“A long time ago they descended to earth. Insects of different shapes, colors and intelligence. The invasion was short, the world changed and their kingdom was born: Selenia. So-called because that is where insects come from: the Moon.”

Silver Chronicles, Dawn, Book I, vers. 1-2.

Sely closes the book and puts it back in her bag. She can't read, she's worried. The fjord is very large, just rocks and grass for miles. A moment's pause might help clear her mind, but she can't relax.

At this rate, I will never reach Vanoge…

Exhaling, Sely pulls her gun from its holster. She opens the drum and checks how many rounds she has left. Two shots. No spare shell casings in her belt.

Too few, I exaggerated with those creatures…

Putting the gun away, Sely stands up and picks up her bag. The sun on the horizon dyes the clouds red. Sely's antennae tremble, as does her skin.

It's cold in this area. I have to find shelter for the night, I'll resume the search tomorrow!

The situation is unfavorable. No sheltered places can be seen and the sea breeze is bringing storm clouds.

Sely sees lightning in the distance and realizes she can't stay that high. Further down there are other terraces, closer to the sea.

With a bit of luck, I will surely find an inlet on the way down.

Sely likes the idea of finding a sheltered place. The young girl immediately begins to explore the edge, looking for paths with which to descend the rocky wall.

Her mother always told her: to look at the edge, never inland. If there is a human way, you certainly won't find it in the hinterland.

Yes, Mom, but there are no ways here... yet I'm right on the edge...

With her feet dangling in the air, Sely scans the area with her telescope. She sees the terraces, but no ways to access them. Not yet.

It's difficult: stay on the edge and continue searching at night, or go deeper into the grassy plain. Whatever the choice, there seems to be no way to escape the coming downpour.

“What do you think about it?”

Sely directs that question to the telescope. She knows that a telescope can't answer, but it didn't cost anything to try. Maybe it saw something that she missed.

“You, objects, are always of many words…”

Sighing, Sely puts the scope back in her bag. She has made a decision: she goes to the hinterland. At least this way she won't risk ending up on the precipice due to a slip.

⁂

The sky is now purplish-red, the clouds black and the ground darkened.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Sely can't see anything anymore, she could use a flashlight. Regrettably, the girl discovers that she achieved nothing by returning. The bad weather is still far away, slower than expected.

Maybe it would have been better if I had continued along the cliff, aaah

Okay.

Okay, now I'm here... I have to find shelter for the night.

Sely's demihuman senses aren't of much use in this situation. She has insect reflexes, but she certainly can't see in the dark. She also has been sensitive to the cold since she was born.

Sely pulls a heavy cloth from her bag. She wraps herself in a cocoon, at the foot of an isolated rock.

I won't be protected from the rain, but I will have a shield against the wind.

The ground is soft, at least that. I miss home a bit, but I certainly can't go back.

Not now that I'm an adult. What impression would I make of my mom if I went back now?

“Awwhahw” Sely yawns and curls up.

The last few days have been tiring. Vanoge is almost eighty days' walk from his house, it is normal to feel tired. Especially now that she's almost there.

Sely is sure she is close to her destination; her mother told her about the fjord and the lighthouse that lies between the sea and the community.

Of course, huddled here at night – when the lighthouse is most visible – I doubt I will find the town…

Having realized the mistake, Sely huddles even further under the cloth. Then she turns around.

Damn!

Ahhh, okay, I was silly! Uhmmm.

Sely throws back the cloth and stands up. Not that she can reach Vanoge – it's dark now and there isn't even a moon in the sky. The point is that by spotting a light, she could reach it the following morning.

Hmm, there doesn't seem to be anything. Nothing nothing…

No, wait!

A dim red light comes from the southwest, towards the sea.

Wow, I knew I had to hold onto the cliff! Aah!

Looking at it carefully, it looks more like the light of a campfire. However, Sely has never seen a lighthouse, she doesn't want to make mistakes. A light is a light after all, surely it is humanoid work.

And then, in any case…

… it's late. She'll take care of it tomorrow.

Putting her soul at peace and wrapping herself in the cloth, Sely lies down again. But she struggles to sleep. Breaking the silence of the plain are the sea wind, distant thunder and her palpitating heart.

Sely is excited. The impatience to have arrived, the impatience of the discovery: for the first time, after many years, she will finally be able to meet them.

Meeting humans.

Meeting her father.

Excited by the idea, Sely takes her hands out of the blanket. She starts looking for the black tablet in the bag, used as a pillow. She finds it easily and, with a touch, the tablet begins to radiate light.

Sely, placed in front of the colored icons, presses the one that simulates a notebook.

A screen with some text immediately appears. She clicks on “New Page” and the screen is now blank. A bar flashes intermittently, while letters have appeared.

Sely starts typing.

82nd day of travel

Chronicle of Sely, daughter of Tossyllia.

Today I finally saw the lights. I don't know what a lighthouse looks like, but I think I'm in the right direction.

Everything coincides with my mother's words. The fjord is impressive, gigantic. The weather is cold and I only have two gunshots left.

Unfortunately, the black boars proved to be fearsome. Tossyllia hadn't warned me. But it doesn't matter, I'll stock up on Vanoge.

I'm thrilled, I struggle to sleep.

I can't wait to meet humans. Tossyllia says I have to keep calm, after all this is just the beginning.

But that's exactly the point!!!

I'm so excited and can't wait to get started...

… my true adventure!