Bawa Elimu

Several miles away on a hilltop…

"If you tell us what we want, you won't have to suffer any more. Aye, why are you so stubborn?"

"I already told you that I know nothing. What more do you want from me?! Torturing me will get you nowhere.…cough. You should just let me g…ahh!" Bawa Elimu spoke with a tremor in his voice.

He was an old man with a delicately frail appearance, flowing white hair and a long beard of the same shade.

His clouded eyes were profound and told years of experience and wisdom.

There was an air of intelligence between Bawa's brows.

He appeared seasoned with the answers to all questions; however, his thin figure was vulnerable and was currently writhing in pain on the ground.

"Wrong answer, Anciano (old man)."

Salvador, in his impatience, crushed Bawa's bony wrist.

This sudden action caused Bawa to suck in a harsh breath as beads of perspiration formed on his forehead.

His wrist was broken and angled in a direction that caused his bones to stick out from the opening, leaving blood to seep out unperturbed.

"Just tell us the truth if you want your suffering to end. I'm not a monster. Watching a person as feeble as you are wheezing at my feet makes me uncomfortable."

In response to Salvador's sincere 'concern', Elimu glared at him while he tried to contain his screams.

"You little bastards! How many times do I have to say it before you understand? I have no idea about what you're asking!" Elimu was already extremely agitated.

His eyes, now a dim scarlet, gleamed wildly, while his lips twitched awkwardly to show his teeth.

This development made him look vicious and intimidating.

Alas, no one present paid a mind to his antics. They all watched stolidly as the old man threw a tantrum.

Salvador, who remained standing in front of Elimu, crouched and looked at him with mild disappointment.

"Aye…" He released a breath and rubbed the back of his neck before speaking.

"You would think that after living for so long, an old-timer like yourself would understand how to act in certain situations. This is getting tiring." He ended and calmly ignored the resentful gaze trained on him.

Elimu felt irate and helpless. To have ended up in the hands of these…these demons is a misfortune he never expected to encounter.

His shaky pupils looked at the Hispanic man before him. He was such a charming lad, with his messy short hair and fit figure.

Bawa at least knew that this young man was the kind the girls in his tribe would gush over. Especially if he gazed at them with those forest green eyes.

But with his experience and after spending the last few hours with him, Elimu knew not to judge a book by its cover.

After all, this same man had been the main reason for his suffering for the past few hours.

Bawa's eyes trailed Salvador, as he rose and slowly distanced himself from the vicinity.

His gaze darted around his surroundings and traced the other people around him.

He observed them silently and took in their appearances.

A gentle gust of wind blew and caused Elimu's white hair to flutter softly.

He hadn't noticed before, but this space was stunning.

Currently, he was in an unfamiliar place, sheltered by a canopy of tall trees and an incredible view of the city in the distance.

If not for his situation, he would love to sit here for a while and fuse with nature while his thoughts wandered.

From his position, he could see the tall skyscrapers glistering under the morning sun, and judging from the rocky terrain, he concluded that they were atop a hill with a…very steep slope.

Bawa gulped as he suddenly imagined himself being thrown down the hill by these demons.

Taking his gaze away, Bawa turned to a person just adjacent to his position. A quiet man – inferring from his physique, with pale arms and clad entirely in black.

He was dressed oddly, sporting a large hat adorned with thin greyish chains that shielded the majority of his face from view.

Even more unusual was his choice of using his hair to further conceal his facial features.

Like this, the only parts of his body that were visible were his pale hands.

This peculiar getup ignited Bawa's curiosity. He tried to pry into his guise but froze when the man's head turned towards his direction.

It was only for a split second, but Bawa felt like he had just stared death right in the face.

Quickly taking his gaze away while trying to recover from his earlier fright; Bawa turned to another man resting causally on a tree trunk.

His appearance was softer and even managed to induce in his old soul a state of calm.

This peaceful man had youthful features, with smooth white skin, dark eyes, and a head of black hair pulled into a ponytail.

He wore a well-suited pair of glasses, which he adjusted every so often, and was dressed quite smartly.

He was like the scholarly child who made every parent glad in their hearts and caused others to lower their defences against him.

"He has gone mute. Do you require assistance?" Atem Yaqub Omari spoke from the side, gaining Salvador and Bawa's -who appeared to be in a trance, attention.

'Huh? What?…' Bawa blinked and cursed in his mind. He looked at the 'gentle' man in terror.

What he felt just then, was it hypnosis? But how could his mind be manipulated without his knowledge? This…what have I gotten into?!!

"I have it under control, tu relájate (you just relax)." Salvador waved dismissively and reached into his trouser pocket.

Yaqub watched him with a frown and remained silent. His build was larger than the average person's.

Standing at a height of two meters, his tall, and exceptionally muscular frame was the kind that naturally intimidated others into submission.

Moreover, his expression was rigid and ever-consistent.

The way he peered at Bawa resembled a battle-ready soldier looking at his target with a rifle in hand.

Detached, dutiful, and deadly.

But apart from his unique size and aura, Yaqub's ebony complexion possessed a brilliant sheen that highlighted the whites of his eyes and teeth. His beautifully striking appearance only made him stick out like a sore thumb.

"You've been saying that for the past hour." Yeong Jung-hee pushed up his glasses as he looked at Salvador and Yaqub.

His voice was naturally calm and airy, but currently, there was a tinge of impatience laced in his tone.

"Stop fussing, you two. I've got this." Salvador replied with a groan and brought out a lighter with a card deck design from his trousers.

He turned to Bawa and approached him slowly.

"Don't worry, I'll make him talk." He uttered with a grin. Bawa who noticed his expression was gripped by an ominous premonition.

"What are you doing?" His eyelids jumped as he unconsciously stepped back.

"What do you think, senior? I heard that your kind takes great pride in specific body parts.

A little birdie told me that you are practically married to your hair.

A bit weird, Si (yes). But what would happen if you suddenly became…smoother?

What would your clan members, who regard you as immortal, think? I really want to know." Salvador ended with a snicker. He flicked the lighter and watched the green flame as if entranced.

"Precioso (beautiful)…" He whispered, before turning and saying to Bawa;

"I bet it'll look even better on you."

Hearing his words, the old man's feeble body trembled visibly.

His broken hand had surprisingly reverted to its normal shape, and the surrounding skin showed slow but obvious signs of healing.

Bawa's skin and tissues mended together bit by bit while the wound continued to heal. This was not something a regular human was capable of.

Panicked, Bawa turned and fled.

His name translated to "Knowledgeable bat". What was a wise bat without his hair? Without the obvious proof of his wisdom and position? Boiled peach is what!