Chapter 4 - Are They All not Human?

Apparently, the one approaching knows Leon. They seem to know each other, as Leon doesn’t even move.

In the pure darkness, I can’t help to feel isolated. I am the only one in this world that don’t know anybody in here. I guess that is one of the reasons why I am holding Leon so tight.

“It’s not like you.” The unfamiliar man continues approaching, “Shouldn’t you already be back before sunset and watch us crying on our way back?”

Leon watching other cadets crying on their way back? From his words, Leon seems to be a top cadet in their group.

“Says who? At least I’m not the one who laughed at others then got beaten badly.” Leon fights back in his words, secretly laughing at him, “How’s your wound? It shouldn’t be healed this quick.”

Well, this is what you call true friendship. I hide behind Leon, quietly listens.

That person clearly is unhappy now, he tells Leon to shut up and he is tired of Leon’s impassivity. While talking, he immediately figures that Leon is hiding things on his back.

He steps up so fast, within a second, Leon immediately dodged but I am still grabbed by the arm, I am sure if Leon didn’t dodge, I would have been dragged out from his back by this unknown cadet.

“Cut it off, Ceasar.” Leon’s eyes in the dark turned to icy cold blue, he looks at me, like he cares about me.

The cadet named Ceasar doesn’t let me go, he even grabs me tighter. I begin to worry how civilized this military army is. Not everyone is Leon.

“Ha! It is alive. What is so unique about this creature?” The unknown person, Ceasar apparently doesn’t seem to have good vision in the dark. I can sense his face an inch away; Ceasar is sniffing me.  

That thought disgusts me.

I know Ceasar doesn’t care about me right away. He grabs me so hard that my arm starts to ache. He is so curious at me that he refuses to get me go even it means I might be tearing apart.

“Let me go!” I raise my arm, ready to slap him on the face.  

Suddenly hearing me, Ceasar freezes, but he still doesn’t let me go, I slap him right on the face.

“W, wait! No way. This is NO WAY!” After a few seconds, Ceasar finally could speak after such a shock. “A female? This planet hasn’t had any female stepped on for at least centuries!”

I am so mad; he ignores me slapping at him completely. I should’ve slapped harder.

Leon’s sword arrives as quick as lightning. He is serious about cutting Ceasar’s arm off if he doesn’t let me go.

Ceasar hurriedly pulls out his arm, I am finally out, but he is still refusing to accept the fact, “This can’t be right. It must be a camouflage to ease our wariness.”

Here goes another helpless man believe that my existence is a camouflage. I point at Ceasar, give Leon a look – ‘This is you earlier. Like an idiot, don’t you think?’

Leon looks at me and Ceasar, signs.

“I need to see Colonel.” Leon talks to Ceasar, “This female is either a top-level assassin with undiscovered camouflage technology or a true lost citizen that needs to be rescued.”

At this point, I lost hope on explaining. They can bring me to the base, use whatever top-notch technology they may have to test me, I will still be a female since 18 years ago.

“Ah, my apologize, my bad about earlier.” Knowing the possibly of me being a true female, Ceasar’s attitude turns 180 degrees, like he doesn’t know how to treat me all of sudden.

“I shouldn’t have grabbed you like that. Please forgive me.” Following along with Leon’s steps. Ceasar continues to awkwardly apologize.

Yeah, now you know how to treat female. I rub my arm, finally feel a bit better.

“Don’t worry about it.” I generously accept his apology.

But where are we? It shouldn’t take this long to reach the base, I thought we are already here.

Leon stops.

He points out for me, asks me to look in distance.

Over his shoulder, I see lights from afar. They are like stars; warm and bright; glowing in the dark like hope shining in deepest darkness.

They are so beautiful.

“I can’t believe we are finally here.” I whisper under my tongue, maybe this all is still a dream. “Do you think my family could be there too? Maybe they were lost just like me.”

Leon and Ceasar look at each other. No one answer me like they didn’t come up with an answer yet.

“I haven’t got any notice from base centre.” Leon tries to comfort me.  “But it could be possible that they are at the same situation as you, just haven’t reached the base yet.”

If what he said is true, I can’t wait to arrive at base to see if anyone notices my family.  

“I can go first.” Ceasar dashes a few steps ahead. I hear his voice is quickly vanishing from the wind. “This way the notice will be out sooner. See you all in the base.”

He disappears.

“Man, he is too fast. I didn’t even have a chance to say thank you.” I almost drop my jaw.

“It is only natural for his species.” Leon holds me tightly on his back, rapidly following Ceasar’s path. “I’d be surprised if I could still see him now.”

Speaking of which, Leon or Ceasar never revealed their identity as human. They keep using species to identify themselves.

Is Ceasar really not a human? I can’t believe it because he talks so normal. I have so many questions but at the same time I am still thinking of a proper way to ask someone if they are not human. I need to be careful to make it not sound like I want a fight.

Maybe I should just let it slip. Maybe there is a huge culture difference I am not aware.

Because, who cares? Who cares if it was a cat or a dog or a bird that saved my life. The key point is my life is saved, regardless of who is the saver.