#practical advice

Today, however, he found himself drawn into the heart of the village—a place he'd often avoided. The usual bustle of daily life was interrupted by raised voices. Kinich narrowed his gaze, stepping into the shadows of a nearby structure, careful not to be seen. His ears picked up the harsh words before his eyes found their source.

“You’ve lost it again?!”

Your voice rang out like a storm, cutting through the hum of the village. Kinich’s sharp hearing didn’t miss a single word, and the intensity in your tone was unmistakable. His head tilted slightly as he watched you. Normally composed and calculating, today you sounded more like Citlali, the village elder renowned for her temper. The sight of you standing in front of a group of newer couriers—hands clenched into fists, eyes wide with fury—was enough to make even the toughened warriors of the tribe pause.

“I told you once! I told you twice!” Your voice echoed through the air, making the younger couriers shrink back. “You can’t be goofing off while you’re supposed to be working! You think this is a game? You lost packages! You lost letters! And I can’t even count how many times you’ve brought things back damaged!”

Kinich's sharp eyes scanned the group, catching the guilty expressions on the couriers’ faces. He wasn’t surprised—they were young and inexperienced, still learning the weight of responsibility. But the way they flinched under your wrath? That was something new.

He raised an eyebrow, noting that not even Ajaw, who was always nearby, seemed to be around. The relic (?) had a strange way of disappearing when the situation became too chaotic. Kinich had seen it happen before.

“You’ve ruined everything! This is serious!” Your voice escalated, becoming louder and more furious, a storm of anger crashing over the hapless couriers. “We’re supposed to deliver these things with care, with responsibility! Do you understand that?!”

Kinich couldn’t help but smirk to himself, his hands resting lightly on his jacket that's tied around his waist. His cold, calculating demeanor was the opposite of yours—he would never let his emotions slip to such an extent, even in the face of failure. But watching you tear into the couriers like this was strangely fascinating.

He remained hidden in the shadows, observing you with interest as your fury reached its peak. Your frustration was tangible, and for a moment, Kinich felt a rare, fleeting sense of amusement at seeing you like this. It was… unexpected, to say the least.

“Answer me!” you screamed, your voice almost deafening as you stood, fists trembling in anger. Kinich felt the heat of the moment in the air, the tension practically crackling around you.

For the first time since he had started watching, Kinich took a step forward, his presence finally breaking through the chaos. The couriers didn’t even notice him at first, still too caught up in their own unease. But you did. Your fierce eyes immediately locked onto him, your frustration morphing into a mix of confusion and exasperation.

“Kinich,” you said, your voice more composed now, though still filled with irritation. “What are you doing here?”

Kinich’s eyes narrowed slightly, taking in the scene. “I was watching,” he replied simply, his voice low and steady. “You were… quite loud.”

You let out an exasperated sigh, rubbing your temples as you turned away from the couriers. “Can’t you see I’m dealing with idiots? They keep screwing up the deliveries and—” You cut yourself off, not wanting to waste any more energy on the mess.

Kinich tilted his head, observing you with an unreadable expression. “You did warn them,” he said, his tone pragmatic as always. “But if they don’t listen, then what is left to do?”

You shot him a glare, though it lacked the venom it had moments before. “I don’t know… maybe I just wanted them to get it before it was too late. But they don’t seem to care about the consequences.”

Kinich’s eyes flicked to the young couriers, who were now awkwardly standing in silence. “They’ll learn eventually,” he said, stepping closer to you. “But maybe you need a different approach. They’re not as experienced as you.”

You let out a frustrated huff, crossing your arms over your chest. “Yeah, well, I’m sick of dealing with their mistakes.”

Kinich regarded you for a moment, his expression unreadable. “It’s not your fault they failed,” he said quietly, his voice carrying a calm, measured tone that was almost foreign to the situation. “But you might need to show them more than just your anger. Teach them what you know. They can learn from you if you guide them.”

You blinked, caught off guard by his words. It wasn’t like Kinich to offer anything resembling advice, let alone the kind of calm wisdom you desperately needed. For a brief moment, there was silence between the two of you, and even the couriers seemed to shrink back slightly under the weight of his words.

You nodded, reluctantly acknowledging the point. “Yeah, I guess… I just… I don’t know how much more I can take.”

Kinich stepped back, his eyes still focused on you, unreadable. “You’ll figure it out,” he said simply. “If you need help… ask.”

With that, he turned away, his footsteps silent against the dirt path. The couriers, for the first time, seemed to breathe a little easier. But your gaze lingered on his retreating form, a strange sense of relief mixed with frustration in your chest. Kinich, with his practical approach and cold demeanor, was never the one to show compassion in the way you might have expected. But for a brief moment, it had felt like… maybe he understood.