Naren stared at the man unaware of the words he let slip.
A corner of the man's lips rose, revealing his gums.
"Huh?!"
Vera's eyes widened, as she opened her mouth, trying to diffuse the situation. But Naren spoke first, grabbing his scarf that was still wrapped around Vera.
"I said you look cool."
The man waved his hand, blowing off the protest.
"Aw dawg."
He urged Naren to come, pointing at the burning carcass.
"Come help yourself to some."
Naren sat down right next to the suspicious man as he pulled out a chunk of the burning meat with his bare hand, blowing on it until the flames extinguished and handed it to Naren. When he received it, it was still way too hot. Juggling the meat in his hand Naren tried not to drop it.
Once it finally settled, Naren ripped through the tough exterior, greedily devouring the chunk.
Immediately, he spit it out. The man laughing, as he watched Naren's face contort into a sour expression.
"Don't fuck with it?"
Then he pointed towards Vera who was peering down at them from the snow platform above.
"How bout her? lil girl wanna try some?"
Vera was by now almost drooling. She shook her head, but her stomach growled, giving away her true feelings.
Naren waved her over.
"Come on, shrimpy, try some."
Vera walked over carefully. Sitting down right next to Naren, brushing off the wrinkles on her clothes. She sneezed as the wet clothes had finally gotten to her.
"T-thank you sir...I-Naren and I appreciate the meal."
"You raise right shorty."
The man handed Vera a portion, she held waiting to cool.
Naren took another bite, scrunching his face as he chewed. Forcing it down without chewing all the way, Naren let out a groan of disdain.
"Eugh...It's nasty."
He turned his gaze towards the man.
"You're a great guy. What's your name?"
"Cairo. What about you?"
"Naren. And this is shrimpy."
Naren patted the man in the back.
"Never shoulda called you a freak."
Vera dropped the food that was in her hand as a somber silence enveloped them.
Cairo stood up, an unsettling grin growing on his face, the cloth scabbard falling off his waist as he did. He turned to Naren, staring daggers with his only eye. Grey staring at gold.
"So I wasn't trippin."
Before Naren could even say anything, Cairo's face was already buried into Naren's face, pushing him back. He landed on his back, his shoulder sending waves of pain.
Cairo turned his gaze to Vera, who staggered back in fear.
'Be brav-'
"I was kidnapped by him. I don't know him."
Vera covered her mouth in surprise, Cairo grinning like a maniac as he turned back to Naren.
"Thought you was cool. Now you a liar."
Naren staggered to his feet, grimacing with the pain in his shoulder hanging lifelessly by his side.
"I just said it as I saw it. Freak...Who takes his shirt off in the middle of hell."
Before he could finish, a swift slash arced a few inches from Naren's neck. He stepped back just in time, pivoting over his left leg, sending his right in a horizontal sweep across the floor.
Cairo hopped up, avoiding the sweep, only to see a jab flying at his airborne body. Instead of dodging, however, the shinobi threw his own kunai forward, piercing straight ahead, ready to take the jab head on.
Naren pulled back, avoiding the glowing blade. Both landing back and setting their footing.
The air between them shimmered.
Cairo's skin gave off an amber glow as steam rose from it. Even a few feet away, Naren could feel it. The air grew hotter, drier, and breathing became more of a chore.
Cairo ignited. The oils on his body engulfed in flames licking his forearms in slivers of dancing embers. Like a symphony of cinders, the heat spread through his fingers to the kunai in his hands, catching fire just the same.
Naren clutched his shoulder in pain.
"Neat trick. You do birthdays?"
Cairo shifted, ready to attack, but a sudden voice stole his attention.
"Cease!"
Vera stood holding a broken katana, with a cloth scabbard on the floor.
Cairo's smile disappeared as his eyes took on a monotone look. Like he was a cat watching a mouse playing with his favorite toy.
"Do you want your head rolling?"
The words sent chills down Vera's spine as her legs trembled. Almost taking a step back.
A roundhouse kick came right at Cairo's neck as he was looking at Vera. Then, in rapid succession, a side kick straight to his abdomen, spitting all the air out of Cairo's lungs.
"Atta girl, shrimpy!"
Cairo staggered back, the flames only growing stronger, turning his attention back on Naren.
"What's up? You done..."
Naren's golden eyes glimmered, his words trailing off. His breathing had grown haggard with the air around him altered. Slowly, his eyelids fell as he lost consciousness, slinking to the ground with a thump. All the exhaustion finally catching up to him.
Cairo took a step forward, but Vera came in between him and Naren. Pointing the broken katana at Cairo, evidently struggling under its weight.
"Drop the blade."
Vera shook her head as her legs trembled.
"N-Naren is hurt already. It wasn't fair...He didn't mean anything by-"
Cairo clicked his tongue, as his eyes narrowed on the girl.
"He was already injured?"
Vera nodded, sweat beads falling down her face.
Cairo sighed. Holding his hand out for Vera to return his sword.
Vera held it firmly though.
"Promise me you won't hurt us anymore."
"I won't kill you. Happy?"
Vera relaxed for a bit, but then tightened her grip again.
'What if he's lying.'
Cairo tilted his head.
"I'd rather slit my own throat than lie, shorty."
Vera's hands trembled as she handed over the sword.
Cairo stared at it for a second before taking it. One image flowing through his mind: The bloody hands of a sickly woman shaking while handing him a broken katana. The world around them aflame.
Cairo sat down, putting on a shirt and resuming his meal.
"Shorty, you two should prolly head up soon."
"Pardon?"
"During the day, the ground burns. I doubt you two can survive."
Vera looked at the slumbering body of Naren. Wondering if she could truly carry him up all those stairs.
"How high must I go?"
"All the way, shorty."
Vera's eyes lingered on Naren.
'I can't...I can't carry him.'
Vera wandered over to Cairo, bowing down in sincerity. The man watching with a lack of emotion. It's not like he wasn't move, but more so he didn't care for it.
"C-could you accompany Naren and I, sir?"
A corner of Cairo's lips rose, revealing his gums.
"Huh?!"
Vera staggered back a little, closing her eyes as soon as he spoke.
"I'm not capable of carrying Naren...If I can not...he may die..."
Looking down, Vera's legs were trembling more than she would've like to admit. Something that Cairo definitely picked up on.
"Why bother?"
Vera couldn't give him a good reason. Nothing came to mind. Naren tormented her. He never showed any care for her. It was like she was nothing but a pawn to him. But then she thought of when he slapped her hand, forcing a high five.
Her eyes stared at Cairo, this time with conviction.
"He told me he would take me home..."
Cairo nodded and looked away, clearly not interested.
"...To Atlas."
His gaze instantly turned back to her.
"That clown knows where the Tomb of Atlas is?"
"No..."
Vera took a deep breath to stop her trembling.
"...I do."