After the arguing died down, Rhett underestimated how stubborn these people were. Who would still be arguing about who goes where when it was almost dark? The old chief showed he was no weaker than the young ones.
While the tribe was still arguing about who would go out to scout, Rhett leaned against a tree, holding the quiet girl on his lap. He had trouble linking her to the vice captain he remembered. He chatted with her, more to himself than to her.
"Tch, these guys sure can argue. But this kind of atmosphere is really nice, right?" He glanced at the red-faced crowd, then down at her. "Don't you think?"
Silence.
"Still, it's better than being dead quiet."
She nodded slightly.
Rhett felt the small movement and smiled. "You don't have your own opinions yet. That's fine. For now, just listen to me."
His voice grew more free and ambitious. "I'll take you to be the freest person on these seas. We'll see everything you've never seen or heard of. Mountains, valleys, strange islands, people, and their stories..."
He looked down at her. "Hey, aside from that damn mission and atonement, do you have any plans for yourself? Even a little?"
She stiffened.
Future? Her own? Plans?
These words were foreign to her. Her life had never allowed such thoughts. After a long pause, she shook her head.
Rhett wasn't surprised. He rubbed his chin against her hair.
"That's fine. From today, your future is to see the world's stories with me. That's your new 'mission.' How about it?"
This time, she didn't shake her head. She just leaned against him, listening.
The argument finally ended. The chief couldn't win against his stubborn people. They decided that young hunters would take turns scouting, while he stayed in the village.
The chief took a breath and looked around. "Enough! No more arguing! Now, everyone, get to work! We're going to build our best ship for our benefactor! We have to earn the life he's given us!"
The tribe agreed. They started working with energy. Some gathered materials. Others sharpened tools.
The chief walked over to Rhett, who was still watching from the tree. He looked at him, then at the quiet girl in his arms. He spoke softly. "Come with me."
He led them down a hidden path behind the village. It ended at a cave, well hidden by vines and rocks. There were signs of human care, but nature was slowly reclaiming them.
Rhett remembered a saying: You laugh at me for not knowing traffic lights or signs. I laugh at you for not knowing crops from weeds, wheat from leeks.
Inside, the cave was dry and spacious. There was fresh water, tools, and food.
The chief looked at it with a bitter smile. "Only the chiefs know about this place. It was for the women and children, as a last refuge. I always thought we'd need it someday... Now it seems foolish."
Rhett understood. In the face of overwhelming power, hiding was useless. That was the value of seeing the world.
Rhett put the girl down and let the blood mist flow from him. It spread into the cave walls and entrance, forming a strong barrier. The mist spread through the forest.
He asked the chief if this would be a problem. The chief said they knew the forest well. It would protect them.
When he was done, he looked at the girl and pointed at the fading red energy.
"See this, kid?"
"This power isn't a curse. It's not something to atone for."
"It's a gift. A weapon to keep you alive and protect what you care about. A ticket to freedom."
He looked into her eyes, which were finally showing some life. "Train it. Control it. Don't let it control you. Got it?"
He had to repeat this. Like if you call your brother a pig every day, one day he'll answer to it.
She looked at the power, then at Rhett's serious face. For the first time, she didn't look away. Something in her empty eyes was starting to wake up.
A feeling, long buried, was slowly, clumsily, coming back to life.
She raised her hand. A faint cold gathered above her palm.
It was weak, nothing like his power. It formed a thin, uneven, crooked crystal. Rhett was sure it was a rose petal. Or rather, an ugly piece of ice.