Drifters

Inti's Watcher

It took Razan a few minutes to change clothes, to warm up, and to check the list of who was in the lead.

Rani had apparently reached the top of the glacier four seconds before he had. This did not surprise him. Just before he turned away from the list, Ariharu's name appeared as the eighth person to win, after two Diamonds. Razan decided he'd have to ask his friend for suggestions on how to handle heights.

Setting that aside for the moment, he requested to be transported to Innoka. She was more important than watching a list fill up.

After a few seconds the blue glow covered him, and he landed in her room.

She was sitting on her bed, rubbing her eyes. "How did you do?"

"As a group, well. Personally, poorly," he answered, then sat down next to her. "I heard you scream."

"Yeah." She hesitated, then leaned against him in a hug. "I couldn't do it. I tried. I keep trying, but every time we have to climb, I fail. I practice, I train with Rani, but in contests, when it matters, I panic. I'm dragging my team down."

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"No, it can't be that important. Not every contest involves climbing."

Innoka was silent for a few seconds, wiping away fresh tears. "Not every contest, but a lot of them. I can't handle any. I have fun when it's just fighting or finding things, but this type of contest makes me want to go home."

Razan slowly stiffened as her words sank in. "Do… you want to leave?"

"Usually, no. Right now? Yes. I told you; nothing feels real here. It's all just a very strange dream. Maybe it's time I wake up."

He felt himself go cold, felt his mind go numb. Of course she was going to leave. Naturally she would go back to her family. People never stayed long in his life. Either he moved, they moved, they died, or, if he stayed in one place long enough, he'd get abducted by aliens. Honestly, he didn't know why he'd thought things would be different here.

Finally he realized he had to respond. And there was only one thing he could say. "It is your decision."

Innoka looked up at him, surprised. "You won't try to convince me to stay?"

"I have no right to. I very much do not want you to go, but I have no authority to tell you what to do."

"Razan… I won't be deciding today, but... thank you."

"It is your decision," he repeated, getting to his feet.

"I'm sorry," she said, watching him step away from her. "A part of me wants you to stay, but- I need to think things through. Thank you for coming to check on me."

Razan smiled at her, fully aware his eyes were betraying his emotions. "Is there anything you need?"

"No."

He bowed, then turned to walk out her door. With any luck, Antoni would be in their area and say something insulting. Razan desperately needed something to punch.