LaRee's Divided Mind

Still, LaRee didn't stand down just yet.

He stared back into his uncle's eyes with even more intensity. "I know little about the first sky fiend. Explain what happened in detail. Or I won't accept that as a reason."

"You were born after. And we can't offend Sky God. We will not share that fiend's cursed name. Or discuss the curse they brought us," Elder LaRae angrily retorted. "Don't focus on the past. We focus on the present. We solve today's offenses. And the intruder will die after this meeting!"

LaRee knew what was happening. This was the wall. The wall of traditions and superstitions. It was a wall that LaRee hated. Because it had been long impossible for LaRee to break through such an indomitable wall.

Recognizing that issue right away, LaRee stepped back and bowed his head. At the same time, LaRee offered a few more words.

"I can't stop the elders. And I won't try. But I tell no lie. Don't assume the intruder is easy to kill." LaRee slowly raised his head while drifting his gaze across each elder's face. "I didn't capture the intruder. The intruder agreed to capture. Push the intruder hard, and I don't know what will happen. But we don't need an enemy. We need an ally. Especially against the cannibals."

"Stop speaking–"

"Uncle LaRae," LaRee spoke out, turning to leave the meeting house. "That's my warning. Don't kill him. Don't harm him. If you do, I will hold the elders accountable. Accountable for all casualties you caused."

As the curtain swayed shut behind LaRee, Elder LaRae nearly crushed the pipe in his hand out of frustration. "How dare you! Pitiful! …"

But LaRee was no longer listening.

LaRee exited the meeting house with a new purpose. And LaRee wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Move! Back away!"

The crowd of villagers parted to allow LaRee entrance to the log cage. A couple of voices asked what was happening, but no one dared to stop the prodigy hunter while LaRee shared a death-inspiring glare with the crowd.

The person at the front of the line tried to hurry up and finish his session of ridiculing the prisoner.

Until LaRee shoved that man out of the way, knocking him to the ground.

"I said move!" LaRee roared with anger painting his face red. "No more! Go back to work!"

The hunter stationed as the guard stepped forward, hesitantly. He was about LaRee's age but showed reverence to the prodigy hunter. "LaRee… The elders said–"

"Want to spit on the intruder? Then spit on me! Kick me first!"

The guard, along with the rest of the village, stammered in confusion.

LaRee then turned to the guard directly, adding, "I'll guard the intruder. You're relieved. NOW!"

"Y-yes, sir!"

Saluting with finger fangs over his chest, the guard rushed out of the cage. With that guard, the villagers gradually backed away in bafflement. A few empty moments of silence passed until there was no crowd left around the cage.

"... Did something happen?"

Shocked, LaRee glanced at Ayse's strange wristband before locking eyes with Ayse. "Don't speak. Even if quiet. They want you dead."

"And you don't?" Ayse said, already turning down the volume of his watch.

LaRee replied with a light grunt, "... I don't know."

"Sounds like you don't," Ayse said.

With else to do, LaRee walked to the side of the restraining log. LaRee leaned back against it, standing beside Ayse. Silent.

Acting on a hunch mixed with curiosity, Ayse cracked a half-smile. He ignored the spittle and dirt matted against his face and chest. "... What do you want to know?"

… No response.

"You want to know about worlds. Other worlds. Right?" Ayse asked.

… Again. No reaction.

Ayse chuckled, "I hurt your father and chief. Why don't you want me dead? The others do."

"How do you know our tongue?" LaRee replied with a question of his own, refusing to confront Ayse's statement.

And Ayse verbally reeled in his latest catch now that the bait was finally taken. "Through technology. Like my watch."

LaRee was a bit confused by those words. But he was quick-witted. "What is a 'watch'? Your magic wristband?"

"Yes. It's called a watch," Ayse answered. "Not all watches do this. This watch is special. It's one reason I understand you now."

"One reason? What other reasons?" LaRee asked.

Leaning his head to the side, Ayse smiled back. "There's something I have. Let's call it a chip. It's a smart piece of metal. Of refined stone."

"Smart stone? That's possible?" the light of curiosity began to gradually swell within LaRee's eyes.

Ayse nodded. "Yes. It's smart. It knows dozens of different languages. Different tongues. This chip can learn languages too. Paired with my watch, this chip learns faster. And it lets my watch translate for me."

An expression of awe appeared on LaRee's face. "The smart stone learned our tongue? … How?"

"It studies languages. The more you spoke around me, the more the chip could learn," Ayse explained. He slowly spoke in longer, more complex phrases. "All the villagers helped the chip learn more while you were gone. Do you understand everything I'm saying now?"

"... Not everything. But most everything," LaRee stated, still affected by the shock of such a discovery.

In the meantime, LaRee also noticed Elder Kano exiting the meeting house only to return with the veteran hunters who witnessed Ayse's crash.

Ayse, however, didn't seem to care about anything outside of the cage. Ayse was busy enjoying the conversation with LaRee, sharing in LaRee's excitement to learn more.

"LaRee, did you know that other worlds exist? Before I appeared?"

Shrugging, LaRee mulled over how to best respond. "No. We don't believe in other worlds… But one person did fall from the sky. It happened twenty-two years ago."

Sharing a smile, Ayse asked, "And how old are you, LaRee?"

"I have twenty-one years."

"Hmm. Twenty-one?" Ayse slightly shook his head, smiling even wider. "For twenty-one, you're damn strong."

But LaRee quickly corrected him. "No. I'm weak. My father is strong. You're strong. But I'm not."

"No," Ayse interjected, "you're just lacking experience."