Tear A Path 156 Leaving

"So you're really leaving huh?" Chora said with a sigh as he watched Zhao Wei load his stuff onto the carriage, some how it became two carriages again. With all the materials from Jormugandr he needed the s.p.a.ce, especially after a large part of the bottom floor of the front carriage was turned into an air pressure engine room. Zhao Wei couldn't risk letting Myra and Panda live on top of it as he was scared that they would end up breaking the floor and damage the makes.h.i.+ft engine he worked so hard to build.

Instead he made s.p.a.ce for them in the second carriage on top of a storage room, even after giving most of it away to Dracas there was enough meat for them to get sick off on their next trip. As Zhao Wei heard the voice he turned and scratched his head, "Who were you again?"

"Wha... But.. I." Chora remembered that he hadn't actually been acquainted with Zhao Wei, he saw him once when he stormed the council and another time while he was dying. As for keeping everyone from interrupting him while he was processing the meat, Chora did that on his own, and it's not like he announced it for Zhao Wei to hear. So how should Zhao Wei know who he was.

"Umm.. my name is Chora..." He mumbled, embarra.s.sed after acting so close and yet not being recognized, "I'm the guy who takes care of Sola now."

"Oh!! How is she?" Zhao Wei brightened up a little at the thought of her.

"She's doing fine, though she doesn't give herself time... always trying to help out or prove herself, you know after that..." Chora's voice faltered, he came here with the thought of chatting but it seemed the longer he spoke the worse the atmosphere became.

Finally finished, Zhao Wei turned to Chora, "So what's the plan for Dracas from now on."

"Well we are... Eh! You knew!?" Chora asked.

"I wasn't sure at first, but I saw you with Sola once before I died and I hear stories, sounds like Dracas is in pretty good hands." Zhao Wei smiled.

"Yeah well... actually I was wondering if you'd let us use those blue prints for that machine you have in there that you gave to the black smith?" Chora continued, pointing at Zhao Wei's carriage.

"Oh... you're moving?" Zhao Wei asked, surprised. "I thought you were waiting for your brethren, don't you have enough food for awhile?"

"We do, but the Jormugandr had sucked this place dry, we aren't really sure when it'll be able to properly sustain life for the next ten years, and by our count, it's meat would at most last 2. Besides, we already had plans to move before but just couldn't risk getting taken out by it, now that it's dead, out routes are free." He explained. "At the end of the day, if what you say is true and the world has really changed, then we're not sure when our people would find their way back here, if they ever will..."

"Well I wish you luck then." Zhao Wei could only give a rea.s.suring smile, in a world like this, he'd done all he could as he met them, whatever happens to them while out of his sight was none of his business anymore.

"You're not going to say goodbye to Sola?... even now?" Chora prodded.

"I still can't face her... I took her life, her family away from her..." He missed the little b.u.g.g.e.r, but that was out of the cards right now. "Maybe in the future, if we meet again I'll know what to say..."

"Well... I think that future's coming sooner than you expected." Chora smiled.

"Huh?" he turned just soon enough to see a small shadow move behind him, suddenly two little arms grappled his neck.

"Hey uncle!! you haven't visited for so long." A blonde little girl held his neck trying to choke him out, of course she didn't have the strength but just for the sake of it, he pretended that it hurt.

"Ah! oxygen leaving me... Gravity too strong!" He fell down, right on her, holding her back and head.

"Uncle!! You're too heavy!!" Sola whined as she tried to pry her self out from under him.

"How dare you, are you saying I'm fat! come here!!" He was going in to tickle her, but he stopped as he saw her. Was it alright for him to be happy with her? Wasn't this where Solith and his wife were supposed to be.

Just then he felt the something touch his hair, looking up he saw Sola come forward and pat him. "Daddy always said that... 'no matter what problems you face, as long as you smile you'll be fine no matter what comes your way.'"

"Your daddy might be right..." hearing him say so, Sola gave a toothy grin before she felt herself being picked up. "But you're to old to lecture me!" Zhao Wei said as he held her in his armpits and began to tickle her properly this time.

Myr who came with her joined Chora who was watching them. "Somehow I feel a little jealous..." Chora said.

"It's fine..." Myr sighed. "They share a connection of their own, while we will have our own kind with her."