[Filter: Terrance]

I hoped you had a good birthday.

And I'm sorry if the whole thing about the hat upset you.

I really wish I didn't sunburn so easily. I don't even know how my shoulder was in the sun enough to burn, but it looks pretty red right now. I'll just have to make sure to be more careful in the future.

It seems strange to think about how long we've been in Atsiria now. It seems like almost forever.

It is a really lovely country.

[Filter: Private]

I wonder if it even matters who it is.

[Filter: Private]

Even though we knew something would happen and tried to get ready for it, it's still hard to see again. We know a bit more now, but there's still so much that we don't and we still can't do anything for them, other than keeping them alive.

We've been sitting and watching for so long, but it still doesn't get any easier. We're not supposed to become an audience of our own lives.

We have to keep believing that one day this is going to end. Because something important is going on, something big...and it has to have a conclusion. It has to.

[Filter: Calaith]

I don't think this is going to work. I'm glad we tried but I don't think you can really force things to happen.

It's wasn't all bad though. I really am glad that it happened, it was good for me to try...and maybe good for you too.



[Filter: Private]

It's disappointing. But still, definitely good that I could do it at all.

[Filter: Fayre, Elden, and Andrew]

You guys can understand me alright even when I don't write everything down, right? I know it can be hard, but I've always thought I was actually pretty good at getting most things across. Not everything, of course, but a lot of things.

[Filter: Jack]

Why was Calaith and I going to dinner your idea?

Happy birthday, Calaith.

There really have been a lot of birthdays lately. I'm glad because they've been good for everyone, I think.

Happy Unification Day.

I'd say it's a bit odd not being in Dentoria for it, but I think by now it would be strange if we were there.

[Filter: Calaith]

How's the song coming?



[Filter: Private]

When did I start using so many filters. I don't like it. I never wanted to hide so much. Private conversations aren't so bad, but it's still not quite the same.

But I can't really think of anything to say.

[Filter: Celeste]

Can we talk? I don't like being at odds with anyone and I'd like to resolve this in a way that we can both be happy with.

[Filter: Fayre, Elden, and Jasmine]

Is it just me, or do party invitations seem to be a prize for good behaviour these days?~

[Filter: Calaith]

I like your new song.

[Filter: Private]

Dragons, how can this be happening? It doesn't make any sense. Nothing does.

...no one wants to even think about the Moon Festival. The holidays are always the worst.

[Filter: Private]

I don't know what to do. Everything changed and it's never going to be the same again. But I know we can't just be like this forever. That won't help anyone. But it's hard.

Sometimes I

It's hard.

I don't understand. How can this be real?

Thank you for the cake, Nessa. It's delicious, as always.

[Filter: Private]

It's not so bad, as long as no one makes too much of a fuss.

20. That sounds so old.

[Filter: Private]

I feel like I shouldn't even really be thinking about my birthday, with everything else that is going on it just seems so trivial. People are getting hurt and dying and that's just so much bigger and more important than any day that's just for me.

It's even bigger than Rose Day, though at least everyone can have fun then, I hope. It's a really nice day, though I guess, well, it would be nice to have someone to cook for instead of everyone. But even that just doesn't matter when you look at the big picture of what's going on.

[pause]

Of course, if anyone else was saying this, I'd probably tell them that they were important~

[Filter: Private]

I wish that whatever is going to happen would just happen. All this waiting is so horrible and unfair. No one deserves to have anything like this happen to them. Sometimes the Dragons are just too cruel.

How long is it going to have to take before this puzzle finally gets solved? And, I guess the more important question is whether that answer is worth the cost? I try to believe that it is but sometimes it's really hard to tell.

I guess there really isn't anyway to know for sure, not until it's over. Mom always said that hindsight is perfect, but not really of much use for anything.

[Filter: Calaith]

I'm sorry about your guitar.