“It has been a long while since I’ve seen such a thing,” Xan said. “I don’t know when it was that I last saw your kind, but I always had good times with your predecessor.”

Ares threw a glance back towards Saykkera, who he had convinced to remain near Emerli, but was within his sights just in case something happened. Ares and Xan were off, sitting on a wet rock that Ares was trying to keep from flooding with his powers.

“My kind?”

“Yes, your kind.” Xan’s eyes raised to look at Ares’ face.

Ares was unnerved by the look. Xan still hold the look that begged for death and so Ares looked down towards the rock he was sitting on.

“I can understand why Rivee has given you such a power.”

“I still am trying to live up to the trust that he’s given me,” Ares said.

“I met the one who called himself Zeus, he and I did not have many good words to share with one another.”

“Yeah? Zeus did seem like a bit of a prick.”

“He was certainly a prickly one,” Xan said.

“I thought you’d get along considering you both like lightning,” Ares leaned back and propped himself onto the rock since his stomach seemed to start burning from the laughter that was about to come, though he forced it down.

Xan shook his head. “The last phoenix and I, we were very close.”

“Close?”

Xan nodded. “We were spirits of the same.”

“Did you want to kill yourself too?” Ares chuckled darkly.

Xan did not reply, instead he stared out into the distance. “Our immortalities are very different. You can choose to die and pass on, though the essence of your powers will remain. I cannot pass on, not until I meet the god of death.”

Ares remained silent for some time. “What do you have against the Hablins, or the Hobbons?”

Xan remained silent. He looked out into the distance, to the rain that threatened to flood the area. He mind was off to another time, reliving experiences that he wished to forget.

Even Ares couldn’t help but be swept away by the mood. His own thoughts fell to his previous life. He winced and turned his head, looking out to Emerli. He could feel his eyes burn as he tried to blink away the tears before he looked back to Xan.

“I’m very sorry,” Ares said.

“What are you sorry for?”

“I’m sorry for you.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about.”

“I know. I can’t help it though.”

“You are a strange one.”

“Yeah, I get that a lot.” Ares nodded. He didn’t laugh however. Here he was, a foreigner in a foreign world trying to tell people how they should live. He couldn’t help but think about how well that would have gone in his previous world. He shook his head.

“What is it that you wish to do?” Ares asked.

“I will travel as I have. I will slay any Hobbon in my sight that still remains on this land.”

“Why?”

“They had lost that right when they lost the war.”

“Might makes right, is that so?” Ares said nonchalantly. “Does that mean if I beat you I can say they are allowed to remain here?”

“You won’t beat me.”

“Not right now.”

“Is that a threat?”

“No,” Ares said. “It’s a promise.”

Xan turned to look at Ares. “You are serious…”

Ares nodded.

“I could kill you right here and now,” Xan said.

“You could try.”

Xan looked back into the distance. “Why would you risk your life for the Hobbon?”

“She’s my sister.”

“Your sister…”

Ares could tell he wanted to say more, and could imagine what he wanted to say.

“How?” Xan asked.

“How?”

“How did it become so?”

“She was captured by my people. She was very afraid. She was in great danger, and she also was instrumental in saving my daughter’s life. From then on I have considered her to be my sister. It was as simply as that.”

“I have heard such things be done before, though it is rare. Usually one adopts a child to become their heir.”

“I’ve done that too. Though it wasn’t quite for that reason.” Ares smiled to himself.

Xan looked to Ares, examined him for a moment, and then returned his gaze away.

“Do you have any family?” Ares asked.

“I did.”

Ares nodded. He remained silent for some time, the pair allowing the silence to encompass them.

“My family was slaughtered by the Hobbon.”

Ares did not say anything. He could understand the rage that Xan felt, not that it changed anything.

Xan said no more from there and Ares remained with the man. He didn’t try to console the man, allowing him the silence of his thoughts.

Eventually Azzo called out to Ares for dinner, and Ares invited Xan. The meal was stew, of course, and it tasted delicious under the starry sky.

There was an awkward mood within the camp. They were on edge due to Xan no doubt, not that Ares could blame them. He was on edge too, though eventually he turned to Azzo for some advice.

Well, for some good shit.

After three puffs, Ares sighed out and then raised a hand. He summoned a drum. “Does anyone know how to play this bad bo-, drum?” Ares asked as he looked around the camp.

Teorn took the drum and then began to tap it. He tapped the drum and played a slow, depressing tune.

‘We need a triangle or something,’ Ares thought.

Yet the depressing, sombre sounds seemed to relax the group. A few Reptai approached to listen in as the others began to sleep. Eventually Teorn stopped played so the Reptai could sleep in peace.

Ares turned to look at Xan who had his eyes closed.

“I know you’re planning on killing all the Hobbons in the land, but…”

Xan turned to look at Ares.

“Why don’t you come visit Rivea? I’m sure you’ll enjoy the relaxed atmosphere there.”