TheSolaceGamer

The visuals have improved a lot, but is there a background character you may know in it? (Hint: 7:40)

~Zachary

In the off-chance I don't return...

Thank you all truly for everything. For putting up with my constant re-writes of my stories, for my stupid and idiotic humor, for continuing to follow me even after waiting forever for me to post stuff... It's been a long time since I first joined dA. I think a few of you still watch me from when I posted my first story on what happened after the game Jak 3. It was one of the first times I got praise on anything I'd written and set me on the path I'm on now. However, the truth is that I mainly write because I'm inspired by the people I've come to know here. Sure, other things have played pivotal roles in my writing, but nothing has wanted me to continue to write than everyone I've met here on dA.

I feel its best that I don't give the reasons for my leaving. It's not because its an embarrassing secret or that I'm ashamed of something or anything like that. It's just... easier this way, I suppose. Easier for me, easier for you guys than knowing the truth. Like I said before, goodbyes are most definitely not my strong-suit, so bear with me if this gets confusing to read at any point.

I plan on... continuing to write once I leave dA. For me, I've only ever been able to write when I get bursts of creativity, I can't really just sit down and work on five chapters at once. Plus I can't stop until I finish Solace's story. He deserves that at least, after all the shit I've put him through. Plus he's become a part of me over the years he's 'come to be'. I can't say whether his story will be publicly released whether it be on here or on an actual bookshelf, but even if its not, it would be nice to know that he's finally able to complete his journey.

There's a couple specific people I want to thank:

Rita -
Words probably can't express how much I owe you for putting up with my constant shit for so long. It seems like years since we first met, which is truly a testament to the impact you've had on me. Without you, my story probably would have been scrapped completely from the get-go. You helped me mold Solace and his friends in ways that just stunned me and I throughly enjoyed waiting for your next deviation to be posted right after viewing your most recent one. I'm sorry we couldn't meet that one time in San Francisco and it would have been awesome to have met someone like you in person. I'd say 'thanks', but I think we both know that wouldn't be enough.

Xion -
You taught me how to role-play man. Even when I was new to it and thought it was completely foreign and weird to me, you showed me the ropes and helped me realize a new way to enhance my creativity and were like a brother to me back in the good old forum days.

The Skype Group -
Alex: You always were one of the people who could manage to laugh where others would kinda just roll their eyes at me. I'm sure you did it too from time to time, but it was still appreciated.
Kira - Kira, Kira, Kira. You're always constantly giving me more shit to watch or look up, but I've throughly enjoyed and loved the things you've introduced me to and also doing failed RP's with you. Hopefully one day we can find an RP that we can finish without rolling our eyes at a certain someone. (You know who!)
David - You always seemed like the leader, so I was a little intimidated by you when we first met. You tend to have an aura that always cheers everyone up when you join a Skype call. Keep that aura up dude.

Scythe - I dunno why you've glomped me about five times over the course of our Skype chats, but it's always a lot of fun talking to you. It's completely unpredictable and I'm never sure whether I'll get a smile, a face palm, or just tackled by you via Skype chat.

People mentioned: and others...

There's more people obviously that I would like to thank, but I think I've covered my bases pretty well.

I don't want to make it seem like this is a big deal or anything. My leaving, hopefully, will have no impact on anyone, as I hope it should. I don't think I played a major role in anything on dA, so it's good to know no one will be heart-broken or anything once I'm gone. I'll still stay in contact via Skype and stuff when I can, but I think it's about time I've wrapped this up. I took this from the end of my story, which I wrote first before anything else. I thought it fit well for this journal, despite the spoilers:

"I used to be a legend, you know. Saved the world and everything." Solace said, chuckling. "But now there are new heroes - no... new adventurers who're spoken of by the common folk. As long as they continue to spread hope through their tales of grand adventures and daring deeds, I don't care if my name becomes a distant, faded scribble in the back of an old, dusty history book. I gave hope in my time; the same hope that the adventurers spread to others now. Maybe I'll even be called upon again someday..." 

Satisfied, he ruffled the kid's hair and stood up. With a final smile, he slide on his father's blue cloak and walked away from town towards the long barren road that stretched out to the sun.

"But what do I know? After all, Nille just said I'm the idiot who challenged the world to a fight and won. But it was fun while it lasted..."

And with that, Solace faded into the horizon, moving onto the next grand adventure where his friends were waiting for him.

Thank you all so much.

Farewell.

~Zachary