Something

It takes five days walking for us to move west in the direction of the capital. It has been dense forest all the way, but this time there was no river to guide us. However, Sally has made the travel a good amount of times and was among the people who helped build the road that connected to Fracaleza.

On the fifth day I started hearing a river north, very fast waters, great volume too. Never heard so much raging power in my life, and it felt we were going the same way. The estuary city of Mar de Fevereiro!

We're arriving at noon and can see the city downhill. There are three sections, with wall made of wood between them. 

The first one, between the inner wall and the sea, has a uniformity that is almost eerie. Almost every building in there is close to the same size, and it seems to spread uniformly in a fixed distance from the sea. It is also cut exactly in the middle by the river. There are only two exception, a large auditorium on our side of the river and a temple on the opposite side.

The second section, between walls, looks like they were trying to mimic the planning from them first one, but got way out of hand by the time it gets to the outer wall. 

The outer city felt like the house spilt from the second section. They clump in seemingly random places. Still, all the houses have roughly the same size.

"I think I see a good semi plain spot to the south. Maybe we can live there." Biel remarks.

"Wait, you plan on settling? We need to go in NOW." Sally asks

"We're still wanted people, remember? I also don't think I want to give up my current lifestyle. It is hard, but it is so free. There is a power in that." I smile with the breeze of the infinite possibilities, "We'll go in once I get a skill point, so I can guarantee a way out."

"TSK. I'll go ahead then. I'm probably still influent in there, so I might get you all forgiven."

"Oh, then this is goodbye? See you Sally" I extend my hand.

We handshake, she waves and heads to the city. 

"I'm leaving too."

I'm not sure why, but my heart freezes. Joy? Why would you leave?

"What do you mean? You're also wanted."

"I'll figure something out."

I look to Lily. She won't say anything, they barely know each other.

I look to Biel. He surely will say something, there is no way you're just letting her go.

"I understand, It must've been hard for you. Take care. We'll be here if you need anything."

That is it? A tender smile and goodbye? 

"Why though? Why are you leaving?"

"I just need some time."

TSK. 

She has been very depressed lately, and I was a terrible friend. I mean, I didn't know how I could console her, it was my fault …

"It is not your fault, it isn't anyone's fault. I just need some time."

I say our goodbyes and she also starts going. I feel weird letting her go, but I guess nothing can be …

"Joy, wait!"

I run to her and take her hands. 

"Please don't go. I …" 

Don't want you to go?

Need you?

I feel disgusting right now. After what I did? I killed her brother, and now I want to ask her for anything.

I let her hand go. 

I should at least tell her what I did.

"I won't hate you." She smiles "Just … Tell me what happened to him."

"I didn't know it was him. We were ambushing an unidentified spy. Tarik told me that he would have some sort of … defensive technique, and I shot it … I tried to help him against Tarik, but ..."

He eyes are moving slightly and tearing up. I get to look deeply into it. They aren't actually yellow, it is caramel around the pupil and a faint green further away from it. 

"Tarik was ruthless. He can change partially change forms, he hit with a sword with the power of a jaguar. We were powerless."

She closed her eyes, but the tears still escaped. She tries again with her hands. It is the first time I see her cry since it happened. I try to hug her, but she extends a hand. 

"Thanks. But I have to leave now."

"Joy ..."

And that was it … She left … 

There is nothing else to do, but move to the place Biel had identified. 

We didn't take much time to think about it. We made a quick shelter and rested that day.

In the next day we started clearing an area of about 30 square meters to start the foundation. 

The third day had me collecting material, mostly hardwood to use as posts and bamboo for walls and floors, Biel digs for the post holes and Lily starting planting Cassava, papayas, and peanuts. 

They joined me into looking for materials in the fourth day, we need 20 hardwood poles with no less than 3 meters, and at least double that in bamboo. Not to mention all the palm leaves. But we got back to the division of labor the next day already. 

"How have things going, Lily?"

"Nothing much, I like the calm wildlife."

I don't know what it is, but chatting with Lily isn't the same thing anymore. It is like my heart was at ease, at peace. At that state, I could just appreciate her beauty. 

My heart is currently torn, my mind is muddy. It is hard to talk to her.

By the end of the 6th day, we had a sturdy foundation 1 meter suspended, with steps to the north and the south. On the 7th day, we made a roof with bundles of palm tree foliage. 

Even though we didn't get any skill points these days, I look at it with great pride. We have a stable house, finally. We're only missing the walls. Plus, we even have a little vegetables garden.

"It is very charming. I think we did good." Lily says with some enthusiasm.

"I think it is lowkey kinda beautiful" Biel says with great satisfaction.

I cannot but feel that there is something missing. 

"I think it is missing something." I tilt my head left and right and squint my eyes, It doesn't feel like a home. 

"Probably because it doesn't have walls." Biel jokes 

Yeah, maybe that is it.