Ssarak Dyreackthanose

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Ssarak paused only briefly to let out a quick breath of air at Meirin's playful hit before he chuckled and placed his hand on her shoulder, shaking it gently. [color=f7941d]"Now, you know I am not going to reach into your mind without permission. If you wish to give me a hint on something, you will have to do so in the traditional way. Just...keep in mind that your traditions are as familiar to me as color is to the blind."[/color] He commented. It was an obvious exaggeration, given how much he had learned of Humans over the past few years, but the point still stood. 

As the pair continued along through the building, Ssarak found Meirin's perspective to be surprisingly insightful. He would not have thought that a simple garment, even one as intricate as hers, could carry with it any real meaning. Coming from a society that valued practicality over all else in terms of useful resources, the idea never would have occurred to him to even attempt to apply deep thoughts to such an item. Even so, there were some common threads between his upbringing and Meirin's. They both appreciated art, just in different forms. Meirin's monastery found beauty in the movements of their martial arts, while his own village created dances in the skies with finely choreographed flights. Neither his village, nor the monastery found their beauty in clothing, but Ssarak was starting to see how Meirin could appreciate it in the same way. Certainly, he could easily see that it made her look quite elegant. 

Once they made it outside, Ssarak stopped and looked up at the morning sky, taking in a deep breath of the fresh air. Meirin's thoughts so far had inspired some of his own. He smiled, though he kept his gaze focused up at the clouds. [color=f7941d]"You would know your teachers better than I, of course, but I would think you are right based on what you have told me of them."[/color] He answered. [color=f7941d]"Though, you have inspired me to think. I must admit, I have never looked at something as simple as clothing with such depth. There are many parts of human society which never would have come close to occurring to me before. My parents, my village, they raised me to see the world in a certain way. They taught me the skills I have, but also the opinions I grew up with. They...proved to me how strong our lives made us. We were the masters of the volcanic badlands of our home. It is a place that calls many ferocious and threatening creatures home, but the Esyire were the ones that mastered it. Our ingenuity, our unity, our strength. I was taught that the land forced us to be strong by necessity, that it built the character of our people into something of which to be proud. I was taught that we benefit from the struggles that other races do not have to face. After living away from my homeland these past few years...I do have to agree that the Scorched Lands make us stronger. It trains us, physically and mentally, to become stronger than we would be otherwise. Hardier. But, after being away so long...I cannot really say that it is definitively [i]better[/i]."[/color]

Ssarak turned his head back to Meirin. [color=f7941d]"Life out here may not be as difficult, and as such, not require as much...durability. But, I have already witnessed the ways in which Humans' lives improve their people. They do not focus their lives solely on survival, so they are free to tackle other pursuits. I have seen how people here can create in ways of which I never could have dreamed. Impressive structures, magnificent works of art, and even creative forms of leisure. It is easier, and some people may see that as inferior, but I am starting to see it as simply different. I believe that those in my village have saw the world from only one perspective for so long, that they have a hard time seeing the perspectives of others. The same may be true of your monastery. The monks have found their way to live their lives, but it is the only lives they now know. They cannot see the lives of those elsewhere in Tien. They do not have the experiences of the people elsewhere in the world. Would it really be fair of them to diminish the value of your dress without knowing the time and passion that went into its creation? Or experiencing the beauty you find within its form? I do not truly believe they can be blamed, your people or mine. I think it is in the nature of any person to see the world through the lens of their own experiences. After all, it would be quite difficult, if not impossible, to have a true understanding of [i]every[/i] perspective in the world. I believe my clan leaders were wise and well-meaning people, just as is likely true of the monks who raised you. But, I am beginning to feel that the only way to truly understand the world, the way it is and how it should be, is to experience every facet of it that you are able."[/color]

Closing his eyes, Ssarak smiled once more, then took in a deep, satisfied breath. Glancing up to the sky briefly, he held his arms out wide in front of Meirin. [color=f7941d]"Well, shall I carry you to the edge of the sky?"[/color]