Eating Up Inside

"You've really gotten used to flying haven't you?"

'It's fun to feel the air beneath my wings!'

Para looked down at the river. The waves of water passing by at extreme speeds. As she watched she mumbled, "How envious."

'I am sure many wish to be an apex Dragon!'

"I just think it's nice to be able to fly like this. It's oddly soothing."

'Perhaps you were meant for the sky then!'

Givale tilted downwards causing her to gain speed. Para felt her stomach lurch as the wind pushed against her, "Wait maybe too much!"

Givale coursed just above the water, tilting slightly to skim the top of the water with her wing. Para also leaned down and touched the water, "It truly is amazing."

Akiol interrupted the moment, "We're approach land, we're to meet the others soon."

Para looked up, "Nimin. . ."

. . .

Givale landed softly, or as soft as a Dragon could. Dust still shot upwards from the force. Her body transformed into her human shape, and she stretched, "That flight was exhausting!"

'Want to rest in my space?' -Stars

"No, I want to see who made it."

Akiol looked over to the side, "They're arriving now."

As a series of figures walked closer, Akiol went through the checklist. It seemed like most of Dusted Bright failed to make it, only Nimin was among them. His party survived as well, but he couldn't find Mira.

Givale tilted her head, "Where's Mira?"

Yielya paused, "I-I'm sorry. I failed to keep an eye on him and-"

Akiol closed his eyes, the void in his heart widening further. Givale was also putting together the pieces, "Wait, he didn't make it?"

She stumbled forward towards Yielya, "He should've made it! He's the strongest of us all! Tell me he survived!"

Yielya bit her inner lip, "I'm sorry."

Givale felt weak, she collapsed onto the ground shaking, "No, he promised he'll be okay!"

Akiol walked next to her and placed a hand on her head. Unlike him, Givale had only spent a small amount of time exploring. She hardly faced hardship and suffering. Now one of the people she considered a friend was told to have died. . .

She turned her head and looked at Akiol, teary eyed, "He's alright isn't he. . . ?"

There was no need to answer. Givale already knew. Her words formed from a desperate attempt to cling to hope. Filled with despair she wailed. Akiol could only comfort her to the best of his abilities.

A mood so somber spread. Wrock couldn't face the sad sight and turned away. Yielya watched, blaming herself for her overconfidence. Kan'na looked skywards, perhaps in an attempt to distract herself.

Para clutched her staff, the bottled feeling of her friends betrayal were slowly leaking free. Nimin watched the scene and silently cursed.

The time ticked by slowly. No one spoke a word. An effort to console those who lost someone. Perhaps a poor one at that.

———————————————————————-

Kiro swirled the jar in her hands. She sipped its contents slowly. Savoring every droplet. Her body leaned against a porch, watching as night descended on the village. A blanket of dark warded only by the occasional lantern.

Wood creaked, a sign of someone's approach. Kiro did not care, the village provided safety. She did not have to worry about anyone inside.

"Juon told me of your past."

It was Jarvis, his poor ability of speaking shining through. Kiro was amused by the sudden topic, "What do you think? Not the grandest of backstories right?"

"Your choices should not be my concern. I am curious, that's all."

"Of why I chose to quit?"

"Rather, why you chose this path instead."

"Is that not the same?"

"Depends on how you view it."

Jarvis placed a jar onto the porch railing. Kiro eyed it, "Resorting to bribes?"

"I thought we could share it. Although this might sound conceited of me, I believe you are interested in my past as well?"

"So you've come for an information exchange."

"A formal way of putting it. Not the way I would think of it."

"And how do you?"

"A getting to know each other. Sharing of stories."

"You sure know how to sugarcoat it.", Kiro harrumphed before putting her own jar away, "Fine, but this better be the good stuff."

"I hold only quality goods on me."

"You'd make quite the merchant. Though I want to go first."

"You aren't going to ask me who I am again are you?"

"I am."

Jarvis sighed, "Be a little more specific."

"Then. . . why do you choose this way of fighting. With bonds of trust and all that. It seems naive to me."

Jarvis pulled out a small cup and poured some liquor into it, "It isn't about choice. It's the only way I know how to."

He closed his eyes and downed the cup, "I'm quite a coward. I never grew up in the best of standards. I faced with the reality of the human soul at a young age. Greed, betrayal, I was never a stranger to those. So I grew fearful of humans themselves. Or any being of intelligence.

"I ran away from civilization. Desperate to be on my own, to get away from it all. My foolish young self forgot about the basics of survival. Soon enough I collapsed."

Jarvis offered a cup to Kiro and poured them both, "I was awoken by a group of. . . small creatures. They were startled at my movement, but were far too curious to run away. I like to think it was then—when I started to bond with creatures."

Kiro took a drink from the small cup, "Aren't creatures quick to backstab too?"

"Perhaps if you just met them. They run on a more primal instinct, if they affiliate you with more good than bad, they'll treat you as one of their own. Trust with them is slowly built, and not easily abandoned."

"So why don't you fight yourself?"

"I'm scared of getting hurt, scared of hurting others. I don't have it in me, and hide behind those willing to protect me."

"Isn't that normal?"

"Maybe, but with the group I travel with such an option wasn't always available."

"That doesn't satisfy my curiosity of your fascination with creatures though."

"That I can't explain well. Perhaps growing up with creatures, I am far more familiar with them. Ah what's the word—like an extrovert of creatures, but not of humans."

"Hmmm. . . . You wanted to know why I quit right? Probably because I was always in the spotlight. Praised constantly for my talent. A Tanuki everyone wanted to be."

She raised the cup and motioned for Jarvis to refill. He obliged and she swirled the liquor before drinking it all, "It alienated me. I felt like everyone wanted to speak to a genius, to an idol. Not really me."

"So you're also an escapee."

Kiro laughed, "I suppose so!"

"Then why'd you pick this path?"

"Perhaps I wanted to disappoint everyone. If I turned out to be some deadbeat failure then those who would talk to me wouldn't do it out of reverence. Rather out of the kindness of their heart."

"Is the pranks part of that?"

"He told you about those as well? In short, yes. I became known as Troublesome Kiro. In a way fulfilling my wish, for no one respects me as the genius I was once praised to be."

"Do you regret it?"

Kiro paused, "I don't know. What about you?"

"Sometimes, if maybe I was a proper fighter I could help everyone out more. Instead I'm just a guy who's friends with creatures. Rarely am I ever depended on."

"Yielya seemed to depend on you."

"No that's not the same.", Jarvis sighed, "That's something that occurred because of how long we fought together. It's not them depending on me, but rather them having faith that I can do my role."

"Is that not enough?"

"I don't know. During times where we're in a pinch, they seem to automatically turn towards the more capable people in our party. I guess it kinda hurts to not be that person."

Kiro poured another cup, "You might be underestimating your worth. I've been your guide for some time you know? As an Ex-Ninja I can grasp some of these concepts within a short time."

Jarvis shook his head, "This isn't a therapy session for me."

"Boo, I thought I could have gotten away with it."

Kiro drummed her fingers against the railing, "Once I escaped I became a wanderer. A bit of trickery in order to get by. I explored every bit I could, perhaps maybe I could find out what I truly wanted to do."

"Did you ever get a glimpse?"

"I guess, I found exploring and gathering information enjoyable. I'm just not sure if that's because of my training."

"Sometimes hobbies are fleeting, sometimes they're here to stick."

"You say some really strange things Mister."

Jarvis' eyebrows twitched, "I don't!"

Kiro giggled, "Hit a sore spot? My bad~"

Jarvis downed his cup, "Eugh, talking was never my strong suit."

"You're quite talkative though."

"I never said I didn't enjoy it, I'm not good at it that's all."

They silently stared at the village. The flames flickering in the lanterns caused shadows to dance. Jarvis stared into the sky devoid of any stars and said, "I'm actually not from here."

"Oh? What brought this up?"

"I figured you should know. I'm from a different continent."

Kiro paused, "There's. . . another continent?"

"Might be more than two, all I know is my own and this one."

"Wait so when I met you-"

"I just exited the teleporter. That artifact got destroyed mid process, and I don't know if I have a way back. Kan'na might be able to handle it though."

"That's awesome! What's it like over there?"

"Certainly a lot more peaceful. Don't have a walking Calamity or anything like that. The people are. . . exotic. A lot more confident and arrogant over there. Had to fight a few hundred people before I reached First Stage."

"Stage?"

"Oh, the term we use instead of Star."

"Well besides that, you fought a few hundred people before entering the realm of Star?!"

"It's not something I want to boast about."

"Tell me more!"

Jarvis told Kiro of his experiences, only occasionally stopping to drink. She listened intently, absorbing all the details she could.

Jarvis felt the alcohol was taking quite the effect, "Anyway, I made it here after the god awful trip. Akiol has such a terrible curse."

Kiro laughed, "What an adventure! Your life is full of excitement isn't it?"

"I suppose, I spend most my time speaking with creatures though."

Kiro looked into her empty cup and smiled, "Hey Mister, would you mind?"

"We're out."

"No not that. Would you mind if I asked to be part of that book of yours?"

Jarvis dropped the cup in surprise.

"Eh?"

章節 369: Eating Up Inside

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章節 369: Eating Up Inside

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