emotional collapse
after I exited the forest both Allie and Julie looked at me, Allie looked at me in awe while Julie just looked confused.
I didn't even get to say anything before she voiced her "concerns".
"why the hell does it say that I'm a minor god of war?!"(Julie)
I guess she didn't know, which was fair as most people don't know the inner workings of how gods operate, hell I barely know it, I had to ask my system on my walk back, thank God it answered.
"because a calamity god already exists and you were on a path to become one, and language!"(syn)
she rolled her eyes and for a moment I thought she'd flip me off but she didn't, guess that one week no fighting still has a grip on her, even though she doesn't like aggression, what an unusual and contradictory child I have.
for as to why her status changed, its because unlike in most or all mythology from earth, in this universe if you're a demigod then you're naturally on a path to become that kind of God.
well here that can't happen, once you're a full god, there can only be one of that type of god, well that's how it goes for most, nature itself is a god but splits itself into different planets and personalities, it's not easy to understand and I barely do, my system explained it, somewhat.
it's trippy but allowable, apparently, anyway.....
we had supplies to get, I need to stop focusing on this!
I was about to ask everyone to pack up camp when I had a feeling that I needed to look upwards, it was a very strong feeling, so I followed it.
directly in front of me was Lya, up in the sky, the night sky?!
how long was I fighting that cat thing?!
[few hours]
it felt like minutes!
I was so focused on my own shock and the night stars that I'd missed Lya land and walk over to me.
"hey! Syn!"(lya) yelled out to me, breaking my train of thought.
I was glad she did.
"yeah. what's up?"(syn)
she stormed closer to me, visibly annoyed.
"none of us have seen you in days, we finally get you back and you fall off the face of the planet!"(lya) said, concerned.
I was about to brush off her concerns but I relaised something, something I hadn't realised before, at least not as clearly as this.
"you're right, I'm sorry."(syn)
her look of surprise was clear as day, she didn't expect that apparently, was I that much of a self absorbed asshole as to not even show basic kindness to someone worried about me?
[kinda, yeah]
wow...
well I guess she wanted to see me so why not invite her to tag along?
"I'm heading over to the nearest town for supplies, wanna come with?"(syn)
that also shocked her, seriously was I that bad?!
[eeehhhh sorta]
ouch.
"sure."(lya)
she smiled as she walked into our camp, sitting down near the fire I'd completely missed and starting up a conversation with Julie.
"hi, I'm your aunt, guess it's kinda weird huh?"(lya)
Julie just awkwardly nodded, she'd been caught off guard and her "cover" was broken, she'd need a few minutes before she was her usual outward self.
Allie was the one who spoke next, it was awkward but it was a good attempt.
"so....."(Allie)
"Lya."(lya)
"so Lya, you said you're related to Syn?"(Allie) said, struggling to make small talk as she had no idea what topics to and not to cover, she'd learned pretty early in her life not to offend strangers.
"yep, all primals are related, were siblings, even got ourselves a parent figure."(lya)
the girls all gave confused looks as most people would've just said a mom and dad or both, it was different for us.
"she's a glorified babysitter is what she is."(syn)
my explanation wasn't helping.
"you've never liked her."(lya)
I scoffed, it was obvious, too obvious.
"I don't trust her and I won't let her replace my parents, that caniving bitch can rot for all I care."(syn)
everyone here was surprised by my words, Julie especially, Jane just looked on like she was studying the most fascinating thing to exist, while Allie had a face like she was gonna ask me if I was OK.
"that's a strong feeling."(lya)
I nodded, at this point the conversation has pulled to only just me and Lya.
"in my defense it's justified."(syn)
it was Lyas' turn to nod in agreement.
"fair, I guess it is."(lya)
after that silence reigned in the camp, only for a little before something broke that silence.
a whistle from a man on a horse drawn cart drew my attention.
"all of you stay here, I'll handle this."(syn)
all of them nodded as I had gained some newfound authority, I wasn't complaining.
quickly I approached the man, making sure to stay completely visible and open to the man and in front of the camp, alert at all times.
"what brings you here friend?"(syn) I asked the man, hoping his smile wasn't as fake as mine.
"I'm just passing through with my wares when I saw you, I was wondering if you were selling?"(man) his voice gravelly and wet, my stomach threatening to release its contents even though I was sure I lacked the physical capability to vomit.
I grit my teeth, clenched my fists and held back my knee jerk reaction of just killing him outright.
it was then that I relaised I hadn't answered him, so I did, feigning ignorance as I spoke, I knew what he wanted.
"wondering if what was for sale?"(syn) I asked, my customer service voice from earth coming out, hiding my true feelings.
he made an obvious glance and nod in a direction.
"those girls, no one travels with that many just for the hell of it."(man)
turns out my guess on what hebwas after was right.....I hate being right.
"sorry but one is my wife, the other my daughter, one is my sister and the other....well a solid maybe on her."(syn) I said, playing along, I really want to kill him but something in me was holding back.
the man licked his lips which caused my stomach to churn, I had to watch on in disgust as he looked amongst the girls, seconds later he asked me a question.
"which one is the maybe?"(man)
my answer to him was quick.
"my wife is the blonde one, my daughter the dark brown and my sister the gray haired one, so its the light brown haired one."(syn)
now you'd think the daughter of a gray haired and blonde haired couple would be light haired but my cursed human form had dark brown hair, so it made sense, well to me at least.
"light brown, huh?"(man)
he scanned her up and down a moment, a silence before his expression turned sour and his smile was back.
"well sorry to bother you friend, have a good rest of your night!"(man) said in fake friendliness.
as he rode off into the night I couldn't stop my thoughts, my thoughts that he wasn't done here yet.
there's a strong chance he's coming back with friends later tonight to take my wife, daughter, and sister, well try to, I'd actually kill him then.
I turned away from the leaving cart and headed back to the camp, the questioning looks from the girls making me tell them exactly what happened since they couldn't hear over the distance, it was a good 30 ish feet or more.
"he wanted to buy you guys, don't worry he's not coming back."(syn) I lied, he was almost a hundred percent coming back.
my daughter was horrified, and angry, she had every right to be.
"AND YOU DIDNT KILL HIM?! IVE SEEN YOU KILL FOR LESS!"(Julie)
I sighed, placing my head in my hands.
"that's the problem, I know I kill but...I dont think I can handle anymore pointless slaughter."(syn)
"ITS NOT POINTLESS! NOT FOR THIS!"(Julie) yelled back the second I was done talking.
she was angry and I understood why, hell I wanted to kill him, but....something in me wasn't willing to continue the cycle, the cycle of killing and consequence, just over and over.
killing animals to grow and eat was one thing, it was natural, primal, but pointless killing of animals, people, other races, it wasn't right, killing for a reason, an actual reason is fine but this....
"killing without reason only leaves destruction on all sides involved."(syn)
this is where Julie lost it.
"WITHOUT REASON?! WITHOUT REASON?! HE WAS GONNA BUY MOM AND ME AND ITS NOT A REASON TO KILL HIM?!"(Julie) shouted, my aura coming out of her, the sky darkening as thunder clapped violently.
I was about to stand and get her back under control when she looked at her own hands horrified, scared, her eyes teary.
"dad....please...help me!"(Julie) cried, collapsing to her knees as I rushed over.
Allie and I made it at the same time, both of us holding her as I did my best to siphon the aura, it wasn't working as well as I'd hoped, I could still feel lingering rage trying to make a foothold in Julie.
"I can help."(lya)
I looked at her with desperation as I was afraid for my daughter.
"in all sense she's taken after you, the only downside being she doesn't have the emotional numbness to deal with it."(lya)
I didn't have the time to be offended, I hurriedly grabbed lya by the arm and dragged her over, she took control of the situation immediately and a light shone from her hands, Julie struggled and spasmed a bit in my arms before passing out.
instinctively hands moved on their own as I grabbed Lya by the throat, she moved her hands as well before I could let go and explain or apologize.
unusually, before I could even react, she shone the same light on me and everything went dark.