Lies of Gena

"The scout regime officially owns propetual rights over Shifter cores."

Gena said softly behind us, in agonizing pain but recovering. I sent a glare her way.

"They have 12,738 pieces in their collection already. One less doesn't mean the end of the world." I sulked. Cyrus chuckled at my behavior. He wanted to ruffle my hair. I swat his hand away so quickly, that made him laugh too. What a jerk.

"Say that to my sister." Gena sighed.

Akira was still unconscious. In other words, snoring like a bear after the extraneous 11 ton deadlift.

We set up another campfire. This time, I wasn't alone to take care of my friends. However, Cyrus only took care of Gena. Feeding her herb concoctions and assauging her agony.

Poor girl's internal organs were crushed and she still managed to stay up awake and interacting. Janet, Gena and their mother's genes ran strong.

I added a dollop of reactive clay into the fire. It glowed red, reminded me of home. It looked awesome, but to Gena and Cyrus, they found the crimson fire unsettling.

Funny how color theory works everywhere when it is humans.

"We are heading too slow. We've got seventeen villages and three towns on our path to complete this mission. We haven't even reached one. And its been three days already." Gena said softly, being held up by Cyrus. I wish I was held instead of her.

AHEM.

"We've got three months of time too, Gena. No need to rush. Besides, Janet didn't specifically mention not to have fun. We've killed three very deviant Shifters in three days. It's an achievement. Definitely earns a pat on our backs by Janet." I said.

"Yeah right. She's got a record of killing 17 Elementals by herself throughout her Era of Scoutship. She's not gonna be impressed by one group project." Gena said. My brows furrowed as I thought about her response.

"You're comparing yourself to a literal warrior Scout. What's going on?" I asked the woman.

My question was direct. No chances of lying on it either. Gena's toughened exterior broke. She confessed with a sigh.

"Our parents are celebrated warriors, too. Best Shifter Hunters you could ever have few decades ago. They didn't rise to Captain rank for a reason. Administrative work swallows their time away from saving people. They were dedicated." She narrated rather proudly of her parents.

"When Janet was born, they wanted to make the best out of her abilities. She lifted boulders the size of a fully grown man at 4 years old." My eyes widened.

I looked at Akira for a brief second.

Could they be...?

No. Impossible. Their races are different. She's not Japanese at least by seven generations.

"12 years later, I was born. An accidental baby. They didn't want me. But girl children are a resource these days to preserve humanity." Gena's voice shifted to dejection.

"I was never good at anything. Neither academics, nor strength. I was born...Normal. In a family of warriors, I was the mole." I haven't seen the woman genuinely sad before this. I felt bad for her for the first time. And I hope it's the last too.

"Being looked down upon constantly took a toll on me. So I decided if I wasn't born strong...I'd at least use my humanly gift to rise to the top. My brain." She smirked softly.

Of course. Humans have this gift of evolution for a reason. To survive. And Gena...was surviving. Adapting.

"You're superhuman too, Gena." I said, patting her rather normally. She winced under my pat which I noticed only to ignore with a smile.

Cyrus...held her chin out of nowhere.

"Nice story, miss."

Huh!?

"Cyrus, what do you mean—"

"Gena isn't Janet's biological sister. She just made up the whole story. She just wants to compete with that woman." Cyrus said in a spurt of syllables. My eyes widened.

Gena looked defeated and embarrassed.

Did I just believe a human's lie? Again?

"Well, you bought it. And the other witness is snoring his life away." Cyrus chortled. My eye was twitching.

"But the competition part is true, right?"

"The condescending part is true, too. Our parents never accepted me. I was taken in for Janet to realize she's not...The only one. So she strived over me and won in life while I remained her subordinate as always." I sighed.

"Parents are cunning, aren't they?" Except for my dad.

"They are. They are..." Cyrus said in a slightly mocking tone. He got my attention.

"What's your story then?" I asked, my tone just as taunting as his before.

"That's gonna take an eternity to narrate, Ms. Roxy~" He teased. My jaw turned to the side. I looked at him up and down.

"What if I make a deal?" I asked.

"Insteresting." He leaned closer.

"I give one thing that you want from me and you should tell me your story. Deal?"

"Anything I want from you?"

"Anything..."

I should've known from the smirk growing on his face.

"Then I need...one kiss. On the lips. Like you mean it."