literature

Naomi's Story 3

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Chapter 3: Regret


Naomi didn't want to be around when Lanei's body was found, but she realized a little too late that it had taken her a few hours to finish the book.

"Yeah, they found her," Aaron said as Naomi peeked out from the inn window. "Now I'd advise you to keep that gun hidden. You just had to use one of the most uncommon weapons on the continent, didn't you?"

"Excuse me, but it's not every day I go planning how to kill someone the right way."

"No. Of course not."

Naomi kept staring out the window. Every word Aaron said sounded regretful. Every one of her own thoughts was conflicted. She'd chosen her path, and wouldn't back away from it. What stung more than anything was the despair she'd brought upon the people in the village. Although she hadn't spoken to anyone save Aaron since the assassination, she could easily see that no one was smiling anymore. People wouldn't speak with each other. They'd give passing glances and scuffle away, minding their own business. Nobody went near the alley where Lanei's body had been found. Occasionally, Naomi saw people crying as they walked, some trying to hide their tears, some not.

Seekers were heroes to normal people. Naomi knew that much, accepted it, and respected it. She respected the Seekers herself. Wherever they went, they were followed by hope and happiness. If one was killed, of course fear would ensue.

"Don't regret it," Aaron said.

"I'm not regretting it. I'm reflecting upon it."

"They'll give you another assignment now."

"Who?"

"Us. The 'Anti-Seekers.' We'll meet with an informant in a few hours, he'll tell you who you need to take out, and where he is."

Informant? Naomi pondered it. If someone was collecting information on Seekers, why couldn't he kill them himself? Assassination didn't require much—if any—skill if done correctly. That aside, if Aaron didn't want to kill anyone, why was he scheduled to meet an informant? Had he contacted someone after Naomi had agreed to work for him?

"I talked to him—told him about you."

"You did that while I was reading, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"How much did you tell him?" Naomi didn't know anything about this informant. For all she knew, he could be a double agent, or he could leak something better kept secret.

"Nothing."

"What!?"

"He knows, at least, that there's a second anti-Seeker in town and that 'he' is the one who killed Lanei."

"Aaron. You should tell me these things. I need to know as much as I can. How did you kill the ripper, for one. If I come across one as I am now—no joke, I'll die."

"Experience," Aaron answered. When Naomi looked at him, she saw that he had finished the previous day's sculpture and had moved on to a new one. "Practice a lot. It takes years—no, just months if you train right. You learn things. You'll wish you hadn't learned some of them. You'll see things that'll change you. Forever."

"More than I've already seen?"

"You're an 'anti-Seeker.' Your whole life now is a war."

Naomi let the statement sink in and watched Aaron's woodworking. As the chips fell away, Naomi lost her sense of time in the rhythmic clunks of the chisel on wood. It was starting to resemble a bird that Naomi identified as a dove. Its mostly-finished wings were spread and raised, its head pointed into the air. It looked like it could take flight at any time, and for a moment, Naomi imagined it doing just that.

"We need to go," Aaron said, breaking into Naomi's daydream. His bird disappeared and he left the room, Naomi in tow.

"Who's this 'informant' guy?" she asked. "Is he an anti-Seeker, too? Sounds like you don't trust him much, though."

"He's not an anti-Seeker," said Aaron. "And I don't trust him with any information about you, though he knows everything about me." He and Naomi maneuvered around a few people in the lobby and left the inn. The streets were the same as they'd been since the assassination. Naomi noticed Aaron staring at one person—a man about his own age who was speaking with a few guards.

"He's an independent information guru—doesn't favor either side. He doesn't like the Seekers, but he doesn't like us either. If there's hype about a Seeker, he'll tell an anti-Seeker. And vice versa."

Aaron approached the guy near the guards. All of them turned to face him.

"Aaron," said the man in a tone halfway between mindless fury and forced control. "You didn't do this. Who did?"

"I don't know. Nathan was in town, though."

"Who's Nathan?"

"You didn't hear? One more anti-Seeker came to town a few days ago. He could have done it. I haven't contacted him, though. It's entirely possible that it was a third-party job. Maybe it was Opeil?"

"Nonsense. You know who did it! Lanei wouldn't be killed by any low-rate mercenary or scum like Opeil."

"Opeil kept a ripper in a control room, Paul. He even had assets I didn't foresee. As you and Lanei came here with the same purpose as I did, I decided not to interfere."

The man—Paul—looked away for a moment. "A third party could be dangerous to you as well, depending on the complications."

"Anything from a serial killer to just a kid who found a gun on the street."

"Right. And Aaron . . . about Opeil. Seems he escaped without his right arm. It was you who took him out initially, right?"

"Nope. I'd have to assume that was Nathan."

Paul cast him a sour look. "Don't say that so casually—that guy could have killed Lanei! I know you couldn't have cared less what happened to her, but she was my friend! If I do find this Nathan guy, I'll kill him."

Throughout this conversation, Naomi had kept her head down. She looked up at Paul when he finished speaking.

"You brought Elina with you? Aaron, please—don't get her involved in these sorts of things."

"She's not involved. I brought her with me because I suspected you people to raid my house."

"I'd fight to the death to protect your daughter, Aaron. You know I wouldn't let anyone touch her."

Aaron scoffed. "Protect my daughter but plan to kill me. You lead quite an ironic life, Paul."

"And you're one to talk?"

"Ha. I suppose so."

Paul cast a sad smile at Naomi and turned away. As he left the city, Naomi could hear his brisk, metallic footsteps on the cobblestone street.  She held a hand to her chest. The footsteps matched her heartbeat.

"Aaron," said Naomi. "You three have the most awkward relationship I've ever seen."

"How so?" Aaron questioned as he began walking toward a three-story stone building. A sign beside the door read:


Paek Residence


"You and Paul both love your daughter—Elina."

"I'll tell you that story sometime if you're interested. In any case, you look almost exactly like her. Continue."

"That, and you plan to kill him. Paul, that is. I figure, if Elina loves both of you as much as you love her, either of your deaths will cause enormous pain to her . . ."

"Go on."

". . . which is why neither of you are dead yet. Even though he's a Seeker and you're an anti-Seeker."

Aaron opened the door to the Paek residence, but paused for a moment. "Stay here," he told Naomi. "I'll be out in a few minutes."

The door swung shut behind him. Naomi walked across the street and looked around the city. Only days ago, she had been wandering the place, donned in a cloak and looking for people who needed help. Now she was part of a war that involved almost all if the continent—if not all of it. There were multiple sides, the prominent ones being the Seekers, the anti-Seekers, and the independents. Those aside, there were people who couldn't care less and people who hated both.

"Just politics to the extreme," Naomi muttered to herself.

But in politics, both sides had equal platforms—the same funds and the same assets, whereas the Seekers had multiple strongholds, powerful magic users, and lots of money. The anti-Seekers had, at most, money for a few horses, some equipment, and some food.

I just joined a war halfway through on the losing side, Naomi realized. This war probably isn't about to be changed by one person—me, in this case. There isn't any one Seeker whose death could end it all. That means I could give it my all, do everything right, exceed everyone's expectations and standards, but my side could still lose. Of course I'm prepared for that. I'd prefer it not to happen, though.


About five minutes passed before Aaron came out of the house. He met Naomi where she stood.

"Let's move," he said. "We'll have to get over to Mariim by tomorrow night."
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