"I can just imagine", Adrien said. "It takes hours to get there...".

"Yes... But -- it's not just that", Val replied. "I just -- I just never like to go there". He paused before continuing. "I do not feel comfortable there", he then said. "I... do not feel comfortable around the people there".

"Why not?", Adrien asked.

Val said nothing for a long while before answering. "They don't know me. If they did, I don't think they would like me".

"I don't think that's true", was Adrien's immediate reply. "You're nice and kind! Why would anyone dislike you? Besides", he then said, "now that I'm remembering, on the day I came here I stopped at the tavern, and I talked a bit with the lady there -- Anne. She said that you're nice and everyone likes you! It's just that they don't see you much", he added with a chuckle.