Eventide Wayfarer

VTuber · eng/esp

Sunrise

Aricela Sandoval was the name a young woman chose for her herself on the day of her departure. In her mind, there was no destination. It would only be living day to day living in different cities. Years of being a musician on grand stages and in front of audiences left her tired. Aricela wanted to be no one and finally be free from the shackles of perfection and judgement the performance world had on her. At her final performance, she knew she would not miss the life of a stage while the applause continued on. A knapsack from the local markets sat beside the door filled to the brim with supplies. A rather simple design yet charming in itself.She was ready to set out on a brand new journey without worrying about every detail. At the gates of the village, Aricela met with one of her neighbors. They tucked a few fresh blueberry muffins she loved as a farewell gift. Aricela hugged her neighbor tightly as they whispered a prayer to the Sun God for her protection."Where are you going?" they asked once they pulled away."I am going to the seaside."And she arrived at the sea. The beautiful azure waves gently crashed against the shore. A seashell rested against the sand with the ocean's tide distorting its image. The shimmering foam raced towards the children playing with one another. A hummingbird followed her while so far from home."I am going to a secluded village in the forest."And stayed in the village where white lilies seemed to grow year-round. A rather strange place where scholars liked to meet. The small library holding some of the most renowned novels and important research with a strange scholar as its keeper. The hummingbird pulled at Aricela's sleeve to say hello.A young woman with lavender hair and a simple muted light blue dress stood in the plaza and welcomed her to the village. Her hospitality knew no bounds and her presence sent waves of nostalgia over Aricela. They relished in the assorted teas sold by merchants over meals and snacks before it was time for Aricela to depart once again."My destination is the city just before the rivers meet."Just for a week or two. There was a festival marking the start of Spring. Flowers and extravagant decorations lined the streets with lively music heard no matter where she went. The laughter and joy soothed her soul. Splashes of color made the city come alive with a vibrancy like no other."The place I am looking for I believe is in the middle of the desert."There really was a city there! The markets were lively with vendors shouting their prices like any city. A language dear to her heart was still spoken. Though it had spread across many seas, it was still recognizable to her. She saw a pair of aristocrats walk past her and light up in joy seeing her in their domain. To think they too had mundane everyday tasks and joys in their lives.They were always her destination for the moment, but never the final one. A soul forever left to wander the surface had far too much time to stand idly by rather than see what the world had to offer. And yet, she always returned to the very same village she left. Even with hundreds of years gone, she still had a place to call home.

Afternoon

Aricela fell into the soft grass after a rather taxing hike. The summit was wonderful, but she was beyond exhausted. It hurt to move. Even sitting up felt like a monumental task.And yet, she would do the same tomorrow with a different mountain. She smiled and handed her partner a canteen. "I would say waking up before sunrise was worth it. Even if we slept a few hours at best."Her partner scoffed and sat up. "A few hours is a generous estimate. You had us waking up long before daybreak since you wanted to visit the town at the foot of the mountain."The golden glow reflected off the edge of the canteen. Aricela turned away at the blinding light when her companion tilted it and shined a ray of light into her eyes with a mischievous grin. "Hey! What was that for?!""For waking me up this morning. Ah well, I suppose it was all worth the misery in the end."Her partner pointed to the horizon. The valley framed the sunset perfectly.Aricela watched in awe despite seeing the sunset many times throughout her journey. The streaks of orange, violet, and even some pink painted the skies above them. A sight she would never grow tired of and somehow always shared with someone else.Every memory she held close to her heart took place around sunset. The day she arrived at the first city on her own and watched the sun set with a knight in the watchtower. Another at the seaside while playing with a family's friendly hound. Another laughing at a campfire with friends after one of the longest days on the road and getting drenched by a storm. Countless hellos and farewells as the day drew to a close.She never grew tired of the wonderful sights. Aricela looked forward to seeing how the world around her changed, and people coming and going from her life and her from theirs.

Sunset

The busy city street was filled with people from all over the world. The village she left thousands of years ago now was the capital of a powerful country known for its grand festivals.For a mere three days was a festival for autumn's bountiful harvest. Thousands of artisans flocked to the capitol to sell their freshly made goods. It was Aricela's favorite day since every journey started and ended at home, but it was always so fleeting.A stall had one of her favorite snacks she could only find around then. A simple batch of blueberry muffins made by the very same family from thousands of years ago. Aricela placed the payment on the countertop and left with the brightest smile on her face."Hey! Time for a picture!" a fellow traveler shouted from across the street. Aricela smiled for the camera in the background of the picture. The woman lowered the camera as soon as the picture was taken and scurried up to Aricela in a frenzy."Do you happen to know where I can find—" The woman managed to take a closer look. An adventurer who looks as if she were a sunset herself.There were local legends of the region about a young traveler who appeared only during sunset. It was considered good luck for travelers to talk to her and said to shower local shops with good fortune. Aricela found the legend strange at first. But as time went on, she no longer insisted she was the same as any other.So many years came and went. So many names never forgotten. All of them leaving a lasting impression on the traveler. So many friends who will be loved for as long as her heart continued to beat even if they have long since left her life, but she would continue on her journey."You must be the Eventide Wayfarer," the woman who took the picture said while tucking the camera away."Ah, I've been found," Aricela replied with a small smile. "Yes, I always come and visit. Even though the village is unrecognizable from when I first departed, it is now the city I will forever love. But please, do no let me keep you. I plan to leave come nightfall.""So soon? Why wouldn't you stay for the festivities? There are still plenty of events planned for the night. And plenty of people would be happy to meet you. Better yet there is an orchestra preparing to play in the plaza," the woman said."I have enjoyed enough. Besides, I will return next year, and the year after, and the years that follow just as I have for millennia.""And where do you plan to go?"Aricela's tender gaze made the woman's heart skip a beat."I want to go to the seaside."