Conor and Abeke - A Father's Approval (Tour Nilo)

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Dedicated to PurpleRaptor for participating in the mini-games. Please check out Raptor's SA one-shots cause it's awesome!

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The Four Fallen decided to show their homeland to their friends and start touring around Erdas to their homes.

Their next stop was Nilo, the home of our favorite hunter. Though things get a little tense when Pojalo and Conor meet once more. What will he do when he needed her father's approval?

Father's approval? Dun dun dun! (Reilin will close up this four-part story in the next part!)

- - -

Nilo Conor thought as the huge ship sailed towards the continent.

Conor didn't have the most happiest memories there. Memorable but not happy. He glanced at Rollan who was laying on his bed, looking up at the ceiling. He knew that he was the one who had mostly affected on their last trip to Nilo.

That was where Tarik had died. His body still buried somewhere near the oasis.

Conor glanced at Abeke who was having a conversation with Meilin. She looked slightly nervous but mostly excited, probably to see her family again. Speaking of her family-

Pojalo, Conor inwardly groaned.

The last time he had talked to Pojalo, it was when they've been trying to convince him to help the Greencloaks. Though he had seen him back at Greenhaven after the war, they haven't talked.

He'd probably choose not to go back there but he stayed silent since Abeke looked happy.

- - -

"Abeke! You've arrive!" The friends had just arrived and as soon as they had entered the village, there stood a Niloan girl.

"Soama," Abeke exclaimed, sounding quite surprised yet happy at the same time.

"Oh it's been quite a while," Soama said as they moved in for a warm hug.

The others just stood aside, letting the sisters have their moment. Conor didn't exactly 'hug' his brothers for they just...they don't do that but he understood the feeling of missing a sibling.

"You guys are here," Conor turned and was quite surprised to find Irtike, their friend who had guided them to Cabaro's oasis.

"Irtike," Rollan greeted, "How's Sna- I mean- Mikak."

Irtike grinned and reached into her cloak. As she took out her hand, their revealed the naked mole rat. Conor didn't want to be rude but, being an honest boy and all, would be lying if he didn't say that the rat looked...not comfortable to look at. Rollan even didn't try to hide it as he flinched at the sight. Meilin had quickly looked away, not wanting the girl to see her own disgust.

Griffin, who stayed undiscovered till now looked at the mole rat in interest. Then he took out the weird device once more and heard snapping noises.

"Hey Irtike," Abeke greeted, giving a tiny wave to Mikak, "How was the village without me?"

"We're doing well," a deep voice replied and they both turned to see the man that Conor was reluctant to meet.

"Father," Abeke said, quickly bowing, the others following suit.

Pojalo didn't show much emotion as he asked, "I'm glad you and your friends arrived safely. There's plenty of room for you to stay at our old hut."

"But where will you and Soama stay?" Abeke asked, confused.

"We'll be staying at the chief's hut, considering i'm the chief of Okaihee," Pojalo replied, "You may stay with us as well."

Abeke glanced back between her father and her friends, clearly unsure.

Irtike then stepped in, saving Abeke, "Chief Pojalo, the hunters are about to go. Can I kindly suggest that maybe they could join them and experience life in Nilo?"

Soama nodded in agreement, "They are visiting."

Pojalo looked at Irtike who tried hard not to flinch under his gaze. He then sighed, "I suppose."

"May I also request to visit Cabaro's former oasis?" Rollan spoke unexpectedly.

Pojalo glanced at him and warned, "The journey there is long and hard."

"I'm willing to go," Rollan insisted firmly.

Conor thought he saw a twinge of understanding in his eyes as he finally spoke, "Very well then. Irtike, since you have escorted them there before, do you mind escorting them once more?"

Irtike nodded, "Of course."

"Very well," Pojalo spoke, "I shall witness the hunting for myself."

- - -

"Do we have to use bows?" Rollan asked as he struggled to put the arrow on the string, "Can't we just run at them and kill them with a dagger?"

"We'll be scaring off the herd all the way to Eura," Abeke replied, "Or they might turn you into the prey."

Rollan scoffed, "Deers eating humans?"

"First of all, they're antelopes, oryxes to be exact. And second, they have horns for a reason, Rollan," Meilin sighed who was having an easier time with the bow. Of course she would since she had trained with almost all the weapons.

"They're what?" Rollan exclaimed.

As the two started started to have a little argument, Conor was having an even harder time than Rollan. Not only was he not skilled with a bow, Pojalo was clearly watching them which didn't make things any easier for him.

Abeke noticed him struggling and she walked towards him, "Need help?"

Conor tried not to blush from embarrassment though he nodded, "I'm more used to herding sheep with staffs then hunting antelopes with bows."

Abeke started instructing him while Conor tried hard to listen. Though it wasn't very easy since Abeke was really, really close to him. Not to mention that he could literally feel her father's glare on him.

"There, you got it," Abeke said, smiling at him, which made Conor forget all about Pojalo as he smiled back.

A couple of minutes later, Rollan had shot an arrow and had entirely missed. Luckily, the antelope hadn't notice because of his way-off shot but one of the hunters had politely told them that they should do the hunting.

As the hunter's kept on hunting, Irtike then went up to Pojalo and started talking quietly to him. Then he spoke urgently to her, making her hesitantly glance at Conor specifically before nodding. Pojalo then fixed him a hard stare as Conor tried not to let his annoyance show.

Irtike approached them and spoke, "We're going to Cabaro's oasis right now if we're ever going to reach back before sunset."

- - -

"How are you so comfortable in climbing trees?" Conor asked but mostly in curiosity as Abeke grinned at him from a tree-branch, Uraza climbing nearby.

They had already reached the oasis and the others were already ahead of them. Conor and Abeke had been traveling on a slow pace.

"Cause it's fun," Abeke simply replied, "Wanna join me?"

"Up on a tree?" Conor said hesitantly, "That's not really my thing."

"And what? Sheep-herding is fun?" Abeke said.

"I'd choose herding-sheep over climbing trees anytime, "Conor exclaimed, "It's more fun then risking yourself from falling such a height!"

"Is the brave Conor who summoned a great leader too scared to climb a tree?" Abeke teased.

"It would be embarrassing if you fall," Conor explained though that wasn't the exact reason. He just wasn't...fond of climbing trees.

Abeke then sighed, "You can't even climb up here and at least accompany your best friend?"

Conor flinched when she said 'best friend' that it made him hesitate for a second. He struggled for an answer, "It's not that..." I don't want to be just 'best friends.'

"Only one way to find out," Abeke said playfully and Conor looked up as he froze, staring at her in disbelief.

She was planning to jump off the branch. A branch that is high up that you can't escape without an injury.

"What are you doing?" Conor exclaimed.

Abeke only gave that kind of cool, cat-like smile then jumped. Everything seemed to go slow yet fast at the same time. Conor didn't remember diving forward towards Abeke. All he knew that she was falling. Conor landed on the ground and a moment later, a huge weight crashed into him, making him groan in pain.

"Conor, are you okay?" Abeke asked anxiously, quickly getting off him, "I wasn't expecting for you to do that."

"Cause I do care," Conor said, wincing but getting up and shaking the pain off, "I can still walk."

As they continued walking, Abeke gave him a small smile, "Thanks."

"What are best friends for?" Conor smiled back, trying to hide the pain as he said that.

"Yeah," Abeke's tone changed which sounded a bit sad as she cast her eyes down.

- - -

Everyone was silent as they stood before the grave where Tarik was buried. Their were stones around where it was now and a little sign that says:

Here lies Tarik and Lumeo
Guardian of the Four Fallen
A mentor
A friend
A Greencloak

No dared break the silence as they stood there in reverence. Not even Griffin dared take a picture as he stood back. After a long while, they started their journey back to the village. They barely spoke, their minds still filled with thoughts of their mentor.

- - -

They had finally reached the village just as the sunset arrived. They were all outside on a long table, the whole village coming out. Chief Pojalo had hosted a feast for their arrival and so now, the whole village was gathering. Their were others beating drums and other instruments as a catchy upbeat song played. Some danced while others sang. The happy mood seemed to have lightened their spirits after their visit.

Conor was seated beside Abeke as she started explaining the things that go on in the village. Conor listened, nodding sometimes and asking questions when he was curious. Throughout the conversation, he tried to ignore Pojalo's hard stare on him as he focused on listening to Abeke.

He then realized that Pojalo, who had been talking to Irtike, stood up and started walking towards him. They both stopped as they glanced at him, unsure why he was walking towards them.

Pojalo then stopped in front of Conor and spoke in a deep voice, "You young man. I must talk to you privately."

"Uh, father?" Abeke asked, "What's this all about?"

"There's some things i'd like to talk about with the young man," Pojalo replied.

"Then i'm coming as well," Abeke told him firmly.

Pojalo seemed as if he was about to refuse but then, he spoke, "Very well. Follow me."

Conor and Abeke exchanged a surprised look before hesitantly following the chief. Some of the tension Conor felt, left him for he was reassured that he wasn't alone.

They stopped behind the hut and Pojalo then spoke, "I have made a decision."

"Decision for what?" Conor asked hesitantly.

"Since I am the chief, I am also Abeke's father," Pojalo went on, "I make the decisions that will best fit my daughter's future and who'd be fit to be husband."

"Uh, father," Abeke said in confusion, "What are you talking about?"

Pojalo didn't answer her directly as he fixed all his attention on Conor, "I have given you approval and I trust you to keep her safe and happy."

They were both silent, still trying to process the words he was saying. Conor then stuttered, "W-What?"

"You have approval from the father to marry my daughter," Pojalo spoke in a more understandable way.

"F-Father," Abeke stammered in confusion, "Aren't we, uh, too young to, uh, talk a-about m-marriage?"

"I don't even understand the word," Conor mumbled.

Pojalo then face-palmed, "Ah of course. I'm supposed to be giving you approval to be her boyfriend."

That's when they both froze, "What?!"

Pojalo didn't seem to talk to them as he muttered, "My age must be messing with my brain. Well, you can't blame an old man who hadn't experienced love for years now."

Pojalo muttered to himself as he started walking back to the feast, leaving a shock and confused Conor and Abeke.

"What just happened?" Abeke finally spoke, her voice etched with disbelief.

"I'm guessing your father just gave me approval to date you," Conor shook his head, "I don't know how you do it in Nilo but it's very...interesting."

Abeke nudged him playfully, "You were going to say something else, liar."

Conor chuckled, "You know what we're supposed to be doing in Nilo right now? Eating."

"Right," Abeke smiled at him as they started walking back to the table.

Conor smiled to himself as he started thinking about what had just happened.

Approval, huh?

- - -

I'm so sorry that took so long! I finally thought of something and updated, yey! Anyways, stayed tuned for part four about Reilin!

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