The Lemif soldiers, after a long discussion without Rontlos, decided to use a pit that looked like it had been dug by a giant beast as their lodging for the night.
Azwin said,
“If we just lay down some fallen leaves at the entrance, it’ll be the best hiding place, indiscernible to friend or foe alike. But doesn’t it somewhat seem like a giant worm made this? I don’t want to wake up inside a worm’s belly.”
“Then we’ll all be one body.”
“That’s one way to put it, but I don’t fancy becoming one with the dung!”
The soldiers knew better how to survive in the forests of the Sky Mountains. They managed to create a large cover for the hole using only the materials that had fallen to the ground.
When they tried it out, the cover blended perfectly with the surroundings, camouflaged by the fallen leaves. Even Azwin admitted she could lose sight of where the cover was if she looked away for a moment. Yet, the soldiers were not satisfied until they had made several adjustments.
Once the cover was in place, they could not light a fire. The Lemif soldiers endured the chilly night air, relying on their blankets. Azwin and Gerald sat close together, silently conserving their body heat. Someone groped their way between them.
“Sermei?”
“Azwin.”
Sermei said, reaching out and feeling Azwin’s shoulder. The soldiers had made a comfortable and warm bed for Sermei with a special blanket. Yet, she had chosen to come to Azwin’s side instead.
“Yes, yes, come here. It’s not difficult for two knights to protect one princess. Sit between Gerald and me. It’ll be warm.”
Azwin, as if dealing with a lover, took the slender princess by the waist, sat her down next to her, and shared her blanket to cover their legs.
“It’s a pity you follow me so well, Princess, for I have done nothing for you. How is it that you follow me so well?”
Raindrops started hitting the pit cover, followed by a downpour. Gerald stretched his arm long to pull Azwin closer, while Azwin held Sermei by the waist, and Sermei snuggled into their embrace.
It felt as though the earth walls were trembling under the heavy flow of water. Their breaths were heavy, everyone exhausted from the day. Sermei slept without tossing and turning.
“Asleep?”
Azwin asked in a soft voice after a long time of being unable to sleep.
“Yeah.”
“How can you answer while sleeping?”
“This is sleep talking.”
“Amazing! Then answer with sleep talking. What do we do from tomorrow?”
“What?”
“We can’t lead these guys because we don’t speak the language, and we don’t even know which way to go… I can manage with the Carnelock dialect and the language of the northern Irophis, but Lemif is beyond me.”
“It was strange that Rontlos could speak our language. We shouldn’t blame ourselves for not knowing Lemif.”
Gerald sleep-talked with a detailed explanation. Azwin chuckled, then sobered up as she remembered the events of the day.
“Those guys during the day, impressive, right? That encirclement attack, the ambush anticipating our path, the timing of their strike. It was actually very dangerous.”
“It means the enemy has a quite capable commander too.”
“We need a commander too.”
“I’ll go look for Rontlos tomorrow.”
“Without knowing the way?”
“I’ll bring someone.”
“Enemies are all around. It’s dangerous.”
“Then I’ll bring two.”
“So, the rest wait here until you return?”
“If there’s another way, we’ll go with that.”
“I don’t have one. Fine. Let’s think about it again after we sleep. Sleep well.”
“I’m already sleeping.”
Gerald insisted till the end.
☆ ☆ ☆
In the morning, Gerald left with one person, stepping outside the cover. Since they couldn’t communicate through gestures in the dark, they decided to talk under the sun. After nearly half an hour, Gerald came back down after opening the cover.
“I’ve decided to go with someone who knows the way well. Wait here.”
“You’re amazing, aren’t you? How can you have such a conversation without knowing a single word?”
Azwin asked.
“Didn’t you also exchange a few words with Sermei in an emergency?”
“You’ve surpassed that level, Professor Gerald. Anyway, come back soon. If you can’t find him…”
She stopped himself from saying ‘just come back.’ Even if Sermei couldn’t understand, it wasn’t something to say. Azwin fumbled for other words.
“Take care of yourself.”
“I’m more worried about you guys staying here. Don’t make a sound.”
Gerald left with one Lemif, closing the cover behind them.
Silence and darkness enveloped them again as time passed. The Lemif soldiers occasionally spoke in worried tones among themselves. However, they neither approached Sermei nor spoke directly to her, probably out of respect for her high status.
Sermei, aware of this, conserved her words.
“Azwin.”
Sermei tapped her shoulder.
“What?”
From an unseen direction, Sermei lightly touched her. With a gentle touch, she felt Azwin’s face and soon something touched her forehead. It seemed Sermei had leaned her forehead against Azwin’s.
Azwin was taken aback. Gerald’s words came to mind.
‘You two make a picture!’
This might be a Lemif custom, so she couldn’t just dismiss it.
Suddenly, everything went white, followed by a loud ringing in her head. Strangely, in this darkness, she could see Sermei. And she was naked.
Azwin belatedly realized she had her eyes closed. Yet, she saw something like a white, shining hallucination before her. It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling. In a drowsy state where her body seemed slightly lifted, Sermei, naked, spoke.
“Can you understand my words now?”
Azwin was startled.
“Huh? Since when could you speak human language?”
Sermei smiled faintly and said,
“That’s not it. I’m still using the Lemif language. And to me, your words sound like my language, and my words will sound to you in your language. Strictly speaking, we’re not conversing with language right now but transmitting thoughts to each other.”
“I’m flabbergasted.”
“Isn’t your head a bit foggy? Probably, after this state ends, you’ll barely remember the contents of our conversation. You might only remember the overall gist of it, like a mundane conversation at the breakfast table during childhood. So, you need to focus.”
Sermei continued in a serious tone.
“Otherwise, you might forget this conversation entirely the moment you wake up. To have even a vague idea of what we discussed, you need to focus on every word as if it’s becoming a special memory from childhood.”
“I kind of get what you’re saying. So, why haven’t you communicated this way until now?”
“There’s that reason, but this method of conversation takes a very long time. The time we spend talking here passes much more quickly outside. It’s unusable in urgent moments when we don’t know when pursuers might arrive. And one more thing. I didn’t trust you yet.”
“After following me so closely, you didn’t trust me?”
It was a bit shocking.
“I apologize. My attempt to have as much physical contact with you as possible was to read your past. I wanted to judge whether you were a danger or a help to us. But holding you close yesterday really was because it felt good.”
“That contradicts what was said about us being attracted to each other because our hearts matched.”
“Even if hearts match, there can be cases where they become enemies.”
“That’s truly undeniable. So, do you now genuinely consider me an ally?”
“Are you very upset? But you could have distrusted me too. What if we were using you for something bad? Didn’t you doubt that?”
She couldn’t deny it.
“What if what we’re waking isn’t the ruler of dragons but Ka-Guanil, who eats dragons? It would be too late once you realized you were deceived at the last moment. So, it’s right to doubt. Understand. I hope you can understand too.”
Sermei’s voice was full of genuine apology. Azwin wanted to say it was okay immediately, but such a formal response couldn’t carry her voice. Only direct communication existed between them, without any formality intervening.
Azwin decided to be honest.
“I did have those doubts. But at some point, I just trusted you because you were following me. But now, feeling slightly betrayed and angry that you were actually doubting me all along.”
“Now, I trust you. Please trust me too.”
“Alright. I’ve grown quite fond of you anyway. If even that’s a lie, I’ll mourn my fate.”
“Thank you. So, I’ll tell you. The reason I forcibly led you is because there’s another problem. I have the eye to see the past. If you stand before me naked and open the door to your heart, I can read all your past. Of course, I will never tell anyone else your past. That’s my vow. Lemifs never lie.”
Even when incomprehensible, Sermei’s voice was beautiful, but upon understanding, it became sweet.
“I’ve also learned a bit of Ugeh language, but apart from the word ‘Gider,’ we don’t use words for betrayal, lies, or deception. Some Lemifs don’t even know of the existence of such words. So, you can trust what I say from now on.”
“Let’s skip the difficult topics. This method of conversation takes a long time, right? So, what did you think after seeing my past?”
“I observed for a long time. You’ve taken many lives, enhancing your power. To me, that doesn’t look good. But in the world of Ugeh, it’s permissible behavior, so I won’t argue. However, there’s one precious value involved in your act of killing. If you believe it’s the right thing to do, you don’t hesitate.”
“I won’t make excuses for killing people.”
“That very aspect made me trust you. I was convinced there was no fault in the Gider that connected you and me. You don’t scorn the weak and are wary of the strong. You follow what you believe to be good, and what you believe to be good mostly aligns with the universal moral standards of Ugeh.”
“Thanks for saying that.”
“You’re a truly good person. If I were born as Ugeh, I would have wanted to be like you. I knew from the first glance that I would like you.”
“Saying you would like me sounds almost like a prophecy, which is a bit funny.”
“As the eye for seeing the past is honed, one can slightly glimpse into the future. It’s not as accurate as an oracle, so it can’t be called a prophecy. But in reverse, it means it’s somewhat accurate. I saw your terrifying future. That’s why I’ve been dragging you away whenever enemies pursued us.”
Azwin was suddenly afraid. In the white space created by Sermei, lies were impossible, and emotions couldn’t be hidden.
“What future?”
“You will die at the hands of a knight in a black cloak, whom you call the Excelon and we call the Iguselrun.”
Azwin stopped speaking. It would be more accurate to say a part of her thought process had been severed. Even if this entire conversation fades into obscurity like a mundane childhood dialogue, as Sermei warned, she would not forget these words.
“Don’t joke. The only ones who can defeat me are my fellow White Wolves.”
“That’s what’s terrifying. I was truly amazed by your power. No Lemif in Larunton could defeat you or your boyfriend. Even the fastest wings I know couldn’t outpace you two Ugeh! But a knight who can kill you—how powerful must he be? It terrifies me.”
“You said it yourself, your ability to predict the future is inaccurate, but how accurate is it? Who exactly is this Excelon who kills me? When do I die?”
Sermei was greatly flustered by Azwin’s pressing questions. Had they been speaking aloud, she would have trembled or stuttered.
“That’s too much, Azwin. I can’t lie. Especially in this kind of conversation where we open our hearts to each other, I can only speak the truth. You shouldn’t ask me to say such frightening things.”
“Tell me! I need to know. When do I die? Where? And by whom!”
“Azwin. You shouldn’t force someone to speak of a dark future. When the one who speaks the prophecy tells it to the person involved, that future becomes set. Then the original Gider would be reversed…”
“If my fate is to die by someone stronger, then I will die regretting not having trained harder. So, it’s not a reversal. Who is this knight stronger than me?”
Eventually, Sermei gave in.
“Maybe I wanted you to say that too. Perhaps I initiated this conversation hoping you would overcome that terrifying future. It was too scary to keep to myself. But you will regret asking me these questions.”
“I won’t regret it. I won’t blame you either. There’s no need to swear here that it’s not a lie, right?”
“It will happen soon. I can’t tell where it will be. His name is…”
“His name?”
After hesitating till the last moment, Sermei finally said,
“Nathan.”
Azwin paused momentarily. It was an unknown name.
Azwin had expected something more symbolic and significant. Like, “You will be killed by Quain in the distant future.” Hearing the name of her killer made her rather indifferent.
“Any more information? Like, he’s an important figure somewhere, or our relationship. Or maybe he’s a monster that hatched from a dragon’s egg, covered in scales as hard as iron. Nothing like that?”
“I hardly know. Who he was in the world of Ugeh, what he represented among the Excelons. But…”
“But?”
“He is the one who has killed the most dragons in the Sky Mountains. Along with Redward, he’s the most terrifying Ugeh to us.”
“How about that? I’m not scared at all.”
Azwin laughed. Her initial nervousness quickly subsided.
“Thank you, Sermei. But sadly, your prophecy will prove wrong.”
“I hope so.”
It was rather a relief.
“Then let’s use this as an opportunity to talk about things we haven’t discussed before. Gerald will take a while to return anyway.”
“Will he return safely?”
“Are you worried about Rontlos?”
“I love him. We have loved each other for a long time. So, it’s natural to worry.”
“Honest conversation isn’t always good, huh? Such important words, yet spoken with no tension.”
“Right. It’s the first time I’ve said it, but I’m not nervous at all.”
“Isn’t the age difference too much?”
Azwin teased.
“Ugeh consider age when falling in love because their lives are short, but we live much longer than Ugeh, so age doesn’t really matter to us.”
“That’s not entirely true. I’ve liked men twice my age before.”
“So, we have similar tastes in men?”
“I see why Rontlos said you and I have similar personalities. You must have been quite the troublemaker too?”
“That was when I was young. Around my twenties.”
“How old are you now?”
“Forty-nine. Fvoe Lemifs live shorter than Zvi Lemifs, but compared to Ugeh, we live about twice as long, so we’re about the same age to each other.”
“And Rontlos?”
“He’s about ninety now. I’ve liked him since I was young, and those feelings haven’t changed. I’m happy he’s always been by my side. He likes me too, and that’s why he’s remained single.”
“He waited for you to grow up. Then why not marry?”
“We haven’t even said we like each other. How can we marry?”
“Lemifs do that too? Knowing but not saying? There are Ugeh who engage in such frustrating relationships too…”
“It’s different.”
Sermei continued with a slightly annoyed tone.
“I can never marry. That’s why I can’t even say I like someone.”
“Because you’re a princess?”
“Not because I’m a princess, but because I’m a priestess who awakens dragons. Many Zvi Lemifs can maintain their magical power even after marriage, but Fvoe Lemifs lose all their magic if they engage in relationships with men. Especially for someone like me, seen as a holy being, it’s not just about losing magical power. Do you understand? There are saints among Ugeh too.”
“That’s unfair.”
It was fortunate that the word “pitiable” didn’t escape her lips.
“It’s an injustice limited only to me. I must endure it. My father also grieved a lot because I was born a priestess.”
“There’s a loophole, though. What if you marry but don’t consummate the marriage?”
“I’ve thought about that too. Rontlos would probably agree to a marriage without children. But as I said, I must remain a sacred being. Whether or not I have power, if I marry, I will lose the faith of the Lemifs in Larunton. It’s the same as losing the power of a priestess.”
“Can’t you pass the role of the priestess to another woman?”
“A new priestess won’t be born until I die. There’s always only one woman in the country who can communicate with dragons.”
“It’s a complicated issue.”
“From what I see, you and your friend are more complicated.”
“Are you talking about Gerald? He is…”
Azwin couldn’t describe her feelings for Gerald. It felt as if something was clogging her throat, preventing her voice from coming out.
“See? You can’t say it? In this method of conversation, you can’t lie! So, your subconscious honesty and the pretense you show externally are clashing, making you unable to speak.”
“Pretense? Now you’re really talking nonsense!”
Azwin wanted to shout, but instead, a too gentle voice came out.
“This feels like some kind of trick! I’m talking, so why can’t I speak? My name is Sermei! I have six fingers! See. I can lie. So, what’s not working?”
Sermei laughed.
“We’ve already spent a long time. We should return.”
“My story isn’t finished yet.”
“There will be other opportunities.”
Azwin opened her eyes. Sermei was slowly turning her head back. The surroundings remained unchanged: inside the cave, the Lemif soldiers still sat in silence. Nothing about the situation had changed.
“Sly girl.”
Azwin said.
“Yoe ai bu haidu.”
Sermei responded in their language. The fact that they couldn’t communicate suddenly felt new and awkward. However, her smile was as friendly as ever.
Someone knocked on the cover from outside. The soldiers immediately grabbed their spears in defense, and Azwin placed her hand on the hilt of her sword. A familiar voice was heard. It was Rontlos. Sermei, forgetting the dignity of her princess status, hurriedly crawled through the low-ceilinged cave.
Then Gerald’s voice followed.
“Azwin, I’m back.”
The cover opened, but no sunlight came through. It was already night.
‘How much time passed during that brief conversation?’
Azwin rubbed her forehead where she had been facing Sermei.
Sermei eagerly grabbed Rontlos’s hand. It was just a handshake, but given their statuses as princess and general, it seemed more intense than a kiss or hug. Rontlos spoke at length in a tired yet soft voice, and Sermei listened, her eyes welling up with tears.
“Did you wait long?”
As Gerald entered the cover, Azwin pulled him into a hug. Gerald, surprised, patted her back.
“Wow, our little one, were you that happy?”
“It seemed like the right time to do it.”
“Yes, yes. I wanted to do this too.”
Gerald smiled and hugged her for a long time.
“I’m starving. Been roaming all day. Did you eat well?”
Gerald asked as they broke the hug.
“No. Let’s eat together.”
Azwin, still feeling unsettled from her conversation with Sermei, ate with Gerald even though she wasn’t hungry.
“How did you find him?”
Azwin asked while watching Sermei sit next to Rontlos for their meal. Gerald explained the situation, drawing with his fingers.
“After the ambush separated him from us, Rontlos must have fought as fiercely as we did. After defeating the ambushers, he was about to return but then a Kagua chased him.”
“Kagua? The monster that’s like a dragon without wings?”
“Exactly. That thing showed up. With it on his tail, he couldn’t return to Sermei. So, he took another route.”
It was typical of Rontlos to take risks alone.
“After evading the Kagua for half a day, Rontlos searched for Sermei. In the meantime, there was another battle… as you can see, only four soldiers survived, and Rontlos was injured in the abdomen, not in good condition.”
Azwin looked at Rontlos worriedly but decided to take the situation optimistically.
“At least we have our commander back now.”
“Fortunately.”
After finishing the meal, Gerald immediately leaned against the wall, clutching his blanket.
“Sorry, but I need to sleep now. Rontlos will probably want to leave early in the morning.”
Gerald closed his eyes and soon fell asleep. He looked somehow cold and pitiable. Azwin hugged him from behind.
As she had initially talked about, she barely remembered parts of her conversation with Sermei. But the important parts were clear. Stories of Sermei’s love and about Gerald came to mind, word for word. Above all, she couldn’t forget about her own death.
‘Nathan of the Excelon.’
She tried saying the name out loud. Still, it didn’t feel real.
‘It’s okay. I won’t die. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is. Only a White Wolf can break the fangs of a White Wolf.’
Azwin repeated those words like a mantra as she fell asleep.
–TL Notes–
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