“we’re going on a trip, kei.”
kei stares at his adopted father, blinking slowly. he hasn’t lived with his adopted family in several years now, and while they still spend holidays and certain festivities together, neither side ever wants to associate any further than that. this invitation (though it sounds more like a demand than an invitation) is completely unexpected and uncharacteristic of the man.
“a trip to where?” kei asks cautiously, crossing his arms over his chest.
kei’s eyes widen, and he immediately takes a step backward, his mouth already opening to argue, to ask why. however, before he can get any words out, his father rolls his eyes and raises his hands in a universal ‘calm down’ gesture. “no, no, don’t worry, not like that. we won’t stay for long, and we’ll have plenty of food and water. we’ll be traveling with the suryan army. they’re going out to control the population out there, and i want you to come watch. it’s high time you learned your place in the world, keita.”
if he thought this would reassure his adopted son, he was wrong. kei’s expression hasn’t changed, and he vaguely thinks that he’d rather live in the badlands himself than have to watch the army control the population. that might be a less crude way of putting it, but he knows what this is: soldiers are going out to have some fun, kill some cuspians who are already on the brink of death anyway. the thought makes kei feel sick to his stomach.
“pack your things. we’ll come by to pick you up at dawn. and if you try to run away or refuse to come, i’ll burn this place to the ground,” his father says, conjuring some small flames in his hand to make his point extra clear. kei’s jaw tightens, and for a second he considers fighting, but the thought is quickly dismissed, and he only looks at the floor and nods.
as his father leaves, kei mentally curses himself for being such a coward.
