—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Before the unease could fully take hold,
Nefer pulled a forearm-length rod and a large piece of cloth from her pack.
I watched, curious, as she twisted and extended the rod, creating a long pole,
Then draped the cloth, which resembled a rug, over the pole, forming a cone-shaped tent.
Her movements were practiced and efficient. She had clearly done this many times before.
And the cloth itself, the one forming the tent walls, was different from the rug we had been sitting on, its patterns, colors, and texture far more intricate.
“You seem to like it.”
As I stared at the intricate designs, Nefer smiled and spoke, then stepped outside the tent.
She walked towards the fire,
Carefully scooped up a small portion of the flickering flames,
“…May you protect us this day.”
And placed the small, glowing ember, now resembling a sphere of light, at the top of the tent pole.
A soft, warm light filled the tent,
Like a miniature sun.
A sun at the top of the pole,
And desert landscapes depicted on the surrounding cloth.
A small world within the tent.
To ward off the darkness,
To remember the world beyond,
The desert dwellers had transformed their artistic sensibilities into a form of art and religion.
“The night is dangerous, Elder. You must not leave the tent.”
Nefer, having created this small world within the tent, slipped outside, her long tail disappearing into the night.
I didn’t know how dangerous the night was,
But it bothered me that she had warned me to stay inside while she, without hesitation, ventured out.
Perhaps she was being considerate.
Based on her behavior so far,
Nefer treated me with the utmost respect, like a nobleman.
I wasn’t used to such treatment,
And I felt a pang of guilt, which I expressed to her.
“You… you don’t have to stay outside because of me.”
Nefer seemed surprised by my words, then smiled faintly, accepting my concern.
“You are kind.”
She held two curved daggers,
And her tail, more muscular than the mermaids’, moved gracefully across the sand.
“…I will return shortly. It is time for prayer.”
Nefer left the tent, bowed towards the setting sun,
And, her lips moving silently beneath her veil, began circling the tent, reciting a prayer.
And then, my right eye began to ache and burn.
A faint, white shimmer followed the trail left by Nefer’s tail.
It felt too real, too vivid, to be just a religious ritual.
Holding the two daggers together,
Nefer moved gracefully, her movements almost like a dance, as she bid farewell to the setting sun,
And after completing a full circle, creating a protective barrier, she returned to the tent.
“It is done. Please rest.”
Now, only Nefer’s coiled tail and my body remained within the tent.
It was a surprisingly small space for two.
Or rather, the tent wasn’t small.
Nefer’s tail was large.
Even coiled, it took up a significant amount of space, and no matter how we positioned ourselves, we were practically touching.
“…Are we really going to sleep like this?”
To be more precise,
I had to lie curled up at the base of the pole,
And Nefer, after coiling her tail around me, creating a protective barrier, lay on the opposite side, her human-like upper body facing away from me.
“This is… a little too close.”
“My apologies. There is no other way.”
I tried switching positions, my head and feet reversed, but
That only brought Nefer’s face closer to mine, making it even more awkward.
“…Right. There’s no other way.”
“While it might be slightly uncomfortable within the tent, there are several oases along the way to Aaptukemen, so the journey should not be too arduous.”
“Aaptukemen?”
We avoided each other’s gaze, our eyes downcast, our voices low.
It was too embarrassing otherwise.
“It is the gathering place of all desert dwellers. Aaptukemen.”
I shifted uncomfortably, pondering the word ‘Aaptukemen’.
Would I find answers there?
Answers about the fingers, about the moon?
But there was something I had to do first.
“…That’s important, of course, but I have to find my companions and bring them with me. Can you help me?”
“Companions?”
“I don’t know why, but when I woke up, they were gone. I have to find them.”
I had to find Amy and Jenny.
They were strong, but still inexperienced.
They might get into trouble without me. Or perhaps they were doing something reckless, trying to find me.
“I’m worried about them, and I don’t know how to control them if I’m not there…”
“You are… unusual.”
Nefer seemed surprised by my concern.
“While this is not my first encounter with males, you possess a certain… unique quality.”
Her unexpected compliment made me blush.
Nefer was definitely different.
I had met many intelligent women,
But Nefer wasn’t just intelligent…
She seemed wise, her knowledge tempered with a deep understanding of the world.
“Do not lose that quality. No matter what happens.”
And her unique aura,
Was strangely captivating.
Mysterious.
Nefer, her voice a soft whisper beneath her veil, said,
“Elder, when night falls-”
Her tail tightened around me,
Closing the small gaps that had allowed sound to escape,
And she warned me,
“They will come. Do not listen, and do not look. Cover your ears and close your eyes. They cannot enter.”
I didn’t understand what she meant,
But then…
“Sleep. I will protect you.”
Nefer’s gaze was serious, her eyes unwavering,
And beyond the tent walls,
Beautiful voices called out to me.
[Yes, it’s you.]
Even though the tent was sealed,
Their sweet voices echoed within.
[You’re cute. Are you Juho? We’ve come to rescue you.]
The tent walls fluttered.
But there was no wind.
I didn’t know what was out there,
But they were circling the tent, their unseen forms brushing against the white barrier Nefer had created.
[Can you hear us? Answer us.]
[We’re here to help you.]
Nefer and I exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between us.
I finally understood her warning about the night.
The desert night was cold and unsettling.
While the nights in the forest had been filled with the threat of physical violence,
The nights in the desert were a battle of wills, a psychic invasion.
“They cannot harm you, Elder.”
Nefer urged me to sleep, but
They wouldn’t let me.
[No. Don’t sleep.]
[They’re lying to you. Come outside, join us.]
Their voices were like whispers, caressing my ears.
The unseen entities outside the tent mocked and taunted me.
“What are they…?”
“Devils who follow the moon.”
A cold, unsettling presence filled the tent, their whispers grating on my nerves.
[Don’t trust the snake.]
[You’re walking towards your death. Trust us. She’s just a husk, a slave of the sun.]
“Even in the barren desert, the moon rises. They seduce males with their lies.”
I was tired, my eyelids heavy,
But their voices kept me awake.
[Open your eyes. If you follow the snake, you’re doomed.]
“Are you afraid?”
Nefer asked, her gaze fixed on me.
I couldn’t deny it. Having endured so much, my mind and body were wary of any unfamiliar female.
“Do not be afraid. As long as I am here, the moon’s followers cannot harm you.”
[The moon wishes to see you. You seem… confused, lost…]
Their words contradicted each other.
I knew that,
Nefer followed the sun,
And they followed the moon.
So, logically, staying with Nefer was the right choice.
The Blood Beasts, the moon’s followers, were the ones who had killed Isaac and my crewmates. There was no reason to trust them.
[Your companions are with us.]
[The female with the long tail, and the female who pretends to be alive.]
But the devils’ whispers continued.
“What? Wait…”
They even mentioned Jenny and Amy…
“Elder, you must not respond. Please, sleep.”
Nefer tried to calm me, gently pushing me back onto the rug. She left the tent and returned with something that smelled like incense.
[That withered slave of the sun has tricked you. That… thing you call the fingers? Don’t think it’s on your side.]
[It’s using you! Escape! Come outside, and we’ll protect you from the snake.]
I wanted to hear more, even though I was tired…
“Elder.”
Nefer lit the incense,
And a wave of drowsiness washed over me.
It was a struggle to keep my eyes open.
“Sleep.”
[Open your eyes.]
Caught between their conflicting voices,
I finally succumbed to sleep.
My vision blurred…
My consciousness,
Faded…
“…”
And the veil, before me, finally descended.
–Poof-
The incense, its soothing fragrance filling the air, extinguished itself in Nefer’s breath.
“I told you not to listen.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
