Auxiliary Chapter 7: Tsylan's Past

Lutsey's POV

My sister had just returned from her apprenticeship with Norm, allowing me to prepare for my outing with Tsylan. I was going to show her something that I thought she might like. As I was finishing my final preparations, I heard Koltyey's voice calling me by my title. I had a pretty good idea of what he was going to tell me.

As I turned to him,

Me: Do you have a request for me, Koltyey?

Koltyey: Yes. You're going to have to stop getting close to this demon. You deserve much better.

Obviously, it couldn't be another subject...

Me: And what do I deserve, then?

Koltyey: A loyal and brave warrior who will make you happy.

Me: It's nice of you to worry about me. But I think I know best who can make me happy.

Koltyey: But it's a tawtute! A sky demon!

Me: One thing I learned from Tsylan is not to judge a person by his people. You should do the same.

Koltyey: What about your parents? What would they think?

How dare he use them against me? But pissing me off isn't going to change anything. I had to keep my cool.

Me, coldly: Did you know them to know what they would think? Don't use them to try to convince me to abandon the chosen one in my heart.

Koltyey: Maybe not, but I think they would disapprove of your relationship.

Me: Well, so be it! I don't care! My heart has chosen so either you have something important to report to me or you can take your leave.

I kept a calm tone but included a bit of severity, to show her that I wouldn't change my mind.

Me: I know the reasons why you're insisting, but you should look for someone else. I'm sorry I'm so dry, but if you continue, you'll only be unhappy. My heart has chosen and if you love me, you should respect my decision.

I could see the sadness and disappointment in her face. He was still hoping to change my mind.

Me: Koltyey, you are a brave warrior and you are still young. I am sure you will find someone who will make you happy. I know it's painful, but don't despair. You fall, only to get up again.

Koltyey, head down: Thank you my olo'eyktan but...

Me: No buts, Koltyey. Turn the page and start another one. It's going to be hard, but I'm sure you can do it.

Koltyey: Good. As long as you're happy...

Later on,

Tsylan and I would go from tree to tree to wherever I wanted to go. My beloved remained silent, no doubt curious about what I wanted to show him.

Finally, we arrived at our destination. A beautiful series of waterfalls where we could see a river flowing freely. Fan lizards were flying, adding more charm to this bright place of life.

Tsylan: It's... Beautiful.

Me: Glad you like it.

Tsylan sat in a suit, admiring the environment with a big smile on his face. I was thinking about how to approach the subject I wanted to talk to him about. Eywa showed me our future child, but I wanted to know if Tsylan wanted it on his own.

Me: Tsylan?

He looked at me suspiciously, doubtless suspecting my request.

Tsylan: Yes?

Me: Would you like...to have a child?

He remained silent for a long time before he sighed. Then he looked at me again in a look that made me fear his answer.

Tsylan: I don't know Lutsey. Our relationship is still new. I have to think about it.

Me: I understand.

But inside, I knew he could be a good father and I want to have my own child. My instincts told me not to do it right away, Tsylan was probably on his guard. But a question was on my mind.

Me: Tsylan, can you tell me more about your family?

He looked at me, hesitation in his eyes. Obviously, there was something in his family that was bothering him. Maybe I was too fast in my approach. I had to make up for it.

Me: You don't have to tell me if you're not ready.

Tsylan: No. You have the right to know, because one day you'll be part of it.

Me with a smile: I'm already looking forward to it!

He gave me his tender smile before he spoke.

Tsylan: First of all, my mother and father met during a scientific expedition to South America. He was a scientist while she was a GDR agent in charge of his protection. They spent several months together before going out. Then, over time, they got married and had two children. My big sister, Delane and I.

I didn't dare interrupt him, curious to know a little more about him.

Tsylan: My mother trained me in many areas that were useful to me, both on Earth and here. I ended up following in her footsteps, becoming an agent of the GDR. But... something happened that called into question my plans for the future.

Me: Can I ask you what then?

He remained silent for a moment, before lowering his ears and eyes with a guilty look on his face.

Tsylan: I...was part of an undercover mission involving a village. We had to analyze the terrain for potential and force them to leave. Either willingly or unwillingly.

He squeezed his hands while I could see tears in his eyes.

Tsylan: That ended badly. We had to raze the village, destroying several lives. All this... for profit. I resigned shortly afterwards, not being able to support my work anymore. I left, here, to find the calm to rebuild myself.

I felt sad for my love. It is true that our clan has lived through horrors, but we had never thought that the People of Heaven would treat their fellow men in the same way. It was...Horrible and incomprehensible.

Tsylan: I don't regret coming to this planet. Even though it required sacrifices.

I was looking at the waterfall, immersed in my reflections. Before, I considered the People of Heaven as demons, without exception. But my affection for Tsylan and his story shook this simplistic certainty. Now, I wondered whether the executioners of the past took real pleasure in the perpetrated massacres or only did it out of duty. It was a question that I will never find the answer to, but perhaps some were like Tsylan, obeying only orders in spite of themselves.

Certainly, the facts remained ingrained and forgiveness was impossible, too much suffering having been inflicted. Nevertheless, to think that we did not only have monsters in front of us complicated the idea of an inevitable confrontation. Decidedly, the People of Heaven is more complex than we thought.

Tsylan: What are you thinking about?

Me : Tell me, Tsylan, are you and Grace, are you exceptions or are other humans like you?

He sighed, looking at the starry sky.

Tsylan: Just as in the Na'vis, my people are made up of many individuals. Both good and bad. Unfortunately, we live in a selfish and destructive system, leading us to seek resources to satisfy our hunger for energy and insatiable growth.

Some people, just like me at one time, entered this system and served it. Others fought it.

Me: And what do you think of this struggle?

He sighed at the question, probably not very optimistic.

Tsylan: That it won't lead to anything. In the best case scenario, an old system will be replaced by another one that will become, in the end, as unfair and destructive as the previous one.

Me: Don't you have any positive thoughts about the future?

Tsylan: My experience has not made me believe in it.

I was looking at the sky to see what my love was watching.

Tsylan: And you know what's ironic above all? I know how our planet is dying. But I can't stop thinking about it.

Me: That's where you were born. If I were you, I would also think about our mother's land and my family. It doesn't matter how it is.

He smiles, lying on the ground and closing his eyes.

Tsylan: You're right, my tigress.

I smile and soon joined him, giving him a tender kiss on his lips. He's probably going to join his other body, so I hurried to enjoy this unique moment.

Me : I love you, Tsylan

Tsydan: Me, too, Lut.

Tonight I decided to stand guard, already thinking about my goal for the second date.