Paranoia and isolation

Chapter 70

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

9:05 am

I look up at Goldie as I lay a poster on the ground. I look down at my gloves then back up at Goldie.

"Are you sure you don't want me to pay you back for the prosthetics?" She shook her head.

"It's fine, I'll paid for it, you don't have to worry about the cost." I take out five ten dollar bills and held it up to Goldie's face.

"At least let me pay for the gloves." She shook her head once again. She held up her hand and gently lowered down my hand.

"The gloves were fifteen dollars, you don't have to pay me back." I put the money back into my Inventory confused. I know these prosthetics weren't cheap, even if it was just the fingers it has to be worth a lot.

"Why don't you want the money?" Goldie bent down until she was around my height.

"Money means nothing to me, to me its just paper."

"But you have a job don't you? If you didn't care about money, why are you working. You can just leave. Go back into woods, do what ever foxes do."

"I work, because I have people I care about. I don't want them to lose or waste money when they have other things to worry about. I might not know why they need money, but I give them money because I care about them. You're one of those people." She stared deeply into my eyes as she waited for a response. I turn around and stare down at the poster. I felt Goldie's eyes stare at the back of my head.

"I-um, got to go." I felt Goldie stand back up and walk towards the door. I step onto the poster and snap my fingers. I quickly find myself in a forest. In the distance I saw the camp, the camp that didn't make me any money, the camp where I'm forced to hide to be nice to everyone. I sigh as I bend down and pick up the poster. I put the poster back into my Inventory and look over the camp. Hopefully Nuxiel will pay me soon. I sigh as I start to make my way back to the camp.

I stared up at the fake sun overlooking the camp, I put my hand up to block the sun light from hitting my face before putting it back down. I stop walking and look down at my gloves. I thought back to Goldie, to what she said about caring about me. I just... couldn't understand how she could care for me. I've done nothing for her, when we first met I killed her. If I was her, I would hate me. She's done so much, cook for me, pay me stuff, buys me gifts when I don't need them. I'm not sure why she would care for me. She even got a job to pay for stuff whenever I wanted or needed something. She's getting nothing out of taking care of me. My eyes widen as thoughts flooded my mind. What if she needs me in the future? She could just be gaining my trust so she could tell me what to do. She could be just like Dominique, gaining my trust only to throw me away when I'm causing problems. My legs felt weak the more I thought about what her motives could be. I sat down onto the dirt and slumped over. She isn't using me for anything right now though, with Dominique he told me what to do from the very beginning. Goldie... Goldie doesn't really tell me what to do. The only thing she wants me to do is to not kill innocent people. And I even agree with her on that, its a reasonable request even if she doesn't get anything out of it. I stared down at the ground silently for a few minutes before getting back up.

I wipe the dirt off my pants and make my way towards my cabin again. I looked down at the ground as I walked in silence. I walked past Coach's cabin and made my way down the hill. The crunching of the dirt beneath my feet was all I focused on during my walk. I heard a second pair of footsteps come from right in front of me. I look up to see someone slowly rolling a wheel burrow up the hill with bags of dirt and big white bottles of pesticides towering over the person. I couldn't even see who was rolling the wheel burrow. I look away from the person and resume my walk down the hill. As the person passed I took a quick glance at the person. I chuckled at the sight of Alice drenched in sweat with her arms shaking from carrying all that weight. Alice looked in the corner of her eye with a look of desperation. She took shallow breaths as she struggled to go up the hill. I stopped my walk and stared in amusement. I smiled as the burrow began to tilt to Alice's side. A bottle of of pesticide began to slide off the pile of bags. Alice quickly took her right hand off the handle of the burrow and caught the bottle as it fell. I felt my lips form a huge grin as the burrow fell to the side. Alice gasped as everything started to slide down the hill. I couldn't help but let out a loud laugh.

I quickly used the wind to pick up everything that fell down. I quickly brought the items over to me. I grabbed a bottle of pesticide and put it in my Inventory. Alice took loud, deep breaths as she tried to pick up the wheel burrow. Before she could even pick up the wheel burrow, I quickly put everything into my Inventory. Alice leaned over the burrow as she looked in my direction.

"If you were going to help, why didn't you help sooner." She said while glaring at me. I smirk at her.

"I was having a bad day, I just wanted to laugh at something." She angrily stared at me. "I'll at least carry if for you." I said trying to apologize. She sighed before deciding to drop the burrow and walking up the hill.

"Carry the cart too." I chuckled to myself as I walked over to the wheel burrow and picked it up. I should've just helped her. I groaned as I started to walk up hill. Alice stopped and waited for me to catch up. Alice began her walk the second I was at her side. Alice looked over at me and stared at my necklace before looking forward again.

"I don't get why you live in a tent, and yet you still find someway to buy jewelry." I looked down at my necklace. I would say I worked hard to buy jewelry, but I don't think it would be fair to the person who actually bought it. It's not like they would care now.

"I don't live in a tent, I live in a house now." I respond as we neared the top of the hill. Alice rolled her eyes at my response.

"Why were you living in a tent in the first place?" I pushed the wheel burrow over the hill with a groan. I stayed silent for a bit trying to think of an answer. I don't want to tell her about my life, I don't have to say anything in the first place. But if I don't say anything she'll just be persistent about it. Or she could just not care. I can never know with Alice.

"I-uh, ran away?" I said with an unsure tone.

"Why did that sound like a question?"

"It's a weird situation."

"Uh-huh." She said with a sassy, monotone voice. We stayed silent as I followed her. "Do you wear rings when you wear gloves?"

"Huh?"

"I know you wear rings, but do you still keep them on when you wear gloves?" It took me a moment to realize what she was saying. I look down at my left glove, I saw the faint outline of a ring through my glove.

"I've been wearing for so long, that I forgot I was wearing one."

"How did you forget? Isn't wearing a ring... uncomfortable?"

"Not really, you get used to it after a while."

"It looks like it strangles your finger though."

"I don't think that happens."

"But it looks like it happens."

"It doesn't." We walked to Coach's cabin and walked into the forest. We walked until we reached a row of mangos. I walked onto the concreate and softly placed the wheel burrow onto the ground. I start to put everything that I put into my Inventory a few minutes ago back into the wheel burrow. I crack my fingers as Alice grabbed a bottle of pesticide. She turned towards me and stretched out her arm to give me the bottle.

"Can you help spray this on the mango trees?" I shake my head with a confused look.

"I have other stuff to do, I just wanted to help a bit." Alice raised a eyebrow and lowered down her arm.

"Aren't you volunteering?"

"For what?" Alice pointed her finger at the vast garden of vegetables and plants behind her.

"I just happened to run into to you when I was doing something else, I'm not volunteering."

"Then why are you wearing gloves?" She said while pointing at my gloves. I sheepishly look away and put my right hand into my pocket.

"I just like the way it looks." Alice slowly nodded with a confused look on her face.

"You don't look good in it." She said while looked down at the bottle in her hand. I stare down at my left hand and stuff it in my pocket. I really wish I didn't have to wear these gloves.

"Well I like the way it looks, so I'm going to wear it." Alice ignored me and turned towards the garden.

"Do you have anything that could get rid of bugs?"

"Aren't pesticides good enough?"

"It is, but it we use to much and it takes so long. I was just wondering if there was something to help."

"I don't... really know if anything will help. I'll try to look into it though."

"You better find something." I turn around and begin to walk away.

"I'll try but I don't know if I'll find something." I look over my shoulder. "Any way's I have to go do something else." Alice looked over her shoulder and waved. I waved back and turned around. I frown as a box appeared.

New quest!

Solve the garden's bug problem!

Rewards:

150 xp

$50

5 points

You'll be closer to Alice

Slightly more respect from the camp

Consequences:

Less food for the camp

Accept?

Yes

No

I click yes and continued on my way to my cabin. I stared up at the sky and blankly stared. I sigh as I look back down. I started to take long exaggerated steps, I smile at the silliness of it. It probably looked stupid to other people, but to me it was something to keep my mind off my problems. It helped, even if it was just a little bit. I heard the murmuring of people gather around me as I entered the camp. I stopped taking those fun step and started to walk normally.

I stop at the door of my cabin and walk in. I look around and spot Qaid sitting down at a desk reading a book. I walk over to him and sit down at the desk. Qaid flipped the corner of the page into a tiny triangle and closed the book.

"Did you get the solar panels yet?" Qaid said in a calm voice. I rest my arms on the table and lay my head down.

"I-uh... things went really wrong."

"What happened?"

"I don't know what happened, I just know that I can at least get the solar panels today or tomorrow." Qaid looked down at my gloves.

"I'm guessing things didn't go bad enough that you had a chance to get some gloves." I pick up my head and stare at him. I held up my left hand.

"These gloves were a gift, I didn't think I would get gloves yesterday."

"Was that necklace a gift too?" He said while pointing to my chest.

"It was." Qaid huffed as he picked up his book. He didn't open the book, but he still kept the book in his hands.

"For all I know you could've just said that you tried to buy the solar panels."

"I didn't even get a chance to see the solar panels, something went wrong when I was getting the money." Qaid stared me right in the eye with a tiny bit of hate in his eyes.

"What happened then?"

"I got robbed." Qaid set his book back on the table, his glare went away as he leaned on the table.

"You? Someone who has powers that could easily kill a person. You got robbed?"

"It was a normal person, it's not like I can just kill whenever I want. I don't think I could even kill a person." Qaid sighed.

"You're right, when do you think you can get the money?"

"I already have the money, I just have to find a place to buy it now." Qaid nodded.

"Actually why don't we use windmills instead?" Said with a nervous tone.

"Why would we do that?"

"Our dad is literally the god of the wind, I just thought," Qaid stopped and stared blankly in my direction. "Well actually it was our dad's idea to use win turbines, I thought about it and I think it would be a good idea. Our dad can constantly turn the wind turbines to generate power. With solar panels, if a cloud is blocking the sun or if the sun is blocked by something there would be no power. I think wind turbines would be the better idea."

"How do you know that its our dad's idea?"

"He talked to me." Qaid said casually. My eyes widened. Why would a god, talk to someone like Qaid? Maybe he's important? Maybe he's just the favorite?

"What do you mean he talked to you?" Qaid looked confused as he pointed to his head.

"He talked to me," I could feel my face express a confused face at his words. "In a dream."

"Are you sure that he talked to you?" Qaid nodded. "You sure it wasn't what you said, just a dream?" Qaid nodded.

"There was this one time, where I thought it was a dream. I was talking to our dad and I mentioned that I wanted cake. Next day I found cake waiting by my bed. I asked around and found out that he tried to talk to his children often."

"So he... talks to everyone?" Qaid widened his eyes and slowly nodded. Qaid glanced at the side with his face drained of color. "He doesn't talk to me." Qaid didn't respond. "Did he atleast say something about me?" Qaid slowly shook his head.

"He doesn't say anything about other our siblings." I stare down at the table and slowly tap on the table. I felt Qaid stare at the side of my head. I sigh loudly and stand up. I push in my chair and look at Qaid.

"We're not doing the wind turbines."

"Just think it over." I shake my head and walk towards the door. I walk out the door and clench my fists. I step to the side of the door and sit down. I stare up at the sky and felt a rush of wind pass by me. I took a deep, shaky breath as the wind passed. How does the wind even move around here? The camp is literally in a cave.

I stand up and walk out onto the gravel street. How do we not suffocate here? The hole to the outside world is really, really small. And even then I don't think it would be enough space to get rid of the Carbon Dioxide and get enough Oxygen for everyone in the camp. I know there's alot of plants at the garden so maybe that helps? I don't know enough about how gases work but I still think it's weird. Or maybe my dad helps, it could be some other god that's helping. I look back towards my cabin. I don't know much about what my dad is like in Shinto mythology, but maybe he was nice? From what I heard from Qaid, it sounds like he actually cares about my siblings too. My vision focused in on the cabin. I felt my body become light, the noise of people's voices and footsteps felt distant. I felt the hair on my stand up on my arms. I blink as the cabin felt like was slowly get farther and farther. I turn my head. Suddenly everything came back to me, the sound of footsteps, the sound of people talking, the light feeling from the body quickly disappeared. I look around with wide eyes. I look towards my cabin, the distance of the cabin went back to normal.

I take a step back before walking away from the cabin. I walked through the camp, everything felt like it was moving in slow motion. I know everything is moving at normal speed, but nothing it was like I was walking through another world. It felt like nothing was real. I glanced around the camp. I stop in the middle of the road and look off into the distance at the giant stone walls. I focus on the buildings beside me. I felt my chest tighten. I catch a glimpse of my glove in the corner of my eye. I felt my eye fill with tears as I start to quickly walk away. I can't be in this camp anymore, I can't be in this camp no more.

I stormed through the camp and walked past the the colosseum. I walked up the hill, past Coach's cabin, and walked straight into the forest. I make my way towards the stone walls. I look up, and squint my eyes at how tall the wall was. I use the wind and quickly fly up. I and into the cave overlooking the camp. I look over the shoulder and stare at the buildings below. I have to find a new way to get up here. I look forward and walk to the tiny beam of light in the very back of the hole. I feel a light breeze of air come from the hole. I fly up and blink several times. The desert was bitch black. I look up and the sky and gazed up at the stars. I forgot time zones were a thing.

I blankly stare at the stars. I never got to see stars back in Chicago, I don't see anything special about them. They just look like tiny lights. I think the only thing good about them is that somewhere between them, there are aliens. I smile at the thought. I wonder what their planet is like. They have to have some weird technology we don't have. I wonder what they look too. Nuxiel showed me a planet, but it was just a forest! I didn't anything living there! I saw trees and planets but still! I wanted to see what their animals looked like. Or maybe Nuxiel was just tricking me. I frown at the thought.

I felt my clothes wave in the wind. The strong gust of wind shifted the sand at the bottom of my feet. The wind felt nice against my skin. I bring my gloves up to the front of my face. I calmly open my left hand take off my right glove. The wind felt nice against my hand. It felt nice not being forced to wear a glove. I stare at my prosthetic fingers, my eyes stung from the tears forming in my eyes. My eyes widen as I heard the faint sound of footsteps approach me. I quickly put on my glove. I glance to the side as a box appeared.

Wind's Kiss activated!

I close the box and turn around. Behind me was a tall man with long black hair. His dark brown eyes had a soft wise look, the wise look was accompanied by wrinkles below his eyes. The man was wearing a brown silk robe with bright yellow clouds scattered across. There was a big pieces of ribbon wrapped around his waist. I felt the wind rush around us as the man casually leaned back, his feet left the floor and was left floating on his side. The man kept silently staring at me. I take out Winter rose and used the wind to keep the spear float by my side.

"Who are you?" I ask the man. The man stared lazily in my direction.

"Those bars, what are they?"

"Huh?" The wind suddenly went silent, my spear dropped to the ground as the man stood up like he was getting up from a chair and landed on the sand. The man calmly walked towards me. I quickly bend down and pick up my spear. I tried my best to use the wind to lift up my spear into the air. I closed my eyes and imagined a current of wind aiming towards my spear. There wasn't even a hint of the wind moving. I open my eyes and take a step back. The man stretched out his arm, a strong gust of wind suddenly snatched Winter Rose out of my hand. My eyes widened as the man caught my spear and twirled the spear in his fingers. Why is the wind listening to him! I don't know how he stole my control of the wind. Maybe he didn't even steal control of the wind from me, maybe one of his powers counters mine? Either way I'm fucked.

The man stopped twirling my spear and stretched out my spear's side towards me. I stared up at him with a confused face. I slowly reach out towards my spear and grab it from him. He slowly let go of my spear, he reached towards my Mp bar and grabbed it. I quickly swing my spear a this chest. The clothes on his body swirled around my spear. The sight reminded me of smoke moving around a hand going through the smoke. I swipe at the man again.

His body swirled around like smoke before coming back together. The man stared at my Mp bar completely ignoring me.

"What is this." The man asked in a soothing, calming voice. How can he even seen let along touch my Mp bar? The person I know who could do something like that is Nuxiel.

"I'll tell you if you tell me who the hell you are." I said through gritted teeth. The man glanced in my direction.

"Fūjin." My body froze up. I felt a cold feeling go up my body. Out of all the people I could've possibly cursed at and tried to be intimidating to, it just happened to be the god that happened to be my dad.. Maybe, just maybe I can try to make him less angry. I don't know if he's angry but if I was a god and some kid talked to me like that I would be angry. I put my spear into my Inventory and kneeled onto my right knee.

"I'm sorry," what should I call him? Sir? Mr? "Lord Fūjin." Lord sounds good enough.

"You still haven't answered my question." Fūjin said. "Also call me dad. I'am your father." I nod and look at my Mp bar.

"It's something called the Mp bar."

"What does it do?"

"It tells me the amount of magic I have."

"Interesting." Fūjin let go of my Mp bar, the bar quickly flew towards me and flew right back to its spot. "When did these bars first appear."

"When I first turned ten." He nodded his head. I felt the wind gather around my body, the wind tugged on the back of my shirt. I was lifted up into the air and dropped back onto my feet. Fūjin took a step towards me and stopped until he was inches away. He gently lifted up my chin and stared intently.

"You don't look like my child." Fūjin said coldly. Hate built up in my chest the more Fūjin looked at me. My eyes widened as he bent down and hugged me. "Either way I'm sorry for not noticing you sooner." I kept my arms by my side not knowing what to do. This is my first time meeting my dad, I don't feel nothing for him but I'm worried about making a god angry. But would he be angry if I didn't hug him? Or would he be angry if I did hug him? If I could choose, then I would rather not hug him, I don't know him. I don't think I could ever get attached to him either. He's been out of my life for so long only for him to suddenly come into my life? He's in my other sibling's lives but he's never been in mine. I raise up my arms and reluctantly hug him. I awkwardly smile as he pat my back. I smile as let go of me. I quickly hide my smile as Fūjin looked down at me. "I heard from Qaid that you're helping the camp advance with their technology. I was wondering when you going to install the wind turbines." I stare up at him blankly. Did he come talk to me because I didn't want to get wind turbines?

"Oh,um, me and Qaid were actually thinking about getting solar panels instead."

"I'm sorry, but I don't know what a solar panel is. Your brother said solar panel also, I however don't know what a solar panel is." I force myself to smile as I thought of a way to explain it to him. I know what it does and what it is, but I don't know how to explain it to him.

"It turns energy from the sun into electricity." Fūjin had a dumb look on his face. He slowly nodded.

"The sun is powerful, I would assume it makes more electricity?" I actually wouldn't know what makes more electricity. I just know that I don't want to get wind turbines.

"Solar panels make more electricity." I say in a confident voice. Fūjin nodded once again.

"So it would be foolish to buy wind turbines?" I nod and say nothing. "I'm sorry for suggesting the idea." Fūjin said in a low, self-pitying voice. He lips formed a wide smile. "I'm proud of having you as a son. I pray you succeeded in your journey." Fūjin took in a shaky breath. I felt his grip around my body tightened. "I wish I could've noticed you sooner." Fūjin said in a low rumbly voice. I felt the wind rush by as he let go of me. The top of his head became see through as his body began to split apart like smoke drifting into the air. I watched silently as his body was whisked away by the wind until I couldn't see him no more.

I blink slowly. I felt another gust of wind swirl around me, I felt the wind grab my hand and force my palm up. I look down just in time to see a piece of metal drop into my hand. They were in the shape of rings, but there was this one thin piece of metal that was attached to a latch. I bring the the piece of metal up to my eyes. Are these earrings? The earring had a pictures of silver feathers falling down a white line going down the middle of the ring. On the sides of the white line were lines of black surrounding the white.

I touch my ear and think about it. I can't wear my rings no more, maybe these are a good substitute? I would have to get my ears pierced though. I smile at the thought of me waring the earrings. It looks really good though. I don't like that Fūjin is trying to make me forgive him with presents after he suddenly came into my life. But I really, really like this gift. I won't forgive him though.

I sit down on the sand and stare at the earring. Fūjin only came after I told Qaid that I didn't want to do the wind turbine idea. Is this his way of trying to make me do what he wants? I lean back on the sand and use Inspect on the earring.

Unrelenting Forgiveness

Description- Despite appearing as a huggie hoop earring with a feather like design going down a white line located in the middle of the earring with the sides paint black, it is actually a brown Ninjatō sword with white cloud engravings going down the middle. The hilt of the sword is 19 in (48.26 cm) while the blade's length is 22 in (55.88 cm). Unrelenting Forgiveness can switch between its earring and sword form at will. Unrelenting Forgiven was first given to Ivan Torres as an attempt by Fūjin to make Ivan feel more accepted by his siblings. With the help of Fūjin, Unrelenting Forgiveness will either boost Ivan's aerokinesis or boost Ivan's stats.

Sword form- When Unrelenting Forgiveness is in sword form, all aerokinesis abilities will cost 50% less Mp to use. When blocking an attack, a gust of wind will knock your opponent back.

Earring form- When Unrelenting Forgiveness is in earring form, Ivan's Dex and Vit by +150. Stamina is decreased by 25%.

Damage- 250

I close the box and stare down at the ring. It's a really nice gift, and the box says that Fūjin didn't want to bribe me. I smile and put the ring into my Inventory. My eyes widen as I remembered that he grabbed my Mp bar. What if Fūjin manipulated the box? He can see it, just like Nuxiel. Maybe he can write whatever he wanted into the box? If Nuxiel can do it, then I know a god can do it. I sigh as I yawn and turn back towards the entrance of the camp. I walk up to the hole and look down. I sit down and let my legs hang over the hole. I felt the wind surround me as I jumped into the hole. I slowly fell to the ground. I suddenly felt the wind rush away from my body. My eyes widened as I reached for the rocks by my side. Before I could reach the rock, my vision suddenly went black. The lower half of my body was engulfed in a warm fuzzy liquid. I felt my back press up against a wet wooden bench. I suddenly found myself staring up at a dark blue sky with stars scattered around the sky.

I felt something heavy stick to my chest as I heard the sounds of bubbles forming then popping right under me. I look down with a confused expression as I saw Nuxiel sitting right across from me. The lower half of his body was covered in water, I stare up at his upper body and see that he was still wearing his suit in the water. I turn my head away from him and look around. I found myself to be in hot tub hovering in the middle of the desert. I turn back around look down. The shirt I was wearing before was replaced with a white plain shirt. I look back up and Nuxiel. Why is he wearing a suit in a hot tub? I sit straight up and stare him straight in the eye.

"Is there anything you need?" I asked Nuxiel. Nuxiel raised his arm and formed a glass of wine in his hand.

"I heard you robbed a bank," I nod in response. "And lost your fingers." He said before taking a sip of his wine. "I would advise being more careful of what you leave behind next time you lose something." Nuxiel let his glass float into the air. "You were lucky I got your fingers and blood in time, the police would've already been looking for you. You were in your adult body though, I don't know if they would look for you since they would be looking for an adult, not a child. Either way you should've been more careful." I nod slowly. I shifted around and tried to get comfortable. How did he even know I lost my fingers or robbed a bank? He did get rid of all the evidence I was there.

"I didn't expect things to... I just didn't expect the person I was with to shoot me." Nuxiel looked up to the before responding.

"He did try to kill you before. If I was him I would've done the same thing after I teamed up with a child only for said child to take all the money I won after a race." He even knows about the race too?

"I took all the money because I did all the work." Nuxiel sighed at my response.

"He gave you information about the race, information is worth more than you think." I glanced to the side nervously.

"I still needed the money." I felt Nuxiel's intense gaze as he let out a loud sigh.

"So what happened to all that money I gave you before?" He said in a demanding voice.

"I still have it, but-" Nuxiel quickly shushed me. I shrunk back into my chair and stare down at the water.

"I gave you enough money for a person to live carefree for the rest of their life, and then you don't go and use it. I gave you that money for a reason. And I want to see that money being used." I bite my lip as I heard the tiny tink sound of glass cup appear behind me. "I don't want to see you risk your life just because you want even more money. You have money. Use it." My hands shook as I slowly nodded. I felt Nuxiel take in a deep breath of air before slowly sighing. "I'm not mad at you, I just expected you to be smarter about it."

"I'll- I'm sorry." I shook as I felt something cold press up against my left cheek. I shift my eyes and spot a cup of cold coffee floating in the air. I slowly reach for the cup and grab it. I look over at Nuxiel. "Thank you." I said in a quiet voice. Nuxiel's eyes stared right back at me with a worried look in his eye.

"Is there anything you want to tell me?" I take a sip of my coffee and think. There isn't really much I need to tell him, I think the only thing I need to tell him is that my dad visited me. I don't know if he'll like me talking to a god, even if the god just wanted to talk to me just for his own gain.

"My dad talked to me just a few minutes ago." Nuxiel frowned as his eyes widened. Water formed in his eyes, Nuxiel blinked and suddenly his face was back to how it was before.

"What did he say?"

"He wanted to ask me if I was going to install wind turbines or solar panels."

"What did you say?"

"I picked solar panels." I said before taking another sip of my coffee. Nuxiel squeezed his eyes tight for what felt like a minute. He slowly opened his eyes back up before responding.

"Why did you pick solar panels?" I let my glass float in the air. I felt a tight, heavy feeling overwhelm my body before I even began to speak.

"It just felt, it just felt like he was using me. I didn't like the way he appeared out of nowhere only for him to ask me if I wanted to do something that would probably make him look good to the camp." Nuxiel raised an eyebrow and leaned forward/

"I know you're probably hurt after learning that your siblings got your father's attention, but I need you to put aside your feelings. If a god wants you to do something, then you do it. Earn their trust. Then, when I think we're ready, we kill the gods. You should be happy your... dad," Nuxiel gritted his teeth and said dad in a harsh, raspy voice. There was something about how he said dad was really off putting. His voice is usually, calming sometimes loud. The way he said wasn't how I would think he would say dad. "is even speaking to you. You were eventually going to talk to the gods eventually." I take a large gulp of my ice coffee as Nuxiel stood up. "You still want to help me kill the gods right." I nervously stare up at him.

"As long as I'm getting paid." I said in a high squeaky voice. Nuxiel nodded.

"Before I send you back, I have to know something. Are you positive that you won't back out?" I shake my head. "If you're going to back out, I'll just let you go, you keep all the money and everything I gave you. Just stay away from the camp. You could live a normal life, you have the chance to live a normal life. Are you sure you want still want to do this?" I stay silent and think about what he just said. I actually could live a normal life. There's nothing connecting me to the camp anyway. And he is giving me an opportunity to leave. But he did say he would pay me. After he kill's the gods, I could live normally, and I could have more money.

"I'll won't back out." Nuxiel nodded, a flash of white light engulfed of vision. I suddenly found myself sitting on the edge of the cave with a cup of coffee right by myside. I was back in my normal clothes, there wasn't even a drop of water on me. I pick up the cup of coffee and bring it up to my lips.

I'm pretty sure that Nuxiel treats me better than the gods anyway.