Chapter 52: Life in Gu-Hoit City, Sally's Test

While Sakolomé had been invited to Sally's house for a party, he arrived with Salomé, and everything was going well until he encountered Gaïus.

Sally: Oh... Gaïus, what are you doing with Sakolomé? Do you know each other?

Sakolomé nods.

Sakolomé: Yes, Gaïus is a...

He looks at Gaïus and notices his strangely insistent gaze, as if his answer could be of critical importance.

Sakolomé thinks for a moment. If Sally is the daughter of Gaïus' boss and she discovers that he had tried to kill Sakolomé in the past, she might take it very badly as Sakolomé's friend. It could cost him his job.

He sets aside other questions for now.

Sally: Sakolomé, speak!

Sakolomé snaps out of his thoughts and says:

Sakolomé: Gaïus is an old acquaintance; we met on the street three years ago!

Sally seems surprised.

Sally: That long ago? Wow, that means you've known Gaïus longer than I have!

Sakolomé is also surprised.

Sakolomé: What do you mean?

Sally: Yes, it's been two years since Gaïus started working for my father. Anyway, finish grabbing the drinks; I'll be waiting for you with Salomé in the room!

She turns and leaves.

Sakolomé dives back into his thoughts. Gaïus had spoken to him about an association aiming to eliminate them...

Gaïus: Why did you do that... little killer?

Sakolomé snaps out of his reflections and stares at Gaïus.

Sakolomé: Do what?

Gaïus: You know very well what I'm talking about, kid!

He presses with a demanding tone.

Sakolomé: Hmm... Are you referring to why I didn't tell Sally the whole truth about our meeting? Well, you know as much as I do why I answered that way.

Gaïus: And why did you do it exactly? What are you scheming, little demon?

Sakolomé: But what are you talking about? I'm not scheming anything at all. I'm just trying to be nice. You're not so bad deep down, Gaïus; I can feel it. Anyway, I'll go now; Sally is waiting for me!

He turns and starts walking away.

Gaïus: Wait!

Gaïus interrupts Sakolomé.

Sakolomé: What now?

Gaïus sighs and adds:

Gaïus: Never mind. You can go!

Sakolomé: Hmm... okay, but I still have a question for you. Are you still involved in that association or that infamous project to eradicate killers?

Gaïus responds disdainfully.

Gaïus: That's none of your business, little curious one!

Sakolomé frowns, a serious expression on his face.

Sakolomé: In any case, I hope for your sake that you're no longer part of it. I also hope you've worked for Sally's father because you've left that cursed association...

Gaïus interrupts him aggressively.

Gaïus: You think you're better than me, you little brat? Watch your tone when speaking to me!

Sakolomé: Oh no, I can't think I'm better than you; you're clearly much older than me. The reality is that I'm just taking precautions to protect my family. I don't want them to be in danger. We all have people we love more than anything in the world and would like to avoid harm coming their way. If we have a chance to protect them, that's good, isn't it... Gaïus?

Gaïus seems struck by these words weighing heavily on his conscience. He starts reflecting.

This kid... what's wrong with him? For a child, he's really strange!

Gaïus: Why would it be wrong to kill a family of assassins?

Sakolomé sighs.

Sakolomé: A family of assassins? Tell me, since the end of the war against killers, has there been a single victim from a killer during all this time?

Gaïus: That's not the point! How do you know you're not secretly preparing a war to surprise us?

Sakolomé looks at Gaïus and begins to understand. In reality, Gaïus is afraid; afraid that killers will become monsters again like before. He thinks it would be better to eliminate them now before the threat grows uncontrollable. Yet he's mistaken.

Sakolomé: Gaïus, you're afraid!

Gaïus' eyes widen in surprise.

Sakolomé: It must not be easy living in a world where one fears a dormant threat that could always bring humanity to its knees and cause countless casualties. But I assure you we have nothing against you; quite the opposite. It's like with humanoid mutants; we have no reason to kill you because we feel just as human as you do.

Sakolomé approaches Gaïus and bows before him, surprising him even more.

Gaïus: What… what are you doing?

Sakolomé: I'm giving you permission to see me in this vulnerable situation to prove how sincere we are. If you want to kill me now, do it!

Gaïus is even more shocked and confused. He reaches a point where he doesn't know what to think anymore.

Then...

"Sakolomé! What are both of you doing?"

It's Sally who appears with an angry expression on her face.

Sakolomé straightens up; both his and Gaïus' attention now fixed on Sally.

Sally: Gaïus! Stop bothering Sakolomé!

Gaïus responds startled:

Gaïus: But… but… Um… I'm sorry! Deeply sorry, Miss Sally!

Sally approaches and grabs Sakolomé's hand with comical rage.

Sally: You! How long have we been waiting with Salome? I don't know what game you're playing!!

Sakolomé: Uh… I'm sorry Sally!

She pulls Sakolome by the hand while muttering under her breath.

Gaïus watches them leave the room.

In the bedroom, Salome munches on some cookies.

Salome: You're finally here big brother!

Sakolome smiles sheepishly.

Sakolome: Sorry Salome; I was talking with a friend!

Salome asks innocently:

Salome: Sally, where's your mom?

Let me know if you'd like further refinements!

Sally's gaze becomes slightly sad.

Salome feels guilty and says:

Salome: Uh… never mind, sorry Sally! I didn't mean to…

Sally: No, it's okay. I lost my mom a long time ago...

She sits down on the bed with Sakolomé and Salome.

Sakolomé: Tell me Sally, have you ever met the famous most powerful man in the world? He's supposed to live in Gu-HoiT City, right?

Sally: You mean the hero?

Sakolomé: Doesn't he have another name?

Sally: Of course! Mo-zus!

Sakolomé: Yes, that's him! Is he strong?

Sally nods:

Sally: Obviously he's strong! I spent almost two years in his academy; he trains very hard!

Intrigued by this:

Sakolomé: Really? You actually attended his academy?

Sally nods again:

Sally: That's why I know how to do some surprising things! We learn how to use energy and mana; we also learn how to fly and perform some feats; they're not trivial!

Salome then asks:

Salome: So Sally, can you beat Sakolomé in a fight?

Sakolomé, visibly touched by this question:

Sakolomé: Salome...

She responds with a questioning look:

Salome: What's wrong?

Sally answers Salome: It depends; I know killers are very strong; surprisingly, I haven't seen any in Gu-HoiT City; sooner or later I'll test you Sakolomé!

A shiver runs down Sakolomé's spine.

Sakolomé: Uh... we don't have to do that!

Sally: Yes! I want to become very strong too; much too strong! And if we tested it now?

Sakolomé: Huh?!

Salome exclaims joyfully:

Salome: Hurray for a fight!!

Sally: Listen Sakolomé, it's not a real fight; it's just to test each other a bit!

Seeing the enthusiasm in Salome's eyes, Sakolomé sighs and says:

Sakolomé: Fine, let's do it!

Sally: Great! Wait a second!

She pulls out a remote control from her pocket and presses a button. The room transforms literally into a vast, empty space.

Surprised by this sudden transformation:

Sakolomé: Where did all the furniture go?

Sally: I'll explain later!

The room is now spacious. Salome stands with cookies and a can in her hands, a spectator of the impending fight.

The two young people look at each other intensely, ready to face off.

Sally: Are you ready Sakolomé?

Sakolomé: We're not fighting for real, right?

Sally sighs, determined:

Sally: Of course not! I just want to test myself and see what I'm worth against a killer!

Sakolomé: Fine!

With a resolute look, Sally: Attention, I'm coming!!!