A Change of Pace

A Change of Pace is a quest in .
==Steps==
# Go to Puspa Café
# Talk to Layla
==Dialogue==
===A Change of Pace===
;(Upon Arriving Puspa Café)
: Layla: Let's sit down here and have some coffee and sweets. It'll help me put my thoughts together.
: Layla: Ah no, we're here to rest... My problems will have to wait for now.
: Munirah: Oh, hey Layla!
: Layla: Huh...
: Sorry, but who are you?
: Munirah: I'm one of Layla's classmates. I just came by to say hi.
: Munirah: We just submitted our theses, and we're totally beat. Everyone will be meeting here to celebrate.
: Munirah: Seeing how relaxed you look, you must've already had your thesis finished ages ago.
: Layla: Oh, no I... I'm actually having a lot of trouble with it...
: Munirah: You say that every time we talk, but you've never missed a deadline. Not only that, your papers are always well-written and thorough. Your adviser is constantly praising your work.
: Munirah: Yet you're always going around saying stuff like, "I can't make it, I don't understand, I'm super worried..." That kind of talk doesn't reflect your work at all, you know.
: Layla: Well, uh I...
: What are you getting at?
: Why are you so hostile towards Layla?
: Munirah: For starters, she doesn't even try to participate with the group at all. It's one thing that she's not willing to help us, but she doesn't even bother showing up for our discussion meetings.
: Munirah: Every time we come to see her, she looks out of sorts and on the verge of a breakdown.
: Munirah: It's not like we can't finish our own theses without her, but no one wants to always see her this way.
;(Stress Value +1)
: Layla: Ugh, I know, I know... sorry.
: Everyone is entitled to their own choices. You should learn to respect that.
: Just because Layla breaks the mold doesn't mean it's a problem.
: Munirah: Whatever. There's no point in starting an argument here.
: Munirah: If you think she can justify her behavior, then that's your opinion. Hmph.
: Layla: Thanks for standing up for me.
: Layla: I really want to help the others, but most of the time I'm barely scraping by myself... There's very little I can help with...
: Is it because you don't want others to know about the "blessing from the stars"?
: Layla: Yeah. I can't ever tell my classmates about that. I'd be a mess if they ever reported it to my adviser...
: Layla: It's really just a big misunderstanding, and there's nothing I can do about it... Everyone just gives me weird looks and judges me... It's making it really difficult to find friends.
: Layla: It's actually pretty rare for someone to actively engage in a conversation with me like you do.
: I think I understand your situation now.
: Layla: Huh, what do you mean?
: You think that the blessing from the stars is some external power that's out of your control.
: Only by improving yourself and no longer relying on an external power can you break out of the vicious cycle.
: Layla: *sigh* ...Yeah, that's exactly it. Seems you know just as well as I do.
: Layla: The thing is, I'm terrible under pressure, that's just my nature. Even the thought of everyone's expectations back home is enough to make me feel nervous...
: Layla: And the more nervous I get, the worse things become around me. Take what Munirah just said for example... I don't think I'll be able to get it out of my mind for the entire day... That means I won't be able to relax at all today...
:
:: Layla: Face it head-on? Wh—What should I do? Do you really think I can...?
:: It's simple, just break down the unfinished parts of the thesis into different tasks and tackle them one by one.
:: Layla: Oh... okay... I've got a pen and paper with me. Let me go through them real quick.
:: Layla: Hmm...
:: Layla: The theory sections are pretty much finished. I'll be able to finish organizing the rest on my own.
:: Layla: As of now, I'm missing crucial observation data. I need the results of an observation to validate the conclusion of my thesis...
:: Layla: And then there's the preparation for my thesis defense... I'll need to mentally prepare.
:: Those don't sound too difficult. I can help you.
:: Layla: What? You want to help me with my thesis?
:: Layla: Uh, thank you... thank you so much. I don't even know how to show you my gratitude.
:: Don't worry about it. We've already come this far.
:: Layla: You're so kind. I had no idea I'd meet someone so nice in Sumeru City.
:: Layla: Okay, I'll do my best! It's the least I can do considering everything you've already done for me.
:: Layla: First on the list is the experiment to get observational data. I actually had it all planned out several days ago and even borrowed a celestial globe from a Mahamata.
:: Layla: However, the weather was rainy every single day after I borrowed it, and I was unable to compare the night sky against the celestial globe.
:: Layla: There were a lot of people waiting to borrow the celestial globe, and I wasn't able to extend my time slot. So I returned it and haven't been able to borrow it again since.
:: Layla: That's why I still haven't performed the necessary observations yet. I don't know what to do.
:: So you're lacking some equipment...
:: Layla: That's right. The celestial globe is a high precision device used specifically for researching the stars. Submitting an application to borrow one from the Akademiya is pretty much the only way for me to get my hands on one.
:: Looks like we're gonna have to ask around at the Adventurers' Guild.
:: Layla: Huh? Why the Adventurers' Guild?
:: Because no one has a network like Katheryne does.
:: Layla: Oh, I see. The Adventurers' Guild is open to everyone's commissions, so she might have some ideas.
:: Layla: Okay, let's go and try our luck.
:;(Proceed to The Helper)
:
:: Layla: C—Completely relax? But we're at a cafe, is this not relaxing enough...?
:: You're taking your studies too seriously.
:: Academics are only one part of life.
:: Layla: I know, I know, but...
:: Layla: *sigh* Alright, no more buts... My life is a mess because of the decisions I've made for myself. I should listen to your advice this time.
:: Layla: How do I completely relax?
:: Since you're from the countryside, why don't we leave Sumeru City and go sightseeing?
:: Layla: Sightseeing... Hmm, that does sound pretty nice. I haven't set foot outside the Akademiya in quite a while.
:: Layla: I used to enjoy visiting the rainforest... but it's been a while since I've been there. Maybe a lot has changed...
:: Layla: Okay, why don't we go there and take a look?
:;(Proceed to Fresh Air)
==Other Languages==
==Change History==