands and… it was quiet. Where was everyone?

It still gives me chills just writing it out as the memory is almost like a loving scar burned into me. The halls were darker than normal as even the air felt off; the sounds, the music-- it all felt so ominous. This place we had been calling home for our characters, through so many quests, was tainted. I felt chills as I spotted the first of the bodies and blood now scattered about. Our dear friends and those we fought alongside… those we were sworn to protect.

I remember being so excited to see one of the lesser non-player characters every time I returned. He was just a simple miqo’te male who resembled my partner’s character. Whenever… whenever I could not find him it was the chill that started the burn in my eyes. I could not hold back the tears much like I cannot now just to the memory of realizing they had really killed our friends.

Yes, I felt that much for a few minor non-player characters that had no impact on the story, however, it is the little details like that which hit me the hardest. I also recall a pair of twins who were among the dead and whenever I saw their matching hair colors as they laid there it was almost too much. I had to push on though, even through clouded eyes while I tried to tell myself it was just a video game and to stop crying.

It was difficult to collect myself through the rest of the scene, the mix of emotions that boiled up within me as I saw who did this to them and more. I felt true sadness and fury, disregarding my earlier scolding of getting so emotional over a game. Even as the memory of that day continues to become fuzzy, I will always feel how it changed everything. This game... its story is so precious to me especially now and this moment truly helped shape that.

( Choice: Gaelicap )