POV: Jer-kal-thuli-mal

That went smoother than I thought.

Vernisha asks Jim, “Why didn’t you say no?”

He lightly turns towards her. “Why do that?”

I say with slight aggression, “Because fuck them.”

Jim looks at me disapprovingly.

Sigh. I look at her and say, “Excuse my language.”

She ask me, "Is it always like this for you all? That seems like hell."

"Not always, but if a mission doesn't go smoothly... yeah. It becomes a lot of complaining and things like this."

"Hm, is it any different in your country?"

"In a way, yeah, it's very different. How much do you know about Kmew-hul?"

"Not that much. I'm guessing vlandos are treated better there?"

Eh?

I ask, “Is that a trick question?”

“What. No no.”

“Really now?”

“… Sorry.”

I look at her for a couple of seconds, trying to understand what the hell is going through that child’s mind.

But I think she is serious.

I ask, “You are serious?”

“Yes…? I am guessing that vlandos are not treated better back at your home.”

“Not really. Which is funny, since we are the only major nation to have predominantly vlandos rulers.”

Both the Sharlac and Keryui are vlandos. These are the equivalent of queens and kings, but each one functions as a representative for their respective families. Royal-like families.

“How bad is it?” she asks.

“Segregation and forced monster combatants service for life kind of bad.”

Vlandos are forced into Gyuinjio, which are the names of monster zones inhabited by individuals in kmel-hul.

“Oh, so that’s why you are here?”

“That's why I am still here.”

She seems deep in thought. “I don’t get why your people would treat vlandos so badly, not when that would just build hatred, and develop their desire for a revolt.”

“Because the vlandos there understand the reason. To create a society that keeps functioning.”

They educate us on the great power we possess, that because we are of a proud race and country, we must learn to use this power to protect our people and country and make it prosper.

And that until we have become monster combatants, we shouldn’t leave our homes, the monster zones, because we will endanger everyone.

To be honest, I don’t disagree with it. It’s not like regular people treat us badly. Hell, they respect us, like we are heroes.

“But… isn’t the Segregation thing annoying?”

“Not being able to walk the streets of the regular cities is annoying. I mean, we can when we become monster combatants, but that’s stupid. Terrafall might be a shitfest, but the freedom here is nice."

"I'm surprised. The way people treat you never made you want to go to another country?"

I gesture at Jim. "This boule de viande doesn't want to.”

I click my tongue. “Sorry for that.”

Swearing is second nature to me, but it isn’t like she knows what boule de viande means.

She looks at Jim and asks, “She always calls you that?"

Oh, perhaps I am wrong.

He shrugs. “When she is angry.”

Vernisha basically makes a yikes expression. It’s not like the word is really charged. It’s just ‘flesh ball’.

I decide to ask her, “Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be with your mother or something?”

“She’s tired. I just wanted to… do some networking. May never know when I may need one of you all knowledge or whatever.”

That’s… fair.

Jim seems impressed. “You’re really smart for a kid. How old are you by the way?”

“Twelve,” she responds.

“Thought you were a little older.”

“How old do I look?”

I join in. “Your exact age. I have no idea what Jim is on about.”

“Doesn’t she look thirteen? Or it’s the hair?”

“I think it’s because she is the same height as James.”

“You actually may be right.”

She asks, “James is… his son?”

“Our son,” I say. “But his biological son.”

“Oh. You guys are lovers?”

Oh, what a surprise. Many would respond in shock or disgust in some form if they heard their fellow human was involved with a 'gum skin'(I hate that word more than death itself). But she seems just genuinely surprised.

“For a while now.”

Actually maybe for four years now.

“Damn, you two really don’t care about what people think. Wait wait.” She turns to look at Jim suspiciously. “How old are you?”

“Why are you asking? Especially with that look.”

“You don’t look that old, and I just really understand that your son is a year older than me.”

“Ah. I’m twenty-nine.”

“And you got a thirteen-year-old?”

“Yeah. It’s weird.”

“But why did you have a kid so young.”

“Don’t worry about that.”

She is too young to understand anyway. A Starlight liked him, a little too much. His parents were more than excited about the ‘relationship’ because of her heritage, they saw the ‘relationship’ as a ticket to living like high nobles.

That Starlight had a child with him, but she had to get rid of it because the family only reproduces with other Starlights to keep their traits in the family. And other stupid reasons that conclude to: (We don't want your dirty blood to mix with our divine blood)

She didn’t get rid of the baby and instead dumped it on Jim.

Vernisha seems to understand that he doesn’t want to talk about it and accepts it. “I see. Um, so how did you two meet each other.”

I ask, “Why are you so curious?”

“Sounds interesting. Could have cool drama.”

“Drama, huh.” Yeah, a lot of that. Jim’s family and his own son.

I always knew I was prejudicial against humans, for petty reasons: their accents, their languages, handwritings, cuisines, etc.

And of course, also for the same reasons as many. We hate those our country wars with. We hate the harm they cause to our friends, families, society, and us, and they hate us for the same reason. Which country is the victim doesn’t mean Jack shit when everything goes to hell for you and the other country is responsible for it.

Dealing with the bullshit in his life turned my prejudice up a notch, to the point I was starting to think like Falsker, a punchio emperor who once tried to conquer all of this continent just to get rid of every single human.

JIm's mother... The way that dusty old whore used to look at me like I was lower than a rat. Like I was something to be pitied as long as I kept my distance from Jim. Telling her son in front of me that he shouldn’t be around me so much, that people would think he is a gum fucker.

We were merely friends at the time. I came to this country because of trafficking and escaped when it got busted by this country’s vanquishers. I found refuge in Retuia. The small piece of land that boundaries kmel-hull and has fifty percent julioes population.

Anyway, time passed and my anger changed. It’s hard to wish for the death of an entire group of people if you are dating someone who belongs in the group, make friends that belong in them, and sympathize with some that belong in them.

Obviously, I hate a lot of them just because they are humans, but it’s mutual.

Jim tells her, “You are a bit too nosey, kid. How’s your family holding up? Anything looking better for your father and brother?”

She makes an annoyed expression. “Same thing for now… until we get to the capital to get to a doctor, things are just going to get worse. It’s not like we can work to the capital, even if the monster wasn’t out. We would take so many days to reach the capital.”

“As soon as we are done, you all will get a ride to Sundawn, promise you that.”

“Thanks, that will mean a lot. Can I ask some more questions?”

“Depends,” Jim answers.

“Why did… you two become adventurers? And stay one, when people treat you like shit.”

That’s not a question I expected, and even Jim is a bit surprised. I choose to not answer and let Jim tell her noble lies.

“They may treat us badly, but we are important. And we come across treasures like you and the chief who appreciate our work. And we just have the calling for it. To help others, no matter what.”

“Even if they slur at you, wish death at you, wish death at your child?”

He maintains a fake smile. “Yeah, even then.”

“Be honest with me. You still have the heart of a human, of a regular, you must hate those who treat you terribly. Sure, maybe you had those things feelings in the beginning, but eventually, all the hatred must eat away at your mental health. I am always hearing how much people fear and hate you all. You, a vlandos, must feel similar to regulars, whether they are humans or not.”

I'm surprised!

The kid is smart. She sounds like she has experience.

That noble bullshit, it’s nothing but a fairy tale. There isn’t a single vlandos that becomes an adventurer because they want to do good. We do it because it's one of the only few legal jobs we can get. Because we have been socially engineered to think that’s our purpose. If you are a vlandos then you should be killing monsters. Why not do it? You can get paid for it.

What other jobs are there for us but ones that weaponize us? They look at us, see we’re nearly seven feet tall or over it, and Immediately think, ‘Fuck… one of them.’

Of course, there are exceptions. There are adventurers that are about that noble shit(an idealistic version of it), those new to adventuring, those that lived in sheltered communities, those that want to make a 'difference', they are the ones that think so. They are the most annoying shits.

The type that makes you want to beat them to a pulp. They always agree with regulars, always ‘understanding’ their point of view.

If a human told them to beat a fellow vlandos up to prove they care about humans, they would probably do it.

‘Look! I am one of the good ones! You want me to lick your boots too?’ They would probably suck off a homeless man’s dirty dick to prove it too.

They are more annoying than hateful humans. At least it’s expected for them to hate us, to distance themselves from us. It’s them or us, like cats versus dogs.

But a sucker that is on the same side as us desperately trying to seek the validation of the other side? The same side that talks shit behind their back, would kill them in an instant? Oh… That shit makes you want to do more than break their neck.

It’s a kind of rage that barely feels normal. It’s disgusting.

I stop thinking too much and listen to what Jim is replying with.

“You know what, you are smart. I will keep it real with you. It’s the same damn reason why your father does farming. Does he like it?”

“No. I don't think anyone does," she answers.

“Exactly. It’s just the only job available to us. The only job that isn't too morally disgusting or humiliating. The money isn’t worth this. It’s never worth the stress. It’s never worth knowing when you are going to screw up and mess someone up.” He then continues to mumble, “But you know you will. One day you will. You just don’t know when, or why are you going to finally lose self-control.”

“That’s scarier than dealing with monsters?”

He answers. “Sometimes, yeah.”

One’s anxiety-inducing because you don’t know when the day will be. The other is scary because you know it will happen one day.

She slowly nods and asks, “Let’s say… my brother is a vlandos. hypothetical of course. If he was one, what advice would you give me to give to him?”

“Uh… Lucky him, he lives in a faraway village, so he can live a free life. But… since he is going to a doctor, his blood will be tested and he will be added on the database.”

I notice her surprise, “They register vlandos?”

“Yeah, how don’t you know that? You never heard of people going from village to village, checking kids for vlandos signs?”

“No. Never happened in mines.”

“True that, kinda why I said your brother is lucky. These Government workers are lazy shits.”

“I see. Now what if he wanted to become an adventurer?”

“Don’t. He will hate it.”

"But how would he get a job?"

"Perhaps the circus? Maybe he will get lucky and meet people that don't care."

"How about Knights and Vanquishe---"

"I will strongly advise against that," I jump into the conversation. "Better someone kills themselves than become one of those."

Vanquishers are disgusting enough, but a fucking Knight? Absolutely disgusting.

"Oh."

Jim nicely tells her, in a way I can't, "Let's stick to the simple stuff. If your brother 'hypothetically' becomes a vlandos and he doesn't get lucky and needs a job, tell me. I think adventuring is a shitty job, but it's the best out of these options. Knights and Vanquishers... They are more painful. I will give him all the tips and tricks to make sure his adventurer career isn't too hell-ish. Got it?"

Vernisha nods with a little smile. "I will. Thanks. You are a really nice guy."

"So are you. It's really cool that you feel comfortable around us."

I add, "It's pretty okay. You are better than most kids."

She tells me, "I suspect you are very nice too."

"No. And no, me healing people doesn't count as niceness, not when I am on the job."

"Okay okay, I get it. How's the monster hunting going on? Is there still no sight on it?"

"No---"

Then in the distance, a bright fire illuminates the sky, and a cruel, disgusting voice follows next: ‘Ma…mmy... run… me!’

The monster is back.