“You never told me your name.”

  “…didn’t think you would want to know.”

  “Well, now I do.”

  “…it’s Wayne.”

  I furrow a brow at him. He must’ve picked up on it because he spoke shortly after.

  “It’s not an ordinary…name, I know that. Human father named me.” He elaborates, which…makes sense I guess.

  He never striked me as a Wayne…but maybe there’s just a certain stereotype instilled into my mind now. Was I already expecting a different name?

  Is that a product of Korioh Landings?

  “Cool name. Mine’s—“

  “Lucien. I’ve already heard it multiple times.”

  He cuts me off before I could introduce my own name. But fair, I forgot it was lingering around multiple times.

  As silence draws upon us again, it became more awkward than before. It didn’t feel weird, but maybe because I was the one forcing it.

  I drummed up another small talk conversation lead in my head.

  “What brought you here? You know, Korioh Landings and all that.”

  He doesn’t answer immediately. His eyes drop, not blinking as much. Something’s clearly turning in his head.

  Maybe I stepped into dangerous zone with that, maybe something he does not want to speak about…but I don’t have a choice.

  Can’t back out now, I need to stay with it.

  His head drops against the wooden logs, perhaps in deep thought before speaking.

  “I…I wouldn’t really say I was brought here. More like…born here.”

  His words come off slow, delicate. As if he’s trying to convince himself more than to me. I really didn’t know what he meant by being “born” here.

  The only ones I know who could be are the Oni, and Rei possibly.

  “Around these parts, you don’t have much to go to. Some families come here, and for generations, no one outside the family leaves the hometown. I’m just one of them unfortunately.”

  I cough slightly to gain back his attention, with the way he’s speaking, he might be ready for a monologue I’m not prepared to sit through for.

  “You haven’t though of moving? Going away?” I ask him. He turns to me, his fingers gracing the water as it moves through.

  “If I did, where would I go? World is so big and vast, all I’ve known here is home. Everyone…isn’t like here.”

  He says, and maybe he’s right, so I won’t press on further. If this is all he’s known, then going into the unknown with a possible risk of death or serious factors might not be the best move.

  Especially if every other place here is like Korioh Landings.

  “I understand. National Park, Korioh Landings. It’s…it’s something.”

  My words truly do speak my heart. I couldn’t give the place a compliment even if I wanted to. The mask I’ve been trying to keep on has been slipping.

  And I think Wayne sees right through it.

  His black eyes connect with mine, weirdly enough, but they do. He’s not scanning, he’s just looking. Trying to connect something that may or may not be there.

  That face of his becomes one of questioning now, and he continues.

  “Tell me, did the Republic ever tell you of the details here?”

  The Republic is mentioned again. And clearly, he knows more than I do. If I could just shut him and say “classified” for an answer, will he take it?

  Probably. It worked last time.

  But it’s different now. He’s questioning, there’s a certain answer he wants.

  I shrug, “…can barely remember. All I know is that they needed someone over here for six months.”

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  He slowly nods, maybe realizing something? Regardless, Wayne continues to press on.

  “Weird, isn’t it? To send one of their own to a national park. Wasn’t sure if it was in their guidelines to do community service.”

  His words carry a brief skepticism. I can’t tell if it’s targeted at me, or at the Republic itself.

  “Whatever pays the bill.” I respond shortly.

  “Even at the cost of slavery?”

  The words hang in the air like a guillotine.

  For a second, I forgot how to breathe.

  And for another brief second. I could feel it.

  My blood turning cold.

  My eyes widened.

  It’s already too late to regain my composure, it felt like Wayne exposed me, but not at all.

  No, no.

  He’s questioning my ethics.

  My next words are chosen carefully, “Depends on the context. You don’t get to pick your assignments.”

  My mask fumbled right through my hands, and with that, I scrambled up enough time to pick back up again.

  I roll my eyes, tightening my mask. “It’s within human nature to dominate and control. Anyone who’s, well, lesser than us…will need to bend down.”

  Wayne looks at me. And I can see it. That same disappointment he had when we encountered Flugel. But instead?

  It’s being used towards me.

  “What makes the Oni different from you? Is it because of their pointed ears? Or different skin color?”

  His words are picking up with more speed now. He’s becoming slightly more aggressive.

  “If I said it was based on culture, would you believe me?”

  “Hardly.”

  I splash some water on my face to buy me more time to come up with another deceiving lie. He’s on the attack here. Judging my morals.

  He knows I’m a ranchmaster. He knows that, but why is he questioning me now? Is it because we both share human traits?

  No, he would’ve done the same thing with Flugel.

  Does Wayne think that I’m any different?

  What if he’s a spy that’s trying to rat me out?

  “The Oni are spectacular, but let’s be honest here. Quite frankly, none of this is my problem.” I blurt out. Wanting to be as neutral as I can.

  But Wayne isn’t picking up on it. He’s not dropping it, and he’s still pressing on.

  “Oh. Whatever helps pay the bills, right?” His mocking tone feels like an insult. Inviting for a fight, but I disregard it.

  I just need to protect my cover. That’s all.

  “Wayne, if you want to go ahead and be ‘Captain Liberator’, go ahead. Leave me out of your business.”

  The tension drops. A subtle, beat.

  A beat where I can breathe.

  If he continued, I wouldn’t have anymore time to lie. And accidentally could’ve said a line that would do immense damage to my image.

  He looks away, and then looks at the water. His brown hair casting back his image in the reflection.

  “Then…then how can you live? Huh? How can you live knowing that this is something they are going through?”

  I don’t spend to much time thinking on his line. If I do, it’ll eat me from the inside. I know that much.

  “Maybe…maybe this is just the result of something bigger Karma, maybe. I don’t know.” I respond.

  “And that requires slavery?”

  A subtle attack to my heart. I exhale slowly. I can feel myself slipping.

  “It’s not like I planned this. Some people pay with money. Others pay with blood.”

  “A debt doesn’t go on for a century. That’s anything but a debt. It’s a damn abuse of power.”

  It feels nauseating to even defend this. I can’t, but I have to continue.

  “Human nature—“

  “How long are you going to blame human nature for your own choices as well as for everyone else!”

  His voice booms, startling me. His breath rises, almost panting.

  “You have the chance to change, and the strength to inspire. Is that not enough? Or is it simply not your decision? Are you the type to watch others suffer?”

  “W-what? No…it’s just…not my problem.”

  “Not your problem…? Then tell me, do you think you’re any better than Flugel just because you smile more?”

  My mouth opens, but nothing comes out but half pronunciations. Struggling to form a sentence, I admit that I can’t even begin to come up with another lie.

  For the longest, it’s been eating at me. I’ve never been challenged this much before. And…and if this is a spy, so be it.

  Because I can’t do this anymore.

  I can’t.

  The silence falls between us. Neither of us say a word until Wayne speaks again.

  “So…how long?” He begins.

  “…how long until someone from outside finds out about this place? That this isn’t a National Park, but just. glorified slave chain?”

  I don’t say anything.

  I let the silence sit.

  And for once?

  I could care less if he was a spy.

  Or anything else.

  Just for once. I need to breathe.

  To take off the mask that’s been suffocating me since I’ve got here.

  And so I did.

  I took it off, just slightly. Just enough to breathe. And to be me.

  I open my mouth.

  “…you think anyone would care even if we did tell them?”