Chapter 24 -- Something nice and something horrible
AIO: It's tricky jumping in and out of this, irregularly.
They headed in the direction of Ishi's hut.
Ishi: ?
One person.
Then two.
Then a few.
...
Several people ran from the direction they were heading.
Reach's expression turned serious as he bolted ahead.
Thorn sped up slightly, but did not match Reach's pace.
Ishi tried to run faster but could not keep up with either of them.
Ishi: "W... Wait..."
He huffed.
...
Finally, a few corners away from his hut - Ishi caught up.
Reach and Thorn were standing there. Ishi approached their backs.
Ishi continued to huff as he spoke.
Ishi: "Wh... What was the-"
Ishi: ?!
Ahead was a group of people. Laid out on the ground in a circle.
Burly men. Conniving women. Warriors and assassins - what seemed.
Ishi: I-Is that...?
Sat in the middle of them atop an enormous chunk of rubble... Was a sole man.
He was shirtless.
His back faced Ishi.
He held a spiked club over his shoulder.
...
...
He turned slightly.
Tomo: "Yo... Reach..."
...
Ishi: ?!
Ishi: Did he do this?
...
Ishi: Who are these people? They're not affiliated with Gatriox.
Ishi: A new strike squad? How strong are they?
...
...
Ishi: Who is... Tomo?
Reach had a blunt expression.
Reach: ...
Thorn too.
Tomo: These people are really heavy sleepers.
Tomo: I tried to wake them by banging this thing on the wall but they still didn't wake up.
Tomo: I also lost my shirt because I gave it to that woman.
Reach noticed multiple empty bottles lying around.
Reach: ...
Reach: Those people running away must have misunderstood.
Reach: "Where's the injured woman?"
Tomo walked over.
Tomo: "She's being taken care of."
Tomo: "I found the bartender here - the one with short yellow hair."
Ishi: I see...
Ishi: Tomo must have saved the bartender from an inevitable death, and the bartender offered to help in order to repay their debt.
...
Tomo: I'm glad the bartender was proficient at first aid and offered to help without anything in return.
Reach looked around.
Reach: "Got it. Nice job."
Reach: "And good memory."
Tomo: "Hm?"
Reach: "The hair."
Tomo: "The hair?"
Reach: ...
Tomo: "Hm?"
Reach: ...
Tomo: ...
Reach: ...
Reach moved on.
Reach: "Let's get you cleaned up, Ishi."
Ishi: ?
Ishi had forgotten about his violent state - almost completely covered in blood stains. Flesh buried beneath his nails.
Ishi: "Y-Yes..."
They transitioned to Ishi's hut and prepared a bucket of water.
Ishi washed his hands - blood ran from his black bracelet and two silver rings.
Ishi: ...
Despite the gore, Ishi always enjoyed looking at his jewellery.
It was some kind of occasional, small reminder... Of something nice.
...
Tomo started to rummage through Ishi's belongings.
Reach kicked Tomo in the butt.
Reach: "Oi."
Ishi: ?
Ishi went and found a spare shirt and offered it to Tomo.
Tomo: "Ah. Thanks."
Ishi led Tomo to an underground stream nearby, and the two went to bathe.
- - - -
They returned somewhat clean - the water questionable, in the dimness of the night.
Tomo: "A tree."
Reach: "Hm? A tree? Here?"
Tomo: "No... Reach."
Tomo looked at Reach like he was stupid.
Reach: "Oi, Tomo. Come here a second."
Tomo: "No."
They argued like kids.
...
Both Ishi and Tomo wore a fresh set of clothes. The clothes were mildly used and dirty, but at least there was no longer any blood.
Ishi sat down on his rug. He rested his elbows on his knees.
Ishi: ...
Ishi: "Thank you... Reach."
Reach: ?
Reach: "You don't have to thank me."
Ishi: ...
Reach: "I really didn't do anything special."
Reach took a sip of water that he had prepared.
Ishi: ...
...
Ishi: Sometimes those who inspire... Do not know that they inspire.
Ishi was peaceful, in this moment.
Ishi: "I'll thank you... Regardless."
...
Reach: ...
Reach felt no need to contend.
Thorn: ...
Thorn: "Hey."
Thorn got Reach's eye contact.
She nodded to the left, as if to say 'people are there'.
Reach nodded back twice, as if to say 'I know'.
...
...
They waited as a group of people slowly approached.
Thorn: ...
Initially the people hid from sight.
But slowly they came forth, as they did not feel threatened.
Reach: ...
Ishi: ?
An old man.
Middle-aged people.
A mother and a child.
Thorn: ...
Tomo: Why's that baby up so late?
The old man spoke - his eyes were completely dark grey; no pupils.
????: "Gatriox... Vork... Matrox..."
...
????: "The strongest woman in town, Veronica..."
Thorn: ...
????: "The others... All of them..."
????: "...You four... Killed them...?"
Tomo: Me too?
Reach: ...
Reach: Well, it was mostly Ishi.
Reach glanced at Ishi.
Ishi looked at the people.
Ishi: ...
You could tell... That he felt glad.
Reach quietly smiled.
The old man smiled too. As if he already knew the answer to his question.
????: "From the bottom of my heart... Thank you."
Some of the others were still slightly scared.
Not everyone condoned solving murder with murder.
But most... Felt relieved.
Reach: ...
????: "It won't negate the rotten people who live here."
????: "There will always be someone - no matter what age."
Ishi: ...
...
????: "But for now, this place will be noticeably better."
...
Thorn was intrigued by an earlier comment.
Thorn: "That woman was the strongest woman in town?"
Another woman stepped forward.
She had one long spear on her back.
????: "Yes."
Thorn: ...
...
????: "As frustrating as she was... She had strength."
Thorn: ...
The woman coughed.
It was hard to gauge her age - perhaps 40s.
????: "Well... Years ago, there was another..."
Thorn: ?
????: "An incredibly... Stronger one..."
Thorn: "Oh?"
The woman shivered.
????: "Yes..."
????: "Veronica has been the strongest since..."
...
...
????: "...'Her'."
Thorn grew even more interested.
The woman held back a tear, then quickly departed.
Thorn: ?
Reach: ...
Reach: "Okay."
Reach: "We are going to bed."
Reach shooed the small crowd away.
Reach: "Goodnight."
They peacefully left.
...
...
The four settled down atop their makeshift beds; assorted garments and fabrics.
Thorn removed her armour.
Reach had tired eyes - always in need of rest, amid the everlasting discomfort of his device.
He exhaled.
Ishi: ...
Ishi: "How old are you... Reach?"
Reach: ?
Reach: "26."
Thorn: ...
Ishi: "26...? You seem... Wise."
Reach: "Wise? I don't know about that."
Reach: "How old are you?"
Ishi: "I am... 24."
Reach: "We're not that different. Same with Thorn."
Reach: "You seem wise too."
Ishi: ?
Ishi: I do?
Ishi lost himself in thought.
...
Reach reflected on Ishi's earlier confrontation with Gatriox.
'You could have helped so many people with your abilities.'
...
Reach: ...
...
Ishi looked up. He noticed Tomo eating a snack.
Ishi: Tomo must be the oldest.
...
Reach: "Ishi."
Reach's expression changed.
Ishi: ?
They both sat, facing each other.
Reach: "Would you ever... Leave this town?"
...
Ishi: ...
Ishi looked around.
Reach: "Why did you come here?"
Ishi looked down. Trying to think.
Ishi: "I..."
Tears began to circulate. As if he was starting to remember something horrible.
Ishi: "I... I don't know..."
He breathed heavily.
Reach: "Ishi..."
Ishi sniffed.
Ishi: "Th... This..."
Thorn: ...
Ishi: "...W-Was just the place I ended up at..."
Ishi closed his eyes. He gathered his resolve.
...
...
He looked back at Reach.
Ishi: "It..."
...
Ishi: "...It happened after..."
[Chapter 24 -- End]
