"The beasts here are pretty strong too. But you can't learn or train true strength without facing strong opponents or hard challenges. Of course, I'm stronger than you. Because I've apparently visited more worlds than you thought existed."
"... You use hard words. And long sentences," LaRee stated. A tinge of embarrassment appeared on his face.
"Compared to other worlds, you use small sentences and easy words," Ayse chuckled in reply. "I learned more words than you did. It's the same way I'm stronger than you. I just happened to face stronger challenges than you, so far."
Hearing that, LaRee had to ask, "How many years do you have?"
Ayse shrugged. "Would you believe that I'm nineteen?"
"Nineteen?! …" LaRee gasped loudly, consciously stopping himself from yelling. "You only have nineteen years?"
"So what? There are people much stronger than me. And I'm sure plenty of them are younger too," Ayse reasoned. "I want to be strong. But more than anything, I just want to be free."
LaRee didn't fully grasp the meaning of such a phrase.
And Ayse noticed the mental disconnect through LaRee's blinking eyes. So Ayse explained, "I'm traveling to different worlds because I want to. I want to see more worlds, more wonders. I get excited when I imagine all the adventures and landscapes I can experience by traveling the universe."
"Uni… verse? What is this yuneevirsh?"
Chuckling some more, Ayse said, "The universe is where all the worlds exist. To travel the universe means to travel between worlds."
"Between worlds? … And there are more strong people?" LaRee asked.
"Duh! I'm a mouse compared to those monsters!" Ayse laughed, belittling himself without hesitation.
LaRee, on the other hand, nearly broke his mind trying to comprehend that blunt statement. "That strong? And there are many people like that?"
Nodding, Ayse continued, "Well, yeah. There are hundreds of worlds with hundreds of thousands, or even millions of people. With so many people in the univese, there are more than enough monsters to fight, if you're seeking a challenge."
"And gods? Are there gods, also?"
When asked that, Ayse paused for a second. He took special notice of the unique glimmer in LaRee's eyes.
So Ayse asked, "... What do you mean by gods?"
"Like Sky God," LaRee tried to clarify. "Do they exist in this… uni-versh, also?"
Ayse shook his head and shrugged. "I don't know, but they might. Can you describe them? What does your sky god look like?"
"I've never seen Sky God. I don't know what she looks like. Some believe she can't be seen. Like the wind," LaRee stated. "Legend says Sky God is like Water God. But Sky God is bigger. And the sky is her ocean."
"Okay. Well, what does your water god look like?" Ayse asked.
"Water God is a great serpent. He is spotted every few years. To remind us of his existence. To claim a sacrifice," LaRee explained, acting as if that was common knowledge. "Sky God is also a serpent. All gods are serpents… Well, our gods are serpents."
Unoffended, Ayse said, "Hey, you can believe whatever you want. I don't care. But I don't think the beasts between worlds are the gods that you speak of."
That phrase stuck out to LaRee, further throwing LaRee into the rabbit hole of curiosity. "Beasts? Between worlds? … There are many beasts in the sky? Not just Sky God?"
"It's more complicated than that…" Ayse took a moment to piece together at least a rudimentary explanation. "... You see, I don't travel through the sky. To get to other worlds, we enter a new… space."
"What is this 'space'? I don't know this word," LaRee asked for clarification.
Sighing, Ayse reconsidered his wording. "Well… It's a different sort of area… We have lots of words for it. A new space, a different realm, a parallel dimension. But it's officially called–"
"LaRee!"
A loathing voice called out, cutting their conversation short. Ayse shut up on the spot and LaRee put on his masking, default expression.
All five elders now stood outside of the cage. Each of them eyed LaRee with varying levels of discontent.
Both hunter witnesses were beside them as well. But their faces were filled with indecision, especially when they avoided eye contact with LaRee. Nearby villagers began to appear, also, drawn in by the imminent declaration that everyone was waiting for.
All the same, LaRee stayed where he stood. He showed no intention of backing away from Ayse's side.
After almost of minute of hanging pauses, the elders were satisfied with the size of their crowd.
Elder Kano took in a deep breath while adjusting the serpent fang septum piercing. Once he was comfortable, Elder Kano turned to face the villagers with open arms and a booming voice.
"Fellow tribesmen! The intruder is guilty!"
A sea of nodding heads bobbed up and down as Elder Kano continued, "Guilt of attacking Chief! Guilty of killing Pack Leader! And guilty of angering Sky God! The intruder shall perish! To appease Sky God! To earn her protection, not her wrath!"
Many villagers started offering the fanged salute to their elders. It was the highest form of acceptance while showing respect.
LaRee was the only tribesman to not salute.
The closer they got to Ayse's final conviction and execution, the more torn LaRee felt. And it wasn't just to save Ayse's life in the name of causing a scene. Or to avoid facing Ayse's potential retaliation against the village.
The elders took notice of LaRee's failure to salute in agreement. It was Elder LaRae who spoke up next, declaring, "We must fully appease Sky God! So, the intruder shall be sacrificed to the Sky God. Limb by limb, the intruder's body will be severed. While still alive. And fed to Sky God's family–"
"I invoke the chief's right!"
Quiet fury instantly bubbled up within the elders. Their cutting gazes locked onto LaRee with renewed rage.
Elder LaRae was the most disgusted by that comment. With a heavy frown, Elder LaRae yelled, "LaRee! Be silent! This is no place for you–"
"Am I Chief's heir? Or am I not?" LaRee boldly questioned. And LaRee kept speaking without waiting for anyone to reply, "Chief is unconscious. But I'm still here. As heir, I invoke the chief's right!"