The Sanctuary Side-Story (9/17)

"I'm pretty important? What does that mean?" I put my hand on my hip and looked at Genesis with a curious face, and he smiled while pulling out a notepad from his chest pocket.

"Asterio, Danafall, Eternia, and Achamo. Those are all family names that are still alive, and that I've been keeping an eye on. It occurred to me that you don't have your memories, and you don't know your last name, do you?" Genesis said, scratching something with a small pencil in that same notepad.

"I was told I didn't have one... do I really have one?" I asked Genesis, to which he nodded.

"Kire Madio. A name from a Wiped Out Family, unjustly killed for their crimes a long time ago. You've woken up on this Isle without your memories, yet still carrying on this name. I'm surprised Nova didn't tell you." Genesis explained, slowly disregarding the information he just told me by starting another sentence.

I was forced to stop him since he said something that annoyed me.

"Nova... knew about my last name? I don't know why she would keep that from me... but does it even matter?" I returned Genesis's question with crossed arms, and he smiled, sitting down on a bench nearby.

"I think it would. Something as insignificant as the last name, especially when you told me that it didn't matter, is a petty lie to keep. Think, if she's keeping a petty lie from you, what else do you think she's keeping from you?" Genesis asked me again, and I broke out into laughter.

"I can see why you're such a problem! Always asking such provocative questions in order to stir something in me. It won't work on me, I've known Nova for a while, and I trust her. If she decides to keep petty lies, then that's fine, it's my own decision, and perhaps a mistake if she lies to me." I told Genesis again. He uncrossed his arms on the bench and sprawled out with a relieved face.

"You are a strong candidate for these strands. So level-headed, and unprovoked as well... what would it take to get you to take these strands from me? I would truly love it if you were willing." Genesis told me again.

I genuinely thought about it for a while. I guess, more than anything, I want the opportunity to protect my family, but it doesn't stop at just Inora and Ra. That's everybody I live with. Friends, even acquaintances.

"To be strong enough to protect?" Genesis asked me. He uncrossed his legs, stood up, and pulled out his notepad again.

"What if I told you... there was a place, I could send all of you guys, and you would be safe, away from danger, for the rest of your days?" Genesis asked me.

"I'd say you were a liar. And, I wouldn't dare discuss it with you before talking about it with Nova." I replied, and he laughed again.

"There you go again. Well, then shall we go talk to Nova?" Genesis asked me.

He immediately turned in the direction of Nova's house and began walking.

I realized that there was no hiding it anymore. Genesis could walk wherever he pleased, and I couldn't stop him. Meeting Nova shouldn't be too dangerous... but I have to be on my guard. I don't know what this man is capable of.

Slowly but surely, the people who continued their lives day by day had come to a stop as they watched Genesis walk over to Nova's house. It was weird, to see somebody walk over to Nova's that I didn't know, and that I knew was a villain in her eyes.

Genesis stepped aside to let me walk in front, and I came up on the deck of Nova's house to knock on her door for her attention.

"Are you nervous? I can feel my heart beating pretty fast." Genesis said, looking up toward her second floor.

Before my fist connected with the door, I heard a window above me shatter, and a staff swing loudly in the wind as it impacted Genesis's forearms, which were already held up to block the hit.

"Already alert, are we?" Genesis asked.

He grabbed the staff as he stopped it, pulled it back, and pushed Nova to the ground.

Everybody in the city was all cluttered around and the guards finally came running over to find out what was wrong. With Nova on the ground, they were afraid but tried closing the distance to stop Genesis.

"Oh, please. Don't interfere. This doesn't involve you. Now, Nova, stop thinking of killing me, and let's have a chat, shall we?" Genesis asked.

Nova struggled a little and Genesis pushed his elbow into her back more, causing her to yelp out in pain. I jumped into action, trying to put my hand on Genesis's shoulder to get him off of Nova.

He disagreed with this action, grabbed me with those strings, and slammed me to the ground before I could react.

He acted like nothing happened, standing up, and letting Nova catch her breath as he stood about ten feet away from her.

"Are you willing to have a conversation now? You know I don't have a problem making this violent." Genesis told her.

"Get. The hell. Out of my home." Nova said, sharply, brandishing her staff in front of Genesis. He seemed unimpressed and shrugged.

"You don't want me to do that. After all I offered to Kire? And, don't make me spill your lies, you wouldn't want your citizens hating you from here on out." Genesis teased.

I realized what he was doing halfway through that sentence, and I couldn't stop him.

Genesis was aware that the ideas that ran through my head were checked for erratic responses before they came out of my mouth. I couldn't be provoked easily, however, everybody else could. He just planted unrest into their minds, and now, it's all they're going to be able to think about.

"Trying to make my people nervous by saying that I'm lying to them... you're definitely annoying, I'll give you that. If I had anything to lie about, I would've told them already. I gain nothing by lying." Nova said.

A perfect defuse of the conversation! Nova was smarter than Genesis!

"Then, I assume the lie about knowing Kire's last name was one that didn't matter either, right?" Genesis asked.

Again, I wasn't going to be provoked by it, but I would be lying if I said that Nova's reaction didn't alert me.

She didn't look dumbfounded, nor annoyed... she looked... afraid.

"Well, I think I've done my job for today. Kire, it was nice meeting you. Please, think about my offer... and Nova, make sure you start telling the truth." He said, before walking to the front gate.

We all watched silently as Genesis walked out of the city, and both Nova and I didn't look at each other. I only spit up blood while standing still after so long.

Nova looked at me with a concerned face, then turned around, closing her door, and refusing to look back.