“But can you read?”

“WAH!” Sely jumps at Endya's voice. “Have you done it yet?”

The boy nods, holding some simple brown wool clothes in his hands. Clothes like the ones he wears.

“Yes, I always keep a change here. It can be useful during experiments.” Endya hands them to Sely who puts down the book to take them.

“Experiments?”

“The master is the alchemist, even the one in the saucepan could be an experiment. Sometimes they succeed, other times less so. Eheh..."

Sely looks around once again. Among bowls, utensils, wooden boards, papers, and herbs. That is the study of her father, Toslevi the alchemist. Then she lowers her head to the book.

“I can read, can't you?”

Endya grimaces. “No, in Vanoge the number of people who know how to read can be counted on the fingers.”

“Dad can read?”

“Of course, he also understands advanced mathematics.”

“Huh!? The legendary art that allowed cities to fly, that sent humanity into space!?”

Endya blushes and scratches the back of his neck. “You embarrass me. The ancients are not comparable to us... but your father is certainly closer to their intellect. Certainly, more than me, at least...”

Of course, his ways are a bit submissive. Mom didn't tell me how influential Dad was, she just said that he "would understand."

But now everything makes more sense, dad knows the arts are forbidden by the cult… hmm.

Doubt.

Fear.

Evaluation of words.

Sely, still sitting with change in hand, reflects while looking into space.

“Look, Sely” Endya pulls up a stool and sits next to her.

“Hm?”

“Can I ask you what you were reading? I don't want to be inappropriate, it seemed like a familiar text to me."

Sely smiles, holds up the book, and hands it to him.

Of course it's familiar to you, it's a sacred text.

Endya takes it in his hands and begins to leaf through it carefully. His eyes run quickly over those symbols that he is unable to understand.

“They are the Silver Chronicles. It is the text that the progenitor's descendants left us. To guide us, to enlighten us.”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Despite Sely's smile, Endya closes the book and returns it abruptly.

“W-what is it, Endya?”

“T-is that t-that book?”

“You look scared. Yes, it is a copy of the Chronicles. I inherited it from my mother...”

“Y-you-you… you don't think d-do you? No you don't believe what she says?”

Sely frowns and wiggles her antennae. The atmosphere darkens.

“What do you mean, Endya?”

“I mean… th-that's the book where they talk about our extinction…”

“Among many things.”

“You don't eat people to fulfill rituals… right?”

OOH, again!? Is it possible that he only knows this about us!?

Crossing her arms, Sely raises her voice. “Again with this story!? And then, sorry, but if you don't know how to read, how do you know about those passages? Look, they're apocryphal, no one eats anyone as a ritual. Sacrificing a life to hope for the favor of the progenitor is stupid!”

Endya remains dumbfounded, pale. It takes him a few moments to relax and regain his color.

“Yes… sorry… you already told me.”

“Precisely.”

“Sorry, I'm ungrateful. You saved me and I'm ungrateful. Don't tell the master, please.”

Endya's fear and sorrow seem sincere to Sely. Although she has no references, the boy's behavior seems spontaneous to her.

“Yes, yes, apology accepted. I won't say anything to Dad about your rude ways.”

Endya, bowing his head: “Thank you… sorry again. I'm stupid.”

“Let it be. Rather, why do you keep returning to the topic? I will not eat you, nor do I intend to harm you. Is there something about my behavior that is difficult for you humans to understand?”

Endya pulls himself up off the stool. “No, it's just that the hives… beyond the forest, but also the spiders themselves…”

“Yes?”

Endya turns and goes towards the other room. “Forget it, I'm just a wimp! I'll go over there so you can change.”

“Huh? Why are you going there? Look, it doesn't bother me! You just want to avoid my question, admit it!”

But Endya has already fled into another room.

Mphf! What ways?

With some regret, Sely looks at the clothes and the book.

There's something bad he's hiding from me.

⁂

“Ah, that's better!” straightening her trousers and wool sweater, Sely stretches on her feet. Being Endya's clothes, whose size is similar to Sely's, they fit her perfectly.

“Can I come back? Have you finished changing?”

“Yes, come ahead, but I don't understand why you left…?”

Endya comes out of the door, still wearing her dirty, soaked clothes. Sely barely feels any remorse upon seeing him, after all, she is taking advantage of her hospitality to use her change of clothes.

“Hmm… I don't know how it works among you demihumans, but among us – humans, I mean – certain situations are avoided which… well, yes, in short… you look very good, dressed like that I mean”

Sely looks puzzled at Endya. The clothes she is wearing are simple, without particular merits, and quite closed. The bullet-free belt completes the circle. Why compliment her? Is it a local use?

Mom didn't tell me much about people...

What should I answer in these cases?

“Eeeh, never mind! Rather, you were telling me something interesting earlier.”

Endya looks around him and runs her hand through his hair. “Oh really?”

“Hm-hmm.”

“Eh, eheh, I don't remember, maybe…”

“Ah, I understand, it's okay!”

Some approaching voices catch Sely's attention. She doesn't understand what they are saying, their speech is muffled by the door.

Endya blanches.

“What's up?”

“Damn, I have to hide you!”

“Huh?”

“Shhh! I can't explain it to you now. Go over there!”

“Endya, you seem nervous, if I wanted I could…” Sely places the palm of her hand on the holstered revolver.

A shot is only a shot if you know it. They certainly won't think it's empty.

But Endya shakes his head and starts pushing her into the other room. “There is no need for violence, they are not enemies. But don't show up for now!”