1214-04-12
Liliko:
I sat up late into the night. The hours dragged on. The sound of bats fluttering in the distance became a common background noise. Yet it was always overshadowed by the repetitive chirping of birds.
Then, the digging starts. Faint but steady, coming from the Kima. A quiet sound, easy to miss, but once noticed, impossible to ignore. It repeats, over and over, mixing with the birds, the bats, the clatter of rocks striking each other. A restless, hollow symphony playing deep into the night.
The sound kept me awake that cold night.
A woman lay beside me on the hard mats. They were uncomfortable, but at least better than the cold ground.
The sounds kept repeating, a constant, unwanted presence.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The echoing calls of the bats reminded me of humans in a way. Bats, much like us, have a purpose. They navigate through the dark. They use sound to find their way. We search for meaning in our lives. We share this instinct to find direction in a world that sometimes feels chaotic.
I left my tent, the beeping growing louder as I walked through the empty camp. Some of the candles inside tents flickered, while others barely cast light. The sounds seemed to come from every direction, disorienting in their repetition.
The medical tent stood out. It was always brightly lit. I entered, and the chaos inside was palpable. Doctors hurried from one patient to the next, their movements frantic. Lucius, overseeing everything, gave orders to his workers. When he noticed me, a small smile crept onto his face.
The conversation between Lucius and I felt heavy with unspoken thoughts. I watched him as he worked His hands moving with practiced precision.
"Can we talk?" I asked.
Lucius didn't look up from his work.
Giving orders to his men, Lucius strides over to me, his expression calm despite the chaos around him.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I mumble. "Just... can't sleep."
"You can stay," he says, his tone soft. "But I need to get back to work."
I nodded. "You love it here, don't you?"
"I don't," he says. "I miss my family. I miss Pallas. I miss peace."
I let out a quiet laugh.
"I don't have a family," I said.
"What about Itsu?"
"We're more friends than family... a transaction," I mumble.
Lucius paused, "Have you ever considered coming back to Ahk with us? Returning to Pallas?"
"No. Itsu is all I have left. I can't leave."
"You could come with us," Lucius insisted, his voice soft but filled with hope. "I'm sure Adrian would—"
I cut him off, my words sharp. "In truth, we're enemies."
Lucius sighed. He rubbed his temples before we spoke again.
"You're right. But you wouldn't be treated differently with us."
He returned to his work.
This isn't the first time I've heard those words.
t I didn't reply. I stayed quiet. I watched him move between the scattered tools and bags on the table. The flickering light from nearby candles cast small shadows against the walls.
The night dragged on. The birds quieted as the hours passed. I stayed in the tent longer, my mind spinning in endless circles. The soft glow of a small blue rag caught my attention, peeking out among the brown bags, knives, and tools scattered across the floor.
I lifted my hands, fingers rough from years of fighting. I had always fought. It was all I knew.
Lucius turned around. I picked out the blue rag. I held it tracing the edges with my fingers.
I left the tent. Taking the rag with me using it as a makeshift mask.
The night air is cold as I move through the camp. My footsteps light against the dirt.
Two guards stand outside Adrian's tent, alert but unprepared. I strike fast—one goes down with a sharp blow to the neck, the other barely has time to react before
I drive my knee into his gut and slam his head against the ground. Their bodies crumple without a sound. I drag them aside. I slipped into the tent.
Adrian sits by the dim light of a candle. A book resting in his hands. He doesn't even look up.
"I knew someone would be reckless enough to try," he says, turning a page lazily.
I lunge, dagger flashing in the dim light.
Adrian moves effortlessly. He sidestepped my first strike like he saw it coming. I try to adjust. His counter is already in motion. A sharp kick aimed at my ribs. I twist, barely avoiding the full force of the blow. The impact still sends a jolt through me.
I grit my teeth. I deflected his next move. I pushed forward to close the distance. He's fast—faster than I expected. He caught my wrist mid-swing. In an instant, he uses my own momentum against me. He twisted my arm and yanked me off balance.
I slam into the ground. My breath was stolen from my lungs.
Adrian moves before I can recover. He pinned me beneath him. His grip is firm, his weight pressing down just enough to keep me in place. His hand finds my mask. He tries to rip it away.
I won't let him.
My fingers tighten around the small dagger I had hidden away.
Then, a blade sinks into his side.
Adrian recoils, a sharp breath leaving him as pain overtakes his expression. His grip loosens. He stumbles back, his hand flying to his side, warm blood already spilling between his fingers.
I have the chance.
I could kill him. End this.
Adrian looks up at me, his face tense, his breathing uneven. But there's something else in his expression—an understanding. A quiet, knowing smile tugs at his lips.
And I can't do it.
I don't.
I step back, making my voice deep, distant. "Know that I could have killed you here and now."
Then I turn and run.
Back at my tent, I throw the mask away, letting it land among the soldiers' campfires. Itsu is waiting.
"Where were you?" she asks.
I force a shrug. "Just out for a walk."
Liar.
I sit on the hard mat, staring at my hands. They still tremble. The moment plays over in my mind—Adrian vulnerable, bleeding, barely holding himself up. I could have ended him. I should have.
So why didn't I?
My fingers curl into fists. I've killed before. I've fought, bled, and survived by making choices without hesitation. But when it mattered most, I froze.
Was it the way he looked at me? Not with fear, not with anger—but with understanding. Like he already knew I wouldn't go through with it.
Like he knew me better than I knew myself.
If I can't do what needs to be done, then what am I even fighting for?
I envy bats.
They don't hesitate. They don't doubt. They fly forward, blind, trusting only instinct.