“Aife, I appear to have had a revelation” said Sui suddenly out of nowhere. At this point the pair were more than halfway through their run, having turned once more, before starting to make decent progress on the back section of the property. Aife did steal the occasional glance at Sui, but it was easy enough to tell, the short girl was thinking about something, so she was left to her thoughts.

Now though, Aife didn’t really know what to think. Sui didn’t have ‘revelations’ and Aife had a feeling that something bad was about to happen. She felt herself swallow involuntarily and her muscles tense, tightening and releasing as she stepped forward, now with a dull thud as her foot compacted the dirt beneath it to try and relieve some of the tension she was feeling. “What is it?” asked Aife finally.

“I may finally have to change my priorities around. That has not changed since I met you and Trina all those years ago. It is a strange thing, and I am unsure how the change needs to be done, but I suspect that it is necessary” said Sui absentmindedly.

“Do you mind if I ask?” said Aife, not entirely sure she wanted to hear the answer.

“Well, I take no offence at the asking, but I too, am unsure if I should reveal the answer to you. I made a promise to Granny, not to speak about the system of my own, I set up long ago to keep my feelings in order. However, it seems that I might need to change things because of the waves, and I only noticed just now, that this change might be necessary,” said Sui.

“Well… what is it?” asked Aife. If Sui was unwilling to talk about it, she’d give up, however, she could see the uncertainty on Sui’s face. Her normally flat expression, now filled with so many extra lines all across her face. Normally, even when Sui smiled, it was only present in the mouth and eyes, this was something strange.

Hmm, should I tell? Granny isn’t here, and this question needs to be answered… and I trust nobody more than Aife except Granny. Thus, I should tell Aife. However, this directly impacts her and when something like that happens, you are supposed to go to an independent third party. However, we don’t have any of those. The only third party is Trina, and she is also directly affected, which… I think actually makes her not a third party? I never understood that expression. Maybe I can try my best with just a few light details?

“So… without going fully in depth, the basics of my problem, is that I have a system for helping me prioritise things. At the very top is avoiding instant death, and then avoiding death in the long term. Now the waves have come into play though, death is much closer than ever before.

“Even though it was at the top before, it is suddenly requiring me to devote more time and resources to it. Additionally, there is another, low ranking aspect I won’t name, that may now impact that top ranking thing of avoiding death.

“I’m unsure if this means I should move that section up to the second, or third most important thing, to help ensure that death remains as unlikely as possible, or if I should just keep it more in mind in the future” said Sui, carefully.

Sui of course, was in reality, about as subtle as slamming someone in the face with a brick. It was instantly noticeable, and very easy to pick up on. She wouldn’t know what ‘subtle’ meant until she was stabbed by it, and maybe even then, it would escape her. Aife was able to intuit most of what Sui’s background thoughts had to be, and, by realising how she reached her conclusions, it was easy to figure out what she meant.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Aife knew that Sui had figured out, that herself and Trina were beneficial to her continued survival. Before, they were friends, or whatever they passed for in Sui’s mind, and while noteworthy in the fact that they were considered at all, were still not anywhere close to the most important thing in Sui’s mind. Now however, staying friends was much more closely linked to not dying horribly somehow.

Aife scoffed at the thought. Sui glanced at the sound but didn’t say anything. I believe she’s figured out more than I said. Likely most of what I held back. Was it even right to bother? Aife personally, thought it far more likely that Sui, if required, would outlast the lot of them. Aife knew she was good, and had one of the better chances compared to average based on what she’d seen so far, but it was nothing compared to the raw determination Sui just naturally possessed.

Aife had needed to train herself, not just in physical ability but willpower and mental fortitude as well. To keep pushing herself beyond her limits and continue to climb towards the path of perfection. Sui simply did it. Sewing through the night wasn’t even a question. If it was necessary, it would be done, sleep be dammed.

Of course, to Aife, there was really only one answer to Sui’s concerns. She’d been with her for years, and a measly apocalypse wasn’t going to cause that much strife. “I think” said Aife, being very careful with her words, being slow and deliberate with each one, so there was no chance of a mistake. “That you have nothing to worry about at all Sui. Even if you need to rearrange things, which I’m not sure you do, I don’t believe any of your actions need to change with it.”

I don’t follow. Sui almost said it out loud as well, but held her tongue. Aife just spoke in her. ‘I’m not normally right, but when I’m right I’m certainly right and that time is now’ voice. So… she’s very confident in what she is saying, and she thinks I’ll be able to understand it but…

I just don’t follow. Changing the ranking of priorities in my mind would necessitate a change in behaviour would it not? That is the entire point of the system, to facilitate proper actions… What is Aife trying to tell me then?

She’s not one for metaphors or simile or riddles or whatever other complex literary ideals Trina occasionally delves into when trying to help people… but the meaning is unclear. It seems like a complete contradiction does it not?

I am asking Aife, if I need to change… and she’s saying that maybe, but no… wait? Is… Sui’s eyes lit up, and she turned her head to meet Aife’s own and tilted her head, begging for an answer with her eyes. “I think you’ve got it, but I can’t be sure of course, unless you want to actually tell me your answer?” said Aife

Sui turned back to the ground. No, I don’t want to. I probably shared too much. But… I think I’m right. I bet Aife knew I was talking about treating her better, and she seems to have said that even if I now consider it more important to keep her and Trina happy because of the waves, I am already doing a sufficient job of being a friend…

But what does that mean for the ranking then? Should it remain the same? Even if we put aside the issue of treatment, not needing to be changed, I’d have never even gotten the idea without Aife’s assistance, and then further help with refinement. Is it perhaps time to upgrade the ranking anyway even if it isn’t to the top? There is much to consider.

Sui sunk into silence, keeping her thoughts swirling around in her head for the rest of the walk, and finding, few real answers. It was a question that she wanted dealt with immediately, but continued to elude her, when she searched for more expedient results.