Story Reader / Affection / Ayla: Kaleido / Story
Ayla: Kaleido I
>After lunchtime on a certain day in Babylonia.
Coming through the glass windows in the hallway, the sunlight is nice and warm—and if you ask Ayla how she'd spend an afternoon like this, she'd say...
Gotta slack off hard. That's right!
Humming a cheerful tune, Ayla turns on her terminal and starts checking her recent chat history.
Great. Commandant is going to be here for the entire day today!
Which means I get to hang out in Gray Raven's lounge!
With a spring in her step and a bright smile on her face, Ayla stares out the window at the artificial sky, from which sunlight trickles down.
Oh my, it's been a while since I last had a proper sunbath...
With it, the sunlight casts a rare moment of warmth on the scarred soil of the conservation area.
The sun today sure feels nice...
As the sunlight filters gently down through the leaves, Ayla closes her eyes in relish of the transient treat.
Since the battle at Hetero Space Station, she hasn't been back to Babylonia. Instead, she has been traversing conservation areas on the surface, tirelessly seeking any piece of information about Selena.
She can't remember the last time she took a break...
Right then, looking all mysterious, an expedition member walks up to Ayla.
Have you heard? The Gray Ravens are in this conservation area now.
Gray Ravens, you said? Is this where they're supposed to be for their surface mission this time?
Yup, and I heard they're waiting to go to their next mission location. Only their commandant and one of their members are here, though. The other two members are somewhere else.
And I heard from someone working at the conservation area that they'd be leaving this afternoon.
I see... Would you happen to know where they are now?
In the outbuilding right behind the fence. They're going to help with checking the defense facilities around there, apparently.
I should probably take advantage of this chance to see that commandant...
Ayla? Where are you going?
I'll be right back!
Says Ayla—as she waves back, having sped away so fast that her voice is barely audible now.
You're on standby in the conservation area waiting to be transferred.
A resource delivery assignment to yet another conservation area, the mission this time is easy enough, giving you the luxury of an entire afternoon to rest yourself up.
Lucia and Liv are wrapping up the mission, and Lee has been called in to help with testing the defense facilities around the conservation area...
Which leaves you all alone by yourself now, something you find yourself a little unused to.
Closing your notebook after logging the last leg of the mission, you look up—and see countless tents and refugees working.
Without so much as a trace of hope in their eyes, the refugees work mechanically, stopping only every now and then to exchange a few words.
War and lost homes aren't the only hardships Punishing has put mankind through—because a future of uncertainty and despair is the ultimate nightmare that haunts humans time and again...
Outside the window, the sunlight now seems clouded with a shade of chill in the gloomy conservation area.
Then, a smear of pink sharpens into view through the gloomy air.
Hi, Commandant!
Do you remember me?
You look up and see a girl—who's beaming at you like the first ray of dawn.
Busy? I'm coming in!
Giving you no chance to answer her question, the girl invites herself in and starts surveying the space curiously.
It sure has!
Everyone in Babylonia has heard about you since those legendary battles, Commandant.
Ayla winks at you, the drawing she brings with her is weird beyond description.
The drawing is of a person wearing a commandant uniform... except you can't tell who that is to save your life.
Broad-shouldered and standing about two meters tall, the person carries a huge rocket launcher and a complicated-looking exoskeleton on their back...
You don't remember ever seeing a commandant who attacks with a rocket launcher like this...
It's you, Commandant!
I drew this for you, based on everything I've heard about you at Babylonia!
They said you stand at 2.21 meters tall, can hold a fusion cannon single-handedly, and can fight like a Construct with your special exoskeleton...
Ayla looks at her work of art with squinted eyes.
They also told me that you have a pair of wings and eagle eyes, except I haven't drawn them here...
Oh, I'm sure people don't mean any of those literally. People probably just came up with those out of admiration for you, Commandant.
I know for a fact that you are so much more than that, Commandant, and you can totally trust me when I say this...
Because I've been keeping an eye on everything you do!
Ayla winks at you in excitement.
You're an excellent soldier, a competent commandant...
I guess I'd describe you as the sun.
Most people see the rising sun as a symbol of hope, right?
Although "the burning torch in the dark" probably fits you even better, since you always shine through the dark with your light and warmth...
And I even came up with a series of works with this as the theme.
With a smile, Ayla looks at you, apparently waiting for you to comment on what she said.
You, on the other hand, aren't exactly sure what to say, having been taken by surprise.
Seeing that you aren't quite sure how to react, Ayla waves her hand lightheartedly.
C'mon, Commandant. Taking people's compliments with a smile can go a long way.
I mean, I feel happy when people say nice things about me as an artist.
And when people do that, I just go, "Thank you. That means a lot."
With it, Ayla clears her throat, signaling that the floor is yours.
Perfect. That's it!
Leaving the drawing on your table, Ayla turns around excitedly, apparently having just thought of something.
So... Have you heard about me from other people, Commandant?
A pop artist with interesting works? Or a highly artistic Construct, maybe?
Wait, seriously?
Don't you ever read the newspaper or watch TV?
C'mon, I know people talk about me.
Because my work is too interesting to come and go just like that.
What do you remember about me, though, Commandant?
Ayla casts you a curious look.
Yup, you heard that right. I'm just curious to know what you think of me.
Showered in sunlight by the window, Ayla looks impish as she awaits your answer.
The smear of pink that suddenly popped into view earlier in the gloom of the conservation area flashes through your mind.
Uhm? You seem like you're struggling to find the words, Commandant.
You can start with physical descriptions, if that makes things easier!
You've heard many things about Ayla at Babylonia, and you've even seen many of her works...
But with her waiting right in front of you to hear what you have to say about her with those puppy eyes, you find yourself at a loss for words.
...Well, I guess words can fail to do us justice sometimes.
Here, you can try drawing your thoughts down!
Before you know it, Ayla produces a piece of drawing paper out of her clipboard and unfolds it across the table.
You can be general with what you draw.
You can, for example, start with my height and throw in a pair of wings, if you like!
Drawing does seem easier than producing words...
Except you aren't quite sure where to begin because it's been quite some time since you last drew anything. Moments later, however, you decide to draw down the first thought that came to your mind when you saw Ayla through the window just now.
Is that a girl... with pink hair?
Ayla looks curiously over your shoulder at your doodle.
A flower... Pst. What exactly are these lines?
The simple lines are supposed to represent windows and sunshine, and the pink girl wearing a beret is surrounded by blooming flowers.
Oh, wow... So this is what came to your mind when you saw me!
Says Ayla as she picks up the half-dry painting—she seems surprised to see that this is your first impression of her.
I was expecting to see a palette or a paintbrush instead, because I thought everyone viewed me as a pop artist...
A slant of sunlight adds a cozy smudge to the picture.
...But coming from someone who's never learned how to paint, this is one fine piece of work, Commandant.
I'd be more than happy to show you how it's done properly, though!
See, I love running my own classes at the salon...
But people just don't come to my classes. They keep saying my classes are too theory-heavy...
Well, how would you like to give my lesson a try, Commandant? Satisfaction guaranteed, of course.
Alright, sounds like a plan!
We should hang out in Babylonia sometime. Give me a call whenever you're free!
Well, I'll stop bothering you, then!
Putting her clipboard away, Ayla nods at you excitedly. And, before you know it, she's out of the room again.
Guess that's an artist for you, huh...
Looking out the window, you see Ayla pass by the tents as she hums a tune.
A short distance away, Ayla sees a little girl wobble over carrying a bunch of tangled ropes—before she trips over and falls. Ayla dashes over and helps her up.
Hey, is everything okay?
After bandaging the weeping girl, Ayla proceeds to draw something on the bandage.
How do you like it? I made this pink color just for you!
Why are you carrying all these ropes, though? Were you going over there to help with tying the tent?
That's where I'm going, too! Here, let me help you.
Says Ayla with a beaming smile on her face, as she takes the heavy ropes from the girl and walks away holding her hand.
Ayla lowers her head and says something to the little girl. Catching a glimpse of you through the window, the girl bursts into a fit of giggles alongside Ayla.
...Drinking in the sight, you feel warm again in the sunlight coming in through the window.
