The Last Human: Chapter 7

“So…how are we going to do this, not that I care, that is?” Fido questioned dispiritedly.

The two of us were climbing down the hill. From the lighting of the sun over the horizon, I could tell we’ve been up there for about an hour. Hands behind my back, Fido and I sauntered into town. Everyone seemed to be avoiding us as we returned like we had the plague, or something. I believed it had to do with me visiting the “witch”, which gave me an idea.

I stopped and shouted, “If any of you know where the mayor’s office is, point me to that direction! If you don’t, I’ll have the witch strike you’ all down!”

Everyone turned and looked at me. They were all terrified. One of them managed to have the guts to point me to town hall. Thanking the person, Fido and I strolled over east of Windsworth, heading to the building at the end. Town hall didn’t look any different from the rest of the village, except that it was two stories taller. I walked in and was met with the receptionist.

“Excuse me, I would like to see the mayor, please,” I asked politely.

I stood in front of the receptionist’s table that was writing down some documents on her desk. She stopped and looked up.

She inquired indifferently, “Do you have an appointment?”

I answered, “No, I don’t.”

“I’m sorry, but you need an appointment to see the…hey!”

I didn’t have time for this nonsense. So, Fido and I proceeded up the stairs towards the mayor’s office. We both tuned out the receptionists’ rants, even the part where I think she might have called security. If so, then we had to be quick.

Heading down the hall, we stormed into the last room on the left. I could tell it was the mayor’s office because it had his sign on the door. Fido and I gingerly walked in, closing the door behind us and sauntered up to his desk. The noise alerted the mayor, causing him to turn his attention from his work towards us.

“You! You’re the boy from earlier! The one who was about to go up to the witch’s lair! What is it that you want?!” he questioned, demanding in a threatening tone.

With a serious glare, I answered straightforwardly, “I want to know the truth about the witch! Why did you help bury her mother?! What do you have to gain for spreading rumors about a 15-year-old girl being dangerous?!”

The mayor sighed, putting his pen down and stood up from his desk. However, before he could respond, the same two guards from earlier burst through the door with batons in their hands.

Right before they could take us away, the mayor raised his hand and ordered them to cease their apprehension. They complied, letting us go and stepped out of the room.

With a stern glance, the mayor explained everything, “So, you know the truth that the weather witch isn’t who everyone thought she would be. I could tell you what my connection with the witch is and why I had to deceive my whole town, but you won’t be able to like it.”

I listened in closely. Fido, on the other hand, was indifferent and just sat near the door, waiting for our conversation to end.

He continued, staring out his office window with hands behind his back, “Now, you’ve met Tempest, I presume. It explains where you obtained the information on all this. However, the reason for this whole deception is that Tempest…is my daughter.”

There it was! The revelation of the matter! Apparently, the mayor and the previous weather witch were in a secret relationship, one that no one—not even the mayor’s receptionist—knew about, and the knowledge of them conceiving a daughter together would cause trouble for the latter.

“Years ago, before I became mayor of the town, I was previously an alderman. Back then I was a young man when I met the weather witch. I was given a letter from my predecessor. Traveling up the hill, I was tasked with delivering the letter to the witch…and that’s when I met her. Her name was Elektra and she was the original witch of Windsworth.

She was sitting on the ground, staring out the horizon, when I saw her. At first, she was reclusive. She didn’t socialize with anyone. Even when I handed her the letter, she only said ‘thank you’ before returning to her spot. However, that wasn’t the last time I saw her. The next day, I went to see her again. That time, she was expecting me.

She asked me why I came back, knowing that I didn’t have anything for her. I couldn’t find the right words to say. She was so beautiful; I was tongue-tied. I managed to speak and told her how beautiful she was. She laughed. Afterwards, we spent more time together. When I wasn’t working, I would visit her. Then, one night, we fell in love and fell into a night of pass…”

“Okay! Okay! That’s enough! I didn’t ask for that much details!” I interrupted, cringing in disgust before the mayor finished.

Fido turned around and stared at us, saying with slight enthusiasm, “I wouldn’t mind hearing more your promiscuous scandal.” The mayor and I just cringed while looking at the robot dog.

“Anyways…we kept our affair a secret for years until the day Tempest was born. Then, 2-years-ago, I saw Elektra dead before our daughter. I couldn’t stay mad at Tempest. It wasn’t her fault. I should’ve convinced her mother to practice their magic in a more open area,” he added, berating himself for his negligence. “After I buried her mother, I told Tempest that everything was going to be alright. So, I went around town, telling everyone that the witch has turned against us because, being young and still not use to her powers, it was the only way to protect her.”

“Does she know you’re her father?” I asked with a glare.

“…No!” he trailed with regret in his tone.

Taking a deep breath, I left the room with Fido behind me. Before I headed out the door, I twirled and said to the mayor sternly, “You’re daughter’s not going to learn anything if she’s cooped in that weather station, you know! It’s better if she leaves the village and sees the world! That’s why, when I go back up there, I’m going to show her the outside world!”

The mayor was about to stop us, but even with his hand extended, he didn’t utter a word. Instead, he let us leave because he knew I was right. I was able to read it on his face.

25-minutes-later…

Climbing back up the hill, I barged through the weather station where I was met with confused looks from Tempest who was sitting in a chair, in front of the scanners.

“So…did you learn what you needed to learn?” she asked.

I didn’t say anything. Walking over, I took a seat at the control panel. She was waiting for a response. I can’t blame her, coming back and not saying a word.

After two minutes, I finally replied, “Yes, I have and now I have something to ask you.” I cracked my neck. The stress was putting too much tension in my tenets.

“How would you like to leave town and come travel the world with us? You could learn some new things and help you master your powers.”

Tempest was surprised by my offer. Her eyes-widened in astonishment as the offer was too much for her to think.

Opening her mouth, she was about to answer, “I…I can’t. This is my home, and I don’t want to abandon it, even if the people fear and hate me.”

I can understand her rejection. It’s difficult to leave the only home you ever known. However, I still do not believe she would be happy living in Windsworth.

Standing up, I was preparing to head back to the inn.

I reassured her patiently, “Very well, then. Fido and I will be leaving town. If you change your mind, you know where to find us.”

We sauntered out, leaving Tempest behind.

20 minutes had passed. I stood at the exit way of the village, gripping the leather strap of my rucksack as I waited for the little witch girl to show up.

“She’s not coming, Akira. Of course, it was never going to happen. She’s too attached to this plane of misery.” Fido’s depressing remark made sense. It was highly unlikely that she take up on the offer. So, I was about to continue on with our journey, but right before we took another step, we halted as we heard someone shout, “Wait!” from behind us.

We turned around and saw Tempest waving towards us, having a backpack in hand while running as fast as she could. When she caught up to us, she slowed down and tried catching her breath.

“I thought it over and…I would like to come with you,” she confirmed enthusiastically.

I smiled. I was happy to hear that. I questioned happily, “What made you change your mind?”

“I thought what you said before that I’ll learn more outside the town, and…you’re right, I won’t be able to learn anything if I stay here. So, why not go with you guys and see the world!” she addressed, having a small grin on her face.

I saw she was holding a gym bag over her shoulder. Probably, containing her clothes and other necessities. With that, we headed off to God knows where.

I turned and asked Tempest, “Aren’t you worried the townsfolk might’ve saw you?”

She replied while waving her hand nonchalant, “Oh, they already saw me. However, thanks to this, I was able to blend in.” she pointed to her hooded cape at the end of the sentence.

Looking at it, Tempest resembled little red riding hood due to the color of the cape. I shrugged it off and continued our way down the path.

“Don’t worry, by the time I return, I’ll have mastered my powers to the point where I can help everyone!” she reassured.

What will await us at our next destination, we’ll just have to wait and see.