Altora: The Chronicles Of The Ren-Ky Warriors

Kyle walked up to the man. "Hi, my name is Kyle, and this…" he hesitates when trying to come up with an idea for what Hunter was to him. "My brother!" sweat dripped from his brow. "Adoptive mind you."

Kyle turned to Hunter; the whole ordeal not even fazed by what he said. The man smiled at them. "Now, tell me, what brings you to me, gentleman?" Kyle held up the flyer; the man beamed, "So you're here to help me with maintaining the church, I see?"

Kyle smiled, sheepishly at him. "Yes…" the words trailed off as Hunter's attention drew to the fox, sitting next to Vann. It playful wagged its tail as it seemed to smile at him. Hunter could not make sense of what it was doing. Kyle placed his hand on his shoulder, snapping him back., "Hey, you alright?"

Vann looked by his feet, "So you can see spirits it seems?" Hunter shot his gaze at him. Vann shocked at Hunter's reaction.

Kyle looked at them, confused about what was going on. Hunter turned to the fox, "Is that what it is? A spirit?"

Vann turned to the fox. "this poor thing is more or less a spirit. For even I don't know?"

Kyle looked back and forth between the two of them. "Well, whatever you two see, I cannot see it so…" he gestured to the door. "May we enter, and you discuss what you need help with and other duties?"

Vann smiled as he leads them inside the old church. The walls boarded and cracked, windows broken, with shards littering at their bases. Kyle g.r.o.a.n.e.d, while Hunter mindlessly followed. Vann brought them down some spiral stairs, leading them to a small living area with what seemed to have three to four bedrooms.

"The two doors to your right are some living quarters the door just past those is the washroom, and the fourth door is my room." Vann staired at Hunter before turning to Kyle. "Kyle, was it?"

Kyle felt his skin crawl. "Yes, it is?" Turning to Vann's gaze.

He smiled and placed his hand on Kyle's s shoulder, "I would like you to go back to the market and find some ingredients for dinner?" Kyle swallowed hard as fixated his eyes on Vann. "You will also be cooking so I can access your cooking abilities."

Kyle shook his head in agreement and left, leaving Hunter alone with Vann. Vann turned to Hunter, seeing that he was waiting for orders like a good little clone. He stared intensely at him. "I know what you are?"

Hunter went to his blade to find it was missing as he turned to Vann. Vann was inspecting the weapon. "You are a mercenary with that other boy?" Flipping the blade, then handing it to him.

Hunter felt uneasy and was unaware of the emotions he went through at that moment. Vann could only smile as he turned away. Hunter was not sure what was going on. When he tried to speak, Vann had ordered him to clean the live area before Kyle returned. Hunter looked over to the broom without another word spoken. Hunter did as he was told.

When Kyle returned, he noticed Hunter sweeping the last of the dirt away. Kyle almost dropped the bags of food, seeing him cleaning. His mouth gaped open, trying to find his words. Vann walked down the stairs seeing Kyle standing there in shock. 'The must be a shock for him,' He turned to Hunter, he notices him putting the broom back. 'Still a robot, but with a little more time, he will grow to have emotions.' His gaze returned to Kyle, fixing his glasses before proceeding to the kitchen.

Kyle placed the groceries down on the counter. The rummaged through them, grabbing what he was going to use for dinner. Vann notices that the fox was sitting beside Hunter. He knew he would succeed in turning Hunter into a real person. He rustled his platinum blonde hair before sitting down to watch Kyle cook.

Hunter meanwhile sat in the living room, waiting for his next instructions. He looked over to see the fox come over to his l.a.p, staring at him. 'So, how are you enjoying this?' Hunter's eyes lit with fear for the first time as the fox wagged its tail. 'Don't worry; those two can't hear me. Come to think of it, Vann couldn't hear me either, and well, he is like you, a clone.' Hunter tried to ignore it as it curled in his l.a.p. 'Although most clones kill themselves when they gain any form of emotions he didn't?' the fox looked up at Hunter, seeing the denial in his face. 'Vann learned that emotions could make you stronger and—well, wiser? If you could call it that—Any way you should learn from him and see what it is like to be real and not a duplicate of another. Your own person! I know it will be confusing, but you might find your true calling or place in this world?' the fox yawned, before jumping off. 'Well, your dinner is ready, and I hope you can consider what I have told you?'

Kyle walked up to Hunter, touching his shoulder, letting him know that dinner was ready. Hunter got up and looked at the fox, his face filled with the concern of what the fox said — shaking his head before walking to the table to eat with the others.

Vann looked over at him, seeing that he was fighting it and that it has already started. He furled his face as he began to wonder when did it start, or did he always have some inkling of emotions. Vann shrugged it off as not to alarm them.

Hunter went to take a bit but stopped. He looked at Vann, who was laughing with Kyle as they conversed. "Is he really the same as me or—no, he can not be." He muttered under his breath, shaking the thought off before eating again.

Late that evening, Hunter stared in the void, the fox's words echoing through his head. He clasped his head, trying to blur it out. "Emotions destroy you; they bring nothing but misfortune and attachments." He repeated the words over and over before tears streamed down his face. "No, no, no, no! Not this again!" He raised his voice quietly, as not to wake anyone. He wiped the tears away. Then staring at his hands. "Why am I like this? It has been like this since that boy called out to that man."

Vann stood outside Hunter's door, hearing the words pour out. He grasped his chin as Vann heard Hunter continue. Vann smiled at how Hunter was struggling, remembering how he was at the beginning of his transition. Hoping he would go smoothly compared to his, being the fact they were there to kill him, after all.