"We might not be able to leave today," Nollan disclosed. They all sat by the fire, roasting fish over the fire. It was already noon, the sun was on their head and many animals were coming across the stream to drink water.
Kael, munching on the fish stood up suddenly. "Fuck. It's not enough," he snapped, throwing the fish away as all others stared at him going berserk over a fish.
"Then go on a hunt," Nollan suggested, munching on his fish. Terren sitting by him also stood up. "Let's go, it's not enough for me either."
Ever since Kael returned from Valemire, his hunger had never been satisfied even once. He was on a constant conflict with his stomach. And now when they were surviving just on fishes, he couldn't hold back his frustration.
Kael and Terren picked their blades, and left. As they left Zodiac raised his head, looking back at them.
"Kid's tough, isn't he?" He muttered.
"Tougher than at least me when I started." Nollan replied to Zodiac's compliment. "Only if he had some guts to back that strength of his…"
"Hahaha… He'll get it. He's still a young lad," Zodiac said, but Nollan still didn't fetch an eye to him.
"That is… If he survives." Demiurge cut in, glancing upon the girl lying before them.
---
On the other side, Kael and Terren had encountered a group of deer munching on grass in the middle of a small open field where the sun poured down.
"So, what's the plan?" Kael whispered, hiding behind a bush.
"Deer are fast on their legs. So, we must drop one before the others take alarm. But, their hearing is sharp, so it'll be even harder." Terren explained the situation.
Kael chuckled, and Terren's attention fixed on him. "At least this time we will die hunting." He remembered the occasion when they went on hunt in Veilguard. Terren also broke smile hearing that.
"I have a plan," Kael continued. " You head to the other side and make them run towards me. I'll drop one for sure."
Terren nodded, and left to the other side. He took a longer route, making a circle around so the deer don't run away. When he finally reached the destination, he flickered his blade in sunlight, signing Kael.
Kael understood and pulled his dagger, signaling back. Just then Terren jumped out of a bush, running towards one. All the deer startled and scattered all over, some running towards Kael. Kael took a deep breath, tightening his grip over dagger.
Just when he thought the deer is in his reach, he jumped out and pierced his dagger. But the deer jumped over Kael. His food ran away and now he was mad.
He breath out all the air in his lungs and swung his arm, pouring all the strength in a single blind curve. The deer was just out of his sight, not his reach.
The swing just landed back of deer's legs, throwing it bushes away. Kael ran before it but stopped as he saw the scene.
The deer screamed in pain, kicking once before finally leaving its body. Its rear legs were all mangled and its gut was dropping out, dyeing the bush red below it.
Terren burst from the trees. "You got one!" His voice cracked with excitement as he clapped Kael's back. "That was awe—"
He stopped. His eyes dropped to the carcass, but the grin slid from his face.
Kael didn't look away from the ruin of the deer. "I… I don't know," he muttered, sweat beading his brow and words stumbling like his breath.
Terren swallowed, turning his head aside. "It…It's fine. Let's just take it back."
Terren broke a branch and tied the deer on it, making a carrier to carry the deer. He took the lead, returning back to the camp without uttering a single word.
Kael was lost in thoughts as they return. Staring up at the sky, his eyes were clouded. He was still wondering about this mysterious boost in his strength. Each step were clearly heard. Jungle was full of life; birds chirping, stream rushing beside and animals howling in the jungle.
"Hey Kael," Terren finally spoke. But Kael was still lost in thoughts and didn't even hear that. "Hey… are you there!?" Terren muttered again, low and steady. "Hmm? hm, yes. I'm here.." Kael snapped back, replying hurriedly.
"It took captain nearly a month to recover, didn't it!?" Terren asked. Kael frowned hearing such an unexpected question. "Ahh… yeah? So what?" answering in a question in return.
Terren stopped their march, and turned his head towards Kael. Kael was confused upon seeing such behavior, but he didn't say a thing.
"Then how is she already up?" Terren's words entered Kael's ears like a wave.
Just then Kael heard a loud scream, a woman's scream. Kael's head jerked forward. His brows knit together, jaw parting slightly. There she was; the girl, struggling with Zodiac as he tried to stop her from running away. He grabbed her by her hand, but the next second she broke free and ran towards the other side.
She actually headed towards Terren and Kael. "Catch her, boy." Zodiac shouted. Terren dropped the deer when she almost reached him, and picked her up by waist.
"No… no, hah… no more," she cried out loud. "i can't bear any more… please.. please let me go…" Terren was shook to his soul upon hearing it, and he unconsciously let her free.
She dropped to the ground, struggling and stumbling she ran towards the trees this time. But just then a flash travelled by Terren, appearing infront of the girl was Demiurge. He gently smacked his palm back of her neck and she collapsed, Demiurge catching her before she hit the ground.
Demiurge then picked her up and brought her back to the camp.
"Good hunt," Zodiac complimented, as Terren and Kael dropped the deer down. Kael was looking at the girl and didn't reply to Zodiac. Her hands were trembling even when she was unconscious. Kael saw the hollowness in her eyes and the grappling marks all over her body.
"She's… torn to her soul," Kael muttered. He sat beside her, pity in his eyes. Nollan was there too, silent.
"This is the world." Nollan said, "The world is a cruel place, Kael. It gives the boon of beginning but also the curse of continuity. You must push through it. You must live, no matter how hard it is." Kael looked at Nollan. This time, Nollan was not just sitting nonchalant, but this time his eyes carried compassion.
Kael's throat went heavy. He bit back of his lips and looked down.
"But life give you another boon," Kael heard these words and looked back at Nollan. The cool shadow of the tree was upon their head, and the water stream behind Nollan. "Life gives you the acceptance. You can accept and be free from the curse of continuity. You can either blame the life or accept it. And the acceptance is always the better option."
Kael's heart melted, spilling from his eye as a tear that ran gently down his cheek upon hearing that.
While those two were talking, Terren pulled the deer just at the edge of stream and started cleaning it. He cut open its belly and pulled out the organs, letting them drift in the stream. Then, after beheading it, he hung it from a nearby tree to let the blood drain out, and sat down with others.
"So," Nollan said, "Do you accept Kael?" He asked. Kael looked at the girl as she lied on the ground, unconscious.
Kael nodded, and a slight smile covered Nollan's lips. Terren, Demiurge and Zodiac sat back, just witnessing this sequence.
The Sequence of Being.