As I arrived back in the cave, I went to the edge of the cliff and sat down to recollect myself. I closed my eyes and tried to focus on the wind caressing my face, just to keep the flashes of my past off my mind.

It took me years to master the art of burying my dark memories just so I couldn't be haunted by them, but just like that, Qimir dragged it all out to light.

My life was all sorts of fucked up, but I've come to understand that I was alone and I had no one else to rely on but myself. I thought I already made peace with that fact. But that was until Qimir started to poke and prod around just because he thought he had to save me. Just because he was under the illusion that I was Elysia.

Elysia.

She was lucky.

She had Qimir who cared for her deeply and was willing to do anything for her. It seemed that they haven't been together for a long time, as Qimir's longing for her was way too obvious, but still, his affection for her haven't faded one bit despite the time that had passed.

I wondered how must it feel to have someone like that? To have someone to genuinely care and worry for me. I never had that luxury, as I had always been alone. No family, no friends. Just surrounded by fucked up people that only saw me as something they could use or profit on.

I'd even go as far as say that I was jealous of her.

If I didn't catch on early to the fact Qimir was getting me confused with Elysia, I would've fallen for the illusion as well that he really cared for me despite being a complete stranger.

Perhaps, it was best for me to leave before I confuse him any further.

And before I get confused as well.

Taking in a deep breath, I stood up as I decided to start packing up. I went to the bed to change back into my own turtleneck (I already picked it up from the shore on my way back here), and I neatly folded Qimir's wool turtleneck and placed it on top of the couch where he had been sleeping. Then I looked for a small sack I could use as a pouch and picked up a few fruits and potatoes from Qimir's kitchen.

As I looked around to check if I forgot anything, I happened to notice my black coat that I had been looking for since yesterday, neatly folded on top of a chair. It was already clean, so perhaps Qimir washed it.

I put it on and patted it down, liking the secure and familiar feeling against my body. I proceeded to tie the fruit pouch to a loop underneath my coat, and just like that, I was ready to leave.

I pulled my hood over my head and finally headed out. When I saw Qimir was still nowhere in sight, I thought I should just leave quietly. After what happened earlier, I wasn't sure how to interact with him, or if I even wanted to talk to him at all.

But then I thought that after all he has done for me--for saving my life and giving me a safe place to recover from my injuries--he at least deserved a formal farewell. It would be uncomfortable, but I owed him this much.

And as if on cue, Qimir appeared in my line of sight from the rocky pathway up ahead, and he was quick to realize that I was standing at the foot of the cave, already dressed up to leave.

I waited until he was close enough before I spoke.

"I'm leaving," I simply said. His brows knitted as he looked at me in confusion.

"Are you sure? It's just a few hours 'til night." He looked up at the sky. "And I told you you could stay until tomorrow, right?"

"I'm okay. I've already taken up too much of your time."

He pursed his lips, probably bothered that I was being too formal and polite. "Eli, if you're leaving because of what I did earlier--"

"It's not because of that," I cut him off. Well, it was indeed because of that, but I didn't want him to know that. "It's just that my wounds are already healed, so I don't see any more reason to stay."

His gaze dropped to the ground as he mulled over my answer. He seemed rather.... disappointed.

"And where will you go?" Qimir asked as he slowly stepped closer, giving me a cautious look as if he was gauging if I was going to back away.

"I'm sure there's a nearby town or city I can stay in."

"There's nothing else out here. Eli, I'm not sure if you've noticed, but we're on an entirely different planet." He said slowly. "This is not Olega."

Shit.

I really thought we were just in a different part of Olega.

"Then you could drop me off on a nearby planet. I could manage."

He was silent for a moment, as if trying to figure out if I was serious. But indeed, I was. It had always been my strong suit to improvise and adapt, so I was confident that I could manage to survive anywhere.

"What if I've considered your request instead?" Qimir's head tilted. "What if I agree to teach you how to fight?"

I looked at him in confusion for a moment, then sighed as I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Qimir, if you're doing this just to make up for what happened--"

"I'm not." He quickly corrected. "And I'm not doing this because I think you're Elysia, either. I know what I did to you earlier was wrong, but it helped me understand your situation better."

I cautiously stared at him as he slowly walked closer, trying to see in his eyes if he was telling the truth.

"I thought that wasn't the reason you refused me. Why change your mind now?"

"It outweighed my own reason." He said simply. "And I can't, in good conscience, let you go back out there knowing I refused to help you. Not as Elysia, but as a fellow human being."

I remained silent for a few seconds as I processed his words. Nevertheless, it was good for me that he ended up changing his mind, and I couldn't possibly let this opportunity pass now that it's laid out itself in front of me.

"And what if you change your mind again?" I slowly asked. At this point he was already just a few feet away from me, so he extended his hand for a handshake.

"I won't. I'm a man of my words."

I hesitantly stepped forward as I stared at his extended hand. I took a deep breath as I ended up shaking his hand anyway.

Qimir smiled.

"Take a good rest. We start tomorrow."

****