Here we see Duesa, one of Corinda's friends talking with Norika after the dinner of hotdogs and pork-n-beans. Duesa: I'm so happy to meet you, Norika, there's so much I want to know about you and hopefully help you with your stay here with the humans. Norika: Oh thank you so much, Duesa and I've got so many questions to ask you but everytime I get ready to ask one, someone is asking me something about me or Fae Valley and everytime I answer, I get even more questions! It's so frustrating, I want to learn all that you humans have to offer but I haven't had the chance to do ask anything. Duesa (laughing): I understand your problem, Norika, believe me I do, but you've got to realize that we don't get to see that many fae in our world and so we are very curious and want to know everything! Let's face it, we exchange people every fifty years and while your race is long-lived, ours is short in comparison and so everytime we see a fae, it is a very exciting experience for us. Norika (smiling now): That's true and while we don't see that many humans in Fae Valley, we see enough of them over the years that the novelty isn't there as much. But you humans seem to grow, is that the right word? so fast. And we have the reports and teachings from the last time and just from what I've seen so far, you have really done a lot. Duesa: True, our technological advances are pretty good compared to fifty years ago, but socially, I'm not so sure. Norika: What do you mean? Duesa: Well, a lot of people seem to believe that the advances in science and technology should solve a lot of our problems in the world, but in a lot of cases, these advances just seem to push us further back socially - at least that's what I think. Norika: What about magic? What's being done there? Duesa: A lot of people seem to think that magic isn't real! Heck, for that matter, a lot of people don't believe that the fae are real. That they are the products of over-active imaginations! Norika: What?!?!! You're saying that people think that we don't exist? Look at my wings! look at my ears! Look at me! I EXIST!!! I'm right here! Right now!!! Duesa: Calm down, Norika, I believe in the Fae and I always have even more so now because I've met you. You've just re-affirmed my belief in the Fae and magic. I'm just saying that a lot of people have given up on the old way of thinking and that unfortunately includes beliefs in magic and the Fae. Norika: that's horrible! How do they get through life? Duesa (shaking her head): I don't know, Norika. I just don't know. There are times when I think that the world is moving too fast and I just want to slow down, stop for a moment and catch my breath. But we stumble on as best as we can, hoping that the next big advance will help us make it through our lives. You know, in a way, I envy Corinda, I wish I was there instead of her. I would love nothing more than to be away from all this and learn something completely different. But I'm not, but the nice thing is, you're here and I hope that we can be friends. Norika: That would be nice, thank you! Duesa (laughing): So Norika, what would you like to know? Norika: The big question on my mind is something that Corinda's parents told me, that I should hide my wings because some people would want to hurt me. Why would they want to hurt me? I haven't done anything to them! Duesa: Oh that's a hard question to answer, Norika, but I'll try to answer as best as I can. Here! Let's sit down on these rocks and I'll tell you what I think is why they would hurt you. this will be continued tomorrow Thank you all for your wonderful comments on yesterday's upload, 'At the Temple' Duesa is from Illusion Designs Thanks Kaleya! Bambi is from A_ Moko Hair is from Yamato A3 whisper is from DAZ Weekly Free Heart dress is from Renderosity survey Stones on the beach are from Arcebus_Accessories