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The youth stared up at Nithel, his eyes starved. The ache in Nithel grew deeper, and tightened. There was a fight inside him. Choosing something. Nithel waited, silent.

Then like a veil, the Alessio’s eyes were closed. “Doubtless I have a certain distinction for being a walking tragedy and that certainly accents hope since there’s nothing else to compliment.” The youth laughed, as if there was something funny about that.

Nithel didn’t see it, and his eyes grew further serious. I meant it, but the youth was speaking again, not letting further words be said.

“So what’s your dark tragic past? I don’t think anyone lacks one of those.”

I don’t have one, not reall-, But again, not allowing time for an answer, Alessio pressed on.

Fast words, “You seem new to…everything. What was your real home like?”

Alessio stared up at Nithel, and Nithel’s eyes narrowed down at him. The youth was trying to hide. Did he think much speaking would-. Nithel sighed quietly through his nose, and didn’t call him on it. Instead, he began to process answers.

Nithel glanced over his shoulder, back toward the other men, before lowering to sit in front of his friend. The stones were cold, icy tones reaching through his pants.

Nithel met Alessio’s eyes, eyes that were forcefully carefree. Lying again. The eyes lost the pretense, as if they sensed Nithel was judging.

Nithel didn’t cower. “I meant what I said, you know.” It wasn’t phrased as a question.

Alessio blinked a few times, and Nithel held his gaze. Maybe a flash of pain, then the veil was there again.

Nithel sighed, and lowered his chin the smallest bit to think, his eyes almost closed in thought. “Dark past…” His forehead crinkled some. The youth hadn’t meant physical darkness. That Nithel knew of, yet didn’t. “The Star Breather has been good to me. My life has been nothing but blessed, truly. And He has given me a new time. A new chance to live, and make a difference.

That’s not to say, I haven’t had pain though.” Again, as almost always, his words were thoughtful, but not slow. Nithel’s eyes bit by bit lifted to Alessio’s face.

Oomph.

Nithel jumped as a loud sound resounded. Head jerking to face it. Then right when Nithel had caught himself, a second came. A man screaming. Through the ceiling…. Nithel’s chest froze. Noy. That, that was impossible. Nithel’s eyes were wide. And he was standing now. The stones, were they not solid? How?

Nithel swallowed hard, and glanced down to Alessio.

“The strangest things seem to just fall out of the sky here.” The youth didn’t seem afraid.

Then his eyes changed again, facing a newcomer. Nithel’s chest tightened. He was playing these people. And that hurt.

“Well. This seems interesting.”

Nithel’s gaze jumped back toward the men. They weren’t stars that had fallen from the sky.

Then, what were they? How had they…?

Nithel looked down to Alessio again, and was shocked. Nithel’s face was expressionless a moment. Perhaps a bit wary.

Alessio drew his knees into his chest and wrapped his arms around himself.

Afraid. Nithel stared in silence a bit more. Then his eyes lit like fire, and stared at the newcomer’s backs. They were causing this. Though they might not mean to.

He crouched, pulling out his sling, like one hunting game. He then glanced back over his shoulder. To darkness, and more mirrors, and more strange wooden walls, holding cubes.

But the youth was scared. Nithel’s insides trembled, eyes mere slits as they stared at the strangers.

He wanted to grab Alessio, and take him far back. To hide.

But he didn’t know if the youth would do that. “Eaziziun wahid,” He whispered, the strange words clear, but soft, his eyes tried to meet Alessio’s.

If you will go with me? He looked back through the darkness. We will be together. But if you stay, I will stay with you. 

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