Rise of Yahunyens: Origin

Episode 16: It's The Same Child

Malaes had passed out, but her mind couldn't rest easy. The pain of her loss gnawed at her, causing her to wake up after hardly fifteen minutes. Nearby, Yesdar stirred as well, his body aching. He wasn't sure what had happened. The disorientation made him feel more pain. He saw Griswa sitting in front of him, and immediately, a flood of questions burst forth.

"What happened? Where are the others? How did we end up back in the caves?" Yesdar's voice was filled with anxiety, his words overlapping in his rush for answers.

Griswa remained silent, his gaze steady but heavy with unspoken burdens. Yesdar, noticing Malaes by his side, felt a pang of worry seeing her so silent and upset. Her usual jolly demeanor seemed lost in an abyss. His tension grew.

"Is everything okay?" Yesdar inquired eagerly, his worry evident.

Griswa stayed quiet for a moment, gathering his thoughts. Then he began to speak. He recounted everything that had transpired, detailing how they had ended up back in the chasm. Malaes, not wanting to hear, turned her back slightly, trying to block out his words. But the pain was too overwhelming to ignore. She closed her eyes tightly, squeezing out tears she couldn't hold back, yet refused to look at Griswa or Yesdar, hiding her agony.

Yesdar, feeling a surge of anger and frustration, tilted his head down, hiding his expressions. His fists clenched, knuckles white with tension. "Griswa, you bastard! Who are you?" he spat out, his voice trembling with fury.

Griswa looked puzzled. "What?"

"How can you say they all died? So cold-heartedly, in front of her?!" Yesdar's voice rose, his anger flaring. "We don't know if all of them really died or not. So many of them weren't even there with us when we were escaping. Without seeing anything, how can you say they all died?"

Griswa's eyes met Yesdar's, filled with sorrow and determination. "They are dead, Yesdar... I know why. I am sorry to say it, but I have to be straightforward."

"No!" Yesdar shouted, his anger not subsiding. "Don't make conclusions. You didn't even look back to see them dead. How do you know?"

"Yesdar," Griswa replied calmly, though his voice carried the weight of his own sorrow. "You are not in your right mind right now. Your emotions aren't letting you accept the obvious truth..."

Before Griswa could finish, Malaes interrupted, her voice thick with sobs. "Stop it, both of you!" She wiped her tears, her eyes red and puffy. They both turned to look at her, their arguments cut short by her pain. "But Malaes, how does he know?" Yesdar questioned again, his voice softer, tinged with desperation.

"Let's ask him..." Malaes replied, her voice trembling but resolute. "...to be a little more reasonable."

Yesdar and Malaes faced Griswa, their eyes pleading for answers that could make sense of their suffering.

Griswa sighed deeply, the weight of his secrets pressing down on him. "Who am I truly? What are my intentions?" He repeated their questions, buying a moment to collect his thoughts. His gaze softened as he looked at his friends, understanding their need for clarity.

"I am not just a soldier or a leader," Griswa began, his voice steady but filled with an underlying emotion. "I have been knowing about these Yahunyens for longer than you can imagine. My knowledge and skills come from years of battling my own self, understanding their tactics, and learning how to survive their brutality is just too easy."

Malaes and Yesdar listened intently, their eyes fixed on Griswa, absorbing every word.

"When the Yahunyens attacked, I knew the odds were against us. I had to make a quick decision to save as many as I could," Griswa continued, his voice heavy with the memory of that desperate moment. "I made sure you two were safe because I knew you were vital to our cause. We have lost many, but we cannot afford to lose hope."