"You don't know what you are getting yourself into, do you Akari?"
He approaches me and my body freezes. With one swoop he lifts me into his arms and throws me over his shoulder. He can easily break me in half or throw me forward and snap my neck. I close my eyes and try to breath calmly. This is it. He found my weakness.
Instead I find myself being gently placed in the chair by the fireplace. I look up at him with a puzzled expression as he turns from me and walks towards a chest that stands strong against the wall. I watch as he takes an herbal sack that contains some kind of medicine. The Akari don't use medicine as they believe the Light cures all. I never believed in that branch of the testament. Maybe medicine could have at least eased my sister's pain.
He approaches me once more without making eye contact and takes a green leaf, mosite, from the herb sack and hands it to me.
"I know this isn't what you believe but if you wish to be free of pain you'll have to drop your arrogant thoughts for one day at least."
I don't hesitate in taking the leaf and chew it quickly. Partly from the anger I feel at him for the comment he had made towards me but mostly out of desperation. It tastes of mint and honey and I feel the cooling sensation sweep through my aching body, making me almost numb.
"You think you know me but you know nothing of me."
That tongue again. I no longer have control over my own words.
"I can say the same thing to you, Akari. I save your life, bring you into my home, take care of you, and all you do is treat me like the scum you have been taught to believe I am.
All you know of me is what your "teachers" have taught you."
I pause. It takes his words to realize that we are both judging each other the same way.
"Who are you?"
My question catches him off guard judging by his widened eyes. He tisks his tounge as if to laugh and turns away from me.
"I'm Mut scum. Just as you said."
"No, you're not. If you were you would have let me die out there. But you didn't. Who are you?"
He turns to face me, a look of wonder upon his face. Has anyone ever cared who he really is?
"I'm Mathus. A Pomp in training."
A practicing Pomp. The Akari don't believe in shamanism and shun Pomps as they believe in guiding spirits giving them power and for the Akari, there is only the power of the Light.
"I've told you who I am. Now explain to me just what you are."
His words sting and I feel pain surge through my body. Or maybe it is anger as I am coming to realize that we are nothing more than objects to each other, each in the way of the others path.
"I am Lillyana, a former Akari." It is the first time I admitted that I have strayed from the Light. It is only a small glimmer to me now.
"So you've strayed from the Light?" He has a small smirk on his face as he walks over to the bed and sits on the edge.
"So what caused you to fall, Lilly".
"It's Lillya-ana and it's none of your damn business!"
My face is red and flushed with anger. Who is he to question me. I have asked no questions of his past or why he seeks training in an art form that uses spirits as power.
My fall from the Light is nothing compared to the acts he intends to master.
"It is my business. Because something drove you to run through the forest in the Darkness. Even an Elder Akari would never dream of doing such a stupid act. Something scared you and I want to know what brings you fear."
His question startles me. Maybe I am wrong about his intentions; maybe he does want to harm me after all but is simply looking for the most cynical way of doing so.
"Why do you care.? Is this just part of your agenda? I'm in danger here, aren't I." "No, Lilly..."
"Lilly-ana!"
"...Lillyana. This is the safest place you can be right now. A war is coming, and you are not prepared for it."
