“Well...There was this one guy…” My voice trails off as I think of Aldric. “But, he disappeared…”
Now the boy really seems to be enjoying this, seeing as he’s wholeheartedly laughing now. “Well, there’s your damn answer! You don’t know where they are ‘cause they’re all in the ground, dead. Well, except for me that is. She wasn’t able to find me, aka an ‘abomination’ that doesn’t believe the shit she spews. Anything Mayen spits out is just self-promoting propaganda. All this Kulym crap is the only power she thinks she has over us. So, how about you? I assume you believe in our almighty creator? Or are you going to run to her about me too now?”
Though he clearly expects a rebuttal to his words, I respond, “As if. How can I believe in a deity like that when no one’s prayers are being answered and tragedy still runs rampant? You’d think a great God or whatever is supposed to prevent crap like that happening to His people right? It’s just way too glorified for the people who follow it and too hellish for those who choose not to. Isn’t religion supposed to be about choosing the path that you yourself want? Right now, Kulism is just a glittered up tale that Mayen bent for her own supremacy. Of course, all too convenient for her.”
We’re nearing the path I was originally on as he smirks at my response. “Didn’t expect that coming from someone from Nioleme. Heh, I have a feeling this won’t be the last time we hear of each other, considering our views could very well end up with us in a dungeon together.” Another laugh escapes his lips.
I step onto the gravelly road. “Thanks, uh…”
“Takehiko Hamasaki at your service, Miss Nanami.” He bows as if to a queen, despite the annoyance I’ve been. Great. Not only did I fail to return the novel, but I managed to get myself involved with the last of the Hamasakis, both of which were strictly against father’s orders. Boy, have I gotten myself into a mess.
Takehiko turns on his foot and holds up his hand as a parting gesture. He’s certainly an oddball, I’ll give him that.
When my front door comes into view, I start to trot hastily towards it. I throw myself into the doorway with the book in hand. At first, father carefully gets up and smiles, but when he sees the unscathed parcel, a more serious expression inches its way onto his face. “Nanami-”
“Father, before you say anything, let me explain.”
“I think you need to,” he replies solemnly.
I explain everything from getting lost to the village being gone, making sure to leave out Takehiko for later. Strangely, the news about the clan being wiped out only makes him scratch his head and sigh. “I know you already know this Nanami, but Mayen is not a force to be reckoned with. Seems the Hamasakis learned the hard way. Serves them right.” I tense up at his wording. “Queen Mayen’s eyes, or rather eye, is everywhere these days. So, promise me you won’t go looking for trouble. I’ve already lost enough. Losing you would…” He takes his eyes away from my face, planting them on the floor. “It would very well drive me insane.”
The Hamasakis' destruction seems like a benefit to father. He isn’t displeased at all at the idea that the dictator of Teredia just killed off one of the most ancient clans of Teredia. When I think of it, that’s unsettling.
“Father, they’re not all gone. I-I ran into the only remaining member today.” Leaving out the part about him being the boy from yesterday is probably in my best interest considering the news of a weird, “arsonist” outsider already reached him.
My father quickly turns his head to look at me, a stern look in his eyes.
I continue. “It wasn’t on purpose; it was just when I got lost. He helped me back though and I’m fine as you can see.”
“And exactly how did you know you could trust that boy? How do you know he won’t end up like Aldric and the others, dragging everyone he can with him as he blabbers on and on about his preposterous views?” Father’s rage is made clear by the vein now popping from his temple.
“Just because he’s a Hamasaki doesn’t automatically mean he’s a bad person. I mean, he could’ve left me out there, but he didn’t. He could’ve killed me for crying out loud. But I’m here safe and sound. Doesn’t that count for something?” I ask.
“Nanami, you know how those people are! We’ve never interacted with them and for good reason! If Her Majesty doesn’t see them suited for life, then Kulym certainly doesn’t. If He doesn’t, then I don’t either! I don’t want you talking like you know everything about them based on one boy’s passing whim!”
Enmity boils inside me with each word. “Do you? Do you know everything there is to know about them? What about Ev? Any time he mentioned them as kind people, you didn’t dare speak a word against him! What the hell is that? Are you gonna keep playing slave to a being whose existence only exists in a holy book of lies? Because I’m done! You can’t even man up enough to have your own damn opinion; it’s only ever ‘Kulym said this’ or ‘Kulym said that’. I swear, if Kulym told you to shove your hand up your own ass, you’d be more than happy to! Well, I’m through with it! I can’t keep pretending to live my life for someone who’s as alive as my own mother!”
It’s obvious I stepped over the edge now. A dark cloud now looms over the two of us.
“Nanami Orlantha Landau! How dare you use the mention of your mother against me! And regarding such matters as well! I’ve raised you the best I can without her and this is how you repay me?”
I laugh sarcastically. “Ho ho ho, the best you could do? So, you take being drunk every night of your life as the best you could do? Leaving a ten-year-old to shop, cook, and wash the vomit from her father’s chest every week seems quite reasonable to you, doesn’t it? I know it’s been hard, but don’t think you’re the only one suffering! I’ve put up with you dragging me down into the depths of Kulym and his ridiculous ideals, not even saying a word against it this whole time! Yet here we are, with me being the bad guy again! All for trusting someone you’ve hated without even knowing! Kulym forbid, I actually got back safely!”
The vein in his forehead begins to protrude even more. “I’ve had quite enough of this for one night! Go to your room and don’t even think about coming out until morning!” He thrusts his finger into the air towards my room, to which I respond calmly.
“No.”
“What?” he hisses.
“I said no! I’m nineteen for Kulym’s sake and I’d rather leave this house than be a caged bird the rest of my life!” I spin around and storm through the front door, nearly ripping the door from its hinges.
The entrance to Nioleme seems to be the goal as my feet break into a sprint. This village is too drenched in the belief of Kulym that it won’t even matter that I’m gone. Listening to another word of that crap and having to take it as truth is the same as living one big lie. I can’t take it anymore. So, I continue without looking back. There’s no way father could keep up with his leg anyways. A bit of remorsefulness eats away at my heart, but I fight it off with the will to keep going. A feeling of guilt mixed with thrill courses through my veins. Running away from father is not something I ever thought would cross my mind, but here I am, dashing about with bewildered people staring me down. You know, I don’t recall yelling at father about anything before. Well, there was one time when I was six when I was upset he wouldn’t buy me the plush gyrt horse at the fair, but that’s not even comparable to this. Running out of the house is a new one, I’ll admit.
My lungs are yearning for a break by the time I reach the knotted gate. To my surprise, I discover Dara leaning against the overhanging roots with a black cloak covering his horns and tail. Where he got that, I have no idea. Painted on his face is a blank and distracted look, so I go up to him and clear my throat in order to pull his attention towards me. He looks up immediately, obviously shaken up by my sudden appearance. “Nanami? Why are you here?”
“It’s a long story that I really don’t want to get into right now,” I respond tiredly.
Dara sighs and straightens up awkwardly, being cautious as to not uncover his extra appendages. “Well, what are you planning to do now that you’re here? This isn’t exactly what you told me this morning.”
It takes me a moment. I was planning on just running away from the situation at the time…
Then it hits me. “I’m coming with you. I’ll help you find Cassidy.”
Dara stops for a moment, evidently a little shocked by what I just put out there. To be honest, I have no idea as to what I just decided, but having some sort of plan is better than nothing I suppose. “You do realize this isn’t just some field trip to the zoo that your dad can just come and pick you up from right?” Dara asks.
Bringing my father into it solidifies my decision. “I get that, trust me.”
A few moments pass as Dara seems to ponder what to say. “Well, if you’re really serious about this, I guess a little extra help wouldn’t be too bad. I don’t get why you’d drop everything and just come though. You have a great house and-”
“Yes yes I know, but I made my choice and I’m sticking by it,” I retort a little hastily.
“Well, I won’t stop you. No one had seen a girl with orange hair come through so we’re just going with our gut right now. Let’s get out of here, ok?”
Nodding, I follow in pursuit of him, heading away from the place I grew up in.
The trees are brimming with fuchsia riffiliu plums and amber saplings as the path becomes more splayed out. Even the grass becomes taller with each passing second. Beige palus sprint through the undergrowth, causing a stir in the weeds. I try to concentrate on the relaxed feel of nature to drive away my competing thoughts, but fail.
“Dara.”
“What?” he asks as he continuously peeks at the tail tip beneath him. The black cotton is barely covering it at this point.
“You don’t have to keep wearing that thing. There’s stranger people in this village, believe me.” He spares me a look of hesitation. “Hey, this is coming from a girl whose best friend has giant wings coming out of her. I think you’ll be alright.” In order to reveal the ringed horns and bushed tail,I snatch the garment from over his head, preceding his look of utter anxiety.
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