leader

Once I got close enough Nil smiled and spoke.

Hello...ummmm... Julio how are you did you need anything?"

I shook my head and started speaking.

"Actually that is what I wanted to ask you I feel like you aren't exactly happy is anything wrong?"

Nil chuckled and spoke.

"No of course not I'm fine you should be cheering up other people because I am... fine"

I looked the Nil in his eyes and asked a question.

"Fine? Just fine?"

For a second it looked like the world was burning in his eyes the fear in his split second expression was palpable but the next moment he smiled and spoke.

"Yep! I'm all good go on and go help people"

I nodded and spoke while slowly turning and walking away.

"Okay then if you ever want to talk you know where to find me..."

One step, two step, bingo!

Nil spoke out.

"Wait!"

I turned back he looked conflicted but he spoke.

"Please follow me to my office"

I smiled and spoke.

"Okay!"

We walked through a door into a storage closet Nil sat down on the floor and he beckoned me to follow suit.

I sat down on the cold concrete floor and Nil spoke but this time in a much more chill down to earth voice.

"You see... the truth is I have no idea what the hell I am doing, this all started as a group of ten volunteering at a homeless shelter.

I didn't expect to be thrown into becoming a leader for so many people especially in this downright apocalyptic scenario.

I just don't know"

I was not actually expecting a trauma dump but after a second I spoke to Nil.

"No one was prepared these last three months have been horrific for everyone everywhere I am sure everyone here would understand and even appreciate you being authentic.

There is no need to look and act optimistic when it is so understandable to appear messy, stressed and or sad"

Nil nodded and spoke.

"I know I just.. I am scared that me being positive is the only thing stopping me from breaking"

I shook my head and spoke.

"You are stopping yourself from breaking not how you act people can tell between real optimism and people trying not to fall into despair.

Just give people the real you and I'm sure they will follow you"

Nil looked better and he spoke.

"You're right uhhhh... Julio! I need to start showing people who I really am thank you, also I have an idea about what to make your job I will find tou later for now just relax"

With that he left I had never met such an impressionable person before a few words and the way he acted changed completely.

I walked back to where all the people were and saw Nil he was no longer smiling but he had a more serious look on his face.

Oddly even though he didn't appear as chipper he was still sickeningly energetic and happy-go-lucky.

I took the time to follow Nil's suggestion and relax so I sat down and breathed calmly I hadn't noticed how sore my body was.

It makes sense the past month was atrocious especially when that giant wolf started picking us off one by one.

I could hear people chattering and moving I could feel their footsteps on the wooden floor of the old dilapidated building.

Before I knew it darkness had taken me beckoning me into a deep sleep of peaceful silence.

Then I was awoken by Nil his blue eyes were close enough to look huge and I almost screamed but then he covered my mouth and stopped me as he spoke.

"Don't scream, could you please show me your skill?"

He removed his hand and I was confused so I asked a question.

"What do you mean show you my skill?"

He replied.

"Leaders can see your skills as long as you mentally give us permission try it out"

I thought about letting Nil see my skill and then he spoke.

"Interesting Hope lvl 3... I think I just came up with another idea anyway here this is for you"

He passed me a kebab of some meat I hadn't seen before so he spoke after seeing my confusion.

"It's monster meat we cook it on a wood grill we scavenged from a store it takes a while but we do feed everyone since you were asleep you missed out but I saved you one"

I took it kebab of monster meat and spoke.

"Thank you"

He replied.

"You're welcome"

He is a very weird guy it's like he tries and fails to be a human being he changes fast and doesn't seem to understand how normal social interactions work.

Then he sat down next to me and asked a question.

"Have you met a leader in the last three months? I actually haven't heard any accounts of any"

I replied after taking a bite of the surprisingly tasty but cold meat skewer.

"Yeah actually I have"

Nil seemed to perk up and spoke.

"Really?! What were they like?!"

I thought for a moment thinking of how to describe them and trying to find the words.

"She was magnificent cool calm and collected she was cold at times but always fair she seemed like a nihilist but was strangely diligent and optimistic"

Nil seemed to go into thought then he spoke.

"So basically we had nothing in common"

I looked at Nil he didn't seem diligent or calm if anything he seemed like a klutz and emotional but they did have a few things in common so I told him.

"Actually I think you both try and care so if anything makes a leader I think it requires people to care maybe about others maybe about themselves but both leaders I have known seem to care"

Nil nodded and spoke.

"Actually I think you're right I have so many notes on class origins and often though it's linked to personality or past experiences usually it's one or two traits that seem to determine it"

We both became silent and I finished eating that was when Nil spoke.

"Okay you can go back to sleep now there is a discussion tomorrow morning we have one every two days to talk about our next steps I have settled on what you will be doing.

Goodnight"

He started walking off and I spoke back.

"Goodnight"

Tomorrow would probably be a long day so I went to sleep hoping for good dreams.