Chapter 22 - Distort

It was hard to fall asleep. Andrew’s thoughts kept returning to the last night when he had seen Mila murder a man in cold blood. She had done it without any hesitation. Her dagger had pierced the man’s chest as her friend had used her weight to push it down.

It was sickening, and she didn’t regret it. The horrid act had left no impact on how Mila acted. She had continued on as if everything was normal. As if taking another life was something that happened every day. She didn’t try to justify herself or make excuses. Mila believed she had done the right thing.

Perhaps there was no other choice in Mila’s mind. Kefo was about to be tortured. The boy was their friend. Their comrade. Andrew understood it, but to just assassinate everyone in the building? How did she live with herself?

Would they make him do the same? Was this why they were training? To murder other humans?

Andrew understood this was not earth. He did. People and culture were different here. They didn’t put the same value on human life as people back on Earth did.

And that was why he had to return. Andrew couldn’t let this hell corrupt his morals. His principles. How could he look into the eyes of his family if he started killing those who opposed him?

He undesrtood Kefo and Tiff. They welcomed Mila’s madness. They had grown up here. They didn’t understand when Andrew talked about how valuable human life was. Not the same way he did. They didn’t see any problems in killing their enemies.

Perhaps it was Silinth’s upbringing. It certainly had cemented these beliefs in these kids. But it could not be all the cause. They had spent only a few years here. They still remembered their parents and life before they became orphans.

And then there was Isabel. She was quickly growing used to this place. Andrew did not know what to do about it. Could he tell her she was wrong to wish for happiness here?

Even if Andrew didn’t like Isabel’s obsession with Mila, it was her right to fall in love. Even if it wasn’t entirely sensible.

It was pointless to think about that. There was no solution. Andrew heard Mr Crow’s song telling him there still was nothing suspicious.

That heartless Inquisitor and his goons had avoided his friend, but it couldn’t be helped either. They clearly knew to be careful of his buddy and had prepared. Andrew refused to believe they could do the same while chasing after them.

His thoughts slowly returned to the previous topic. But what if he was forced to kill? What if returning would ask him to kill? Would he? Andrew felt nauseous. He rolled on his other side and forced his mind to think of something else.

Tomorrow, Silinth would start teaching them magic. It would be his chance to grow. If he had even an inkling of talent, Andrew would work tirelessly to become someone formidable. Someone just as strong as Silinth and that old man.

He had to. No matter what he had to do-

Andrew stopped himself. That was dangerous. He could not think like that. He turned around again, trying to find a softer spot on the solid ground. It was useless. There always was a rock or two pressing into his flesh.

When Mr Crow cawed an invitation to come, Andrew was almost glad to have a reason to get up. He needed a rest, but his mind kept racing. His stiff body cried in protest, but Andrew ignored it. It wasn’t like he could sleep with the sharpest rock ever trying to skewer him.

After stretching and yawning, Andrew glanced around. The dimming coals barely illuminated their camping spot. Their party was strewn around the firepit, with only Isabel staying up to guard.

Isabel looked at him. “Did Mr Crow notice something?” She whispered.

“No.” Andrew shook his head. “I need to take a piss.”

“Gross,” Isabel answered and resumed prodding Mila’s clothing. She had her own demons to fight.

“Girls pee too.” Andrew pointed out. “And shit.” He added and left, leaving gagging Isabel behind.

This interaction at least felt familiar. When they had just arrived, Andrew had poked fun at Isabel constantly. She always responded. It was fun. Took his mind off of dreary thoughts. It was something they had done for years.

But as more time passed, Andrew found these little quips happening less and less. It wasn’t just Isabel’s fault. Yes, she was kind of pursuing Mila, letting that consume her time, but he was not helping with his brooding episodes.

Mr Crow called for him somewhere ahead. Andrew sighed and started to walk. He would regret this tomorrow. His body had improved like crazy here. It was one of the few upsides he could think of, but it didn’t mean he didn’t get tired.

In fact, there was rarely a day where he wasn’t dead tired by the end of it. Silinth was a slave driver.

“Yes, yes. I am coming.” Andrew whispered when his buddy called again and hastened his step.

Andrew almost fell several times, tripping on roots and branches. He had to climb over fallen trees and go around dark crevices. It was further away from their camp than he had thought. “It better be worth it.” He grumbled.

Soon, he reached a small clearing. Andrew studied it from the tree shadows. There was some movement across. The pale moon and stars did little to make clear what it was.

Mr Crow glided from above and landed on his shoulder. He chirped and cooed, making it clear Andrew HAD to go and see what it was.

“Is it safe?” He asked, full of doubts. Mr Crow caved, making it clear he was not amused by Andrew’s mistrust. “Well, yeah, but you know - it’s dark, and we are in the middle of a forest.”

Mr Crow pinched his earlobe, telling him he was worrying too much.

“Easy for you to say,” Andrew grumbled. “You can always fly away.”

With a short chirp, Mr Crow jumped in the air and glided towards the movement.

“Haha, very funny. I don’t have wings.” He dryly laughed while glaring at the bird. Andrew then looked at the spot Mr Crow wanted him to check. “Well, I guess it’s safe.” He decided as his buddy landed on a branch above the point of interest.

Slowly and carefully, Andrew began to round the clearing. He didn’t want to cross it, feeling it would leave him too exposed. Despite his care, he still managed to step on a dry branch, announcing his whereabouts.

But nothing happened. Whatever Mr Crow had found had no interest in moving or reacting to his advances. Andrew peeked between the trees, finally having a clear line of sight to his target.

It was a big, scary wolf who was currently sitting still, looking up to where Mr Crow was chirping and cawing excitedly.

Andrew froze. Behind the grey beast, he saw a half-eaten carcass of an unrecognisable beast. This most certainly, definitely, without any doubt, was not safe. He rained in his raising panic and tried to step back, only to once again stumble.

And this time, Andrew fell. He landed on his back painfully.

Realising his precarious situation, Andrew scrambled to his feet. He looked up, and to his horror, he saw the wolf turning its head and inspecting him. There was intelligence in its eyes unbecoming of a simple animal.

“Ah, shit,” Andrew mumbled. There was no way he could run away from something like this. Mr Crow had really screwed him over with this one.

But no matter how long Andrew stood frozen, the wolf did not move. Mr Crow jumped off of the branch he was sitting on and landed on the beast's head. The little fool started to chirp and hooter.

Andrew stood there dumbfounded. He listened to Mr Crow’s holler, confused. “Wait, wait, wait, slow down!”

The wolf cocked its head, making Mr Crow almost fall. Its long tongue rolled out of its mouth as it started to pant.

Mr Crow stabilised himself and crowed in displeasure. He pecked the wolf's head and then continued to spill a river of words.

“Oh,” Andrew’s already shitty mood turned worse. “Oh, no.” He looked at the wolf with a mix of pity and sympathy. “I am so sorry. I- I don’t know what to say.”

The wolf didn’t understand. How could it? It didn’t share the bond Andrew did with Mr Crow. It only looked at him with passive interest.

Mr Crow made a suggestion, and Andrew almost fell from hearing what it was. “What?” He could quite process what he was hearing.

The wolf yawned and huffed. Its bright eyes bore into Andrew’s. There was a dim understanding of what was happening. It wasn’t nearly as intelligent as Mr Crow was, but somehow, they both could communicate.

“Is he really okay with it?” Andrew tried to think. Mr Crow returned the same question to him.

Was Andrew okay with taking the wolf as his second bond? He didn’t know. It was scary. The wolf had already been another tamer’s beast, but that tamer had died. Years ago now. It had lived on its own in these forests, hunting and thriving. It was a wild beast by now, or-

“But why?” A question slipped out of Andrew’s mouth.

The wolf sadly looked up to the sky and released a low whine while Mr Crow answered.

“You are lonely, huh.” Andrew understood. He did not break their eye contact and slowly started to walk towards the beast.

It was still scary. Andrew did not believe he was doing this. The wolf looked to be around two meters long and stood more than a meter and a half in height.

“I don’t know how to do this,” Andrew admitted. He did not remember how exactly he had bonded with Mr Crow. His gaze moved towards the half-eaten carcass. It had been an impressive beast before being hunted down by the wolf.

Mr Crow took off from the wolf’s head and landed on Andrew’s shoulder. He chirped, and Andrew felt something inside him move. With his buddy’s help, he managed to reach out to the intimidating beast.

Even now, Andrew watched the wolf with caution. Its large fangs and lean frame were made for hunting. For killing…

This was a full-grown creature he was taking under his care. A creature who had grown on this world and had been taught by another tamer.

The wolf must know how to kill- How to kill humans.

Andrew’s mind faltered as their bond formed. He felt increasingly weak as his thoughts raced.

Was this really okay? Andrew once again looked at the carcass. It was the wolf that had killed it. In the future, it will happen again. The wolf was a killer. It was a carnivore.

Would the wolf differentiate between what it killed? If the wolf killed someone, would that really be his fault? If it came to that, Andrew would not have to kill anyone.

With these twisted thoughts corrupting his mind, Andrew lost consciousness.