Page 418 of Light Leech

He died.

“No, he didn’t. Tevon couldn’t have died. He was always the strongest.”

Matvey stood next to him. He greeted me in our Medislavian dialect.

The words didn’t sound right.

“You’ve been away for too long. You’re forgetting your native tongue.”

Zhu?

“Look who that is.”

I turned to see another person step forward. Arabasian. Sharp features. Slim, yet muscular. Long black hair in a warrior’s braid.

“I heard you’ve been taking care of everyone.”

“I… I’m trying, Keiro,” I said.

He smirked. He looked much happier than he had been during the last months of his… since the last time I had seen him.

I looked at the others. Mama. Oche. My parents hadn’t aged a day.

“Come.” Naoma reached her hand out pulling my forward with the wave of her finger. “It’s been a long fight, but it’s over now. You did it, Pet.”

I took the first step.

“No!”

“Yes!”

“Wake up, bakuh!”

“You’ve won! Take what you deserve!

Two voices fought within me. The first was rough yet comforting in an odd manner. The second was sharp, yet intelligent. Enticing.

I walked forward and took Naoma’s hand. I felt light headed but knew it was my nerves acting out for being with her.

Keiro clapped his hand on my shoulder, then left it there. His touch was cold. “I’m proud of you Pet-kun.”

It was him. He treated me like a younger brother. “Keiro…” I said, not knowing what to say next.

“You err in your logic, bakuh.”

“He never left your side.”

I smiled up at him.

Boyband stepped forward and placed his foot on mine. “Gotta say, you had me worried, but I knew you could pull it off.”

His foot was cold. Keiro’s touch was frigid. Naoma’s hand was freezing.

“Petya!”

“Refreshing, isn’t it?”

The second voice was louder now.