My Beloved | Neteyam

After the Ilu ride lesson, the whole group explored the oceanic abysses together so the Omaticayas could get used to the feeling of being heaved underwater. Their amazement was even stronger than the day before. Only joy prevailed in the group. No mockery, no teases, just marvels and smiles.

Back on the shore, the Sully kids were overjoyed at their success. It brought a smile to Rewonay's lips that only grew when she saw her father riding his Tsurak with Toruk Makto beside him. The entire family had succeeded.

The group headed to the bay to work further on their breathing capacity. Rewonay had planned to delegate her authority to Ao'nung while she was away training with her father. Though now seeing him triggering with Rotxo about the Sully kids, she was not so sure about her choices anymore.

She struggled to understand what pushed him to behave in such a way. It was not like he needed the validation of his friends. Ao'nung was respected across the village. Maybe more than Rewonay herself. Unlike her, Ao'nung was normal.

"Did you see how he fell off?" Ao'nung snickered, nodding at Lo'ak who had heard it very well. An annoyed frown appeared on his face while he rolled his eyes. "That was hilarious,"

"Even children did better than him," Rotxo mocked.

"Babies did better,"

The muscles on Lo'ak's tensed. His jaw was clenched. He was clearly trying his best not to snap at the two boys. He probably did not want to cause any trouble, especially when the one that annoyed him was the son of the village that welcomed him. Though, bottling up feelings would only cause them to eventually explode in broad daylight later. And Rewonay knew that.

"Ao'nung," Rowenay called. The second son turned his older sister. "We need to talk,"

She did not let him the time answer that she walked away, implying him to follow her. Ao'nung briefly looked at Tsireya who shrugged, not knowing what had gotten to their sister. Still, the only son of the family followed suit while Tsireya led the others to sit on a rocky piece of land.

"What is it?" Ao'nung asked when had joined his sister. They were not too far from the group yet not too close enough that they could hear.

"I don't like how you become a whole different person when you're around your friends,"

Ao'nung seemed a little surprised by Rewonay's words at first. But he quickly regained his composure and wore an indifferent expression, standing straight as if with pride. Rewonay frowned.

"I don't know what you're talking about,"

With that said, Ao'nung began to return to the group. That was the move not to do. It seemed like he had not realized who he was talking to.

"I didn't give you permission to leave,"

The boy stopped and turned back to his sister again, visibly shocked by the firmness of her voice. He had already been scolded by Rewonay before but this time it was different. There was something more mature, something... Chief-like in her voice. She was not addressing him as a sister but as Eykyu.

"Mocking people, picking fights, you don't do that when you're with Tsireya and me," Rowenay continued. Ao'nung kept quiet and stared somewhere away from her, bearing a bored expression though she knew better. She knew her brother. "It doesn't make you look cool. It makes you look like a horrible spoiled brat. And we both know you're not like that,"

Still, her words seemed to not be heard by him. Ao'nung was stubborn. He refused to hear. If he did not care about what image he was sharing, then perhaps she should take another approach.

"Think about the image you convey. You are the son of an Olo'eyktan. You are Metkayina. You represent Metkayina. If you behave badly, how does it look for Ma sempul?"