SHE IS NOT OUR MOTHER

This woman…

Her face looked so familiar, even with age.

And then—

"Mother," the word slipped from Aiko's lips before she could even think.

The woman gave her only a brief glance, her eyes focused instead on Assey still kneeling before her.

"Tsk. Get up, you loser," she said flatly.

Assey quickly rose to his feet and dusted off his knees.

Then the woman whistled.

A sudden gust of wind rustled through the trees. Moments later, a majestic white eagle descended from the sky and landed not far from them. She mounted the eagle with an air of command.

Before Aiko could process it, strange men appeared—bare-chested and dressed only in traditional shorts. They rushed in and tied her arms roughly.

"Hey! Who are you?! What do you want from my brother and me?!" Aiko shouted at the woman while struggling against the men. 

"Shut up, Aiko," Assey snapped. "This woman is not someone to play with. And she's not our mother. Don't ever call her that again."

Aiko's chest tightened with confusion and fear.

The white eagle spread its wings wide and made a whistling noise before it soared into the sky, carrying the mysterious woman away.

Watching it disappear, Aiko turned sharply to Assey.

"If she's not our mother, then who is she? Why does she look so much like her?"

"I don't need to tell you anything. You'll find out soon enough," Assey said coldly. Then he, too, whistled.

This time, a massive black vulture descended from the sky—its face bruised and scary, its presence chilling.

"I'm not going anywhere with you! Leave me alone! My daughter needs me!" Aiko screamed. "Assey, who is that woman?! Ha! Seems the almighty Assey has a master now, huh? Ha—"

But before she could finish her laughter, her lips were sealed shut.

She broke free just long enough to run back into the hut—to see Nordee one last time. The woman who had birthed the man she loved. Her heart ached.

Assey, unfazed, turned to the strange men. "Clean up the mess," he ordered before walking away and mounting the vulture. 

Aiko was carried, bound to Assey's back on the black vulture. It lifted off into the night, vanishing above the treetops, leaving the men behind to melt into the shadows.

It was very late by the time Jhuni climbed a large tree for rest. Exhausted, thirsty, and starving, he leaned against the trunk, his body aching. He needed rest—just a little—before continuing the journey that would change everything.