01.09.1642

The Southeast Military Base

17:42

The morning has started a few minutes ago, all the members of the base got back to their work after their rest and it does look as this work they have isn't as stressing as it was before. At the moment though, nothing interesting happens. They do their usual tasks and talk to each other while wandering a bit around the hallways towards their next destination.

From them, even the brothers seem to do the same, just having some relaxing time and talking to each other. And for some reason, the Great Leader looks as if He is ready to leave on His own again.

[RY4N]-*sigh* You sure are something else these days, Ches...

[CHE5TER]-Hmph. I was just saying. Why would you consider it being a reason for me to be strange?

[RY4N]-Oh, come on. It wouldn't make sense to you either if I told you that I'm going to leave another day with a stranger just to "find the truth". Something is pretty suspicious about your behaviour and this trust you give to this outsider alone. Heck, you've trusted him way quicker than you did with most of the members!

[CHE5TER]-I told you, it's not trust alone. I want to find that village as soon as possible and see what's happening. If our ancestors have something to do with that part of land, then someone from that village should be able to answer all of my questions.

[RY4N]-But the kid didn't even hear about our name! How are you so sure that there is someone who might give you the truth?

[CHE5TER]-I-I don't know! I just... feel it.

[RY4N]-Alright, alright... Say, what have you planned with that kid for today? I mean, I know already that you are going to leave the base and let me lead the team.

[CHE5TER]-Just to explore further. But if we are on this subject, may I ask what would YOU do while I'm out? Did you have a possible mission in mind?

[RY4N]-It's not like it is extraordinary or something like that. I was just thinking of assisting Mrs. M4EK0 again. There are still a few parts of the city that we didn't manage to investigate in more details from what I know, so a small mission with her won't be such a bad idea.

[CHE5TER]-Then I guess I will have to prepare the papers of the mission before I leave?

[RY4N]-No, not really. It shouldn't be such a huge problem that I cannot solve alone. I have to learn at some point, right? And just some patrolling shouldn't really cause me a lot of things to note.

[CHE5TER]-So I have to expect the base to be on fire when I come back?

[RY4N]-Oh, you fucker! I've led these people in the past so many times!

[CHE5TER]-*chuckles* Doesn't make you a good Leader, but alright...

[RY4N]-Yeah, yeah...

There is a moment of silence as they laugh a bit, yet then, CHE5TER gets in His serious state again and speaks once more.

[CHE5TER]-Then I... guess this is goodbye, RY4N. We will see each other either late at night or tomorrow morning.

[RY4N]-Do you expect something huge today?

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* Not really, to be completely honest... But I do hope for some progress. If I'm keeping myself busy all the time just with this matter alone, then I might as well retire from the title of "Great Leader" and pass it to the next person.

[RY4N]-And that might be...?

[CHE5TER]-Who knows. I just know that at some point, I will be obligated to choose someone to take my role and bring this land at peace if I can't do it myself. Though I do not see myself adopting any kid in the near future...

[RY4N]-I mean, our father didn't see Himself doing it either, yet He ended up having two sons, didn't He?

[CHE5TER]-Weird way to see it... But I guess you are right. Though even so, I really hope I'm the last LENKOV of this title and that I will manage to end this whole suffering in the future. Because if I can't do it... who says that my descendant will be able to do so? Our father wished to end it too after all, and it seems as I had to continue His dreams... The cycle won't stop until someone manages to do so, but if we keep it for too long, who says we will survive? Problems are getting harder, the M soldiers are progressing in their plans... The new generations won't be able to keep up anymore if we ourselves can't solve them.

[RY4N]-Yeah... In a world where the weak are hunted down, they must survive on their own or die by simply not being able to adapt... I wonder if He ever thought of giving up one day...

He is rather upset to think that maybe even His father couldn't bear all the problems of this city alone, maybe even wanting to give up but couldn't do it because He felt obligated to continue. But there is a small proof that this is not the case, what CHE5TER thinks that He has to find.

[CHE5TER]-...No. If He gave us this hint, then there is something that made Him continue His journey for sure. We are just not aware of that something, but we will find out what it is eventually. And that village is our key to the answer.

[RY4N]-Heh, maybe... I wonder what that is...

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* Me too.

They make a small pause once again, maybe thinking of their fate of ending this whole war. They know after all that this conflict has to be put to an end soon, or else they might as well just give up and die.

[RY4N]-..."For I am a son of M1NERV4 and descendant of the God of War"...

[CHE5TER]-..."I shall bring the hope in everyone's life and the light for the fallen ones."

Then, they look at each other for a last goodbye, even smiling to themselves, even if CHE5TER's smile still seems pretty empty from that void from His eyes, but sincere at the same time, before taking each other's arms to shake hands and giving a simple nod...

[CHE5TER]-...Alright. Then I will see you later.

[RY4N]-See you.

...finally for CHE5TER to take His leave towards the exit of the base and meet up with the outsider. But even so, RY4N remains behind to watch Him from the distance, yet with such a strange joy that never appeared on his face before when seeing his own brother go away. He isn't sad that He leaves far away from him anymore, he just seems happy.

[RY4N]-...Even if you come empty-handed or not manage to do your work as you used to, I'm glad to see that you finally return to your old self, CHE5TER. Even if it will take some more time until that day comes... Thank you for making it happen, Father.

The City of Above

19:02

Minutes later, we seem to be watching the view of the City of Above, being present in one of the tall buildings of this city, and accompanying the outsider in its loneliness. Maybe it wasn't much of what this person did while the ruler was in His city, only watching the views and thinking of its home. It is for whatever reason in such an upsetting mood, while it just continues to do whatever it wants, and even...

[General]-..."For a god's blessing we will fight / And the Light to guide us; / Show the liars who is right / And cover with love our scars."

...recites a poem that it knows. But we don't really know anything about it though, as this isn't the poem present in "Legend of the God of War". This is a complete new thing that we hear, a poetry from its culture, before giving such a sad breath and taking a rest from the view.

[General]-...I wonder where are you, dear siblings. Why is it so hard for me to find you?

It is now simply standing with the back on the view, looking at the floor as it thinks further and further about these sad thoughts. But at some point, it even seems to hear countless voices, screaming for a reason it doesn't understand.

"...Do you s-... -hat star? Fa-..."

...

"...Yes, I see i-..."

...

"...-t shall be your-... Your guiding light."

...

But these are no voices that it doesn't recognise, these are familiar ones, which probably even concerns it more.

[General]-...Why are my memories... so vague? Where is my home, dear gods...?

And even if it stood all day to think about them all, it won't solve the problem. Its home is far away from it, somewhere outside these cities, yet it is trapped here until it finds a way back home.

But in the end, the Great Leader finally appears, seeming even a bit exhausted but also relieved when He finally stops His searching for the outsider.

[CHE5TER]-...General! Where have you been!? I've been searching for you in the entire eastern part of the city! Didn't we agree on meeting up at the same spot yesterday??

[General]-...Oh? Wait, this isn't the spot you were talking about?

[CHE5TER]-Wh... No! We are six streets away from that spot!

[General]-Oh, sorry then. But everything looks the same to me in this city. I really thought that this is the spot.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* I get that point, but if you moved here, then it should mean that you've also wandered around the city in my absence, even though we've agreed on you staying there to rest and not move anywhere! Didn't you tell me that you fear you will get lost in the city?

[General]-I just... walked a bit above the streets to see it on my own! I got bored, you know?

[CHE5TER]-Y...tt... You know what!? Never mind! ...Forget it.

[General]-So, should I expect us to start our journey outside the city now? Did you prepare for today?

[CHE5TER]-Yeah, I did. I brought the map and a few supplies in advance. But if we are on this topic, are you interested in a small change in your appearances?

[General]-What do you mean by that? I'm not changing my clothes just for you to hide me easier. These are representing my culture. My people!

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* That's not what I meant. You will need only a thing on your arm and it should be fine. You won't change anything about your clothes.

[General]-Aha... And what do you want to give me exactly?

[CHE5TER]-Just... give me your hand and you will see.

[General]-Give you my hand...?

[CHE5TER]-Roll up your sleeves and hold out your left arm.

The outsider is a bit confused at first, but it does as He says. It rolls up its sleeves and gives the left hand to the ruler, who looks around His equipment, searching for something. When He finds it, He holds still the boy's hand to fix a device on its arm, a communication one similar to those that Him and His people use. Of course, the outsider seems pretty curious of what this man does to it, but when the Great Leader manages to set the device and activate its attachment mode, it gets rather an uncomfortable looking at it as if it felt the device crawling under its skin. So when CHE5TER is done and lets go of the hand to look if the device is finally fixed, the boy can't help but get a chill down its spine and even try to move its hand slowly, maybe thinking it would take it off.

[CHE5TER]-Alright, that's it. It should be fine for now.

[General]-...What in Heaven did you give me here, Seven? Is it going to eat my hand?

[CHE5TER]-No, it's just a communication device. We will use it from now on to keep in touch with each other and not let what happened today happen again in the future.

[General]-Are you sure it won't cut my arm when I least expect it...?

[CHE5TER]-Oh, for the love of... Yes, I am sure. I set the device to be connected only to mine so that we can talk even from long distances. I don't know if you can use it in a C born way yet since you don't seem to be used to it, but it should be enough even the traditional way. To open it, you will only need to position your hand in a way for the device to understand that you are looking at the screen.

[General]-Aha... And how do I use it again...?

[CHE5TER]-Simply touch the screen on the icons you want to use. It shouldn't be hard since yours is only connected to mine, and other uses don't really exist.

[General]-If you say so...

[CHE5TER]-Now, we should get going. We still need to find a way to your village and ask your people about my ancestors.

[General]-Right... So which way are we going today?

[CHE5TER]-I was thinking of going at the corner of the borders first and see if we can maintain a straight line from there in the outside. Then maybe the east part or south part with the same idea so that we can explore the area easier and cut what we already used.

Yet the boy seems a bit upset when talking about this subject, as it looks at its hand to analyse the device with such a joyless face, before starting to talk again.

[General]-...Seven?

[CHE5TER]-Hm?

[General]-Are you sure you can... find my homeland?

[CHE5TER]-Why are you asking all of a sudden?

[General]-*sigh* I just... feel like I'm lost from my people forever since we struggle to find something that for me was so easy to go back to. I simply don't... understand how I can't remember my own way back home. Have you... ever found yourself completely lost? In a world that you don't recognise?

Yet the ruler gets pretty irritated by that question, as if He tries so hard to avoid this subject each day.

[CHE5TER]-...Yes. One time.

[General]-And how did you find your way back?

[CHE5TER]-I fought until I lost myself.

[General]-What do y--

[CHE5TER]- --Now let's get back to our plans. We don't want to stay all day until the night comes after all. A battle with the demons is the last thing we would wish to happen.

Yet even the outsider can notice the sudden change in His mood, as He simply tends to leave as quick as possible, not even caring if the boy follows Him or not. But as He tries to do so, He notices in the distance some soldiers that seem to investigate an area, so instead of going to follow His plans, He simply decides to go near them and hear the conversation.

As He does so, of course the boy got confused as it followed the man, but instead of talking, it simply stays silent, staring at Him, before finally noticing what He is looking at.

[MSoldier1]-...The investigations are leading nowhere, I told you already! No matter the equipment we use, we cannot see what force could ever cause such a massacre without anybody noticing!

[MSoldier2]-Then I guess the Officers won't be happy to hear the news...

[MSoldier1]-And what do you want to do? You have a better plan? Whoever this person is, we cannot simply catch him like we did with Seven Two! He is way powerful than him! WAY more powerful!

[MSoldier2]-Instead of complaining that we don't have clues on what's happening, why don't you inform all the others Officers from the city about this new enemy? Maybe someone can find him and execute him!

[MSoldier1]-At how easily he vanished without leaving any trace, I doubt that!

Yet when hearing these words, even CHE5TER was surprised on how scared the soldiers are about this new "enemy". But when looking at the boy itself, with such a perplexed face, it rather turns into one of embarrassment, but also fear, seeing the boy trying to avoid eye contact with Him since it knows damn well the conversation is about itself. But the embarrassment rather comes that such a child could have even more power than the ruler Himself, and the fear explains itself.

[CHE5TER]-...What did you do to scare them all in such a short period of time?

[General]-I-I didn't really do anything, really! I just helped some kids!

[CHE5TER]-And what are they talking about when they say "such massacre"?

[General]-W-Well, I kind of... killed a few soldiers to help them escape...?

But His face rather turns into disappointment in a second when He hears that sentence.

[CHE5TER]-...And what did I say about staying hidden, god dammit?

[General]-Well, I tried! I really did! I-I just couldn't leave the kids to die!

[CHE5TER]-Oh, gods... Okay, let's leave it for another day and just go before any of them notices us.

And so, the boy goes to climb up a building nearby to look in the horizon and wait for the ruler's order, but CHE5TER remains a bit puzzled, watching the soldiers for just a few moments more.

[CHE5TER]-...You sure are a mystery, stranger. Who exactly are you that made the gods give you such gifts?

The Outside World

19:47

Not long after, the two got themselves outside the Great Walls that protect the City of Above, far away so that they cannot be seen by the M soldiers. It's not like they do much though, both of them simply prepare themselves for another day of exploring. CHE5TER gets all the equipment done, checking the map and marking everything He wishes to see today, yet the boy only looks around to try and recognise the environment around them.

[General]-Soo... where exactly did you want us to go now again?

[CHE5TER]-...Wherever we can get those senses you say you have, if possible. The straight line of the corner should be a good start since we will be in the middle of the area. Just try to focus as much as possible and tell me if you recognise anything around you.

[General]-Aha... Why are you so sure that we are going the right way though? Maybe it isn't in this part of the world.

[CHE5TER]-If we were to travel the whole world, then maybe we would've been dead by the time your village was discovered. Not to mention that the map also points towards this direction, so it must be around here.

[General]-You know, I really wonder who was the person that made this map you have of my home. I never met anybody to say that he is an outsider that comes from an advanced city.

[CHE5TER]-If you take it that way, it's my first time hearing a kid that can survive outside the Great Walls too. But at this point, who knows how many civilisations are out there, waiting for me to discover...

[General]-Are you sure there are more though? The whole world is pretty deserted after all. It wouldn't surprise me if my people and yours are the only beings alive here.

[CHE5TER]-But it can't be just desert either, right? There has to be more than just sand and rocks.

[General]-I don't know... You put your hopes a bit too high on the levels, Seven. I've wandered around this world my whole life, yet I've never discovered other civilisations until now. No matter what direction I was taking, the horizon was the same. Maybe it's not the village, nor the city itself that creates a civilisation, you know? I knew a guy who came from a different one after all, as an example. Yet He lived in the same land as me.

[CHE5TER]-Really? And where was he coming from?

[General]-It's... hard for me to explain though. I didn't understand that much either... But if we get the chance and find my home, maybe I can take you to Him and talk about this subject. I think I didn't pay Him a visit in a long time anyway...

[CHE5TER]-Alright. Let's find your home first and then we can go and see the people you wish me to see.

[General]-Lead the way then, Mr. Explorer.

And as sure as they are that the journey will be successful, bad luck was still their enemy. They've wandered hours towards one direction, stood a few minutes to analyse the area, then left disappointed and went to the next one. And the others weren't any better either. They took one, two, five different directions, spent hours of traveling in the wilderness and still no sign of another civilisation besides CHE5TER's.

His map even got almost useless from all the notes He has done in the right part of the paper, trying to make sure He has covered the whole areas that were already seen by them. From the simple map it was before, now stands on His hand a paper full of crossed paths and notes, even a few words thrown there out of anger that He simply cannot find the end of this journey.

But as mad as He can get, probably the one that suffers more is the stranger itself, who, by each path covered and the disappointment followed with it, got into such a depressed mood the more they were traveling. After all, the ruler wishes to find it for answer, but the boy wishes to find it because it is its home. So, seeing they do not succeed in their plan, it sure makes sense why the stranger would get sad.

Hours later, all they got was sand all over their clothes and disappointment from the mission. The boy couldn't recognise any kind of path around them, so because they saw a dead end, CHE5TER has decided to take a break for today and continue tomorrow. Now, all they do is to simply pack everything up and get ready to go back to the city before the night comes, since they've stood so much that even the suns are now fading in the horizon.

The ruler, as said, packs everything up, meaning that all the devices that were helping them to not get lost are taken by Him and prepares the navigation to the next one until they reach home. And He sure is pretty annoyed since He got His clothes dirty for nothing all day and He is sure that He will do the same thing tomorrow. So maybe it explains why, as He packs the devices, He is trying to get rid at least of a small part of sand from His clothes.

But as the Great Leader does His thing, the boy does nothing but to watch the sky, waiting for them to leave. He simply sits on the gray-ish sand, with its head towards the above, looking at the red sky, as if it tries to find something out there that watches it. And it does. It finds stars, which are slowly appearing on the sky, lighting up the dark void of the space.

"Guiding light... Guiding light... Where are you, my dear star? I need you to guide me home. Why did you leave me alone?"

[CHE5TER]-General! We can go now!

[General]-...Hm?

Yet its peaceful view of the sky is disturbed now by a voice, calling for the boy to come and finally leave for a rest.

[General]-...O-Oh, yes. Yes... Just give me one more minute and we can leave.

This response seems to have puzzled the ruler though, as He looks perplexed at the boy that simply refuses to get up from the sand or move its attention from the sky. So, curious as He is, He goes next to the boy and sits down, looking a bit at its face, before starting to analyse the sky Himself, getting even more confused.

[CHE5TER]-...Why are you so fascinated by the view? Do you see something that I don't?

[General]-Why aren't you though?

[CHE5TER]-Because I've... seen a sky before? It was amazing the first time, but doing it over and over again it's like begging to get bored of it.

[General]-Then maybe you don't see it as you should do.

[CHE5TER]-What do you mean?

[General]-I mean that... it's impossible to get tired of staring at it. How can you say you get bored of it, when looking at it each time will always guarantee you the discovery of a new view. I've watched it so many times myself and I never even got the thought of getting sick of it... Every night, when nobody was looking, I was going outside in the dark to look at the stars that seemed as if they were watching me too. I was always forgetting my fears and nightmares when I was doing so. As if it is something out there in that dark void that watches over me and makes me feel safe...

[CHE5TER]-You mean the gods?

[General]-I... suppose... But I don't think the answer is that simple as it might look. Gods have existed from the beginning of the world, but how come a sky is more familiar to me than those powerful beings?

[CHE5TER]-I don't find it that familiar to me, General. Maybe simply because I don't have the time to even think of such things. But why do you make it sound like you know something is about to happen?

[General]-I don't say it like that. I simply say that this void which comes every night probably has more history than we know. When I was young, my master taught me once how to navigate based only on the locations of the stars too. I had a star which I had to follow if I got lost in the wilderness and which guided me home every time.

[CHE5TER]-So if we go during the night, we have more chances of finding that village?

Yet the boy stops for a second, analysing the sky that turns so slowly into pure darkness, before taking a breath of disappointment as if it already saw what it was searching for.

[General]-...No.

[CHE5TER]-Hm?

[General]-The star that I'm talking about is... right there, above me. And looking at the direction it guides, it seems as the path of my village is nowhere here. If it was, then I would've recognise even a tiny bit the surroundings.

Then the ruler gets a bit disappointed too, only for Him to grab the map again and look deeper into it, maybe as if He made a mistake in the direction.

[CHE5TER]-...But if that's the case, then we need to take the opposite part and see what happens after. *sigh* It sure will be a pain.

[General]-...

Maybe it took Him a few seconds more of staring at that map, but the moment He got His view off it, He noticed the upset figure that stands to watch the sky. So, He begins to do it too, looking as much as He can to even see a star and trying to understand the sayings of the boy. But no hope, as His eyes are as dark as ever, so nothing really changed. Still, He talks once again.

[CHE5TER]-...Do you think that... you can teach me how to navigate with stars too?

[General]-...Hm? Why all of a sudden?

[CHE5TER]-I guess it's because I... kind of wanted to be an explorer when I was young. It was my dream, so now that I found someone who truly knows how to do it, I can ask a few questions for advices.

[General]-I don't really think I'm the best qualified to teach such things though, Seven. I am just a disciple myself.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* Well, it was worth a try.

Then the boy stops looking at the sky and begins a bit to admire this strange guy itself, as He now looks at the void in front of His eyes. But even the boy can see that the void He has in His eyes is even darker than the whole space, so it moves its view back out of an unsettling feeling.

[General]-...Did you choose a star?

[CHE5TER]-Huh? A star?

[General]-Yeah. To do a navigation like this, you begin with choosing a star that you would like it to guide you wherever you are. Then, observe where it is positioned on the sky, between which stars it stands and which direction it goes, like watching where exactly that star is fading from a hour to another. After that, you are suppose to remember it for the rest of your life like the back of your hand, making sure that you do not confuse it with another star.

[CHE5TER]-And how can that help me navigate?

[General]-Depending on the path the star takes, like right or left, you are suppose to know which direction you are facing while looking at it. It applies for all stars, but having one that you've chosen personally will help you maintain a stable mental health as well. It's like an effect of it representing your own god that tries to help you when you are lost and feel down, and you can even feel safe talking to it when you are alone in the wilderness.

[CHE5TER]-Really?

[General]-Yes! You simply choose a star and it will remain your guardian for eternity! I even named mine!

[CHE5TER]-And how did you name it?

Truth to be told now, the Great Leader seemed so fascinated by all this information a stranger can give Him and a new way of navigation, so He was staring a bit at the boy, which still continued watching the sky. But after hearing His question, a small smile finally lighted up on its face.

[General]-..."Hope". I called it "Hope".

The Underground City

40:31

So, even more minutes later, they managed in the end to get back to the Underground City before the suns were finally set and the real darkness has started. Though there are some hours left until the night schedule begins, and RY4N being already away with the mission of today, the ruler still seems as He got Himself something to do in the meantime after He brought back the equipment to the base. He simply took a few papers that were left on His desk by His brother to look into and managed to meet up with the stranger to take a pause around the city.

[General]-...Sooo, where are we heading next?

[CHE5TER]-Nowhere, just yet. Since the night has come, the demons have probably started wandering around the lands, so it isn't safe for us to go outside the walls. We will have to continue again tomorrow.

[General]-Not safe? What about that demon you've showed me some days ago?

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* I don't know... I can't say I'm certain that he is fully trustworthy, but I can't say he is an enemy either. I simply need to find more about the situation in cause to draw a conclusion.

[General]-And until tomorrow, you tell me that we will walk around the whole night?

[CHE5TER]-I mean, if you like staying awake, then you can do that. But I'm simply here because I have to know you don't do anything stupid around this city. You are still an uninvited guest here, remember?

[General]-Eheheh...

[CHE5TER]-Until I don't bring you back to the City of Above to stay there over the night with my mind rested that you can't come down here without me, I will stay here for a while. It's not like I have much to do from what I've seen anyway.

[General]-Alright, alright, I got it... Then? Can we visit something new in the meantime?

[CHE5TER]-I've told you. There is nothing that I can show you for you to not have already seen. You can buy whatever you want, I don't really care as long as you pay the merchants. But more than that, we can't do much.

[General]-Then, do you think I can borrow some money? I don't have anything on me.

[CHE5TER]-Oh, Brother...

A bit pissed, CHE5TER looks around His clothes to get some coins He had with Him, maybe some savings kept for Himself, and gives them to the boy.

[CHE5TER]-...You know, it's pretty questionable that you know about this currency even though you are an outsider.

[General]-Huh? Maybe it is a currency used worldwide. I mean, my people use Novha for some years now.

[CHE5TER]-Define "some years".

[General]-I don't know... Around six or seven years?

[CHE5TER]-Six or seven!? This late??

[General]-What do you mean by that?

[CHE5TER]-My people use it for centuries now!

[General]-Eh? How so? Are you sure of this information?

[CHE5TER]-Yes, I am! W-W... If that's how it works, then somehow your people got their hands on our money! How didn't I know that??

[General]-No, they didn't! You're talking nonsense! It's impossible for you to use this currency for so many years! What are you even talking about??

[CHE5TER]-What am I talking about!? What are YOU talking about?? There is no way your people could've get these without stealing it from us and entering unauthorised in the cit--

Yet as He argues with the boy, He notices behind the stranger's back and gets rather confused, making the boy being puzzled as well.

[General]-What? What are you staring at?

But CHE5TER doesn't respond to that question, simply ignoring the boy and starting making His way towards what He had noticed. Of course the boy was confused, so it simply followed the Great Leader blindly, only for them to get closer to two crevaators that were arguing as well.

[DA4VAHNDAR]-...Huynadtse uv! Fujzhtse monhai veghtai il tse'zdijai hevbh vath zevhneh! Vith esuv yijdivohd al tse? (TR: I'm telling you! I've done everything in my power to get what he needed! Why are you mad at me?)

[MOVID7LUNA4I]-Lavaih esneh no onushav hora hevbhuv tsai il ravught. Jhav hevbhtsai brovudhav, kalvhtsai kuj-- (TR: Because it's not the first time you get us all in trouble. If we get caught, we might as well just--)

[CHE5TER]- --DA4VAHNDAR! MOVID7LUNA4I!

Yet the moment the ruler started calling their name, both of the crevaators panicked, freezing at the location they were. One sure was scared, but the other one was simply mad that this had to happen.

[MOVID7LUNA4I]-...Kuzovijt! (TR: Shit!)

In the end, both the ruler and the stranger got even closer to see what they are up to, even though these two sure didn't want it.

[CHE5TER]-What are you two doing here? Don't you remember the rules anymore?

[MOVID7LUNA4I]-...Master, with all due respect, we need supplies from the city! You cannot just ban us from simply walking around the merchants' area and don't let us help our own people!

[DA4VAHNDAR]-Y-Yeah! B-Besides, the last terror we have caused in this city was way long ago! It's not our fault that people are simply scared of us! W-We've done nothing wrong but to buy a few more supplies!

[CHE5TER]-Then instead of breaking the rules, why don't you talk to me personally to solve this problem of yours? This is the same reason why I don't let you near the city anymore. If you cannot fulfil promises, then you might as well not get any kind of supply anymore.

[DA4VAHNDAR]-B-But it's not fair! We didn't promise doing anything! You just forced this rule onto us one day out of nowhere and expected us to simply forget about it and respect it for the rest of our lives!

[CHE5TER]-Then if you despise this rule so much, why did you have to break so many to force my hand in the first place? If you did your part of our agreement, then nothing of this would've happened.

[DA4VAHNDAR]-...Zistzvertse wukqhuv uv! (TR: Hope you kill yourself!)

Since CHE5TER doesn't know this language almost at all, He is a bit confused on what the crevaator said. But something sure gets Him off guard, and that is...

[General]-Vith esuv ow yijdivohd, crevaator? (TR: Why are you so angry, crevaator?)

...the stranger speaking in Crevaarian. And He is not the only one who got surprised for sure, as the other two people are watching the boy so confused, while the ruler seems to stare at it shocked.

[General]-...What? I know a bit of Crevaarian. My master taught me.

[CHE5TER]-How do y--

[DA4VAHNDAR]- --Szefnagh, puvhwoyuv no na gyjhrav. Estse yijdivohd lavaih na man avicht xyskneh monhai tsai'kontavtai ih monh veghtai zevhtsai suvhrek. (TR: Kid, you don't understand the situation. I am mad because the man over here cut all our contacts with any kind of things that we need in order to survive.)

[General]-Ho... kalvhuvai no duyvad riydovoght punagh na ebrovhal ih neh? Havugh ovus kalvhuvai manayih la ha sobrovhal jhav szevauvai vavhrak. (TR: And... cant' you discuss properly about the problem with him? Maybe you two can come to a solution if you stop fighting.)

[DA4VAHNDAR]-Ohohohh, zistzvertse! Zav CHEE5TER es ow zvijtvol yaszf esneh kjo nopovyghtnam la-- (TR: Ohohohh, I wish. But CHE5TER is so stubborn that it's almost impossible to even--)

[MOVID7LUNA4I]- --DA4VAHNDAR!

The moment the other crevaator started shouting that name, the talkative crevaator gets rather confused and turns his view at his colleague.

[DA4VAHNDAR]-Vath? (TR: What?)

[General]-..."CHEE5TER"?

And of course he realises his mistake when the kid ask that question with such a puzzled face. So, the moment he looked a bit at the ruler, he now knows that he has to run and never face Him ever again. And that's exactly what he does, as he slowly steps back, before starting to run for his life, only saying a final sentence by leaving his friend in this situation alone.

[DA4VAHNDAR]-E-Evraiyh, MOVID7LUNA4I! Esuv onhav lovegh! I-Idavaah! (TR: S-Sorry, MOVID7LUNA4I! You are on your own now! S-See you later!)

[MOVID7LUNA4I]-DA4VAHNDAR, uv... (TR: DA4VAHNDAR, you...)

So of course the boy was confused as hell seeing a crevaator in flesh run like a kid scared of darkness. But then, the other man starts speaking again.

[MOVID7LUNA4I]-*sigh* I apologise, Master... I really do. But you know how DA4VAHNDAR can be sometimes.

[CHE5TER]-...That is still no excuse for him to simply go off his words like that, you know, Lunai?

[MOVID7LUNA4I]-I know. And I do know that I will have to face the consequences too because of his actions alone. But right now, it really isn't the time.

[General]-Can I ask why did that guy run so quickly out of nowhere though...?

[MOVID7LUNA4I]-Doesn't matter. What were you interested in, Master? Is there another information that you wish to know?

[CHE5TER]-No. I simply noticed you both on my way in the city and came here to see what you are up to.

[MOVID7LUNA4I]-Look... I know we broke the rules and all, but we still need supplies as said. Leader ESTVA4NH7SE ordered us to go in the city and buy a few more things, that's all. We did not scare anybody intentionally this time, I give you my word.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* Alright, Lunai. You get just a warning this time. But tell your friend that he better not come again in this city.

[MOVID7LUNA4I]-Thank you, Master. Idavaah. (TR: See you later.)

[CHE5TER]-See you.

So, with that, the crevaator begins to walk away to get back to his part of the land, where he will have to meet up with his friend again and maybe argue with him about the situation. But while this conversation was going, the stranger sure was pretty confused, but also interested into saying something stuck in its mind. So, before the crevaator leaves for good, it begins to speak.

[General]-...H-Hey, hold up a second!

[MOVID7LUNA4I+CHE5TER]-Huh?

[General]-Can I ask you a question myself?

[MOVID7LUNA4I]-Oh, um... Sure, I guess. Go ahead.

[General]-Are there any chances of you knowing anything about my village?

[MOVID7LUNA4I]-"Your village"...?

The Great Leader was confused too, but He got the plan only a few seconds later, realising that the boy actually doesn't have such a bad idea in mind. After all, the crevaators are specialised in secret information.

[CHE5TER]-...Yes, he is right. I almost forgot about this. Do you have any knowledge on a village outside the Great Walls? Somewhere on the south-east?

[MOVID7LUNA4I]-I-I'm sorry, but... I am a bit confused. What are you talking about?

[General]-My home! My home has people like you too! Surely at least one crevaator has to know about it! Please!

[MOVID7LUNA4I]-I'm really sorry, but I don't know anything about a village outside the walls. I really don't. Maybe it's because I'm not such an old member of the clan, but I never heard my people talking about such a thing either.

[CHE5TER]-Are there any chances of you finding out something about this?

[MOVID7LUNA4I]-I won't promise anything, but I can try and ask around. Maybe someone will tell me about it. I will tell Leader ESTVA4NH7SE to contact you if I get any information regarding it. If you don't get any feedback, then I probably didn't find anything about this information.

[CHE5TER]-Alright then. You are free to go.

And so, the crevaator gives the weird symbol which means their "see you later" to the ruler and finally leaves them behind. Yet the boy sure looks pretty disappointed on what it has heard, even CHE5TER noticing it.

[CHE5TER]-...Okay. Want a small drink? My treat this time.

43:22

A few moments later, after relaxing for a bit, they have finally moved from the bar they've been to and went to a public park nearby which seemed pretty empty since the hour isn't so favourable with the kids around the city. But it's not like they do much anyway, they just stand on a bench while simply finishing what was left from their drinks. Even so, the boy still seems a bit sad about this whole situation, but it begins to talk so that it can kill the silence.

[General]-So... CHE5TER, huh? That's the name you didn't wish to tell me.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* It's not like I can continue lying now anyway... But I sure didn't expect this to be the moment you get to know it.

[General]-Even so... Nice to meet you, Mr. CHE5TER.

[CHE5TER]-Yeah... The pleasure is mine, General.

[General]-...

Yet again, pure silence. It probably is hard for the boy to speak now, though the ruler doesn't mind anything at this point.

...Why are you so friendly to Him anyway? You sure are a weird person, Little Ruler.

CHE5TER then gives a small breath as if He tries to get rid of something that annoys Him, putting His right hand on the back of His neck and thinking of it for some seconds. But probably the boy misunderstood His gesture, since it felt obligated to explain its sadness.

[General]-...I still have that feeling that something is off about my fate, CHE5TER. That I will remain lost here forever and never see my brothers and sisters again. Is this really... a dead end?

[CHE5TER]-You ask me like I'm suppose to know who you are and what's your future, stranger. I am a simple being after all, and I myself have a fate to battle.

[General]-I know, but... it can't be just a coincidence that the ore you've stole led me to this place, right? I think it is a sign from the gods telling me that I have to do something here that I don't even know anything about.

[CHE5TER]-Maybe. Also, that ore, will I ever see it again, or...?

[General]-Ha ha... Very funny... Make fun of my suffering by trying to get rid of me faster...

[CHE5TER]-I'm just kidding, buddy. No need to take it personally.

[General]-Yeah, yeah...

And of course His try isn't so successful, as the boy is still battling that sad thought. But still, it seems that He brought the stranger some curiosity too.

[General]-Say... Why do you say that you also have to battle your fate?

[CHE5TER]-Do you really think that you are the only person in this world that has fears? Oh, little one, you sure have to learn a lot about life.

[General]-Me? You don't even know what you are talking, but sure. Now, can you answer my question?

[CHE5TER]-What is there to answer? Everyone has a future, so... everyone has a fate. With fate, there is fear and there is motivation too. Whether it is made by your people or by fear itself. Though I am a simple being, fate stabbed me in the back many times in the past, and it sure will continue to do so until I meet my end. I've endured a lot and lived many things I wish I didn't, but I guess I've also brought bad luck into some people's lives as well. Even so, it's the way you see it that makes the difference. See me as a being, see me as a monster... But I will forever remain a citizen of this city.

[General]-"Monster"? So that guy that ran away thinks that you are a monster?

[CHE5TER]-Maybe he is not the only one.

[General]-But what did you do to scare these people you tell me about so badly? Ever since I've arrived here, you've been nothing but a defenseless young man that I can kill in a matter of seconds even without giving my best. And I proved that as well if you remember it.

[CHE5TER]-Hey. You caught me off guard back there, alright? No need to make a scene out of it now.

[General]-Excuses...

[CHE5TER]-But... I will admit. You are stronger than me, stranger. Whatever power you own, it sure puts you in advantage in a battle with anybody around here. Are the people in your village as powerful as you? If so, how can I learn these techniques you use?

[General]-I'm... sorry to break it to you, but you will never have this power of mine, no matter how many years you train. It is what makes me special in this world. Without it, I was probably a simple child, ignored by my own kind.

[CHE5TER]-Are you sure there is no way of getting such powers?

[General]-I am. Very sure.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* Alright. Fair enough.

Then, there is that moment of silence again. Though they don't really talk that much, it does seem as they have a lot to tell, but refuse to do so. After all, CHE5TER has a lot of things that He wishes to accomplish by finding that village, yet even the boy has some plans in mind from what it seems. So, to kill this awkward mood, He begins to think of an idea of what they can do until He goes back to His people and continue this charade tomorrow.

[CHE5TER]-...Want to try another race?

[General]-A race? Hahah, you want to lose again, I see!

[CHE5TER]-I wouldn't have lost if someone didn't cheat and used his mysterious powers, you know?

[General]-Oh? So you are banning me from doing so this time, huh?

[CHE5TER]-I mean, a fair chase has more fun than one with tricks for winning.

[General]-Alright, alright. You win. But just 'cause I used my powers that time, doesn't mean I'm going to lose now!

[CHE5TER]-We will see about that.

The boy then gets up and begins to prepare for the chase that they've planned, climbing a building nearby and looking at the horizon while the ruler catches up. But before He does so, He stays a bit on the bench more, watching the child do all of these actions, while putting His right arm once again on the back of His neck.

"...I am so friendly because this boy has all the answers that I've searched for my entire life. Whatever village is this home he talks about, then it sure has something to do with my family bloodline."

And you really think that He will be the one to tell you the truth?

"It is worth a try, don't you think?"

Believe as many lies as you wish to believe. I already know our fate.

And after the moments of rest He took, He began to follow the boy on the building it was. Of course, they didn't start it the moment He arrived too, they stood a bit more, especially because CHE5TER wished to look into the horizon too since this is His city in which He grew up.

[General]-Where is the finish line now?

[CHE5TER]-I'm thinking of... the end of that street. You see it?

He points out at a street that is located some buildings away from their location. The boy then tries to look for what He points towards before finally noticing it too.

[General]-Uhh... Oh, yeah. Yeah, I see it.

[CHE5TER]-Good. Then who loses will has to pay next time.

Not long after, both of them began the chase around the city just like the last time. To be completely honest now though, RY4N is pretty much right in what he says: CHE5TER begins to slowly come back to His former self after such a long time of numbness that He forced onto Himself. He is no longer a simple killer, or the merciless ruler that we saw Him the first time we met Him, months ago. He finally has a rather lively personality, though it sure needs more time to return completely.

He no longer despises going out with anybody that much, He no longer ignores everyone else around Him. From what it seems, all He really needed was some rest to get over what happened that caused this change of His, and since He took such a huge break from the title of Great Leader because of the rumour of Seven Two being dead, He really managed to get that rest He needed. Maybe it truly was this title that has changed Him, who knows? But from what it seems, all He needed was a light to guide Him to His peace.

And so, as the chase is going, He pretty much seems as He actually has a bit of fun while doing it. Being in advantage since the boy can't use that strange power of its anymore, He knows now what He had lost by giving up on His former self and becoming a shadow of the city. He now remembers the days in which Him and His brother were going out just like this, and He also had a lot of fun in them. Maybe it wasn't intended to be like this, since He probably thought of the boy and its sorrow rather than His own sadness, but it sure is a welcomed feeling.

But even so, something happens during the whole race between them that makes the mood change. As they were running around, CHE5TER's hood falls from His head from the wind that travels caused by the speed. Even so, He seems as He even forgot that He had to stay hidden and didn't care that much about it, and they were also pretty high for anybody to even see His face. But it's not the citizens that changed the mood, rather the boy, who gets in a shock as it notices something strange at the ruler since it was behind Him.

Whatever that something is, it sure is unusual. The boy already knows how CHE5TER looks like though, as it already saw Him without any kind of hood. But as shocked as it is, it stops from the running on a building nearby, remaining a bit paralysed and staring at the ruler who still didn't stop the race. Even so, seconds later, He looks back to see if the boy still manages to keep up and He too notices that shocked figure a few buildings away, getting confused and beginning to go back to where the stranger stands.

When He arrives, He stares a bit at the paralysed figure, putting His hood back on and looking around the area to see if anybody noticed them. But before He can do that, the boy stops His arms from even grabbing the hood and begins to look at the back of His head, more exactly at the neck, where it sees only His hair with voothrav C colour. And in a matter of seconds, the boy already moves the hair to notice that strange mark with a scar CHE5TER has, which surprised the ruler for sure, backing off immediately and grabbing His hood as fast as possible to put it back, staring confused at the paralysed boy.

[General]-Y-You...

Then, after some staring at each other, the boy takes off its hood too, turning its back to the ruler and uncovering a part of its skin from the hair, which also was hiding... a mark just like the ruler's. Well, almost just like His. The mark is a bit different from His, having a few chances in some lines, for example if the ruler had a specific line on His mark, this boy didn't have it, and the same going in the opposite situation. And it sure... shocked CHE5TER too.

After showing it, the boy then turns back and looks at the Great Leader with such confusion on its face, before finally speaking once again.

"...You are an Almost-Human. Just like me."