Tyranny: Onwards

Chapter 121- Care

For some reason, the crashing hit of remembrance smashes me right then and there with that line, and I think back to how I was so pulled to go down the mountain, and although we got some trouble and wounds to bear for it, it certainly turned out to be the right choice. Those words, they resonate and force me to be disturbed by my name, by how I don't even know what it means while everyone else in the world does. To the rest of the world, the combinations of letters and the sounds that label them, that makes them real and a person in a way, those letters are something that cannot be taken from them it is a meaning they can know and lean on, one they can use to resemble their trust in someone.

Then there's me. Likely the only one to never have known the true meaning behind her label that the world uses to see you and who you are. This is what sets me apart I guess, until at last I clear my mind and realize, maybe, just maybe it is not so with the Luzumi.

I clear my throat, "Do your names mean things, like are they important to your culture?" the question grasps the entire attention of Aegis and Phoenix who are attempting to wake Rin and Hester.

"No, not really. For they are simply a jumble of letters, basically lines, that bear a certain sound, I don't understand why they should have the huge right of labeling. I'd much rather learn of someone through experience, not off such an illusive thing." The answer from Aegis takes me, and suddenly I realize how foolish it may be to rely so heavily on such a thing in our culture; feeling the shifting of pieces in my mind instantly, allowing it to change even though it could be for the worse, as I have faith I can change over and over not matter what.

"I must agree with Aegis, however, our names still do have meanings, they just don't resemble as much faith or trust when revealed, we put little value in them despite if they prove to be true." Phoenix adds, intrigued.

"Then I can ask the meaning of yours?" the words slip out hesitantly at first, as it is so very rude normally.

"Well of course! Phoenix means that he or she has arisen from flames as a winner, beating all life challenges and defeating hard times. Therefore, phoenix is a symbol of rebirth from the ashes of the past, and it also represents the victory of life over death, thus immortality." He sounds like he is reading it off the pages of some ancient textbook cheerfully.

"Aegis simply means 'shield'." Aegis inputs shortly as I get up and walk over to check on the brothers in the stretcher.

"What about these two?" I dive deeper.

"Blaze earned his name from his serious anger issues and the fact he loves using flames in battle." Phoenix answers right away and checks the two pulses, Aegis is shuffling between Rin and Hester behind us.

"Dagwood means 'shining forest'," Aegis finishes and I see now he is checking to see if they are dehydrated behind me.

As I am peering over my shoulder, I feel someone taking my finger and pressing it, when I whip my gaze over in surprise, it is Phoenix, checking to see if I am dehydrated. It makes me feel slightly awkward and self conscious, but I sit there with a displeased and exasperated expression.

"You are way too dehydrated!" Phoenix immediately freaks out and Aegis swiftly swirls a clay cup back into existence, while Phoenix brings up a bubble of water from the mosses, tosses it wildly into the cup and thrusts it into my hand. I am sitting here confused by the fast conjuring about me so wildly.

"Uh, sorry," the water tastes delicious and fresh, somehow the best I've ever had as I can sense it spreading. During my early training they got us ready for when we would have a lack of water, so to this day I drink perhaps one glass at the most in a day. Rin used to force me to drink more and sometimes would get mad at me, at the time it irritated me, but now I know I sort of enjoyed the feeling that someone cared so much about me.

I thank them both and Phoenix blasts it full once more and glares at me in a way I cannot deny, though I never noticed my thirst and feel heavy and full from the first cup. "Oh Claire, you must know by now that you are no use to anyone if you aren't fit enough. And you're ability to protect us is higher if you are at your best." Though it seems Aegis knows the exact words that will convince me to be more aware of these things, I accept it, as despite this, it is still very true.

"Yeah, you're right," with a sigh I take another sip, wanting more desperately than I show to be able to keep them all safe, even knowing they themselves have an ability to keep safe.

"Here, during this whole thing we haven't eaten much," Aegis forcefully shoves a few skewers of the rabbit in my face and then quickly scorches them.

"Thanks..." I take it and eat the meat with great savor and relish the tastes. At once my body fills further with strength and power, I had forgotten my hunger. Aegis and Phoenix also have a bit to eat and drink when Dagwood and Blaze slowly waken next to us with the smell I would guess. The last skewer I throw over to Genesis who pleads right at my side with huge, unbearably brown eyes. Seeing her thinner frame I become concerned, then check to see if I have grown thinner also.

Turns out I haven't though, probably because of my training before, me and Genesis have always unconsciously held so many habits from the training, although that is the entire purpose of it so I guess that's good, perhaps part of what will keep us solid through all of this.

BAM, a figure skips out from the bushes while I am in the middle of tossing my third skewer to Genesis and steals it. However, Genesis is not one to give up, especially with food and manages to clamp down on the intruders baggy pants. The person trips and groans in a despair I relate to.

Again, I am sitting here in my perfect bubble of peace when a short chaos unravels about me. I cannot move in my great astonishment and the Phoenix appears curious but also startled, Aegis seems disapproving and utterly taken aback.