"Not so quickly." I said, "All of us are not fit for the striker's role."
There were four of us, and only two could go on dealing with monsters, not only the monsters beyond the wraps but also of this world.
Calten interjected, "There are more mysteries to discover. Sentries and Intiverse are only the tip of an iceberg."
Certainly, I had this feeling too. But for now, it is better we keep ourselves to earth matter only. The more we try to unearth and digest, the more it will bring trouble and unanswerable questions. Things like that often cause headaches; sometimes such pain kills a person.
Humans are, in fact, curious beings. They look for things that will try to kill them. Danger is what they bring on to themselves. I'm not one of them.
"Not off the topic," quoth Bentend.
"My role in the team is simple: my matters and remain a shadow of Goun." I said.
"My shadow?" The confused Goun tilted his head.
I will be a shadow that will give him power, since it seems he had the ability to grow via me; nevertheless, in battles it will be him and Calten.
The quarter of energy will remain with Goun, with it increasing to an unimaginable point someday.
"Oh, right!" Goun was puffed; his face was red.
"Roles aren't going to be simple. Calton will continuously be a part of the other foe's side and find information. Bentend will track and learn about the foes and in the end will be Goun, the lead player."
The only thing that remains will be the change of identity.
"Can you do it for us?" I asked Calten; he shrugged.
"Not a problem. But what will be the team name?" He asked.
"Salvators." Bentend blurted out.
"Shadow savior," Goun said.
"I will go with Salvators." Calten chooses.
"It's better." I said.
"Oh come on, Shadow Savior is a cool name." Bentend was dejected as he folded his arms and leaned against the couch.
Name was a trivial matter, albeit we were not going to stick with one for long.
"I will also contact the director for the support for the orphanage," Calten said, taking out a strange phone. It was different than the one Bentend had. Not a big screen and a few buttons that he pressed.
He spoke to the director, and when he was done, he said. "It's done; I'm surprised. The director never agreed this quickly before; it would have always been a big long talk before he would agree."
As we were relaxing and thinking about what to do next. Children began to enter the room, various dishes in their hands, and the smell of the food wafted in the room.
The sweet aroma of the food distracted Bentend and Goun. while I kept reminiscing about the past.
"I'm full, you know. I wonder when I will get to enjoy a full meal?" the black elf said.
They were in the ruin of an archaic kingdom; its smallfolk lived there once, but the last war had made them shun the place before it was burned by the black flames. Trees that bore ancient fruit germinated, and now, they could cook them.
It was their only full meal before they ever had time to eat anything better.
"We never know what will happen the next day; better enjoy what you have, even if it's not sufficient," his master told him.
Khan complained at the start of his journey but then slowly learned to resist the starvation and thirst.
It had changed him more than he could remember. What was it like being with him?
I gazed at the two fools champing the food like it was their last day; they were enjoying it.
My eyes were locked on Goun; the way he ate was no different than his master.
Suddenly my vision spun, and I felt dizzy. This day it was as if I had remembered it. Was this a core experience? (Deja vu)
No, I don't believe such a thing.
"Eat before the hunger finishes everything," said one of the kids.
They were giggling and laughing at the eating of Goun and Bentend. Few of the kids were cheering for them.
I was too immersed in this scene. Why did it feel like I had experienced this before? It was too familiar.
The cheers of the kids rang in my ears; I never heard such cheers in my childhood, not the ones that were for me.
I was only a slave, a rich kid's punching bag. I shared food with the dogs and slept with the stabs with the sheep.
"Eat, you monsters." One of the kids from the rich family said to Khan.
He was on the ground, eating the grass that was for the sheep, mixed with raw meat and some feces. He endured it, almost destroying his own emotion and taste so he couldn't feel it. ner
"A pig born a human!" Khan's owner said, thumping on his hand. His smile was menacing.
The other kids joined in as they continued beating him. A punch came for the owner, and he was slammed down to the ground.
"You muddy devils! Are you insane?" The adolescent boy shouted; he was nineteen and the brother of the owner.
"You beating a weak boy doesn't prove your nobility," the boy said.
He was the only one who saved Khan but never talked to him nor directly showed he cared. If he did, there were grave consequences.
As time went by, many times he was saved by him. He gave speeches while saving him. It was only a pretentious speech that kept the kids away from Khan.
Khan had thought he would be saved; not only that, Khan would find food that of what nobles eat.
It was only that day he was wed and left; I never saw him after that day.
And Khan's beating started again; the brutes were crueler than before.
I never blamed him; he did what he could. Everyone can't always come to save us. As I was in my reverie, the plate placed on the table was taken away by Bentend.
I dart a glare at him; he cringes back, afraid that he has done wrong and his fingers will be cut.
Before, I had a better plan for him. I heave an irritated sigh and let it go.
The next moment, the bell rang. As the door was opened, there was an old man standing. He had a soft smile on his face as he asked.
"We have come for the support," the old man said.
"Director!? Seriously?" Calten was dumbfounded. "You came by yourself."
"Oh my, he's one of your people." The old crone slyly smiled.
"Are you not afraid of being known? You're revealing too much."
Nithim assured me, "Worry not about that young lad; we always have our solutions."
"Memory wipeout." I said it was just a guess.
His expression lit up, eyes wide open, and then came laughter: "Not bad, not bad. I thought it would take a few guesses, but you really can tell."
What reason does he have for coming here?
"I just came here to meet you." He said.