After helping my mother, I went back into the house. I was curious who the visitor might be, but I tried to hide that on my face. I stepped in and found my guest in the kitchen.
-Rei? What are you doing here? (I asked fearfully, looking around the room for anything strange)
-What are you staring at so much? (he said with amused eyes and a smile. Sit down — if I think right, you haven't even eaten today)
I sat, and he brought a plate of food already cold.
-So what do you want? (I asked. No matter how I thought about it I couldn't come up with anything. If he wanted to kill me he wouldn't have waited here for hours. Maybe he set a trap somewhere, but I couldn't see anything odd. — What if the food is poi---)
-Eat it, I didn't put anything in it. (he said calmly, as if he knew exactly what I was thinking)
Before he dug in he prayed.
-Since when are you religious? (If I recall, you never used to pray)
-After a certain event. (he answered, and began eating. Silence took over the house)
Does he mean he was granted a new chance by some miracle?
Now that I thought about it, I'd never been religious either, even though I know the gods exist. But the gods are more like earthly "protectors" — there's nothing in them that would make me believe.
We ate without saying a word, and when I cleared the plates and started to wash them, I asked him.
-Were we best friends before?
-We were. (He said simply, but that single word carried so many bittersweet memories)
-I see…
I hate myself for not knowing I'd once been so close to Rei, and for being able to kill my best friend.
-Now, let's get to the point. (he suddenly stood and faced me) I need your help. Come down to the cave with me! (he grabbed my shoulder and said it with fierce insistence)
-What? Why would I go down into a cave with you? Ask someone else.
-I can't ask anyone else. You know, I'm thirteen — no one would go down there with me, and everyone would say how dangerous it is.
-I'm sorry, but I can't trust you. I won't go. (I said, a little afraid because I was opening myself to him)
He put a small orb into my hand.
-I thought you'd say that, so I prepared. With this orb you can shut off my mana anytime, so you don't have to be afraid of me. We can go. (This Rei felt so nostalgic, I don't know why.)
In the end I agreed — I was curious why he wanted so badly to go down.
We had to be careful not to be seen by my parents.
-Is this the cave? Why did we come here?
-Isn't it strange? Have you ever seen anyone go in here to hunt?
-I never paid attention, and because this cave is at the other end of the village I had no chance to notice it.
-We'll see inside. Let's go in.
We walked for a while and Rei's suspicion grew heavier.
-This cave hasn't been cleared out? we should have seen a monster here ages ago. (I said anxiously, fear rising as I imagined something wrong inside)
-No, I asked my father and he said it wasn't dangerous enough to warrant extermination, (Rei answered, trying to convince himself)
After a while Rei spoke again.
-Hey, this is fucking bad, isn't it? (I couldn't see his face, but bitterness laced his voice; he could no longer lie to himself.)
-Yes… (we both feared that our peaceful life was unraveling.)
We walked on and found a small stream running through the cave.
-You spared them? (he blurted out suddenly)
-Yes, and I'm sorry… (I couldn't say anything else. I had no right to explain how much I regretted what I'd done)
-I see… then they're still alive. (Relief and hope flickered across his face.) I forgive you for what you did to me, because you spared them. That orb I gave You was fake — it has no effect. If you had killed them, one of us wouldn't be alive right now…
-Rei, I'm so sorry for what I did. I mean it, and I promise I'll make it right.
-Then will you help me meet them again? (he asked, judging how sincere my words were)
-Yes. I'll help. I promise. If necessary, I'll sacrifice myself, but I will make amends. (I said with deep remorse, and it felt like a huge weight had been lifted from me)
-Let's make peace. (he offered, holding out his hand)
I accepted and shook his hand.
I don't think we can ever be the same as before… but I understand. What happened between us cannot be forgotten.
A heavy silence fell between us, loud enough for the water's flow to scream. Then we heard a thud — but couldn't tell where it came from.
-Where did that sound come from? (I asked Rei)
-Honestly,I don't know. It was like something fell near the cave.
What if there are no monsters because someone rounded them all up? That terrifying thought crawled into my head and frightened me more.
-Let's try to find them by mana. (he said, and we began to focus)
What I saw I couldn't believe… dozens of people was next to us.
-Narihu, come! (Rei had found the entrance, his face full of fear)
We went in, and before our eyes our peaceful life collapsed.
Dozens of Velmori warriors were hidden in a secret place where they could enter our country. There was a teleport gate they used to come through.
-Who are these? Narihu, they're not Velmori, are they? No… they can't be… (Rei's face was overtaken by terror, I felt as if he'd been shattered into pieces)
I'd recognize that uniform anywhere — that's what Velmori soldiers wear.
Monstrous creatures were locked in cages while the soldiers unloaded supplies.
-What are they doing here, and how did a teleport gate end up here? (Rei began to think rationally again)
-Someone placed that gate and is intentionally bringing them here.
-But who would even know about this secret place? a Velmori wouldn't — which means—
-There's a traitor in the village. There was no other possibility. (both of us worried over who it could be and what their goal was)
At that moment we heard footsteps behind us and had to hide.
-What? (I was stunned and looked at Rei who was completely frozen — the person who had lived among them for years and who symbolized trust was the traitor)
-What is my father doing? (Rei asked, not understanding his father's betrayal)
-Where is the leader and what does he want from me? (Zey asked a soldier)
-You arrived just in time, (the soldier answered. He's about to appear)
Ten to fifteen soldiers walked out of the teleport gate. One of the Veldori stepped in front of Zey.
-Are you their leader? What is your name? (Zey asked)
-I am the boss's right hand, and the boss will come only when phase one of our plan begins. I am 1283.
-Why are everyone's names numbers? (Zey asked, surprised)
-We are simple warriors, we don't deserve real names. We are numbers — mere statistics in war.
-Narihu, what was your number? (Rei asked me curiously)
I couldn't answer.
-I never had a number. I was always called Narihu.
-How is that possible? (Rei had assumed I'd been a lowly Veldori soldier in my past life)
-In Veldor only the strongest fighters or those with special abilities earn names. A name means power in Veldor, (I explained)
We would have continued, but something far more shocking interrupted us.
-The leader's order is that this site must be able to support at least 200 Veldori warriors, (the man said. Zey was stunned by the information)
-That's impossible — look how small this place is, and you're keeping monsters here too
1283 struck him with a blow so strong Zey fell to the ground.
-The leader's command is sacred to you, understand? If there is not enough room, release those monsters into the village. (he told Zey, showing the difference between them)
-I understand, Zey rose slowly, ashamed.
-Follow me inside we'll discuss the details, (1283 said, and they walked into a small tent near us)
As they walked away I sensed something, and then realized Rei was radiating a massive murderous urge.
-Rei! Calm down or we'll both die without doing anything! (I hissed)
-I'm trying, but it's fucking hard to see my father talking with the enemy. (he breathed deeply and tried to hide himself)
-Is there a problem, or would you like to go somewhere else? (Zey asked 1283, concerned)
They went into the tent and we fled that hell.
-I can't believe what I saw. I hope no one saw us when we left. (I told Rei, relieved)
Rei stood motionless, staring into nothing.
-My father betrayed us, he's helping these monsters. (he said, eyes full of tears as if a part of him had died)
-Maybe there's a reason. He wouldn't do something like that of his own free wi—
&Are you blind? (Rei snapped) Only he could know that place in the whole village. Who knows what else he helped them with, and soon because of him more than 200 Veldori will be next to our village. (Rei wasn't angry at Zey, he was disappointed that someone he trusted had betrayed him)
-We have to stop them.
-How do you plan to? We're not strong. We should warn the villagers. (Rei argued)
-Everyone respects Zey in the village, no one would believe he's a traitor.
-What can the two of us achieve?
-Give us a week. Let's try to improve as much as we can in that time. (I offered, it was the only idea I had)
-Fine. I recently reached the green mana level — do you think that will be enough? (he asked)
-We won't fight them head on. We'll destroy the gate. (I explained the plan in detail)
-Then in a week we'll avenge the betrayal. (Rei said confidently, stretching out his hand to me)
-Definitely. We'll protect this village. (I said, and shook Rei's hand. This Wass the beginning of our alliance)