Φ Looking at Dumnorix in the distance, I say, "He really can't quiet down, can he?"
Avram, with a big hat to protect him from the sun, says, "Abbán, if you keep focusing on him, you'll never know peace."
"I guess you're right about that."
Looking at Avram and Elliot working the fields, I say, "Elliot, are you sure you can do this?"
Struggling to pull his hoe out of the ground, Elliot says, "I might be in my 70s, but it was a rule that all members of the Kritz family need to maintain their health. So, I need to keep on it even after my lady has died."
As some kids wave at Elliot, and he waves back at them, he says, "The kids need the few adults from Skydust who still persist to look after them. It would be far too cruel to let them live in this world alone."
As Elliot works, I ask, "Do you miss them?"
Pausing, Elliot says, "Who might you be referring to?"
"Skydust. Your people and friends who lived there."
"I do. It was a rather amazing place to live, and many of my greatest memories were formed on that mountain that pierced the sky. But I think I have a mission I need to accomplish, and that is looking after all of the kids who still exist from that place."
Staring at a few beastkin, I say, "You're strong."
Avram says, "Anyone who has to raise kids is strong; those pests can be way too much to handle."
Looking at me and Avram, Elliot says, "Well, in that regard, I could use some pointers from both of you."
Avram, scratching his chin, says, "Making some good food is always a nice way to get the kid to act properly."
"I get what you mean. After eating my cooking, everyone usually falls asleep, and sometimes they foam at the mouth."
Elliot and Avram look at me strangely, so I say, "Is something wrong?"
"Nope, nothing at all," They both say while shaking their heads from right to left.
"Let's just hope I don't mess up the future. The fear is driving me crazy."
Putting his hand on Elliot's shoulder, Avram says, "Don't worry, the fear never goes away."
As Elliot speaks, something catches my eye, and I see my little brother Dillion all by himself. "Did he get separated from his friends? Dammit I need to go help him."
I take a few steps forward, but then Avram grabs my hand.
Φ There are a lot of people here helping out today. So much that I can barely see anything. So I have kinda of gotten lost, but I still want to work anyway.
I was surrounded by a group of adults who were nice to me, but they gave me the look I hate. The look of disgust when someone sees my face. My head looks like an ant since I am a Fanalis, and on many levels, it disgusts people.
Human features are the most favoured, after that are furry beasts, and then Fanalis, and at the bottom are bug Fanalis.
The little hairs on my face, the way my mandibles move whenever I experience an emotion, the twitching on my antennas. It can all be very hard for those who aren't used to it to enjoy it.
Some people have tried to talk to me, but I can barely talk in conversation, which causes people to walk away from me, and as these dying conversations continue, I see people who quickly gaze at my face and start moving away.
So all I can do is stay by myself after all the goodwill from those who tried has vanished. I can't find my friends in all these people, Suzuka, Iancu or Orb.
Yet I know it is no one's fault. They didn't do anything wrong by being disgusted by ants, most people don't like bugs at all. But even then, I wished people liked looking at me.
Because if people can't even endure the sight of me, will I ever get to enjoy life just as much as everyone else? Will this disgustingness eventually make people move away from me? Will one day come we're everyone has found others like me who are just more beautiful.
Will I ever find a partner? Melissia already rejected me for someone she just met, and right now, I can understand why. Because if I am anywhere as disgusting as I feel right now. I wouldn't want to touch myself with a single hand.
Feeling tears well up, I start to wipe my gross little eyes. But as I do, I feel something touch my head, and I turn around to say, "Brother?"
But I don't see my brother, but a little girl who has grey hair, and I simply stare at her for a few moments. I open my mouth to try and say something, but then the girl, no older than 6, starts to feel up my head again, and again, while pushing her hands everywhere into my nooks and crannies of my head.
"Hello?"
She breaks out of her trance, and then with sparkling eyes, she says, "Cool!"
My brain pauses for a few moments, and then she says, "Your head is light a giant machine. All the little parts moving in order, I mistook you for a mini golem. It must feel so amazing, it looks like that."
My body turns red, and I shout, "WHAT!!!"
Turning around, she says, "EVERYONE COME ON SEE THE COOL GUY I FOUND!"
Soon, a bunch of kids between the ages of 6-15 come and start rubbing my head again, and again. And they do so we eyes of intrigue so intense that I can't do anything but stop and lower my head.
But soon, a bunch of snow appears beside all of us, and it shapes itself into a few words. "That's rude."
Soon, all of the kids disperse, and then she says, "I'm enraptured by your beauty, I apologise!"
"Are you sure about that. It is only me."
"Of course I am, your little face is so cool, I could stare at it all day."
The girl then stops, and says, "Sorry, is that rude? I don't know."
For some reason, as those words leave her mouth, I start to cry and fall to my knees, and I continue to cry.
"Eh? Did I do something bad? I am sorry. Oh yeah, what Elia said, introduction. Hello, I am Peppa Mercury of Skydust. Please don't cry, or I will start crying!"
I struggle to even understand what she says, but as I see her about to start crying, I say, "I am sorry."
"No, I am sorry."
"No, I am sorry."
"Then, do you want to apologise by hanging out?"
Peppa starts to jump with joy and says, "I would love to do that!"
"Wait, I want to hang out as well," one of the other kids says.
"Me too, don't leave me out."
"I want to join in as well."
The kids start to crowd around me, and I can feel my heart about to burst. Like I am overwhelmed with so many feelings that I don't know what I am going to do with myself.
So I just say, "Ok!"
Φ Looking at the people gathered around Dillon, I stop trying to move forward, and Avram says, "You don't live in a place where you need to be scared all of the time. Good things can come in equal measure now."
"I am happy you all came to meet us. Truly, this is something I could never manage to do on my own."
Elliot, moving next to us, says, "That's why we have always worked together, because in this chaotic world, a beautiful law is that we together are worth more than the sum of our parts. Now, could you guys please help me tilt the land?"
"Right," we both say as we walk towards him.
Φ Sitting behind a series of boxes far away from everyone, Iancu says, "Why do they have to be so rowdy? It makes me feel like my ears are going to explode."
"Expose is the easiest way to deal with something!"
Turning his head to the top of the box he is using as cover, Iancu notices Anto with a cheeky smile and says, "Did Orb send you?"
"Nope, I was bored and came to look for some candy to steal."
"Why would they keep the candy here? It wouldn't be in the mansion or in Nialathrú."
Anto pauses for a moment, and then as the reality of Iancu's words hit him, he makes a shocked expression, and rubs his head saying, "WHAT HAVE I DONE!"
Though despite his reaction to all of this, Iancu just stares at him, and says, "When are you going to drop the act?"
"I don't know what you mean, brother vampire."
"I spent the vast majority of my time hanging around a series of kids back in Elpída, don't take me as a fool who can't tell when one of them is lying for the sake of some kind of benefit, you idiot."
Anto, who was overreacting quickly, composes himself, sits next to Iancu, and says, "I thought my performance was good. Most people buy into the whole dumb kid act."
"Your eyes are far too attentive to those around you for me to believe someone like you could actually be dumb. Stupid people think in a way completely incomprehensible to us."
"I guess I need to go and start using Dumnorix as a reference to up my performance."
"Why do you even act like that again?"
"You know it's rude to ask personal questions without answering your own."
"Well, unlike you, most people know my story. What is more concerning is that two 10-year-old children are capable of combat, but also are so educated that they speak all three songs within the Tria Carmina."
Pointing his head away from Iancu, Anto says, "This is why you have no friends other than Suzuka Iancu."
"First, Suzuka isn't my friend, and two, you don't have any as well."
"I would have you know that making friends is utterly terrifying, I can't even imagine doing it so I will be staying here for the rest of my life."
"Stop being a baby. It isn't that bad."
"It is, no matter how much I talk to anyone, I get rejected and shot down, it makes me wonder what the point of ever talking even is, and I don't want to hear any counter arguments from someone who is willingly hiding from potential friends like you are."
Sighing, Iancu says, "I still haven't apologised for hitting that kid in the face and starting the whole mess that led to this entire situation. For me, it seems unfair to demand to join in on this joyous situation, this is my punishment."
"You're a really big baby, you know that?"
"Huh?"
"Even Mime know to behave better, if people are having fun joining. You're not so special that your very presence could ruin everyone's mood. Besides Peppa and the other kids from Skydust, tell us how often you come and play with them, and aid them since they have lost all of their people. Even earlier, they were running around looking for you, before they got distracted. You happen to be a lot like Orb, so I am sure you'll be liked."
"Did you just called me a pervert?"
"Well, I think anyone who likes blood is already a bit perverted."
"That's due to my curse, I have no control over that! Wait, what do you mean you talked to the kids from Skydust? I thought you had no friends."
"I lied."
"WHAT!?"
"It allowed me to get the information I needed so I can inform Orb of your feelings."
"No, you won't, you brat!"
"Then you will have to stop me!" Anto says as he runs out, with Iancu chasing beside him.