Open my eyes

Open my eyes
If I think about it, it would be a shame to keep my eyes closed when I'm so far up. And anyway, nothing bad can happen while Joseph's here, so why not just look around?
[player] Uh...
No! I'm not wearing goggles, and the wind's so fierce that it just hurts my eyes. I can't see anything.
Nothing to be done. I guess I should just hang in until we land...
[Joseph] We should be deploying the parachute at this height. Are you ready?!
I feel a sharp jerk upwards as the parachute deploys and our descent slows. Even though I'm not the one operating it, I still have a reassuring sense of being more in control of my own body again.
[Joseph] Welcome to nature, partner!
When I open my eyes after literally coming back down to earth, all I can see is an endless vision of green. The sheer greenness of everything is actually a little disconcerting.
I'm actually here, in the jungle. I'm in a place only ever seen before on TV. For now, though, I take a quick look around before turning my gaze up to the blue whence I came.
[Joseph] What's up? You didn't lose anything on the way down, did you?
[player] No, nothing like that. It's just a bit of a shame that I wasn't able to really appreciate the beauty of it all while falling.
Once the terror of skydiving passes, I start to regret missing out on the chance to admire the view.
[Joseph] Hahaha! How about we get back and give everyone a surprise by parachuting down to the shrine?
[player] Oh... That's a good idea. Let's think about it when we're back, if you remember!
If that's what we gonna do, I'm probably just gonna give up. After all, my legs are still shaking, and skydiving is clearly something I need more time to get used to. Just wait till everyone can see how petrified I am, I'll lose even the slightest bit of authority in front of Ichihime.
However, I'd be pretty lame to reject it outright like this. Let's reserve this proposal, at least for now. Who's to say that I won't become braver after surviving an expedition like this? You never can tell!
[Joseph] Let's head out then. Shall we have a look around first?
[player] Hang on a minute.
I tap the ground with my toe, then take a couple of tentative steps before leaning down to feel the earth.
It feels softer than the earth in the countryside places I've been to. Compared to the hard concrete I'm used to stepping on, it's not hard to feel the "maternal nature" of these wilds.
I can't help sighing with emotion once again.
[player] I'm actually in the middle of a jungle... It all feels a little unreal.
[Joseph] That's pretty normal. After all, we were strolling through a concrete jungle only a few hours ago. You'll need a bit of time to get used to this environment.
[Joseph] Look at me, partner. Copy me: stretch out your arms, and don't forget to spread your fingers. Then close your eyes, and explore what you can sense right there.
[player] Explore right here? What does that mean?
[Joseph] Think of it as a little ritual! Exploration doesn't always have to involve moving your whole body. When coming to a new place, the first thing to do is harmonize with it.
Although I don't fully understand what Joseph's getting at, I still do as he said and stretch out my arms, open my fingers, and close my eyes.
Listen... Feel... Harmonize...
Listen... Feel... Harmonize...
I hear all sorts of sounds, cries, breathing, movement...
I smell all manner of scents mixed together, odors that I cannot even begin to describe...
[Joseph] You may be a little overwhelmed, and that's normal, and is a part of nature itself! Don't panic... Move your finger gently, and see if you can grasp something.
[player] I don't really know... But at least the breeze is nice.
Perhaps I'm standing in just the right place, but the gentle breeze manages to dispel the dampness that pervades the jungle. I can't help but take a deep, refreshingly cool breath...
I gradually become aware of some kind of change, almost as if someone had grabbed both my hands and was dragging me out of a swamp... The strange thing is, I naturally understand the meaning of this change.
This is a guest here, hailing from civilization and being gradually dyed with the color of the wilds...
[player] I want to run, Joseph.
Coming back to myself, the first thing I want to do is run. I don't need a destination, I just want to run...
[Joseph] Hahaha! You can hear the engine in your heart revving, partner!
[player] Engine... Hahaha! That's the perfect way of saying it, Joseph.
It is as he said—my heartbeat is even faster now than it was when I was plummeting out of the sky! It sounds strange, but I feel that only by running, by dissipating the energy that fills me right now, only then can I calm my restless heart.
[Joseph] Run then, partner, run! Run to your heart's content. Your stamina and the things you carry, however, might not support many "reckless actions".
Having said that, he takes my backpack and casually slings it over a shoulder with one hand.
[Joseph] You must make your wings more flexible, partner!
[George] Screeech—!
George, who had flown back at some point, seems to agree with Joseph's words. He gives a spirited screech, then flaps away. Joseph whistles in response and runs after him.
[Joseph] Let us fly too! My excellent partners! Let's...
[player] Adventure!
At the sound of "Let's Adventure", Joseph's familiar catchphrase from the show, one eagle and two humans embarked on an aimless chase in the jungle.
Onward we run, laughing and making incomprehensible whoops and hollers from time to time. The jungle animals poke their heads out and watch as we uninvited guests pass through their territories.
Although I'm sorry for disturbing the locals, all I want to do at this moment is to enjoy, with every fiber of my being, this total emotional release. Besides, Joseph had said something about this before.
[Joseph] Don't worry about acting a little crazy! Being free is the fundamental rule in nature. Be yourself!
[player] If that's the way it is, then let's run until we can't anymore! And then keep running!
In the end, it is as I said—I run until I can run no more, then collapse, panting, onto the soft grass.
[Joseph] Hahaha! How does it feel, your first time running free in the wild, partner?
[player] Ex-exhausted... But it felt incredible, and really fun!
[Joseph] Hahaha! That's the feeling. I know it's comfortable to lie down, but it's better if you get up and keep walking just a little bit, then slowly sit down to relax. Come, take my hand and get up slowly.
[player] Thank you. It seems all that exercising with you is paying off. Compared to that first time climbing the mountain, I'm clearly a lot fitter than I was! Before, I bet I'd be paralyzed on the ground for most of the day.
[player] Phew! I think I feel better now, but... *Yawn* Being physically exhausted just makes me want to sleep.
[Joseph] Isn't that great? You come out for fun, have a good time, really let your hair down, and don't need to worry if you're exhausted. Just have a good sleep, and wake up refreshed for another full day.
[player] It would be a waste to go to sleep, when we've only just got here. I'm a little thirsty, why don't we have something to drink? How about some sparkling water?
[Joseph] Everything tastes delicious when you're thirsty, no? Was this not endorsed by the Little Idol? I'm impressed you managed to get your hands on it, I hear that her fans cleaned out all the stock in One Han City.
[player] She brought some for us a few days ago when she came to play Mahjong. She wanted us to spread the word after drinking it, but I don't think she really needed our help.
[Joseph] It's certainly perfect after sweating a lot. I still remember the advert... How did it go now? I got it! "0 cal, 0 sugar, sweet and sour like first love! Down the drink everybody!"
[player] The first bit's right, though the second is totally off... She'd be annoyed if she heard that.
[Joseph] Nothing to fear if no one tells her, hahaha!
[player] Still, it's a little bit weird drinking sparkling water in a place like this. It kind of detracts from the adventurousness.
[Joseph] Well then, not that you mention it... Why not try collecting water, out here in the wilderness?
Collecting water in the wild? This is a tempting suggestion, especially on such a once-in-a-lifetime adventure...