“—And that’s how I ended up in Soterra.”

“……”

……

“Hey are you even listening to me?”

“For the record, I have three siblings and a grandfather I live with,

I also have an entire nation of people I see after, I don’t get lonely” Aki grumbles 

The warm morning sun is back out along with the movement of Shiryu’s limbs, he no longer tries to fight or get away from this woman, following behind her towed by a chain

“And I did hear you, but I don’t care, that story sounds made up,

That new breed you mentioned, it’s obvious you are one of them,”

“How are you going to call my story fake, but then pick the parts you believe is true?” 

“Overly intelligent beasts are to discern from regular humans, I see no reason why that would be a lie, but everything else, is made up,

The best lies are told with a little truth mixed in, I can easily pick out the truths”

(So arrogant…)

“Then why are you running from the truth of your loneliness chief Aki?”

“……

Stop speaking to me as if we are companions, you are my captive, I ask questions not you”

“I would be quiet, if we didn’t have to travel so far,

Who the hell travels so far on feet, you could have easily chartered a carriage in Soterra,”

“I rather travel by myself, and once I get to a town with a warp gate I’ll use it to get back home quicker,

You should take this time to enjoy this fresh air,”

“If you stay to yourself like this how will ever expect to find love?”

“…..

That words means nothing to someone like me,

I have people to lead and protect, to be the strongest possible and love only makes you weak,

Makes you make illogical decisions and bad choices,

I have to be think about what’s best for everyone at all times not what’s best for one or even myself,”

(It does….)

“I don’t understand love myself so I can’t dispute that,”

“Chh, of course you don’t you’re not human…”

“What about your siblings, don’t you love them?” Shiryu ignores her harsh remark

“No,

I don’t have love for them neither do they for me, we were eac–never mind I don’t have to tell anything….”

“I don’t think I love my siblings either, I have two brothers whom I never met,

One, Apollo, might be dead other probably thinks I’m dead,”

…..

…..

Aki doesn’t respond now getting annoyed at herself for even holding a conversation with the young man, she pulls his chain tightly, guiding him out of woodland area across the river bordering it into a wide field of vines, little purple green and red grapes glistening in the sunlight, 

The chief and her captive follows a dirt path to a town bordering the field a good distance up,

…

“Soo, what exactly is the place you are chief of?” Shiryu breaks the peace

“….” Aki ignores him

“You know I’m from a place called Terra, but I–”

“Shut up, you are not from Soterra I’m tired of the lies,”

“Not Soterra, Terra, the great city Pluton”

“Never heard of this great city”

“There is a lot about this earth you don’t know about Chief Aki,

Many types of people and technology you haven’t seen before,”

“…….”

….

“Alright, ignore me if you want but when Kage does return with an armada to help kill the dragon, make sure to give me my apologies”

“Even if Kage were to come back from the dead and do as you say, you would also be dead by then,

Tell me, is Kage going to revive you after I kill you?”

“Bluff”

“What?”

“That’s a bluff, otherwise I would already be dead, you had many chances, and I’ve already told you everything I know even about the new breed, you can still inspect and dissect my corpse,”

“Don’t try patronizing me”

“Am not, I’m calling your bluff, or is there a small part of you that would feel guilty knowing you killed an innocent young man?”

“…..?

Shhhh”

“No, not this time, you can’t just shush me”

“Shut up!” Aki rasps, but it’s already too late 

Chkckcckch♪

The deep bush surrounding the two crackles,

Gruh-huh-grauh-huah!

Deep growling breaths of which bears, lion, and hyena beasts stalk near the pair

“This one feel especially powerful,” drools a hyena beastman

“Oi, snake,” the bear growls at Shiryu

“Move aside let us have this tasty woman for ourselves”