Chains of Vengeance

Chapter 193: Oh, Was That the Taste?

Time had passed. A new sun caressed the outside world as Ramael awoke again, wrapped in a thick stupor that clung to his muscles. His body ached intensely, a constant reminder of every blow he'd received. The bruises throbbed like extinguished embers beneath his skin, and a sinking feeling in his stomach pressed him on: he was so hungry.

With an effort, he slowly sat up and pulled back the tent's fabric. The cool air outside brushed his face, and the first thing he saw was Aym, kneeling by a campfire, calmly turning another fish over the crackling fire. The heat from the embers created ripples in the air, and the aroma of roasting fish made him gulp.

"Good morning," Aym said without turning around. "Although, well... I don't know if that applies. It's time for lunch." "You missed breakfast and a good part of the morning," he added in a light, almost mocking tone.

Ramael, somewhat trembling, moved silently to sit on a log on the other side of the fire. He wasn't wearing his mask or his hooded cloak, and without them he felt strange, smaller. He stared into the flames without saying anything for a few seconds, until he finally spoke in a low voice:

"Aren't you upset... because I tried to steal from you? And attack you..."

Aym gave a soft, almost affectionate laugh.

"Upset? Nah, not at all. The goat treated me much worse when I trained with him." He cast a mischievous glance over his shoulder. "The difference is, with you... I actually came to feel that small terror of death. You're impressive."

Without ceremony, he served the fish on a wooden plate and handed it to him. Ramael took it somewhat awkwardly and, after a slight nod of thanks, began to eat. The taste of the warm, salty fish was heavenly. He ate with a mixture of need and shame.

"So... tell me," Aym asked with genuine curiosity, "are you from another world? Like the goat?"

Ramael, his mouth still full, nodded slowly. Aym crossed his arms and smiled with a mixture of triumph and melancholy.

"I imagined it. It had to be something like that... There are no more rams in this world."

The young ram lowered his gaze slightly. He gently pressed the edge of his plate as he continued eating, and a sad silence fell over him, like a thin blanket.

"And what was my version of myself like in your world?" Aym asked suddenly, animated. "Goliath told me very little about my other self... he simply said he killed it and that was it. No history. But I want to know more about the Aym of that world!"

Ramael swallowed the last of his fish, set his plate aside, and raised his eyes to Aym. His voice was calm, but laden with a truth that hurt to speak.

"I... I never knew an Aym in my world. You didn't exist."

The silence returned, this time thicker. Aym lowered his gaze slightly, but his smile didn't completely disappear. It only softened.

"How disappointing," Aym murmured with a crooked smile, crossing his arms and tilting his head slightly. His tone was flat, as if he were joking, but with that hint of mock offense that made it sound amused. He raised an eyebrow, pretending she'd been told a boring piece of gossip.

Ramael blinked a few times and looked down slightly, awkwardly rubbing his wrist.

"I don't really know much about you," he began, his voice somewhat uncertain. "Narinder barely mentioned your name and the name I suspect is your brother in a conversation I had with him. I think he whispered that... since Narinder was imprisoned for less time in my world, you weren't born. And because of that... you didn't exist."

Aym sat up a little, curious, and looked at him more closely.

"Oh? Your Narinder, you say?" he repeated mischievously. "Tell me about him!"