It was a little strange to explain, but Noa did it anyway.
While she did that.
"Stand absolutely still, it's only going to be a single shot straight in your forehead."
"Break a leg, kid."
My sister was busy trying to load her gun and empty some lead straight into my head. But no matter how much she tried, almost as if it was magic, all the bullets passed right through me.
Spoiler alert, I was not standing still.
I could hear the voices of the others in the distance while the Nagas had no choice but to wait for us. Apparently they were refugees and had been threatened at gun point to leave everything behind and run with them.
There was only person with a gun here, and yes, I was very proud.
"So you're saying, he's Han Na-Ri's dead elder brother?"
"Thats pretty much it."
The blonde kid seemed to have understood as he directed a determined gaze my way. The blue-haired girl next to him grinned.
"I knew him from before we joined Pantheon, he's still as hot."
"That's pretty much it too."
Well the Nagas and the humans had no problem understanding, but one of them seemed to only have muscles for brains.
"So you're saying he died… how?"
"He was killed."
"But he is alive."
"Right."
"Then he did not die?"
"Pretty much."
"But wasn't he killed?"
"He was."
"Uh…"
Well, it seemed the dragon guy was keeping Noa's hands full. My eyes were trained on someone else anyway.
The bullet avoiding game turned into a round of catch as my sister tossed the head at me and I tossed it back, of course, both of us sent it far up high enough to make it go past the dark clouds.
"Han Na-Ri," I called.
"What?"
"Who else knows?"
She grabbed the head from the skies and looked at me.
"Other than your friends from that place, no one."
I nodded.
ραndαsnοvεl.cοm She suddenly looked around before rushing over to me. I lowered my head and lent her a ear as she whispered.
"What is the case with how many girlfriends you have?"
I bit my lips.
"It's complicated."
"Mom and dad would be so disappointed they'll disown you, I am not even kidding. Even I am disappointed. I knew you had screws loose, but to that extent? Did you forget each of them or something?"
"My screws are fit tighter now, alright?"
"Doesn't change what's done. I think it would have been better if you stayed dead."
I whispered back in a lower voice, slightly scared.
"Is it that bad?"
"Worse than you can think."
Shit.
"Think I can use the war excuse—"
"What, are you going for your mandatory military service or something? If you really want to die then go for it."
Fuck.
Mandatory military service was abolished a long time since hunters came around damn it. This is why you should watch fewer period dramas.
"Whatever, I didn't plan to weasel out anyway."
"Eugene!" Noa called out from the side. "Are you feeling ok? We are all good now so we can continue."
My sister nudged my sides.
It did seem messy, she normally wouldn't have asked that. This girl just kept getting sweeter and sweeter the closer you got to her. As evidence, the fairly distant dragonewt, as they were called, was knocked out on the ground after not understanding things for a long while.
I walked over to the group that was sitting on the Debris and took a seat as well.
"Before that, I would like to talk."
I walked past the expedition group and placed a hand on the Nagas' backs.
"All of you too. I am sorry, but can I get a bit more time?"
"Itssss…"
The still shocked dryad had cast a spell on me, so I could speak to them.
The Naga who spoke turned to the fittest looking guy. That man slowly lowered his head.
"I am Cobra of the Nagassss. You… you have defeated the being that took away our home from ussss, this vengeanccce. We can wait for asss long as you ask."
I smiled.
"Cobra, was it?"
"Yess…"
"Your vengeance is not completed yet, and I am not its agent. Whatever I, no, whatever any of us do here is not for revenge."
"I understand," chuckled Cobra. "I apologize for pushing our expectations on you."
"If its vengeance, I am afraid you'll have to do that later on your own."
The Nagas bit their tongue.
"But if its reclamation, all of us can do it together."
They looked my way again.
"When you have lost everything don't think getting in one last punch and dragging them down with you."
I leaned lower and patted the granny next to me. She didn't seem that old actually.
"Think of standing up and getting things back. All of it. Those who you have lost would not like to see you go down with them, no."
I pointed at their only four remaining young.
"For the little ones, and their little ones. For yourself and those who have gone before you too…"
All the Nagas looked at me strangely.
The lady whose hand I held tapped her hand with mine and flashed me a wry smile.
"Take your time, you will come back here not leave it behind."
"A ritual…" Cobra spoke.
I turned to face him.
"We perform a ritualsss… to honor our dead… we did not do it… thinking god hasss abandoned us… Thinking all of usss were going to die anyway…"
The Nagas all shared glances.
"If there is still hope…"
"Do it," I said. "We'll help with whatever you need. Do it. Tell them, that you'll be coming back."
Cobra bit his lips.
"We'll be coming back."
I slowly stood up and back off as the Nagas all stood too. Cobra was about to bow at me but I stopped him before he could.
As I stepped back to Noa and the rest, she lightly whispered.
"How did you know the direction we were going for?"
To move people one had to be receptive, to unite them one had to be passionate, to lead them, one had to be organized. If I had cut down the words that Noa and the rest might have chosen to move and unite the Nagas, they would have seen me as their leader instead.
"What do you mean?" I said. "I only spoke my heart."
"Don't lie."
"Albert? Right? Few ways he can go."
"Hah…"
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