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No one bothered to gently remind her of her gender. They all stood side by side, walking silently. |
Even without putting it into words now, they were all tired. It went without saying for Chtholly and the others, who hadn't had a proper rest after two weeks straight of fighting, but Tiat, too, after leaving the island for the first time and running about—and being adjusted as a soldier—was just as exhausted. |
(...I have so much to do when we get back.) |
Activating venenum put a strain on the body's blood flow. Blood circulation could go awry or stagnate after using it to fight a long battle, which could worsen the body's condition. |
Tired muscles would get better after a bit of rest, but venenum poisoning was different. It could get better after a normal daily routine, but conversely, it could also easily become a chronic condition if repeated over and over in a short time period. |
(It doesn't look like it's clotting enough in weird places to cause fevers, but should I make them take a massage, just in case?) |
He looked down at his palm and lightly cracked his fingers. Though he had lost many of the things he held dear in the past, some of the techniques he'd mastered were, luckily, still useful in this world. Dealing with venenum poisoning was one of them. It was one of his specialties that his former companions (especially the older ones) generally appreciated. |
...Well, it wasn't very popular among the younger girls. |
If he said it was related to their life span—or, to put it unpleasantly, "service life as a weapon," then they probably wouldn't run away. Probably. |
"I wanted to look around a little more..." Tiat glanced back reluctantly. |
"You'll have the chance to visit again soon." |
When he put his hand on her head, she swatted it away. "I told you not to treat me like a child!" As he pulled his hand back with a bitter smile— |
"Second Enchantments Officer Willem Kmetsch?" |
A voice without a single hint of affability called his name. When he turned around, there stood an unfamiliar man. |
His body was thin and wiry. He wore black sunglasses. His facial features were surprisingly like that of an emnetwiht for a semifer, except for his long white hair and his long, thin ears of the same color. |
A rabbitfolk. It was a semifer race, but unlike lycanthropes, their numbers were few. Willem knew that they existed, but it was his first time seeing one in real life. |
"...Who are you?" |
Willem narrowed his eyes, studying the rabbitfolk's clothes. |
He wore a crisp officer's uniform for the Guard. The badge of rank on his shoulder was that of a first officer. The design of his branch of services emblem that showed where he belonged was a shield and scythe—the military police. |
"It is as you can see. I am a first officer with the military police." |
The airship was already beginning preparations to set sail. A crew member made his six hands into a megaphone and shouted in a shrill voice, "Please hurry aboard!" If they didn't hurry, then they wouldn't make it in time, and there were no more ships until tomorrow. |
"I learned of you through First Armored Forces Officer Limeskin." |
"Okay. I don't know what he wrote, but I don't think I've done anything to get the military police's attention." |
At least, nothing that big lizard knows, he added to himself. |
"Certainly. The first officer wrote, 'possibly interested in young girls' in his report, but that itself does not warrant a reprimand. Personal tastes and interests are not enough to deserve that." |
Okay, next time I see that big lizard, I'll start off with a Nightingale Sweep and give him a good, swift kick. |
"And even if you did have some sort of predilection that involved the items under your management, it is none of our concern as long as it does not cause any malfunction on the battlefield." |
All right, I'm going to pummel this bunny to shut him up right now. |
"All lies. It's exactly because he doesn't have any of those interests that I have to work so hard." |
Wait, Chtholly, don't insult me like that out loud! It hurts my feelings. |
"Then what do you want? You'll need to reschedule if this'll be long, because as you can see, we're in a hurry." |
"There is someone who needs to meet with you. Come with me." |
"No," he refused flatly. "How many times do I have to say it? I'm in a hurry. You probably know, since you read the report or whatever, right? I'm their director. Taking these guys back to the barracks...I mean, the warehouse, is one of my duties. I don't know how important a first officer is, but I'm not gonna let you get in my way with a simple Oh, I see, sir." |
"I cannot have you refuse. I am not here to run useless errands." |
"Okay, looks like we're parallel lines here. So how about we make like parallel lines and never cross, and part here?" |
As he responded lightly, he tried to slip past the officer. Then— |
" most important business — " |
"Yes." |
"And we're going there because... ?" |
The chamberlain raised an eyebrow. "You really don't know?" |
Nervously, Jinto tried to laugh it off. |
If at all possible, he didn't want even more people to figure out that he had less common sense than a garden slug. |
__ * |
"Quit fidgeting, Jinto," chided Lafiel, sipping on something that smelled fruity. |
"I'll do what I can, but you might be asking too much." Jinto was a nervous wreck. "What should I do? Is there special etiquette?" |
"It's not important — just behave courteously and use your common sense." |
"We all know how that'll turn out!" |
"Just follow my lead. Walk up to the foot of the Skemsorl and give a bold salute. Don't speak unless spoken to. Nothing to it, really." |
"You say that now..." |
One of the Beikeburia came in. "Sorry to keep you waiting. We're ready." |
"Thank you." Jinto stood and walked toward the man. |
"Wrong way." Lafiel laughed and pointed to a huge door. "It's over here." |
"Great, I'm off to a good start." |
"Just stand next to me, and try to match my walking speed. Stand up a little straighter. You're a hero." |
The big door opened. |
Gentle morning light filled the Audience Hall. A number of beams crisscrossed the ceiling, supporting a dispersion screen (Shyunobezia). Crest banners of the Voda who were part of the Frybar hung proudly from the beams. Jinto couldn't help but notice the brand-new Gal Guraw of Dreujhe Haidar in the very front. |
Surrounded on both sides by Sash Idar, Jinto and Lafiel walked along the black marble floor toward the foot of the Imperial throne. |
Military musicians (Sash Arovot) played the Imperial national anthem (Rue Ol). They didn't sing the lyrics, but Jinto knew them anyway — stereotypical Abh verse, unapologetically brash and adventurous. |
To avoid gaffes like the one he made upon meeting Lafiel, Jinto spent a large percentage of the journey in the coordination ship memorizing the faces of distinguished people he might encounter. Thanks to that effort, he recognized three of the people in front of him. |
Lafiel's grandmother Erumita Spunej Ramaj was in the back, rising from her jade throne. To the Empress' left (on a platform one step lower than the one holding the Skemsorl, naturally) stood Lafiel's father, His Highness Debeus, King of Kryv (Larth Kryb Feia Debeuser). The boy next to Lafiel's father was undoubtedly her little brother, His Highness Buhiir, Viscount of Wemdaisu (Borl Wemdaisal Feia Duhir). |
The sight of Lafiel's family threw Jinto for a loop; they all looked young enough to be her siblings. Actually, Larth Kryb looked older than the Empress to Jinto. Strange. Jinto just had no practical way to guess an Abh's age. He wondered whether they could tell by looking. |
There was a white carpet at the foot of the throne. Lafiel knelt on it. |
Jinto nervously copied her movements. |
"Please, Jarluk Dreu," said a nearby voice, "there's no need for you to kneel." |
He looked up and was surprised to see the Ramaj had come down from the Skemsorl and stood directly before him. |
"Please. Stand up," she urged. |
Jinto nodded obediently and stood. |
"Please accept the gratitude of the Abliars, Jarluk. The young one here," the Empress indicated Lafiel, "is endowed with enormous potential. If not for you, we probably would not have seen her alive." |
"No." Jinto blushed, "I really didn't do anything. She's the one who saved me." |
"Not true, Jarluk." Ramaj took Jinto's hand. "If you hadn't taught her the importance of choosing your battles, she would have fought until it brought about her destruction. Historically, our family's tragic flaw has been the inability to know when to retreat. On top of that, this one's temper is particularly ferocious. Also, you are an Abh who knew how to survive on a Nahen. Without that rare quality, you might not be standing here right now." |
Jinto was quite embarrassed, but not too much to notice that the Empress really bore a striking resemblance to Lafiel. |
"I would also like to thank you personally," said Dubeus. "For people like us who live on Lakfakalle, a Nahen is a very foreign place. Most of us are born and die without setting foot on a land world. You may find this strange, but a Nahen is even quite intimidating and frightening to the Abh. I cannot express the extent of my gratitude for bringing my daughter back." |
"But," asserted Jinto, "there are some good people on Nahen, too, and without their help, the enemy surely would have captured us." |
Dubeus smiled. "We don't mean to say that people on Nahen are all evil, just that the lives of landers and those of the Abh are extremely different. Clasbul's full of people who hate us, and without your help, my daughter would not be here today." |
"Yes," Ramaj agreed. "Based on the Lartnei's written report, I know about the people who ultimately helped you escape. And they have my eternal thanks as well. But do not diminish your own contribution." |
"Most of the time, Lafiel had to save me — especially in Kesath." |
"That was a duty given to her by Bomowas Lexshu," At the mention of the commander, a grief washed over Dubeus' face. "It was an order for her to help you through Dath, but nobody ordered you to help her on the Nahen." |
"You've done well, Jarluk," said Ramaj. |
"Yeah, thanks for saving my sister," chirped young Duhiir sincerely. |
Duhiir's sincere and meek gratitude pleased Jinto very much. The Empress' and King's thanks were too dignified and sort of embarrassing. Jinto couldn't reconcile the words they spoke with the fact that they were about him. It was just too weird. |
"I'm honored, Feia." Jinto bowed to the youngster. "And Erumita and Feia Lalt-I'm greatly honored by your too-kind words." |
"Don't be so modest," Lafiel advised him. |
"He's doing just fine," said the Empress. |
"Look how pale he is! He looks like he's being tortured." |
"I didn't realize you and Jarluk Dreu Haidar were such good friends, Fal Fryum," mused Dubeus. |
"We spent a lot of time together, and we became friends, Father," replied Lafiel. |
"I see." Dubeus continued to grin deviously. "Lafiel, it's been so long — won't you take a walk with your dear father?" |
"Please do, Lafiel," said Ramaj. "I have some unpleasant business to take care of. Jarluk Dreu, come with me. I have to give you some unfortunate news." |
Somehow, Jinto got even paler. |
__ * |
Lafiel crunched through white sand behind her father. |
In the distance, a serene brook burbled through the sand. The walls and ceiling of the room were also white— there was not a single color to be found. |
There were several white pillars, inscribed with innumerable tiny names; those who died in the service of the Frybar. A person with sufficient patience would find names like Abriel mixed in with the landed gentry (Ryuuk) and Lef. |
The sentence "The Frybar will not forget you" (Frybar A Darl Fronede) wrapped itself around the top of each pillar. |
Since they ridiculed all organized religions, the Abh thought of the Hall of Remembrance (Greish Fronetara) as the closest thing to a holy place. |
Dubeus stopped at the base of one of the pillars. "Welcome back, Dorfryum. I'm glad you're here." He paused to think for a moment. "Though we've effectively prevented the body from aging, there's nothing we can do to stop the soul from getting old. Youth cannot last nearly as long as its appearance. I'm still coming to terms with that fact. But, at least we experience those days of innocence." |
Sighing, Dubeus returned his gaze to the pillar, fixed on one particular spot. |
Curious, Lafiel came closer and read the name on the pillar — Lexshu Wef-Robel Plakia. |
"I've never told you this, Fal Nej, but I never touched your genes. They're the natural combination. That's why your ears are kind of small for an Abliar." |
"Why are you telling me this now?" |