They kept walking through the forest. Daichi follows Rhea, noticing that they've been walking in one direction for a while.
Even after they've been walking for almost an hour now. And being back in his sound mind.
It finally hit him. The man's message. The fact that he's from Earth. The state he was in. All of it.
"Rhea."
"What happened to him?..."
He asked. Disturbed by the scene his brain refuses to forget.
"I don't know." Rhea responded. Lying. But not quite sure if she should explain everything she knows just yet. As there's something slightly bothering her. A little hunch. But not a theory she'd be thrilled to test.
"His watch..."
"You took it though."
"Could it be useful to you somehow?"
Daichi asked. Knowing she doesn't even know how to read it. Which made him a tad bit suspicious.
"Not really."
"You said it's something from your world."
"And I like the way it looks and the way it sounds when it gets closer."
"So I took it."
Rhea answered in a low tone as she led the way. But Daichi on the other hand. Was seeing the more childish version of Rhea.
She sees a shiny circle ticking and decides it's hers.
That's so...
Unusual for someone like her.
"So you looted a body?" Daichi asked. He was actively trying to understand why she did what she did.
"Was he gonna use it again?" Rhea asked. The nature of the question sent chills down Daichi's spine.
"I...suppose he wasn't"
He answered. Feeling uneasy by her indifference. But he was curious about more important things.
"Why did his life-fog choose me?"
"You're the one who hurt him..."
Daichi asked. His curiosity was justified. Especially since he's only ever seen it go to people who directly killed for it.
"He died of natural causes."
"My guess is starvation. Seeing as how he's been there like that for several days."
"So...His life-fog naturally chose the closest person. Seeing as how no one took his life."
She responded. Remembering how the elders in her village would pass away. And that's how their life-fog reacted. And their oldest child or their partners would inherit it through proximity.
Remembering that specific dark tradition her village had. Where the inheritor would have to watch and care for the elder until they died.
Following her senses to something deep into the forest. Something familiar.
"Oh..."
Daichi said in a low tone. But his questions kept piling on.
."Why..." He paused. "Why did it feel like that?"
"Why did it feel so...relaxing? So exciting."
"So...euphoric."
He asked. Slowing slightly as he realized how wrong it was.
"I was relishing in that man's life-fog."
"And his dead body was...right there"
He said again. Feeling guilty for something he didn't even do intentionally.
"That's just...the feeling of becoming strong."
"It's why so many have become addicts to murder."
Rhea responded. Walking as her pace became more confident. They were close.
"And that...is your first dose of negative life-fo-"
"But I didn't kill him..." Daichi interrupted. His voice raised slightly.
"But he was a human being."
"That alone makes his life-fog different from animals."
"It's negative because 'HE' wasn't an animal"
Rhea responded. A bit annoyed at his lack of knowledge. But not completely upset. Seeing as how she knows Daichi isn't native to Astheria. But her thoughts were interrupted by the foul scent of something decomposing nearby. And the scent didn't pass by Daichi either.
"What's that smell..."
Daichi gagged slightly. Still following Rhea who was trying to ignore it. And as they walk. They passed by the corpse of one of the transparent antler deer. It had a sharp rock impaled through its neck. And clear sighs in the ground that it was running.
This looks like the doing of a person.
And the only person we saw was-
Rhea thought. Quickly piecing together what might've been the cause of the Hollow-horn's death.
Hm...he must've tried killing it and it outran him...
She thought. Noticing Daichi's disturbed expression when she briefly turned around. But she kept walking.
After walking for only thirty more minutes. Rhea stopped suddenly. Noticing something tied on a tree. Daichi stopped right behind her. Confused.
"Rhea?"
He said. But Rhea ran off. Surprising Daichi who was ready to run too. But Rhea stopped right by a tree. Noticing the dried vines that were intertwined to look like ropes. Tied to the root of the tree.
"This is Kael's doing..."
Rhea dropped to her knees. Laughing slightly as her eyes became watery.
"That's why I could sense it this much..."
She said. Her voice is low with a melancholic tone. She kept laughing as she had a wave of nostalgia.
"Ha haa!. Rheaa!!"
"You lose again!!"
"I'm up here!"
Kael said. His voice was loud and his smile was wide. Rhea was much smaller back then. But her perception of Vhis was still exceptional.
"You're cheating!!!"
"You do this every time we play!!"
Rhea retaliated. Her voice is small. As she stomped her feet. Throwing aside the intertwined vines she found in a bush.
"Well how do you expect me to hide fairly if that little brain of yours can notice my Vhis like a giant sprinter!"
"And it's not my fault you can't beat my super cool ability."
Kael said as he laughed triumphantly. Putting emphasis on 'super cool'. Jumping from the top of the trees and landing exceptionally.
"MY BRAIN IS NOT SMALL!!!"
Rhea stomped. Clearly exasperated by Kael's implication.
"Yeah yeah if you say so."
He responded. As Rhea ran over to him.
"I'll have to get going soon. They'll need me for our next expedition"
He said in a more serious tone. Standing up as he looked around the village. Kids running around with each other. Having fun.
"Yeah right. As if anyone would need your so call 'Imprint tag' ability"
"That's such a lame name!"
Rhea said. Pouting at the fact that he has to leave. And still a bit sour about his tricks whenever they played.
"Oh c'mon. It's not that bad, right."
"i gave it a lot a thought"
Kael responded as he laughed. As he began walking away.
"You're only sixteen...why do you have to go with them."
"Why can't you stay and play with me."
Rhea said. Her little voice breaks slightly and tears well at her eyes.
"Because they really do need my help to find their way to and from Nervaal..."
"And besides you've got Micah. Go play with him 'kay."
Kael responded. His tone was soft as he spoke to Rhea.
"Whatever..."
Rhea said. Almost a whisper.
Her little memory haze was short lived. As she was snapped back to reality by Daichi calling her name repeatedly.
"Rhea?"
"Hey Rhea?"
"I'm talking to you..."
Daichi said. Looking at the rope-like object she was looking at.
"Is that what you were sensing?"
He asked. Rhea wiped the tears from her face as she stood up. Still looking at it.
"Yeah..."
She answered. Looking up into the forest ahead.
"Uhm...that's great and all but I don't see or hear a city nearby."
He said. And he had a point.
"I know. But there's probably a trail."
"I can sense another one."
She said as she walked off. Following the direction of the next tag she was sensing. And Daichi followed her. being sure to stay close.
They walked for several more hours. And covered over thirteen miles. Where they found three more. Each being a little further away than the last. But it was becoming dark. And both of them had to stop for the day. And were looking for somewhere to spend the night in the forest.
And that's when Daichi noticed Rhea had kept the rope she untied from the second tree they found. He ignored it for the time being though. As Rhea had told him to gather sticks and firewood to burn through the night.
But Rhea's mind kept replaying memories of Kael. And one stuck by longer than the rest.
"Rhea...you're a gifted child. Just like I was. But..."
"Don't limit yourself the way I did. Become strong..."
"And you'll never be looked down upon. Despite your race."