Chapter fourteen: History
Kai sat a distance away from both parties, resting on the soft grass. He needed to think. His position as a Hunter was not something he was willing to give up, but he did not need anyone's input at the moment. Least of all Raulyn's.
He glanced to the captain in question. Though Raulyn had not shared his reasons for starting that sparring session earlier, his motivations were easier to read than his fighting style. It was only a matter of time now before Kai's life was forfeit, no matter what he said.
Kai spotted Athena approaching. She sat down next to him, offering some water. Kai declined.
"So…" Athena said. "How long until we get to the Hills?"
He glanced at her.
"Assuming the portal's there," she added.
He sighed quietly. "We should make it there tomorrow."
Her eyes softened. "You're really not happy about me knowing, are you?"
"You do not know anything. No one knows for sure if the portal is even there."
"You think I'm going to betray you?"
He glanced at her.
"I mean, I get it," she quietly said. "But I thought, after the mine, maybe…"
"I get it, too. No matter your true plans, the idea of betraying us is tempting, is it not?"
She frowned, as if repulsed by the idea alone. "No! No, it's not."
"Surely, an intelligent leader figure like yourself should see the appeal. Taking out an obstacle for the good of your goal? It makes sense."
She fell silent.
"You asked me earlier why I am not more like Raulyn, despite my experiences with Elektra," Kai softly said. "The truth is, she was not alone. She was…loosely affiliated with a group of mobs that got dangerously close to Slaenone. Most of them were hostile to us, but one of them was not. I was a typical mob hunter at the time. Actually, looking back, I was worse than most hunters. More violent…"
"But that one mob changed your mind?"
"That is where it started. Sarah. Or 'the Wither', as we called her. She was more powerful than any mob we had faced before. Stronger than Elektra. Maybe stronger than Andr. But despite her many chances to kill us, she let us live." He closed his eyes. "In fact, she ended up betraying her friends to save my life."
"She saved your life…?"
He sighed quietly. "I saw two extremes in that mob group: Elektra and Sarah. Since that day, mobs started looking a lot more…human…to me."
"But you continued hunting us, still. Even after that."
"That is how the world works. You either pick a side, or you will be an enemy of both. And even after everything, I could not turn a blind eye to the risk humanity faced when met with hostile mobs."
"Jack chose both sides," Athena whispered.
"He chose your side."
"He protected Ironhand."
"Was that him, or was that the demon that possessed him? And who did he really protect—Ironhand's citizens, or you and your friends?"
Athena fell silent.
"We cannot change the world," Kai said. "We can only make the best of what we have."
She looked at him for a moment. Then she reached inside her pocket and took something out. "Would your gods say the same?" she asked.
She handed him the item. Kai stopped as he recognized the metal K, a symbol associated with Kervan, the god of the Overworld.
He frowned, his hand instinctively going to his belt where the trinket once hung. Sure enough, it was gone.
"I lost this…" he muttered.
"I'm not much of an Elyfotist…" Athena said. "But even so, I have to ask—what do you think your gods would say? You know mobs and humans aren't that different. They should know that too, right? What would they want you to do?"
He sighed quietly, still looking at the K. "In the face of the threat the Rogue represents?"
She fell silent once more.
"That is why we hunt him," Kai said, reattaching the metal trinket to his belt. "Not for revenge or because he is especially strong, but because his powers are unique in the most dangerous way possible. It could mean…" He trailed off.
"It could mean what?" Athena pressed.
Kai did not respond. Maybe he had already said too much. "Answer me honestly," he finally said. "If you were given the chance to wipe out most—or all—humans in the Overworld, would you take it?"
"No."
He glanced at her. She seemed quite certain in her answer. Maybe too certain.
"Everyone!" Raulyn called. "It is time to continue."
"Thanks for returning my trinket," Kai quietly said, standing up.
"Wait," Athena said. "Why'd you tell me all of this? Why now?"
He glanced at her. "I suppose I wanted to answer your questions before I die."
"Die?"
"You think Raulyn challenged me to a duel simply for the sake of it? No. He was testing me—ensuring he could defeat me if I turned against him."
"Turn against you? But you said—"
"I can say whatever I wish, but I cannot make anyone believe me. Especially after that incident in Crevan and Bear's home, where I worked alongside you to survive. My past is not a secret either, and Raulyn knows about my doubts. They make me a potential threat."
"A potential threat? You think he'd kill you because you're a potential threat?"
"Mobs are also potential threats, and we show them no mercy. From what I understand, that is the sole reason why Jack turned his back on the Hunters."
She fell silent. With nothing more to say, Kai left.