[ And silence would soon follow as he contemplates her invitation, feeling the tiniest bit flustered at the sudden attention. The journey would indeed take at least another few hours, but the boy refuses to sit down just yet, as this would mean missing out on the views stretching below the airship. ]

I know you mean well. [ His expression is gentle, but the playful smiles are gone in favour of a more melancholic demeanor. ] But when you struggle with understanding your own thoughts, it makes the story harder to tell.

[ Going against his better judgement, he continues, although vaguely. ]

Before the Crystal spoke to me, I witnessed events that should no longer have a right to be. Like a dream, but it felt more real than that. With no threats at the horizon, everybody seemed so... free.

[ ... ]

Most would call it a false hope, but the image was comforting, in a way.