"Is this the right place?"
I stare intently at the building in front of me. This is the inn where the mercenaries employed by Kayin's excavation team reside... Well, it is supposed to be.
It was well past midnight when I parted ways with Ewa a day ago, so I did not clearly see what the inn looked like—and I was not really paying it any attention—But I asked around, so this should be the place.
"Hmm..."
"Are you waiting for someone?"
My eyes widen as I turn around and see Ike, who is dressed uncharacteristically casually. He has discarded his heavy leathers for lighter clothing, a plain white short-sleeved shirt and wool trousers. His hair has been shaved a bit shorter too and his spear which he always keeps by his side is nowhere to be seen.
"What's with the face?"
"You... you look... awfully normal."
He narrows those hazel eyes at me. "What is that supposed to mean?"
I shrug. "You are always dressed as if you are going into battle—But hey, you look... good, ordinarily good, but good still."
"…Whatever," He sighs after a moment of silence, rolling his eyes. "why are you here?"
"Right. Is Ewa in there?"
He crosses his arms over his chest and says nothing, he just keeps staring at me. Then he proceeds to move inside the establishment.
What the...
Why so rude?
"Are you coming or what?" He asks, looking over his shoulder. I don't get to answer him because he marches on, leaving me no choice but to follow him.
My pace slows down to a pause as I take in the place. The air hums with a medley of sounds rolling on my skin—the clink of tankards, the laughter of patrons, and the almost overwhelming scent of alcohol and food.
The patrons are a varied crew, a raucous mix of soldiers, traders, travellers and other people of many different backgrounds. Their voices rise and fall like waves, punctuated by hearty laughter and the occasional heated debate.
For a moment I am back in Nchāre. This is the type of place Zaylany liked to frequent, and he and Sabar would sometimes drag me out of my house to socialize with others— 'This kind of energy is good for your health, you need to get out there and experience what real life is about…' he would say.
I was never like them, interactions invigorated them while they tired me out. I had rather spend my free time in my room to read a good book or experiment on new spells than to talk with a group complete of strangers, I was that awkward—I still am. That is why I made sure to constantly be at their side the few times I accompanied them to their outings, like this, they would take the brunt of the socialization while keeping mine to a bare minimum.
And I can't help but wonder… maybe, just maybe… I should have followed their advice; accepted more of Sabar's invitations to parties, be more open to interactions, attempt to befriend a stranger at least once.
…Spend more quality time with Teacher.
"Hey…" Ike presses his hand on my shoulder, "you were zoning out. Are you alright?"
"Ah. Yes, of course. Where is Ewa?"
"…Upstairs. The last time I saw her was yesterday, so I don't know for certain if she is still in there." He says as we make our way to the sleeping quarters.
"Now that I think about it, your job as mercenaries is to protect Kayin and his team during their exploration, right? Are you guys still under his employ even though it is not necessary anymore?"
"The nature of our contract is time-based. So yes, I am still being paid."
"I see… of how long you are talking about?"
He looks dubiously at me. "Why the sudden interest?"
"Mere curiosity..." I smile innocently.
He gives me a long look. "There is just about a year and a few more months left. The excavation was projected to last that long."
My, my… I sure made their task easier.
"Then are you guys going to take side jobs in the city in the meantime?"
"We could, but since we finished earlier than anticipated we are free to leave. Most already did actually."
"…Oh."
Ike abruptly stops in front of a door and gently knock on it.
"What do you want?" A voice yells from the other side.
"You have a visitor."
"…What kind of visitor?"
"That would be me." I retort. A second later the door flies open, and I am immediately pulled in a tight embrace.
"Aww, Vyvy. You finally came to visit me, and here I thought you all but forgot about me."
"It has only been a day, Ewa."
"Exactly! A full day passed, and you never contacted me. You break my poor heart."
We are interrupted by Ike who audibly clears his throat.
"Oh! Good morning Ike, what's up?"
"I suggest you continue your little reunion inside. You are attracting attention."
He looks pointedly at Ewa—more specifically, at her clothes. It must be her night gown given how light it is, but the problem lies with it being so tight that it hugs her figure like a second skin. And we are in the middle of the corridor. And other patrons of the inn also present. All men. They avert their eyes and go about their business when we stare back at them.
"Let's get inside." I tell Ewa while removing her arms around me.
"…Right. I don't have to invite you inside, do I?"
Ike's expression goes from neutral to slightly vexed one, but he does not gratify her with an answer and leaves while Ewa happily drags me inside her room.
It is simply furnished, a wooden bed at one corner, a study and a closet at another and a small matt in at the centre.
"Ah. Finally, alone." She says, casually laying on the bed. "Now, what do I owe the visit? I was certain you would keep away from human civilization for at least a week or two. Got bored or something?"
I lie next to her on the bed. "Not exactly, I needed to have a change of air, and you are the first person that came to mind."
"Really? You're sure you did not think of anyone else?"
"Ahem… Maybe not the very first person I thought about—"
"—I knew it! It was Kayin, wasn't it? I bet you wanted to discuss about your sorcery thingy or whatever scholarly stuff you, big brains, like to talk about. Since he must be very busy, it is then that you thought about me. Am I right or completely right?"
My silence is an answer of its own.
"Vyvy, you break my heart. Again" She covers her mouth with a hand and puts the other on her chest, badly feigning betrayal. "I think the only way I could ever forgive you is… If you spend the day with me. You will not leave my side as we go touring around the city."
"Is that supposed to be my punishment?" I chuckle.
"Eh. I'm bored. You're bored. It's mutually beneficial."
She jumps out of bed and removes her night gown in one swift motion as she walks to the closet. "Just give me a moment." In no time, she is dressed, and we are leaving the inn.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Where are we going?"
"Hmm… the market, I guess? There are always interesting stuffs to do in markets. You could do with a new outfit or two, you have been wearing the same clothes for months now. That's a bit disgusting."
"My clothes are perfectly clean, thank you very much, and should I remind you that during our travels I was always the cleanest while the rest of you all were as filthy as dirt?" I say defensively.
"That's because; one, you were cheating with sorcery to stay clean and two, you were not doing any of the arduous tasks like setting camp, cooking, hunting, and on various occasions, walking. But we digress, the point is that you will be living here for a while, right? So, you need to look like a local and what better way to blend in that to dressed like one."
"And you will graciously help me with that, I guess."
"You are welcome. Now come, I know the best shop to get good quality ready-made dresses. Maybe we could also have one custom made, but it will be a bit expensive. Oh! We could get matching jewelleries too."
Ewa is clearly excited about it, so I leave the planning to her and quietly go along. We don't have to walk for too long before reaching the marketplace.
It is quite messy.
Stalls are placed a bit everywhere, selling all sorts of products—with some selling on mats on the floor. At first the only items that can be seen are fruits and vegetables, but as we walk further the products change to the sale of meat, fish and poultry, then hundreds of meters further it is now spices that are being sold—it seems that this market has been organised such that different kinds of product are changed after every street.
Which is the total opposite of how it is in Nchāre; there would be specific days to buy a specific product, and the location of the markets would constantly alternate, to avoid disorder. Whereas here, everything is sold in one place which makes it so crowded that it has now become difficult to walk without bumping or brushing hands with other passersby. Annoying. I am practically being led by the crowd at this point, was I not following Ewa, I would have definitely gotten lost.
"Here we are!"
I look at the shop we are standing in front of. It appears decent enough with large windows on each side of the store's entrance to display the clothing designs worn by wooden mannequins.
"Just you wait, you will go through a complete makeover." The smile on her face made chills run down my spine, and I am starting to regret following her here. In a spilt second, she catches my hand and storms inside the shop.
As I step inside I am immediately enveloped by the rich aroma of fabric, shelves are lined with neatly folded garments. More mannequins have been placed here and there, adorning vibrantly coloured gowns, skirts or tunics. Several paintings are hung on the walls; some depicting scenes of people doing everyday tasks, others portray wildlife—a meadow in the early morning or a serene savannah under a sunset.
This place… It's even nicer from the inside.
Two well-dressed women greets us at our entry and invite in the guest lounge, one leaves to fetch for refreshments while the other stays with us to inquire about the type of clothing we want.
"Can you afford this place?" I whisper to Ewa.
"Sure. Why do you ask?"
"Because! This looks like an expensive store, and I am not sure I will be able to pay you back."
"Oh, but you don't have to. It's all on me." She quickly dismisses my concerns and turn to the waiting seamstress.
The next couple of hours were excruciating. I had to try on clothes upon clothes and argue with Ewa on most of the dresses she wanted me to wear, they were all splendid and skilfully made yes, but unfortunately not my style… They are too skin-tight for my taste.
"Come on. You need to show a bit of skin. Here, how about this one? It will beautifully highlight your buttocks, or you could try this—"
"I'm not wearing those Ewa."
She gave in, but we compromised on a garb with an off-the-shoulder blouse and a checkered shirt ensemble, it shows just enough skin to Ewa's satisfaction but not make me uncomfortable. The skirt is a bit tight though, but it's still manageable.
Several hours later we are leaving the shop with three bags of clothes in hand, to Ewa's dismay—she would have bought me five more if she has had her way—and she might downplay it, but I know that just these three were expensive enough.
"I am definitely paying you back—the moment I get my first wage—"
"Whatever you say." She rolls her eyes. "It's just about evening now, let's grab some snacks?"
There is no better way to conclude a long day outdoors than to watch a setting sun, and because the city just so happened to be located in between two hills, it provides an even better view. Plus, there are currently a lot less people in the public square which makes it even more enjoyable. That and I am finally sitting down, I have never walked for so long and right now, I can barely feel my legs. Though I would have preferred something more comfortable than a stone bench, it will do for the time being.
"This date was fun." Ewa says as she come to sit beside me, then. Then lay down between us a wrapping of steaming hot skewers she just bought to a vendor nearby between us.
I take one to eat, it is juicy and flavourful. "What is a date?"
Her eyes widen and her mouth falls open when she looks at me, then her lips stretch into a mischievous smirk. I have grown to dislike when she makes that face.
"Sometimes I forget we're from different eras." She laughs—Oh, dear—
Do I even want to know what it means?
"Forget it." Then I go back to enjoying another skewer.
No that I think about it, I have spent the entire day looking around the stores in the market and tasting the local cuisine in between. I look down at my belly and touch it, it is protruding a little but that is just because I eat a lot today. I have always been a bit chubbier than average, but I had lost a bit of weight during my travels with Ike and co. I glance back at the skewer in my hand, it would be a shame if I gained back all the weight I lost— Tomorrow, I'll start a diet tomorrow I swear!
"Oh, look. Something interesting is going on there."
I follow her gaze to a cluster of children not far from us. They are sitting on the floor in a semi-circle, with other adults standing behind them. The reason for such a commotion, it seems, is an old man. He is sitting on a carved wooden bench and although he is well seated, he tightly grips a cane in his hands, as if he might fall at any moment. He looks frail and very, very old but despite the many years he has weathered, his eyes have remained bright and sharp.
"A griot! I had not seen one in ages."
Like Ewa, the kids seem excited to see him, their eyes shine with juvenile thrill, even the adults around them seem enthusiastic of what is about to happen.
He hits the floor with his cane twice, somehow everyone heard him and falls silent.
He opens his mouth, his voice firm and even. "I will narrate."
"We shall listen." All answer in unison.
"This is the story of Nchāre, a mighty Empire, prosperous and blessed by the Supreme One for He gave them authority over all that was created. They could perform miracles the likes we could never fathom; moving continents, shaping the skies, manipulate reality at their will…"
I can't help but cringe at his description.
Do they really imagine us like that?
The old man taps the floor once more with his cane, and I feel an almost imperceptible pulse of Spiritual essence spreading around us. Specks of dust begin to rise glittering with a gentle golden hue as they float around then combine to form several structures—Nchāren buildings—before the amazed gazes of his audience, the growing darkness in the sky enhances this enchanting effect, making the floating illustrations look like stars.
"Many of you have heard at least once of the many legends that surrounds our predecessors, we are surrounded by so many of their vestiges but know so little of them."
There is a hint of wonder and sadness in his tone, as he closes his eyes. When he opens them, the floating illustrations have changed to the picture of a man. His features are unidentifiable because of the hooded cape he is wearing.
"The tale you are about to hear is one I have been told a long, long time ago. Back when the people of Nchāre stilled walked the earth and that their society was at its peak, their king, the wisest and most powerful among them had it ordered for a great library to be built. It is said that all the knowledge of the world has been stored there, their books of medicine hold the secret to longevity and can cure any illnesses, their grimoires contain powerful and complex spells which would make any sorcerer of this time the greatest of all… The type of knowledge coveted by many. Alas great things all come to an end in this life, and when the Defilement descended upon the world, the Nchāren Empire was no more. But take heart. Even though its people did not survive the Defilement, their relics do still. You see just before the people of Nchāre were annihilated they had the library shut close and heavily warded… to preserve all their accumulated wisdom—"
"—Then where is that 'Great library', huh? I have never seen it, and if it really existed the adults would be talking about it for sure."
The boy who spoke up is immediately shushed and admonished for having interrupted the griot. All are silenced by the sound of his cane hitting the ground.
"That is an excellent question my child." He says endearingly, the little boy smile with pride. "The reason is… unlike the gigantic tower we all can see from the horizon; it is believed that the library was buried. Afterall, very few of their manuscripts were found so they had to be kept somewhere. Some other rumours say that it was instead transported to the dimension of the Genies, as they were tasked to guard it till the day a brave soul would find it."
A heavy silence permeated with a sense of wonder falls unto the crowd, as each of them are surely wondering about this Library-holding-the-wisdom-of-the-world story.
Not long after the old griot retires for the night and the crowd has dispersed. Ewa, the other hand, is walking me back to Uncle Owono's house. I could have found my way back on my own, but she insisted to accompany me anyway, claiming that—even though the city is well guarded—I could get assaulted on my own, especially with so many bags in hand.
"What did you think of the story?"
I glance at her for a second before answering. "It is not completely untrue. We do have a place where the oldest books are kept, the Akademiya—I used to be a student there—but nothing as wondrous as what the griot told, I am afraid."
Ewa's eyes gleam with excitement at my words. "Then… Where is it now?"
She said it so slowly, carefully almost, as if she was apprehensive of my answer. It was so uncharacteristic of her that I stop walking for a moment. She must have sensed my unease because she immediately backs down.
"Ah… Just—Forget I ever said anything, okay?"
"No. It is alright. I was just… surprised by the delivery." I hesitate for a moment, "The Akademiya should actually be on, Posaan, the continent west to this one. But, I remember Ike saying that it is now almost completely a desert. Was it Sappyan?"
"Sappa," she corrects, frowning, "that place is the worst, nothing but sand as far as the eye can see, and let's not talk of the heat. And that place is also ruled by powerful tyrant. I wouldn't recommend it for sightseeing."
"A tyrant? Where did you hear that?"
"I'm a mercenary," she responds matter-of-factly, "I hear a lot of things."
We agree to stop the conversation there, and about three-quarters of an hour later we make it at the gates of the house.
"Thank you for today." I say before she leaves. "I… I had fun."
She does not completely turn look at me, but instead glances from the corner of the eye, and for a brief moment her expression is blank, devoid of any emotion as observes me. Then she takes me in her arms for a tight hug.
"I'm glad you did. Good night Vyvy."
It is not long before she is completely out of view. I relax, not even realizing I was tense this whole time.
"Hello."
A yelp escapes my mouth. I turn around frantically only to stand face to face with a little boy. He is adorable, with freckles doting his face and a mess of curls at the top of his head, and about Yenge's age. He is looking at me intently with his big brown eyes, a pleasant smile on his lips. Despite all that, I cannot shake the feeling that there is something off with him.
I calm my racing heart as I smile back at him.
"Hey there. Do you need something? Are you lost?"
"There is something important I need to tell you Vyswe'eyaga."
My breath catches at the mention of my name. A moment later the space around us seem to become blurrier, distorted even. As I spread out my senses I feel an array has been erected.
I narrow my eyes at the boy. "Who are you?"
This should not be possible; this type of concealment ward is far too complex for a mere child to be able to cast it, and without my noticing no less. When did he even do that?
He smiles reassuringly, it has the opposite effect, he is way too composed for someone his age. "I am just someone who has been waiting for you for a long, long time."