Vanrra woke up with a start; he immediately got up from the ground. He looked around; it was already morning. Hiram put out the campfire. They were the only two in the camp. —Do you feel better?
—Where is Leah?
—She left a while ago.
—Where?!
—To her home, I guess. Don't worry about her; I gave her some of my things. She knows how to take care of herself.
—I'm not totally sure. Didn't she tell you anything else?
—She doesn't talk much.
He said, annoyed. —Doc. Those monsters are still out there, and you let her go. Which way did she go?
—It's not worth looking for her; she's already far away. I bet she's at home by now.
—I have a hard time understanding you lately, Doc. She was a delicate girl; it's impossible for her to survive out there.
—You underestimate her too much. Don't worry about her; we have more important things to think about. Just relax; maybe you'll be lucky enough to see her again. —Vanrra sat on a log. He stared at the remains of the campfire. —Are you feeling better now?
—What are we supposed to do now, doc?
—Leave this forest; we're very close now.
—And then what? I have nowhere to go, my whole life… What comes next?
—Go to a safe place, my home, Aelia Capitolina.
—Your home…where is that? —Hiram looked up at the sky. —Are you looking for something?
—The sun. We have to go west and reach the sea.
—The sea?
—Did I teach you what the sea is?
—Of course I know; I want to see it. Is Aelia Capitolina by the sea?
—Something like that; it's very close. —They packed everything in their backpacks. Vanrra took a bath in the river and dressed in the same kind of clothes as Hiram. A khaki-colored outfit, a little loose-fitting. The outfit of a hunter. He couldn't identify what material they were made of. —You like it; it's what you asked me for.
—It's very comfortable, nothing like that old leather. I feel it softly brushing my skin; it's pretty good.
—Take your backpack; we need to get moving.
—Doc. Don't you have a weapon?
—I am the weapon.
—I'm serious, doc.
—So am I.
—Do you know what's on the way?
—I will remember; don't worry, nothing will hurt us. —Hiram began to walk. After a few steps, he realized Vanrra hadn't moved. He was staring at the branches of the trees. —What's wrong?
—I'm scared, doc.
—It's normal: when I first left my home, I felt the same way.
—Why did this happen? Today… you were supposed to be teaching me that book. Now none of that exists; my friends are dead; everyone I knew is dead. I'll never see them again.
—That's what death means.
—You should have let me die that day; it would have been better for both of us.
He raised his voice. —Listen, Vanrra. —He approached him. —From now on, you will do everything I tell you. I want you to stop crying; your tears won't bring your friends back. Let them rest.
—You want me to forget them?! They were my family! How can I forget my family?! I always forget everything; if I forgot them. I would never forgive myself.
—Don't forget them, never do, but you have to let go of that burden, that guilt. If you carry it, you won't be able to keep going. Every time you think you can't go on, think of them; channel that emotion to keep moving forward.
—Of course it's not my fault; it's that monster's! Why do you act as if it doesn't exist?! None of this makes sense! Because of it, I lost everything; I have nothing left! I wish I could kill it. I'd give anything to have enough strength to kill that damn titan. I'd give my whole being.
Hiram looked at him, a bit terrified; he slowly walked away a few steps. —I doubt that would make you happy.
—Do you think I can be happy? After all this?!
—People can change. —Vanrra calmed down upon hearing those words; there was something special in Hiram's voice, something he still didn't understand.
—You believe that?
—...
Vanrra started walking. —Well then, let's go. —Hiram stood still for a few seconds, just like Vanrra. The singing of the birds snapped him out of his trance. Soon they left the forest and reached a vast green meadow; there were no walls on the horizon. Only a few scattered trees could be seen in the distance. —Shall we move on?
—As far as I remember, the nearest settlement is a few weeks away.
—Weeks? Will we walk without stopping?
—We're in the heart of the continent; hardly anyone lives here. That's why it's safe. "Civilization" is further south. —He spat out the word as if it were poison.
—Do you prefer the wild life?
—They are the real savages, a bunch of thieves and liars. It's a bad joke that they pretend to be a "Civilization."—Before Vanrra could start walking, Hiram grabbed him by the shoulders. —Before we start, I have to make something clear to you.
He said, confused. —What is it, doc?
—From now on, I want you to trust me blindly. No matter what happens. There will be many things you don't understand; you won't always have time to think. You must obey everything I tell you; it's the only way we'll both keep our heads. Look at me. Many things won't make sense; your emotions will tell you otherwise. When that happens, I want you to be quiet and do as I say, word by word. Everything I do and say is for our good. I don't give a single fuck if you don't understand my actions. Out there is a lawless land, full of liars and thieves, beasts and animals; don't believe anything they say. You just must trust me. Do you understand?
—Yes, doc.
—I promise you we'll reach my home; I'll take you there no matter the cost. Promise me you'll trust me.
—It's all I have left, doc.
They both began their journey across the great plain, crossing dozens of small hills. There seemed to be no trace of civilization. They encountered several herds of animals, mostly horses, all fleeing at the slightest contact. They rested in the shade of the few trees along the way. They set up their small camp at dusk. The moon lit up the prairie.
The next day, they continued in the same direction. They rested when they reached trees or near a stream. They ate there and then kept walking. They didn't stop for six days; both ended up exhausted. They reached a big tree on top of a hill and rested in its shade.
—I can't go on, doc. We should rest; I need... a day off. I can't feel my legs.
—I think you're right; I don't know how much farther we have. Samarkand is not too far away.
—Is that where we're going?
—It's our first stop; we need buy supplies. We're almost out.
—These days have been very calm, don't you think?
—Don't get too comfortable; all of this is just an illusion. We don't know what we might run into.
Vanrra lay on his back, looking at the tree's leaves. —Do you think it has fruit?
—I don't know. Usually, fruit trees grow in groups.
—What will happen when we meet people, Doc.? How should I act? I don't think they're all savages and thieves. Maybe some will be friendly.
—You always have to be alert; you can't trust any of them. They are a people of thieves; it's in their blood.
—Why are they thieves, doc? I don't think everyone steals. How do I tell a good person from a bad one?
—You can't, and when you do, it's usually too late. The best thing is to kill at the slightest doubt.
—Kill? Just like that? Wouldn't that make us savages?
—You and I are not like them; we... I know the truth of what is right in this world; that's why you have to learn from me. Believe me, soon you'll see what I mean; then you'll agree with me.
—How do you know you're the good one? I don't doubt they think the same about themselves.
—The difference is that I know I have the reason.
Vanrra felt something grab his ankle, a large hand. He jumped in fright. —What was that?! —There was nothing. —Doc! Did you see anything?! Something touched me!
—It must be your imagination. There's no one else here.
—No! It was too real. I think I have a mark.
—It was probably a snake; the grass is a bit tall.
Vanrra brushed the dust off her suit. —Doc. I need something to eat.
—We don't have much food left. You already ate today's share; if you're hungry, hunt your own food.
—We don't have any guns. —Hiram handed her a large knife. He took the hunting knife. —Wouldn't that be cruel?
—You barely even notice. If you want to eat, you have to kill, no exceptions. Otherwise, you'll starve. I'm surprised you're not used to it. What kind of rancher doesn't know how to hunt?
—I never hunted; almost nobody in the village did. We bought our meat. —He examined the knife with his fingers, testing its edge. —I had never realized to stay alive, we have to kill others. To cause pain just by existing.
—That is our punishment; we are all born with it, our mark. And even so, we insist on existing, so much so that we never stop reproducing, continuing the cycle of pain. That's what comes with existing in this world. Assiah. That's the name of our planet. Had I already told you?
—I think not.
—Don't try to be a hero; it doesn't matter how good you try to be, you cause harm just by existing. Focus on staying alive, no matter the cost; you already do it all the time. You don't have to feel guilty.
He saw a small snake moving near Hiram's feet. —Why is the world like this?
—It's the price of free will; we decided to be slaves of the earth. There's no other way to live.
—Whatever you say, Doc.